Time-accurate Navier-Stokes simulation of vortex convection using an unstructured dynamic mesh procedure

A two-dimensional Navier-Stokes flow solver is developed for the simulation of unsteady flows on unstructured adaptive meshes. The solver is based on a second-order accurate implicit time integration using a point Gauss-Seidel relaxation scheme and a dual time-step subiteration. A vertex-centered, finite-volume discretization is used in conjunction with Roe’s flux-difference splitting. The Spalart-Allmaras one equation model is employed for the simulation of turbulence. An unsteady solution-adaptive dynamic mesh scheme is used by adding and deleting mesh points to take account of spatial and temporal variations of the flowfield. Unsteady viscous flow for a traveling vortex in a free stream is simulated to validate the accuracy of the dynamic mesh adaptation procedure. Flow around a circular cylinder and two blade-vortex interaction problems are investigated for demonstration of the present method. Computed results show good agreement with existing experimental and computational results. It was found that unsteady time-accurate viscous flows can be accurately simulated using the present unstructured dynamic mesh adaptation procedure.     

Improving the error backpropagation algorithm with a modified error function.

This letter proposes a modified error function to improve the error backpropagation (EBP) algorithm of multilayer perceptrons (MLPs) which suffers from slow learning speed. To accelerate the learning speed of the EBP algorithm, the proposed method reduces the probability that output nodes are near the wrong extreme value of sigmoid activation function. This is acquired through a strong error signal for the incorrectly saturated output node and a weak error signal for the correctly saturated output node. The weak error signal for the correctly saturated output node, also, prevents overspecialization of learning for training patterns. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated in a handwritten digit recognition task.     

Low-threshold vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers based onoxide-confinement and high contrast distributed Bragg reflectors

The interest in low-threshold vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSEL's) is increased by the demonstration of the small size, low loss optical mode due to oxide-confinement in the Fabry-Perot microcavity laser. Intense recent work in this area has resulted in numerous record breaking demonstrations of low-threshold current, high wall-plug efficiency, and high speed. In this paper, we discuss the impact of the dielectric cavity design to enhance control of the optical mode. We argue that high contrast dielectric mirrors can become an important design approach, especially for small apertures limited by diffraction loss. Experimental results are compared for different types of mirror and aperture designs     

Factors Affecting Flow-Mediated Vasodilatation in Hemodialysis Patients

Clinical manifestation of overt vascular disease may be preceded for years by endothelial dysfunction. Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate endothelial function in ESRD patients and correlation between endothelial function and clinical and biochemical parameters. Methods: 32 stable ESRD patients (male : female = 16 : 16, average age: 55.2 ± 13.0) on hemodialysis were included. A 10‐MHz ultrasound transducer was used to image the brachial artery. Brachial artery diameter was measured, and reactive hyperemia was induced by inflation to 250 mmHg for 5 min and then deflation of a pneumatic cuff. After release of the cuff, brachial artery diameter was measured. Results: In the entire study population and non‐diabetic group, the %FMD (% flow‐mediated dilatation, % change of brachial artery diameter between before and after cuff inflation) did not show any significant correlation with duration of dialysis, age, hypertension, albumin, CRP, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL cholesterol, and triglyceride. However, the %FMD of diabetic patients was lower than that of non‐diabetics. Among the patients with diabetes, the group of patients with FMD of <5.2% showed significant lower serum albumin and significantly higher ln(CRP) levels compared to the group of patients with FMD ≥5.2%. The %FMD showed significant positive correlation with serum albumin level and significant negative correlation with ln(CRP) in diabetic patients. Conclusion: These findings suggest that endothelial dysfunction, estimated by FMD, was significantly more prominent in diabetic ESRD, especially with low serum albumin and high CRP levels.     

Design of a Drilling Torque Controller for a Machining Center

In the drilling process, cutting torque control through feedrate manipulation has significant benefits in prevention of tool breakage and reduction of machine tool vibration and tool wear. In this paper, a PID torque controller was designed for real time drilling torque control in a machining centre. The drilling torque was estimated from the spindle motor current and regulated by feedrate control. The plant including the feed drive system, cutting process, and spindle system was modelled for controller design. For a certain cutting condition, the Ziegler-Nichols method was used to determine the proportional gain and derivative and integral control action times of the controller. Also, the root locus plot was used to tune the proportional gain of the controller. A simple method was also suggested to obtain the tuned controller gain instead of the Ziegler-Nichols method and the root locus plot for an arbitrary cutting condition. Experimental works have been performed to verify the performance of the proposed controller. It is shown that the gain tuning is essential for enhancement of the controller performance and the designed controller can regulate the drilling torque well at a given reference level.Nomenclature G_fc(s) transfer function of combined system of feed drive and cutting process - G_s(s) transfer function of spindle system - G_p(s) transfer function of plant - G_CL(s) transfer function of closed loop system - G_con(s) transfer function of controller - _fc1, _fc2 time constants of combined system of feed drive and cutting process - _s time constant of spindle system - K controller gain - K_c cutting process gain - K_s spindle motor current gain - K_plant plant gain - K_cr critical gain - K_p proportional gain of controller - K_{p_tune} tuned proportional gain of controller - I_s spindle motor current - I_u,v,w u, v, and w phase current of spindle motor - I_idle idling current of spindle motor - damping ratio - T oscillation period of system response - T_c cutting torque - T_m motor torque - T_idle idling torque of spindle motor - T_i integral control action time - T_d derivative control action time     

