Establishment of the Basic Theory of Fuze Safety Systems

Presents a series of new concepts and design ideas about the fuze safety system, establishing thereby a proposed theory and relevant mathematical descriptions. The basic the- ory indicates that any fuze safety system is a physical system comprising finite safety ele- ments each of which can independently affect the system's states, and the arming process is a dynamic one in which the extent of safety of the system changes only gradually. The theory and method can be used to analyse the arming process and to guide the development of fuze safety systems.

Holistic Approach to Safety and Operational Stability: Analyzing VVER-1200 Reactor Dynamics in SGTR and AC Power Loss

VVER-1200 (Water-Water Energetic Reactor) represents a significant advancement in nuclear power generation, emphasizing the continuous analysis and enhancement of safety systems for reliable operation. The proposed study focuses on simulating combined scenarios involving steam generator tube rupture (SGTR) and AC power loss using core algorithms and models within personal computer transient analyzer (PCTRAN). Reactor kinetic equations, thermal-hydraulic balance, and safety system models are discussed to elucidate their role in simulating SGTR and AC power loss. Safety criteria, boundaries and initial conditions are outlined to provide a comprehensive understanding of the simulation framework. The analysis delves into dynamic behavior of VVER-1200, placing emphasis on thermal-hydraulic implications, essential reactor parameters, and radiation monitoring to facilitate impact evaluation. Continuous monitoring and maintenance of safety systems are underscored to ensure stable core cooling, particularly during proposed transient conditions. Through meticulous analysis and comparison with established benchmarks, this study contributes to bolstering the safety and reliability of VVER-1200 reactors by identifying vulnerabilities, assessing mitigation strategies, and refining emergency response protocols. Practical implications of this study offer a crucial understanding of reactor behavior, safety system performance, and emergency response strategies, thereby improving safety, optimizing operational practices, and reducing risks in nuclear reactor accidents.

Open-Type Ferry Safety System Design for Using LNG Fuel

In this feasibility study, we investigate the viability of using Liquefied Natural Gas （LNG） fuel in an open type Ro-Ro passenger ferry and the associated potential challenges with regard to the vessel safety systems. We recommend an appropriate methodology for converting existing ships to run on LNG fuel, discuss all the necessary modifications to the ship’s safety systems, and also evaluate the relevant ship evacuation procedures. We outline the basic requirements with which the ship already complies for each safety system and analyze the additional restrictions that must be taken into consideration for the use of LNG fuel. Appropriate actions are recommended. Furthermore, we carry out a hazard identification study. Overall, we clearly demonstrate the technical feasibility of the investigated scenario. Minimal modifications to the ship’s safety systems are required to comply with existing safety rules for this specific type of ship.

Looking ahead to significant improvements in mining safety and health through innovative research and effective diffusion into the industry

Mining safety and health improvements over the past decades are remarkable by many metrics, and yet the expectation of society, and the goal of the mining industry, is zero harm. If we examine the underlying enablers for the significant gains that have been achieved, the key role that research to help understand the causes of problems and to develop lasting solutions is clear. Many of the remaining challenges have been resistant to solutions by various approaches. Some, such as fatalities and injuries from ground control or powered haulage are prominent year after year. Different approaches are indicated and new solutions will be required if we are to achieve a goal of zero harm. These will originate with research, but into which topics, and what are some of these different approaches? This paper examines the current state of mine safety in the United States and highlights areas of significant opportunity for research that will lead to solutions. The likely direction of research that will enable realization of the ‘‘zero harm'' goal is described in terms of evolutionary and revolutionary approaches. Both are important, but the author's view is that some of the largest gains will be made with trans-disciplinary approaches that break from the past. Topical areas of research are suggested and several research questions are given to illustrate the direction of future research in mining safety and health.

