The mechanical properties and stress corrosion cracking (SCC) resistance of an Al-Zn-Cu-Mg-Sc-Zr alloy under different aging conditions were investigated. The dependence of microstructure and mechanical properties on aging parameters was evaluated by tensile test, hardness test and conductivity measurement. The results show that for the alloys with retrogression and re-aging treatment (RRA), the conductivity increases with the retrogression time and temperature, while the tensile strength decreases. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results show that the precipitates η(MgZn₂) at grain boundary aggregate apparently with retrogression time and the precipitates inside the matrix exhibit the similar distribution to T6 temper, which comprises fine GP zones, large η′(MgZn₂) and η(MgZn₂) phases. According to the mechanical properties and microstructure observations, the optimal RRA regime is recommended to be 120 °C, 24 h + 180 °C, 30 min + 120 °C, 24 h. The strength level of the alloy after the optimum RRA treatment is similar to that in T6 condition and the SCC resistance is improved obviously in contrast to T6 condition.

Residual stress distributions in 7075 aluminum alloy thick plates with different thicknesses and different quenching speeds were measured. A shape function of stress distribution was proposed based on the internal stress distribution characteristics of aluminum alloy. Using nonlinear regression technology, the function between stress value of key points on internal stress curve and surface stress of the plate was obtained. Based on the measured surface stress, stress value of key points and stress distribution shape, the internal stress distribution can be reconstructed. The experiments show that the model is of good engineering practicality.

The microstructures, tensile properties and compressive creep behaviors of Mg-5%Sn-(0–1.0)%Pb (mass fraction) alloys were studied. The microstructures of the Mg-Sn-Pb alloys consist of dendritic α-Mg and Mg₂Sn phase. The addition of Pb can refine the size of Mg₂Sn phase and grain size, reduce the amount of Mg₂Sn phase at grain or inter-dendrite boundaries and change the distribution of Mg₂Sn phase. Pb exists in the Mg₂Sn phase or dissolves in α-Mg matrix. The mechanical properties of the tested alloys at room temperature are improved with the addition of Pb. When the Pb content is over 0.5%, the mechanical properties are decreased gradually. The Mg-5%Sn-0.5%Pb shows the best ultimate tensile strength and elongation, 174 MPa and 14.3%, respectively. However, the compressive creep resistance of the Mg-Sn-Pb alloys is much lower than that of the Mg-Sn binary alloy at 175 °C with applied load of 55 MPa, which means that Pb has negative effects on the compressive creep resistance of the as-cast Mg-Sn alloys.

The characteristics of hot deformation of an α+β titanium alloy Ti-6.5Al-3.5Mo-1.5Zr-0.3Si with acicular microstructure were studied using isothermal hot compressive tests in a strain rate range of 0.01–10 s⁻¹ at 860–1 100 °C. The true stress-true strain curves of alloy hot-compressed in the α+β region exhibit a peak stress followed by continuous flow softening; whereas in the β region, the flow stress attains a steady-state regime. At a strain rate of 10 s⁻¹ and in a wide temperature range, the alloy exhibits plastic flow instability. According to the kinetic rate equation, the apparent activation energies are estimated to be about 633 kJ/mol in the α+β region and 281 kJ/mol in the β region, respectively. The processing maps show a domain of the globularization process of α colony structure and α dynamic recrystallization in the temperature range of 860–960 °C with a peak efficiency of about 60%, and a domain of β dynamic recrystallization in the β region with a peak efficiency of 80%.

In order to improve the hydriding and dehydriding kinetics of the Mg₂Ni-type alloys, Ni in the alloy is substituted by element Co. The nanocrystalline and amorphous Mg₂Ni-type Mg₂Ni_1−xCo_x (x=0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4) alloys were synthesized by melt-spinning technique. The structures of the as-cast and spun alloys were studied with an X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and a high resolution transmission electronic microscope (HRTEM). An investigation on the thermal stability of the as-spun alloys was carried out with a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The hydrogen absorption and desorption kinetics of the alloys were measured with an automatically controlled Sieverts apparatus. The results demonstrate that the substitution of Co for Ni does not alter the major phase of Mg₂Ni but results in the formation of secondary phase MgCo₂. No amorphous phase is detected in the as-spun Co-free alloy, but a certain amount of amorphous phase is clearly found in the as-spun Co-containing alloys. The substitution of Co for Ni exerts a slight influence on the hydriding kinetics of the as-spun alloy. However, it dramatically enhances the dehydriding kinetics of the as-cast and spun alloys. As Co content (x) increases from 0 to 0.4, the hydrogen desorption capacity increases from 0.19% to 1.39% (mass fraction) in 20 min for the as-cast alloy, and from 0.89% to 2.18% (mass fraction) for the as-spun alloy (30 m/s).

