A. Fernando, W. Pabasara, K.Y. Gayashini, D. Liyanage
{"title":"Investigation of Mechanical Properties of Rice Straw Ash-filled Natural Rubber Compounds","authors":"A. Fernando, W. Pabasara, K.Y. Gayashini, D. Liyanage","doi":"10.1109/MERCon52712.2021.9525799","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/MERCon52712.2021.9525799","url":null,"abstract":"Rice straw is the one of highest plant-based waste generated in Sri Lanka. Farmers burn rice straw without taking any advantage making substantial air pollution. It is found that rice straw ash contains a significant amount (62%-82%) of silica which is a prominent reinforcing filler material in rubber compounding. The present research work focuses on incorporation of rice straw ash as an alternative filler material in rubber compounding. Up to date, different ratios of rice straw ash has been incorporated with selected rubber compound replacing the silica filler loading and tensile, tear strength, hardness, compression set properties have been investigated. These properties were compared with those of the reference sample prepared according to the same formulation but without adding rice straw ash. The sample containing the same proportion of rice straw ash and silica showed the highest tensile strength compared with that of the control sample. Further, tensile strength of the sample which contained only rice straw ash was also higher than that of the control sample. The rice straw ash has a strong ability to improve the tensile properties of the rubber vulcanizates, while it negatively affects the other mechanical properties such as hardness, tear strength and compression set.","PeriodicalId":6855,"journal":{"name":"2021 Moratuwa Engineering Research Conference (MERCon)","volume":"15 1","pages":"43-47"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86531811","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Madushi H Medagedara, Tharushi Shavindya Peiris, N. Wanasekara
{"title":"Modeling Surface Conductivity in a Sweat Analyzing Wearable Smart Textile Platform","authors":"Madushi H Medagedara, Tharushi Shavindya Peiris, N. Wanasekara","doi":"10.1109/MERCon52712.2021.9525788","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/MERCon52712.2021.9525788","url":null,"abstract":"Wearable self-health monitoring devices are a contemporary necessity with modern life-style and health implications of this decade. Current devices have transitioned to non-invasive sampling due to benefits including minimal possibility of infections, convenience, no requirement for storage, and physiological safety of neo-natal and geriatric patients. Sweat, in this regard, is of importance as the variations in the sweat composition have been validated as bio markers of different diseases. Corresponding variations in the surface resistivity as the sweat composition is changed, has been introduced in this novel research with a synergistic approach, based on developing a conductive sweat sensing and analyzing textile platform. The relationship between the macro porosity of the proposed textile platform and the measured surface conductivity values has been mathematically modeled and presented in this paper. A simulation of the mathematical model concluded that variations in the localized surface area for sweat accumulation and the fabric weight of the textile platform has minimal effect on the performance of the wearable sweat monitoring platform, while a satisfactorily measurable surface conductivity value can be obtained at sweat concentration levels in the order 0.01M.","PeriodicalId":6855,"journal":{"name":"2021 Moratuwa Engineering Research Conference (MERCon)","volume":"15 1","pages":"608-613"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81168705","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Indisa Herath, S. Karunaratne, Dilshi Dharmarathna
{"title":"Global warming potential of English brick manufacturing in Sri Lanka: A cradle to gate analysis","authors":"Indisa Herath, S. Karunaratne, Dilshi Dharmarathna","doi":"10.1109/MERCon52712.2021.9525760","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/MERCon52712.2021.9525760","url":null,"abstract":"Clay bricks are one of the most commonly used walling materials in Sri Lanka. The brick manufacturing process poses a notable impact on the environment. Clay excavation leads to resource depletion while diesel fuel utilized for excavation and clay transportation pollutes the air. Additionally, tree cutting for wood fuel contributes to deforestation whilst wood burning promotes air pollution. Thus, this research aimed to quantify the global warming potential due to English brick manufacturing using cradle to gate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach. The functional unit used was one-meter square of the brick wall area. Data collection, analysis and interpretation of results were done by the ISO 14044/14040 standards. Primary life cycle inventory data was gathered via brick kiln owners and workers. The LCA assembly was modelled using the ‘OpenLCA’ software. Three product systems were defined according to the brick bond types and wall thicknesses. The global warming potential related to brick production was assessed using the ‘GWP 100a’ method. Clay excavation, clay transportation and wood chamber firing emerged as emission hotspots. The study revealed that the global warming potential of 225mm brick wall and 115mm brick wall as 11.9 and 5.9 kg CO2-eq/m2, respectively. Through this study, local clay brick industry can be driven to improve the overall sustainability of the brick manufacturing sector.","PeriodicalId":6855,"journal":{"name":"2021 Moratuwa Engineering Research Conference (MERCon)","volume":"26 