Analysis of input-output clustering for determining centers of RBFN

The key point in design of radial basis function networks is to specify the number and the locations of the centers. Several heuristic hybrid learning methods, which apply a clustering algorithm for locating the centers and subsequently a linear least-squares method for the linear weights, have been previously suggested. These hybrid methods can be put into two groups, which will be called as input clustering (IC) and input-output clustering (IOC), depending on whether the output vector is also involved in the clustering process. The idea of concatenating the output vector to the input vector in the clustering process has independently been proposed by several papers in the literature although none of them presented a theoretical analysis on such procedures, but rather demonstrated their effectiveness in several applications. The main contribution of this paper is to present an approach for investigating the relationship between clustering process on input-output training samples and the mean squared output error in the context of a radial basis function network (RBFN). We may summarize our investigations in that matter as follows: (1) A weighted mean squared input-output quantization error, which is to be minimized by IOC, yields an upper bound to the mean squared output error. (2) This upper bound and consequently the output error can be made arbitrarily small (zero in the limit case) by decreasing the quantization error which can be accomplished through increasing the number of hidden units.     

Effects of welding procedures on mechanical and morphological properties of hot gas butt welded PE,PP, and PVC sheets

Mechanical and morphological properties of hot gas butt welds on polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheets for four different procedures, which are single and double V‐welds with and without a welding shoe, were investigated. Besides, weldabilities of base materials were evaluated by rheological measurements. These revealed that weldabilities of PE and PP sheets were better than that of PVC. Welding energy (E_w), which is transferred onto weld surfaces, was calculated to evaluate weld quality. The results of tensile, impact, and bending tests indicated that the weld strengths of PVC sheets were lower than those of PE and PP sheets. When the welding shoe was used, weld strength increased significantly for each material because of the presence of sufficient welding pressure and the effective heating on surfaces. The best results were attained for the double V‐welds with the welding shoe. Morphology of welded regions was evaluated by polarized light, stereo, and scanning electron microscopy. Polarized light microscopy studies indicated that the heat‐affected zone (HAZ) consisted of welding rod core, molten zone, and deformed spherulitic zone, and the welding interface was indistinguishable from the base material when the welding pressure was enough. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effects of scarf joints on bending strength and modulus of elasticity to laminated veneer lumber (LVL)

The role of geometry on the mechanical performance of scarf joints in laminated veneer lumber (LVL) bonded with phenol formaldehyde and melamine formaldehyde (MF) adhesives was investigated. Model joints consists of 3, 4 and 5 mm veneer thicknesses at 30°, 45° and 60° of varying scarf joints for LVL produced from brutia pine (Pinus brutia Ten) and elm (Ulmus compestris l.) woods. However, there is little information available concerning the bending strength and modulus of elasticity for LVL, and in particular, scarf joints in these field. In this study, it was aimed to determine the bending strength and modulus of elasticity for LVL. For this purpose, samples were tested according to TS EN 310 standard. It was observed that the highest bending strength (291.5 N/mm²) and modulus of elasticity (28 101 N/mm²) were obtained in control (solid wood) samples having three layered LVL, jointed with 30° angle and bonded with MF adhesive. As a result of the effects scarf joints on bending strength and modulus elasticity test, if the scarf angle decreases, the properties of LVL increase.     

Engineering Perspective of the Collapse of WTC-I

The writers report on a simulation study of the performance of the North Tower (WTC-I) of the World Trade Center complex during the impact of American Airlines Flight 11 on September 11, 2001. We discuss impact damage that the structural core might have sustained and its possible behavior under structural and thermal loading. Our simulations indicate that the worst damage to the core structure was in stories 95 through 97 of the tower. We estimate that a core collapse mechanism could be initiated if the tower core column temperatures were elevated to about 700°C.     

Assessment of power and hydrogen production performance of an integrated system based on middle-grade geothermal source and solar energy

In this study, power and hydrogen production performance of an integrated system is investigated. The system consists of an organic Rankine cycle (ORC), parabolic trough solar collectors (PTSCs) having a surface area of 545 m², middle-grade geothermal source (MGGS), cooling tower and proton exchange membrane (PEM). The final product of this system is hydrogen that produced via PEM. For this purpose, the fluid temperature of the geothermal source is upgraded by the solar collectors to drive the ORC. To improve the electricity generation efficiency, four working fluids namely n-butane, n-pentane, n-hexane, and cyclohexane are tried in the ORC. The mass flow rate of each working fluid is set as 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 kg/s and calculations are made for 16 different situations (four types of working fluids and four different mass flow rates for each). As a result, n-butane with a mass flow rate of 0.4 kg/s is found to be the best option. The average electricity generation is 66.02 kW between the hours of 11⁰⁰-13⁰⁰. The total hydrogen production is 9807.1 g for a day. The energy and exergy efficiency is calculated to be 5.85% and 8.27%, respectively.     

HYDROGEN RESOURCES : CONVERSION OF BLACK LIQUOR TO HYDROGEN RICH GASEOUS PRODUCTS

Abstract

Two precipitates were obtained from original black liquor by using hydrochloric acid and carbon dioxide. The precipitates were liqufied and gasificated by non-catalytic and catalytic runs at gradually elevated temperatures. The amount of gaseous products increased with increasing temperature and percent of catalyst. The percent of hydrogen in the obtained gas mixture was the highest in potassium carbonate catalytic runs (37 %).     

Determination of radon concentrations of the Dikili geothermal area in western Turkey

For this study, a geothermal area around Izmir-Dikili, located in the western part of Turkey, was chosen as a measuring site and the radon concentrations of environmental samples were determined. Indoor radon monitoring was performed for 3 months in dwellings located in different part of the region using passive CR-39 nuclear track detectors. The radon concentrations of water samples drawn from wells, municipal supplies, village fountains and spas in the area were measured using a liquid scintillation detector (Packard Tri-Carb 2770 TR/SL, A-277001). Soil samples collected from each location were analysed and (226)Ra concentrations were determined using a gamma ray spectrometer connected to an HPGe detector. Annual effective doses from radon inhalation and ingestion were calculated.     

An approximate method for static and dynamic analyses of multi‐bay coupled shear walls

In this study an approximate method based on the continuum approach and transfer matrix method for static and dynamic analyses of multi‐bay coupled shear walls is presented. The whole structure is idealized as a sandwich beam in this method. Initially the differential equation of this equivalent sandwich beam is written, then shape functions for each storey can be obtained by the solution of differential equations. By using boundary conditions and storey transfer matrices which are obtained by these shape functions, system modes and periods can be calculated. Reliability of the study is shown with a few examples. A computer program has been developed in MATLAB and numerical samples have been solved for demonstration of the reliability of this method. The results of the samples display the agreement between the present method and the other methods given in the literature. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Oil,micronutrient and heavy metal contents of tomatoes

In this study, oils, micronutrients and heavy metal contents of tomato seeds and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) fruits from different Turkish resources were determined. The tomato seed oil contains more than 84% unsaturated fatty acids, such as oleic acid, linoleic acid and linolenic acid. The fatty acid composition of tomato seed oil was similar to that of soybean oil. Under supercritical conditions, partial thermal degradation occurs on the double bonds of unsaturated aliphatic carbons chains in fatty acids. Linoleic acid was the major unsaturated fatty acid in tomato seed oil. The concentrations of metals (Pb, Cd, Fe, Cu, Zn, Na, K, Ca and Mg) were determined in tomato samples.