Hybrid testing is an emerging technique for system emulation that uses a transfer system composed of actuators and sensors to couple physical tests of a critical component or substructure to a numerical simulation of the remainder of a system and its complete operating environment. The realisation of modern real-time hybrid tests for multi-body contact-impact problems often proves infeasible due to (i) hardware with bandwidth limitations and (ii) the unavailability of control schemes that provide satisfactory force and position tracking in the presence of sharp non-linearities or discontinuities. Where this is the case, the possibility of employing a pseudo-dynamic technique remains, enabling tests to be conducted on an enlarged time scale thus relaxing bothbandwidth and response time constraints and providing inherent loop stability. Exploiting the pseudo-dynamic technique, this thesis presents the development of Robotic Pseudo-Dynamic Testing (RPsDT), a dedicated method that specifically targets the realisation of hybrid tests for multi-body contact-impact problems using commercial off- the shelve (COTS) industrial robotic manipulators. The RPsDT method is evaluated in on-ground studies of air-to-air refuelling (AAR) maneuvers with probe-hose-drogue systems where the critical contact and coupling phase is tested pseudo-dynamicallywith full-scale refuelling hardware while the flight regime is emulated in simulation. It is shown that the RPsDT method can faithfully reproduce the dominant contact impact phenomena between probe and drogue while minor discrepancies result from the absence of rate-dependant damping in the force feedback measurements. In combination with full-speed robot controlled contact tests, reliable estimates for impact forces, strain distributions and drogue responses to off-centre hits are obtained providing extensive improvements over current predictive capabilities for the in-flight behaviour of refuelling hardware and it is concluded that the technique shows great promise for industrial applications.

abstract: In order to address concerns about the dominance of petroleum-fueled vehicles, the transition to alternative-fueled counterparts is urgently needed. Top barriers preventing the widespread diffusion of alternative-fuel vehicles (AFV) are the limited range and the scarcity of refueling or recharging infrastructures in convenient locations. Researchers have been developing models for optimally locating refueling facilities for range-limited vehicles, and recently a strategy has emerged to cluster refueling stations to encourage consumers to purchase alternative-fuel vehicles by building a critical mass of stations. However, clustering approaches have not yet been developed based on flow-based demand. This study proposes a Threshold Coverage extension to the original Flow Refueling Location Model (FRLM). The new model optimally locates p refueling stations on a network so as to maximize the weighted number of origin zones whose refuelable outbound round trips exceed a given threshold, thus to build critical mass based on flow-based demand on the network. Unlike other clustering approaches, this model can explicitly ensure that flow demands “covered” in the model are refuelable considering the limited driving range of AFVs. Despite not explicitly including local intra-zonal trips, numerical experiments on a statewide highway network proved the effectiveness of the model in clustering stations based on inter-city flow volumes on the network. The model’s policy implementation will provide managerial insights for some key concerns of the industry, such as geographic equity vs. critical mass, from a new perspective. This project will serve as a step to support a more successful public transition to alternative-fuel vehicles. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Geography 2015

Submitted by Nadir Basilio (nadirsb@uninove.br) on 2017-02-22T21:06:29Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Henrricco Nieves Pujol Tucci.pdf: 3397813 bytes, checksum: c699bbae1cc911a864bb774413e18dec (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-22T21:06:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Henrricco Nieves Pujol Tucci.pdf: 3397813 bytes, checksum: c699bbae1cc911a864bb774413e18dec (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-11-21 / The aircraft supply is a major cause of flight delays since this process is slow and, if it does not start as soon as the aircraft is available for the maintenance team, the risk of being terminated after the last passenger has already boarded increases. The procedure usually only starts after the information of how much must be supplied get through the flight dispatcher and this information typically take some time to get to the maintenance team. However, it is intended to test a new scenario: start to supply with the minimum quantity of fuel and, if necessary, complete with the amount belatedly informed by dispatcher. Therefore, this paper aims to analyze the application of Six Sigma in this process through the Student's t-test and the Statistical Process Control (SPC). Sigma in this process through the Student t test and Statistical Process Control (SPC). The method adopted was multi cases study by interviews and organizational practices observations. The results showed that the new process is favorable in relation to the former, the Case 1 average time of flight delays has been reduced from 14 to 6 minutes (57%), Case 2 average time has been reduced from 10 to 6 minutes (53%), about flight delays quantity upper than 15 minutes, has reduced to 43% and 39% respectively. It concludes that the application of Six Sigma in aircraft refueling process is innovative to the scientific literature and was favorable for both companies, also helped to mitigate the risk of fines and penalties and, consequently, improved the level of quality of service offered by the airline company. / O abastecimento de aeronaves é uma das principais causas de atrasos de voo uma vez que este processo é lento e, caso este não seja iniciado assim que a aeronave esteja disponível para a equipe de manutenção, o risco de ser finalizado depois do último passageiro já ter embarcado aumenta. O processo de abastecimento usualmente só é iniciado após a informação de quanto se deve abastecer, esta informação costuma demorar a chegar para a equipe de manutenção. A melhoria no processo considera iniciar o abastecimento com a quantidade mínima de combustível e, se necessário, completar com a quantidade tardiamente informada. O objetivo desse trabalho é analisar a aplicação do Seis Sigma utilizando o teste t de Student e o Controle Estatístico do Processo (CEP) nas duas maiores companhias aéreas brasileiras. O método adotado foi estudo de múltiplos casos por meio de entrevista e observação na prática organizacional. O resultado demonstra que o tempo médio de atrasos de voo para o Caso 1 foi reduzido após a aplicação do Seis Sigma, de 14 para 6 minutos (57%). Além disso, a quantidade de atrasos acima de quinze minutos foi reduzida em 53%. Já no Caso 2, o tempo médio foi reduzido de 10 para 6 minutos, uma melhora de 43%, quanto a quantidade de atrasos acima de quinze minutos, houve uma redução de 39%. Conclui-se que a aplicação do Seis Sigma no processo de abastecimento de aeronaves é inovadora para a literatura científica e foi favorável para as duas empresas, também colaborou para mitigar os riscos de multas e penalidades e, consequentemente, melhorou o nível de qualidade do serviço oferecido pelas companhias aéreas.

