Increasing power demand from passive distribution networks has led to deteriorated voltage profiles and increased line flows. This has increased the annual operations and installation costs due to unavoidable reinforcement equipment. This work proposes the reduction in annual costs by optimal placement of capacitors used to alleviate power loss in radial distribution networks (RDNs). The optimization objective function is formulated for the reduction in operation costs by (i) reducing the active and reactive power losses, and (ii) the cost and installation of capacitors, necessary to provide the reactive power support and maintain the voltage profile. Initially, the network buses are ranked according to two loss sensitivity indices ($LSIs$), i.e., active loss sensitivity with respect to node voltage ($LS{I}_1$) and reactive power injection ($LS{I}_2$). The sorted bus list is then fed to the particle swarm optimization (PSO) for solving the objective function. The efficacy of the proposed work is tested on different IEEE standard networks (34 and 85 nodes) for different use cases and load conditions. In use case 1, the values finalized by the algorithm are selected without considering their market availability, whereas in use case 2, market-available capacitor sizes close to the optimal solution are selected. Furthermore, the static and seasonal load profiles are considered. The results are compared with recent methods and have shown significant improvement in terms of annual cost, losses and line flows reduction, and voltage profile.

Increasing the unplanned penetration of Distributed Generators (DGs) has spurred active and reactive power losses in the distribution system. This article suggests using a novel Strawberry Plant Propagation Algorithm (SPPA) for planning the placement of the DGs with the aim of reducing the network (active) power losses and improving the overall voltage profile. The proposed method (SPPA) has been tested on 33 and 69 node radial systems in MATLAB. A cost analysis was also performed and compared with other contemporary methods. The results for the considered variables show the significance of the proposed method in comparison to various other counterparts, including the Mine Blast Algorithm and Particle Swarm Optimization.

Aluminium metal matrix composites (AMMCs) using alumina (Al₂O₃) and silicon carbide (SiC) as reinforcement elements are gaining significant interest in various applications because of their excellent properties. In this study, Al₂O₃/SiC with compositions (0.5 wt.%, 1.5 wt.%, and 2.5 wt.% for each) were used as reinforcement elements in an aluminium alloy (AA2024-T6). The samples prepared were AA2024-T6 + (0.5Al₂O₃/0.5SiC), AA2024-T6 + (1.5Al₂O₃/1.5SiC), and AA2024-T6 + (2.5Al₂O₃/2.5SiC) using a stir-casting technique. The experimental study included density calculation mechanical properties, such as tensile strength, compressive strength and hardness. The study also included a microstructure examination of the fracture surface of the tensile specimens. The results showed that incorporating Al₂O₃/SiC as reinforcement materials into aluminium AA2024-T6 significantly improved its properties. Hence, increasing the reinforcement with compositions of 2.5Al₂O₃/2.5SiC into AA2024-T6 showed a drop in density and increased mechanical properties, such as ultimate tensile strength, compressive strength and hardness, compared to the base alloy (AA2024-T6). Furthermore, the scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed the uniform distribution of the reinforcement particles resulting in strong bonding with the matrix. The findings suggest that Al₂O₃/SiC reinforced with AA2024-T6 can be used in applications where a combination of lightweight and high strength is needed.

The passive power distribution networks are prone to imperfect voltage profile and higher power losses, especially at the far end of long feeders. The capacitor placement is studied in this article using a novel Mine Blast Algorithm (MBA). The voltage profile improvement and reduction in the net annual cost are also considered along with minimizing the power loss. The optimization problem is formulated and solved in two steps. Firstly, the Voltage Stability Index (VSI) is used to rank the nodes for placement of the capacitors. Secondly, from the priority list of nodes in the previous step, the MBA is utilized to provide the optimal location and sizes of the capacitors ensuring loss minimization, voltage profile improvement, and reduced net annual cost. Finally, the results are tested on 33 and 69 radial node systems in MATLAB. The results for the considered variables are presented which show a significant improvement in active and reactive power loss reduction and voltage profile with lesser reactive power injection.

Machining, particularly drilling, plays a significant role in various industries, including aerospace and automotive, where efficient drilling is a critical factor in their operational success. However, low-quality holes can result in structural failures and increase production costs. Achieving high-quality holes necessitates appropriate selection of drilling tools, process parameters, and machine setup conditions. This study investigates the impact of drilling parameters, specifically feed rate and spindle speed, on chip formation and hole quality, including deviations from normal size, circularity, cylindricity, perpendicularity, and surface roughness. Experiments were conducted on aluminum alloy 2024-T6 (AA2024-T6), a widely used material in the aerospace industry. This paper investigated the drilling process parameters using uncoated high-strength stainless steel (HSS) and cobalt-coated high-strength stainless steel (HSS-Co) drill bits, with a 30° helix angle and 140° point angle, under both dry and cryogenic conditions with liquid nitrogen (boiling point: − 195.8 °C). Results demonstrated that HSS drill bits, in cryogenic conditions, produce holes with lower surface roughness, minimal deviation from nominal size, and reduced errors in circularity, cylindricity, and perpendicularity compared to those made under dry conditions. Conversely, HSS-Co drill bits yielded high-quality holes under dry conditions across all feed rates and spindle speeds. Furthermore, short and segmented chips were formed at high feed rates and low spindle speeds. No significant variations were observed in the chip’s formation for both HSS and HSS-Co drills. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the internal defects of the drilled holes, providing further insight into the impact of drilling conditions on hole quality.

The incorporation and doping of elements represent a widely used approach to enhance the solidity, integrity, and characteristics of pb-free solder joints. The present study summarizes the incorporation of indium and its impact on the mechanical aspects of the SAC105 pb-free solder alloy. To refine the mechanical impact of the solder alloy, the evaluation of samples were categorized into three groups: as-cast, low-thermal aged (at 125 °C), and high-thermal aged (at 180 °C). The tensile deformation data were obtained via the universal tensile machine (UTM). Investigational findings demonstrated the enhancement in mechanical characteristics, including ultimate tensile and yield strength of the solder alloy. The addition of 1 wt.% of indium to SAC105 led to a notable increase in ultimate tensile strength, rising from 29.6 MPa to 35.31 MPa, which corresponds to an approximate 19.30% increase over the initial value.