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This paper presents the numerical evaluation of the seismic response of a masonry cross vault using the Discrete Macro-Element Method (DMEM). The case study corresponded to a full-scale unstrengthened cross vault that was experimentally investigated within the scope of the SERA Project — Seismic Response of Masonry Cross Vaults: Shaking table tests and numerical validations. The cross vault was subjected to repeated shaking table and dynamic identification tests until reaching significant damage. The numerical simulations involved the calibration of the Young's modulus of the masonry material aiming at reproducing the cross vault's experimental natural frequencies and mode shapes. The comparison of frequencies was carried out by estimating the difference between experimental and numerical results, whereas the correspondence between mode shapes was studied using the Modal Assurance Criterion. Subsequently, a sensitivity analysis was performed to identify the influence of nonlinear properties on the seismic response of the cross vault (displacement and acceleration time histories and failure mechanism). The accuracy of the numerical time histories was evaluated by estimating magnitude and phase discrepancies. The results aimed at demonstrating the applicability of the DMEM for assessing the seismic response of masonry cross vaults with an acceptable degree of accuracy and low computational cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks to predict the stock prices of the Yuanta Taiwan Top 50 ETF (ETF50). To improve the accuracy of the model's predictions, a calibration procedure called "Short-Term Bias Compensation" (STBC) is proposed to adjust the predicted stock prices. In STBC, the daily prediction error is calculated to estimate the short-term bias (STB) in prediction. Then, the predicted price of its next day will be corrected if this STB has exceeded a certain threshold. In this paper, we apply Genetic Algorithms (GAs) to optimize the parameters used in STBC for providing more confidence in its estimation. Based on these predicted stock prices, we propose a Genetic Fuzzy System (GFS) to determine the trading strategy, with trading points for buying and selling stocks. In GFS, various technical indicators are used to establish the fuzzy rules of the trading strategy, and GAs are used to evolve the best parameters for these fuzzy rules. Our experiments cover over 17 years of data (from 2003 to 2020) for ETF50 to consider black swan events such as the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, the 2018 US–China trade war, and the 2011 US debt crisis. The first 90% of the data is used as training data, and the last 10% is used as testing data. We use 12 technical indicators of these data as the input of LSTM. The predicted values of LSTM are corrected using STBC and compared to the uncorrected prices. We use Mean Square Error (MSE) to evaluate the prediction accuracy. The results show that STBC can nearly reduce 90% of the prediction error (where MSE drops from 11.5758 to 1.2687). By using GFS with STBC to determine trading points, we achieve a return rate of 32.0%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The behavior of shape memory alloys that admit large reversible deformations in response to thermal excitation has been extensively studied in recent years. Yet, the number of works dealing with springs made from these alloys is rather limited in spite of their attractiveness in various applications. Objective: To bridge this gap we designed and constructed an experimental system for characterizing the behavior of the springs. It enables precise control of the three state variables: temperature, elongation, and force. Methods: Control of the sample temperature is achieved by immersing it in a water-filled thermal bath, where the water temperature is adjusted using a thermoelectric Peltier device. A tension-compression motorized unit sets the spring elongation and a force gauge is used for measuring the force exerted on the spring. The data is continuously monitored and acquired with a self-coded LabVIEW program. An important aspect is the calibration procedure developed for identifying the spring load-free state and ensuring the repetitiveness of the measurements. Results: Experiments in which the elongation or the force were measured as a function of the temperature demonstrate the role of the phase transformations. Isothermal experiments enabled to characterize the variations of the force versus the elongation at different temperatures. Conclusions: The proposed system facilitates the execution of highly accurate experiments through which the complex history-dependent behavior of shape memory springs can be revealed and studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks to predict the stock prices of the Yuanta Taiwan Top 50 ETF (ETF50). To improve the accuracy of the model’s predictions, a calibration procedure called “Short-Term Bias Compensation” (STBC) is proposed to adjust the predicted stock prices. In STBC, the daily prediction error is calculated to estimate the short-term bias (STB) in prediction. Then, the predicted price of its next day will be corrected if this STB has exceeded a certain threshold. In this paper, we apply Genetic Algorithms (GAs) to optimize the parameters used in STBC for providing more confidence in its estimation. Based on these predicted stock prices, we propose a Genetic Fuzzy System (GFS) to determine the trading strategy, with trading points for buying and selling stocks. In GFS, various technical indicators are used to establish the fuzzy rules of the trading strategy, and GAs are used to evolve the best parameters for these fuzzy rules. Our experiments cover over 17 years of data (from 2003 to 2020) for ETF50 to consider black swan events such as the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, the 2018 US–China trade war, and the 2011 US debt crisis. The first 90% of the data is used as training data, and the last 10% is used as testing data. We use 12 technical indicators of these data as the input of LSTM. The predicted values of LSTM are corrected using STBC and compared to the uncorrected prices. We use Mean Square Error (MSE) to evaluate the prediction accuracy. The results show that STBC can nearly reduce 90% of the prediction error (where MSE drops from 11.5758 to 1.2687). By using GFS with STBC to determine trading points, we achieve a return rate of 32.0%.

