Excavation and support design of the Dicle–Kralkizi water tunnel: an overview

Tunneling projects have their uniqueness in terms of engineering problems. The expertise gained from analyzing these projects establishes a sound basis for future application. This paper conveys experiences gained during the construction and support of the design of the Dicle–Kralkizi water tunnel, Turkey. Tunnel stability problems including overbreaks and surface subsidence are evaluated. An analysis of the breakdowns, factors controlling advance rate and the overall performance of tunnel are covered. The accumulated information presented here is believed to be useful and reliable for a successful tunnel excavation in similar formations.     

An adaptive support vector regressor controller for nonlinear systems

In this study, a novel online support vector regressor (SVR) controller based on system model estimated by a separate online SVR is proposed. The main idea is to obtain an SVR controller based on an estimated model of the system by optimizing the margin between reference input and system output. For this purpose, “closed-loop margin” which depends on tracking error is defined, then the parameters of the SVR controller are optimized so as to optimize the closed-loop margin and minimize the tracking error. In order to construct the closed-loop margin, the model of the system estimated by an online SVR is utilized. The parameters of the SVR controller are adjusted via the SVR model of system. The stability of the closed-loop system has also been analyzed. The performance of the proposed method has been evaluated by simulations carried out on a continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and a bioreactor, and the results show that SVR model and SVR controller attain good modeling and control performances.     

Effect of magnetic field and temperature on the voltage-current characteristics of YBCO superconductor

Voltage-current characteristics of YBCO superconductor was studied under magnetic field up to 0.4 T at different temperatures below T_c. The critical temperature decreases and the transition width broadens under magnetic field. V-I data below T_c were fitted to a power law expression V I^(T,B) in which (T,B) is found to decrease with increase of magnetic field and temperature, gradually approaching unity as T approaches T_c, being independent of magnetic field. Similarly, (T,B) approaches unity as magnetic field increases being independent of temperature.     

An integrated case-based reasoning and MCDM system for Web based tourism destination planning

The accelerating interaction between technology and tourism has changed radically the efficiency and effectiveness of tourism organizations, as well as how consumers interact with organizations. In this study, a Web based intelligent framework for travel agencies is proposed that offers customers a fast and reliable response service in a less costly manner. The proposed framework integrates case-based reasoning (CBR) system with a well-known multi criteria decision making (MCDM) technique, namely Analytic Hierarchy Process, to enhance the accuracy and speed in case matching in tourism destination planning. The integration of two techniques enables taking advantages of their strengths and complements each other’s weaknesses. A case study is performed to demonstrate how this framework can facilitate intelligent decision support by retrieving best-fitted responses for customers.     

Designing a sustainable supply chain using an integrated analytic network process and goal programming approach in quality function deployment

Sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) provides economic, social end environmental requirements in material and service flows occurring between suppliers, manufacturers and customers. SSCM structure is considered as a prerequisite for a sustainable success. Thus designing an effective SCM structure provides competitive advantages for the companies. In order to achieve an effective design of this structure, it is possible to apply quality function deployment (QFD) approach which is successfully applied as an effective product and system development tool. This study presents a decision framework where analytic network process (ANP) integrated QFD and zero-one goal programming (ZOGP) models are used in order to determine the design requirements which are more effective in achieving a sustainable supply chain (SSC). The first phase of the QFD is the house of quality (HOQ) which transforms customer requirements into product design requirements. In this study, after determining the sustainability requirements named customer requirements (CRs) and design requirements (DRs) of a SSC, ANP is employed to determine the importance levels in the HOQ considering the interrelationships among the DRs and CRs. Furthermore ZOGP approach is used to take into account different objectives of the problem. The proposed method is applied through a case study and obtained results are discussed.     

