022670   Nand S;Goswami M (NO, The Fertiliser Association of India, New Delhi, Email: tech@faidelhi.org) : Reliability and efficiency in operation of Indian ammonia and urea plants. Indian J Fertil 2009, 5(12), 17-20, 23-4.

High reliability of plants and equipment is essential for continuous, safe and efficient operation of plants. Presents the results of a downtime survey of 27 ammonia and 27 urea plants in India for the three year period of April, 2005 to March, 2008. Also presents analysis of downtime data and energy efficiency of plants. The downtime data has been classified into forced (plant and business related) and planned shutdown. Based on the nature of downtime, three operating indices e.g. operating factor, service factor and reliability factor have been worked out. The data for plant related downtime has been analyzed in detail to identify specific sections and equipment causing forced shutdown. Trends in force downtime and energy efficiency over a long period have also been recorded.

4 illus, 7 tables, 3 ref

022669   Murugappan A;Senthilkumar G;Sankaran S (Civil Engineering Dep, Annamalai Univ, Annamalai Nagar-608 002) : Nanotechnology : environmental, health and ethical issues. Indian J envir Prot 2009, 29(9), 761-6.

Nanotechnology is one of the most fast developing fields of technology with many potential applications in medicine, energy, water and wastewater treatment, manufacturing and communication. Like any novel technology, it raises ethical issues; and the probable benefits and harms are more and more discussed, as well as its repercussions for international relations in science and technology policies. The paper demonstrates the need for productive interactions between science and humanities in order to avoid mutual deformations and misunderstandings. In order to maximize the benefits that can be expected from nanotechnology, it becomes crucial to discuss the environmental impact and health issues. The paper investigates the prospects and threats of nanotechnology in products and applications that involve human contact or that may affect the environment. The necessity of public engagement and educational strategies for nanotechnology is brought into attention. The need for ample ethics education of scientists is commonly stressed.

5 ref

022668   Mohapatra D;Mishra S;Sutar N (Faculty of Food Processing Technology & Bio-energy, Anand Agricultural Univ, Anand-388 110, Email: debabandya@gmail.com) : Banana and its by-product utilisation. J scient ind Res 2010, 69(5), 323-9.

Banana serves as an ideal and low cost food source for developing countries where most of the population rely mostly on bananas for food. Banana plant parts are useful as insecticide, antioxidant, colour absorber, in preparation of various functional foods, wine, alcohol, biogas, cattle feed etc. This review discusses usefulness of banana fruits, peel, leaves, pseudostem, sheath, pith and male bud, and prospects of using these materials in industry.

4 tables, 65 ref

022667   Misra A (NO, , Indian Farmers Fertiliser, Cooperative Ltd., Kalol Unit, Distt., Gandhinagar) : Technologies for recovery of CO₂ from flue gases. Indian J Fertil 2009, 5(12), 41-4, 47-50, 53.

Emission of carbon dioxide (CO) threatens to change the earth's climate. A major factor in global warming is CO₂ emission from industrial plants, which burn fossil fuels. Therefore, it is vital to develop technologies for recovery of CO₂ to mitigate global climate change concerns. This paper is focused on a review of the entire gamut of technologies for recovery of CO₂ from flue gases in the fertiliser/chemical/refinery/petro-chemical/oil & gas industries, including boiler stacks and gas turbine exhausts in power stations, which are currently available on a commercial scale or presently under trial on a pilot scale or being developed under an R&D programme. The objective of this paper is to provide Plant Operators with a broad overview of the current state-of-the-art and a perspective outline of the various technological options along with references of all the major Licensors/Processes for post-combustion capture and recovery of C0₂ from flue gases. It is neither feasible nor within the envisaged scope of this paper, to furnish comprehensive details or recommendations about any specific technology, which is left to the Plant Operators themselves, to critically examine the options on merits on a case-to-case basis.

7 illus, 12 ref

022666   Mahur A K;Rajesh Kumar;Mishra M;Azam A; Rajendra Prasad (Applied Physics Dep, Z H College of Engineering & Technology, Aligarh Muslim Univ, Aligarh-202 002, Email: ajaymahur345@rediffmail.com) : Indoor radon monitoring in some buildings surrounding the national hydroelectric power corporation (NHPC) project at upper siang in Arunachal Pradesh, India. Indian J Phys 2009, 83(8), 1177-81.

In the study measurement of radon and its progeny concentration has been undertaken in the buildings constructed in the surroundings of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC). LR-115 Type-ll solid state nuclear track detectors fixed on a thick flat card were exposed in bare mode. Track etch technique has been used to estimate the radon concentration in the rooms of some buildings. Annual effective dose has been calculated from the radon concentration to carry out the assessment of the variability of expected radon exposure of the population due to radon and its progeny. The radon levels in these dwellings vary from 9±4 to 472±28 Bq m^{-3 with an average value of 158±14.9 Bq m-3 whereas annual effective dose varies from 0.1 ±0.04 to 7±0.4 mSv y-1 with an average value of 2.3±0.2 mSv y-1. These values are below the recommended action levels.}

1 illus, 1 table, 14 ref

022665   Lenka N K;Panda R K;Sudhishri S;Dass A (Agric. Engineering Dep, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya) : Comparison of some empirical methods for estimation of ET₀ in high lands of eastern ghats of Orissa. Indian J Soil Conserv 2009, 37(1), 22-5.

The study indicates that for the region in case of limited data availability, Priestley and Taylor equation can be a better alternative to FAO 56 method for estimation of reference evapotranspiration throughout the year. Among the two temperature based equations, performance of Hargreaves equation was more consistent as compared to Blanney -Criddle method. Hence, for estimation of ET₀ in kharif season only from temperature data, Blanney - Criddle method can not be recommended whereas Hargreaves equation should not be advocated for its use without its local calibration.

2 illus, 3 tables

022664   Kumar G;Singh P K (Geology Dep, B.I.T. Sindri, Dhanbad-828 123) : Effect of congulants upon turbidity removal of waste water from Chasnala coal mine. Indian Min Engng J 2009, 48(3), 22-7.

Water for domestic consumption is an essential right of society, which must be over secured. Water reclamation and reuse provides a unique and viable opportunity to augment traditional water supplies. As a multi-discipline and important element of water resource development and management, water reuse can help to close the loop between water supply and wastewater disposal. Effective water reuse requires integration of water and reclaimed water supply functions. During the coal mining activities, large quantities of water get contaminated and looses its potability characteristics. On an average, in coal mine operation, each coal mine discharges effluents at a rate of nearly 0.5 MGD and thereby wastage of nearly 50 MGD of water takes place per day from the famous Chasnala Coal Mine of the Dhanbad District. In this paper, attempt has been made to control the extremely high turbidity of mine waste water by using different coagulants and it is observed that ferrous sulphate is the most effective coagulants followed by alum, ferric sulphate and lime. Also combinations of coagulants are used for getting the optimal results. Further steps were also discussed to make this water potable and a scheme of low cost water supply system of mine waste water has been suggested under the Water Management Strategies.