As smart grids incorporate renewable energy sources and advanced power electronics, ensuring accurate measurement systems becomes paramount due to the increased complexity and potential sources of disturbances. This article focuses on the laboratory calibration of Rogowski coils (RCs) and merging units (MUs), which are fundamental for measuring, controlling, and monitoring digital power systems. A comprehensive digital calibration system is introduced, utilizing precise, commercially available components such as a fluxgate current transducer and a National Instrument. The system assesses magnitude and phase displacement errors under various operating conditions, including abnormal scenarios. Additionally, the impact of uncertainty sources on the measurement chain analysis is discussed, with test results conforming to established standards. This research contributes to enhancing the accuracy and reliability of measurement systems in the context of evolving smart grids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Real-time calibration is essential for maintaining the performance of modern digital phased antenna array (DPAA) systems. Previous papers have proposed a method of real-time internal calibration for all receiving channels. This method uses a calibration signal (CalSig) of the same frequency spectrum as the received signal, modulated in phase and amplitude by the binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) and on–off keying (OOK) codes, respectively. With the purpose of improving the method, we propose an algorithm for estimating the phase and amplitude parameters of each receiving channel on the basis of continuous phase correlation accumulation of CalSig samples.Aim. Synthesis of algorithms and procedures for real-time internal calibration of receiving channels in digital phased antenna arrays.Materials and methods. Calibration algorithms and calibration procedure were analyzed and synthesized using the methods of systems analysis. In addition, the methods of systems engineering and technology, digital processing of radar signals and synthesis of building test models close to actual requirements were applied.Results. The advantage of the proposed calibration algorithm and calibration procedure consists in using CalSig modulated by the BPSK and OOK codes. The results obtained on a small DPAA system with four receiving channels gave the error of phase and amplitude lower than 0.3° and 0.05 dB, and the error of main beam direction lower than 0.2°. The results of testing the developed DPAA model confirmed the simplicity and high calibration accuracy of the approach under study.Conclusion. The proposed calibration algorithm and calibration procedure have the advantage over those proposed in previous research in terms of simplicity and resource efficiency. This fact determines the prospects for using the obtained results.

As smart grids incorporate renewable energy sources and advanced power electronics, ensuring accurate measurement systems becomes paramount due to the increased complexity and potential sources of disturbances. This article focuses on the laboratory calibration of Rogowski coils (RCs) and merging units (MUs), which are fundamental for measuring, controlling, and monitoring digital power systems. A comprehensive digital calibration system is introduced, utilizing precise, commercially available components such as a fluxgate current transducer and a National Instrument. The system assesses magnitude and phase displacement errors under various operating conditions, including abnormal scenarios. Additionally, the impact of uncertainty sources on the measurement chain analysis is discussed, with test results conforming to established standards. This research contributes to enhancing the accuracy and reliability of measurement systems in the context of evolving smart grids.

