Indian Journal of Engineering and Materials Sciences (IJEMS)

Enhancing concrete performance at high temperatures through polypropylene fiber geometry optimization

Bhawani Antarvedi — 2025-04-08

This article has explored the optimization of polypropylene fiber dosage and geometry to enhance the thermal stability of high-performance concrete under fire exposure. In this study, experimental investigations have been carried out on plain concrete and polypropylene fibre-reinforced concrete (PFRC) at higher temperatures. The study has been performed at different temperatures, including ambient temperature and temperatures ranging from 200 °C to 1000 °C. Visual inspection, mass loss, mechanical properties, non-destructive testing, and microstructural analyses have been conducted on plain concrete and PFRC specimens. It has been found that the impact of polypropylene fibres in concrete has become more significant when exposed to higher temperatures. The findings indicate that selecting an optimum length and dosage of fibers has been necessary to prevent concrete spalling. Additionally, the diameter of PP fibers has been found to have no notable impact on preventing spalling. This research has also examined the effectiveness of adding Macro fiber polypropylene of length 24mm to the concrete. The effect of adding PP fibres in concrete has been analyzed while assessing mass loss, compressive strength, tensile and flexural strength, and UPV values at higher temperatures.

Assessment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) based photogrammetric survey for road alignment using direct geo-referencing technology

Prakash Somani — 2025-04-08

This study has compared the linear measurements of a road network using Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS)-based survey and UAS-based photogrammetric survey. To achieve this objective, 22 random Ground Control Points (GCPs) have been marked along the road network of 1.6 km length. The coordinates of the GCPs have been identified using DGPS and taken as base measurements. Coordinates of the GCPs have also been obtained through aerial images captured under various conditions, depending on Ground Sample Distance (GSD), overlapping of images, light conditions, shutter speed, and ISO of the sensor. The coordinate errors have been expressed as root mean square error (RMSE) relative to the base coordinates obtained through the DGPS and photogrammetric surveys. The results have demonstrated RMSE values as low as 0.263 mm, 0.305 mm, and 0.399 mm for the x, y, and z axes, respectively, under most test conditions, indicating sub-decimeter level accuracy. The selection of 22 random GCPs has been based on a stratified sampling approach to ensure comprehensive coverage and accuracy. It has been observed that the often neglected camera settings can highly affect the location of the GCPs. Therefore, proper sensor settings must be considered while using UAS-based photogrammetric surveys.

Optimization of operating parameters of multi-lamp In-duct UVC air disinfection system through CFD analysis

Monia sharma — 2025-04-08

This research has focused on optimizing operating parameters of a multi-lamp In-duct UVC air disinfection system through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis. The efficacy of the system has highly dependent on proper system design to ensure both effective disinfection and minimal energy consumption. In this study five configurations with varying numbers of Ultraviolet-C (UVC) lamps (3, 6, 9, 11, 13) of wavelength 254nm has been investigated through CFD analysis.The velocity and irradiation profiles corresponding to different lamp configurations has been studied to optimize number of lamps. Further orientation profile has been explored at the original vertical position, 30-degree rotation, 60-degree rotation, and horizontal position to optimize position of lamps within duct. The 13 lamps arrangement yields maximum germicidal action has been evidenced from velocity and irradiation profiles. The orientation profiles has revealed that a uniform vertical arrangement of lamps offers best position for achieving the maximum UV dose. Standard deviation calculations for UV dose distribution across different orientation positions has confirmed that a vertical arrangement provide an uniform dose distribution. In comparision to earlier studies, optimized 13-lamp configuration has resulted in a more than 60% increase in average uv dose, superior dose uniformity, and higher germicidal efficacy than conventional configurations.

Bidirectional converter with spike suppressed switching and optimized neuro restrictive steady-state controller for hybrid AC/DC microgrid

Putchakayala Yanna Reddy — 2025-04-08

A bidirectional converter (BC) is the core of a hybrid AC/DC microgrid that connects the AC and DC subgrid. However, existing hybrid AC-DC converter technologies continue to have major drawbacks and obstacles including high switching loss and stability issues. Hence a novel, Bidirectional Converter with Spike Suppressed Switching and Optimized Neuro Restrictive Steady-State Controller has been proposed to reduce switching loss and improve the steady-state performance of the microgrid. The existing converter-controlling methods fail to account for parasitic effects that impact multi-component interactions, specifically magnetic coupling during power conversion. To overcome this issue a novel Spike Suppressed Switching Circuit is proposed, which uses a Transient Voltage Suppresser Diode (TVSD) and Field Decoupler to reduce switching loss during converter operation. The Synergic TVSD effectively absorbs voltage spikes and reduces the extreme voltage damage to converter components. The Dualistic Field Decoupler, which consists of the Twin Ultra-Fast Recovering Diode (TUFRD) and the Mid-Snubber unit, reduces magnetic coupling between inductors and transformers, thus lowering eddy current production. Moreover, the wind-up effect accumulates errors in integral terms, which leads to an overshoot or a protracted settling period when the system returns to the operational range. Therefore, an Optimized Neuro Restrictive Integration Regulator is proposed, in which the Saturation Attending Freezing Algorithm with an optimized RBFN (Radial Basis Function Network) is used to reduce the wind-up effect and enhance the steady-state performance of the Hybrid AC/DC microgrid. The results obtained from the proposed model have a low switching loss, high efficiency, and low error.

