Probability distributions of wave run-up on a TLP model

Wave run-up on multi-column compliant and rigid platforms both on the weather-side and beneath the platform deck is a complex wave–structure interaction problem. Predictions based upon higher order hydrodynamic design codes have been improved our understanding of this phenomena but have not appreciably reduced the reliance on model tests and statistical analyses. In this study a three parameter distribution model is developed based upon the inclusion of linear, second-order, and mean contributions to the wave run-up utilizing the method of L-moments. Explicit expressions are derived relating the L-moments and the input from experimental data. The sample L-moments are developed from a linear combination of ordered sequence of the data and consequently the high order L-moments, i.e. L-skewness and L-kurtosis, are less biased than the corresponding ordinary moments. The L-moment definitions of the variance, skewness and kurtosis are numerically compared with values obtained using the more standard definitions for these parameters. Rigid hull measurements are compared with the compliant hull configuration for a mini-TLP model. The sea-states investigated include the relatively benign sea conditions off of West Africa and the more extreme sea environments of Gulf of Mexico.     

The vehicle emissions and performance monitoring system: analysis of tailpipe emissions and vehicle performance

This paper describes tailpipe emission results generated by the Vehicle Performance and Emissions Monitoring system (VPEMS). VPEMS integrates on‐board emissions and vehicle/driver performance measurements with positioning and communications technologies, to transmit a coherent spatio‐temporally referenced dataset to a central base station in near real time. These results focus on relationships between tailpipe emissions of CO, CO₂, NO_x and speed and acceleration. Emissions produced by different driving modes are also presented. Results are generally as one would expect, showing variation between vehicle speed, vehicle acceleration and emissions. Data is based upon a test run in central London on urban streets with speeds not exceeding about 65 km/h. The results presented demonstrate the capabilities of the system. Various issues remain with regard to validation of the data and expansion of the system capability to obtain additional vehicle performance data.     

Experimental study and 3D CFD analysis on the optimization of throttle angle for a convergent vortex tube

Seven adjustments of convergent-type Vortex Tube (VT) with different throttle angles were applied. The adjustments were made to analyze the influences of such angles on cold and hot temperature drops as well as flow structures inside the VTs. An experimental setup was designed, and tests were performed on different convergent VT configurations at injection pressures ranging from 0.45 to 0.65 MPa. The angles of the throttle valve were arranged between 30° to 90°, and the numbers of injection nozzles ranged between 2 and 6. Laboratory results indicated that the maximum hot and cold temperature drops ranged from 23.24 to 35 K and from 22.87 to 32.88 K, respectively, at four injection nozzles. Results also showed that temperature drop is a function of hot throttle valve angle with the maximum hot and cold temperature drops depending on the angle applied. We used graphs to demonstrate the changes in the cold and hot temperature drops with respect to hot throttle angle values. These values were interpreted and evaluated to determine the optimum angle, which was 60°. The CFD outputs agreed very well with the laboratory results. The proposed CFD results can help future researchers gain good insights into the complicated separation process taking place inside the VTs.     

Imprecise reliability assessment for heavy numerical control machine tools against small sample size problem

Small sample size problem is one of the main problems that heavy numerical control (NC) machine tools encounter in their reliability assessment. In order to deal with the small sample size problem, many indirect reliability data such as reliability data of similar products, expert opinion, and engineers’ experience are used in reliability assessment. However, the existing mathematical theories cannot simultaneously process the above reliability data of multiple types, and thus imprecise probability theory is introduced. Imprecise probability theory can simultaneously process multiple reliability data by quantifying multiple uncertainties (stochastic uncertainty, fuzzy uncertainty, epistemic uncertainty, etc.) together. Although imprecise probability theory has so many advantages, the existing natural extension models are complex and the computation result is imprecise. Therefore, they need some improvement for the better application of reliability engineering. This paper proposes an improved imprecise reliability assessment method by introducing empirical probability distributions to natural extension model, and the improved natural extension model is applied to the reliability assessment of heavy NC machine tool spindle to illustrate its effectiveness.     

