In-service hydrocarbons must be transported at high temperature and high pressure to ease the flow and to prevent the solidification of the wax fraction. The high temperature and high pressure will induce the addition...In-service hydrocarbons must be transported at high temperature and high pressure to ease the flow and to prevent the solidification of the wax fraction. The high temperature and high pressure will induce the additional stress in the pipeline, which results in the upheaval buckling of the pipeline. If such expansion is resisted, e.g., by the frictional effects of the foundation soil over a kilometer or of a pipeline, the compressive axial stress will be set up in the pipe-wall. When the stress exceeds the constraint of the foundation soil on the pipeline, suddenly-deforming will occur to release the internal stress, similar to the sudden deformation of the strut due to stability problems. The upheaval buckling may jeopardize the structural integrity of the pipeline. Therefore, effective engineering measures against this phenomenon play an important role in the submarine pipeline design. In terms of the pipeline installation and protection measures commonly used in Bohai Gulf, three engineering measures are investigated in great details. An analytical method is introduced and developed to consider the protection effect of the anti-upheaval buckling of the pipeline. The analysis results show that the amplitude of the initial imperfection has a great effect on the pipeline thermal upheaval buckling. Both trenching and burial and discrete dumping are effective techniques in preventing the pipeline from buckling. The initial imperfection and operation conditions of the pipelines determine the covered depth and the number of layers of the protection measures.展开更多
This paper presents a holistic methodology for the design of medical device software, which encompasses of a new way of eliciting requirements, system design process, security design guideline, cloud architecture desi...This paper presents a holistic methodology for the design of medical device software, which encompasses of a new way of eliciting requirements, system design process, security design guideline, cloud architecture design, combinatorial testing process and agile project management. The paper uses point of care diagnostics as a case study where the software and hardware must be robust, reliable to provide accurate diagnosis of diseases. As software and software intensive systems are becoming increasingly complex, the impact of failures can lead to significant property damage, or damage to the environment. Within the medical diagnostic device software domain such failures can result in misdiagnosis leading to clinical complications and in some cases death. Software faults can arise due to the interaction among the software, the hardware, third party software and the operating environment. Unanticipated environmental changes and latent coding errors lead to operation faults despite of the fact that usually a significant effort has been expended in the design, verification and validation of the software system. It is becoming increasingly more apparent that one needs to adopt different approaches, which will guarantee that a complex software system meets all safety, security, and reliability requirements, in addition to complying with standards such as IEC 62304. There are many initiatives taken to develop safety and security critical systems, at different development phases and in different contexts, ranging from infrastructure design to device design. Different approaches are implemented to design error free software for safety critical systems. By adopting the strategies and processes presented in this paper one can overcome the challenges in developing error free software for medical devices (or safety critical systems).展开更多
The diurnal temperature range(DTR) serves as a vital indicator reflecting both natural climate variability and anthropogenic climate change. This study investigates the historical and projected multitemporal DTR varia...The diurnal temperature range(DTR) serves as a vital indicator reflecting both natural climate variability and anthropogenic climate change. This study investigates the historical and projected multitemporal DTR variations over the Tibetan Plateau. It assesses 23 climate models from phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project(CMIP6) using CN05.1 observational data as validation, evaluating their ability to simulate DTR over the Tibetan Plateau. Then, the evolution of DTR over the Tibetan Plateau under different shared socioeconomic pathway(SSP) scenarios for the near,middle, and long term of future projection are analyzed using 11 selected robustly performing models. Key findings reveal:(1) Among the models examined, BCC-CSM2-MR, EC-Earth3, EC-Earth3-CC, EC-Earth3-Veg, EC-Earth3-Veg-LR,FGOALS-g3, FIO-ESM-2-0, GFDL-ESM4, MPI-ESM1-2-HR, MPI-ESM1-2-LR, and INM-CM5-0 exhibit superior integrated simulation capability for capturing the spatiotemporal variability of DTR over the Tibetan Plateau.(2) Projection indicates a slightly increasing trend in DTR on the Tibetan Plateau in the SSP1-2.6 scenario, and decreasing trends in the SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SPP5-8.5 scenarios. In certain areas, such as the southeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, western hinterland of the Tibetan Plateau, southern Kunlun, and the Qaidam basins, the changes in DTR are relatively large.(3) Notably, the warming rate of maximum temperature under SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SPP5-8.5 is slower compared to that of minimum temperature, and it emerges as the primary contributor to the projected decrease in DTR over the Tibetan Plateau in the future.展开更多
This study aims to evaluate the safety status of electrical installations in residential and commercial buildings within the Suame ECG strategic business unit, Ghana, focusing on compliance with international and Ghan...This study aims to evaluate the safety status of electrical installations in residential and commercial buildings within the Suame ECG strategic business unit, Ghana, focusing on compliance with international and Ghanaian wiring standards. The research assesses key factors influencing safety, including the certification of electricians, the quality of cable brands used, proper cable sizing, adherence to wiring color codes, the awareness and use of Residual Current Circuit Breakers (RCCBs), and the protection of earth electrodes. A descriptive research design was utilized, involving extensive field surveys and electrical installation audits. Data were collected using standardized tools and analyzed with SPSS software to evaluate the professional competencies of artisans and their adherence to safety standards. The findings indicate significant safety risks, with 69.7% of electricians lacking proper certification, leading to the widespread use of non-approved cable brands, improper cable sizing, and deviations from wiring color codes. Additionally, deficiencies were found in the awareness and use of RCCBs and the protection of earth electrodes. The study concludes with recommendations to enhance electrical safety, including mandatory certification for electricians, public awareness campaigns, regular inspections, and ongoing training and development programs. These measures are crucial for improving the overall safety and quality of electrical installations in the Suame area, Ghana.展开更多
