Simulation and experimental study of high pressure switching expansion reduction considering real gas effect

Switching expansion reduction(SER)uses a switch valve instead of the throttle valve to realize electronically controlled pressure reduction for high pressure pneumatics.A comprehensive and interactive pneumatic simulation model according to the experimental setup of SER has been built.The mathematical model considers heat exchanges,source air pressure and temperature,environmental temperatures and heat transfer coefficients variations.In addition,the compensation for real gas effect is used in the model building.The comparison between experiments and simulations of SER indicates that,to compensate the real gas effect in high pressure discharging process,the thermal capacity of air supply container in simulation should be less than the actual value.The higher the pressure range,the greater the deviation.Simulated and experimental results are highly consistent within pressure reduction ratios ranging from 1.4 to 20 and output air mass flow rates ranging from 3.5 to 132 g/s,which verifies the high adaptability of SER and the validity of the mathematic model and the compensation method.

Novel 3-dimensional virtual hepatectomy simulation combined with real-time deformation

AIM:To develop a novel 3-dimensional(3D) virtual hepatectomy simulation software,Liversim,to visualize the real-time deformation of the liver.METHODS:We developed a novel real-time virtual hepatectomy simulation software program called Liversim. The software provides 4 basic functions:viewing 3D models from arbitrary directions,changing the colors and opacities of the models,deforming the models based on user interaction,and incising the liver parenchyma and intrahepatic vessels based on user operations. From April 2010 through 2013,99 patients underwent virtual hepatectomies that used the conventional software program SYNAPSE VINCENT preoperatively. Between April 2012 and October 2013,11 patients received virtual hepatectomies using the novel software program Liversim; these hepatectomies were performed both preoperatively and at the same that the actual hepatectomy was performed in an operating room. The perioperative outcomes were analyzed between the patients for whom SYNAPSE VINCENT was used and those for whom Liversim wasused. Furthermore,medical students and surgical residents were asked to complete questionnaires regarding the new software.RESULTS:There were no obvious discrepancies(i.e.,the emergence of branches in the portal vein or hepatic vein or the depth and direction of the resection line) between our simulation and the actual surgery during the resection process. The median operating time was 304 min(range,110 to 846) in the VINCENT group and 397 min(range,232 to 497) in the Liversim group(P = 0.30). The median amount of intraoperative bleeding was 510 m L(range,18 to 5120) in the VINCENT group and 470 m L(range,130 to 1600) in the Liversim group(P = 0.44). The median postoperative stay was 12 d(range,6 to 100) in the VINCENT group and 13 d(range,9 to 21) in the Liversim group(P = 0.36). There were no significant differences in the preoperative outcomes between the two groups. Liversim was not found to be clinically inferior to SYNAPSE VINCENT. Both students and surgical residents reported that the Liversim image was almost the same as the actual hepatectomy.CONCLUSION:Virtual hepatectomy with real-time deformation of the liver using Liversim is useful for the safe performance of hepatectomies and for surgical education.

Real Time Math Simulation of Contact Interaction during Spacecraft Docking and Berthing

Contact reactions of guide surfaces of assembly interfaces lead to the decreasing of theirs lateral and angular misalignments. The focus of this paper is the development of algorithms for computation of guide surfaces contact forces with acceptable engineering accuracy for real time simulation of assembly operations. Therefore, each complex guide surface is described as a set of contacting elements. Each contacting element for one＇s part can be represented by a finite set of geometric primitives which geometry is described by low order algebraic equations. So contact conditions and geometric parameters for all pairs of primitives are determined by analytical expressions. Math models are developed for two classes of contact interaction. The first class includes all cases when each contacting surface has several degrees of freedom of motion. Therefore, contact reactions introduced into differential equations of motion are calculated by using contacting elements penetrations, stiffness and damping parameters. The second class corresponds to all cases when one of contacting surfaces has insignificant inertia and only one degree of freedom of relative displacement counteracted by a spring. Here contact reactions are calculated from spring tension with any practical accuracy. This is very useful in some practical applications. Presented algorithms provide real time simulation together with some approaches for reduction of redundant comnutations.

A simulation of diesel hydrotreating process with real component method

Computer simulation is a good guide and reference for development and research on petroleum refining processes. Traditionally, pseudo-components are used in the simulation, in which their physical properties are estimated by empirical relations and cannot be associated with actual chemical reactions, as no molecular structure is available for pseudo-components. This limitation can be overcome if real components are used. In this paper, a real component based method is proposed for the simulation of a diesel hydrotreating process by using the software of Unisim Design. This process includes reaction units and distillation units. The chemical reaction network is established by analyzing the feedstock. The feedstock is characterized by real components, which are obtained based on true boiling point curve. Simulation results are consistent with actual data.

