Estimation of travel time using fuzzy clustering method

A methodology to estimate overall travel time from individual travel time measurements within a time window is presented. To better handle data with complex outlier generation mechanisms, fuzzy clustering techniques have been used to represent relationships between individual travel time data collected within a measuring time window. The data set is considered to be a fuzzy set to which each data point belongs at some degrees of membership. This allows transitions from the main body of data to extreme data points to be treated in a smooth and fuzzy fashion. Two algorithms have been developed based on `point? and `line? fuzzy cluster prototypes. Iterative procedures have been developed to calculate the fuzzy cluster centre and the fuzzy line. A novel estimation method based on time projection of a fuzzy line has been proposed. The method has the advantage of being robust by using a wide time window and the timeliness by employing time projection in resolving the most recent travel time estimation. Unlike deterministic approaches where hard thresholds need to be specified in order to exclude outliers, the proposed methods estimate travel times using all available data and, thus, can be applied in a wide variety of scenarios without fine tuning of the threshold.     

Reentrant glass transition leading to ultrastable metallic glass

Polyamorphs are often observed in amorphous matters, and a representative example is the reentrant glass transition in colloid systems. For metallic amorphous alloys, however, the cases reported so far are limited to metallic glasses (MGs) that undergo electronic transitions under gigapascal applied pressure, or the presence of two liquids at the same composition. Here we report the first observation of a reentrant glass transition in MGs. This unusual reentrant glass transition transforms an MG from its as-quenched state (Glass I) to an ultrastable state (Glass II), mediated by the supercooled liquid of Glass I. Specifically, upon heating to above its glass transition temperature under ambient pressure, Glass I first transitions into its supercooled liquid, which then transforms into a new Glass II, accompanied by an exothermic peak in calorimetric scan, together with a precipitous drop in volume, electrical resistance and specific heat, as well as clear evidence of local structural ordering on the short-to-medium-range scale revealed via in-situ synchrotron X-ray scattering. Atomistic simulations indicate enhanced ordering of locally favored motifs to establish correlations in the medium range that resemble those in equilibrium crystalline compounds. The resulting lower-energy Glass II has its own glass transition temperature higher than that of Glass I by as much as 50 degrees. This route thus delivers a thermodynamically and kinetically ultrastable MG that can be easily retained to ambient conditions.     

Freezing time of a slab using the method of lines

A one-dimensional mathematical model has been developed to solve the heat conduction equation and simulate the freezing process for a slab. The mathematical model was solved using finite differences and the method of lines (MOL).In MOL, spatial derivatives are discretized by finite differences, and the resulting system in time is integrated using an appropriate solver. Several sets of thermal properties were selected to simulate the process. Predicted freezing time values were compared to 142 published experimental data sets. Predictions obtained by published numerical methods were compared to the experimental data. The freezing time predictions of the proposed model give a percentage error in the range of −4.55 < E(%) < 4.09, which includes the 142 data sets using the best calculation results. In summary, the MOL is a good numerical prediction method since an adequate set of thermophysical properties is especially tested and selected for each data set.     

Detection of surface lattice defects using line scan method

The presence of different kinds of surface lattice defects such as missing atom, interstitial atom, line defects, in graphite single crystal have been identified by using scanning tunneling microscope. These defects cause displacement of atoms from their mean position and lattice strain is introduced. By measuring the displacement of atoms from their mean position. lattice strain has been calculated. It is found that among single point defects, vacancies cause maximum lattice strain. Paper presented at the poster session of MRSI AGM V1, Kharagpur, 1995     

Structural damage detection using time domain responses and an optimization method

An efficient method is proposed to determine the location and severity of structural damage using time domain responses and an optimization method. The time domain responses utilized here are the nodal accelerations measured at the limited points of a structure subjected to an impulse load. The nodal accelerations of the structure are obtained by Newmark time integration method. Firstly, using nodal accelerations extracted for the damaged structure and an analytical model of the structure, an objective function is defined for optimization. Then, the optimization-based damaged detection problem is solved via a differential evolution algorithm for finding the location and severity of damage. In order to assess the accuracy of the proposed method, four numerical examples are considered. Simulation results reveal the efficiency of the method for properly identifying damage with considering measurement noise.     

Detection for channels with transition noise

Transition noise is known to be a major cause of errors for high density magnetic recording. This noise is signal dependent and can be modeled as multiplicative noise in a linear channel model. The maximum-likelihood method was not considered for detection of signals in such noise in the past. In this study, a detector model for an asymptotic maximum-likelihood (AML) detection is developed for systems with such noise. Based on a linear partial response channel model, a recursive procedure is obtained as a tree search algorithm, leading to the maximum likelihood detection asymptotically, as the tree-search depth is increased. Performance estimation will be discussed in a separate paper     

Freezing time of an infinite cylinder and sphere using the method of lines

An energy balance model has been developed to simulate freezing processes for infinite cylinders and spheres. The mathematical model (1) was numerically solved using the method of lines. In this method, spatial derivatives are discretized by the finite difference method and the resulting system of ordinary differential equations in time is integrated using an appropriate solver. Freezing times obtained with the proposed model were compared to experimental data and results calculated by different published methods. The freezing times predicted by the proposed model agreed well with the published experimental results and predictions by other published methods. Model (1) gives a percentage error in the range −4.61 ≤ E (%) ≤ 6.81, which includes the experimental data for the 123 spheres analyzed and 30 infinite cylinders, within range −2.96 ≤ E (%) ≤ 3.34.     

