Suppression of Bridge Flutter Using Suction Control

To verify the effectiveness of the suction-based method for improving flutter stability of long-span bridges, the forced vibration experiments for extracting the flutter derivatives of a section model with and without suction were performed, and the corresponding critical flutter wind speeds of this structure were calculated out. It is shown by the experiment that the flutter stability of the bridge depends on suction configuration. As the suction holes locate at the leeward side of the model, the critical flutter wind speed can attain maximum under the same suction velocity. In the analytical results, it is remarkably effective that the suction control improves the long-span bridge flutter stability.

Effects of the Configuration of Trailing Edge on the Flutter of an Elongated Bluff Body

Wind-tunnel experiments are performed to investigate the effects of trailing-edge reattachment on the flutter behaviors of spring-suspended trailing-edge-changeable section models. Different Trailing edges (TE) were fixed at the back of a body to adjust reattachment of the vortex. A laser-displacement system was used to acquire the vibration signals. The relationship between flutter characteristics and TEs that affects the wake mode was analyzed. The results show that the motion of the wake vortex has a certain correlation with the flutter stability of the bridge deck. Limit cycle flutter (LCF) occurs to a section model with a 30° TE, whose amplitude gradually increases as the wind speed increases, and the vibration develops into a hard flutter when the wind speed is 12.43 m/s. A section model with 180 TE reaches a hard flutter when the wind speed is 15.31 m/s, without the stage of LCF. As the TE becomes more and more blunt, the critical wind speed, Us, gradually increases, meaning the flutter stability gradually increases. The results reveal that LCF may still occur to the bridge section with a streamlined front edge, and, in some cases, it also may have a range of wind speeds in which LCF occurs.

Experimental Study on the Spanwise Correlation of Vortex-Induced Force Using Large-Scale Section Model

To investigate the spanwise correlation of vortex-induced forces (VIF) of a typical section of a streamlined box girder, wind tunnel tests of simultaneous measurement of force and displacement responses of a sectional model were conducted in a smooth flow. The spanwise correlation of VIF and pressure coefficients on the measurement points of an oscillating main deck were analyzed in both the time domain and frequency domain, respectively. The research results indicated that the spanwise correlation of VIF and pressure coefficients on the measurement points were related to the amplitudes of vortex-induced vibration (VIV), both of them weakened with the increase of spanwise distance; the maximum value of spanwise correlation coefficient is situated at the ascending stage of the lock-in region, rather than at the extreme amplitude point. The amplitudes of VIV showed different impacts on the spanwise correlation of pressure coefficients on the measurement points of the upper and lower surfaces, for which the maximum value of the spanwise correlation coefficients is located at the extreme amplitude point and the ascending stage of the lock-in region, respectively. Furthermore, the spanwise correlation of the pressure coefficients decreases continually from the upstream to downstream of the main deck; large coherence of vortex-induced forces and pressure appears around the frequency of vortex shedding, and the coherence of VIF and pressure becomes smaller with the increase in the spanwise distance.

TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION WITHIN THE RISING PIPE IN FLAT PLATE SOLAR COLLECTOR

In the present study, the effect of increasing absorption area by using two different cross-section shapes of rising pipe namely semi-circle cross-section (model -A-) and elliptic cross-section (model -B-) on the temperature distribution of operating liquid within rising pipe of the FPSC is studied numerically and experimentally. Experimental tests are conducted under weather Baghdad – Iraq, while the numerical results are obtained by using Ansys Fluent CFD. The difference between the experimental findings and numerical findings for the average temperature of the water in the tank and the temperature of the operating liquid at exit rising pipe is 8.12 % and 8.36 % respectively. The results have shown that the temperature distribution for all new models higher than the traditional model. Furthermore, model -B- has higher other models under study. Hence, the best model according to the current study is model -B- increase by (2.4%), (2.2%) and (2.5%) regarding the temperature of the operating liquid at the inlet, center, and outlet respectively compared to the traditional model.