1","pages":"251-256"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82864326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Optimize Technical Properties with Master Batch Blends in RSS/Scrap Rubber Tire Retread Compounds","authors":"K. Alahapperuma","doi":"10.1109/MERCon52712.2021.9525745","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/MERCon52712.2021.9525745","url":null,"abstract":"Nowadays, polymers as a group of materials have occupied in major areas of human lives. Natural rubber (NR) is a substitute for synthetic rubbers in majority of applications, and higher prices of petroleum-based products have resulted in higher cost involvements in NR rubber compounds. This has resulted in partial replacement of higher grade Ribbed Smoked Sheet (RSS) NR with lower grade scrap rubber in most of the rubber products, especially retreading tire compounds. In preparation of rubber mixes, usual practice is to mix both types of rubber together and added with carbon black, oil and other ingredients subsequently, according to an order. Aim of this study was to get optimum technical properties of a selected retreading tire compound of (80%) RSS and (20%) scrap rubber with the use of master batch preparations; i.e. the amount of carbon black was added separately into two types of blended rubber and mixed separately. The master batch mix design with 80% carbon black incorporated into RSS and 20% carbon black incorporated into scrap rubber showed a better balance of technical properties than the properties obtained with other master batch mix designs and also the normal mix design.","PeriodicalId":6855,"journal":{"name":"2021 Moratuwa Engineering Research Conference (MERCon)","volume":"45 1","pages":"549-554"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89581872","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Optimum Utilization of Daylighting in Office Buildings","authors":"V.H.M.S. Babalagama, S. Pathirana","doi":"10.1109/MERCon52712.2021.9525696","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/MERCon52712.2021.9525696","url":null,"abstract":"Maximizing day light usage to occupant's comfort level is a modern energy saving technique for most aspect of a sustainable building management system. Due to tropical climate condition in Sri Lanka using a high window to wall ratio is not an effective method of daylight harvesting in modern buildings. This research introduces experiential optimization of daylight usage in an office building tor educe energy in t he occupant's comfort zone. Using the software Design-Builder 4.8 with energy plus to demonstrate the dynamic role of simulation tool in this case study. The selected case is a four-story building of total area of 3441 square meters and external window area of 1053 square meters overall. The longest side of the building oriented to east-west. There is a problem of direct sun light and heat inside the building according to its high window to wall ratio. This research helps to determine the consequence of effect of direct sunlight simulation and total energy to be compared with three stages. Optimize the day light harvesting providing 1.5 meters width sunshades along with providing three types of window films. Best optimization results of 6 7% energy saving f or the sunshade along with reflective tint comparatively a ssume that all the windows closed in basic model.","PeriodicalId":6855,"journal":{"name":"2021 Moratuwa Engineering Research Conference (MERCon)","volume":"143 1","pages":"235-239"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90701940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Keynote Address: Sustainable Manufacturing with Digital Integration for Advancing the Circular Economy: Product and Process Innovations for Next Generation Manufacturing","authors":"I. S. Jawahir","doi":"10.1109/mercon52712.2021.9525731","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/mercon52712.2021.9525731","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":6855,"journal":{"name":"2021 Moratuwa Engineering Research Conference (MERCon)","volume":"49 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91505818","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
S. Sandanayake, S. Diyabalanage, H. Wijesekara, M. Vithanage
{"title":"Lability and Bioavailability of Toxic Heavy Metals in Ratnapura District Gem Sediments, Sri Lanka","authors":"S. Sandanayake, S. Diyabalanage, H. Wijesekara, M. Vithanage","doi":"10.1109/MERCon52712.2021.9525637","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/MERCon52712.2021.9525637","url":null,"abstract":"Ratnapura district is composed of alluvial sedimentary gem deposits. These deposits have a variety of gem minerals which may contain toxic heavy metals. In this study, the fate of heavy metals associated with gem minerals was investigated through a quantitative determination. Sediments collected from 15 gem pits were analysed for total, exchangeable, and bioavailable fractions of toxic heavy metals. Air-dried, ground, and sieved samples were microwave acid digested using HNO3, HCl, and HF. For exchangeable metal fraction analysis, samples were extracted with 1 M MgCl2 solution. Bioavailable metal fraction was extracted by adding 0.01 M CaCl2 solution. The extractions were analysed using AAS. Results indicated high concentrations of Fe, Zn, and Pb in total heavy metal content which averaged 49 g kg−1, 223 mg kg−1, and 153 mg kg−1 respectively. Abundance of metals was recorded as Fe > Zn > Mn > Pb > As > Ni > Cu > Co > Cd. Exchangeable and bioavailable metal fractions showed more or less a similar order. Metal concentrations increased with the increase of soil depth. This analysis confirmed that a considerable amount of toxic heavy metals extracted and transported to the surrounding environment during the gem mining process causing contamination.","PeriodicalId":6855,"journal":{"name":"2021 Moratuwa Engineering Research Conference (MERCon)","volume":"43 1","pages":"427-431"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80738217","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Ratnakumar, A. Samarasekara, D. Amarasinghe, L. Karunanayake
