Machinable mica-based glass-ceramic

A glass-ceramic in the K₂O-MgO-Al₂O₃-MgF₂-SiO₂ system was prepared through the sol-gel and alkaline precipitation routes. The powders were hot pressed into workable discs. The glass-ceramic was found to be machinable with conventional tools. Its physical and mechanical properties compare favourably with commercial macor. A dependence of flexure strength on microstructure is also indicated.     

Performance benchmarking of deep learning framework on Intel Xeon Phi

The Journal of Supercomputing - With the success of deep learning (DL) methods in diverse application domains, several deep learning software frameworks have been proposed to facilitate the usage...     

Strategy for robot motion and path planning in robot taping

Covering objects with masking tapes is a common process for surface protection in processes like spray painting, plasma spraying, shot peening, etc. Manual taping is tedious and takes a lot of effort of the workers. The taping process is a special process which requires correct surface covering strategy and proper attachment of the masking tape for an efficient surface protection. We have introduced an automatic robot taping system consisting of a robot manipulator, a rotating platform, a 3D scanner and specially designed taping end-effectors. This paper mainly talks about the surface covering strategies for different classes of geometries. The methods and corresponding taping tools are introduced for taping of following classes of surfaces: Cylindrical/extended surfaces, freeform surfaces with no grooves, surfaces with grooves, and rotational symmetrical surfaces. A collision avoidance algorithm is introduced for the robot taping manipulation. With further improvements on segmenting surfaces of taping parts and tape cutting mechanisms, such taping solution with the taping tool and the taping methodology can be combined as a very useful and practical taping package to assist humans in this tedious and time costly work.     

Neural networks and fuzzy logic-based spark advance control of SI engines

In SI engines, spark advance (SA) needs to be controlled to get Maximum Brake Torque (MBT) timing. Spark advance can be controlled either by open loop or by closed loop controller. The open loop controller requires extensive testing and calibration of engine, to develop look up tables. In closed loop controller, empirical rules relating variables deduced from cylinder pressure are used. One of such empirical rules is to fix location of peak pressure (LPP) at a desired value of the crank angle. In the present work, a combined neural network and fuzzy logic-based control scheme is designed for SA control to get MBT timing. The fuzzy logic controller is designed to maintain LPP of SI engine close to 16° ATDC. The controller works in conjunction with Recurrent Neural Network model for cylinder pressure identification. LPP is estimated from cylinder pressure curve reconstructed using neural network model and is used as feedback signal to fuzzy logic controller. The simulations have been carried out to test the performance of the combined neural network and fuzzy logic-based control strategy. The simulation results show that the proposed strategy can quite satisfactorily control LPP to its desired value.     

Evaluating Relationship of Consistency Ratio and Number of Alternatives on Rank Reversal in the AHP

This article shows the simulation result of the rank reversal phenomenon with respect to the changing values of consistency ratio and the number of alternatives. The simulation result reveals that the number of alternatives and the consistency ratio have significant effect on the occurrence of rank reversal. The more the number of alternatives is, the higher the probability of rank reversal occurrence becomes. The more inconsistent the judgment is, the more likely the rank reversal will occur. This result is based on two-way analysis of variance in which the number of alternatives and the consistency ratio are considered as factors, and the probability of rank reversal occurrence is regarded as the response variable. The number of alternatives of 4 to 7 and the consistency ratios ranging between 0.02 and 0.20 are investigated. The observation is based on the rank reversal that occurs after adding a copy of the best existing alternative.     

Direct Formation of Titanium Carbide via In Situ Carbothermal Reduction of TiO2/Carbon Cladding for Coating Application

Protection of Metals and Physical Chemistry of Surfaces - In situ direct formation of titanium carbide (TiC) was realized via tungsten inert gas (TIG) arc surface cladding using titanium dioxide...     

Influence of Syzygium cumini leaves extract on morphological,thermal, mechanical,and antimicrobial properties of PVA and PVA/chitosan blend films

In the present work, poly(vinyl alcohol)/Syzygium cumini leaves extract (PSN) and poly(vinyl alcohol)/chitosan/S. cumini leaves extract blend films were prepared by solution casting technique. The films were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X‐ray diffraction study, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and universal testing machine. The results indicated that the appreciable physical interaction at lower concentrations of S. cumini leaves extract in the PVA and PVA/chitosan films contribute to the smooth uniform morphology, increased the degree of crystallinity, degradation temperature, and improved mechanical properties. Further, films were analyzed with water contact angle analyzer which illustrates that blend films were hydrophilic (PSN‐1) and hydrophobic (PCS‐1) in nature. However, blend films were also subjected to the antimicrobial study, which revealed that inclusion of S. cumini leaves extracts significantly enhanced the antibacterial activity in the PVA and PVA/chitosan film. With all of these results, fabricated blends can find potential applications in packaging material to extend the shelf life of foodstuffs. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46188.     

Microstructure and microhardness in alumina gel monoliths

Alumina gel monoliths prepared from aluminium isopropoxide through hydrolysis and chemical polymerization are porous, transparent, and consist of ultrafine particles. The monolithic xerogels exhibit lamellar, cellular and fractal microstructures which are found to arise due to instabilities during drying. Phase separation can occur during ageing and drying and influence the microstructure. The Vickers indentation hardness shows a power-law dependence on relative density.     

On construction of a network log management system using ELK Stack with Ceph

The Journal of Supercomputing - A log management system is essential for the networks administrator. With a log management tool, we can collect, store, analyze, archive, and finally dispose of the...