Application of Advanced Early Warning Systems with Adaptive Protection

This project developed and field-tested two methods of Adaptive Protection systems utilizing synchrophasor data. One method detects conditions of system stress that can lead to unintended relay operation, and initiates a supervisory signal to modify relay response in real time to avoid false trips. The second method detects the possibility of false trips of impedance relays as stable system swings “encroach” on the relays’ impedance zones, and produces an early warning so that relay engineers can re-evaluate relay settings. In addition, real-time synchrophasor data produced by this project was used to develop advanced visualization techniques for display of synchrophasor data to utility operators and engineers

LIFECYCLE BASED AUDIT PROCESS FOR DISTRIBUTED APPLICATIONS

The paper wishes to present the audit process as part of a distributed framework in which a new set of metrics are built. The requirements for an audit process are described and on each of the lifecycle stages, the audit process is emphasized. The existing quality characteristics models from the literature are analyzed based on which a new set of metrics are built for sustaining the overall audit process.audit process, distributed applications, metrics and lifecycle

A comparative reliability analysis of ETCS train radio communications

StoCharts have been proposed as a UML statechart extension for performance and dependability evaluation, and were applied in the context of train radio reliability assessment to show the principal tractability of realistic cases with this approach. In this paper, we extend on this bare feasibility result in two important directions. First, we sketch the cornerstones of a mechanizable translation of StoCharts to MoDeST. The latter is a process algebra-based formalism supported by the Motor/Möbius tool tandem. Second, we exploit this translation for a detailed analysis of the train radio case study

Technical Target Setting in QFD for Web Service Systems using an Artificial Neural Network

There are at least two challenges with quality management of service-oriented architecture based web service systems: 1) how to link its technical capabilities with customer\u27s needs explicitly to satisfy customers\u27 functional and nonfunctional requirements; and 2) how to determine targets of web service design attributes. Currently, the first issue is not addressed and the second one is dealt with subjectively. Quality Function Deployment (QFD), a quality management system, has found its success in improving quality of complex products although it has not been used for developing web service systems. In this paper, we analyze requirements for web services and their design attributes, and apply the QFD for developing web service systems by linking quality of service requirements to web service design attributes. A new method for technical target setting in QFD, based on an artificial neural network, is also presented. Compared with the conventional methods for technical target setting in QFD, such as benchmarking and the linear regression method, which fail to incorporate nonlinear relationships between design attributes and quality of service requirements, it sets up technical targets consistent with relationships between quality of web service requirements and design attributes, no matter whether they are linear or nonlinear

From StoCharts to MoDeST: a comparative reliability analysis of train radio communications

StoCharts have been proposed as a UML statechart extension for performance and dependability evaluation, and have been applied in the context of train radio reliability assessment to show the principal tractability of realistic cases with this approach. In this paper, we extend on this bare feasibility result in two important directions. First, we sketch the cornerstones of a mechanizable translation of StoCharts to MoDeST. The latter is a process algebra-based formalism supported by the Motor/Möbius tool tandem. Second, we exploit this translation for a detailed analysis of the train radio case study

Using Shared Workspaces in Higher Education

We evaluate the use of BSCW shared workspaces in higher education by means of a comparison of seven courses in which this environment was used. We identify a number of different functions for which the BSCW environment has been used and discuss the relative success of these functions across the cases. In addition, we evaluate the cases with the 4E model of Collis et al. (2000) which predicts the chances of acceptance of ICT in an educational setting. Effectiveness for the given task appears to be a prime success factor for using ICT. But an effective tool may fail due to other factors like ease of use and organisational, socialcultural or technological obstacles. The particular strength of a shared workspace, for which BSCW is most effective and efficient, is providing a repository for objects of collaborative work. Other types of usage showed mixed results. In the future we expect that learning takes place in an integrated, open ICT environment in which different kinds of tools are available for different purposes and users can switch between tools as appropriate. We could observe this in several of the case studies, where non-use of BSCW did not mean that a particular task was not performed, but, on the contrary, a more efficient solution for the same function was available. Shared workspaces have proven to be highly useful, but it seems advisable that their purpose be limited to what they were originally designed for

