Forward kinematics analysis of the 6-3 SPM by using neural networks

A feed-forward neural network has been trained using backpropagation algorithm to solve the forward kinematics problem of the 6-3 Stewart Platform Mechanism (SPM). The forward kinematics problem of the SPM does not have a unique solution since it involves solving a polynomial of order 16. Purely translational, purely rotational and general spatial data sets have been used in training and testing, and then an optimization procedure has been applied to fine-tune the solution. The method yields results fast and accurate enough such that it can be used instead of a gyro and a position sensor for real time control of the mechanism.     

Application of solvent evaporation technique for pure drug crystal spheres preparation

An innovative application of the solvent evaporation technique was suggested. Solvent evaporation technique is a technique for drug encapsulation and nanosphere preparation. The widely used technique is also facing the problem of low actual drug entrapment percent, which is not economic from the industrial view. The goal of this work is trying to use the advantage of this technique concerning the product sphericity and the ability to control particle size, to prepare a drug as pure crystals spheres. Ibuprofen is selected as a model drug. The spheres are formed by using Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) or Polyethylene glycol (PEG) as an anti-aggregating agent but not formed on using tween or span. Particle size and actual drug content depend on the concentrations the anti-aggregating agent used. Surfaces of the drug crystal spheres are porous with empty sphere internal structure on using PVP but spongy and rough on using PEG. The drug has its identity chemical form in the drug crystal spheres. IR scan of spheres prepared on using PEG showed a characteristic ether peak. DSC showed melting endothermic peak of PEG, but X-ray showed minor change in the drug crystal patterns. Drug release profiles from crystal spheres prepared with the same anti-aggregating agent are close to each other. The drug release profiles from drug crystal spheres prepared by using PEG are more controlled than that prepared by using PVP. The drug release mechanism is diffusion. It was concluded that, the same technique could be suggested for preparation of other biomedical material in pure crystals spheres with controlled particle size. These properties may encourage to prepare very small particles with spherical shape for inhalation or injection as an innovative particle technology application for the widely used technique.     

Simulations of magnetic capturing of drug carriers in the brain vascular system

The present paper reports on numerical simulations of blood flow and magnetic drug carrier distributions in a complex brain vascular system. The blood is represented as a non-Newtonian fluid by the generalised power law. The Lagrangian tracking of the double-layer spherical particles is performed to estimate particle deposition under influence of imposed magnetic field gradients across arterial walls. Two situations are considered: neutral (magnetic field off) and active control (magnetic field on) case. The double-layer spherical particles that mimic a real medical drug are characterised by two characteristic diameters - the outer one and the inner one of the magnetic core. A numerical mesh of the brain vascular system consisting of multi-branching arteries is generated from raw MRI scan images of a patient. The blood is supplied through four main inlet arteries and the entire vascular system includes more than 30 outlets, which are modelled by Murray’s law. The no-slip boundary condition is applied for velocity components along the smooth and rigid arterial walls. Numerical simulations revealed detailed insights into blood flow patterns, wall-shear-stress and local particle deposition efficiency along arterial walls. It is demonstrated that magnetically targeted drug delivery significantly increased the particle capturing efficiency in the pre-defined regions. This feature can be potentially useful for localised, non-invasive treatment of brain tumours.     

On Brinell and Boussinesq indentation of creeping solids

As an alternative to traditional tensile testing of materials subjected to creep, indentation testing is examined. Axisymmetric punches of shapes defined by smooth homogeneous functions are analysed in general at power law behaviour both from a theoretical and a computational point of view. It is first shown that by correspondence to nonlinear elasticity and self-similarity the problem to determine time-dependent properties admits reduction to a stationary one. Specifically it is proved that the creep rate problem posed depends only on the resulting contact area but not on specific punch profiles. As a consequence the relation between indentation depth and contact area is history independent. So interpreted, the solution for a flat circular cylinder (Boussinesq) is not only of intrinsic interest but serves as a reference solution to generate results for various punch profiles. This is conveniently carried out by cumulative superposition and in particular ball indentation (Brinell) is analysed in depth. A carefully designed finite element procedure based on a mixed variational principle is used to provide a variety of explicit results of high accuracy pertaining to stress and deformation fields. Universal relations for hardness at creep are proposed for Boussinesq and Brinell indentation in analogy with the celebrated formula by Tabor for indentation of strain-hardening plastic materials. Quantitative comparison is made with a diversity of experimental data attained by earlier writers and the relative merits of indentation strategies are discussed.     