Application of GIS for delineation of landscape classification and soil quality management using innovative modeling approach

Satrughan Kumar Singh — 2025-04-08

Reduction in cultivable lands is increasing day by day both in quantitative and quality measures due to anthropogenic and natural activities in developing countries such as India. Repeated cultivation of crops, particularly farming of same kind of crops without proper nutrient amendments prior to the successive cultivation may cause nutrient deficiency in the soil and declines the yields. Such unscientific agricultural practices across the developing countries have ruined the yielding potential of the agricultural lands. If the landscape could be delineated and classified in different categories on the basis of the integrated soil quality indices and soil type, appropriate remediation, soil amendments and techniques of optimizing soil health may be adopted to treat the soil and amend the nutrients for effective agricultural practice to raise the yielding potential of the landscape after the estimation of nutrient budget. This research article presents the analysis of soil characteristics of different categories of agricultural land for computing integrated soil quality indices. Further the variation of integrated soil quality indices across the landscape has been interpolated using geographical information system (GIS) and again delineated into different classes on the basis of soil quality indices and taking into consideration the soil pH. The study will be useful for economic and effective management of land resources in sustainable manner through application of appropriate methods for soil treatment and improving healthy soil fertility.

Design of multiband miniaturized MIMO antenna with defected ground for future mobile communications

Gudi Guru Prasad — 2025-04-08

A multiband four port 4 element slotted 2x2 MIMO antenna for future mobile communication is presented in this paper. The proposed antenna consists of a modified square slot at the center of the patch and eighteen rectangular slots around the borders of the patch in the form of a modified Sierpinski carpet fractal structure. Miniaturization and multiband characteristics are obtained with the help of a novel modified fractal structure. Then two such antennas were combined to form a 2x1 MIMO antenna. Further 2x2 MIMO antenna is designed with 4 elements. The proposed 2x2 MIMO antenna consists of four novel modified Sierpinski carpet-shaped antenna elements. Four antenna elements were closely separated with ⅄/2. Novel defected ground structures with ellipses were made to achieve high isolation within 4-elements of the MIMO antenna. The designed antenna is simulated for different combinations of Active sources and phase shifts. The designed antenna was fabricated, and the results were measured. The diversity parameter such as ECC < 0.001, ensures that the proposed design is suitable for the MIMO applications. The simulated antenna was fabricated, and results were measured, and measured results were in line with simulated results. The novel design structure enhanced multiband characteristics and improved miniaturization represent that the proposed antenna will be an efficient candidate for future wireless communication systems including IoT and Biomedical applications.

Mild steel chip reinforced highly stable epoxy asphalt composites for pavement application

Md Aminul Islam — 2025-04-08

Asphalt composites a critical material widely used in road paving and various other applications due to its enhanced load-bearing capacity. To improve the sustainability of the asphalt composites, shape retention at high stress and water penetration characteristics have to be enhanced. The effect of mild steel reinforcement and epoxy content on the performances of asphalt composites has been investigated by varying proportion of reinforced content. All samples have been prepared according to established procedures, including the grading of raw materials and standardized mold dimensions. Subsequent tests have been conducted to evaluate marshal stability, specific gravity, contact angle, and water absorption. The results indicated that the conventionally prepared sample have shown a marshal stability value of 11.29 KN. Notably, the sample which incorporated mild steel reinforcement and epoxy content, has exhibited the highest stability value of 30.81 KN. The marshal stability values for the remaining samples ranged from 11 KN to 30 KN. Sample incorporated with mild steel reinforcement and epoxy content also displayed the lowest air void of 10.10%. Furthermore, superior hydrophobic properties, with a contact angle of 147° and 0% water absorption capacity has indicated its potential for enhanced performance in real-world applications.

