桩土复合路基静载试验改进方法研究

静载试验作为复合路基的一种重要检测手段而广泛应用,然而,在工程质量检测中,常出现检测结果与实际情况不符的情况,除人为操作因素外,垫层模拟过于简单是主要原因。借助引入弹性垫层,提出一种桩土复合路基静载试验改进方法。首先,基于数值模拟计算,建立复合路基桩土应力比n和桩土相对位移Δs、弹性垫层厚度h和弹性垫层模量E的函数关系;其次,通过模拟结果和路堤荷载结果对比,确定不同桩型复合路基静载试验中弹性垫层参数选择范围,最后,利用现场对比试验和实测结果,论证桩土复合路基静载试验改进方法的正确性和可靠性。     

真空热处理炉布料矩阵优化仿真分析

为了获得更高的加热效率和更好的温度均匀性,采用有限元软件建立了真空热处理炉加热过程仿真模型,并耦合PID算法用于温度控制。通过与实测温度对比,验证了仿真模型的准确性。借助该模型,模拟研究了布料矩阵对两种典型形状零件在真空热处理炉内加热特性的影响。模拟装炉时基于零件几何形状特征,对圆棒形工件采用顺排、叉排和环形排列3种形式,对圆盘形工件采用横排式和竖排式。研究结果表明:尽管零件形状和数量相同,但是随着布料矩阵的变化,加热效率和温度均匀性都会改变。对于圆棒形工件,采用环形排列不仅可以提高内部工件的加热速率,而且相较于叉排式可以将最大温差减小36 ℃;对于圆盘形工件,由水平式改为竖直式布料可以将最大温差由248 ℃减小至171 ℃。     

Evaluation of back-calculated elastic moduli of unreinforced and geocell-reinforced unbound granular material from full-scale field tests

This paper presents a field-scale experimental track over a poor subgrade with an unreinforced section and a geocell-reinforced section subjected to in-situ performance tests. Plate load tests and Benkelman beam tests were carried out distributed in several unreinforced and reinforced layers. The objective was to: (1) examine the variability of the elastic modulus of unbound granular material (UGM) due the influence of its thickness and the presence of poor subgrade in its base, (2) evaluate the modulus improvement factor (MIF) generated by the geocell reinforcement in the UGM and (3) verify the most appropriate condition to apply the MIF to transport infrastructure design. The results showed that there is a significant influence of the thickness of the UGM layer on its elastic modulus when the layer is supported directly over a soft subgrade. The MIF values obtained in field suggest that its determination is mostly related to the UGM maximum elastic modulus rather than its decreased values (by virtue of poor subgrade or reduced thicknesses), and that the analytical formulation presented for MIF calculation has good predictive capability to be applied to pavement design.     

Finite element limit analysis of load-bearing performance of reinforced slopes using a non-associated flow rule

This paper presents a numerical study on the load-bearing performance of reinforced slopes under footing load using a finite element limit analysis (FELA) method where a non-associated flow rule is assumed in the analysis. The method was validated against results from full-scale model tests and a limit equilibrium (LE) analytical method. A series of parametric analyses was subsequently carried out to examine the influences that the soil dilation angle, footing location, and reinforcement design (i.e. length, tensile strength, and vertical spacing) could have on the load-bearing performance of reinforced slopes. Results indicate that dilation angle has a significant influence on the predicted magnitudes of bearing capacity, slope deformation, and mobilized reinforcement load. The predicted values of bearing capacity using the FELA are smaller than those from the Meyerhof's analytical method for unreinforced semi-infinite foundation, especially for larger friction angle values. Additionally, the ultimate bearing capacity of the slope and its corresponding horizontal deformation increase with the reinforcement tensile strength. Finally, the slip planes under the applied footing load are found to be y-shaped and primarily occur in the upper half of the slope.     

Manual patient transfers: factors that influence decisions and kinematic strategies employed by nursing aides

While extensive literature has characterised factors that influence the acceptable mass of ‘boxes’ during MMH tasks, less is known about these factors when moving ‘people’ in healthcare settings. This study examined factors that influence decisions/approaches employed during manual patient transfers. Sixteen nursing aides manually-transferred a standardised ‘patient’; patient mass was adjusted (using a weight vest) to determine a maximum acceptable patient mass for this task (mass_max). Grip strength was the only worker characteristic significantly associated with mass_max (r?=?0.48). Older worker age was associated with smaller peak trunk flexion (r?= ?0.58) and shoulder abduction (r?= ?0.59), and greater trunk axial twist (r?=?0.52). Workers emphasised that patient characteristics (e.g. physical/cognitive status) influenced their decisions when performing transfers. These findings extend previous literature by suggesting that grip strength is a useful predictor of perceived work capacity, older workers adapt protective postural strategies during patient transfers and worker-patient dynamics are crucial during this high-risk occupational task.

