A multimodal material route planning problem considering key processes at work zones.

With the continuous development of large-scale engineering projects such as construction projects, relief support, and large-scale relocation in various countries, engineering logistics has attracted much attention. This paper addresses a multimodal material route planning problem (MMRPP), which considers the transportation of engineering material from suppliers to the work zones using multiple transport modes. Due to the overall relevance and technical complexity of engineering logistics, we introduce the key processes at work zones to generate a transport solution, which is more realistic for various real-life applications. We propose a multi-objective multimodal transport route planning model that minimizes the total transport cost and the total transport time. The model by using the ε - constraint method that transforms the objective function of minimizing total transportation cost into a constraint, resulting in obtaining pareto optimal solutions. This method makes up for the lack of existing research on the combination of both engineering logistics and multimodal transportation, after which the feasibility of the model and algorithm is verified by examples. The results show that the model solution with the introduction of the key processes at work zones produces more time-efficient and less time-consuming route planning results, and that the results obtained using the ε - constraint method are more reliable than the traditional methods for solving multi-objective planning problems and are more in line with the decision maker's needs.

Growth rules for irregular architected materials with programmable properties.

Biomaterials display microstructures that are geometrically irregular and functionally efficient. Understanding the role of irregularity in determining material properties offers a new path to engineer materials with superior functionalities, such as imperfection insensitivity, enhanced impact absorption, and stress redirection. We uncover fundamental, probabilistic structure-property relationships using a growth-inspired program that evokes the formation of stochastic architectures in natural systems. This virtual growth program imposes a set of local rules on a limited number of basic elements. It generates materials that exhibit a large variation in functional properties starting from very limited initial resources, which echoes the diversity of biological systems. We identify basic rules to control mechanical properties by independently varying the microstructure's topology and geometry in a general, graph-based representation of irregular materials.

'It's just a Band-Aid!': Public engagement with geoengineering and the politics of the climate crisis.

Geoengineering consists of a set of techniques whose aim is to avoid the disastrous consequences of global warming, such as solar radiation management and carbon dioxide removal. Due to its controversial nature, over the past decade various exercises of public participation with geoengineering have been put in place, particularly in the Global North. This article draws on empirical data stemming from six online focus groups on public engagement with geoengineering conducted in Portugal. In contrast to previous research, we included situated publics to emphasize the political implications of geoengineering, bringing to the debate those with a potential stake in the matter - environmentalists, activists, university students, science communicators and promoters of holistic practices. We suggest that the elusive and uncertain character of geoengineering moves the discussion away from its technological specificity, bringing to the fore some of the socio-political, economic and ethical tensions underpinning the climate crisis.

A three-dimensional intelligent engineering management and control system for the construction of a long-span valve hall project based on a microservice architecture.

Three-dimensional intelligent engineering management and control systems (EMCS) based on the browser/server (B/S) model are an important part of intelligent engineering development. These systems are used for solving the difficulties encountered in engineering management with frequent cross-specialties and are vital tools for data exchange and service sharing among multiple departments. Currently, most engineering management and control systems are based on service-oriented architectures (SOAs). The integration mechanism and high coupling of SOAs leads to the reduction in system expansibility, service quality and service safety of the engineering system, making it difficult for these architectures to serve the construction of long-span valve hall engineering. To address these concerns, the management and application technology of the multidisciplinary data of valve hall engineering based on a microservice architecture (MSA) is proposed to improve the management efficiency of engineering data. A 3D integration modeling method for valve hall engineering structures and geological environments is proposed to establish the topological association between engineering structures and geological environments, without increasing the amount of model data required. A 3D intelligent engineering management and control technology for the entire process of the construction of long-span valve hall engineering is proposed, which realizes the entire process simulation and control of engineering construction based on WebGL technology. Accordingly, a three-dimensional intelligent engineering management and control system for the entire construction process of a long-span valve hall project in Southeast China is established, which can effectively manage and apply the data, display and analyze the three-dimensional model, and control and make decisions regarding the construction schedule. This study provides support for the construction of "smart engineering", promotes information communication and transmission between different project units, and speeds up the transformation from traditional construction management relying on drawings to three-dimensional intelligent construction management based on cloud services.

Permitted speed decision of single-unit trucks with emergency braking maneuver on horizontal curves under rainy weather.

