Spatial agglomeration and productivity in Italy: A panel smooth transition regression approach

The paper analyses the nonlinearities in the impact of localization, diversity, urbanization and competition on firm‐level total factor productivity (TFP), using a large sample of Italian firms from 1999 to 2007. We adopt a panel smooth transition regression model, so that the TFP elasticities are free to vary smoothly across two or more extreme values. Results show that localization economies and Jacobian externalities materialize only for values of, respectively, intra‐industry agglomeration and extra‐sectoral diversity above a certain threshold. Local competition exerts a positive effect on productivity, even though the marginal impact shrinks at high levels of competition. We find instead no evidence of diseconomies of agglomeration.     

Current Control Method of Achieving Wide‐Range Power Driving for Linear Synchronous Motor with Half‐Wave‐Rectified Self‐Excitation

In a previous paper, we proposed a novel linear synchronous motor with half‐wave‐rectified self‐excitation. A long‐stator‐type linear synchronous motor was built and its performance was verified by experiments. This paper presents a new current control method for the linear synchronous motor in order to achieve a wide range of speeds and high‐power operations. First, we propose a current control method for high‐thrust operation in the constant‐thrust region. This operation is realized by using the reluctance thrust resulting from the saliency of the linear synchronous motor. We also propose a control method that maximizes the ratio of the thrust to the voltage; this method can be used to expand the operating range. Wide‐range‐speed operation can be achieved by applying this new control method along with field‐weakening control. The thrust and operating characteristics of the proposed control methods are estimated by performing experiments and coupled electric and magnetic analysis.     

Effects of Smart Charging of Multiple Electric Vehicles in Reducing Power Generation Fuel Cost

The high penetration of variable sources of renewable power generation will lead to operational difficulties in supply/demand balancing in the entire power system. The mass deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) and plug‐in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) will also cause significant changes in electricity demand. Therefore, controlling and managing the charging time of EVs/PHEVs are effective approaches that are imperative for improving balancing in power system operation. We assumed travel patterns for EVs in a model of the future Tokyo power system and analyzed the power system loads, including the charging load of the EVs, under several charging control scenarios. We verified that charging time controls are substantially effective for reducing the fuel costs in the power system. Further, we found that load leveling under a multicar charging management scenario gave the best results in terms of the fuel costs in all cases.     

Influence of accelerated curing on the compressive strength of polymer-modified concrete

In recent building practice, rapid construction is one of the principal requisites. Furthermore, in designing concrete structures, compressive strength is the most significant of all parameters. While 3-d and 7-d compressive strength reflects the strengths at early phases, the ultimate strength is paramount. An effort has been made in this study to develop mathematical models for predicting compressive strength of concrete incorporating ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) at the later phases. Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) goodness-of-fit test was used to examine distribution of the data. The compressive strength of EVA-modified concrete was studied by incorporating various concentrations of EVA as an admixture and by testing at ages of 28, 56, 90, 120, 210, and 365 d. An accelerated compressive strength at 3.5 hours was considered as a reference strength on the basis of which all the specified strengths were predicted by means of linear regression fit. Based on the results of KS goodness-of-fit test, it was concluded that KS test statistics value (D) in each case was lower than the critical value 0.521 for a significance level of 0.05, which demonstrated that the data was normally distributed. Based on the results of compressive strength test, it was concluded that the strength of EVA-modified specimens increased at all ages and the optimum dosage of EVA was achieved at 16% concentration. Furthermore, it was concluded that predicted compressive strength values lies within a 6% difference from the actual strength values for all the mixes, which indicates the practicability of the regression equations. This research work may help in understanding the role of EVA as a viable material in polymer-based cement composites.     

NiTi-W原位复合材料的马氏体相变与性能

为获得高性能NiTi基记忆合金复合材料,通过熔炼、锻造、拔丝等手段获得一种NiTi-W原位复合材料。利用SEM扫描电镜观察材料显微组织;DSC测试材料的马氏体相变行为;利用WDT II-20万能拉伸试验机测试材料的力学性能。SEM分析结果显示,拔丝加工使W纤维直径细化至几微米,甚至亚微米级别,在NiTi基体中沿拔丝方向一致排布。DSC测试结果显示,材料经不同温度退火后展现出复杂的可逆马氏体相变行为,在某些升、降温曲线上出现多个吸放热峰现象。拉伸测试结果显示,600 ℃退火样品经适当的预拉伸变形后,屈服强度会大大增加,由~200 MPa提升到~800 MPa,断裂应力超过1 GPa,断裂应变高达40%,材料展现出优秀的线性超弹性,是一种集高强度、高塑性、高线性超弹性于一身的高性能材料。     

