Search Results (84)

The structural design of rail vehicle bodies significantly influences rail vehicle performance, passenger comfort, and operational efficiency. This study presents a comparative analysis of three key concepts of a rail vehicle body, namely a differential, an integral, and a hybrid structure, with a focus on their structural principles, material utilization, and implications for manufacturability and maintenance. Three rail vehicle body variants were developed, each incorporating a low-floor configuration to enhance accessibility and interior layout flexibility. The research explores the suitable placement of technical components such as a power unit and an air-conditioning system, and it evaluates interior layouts aimed at maximizing both passenger capacity and their travelling comfort. Key features, including door and window technologies, thermal comfort solutions, and seating arrangements, are also analyzed. The study emphasizes the importance of compromises between structural stiffness, reparability, production complexity, and passenger-oriented design considerations. A part of the research includes a proposal of three variants of a rail vehicle body frame, together with their strength analysis by means of the finite element method. These analyses identified that the maximal permissible stresses for the individual versions of the frame were not exceeded. Findings contribute to the development of more efficient, accessible, and sustainable regional passenger rail vehicles. Full article

Rangelands form the ecological and economic backbone of Namibia, yet the woody plant dynamics that sustain these landscapes remain sporadically quantified across the semi-arid interior. We investigated the characteristics (stand structure, regeneration, richness, diversity, composition, ecological importance, and indicator species) of woody communities along a pronounced south-to-north rainfall gradient (85–346 mm yr⁻¹) at five representative sites: Warmbad, Gibeon, Otjimbingwe, Ovitoto, and Sesfontein. Field sampling combined point-centered quarter surveys (10 points site⁻¹) and belt transects (15 plots site⁻¹). The basal area increased almost ten-fold along the gradient (0.4–3.4 m² ha⁻¹). Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) arranged plots in near-perfect rainfall order, and Permutational Multivariate Analysis of Variance (PERMANOVA) confirmed significant site differences (F_3,56 = 9.1, p < 0.001). Nanophanerophytes dominated hyper-arid zones, while microphanerophytes appeared progressively with increasing rainfall. Mean annual precipitation explained 45% of the variance in mean height and 34% of Shannon diversity but only 5% of stem density. Indicator value analysis highlighted Montinia caryophyllacea for Warmbad (IndVal = 100), Rhigozum trichotomum (75.8) for Gibeon, Senegalia senegal (72.6) for Otjimbingwe, and Senegalia mellifera (97.3) for Ovitoto. Rainfall significantly influences woody structure and diversity; however, other factors also modulate density and regeneration dynamics. This quantitative baseline can serve as a practical toolkit for designing site-specific management strategies across Namibia’s aridity gradient. Full article

Reasonable planning and scheduling in low-carbon parks is conducive to coordinating and optimizing energy resources, saving total system costs, and improving equipment utilization efficiency. In this paper, the optimization study of a distributed photovoltaic energy storage system considers the synergistic effects of the planning and operation phases. On the basis of the variable operating characteristics of the unit equipment and the complementary synergistic characteristics of the energy storage equipment, a two-layer optimization model combining planning and operation is adopted, with the minimum total cost and the minimum carbon emission content in the whole life cycle of the system as the optimization objectives and the upper layer of the planning equipment capacity and the configured capacity of each equipment in the system as the optimization variables, which are solved by using the multi-objective no-dominated-sorting genetic algorithm. The lower layer is the optimized operation mode, and the time-by-time operating capacity of each item of equipment is the optimization variable, which is solved by the interior point method. The upper layer optimization results are used as the constraint boundary conditions for optimization of the lower layer, and the lower layer optimization results provide feedback correction to the upper layer optimization results, which ultimately determine the energy system optimization scheme. The optimization results reflect that photovoltaic green power should be arranged in large quantities as a priority, and the synergistic effect of power and cold storage equipment on the system’s economy and low-carbon performance is positive. At the same time, by setting up four control scenarios of only cold storage, only electricity storage, no energy storage, and no two-tier optimization, the impacts of cold storage and electricity storage on the economic and environmental aspects of the system and the positive effect of mutual synergy are investigated, which concretely proves the validity of the two-tier optimization strategy, taking into account the operating characteristics of the equipment. Full article

