Simulation and design of the HT-KZ Ultra-high energy cosmic rays detector system for cosmic rays with energies above 1017 eV

In the field of High Energy Physics today there are several open topics left. The Higgs boson has been recently discovered, neutrino oscillations are being studied, and some hints of the dark matter have been detected as well. Another remaining mystery is the origin and the nature of the Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays. There is an active project at Nazarbayev University to construct the HorizonT-Kazakhstan detector system in collaboration with the Tien Shan high-altitude Science Station (TSHSS), a part of Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The full R&D is underway. A significant part of this process is the simulation, testing and construction of individual particle detectors due to the requirements of robustness and high linear range of such detectors combined with low cost and long-term operations with minimal maintenance. In this paper, the latest results of the simulation activities and experiment testing of different detection components as applicable to the HorizonT-Kazakhstan requirements are presented

Simulation and design of the HT-KZ Ultra-high energy cosmic rays detector system for cosmic rays with energies above 1017 eV

In the field of High Energy Physics today there are several open topics left. The Higgs boson has been recently discovered, neutrino oscillations are being studied, and some hints of the dark matter have been detected as well. Another remaining mystery is the origin and the nature of the Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays. There is an active project at Nazarbayev University to construct the HorizonT-Kazakhstan detector system in collaboration with the Tien Shan high-altitude Science Station (TSHSS), a part of Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The full R&D is underway. A significant part of this process is the simulation, testing and construction of individual particle detectors due to the requirements of robustness and high linear range of such detectors combined with low cost and long-term operations with minimal maintenance. In this paper, the latest results of the simulation activities and experiment testing of different detection components as applicable to the HorizonT-Kazakhstan requirements are presented

Durability and Smart Condition Assessment of Ultra-High Performance Concrete in Cold Climates

The goals of this study were to develop ecological ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) with local materials and supplementary cementitious materials and to evaluate the long-term performance of UHPC in cold climates using effective mechanical test methods, such as “smart aggregate” technology and microstructure imaging analysis. The optimal UHPC mixture approximately exhibited compressive strength of 15 ksi, elastic modulus of 5,000 ksi, direct tensile strength of 1.27 ksi, and shrinkage of 630 at 28 days, which are characteristics comparable to those of commercial products and other studies. The tensile strength and modulus of elasticity in tension, dynamic modulus, and wave modulus show slight increases from the original values after 300 freeze-thaw (F-T) cycles, indicating that UHPC has excellent frost resistance in cold climates. Although porosity deterioration was observed in the F-T cyclic conditioning process, no internal damage (cracks or fractures) was found during imaging analysis up to 300 cycles. Since structures for which UHPC would be used are expected to have a longer service life, more F-T cycles are recommended to condition UHPC and investigate its mechanical performance over time. Moreover, continuum damage mechanic-based models have the potential to evaluate damage accumulation in UHPC and its failure mechanism under frost attack and to predict long-term material deterioration and service life

Innovative Stormwater Treatment Technologies: Best Management Practices Manual

Urban stormwater carries a number of pathogens, nutrients, heavy metals, sediment, and other contaminants as surface runoff flows over land. The increase in impervious or paved surfaces associated with development in urban areas reduces the natural infiltration of precipitation into the ground. With impervious cover, precipitation collects and carries contaminants before draining into nearby surface waters. Stormwater runoff from paved surfaces in developed areas can degrade downstream waters with both contaminants and increased volumes of water. This publication aims to make information on innovative stormwater treatment technologies more available to New Hampshire’s urban planners, developers, and communities. Traditional runoff management techniques such as detention basins and infiltration swales may be preferable, but are not always practical for treating urban stormwater. Lack of space for natural solutions is often a problem in existing developed areas, making innovative treatment technologies an attractive alternative. Mostly designed for subsurface installation, urban “retrofits” use less space than conventional methods to treat stormwater. This manual provides information on the innovative stormwater “retrofit” technologies currently available for use in developed areas in New Hampshire

Energy harvesting from vehicular traffic over speed bumps: A review

Energy used by vehicles to slow down in areas of limited speed is wasted. A traffic energy-harvesting device (TEHD) is capable of harvesting vehicle energy when passing over a speed bump. This paper presents a classification of the different technologies used in the existing TEHDs. Moreover, an estimation of the energy that could be harvested with the different technologies and their cost has been elaborated. The energy recovered with these devices could be used for marking and lighting of roads in urban areas, making transportation infrastructures more sustainable and environmentally friendly

Optimization Based Self-localization for IoT Wireless Sensor Networks

In this paper we propose an embedded optimization framework for the simultaneous self-localization of all sensors in wireless sensor networks making use of range measurements from ultra-wideband (UWB) signals. Low-power UWB radios, which provide time-of-arrival measurements with decimeter accuracy over large distances, have been increasingly envisioned for realtime localization of IoT devices in GPS-denied environments and large sensor networks. In this work, we therefore explore different non-linear least-squares optimization problems to formulate the localization task based on UWB range measurements. We solve the resulting optimization problems directly using non-linear-programming algorithms that guarantee convergence to locally optimal solutions. This optimization framework allows the consistent comparison of different optimization methods for sensor localization. We propose and demonstrate the best optimization approach for the self-localization of sensors equipped with off-the-shelf microcontrollers using state-of-the-art code generation techniques for the plug-and-play deployment of the optimal localization algorithm. Numerical results indicate that the proposed approach improves localization accuracy and decreases computation times relative to existing iterative methods

Micro-manufacturing : research, technology outcomes and development issues

Besides continuing effort in developing MEMS-based manufacturing techniques, latest effort in Micro-manufacturing is also in Non-MEMS-based manufacturing. Research and technological development (RTD) in this field is encouraged by the increased demand on micro-components as well as promised development in the scaling down of the traditional macro-manufacturing processes for micro-length-scale manufacturing. This paper highlights some EU funded research activities in micro/nano-manufacturing, and gives examples of the latest development in micro-manufacturing methods/techniques, process chains, hybrid-processes, manufacturing equipment and supporting technologies/device, etc., which is followed by a summary of the achievements of the EU MASMICRO project. Finally, concluding remarks are given, which raise several issues concerning further development in micro-manufacturing