• Advances in Energy Research
• /
• 제7권2호
• /
• pp.147-166
• /
• 2020

Industrial cooling towers are often ageing infrastructure that is expensive to maintain and operate. A novel approach is introduced in which a heat pump circuit is incorporated to reduce the load upon the towers by extracting low-grade energy from the stream sent to the towers and repurposing in on-site processing operations. To demonstrate the concept, a model was constructed, which uses industrial data on cooling towers linked to a smelter's sulphuric acid plant, to allow direct economic and environmental impact comparison between different heat recovery and repurposing scenarios. The model's results showed that implementing a heat pump system would significantly decrease annual operating costs and achieve a payback period of 3 years. In addition, overall CO₂ emissions could be reduced by 42% (430,000 kg/year) and a 5% heat load reduction on the cooling towers achieved. The concept is significant as the outcomes introduce a new way for energy intensive industrial sectors, such as mineral processing, to reduce energy consumption and improve long-term sustainable performance.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• 제3권3호
• /
• pp.321-340
• /
• 2007

Structural control technologies have attracted great interest from the earthquake engineering community over the last few decades as an effective method of reducing undesired structural responses. Traditional structural control systems employ large quantities of cables to connect structural sensors, actuators, and controllers into one integrated system. To reduce the high-costs associated with labor-intensive installations, wireless communication can serve as an alternative real-time communication link between the nodes of a control system. A prototype wireless structural sensing and control system has been physically implemented and its performance verified in large-scale shake table tests. This paper introduces the design of this prototype system and investigates the feasibility of employing decentralized and partially decentralized control strategies to mitigate the challenge of communication latencies associated with wireless sensor networks. Closed-loop feedback control algorithms are embedded within the wireless sensor prototypes allowing them to serve as controllers in the control system. To validate the embedment of control algorithms, a 3-story half-scale steel structure is employed with magnetorheological (MR) dampers installed on each floor. Both numerical simulation and experimental results show that decentralized control solutions can be very effective in attaining the optimal performance of the wireless control system.

• 한국소성가공학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국소성가공학회 1998년도 춘계학술대회논문집
• /
• pp.155-159
• /
• 1998

This paper describes a research work of developing a computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD-CAM) of irregular shaped sheet metal product for blanking or piercing and bending operation. An approach to the system is based on the knowledge-based rules. Knowledge for the system is formulated form plasticity theories, experimental results and the empirical knowledge of field experts. This system has been written in AutoLIST on the AutoCAD and in customer tool kit on the SmartCAM with a personal computer and is composed of nine modules. the system is designed by considering several factors, such as material and thickness of product, complexities of blank geometry and punch profile, diameter and material of a wire, and availability of press. This system is capable of unfolding a formed sheet metal to give flat pattern and automatically account for the adjustment of bending allowances to match tooling requirements by checking dimensions and generating NC data automatically according to drawings of die-layout module. Results carried out in each module will provide efficiencies to the designer and the manufacture of blanking or piercing and bending die in this field.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• 제7권1호
• /
• pp.37-53
• /
• 2014

A Web-based pile load test (WBPLT) system was developed and implemented in this study. Object-oriented and concept-based software design techniques were adopted to integrate the pile load test database into the system. A total of 673 case histories of pile load test were included in the database. The data consisted of drilled shaft and driven precast concrete pile axial load tests in drained, undrained, and gravel loading conditions as well as pre-analyzed data and back-calculated design parameters. Unified modeling language, a standard software design tool, was utilized to design the WBPLT system architecture with five major concept-based components. These components provide the static structure and dynamic behavior of system message flows in a visualized manner. The open-source Apache Web server is the building block of the WBPLT system, and PHP Web programming language implements the operation of the WBPLT components, particularly the automatic translation of user query into structured query language. A simple search and inexpensive query can be implemented through the Internet browser. The pile load test database is helpful, and data can be easily retrieved and utilized worldwide for research and advanced applications.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• 제18권5호
• /
• pp.955-982
• /
• 2016

Recent studies integrating vibration control and structural health monitoring (SHM) use control devices and control algorithms to enable system identification and damage detection. In this study real-time SHM is used to enhance structural vibration control and reduce damage. A newly proposed control algorithm, including integrated real-time SHM and semi-active control strategy, is presented to mitigate both damage and seismic response of the main structure under strong seismic ground motion. The semi-active independently variable stiffness (SAIVS) device is used as semi-active control device in this investigation. The proper stiffness of SAIVS device is obtained using a new developed semi-active control algorithm based on real-time damage tracking of structure by damage detection algorithm based on identified system Markov parameters (DDA/ISMP) method. A three bay five story steel braced frame structure, which is equipped with one SAIVS device at each story, is employed to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed algorithm. The obtained results show that the proposed control algorithm could significantly decrease damage in most parts of the structure. Also, the dynamic response of the structure is effectively reduced by using the proposed control algorithm during four strong earthquakes. In comparison to passive on and off cases, the results demonstrate that the performance of the proposed control algorithm in decreasing both damage and dynamic responses of structure is significantly enhanced than the passive cases. Furthermore, from the energy consumption point of view the maximum and the cumulative control force in the proposed control algorithm is less than the passive-on case, considerably.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• 제30권3호
• /
• pp.327-332
• /
• 2022

