K. Balasubramanian ¹, P. Selvarajan ², E. Kumar ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Physics, The MDT Hindu College, Tirunelveli-627010, Tamilnadu, IN
2 Department of Physics, Aditanar College of Arts and Science, Tiruchendur-628216, Tamilnadu, IN
3 PRIST University, Thanjavur, Tamilnadu, IN

Abstract

Single crystals of Triglycine Sulfate (TGS) were grown in water and also were grown in water-soluble CdS nanoparticles dispersed in water by solution method with slow evaporation technique at room temperature. Watersoluble CdS nanoparticles were synthesized by microwave-assisted solution method using the precursors such as cadmium sulfate, thioglycolic acid and ethylene diamine and they were used for the growth of CdS-added TGS crystals. The grown crystals were characterized by XRD technique, UV-visible spectral studies, measurement of density, microhardness studies, atomic absorptions studies. The effect of Cd²⁺ ions on various properties of TGS crystals have been analyszed and reported.

Keywords

Crystal Growth, XRD, TGS Crystals, CdS Nanoparticles

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S. Rajarasalnath ¹, K. Balasubramanian ²

Affiliations
1 Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute University, Chennai - 600095, Tamil Nadu, IN
2 Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Krishnankoil - 626126, Tamil Nadu, IN

Abstract

It is essential to operate all manufacturing processes at optimum levels to stay competitive in the global environment. Optimum prediction in manufacturing process involves lot of experimentation as it involves time and cost. Taguchi Parameter Design (PDE) is a design where optimum prediction is achieved in lesser experimental runs subject to the condition that there is no confounding effect. Confounding effect is a drawback of Taguchi PDE due to which many Taguchi experiments fail in confirmation tests at desired confidence level. RABAL Algorithm is 12 step structured approach, which uses Orthogonality concept and linear graph for Factors and Interaction allocation and uses certain rules based on statistical concepts by which the accurate result of Taguhi parameter design experiment is ensured. Sleeve synchronizer 1&2 hard turning is a bottleneck operation in a gear manufacturing line taken for research optimized for better cycle time using Taguchi PDE and RABAL algorithm. Feed rate in first and second cut is observed as significant factors at 95% confidence level and Optimal parametric setting is identified. Accuracy of results is confirmed through confirmation tests. RABAL Algorithm can be used along with Taguchi PDE to minimize the confounding effects there by accuracy of experimental results are improved and results are achieved right first time.

Keywords

Confounding Effect, Hard Turning, RABAL Algorithm, Sleeve Synchronizer 1&2, Taguchi Parameter Design

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P. Kannan ¹, K. Balasubramanian ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dr. M. G. R. Educational and Research Institute University, Chennai - 600095, Tamil Nadu, IN
2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Krishnankoil - 626126, Tamil Nadu, IN

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Optimization of process parameters to obtain shrinkage free engine piston based on Al-Si casting alloy LM 13 fabricated by gravity die casting. Method/Statistical Analysis: Experimental analysis of design and process parameters like riser sleeve size, center core temperature, pouring metal temperature and solidification time was carried out on Al-Si casting alloy LM 13 based engine piston fabricated by die casting technique. The die casting experiments with different solidification time 90, 120 and 150 seconds and volume of molten metal consumed by different sleeve size were carried out to obtain optimum conditions to produce shrinkage free engine pistons. The die casted engine piston were sectioned and checked for shrinkage at different design and process parameters. Results/Findings: The results showed that there is an effect of centre core temperature towards the shifting of shrinkage from the crown to riser. The center core temperature should not be maintained below 200°C and should be in the range of 200 - 238°C. But it cannot be concluded that the crown shrinkage is only due to the centre core temperature. The molten metal Al-Si is less dense as a liquid than as a solid so castings shrink upon cooling, which can leave a void at the last point to solidify. Risers prevent this by providing molten Al-Si alloy to the casting as it solidifies, so that the shrinkage forms in the riser and not the in engine piston casting. It was found that the size of sleeve size is indirectly proportional to the occurrence of crown shrinkage and increase in size of sleeve size reduces the chances of shrinkage. Engine piston section results showed the shrinkage shifting from casting to riser side by increasing the sleeve size. However the effect of different solidification time and pouring metal temperature was not so significant on the occurrence of shrinkage. Applications/Improvements: The optimized center core pin temperature and riser sleeve size successfully prevented the shrinkage formation in the Al-Si casting alloy LM 13 engine piston casting. This not only helps in improving the casting quality but also in increasing the production.

Keywords

Al-Si Alloy, Engine Pistons, Gravity Die Casting, Shrinkage, Solidification Time

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S. Rajendran ¹, K. Balasubramanian ²

Affiliations
1 Dr. M. G. R. Educational and Research Institute, University, Chennai - 600107, Tamil Nadu, IN
2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Krishnankoil - 626126, Tamil Nadu, IN

Abstract

The flowshop scheduling problems are solved by heuristic methods in view of the NP-hardness. This paper proposes to explore the near optimal sequences based on heuristic algorithms with the objective to minimize Makespan. Metaheuristic based methods are used in scheduling problems where exact methods are not sufficient to provide a solution. Swarm intelligence systems are generally made up of a population of naturally existing phenomena or agents and in this paper the consideration is the foraging behavior of honey bees. Such swarm based algorithms are used to duplicate the methods of nature to conduct a search towards the near optimal solution. This paper presents an application of parallel flow line scheduling using metaheuristic method of swarm intelligence based on bee colony algorithm. The algorithm used is to minimize the Makespan, which is one of the important requirements to reduce the overall lead time in manufacturing. The results of this algorithm has been compared with the results of other comparable research algorithms and verified. Computational results show that GA based algorithm outperforms ABC in all instances of the chosen problem sets. In order to measure the efficiency of the solution methods, the execution time (sec) taken by each solution method to obtain solution to an instance of a problem was computed. The mean value of execution time over the hundred problem instances solved under various metaheuristics shows that for the small size problems the computation time is same for all the three algorithms and when the problem size increases the computation time of algorithms also increases and vary exponentially and from the experiments it is inferred that the GA algorithm is faster than ABC. The application of this algorithm discussed can be applied over a number of applications related to manufacturing in parallel assembly lines like packaging industry, manufacturing industry like paper industry, plastics injection molding industry etc.

Keywords

Bee Colony, Heuristics, Parallel Flow-Line, Scheduling

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