{"title":"Microfibrillated Cellulose Fabrication and Characterization from Sri Lankan Rice Straw: A Comparison between Traditional and Hybrid Variety","authors":"A. Ratnakumar, A. Samarasekara, D. Amarasinghe, L. Karunanayake","doi":"10.1109/MERCon52712.2021.9525783","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/MERCon52712.2021.9525783","url":null,"abstract":"Rice is one of the major cereal crops cultivated globally. In the recent past, rice straw has gained momentum as a source of cellulose. However, it is notable that rice straw generated from rice cultivation has less or no commercial value. In this study, microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) was extracted from Sri Lankan traditional rice straw variety Pachaperumal and hybrid variety BG352 in two distinct stages. Initially, a series of chemical treatment methods that includes removal of wax and oil, lignin, hemicellulose and silica was employed to extract cellulose fibers from the aforementioned rice straw varieties. Then, using high-intensity ultrasonication (HIUS) process microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) was isolated from the obtained chemically extracted cellulose fibers. FTIR analysis validated that the chemical composition of MFC from both varieties were mainly cellulose where hemicelluloses and lignin were successfully removed during the set of chemical processes. Study revealed that around 34 per cent cellulose was extracted from Pachaperumal and around 25 per cent cellulose was extracted from BG352. Out of these chemically extracted cellulose fibers around 16 per cent of MFC was disintegrated from Pachaperumal and around 9 per cent from BG352 via HIUS process. SEM analysis showed that the diameters of the MFC were in 200 to 300 nanometer range Results indicated that traditional variety yielded high amount of MFC than technically modified variety via the efficient multi-step treatment process with potential industrial applications.","PeriodicalId":6855,"journal":{"name":"2021 Moratuwa Engineering Research Conference (MERCon)","volume":"59 1","pages":"164-168"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78176843","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effect of Influent Volumetric Loading of Skim Latex Wastewater on Anaerobic Sulfate Reduction","authors":"I. Samarathunga, P. Rathnasiri","doi":"10.1109/MERCon52712.2021.9525703","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/MERCon52712.2021.9525703","url":null,"abstract":"Wastewater generated in skim latex industry is rich in high sulfate concentrations, ammonia and protein. This research study investigates the effect of influent volumetric loading of Skim Latex Wastewater (SLW) on anaerobic sulfate reduction. Experiment was conducted using two semi-batch reactors operated under completely anaerobic condition. Operating volume and the temperature were 2.5 litre and 35 ±1°C respectively. This experiment was conducted in three phases VL01, VL02 and VL03 by feeding the reactor at 33.2 l/m3.d, 50.0 l/m3.d and 100.0 l/m3.d respectively. SLW contained influent COD/SO4−2 ratio of 2.7, whereas the influent COD/TKN (Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen) ratio was 10.1. Complete sulfate reduction was observed in all phases under anaerobic condition. However, the least average rate of sulfate reduction and overall percentage sulfate reduction was observed for the 100.0 l/m3.d. During this phase, anaerobic reactor showed symptoms of overloading, unstable and most affected with shock load. In VL03, time taken for complete sulfate reduction increased by 77.5% as a result of the high rate of ammonia formation. For SLW, sulfate degradation reduces at higher volumetric loading, but for moderate volumetric loading sulfate reduction was efficient, and ammonia inhibition could not be observed.","PeriodicalId":6855,"journal":{"name":"2021 Moratuwa Engineering Research Conference (MERCon)","volume":"15 1","pages":"226-230"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78307068","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Developing an Airline Choice Model for Economy Class Passengers in Sri Lanka","authors":"Pasindu Nayanashan, Anuja Fernando","doi":"10.1109/MERCon52712.2021.9525796","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/MERCon52712.2021.9525796","url":null,"abstract":"This research describes a methodology to model economy class passenger choice in Sri Lanka by using several software and choice modeling techniques. The airline was considered as the service provider and passenger buying power and the behavior is examined in this research. A survey has been conducted to collect data and Multinominal logistic regression is used to identify the attribute of choice making. Orange and Excel software is used to differentiate among each technique such as random forest, Naïve Bayes, regression, etc. ultimately the attributes were ranked according to the impact for the choice-making and model fitted and validated by using test data set for each modeliug technique to highlight the accuracy of each technique.","PeriodicalId":6855,"journal":{"name":"2021 Moratuwa Engineering Research Conference (MERCon)","volume":"111 1","pages":"368-373"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79305673","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}