This paper proposes a simplistic approach toward estimating incremental wear in a multi-contact scenario using a vibrational analysis approach and in turn goes a step forward to model its associated sound. Predicted wear depth and frictional sound are compared to the experimental values obtained using a standardized pin-on-disc tribometer setup affixed with a free-field microphone to capture air-borne noise. The results show good conformity between the proposed analytical model values and the standardized experiments, hence ensuing that within certain limitations, the proposed model and the intended approach can effectively be used as a good estimator of wear and its sound in a multi-contact scenario.

Machinery components undergo wear and tear over time due to regular usage, necessitating the establishment of a robust prognosis framework to enhance machinery health and avert catastrophic failures. This study focuses on the collection and analysis of vibration data obtained from roller bearings experiencing various fault conditions. By employing a combination of techniques sourced from existing literature, distinct configurations within vibration datasets were examined to pinpoint the primary defects in roller bearings. The significant features identified through this analysis were utilized to formulate optimized stochastic model equations. These models, developed separately for inner and outer race fault features in comparison to healthy bearing features under random conditions, offer valuable insights into machinery prognosis. The application of these models aids in effective maintenance management, optimization of machinery performance, and the minimization of catastrophic failures and downtime, thereby contributing to overall machinery reliability.

Date palm tree (DPT) and pine tree (PT) needles in forests form a combustible mat, posing fire risks during summer in Pakistan that damage vegetation, wildlife habitats, and biodiversity and impact local livelihoods. In this article, sintered ceramic specimens were prepared at different weight concentrations (DPT5, DPT10, DPT20, and DPT 30 and PT5, PT10, PT20, and PT30) of date palm tree leaf ash and pine tree needle ash as secondary additives in ceramic manufacturing along with primary material kaolinite (China clay). Raw materials composition was analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), taking loss on ignition, water absorption, bulk density, saturated surface dry density (SSD), weight per unit area, and thermal cycling as measurement indexes. The result indicates that loss on ignition increases while increasing the quantity of secondary additives and the maximum increase for DPT30 was 19.6% and for PT30, it was 22.1%. As the secondary additives increase, the water absorption rate also increases and the maximum increase for DPT30 and PT30 is 4.5%. Meanwhile, with the increase in secondary additives, the density decreased; for DPT 30, it was 1457.7 kg/m³ and for PT30, it was 1829.8 kg/m³. Thermal performance was investigated by heating and cooling cycles. It was observed that thermal performances increase with the increase in secondary additives. The results reveal this novel approach has the potential to form a ceramic and good properties can be achieved. The prepared specimens have the potential to be used in the fields of electronics, aerospace, construction, and building engineering, alleviating environmental strain, curbing the exhaustion of China clay reserves, and most importantly, lowering the risk of forest fires in Pakistan.

Machinery parts gradually wear out over time due to regular usage. To improve machinery health and prevent critical issues, a reliable prognosis framework can be implemented by monitoring the behaviour of machinery parts and issuing warnings before they reach a critical state. To achieve this, vibration data from roller bearings experiencing various fault conditions have been collected. Different techniques from the literature were combined to analyze the distinct configurations in the vibration data sets and identify the main defects in roller bearings. The significant features extracted from this analysis were then used to create optimized stochastic model equations, separately regressing inner and outer race fault features to healthy bearing features under random conditions. These models can help engineers design more dependable systems, optimize their performance, and minimize the risk of failures and downtime.

Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) is widely employed in structural steel fabrication; however, the thermo-mechanical response of dissimilar structural steel joints remains insufficiently explored through numerical modeling. In this study, a three-dimensional transient thermo-mechanical finite element model is developed to investigate SMAW of dissimilar S355J2+N and ASTM A572 Grade 50 steel plates. Goldak’s double-ellipsoidal heat source is implemented to represent arc heat input, and a Box–Behnken design is employed to systematically examine the influence of welding current, voltage, and travel speed. The analysis focuses on peak temperature, out-of-plane distortion, and elastic stress indicators derived from a linear thermo-elastic formulation. The results indicate that welding current predominantly governs peak temperature, while travel speed has the strongest influence on thermal gradients and distortion behavior; voltage exhibits a secondary but non-negligible effect on heat distribution. Simulated thermal and deformation trends are benchmarked against published experimental and numerical studies on comparable structural steels and show consistent qualitative behavior. Owing to the absence of plasticity, temperature-dependent material properties, and direct experimental validation, stress results are interpreted solely as qualitative indicators rather than physically realistic residual stresses. The study provides a structured thermo-elastic FEM and design-of-experiments–based sensitivity framework for a dissimilar structural steel combination not previously reported in SMAW numerical studies, offering practical insight into parameter screening for thermal and distortion control in structural steel fabrication.