The increase in awareness of the damage caused by synthetic materials on the environment has led to the development of eco-friendly materials. The researchers have shown a lot of interest in developing such materials which can replace the synthetic materials. As a result, there is an increase in demand for commercial use of the natural fiber-based composites in recent years for various industrial sectors. Natural fibers are sustainable materials which are easily available in nature and have advantages like low-cost, lightweight, renewability, biodegradability and high specific properties. The sustainability of the natural fiber-based composite materials has led to upsurge its applications in various manufacturing sectors. In this paper, we have reviewed the different sources of natural fibers, their properties, modification of natural fibers, the effect of treatments on natural fibers, etc. We also summarize the major applications of natural fibers and their effective use as reinforcement for polymer composite materials.

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Natural Fibers as Sustainable and Renewable Resource for Development of Eco-friendly Composites: A Comprehensive Review

Driver sitting comfort and discomfort (part I): Use of subjective ratings in discriminating car seats and correspondence among ratings

Vehicular thermal comfort models; a comprehensive review

Current trends in engineering globalization require researchers to revisit various normalized standards that determine "best practices" in industries. This paper presents comparative analysis of tooth-root strength evaluation methods used within ISO and AGMA standards and verifying them with developed models and simulations using the finite element method (FEM). The presented analysis is conducted for (1) wide range of spur and helical gears manufactured using racks or gear tools; and for (2) various combinations of key geometrical (gear design), manufacturing (racks and gear tools), and performance (load location) parameters. FEM of tooth-root strength is performed for each modeled gear. FEM results are compared with stresses calculated based on the ISO and AGMA standards. The comparative analysis for various combinations of design, manufacturing, and performance parameters are illustrated graphically and discussed briefly. The results will allow for a better understanding of existing limitations in the current standards applied in engineering practice as well as provide a basis for future improvements and/or unifications of gear standards.

Comparative Analysis of Tooth-Root Strength Using ISO and AGMA Standards in Spur and Helical Gears With FEM-based Verification

Throughout this paper, we reviewed the most popular thermal comfort models and methods of assessing thermal comfort in buildings and vehicular spaces. Most of them are limited to specific steady state, thermally homogenous environments and only a few of them address human responses to both non-uniform and transient conditions with a detailed thermo-regulation model. Some of them are defined by a series of international standards which stayed unchanged for more than a decade. The article proposes a global approach, starting from the physiological reaction of the body in thermal stress conditions and ending with the model implementation. The physiological bases of thermal comfort are presented, followed by the main thermal comfort models and standards and finishing with the current methods of assessing thermal comfort in practice. Within the last part we will focus mainly on thermal manikin experimental studies, and on CFD (computational fluid dynamics) numerical approach, as in our opinion these methods will be mostly considered for future development in this field of research

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Thermal comfort models for indoor spaces and vehicles—Current capabilities and future perspectives

Dynamic analysis of involute spur gears with asymmetric teeth

This paper presents a method for the determination of bending stress minimization of involute spur gears. A computer program has been developed to investigate the variation of bending stress and contact ratio depending on the pressure angle on the drive side. Since asymmetric tooth is not standard, the tooth model, which was introduced by DIN 3990/Method C and ISO/TC 60, has been adjusted for asymmetric tooth by the authors. The determination of the tooth form and stress concentration factors for asymmetric tooth has been accomplished for each different parameter (pressure angles, tool radius, rack shift, etc.). The sample results, which were obtained by using a developed computer program, are illustrated with numerical examples.

Computer Aided Analysis of Bending Strength of Involute Spur Gears with Asymmetric Profile

An on-the-road experiment into the thermal comfort of car seats.

The effects of ramie blended car seat covers on thermal comfort during road trials

In this paper, computer‐aided design optimization approach for hydrostatic bearings is presented. The optimization problem is formulated in multicriteria strategy. The power loss and the temperature rise of oil are considered as performance measures for optimal hydrostatic bearing design. Optimization results indicate the effectiveness of the proposed combined approach which has advantages over the single criteria optimization. Sample results are presented to verify the proposed approach.

Fatih C. Babalık

Papers

Dynamic analysis of involute spur gears with asymmetric teeth

Computer Aided Analysis of Bending Strength of Involute Spur Gears with Asymmetric Profile

An on-the-road experiment into the thermal comfort of car seats.

The effects of ramie blended car seat covers on thermal comfort during road trials

Multicriteria optimization approach for hydrostatic bearing design