Hyperloop

Something that can transport you at the speed of 1200 km/h top on land.

Hyperloop

A Hyperloop is a proposed mode of transportation. It reflects a picture of what future transport will look like. The paper conceived of a Hyperloop system that would propel passengers along the 350-mile (560 km) route at an average speed of around 600 mph (970 km/h), with a top speed of 760 mph (1,200 km/h), allowing for a travel time of 35 minutes, which is considerably faster than current rail or air travel times.

This is not just a concept, they have actually build it and tested it few many times and I see this happening it anytime within a decade.

Just imagine your subways being shifted by capsules taking you faster than ever to your destinations.

Elon Musk truly a dreamer and a doer.

Electric cars : Before Tesla - After Tesla

Before Tesla:

After Tesla:

Before Tesla:

After Tesla:

Before Tesla:

G - Whiz specs:

• 0–60 mph: It can’t do 60.
• Top speed: 40 mph.
• Range: 50 miles
• Recharge time to 80% charge: 3.5 hours
• Recharge to full charge: 8 hours

After Tesla:

Tesla Model S P100D specs:

• 0–60 mph: 2.2 seconds.
• Top speed: 130 mph (restricted)
• Range: 250–350 miles
• Recharge time to 80%: 25 minutes
• Recharge to full charge: 1.5 hours.

Straighten the phone charging wire and see the phone being fully charged faster

Our phones are charged only by a D.C current (direct current). the input of A.C gets converted to D.C by charging transformer-capacitor circuit.

This means there is a simple flow of electrons that charge the battery of phones.

Now here is the trick— electrons move much like the cars on a road. if the road is curved, cars move slowly and they move fast if the road is smooth and straight.

Similarly, electrons(cars) move towards the cell(destination), on the wire (road).

Straighten the phone charging wire(data cable) and see the phone being fully charged 25–30 minutes early.

In heavy load wires, we can actually feel the heat, where there is a bend in the wire, because of the enormous amount of electron being jammed at one place.

electrons moving like cars.

free flow traffic and jammed traffic

Some epic photos from the world of technology 3

• The GOD PARTICLE is the one which helps give mass to all elementary particles that have mass, such as electrons and protons.

• Graphene is an allotrope of carbon in the form of a two-dimensional, atomic-scale, honey-comb lattice in which one atom forms each vertex. Its used in supercapacitors, LED’s, touch panels etc.

• A typical chip areas range from a few square millimetres to around 600 sq. mm, with up to 25 million transistors per sq. mm.

• Scientists in US have created a new type of robo-insect that can perform many kinds of agile manoeuvers.

• Samsung YOUM flex has the capability to flex any direction.

• Kuri is an adorable little robot designed for the home. Kuri responds to voice input and in this way is similar to other devices like Google Home or Amazon Echo. She responds with robot noises, lights and blinking motions

• This W16 cylinder engine produces about 1001hp of max power output, while normal Indian cars are upto 100hp.

• The largest aircraft in the world, the Antonov-225, can effortlessly carry 400 tonnes of load across the borders.

• The largest rocket in the world is the Saturn V rocket. It reached a height of 363 feet and was 33 feet in diameter.

• The super heavy N1 Rocket was created to launch Soviet cosmonauts to the moon, to Mars and Venus and to place huge space stations into orbit. It was the Soviet counterpart of the American Saturn V.

• The Three Gorges Dam is the world’s largest power station in terms of installed capacity 22,500 MW.

• The Penzhin Tidal Power Plant Project in Russia is a set of proposals for construction of tidal power plant in the Penzhin Bay and presumes an installed capacity 87 GW.

• The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is used to preserve a wide variety of plant seeds that are duplicate samples, or "spare" copies, of seeds held in gene banks worldwide. The seed vault is an attempt to ensure against the loss of seeds in other gene banks during large-scale regional or global crises.

And lastly, the military technology of North Korea with which it threatens the U.S.

