Gravitational Search Based Algorithm for Optimal Coordination of Directional Overcurrent Relays Using User Defined Characteristic

Due to dependency on Plug Setting (PS), Time Dial Setting (TDS), size of the network, more than one back-up relays for one primary relay and other technical constraints, coordination of Directional Overcurrent Relays (DOCRs) is an extremely constrained and nonlinear optimization problem. In this paper, a new Gravitational Search (GS) based algorithm is presented for achieving optimal coordination of directional overcurrent relays. The proposed algorithm utilizes user defined characteristic for inverse time overcurrent relays than the predefined standard curves. The user defined relay characteristic deals with constants that control the shape of the characteristics as variable adjustable values which are optimally chosen along with TDS and Plug Setting Multiplier (PSM). The performance of the proposed algorithm has been evaluated on 8-bus, 15-bus and IEEE 30-bus distribution network at different fault locations (near-end, far-end and middle point). In addition, the time of operation of some of the primary relays at different fault locations on IEEE 30-bus distribution network is also presented. At the end, comparative evaluation of the proposed algorithm with other optimization algorithms having different relay characteristics presented in the literature clearly indicates its effectiveness and superiority in terms of the sum of total primary relays operating time.     

Thermal stresses in aluminum 6061 and nylon 66 long fiber thermoplastic (LFT) composite joint in a tailcone

The present paper involves a metal/polymer joint in a tailcone in a kinetic energy penetrator (KEP), one of the ammunition types used by the military. It is currently made of aluminum 7075 alloy, which could be partly replaced by long fiber thermoplastic (LFT) composite. Two different types of aluminum insert geometries were considered, viz., beaded and threaded. Thermal stresses set in during cooling of the tailcone from the processing temperature mainly because of the difference in the values of coefficients of thermal expansion and differential cooling between the aluminum and the LFT composite. Finite element (FE) modeling was done to predict the temperature profile during the cooling of the tailcone from the processing temperature. FE results showed that the LFT composite part of the tailcone cooled faster than the aluminum insert. Experimental verification of this temperature profile was obtained by infrared (IR) thermography. Based on the temperature profile, thermal stresses at the metal/LFT composite interface were estimated using an FE model. Different magnitudes of thermal stresses were present at the aluminum/LFT composite interface owing to the nature of distribution of fibers around the insert. Magnitude of thermal stresses in the case of a beaded insert was approximately 2.5 MPa whereas in the case of a threaded insert, it was approximately 12 MPa.

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High-Frequency Fatigue Behavior of Woven-Fiber-Fabric-Reinforced Polymer-Derived Ceramic-Matrix Composites

The monotonic and high-frequency (100 Hz) fatigue behavior of two Nicalon-fabric-reinforced SiCON matrix composites was investigated at room temperature. The matrix composition was varied by the addition of BN and SiC particulate fillers, to contain shrinkage from processing by polymer infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP). The composites had strong fiber/matrix bonding, which resulted in substantially less frictional heating than observed with weakly bonded composites. Both composites exhibited fatigue runout at 10⁷ cycles at ∼80% of the monotonic strength. Comparison with existing fatigue data in the literature (for the same composites) at 1 Hz shows no change in fatigue life; i.e., no frequency effect was observed. Most of the stiffness reduction in the composites occurred in the first fatigue cycle, whereas subsequent decreases in moduli were attributed to limited fiber cracking. The major driving force for failure was the localized debonding of transverse and longitudinal plies at the crossover points in the fabric, which, when linked, resulted in interlaminar damage and failure in the composite.     

The fracture toughness and fatigue behavior of DRA

‘In this study, the fracture toughness and elevated-temperature tensile and fatigue behavior of discontinuously reinforced aluminum (DRA) were examined. The effects of heat treatment and specimen thickness on fracture toughness were studied in a 7093/SiC_p composite. The toughness of the DRA was lowest in the peak-aged condition, but increased considerably in the overaged condition. The highest toughness was obtained at a critical value of specimen thickness; this critical value was used to fabricate a laminated composite consisting of alternating layers of DRA and unreinforced alloy. Elevated-temperature tensile and fatigue behaviors were investigated in a 2080-T6/SiC_p composite at different volume fractions and particle sizes. Increasing reinforcement volume fractions resulted in increases in tensile and fatigue strength. Exposure tests for 300 h at 150°C produced no significant reduction in ultimate tensile strength or yield strength, indicating good thermal stability of the 2080 matrix. For more information, contact A.B. Pandey, Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 45433; (937) 255-1320; fax (937) 255-3007; e-mail awadh.pandey@ml.afrl.af.mil.     