Finding leading scholars in mobile phone behavior: a mixed-method analysis of an emerging interdisciplinary field

Scientometrics - Finding leading scholars in a field effectively and efficiently is important and challenging in the science of science research. The present study focused on a specific field of...     

A method for using a time interval counter to measure frequency stability

An interval timer is used in a single-mixer frequency-stability measurement system in place of an event timer. The dead-time problem is avoided with the aid of a reference pulse train and an algorithm for ambiguity resolution. The noise floor test and the unfolding algorithm are described. Advantages of the technique are high precision, convenient interfacing, and low cost. A disadvantage is the vulnerability of the technique to missing data.     

Aspects of linear and nonlinear instabilities leading to transition in pipe and channel flows

The failure of normal-mode linear stability analysis to predict a transition Reynolds number (Retr) in pipe flow and subcritical transition in plane Poiseuille flow (PPF) has led to the search of other scenarios to explain transition to turbulence in both flows. In this work, various results associated with linear and nonlinear mechanisms of both flows are presented. The results that combine analytical and experimental approaches indicate the strong link between the mechanisms governing the transition of both flows. It is demonstrated that the linear transient growth mechanism is based on the existence of a pair of least stable nearly parallel modes (having opposite phases and almost identical amplitude distributions). The analysis that has been applied previously to pipe flow is extended here to a fully developed channel flow predicting the shape of the optimized initial disturbance (a pair of counter-rotating vortices, CVP), time for maximum energy amplification and the dependence of the latter on Re. The results agree with previous predictions based on many modes. Furthermore, the shape of the optimized initial disturbance is similar in both flows and has been visualized experimentally. The analysis reveals that in pipe flow, the transient growth is a consequence of two opposite running modes decaying with an equal decay rate whereas in PPF it is due to two stationary modes decaying with different decay rates. In the first nonlinear scenario, the breakdown of the CVPs (produced by the linear transient growth mechanism) into hairpin vortices is followed experimentally. The associated scaling laws, relating the minimal disturbance amplitude required for the initiation of hairpins and the Re, are found experimentally for both PPF and pipe flow. The scaling law associated with PPF agrees well with the previous predictions of Chapman, whereas the scaling of the pipe flow is the same as the one previously obtained by Hof et al. indicating transition to a turbulent state. In the second nonlinear scenario, the base flow of pipe when it is mildly deviated from the Poiseuille profile by an axisymmetric distortion is examined. The nonlinear features reveal a Retr of approximately 2000 associated with the bifurcation between two deviation solutions.     

Failure analysis of gas turbine transition pieces,leading to a solution for prevention

In this study the failure analysis of transition pieces of a gas turbine is investigated. Transition piece connects combustion chamber to the turbine and acts as a nozzle which leads hot gases to stationary blades of turbine. The problem of this transition piece in this gas turbine, which was common in other similar units, was cracks developing on the lower wall near the connection to the turbine. Study of gas turbine operation history, cracks apparent form microstructure analysis and fracture surface, revealed that the thermal fatigue was the main reason for the failure and also oxidation facilitated the crack propagation. In order to prevent the failure of transition pieces, it was proposed to create a row of holes, at 1 cm above the impaired region for local cooling and stopping probable cracks. Due to the implemented solutions, the failure of transition pieces and their annual repair are prevented.     

Detection of material interfaces using a regularized level set method in piezoelectric structures

An algorithm to solve the inverse problem of detecting inclusion interfaces in a piezoelectric structure is proposed. The material interfaces are implicitly represented by level sets which are identified by applying regularization using total variation penalty terms. The inverse problem is solved iteratively and the extended finite element method is used for the analysis of the structure in each iteration. The formulation is presented for three-dimensional structures and inclusions made of different materials are detected by using multiple level sets. The results obtained prove that the iterative procedure proposed can determine the location and approximate shape of material sub-domains in the presence of higher noise levels.     

Detection of Bacillus globigii spores using a Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflection method

The use of an alumina-coated ZnSe internal reflection element (IRE) to detect spores by attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) was investigated. Two methods for coating the IRE with alumina are described. It is shown that the adsorption proceeds through an interaction of the carboxylate groups on Bacillus globigii (BG) and positively charged sites on the alumina. The amount adsorbed is highly dependent on solution pH and passes through a maximum value near pH 5, which is dictated by the charge density on the spores and the charge density on the alumina surface. Furthermore, it is shown that lateral-lateral repulsion between the spores limits the maximum adsorbed amount, giving rise to a detection limit of 10(7) spores per cm(2) of the IRE.     

