Satisfying customer preferences via mass customization and mass production

Two operational formats namely mass customization and mass production can be implemented to satisfy customer preference-based demand. The mass customization system consists of two stages: the initial build-to-stock phase and the final customize-to-order phase. The mass production system has a single stage: building products with pre-determined specifications to stock. In each case, the company makes decisions on the number of initial product variants, product specifications, production quantities and product pricing. Under a uniform customer preference distribution, the optimal number of base-product variants resembles the well known economic order quantity solution, and the optimal product specifications are equally spaced. We characterize three possible benefits of mass customization: (i) the gained surplus from offering each customer her ideal product; (ii) extra revenue from price discrimination; and (iii) reduced costs due to risk pooling under stochastic demand.     

Molecular Dynamics Simulation for Ultrafine Machining

This article surveys the advances of molecular dynamics (MD) simulation in the research of ultrafine machining and related technologies. Modeling methods, including interatomic potentials and boundary conditions, are addressed. Algorithm strategies for MD simulations are discussed. By applying simulations with Tersoff potential, a case study of the material removal mechanism of the polishing based on coupling vibrations of liquid (PCVL) is presented.     

Fabrication and design of multi-layered radar absorbing structures of MWNT-filled glass/epoxy plain-weave composites

The object of this study is to design radar absorbing structures (RAS) with load-bearing ability in the X-band. Glass/epoxy plain-weave composites of excellent specific stiffness and strength, containing multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) to induce dielectric loss, were fabricated. Observations of the microstructure and the permittivity of the composites confirmed that the fabrics are suitable for use as RASs. A genetic algorithm and a theory of the reflection/transmission of electromagnetic waves in a multi-layered RAS were applied to design an optimal RAS composed of MWNT-filled composites. The thickness per ply was observed to vary, depending on the number of plies and the MWNT contents. A fabrication process was proposed that considered the variation. The proposed process was in the fabrication of a designed RAS, and the theoretical and measured reflection losses of the RAS were found to be in good agreement.     

Nondestructive sensing evaluation of surface modified single-carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites by electrical resistivity measurement

Nondestructive sensing of a single-carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites was evaluated by the measurement of electrical resistivity under reversible cyclic loading. For the strain–stress sensing, the strain up to the maximum load of a bare carbon fiber itself is larger than that of carbon fiber composite. As curing temperature increased, apparent modulus up to the maximum load increased and the elapsed time became shorter. Higher residual stress might contribute to the improved interfacial adhesion. The strain up to the maximum load at low temperature was larger than that at higher temperature. The strain of electrodeposition (ED) treated carbon fiber was smaller than that of the untreated carbon fiber composite until the maximum load reached. This could be due to higher apparent modulus of composite based on the improved interfacial shear strength (IFSS). Since the electrical resistivity was responded well quantitatively with various parameters, such as matrix modulus, the fiber surface modification, the electrical resistivity measurement can be a feasible method of nondestructive sensing evaluation for conductive fiber reinforced composites inherently.     

Parametric study on design of composite–foam–resin concrete sandwich structures for precision machine tool structures

In this paper, sandwich structures for micro-EDM machines are optimized by using parametric study varying composite geometries and parameters like stacking sequence, thickness and rib geometry. The structures are composed of fibre reinforced composites for skin material and resin concrete and PVC foam (Closed cell, Divinycell) for core materials. Column structure was designed by a beam with cruciform rib and performance indices such as static bending stiffness (EI) and specific bending stiffness (EI/ρ) for dynamic stability are examined by controlling the thickness and stacking sequence of composites. For the machine tool bed, which usually has a plate shape, was designed to have high stiffness in two directions at the same time controlling stacking sequence and rib geometry; that is, rib thickness and number of ribs. The sensitivity of design parameters like rib thickness and composite skin thickness was examined and the optimal condition for high stiffness structure was suggested. Finite element analysis was also performed to verify the static and dynamic robustness of the machine structure. L-shaped joint for combining bed and column of the micro-EDM machine was proposed and fabricated using adhesive bonding. The dynamic performance such as damping characteristics was investigated by vibration tests. From the results optimal configuration and materials for high precision micro-EDM machines are proposed.     

