• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.6 no.7
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• pp.867-887
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• 2010

An energy-based variational approach is used for structural dynamic modeling of the IPMC (Ionic Polymer Metal Composites) flapping wing. Dynamic characteristics of the wing are analyzed using numerical simulations. Starting with the initial design, critical parameters which have influence on the performance of the wing are identified through parametric studies. An optimization study is performed to obtain improved flapping actuation of the IPMC wing. It is shown that the optimization algorithm leads to a flapping wing with dimensions similar to the dragonfly Aeshna Multicolor wing. An unsteady aerodynamic model based on modified strip theory is used to obtain the aerodynamic forces. It is found that the IPMC wing generates sufficient lift to support its own weight and carry a small payload. It is therefore a potential candidate for flapping wing of micro air vehicles.

• Advances in Energy Research
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.181-194
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• 2015

In this work, an experimental study of the gasification on wood was carried out in downdraft type fixed bed Gasifier attached with 10 kW duel fuel diesel engine. The main objective of the study was to use wood as the biomass fuel for downdraft Gasifier and to evaluate the operating parameter of gasifier unit to predict its performance in terms of gas yield and cold gas efficiency. The influence of different biomass on fuel consumption rate, gas yield and cold gas efficiency was studied. Composition of producer gas was also detected for measuring the lower heating value of producer gas to select the feed stock so that optimum performance in the existing gasifier unit can be achieved. Under the experimental conditions, Lower heating value, of producer gas, cold gas efficiency and gas yields, using wood as a feed stock, are $4.85MJ/m^3$, 46.57% and $0.519m^3/kg$.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 2009

This paper presents a flyback technology in power conversion aimed at increasing efficiency and power density, reducing cost and using minimum components in AC-DC conversion. The proposed converter provides these features for square waveforms and constant frequency PWM. It is designed to operate in a wide input voltage range of 75-265VAC RMS with two output voltages of 5V and 20V respectively and full load output power of 5W. The proposed converter is suitable for high efficiency and high power density application such as LCDs, TV power modules, AC adapters, motor control, appliance control, telecom and networking products.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.429-443
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• 2018

Fatigue is a principal failure mode for steel structures, and it is still less understood than any other modes of failure. Fatigue life estimation of metal bridges is a major issue for making cost effective decisions on the rehabilitation or replacement of existing infrastructure. The fatigue design procedures given by the standard codes are either empirical or based on nominal stress approach. Since the fatigue life estimation through field measurements is difficult and costly, more researches are needed to develop promising techniques in the fatigue analysis of bridges through Finite Element Analysis (FEA). This paper aims to develop a methodology for the Fatigue life estimation of railway steel bridge using FEA. The guidelines of IIW-1823-07 were used in the development of the methodology. The Finite Element (FE) package ANSYS and the programming software MATLAB were used to implement this methodology on an Indian Railway Standard (IRS) welded plate girder bridge. The results obtained were compared with results from published literature and found satisfactory.

• International Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.6-12
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• 2020

The precise prediction of future position of satellite depends on the accurate determination of orbit, which is also helpful in performing orbit maneuvers and trajectory correction maneuvers. For estimating the orbit of satellite many methods are being used. Some of the conventional methods are based on (i) Differential Correction (DC) (ii) Extended Kalman Filter (EKF). In this paper, Differential Evolution (DE) is used to determine the orbit. Orbit Determination using DC and EKF requires some initial guess of the state vector to initiate the algorithm, whereas DE does not require an initial guess since a wide range of bounds for the design unknown variables (orbital elements) is sufficient. This technique is uniformly valid for all orbits viz. circular, elliptic or hyperbolic. Simulated observations have been used to demonstrate the performance of the method. The observations are generated by including random noise. The simulation model that generates the observations includes the perturbation due to non-spherical earth up to second zonal harmonic term.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.73 no.6
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• pp.667-684
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• 2020

In this article, the static responses of layered magneto-electro-thermo-elastic (METE) plates in thermal environment have been investigated through FE methods. By using Reddy's third order shear deformation theory (TSDT) in association with the Hamilton's principle, the direct and derived quantities of the coupled system have been obtained. The coupled governing equations of METE plates have been derived through condensation technique. Three layered METE plates composed of piezoelectric and piezomagnetic phases are considered for evaluation. For investigating the correctness and accuracy, the results in this article are validated with previous researches. In addition, a special attention has been paid to evaluate the influence of different electro-magnetic boundary conditions and pyrocoupling on the coupled response of METE plates. Finally, the influence of stacking sequences, magnitude of temperature load and aspect ratio on the coupled static response of METE plates are investigated in detail.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.641-651
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• 2017

