Comparison study on measurement of rail weld joint between inertial reference method and multi-point chord reference method

Purpose – Straightness measurement of rail weld joint is of essential importance to railway maintenance. Dueto the lack of efficient measurement equipment, there has been limited in-depth research on rail weld joint with a5-m wavelength range, leaving a significant knowledge gap in this field.Design/methodology/approach – In this study, the authors used the well-established inertial referencemethod (IR-method), and the state-of-the-art multi-point chord reference method (MCR-method). Two methodshave been applied in different types of rail straightness measurement trollies, respectively. These instrumentswere tested in a high-speed rail section within a certain region of China. The test results were ultimatelyvalidated through using traditional straightedge and feeler gauge methods as reference data to evaluate the railweld joint straightness within the 5-m wavelength range.Findings – The research reveals that IR-method and MCR-method produce reasonably similar measurementresults for wavelengths below 1 m. However, MCR-method outperforms IR-method in terms of accuracy forwavelengths exceeding 3 m. Furthermore, it was observed that IR-method, while operating at a slower speed,carries the risk of derailing and is incapable of detecting rail weld joints and low joints within the track.Originality/value – The research compare two methods’ measurement effects in a longer wavelength rangeand demonstrate the superiority of MCR-method.

Development of A Reference Dose for BDE-47,99,and 209 Using Benchmark Dose Methods

Eleven recently completed toxicological studies were critically reviewed to identify toxicologically significant endpoints and dose-response information. Dose-response data were compiled and entered into the USEPA＇s benchmark dose software （BMDS） for calculation of a benchmark dose （BMD） and a benchmark dose low （BMDL）. After assessing 91 endpoints across the nine studies, a total of 23 of these endpoints were identified for BMD modeling, and BMDL estimates corresponding to various dose-response models were compiled for these separate endpoints. Thyroid, neurobehavior and reproductive endpoints for BDE-47, -99, -209 were quantitatively evaluated. According to methods and feature of each study, different uncertainty factor （UF） value was decided and subsequently reference doses （RfDs） were proposed. Consistent with USEPA, the lowest BMDLs of 2.10, 81.77, and 1698 I^g/kg were used to develop RfDs for BDE-47, -99, and -209, respectively. RfDs for BDE-99 and BDE-209 were comparable to EPA results, and however, RfD of BDE-47 was much lower than that of EPA, which may result from that reproductive/developmental proves to be more sensitive than neurobehavior for BDE-47 and the principal study uses very-low-dose exposure.

Combination of terrestrial reference frames based on space geodetic techniques in SHAO:methodology and main issues

Based on years of input from the four geodetic techniques （SLR, GPS, VLBI and DORIS）, the strategies of the combination were studied in SHAO to generate a new global terrestrial reference frame as the material realization of the ITRS defined in IERS Conventions. The main input includes the time series of weekly solutions （or fortnightly for SLR 1983-1993） of observational data for satellite techniques and session-wise normal equations for VLBI. The set of estimated unknowns includes 3- dimensional Cartesian coordinates at the reference epoch 2005.0 of the stations distributed globally and their rates as well as the time series of consistent Earth Orientation Parameters （EOPs） at the same epochs as the input. Besides the final solution, namely SOL-2, generated by using all the inputs before 2015.0 obtained from short-term observation processing, another reference solution, namely SOL- 1, was also computed by using the input before 2009.0 based on the same combination of procedures for the purpose of comparison with ITRF2008 and DTRF2008 and for evaluating the effect of the latest six more years of data on the combined results. The estimated accuracy of the x-component and y-component of the SOL- 1 TRF-origin was better than 0.1 mm at epoch 2005.0 and better than 0.3 mm yr- 1 in time evolution, either compared with ITRF2008 or DTRF2008. However, the z-component of the translation parameters from SOL-1 to ITRF2008 and DTRF2008 were 3.4 mm and -1.0 ram, respectively. It seems that the z-component of the SOL-1 TRF-origin was much closer to the one in DTRF2008 than the one in ITRF2008. The translation parameters from SOL-2 to ITRF2014 were 2.2, -1.8 and 0.9 mm in the x-, y- and z-components respectively with rates smaller than 0.4 mmyr-1. Similarly, the scale factor transformed from SOL-1 to DTRF2008 was much smaller than that to ITRF2008. The scale parameter from SOL-2 to ITRF2014 was -0.31 ppb with a rate lower than 0.01 ppb yr-1. The external precision （WRMS） compared with IERS EOP 08 C04 of the combined EOP series was smaller than 0.06 mas for the polar motions, smaller than 0.01 ms for the UT1-UTC and smaller than 0.02 ms for the LODs. The precision of the EOPs in SOL-2 was slightly higher than that of SOL-1.

Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor Array System Based on Digital Phase Generated Carrier Demodulation and Reference Compensation Method

A novel fiber Bragg grating （FBG） sensor array system based on digital phase generated carrier （PGC） demodulation and reference compensation method is proposed and set up. Experimental results confirm that the digital PGC demodulation can be used for wavelength-division-multiplexed FBG sensor array and the reference compensation method can reduce the environmental interference by approximately 40 dB in the frequency range from 20 Hz to 2 kHz. The minimum detectable wavelength-shift of the sensor system is 1 × 10^-3 pm/Hz^1/2.

