A Cost-Effective Slag-based Mix Activated with Soda Ash and Hydrated Lime: A Pilot Study

This study investigates the cost-effective binder material of silica fume blended slag mix using industry grade soda ash and hydrated lime as solid activators. The study followed a "just add water" methodology, observing paste rheology and strength development. Microstructural analysis and TGA-DTA studies were conducted to validate the results. A side-by-side comparison was conducted with other mixing procedures. The study found that using pre-mixed analytical grade Na2CO3 in water can cost up to 60% more than using a mixture activated by NaOH pellets. Using industrial-grade chemicals could save 94.5 percent of the budget. For a 10% SF addition and a 10% targeted NaOH content at a w/s ratio of 0.45, the mixes showed the highest strength development and commendable rheology. The mix demonstrated 35.1 MPa after 28 days and 41.33 MPa after 120 days, making it suitable for use as a structural material. The presence of magnesian calcite, magnesite, and hydrotalcite was detected in the XRD analyses. SEM images showed a denser microstructure developed at 28 days. The TG-DT analysis provided insights into phase transitions and bound water associated with hydration products. The higher strength was attributed to calcite transitioning into magnesian calcite and portlandite supplanting CNASH and CSH

Induction Machine Stator Inter-Turn Short Circuit Fault Detection using Discrete Wavelet Transform

A novel technique for the detection of stator inter-turn short circuit fault of the induction motor is presented. At first, the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) is performed on the windowed steady state stator currents to obtain the detailed coefficients at higher wavelet level. It has been observed that the faulty motor produces higher statistical parameters of the reconstructed details- RMS and Power Detailed Energy (PDE) than those values for the healthy one. Illustrative laboratory test results confirm the validity and accurate performance of the proposed method. Keywords: inter-turn short, induction motor, Discrete wavelet transform, power detail energy, RMS value

Parallel Imports in the Pharmaceutical Sector: Must India be More Liberal?

400-409A contemporary debate in India’s legal and policy circles has centred around the desirability of liberalizing the parallel imports regime in the country. The primary impetus for such a move has been the amendment to Section 107A(b) to the Patents Act in 2005 which allows easier import of products into India which are already under patent protection. This article, focusing specifically on the pharmaceutical sector argues against the all-pervasiveness of such a move in the Indian context. To set the foundation for this argument, the article examines the leading judicial decisions in this regard in the USA and the EU in order to understand the divergent discourses, which exist supporting and opposing freeing of parallel imports. On the basis of these decisions and their applicability to the Indian context, this article proposes a nuanced policy recommendation harmonizing the financial interests of intellectual property owners with those of securing easier availability of key products