Ti-X-N (X=Al, Si or Al+Si) coatings were grown onto cemented carbide substrates by cathodic arc evaporation. The hardness of the coatings was obtained by nanoindentation and the microstructure was investigated by XRD, XPS and SEM. Solid solution hardening results in a hardness increase from 24 GPa for TiN to 31.2 GPa for TiAlN. The higher hardness values of 36.7 GPa for TiSiN and 42.4 GPa for TiAlSiN are obtained by the incorporation of Si into TiN (TiAlN) coatings due to the formation of special three-dimensional net structure consisting of nanocrystalline (nc) TiN (TiAlN) encapsulated in an amorphous (a) Si₃N₄ matrix phase. Furthermore, the nc-TiAlN/a-Si₃N₄ coating shows the best machining performance.

A series of spinel Li-Mn-Ni composite oxides with theoretical chemical formula of LiNi_xMn_2−xO₄ (0≤x≤1.0) were synthesized by liquid phase method. Their structure and morphology were characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The stability of these Ni-substituted spinel oxides prepared at different temperatures was investigated in acidic medium as well. The results show that Ni can be brought into the spinel framework completely to form well-crystallized product when x≤0.5 and the optimized synthesis temperature is 800 °C. LiNi_0.4Mn_1.6O₄ prepared at 800 °C can maintain the spinel structure and morphology with Li extraction ratio of 30.37%, Mn extraction ratio of 8.78% and Ni extraction ratio of 1.82% during acid treatment. The incorporated Ni not only inhibits the dissolution of Mn, but also reduces the extraction of Li due to the lattice contraction.

A new insight into the constant current-constant voltage (CC-CV) charge protocol based on the spherical diffusion model was presented. From the model, the CV-charge process compensates, to a large extent, the capacity loss in the CC process, and the capacity loss increases with increasing the charging rate and decreases with increasing the lithium-ion diffusion coefficient and using a smaller τ value (smaller particle-size and larger diffusion coefficient) and a lower charge rate will be helpful to decreasing the capacity loss. The results show that the CC and the CV charging processes, in some way, are complementary and the capacity loss during the CC charging process due to the large electrochemical polarization can be effectively compensated from the CV charging process.

A quantitative structure-spectrum relationship (QSSR) model was developed to simulate ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of carbinol carbon atoms for 55 alcohols. The proposed model, using multiple linear regression, contained four descriptors solely extracted from the molecular structure of compounds. The statistical results of the final model show that R₂=0.982 4 and S=0.869 8 (where R is the correlation coefficient and S is the standard deviation). To test its predictive ability, the model was further used to predict the ¹³C NMR spectra of the carbinol carbon atoms of other nine compounds which were not included in the developed model. The average relative errors are 0.94% and 1.70%, respectively, for the training set and the predictive set. The model is statistically significant and shows good stability for data variation as tested by the leave-one-out (LOO) cross-validation. The comparison with other approaches also reveals good performance of this method.

Thermal decomposition of waste epoxy PCBs was performed in different atmospheres (nitrogen, argon, air and vacuum) at a heating rate of 10 °C/min by DSC-TGA, and the pyrolysis characteristic was analyzed. The gases volatilized from the experiment were qualitatively analyzed by TG-FTIR. Kinetics study shows that pyrolysis reaction takes place between 300 and 400 °C, and the activation energies are 256, 212 and 186.2 kJ/mol in nitrogen, argon and vacuum, respectively. There are two mass-loss processes in the decomposition under air atmosphere. In the first mass-loss process, the decomposition is the main reaction, and in the second process, the oxidation is the main reaction. The activation energy of the second mass-loss process is 99.6 kJ/mol by isothermal heat-treatments. TG-FTIR analysis shows carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen bromide, phenol and substituent phenol are given off during the pyrolysis of waste epoxy PCBs.

Polyfunctional aziridine/polyester microcapsules as control-release waterborne cross-linker were synthesized by multiple emulsion-solvent evaporation method. The results show that, a lower surface free energy with shell polyester is more favourable for the formation of microcapsules. Full encapsulating microcapsules are synthesized with the polyester with a surface free energy of 34.5 mJ/m². Shell-to-core feeding mass ratio has a significant influence on the morphology and core content of the resulting microcapsules. Well defined spherical microcapsules with uniform shell thickness and core content at around 22% are produced at a shell-to-core mass ratio of 1:1. When 2.5% of colloid stabilizer is used, hollow spherical microcapsules are obtained. A high solvent evaporation rate results in wrinkling and porosity of the microcapsules, and an evaporation rate equivalent to solvent elimination in about 2 h provides a uniform rate of surface hardening. The characterization of the microcapsules by SEM and FTIR demonstrates that polyfunctional aziridine is encapsulated at the centre of the microcapsule. The microcapsules synthesized can be broken at a high shear rate.

