Aero-thermo-mechanical characteristics of imperfect shape memory alloy hybrid composite panels

A nonlinear finite element model is provided to predict the static aero-thermal deflection and the vibration behavior of geometrically imperfect shape memory alloy hybrid composite panels under the combined effect of thermal and aerodynamic loads. The nonlinear governing equations are obtained using Marguerre curved plate theory and the principle of virtual work taking into account the temperature-dependence of material properties. The effect of large deflection is included in the formulation through the von Karman nonlinear strain-displacement relations. The thermal load is assumed to be a steady-state constant-temperature distribution, whereas the aerodynamic pressure is modeled using the quasi-steady first-order piston theory. The Newton-Raphson iteration method is employed to obtain the nonlinear aero-thermal deflections, while an eigenvalue problem is solved at each temperature step and static aerodynamic load to predict the free vibration frequencies about the deflected equilibrium position. Finally, the nonlinear deflection and free vibration characteristics of a composite panel are presented, illustrating the effects of geometric imperfection, temperature rise, aerodynamic pressure, boundary conditions and shape memory alloy fiber embeddings on the panel response.     

Dispersion stability and thermal conductivity of propylene glycol-based nanofluids

The dispersion stability and thermal conductivity of propylene glycol-based nanofluids containing Al₂O₃ and TiO₂ nanoparticles were studied in the temperature range of 20–80 °C. Nanofluids with different concentrations of nanoparticles were formulated by the two-step method and no dispersant was used. In contrast to the common belief, the average particle size of nanofluids was observed to decrease with increasing temperature, and nanofluids showed an excellent stability over the temperature range of interest. Thermal conductivity enhancement for both studied nanofluids was a nonlinear function of concentration and was temperature independent. Theoretical analyses were also performed using existing models compared with experimental results. The model based on the aggregation theory appears to be the best.     

DSC study of the kinetic parameters of the metastable phases formation during non-isothermal annealing of an Al–Si–Mg alloy

Kinetics of β″ and β′ precipitations in an AlSiMg have been studied under non-isothermal conditions using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) technique. The variation of the activation energy as a function of transformed fraction is determined using two isoconversional methods of Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS) and Friedman. The results obtained using the two methods show a change in the activation energy for both metastable phases precipitations as a function of transformed fraction. The results obtained from KAS method as compared with those obtained from Friedman method, show some major disagreements between the two methods. The growth exponent, determined by Ozawa method, decreases as a function of temperature for both phases.     

Synthesis and characterization of a methacrylate polymer with side chain ketone and its derivatives

A new type of methacrylate monomer,2-(4-benzoylphenoxy)-2-oxoethyl methylacrylate(BOEMA) was synthesized.The radical homopolymerization of BOEMA was performed at 65℃in a 1,4-dioxane solution with benzoyl peroxide as an initiator.The oxime and thiosemicarbazone derivatives of poly[2-(4-benzoylphenoxy)-2-oxoethyl methylacrylate]poly(BOEMA) were prepared with hydroxylamine hydrochloride,and thiosemicarbazone hydrochloride, respectively.The monomer and its homopolymer were characterized with Fourier transform infrared and NMR techniques. The thermal stabilities of poly(BOEMA) and its derivatives were investigated with thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry.The ultraviolet stability of the polymers was compared.The antibacterial and antifungal effects of the monomer and the polymer and its derivatives were also investigated on various bacteria and fungi.The activation energies of the thermal degradation of the polymers were calculated with the Ozawa and Kissinger methods.     

Exergoeconomic analysis of a thermochemical copper–chlorine cycle for hydrogen production using specific exergy cost (SPECO) method

The manner is investigated in which exergy-related parameters can be used to minimize the cost of a copper–chlorine (Cu–Cl) thermochemical cycle for hydrogen production. The iterative optimization technique presented requires a minimum of available data and provides effective assistance in optimizing thermal systems, particularly in dealing with complex systems and/or cases where conventional optimization techniques cannot be applied. The principles of thermoeconomics, as embodied in the specific exergy cost (SPECO) method, are used here to determine changes in the design parameters of the cycle that improve the cost effectiveness of the overall system. The methodology provides a reasonable approach for improving the cost effectiveness of the Cu–Cl cycle, despite the fact that it is still in development. It is found that the cost rate of exergy destruction varies between $1 and $15 per kilogram of hydrogen and the exergoeconomic factor between 0.5 and 0.02 as the cost of hydrogen rises from $20 to $140 per GJ of hydrogen energy. The hydrogen cost is inversely related to the exergoeconomic factor, plant capacity and exergy efficiency. The results are expected to assist ongoing efforts to increase the economic viability and to reduce product costs of potential commercial versions of this process. The impact of the results are anticipated to be significant since thermochemical water splitting with a copper–chlorine cycle is a promising process that could be linked with nuclear reactors to produce hydrogen with no greenhouse gases emissions, and thereby help mitigate numerous energy and environment concerns.     

Colorimetric Procedure for the Microdetermination of the Antibilharzial Drug Praziquantel and its Applications to Pharmaceutical Formulations

 A procedure for the colorimetric assay of praziquantel has been developed. The method is based on the formation of charge-transfer complexes with p-chloranil (I), dichloronitrophenol (II), 2,3-dichloro-5,6 dicyano-p-benzoquinone (III), 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (IV) and tetracyanoethylene (V) as π-acceptors to give highly coloured species. The coloured products are measured spectrophotometrically at 550, 425, 460, 844 and 393 nm for I, II, III, IV and V, respectively. Optimization of the different reaction conditions is described. The colour system obeyed Beer’s law in non-aqueous media in the concentration range 2.0–48 μg ml⁻¹. It was stable for at least 4.0 h. The detection limit was found to be 0.6 μg ml⁻¹. Applications of the procedure to the analysis of various pharmaceutical samples gave reproducible and accurate results. Further, the validity of the procedure was confirmed by applying the standard addition technique. The total average recovery was 100.2%. Received June 10, 2000. Revision December 23, 2000.