Evanescent Wave Fibre Optic Sensors for Trace Analysis of Fe3+ in Water

In this communication, we discuss the details of fabricating an off-line fibre optic sensor (FOS) based on evanescent wave absorption for detecting trace amounts of Fe3+ in water. Two types of FOS are developed; one type uses the unclad portion of a multimode silica fibre as the sensing region whereas the other employs the microbent portion of a multimode plastic fibre as the sensing region. Sensing is performed by measuring the absorption of the evanescent wave in a reagent medium surrounding the sensing region. To evaluate the relative merits of the two types of FOS in Fe3+ sensing, a comparative study of the sensors is made, which reveals the superiority of the latter in many respects, such as smaller sensing length, use of a double detection scheme (for detecting both core and cladding modes) and higher sensitivity of cladding mode detection at an intermediate range of concentration along with the added advantage that plastic fibres are inexpensive. A detection limit of 1 ppb is observed in both types of fibre and the range of detection can be as large as 1 ppb–50 ppm. All the measurements are carried out using a LabVIEW set-up.

Evanescent wave fibre optic sensors for trace analysis of Fe3+ in water

In this communication, we discuss the details of fabricating an off-line fibre optic sensor (FOS) based on evanescent wave absorption for detecting trace amounts of Fe3+ in water. Two types of FOS are developed; one type uses the unclad portion of a multimode silica fibre as the sensing region whereas the other employs the microbent portion of a multimode plastic fibre as the sensing region. Sensing is performed by measuring the absorption of the evanescent wave in a reagent medium surrounding the sensing region. To evaluate the relative merits of the two types of FOS in Fe3+ sensing, a comparative study of the sensors is made, which reveals the superiority of the latter in many respects, such as smaller sensing length, use of a double detection scheme (for detecting both core and cladding modes) and higher sensitivity of cladding mode detection at an intermediate range of concentration along with the added advantage that plastic fibres are inexpensive. A detection limit of 1 ppb is observed in both types of fibre and the range of detection can be as large as 1 ppb–50 ppm. All the measurements are carried out using a LabVIEW set-up.

Evanescent wave fibre optic sensors for trace analysis of Fe3+ in water

In this communication, we discuss the details of fabricating an off-line fibre optic sensor (FOS) based on evanescent wave absorption for detecting trace amounts of Fe3+ in water. Two types of FOS are developed; one type uses the unclad portion of a multimode silica fibre as the sensing region whereas the other employs the microbent portion of a multimode plastic fibre as the sensing region. Sensing is performed by measuring the absorption of the evanescent wave in a reagent medium surrounding the sensing region. To evaluate the relative merits of the two types of FOS in Fe3+ sensing, a comparative study of the sensors is made, which reveals the superiority of the latter in many respects, such as smaller sensing length, use of a double detection scheme (for detecting both core and cladding modes) and higher sensitivity of cladding mode detection at an intermediate range of concentration along with the added advantage that plastic fibres are inexpensive. A detection limit of 1 ppb is observed in both types of fibre and the range of detection can be as large as 1 ppb–50 ppm. All the measurements are carried out using a LabVIEW set-up.

Evanescent wave fibre optic sensors for trace analysis of Fe3+ in water

In this communication, we discuss the details of fabricating an off-line fibre optic sensor (FOS) based on evanescent wave absorption for detecting trace amounts of Fe3+ in water. Two types of FOS are developed; one type uses the unclad portion of a multimode silica fibre as the sensing region whereas the other employs the microbent portion of a multimode plastic fibre as the sensing region. Sensing is performed by measuring the absorption of the evanescent wave in a reagent medium surrounding the sensing region. To evaluate the relative merits of the two types of FOS in Fe3+ sensing, a comparative study of the sensors is made, which reveals the superiority of the latter in many respects, such as smaller sensing length, use of a double detection scheme (for detecting both core and cladding modes) and higher sensitivity of cladding mode detection at an intermediate range of concentration along with the added advantage that plastic fibres are inexpensive. A detection limit of 1 ppb is observed in both types of fibre and the range of detection can be as large as 1 ppb–50 ppm. All the measurements are carried out using a LabVIEW set-up.

