Applications of the discrete element method in mechanical engineering

Compared to other fields of engineering, in mechanical engineering, the Discrete Element Method (DEM) is not yet a well known method. Nevertheless, there is a variety of simulation problems where the method has obvious advantages due to its meshless nature. For problems where several free bodies can collide and break after having been largely deformed, the DEM is the method of choice. Neighborhood search and collision detection between bodies as well as the separation of large solids into smaller particles are naturally incorporated in the method. The main DEM algorithm consists of a relatively simple loop that basically contains the three substeps contact detection, force computation and integration. However, there exists a large variety of different algorithms to choose the substeps to compose the optimal method for a given problem. In this contribution, we describe the dynamics of particle systems together with appropriate numerical integration schemes and give an overview over different types of particle interactions that can be composed to adapt the method to fit to a given simulation problem. Surface triangulations are used to model complicated, non-convex bodies in contact with particle systems. The capabilities of the method are finally demonstrated by means of application examples. Commemorative Contribution.     

一类离散时间代数Riccati矩阵方程对称解的双迭代算法

利用逆矩阵的Neumann级数形式,将在线性二次优化问题中遇到的含未知矩阵之逆的离散时间代数Riccati矩阵方程(DTARME)转化为高次多项式矩阵方程,然后采用牛顿算法求高次多项式矩阵方程的对称解,并采用修正共轭梯度法求由牛顿算法每一步迭代计算导出的线性矩阵方程的对称解或者对称最小二乘解,建立求DTARME的对称解的双迭代算法。双迭代算法仅要求DTARME有对称解,不要求它的对称解唯一,也不对它的系数矩阵做附加限定。数值算例表明双迭代算法是有效的。     

Discrete time transfer matrix method for dynamics analysis of complex weapon systems

Efficient, precise dynamic modeling and analysis for complex weapon systems have become more and more important in their dynamic design and performance optimizing. As a new method developed in recent years, the discrete time transfer matrix method of multibody system is highly efficient for multibody system dynamics. In this paper, taking a shipboard gun system as an example, by deducing some new transfer equations of elements, the discrete time transfer matrix method of multibody sys- tem is used to solve ...     

An algorithm for the computation of the transfer function matrix for singular systems

For singular systems, i.e. for systems of the form $\text{E}\text{x}\text{?}\text{= Ax + Bu}$, with E singular, the problem of computing the transfer function matrix has been solved. An algorithm is developed which uses the Souriau-Frame-Faddeev algorithm for regular systems. The final expression is suitable for computer use.     

Transfer matrix method for linear multibody system

A new method for linear hybrid multibody system dynamics is proposed in this paper. This method, named as transfer matrix method of linear multibody system (MSTMM), expands the advantages of the traditional transfer matrix method (TMM). The concepts of augmented eigenvector and equation of motion of linear hybrid multibody system are presented at first to find the orthogonality and to analyze the responses of the hybrid multibody system using modal method. If using this method, the global dynamics equation is not needed in the study of linear hybrid multibody system dynamics. The MSTMM has a small size of matrix and higher computational speed, and can be applied to linear multi-rigid-body system dynamics, linear multi-flexible-body system dynamics and linear hybrid multibody system dynamics. This method is simple, straightforward, practical, and provides a powerful tool for the study on linear hybrid multibody system dynamics. This method can be used in the following: (1) Solve the eigenvalue problem of linear hybrid multibody systems. (2) Obtain the orthogonality of eigenvectors of linear hybrid multibody systems. (3) Realize the accurate analysis of the dynamics response of linear hybrid multibody systems. (4) Find the connected parameters between bodies used in the computation of linear hybrid multibody systems. A practical engineering system is taken as an example of linear multi-rigid-flexible-body system, the dynamics model, the transfer equations and transfer matrices of various bodies and hinges; the overall transfer equation and overall transfer matrix of the system are developed. Numerical example shows that the results of the vibration characteristics and the response of the hybrid multibody system received by MSTMM and by experiment have good agreements. These validate the proposed method.     

Numerical computation of a coprime factorization of a transfer function matrix

A new algorithm is presented for computing a coprime factorization of a transfer function matrix. The method is based on reformulating the problem as a problem of constructing a minimal basis of the right nullspace of a matrix pencil λB - A. Due to the special structure and rank properties of the pencil obtained after transforming λB - A to generalized Schur form, the original problem can be easily solved in a numerically reliable way.     

Solution of matrix Riccati differential equation for nonlinear singular system using genetic programming

In this paper, we propose a novel approach to find the solution of the matrix Riccati differential equation (MRDE) for nonlinear singular systems using genetic programming (GP). The goal is to provide optimal control with reduced calculation effort by comparing the solutions of the MRDE obtained from the well known traditional Runge Kutta (RK) method to those obtained from the GP method. We show that the GP approach to the problem is qualitatively better in terms of accuracy. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate the proposed method.      

