Band 4, Heft 1

The survey is dedicated to approximate empirical and analytical models which were suggested for describing high-speed penetration into geological shields. This review differs from the previously published reviews on this topic in the following respects: (i) includes a large number of models; (ii) describes models suggested during recent years; (iii) much attention is given to models which have been originally published in Russian and are not well known in the West. References list includes 81 items.

The radiation characteristics of a stacked microstrip antenna geometry proficient of providing circular polarization along with wide impedance bandwidth is simulated by using IE3D software and later on this antenna was fabricated on FR-4 substrate with an air gap and testing is done in free space. The feed location, location of applied shorting pin and width of air gap introduced between driver element and parasitically coupled element were optimized to obtain best results. The measured impedance bandwidth better than 31.72% and axial ratio bandwidth close to 1.68% were achieved with the proposed geometry. The simulated and measured results obtained are in good match with each other.

In HVDC Light transmission systems, converter control is one of the major fields of present day research works. In this paper, fuzzy logic controller is utilized for controlling both the converters of the space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) based HVDC Light transmission systems. Due to its complexity in the rule base formation, an intelligent controller known as adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) controller is also introduced in this paper. The proposed ANFIS controller changes the PI gains automatically for different operating conditions. A hybrid learning method which combines and exploits the best features of both the back propagation algorithm and least square estimation method is used to train the 5-layer ANFIS controller. The performance of the proposed ANFIS controller is compared and validated with the fuzzy logic controller and also with the fixed gain conventional PI controller. The simulations are carried out in the MATLAB/SIMULINK environment. The results reveal that the proposed ANFIS controller is reducing power fluctuations at both the converters. It also improves the dynamic performance of the test power system effectively when tested for various ac fault conditions.

In this paper, a comparative study of dipole and patch antennas commonly used in portable telephones is investigated. The two models antennas are considered working at 900, 1800 and 2450 MHz bands. Thus, we have included different distances between the mobile phone and the human head model. This study shows the effects of electromagnetic waves on the human head model. The objective is to evaluate the SAR in simulation anatomic based model of the human head for different antenna-head distances and in many frequencies. All numerical simulations results are performed using Ansoft HFSS software.

In this paper, we propose the development of a new technique of decentralized control for bilinear systems, through using orthogonal functions. The use of this tool allows the conversion of differential state equations to a set of algebraic ones by projecting the system input and output variables into orthogonal functions basis and then using the operational properties of these orthogonal functions. The optimum decentralized control parameters for the interconnected bilinear system can then be determined through comparison of the response behaviour with the chosen reference model.

This study is devoted to investigate the effect of magnetic field on a reactive unsteady generalized Couette flow with temperature dependent viscosity and thermal conductivity. It is assumed that conducting incompressible fluid is subjected to an exothermic reaction under Arrhenius kinetics, neglecting the consumption of the material. The model nonlinear differential equations governing the transient momentum and energy balance are obtained and tackled numerically using a semi-discretization finite difference technique coupled with Runge-Kutta Fehlberg integration scheme. Important properties of the velocity and temperature fields including thermal stability conditions are presented graphically and discussed quantitatively.

We apply the variational iteration method (VIM) for solving linear and nonlinear ordinary differential equations with variable coefficients. We use distinct Lagrange multiplier for each order of ODE. We emphasize the power of the method by testing a variety of models with distinct orders and variable coefficients. Scientific models, namely, the hybrid selection model, the Thomas-Fermi equation, the Kidder equation of the Unsteady flow of gas through a porous medium, and the Riccati equation, are studied as well.

This work combined plasma reactivity and pyrolysis for conversion of solid wastes. Decomposition of refuse derived fuel (RDF) and its combustible components (paper, biomass, and plastic) in an 800 W microwave plasma reactor was investigated at varying argon flow rates of 0.50 to 1.25 lpm for 3 minutes. The characteristic bright light emission of plasma was observed with calculated maximum power density of about 35 W/cm3. The RDF and its components were successfully converted into char and combustible gas. The average char yield was found to be 12–21% of the original mass, with a gross calorific value of around 39 MJ/kg. The yield of the product gas was in the range 1.0–1.7 m3/kg. The combustible gas generated from the pyrolysis of the RDF contained about 14% H2, 66% CO, and 4% CH4 of the detected gas mass, with a heating value of 11 MJ/m3. These products are potentially marketable forms of clean energy.

In the present work, Ni-P-PTFE-Al2O3 nanodispersion coatings were developed on mild steel. These coatings were heat treated and were exposed to 3.5% NaCl solution. Thus obtained as plated, heat treated and exposed coatings were investigated for their corrosion and wear behavior together with other tribological properties. SEM/EDAX and X-ray diffractometry were used to analyze composition and structural changes of the coatings. Corrosion parameters of the coated samples were obtained from electrochemical polarization and immersion tests. Microhardness, wear resistance and friction coefficient of the coatings were also measured. The results showed that heat treatment at 200°C has little effect on the coating whereas treatment at 400°C results in enhanced crystallinity due to formation of intermetallics phases and possibly aluminum phosphide. Beyond this temperature at 600°C coarsening of the grains occurs which reduces the number of hardening sites. These structural changes result in the observance of highest hardness and lowest wear rate in case of coatings treated at 400°C. Corrosion resistance of the coated samples was observed to decrease with the heat treatment presumably due to the various physical and structural changes of the coating components. Similar changes were observed on their exposure to the corrosive media.

Activated carbon derived from pine cones waste was prepared by carbonization at 450°C, activated by different activating agents: ZnCl 2, H 2 SO 4 and NaOH, and then pyrolyzed at 600°C. Adsorption of Cr VI and other heavy metals (Mn II, Fe II, Cu II) on activated carbons was investigated to evaluate the adsorption properties. Special attention was paid to the effects of carbon surface functionalities that were analyzed by FT-IR and zeta potential study. Moreover, XRD study of activated carbon was also carried out. Results had shown that activated carbon by NaOH was the best adsorbent for removal of chromium VI from wastewater. The solid-solution interaction was determined by analyzing the adsorption isotherms at room temperature at different pH. When pH is above 4, the removal fraction of Cr (VI) ions decreased with the increase of pH. The removal fraction of Cr (VI) ions decreased below pH 4. The preferable removal of Cu (II) over Mn(II) and Fe (II) could be due to its lower affinity to solvent.Pseudo-second order equation provided the better correlation for the adsorption kinetics data. Equilibrium isotherms were determined by Fowler-Guggenheim model.