Localized rock failures,like cracks or shear bands,demand specific attention in modeling for solids and structures.This is due to the uncertainty of conventional continuum-based mechanical models when localized inelas...Localized rock failures,like cracks or shear bands,demand specific attention in modeling for solids and structures.This is due to the uncertainty of conventional continuum-based mechanical models when localized inelastic deformation has emerged.In such scenarios,as macroscopic inelastic reactions are primarily influenced by deformation and microstructural alterations within the localized area,internal variables that signify these microstructural changes should be established within this zone.Thus,localized deformation characteristics of rocks are studied here by the preset angle shear experiment.A method based on shear displacement and shear stress differences is proposed to identify the compaction,yielding,and residual points for enhancing the model's effectiveness and minimizing subjective influences.Next,a mechanical model for the localized shear band is depicted as an elasto-plastic model outlining the stress-displacement relation across both sides of the shear band.Incorporating damage theory and an elasto-plastic model,a proposed damage model is introduced to replicate shear stressdisplacement responses and localized damage evolution in intact rocks experiencing shear failure.Subsequently,a novel nonlinear mathematical model based on modified logistic growth theory is proposed for depicting the shear band's damage evolution pattern.Thereafter,an innovative damage model is proposed to effectively encompass diverse rock material behaviors,including elasticity,plasticity,and softening behaviors.Ultimately,the effects of the preset angles,temperature,normal stresses and the residual shear strength are carefully discussed.This discovery enhances rock research in the proposed damage model,particularly regarding shear failure mode.展开更多
One of the most important of these emissions is fine particulate matter,which is a harmful emission of diesel engines,leading to the imposition of strict regulations.Biodiesel,with its high oxygen content,is an effect...One of the most important of these emissions is fine particulate matter,which is a harmful emission of diesel engines,leading to the imposition of strict regulations.Biodiesel,with its high oxygen content,is an effective alternative to significantly reduce these emissions.In this study,rapeseed methyl ester(RME)was used as a diesel engine fuel and the emitted particulate matter was comparedwith ultra-lowsulfur diesel(ULSD).Inmost experimental studies,the emission of soot wasmeasured.In this work,the effects of injection timing,injection pressure(IP),and engine load on fine particulate matter in both nucleation and accumulation modes were studied.The results show that IP increases the number of particles in the accumulation mode while the number of particles in the crystallization mode is higher for rapeseed methyl ester(RME)than for ultra-low sulfur diesel(ULSD).Conversely,the formation rates of particles in the accumulationmode are higher for ULSD.Cumulative concentration numbers(CCN)are generally higher for RME in crystallization mode but higher for ULSD in accumulation mode.Increasing the IP reduces the CCN values.The particle size in crystallizationmode reaches a maximum of 22 nm at IPs of 800 and 1000 bar but decreases to 15 nm at 1200 bar.Most fine particles fall in the 5–100 nm diameter range.High engine loads reduce the particle size distribution in nucleationmode for both fuels,with a slight increase in particle size in nucleationmode.Thestudy concluded that the use of rapeseed methyl ester as an engine fuel benefits the environment and improves air quality due to the significant reduction in the size,number,and concentration of nano-soot particles and total particles emitted from the engine.展开更多
This paper demonstrates the application of a design tool called BioTRIZ. Its developers claim that it can be used to access biological strategies for solving engineering problems. Our aim is to design a roof for hot c...This paper demonstrates the application of a design tool called BioTRIZ. Its developers claim that it can be used to access biological strategies for solving engineering problems. Our aim is to design a roof for hot climates that gets free cooling through radiant coupling with the sky. The insulation in a standard roof stops the sun and convection from warming the thermal mass. But it also restricts the mass＇s longwave view of the cool sky. Different solutions to this conflict are offered by BioTRIZ. The chosen solution is to replace the standard insulation component with an open cell honeycomb. The vertical cells would allow longwave radiation to pass, while arresting convection. The solutions offered by BioTRIZ＇s technological counterpart include no such changes in structure. It is estimated that the thermal mass in the biomimetic roof would remain on average 4.5℃ cooler than in a standard roof over a year in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.展开更多
In order to avoid the curing effects of paraffin on the transport process and reduce the transport difficulty,usually high temperature and high pressure are used in the transportation of oil and gas.The differences of...In order to avoid the curing effects of paraffin on the transport process and reduce the transport difficulty,usually high temperature and high pressure are used in the transportation of oil and gas.The differences of temperature and pressure cause additional stress along the pipeline,due to the constraint of the foundation soil,the additional stress can not release freely,when the additional stress is large enough to motivate the submarine pipelines buckle.In this work,the energy method is introduced to deduce the analytical solution which is suitable for the global buckling modes of idealized subsea pipeline and analyze the relationship between the critical buckling temperature,buckling length and amplitude under different high-order global lateral buckling modes.To obtain a consistent formulation of the problem,the principles of virtual displacements and the variation calculus for variable matching points are applied.The finite element method based on elasto-plastic theory is used to simulate the lateral global buckling of the pipelines under high temperature and pressure.The factors influencing the lateral buckling of pipelines are further studied.Based upon some actual engineering projects,the finite element results are compared with the analytical ones,and then the influence of thermal stress,the section rigidity of pipeline,the soil properties and the trigging force to the high order lateral buckling are discussed.The method of applying the small trigging force on pipeline is reliable in global buckling numerical analysis.In practice,increasing the section rigidity of a pipeline is an effective measure to improve the ability to resist the global buckling.展开更多