Human Body Behavior as Response on Autonomous Maneuvers, Based on ATD and Human Model

In the near future, active safety systems will take more control over the vehicle driving, even up to introducing fully autonomous vehicles. Nowadays, it is expected that the active safety systems will aid avoiding collisions much more efficiently than human drivers. These systems can protect not only the passengers, but also other road users. To mitigate collision, certain maneuvers （e.g., sudden braking, lane change, etc.） need to be done in a reasonably quick time. However, this may lead to low-g energy pulses. The latter fact, may cause unexpected and, in some cases, unwanted occupant body motion resulting even in OOP （out of position） postures. New patterns of occupant reactions in such cases are, to some extent, confirmed experimentally [1-3]. This paper evaluates the limits of standard ATDs （anthropometric test devices） and chosen human models in well established maneuver scenarios. Obtained results are compared with experimental data available in the literature. Drawbacks identify new challenges for the near future simulation based safety engineering. One scenario with combined conditions of emergency braking during lane change has been used as an example of OOP posture after maneuver.

Understanding the relationship between High Reliability Theory (HRT) ofmindful organizing and Safety Management Systems (SMS) within theaerospace industry: A cross-sectional quantitative assessment

There seems to be a paucity in extant literature that assesses the relationship between Safety Management Systems (SMS) and High Reliability Theory (HRT) behavior process of mindful organizing (MO) among aerospaceorganizations. There could be benefits for organizational safety by exploring this relationship in high-reliabilityorganizations (HROs) like the aerospace industry. Using a modified Safety Organizing Scale (SOS) by Vogus andSutcliffe (2007) and a validated SMS scale, the relationship between SMS and MO was measured. The perceptionsof a cross-section of respondents from commercial airlines with SMS and commercial space licensees without SMSin the United States (U.S.) was assessed. A four-factor model of MO had acceptable fit. A model showing the relationship between SMS and MO had good fit and showed a high significant strength of relationship (r = 0.82,p = 0.000) with a big effect size. There were also significant differences in mean responses among managementpersonnel and non-management personnel on the MO factor “sensitivity to operations” and the result suggestsmanagers were better at identifying personnel with skills and knowledge to ensure safer task accomplishmentthan non-management personnel. The study results suggest that the SMS requirements for commercial airlines inthe U.S. can enrich the identification and understanding of MO factors and it may be beneficial for the commercial space industry to formally adopt SMS. Future research studies may include direct comparisons in multipleaerospace organizations using a larger sample size to determine the overall understanding of MO factors and howit affects SMS.

A high order collaboration and real time formal model for automatic testing of safety critical systems

The need for safety critical systems （SCS） is both important and urgent, and their evaluation and verification are test-dependent. SCS are usually complex and very large, so manual testing of SCS are infeasible in practice, and develop- ing automatic test approaches for SCS has become an impor- tant trend. This paper defines a formal semantics model for automatic test of SCS, called AutTMSCS, which describes behaviors in SCS testing. The model accommodates the high order collaboration in real time and temporariness of SCS testing. Testing tasks, test equipment and products under test are abstracted and architected in three layers, and a method for automatic testing is given. Based on extended label tran- sition system （LTS）, the convergency and correctness of the model are proved to demonstrate the computability of the model, indicating that the testing process of SCS can be au- tomatic.

Investigating safety and liability of autonomous vehicles:Bayesian random parameter ordered probit model analysis

Purpose–This study aims to investigate the safety and liability of autonomous vehicles(AVs),and identify the contributing factors quantitatively so as to provide potential insights on safety and liability of AVs.Design/methodology/approach–The actual crash data were obtained from California DMV and Sohu websites involved in collisions of AVs from 2015 to 2021 with 210 observations.The Bayesian random parameter ordered probit model was proposed to reflect the safety and liability of AVs,respectively,as well as accommodating the heterogeneity issue simultaneously.Findings–The findings show that day,location and crash type were significant factors of injury severity while location and crash reason were significant influencing the liability.Originality/value–The results provide meaningful countermeasures to support the policymakers or practitioners making strategies or regulations about AV safety and liability.

