Crack resistance of austenitic stainless steel pipe and pipe welds with a circumferential crack under monotonic loading

This paper describes the experimental studies carried out on cracked austenitic stainless steel pipe and pipe welds under bending loads. Pipe welds were produced by gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) and shielded metal arc welding (SMAW). Fracture resistance curves for pipe and pipe welds were compared. Results indicate that the fracture resistance of pipe and pipe weld (GTAW) is comparable but that of pipe weld (GTAW+SMAW) is inferior. Cracks do not deviate from their original plane during propagation as observed in the cases of carbon steel pipe and pipe welds. The fracture resistance of pipe welds does not depend on the loading histories to which it has been subjected prior to fracture test. Initiation and crack propagation were observed prior to the maximum moment. An existing limit load expression is applicable for the pipe base material but gives non‐conservative results for the pipe welds. Multiplication factors have been suggested for the pipe welds for evaluation of limit loads using the existing expression. Fracture resistance for the pipe and compact tension specimens have also been compared for base material and welds.     

Fractional M-band dual tree complex wavelet transform for digital watermarking

In this paper, a novel digital watermarking scheme using fractional M-band dual tree complex wavelet transform (Fr-M-band-DT-CWT) is proposed. High frequency channels have wide bandwidth and low frequency channels have narrow bandwidth. These characteristics are suitable for analysing low frequency signal, but not for relatively high frequency signal. The images often contain many edges, which may cause rich middle and high frequency components in the 2-band wavelet domain. Therefore, the ordinary 2-band dual tree complex wavelet transform (DT-CWT) is not well-suited for analysing the image. So, the M-band DT-CWT with the FrFT called Fr-M-band-DT-CWT is proposed in this paper to address this problem. Further, we integrate the Fr-M-Band-DT-CWT with singular value decomposition (SVD) in order to enhance the performance. Experimental results of the proposed watermarking scheme are compared with the previously available watermarking algorithms, fractional Fourier transform (FrFT), fractional wavelet transform (FrWT). Further, the proposed watermark extraction scheme is also tested on different attacks. The results of the present investigations show that the proposed watermarking scheme is superior as compared to other existing watermarking schemes.     

Optimization of processing parameters in induction hardening using response surface methodology

In this paper, an effective procedure of response surface methodology (RSM) has been utilized for finding the optimal values of process parameters while induction hardening of AISI 1040 under two different conditions of the material i.e., rolled and normalized. Various process parameters, such as feed rate (speed at which the induction coil moves, which is measured in mm/sec), current, dwell time (time after which heat intensity starts to heat work piece in seconds) and gap between the work piece and induction coil have been explored by experiments. Hardness at two different conditions has been considered as performance characteristic. The experiment plan was based on rotatable, central composite design (CCD). The experimental results showed that the proposed mathematical models suggested could describe the performance indicators within the limits of the factors being investigated. The obtained optimal process parameters have been predicted and verified by confirmation experiments. Microstructure and SEM (scanning electron microscope) analyses were also done for justification of the work.     

Nutrient Losses Due to Scarification of Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) Cotyledons

Outer layers of cotyledons of pigeonpea cultivar C 11 were successively scarified using a Tangential Abrasive Dehulling Device (TADD). Scarification for 0; 2, 4, 8, and 12 min resulted in the removal of 0, 6.7, 12.7, 25.3, and 36.9%, respectively, of powder fractions. The cotyledons and powder fractions at each level of scarification were analyzed for chemical composition, including minerals and trace elements, protein fractions, amino acid composition, and trypsin inhibitor acitivity (TIA). Protein, soluble sugars and ash of the dhal fraction (scarified cotyledons) decreased with increasing scarification time, while starch content increased. Considerable amounts of calcium (about 20%) and iron (about 30%) were removed by scarification for 4 min, but the process did not adversely affect protein quality in terms of amino acids. Trypsin inhibitors were not removed substantially by scarification.     

Process Parameter Effects on Particle Residence Time in a Vertical Scraped Surface Heat Exchanger

Residence times of 1.0-2.0 cm potato cubes with 0.4-1.2% aqueous solutions of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose flowing at 453-599 mli sec were investigated in a vertical scraped surface heat exchanger rotating at 60 160 rpm. Minimum and maximum normalized particle residence times (NPRTs) standard deviation of mean NPRTs, and characteristic parameter for tanks-in-series models were not significantly affected by particle concentration. Mean NPRT for 40% particle concentration was significantly higher than those of single particle - 20% particle concentrations. Mean NPRTs were significantly influenced by process parameters and 2-way interactions.     

Asymmetric Polarization Behavior of Sodium β"-Alumina Electrolyte

The roles of electrolyte composition and surface treatments in the phenomenon of asymmetric polarization in sodium β"-alumina ceramics are investigated. The results indicate that Asymmetric polarization is only displayed by electrolyte compositions containing 80 vol%β"-alumina phase and that a chemical treatment utilizing phosphoric acid, or a water treatment, is effective in circumventing the asymmetric polarization via removal of the asymmetric-polarization-causing resistive surface film. The surface film is soda rich, 20 to 40 nm thick, and there is a considerable concentration gradient from the surface into the bulk of an as-sintered sodium β"-alumina electrolyte.     

TEXTURAL CHANGES IN VEGETABLES DURING THERMAL PROCESSING. II. EFFECTS of ACIDIFICATION and SELECTED PRETREATMENTS ON TEXTURE of TURNIPS

The effect of different preprocessing treatments on the softening of vegetable tissues during acidification of turnips at different temperatures was studied. Texture was characterized by the maximum load force in a puncture test. the different preprocessing treatments considered were blanching alone and coupled with vacuum infusion, freezing/thawing and calcium chloride addition. Samples were acidified at different constant temperatures: 20, 50, 70 and 90C. Results were obtained by comparing the softening occurring for all samples and for non-preprocessed turnips. It was found that for low temperature processing the final result was mainly due to the effect of the preprocessing itself on the turnip texture while for high temperature processing the effect of the preprocessing on the tissues sensitivity to the processing was more important. Blanching alone caused greater softening when processing at 70C but lead to a firmer product when coupled with calcium chloride addition or vacuum infusion for processing at 70 and 90C.     

Shear forces for dehulling, splitting and breaking raw and pretreated pigeonpeas

An instrument to measure the seed coat adhesion, cotyledon adhesion and shear strength of pigeonpea grain was constructed using a peizo-electric transducer. Urea was applied to scarified and non-scarified grain and part was then heat treated. Seed coat adhesion was slightly reduced by scarification of grain and further reduced by urea plus heat treatment. Cotyledon adhesion was slightly reduced by urea plus heat but shear strength was unaffected. Pretreatments may lead to an improved quality product (good quality splits and less breakage). The instrument may be useful in assessing improved cultivars.     

Lactose Crystallization from Whey Permeate in an Ethanol-Water Mixture

A 30% concentrated permeate of a whey ultrafiltration process was used for producing crystalline a-lactose monohydrate. Effect of pH (2.75–5.5 pH units) at solvent to solute ratio 10:1 v/w, agitation and seeding (0.004–0.02%) on rate of lactose crystallization were examined. Conditions which were favorable in terms of crystallized lactose yield, and time of crystallization were: pH 5.5, agitation with or without seeding and 22°C. The first-order reaction-rate constant for crystallization ranged from 0.0178 to 0.200 hr^?1 depending on conditions.