The similarities of the non-linear chemical (NLC) fingerprints of Radix Glycyrrhizaes from four producing areas and eight other traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) were calculated, using a systemic similarity calculation method proposed and three other main calculation ones (Euclidean distance, correlation coefficient and included angle cosine). All of the correlation coefficient similarities of different TCMs are higher than 0.952, and the included angle cosines are all higher than 0.962. So, both the correlation coefficient and included angle cosine similarities are unable to be used as the criteria for quantitatively evaluating the similarities of NLC fingerprints of TCMs. Although all of the Euclidean distance similarities of Berry Liquorices from four producing areas are less than 73, those of the other eight TCMs are all more than 180. The Euclidean distance cannot reflect the relative magnitudes of the feature differences in the NLC fingerprints very correctly. The systemic similarity method is the best among the four ones. All of the systemic similarities of Berry Liquorices from the four producing areas are higher than 0.962, while those of the other eight TCMs are all lower than 0.805, and the systemic similarity can reflect the differences between samples most faithfully, and can be used as a quantitative one evaluating the similarities of NLC fingerprints of TCMs, by which TCM could be distinguished and evaluated quickly, simply and exactly.

An efficient method for quality control of Fructus Aurantii Immaturus (FAI), a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was established. A simple and reliable high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detector (HPLC-DAD) procedure coupled with chemometric methods was developed for fingerprint analysis, qualitative analysis and quantitative determination of this herb. In qualitative and quantitative analyses, heuristic evolving latent projection (HELP) method was employed to resolve the overlapping peaks of the tested samples. Two bioactive components, namely hesperidin and naringin, are confirmed and determined, together with four flavonoids compounds tentatively identified including two new ones. From fingerprint analysis, the fingerprint data were processed with correlation coefficients for quantitative expression of their similarity and dissimilarity. The developed method based on an integration of chromatographic fingerprint and quantitative analysis is scientific, and the obtained results can be applied to the quality control of herb medicine.

Several 1,4-benzenedicarbonyl thiourea resins (BTR) were synthesized through interfacial polymerization between 1,4-benzenedicarbonyl diisothiocyanate and polyamine. Their structures were confirmed by FT-IR. The adsorption properties (including the effect of adsorption time, pH, initial concentrations and temperature) of BTR-1, BTR-2 and BTR-3 for Ag(I) were investigated by batch tests. The results show that the adsorption equilibria of BTR-1, BTR-2, BTR-3 for Ag(I) are achieved after about 10 h. Their equilibrium adsorption capacities are 7.11, 6.75 and 6.23, respectively, and the adsorption process accords with G. E. Boyd equation and Langmuir adsorption isotherm as well. The adsorption capacities increase with the increase of pH (the highest uptake values are observed at pH being about 6–7). The thermodynamic parameters of BTR-1 were calculated. The results show that ΔH^Θ; and ΔS^Θ are 6 958.8 J/mol and 64.28 J/(mol·K), respectively, and ΔG^Θ at 20, 30, 40 and 50 °C are −11.79, −12.52, −13.16 and −13.8 kJ/mol, respectively. The silver-loaded resins can be quantitatively eluted by a solution containing 6% thiourea in 1 mol/L HNO₃.

Based on the analysis of the properties of oily sludge samples, the effect of modification parameters, such as liquid to solid (L/S) ratio, agitation temperature, agitation intensity, agitation time and pH on the modification of oily sludge was investigated with the content of oil remnants in dry sludge as a reference index. Remixing experiments were carried out according to a simplex-lattice design, where Sx4056 was used as the demulsifier, petroleum sulfonate as the surfactant and sodium silicate (Na₂SiO₃) as the dispersant. The surface modification reagent formulation was optimized by a regression equation on the modified effect and based on the amounts of surface modification reagents. The results show that the content of the oil remaining in dry oily sludge is 0.28% of 10.15% oily sludge, when the reagent concentration rises to 3.5 g/L under the optimum experimental conditions.

A 40–60 t/h modularized dry coal beneficiation process with a novel method to control the bed was designed around a gas-solid fluidized bed separator. Furthermore, the hydrodynamics of medium-solids consisting of wide-size-range magnetite powder (0.3–0.06 mm) and <1 mm fine coal were numerically studied. The simulation results show that the fluidization performance of the wide-size-range medium-solid bed is good. The separation performance of the modularized system was then investigated in detail using a mixture of <0.3 mm magnetite powder (mass fraction of 0.3–0.06 mm particles is 91.38 %) and <1 mm fine coal as solid media. The experimental results show that at separation densities of 1.33 g/cm³ or 1.61 g/cm³, 50–6 mm coal can be separated effectively with probable error, E, values of 0.05 g/cm³ and 0.06 g/cm³, respectively. This technique is beneficial for saving water resources and for the clean utilization of coal.

