Fuzzy optimization of storage space allocation in a container terminal

A fuzzy optimization model of storage space allocation is proposed, and a rolling-planning method is derived. The model takes the uncertainty of departure time of import containers and arrival time of export containers into account. For each planning horizon, the problem is decomposed into two levels: the first level minimizes the unbalanced workloads among blocks using hybrid intelligence algorithm; based on block workloads allocated in the above level, the second level minimizes the number of blocks to which the same group of import containers are split. Numerical results show that the model reduces workload imbalance, and speeds up the vessel loading and discharging process.     

Initial conditions of impact dynamics

The effects of the initial conditions of impact dynamics equations are investigated numerically and experimentally. The inadequacies of previous studies on initial conditions are pointed out. Then a coefficient of velocity jump at the moment of impact is introduced, and the experiments for the mental rods are implemented to validate the appending constraints modeling methods for impact process. The comparisons between the experimental and simulated results at different coefficients are used to study the effects of the velocity jump conditions to the numerical simulation. The results indicate that the physical velocity response of bodies during impact is smooth; the different values of velocity jump only have small effects on numerical oscillation of velocity response, and they have no effects on the time history of impact force.     

Dynamic investigation on composite flexible multi-body system considering thermal effect

The dynamic performance of composite flexible multi-body system under the simultaneous action of thermal fields and driving constraint is analyzed. Based on strain-displacement relation of the Mindlin plate theory which includes transverse shear deformation, and considering thermal effect, variation equations of laminated plate are derived by the principle of virtual work. The finite element method is used for discretization. According to kinematics constraint relation, dynamic equations for spatial slider-crank system are established. Simulation results show that spatial deformation (torsion deformation) appears in the multi-layered composite slider-crank mechanism which is simulated with planar motions. Furthermore, the influence of coupling between thermal expansion and flexible deformations of non-symmetrical composite plates on the large overall motion under the uniform temperature field is investigated. Finally, significant change in constraint force due to the spatial deformation is shown.     

Numerical implementation of meshless method for electromagnetic field governing equations

For electromagnetic governing equations formulated by magnetic vector potential and electric scalar potential, its detailed numerical implementation is achieved by using meshless method and Galerkin approach. And essential boundary and interface condition of electromagnetic field are imposed by means of Lagrange multiplier method. Furthermore, the influences of interpolation point number at essential boundary and interface on computational results are also discussed. Examples are given to validate the effects of meshless method and Lagrange multiplier approach for electromagnetic field.     

Numerical analysis and experimental study of the effect of workpiece thickness on flow field in laser cutting

Based on Navier-Stokes equation and renormalization group (RNG) onflow model, the 3D symmetrical impinging jet model of laser cutting is established by adopting a taper nozzle and a convergence nozzle. Numerical simulation of gas flow in laser cutting is used to investigate the effect of workpiece thickness on flow field of assist gas in cutting slot. The isolines of static pressure as well as the distributions of static pressure and velocity are analyzed in details with different workpiece thickness, and the trend of dynamics characteristics of gas jet is shown in the study. For taper nozzles and convergence nozzles, the dynamic structure of assist gas being close to the lower surface of workpiece is exacerbated while the cutting quality and cutting efficiency become worse with the increasing of workpiece thickness. The parallel degree between assist gas and the axis of convergence nozzle is better than that of taper nozzle after the gas goes out of the nozzles. Two typical subsonic nozzles are designed for the cutting experiment at the end of the paper.     

Novel mesh technique and its application in the wind field simulation for flexible spatial structure

In this paper, novel mesh techniques are proposed for wind field simulation of flexible spatial structure. For mesh generation, an interpolation strategy is presented to obtain a mesh system with variable density. Two spatial structure examples are used to examine the efficiency and applicability of this technique. Then based on the structured mesh system generated by the technique, the mesh nodal coordinates are updated to adapt the moving boundary conditions by means of the mapping interpolation functions and some examples are given to verify the effectiveness. Furthermore, the constrained counterforce distribution technique and projection interpolation strategy are developed to implement the data exchange on the interaction surface of wind and structure. Finally, the computational accuracy is numerically validated.     

Vibration transmission reduction from a centrifugal turbo blower in a fuel cell electric vehicle

This paper presents a multi-body flexible dynamic analysis of a centrifugal turbo blower for a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) based on the application of computer-aided engineering (CAE) to predict the acceleration at the mount position of the blower. This predicted acceleration is validated by using the measured acceleration data. The numerical simulation for the multi-body flexible dynamics of the blower is used not only to identify the most effective mount among four mounts in an FCEV by controlling the complex stiffness of the isolator, but also to suggest the range of complex stiffness of the isolator at the most effective mount. This numerical simulation technology can be useful for the estimation of the variation of vibration transmission for the structural modification of the turbo blower.     

Development of electrostatic diesel particulate matter filtration systems combined with a metallic Flow-Through Filter and electrostatic methods

A 3000 cc diesel engine attached to an engine dynamo was used to test three newly developed electrostatic Diesel Particulate matter filtration Systems (DPS 1, 2, and 3) under four steady-state engine operating conditions: idle, 2000 rpm with no load, and 2000 rpm under 25% and 50% loads. Of the two developed alternatives, DPS 1 and DPS 2, DPS 2 comprises an ionization section, electrostatic field additional section and Flow-Through Filter (FTF), which achieved almost 90% removal of particulate matter (PM) under the engine’s operating conditions, and the efficiency of the FTF was maintained between 20% and 50%. Comparing the long-term performance of DPS 2 and DPS 3 (effectively a serial combination of two DPS 2s) with a commercially-available Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF), the DPS 2 and DPS 3 achieved almost the same efficiency for removing PM as the DPF but had significantly improved (75%∼90% lower) differential pressure drops.     

Fault detection method for electric parking brake (EPB) systems with sensorless estimation using current ripples

A fault detection method with parity equations is proposed in this paper. Due to its low cost implementation, the velocity of the motor is not measurable in electric parking brake (EPB) systems. Therefore, residuals are not reliable when estimating the motor velocity with a low-resolution encoder. In this paper, we propose a fault detection method with sensorless estimation using current ripples that estimates the position and velocity of the motor by detecting periodical oscillations of the armature current caused by rotor slots. In addition, this method can estimate the position and velocity of the motor with less computational effort than a state observer. Moreover, the method is less sensitive to motor parameters than model-based estimation methods. The effectiveness of this method is validated with experimental data, and the simulation results show that various faults have their own residual patterns. Therefore, we can detect the presence of faults by monitoring the residual signals.     

Development of a new sound metric for impact sound in a passenger car using the wavelet transform

Vehicles can experience impacts due to harsh road conditions. Contact with an uneven road surface causes vehicles to vibrate, which generates a loud impact sound. The attenuation of such noise is important because car passengers may complain about the impact noise. However, perfect removal of impact noise is not possible because most of it is caused by external conditions. More research is needed on the objective attributes of impact noise; however, the problem of impact noise is not a simple matter because impact noise is transient in nature and reaches a high level instantaneously. In this paper, a new objective attribute of impact noise is designed using the wavelet transform, which is appropriate for analyzing nonstationary signals, such as an impact signal. The usefulness of the new objective attribute, which is a sound metric, is examined by comparing the mean subjective ratings for real impact noise in passenger cars. The new sound metric has better correlation with the mean subjective rating than currently existing sound metrics.