Integrated modeling and analysis methodologies for architecture-level vehicle design.

In order to satisfy customer expectations, a ground vehicle must be designed to meet a broad range of performance requirements. A satisfactory vehicle design process implements a set of requirements reflecting necessary, but perhaps not sufficient conditions for assuring success in a highly competitive market. An optimal architecture-level vehicle design configuration is one of the most important of these requirements. A basic layout that is efficient and flexible permits significant reductions in the time needed to complete the product development cycle, with commensurate reductions in cost. Unfortunately, architecture-level design is the most abstract phase of the design process. The high-level concepts that characterize these designs do not lend themselves to traditional analyses normally used to characterize, assess, and optimize designs later in the development cycle. This research addresses the need for architecture-level design abstractions that can be used to support ground vehicle development. The work begins with a rigorous description of hierarchical function-based abstractions representing not the physical configuration of the elements of a vehicle, but their function within the design space. The hierarchical nature of the abstractions lends itself to object orientation - convenient for software implementation purposes - as well as description of components, assemblies, feature groupings based on non-structural interactions, and eventually, full vehicles. Unlike the traditional early-design abstractions, the completeness of our function-based hierarchical abstractions, including their interactions, allows their use as a starting point for the derivation of analysis models. The scope of the research in this dissertation includes development of meshing algorithms for abstract structural models, a rigid-body analysis engine, and a fatigue analysis module. It is expected that the results obtained in this study will move systematic design and analysis to the earliest phases of the vehicle development process, leading to more highly optimized architectures, and eventually, better ground vehicles. This work shows that architecture level abstractions in many cases are better suited for life cycle support than geometric CAD models. Finally, substituting modeling, simulation, and optimization for intuition and guesswork will do much to mitigate the risk inherent in large projects by minimizing the possibility of incorporating irrevocably compromised architecture elements into a vehicle design that no amount of detail-level reengineering can undo

Using sensor web technologies to help predict and monitor floods in urban areas

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references.Since flooding is worldwide one of the most common natural disasters, a number of flood prediction and monitoring approaches have been used. A lot of research has been conducted on the prediction and monitoring of floods by using hydrological models. The problem is that current hydrological models do not offer Disaster Management officials or township residents with timely data and information. In South Africa, possible flood warnings are usually communicated by Disaster Management officials using traditional approaches such as loudspeakers, radio and Television (TV). Making calls to warn residents about the possible occurrence of floods by using such means are, however, neither sufficient nor effective. As the result of improved communication, sensor, software and computing capabilities, the use of sensor networks and sensor web for predicting and monitoring environment have been considered in recent years. In order for sensor data such as sensor measurements, sensor descriptions and alerts to be integrated, the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) introduced the Sensor Web enablement (SWE) standards and suggested different specifications with respect to the geospatial sensor web. The first implementation of the sensor web framework is available. In this research, the results of using the sensor web technologies for predicting and monitoring floods in the urban areas are presented. The aim of this research project is to illustrate how the sensor web technology can help in the prediction and monitoring of floods in the urban areas, particularly in the Alexandra Township (Greater Johannesburg) which has experienced floods each and every year. The focus of this research is on the incorporation of the sensor data into the sensor web technology. The data used as input to sensor web and the hydrological model was historical rainfall data from the South African Weather Service (SAWS). Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) free data from the internet was also used in this research

Locative Interaction In Urban Space: Programmatic Flexibility

Human spatial experience has recently expanded due to the development of location-aware technology. Locative information has become more significant within urban space; as such, related discourses have attempted to focus on the issue as a way in which we acquire locative information when we experience space. Digital location-aware methods enable the demonstration of live densities of telecommunication through which one can infer temporal and spatial factors of live urban situations. When locative telecommunication data is mapped onto urban space, temporal-spatial demographic maps are obtained. Based on these maps, one can infer the correlation between spatial experience and architectural programmes via on site observation and by determining the multi-layered structure of spatial experience via designed data installation. These considerations aim to investigate locative interaction in urban space in order to expand spatial experience. This research begins with two linked theoretical notions: rhythm analysis and heterotopia—in other words, temporality as it relates to our everyday life and spatiality as it relates to our search for ideal space. In addition to these positions, the following discourses are specifically developed to investigate locative interaction in urban space. Firstly, the temporal and spatial patterns of urban activities are investigated in an attempt to grasp current urban interactions. The telecommunication data is then mapped geographically. Secondly, the gap between the endowed architectural programmes and the observed activities in urban space is explored in order to examine the multi-layered structure of urban interaction. Thirdly, the above discussions are synthesised using a design project that interprets epistemic aspects of this initiative. Lastly, urban rhythms and locative virtual layers are suggested as the concept for locative interaction in urban space where architectural programmes become more flexible, thus expanding spatial experience. Two projects demonstrate as applicable scenarios of locative interaction in urban space; they involve a heterotopia finder and a floating gallery over London. This research suggests a new viewpoint from which to consider our world and its digital presence by mapping a ‘live urban space’ using telecommunication data—an initiative that highlights the importance of people as a crucial aspect of our digital surroundings. This research ultimately contributes to expanding urban spatial experience and providing an informative and holistic mapping structure for architecture and urban design, interweaving it with the digital environment

