97 research outputs found

    Reinforcement Learning

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    Brains rule the world, and brain-like computation is increasingly used in computers and electronic devices. Brain-like computation is about processing and interpreting data or directly putting forward and performing actions. Learning is a very important aspect. This book is on reinforcement learning which involves performing actions to achieve a goal. The first 11 chapters of this book describe and extend the scope of reinforcement learning. The remaining 11 chapters show that there is already wide usage in numerous fields. Reinforcement learning can tackle control tasks that are too complex for traditional, hand-designed, non-learning controllers. As learning computers can deal with technical complexities, the tasks of human operators remain to specify goals on increasingly higher levels. This book shows that reinforcement learning is a very dynamic area in terms of theory and applications and it shall stimulate and encourage new research in this field

    Enhancing Future Skills and Entrepreneurship

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    This open access book presents the proceedings of the 3rd Indo-German Conference on Sustainability in Engineering held at Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, India, on September 16–17, 2019. Intended to foster the synergies between research and education, the conference is one of the joint activities of the BITS Pilani and TU Braunschweig conducted under the auspices of Indo-German Center for Sustainable Manufacturing, established in 2009. The book is divided into three sections: engineering, education and entrepreneurship, covering a range of topics, such as renewable energy forecasting, design & simulation, Industry 4.0, and soft & intelligent sensors for energy efficiency. It also includes case studies on lean and green manufacturing, and life cycle analysis of ceramic products, as well as papers on teaching/learning methods based on the use of learning factories to improve students’problem-solving and personal skills. Moreover, the book discusses high-tech ideas to help the large number of unemployed engineering graduates looking for jobs become tech entrepreneurs. Given its broad scope, it will appeal to academics and industry professionals alike

    Benelux meeting on systems and control, 23rd, March 17-19, 2004, Helvoirt, The Netherlands

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    Book of abstract

    Carbon Capture and Storage

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    Climate change is one of the main threats to modern society. This phenomenon is associated with an increase in greenhouse gas (GHGs, mainly carbon dioxide—CO2) emissions due to anthropogenic activities. The main causes are the burning of fossil fuels and land use change (deforestation). Climate change impacts are associated with risks to basic needs (health, food security, and clean water), as well as risks to development (jobs, economic growth, and the cost of living). The processes involving CO2 capture and storage are gaining attention in the scientific community as an alternative for decreasing CO2 emissions, reducing its concentration in ambient air. The carbon capture and storage (CCS) methodologies comprise three steps: CO2 capture, CO2 transportation, and CO2 storage. Despite the high research activity within this topic, several technological, economic, and environmental issues as well as safety problems remain to be solved, such as the following needs: increase of CO2 capture efficiency, reduction of process costs, and verification of the environmental sustainability of CO2 storage

    INTER-ENG 2020

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    These proceedings contain research papers that were accepted for presentation at the 14th International Conference Inter-Eng 2020 ,Interdisciplinarity in Engineering, which was held on 8–9 October 2020, in Târgu Mureș, Romania. It is a leading international professional and scientific forum for engineers and scientists to present research works, contributions, and recent developments, as well as current practices in engineering, which is falling into a tradition of important scientific events occurring at Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology in the George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy Science, and Technology of Târgu Mures, Romania. The Inter-Eng conference started from the observation that in the 21st century, the era of high technology, without new approaches in research, we cannot speak of a harmonious society. The theme of the conference, proposing a new approach related to Industry 4.0, was the development of a new generation of smart factories based on the manufacturing and assembly process digitalization, related to advanced manufacturing technology, lean manufacturing, sustainable manufacturing, additive manufacturing, and manufacturing tools and equipment. The conference slogan was “Europe’s future is digital: a broad vision of the Industry 4.0 concept beyond direct manufacturing in the company”

    ESSE 2017. Proceedings of the International Conference on Environmental Science and Sustainable Energy

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    Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physical-, biological-, and information sciences to study and solve environmental problems. ESSE - The International Conference on Environmental Science and Sustainable Energy provides a platform for experts, professionals, and researchers to share updated information and stimulate the communication with each other. In 2017 it was held in Suzhou, China June 23-25, 2017

    Multiple Damage Identification of Beam Structure Using Vibration Analysis and Artificial Intelligence Techniques

