Comparative study of wear performance of particulate and fiber-reinforced nano-ZnO/ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene hybrid composites using response surface methodology

The effects of two types of filler reinforcements i.e. particulate (talc particles) and fiber (Glass Fiber (GF)) as secondary reinforcements in ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)-based composites on the wear and friction properties were discussed in this paper. These UHMWPE hybrid composites were fabricated by the addition of 10 wt% of talc and glass fiber at a fixed nano-ZnO loading of 10 wt% using a hot compression moulding technique. The wear and friction properties of these hybrid composites were investigated using a pin-on-disc tester with different operating conditions of applied loads, sliding speeds and sliding distances based on response surface Box–Behnken design. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was applied to model the effects of various variables of applied load, sliding speed and distance on the wear volume loss and average coefficient of friction (COF) of UHMWPE hybrid composites. The mathematical regression models of the wear volume and average COF were derived from the analysis of variance (ANOVA). Optimization of the independent variables to minimize the wear and friction responses of both UHMWPE composites was estimated using RSM. The mathematical models showed that applied load, sliding speed and distance have significant effects on the wear and friction properties of both UHMWPE composites in the tested range of variables. The most significant, in order of the variables that affect the volume loss and friction of UHMWPE composites is load, followed by sliding distance and speed. In addition, the combined effects of load and distance indicate the highest significance on volume loss and average COF for both UHMWPE hybrid composites as compared to other variable interactions. GF/ZnO/UHMWPE exhibited better wear performance compared to talc/ZnO/UHMWPE hybrid composites. The severity of worn surfaces of the GF/ZnO/UHMWPE was less than that of talc/ZnO/UHMWPE. The GF/ZnO/UHMWPE produced transfer films that were more uniform and had better coverage compared to talc/ZnO/UHMWPE.     

The antioxidant activity of teas measured by the FRAP method adapted to the FIA system: Optimising the conditions using the response surface methodology

This study proposes a FRAP assay adapted to FIA system with a merging zones configuration. The FIA system conditions were optimised with the response surface methodology using the central composite rotatable design. The optimisation parameters studied were: the carrier flow rate, the lengths of the sample and reagent loops, and reactor length. The conditions selected in accordance with the results were: carrier flow rate of 1.00 ml/min, length of the loops 18.2 cm and length of the reaction coil 210.1 cm. The detection and quantification limits were, respectively, 28.6 and 86.8 μmol/l Fe²⁺, and the precision was 1.27%. The proposed method had an analytical frequency of 30 samples/h and about 95% less volume of FRAP reagent was consumed. The FRAP assay adapted to the FIA system under the optimised conditions was utilised to determine the antioxidant activity of tea samples.     

Optimization of physical and mechanical properties of rubber compounds by a response surface methodological approach

Response surface methodology was used for optimizing the ratio of vegetable oil and carbon black and occluded volume fraction of rubber in the compound. Central composite design for two variables was chosen as the experimental design. The data obtained from measurement of properties was fitted as a two variable second-order equation, and were plotted as contours using software developed from MATLAB v.5.1. From contours it is observed that at the ratio of 0.06 of vegetable oil and carbon black, there is maximum coupling, and a further increment in vegetable oil and carbon black ratio shows less coupling and more plasticizing effect. The ultimate failure properties like tensile and tear strength and elongation decreases with an increase in occluded volume fraction, reaches a minima at the central region, followed by an increase, whereas 300% modulus and hardness decreases throughout.© 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc, J Appl Polym Sci 82: 997-1005, 2001     

Optimization of conditions for hydrogen production from complex dairy wastewater by anaerobic sludge using desirability function approach

Present study deals with the multiple-response optimization for biohydrogen production using anaerobic sludge and outstanding approach to overcome the drawbacks of conventional response surface methodology (RSM). Dairy wastewater was used as source in batch fermentation was followed for this study. Response surface methodology (RSM), based on a three level, four variable Box–Behnken design, was employed to obtain the best possible combination of substrate concentration, pH, COD/N ratio and COD/P ratio for maximum H₂ yield (HY) and specific hydrogen production rate (SHPR). Experimental data were evaluated by applying RSM integrating a desirability function approach. The optimum H₂ yield and SHPR conditions were: substrate concentration 15.3 g COD/L, pH 5.5, COD/N ratio 100.5 and COD/P ratio 120 with maximum overall desirability D of 0.94. The confirmation experiment under these optimal condition showed a HY and SHPR of 13.54 mmol H₂/g COD and 29.91 mmol H₂/g-VSS.d, respectively. This was only 0.22% and 0.20%, respectively, different from the predicted values, suggesting that the desirability function approach with RSM was a useful technique to get the maximum H₂ yield and SHPR simultaneously.     

