022977   Sudhir Kumar;Kumar H (Mechanical Engineering Dep, Krishna Engineering College, Ghaziabad, Email: sudhirabes@gmail.com ) : Development and testing of ring shaped force transducers. J scient ind Res 2014, 73(2), 103-6.

The present paper discusses the development of ring shaped force transducers. The force transducers developed have been designed on the basis of thin rings. The force transducers are developed for the nominal capacity of 100 N and in this range the ring shaped force transducers are generally not available. Hence, effort has been done for developing - 307 - precision force transducers of ring shape due to simplicity of shape and ease of manufacturing. The force transducers have been calibrated according to the calibration procedure based on IS 4169-1988 (reaffirmed 2003). The uncertainty of measurement for the force transducers developed has been evaluated while taking the uncertainty components due to relative repeatability, relative interpolation, and relative zero offset etc. The results have been reported here. The approach adopted may further be extended to develop the force transducers of similar shape for lower capacity like 10N, 20N & 50N for future research work.

3 illus, 8 ref

022976   Sudarshan Rao K;Varadarajan Y S;Rajendra N (Mechanical Engieering Dep, Vivekananda College of Engineering & Technology, Putur-574 203, Email: sudakapu@gmail.com) : Artificial neural network approach for the prediction of abrasive wear behavior of carbon fabric reinforced epoxy composite. Indian J Engng Mater Sci 2014, 21(1), 16-22.

Artificial neural networks have emerged as a good candidate to mathematical wear models, due to their capabilities of handling nonlinear behavior, learning from experimental data and generalization. In the present work the potential of using neural networks for the prediction of abrasive wear properties of unfilled and graphite filled carbon fabric reinforced epoxy composite under various testing conditions is investigated. Back propagation neural network with 3-5-1 architecture has been used to predict the weight loss in abrasive wear situation. The network performance of different training algorithms is evaluated using the coefficient of determination B, sum squared error, mean relative error, mean squared error and regression as a quality measure. The results show that the performance of Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) training algorithm is superior to all other algorithms. Finally, the well-optimized and trained neural network with LM training algorithm is used to predict the wear properties as a function of testing conditions, according to the input data sets. The results show that the predicted data are perfectly acceptable when compared to the actual experimental test results. Hence, a well-trained artificial neural networks system is expected to be very helpful for estimating the weight loss in the complex three-body abrasive wear situation of polymer composites.

5 illus, 3 tables, 12 ref

022975   Suchetha M;Kumaravel N (ECE Dep, Velammal Engineering College, Chennai) : Empirical mode decomposition-based subtraction techniques for 50 Hz interference reduction from electrocardiogram. IETE J Res 2013, 59(1), 55-61.

In general, most of the Biomedical signals such as Electrocardiogram (ECG), Electroencephalogram, and Electro-oculogram are nonstationary signals, suffers from different interferences like power line interference (PLI) and with other biomedical signals that gets added with it. Analysis of these signals means the extraction of useful information from the signal, and in this paper it is carried out using a new nonlinear and nonstationary data analysis method called Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD). The key feature of this method is that it can decompose the signal into different IMFs and makes the analysis simple. Compared with other tools like Fourier analysis and wavelet methods, EMD is purely a data-driven and adaptive technique. Thus, it is well suited to analyze nonstationary signals like biosignals. This paper foregrounds an EMD-based, two-weight adaptive filter structure to reduce the PLI in ECG signals. Two methodologies are studied based on EMD and the simulations are carried out in a MATLAB environment. The denoised signals are visually impressive and the methodologies are well suited for real-time implementation.

6 illus, 1 table, 20 ref

022974   Sri Kalvana Rama J;Rao B P (Civil Engineering Dep, V.R. Siddhartha Engineering College, Vijayawada-520 007, Email: jskr.publications@gmail.com) : Strengthening of plain and reinforced concrete plates using fiber reinforced polymer-computational approach. Int J civ struct Engng 2013, 4(1), 46-53.

Formation of cracks in concrete is becoming a major threat in reducing the service life of a structure. Apart from the design standards for limit state of collapse it is also essential to analyze a sturcture for crack initiation and propagation. Modulus of Elasticity and Poisson's ratio of a material also play a crucial role in the release of energy during crack propagation. So, it is essential to analyze the structure considering the fracture behavior during crack propagation. The present work deals with the strengthening of plain and reinforced concrete plate subjected to fracture using Fiber Reinforced Polymer. A three-dimensional finite element analysis is carried out using ANSYS for obtaining the strain energy release rates for different types of concrete based on their Modulus of Elasticity and Poisson's ratio. Results obtained were in good agreement in arresting the crack growth when fibers are oriented at an angle of 45° in the plate.

7 illus, 4 tables, 22 ref

022973   Sivanantham A;Jayabal P;Vasanthi C; Vishnukanthan V;Mayandi J (Materials Science Dep, School of Chemistry, Madurai Kamaraj Univ, Madurai-625 021, Email: jeyanthinath@yahoo.co.in) : Novel method of synthesis and device formation of ZnO layered dye sensitized solar cell. Invertis J renewable Energy 2013, 3(2), 74-8.

A novel attempt has been made to fabricate ZwO nanostructure by simple method of oxidizing zinc, employing direct electric current heating method. For the synthesis of ZnO nanostructure, in the study the galvanized iron wire was used as the source of zinc. The synthesized ZnO nanostructure was characterized using various optical techniques such as photoluminescence, FTIR spectroscopy. The ZnO formation was confirmed from the spectra of different optical studies and also determined by SEM with EDAX. Also the DSSC was fabricated with the layer of grown ZnO nanostructure on TzO₂, and studied the photocurrent. Our DSSC device doesn't show prominent I-V characteristics, rather noticed a diode characteristic.

7 illus, 14 ref

022972   Siddiqui N A;Selvan R T;Ziauddin A (NO, , , Email: nehalseema@yahoo.com) : Risk assessment - a tool to minimize the accidents. Pollut Res 2012, 31(1), 77-82.

Accidents in industries are common features in most of the industries. Introduction of multinational companies in India and some major accidents worldwide like Flexibrough, Seveso and Bhopal gas tragedy have opened the eyes of regulatory agencies and - 305 - industry owners. Safer design and intrinsic safe equipment are now used in the industries to avoid accidents but still accidents happen due to one reason or another and that causes direct and indirect losses to the company and some time to the Nation. Concept of risk analysis and management is introduced to prioritize the risk and how to control it. Risk analysis is also part of Environmental Impact Assessment and also it is mandatory requirement by Insurance Companies to take the insurance of the company. In this paper an attempt has been made to give the concept of risk assessment, steps of conducting risk assessment and advantages of this study.

