Investigation of the Tool Wear Rate in Tungsten Powder-Mixed Electric Discharge Machining of AA6061/10%SiCp Composite

This paper presents the experimental investigation on tool wear rate (TWR) in powder-mixed electrical discharge machining (PMEDM) of aluminum 6061 alloy reinforced with 10% silicon carbide particles (AA6061/10%SiC_p composite). Composite material is fabricated by mechanical stir casting process and further characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Tungsten powder with concentration of 4 g/L is mixed in the dielectric fluid. To know the influence of powder suspension in dielectric fluid on TWR, comparative study is done on the basis of experiments performed using basic EDM and PMEDM process. Experiments have been designed as per central composite rotatable design (CCRD) using response surface methodology (RSM) approach. Four process parameters, namely, peak current, pulse-on time, pulse-off time, and gap voltage have been considered for TWR investigation. Individual and interactive influence of various parameters on TWR is explained with the help of analysis of variance and three-dimensional graphs. Using RSM approach, results have been further optimized. PMEDM approach provides 51.12% reduction in TWR for machining of AA6061/10%SiC_p composite.     

Fibrolytic potential of anaerobic fungi (Piromyces sp.) isolated from wild cattle and blue bulls in pure culture and effect of their addition on in vitro fermentation of wheat straw and methane emission by rumen fluid of buffaloes

BACKGROUND: Ten isolates of anaerobic fungi of Piromyces genus from wild cattle and blue bulls (five isolates from each host species) were evaluated for their fibrolytic ability in pure culture, their suitability for use as a microbial additive in buffaloes and their effect on methane emission. RESULTS: In pure culture, only two out of five isolates from wild cattle degraded wheat straw efficiently, whereas all five isolates from wild blue bulls did. Isolate CF1 (from cattle) showed the highest apparent digestibility (53.4%), true digestibility (70.8%) and neutral detergent fibre digestibility (75.0%) of wheat straw after 5 days of incubation. When added to buffalo rumen fluid, all five isolates from cattle increased (P < 0.05) in vitro apparent digestibility of wheat straw compared with the control (received autoclaved culture), but all five isolates from blue bulls failed to influence in vitro digestibility of wheat straw. Isolate CF1 showed the highest stimulating effect on straw digestion by buffalo rumen fluid microbes and increased apparent digestibility (51.9 vs 29.4%, P < 0.05), true digestibility (57.9 vs 36.5%, P < 0.05) and neutral detergent fibre digestibility (51.5 vs 26.9%, P < 0.05) of wheat straw compared with the control after 24 h of fermentation. There were also significant increases in fungal count and enzyme activities of carboxymethylcellulase and xylanase in the CF1‐added group compared with the control group. Gas and methane production g^?1 truly digested dry matter of straw were comparable among all groups including the control. CONCLUSION: Wild cattle and blue bulls harbour some anaerobic fungal strains with strong capability to hydrolyse fibre. The fungal isolate CF1 has high potential for use as a microbial feed additive in buffaloes to improve digestibility of fibrous feeds without increasing methane emission per unit of digested feed. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Design of efficient fir digital differentiators of second and higher degrees by using universal weights

We propose in this paper an efficient design of FIR digital differentiators of degree k, k= 1, 2, 3,…, and their implementation in a novel structure which allows the order to be varied without having to alter the weights used in it. More precisely, we show that by using these ‘universal weights’ in a structure of order N_max, the order can be varied from N= 3 to N_max while keeping the weights fixed and retaining the optimality of performance. Mathematical formulae have been derived for these ‘universal weights’ for differentiators performing in the low- or midband-frequency ranges.     

Transit vehicle reliability models

This paper presents two mathematical Markov models of repairable transit systems. Laplace transforms of the state probability equations are developed.     

Network reliability evaluation: Application of bathtub failure rate curve

This paper presents reliability evaluation of networks composed of two and three-state devices whose failure rate follows a bathtub curve. Networks reliability equations and (time dependent) curves are presented. Each network reliability time dependent curve is also plotted for the device constant failure rate.     

Bibliography of literature on transit system reliability

This paper presents a brief introduction and an extensive list of selective references on transit system reliability.     

Mass Exchange Between Hamilton Harbour and Lake Ontario

The mass exchange between Hamilton Harbour and Lake Ontario waters through the Burlington Canal is important for estimating the dissolved oxygen budget of the harbour. Lake-harbour exchange is caused by either the oscillatory flow in the canal during isothermal conditions or the densimetric flow during thermal stratification. During the study period (September 1975), the canal water was found to be quasi-isothermal; consequently oscillatory flow existed. A computational method was developed to estimate the exchange based on excursion distance travelled for each limnological episode, and the final flow in each direction was checked with dissolved solids budget. An average of 2.04 × 10⁶ m³.d^?1 (24 m³.s^?l) of harbour water is estimated to flow into the lake, while 0.73 × 10⁶ m³.d^?1 (8 m³.s^?1) of lake water flowed toward the harbour during September 1975. This accounts for the total and net daily exchange of 0.98% and 0.48% of harbour volume, with net exchange being toward the lake. The total and net exchanges were respectively 8 and 4 times the natural drainage during the study period. On a monthly average, more water leaves than enters the harbour. The lake-harbour exchange is considered important for maintaining and even improving the existing harbour water quality. The harbour dilution factor was estimated as 0.0019 per day for the present study.     

Bibliography of literature on nuclear system reliability

This paper presents a brief introduction and an extensive list of references on nuclear system reliability.     

Reliability evaluation of human operators under stress

This paper presents five newly developed models to predict reliability of human operators performing time continous tasks under stress. Laplace transforms of state probability equations and operator reliability are developed. Mean time to human error (MTTHE) expressions are obtained. In addition specific plots are shown for selective models.     

Reliability specifications in engineering design: A survey

This paper presents an extensive up-to-date list of selective literature on reliability specifications for the design and development of engineering systems.