On partial-information optimal singular control problem for mean-field stochastic differential equations driven by Teugels martingales measures

This paper is concerned with partial-information mixed optimal stochastic continuous–singular control problem for mean-field stochastic differential equation driven by Teugels martingales and an independent Brownian motion, where the Teugels martingales are a family of pairwise strongly orthonormal martingales associated with Lévy processes. The control variable has two components; the first being absolutely continuous, and the second singular. Partial-information necessary and sufficient conditions of optimal continuous–singular control for these mean-field models are investigated. As an illustration, this paper studies a partial-information linear quadratic control problem of mean-field type involving continuous–singular control.     

A Novel Approach for Bolted T-Stub Connections

This paper reports an investigation into new connection types and their behaviors determined using full-scale experiments. T-shaped connections were created using the IPE standard profile. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of T connections based on the IPE standard profile, height of beam to height of T-stub joint (H) of T-stub joints, and lengths (X) of T-stub joints on the behavior of steel connections, in order to provide the necessary data for improving Eurocode 3 and enable efficient use of residue IPE standard profiles and back to the consumption cycle. While the moment resistance values increased with an increase in H from H_min to H_max in model groups with X of 126 mm, and the energy dissipation increased with an increase in H from H_min to H_max and also with an increase in the lengths (X) of T-stub joints from 54 to 126 mm.     

Experimental study of complex two-phase instabilities during the start-up of a vertical thermosyphon reboiler operating under vacuum

This paper reports experimental studies of the start-up at reduced pressures (0.105–0.171 bar) and low heat fluxes (1.23–1.55 kW m⁻²) of the thermosyphon reboiler research facility in the Morton Laboratory at the University of Manchester. This is a full scale replica of an industrial sized natural circulation thermosyphon reboiler comprising 50 vertically mounted 25 mm OD tubes of 3 m length with water as the process fluid in the tubes and with steam condensing in the shell side of the reboiler. Unstable behaviour is obtained at start-up with flow-induced instabilities (geysering) when the level of the liquid within the tubes of the bundle is up to the top tubesheet (100% submergence) and also at 83% submergence of the tubes irrespective of the process pressure. At 100% submergence of the tubes, intermittent reversed flows in the entire loop with substantial vibrations are obtained. Chaotic behaviour is obtained at the lower submergence level of 83%. However, start-up at process pressures of 0.22 and 1.04 bar, and low heat fluxes with the entire thermosyphon loop flooded with liquid completely alleviated the flow-induced instabilities observed at the lower submergence levels within the tubes. The flow in the closed loop of liquid is induced very soon after the steam is introduced into the reboiler due to the buoyancy forces emanating from differences in density around the loop. The start-up is smooth and relatively quick, but further instrumentation and control are required for the introduction of the feed to the thermosyphon system once vapour is generated. A control strategy and procedure is proposed which will avoid the instabilities that inherently occur with start-up procedures currently practised in industry.     

Capacity Optimization of MIMO Wireless Communication Systems Using a Hybrid Genetic-Taguchi Algorithm

The purpose of this paper is to use a hybrid Taguchi-genetic algorithm to optimize the capacity of MIMO systems with different linear array geometrical configurations at both communication ends (Transmitter and Receiver). The method combines the traditional genetic algorithm, known to have a powerful global exploration capability, and the Taguchi method, which can exploit the optimum offspring and thus, enhance the genetic algorithm. The idea is to use the spatial channel model where the effect of mutual coupling is considered. Each array geometrical configuration has its own contribution in the total channel matrix depending on its physical parameters. The end result is to find out which combination(s) produce the highest capacity value.     

A new worm propagation threat in BitTorrent: modeling and analysis

Peer-to-peer (P2P) networking technology has gained popularity as an efficient mechanism for users to obtain free services without the need for centralized servers. Protecting these networks from intruders and attackers is a real challenge. One of the constant threats on P2P networks is the propagation of active worms. Recent events show that active worms can spread automatically and flood the Internet in a very short period of time. Therefore, P2P systems can be a potential vehicle for active worms to achieve fast worm propagation in the Internet. Nowadays, BitTorrent is becoming more and more popular, mainly due its fair load distribution mechanism. Unfortunately, BitTorrent is particularly vulnerable to topology aware active worms. In this paper we analyze the impact of a new worm propagation threat on BitTorrent. We identify the BitTorrent vulnerabilities it exploits, the characteristics that accelerate and decelerate its propagation, and develop a mathematical model of their propagation. We also provide numerical analysis results. This will help the design of efficient detection and containment systems.     

