Reliability-based settlement analysis of embankments over soft soils reinforced with T-shaped deep cement mixing piles

This paper presents a reliability-based settlement analysis of T-shaped deep cement mixing (TDM) pile-supported embankments over soft soils. The uncertainties of the mechanical properties of the in-situ soil, pile, and embankment, and the effect of the pile shape are considered simultaneously. The analyses are performed using Monte Carlo Simulations in combination with an adaptive Kriging (using adaptive sampling algorithm). Individual and system failure probabilities, in terms of the differential and maximum settlements (serviceability limit state (SLS) requirements), are considered. The reliability results for the embankments supported by TDM piles, with various shapes, are compared and discussed together with the results for conventional deep cement mixing pile-supported embankments with equivalent pile volumes. The influences of the inherent variabilities in the material properties (mean and coefficient of variation values) on the reliability of the piled embankments, are also investigated. This study shows that large TDM piles, particularly those with a shape factor of greater than 3, can enhance the reliability of the embankment in terms of SLS requirements, and even avoid unacceptable reliability levels caused by variability in the material properties.     

通道不一致性对GPS天线自适应算法的影响

GPS信号到达地面终端时通常非常微弱,极易受到传输环境和去其他信号的干扰。功率反演(Power-Inversion)算法应用于GPS自适应天线阵可以很好地抑制干扰信号,但由于阵列天线通道存在幅相不一致,这会对自适应抗干扰算法产生很大影响。通过对自适应天线阵列及通道不一致性进行建模,经过理论分析和计算机仿真,以QRD-SMI算法为例,验证了自适应算法在一定条件下能够克服天线通道不一致,从而有效地抑制干扰信号,所得结论有利于指导工程应用。     

不确定随机变时滞神经网络的全局渐进稳定性

采用It(o)'s微分公式和不等式分析技巧,研究了一类不确定随机变时滞神经网络的全局渐进稳定性问题.该模型同时考虑了神经网络模型的两种扰动因素,即随机扰动与不确定性扰动.不确定性参数是时变且范数有界的.通过构造适当的Lyapunov泛函,以线性矩阵不等式形式给出了平衡点在均方根意义下的全局渐进稳定性判据,能够利用LMI工具箱很容易地进行检验.此外,仿真示例证明了结论的有效性.     

Two-stage Combinatory Planning Method for Efficient Wind Power Integration in Smart Distribution Systems Considering Uncertainties

—A crucial factor that may hinder the usage of renewable energies is the mismatch to load demand in the temporal dimension. In the smart-grid environment, demand response is regarded as a feasible solution to mitigate such a problem. In this study, a combinatory planning method is proposed for efficient integration of wind generation. The problem is formulated as a two-stage fuzzy chance-constrained programming model, which co-optimizes the installation of distributed wind generation along with network transformation and determination of optimal real-time prices to achieve the minimization of the total cost over planning horizons. The impact of both aleatory and epistemic uncertainties associated with wind generation, load growth, and responsive behaviors of customers has been considered. Results of the case study demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method and the necessity of considering different uncertainties in the planning.     

Efficient shape optimization for certain and uncertain aerodynamic design

In this paper, we present novel developments in aerodynamic shape optimization based on shape calculus as well as the proper treatment of aleatoric uncertainties in the field of aerodynamic design.     

Nuclear data requirements for the ADS conceptual design EFIT: Uncertainty and sensitivity study

In this paper, we assess the impact of activation cross-section uncertainties on relevant fuel cycle parameters for a conceptual design of a modular European Facility for Industrial Transmutation (EFIT) with a “double strata” fuel cycle. Next, the nuclear data requirements are evaluated so that the parameters can meet the assigned design target accuracies. Different discharge burn-up levels are considered: a low burn-up, corresponding to the equilibrium cycle, and a high burn-up level, simulating the effects on the fuel of the multi-recycling scenario.     

Robust PID control of fully-constrained cable driven parallel robots

In this paper dynamic analysis and robust PID control of fully-constrained cable driven parallel manipulators are studied in detail. Since in this class of manipulators cables should remain in tension for all maneuvers in their workspace, feedback control of such robots becomes more challenging than that of conventional parallel robots. In this paper, structured and unstructured uncertainties in dynamics of the robot are considered and a robust PID controller is proposed for the cable robot. To ensure that all cables remain in tension internal force concept is used in the proposed PID control algorithm. Then, robust stability of the closed-loop system with proposed control algorithm is analyzed through Lyapunov direct method and it is shown that by suitable selection of the PID controller gains, the closed-loop system would be robustly stable. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed PID algorithm is examined through experiments on a planar cable driven robot and it is shown that the proposed control structure is able to provide suitable performance in practice.     

Risk analysis: Casing-while-Drilling (CwD) and modeling approach

In today's volatile economy and uncertain drilling environment, managers are encouraged to reduce well cost and time and have implemented Casing-while-Drilling (CwD) to improve operational excellence. Risk analysis is another valid tool that can be used to improve drilling operations. This paper discusses CwD as a new technology and how its benefits can be strengthened by including risk analysis as a complementary technique. A modeling approach is presented to demonstrate how risk analysis can be applied to CwD programs and to discuss the main concerns a well planner must address to achieve a successful drilling program. The integration of both CwD and risk analysis will add value to the overall excellence of the well operation. Very little work has been done on this integration, and the hope is that this approach will be a standard practice in the future.     

Seismic performance assessment of steel moment frames with generic Locally Reinforced connections

Seismic performance of Steel Moment-Resisting Frames (SMRFs) with generic Locally-Reinforced (LR) connections has been investigated incorporating both earthquake-induced and modeling uncertainties. The LR connections were numerically modeled following the suggestions made by previous researches and were used to numerically model three buildings with various heights which were designed regarding the specifications of current standards. For reflecting the record-to-record (RTR) variability, the Incremental Dynamic Analysis (IDA) procedure was utilized within the Performance-Based Earthquake Engineering (PBEE) methodology. In this regard, the structures’ performance in a multitude of structural response levels was probabilistically assessed in “considering” and “neglecting” conditions of modeling uncertainties. For performing the modeling uncertainty analysis, a number of modeling parameters that best reflected the structures’ variability due to lack of knowledge were selected as random variables. Perturbing the modeling variables from their median values, a set of sensitivity IDAs were performed and a polynomial response surface was established. Incorporation of the response surface in conjunction with Monte Carlo simulation led, finally, to a fully probabilistic performance evaluation of the studied structures in varied structural response levels. The effect of modeling uncertainties in altering the predicted performances was found to be insignificant in the range of buildings and structural elements studied in this article.     

Robust H∞ filtering for switched linear discrete‐time systems with polytopic uncertainties

In this paper, the problem of robust H_∞ filtering for switched linear discrete‐time systems with polytopic uncertainties is investigated. Based on the mode‐switching idea and parameter‐dependent stability result, a robust switched linear filter is designed such that the corresponding filtering error system achieves robust asymptotic stability and guarantees a prescribed H_∞ performance index for all admissible uncertainties. The existence condition of such filter is derived and formulated in terms of a set of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) by the introduction of slack variables to eliminate the cross coupling of system matrices and Lyapunov matrices among different subsystems. The desired filter can be constructed by solving the corresponding convex optimization problem, which also provides an optimal H_∞ noise‐attenuation level bound for the resultant filtering error system. A numerical example is given to show the effectiveness and the potential of the proposed techniques. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.