Under adverse weather conditions, visibility and the available pavement friction are reduced. The improper selection of speed on curved road sections leads to an unreasonable distribution of longitudinal and lateral friction, which is likely to cause rear-end collisions and lateral instability accidents. This study considers the combined braking and turning maneuvers to obtain the permitted vehicle speed under rainy conditions. First, a braking distance computation model was established by simplifying the relationship curve between brake pedal force, vehicle braking deceleration, and braking time. Different from the visibility commonly used in the meteorological field, this paper defines "driver's sight distance based on real road scenarios" as a threshold to measure the longitudinal safety of the vehicle. Furthermore, the lateral friction and rollover margin is defined to characterize the vehicle's lateral stability. The corresponding relationship between rainfall intensity-water film thickness-road friction is established to better predict the safe speed based on the information issued by the weather station. It should be noted that since the road friction factor of the wet pavement not only determined the safe vehicle speed but also be determined by the vehicle speed, so we adopt Ferrari's method to solve the quartic equation about permitted vehicle speed. Finally, the braking and turning maneuvers are considered comprehensively based on the principle of friction ellipse. The results of the TruckSim simulation show that for a single-unit truck, running at the computed permitted speed, both lateral and longitudinal stability meet the requirements. The proposed permitted vehicle speed model on horizontal curves can provide driving guidance for drivers on curves under rainy weather or as a decision-making basis for road managers.

Thermo-vibrational analyses of skin tissue subjected to laser heating source in thermal therapy.

Laser-induced thermal therapy, due to its applications in various clinical treatments, has become an efficient alternative, especially for skin ablation. In this work, the two-dimensional thermomechanical response of skin tissue subjected to different types of thermal loading is investigated. Considering the thermoelastic coupling term, the two-dimensional differential equation of heat conduction in the skin tissue based on the Cattaneo-Vernotte heat conduction law is presented. The two-dimensional differential equation of the tissue displacement coupled with the two-dimensional hyperbolic heat conduction equation in the tissue is solved simultaneously to analyze the thermal and mechanical response of the skin tissue. The existence of mixed complicated boundary conditions makes the problem so complex and intricate. The Galerkin-based reduced-order model has been utilized to solve the two-sided coupled differential equations of vibration and heat transfer in the tissue with accompanying complicated boundary conditions. The effect of various types of heating sources such as thermal shock, single and repetitive pulses, repeating sequence stairs, ramp-type, and harmonic-type heating, on the thermomechanical response of the tissue is investigated. The temperature distribution in the tissue along depth and radial direction is also presented. The transient temperature and displacement response of tissue considering different relaxation times are studied, and the results are discussed in detail.

Pro-environmental behavior and smartphone uses of on-campus engineering students in Xi'an, China.

BACKGROUND: The usage status, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) related to the smartphones of on-campus engineering students should be studied. Furthermore, the correlations between their smartphone profiles with energy consumption and environmental knowledge should be understood make measures improve their environmental behaviors. METHODS: Pro-environmental behavior and smartphone uses of the on-campus engineering undergraduates in Xi'an, China, were investigated with a self-designed questionnaire anonymously. The energy-saving activities they participated in and their e-waste treatment patterns were analyzed. RESULTS: Most of the respondents had a smartphone with large screen and high battery capacity, which also had long standby/usage time and frequent charging. Average daily power consumption of one smartphone was estimated to be 6.475 Wh. The surveyed undergraduate students changed their smartphones frequently, which produced large quantities of WEEE annually. CONCLUSION: Most on-campus students treated their waste smartphones in the proper ways. However, some of them were short of environmental knowledge about their smartphones. Some measures were suggested to improve their environmental concerns. The findings will help the on-campus engineering undergraduates in China to use their smartphones rationally and to deal with their waste smartphones appropriately.

Uplift resistance capacity of anchor piles used in marine aquaculture.

