Dynamic flight stability of hovering model insects:theory versus simulation using equations of motion coupled with Navier-Stokes equations

In the present paper, the longitudinal dynamic flight stability properties of two model insects are predicted by an approximate theory and computed by numerical sim- ulation. The theory is based on the averaged model （which assumes that the frequency of wingbeat is sufficiently higher than that of the body motion, so that the flapping wings＇ degrees of freedom relative to the body can be dropped and the wings can be replaced by wingbeat-cycle-average forces and moments）; the simulation solves the complete equations of motion coupled with the Navier-Stokes equations. Comparison between the theory and the simulation provides a test to the validity of the assumptions in the theory. One of the insects is a model dronefly which has relatively high wingbeat frequency （164 Hz） and the other is a model hawkmoth which has relatively low wingbeat frequency （26 Hz）. The results show that the averaged model is valid for the hawkmoth as well as for the dronefly. Since the wingbeat frequency of the hawkmoth is relatively low （the characteristic times of the natural modes of motion of the body divided by wingbeat period are relatively large） compared with many other insects, that the theory based on the averaged model is valid for the hawkmoth means that it could be valid for many insects.

Dynamic flight stability of a bumblebee in forward flight

The longitudinal dynamic flight stability of a bumblebee in forward flight is studied. The method of computational fluid dynamics is used to compute the aerodynamic derivatives and the techniques of eigenvalue and eigenvector analysis are employed for solving the equations of motion. The primary findings are as the following. The forward flight of the bumblebee is not dynamically stable due to the existence of one （or two） unstable or approximately neutrally stable natural modes of motion. At hovering to medium flight speed [flight speed Ue = （0-3.5）m s^-1; advance ratio J = 0-0.44], the flight is weakly unstable or approximately neutrally stable; at high speed （Ue = 4.5 m s^-1; J = 0.57）, the flight becomes strongly unstable （initial disturbance double its value in only 3.5 wingbeats）.

Stability analysis of backflling in subsiding area and optimization of the stoping sequence

In underground mining by sublevel caving method, the deformation and damage of the surface induced by subsidence are the major challenging issues. The dynamic and soft backflling body increases the safety risks in the subsiding area. In this paper, taking Zhangfushan iron mine as an example, the ore body and the general layout are focused on the safety of backflling of mined-out area. Then, we use the ANSYS software to construct a three-dimensional(3D) model for the mining area in the Zhangfushan iron mine. According to the simulation results of the initial mining stages, the ore body is stoped step by step as suggested in the design. The stability of the backflling is back analyzed based on the monitored displacements, considering the stress distribution to optimize the stoping sequence. The simulations show that a reasonable stoping sequence can minimize the concentration of high compressive stress and ensure the safety of stoping of the ore body.

Analysis of deformation ＆ destruction mechanism and stability of F0 fault crush zone in Fangezhuang Coal Mine

Under the mining influence, carried on the electron microscope, the thin section analysis and creep tests to the fault matter＇s original sample and five groups of duplication samples, which have three kinds of moisture. The results of those tests indicate that confining pressure effect, structure effect and moisture effect all have influence to fault matter＇s nature. Meanwhile, the distortion destruction and stability variation of fault crush zone are the main reason which causes water-inrush lag-effect. Simultaneously, the stimulation computation we made by the numerical simulation software FLAC 3D also describes the mining influence to floor strata, fault crush zone＇s range and size, the influence of confined water on overburden and the fault zones, also it describes the time effect of bearing influenced by confined water and the rock dank height of confined water along the fault zones influenced by the specific water head.

Crosswind stability of high-speed trains in special cuts

Analysis of the aerodynamic performance of high-speed trains in special cuts would provide references for the critical overturning velocity and complement the operation safety management under strong winds.This work was conducted to investigate the flow structure around trains under different cut depths,slope angles using computational fluid dynamics(CFD).The high-speed train was considered with bogies and inter-carriage gaps.And the accuracy of the numerical method was validated by combining with the experimental data of wind tunnel tests.Then,the variations of aerodynamic forces and surface pressure distribution of the train were mainly analyzed.The results show that the surroundings of cuts along the railway line have a great effect on the crosswind stability of trains.With the slope angle and depth of the cut increasing,the coefficients of aerodynamic forces tend to reduce.An angle of 75°is chosen as the optimum one for the follow-up research.Under different depth conditions,the reasonable cut depth for high-speed trains to run safely is 3 m lower than that of the conventional cut whose slope ratio is 1:1.5.Furthermore,the windward slope angle is more important than the leeward one for the train aerodynamic performance.Due to the shield of appropriate cuts,the train body is in a minor positive pressure environment.Thus,designing a suitable cut can contribute to improving the operation safety of high-speed trains.