The consequences of yield stress on deployment of a non-Newtonian anti-HIV microbicide gel

A recent study in South Africa has confirmed, for the first time, that a vaginal gel formulation of the antiretroviral drug Tenofovir, when applied topically, significantly inhibits sexual HIV transmission to women [10]. However the gel for this drug, and anti-HIV microbicide gels in general, have not been designed using full understanding of how gel spreading and retention in the vagina govern successful drug delivery. Elastohydrodynamic lubrication theory can be applied to model such spreading of microbicide gels, which are inherently non-Newtonian [13], [15]. A yield stress is emerging as one of the important properties of microbicide gel vehicle deployment, as this may improve retention within the vaginal canal. On the other hand, a yield stress may decrease the initial extent of the coating flow. Here, we first explain a certain yield stress paradox observed generally in many lubrication flows. Four conditions are determined, via scaling analysis, which mitigate the inconsistency in the use of lubrication theory to analyze the specific problem of elastic wall squeezing flow of yield stress fluid. Parameters characterizing these conditions are obtained experimentally for a test gel. Using them, it is shown that the lubrication approximation may be applied to the elastic wall-squeezing problem for this gel.     

Genetics in primary care: a USA faculty development initiative

The Genetics in Primary Care (GPC) project is a USA national faculty development initiative with the goal of enhancing the training of medical students and primary care residents by developing primary care faculty expertise in genetics. Educational strategies were developed for the project by an executive committee with input from an advisory committee, comprising individuals with primary care, medical education and genetics expertise. These committees identified the key issues in genetics education for primary care as (1) considering inherited disease in the differential diagnosis of common disorders; (2) using appropriate counseling strategies for genetic testing and diagnosis, and (3) understanding the implications of a genetic diagnosis for family members. The group emphasized the importance of a primary care perspective, which suggests that the clinical utility of genetic information is greatest when it has the potential to improve health outcomes. The group also noted that clinical practice already incorporates the use of family history information, providing a basis for discussing the application of genetic concepts in primary care. Genetics and primary care experts agreed that educational efforts will be most successful if they are integrated into existing primary care teaching programs, and use a case-based teaching format that incorporates both clinical and social dimensions of genetic disorders. Three core clinical skills were identified: (1) interpreting family history; (2) recognizing the variable clinical utility of genetic information, and (3) acquiring cultural competency. Three areas of potential controversy were identified as well: (1) the role of nondirective counseling versus shared decision-making in discussions of genetic testing; (2) the intrinsic value of genetic information when it does not influence health outcomes, and (3) indications for a genetics referral. The project provides an opportunity for ongoing discussion about these important issues.     

Economic evaluation of the familial cancer programme in Western Australia: predictive genetic testing for familial adenomatous polyposis and hereditary non-polyposis colorectal carcinoma

AIM: To evaluate costs and outcomes of genetic testing for familial colorectal cancer through services provided by Genetic Services of Western Australia (GSWA). METHODS: Costs and outcomes of predictive DNA-based testing for inherited colorectal cancers (CRC) were assessed, specifically for familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and hereditary non-polyposis CRC (HNPCC) using a decision-analysis model. Costs were assigned according to standards of care in Western Australia (WA). Cancer risks and the efficacy of surveillance on long-term outcomes were derived from the published literature. RESULTS: The cost-effectiveness of genetic testing was compared in first-degree relatives of known mutation carriers who have a 50% risk of carrying the mutated gene (intervention group) to individuals with the same risk but who do not undergo a genetic test (control subjects). Compared with control subjects undergoing the same high-level surveillance and surgery, the FAP and HNPCC intervention groups provided total savings of 13,390 US dollars and 14,783-15,460 per person (males-females), respectively. HPNCC mutation carriers also gained 1 CRC-free year. Compared to control subjects having only population surveillance, individuals in the FAP intervention group delayed the onset of CRC by 40 years for a net cost of 9,042 US dollars. Individuals in the HNPCC intervention group delayed the onset of CRC by 8 years at a net cost of 12,141 US dollars for males and 12,596 US dollars for females. CONCLUSIONS: Genetic testing for familial CRC in WA allows targeted surveillance for mutation carriers, which ensures the efficient use of resources and reduces cancer-related morbidity, if clinical recommendations for intervention are adopted.     