A multi-domain nonlinear dynamic model of a proportional solenoid valve was presented.The electro-magnetic,mechanical and fluid subsystems of the valve were investigated,including their interactions.Governing equation...A multi-domain nonlinear dynamic model of a proportional solenoid valve was presented.The electro-magnetic,mechanical and fluid subsystems of the valve were investigated,including their interactions.Governing equations of the valve were derived in the form of nonlinear state equations.By comparing the simulated and measured data,the simulation model is validated with a deviation less than 15%,which can be used for the structural design and control algorithm optimization of proportional solenoid valves.展开更多
To investigate tumor-induced angiogenesis under the influence of the mechanical environments inside and outside the tumor, mathematical model of tumor angiogenesis was developed. In the model, extra-cellular matrix （...To investigate tumor-induced angiogenesis under the influence of the mechanical environments inside and outside the tumor, mathematical model of tumor angiogenesis was developed. In the model, extra-cellular matrix （ECM） was treated as a thin plane. The displacement of ECM is obtained from the force balance equation consisted of the ECs traction, the ECM visco-elastic forces and the exter- nal forces. Simulation results show that a layered capillary network is obtained with a well vascularized region at the periphery of the tumor. The present model can be used as a valid theoretical method in the basic researches in tumorinduced angiogenesis.展开更多
Solid-liquid hydrocyclones are mainly used to separate large particles, such as the particles of drilling fluid in petroleum industry, and large mineral particles. Till now the hydrocyclonic separation for fine partic...Solid-liquid hydrocyclones are mainly used to separate large particles, such as the particles of drilling fluid in petroleum industry, and large mineral particles. Till now the hydrocyclonic separation for fine particles is still a big problem. Basic separation principle of hydrocyclones and experimental research facility are simply introduced. The difficulty of separating fine particle is analyzed. Based on a solid-liquid hydrocyclone used for separating fine particles, relationships of dimensionless pressure characteristic parameters, i.e. Euler number and pressure drop ratio, with several main dimensionless parameters, such as split ratio, swirl number and gas-liquid ratio, were experimentally studied in detail. The research was carried out by using the hydrocyclonic separation experimental rig at the University of Bradford. It is shown that the less the size of particle, the less the value of radius of the balance orbit occupied by the particle, and then the more difficult for the particle to be separated. Experiments indicate that Euler number of the tested hydrocyclone increases with the rise of Reynolds number, split ratio, swirl number and gas-liquid ratio respectively, and the pressure drop ratio falls with the increase of Reynolds number, split ratio and swirl number respectively. It is concluded that the most effective way to decrease the unit energy dissipation of hydrocyclone is to reduce swirl number or gas-liquid ratio of the mixed media.展开更多
A coupled intravascular-transvascular-interstitial fluid flow model is developed to study the distributions of blood flow and interstitial fluid pressure in solid tumor microcirculation based on a tumor-induced microv...A coupled intravascular-transvascular-interstitial fluid flow model is developed to study the distributions of blood flow and interstitial fluid pressure in solid tumor microcirculation based on a tumor-induced microvascular network. This is generated from a 2D nine-point discrete mathematical model of tumor angiogenesis and contains two parent vessels. Blood flow through the microvascular network and interstitial fluid flow in tumor tissues are performed by the extended Poiseuille＇s law and Darcy＇s law, respectively, transvascular flow is described by Starling＇s law; effects of the vascular permeability and the interstitial hydraulic conductivity are also considered. The simulation results predict the heterogeneous blood supply, interstitial hypertension and low convection on the inside of the tumor, which are consistent with physiological observed facts. These results may provide beneficial information for anti-angiogenesis treatment of tumor and further clinical research.展开更多
BIM （building information modelling） has gained wider acceptance in the A/E/C （architecture/engineering/construction） industry in the US and internationally. This paper presents current industry approaches of impl...BIM （building information modelling） has gained wider acceptance in the A/E/C （architecture/engineering/construction） industry in the US and internationally. This paper presents current industry approaches of implementing 3D point cloud data in BIM and VDC （virtual design and construction） applications during various stages of a project life cycle and the challenges associated with processing the huge amount of 3D point cloud data. Conversion from discrete 3D point cloud raster data to geometric/vector BIM data remains to be a labor-intensive process. The needs for intelligent geometric feature detection/reconstruction algorithms for automated point cloud processing and issues related to data management are discussed. This paper also presents an innovative approach for integrating 3D point cloud data with BIM to efficiently augment built environment design, construction and management.展开更多
Offshore Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines(HAWT)are used globally as a source of clean and renewable energy.Turbine efficiency can be improved by optimizing the geometry of the turbine blades.Turbines are generally design...Offshore Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines(HAWT)are used globally as a source of clean and renewable energy.Turbine efficiency can be improved by optimizing the geometry of the turbine blades.Turbines are generally designed in a way that its orientation is adjustable to ensure the wind direction is aligned with the axis of the turbine shaft.The deflection angle from this position is defined as yaw angle of the turbine.Understanding the effects of the yaw angle on the wind turbine performance is important for the turbine safety and performance analysis.In this study,performance of a yawed HAWT is studied by computational fluid dynamics.The wind flow around the turbine is simulated by solving the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations using software ANSYS Fluent.The principal aim of this study is to quantify the yaw angle on the efficiency of the turbine and to check the accuracy of existing empirical formula.A three-bladed 100-m diameter prototype HAWT was analysed through comprehensive Computational Fluid Dynamics(CFD)simulations.The turbine efficiency reaches its maximum value of 33.9%at 0°yaw angle and decreases with the increase of yaw angle.It was proved that the cosine law can estimate the turbine efficiency with a yaw angle with an error less 10%when the yaw angle is between-30°and 30°.The relative error of the cosine law increase at larger yaw angles because of the power is reduced significantly.展开更多
