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Straightness measurement of rail weld joint is of essential importance to railway maintenance. Due to the lack of efficient measurement equipment, there has been limited in-depth research on rail weld joint with a 5-m wavelength range, leaving a significant knowledge gap in this field.

In this study, the authors used the well-established inertial reference method (IR-method), and the state-of-the-art multi-point chord reference method (MCR-method). Two methods have been applied in different types of rail straightness measurement trollies, respectively. These instruments were tested in a high-speed rail section within a certain region of China. The test results were ultimately validated through using traditional straightedge and feeler gauge methods as reference data to evaluate the rail weld joint straightness within the 5-m wavelength range.

The research reveals that IR-method and MCR-method produce reasonably similar measurement results for wavelengths below 1 m. However, MCR-method outperforms IR-method in terms of accuracy for wavelengths exceeding 3 m. Furthermore, it was observed that IR-method, while operating at a slower speed, carries the risk of derailing and is incapable of detecting rail weld joints and low joints within the track.

The research compare two methods’ measurement effects in a longer wavelength range and demonstrate the superiority of MCR-method.

The present work is devoted to investigating the sensitivity analysis of the electroosmotic peristaltic motion of non-Newtonian Casson fluid with the effect of the chemical reaction and magnetohydrodynamics through the porous medium. The main focus is on flow efficiency quantities such as pressure rise per wavelength, frictional forces on the upper wall and frictional forces on the lower wall. This initiative is to bridge the existing gap in the available literature.

The governing equations of the problem are mathematically formulated and subsequently simplified for sensitivity analysis under the assumptions of a long wavelength and a small Reynolds number. The simplified equations take the form of coupled nonlinear differential equations, which are solved using the built-in Matlab routine bvp4c. The response surface methodology and artificial neural networks are used to develop the empirical model for pressure rise per wavelength, frictional forces on the upper wall and frictional forces on the lower wall.

The empirical model demonstrates an excellent fit with a coefficient of determination reaching 100% for responses, frictional forces on the upper wall and frictional forces on the lower wall and 99.99% for response, for pressure rise per wavelength. It is revealed through the sensitivity analysis that pressure rise per wavelength, frictional forces on the upper wall and frictional forces on the lower wall are most sensitive to the permeability parameter at all levels.

The objective of this study is to use artificial neural networks simulation and analyze the sensitivity of electroosmotic peristaltic motion of non-Newtonian fluid with the effect of chemical reaction.

This study aims to describe the design and synthesis of two novel azo and imine chromophores-based dyes derived from two different aldehydes with intramolecular colour matching that are pH sensitive.

The visible absorption wavelength (λ_max) was extended when azo chromophore was included in imine-based systems. The dyed patterns created sophisticated colour-changing paper packaging sensors with pH-sensitive chromophores using alum as a mediator or mordant. Due to the tight adhesive bonding, the dyes on paper’s cellulose fibres could not be removed by ordinary water even at extremely high or low pH, which was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy analysis. The dyed patterns demonstrated an evident, sensitive and fast colour-changing mechanism with varying pH, from pale yellow to red for Dye-I and from pale yellow to brown-violet for Dye-II.

The λ_max for colour changing was recorded from 400 to 490 nm for Dye-I, whereas from 400 to 520 for Dye-II. The freshness judgement of food was checked using actual experiments with cooked crab spoilage, where the cooked crab was incubated at 37 ^oC for 6 h to see the noticeable colour change from yellow to brown-violet with Dye-II. The colour-changing mechanism was studied with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra at different pH, and thin layer chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance and FTIR spectroscopy studied the desired structure formation of the dyes. Potential uses for smart packaging sensors include quickly detecting food freshness during transportation or right before consumption.

1. Two novel azo-imine dyes have been synthesized with a pH-responsive effect. 2. The pH-responsive mechanism was studied. 3. The study was supported by computational chemistry using density functional theory. 4. The obtained dyes were used to make pH-responsive sensors for seafood packaging to judge the freshness.

Dynamic low adhesion (DLA) has become an urgent problem for the high-speed wheel-rail system because of continuous decrease of adhesion redundancy in the past decades. This article aims to provide a simulation method to reveal the mechanism of DLA under high-frequency vibrations.

