The role played by an externally added solid lubricant like graphite towards controlling the sliding wear behaviour of a zinc-based alloy has been examined in this study. The influence of dispersing hard silicon carbide particles in the alloy was also investigated by testing the composite in identical test conditions. The wear performance of the zinc-based alloy and its composite was compared with that of a gray cast iron. Wear tests were performed in oil lubricated environment. Composition of the lubricant was changed by adding various quantities of graphite (particles) to the oil. The study suggests that the wear response (in terms of wear rate, frictional heating and friction coefficient) of the samples improved in the presence of suspended graphite particles in the oil lubricant. However, this improvement was noticed up to a critical content of graphite particles only and the trend reversed at still higher graphite contents. The zinc-based (matrix) alloy revealed highest wear rate. Dispersoid silicon carbide particles showed a significant improvement in the wear performance of the matrix alloy. The cast iron performed in between the matrix alloy and composite. The frictional heating and friction coefficient were the highest for the composite while the cast iron and the matrix alloy showed a mixed response. Examinations of wear surfaces, subsurface regions and debris particles helped to substantiate the observed wear response of the samples.

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In this investigation, effects of the shape and size of silicon particles have been studied on the sliding wear response of two Al-Si alloys, namely, LM13 and LM29. The LM13 alloy comprised 11.70 pct Si, 1.02 pct Cu, 1.50 pct Ni, 1.08 pct Mg, 0.70 pct Fe, 0.80 pct Mn, and remainder Al. The LM29 alloy contained 23.25 pct Si, 0.80 pct Cu, 1.10 pct Ni, 1.21 pct Mg, 0.71 pct Fe, 0.61 pct Mn, and remainder Al. Wear tests were conducted under the conditions of varying sliding speed and applied pressure. The alloys were also characterized for their microstructural features and mechanical properties. The presence of primary silicon particles in the alloy led to a higher hardness but lower tensile properties. Further, refinement in the size of the primary particles improved the mechanical properties of the alloy system. The wear behavior of the alloys was influenced by the presence of primary Si particles and was a function of their size. Samples with refined but identical microconstituents (e.g., pressure cast vs gravity cast LM29 in terms of the size of primary Si particles and dendritic arm spacing) exhibited better wear characteristics. Their overall effect was further controlled by the test conditions. It was observed that test conditions leading to the generation of an optimal degree of frictional heating offer the best wear resistance. This was attributed to the reduced microcracking tendency of the alloy system otherwise introduced by the Si particles. The reduced microcracking tendency in turn allows the Si phase to carry load more effectively and impart better thermal stability to the alloy system. This caused improved wear resistance under the circumstances. Further, the primary Si particles improved the wear resistance of the alloy system (e.g., gravity-cast LM29 vs gravity-cast LM13) under high operating temperature conditions. Additional thermal stability and protection offered to the matrix by the primary Si phase, under the conditions of reduced microcracking tendency, were the reasons for the improved wear characteristics of the alloy system. Conversely, a reverse effect was produced at low operating temperatures in view of the predominating microcracking tendency. The study suggests that shape, size, microcracking tendency, and thermal stability of different microconstituents greatly control the mechanical and tribological properties of these alloys. The extent of effective load transfer between the phases plays an important role in this regard. Further, the overall effect of these factors is significantly governed by the test conditions.

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Abstract-A new single-stage grid-connected inverter, suitable for distributed generation applications, is proposed. The inverter is universal in the sense that it can be switched between buck, boost, and buck-boost configurations by appropriately altering the pulse width modular (PWM) control. Discontinuous current mode (DCM) operation is implemented to facilitate shuffling between configurations during the converter operation. Such flexibility ensures maximum benefit of the buck, boost, and the buck-boost operations (e.g., low device stresses, higher efficiency, higher boosting capability, etc.). The PWM is achieved by comparing a high frequency carrier (triangular) waveform with a suitable reference waveform, which is not necessarily sinusoidal, but has a shape specific to the individual configuration and is derived by equating the power fed into the grid with that extracted from the source during each switching cycle. The values of the components (inductors and capacitors) need to be optimized so that DCM is maintained and the required amount of energy is transferred to the grid in all the three configurations during their respective operation. All the design expressions have been derived. A salient feature of this inverter is its compatibility with various types of sources (PV array, fuel cell, etc.) with varying voltage levels and control requirements. Being single-stage, the proposed topology offers additional advantages like modularity, compactness, and low cost. All the details of simulation and experimental work are presented.

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