Critical gap analysis of merging sections at Kuala Lumpur middle ring road

At merging sections, drivers normally slow down and sometimes need to stop while seeking a suitable gap before merging with the mainstream. Thus, there will always be several observed rejected gaps and an accepted gap which can be used to determine the smallest average gap, so-called critical gap. This study was carried out to determine critical gap values at selected merging sections at the Jalan Tun Razak and the DUKE Expressway uses the Maximum Likelihood method. Data were collected by using videotaping method and the gap acceptance data were extracted for analysis. A gap acceptance event at highway merging sections in this study was redefined due to unavailability of stopping vehicles at the ramp junction. Therefore, the gap data were estimated starting from a ramp’s vehicle passing the end of gore marking to where it merges with the mainstream. The analysis of the critical gap takes into consideration accepted gaps greater than 5 seconds to avoid forced entry due to lead impedance of successive vehicles on mainstream. The critical gap values obtained in this study, according to vehicle classification were ranged between 4.5 to 5.0 seconds, which are slightly smaller if compared to critical gap values for particularly left turn from minor movement at priority junction of the Arahan Teknik (Jalan) 11/87 and the United States Highway Capacity Manual 2000. The findings shall help to study driving behavior of local drivers, especially at priority control facilities such as merging sections

Forecasting wind speed data by using a combination of ARIMA model with single exponential smoothing

Wind serves as natural resources as the solution to minimize global warming and has been commonly used to produce electricity. Because of their uncontrollable wind characteristics, wind speed forecasting is considered one of the best challenges in developing power generation. The Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA), Simple Exponential Smoothing (SES) and a hybrid model combination of ARIMA and SES will be used in this study to predict the wind speed. The mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and the root mean square error (RMSE) are used as measurement of efficiency. The hybrid model provides a positive outcome for predicting wind speed compare to the single model of ARIMA and SES

Horizontal axis wind turbine performance analysis

The present work uses the method of Blade Element Momentum Theory as suggested by Hansen. The method applied to three blade models adopted from Rahgozar S. with the airfoil data used the data provided by Wood D. The wind turbine performance described in term of the thrust coefficient CT, torque coefficient CQ and the power coefficient Cp . These three coefficient can be deduced from the Momentum theory or from the Blade element Theory(BET). The present work found the performance coefficient derived from the Momentum theory tent to over estimate. It is suggested to used the BET formulation in presenting these three coefficients. In overall the Blade Element Momentum Theory follows the step by step as described by Hansen work well for these three blade models. However a little adjustment on the blade data is needed. To the case of two bladed horizontal axis wind turbine, Hansen’s approach works well over if the blade radius is RB the calculation should start from r = 0.1RB

Optimization of non thermal plasma reactor performance for the decomposition of xylene

Non Thermal Plasma (NTP) is an emerging method used for the decomposition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This research focuses on the optimization of NTP reactor performance for decomposition of xylene from wastewater using response surface methodology (RSM) by operating the NTP reactor at applied voltage of 12-15 kV, discharge gap of 2.0-3.0 cm and gas flow rate of 2.0-5.0 L/min. An optimum xylene removal efficiency of 81.98% was obtained at applied voltage 15kV, discharge gap 2.09cm and gas flow rate at 2.36 L/min. The experimental removal efficiencies and model predictions were in close agreement with an error of 0.63%

Impact damage resistance and post impact tolerance of optimum banana-pseudo stem fiber reinforced epoxy sandwich structures

Banana fiber has a high potential for use in fiber composite structures due to its promise as a polymer reinforcement. However, it has poor bonding characteristics with the matrixes due to hydrophobic-hydrophilic incompatibility, inconsistency in blending weight ratio, and fiber length instability. In this study, the optimal conditions for a banana/epoxy composite as determined previously were used to fabricate a sandwich structure where carbon/Kevlar twill plies acted as the skins. The structure was evaluated based on two experimental tests: low-velocity impact and compression after impact (CAI) tests. Here, the synthetic fiber including Kevlar, carbon, and glass sandwich structures were also tested for comparison purposes. In general, the results showed a low peak load and larger damage area in the optimal banana/epoxy structures. The impact damage area, as characterized by the dye penetration, increased with increasing impact energy. The optimal banana composite and synthetic fiber systems were proven to offer a similar residual strength and normalized strength when higher impact energies were applied. Delamination and fracture behavior were dominant in the optimal banana structures subjected to CAI testing. Finally, optimization of the compounding parameters of the optimal banana fibers improved the impact and CAI properties of the structure, making them comparable to those of synthetic sandwich composites

