Influence of crack offset distance on the interaction of multiple cracks on the same side in a rectangular plate

In the present work finite element method has been employed to study the interaction of multiple cracks in a finite rectangular plate of unit thickness with cracks on the same side under uniaxial loading conditions. The variation of the stress intensity factor and stress distribution around the crack tip with crack offset distance has been studied. Due to the presence of a neighbouring crack, two types of interactions viz. intensification and shielding effect have been observed. The interaction between the cracks is seen to be dependent on the crack offset distance. It is seen that the presence of a neighbouring crack results in the appearance of mode II stress intensity factor which was otherwise absent for a single edge crack. It can be said that the proximity of cracks is non-desirable for structural integrity. The von-Mises stress for different crack orientations has been computed. Linear elastic analysis of state of stress around the crack tip has also been done

Augmented Reality and AI in Smart Manufacturing: An Empirical Investigation

This empirical study, “Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence in Smart Manufacturing,” reveals how these two technologies are revolutionizing the manufacturing industry. The results, which are based on real data, highlight the significant effects of integrating AI and AR. Notably, after installation, productivity indicators saw an average improvement of 8.5% across production lines, highlighting the effectiveness of AR and AI in improving production operations. Furthermore, the average number of completed product faults dropped by 3.5, demonstrating the effectiveness of AI and AR in quality control. The average 47.5% decrease in repair requests highlights the predictive maintenance's potential for cost savings made possible by AR and AI. The relevance of AR and AI as critical factors influencing productivity, quality, and affordability in smart manufacturing is further supported by this empirical data

Effect of stem structural characteristics and cell wall components related to stem lodging resistance in a newly identified mutant of hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

In wheat, lodging is affected by anatomical and chemical characteristics of the stem cell wall. Plant characteristics determining the stem strength were measured in lodging tolerant mutant (PMW-2016-1) developed through mutation breeding utilizing hexaploid wheat cultivar, DPW-621-50. Various anatomical features, chemical composition, and mechanical strength of the culms of newly developed lodging-tolerant mutant (PMW-2016-1) and parent (DPW-621-50), were examined by light microscopy, the Klason method, prostate tester coupled with a Universal Tensile Machine, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. Significant changes in the anatomical features, including the outer radius of the stem, stem wall thickness, and the proportions of various tissues, and vascular bundles were noticed. Chemical analysis revealed that the lignin level in the PMW-2016-1 mutant was higher and exhibited superiority in stem strength compared to the DPW-621-50 parent line. The force (N) required to break the internodes of mutant PMW 2016-1 was higher than that of DPW-621-50. The results suggested that the outer stem radius, stem wall thickness, the proportion of sclerenchyma tissues, the number of large vascular bundles, and lignin content are important factors that affect the mechanical strength of wheat stems, which can be the key parameters for the selection of varieties having higher lodging tolerance. Preliminary studies on the newly identified mutant PMW-2016-1 suggested that this mutant may possess higher lodging tolerance because it has a higher stem strength than DPW-621-50 and can be used as a donor parent for the development of lodging-tolerant wheat varieties

Effect of rice husk (treated/untreated) and rice husk ash on fracture toughness of epoxy bio-composite

Present work studies the effect of particle reinforcement on fracture toughness of bio-composites. The filler used has been taken as rice husk. Epoxy resin has been taken as matrix material. Composites with varying filler loading of 10, 20, 30 and 40 wt.% were fabricated. The fracture toughness was seen to be increasing with increase in filler loading. However beyond 20% there was a decrease in fracture toughness with increase in filler loading. The effect of fibre treatment on toughness was also observed. Rice husk fibres pre-treated with NaOH were used. It was observed that fracture toughness further improved due to treatment. The increase in fracture toughness was significant. Fracture toughness increased from 1.072 to 2.7465 MPa√mm for 20% reinforcement and after treatment it increased to 2.876 MPa√mm. It was observed that concentration of treatment media also affects the fracture toughness. Further the effect of hybridization was observed by addition of rice husk ash as a secondary reinforcement. The fracture toughness of the resulting composites was remarkably higher than that of pure epoxy

