On the stability of adaptation process in active noise control systems

The stability analysis of the adaptation process, performed by the filtered-x least mean square algorithm on weights of active noise controllers, has not been fully investigated. The main contribution of this paper is conducting a theoretical stability analysis for this process without utilizing commonly used simplifying assumptions regarding the secondary electro-acoustic channel. The core of this analysis is based on the root locus theory. The general rules for constructing the root locus plot of the adaptation process are derived by obtaining root locus parameters, including start points, end points, asymptote lines, and breakaway points. The conducted analysis leads to the derivation of a general upper-bound for the adaptation step-size beyond which the mean weight vector of the active noise controller becomes unstable. Also, this analysis yields the optimum step-size for which the adaptive active noise controller has its fastest dynamic performance. The proposed upper-bound and optimum values apply to general secondary electro-acoustic channels, unlike the commonly used ones which apply to only pure delay channels. The results are found to agree very well with those obtained from numerical analyses and computer simulation experiments.     

Effect of the conversion degree and multiple healing on the healing efficiency of a thermally reversible self‐healing polymer

In this paper, the effect of the cross‐links' conversion degree on the healing efficiency of a thermally remendable polymer based on the Diels‐Alder (DA) reaction was studied quantitatively. By using the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results along with the Kissinger method, the conversion degree of the thermally reversible cross‐links was predicted as a function of time and temperature. For investigating the healing efficiencies at different conversion degrees, three‐point bending specimens were fabricated under certain curing conditions, which guaranteed the formation of both reversible and irreversible bonds. Afterward, specimens failed under three‐point bending test and healed up to certain conversion degrees. The results revealed on average 15%, 38%, and 83% recovery of flexural strength and 89%, 91%, and 93% recovery of flexural modulus at conversion degrees of 0.6, 0.8, and 1, respectively. Moreover, by repeating the damaging and healing procedure, it was shown that the synthesized polymer has the capability to be healed several times.     

Microfluidic characteristics of a multi-holed baffle plate micro-reactor

As part of a larger project aiming at development of a miniaturized hydrogen generator for small mobile/onboard fuel cell applications, a series of experiments was conducted on a novel micro-reactor to examine the effectiveness of its design in promoting the mixing of reactant agents. The reactor is essentially a tubular vessel fitted with a multi-holed baffle plate mounted on a central tube. The mixing phenomenon within the micro-reactor was studied using the micro-PIV (micro-particle image velocimetry) flow visualization technique. Experiments were conducted on a 1:1 scale replica of the reactor. Results indicate that the application of the multi-holed baffle plate considerably improves the mixing performance of the reactor when compared with a simpler co-axial jet tubular reactor. However, the geometrical characteristics of the baffle plate and central tube are found to have dramatic impacts upon the flow structure and mixing patterns within the reactor. Hence, the optimization of the reactor geometry is required to achieve the desirable mixing performance. For the range of Reynolds numbers studied here, the optimum reactor geometry is achieved when the central tube and baffle holes are of similar diameters and baffle holes are located half way between the stream-wise axis and the reactor wall.     

Construction of an Amperometric Glucose Biosensor by Immobilization of Glucose Oxidase on Nanocomposite at the Surface of FTO Electrode

Fluorine? tin oxide (FTO) nanostructure was developed on the surface of a glass plate using spray payroliziz method. A new electrochemical biosensor was fabricated based on a layer by layer process. In this process chitosan? Fe₃O₄ (CH? Fe₃O₄) nanocomposite film was prepared at the surface of FTO electrode by dip? coating method. In the next step, the glucose oxidase (GOx) was immobilized on the CH? Fe₃O₄/FTO nanocomposite electrode. The GOx/CH? Fe₃O₄/FTO bioelectrode has a linear range of 10–270 µM and a detection limit of 5 µM. The highest sensitivity was obtained at 1.2 µA mM^?1 cm^?2.     

