In this paper, an adaptive method of cancellation of parasitic vibrations is presented for a Self-Mixing (SM) interferometric laser vibration sensor which has been coupled with a solid state accelerometer (SSA). Previously, this was achieved by using a pre-calibration of phase and gain mismatches over the complete bandwidth of the instrument. Such a precalibration is not only tedious to execute but also hinders a mass production of the instrument as every SSA-SM sensor couple requires customized calibration. On the other hand, the proposed method does not require any pre-calibration as it uses an adaptive filter that self-tunes to match any unknown phase and gain differences between the SSA and the SM sensor. Two different adaptive algorithms, namely Recursive Least Squares (RLS) and Least Mean Squares (LMS) algorithms are tested and a comparison is established on the basis of parameter dependence, convergence time, computational cost and rms error. The proposed algorithms have provided improved results (mean error of 19.1nm and 20.2nm for LMS and RLS respectively) as compared to pre-calibration based results (mean error of 24.7 nm) for a laser wavelength of 785 nm. Simulated and experimental results thus demonstrate the utility of such an approach for embedded vibration sensing corrupted by extraneous parasitic motion.

The Cocurrent Downflow Contactor (CDC) has been studied as a three phase reactor and in addition, chemically enhanced mass transfer studies have confirmed the very high gas hold-up values previously indicated by photographic methods ( E~ = 0.5-0.6). Mass transfer measurements for the O,/H,O system have shown that volumetric mass transfer coeficients (kLa) are in the range 0.25-0.3 s -' for unpacked and packed CDC reactors, while Coz+ ion-catalysed sulphite oxidation exhibited enhanced kLa values of 0.55 s-' with interfacial areas in the range of 1000-6000 mz m-3. A model first order reaction, the palladium-catlysed hydrogenation of itaconic acid, was examined both in a small stirred batch reactor and in the CDC. Low degrees of mass transfer resistances were observed (both gas-liquid and liquid-solid) especially in the case of the CDC when used as a slurry and fixed bed reactor, with liquid-solid mass transfer resistances being the the range 1-10%. This was confirmed by energy of activation measurements in the range 30-45 kJ mol-'. The CDC was used in slurry and fixed bed form for the respective hydrogenation of the triglycerides, rapeseed and soyabean oils. The reaction was predominantly surface reaction rate controlled with energies of activation in the range 47-58 kJ mol-', using palladium and nickel catlysts. Reaction selectivities were high, especially in respect of linolenate removal and the fixed bed CDC was slightly superior to the slurry reactor.Key words: catlytic hydrogenation, three-phase reactors. * To whom correspondence should be addressed. NOTATION PH: 55Concentration of hydrogen at the catalyst surface (mol m-3) Equilibrium concentration of gas at the gasliquid interface (mol m-3) Diameter of catalyst particle (m) Diffusivity of hydrogen (m2 s -') Liquid energy dissipation (g cm-2 s -') Energy of activation (kcal mol-or kJ mol-') Liquid flow rate in column (m3 s-') Height of dispersion (m) Volumetric gas-liquid mass transfer coefficient Pressure drop per unit bed height in a fixed bed reactor (dyne cm-3) Bed voidage (dimensionless) Liquid voidage (dimensionless) Catalyst effectiveness factor (dimensionless) Viscosity of the liquid (kg ms-') Density of the liquid (kg m-3) Density of the catalyst particle (kg m-3)

m e oxidation of aqueous solutions of phenol as a typical model pollutant has been carried out in the presence of an ultra-violet (W) irradiated TiO, catalyst in a CDC reactor. The CDCR was fitted with internally mounted 30 W and 1.0 kW W lamps. The reactions were carried out at 40-50 "C and 202.6 P a , with the reactor being operated in closed loop recycle mode and suspended 2atabst being recirculated. The CDCR is a device of high mass transfer efliciency, giving unusually large gas hold-up (approximately 50%). The CDCR was operuted (19 with oxygen mass transfer and dissolution in the zone above the Wsource and (id with oxp gen dispersion and mass transfer occurring along and around the lamp housing. Using the higher powered lamp, lOP? conversion of phenol was obtained from solutions containing 100 mg/dm3. Under spec@ conditions the presence of TiO, catalysts was obserued to give the most rapid oxidation degradation of thephe nol.

Purpose – Misconception of issues surrounding green supply chain management (GSCM), as well as a paucity of relevant information on the tangible benefits of GSCM practices in organizations was justification for this literature review. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach – The study has been conducted by analyzing and critiquing secondary data obtained from numerous sources of similar subject. The research topic has been examined in detail. Findings – The outcomes provide an overview of what GSCM practices entail, strategies successful companies have used to incorporate GSCM practices within their organizations and its impact on the industry. Research limitations/implications – The research conducted in this study is limited to one country, i.e. Canada, and as such further research should be carried out by incorporating a larger array of participants so as to obtain a more generalized conclusion. Practical implications – The study contributes to an understanding of the importance of GSCM practices on not only the economic success of a business, but the positive effects on the environment. The results will help in the reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide and other green house gases, thus impacting on climate change. Originality/value – Despite increasing awareness, the implementation of GSCM techniques continue to be deterred by lack of government initiatives and commitment of companies involved in the supply chain. Unless it is given precedence, the benefits of GSCM will continue to elude us. This study provides an opportunity to study a model which has met with critical success, rejuvenate it and consequently mandate its adoption in efforts to attain sustainability.