Tesla’s Gigafactory

The exit rate of cells from the Gigafactory will be faster than bullets from a machine gun

- Elon Musk

This factory in Nevada is still under construction.

Since no company on earth could produce the batteries Tesla needed, they came up with their own battery factory- The Gigafactory.

Measuring at 5.5 million square feet, it is the biggest building in the world in terms of footprint.

And by the time it is completed, it will measure 13 million square feet.

It is estimated to produce more lithium-ion batteries than those produced worldwide in 2013.

Will run on 100% renewable energy

The cost of the foundation alone was $ 16 million. It is also earthquake resistant- completely.

Best responses to "sell me this pen/pencil" in a job interview

Don’t ask crap questions like “Do you need a pen?”, “What kind of pen you use?”. I’m gonna tell you the exact words. If you won’t find it useful in your interview, you can downvote my answer.

First, Let’s have a look on some failures.

Interviewer- Sell me this pen?

You- Do you need a pen?

Interviewer- No, I don’t.

---

You- Can I know, what kind of pen you use?

Interviewer- Yes, I use good pens. But I don’t use craps like yours.

---

Let’s bring it on. You have a normal, cheap pen to sell (Let’s say 045 Reynolds)

Image source- Reynolds

Interviewer- Sell me this pen.

You- Sir, this is 045 Reynolds fine carbure, normally runs 15 days smoothlyfor an average sales guy.

(You just provided general information and told the interviewer that your target market is salesmen. As we know your interviewer is also in sales. And this pen is specially designed for sales persons.)

You- 70% of the salesmen found it useful as per our survey.

Interviewer- What happened to other 30%? (Now you are controlling the subconscious of the interviewer, he is asking the questions you want. It will make your process easier)

You- Rest 30% don’t use it [humour]. (You just told him your pen is the best selling pen and favourite among the salesmen. At the same time you respected other companies and showed honesty by not saying 100%)

Interviewer- So what? My pen is working perfectly for me and I think I’m among the rest 30%.

You- Sir, it is more than a normal pen. Its ink doesn’t get spilled in high temperature as normal pens. Spilling of ink might cost you a fortune. Your costly suit might get dirty. It might cost you a sales call and you might lose your job.

(You just told him the biggest problem and scared him :-D)

Interviewer- So what? My pen doesn’t get spilled.

You- Sir, your pen is unique (He gets happy). But, this pen costs only 6 Rupee and is easily available in every store in your city. If you lose this pen, don’t worry, you can have it easily.

(You just showed your pen’s availability. People use products which are easily available to them. Will you buy a cell phone, which doesn’t have a service center? Pen is something, people get used to it. If you are using a particular pen, you will need the same pen when you lose it.)

You have just processed his mind to buy your product. Before he says anything, say this-

You- It has a white body and a blue cover. White stands for clean, purity, honesty and blue stands for reliability. It will definitely create positive auraaround you and your customer/ prospect during a sales presentation and it might lead to a sale.

Interviewer- Okay. I will think about it. (Objection- 1)

(Someone is going to think means he is not going to buy your product)

So, It’s time for CTA (Call To Action)

You- Sir, this amazing pen normally costs 6 Rupee but if you buy it today, I will give you for 5 Rupee.

(You just created an emergency. Let’s see how he responds.)

Interviewer- Well, I will buy it tomorrow then. Today, I don’t have money/ change. (Objection-2)

You- Sir, I won’t mind if you pay me tomorrow. But I want to see you getting benefitted from today. So, please have the pen. Pay me tomorrow.

(What will he say, now? No, I don’t want to get benefitted from today?)

He will buy the pen and you will get selected.

---

You must bring your pen with you to the interview and put it on the table. There will be a fair chance the interviewer will tell you to “Sell your pen to me”. So, start writing a sales pitch on your pen or you can use mine

Source; Quora

Some epic photos from the world of technology 2

Siemens Wind Turbine

Look at its monster blade

Robotic surgery - surgeons performing surgery using robots & digital imaging technology

Artificial Heart

One of the World’s largest Solar Power Plant - produces around 650MW of power, covers an area of 10 sqkm.