A model of chaotic drug markets and their control

This paper explores the idea that drug markets may be chaotic in a mathematical sense by considering a discrete-time model of populations of drug users and drug sellers for which initiation into either population is a function of relative numbers of both populations. The structure of the system follows that considered in an arms control context by Behrens, Feichtinger and Prskawetz (Behrens D.A., Feichtinger G., & Prskawetz A. (1997). Complex Dynamics and Control of Arms Race. European Journal of Operations Research, 100, 192-215). The model presented in this paper summarizes prerequisites for possible chaotic behavior of the number of addicts and drug dealers frequenting a local drug market. Interestingly, even if the uncontrolled market dynamics do not exhibit chaotic patterns, a static intervention like removing a constant fraction of addicts each time period can easily create chaos--but even if static control would create chaos, dynamic controls can be crafted that avoid it. Especially OGY controls seem to work well for this example.     

Direct numerical test of the B-G-K model equation by the DSMC method

In the present paper the rarefied gas flow caused by the sudden change of the wall temperature and the Rayleigh problem are simulated by the DSMC method which has been validated by experiments both in global flow field and velocity distribution function level. The comparison of the simulated results with the accurate numerical solution of the B-G-K model equation shows that near equilibrium the B-G-K equation with corrected collision frequency can give accurate result but as farther away from equilibrium the B-G-K equation is not accurate. This is for the first time that the error caused by the B-G-K model equation has been revealed. The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (19772059, 19889209)     

船行波对水中直立圆柱作用的数值模拟

针对船行波对水中直立圆柱的作用进行了数值计算。主要包括船行波的计算以及波浪对水中直立圆柱的作用。对于船行波的计算应用薄船理论和Noblesse给出的格林函数的简化形式,计算出Wigley船型在静水中匀速直线运动产生的船行波的远场解。以该船行波为入射波,应用Rankine源方法对船行波对水中直立圆柱的作用力及力矩进行了数值计算,得出了船只经过圆柱周围时圆柱的受力情况,对计算结果进行了定性的分析。     

Numerical simulations of high-speed chemically reacting flow

The essentially nonoscillatory (ENO) shock-capturing scheme for the solution of hyperbolic equations is extended to solve a system of coupled conservation equations governing two-dimensional, time-dependent, compressible chemically reacing flow with full chemistry. The thermodynamic properties of the mixture are modeled accurately, and stiff kinetic terms are separated from the fluid motion by a fractional step algorithm. The methodology is used to study the concept of shock-induced mixing and combustion, a process by which the interaction of a shock wave with a jet of low-density hydrogen fuel enhances mixing through streamwise vorticity generation. Test cases with and without chemical reaction are explored here. Our results indicate that, in the temperature range examined, vorticity generation as well as the distribution of atomic species do not change significantly with the introduction of a chemical reaction and subsequent heat release. The actual diffusion of hydrogen is also relatively unaffected by the reaction process. This suggests that the fluid mechanics of this problem may be successfully decoupled from the combustion processes, and that computation of the mixing problem (without combustion chemistry) can elucidate much of the important physical features of the flow.This work has been supported by the Aerospace Corporation through a Corporate Fellowship, by NASA Dryden Flight Research Center under Grant NCC 2-374, by ONR Grant N00014-86-K-0691, by NSF Grant DMS 88-11863, and by a DARPA Grant in the ACMP Program.     

Quality testing algorithms for the manual reentry guidance of the Soyuz-TMA spacecraft using a dynamic bench

The problem of developing the third level of the control system for a dynamic bench based on a CF-18 centrifuge is considered. The maximin testing procedure is used to check the stabilization accuracy of controlled objects. The first stage of this procedure is implemented by reducing the original dynamic game to a matrix game of large scale. When a saddle point does not exist, the problem is solved with the use of a mixed matrix game expansion by reducing it to a linear programming problem. An example of constructing the test perturbations used at the second stage of the maximin testing procedure is discussed.     