A transient wheel-rail rolling contact model is developed for a typical Chinese high-speed railway system using the explicit finite element (FE) method. Instantaneous adhesion exploitation levels are studied in the time domain, for which driving cases over corrugated rails are taken as an example. A speed up to 500 km/h is considered together with different traction coefficients and corrugation dimensions. DLA is expected when the instantaneous adhesion exploitation level reaches 1.0, that is adhesion saturates and full sliding contact occurs.

The instantaneous adhesion exploitation level can be very high in the presence of corrugation, even at low traction coefficients. DLA is found to occur as great vertical unloading takes place and causes a significant increase of creepage. An approach is further developed to determine the critical depth of corrugation over which DLA occurs.

This study employs the transient wheel-rail rolling contact model to predict the instantaneous adhesion exploitation level under high-frequency vibrations. The presented results reveal a mechanism of DLA being beneficial to guidelines for future railway practice.

There is a strong inducement to develop new inorganic materials to substitute the current industrial pigments, which are known for their poor ultraviolet absorbent and low photoluminescence (PL) properties. The purpose of this paper is to invent a better rare-earth-based pigment material as a spectral modifier with good luminescence properties to enhance the spectral response for photovoltaic panel application.

Different phosphor samples made of nano-calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) with varied wt.% of the dopant Dysprosium doped calcium borophosphate (CBP/Dy) as (W0 – 0%, W1 – 3,85%, W2 – 7.41%, W3 –10.71% and W4 –13.79%) were prepared via the solid-state diffusion method at 600 °C for 6 h using a muffle furnace. The structural, morphological and luminescence properties of the CaCO₃:CBP/Dy powder samples were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and PL test.

The XRD, SEM and FTIR results verified the crystalline formation, morphological behaviour and vibration bonds of synthesized CBP/Dy-doped CaCO₃ powder samples. XRD pattern revealed that the synthesized powder samples exhibit crystalline structured materials, and SEM results showed irregular shape and porous-like structured morphologies. FTIR spectrum shows prominent bands at 712, 874 and 1,404 cm⁻¹, corresponding to asymmetric stretching vibrations of CO3²⁻ groups and out-of-plane bending. PL characterization of CBP/Dy-doped CaCO₃ (sample W) shows emission at 427 nm (λmax) under the excitation of 358 nm. The intensity of PL emission spectra drops due to the concentration quenching effect, while the maximum PL intensity is observed in the W3 phosphor powder system.

This phosphor powder is expected to find out the potential application such as a spectral modifier which is applied to match the energy of photons with solar cell bandgap to improve spectral absorption and lead to better efficiency.

The introduction of a nano-CaCO₃:CBP/Dy hybrid powder system with good luminescence properties to be used as spectral modifiers for solar cell application has been synthesized in the lab, which is a novel attempt.

Studying the shear stress and pressure resulting on the walls of blood vessels, especially during high-pressure cases, which may lead to the explosion or rupture of these vessels, can also lead to the death of many patients. Therefore, it was necessary to try to control the shear and normal stresses on these veins through nanoparticles in the presence of some external forces, such as exposure to some electromagnetic shocks, to reduce the risk of high pressure and stress on those blood vessels. This study aims to examines the shear and normal stresses of electroosmotic-magnetized Sutterby Buongiorno’s nanofluid in a symmetric peristaltic channel with a moderate Reynolds number and curvature. The production of thermal radiation is also considered. Sutterby nanofluids equations of motion, energy equation, nanoparticles concentration, induced magnetic field and electric potential are calculated without approximation using small and long wavelengths with moderate Reynolds numbers.

The Adomian decomposition method solves the nonlinear partial differential equations with related boundary conditions. Graphs and tables show flow features and biophysical factors like shear and normal stresses.

This study found that when curvature and a moderate Reynolds number are present, the non-Newtonian Sutterby fluid raises shear stress across all domains due to velocity decay, resulting in high shear stress. Additionally, modest mobility increases shear stress across all channel domains. The Sutterby parameter causes fluid motion resistance, which results in low energy generation and a decrease in the temperature distribution.

Equations of motion, energy equation, nanoparticle concentration, induced magnetic field and electric potential for Sutterby nano-fluids are obtained without any approximation i.e. the authors take small and long wavelengths and also moderate Reynolds numbers.

The use of a force sensor to estimate the external force of manipulator not only needs to deal with the signal noise of the sensor itself but also needs to solve the coupling interference of the sensor itself, especially the axial force. The purpose of this paper is to develop a three-dimensional fiber Bragg grating (FBG) wrist force sensor, which has a simple structure and reduces the coupling influence between several axes.