Space shuttle being hauled - this is really epic

Nuclear missile - don't you dare!

360 degree rotating restaurant at 1150ft above ground, takes approximately an 1 hour for full rotation

Graphene- worlds strongest material, can withstand the force of a fast moving bullet

Steam turbine

Worlds smallest sensor - used in medical applications

Robosaurus - 40ft tall, weighs 58000 lbs, controlled by a human pilot inside the monster’s head

Advanced Tools to Help Design Nuclear Plants for High-Frequency Earthquakes

There are  advanced computer models for considering the effects of high-frequency earthquakes in the design of new nuclear power plants.

The design of most existing nuclear plants incorporates potential effects of low-frequency earthquakes. Until recently, there has been little research examining how high-frequency earthquakes can impact the structural integrity and operation of nuclear plant components. As more data on this became available, plant designers and operators added new design considerations.

To test the new models, EPRI used them to evaluate the effects of high-frequency earthquakes on standard-design nuclear plants. Compared to existing tools, the models provided a more detailed picture of high-frequency motions through soil and rock below buildings, the buildings themselves, and components in various locations inside buildings. Researchers found that these motions:

• Have minimal impacts on nuclear plant buildings
• Have minimal impacts on components in plants built on soil sites
• Can potentially have more significant impacts on components in plants built on rock sites
• Are dampened by soil used to fill below and along the sides of plant structures
• Can be amplified as they move through buildings, especially in the vertical direction

Based on the analysis, methods for modeling the effects of high-frequency motions on structural members and equipment and for designing appropriate mitigations. Designers can consider these tools for new plants in regions with high-frequency seismic motion, such as the Central and Eastern United States, northern United Kingdom, parts of Canada, the Korean peninsula, and many parts of China.

Some unwritten social rules everyone should know

• Don't keep your bag on the restaurant table. Don't shake your hand after washing. You're splashing water on people around! Do clip your hair when you're going to a public eating place.
• Don't hold money or coins in between your lips. Don't turn pages of library books or any public usage books or other's books by licking your tongue.
• Don't kiss a baby. Most of the mothers don't like it and chances that you're transmitting infection is high.
• When you send emails to your higher-ups, (people who are not in software companies), do call them and tell that you've emailed them.
• Always staple a paper like this: It makes people turn pages easily.

• Carry a pen wherever you go. If you borrow a pen, make sure you return it.
• If you don't know anything, just Google it. Don't disturb others for petty issues, which can actually be found on the internet.
• But, at the same time, don't act smart when you go to a doctor and never give them the attitude that you read this on the internet and you know it. Of course, you know, but you know only of that particular case, but they will know a wide range.
• Never log in to your banking apps when you're on public transit.
• Whenever possible, mix the left over chutneys and sambars together when you eat at a hotel. (You know why)

Thanks for reading!

Structural Audit of Buildings

What is Structural Audit? 

Structural Audit is an overall health and performance checkup of a building like a doctor examines a patient. It ensures that the building and its premises are safe and have no risk. It analyses and suggests appropriate repairs and retrofitting measures required for the buildings to perform better in its service life. Structural audit is done by an experienced and licensed structural consultant

Purpose of Structural Audit 

• To save human life and buildings

• To understand the condition of building

• To find critical areas to repair immediately

• To comply with statutory requirements

• To enhance life cycle of building by suggesting preventive and corrective measures like repairs and retrofitting

Bye-Laws

• For building ageing between 15 to 30 years once in 5 years

• For building ageing above 30 years Once in 3 years

• Visual inspection:- settlement of foundation, Visual cracks in columns, beams and slabs, the visual disintegration of concrete and steel corrosion, etc.