Lidar sensors are widely used for environmental perception on autonomous robot vehicles (ARV). The field of view (FOV) of Lidar sensors can be reshaped by positioning plane mirrors in their vicinity. Mirror setups can especially improve the FOV for ground detection of ARVs with 2D-Lidar sensors. This paper presents an overview of several geometric designs and their strengths for certain vehicle types. Additionally, a new and easy-to-implement calibration procedure for setups of 2D-Lidar sensors with mirrors is presented to determine precise mirror orientations and positions, using a single flat calibration object with a pre-aligned simple fiducial marker. Measurement data from a prototype vehicle with a 2D-Lidar with a 2 m range using this new calibration procedure are presented. We show that the calibrated mirror orientations are accurate to less than 0.6° in this short range, which is a significant improvement over the orientation angles taken directly from the CAD. The accuracy of the point cloud data improved, and no significant decrease in distance noise was introduced. We deduced general guidelines for successful calibration setups using our method. In conclusion, a 2D-Lidar sensor and two plane mirrors calibrated with this method are a cost-effective and accurate way for robot engineers to improve the environmental perception of ARVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annoyance due to wind turbine noise is usually assessed on the basis of surveys conducted among people living in the vicinity of turbines or in the laboratory conditions. Due to the fact that the latter are very different from natural conditions, we propose a solution to reduce this difference. Prior to the surveys, 50 participants were asked to familiarize themselves with 5 environmental signals. They were informed about the annoyance rating assigned to each signal (obtained earlier in laboratory conditions), expressed as a number between 0 (not annoying signal) and 10 (extremely annoying signal). Participants were then presented with new environmental sounds and asked to rate the annoyance caused by each sound, in accordance with the previously learned method. The analysis of our results shows that the variability of answers given by respondents at their homes is similar to those obtained earlier in laboratory conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to ensure efficient wastewater treatment and seawater desalination, adequate modeling and optimization of the forward osmosis (FO) process has the potential to be very helpful. This paper deals with the FO model parameters calibration and FO process optimization by a gradient-based optimization method. For this purpose, an upgraded FO model, which involves temperature- and agent-dependent parameters, was developed. The FO model calibration was done using NaCl as agents in draw solution, while MgCl 2 was used for model validation. The agreements between simulated and measured FO performance were satisfactory; relative index of agreement are higher than 0.99. By using the proposed FO model, the optimization of FO process conditions was performed with various definitions of the objective and constraint functions. In case of maximizing the water flux, minimizing reverse solute flux, and fulfilling the required constraints, the ratio of water flux and reverse solute flux increased up to 40 % for NaCl and up to 20 % for MgCl 2 ; meanwhile the effective osmotic pressure difference was improved 2-times for NaCl and up to 3.8-times for MgCl 2. The optimization process proved to be stable and efficient and can easily be adapted or upgraded for more complex dynamic FO modeling. [Display omitted] • Upgraded FO model in which parameters depend on temperature and agents. • Gradient-based method is efficient for model calibration and process optimization. • Differences in statistical indicators in calibration and validation are around 5 %. • Multi-objective optimization by adding constraints enables the best FO performance. • Water to reverse solute flux ratio increases up to 40 % and 20 % for NaCl and MgCl 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Miranda and Bueno recently demonstrated that chemical hardness could be experimentally measured and used as a chemical reactivity index of electrochemical interfaces. Herein, we applied this reactivity index concept to sense biological targets of medical interest, demonstrating the advantages of using this concept in improving the reproducibility of signal analysis during the construction of analytical curves. An analytical signal was obtained for sensing based on the effective chemical hardness of the quantum capacitive electroactive moieties of the interface, demonstrating advantages for calibration compared with methods based solely on the inverse of capacitance. The clinical value of this concept was demonstrated by studying the biological interaction of paclitaxel with $\beta $ -tubulin.

In this work, the dielectric permittivity of four kinds of wood (Fir, Poplar, Oak, and Beech Tree), used in Italian Artworks and structures, was characterized at different humidity levels. Measurements were carried out using three different probes connected to a bench vector network analyzer: a standard WR90 X-band waveguide, a WR430 waveguide, and an open-ended coaxial probe. In particular, we investigated the dispersion model for the four wood species, showing how a log-fit model of the open-ended data presents a determination coefficient R2 > 0.990 in the 1–12 GHz frequency range. This result has proven helpful to fill the frequency gap between the measurements obtained at different water contents with the two waveguide probes showing an R2 > 0.93. Furthermore, correlating the log-fit vertical shift with the water content, it was possible to find a calibration curve with a linear characteristic. These experimental results will be helpful for on-site non-invasive water monitoring of wooden artworks or structures. Moreover, the final results show