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    This thesis investigates the problem of multiple damage detection in vibrating structural members using the dynamic response of the system. Changes in the loading patterns, weakening/degeneration of structures with time and influence of environment may cause cracks in the structure, especially in engineering structures which are developed for prolonged life. Hence, early detection of presence of damage can prevent the catastrophic failure of the structures by appropriately monitoring the response of the system. In recent times, condition monitoring of structural systems have attracted scientists and researchers to develop on line damage diagnostic tool. Primarily, the structural health monitoring technique utilizes the methodology for damage assessment using the monitored vibration parameters. In the current analysis, special attention has been focused on those methods capable of detecting multiple cracks present in system by comparing the information for damaged and undamaged state of the structure. In the current research, methodologies have been developed for damage detection of a cracked cantilever beam with multiple cracks using analytical, Finite Element Analysis (FEA), fuzzy logic, neural network, fuzzy neuro, MANFIS, Genetic Algorithm and hybrid techniques such as GA-fuzzy, GA-neural, GA-neuro- fuzzy. Analytical study has been performed on the cantilever beam with multiple cracks to obtain the vibration characteristics of the beam member by using the expressions of strain energy release rate and stress intensity factor. The presence of cracks in a structural member introduces local flexibility that affects its dynamic response. The local stiffness matrices have been measured using the inverse of local dimensionless compliance matrix for finding out the deviation in the vibrating signatures of the cracked cantilever beam from that of the intact beam. Finite Element Analysis has been carried out to derive the vibration indices of the cracked structure using the overall flexibility matrix, total flexibility matrix, flexibility matrix of the intact beam. From the research done here, it is concluded that the performance of the damage assessment methods depends on several factors for example, the number of cracks, the number of sensors used for acquiring the dynamic response, location and severity of damages. Different artificial intelligent model based on fuzzy logic, neural network, genetic algorithm, MANFIS and hybrid techniques have been designed using the computed vibration signatures for multiple crack diagnosis in cantilever beam structures with higher accuracy and considerably low computational time

    Assessing Atmospheric Pollution and Its Impacts on the Human Health

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    This reprint contains articles published in the Special Issue entitled "Assessing Atmospheric Pollution and Its Impacts on the Human Health" in the journal Atmosphere. The research focuses on the evaluation of atmospheric pollution by statistical methods on the one hand, and on the other hand, on the evaluation of the relationship between the level of pollution and the extent of its effect on the population's health, especially on pulmonary diseases

    Dynamic simulation of red mud washers used in aluminum industries

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    Clarifier-Thickener equipment is used in a wide range of continuous sedimentation and sludge thickening processes where solid particles from continuous inflow mixtures are separated from the liquid. In this operation, the concentration of solids increases due to settling, so that the formation of a thicker bed is inevitable with time. Under optimal operating conditions, it is always possible to obtain two discharges from these vessels: a highly concentrated suspension at the bottom (underflow), and a clarified liquid stream at the top of the equipment (overflow or effluent). In the Bayer Process an insoluble sub-product is formed as a result of the digestion of the bauxite ore with caustic soda. This product is called “red mud” and it has to be continuously removed by settlers or thickeners/clarifiers. This project proposes the simulation of a continuous thickener/clarifier in order to predict the concentration profile and the height of the mud level (process controlled variable) as alternative to current measurement system, that contains long delay discrete sampling time(15 minutes each measurement). The simulation also, can provide an option of creating a knowledge base for off-line control. The project essentially involves two methods of simulation, namely mathematical modelling and neural networks. The model based applies a kinematic model to approximate the process behaviour using both, equipment and suspension characteristics. On the other hand, due to the large amount of historical data, neural network is proposed for system identification. The first method is based on the solution of a highly nonlinear model, based on kinematic modelling of sedimentation extended to flocculated suspensions. This approach uses a conservative finite difference scheme of the upwind type for solving an initial boundary value problem (IBVP). The successful simulation of the equipment and further validation of the mathematical model are then achieved once the properties of the suspensions have been determined. These properties are related to flux batch settling and solid stress functions, whose parameters can be obtained experimentally.On-site testing of the characteristics of red mud was conducted at the Rio Tinto Yarwum Alumina Refinery in Queensland. The settling properties of the suspension were determined via batch settling. For measurement of the rheology properties, the vane technique was used employing a Haake VT 550 rheometer. The results of the simulation showed that the concentration profile and height of the heavy mud level can be determined via a steady state model for a given underflow concentration. These results, however, were not in good agreement with measured data. The second method of simulation involved the use of Rio Tinto Yarwun historical data to develop a neural model in order to obtain a relationship between process variables. This approach has the advantage that no mathematical model is needed. With this method, historical data (continuous data) are obtained and analysed, and daily averages of the variables involved in the process are calculated. Different network architectures are tested according to the washer process. Ultimately, two networks were developed to describe washer dynamics.
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