A computer aided design method for car form and its application based on shape parameters

In the early design stage, automotive modeling should both meet the requirements of aesthetics and engineering. Therefore, a vehicle CAD (computer aided design) model that can be easily adjusted by feedbacks is necessary. Based on CE-Bézier surface, this paper presents a set of algorithms for parametric segmentation and fairing surface generation in a car model. This model is defined by a simplified automotive template and relevant control points, shape parameters and segmentation parameters, which can be modified to alter the car form efficiently. With this model and the corresponding adjustment method, more than fifty various vehicle models are established in this research according to different parameters. And two methods for calculating similarity index between car models are constructed, which are suitable for brand design trend analysis and modelling design decisionmaking.     

Similarities and differences between male and female novice designers on color‐concept associations for warnings,action required,and signs and equipment status messages

This research examined the male and female novice designers toward color associations for the concepts used for ‘warnings’, ‘action required’, and ‘signs and equipment status’ through a questionnaire‐based study. A total of 178 Hong Kong Chinese final year undergraduate design students (89 males and 89 females) participated in the study. The test used required the participants to indicate their choice of one of nine colors to associations with each of 38 concepts in a color‐concept table, so that any one color could be associated with any one of the concepts. For both male and female groups of novice designers, chi‐square tests revealed a strong color association for each concept tested in this study (P < .05). The results showed males and females agreed on some color‐concept association stereotypes which were therefore gender neutral. The male and female novice designers had the same color associations and similar levels of stereotype strengths for 21 concepts. The nine strongest and therefore most useful color‐concept association stereotypes for both male and female novice designers were: red‐danger, red‐fire, red‐hot, red‐stop, red‐emergency, red‐error, blue‐cold, blue‐male, and green‐exit. However, the male and female novice designers had different color association stereotypes for the standby (green vs. yellow), emergency exit (green vs. red), and toxic (purple vs. black) concepts, and the strengths of the 14 remaining associations for both groups were not at equivalent levels. Overall, it is anticipated that the findings of this study will act as a useful reference for novice designers and other design practitioners to optimize color coding in the design of ‘warnings’, ‘action required’, and ‘signs and equipment status’ messages.     

Geopolymer concrete-filled pultruded composite beams – Concrete mix design and application

The limited research on the geopolymer concrete mix design for targeting a specific strength is identified an obstacle for their effective design and wide use. In this paper, a mix design procedure has been proposed for fly-ash based geopolymer concrete and its use as infill hybrid composite beam is investigated. Then, the structural performance of geopolymer concrete filled hybrid composite beam is investigated to determine their possible application in civil infrastructure. Firstly, a detailed procedure of mix design for fly-ash based geopolymer concrete is presented. Secondly, three hybrid beams filled with geopolymer concrete were prepared and tested in a four-point bending setup to evaluate their flexural modulus and modulus of rupture. Numerical and analytical evaluation of the behaviour of hybrid beam were performed and results showed a good agreement with the experimental investigation. Thirdly, the suitability of the beam for a composite railway sleeper is evaluated and compared with existing timber and composite sleepers. Finally, the beams’ performance in a ballast railway track is analysed using Strand7 finite element simulation software and the results showed that the new concept of using geopolymer concrete as infill to pultruded composite section satisfied the stiffness and strength requirements for a railway sleeper.     

随车起重机伸缩臂截面多目标优化

为了提高某火箭炮弹药装填车随车起重机伸缩臂的结构刚度,减轻结构质量,建立了随车起重机伸缩臂参数化模型,并对伸缩臂在水平受载状态下进行仿真分析。以伸缩臂截面尺寸参数为设计变量,借助最优拉丁超立方试验设计建立样本空间,构造响应面多项式函数近似模型。在此基础上,利用NSGA-Ⅱ型遗传算法对伸缩臂自身重量、挠度进行多目标优化。优化结果表明:伸缩臂质量减轻了24.5%,减重效果明显。文中所采用的将参数化建模、有限元分析和数值寻优相结合的优化方法,可为起重机伸缩臂截面优化提供一定的参考。     