Various forecasting tools exist for planners of national networks that are based on historical data. These are used to make decisions at the national level to meet a countries commitment to CO2 emission targets. Howev...Various forecasting tools exist for planners of national networks that are based on historical data. These are used to make decisions at the national level to meet a countries commitment to CO2 emission targets. However, at a local community level, the guidance is not easily understood by planners. This work presents for the first time a methodology for the generation of realistic domestic electricity load profiles for different types of UK households for small communities. The work is based on a limited set of data, and has been compared with measurement. Daily load profiles from individual dwelling to community can be predicted using this method. Results have been presented, and discussed.展开更多
The thermally induced cyclic loading on integral bridge abutments causes soil deformation and lateral stress ratcheting behind the abutment wall due to the expansion and contraction of the bridge deck.The forward and ...The thermally induced cyclic loading on integral bridge abutments causes soil deformation and lateral stress ratcheting behind the abutment wall due to the expansion and contraction of the bridge deck.The forward and backward movements of the abutment in response to the expansion/contraction of the bridge deck lead to the formation of settlement trough and surface heaving,frequently creating a bump at the bridge approach and increasing the lateral earth pressure behind the abutment.Measures to reduce the bump at the bridge approach,including several treatment methods,such as compaction of selected backfill materials,grout injection,installation of approach slab,and using a layer of compressible inclusion material behind the abutment were proposed.However,these guidelines still lack sufficient design details and there are limited experimental findings to validate design assumptions.In this paper,the use of engineered compressible materials to alleviate the lateral earth pressure ratcheting and settlement at the bridge approach is investigated.The comparative study is presented for the soil-inclusion,material-structure and soil-structure interactions for an integral bridge under three different backfill conditions,i.e.(a)sand,(b)sand and EPS geofoam,and(c)sand and Infinergy®.The study was conducted in a special large-scale test chamber with a semi-scale abutment to gain better insights into the soil-structure interaction(SSI).The kinematics and rearrangement of the soil during the cyclic loading have been investigated to identify the mitigating effects of compressible inclusions.The comparative study indicates that both compressible inclusions perform comparatively well,however,Infinergy®is a better alternative than the medium-density EPS geofoam,as it works more effectively to reduce the backfill settlement and heaving as well as soil ratcheting effects under cyclic translational movement.展开更多
A hybrid discrete-continuum model of tumor growth in the avascular phase considering capillary points is established. The influence of the position of capillary points on tumor growth is also studied by simulation. Th...A hybrid discrete-continuum model of tumor growth in the avascular phase considering capillary points is established. The influence of the position of capillary points on tumor growth is also studied by simulation. The results of the dynamic tumor growth and the distribution of oxygen, matrix-degrading enzymes, and extracellular matrixconcentration in the microenvironment with respect to time are shown by graphs. The relationships between different oxygenated environments and the numbers of surviving, dead, proliferative, and quiescent tumor cells are also investigated.展开更多
This work investigates the impact of biomechanical wear and abrasion on the antibiotic release profiles of hydroxyapatite (HA) coated fixation pins during their insertion into synthetic bone. Stainless steel fixation ...This work investigates the impact of biomechanical wear and abrasion on the antibiotic release profiles of hydroxyapatite (HA) coated fixation pins during their insertion into synthetic bone. Stainless steel fixation pins are coated with crystalline TiO2 by cathodic arc evaporation forming the bioactive layer for biomimetic deposition of Tobramycin containing HA. Tobramycin is either introduced by co-precipitation during HA formation or by adsorption-loading after HA deposition. The samples containing antibiotics are inserted into bone mimicking polyethylene foam after which the drug release is monitored using high performance liquid chromatography. This analysis shows that HA coating wear and delamination significantly decrease the amount of drug released during initial burst, but only marginally influence the sustained release period. Spalled coating fragments are found to remain within the synthetic bone material structure. The presence of HA within this structure supports the assumption that the local release of Tobramycin is not only expected to eliminate bacteria growth directly at the pin interface but as well at some distance from the implant. Furthermore, no negative effect of gamma sterilization could be observed on the drug release profile. Overall, the observed results demonstrate the feasibility of a multifunctional implant coating that is simultaneously able to locally deliver clinically relevant doses of antibiotics and an HA coating capable of promoting osteoconduction. This is a potentially promising step toward orthopaedic devices that combine good fixation with the ability to treat and prevent post-surgical infections.展开更多
A 2D discrete mathematical model of a nine-point finite difference scheme is built to simulate tumor-induced angiogenesis. Nine motion directions of an individual endothelial cell and two parent vessels are extended i...A 2D discrete mathematical model of a nine-point finite difference scheme is built to simulate tumor-induced angiogenesis. Nine motion directions of an individual endothelial cell and two parent vessels are extended in the present model. The process of tumor-induced angiogenesis is performed by coupling random motility, chemotaxis, and haptotaxis of endothelial cell in different mechanical environments inside and outside the tumor. The results show that nearly realistic tumor microvascular networks with neoplastic pathophysiological characteristics can be generated from the present model. Moreover, the theoretical capillary networks generated in numerical simulations of the discrete model may provide useful information for further clinical research.展开更多
