Flow characteristics of hyperboloid stirrers

The flows in a fully-baffled vessel with a diameter T = 144 mm driven by hyperboloid stirrers of diameters D = 773 and 27/3 have been visualised and characterised by local measurements of velocity and turbulence and by power number. The results were obtained for a range of rotational speeds from 6 to 40 rev/s. The visualisation showed that the larger stirrer gave rise to a radial jet and that the smaller stirrer formed a jet inclined towards the base of the vessel so that there was a tendency for the system of two vortices, one above and one below the jet, to give way to a single vortex as the clearance between the stirrer and the base of the vessel was reduced. The velocity measurements revealed bulk-flow values an order of magnitude less than that of the maximum radial velocity in the jet, that the maximum radial velocity was 24% of the circumferential velocity of the tip of the stirrer, and that the radial velocities were proportional to the rotational speed. The flows generated by the hyperboloid stirrer were less vigorous than those of Rushton impellers of similar radius and were associated with power numbers 28 times less. The power number did not vary with rotational speed or with clearance within the measured range. The contrast with propeller and disc stirrers is less pronounced, but the hyperbolic profile is likely to find application and the present results provide a basis for choice.     

Application of Taguchi method in determining optimum level of curing system of NBR/PVC blend

Taguchi method is applied in this study to determine the optimum level of curing system (sulfur, MBTS, and CBS) in a NBR/PVC blend. By considering physicomechanical properties of cured NBR/PVC blend, optimum level of curing system is determined. A fixed master batch formulation of NBR/PVC is used, and the effect of curing system is studied on the physicomechanical properties of NBR/PVC blend, such as tensile strength (TS) and elongation‐at‐break (EB) before and after aging and also hardness and abrasion. The L9 orthogonal array that includes nine rows and four columns is applied. In this matrix, rows show the experiments and three columns show the amount of three factors (sulfur, MBTS, and CBS) and one column is left arbitrarily as an empty column. In this array, the columns are mutually orthogonal. The optimum physicomechanical properties of cured NBR/PVC blend are at 2 phr sulfur, 2 phr MBTS, and 0.5 phr CBS of curing system. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 5358–5362, 2006     

Upstream Cutoff and Downstream Filters to Control of Seepage in Dams

The finite element method was used in this study to investigate cutoff walls and downstream filters to control seepage, the exit hydraulic gradient, and uplift forces for dams. Experimental data was used for validating the numerical modelling. The effective parameters are the length of filter and its distance downstream from the dam, the depth of the cutoff walls, the upstream dam head, and the thickness of alluvial foundation. The results show that by increasing filter length, the exit hydraulic gradient, uplift force, and seepage are reduced. The optimum relative length of the filter is L/H?=?0.028 which results in a decrease of about 65% in the exit hydraulic gradient, a 35% decrease in seepage and 10% reduction in the uplift force at the upstream foundation and a 60% decrease in the uplift force at the downstream foundation. Increase of cutoff wall depth reduces the exit hydraulic gradient, uplift force, and seepage. Using two cutoff walls both upstream and downstream of the dam decreases seepage, hydraulic gradient, and uplift force 132%, 450% and 11% respectively. However, using an upstream cutoff and downstream filter decreases seepage, hydraulic gradient, and uplift force by 180%, 490%, and 119% respectively. Thus, based on this study, recommendations for suitable combinations of upstream cutoff and downstream filter are provided.

     

BASE: A bacteria foraging algorithm for cell formation with sequence data

A cellular manufacturing system (CMS) is considered an efficient production strategy for batch type production. A CMS relies on the principle of grouping machines into machine cells and grouping parts into part families on the basis of pertinent similarity measures. The bacteria foraging algorithm (BFA) is a newly developed computation technique extracted from the social foraging behavior of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. Ever since Kevin M. Passino invented the BFA, one of the main challenges has been employment of the algorithm to problem areas other than those for which the algorithm was proposed. This research work studies the first applications of this emerging novel optimization algorithm to the cell formation (CF) problem considering the operation sequence. In addition, a newly developed BFA-based optimization algorithm for CF based on operation sequences is discussed. In this paper, an attempt is made to solve the CF problem, while taking into consideration the number of voids in the cells and the number of inter-cell travels based on operational sequences of the parts visited by the machines. The BFA is suggested to create machine cells and part families. The performance of the proposed algorithm is compared with that of a number of algorithms that are most commonly used and reported in the corresponding scientific literature, such as the CASE clustering algorithm for sequence data, the ACCORD bicriterion clustering algorithm and modified ART1, and using a defined performance measure known as group technology efficiency and bond efficiency. The results show better performance of the proposed algorithm.     

