Experimental Analysis of Artificial Dragonfly Wings Using Black Graphite and Fiberglass for Use in Biomimetic Micro Air Vehicles (BMAVs)

This article examines the suitability of two different materials which are black graphite carbon fiber and red pre-impregnated fiberglass from which to fabricate artificial dragonfly wing frames. These wings could be of use in Biomimetic Micro Aerial Vehicles (BMAV). BMAV are a new class of unmanned micro-sized air vehicles that mimic flying biological organisms. Insects, such as dragonflies, possess corrugated and complex vein structures that are difficult to mimic. Simplified dragonfly wing frames were fabricated from these materials and then a nano-composite film was adhered to them, which mimics the membrane of an actual dragonfly. Experimental analysis of these results showed that although black graphite carbon fiber and red pre-impregnated fiberglass offer some structural advantages, red pre-impregnated fiberglass was a less preferred option due to its warpage and shrinking effects. Black graphite carbon fiber with its high load bearing capability is a more suitable choice for consideration in future BMAV applications

Experimental Investigation on Mechanical and Turning Behavior of Al 7075/ x

The present research work involves the study of AA 7075-TiB2-Gr in situ composite through stir casting route. This in situ method involves formation of reinforcements within the matrix by the chemical reaction of two or more compounds which also produces some changes in the matrix material within the vicinity. Titanium Diboride (TiB2) and graphite were the reinforcement in a matrix of AA 7075 alloy. The composite was prepared with the formation of the reinforcement inside the molten matrix by adding salts of Potassium Tetrafluoroborate (KBF4) and Potassium Hexafluorotitanate (K2TiF6). The samples were taken under casted condition and the properties of the composite were tested by conducting characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD), hardness test, flexural strength by using three-point bend test, scanning electron microscope (SEM), optical microstructure, grain size analysis, and surface roughness. It was found that good/excellent mechanical properties were obtained in AA 7075-TiB2-Gr reinforced in situ hybrid composite compared to alloy due to particulate strengthening of ceramic particles of TiB2 in the matrix. Further, Al 7075-3% TiB2-1% Gr hybrid in situ composite exhibited improved machinability over the alloy and composites due to self-lubricating property given by the Gr particles in the materials

Numerical investigation of buoyancy-driven heat transfer within engine bay environment during thermal soak

This paper investigates transient heat transfer processes of a vehicle under-bonnet region during natural soak condition using computer aided engineering (CAE). Heat reserved within the engine bay is beneficial to the engine cold-start for potentially reductions in friction losses, CO2 emissions and fuel consumption. Buoyancy-driven convection, thermal radiation and conduction are key contributors to heat transfer processes of engine compartments during soak. In this study, a coupled transient 3D computational fluids dynamics (CFD) – heat transfer modelling method was studied in a passenger vehicle to simulate its 9 h cool-down behaviours. The developed CAE method was able to predict the temperature cool-down of the key fluids of good agreement with experiments. Potential air and heat leakage paths around the engine bay were identified. The flow development during the early stage (0–2 h) of the soak was vital to accurate prediction of the heat transfer coefficients for the heat retention modelling, where convection and radiation have played important parts. Optimum simulation strategy was obtained with reduced simulation time and good prediction accuracy. This further allows the integration of engine encapsulation design for optimising fuel consumption and emissions in a timely and robust manner, aiding the development of low-carbon transport technologies

Heat retention analysis with thermal encapsulation of powertrain under natural soak environment

This paper investigates high fatality modelling of vehicle heat transfer process during natural soak environment and heat retention benefits with powertrain encapsulations. A coupled computer-aided-engineering (CAE) method utilising 3D computational-fluids-dynamics (CFD) and transient thermal modelling was applied to solve buoyancy-driven convection, thermal radiation and conduction heat transfer of vehicle structure and fluids within. Two vehicle models with different encapsulation layouts were studied. One has engine-mounted-encapsulation (EME) and the other has additional vehicle-mounted-encapsulation (VME). Coupled transient heat transfer simulations were carried out for the two vehicle models to simulate their cool-down behaviours of 9 h static soak. The key fluids temperatures’ cool-down trajectories were obtained and correlated well with vehicle test data. Increased end temperatures were seen for both coolant and oils of the VME model. This provides potential benefits towards CO2 emissions reduction and fuel savings. The air paths and thermal leakages with both encapsulations were visualised. Reduced leakage pathways were found in the VME design in comparison with the EME design. This demonstrated the capability of embedded CAE encapsulation heat retention modelling for evaluating encapsulation designs to reduce fuel consumption and emissions in a timely and robust manner, aiding the development of low-carbon transport technologies

Synthesis, characterization, thermal and mechanical behavior of polypropylene hybrid composites embedded with CaCO₃ and graphene nano-platelets (GNPs) for structural applications

