Flow and heat transfer of two immiscible fluids in double-layer optical fiber coating

The coatings of optical fibers are generally characterized by a multi-layer coating structure. In this work, the mathematical modeling of two immiscible non-Newtonian fluids for optical fiber coating inside a straight annular die is developed in the form of a nonlinear differential equation with nonhomogeneous boundary conditions. Two non-Newtonian fluids, namely power law and Phan-Thien–Tanner fluids, are used in the primary and secondary coating dies, respectively. An exact solution is obtained for velocity fields and temperature distributions for the primary and secondary coating resins. The thickness of coated fiber optics is also calculated for both layers. The effect of different emerging parameters on the solution is discussed and sketched.     

Removal of chromium (VI) from aqueous solution using treated oil palm fibre

This study proposed an oil palm by-product as a low-cost adsorbent for the removal of hexavalent chromium [Cr (VI)] from aqueous solution. Adsorption of Cr (VI) by sulphuric acid and heat-treated oil palm fibre was conducted using batch tests. The influence of pH, contact time, initial chromium concentration and adsorbent dosage on the removal of Cr (VI) from the solutions was investigated. The optimum initial pH for maximum uptake of Cr (VI) from aqueous solution was found to be 1.5. The removal efficiency was found to correlate with the initial Cr (VI) concentration, adsorbent dosage as well as the contact time between Cr (VI) and the adsorbent. The adsorption kinetics tested with pseudo first order and pseudo second order models yielded high R(2) values from 0.9254 to 0.9870 and from 0.9936 to 0.9998, respectively. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant difference between the R(2) values of the two models at 99% confidence level. The Freundlich isotherm (R(2)=0.8778) described Cr (VI) adsorption slightly better than the Langmuir isotherm (R(2)=0.8715). Difficulty in desorption of Cr (VI) suggests the suitability of treated oil palm fibre as a single-use adsorbent for Cr (VI) removal from aqueous solution.     

Removal of Diazinon from aqueous solution by electrocoagulation process using aluminum electrodes

Electrocoagulation (EC) is an electrochemical method to treat polluted wastewaters and aqueous solutions. In this paper, the removal of Diazinon was studied by EC on aluminum electrode. The effect of several parameters such as initial concentration of Diazinon, current density, solution conductivity, effect of pH, and electrolysis time were investigated on EC performance. The obtained results showed that the removal efficiency of EC depends on the current density, initial concentration of Diazinon and electrolysis time. The optimum pH is 3 and also the solution conductivity has no significant effect on removal efficiency.     

Characterization of a Cohesive Soil Bed using a Cone Pressuremeter

A new cone pressuremeter has been developed at the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore-Pakistan. The new device is called the Akbar Pressuremeter (APMT). This paper is based on the APMT testing of a cohesive soil deposit comprised of low plastic lean clay (CL) to sandy silty clay (CL-ML). The APMT testing, using a full-displacement technique, standard penetration tests and undisturbed samples, was carried out at two locations. The soil strength and type were determined using the undisturbed samples. The applied pressure-cavity strain curves of the APMT tests performed at different levels were analysed to determine soil strength and stiffness. The undrained shear strength of the undisturbed samples was determined in the laboratory by unconfined compression tests. This paper provides a comparison of the parameters interpreted from the pressuremeter and those determined from other field and laboratory methods.     

Prediction of the plastic viscosity of self-compacting steel fibre reinforced concrete

Micromechanical constitutive models are used to predict the plastic viscosity of self-compacting steel fibre reinforced concrete (SCFRC) from the measured plastic viscosity of the paste. The concrete is regarded as a two-phase composite in which the solid phase is suspended in a viscous liquid phase. The liquid matrix phase consists of cement, water and any viscosity modifying agent (VMA) to which the solids (fine and coarse aggregates and fibres) are added in succession. The predictions are shown to correlate very well with available experimental data. Comments are made on the practical usefulness of the predicted plastic viscosity in simulating the flow of SCFRC.     

