Shell-element formulation in the static explicit FEM code for the simulation of sheet stamping

In this paper a formulation of degenerated shell elements implemented in the static explicit FEM code ITAS3D is described. The main features of various integration rules are discussed. A square-cup test is used to select the most efficient element for the simulation of stamping processes. A numerical example of FEM simulation of an outer-door-panel stamping is presented.     

An observer-based approach for the projection onto a 2d-curve under movement

Standard path control laws of autonomous vehicles use the shortest distance between the vehicle’s position and the path as a control error. In order to determine this distance, the projection point onto the path needs to be determined continuously. This requires fast algorithms that feature high numerical reliability in the field of vehicle application.This paper presents two different observer-based approaches for the projection problem. The identity observer reconstructs all states of interest for path control. The second one, a reduced observer, only possesses the curve parameter as a state and calculates the other values by algebraic formulas. Both algorithms consider the continuous movement of the vehicle, the run of the curve, and work without any approximation of the curve. Furthermore, they are applicable for arbitrary parameterized smooth curves, guarantee the required numerical stability, have short calculating time, and show good statistical properties. The performance is shown in several simulations as well as under real conditions.     

Negative giant surface potential of vacuum-evaporated tris(7-propyl-8-hydroxyquinolinolato) aluminum(III) [Al(7-Prq)3] film

Negative giant surface potential was realized in a vacuum-evaporated film of tris(7-propyl-8-hydroxyquinolinolato) aluminum(III) [Al(7-Prq)₃]. Electroabsorption response of the film presented an inverted polarity to that of tris(8-hydroxyquinolinolato) aluminum (Alq₃), suggesting opposite noncentrosymmetry of molecular orientation. Asymmetric dice model with molecular geometric effect has been proposed, and propyl substitution at 7 position of the ligands was indicated to affects the molecular posture on the surface to invert the polarity of noncentrosymmetry. Our results opened a new possibility of controlling molecular orientation in a film for device applications.     

Organic field-effect transistors based on J-aggregate thin films of a bisazomethine dye

We report on the fabrication and the characterization of p-type organic field-effect transistors based on vapor-deposited J-aggregate bisazomethine dye thin films. The absorption spectra of this non-ionic organic semiconductor in the solid state show a strong influence of the film thickness on the J-aggregate formation. However, the electrical characteristics of the devices demonstrate that the hole transport properties do not vary significantly in films thicker than 100 nm. This is due to the fact that the J-aggregates are formed in this material at the surface of the crystalline grains and do not influence the semiconductor/gate dielectric interface and the charge transport properties of the devices. Hole field-effect mobilities as high as 2.4 × 10^?4 cm² V^?1 s^?1 were obtained and could be slightly improved by a solvent vapor treatment due to changes in the film crystallinity. Overall, this study demonstrates that J-aggregate bisazomethine dye thin films are good candidates for the realization of organic electronic devices.     

Gradient Adaptive Paraunitary Filter Banks for Spatio-Temporal Subspace Analysis and Multichannel Blind Deconvolution

Paraunitary filter banks are important for several signal processing tasks, including coding, multichannel deconvolution and equalization, adaptive beamforming, and subspace processing. In this paper, we consider the task of adapting the impulse response of a multichannel paraunitary filter bank via gradient ascent or descent on a chosen cost function. Our methods are spatio-temporal generalizations of gradient techniques on the Grassmann and Stiefel manifolds, and we prove that they inherently maintain the paraunitariness of the multichannel adaptive system over time. We then discuss the necessary practical approximations, modifications, and simplifications of the methods for solving two relevant signal processing tasks: (i) spatio-temporal subspace analysis and (ii) multichannel blind deconvolution. Simulations indicate that our methods can provide simple, useful solutions to these important problems.