The effect of L-cysteine in different concentrations on the bioleaching of Ni-Cu sulfide was studied with an extremely thermophilic archaea, Acidianus manzaensis. It is found that adding certain amounts of L-cysteine to the bioleaching system of Ni-Cu sulfide largely enhances the leaching rate. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns show the change of bioleached solid residues and the effect of L-cysteine on the surface charges of minerals. Zeta potential and IR spectra of mineral surface show that the interaction between L-cysteine and mineral leads to the formation of metal complex, which is propitious to the bioleaching of Ni-Cu sulfide by Acidianus manzaensis.

A comparative study on the phenotypic and genetic characteristics among Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (AF2), a typic strain ATCC23270 and a previously isolated strain AF3 was performed. AF2 can use ferrous ion (Fe²⁺) or elemental sulfur (S⁰) as sole energy source, but oxidizes S⁰ more effectively than Fe²⁺, which is different from ATCC23270 and AF3. The G+C content of AF2 is 51.8% (molar fraction), however, ATCC23270 and AF3 strains have G+C content of 63.7% and 64.8% (molar fraction), respectively. The DNA-DNA hybridization results show that AF2 has 41.53% and 52.38% genome similarity to ATCC 23270 and AF3, respectively, but AF3 has a high genome similarity of 89.86% to ATCC 23270 strain. Rusticyanin (rus) and subunit III of aa₃-type cytochrome oxidase (coxC) genes are not detected in AF2, but Fe²⁺ oxidase (iro) gene can be detected. To understand the genomic organization of iro gene, a cosmid library of AF2 genome was constructed and iro gene-containing clone was screened. The sequencing result shows that although the nucleotide sequence of iro gene in AF2 is completely identical to that of ATCC 23270 strain, its genomic organization is different from that of ATCC 23270. In AF2, iro is located at downstream of purA gene, while it is located at downstream of petC-2 gene in ATCC 23270 strain. These results indicate that AF2 is a novel strain of A. ferrooxidans, and that phenotypic differences among the strains of A. ferrooxidans are closely correlated with their genetic polymorphisms.

Culturable thermophilic microorganisms were enriched from samples collected from Lau Basin hydrothermal vents in artificial seawater medium at 45 °C and pH 7.0. Microbial diversities of the enriched communities were defined by performing a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences with enzymes MspI and Hin6 I. A total of 14 phylotypes have been detected by the RFLP patterns identified for 16S rRNA clone libraries of the enrichment. Analysis of sequences showed that at least four bacterial divisions presented in the clones libraries. The phyla Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were the most dominant groups. The majority of the sequences included in this analysis affiliated with Gamma Proteobacteria (71%) and Bacillus (23%). Scanning electron micrographs revealed that there were abundant rod and coccoidal forms encased in sulphur and sodium chloride precipitate. These results revealed that there were a diversity of moderate thermophilic bacterial populations thrived in Lau Basin hydrothermal vents that were previously not detected by either molecular retrieval or strain purification techniques.

Leaching kinetics of acid-soluble Cr(VI) in chromite ore processing residue (COPR) using hydrofluoric (HF) acid solution as a leaching agent was investigated for potential remediation of COPR with industrial waste water containing HF. The results show that HF can effectively destabilize the Cr(VI)-bearing minerals, resulting in the mobilization of Cr(VI) from COPR into the leachate. Particle size significantly influences the leaching of acid-soluble Cr(VI) from COPR, followed by leaching time, whereas the effects of HF concentration and leaching temperature are slight and the influence of stirring rate is negligible. The leaching process of acid-soluble Cr(VI) from COPR is controlled by the diffusion through the product layer. The apparent activation energy is 8.696 kJ/mol and the reaction orders with respect to HF concentration and particle size is 0.493 8 and −2.013 3, respectively.

TiO₂-B was synthesized by solid-state reaction. The structures, surface morphologies and electrochemical performances of TiO₂-B were characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical measurement, respectively. The effects of calcining temperature, molar ratio of K₂O to TiO₂ and calcining time on the characteristics of TiO₂-B were investigated. The results show that the calcining time exerts a significant influence on the electrochemical performances of TiO₂-B. The TiO₂-B is obtained with good crystal structure and suitable size by using K₂Ti₄O₉, which is prepared at 950°C for 24 h under the condition of x(K₂O)/x(TiO₂)=1:3.5. The TiO₂-B delivers all initial discharge capacity of 231.6 mA·h/g. And the rate capacity is 73.2 mA·h/g at 1 675 mA/g, which suggests that TiO₂-B is a promising anode material for the lithium ion batteries.