Collision Detection and Safe Reaction Algorithm for Non-backdrivable Manipulator with Single Force/Torque Sensor

The paper presents a robust control law for homing of an autonomous robot. The proposed work aims to solve this problem for practical conditions such as random errors in commanded velocities and unknown distance sensor characteristics. The proposed steering control aligns the robot’s orientation with homing vector using arbitrary real valued distance function providing the capability to work in changing environment conditions. Finite time convergence to the equilibrium using proposed control law is achieved in the presence of bounded random velocity errors regardless of the initial position and orientation. Just the sign information as feedback supports applicability of proposed control law with any distance function. A matching parameter between panoramic images obtained at home and current positions is a function of distance between home and current positions. However, explicit relation between distance and image matching parameter is unknown. This work demonstrates the application of proposed method for visual homing based on image distance function rendering the benefit of minimal image processing. Various simulation and experimental results are presented for visual homing to support the theory presented in this paper. Advantage of proposed visual homing is also explored in changing environment conditions.     

A systematic approach for model refinement considering blind and recognized uncertainties in engineered product development

In recent years, virtual testing has played an increasingly important role in the design and evaluation of engineered products. However, it is challenging to build the highly accurate computational models for virtual testing. Blind and recognized uncertainties are often unintentionally incorporated. These uncertainties consequently decrease the predictive capability of the models. To this end, this paper proposes a systematic approach for model refinement that minimizes the impact of unrecognized blind and recognized epistemic uncertainties in computational modeling. The approach consists of three steps: model invalidity analysis (MIA), development of an invalidity reasoning tree (IRT), and invalidity sensitivity analysis (ISA). First, in the MIA, possible causes that lead to discrepancies between the experimental and simulation responses are identified through brainstorming. Next, the IRT is built using the affinity diagram. It sequentially lists and screens potential candidate issues for model refinement at the stages of conceptual, mathematical, and computational modeling. Finally, the ISA quantifies the effect of incorporating updates in the model to address potential candidate issues with the goal of reducing the impact of the blind and recognized uncertainties. The most critical candidates are determined by using a weighted decision matrix. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, a case study examining a smartphone liquid crystal display fracture is presented.     

Phase equilibria and surface tension in castor oil-based polyols-water–methanol mixture: Thermodynamic basis

Considering the current environmental issues with petro-polymers, castor oil is a promising green alternative to the polyols to be used as the main raw material for polyurethane. However, the basic information regarding the processability of castor oil-based polyol (CP) such as its miscibility in different solvents is still elusive. Herein we have investigated the phase equilibria and surface tension of various CP solutions using thermo-optical analysis and pendent drop method, respectively. The modified double lattice (MDL) model was employed to theoretically describe those phase equilibria and surface behaviors. The phase diagrams of CPs/methanol binary systems represent upper critical solution temperature (UCST) behaviors, and CPs/methanol/water ternary systems show Treybal Type 2 behaviors. The surface tension results exhibit preferential solvent adsorption, which means affinity of the solvent to be present in surface is higher than that of the polymer. The calculated results showed good agreement with the experimental observations.     

Classification of geographical origin of kimchi by volatile compounds analysis using an electronic nose

Food Science and Biotechnology - Food authenticity is one of the largest concerns in recent days. As kimchi has been a global food, its production origin has been important issue, particularly due...     

Effects of Superimposition of a Head-Up Display on Driving Performance and Glance Behavior in the Elderly

A vehicle head-up display (HUD) has a semitransparent property that utilizes a method of projecting light onto the windshield. The semitransparent characteristic of the HUD generates continuous superimposition between the “HUD graphic” and “road environment events.” This study aims to determine the effects of HUD use on elderly driving. Two age groups (elderly, younger) performed tasks (speed monitoring, navigation) utilizing two types of display (HUD, head-down display) in two different circumstances (high superimposition level, low superimposition level). Subject performance was evaluated by having the subjects execute a secondary display task while performing a primary driving task with an eye-tracking task. In addition, the degree of driver visual distraction was verified through the measurement of display glance duration. The results showed that an increase in superimposition negatively affected driver glance duration independent of age. However, the use of HUD in low superimposition situations showed relative advantages with regard to display use independent of age. This study confirmed that the negative effects of HUD use need to be considered during the selection of HUD information and display location. In particular, this study verifies that special attention should be given to the negative effects of superimposition of text information for use by an elderly population.