Anchor piles are widely used in marine aquaculture, and the safety is largely determined by the uplift resistance capacity,especially in harsh ocean environments. However, there are few practical guides to the design and installation of the anchor piles for mooring the body of marine aquaculture equipment. Laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of the initial tension angle, pile diameter, embedded depth, and pile configuration on the uplift resistance capacity of anchor piles under oblique loads. CCD camera and load cell were utilized to measure the corresponding displacement and load, respectively. The results show that increasing the initial tension angle of circular and square single piles can significantly improve the uplift resistance capacity. The failure load of the square single pile was slightly higher than that of the circular single pile. Increasing the pile diameter can effectively improve the failure load and delay the development speed of the pile top displacement. Increasing the embedded depth can effectively improve the failure load and increase the lateral displacement of the pile top. The uplift resistance capacity of the dual anchor piles was better than that of the single anchor piles. The layout configuration has little effect on the failure load, but has a large effect on the displacement development.

Creep behavior of reinforced concrete-filled steel tubular columns under axial compression.

The reinforced concrete-filled steel tube (RCFST) column solves several of the problems of the concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) column in practical engineering applications. Moreover, RCFST has a simple joint structure, high bearing capacity, good ductility, and superior fire resistance. From a structural safety perspective, designers prioritize the creep performance of CFST members in structural design. Therefore, the creep behavior of RCFST columns should be thoroughly investigated in practical engineering design. To study the influence of the creep behavior of RCFST columns under axial compression, this work analyzed the mechanical behavior of composite columns based on their mechanical characteristics under axial compression and established a creep formula suitable for RCFST columns under axial compression. A creep analysis program was also developed to obtain the creep strain-time curve, and its correctness was verified by existing tests. On this basis, the effects of the main design parameters, such as the stress level, steel ratio, and reinforcement ratio, on the creep behavior were determined and analyzed. The creep of the tested composite columns increased rapidly in the early stages (28 days) of load action; the growth rate was relatively low after 28 days and tended to stabilize after approximately six months. The stress level had the greatest influence on the creep of RCFST columns under axial compression, followed by the steel ratio. The influence of the reinforcement ratio on the creep behavior was less. The results of this study can provide a reference for engineering practice.

A meta-analysis on the effectiveness of anthropomorphism in human-robot interaction.

The application of anthropomorphic design features is widely assumed to facilitate human-robot interaction (HRI). However, a considerable number of study results point in the opposite direction. There is currently no comprehensive common ground on the circumstances under which anthropomorphism promotes interaction with robots. Our meta-analysis aims to close this gap. A total of 4856 abstracts were scanned. After an extensive evaluation, 78 studies involving around 6000 participants and 187 effect sizes were included in this meta-analysis. The majority of the studies addressed effects on perceptual aspects of robots. In addition, effects on attitudinal, affective, and behavioral aspects were also investigated. Overall, a medium positive effect size was found, indicating a beneficial effect of anthropomorphic design features on human-related outcomes. However, closer scrutiny of the lowest variable level revealed no positive effect for perceived safety, empathy, and task performance. Moreover, the analysis suggests that positive effects of anthropomorphism depend heavily on various moderators. For example, anthropomorphism was in contrast to other fields of application, constantly facilitating social HRI. The results of this analysis provide insights into how design features can be used to improve the quality of HRI. Moreover, they reveal areas in which more research is needed before any clear conclusions about the effects of anthropomorphic robot design can be drawn.

Analysis for bearing performance and construction mechanical behavior of supporting structure for the large cross-section tunnel by half bench CD method.

Based on the engineering practice of large cross-section highway tunnel, this paper reveals the space-time coordinated evolution law of the construction mechanical characteristics and deformation distribution of the support structure in the construction by half bench CD method through field test. At the same time, the mechanical response calculation model of the supporting structure in the partial excavation is constructed, and the mechanical characteristics of the support structure in the partial excavation process are analyzed by above mechanical calculation model. Then, the mechanical and deformation distribution of the feet-reinforcement bolt in the steel frame-foot-reinforcement bolt combined support system is analyzed under different levels of surrounding rock load and different structural parameters of the feet-reinforcement bolt. The research results show that: (1) The internal force of the supporting structure changes most obviously during the excavation of Part Ⅰ, Part Ⅱ and Part Ⅲ, and the internal force of the support structure gradually tends to be stable after a slight increase in the excavation of Part Ⅳ and Part Ⅴ; (2) The horizontal deformation and vertical deformation of the support structure mainly occur in the excavation process of Part Ⅰ, Part Ⅱ and Part Ⅲ, and the excavation of Part Ⅳ and Ⅴ has little effect on the deformation response of the structure. The vertical displacement of the supporting structure is larger than the horizontal displacement, and the dynamic response of the temporary diaphragm structure during tunnel excavation is shrinkage-expansion-shrinkage-expansion; (3) The bending strain of each measuring point decreases with the increase of the distance from the loading point, and the bending strain of section 1 and section 2 is much larger than that of the other three sections; (4) With the increase of the angle, the section position with strain close to 0 gradually moves to the deeper position of the bolt, and the axial strain of each section on the bolt gradually changes from positive strain to negative strain.