Optimization of biohydrogen production by Clostridium butyricum EB6 from palm oil mill effluent using response surface methodology

Clostridium butyricum EB6 successfully produced hydrogen gas from palm oil mill effluent (POME). In this study, central composite design and response surface methodology were applied to determine the optimum conditions for hydrogen production (P_c) and maximum hydrogen production rate (R_max) from POME. Experimental results showed that the pH, temperature and chemical oxygen demand (COD) of POME affected both the hydrogen production and production rate, both individually and interactively. The optimum conditions for hydrogen production (P_c) were pH 5.69, 36 °C, and 92 g COD/l; with an estimated P_c value of 306 ml H₂/g carbohydrate. The optimum conditions for maximum hydrogen production rate (R_max) were pH 6.52, 41 °C and 60 g COD/l; with an estimated R_max value of 914 ml H₂/h. An overlay study was performed to obtain an overall model optimization. The optimized conditions for the overall model were pH 6.05, 36 °C and 94 g COD/l. The hydrogen content in the biogas produced ranged from 60% to 75%.     

Correlation between Physical Properties and Shear Adhesion Strength of Enzymatically Modified Soy Protein-Based Adhesives

This work was to correlate physical properties with adhesion properties of soy protein‐based adhesives. By building such a correlation, the adhesion properties can be predicted by measuring physical properties of soy protein‐based adhesives. In this context, three important physical properties, viscosity, tacky force, and water resistance, were selected to correlate with adhesion strength of enzymatically modified soy protein‐based adhesives (ESP). Response surface methodology, specifically central composite design, was used with three independent variables to prepare ESP: trypsin concentration (X₁), incubation time (X₂), and glutaraldehyde (GA) concentration (X₃). The three physical properties measured were all greatly affected by our three independent variables with significance at the 95 % confidence level. The responses were then correlated with the adhesion properties of ESP. In conclusion, viscosity can be used to predict the dry adhesion strength of ESP based on the coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.8558. In addition, tacky force and water resistance can be used to represent wet adhesion strength of ESP based on R² of 0.7082 and 0.6930, respectively (P < 0.05). This work preliminarily identified the significant physical properties that can predict the adhesion strength of the ESP system crosslinked with GA, but the results need to be further confirmed by another protein modification system to give a generic conclusion.     

The optimization of friction spot welding process parameters in AA6181-T4 and Ti6Al4V dissimilar joints

Friction spot welding is a relatively new solid-state joining process able to produce overlap joints between similar and dissimilar materials. In this study, the effect of the process parameters on the lap shear strength of AA6181-T4/Ti6Al4V single joints was investigated using full-factorial design of experiment and analyses of variance. Sound joints with lap shear strength from 4769 N to 6449 N were achieved and the influence of the main process parameters on joint performance was evaluated. Tool rotational speed was the parameter with the largest influence on the joint shear resistance, followed by its interaction with dwell time. Based on the experimental results following response surface methodology, a mathematical model to predict lap shear strength was developed using a second order polynomial function. The initial prediction results indicated that the established model could adequately estimate joint strength within the range of welding parameters being used. The model was then used to optimize welding parameters in order satisfy engineering demands.     

Modeling and Optimization of Nanofluid Flow in Flat Tubes Using a Combination of CFD and Response Surface Methodology

In this paper, modeling and optimization of Al₂O₃–water nanofluid flow in horizontal flat tubes is performed using a combination of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and response surface methodology (RSM). At first, nanofluid flow is solved numerically in various flat tubes using CFD techniques and the heat transfer coefficient () and pressure drop () in tubes are calculated. The numerical simulations are performed using two phase mixture model by FORTRAN programming language. The flow regime and the wall boundary conditions are assumed to be laminar and constant heat flux respectively. In the second step, numerical data of the previous step will be used for a parametric study, modeling and optimization of nanofluid flow in flat tubes using the RSM technique.It is shown that the results include important design information on nanofluid parameters in flat tubes. The important design information about the relationship between design variables and responses will not be achieved without the simultaneous use of CFD and optimization approaches.     

城市避震疏散交通系统及评价方法体系研究

城市避震疏散是城市防灾系统的重要组成部分,是抗震救灾的关键,对地震发生期间避震疏散交通类型、特点及各相关系统展开研究,分析整个系统的构成及特点,探讨疏散交通与疏散空间、疏散通道以及相互之间的关系,在总结前人在避震疏散规划理论和方法的基础上进行梳理和补充,尝试性地建立起一套相对较为完整的评价方法体系,包括了对避震疏散空间的服务覆盖、服务重复和服务质量等,避震疏散通道的通达性和可靠性,以及避震疏散空间与疏散通道相互配合的吻合情况和服务的薄弱度等方面的综合评价。希望通过本研究,为城市进行更加科学合理的避震疏散规划和震前预防、震中避难和震后救援等各项部署提供帮助。     

Stepwise‐refinement for performance: a methodology for many‐core programming

Many‐core hardware is targeted specifically at obtaining high performance, but reaching high performance is often challenging because hardware‐specific details have to be taken into account. Although there are many programming systems that try to alleviate many‐core programming, some providing a high‐level language, others providing a low‐level language for control, none of these systems have a clear and systematic methodology as a foundation. In this article, we propose stepwise‐refinement for performance: a novel, clear, and structured methodology for obtaining high performance on many‐cores. We present a system that supports this methodology, offers multiple levels of abstraction to provide programmers a trade‐off between high‐level and low‐level programming, and provides programmers detailed performance feedback. We evaluate our methodology with several widely varying compute kernels on two different many‐core architectures: a Graphical Processing Unit (GPU) and the Xeon Phi. We show that our methodology gives insight in the performance, and that in almost all cases, we gain a substantial performance improvement using our methodology. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.