Measurement-based network monitoring and inference: scalability andmissing information

Using measurements collected at network monitors to infer network conditions is a promising approach for network-centric monitoring. In this context, an important question arises: given the number and locations of network monitors, how much network management resources (e.g., the number of measurements) are needed to obtain an accurate estimate of network states? We define the scalability of measurement-based network monitoring as the growth rate of the number of measurements required for accurate network monitoring/inference with respect to the size of a network. We develop a framework for investigating the scalability in the context of multicast inference with the monitors at the edges of a network. In such a framework, network monitoring/inference can be formulated as probability density estimation of network states. The growth rate is characterized through the sample complexity, which is the number of measurements needed to accurately estimate the density. The missing data framework is introduced to estimate the growth rate, where the missing data reflect unavailable measurements at the unobservable nodes without resident monitors, and the underlying nodal packet losses. We show that when the missing information is mainly due to the number of unobservable nodes, the number of measurements needed grows linearly with the size of the network, and the measurement-based inference approach is, thus, scalable. When the missing information is mainly due to the underlying nodal packet losses, the number of measurements needed grows faster than linear with the size of the network, and the measurement-based inference approach is, thus, not scalable. Our results provide guidelines for accessing feasibility of the measurement-based inference approach, and the number of probes required. We give numerical examples to illustrate some of our results     

Penalty interference of nonlinear intra-channel effects and PMD inultra high-speed TDM systems

Penalty interference of nonlinear propagation impairments and polarisation mode dispersion (PMD) caused signal distortions is experimentally investigated     

Assessment of underground cable ratings based on distributed temperature sensing

Numerous power utilities have installed advanced distributed temperature sensing (DTS) systems to measure the temperature of underground cables. This paper presents a general procedure for real-time assessment of underground cable ratings based on DTS. After the identification and location of hot spots on a cable, the cable installation data, load, and DTS-recorded temperature over a period of time are used to estimate soil thermal parameters and assess cable ratings under normal and overloading conditions. In order to accurately estimate soil thermal parameters, a combined technique of the finite-element method and gradient-based optimization is used. The technique was validated in the laboratory and applied to a rating assessment of a 230-kV/500-MVA cable circuit. The assessed continuous and emergency ratings are helpful in improving the operation of this circuit.     

An enhanced zone 3 algorithm of a distance relay using transient components and state diagram

Zone 3 of a distance relay is used to provide the remote backup protection in case of the failure of the primary protection. However, the risk of maloperation under stressed conditions such as heavy loading, voltage, and transient instability is quite high. Zone 3 is used in combination with the derivatives of the voltage and current, etc. to prevent maloperation. At times, the impedance characteristics that restrict the tripping area of relay are used to avoid maloperation due to load encroachment. This work presents a novel zone 3 scheme based on combining the steady-state components (i.e., 60 Hz) and the transient components (TCs) using a state diagram that visualizes the sequence of studies that emanate from the sequence of events. The simulation results show that the novel zone 3 distance relay elements using the proposed method operate correctly for the various events.     

Validation of 3-D curved objects: CAD model and fabricatedworkpiece

This paper proposes a new method to describe and identify a 3-D curved object for the purpose of validating a fabricated object to the design specification. Curved 3-D objects are, in general, difficult to represent and identify because they lack distinct properties such as edges, planes, or cylindrical surfaces which are the building blocks in representing objects. In this paper, the authors propose to use principal axes of a 3-D object to establish a reference for the representation. A method of obtaining an inertia matrix from a 3-D range image is developed. The unique set of principal axes is obtained from the inertia matrix of an object with an arbitrary 3-D position and orientation, and the object can be described uniquely on these principal axes. On the principal axes, an object is described by a set of features describing the shape of the object such as spine, section size, section orientation, and section contraction. The features are used for comparing two objects for the validation purpose. The authors also propose a direct measure of similarity between two objects as a mean-squared difference of radii. As an experiment, two 3-D object models are designed through a CAD package, and fabricated objects are compared with the designed models for validation purposes     

Micromechanical characterisation of fibre/matrix interfaces

Theoretical analyses for the single fibre pull-out and push-out models under monotonic loading are given which are based on a shear-lag analysis in a fracture mechanics approach considering non-constant friction at the debonded interface as a result of fibre Poisson contraction (or expansion). The solutions allow the determination of typical fibre/matrix interfacial properties such as the interfacial fracture toughness, G_ic, the coefficient of friction, μ, and the residual clamping stress, q₀. Under cyclic loading the interfacial properties are expected to degrade as a result of repetitive abrasion, and a power law function is assumed between μ and the number of elapsed cycles, N. However, G_ic is assumed to be unaffected and a fracture mechanics based debond criterion is derived for the relationship between the external applied stress, the debond length and the reduced friction coefficient for both fibre pull-out and fibre push-out. In addition, the relative displacements between the free fibre end and the matrix top are obtained for cyclic fatigue when the fibre is loaded and unloaded. A relationship obtained for the protrusion (or intrusion) length in fibre pull-out (or push-out) experiments allows the severity of the interface frictional degradation to be evaluated and characterised. Similarities and differences in the frictional degradation behaviour between fibre pull-out and push-out are also identified.     

P-N double quantum well resonant interband tunneling diode withpeak-to-valley current ratio of 144 at room temperature

The current-voltage characteristics of the P-N double quantum well resonant interband tunneling (RIT) diodes in InAlAs-InGaAs system have been improved in this letter. The peak-to-valley current ratio (PVCR) is as high as 144 at room temperature. As we know, this is the highest room temperature PVCR ever reported in any tunneling devices. Moreover, the influence of the central barrier thickness varying from 10 Å to 30 Å on the device characteristics is also studied