2 illus, 7 ref

022971   Siddiqui F Y;Shaikh S U;Sharma R (Thin Film and Nanotechnology Laboratory, Physics Dep, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada Univ, Aurangabad-431 004, Email: ramphalsharma@yahoo.com) : Band gap engineering of ternary nanostructured CdS_0.8Se_0.2 thin films for photosensor application. Invertis J renewable Energy 2013, 3(2), 67-73.

Ternary nanostructured CdS_0.8Se_0.2 thin film was prepared on to glass substrate by a simple and economical soft chemical route at 50 °C at room temperature. The as-grown films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), optical and electrical measurements. Tlie XRD patterns reveal that CdS_0.8 Se_0.2 thin films have hexagonal mixed nanostructure as compare to CdS and CdSe thin films. SEM images showed uniform deposition of the material over the entire glass substrate. The optical study reveals shift in the absorption edge towards the higher wavelengths, i.e. the band gap decreases as compared to CdS. Electrical resistivity shows semiconducting behavior and activation energy varies as compared to CdS and CdSc. I-V measurement of CdS_0.8Se_0.2 thin film under dark and illumination conditions (60W) was measured. Increase in photoconductivity is observed, suggesting its applicability in photosensors devices.

6 illus, 21 ref

022970   Shivashankar R;Jayaraj J (Civil Engineering Dep, National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, Mangalore-575 025) : Behaviour of prestressed geosynthetic reinforced granular beds overlying weak soil. Indian Geotech J 2014, 44(1), 26-38.

This paper presents an analytical model for predicting the improvement in bearing capacity of geosynthetic reinforced granular beds overlying weak soil due to prestressing the reinforcement. A punching shear failure mechanism is envisaged in the analytical model. Results obtained from a series of laboratory scale bearing capacity tests and finite element analyses are used to validate the model. The addition of prestress to the reinforcement results in significant improvement of the settlement response and the load-bearing capacity of the foundation. The parameters studied are strength of underlying weak soil, thickness of granular bed, magnitude of prestressing force, direction of prestressing forces, type of reinforcement and number of layers of reinforcement. The bearing capacity ratios (BCRs) values predicted by the analytical model are found to be in good agreement with the experimentally obtained BCR values. Finite element analysis are carried out using the FE program PLAXIS to study the effect of prestressing the reinforcement. Results obtained from finite element analysis are found to be in reasonably good agreement with the experimental results.

10 ref

022969   Shih M H;Sung W P (Civil Engineering Dep, National Chi Nan Univ, Puli, Nantou 545, Taiwan, Email: wps@ncut.edu.tw) : Application of digital image correlation method for analysing crack variation of reinforced concrete beams. Sadhana 2013, 38(4), 723-41.

The Digital Image Correlation (DIC) method is a fast-growing emerging technology that provides a low-cost method for measuring the strain of an object. In this study, the feasibility of using this method to observe cracks developed in reinforced concrete beams will be explored so that a practical application can be proposed. The DIC method has been applied for analysing the field of surface displacement and strain; it is not applicable for measuring non-continuous field of displacement. However, if a singular point (i.e., crack points) can be considered as the area of concentrated strain by imitating the treatment of micro-cracks using the finite element method, the region of concentrated strain field based on analyses of digital images can be applied for determining the locations of cracks. Laboratory results show that cracks developed in reinforced cement beams can be observed with a good precision using the von Mises strain field, and that smaller grids lead to clearer crack images. In addition to identifying visible cracks, the DIC image analysis will enable researchers to identify minute cracks that are not visible to naked eyes. Additionally, the DIC method has more accuracy and precision than visual observation for analysing crack loadings so that earlier - 304 - warnings can be realized before cracks develop in the specimen.

26 illus, 2 tables, 16 ref

022968   Shetty R S;Prashanth M H;Channappa T M; Ravikumar C M (Structural Engineering, NITK, Surathkal, Email: channappatm@gmail.com) : Vibration suppression of steel truss railway bridge using tuned mass dampers. Int J civ struct Engng 2013, 4(1), 63-71.

Structural damages and economic losses caused by natural disaster like earthquakes concerns about structural safety and led to the proposal of various strategies to improve the dynamic performance of bridges. The steel truss railway bridge experiences dynamic vibrations due to train loading and earthquake loading. This paper presents the application of passive control device such as Tuned Mass Dampers (TMD) to steel truss railway bridge, which is used to reduce the vibration of bridge structures. The steel truss railway bridge is subjected to live load such as Heavy Mineral Loading (HMT) i.e. train loading and earthquake loading. The bridge structure is modelled using commercially available finite element software SAP 2000. The response parameters such as displacement, accelerations are observed for steel truss Railway Bridge with and without TMD for HMT loading and earthquake loading. The reduction in the displacement and acceleration are observed for bridge structure with TMD when compared to bridge structure without TMD.

10 illus, 5 tables, 13 ref

022967   Shah D (NO, , Brugg Kabel AG, Switzerland) : Long-term experience with EHV/UHV XLPE cable systems upto 400 KV. Wat Energy int 2013, 70(4), 12-6.

022966   Sert A;Celik O N (Mechanical Engineering Dep, Eskisehir Osmangazi Univ, 26480-Eskisehir, Turkey, Email: celikon@gmail.com) : Wear behavior of SiC-reinforced surface composite Al7075-T651 aluminum alloy produced using friction stir processing. Indian J Engng Mater Sci 2014, 21(1), 35-43.

Surface of aluminum alloy A17075-T651 is modified with SiC ceramic particles using the friction stir processing (FSP). The process is carried out at a constant tool rotation speed of 710 rpm and tool feed rates of 20, 40 and 56 mm/min. The wear properties of the modified surfaces are determined using the ball-on-disk configuration at a linear speed of 2.5 cm/s and at normal loads of 2, 4 and 5 N. The microstructural properties of the worn surfaces are determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) and optical microscopy. Although an improvement is - 303 - observed in the grain structure and wear properties of the FSP-modified surface specimens, the average hardness decreased despite the SiC particle reinforcement. The wear tests show that the samples reinforced with SiC particles exhibit better wear properties under a 2 N normal load compared with the untreated specimens.

13 illus, 35 ref

022965   Sendhil Kumar S;Senthil Kumar M (NO, Anna Univ, Chennai, Email: ssk333c@yahoo.co.in) : Condition monitoring of rotating machinery through vibration analysis. J scient ind Res 2014, 73(4), 258-61.

Condition monitoring, commonly referred to as predictive maintenance, a proven approach to improve the reliability and productivity in any industries. Its underlying philosophy is that technology can be used to measure and evaluate the condition of plant assets and equipment; enabling intelligent decisions in regard to maintenance activities. Maintenance processes are adopted by almost all the industries and are going well with preventive maintenance, but could not totally implement the predictive maintenance to practice, especially in the small and medium scale industries. Predictive maintenance by condition monitoring techniques will increase the efficiency, industrial safety and will reduce the maintenance cost. This paper gives the brief idea of condition monitoring in a nutshell referring to vibration analysis.

