Edge Fracture Prediction Using Uncoupled Ductile Fracture Models for DP780 Sheet

This paper is a contribution to the prediction of edge fracture behavior using uncoupled ductile fracture models. A fully integrated simulation framework for the edge fracture prediction is proposed with the shear-induced pre-damage considered. User-defined material subroutines are coded with uncoupled ductile fracture models (Lou-Huh, Oh, Brozzo) incorporated, which are calibrated using the fracture strains of various loading paths. A series of 3D numerical simulations are performed and compared with the results of hole-expansion tests. The effects of pre-damage field and fracture models are analyzed and discussed.

     

Life cycle assessment and optimization of an iron making system with a combined cycle power plant: a case study from China

In the steel industry, the iron making system deals with large quantities of materials and energy and so it can play a critical role in reducing emissions and production costs. More specifically, excess by-product gases should be used for electricity generation; otherwise, they lead to pollution. A life cycle analysis is performed to compare the environmental impact of an iron making system with a combined cycle power plant (CCPP), to a system producing the same amount of electricity in a coal power plant. The results for a Chinese steel plant show a 33% reduction in the energy conservation and emission reduction potential for the CCPP system, which is thus more environmentally friendly. A mathematical programming formulation is then proposed for optimal scheduling. It incorporates key technological constraints and is sensitive to hourly changing electricity prices. The outcome is a 19% increase in revenue from electricity sales compared to a schedule that does not dynamically adjust to the price profile. The results also show that emissions from by-product gases can be avoided completely. The paper ends with a sensitivity analysis to evaluate the impact of changes in product demand, gas storage and CCPP capacity, and emission cost.     

Criticality Analysis for Maintenance Purposes: A Study for Complex In‐service Engineering Assets

The purpose of this paper is to establish a basis for a criticality analysis, considered here as a prerequisite, a first required step to review the current maintenance programs, of complex in‐service engineering assets. Review is understood as a reality check, a testing of whether the current maintenance activities are well aligned to actual business objectives and needs. This paper describes an efficient and rational working process and a model resulting in a hierarchy of assets, based on risk analysis and cost–benefit principles, which will be ranked according to their importance for the business to meet specific goals. Starting from a multicriteria analysis, the proposed model converts relevant criteria impacting equipment criticality into a single score presenting the criticality level. Although detailed implementation of techniques like Root Cause Failure Analysis and Reliability Centered Maintenance will be recommended for further optimization of the maintenance activities, the reasons why criticality analysis deserves the attention of engineers and maintenance and reliability managers are precisely explained here. A case study is presented to help the reader understand the process and to operationalize the model. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Weighting Efficient Accuracy and Minimum Sensitivity for Evolving Multi-Class Classifiers

Recently, a multi-objective Sensitivity–Accuracy based methodology has been proposed for building classifiers for multi-class problems. This technique is especially suitable for imbalanced and multi-class datasets. Moreover, the high computational cost of multi-objective approaches is well known so more efficient alternatives must be explored. This paper presents an efficient alternative to the Pareto based solution when considering both Minimum Sensitivity and Accuracy in multi-class classifiers. Alternatives are implemented by extending the Evolutionary Extreme Learning Machine algorithm for training artificial neural networks. Experiments were performed to select the best option after considering alternative proposals and related methods. Based on the experiments, this methodology is competitive in Accuracy, Minimum Sensitivity and efficiency.     

A flux-free a posteriori error estimator for the incompressible Stokes problem using a mixed FE formulation

In this contribution, we present an a posteriori error estimator for the incompressible Stokes problem valid for a conventional mixed FE formulation. Due to the saddle-point property of the problem, conventional error estimators developed for pure minimization problems cannot be utilized straight-forwardly. The new estimator is built up by two key ingredients. At first, a computed error approximation, exactly fulfilling the continuity equation for the error, is obtained via local Dirichlet problems. Secondly, we adopt the approach of solving local equilibrated flux-free problems in order to bound the remaining, incompressible, error. In this manner, guaranteed upper and lower bounds, of the velocity “energy norm” of the error as well as goal-oriented (linear) output functionals, with respect to a reference (overkill) mesh are obtained. In particular, it should be noted that this approach requires no computation of hybrid fluxes. Furthermore, the estimator is applicable to mixed FE formulations using continuous pressure approximations, such as the Mini and Taylor–Hood class of elements. In conclusion, a few simple numerical examples are presented, illustrating the accuracy of the error bounds.     

Distance-based local linear regression for functional predictors

The problem of nonparametrically predicting a scalar response variable from a functional predictor is considered. A sample of pairs (functional predictor and response) is observed. When predicting the response for a new functional predictor value, a semi-metric is used to compute the distances between the new and the previously observed functional predictors. Then each pair in the original sample is weighted according to a decreasing function of these distances. A Weighted (Linear) Distance-Based Regression is fitted, where the weights are as above and the distances are given by a possibly different semi-metric. This approach can be extended to nonparametric predictions from other kinds of explanatory variables (e.g., data of mixed type) in a natural way.     

RUSHES—an annotation and retrieval engine for multimedia semantic units

Multimedia analysis and reuse of raw un-edited audio visual content known as rushes is gaining acceptance by a large number of research labs and companies. A set of research projects are considering multimedia indexing, annotation, search and retrieval in the context of European funded research, but only the FP6 project RUSHES is focusing on automatic semantic annotation, indexing and retrieval of raw and un-edited audio-visual content. Even professional content creators and providers as well as home-users are dealing with this type of content and therefore novel technologies for semantic search and retrieval are required. In this paper, we present a summary of the most relevant achievements of the RUSHES project, focusing on specific approaches for automatic annotation as well as the main features of the final RUSHES search engine.     

Simultaneous algorithm for trajectory planning

This paper addresses the solution of smooth trajectory planning for industrial robots in environments with obstacles using a direct method, creating the trajectory gradually as the robot moves. The presented method deals with the uncertainties associated with the lack of knowledge of kinematic properties of intermediate via‐points since they are generated as the algorithm evolves looking for the solution. Several cost functions are also proposed, which use the time that has been calculated to guide the robot motion. The method has been applied successfully to a PUMA 560 robot and four operational parameters (execution time, computational time, distance travelled and number of configurations) have been computed to study the properties and influence of each cost function on the trajectory obtained. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society