Simulation of Chaos in Asymmetric Nonlinear Chua＇s Circuit

In order to describe practical chaotic systems exactly, we presented a simple modified Chua's circuit,which contains an asymmetric nonlinear resistive element. Mathematical analysis was made, and simulation study was performed by MATLAB. By varying the value of linear resistor in the circuit, rich variety dynamical behaviors were observed, such as DC equilibrium point, Hopf bifurcation, period-doubling bifurcation,single-scroll strange attractor, periodic windows, and asymmetric double-scroll strange attractor. The extreme sensitivity in the state trajectory with respect to the initial conditions was exhibited; the special characteristic of asymmetric nonlinear Chua's circuit was found also.     

A new method of transmission network flexible planning using the connection number

Because connection number can express and process synthetic uncertainties caused by various uncertainties in the transmission network planning, a connection number model (CNM) was presented to compare the values of connection number logically. This paper proposed a novel model for transmission network flexible planning with uncertainty. In the proposed planning model both certainty and uncertainty information were included, and the cost-benefit analysis method was used to evaluate the candidate schemes in the objective function. Its good adaptability and flexibility were illustrated through two examples.     

Distribution system optimization planning based on plant growth simulation algorithm

An approach for the integrated optimization of the construction/expansion capacity of high-voltage/medium-voltage (HV/MV) substations and the configuration of MV radial distribution network was presented using plant growth simulation algorithm (PGSA). In the optimization process, fixed costs correspondent to the investment in lines and substations and the variable costs associated to the operation of the system were considered under the constraints of branch capacity, substation capacity and bus voltage. The optimization variables considerably reduce the dimension of variables and speed up the process of optimizing. The effectiveness of the proposed approach was tested by a distribution system planning.     

A modified genetic algorithm for product family optimization with platform specified by information theoretical approach

Many existing product family design methods assume a given platform, However, it is not an in-tuitive task to select the platform and unique variable within a product family. Meanwhile, most approachesare single-platform methods, in which design variables are either shared across all product variants or not atall. While in multiple-platform design, platform variables can have special value with regard to a subset ofproduct variants within the product family, and offer opportunities for superior overall design. An informationtheoretical approach incorporating fuzzy clustering and Shannon's entropy was proposed for platform variablesselection in multiple-platform product family. A 2-level chromosome genetic algorithm (2LCGA) was proposedand developed for optimizing the corresponding product family in a single stage, simultaneously determiningthe optimal settings for the product platform and unique variables. The single-stage approach can yield im-provements in the overall performance of the product family compared with two-stage approaches, in which thefirst stage involves determining the best settings for the platform and values of unique variables are found foreach product in the second stage. An example of design of a family of universal motors was used to verify theproposed method.     

Experimental study on seismic performance of tall building with steel transfer trusses located at a higher level

Based on a shaking table experiment of 1 : 25 scale frame-shearwall structure model with steel transfer trusses, the dynamic characteristics, seismic responses in elastic and elastic-plastic phases with de- structive forms of the structure were studied. It was observed that cracks were developed with earthquake wave acceleration increasing, but no severe crack was developed in the structure during the experiment. In the seismic responses caused by artificial wave, site wave and E1 Centro wave, that caused by the artificial wave is the most intense one. Displacement angle between steel transfer trusses is large, which means the transfer stories might be weak. However, the seismic performance of the steel transfer trusses is good and the overall structure can satisfy seismic fortification requirements in the region of intensity 6.     

Fiber concrete under temperature drop load with stochastic FEM

Plain concrete plate and fiber concrete plate subjected to temperature drop load were analyzed on stochastic finite element method （FEM）. It is found that fibers can enhance concrete ability to resist temperature drop load for improving concrete＇s fracture energy and deferring the crack process. It is found for concrete not to improve apparently its tensile strength and fracture energy is recommended to be its appraisal parameter.     