2 illus, 16 ref

022964   Satwant Kaur (NO, First Lady of Emerging Technologies, Silicon Valley, USA, Email: satwant@drsatwantkaur.com) : How to secure the bluetooth insecure world!. IETE Tech Rev 2012, 30(2), 95-101.

The number of Bluetooth Devices has increased to billions. However, the Bluetooth Technology continues to have inherent vulnerabilities and is subject to security attacks. In this column "Pushing Frontiers with the First Lady of Emerging Technologies", Dr. Satwant Kaur explains how her vision of how this Bluetooth Insecure World can be secured. She discusses the widespread use of this technology in all fields, the internals of Bluetooth Technology LE, its security mechanisms, its vulnerabilities and attacks, and details critical steps needed to help protect data and devices in Bluetooth transmissions.

022963   Sarkar R;Maheshwari B K (Civil Engineering Dep, Bristol Univ, Bristol, UK) : Three dimensional nonlinear seismic behaviour of 3x3 pile groups in liquefiable soil. Indian Geotech J 2014, 44(1), 68-76.

Dynamic behaviour of soil-pile interaction is a complex problem. The complexity enhances when the soil medium is liquefiable. Studies on dynamic behaviour of pile groups are limited considering the fact that the interaction effect gets complicated when pile groups is embedded in liquefying soil. The dynamic behaviour of 3 x 3 pile groups with three different spacing among the piles are investigated considering plasticity and liquefaction of the soil medium. A three-dimensional finite element program has been developed in MATLAB for the study. Work hardening plastic cap model has been considered for the soil medium and the pore pressure generation for liquefaction was - 302 - incorporated by a two-parameter volume change model already established in the literature. The three-dimensional soil-pile model developed for the study has been validated with the established literature. Non-dimensional dynamic stiffness and the seismic response of the pile groups have been computed considering the effects of soil plasticity and the liquefaction of the soil medium. The study was performed for a range of frequency of excitation. The study quantifies the effects of soil plasticity and liquefaction on the dynamic behaviour of pile groups for different frequency of excitation and hence underlines the importance of soil plasticity and liquefaction on the kinematic soil-pile interaction problems.

29 ref

022962   Sarkar R;Bhattacharya S;Maheshwari B K (Civil Engineering Dep, MNIT Jaipur, Jaipur) : Seismic requalification of pile foundations in liquefiable soils. Indian Geotech J 2014, 44(2), 183-95.

Pile-supported structures founded on liquefiable soils continue to collapse during earthquakes despite being designed with required factors of safety against bending due to lateral loads and axial capacity (shaft resistance and end-bearing). Recent research identified a few weaknesses in the conventional design approach: (a) when soil liquefies it loses much of its stiffness and strength, so the piles now act as long slender columns, and can simply buckle (buckling instability) under the combined action of axial load and inevitable imperfections (e.g. out-of-line straightness, lateral perturbation loads due to inertia and/or soil flow). In contrast, most codes recommend that piles be designed as laterally loaded beams; (b) Natural frequency of pile supported structures may decrease considerably owing to the loss of lateral support offered by the soil to the pile and the damping ratio of structure may increase to values in excess of 20%. These changes in dynamic properties can have important design consequences. The immediate need is not only to rewrite the design code to incorporate these effects, particularly buckling instability but also to requalify and, if necessary, strengthen the existing important piled foundations in liquefiable soils. This paper aims to provide a methodology for carrying out requalification studies. A practical example is taken to show the application of the methodology.

47 ref

022961   Saravanan J;Suguna K;Raghunath R N (Structural Engineering Dep, Annamalai Univ, Annamalainagar-608 002, Email: sara5468@yahoo.com) : Slenderness effect on high strength concrete columns confined with GFRP wraps. Indian J Engng Mater Sci 2014, 21(1), 67-74.

Paper presents the results of a study on the performance of glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) wrapped high strength concrete (HSC) columns under uni-axial compression. The columns had slenderness ratios of 8, 16, 24 and 32. UDC GFRP was used with 3 mm and 5 mm thicknesses. The columns are tested under monotonic axial compressive loading up to failure. The deflections are noted for each load increment. The HSC columns with GFRP wrapping exhibited improved performance in terms of stress and ductility capacity.

11 illus, 3 tables, 7 ref

022960   Sao P (NO, Gyan Vihar School of Engineering and Technology SGVU, Jaipur, Rajasthan, Email: priyankasao2010@gmail.com) : Alternate design for wireless sensor network node processor. Int J latest Technol Engng Mgmt appl Sci 2014, 3(1A), 86-92.

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) are a new and very challenging research field for embedded system design automation, as their design must enforce stringent constraints in terms of power and cost. WSN node devices have until now been designed using off-the-shelf low-power microcontroller units (MCUs), even if their power dissipation is still an issue and hinders the wide-spreading of this new technology. In this paper, we propose a new architectural model for WSN nodes (and its complete design-flow in synthesizable VHDL). Our approach combines hardware specialization and dividing the ALU operation in MSB and LSB unit operations at the same clock cycle thereby reducing the latency of processor and also a low-power solution for WSN node processor design.

6 illus, 3 tables, 23 ref

022959   Santhakumari A;Gaur L;Rajasekaran N;Raja A (NO, Welding Research Institute, BHEL, Tiruchirappalli-620 014) : Wider process window with MFDC inverter resistance spot welding technology. WRI Jl 2013, 34(1), 30-43.

Resistance spot welding is one of the primary means for joining of sheet metal in the automotive and other industries. Its principal benefits are of high speed, low - cost operation and the ability to weld a wide range of sheet materials conforming different thickness. On an average, an automobile has 4,500 - 6,500 welds to hold its parts together. In today's scenario, nearly 95% of the resistance welding machines have still AC control. Resistance spot welding systems which are based on Medium -Frequency Inverters are recently gaining in importance and are being used for welding of steel sheets for automotive sector. MFDC has been chosen for this study due to its improved consistent power factor, optimum response, process friendly and precise weld control. The experimental trials have been conducted for both AC and MFDC in Carbon silico manganese alloy - the recently developed new steel sheet by the steel manufacturers. The results showed that the energy input taken by the MFDC for nugget formation is less compared to that of alternating current. Design of Experiments (DOE) was used to explore the relationship between several explanatory parameters and a response parameter, to obtain an optimal response. Weld lobes have been generated with the experimental data and it was ensured that energy efficient MFDC systems have wider welding lobes at lower weld current levels as compared to AC systems.

