Failure analysis of a wire rope

Wire ropes, pulleys, counterweights, and connecting systems are used for auto tensioning of contact wires of electric railways. A wire rope in one such auto tensioning system suffered premature failure. Failure investigation revealed fatigue cracks initiating at nonmetallic inclusions near the surface of individual wire strands in the rope. The inclusions were identified as Al-Ca-Ti silicates in a large number of stringers, and some oxide and nitride inclusions were also found. The wire used in the rope did not conform to the composition specified for AISI 316 grade steel, nor did it satisfy the minimum tensile strength requirements. Failure of the wire rope was found to be due to fatigue; however, the ultimate fracture of the rope was the result of overload that occurred after fatigue failure had reduced the number of wire strands supporting the load.     

建立基于模型设计文化的最佳策略

本文引入了基于模型设计的概念,突出了其中的一些优点,详细讨论了组织中采用基于模型设计文化的10个最佳策略。这些最佳策略从不同工业领域的公司中收集,包括向基于模型设计的成功或者不成功的过渡。     

Fast algorithm for pseudodiscrete Wigner-Ville distribution usingmoving discrete Hartley transform

A new fast algorithm is proposed to compute pseudodiscrete Wigner-Ville distribution (PDWVD) in real-time applications. The proposed algorithm uses the moving discrete Hartley transform to compute the Hilbert transform and thereby implements the PDWVD in real domain. The computational complexity of the proposed algorithm is derived and compared with the existing algorithm to compute the PDWVD     

Novel tin-graphite composites as negative electrodes of Li-ion batteries

For the purpose of obtaining an improved performance of the graphite negative electrode of Li-ion batteries, a novel graphite-tin composite has been synthesized by reduction of tin chloride (SnCl₂) with KC₈ in THF medium. This composite contains nano-sized tin particles dispersed on the graphite surface and free tin aggregates. Lithium electrochemical insertion occurs both in graphite and in tin. An experimental reversible specific charge of 489 mA h g⁻¹ is found stable upon cycling. Such a value is lower than the maximum theoretical one of 609 mA h g⁻¹ suggesting that only a part of tin is involved in the lithium insertion/extraction process. This part of active tin responsible for the stable capacity could be that bound to graphite. To the contrary, free tin aggregates could contribute to an extra capacity that decreases upon cycling in relation with the volume changes that occurs during alloying/dealloying.     

Introducing robustness in model predictive control with multiple modelsand switching

Model predictive control is model-based. Therefore, the procedure is inherently not robust to modelling uncertainties. Further, a crucial design parameter is the prediction horizon. Only offline procedures to estimate an upper bound of the optimal value of this parameter are available. These procedures are computationally intensive and model-based. Besides, a single choice of this horizon is perhaps not the best option at all time instants. This is especially true when the control objective is to track desired trajectories. In this paper, we resolve the issue by a time-varying horizon achieved by switching between multiple model-predictive controllers. The stability of the overall system is discussed. In addition, an introduction of multiple models to handle modelling uncertainties makes the overall system robust. The improvement in performance is demonstrated through several examples.     

Conductivity and viscosity studies of ethylene carbonate based solutions containing lithium perchlorate

Specific conductivities and viscosities of lithium perchlorate at four different concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 M) in ethylene carbonate (EC) based binary mixed solvent systems at 25°C are reported. The co-solvents chosen were tetrahydrofuran (THF), 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) and 1,3-dioxolane (DOL). Viscosity variations in all the three mixed solvent systems without electrolyte showed negative deviation from ideal behaviour thereby indicating the occurrence of a structure breaking effect in these three different binary systems. The increase in viscosity with increase in concentration of LiClO₄ is attributed to the structural enhancement through the formation of a solvated complex which occupies interstitials in the solvent mixtures. 1 M LiClO₄ solution shows maximum specific conductivity at 30 vol % EC for EC + DME and EC + DOL mixtures and at 50 vol % EC for EC + THF mixtures. Conductivity variations are explained on the basis of preferential solvation of lithium perchlorate by co-solvents (THF, DME and DOL) in their respective mixtures with ethylene carbonate.     

Solving singular control problems using uniform trigonometrization method

This study investigates the application of a recently developed construct, the uniform trigonometrization method (UTM), to the singular control problems in chemical engineering. The UTM involves minimal modifications to the original problem, thereby generating near-singular control solutions that can be used for conceptual design and serve as an alternate to direct techniques like nested and simultaneous approaches. Eight classical singular control problems with known analytical solutions and three complex singular control problems from chemical engineering domain are solved in this study. The results obtained using the UTM for these problems are found to match well with the literature and are of higher resolution as compared to the results obtained using a direct pseudospectral-based solver. The ability of the UTM to handle complex chemical engineering problems with both singular controls and state path constraints has also been demonstrated in this study.     

Thermal,mechanical and γ-ray shielding properties of micro- and nano-Ta2O5 loaded DGEBA epoxy resin composites

In this work, we have investigated the synergistic effect of micro- and nano-Ta₂O₅ fillers in the epoxy matrix on the thermal, mechanical, and radioprotective properties of the composites. Morphological analysis revealed uniform dispersion of fillers in the matrix. Both the thermal stability and tensile properties of matrices have enhanced in the presence of fillers. Although the nanocomposites showed significantly higher tensile strength and Youngs modulus compared to micro-composites, the enhancement in these properties was predominant at low loadings. Dynamic mechanical analysis indicated good interfacial adhesion and positive reinforcing effect on the matrix even at higher loading (30 wt%) of nano-Ta₂O₅. γ-Ray attenuation studies performed in the energy range of 0.356–1.332 MeV revealed better γ-ray shielding ability of nanocomposites compared to microcomposites at same weight fraction of fillers. In particular, γ-ray attenuation at 0.356 MeV for 30 wt% nano-Ta₂O₅ loaded epoxy composite was enhanced by around 13% compared to the microcomposite at the same loading. Increased surface-to-volume ratio of nanofillers and consequent increase in matrix-filler adhesion and radiation-matter interaction have manifested in an overall enhancement in the thermal, mechanical, dynamic mechanical, and radiation shielding characteristics of nano-Ta₂O₅/epoxy composites, proving them as promising γ-ray shields.