A novel micromechanical model of nonlinear compression hysteresis in compliant interfaces of multibody systems

A micromechanical model of nonlinear hysteretic compression between interacting bodies of multibody systems, covered with fibrous structures, has been created and validated experimentally in this work. As an application, a multibody dynamic model of an upright piano action mechanism with felt-covered contacting bodies is considered, and the obtained results were verified using experiments. Felt, as a typical nonwoven fiber assembly, has been used in various contact surfaces of piano action mechanisms to transfer the force applied on the key to other components, smoothly and continuously. To keep the simulation time tractable in the mechanistic multibody dynamic model, interaction between felt-lined interfaces has to be simplified enough so that in each step of simulation time, contact forces can be calculated as a function of penetration depth between colliding objects. The developed micromechanical approach is capable of estimating nonlinear bulk response of felt in terms of microstructural parameters of the network, assuming a binomial distribution of the number of fiber contacts and bending of constituent fibers. Hysteresis is included based on a fiber-to-fiber friction approach, which generates a speed-independent response to compressive loading schemes, as has been observed in experiments. A computational algorithm is introduced to apply the sophisticated hysteretic micromechanical model to the multibody systems simulation, including transitions between loading–unloading stages.     

NON‐PDC Observer‐Based T‐S Fuzzy Tracking Controller Design and its Application in CHAOS Control

In many mechanical devices with chaotic behavior, stabilizing unstable periodic orbits (UPOs) of the system has positive effects in the lifetime and effectiveness of these devices. In this study, a new non‐parallel distributed compensation (non‐PDC) observer‐based tracking controller is presented for Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy systems to control the chaotic behavior of such systems. Asymptotic stability synthesis of the closed‐loop system is investigated using a fuzzy Lyapunov function to derive less conservative conditions than common quadratic Lyapunov function‐based approaches. To tackle the main drawback of the fuzzy Lyapunov‐based approaches, which assume some upper bounds on the derivatives of the fuzzy grade functions, we propose a new procedure by considering a constraint on the control signal. The new design conditions are given in the form of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). The proposed control structure is applied to spinning disks in which chaos phenomena appear in lateral vibration. Simulation results are given to show the applicability of the proposed tracker to the UPO problem.     

Optimization of an Aqueous Extraction Process for Pomegranate Seed Oil

Response surface methodology employing a five-level, four-variable central composite rotatable design was applied to study the effects of extraction time, extraction temperature, pH and water/solid ratio on the extraction yield of pomegranate seed oil using an aqueous extraction approach. In addition, quality indices, fatty acid composition and antioxidant activity of the obtained oil were studied and compared with those of typical hexane-, cold press- and hot press-extracted oil. Aqueous extraction resulted in the maximum oil recovery of 19.3% (w/w), obtained under the following critical values: water/solid ratio (2.2:1.0, mL/g), pH 5.0, extraction temperature = 63 °C and extraction time = 375 min. This yield is lower than that obtained via hexane extraction (26.8%, w/w) and higher than the yields from cold press (7.0%, w/w) and hot press (8.6%, w/w) extraction. A comparison of the characteristics of the oils based on extraction method revealed that the unsaturated fatty acid content was highest for the oil obtained by aqueous extraction. In addition, higher levels of iodine and peroxide and lower levels of acid, p-anisidine and unsaponifiable matter were observed. The oil obtained with aqueous extraction also exhibited higher antioxidant activity than oils obtained by hexane or hot press extraction.     

Improvement of railway performance: a study of Swedish railway infrastructure

The volume of rail traffic was increased by 5 % from 2006 to 2010, in Sweden, due to increased goods and passenger traffic. This increased traffic, in turn, has led to a more rapid degradation of the railway track, which has resulted in higher maintenance costs. In general, degradation affects comfort, safety, and track quality, as well as, reliability, availability, speed, and overall railway performance. This case study investigated the needs of railway stakeholders responsible for analysing the track state and what information is necessary to make good maintenance decisions. The goal is to improve the railway track performance by ensuring increased availability, reliability, and safety, along with a decreased maintenance cost. Interviews of eight experts were undertaken to learn of general areas in need of improvement, and a quantitative analysis of condition monitoring data was conducted to find more specific information. The results show that by implementing a long-term maintenance strategy and by conducting preventive maintenance actions maintenance costs would be reduced. In addition to that, problems with measured data, missing data, and incorrect location data resulted in increased and unnecessary maintenance tasks. The conclusions show that proactive solutions are needed to reach the desired goals of improved safety, improved availability, and improved reliability. This also includes the development of a visualisation tool and a life cycle cost model for maintenance strategies.