The results obtained from the research on the behaviour of fences (solid and porous) in the protection against particulated material emission to the atmosphere from open storage piles, are presented. This research was carried out through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation by software Ansys CFX-10.0 in 3D, with K-epsilon being considered in the turbulence model. The efficiency of the use of porous fences as a protection against the wind flow, which interacts with an open storage pile, is shown. The use of these fences (when porosity is ɛ=30%) allows the reduction of wind flow velocity which interacts with the pile in comparison with the case of no use of fences (when porosity is 100%). In addition, the use of porous fences makes the velocity vortex, which is formed between the solid fence (ɛ=0%) and the pile, disappear, reducing the particle emission to the atmosphere by 78%.

Changsha, a typical city in central China, was selected as the study area to assess the variations of ecosystem service value on the basis of land-use change. The analysis not only included the whole city but also the urban district where the landscape changed more rapidly in the center of the city. Two LANDSAT TM data sets in 1986 and 2000 and land use data of five urban districts from 1995 to 2005 were used to estimate the changes in the size of six land use categories. Meanwhile, previously published value coefficients were used to detect the changes in the value of ecosystem services delivered by each land category. The result shows that the total value of ecosystem services in Changsha declines from $1 009.28 million per year in 1986 to $938.11 million per year in 2000. This decline is largely attributable to the increase of construction land, and the conversion from woodland and water body to cropland to keep the crop production. In the five districts, there is $6.19 million decline in ecosystem service value between 1995 and 2005. Yuelu District has the highest unit ecosystem service value while Yuhua District has the lowest one. This may be attributed to the greater conversion from cropland and grassland to woodland and water body with the increase of construction land in Yuelu District. It is suggested that the increase rate of construction land should be controlled rigorously and the area of woodland and water body should be increased or at least retained in the study area.

A general approach for controlling of periodical dynamic systems was presented by taking robotic yoyo as an example. The height of the robot arm when the yoyo arrives at the bottom was chosen as virtual control. The initial amplitude of yoyo could be mapped to the desired final amplitude by adjusting the virtual control. First, the yoyo motion was formulated into a nonlinear optimal control problem which contained the virtual control. The reference trajectory of robot could be obtained by solving the optimal problem with analytic method or more general numerical approach. Then, both PI and deadbeat control methods were used to control the yoyo system. The simulation results show that the analytic solution of the reference trajectory is identical to the numerical solution, which mutually validates the correctness of the two solution methods. In simulation, the initial amplitude of yoyo is set to be 0.22 m which is 10% higher than the desired final amplitude of 0.2 m. It can be seen that the amplitude achieves the desired value asymptotically in about five periods when using PI control, while it needs only one period with deadbeat control. The reference trajectory of robot is generated by optimizing a certain performance index; therefore, it is globally optimal. This is essentially different from those traditional control methods, in which the reference trajectories are empirically imposed on robot. What’s more, by choosing the height of the robot arm when the yoyo arrives at the bottom as the virtual control, the motion of the robot arm may not be out of its stroke limitation. The proposed approach may also be used in the control of other similar periodical dynamic systems.

A novel periodic mount was presented. A theoretical model was developed to describe the dynamics of wave propagation in the novel periodic mount. The model was derived using Hamilton’s energy conservation principle. The characteristics of wave propagation in unit cell were analyzed by transfer matrix formulation. Numerical examples were given to illustrate the effectiveness of the periodic mount. The experiments were carried out to identify the predications of the theoretical model. The obtained results show that the experimental results coincide with the prediction of theoretical model. No pass bands appear in the overall frequency range measured when waves propagate in the longitude direction of the periodic mount. These dramatic results demonstrate its potential as an excellent mount in attenuating and isolating vibration transmission.

A neuron proportion integration (PI) control strategy for semi-active suspension system of tracked vehicle was proposed based on its unique structure and the multiple and complex environment of the driving traffic. An adaptive genetic algorithm is used to optimize the parameters of the neuron PI controller. The simulation result of the neuron PI control for semi-active suspension system of tracked vehicle indicates that the vertical amplitude, pitch angle and vertical acceleration of the vehicle are well controlled. The root mean square (RMS) of the vertical amplitude decreases by 37.2%, and 45.2% for the pitch angle, 38.6% for the vertical acceleration. The research of neuron PI control experiment for the semi-active suspension system of the tracked vehicle model mining in benthal indicates that the RMS of the weight acceleration vibrating along the vertical direction decreases by 29.5%, the power spectral density resonance peak of the acceleration of the car body decreases by 23.8%.

The design solutions for breadth cam mechanism were presented. The main topics of the shape design for breadth cam was to calculate the coordinate at each contact point to determine the cam profile. The proposed method according to velocity and geometric relationships of instant velocity centers can easily determine each contact point at any instant moment. The cam profile was defined by contouring of the contact points. And also a program was developed by using Microsoft Visual C++ program, which can quickly and easily draw a 2D cam profile through the displacement diagram. Finally, the program was used to confirm the accuracy on the breadth cam profile design by computer animation graphically.

