Search results for "Ull"
showing 10 items of 3152 documents
Membrane distillation: Solar and waste heat driven demonstration plants for desalination
2013
Abstract The development of small to medium size, autonomous and robust desalination units is needed to establish an independent water supply in remote areas. This is the motivation for research on alternative desalination processes. Membrane distillation (MD) seems to meet the specific requirements very well. This work is focused on experimental studies on full scale demonstration systems, utilizing a parallel multi MD-module setup. Three different plant concepts are introduced, one of them is waste heat driven and two of them are powered by solar thermal collectors. Design parameters and system design are presented. After the analysis of plant operation a comparison among the plants as we…
Bending test for capturing the fractional visco-elastic parameters: theoretical and experimental investigation on giant reeds
2014
In this paper attention is devoted on searching a proper model for characterizing the behavior of giant reeds. To aim at this, firstly, meticulous experimental tests have been performed in the Laboratory of structural materials of University of Palermo. Further, the novel aspect of this paper is that of using an advanced Euler-Bernoulli model to fit experimental data of bending tests. Such a model of continuum beam takes into account different constitutive laws of visco-elasticity, being real materials visco-elastic.
Static and Dynamic Comparative Study on the Cardanic Transmission
2015
This paper aims to make a comparative study between the static and the dynamic analysis in the cardanic transmission. The cardanic transmission is done at full scale and is charged as it is in practice, by means of the Solidworks and Cosmos programs. We observe the differences and the tension areas which appear in the cardanic transmission elements and present the findings and the given solutions, according to the study.
Generalized feed-forward based method for wind energy prediction
2013
Abstract Even though a number of new mathematical functions have been proposed for modeling wind speed probability density distributions, still the Weibull function continues to be the most commonly used model in the literature. Therefore, the parameters of this function are still widely used to obtain typical wind probability density distributions for finding the wind energy potential by researchers, engineers and designers. Once long-term average of Weibull function’s parameters are known, then the probability density distributions can easily be obtained. Artificial neural network (ANN) can be used as alternative to analytical approach as ANN offers advantages such as no required knowledg…
Lay-up optimization for the hull of a racing sailing yacht
2001
Abstract Deformability and buckling load of yacht hulls with fiber reinforced plastic sandwich structure depend on the stack sequence of the skins. In this work an optimization of fiber directions of the laminae for a racing yacht is proposed. This procedure has been divided into three parts (i.e. material characterization, surface model definition, lay-up optimization). First of all a set of unidirectional specimens has been realized, by using the same fibers and matrix (carbon/epoxy) used for the hull as well as the same procedure and workers, in order to characterize the material according to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard D3039, employing strain gage techniqu…
Using input shaping and pressure feedback to suppress oscillations in slewing motion of lightweight flexible hydraulic crane
2015
This paper presents a method to actively reduce vibrations in the flexible mechanical structure of a hydraulically actuated vehicle loader crane. Based on information on the natural frequency and damping of a simplified model of the crane an input shaping scheme is set up to control the proportional valve leading to substantially reductions in oscillations. The method is compared and combined with a pressure feedback control of the proportional valve that actively suppresses transient variations in pressure. A full scale vehicle loader crane is used in the experimental verification of the method, and the motion of the tool point of the crane is measured by a high precision laser tracker. Th…
Fatigue Design Methodology for Large Mooring Chains Subjected to Out-of-Plane Bending
2014
The present paper presents a fatigue life prediction method for chains subjected to tension and Out-of-Plane-Bending (OPB). The investigation was carried out on a high strength mooring chain segment with a diameter of 165 mm and a steel quality R5. Such chains are used in mooring systems for large Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units in harsh weather condition. Due to the fact that the mooring chains are pre-tensioned the wave induced displacements will introduce secondary bending effects about the weak axis in the chain links, particularly in the bilge hang-off area. In such chains both conventional tension fatigue and fatigue damage accumulation due to Out-of-Plane-Bend…
Generalized PWM-VSI Control Algorithm Based on a Universal Duty-Cycle Expression: Theoretical Analysis, Simulation Results, and Experimental Validati…
2007
This paper presents a new approach in realizing various carrier-based pulsewidth-modulation techniques by a generalized control algorithm, which is referred to as the universal control algorithm and is obtained via unequal sharing of null states. The flexibility of such an approach allows one to easily and quickly control two-level inverters. Furthermore, this approach may be also extended with few changes to the control of multilevel inverters. The algorithm that is presented here for two-level voltage-source inverters (VSIs) also obtains efficient detection and management of both the linear and overmodulation ranges. In the overmodulation range, which is treated by using the alpha-beta co…
Finite element modelling of slipage between FRP rebar and concrete in pull-out test
2014
The paper presents numerical results of direct pull-out test of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) rebars embedded in concrete. Rebars of three different cross-sections are considered: circular without longitudinal ribs and with two and four ribs. The design analyses of the rebar configurations embedded in concrete are investigated by the 3D finite element method (FEM), which takes into account the non-linearity using ANSYS software. The results of the numerical model with two ribs were compared with the experimental results. Then, the effect of different rebar geometries to the load-slip pull-out curves was studied. It is concluded that the influence of rib height and width on the pull-…
The harp: a vehicle crash test apparatus for full-scale crash test experiments
2012
Published version of an article in the journal: The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology. Also available from the publisher at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00170-012-3960-3 The current paper describes an apparatus for full-scale vehicle crash test experimentation. This apparatus is referred to as the harp. In brief, the harp may either accelerate a trolley which is impacted into a test vehicle or the test vehicle itself may be accelerated and impacted into an object such as a barrier, a pole, or another vehicle. If a trolley is accelerated, it is equipped with load cells to record the axial crushing force. If a test vehicle is accelerated, it is equipped with a three-ax…