Advanced disturbance observer design for mechanical positioning systems

Disturbance-observer (DOB)-based controller design is one of the most popular methods in the field of motion control. In this paper, the generalized disturbance compensation framework, named the robust internal-loop compensator (RIC) is introduced and an advanced design method of a DOB is proposed based on the RIC. The mixed sensitivity optimization problem, which is the main issue of DOB design, is also solved through the parametrization of the DOB in the RIC framework. Differently from conventional methods, the Q-filter is separated from the mixed sensitivity optimization problem and a systematic design law for the DOB is proposed. This guarantees the robustness and optimality of the DOB and enables the design for unstable plants.     

Stochastic response of flexible rotor-bearing system to seismic excitations

Random vibration analysis of flexible rotor-bearing systems subjected to six-component nonstationary earthquake ground accelerations is carried out. The rotor system consists of several rigid disks and a flexible shaft that is modelled as a Timoshenko beam. The governing equations of motion involve both inhomogeneous random excitations and random parametric excitations. Analytically, the Markov vector approach using the Ito equation and Stratonovich averaging procedures is employed to determine the response statistics. Unfortunately, the second moments of the response quantities thus obtained involve a great discrepancy when compared with the results of Monte Carlo simulation. The difficulty involved in analytically solving such a complicated problem is pointed out. Currently, the method of Monte Carlo simulation appears to be the only practical approach for such a problem. The significant influence of the seismic base rotations and the flexibility of the rotor-bearing system on the overall dynamic structural response is demonstrated by a numerical example.     

Preparation and properties of polyelectrolyte complex sponges composed of hyaluronic acid and chitosan and their biological behaviors

Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) composed of chitosan and hyaluronic acid (HA) were prepared in various pH regions and at different weight ratios. At low pHs, there was a strong ionic interaction between NH groups in chitosan and both COO^? and COOH groups in HA due to the deprotonation of HA, whereas weak linkages were formed at high pHs because only the carboxyl groups of HA could interact with NH groups in chitosan. The formation of PECs resulted in a decrease in the crystallinity and thermal stability caused by the interactions between polyions. With variations in the degree of ionization of polyions at various pH conditions, novel PEC sponges were prepared by the freeze drying of PEC solutions. Furthermore, for the evaluation of the wound‐healing effect of PEC sponges with or without an antimicrobial agent (silver sulfadiazine), they were applied to a full‐skin defect of a Wistar rat in vivo. The histology and computerized morphometric analysis of the epidermal healing confirmed the proliferation of fibroblasts in the wound bed and a distinct reduction in infectious agents. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 925–932, 2003     

Ozonolysis of cyclododecene

Ozonolysis of cyclododecene was carried out to produce an w-formyl carboxylic acid (12-oxododecanoic acid) which is derived from zwitterion and aldehyde moiety that are formed during the reaction. The ozonolysis was performed to examine the product distribution under such reaction variables as temperature, kinds of solvent, and presence of catalyst. The yield of polymeric ozonide, which is undesirable product, was measured to be dominantly 86% without pyridine catalyst, whereas, only 10.25% with the catalyst. The optimum reaction condition was to be in MC (methylene chloride) solvent, and in the presence of equimolar olefin and pyridine catalyst at O°C, at which the yields of polymeric ozonide, 1,12-dodecanedialdehyde, 1,12-dodecanedicarboxylic acid, and 12-oxo-dodecanoic acid were 10.25%, 26.72%, 26.31%, and 36.72%, respectively.     

Mechanical properties and morphology of polymer blends of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and semiflexible thermotropic liquid crystalline polyesters

Two thermotropic liquid crystalline polyesters (TLCPs) with long flexible spacer groups in the main chain were prepared by melt polymerization: one was a homopolymer with only decane groups (LCPHO) and the other was a copolymer with hexane or decane groups (LCPCO) between mesogen units. These polyesters were blended with a matrix polymer of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the excellent interfacial adhesion between polyester and PET, and the large aspect ratio of polyester microfibrils in the blend fiber made by extruding and drawing the blend through a die. The aspect ratio was estimated by using the modified Halpin-Tsai equation. The fiber with LCPHO showed more extensive fibril formation than that with LCPCO.     

Production of antimicrobially active silk proteins by use of metal‐containing dyestuffs

The work presented here discusses a new technique for preparing silk fibers and films with persistent antimicrobial activity through use of metallic dyestuffs during the fiber dyeing process. The length of the silk fibers investigated contracted when the fibers were immersed in concentrated neutral salt solutions, such as calcium or potassium nitrate, at elevated temperature levels. The birefringence and molecular orientation of the silk fibroin molecules became less ordered by the action of the neutral salt solutions, resulting in increased dyestuff absorption. Subsequently, contracted silk fibers were dyed with metallic dyestuffs containing Cr or Cu for the purpose of obtaining silk fibers with antimicrobial activity. Silk fibers dyed with metallic dyestuffs showed significant antimicrobial activity against the plant pathogen Cornebacterium and the human pathogen Coli bacillus. Tensile strength of the silk fibers after the salt shrinking and dyeing processes did not show a significant change, whereas the elongation at break was increased slightly. The techniques described here for preparing significantly active antimicrobial silk fibers are effective and economic ways of providing new materials for industrial and biomedical applications. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 1181–1188, 2002     

Decane reforming reaction over Pt,Ir, Pt-Ir and Pt-Ni bimetallic catalysts supported on Y-zeolite

Pt, Ir, Pt-Ir and Pt-Ni bimetallic catalysts supported on NaY- and HY-zeolite were examined as a catalyst for producing gasoline from n-decane via simultaneous reforming and cracking. The catalysts were prepared by calcining and reducing metal-ion-exchanged Y-zeolite with O₂ and H₂ at 300°C., respectively. Thus prepared catalysts were characterized by hydrogen chemisorption and temperature programmed desorption of ammonia. Pt-Ni/NaY and Pt-Ir/NaY bimetallic catalysts offered the improved activity maintenance compared to Pt/NaY monometallic catalyst. The catalysts supported on HY-zeolite showed higher selectivity toward C₅–C₇ and skeletal isomers of C₅–C₇- and C₈–C₁₀ than those of the catalysts supported on NaY-zeolite, which is a desired characteristic for increasing octane value of gasoline these days. However, deactivation with reaction time was much more pronounced on HY-zeolite-supported catalyst. When the catalyst was prcsulfided with H,S, the stability with time on stream was enhanced and the selectivity was quite different from that of the catalyst before presulfiding. The acidity of Y-zeolite and presulfiding of catalyst greatly influenced the activny, selectivity and stability of Pt, Ir, Pt-Ir and Pt-Ni bimetallic catalysts supported on Y-zeolite in n-decane reforming reaction.