The transformation between τ and TCB for deep space missions under IAU resolutions

For tracking spacecraft and performing radio science, the transformation between the proper time （τ） given by a clock carried onboard a spacecraft and the barycentric coordinate time （TCB） is investigated under IAU resolutions. In order to more clearly demonstrate manifestations of a physical model and improve computa- tional efficiency, an analytic approach is adopted. After numerical verification, it is confirmed that this method is adequate to describe a Mars orbiter during one year, and is particularly good at describing the influence from perturbing bodies. Further analyses demonstrate that there are two main effects in the transformation： the gravi- tational field of the Sun and the velocity of the spacecraft in the barycentric coordinate reference system. The combined contribution of these effects is at the level of a few sub-seconds.

A method for calculating probability of collision between space objects

A method is developed to calculate probability of collision. Based on geometric features of space objects during the encounter, it is reasonable to separate the radial orbital motions from those in the cross section for most encounter events that occur in a near-circular orbit. Therefore, the probability of collision caused by differences in both altitude of the orbit in the radial direction and the probability of collision caused by differences in arrival time in the cross section are calculated. The net probability of collision is expressed as an explicit expression by multiplying the above two components. Numerical cases are applied to test this method by comparing the results with the general method. The results indicate that this method is valid for most encounter events that occur in near-circular orbits.

Relativistic transformation between τ and TCB for Mars missions: Fourier analysis on its accessibility with clock offset

In the context of the fact that Einstein＇s general relativity has become an inevitable part of deep space missions, we will extend previous works on relativistic transformation between the proper time ^- of a clock onboard a spacecraft orbiting Mars and the Barycentric Coordinate Time （TCB） by taking the clock offset into ac- count and investigate its accessibility by Fourier analysis on the residuals after fitting the ^--TCB curve in terms of n-th order polynomials. We find that if the accuracy of a clock can achieve better than ~ 10-5 s or ~ 10-6 s （depending on the type of clock offset） in one year after calibration, the relativistic effects on the difference between 7- and TCB will need to be carefully considered.

Relativistic transformation between τ and TCG for Mars missions under IAU Resolutions

Considering the fact that the general theory of relativity has become an in- extricable part of deep space missions, we investigate the relativistic transformation between the proper time of an onboard clock τ and the Geocentric Coordinate Time （TCG） for Mars missions. By connecting τ with this local timescale associated with the Earth, we extend previous works which focus on the transformation between τ and the Barycentric Coordinate Time （TCB）. （TCB is the global coordinate time for the whole solar system.） For practical convenience, the relation between τ and TCG is recast to directly depend on quantities which can be read from ephemerides. We find that the difference between τ and TCG can reach the level of about 0.2 seconds in a year. To distinguish various sources in the transformation, we numerically calculate the contributions caused by the Sun, eight planets, three large asteroids and the space- craft. It is found that if the threshold of 1 microsecond is adopted, this transformation must include effects due to the Sun, Venus, the Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and the velocities of the spacecraft and Earth.

Relativistic algorithm for time transfer in Mars missions under IAU Resolutions: an analytic approach

With tremendous advances in modem techniques, Einstein＇s general rela- tivity has become an inevitable part of deep space missions. We investigate the rela- tivistic algorithm for time transfer between the proper time - of the onboard clock and the Geocentric Coordinate Time, which extends some previous works by including the effects of propagation of electromagnetic signals. In order to evaluate the implicit algebraic equations and integrals in the model, we take an analytic approach to work out their approximate values. This analytic model might be used in an onboard com- puter because of its limited capability to perform calculations. Taking an orbiter like Yinghuo-1 as an example, we find that the contributions of the Sun, the ground station and the spacecraft dominate the outcomes of the relativistic corrections to the model.

Relativistic transformations between global and local velocities of an orbiter under IAU Resolutions

Einstein＇s general relativity （GR） has become an inevitable part of deep space missions. According to the International Astronomical Union （IAU） Resolutions which are built in the framework of GR, several time scales and reference systems are recommended to be used in the solar system for control, navigation and scientific op- eration of a spacecraft. Under the IAU Resolutions, we derive the transformations be- tween global and local velocities of an arbitrary orbiter. These transformations might be used in orbit determination with Doppler tracking and prediction of Doppler ob- servables for the spacecraft. Taking the YingHuo-1 Mission as a technical example of future Chinese Mars explorations, we evaluate the significance and contributions of various components in the transformations. The largest contribution of the relativistic parts in the transformations can reach the level of ～ 5 × 10-5 m s^-1. This suggests that, for such a spacecraft like we have assumed, if the accuracy of Doppler tracking is better than ～ 5 × 10-5 m s^-1 then the relativistic parts of the transformations of velocities will be required.