In this study, ultra-fine graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) were employed as nanofillers to reinforce a polypropylene (PP) matrix. This was done in conjunction with a polypropylene grafted maleic anhydride (PP-MAH) compatibilizer and calcium carbonate (CaCO3), with the aim of improving the mechanical and thermal properties of the resulting hybrid composites. Formulations for the hybrid composites were fabricated by compounding the PP matrix with varying weight percentages of GNPs (x = 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0), 2 wt.% CaCO3, and 5 wt.% PP-MAH using a twin-screw extruder followed by injection molding. This research thoroughly investigates the mechanical and thermal characteristics. X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results confirm the successful development of hybrid composites. The thermal stability, crystallization temperature, melting temperature, tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact resistance were evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), universal testing machine, and low-velocity impact tester, respectively. The results indicated a significant improvement in the tensile strength of the PP matrix with the addition of GNPs, with the highest enhancement observed at 1.5 wt.% GNP loading, where the tensile strength reached a maximum of 40.54 MPa. This improvement was attributed to the proper interconnection, bonding, and compounding of PP with GNPs, thus leading to an increase in the load transfer efficiency

Existence and Stability of Symmetric Periodic Simultaneous Binary Collision Orbits in the Planar Pairwise Symmetric Four-Body Problem

We extend our previous analytic existence of a symmetric periodic simultaneous binary collision orbit in a regularized fully symmetric equal mass four-body problem to the analytic existence of a symmetric periodic simultaneous binary collision orbit in a regularized planar pairwise symmetric equal mass four-body problem. We then use a continuation method to numerically find symmetric periodic simultaneous binary collision orbits in a regularized planar pairwise symmetric 1, m, 1, m four-body problem for $m$ between 0 and 1. Numerical estimates of the the characteristic multipliers show that these periodic orbits are linearly stability when $0.54\leq m\leq 1$, and are linearly unstable when $0<m\leq0.53$.Comment: 6 figure

Addressing healthcare needs of people living below the poverty line: a rapid assessment of the Andhra Pradesh Health Insurance Scheme

BACKGROUND: Families living below the poverty line in countries which do not have universal healthcare coverage are drawn into indebtedness and bankruptcy. The state of Andhra Pradesh in India established the Rajiv Aarogyasri Community Health Insurance Scheme (RACHIS) in 2007 with the aim of breaking this cycle by improving the access of below the poverty line (BPL) families to secondary and tertiary healthcare. It covered a wide range of surgical and medical treatments for serious illnesses requiring specialist healthcare resources not always available at district-level government hospitals. The impact of this scheme was evaluated by a rapid assessment, commissioned by the government of Andhra Pradesh. The aim of the assessment was to explore the contribution of the scheme to the reduction of catastrophic health expenditure among the poor and to recommend ways by which delivery of the scheme could be improved. We report the findings of this assessment. METHODS: Two types of data were used for the assessment. Patient data pertaining to 89 699 treatment requests approved by the scheme during its first 18 months were examined. Second, surveys of scheme beneficiaries and providers were undertaken in 6 randomly selected districts of Andhra Pradesh. RESULTS: This novel scheme was beginning to reach the BPL households in the state and providing access to free secondary and tertiary healthcare to seriously ill poor people. CONCLUSION: An integrated model encompassing primary, secondary and tertiary care would be of greater benefit to families below the poverty line and more cost-effective for the government. There is considerable potential for the government to build on this successful start and to strengthen equity of access and the quality of care provided by the scheme

Plasma Tau and Neurofilament Light in Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration and Alzheimer Disease

Objective: To test the hypothesis that plasma total tau (t-tau) and neurofilament light chain (NfL) concentrations may have a differential role in the study of frontotemporal lobar degeneration syndromes (FTLD-S) and clinically diagnosed Alzheimer disease syndromes (AD-S), we determined their diagnostic and prognostic value in FTLD-S and AD-S and their sensitivity to pathologic diagnoses. Methods: We measured plasma t-tau and NfL with the Simoa platform in 265 participants: 167 FTLD-S, 43 AD-S, and 55 healthy controls (HC), including 82 pathology-proven cases (50 FTLD-tau, 18 FTLD-TDP, 2 FTLD-FUS, and 12 AD) and 98 participants with amyloid PET. We compared cross-sectional and longitudinal biomarker concentrations between groups, their correlation with clinical measures of disease severity, progression, and survival, and cortical thickness. Results: Plasma NfL, but not plasma t-tau, discriminated FTLD-S from HC and AD-S from HC. Both plasma NfL and t-tau were poor discriminators between FLTD-S and AD-S. In pathology-confirmed cases, plasma NfL was higher in FTLD than AD and in FTLD-TDP compared to FTLD-tau, after accounting for age and disease severity. Plasma NfL, but not plasma t-tau, predicted clinical decline and survival and correlated with regional cortical thickness in both FTLD-S and AD-S. The combination of plasma NfL with plasma t-tau did not outperform plasma NfL alone. Conclusion: Plasma NfL is superior to plasma t-tau for the diagnosis and prediction of clinical progression of FTLD-S and AD-S. Classification of Evidence: This study provides Class III evidence that plasma NfL has superior diagnostic and prognostic performance vs plasma t-tau in FTLD and AD