• International Journal of Automotive Technology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.155-163
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• 2007

The control of the fuel to be introduced into the combustion chamber under idling and low-load conditions is known to be a problem in Diesel engines, owing to the relatively small fraction of the full-load fuel needed under light loads. Thus, particular attention should be paid to the behavior of the injector with reference to short injection events. This work presents the results of an experimental campaign carried out with two different types of common rail injectors, a standard injector and a modified one. The latter, coming from a simple modification realized in a standard injector, exhibits linear behavior between injected fuel and solenoid energizing time in the field of short injections. A direct comparison of the two injection behaviors suggests a possible way to better control short or pilot injections.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.807-812
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• 2009

An ICRF discharge cleaning and a fast wave electron heating experiment were performed. For automated operation and providing the diagnostics of the ICRF system, the ICRF local network was designed and implemented. This internal network provides monitoring, RF protection, remote control, and RF diagnostics. All the functions of the control system were realized by customized DSP units. The DSP units were tied by a local network in parallel. Owing to the distributed feature of the control system, the ICRF local control system is quite flexible to maintain. Developing the subsystem is a more effective approach compared to developing a large controller that governs the entire system. During the first experimental campaign of the KSTAR tokamak, the control system operated as expected without any major problems that would affect the tokamak operation. The transmitter was protected from harmful over-voltage events through reliable operation of the system.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.171-181
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• 2023

Using the most up-to-date system identification methods in both time and frequency domains, the dynamic monitoring data from the reinforced concrete Egebaekvej Bridge near Holte, Denmark, is examined in this investigation. The bridge was erected in the 1960s and was still standing during test campaign before demolishing. The ARTeMIS Modal was adopted to derive the modal parameters from ambient vibration data. Several Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) approaches were applied, including Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition (EFDD), Curve-fit Frequency Domain Decomposition (CFDD), and Frequency Domain Decomposition (FDD). Afterward, Principal Component (SSI-PC), Unweighted Principal Component (SSI-UPC) Stochastic Subspace Identification methods were utilized. Danish engineering consulting company, COWI with the allowance of the bridge contractor BARSLUND, allow the researcher for this experimental test to demonstrate the impact of OMA applications.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.77-79
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• 2023

The Philippines is still in a tight battle with the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic since many cases are detected daily. With the continuous spread of another disease worldwide-monkeypox, many Filipinos are alarmed if the country's healthcare system is prepared enough, especially with the detection of its first case. Learning from the unfortunate experiences of the country during the current pandemic is essential in facing another health crisis. With this, recommendations for a robust healthcare system are proposed centered on: a massive digital information campaign about the disease; training healthcare workers to raise awareness about the virus and its transmission, management, and treatment; an intensified surveillance and detection procedure to monitor cases and execute contact tracing properly; and a persistent procurement of vaccines and drugs for treatment, with a well-designed vaccination program.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.91-96
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• 2023

The present work provides a new solution to both the correct execution and quality control of straight thread couplers for reinforcing bars under monotonic loading conditions. A random survey on already constructed couplers together with a new mechanical model, adjusted with an experimental campaign, led us to present this new procedure in reinforced concrete construction. Formulation and methodology for a correct placement of straight thread couplers is presented.

• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.205-223
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• 2018

During launch a spacecraft is subjected to a variety of dynamical loads transmitted through the launcher to spacecraft interface or air-born transmission excitations in the acoustic pressure field inside the fairing. As a result, spacecraft are tested on ground to ensure and demonstrate the global integrity of the structure against these loads, to screen the flight hardware for quality of workmanship and to validate mathematical models. This paper addresses the numerical modelling and simulation of the low frequency sine and random vibration tests performed on electrodynamic shaker facilities to comprise the mechanical-borne transmission loads through the launcher to spacecraft interface. Consequently, the paper reviews techniques and methodologies to derive a reliable and representative coupled virtual vibration testing simulation environment based on experimental data. These technologies are explored with the main objectives to ensure a stable, reliable and accurate control while testing. As a result, the use of the derived simulation models in combination with the added value of improved control and signal processing algorithms can lead to a safer and smoother vibration test control of the entire environmental test campaign.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.321-335
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• 2020

