A spatiotemporal evolution model of a short-circuit arc to a secondary arc based on the improved charge simulation method

The initial shape of the secondary arc considerably influences its subsequent shape.To establish the model for the arcing time of the secondary arc and modify the single-phase reclosing sequence,theoretical and experimental analysis of the evolution process of the short-circuit arc to the secondary arc is critical.In this study,an improved charge simulation method was used to develop the internal-space electric-field model of the short-circuit arc.The intensity of the electric field was used as an independent variable to describe the initial shape of the secondary arc.A secondary arc evolution model was developed based on this model.Moreover,the accuracy of the model was evaluated by comparison with physical experimental results.When the secondary arc current increased,the arcing time and dispersion increased.There is an overall trend of increasing arc length with increasing arcing time.Nevertheless,there is a reduction in arc length during arc ignition due to short circuits between the arc columns.Furthermore,the arcing time decreased in the range of 0°-90°as the angle between the wind direction and the x-axis increased.This work investigated the method by which short-circuit arcs evolve into secondary arcs.The results can be used to develop the secondary arc evolution model and to provide both a technical and theoretical basis for secondary arc suppression.

Dynamic Characteristics of Functionally Graded Timoshenko Beams by Improved Differential Quadrature Method

This study proposes an effective method to enhance the accuracy of the Differential Quadrature Method(DQM)for calculating the dynamic characteristics of functionally graded beams by improving the form of discrete node distribution.Firstly,based on the first-order shear deformation theory,the governing equation of free vibration of a functionally graded beam is transformed into the eigenvalue problem of ordinary differential equations with respect to beam axial displacement,transverse displacement,and cross-sectional rotation angle by considering the effects of shear deformation and rotational inertia of the beam cross-section.Then,ignoring the shear deformation of the beam section and only considering the effect of the rotational inertia of the section,the governing equation of the beam is transformed into the eigenvalue problem of ordinary differential equations with respect to beam transverse displacement.Based on the differential quadrature method theory,the eigenvalue problem of ordinary differential equations is transformed into the eigenvalue problem of standard generalized algebraic equations.Finally,the first several natural frequencies of the beam can be calculated.The feasibility and accuracy of the improved DQM are verified using the finite element method(FEM)and combined with the results of relevant literature.

A review of passenger ride comfort in railway:assessment and improvement method

Passenger ride comfort has become a focus of attention in rail transportation equipment design,manufacture and later operation to meet people’s demand for travel quality.However,comfort is a very subjective concept,which is difficult to quantify and evaluate directly,and can be affected by various factors,leading to the corresponding technologies for ride comfort improvement becoming diverse.In this paper,recent research on the assessment method and improvement measures of railway passenger ride comfort is reviewed.The main types of ride comfort are summarized first according to the sources of discomfort,including static comfort,vibration comfort,noise comfort,aural pressure comfort,thermal comfort and visual comfort.The current assessment methods of ride comfort are introduced from the aspects of environmental parameters and human parameters based on the nature of evaluation indicators.Finally,the improvement technologies for each type of ride comfort are presented.

DEFECT AND IMPROVEMENT OF TWO-TIME EXPANSION METHOD IN NONLINEAR OSCILLATIONS

In this paper, the defect of the Two-Time Expansion method is indicated and an improvement of this method is suggested. Certain examples.in which the present method is used, are given. Moreover, the paper shows the equivalence of the improved Two-Time Expansion Method and the method of KBM(Kryloy-Bogoliuboy-Mitropolski).

GENERALIZED TRANSFER FUNCTION OF CONTROL SYSTEM AND AN IMPROVEMENT ON THE DECISION METHOD OF MOVEMENT STABILITY

In this paper the definitions of generalized transfer functios of control system and itscontinuity are presented.Using generalized transfer function as a tool,a set of theorems fordeciding movement stability have been constructed.Thus basing understanding of thecharacteristics of a control dynamics system on its measured procedure will simplify thedecision method of movement stability problems.