A three-dimensional （3D） mathematical model of tumour growth at the avascular phase and vessel remodelling in host tissues is proposed with emphasis on the study of the interactions of tumour growth and hypoxic micr...A three-dimensional （3D） mathematical model of tumour growth at the avascular phase and vessel remodelling in host tissues is proposed with emphasis on the study of the interactions of tumour growth and hypoxic micro-environment in host tissues. The hybrid based model includes the continuum part, such as the distributions of oxygen and vascular endothelial growth factors （VEGFs）, and the discrete part of tumour cells （TCs） and blood vessel networks. The simulation shows the dynamic process of avascular tumour growth from a fewinitial cells to an equilibrium state with varied vessel networks. After a phase of rapidly increasing numbers of the TCs, more and more host vessels collapse due to the stress caused by the growing tumour. In addition, the consumption of oxygen expands with the enlarged tumour region. The study also discusses the effects of certain factors on tumour growth, including the density and configuration of pre- existing vessel networks and the blood oxygen content. The model enables us to examine the relationship between early tumour growth and hypoxic micro-environment in host tissues, which can be useful for further applications, such as tumour metastasis and the initialization of tumour angiogenesis.展开更多
基金Project supported by the Foundation for Innovative Research Groups of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.51021004)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.40776055)the Foundation of the State Key Laborary of Ocean Engineering (No.1002)
文摘In-service hydrocarbons must be transported at high temperature and high pressure to ease the flow and to prevent the solidification of the wax fraction. The high temperature and high pressure will induce the additional stress in the pipeline, which results in the upheaval buckling of the pipeline. If such expansion is resisted, e.g., by the frictional effects of the foundation soil over a kilometer or of a pipeline, the compressive axial stress will be set up in the pipe-wall. When the stress exceeds the constraint of the foundation soil on the pipeline, suddenly-deforming will occur to release the internal stress, similar to the sudden deformation of the strut due to stability problems. The upheaval buckling may jeopardize the structural integrity of the pipeline. Therefore, effective engineering measures against this phenomenon play an important role in the submarine pipeline design. In terms of the pipeline installation and protection measures commonly used in Bohai Gulf, three engineering measures are investigated in great details. An analytical method is introduced and developed to consider the protection effect of the anti-upheaval buckling of the pipeline. The analysis results show that the amplitude of the initial imperfection has a great effect on the pipeline thermal upheaval buckling. Both trenching and burial and discrete dumping are effective techniques in preventing the pipeline from buckling. The initial imperfection and operation conditions of the pipelines determine the covered depth and the number of layers of the protection measures.
文摘This paper presents a holistic methodology for the design of medical device software, which encompasses of a new way of eliciting requirements, system design process, security design guideline, cloud architecture design, combinatorial testing process and agile project management. The paper uses point of care diagnostics as a case study where the software and hardware must be robust, reliable to provide accurate diagnosis of diseases. As software and software intensive systems are becoming increasingly complex, the impact of failures can lead to significant property damage, or damage to the environment. Within the medical diagnostic device software domain such failures can result in misdiagnosis leading to clinical complications and in some cases death. Software faults can arise due to the interaction among the software, the hardware, third party software and the operating environment. Unanticipated environmental changes and latent coding errors lead to operation faults despite of the fact that usually a significant effort has been expended in the design, verification and validation of the software system. It is becoming increasingly more apparent that one needs to adopt different approaches, which will guarantee that a complex software system meets all safety, security, and reliability requirements, in addition to complying with standards such as IEC 62304. There are many initiatives taken to develop safety and security critical systems, at different development phases and in different contexts, ranging from infrastructure design to device design. Different approaches are implemented to design error free software for safety critical systems. By adopting the strategies and processes presented in this paper one can overcome the challenges in developing error free software for medical devices (or safety critical systems).
基金supported by The Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research (STEP) program(Grant No. 2019QZKK0102)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41975135)+1 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan,China (Grant No. 2022NSFSC1092)funded by the China Scholarship Council。
文摘The diurnal temperature range(DTR) serves as a vital indicator reflecting both natural climate variability and anthropogenic climate change. This study investigates the historical and projected multitemporal DTR variations over the Tibetan Plateau. It assesses 23 climate models from phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project(CMIP6) using CN05.1 observational data as validation, evaluating their ability to simulate DTR over the Tibetan Plateau. Then, the evolution of DTR over the Tibetan Plateau under different shared socioeconomic pathway(SSP) scenarios for the near,middle, and long term of future projection are analyzed using 11 selected robustly performing models. Key findings reveal:(1) Among the models examined, BCC-CSM2-MR, EC-Earth3, EC-Earth3-CC, EC-Earth3-Veg, EC-Earth3-Veg-LR,FGOALS-g3, FIO-ESM-2-0, GFDL-ESM4, MPI-ESM1-2-HR, MPI-ESM1-2-LR, and INM-CM5-0 exhibit superior integrated simulation capability for capturing the spatiotemporal variability of DTR over the Tibetan Plateau.(2) Projection indicates a slightly increasing trend in DTR on the Tibetan Plateau in the SSP1-2.6 scenario, and decreasing trends in the SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SPP5-8.5 scenarios. In certain areas, such as the southeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, western hinterland of the Tibetan Plateau, southern Kunlun, and the Qaidam basins, the changes in DTR are relatively large.(3) Notably, the warming rate of maximum temperature under SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SPP5-8.5 is slower compared to that of minimum temperature, and it emerges as the primary contributor to the projected decrease in DTR over the Tibetan Plateau in the future.