4 illus, 1 table, 15 ref

022663   Kalita M;Bhattacharyya K G;Arundhuti Devi (RM and E Div, Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, Paschim Boragaon, Guwahati-781 035) : Assessment of oil field soil with special reference to the presence of heavy metals: a case study in agricultural soil at Rudrasagar oil field, Assam. J envir Prot 2009, 29(12), 1065-71.

Oil from the wells in an oil field area is pumped to a group gathering station (GGS) where the oil undergoes some treatment and is stored for transporting to refineries. Rudrasagar Oil Field in Assam has been a strong producing field being operated by the public sector ONGCL. Oil and other chemicals enter into the nearby agricultural fields through spills, leaks as well as through emissions from gas flaring and from effluents. After an oil spill, the hydrocarbons gradually penetrate into soil and modify the soil properties. This is likely to have appreciable impact on the environment. The magnitude of the impact often depends on the effectiveness of the housekeeping operations. To assess the impacts, soil samples were collected from the agricultural fields close to two group gathering stations, namely GGS1 and GGS2 of ONGCL in Rudrasagar Oil Field. The accumulation of contaminants was monitored in the soil near the two GGSs. Physico-chemical parameters including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), chloride, sulphate, phosphate, sodium, potassium, total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), total organic carbon (TOC) and presence of heavy metals were investigated. The emphasis of the present work was mainly to determine the spread of the contaminants with respect to distance from the GGSs. The results are discussed in the light of possible adverse effects with respect to samples in uncontaminated zone. Particular emphasis is given to study the presence of various heavy metals.

1 table, 11 ref

022662   Jha B K;Aman Kumar (NO, LEA Associates South Asia Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi) : Performance of bituminous mixes-a case study. Indian Highw 2009, 37(7), 35-49.

11 illus, 4 tables, 7 ref

022661   Hambali A;Farid Z A;Najib A M (Manufacturing Design Dep, Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia, 76109, Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia, Email: hambali@utem.edu.my) : Development of a new pump through modifying a conventional automotive spark plug. J scient ind Res 2010, 69(5), 365-7.

This study presents development of a new pump by modifying existing automotive spark plug, which is generally used for providing an electrode gap to produce an ignition in fuel-air mixture. Compressed air trapped between upper piston surface and spark plug was utilized by modifying spark plug design by implementing Pugh's method.

3 illus, 4 ref

022660   Gnanakumar S A;Mary Divya Suganya G (NO, , T.N. Road Sector Project, Tamil Nadu, Email: psa_gnanakumer@yahoo.com) : Optimal highway alignment using remote sensing, geographical information system and genetic algorithm. Indian Highw 2009, 37(7), 29-33.

Demonstrates the Highway Alignment optimization using Remote Sensing, Geographical Information System and Genetic Algorithm. Genetic algorithms, which can search very effectively through complex spaces with huge numbers of local optima, have been successfully developed for highway alignment optimization. In order to locate an optimal route connecting two given end points, this project utilizes a real world model that integrates GIS and Genetic Algorithm. The study area considered for this project is the outer ring road of Chennai city. The objective function cost is based on the criteria such as land cost, length, slope and environmental features. The result indicates the optimal alignment minimizing the cost functions and locating structure such as bridges wherever necessary.

4 illus, 3 ref

022659   Edwin Raja Dhas J;Kumanan S (Automobile Engineering Dep, Noorul Islam Univ, Nagercoil-629 180, Email: edwinrajadhas@rediffmail.com) : Neuro hybrid model to predict weld bead width in submerged arc welding process. J scient ind Res 2010, 69(5), 350-55.

This paper presents development of neuro hybrid model (NHM) to predict weld bead width in submerged arc welding. Experiments were designed using Taguchi's principles and results were used to develop a multiple regression model. Data set generated from Multiple Regression Analysis (MRA) was utilized in ANN model, which was trained with backpropagation algorithm in MATLAB platform and used to develop NHM to predict quality of weld. NHM is flexible and accurate than existing models for a better online monitoring system.

3 illus, 2 tables, 24 ref

022658   Dhariwal A;Ahmed T (Civil Engineering Dep, Faculty of Engineering, Jai Narain Vyas Univ, Jodhpur-342 011) : Performance evaluation and treatability study on common effluent treatment plant, Mandia road, Pali. Indian J envir Prot 2009, 29(10), 921-8.

For a small scale industry it is difficult to construct, operate and maintain an individual treatment facility. Provision of land, expertise and trained staff, procurement of specialized equipment, installation of laboratory, sludge disposal on individual basis, etc., will be almost impossible for a small unit. Inception of common effluent treatment plant (CETP) facility will obviate most of these problems and will relieve industry from the individual responsibility to a greater extent. CETP offers a high degree of security in treatment plant operation and thus minimizes risks of health hazard and pollution of water bodies. CETP streamlines the disposal of treated wastewater and sludge as it is to be carried away fauna single point. Least to say it reduces the burden of various Government authorities in inspecting large number of treatment facilities. An attempt has been made to study the performance evaluation of common effluent treatment plant, situated at Mandia Road, Pali-Marwar. The performance evaluations of all units have been carried out and the results are discussed based on the performance. Some necessary laboratory scale treatments have been carried out to suggest the necessary improvements in the existing facilities. The existing flow diagram has also been discussed.

4 illus, 2 tables, 9 ref

022657   Deora B S;Singh R V;Bhaskar S R (Rural Engineering Dep, SDAU, SK Nagar, Dantiwada-385 506) : Stochastic modelling of water deficit under climate condition of S K Nagar (Gujarat). Indian J Soil Conserv 2009, 37(1), 1-9.

A stochastic model for weekly water deficit series, using 28 years climatological data of S.K. Nagar, Dantiwada, District - Banaskanta (Gujarat) has been developed. The turning point test and Kendall's rank correlation test were applied for detecting the trend. Correlogram technique was used to detect the periodicity, which was then analyzed by Fourier series method. Significant harmonics were also identified. Statistical properties of the generated water deficit series were compared with the observed series. The developed model was validated by predicting for the next two years and compared with the observed water deficit series. Test results indicated high degree of model fitness, which may be used for representing time-based structure of the water deficit time series at S.K. Nagar.

6 illus, 8 tables, 9 ref

022656   Deb S K (Civil Engineering Dep, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi-110 016) : Environment landuse transport (ELT) approach for urban-rural continuum. Indian Highw 2009, 37(7), 9-17.