Thesis (M.S.)--Air Force Institute of Technology, 2003. / Title from title screen (viewed Oct. 28, 2003). "March 2003." Vita. "AFIT/GOR/ENS/03-04." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 69-70). Also issued in paper format.

No description available.

In this thesis, the possibility of enabling space-mining for the upcoming decade is explored. Making use of recently-proven reusable rockets, we envision a fleet of spacecraft capable of reaching Near-Earth asteroids. To analyze this idea, the goal of this problem is to maximize the asteroid mass retrieved within a spacecraft max life span. Explicitly, the maximum lifetime of the spacecraft fleet is set at 30 years. A fuel supply-chain is proposed and designed so that each spacecraft is refueled before departing for each asteroid. To maximize access to the number of asteroids and retrievable mass for each mission, we propose launching each mission from an orbit with low escape velocity. The L2-Halo orbit at the libration point in the Earth-Moon system was selected due to its easy access from Low-Earth Orbit and for a cislunar synergy with NASA Gateway. Using data from NASA SmallBody and CNEOS databases, we investigated NEAs in the period between 2030 and 2060 could be captured in the ecliptic plane and returned to L2-Halo with two approaches, MARM-1 and MARM-2. Together, these databases provide all information for every asteroid's close approach known today. Returning the asteroid as a whole is explored in the MARM-1 method, while MARM-2 evaluates the possibility of reaching larger asteroids and returning a fragment of their masses, such that it optimizes the available cargo weight per time of flight of each mission. The following results are compared with previous work from the community. The results show a 96% reduction in the cost per kg, with an enormous increase in retrieved mass. With these results, this thesis shows that not solely energy or dynamic optimization will be responsible for proving space mining feasibility, but rather a combination of those and business best practices. Proving feasibility for space mining is a complex and immense problem. Although this thesis opens new possibilities for future work on the field and sparkes the interest of private endeavors, the final solution for this problem still requires additional exploration. / M.S. / In this thesis, the possibility of enabling space-mining for the upcoming decade is explored. Making use of recently-proven reusable rockets, we envision a fleet of spacecraft capable of reaching Near-Earth asteroids, NEAs. To analyze this idea, the goal of this problem is to maximize the asteroid mass retrieved within a spacecraft max life span. Explicitly, the maximum lifetime of the spacecraft fleet is set at 30 years. A fuel supply-chain is proposed and designed so that each spacecraft is refueled before departing for each asteroid. To maximize access to the number of asteroids and retrievable mass for each mission, we propose launching each mission from an orbit with low escape velocity. A location after the Moon, at the L2-Halo orbit, was selected due to its easy access from Low-Earth Orbit and for a synergy with the proposed new space station at the Moon orbit. Using data from NASA databases, we investigated the asteroids in the period between 2030 and 2060 that could be captured and returned with two approaches, MARM-1 and MARM-2. Together, these databases provide all information for every asteroid's close approach known today. Returning the asteroid as a whole is explored in the MARM-1 method, while MARM-2 evaluates the possibility of reaching larger asteroids and returning a fragment of their masses, such that it optimizes the available cargo weight per time of flight of each mission. The following results are compared with previous work from the community. The results show a 96% reduction in the cost per kg, with an enormous increase in retrieved mass. With these results, this thesis shows that not solely energy or dynamic optimization will be responsible for proving space mining feasibility, but rather a combination of those and business best practices. Proving feasibility for space mining is a complex and immense problem. Although this thesis opens new possibilities for future work on the field and sparkes the interest of private endeavors, the final solution for this problem still requires additional exploration.

