Experimental studies of the effects of buffered particle dampers attached to a multi-degree-of-freedom system under dynamic loads

This paper presents a systematic experimental investigation of the effects of buffered particle dampers attached to a multi-degree-of-freedom (mdof) system under different dynamic loads (free vibration, random excitation as well as real onsite earthquake excitations), and analytical/computational study of such a system. A series of shaking table tests of a three-storey steel frame with the buffered particle damper system are carried out to evaluate the performance and to verify the analysis method. It is shown that buffered particle dampers have good performance in reducing the response of structures under dynamic loads, especially under random excitation case. It can effectively control the fundamental mode of the mdof primary system; however, the control effect for higher modes is variable. It is also shown that, for a specific container geometry, a certain mass ratio leads to more efficient momentum transfer from the primary system to the particles with a better vibration attenuation effect, and that buffered particle dampers have better control effect than the conventional rigid ones. An analytical solution based on the discrete element method is also presented. Comparison between the experimental and computational results shows that reasonably accurate estimates of the response of a primary system can be obtained. Properly designed buffered particle dampers can effectively reduce the response of lightly damped mdof primary system with a small weight penalty, under different dynamic loads.     

A honey-bee mating optimization algorithm for educational timetabling problems

In this work, we propose a variant of the honey-bee mating optimization algorithm for solving educational timetabling problems. The honey-bee algorithm is a nature inspired algorithm which simulates the process of real honey-bees mating. The performance of the proposed algorithm is tested over two benchmark problems; exam (Carter’s un-capacitated datasets) and course (Socha datasets) timetabling problems. We chose these two datasets as they have been widely studied in the literature and we would also like to evaluate our algorithm across two different, yet related, domains. Results demonstrate that the performance of the honey-bee mating optimization algorithm is comparable with the results of other approaches in the scientific literature. Indeed, the proposed approach obtains best results compared with other approaches on some instances, indicating that the honey-bee mating optimization algorithm is a promising approach in solving educational timetabling problems.     

Restoring force and dynamic loadings identification for a nonlinear chain-like structure with partially unknown excitations

Most of the currently employed vibration-based identification approaches for structural damage detection are based on eigenvalues and/or eigenvectors extracted from dynamic response measurements, and strictly speaking, are only suitable for linear system. However, the inception and growth of damage in engineering structures under severe dynamic loadings are typical nonlinear procedures. Consequently, it is crucial to develop general structural restoring force and excitation identification approaches for nonlinear dynamic systems because the restoring force rather than equivalent stiffness can act as a direct indicator of the extent of the nonlinearity and be used to quantitatively evaluate the absorbed energy during vibration, and the dynamic loading is an important factor for structural remaining life forecast. In this study, based on the instantaneous state vectors and partially unknown excitation, a power series polynomial model (PSPM) was utilized to model the nonlinear restoring force (NRF) of a chain-like nonlinear multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) structure. To improve the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed approach, an iterative approach, namely weighted adaptive iterative least-squares estimation with incomplete measured excitations (WAILSE-IME), where a weight coefficient and a learning coefficient were involved, was proposed to identify the restoring force of the structure as well as the unknown dynamic loadings simultaneously. The response measurements of the structure, i.e., the acceleration, velocity, and displacement, and partially known excitations were utilized for identification. The feasibility and robustness of the proposed approach was verified by numerical simulation with a 4 degree-of-freedom (DOF) numerical model incorporating a nonlinear structural member, and by experimental measurements with a four-story frame model equipped with two magneto-rheological (MR) dampers mimicking nonlinear behavior. The results show the proposed approach by combining the PSPM and WAILSE-IME algorithm is capable of effectively representing and identifying the NRF of the chain-like MDOF nonlinear system with partially unknown external excitations, and provide a potential way for damage prognosis and condition evaluation of engineering structures under dynamic loadings which should be regarded as a nonlinear system.     

An experimental investigation of change detection in uncertain chain-like systems

Promising ongoing research on “smart” sensing technologies is offering low-cost alternatives and new opportunities for large-scale SHM. Networks of sensors with wireless communication and computational capabilities can be used to increase the spatial resolution of data collection while providing a distributed computing framework for implementing structural health monitoring algorithms. Robust and practical SHM methodologies being able to rapidly and accurately detect and assess changes in the monitored system are required to be at the core of these “smart” structures. A data-driven non-parametric identification technique is used to implement a robust change detection methodology for uncertain MDOF chain-like systems that can be implemented in densely distributed smart-sensor networks. Experimental data from a test-bed structure tested at Los Alamos National Laboratory are used to evaluate the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed SHM methodology. The results of this study showed that the proposed approach was able, in a rigorous statistical framework, to confidently detect the presence of structural changes, accurately locate the structural section where the change occurred, and provide an accurate estimate of the actual level of “change”. Additionally, a full-order finite element model of the test structure, as well as the results from the experimental modal identification using the ERA algorithm were employed to validate the results obtained in this change-detection study.     

