Highly textured and strongly anisotropic TiB2 ceramics prepared using magnetic field alignment (9T)

Highly textured TiB₂ ceramics were prepared by slip casting an aqueous suspension in a magnetic field of 9 T, followed by sintering using Field Assisted Sintering Technology (FAST). Particle size refinement by ball milling improved both the degree of texturing and densification of the material (RD > 98 %). The sintered material exhibited a Lotgering orientation factor of 0.90, with the c-axis of TiB₂ oriented parallel to the magnetic field and FAST pressing direction. The texturing effect induced by the uniaxial pressing was negligible. The textured TiB₂ material exhibited a significant anisotropy in mechanical properties; the values of hardness and indentation elastic modulus measured along directions transverse to the c-axis of TiB₂ were 37 % and 13 % higher than the ones measured along the c-axis direction. Moreover, the specific wear rate of a surface of textured TiB₂ parallel to the field was one order of magnitude lower than a surface perpendicular to the field.     

Validation of an integral sliding mode control for optimal control of a three blade variable speed variable pitch wind turbine

Reduction in cost of wind energy requires most efficient control technology which can able to extract optimum power from the wind. This paper mainly focuses on the control of variable speed variable pitch wind turbine (VSVPWT) for maximization of extracted power at below rated wind speed (region 2) and regulation of extracted power when operating at above rated wind speed (region 3). To extract maximum power at below rated wind speed torque control is used whereas to regulate rated power at above rated wind speed pitch control is used. In this paper a nonlinear control i.e. integral sliding mode control (ISMC) is proposed for region 2 whereas a conventional proportional–integral (PI) control is adapted for region 3 of a VSVPWT. The proposed controller is combined with modified Newton Raphson (MNR) wind speed estimator to estimate the wind speed. The stability of the proposed ISMC is analyzed using Lyapunov stability criterion and the control law is derived for region 2 which is also adapted for the transition period between region 2 and region 3 (region 2.5). The dynamic simulations are tested with nonlinear FAST (Fatigue, Aerodynamics, Structures, and Turbulence) wind turbine (WT). The simulation results of ISMC are presented and the control performance is compared with conventional SMC and existing controllers such as aerodynamic torque feed forward control (ATF) and Indirect speed control (ISC). It is seen that especially in region 2.5, ISMC gives better performance compared to all other controllers.     

FAST整体索网局部2米模型试验研究

针对FA ST张拉整体索网结构进行局部2米模型试验研究.对试验用索逐一测定弹性模量,探讨并验证了索网初张拉成形和调节方法的有效性以及索网变位过程中节点形式对索网-子结构间协调工作性能的影响.综合试验与理论结果,对FA ST 30米模型的建造提出了有益的建议.     

基于特征点匹配的接触网磨损检测研究

跨座式单轨交通接触网磨损检测中,传统的人工巡检方式存在效率低下、安全性差等问题。研究了线阵立体视觉在接触网磨损检测中的应用。立体匹配是立体视觉中的重点与难点。在线阵立体匹配过程中。首先,分别提取对应的左右图像的加速分割检测特征点(FAST);其次,对特征点生成加速鲁棒性特征(SURF)的特征向量;最后,利用双向快速近似最近邻搜索算法得到初始匹配点集,并使用随机采样一致性确定最终匹配点集。由匹配点集生成稠密、准确的视差图,进而获得接触网的实际残高。实验结果表明,该方法能快速、准确的检测出接触网的磨损情况     

天文台圈梁移动台车设计及应用

本文介绍了在贵州天文台射电望远镜FAST主动反射面主体支承结构索网架设工程中,一种能在圆形轨道上移动的特种锚固装置圈梁移动台车的设计及应用。该移动台车是索网架设工程在圈梁上的锚固装置,它用来锚固施工索道(挂索索道和吊篮索道)以及牵引径向索的钢绞线张拉端反力架,而它们的另一端则锚固在圈梁中心的塔架和猫道V型平台上。该移动台车用固定装置有效的固定在圈梁上,台车采用平面桁架结构体积小重量轻便于在圈梁上移动,也有利于把自身承受的索力有效的转移到了圈梁上,而极大改善了自身的受力状况,台车配有斜坡轨道可让运索车从其上经过,保证了交叉立体作业的安全。     

Processing of CaLa2S4 infrared transparent ceramics: A comparative study of HP and FAST/SPS techniques

The densification of CaLa₂S₄ (CLS) powders prepared by combustion method was investigated by the use of Field-Assisted Sintering Technique (FAST) and Hot Pressing (HP). CLS powders were sintered using FAST at 1000°C at different pressures and heating rates and sintered by HP under 120 MPa from 800°C to 1100°C for 6 hours with a heating rate of 10°C/min. Comparison of both techniques was further realized by use of the same conditions of pressure, dwell time, and heating rate. Complementary techniques (XRD, SEM-EDS, density measurements, FTIR spectroscopy) were employed to correlate the sintering processes/parameters to the microstructural/compositional developments and optical transmission of the ceramics. Both sintering techniques produce ceramics with submicrometer grain size and relative density of about 99%. Nevertheless, HP is more suitable to densify CLS ceramics without fragmentation and also reach higher transmission than FAST. Transmission of 40%–45% was measured out of a possible maximum of 69% based on the Fresnel losses in the 8-14 μm window when HP is applied at 1000°C for 6 hours under 120 MPa. In both techniques, ceramics undergo reduction issues that originate from graphitic sintering atmosphere.     

