An elasto-plastic constitutive model for soft rock considering mobilization of strength

A new elasto-plastic constitutive model is presented in the framework of plasticity theory. The strength characteristics of a diatomaceous soft rock is investigated. The friction angle and cohesion of soft rock are mobilized as a function of plastic strain. A hyperbolic hardening function for the mobilized friction and a mixed parabolic and exponential equation for the mobilized cohesion are proposed. In view of the unified strength theory and the mobilizations of strength components, a yield function is given. A plastic potential function is determined by using the non-associated plastic flow rule. An elasto-plastic constitutive model is developed and verified. The results indicate that the proposed model can predict the behavior of soft rock accurately. The advantages of the proposed constitutive model are analyzed. The evidences support that the proposed constitutive model is a mixed hardening/softening model. A hump hardening/softening function for mobilized friction is extended to a more generalized condition.

Constitutive model for methane desorption and diffusion based on pore structure differences between soft and hard coal

This paper aims to improve the accuracy and applicability of gas diffusion mathematical models from coal particles. Firstly, a new constitutive model for gas diffusion from coal particles with tri-disperse pore structure is constructed by considering the difference in characteristics between soft coal and hard coal.The analytical solution is then derived, that is, the quantitative relationship between gas diffusion rate(Qt/Q_∞) and diffusion time(t), The pore structure parameters of soft coal and hard coal from Juji coal mine are determined. Gas diffusion rules are numerically calculated and investigated by physical simulation methods. Lastly, the applicability of this model is verified. The results show that the homogeneous model only applies to the gas diffusion process of hard coal during the initial 10 min. The calculation results from this model and the physical experimental results of soft coal and hard coal are nearly identical during the initial 30 min.

A new shear rheological model for a soft interlayer with varying water content

The rheological behavior of a soft interlayer is critical to understanding slope stability, which is closely related to the water content of the soft interlayer. This study used the soft interlayer of the Permian Maokou Formation in Southwest China as an example to perform ring shear creep tests with different water content amounts. The effect of water content on the creep properties of the soft interlayer was analyzed, and a new shear rheological model was established. This research produced several findings. First, the ring shear creep deformation of the soft interlayer samples varied with the water content and the maximum instantaneous shear strain increment occurred near the saturated water content. As the water content increased, the cumulative creep increment of the samples increased. Second, the water content significantly affected the long-term strength of the soft interlayer, which decreased with the increase of water content, exhibiting a negative linear correlation. Third, a constitutive equation for the new rheological model was derived, and through fitting of the ring shear creep test data, the validity and applicability of the constitutive equation were proven. This study has developed an important foundation for studying the long-term deformation characteristics of a soft interlayer with varying water content.

Multiple Model Soft Sensor Based on Affinity Propagation, Gaussian Process and Bayesian Committee Machine

Presented is a multiple model soft sensing method based on Affinity Propagation （AP）, Gaussian process （GP） and Bayesian committee machine （BCM）. AP clustering arithmetic is used to cluster training samples according to their operating points. Then, the sub-models are estimated by Gaussian Process Regression （GPR）. Finally, in order to get a global probabilistic prediction, Bayesian committee mactnne is used to combine the outputs of the sub-estimators. The proposed method has been applied to predict the light naphtha end point in hydrocracker fractionators. Practical applications indicate that it is useful for the online prediction of quality monitoring in chemical processes.

SOFT SENSING MODEL BASED ON SUPPORT VECTOR MACHINE AND ITS APPLICATION

Soft sensor is widely used in industrial process control. It plays animportant role to improve the quality of product and assure safety in production. The core of softsensor is to construct soft sensing model. A new soft sensing modeling method based on supportvector machine (SVM) is proposed. SVM is a new machine learning method based on statistical learningtheory and is powerful for the problem characterized by small sample, nonlinearity, high dimensionand local minima. The proposed methods are applied to the estimation of frozen point of light dieseloil in distillation column. The estimated outputs of soft sensing model based on SVM match the realvalues of frozen point and follow varying trend of frozen point very well. Experiment results showthat SVM provides a new effective method for soft sensing modeling and has promising application inindustrial process applications.

Physical model test and numerical simulation on the failure mechanism of the roadway in layered soft rocks

To explore the failure mechanism of roadway in layered soft rocks,a physical model with the physically finite elemental slab assemblage(PFESA)method was established.Infrared thermography and a video camera were employed to capture thermal responses and deformation.The model results showed that layered soft roadway suffered from large deformation.A three-dimensional distinct element code(3 DEC)model with tetrahedral blocks was built to capture the characteristics of roadway deformation,stress,and cracks.The results showed two failure patterns,layer bending fracture and layer slipping after excavation.The layer bending fracture occurred at positions where the normal direction of layers pointed to the inside of the roadway and the layer slipping occurred in the ribs.Six schemes were proposed to investigate the effects of layered soft rocks.The results showed that the deformation of ribs was obviously larger than that of the roof and floor when the roadway passed through three types of strata.When the roadway was completely in a coal seam,the change of deformation in ribs was not obvious,while the deformation in the roof and floor increased obviously.These results can provide guidance for excavation and support design of roadways in layered soft rocks.