Spatial and temporal analysis of laser induced plasma from a polymer sample

Spatial and temporal analyses of the spectra of the laser induced plasma from a polytetrafluroethylene (PTFE) target obtained with the 1.06 mu m radiation from a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser have been carried out. The spatially resolved spectra of the plasma emission show that molecular bands of C2 (Swan bands) and CN are very intense in the outer regions of the plasma, whereas higher ionized states of carbon are predominant in the core region of the plasma emission. The vibrational temperature and population distribution in the different vibrational levels have been studied as a function of laser energy. From the time resolved studies, it has been observed that there exist fairly large time delays for the onset of emission from all the species in the outer region of the plasma. The molecular bands in each region exhibit much larger time delays in comparison to the ionic lines in the plasma.

Development and Analysis of a Compact Dual-Band Coplanar Antenna

The coplanar wave guide is an attractive device in microwave integrated circuits due to its uniplanar nature, ease of fabrication and low production cost. Several attempts are already done to explore the radiating modes in coplanar wave guide transmission lines. Usually coplanar wave guides are excited by an SMA connector with its centre conductor connected to the exact middle of the centre strip and the outer ground conductor to the two ground strips. The mode excited on it is purely a bound mode. The E-field distribution in the two slots are out of phase and there for cancels at the far field. This thesis addresses an attempt to excite an in phase E-field distribution in the two slots of the co planar wave guide by employing a feed asymmetry, in order to get radiation from the two large slot discontinuities of the coplanar waveguide. The omni directional distribution of the radiating energy can be achieved by widening the centre strip.The first part of the thesis deals with the investigations on the resonance phenomena of conventional coplanar waveguides at higher frequency bands. Then an offset fed open circuited coplanar waveguide supporting resonance/radiation phenomena is analyzed. Finally, a novel compact co planar antenna geometry with dual band characteristics, suitable for mobile terminal applications is designed and characterized using the inferences from the above study.

Finite Element Analysis of Warship Structures

Warships are generally sleek, slender with V shaped sections and block coefficient below 0.5, compared to fuller forms and higher values for commercial ships. They normally operate in the higher Froude number regime, and the hydrodynamic design is primarily aimed at achieving higher speeds with the minimum power. Therefore the structural design and analysis methods are different from those for commercial ships. Certain design guidelines have been given in documents like Naval Engineering Standards and one of the new developments in this regard is the introduction of classification society rules for the design of warships.The marine environment imposes subjective and objective uncertainties on ship structure. The uncertainties in loads, material properties etc.,. make reliable predictions of ship structural response a difficult task. Strength, stiffness and durability criteria for warship structures can be established by investigations on elastic analysis, ultimate strength analysis and reliability analysis. For analysis of complicated warship structures, special means and valid approximations are required.Preliminary structural design of a frigate size ship has been carried out . A finite element model of the hold model, representative of the complexities in the geometric configuration has been created using the finite element software NISA. Two other models representing the geometry to a limited extent also have been created —- one with two transverse frames and the attached plating alongwith the longitudinal members and the other representing the plating and longitudinal stiffeners between two transverse frames. Linear static analysis of the three models have been carried out and each one with three different boundary conditions. The structural responses have been checked for deflections and stresses against the permissible values. The structure has been found adequate in all the cases. The stresses and deflections predicted by the frame model are comparable with those of the hold model. But no such comparison has been realized for the interstiffener plating model with the other two models.Progressive collapse analyses of the models have been conducted for the three boundary conditions, considering geometric nonlinearity and then combined geometric and material nonlinearity for the hold and the frame models. von Mises — lllyushin yield criteria with elastic-perfectly plastic stress-strain curve has been chosen. ln each case, P-Delta curves have been generated and the ultimate load causing failure (ultimate load factor) has been identified as a multiple of the design load specified by NES.Reliability analysis of the hull module under combined geometric and material nonlinearities have been conducted. The Young's Modulus and the shell thickness have been chosen as the variables. Randomly generated values have been used in the analysis. First Order Second Moment has been used to predict the reliability index and thereafter, the probability of failure. The values have been compared against standard values published in literature.

Qualitative Air Flow Modelling and Analysis of Data Centre Air Conditioning as Multiple Jet Array

Data centre is a centralized repository,either physical or virtual,for the storage,management and dissemination of data and information organized around a particular body and nerve centre of the present IT revolution.Data centre are expected to serve uniinterruptedly round the year enabling them to perform their functions,it consumes enormous energy in the present scenario.Tremendous growth in the demand from IT Industry made it customary to develop newer technologies for the better operation of data centre.Energy conservation activities in data centre mainly concentrate on the air conditioning system since it is the major mechanical sub-system which consumes considerable share of the total power consumption of the data centre.The data centre energy matrix is best represented by power utilization efficiency(PUE),which is defined as the ratio of the total facility power to the IT equipment power.Its value will be greater than one and a large value of PUE indicates that the sub-systems draw more power from the facility and the performance of the data will be poor from the stand point of energy conservation. PUE values of 1.4 to 1.6 are acievable by proper design and management techniques.Optimizing the air conditioning systems brings enormous opportunity in bringing down the PUE value.The air conditioning system can be optimized by two approaches namely,thermal management and air flow management.thermal management systems are now introduced by some companies but they are highly sophisticated and costly and do not catch much attention in the thumb rules.