Attempt has been made to study the relation between a hinterland and its main urban centre, and to find whether there exists any influence of their problem between each other. Three major hinterlands have been identified which represents north, west and east part of India. Three cities namely Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata representing the most urbanised part of those three hinterlands respectively have been studied. It has been observed that the cities are overburdened with rural or hinterland migrants. They come to big cities because there is nothing to be engaged with in their areas of stay. The perceived assessment values of the various attributes of hinterlands and urban centres have been recorded as per fuzzy set theory. It is suggested that the condition of hinterland, should be improved in stages. After few stages of development in hinterland we should think for such improvements in big city and will repeat this cycle. The main objective will be green urbanism, and to reduce disparity by forming a close loop circular metabolism like nature's organic system. We should try to, indepth, analyse the problem of urbanism. The urban problem is not only due to the mismanagement of urban government, but also for the lack of foresightedness in policy making, where hinterland has not received its due importance in priority basis. The noise, air, water etc pollution of our urban places in the mother earth is heavily damaging our generation and it would become more dangerous for the future generations to come if we do not take appropriate steps. The situation in developing countries is much more severe than the more advanced western world and Japan. There is hardly any open space in the metropolis for children to play. In small town or locality of a city they used to play on the road. Now due to car-boom that space is also not available to children. Senior citizens hardly can enjoy any open space, or to be in the nature. The daily travel of the commuters has become a nightmare. The travel speed of cars in the main commercial and business parts of big urban centres is around 5 to 10 km/h Every day the commuters spend 1 to 2 h in each way at the cost of their own personal time. In such a process they remain away form their small children for a major time of the day and deprive the family. The pollution level is so high that 60 percent to 80 percent children have breathing problem in Delhi. The street accidents and loss of life in the roads of Delhi are highest in the country and possibly highest in the world. In this Paper we will discuss that though most of these problems are related to urban traffic but they may not be solve only from traffic point of view. The root cause is due to the deficiency in the Planning and Management mechanism of our landuse and environment. So instead of looking at the problem of traffic and transportation in an isolated way, we should look at in a system approach. This system may be considered as an integrated Environment-Landuse-Transport (ELT) System.

5 tables, 6 ref

022655   Bhunia S;Sarkar P P (NO, Academy of TEchnology, Hooghly-712 121) : Reduced sized dual frequency microstrip antenna. Indian J Phys 2009, 83(10), 1457-61.

A novel, compact, single probe-feed square microstrip patch antenna for operation in dual frequency can be achieved by cutting unequal finger like rectangular slots perpendicular to the radiating edges. From the experimental results obtained, the proposed antenna is about 67% smaller compared to a traditional rectangular patch operating at the same frequency and we have got the dual frequency operation in two different bands i.e. L and S bands.

4 illus, 1 table, 8 ref

022654   Bhatia V K;Tripathi O P;Srivastava S P (NO, Tata Chemicals Ltd., Indira Dham, Distt., Badaun, Babrala-202 521) : Debottlenecking of Tata Chemicals Fertiliser complex at Babrala. Indian J Fertil 2009, 5(12), 25-6, 29-32.

The capacity enhancement Project (Project De-bottlenecking) was completed in a record time of 18 months with an investment of Rs 208 crore, aimed at fine tuning and enhancing production capabilities. The increased growth of production draws impetus from the company's commitment to provide high quality products for its discerning customers. With this the production capability of the Babrala fertiliser increases from 8,64,600 MT to 11,55,000 MT per year. The capacity was enhanced with the minimum changes and/or additions in the plant, at the same time specific energy consumption was also kept in mind. After completion of Debottlenecking, plant is producing 3500 MTPD of Urea on a sustained basis at the average energy level of 5.14 Gcal/MT of Urea. This paper describes the major schemes implemented and shares the experience of Project and key learnings.

2 illus

022653   Bhagavathi Perumal S;Thamarai P (Civil Engineering Dep, National College of Engineering, Tirunelveli-627 151) : Types of soils along the coastal area of Kanyakumari, South Tamil Nadu. Indian J envir Prot 2009, 29(9), 775-80.

Soil types of the area are more important, since it is the main criteria in the agricultural production and in the recharge of groundwater. Different types of soils are derived from a wide range of geological formations. Knowledge about the type of soils, its extent and -occurrence is of primary importance for agricultural planning to maximize production and for the groundwater recharge. The soils of the district from Kanyakumari to Colachel coastal belt can be classified into red loams, red lateritic soil and pale reddish in colour. They are derived from lateralization of gneisses. The soils derived from gneisses are mostly brownish. Thickness of soils in the mountain is almost negligible, whereas in the valleys it is around 2m. The lateritic type of soil occurs in blocks of Rajakkamangalam. The mixed type of red and alluvial soil occur in Agastheeswaram block. The coastal sand occurs in the western side of the district. The coastal alluvium sand is of high fertility. Generally the soils are highly acidic in the coastal area. This is mainly due to heavy rainfall and heavy leaching of basic rock in hilly area.

3 illus, 3 tables, 5 ref

022652   Badri M A;Azimian A R (Medhanical Engineering Dep, Isfahan Univ of Technology, Iran, Email: malbdr@cc.iut.ac.ir) : Oil spill model based on the Kelvin wave theory and artificial wind field for the Persian Gulf. Indian J Mar Sci 2010, 39(2), 165-81.

Oil spill simulation due to the wind and wave fields and tidal currents in the Persian Gulf by solution of the hydrodynamics and convection-diffusion equations have been presumed. Model consists of algorithms describing the processes of advection, surface spreading, horizontal and vertical dispersion, evaporation and emulsification. Tidal constituents have been obtained from co-tidal charts. Sea level and surface velocity has been determined by Kelvin Wave theory as a new hydrodynamic calibration tool to prepare flow pattern and successful speed-up procedure. Artificial wind field has been generated in order to prepare wind field time series in the accident interval. Performance of the hydrodynamic model for tidal currents in the Persian Gulf is examined and tested using measurement results by imposing tidal fluctuations to the main open boundary at the Hurmoz strait. The spill analysis model was setup using the flow field produced by the hydrodynamic model to simulate an accidental oil spill and its performance was further validated using the existing data at the Kish Island. Langevin equation for vertical dispersion has been calibrated for the considered domain. Comparison of the actual and simulated oil spill drift was found reasonably acceptable allowing for application in risk assessment analysis in the northern part of the Iranian waters.

16 illus, 3 tables, 31 ref

022651   Azadeh A;Ataei G R;Izadbakhsh H;Asadzadeh S M;Bukhari A (Industrial Engineering and Center of Excellence for Intelligent-Based, Tehran Univ, Iran, Email: aazadeh@ut.ac.ir) : Integrated DEA-ANOVA for performance assessment and optimization of telecommunication sectors in central Asia. J scient ind Res 2010, 69(5), 330-41.

This study evaluated status of telecommunication sectors in Central Asia comparing 6 countries with 62 countries in 6 regions (Africa, Central Asia, East Asia, Middle East, Europe, and South America) using DEA and ANOVA. Data using 7 IT indicators were collected and analyzed by DEA. This paper implements Knox's corollary for DEA in assessment, ranking and optimization of telecommunication sectors. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to verify rankings of DEA. Central Asia was found at the bottom of all regions studied.

2 illus, 10 tables, 34 ref

022650   Anil Kumar (Soil & Water Conservation Engineering Dep, College of Technology, G.B. Pant Univ of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263 145) : Investigating meteorological drought for sustenance of agricultural productivity in hilly areas of Uttarakhand. Indian J Soil Conserv 2009, 37(1), 10-16.