how the open-ended coaxial probe, with a measurement deviation lower than 7% from the waveguide measurements, may be used directly as a non-invasive sensor for on-site measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an evaluation of the parameter sensitivity of a process-based model at the global scale using large-sample data. The analysis was carried out using the HYdrological Prediction of the Environment (HYPE) model, for which soil and snow parameters were evaluated using 187 river flow gauges spread worldwide. As a result, 6 out of 12 soil parameters and 7 out of 10 snow parameters were found to be sensitive. Taking advantage of the global dataset, an additional analysis was used to investigate links between catchment characteristics and parameter sensitivity. Different patterns of sensitivity were observed for different Köppen climate classes, which indicates that parameter regionalization would benefit from calibration based on climate zones. This numerical sensitivity method was compared with the judgement of a set of expert HYPE modellers to understand how numerical results compare with modellers' experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noninvasive continuous blood pressure estimation is a promising alternative to minimally invasive blood pressure measurement using cuff and invasive catheter measurement, because it opens the way to both long-term and continuous blood pressure monitoring in ecological situation. The most current estimation algorithm is based on pulse transit time measurement where at least two measured signals need to be acquired. From the pulse transit time values, it is possible to estimate the continuous blood pressure for each cardiac cycle. This measurement highly depends on arterial properties which are not easily accessible with common measurement techniques; but these properties are needed as input for the estimation algorithm. With every change of input arterial properties, the error in the blood pressure estimation rises, thus a periodic calibration procedure is needed for error minimization. Recent research is focused on simplified constant arterial properties which are not constant over time and uses only linear model based on initial measurement. The elaboration of continuous calibration procedures, independent of recalibration measurement, is the key to improving the accuracy and robustness of noninvasive continuous blood pressure estimation. However, most models in literature are based on linear approximation and we discuss here the need for more complete calibration models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of oscillometric methods to determine brachial blood pressure (bBP) can lead to a systematic underestimation of the invasively measured systolic (bSBP) and pulse (bPP) pressure levels, together with a significant overestimation of diastolic pressure (bDBP). Similarly, the agreement between brachial mean blood pressure (bMBP), invasively and non-invasively measured, can be affected by inaccurate estimations/assumptions. Despite several methodologies that can be applied to estimate bMBP non-invasively, there is no consensus on which approach leads to the most accurate estimation. Aims: to evaluate the association and agreement between: (1) non-invasive (oscillometry) and invasive bBP; (2) invasive bMBP, and bMBP (i) measured by oscillometry and (ii) calculated using six different equations; and (3) bSBP and bPP invasively and non-invasively obtained by applanation tonometry and employing different calibration methods. To this end, invasive aortic blood pressure and bBP (catheterization), and non-invasive bBP (oscillometry [Mobil-O-Graph] and brachial artery applanation tonometry [SphygmoCor]) were simultaneously obtained (34 subjects, 193 records). bMBP was calculated using different approaches. Results: (i) the agreement between invasive bBP and their respective non-invasive measurements (oscillometry) showed dependence on bBP levels (proportional error); (ii) among the different approaches used to obtain bMBP, the equation that includes a form factor equal to 33% (bMBP = bDBP + bPP/3) showed the best association with the invasive bMBP; (iii) the best approach to estimate invasive bSBP and bPP from tonometry recordings is based on the calibration scheme that employs oscillometric bMBP. On the contrary, the worst association between invasive and applanation tonometry-derived bBP levels was observed when the brachial pulse waveform was calibrated to bMBP quantified as bMBP = bDBP + bPP/3. Our study strongly emphasizes the need for methodological transparency and consensus for non-invasive bMBP assessment.

Lidar sensors are widely used for environmental perception on autonomous robot vehicles (ARV). The field of view (FOV) of Lidar sensors can be reshaped by positioning plane mirrors in their vicinity. Mirror setups can especially improve the FOV for ground detection of ARVs with 2D-Lidar sensors. This paper presents an overview of several geometric designs and their strengths for certain vehicle types. Additionally, a new and easy-to-implement calibration procedure for setups of 2D-Lidar sensors with mirrors is presented to determine precise mirror orientations and positions, using a single flat calibration object with a pre-aligned simple fiducial marker. Measurement data from a prototype vehicle with a 2D-Lidar with a 2 m range using this new calibration procedure are presented. We show that the calibrated mirror orientations are accurate to less than 0.6° in this short range, which is a significant improvement over the orientation angles taken directly from the CAD. The accuracy of the point cloud data improved, and no significant decrease in distance noise was introduced. We deduced general guidelines for successful calibration setups using our method. In conclusion, a 2D-Lidar sensor and two plane mirrors calibrated with this method are a cost-effective and accurate way for robot engineers to improve the environmental perception of ARVs.

