Estimation of flexible pavement structural capacity using machine learning techniques

The most common index for representing structural condition of the pavement is the structural number. The current procedure for determining structural numbers involves utilizing falling weight deflectometer and ground-penetrating radar tests, recording pavement surface deflections, and analyzing recorded deflections by back-calculation manners. This procedure has two drawbacks: falling weight deflectometer and ground-penetrating radar are expensive tests; back-calculation ways has some inherent shortcomings compared to exact methods as they adopt a trial and error approach. In this study, three machine learning methods entitled Gaussian process regression, M5P model tree, and random forest used for the prediction of structural numbers in flexible pavements. Dataset of this paper is related to 759 flexible pavement sections at Semnan and Khuzestan provinces in Iran and includes “structural number” as output and “surface deflections and surface temperature” as inputs. The accuracy of results was examined based on three criteria of R, MAE, and RMSE. Among the methods employed in this paper, random forest is the most accurate as it yields the best values for above criteria (R=0.841, MAE=0.592, and RMSE=0.760). The proposed method does not require to use ground penetrating radar test, which in turn reduce costs and work difficulty. Using machine learning methods instead of back-calculation improves the calculation process quality and accuracy.     

Magnetic Flux Diffusion Inside a Superconducting Rod of Square Cross Section Submitted to a Sinusoidal Magnetic Field

The flux diffusion into a superconducting long rod of square cross-section in the flux flow regime is investigated numerically for sinusoidal variations of the external magnetic field. The real and imaginary parts of first harmonic as well as its penetration depth are determined in function of the field frequency. This penetration depth, which decreases exponentially in function of the frequency, is influenced by the change of the flux front shape from square to circular at low frequencies and seems to be a scaling length for both components of the first harmonic.     

Conformational,thermal, and ionic conductivity behavior of PEO in PEO/PMMA miscible blend: Investigating the effect of lithium salt

In this research, influence of incorporating LiClO₄ salt on the crystallization, conformation, and ionic conductivity of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) in its miscible blend with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is studied. Differential scanning calorimetry showed that the incorporation of salt ions into the blend suppresses the crystallinity of PEO. The X‐ray diffraction revealed that the unit‐cell parameters of the crystals are independent of the LiClO₄ concentration despite of the existence of ionic interactions between PEO and Li cations. In addition, the complexation of the Li⁺ ions by oxygen atoms of PEO is investigated via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The conformational changes of PEO segments in the presence of salt ions are studied via Raman spectroscopy. It is found that PEO chains in the blend possess a crown‐ether like conformation because of their particular complexation with the Li⁺ ions. This coordination of PEO with lithium cations amorphize the PEO and is accounted for suppressed crystallinity of PEO in the presence of salt ions. Finally, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is used to characterize the ionic conductivity of PEO in the PEO/PMMA/LiClO₄ ternary mixture at various temperatures. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Nanoconfined segmental dynamics in miscible polymer blend nanocomposites: the influence of the geometry of nanoparticles

The influence of nanoconfinement on segmental relaxation behavior of poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(styrene-ran-acrylonitrile) miscible blend and its nanocomposites with spherical and layered nanoparticles have been investigated. Dynamic mechanical analysis was employed to examine the effect of geometry of nanoparticles on the temperature dependence and relaxation function breadth of segmental dynamics (α-relaxation) in the glass transition region. The maxima of the loss modulus curves were used to fit to the Vogel–Fulcher–Tamman equation to describe the temperature dependence of the characteristic relaxation times. Furthermore, the T _g-normalized semi-logarithmic Arrhenius plots (fragility plots) were exploited to indicate the changes in cooperative segmental motions across the glass transition. The master curves for relaxation modulus were also constructed for each sample as a function of time using the time–temperature superposition principle. The investigated nanocomposites showed a narrower segmental dispersion in the glass transition region compared to the neat systems. The relaxation modulus master curves were fitted by the Kohlrausch–Williams–Watts (KWW) function. It was observed that the distribution parameter of segmental relaxation time increased with addition of nanoparticles which was correlated with a decrease in fragility index. In addition, the increase of the KWW distribution parameter (β _KWW) for spherical silica nanocomposites was less than that for nanocomposites prepared with layered silicates (organoclay).     

Modelling of Impedance Matching Circuit with Digital Capacitor in Narrowband Power Line Communication

Power line communication technology is used in various applications, from high voltage network to the low voltage network, as it is the only wired communication technology that is comparable with wireless communication network. It works by injecting a modulated carrier wave into the electric cables from one transceiver to another. But still, the noise level and impedance mismatch are still the main concern of this technology, particularly in the low voltage network in residential area. Power line has additive non-white noise and extremely harsh environment for communication. At the same time, there is signal attenuation along the power line caused by the impedance mismatch in the power line network. Even though these problems can be controlled using a band-pass filter and an impedance matching circuit respectively, but the impedances in the power line are time and location variant and it is rather difficult to design a circuit that allows maximum power transfer in the system all the time. Thus in this paper, a new adaptive impedance matching circuits is proposed for narrowband power line communication. This methodology is derived based on the RLC band-pass filter circuit. This concept is designed to achieve simpler configuration and higher matching resolution.     

A mathematical model for prediction of microporosity in aluminum alloy A356

In the present work, a mathematical model was developed based on finite difference method to predict the microporosity distribution in A356 aluminum alloy casting. Heat, mass, and gas conservation equations were solved in this model. Moreover, Darcy’s equation was considered in the mushy zone. Results show that the distribution and concentration of microporosities in cast parts vary with both cooling rate and initial gas content. Simulation results were compared with experimental data where proportionally good agreement with experimental results was found. Finally, a complex cast part was simulated presenting the ability of the model to predict the porosities in industrial cast parts.     

Influence of prior cold working on the tribological behavior of Cu–0.65 wt.%Cr alloy

The influence of prior cold working on the friction and wear behavior of Cu–0.65 wt.%Cr alloy under dry sliding against a steel disk was investigated on a pin-on-disk wear tester. The worn surfaces and debrises of Cu–Cr alloy were analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrum. The results indicated that prior cold working and aging had an effect on the hardness and wear resistance of Cu–Cr alloy; in other words hardness and wear rate increased with the amount of cold working. At constant aging temperature, the wear rate of Cu–Cr alloys increase with cold working and reached maximum at 50% cold working. At constant amount of cold working aged specimens at 500 °C shows higher wear resistance than 450 °C. Crack initiation and propagation in the tribolayer and at the interface of subsurface and tribolayer was the dominant mechanism during the sliding process.