An Efficient Reliability-Based Optimization Method Utilizing High-Dimensional Model Representation and Weight-Point Estimation Method

The objective of reliability-based design optimization(RBDO)is to minimize the optimization objective while satisfying the corresponding reliability requirements.However,the nested loop characteristic reduces the efficiency of RBDO algorithm,which hinders their application to high-dimensional engineering problems.To address these issues,this paper proposes an efficient decoupled RBDO method combining high dimensional model representation(HDMR)and the weight-point estimation method(WPEM).First,we decouple the RBDO model using HDMR and WPEM.Second,Lagrange interpolation is used to approximate a univariate function.Finally,based on the results of the first two steps,the original nested loop reliability optimization model is completely transformed into a deterministic design optimization model that can be solved by a series of mature constrained optimization methods without any additional calculations.Two numerical examples of a planar 10-bar structure and an aviation hydraulic piping system with 28 design variables are analyzed to illustrate the performance and practicability of the proposed method.

Nanofiltration Technology for Toxic or Harmful Ions Removal from Groundwater: Characteristics and Economic Analysis

Nanofiltration (NF) membrane can efficiently remove the ions from groundwater, especially for high valence ions. Results show that the removal rate of fluoride was approximately 67% by the NF system, while for arsenic the removal rate was more than 93%. NF presented the well selective removal for fluoride. The quality of product water meets the national drinking water standards. Therefore, the application of nanofiltration technology can significantly improve the drinking water environment of rural areas, avoiding the secondary pollution caused by other chemical treatment processes. The water product cost of NF technology is about RMB 0.026 yuan per liter, application of the process of 2:1 NF membranes arrangement for toxic or harmful ions removal from groundwater, including investment cost and operating cost. Therefore, NF technology for harmful ions removal is more economical than the price of the market bottled water and suitable for application in rural areas of China.

A novel adaptive-impulsive synchronization of fractional-order chaotic systems

A novel adaptive-impulsive scheme is proposed for synchronizing fractional-order chaotic systems without the necessity of knowing the attractors＇ bounds in priori. The nonlinear functions in these systems are supposed to satisfy local Lipschitz conditions but which are estimated with adaptive laws. The novelty is that the combination of adaptive control and impulsive control offers a control strategy gathering the advantages of both. In order to guarantee the convergence is no less than an expected exponential rate, a combined feedback strength design is created such that the symmetric axis can shift freely according to the updated transient feedback strength. All of the unknown Lipschitz constants are also updated exponentially in the meantime of achieving synchronization. Two different fractional-order chaotic systems are employed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the novel adaptive-impulsive control scheme.

Hydrodynamic Properties of Fe3O4 Kerosene-Based Ferrofluids with Narrow Particle Size Distribution

We investigate the hydrodynamic properties of Fe3O4 kerosene-based ferrofluids with narrow particle size distribution. The ferrofluids are synthesized by improving chemical coprecipitation technique. A narrow distribution of 8.6-10.8nm particle sizes is obtained from the magnetization curve with the free-form model based on the Bayesian inference theory. The fitting result is consistent with average particle size obtained from x-ray diffraction. With the increase of applied magnetic field and magnetic particle concentration, apparent viscosity of ferrofluids increases. At concentration 4.04%, the type of flow for the ferrofluid transforms from Newtonian to Bingham plastic fluid as the applied magnetic field increases.

Subinterval Decomposition-Based Interval Importance Analysis Method

The importance analysis method represents a powerful tool for quantifying the impact of input uncertainty on the output uncertainty.When an input variable is described by a specific interval rather than a certain probability distribution,the interval importance measure of input interval variable can be calculated by the traditional non-probabilistic importance analysis methods.Generally,the non-probabilistic importance analysis methods involve the Monte Carlo simulation(MCS)and the optimization-based methods,which both have high computational cost.In order to overcome this problem,this study proposes an interval important analytical method avoids the time-consuming optimization process.First,the original performance function is decomposed into a combination of a series of one-dimensional subsystems.Next,the interval of each variable is divided into several subintervals,and the response value of each one-dimensional subsystem at a specific input point is calculated.Then,the obtained responses are taken as specific values of the new input variable,and the interval importance is calculated by the approximated performance function.Compared with the traditional non-probabilistic importance analysis method,the proposed method significantly reduces the computational cost caused by the MCS and optimization process.In the proposed method,the number of function evaluations is equal to one plus the sum of the subintervals of all of the variables.The efficiency and accuracy of the proposed method are verified by five examples.The results show that the proposed method is not only efficient but also accurate.