     

Improved passivity criterion in haptic rendering: influence of Coulomb and viscous friction

In this paper, a new criterion for passivity of haptic devices is obtained. This criterion creates a relationship between Coulomb friction coefficient, viscous friction coefficient, sampling rate, and the maximum simulated stiffness. The process of derivation of the passivity criterion is described in detail. This criterion is improved compared with other existing criteria and predicts passivity in haptic rendering more accurately. In particular, for speeds of less than 5?cm/s, the new passivity criterion should replace the previous criteria to avoid unwanted vibrations of stiff virtual walls. Analytical and numerical investigations are presented to validate the new criterion. A specific trajectory is designed and the movement of the haptic robot is investigated on this trajectory to validate and compare this passivity criterion with the previous criteria.     

A critical review on asphaltenes scaling equations

Asphaltenes precipitation and deposition are complex phenomena. The latter can mainly be investigated experimentally under certain conditions. Due to convenient experimental time and cost, several thermodynamic approaches/models have been developed. Albeit these models include a variety of complex parameters, they could not be applied effectively. Scaling equations are simply formulated to predict precipitation under different conditions. The present study was intended to make a critical review on developed asphaltene equations. It was concluded that current scaling equations need to be further developed for wider applications.     

Predicting the response of Hamilton Harbour to the nutrient loading reductions: A modeling analysis of the “ecological unknowns”

We examine the likelihood of delisting the Hamilton Harbour as an Area of Concern, if the nutrient loading reductions proposed by the Remedial Action Plan are actually implemented. Our analysis suggests that the chl a criterion of 10 μg L^{− 1} is achievable, but the water quality setting process should explicitly accommodate the natural variability by allowing for a realistic percentage of violations, e.g., exceedences of less than 10–15% of the weekly samples during the stratified period should still be considered as compliance of the system. The current epilimnetic total phosphorus criterion of 17 μg L^{− 1} is probably stringent and therefore a somewhat higher value (e.g., 20 μg L^{− 1}) may provide a more realistic goal. Phosphorus dynamics in the sediment–water column interface need to be revisited, as the internal nutrient loading can conceivably be a regulatory factor of the duration of the transient phase and the recovery resilience of the Harbour. We also pinpoint two critical aspects of the system dynamics that invite further investigation and will likely determine our predictive capacity to assess compliance with the chlorophyll a criterion of 10 μg L^{− 1}, i.e., the nutrient recycling mediated by the microbial food web and the structural shifts towards a zooplankton community dominated by large-sized and fast-growing herbivores. The latter prospect highlights the notion that the bottom-up (i.e., nutrient loading reduction) approach historically followed in the Harbour was sufficient to bring the system in its present state, but any further improvements should be viewed in the context of a combined bottom-up and top-down (i.e., alleviation of the zooplanktivorous pressure) control.     

Photocatalytic decomposition of methyl tert-butyl ether in aqueous slurry of titanium dioxide

The photocatalytic degradation of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) was investigated in the aqueous slurry of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) particles irradiated with xenon lamp in a batch reactor. The reaction was found to follow a pseudo-first-order kinetics and the reaction rate increased by raising the TiO₂ loading and the UV light intensity. The reaction rate constant was proportional to the square root of the UV intensity. An upper plateau level was observed for the reaction rate constant, corresponding to a steady photoproduction of hydroxyl radicals at high catalyst concentrations. The experimental data was analyzed using a modified Turchi–Ollis model to account for changes in the catalyst loading. It was found that this model predicted the observed trend in the pseudo-first-order rate constant if the reaction pathway involves the interaction between adsorbed hydroxyl radicals and solvated molecules.     

A steering mechanism for phototaxis in Chlamydomonas

Chlamydomonas shows both positive and negative phototaxis. It has a single eyespot near its equator, and as the cell rotates during the forward motion, the light signal received by the eyespot varies. We use a simple mechanical model of Chlamydomonas that couples the flagellar beat pattern to the light intensity at the eyespot to demonstrate a mechanism for phototactic steering that is consistent with observations. The direction of phototaxis is controlled by a parameter in our model, and the steering mechanism is robust to noise. Our model shows switching between directed phototaxis when the light is on and run-and-tumble behaviour in the dark.