Topology optimization of gas flow channel routes in an automotive fuel cell

An efficient topology optimization method for fluid-structure problems was developed in an effort to determine the optimum flow channel route in a fuel cell bipolar plate from first principles. This study describes the derivation and solution of new mathematical equations for topology optimization combining a density-based algorithm, the interpolation method of moving asymptotes (MMA), and the incompressible Navier-Stokes equation with a term representing the chemical reaction between hydrogen and the catalyst. The present method is based on the finite element method with a newly developed reaction rate equation. In this model, a topology variable of 0 represents viscous flow, whereas a value of 1 indicates porous flow. The flow velocity and pressure were obtained from the Navier-Stokes equation and constraints and element matrices for sensitivity analyses during the optimization. MMA was utilized to calculate the optimum flow routes in the design domain. The influence of the key design parameter q and the pressure drop on the optimum topology were also investigated. The channel topology became smoother with decreasing q, and the number of channels increased with increasing pressure drop.     

Comparison of the optimum designs of center pillar assembly of an auto-body between conventional steel and ahss with a simplified side impact analysis

This study compares the optimum designs of center pillar assembly with advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) to that of conventional steel for crashworthiness and weight reduction in side impacts. A simplified side impact analysis method was used to simulate the crash behavior of the center pillar assembly with efficient computing time. Thickness optimization aims to perform an S-shaped deformation of the center pillar toward the cabin to reduce the injury level of a driver in a crash test. Center pillar members were regarded as an assembly of parts that are fabricated with tailor-welded blanks, and the thickness of each part was selected as a design variable. The thickness variables of parts that have significant effects on the deformation mechanism were extracted as the main design variables for thickness optimization based on the results of a sensitivity analysis with design of experiments. The optimization condition was constructed to induce an S-shaped deformation mode and reduce the weight of the center pillar assembly. An optimum design was obtained after several iterations with response surface methodology (RSM). Optimization was first performed with conventional steel and then with AHSS with the same procedure to optimize the crashworthiness of the center pillar assembly. After thickness optimization, optimum designs were applied to the full vehicle analysis to evaluate the validity of the optimization scheme with the simplified side impact analysis method. Then, the crashworthiness of optimum designs with conventional steel and AHSS were compared using the full vehicle analysis. This comparison demonstrates that AHSS can be more effectively utilized than conventional steel to obtain a lightweight design of an auto-body with enhanced crashworthiness.     

Prediction of the dimensional deformation of the addendum and dedendum after the warm shrink fitting process using a correction coefficient

The warm shrink fitting process is generally used to assemble automobile transmission parts (shafts/gears). However, this process causes a deformation in the addendum and dedendum of the gear depending on the fitting interference and gear profile, and this deformation causes additional noise and vibration between the gears. To address these problems, the warm shrink fitting process is analyzed by considering the error in the dimensional deformation of the addendum and dedendum found when comparing the results of a theoretical analysis and finite element analysis (FEA). A correction coefficient that reduces this error is derived through an analysis of the difference in the cross-sectional area between the shapes used for the theoretical analysis and that of the actual gear, and a closed-form equation to predict the dimensional deformation of the addendum and dedendum is proposed. The FEA method is proposed to analyze the thermal-structural-thermal coupled field analysis of the warm shrink fitting process (heating-fitting-cooling process). To verify the closed-form equation using the correction coefficient, measurements are made of actual helical gears used in automobile transmissions. The results are in good agreement with those given by the closed-form equation.     

双平面焊接圆管截面DKT节点的中心撑杆鞍点及冠点位置的应力集中系数(英文)

A set of parametric stress analyses was carried out for two-planar tubular DKT-joints under different axial loading conditions.The analysis results were used to present general remarks on the effects of the geometrical parameters on stress concentration factors(SCFs) at the inner saddle,outer saddle,and crown positions on the central brace.Based on results of finite element(FE) analysis and through nonlinear regression analysis,a new set of SCF parametric equations was established for fatigue design purposes.An assessment study of equations was conducted against the experimental data and original SCF database.The satisfaction of acceptance criteria proposed by the UK Department of Energy(UK DoE) was also checked.Results of parametric study showed that highly remarkable differences exist between the SCF values in a multi-planar DKT-joint and the corresponding SCFs in an equivalent uni-planar KT-joint having the same geometrical properties.It can be clearly concluded from this observation that using the equations proposed for uni-planar KT-connections to compute the SCFs in multi-planar DKT-joints will lead to either considerably under-predicting or over-predicting results.Hence,it is necessary to develop SCF formulae specially designed for multi-planar DKT-joints.Good results of equation assessment according to UK DoE acceptance criteria,high values of correlation coefficients,and the satisfactory agreement between the predictions of the proposed equations and the experimental data guarantee the accuracy of the equations.Therefore,the developed equations can be reliably used for fatigue design of offshore structures.     

Course stability and yaw motion of a ship in steady wind

In order to achieve safe navigation, it is important to be able to understand and calculate the effects of an external force on the maneuvering behavior of a ship. This paper analyzes the course stability and yaw motion of a ship traveling under steady wind conditions. A course stability criterion and approximate formulae for the yaw motion in steady wind, including the aero/hydrodynamic force derivatives for the ship, are derived. To confirm the reliability of the criterion and formulae, they were used to investigate a pure car carrier in steady wind. The results of this investigation revealed that course instability appears in the head and following wind directions, mainly under the influence of aerodynamic derivatives with respect to the yaw restoring forces. However, this course instability can be reduced by applying steering control. For winds ranging from head winds to beam winds, yaw oscillation appears when the period is relatively long and the damping is small. The analytical formulae derived here can be used to gain a better understanding of ship maneuvering behavior in steady wind.     