A DISCRETE TIME TWO-LEVEL MIXED SERVICE PARALLEL POLLING MODEL

We present a discrete time single-server two-level mixed service polling systems with two queue types, one center queue and N normal queues. Two-level means the center queue will be successive served after each normal queue. In the first level, server visits between the center queue and the normal queue. In the second level, normal queues are polled by a cyclic order. Mixed service means the service discipline are exhaustive for center queue, and parallel 1-limited for normal queues. We propose an imbedded Markov chain framework to drive the closed-form expressions for the mean cycle time, mean queue length, and mean waiting time. Numerical examples demonstrate that theoretical and simulation results are identical the new system efficiently differentiates priorities.

A three-layer structure model for the effect of a soft middle layer on Love waves propagating in layered piezoelectric systems

A three-layer structure model is proposed for investigating the effect of a soft elastic middle layer on the propagation behavior of Love waves in piezoelectric layered systems, with ＂soft＂ implying that the bulk-shear-wave velocity of the middle layer is smaller than that of the upper sensitive layer. Dispersion equations are obtained for unelectroded and traction-free upper surfaces which, in the limit, can be reduced to those for classical Love waves. Systematic parametric studies are subsequently carried out to quantify the effects of the soft middle layer upon Love wave propagation, including its thickness, mass density, dielectric constant and elastic coefficient. It is demonstrated that whilst the thickness and elastic coefficient of the middle layer affect significantly Love wave propagation, its mass density and dielectric constant have negligible influence. On condition that both the thickness and elastic coefficient of the middle layer are vanishingly small so that it degenerates into an imperfectly bonded interface, the three-layer model is also employed to investigate the influence of imperfect interfaces on Love waves propagating in piezoelectric layer/elastic sub- strate systems. Upon comparing with the predictions ob- tained by employing the traditional shear-lag model, the present three-layer structure model is found to be more ac- curate as it avoids the unrealistic displacement discontinuity across imperfectly bonded interfaces assumed by the shearlag model, especially for long waves when the piezoelectric layer is relatively thin.

Physics-based analysis and simulation model of electromagnetic interference induced soft logic upset in CMOS inverter

The instantaneous reversible soft logic upset induced by the electromagnetic interference（EMI） severely affects the performances and reliabilities of complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor（CMOS） inverters. This kind of soft logic upset is investigated in theory and simulation. Physics-based analysis is performed, and the result shows that the upset is caused by the non-equilibrium carrier accumulation in channels, which can ultimately lead to an abnormal turn-on of specific metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor（MOSFET） in CMOS inverter. Then a soft logic upset simulation model is introduced. Using this model, analysis of upset characteristic reveals an increasing susceptibility under higher injection powers, which accords well with experimental results, and the influences of EMI frequency and device size are studied respectively using the same model. The research indicates that in a range from L waveband to C waveband, lower interference frequency and smaller device size are more likely to be affected by the soft logic upset.

Development of multiple soft computing models for estimating organic and inorganic constituents in coal

The distribution of the various organic and inorganic constituents and their influences on the combustion of coal has been comprehensively studied.However,the combustion characteristics of pulverized coal depend not only on rank but also on the composition,distribution,and combination of the macerals.Unlike the proximate and ultimate analyses,determining the macerals in coal involves the use of sophisticated microscopic instrumentation and expertise.In this study,an attempt was made to predict the amount of macerals(vitrinite,inertinite,and liptinite)and total mineral matter from the Witbank Coalfields samples using the multiple input single output white-box artificial neural network(MISOWB-ANN),gene expression programming(GEP),multiple linear regression(MLR),and multiple nonlinear regression(MNLR).The predictive models obtained from the multiple soft computing models adopted are contrasted with one another using difference,efficiency,and composite statistical indicators to examine the appropriateness of the models.The MISOWB-ANN provides a more reliable predictive model than the other three models with the lowest difference and highest efficiency and composite statistical indicators.

