• Journal of Appropriate Technology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.136-145
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• 2020

Agriculture is the backbone of the economy of most developing countries. In these countries, agriculture or farming is mostly done manually with little integration of machinery, intelligent systems and data monitoring. Irrigation is an essential process that directly influences crop production. The fluctuating amount of rainfall per year has led to the adoption of irrigation systems in most farms. The absence of smart sensors, monitoring methods and control, has led to low harvests and draining water sources. In this research paper, we introduce a 433 MHz Radio Frequency and 2G based Smart Irrigation Meter System and a water prepayment system for rural areas of Tanzania with no reliable internet coverage. Specifically, Ngurudoto area in Arusha region where it will be used as a case study for data collection. The proposed system is hybrid, comprising of both weather data (evapotranspiration) and soil moisture data. The architecture of the system has on-site weather measurement controllers, soil moisture sensors buried on the ground, water flow sensors, a solenoid valve, and a prepayment system. To achieve high precision in linear and nonlinear regression and to improve classification and prediction, this work cascades a Dynamic Regression Algorithm and Naïve Bayes algorithm.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea CI
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.18-31
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• 2002

In this study, we introduce a concept of advanced neurofuzzy polynomial networks(ANFPN), a hybrid modeling architecture combining neurofuzzy networks(NFN) and polynomial neural networks(PNN). These networks are highly nonlinear rule-based models. The development of the ANFPN dwells on the technologies of Computational Intelligence(Cl), namely fuzzy sets, neural networks and genetic algorithms. NFN contributes to the formation of the premise part of the rule-based structure of the ANFPN. The consequence part of the ANFPN is designed using PNN. At the premise part of the ANFPN, NFN uses both the simplified fuzzy inference and error back-propagation learning rule. The parameters of the membership functions, learning rates and momentum coefficients are adjusted with the use of genetic optimization. As the consequence structure of ANFPN, PNN is a flexible network architecture whose structure(topology) is developed through learning. In particular, the number of layers and nodes of the PNN are not fixed in advance but is generated in a dynamic way. In this study, we introduce two kinds of ANFPN architectures, namely the basic and the modified one. Here the basic and the modified architecture depend on the number of input variables and the order of polynomial in each layer of PNN structure. Owing to the specific features of two combined architectures, it is possible to consider the nonlinear characteristics of process system and to obtain the better output performance with superb predictive ability. The availability and feasibility of the ANFPN are discussed and illustrated with the aid of two representative numerical examples. The results show that the proposed ANFPN can produce the model with higher accuracy and predictive ability than any other method presented previously.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.560-564
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• 2011

The objective of this study is to propose a mathematical model for a pervaporation process for concentrating hydrogen peroxide. The process was developed by NASA, which consists of a shell and membrane tubes, where a liquid hydrogen peroxide solution flows in the shell, and a sweep gas flows in the tubes countercurrent to each other. The liquid retentate is concentrated as more water molecules permeate and evaporate through the membrane than hydrogen peroxide. For this process, a mathematical model has been developed in the form of a system of nonlinear partial differential algebraic equations based on a sorption-diffusion mechanism for permeation, an Arrhenius relationship for the temperature dependency of the permeate flux, and mass and momentum balances for the liquid concentrations and flows in the membrane module. The dynamic behavior of the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the retentate side has been simulated by solving a simplified version of the proposed model, and the result is compared with the experimental data reported in the NASA patent.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.37-47
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• 1998

This paper proposes a controller design method using the evolutionary computation algorithm and the fuzzy logic to control the wafer temperature in rapid thermal processing. First, we design the feedforward static controller to provide the control powers of the lamps for the given steady state temperature. Second, the feedforward dynamic controller is designed for the additional control powers to achieve a given transient response. These feedforward controllers are implemented by using the fuzzy logic to act as a global nonlinear controller over a wide range of operating points. The parameters of these controllers are optimized by using the evolutionary computation algorithm so that it can be used when the mathematical model is not available. In addition, the feedback error controller is introduced to compensate the feedforward controllers when there exist disturbances and modeling errors. The gain of feedback error controller is also obtained by the evolutionary computation algorithm. Through simulations, we verify the proposed control system can give a satisfactory performance.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.16 no.6 s.97
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• pp.603-614
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• 2005

In this paper, digital ultra-narrowband Walky-Talky using direct conversion method for CQPSK modulation scheme is implemented with satisfying the requirements of APCO P25. RF transceiver design and implementation scheme that minimize the influence of DC-offset and AC-coupling at ultra-narrowband is proposed. This scheme also minimizes the influence of nonlinear characteristic at power amplifier fir CQPSK modulation method. Test results of full system including DSP module and direct conversion RF transceiver show that FCC emission mask at 36.8 dBm PEP meets the standard requirements. The characteristic of receiver AGC by PWM control signal is linear at 40 dB dynamic range and voice communication at input power level of -116 dBm is successful. Also it is verified that the performance of BER versus frequency offset and versus SNR meets the standard requirements.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.789-830
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• 2015