An analysis on long term emission benefits of a government vehicle fleet replacement plan in northern illinois

There have been a number of studies of the effectiveness of vehicle scrappage programs, which offer incentives to accelerated scrappage of older vehicles often thought to be high emitters. These programs are voluntary and aimed at replacement of household vehicles. In contrast, there is a gap in knowledge related to the emissions benefits of government fleet replacement (retirement) programs. In this study, the efficacy of a fleet replacement program for a local government agency in Northern Illinois, the Forest Preserve of DuPage County (FPDC), is examined using a probabilistic vehicle survival model that accounts for time-varying covariates such as vehicle age and gasoline price. The vehicle lifetime operating emissions are calculated based on the estimated vehicle survival probabilities from the survival model and compared with those derived using the EPA default fleet used in MOBILE6 and the fleet represented by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) survival curve. The results suggest that while there may be short term emission benefits of the FPDC fleet replacement plan, the long-term emission benefits are highly sensitive to economic factors (e.g., future gasoline price) and exhibit a decreasing trend. This indicates that an adaptive multi-stage replacement strategy as opposed to a fixed one is preferable to achieve optimal cost effectiveness.

Hydrodynamics study of a BCF mode bioinspired robotic-fish underwater vehicle using Lighthill’s slender body model

This paper investigates the hydrodynamic characteristics of the rectilinear motion of a robotic fish underwater vehicle. This 2-joint, 3-link multibody vehicle model is biologically inspired by a body caudal fin carangiform fish propulsion mechanism. Navier–Stokes equations are used to compute the unsteady flow fields generated due to the interaction between the vehicle and the surrounding incompressible and Newtonian fluid (water) environment. The NACA 0014 airfoil aerodynamic profile has been designed to boost the swimming efficiency by reducing drag as the vehicle undergoes an undulatory/oscillatory motion. Using the Lighthill slender body model, a traveling wave mathematical function is defined to undulate the robotic fish posterior (caudal) region while the motion tracking is carried out by dynamic meshing technique. The results obtained show that though the net lift force approaches to zero, the net thrust or negative drag coefficient maintains a finite value dependent on kinematic parameters like tail beat frequency (TBF) and amplitude span (AS) at a given propulsive wavelength and the forward velocity of the vehicle. The results reveal the effects of TBF and AS on the coefficient of drag friction and the thrust force. Drag coefficients obtained from the simulations are compared and validated with the experimental results. The hydrodynamic results are found to be similar to the kinematic study results and suggest that TBF and AS play the most effective roles in the bioinspired propulsion technique. Relation of these parameters with propelling thrust force and forward velocity is also in conjunction over a given range of TBF and AS values.     

Experimental investigations on a low frequency horizontal pendulum ocean kinetic energy harvester for underwater mooring platforms

In the interest of extending the operation time of underwater mooring platforms, it is promising and feasible to harvest energy from ocean. A low frequency horizontal pendulum ocean kinetic energy harvester for underwater mooring platforms was presented in this paper. Several series of experimental tests on energy harvesting were carried out. The present research investigates the influence of parameters including excitation frequency, excitation amplitude, inertia modification (ballasting) and pendulum rod length, on the energy harvesting performance. Results show that this type of horizontal pendulum energy harvester has the best performance at resonant frequencies 0.2, 0.25 and 0.3 Hz, with the pendulum pitch angle 3°, 4° and 5°, respectively. It is indicated that the energy harvester can slightly tune the natural frequency to meet the prominent excitation frequency through varying the pendulum pitch angle. The test results also show that the optimal output power take off damping is 30 or 40 Ω in most case, and the maximum average output power can reach 0.3 W, with high normalized power density of 3453.8 kg/m³. Similarly, the results show that three parameters, excitation amplitude, inertia modification (ballasting), and pendulum rod length, have a significant influence on the energy harvesting. This work constitutes a preliminary step towards the development of a low frequency horizontal pendulum ocean kinetic energy harvester for underwater mooring platforms.