Seventeen years (1980-2001) point-rainfall data of Naula station located in Ramganga river catchment (Uttarakhand) have been analyzed on annual, seasonal, monthly and weekly basis for predicting the expected rainfall at different probability levels for planning a suitable cropping pattern. The analysis showed that the annual and seasonal rainfall data did not clearly indicate the problem of drought in the region; whereas the monthly and weekly rainfall data indicated serious concerns to deal with drought particularly during the post-monsoon or winter months (October to January). It also revealed that the winter months were the most suspectible to severe drought conditions. The weekly rainfall pattern gave a better understanding of drought and steps to be taken for short term planning of cropping system in the region. There is a need to adopt adequate moisture conservation measures like mulching etc. to mitigate the effect of drought spells during critical periods of crop growth, and to construct water harvesting ponds/tanks for application of pre-sowing irrigation to Rabi (winter) crops, and supplimental irrigation during periods of water scarcity.

3 illus, 3 tables

022649   Ahmad I;Nabiullah M;Prassd R S (NO, Central Institute Mining & Fuel Research, Dhanbad) : Sealants used for prevention and control of spontaneous heating in coal mines. Indian Min Engng J 2009, 48(3), 16-31.

Coal mine fire and spontaneous heating is a serious problem in coal industry. Among the different approaches for controlling air leakage and spontaneous heating in coal mines, application of sealants is a very promising one. In this paper a brief review of the sealants developed for the purpose have been made. The desirable properties of a sealant suitable for coal mines have been described. The results of laboratory studies, in respect of air leakage, flame resistance, thermal decomposition and inhibiting effect, carried out on Mica based & Lime based sealants have also been discussed.

3 illus, 4 tables, 21 ref

019602   Yang M J;Zhang L M;Han L Q;Shen Q;Wang C B (NO, State Key Lab of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Proce, Wuhan 430070, China, Email: liyangmeijun163.com) : Simple fabrication of Mg₂Si thermoelectric generator byspark plasma sintering. Indian J Engng Mater Sci 2009, 16(4), 277-80.

Raw Mg and Si powders have been used to fabricate Mg₂Si bulk thermoelectric generator by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The optimum parameters to synthesize pure Mg₂Si are found to be 823 K-0 MPa-10 min with excessive content of 10wt% Mg from the stoichiometric Mg₂Si. Mg₂Si bulk has been firstly synthesized and densified simultaneously at low temperature (823 K) and high pressure (higher than 100 MPa) from the raw powder, but Mg and Si not react completely, and the sample is not very dense with some microcracks on the surface. Then, Mg and Si powders firstly reacted at 823 K-0 MPa-10 min in SPS chamber to form Mg₂Si green compact, again sintered by SPS at 1023 K-20 MPa-5 min. The fabricated sample only contained Mg₂Si phase with high relative density (nearly 100%).

6 illus, 1 table, 15 ref

019601   Yadav S;Gupta V K;Bandyopadhyay A K (NO, National Physical Laboratory (NPLI), , Email: syadav@mail.nplindia.ernet.in) : Standardization of pressure calibration (7-70 MPa) using digital pressure calibrator. J scient ind Res 2010, 69(1), 27-33.

Proficiency testing of pressure measurement was carried out among 21 laboratories using digital pressure calibrator. Total 178 pressure measurements (pressure range, 7-70 MPa) were recorded at 10 equally spaced pressure points. Normalized error (E_n) values of 15 laboratories were within acceptable limits as per guidelines given by National Measurement Institute, Govt of India. E_n values of 3 laboratories were found beyond the acceptable limit.

5 illus, 1 table, 13 ref

019600   Vijaya Vittala N G;Pankaj A C; Venkatasubramanyam D V (NO, National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Bangalore-560 017, Email: acpankaj@nal.res.in) : Flutter analysis of a composite light trainer aircraft. J scient ind Res 2010, 69(2), 113-20.

Presents dynamic and aero elastic characteristics simulation of a composite light trainer aircraft using Msc/Nastran code and typical section method. Correlation of dynamic characteristics of aircraft with results obtained from ground vibration test of aircraft was studied. Critical flutter, divergence and control reversal velocities of complete aircraft were computed. Close agreement was observed between computational and experimental frequencies. Aircraft had a flutter margin (23%) against required (20%) as per FAR 23.

4 illus, 5 tables, 6 ref

019599   Verma R S;Bandyopadhyay P K;Singh K K;Tiwari S K;Murty G M D (R&D Centre for Iron and Steel, SAIL, Ranchi-834 002) : Development of a high alloy martensitic white cast iron as a linear material for coal grinding ball mills. Steel India 2008, 30(2), 17-22.

White irons as a class of material offer considerable versatility in properties for a variety of abrasion resistant applications. Most of the white irons designed for abrasion resistant applications fall within the high alloy, hypoeutectic irons category, alloyed with Cr to prevent graphite formation and also with Mo, Ni and Cu to improve hardenability. In industrial casting conditions the alloy irons develop microstructure with large amount of eutectic + secondary carbides in martensitic matrix containing around 25% retained austenite. Air quenching and tempering can reduce austenite to less than 10% with bulk hardness between 500-600 BHN. The objective of the work was to design and develop a suitable grade of high alloy martensitic cast iron for liners used in the coal grinding ball mills of Thermal Power Plants. The required material for carrying out experiments was produced in an electric arc furnace and it was sand cast. Heat treatment was optimized to develop a martensitic matrix with 20-25% carbides and less than 10% retained austenite. The microstructural characteristics with resulted hardness have been discussed alongwith its suitability for applications in abrasion resistant liners. Such liners have been found to be 3-4 times more lasting than the commonly used Mn steel cast liners.

7 illus, 4 tables, 6 ref

019598   Togan V;Daloglu T (Civil Engineering Dep, Karadeniz Technical University, 61080 Trabzon, Turkey, Email: togan@ktu.edu.tr) : Bridge truss optimization under moving load using continuous and discrete design variables in optimization methods. Indian J Engng Mater Sci 2009, 16(4), 245-58.

Aim of the work is to minimize the weight of steel bridge trusses under the limitations imposed on its behaviour by the design codes when it is subjected to moving load (HS20-truck). Adaptive manner operators are included to enhance the capability of GA. Design examples are solved to illustrate the applicability of proposed algorithm. Results are compared with those evaluated by various optimization methods with continuous design variables such as sequential convex programming (SCP), sequential quadratic programming (SQP) and evolution strategy (EVOL). It can be concluded that the results obtained by GA is meaningful, more suitable for practice and GA performs well to find minimum weight of the bridge trusses under moving load.

12 illus, 7 tables, 17 ref

019597   Tharanitharan V;Srinivasan K (Chemistry Dep, Government College of Enigneering, Salem-636 011) : Adsorptipn of Ni(II) on to modified amberlite XAD-7HP resin. Indian J envir Prot 2009, 29(4), 294-303.