The hydrogenation of the triglyceride oil, soya bean oil, has been studied in the temperature range 130±160°C and in the pressure range 100±600 kPa using (i) a 5% w/w Pd/C slurry catalyst and (ii) a 3% w/w Pd/Al 2 O 3 Raschig ring catalyst in a cocurrent down¯ow contactor (CDC) reactor. Separate studies of residence time distribution (RTD) were carried out in a modi®ed CDC device in order to determine dispersion numbers and dispersion coef®cients. The RTD measurements indicated that the overall¯ow was a mixture of well-mixed and plug¯ow for the unpacked CDC, so that the entry section (0±30 cm from entrance) was perfectly mixed and the remainder of the column (30±130 cm) gave predominantly plug¯ow behaviour. The introduction of random packing in the form of 13 mm Raschig rings gave rise to increased back mixing in the lower part of the CDC and the overall dispersion number increased due to liquid and gas circulation around the packing elements. Kinetic studies revealed an initial rate reaction order of 1.24±1.26 with respect to hydrogen concentration both in slurry and ®xed bed CDC reactors and is interpreted as a combination of a parallel pair of ®rst and second order reactions during the initial stages of reaction. Mass transfer coef®cients for gas absorption (k L a) and liquid±solid mass transport (k s ) were determined for both types of reactor. The k L a values lay in the range 1.0±3.33 s À1 and the liquid±solid transport resistances (X LS ) were all`1%, so that the reaction was almost totally surface reaction rate controlled. Apparent energy of activation measurements gave values of E A =49 AE6 kJ mol À1 , which is strongly indicative of surface reaction rate control involving the hydrogenation of an ole®nic double bond. The selectivity in respect of linolenate (three double bonds) removal and linoleate (two double bonds) retention was high with, for palladium, relatively low trans-isomer production (`30%). The overall selectivity was slightly, but signi®cantly, better for the ®xed bed CDC reactor and this is attributed to the greater degree of plug¯ow behaviour in the latter, despite the bed causing an increase in dispersion number. However, there is no reaction in the well-mixed section of the ®xed bed CDC reactor as there is in the slurry CDC reactor and this is likely to improve selectivity in a consecutive reaction sequence. NOTATION aGas±liquid interfacial area (m À1 ) a p External particle area (m À1 ) A Column cross-sectional area (m 2 ) C Aig Gas-side concentration of A at gas±liquid interface (mol m À3 ) C Ae Equilibrium concentration of A in solution (mol m À3 ) C As Surface concentration of A (mol m À3 ) d c Column diameter (m) d p Particle diameter (m) D Dispersion coef®cient (cm 2 s À1 ) D A Diffusion coef®cients of A (H 2 ) in solvent (m 2 s À1 ) E l Liquid energy dissipation term (kgf m À2 s À ) H dispPFR Height of PFR section (m) H p Height of packed bed (m) H s Height of single phase section (m) IV Iodine value k L Gas±liquid mass transfer coef®cients (m s À1 ) k r Reaction rate constant (m...

Poly epoxy is a high performance room temperature cured epoxy system which provides excellent physical and mechanical properties. However, the effects of post curing of this resin system on the properties of different sandwich structures are unknown. This study aims to evaluate the effect of post curing (at 70°C for 2 hr) on the edgewise compressive and flexural strengths of a sandwich structure, constructed with Styrofoam and honeycomb as core materials and a plain weave carbon fabric as face sheet. Tested factors evaluated from edgewise compressive tests were as follows: peak load, compressive strength, and crash energy absorption of sandwich structures while core shear stress and bending stress of sandwich structures were determined and compared with flexural tests. It was observed that post curing affects significantly on the bending and compressive strengths of the sandwich structures. However, the data obtained for crash energy absorption suggested that the effect of post curing on the core shear strength and the total deflection was statistically insignificant. The matrix polymer was also inspected using dynamic‐mechanical thermal analysis to assess the changes in glass transition temperature and degree of conversion due to post cure. POLYM. COMPOS., 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers

Graphene nanosheets were exfoliated from graphite using liquid exfoliation method. Smart sensing layer was prepared by dispersing graphene nanosheets in thermoplastic polyurethane. The smart sensing layers thus obtained were pasted on to the glass fiber laminated composite specimens. The sensing layer due to its piezoresistivity was employed for detecting strains in the composite specimens. The results show that the smart sensing layer can be employed for strain sensing in the composite structures. The results hold promise for various applications of these sensors for structural health monitoring in composite parts.

Variant concentrations of ceramic fibers (CerFs) were incorporated into acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) to fabricate elastomeric ablative composites for ultrahigh temperature applications. The CerFs introduction into the polymer matrix has enhanced the ablation resistance up to 59% and successfully reduced the backface temperature of the polymer composite up to 110 o C during the ultrahigh temperature ablation investigation. Thermal decomposition of the polymer composites was diminished up to 10% with increasing fiber concentration in the rubber matrix. Thermal conductivity was reduced equal to 63% while thermal impedance was enhanced up to 84% with the utmost fiber incorporation into the NBR matrix. The CerFs have adversely affected the mechanical properties of NBR matrix due to their brittle/inert nature and weak interface bonding with the host matrix. Scanning electron microscopy along with the energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy was used to examine the ablated specimens and the fiber dispersion within the host matrix.