Multi stages toolpath optimisation of single point incremental forming process

Single point incremental forming (SPIF) is a flexible technology that can form a wide range of sheet metal products without the need for using punch and die sets. As a relatively cheap and die-less process, this technology is preferable for small and medium customised production. However, the SPIF technology has drawbacks, such as the geometrical inaccuracy and the thickness uniformity of the shaped part. This research aims to optimise the formed part geometric accuracy and reduce the processing time of a two-stage forming strategy of SPIF. Finite element analysis (FEA) was initially used and validated using experimental literature data. Furthermore, the design of experiments (DoE) statistical approach was used to optimise the proposed two-stage SPIF technique. Mass scaling technique was applied during the finite element analysis to minimise the computational time. The results showed that the step size during forming stage two have significantly affected the geometrical accuracy of the part, whereas the forming depth during stage one was insignificant to the part quality. It was also revealed that the geometrical improvement had taken place along the base and the wall regions. However, the areas near the clamp system showed minor improvements. The optimised two-stage strategy had successfully decreased both the geometrical inaccuracy and processing time. After optimisation, the average values of the geometrical deviation and forming time were reduced by 25% and 55.56%, respectively

EFFECT OF USING NANOFLUIDS AND PROVIDING VACUUM ON THE YIELD OF CORRUGATED WICK SOLAR STILL

ABSTRACT The performance of the corrugated wick solar still with internal reflectors, integrated with external condenser and using different types of nanomaterials is investigated and compared with conventional still under the same metallurgical conditions. The influences of saline water depth (1, 2, and 3 cm) on the corrugated wick solar still performance have been investigated.Experimentations obtained that the productivity of a corrugated wick still with reflectors when providing vacuum was about 180% higher than that of the conventional still. In addition, using the cuprous and aluminum oxides nanoparticles increases the yield of modified corrugated wick still solar still with reflectors when providing vacuum by about 285.10% and 254.88% respectively

A Numerical Analysis of Fluid Flow and Torque for Hydropower Pelton Turbine Performance Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

The difficulty of delivering electrical power to rural areas motivated the researchers to explore more accessible power sources. Hydropower is considered a desirable option due to its sustainability and lower costs. Pelton turbines have been widely used in hydropower plants because of their low installation and maintenance costs. This study provides a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model for Pelton turbine performance under various flow conditions. The model is based on the conservation of mass principle, Newton’s second law, and the first law of thermodynamics. It is used to predict the torque produced by a turbine at different rotational speeds. Previously published experimental results for the same turbine geometry and flow parameters were used to validate the model’s predictions. Validation revealed that the model can reproduce the experimental results. This provides the required robustness for its use as a tool for turbine design and modification. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.The authors extend their appreciation to Mustafa F. Mohammed and Jeffrey C. Nash, as well as to our university library (URFU), for their support in completing this research

Shallow geophysical techniques to investigate the groundwater table at the Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

The near-surface groundwater aquifer that threatened the Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt, was investigated using integrated geophysical surveys. A total of 10 electrical resistivity imaging, 26 shallow seismic refraction, and 19 ground-penetrating radar surveys were conducted in the Giza Plateau. Collected data for each method were evaluated by state-of-the art processing and modeling techniques. A three-layer model depicts the subsurface layers and better delineates the groundwater aquifer and water table elevation. The resistivity of the aquifer layer and seismic velocity vary between 40 and 80&thinsp;Ωm and between 1500 and 2500&thinsp;m&thinsp;s−1, respectively. The average water table elevation is about +15&thinsp;m, which is safe for the Great Sphinx, but it is still subjected to potential hazards from the Nazlet El-Samman suburb where the water table elevation reaches 17&thinsp;m. A shallower water table at the Valley Temple and the tomb of Queen Khentkawes, with a low topographic relief, represents severe hazards. It can be concluded that a perched groundwater table is detected in the elevated topography to the west and southwest that might be due to runoff and capillary seepage.</p

Unveiling the antitumor potential of novel N-(substituted-phenyl)-8-methoxycoumarin-3-carboxamides as dual inhibitors of VEGFR2 kinase and cytochrome P450 for targeted treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Being the sixth most diagnosed cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, liver cancer is considered as a serious disease with a high prevalence and poor prognosis. Current anticancer drugs for liver cancer have drawbacks, such as limited efficacy in later stages of the disease, toxicity to healthy cells, and the potential for drug resistance. There is ample evidence that coumarin-based compounds are potent anticancer agents, with numerous analogues currently being investigated in preclinical and clinical studies. The current study aimed to explore the antitumor potency of a new class of 8-methoxycoumarin-3-carboxamides against liver cancer. Toward this aim, we have designed, synthesized, and characterized a new set of N-(substituted-phenyl)-8-methoxycoumarin-3-carboxamide analogues. The assessment of antitumor activity revealed that the synthesized class of compounds possesses substantial cytotoxicity toward Hep-G2 cells when compared to staurosporine, without significant impact on normal cells. Out of the synthesized compounds, compound 7 demonstrated the most potent cytotoxic effect against Hep-G2 cells with an IC50 of 0.75 µM, which was more potent than the drug staurosporine (IC50 = 8.37 µM). The investigation into the mechanism behind the antiproliferative activity of compound 7 revealed that it interferes with DNA replication and induces DNA damage, leading to cell cycle arrest as demonstrated by a significant decrease in the percentage of cells in the G1 and G2/M phases, along with an increase in the percentage of cells in the S phase. Flow cytometric analysis further revealed that compound 7 has the ability to trigger programmed cell death by inducing necrosis and apoptosis in HepG-2 cells. Further explorations into the mechanism of action demonstrated that compound 7 displays a potent dual-inhibitory activity toward cytochrome P450 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) proteins, as compared to sorafenib drug. Further, detailed computational studies revealed that compound 7 displays a considerable binding affinity toward the binding cavity of VEGFR2 and CYP450 proteins. Taken together, our findings indicate that the newly synthesized class of compounds, particularly compound 7, could serve as a promising scaffold for the development of highly effective anticancer agents against liver cancer