Submitted by Caroline Periotto (carol@ufscar.br) on 2016-09-19T18:29:26Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DissRBL.pdf: 2233937 bytes, checksum: 7a73fb1e4ba8f340cb8d4bdf4e8153d4 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-09-20T18:01:34Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissRBL.pdf: 2233937 bytes, checksum: 7a73fb1e4ba8f340cb8d4bdf4e8153d4 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-09-20T18:05:15Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissRBL.pdf: 2233937 bytes, checksum: 7a73fb1e4ba8f340cb8d4bdf4e8153d4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-20T18:05:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissRBL.pdf: 2233937 bytes, checksum: 7a73fb1e4ba8f340cb8d4bdf4e8153d4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-12-14 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / The Brazilian market for dairy products is highly competitive and is still dominated by multinationals. Thus, it's essential that the national companies to invest in operational efficiency in order to compete successfully. Therefore, this research focuses in a small dairy company of the state of Pará, whose distribution system requires periodic stops for battery recharging. Moreover, the system is characterized by multiple periods and multiple time windows. To our knowledge, so far the literature hasn't presented a directly applicable methodology for the treatmeant of the application with similar characteristics. Therefore, aiming to provide more effective solutions than the ones in practice, a mixed integer linear model was developed to describe (and solve) the problem as a vehicle routing problem with time window constraints, multi-period and periodic stops for recharging. The results showed that the model adequately describes the distribution of the company, and the obtained solutions are better than those currently practiced. Furthermore, the model shows good performance within 3600 seconds of computational time for instances of 40 customers, 1 vehicle and 1 and 2 recharging stations. Aiming to tackle with larger examples, we developed a mathematical programming heuristic Relax-and-Fix to solve the model. It was also tested adapting a similar model present in the literature in order to analyze if the relaxation of some restrictions have a positive impact on the quality of the solutions. Finally, we propose a location-distribution model for recharging stations in order to examine whether the addition of new stations produce significant improvements in the solutions. / O mercado brasileiro de laticínios é altamente competitivo, sendo ainda dominado por multinacionais. Desta forma, é indispensável que as empresas nacionais invistam na eficiência operacional de forma a concorrer satisfatoriamente neste mercado. À vista disso, o foco desta pesquisa é uma pequena empresa de laticínios do Estado do Pará, cujo o sistema de distribuição a pontos de venda possui a particularidade de necessitar de paradas periódicas para recarga da bateria. Ainda, esse sistema tem como característica múltiplos períodos e múltiplas janelas de tempo. Nota-se que o levantamento bibliográfico realizado não apontou nenhuma metodologia diretamente aplicável para solução da aplicação real tratada. Portanto, objetivando provar soluções mais efetivas que as correntemente aplicadas na prática, foi desenvolvido um modelo linear inteiro misto para descrever (e resolver) o problema como um problema de roteamento de veículos com restrições janela de tempo, multi-períodos e paradas periódicas para recarga. Os resultados mostraram que o modelo proposto descreve adequadamente o processo distribuição da empresa, e as soluções obtidas são melhores que as praticadas atualmente. Além disso, verificou-se que o modelo tem um desempenho satisfatório em até 3600 segundos de processamento para instâncias de até 40 clientes, 1 veículo e até 2 postos de recarga. Com vistas ao tratamento de problemas de maior porte, foi desenvolvida uma heurística de programação matemática do tipo Relax-and-Fix para resolução do modelo. Também foi testada a adaptação de um modelo similar presente na literatura, visando analisar se a relaxação de algumas restrições impacta positivamente na qualidade das soluções. Finalmente, é proposto um modelo de localização-distribuição de postos de recarga, de forma a se examinar se a inclusão de novos postos produz melhorias significativas nas soluções atuais. / FAPESP: 14/10330-0

No description available.

There has recently been an increased interest in hydrogen, both as a solution for seasonal energy storage but also for implementations in various industries and as fuel for vehicles. The transition to a society less dependent on fossil fuels highlights the need for new solutions where hydrogen is predicted to play a key role. This project aims to investigate technical and economic outcomes of different strategies for production and storage of hydrogen based on hydrogen demand and source of electricity. This is done by simulating the operation of different systems over a year, mapping the storage level, the source of electricity, and calculating the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH). The study examines two main cases. The first case is a system integrated with offshore wind power for production of hydrogen to fuel the operations in the industrial port Gävle Hamn. The second case examines a system for independent refueling stations where two locations with different electricity prices and traffic flows are analyzed. Factors such as demand, electricity prices, and component costs are investigated through simulating cases as well as a sensitivity analysis. Future potential sources of income are also analyzed and discussed. The results show that using an alkaline electrolyzer (AEL) achieves the lowest LCOH while PEM electrolyzer is more flexible in its operation which enables the system to utilize more electricity from the offshore wind power. When the cost of wind electricity exceeds the average electricity price on the grid, a higher share of wind electricity relative to electricity from the grid being utilized in the production results in a higher LCOH. The optimal design of the storage depends on the demand, where using vessels above ground is the most beneficial option for smaller systems and larger systems benefit financially from using a lined rock cavern (LRC). Hence, the optimal design of a system depends on the demand, electricity source, and ultimately on the purpose of the system. The results show great potential for future implementation of hydrogen systems integrated with wind power. Considering the increased share of wind electricity in the energy system and the expected growth of the hydrogen market, these are results worth acknowledging in future projects.