Modeling multilayered MEMS-based micro-fluidic systems

This article describes the design, fabrication, and simulation of two micro-electromechanical systems-based micro-fluidic systems. The first system, a lab-on-a-chip, enables electrochemical immunoassay-based chemical/biological detection. The second is a micro-fluidic bio-impedance sensor. The relevance of fluidic dynamics in micro-fluidic channels is discussed in context of fluid paths and misalignments in the channels that appear during multi-level structure integration. Also discussed is the effect of channel dimensions on the flow profile and on performance within the micro-systems. For more information, contact Shekhar Bhansali, University of South Florida, Nanomaterials and Nanomanufacturing Research Center, Department of Electrical Engineering, 4202 East Fowler Avenue ENB 118, Tampa, Florida 33620; e-mail bhansali@eng.usf.edu.     

The cutting tool stresses in finish turning of hardened steel with mixed ceramic tool

Precision hard machining is an interesting topic in manufacturing die and mold, automobile parts, and scientific research. While the hard machining has benefit advantages such as short cutting cycle time, process flexibility, and low surface roughness, there are several disadvantages such as high tooling cost, need of rigid machine tool, high cutting stresses, and residual stresses. Especially, tool stresses should be understood and dealt with to achieve successful performance of finish hard turning with ceramic cutting tool. So, the influence of cutting parameters on cutting stresses during dry finish turning of hardened (52 HRC) AISI H13 hot work steel with ceramic tool is investigated in this paper. For this aim, a series finish turning tests were performed, and the cutting forces were measured in tests. After literature procedure about finite element model (FEM), FEM is established to predict cutting stresses in finish turning of hardened AISI H13 steel with Ceramic 650 grade insert. As shown, effect of the cutting parameters on cutting tool stresses in finish turning of AISI H13 steel is obtained. The suggested results are helpful for optimizing the cutting parameters and decreasing the tool failure in finish turning applications of hardened steel.     

The Optical and Structural Properties of Undoped ZnO and Co-doped ZnO:Alx:Cdy x = 1 at %, y = 1, 2, 3, 5 at % Thin Films,and Their Electrical Characteristics as Photodiode

Protection of Metals and Physical Chemistry of Surfaces - ZnO semiconductor thin films with and without Al/Cd additives were produced with sol–gel spin coating technique. Also, photodiodes...     

Discharge Coefficient for Trapezoidal Labyrinth Side Weir in Subcritical Flow

The discharge coefficient of a trapezoidal labyrinth side weir is a function of the Froude number F ₁, the dimensionless effective crest length L/ℓ, the dimensionless weir length L/B, the dimensionless weir height p/h ₁, and the sidewall angle α. A labyrinth weir is an overflow weir, folded in plan view to provide a longer total effective length for a given overall weir width. These weirs have advantages compared to the straight overflow weir and the standard ogee crest. Previous studies on the subject have generally focused on rectangular side weirs located on a straight channel. The present study investigates the hydraulic behavior of a trapezoidal labyrinth side weir. The results show that the discharge coefficient of labyrinth side weirs gives a significantly higher coefficient value compare to that of conventional straight side weirs. Discharge coefficient of the trapezoidal labyrinth side weir is 1.5 to 5.0 times higher than the conventional straight side weir. Consequently, an equation for the coefficient of discharge is introduced. The results predicted by the equation were shown to be very satisfactory using root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE) and correlation coefficient (R) statistics.     

A comparison of basic dye adsorption onto zeolitic materials synthesized from fly ash

This investigation reveals the adsorption characteristics of two basic dyes, thionine (TH) and safranine T (ST), onto fly ash (FA) and its three zeolitized products prepared at different hydrothermal conditions. Typical two-step isotherms were observed for TH adsorption onto four adsorbents, whereas the isotherms of the larger ST molecules were S-shaped. The adsorption capacities of the zeolitized fly ash (ZFA) estimated from the first plateau region of the TH isotherms was nearly twice the FA capacity. The capacities increased by up to five times in the second plateau region. The adsorption capacity of FA for ST is equivalent that of TH, whereas the capacities of ZFA are lower than those found for TH. The equilibrium results were well-described by the Freundlich isotherm model. The kinetic data obtained in the temperature range of 298-318 K was analyzed using Paterson's and Nernst Plank's approximations based on the homogeneous surface diffusion model (HSDM). The thermodynamic functions for the transition state were evaluated from the temperature-dependence of the surface diffusion coefficients by applying the Eyring model.     

