Statistical energy analysis applied to structure-borne noise in computer equipment

Analysis of structure-borne noise in computers and peripherals such as hard disk drives and printed circuit boards. Development of analysis and optimum design modification technique by Statistical Energy Analysis

Implementation of a real-time, data-driven online epidemic calculator for tracking the spread of COVID-19 in Singapore and other countries

While there are many online data dashboards on COVID-19, there are few analytics available to the public and non-epidemiologists to help them gain a deeper insight into the COVID-19 pandemic and evaluate the effectiveness of social intervention measures. To address the issue, this study describes the methods underlying the development of a real-time, data-driven online Epidemic Calculator for tracking COVID-19 growth parameters. From publicly available infection case and death data, the calculator is used to estimate the effective reproduction number, final epidemic size, and death toll. As a case study, we analyzed the results for Singapore during the "Circuit Breaker" period from April 7, 2020 to the end of May 2020. The calculator shows that the stringent measures imposed have an immediate effect of rapidly slowing down the spread of the coronavirus. After about two weeks, the effective reproduction number reduced to about 1.0. Since then, the number has been fluctuating around 1.0 for more than a month. The COVID-19 Epidemic Calculator is available in the form of an online Google Sheet and the results are presented as Tableau Public dashboards at www.cv19.one. By making the calculator readily accessible online, the public can have a tool to assess the effectiveness of measures to control the pandemic meaningfully.Published versio

Development of an improved design methodology and front steering design guideline for small-wheel bicycles for better stability and performance

The maneuverability and compactness of small-wheel and folding bicycles are greatly appreciated. Nonetheless, the performance of these small-wheel bicycles as compared to the big-wheel bicycles has always been questioned. They are often blamed for being less stable, wobbly, or twitchy. It is still unclear how the performance of the small-wheel bicycle designs can be improved. Both small- and big-wheel bicycles are designed with similar ergonomics; therefore, the focus has been on the front steering design. The steering design parameters of 91 big-wheel and 27 small-wheel bicycles were compared, bearing in mind the available front steering design guidelines to understand: (1) the influence of big-wheel bicycle’s frame design on small-wheel bicycles and (2) most common range of design parameters used in current bicycle designs. The analysis showed a strong influence of current big-wheel bicycle design practice on front frame parameter selection of small-wheel bicycles. Furthermore, the self-stability comparison over the most common design range confirmed the lesser stability in the current small-wheel bicycle designs at normal riding speed. However, it was also found that the lesser stability was not the result of small wheels per se, but rather owing to an inadequacy in the current design approach to addressing the complex influence of reducing wheel size and bicycle frame design on its stability and performance. Therefore, an improved design methodology was adopted by incorporating the bicycle dynamics into the current design approach and the front steering design guidelines for small-wheel bicycles have been developed. The guidelines contradict the current small-wheel bicycle design practice, as they recommend steeper headtube angles for small-wheel bicycles. The guidelines were validated with good agreement between the theoretical and experimental results on two prototype 20-inch-wheel bicycles having counter-intuitive steering geometry

Reducing Fuel Consumption Using Flywheel Battery Technology for Rubber Tyred Gantry Cranes in Container Terminals

Flywheel Energy Storage System (FESS) is used as an energy regeneration system to help with reducing peak power requirements on RTG cranes that are used to load or unload container ships. Nevertheless, with the use of FESS, Port Operator can deploy undersized generator for new RTG as this will further reduce fuel consumption. This paper presents the investigation of the amount of energy and fuel consumption that can be reduced in Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) cranes in container terminals by the use of simulation. In addition, Variable Speed Generator is integrated to the simulation-hybridized RTG. Simulation results reveal that the total energy saving exceeded 30% relatively to conventional RTG. A hardware-in-loop system is introduced for the purpose of validating the simulation results. The hardware components procured include a FESS, a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) and brake resistors.Published versio

Development of a mechanical system design workbench for use in a virtual environment