Set Programming Method and Performance Improvement of Phase Change Random Access Memory Arrays

A novel slow-down set waveform is proposed to improve the set performance and a 1 kb phase change random access memory chip fabricated with a 13nm CMOS technology is implemented to investigate the set performance by different set programming strategies based on this new set pulse. The amplitude difference （I1 - I2） of the set pulse is proved to be a crucial parameter for set programming. We observe and analyze the cell characteristics with different I1 - I2 by means of thermal simulations and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, which reveal that an incomplete set programming will occur when the proposed slow-down pulse is set with an improperly high I1 - I2. This will lead to an amorphous residue in the active region. We also discuss the programming method to avoid the set performance degradations.

Seasonal variability of the mixed layer depth determined using an improved maximum angle method in the Arctic basins

To investigate the spatiotemporal variations in the mixed layer depth(MLD)in the Arctic basins,a new criterion to determine the MLD,called the improved maximum angle method(IMAM),was developed.A total of 45123 potential density profiles collected using Ice-Tethered Profilers(ITPs)in the Arctic basins during 2005-2021 were used to demonstrate the method’s effectiveness.By comparing the results obtained by the fixed threshold method(FTM),percentage threshold method(PTM),and maximum gradient method(MGM)for profiles in the Canada Basin,Makarov Basin,and Eurasian Basin,we determined that the quality index(1.0 for perfect identification of the MLD)of the IMAM regarding the assessment of the MLD determination method reached 0.94,which is much greater than those of other criteria.Moreover,two types of the density profiles were identified based on the mixed layer development stage.The MLDs of the typical profiles determined using the IMAM were found to have better consistency with the original definition.By utilizing the new mixed layer criterion,the seasonal variations and regional differences in the MLD in the Arctic basins were analyzed.Spatially,the summer and winter MLDs in the Canada Basin were the shallowest(13.55 m in summer,26.76 m in winter)than those in the Makarov(29.51 m in summer,49.08 m in winter)and Eurasian(20.36 m in summer,46.81 m in winter)basins due to the stable stratification in the upper ocean and the subsequent small effects of dynamic and thermodynamic processes(wind-driven stirring and brine rejection)in the Canada Basin.Seasonally,in the three Arctic basins,the average MLD was shallowest(22.77 m)in summer;it deepened through autumn and reached a winter maximum(41.12 m).

Study of Mutual Improvement of Completed Weathered Phyllite and Red Clay Based on Neutralization Effects of Swelling and Shrinkage Deformation

Completely weathered phyllite(CWP)soil is a kind of special soil with high swell potential,while red clay is a special soil with high shrinkage.This means that these two kinds of special soils are usually not suitable for direct use as subgrade fill.To reduce the swell index of the CWP soil and the shrinkage of red clay at the same time,it was proposed to blend the CWP soil with red clay to improve their basic characteristics.A series of swell index tests and dry-wet cycle tests of the blended soils have been carried out at varying blending ratios,compaction coefficients and moisture contents.The test results show that the free swell index of the blended soil decreases with the increase of red clay,moisture content and compaction coefficient,respectively.The fissure density of the blended soil first decreases and then increases with the blending ratio,with the lowest being zero when the blending ratio is ranging from 20%to 40%.Through particle microscopic analysis and elemental composition analysis,it is found that the neutralization effect,the dilution effect of swell minerals,and the partition effect of coarse particles play an important role in restraining expansion and shrinkage deformation of the blended soil.Based on the liquid limit requirement of Chinese Railway Design Code(TB 10001-2016),the optimal blending ratio of red clay has been proposed to be 50%.Compared with the CWP soil,the free load swell index of the blended soil is reduced by 45.0%and the fissure density is reduced by 99.3%compared with that of red clay.Therefore,it is feasible to improve the CWP soil by blending it with red clay at an optimal ratio of 50%by using the neutralization effect of the expansion of CWP and shrinkage of red clay.