A Novel ARMA Type Possibilistic Fuzzy Forecasting Functions Based on Grey-Wolf Optimizer (ARMA-PFFs)

Computational Economics - This study proposes a new time series forecasting method that employs possibilistic fuzzy c-means, an autoregressive moving average model (ARMA), and a grey wolf optimizer...     

Use of nanoclay as an environmentally friendly flame retardant synergist in polyamide-6

Due to their very high levels of flame retardancy, chlorinated and brominated flame retardants had been the most widely used flame retardant additives in plastics industry. However, these flame retardants lead to formation of very toxic volatiles and by-products during fire. Therefore, the recent trend is to replace all of them with non-halogenated flame retardants. In this respect, the use of nanoclays as a synergist flame retardant is becoming more and more important. Thus, the main aim of this work was to investigate the synergistic flame retardant effect of nanoclays with phosphorous compounds in polyamide-6 composites. For this purpose, exfoliated clay nanocomposites of flame retarded/glass fiber reinforced polyamide-6 were prepared by melt compounding. A flame retardant based on phosphorus compounds was used at various levels in glass fiber reinforced polyamide-6 and nanocomposites. Flammability and fire behaviors were evaluated by limiting oxygen index, UL94 and cone calorimeter tests. Substitution of a certain fraction of the flame retardant with nanoclays was found to significantly reduce the peak heat release rate and delay the ignition in cone calorimeter. Moreover, remarkable improvements were obtained in limiting oxygen index along with maintained UL94 ratings.     

Quenched bond randomness: Superfluidity in porous media and the strong violation of universality

The effects of quenched bond randomness are most readily studied with superfluidity immersed in a porous medium. A lattice model for³He-⁴He mixtures and incomplete⁴He fillings in aerogel yields the signature effect of bond randomness, namely the conversion of symmetry-breaking first-order phase transitions into second-order phase transitions, the λ-line reaching zero temperature, and the elimination of non-symmetry-breaking first-order phase transitions. The model recognizes the importance of the connected nature of aerogel randomness and thereby yields superfluidity at very low⁴He concentrations, a phase separation entirely within the superfluid phase, and the order-parameter contrast between mixtures and incomplete fillings, all in agreement with experiments. The special properties of the helium mixture/aerogel system are distinctly linked to the aerogel properties of connectivity, randomness, and tenuousness, via the additional study of a regularized “jungle-gym” aerogel. Renormalization-group calculations indicate that a strong violation of the empirical universality principle of critical phenomena occurs under quenched bond randomness. It is argued that helium/aerogel critical properties reflect this violation and further experiments are suggested. Renormalization-group analysis also shows that, adjoiningly to the strong universality violation (which hinges on the occurrence or non-occurrence of asymptotic strong coupling—strong randomness under rescaling), there is a new “hyperuniversality” at phase transitions with asymptotic strong coupling—strong randomness behavior, for example assigning the same critical exponents to random-bond tricriticality and random-field criticality.     

Remote control of an ultrasonic motor by using a GSM mobile phone

In this study, remote control of an ultrasonic motor has been implemented by using a standard GSM mobile phone. To drive the ultrasonic motor a digitally controlled drive system has been designed. Then a tone decoder circuit and microcontroller have been added between output of a mobile phone and the drive system of the motor. This system is flexible to be controlled with both GSM and DTMF based phones. With the developed drive and control system the overall control of the ultrasonic motor has been achieved. The system has been tested for different speed, position and direction conditions successfully. The experimental results verify that the GSM controlled drive system is highly effective, reliable, proper and applicable to achieve remote control of the ultrasonic motor. This study gets novel and important point of view for GSM based remote control applications addition to the control of ultrasonic motors.