Powder-based additive manufacturing (PAM) is a potential fabrication approach in advancing state-of-the-art research to produce intricate components with high precision and accuracy in near-net form. In PAM, the raw materials are used in powder form, deposited on the surface layer by layer, and fused to produce the final product. PAM composite fabrication for biomedical implants, aircraft structure panels, and automotive brake rotary components is gaining popularity. In PAM composite fabrication, the aluminium cast alloy is widely preferred as a metal matrix for its unique properties, and different reinforcements are employed in the form of oxides, carbides, and nitrides. However, for enhancing the mechanical properties, the carbide form is predominantly considered. This comprehensive study focuses on contemporary research and reveals the effect of metal carbide’s (MCs) addition to the aluminium matrix processed through various PAM processes, challenges involved, and potential scopes to advance the research.

The objective of this paper is to analyze the effect of hydraulic diameter and channel shape on the thermal and hydrodynamic characteristics of a microchannel cooled by Graphene-Platinum/water hybrid nanofluid for electronic cooling applications. The study was performed numerically using mathematical software called Maple 19.0. Microchannels having square and rectangular cross-sections, and hydraulic diameters ranging from 200 µm to 1000 µm were taken into consideration. Thermal resistance, heat transfer coefficient, pressure drop and friction factor were evaluated for different conditions and their corresponding graphs are presented and discussed. It was evident from the results that low thermal resistance and high heat transfer coefficient was achieved upon decreasing the hydraulic diameter, which is favorable for the cooling of electronic chips and devices. Based on the Reynolds number, the heat transfer coefficient increased by 2 to 4 times for both rectangular and square microchannels, on decreasing the hydraulic diameter from highest value (1000 µm) to lowest value (200 µm). However, friction factor and pressure drop increased for channels with lower hydraulic diameters. In addition, rectangular microchannels exhibited better heat transfer performance, while square microchannels had lower friction factor and pressure drop. Rectangular microchannels presented a maximum enhancement of 30% in heat transfer coefficient and a reduction of 18% in thermal resistance, when compared to square microchannels. The results also suggested that the performance of microchannels with 500 µm hydraulic diameter is balanced, considering both heat transfer performance and pressure drop constraints.

In the entire world, there is a widespread recognition that evaluation framework is a key to building stronger and fairer academic institution system. All countries emphasize the evaluation not as end in itself but instead an important tool for achieving improved student outcomes. Teacher evaluation typically has two major purposes. First, it seeks to improve the teacher's own practice by identifying strengths and weaknesses for further professional development and involves helping teachers learn about, reflect on and adjust their practice. Second it is aimed at holding teacher's accountability for their performance in enhancing student learning. It typically entails performance based career advancement and/or salaries, bonus pay, or the possibility of sanctions for underperformance and usually involves evaluating performance at nodal points in a teacher's career. The term soft computing represents the combination of emerging problem solving technologies, such as fuzzy logic, probabilistic reasoning, neural networks and genetic algorithms. Each of these technologies provides us with complementary reasoning and searching methods to solve complex real world problems. We have proposed a soft computing model for evaluating teachers' overall performance using fuzzy logic. There are two different modules namely teachers' overall performance module-1 (TOP-M1) and teachers' overall performance module-2 (TOP-M2). First module TOP-M1, calculates teaching performance. Second module TOP-M2, calculates academic and administrative performance. On the bases of teaching performance and academic and administrative performance we calculate overall performance. Software has been developed in MATLAB. This soft computing model for evaluating teachers' overall performance using fuzzy logic will not only be useful for decision makers to evaluate teachers' abilities and improve student outcomes but may also be adopted in writing Annual Confidential Reports(ACR) for appraisal of all the teachers of an academic institution. Simulation results verify the performance of our proposed soft computing model for evaluating teachers' overall performance using fuzzy logic.

Hybrid photovoltaic-thermal heat pump (PV/T-HP) solar energy systems are promising since they can achieve a system total efficiency greater than 80%. By maximizing the output of a PV/T system for simultaneous heating and cooling, this strategy can meet over 60% of urban households’ heating needs and around 40% of their cooling needs. In this work, a novel PV/T evaporator was designed, fabricated, and an aluminium foil encapsulated hydrated salt (HS36) PCM was integrated with the PV/T evaporator of the PV/T direct expansion heat pump system (PV/T-DXHP). Energy analysis was carried out on the PV/T-DXHP system with PCM in tropical climate regions of India for achieving net zero energy buildings. The experimental study revealed that the average PV electricity efficiency was 14.17%, which is near the PV panel’s STC value. The average thermal efficiency of the system was 104.38%, and the PV/T system’s average overall efficiency was 117.58%. The heating and cooling COPs of the system were 5.73 and 4.62, respectively. It was concluded that net-zero energy buildings are possible with the help of photovoltaic heat pump systems that use PCM and solar energy to make electricity, cool spaces, and heat water.

In the past few years, a new passion for the growth of biodegradable polymers based on elements derived from natural sources has been getting much attention. Natural fiber-based polymer matrix composites offer weight loss, reduction in cost and carbon dioxide emission, and recyclability. In addition, natural fiber composites have a minimal impact on the environment in regards to global warming, health, and pollution. Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the best natural resource polymers available among biodegradable polymers. Natural fiber–reinforced PLA polymer composites have been extensively researched by polymer researchers to compete with conventional polymers. The type of fiber used plays a massive part in fiber and matrix bonds and, thereby, influences the composite’s mechanical properties and thermal properties. Among the various natural fibers, low density, high strength bamboo fibers (BF) have attracted attention. PLA and bamboo fiber composites play a vital character in an extensive range of structural and non-structural applications. This review briefly discussed on currently developed PLA-based natural bamboo fiber–reinforced polymer composites concentrating on the property affiliation of fibers. PLA polymer–reinforced natural bamboo fiber used to establish composite materials, various composite fabrication methods, various pretreatment methods on fibers, their effect on mechanical properties, as well as thermal properties and applications on different fields of such composites are discussed in this study. This review also presents a summary of the issues in the fabrication of natural fiber composites.