Optimal Estimation of Rational Feedforward Control via Instrumental Variables: With Application to a Wafer Stage

Iterative control enables a significant control performance enhancement by learning feedforward command signals from previous tasks in a batch‐to‐batch fashion. The aim of this paper is to develop an approach to estimate the parameters of rational feedforward controllers that provide high performance and extrapolation capabilities towards varying tasks. An instrumental variable‐based algorithm is developed that leads to unbiased parameter estimates and optimal accuracy in terms of variance. Furthermore, a noncausal implementation of rational feedforward controllers is proposed, aiming to improve performance by means of pre‐actuation. Simulation and experimental results are presented to confirm that optimal accuracy is obtained with the proposed approach, and show the advantages of pre‐actuation in terms of performance.     

Mesh objective continuum damage models for ductile fracture

During machining processes, the work piece material is subjected to high deformation rates, increased temperature, large plastic deformations, damage evolution and fracture. In this context the Johnson‐Cook failure model is often used even though it exhibits pathological mesh size dependence. To remove the mesh size sensitivity, a set of mesh objective damage models is proposed based on a local continuum damage formulation combined with the concept of a scalar damage phase field. The first model represents a mesh objective augmentation of the well‐established element removal model, whereas the second one degrades the continuum stress in a smooth fashion. Plane strain plate and hat specimens are used in the finite element simulations, with the restriction to the temperature and rate independent cases. To investigate the influence of mesh distortion, a structured and an unstructured meshes were used for the respective specimen. For structured meshes, the results clearly show that the pathological mesh size sensitivity is removed for both models. When considering unstructured meshes, the mesh size sensitivity is more complex as revealed by the considered hat‐specimen shear test. Nevertheless, the present work indicates that the proposed models can predict realistic ductile failure behaviors in a mesh objective fashion. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Prediction of solubility for HFC working fluids in model substances for compressor oils

This study is a first step towards the prediction of the behaviour of working fluids and compressor oils. Different thermodynamic models are investigated and a modified Flory-Huggins-based predictive model, termed MFH, is proposed for solubility of HFCs in long-chained hydrocarbons. From experimental data, 7 general parameters have been fitted for the MFH model to describe 14 binary systems. The UNIQUAC model demands 28 specific parameters without the possibility of extending their validity to other mixtures. A predictive UNIFAC model requires 8 general parameters, but its uncertainty, 17%. is poor compared to the MFH model's 7%.     

Swelling and mechanical properties of cellulose hydrogels. II. The relation between the degree of swelling and the creep compliance

The mechanical properties of swollen cellulose hydrogels have been studied. The degree of swelling of the gels was varied between 0.75 and 6.3 g water/g dry gel (g/g) by partial drying followed by reswelling in water. Creep rate was measured in uniaxial compression in the time interval 15–900 s for gels in equilibrium with water. Isochronous relations between stress and reversible strain were found to be linear, and creep compliance was calculated from the slopes. Both the creep compliance and the creep rate increase with an increased degree of swelling. General observations, such as the high strain limit of linearity in the stress–strain curves and the magnitude of the creep compliance, indicate similarities between swollen cellulose gels and rubbery networks. It is therefore assumed that the statistical theories for swollen networks can describe the amorphous matrix of the gels. In order to obtain creep compliance values representative of the amorphous matrix, the experimental values were corrected for the presence of crystalline regions. It is also suggested that non-load-bearing microvoids are present at high swelling levels. According to calculations based on the theory, the network chains of the amorphous regions in a gel swollen to 2.4 g/g contain about 11 monomer units and the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter χ equals 0.2.     

Colloidal Processing of a Very Fine BaTiO3 Powder—Effect of Particle Interactions on the Suspension Properties, Consolidation, and Sintering Behavior

The relation between the suspension state and the rheological properties, the consolidation, and packing of a very fine (nanosized) BaTiO₃ powder has been investigated. The BaTiO₃ powder was suspended in a nonaqueous medium by adsorbing fatty acids and a polymeric dispersant, poly(12-hydroxy stearic acid), (PHS), at the BaTiO₃/decane interface. Calculated interparticle energies imply that the suspension with PHS adsorbed is colloidally stable, while the suspensions with oleic and octanoic acid can be characterized as weakly and strongly flocculated, respectively. Analysis of settling experiments and rheological measurements at high concentrations confirmed these characteristics. Pressure filtration resulted in nearly identical green body densities in spite of the differences in colloidal properties, but the preliminary sintering experiments and microstructural characterization showed that the strongly flocculated suspension displays a significantly retarded sinterability compared to the colloidally stable and the weakly flocculated suspensions. The absence of a correlation between green density and sintering behavior was explained by considering both the volume taken by the adsorbed fatty acids and the PHS polymer—which can be substantial for nanosized powders—and the state of the suspension. While a decrease in the thickness of adsorbed surfactant or polymer layer will enable a higher particle packing density, such a thin adsorbed layer results in a more strongly flocculated suspension which will resist dense packing. Hence, it is suggested that the green bodies of the colloidally stable and the weakly flocculated suspensions correspond to a relatively homogeneous, but loosely packed, green body microstructure. The strongly flocculated suspension results in a green body with a more inhomogeneous microstructure.     