Design and Development of Bot using Theo Jansen Mechanism

Nilaj Deshmukh — 2025-04-08

Unlike human being’s bots never get tired, they can be replaced or be swapped and can be used for multiple purposes. Legged robots can be utilized for space missions on extra-terrestrial planets and in risky places. Low power consumption and weight are further advantages of walking robots, so it is important to use the minimum number of actuators. The objective is to design and fabrication of prototype of the Theo-Jansen four leg strolling robot. The essential Theo Jansen device is a 13-bar framework that strolls when a crank is rotated. The central 'crank' link moves in circles as it is actuated by a rotary actuator. All other links and pin joints are unactuated and will move because of the motion imparted by the crank. It may be utilized as a military robot by a few modifications on it such as Guns, Radar, GPS, etc. Where military rangers cannot go, it may be utilized as a surveillance bot. Developed bot is radio frequency controlled and effectively designed for low speed and based on requirement speed can be increased by using higher speed motor.

A method for determining the attitude of a small unmanned aerial vehicle using sensor error information and a neural network

David Kofi Oppong — 2025-04-08

The study has sought to identify a means for estimating the attitude of a small unmanned aerial vehicle by exploiting the fundamental operating principle of a neural network, using information about its micro electro-mechanical systems sensors’ error properties. Individual attitude solutions have been derived from the accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer using
traditional techniques. These solutions have been then fused together using a weighting strategy that ensures that each sensor’s error is accounted for. The developed algorithm has drawn upon knowledge from statistical noise parameter estimation and voting strategies applied in redundant aircraft systems to ensure that the system output closely matches the
platform’s actual attitude. Experiments that have been carried out to determine the efficacy of the developed algorithm using data from real world flights have shown that the algorithm has improved accuracy compared to the individual sensor solutions, with root-mean-square-error of below 1⁰ in several situations.

The functionality and features of AI automated detector and counter, Oto-BaCTM for bagworm census in oil palm plantation

Mohd Najib Ahmad — 2025-04-08

In Malaysia, the bagworm species Metisa plana Walker (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) has been recognized as one of the major insect pests attacking oil palm. Bagworm attacks, if left untreated, have contributed to up to 43% yield loss, and in 2020, the loss of fresh fruit bunches due to these attacks has been chronicled at approximately RM 180 million. Due to this critical situation, it has become compulsory to frequently monitor bagworm infestations in affected areas. Manual census methods, involving the counting of bagworm populations on fronds, have often yielded imprecise data due to human errors, such as overestimating or fabricating data, which have hindered the planning of effective control actions in infested areas. Recognizing the necessity for improved census operations and outcomes, this technology has aimed to create and implement a specialized machine vision system incorporating image processing algorithms tailored to its functions. The device, known as the Automated Bagworm Counter or trademarked as Oto-BaCTM, has stood as the world's inaugural prototype in its category. The software has been configured to operate through Graphic Processing Unit (GPU) computation with the TensorFlow/Teano library, utilizing a trained dataset. Oto-BaCTM has employed a standard camera and self-designed deep learning (DL) algorithms, encompassing motion tracking and false color analysis, to identify both living and deceased larvae and pupae of M. plana. It has further tallied the respective populations of living and deceased larvae and pupae per frond, classifying them into three primary groups or sizes. This automated device has proven to be straightforward, precise, and user-friendly for bagworm detection and counting on palm leaflets. The technology has relied on advanced deep learning with Faster R-CNN methodology for real-time object detection. Although the instrument has not undergone enumeration testing, it has been crafted to augment bagworm counting efficiency in fieldwork, marking it as the pioneer in its domain. Oto-BaCTM's efficacy and detection precision have been authenticated through a series of field trials conducted at two distinct oil palm plantations afflicted by M. plana infestations. Through the integration of infrared sensors and image processing algorithms, this device has been effectively deployed by plantation workers to oversee bagworm populations in their fields, ultimately leading to enhanced yields. This device has exhibited substantial potential for utilization and commercialization, particularly in aiding workers engaged in census-related endeavors.

Recycling wastes to develop permeable blocks

Leena Prakash Vachasiddha — 2025-04-08

Waste management has become a significant challenge for developing countries, driven by urbanization and increased per capita waste generation. Recycling has been recognized as an effective solution to reduce waste by transforming it into value-added products. However, less than 20% of global waste has been recycled, indicating that waste hierarchy principles and circular economy approaches have not yet made a substantial impact. In the construction sector, several innovative practices have been explored, including the adoption of advanced technologies for waste reduction, the use of alternative materials, and the application of concepts like life cycle assessments and circular economy strategies. Globally, municipal solid waste generation has been projected to reach 3.4 billion tonnes by 2050, with the construction sector contributing around 31%. Efforts have been made to recycle construction and demolitionwaste, such as concrete aggregates, waste bricks, and industrial by-products like fly ash, as partial replacements for cement and aggregates. Permeable pavements have emerged as a sustainable solution in urban areas, enabling runoff water to infiltrate and recharge groundwater. This paper has summarized the development of permeable paver systems, highlighting recent advancements using waste materials. It has discussed their potential and suggested that waste-derived pervious blocks could play a key role in building a sustainable
future.