Efficient binary to quaternary and vice versa converters: embedding in quaternary arithmetic circuits

The Journal of Supercomputing - Reversible logic is a nowadays promising choice for circuit design technologies since it is having diversified applications in the fields of digital signal...     

Structural synthesis of 5 DoFs 3T2R parallel manipulators with prismatic actuators on the base

A method is presented to synthesize 5 degrees of freedom (DoFs) of 3 translational and 2 rotational (3T2R) parallel kinematic structures. This method is based on the theory of linear transformation and geometrical analysis. Central to this method is a set of novel 5 DoFs 3T2R parallel mechanisms (PMs). Based on the legs configuration, the generated mechanisms are classified. Moreover, the promising mechanisms of each class are introduced with respect to some criteria, i.e.: (a) degree of coupling between the actuators and degrees of freedom; (b) easy kinematics and control command; (c) easy construction (or low cost construction); and, (d) manufacturability. With reference to these criteria, some discussions are given on the promising mechanisms. Finally, to demonstrate the role of legs configuration in relation to the characteristics of a manipulator, the kinematic analysis of two of the introduced mechanisms is compared.     

Optimal thermodynamic and economic volume of a heat recovery steam generator by constructal design

The ratios of gas flow to steam flow are huge in heat recovery steam generators (HRSGs) compared to other steam generators. So the volume which is occupied by components of the HRSG such as economizer, evaporator and superheater is important factor when the HRSG is applied in structures including buildings and ships. The optimum volume of a HRSG is deduced through optimization of entropy generation and cost evaluation. By increasing volume, second law of thermodynamics is improved, but this improvement may not be economical. In this work, the best dimensions and arrangements of flows in HRSG are obtained by constructal design and the optimization method is algorithm genetic. In this case, super heater temperature, pinch point, water/steam flow rate and gas pressure drop are derived from configuration which designed by constructal theory for HRSG. The effects of gas flow rate and inlet gas temperature are examined on the values of optimum volume.     

GAPSO-SVM: An IDSS-based Energy-Aware Clustering Routing Algorithm for IoT Perception Layer

Wireless Personal Communications - With the emergence of Internet of Things (IoT) having large scale and generating huge amount of data, Intelligent Decision Support Systems (IDSSs) have attracted...     

Planning Stable and Efficient Paths for Reconfigurable Robots On Uneven Terrain

This paper proposes a novel path planning method for improving the feasibility of a forced landing. When an aircraft completely loses its thrust, the only measure it can take is to make a forced landing at an adjacent airport as soon as possible. In such a situation, the flight path to the landing point must be safe and viable. This paper details a method which enables safer and easier landing by transferring the benefits of excess altitude to the final approach length. Moreover, by planning the descent angle of final approach to be in the middle of a non-spoiler and a full-spoiler glide angle, this method enables a change in descent angle to correct any tracking errors, without using thrust. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, six degrees-of-freedom nonlinear simulations were performed and the results are compared with comparable methods. From the simulation results, it was confirmed that the proposed method could plan a safe path in a sufficiently short time and the aircraft could reach the landing point safely.     

Mechanistic evaluation of fatigue cracking in asphalt pavements

Over the last several decades, significant research has been conducted to predict the fatigue cracking performance of asphalt pavements. Recently, the simplified viscoelastic continuum damage (S-VECD) model was developed as an efficient method of characterising the fatigue performance of asphalt mixtures under a wide range of loading conditions. Two important material properties that can be determined from the S-VECD model are the damage characteristic curve that defines how damage evolves in a specimen and the energy-based failure criterion that defines when the specimen fails. These two material functions are unique for a given mixture regardless of temperature, mode of loading, stress/strain amplitude and loading history. This study presents the application of the Layered Viscoelastic Crirtical Distresses (LVECD) programme to predict the fatigue performance of 18 pavement sections from different locations in the United States and Canada. The capability of the LVECD programme to capture crack initiation, crack propagation and damage in the pavement sections is investigated by comparing the simulation results with field observations. This study found reasonable agreement in trends between the damage growth throughout the pavement cross sections as predicted by the LVECD programme and the surface crack growth as evidenced by field observations.     

Role of soil inherent anisotropy in peak friction and maximum dilation angles of four sand-geosynthetic interfaces

Using a modified direct shear apparatus, an extensive experimental investigation is conducted into the influence of the inherent anisotropy of sand on the mobilization of the peak and critical state friction angles as well as the maximum dilation angle of the interfaces between an inherently anisotropic crushed sand and two woven geotextiles, one nonwoven geotextile, and one geomembrane. Experimental findings confirm that both peak and maximum dilation angles of sand-geosynthetic interfaces are affected from soil inherent anisotropy depending on the bedding plane inclination with respect to the shear plane. However, a unique critical state (residual) friction angle is attained for each interface type irrespective of the bedding plane inclination angle. Compiling results of a total of 141 tests, it is shown that a unique rule describes stress-dilation relationship of four different dense crushed sand-geosynthetic interfaces. The experimental data indicate that the ?_p vs. θ and ψ_max vs. θ curves are symmetrical with respect to θ?=?90° for the sand-woven geotextile and sand-geomembrane interfaces. Finally, it is shown that a constitutive equation by Pietruszczak and Mroz (2001) can predict the variation of ?_p with θ for the sand-woven geotextile and sand-geomembrane interfaces.     

Electroless Ni-P-CNT composite coating on aluminum powder

Ni-P-CNT composite coatings were deposited on micro-sized aluminum particles using electroless plating technique and the effect of different process parameters on the microstructural characteristics of the produced composite coatings were investigated. The results showed that a uniform Ni-P-CNT composite coating could be successfully deposited on the aluminum particles provided the electroless processing parameters were adjusted carefully. The most favorable coating quality was achieved at bath temperature of 80 °C, bath pH of 5.5 and CNT concentration of 1.25 g/lit. While a higher CNT concentration resulted in increased CNT agglomeration and poor CNT distribution in the Ni-P matrix, a lower CNT concentration resulted in fewer incorporated CNTs. Higher bath temperatures intensified the hydrogen gas evolution during the process and resulted in poor uniformity and presence of porosity in the coating. Low bath pH resulted in poor CNT incorporation and distribution in the Ni-P matrix and clustering of a large part of CNTs out of the coating.     

Unknown odor recognition using Euclidean Fuzzy similarity-based Self-Organized Network inspired by Immune Algorithm

To deal with unknown odor recognition problem for a developed artificial odor discrimination system, Euclidean Fuzzy similarity-based Self-Organized Network inspired by Immune Algorithm (EF-SONIA) is proposed. Euclidean fuzzy similarity enables a zero similarity calculation between an unknown odor vector and hidden unit vectors, so that the system can recognize the unknown odor. In addition, an elliptical approach for fuzziness determination is proposed. The elliptical approach can approximate an appropriate fuzziness, so that the unknown odor recognition accuracy is improved. Experiments on three datasets of three-mixture vegetal odors show that the recognition accuracy of the proposed method is 20% better than those of the conventional method. The system is very promising to be used for a real development of dog robot that enables localization and identification of dangerous natural gas.