13 illus, 2 tables, 8 ref

022958   Sandra A K;Vinayaka Rao V R;Sarkar A K (NO, Pavement Research Centre, GMR Infrastructure Ltd.-EPC Div, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad, Email: amarendra123@gmail.com) : Road roughness modelling with clustered data using ANN approach. Int J civ struct Engng 2013, 4(1), 20-35.

It is a well established fact that the roughness is manifested as an effect of different individual pavement deterioration parameters. Several studies have been oriented in the direction of establishing the models capable of predicting the roughness. However, it was felt essential to develop a model explaining the dynamics of - 300 - different pavement deterioration parameters on the roughness. In view of very limited studies reported in this direction, the present study is carried out, first by grouping available data into homogeneous clusters and then model them using Feed Forward Back Propagation Artificial Neural Network algorithm. K- Means partitional clustering algorithm has been adopted for clustering the data. A new mathematical algorithm has been proposed and used for optimizing the number of clusters, which is further verified with the available standard validity indices. The present modeling attempt has indicated strong correlation between the road roughness and the deterioration parameters viz cracking, raveling, potholes, patching and rutting. The models developed for all the clusters have shown decent statistical acceptability.

11 illus, 4 tables, 29 ref

022957   Saeidi O;Azadmehr A;Torabi S R (NO, Faculty of Mining Engineering, Petroleum and Geophysics, Shahrood Tech, Shahrood, Iran) : Development of a rock groutability index based on the rock engineering systems (RES): a case study. Indian Geotech J 2014, 44(1), 49-58.

Penetration grouting is used to improve rock conditions under dams and foundations. So far no comprehensive ranking has been presented for the rock groutability assessment. However, a need for an index is tangible to classify the jointed rock masses from cement-based grouting conditions point of view. In this paper an attempt has been made to propose a rock groutability index (RGI) based on the rock engineering systems (RES). RES is an approach to evaluate the interrelationship between the factors affecting rock engineering activities. After discussing the rock grouting mechanism and identifying all the effective factors, an interaction matrix is introduced to study the groutability of rock masses. Thereafter, the interaction intensity and dominance of each factor in the system is determined to classify these factors. As a result, an index is presented to predict the groutability potential of rock masses. Bakhtiari Dam of Iran was selected as a case study and the proposed index was used to rank the seven geological units of Sarvak formation in this dam. It was observed that the rock groutability index could suitably predict rock masses condition from grouting point of view. For the purpose of evaluation, cross correlations was carried out between the Lugeon values with RGI. It was showed that with increasing Lugeon values the RGI decreases linearly with good correlation coefficients.

28 ref

022956   Sabooni S;Moghaddam M E (Electrical and Computer Engineering Dep, Shahid Beheshti Univ, G.C., 1983963113 Tehran, Iran, Email: S_Sabooni@mail.sbu.ac.ir) : Evolutionary approach for colour constancy based on gamut mapping constraint satisfaction. Sadhana 2013, 38(4), 571-89.

Many colour constancy algorithms have been proposed to achieve a good performance in this field. The gamut mapping algorithm is one of the most accurate and promising algorithms based on gamut assumption: illuminant can be estimated by comparing the colours - 299 - distribution in the current image to acanonical gamut (i.e., a pre-learned distribution of colours). However, the gamut mapping algorithm is precise but it is time consuming. Therefore, some other methods such as GCIE (gamut constrained illuminant estimation) and CGM (cubical gamut mapping) have been proposed which work faster. However, the results of such methods are poor when the source light is not in the pre-defined ones. In this paper, we propose an evolutionary algorithm for colour constancy based on gamut mapping assumption. This approach overcomes the mentioned problem in other gamut-based methods. The proposed evolutionary method uses a simple chromosome structure together with simple operators such as mutation, selection, and reproduction. Two versions of the proposed methods have been presented here. The first one works on image pixels, while the second one tries on image derivative. The experiments were done on three different data sets that are used in literature and results were satisfactory. The results showed that the proposed method is much improved when compared to other related methods in most of the time especially in the case of real world images.

5 illus, 8 tables, 47 ref

022955   Rodriguez J A;Rodriguez J M;Garcia J C; Arellano J A;Maldonado J L (NO, Universal Autonoma del Estado de Morelos-CIICAP, Av. 1001 Univ, Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Mor, 62209, Mexico, Email: jarr@uaem.mx) : Diamond like carbon coating of ball bearings for raceway surface by triboadhesion. Indian J Engng Mater Sci 2014, 21(1), 104-10.

This paper presents a comparison of performance of rolling bearings coated with diamond like carbon (DLC) by triboadhesion and without any coating. The bearings are coated only in the inner raceway. The performance evaluation is three fold: (i) an analysis of the vibration signal, (ii) an analysis of the relationship between tangential force and normal force determined like friction coefficient as an indication of the wear resistance of the surface, and (iii) a microscopic analysis of the rolling bearings surface. Four types of rolling bearings are tested: (a) lubricated and uncoated; (b) unlubricated and uncoated; (c) coated with DLC, no lubrication and normal load of 0.35 N and (d) coated with DLC, no lubrication and normal load of 0.5 N. It is found from the friction coefficient that bearings coated with DLC have a higher wear resistance than those without coating.

14 illus, 12 ref

022954   Ravichandran V;Prasanna Venkatesan G K D (Electronics and Communication Dep, MIET Engineering College, Tamil Nadu-620 007, Email: ravi_rani1970@yahoo.co.in) : Network on chip with CDMA technique. J scient ind Res 2014, 73(4), 209-13.

NoC (network On Chip) is an efficient approach to design the communication subsystem between IP Cores in SoC (System on Chip). In this paper a communication infrastructure design using CDMA (Code division multiple access) based shared bus architecture for core-to-core communication in NoC is presented. CDMA has been proposed as an alternative way for interconnect of IP cores in a SoC design, or as a solution for interconnecting modules within a system realized in several PCBs. Compared to a conventional TDMA-based bus this paper present how a multiprocessor system can benefit from the use of concurrent data transfers. The simulation of the system using VHDL code is carried out. The performance of the system and is evaluated.

4 illus, 2 tables, 10 ref

022953   Ravi K;Dash S K;Vogt S;Braeu G (Civil Engineering Dep, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati-781 039) : Behaviour of geosynthetic reinforced unpaved roads under cyclic loading. Indian Geotech J 2014, 44(1), 77-85.

This paper presents, an experimental study - 298 - on the performance of geosynthetic reinforced unpaved roads under cyclic loading. A series of model-scaled tests have been conducted for varied thickness of the aggregate layer and strength of subgrade soil, with reinforcement at the interface. The reinforcement is found to have reduced the settlement substantially. However, for maximum performance improvement the thickness of the aggregate subbase appears to be equal to about the diameter of the loading area. A comparison with the unreinforced case indicates that for a given settlement, provision of reinforcement can reduce the aggregate thickness almost by about 50%.