Model-based Fault Detection and Diagnosis of HVAC systems using Support Vector Machine method

Preventive maintenance plays a very important role in the modern Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems for guaranteeing the thermal comfort, energy saving and reliability. Its key is a cost-effective Fault Detection and Diagnosis (FDD) method. To achieve this goal, this paper proposes a new method by combining the model-based FDD method and the Support Vector Machine (SVM) method. A lumped-parameter model of a single zone HVAC system is developed first, and then the characteristics of three major faults, including the recirculation damper stuck, cooling coil fouling/block and supply fan speed decreasing, are investigated by computer simulation. It is found that the supply air temperature, mixed air temperature, outlet water temperature and control signal are sensitive to the faults and can be selected as the fault indicators. Based on the variations of the system states under the normal and faulty conditions of different degrees, the faults can be detected efficiently by using the residual analysis method. Furthermore, a multi-layer SVM classifier is developed, and the diagnosis results show that this classifier is effective with high accuracy. As a result, the presented Model-Based Fault Detection and Diagnosis (MBFDD) method can help to maintain the health of the HVAC systems, reduce energy consumption and maintenance cost.     

An unfolding method leading to a positive solution only

A new unfolding method has been developed to minimize an objective function by adjusting the logarithm of the spectrum. This method gives a positive solution over the whole energy region. The solution oscillates much less than conventional solutions using the linear least-squares method, such as FERDOR, even without an oscillation damping term.     

A design method of spatiotemporal optical pulse using level-set based time domain topology optimization

Recently, two emerging areas of photonics research, ultrafast photonics, and nanophotonics have started to come together. One of the main problems in this field is the precise control of spatial and temporal profiles of the optical pulses. In this paper, we propose a design method for user-specified spatiotemporal optical pulses using a level set-based time-domain topology optimization method. In the proposed method, the optimization problem is formulated based on time domain Maxwell equations so that the spatiotemporal optical pulses can be treated directly. The objective function is defined using the envelope information of the pulses, and an efficient way to calculate this information, based on calculations of the complex electromagnetic field, is introduced. A level set-based topology optimization method is applied to obtain optimized configurations. Using the proposed method, the spatiotemporal user-specified pulse profiles can be designed by modifying the structural details of the nanostructures through which the pulses propagate. As a simple example, we demonstrate that the optimized structures focus optical pulses into a single or multiple focal points with a user-specified pulse-width. The results show that the proposed method is able to design highly controlled spatiotemporal optical pulses by engineering the nanophotonic structure.     

Effects of time integration schemes on discontinuous deformation simulations using the numerical manifold method

Numerical stability by using certain time integration scheme is a critical issue for accurate simulation of discontinuous deformations of solids. To investigate the effects of the time integration schemes on the numerical stability of the numerical manifold method, the implicit time integration schemes, ie, the Newmark, the HHT‐α, and the WBZ‐α methods, and the explicit time integration algorithms, ie, the central difference, the Zhai's, and Chung‐Lee methods, are implemented. Their performance is examined by conducting transient response analysis of an elastic strip subjected to constant loading, impact analysis of an elastic rod with an initial velocity, and excavation analysis of jointed rock masses, respectively. Parametric studies using different time steps are conducted for different time integration algorithms, and the convergence efficiency of the open‐close iterations for the contact problems is also investigated. It is proved that the Hilber‐Hughes‐Taylor‐α (HHT‐α), Wood‐Bossak‐Zienkiewicz‐α (WBZ‐α), Zhai's, and Chung‐Lee methods are more attractive in solving discontinuous deformation problems involving nonlinear contacts. It is also found that the examined explicit algorithms showed higher computational efficiency compared to those implicit algorithms within acceptable computational accuracy.     

Creep behavior of bone cement: a method for time extrapolation using time-temperature equivalence

The clinical lifetime of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) bone cement is considerably longer than the time over which it is convenient to perform creep testing. Consequently, it is desirable to be able to predict the long term creep behavior of bone cement from the results of short term testing. A simple method is described for prediction of long term creep using the principle of time–temperature equivalence in polymers. The use of the method is illustrated using a commercial acrylic bone cement. A creep strain of approximately 0.6% is predicted after 400 days under a constant flexural stress of 2 MPa. The temperature range and stress levels over which it is appropriate to perform testing are described. Finally, the effects of physical aging on the accuracy of the method are discussed and creep data from aged cement are reported.     

The preparation of high transition temperature superconducting Pb-Bi-Ge alloy filaments using the method of glass-coated melt spinning

The melt spinning of Pb-Bi-Ge alloys with Pyrex glass was investigated as a means of producing a superconducting long filament with highT _c. Continuous filaments with maximumT _c of more than 10 K of Pb_100-x-y Bi _x Ge _y (15x37 and 725) were obtained from the molten state at 1500 K with a winding speed of 0.95 m sec^–1. The Pb₄₉Bi₃₃Ge₁₈ filament, which was 34×10^–6 m diameter and a ductile material with a tensile strength of 20 MPa and elongation of 2.7%, exhibited superconductivity at the highestT _c of 14.3 K. These filaments were found to be polycrystalline with a grain size of more than 5000×10^–10 m and had a mixed structure of germanium (diamond) (h c p) and bismuth phases. The germanium element distributed homogeneously in the filament.