Application of Hoof Tillage Method to Improve Degraded Mountain Grassland

Four seeding methods, including broadcast sowing, feeding seeds to sheep, putting seed bag on sheep and cattle, and mix-seeding were combined with hoof tillage method to improve the degraded mountain grassland where large gradient limited the use of machine. The results showed that the most suitable grassland type for hoof tillage was mountain meadow steppe. The optimum reseeding period was early spring, followed by late autumn ; and Sainfoin （Onobrychis sativa） was the most suitable herbage species. The optimum reseeding method was artificial broadcasting in the slope with the gradient 〈 20°, followed by putting seed bag on sheep and cattle. After improvement of hoof tillage, the vegetation coverage increased by 35%, the proportion of high quality herbage increased by 25%, and the fresh yield increased by three to four times.

An improved interpolating element-free Galerkin method with a nonsingular weight function for two-dimensional potential problems

In this paper, an improved interpolating moving least-square （IIMLS） method is presented. The shape function of the IIMLS method satisfies the property of the Kronecker 5 function. The weight function used in the IIMLS method is nonsingular. Then the IIMLS method can overcome the difficulties caused by the singularity of the weight function in the IMLS method. The number of unknown coefficients in the trial function of the IIMLS method is less than that of the moving least-square （MLS） approximation. Then by combining the IIMLS method with the Galerkin weak form of the potential problem, the improved interpolating element-free Galerkin （IIEFG） method for two-dimensional potential problems is presented. Compared with the conventional element-free Galerkin （EFG） method, the IIEFG method can directly use the essential boundary conditions. Then the IIEFG method has higher accuracy. For demonstration, three numerical examples are solved using the IIEFG method.

An improved boundary element-free method (IBEFM) for two-dimensional potential problems

The interpolating moving least-squares （IMLS） method is discussed first in this paper. And the formulae of the IMLS method obtained by Lancaster are revised. Then on the basis of the boundary element-free method （BEFM）, combining the boundary integral equation （BIE） method with the IMLS method, the improved boundary element-free method （IBEFM） for two-dimensional potential problems is presented, and the corresponding formulae of the IBEFM are obtained. In the BEFM, boundary conditions are applied directly, but the shape function in the MLS does not satisfy the property of the Kronecker ~ function. This is a problem of the BEFM, and must be solved theoretically. In the IMLS method, when the shape function satisfies the property of the Kronecker 5 function, then the boundary conditions, in the meshless method based on the IMLS method, can be applied directly. Then the IBEFM, based on the IMLS method, is a direct meshless boundary integral equation method in which the basic unknown quantity is the real solution of the nodal variables, and the boundary conditions can be applied directly and easily, thus it gives a greater computational precision. Some numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the method.

An Improved Method for Doppler Wind and Thermo dynamic Retrievals

A variational method is developed to retrieve winds in the first step and then thermodynamic fields in the second step from Doppler radar observations. In the first step, wind fields are retrieved at two time levels: the beginning and ending times of the data assimilation period, simultaneously from two successive volume scans by using the weak form constraints provided by the mass continuity and vorticity equations. As the retrieved wind fields are expressed by Legendre polynomial expansions at the beginning and ending times, the time tendency term in the vorticity equation can be conveniently formulated, and the retrieved winds can be compared with the radar observed radial winds in the cost function at the precise time and position of each radar beam. In the second step, the perturbation pressure and temperature fields at the middle time are then derived from the retrieved wind fields and the velocity time tendency by using the weak form constraints provided by the three momentum equations. The merits of the new method are demonstrated by numerical experiments with simulated radar observations and compared with the traditional least squares methods which consider neither the precise observation times and positions nor the velocity time tendency. The new method is also applied to real radar data for a heavy rainfall event during the 2001 Meiyu season in China.

