Automation is one of the trending terminologies in the field of engineering to achieve various sensors and actuators such as the hydraulic system. Smart fluid is also one of the hot topics for researchers to develop a type of actuator in many control systems since the fluid’s rheological characteristics can be controlled or tuned by the intensity of the external stimuli. In this work, a new smart fluid of magnetorheological (MR) fluid is proposed and its field-dependent rheological characteristics are experimentally identified. An MR fluid using the carrier fluid as the blend of three different fluids, namely silicon oil, honey, and organic oil is prepared. In addition, two types of natural oils are used, sunflower oil and cottonseed oil. The samples are prepared using the blend as the carrier fluid, electrolytic iron powder coated with guar gum as the dispersed phase, and oleic acid as an additive. The quantity of oleic acid is optimized for 30% by weight of electrolytic iron powder. Two samples based on sunflower and cottonseed oil are synthesized and characterized for shear viscosity and shear stress with respect to shear rate subjected to a variable magnetic field. The blend-based MR fluid shows about 10% improvement over the sedimentation rate of silicon oil-based MR fluid as compared to that to conventional MR fluid. The cottonseed oil blend-based MR fluid performs better than sunflower-based fluid in terms of the viscosity and structure.

In heavy rotating machines and assembly lines, bearing failure in any one of them may result in shut down and affects the overall cost and quality of the product. Condition monitoring of bearing systems avoids breakdown and saves time and cost of preventive and corrective maintenance. This research paper proposes advanced fault detection strategies for taper rolling bearings. In this, a mathematical model using dimension analysis by matrix method (DAMM) and support vector machine (SVM) is developed to predict the vibration characteristic of the rotor-bearing system. Various types of defects created using an electric discharge machine (EDM) are analyzed by correlating dependent and independent parameters. Experiments were performed to classify the rotor dynamic characteristic of the bearings and validated the models developed using DAMM and SVM. Results showed the potential of DA and SVM to predict the dynamic response and contribute to the service life extension, efficiency improvement, and reduce failure of bearings. Thus, the automatic online diagnosis of bearing faults is possible with a developed model-based by DAMM and SVM.

The present study focuses on the fabrication and analysis of thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of epoxy bio-composites reinforced with 15 wt.% sisal fibers and varying carbon nanotube (CNT) content (0–2.0 wt.%). As per the results, incorporation of 1.0 wt.% CNT significantly enhances thermal and mechanical properties of the composite. Compared to the baseline composite without CNTs, thermal degradation onset has been improved by approximately 13%, while crystallinity and thermal resilience also increased. The storage modulus and loss modulus rose by approximately 79% and 197% respectively, indicating greater stiffness and energy absorption capacity. The damping factor (tan δ) decreased by over 56%, implying enhanced load-bearing capability with reduced energy dissipation. These improvements are attributed to better interfacial bonding and uniform CNT dispersion at 1.0 wt.%. The SEM analysis of epoxy bio-composites also revealed that the optimal dispersion and strong interfacial bonding are achieved at 1.0 wt.% CNT. Overall, the findings demonstrate that optimal thermal stability and viscoelastic properties occur at low CNT content in natural fiber composites, making them suitable for advanced structural applications in automotive, aerospace, and packaging sectors.

The study is to investigate the physical, mechanical, and tribological properties of Al6063 alloy reinforced by Silicon Nitride (Si₃N₄) & compound Copper Nitrate (CuN₂O₆) processed via Powder Metallurgy (PM) Techniques. Incorporation of reinforcement in matrix material ranged from 6 to 12% Si₃N₄ in a 6-step interval, and 2 to 6%CuN₂O₆ in a two-step interval. The characterizations were made on the PM produced specimens using OM, EDS, XRD and hardness. The reinforcement particles were distributed uniformly is attributed by homogeneous mixer of matrix and reinforcements. The tests were carried out in accordance with ASTM Standards on the Al6063 alloy and its composites. The test findings show that as the reinforcing percentage of ceramic and inorganic compound is increased, properties such as hardness and density rise monolithically and considerably. The dispersion of Si₃N₄ and CuN₂O₆ reinforcement in the AA6061 matrix was ensured by x-ray diffraction patterns. In comparison to the base alloy, the hardness of AA6063/12%Si₃N₄/6% CuN₂O₆ improved by 88% due to the mismatch of thermal expansion between the Al matrix and reinforcement causes huge internal stress, causing the aluminium matrix to deform plastically to lodge the smaller volume expansion of Si₃N₄ and CuN₂O₆ particles. The dry sliding wear test was carried out on a tribometer with a pin-on-disc arrangement, and the findings show that the composite has a higher wear resistance. The Taguchi design of experiments was used to investigate the solution containing parameters employing an orthogonal array, the signal-to-noise ratio, and analysis of variance. The weight percentage of Si₃N₄/CuN₂O₆ compound and the relationship between wt% of reinforcement and applied load had the highest impact on composite wear resistance, accounted for 31.66%. Before and after the wear morphology during the wear test, images from a scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive microscopy were used to examine the manufactured composites.

Aluminium alloys exhibits excellent properties and therefore they are used broadly in automobile, aviation, and defence sectors. The studies on the effect of zirconium carbide (ZrC) particulates on the mechanical properties of heat-treated stir-cast Al7475 alloy are still in the initial stage. Hence, the present study is aimed at the study of microstructure and mechanical characteristics of as-stir-cast and heat-treated stir-cast Al7475-ZrC composites. The zirconium carbide particulates concentration ranges from 2 to 8 wt% in Al7475 alloy. The Al7475 alloy and Al7475-ZrC composites were T6 heat-treated. Both the Al7475 alloy and the Al7475-ZrC composites have undergone significant microstructure refinement owing to heat treatment. The SEM micrographs of heat-treated stir-cast Al7475-ZrC composites have revealed that the matrices of Al7475 composites consisted of a fine dispersion of uniformly distributed ZrC particles that eventually resulted in a considerable improvement in the properties of composites. The mechanical properties of heat-treated stir-cast Al7475-ZrC composites were superior to that of as-stir-cast Al7475-ZrC composites. The optimum values of UTS of as-stir-cast and heat-treated stir-cast Al7475-ZrC composites are 104.42 N/mm² and 121.95 N/mm², correspondingly. The optimum values of compression strength of as-stir-cast and heat-treated stir-cast Al7475-ZrC composites are 665.43 N/mm² and 789.68 N/mm², correspondingly. The optimum values of the hardness of as-stir-cast and heat-treated stir-cast Al7475-ZrC composites are 103.74 BHN and 126.86 BHN, respectively. The optimum values of impact strength of as-stir-cast and heat-treated stir-cast Al7475-ZrC composites are 16 J/mm² and 19 J/mm², respectively. Among heat-treated stir-cast composites, Al7475-6%ZrC composite has the highest enhancement in mechanical characteristics, and the UTS, compression strength, and hardness are 15%, 16%, and 18% higher than that of as-stir-cast Al7475-6%ZrC composite and 19%, 14% and 10% higher than that of heat-treated stir-cast Al7475 alloy respectively.