How to carry the structural audit, there methods are as under,

• Visual inspection:- settlement of foundation, Visual cracks in columns, beams and slabs, the visual disintegration of concrete and steel corrosion, etc.
• Hammer taping method
• UV test
•  Non Destructive test

After carrying these condition, you can assess the actual condition of the building and accordingly, you can start the repair works.

Repair work includes structural and Non-structural repair works. Structural repair works will be carried put by using polymer mortar and Microconcrete works and non Structural works include replacement of Broken GI and PVC pipes replacement, plastering, painting ,etc.

The structural diagnosis is a vast, important and highly responsible job which is connected with lives of human beings. It is mandatory and advisable to carry out the periodical structural audit of the buildings by professional experts and act immediately through recommendations provided in the audit report. The success of repairs and restoration is always based on thorough knowledge, correct diagnosis and in-depth studies of problems in the building, proper repair practices and finally socioeconomic considerations. The effective implementation of auditing enhances the life span of structure, prevents deterioration of building leading to sustainability

Ratio of Cement and Sand for ‘Plastering’

Plastering not only makes the surfaces smooth but creates a good finishing to the walls, ceiling and roofs also.

The ratio of cement and sand for plastering is given below. 

• 6 MM thickness of cement plaster and cement mortar 1:3 or 1:4 is recommended for cement plastering on RCC surfaces, on the RCC walls, Fascia etc. or as directed by the Engineer,
• 6 MM to 10 MM thickness of cement plaster and cement mortar in 1:3 or 1:4 ratios is recommended for underside of RCC slabs.
• 12 MM thick cement mortar in 1:4 ratios is recommended on the walls where smooth side exists.
• Either 9 or 4.5 MM thick and 15 MM thick cement plaster in 1:4 ratios is recommended on the rough side of the walls.
• 20 MM thick cement mortar in 1:3 with two coats is recommended in case of vertical Damp Proof Course (DPC).
• 6 MM thick cement mortar in 1:3 with a coat of whitewashing is recommended in case of bearing plaster on the walls under the slab.
• 15 MM thick cement mortar in 1:3 is used with 3 MM thick cement rendering on plaster in the case of Dado.

FIRE RESISTING PROPERTIES OF COMMON BUILDING MATERIALS

Fire resisting properties of common building materials such as stone, brick, timber, cast-iron, glass, steel and concrete are mentioned below.

Characteristics of Fire Fighting/Resistant Materials

• The material used in the building should be of such nature that it does not disintegrate under the effect of heat produced during a fire.
• The material should not expand due to heat also and should ensure the stability of the structure. 
• The nature of the material used in the building should have minimum contraction due to sudden cooling with water after the material is heated at high temperature.
• The nature of the material used in the building should be such that it does not catch fire easily.
• 
  

Stone: The stone is a bad conductor of heat. But it suffers appreciably under the effects of fire. The stone is also liable to disintegrate into small pieces when heated and suddenly cooled. Granite explodes and gets easily disintegrated in a case of a fire. Limestone is easily crumbled even by ordinary fire. Sandstones of compact composition with fine grains can generally stand moderate fire successfully without the formation of serious cracks.

Bricks: It is found that bricks are not seriously affected by very high temperature of 12000C to 13000 C are reached. This is due to the fact that a brick is a poor conductor of heat. If the type of mortar and quality of workmanship are good, brick masonry generally offers good resistance to fire. However, a brick has its own structural limitation for use in buildings.

Timber: As a general rule, structural elements made of timber ignite and get rapidly destroyed in case of fire. Further, they add to the intensity of the fire. But timber used in heavy sections may attain a high degree of fire-resistance because timber is a very bad conductor of heat. This is the reason why time is required to build up sufficient heat so as to cause a flame in timber. In order to make timber more fire resistant, the surfaces of timber are sometimes coated with certain chemicals such as ammonium phosphate and sulphate, borax and boric acid, zinc chloride, etc. such a treatment on timber surfaces retards the rise of temperature during a fire. The timber can also be made fire-resistant by the application of certain paint on its surface.

