Accidents,often the result of an ‘uncontrolled business process’—a study in the (Dutch) chemical industry

Often companies in the (petro‐) chemical industry claim that all possible countermeasures against potential accidents have been taken and therefore accidents are unforeseeable. In this paper we question this statement by analysing the pre‐warning signals (precursors) preceding a number of industrial accidents. 17 accidents that occurred in the (petro‐) chemical industry have been investigated by exploring FACTS, an accident database containing information about industrial accidents worldwide. This paper will demonstrate that the existence of precursor information could have been used to foresee and even prevent these accidents if a proper control action had been initiated. The accidents are analysed further, according to a control model, which was adapted from that of C. Argyris. It demonstrates the ineffectiveness of several elements of business process control loops and that the so‐called ‘double‐loop learning’ cycle is more important than the ‘single‐loop learning’ cycle if one considers safety improvement. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Homogenization of hardness distribution and distortion in high pressure gas quenching

Quenching with gases rather than oil or other liquid media has the advantages of reducing the risks concerning health and environment, while simultaneously homogenizing the quenching results and minimizing distortion due to a wide range of possible process parameter variations and the pure convective heat transfer. In this contribution, a coupled solution for increasing homogenization of quenching results within high pressure gas quenching will be presented. In the first stage, an experimental test facility was set up for flow investigations and in the second stage a numerical simulation model was generated. The numerical and experimental results of the flow through the chamber were compared for several boundary conditions. Finally, after complete verification of the simulation, the model may be used to assist in parameter variation for optimization of homogeneous high pressure gas quenching.     

对高校图书馆参考咨询服务的探讨

面对现代信息时代的挑战，高校图书馆参考咨询服务进行着深刻的变革，其系统化、网络化、合作化、社会化、高效化是这种变革的集中体现。     

ON THE ROBUST GLOBAL STABILIZATION OF nth-ORDER REACTIONS

In this paper, we employ a nonlinear adaptive mechanism to globally stabilize n^th-order reactions.     

A new voltage control equipment using fuzzy inference

Power system control equipment needs higher sensitivity and operational reliability. Advanced voltage control equipment is needed for reducing the frequency of tap changes and improving the characteristics (the relationship between the actual voltage and reference voltage) of the voltage to meet today's power system requirements. However, these objectives are in a trade-off relationship. Studies of voltage control derived from a knowledge base suitable for electric power systems can satisfy these objectives using fuzzy inference. Compared with corresponding conventional equipment, the new equipment improved the deviation of 30 min average voltage of 30 percent. This paper describes the design concept of new voltage control equipment using fuzzy inference. In addition, field test results are described along with rules of fuzzy inference, membership functions, and the deviation of 30 min average voltage through detailed simulation.     

锥形凸台成形的一种叠加滑移线场力学模型

分析了锥形凸台在不同体积成形工艺中的成形机理，基于模块化思想将锥形凸台的成形过程划分为挤压成形与角部充满两个特征时段；将上述两个特征时段的滑移线场力学模型有机联结，构建了锥形凸台成形过程的一种叠加滑移线场力学模型；介绍了叠加滑移线场力学模型的应力场与变形力的求解方法。该模型丰富了金属体积成形过程的特征单元库，可套用于局部成形的应力场与变形力求解，实现局部成形的模具优化设计。     

浆砌石衬砌在渠道防渗中的应用及对策

总结了浆砌石应用的历史,介绍了浆砌石的结构特性和施工工艺,从造价方面、防渗效果及施工三方面分析了浆砌石衬砌主要存在的问题,并提出了相应的解决对策,指出浆砌石衬砌在渠道防渗应用中应控制施工质量,从而更好地提高防渗效果。     

轮式工程机械轮边减速器优化模型与方法

论述了重构轮式工程机械轮边减速器优化设计数学模型的必要性,给出了精确化的目标函数,全面化和准确化的设计变量、基于并行设计的约束条件;介绍了对优化解适用性评价的方法和手段。巧妙地解决了优化解中离散变量的圆整问题,提供了基于MATLAB的求解反渐开线函数的M文件。