Multi-objective design optimisation of repairable k-out-of-n subsystems in series with redundant dependency

Several researches have been investigated on Multi-Objective Redundancy Allocation Problems (MORAPs), but none of them have considered the redundant dependency at the design stage. This latter which is a special kind of failure dependency can affect significantly the system performance. Due to this fact, this paper deals with the multi-objective system design optimisation with dependent components by focusing on two objectives: maximisation of system availability and minimisation of system cost with components choice and weight constraints. A system consisting of many k-out-of-n repairable subsystems connected in series is considered. The components of a subsystem are supposed to be identical and may be dependent. They are selected from a set of available component types. In addition to the redundancy level and the number of repair teams allocated to each subsystem, the choice of components type and the dependency level are also considered as decision variables. Since the described problem is NP hard, we propose three multi-objective meta-heuristic algorithms based on Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA II) and Strength Pareto Evolutionary Algorithm (SPEA II) with different constraints handling. An exact method is also applied. To analyse their performances, numerical applications are provided and comparisons based on different well-known metrics are presented.     

Boundary Layer Development on a Concave Surface： Flow Visualization and Hot Wire Velocity Measurements

Gortler vortices are key issues in the design of gas turbine blades. The present study deals with flow visualization over concave surface for gas turbine applications. The aim is to comprehend qualitatively the flow trends, particularly the Gortler vortices formation and development. Gortler vortices have the shape of mushroom-like vortices regularly spaced at 25 mm. These vortices grow and increase in strength more rapidly along the surface in the case of the same grid of turbulence applied to the measuring section. The curvature radius of the studied blade is 0.5 m and the stream turbulence intensity level is 2.6%. The velocity field is measured by hot wire anemometer in the streamwise direction. The velocity profile is found to be highly distorted by the momentum transfer associated with Gortler vortices. The results are compared to Blasius flow and to literature data for a blade with curvature radius equal to 2 m.     

Plastic deformation of low‐density polyethylene reinforced with biodegradable polylactide,Part 2: Creep characterization and modeling

The behavior of low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) and two blends prepared with polylactide (PLA) was determined by means of a novel video‐controlled testing method under stretching at constant true strain rate, under creep at constant true stress, and under creep at constant nominal stress. Most tests were performed at 23°C and 50°C. In this second part, the experimental data are modeled with the G'Sell‐Jonas phenomenological law expressing the axial true stress versus axial true strain and axial true strain rate. This model describes correctly the various deformation stages: (i) initial viscoelasticity, (ii) plastic yielding, and (iii) strain hardening up to rupture. It shows clearly the reinforcing effect of the PLA particles that increases the yield stress in stretching experiments and slows down the deformation kinetics under creep. It is shown how the local stress/strain behavior is related to the standard force/extension curves. Consequently, it is proposed that tensile tests at constant true strain rates should be systematically preferred to creep tests for the characterization of constitutive relations because they take much less time to be performed. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

Dyeing properties of cationized and non-cationized cotton fabrics dyed with Vitis vinifera L. leaves extract

This study lays bare two main objectives. The first is to determine the amount of anthocyanins in the leaves of Vitis vinifera L. by the spectrophotometric method and the second is to dye cationized and non-cationized cotton fabrics with the V. vinifera L. leaves aqueous extract. We have thoroughly investigated the effects of dye bath pH and temperature on the dyeing proprieties of the aforementioned fabrics. The color strength (K/S value) of dyed cationized cotton fabrics (K/S = 12) has been better than the non-cationized ones (K/S = 4). Experimental results show that the fastness properties of dyed cationized cotton fabrics range from average to good. We find that the cationization of cotton fabrics has largely improved the dyeability and fastness properties of cotton fabrics dyed with V. vinifera L. leaves aqueous extract.     