A dissolution-diffusion sliding model for soft rock grains with hydro-mechanical effect

The deformation and failure of soft rock affected by hydro-mechanical（HM） effect are one of the most concerns in geotechnical engineering, which are basically attributed to the grain sliding of soft rock. This study tried to develop a dissolution-diffusion sliding model for the typical red bed soft rock in South China. Based on hydration film, mineral dissolution and diffusion theory, and geochemical thermodynamics, a dissolution-diffusion sliding model with the HM effect was established to account for the sliding rate. Combined with the digital image processing technology, the relationship between the grain size of soft rock and the amplitude of sliding surface was presented. An equation for the strain rate of soft rocks under steady state was also derived. The reliability of the dissolution-diffusion sliding model was verified by triaxial creep tests on the soft rock with the HM coupling effect and by the relationship between the inversion average disjoining pressure and the average thickness of the hydration film. The results showed that the sliding rate of the soft rock grains was affected significantly by the waviness of sliding surface, the shear stress, and the average thickness of hydration film. The average grain size is essential for controlling the steady-state creep rate of soft rock. This study provides a new idea for investigating the deformation and failure of soft rock with the HM effect.

Modeling of softsphere normal collisions with characteristic of coefficient of restitution dependent on impact velocity

This letter presents a theoretical model of the normal （head-on） collisions between two soft spheres for predicting the experimental characteristic of the coefficient of restitution dependent on impact velocity. After the contact force law between the contacted spheres during a collision is phenomenologically formulated in terms of the compression or overlap displacement under considera- tion of an elastic-plastic loading and a plastic unloading subprocesses, the coefficient of restitution is gained by the dynamic equation of the contact process once an initial impact velocity is input. It is found that the theoretical predictions of the coefficient of restitution varying with the impact velocity are well in agreement with the existing experimental characteristics which are fitted by the explicit formula.

A post-peak dilatancy model for soft rock and its application in deep tunnel excavation

The dilation angle is the most commonly used parameter to study nonlinear post-peak dilatancy(PPD)behavior and simulate surrounding rock deformation;however,simplified or constant dilatancy models are often used in numerical calculations owing to their simple mathematical forms.This study developed a PPD model for rocks(rock masses)based on the Alejanoe-Alonso(A-A)dilatancy model.The developed model comprehensively reflects the influences of confining pressure(σ_(3))and plastic shear strain(γ^(p)),with the advantages of a simple mathematical form,while requiring fewer parameters and demonstrating a clear physical significance.The overall fitting accuracy of the PPD model for 11 different rocks was found to be higher than that of the A-A model,particularly for Witwatersrand quartzite and jointed granite.The applicability and reliability of the PPD model to jointed granites and different scaled Moura coals were also investigated,and the model was found to be more suitable for the soft and large-scale rocks,e.g.deep rock mass.The PPD model was also successfully applied in studying the mechanical response of a circular tunnel excavated in strain-softening rock mass,and the developed semi-analytical solution was compared and verified with existing analytical solutions.The sensitivities of the rock dilatancy to γ^(p) and σ_(3) showed significant spatial variabilities along the radial direction of the surrounding rock,and the dilation angle did not exhibit a monotonical increasing or decreasing law from the elasticeplastic boundary to the tunnel wall,thereby presenting the σ3-or γ^(p)-dominated differential effects of rock dilatancy.Tunnel deformation parabolically or exponentially increased with increasing in situ stress(buried depth).The developed PPD model is promising to conduct refined numerical and analytical analyses for deep tunneling,which produces extensive plastic deformation and exhibits significant nonlinear post-peak behavior.

Dynamic Finite Element Modeling and Simulation of Soft Robots

Soft robots have become important members of the robot community with many potential applications owing to their unique flexibility and security embedded at the material level.An increasing number of researchers are interested in their designing,manufacturing,modeling,and control.However,the dynamic simulation of soft robots is difficult owing to their infinite degrees of freedom and nonlinear characteristics that are associated with soft materials and flexible geometric structures.In this study,a novel multi-flexible body dynamic modeling and simulation technique is introduced for soft robots.Various actuators for soft robots are modeled in a virtual environment,including soft cable-driven,spring actuation,and pneumatic driving.A pneumatic driving simulation was demonstrated by the bending modules with different materials.A cable-driven soft robot arm prototype and a cylindrical soft module actuated by shape memory alley springs inspired by an octopus were manufactured and used to validate the simulation model,and the experimental results demonstrated adequate accuracy.The proposed technique can be widely applied for the modeling and dynamic simulation of other soft robots,including hybrid actuated robots and rigid-flexible coupling robots.This study also provides a fundamental framework for simulating soft mobile robots and soft manipulators in contact with the environment.