Characterization of Bi1.6Pb0.4Sr2Ca2Cu3O y ceramic superconductor prepared via coprecipitation method at different sintering time

The Bi(Pb)-2223 superconductor has been prepared via coprecipitation (COP) method from solutions of metal acetates and 2-propanol solution of oxalic acid at low temperature (0–2 °C). The metal oxalates powder was subjected to precalcination of 12 h at 730 °C, followed by 24 h calcination at 845 °C. The pelletized powder was sintered for 24, 48 and 100 h at 850 °C. The dominance of high-T _C phase was observed for all samples as evidenced in the single step transition of (R–T) curves. The T _{C(R = 0)} for samples sintered at 24, 48 and 100 h were 102, 102 and 104 K, respectively. XRD data showed the tetragonal structure for all samples followed by the enhancement of the 2223 phase as sintering time increased. Ac magnetic susceptibility measurements showed the improvement of the grain connectivity as sintering time increased. SEM micrographs showed large flaky grains of ∼7 μm in size and randomly distributed, which belong to 2223 phase. The degree of grains alignment increased as the sintering time increased.     

An optimization model for storage yard management in transshipment hubs

This paper studies a yard storage allocation problem in a transshipment hub where there is a great number of loading and unloading activities. The primary challenge is to efficiently shift containers between the vessels and the storage area so that reshuffling and traffic congestion is minimized. In particular, to reduce reshuffling, a consignment strategy is used. This strategy groups unloaded containers according to their destination vessel. To reduce traffic congestion, a new workload balancing protocol is proposed. A mixed integer-programming model is then formulated to determine the minimum number of yard cranes to deploy and the location where unloaded containers should be stored. The model is solved using CPLEX. Due to the size and complexity of this model two heuristics are also developed. The first is a sequential method while the second is a column generation method. A bound is developed that allows the quality of the solution to be judged. Lastly, a numerical investigation is provided and demonstrates that the algorithms perform adequately on most cases considered.     

Effects of numerical formulation on magnetic field computation using meshless methods

Meshless methods have some advantages over their counterparts such as the finite-element method (FEM). However, existing meshless methods for computational electromagnetic fields are still not as efficient as FEM. In this paper, we compare two meshless methods of discretizing the computational domain of Poisson-like problems; namely, the point collocation and Galerkin methods (which use the strong and weak forms of the governing equation respectively), and their effects on the computational accuracy and efficiency of the magnetic fields. We also discuss methods of handling discontinuities at the material interface. We present several examples, which also provide a means to validate and evaluate both meshless methods. Exact solutions and/or FEM are used as a basis for comparison. In addition, we also verify the results by comparing computed magnetic forces against those measured experimentally.     

A method for evaluating fault coverage using simulated fault injection for digitalized systems in nuclear power plants

The fault coverage for digital system in nuclear power plants is evaluated using a simulated fault injection method. Digital systems have numerous advantages, such as hardware elements share and hardware replication of the needed number of independent channels. However, the application of digital systems to safety-critical systems in nuclear power plants has been limited due to reliability concerns. In the reliability issues, fault coverage is one of the most important factors. In this study, we propose an evaluation method of the fault coverage for safety-critical digital systems in nuclear power plants. The system under assessment is a local coincidence logic processor for a digital plant protection system at Ulchin nuclear power plant units 5 and 6. The assessed system is simplified and then a simulated fault injection method is applied to evaluate the fault coverage of two fault detection mechanisms. From the simulated fault injection experiment, the fault detection coverage of the watchdog timer is 44.2% and that of the read only memory (ROM) checksum is 50.5%. Our experiments show that the fault coverage of a safety-critical digital system is effectively quantified using the simulated fault injection method.     

Characteristics of SiOxNy films deposited by inductively coupled plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition using HMDS/NH3/O2/Ar for water vapor diffusion barrier

SiO_xN_y thin films were deposited by inductively coupled plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (ICP-PECVD) using hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS, 99.9%)/NH₃/O₂/Ar at a low temperature, and examined for use as a water vapor diffusion barrier. The film characteristics were investigated as a function of the O₂:NH₃ ratio. An increase in the O₂:NH₃ ratio decreased the level of impurities such as -CH_x, N-H in the film through a reaction with oxygen. Thereby, a more transparent and harder film was obtained. In addition, an increase in the O₂:NH₃ ratio decreased the nitrogen content in the film resulting in a more SiO₂-like SiO_xN_y film. Using SiO_xN_y fabricated with an O₂:NH₃ ratio of 1:1, a multilayer thin film consisting of multiple layers of SiO_xN_y/parylene layers was formed on a polyethersulfone (PES, 200 μm) substrate, and its water vapor transmittance rate (WVTR) was investigated. A WVTR < 0.005 g/(m² day) applicable to organic thin film transistors or organic light emitting diodes was obtained using a multilayer composed of SiO_xN_y (260 nm)/parylene (< 1.2 μm) on the PES.