Quantum key distribution in terms of the Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger state: multi-key generation

In this paper, we develop a quantum key distribution protocol based on the Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger states (GHZs). The particles are exchanged among the users in blocks through two steps. In this protocol, for three-particle GHZs three keys can be simultaneously generated. The advantage of this is that the users can select the most suitable key for communication. The protocol can be generalized to $N$ users to provide $N$ keys. The protocol has two levels for checking the eavesdroppers. Moreover, we discuss the security of the protocol against different attacks.Comment: 10 Page, no figures. Comments are most welcom

Rehabilitation Of Ex-Mining Pond And Existing Wetland For Integrated Stormwater Management.

A study on rehabilitation of ex-mining pond and existing wetland for integrated storm water facilities has been carried out in Malaysia

Mechanistic insight of the formation of visible-light responsive nanosheet graphitic carbon nitride embedded polyacrylonitrile nanofibres for wastewater treatment

Effective capture and in situ photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) dye is a promising technique to purify wastewater containing MB. With recently elicited ripples of discovery on graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), this study investigates the performance of g-C3N4 on photodegradation of MB. In this study, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibres embedded with g-C3N4 photocatalyst was successfully prepared using electrospinning technique which produced liquid-permeable self-supporting photocatalytic nanofibre mats that can be handled easily. Different configurations of g-C3N4 were synthesised, bulk g-C3N4 (bg-C3N4) and nanosheets g-C3N4 (nsg-C3N4) from urea using a green facile template-free method. Effective photocatalytic activity of the g-C3N4 nanofibres was confirmed by 97.3% degradation of MB under visible light irradiation. Photodegradation of MB in aqueous solution by g-C3N4 nanofibres predominantly attributed to the synergetic effects of MB adsorption by PAN nanofibres and photocatalytic degradation of MB by g-C3N4 photocatalyst. This present work not only presents the simplest ecofriendly and economical approach to fabricate g-C3N4 nanofibre photocatalyst, but also paves new opportunities for this advanced photocatalyst as great potential in environmental remediation for treatment of industrial MB wastewater

Autonomous vehicle convoy using Lego Mindstorms

ABSTRACT -Autonomous vehicle convoy is a future driving and technology system that have been researched and developed for decades to solve problems in our transportation system nowadays. The increasing of road traffic has contributed to traffic congestion and more severely causes accidents. The aims of this study are to develop convoy algorithm and demonstrate autonomous vehicle convoy system using the LEGO Mindstorms Education EV3 by performing convoy experiment using small scaled car. The convoy or platooning need to satisfy the range of constraints by keeping the control parameters. It consists of one leader and two followers which have to maintain speed and safe distance while moving at designated route

A Review of Forensic Entomology Cases at Ipoh Hospital and Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia for the Year 2003

Forensic entomology was utilized to determine the postmortem interval of eleven forensic cases sentfor autopsy examination at Ipoh Hospital and Hospital University Kebangsaan Malaysia between of Januaryto December 2003. Sixth species of sarcosaprophagous flies: Chrysomya megacephala, Chrysomya rufifacies,Chrysomya villeneuvi, Chrysomya nigripes, Synthesiomya nudiseta and a sarcophagid fly were found amongthe maggot specimens received by the Forensic Entomology Laboratory, Department of Parasitology &Medical Entomology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Those maggots were collected from dead bodiesfound among others in wrapped in gunny bags, around water tank, hanged with black nylon clothes, insidehome, beside road, drowning in lombong and an estate. Ch. megacephala was the main species found in eightcases examined. Postmortem Interval (PMI) estimated from the cases varied from one day to 10 days