Combined shape and sizing optimization of truss structures

 In this paper, an evolutionary optimization method is presented for weight minimum problem of a 3-dimensional truss structure in terms of nodal coordinates and element cross-sectional areas. The structure is subject to stress, local buckling and displacement constraints. Two types of design variables with different natures are optimized separately: (1) a fully stressed design (FSD) and scaling techniques are applied to sizing variables and (2) the evolutionary node shift method is applied to shape variables. Alternating procedure is utilized to couple the two types of variables and to combine the results. The optimum solution is achieved gradually from the initial configuration design. Two typical truss structures are examined to illustrate the validity of the method. Received: 22 October 2001 / Accepted: 04 June 2002 This research work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under the guarantees no. 10072050 and 10172072, respectively.     

The effect of additives on the thermal stability of poly(vinyl chloride)

The effect of a range of organic additives on the thermal stability of poly(vinyl chloride), both with and without a chloroparaffin extender, was studied using a number of experimental techniques. Of the additives used the best overall balance was provided by pentaerythritol, which increased stability when the extender was present and had no effect when it was absent. The congo red test emerged as the most suitable technique, being consistent and inexpensive and able to screen several additives simultaneously. Isothermal differential thermal analysis correlated with the congo red test but required more expensive equipment, was time-consuming and demanded good mixing of the poly(vinyl chloride) compound to give reproducible results. Thermogravimetry was not sufficiently sensitive and the heat stability test was the least useful of all.     

硫脲型整合树脂在分析上的应用 Ⅰ.岩样中微量银的中子活化分析

前言银和其他贵金属元素一样,在地壳中比较稀少,按其自然丰度为第67号元素,平均含量仅0.07 ppm。由于地质样品成分非常复杂,为测定其微量银,必须进行严格的化学分离。但是迄今文献中报道的许多分离分法,步骤都相当冗长,一般采用氯化银反     

Open‐cycle OTEC systems with freshwater product: Effects of noncondensable gases on performance of condenser

An open‐cycle ocean thermal energy conversion (OC‐OTEC) system is one of the energy conversion methods used to generate electricity from ocean thermal energy. For the OC‐OTEC system, steam evaporated from the surface seawater due to flash evaporation drives the turbine. At that time, dissolved gas such as air is introduced into the low‐pressure system (OC‐OTEC system) as the noncondensable gas, which degrades the performance of condensation heat transfer. In this paper, a small‐scale OC‐OTEC experimental unit experimentally investigates the effect of noncondensable gas on the heat transfer performance in a condenser. The experimental results are discussed in comparison with theoretical estimation by the Sparrow–in method. It is shown that the condensation is occupied by heat and mass transfer near a condensation surface and that the condensation efficiency is affected by exhaust quantity of noncondensable gas at a relatively high concentration ratio of condensable gas. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 154(1): 29–35, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20179     

二次型时频分析技术的开发与应用

基于二次型的时频分析是高分辨率时频分析技术的有效方法之一，该项技术能够有效反映时变信号的频谱特性，具有分辨率高、能量集中和跟踪瞬时频率的特点。从时变信号的特点出发，阐述了二次型时频分析技术的基本方法原理，采用正演模型分析验证了该方法的有效性，并在实际地震资料中应用于识别物源方向、划分沉积相带、预测储层结构以及相对厚度等诸多方面，均取得了较好的效果。     

From hospital to municipal cogeneration systems: an Italian case study

A mixed integer linear programming model combined with a more traditional design by scenarios is proposed to optimize facilities size and operation mode of a municipal energy system involving significant civil centres and a hospital. Moving from the need of a new heat and power station for the local hospital due to the construction of new pavilions, the opportunity of involving other centres in the neighbourhood in a distributed cogeneration system is analysed, increasing system complexity step by step. Smaller cogeneration units tailored to hospital needs are rewarding ventures with relatively low risks but, in a country whose traditional power generation systems heavily rely on fossil fuels and where energy policy and market conditions can make it profitable to sell surplus power, district heating systems foster the installation of larger cogenerators and lead thereby to higher profits and to better performance as for primary energy savings and greenhouse gases emission reduction. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

EFFECT OF THE RATIO Th/U ON TL DATING ACCURACY

ＥＦＦＥＣＴＯＦＴＨＥＲＡＴＩＯＴｈ／ＵＯＮＴＬＤＡＴＩＮＧＡＣＣＵＲＡＣＹ￥Ｐ．Ｌ．Ｌｅｕｎｇ（梁宝鎏）；ＭｉｃｈａｅｌＪ．Ｓｔｏｋｅｓ（ＤｅｐａｒｔｍｅｎｔｏｆＰｈｙｓｉｃｓａｎｄＭａｔｅｒｉａｌｓＳｃｉｅｎｃｅ，ＣｉｔｙＰｏｌｙｔｅｃｈｎｉｃｏ...     

A load dispatch method using fractional programming and semidefinite programming

This paper describes a load dispatch method which minimizes power cost—[fuel cost]/[electric output]—for a power system with thermal plants and energy storage facilities. The proposed method employs fractional programming to convert a minimization problem with fractional objective function to a series of quadratic minimization problems, and semidefinite programming to solve converted problems. The method provides the optimum time‐dependent power output/input and storage level of energy storage facilities as well as time‐dependent power output of thermal plants. The method has been applied to a power system with five thermal plants, two energy storage facilities of various performances, and five load demands. The optimum load scheme of four time mesh points is obtained for the thermal plants and energy storage facilities. The fractional programming successfully converges the optimal scheme through a few iterations. The semidefinite programming deals with a variable matrix of 164 dimensions, and 185 inequality constraints. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 138(2): 49–58, 2002     

Application of a Compaction Simulator to the Design of a High-Dose Tablet Formulation. Part I

The compaction properties of an investigational drug are studied by the use of a compaction simulator. The effects of punch velocity over the range of 30-640 mm^-1 on the compaction properties of the pure drug and a variety of formulas incorporating a high dose of the active compound have been investigated. The data were analyzed by applying the Heckel equation. The pure drug was found to have a high yield pressure at a relatively low punch velocity of 31 mm^-1. As the punch velocity was increased there was a decrease in crushing strength, primarily as a result of increasing yield pressure. These findings indicate that the pure drug predominantly consolidated by fragmentation and elastic deformation, with a slow plastically deforming component. The information obtained on the consolidation mechanism of the pure drug and, subsequently, on model formulas were instrumental in the design and selection of a robust formula and granulation process. The advantages of conducting dosage form design and characterization studies during the early phase of tablet formulation using means such as a compaction simulator are emphasized in this investigation.