Advanced arithmetic optimization algorithm for solving mechanical engineering design problems.

The distributive power of the arithmetic operators: multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction, gives the arithmetic optimization algorithm (AOA) its unique ability to find the global optimum for optimization problems used to test its performance. Several other mathematical operators exist with the same or better distributive properties, which can be exploited to enhance the performance of the newly proposed AOA. In this paper, we propose an improved version of the AOA called nAOA algorithm, which uses the high-density values that the natural logarithm and exponential operators can generate, to enhance the exploratory ability of the AOA. The addition and subtraction operators carry out the exploitation. The candidate solutions are initialized using the beta distribution, and the random variables and adaptations used in the algorithm have beta distribution. We test the performance of the proposed nAOA with 30 benchmark functions (20 classical and 10 composite test functions) and three engineering design benchmarks. The performance of nAOA is compared with the original AOA and nine other state-of-the-art algorithms. The nAOA shows efficient performance for the benchmark functions and was second only to GWO for the welded beam design (WBD), compression spring design (CSD), and pressure vessel design (PVD).

Inference of stress-strength reliability for two-parameter of exponentiated Gumbel distribution based on lower record values.

The two-parameter of exponentiated Gumbel distribution is an important lifetime distribution in survival analysis. This paper investigates the estimation of the parameters of this distribution by using lower records values. The maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) procedure of the parameters is considered, and the Fisher information matrix of the unknown parameters is used to construct asymptotic confidence intervals. Bayes estimator of the parameters and the corresponding credible intervals are obtained by using the Gibbs sampling technique. Two real data set is provided to illustrate the proposed methods.

A modified truncated distribution for modeling the heavy tail, engineering and environmental sciences data.

Truncated models are imperative to efficiently analyze the finite data that we observe in almost all the real life situations. In this paper, a new truncated distribution having four parameters named Weibull-Truncated Exponential Distribution (W-TEXPD) is developed. The proposed model can be used as an alternative to the Exponential, standard Weibull and shifted Gamma-Weibull and three parameter Weibull distributions. The statistical characteristics including cumulative distribution function, hazard function, cumulative hazard function, central moments, skewness, kurtosis, percentile and entropy of the proposed model are derived. The maximum likelihood estimation method is employed to evaluate the unknown parameters of the W-TEXPD. A simulation study is also carried out to assess the performance of the model parameters. The proposed probability distribution is fitted on five data sets from different fields to demonstrate its vast application. A comparison of the proposed model with some extant models is given to justify the performance of the W-TEXPD.

New generalized-X family: Modeling the reliability engineering applications.

As is already known, statistical models are very important for modeling data in applied fields, particularly in engineering, medicine, and many other disciplines. In this paper, we propose a new family to introduce new distributions suitable for modeling reliability engineering data. We called our proposed family a new generalized-X family of distributions. For the practical illustration, we introduced a new special sub-model, called the new generalized-Weibull distribution, to describe the new family's significance. For the proposed family, we introduced some mathematical reliability properties. The maximum likelihood estimators for the parameters of the new generalized-X distributions are derived. For assessing the performance of these estimators, a comprehensive Monte Carlo simulation study is carried out. To assess the efficiency of the proposed model, the new generalized-Weibull model is applied to the coating machine failure time data. Finally, Bayesian analysis and performance of Gibbs sampling for the coating machine failure time data are also carried out. Furthermore, the measures such as Gelman-Rubin, Geweke and Raftery-Lewis are used to track algorithm convergence.

3D engineering for optic neuropathy treatment.