Complete mixing of porous acrylic ester particles (amberlite XAD-7HP) with anionic surfactant-sodium dioctyl sulphosuccinate (SDOSS) and EDTA-disodium salt (chelating agent) in an aqueous solution led to the formation of a novel modified resins for nickel separation. FTIR shows that the immobilization of the extractants results from hydrophobic interaction between the alkyl group of the extractants and the aliphatic chain of the support, and also from other mechanisms, like polar or electrostatic forces. Batch adsorption experiments for the removal of Ni(ll) were carried out as a function of agitation time, pH, adsorbent dosage and adsorption capacity. Adsorption data could be interpretated by Langmuir and Freundlich equations. In order to understand the reaction mechanism, kinetic data has been studied using reversible first order rate equation.

11 illus, 8 tables, 17 ref

019596   Thakkar V;Modi A;Dharaiya N;Moghe C A;Kela H T (Life Sciences Dep, Hemchandracharya North Gujarat Univ, Patan, Gujarat, Email: vinodenviro@gmail.com) : Life cycle assessment of some Indian steel industries with special refrenence to the climate change. J Envir Res Dev 2008, 2(4), 773-82.

Development in industrial technology has enabled transformation of natural resources in to different value added products to enhance the quality of life, but not without environmental degradation. Many businesses have responded to the emerging increase in environmental awareness by providing "greener" products and using "greener" processes. Life cycle assessment (LCA) of an industry or product measures all the possible impacts including climate change known to be responsible for global wanning. Steel plant is an energy intensive industry, as a result has emerged 2nd dominant source of green house emissions in the country. Secondary data of a few steel industries (2003-2004) have been collected for computing the energy and raw materials required for the production of one tonne of steel, using the mass allocation method. The data were analyzed with CML-1992 (Center of Environmental Management, Leiden University, Netherlands). The results show that, the steel production has maximum impact causing green house gases, followed by energy resources consumption. Thus, the findings would be useful in planning sustainable steel production.

3 illus, 4 tables, 23 ref

019595   Tasdemir Y (Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Bozok University, 66100 Yozgat, Turkey, Email: ytasdemir@ins.edu.tr) : Artificial neural networks for predicting low temperature performances of modified asphalt mixtures. Indian J Engng Mater Sci 2009, 16(4), 237-44.

Estimation of the low temperature performance of modified asphalt mixtures is investigated by using multi-layer perceptrons (MLP) which is one of the artificial neural networks (ANNs) techniques and general linear model (GLM). The fastest MLP training algorithm, that is the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm, is used for optimization of the network weights. The ANN test results are compared to GLM results. GLM has, historically, been used to model the low temperature performance (fracture temperature and fracture strength) of asphalt pavements. The data used in the ANN model and GLM are arranged in a format of four input parameters that cover additive type, asphalt binder content, aging level and air void content, and output parameters which are the fracture temperature and the fracture strength. Based on the comparisons, it is found that the ANN generally gives better fracture temperature and fracture strength estimates than the GLM technique.

5 illus, 1 table, 35 ref

019594   Sumithabahshini P;Eswar Reddy N C (EEE Dep, S.V. University, Tirupati, Email: pokurisb8@gmail.com) : Indirect methods for reduction of cochannel interference in cellular systems. Adv Wireless Mobile Commun 2008, 1(1-3), 7-14.

Describes the reduction of co channel interference in cellular system using the indirect reduction method. The indirect reduction methods can reduce the possible interferer signals in a macroscopically, predictive point of view. In indirect method, the reduction of co channel interference is done using different techniques which includes narrow beam adaptive antenna design, fractional cell loading factor and power control.

1 illus, 1 table, 5 ref

019593   Srivastava S K;Gupta D S;Sahay S K; Vishwanathan C S;Prakash K;Bandyopadhyay A;Bhattachrya S (NO, RDCIS, Ranchi-834 002) : Improvement in internal quality of continuously cast slab. Steel India 2009, 31(2), 45-7.

Internal and surface quality of cast slab is important for obtaining sound quality rolled plate. One of the main causes of rejection of plates for internal quality is the presence of centre line crack / porosity which is detected during ultrasonic testing of rolled plate. Extensive investigations have been carried out with respect to steelmaking and continuous casting, as well as rolling parameters with a view to determining their impact on ultrasonic rejection of plate at Bhilai Steel Plant. Based on the studies, specific technological measures have been implemented in steelmaking, casting and rolling operations. Consequently, rejection due to ultrasonic dejects has come down considerably.

5 illus, 2 ables, 8 ref

019592   Singh S;Singh A (Electronics and Communication Engineering Dep, Guru Nanak Dev University Regional Campus, Gurdaspur-143 521, Email: satbir1_78@yahoo.co.in) : Simulative analysis of influence of RF sub-carriers on performance of 10 GHz-band bidirectional radio over fiber (RoF) system. J scient ind Res 2010, 69(1), 21-6.

Bidirectional radio over fiber (RoF) communication system (10 GHz) is simulated (bit rate, 1.0 Gb/s) for different RF sub-carriers to observe impact on system parameters [bit error rate (BER), quality value (Q), signal to noise ratio etc]. Influence of increasing sub-carriers/channels has been observed for 100 km long bidirectional single mode fiber each in uplink and downlink connections. To reduce crosstalk among RF sub-carriers, carrier frequency (50 MHz) and channel frequency spacing (12 MHz) are carefully chosen for simulative model of RoF system. Transmission of 78 channels with externally modulated continuous wave laser source gave satisfied results for improved Q values both in uplink and downlink connections at receiver sections. To avoid heavy cost of implementing extra electronic circuits at uplink site, same optical frequency for uplink analysis has been used. The Q-factor having maximum values of 22.63 dB and 8.36 dB at N = 70 channels with minimum BER [less than optimal threshold value (< 10^{-9)] have been achieved both for uplink and downlink sites for RoF communication system.}

5 illus 10 ref

019591   Shrihari S;D'Souza R G (Civil Engineering Dep, NITK, Surathkal, Karnataka, Email: s.shrihari@gmail.com) : Immobilization of incinerator ash in concrete. J Envir Res Dev 2008, 3(2), 421-6.

Concrete has the ability to recycle an array of byproduct wastes from other industries. Storage of these industrial wastes would otherwise require vast areas of land and cause pollution, as they would contain small amounts of toxic metals. Incorporating wastes into concrete as a cement substitute on a selective basis could help to solve some of the problems encountered in waste disposal of some industries. However before waste can be used on a large scale in concrete, the properties of the resulting concrete needs to be studied in order to ensure that the resulting material is suitable for use in construction and is not an environmental concern. In this paper the utilization of incinerator ash obtained as waste, on incinerating the effluent treatment plant sludge cake from a dyes and intermediaries industry in concrete is discussed. The ash was initially characterized to understand its physical and chemical properties. The ash was then mixed with concrete replacing varying amounts of cement and concrete blocks were cast which were subjected to compressive strength test. To rule out environmental concerns the samples and the contact water was chemically analyzed using SEM and Voltammetry. The results obtained were promising and showed that the variation in compressive strength upto certain percentage of replacement of cement with ash was within limits. The chemical analysis of water in contact with the ash-concrete blocks showed that the amount of toxic elements leaching out were not of much concern. The results indicate that the utilization of incinerator ash in concrete in large scale is a viable option.