Design of a decision support system for machine tool selection based on machine characteristics and performance tests

Economic globalization, together with heightened market competition and increasingly short product life cycles are motivating companies to use advanced manufacturing technologies. Use of high speed machining is increasingly widespread; however, as the technology is relatively new, it lacks a deep-rooted knowledge base which would facilitate implementation. One of the most frequent problems facing companies wishing to adopt this technology is selecting the most appropriate machine tool for the product in question and own enterprise characteristics. This paper presents a decision support system for high speed milling machine tool selection based on machine characteristics and performance tests. Profile machining tests are designed and conducted in participating machining centers. The decision support system is based on product dimension accuracy, process parameters such as feed rate and interpolation scheme used by CNC and machine characteristics such as machine accuracy and cost. Experimental data for process error and cycle operation time are obtained from profile machining tests with different geometrical feature zones that are often used in manufacturing of discrete parts or die/moulds. All those input parameters have direct impact on productivity and manufacturing cost. Artificial neural network models are utilized for decision support system with reasonable prediction capability.     

Resistorless floating immittance function simulators employing current controlled conveyors and a grounded capacitor

In this paper, new floating immittance function simulators employing second-generation current controlled conveyors are proposed. The first four of the presented circuits employ only a single grounded capacitor as passive component and can realize either a negative or a positive floating inductor or capacitor. The last two of the proposed circuits do not employ passive components and can realize either negative or positive floating resistances. All of the proposed circuits do not require passive element matching. As an application, a third-order butterworth filter is realized using the proposed positive floating inductance simulator. SPICE simulation results and large signal behavior of the filter are included.     

Effect of concentrated flaxseed protein on the stability and rheological properties of soybean oil-in-water emulsions

Flaxseed protein concentrate containing-mucilage (FPCCM) was used to stabilize soybean oil-in-water emulsions. The effects of FPCCM concentration (0.5, 1.0, 1.5% w/v) and oil-phase volume fraction (5, 10, 20% v/v) on emulsion stability and rheological properties of the soybean oil-in-water emulsions were investigated. Z-average diameter, zeta-potential, creaming index and rheological properties of emulsions were determined. The result showed that FPCCM concentration significantly affected zeta-potential, creaming rate and emulsion viscosity. The increasing of FPCCM concentration led to a more negative charged droplet and a lower creaming rate. Oil-phase volume fraction significantly affected Z-average diameter, rheological properties, creaming index and creaming rate. With the increase of oil-phase volume fraction, both Z-average diameter and emulsion viscosity increased, while creaming index and creaming rate decreased. The rheological curve suggested that the emulsions were shear-thinning non-Newtonian fluids.     

Application of a Depth Sensing Indentation Hardness Test to Evaluate the Mechanical Properties of Food Materials

ABSTRACT: A depth sensing indentation hardness test with an associated analysis is described as a convenient and simple technique for characterizing mechanical properties of food materials, such as hardness (H), elastic modulus (E), and an elasticity index (I_E), which represents the ratio of elastic to total deformation. Storage modulus (G') and loss tangent (tan§) of the selected model food material, a whey protein concentrate (WPC) gel, have also been determined using an oscillatory dynamic testing. Fractal dimension (D) and strain rate (or frequency) exponent (n) of the WPC gels were determined using both the indentation and dynamic test results. A good correlation between the results from the indentation and the dynamic tests was established. The effects of protein concentration, deformation rate, and chemical treatment on the mechanical properties of the WPC gels were clearly illustrated using the indentation test.     

Comparison of pool boiling CHF of a polished copper block and carbon steel block on a declined slope

This study conducts a critical heat flux (CHF) experiment on a carbon steel block, and the block is positioned on slope that is declined at angles of 5° and 10°. The results of the carbon steel block experiment were then analyzed and compared with the results obtained from a copper block experiment that had been conducted previously at the same test facility. The comparison showed that several different types of phenomena had occurred, and the carbon steel block CHF at both 5° and 10° was much lower than that of the copper block. Detailed images of the heating surface of each material were acquired by a high-speed camera under different heat fluxes and analyzed. The carbon steel block surface generates more bubbles compared to the copper block under the same heat flux, which indicates that the carbon steel block should have a large number of nucleation sites. This causes a higher CHF. Finally, several existing theories on CHF mechanisms were also analyzed in an attempt to explain the difference of copper and carbon steel. It seemed that the contact angle alone was not sufficient to explain the large CHF decrease in the carbon steel block.