Wineries require a significant energy demand for cooling interior spaces. As a result, designing energy-efficient winery buildings has become a crucial concern for winemaking countries. The objective of this study was to evaluate six winery building models with bioclimatic designs, located in the Guadalupe Valley, Baja California, using data on thermal performances (indoor temperature and relative humidity) and energy consumption obtained through dynamic thermal simulation. A baseline winery building model was developed and then enhanced with bioclimatic strategies: a semi-buried building; an underground cellar; an underground cellar with the variants of a green roof, double roof, shaded walls, and polyurethane insulation. The last solution entailed the requirement of a reduction in cooling in the warm season by 98 MWh, followed by the one with a green roof, corresponding to 94 MWh. This study provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of different architectural approaches, offering guidelines for the design of functional buildings for wine production, besides presenting energy-efficient solutions for wineries tailored to the climatic conditions of the study region. These findings highlight the importance of a function-based and energy-efficient architectural design in the winemaking industry, which leads to the definition of buildings with a compact arrangement of the functional spaces and a fruitful integration of the landscape through a wise adoption of underground solutions. Full article

This article argues that a focus on the day excursion as a particular form of journey, with its inherent limits in relation to scale, distance, and duration, enables us to bring recent critical thinking on microtravel as a form with “foundations in the depth or intensity of description” into dialogue with scholarship that has given sustained attention to modes of descriptive practice that were specific to eighteenth-century British literature and the narrative representation of interior domestic space. The three English travellers under consideration are John Loveday (1711–1789), Dorothy Richardson (1748–1819), and Caroline Lybbe Powys (1738–1817). All made numerous home tour journeys of different kinds but never published their records of their travelling in their lifetimes. All displayed sustained interest in interior description, whether that was for the purpose of antiquarian research, as was the case with Loveday, and to some extent, Richardson, or as a means of collecting, arranging, and performing domestic aesthetic sensibility, as in the writing of both Richardson and Powys. The small local journeys analysed here speak of privileged leisure: the accounts offer experimentation in the narration of journeys made within limits, but those limits are rarely of opportunity. Yet these young travellers still negotiate authority: in the practice of day excursioning, and in writing up those experiences, we see each traveller utilising this compact form to find opportunities for self-assertion, employing the formulaic structures of antiquarian record and country house catalogue in order to articulate an independent curatorial voice. Full article

This study aims to investigate the characteristics of ash accumulation and slagging in boilers during low- and medium-load operation and to analyse the migration pattern of alkali metals in high-alkali coal. In this paper, the ash accumulation characteristics and slagging trend of the furnace interior under a 500 MW load were investigated using numerical simulation by comparing the ash accumulation and slagging characteristics under two different burner configurations, and analysing the slagging trend of the furnace with upper burner arrangement and lower burner arrangement by taking the deposition location on the furnace wall and the deposition rate and the temperature of the furnace wall as the indices. The existing formation of sodium in Jundong coal at different temperatures was investigated using computational methods; SiO₂, Al₂O₃, and kaolin were doped separately; and the migration and transformation characteristics of their different additives on the sodium-based compounds in Jundong coal were explored. The results showed that, under a 500 MW load, the size of the tangent circle formed in the furnace by commissioning the upper burner condition was larger than the lower burner, and the main combustion zone was larger than the lower burner. The ash accumulation of coal ash particles in the boiler was mainly concentrated in the hearth region, and the deposition rate was higher at the height regions of 10 m and 25 m in the hearth. The solid-phase NaCl transition temperature was reduced to 350 °C after the doping of SiO₂ in Jundong coal, and the doping of Al₂O₃ inhibited the transition of solid-phase NaCl, promoted the generation of gas-phase NaCl, and had certain inhibitory effects on the generation of sodium-based silica–aluminium compounds, the content of which at all temperatures was inversely proportional to the proportion of doping. The doping of kaolin promotes the transformation of solid-phase NaCl and inhibits the generation of gas-phase NaCl. Full article

