Generating CAM aspect-oriented architectures using Model-Driven Development

Aspect-Oriented Software Development promotes the separation of those concerns that cut across several components and/or are tangled with the base functionality of a component, through all phases of the software lifecycle. The benefit of identifying these crosscutting concerns (aspects) at the architectural level in particular is to improve the architecture design and its subsequent evolution, before moving onto detailed design and implementation. However, software architects are not usually experts on using specific AO architecture notations. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to provide support to define and specify aspect-oriented (AO) architectures using non-AO ones as the source. We will use the Model-Driven Development approach to transform a component-based architecture model into an AO architecture model. The CAM (component and aspect model) model and the DAOP–ADL language are the proposals used for modelling and specifying AO architectures. We will show how we automated part of the process and the tool support.     

Making use of prognostics health management information for aerospace spare components logistics network optimisation

Although research has evolved significantly over the last decade, there are still a large number of Grand Challenges confronting modelling, model deployment, and model-based decision making of large-scale complex Discrete Event Logistics Systems (DELS) to be tackled, as identified and reviewed during a Dagstuhl workshop in March 2010. This paper illustrates how several of these challenges are already being addressed, based on a series of case studies from the Aerospace Spare Components Logistics domain, where consolidated operational Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) information can be used for tactical planning and optimisation of spare components logistics networks. In this setting, the growing potential of PHM technology to facilitate the maintenance and support of commercial and military aircraft emphasises the need for tools to determine the impacts and benefits of a PHM system. To achieve this, the prognostics parameters and related logistics policies were identified, modelled, and subsequently incorporated into a simulation-based decision support framework.     

Development and experimental validation of an overlay mortar with biocide activity

Biodeterioration of concrete by microorganism colonisation may be a problem in several structures, especially in irrigation and hydroelectric canals. The main problem in such structures is the proliferation of algae and cyanobacteria that affect the performance of the structure, increase the maintenance costs and affects its durability. A research was conducted to develop a novel cement-based material with biocide activity that can be used as an overlay mortar in existing structures, such as canals and pipes. With this aim, ten commercial biocides were evaluated in a laboratory campaign to assess the effectiveness of the compounds against the microbial colonisation of concrete. Both mono- and multicomponent formulations were designed from the commercial products, to increase their antimicrobial effect obtaining a set of biocide formulations. The formulations were submitted to a flowchart process to determine their influence on the physical properties of the concrete, evaluate the release of the actives, and their antimicrobial efficiency both before and after accelerated aging processes. During the campaign, some formulations were observed to diminish the strength of the concrete. Such behaviour was normally due to the interaction of the active with the cement hydration process. Other formulations showed a high release of active from the concrete in water, compromising the durability of the treatment. In general, monocomponent formulations did not succeed to fulfill all the requirements, thus multicomponent formulations were analysed. One studied multicomponent formulation presented particularly good results in all properties analysed. This product did not significantly change the properties of concrete and the release of active in water from the concrete was low, while the antimicrobial effects were long lasting.     

Intensified hydroformylation as an example for flexible intermediates production

One of the future challenges for chemical engineering is the design of flexible plants allowing an adaptation of production output to market development. Consequently, the target for the design of new processes must be the identification of equipment allowing such an expansion close to market development. To leverage the full benefit of this approach flexibility analysis has to be integrated into process design workflow. In this article the conventional technology for hydroformylation is compared to an intensified process design. This new design consists of a jet loop reactor followed by a membrane section to separate and recycle the homogenous catalyst. In the first part of the article it will be shown that process intensification leads to a net present value improvement of 30% compared to state of the art hydroformylation at a capacity of 100 kt/a. In the second part suitability of the intensified process for a stepwise plant expansion will be demonstrated. In an expansion scenario with two steps equivalent annual annuity is increased by 5% compared to a one step investment.     

Methoxypolyethylene glycol functionalized carbon nanotube composites with high permittivity and low dielectric loss

High relative permittivity and low dielectric loss were simultaneously achieved in the percolative nanocomposites with methoxypolyethylene glycol (mPEG) modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The dense mPEG layer with a thickness of approximately 1.7 nm was continuously coated on the surface of MWCNTs. MWCNTs exhibited excellent dispersibility after being functionalized by mPEG (mPEG@MWCNTs), the mPEG@MWCNTs/ethanol suspension was still turbid even when the suspension was deposited for two months. A high permittivity of 69.7 and a low dielectric loss of 0.042 were simultaneously achieved in the poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (P(VDF-HFP)) nanocomposite with 4.02 vol% mPEG@MWCNTs at 1 kHz. The improved dielectric properties in the nanocomposite is mainly ascribed to the following reasons: (i) the increased microcapacitors formed by MWCNTs and insulated dielectric composite; (ii) the enhanced interfacial polarization due to the homogeneous dispersion of mPEG@MWCNTs in the nanocomposites and tight adhesion between mPEG@MWCNTs and P(VDF-HFP) matrix.     