Managing more physical with less virtual

Recent explosive growth in physical memory configurations inverts the problem faced by traditional operating systems, which were built around the assumption of limited physical memory and plentiful virtual memory. With the introduction of the Pentium Pro, there is an aberration in the historical trend towards increased virtual space. Such processors have 36‐bit physical and 32‐bit logical addressing; with traditional algorithms, the smaller virtual space limits the number of concurrent processes as well as the total physical memory usable by an application. To address these problems, two general principles can be applied to any operating system to reduce its virtual memory needs: first, multiplexing different physical addresses over the same virtual—as opposed to multiplexing different virtual over the same physical, where the optimization was to share the physical memory across multiple processes; second, optimize virtual consumption by kernel pagepool data, by organizing data structures to extend their physical memory reach using the same amount of virtual space. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Metal and Metal Oxide Nanoparticle as a Novel Antibiotic Carrier for the Direct Delivery of Antibiotics

In addition to the benefits, increasing the constant need for antibiotics has resulted in the development of antibiotic bacterial resistance over time. Antibiotic tolerance mainly evolves in these bacteria through efflux pumps and biofilms. Leading to its modern and profitable uses, emerging nanotechnology is a significant field of research that is considered as the most important scientific breakthrough in recent years. Metal nanoparticles as nanocarriers are currently attracting a lot of interest from scientists, because of their wide range of applications and higher compatibility with bioactive components. As a consequence of their ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria, nanoparticles have been shown to have significant antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antiparasitic efficacy in the battle against antibiotic resistance in microorganisms. As a result, this study covers bacterial tolerance to antibiotics, the antibacterial properties of various metal nanoparticles, their mechanisms, and the use of various metal and metal oxide nanoparticles as novel antibiotic carriers for direct antibiotic delivery.     

Optical and structural properties of sputter-deposited nanocrystalline Cu2O films: effect of sputtering gas

We report the effect of the atomic mass of the sputtering gas (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe) on the structure and optical properties of nanocrystalline cuprous oxide (Cu2O) thin films deposited by dc magnetron sputtering. The crystal structure and surface morphology were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) respectively. We find that the atomic mass of the sputtering gas significantly affects the primary crystallite size as well as the surface morphology and texture. Optical reflectance and transmission measurements show that the nanocrystalline thin films are transparent over most of the visible region. The HOMO-LUMO gap obtained from optical absorption spectra show a size-dependent quantum shift with respect to the bulk band gap reported for Cu2O (2.1 eV).     

Structural,Wettability and Optical Investigation of Titanium Oxynitride Coatings:Effect of Various Sputtering Parameters

The objective of the present work is to investigate the effect of various sputtering parameters such as nitrogen flow rate,deposition time and sputtering pressure on structural,wettability and optical properties of titanium oxynitride films deposited on glass substrate by reactive magnetron sputtering.The X-ray diffraction graphs of titanium oxynitride films show evolution of various textures of TiO_xN_y and TiN phases with increasing nitrogen flow rate and deposition time,but an increase in sputtering pressure from 4.0 to 8.0 Pa results in decline of various textures observed for TiO_xN_y and TiN phases.The stress and strain calculated by sin~2Ψ method are compressive,which decrease with increasing nitrogen flow rate from 55 to 100 sccm(standard cubic centimeter per minute) and increase with increasing deposition time from 80 to 140 min due to atomic penning effect and increasing thickness of the deposited films.The titanium oxynitride films have contact angle values above 90 deg.,indicating that films are hydrophobic.The maximum contact angle of 109.1 deg.is observed at deposition time of 140 min.This water repellent property can add value to potential protective,wear and corrosion resistant application of titanium oxynitride films.The band gap decreases from 1.98 to 1.83 eV as nitrogen flow rate is increased from 55 to 100 sccm;it decreases from 1.93 to 1.79 eV as deposition time is increased from 80 to 140 min as more nitrogen incorporation results in higher negative potential of valence band N2p orbital.But it increases from 2.26 to 2.34 eV for titanium oxynitride films as sputtering pressure increases from 4.0 to 8.0 Pa.     

Damage evolution in SiC particle reinforced Al alloy matrix composites by X-ray synchrotron tomography

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) have a combination of high strength, high stiffness, and low density. The damage behavior of MMCs has been studied extensively by a combination of traditional mechanical testing, microstructural characterization, and post-experiment fractographic analysis. X-ray tomography is an excellent technique that eliminates destructive cross-sectioning, and allows for superior resolution and image quality with minimal sample preparation. In this work, we have carried out a detailed investigation of the damage behavior of SiC particle reinforced 2080 Al alloy matrix composites by X-ray synchrotron tomography. This work is unique, relative to the existing work in the literature, because it: (a) focuses on a technologically relevant MMC system (2080/SiC_p), (b) uses a combination of image analysis techniques to enable visualization and damage characterization, and (c) entails a significant amount of quantitative and statistical analyses of particle fracture and void growth in the composite. A statistically significant number of particles and volume of the composite were characterized, enabling a meaningful and realistic interpretation of the results. Based on this, a detailed understanding of the micromechanisms of fracture and the quantitative influence of particle size and aspect ratio were obtained.