Template languages for fault monitoring of timed discrete eventprocesses

This paper introduces a new framework for modeling discrete event processes. This framework, called condition templates, allows the modeling of processes in which both single-instance and multiple-instance behaviors are exhibited concurrently. A single-instance behavior corresponds to a trace from a single finite-state process, and a multiple-instance behavior corresponds to the timed interleavings of an unspecified number of identical processes operating at the same time. The template framework allows the modeling of correct operation for systems consisting of concurrent mixtures of both single and multiple-instance behaviors. This representation can then be used in online fault monitoring for confirming the correct operation of a system. We compare the class of timed languages representable by template models with classes of timed languages from timed automata models. It is shown that templates are able to model timed languages corresponding to single and multiple-instance behaviors and combinations thereof. Templates can thus represent languages that could not be represented or monitored using timed automata alone     

Nonlinear flexural oscillations of orthotropic shallow spherical shells

The effect of curvature and polar orthotropy on nonlinear dynamic behaviour of a shallow spherical shell is investigated in the present paper. Numerical solutions based on an assumed two-term modeshape for the axisymmetric, forced (uniform pressure) and free vibrations are obtained for different shell geometries and orthotropic material constants. The results, when specialised for the case of isotropic material, are in good agreement with those available in the literature. Based on a one-term modeshape solution, the values of the geometric parameter at which the transition from hardening to softening type of nonlinearity takes place and where the reversal of the softening trend occurs are obtained for different values of the orthotropic constants.     

Spectral pathways for effective delineation of high-grade bauxites: a case study from the Savitri River Basin,Maharashtra, India,using EO-1 Hyperion data

Bauxite, the only source of aluminium, is an aggregate of minerals, most of which are oxides and hydroxides of aluminium and iron such as gibbsite, bohemite, goethite and haematite. Bauxite is used in the chemical and refractory industries and its quality is controlled by the presence of impurities such as iron and silica. Bauxite commonly occurs together with iron-rich laterites as alteration products of parental igneous and metamorphic rocks. Aluminium-rich bauxites grade towards highly ferruginous laterites with a transitional Al-rich laterites or ferruginous bauxite, herein described as Al-laterites. In the Savitri River Basin, bauxite contains 58–75% gibbsite, 6–11% goethite and 19–26% haematite, whereas the mineralogy of Al-laterites and Fe-laterites are dominated by haematite (29–68%) and goethite (6–25%) with subordinate amounts of gibbsite. Conventional techniques to demarcate the high-grade pockets of bauxites rich in gibbsite are tedious, time consuming and involve detailed field sampling and geochemical analyses. Our work illustrates how spectral properties of these three litho-units can be effectively utilized in mapping of high-grade bauxites occurring over wide areas using hyperspectral remote sensing (HRS). The methodology adopted herein involves generation of noise-free field spectral database of target materials, linear unmixing of field spectra for constituent minerals, classification of preprocessed Hyperion images using field spectra and finally accuracy assessment for ore grade estimation. It is observed that bauxite mapping using Hyperion data and noise-free field spectra yielded results that correlate well with the chemistry and mineralogy of representative samples. By adopting the above procedure, we achieved classification accuracies of 100%, 71% and 89% for bauxite, Al-laterite and Fe-laterite classes, respectively.     

R & D work in composites at the fibre-reinforced plastics research centre

This paper briefly presents some of the R & D activities taken up by the Fibre-Reinforced Plastics (Frp) Research Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, in the last seven years. The studies covered in this paper include the analysis of heat shield, development of vibration mounting for rocket motor casings, design and development of metal-lined pressure bottles, study of the effect of nuclear radiation on filament wound shells, design and development of high voltage disc insulators, study of underwater-acoustic characteristics ofFrp and development of some of the processing techniques. The paper also lists a number of products developed by the Centre for meeting the immediate needs of society. Finally, the ongoing academic and sponsored research programmes are briefly outlined.