This work proposes a calibration procedure to obtain the material parameters required by the Serial/Parallel Mixing Theory for the analysis of composites. A set of experimental tests are defined to obtain the main composite failure modes. Then, it is proposed to calculate the parameters required by the formulation using the experimental results. The procedure proposed is validated by comparing the numerical results, with those obtained from the experimental campaign. This comparison shows that the Serial/Parallel mixing theory is capable of representing the failure modes of the composite for different loading scenarios as well as the material toughness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the dielectric permittivity of four kinds of wood (Fir, Poplar, Oak, and Beech Tree), used in Italian Artworks and structures, was characterized at different humidity levels. Measurements were carried out using three different probes connected to a bench vector network analyzer: a standard WR90 X-band waveguide, a WR430 waveguide, and an open-ended coaxial probe. In particular, we investigated the dispersion model for the four wood species, showing how a log-fit model of the open-ended data presents a determination coefficient R2 > 0.990 in the 1–12 GHz frequency range. This result has proven helpful to fill the frequency gap between the measurements obtained at different water contents with the two waveguide probes showing an R2 > 0.93. Furthermore, correlating the log-fit vertical shift with the water content, it was possible to find a calibration curve with a linear characteristic. These experimental results will be helpful for on-site non-invasive water monitoring of wooden artworks or structures. Moreover, the final results show how the open-ended coaxial probe, with a measurement deviation lower than 7% from the waveguide measurements, may be used directly as a non-invasive sensor for on-site measurements.

Particle image velocimetry (PIV) has been widely used to investigate the flow fields in many areas. Images captured using PIV, however, are aberrated when viewed through a transparent cylinder such as in engines, and therefore, need to be compensated for distortions. The calibration procedure is an important step in flow diagnostics for the reconstruction of displacement vectors from image plane to physical space coordinates, also incorporating the distortion compensation. In engine flow diagnostics, the calibration procedure based on global pixel size, however, is commonly used; hence local pixel size variations are ignored, even with significant distortions. In the present work, an analysis is performed to quantify the error levels in the calibration procedure by acquiring the calibration images with and without the cylindrical liner at different measurement planes. Additionally, calibration is also performed utilizing the non-linear mapping functions to account for local pixel size variations, along with error determination. It is found that the error in the calibration procedure based on global pixel size is significant, hence highlights the importance of calibration based on mapping functions in engine flow diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the method of indoor calibration of a transmission visibility meter has not been established; a new calibration method by measuring the luminous transmittance of attenuator piece was established. Based on the high homogeneity stability lighting and the multi-spectral transmittance analysis technique, a calibration system of the transmission visibility meter by measuring the luminous transmittance of the attenuator piece was designed. The experiment was designed by measuring the luminous transmittance with the range of 0.2–99.2% of a series of calibrated attenuators and the visibility in the range of 40 m to 20 km, then the luminous transmittance errors, the meteorological optical range (MOR) errors and their uncertainty were obtained. The result showed that the luminous transmission error was within ±0.18%, which satisfied the calibration requirement for transmission visibility meter transmittance; the MOR calibration error met the accuracy requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation for visibility measurement; this work will have guiding significance in establishing a calibration procedure for the transmission visibility meter.

Accurate online water quality measurements have gained attention during the last decades in the oil and gas industry for improving operational performance and protecting the surrounding environment. One potential solution to extend the reservoirs’ economic life and put less strain on the environment is by re-injecting the produced water, but the injected water quality must be high and consistent to prevent injectivity reduction. This paper evaluates two different online microscopy analyzers that utilize a high-resolution video camera for capturing images of the particles passing their view cell. The calibration procedure for both online microscopy analyzers has been thoroughly validated for steady-state and real-time measurements. The real-time measurements were achieved by post-processing the data captured by the microscopes and applying a trailing moving average window. The performance of measuring the oil-in-water concentration was compared with an online fluorescence-based monitor. The paper addresses the statistical considerations when defining the level of accuracy of the predicted particle size distribution within a defined confidence interval. Both microscopes showed promising results for measuring known particle sizes and oil-in-water concentrations, both in steady-state and real-time.

