Modelling upgrading maintenance policy in the one-dimensional renewing warranty period

In the one-dimensional renewing warranty period, the quality of the spares for product is likely to be improved during the warranty period. Therefore, upgrading maintenance becomes more and more common. Then the manufacturers (customers) may have to decide whether or not to provide (buy) the warranty considering upgrading maintenance. This paper presents a mathematical model considering upgrading maintenance for products with multiple failure modes. Upgrading maintenance is taken into account with the assumption that the warranted item is upgraded one time during the warranty cycle. The upgrading maintenance is carried out, when the corrective maintenance is taken place. After upgrading maintenance, the high-quality spares are used to replace the failed item. In the numerical example, the results of the models are calculated. Monte Carlo simulation results are compared with the analytical results to demonstrate the correctness and efficiency of the proposed models considering upgrading maintenance.     

A new hybrid reliability index definition and its application to the structure buckling reliability analysis of supercavitating projectiles

As structure buckling problems easily arise when supercavitating projectiles operate with high underwater velocity, it is necessary to perform structure buckling reliability analysis. Now it is widely known that probabilistic and non-probabilistic uncertain information exists in engineering analysis. Based on reliability comprehensive index of multi-ellipsoid convex set, probabilistic uncertain information is added and transferred into non-probabilistic interval variable. The hybrid reliability is calculated by a combined method of modified limit step length iteration algorithm(MLSLIA) and Monte-Carlo method. The results of engineering examples show that the convergence of MLSLIA is better than that of limit step length iteration algorithm(LSLIA). Structure buckling hybrid reliability increases with the increase of ratio of base diameter to cavitator diameter, and decreases with the increase of initial launch velocity. Also the changes of uncertain degree of projectile velocity and cavitator drag coefficient affect structure buckling hybrid reliability index obviously. Therefore, uncertain degree of projectile velocity and cavitator drag coefficient should be controlled in project for high structure buckling reliability.     

Multivariate modeling of pedestrian fatality risk through on the spot accident investigation

Pedestrians are the most vulnerable users of public roads and represent one of the largest groups of road casualties; their death rate around the world due to vehicle-pedestrian collisions is high and tending to rise. In Spain, as in other countries of the European Union, steps have been taken to reduce the number and consequences of such accidents, with encouraging results in recent years. A key to countering this concern is the accident research activity that has obtained remarkable achievements in different fields, especially when multidisciplinary approaches are taken. This paper describes the development of a multivariate model that is able to detect the most influential parameters on the consequences of vehicle-pedestrian collision and to quantify their impact on pedestrian fatality risk. First, an accident database containing detailed information and parameters of vehicle-pedestrian collisions in Madrid has been developed. The accidents were investigated on the spot by INSIA accident investigation teams and analyzed using advanced reconstruction techniques. The model was then developed with two components: (1) a classification tree that characterizes and selects the explanatory variables, identifying their interactions, and (2) a binary logistic regression to quantify the influence of each variable and interaction resulting from the classification tree. The whole model represents an important tool for identifying, quantifying and predicting the potential impact of measures aimed at reducing injuries in vehicle-pedestrian collisions.     

Electro-hydraulic braking system for autonomous vehicles

Reducing the number of traffic accidents is a declared target of most governments. Since dependence on driver reaction is the main cause of road accidents, it would be advisable to replace the human factor in some driving-related tasks with automated solutions. To automate a vehicle, it is necessary to control the actuators of a car, i.e., the steering wheel, accelerator, and brake. This paper presents the design and implementation of an electro-hydraulic braking system consisting of a pump and various valves, allowing the control computer to stop the car. It is assembled in conjunction with the original circuit for the sake of robustness and to permit the two systems to halt the car independently. This system was developed for installation in a commercial Citroën C3 Pluriel of the AUTOPIA program. Various tests were carried out to verify its correct operation, and an experiment showing the integration of the system into the longitudinal control of the car is described.     

On-line modeling of non-stationary network traffic with schwarz information criterion

Modeling of network traffic is a fundamental building block of computer science. Measurements of network traffic demonstrate that self-similarity is one of the basic properties of the network traffic possess at large time-scale. This paper investigates the change of non-stationary self-similarity of network traffic over time,and proposes a method of combining the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) and Schwarz information criterion (SIC) to detect change points of self-similarity in network traffic. The traffi...     

Parallel-pipelined architecture of H.264 deblocking filter with adaptive dynamic power

In H.264,the computational complexity and memory access of deblocking filter are variable and depend on the video contents. In this paper,a pipelined VLSI architecture of deblocking filter with adaptive dynamic power is proposed. It avoids redundant computations and memory access by precluding the blocks which can be skipped. And the vertical and horizontal edges are simultaneously processed in an advanced scan order to speed up the decoder. As a result,the dynamic power of the proposed architecture can be ...     

Gait analysis in primary total knee arthroplasty with and without patellar resurfacing: A randomized control study

It is still controversial whether or not to resurface patella during primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). One of the reasons may be insensitive measurement tools. We conducted a randomized controlled study to compare kinematic and kinetic parameters of resurfacing and nonresurfacing patella with the Vicon gait analysis system. The results show that patient post-operative gait of the two groups improved compared to pre-operative gait. Part of gait parameters, knee flexion at heel-strike, double limb support time and maximum adduction angle appeared to be statistically difference in 3 months, but 12 months later, the gait parameters of the two groups had no significant difference. Therefore, it seems that the final function of knee after TKA is not related whether or not to resurface patella.     

Static softening characteristics and static recrystallization kinetics of aluminum alloy A6082 after hot deformation

The static softening behavior of aluminum alloy A6082 was investigated by interrupted hot tests conducted on Gleeble-1500 simulator at deformation temperatures from 573 to 773 K and strain rates from 0.1 to 10 s⁻¹, with a pre-strain from 0.3 to 0.7 and variable inter-pass delay times. The offset method was applied to convert the changes in flow stress between two passes to static softening fraction. The microstructural changes were characterized by the quantitative metallography of quenched specimens. The results showed both static softening and static recrystallization curves exhibited a simple sigmoidal shape; the static softening is related to the static recrystallization in a nonlinear manner with 50% static recrystallized volume fraction corresponding to 80% static softening fraction; an increase in temperature, strain rate or pre-strain yields a decrease in the time for 50% static recrysallized volume fraction, on which the temperature has the most remarkable influence; Si and Mn additions accelerate the process of static recrystallization. Finally, the equations of static recrystallization kinetics of this alloy were developed with a good agreement between the predicted and experimental results.     

Four-degree-of-freedom course stability of an air cushion vehicle

A four-degree-of-freedom mathematical model was established to investigate the course stability of an air cushion vehicle (ACV). The forces of aerodynamic,propeller and rudder were obtained by wind tunnel experiments. A series of constrained model experiments with horizontal-planar-motion-mechanism (HPMM) were conducted to determine the hydrodynamics. The ACV's course stability was analyzed by using Hurwitz deter-mination method with differential equation of perturbation,and the four-degree-of-freedom cours...     

Research of interaction force coefficients based on model test in loading condition

It is very difficult,for the component-type ship mathematical model,to estimate the interaction force coefficients among the hull,propeller and rudder. Some coefficients such as wake fraction and flow straightening coefficient were studied from the model tests in diffierent loading conditions and the normal force of rudder was tested in captive model tests to obtain the coefficients. From these results of the tests,the flow straightening coefficients increase with the increase of trims or drafts. Similarly,...