Cast Iron: This material is rarely used as a structural material at present. This material flies into pieces when heated and suddenly cooled. Hence, when this material is used in construction, it is covered either by brickwork of one brick thickness or any other fire resisting material such as concrete.

Glass: This material is a poor conductor of heat and its expansion due to heat is small. Cracks are formed I this material when heated and then suddenly cooled. Reinforced glass with steel wire is or fire-resistant than ordinary glass and it can resist sudden variation in temperature without the formation of cracks. Wired glass, even if it breaks, keeps the fractured glass in its original position.

Steel: Steel is a good conductor of heat and hence, it is rapidly heated in case of fire. It is found that steel loses its tensile strength with the increase in heat and the yield stress of mild steel at 6000C is about one-third of its value at normal temperature. Hence, under intense fire, the unprotected steel beams sag, the unprotected steel columns buckle and the structure collapses. Steel completely melts at a temperature of 14000C. It is also found that if the surface paint is not specially made fire-resistant, it assists in spreading the flame on the surface and thereby it adds to the intensity of the fire.

If steel plate or sheet form is fixed to the framework, it becomes effective is resisting the passage of flame. Such construction is widely adopted in manufacturing fire-resisting doors and windows.

Concrete: Concrete has got very good fire resistance. The actual behaviour of concrete in case of fire depends upon the quality of cement and aggregates used. In the case of reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete, it also depends upon the position of steel. Larger the concrete cover, better is the fire resistance of the member.
There is no loss in strength in concrete when it is heated up to 250°C. The reduction in strength starts if the temperature goes beyond 250°C. Normally reinforced concrete structures can resist fire for about one hour at a temperature of 1000°C. Hence cement concrete has ideally used the fire resistant material.

Energy and Power Conversion

Power & Heat Units

1 MW = 1,000 kW

1 kW = 1,000 Watts

1 kWh = 3,412 Btu

1 kWh = 1.340 Hp hours

1,000 Btu = 0.293 kWh

1 Therm = 100,000 Btu (British Thermal Units)

1 Million Btu = 293.1 Kilowatt hours

100,000 Btu = 1 Therm

1 Watt = 3.412 Btu per hour

1 Horsepower = 746 Watts

1 Horsepower hr. = 2,545 Btu           

Heat & Energy Units

1 KJ = 1,000 Joules

1 MJ = 1,000 KJ

1 MJ = 1,000,000 Joules

1 KJ = .239005 Kilocalories

1 Joule = 0.23901 Calories

1 Calorie = 4.184 Joules

1 Kcal/Kg = 1.8 Btu’s/lb.

1 Million Btu = 252 Megacalories

1 Btu = 252 Calories

1 Btu = 1,055 Joules

1 Million Btu = 1,055 Megajoules

1 Btu/hour = .2519 Kilocalories/hour

1 Btu/lb. = 2.3260000 KJ/KG

1 Btu/lb. = 0.5559 Kilocalories/KG

Power Generation Units

1 MWe = 1,000 kW

1 MWh = 3,600 MJ

1 MWt (thermal energy) = Approximately 1,000 kg. steam/hr.

Natural Gas Units

1 Cubic foot of natural gas = 1,020 Btu (approx)

1 Therm = 100,000 Btu

1 Decatherm = 10 therms

1 Decatherm = 106 Btu

1 Decatherm = 1,000 cubic feet of natural gas (approx)

1 Decatherm = 0.974 Mcf at 1,026 Btu per cubic foot

1 Mcf = 1.026 MMBtu (approx)

1 Mcf = 1.026 Decatherm (approx)

1 MMBtu = 106 Btu’s

Mass Units

1 Metric ton = 1,000 KG

1 Metric ton = 0.9071847 short tons

1 Metric ton = 1.016047 long tons

1 Metric ton = 2,204.622 pounds (lb.)

Temperature

°C = (°F – 32)5/9

°F = (9/5)(°C)+32