19 ref

022952   Rao S R;Padmanabhan G (Mechanical Engineering Dep, SVCET, RVS Nagar, Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh-517 127, Email: ramaraosadineni1@gmail.com) : Optimization of multiple-machining criteria in electrochemical machining of aluminum composites using deisgn of experiments. J scient ind Res 2014, 73(4), 251-7.

Electrochemical Machining (ECM) appears to be a promising non-traditional machining process to produce parts from difficult-to-machine materials with complex profiles. In ECM the machining criteria like metal removal rate (MRR), surface roughness (SR) and radial over cut (ROC) depends on machining parameters such as applied voltage, feed rate, electrolyte concentration, workpiece electrical conductivity etc. In composites, the electrical conductivity depends on the reinforcement content in the matrix. The salient feature of the present work is that the reinforcement content is considered as one of the machining parameter along with voltage, feed rate and electrolyte concentration and varied within the selected range for studying the effect of these parameters on the machining characteristics of electrochemical machining of LM6 Al/B4C composites. Non-linear regression models have been formulated after conducting the experiments using the concept of central composite design of experiments and the developed models are tested with the help of twenty test cases. The quality of the machined surfaces is studied by using scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images. The responses MRR, SR and ROC are optimized individually and simultaneously based on response surface methodology (RSM). The average absolute percentage error in prediction of all responses for the non-linear model is found to be equal to 9.657. Moreover, the optimal values of MRR, SR and ROC are seen to be equal to 0.778 g/min, 3.923 μm and 0.673 mm respectively.

4 illus, 3 tables, 12 ref

022951   Rao M S V (NO, Bentley Systems, ) : Geospatial workflows in transmission row studies. Wat Energy int 2013, 70(7), 23-4.

2 illus, 3 tables, ref

022950   Raja A;Rajasekaran N;Easwaran R (NO, Welding Research Institute, BHEL, Tiruchirappalli-620 014) : Welding technology development for shipbuilding. WRI Jl 2013, 34(1), 5-11.

Primary shipbuilding process is welding, irrespective of the type of vessel being built. Steel quality has improved significantly over the last 20 years in terms of consistent mechanical properties, low hydrogen, reduced carbon equivalent and reduced levels of segregation. Similarly consumable quality and consistency has also improved in terms of wire-feeding, better spooling, consistent arc characteristics, etc. over this period and is now much more welder friendly. There is ample scope for improving welding productivity in - 297 - shipbuilding industry. The two options being pursued by leading shipbuilding companies abroad are pushing the existing processes such as GMAW, SAW to the extremes through increased automation, multi-wire technology, simplified control system & robust wire feed mechanism to maximise the potential. In an effort to push the existing process, one of the recent developments in Japan is development of an ultra-light pulsed gas metal arc welding system especially for shipyard application. Kawasaki has developed a multi-robot welding system for sub-assembly in shipbuilding. The other option being pursued is the introduction of newer welding processes such as Laser hybrid welding, cold metal transfer process, friction stir welding, etc. through Robotic and SPM based mechanisation to enhance the productivity and quality. These newer processes are vigorously pursued in shipbuilding industries abroad. This paper enumerates few advanced joining processes & technologies that can help enhance the productivity in this sector of the industry. Also some case studies related to shipbuilding are also presented.

2 illus, 4 tables, 3 ref

022949   Priyadarshniram S R;Satheesh Kumar S (Construction Engineering and Management, Civil Engineering Dep, Erode Builder Educational Trust's Group of Institutions, Kangayam, Tamil Nadu, Email: priyadarshniram@gmail.com) : Cognizance on the implementation of lean construction in recuperating a construction project- a factual study approach. Int J latest Technol Engng Mgmt appl Sci 2014, 3(1), 97-102.

Construction industry is long-familiar combating with numerous uncertainties. Indefinites of uncertainty remains definite in this field. The major potential impediment for the faster construction is the acceptance of new concept from the traditional access. The significant effectuation of lean construction is constructed by recognizing the wastages that are being generated during the construction. The formulation of factors that influences the performance rate of the project by the progression of waste is made. Once the identification of these promising barriers is examined carefully and methodically, a successful management plan can be created for the lean journey. Lean implementation facilitates in achieving integrated planning with the help of pull scheduling that invokes the coordination among the planning and execution team. The percentage of time invested for carrying out the work activity can thus be measured. The prominence in the direction of lean construction serves in minimizing the wastages and obtaining the maximum outturn. The accomplishments of lean implementation are certainly made by the process of continuous improvement. Thus for enhancing the productivity, the transition from the conventional approach to the Lean approach is an essential requisite for the improvement in the construction industry to optimize and reduce the ineffectiveness of resources.

2 illus, 5 ref

022948   Prasad B D;Reeta Sony A L (NO, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, New Delhi, Email: bdeviprasad@csir.res.in) : Performance evaluation of NAS parallel benchmarks in hypervisor using design of experiment. J scient ind Res 2014, 73(2), 81-6.

Server Consolidation is desired in order to make efficient use of available servers. This is achieved by using the concept of hypervisor. A large number of hypervisors are available in the market. Users have to choose a hypervisor depending on the type of application. Due to the large difference in the architecture of various hypervisors, it is very difficult to find which hypervisor will be best suitable for the application. The aim of this paper is to benchmark the hypervisors and examine the performance of NAS Parallel Benchmarks. Two hypervisors i.e. Xen and VMware were identified and their performance was measured against various factors.

4 illus, 1 table, 29 ref

022947   Poshiya B K (Mechanical Engineering Dep, Madhav Univ, Abu Road, Email: Bhaveshposhiya@gmail.com) : "Investigate and design an overload protection system for a powered access platform". Int J latest Technol Engng Mgmt appl Sci 2014, 3(1A), 4-11.

This paper aims to improve and design a safety device for overload protection of a boom access platform system. It also includes stopping avoidable movement of the cage. If the total weight inside the cage is reached its limit or over its limit than boom must stop working otherwise it may cause damage of boom or a person working inside the cage. This paper is to improve the safety device of a boom access platform. It provides a useful insight of safety devices. 3D design tools have been used to design a platform cage and to analyze it. The outcome of this work will be a critical assessment of the current projection device, bench marking of possible solutions and recommendations for implementation. This will provide the benefit of safety of operator/s, quality of work as well as many other advantages to the manufacturer.

15 illus, 13 ref

022946   Pillai R J;Nazeeh K M;Robinson R G (Civil Engineering Dep, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai-600 036) : Post-cyclic behaviour of clayey soil. Indian Geotech J 2014, 44(1), 39-48.

