Integrated FEM/BEM approach to the dynamic and acoustic analysis of plate structures

An integrated finite element/boundary element method approach to the prediction of the interior acoustic radiation of open ended box structures is presented. Dynamic response of the structure is predicted in terms of the nodal displacements under sinusoidal point force excitation using the finite element method. Theoretical results obtained in terms of frequency response functions are verified using the results from tests performed on a box structure. The interior acoustic field is then examined by the boundary element method using the boundary conditions obtained from the finite element analysis. Sound pressure levels produced inside the structure are calculated and the results are compared with the experimental measurements.     

Calculation of the solid solubilities in supercritical carbon dioxide using a new G mixing rule

The aim of this study is to develop a new EOS/G^ex-type mixing rule with special attention to calculating the solid solubilities of aromatic hydrocarbons, aliphatic carboxylic acids, aromatic acids, and heavy aliphatic and aromatic alcohols in supercritical carbon dioxide. A volume correction term is applied with a combination of second and third virial coefficients which the equation for the third virial coefficient is quadratic, according to the suggestion by Hall and Iglesias-Silva. In this study, the cubic Peng-Robinson (PR) and Soave-Redlich-Kwong (SRK) equations of state have been used to calculate the solid solubilities of 23 solutes in supercritical CO₂, by using six mixing rules, namely, the Wong-Sandler (WS) rule, the Orbey-Sandler (OS) rule, the van der Waals one fluid rule with one (VDW1) and two (VDW2) adjustable parameters, the covolume dependent (CVD) rule and the new mixing rule. In all cases, the NRTL model was chosen as the excess Gibbs free energy model. The coefficients of the NRTL model and the binary interaction parameters of six mixing rules with two EOSs (PR and SRK EOSs) have been determined for 100 data sets of 23 binary systems over a wide range of temperatures and pressures covering more than 970 experimental data points which are reported in the literature. The results show that the PR EOS with the new mixing rule model is more accurate than the PR and SRK EOSs with the other mixing rules for solid solubility calculations in supercritical carbon dioxide.The regressed interaction parameters of the binary system, without any further modification, were then extended to four ternary mixtures, giving satisfactory results of the solid solubilities in supercritical CO₂.     

Hourly River Flow Forecasting: Application of Emotional Neural Network Versus Multiple Machine Learning Paradigms

Water Resources Management - Monitoring hourly river flows is indispensable for flood forecasting and disaster risk management. The objective of the present study is to develop a suite of hourly...     

Concrete Produced by Steel-Making Slag (Basic Oxygen Furnace) Addition in Portland Cement

A steel-making slag (basic oxygen furnace) obtained from the Kardemir Steelworks was modified to be used as a clinker additive in the cement industry. This study confirmed that the compressive strength values of concretes produced by addition of these steel-making slags up to 30 mass% were within the values of Grade-325 and Grade-425 steel-making slag cement. This is an attractive alternative for cement manufacturers, because calcined material is expensive, and slag substitutes are very often cheaper, in addition to its low or zero-greenhouse-gas emission.     

Effect of Drug Properties on Physical and Release Characteristics of Eudragit Microspheres Prepared by Spherical Crystallization Technique

Ten compounds having different solubilities and molecular weights were evaluated for incorporation into Eudragit microspheres using the spherical crystallization technique, and the effects of drug-related factors on the properties of Eudragit microspheres were investigated. The entrapment of the active compound within the microspheres was highly dependent on the acidic or basic characteristics of the drug. Structural changes were also observed on the microsphere surface prepared at different pH values. Microspheres prepared with slightly and very slightly soluble drugs such as salicylic acid, naproxen, piroxicam, indomethacin, and methylpred-nisolone indicated controlled-release properties. Generally, drug release from microspheres followed the Fickian diffusion model.     

The synthesis of (N1E,N4E)-N1,N4-bis(pyridine-2-YL) ethylene benzene-1,4-diamine and investigation of its efficiency as new binuclear catalyst complex in copper-based ATRP

(N¹E,N⁴E)-N¹,N⁴-bis(pyridin-2-yl) ethylene benzene-1,4-diamine (BPEBD) was synthesized by condensation of 2-acetyl pyridine and 1,4-diaminobenzene and its efficiency as a catalyst in Cu-based atom transfer radical polymerizations (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and styrene (S) was investigated. Linear first-order kinetic plots were obtained. However, there were induction periods. The apparent rate constant values of ATRP of MMA with CuCl/BPEBD catalyst system in toluene were found to be between 2.10 × 10^?5 and 9.83 × 10^?5 s^?1, while they were between 6.67 × 10^?6 and 3.30 × 10^?5 s^?1 in the case of acetonitrile, indicating the presence of a low radical concentration throughout the polymerizations. Low apparent rate constant values denote a good control over ATRP in general. Apparent rate constant vs [ligand]/[catalyst] ratio plots showed a maximum at the [ligand]/[catalyst] ratio of 1. In the ATRP of MMA in toluene, M _n,GPC values increased linearly with conversion and these molecular weight values were close to M _n,th in comparison to that of in acetonitrile. In the polymerization of S, the control of molecular weights was not good, although the reactions were first-order kinetics. Cyclic voltammetry measurements confirmed that CuCl/BPEBD complex in acetonitrile gives quasi-reversible redox couples, and copper (I) centers in CuCl/BPEBD binuclear catalyst complexes are readily oxidized and it potentially suits to facile ATRP.     

A Modification of Duncombe's Method and its Application to the Lipolytic Activity Assay of Heparin

The proposed method is a modification of the widely used Duncombe's colorimetric FFA determination. This modified method is based on the change of the extraction solvent system and the amount of sodium chloride added to Cu-TEA reagent. Thus the disadvantages as high and unstable blank values, insufficient extraction of Cu-FFA complex, contamination of the organic phase with copper salts were eliminated. This method was successfully applied for the determination of lipolytic activity of heparin and marine algae extracts.