Turbulent piloted partially-premixed flames with varying levels of O2/N2: stability limits and PDF calculations

This paper reports measured stability limits and PDF calculations of piloted, turbulent flames of compressed natural gas (CNG) partially-premixed with either pure oxygen, or with varying levels of O₂/N₂. Stability limits are presented for flames of CNG fuel premixed with up to 20% oxygen as well as CNG–O₂–N₂ fuel where the O₂ content is varied from 8 to 22% by volume. Calculations are presented for (i) Sydney flame B [Masri et al. 1988] which uses pure CNG as well as flames B15 to B25 where the CNG is partially-premixed with 15–25% oxygen by volume, respectively and (ii) Sandia methane–air (1:3 by volume) flame E [Barlow et al. 2005] as well as new flames E15 and E25 that are partially-premixed with ‘reconstituted air’ where the O₂ content in nitrogen is 15 and 25% by volume, respectively. The calculations solve a transported PDF of composition using a particle-based Monte Carlo method and employ the EMST mixing model as well as detailed chemical kinetics. The addition of oxygen to the fuel increases stability, shortens the flames, broadens the reaction zone, and shifts the stoichiometric mixture fraction towards the inner side of the jet. It is found that for pure CNG flames where the reaction zone is narrow (～0.1 in mixture fraction space), the PDF calculations fail to reproduce the correct level of local extinction on approach to blow-off. A broadening in the reaction zone up to about 0.25 in mixture fraction space is needed for the PDF/EMST approach to be able to capture these finite-rate chemistry effects. It is also found that for the same level of partial premixing, increasing the O₂/N₂ ratio increases the maximum levels of CO and NO but shifts the peak to richer mixture fractions. Over the range of oxygenation investigated here, stability limits have shown to improve almost linearly with increasing oxygen levels in the fuel and with increasing the contribution of release rate from the pilot.     

Mapping some basic functions and operations to multilayer feedforward neural networks for modeling nonlinear dynamical systems and beyond

Nonlinear Dynamics - This study significantly extends the development of an initialization methodology for designing multilayer feedforward neural networks, aimed primarily at modeling nonlinear...     

Vibration-rotation spectra of CD3CN

Rotational structure in two parallel and five perpendicular bands of CD₃CN is fully analyzed at a resolution of 0.2–0.3 cm^?1. The unresolved contour of the ν₈ fundamental is reproduced by contour simulation and a value of ζ8^z determined. Strong A₁-E Coriolis interactions between the close lying fundamentals ν₃ and ν₆, and ν₄ and ν₇ are interpreted by means of computer contour simulations. Marked localized perturbations in the perpendicular ν₅ and ν₅ + ν₆ bands are analyzed and arise through Fermi resonance interactions, most probably with ν₆ + ν₇ + ν₈ and 2ν₃ + ν₆, respectively. A value of A for the ground state is calculated through use of the rotational data for ν₅, ν₆, ν₅ + ν₆, and customary approximations. In conjunction with the microwave B₀ value, it is consistent with a CD₃ group geometry of $\text{r}{}_0\text{= 1.096}\text{A}\text{?}$, α₀(DCD) = 108° 56′.     

The Structure of the Auto-Ignition Region of Turbulent Dilute Methanol Sprays Issuing in a Vitiated Co-flow

This paper presents planar imaging of laser induced fluorescence (LIF) from key reactive species in the auto-ignition region of dilute turbulent spray flames of methanol. High-speed (5?kHz) LIF-OH imaging as well as low speed (10?Hz) imaging of joint LIF-OH-CH₂O is performed. The product of the OH and CH₂O signals is used as a qualitative indicator of local heat release. The burner is kept intentionally simple to facilitate computations and the spray is formed upstream of the jet exit plane and carried with air or nitrogen into a hot co-flowing stream of vitiated combustion products. The studied flames are all lifted but differ in the shape of their leading edge and heat release zones. Similarities with auto-ignition of gaseous fuels, as well as differences, are noted here. Formaldehyde is detected earlier than OH implying that the former is a key precursor in the initiation of auto-ignition. Growing kernels of OH that are advected from upstream, close in on the jet centreline and ignite the main flame. The existence of double reaction zones in some flames may be due to ignitable mixtures formed subsequent to local evaporation of droplets and subsequent mixing. When air is used as spray carrier, reaction zones broaden with distance, possibly due to increased partial premixing and regions of intense heat release occur near the flame centreline further downstream. With nitrogen as carrier, the flame maintains a nominal diffusion-like structure with reaction zones of uniform width and substantially less concentration of heat release on the flame centreline.     

Active Control of Shallow,Slack Cable Using the Parametric Control of End Tension

This study presents a practical, fieldable active controller applicable to shallow, slack cables. The controller is based upon an underlying theory that does not assume that the inertial forces are negligible in the direction of the cable chord. The theoretical framework is developed, and an experimental verification is presented. The experiments utilized a TV camera to track a small number of LED targets on the controlled cable, a commercial X-Y tracker and a PC to compute the cable's present position and velocity, and a linear actuator to vary the cable's tension. A Kalman filter was employed to smooth the position estimates and provide least-squares estimates of the cable velocity. The stability limits for the phase and amplitude of the control signal were established. An analytical estimate of the induced damping expected from the control algorithm is derived. Experimental measurements of the cable frequency and induced damping compared well with theoretical predictions. It is shown that he proposed active control approach is a simple, reliable, as well as an effective, method for vibration attenuation in lightly damped, shallow, slack cables.     

Quasi-static cylindrical cavity expansion in an elastoplastic compressible Mises solid

The self-similar elastoplastic field induced by quasi-static expansion of a pressurized cylindrical cavity is investigated for Mises solids under the assumption of plane-strain. Material behavior is modeled by the elastoplastic J₂ flow theory with the standard hypoelastic version. The theory accounts for elastic-compressibility and allows for arbitrary strain-hardening (or softening) in the plastic range. A formulation of the exact governing equations is presented and analyzed in detail for the remote elastic field and for asymptotic plastic behavior near the cavity wall, along with numerical investigations for the entire deformation zone. An analytical solution was obtained under the axially-hydrostatic assumption (axial stress coincides with hydrostatic stress) within an error of about 2% or less as compared to the exact, numerically evaluated, value of cavitation pressure. Two ad-hoc compressibility approximations for cavitation pressure are suggested. These relations, which give very accurate results, appear to provide tight lower and upper bounds on the exact value of cavitation pressure within an error of less than 0.5%.