On modeling approach for embedded real-time software simulation testing

Modeling technology has been introduced into software testing field. However, how to carry through the testing modeling effectively is still a difficulty. Based on combination of simulation modeling technology and embedded real-time software testing method, the process of simulation testing modeling is studied first. And then, the supporting environment of simulation testing modeling is put forward. Furthermore, an approach of embedded real-time software simulation testing modeling including modeling of cross-linked equipments of system under testing （SUT）, test case, testing scheduling, and testing system service is brought forward. Finally, the formalized description and execution system of testing models are given, with which we can realize real-time, closed loop, mad automated system testing for embedded real-time software.

A Class of Fast Algorithms in Real-Time Simulation

A class of hybrid algorithms of real-time simulation based on evaluation of non-integerstep right-hand side function are presented in this paper. And some results of the convergence and stability of the algorithms are given. Using the class of algorithms, evaluation for the right-hand side function is needed once in every integration-step. Moreover, comparing with the other methods with the same amount of work, their numerical stability regions are larger and the method errors are smaller, and the numerical experiments show that the algorithms are very effective.

Model-based framework for multi-axial real-time hybrid simulation testing

Real-time hybrid simulation is an efficient and cost-effective dynamic testing technique for performance evaluation of structural systems subjected to earthquake loading with rate-dependent behavior. A loading assembly with multiple actuators is required to impose realistic boundary conditions on physical specimens. However, such a testing system is expected to exhibit significant dynamic coupling of the actuators and suffer from time lags that are associated with the dynamics of the servo-hydraulic system, as well as control-structure interaction （CSI）. One approach to reducing experimental errors considers a multi-input, multi-output （MIMO） controller design, yielding accurate reference tracking and noise rejection. In this paper, a framework for multi-axial real-time hybrid simulation （maRTHS） testing is presented. The methodology employs a real-time feedback-feedforward controller for multiple actuators commanded in Cartesian coordinates. Kinematic transformations between actuator space and Cartesian space are derived for all six-degrees-of- freedom of the moving platform. Then, a frequency domain identification technique is used to develop an accurate MIMO transfer function of the system. Further, a Cartesian-domain model-based feedforward-feedback controller is implemented for time lag compensation and to increase the robustness of the reference tracking for given model uncertainty. The framework is implemented using the 1/5th-scale Load and Boundary Condition Box （LBCB） located at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign. To demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed methodology, a single-story frame subjected to earthquake loading is tested. One of the columns in the fraane is represented physically in the laboratory as a cantilevered steel column. For real- time execution, the numerical substructure, kinematic transformations, and controllers are implemented on a digital signal processor. Results show excellent performance of the maRTHS framework when six-degrees-of-freedom are controUed at the interface between substructures.

A Class of Parallel Algorithms of Real-TimeNumerical Simulation for Stiff Dynamic System

In this paper a class of real-time parallel modified Rosenbrock methods of numerical simulation is constructed for stiff dynamic systems on a multiprocessor system, and convergence and numerical stability of these methods are discussed. A-stable real-time parallel formula of two-stage third-order and A(α)-stable real-time parallel formula with o ≈ 89.96° of three-stage fourth-order are particularly given. The numerical simulation experiments in parallel environment show that the class of algorithms is efficient and applicable, with greater speedup.

Some Techniques for Solving Ordinary Differential Equations with Discontinuities in Real－time Simulation

This paper discusses some techniques for treating discontinuities of the right-hand functions of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) in real-time digital simulation (RTDS). The numericalexperiments show that these techniques are effective.

Simulation of large-scale numerical substructure in real-time dynamic hybrid testing

A solution scheme is proposed in this paper for an existing RTDHT system to simulate large-scale finite element （FE） numerical substructures. The analysis of the FE numerical substructure is split into response analysis and signal generation tasks, and executed in two different target computers in real-time. One target computer implements the response analysis task, wherein a large time-step is used to solve the FE substructure, and another target computer implements the signal generation task, wherein an interpolation program is used to generate control signals in a small time-step to meet the input demand of the controller. By using this strategy, the scale of the FE numerical substructure simulation may be increased significantly. The proposed scheme is initially verified by two FE numerical substructure models with 98 and 1240 degrees of freedom （DOFs）. Thereafter, RTDHTs of a single frame-foundation structure are implemented where the foundation, considered as the numerical substructure, is simulated by the FE model with 1240 DOFs. Good agreements between the results of the RTDHT and those from the FE analysis in ABAQUS are obtained.

