Component ordering strategies in assembly systems with uncertain capacity and random yield

Sourcing components in a complex global supplier network may lead to a high degree of supply uncertainty. Events, such as unexpected production defects or insufficient supplier capacity, can cause unexpected shortages of required components and halt the assembly of final products. Accordingly, the assembly enterprises must effectively manage various supply uncertainties in their component ordering decisions to avoid such component shortfalls. These issues have guided this research to investigate the optimal ordering strategies of an assembler facing the following two types of supply uncertainty: the uncertain production capacity of a standard component (component 1) and the random production yield of a core component (component 2). The assembler makes the component ordering decisions before these supply uncertainties are realized. We characterize the optimal ordering decision and find that the assembler should order components 1 and 2 according to a fixed ratio, which only depends on the random yield of component 2 and the production cost of component 1, but not on the uncertain capacity of component 1. A case study is presented to further explore the intertwined effects of these two uncertainties in an assembly system. Finally, the model is extended to consider a secondary option of buying additional component 1 s after observing some or all of the supply uncertainties, and this secondary option endows the firm with different capabilities in counteracting the supply uncertainties.     

Peridynamic modeling of pitting corrosion damage

In this paper we introduce a peridynamic model for the evolution of damage from pitting corrosion capable of capturing subsurface damage. We model the anodic reaction in corrosion processes (in which electroplating is negligible) as an effective peridynamic diffusion process in the electrolyte/solid system coupled with a phase-change mechanism that allows for autonomous evolution of the moving interface. In order to simulate creation of subsurface damage, we introduce a corrosion damage model based on a stochastic relationship that connects the concentration in the metal to the damage of peridynamic mechanical-bonds that are superposed onto diffusion-bonds. We study convergence of this formulation for diffusion-dominated stage. The model leads to formation of a subsurface damage layer, seen in experiments. We validate results against experiments on pit growth rate and polarization data for pitting corrosion. We extend the 1D model to the 2D and 3D, and introduce a new damage-dependent corrosion model to account for broken mechanical bonds that enhance the corrosion rate. This coupled model can predict the pit shape and damage profile in materials with microstructural heterogeneities, such as defects, interfaces, inclusions, and grain boundaries.     

Experimental and numerical study of an aquaculture net cage with floater in waves and current

The mooring loads on an aquaculture net cage in current and waves are investigated by dedicated model tests and numerical simulations. The main purpose is to investigate which physical effects are dominant for mooring loads, and in this respect, to investigate the validity of different rational hydrodynamic load models. Also structural and numerical aspects are investigated. The model tests are performed to provide benchmark data, while the numerical model is used to study the effect and sensitivity of different load models and parameters.Compared to a realistic aquaculture plant, the total system is simplified to reduce the complexity. The system does, however, include all the four main components of an aquaculture plant: net cage, floater, sinker weights and moorings. The net cage is bottomless, flexible and circular. It is attached to a circular, elastic floater at the top and has 16 sinker weights at the bottom. The system is nearly linearly moored with four crow feet mooring lines.The loads are measured in the four mooring lines. A systematic variation of current only, wave only as well as combined current and wave conditions is carried out. The numerical simulation results are first benchmarked towards the experimental data. The mean loads in general dominate over the dynamic part of the loads in combined current and waves, and they significantly increase in long and steep waves, relative to current only. Next, a sensitivity study is carried out. A rigid floater significantly alters the loads in the mooring lines compared to a realistic, elastic floater. The theoretical model for the wave matters. The mooring loads are rather insensitive to a majority of the parameters and models, in particular: frequency dependent added mass of the floater and nonlinear restoring loads. It seems not to be necessary to represent the net cage with a very fine numerical mesh.     