基于射流冲击作用的舰机适配性数值分析与优化

准确分析和控制射流冲击对航母甲板环境的影响是新型喷气偏流板设计和布局的关键所在。为了确定射流冲击影响最小的偏流板布局，运用有限体积法，采用分区混合网格方案，结合雷诺时均纳维斯托克斯（RANS）方程和SST k-ω湍流模型对喷气偏流板在不同布局下的射流冲击效应进行三维数值模拟。选取舰载机双发动机全加力状态时喷气偏流板与发动机距离不同、喷气偏流板倾角不同共12种布局组合进行射流冲击效应的对比计算,计算结果显示了喷气偏流板各布局下的流场参数、传热特性、尾喷口温升、冲击力和力矩等分布规律。定性和定量分析了燃气射流冲击下温度场和速度场的危险区域，结果表明，偏流板与发动机距离5 m、偏流板倾角45°时的布局更有利于将燃气射流向上引导。在此基础上，基于倾角最小化原则及二次导流原理优化设计了一种导流隔热性能好、工作稳定性高的被动隔热式喷气偏流板装置。     

Alloy optimisation of bainitic steel for large plastic mould

Based on the phase transformation theories, especially the T₀ concept of bainite transformation, alloy optimisation of bainitic steel with carbides has been carried out aiming at the produce of plastic mould with large cross-section. The effect of manganese and silicon on proeutectoid ferrite and bainite transformation is explored by dilatometric analysis, XRD and different microscopy techniques. The results show that after the alloy optimisation, the transformation of proeutectoid ferrite is suppressed and when the cooling rate is lower than 0·1°C?s^??1, the new lower bainite transformation appears by decreasing carbon capacity of austenite and promoting carbide precipitation. Industrial production proves that the optimised alloy SDP1 can meet the demand for the plastic mould with the thickness of 1050?mm.     

Multilevel adaptive control of nonlinear interconnected systems

This paper presents an adaptive backstepping-based multilevel approach for the first time to control nonlinear interconnected systems with unknown parameters. The system consists of a nonlinear controller at the first level to neutralize the interaction terms, and some adaptive controllers at the second level, in which the gains are optimally tuned using genetic algorithm. The presented scheme can be used in systems with strong couplings where completely ignoring the interactions leads to problems in performance or stability. In order to test the suitability of the method, two case studies are provided: the uncertain double and triple coupled inverted pendulums connected by springs with unknown parameters. The simulation results show that the method is capable of controlling the system effectively, in both regulation and tracking tasks.     

Design structure matrix (DSM) method application to issue of modeling and analyzing the fault tree of a wind energy asset

The perpetual energy production of a wind farm could be accomplished (under proper weather conditions) if no failures occurred. But even the best possible design, manufacturing, and maintenance of a system cannot eliminate the failure possibility. In order to understand and minimize the system failures, the most crucial components of the wind turbines, which are prone to failures, should be identified. Moreover, it is essential to determine and classify the criticality of the system failures according to the impact of these failure events on wind turbine safety. The present study is processing the failure data from a wind farm and uses the Fault Tree Analysis as a baseline for applying the Design Structure Matrix technique to reveal the failure and risk interactions between wind turbine subsystems. Based on the analysis performed and by introducing new importance measures, the “readiness to fail” of a subsystem in conjunction with the “failure riskiness” can determine the “failure criticality.” The value of the failure criticality can define the frame within which interventions could be done. The arising interventions could be applied either to the whole system or could be focused in specified pairs of wind turbine subsystems. In conclusion, the method analyzed in the present research can be effectively applied by the wind turbine manufacturers and the wind farm operators as an operation framework, which can lead to a limited (as possible) design‐out maintenance cost, failures' minimization, and safety maximization for the whole wind turbine system.     

Epigenetic Regulation of the Hippocampus,with Special Reference to Radiation Exposure

The hippocampus is crucial in learning, memory and emotion processing, and is involved in the development of different neurological and neuropsychological disorders. Several epigenetic factors, including DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNAs, have been shown to regulate the development and function of the hippocampus, and the alteration of epigenetic regulation may play important roles in the development of neurocognitive and neurodegenerative diseases. This review summarizes the epigenetic modifications of various cell types and processes within the hippocampus and their resulting effects on cognition, memory and overall hippocampal function. In addition, the effects of exposure to radiation that may induce a myriad of epigenetic changes in the hippocampus are reviewed. By assessing and evaluating the current literature, we hope to prompt a more thorough understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie radiation-induced epigenetic changes, an area which can be further explored.     

基于TRIZ理论滤咀排列鼓工装夹具优化设计

针对滤咀排列鼓工装夹具所存在的制造难度大,精度难于保证,效率低的问题。利用TRIZ理论进行分析,根据技术矛盾解决方法并结合问题的实际情况,获得了具体可行的解决方案。经过实践证明,此设计方案是可行的、可靠的,大大缩短了夹具的加工周期,提高了生产效率,节约了成本。