A particular separation elastic structure with four FBGs is devised for the three-axial force sensor. One FBG is suspended on the profile of central cylinder and the other three FBGs are pasted on the elastic beam surface of the over and under measuring bodies, respectively. Finite element analysis (FEA) simulation has been implemented to the strain distribution characteristics, the output characteristics of each direction and the coupling effects of the structure. Furthermore, theoretical derivation and experimental results are used to compare, which have a good consistency.

The experiment results show that the maximum repeatability error of the sensor is 6.75%, the maximum nonlinear error is 5.36%, the maximum coupling interference is 4.73% and the minimum sensitivity is 1.58 pm/N.

A three-dimensional force sensor based on FBG adopts a particular separation elastic structure. The sensor can reduce the coupling influence between several axes, especially the coupling interference in the z-direction is 0.

This article aims to predict the rapid track geometry change in the short term with a higher detection frequency, and realize the monitoring and maintenance of the railway state.

Firstly, the ABA data needs to be filtered to remove the DC component to reduce the drift due to integration. Secondly, the quadratic integration in frequency domain for concern components of the vertical and lateral ABA needs to be done. Thirdly, the displacement in lateral of the wheelset to rail needs to be calculated. Then the track alignment irregularity needs to be calculated by the integration of lateral ABA and the lateral displacement of the wheelset to rail.

By comparing with a commercial track geometry measurement system, the high-speed railway application results in different conditions, after removal of the influence of LDWR, identified that the proposed method can produce a satisfactory result.

This article helps realize detection of track irregularity on operating vehicle, reduce equipment production, installation and maintenance costs and improve detection density.

This study aims to minimize the pressure drop across wavy microchannels using secondary branches without compromising its capacity to transfer the heat. The impact of secondary flows on the pressure drop and heat transfer capabilities at different Reynolds numbers are investigated numerically for different wavy microchannels. Finally, different channels are evaluated using performance evaluation criteria to determine their effectiveness.

To investigate the flow and heat transfer capabilities in wavy microchannels having secondary branches, a 3D conjugate heat transfer model based on finite volume method is used. In conventional wavy microchannel, secondary branches are introduced at crest and trough locations. For the numerical simulation, a single symmetrical channel is used to minimize computational time and resources and the flow within the channels remains single-phase and laminar.

The findings indicate that the suggested secondary channels notably improve heat transfer and decrease pressure drop within the channels. At lower flow rates, the secondary channels demonstrate superior performance in terms of heat transfer. However, the performance declines as the flow rate increased. With the same amplitude and wavelength, the introduction of secondary channels reduces the pressure drop compared with conventional wavy channels. Due to the presence of secondary channels, the flow splits from the main channel, and part of the core flow gets diverted into the secondary channel as the flow takes the path of minimum resistance. Due to this flow split, the core velocity is reduced. An increase in flow area helps in reducing pressure drop.

Many complex and intricate microchannels are proposed by the researchers to augment heat dissipation. There are challenges in the fabrication of microchannels, such as surface finish and achieving the required dimensions. However, due to the recent developments in metal additive manufacturing and microfabrication techniques, the complex shapes proposed in this paper are feasible to fabricate.

Wavy channels are widely used in heat transfer and micro-fluidics applications. The proposed wavy microchannels with secondary channels are different when compared to conventional wavy channels and can be used practically to solve thermal challenges. They help achieve a lower pressure drop in wavy microchannels without compromising heat transfer performance.

This study aims to describe the development of a battery-operated portable colorimeter for on-site determination of water quality in aquaculture.

A simple and economical colorimeter is built using light sources of different wavelength and a light-dependent resistor combined with an electrical circuit. The whole system was fabricated as to fit into the pocket or palm for easy handling. The developed portable colorimeter was calibrated for estimation of nitrite. Further, the performance of developed portable colorimeters was compared with the commercially available colorimeter.

Three colorimeters with different light sources were developed and calibrated for determination of nitrite in water. Among them, colorimeter with yellow light source exhibited higher potential for determination of nitrite in the range of 0.5–3.5 ppm. Further, the results of the developed colorimeter are comparable with the commercial colorimeter.

The portable colorimeter developed in this study exhibits potential for determination of nitrite in aquaculture. Determination of nitrite at low concentrations is important for assessing the quality of culture as well as wastewater in aquaculture industry. The accuracy, portable nature, economy and simple operation of these portable colorimeters offer opportunity for on-site determination of water quality parameters in aquaculture.