Ground improvement with use of geosynthetic products is globally accepted now. The present paper discusses the improvement in bearing capacity of square footing placed at surface of cohesionless soil reinforced with geocell. Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion has been used in the observations. To study effects of geocell with respect to planar geogrid, model tests were conducted on planar reinforcement also. A comparative study of unreinforced soil and soil reinforced with plane geogrid and geocell has also been made. Numerical analysis results obtained by PLaxis have been compared with those obtained from model tests and were found to be in good agreement. A parametric study revealed the role of length of reinforcement, spacing between layers, placement of reinforcement from top surface etc. on bearing capacity. A design example given in paper illustrates the savings in cost of construction of footing on reinforced sand. The study shows that there is improvement in bearing capacity with respect to unreinforced soil which is of the order of 86%. Similarly settlement reduction is 13.07% for single layer of geocell which for double layers of geocell is 693% and 86.48% respectively. The cost reduction in case of reinforced soil is 35% as compared to unreinforced soil.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.5-14
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• 2017

In recent years, world has witnessed many man-made activities related to both above and underground blasts. Details on behaviour of shallow foundations subjected to blast loads and induced liquefaction is scarce in literature. In this paper, typical shallow strip foundation in saturated cohesionless soils subjected to both above and underground blasting have been simulated by using finite difference based numerical model FLAC3D. Peak particle velocity (PPV) has been obtained to propose critical values for which bearing capacity failure for shallow foundations with soil liquefaction can occur. Typical results for pore pressure ratio (PPR) for various scaled distances are compared to PPR values obtained by using empirical equation available in literature which shows good agreement. Critical design values obtained in the present study for PPV and PPR to estimate the scaled distance, bearing capacity failure and liquefaction susceptibility can be used effectively for design of shallow strip foundation in cohesionless soil subjected to both above and under ground blast loads.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.211-221
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• 2012

The word 'chintz' is thought to be a corruption of spotted cloth. Printing remained a relatively primitive method of decorating textiles in Europe until the second half of the 17th century. The formation of the English East India Company sparked the influx into the West of painted and printed Indian cotton textiles. A William Sherwin took out the first English patent in 1676. The earlist European designs were florals in the Indian manner. Patterns of European flowers returned to England as birds, flowers, trees, vines and stained glass for Victorian chintz. In France, the original and most successsful manufacturer of the distinctive printed fabrics from Jouy was Christophe Philippe Oberkampf. Copperplate printing was introduced to Jouy in 1770, probably reaching the pinnacle of achievement in the craft after 1783 when Jean-Baptiste Huet became chief designer. Huet's style was widely imitated in France and abroad, and the term 'toile de Jouy' has come to be universally applied to monochrome figurative designs wherever and by whomsoever they were produced. Oberkampf served his apprenticeship as an engraver with some leading manufacturers, including a period in Mulhouse. In Alsace, which was not part of France until 1798, the first factory had opened in 1746 in Mulhouse, and the area soon had the largest number of print-works in France.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.20-31
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• 2014

This paper deals with the development of a realistic shape optimization of damaged columns that are subjected to conservative and non-conservative forces, using the Genetic Algorithm (GA). The analysis is based on the design of the most optimized shape of the column under the constraint of constant weight, considering the Static, Vibrational, and Flutter characteristics. Under the action of conservative and non-conservative longitudinal forces, an elastic column loses its stability. A numerical analysis based on FEM has been performed on a uniform damaged column, to compute the fundamental buckling load, vibration frequency, and flutter load, under various end restraints. An optimization search based on the Genetic Algorithm is then executed, to find the optimal shape design of the column. The optimized column references the one having the highest buckling load, highest vibration frequency, and highest flutter load, among all the possible shapes of the column, for a given volume. A comparison is then made between the values obtained for the optimized damaged column, and those obtained for the optimized undamaged column. The comparison reveals that the incorporation of damage in the column alters its optimal shape to only a certain extent. Also, the critical load and frequency values for the optimized damaged column are comparatively low, compared with those obtained for the optimized undamaged column. However, these results hold true only for moderate-intensity damage cases. For high intensity damage, the optimal shape may not remain the same, and may vary, according to the severity of damage.