Efficient Spreadsheet Algorithm for First-Order Reliability Method

A new spreadsheet-cell-object-oriented algorithm for the first-order reliability method is proposed and illustrated for cases with correlated nonnormals and explicit and implicit performance functions. The new approach differs from the writers earlier algorithm by obviating the need for computations of equivalent normal means and equivalent normal standard deviations. It obtains the solution faster and is more efficient, robust, and succinct. Other advantages include ease of initialization prior to constrained optimization, ease of randomization of initial values for checking robustness, and fewer required optimization constraints during spreadsheet-automated search for the design point. Two cases with implicit performance functions, namely an asymmetrically loaded beam on Winkler medium and a strut with complex supports are analyzed using the new approach and discussed. Comparisons are also made between the proposed approach and that based on Rosenblatt transformation.     

Response level crossing rate of a linear system excited by a partially specified Gaussian load process

The problem of determining the maximum mean response level crossing rate of a linear system driven by a partially specified Gaussian load process has been considered. The partial specification of the load is given only in terms of its total average energy. The critical input power spectral (PSD) function, which maximizes the mean response level crossing rate, is obtained. The critical input PSD turns out to be highly narrow-banded which fails to capture the erratic nature of the excitation. Consequently, the trade-off curve between the maximum mean response level crossing rate and the maximum disorder in the input process, quantified in terms of its entropy rate, has been generated. The method of Pareto optimization is used to tackle the conflicting objectives of the simultaneous maximization of the mean response level crossing rate and the input entropy rate. The non-linear multi-objective optimization has been carried out using a recently developed multi-criteria genetic algorithm scheme. Illustrative example of determining the critical input of an axially vibrating rod, excited by a partially specified stationary Gaussian load process, has been considered.     

高可靠镀Ni／Au工艺及其在微波PTFE电路上的应用

介绍了高可靠电镀Ｎｉ／Ａｕ工艺在ＰＴＦＥ微波印制电路上的应用，并分析了氨基磺酸盐镀软镍和亚硫酸盐镀软金工艺的影响因素及提高Ｎｉ／Ａｕ镀层之间附着力的措施。通过实验及应用证明了与直接镀金工艺相比，在软基材ＰＴＦＥ敷铜箔板上镀Ｎｉ／Ａｕ工艺能大大提高微波电路的可焊性，高温稳定性和长期可靠性，并且用其所制作的微波器件的高频性能也优于直接镀金工业。     

三峡电站厂用电的运行

三峡电站厂用电结线复杂，使电站运行工作考虑因素增多，只有对设备合理选型，注意安装质量，加强维护，强化运行管理，才能保证用电的安全，实现可靠供电。     

Reliability and performance analysis of time – space – time switching networks with multiple separated space switches

Since electronic switching systems usually require very strict reliability requirements as well as good performance objectives, we need to jointly analyse the performance and reliability of switching systems. In this paper, we compare conventional time–space–time switches with single space switches with those with multiple separated space switches, from the viewpoints of reliability and performance. We consider time–space–time switching networks which consist of N incoming time switches, i.e. one NxN space switch, two (N/2)x(N/2) space switches, and four (N/4)x(N/4) space switches. We introduce a Markov reliability model to study the effect of failures and analyse the reliability and performance of three different types of switching networks in terms of average blocking probability and the mean time to unreliable operation, as we vary the offered traffic. As a result, T–S–T switching networks with multiple separated space switches exhibit better performance and reliability than those with single space switches.     

Effects of various post-treatments on carbon nanotube films for reliable field emission

In this report, the FE characteristics of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) treated using both thermal annealing and mechanical coatings on the as-grown CNTs systematically studied. It was found that in the high temperature annealed samples, CNTs were attacked at its root during annealing due to a small amount of oxygen, and were pulled out of the substrate in places after FE measurements because of the contact resistance. However, for the mechanically coated samples both with spin on glass (SOG) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), CNTs were found to be nearly intact after FE measurements and showed reliable FE characteristics over repeatable voltage scan. The reliability of CNTs during FE could be owing to the strong adhesion of CNTs to the substrate both by SOG and PMMA coatings.     

Maintenance strategy based on a multicriterion classification of equipments

In an industrial plant, the level of maintenance provided to individual equipment is directly related to the availability that is expected from it. Thus, it is hoped that the most critical equipments will not fail or, at least, that any failure will be rapidly detected and corrected in the minimum time possible. Since resources are limited, it is necessary to determine how they should be distributed, so that no important equipment remains neglected while more resources are concentrated on the most critical items. Therefore, it is necessary to classify equipment in an objective way according to its importance. The method of multicriterion classification of critical equipments (MCCE)², which is described in the present work, allows systematic and detailed quantification of the criticality of all equipment, that is to say, it provides an evaluation of the importance that its correct operation has for the plant. To provide this information, the consequences for a company of any failure in the equipment concerned are analysed. Finally, a real case example of an urban wastewater treatment plant is described, in which the MCCE method is applied.     

Comparison of finite element reliability methods

The spectral stochastic finite element method (SSFEM) aims at constructing a probabilistic representation of the response of a mechanical system, whose material properties are random fields. The response quantities, e.g. the nodal displacements, are represented by a polynomial series expansion in terms of standard normal random variables. This expansion is usually post-processed to obtain the second-order statistical moments of the response quantities. However, in the literature, the SSFEM has also been suggested as a method for reliability analysis. No careful examination of this potential has been made yet. In this paper, the SSFEM is considered in conjunction with the first-order reliability method (FORM) and with importance sampling for finite element reliability analysis. This approach is compared with the direct coupling of a FORM reliability code and a finite element code. The two procedures are applied to the reliability analysis of the settlement of a foundation lying on a randomly heterogeneous soil layer. The results are used to make a comprehensive comparison of the two methods in terms of their relative accuracies and efficiencies.     

AC—600反应堆压力容器设计探讨

本文根据 ALWR 的基本设计原则,初步分析了我国 AC-600反应堆压力容器的设计特点,探讨了保证 AC-600反应堆压力容器的可靠性应采取的主要技术措施.     

Reliability models for computer systems: An overview including dataflow graphs

The reliability of a system is the probability that the system will perform its intended mission under given conditions. This paper provides an overview of the approaches to reliability modelling and identifies their strengths and weaknesses. The models discussed include structure models, simple stochastic models and decomposable stochastic models. Ignoring time-dependence, structure models give reliability as a function of the topological structure of the system. Simple stochastic models make direct use of the properties of underlying stochastic processes, while decomposable models consider more complex systems and analyse them through subsystems. Petri nets and dataflow graphs facilitate the analysis of complex systems by providing a convenient framework for reliability analysis.