Sensitivity Enhancement in Nickel Hydroxide/3D‐Graphene as Enzymeless Glucose Detection

A nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)₂)/3D‐graphene composite is used as monolithic free‐standing electrode for enzymeless electrochemical detection of glucose. Ni(OH)₂ nanoflakes are synthesized by using a simple solution growth procedure on 3D‐graphene foam which was grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The pore structure of 3D‐graphene allows easy access to glucose with high surface area, which leads to glucose detection with an ultrahigh sensitivity of 3.49 mA mM^?1 cm^?2 and a significant lower detection limit up to 24 nM. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and potentionstatic mode is used for non‐enzymatic glucose sensing. The impedance and effective surface area have been studied well. The high sensitivity, low detection limit and simple configuration of Ni(OH)₂/three dimensional (3D)‐graphene composite electrodes can evoke its industrial application in glucose sensing devices.     

Effect of temperature level on parallel mixing of two gas streams

In the present paper, attention is focused to clarify how temperature level may affect parallel mixing of two gas streams initially separated by a splitter plate. This is achieved by computing distinct cases with different inlet temperatures and comparing the corresponding results. A recently proposed kinetic model is utilized for the simulation of the flow field. The model provides a separate equation set for one component species of the system and an equation set for average quantities of the mixture. Thereby, it can automatically describe diffusion processes without the use of any coefficients for ordinary, pressure, and thermal diffusion which are generally required during Navier-Stokes computations of gas mixtures.     

Spectral features of Ge50−ySbxTe50−x+y alloys where 0x15 and 0y30 in thin film state

Optical spectral features of Ge_50−ySb_xTe_50−x+y alloys where 0x15 and 0y30 in the thin film state were measured. The transmittance and reflectance have been measured at normal incidence at room temperature in the spectral range 190–2500 nm for all compositions with different thicknesses. Refractive index and extinction coefficient have been evaluated in the above spectral range. Band tail width and the band edge parameter were almost constant for all samples with different compositions. Absorption band spectrum on the basis of the imaginary parts of the dielectric constant, ε₂, was applied in evaluating the optical band gap.     

Studying the effects of the addition of TiN nanoparticles to Ni–P electroless coatings

The effects of the addition of nano TiN on the surface morphology, deposition rate, hardness and corrosion properties of Ni–P electroless coatings were studied. Heat treatment was conducted to compare the corrosion and hardness behavior of the coatings before and after heat treatment. It was observed that the incorporation of TiN particles into the coating has an adverse effect on the corrosion properties of the specimens. The hardness of the specimens increased dramatically by adding TiN. Furthermore, the hardness of the specimens increased after conducting the heat treatment. The corrosion and hardness behavior of the Ni–P system after heat treatment largely depended on the temperature of heat treatment. The heat treatment temperatures at which the desired corrosion and hardness properties were expected were determined.     

A multi-objective approach to simultaneous determination of spare part numbers and preventive replacement times

Different models have been proposed in the field of preventive maintenance planning for finding optimal age replacement policies. While previous studies have focused mainly on classical cost objectives, this paper presents a novel multi-objective model for preventive replacement of a part over a planning horizon. The proposed model considers different objectives and practical issues, such as corrective replacement and its consequences, residual lifetime objective, and kind of productivity index. Also, the model determines number of spare parts, required for replacement with the defected part, to be provided at the beginning of the planning horizon. The multi-objective model is applicable for machines or equipments which are repaired through replacing their defected part with new spare part.For solving the multi-objective model, regarding to ability of ε-constraint method to generate different pareto-optimal solutions, a procedure is developed based on this method. The procedure shows how the ε-constraint method can be used for finding preferred solution in situations where there is no access to decision maker. The model and solution procedure are illustrated by a numerical example.     

A general super element for a curved beam

Corrugated panels have gained considerable popularity in a range of engineering applications, particularly in morphing skin applications. The optimum design of these structures needs simple models of the corrugated panels that may be incorporated into multi-disciplinary system models. Considering the geometric and mechanical properties of the corrugated panel, a generic super element of a corrugated core unit cell with elastomeric coating for morphing structures is investigated in this paper. The super element captures the small deformation of a 2D thin curved beam with variable curvature and is based on an exact analytical equivalent model which avoids any homogenization assumption. The stiffness matrix of a general curved beam element for a corrugated unit cell with elastomeric coating is derived. Different geometries are investigated to verify the accuracy and efficiency of the presented super element. The super element uses the geometric and mechanical properties of the panel as variables that may be applied for further topology optimization studies. The parametric studies of different corrugation shapes demonstrate the suitability of the proposed super element for application in further detailed design investigations.