Hybrid metaheuristics for scheduling of machines and transport robots in job shop environment

In real manufacturing environments, the control of some elements in systems based on robotic cells, such as transport robots has some difficulties when planning operations dynamically. The Job Shop scheduling Problem with Transportation times and Many Robots (JSPT-MR) is a generalization of the classical Job Shop scheduling Problem (JSP) where a set of jobs additionally have to be transported between machines by several transport robots. Hence, the JSPT-MR is more computationally difficult than the JSP presenting two NP-hard problems simultaneously: the job shop scheduling problem and the robot routing problem. This paper proposes a hybrid metaheuristic approach based on clustered holonic multiagent model for the JSPT-MR. Firstly, a scheduler agent applies a Neighborhood-based Genetic Algorithm (NGA) for a global exploration of the search space. Secondly, a set of cluster agents uses a tabu search technique to guide the research in promising regions. Computational results are presented using two sets of benchmark literature instances. New upper bounds are found, showing the effectiveness of the presented approach.     

Selection of regression models for predicting strength and deformability properties of rocks using GA

Recently, many regression models have been presented for prediction of mechanical parameters of rocks regarding to rock index properties. Although statistical analysis is a common method for developing regression models, but still selection of suitable transformation of the independent variables in a regression model is difficult. In this paper, a genetic algorithm (GA) has been employed as a heuristic search method for selection of best transformation of the independent variables (some index properties of rocks) in regression models for prediction of uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and modulus of elasticity (E). Firstly, multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis was performed on a data set to establish predictive models. Then, two GA models were developed in which root mean squared error (RMSE) was defined as fitness function. Results have shown that GA models are more precise than MLR models and are able to explain the relation between the intrinsic strength/elasticity properties and index properties of rocks by simple formulation and accepted accuracy.     

Two-dimensional spin coating with a vertical centrifugal force and the effect of artificial gravity on surface leveling

This study focuses on an innovative method for spin coating called the two-dimensional (2D) spin coating method. Using a centrifugal force applied by a rotary machine perpendicular to the wafer surface body, a vertical centrifuge force (VCF) was generated. The VCF allowed controllable artificial gravity acceleration to be generated and caused the coating to face this elevated gravity acceleration to adjust and normalize the high and low surface tension stresses. Previous surface leveling mathematics were analyzed and modified. The modified calculations indicate that the effect of additional gravity exerted on the liquid’s surface can reduce the amplitude of surface leveling. To experimentally investigate this phenomenon, a 2D spin coater was designed and manufactured. Higher artificial gravity overcame some common coating defects, such as cloudiness, edge beading, inner layer bubbling, and unsmooth surface leveling. Photoresist (AZP4620) was used as the coating material. The surface roughness was analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and the layer properties were also imaged by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The AFM results (average and root-mean-square roughness) indicated a decrease in surface leveling amplitude by increasing the VCF. SEM images showed condensed layers without any porosity or rupture. The experimental results agreed with the simulations and calculated values.     

Explaining the Difference Between Real Part and Virtual Design of 3D Printed Porous Polymer at the Microstructural Level

The combination of experimental and numerical approaches is attempted to shed more light on 3D microstructural imperfections and mechanical performance of 3D printed acrylonitrile butadiene styrene parts. The starting point is the virtual building of airy structures using a reverse engineering approach. This approach combines microstructure generator, finite element model, and optimization strategy to propose virtual airy structures satisfying structural and mechanical criteria up to a desired porosity content of 60%. Optimal structures are printed using fused deposition modeling and X‐ray microtomography is used to assess all microstructural defects. Compression testing is performed for load levels above 50% of reduction in sample height. The main outcome of this work is the demonstration of small amount of process induced porosity inducing high pore connectivity. The interdependence of process induced and desired porosity reveals genuine microstructural effects that are only characteristics of 3D printed materials.

     

Synthesis of Chemically Cross-Linked Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose Hydrogels and their Application in Controlled Release of 5-Amino Salicylic Acid

The objective of this study was to achieve the colon-specific delivery of an anti-ulcerative colitis drug using hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) hydrogels. HPMC hydrogels containing poly ethylene glycol (PEG) as cross-links have been prepared by reacting HPMC sodium salt with polyethylene glycol dichloride.

The effect of cross-linking agent on swelling behavior of HPMC-PEG hydrogels, were investigated. Swelling parameters such as equilibrium degree of swelling, swelling ratio and network parameter such as molecular mass between cross-links (M_c) were determined. The cross-linking concentrations were 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% (based on weight of HPMC). The equilibrium swelling ratio (Q) of cross-linked HPMC hydrogels increases from 13.2 to 27.1 as the cross-linker percentage increases from 0.5% to 2%. 5-Aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) was used as a model of an anti-inflammatory drug. Cross-linked HPMC hydrogels were found to be a promising drug delivery system for the drugs to be delivered to the colon.     

Design considerations for a larger inmarsat standard ship earth station

A new standard of INMARSAT ship earth station for multi-channel operation could find particular application on large passenger ships and off-shore oil/gas platforms. This paper provides estimates of platform and ship motions and discusses general design requirements, notably of the antenna system. The discussion includes consideration of possible modulation and multiple access techniques. Single channel per carrier (SCPC) operation is advocated which permits easy integration with the present service to single channel INMARSAT Standard-A ship earth stations. Major parameter/relative cost trade-off curves needed in an overall ship earth station design optimization are presented.