Optimal thrust allocation logic design of dynamic positioning with pseudo-inverse method

This article presents a method named pseudo-inverse to solve the optimal thrust allocation of dynamic positioning (DP) system, proposes to optimally determine the azimuth angle of thrusters instead of man-control or semi-auto control, and combines with the pseudo-inverse methods to get the optimal solutions for dynamic positioning control system. It is able to greatly reduce the risk of manual mode. Three different kinds of modes are proposed and detailedly illuminated, and can be used to solve much more complex nonlinear constraint problems, such as typical forbidden vector boundary. Several illustrative examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness and correctness of the proposed thrust allocation modes.     

Sealed v/s open bids for certificates of entitlement under the vehicle quota system in Singapore

The Vehicle Quota System manages vehicle ownership in Singapore by making the procurement of a Certificate of Entitlement (COE) a prerequisite for the registration of a new vehicle. The procurement is done during uniform price auctions of quotas of COEs currently held on a twice-a-month schedule. The auction format which started out as sealed bids in May 1990 changed to open bids in July 2001. This paper uses a regression model framework to investigate if this shift in auction format has resulted in lower COE premium volatility and a better reflection of demand and supply forces. The empirical results are pertinent to transport policy analysis. A suggestion in the form of incentives for early bids is also made to improve the efficiency of the open bids auction.     

Mathematical model for takeoff simulation of a wing in proximity to the ground

Aircraft flying close to the ground benefit from enhanced efficiency owing to decreased induced drag and increased lift. In this study, a mathematical model is developed to simulate the takeoff of a wing near the ground using an Iterative Boundary Element Method (IBEM) and the finite difference scheme. Two stand-alone sub-codes and a mother code, which enables communication between the sub-codes, are developed to solve for the self-excitation of the Wing-In-Ground (WIG) effect. The aerodynamic force exerted on the wing is calculated by the first sub-code using the IBEM, and the vertical displacement of the wing is calculated by the second sub-code using the finite difference scheme. The mother code commands the two sub-codes and can solve for the aerodynamics of the wing and operating height within seconds. The developed code system is used to solve for the force, velocity, and displacement of an NACA6409 wing at a 4° Angle of Attack (AoA) which has various numerical and experimental studies in the literature. The effects of thickness and AoA are then investigated and conclusions were drawn with respect to generated results. The proposed model provides a practical method for understanding the flight dynamics and it is specifically beneficial at the pre-design stages of a WIG effect craft.     

Properties and electronic structure of iron under pressure up to 30GPa

The properties and electronic structure of Fe under pressures of 0–30GPa have been studied by first principles employing the density functional theory (DFT), the ultra-soft pseudo-potentials (USPP) and the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The calculating results show that there is a structural transition from magnetic body-centered cubic (bcc) to nonmagnetic hexagonal-close-packed (hcp) structure for Fe around 11GPa pressure. There is a pseudogap both in the density of states (DOS) for bcc and hcp Fe. The pseudogap of bcc Fe is deeper and wider than that of hcp Fe. The elastic modulus is obtained by Voigt-Reuss-Hill averaging scheme. The results indicate that the elastic properties of bcc Fe enhance with pressure except for elastic stiffness constant C ₁₁, shear modulus G and elastic modulus E at the transition pressure, while the elastic properties of hcp Fe increase linearly with pressure. Magnetic bcc Fe is ductile, and hcp Fe becomes ductile from brittle around 25GPa.     

Security analysis of application layer protocols on wireless local area networks

This paper aims at analyzing the security issues that lie in the application layer (AL) protocols when users connect to the Internet via a wireless local area network (WLAN) through an access point. When adversaries launch deauthentication flood attacks cutting users’ connection, the connection managers will automatically research the last access point’s extended service set identifier (ESSID) and then re-establish connection. However, such re-connection can lead the users to a fake access point with the same ESSID set by attackers. As the attackers hide behind users’ access points, they can pass AL’s authentication and security schemes, e.g. secure socket layer (SSL). We have proved that they can even spy on users’ account details, passwords, data and privacy.