Varna-based optimization:a novel method for capacitated controller placement problem in SDN

Recently,software defined networking(SDN)is a promising paradigm shift that decouples the control plane from the data plane.It can centrally monitor and control the network through softwarization,i.e.,controller.Multiple controllers are a necessity of current SDN based WAN.Placing multiple controllers in an optimum way is known as controller placement problem(CPP).Earlier,solutions of CPP only concentrated on propagation latency but overlooked the capacity of controllers and the dynamic load on switches,which is a significant factor in real networks.In this paper,we develop a novel optimization algorithm named varna-based optimization(VBO)and use it to solve CPP.To the best of our knowledge,this is the first attempt to minimize the total average latency of SDN along with the implementation of TLBO and Jaya algorithms to solve CPP for all twelve possible scenarios.Our experimental results show that TLBO outperforms PSO,and VBO outperforms TLBO and Jaya algorithms in all scenarios for all topologies.     

Development of mix design method based on statistical analysis of different factors for geopolymer concrete

The present study proposes the mix design method of Fly Ash (FA) based geopolymer concrete using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). In this method, different factors, including binder content, alkali/binder ratio, NS/NH ratio (sodium silicate/sodium hydroxide), NH molarity, and water/solids ratio were considered for the mix design of geopolymer concrete. The 2D contour plots were used to setup the mix design method to achieve the target compressive strength. The proposed mix design method of geopolymer concrete is divided into three categories based on curing regime, specifically one ambient curing (25 °C) and two heat curing (60 and 90 °C). The proposed mix design method of geopolymer concrete was validated through experimentation of M30, M50, and M70 concrete mixes at all curing regimes. The observed experimental compressive strength results validate the mix design method by more than 90% of their target strength. Furthermore, the current study concluded that the required compressive strength can be achieved by varying any factor in the mix design. In addition, the factor analysis revealed that the NS/NH ratio significantly affects the compressive strength of geopolymer concrete.     

Synthesis and study of organically capped ultra small clusters of cadmium sulphide

Ultra small clusters of cadmium sulphide are synthesized using non-aqueous and aqueous chemical methods. Thiophenol has been used as a capping agent for non-aqueous synthesis whereas various reagents such as mercaptoethanol, hexametaphosphate, ethylene glycol and ethanol have been used as additives for an aqueous method of synthesis. Properties of the clusters synthesized are discussed based on optical absorption, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron diffraction and photoelectron spectroscopy. Particles as small as 0.7 nm diameter could be synthesized with thiophenol and mercaptoethanol as additives. The effect of varying the molarities of the different additives on the properties of the CdS nanoclusters synthesized are discussed. Systematic ageing studies of the nanoclusters showed that larger particles age faster than the smaller clusters. Ageing also leads to better crystallization of the particles. It has been observed that the smallest particles (0.7 nm diameter) possess tetrahedrally bonded fragments of CdS and intercluster structural long range order does not exist. However, bigger particles (2.0 nm diameter) show bulk cubic structure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies have been done to study the purity and stoichiometry of the clusters synthesized and strongly support the existing proposal of the formation and stability of CdS nanoclusters.     

Experimental force modeling for deformation machining stretching mode for aluminum alloys

Deformation machining is a hybrid process that combines two manufacturing processes—thin structure machining and single-point incremental forming. This process enables the creation of complex structures and geometries, which would be rather difficult or sometimes impossible to manufacture. A comprehensive experimental study of forces induced in deformation machining stretching mode has been performed in the present work. A table-type force dynamometer has been used to record the deforming forces in three Cartesian directions. The influence of five process parameters—floor thickness, tool diameter, wall angle, incremental step size, and floor size on the deforming forces—is investigated. Individual as well as combined empirical models of the parameters with regard to the forces have been formed. The results of this study indicate that the average resultant force primarily depends on the floor thickness to be deformed and the incremental depth in the tool path. This could be due to the variation in local stiffness of the sheet with change in floor thickness. The effect of tool diameter, deforming wall angle, and floor size is not significant.     

Kinetic Study of Cu+−Cu2+ Equilibrium in Sodium Na2O−Al2O3−B2O3 Glass

The Cu⁺−Cu²⁺ equilibrium in sodium aluminoborate glass with an air atmosphere was studied at 950°, 1050°, and 1150°C. Equations suggested to represent the equilibrium reaction between oxidized and reduced species and oxygen were critically examined. An equation to represent the Cu⁺−Cu²⁺ equilibrium reaction was suggested. The reaction was observed to follow first-order kinetics. Enthalpy of the reaction was—12.5 kcal/mol.     

Analysis of volume expansion data for periclase, lime, corundum and spinel at high temperatures

We have presented an analysis of the volume expansion data for periclase (MgO), lime (CaO), corundum (Al₂O₃) and spinel (MgAl₂O₄) determined experimentally by Fiquet et al (1999) from 300K up to 3000K. The thermal equation of state due to Suzuki et al (1979) and Shanker et al (1997) are used to study the relationships between thermal pressure and volume expansion for the entire range of temperatures starting from room temperature up to the melting temperatures of the solids under study. Comparison of the results obtained in the present study with the corresponding experimental data reveal that the thermal pressure changes with temperature almost linearly up to quite high temperatures. At extremely high temperatures close to the melting temperatures thermal pressure deviates significantly from linearity. This prediction is consistent with other recent investigations. A quantitative analysis based on the theory of anharmonic effects has been presented to account for the nonlinear variation of the thermal pressure at high temperatures.     