Real-time hybrid simulation for structural control performance assessment

Real-time hybrid simulation is an attractive method to evaluate the response of structures under earthquake loads. The method is a variation of the pseudodynamic testing technique in which the experiment is executed in real time, thus allowing investigation of structural systems with rate-dependent components. Real-time hybrid simulation is challenging because it requires performance of all calculations, application of displacements, and acquisition of measured forces, within a very small increment of time. Furthermore, unless appropriate compensation for actuator dynamics is implemented, stability problems are likely to occur during the experiment. This paper presents an approach for real-time hybrid simulation in which compensation for actuator dynamics is implemented using a model-based feedforward compensator. The method is used to evaluate the response of a semi-active control of a structure employing an MR damper. Experimental results show good agreement with the predicted responses, demonstrating the effectiveness of the method for structural control performance assessment.

Comparison of delay compensation methods for real-time hybrid simulation using frequency-domain evaluation index

The delay compensation method plays an essential role in maintaining the stability and achieving accurate real-time hybrid simulation results. The effectiveness of various compensation methods in different test scenarios, however, needs to be quantitatively evaluated. In this study, four compensation methods （i.e., the polynomial extrapolation, the linear acceleration extrapolation, the inverse compensation and the adaptive inverse compensation） are selected and compared experimentally using a frequency evaluation index （FEI） method. The effectiveness of the FEI method is first verified through comparison with the discrete transfer fimction approach for compensation methods assuming constant delay. Incomparable advantage is further demonstrated for the FEI method when applied to adaptive compensation methods, where the discrete transfer function approach is difficult to implement. Both numerical simulation and laboratory tests with predefined displacements are conducted using sinusoidal signals and random signals as inputs. Findings from numerical simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the FEI method is an efficient and effective approach to compare the performance of different compensation methods, especially for those requiring adaptation of compensation parameters.

SPACEBORNE SAR REAL-TIME ECHO SIMULATION PLATFORM BASED ON VPX

To perform the ground test of a spaceborne Synthetic Aperture Radar(SAR) system, an echo simulator with the characteristics of multimode, multi-assemblage, and real time is proposed in this paper. A hardware platform of the real-time echo simulator based on the VPX bus is designed. With this platform, real-time multi-point echo generation and scenario targets echo generation can be achieved by the real-time signal processing in Field Programmable Gate Array(FPGA), utilizing the parameters calculated by the industry computers. Furthermore, this platform can output different signals if it is expanded to multi-channels, making it possible for the assignment of echo generation and test in different spaceborne SAR modes. The test results with the actual SAR system show that this platform can satisfy the system requirements and is now used in practice.

A Mathematical Model of Real-Time Simulation and the Convergence Analysis on Real-Time Runge-Kutta Algorithms

In this paper, a mathematical model of real-time simulation is given, and the problem of convergence on real-time Runge-Kutta algorithms is analysed. At last a theorem on the relation between the order of compensation and the convergent order of real-time algorithm is proved.

A Review of Measurement-Integrated Simulation of Complex Real Flows

In spite of the inherent difficulty, reproducing the exact structure of real flows is a critically important issue in many fields, such as weather forecasting or feedback flow control. In order to obtain information on real flows, extensive studies have been carried out on methodology to integrate measurement and simulation, for example, the four-dimensional variational data assimilation method (4D-Var) or the state estimator such as the Kalman filter or the state observer. Measurement-integrated (MI) simulation is a state observer in which a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) scheme is used as a mathematical model of the physical system instead of a small dimensional linear dynamical system usually used in state observers. A large dimensional nonlinear CFD model makes it possible to accurately reproduce real flows for properly designed feedback signals. This review article surveys the theoretical formulations and applications of MI simulation. Formulations of MI simulation are presented, including governing equations of a flow field observer, those of a linearized error dynamics describing the convergence of the observer, and stabilization of the numerical scheme, which is important in implementation of MI simulation. Applications of MI simulation are presented ranging from fundamental turbulent flows in pipes and Karman vortices in a wind tunnel to clinical application in diagnosis of blood flows in a human body.

Control performance comparison between tuned liquid damper and tuned liquid column damper using real-time hybrid simulation

Tuned liquid damper (TLD) and tuned liquid column damper (TLCD) are two types of passive control devices that are widely used in structural control. In this study, a real-time hybrid simulation (RTHS) technique is employed to investigate the diff erence in control performance between TLD and TLCD. A series of RTHSs is presented with the premise of the same liquid length, mass ratio, and structural parameters. Herein, TLD and TLCD are physically experimented, and controlled structures are numerically simulated. Then, parametric studies are performed to further evaluate the diff erent performance between TLD and TLCD. Experimental results demonstrate that TLD is more eff ective than TLCD under diff erent amplitude excitations.

