Analysis of the Earth Movement over the Equatorial Region by using the Ionosonde Observation Data

This paper focuses on the ionospheric variability observed in the F2 layer during a seismic event at equatorial region. The analysis using critical frequency, fc, shows that there is relationship between the ionospheric variations and the occurrence of earthquake. The fc of the F2 layer (fcF2) and the minimum virtual height (h’F2) data were measured using ground-based ionosonde that has been stationed in Wireless and Radio Science Centre (WARAS), UTHM (1.860 N, 103.080 E). Two statistical techniques, which are the median and mean based techniques, were used to examine the possible relationship between the Earth movement and the variation of the fcF2 in the ionosphere. In this research, five cases of strong earthquakes in Indonesia with Ritcher scale from 6.4 to 9.1 for the year 2004 and 2007 were chosen. However, only two cases are in good agreement with the results obtained from the previous research that was done in India. Both earthquakes occurred at off west coast of Northern Sumatra (M=9.1) and Java (M=7.5). The results showed that fcF2 are reducing 23 to 26 days prior to the earthquake occurred at the off west coast of Northern Sumatra and within 5 days prior to the Java earthquake. Data fitting was done to the ionospheric perturbations (i.e. fc) before and after the earthquake by using the mathematical equations from Matlab. The fittings show better approximation with the mathematical equations in the 5th order. Nevertheless, those equations were not good enough to be an analytical mathematical model to represent the precursor for any earthquake event because the ionosphere varies diurnally

The Application of Spreadsheet Model Based on Queuing Network to Optimize Capacity Utilization in Product Development

Modeling of a manufacturing system enables one to identify the effects of key design parameters on the system performance and as a result make the correct decision. This paper proposes a manufacturing system modeling approach using computer spreadsheet software, in which a static capacity planning model and stochastic queuing model are integrated. The model was used to optimize the existing system utilization in relation to product design. The model incorporates a few parameters such as utilization, cycle time, throughput, and batch size. It is predicted that design changes initiated as a result of analysis using the model reduced subsequent manufacturing costs significantly and also can reduce the launch program by a few years, because confidence in the model justified the commissioning of full-scale manufacturing equipment when the product was still only at the concept stage

Analysis and Development of the Generic Maintenance Management Process Modeling for the Preservation of Heritage School Buildings

Preservation of heritage school buildings requires special maintenance management practices. A thorough understanding of the maintenance management process is essential in ensuring effective maintenance practices can be instituted. The aim of this paper was to develop a generic process model that will promote the understanding of an effective management of maintenance process for heritage school buildings. A process model for the Maintenance Management of Heritage School Buildings (MMHSB) was developed using the Integration Definition for Function Modeling (IDEF0) system through an iterative process. The initial MMHSB process model was submitted to a team of management experts from the Malaysian Ministry of Arts and Heritage and the Ministry of Education Malaysia for verifications. Based on their feedbacks the initial model was refined and a proposed model was developed. From the second verification, the feed back received formed the basis for the final model. The final model elucidates the items for the input, mechanism, control and output elements that are critical in the maintenance management of heritage school buildings. The model also redefines the existing scope of responsibilities of the Headmasters’ and Senior Assistants’ in the management of maintenance. The perceived effectiveness of the model by potential users was surveyed using a selected number of administrators from potentially recognized heritage schools. The results indicated that the process model is perceived as being helpful in clarifying the maintenance management process of heritage school buildings and is useful in changing the current reactive management practices to that of a more proactive practice. In conclusion, it is believed that the MMHSB Process Model is helpful in promoting the understanding of the maintenance management process which would lead to improve preservation practices of heritage school buildings

Design and Performance of QOSRGA Protocol for Mobile Adhoc Networks

QoS Routing for Mobile Ad Hoc Network (MANET) generally posses several challenges that must be addressed. In selecting the best route from source to destination, one has to choose from a set of routes with the corresponding quality of connectivity and resources. Due to the nature of node mobility the protocol demands an exceptional performance. It needs to select a single route with the longest residual node-pair connectivity time simultaneously. As the name implies, QOSRGA (QoS Routing Using GA) was designed to select QoS route based on QoS metrics such as bandwidth, delay and node connectivity index (nci). The design of QOSRGA and its choice of parameters are elaborated. The performance considered here is the effect of mobility and node density on the average packet delivery ratio, average packet end to end delay and total average throughputs

A Study on Surface Roughness and Burr Formation of Al6061 with Different Spindle Speed and Federate for Small End Milling Cutter