ANALYSIS OF PART CONSOLIDATION TECHNIQUES FOR AUTOMOTIVE BODY IN WHITE PANELS BASED ON ADVANCED SHEET METAL FORMING TECHNOLOGIES

The automotive industry is looking to move from mass production to mass customization in order to manufacture and sell a variety of products in different markets on a global scale. This requires a robust and cost effective manufacturing system which would help design new products in the shortest possible lead time. This thesis tries to investigate the current sheet metal forming process for body in white, identify the limitations and propose an alternative which would help the industry cut down product lead time and costs. Decision making tools are used to identify the technical requirements of a BIW manufacturing system and optimize the same. Part consolidation techniques are studied in detail and the various means to achieve them are investigated. Industrial origami¨ is proposed as an alternative to automotive stamping and a means to achieve part consolidation. Origami joints and their design features were modeled using cad tools and their load bearing and strength characteristics are compared to that of stamped joints using finite element analysis simulations. A bill of materials of a small sedan is constructed to identify the opportunities for part consolidation and process substitution of stamping using origami

Development of a novel Fast-Warm stamping (FWS) technology for manufacturing high-strength steel components

Hot and warm stamping are preferable sheet metal forming technologies used in manufacturing high-strength parts with the twofold objectives of reducing fuel consumption and improving automotive crashworthiness. Great efforts have been made to improve the production rate in these processes and it is difficult to further improve productivity. Therefore, the development of new forming technologies may be an alternative solution to form high-strength steels into complex shapes whilst reducing the cycle time. The present work aims to develop a novel lightweight forming technology, namely fast-warm stamping (FWS) technique, to manufacture high-strength steel components with the desired properties. The concept of this process is to utilise ultra-fast heating of a steel blank to an appropriate temperature, whilst minimising the major negative changes to microstructure which are detrimental to the post-form strength. Mechanical properties such as ductility and post-form strength (PFS) of the MS-W900Y1180T (MS1180) steel were examined via uniaxial tensile tests at various temperatures (25–500°C) and strain rates (0.01–5/s). Special attention has been afforded to the effect of heating rate on thermo-mechanical properties and microstructure of the MS1180 steel with different heating rates. The results suggest that the ductility and post-form hardness of the MS1180 steel were simultaneously improved by 25.7% and 5%, with an increase in heating rate from 1 to 150°C/s. The increased hardness is attributed to the finer precipitated carbides and lower recovery at fast heating rate conditions, which was validated by microstructural observations. The validation of the FWS technology was conducted by forming U-shaped components through a dedicated pilot production line caller Uni-form. The fast-warm stamped components exhibited over 92% mechanical strength of the original as-received material consisting of 1140MPa post-form strength and 370HV hardness. The overall manufacturing cycle time in the FWS process was within 10 seconds. Springback of the formed parts under FWS conditions IV was successfully characterized at various temperatures and forming speeds. Close agreements were achieved between the experimental and simulated results for temperature, thickness distribution and springback prediction of the formed parts which validated the accuracy of the developed finite element (FE) model. FWS technology is a promising solution to manufacture components with desirable mechanical properties and dimensional accuracy. In this work, a feasibility study of the FWS technology was extended from martensitic steels to 60Si2Mn spring steel by producing commercialized disc springs. A separate forming tool set with a replaceable forming surface was developed to reduce manufacturing cost. Experimental results showed that a disc spring was successfully formed using the proposed forming process with the required dimensional precision, post-form strength and surface roughness. This forming technique has shown to enable a tremendous reduction of overall cycle time from 30 minutes to less than 20 seconds and subsequent productivity improvement for a mass-production setting.Open Acces

The 727 approach energy management system avionics specification (preliminary)

Hardware and software requirements for an Approach Energy Management System (AEMS) consisting of an airborne digital computer and cockpit displays are presented. The displays provide the pilot with a visual indication of when to manually operate the gear, flaps, and throttles during a delayed flap approach so as to reduce approach time, fuel consumption, and community noise. The AEMS is an independent system that does not interact with other navigation or control systems, and is compatible with manually flown or autopilot coupled approaches. Operational use of the AEMS requires a DME ground station colocated with the flight path reference