静电陀螺监控器赤道陀螺仪低纬度下的随动性能

静电陀螺监控器赤道陀螺仪处于低纬度地区启动或运行时,易出现未捕获的问题。针对该问题,通过仿真及试验,探明了在无减速器随动系统的复示误差发生变化的情况下赤道陀螺仪方位环随动系统性能与h角及所处纬度等的关系,进而揭示了在低纬度地区静电陀螺监控器赤道陀螺仪易出现未捕获问题的原理所在。同时证明了高品质、高动态性能的静电陀螺监控器无减速器复示系统及高度环、方位环随动系统是十分重要的。     

A Multi-step Method for <Emphasis Type="Italic">In Situ</Emphasis> Mechanical Characterization of 1-D Nanostructures Using a Novel Micromechanical Device

A novel micromechanical device was developed to convert the compressive force applied by a nanoindenter into pure tensile loading at the sample stages inside a scanning electron microscope or a transmission electron microscope, in order to mechanically deform a one-dimensional nanostructure, such as a nanotube or a nanowire. Force vs. displacement curves for samples with Young’s modulus above a threshold value can be obtained independently from readings of a quantitative high resolution nanoindenter with considerable accuracy, using a simple conversion relationship. However, in-depth finite element analysis revealed the existence of limitations for the device when testing samples with relatively low Young’s modulus, where forces applied on samples derived from nanoindenter readings using a predetermined force conversion factor will no longer be accurate. In this paper, we will demonstrate a multi-step method which can alleviate this problem and make the device capable of testing a wide range of samples with considerable accuracy.     

基于退相关DIC的疲劳裂纹全局动态测量方法

工程材料和结构在反复荷载长期作用下容易发生疲劳开裂, 疲劳裂纹测量对于开展科学试验研究和工程问题分析都至关重要, 但现有方法无法实现高精度的疲劳裂纹全局动态测量. 本文基于数字图像相关(digital image correlation, DIC)技术, 合理利用DIC的退相关效应, 提出一种疲劳裂纹全局动态测量及可视化方法. 该方法首先在相机采集得到的裂纹图像内, 建立具备拓扑关系的目标点云结构, 并运用DIC亚像素算法得到裂纹区域位移场, 再基于零均值归一化互相关(zero-mean normalized cross correlation, ZNCC)计算结果剔除退相关的DIC目标点(灭点). 进一步通过“三生点”算法提取得到裂纹离散边界, 并采用最小二乘法将离散边界拟合为连续裂纹边界, 实现裂纹形态的几何重构, 最终自动计算得到裂纹长度和宽度的动态变化过程. 该方法原理清晰、理论简单, 易于实现. 开展数值模拟和钢节点疲劳试验, 对相关算法和图像采集参数进行了验证, 结果表明本文方法对疲劳裂纹边界的数字化重构误差在0.5个像素内, 基于重构结果计算得到的裂纹长度和宽度误差分别为0.46像素和0.08像素(类同于0.06 mm和0.01 mm), 并成功实现了对疲劳试验裂纹扩展形态的精细化动态测量及可视化. 研究成果证明了DIC技术用于疲劳裂纹全局动态测量及可视化的有效性, 并在测量精度、效率、成本等方面具有显著优势, 可在实验室测量和工程现场测试中推广应用.      

An exact solution for the three-phase thermo-electro-magneto-elastic cylinder model and its application to piezoelectric–magnetic fiber composites

A three-phase cylindrical model for analyzing fiber composite subject to in-plane mechanical load under the coupling effects of multiple physical fields (thermo, electric, magnetic and elastic) is presented. By introducing an eigenstrain corresponding to the thermo-electro-magnetic-elastic effect, the complex multi-field coupling problem can be reduced to a formal in-plane elasticity problem for which an exact closed form solution is available. The present three-phase model can be applied to fiber/interphase/matrix composites, such that a lot of interesting thermo-electro-magnetism and stress coupling phenomena induced by the interphase layer are revealed. The present model can also be applied to fiber/matrix composites, in terms of which a generalized self-consistent method (GSCM) is developed for predicting the effective properties of piezoelectric–magnetic fiber reinforced composites. The effective piezoelectric, piezomagnetic, thermoelectric and magnetoelectric moduli can be expressed in compact explicit formulae for direct references and applications. A comparison of the predictions by the GSCM with available experimental data is presented, and interesting magnification effects and peculiar product properties are discussed. As a theoretical basis for the GSCM, the equivalence of the three sets of different average field equations in predicting the effective properties are proved, and this fact provides a strong evidence of mathematical rigor and physical realism in the formulation.     

