Archives-February 2018

Instrumented cadaveric knees were used to address the interaction between unopposed quadriceps muscle forces (QMF), ground reaction force (GRF), and strain in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) through in-vitro simulation of a vertical jump-landing process. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of unopposed QMF, low knee flexion angle, joint conformity and constant GRF on the ACL strain. Fourteen cadaveric knees were mounted in a custom made dynamic loading simulator. The strain on the anteromedial bundle of the ACL was measured using a Differential Variable Reluctance Transducers (DVRT) sensor. Also, an I-Scan pressure transducer was used to measure the contact pressure and area in the tibiofemoral joint. During landing phase, the peak pressure on the lateral compartment is very high compared with the medial compartment. During landing phase, both the contact area and pressure increases in the tibiofemoral joint. The induced joint conformity caused by contact pressure has been justified. The results show that unopposed quadriceps muscle forces coupled with ground reaction force at low knee flexion angle cannot cause ACL injury. Joint compressive loads induced by large muscle forces and GRF introduces the joint conformity, and it produces the primary restraint against anterior tibial translation at low flexion angles.

In this work, we explore the fuzzy soft matrix and their operations. In this report, we define intuitionistic fuzzy soft matrices and have inserted some new operators with weights. We then prove fuzzy soft algorithm that allows constructing those efficient decision making methods. In the end, we throw an example on the weighted harmonic mean for decision making problems. It indicates that the method can be successfully employed to many problems that contain uncertainties.

Ultrasonic velocity (U), viscosity (?) and density (?), were measured for liquid mixtures of Brompheniramine and1-pentanol at 303,308 and 313K. Adiabatic compressibility (?), viscous relaxation time (?), free volume (Vf), free length (Lf), and Gibbs free energy (?G) were determined. Excess values of that parameters (?E, LfE , Vf E ,?E and ?GE ) also calculated and elucidated in terms of intermolecular interaction like hydrogen bond between selected liquid system. It was observed that homo and hetero association of molecules decreased with the temperatures.

Over the last few decades use of fiber to reinforce plain cement concrete (PCC) to improve its ductility, tensile strength and crack and shrinkage resistance has gained a lot of popularity. Bamboo (Bambusa) is a fast-growing grass and abundantly available in India. It possesses sufficient strength, flexibility, toughness and is also very light in weight. Bamboo can be processed to obtain bamboo fibers of required dimensions which could be used as a substitute of steel fibers in order to improve ductility, tensile strength which in turn improves crack and shrinkage resistance of plain cement concrete. Bamboo fibers are also environment friendly and much cheaper than almost all other types of fibers used in concrete construction. Many studies have been carried out on bamboo reinforced concrete (BRC) which mostly deals with bamboo strips as reinforcement in concrete similar to that of steel bars in concrete. However there are very few literatures available on using bamboo in the form of fibers to reinforce concrete. This paper reviews various studies carried out on bamboo as reinforcing material in concrete especially in the form of fibers. Based on previous studies two types of predominantly used bamboo fibers, i.e., i) long slender type and ii) flat chip type, have been identified. The authors intend to conduct experimental investigation using these two types of fibers and comparative analysis also to be made between the test results of concrete specimens reinforced with these two types of fibers to identify its technical viability. Further investigations will be conducted using the type of fiber resulting better concrete properties with various volume content and aspect ratio. In addition, experimental study will also be taken up on concrete specimen partially replacing cement by pozzolanic material and using the same type of fiber.

This paper explores the level of coordination and cooperation between the academics and industrialists. The data were collected by using in-depth interviews, focus group discussions with different stakeholders of the Management Faculty. This study reveals a lack of coordination and cooperation among the major stakeholders. A lack of trust between the stakeholders, little commitment or heavy workloads among the academics, limited forum for dialogue and unawareness of mutual expectations of each other lead to weak coordination and cooperation between or among them. This low level of coordination and cooperation among the key stakeholders has resulted in low employ-ability among graduates in Universities.

Regulation and controllability have been an important aspect of the industrial motor drives. The three-phase induction machine has been the motor of choice in industrial settings for about the past decade due to its easy speed and torque controllability. Its ruggedness and low cost cum other inherent features thus necessitated the quest to study its operating behavior. This work highlighted the mathematical modeling of an induction motor specifically in the stationary reference frame. The induction motor parameters and the generated equations were used to form the embedded MATLAB function which in turn was used to generate graphs that illustrate the performance of a 5HP motor. The torque –speed response among other characteristics were fully simulated thus resulting to a sound study of the performance characteristics of a three phase 5HP induction motor using MATLAB/Simulink.

The ever increasing growth in the market of PM machines has necessitated the need for a careful simulation of the performance of the very important tools capable of taking electrical study to a higher level. Simulations have helped the process of developing new systems by reducing cost and time. Simulation tools have the capabilities of performing dynamic simulations of electric machines in a graphic environment so as to ease the development of new systems. This paper investigates the performance of permanent magnet generator, with the aid of MATLAB/SIMULINK®; a powerful software mathematical tool, for high performance numerical computation. A 230V, 4hp, 2-Pole permanent magnet generator is simulated. The permanent magnets are conspicuously embedded in its rotor. The objective of the paper is to explore the response of the torque components during various operating conditions. Simulation results showed that damper resistances and rotor inertia constant affects the start-up transients of the permanent magnet generator. That is, when the damper resistance and rotor inertia constant were increased there was an increase in the start-up transients. Equally, the responses to step changes in mechanical loading were also observed.

In this work , an experimental study to obtain the fatigue endurance limit for two aluminum alloy , 2024 and 5052 , were carried out at stress ratio R=-1 and rotary bending tests . The fatigue tests were performed at RT, 100 °C, 200 °C and 300 °C in order to establish the S–N curve equations. The fatigue endurance limits for both alloys at different temperature conditions were calculated at 107 cycles from the empirical S-N curve equations. It was found that the fatigue endurance limit decrease with increasing the temperature. Also the reduction percentage in fatigue endurance limit for 5052 Al. alloy was higher than that of 2024 Al. alloy.

For the efficient design of structure it is necessary to do the exact analysis of the elements. There are several methods of analysis broadly classified into classical and approximate method classical methods give exact solution but has its own constraints like magnitude of structure & specific geometrical dimensions. To overcome this and for rapid processing approximate methods are adopted. One such method is finite element method. Even though the results are said to be approximate but with keen consideration the variance is as good as negligible.The aim of this dissertation work is to find out the factors like shape & size of elements for gaining more accurate analytical result. The work over here is done by considering a plate with various shape & size & comparative results are depicted in the observation tables. It is clear that accuracy in the result can be obtained with refined meshing and considering Triangular shape element.

This study adopted a cross sectional descriptive research design to define and measure strategic communication in the Ugandan health sector organizations. The study contends that strategic communication is a center piece in making or breaking organizations and thus must be well managed. And that, to manage strategic communication effectively, it must be measured effectively. An analytical survey design with mixed methods was used in this study. The quantitative data were collected in two phases. In phase one a sample of 170 organizations was used to test and refine the designed measurement model. In phase two a sample of 223 organizations in the same population was used to confirm the validity and reliability of the refined instrument. Qualitative data were collected to compliment the quantitative data. The findings of the study revealed that strategic communication is defined as cognitive awareness and emotional attachment to the purpose for communication. The study contributes to literature by providing a valid and reliable tool for assessing level of strategic communication in organizations.