Frontiers in Engineering Innovation Research

Local gravity measurement by using the simple pendulums

Bancha Kongtragool, Saichon Sithipong — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Engineering calculations requiring precise gravity measurements for accurate outcomes must consistently use the local gravitational acceleration. This article presents the results of determining local gravity by applying Newton's second law to a simple pendulum as a gravimeter. The study was conducted at a location of latitude 18°39’43’’ N and an altitude of 300 m AMSL. Results from this study indicated, that by using the simple pendulums of lengths of 1.00 m, 1.05 m, 1.10 m, 1.15 m and 1.20 m and timing 100 oscillation cycles, the experimental local gravity obtained was 9.7635±0.006 m/s². Compared with the calculated local gravity 9.7847 m/s², the error of the local gravity obtained was 0.2%, approximately.

The development of particleboard from oil palm fronds for reducing the agricultural wastes

Wed, 07 May 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This research aims to develop particleboard from oil palm frond wastes for household items and souvenirs. The study designs 10 different ratios of oil palm frond wastes mixed with Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate (pMDI), forming particleboards with dimensions of 15 x 17.5 cm and a thickness of 5 mm. These boards are pressed at a temperature of 150°C for 7 minutes. Tests are conducted according to the Thai Industrial Standard (TIS 876-2547) for flat particleboards. The test results indicate that the optimal particleboard for household and souvenir products is the board with a controlled density of approximately 650 kg/m³, mixed with 0.11 parts by weight of pMDI and 1 part by weight of ground oil palm frond wastes. This particleboard has a density of 600.50 kg/m³, moisture content of 4.52%, thickness swelling of 4.61%, water absorption of 45.23%, bending strength of 6.28 MPa, modulus of elasticity of 478.75 MPa, and tensile strength perpendicular to the surface of 0.38 MPa.

Prototype and performance testing of the dried betel nut peeling machine

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0700

The design and construction of the dried betel nut peeling machine consists of the main components including a thorn peeler and a groove peeler to separate husk and kernel. There is a conveyor belt for dried betel nut to both peelers. The maximum performance of the dried betel nut peeling machine uses a 1 hp motor. The appropriate ratio between the driver and the follower of the thorn peeler and the groove peeler is 1:1.5 and 1:3, respectively. It can peel 9.7, 5.5, and 0.8 kg/hour of good-quality betel nut, broken betel nut, and incomplete-peeling betel nut, respectively, or 63, 36, and 1 percent, respectively. When the dried betel nut peeling machine is used, the payback period is 3.8 months.