NASA Tech Briefs, November 1993

Topics covered: Advanced Manufacturing; Electronic Components and Circuits; Electronic Systems; Physical Sciences; Materials; Computer Programs; Mechanics; Machinery; Fabrication Technology; Mathematics and Information Sciences; Life Sciences

NASA Tech Briefs, October 1993

Topics include: Sensors; esign and Engineering; Electronic Components and Circuits; Electronic Systems; Physical Sciences; Materials; Computer Programs; Mechanics; Machinery; Fabrication technology; Mathematics and Information Sciences; Life Sciences; Books and Reports

Integrated collaborative building design using Internet technology

Communication between the parties in a project of an integrated collaborative engineering system has been the subject of active research for many years. The construction industry has a long tradition of collaborative working between the members of the construction team. At the design stage, this has traditionally been based on physical meetings between representatives of the principal design team members. To aid these meetings, the information and communication technologies that are currently available have been used. These Information Technology (IT) tools have produced some success but are held back by the problems posed by the use of diverse software tools and the lack of effective collaboration tools. The collaboration tools are necessary to reduce the time and distance constraints, in the increasingly global design teamwork. IT-supported collaborative construction design refers to actors in product design processing, working together on the same project with IT networks used for mediation to overcome time and geographical constraints. Fragmentation of the project management of a building construction between different specialists may be necessary, but good communication and coordination among the participants is essential to accomplish the overall goals of the project. New information technologies can be helpful in this process, especially the Internet and specialised extranets. A collaborative Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) design environment has been proposed by this research to integrate the work of distributed project participants. Based on identified functional requirements, the conventional building product models have been extended to incorporate high-level concepts such as activity and organisation, which are essential for coordination and collaboration. A generic human-project-human interaction model has been developed, which could not only make the building domain models interaction-aware, but also serve as a base model for developing general interaction utilities. A collaborative design environment prototype has been described, covering the common project workspace, general interaction utilities and multi-user interfaces. This study characterises collaboration as a function of time, space and shared working environment with enabled real-time design tools over the World Wide Web (WWW). To realise the proposal of this research the inter-mediated design communication, visual presentation, integration and organisation frameworks, groupware technology, and interactive multimedia tools are used. This study presents the CODE (COllaborative Design Environment) system. This Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) virtual working space is argued to support collaboration and teamwork in real time. The evaluation of the system showed its feasibility and reliability through a workshop. The results showed that the CODE system can assist the collaborative AEC design process

Management: A continuing bibliography with indexes

This bibliography lists 551 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into NASA scientific and technical information system in 1980

Integrated durability analysis of a vehicle through virtual simulation.

The intent of this research is to create a high fidelity multibody dynamics model of a compact Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) using CATIA, ADAMS and NASTRAN software suites. These software packages together are used to conduct virtual proving ground simulations. An MTS 329 series Road Test Simulator (RTS), which uses servo-hydraulic actuators to replicate vehicle proving ground is used to correlate results. The overall objective is to be able to predict component failure earlier in the design process, and to reduce the amount of time spent conducting physical durability tests. This thesis builds on research currently being conducted by many auto manufacturers in the area of virtual road test simulation. The development of a complete durability model is very complex, and involves many steps in simulating physical phenomena. This research focuses primarily on model creation techniques that are used to build a virtual multibody dynamics model, with an emphasis being placed on the construction, implementation and background theory of flexible bodies. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)Dept. of Mechanical, Automotive, and Materials Engineering. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis2003 .W66. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 44-01, page: 0428. Thesis (M.A.Sc.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 2003