The application of product service systems for hydraulic excavators

The concept of Product Service Systems (PSS) was introduced as an alternative business model for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), who are motivated to shift their traditional manufacturing focus towards the after-sale service, to meet the market demand and gain additional profit and market share. A PSS is a system that integrates product and service as one package at the point of sale. It is increasingly popular because customers are demanding more supplier involvement to prolong and maintain the life of products they purchase and keep them functioning at maximum performance levels. Furthermore, it is also widely accepted within the community that the PSS concepts enhance competitiveness and promote the shift towards sustainable practices and society simultaneously. The flexibility of different PSS models allows OEMs to open new opportunities to improve relationships between customers and suppliers, or better understand the strengths and weaknesses of their own business strategy and products. [Continues.

Multimodal Human-Machine Interface For Haptic-Controlled Excavators

The goal of this research is to develop a human-excavator interface for the hapticcontrolled excavator that makes use of the multiple human sensing modalities (visual, auditory haptic), and efficiently integrates these modalities to ensure intuitive, efficient interface that is easy to learn and use, and is responsive to operator commands. Two empirical studies were conducted to investigate conflict in the haptic-controlled excavator interface and identify the level of force feedback for best operator performance

Volume 1 – Symposium

We are pleased to present the conference proceedings for the 12th edition of the International Fluid Power Conference (IFK). The IFK is one of the world’s most significant scientific conferences on fluid power control technology and systems. It offers a common platform for the presentation and discussion of trends and innovations to manufacturers, users and scientists. The Chair of Fluid-Mechatronic Systems at the TU Dresden is organizing and hosting the IFK for the sixth time. Supporting hosts are the Fluid Power Association of the German Engineering Federation (VDMA), Dresdner Verein zur Förderung der Fluidtechnik e. V. (DVF) and GWT-TUD GmbH. The organization and the conference location alternates every two years between the Chair of Fluid-Mechatronic Systems in Dresden and the Institute for Fluid Power Drives and Systems in Aachen. The symposium on the first day is dedicated to presentations focused on methodology and fundamental research. The two following conference days offer a wide variety of application and technology orientated papers about the latest state of the art in fluid power. It is this combination that makes the IFK a unique and excellent forum for the exchange of academic research and industrial application experience. A simultaneously ongoing exhibition offers the possibility to get product information and to have individual talks with manufacturers. The theme of the 12th IFK is “Fluid Power – Future Technology”, covering topics that enable the development of 5G-ready, cost-efficient and demand-driven structures, as well as individual decentralized drives. Another topic is the real-time data exchange that allows the application of numerous predictive maintenance strategies, which will significantly increase the availability of fluid power systems and their elements and ensure their improved lifetime performance. We create an atmosphere for casual exchange by offering a vast frame and cultural program. This includes a get-together, a conference banquet, laboratory festivities and some physical activities such as jogging in Dresden’s old town.:Group A: Materials Group B: System design & integration Group C: Novel system solutions Group D: Additive manufacturing Group E: Components Group F: Intelligent control Group G: Fluids Group H | K: Pumps Group I | L: Mobile applications Group J: Fundamental

Soil Disturbance resulting from Stump Harvesting

Forest biomass burned for energy purposes does not need to be accounted for under IPCC rules. This has led to a number of countries considering tree stump harvesting as a source of forest biomass. However there are concerns that the soil disturbance that this may entail could have adverse environmental effects, including the loss of sequestered carbon from the soil. Published results differ in the degree and nature of stump harvesting soil disturbance. Two widely used measures employed in stump harvesting soil disturbance studies are visual assessment of disturbance extent and bulk density measures of the nature of disturbance. Each of these has limitations. This study seeks to extend the insight into both the nature and extent of soil disturbance resulting from stump harvesting by the application of additional techniques. In this way the physical effects of soil disturbance by stump harvesting will be compared with those of other forestry practices. To overcome the two-dimensional and subjective nature of visual assessment, a radiometric approach was adopted, utilising residual Chernobyl 137Cs fallout to determine the degree of soil mixing. To complement bulk density measurements, micromorphological analyses of soil thin sections taken from field samples were carried out to investigate the impact of compressive force on pore space. Low-cost tracer devices were deployed in the soil around stumps prior to extraction to permit the monitoring of the lateral movement of soil during stump extraction. These methods were applied to a stump harvesting operation carried out under current UK guidance at a UPM Tilhill managed site in south west Scotland. The radiometric method demonstrated its capacity to recognise differing degrees of soil disturbance in an operational forest environment, including some disturbance that might escape visual assessment. Analysis of soil thin sections provided the evidence of a significant increase in the pore capacity of disturbed soil. The soil movement tracers developed for this project provided the capability to examine the various trajectories of soil during stump extraction as well as dimensioning the resulting disturbance crater. The study indicated that under current UK management and operational practice, stump harvesting generated a higher level of soil disturbance compared to ground preparation by trench mounding, with an estimated 1260 m3 ha-1 of soil disturbed by stump harvesting compared to 250 m3 ha-1 from trench mounding. Stump harvesting was found to generate a net reduction in soil bulk density in the affected areas, contrary to the findings of some other studies. This outcome is dependent on adhering to particular site management and operational procedures. The practice of raking over the site following stump harvesting is estimated to add a further 10% to the volume of soil disturbed, and is a questionable activity under soil sustainability guidance. This work was part-funded and actively supported by the UK Forestry Commission and UPM Tilhill

