On a large-gain theorem

The aim of this paper is to give a general quantitative requirement which the loop gain must satisfy in order to stabilize a given unstable (possibly nonlinear and time-varying) plant, namely that the gain must exceed one.     

Multi-input,multi-output flight control system design for the YF-16 using nonlinear QFT and pilot compensation

Nonlinear quantitative feedback theory (QFT) and pilot compensation techniques are used to design a 2 × 2 flight control system for the YF-16 aircraft over a large range of plant uncertainty. The design is based on numerical input-output time histories generated with a FORTRAN implemented nonlinear simulation of the YF-16. The first step of the design process is the generation of a set of equivalent linear time-invariant (LTI) plant models to represent the actual nonlinear plant. It has been proven that the solution to the equivalent plant problem is guaranteed to solve the original nonlinear problem. Standard QFT techniques are then used in the design synthesis based on the equivalent plant models. A detailed mathematical development of the method used to develop these equivalent LTI plant models is provided. After this inner-loop design, pilot compensation is developed to reduce the pilot's workload. This outer-loop design is also based on a set of equivalent LTI plant models. This is accomplished by modelling the pilot with parameters that result in good handling qualities ratings, and developing the necessary compensation to force the desired system responses.     

International Working Group on Assurance Cases (for Security)

Critical systems are aptly named - from electric power to water and gas to the telephone system and the Internet, they're all critical to some aspect of our daily lives. We're a networked society and as such, it's important to both know whether critical systems are trustworthy and be able to communicate, review, and debate the level of trust achieved in them. In the safety domain, explicit safety cases are increasingly required by law, regulations, and standards. In this article, we outline what a small, international group of experts, spanning various disciplines in safety, security, reliability, and critical infrastructure, been doing with the International Working Group on Assurance Cases (for Security), what we hope to achieve, and where we go next.     

The Effect of Moisture Content in Epoxy Film Adhesives on their Performance. II. T-Peel and 105°C Lap Shear Strength

The benefits of adhesively bonded structures are well known. However, the most significant factor limiting the extensive application of metal bonding in primary aerospace structures is the prevailing lack of confidence in its long term durability under hostile environmental conditions.^1,2     

Decision Making Effectiveness in Wildfire Incident Management Teams

During large scale wildfires, suppression activities are carried out under the direction of an Incident Management Team (IMT). The aim of the research was to increase understanding of decision processes potentially related to IMT effectiveness. An IMT comprises four major functions: Command, Operations, Planning, and Logistics. Four methodologies were used to study IMT processes: computer simulation experiments; analyses of wildfire reports; interviews with IMT members; and cognitive ethnographic studies of IMTs. Three processes were important determinants of IMT effectiveness: information management and cognitive overload; matching component function goals to overall goals; and team metacognition to detect and counter task‐disruptive developments. These processes appear to be complex multi‐person analogues of individual Incident Command processes identified previously. The findings have implications for issues such as: creating IMTs; training IMTs; managing IMTs; and providing decision support to IMTs.     

A One-Dimensional Nonlocal Damage-Plasticity Model for Ductile Materials

This paper presents a new 1-D non-local damage-plasticity deformation model for ductile materials. It uses the thermodynamic framework described in Houlsby and Puzrin (2000) and holds, nevertheless, some similarities with Lemaitre’s (1971) approach. A 1D finite element (FE) model of a bar fixed at one end and loaded in tension at the other end is introduced. This simple model demonstrates how the approach can be implemented within the finite element framework, and that it is capable of capturing both the pre-peak hardening and post-peak softening (generally responsible for models instability) due to damage-induced stiffness and strength reduction characteristic of ductile materials. It is also shown that the approach has further advantages of achieving some degree of mesh independence, and of being able to capture deformation size effects. Finally, it is illustrated how the model permits the calculation of essential work of rupture (EWR), i.e. the specific energy per unit cross-sectional area that is needed to cause tensile failure of a specimen.