Post-cyclic behaviour of a clayey soil after subjecting to cyclic loading is presented in this paper. Tests were carried out on the samples both by allowing the cyclic pore pressure developed during cyclic loading to dissipate and without dissipation. While the samples subjected to post-cyclic monotonic loading without dissipation of cyclic pore pressure exhibited a highly overconsolidated behaviour, the samples after dissipation of cyclic pore pressure exhibited a lightly overconsolidated behaviour. All the samples subjected to cyclic loading exhibited a higher undrained strength during post-cyclic monotonic tests, when compared to the samples without prior cyclic loading history. Post cyclic consolidation tests depicts that the samples show signs of apparent over-consolidation.

18 ref

022945   Paul A (NO, The School of Computer Science and Engineering, Kyungpook National Uni, Daegu, South Korea, Email: paul.editor@gmail.com) : High performance adaptive deblocking filter for H.264/AVC. IETE Tech Rev 2012, 30(2), 157-61.

In this paper, the deblocking filter in H.264 where blocking artifacts influences image quality is discussed. High performance is achieved using adaptive deblocking filters. In advanced video-coding standard for H.264, the adaptive deblocking filter plays a very important role in order to detect and analyze real and artificial edges on coded block. This paper presents a new approach for the adaptive deblocking filter of the H.264/AVC in order to improve quality. Comparing with the standard algorithm, the experimental results demonstrate the improvement in both the objective and the subjective qualities, which can achieve the improvement about 0.25<126>0.35 dB PSNR in average compared with the original H.264/AVC reference software JM11.0.

6 illus, 3 tables, 10 ref

022944   Patni N;Pillai S G (Chemical Engineering Dep, Institute of Technology, Nirma Univ, Ahmedabad, Email: neha.patni@nirmauni.ac.in) : Casein extraction and formation of biodegradable aerogel. Int J latest Technol Engng Mgmt appl Sci 2014, 3(1), 54-9.

Paper presented a concept of producing a biodegradable polymer from casein which is protein extracted from milk. Casein extracted from various milk samples is compared for its yield and the sample with maximum yield is then blended with the plasticizers to form a biodegradable polymer and can be used for various low density polymer applications. The test of Aerogel - 295 - absorbing water and is biodegradable is also done. Similarly polymer formation is confirmed by FT-IR analysis of the product formed.

3 illus, 4 tables, 16 ref

022943   Patil S R;Shinde S S (NO, , Mechanical Engg Dep, Pune) : Noise reducing methods for an I.C. engine. Int J latest Technol Engng Mgmt appl Sci 2014, 3(1A), 12-6.

Any sound which irritates can be called as noise. As with any occupational hazard, control technology should aim at reducing noise to acceptable levels by action on the work environment. Such action involves the implementation of any measure that will reduce noise being generated, and/or will reduce the noise transmission through the air or through the structure of the workplace. Major noise sources in a noisy portable I. C. engine driven generator set have been identified. The separation of engine combustion and mechanical noise indicated that their contribution was almost equal. The main noise sources were considered to be mechanical in nature. In general, the larger the vibrating panel, the more sound is radiated from the surface. Sound pressure level measurements performed to identify major noise sources in the engine when exhaust will duct away. For noise reduction muffler, silencer, vibration control, barriers and enclosures can be used and should be considered at the design stage. A of method of noise reduction is depends upon the application of an I. C. Engine. Such as for generator enclosure, barrier along with absorptive material with total enclosure will provide better noise reduction than a partial enclosure. In vehicles muffler, silencer is used along with absorptive material. It is advisable and better to consider noise control measures at the design stage itself rather than after the product is manufactured and installed. This paper presents the different methods of noise reduction of an I. C. Engine.

^iia3 illus, 1 table, 8 ref

022942   Patil R S;Kawitkar R S (Electronics and Telecommunication Dep, Sinhgad College of Engineering, Vadgaon (Bk), Pune-41, Email: rp9913@gmail.com) : Design and analysis of microstrip antenna using reduced butler matrix for 2.4GHz frequency band. Int J latest Technol Engng Mgmt appl Sci 2014, 3(1), 65-9.

In this paper the array of rectangular patch antenna is connected to the reduced size butler matrix network. Butler matrix network is used for beam switching. This design is realized on a low cost substrate FR4 with dielectric constant γ =4.4 and height of substrate is 1.6mm. Here antenna is operated at 2.4GHz frequency. The simulation result is obtained using HFSS.

9 illus, 1 table, 10 ref

022941   Pati D;Prasanna S R M (Electronics and Electrical Engineering Dep, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati-781 039, Email: debadatta@iitg.ernet.in) : Comparative study of explicit and implicit modelling of subsegmental speaker-specific excitation source information. Sadhana 2013, 38(4), 591-620.

The explicit and implicit modelling of the subsegmental excitation information are experimentally compared. For explicit modelling, the static and dynamic values of the standard Liljencrants-Fant (LF) parameters that model the glottal flow derivative (GFD) are used. A simplified approximation method is proposed to compute these LF parameters by locating the glottal closing and opening instants. The proposed approach significantly reduces the computation needed to implement the LF model. For implicit modelling, linear prediction (LP) residual samples considered in blocks of 5 ms with shift of 2.5 ms are used. Different speaker recognition studies are performed using NIST-99 and NIST-03 databases. In case of speaker identification, the implicit modelling provides significantly better performance compared to explicit modelling. Alternatively, the explicit modelling seem to be providing better performance in case of speaker verification. This indicates that explicit modelling seem to have relatively less intra and inter-speaker variability. The implicit modelling on the other hand, has more intra and inter-speaker variability. What is desirable is less intra and more inter-speaker variability. Therefore, for speaker verification task explicit modelling may be used and for speaker identification task implicit modelling may be used. Further, for both speaker identification and verification tasks the explicit modelling provides relatively more complimentary information to the - 294 - state-of-the-art vocal tract features. The contribution of the explicit features is relatively more robust against noise. Authors suggest that the explicit approach can be used to model the subsegmental excitation information for speaker recognition.

11 illus, 5 tables, 56 ref

022940   Patel P N;Shah H S;Thakker M T;Shah S P (Instrumentation & Control Dep, Dharmsinh Desai Univ, Dharmsinh Desai Institute of Technology, Email: pujapatel312@gmail.com) : Cost effective design of signal conditioner for vibration measurement. Int J latest Technol Engng Mgmt appl Sci 0000, 3(1), 79-85.