A measurement method for distinguishing the real contact area of rough surfaces of transparent solids using improved Otsu technique

An experimental method of measuring the real contact area of transparent blocks based on the principle of total internal reflection is presented, intending to support the investigation of friction characteristics, heat conduction, and energy dissipation at the contact interface. A laser sheet illuminates the contact interface, and the transmitted laser sheet is projected onto a screen. Then the contact information is acquired from the screen by a camera. An improved Otsu method is proposed to process the data of experimental images. It can compute the threshold of the overall image and filter out all the pixels one by one. Through analyzing the experimental results, we describe the relationship between the real contact area and the positive pressure during a continuous loading process, at different loading rates, with the polymethyl methacrylate（PMMA）material. A hysteresis phenomenon in the relationship between the real contact area and the positive pressure is found and explained.

An improved interpolating element-free Galerkin method for elasticity

Based on the improved interpolating moving least-squares （ⅡMLS） method and the Galerkin weak form, an improved interpolating element-free Galerkin （ⅡEFG） method is presented for two-dimensional elasticity problems in this paper. Compared with the interpolating moving least-squares （IMLS） method presented by Lancaster, the ⅡMLS method uses the nonsingular weight function. The number of unknown coefficients in the trial function of the ⅡMLS method is less than that of the MLS approximation and the shape function of the ⅡMLS method satisfies the property of Kronecker δ function. Thus in the ⅡEFG method, the essential boundary conditions can be applied directly and easily, then the numerical solutions can be obtained with higher precision than those obtained by the interpolating element-free Galerkin （IEFG） method. For the purposes of demonstration, four numerical examples are solved using the ⅡEFG method.

An Improved Splitting Method

In this paper, an improved splitting method, based on the completely square-conservative explicit difference schemes, is established. Not only can the time-direction precision of this method be higher than that of the traditional splitting methods but also can the physical feature of mutual dependence of the fast and the slow stages that are calculated separately and splittingly be kept as well. Moreover, the method owns an universality, it can be generalized to other square-conservative difference schemes, such as the implicit and complete ones and the explicit and instantaneous ones. Good time benefits can be acquired when it is applied in the numerical simulations of the monthly mean currents of the South China Sea.

Solving unsteady Schr?dinger equation using the improved element-free Galerkin method

By employing the improved moving least-square （IMLS） approximation, the improved element-free Galerkin （IEFG） method is presented for the unsteady Schrodinger equation. In the IEFG method, the two-dimensional （2D） trial function is approximated by the IMLS approximation, the variation method is used to obtain the discrete equations, and the essential boundary conditions are imposed by the penalty method. Because the number of coefficients in the IMLS approximation is less than in the moving least-square （MLS） approximation, fewer nodes are needed in the entire domain when the IMLS approximation is used than when the MLS approximation is adopted. Then the IEFG method has high computational efficiency and accuracy. Several numerical examples are given to verify the accuracy and efficiency of the IEFG method in this paper.

Analysis of elastoplasticity problems using an improved complex variable element-free Galerkin method

In this paper, based on the conjugate of the complex basis function, a new complex variable moving least-squares approximation is discussed. Then using the new approximation to obtain the shape function, an improved complex variable element-free Galerkin（ICVEFG） method is presented for two-dimensional（2D） elastoplasticity problems. Compared with the previous complex variable moving least-squares approximation, the new approximation has greater computational precision and efficiency. Using the penalty method to apply the essential boundary conditions, and using the constrained Galerkin weak form of 2D elastoplasticity to obtain the system equations, we obtain the corresponding formulae of the ICVEFG method for 2D elastoplasticity. Three selected numerical examples are presented using the ICVEFG method to show that the ICVEFG method has the advantages such as greater precision and computational efficiency over the conventional meshless methods.

Interpolating Isogeometric Boundary Node Method and Isogeometric Boundary Element Method Based on Parameter Space

In this paper,general interpolating isogeometric boundary node method(IIBNM)and isogeometric boundary element method(IBEM)based on parameter space are proposed for 2D elasticity problems.In both methods,the integral cells and elements are defined in parameter space,which can reproduce the geometry exactly at all the stages.In IIBNM,the improved interpolating moving leastsquare method(IIMLS)is applied for field approximation and the shape functions have the delta function property.The Lagrangian basis functions are used for field approximation in IBEM.Thus,the boundary conditions can be imposed directly in both methods.The shape functions are defined in 1D parameter space and no curve length needs to be computed.Besides,most methods for the treatment of the singular integrals in the boundary element method can be applied in IIBNM and IBEM directly.Numerical examples have demonstrated the accuracy of the proposed methods.