Practitioner Summary: This study examined manual patient transfers performed by nursing aides. Worker grip strength (but not age or size) was associated with perceptions of maximum acceptable patient mass. Kinematic changes suggested more conservative strategies used by older workers. Workers emphasised that patient characteristics substantially influenced their decisions when performing transfer tasks.     

A review on the features and technologies for energy efficiency of smart grid

In today's world striving for efficiency in every sector, especially power generation and distribution, smart grids emerge as the solution for efficiently meeting the increasing demand. They adjust themselves to optimally deliver energy at the lowest cost and highest quality possible. The grid successfully makes use of renewable energy resources, electric vehicles, and smart pricing techniques in its attempt to achieve energy efficiency. It also promotes a greener environment by striving to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Information communication technology (ICT) helps the grid in collecting consumption data from the consumers and in sharing tariff information. ICT also helps to gather information about the status of the grid with regard to aspects like power quality, faults etc. The purpose of this paper is to review recent literature with a view to comprehensively present the technologies employed in the smart grid for achieving energy efficiency and the challenges involved therein.     

Acoustic power measurement of linear compressors

The linear compressor works as an important driver for high frequency regenerative cryocoolers. The acoustic power output of the compressor is a critical parameter in the design and the optimization of a linear compressor. To measure this parameter, several approaches based on different theories have been developed. In this paper, the RC load approach and the back chamber approach have been applied to a linear compressor to measure the acoustic power output. The results measured by the approaches indicate a good consistency with the theoretical calculation and reveal the connections between different approaches.The difference between the acoustic power at the piston surface and the exit of a linear compressor has been analyzed based on the experimental results from the RC load approach and the back chamber approach. The volume flow rate difference which accounts for the acoustic power difference is studied theoretically. Furthermore, based on the RC load approach, the optimum impedance together with the impedance cloudy map for the linear compressor to reach its highest efficiency has been obtained by analyzing the experimental and the theoretical results.     

Computing approximate blocking probabilities for transparent waveband switching based WDM networks using hierarchical cross-connects

An analytical model is presented to study the dynamics of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) networks with waveband switching (WBS). The reduced load approximation method is considered to compute approximated network blocking probabilities in WBS-based WDM networks. The analytical model considers the link blocking probability due to insufficient link capacity and an impact of the waveband granularity (G). The analytical model also considers the node blocking probability due to unavailability of a switch port at the wavelength cross connect (WXC) layer of an Hierarchical cross connect (HXC) switch node. The set of nonlinear equations is obtained with the link independence assumption and solved using repeated substitutions. The accuracy of the analytical model is examined by comparing with simulation results considering the random-fit algorithm for waveband and wavelength assignments in different network scenarios. Lightpaths are routed between source and destination (s-d) HXC switch nodes using shortest path first (SPF) routing. An impact of the switch parameter to limit the input and the output WXC switch ports of an HXC switching node is also being investigated using the analytical model as well as through simulation results.     

Economic Evaluation of Power System Flexibility by Commercial Air Conditioner Control with Large Penetration of Photovoltaic Generation

High penetration of intermittent renewable energy such as photovoltaic (PV) and wind power could cause shortage of power system flexibility. Demand response is expected to help supply ancillary service instead of the conventional power plant. Commercial air conditioners are a promising responsive load for demand response because they account for a large proportion of power consumption in the power system. We calculate a system operation cost and hourly operation pattern of each power plant by using the optimal power generation model considering flexibility supply from controlling commercial air conditioner. We obtained the following results as an effect of commercial air conditioner control. (1) The power generation of oil fired power plants decreases at peak time and annual fuel cost of oil fired plant is reduced by approximately 30% at most in Kanto area. (2) The percentage of rated operation mode of LNG combined cycle plants increases. (3) Curtailed energy rate of PV decreases because a power storage amount by pumped hydropower generation increases. (4) Required battery capacity to reduce PV curtailed amount decreased by combining battery energy storage system in case of high penetration of PV.