In building envelope, transparent components play an important role. The structural glazing systems are the weak element of the casing in terms of mechanical resistance, thermal and acoustic insulation. In the present work, new structural glass panels with granular aerogel in interspace were investigated from different points of view. In particular, the mechanical characterization was carried out in order to assess the resistance to bending of the single glazing pane. To this end, a special instrument system was built to define an alternative configuration of the coaxial double ring test, able to predict the fracture strength of glass large samples (400 × 400 mm) without overpressure. The thermal and lighting performance of an innovative double-glazing façade with granular aerogel was evaluated. An experimental campaign at pilot scale was developed: it is composed of two boxes of about 1.60 × 2 m² and 2 m high together with an external weather station. The rooms, identical in terms of size, construction materials, and orientation, are equipped with a two-wing window in the south wall surface: the first one has a standard glazing solution (double glazing with air in interspace), the second room is equipped with the innovative double-glazing system with aerogel. The indoor mean air temperature and the surface temperature of the glass panes were monitored together with the illuminance data for the lighting characterization. Finally, a brief energy characterization of the performance of the material was carried out by means of dynamic simulation models when the proposed solution is applied to real case studies.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• 제4권1호
• /
• pp.63-84
• /
• 2013

A semi-active mass damping (SMD) system with magnetorheological (MR) dampers focusing on low- and mid-rise buildings is proposed in this paper. The main purpose of this study is to integrate the reliable characteristics of the traditional tuned mass damper (TMD) and the superior performance of the active mass damper (AMD) to the new system. In addition, the commonly seen solution of deploying dense seismic dampers throughout the structure nowadays to protect the main structure is also expected to switch to the developed SMD system on the roof with a similar reduction performance. In order to demonstrate this concept, a full-size three-story steel building representing a typical mid-rise building was used as the benchmark structure to verify its performance in real life. A numerical model with the interpolation technique integrated was first established to accurately predict the behavior of the MR dampers. The success of the method was proven through a performance test of the designated MR damper used in this research. With the support of the MR damper model, a specific control algorithm using a continuous-optimal control concept was then developed to protect the main structure while the response of the semi-active mass damper is discarded. The theoretical analysis and the experimental verification from a shaking table test both demonstrated the superior mitigation ability of the method. The proposed SMD system has been demonstrated to be readily implemented in practice.

• 한국정밀공학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국정밀공학회 2000년도 춘계학술대회 논문집
• /
• pp.829-832
• /
• 2000

This paper describes a research work of developing a computer-aided design of product with bending and piercing for progressive working. An approach to the CAD system is based on the knowledge-based rules. Knowledge fur the CAD system is formulated from plasticity theories, experimental results and the empirical knowledge of field experts. The system has been written in AutoLISP on the AutoCAD with a personal computer and is composed of three main modules, which are input and shape treatment, flat pattern layout and strip layout module. Based on knowledge-based rules, the system is designed by considering several factors, such as radius and angle of bend, material and thickness of product, complexities of blank geometry and punch profile, bending sequence, and availability of press. Strip layout drawing automatically generated by piercing with punch profiles divided into for external area is simulated in 3-D graphic forms, including bending sequences for the product with piercing and bending. Results obtained using the modules enable the manufacturer of electronic products to be more efficient in this field.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• 제7권3호
• /
• pp.249-269
• /
• 2010

Managing and reusing knowledge in engineering and construction sectors can lead to greater competitive advantage, improved designs, and more effective management of constructed facilities. The use of Information Technology (IT) in design and construction can exploit strategic opportunities for new ways of integration, sharing and facilitating information and knowledge in any field of engineering. The integrating of separate areas of IT can be used to bring a group of experts and specialists in any field of engineering closer together by allowing them to communicate and exchange information and expertise that facilitate knowledge capture, sharing, and reuse. A lack of an advisory management system and a need to marshal all available data in a common format has indicated the need for an integrated engineering computing environment to investigate concrete repair problems. The research described in this paper is based upon an evaluation management system (EMS) which comprising a database management system (REPCON) alongside visualisation technologies and evaluation system (ECON) is developed to produce an innovative platform which will facilitate and encourage the development of knowledge in educational, evolution and evaluation modes of concrete repair. This allows us to create assessment procedures that will allow the current condition of the concrete structure and its components to be expressed numerically using a confidence level (CL) so as to take the best course of action in the repair and maintenance management. The explained rating system, which is related to structural integrity and serviceability of the structure, allows the confidence level to be determined by visual inspection and the descriptive information and pictures taken from an available REPair of CONcrete (REPCON) database.

• Coupled systems mechanics
• /
• 제9권6호
• /
• pp.539-562
• /
• 2020

In this paper the linear elastic coupling between a 2 degree of freedom shear-type frame system and a rigid block is analytically and experimentally investigated. As demonstrated by some of the authors in previous papers, it is possible to choose a coupling system able to guarantee advantages, whatever the mechanical characteristics of the frame. The main purpose of the investigation is to validate the analytical model. The nonlinear equations of motion of the coupled system are obtained by a Lagrangian approach and successively numerically integrated under harmonic and seismic excitation. The results, in terms of gain graphs, maps and spectra, represent the ratio between the maximum displacements or drifts of the coupled and uncoupled systems as a function of the system's parameters. Numerical investigations show the effectiveness of the nonlinear coupling for a large set of parameters. Thus experimental tests are carried out to verify the analytical results. An electro-dynamic long-stroke shaker sinusoidally and seismically forces a shear-type 2 d.o.f frame coupled with a rigid aluminium block. The experimental investigations confirm the effectiveness of the coupling as predicted by the analytical model.