Two convex polyhedra that markedly resemble the head of the flatback sea turtle hatchling are identified. The first example is a zygomorphic tetragonal dodecahedron, while the other, an even better matching structure, is a related tetradecahedron, herein speculated to arise from this particular dodecahedron via known mechanisms gleaned from studies of the behavior of foams. A segmented, biomorphic, convex polyhedral model to address cephalic topology is thus presented stemming from solid geometry, anatomical observations, and a recently computed densest local packing arrangement of fifteen slightly oblate spheroids in which fourteen oblate spheroids surround a central such spheroid. This particular array of oblate spheroids shares salient structural features with the aforementioned dodecahedron. Successful testing of the model has been achieved by converting this array of fifteen oblate spheroids constructed with putty to the cephaloid dodecahedron in a process involving ventral elongation induced by stretching in the anterior direction along the anteroposterior axis (convergent extension). During convergent extension, the two left most anterolateral oblate spheroids that are in direct contact with the ventral spheroid of the array merge into a single lateral facet of the incipient dodecahedron, while the corresponding two right such oblate spheroids do the same. Thus, the fourteen outer oblate spheroids of the array give rise to the twelve facets of the finalized dodecahedron, while the central oblate spheroid remnant assumes an interior dodecahedral position. The hypothetical dodecahedron to tetradecahedron transformation entails the collapse of a tetravalent vertex (which is known to occur in foams as part of a T1 transition) followed by bilateral facet splitting. Remarkably, a model stipulating that convexity is to be retained in connection with this sequence of steps necessitates that the starting dodecahedral template undergoes modification to become a tetradecahedron in possession of precisely the highly ordered feature found at the top of the head of numerous specimens of the flatback sea turtle hatchling, namely, a fused medial pentagon–heptagon pair in the form of a pentagonal frontal scute and heptagonal frontoparietal scute. Such a possible new instance of geometric biomorphy, taken together with the correct anticipation of the cephalic pentagon–heptagon pair, might serve to instill further confidence in renewed efforts to shed light on morphogenesis with foam embryo models. Full article

The aim of this study is to evaluate the indoor temperature of a double-skin façades (DSF) high-rise building in Xi’an under different window opening arrangements, and to assess their impact on the operating time of the air-conditioning system. Compared to conventional buildings, double-skin façade (DSF) buildings can reduce energy consumption. While current research trends focus primarily on heat transfer and materials, there is limited exploration of window opening arrangements. To address this gap, VENT engineering software 2018 was used to simulate indoor temperatures at various window opening angles and determine the optimal arrangement. Additionally, the extreme random tree (ET) algorithm was employed to develop a model for indoor temperature prediction. Climate data were sourced from an online database and processed using the Spearman correlation coefficient method. Window opening arrangements were designed using orthogonal tests, and the performance of the DSF was evaluated with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software (Fluent) 2023R1. An analysis of temperature variation in the double-skin façade (DSF) curtain wall revealed that the ET algorithm predicted indoor temperatures with 93% accuracy at a 50° window opening angle. Optimal window opening arrangement 2 resulted in a 2.7% reduction in the average interior temperature, a 3.6% reduction at a height of 1.2 m, and a decrease in air-conditioning runtime by 1.33 h. The extreme random tree (ET) algorithm was found to be more accurate than other methods in predicting DSF performance. These findings provide insights for optimizing the control and application of double-skin façades and suggest potential synergies with other systems. Full article

Poly(p-dioxanone) (PPDO) is crystallized with amorphous poly(p-vinyl phenol) (PVPh) and tannic acid (TA) as co-diluents to regulate and induce dendritic-ringed PPDO spherulites, with spoke- or sector-bands, aiming for convenience of analyses on interior lamellar assembly. Morphologies and interior lamellar arrangement leading to the peculiar rings on individual dendrites are evaluated by using polarized-light microscopy (PLM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Combinatory microbeam small-/wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) analyses further confirm the unique assembly patterns in periodic cycles. Alternate gratings are packed with periodic ridges composed of feather-like branches and the valley is featured with some embossed textures. The periodic gratings in the ringed spokes resemble those in nature’s structured coloration and are proven to display light-interference iridescence. Full article

Flexible electronic skin (e-skin) can enable robots to have sensory forms similar to human skin, enhancing their ability to obtain more information from touch. The non-invasive nature of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) technology allows electrodes to be arranged only at the edges of the skin, ensuring the stretchability and elasticity of the skin’s interior. However, the image quality reconstructed by EIT technology has deteriorated in multi-touch identification, where it is challenging to clearly reflect the number of touchpoints and accurately size the touch areas. This paper proposed an EIT-based flexible tactile sensor that employs self-made hydrogel material as the primary sensing medium. The sensor’s structure, fabrication process, and tactile imaging principle were elaborated. To improve the quality of image reconstruction, the fast iterative shrinkage-thresholding algorithm (FISTA) was embedded into the EIDORS toolkit. The performances of the e-skin in aspects of assessing the touching area, quantitative force sensing and multi-touch identification were examined. Results showed that the mean intersection over union (MIoU) of the reconstructed images was improved up to 0.84, and the tactile position can be accurately imaged in the case of the number of the touchpoints up to seven (larger than two to four touchpoints in existing studies), proving that the combination of the proposed sensor and imaging algorithm has high sensitivity and accuracy in multi-touch tactile sensing. The presented e-skin shows potential promise for the application in complex human–robot interaction (HRI) environments, such as prosthetics and wearable devices. Full article