含有分叉的受控多体系统传递矩阵法

多体系统传递矩阵法是解决受控多体系统动力学问题的有效方法,针对含有分叉的受控多体系统动力学问题,分别建立了控制激励元件、控制反馈元件及其含有分叉的受控多体系统总体传递矩阵．实例计算了无控和受控多体系统的运动响应与牛顿欧拉方法比较,计算表明了受控多体系统传递矩阵法解决分叉控制系统运动的有效性．     

The boundary element-free method for 2D interior and exterior Helmholtz problems

The boundary element-free method (BEFM) is developed in this paper for numerical solutions of 2D interior and exterior Helmholtz problems with mixed boundary conditions of Dirichlet and Neumann types. A unified boundary integral equation is established for both interior and exterior problems. By using the improved interpolating moving least squares method to form meshless shape functions, mixed boundary conditions in the BEFM can be satisfied directly and easily. Detailed computational formulas are derived to compute weakly and strongly singular integrals over linear and higher order integration cells. Three numerical integration procedures are developed for the computation of strongly singular integrals. Numerical examples involving acoustic scattering and radiation problems are presented to show the accuracy and efficiency of the meshless method.     

可分型指数矩阵的快速精细积分法

针对可分型矩阵的特性,结合2N类算法为可分型指数矩阵的计算提出一种快速精细积分法.核心思想是:利用可分型矩阵中的子矩阵进行分块计算;增加Taylor展开式的保留项数,减少迭代次数.一方面,程序实现简便,另一方面,数值算例表明:对矩阵维数很大的可分型指数矩阵计算来说,本文的快速精细积分法减少了计算量和存储量,大大地提高了计算效率.     

2-D unitary matrix pencil method for efficient direction of arrival estimation

In this study, we extended the one-dimensional (1-D) unitary matrix pencil method (UMP) [N. Yilmazer, J. Koh, T.K. Sarkar, Utilization of a unitary transform for efficient computation in the matrix pencil method to find the direction of arrival, IEEE Trans. Antennas Propagat. 54 (1) (2006) 175–181] to two-dimensional case, where 2-D matrix pencil (MP) method are used to find the 2-D poles corresponding to the direction of arrival (DOA), azimuth and elevation angles, of the far field sources impinging on antenna arrays. This technique uses MP method to compute the DOA of the signals using a very efficient computational procedure in which the complexity of the computation can be reduced significantly by using a unitary matrix transformation. This method applies the technique directly to the data without forming a covariance matrix. Using real computations through the unitary transformation for the 2-D matrix pencil method leads to a very efficient computational methodology for real time implementation on a DSP chip. The numerical simulation results are provided to see the performance of the method.     

Hybrid method for a general optimal sensor scheduling problem in discrete time

In this paper, we consider a general class of optimal sensor scheduling problems in discrete time. There are N₁ sensors available for acquiring data so as to estimate the needed but unknown signal. Only N₂ out of the N₁ sensors can be turned on at any moment, while different weights can be assigned to different sensors. This problem is formulated as a discrete time deterministic optimal control problem involving both discrete and continuous valued controls. A computational method is developed for solving this discrete time deterministic optimal control problem based on a branch and bound method in conjunction with a gradient-based method. The branch and bound method is used to determine the optimal schedule of sensors, where a sequence of lower bound dynamic systems is introduced so as to provide effective lower bounds for the construction of the branching rules. Each of the branches is an optimal weight vector assignment problem and a gradient-based method is developed for solving this optimal control problem. For illustration, two numerical examples are solved.     

Weighted steepest descent method for solving matrix equations

This paper describes iterative methods for solving the general linear matrix equation including the well-known Lyapunov matrix equation, Sylvester matrix equation and some related matrix equations encountered in control system theory, as special cases. We develop the methods from the optimization point of view in the sense that the iterative algorithms are constructed to solve some optimization problems whose solutions are closely related to the unique solution to the linear matrix equation. Actually, two optimization problems are considered and, therefore, two iterative algorithms are proposed to solve the linear matrix equation. To solve the two optimization problems, the steepest descent method is adopted. By means of the so-called weighted inner product that is defined and studied in this paper, the convergence properties of the algorithms are analysed. It is shown that the algorithms converge at least linearly for arbitrary initial conditions. The proposed approaches are expected to be numerically reliable as only matrix manipulation is required. Numerical examples show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.     

Performance analysis for power generating system by using matrix method

We verified that the matrix method, a process analysis method used mainly for life cycle inventory analysis, has several advantages in the analysis of power systems, which have recently become more complex to enhance efficiency and to reduce CO 2 emissions. While designing a conceptual thermodynamic model of a complex power system, the matrix method provides a definite procedure and facilitates calculations, even if there is a recursive loop between the upstream and downstream processes. Similarly, in the c...     

A novel scheme for large deflection analysis of suspended cables made of linear or nonlinear elastic materials

This paper presents a new approach to investigate the static response of horizontal and inclined suspended cables with deformable cross-section, made of general linear or nonlinear elastic materials, and subjected to vertical concentrated and distributed loads. The proposed technique also includes large sag and extensibility effects, and is based on an original finite difference scheme combined to a nonlinear least squares numerical solution. The mathematical formulation is developed for various loading cases, and an innovative computational strategy is used to transform the resulting nonlinear system of equations into a scaled nonlinear least squares problem. The numerical scheme is programmed and its application illustrated through examples highlighting the effects of coupling between the tension in a cable and the deformation of its cross-section as well as the use of cables made of neo-Hookean materials. The results obtained are in excellent agreement with analytical solutions when available. The proposed technique can be easily programmed and constitutes a valuable tool for large deflection analysis of suspended cables made of nonlinear elastic materials.