An optimal configuration of the flux-reversal linear synchronous motor (FRLSM) with the optimal number of attachment permanent magnets (PMs) was presented. The optimal model of 2 000 N was designed to reduce the detent force by redesigning the air-gap structure and skewing. The design parameters, mover PMs and stator core, were selected for optimal design by DOE. The thrust and the detent force of the designed optimal models were compared by finite element analysis (FEA). As a result, the thrust of the optimal model is slightly decreased by 1.97% compared with the basic model, and the detent force of the optimal model is greatly decreased by 88.47% compared with the basic model.

The conventional deadline and budget constrained (DBC) scheduling heuristics for economic-based computational grids does not take the inconsistency of grid heterogeneity into account, which can lead to decline of application completion ratios. Motivated by this fact, a novel DBC scheduling heuristics was proposed to deal with sequential workflow applications. In order to valuate the inconsistency, the relative cost (RC) metric was introduced, which was used to indicate the task-starving degree for resources. The new algorithm assigns tasks to resources, considering completion time, budget and RC together. The GridSim toolkit and the benchmark suites of the standard performance evaluation corporation (SPEC) were used to simulate the heterogeneous grid environment and applications. The experimental results show that the task and workflow completion ratios of the new heuristics are higher than those of the conventional heuristics.

In order to solve the decoupling control problem of multivariable system with time delays, a new decoupling Smith control method for multivariable system with time delays was proposed. Firstly, the decoupler based on the adjoint matrix of the multivariable system model with time delays was introduced, and the decoupled models were reduced to first-order plus time delay models by analyzing the amplitude-frequency and phase-frequency characteristics. Secondly, according to the closed-loop characteristic equation of Smith predictor structure, proportion integration (PI) controllers were designed following the principle of pole assignment for Butterworth filter. Finally, using small-gain theorem and Nyquist stability criterion, sufficient and necessary conditions for robust stability were analyzed with multiplicative uncertainties, which could be encountered frequently in practice. The result shows that the method proposed has superiority for response speed and load disturbance rejection performance.

The bits and power allocation model of adaptive power-rate mixture for multi-user multi-server power-line communication systems was analyzed with the restrictions of maximal total power, fixed rate for each real time (RT) user, minimal rate for each non-real time (NRT) user, maximal bits and power for each subcarrier in each orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol. An algorithm of resource dynamic allocation in the first OFDM symbol of each frame and resource optimal adjustment in the latter OFDM symbol of each frame was proposed. In the first OFDM symbol of every frame, resource is firstly assigned for RT users so as to minimize their total used power until satisfying their fixed rates; secondly the remainder resource of power and subcarriers are assigned for NRT users so as to minimize their total used power until satisfying their minimal rates also; lastly the remainder resource is again assigned for NRT users according to the proportional fairness strategy so as to maximize their total assigning rate. In the latter OFDM symbol of each frame, bits are swapped and power is adjusted for every user based on the resource allocation results of anterior OFDM symbol. The algorithm is tested in the typical power-line channel scenarios and the simulation results indicate that the proposed algorithm has better performances than the classical multi-user resource allocation algorithms and it realizes the multiple aims of multi-user multi-server resource allocation for power-line communication systems.

Developing parallel applications on heterogeneous processors is facing the challenges of ‘memory wall’, due to limited capacity of local storage, limited bandwidth and long latency for memory access. Aiming at this problem, a parallelization approach was proposed with six memory optimization schemes for CG, four schemes of them aiming at all kinds of sparse matrix-vector multiplication (SPMV) operation. Conducted on IBM QS20, the parallelization approach can reach up to 21 and 133 times speedups with size A and B, respectively, compared with single power processor element. Finally, the conclusion is drawn that the peak bandwidth of memory access on Cell BE can be obtained in SPMV, simple computation is more efficient on heterogeneous processors and loop-unrolling can hide local storage access latency while executing scalar operation on SIMD cores.

In order to avoid severe performance degradation led by the inter-cell interference (ICI) in orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) systems with a frequency reused factor (FRF) of 1, distributed schedule algorithm (DS-OCS) and distributed proportional fairness schedule algorithm (DPFS-OCS) based on orthogonal complement space (OCS) were proposed. The first right and left singular vectors of the channel that the user experienced were selected as the transmitting and receiving beamforming vectors. An interference space was spanned by the left singular vectors of the entire interference users in the same channel. The most suitable user lay in the OCS of the interference space was scheduled to avoid suffering interference from neighboring cells based on the criterion of system capacity maximizing and proportional fairness. The simulation results show that the average system capacity can be improved by 2%–4% compared with the DS-OCS algorithm with the Max C/I algorithm, by 6%–10% compared with the DPFS-OCS algorithm with the PF algorithm.