7 illus, 1 table, 8 ref

019590   Sharma S;Dharmendra Kumar;Rajesh Kumar (Electronics and Communication Dep, KIET, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh) : QOS-based routing protocol in WSN. Adv Wireless Mobile Commun 2008, 1(1-3), 51-7.

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) consist of small nodes with sensing, computation, and wireless communications capabilities. Many routing, power management, and data dissemination protocols have been specifically designed for WSNs where energy awareness is an essential design issue. The focus, however, has been given to the routing protocols, which might differ depending on the application and network architecture. Overall, the routing techniques are classified into three categories based on the underlying network structure: flat, hierarchical, and location-based routing. Furthermore, these protocols can be classified into multipath-based, query-based, negotiation-based, QoS-based, and Coherent-based depending on the protocol operation. Presents a survey on the QOS-based routing technique in WSNs. Outlines the design challenges for QOS-based routing protocols in WSNs followed by future possibilities in QOS-based routing techniques. Studies the design tradeoffs between energy and communication overhead savings in this techniques. Also highlights the advantages and performance issues of this routing technique.

2 illus, 18 ref

019589   Senthilnathan T (Physics Dep, Velammal Engineering College, Chennai, Email: senphy@yahoo.com) : Utilization of satellite communication networks for urban ambient air forecasting. J Envir Res Dev 2008, 2(4), 754-8.

Satellite data are being used qualitatively to provide the air quality index values. It also used as a environment quality forecaster for a regional view of pollutants and to help assess the impact of events such as biomass burning or dust transport from remote sources. The amount of satellite data available is going to increase by many orders of magnitude for the future years including an abundance of information about pollutant concentrations not well-measured previously. It is essential to plan now to procure the capability to acquire, display and assimilate these valuable sources of data. Weather can change from day to day or even from hour to hour. So it is necessary is make satellite communication linked information regarding the weather available to the public byway of giving information about air quality. A key tool in this effort is the Air Quality Index or AQI. Air quality index is a scheme that transforms the weighted values of individual air pollution related parameters into a single number or a set of number. This paper elucidates the aerospace communication systems that can provide air quality information and some related research (Satellite Detect Air Quality) and provides a view of the future generation of National Polar-orbiting Operational Environment Satellite System.

3 illus, 12 ref

019588   Senthilkumar K;Chidanand M;Nijalingappa P; Shivhare M M (NO, Vehicles Research and Development Establishment, Vahannagar, Ahmednagar-414 606) : Design, development, and validation of a vehicle-mounted hydraulically-leveled platform. Def Sci J 2010, 60(2), 169-77.

Hydraulically-leveled platforms are required, to provide a leveled base for accurate leveling of high-rise masts and other vehicle-mounted communication devices. Design, development, and validation of one such platform on an 8x8, high mobility, wheeled vehicle is presented. The platform is a welded structure, designed to accommodate two ISO type shelters, and the shelters are secured to the platform at their four ISO corners using special twist locks. The leveling of the platform is enabled by actuation of four hydraulic cylinders bolted to the vehicle chassis. The concentrated type loading, resulting due to clearance maintained between the skids of shelters and the platform, and the loading pattern are the major design considerations. The other factors that have bearing on the design of platform include accommodation of variants of shelters, ease of operation of equipment mounted on the original chassis, and load distribution on axles, over-all height, ground clearance and departure angle of the integrated entity. Deflection and stress analysis of the platform structure using finite element analysis has been carried out for two types of shelter loadings. Limited track trials have been conducted at Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (VRDE) for assessment of structural integrity of the platform, and constructional and mobility aspects of platform-mounted-vehicle. Measurements of strain at critical locations, under-shelter loading, and while driving the vehicle at two different vehicle speeds on pave and cross-country tracks, have also been carried out for validation of design of platform. Details on problems faced during track trials, and the subsequent modifications carried out to the platform are also discussed.

20 illus, 9 tables, 2 ref

019587   Senthil Kumar K;Choudhury A;Das P (NO, VIT Univ, Vellore, Tamil Nadu-632 014, Email: vecsenthil@gmail.com) : Innovative, energy efficient and environment friendly room temperature magnetic refrigeration system. J Envir Res Dev 2008, 3(2), 449-55.

The two key issues that are menacing the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector through out the world is Ozone Depletion and Global Warming. The CFC and HCFC refrigerants used by the conventional vapour compression refrigeration deplete ozone layer and HFC refrigerants influences green house effect and enhances global warming. Moreover, the energy consumption of air conditioning systems is also high influencing on global warming. Thus, in addition to finding alternative refrigerants, researchers are exploring new refrigerating technologies. At present there is no single refrigerant available with zero ODP and GWP and it is reported that none could be developed or synthesized. In this scenario, the possibility of using an eco-friendly magnetic refrigeration system in room temperature is studied in this work. Room temperature magnetic refrigeration (RTMR) is a new refrigeration method with great application potential. It has advantages such as environmentally safe and high efficiency based on the phenomena of magnetocaloric effect (MCE). An important measure of the MCE is the magnetic entropy and is related to the bulk magnetization, and magnetic field and temperature. MCE could be suitably magnified by varying Magnetic field strength (B), Change in magnetic entropy (ASm), Bulk magnetization, Change in magnetic field (ΔB), Curie temperature of magnetic material, Magnetic phase transition properties, Crystallographic transformation, Hysteretic behavior, etc.. In this work the influence of these properties on MCE is studied and it is found that a suitable material could be developed by appropriately selecting the above said properties that yield the giant magnetocaloric effect (GMCE) that could replace traditional vapor compression refrigeration system (VCR) which influence ozone depletion and global warming.

1 illus, 1 table, 13 ref

019586   Sen T K;Sarali M V (Chemical Engineering Dep, Curtin Univ of Technology, Perth GPO BOX U1987, 6845 (Western Australia), Email: t sen@curtin.edu.au) : Adsorption of cadmium meta ion (cd<. J Envir Res Dev 2008, 3(1), 220-7.

The effects of various experimental parameters on kinetics and equilibrium adsorption of cadmium metal ion (Cd^{2+) from its aqueous solution on aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃) and kaolin have been investigated using laboratory batch adsorption experiments. It has been found that amount of adsorption of cadmium metal ion increases with initial metal ion concentration, contact time, solution pH, amount and type of adsorbents respectively Kinetics data are best described by pseudo-second order model for both the systems. The experimental equilibrium data are fitted to the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms and find out suitability of both adsorption isotherm.}

2 illus, 3 tables, 8 ref

019585   Selvam S T;Deshmukh V R;Mallick A;Das A;Singh A K P (NO, RDCIS, SAIL, Ranchi-834 002) : Introduction of air humidification and air injection technologies to improve sinter productivity at Bhilai Steel Plant. Steel India 2009, 31(2), 6-11.