Rice husk as a fibre in composites: A review

In the last decade due to ever growing environmental concerns, use of natural fibres as fibre materials has gained momentum and acceptance. Natural fibres provide advantage of being economical and environment friendly at the same time. Rice husk, an agricultural waste is being utilized as a natural fibre for development of bio-composites. Present paper attempts to understand the applicability of rice husk as a fibre with various polymers based on the recent research works. It also throws light on various modification techniques that can further enhance the associated mechanical properties by altering the chemical and physical properties of husk. The paper may assist in understanding the phenomenon associated in manufacture of rice husk based bio-composite and provide a critical insight to the future applications of rice husk

Stellar modelling of PSR J1614-2230 using the Karmarkar condition

The main objective of the paper is to provide a new family of solutions of embedding class one describing the interior of a spherically symmetric anisotropic stellar configuration. For $n= 6, 8, 10$ and 12, all the physical parameters are well-behaved within the stellar interior and our model satisfies all the required conditions to be physically viable. Due to the well-behaved nature of the solution of the above n values, we develop the model of PSR J1614-2230 (Nature 467, 1081 (2010)) and discuss the behavior of the class of solutions extensively. By analyzing the adiabatic index ($\Gamma$) we observe that for lower values of n, i.e., $n=6$, the star is soft and as we increase the value of n the star becomes stiff

Core-envelope model of super dense star with distinct equation of states

The aim of the present paper is to study an anisotropic spherically symmetric core-envelope model of a super dense star in which core is equipped with linear equation of state, consistent with the quark matter while the envelope is considered to be of quadratic equation of state by adopting the philosophy of Takisa et al. (Pramana J Phys 92:40, 2019). We demonstrate that all the physical parameters are realistic within the core as well as envelope of the stellar object and continuous at the junction. Our model is shown to be physically viable and substantiate with the strange stars SAX J1808.4-3658 and 4U1608-52. Further, We infer that if the mass of the star increases then central density results to higher values and core shrinks, which justifies the dominating effect of gravity for higher mass celestial objects

A new parametric class of exact solutions of EFEs under the Karmarkar condition for anisotropic fluids

In this paper, we explore a new parametric class of exact solutions of the Einstein field equations (EFEs) under the Karmarkar condition for anisotropic fluids. The solutions are verified by examining different physical aspects, viz. static stability criterion, energy conditions, stability factor, adiabatic index, causality condition, in connection to their cogency. Due to the well behaved nature of the solutions for different n values, we develop models of objects with different masses and radii, such as PSR J1614-2230, Cen X-1, Her X-1, Vela X-1, LMC X-4 and SMC X-4 and discuss the behavior with a graphical representation of the class of solutions of the first three objects extensively

Simulation approach for optimization of device structure and thickness of HIT solar cells to achieve similar to 27% efficiency

Optimization of thicknesses of n-type a-Si:H emitter layer, front a-Si:H i-layer and p-type c-Si base wafer as well as optimum heterojunction (HJ) and HJ with intrinsic layer (HIT) solar cells are performed using AFORS-HET simulation software. By optimization, we realized record efficiency of 27.02% in bifacial HIT solar cell at emitter layer, front i-layer and c-Si base wafer thicknesses of 6 nm, 3 nm and 200 mu m, respectively. Interestingly when the thickness of c-Si wafer was reduced to 58 mu m, while keeping the thicknesses of emitter and front i-layers as same as 6 nm and 3 nm, respectively, efficiency in bifacial cell got reduced to 26.45%. All cell structures generated highest efficiency at emitter layer and front i-layer thicknesses of 6 nm and 3 nm, respectively. However, optimum c-Si base wafer thickness was varied according to the following cell structures: simple HJ and HIT cells showed highest efficiency at 300 mu m, HJ with BSF layer cell at 98 mu m, HIT with BSF layer at 58 mu m. It is worth mention that, efficiency in bifacial cell at 58, 98 and 200 mu m was varied nominally. These optimizations may help in producing low cost high efficiency HJ and HIT solar cells technology