Disorder effects on the strain response of model polymer networks

Molecular dynamics simulations are used to investigate polymer networks made by either end-linking or randomly crosslinking a melt of linear precursor chains. The resulting network structures are very different, since end-linking leads to nearly ideal monodisperse networks, while random crosslinking leads to polydisperse networks, characterized by an exponential strand length distribution. Networks with average strand length 20 and 100 were generated. These networks were used to study the effects of disorder in the network connectivity on observables averaged either over the entire network or selected sub-structures. Heterogeneities in the randomly crosslinked networks cause significant differences in the localization of monomers, however, neither the localization of crosslinks nor the microscopic strain response are significantly affected. Compared to end-linked networks, randomly crosslinked networks have a slightly increased tube diameter, and as a result a slightly decreased shear modulus, but otherwise identical stress-strain behavior. For the investigated systems, we conclude that the microscopic strain response, tube diameter, and stress-strain relation are all insensitive to the heterogeneities due to the linking process by which the network were made.     

Evaluating part designs for automatic feeding in robotic assembly systems: A geometric analysis of the nesting of polyhedral objects

One of the problems encountered by automatic feeding devices, such as vibratory bowl feeders, in robotic assembly systems is nesting which leads to inseparability of parts and jamming. In this paper, we describe a design evaluation procedure to determine whether a part is prone to nesting and to quantify the degree of nesting. The proposed methodology reduces the 3-D protrusion-hole polyhedral containment problem of nesting to a 2-D polygon containment problem by employing a loop-based feature recognition scheme. Subsequently, the 3-D containment configuration is reconstructed from that of the 2-D by using a strategy calleddrop, pull and push. In this context, we introduce the notion of axis as a characteristic direction of a feature that facilitates the analysis of generalized 3-D polyhedral containment. The algorithms are applicable to generic B-Rep CAD data, and their time and space complexities are polynomial.     

The stress intensity factors for a short crack partially penetrating an inclusion of arbitrary shape

Some approximate solutions for predicting the stress intensity factor of a short crack penetrating an inclusion of arbitrary shape have been developed under mode I and mode II loading conditions. The derivation of the fundamental formula is based on the transformation toughening theory. The transformation strains in the inclusion are induced by the crack-tip field and remotely applied stresses, and approximately evaluated by the Eshelby equivalent inclusion theory. As validated by detailed finite element (FE) analyses, the developed solutions have good accuracy for different inclusion shape and for a wide range of modulus ratio between inclusion and matrix material.     

Measuring consistency in TTL-based caches

We propose a general modeling framework to evaluate the performance of cache consistency algorithms. In addition to the usual hit rate, we introduce the hit^* rate as a consistency measure, which captures the fraction of non-stale downloads from the cache. We apply these ideas to the analysis of the fixed TTL consistency algorithm in the presence of network delays. The hit and hit^* rates are evaluated when requests and updates are modeled by renewal processes. Classical results on the renewal function lead to various bounds.     

Sensitivity analysis in conjunction with evidence theory representations of epistemic uncertainty

Three applications of sampling-based sensitivity analysis in conjunction with evidence theory representations for epistemic uncertainty in model inputs are described: (i) an initial exploratory analysis to assess model behavior and provide insights for additional analysis; (ii) a stepwise analysis showing the incremental effects of uncertain variables on complementary cumulative belief functions and complementary cumulative plausibility functions; and (iii) a summary analysis showing a spectrum of variance-based sensitivity analysis results that derive from probability spaces that are consistent with the evidence space under consideration.     

一种考虑分布电容的模糊故障测距算法

提出了一种考虑分布电容的故障测距新算法。该算法基于微分方程描述的线路数学模型，利用单端信息对高压输电线路进行故障测距，保留了解微分方程算法的简单可靠、现实可行、不必考虑衰减直流分量和谐波及电网频率波动影响的特点，同时考虑过渡电阻和分布电容的影响，克服了传统解微分方程法中在经高阻接地故障时测距误差过大和忽略分布电容引起的故障定位不准确的缺点。为了检验算法的精度，进行了大量的动模实验。结果表明，算法原理正确并具有较高的测距精度。     

David W. Johnson: Award for Distinguished Contributions of Applications of Psychology to Education and Training.

Provides the biography of David W. Johnson and announces that he has won the Award for Distinguished Contributions of Applications of Psychology to Education and Training for programmatic research, comprehensive research reviews, and revision of theory over four decades of persistence that have provided the knowledge foundation for cooperative learning, constructive controversy, conflict resolution, and peer mediation training. A selected bibliography is also provided. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A model for preventive maintenance operations and forecasting

Equipment costs constitute the greatest majority of overall costs for semiconductor manufacturing. Therefore, maintaining high equipment availability has been regarded as one of the major goals in the industry. The ability to forecast correctly equipment preventive maintenance (PM) timing requirements not only can help optimizing equipment uptime but also minimizing negative impacts on manufacturing production efficiency. This research used grey theory and evaluation diagnosis to construct a PM forecasting model for prediction of PM timing of various machines. The results showed significant improvements of PM timing predictions compared to the existing method based on experience and an alternative method proposed by Li and Chang (Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology Workshop 2002: 10–11, pp. 275–277) for the same fab cases. Received: June 2005 / Accepted: December 2005     

济钢高炉喷煤数学模型的研究与应用

基于湍流两相流理论建立了高炉喷煤两相流动及传质三维数学模型。采用该模型指导高炉生产 ,高炉利用系数由2 .7t/(m3.d)提高到 3 .0 t/(m3.d)以上 ,焦比由 460 kg/t降到 40 0 kg/t,煤比达到 10 0 kg/t,提高了高炉的各项经济技术指标。