Adaptive fuzzy approach for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems in strict-feedback form

Adaptive fuzzy control is proposed for a class of affine nonlinear systems in strict-feedback form with unknown nonlinearities. The unknown nonlinearities include two types of nonlinear functions: one satisfies the "triangularity condition" and can be directly approximated by fuzzy logic system, while the other is assumed to be partially known and consists of parametric uncertainties. Takagi-Sugeno type fuzzy approximators are used to approximate unknown system nonlinearities and the design procedure is a combination of adaptive backstepping and generalized small gain design techniques. It is proved that the proposed adaptive control scheme can guarantee the uniformly ultimately bounded (UBB) stability of the closed-loop systems. Simulation studies are shown to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

Study of the slow-fast preamplifier input parameter’s effects on output image for LYSO scintillator with PS-PMT based animal PET

We developed a small animal positron emission tomography with four detector heads, each one composed of 2 × 2 cm² of pixilated LYSO matrix of 10 × 10 crystals, 2 × 2 mm wide and 10 mm deep coupled to position sensitive photomultiplier (PS-PMT, Hamamatsu R8900U-00-C12). Anger-type logic discretized positioning circuit (DPC) multiplexed readout connected to PMT of each head. The fast-slow preamplifier is used in the fabricated animal PET. We showed that the input capacitance of the preamplifier (the capacitance in the output node of the resistive network) has a direct effect on output image. Image broadening, peak to valley ratio and the geometry distortion of crystal illustration are studied for different input capacitance of preamplifier. The input capacitance of 1 nF resulted in the best image by keeping all the parameters at the proper level with no geometry distortion at the edge of the image.     

Effect of Dispersants on the Electrophoretic Deposition of Hydroxyapatite‐Carbon Nanotubes Nanocomposite Coatings

Isopropanolic Suspensions of HA nanoparticles (20 g/L) plus various concentrations of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were prepared using Tris and triethanolamine as dispersant. The positively charged HA nanoparticles were heterocoagulated on the negatively charged CNTs and generated the HA‐CNT composite particles with net positive surface charge. The heterocoagulation was more intensive in dispersant‐containing suspensions (DCS) due to the higher zeta potential of HA nanoparticles in them. HA‐CNTs particles can be rotated and aligned parallel to electric field as a result of torque exerted on them due to the generation of a dipole moment in CNTs during electrophoretic deposition (EPD). The mobility of HA‐CNTs particles aligned parallel to electric field is ≈50% higher than that of HA nanoparticles leading to the faster EPD from DCS when CNTs are added into them. CNTs more efficiently reinforced the coatings deposited from DCS due to the stronger electrostatic bonding between CNTs and HA nanoparticles in them.     

The effect of surface strands,angle of attack,and ice accretion on the flow field around electrical power cables

The influence of surface strands, angle of attack, and ice accumulation on the flow field around electrical power cables of various geometries is not clearly understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of these factors on the near wake flow field of three stationary wind tunnel models, namely, Model 1 (smooth and heavily iced), Model 2 (stranded and lightly iced), and Model 3 (stranded and heavily iced). Some angles of attack, θ, significantly altered the flow field by encouraging a rise in Strouhal number for all models at θ=0°, for Model 2 at θ=150–160°, and for Model 3 at θ=180°. Under certain conditions (θ=0°, U >22 m/s, Re>42,000) for Model 3, dual vortex shedding frequency peaks were present. These changes in Strouhal number may potentially predispose models to low drag and high lift forces.     

Strengthening of polysulfone membranes using hybrid mixtures of micro- and nano-scale modifiers

Polysulfone (PSf) membranes were modified by either a new organic modifier (sulfonated poly(ether sulfide sulfone), SPESS) or a traditional modifier (rice hulk). These membranes were further reinforced with either multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) or silica nanoparticles. Having a dye rejection of 98.46%, the reinforced membranes increased more than 50% in strength but no change in solution flux was observed. The morphological and roughness studies were conducted using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Moreover, the PSF membranes were also characterized by differential scanning calorimetry. Modifying the membranes with organic modifier or nanofiller increases the glass transition temperature (T _g ). The highest T _g and strength were observed for the PSf-SPESSMWCNT membrane. SPESS decreases surface roughness but MWCNT increases roughness on the nanoscale. All membranes show a bimodal pore size distribution, whereas the PSf-SPESS-MWCNT membrane exhibits a relatively uniform distribution of macroscopic and microscopic pores.

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Development of a circuit for functional electrical stimulation

This paper examines the various design of a multiple-purpose portable functional electrical stimulator which is used in surface stimulation of paralyzed muscle of patients with stroke and results in limb activation. The functionality, circuit performance and reliability of the circuits will be examined. Analysis, design, and experimental results are presented.     

A general nonlinear analysis of concrete structures and comparison with frame tests

A computational technique is described for the general nonlinear analysis of large planar frames under static loading. The analysis accommodates both material and geometric sources of nonlinearity in a highly stable numerical procedure. For material behavior the moment-thrust-curvature relationships are reduced to polynomials made to represent common structural members. The nonlinear influence of axial shortening and P - Δ effects from displaced joints are accommodated by the analysis. Beam-column effects that magnify moments by the influence of axial force acting through deformed members can be approximated by introducing nodal points (or joints) at points of maximum deformation between the ends of members.Accuracy of the analytic procedure is demonstrated by comparing computed results with eight reinforced concrete frames tested at the University of Texas at Austin.