This paper reports the results of experiments to investigate surface roughness and burr formation during the slot milling of Aluminum 6061. The experiment was carried out with small cutting tool diameter and several of spindles speed and federate. Generally, cutting parameters will influence on surface roughness and the formation of burrs in small slot milling operations. Although it is not possible to avoid burr formation by modifying the cutting parameters, the burr size can be reduced by selecting the appropriate values. The results showed that slot milling with cutting tool with diameter 2.0mm and 3.0mm have a similar behavior for surface roughness with respect to federate and spindle speed. The larger cutting tool diameter results in a larger burr formed. Burr height increased due to larger chip load as the spindle speed increased. It also shown that Burr-breakage type of burr more significant in cutting AL606

Classification of Human Emotions from EEG Signals using Statistical Features and Neural Network

A statistical based system for human emotions classification by using electroencephalogram (EEG) is proposed in this paper. The data used in this study is acquired using EEG and the emotions are elicited from six human subjects under the effect of emotion stimuli. This paper also proposed an emotion stimulation experiment using visual stimuli. From the EEG data, a total of six statistical features are computed and back-propagation neural network is applied for the classification of human emotions. In the experiment of classifying five types of emotions: Anger, Sad, Surprise, Happy, and Neutral. As result the overall classification rate as high as 95% is achieved

Compressive Strength and Water Permeability Performance of Micronised Biomass Silica Concrete

Concrete is a common material that is widely used in construction industry. Cement is the main material component for producing concrete but its production has lead into CO2 emission. This work presents a study on Micronised Biomass Silica (MBS) that can be used as pozzolan material which can enhance the quality of concrete. The material can be produced from a by-product of biomass agricultural waste but for this study rice husk has been used. From the chemical analysis, MBS has a chemical composition that is fulfill the standard requirement for becoming pozzolan material. The result of MBS concrete shows that the MBS material can enhance the performance of concrete by increasing the compressive strength development and reducing the water permeability. The drawback of MBS is the workability of fresh concrete but can be rectify by using superplasticizer. By replacing up to 12% of cement, MBS material gives the highest performance in term of strength and permeability of the concrete

Experimental Investigation on Shear Resistance Behaviour of RC Precracked and Non-Precracked T-Beams using Discrete CFRP Strips

The exploitation of Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites as external reinforcement is an evergreen technique for improving the structural performance of the existing Reinforced Concrete (RC) structures. This paper presents a experimental investigation on shear strengthening capacity and modes of failure of precracked and non-precracked RC beams bonded externally with bi-directional Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) fabric strips. Twelve RC T- beams were fabricated with different internal longitudinal and shear reinforcements. These beams were subjected to two types of loading; namely three point and four point bending systems. The beams were classified into three categories namely control, precracked-repaired, and initially strengthened (i.e. non-precracked) beams. Prior to the application of CFRP shear reinforcement, the precracked-repaired beams were partially loaded to develop shear cracks along the shear spans, whereas the initially strengthened beams were strengthened with CFRP reinforcement without the application of any preloading. The overall increase in shear enhancement of the precracked-repaired and initially strengthened beams ranged between 13% and 61% greater over their control beams. It was found that the application of CFRP strips in the precracked-repaired beams attained better performance as compared to the initially strengthened beams

Inovasi Dalam Kejuruteraan Mekatronik : Perbandingan Pencapaian Pelajar Yang Berorentasikan Kemahiran Analisis Dengan Berorentasikan Sosial

Conventional ways of teaching Mechanical or Mechatronics Engineering subjects are no longer relevant. With the expending of latest technology, students need to be exposed with real-life apparatus to increase the awareness and understand more on the engineering concepts. Nevertheless, the lacking of these equipments, partly due to its size, cost and space, has hardened the learning process. Therefore, suitable teaching aids can be used to ensure students’ comprehension between theory and reality part. In addition, the different cognitive styleof students need different approach of learning. Multimedia-based learning modul can be performed in order to tackle the problem. Hence, this research is conducted to study and recognize the usage of learning module based on multimedia in education of Mechatronics Engineering subjects, which is focussing on students with analysis skill orientation and social orientation.The main objective of this research is to study the efficiency of multimedia learning courseware towards Mechatronics Engineering students. The aim was to identify whether there is significant difference existed in overall achievement compared to the conventional method of learning. Results obtained have proved the effectiveness of this multimedia learning modul due to the increment of score in students’ performance test to low internal motivation and dependent students