Stability analysis of slope in strain-softening soils using local arc-length solution scheme

Soils with strain-softening behavior — manifesting as a reduction of strength with increasing plastic strain — are commonly found in the natural environment. For slopes in these soils,a progressive failure mechanism can occur due to a reduction of strength with increasing strain. Finite element method based numerical approaches have been widely performed for simulating such failure mechanism,owning to their ability for tracing the formation and development of the localized shear strain. However,the reliability of the currently used approaches are often affected by poor convergence or significant mesh-dependency,and their applicability is limited by the use of complicated soil models. This paper aims to overcome these limitations by developing a finite element approach using a local arc-length controlled iterative algorithm as the solution strategy. In the proposed finite element approach,the soils are simulated with an elastoplastic constitutive model in conjunction with the Mohr-Coulomb yield function. The strain-softening behavior is represented by a piece-wise linearrelationship between the Mohr-Coulomb strength parameters and the deviatoric plastic strain. To assess the reliability of the proposed finite element approach,comparisons of the numerical solutions obtained by different finite element methods and meshes with various qualities are presented. Moreover,a landslide triggered by excavation in a real expressway construction project is analyzed by the presented finite element approach to demonstrate its applicability for practical engineering problems.

Forming condition of transient saturated zone and its distribution in residual slope under rainfall conditions

Rainfall, as one of the most significant factors triggering the residual soil slope failure, leads to not only the reduction of soil shear strength, but also the increase of soil weight and the decrease of matric suction as well. All these modifications in soil properties have important influence on the slope stability. The water infiltration and redistribution inside the slope are the preconditions of the slope stability under rainfall conditions. Based on the numerical simulation via finite element method, the water infiltration process under rainfall conditions was studied in the present work. The emphases are the formation, distribution and dissipation of transient saturated zone. As for the calculation parameters, the SWCC and the saturated permeability have been determined by pressure plate test and variable head test respectively. The entire process(formation, development, dissipation) of the transient saturated zone was studied in detail. The variations of volumetric water content, matric suction and hydraulic gradient inside the slope, and the eventually raise of groundwater table were characterized and discussed, too. The results show that the major cause of the formation of transient saturated zone is ascribed to the fact that the exudation velocity of rainwater on the wetting front is less than the infiltration velocity of rainfall; as a result, the water content of the soil increases. On the other hand, the formation and extension of transient saturated zone have a close relationship with rainfall intensity and duration. The results can help the geotechnical engineers for the deeper understanding of the failure of residual slope under rainfall condition. It is also suggested that the proper drainage system in the slope may be the cost-effective slope failure mitigation method.

State Modeling Based Prediction of Torsional Resonances for Horizontal-Axis Drive Train Wind Turbine

This paper focuses on the state space modeling approach and output torques prediction of torsional vibrations for variable speed wind turbines. The multi-body system model under study is mainly comprised of a wind turbine, a three stage planetary gear box and an induction generator. The masses-springs approach of shaft system differential equations is developed from Newton＇s law and Lagrange formulas. For an easy comprehension for electrical engineers and tutorial purpose, an electrical equivalent circuit of the system is proposed by using mechanical and electrical components similarities. Extensive numerical simulations are performed to investigate system mechanical resonances and impacts of damping factors on the system dynamic and stability.

Simulation of stabilizing process of dielectric nanoparticle in optical trap using counter-propagating pulsed laser beams

The stabilizing process of glass particle in water by optical trap using the pulsed counter-propagating Gaussian beams is investigated. The influence of the optical power and the particle dimension on the rate and time of the stabilizing process is simulated and discussed.

Adaptive Fuzzy Torque Control of Passive Torque Servo Systems Based on Small Gain Theorem and Input-to-state Stability

Passive torque servo system （PTSS） simulates aerodynamic load and exerts the load on actuation system, but PTSS endures position coupling disturbance from active motion of actuation system, and this inherent disturbance is called extra torque. The most important issue for PTSS controller design is how to eliminate the influence of extra torque. Using backstepping technique, adaptive fuzzy torque control （AFTC） algorithm is proposed for PTSS in this paper, which reflects the essential characteristics of PTSS and guarantees transient tracking performance as well as final tracking accuracy. Takagi-Sugeno （T-S） fuzzy logic system is utilized to compensate parametric uncertainties and unstructured uncertainties. The output velocity of actuator identified model is introduced into AFTC aiming to eliminate extra torque. The closed-loop stability is studied using small gain theorem and the control system is proved to be semiglobally uniformly ultimately bounded. The proposed AFTC algorithm is applied to an electric load simulator （ELS）, and the comparative experimental results indicate that AFTC controller is effective for PTSS.

Temperature stability of magnetic field for periodic permanent-magnet focusing system

In this study, finite element analysis based on an Ansoft Maxwell software was used to reveal the temperature stability of a magnet ring and the equivalent structural periodic permanent-magnet（PPM） focusing system. It is found that with the temperature increasing, the decrease rate of magnetic induction peak（Bz）maxof single magnet ring is greater than that of remanence Brof magnet in the range from room temperature to 200 °C, however,the PPM focusing system do have the same temperature characteristics of permanent-magnet materials. It indicates that the magnetic temperature properties of the PPM system can be effectively controlled by adjusting the temperature properties of the magnets. Moreover, the higher permeability of the magnets indicates the less Hcb, giving rise to lower magnetic induction peak （Bz）′max： Finally, it should be noted that the magnetic orientation deviation angle θ（／15°） of permanent magnets has little effect on the focusing magnetic field of the PPM system at different temperatures and the temperature stability. The obtained results are beneficial to the design and selection of permanent magnets for PPM focusing system.