Aiming at the method of indoor calibration of a transmission visibility meter has not been established; a new calibration method by measuring the luminous transmittance of attenuator piece was established. Based on the high homogeneity stability lighting and the multi-spectral transmittance analysis technique, a calibration system of the transmission visibility meter by measuring the luminous transmittance of the attenuator piece was designed. The experiment was designed by measuring the luminous transmittance with the range of 0.2–99.2% of a series of calibrated attenuators and the visibility in the range of 40 m to 20 km, then the luminous transmittance errors, the meteorological optical range (MOR) errors and their uncertainty were obtained. The result showed that the luminous transmission error was within ±0.18%, which satisfied the calibration requirement for transmission visibility meter transmittance; the MOR calibration error met the accuracy requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation for visibility measurement; this work will have guiding significance in establishing a calibration procedure for the transmission visibility meter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Extended Drucker-Prager for concrete under non-uniform passive confinement. • A new approach for defining flow rule only by cyclic tests. • Isolating the effect of friction angle from hardening/softening rule. • Proposing two styles for Drucker-Prager plasticity parameters. Extended linear Drucker–Prager (DP) model has been a proper choice to capture the stress-strain of cylindrical concrete columns confined by fiber reinforced polymers (FRPs). However, most existing DP models calibrated by uniform active/passive tests are unsuitable for concrete under non-uniform passive confinement. This paper aims to calibrate the key parameters i.e., friction angle, plastic dilation angle and hardening needed for the DP model based on tri-axial test results on concrete cube subjected to non-uniform confinement. The effect of friction angle parameter is isolated from the hardening parameter within the yield function while the friction angle is defined as a function of concrete grade and hardening as a function of lateral confinement stiffness ratio. Here, the plastic lateral strains of non-uniform confined concrete, which could be obtained in cyclic tests but were usually left aside, are used to define a function for plastic dilation angle which works compatibly with the yield parameters. The resultant extended DP model could capture the stress-strain behaviour of concrete under both uniform or non-uniform passive pressure as well as the variable flow rules and different load paths occurring across the section of FRP-confined non-circular concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of Monte Carlo methods to generate exam datasets is nowadays a well-established practice among econometrics and statistics examiners all over the world. Its advantages are well known: providing each student a different data set ensures that estimates are actually computed individually, rather than copied from someone sitting nearby. The method however has a major fault: initial "random errors," such as mistakes in downloading the assigned dataset, might generate downward bias in student evaluation. We propose a set of calibration algorithms, typical of indirect estimation methods, that solve the issue of initial "random errors" and reduce evaluation bias. Ensuring round initial estimates of the parameters for each individual dataset, our calibration procedures allow the students to determine if they have started the exam correctly. When initial estimates are not round numbers, this random error in the initial stage of the exam can be corrected for immediately, thus reducing evaluation bias. The procedure offers the further advantage of rounding markers' life by allowing them to check round numbers answers only, rather than lists of numbers with many decimal digits1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on low-power voltage transformers (LPVTs). Considering their increasing spread among Smart Grids, it is fundamental to assess their accuracy behavior in as realistic conditions as possible. Therefore, this article presents a detailed calibration procedure to test LPVTs’ accuracy when various external influence quantities are simultaneously acting on them. In the calibration procedure, the considered quantities are frequency, air temperature, and external electric field. Afterwards, the designed procedure is applied on three different off-the-shelf LPVTs using a measurement setup developed in a laboratory environment. The presented results (i) confirm the easy applicability of the designed calibration procedure; (ii) highlight the various effects of the influence quantities on the accuracy of different types of LPVTs; (iii) confirm the need to include more realistic tests, like the type-tests presented, into the standards to appreciate a wider set of possible in-field behaviors.

A calibration procedure, in which coupled effects of microscopic parameters are considered, is proposed to determine the values of the microscopic parameters in the Discrete Element Method (DEM) for Fujian quartz sand. Laboratory tri-axial tests are conducted to be compared with the DEM simulations and the effects of end restraint in the laboratory tests are eliminated through a digital image measurement system. Sensitivities of the macroscopic behaviour of the specimen to the microscopic parameters are analyzed through DEM simulations. Four coupled effects of the microscopic parameters on the macroscopic behaviour are investigated through a graphic method and then considered in the calibration procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power clamp meters are designed to check electricity meters, instrument transformers and installations on site. A measurement technique which is used to calibrate current coils for calibration of power clamp meters in AC current range from 5 to 1000 A has been developed. This technique allows one to measure two parameters of current coils that are needed for calibration of power clamp meters, they are the amplitude coil effect and the proposed phase coil effect. This is the first study of phase coil effect. There is presented the calibration procedure and an example solution of a fully automatic calibration system which employs the three phase Power/Energy Calibrator from Poland, which is traceable to the national standards. Calibration uncertainty of current coils, with reference to a power calibrator