Air humidification and air injection techniques have been found to be effective process intensification technologies of sintering by laboratory studies. In air humidification technique, steam under optimum pressure is injected in the localized area of sinter bed. This enriches oxygen of air and enhances heat transfer rate between gas and sinter mix, thereby improving air filtration velocity. Additional air blown through the bed in the cooling zone for faster cooling, in air Injection technique, restricts the length of cooling strand, and in turn improves the vertical sintering speed of the bed. Air humidification technology has been introduced at Sinter Plant (SP) - III of Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) and air injection technology has been introduced at machine # 4 of Sinter Plant - II. Implementation of these process intensification techniques has resulted in significant improvement in process parameters of the plant and considerable economic benefits.

4 illus, 3 tables, 4 ref

019584   Sekhar Babu T;Venkata Subbaiah K (NO, Andhra Univ College of Engineering, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, Email: sekhar_babu41@yahoo.com) : Work measurement in body shop through Maynard operation sequence technique (MOST) at Mahindra & Mahindra, Zaheerabad plant. Int J Mater Sci 2009, 4(1), 49-56.

This paper is concerned with the body building shop. This is one of the crucial and primary shop floors for any manufacturing company. It it's a basic shop for the complete vehicle manufacturing process. So it is very important to calculate the work content for different types of vehicles that are rolled down in the same shop mainly for manpower saving, planning and scheduling to creating the facilities for the improvements. Work measurement has an important place in productivity improvement since the early part of twentieth century. The philosophy has been the same through the decades. Productivity can be maximized only when there exists a standard method of accomplishing a task and the time to perform a task according to a standard method can be measured. Productivity can be maximised only when there exists a standard method of accomplishing a task and the time to perform a task according to a standard method can be measured. MOST is a system to measure work; therefore it concentrates on the movement of objects. It was noticed that the movements of objects follow certain consistently repeating patterns, such as reach, grasp, and move, position the object, etc. To move an object a standard sequence of events occurs. Consequently, a universal sequence model instead of random, detailed basic motions describes the basic pattern of an object's movement. By using Maynard Operation Sequence Technique (MOST) is one of the techniques followed universally in the automobile industries for work measurement by which we can able to do costing, Manpower reduction, Effective Working Time and capacity planning.

3 llus, 1 table, 7 ref

019583   Sekar Babu P;Rajendran P;Narayana Rao K (NO, Vijaya Krishna Institute of Technology & Sciences, Palamakula(V), Shamshabad(M) Ranga Reddy District-501 218, Email: sekharbabu@engineer.com) : Cryogenic treatment of D₂ tool steels to augment wear resistance. Int J Mater Sci 2009, 4(1), 9-16.

In this work the authors have studied the improvement in wear resistance of D2 tool steel by Cryogenic Treatment. The material is tested for improvement in abrasive wear resistance by treating cryogenically at different temperatures below 0° C. All the specimens are first heat treated as per standard norms and re tempered after Cryogenic treatment. The specimens are treated at -40° C, -78° C, -150° C and at -190° C. Abrasive wear tests are conducted using Pin-on-Disk test apparatus. The wear resistance of cryogenically treated specimen is compared with normal heat treated specimen by taking the wear rate of normal heat treated specimen as reference of 100%. Microstructures of all specimens are recorded to analyze the mechanism that contributes for wear resistance improvement. It is observed that the wear resistance has been improved up to 353%.

1 illus, 13 tables, 8 ref

019582   Sasikala T;Srivatsa S K (NO, Sathyabama University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu) : Enhancement of internet access quality by seamless handoff across WLAN and UMTS networks. Adv Wireless Mobile Commun 2008, 1(1-3), 59-67.

Third generation cellular networks and 802.11b Wireless LAN (WLAN) are complementary technologies. Due to the mutual complementary features of wide coverage and high data rate, the inter networking between 3G mobile networks and WLAN is a global trend of wireless communication. One of the basic requirements is to support seamless mobility in wireless networks. Seamless means smooth transition, such that user does not perceive any delay or interruption of service. The main objective is to design a handoff decision criterion suitable to the situation. The purpose of the handoff is to keep continuous or seamless service to mobile users through different cells or network coverage. It is consequently of special importance for wireless networks.

5 illus, 1 table, 10 ref

019581   Samuel Devadoss R;Sannasiraj S A;Murali K (Ocean Engg Dep, IIT Madras, Madras, Email: sam@iitm.ac.in) : Experimental study on beach deposition of oil spill. J Envir Res Dev 2008, 3(2), 371-9.

Oil spill dispersion and its fate are important in the nearshore region due to increasing environmental concerns and rapid awareness among coastal population. On the other hand the wave breaking near the shoreline generates high turbulence and disperses the oil spill both in vertical (water column) as well as horizontal directions which enhance the distribution of oil through other critical processes such as beach deposition, oil-mineral agglomeration, etc. In order to understand the complex convective motion of oil spill interacting with the intricate wave breaking process, laboratory investigations were carried out in the present study. A well planned experimental programme has been carried out in a wave flume in order to study the effect of wave breaking on the dispersion of oil spills and the deposition on the beach. It has been observed that the intensity of breaking, alters the surface concentration profile of the oil spill. Two different characteristic oils were used to find the spill behaviour with reference to their viscosity and interfacial surface tension. Further batch studies in a sand column revealed the rate of penetration of the different types of oils into different soil layer could vary significantly. The seepage velocity is found to vary according to the degree of saturation, porosity of the soil layer, type of oil, etc. The depth of penetration and the retention capacity of different soils have been measured and reported herein for better understanding of surface and subsurface oil pollution.

8 illus, 1 table, 10 ref

019580   Sampath P;Gunavathi K (ECE Dep, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore-641 004, Email: sampath_palaniswami@yahoo.co.in ) : Design of phased array antenna for active beamforming at 2.4 GHz. J scient ind Res 2010, 69(2), 106-12.

Presents design of phased array antenna (PAA) using RF beamformer and emphasizes design of planar microstrip patch antenna array with right hand circular polarization (RHCP) operating at 2.4 GHz. Comparison of two responses of antenna array for two non-uniform amplitude distributions in terms of beam width and side lobes at different scan angles has been made. RF beamformer for electronic beamsteering is also simulated.

10 illus, 3 tables, 10 ref

019579   Sahu D K;Behera A;Naik A (NO, Orissa State Pollution Board, Anagul) : Design and development of cemented fill system : a solid waste management. Indian J envir Prot 2009, 29(4), 342-50.

Outstanding advances have been made in the technologies of using cemented fill throughout the world. The choice of a cemented fill system, its mix composition and their proportion depends on the stope geometry, strength requirement, strata condition, working condition and the economy of the mining method as a whole. The strength of a any cemented fill increases considerably with the increase in the cement content and decrease in the water to cement ratio. The ratio of cement to tailing by weight generally varies from 1:20 to 1:40 depending on the stope geometry and free standing height required. As far as substituting ordinary portland cement with less costly binder alternative is concerned, flyash can replace portland cement in proportion of 30% where as if ground granulated blast furnace is used as a binding agent, portland cement can be replaced of 50%. As far as activators (used to activate binding agent) are concerned, the use of cement is most favourable. Once a cement fill system is selected, a proper fill plant is necessary to facilitate successful placement of the slurry mix into the voids. A typical layout of such a fill is described in this paper.