Multi-objective optimization of process parameters in Electro-Discharge Diamond Face Grinding based on ANN-NSGA-II hybrid technique

The effective study of hybrid machining processes (HMPs), in terms of modeling and optimization has always been a challenge to the researchers. The combined approach of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm-II (NSGA-II) has attracted attention of researchers for modeling and optimization of the complex machining processes. In this paper, a hybrid machining process of Electrical Discharge Face Grinding (EDFG) and Diamond Face Grinding (DFG) named as Electrical Discharge Diamond face Grinding (EDDFG) have been studied using a hybrid methodology of ANN-NSGA-II. In this study, ANN has been used for modeling while NSGA-II is used to optimize the control parameters of the EDDFG process. For observations of input-output relations, the experiments were conducted on a self developed face grinding setup, which is attached with the ram of EDM machine. During experimentation, the wheel speed, pulse current, pulse on-time and duty factor are taken as input parameters while output parameters are material removal rate (MRR) and average surface roughness (R_a). The results have shown that the developed ANN model is capable to predict the output responses within the acceptable limit for a given set of input parameters. It has also been found that hybrid approach of ANN-NSGA-II gives a set of optimal solutions for getting appropriate value of outputs with multiple objectives.     

Impact of FACTS devices on exercising market power in deregulated electricity market

In power system studies, congestion in transmission lines and utilization of flexible alternating current transmission system (FACTS) devices are closely associated. These devices are very important due to their role in power delivery system enhancement. It is to be noted that the generation companies can exercise their market power which depends on the line flows, line constraints, generators’ location and its share to the individual loads. This issue cannot be overlooked as it creates monopoliness which is against the deregulated market policy. The objective of this paper is to study the impact of market power when FACTS devices like thyristor controlled switching capacitor (TCSC) and thyristor controlled phase angle regulator (TCPAR) are used under steady state operation. The market power is determined using nodal must-run share (NMRS) index for the standard IEEE 14-bus system with and without the above FACTS devices and the results obtained are compared. All the above simulations are conducted in a MATLAB 7.9-R2009b environment.     

Integrated safety assessment of Indian nuclear power plants for extreme events: Reducing impact on public mind

Nuclear energy professionals need to understand and address the catastrophe syndrome that of late seems to be increasingly at work in public mind in the context of nuclear energy. Classically the nuclear power reactor design and system evolution has been based on the logic of minimization of risk to an acceptable level and its quantification based on a deterministic approach and backed up by a further assessment based on the probabilistic methodology. However, in spite of minimization of risk, the reasons for anxiety and trauma in public mind that still prevails in the context of severe accidents needs to be understood and addressed. Margins between maximum credible accidents factored in the design and the ultimate load withstanding capacities of relevant systems need to be enhanced and guaranteed with a view to minimize release of radioactivity and avoid serious impact in public domain. A more realistic basis for management of an accident in public domain also needs to be quantified for this purpose. Assurance to public on limiting the consequences to a level that does not lead to a trauma is something that we need to be able to credibly demonstrate and confirm. The findings from Chernobyl reports point to significant psychological effects and related health disorders due to large scale emergency relocation of people that could have been possibly reduced by an order of magnitude without significant additional safety detriment. A combination of probabilistic and deterministic approaches should be evolved further to minimize consequences in public domain through enhancing safety margins and adding greater precision to quantitatively predicting accident progression and its management. The paper presents the case studies of the extreme external event such as tsunami and its impact on the coastal nuclear plants in India, the containment integrity assessment under the extreme internal event of over-pressurization and aircraft impact along with hydrogen deflagration/detonation-induced loadings. These are at the moment extremely burning issues due to the severe accidents of Fukushima, Chernobyl and Three Mile Island reactors. In the present day context identifying the extreme loadings in a separate category and the corresponding margin assessment is necessary in addition to the implementation of the mitigation and upgraded safety measures. Further, the paper attempts to address the question of public trauma in the event of a serious nuclear reactor accident, a need that has been felt in view of the recent Fukushima and earlier Chernobyl accidents and the resulting large scale relocation due to the present deficient policies and the inherent limitations of Linear No Threshold (LNT) principle.     

Magnetron Sputtered TiN Coatings Modified by Chromium,Nickel and Electroless Nickel (EN) Interlayers on Mild Steel

TiN films were deposited by reactive d.c. magnetron sputtering on mild steel substrate. Because of presence of inherent porosity and internal stresses, TiN coatings cannot be relied to give corrosion protection; also TiN coatings need a good load support. Electroplated chromium and nickel and electroless nickel (EN) were deposited by plating as interlayers below the TiN coatings to study comparatively the effect of these interlayers. Chromium was electrodeposited from conventional sulfate catalysed chromic acid bath and nickel using Watt's bath while EN by electroless deposition process using acidic hypophosphite bath. Three different thicknesses viz. 2, 4 and 10 μm of interlayers were employed to study their influence on TiN coatings. The corrosion behaviour of TiN coated mild steel samples with and without the interlayers was studied using potentiodynamic measurement technique in deaerated IN H₂SO₄ electrolyte. It was observed that TiN coatings on mild steel without any interlayer almost mimic the behaviour of the substrate, while the presence of any of the three interlayers showed a considerable improvement in the corrosion resistance.