Recent advancements in Metal Additive Manufacturing (MAM) are transforming manufacturing. Most research and market adoption of MAM have focused on Powder Bed Fusion (PBF), with less attention given to Directed Energy Deposition (DED), Binder Jetting (BJ), and Metal Material Extrusion (MEX), which are only now reaching industrial readiness. This increased availability of MAM processes provides SMEs ...

This study delves into the intricate interplay of thermography, ice nucleation, and heat transfer during the phase change from supercooled liquid water to crystallized ice. Utilizing high-resolution, high-speed infrared thermography, real-time temperature data is captured during ice nucleation events. By analysing these temperature profiles, valuable information about the dynamics of ice nucleation ...

Protecting the aircraft surfaces from ground icing in cold weather conditions before takeoff via anti-icing fluids is crucial for flight safety. These fluids offer a specific protection time evaluated through outdoor endurance time testing. As outdoor conditions are difficult to standardize and repeat, there is interest in developing interior tests under simulated snow conditions. This study ...

Ice accretion remains a pervasive challenge for infrastructure in cold climates, posing threats to both human safety and machine operability. Addressing this issue, our work introduces an innovative, automated ice detection/mitigation system leveraging active infrared thermography. This technology enables the detection of ice on low-temperature surfaces exhibiting thermal contrast. The system ...

Metaheuristics can benefit from analyzing patterns and regularities in data to perform more effective searches in the solution space. In line with the emerging trend in the optimization literature, this study introduces the Reinforcement-learning-based Alpha-List Iterated Greedy (RAIG) algorithm to contribute to the advances in machine learning-based optimization, notably for solving combinatorial ...

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a commonly employed technique in commercial plastic recycling for purposes including classification, sorting, identification, and elemental analysis. However, understanding the molecular-level kinetics, thermodynamic interactions, bonding cleavage, and process parameter impacts is crucial for identifying necessary modifications to enhance plastic ...

The problem of insecurity is a global phenomenon that has several forms like terrorism, banditry, kidnappings, etc. Insecurity has taken hold in the Sub-Saharan Region of West Africa, especially in Nigeria, for over two decades. Nigeria’s security crisis is more pronounced in the Northern Region, with a new wave in the North-Central Region of Nigeria. It is herculean to assess insecurity in the ...

The interfacial transition zone (ITZ) is the weakest phase in concrete, characterised by higher porosity and being prone to microcrack formation. Additionally, the ITZ is created when dispersed fibre reinforcement is present. Although fibres improve flexural strength, they can negatively impact other properties. This research investigates the ITZ of fibre-reinforced concrete where macro-basalt fibres ...

The railway is an essential source of logistics and transportation in cold regions, but low temperatures and icing can be challenging for uninterrupted railway operations in these regions. Icing on railway switches is a safety hazard, and presently, one of the industry’s adaptive approaches for ice mitigation is the use of resistive heaters. This method is efficient but consumes a great amount of ...

Prestressing of bridges allows construction of long spanned bridges made from thin structural members with high flexural and shear capacity. Studies have shown that some of the existing prestressed bridges are not meeting their designed service life due to corrosion of the tendons. The main reasons are poor construction practices in combination with inadequate inspection and maintenance plans. ...