基于优化粒子数和分段权值的粒子群直线电机PID整定

以工程中直线电机伺服系统为研究对象,提出一种优化粒子数量加分段式惯性权重递减的粒子群PID控制器参数优化算法。优化粒子数量的方法可降低函数调用次数,通过对近两代的全局最优值进行比较,得到的误差值如果大于设定值,认为是在初始寻优阶段,保持粒子数量,否则在最终优化阶段,减少粒子数量,所减少的粒子特征是最接近最佳粒子的粒子,以保证在欧氏距离内实现粒子的分散性。最后再结合指数衰减曲线加线性递减曲线构成的分段式惯性权重递减策略提升算法的全局寻优和局部寻优能力。经数值验证分析,该优化算法在保证遍历性的同时,在一定程度上提高了算法的运行速度和寻优精度。实验仿真结果表明,该算法对PID控制器进行参数优化,直线电机系统响应速度快,超调量小,调节时间短。     

Ni-Co-Sn三元系相平衡的实验研究

本实验通过采用电子探针显微分析和X-ray衍射分析方法实验研究了Ni-Co-Sn三元体系在700°C和1000°C时的相平衡。在这两个温度截面中均未发现三元化合物。βCo3Sn2相和Ni3Sn2（h）相形成了一个贯穿连续固溶体相。Ni-Sn侧包含Ni3Sn（l）、Ni3Sn（h）和Ni3Sn4三个化合物相，它们中Sn的固溶度是有很大区别的。700°C时，Co在Ni3Sn（l）和Ni3Sn4中的最大固溶度在分别约为6.9 at.%和25.6 at.%，在1000°C时，Co在Ni3Sn（h）中的最大固溶度约为15.5 at.%。在700℃和1000℃下，Ni-Co侧的（αCo，Ni）相为一个贯穿连续固溶体相，并且Sn在（αCo，Ni）相中的固溶度约为1 at.% ~10.5 at.%。Ni在线性化合物CoSn相中的溶解度约为15.9 at.%。     

硅树脂添加量对氧化铝基陶瓷型芯性能的影响

以氧化铝粉末为基体,添加具有粘结性和一定陶瓷产率的硅树脂粉末,通过干压成型和无压烧结制备出氧化铝基陶瓷型芯,重点研究了硅树脂添加量对氧化铝基陶瓷型芯性能的影响。结果表明:硅树脂在裂解过程中会形成二氧化硅,二氧化硅与氧化铝基体发生反应形成新相莫来石。由于硅树脂在交联和裂解过程中会释放大量气体,导致烧结体失重,且气体的逸出会抑制由烧结引起的收缩,因此,随着硅树脂添加量增加,产生的气体量增加,烧结体的失重率增加,收缩率降低。硅树脂含量的增加使得烧结体的气孔率变大和体积密度减小,烧结体的室温抗弯强度逐渐减小。硅树脂的添加虽然降低了其室温强度,但是保证了陶瓷型芯的尺寸精度。     

山区危险路段公路线形设计安全性分析

山区公路工程设计过程中,必须更加重视安全分项设计,尤其是在危险路段,应妥善调查各种潜在的交通安全风险源,并根据具体的风险源类型制定针对性的安全设计方案。本文以山区危险路段的线形特点为研究背景,选取平曲线半径和横坡率两个指标作为研究对象,定量分析了两种指标对线形安全的影响,并从曲率变化协调性和行车视距合理性角度对山区危险路段安全性进行分析,提出了相应的设计参考及控制措施。     

一种新型随钻轨迹仪的研制

针对现有随钻轨迹仪工作时间短、需人工同步、"数钻杆"记录钻孔深度不足等问题,采用深度实时测量技术、电源智能管理技术和数据自动同步与成图等关键技术,研制了新型随钻轨迹仪。该仪器由直线位移传感器、压力传感器、霍尔开关等组成,具有钻孔深度自动测量、电源智能管理、测量数据与深度自动匹配等功能。试验结果表明:新型钻孔轨迹仪工作稳定可靠、无需人工干预、工作时间长、生产效率高。