Polynomial and Exponential Spatial Decay Estimates in Elasticity

In this note we investigate the spatial behavior of the solutions of a combination of a hyperbolic system with an elliptic system. We consider a semi-infinite cylinder which is the union of two sub-cylinders. In one of them, we assume an elastodynamical problem and in the other an elastostatic problem. Both are coupled through an interface. It is known that the elastostatic problem and the elastodynamic problem have a fast decay (at least exponential). However, as their spatial behaviors are of different kind, it is not clear how this combination could be controlled in a similar way. We prove that the decay of solutions can be controlled in a polynomial way. We also describe how to obtain an upper bound for the amplitude term. We conclude the paper sketching the exponential decay behavior for the harmonic vibrations. Supported by the project “Qualitative study of thermomechanical problems” (MTM2006-03706). The author thanks Professor Leseduarte for helping to compose the figures of this paper and an anonymous referee for useful criticisms.     

A new approach for computing the steady state fluid–structure interaction response of periodic problems

A special type of fluid–structure interaction (FSI) problems are problems with periodic boundary conditions like in turbomachinery. The steady state FSI response of these problems is usually calculated with similar techniques as used for transient FSI analyses. This means that, when the fluid and structure problem are not simultaneously solved with a monolithic approach, the problem is partitioned into a fluid and structural part and that each time step coupling iterations are performed to account for strong interactions between the two sub-domains. This paper shows that a time-partitioned FSI computation can be very inefficient to compute the steady state FSI response of periodic problems. A new approach is introduced in which coupling iterations are performed on periodic level instead of per time step. The convergence behaviour can be significantly improved by implementing existing partitioned solution methods as used for time step coupling (TSC) algorithms in the time periodic coupling (TPC) framework. The new algorithm has been evaluated by comparing the convergence behaviour to TSC algorithms. It is shown that the number of fluid–structure evaluations can be considerably reduced when a TPC algorithm is applied instead of a TSC. One of the most appealing advantages of the TPC approach is that the structural problem can be solved in the frequency domain resulting in a very efficient algorithm for computing steady state FSI responses.     

试验机弹性储能对岩石力学性能测试的影响

在材料试验机上进行岩石力学性能测试时，如何准确测量岩石的变形是整个测试分析的基础．为了具体考察试验机刚度对岩石变形测量的影响程度，在两台不同的试验机上进行了岩石的单轴压缩试验，通过对加卸载过程中试验系统及岩石能量变化的分析，详细研究了试验系统弹性储能对岩石变形测量的影响，进而给出了基于试验机刚度的修正计算方法，来确定岩石在测试过程中的变形．     

Rectangular tensile sheet with a center notch root crack

This paper deals with the rectangular tensile sheet with a center notch crack. Such a crack problem is called a center notch crack problem for short. By using a hybrid displacement discontinuity method (a boundary element method) proposed recently by Yan, two center notch models are analyzed in detail. By changing the geometrical forms and parameters of the center notch, and by comparing the SIFs of the center notch crack problem with those of the center cracked plate tension specimen (CCT), which is a model frequently used in fracture mechanics, the effect of the geometrical forms and parameters of the center notch on the stress intensity factors (SIFs) of the center cracked plate tension specimen, is revealed. Some geometric characterestic parameters are introduced here, which are used to formulate the notch length and the branch crack length, which are to be determined in mechanical machining of the center cracked plate tension specimen. So we can say that the geometric characterestic parameters and the formulae used to determine the notch length and the branch crack length presented in this paper perhaps have some guidance role for mechanical machining of the center cracked plate tension specimen. In addition, the numerical investigation proves that the conventional angular notched specimen is much less sensitive to the size of notch than is the circular notched specimen.