and measurement results, is discussed. The best expanded uncertainty (k = 2) of this technique equals 0.03% for amplitude coil effect and it equals 0.14° for phase coil effect. The expanded uncertainty for phase coil effect equal 0.14° gives expanded uncertainty for active power equal 0.42% at PF = 0.5 for calibration of power clamp meters. The result is that the power clamp meters specified accuracy (0.40%) has almost the same value as the power error due to the influence of phase coil effect (0.42%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LA-ICP-MS method was utilized for the elemental mapping of H . diminuta tissue as possible bio-accumulating organism. Since no suitable commercial standards for analysis of H . diminuta sections are available, synthetic matrix similar standards containing 0, 5, 10, 20 and 30 mg kg − 1 of Fe and Pb as well as 0, 50, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 mg kg − 1 of Zn were prepared by spiking agarose gel with elements of interest. Two different laser ablation ICP-MS systems were used, namely 213 nm LA-ICP-(Q)MS and 193 nm LA-ICP-(SF)MS, and compared in terms of their detection limits and achievable goodness of fit of linear calibration dependencies. Carbon 12 C + was used as internal reference element to correct for the different tissue density and absorption rates. The prepared set of multi-elemental agarose gel standards was utilized for the quantitative elemental mapping of H . diminuta paraffin-embedded thin sections using the 213 nm solid state Nd:YAG coupled to ICP-(Q)MS. The content of Zn as biogenic element was found to be relatively homogeneously distributed within the cross section of proglottid, primarily in reproductive structures (uterus, fertilized eggs) while the Pb elemental distribution was found to be more concentrated in the tegument (surface). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the modified random search method, the solution of the inverse problem of reconstructing events in the LORDlunar experiment is considered using the signal spectral analysis, where the total frequency band of 200-400 MHz is divided into four equal frequency bands. Additional information about the signal will allows one to achieve a higher accuracy in the solution of the inverse problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The axial segregation behavior of a binary mixture made of spherical and non-spherical particles is studied experimentally and numerically using Discrete Element Methods (DEM). Two different shape approximations are used for modeling cylindrical particles: the equivalent sphere and the multisphere approximation. The coefficients required by DEM are calibrated partly by separate experiments, partly by geometrical considerations. The main objective is to dispose of a simple procedure to characterize the friction coefficients and to evaluate the main changes imposed by shape in an axial segregated rotating tumbler. The simulations match with the experimental observations in the multisphere case, the transient behavior is caught with accuracy with both approximations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 3D fracture loci of uncoupled ductile fracture models were calibrated for 2024-T351 aluminum alloy and DP600 steel. • The type and number of calibration tests has a marginal influence in the fracture locus and predictive ability of the models. • Quite different shapes of the fracture locus are observed for between both materials. • The models present different levels of prediction accuracy in the high range of stress triaxiality, for both materials. • It is difficult to select the most appropriate model based only on the objective function value. The prediction of ductile failure is crucial for the progress of metal forming industries. Therefore, uncoupled fracture models have been proposed and continuously extended, trying to improve their forecasting abilities. However, without an assessment analysis of their predictive ability, it is difficult to establish the most suitable model, for describing the onset of failure under a wide range of loading conditions. Actually, a fair comparison of models' predictive ability requires the use of an extensive experimental database and a similar calibration procedure. In this context, seven uncoupled fracture models are chosen and revisited to study the effect of the type and number of tests used for calibration on their predictive ability. Experimental datasets available in literature were considered for 2024-T351 aluminium alloy and for DP600 steel. For each material, the experimental dataset was split in two subsets. The first one includes tests that were carried out under plane stress conditions that were used in the calibration procedure. For the aluminium alloy, different groups of 6 tests, covering distinct stress states, were elicited from the experimental subset and applied in the calibration of the seven models. The remaining tests were used to assess the predictive ability and their sensibility regarding the group used in models' calibration. Different trends of the fracture loci are observed, depending on the selected models and the tests used in their calibration. However, the analysis of the results indicates that a set of at least 6 experimental tests is appropriate to calibrate fracture models, providing that they enable covering a wide range for the stress triaxiality and Lode parameter. Finally, the conclusions provide some recommendations for the improvement of the calibration procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a manual for the thorough calibration of material parameters of the anisotropic visco ISA (AVISA) model and discusses some of the pitfalls that can arise when performing numerical analysis of geotechnical problems using this constitutive model. Considering element test simulations as well as finite element calculations, clear recommendations are extracted for the initialization of state variables based on comparative studies. Restrictions of parameter values to avoid numerical instabilities are revealed, and recommendations are provided. In addition, simulations of various laboratory tests on Frankfurt clay are analyzed and discussed. The model's performance is further validated by means of 3D finite element analysis of the piled raft of the Messeturm in Frankfurt, for which extensive measurement data are available. The simulations comprise both the construction phase and the subsequent long-term deformation due to creep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple procedure to calibrate the safety factor