Microstructures and Plane Energy Spectra of X80 Pipeline Steel Welded Joints by Submerged Arc Automatic Welding

X80 pipeline steel was welded with submerged arc automatic welding, the microstructures, cavity sizes, fusion depths and plane scanning of chemical elements in the welded zone, fusion zone, heat affected zone and base steel were observed with OM（optical microscope） and SEM（scanning electron microscope）, respectively. The experimental results show that there is main acicular ferrite in the base steel and welded zone, the microscopic structure of fusion zone is a blocked bainite, and the heat affected zone is composed of multilateral ferrite and pearlite. M-A unit of the welded zone is the main factor to strengthen the welded zone, composed of acicular ferrites. The percentage of cavities in the welded joint is less than that in the base steel, which is beneficial to increasing its mechanical performance and corrosion resistance. The fusion depth in the fusion zone and welded zone is 101.13 μm and 115.85 μm, respectively, and the distribution of chemical elements in the welded zone is uniform, no enrichment phenomena.

Improved hearing in noise using new signal processing algorithms with the Cochlear^(TM) Nucleus~ 6 sound processor

Objective： To demonstrate the performance benefit of the Automatic Scene Classifier （SCAN） algorithm available in the Nucleus 6 （CP900 series） sound processor over the default processing algorithms of the previous generation Nucleus 5 （CP810） and Freedom HybridTM sound processors. Methods： Eighty-two cochlear implant recipients （40 Nucleus 5 processor users and 42 Freedom Hybrid processor users） listened to and repeated AzBio sentences in noise with their current processor and with the Nucleus 6 processor. Results： The SCAN algorithm when enabled yielded statistically significant non-inferior and superior performance when compared to the Nucleus 5 and Freedom Hybrid sound processors programmed with ASC ＋ ADRO. Conclusion： The results of these studies demonstrate the superior performance and clinical utility of the SCAN algorithm in the Nucleus 6 processor over the Nucleus 5 and Freedom Hybrid processors.

On-line full scan inspection of particle size and shape using digital image processing

An on-line full scan inspection system is developed for particle size analysis. A particle image is first obtained through optical line scan technology and is then analyzed using digital image processing. The system is composed of a particle separation module, an image acquisition module, an image processing module, and an electric control module. Experiments are carried out using non-uniform 0.1 mm particles. The main advantage of this system consists of a full analysis of particles without any overlap or miss, thus improving the Area Scan Charge Coupled Device （CCD） acquisition problems. Particle size distribution, roundness, and sphericity can be obtained using the system with a deviation of repeated precision of around ±1%. The developed system is shown to be also convenient and versatile for any particle size and shape for academic and industrial users.