1 illus, 4 tables, 7 ref

019578   Saberi H K;Nikraz H;Hepburn W (Civil Engineering Dep, School of Engineering, Curtin Univ of Technology, Perth, Australia) : Investigation into the relationship between head loss and flow rate in a Rocla Versa Trap (VTA) stormwater pollutant trap (SPT) and the hydraulic characteristics of a weir in a diversion weir pit. J Envir Res Dev 2008, 2(4), 691-701.

The main focus of urban rainwater runoff disposal systems has traditionally been to provide structurally sound drainage systems with the capacity to carry runoff water from surfaces such as rooftops, paved streets, highways, parking lots, lawns, and paved and gravelled roads as quickly and efficiently as possible to the disposal site, without regard, necessarily, for water quality at the outfall. This has contributed to the decline in the water quality of rivers and lakes and other receiving bodies. Whilst some progress has been made towards the reduction in pollution at source, it is the non-point sources of pollution entering water runoff systems at various points and from different sources that is the most difficult to monitor and manage. Recent developments in stormwater quality management have seen the introduction of stormwater pollutant traps (SPT), which are generally end-of line devices designed to capture and store gross pollutants and some micro-pollutants, for subsequent removal and disposal. The Rocla VersaTrap (VT) range of pollutant traps have been designed to separate gross pollutants and sediments from stormwater by utilising vortex flow. This vortex flow is generated by introduction of the influent water tangentially into a cylindrical chamber, where it descends and exits through a cylindrical stainless steel screen to the exit chamber, and back into the drainage system. The VersaTrap Series A SPT is an offline stormwater pollutant trap which utilises an upstream diversion weir pit to divert the Design Treatment Flow (DTF) into the treatment chamber. Treated flow is returned to the diversion pit downstream of the weir, where it re-enters the drainage system. Peak flows in excess of the DTF bypass the SPT over the weir into the pipeline downstream. It has been demonstrated that the aggregate of all flows of 3 month Average Recurrence Interval and less represent the vast majority (up to 97.5%) of the total flow generated by a stormwater drainage catchment. It is therefore considered that treatment of all flows up to that generated by a 3 month ARI event will ensure the capture of the vast majority of pollutants. There is some conjecture as to the veracity of the "first flush" theory, which holds that most of the pollutants in the catchments are transported during the first flush of a storm event. But it is generally accepted that SPTs should be sized so as to treat only a proportion of the peak flow, with excess flows bypassing. The 3 month ARI peak flow is commonly taken as-appropriate for establishing the minimum DTP required of the SPT. The measurement of head losses across a scale model of a VersaTrap VT Series A SPT at a range of flow rates through the SPT provide data from which a mathematical relationship between flow rate and head loss can be established for the device. The resultant relationship then can be used in tests designed to establish the hydraulic characteristics of a weir across a cylindrical chamber, as used for the upstream diversion weir pit in conjunction with the Series A VersaTrap range of SPTs. By varying the weir height in a scale model of a diversion weir pit and measuring the flow rates associated with head losses determined from the previously established relationship, the relationship between weir height and diverted flow can be established. This allows the designer to specify the weir height required to divert the flow rate associated with a specific peak flow or treatment flow of SPT DTF. Testing of the VersaTrap model were carried out under a range of screen conditions (i.e. partially blocked screen - 10% to 77%) to simulate field conditions and to provide data from which optimum operating and maintenance regimes can be determined.

5 illus, 8 ref

019577   Rehani B R;Joshi P B;Kaushik V K (Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Dep, Faculty of Technology an, M S University of Baroda, Vadodra-390 001, Email: drpbjoshi@yahoo.com) : Nanostructured silver-graphite electrical contact materials processed by mechanical milling. Indian J Engng Mater Sci 2009, 16(4), 281-7.

In last few decades there has been a growing interest in nanostructured materials in view of their improved mechanical, physical and chemical properties. A wide variety of techniques have been developed to synthesize nanopowders including high-energy milling or mechanical alloying (MA) for producing bulk nanostructures. High-energy milling is used for preparation of elemental and composite powders of different metals and non-metals. Literature reports the synthesis of ductile-ductile composites such as aluminium-graphite and copper-graphite by MA owing to its potential benefits in terms of improved mechanical properties. Reports are also there on the application of this technology for processing of silver-graphite contact materials offering improved switching properties. The investigation deals with a comparative study on synthesis of silver-graphite nanocomposite powders in a planetary ball mill using two different approaches, namely milling of a blend of silver and graphite powder particles in one case and milling of only elemental silver powder in the other. The study revealed that somewhat inferior properties are obtained for the AgC bulk solids prepared from powders synthesized by the former approach. This is in view of the tendency of graphite to coat silver during milling, leading to very poor silver-silver interparticle contacts and resultant bulk solid with high porosity. However, an alternative approach of milling silver alone in the planetary mill is found to offer not only improved properties but also reduction in sintering temperature.

7 illus, 1 table, 18 ref

019576   Ramaprasad A;Murli M S (Mechanical Engineering Dep, R V College of Engineering, Bangalore, Email: arp142@gmail.com) : Weldability of Al 6061/SiCp metal matrix composite using GTAW process. Int J Mater Sci 2009, 4(1), 81-8.

Al 6061 metal matrix composites with SiCp are increasingly becoming popular in automobile, aerospace and electronics industries, in view of their excellent mechanical properties and wear resistance. However, the welding characteristics of these alloys have not been studied in detail. in the work, fusion weldability of forged Al 6061 +20% by weight SiCp metal matrix composite has been studied using TIG welding process with 4043 filler wire. Transverse tensile properties and micro structural characteristics of the weld joint were analyzed. The weld joint efficiency of the MMC was found to be 49% of the base metal. The weld joint with higher currents more than 140A indicated proneness to crack through the fusion line. The microstructure analysis of the weld zone indicated that the cohesion between SiC and matrix was excellent and there was no debonding due to weld thermal cycle.

8 illus, 5 ables, 11 ref

019575   Ramanathan P;Vanathi P T (ECE Dep, PSG College of Technology, Peelamedu, Coimbatore-641 004, Email: pramanathan_2000@yahoo.com) : Novel logarithmic prefix adder with minimized power delay product. J scient ind Res 2010, 69(1), 17-20.

Parallel prefix addition is a technique for speeding up binary addition. Classical parallel prefix adder structures developed so far are optimized for logic depth, area, fan-out and interconnect count of logic circuits. Due to continuing integrating intensity and growing needs of portable devices, low-power and high-performance designs are of prime importance. A new technique, proposed for performing parallel prefix addition, has least power delay product in comparison with its peer prefix adder structures. Tanner EDA tool was used for simulation in TSMC 180 nm technology.

2 illus, 2 tables, 10 ref