On the efficiency of energy harvesting using vortex-induced vibrations of cables

Many technologies based on fluid–structure interaction mechanisms are being developed to harvest energy from geophysical flows. The velocity of such flows is low, and so is their energy density. Large systems are therefore required to extract a significant amount of energy. The question of the efficiency of energy harvesting using vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) of cables is addressed in this paper, through two reference configurations: (i) a long tensioned cable with periodically-distributed harvesters and (ii) a hanging cable with a single harvester at its upper extremity. After validation against either direct numerical simulations or experiments, an appropriate reduced-order wake-oscillator model is used to perform parametric studies of the impact of the harvesting parameters on the efficiency. For both configurations, an optimal set of parameters is identified and it is shown that the maximum efficiency is close to the value reached with an elastically-mounted rigid cylinder. The variability of the efficiency is studied in light of the fundamental properties of each configuration, i.e. body flexibility and gravity-induced spatial variation of the tension. In the periodically-distributed harvester configuration, it is found that the standing-wave nature of the vibration and structural mode selection plays a central role in energy extraction. In contrast, the efficiency of the hanging cable is essentially driven by the occurrence of traveling wave vibrations.     

THE COURSE OF “STRUCTURAL MODEL DESIGN AND FABRICATION”

“知行统一” 的观念在教育界已深入人心,但是要做到切实履行却非易事。经过为期九年的精心打造,上海交通大学开设的创新型实践课程“结构模型设计与制作” 初步实现了“学与行” 的有机融合,教学效果显著,深受学生欢迎。本文是对该课程的总结与反思,希望对我国相关工科教学改革起到有益的借鉴作用。     

Tuning magnetism of monolayer GaN by vacancy and nonmagnetic chemical doping

In view of important role of inducing and manipulating the magnetism in 2D materials for the development of low-dimensional spintronic devices, the magnetism of GaN monolayer with Ga vacancy and nonmagnetic chemical doping are investigated using first-principles calculations. It is found that pure GaN monolayer has graphene-like structure and is nonmagnetic. While, a neutral Ga vacancy can induce 3 μ_B intrinsic magnetic moment, localized mainly on the neighboring N atoms. Interestingly, after one Mg or Si atom doping in g-GaN with Ga vacancy, the magnetic moment can be modified to 4 μ_B or 2 μ_B respectively due to the change in hole number. Meantime, Mg-doped g-GaN with Ga vacancy shows half-metal character. With the increasing of doping concentrations, the magnetic moment can be further tuned. The results are interesting from a theoretical point of view and may open opportunities for these 2D GaN based materials in magnetic devices.     

Experimental observation on multiaxial ratchetting of polycarbonate polymer at room temperature

Multiaxial stress-controlled and mixed stress-strain-controlled cyclic tests were carried out to investigate the multiaxial ratchetting of polycarbonate (PC) polymer at room temperature. The effects of applied mean stress, stress amplitude, loading rate, loading path and loading history on the ratchetting are discussed. The results show that the multiaxial ratchetting mainly occurs in the direction of non-zero mean stress. In the multiaxial stress-controlled cases, the ratchetting strain increases with increasing mean stress and stress amplitude and decreasing stress rate. Different values of ratchetting strain were obtained in the multiaxial cyclic tests with seven different loading paths, and prior cyclic loading with higher stress level resulted in decreased ratchetting in the subsequent cyclic loading with lower stress level. In the multiaxial mixed stress-strain-controlled tests, the ratchetting increased with increasing axial (or equivalent shear) stress and torsional-angle (or axial-displacement) amplitude and decreasing applied deformation rate.     

Theoretical and experimental values of the spectroscopic constant relative to the Hg 253.7 nm line at different temperatures.

The fundamental parameter (cm²/atom) relating the absorbance and the number of atoms, called “atomic absorptivity” (C.Th.J. Alkemade et al. Metal Vapours in Flames, Pergamon, New York, 1982) and herewith referred to as the “spectroscopic constant” k, can be either theoretically calculated or derived from experimental calibration curves. The comparison between these two values is useful because the theory can be refined and the operating conditions chosen with more confidence. One of the most important parameters needed is the variation of k with temperature, since a good control of the atomizer temperature is not easy due to difficulties in calibrating the sensor. In fact, if k is constant, there is no need to control the temperature, while if its variation is known, one can calculate the error caused by such inaccuracy. In this paper, some experimental and theoretical data for Hg, in the temperature interval 300–2400 K, are discussed.