Ocular disorders, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), retinitis pigmentosa (RP), and glaucoma, can cause irreversible visual loss, and affect the quality of life of millions of patients. However, only very few 3D systems can mimic human ocular pathophysiology, especially the retinal degenerative diseases, which involve the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), photoreceptors, or retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPEs). In this review, we discuss current progress in the 3D modeling of ocular tissues, and review the use of the aforementioned technologies for optic neuropathy treatment according to the categories of associated disease models and their applications in drug screening, mechanism studies, and cell and gene therapies.

Third-order nanocircuit elements for neuromorphic engineering.

Current hardware approaches to biomimetic or neuromorphic artificial intelligence rely on elaborate transistor circuits to simulate biological functions. However, these can instead be more faithfully emulated by higher-order circuit elements that naturally express neuromorphic nonlinear dynamics1-4. Generating neuromorphic action potentials in a circuit element theoretically requires a minimum of third-order complexity (for example, three dynamical electrophysical processes)5, but there have been few examples of second-order neuromorphic elements, and no previous demonstration of any isolated third-order element6-8. Using both experiments and modelling, here we show how multiple electrophysical processes-including Mott transition dynamics-form a nanoscale third-order circuit element. We demonstrate simple transistorless networks of third-order elements that perform Boolean operations and find analogue solutions to a computationally hard graph-partitioning problem. This work paves a way towards very compact and densely functional neuromorphic computing primitives, and energy-efficient validation of neuroscientific models.

A Novel Hybrid Model Based on a Feedforward Neural Network and One Step Secant Algorithm for Prediction of Load-Bearing Capacity of Rectangular Concrete-Filled Steel Tube Columns.

In this study, a novel hybrid surrogate machine learning model based on a feedforward neural network (FNN) and one step secant algorithm (OSS) was developed to predict the load-bearing capacity of concrete-filled steel tube columns (CFST), whereas the OSS was used to optimize the weights and bias of the FNN for developing a hybrid model (FNN-OSS). For achieving this goal, an experimental database containing 422 instances was firstly gathered from the literature and used to develop the FNN-OSS algorithm. The input variables in the database contained the geometrical characteristics of CFST columns, and the mechanical properties of two CFST constituent materials, i.e., steel and concrete. Thereafter, the selection of the appropriate parameters of FNN-OSS was performed and evaluated by common statistical measurements, for instance, the coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute error (MAE). In the next step, the prediction capability of the best FNN-OSS structure was evaluated in both global and local analyses, showing an excellent agreement between actual and predicted values of the load-bearing capacity. Finally, an in-depth investigation of the performance and limitations of FNN-OSS was conducted from a structural engineering point of view. The results confirmed the effectiveness of the FNN-OSS as a robust algorithm for the prediction of the CFST load-bearing capacity.

The use of surrounding rock loosening circle theory combined with elastic-plastic mechanics calculation method and depth learning in roadway support.

The objective is to study the design method of roadway support and provide technical support for coal mining and other mining methods that need deep roadway excavation. Through literature review, the occurrence, development mechanism and influencing factors of surrounding loose rock zones of roadways are analyzed. A method of detecting is selected according to the characteristics of surrounding rock loosening. Knowledge of elastoplastic mechanics is used to theoretically study the failure mechanism of surrounding rock in deep re-mining roadways. Based on the artificial neural network prediction model (ANN), the surrounding rock is classified and a support network model of the decision system is constructed. After the design of roadway support, a sharp change of vault subsidence normally occurs within about 7 days after excavation, and the total subsidence is 14 mm. In the following month, deformation is slow, subsidence is small, and it is basically stable after one month. The curve of the vault subsidence rate shows that the vault subsidence rate is less than or equal to 1mm/d after 7 days. The convergence rate is also less than 1 mm/d after 7 days. There are two cave mouths AB and CD, and the convergence value of AB is 6.47mm, CD is 10.26mm: CD is slightly larger than AB, and it is close to stable one month later. It is essentially consistent with the time of vault settlement and stability, and the amount of deformation is approximately the same. This shows that, with the advance of the working face, the displacement of the surrounding rock in the section away from the working face will gradually decrease and the surrounding rock will be stable. The stability time of surrounding rock displacement of the portal section is the same as that of vault subsidence under the initial support, and the amount of deformation is approximately the same, indicating that the support parameters and construction methods are reasonable.