Prime objective of this paper is to present a very low cost signal conditioning circuit by design a current exciter for vibration sensor, high frequency & wide range bandpass filter for vibration measurement system and convert the available acceleration signal into velocity (Integrator) with the use of op-amp & also compare the result of the same with simulated signal on LabVIEW. Vibration is very critical and nonlinear parameter, thus its measurement is very needful in mechanical and electrical industries to monitor the machine health & to take predictive maintenance steps before failure occur. This paper proposes a method to optimize the design of analog signal conditioner for minimum noise and nonlinear distortions. Here, An active second order Butterworth band-pass filter with sallen key topology is designed for the front-end system because all signals outside the 5 Hz-10 kHz (± 3db slope) time-varying signal backscattered by the sensor need to be rejected. The second part of the proposed design is precise integrator for conversion of acquired acceleration data into velocity which is important to increase usability and viability of presented design. After the conversion it is crucial to amplify and rectify the signal for better match with any type of microcontroller so we can use obtained vibration signal further for transmitting and analyzing purpose. For verification of proposed signal conditioner circuit the results of the simulation in Multisim are compared to LabVIEW simulation results. The total number of components used in these circuits is less, compact, inexpensive and the designs for current exciter, filter & converter (Acceleration-Velocity) are attractive. The paper presents a scientific direction and development of vibration signals measurement.

14 illus, 15 ref

022939   Patel H N (Computer Science Dep, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open Univ, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Email: himanshu.patel@baou.edu.in) : Efficient speech recognition architecture for hand-held devices using channel and energy normalization and MCDCN. Int J latest Technol Engng Mgmt appl Sci 2014, 3(1), 86-9.

This paper describes an efficient, small-vocabulary, grammar oriented speech recognition system using HMM (Hidden Markov Models) for mobile applications. The paper presents the issues and techniques forimproving strength and efficiency of the front-end, reducing computation through silence recognition, applying the Bayesian information criterion to build minor and superior acoustic models, minimizing finite state grammars, use of hybrid maximum likelihood and discriminative models, and generating baseforms from new spoken word.

2 illus, 5 ref

022938   Patel F;Patel P;Patel N;Patel S (Chemical Engineering Dep, Institute of Technology, Nirma Univ, Ahmedabad-382 481, Email: femina.patel@nirmauni.ac.in) : Color removal from dye wastewater using cost-effective La_0.5Ca_0.5NiO₃ catalyst. Int J latest Technol Engng Mgmt appl Sci 2014, 3(1), 35-41.

La_0.5Ca_0.5NiO₃ catalyst was prepared by sol-gel (using distilled water and nitric acid) and co-precipitation method (using nitric acid) in the presence of nitrate-metal-ethylene glycol (EG) polymerised complex. The La_0.5Ca_0.5NiO₃ catalyst showed excellent adsorption efficiency towards reactive black 5 (RB5) as a reactive dye in aqueous solution. The adsorption studies were carried out at different pH values, dye concentrations, various catalyst dosages and contact time in batch experiments. The dye removal efficiency was found about 99% at acidic pH specially 2 pH. The isotherm evaluation indicates that the Langmuir model fits the experimental data better than the Freundlich model.Experimental results indicated that the adsorption kinetic data follow a pseudo-second-order rate for the tested dye. COD and TOC reduction by catalyst is also tested with 60% reduction of COD.A systematic study on the structural, morphological of the La_0.5Ca_0.5NiO₃ catalyst by various analytical techniques (XRD, DTA and BET) is to be done to characterize the crystallinity, morphology, specific surface area and grain size of La_0.5Ca_0.5NiO₃ catalyst.

11 illus, 3 tables, 8 ref

022937   Patel D B;Chauhan K R;Mukhopadhyay I (NO, School of Solar Energy, Pandit Deendayal Petroleum Univ, Raisan, Gandhinagar-382 007, Email: dipal.pphd10@sse.pdpu.ac.in) : Effect of electrode's geometric shape, thickness and porosity on the performance of dye sensitized solar cell. Int J latest Technol Engng Mgmt appl Sci 2014, 3(1), 8-19.

Simple 2D model of nanostructured DSSC has been simulated to study the effect of the parameters of photo electrode on the JV characteristics of the device. In this study various geometrical shapes (cylindrical, conical and cylindro-conical) of nano structured electrode of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) with varying thickness and porosity have been simulated using Tiber-CAD software. The study was aimed to predict the effect of structural and surface textural properties of TiO₂ on the device performance. The cylindrical shape has shown - 292 - the better performance for identical porosity (P = 0.5) and thickness (d = 10 μm) values. Thickness and porosity optimization lead to an improved performance of the DSSC. The optimized values of electrode parameters were obtained after three consecutive stages of simulation, using cylindrical shape TiO₂ electrode, with typical porosity of 0.4 and thickness of 20 μm. The results show that optimized structure, thickness and porosity of the photo electrode can lead to a better cell performance (η = 12.49%) compared to the conventional cell (η = 9.02%).

9 illus, 1 table, 23 ref

022936   Parvathi I S;Praveen T V;Suresh Kumar K (Civil Engineering Dep, College of Engineering, Andhra Univ, Visakhapatnam-530 003, Email: pagadala_sp@rediffmail.com) : Effect of spacing and orientation of joints in the rock on stress variation in lined pressure tunnels using finite element method. J Rock Mech Tunnelling Technol 2013, 19(1), 1-17.

Majority of tunnels for hydroelectric purpose are located in mountainous region and the rock medium in which these openings are made is usually non-homogeneous and anisotropic. Major geological structural features such as joints, major shear zones or faults intersecting the excavation area cause discontinuous behavior of rock mass, which may lead to complex rock mechanics problems. In tunnel lining design, it is necessary to know the share of the rock load and internal pressure on the lining. The share of the rock load or the support pressure on the lining depends on the quality of the rock mass. In the present study, the stress analysis has been carried for lined pressure tunnel considering rock mass with horizontal joints, vertical joints and orthogonal joints for joint spacings of 1/4, 1/2, 1 and 2 times the diameter of the tunnel using FEM. The analysis is carried out by considering discrete rock approach and equivalent continuum approach. The results are presented for hoop stress, shear stress and radial displacement. The maximum non dimensional hoop stress in the concrete lining is presented for discrete rock approach and equivalent continuum rock approach.

17 illus, 5 tables, 11 ref

022935   Papadopoulos I C;Tegos I A (NO, Aristotle Thessaloniki Univ, Thessaloniki, Greece) : Innovative friction-based seismic isolator utilizing bridge approach embankments. Indian Geotech J 2014, 44(2), 196-204.

Unconventional fusing mechanism reducing the longitudinal response of earthquake resistant bridges is presented. The suggested mechanism is an economical alternative to seismic isolation practice consisting of a concrete slab, connected to the bottom flange of the deck, embedded in the approach fill. The system resists to the deck seismic movements through friction forces developed at both ends of the bridge between the surfaces of the slab and the adjacent crushed material of the embankment. The performance of the proposed mechanism is investigated and a methodology for use with a dynamic response spectrum analysis is suggested and implemented. Furthermore, an experimental investigation was conducted for two loading speeds of a test specimen at a simple but realistic setup. Results of this very promising low-cost "damper" are presented.