of capacity models is presented. The calibration can be carried out based on any available database of experimental tests, even of limited size. The procedure aims to assess the model capability of predicting the test results and to calibrate the safety factor so that the capacity equation meets the target reliability level required by the code or sought by the calibrator. After predicting each test of the database with the capacity equation under consideration, the test-prediction pairs are checked for the property of linearity, and the relative error for the properties of homoscedasticity and normality. Once these properties are fulfilled-which may require a nonlinear transformation of the test values and/or the predictions-the closed-form equation proposed in this paper is employed to compute a target design value. The model safety factor is finally obtained by comparing such target design value with the design value obtained from the code. The paper also proposes two approximate analytical equations to compute the tolerance factor, used to attain any given fractile, as a function of the (even small) number of tests, with any assigned confidence level. A fundamental outcome of the procedure is that it yields an objective indicator of the model accuracy, measured by the standard deviation of its error, which may be regarded as a parameter useful for selecting the most reliable model among different competing ones. In the long run, the application of the proposed procedure will allow achieving a uniform reliability level throughout all capacity models used in codes and guidelines. A further advantage is that the partial safety factors so derived can be straightforwardly updated when more experiments become available. As an example, the proposed procedure is herein applied to the ACI 318 shear design capacity equation for concrete members unreinforced in shear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel laser ablation plasma thruster accelerated by electromagnetic means was proposed and investigated. The discharge characteristics and thrust performance were tested with different charged energy, structural parameters and propellants. The thrust performance was proven to be improved by electromagnetic acceleration. In contrast with the pure laser propulsion mode, the thrust performance in electromagnetic acceleration modes was much better. The effects of electrodes distance and the off-axis distance between ceramic tube and cathode were tested, and it׳s found that there were optimal structural parameters for achieving optimal thrust performance. It׳s indicated that the impulse bit and specific impulse increased with increasing charged energy. In our experiments, the thrust performance of the thruster was optimal in large charged energy modes. With the charged energy 25 J and the use of metal aluminum, a maximal impulse bit of 600 μNs, a specific impulse of approximate 8000 s and thrust efficiency of about 90% were obtained. For the PTFE propellant, a maximal impulse bit of about 350 μNs, a specific impulse of about 2400 s, and thrust efficiency of about 16% were obtained. Besides, the metal aluminum was proven to be the better propellant than PTFE for the thruster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To provide consistent measurements of radio performance in typical complex environments, the total isotropic sensitivity (TIS) is used as a key parameter measured in anechoic chambers. Currently, the TIS measurement is based on the integration of the measured effective isotropic sensitivity at every angle over a spherical surface. This measurement is time consuming so it is only performed for three channels in a band in order to reduce overall measurement time. However, the whole band performance in real environments is critical in the research and development stage, and even in potential certification measurement. A novel fast band-sweep measurement for TIS of wireless devices is proposed in this paper. This method measures the radiated sensitivity and the average gain of the receiver antenna separately, and then combines them to obtain the TIS. The measurement of the radiated sensitivity in a band is efficiently performed based on the relationship between the bit error rate and the received power, and the band-sweep average gain of mobile antennas can be achieved through peak gain measurements. Hence, this method reduces band-sweep measurement time significantly and also ensues the measurement accuracy by eliminating the systematic error in the received signal strength indicator reporting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel algorithm based on polynomial approximations (PAs) for an efficient error compensation of magnetic analog encoders (MAEs) in permanent-magnet synchronous machines (PMSMs) intended for electric vehicle (EV) propulsion. The proposed PA algorithm requires a negligible memory space compared to a very high-resolution look-up table (LUT). The use of polynomials allows compensating every possible input rotor position without carrying out an interpolation or a rounding to the nearest quantized value. The PA algorithm has been implemented to work in real time on a TM4 EV drive controlling an 80 kW PMSM. The performance of the algorithm has been validated at 6000 and 9000 r/min under +85 and {\pm}55 Nm of torque, respectively. The electromagnetic interference (EMI) effects have been minimized using a type-2 phase-locked loop (PLL). The proposed PA algorithm assisted with the PLL is capable of reducing the total position error to a range as small as {\pm}\text{0.2}^\circ$. The combination of these two algorithms is a promising solution for compensating the position error in quadrature analog encoders. The experimental results obtained with the 80 kW PMSM demonstrate the feasibility of low-cost MAEs for achieving high-performance field-oriented control (FOC) of PMSMs in EV drives. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A Multicomponent Force Transducer (MFT) was devised by INRiM for a specific request in railway industry, entailing measurement of two force components (transversal and axial force). Measurement of other components, while not strictly required, was deemed helpful for practical use. INRiM, basing on its experience, developed and calibrated a full six-component hexapod-design prototype of MFT. Best Subset Regression was applied to identify parsimonious models linking applied components to MFT outputs. Finally, the uncertainty associated to the values of transversal and axial force was evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]