A series of researches were carried out for the soil samples in the Pearl River Delta under the action of consolidation loads, such as the quantitative analyses of the pore scale, shape and size distributions of micro-structure units, with an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM), a mercury intrusion analyzer and a mineral diffractometer. The experimental results show that the consolidation pressures remarkably change the pore sizes and distribution characteristics of the silt, thus changing its compressibility and permeability. This can be proved by the fact that, in the earlier stage with a consolidation pressure of p<200 kPa, the pore sizes are greater and the compressibility and permeability coefficients are larger. However, they rapidly decrease with the increase in consolidation pressure. And in the later stage with a consolidation pressure of p>200 kPa, the pore sizes are smaller and the compressibility and permeability coefficients are less. Therefore, the empirical formulas of compression coefficient and permeability coefficient vs consolidation load and average pore diameter are deduced.

Numerical analysis of the optimal supporting time and long-term stability index of the surrounding rocks in the underground plant of Xiangjiaba hydro-power station was carried out based on the rheological theory. Firstly, the mechanical parameters of each rock group were identified from the experimental data; secondly, the rheological calculation and analysis for the cavern in stepped excavation without supporting were made; finally, the optimal time for supporting at the characteristic point in a typical section was obtained while the creep rate and displacement after each excavation step has satisfied the criterion of the optimal supporting time. Excavation was repeated when the optimal time for supporting was identified, and the long-term stability creep time and the maximum creep deformation of the characteristic point were determined in accordance with the criterion of long-term stability index. It is shown that the optimal supporting time of the characteristic point in the underground plant of Xiangjiaba hydro-power station is 5–8 d, the long-term stability time of the typical section is 126 d, and the corresponding largest creep deformation is 24.30 mm. While the cavern is supported, the cavern deformation is significantly reduced and the stress states of the surrounding rock masses are remarkably improved.

A wind tunnel test was conducted for a large steel gymnasium structure. Simultaneous pressure measurements were made on its entire ellipsoidal roof in a simulated suburban boundary layer flow field. Special attention is paid to the characteristics of fluctuating wind pressures in different zones on the roof. Some selected results are presented: 1) correlations between fluctuating wind pressures on both roof surfaces, 2) eigenvalues and eigenvectors of covariance matrices of the fluctuating wind pressures, 3) probability distributions of the fluctuating wind pressures, and 4) statistical characteristics of peak factor. Furthermore, the applicability of the quasi-steady approach is discussed in detail. Based on the results, an empirical formula for estimating the minimum pressure coefficients, using a peak factor approach, is presented. Comparison of the minimum pressure coefficients determined by the proposed formula and those obtained from the wind tunnel tests is made to examine the applicability and accuracy of the proposed formula.

To investigate the effective shape of collapsing block in square tunnel subjected to pore water pressure, the analytical solution of detaching curve was derived using upper bound theorem of limit analysis with Hoek-Brown failure criterion. The work rate of pore water pressure, which was regarded as an external rate of work, was taken into account in the framework of limit analysis. Taking advantages of variational calculation, the objective function with respect to detaching curve was optimized to obtain the effective shape of collapsing block for square tunnel. According to the numerical results, it is found that the varying pore water pressure coefficient only affects the height and width of the collapsing block, whereas the shape of collapsing block remains unchanged.

According to the actual engineering problem that the precise load model of shield machine is difficult to achieve, a design method of sliding mode robust controller oriented to the automatic rectification of shield machine was proposed. Firstly, the nominal load model of shield machine and the ranges of model parameters were obtained by the soil mechanics parameters of certain geological conditions and the messages of the self-learning of shield machine by tunneling for previous segments. Based on this rectification mechanism model with known ranges of parameters, a sliding mode robust controller was proposed. Finally, the simulation analysis was developed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed controller. The simulation results show that the sliding mode robust controller can be implemented in the attitude rectification process of the shield machine and it has stronger robustness to overcome the soil disturbance.

Wuhan Tianxingzhou Changjiang (WTC) Bridge and Nanjing Dashengguan Changjiang (NDC) Bridge are two super high-speed railway 3-trusses composite bridges. This is the first time of using three trusses in such large bridges in the world. These two types of railway floor systems of the two bridges have never been used in China before. The problem how to conform the deformations and stress levels of the railway floor system of WTC Bridge was studied. After finite element analysis and comparison, the plan of arranging one expansion stringer every two panels in railway floor system were proposed and good effect was obtained. Because of the application of three trusses, the allocation of the loads acted on the deck in three trusses is different and varies in different places of NDC Bridge. This problem was studied by model experiment and 3D finite element analysis. The results of 3D FEM analysis coincide with the model test results. The allocation rule of the loads acting on the deck in three trusses was presented. Because of the application of monolithic decks, the stiffness and structural integrity of NDC Bridge are high.