Motor relearning program and Bobath method improve motor function of the upper extremities in patients with stroke

BACKGROUND: In the natural evolution of cerebrovascular disease, unconscious use of affected extremity during drug treatment and daily life can improve the function of affected upper extremity partially, but it is very slow and also accompanied by the formation of abnormal mode. Therefore, functional training should be emphasized in recovering the motor function of extremity. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of combination of motor relearning program and Bobath method on motor function of upper extremity of patients with stroke. DESIGN: Comparison of therapeutic effects taking stroke patients as observation subjects. SETTING: Department of Neurology, General Hospital of Beijing Jingmei Group. PARTICIPANTS: Totally 120 stroke patients, including 60 males and 60 females, averaged (59±3) years, who hospitalized in the Department of Neurology, General Hospital of Beijing Jingmei Group between January 2005 and June 2006 were recruited. The involved patients met the following criteria: Stroke attack within 2 weeks; diagnosis criteria of cerebral hemorrhage or infarction made in the 4th National Cerebrovascular Disease Conference; confirmed by skull CT or MRI; Informed consents of therapeutic regimen were obtained. The patients were assigned into 2 groups according to their wills: rehabilitation group and control group, with 30 males and 30 females in each group. Patients in rehabilitation group averaged (59±2)years old, and those in the control group averaged (58±2)years old. METHODS: ① Patients in two groups received routine treatment in the Department of Neurology. When the vital signs of patients in the rehabilitation group were stable, individualized treatment was conducted by combined application of motor relearning program and Bobath method. Meanwhile, training of activity of daily living was performed according to the disease condition changes of patients at different phases, including the nursing and instruction of body posture, the maintenance of good extremity position, bed exercise, bedside sit up and sitting position balance, sit up exercise, dynamic and static balance exercise, walking exercise, active training and passive training. The strength, time and speed of training were increased gradually according to their physical abilities. Patients were trained 45 to 60 minutes once, 5 times a week, within 2 weeks. ② Evaluation criteria of therapeutic effect: The motor function of upper extremity was evaluated by Fugl-Meyer method on the day of beginning and end of treatment. Higher points indicated better function of upper extremity. ③ t test and paired t test were used for comparing the difference of intergroup and intragroup measurement data, respectively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in Fugl-Meyer scoring of two groups before and after treatment. RESULTS: Totally 120 stroke patients participated in the final analysis. Before treatment, Fugl-Meyer scoring was close between rehabilitation group and control group [(14.47±2.38),(14.16±2.39) points, P > 0.05]; Fugl-Meyer scoring of rehabilitation group after treatment was significantly higher than that before treatment and that of control group[(37.93±2.67),(18.36±2.43) points, t =11.053, 5.408, P < 0.01]; There were no significant differences in Fugl-Meyer scoring between before treatment in the control group and control group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Combined application of motor relearning program and Bobath method can significantly improve the motor function of upper extremity of patients with stroke.

New complex variable meshless method for advection-diffusion problems

In this paper,an improved complex variable meshless method（ICVMM） for two-dimensional advection-diffusion problems is developed based on improved complex variable moving least-square（ICVMLS） approximation.The equivalent functional of two-dimensional advection-diffusion problems is formed,the variation method is used to obtain the equation system,and the penalty method is employed to impose the essential boundary conditions.The difference method for twopoint boundary value problems is used to obtain the discrete equations.Then the corresponding formulas of the ICVMM for advection-diffusion problems are presented.Two numerical examples with different node distributions are used to validate and investigate the accuracy and efficiency of the new method in this paper.It is shown that ICVMM is very effective for advection-diffusion problems,and has a good convergent character,accuracy,and computational efficiency.