Modelling of tall-structure lightning return-stroke current using the Electromagnetic Transients Program

The main aim of this PhD work is to advance tall-structure lightning return-stroke current modelling. The Alternative Transients Program (ATP), a version of the Electromagnetic Transients program (EMTP), is used to model the lightning current distribution within a tall structure and the attached lightning channel. The tall structure, namely the CN Tower, is modeled as three or five transmission line sections connected in series. The lightning channel is represented by a transmission line with a continuously expanding length. The presented model takes into account reflections within the tower and within the lightning channel. Locations of reflections, current reflection coefficients and the parameters of the current simulation function are calculated based on the time analysis of the current derivative signal, measured at the tower. The decay parameters of the simulation function are first determined by curve fitting the decaying part of the current obtained from measurement. The other parameters are determined by curve fitting the measured initial current derivative impulse with the derivative of the simulation function, before the arrival of reflections. The simulation results substantially succeeded in reproducing the fine structure of the measured current derivative signal. The model allows for the computation of the lightning current at any point along the current path (the tower and the attached channel), which is required for the calculation of the associated electromagnetic field. Using the three-section model of the tower, the presented return-stroke current model enables the determination of a discrete return-stroke velocity profile, demonstrating that the velocity generally decays with time. Furthermore, based on the five-section model, the proposed approach enables taking into account the existence of upward-connecting leaders, which allowed, for the first time, the determination of upward-connecting leader lengths and return-stroke velocity variation profiles with more details. The return-stroke velocity profile is found to initially increase rapidly with time, reaching a peak, and then decrease less rapidly. The proposed model is also experimentally verified based on the comparison between the computed and measured electromagnetic fields. The simulated electric and magnetic field waveforms are found to reproduce important details of the measured fields, including initial split peaks that appear due to channel-front reflections in the presence of upward-connecting leaders.

Modelling of tall-structure lightning return-stroke current using the Electromagnetic Transients Program

The main aim of this PhD work is to advance tall-structure lightning return-stroke current modelling. The Alternative Transients Program (ATP), a version of the Electromagnetic Transients program (EMTP), is used to model the lightning current distribution within a tall structure and the attached lightning channel. The tall structure, namely the CN Tower, is modeled as three or five transmission line sections connected in series. The lightning channel is represented by a transmission line with a continuously expanding length. The presented model takes into account reflections within the tower and within the lightning channel. Locations of reflections, current reflection coefficients and the parameters of the current simulation function are calculated based on the time analysis of the current derivative signal, measured at the tower. The decay parameters of the simulation function are first determined by curve fitting the decaying part of the current obtained from measurement. The other parameters are determined by curve fitting the measured initial current derivative impulse with the derivative of the simulation function, before the arrival of reflections. The simulation results substantially succeeded in reproducing the fine structure of the measured current derivative signal. The model allows for the computation of the lightning current at any point along the current path (the tower and the attached channel), which is required for the calculation of the associated electromagnetic field. Using the three-section model of the tower, the presented return-stroke current model enables the determination of a discrete return-stroke velocity profile, demonstrating that the velocity generally decays with time. Furthermore, based on the five-section model, the proposed approach enables taking into account the existence of upward-connecting leaders, which allowed, for the first time, the determination of upward-connecting leader lengths and return-stroke velocity variation profiles with more details. The return-stroke velocity profile is found to initially increase rapidly with time, reaching a peak, and then decrease less rapidly. The proposed model is also experimentally verified based on the comparison between the computed and measured electromagnetic fields. The simulated electric and magnetic field waveforms are found to reproduce important details of the measured fields, including initial split peaks that appear due to channel-front reflections in the presence of upward-connecting leaders.

Decision Support System Based on Fuzzy Logic for Assessment of Expected Corporate Income Performance

This study presents a decision-support method to estimate the next year performance of corporate Operating Income Margin (OIM). It is based on a unique combination of cross-section model and the rules-based evaluation mechanism. The estimate is done in terms of broad categories, and not precise numerical values. The model is constructed as follows: its dependent variable (OIM) is one year ahead vs. the corresponding explanatory variables. This structure of the model allows us to view explanatory variables as reflecting financial potential of corporations. The evaluation component consists of a set of rules designed to identify the companies whose “potential” clearly points to an opportunity to invest. For the method presented here to succeed, it is necessary to utilize a highly reliable modeling method, even if it is “Fuzzy”. We apply Soft Regression (SR), which is a Soft Computing modeling tool based on Fuzzy Logic, and utilize all available proxy variables by creating intervals of values. Advantages of utilizing SR, and the intervals’-based modeling are extensively discussed. Modeling results for five consecutive years are consistent and stable, thus indicating high degree of reliability. Testing indicates very high success rate for the stock market related domain, the lowest being 87.9%.