In-service performance of emergency shutdown valves and dependent operational relationships in the offshore oil and gas industry

Industrial process plants use emergency shutdown valves(ESDVs)as safety barriers to protect against hazardous events,bringing the plant to a safe state when potential danger is detected.These ESDVs are used extensively in offshore oil and gas processing plants and have been mandated in the design of such systems from national and international standards and legislation.This paper has used actual ESDV operating data from four mid/late life oil and gas production platforms in the North Sea to research operational relationships that are of interest to those responsible for the technical management and operation of ESDVs.The first of the two relationships is between the closure time(CT)of the ESDV and the time it remains in the open position,prior to the close command.It has been hypothesised that the CT of the ESDV is affected by the length of time that it has been open prior to being closed(Time since the last stroke).In addition to the general analysis of the data series,two sub-categories were created to further investigate this possible relationship for CT and these are“above mean”and“below mean”.The correlations(Pearson's based)resulting from this analysis are in the“weak”and“very weak”categories.The second relationship investigated was the effect of very frequent closures to assess if this improves the CT.ESDV operational records for six subjects were analysed to find closures that occurred within a 24 h period of each other.However,no discriminating trend was apparent where CT was impacted positively or negatively by the frequent closure group.It was concluded that the variance of ESDV closure time cannot be influenced by the technical management of the ESDV in terms of scheduling the operation of the ESDV.

Adaptive Impedance-controlled Manipulator Based on Collision Detection

This article provides a flexible-joint-manipulator,which incorporates with three means to make its mechanical arm come into compliant contact with the objects with a force kept within an acceptable range. At first,the Cartesian impedance control law is introduced on the basis of virtual decomposition to realize the compliance control. Then,adaptive dynamic joint compensators on all joints are used to achieve more precise control. Finally,a Cartesian force-feedback path generation is developed for collision ...

A novel intelligent vehicle risk assessment method combined with multi-sensor fusion in dense traffic environment

Purpose–The purpose of this paper is to accurately capture the risks which are caused by each road user in time.Design/methodology/approach–The authors proposed a novel risk assessment approach based on the multi-sensor fusion algorithm in the real traffic environment.Firstly,they proposed a novel detection-level fusion approach for multi-object perception in dense traffic environment based on evidence theory.This approach integrated four states of track life into a generic fusion framework to improve the performance of multi-object perception.The information of object type,position and velocity was accurately obtained.Then,they conducted several experiments in real dense traffic environment on highways and urban roads,which enabled them to propose a novel road traffic risk modeling approach based on the dynamic analysis of vehicles in a variety of driving scenarios.By analyzing the generation process of traffic risks between vehicles and the road environment,the equivalent forces of vehicle–vehicle and vehicle–road were presented and theoretically calculated.The prediction steering angle and trajectory were considered in the determination of traffic risk influence area.Findings–The results of multi-object perception in the experiments showed that the proposed fusion approach achieved low false and missing tracking,and the road traffic risk was described as afield of equivalent force.The results extend the understanding of the traffic risk,which supported that the traffic risk from the front and back of the vehicle can be perceived in advance.Originality/value–This approach integrated four states of track life into a generic fusion framework to improve the performance of multi-object perception.The information of object type,position and velocity was used to reduce erroneous data association between tracks and detections.Then,the authors conducted several experiments in real dense traffic environment on highways and urban roads,which enabled them to propose a novel road traffic risk modeling approach based on the dynamic analysis of vehicles in a variety of driving scenarios.By analyzing the generation process of traffic risks between vehicles and the road environment,the equivalent forces of vehicle–vehicle and vehicle–road were presented and theoretically calculated.

Investigation of drinking water bacterial community through high-throughput sequencing

Delivery of safe and pathogen-free drinking water is crucial to public health.However,there exist challenges to the maintenance of the sterility of drinking water throughout the drinking water distribution systems（DWDS）.Microbial growth in DWDS,such as growth of opportunistic pathogenic microorganisms,can lead to severe health problems in consumers（Berry et al.,2006;Brettar and Hofle,2006;Lu et al.,2014;Zhang et al.,2015）.