文摘This study aims to evaluate the safety status of electrical installations in residential and commercial buildings within the Suame ECG strategic business unit, Ghana, focusing on compliance with international and Ghanaian wiring standards. The research assesses key factors influencing safety, including the certification of electricians, the quality of cable brands used, proper cable sizing, adherence to wiring color codes, the awareness and use of Residual Current Circuit Breakers (RCCBs), and the protection of earth electrodes. A descriptive research design was utilized, involving extensive field surveys and electrical installation audits. Data were collected using standardized tools and analyzed with SPSS software to evaluate the professional competencies of artisans and their adherence to safety standards. The findings indicate significant safety risks, with 69.7% of electricians lacking proper certification, leading to the widespread use of non-approved cable brands, improper cable sizing, and deviations from wiring color codes. Additionally, deficiencies were found in the awareness and use of RCCBs and the protection of earth electrodes. The study concludes with recommendations to enhance electrical safety, including mandatory certification for electricians, public awareness campaigns, regular inspections, and ongoing training and development programs. These measures are crucial for improving the overall safety and quality of electrical installations in the Suame area, Ghana.
基金supported by the China Scholarship Council Program(Grant No.202008320274)it is also supported by Technical University of Munich.
文摘Localized rock failures,like cracks or shear bands,demand specific attention in modeling for solids and structures.This is due to the uncertainty of conventional continuum-based mechanical models when localized inelastic deformation has emerged.In such scenarios,as macroscopic inelastic reactions are primarily influenced by deformation and microstructural alterations within the localized area,internal variables that signify these microstructural changes should be established within this zone.Thus,localized deformation characteristics of rocks are studied here by the preset angle shear experiment.A method based on shear displacement and shear stress differences is proposed to identify the compaction,yielding,and residual points for enhancing the model's effectiveness and minimizing subjective influences.Next,a mechanical model for the localized shear band is depicted as an elasto-plastic model outlining the stress-displacement relation across both sides of the shear band.Incorporating damage theory and an elasto-plastic model,a proposed damage model is introduced to replicate shear stressdisplacement responses and localized damage evolution in intact rocks experiencing shear failure.Subsequently,a novel nonlinear mathematical model based on modified logistic growth theory is proposed for depicting the shear band's damage evolution pattern.Thereafter,an innovative damage model is proposed to effectively encompass diverse rock material behaviors,including elasticity,plasticity,and softening behaviors.Ultimately,the effects of the preset angles,temperature,normal stresses and the residual shear strength are carefully discussed.This discovery enhances rock research in the proposed damage model,particularly regarding shear failure mode.
文摘One of the most important of these emissions is fine particulate matter,which is a harmful emission of diesel engines,leading to the imposition of strict regulations.Biodiesel,with its high oxygen content,is an effective alternative to significantly reduce these emissions.In this study,rapeseed methyl ester(RME)was used as a diesel engine fuel and the emitted particulate matter was comparedwith ultra-lowsulfur diesel(ULSD).Inmost experimental studies,the emission of soot wasmeasured.In this work,the effects of injection timing,injection pressure(IP),and engine load on fine particulate matter in both nucleation and accumulation modes were studied.The results show that IP increases the number of particles in the accumulation mode while the number of particles in the crystallization mode is higher for rapeseed methyl ester(RME)than for ultra-low sulfur diesel(ULSD).Conversely,the formation rates of particles in the accumulationmode are higher for ULSD.Cumulative concentration numbers(CCN)are generally higher for RME in crystallization mode but higher for ULSD in accumulation mode.Increasing the IP reduces the CCN values.The particle size in crystallizationmode reaches a maximum of 22 nm at IPs of 800 and 1000 bar but decreases to 15 nm at 1200 bar.Most fine particles fall in the 5–100 nm diameter range.High engine loads reduce the particle size distribution in nucleationmode for both fuels,with a slight increase in particle size in nucleationmode.Thestudy concluded that the use of rapeseed methyl ester as an engine fuel benefits the environment and improves air quality due to the significant reduction in the size,number,and concentration of nano-soot particles and total particles emitted from the engine.
文摘This paper demonstrates the application of a design tool called BioTRIZ. Its developers claim that it can be used to access biological strategies for solving engineering problems. Our aim is to design a roof for hot climates that gets free cooling through radiant coupling with the sky. The insulation in a standard roof stops the sun and convection from warming the thermal mass. But it also restricts the mass＇s longwave view of the cool sky. Different solutions to this conflict are offered by BioTRIZ. The chosen solution is to replace the standard insulation component with an open cell honeycomb. The vertical cells would allow longwave radiation to pass, while arresting convection. The solutions offered by BioTRIZ＇s technological counterpart include no such changes in structure. It is estimated that the thermal mass in the biomimetic roof would remain on average 4.5℃ cooler than in a standard roof over a year in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
基金Project(51021004)supported by Innovative Research Groups of the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject(NCET-11-0370)supported by Program for New Century Excellent Talents in Universities of China+1 种基金Project(40776055)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject(1002)supported by State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering Foundation,China
文摘In order to avoid the curing effects of paraffin on the transport process and reduce the transport difficulty,usually high temperature and high pressure are used in the transportation of oil and gas.The differences of temperature and pressure cause additional stress along the pipeline,due to the constraint of the foundation soil,the additional stress can not release freely,when the additional stress is large enough to motivate the submarine pipelines buckle.In this work,the energy method is introduced to deduce the analytical solution which is suitable for the global buckling modes of idealized subsea pipeline and analyze the relationship between the critical buckling temperature,buckling length and amplitude under different high-order global lateral buckling modes.To obtain a consistent formulation of the problem,the principles of virtual displacements and the variation calculus for variable matching points are applied.The finite element method based on elasto-plastic theory is used to simulate the lateral global buckling of the pipelines under high temperature and pressure.The factors influencing the lateral buckling of pipelines are further studied.Based upon some actual engineering projects,the finite element results are compared with the analytical ones,and then the influence of thermal stress,the section rigidity of pipeline,the soil properties and the trigging force to the high order lateral buckling are discussed.The method of applying the small trigging force on pipeline is reliable in global buckling numerical analysis.In practice,increasing the section rigidity of a pipeline is an effective measure to improve the ability to resist the global buckling.
