Experimental study of the physical and chemical characteristics of biodiesel blended fuel using ultrasonic energy irradiation

The purpose of this study is to understand the physical and chemical characteristics of biodiesel blended fuel reformed by ultrasonic energy irradiation. To do this, a mixture of commercial diesel fuel and biodiesel was compared and analyzed according to whether or not ultrasonic energy irradiation was performed and the duration of irradiation. The results of the experiments indicate that when ultrasonic energy irradiation was performed on biodiesel blended fuel, its viscosity decreased by 3–7%. In the case of BD20, when ultrasonic energy irradiation was performed, its Sauter mean diameter (SMD) dropped by 12% on average. As the irradiation duration increased, the volume ratio of olefins increased up to a maximum of 2.7%, and the higher heating value increased to a maximum of 5.8%. On the contrary, the ratio of aromatics decreased by a maximum of 2.7%, and BI decreased by a maximum of 7%.     

A Real-Time Parking Prediction System for Smart Cities

A methodological framework for multiple steps ahead parking availability prediction is presented. Two different types of predictions are provided: the probability of a free space to continue being free in subsequent time intervals, and the short-term parking occupancy prediction in selected regions of an urban road network. The available data come from a wide network of on-street parking sensors in the “smart” city of Santander, Spain. The sensor network is segmented in four different regions, and then survival and neural network models are developed for each region separately. Findings show that the Weibull parametric models best describe the probability of a parking space to continue to be free in the forthcoming time intervals. Moreover, simple genetically optimized multilayer perceptrons accurately predict region parking occupancy rates up to 30 minutes in the future by exploiting 1-minute data. Finally, the real time, Web-based, implementation of the proposed parking prediction availability system is presented.     

Numerical Investigation of Contra Rotating Vertical-Axis Tidal-Current Turbine

In this study, the performance of a contra rotating vertical-axis tidal-current turbine was investigated. The incompressible unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (U-RANS) equations were solved via two-dimensional (2D) numerical simulation using ANSYS Fluent computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code. An algorithm known as SIMPLE from the CFD code was used to calculate the pressure-velocity coupling and second-order finite-volume discretization for all the transport equations. The base turbine model was validated using the available experimental data. Three given scenarios for the contra rotating turbine were modeled. The contra rotating turbine performs better in a low tip speed ratio (TSR) than in a high TSR operation. In a high TSR operation, the contra rotating turbine inefficiently operates, surviving to rotate in the chaotic flow distribution. Thus, it is recommended to use contra rotating turbine as a part of new design to increase the performance of a vertical-axis tidal-current turbine with a lower TSR.     

Effect of WO<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanoparticle loading on the microstructural,mechanical and corrosion resistance of Zn matrix/TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-WO<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanocomposite coatings for marine application

In this study, for marine application purposes, we evaluated the effect of process parameter and particle loading on the microstructure, mechanical reinforcement and corrosion resistance properties of a Zn-TiO₂-WO₃ nanocomposite produced via electrodeposition. We characterized the morphological properties of the composite coatings with a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) equipped with an Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS). We carried out mechanical examination using a Dura Scan hardness tester and a CERT UMT-2 multi-functional tribological tester. We evaluated the corrosion properties by linear polarization in 3.5% NaCl. The results show that the coatings exhibited good stability and the quantitative particle loading greatly enhanced the structural and morphological properties, hardness behavior and corrosion resistance of the coatings. We observed the precipitation of this alloy on steel is greatly influenced by the composite characteristics.     

铁道车辆车轮外形的优化设计

介绍了基于轮轨接触几何特性,采用数值优化技术,设计车轮外形的方法.     

Finite element analysis of collapse of front side rails with new types of crush initiators

Today’s vehicles are designed with lighter weight to increase performance and to lower fuel consumption, while at the same time meeting the demands of safety requirements. Reducing the cross-section of structural elements to achieve weight reduction can lead to adverse effects on passive safety of the vehicle. In such cases, necessary design modifications must be created to overcome the adverse effects. For this purpose, front rail columns with crush initiators are used in the front zone of cars. These shock-absorbing elements act as energy consuming devices that convert impact energy (kinetic energy) into plastic deformation energy. Simulation of this energy conversion phenomenon is the subject of this paper. The primary objective of this study is to computationally determine how various crush initiators can reduce the maximum crushing force and how different types of structural modifications affect the observed folding form. The ribs near the crash area are placed in two rows and four different configurations on all facing sides of the column in order to decrease reaction forces and absorb more kinetic energy. These structures are analyzed under axially loaded crushing forces using the explicit nonlinear finite element analysis solver ANSYS/LS-DYNA.     

Characteristic analysis for cognition of dangerous driving using automobile black boxes

Automobile black boxes are devices that collect information regarding vehicle operation and the driver’s operating situation in the case of a traffic accident. The information collected from the automobile black box, which can also be used during normal driving, can provide information about dangerous driving cognition. This study was designed to analyze characteristics of dangerous driving data and build a dangerous driving cognition system as follows. First, dangerous driving is divided into four types by considering the vehicle’s movement, such as acceleration, deceleration, turning and statistical data of traffic accidents. Second, dangerous driving data were collected by vehicle tests using the automobile black box, and characteristics of the driving data were analyzed to classify dangerous driving. Third, a standard threshold was chosen to recognize dangerous driving, and an algorithm of dangerous driving cognition was created. Finally, verification was conducted by vehicle tests with automobile black boxes embedded with the developed algorithm. The presented recognition methods of dangerous driving can be used for on/off-line management of drivers and vehicles. Scientific traffic accident databases can be built with this driving and accident information, and can be used in various industrial areas.     

Generalization of Results of Computations and Natural Experiments at Steel Parts Quenching

IntroductionThepaPerpresentsthegenera1izationofresultsofnumericalcomputationsandnaturalexperimentsbasedonthesimilaritytheoryandtheoryofregularthermalconditions.Thenumericalcomputationshasbeenmadeonthebasisofsolvingequationsofnon-stationarythermalconductivityandthermoplaSticity.Thegeneralizationofresultsliesinthefactthatwefoundadimensionlessformulaforthedeterminationofthetimeofreachingthemaximumcompressionstressesonthesurfaceofp8rtstobequenched.ThepatstobequenchedaredividedintothreegrouPs:pla…     

冻土地区桩基础施工热稳定性分析

针对多年冻土地区桩基施工中水泥水化热对桩周温度场的热扰动问题．进行考虑相变的三维非稳态热分析,通过有限元模拟计算,得出随时间变化桩周温度场变化规律及不同深度处随时间变化沿径向桩基温度场变化规律。结果表明：混凝土水化热对桩周围土体的热扰动大而且时间长,应采取措施减小混凝土水化热,从而达到减小冻土区桩基热扰动问题。     

非均匀表面上移动的冲翼艇的横摇-垂荡-纵摇运动建模（英文）

Ground-effect vehicles flying close to water or ground often employ ram wings which generate aerodynamic lift primarily on their lower surfaces. The subject of this paper is the 3-DOF modeling of roll, heave, and pitch motions of such a wing in the presence of surface waves and other ground non-uniformities. The potential-flow extreme-ground-effect theory is applied for calculating unsteady pressure distribution under the wing which defines instantaneous lift force and moments. Dynamic simulations of a selected ram wing configuration are carried out in the presence of surface waves of various headings and wavelengths,as well as for transient flights over a ground obstacle. The largest amplitudes of the vehicle motions are observed in beam waves when the periods of the encounter are long. Nonlinear effects are more pronounced for pitch angles than for roll and heave. The present method can be adapted for modeling of air-supported lifting surfaces on fast marine vehicles.