This report presents the project work done on the development of a mechanical system design workbench for use in a virtual environment. The main objectives are: (i) To develop facilities for virtual prototyping simulation for design of mechanical systems. This includes facilities for real-time machinehuman-in-the-loop simulation, dynamic performance simulation, design sensitivity analysis, design optimisation and human factors study. (ii) To develop a methodology for the incorporation of modeling and simulation tools from the field of multibody dynamics into a virtual simulator, so that its repertoire may be expanded to include articulated systems free to move in space. (iii) To develop an intelligent workbench for the collaborative design and virtual prototyping of hydraulic system

Analytical random vibration analysis of boundary-excited thin rectangular plates

Fatigue life, stability and performance of majority of the structures and systems depend significantly on dynamic loadings applied on them. In many engineering cases, the dynamic loading is random vibration and the structure is a plate-like system. Examples could be printed circuit boards or jet impingement cooling systems subjected to random vibrations in harsh military environments. In this study, the response of thin rectangular plates to random boundary excitation is analytically formulated and analyzed. In the presented method, closed-form mode shapes are used and some of the assumptions in previous studies are eliminated; hence it is simpler and reduces the computational load. In addition, the effects of different boundary conditions, modal damping and excitation frequency range on dynamic random response of the system are studied. The results show that increasing both the modal damping ratio and the excitation frequency range will decrease the root mean square acceleration and the maximum deflection of the plate

Performance of spade-less wheeled military vehicles with passive and semi-active suspensions during mortar firing

Many armies are replacing heavy slow tracked vehicles with their lighter wheeled counterparts for their high mobility and better shoot and scoot capabilities. These features make the vehicle hard to track and target in counter-battery fire. However, when firing high calibre guns, spades are needed to connect the vehicle chassis to the ground, so as to transmit parts of the large firing force directly to the ground. Use of spades hinders the vehicle mobility, while elimination of them paves the way for having quicker and more mobile wheeled vehicles. In this article, vibration response of a spade-less High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle with a mounted mortar is studied and controlled using stock passive, optimised passive, and optimised semi-active dampers as primary suspensions. The spade-less vehicle with optimised passive and semi-active dampers has a better response in heave, pitch, and fore-aft motions and can fire with better accuracy compared to a spade-less vehicle with stock passive dampers. Simulation results indicate that the spades can be removed from wheeled military vehicles if the precautions are taken for the tyres

Compliant Mechanism-Based Sensor for Large Strain Measurements Employing Fiber Optics

We propose a sensor design for measurement of large strains where direct application of a fiber optic strain gauge is impossible due to the stiffness mismatch between the optical fiber and the structure under test. The sensor design is based on a rhombus type compliant mechanism, which functions to attenuate input strain and transfer it to the ends of the sensing beam with the mounted optical strain gauge. We developed an analytical model of the sensor, which allows us to relate actuation forces, input displacement/strain, and output strain. The analytical model was verified with the finite element analysis and validated against an experimental prototype. The prototype sensor was able to handle input strains exceeding ±2.5 × 105 µε. Potential application areas of the proposed sensor include compliant elastomeric structures, wearables, and soft robotics

Design and Analysis of Shock and Random Vibration Isolation of Operating Hard Disk Drive in Harsh Environment

An effective vibration isolation system is important for hard disk drives (HDD) used in a harsh mechanical environment. This paper describes how to design, simulate, test and evaluate vibration isolation systems for operating HDD subjected to severe shock and random vibrations based on military specifications MIL-STD-810E. The well-defined evaluation criteria proposed in this paper can be used to effectively assess the performance of HDD vibration isolation system. Design concepts on how to achieve satisfactory shock and vibration isolation for HDD are described. The concepts are tested and further enhanced by the two design case studies presented here. It is shown that an effective vibration isolation system, that will allow a HDD to operate well when subjected to severe shock and random vibration, is feasible