14 ref

022934   Panwar A (NO, Madhav Univ, Abu Road, Email: apanwar84@gmail.com) : Power quality issues, problems and related standards. Int J latest Technol Engng Mgmt appl Sci 2014, 3(1A), 53-8.

This paper presents the power quality problems, issues and related international standards. The presentation is done with giving a thorough knowledge of harmonics, power quality indices, parameters effecting electric power etc. Latest research work in giving different international standards for different type of power quality problems is also been given. This is important for design engineers and researchers in power quality to know the international standards used for power quality.

15 ref

022933   Ozcelik B;Kuram E;Demirbas E;Sik E (Mechanical Engineering Dep, Gebze Institute of Technology, 41400 Gebze-Kocaeli, Turkey, Email: ozcelik@gyte.edu.tr) : Effects of vegetable-based cutting fluids on the wear in drilling. Sadhana 2013, 38(4), 687-706.

This study focuses on both formulation of vegetable-based cutting fluids (VBCFs) and machining with these cutting fluids. For this purpose, characterizations of chemical and physical analyses of these formulated cutting fluids are carried out. In this study, performances of three VBCFs developed from crude sunflower oil, refined sunflower oil, refined canola oil and commercial semi-synthetic cutting fluid are compared in terms of tool wear, thrust force and surface roughness during drilling of AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel with HSSE tool. Experimental results show that canola-based cutting fluid gives the best performance due to its higher lubricant properties with respect to other cutting fluids at the constant cutting conditions (spindle speed of 750 rpm and feed rate of 0.1 mm/rev).

18 illus, 7 tables, 21 ref

022932   Oh R O;Kim D H;Park C G (Rural Construction Engineering, Kongju National Univ, Yesan, Republic of Korea, Email: cgpark@kongju.ac.kr) : Durability performance of latex modified nylon fiber reinforced concrete for precast concrete pavement applications. Indian J Engng Mater Sci 2014, 21(1), 49-56.

Mechanical and durability characteristics of latex-modified nylon fiber-reinforced concrete (LMNFRC) are investigated with a view to precast concrete pavement applications. Precast concrete pavement can mitigate various problems in the field, e.g., eliminating the need for concrete casting and curing on-site. Compared with conventional concrete, using precast concrete pavement minimizes the wait time following repairs, thus enabling the earliest movement of traffic. Concrete cracking is an issue in the field. In this study, the nylon fiber volume fraction (0, 0.05, and 0.1%) and the amount of added latex (0, 5, 10, and 15% of the cement weight) are varied, and the slump, compressive strength, flexural strength, chloride ion penetration, abrasion resistance and impact resistance are measured. Increasing the latex content improved the flexural strength, permeability resistance, abrasion resistance, and impact resistance of the LMNFRC. Increasing the volume fraction of the nylon fiber improves the same properties. These improvements are attributed to stronger bonding and greater impact absorption capability by the nylon fiber and latex.

10 illus, 4 tables, 34 ref

022931   Nirgude P M (NO, Central Power Research Institute, ) : CPRI contribution to 1200 KV AC transmission line design. Wat Energy int 2013, 70(4), 7-8.

9 illus, 1 table

022930   Nagalakshmi R;Maliyekal A;Kumaresh Babu S P (NO, Welding Research Institute, BHEL, Tiruchirappalli-620 014) : Indentation creep behaviour of super 304 H boiler material and its weldments. WRI Jl 2013, 34(1), 46-53.

Experiments were carried out to mvestigate-the indentation creep behavior on Super 304 H austenitic stainless steel and its weldments. Samples were selected from the tube material welded by GTAW using matching filler wire YT 304 H. Indentation creep behaviour of samples was tested using cylindrical type tungsten carbide indenter at various temperature and stress levels. From the indentation depth vs. time plot, creep rates were calculated. Depth of indentation and creep rate were found to be increasing with both temperature and stress. Creep rates for weld metal were found to be lesser compared to parent metal for each set of temperature and stress; thereby it can concluded that creep resistance of welded region is superior to those of parent metal from the present investigation. Activation energy was calculated for isostress test conditions. From the activation energy values, the proposed mechanism of creep for Super 304 H base metal is 'dislocation creep' and for Super 304 H weld metal is 'grain boundary sliding'. SEM examinations were carried out on crept specimen.

12 illus, 3 tables, 10 ref

022929   MuraliKrishna A;Madhav M R;Kamlesh Kumar (Civil Engineering Dep, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati) : Ground engineering with granular inclusions for loose saturated sands subjected to seismic loadings. Indian Geotech J 2014, 44(2), 205-17.

Sites having predominant loose sand deposits are prone to many hazards, especially under seismic loading conditions. Among different forms of seismic risks, liquefaction is being considered as a crucial hazard when the deposit is saturated/with high ground water level. Ground improvement methods are commonly employed to improve the natural site conditions under such situations for better performance of various engineering structures. Ground treatment by granular inclusions in columnar form can offer effective solution than most other ground improvement methods. This paper presents the review of various aspects of ground engineering of loose saturated sands with granular piles/stone columns. A short discussion on the seismic hazards associated with loose sand deposits with main focus on liquefaction followed by the outlines of the recent developments on the application of granular inclusions in the form of stone columns/granular piles as general ground improvement method as well as seismic hazard mitigation measure are presented. New design charts are developed based on pore pressure generation and dissipation considering various installation and behavioral effects and are discussed and compared with the original design curves. It is concluded that the granular inclusions are very effective in resisting the effects of seismic loading on loose saturated sands. It is also recommended to consider various affects of the granular inclusions together while designing the ground engineering system.

57 ref

022928   Murali Krishna A;Bhattacharya S;Choudhury D (Civil Engineering Dep, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati-781 039) : Seismic requalification of geotechnical structures. Indian Geotech J 2014, 44(2), 113-8.

Most recent major earthquakes demonstrated the need for seismic requalification of important structures built earlier (such as nuclear power plants, hospitals, important buildings and bridges), in the light of new, revised and better understanding of seismic effects on the built environment. The extent of earthquake damage to structures depends not only on the details of the structure but also on the quality of the ground on which the structure is built. It is well recognized that geotechnical aspects of the ground can be a major contributor to seismic damages and as a result good and solid understanding of seismic soil-structure interaction is very important. "Geotechnical Structures" covers a wide range of topics and it is difficult to do justice to all the topics in one journal issue. This issue therefore focuses on pile foundations and earth retaining structures as they are invariably used for supporting many structures and are very common in any major infrastructural development. This article discusses about seismic requalification and its various stages. The special issue contains nine papers covering various aspects of seismic requalification: Hazard Assessment (three papers), Methods of Analysis (four papers) and Methods of Strengthening and Retrofitting (two papers). A brief example of seismic requalification for pile-foundation is also presented.

45 ref