Optimal visual sensor placement for coverage based on target location profile

The proper placement of visual sensors across a sensor field for covering targets with arbitrary location and orientation is a mission-critical decision in surveillance applications. The specifics of sensor deployment in these applications not only determine the maximum achievable coverage, but it also affects the quality of the target’s appearance in cameras for subsequent use in vision tasks. However, the inaccuracies inherent in localization techniques and the lack of knowledge regarding the target orientation render existing proposals insufficient for real-life scenarios. In this paper, we address both challenges. First, we extend the conventional point representation of targets with a circular model to account for full-angle coverage of targets with known location yet with unknown orientation from all directions. We then assume, in the absence of precise location information, a trajectory profile of targets could instead be generated through the importance sampling of the environment, indicating spots where the target is most likely located. This profile-based abstraction enables us to capture the uncertainty in target’s location by encircling every agglomeration of proximal samples within one cluster. Each cluster can then be viewed as a virtual macroscopic circular target for which we formulate the coverage problem in terms of a Binary Integer Programming (BIP) model. We have also taken into account the presence of obstruction in between multiple targets by calculating the angles of view of the sensors in an occlusion-dependant manner, effectively determining optimal placement for maximal instead of full-angle coverage. Evaluation results derived from our simulation experiments reveal that the proposed mechanism can effectively achieve high coverage accuracy with minimum number of deployed sensors.     

Marine Water Quality Assessment Of Synthetic-Based Drilling Waste Discharges

Drilling muds or fluids used in drilling operations serve several functions: they lubricate the drill bit; maintain borehole pressure; clean and condition the hole; and flush rock cuttings to the surface. Drilling mud also adheres to rock cuttings, as can formation oil. Barite is used as a weighting agent, which approximately makes up approximately 33% of synthetic mud. It contains traces of heavy metals, which contribute to the toxicity of drilling waste. As environmental issues attract increasing public awareness, the treatment and disposal of spent drilling fluids and contaminated rock cuttings from drilling operations have become sensitive issues for offshore operations around the world. Within the last decade, the oil and gas industry has introduced synthetic-based drilling fluids as substitutes for oil-based fluids. This pollution prevention measure has been complemented by improvements in solid control systems technology. This paper adopts the current U.S. Environmental Protection Agency methodology for a hypothetical case study of an oil field on the East Coast of Canada to determine the water quality impacts of disposal of drilling wastes. The concentration of pollutants at the edge of the mixing zone in the water column and pore water are estimated and compared with Canadian water quality guidelines for protection of aquatic life.     

Gas-phase driven nano-machined TiO2 ceramics

A simple, inexpensive gas phase reaction termed as “nanocarving process” converts TiO₂ grains into arrays of single crystal nanofibers by selective and anisotropic etching. This process is conducted by exposing dense polycrystalline TiO₂ to a H₂/N₂ environment at 700 °C. The dimensions of nanofibers are around 20 nm in diameter and 1 μm in length. The preferred crystallographic orientation for the nanocarving process is the <001> direction. Nanoparticles composed of Fe and Ni were observed on the surface of TiO₂ that formed nanofiber tips. Sintering parameters before the nanocarving treatment play a critical role in the formation of nanofibers. As sintering temperature and time increased, the rate of nanofiber generation decreased. Moreover, it was observed that by varying the heat treatment conditions, it is possible to create other structures like nanowhiskers and nanofilaments. Nanowhiskers were formed by reoxidation of nanofiber-formed TiO₂ over 600 °C. Nano-filaments were generated by heat treating sintered TiO₂ in N₂-carrying water vapor at 700 °C.     

Microstructure, permeability and rheological behavior of lost foam refractory coatings

The effect of microstructure on rheology and permeability of three commercial lost foam refractory coatings available on the market called samples I, II, and III, respectively was investigated in this study. Thermal gravimetric/differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA) method was used for detailed analysis of the organic components and to determine the thermal stability of the coatings. Particle shape and size and particle size distribution (PSD) were obtained by optical microscopy and morphological studies were carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Also the scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM/EDXA) technique was used for elemental analysis of refractory particles. To determine the crystalline structure of the samples, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was carried out. Permeability measurements were conducted with a modified apparatus originally used for determining the permeability of casting sand. Finally the rheological behavior of the samples was investigated using a rotating coaxial rheometer to provide the flow curve for coating suspensions. The studies revealed that coating I has the highest permeability, which can be due to its large mean particle size and wide particle size distribution (PSD). Furthermore it was found that the investigated refractory coatings behave as non-Newtonian fluids with shear thinning behavior. All coatings exhibited yield stresses, indicate that they behave as Bingham-type pseudoplastic fluids.