Assessment and control of respirable crystalline silica in quarries and dimension stone mines

The health risk of breathing very fine particles of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust, resulting in poor lung health is not well defined in Australia, even though many hundreds of thousands of workers are exposed to uncontrolled dusty activities daily. It is now clear from international studies that lung health of workers continues to be affected at relatively low exposures to RCS, even at occupational exposure limits (OEL) including the current Safe Work Australia Exposure Standard (SWA-ES). This has prompted the United States to reduce their permissible exposure limit (PEL) to one half of the Australian SWA-ES, to 0.05 mg/m3, and challenges the adequacy of the current Australian SWA-ES, which is 0.1 mg/m3. In terms of numbers of workers affected, the mining industry employs approximately 267,000 workers, which is 2.3 percent of the total workforce, and accounts for about 10.2 % of Australia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Approximately 55,000 workers are employed in Queensland mining, many of whom work in quarries and dimension stone mines where exposure to RCS is known to be elevated. A recent assessment estimated that about 440,000 deaths from cancer attributable to RCS exposure will occur throughout Europe from 2010 to 2069. Unless exposure to RCS is well controlled, many hundreds of thousands of lives will also be cut short from silicosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). As the weight of evidence grows in Australia, the disease risks attributable to RCS will increasingly become more obvious. This study evaluated the health risk from exposure to RCS for 47 quarry and dimension stone mine workers throughout Queensland, Australia. Personal exposures to RCS were measured across a range of exposures, and lung function testing was carried out in parallel. Findings revealed that about one in four workers were exposed to RCS above the SWA-ES, and more than one in ten were being exposed at a concentration of more than twice this limit. A major finding for those workers exposed to RCS at the SWA-ES was loss of lung function greater than 20%. The increased loss of lung function was positively correlated with jobs associated with increased RCS exposure. When similar exposure groups were combined into three RCS exposure ranges categorised as high (≥ 0.09 - ≤ 0.20 mg/m3), medium (≥ 0.04 - ≤ 0.08 mg/m3) and low (< 0.04 mg/m3), analysis of variance (ANOVA) confirmed that the loss of lung function below the lower limit of normal (LLN) at the current SWA-ES, is significant (p < 0.05). Abnormal lung function patterns were also more pronounced for smokers who were exposed to RCS ≥ 0.04 mg/m3 and not as obvious for smokers exposed to RCS < 0.04 mg/m3. This demonstrated that both smoking and RCS had a combined impact resulting in poor lung health. In this study, vehicles fitted with standard heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems (HVAC) were tested for ingress of respirable dust into the operator’s cabin, and compared with more recent technology. Evaluation of the effectiveness of newer technology, a RESPA® pre-cleaner, filter and pressurization (PFP) unit, demonstrated up to a four-fold reduction in RCS entering the cabin, when compared with standard air-conditioning systems. Electron microscopy (EM) was used to describe the physical characteristics of respirable silica and dust particles collected on respirable sample filters previously analysed for silica by infrared spectroscopy. Data revealed that silica particles were generally less than 5 μm in physical diameter and many particles were elongated. These smaller particles are known to be most hazardous to lung health. Findings also demonstrated that larger length elongated particles were collected by the cyclone sampler, which influenced the particle size distribution curve. There was a good fit between the physical cumulative silica particle size distribution, representing particle counts for selected workplace samples, when plotted against the theoretical AS2985-2009 (density dependent) Equivalent Aerodynamic Diameter (EAD) sampling efficiency curve. This means that density is not the only factor for particle capture in the cyclone sampler. These silica particles do not behave as perfect spheres, which is the premise underpinning the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 7708-1995, sampling efficiency curve and AS2985-2009, adopted by the Australian Standard for sampling respirable dust. The science for these standards is based on information that is at least twenty years old, and results from the current study confirmed that particle shape must be considered in the sampling efficiency curve and lung health risk assessment. An unexpected finding from analysis of RCS dust by EM was the identification of fibrous mineral particles in several samples, with both morphology and elemental composition similar to erionite. Erionite is known to cause mesothelioma, which is typically associated with asbestos when inhaled at high enough concentrations. Further investigation and characterization of respirable dusts at mining sites where erionite is a potential contaminant is recommended. Confirmation of the presence and extent of erionite, and further characterization of exposure will assist in determining the extent of health risk to quarry and dimension stone mine workers in Queensland and elsewhere. Overall, the findings from this study challenge the adequacy of RCS health risk assessment standards in Australia. In addition, typical operator cabin air-conditioning technology will not reduce exposure to RCS where silica is present in dusty workplaces. The study also demonstrates the importance of health surveillance, to identify gaps, raise awareness about primary prevention, and drive timely intervention