Post-fire behavior of CFRP retrofitted thin-walled steel tanks

Thin-walled shell structures are characterized by a lightweight structural form with high strength. This structure has many applications in various engineering fields and is considered to be a basic tool in the modern industry. This study investigates the effect of CFRP on tanks after post-fire in order to examine the buckling and post-buckling of the cylindrical tanks. Herein, post-fire was introduced at different temperatures (150°C-600°C). Ten laboratory specimens in two groups with verified temperatures, under external pressure, are examined. The models were designed to demonstrate how repairing steel tanks, which are damaged by fire, by using carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer can recover lost capacity. The results of testing under different theories and codes were compared. This study shows that the initial buckling load of the temperature group increased by 30.82% to 57.09% compared to the temperature without-CFRP group. The overall buckling load of the temperature group increased by 37.01% to 67.74% compared to the temperature without-CFRP group. The collapse load of the temperature group increased by 27.04% to 52.64% compared to the temperature without-CFRP group. And using carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer on models, which are damaged by fire, can be an improvement behavior for the buckling and post-buckling specimen tests.     

Structural Stabilities and Elastic Thermodynamic Properties of SrTe Compound and SrTe<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Ca<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> Alloy Under High Pressure

The effect of pressure on the structural, elastic, and thermodynamic properties of SrTe in both B1 (rocksalt) and B2 (CsCl-type) phases and the SrTe_1?x Ca _x alloys with Ca dopant concentrations at x = 0.16667, 0.20, 0.33333, 0.42857, 0.44444 and 0.50 have been investigated using the two new gradient-corrected functional developed by Perdew, J.P.; Burke, K.; Ernzerhof named Density-Gradient Expansion for Exchange in Solids (PBEsol) and generalized Wu–Cohen (WC), in a significant range of pressure from 0 GPa to 30 GPa. The structure parameters, elastic stiffness constants c _ij , the bulk modulus (B), Kleinman parameter (\( \xi \)), shear anisotropies A _shear are also determined. Furthermore, as reported in this study, the aggregate elastic modulus (B, G, E), Poisson’s ratio (ν) and the Lame’s coefficients (λ) are estimated. On the other hand, the ductility, brittleness, longitudinal, transverse sound velocities and the Debye temperature Θ_D(T) are also obtained. Importantly, our results are in reasonable agreement with the available theoretical and experimental data. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of the effect of the composition on the properties of the SrTe_1?x Ca _x alloys which may encourage other works for the confirmation of the reported results.     

Power quality improvement using DPC controlled three-phase shunt active filter

This paper presents a new control method entitled direct power control (DPC) for shunt active power filter (APF), which is applied to eliminate line current harmonics and compensate reactive power. Its main goal is to rebuild active and reactive source powers to be compared to references values using hysteresis control. The active power reference is issue of DC-side of inverter and reactive power reference is set to zero for unity power factor. The outputs of hysteresis controllers associated with a switching table, control the instantaneous active and reactive power by selecting the optimum switching state of the voltage source inverter (VSI). A theoretical analysis with a complete simulation of the system and experimental results are presented to prove the excellent performance of the proposed technique.     

Measurement of slip length on superhydrophobic surfaces

In this paper, a review of different techniques used to measure the slip length on superhydrophobic surfaces with large slip length is presented. First, we present the theoretical models used to calculate the effective slip length on superhydrophobic surfaces in different configurations of liquid flow. Then, we present the different techniques used to measure the slip past these superhydrophobic surfaces: rheometry, particle image velocimetry, pressure drop, surface force apparatus and atomic force microscopy.     

A cooperative Bayesian and lower bound estimation in dynamic framed slotted ALOHA algorithm for RFID systems

A novel estimation scheme that combines Bayesian and lower bound estimating radio frequency identification tag population size is proposed. The developed methodology is based on the fusion between the Bayesian and lower bound estimating techniques. It turns out that the fusion rule is built up thanks to an existing linear relationship between the cited techniques. Simulation results show that the developed technique significantly improves the accuracy of the estimating tag quantity and presents less estimation error. Also, the resulting advanced dynamic framed slotted ALOHA protocol considerably improves the performance and efficiency of the radio frequency identification anti‐collision compared with the most recent protocols using others estimating methods.