A THEORETICAL MODEL OF MAGNETOELASTIC BUCKLING FOR SOFT FERROMAGNETIC THIN PLATES

As an essential model of magnetoelastic interaction between magnetic field and mechanical deformation, the study on magnetoelastic buckling phenomenon of soft ferromagnetic plates in a magnetic environment has been conducted. One of the key steps for the theoretical prediction of the critical magnetic field is how to formulate magnetic force exerted on the magnetized medium. Till today, the theoretical predictions, from theoretical models in publications, of the magnetoelastic buckling of ferromagnetic cantilevered beam-plate in transverse magnetic field are all higher than their experimental data. Sometimes, the discrepancy between them is as high as 100%. In this paper, the macroscope formulation of the magnetic forces is strictly obtained from the microscope Amperion current model. After that, a new theoretical model is established to describe the magnetoelastic buckling phenomenon of ferromagnetic thin plates with geometrically nonlinear deformation in a nonuniform transverse magnetic field. The numerical method for quantitative analysis is employed by combining the finite elemental method for magnetic fields and the finite difference method for deformation of plates. The numerical results obtained from this new theoretical model show that the theoretical predictions of critical values of the buckling magnetic field for the ferromagnetic cantilevered beam-plate are in excellent agreement with their experimental data. By the way, the region of applicability to the Moon-Pao's model, or the couple model, is checked by quantitative results.

Soft Sensor Model Derived from Wiener Model Structure: Modeling and Identification

The processes of building dynamic and static relationships between secondary and primary variables are usually integrated in most of nonlinear dynamic soft sensor models. However, such integration limits the estimation accuracy of soft sensor models. Wiener model effectively describes dynamic and static characteristics of a system with the structure of dynamic and static submodels in cascade. We propose a soft sensor model derived from Wiener model structure, which is an extension of Wiener model. Dynamic and static relationships between secondary and primary variables are built respectively to describe the dynamic and static characteristics of system. The feasibility of this model is verified. Then the expression of discrete model is derived for soft sensor system. Conjugate gradient algorithm is applied to identify the dynamic and static model parameters alternately. Corresponding update method for soft sensor system is also given. Case studies confirm the effectiveness of the proposed model, alternate identification algorithm, and update method.

Centrifugal model test and numerical simulation of vertical earth pressure on soft foundation box culvert

To obtain the vertical earth pressure on a soft foundation box culvert and investigate the interaction of the soil-culvert-foundation system, both a centrifugal model test and a numerical simulation were conducted and the comparisons with the current methods to determine the load on a culvert were completed. The results of the model test and numerical analysis are in satisfactory agreement, which shows that the direction of the shear stress between the culvert and the adjacent embankment depends on the differential settlement between them. A vertical earth pressure concentration appears on the culvert with a rigid piles foundation because of a downward shear stress. The ratio of the load on a soft foundation culvert and the overburden pressure above the culvert raises first and then decreases as the backfill height increases. In order to reduce the load on a culvert, it is suggested to limit the stiffness difference of the foundations under the culvert and embankment and to use a light backfill over the culvert.

A Nonlinear Rheological Model of Soft Clay and Its Application in Settlement of Sunk Ship

A one-dimensional consolidation-creep model test on the creep deformation of soft muddy clay in the littoral area of Tianjin is performed. A nonlinear rheologic model is established and the model coefficients are determined, in consideration of the characteristics of soft muddy clay. Furthermore, a settlement equation is deduced from the theologic model and verified by the field settlement measurements of Beitang Reservoir dam in Tianjin littoral area. Finally, the settlement e- quation is applied in calculating the settlement of ＂FAIRWAY-＂ suction dredger, which sunk in the external channel of Tianjin Port, induced by the soft clay consolidation of seabed. These results provide useful information for the decision of salvage plan.

Influence of pile spacing on seismic response of piled raft in soft clay: centrifuge modeling

In order to study the infl uence of pile spacing on the seismic response of piled raft in soft clay, a series of shaking table tests were conducted by using a geotechnical centrifuge. The dynamic behavior of acceleration, displacement and internal forces was examined. The test results indicate that the seismic acceleration responses of models are generally greater than the surrounding soil surface in the period ranges of 2–10 seconds. Foundation instant settlements for 4×4 and 3×3 piled raft (with pile spacing equal to 4 and 6 times pile diameter) are somewhat close to each other at the end of the earthquake, but reconsolidation settlements are greater for 3×3 piled raft. The seismic acceleration of superstructure, the uneven settlement of the foundation and the maximum bending moment of pile are relatively lower for 3×3 piled raft. Successive earthquakes lead to the softening behavior of soft clay, which causes a reduction of the pile bearing capacity and thus loads are transferred from the pile group to the raft. For the case of a 3×3 piled raft, there is relatively smaller change of the load sharing ratio of the pile group and raft after the earthquake and the distribution of maximum bending moments at the pile head is more uniform.

Soft sensor modeling based on Gaussian processes

In order to meet the demand of online optimal running, a novel soft sensor modeling approach based on Gaussian processes was proposed. The approach is moderately simple to implement and use without loss of performance. It is trained by optimizing the hyperparameters using the scaled conjugate gradient algorithm with the squared exponential covariance function employed. Experimental simulations show that the soft sensor modeling approach has the advantage via a real-world example in a refinery. Meanwhile, the method opens new possibilities for application of kernel methods to potential fields.