A New Transceiver Scheme for OFDMA System Based on Discrete Cosine Transform and Phase Modulation

A high peak-to-average power ratio of the transmit signal is a major drawback of multicarrier transmissions, such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) and orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA). An alternative approach to mitigate the peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) problem is based on signal transformation using phase modulation (PM). A phase modulation based systems have the advantage of constant envelope (CE) signals and the ability to improve the diversity of multipath channels. In this paper, a different implementation of discrete Fourier transform DFT-OFDMA system which is based on discrete cosine transform (DCT) is proposed. The DCT-OFDMA system is then used to develop a new transceiver system called DCT-OFDMA-PM which refers to discrete cosine OFDMA with phase modulation. The PM input signal to be modulated must be real which can be produced using DCT-OFDMA with pulse amplitude modulation (M-PAM). The new system involves a signal transformation prior to amplification. This gives the advantage of CE (i.e. 0 dB PAPR). The proposed system is implemented with frequency domain equalization (FDE) to obtain high diversity gains over the frequency multipath channel. Simulation the PM-based systems with multipath fading can outperform that with single path fading.     

Fuzzy-metaheuristic methods to solve a hybrid flow shop scheduling problem with pre-assignment

This paper deals with a particular version of the hybrid flow shop scheduling problem inspired from a real application in the automotive industry. Specific constraints such as pre-assigned jobs, non-identical parallel machines and non-compatibility between certain jobs and machines are considered in order to minimise the total tardiness time. A mixed-integer programming model that incorporates these aspects is developed and solved using ILOG Cplex software. Thus, because of the computation time constraint, we propose approximate resolution methods based on genetic and particle swarm optimisation algorithms coupled or not with fuzzy logic control. The effectiveness of these methods is investigated via computational experiments based on theoretical and real case instances. The obtained results show that fuzzy logic control improves the performances of both genetic and particle swarm optimisation algorithms significantly.     

New,Simple Blade-Pitch Control Mechanism for Small-Size,Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbines

In the present research work, the pitch-control is carried out such that the rotor blades are rotated around their longitudinal axis while the rotor continues its normal rotation. It is really a challenge to produce a clever design to pitch the rotor blades by the optimal amount so as to maximize the power output at all wind speeds. The mechanism is implemented to a three-blade, horizontal-axis, home-scale wind turbine. The mechanism is powered by a suitable DC （direct-current） motor. The tests were carried out in the open section of a delivery wind tunnel. The air speed was measured by a suitable anemometer. The corresponding rotational speed （rpm） and output voltage at different wind speeds were measured and recorded for calibration of the control system. The mechanism proved to be successful in controlling the pitch angle over a wide range of wind speeds.     

Estimating error rates in processor-based architectures

The paper investigates a new technique to predict error rates in digital architectures based on microprocessors. Three studied cases are presented concerning three different processors. Two of them are included in the instruments of a satellite project. The actual space applications of these two instruments were implemented using the capabilities of a dedicated system. Results of the fault injection and radiation testing experiments and discussions about the potentialities of this technique are presented     

Magnetic susceptibility of amorphous and heat-treated vanadate glasses

X-ray diffraction and magnetic susceptibility measurements were used to study the effect of addition of iron on the crystallization process and magnetic properties of the vanadium borophosphate system before and after heat treatment. The glass composition was 78 mol% V₂O₅-15 mol% P₂O₅-7 mol% B₂O₃, the Fe₂O₃ was added with concentration ranging from 0.05 up to 1 mol%. The X-ray diffraction showed that the V₂O₅ was the only phase separated during the heat treatment process. The intensity of the characteristic V₂O₅ peaks increased with increasing Fe₂O₃ content. The magnetic susceptibility was found to decrease for the sample containing 0.05 mol% Fe₂O₃. This could be explained by the presence of most of the iron ions in the ferrous state and the presence of a covalent bond between the ferrous ions and the oxygen ions. An increase in the magnetic susceptibility was found in samples containing an iron content of more than 0.05. This increase could be explained according to the change of Fe²⁺ ions to Fe³⁺ which has higher paramagnetic behaviour.