Based on the assumption of additional three-hinge arching action, an analytical method was proposed to predict the additional load of lateral restraint reinforced concrete (RC) slab under compressive membrane action (CMA), and its ultimate load could be obtained by adding pure bending load. The experiment of twelve one-way RC slabs supported by shear-walls was carried out, and the calculations of this proposed method provide good predictions for the experimental evidences. The influence of some design parameters on bearing capacity was also investigated. It is shown that the effect of vertical load on ending shear-wall on the ultimate load capacity can be generally neglected when the bending restraint is satisfied. The additional load capacity also decreases with the increase of the span-to-height ratio of central slab. When reducing the reinforcement area, the additional load capacity is increased, and this method can be used to save steel or enhance the ultimate load capacity of low steel ratio slab.

The turn-key construction project is implemented in Taiwan not by a single company but by a make-shift group of several companies. Hence, problems to coordinate the professional construction management (PCM) and the supervising architectural company often occur for the lack of long-term experience to work together. The various factors that affect the implementation of turn-key projects currently practiced in Taiwan are analyzed using the analytic network process (ANP). The objective is to study how the twelve key factors in the four layers of “Role assignment”, “Signing contract”, “Operational procedures” and “Losing capital investment” affect the progress of implementing the turn-key project in Taiwan. The results reveal that “Delay in payment” has the most negative influence with 15.62% weighing factor; “Latent risk” comes next with 11.14% weighing factor, and “Responsibility of construction company for project quality” is the third with 10.79% weighing factor.

An innovative flat heat pipe radiator was put forward, and it has the features of high efficiency of heat dissipation, compact construction, low thermal resistance, light weight, low cost, and anti-dust-deposition. The thermal analysis of the flat heat pipe radiator for cooling high-power light emitting diode (LED) array was conducted. The thermal characteristics of the flat heat pipe radiator under the different heat loads and incline angles were investigated experimentally in natural convection. An electro-thermal conversion method was used to measure the junction temperature of the LED chips. It is found that the integral temperature distribution of the flat heat pipe radiator is reasonable and uniform. The total thermal resistance of the flat heat pipe radiator varies in the range of 0.38–0.45 K/W. The junction temperatures of LED chips with the flat heat pipe radiator and with the aluminum board at the same forward current of 0.35 A are 52.5 and 75.2 °C, respectively.

The optimum control strategy and the saving potential of all variable chiller plant under the conditions of changing building cooling load and cooling water supply temperature were investigated. Based on a simulation model of water source chiller plant established in dynamic transient simulation program (TRNSYS), the four-variable quadratic orthogonal regression experiments were carried out by taking cooling load, cooling water supply temperature, cooling water flow rate and chilled water flow rate as variables, and the fitting formulas expressing the relationships between the total energy consumption of chiller plant with the four selected parameters was obtained. With the SAS statistical software and MATHEMATICA mathematical software, the optimal chilled water flow rate and cooling water flow rate which result in the minimum total energy consumption were determined under continuously varying cooling load and cooling water supply temperature. With regard to a chiller plant serving an office building in Shanghai, the total energy consumptions under different control strategies were computed in terms of the forecasting function of cooling load and water source temperature. The results show that applying the optimal control strategy to the chiller plant can bring a saving of 23.27% in power compared with the corresponding conventional variable speed plant, indicating that the optimal control strategy can improve the energy efficiency of chiller plant.

Heat pipe is always bent in the typical application of electronic heat dissipation at high heat flux, which greatly affects its heat transfer performance. The capillary limit of heat transport in the bent micro-grooved heat pipes was analyzed in the vapor pressure drop, the liquid pressure drop and the interaction of the vapor with wick fluid. The bent heat pipes were fabricated and tested from the bending angle, the bending position and the bending radius. The results show that temperature difference and thermal resistance increase while the heat transfer capacity of the heat pipe decreases, with the increase of the bending angles and the bending position closer to the vapor section. However, the effects of bending radius can be ignored. The result agrees well with the predicted equations.

To improve the possible superelevation runoff models for the cycling track design, at first, two existing representative superelevation runoff models used in China were investigated and fitted. Then, an optimization methodology was proposed, which was focused on the track geometry itself, without the consideration of the physical characteristic of the cyclist, assuming that less vertical curvature values correspond to less riding time. The riding performance formulae were obtained with the variables of riding time, riding velocity and vertical curvature of cycling track. Finally, with the refined adjustment on the vertical curvatures with the help of cycling track design software and considering the effect of horizontal alignments, the optimized models were finalized. It is clearly seen that these optimized models take the form of quartic parabola and are verified to achieve 0.005–0.021 s improvement in the event of 200 m time trial.