The solubility of HCFC22, CFC114 and HFC152A in n-hexadecane

The solubilities of chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC22), 1, 2-dichlorotetrafluoroethane (CFC114) and 1,1-difluoroethane (HFC 152a) in n-hexadecane have been measured at temperatures between 303. 15 and 343. IS K and Henry's constants have been derived. The measurements were made with two different methods, a GLC method and an isochoric method. In general the results of the methods differ less than their combined margin of error, which is estimated to be less than 5% for the GLC method and less than 2% for the isochoric method.     

Mechanism for performance of energetically modified cement versus corresponding blended cement

The microstructure of cement paste of 50/50 mixes of cement/quartz and cement/fly ash, both ground in a special mill [energetically modified cement (EMC) process] and simply blended, have been studied under sealed curing conditions. The grinding process reduced the size of both cement grains and quartz/fly ash markedly and created flaky agglomerates of high inner surface for the finer particles. EMCs had much higher degree of hydration at 1 day, but similar as blends at 28 days. The pores were much finer for EMC paste due to smaller particles as also reflected in the strength. The morphology of calcium hydroxide in EMC paste appeared more mass like. Pozzolanic reaction was insignificant for quartz in EMC, but increased for fly ash. Thus, improved performance of EMC versus OPC can be explained by increased early hydration and extensive pore size refinement of the hardened binder resulting in reduced permeability and diffusivity for concrete.     

Initiation of fractures in rigid PVC pipes by soft particles

Rigid PVC pipes prepared from a particle-free, tin-stabilized formulation were subjected to constant internal pressure tests (16 MPa, 60°C), originally in order to study the scattering in time-to-failure of pipes free from crack-initiating particles. Although many efforts were made to produce pipes free from all possible foreign particles, most failures were initiated by particles. The particles in this case were soft and rubbery, Particles of this kind have previously never been found in any of the several hundred fracture surfaces in lead-stabilized PVC pipes containing calcium carbonate studied in this laboratory. The possible origin of the soft particles is discussed. The results suggest that soft particles represent serious flaws. Besides a full-grown (penetrating) crack, some of the pipes also contained growing, particle-induced cracks. In these cases the penetrating crack always contained the largest particle. The presence of growing cracks in fractured pipes indicates the crack propagation rate in rigid PVC to be rather low at the test temperature and stress level used. Fracture surface morphology and creep thinning of the pipe wall at the point of fracture most likely were strongly affected by physical aging during the test period.     

Bark consumption by voles in relation to mineral contents

Recent field experiments with impregnated wooden sticks have demonstrated a pronounced use by small rodents of mineral supplies, especially sodium, and such findings seemed related to vole damage to forestry seedlings. Consumption of the bark of experimentally introduced aspen twigs and of sodium-impregnated sticks by voles (mainly or onlyMicrotus agrestis) correlated significantly on clear-cuts but not on unmanipulated abandoned fields. Such a correlation appeared when abandoned fields were cut continuously in summer. At vole peak densities, bark of pine seedlings experimentally fertilized with sodium was consumed but not bark of seedlings fertilized with calcium or control seedlings. Field pine seedlings attacked by voles had significantly higher levels of calcium, sodium, and phosphorus than the nearest untouched seedling. However, sodium and phosphorus contents correlated strongly. Sodium and calcium supply to voles in laboratory feeding trials did not diminish the moderate interest in pine bark. Such conditions are, however, assumed to mimic a situation of bark sampling in low-density populations. Sodium, and possibly also calcium, requirements are concluded to be partial determinants of the destructive bark consumption by voles at the peaks of their multiannual population cycles.     

Morphology and mechanical properties of unidirectional sisal– epoxy composites

Plant fibers are of increasing interest for use in composite materials. They are renewable resources and waste management is easier than with glass fibers. In the present study, longitudinal stiffness and strength as well as morphology of unidirectional sisal–epoxy composites manufactured by resin transfer molding (RTM) were studied. Horseshoe‐shaped sisal fiber bundles (technical fibers) were nonuniformly distributed in the matrix. In contrast to many wood composites, lumen was not filled by polymer matrix. Technical sisal fibers showed higher effective modulus when included in the composite material than in the technical fiber test (40 GPa as compared with 24 GPa). In contrast, the effective technical fiber strength in the composites was estimated to be around 400 MPa in comparison with a measured technical fiber tensile strength of 550 MPa. Reasons for these phenomena are discussed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 2358–2365, 2002