The aim of the present contribution is to consider and underline the essential interactions among the historical knowledge, the seismic vulnerability assessment, the investigation experimental tools, the preservation of the architectural quality and the strengthening design in regard to architectural heritage conservation. These topics are argued in relation to Palazzo Murena in Perugia, designed in the eighteenth century by the famous Architect Luigi Vanvitelli, and currently headquarters of the city's University. Based on the surveys and the visual inspections, a preliminary a priori global analysis has been performed by means of the FME method. The obtained results permitted to plan an experimental tests campaign inclusive of structural health monitoring. The new achieved "knowledge" of the building allowed to refine the seismic safety assessment. In particular it was highlighted that the "mezzanine floor" can be a vulnerable element of the building with the collapse of its masonry walls. Preserving the architectural characteristics, a local reinforcement intervention is proposed for the above-mentioned level; this consists of the application of plaster with FRCM, assuring an adequate strength, without burden the masonry structure with additional weight, and therefore a decreasing of the seismic vulnerability. The necessity to consider, in this ongoing research, other local mechanisms is highlighted in the unfolding of the last part of work.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.08a
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• pp.317-317
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• 2011

Enhanced ICRF (Ion Cyclotron Range of Frequency) ion heating of H-mode D(H) plasma will be tried in 2011 KSTAR experimental campaign. Minority heating is a main ion heating scheme in the ICRF. Its efficiency increases as the hydrogen minority ratio increases in deuterium plasmas. And it should be sustained at a lower level than the critical minority ratio. Consequently, it is important to elevate the critical ratio to maximize ion heating and it is possible by increasing the ion temperature or parallel wave number (k${\parallel}$) of the antenna. Increasing the k${\parallel}$ is not a good approach since the coupling efficiency decreases exponentially with regard to k${\parallel}$ as well. So the remaining method is to increase ion temperature by using NB (Neutral Beam). Ion heating fraction of NB increases as the electron temperature increases. Therefore, we will try to heat electron by using ECH together with NB ion heating before ICRF power injection. The ICRF heating efficiency will be compared with respect to several NB+ECH+ICRF heating combinations through several diagnostics such as XICS (Xray Imaging Crystal Spectroscopy), CES (Charge Exchange Spectroscopy) and neutron measurement. The theoretical background and the experimental results will be presented in more detail in the conference.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.41-57
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• 2011

A deeper understanding of the effectiveness of adopting devices mounting shape memory alloy (SMA) elements in applications targeted to the mitigation of vibrations is pursued via an experimental approach. During a seismic event, less than 1000 loading-unloading cycles of the alloy are required to mitigate the earthquake effects. However, the aging effects during the time of inactivity prior to the oscillations (several decades characterized by the yearly summer-winter temperature wave) should be considered in order to avoid and/or minimize them. In this paper, the results obtained by carrying out, in different laboratories, fatigue tests on SMA specimens are compared and discussed. Furthermore, the effects of seismic events on a steel structure, with and without SMA dampers, are numerically simulated using ANSYS. Under an earthquake excitation, the SMA devices halve the oscillation amplitudes and show re-centering properties. To confirm this result, an experimental campaign is conducted by actually installing the proposed devices on a physical model of the structure and by evaluating their performance under different excitations induced by an actuator.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.81-95
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• 2019

The unexpected seismic interaction of dry-assembled precast concrete frame structures typical of the European heritage with their precast cladding panels brought to extensive failures of the panels during recent earthquakes due to the inadequateness of their connection systems. Following this recognition, an experimental campaign of cyclic and pseudo-dynamic tests has been performed at ELSA laboratory of the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission on a full-scale prototype of precast structure with vertical and horizontal cladding panels within the framework of the Safecladding project. The panels were connected to the frame structure by means of innovative arrangements of fastening systems including isostatic, integrated and dissipative. Many of the investigated configurations involved a strong frame-cladding interaction, modifying the structural behaviour of the frame turning it into highly non-linear since small deformation. In such cases, properly modelling the connections becomes fundamental in the framework of a design by non-linear dynamic analysis. This paper presents the peculiarities of the numerical models of precast frame structures equipped with the various cladding connection systems which have been set to predict and simulate the experimental results from pseudo-dynamic tests. The comparison allows to validate the structural models and to derive recommendations for a proper modelling of the different types of existing and innovative cladding connection systems.