Real-time hybrid simulation of structures equipped with viscoelastic-plastic dampers using a user-programmable computational platform

A user-programmable computational/control platform was developed at the University of Toronto that offers real-time hybrid simulation （RTHS） capabilities. The platform was verified previously using several linear physical substructures. The study presented in this paper is focused on further validating the RTHS platform using a nonlinear viscoelastic-plastic damper that has displacement, frequency and temperature-dependent properties. The validation study includes damper component characterization tests, as well as RTHS of a series of single-degree-of-freedom （SDOF） systems equipped with viscoelastic-plastic dampers that represent different structural designs. From the component characterization tests, it was found that for a wide range of excitation frequencies and friction slip loads, the tracking errors are comparable to the errors in RTHS of linear spring systems. The hybrid SDOF results are compared to an independently validated thermal- mechanical viscoelastic model to further validate the ability for the platform to test nonlinear systems. After the validation, as an application study, nonlinear SDOF hybrid tests were used to develop performance spectra to predict the response of structures equipped with damping systems that are more challenging to model analytically. The use of the experimental performance spectra is illustrated by comparing the predicted response to the hybrid test response of 2DOF systems equipped with viscoelastic-plastic dampers.

Analysis of actuator delay and its effect on uncertainty quantification for real-time hybrid simulation

Uncertainties in structure properties can result in different responses in hybrid simulations. Quantification of the effect of these tmcertainties would enable researchers to estimate the variances of structural responses observed from experiments. This poses challenges for real-time hybrid simulation （RTHS） due to the existence of actuator delay. Polynomial chaos expansion （PCE） projects the model outputs on a basis of orthogonal stochastic polynomials to account for influences of model uncertainties. In this paper, PCE is utilized to evaluate effect of actuator delay on the maximum displacement from real-time hybrid simulation of a single degree of freedom （SDOF） structure when accounting for uncertainties in structural properties. The PCE is first applied for RTHS without delay to determine the order of PCE, the number of sample points as well as the method for coefficients calculation. The PCE is then applied to RTHS with actuator delay. The mean, variance and Sobol indices are compared and discussed to evaluate the effects of actuator delay on uncertainty quantification for RTHS. Results show that the mean and the variance of the maximum displacement increase linearly and exponentially with respect to actuator delay, respectively. Sensitivity analysis through Sobol indices also indicates the influence of the single random variable decreases while the coupling effect increases with the increase of actuator delay.

Efficiency analysis of numerical integrations for finite element substructure in real-time hybrid simulation

Finite element（FE） is a powerful tool and has been applied by investigators to real-time hybrid simulations（RTHSs）. This study focuses on the computational efficiency, including the computational time and accuracy, of numerical integrations in solving FE numerical substructure in RTHSs. First, sparse matrix storage schemes are adopted to decrease the computational time of FE numerical substructure. In this way, the task execution time（TET） decreases such that the scale of the numerical substructure model increases. Subsequently, several commonly used explicit numerical integration algorithms, including the central difference method（CDM）, the Newmark explicit method, the Chang method and the Gui-λ method, are comprehensively compared to evaluate their computational time in solving FE numerical substructure. CDM is better than the other explicit integration algorithms when the damping matrix is diagonal, while the Gui-λ（λ = 4） method is advantageous when the damping matrix is non-diagonal. Finally, the effect of time delay on the computational accuracy of RTHSs is investigated by simulating structure-foundation systems. Simulation results show that the influences of time delay on the displacement response become obvious with the mass ratio increasing, and delay compensation methods may reduce the relative error of the displacement peak value to less than 5% even under the large time-step and large time delay.

Restoring force correction based on online discrete tangent stiffness estimation method for real-time hybrid simulation

In real-time hybrid simulation（RTHS）, it is difficult if not impossible to completely erase the error in restoring force due to actuator response delay using existing displacement-based compensation methods. This paper proposes a new force correction method based on online discrete tangent stiffness estimation（online DTSE） to provide accurate online estimation of the instantaneous stiffness of the physical substructure. Following the discrete curve parameter recognition theory, the online DTSE method estimates the instantaneous stiffness mainly through adaptively building a fuzzy segment with the latest measurements, constructing several strict bounding lines of the segment and calculating the slope of the strict bounding lines, which significantly improves the calculation efficiency and accuracy for the instantaneous stiffness estimation. The results of both computational simulation and real-time hybrid simulation show that：（1） the online DTSE method has high calculation efficiency, of which the relatively short computation time will not interrupt RTHS; and（2） the online DTSE method provides better estimation for the instantaneous stiffness, compared with other existing estimation methods. Due to the quick and accurate estimation of instantaneous stiffness, the online DTSE method therefore provides a promising technique to correct restoring forces in RTHS.