Multidisciplinary optimization of gas-quenching process

Distortion as a result of the quenching process is predominantly due to the thermal gradient and phase transformations within the component. Compared with traditional liquid quenching, the thermal boundary conditions during gas quenching are relatively simple to control. By adjusting the gas-quenching furnace pressure, the flow speed, or the spray nozzle configuration, the heat-transfer coefficients can be designed in terms of both the component geometry and the quenching time. The purpose of this research is to apply the optimization methodology to design the gas-quenching process. The design objective is to minimize the distortion caused by quenching. Constraints on the average surface hardness, and its distribution and residual stress are imposed. The heat-transfer coefficients are used as design variables. DEFORM-HT is used to predict material response during quenching. The response surface method is used to obtain the analytical models of the objective function and constraints in terms of the design variables. Once the response surfaces of the objective and constraints are obtained, they are used to search for the optimum heat-transfer coefficients. This process is then used instead of the finite-element analysis. A one-gear blank case study is used to demonstrate the optimization scheme.     

凝固过程中的颗粒推斥

颗粒推斥是材料在固液相变过程中的基础问题之一，界面自由能的传统理论难以解释在金属基复合材料制备过程中的颗粒推斥现象，作者提出了固液界面前沿的流体流动是颗粒推斥的主要原因之一，并给出颗粒滚动及颗粒速度两种作用机制，推导出颗粒推斥条件判据，并以实验验证流体流动的作用机制及颗粒推斥理论判据。     

水性聚氨酯材料配方设计技巧

介绍了优选法的0.618法和分数法,对其进行改进创新和原理证明,并应用于生产涂料配方设计中。     

High solids content emulsions. III. Synthesis of concentrated latices by classic emulsion polymerization

Two different methods of producing bi‐ and trimodal latices of a mixture of methyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, and small amounts of acrylic acid were tested. It is shown that a combination of concentrating blends of seed particles by semibatch reaction, followed by a nucleation of small particles plus a second semibatch phase allowed us to obtain stable latices with solids contents over 65% and viscosities of below 2500 mPa s^?1 with little coagulum formation. The key parameter in determining latex stability, coagulum formation, and viscosity appears to be the the particle size distribution, and especially its modification attributed to secondary nucleation. Because it is not possible to eliminate water‐soluble monomers from the polymerization recipe, secondary (homogeneous) nucleation must be minimized by careful addition of the free‐radical initiator and choice of monomer feed flow rates. The nucleation of the third population in the trimodal latices is best accomplished with a mixed surfactant system because renucleation by anionic surfactant alone leads to detrimental changes in the particle size distribution (PSD) resulting from excessive flocculation of particles. In addition, it was found that the viscosity of the final products was not sensitive to small changes in the ionic strength of the latex, although neutralization to a pH of 6 effectively doubles the final latex viscosity. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 1916–1934, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.10513     

Development of the meshless finite volume particle method with exact and efficient calculation of interparticle area

The Finite Volume Particle Method (FVPM) is a meshless method based on a definition of interparticle area which is closely analogous to cell face area in the classical finite volume method. In previous work, the interparticle area has been computed by numerical integration, which is a source of error and is extremely expensive. We show that if the particle weight or kernel function is defined as a discontinuous top-hat function, the particle interaction vectors may be evaluated exactly and efficiently. The new formulation reduces overall computational time by a factor between 6.4 and 8.2. In numerical experiments on a viscous flow with an analytical solution, the method converges under all conditions. Significantly, in contrast with standard FVPM and SPH, error depends on particle size but not on particle overlap (as long as the computational domain is completely covered by particles). The new method is shown to be superior to standard FVPM for shock tube flow and inviscid steady transonic flow. In benchmarking on a viscous multiphase flow application, FVPM with exact interparticle area is shown to be competitive with a mesh-based volume-of-fluid solver in terms of computational time required to resolve the structure of an interface.     

Cross-evaluation-based weighted linear optimization for multi-criteria ABC inventory classification

Multi-criteria ABC inventory classification (MCIC), which aims to classify inventory items by considering more than one criterion, is one of the most widely employed techniques for inventory control. This paper suggests a cross-evaluation-based weighted linear optimization (CE-WLO) model for MCIC that incorporates a cross-efficiency evaluation method into a weighted linear optimization model for finer classification (or ranking) of inventory items. The present study demonstrated the inventory-management-cost effectiveness and advantages of the proposed model using a simulation technique to conduct a comparative experiment with the previous, related investigations. We established that the proposed model enables more accurate classification of inventory items and better inventory management cost effectiveness for MCIC, specifically by mitigating the adverse effect of flexibility in the choice of weights and yielding a unique ordering of inventory items.     

Recommending suitable learning scenarios according to learners’ preferences: An improved swarm based approach

The paper presents a new approach for recommending suitable learning paths for different learners groups. Selection of the learning path is considered as recommendations to choosing and combining the sequences of learning objects (LOs) according to learners’ preferences. Learning path can be selected by applying artificial intelligence techniques, e.g. a swarm intelligence model. If we modify and/or change some LOs in the learning path, we should rearrange the alignment of new and old LOs and reallocate pheromones to achieve effective learning recommendations. To solve this problem, a new method based on the ant colony optimisation algorithm and adaptation of the solution to the changing optimum is proposed. A simulation process with a dynamic change of learning paths when new LOs are inserted was chosen to verify the method proposed. The paper contributes with the following new developments: (1) an approach of dynamic learning paths selection based on swarm intelligence, and (2) a modified ant colony optimisation algorithm for learning paths selection. The elaborated approach effectively assist learners by helping them to reach most suitable LOs according to their preferences, and tutors – by helping them to monitor, refine, and improve e-learning modules and courses according to the learners’ behaviour.     

富集均三甲苯塔的模拟与优化

在满足工艺要求的基础上，通过富集均三甲苯塔模拟与优化给出最佳操作条件，用于指导实际操作和设备改造．优化生产参数。     

种子法制备聚合物乳液技术的进展

从建筑乳液的生产现状、自生种子法与外加种子法的区别、种子乳液的特点及外加种子法生产的乳液特性等方面介绍了种子法制备乳液技术的进展。     

Consistent hierarchical economic NMPC for a class of hybrid systems using neighboring-extremal updates

A hierarchical two-layer control algorithm is developed for a class of hybrid (discrete-continuous dynamic) systems to support economically optimal operation of batch or continuous processes with a predefined production schedule. For this class of hybrid systems, the optimal control moves as well as the controlled switching times between two adjacent modes are determined online. In contrast to closely related schemes for integrated scheduling and control, the sequence of modes is not optimized. On the upper layer, the economic optimal control problem is solved rigorously by a slow hybrid economic model predictive controller at a low sampling rate. On the lower layer, a fast hybrid neighboring-extremal controller is based on the same economic optimal control problem as the slow controller to ensure consistency between both layers. The fast neighboring-extremal controller updates rather than tracks the optimal trajectories from the upper layer to account for disturbances. Consequently, the fast controller steers the process to its operational bounds under disturbances and the economic potential of the process is exploited anytime. The suggested two-layer control algorithm provides fully consistent control action on the fast and slow time-scale and thus avoids performance degradation and even infeasibilities which are commonly encountered if inconsistent optimal control problems are formulated and solved.