Nonlinear Analysis of Shear Dominant Prestressed Concrete Beams using ANSYS

This study reports the details of the finite element analysis of eleven shear critical partially prestressed concrete T-beams having steel fibers over partial or full depth. Prestressed T-beams having a shear span to depth ratio of 2.65 and 1.59 that failed in shear have been analyzed using the ‘ANSYS’ program. The ‘ANSYS’ model accounts for the nonlinearity, such as, bond-slip of longitudinal reinforcement, postcracking tensile stiffness of the concrete, stress transfer across the cracked blocks of the concrete and load sustenance through the bridging action of steel fibers at crack interface. The concrete is modeled using ‘SOLID65’- eight-node brick element, which is capable of simulating the cracking and crushing behavior of brittle materials. The reinforcement such as deformed bars, prestressing wires and steel fibers have been modeled discretely using ‘LINK8’ – 3D spar element. The slip between the reinforcement (rebars, fibers) and the concrete has been modeled using a ‘COMBIN39’- nonlinear spring element connecting the nodes of the ‘LINK8’ element representing the reinforcement and nodes of the ‘SOLID65’ elements representing the concrete. The ‘ANSYS’ model correctly predicted the diagonal tension failure and shear compression failure of prestressed concrete beams observed in the experiment. The capability of the model to capture the critical crack regions, loads and deflections for various types of shear failures in prestressed concrete beam has been illustrated.

Fishery Commodity Chain Trap vis-à-vis Global Quality Standards: An Analysis of the Kerala Marine Fishery

The article examines the commodity chain trap of marine fishery in Kerala, at both material and value terms, and its ramifications in the globalised fishery chains. The marketing chains both material and value, are very complex in nature since they involve many types of markets and large number of intermediaries and participants. The article also scrutinizes the sensitivity of consumers’ and country’s responses in terms of dietary and hygienic standards relating to seafood trade. In addition, it discusses the devastating effect about the recent stipulations like the US Bio- Terrorism Act and Shrimp anti-dumping duty on the Kerala fishery products

Export performancecof Indian spices in the WTO regime: a disaggregated analysis

Export has assumed an important place in the development of any country and considered as the engine of economic growth. India requires huge amount of foreign exchange for its essential import and for achieving rapid growth. Millions of job opportunities have to be created to utilise the youth for nation building. Even though the country has different sources of foreign exchange, export earning is the safe way of obtaining it in the long run. Export of high valued traditional products not only gives foreign exchange, but also employment to large number of people. Spices are the traditional products of India whose production process is highly intensive in semi and unskilled labour, and high domestic and foreign market prices compared to other traditional products. The new world trade scenario with the establishment of WTO has affected India’s spices export considerably. The study examines the export performance of Indian spices in the WTO regime taking the export of major spices from 1985 to 2013 using the growth of export, trend and instability in growth rate, changes in the composition and direction of spices, export performance ratio and the prospects of spices in earning foreign exchange during the WTO period and Pre-WTO period. The analysis reveals that the overall performance of Indian spices exports during the WTO regime are satisfactory. Export volume and value increased much during this period. But the decrease in market share of spices export during the WTO period reflects that, the favourable conditions in the international market are not exploited by India. High Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) and Value Elasticity (EV) of major spices amidst the low export shares shows that export performance of Indian spices during the WTO regime was not mainly affected by external demand factors as suggested by Ragnar Nurkse in his Demand Deficiency Thesis, but because of internal supply factors as suggested in Supply Deficiency Thesis, (supported by K.S Dhinsha, Dacosta, Goddamwar,etc.). But the fluctuations of export during the recession and prosperity periods show that external demand is also a determinant of Indian spices export. From this one can conclude that both the domestic supply factors and foreign demand factors influence the export performance of Indian spices. The long term performance of Indian spices exports are mainly influenced by domestic supply factors as suggested by Supply Deficiency Thesis and short term performance is mostly influenced by external demand factors as suggested by Demand Deficiency Thesis.