Informatics Publishing Limited

C. Srinivas ¹, K. Ramji ², B. Satyanarayana ², Naveen Ravela ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, RVR & JC College of Engineering, Guntur-522019, Andhra Pradesh, IN
2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam- 530003, Andhra Pradesh, IN
3 SCR Engineering College, Guntur-522619, Andhra Pradesh, IN

Abstract

The layout of a Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) involves distributing different resources in the given FMS and achieving maximum efficiency of the services offered. With this in mind FMSs are designed to optimize production flow from the first stages as raw material to the finished product. Layout problems are known to be complex and are generally NP (non polynomial) hard. The problems of NP are not easily solvable within the deterministic time. The arrangement of workstations determines how long the materials have to travel and the associated material handling cost. Various heuristics and metaheuristics are used to solve NP hard problems. Out of these Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) are found to be effective metaheuristics to solve layout problems. Since the metaheuristics give a near optimal solution but not an accurate solution, for a large solution space, a single heuristic solution may not be appropriate especially when the number of workstations is large. Hence it is always important to obtain a solution for a layout problem by more than one technique like Genetic Algorithm, Ant Colony Algorithm. The objective of the present study is to find out the optimum FMS layout which yields minimum total transportation cost, by using Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Ant Colony Optimisation (ACO).

Keywords

Layout Design, Flexible Manufacturing Systems, Genetic Algorithm, Ant Colony Optimisation.

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N. Ravi Kumar ¹, K. Ramji ², A. V. Ratna Prasad ¹, K. Murali Mohan Rao ³

Affiliations
1 Mech. Engg. Dept., V R Siddhartha Engg. College, Vijayawada, IN
2 Mech. Engg. Dept., College of Engg., Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, IN
3 Vivek Institute of Technology, Vijayawada, IN

Abstract

For Environmental concern on synthetic fibers (such as glass, carbon, ceramic fibers, etc.) natural fibers such as Sisal, flax, hemp, jute, kenaf etc. are widely used. In this research work, elephant grass fiber reinforced polypropylene matrix composites have been developed by injection molding technique with varying fiber percentages (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% by weight). The developed elephant grass fiber reinforced composites were then tested for their flexural and impact properties. The results show that flexural and impact properties increases with increase in the fiber percentage; however, after a certain fiber weight percentage, the properties are decreased. Elephant grass fiber introduced in the present study could be used as an effective reinforcement for making composites, which have an added advantage of being light weight.

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K. T. B. Padal ¹, K. Ramji ¹, V. V. S. Prasad ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam-3, IN

Abstract

Polymer based nanocomposites have been subject of investigation by the dispersion of jute nanofibres within epoxy polymer matrix. Thermal properties of a composite play a vital role in evaluating the product performance as well as predicting the processibility characteristics in polymers in specific applications. The thermal behaviour of the interface between nanofibres reinforcement have been studied by thermogravemetric analysis and Differential scanning calorimetry. The addition of nanofibres with different weight percentages has been (1wt.% to 5wt.%) studied and compared with base composites. The thermal stability of nanocomposite is significantly improved due to incorporation of jute nanofibres. These nanofibre reinforcement between the matrix resin molecules offered some resistance towards the thermal degradation.

Keywords

Nanofibres, Calorimetry, Nanocomposites, Polymer.

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