Thermochemical model on the carbothermal reduction of oxides during spark plasma sintering of zirconium diboride

Carbon was used to reduce oxides in spark plasma sintered ZrB₂ ultra-high temperature ceramics. A thermodynamic model was used to evaluate the reducing reactions to remove B₂O₃ and ZrO₂ from the powder. Powder oxygen content was measured and carbon additions of 0.5 and 0.75 wt% were used. A C–ZrO₂ pseudo binary diagram, ZrO₂–B₂O₃–C pseudo ternaries, and Zr–C–O potential phase diagrams were generated to show how the reactions can be related to an open system experiment in the tube furnace. Scanning transmission electron microscopy identified impurity phases composed of amorphous Zr–B–O with lamellar BN and a Zr–C–O ternary model was calculated under SPS sintering conditions at 1900°C and 6 Pa to understand how oxides can be retained in the microstructure.     

A new approach to visualizing time-varying sensitivity indices for environmental model diagnostics across evaluation time-scales

Assessing the time-varying sensitivity of environmental models has become a common approach to understand both the value of different data periods for estimating specific parameters, and as part of a diagnostic analysis of the model structure itself (i.e. whether dominant processes are emerging in the model at the right times and over the appropriate time periods). It is not straightforward to visualize these results though, given that the window size over which the time-varying sensitivity is best integrated generally varies for different parameters. In this short communication we present a new approach to visualizing such time-varying sensitivity across time scales of integration. As a case study, we estimate first order sensitivity indices with the FAST (Fourier Amplitude Sensitivity Test) method for a typical conceptual rainfall–runoff model. The resulting plots can guide data selection for model calibration, support diagnostic model evaluation and help to define the timing and length of spot gauging campaigns in places where long-term calibration data are not yet available.     

Global sensitivity analysis of outputs over rice-growth process in ORYZA model

Dynamic crop models usually have a complex structure and a large number of parameters. Those parameter values usually cannot be directly measured, and they vary with crop cultivars, environmental conditions and managements. Thus, parameter estimation and model calibration are always difficult issues for crop models. Therefore, the quantification of parameter sensitivity and the identification of influential parameters are very important and useful. In this work, late-season rice was simulated with meteorological data in Nanchang, China. Furthermore, we conducted a sensitivity analysis of 20 selected parameters in ORYZA_V3 using the Extended FAST method. We presented the sensitivity results for four model outputs (LAI, WAGT, WST and WSO) at four development stages and the results for yield. Meanwhile, we compared the differences among the sensitivity results for the model outputs simulated in cold, normal and hot years. The uncertainty of output variables derived from parameter variation and weather conditions were also quantified. We found that the development rates, RGRLMN and FLV0.5 had strong effects on all model outputs in all conditions, and parameters WGRMX and SPGF had relative high effects on yield in cold year. Only LAI was sensitive to ASLA. Those influential parameters had unequal effects on different outputs, and they had different effects at four development stages. With the interaction effects of parameter variation and different weather conditions, the uncertainty of model outputs varied significantly. However, the weather conditions had negligible effects on the identification of influential parameters, although they had slight effects on the ranks of the parameters' sensitivity for outputs in the panicle-formation phase and the grain-filling phase, including yield at maturity. The results suggested that the influential parameters should be recalibrated in priority and fine-tuned with higher accuracy during model calibration.     

Nonlinear PI control for variable pitch wind turbine

Wind turbine uses a pitch angle controller to reduce the power captured above the rated wind speed and release the mechanical stress of the drive train. This paper investigates a nonlinear PI (N-PI) based pitch angle controller, by designing an extended-order state and perturbation observer to estimate and compensate unknown time-varying nonlinearities and disturbances. The proposed N-PI does not require the accurate model and uses only one set of PI parameters to provide a global optimal performance under wind speed changes. Simulation verification is based on a simplified two-mass wind turbine model and a detailed aero-elastic wind turbine simulator (FAST), respectively. Simulation results show that the N-PI controller can provide better dynamic performances of power regulation, load stress reduction and actuator usage, comparing with the conventional PI and gain-scheduled PI controller, and better robustness against of model uncertainties than feedback linearization control.