Case-based retrieval approach for machining fixture design utilizingontology

In order to develop an intelligent case-based reasoning （CBR） system to reuse fixture de- sign knowledge, ontology technology was integrated in CBR system by semantic annotation of fixture design case. Domain ontology of fixture design was constructed; concepts and relations were de- fined and represented. The 2-level similarity evaluation approach of domain ontology was presented. The concept similarity of cases was calculated as the first grade case retrieval. Numerical measure- ment was the second grade case retrieval, which adopted various methods to calculate different types of attribute values. The problem of similarity measurement of fixture design case was resolved. Pro- totype system based on the proposed method was illustrated and the retrieval approach was proved to be efficient.

Vibro-impact dynamics near a strong resonance point

Two typical vibratory systems with impact are considered, one of which is a two-degree-of-freedom vibratory system impacting an unconstrained rigid body, the other impacting a rigid amplitude stop. Such models play an important role in the studies of dynamics of mechanical systems with repeated impacts. Two-parameter bifurcations of fixed points in the vibro-impact systems, associated with 1 ： 4 strong resonance, are analyzed by using the center manifold and normal form method for maps. The single-impact periodic motion and Poincaré map of the vibro-impact systems are derived analytically. Stability and local bifurcations of a single-impact periodic motion are analyzed by using the Poincaré map. A center manifold theorem technique is applied to reduce the Poincaré map to a two-dimensional one, and the normal form map for 1：4 resonance is obtained. Local behavior of two vibro-impact systems, near the bifurcation points for 1：4 resonance, are studied. Near the bifurcation point for 1：4 strong resonance there exist a Neimark-Sacker bifurcation of period one single-impact motion and a tangent （fold） bifurcation of period 4 four-impact motion, etc. The results from simulation show some interesting features of dynamics of the vibro-impact systems： namely, the ＂heteroclinic＂ circle formed by coinciding stable and unstable separatrices of saddles, Tin, Ton and Tout type tangent （fold） bifurcations, quasi-periodic impact orbits associated with period four four-impact and period eight eight-impact motions, etc. Different routes of period 4 four-impact motion to chaos are obtained by numerical simulation, in which the vibro-impact systems exhibit very complicated quasiperiodic impact motions.

EFFECT OF SILICA NANOPARTICLES ON PROPERTIES OF WATERBORNE POLYURETHANES

Waterborne polyurethane composites containing silica nanoparticles are synthesized successfully via the in situ polymerization. The structure, thermal stability, surface hardness, tensile strength, UV-Vis absorbance, dynamic mechanical properties and chemicals resistance of the resulting composites are investigated by FTIR, TEM, TGA, UV-Vis, DMA and chemicals soakage measurements. Results show that polyurethane molecules and silica nanoparticles are linked with covalent bonds. As a result, physical properties of polyurethane composites, such as thermal stability, surface hardness, weather and chemicals resistance are all improved when an appropriate concentration of silica nanoparticles are incorporated.

Effect of the drive system on locomotive dynamic characteristics using different dynamics models

Based on the theory of vehicle-track coupled dynamics and gear system dynamics, a locomotive-track coupled spatial dynamics model is established by considering the dynamic effects of the gear transmission system. The vibration responses of a locomotive's major components are then simulated using three locomotive-track models, namely the proposed dynamics model with the gear transmissions, a locomotive-track coupled dynamics model that considers the traction motor, and the classical Zhai's model. The locomotive dynamic responses of the three models are extracted and compared to reveal discrepancies between them so as to explore the dynamic effects of the power transmission system and clarify potential applications of these models. The results indicate that the dynamic effects of the gear transmissions have a negligible influence on the lateral vibrations of the locomotive components. However, they have obvious effects on the vertical and longitudinal vibrations of the wheelset and the traction motor. Another advantage of the locomotive dynamics model that considers the dynamic effects of the gear transmissions is that the dynamic performance of the drive system can be assessed in the vehicle vibration environment. This study provides theoretical references that can assist researchers in choosing the most appropriate locomotive dynamics model according to their specific research purpose.

Static workspace analysis of a multi-robot collaborative towing system with floating base

The static workspace of the multi-robot collaborative towing system with floating base was analyzed.The spacial configuration of the system was built,and the system was divided into three types according to the actuation.The kinematic and dynamic models of the floating base and the towing system were established,respectively,by using the Newton-Euler equation.Then the static workspace of the system was analyzed,and the specific steps to solve the workspace with the improved Monte Carlo method were obtained.Finally,the static workspaces of three types of systems were solved though actual simulation calculation,the simulation results show that the improved Monte Carlo method can get a workspace with higher precision compare to the traditional Monte Carlo method.Results of this study lay a basis for the subsequent trajectory plan,stability analysis and configuration optimization of the system.