Patenting and licensing by Spanish firms: Available survey evidence

This paper presents the results of the OEPM (Spanish Patent and Trademark Office)/OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) survey on the economic and financial uses of patents carried out in 2008 among Spanish business applicants of OEPM patents. It also summarizes evidence from previous surveys. All available information indicates that only a few Spanish firms holding patents license them out. Results from the OEPM/OECD survey also reveal that obtaining public support is the first financial use of patents for Spanish firms. Responses to the same OECD questionnaire by EPO patent applicants from several European countries are quite different: licensing out is an extended practice among EPO patent holders from different countries, including Spain, and convincing venture capitalists and private investors are their two most important financial uses of patents. In our view this suggests that there are significant differences across European countries as regards the development of national technology markets and results from international surveys are driven by responses from the largest and more developed countries. The drivers and actors in markets for patents that only protect inventions nationally may be quite distinct from those in markets for patents that protect inventions regionally, such as EPO patents within Europe.     

In-situ repair of composite palladium membranes with macro defects: A case study

A new method was developed for repairing Pd/Al₂O₃ membranes with macro defects without the need of disassembling the membrane from the module. In order to target and fill the membrane defect automatically with solid particles, a TiO₂ powder was firstly tested by flowing high-pressure nitrogen as a carrier gas, followed by a heat treatment. A filter cake was found on the membrane defect but still porous. A glass powder was selected instead of TiO₂, and the membrane defect was successfully sealed by glazing. The in-situ repair of a waste commercial Pd/Al₂O₃ membrane separator was carried out with the glass powder, and the hydrogen flux and H₂/N₂ selectivity of the membrane separator at 450 °C under 100 kPa reached 12.6 m³m⁻²h⁻¹ and 1600, respectively.     

Surface modification of carbon black nanoparticles by dodecylamine: Thermal stability and phase transfer in brine medium

Stable aqueous dispersions of carbon black (CB) nanoparticles were prepared by developing a generic bilayer approach to the CB phase-transfer method using commercial Avanel as a surfactant. CB was oxidized using ammonium persulfate, and dodecylamine (DDA) was grafted onto this carbon core using N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide as a coupling agent. The covalent bond between CB and DDA was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The average diameter of the primary carbon nanoparticles after chemical modification increased from 15 to 20 nm, as determined by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Dispersions of the modified CB was stable in organic solvents and were thermally stable in saline water when Avanel was used as a surfactant. The Avanel coating on the CB particles enabled the design of carbon materials with high colloidal stability, as evidenced by dynamic light scattering measurements and the breakthrough characteristics of the coated material in sandstone rocks.     

Compressor efficiency with cylinder slenderness ratio of rotary compressor at various compression ratios

When the air conditioning and heating systems operate in low speed regions, the efficiency of inverter compressor is relatively low, owing to the reduction in motor efficiency. Nevertheless, the annual operating time of compressor is largely occupied by low speed regions. Hence, experimental and numerical analyses were conducted to improve compressor efficiency in these regions, and various pressure conditions were considered. The significant difference in the volumetric efficiency with compression ratios was observed through the experiments. To reduce the decrease in volumetric efficiency at high compression ratio, a geometric combination of the compression part was considered through a numerical analysis. The numerical results showed that the volumetric efficiency at small cylinder slenderness ratio was relatively high and increased by about 6.3% at a compression ratio of 7. Then the cooling capacity increased by 8.77%, while the input work showed a relatively small increase of 2.44%.     

Study on the cold rolling deformation behavior of polycrystalline tungsten

Tungsten is paid special attention due to its superior properties, especially in nuclear field. Meanwhile it is suitable for texture simulation investigation of BCC metals and alloys as it's near elastically isotropic. This study investigates the cold rolling deformation texture of polycrystalline tungsten using RS model, in which the stress and strain consistence is realized simultaneously. The texture evolution and effects of deformation parameters, including external as well as internal reaction stress, strain and activation of different slip, on texture during rolling are discussed by comparing the simulated results and reported experimental results in literatures. The results show that, the cold rolling deformation texture could be simulated statistically based on RS model. The accumulation of each reaction stress is different. The up-limit of reaction stress σ'₁₂ is found to be medium, meaning that σ'₁₂ exerts important effect on texture evolution. Much lower accumulation level of σ'₁₃ as well σ'₂₃ is displayed, each of which within certain range contributes to the increase of different γ-fiber texture components. The effect of σ'₂₂ can't be ignored during rolling, especially in the case of obtaining {111}<110> texture. Regarding the deformation textures of tungsten rolled to true strains of −1.7 and −2.91, {001}<110> texture is strengthened with the increasing strain and becomes dominant, implying the easier activation of {112}<111> slip systems; γ-fiber texture is weakened at higher strain, and the formation of {111}<112> texture shows significant effect of surface shear stress σ₁₃, which is due to the nonnegligible surface friction when rolling at high temperature.