基金Project(2008ZHZX1A0502) supported by the Independence Innovation Achievements Transformation Crucial Special Program of Shandong Province,China
文摘A multi-domain nonlinear dynamic model of a proportional solenoid valve was presented.The electro-magnetic,mechanical and fluid subsystems of the valve were investigated,including their interactions.Governing equations of the valve were derived in the form of nonlinear state equations.By comparing the simulated and measured data,the simulation model is validated with a deviation less than 15%,which can be used for the structural design and control algorithm optimization of proportional solenoid valves.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (10372026 and 10772751)Shanghai Leading Academic Discipline Project (B 112).
文摘To investigate tumor-induced angiogenesis under the influence of the mechanical environments inside and outside the tumor, mathematical model of tumor angiogenesis was developed. In the model, extra-cellular matrix （ECM） was treated as a thin plane. The displacement of ECM is obtained from the force balance equation consisted of the ECs traction, the ECM visco-elastic forces and the exter- nal forces. Simulation results show that a layered capillary network is obtained with a well vascularized region at the periphery of the tumor. The present model can be used as a valid theoretical method in the basic researches in tumorinduced angiogenesis.
文摘Solid-liquid hydrocyclones are mainly used to separate large particles, such as the particles of drilling fluid in petroleum industry, and large mineral particles. Till now the hydrocyclonic separation for fine particles is still a big problem. Basic separation principle of hydrocyclones and experimental research facility are simply introduced. The difficulty of separating fine particle is analyzed. Based on a solid-liquid hydrocyclone used for separating fine particles, relationships of dimensionless pressure characteristic parameters, i.e. Euler number and pressure drop ratio, with several main dimensionless parameters, such as split ratio, swirl number and gas-liquid ratio, were experimentally studied in detail. The research was carried out by using the hydrocyclonic separation experimental rig at the University of Bradford. It is shown that the less the size of particle, the less the value of radius of the balance orbit occupied by the particle, and then the more difficult for the particle to be separated. Experiments indicate that Euler number of the tested hydrocyclone increases with the rise of Reynolds number, split ratio, swirl number and gas-liquid ratio respectively, and the pressure drop ratio falls with the increase of Reynolds number, split ratio and swirl number respectively. It is concluded that the most effective way to decrease the unit energy dissipation of hydrocyclone is to reduce swirl number or gas-liquid ratio of the mixed media.
基金The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(10372026)
文摘A coupled intravascular-transvascular-interstitial fluid flow model is developed to study the distributions of blood flow and interstitial fluid pressure in solid tumor microcirculation based on a tumor-induced microvascular network. This is generated from a 2D nine-point discrete mathematical model of tumor angiogenesis and contains two parent vessels. Blood flow through the microvascular network and interstitial fluid flow in tumor tissues are performed by the extended Poiseuille＇s law and Darcy＇s law, respectively, transvascular flow is described by Starling＇s law; effects of the vascular permeability and the interstitial hydraulic conductivity are also considered. The simulation results predict the heterogeneous blood supply, interstitial hypertension and low convection on the inside of the tumor, which are consistent with physiological observed facts. These results may provide beneficial information for anti-angiogenesis treatment of tumor and further clinical research.
文摘BIM （building information modelling） has gained wider acceptance in the A/E/C （architecture/engineering/construction） industry in the US and internationally. This paper presents current industry approaches of implementing 3D point cloud data in BIM and VDC （virtual design and construction） applications during various stages of a project life cycle and the challenges associated with processing the huge amount of 3D point cloud data. Conversion from discrete 3D point cloud raster data to geometric/vector BIM data remains to be a labor-intensive process. The needs for intelligent geometric feature detection/reconstruction algorithms for automated point cloud processing and issues related to data management are discussed. This paper also presents an innovative approach for integrating 3D point cloud data with BIM to efficiently augment built environment design, construction and management.
文摘Offshore Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines(HAWT)are used globally as a source of clean and renewable energy.Turbine efficiency can be improved by optimizing the geometry of the turbine blades.Turbines are generally designed in a way that its orientation is adjustable to ensure the wind direction is aligned with the axis of the turbine shaft.The deflection angle from this position is defined as yaw angle of the turbine.Understanding the effects of the yaw angle on the wind turbine performance is important for the turbine safety and performance analysis.In this study,performance of a yawed HAWT is studied by computational fluid dynamics.The wind flow around the turbine is simulated by solving the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations using software ANSYS Fluent.The principal aim of this study is to quantify the yaw angle on the efficiency of the turbine and to check the accuracy of existing empirical formula.A three-bladed 100-m diameter prototype HAWT was analysed through comprehensive Computational Fluid Dynamics(CFD)simulations.The turbine efficiency reaches its maximum value of 33.9%at 0°yaw angle and decreases with the increase of yaw angle.It was proved that the cosine law can estimate the turbine efficiency with a yaw angle with an error less 10%when the yaw angle is between-30°and 30°.The relative error of the cosine law increase at larger yaw angles because of the power is reduced significantly.
文摘Various forecasting tools exist for planners of national networks that are based on historical data. These are used to make decisions at the national level to meet a countries commitment to CO2 emission targets. However, at a local community level, the guidance is not easily understood by planners. This work presents for the first time a methodology for the generation of realistic domestic electricity load profiles for different types of UK households for small communities. The work is based on a limited set of data, and has been compared with measurement. Daily load profiles from individual dwelling to community can be predicted using this method. Results have been presented, and discussed.