Mixing over the steep side of the Cycladic Plateau in the Aegean Sea

Intensive microstructure sampling over the southern slope of the Cycladic Plateau found very weak mixing in the pycnocline, centered on a thin minimum of diapycnal diffusivity with Kρ=1.5×¹⁰−6 m² s^− 1. Below the pycnocline, Kρ increased exponentially in the bottom 200 m, reaching 1 × 10^− 4 m² s^− 1 a few meters above the bottom. Near-bottom mixing was most intense where the bottom slope equaled the characteristic slope of the semi-diurnal internal tide. This suggests internal wave scattering and/or generation at the bottom, a conclusion supported by near-bottom dissipation rates increasing following rising winds and with intensifying internal waves. Several pinnacles on the slope were local mixing hotspots. Signatures included a vertical line of strong mixing in a pinnacle's wake, an hydraulic jump or lee wave over a downstream side of the summit, and a ‘beam’ sloping upward at the near-inertial characteristic slope. Because dissipation rate averages were dominated by strong turbulence, ?/νN² > 100, the effect on Kρ of alternate mixing efficiencies proposed for this range of turbulent intensity is explored.     

New method for predicting full-scale power performance of pumpjet propulsion system based on statistical learning北大核心CSCD

[目的]针对“适配于螺旋桨的船尾线型+泵喷推进器”构成的船舶泵喷推进系统,提出一种基于统计学习的实船快速性预报新方法。[方法]以某大型水面船舶泵喷推进系统为对象,通过神经网络学习典型推进泵的推力系数图谱曲线,综合运用船-桨配合时的K_(T)-J曲线和船体-喷泵配合时的推力特性曲线,建立“仅需船舶阻力曲线就能实现船舶泵喷推进系统实船快速性预报”的新方法,并基于船模阻力试验、泵喷模型敞水试验及船体-泵喷自航试验的测量换算结果对实船推进性能的预报结果开展精度校验。[结果]校验结果表明:在航速18~30 kn范围内,船舶泵喷推进系统的自航转速、推力和功率的预报误差可控制在5.4%以内,其中设计航速附近的误差甚至小于2%;船体-泵喷的相互作用程度介于船-桨与船体-喷泵之间且幅值相对较小,推力减额系数为趋向于0的极小值,故船舶泵喷推进系统是介于桨轴推进系统和喷水推进系统之间的产物。[结论]该预报方法有利于提升船舶泵喷推进系统实船快速性预报的能力,可为新型舰艇泵类推进系统总体设计/研究提供参考。     

Experience as a conditioning effect on choice: Does it matter whether it is exogenous or endogenous?

Previous choice studies have proposed a way to condition the utility of each alternative in a choice set on experience with the alternatives accumulated over previous periods, defined either as a mode used or not in a most recent trip, or the mode chosen in their most recent trip and the number of similar one-way trips made during the last week. The paper found that the overall statistical performance of the mixed logit model improved significantly, suggesting that this conditioning idea has merit. Experience was treated as an exogenous influence linked to the scale of the random component, and to that extent it captures some amount of the heterogeneity in unobserved effects, purging them of potential endogeneity. The current paper continues to investigate the matter of endogeneity versus exogeneity. The proposed approach implements the control function method through the experience conditioning feature in a choice model. We develop two choice models, both using stated preference data. The paper extends the received contribution in that we allow for the endogenous variable to have an impact on the attributes through a two stage method, called the Multiple Indicator Solution, originally implemented in a different context and for a single (quality) attribute, in which stage two is the popular control function method. In the first stage, the entire utility expression associated with all observed attributes is conditioned on the prior experience with an alternative. Hence, we are capturing possible correlates associated with each and every attribute and not just one selected attribute. We find evidence of potential endogeneity. The purging exercise however, results in both statistical similarities and differences in time and cost choice elasticities and mean estimates of the value of travel time savings. We are able to identify a very practical method to correct for possible endogeneity under experience conditioning that will encourage researchers and practitioners to use such an approach in more advanced non-linear discrete choice models as a matter of routine.

     

Residual life prediction for marine diesel turbocharger based on Wiener process北大核心CSCD

[目的]针对船舶柴油机增压器难以收集到全生命周期性能退化数据的问题,提出一种基于维纳过程的寿命预测模型。[方法]首先,采用K-Means模型对增压器实际运行工况进行聚类,提取出典型工况数据;然后,使用贝叶斯突变点检测模型识别增压器的缺陷点;最后,建立基于维纳过程的退化模型,并以某型船用柴油机增压器为应用对象,预测增压器的剩余使用寿命。[结果]结果显示,基于维纳过程的寿命预测方法能够在不需要同类设备历史退化数据的情况下对增压器的剩余寿命进行预测。[结论]所提方法对缺少故障样本的船舶柴油机增压器寿命预测具有一定的参考价值。     

Easing or tightening control strategies: determination of COVID-19 parameters for an agent-based model

Some agent-based models have been developed to estimate the spread progression of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and to evaluate strategies aimed to control the outbreak of the infectious disease. Nonetheless, COVID-19 parameter estimation methods are limited to observational epidemiologic studies which are essentially aggregated models. We propose a mathematical structure to determine parameters of agent-based models accounting for the mutual effects of parameters. We then use the agent-based model to assess the extent to which different control strategies can intervene the transmission of COVID-19. Easing social distancing restrictions, opening businesses, speed of enforcing control strategies, quarantining family members of isolated cases on the disease progression and encouraging the use of facemask are the strategies assessed in this study. We estimate the social distancing compliance level in Sydney greater metropolitan area and then elaborate the consequences of moderating the compliance level in the disease suppression. We also show that social distancing and facemask usage are complementary and discuss their interactive effects in detail.