Irrigation district sustainability

Presented at Irrigation district sustainability - strategies to meet the challenges: USCID irrigation district specialty conference held on June 3-6, 2009 in Reno, Nevada.Fresno Irrigation District (FID) serves irrigation water to approximately 245,000 acres including the Cities of Fresno and Clovis, in California's Central San Joaquin Valley. As Clovis has developed they have looked for ways to diversify their water supply portfolio. Until recently, this mainly consisted of groundwater wells with some surface water supplies coming from FID. Clovis, in an effort to increase their dry year supplies, partnered with FID to develop the Waldron Banking Facilities. Through the agreement developed between Clovis and FID, Clovis provided half of the capital to develop the project in return for half of the project yield. Clovis also has the first right of refusal, on an annual basis, for any yield developed from the project. The Waldron Banking Facilities are comprised of three groundwater banking facilities located in the western portion of the District. In exchange for the banked supplies, FID then provides an equivalent amount of surface water to Clovis (in the eastern portion of FID). To develop a new water supply for the City and FID, during wet years and other times when surplus surface water supplies are available these supplies are routed to the groundwater recharge basins. In dry years, these banked supplies are then recovered from the aquifer, and delivered to FID growers. Two of the recharge basin sites were existing regulation basins, which were significantly expanded to add recharge capabilities. One of the sites is new, and placed at the bifurcation of one of FID's laterals. The recharge basin sites were strategically selected in order to provide an added benefit as regulation and storage basins that could be utilized during the irrigation season. The project was built over the course of three years, in phases. Now complete, the project includes approximately 250 acres of recharge basins, new measurement and control sites, seven recovery wells, and a network of monitoring wells. This paper will discuss the financial aspects of the project, project planning issues, design considerations, and how the twelve construction contracts were developed, managed and executed

Irrigation district sustainability

Presented at Irrigation district sustainability - strategies to meet the challenges: USCID irrigation district specialty conference held on June 3-6, 2009 in Reno, Nevada.The Yolo County Flood Control & Water Conservation District (District) releases about 250,000 acre-feet per year from two water supply reservoirs in the Cache Creek watershed for the irrigation of about 60,000 acres of farmland in Yolo County, California. That water is diverted into the Winters Canal and the West Adams Canal at Capay Diversion Dam on Cache Creek. The continued operation of Capay Dam is vital to the sustained future of irrigated agriculture of the District. Urbanization and infrastructure construction in California resulted in extensive sand and gravel extraction from Cache Creek downstream of Capay Dam. Although that mineral extraction ceased many years ago, the streambed of Cache Creek has degraded. Presently the streambed elevation at the toe of Capay Dam is as much as 15 feet below the elevation of the apron of the dam and the dam is at risk due to downstream channel bed degradation and local scour during floods. Capay Dam is a concrete diversion that was constructed in 1915. The main portion of the dam is an overflow section about 475 feet long with low-level sluice gates and service spillways at both abutments. The abutments also contain the headworks for the irrigation canals. Due to streambed degradation, local scour at the toe of the apron and the more than 90-year service life of the structure, the District embarked on a program of dam inspection, including the use of non destructive testing of the concrete, and rehabilitating the dam and headworks so as to continue to provide a sustainable irrigation supply of surface water from Cache Creek. The dam inspection and rehabilitation and betterment program for Capay Diversion Dam is presented. This includes the issues of environmental permitting, stream morphology, sediment transport and historic data collection

Application of virtual reality for risk assessment and training in the minerals industry

The minerals industry often requires people to work in hazardous environments, these environments are constantly increasing in size and complexity as organisations look for new more cost-effective ways of extracting resources. Not only does this size and complexity bring with it additional safety concerns, the introduction of new legislation has placed the responsibility of employee safety with the organisation. Safety has become an important consideration, where once it might have been viewed as costly and counterproductive, organisations are now seeking to gain competitive advantage in this area. Two key areas of a successful safety management programme are risk assessment and training. These are important in designing systems and environments that are as safe as possible and in educating and training personnel to operate safely within those environments. Virtual Reality (VR) technology is one tool that has been applied successfully to the training requirements across a wide range of industries. In the past two years there is evidence to show that VR technology is becoming more widely used, partly due to the reduced cost and a reduction in the perceived technological complexity. As the cost of computing falls and the fidelity of the virtual worlds increases, VR is considered a viable option for a number of applications. Two prototype VR systems were designed and built. The first, a risk visualisation system, enhances a virtual environment with a risk-based overlay. The relationships between dangerous areas and equipment can be visualised in 3D. It also provides a framework for evaluating the risk programmatically at an arbitrary location. The second is a surface mine simulator that uses a hazard identification system as a tool to aid the training of haul truck operators in surface mine. This system includes a world construction tool that allows users to import and prepare the terrain, construct the virtual world, and specify any hazards. The training system can evaluate the performance of a trainee in the virtual world using a simple scoring algorithm