Weekly inter-technique combination of SLR,VLBI,GPS and DORIS at the solution level

Constructing and maintaining a stable terrestrial reference frame （TRF） is one of the key objectives of fundamental astronomy and geodesy. The datum realization for all the global TRF versions, such as ITRF2014 and its predecessor ITRF2008, assumes linear time evolution for transformation parameters and then imposes some conditions on these Helmert transformation parameters. In this paper, we investigate a new approach, which is based on weekly estimation of station positions and Helmert transformation parameters from a combination of the solutions of four space-geodetic techniques, i.e., Satellite Laser Ranging （SLR）, Very Long Baseline Interferometry （VLBI）, Global Positioning System （GPS） and Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite （DORIS）. For this study, an interval of one week is chosen because the arc length of the SLR solutions is seven days. The major advantage of this weekly estimated reference frame is that both the non-linear station motions and the non-linear origin motion are implicitly taken into account. In order to study the non-linear behavior of station motions and physical parameters, ITRF2008 is used as a reference. As for datum definition of weekly reference frame, on one hand SLR is the unique technique to realize the origin and determine the scale together with VLBI, and on the other hand the orientation is realized via no net rotation with respect to ITRF2005 on a subset of core stations. Given the fact that without enough collocations an inter-technique combined TRF could not exist, the selection and relative weight of local ties surveyed at co-location sites are critical issues. To get stable results, we first assume that, if there were no events such as equipment changes between the measurement epoch of the local tie and that of the space- geodetic solution, the relative position between the two co-located stations should be invariant and this local tie could be used for computing the inter-technique combined reference flame in those weeks during the stable period of this tie. The resulting time series of both station positions and transformation parameters are studied in detail and are compared with ITRF2008. The residual station positions in the weekly combined reference frame are usually in the range of two millimeters without any periodic characteristic, but the residual station positions, when subtracting the regularized station position in ITRF2008, may reach a magnitude of a few centimeters and seem to have a significant annual signal. The physical parameter series between the weekly reference frame and ITRF2008 also show the obvious existence of an annual signal and reach a magnitude of one centimeter for origin motion and two parts per billion （ppb） for scale.

An ab initio investigation of the low-lying electronic states of BeH

Potential energy curves （PECs） for the ground state （X2∑＋） and the four excited electronic states （A2∏, B2∏, C2∑＋, 4∏） of a Bell molecule are calculated using the multi-configuration reference single and double excited configuration interaction （MRCI） approach in combination with the aug-cc-pVTZ basis sets. The calculation covers the internuclear distance ranging from 0.07 nm to 0.70 nm, and the equilibrium bond length Re and the vertical excited energy Te are determined directly. It is evident that the X2∑＋, A2∏, B2∏, C2∑＋ states are bound and 4∏ is a repulsive excited state. With the potentials, all of the vibrational levels and inertial rotation constants are predicted when the rotational quantum number J is set to be equal to zero （J = 0） by numerically solving the radial SchrSdinger equation of nuclear motion. Then the spectroscopic data are obtained including the rotation coupling constant w e, the anharmonic constant WeXe, the equilibrium rotation constant Be, and the vibration-rotation coupling constant ae. These values are compared with the theoretical and experimental results currently available, showing that they are in agreement with each other.

Reference direction based immune clone algorithm for many-objective optimization

In this paper, a new preference multi-objective optimization algorithm called immune clone algorithm based on reference direction method （RD-ICA） is proposed for solving many-objective optimization problems. First, an intelligent recombination operator, which performs well on the functions comprising many parameters, is introduced into an immune clone algorithm so as to explore the potentially excellent gene segments of all individuals in the antibody pop- ulation. Second, a reference direction method, a very strict ranking based on the desire of decision makers （DMs）, is used to guide selection and clone of the active population. Then a light beam search （LBS） is borrowed to pick out a small set of individuals filling the external population. The proposed method has been extensively compared with other recently proposed evolutionary multi-objective optimization （EMO） approaches over DTLZ problems with from 4 to 100 objectives. Experimental results indicate RD-ICA can achieve competitive results.

Demodulation method combining virtual reference interferometry and minimum mean square error for fiber-optic Fabry–Perot sensors

We propose a cavity length demodulation method that combines virtual reference interferometry（VRI） and minimum mean square error（MMSE） algorithm for fiber-optic Fabry–Perot（F-P） sensors. In contrast to the conventional demodulating method that uses fast Fourier transform（FFT） for cavity length estimation,our method employs the VRI technique to obtain a raw cavity length, which is further refined by the MMSE algorithm. As an experimental demonstration, a fiber-optic F-P sensor based on a sapphire wafer is fabricated for temperature sensing. The VRI-MMSE method is employed to interrogate cavity lengths of the sensor under different temperatures ranging from 28°C to 1000°C. It eliminates the ＂mode jumping＂ problem in the FFT-MMSE method and obtains a precision of 4.8 nm, corresponding to a temperature resolution of 2.0°C over a range of 1000°C. The experimental results reveal that the proposed method provides a promising, high precision alternative for demodulating fiber-optic F-P sensors.