The recent re-assessment of the seismic hazard in Europe led for many regions of low to moderate seismicity to an increase in the seismic demand. As a consequence, several modern unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings, constructed with reinforced concrete (RC) slabs that provide an efficient rigid diaphragm action, no longer satisfy the seismic design check and have been retrofitted by adding or replacing URM walls with RC walls. Of late, also several new construction projects have been conceived directly as buildings with both RC and URM walls. Despite the widespread use of such construction technique, very little is known about the seismic behaviour of mixed RC-URM wall structures and codes do not provide adequate support to designers. The aim of the paper is therefore to propose a displacement-based design methodology for the design of mixed RC-URM edifices and the retrofit of URM buildings by replacing or adding selected URM walls with RC ones. The article describes also two tools developed for estimating important quantities relevant for the displacement-based design of structures with both RC and URM walls. The tools are (i) a mechanical model based on the shear-flexure interaction between URM and RC walls and (ii) an elastic model for estimating the contribution of the RC slabs to the overturning moment capacity of the system. In the last part of the article the proposed design method is verified through nonlinear dynamic analyses of several case studies. These results show that the proposed design approach has the ability of controlling the displacement profile of the designed structures, avoiding concentration of deformations in one single storey, a typical feature of URM wall structures.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.71-87
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• 2014

Interaction between closely-spaced buildings subject to earthquake induced strong ground motions, termed in the literature as "seismic pounding", occurs commonly during major seismic events in contemporary congested urban environments. Seismic pounding is not taken into account by current codes of practice and is rarely considered in practice at the design stage of new buildings constructed "in contact" with existing ones. Thus far, limited research work has been devoted to quantify the influence of slab-to-slab pounding on the inelastic seismic demands at critical locations of structural members in adjacent structures that are not aligned in series. In this respect, this paper considers a typical case study of a "new" reinforced concrete (R/C) EC8-compliant, torsionally sensitive, 7-story corner building constructed within a block, in bi-lateral contact with two existing R/C 5-story structures with same height floors. A non-linear local plasticity numerical model is developed and a series of non-linear time-history analyses is undertaken considering the corner building "in isolation" from the existing ones (no-pounding case), and in combination with the existing ones (pounding case). Numerical results are reported in terms of averages of ratios of peak inelastic rotation demands at all structural elements (beams, columns, shear walls) at each storey. It is shown that seismic pounding reduces on average the inelastic demands of the structural members at the lower floors of the 7-story building. However, the discrepancy in structural response of the entire block due to torsion-induced, bi-directionally seismic pounding is substantial as a result of the complex nonlinear dynamics of the coupled building block system.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.211-228
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• 2013

The structure analyzed in this paper has particular building style and special structural system. It is a rigid-connected twin-tower skyscraper with asymmetrical distribution of stiffness and masses in two towers. Because of the different stiffness between the north and the south towers, the torsion seismic vibration is significant. In this paper, in order to study the seismic response of the structure under both frequent low-intensity earthquakes as well as rare earthquakes at the levels of intensity 7, the analysis model is built and analyzed with NosaCAD. NosaCAD is an nonlinear structure analysis software based on second-development of AutoCAD with ObjectARX. It has convenient modeling function, high computational efficiency and diversity post-processing functions. The deformations, forces and damages of the structure are investigated based on the analysis. According to the analysis, there is no damage on the structure under frequent earthquakes, and the structure has sufficient capacity and ductility to resist rare earthquakes. Therefore the structure can reach the goal of no damage under frequent earthquakes and no collapse under rare earthquakes. The deformation of the structure is below the limit in Chinese code. The time sequence and distribution of damages on tubes are reasonable, which can dissipate some dynamic energy. At last, according to forces, load-carrying capacity and damage of elements, there are some suggestions on increasing the reinforcement in the core tube at base and in stiffened stories.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.165-172
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• 1998

The electromechanical energy conversion conditioning and processing implementation in USM direct motion control system is generally divided into two power stages: the two-phase high-frequency ac power inversion stage for driving piezoelectric ceramic PZT transducer array off the USM stator and the mechanical thrust power conversion stage based on the frictional force between the piezo electric stator array and the rotary slider of the USM. However, the dynamic and steady-state mathematical modeling of the USM is extremely default from a theoretical point of view because it contains many complicated an nonlinear characteristics dependant on operation temperature. In +2$0^{\circ}C$~3$0^{\circ}C$, the operating characteristics of the USM has represented normal condition. But the other temperature, it has abnormal condition so that driving frequency, current and motor speed will be down. The recent USM has controller without temperature compensation. This study represents the fuzzy controller for speed compensation according to operating temperature by driving frequency.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.163-170
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• 2017

The need for eco-friendly building materials such as engineered wood has increased to reduce carbon emissions. Although the range and height of engineered wood buildings are gradually increasing in North America and Europe, engineered wood is mainly used for low-rise residential buildings in Korea. In order to reduce carbon emissions more, therefore, it needs to expand the use of engineered wood by applying it to various buildings with different uses or more stories. With this background, the aim of this study is to investigate the applicability of engineered wood for 9-story office buildings. Since a 9-story building with engineered wood only is not allowed in KBC, an example building has RC ordinary shear walls as the lateral force resisting system while engineered wood is only used for gravity load resisting moment frames. Another example building is also used for comparison where both lateral and gravity load resisting systems are designed by RC. The applicability of engineered wood is investigated by comparing the seismic performance and the amount of carbon emission of both buildings. The result shows that the seismic performance of both buildings was not significantly different while the amount of carbon emission of the engineered wood building was much less then the RC building. Based on this result, engineered wood is sufficiently applicable to 9-story office buildings even though it still needs to pay attention to the shear design of reinforce concrete walls.