基金The authors gratefully acknowledge and thank BASF for providing the Infinergymaterial used in this research.The continuous technical support provided by Mr.Van Doan and Advanced Materials Characterisation Facility(AMCF)at Western Sydney University(WSU)are also gratefully acknowledged.This research is supported by the Graduate student research fund of WSU.This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public,commercial,or not-for-profit sectors.
文摘The thermally induced cyclic loading on integral bridge abutments causes soil deformation and lateral stress ratcheting behind the abutment wall due to the expansion and contraction of the bridge deck.The forward and backward movements of the abutment in response to the expansion/contraction of the bridge deck lead to the formation of settlement trough and surface heaving,frequently creating a bump at the bridge approach and increasing the lateral earth pressure behind the abutment.Measures to reduce the bump at the bridge approach,including several treatment methods,such as compaction of selected backfill materials,grout injection,installation of approach slab,and using a layer of compressible inclusion material behind the abutment were proposed.However,these guidelines still lack sufficient design details and there are limited experimental findings to validate design assumptions.In this paper,the use of engineered compressible materials to alleviate the lateral earth pressure ratcheting and settlement at the bridge approach is investigated.The comparative study is presented for the soil-inclusion,material-structure and soil-structure interactions for an integral bridge under three different backfill conditions,i.e.(a)sand,(b)sand and EPS geofoam,and(c)sand and Infinergy®.The study was conducted in a special large-scale test chamber with a semi-scale abutment to gain better insights into the soil-structure interaction(SSI).The kinematics and rearrangement of the soil during the cyclic loading have been investigated to identify the mitigating effects of compressible inclusions.The comparative study indicates that both compressible inclusions perform comparatively well,however,Infinergy®is a better alternative than the medium-density EPS geofoam,as it works more effectively to reduce the backfill settlement and heaving as well as soil ratcheting effects under cyclic translational movement.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.10372026 and10772051)the Shanghai Leading Academic Discipline Project(No.B112)the Eleventh Innovation Fund for Graduate Students of Hehai University
文摘A hybrid discrete-continuum model of tumor growth in the avascular phase considering capillary points is established. The influence of the position of capillary points on tumor growth is also studied by simulation. The results of the dynamic tumor growth and the distribution of oxygen, matrix-degrading enzymes, and extracellular matrixconcentration in the microenvironment with respect to time are shown by graphs. The relationships between different oxygenated environments and the numbers of surviving, dead, proliferative, and quiescent tumor cells are also investigated.
文摘This work investigates the impact of biomechanical wear and abrasion on the antibiotic release profiles of hydroxyapatite (HA) coated fixation pins during their insertion into synthetic bone. Stainless steel fixation pins are coated with crystalline TiO2 by cathodic arc evaporation forming the bioactive layer for biomimetic deposition of Tobramycin containing HA. Tobramycin is either introduced by co-precipitation during HA formation or by adsorption-loading after HA deposition. The samples containing antibiotics are inserted into bone mimicking polyethylene foam after which the drug release is monitored using high performance liquid chromatography. This analysis shows that HA coating wear and delamination significantly decrease the amount of drug released during initial burst, but only marginally influence the sustained release period. Spalled coating fragments are found to remain within the synthetic bone material structure. The presence of HA within this structure supports the assumption that the local release of Tobramycin is not only expected to eliminate bacteria growth directly at the pin interface but as well at some distance from the implant. Furthermore, no negative effect of gamma sterilization could be observed on the drug release profile. Overall, the observed results demonstrate the feasibility of a multifunctional implant coating that is simultaneously able to locally deliver clinically relevant doses of antibiotics and an HA coating capable of promoting osteoconduction. This is a potentially promising step toward orthopaedic devices that combine good fixation with the ability to treat and prevent post-surgical infections.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 10772051)the ScienceFoundation for the Excellent Youth Scholars of Higher Education of Shanghai (No. 571215)the Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of University of Shanghai for Science and Technology(No. 10D214)
文摘A 2D discrete mathematical model of a nine-point finite difference scheme is built to simulate tumor-induced angiogenesis. Nine motion directions of an individual endothelial cell and two parent vessels are extended in the present model. The process of tumor-induced angiogenesis is performed by coupling random motility, chemotaxis, and haptotaxis of endothelial cell in different mechanical environments inside and outside the tumor. The results show that nearly realistic tumor microvascular networks with neoplastic pathophysiological characteristics can be generated from the present model. Moreover, the theoretical capillary networks generated in numerical simulations of the discrete model may provide useful information for further clinical research.
基金supported by the National 973 Basic Research Program of China(No.2013CB733800)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.11272091 and 11102113)
文摘A three-dimensional （3D） mathematical model of tumour growth at the avascular phase and vessel remodelling in host tissues is proposed with emphasis on the study of the interactions of tumour growth and hypoxic micro-environment in host tissues. The hybrid based model includes the continuum part, such as the distributions of oxygen and vascular endothelial growth factors （VEGFs）, and the discrete part of tumour cells （TCs） and blood vessel networks. The simulation shows the dynamic process of avascular tumour growth from a fewinitial cells to an equilibrium state with varied vessel networks. After a phase of rapidly increasing numbers of the TCs, more and more host vessels collapse due to the stress caused by the growing tumour. In addition, the consumption of oxygen expands with the enlarged tumour region. The study also discusses the effects of certain factors on tumour growth, including the density and configuration of pre- existing vessel networks and the blood oxygen content. The model enables us to examine the relationship between early tumour growth and hypoxic micro-environment in host tissues, which can be useful for further applications, such as tumour metastasis and the initialization of tumour angiogenesis.