The use of a micropile group is an effective method for small and medium-sized slope management. However, there is limited research on the pile–soil interaction mechanism of micropile groups. Based on transparent soil and PIV technology, a test platform for the lateral load testing of slopes was constructed, and eight groups of transparent soil slope model experiments were performed. The changes in soil pressure and pile top displacement at the top of the piles during lateral loading were obtained. We scanned and photographed the slope, and obtained the deformation characteristics of the soil interior based on particle image velocimetry. A three-dimensional reconstruction program was developed to generate the displacement isosurface behind the pile. The impacts of various arrangement patterns and connecting beams on the deformation attributes and pile–soil interaction mechanism were explored, and the pile–soil interaction model of group piles was summarized. The results show that the front piles in a staggered arrangement bore more lateral thrust, and the distribution of soil pressure on each row of piles was more uniform. The connecting beams enhanced the overall stiffness of the pile group, reduced pile displacement, facilitated coordinated deformation of the pile group, and enhanced the anti-sliding effect of the pile–soil composite structure. Full article

Gas turbines are widely applied in many fields, and blade cooling is a key way to improve gas turbines’ power and efficiency. In order to explore a high-efficiency cooling method, a new variant configuration with unique coolant supply passage arrangements is proposed and explored in this paper. The numerical simulation method of solving the Navier–Stokes equations is used after mesh independence calculation and turbulence model validation. The results show that the variant structure has better streamlines distribution with double vortex flows in both the inner and outer chambers. Compared to the original configuration, the heat transfer intensity in the outer chamber is improved, and the globally averaged Nusselt number is 17.1% larger. The case with uniformly distributed nozzles has the best flow and heat transfer performance. As the nozzle number increases, the total pressure loss and friction coefficient decrease, but the heat transfer increases first and then decreases. The case of three nozzles has the best comprehensive cooling behavior. The aspect ratio has important influences on the double-vortex cooling configuration. Cases with small aspect ratios have higher local heat transfer intensity, but the flow loss is larger. The case with aspect ratio 4 has the best cooling performance. Full article

With the widespread use of electronic devices, electromagnetic interference (EMI) has become an increasingly severe issue, adversely affecting device performance and human health. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are recognized for their electrical conductivity, flexibility, and stability, making them promising candidates for EMI shielding applications. This research developed hierarchical porous-structured CNT/carbon composites for enhancing electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties. Featuring a CNT film with nano-scale pores and an amorphous carbon layer with micro-scale pores, the CNT/carbon composites are strategically arranged to promote the penetration of EM waves into the composite’s interior and facilitate multiple reflections, thereby improving the EMI shielding performance. An impressive EMI shielding effectiveness of 61.4 dB was achieved by the CNT/carbon composites, marking a significant improvement over the 36.5 dB measured for the pristine CNT film. Owing to the micro pores in the amorphous carbon layer, a notable reduction in the reflection shielding efficiency (SER) but, concurrently, a substantial increase in the absorption shielding efficiency (SEA) compared with the pristine CNT film was realized in the composites. This study successfully validated the effectiveness of the hierarchical porous structure in enhancing the EMI shielding performance, providing a promising new strategy for the development of lightweight, flexible, and efficient EMI shielding materials. Full article

Guided by the principles of visual perception and basic design, this research was conducted to examine users’ preferences on how they perceive natural unique wood phenomena of Pedunculate Slavonian Oak veneers (Quercus robur L.) such as color changes, wood rays, sapwood, and knots, which in the production and technical sense represent defects and wood residue, but could be used in the design of sustainable and ecological wall decorations. The goal was to detect samples with the most positive attributes and to observe their connection with activities and functional space if they are viewed as wall coverings in the interior. The results confirm that discoloration and wood rays are considered the most harmonious (“prettiest”) decors. Discoloration is associated with quiet cognitive or medium-intensity activity that can be used in libraries, hotel rooms, and classrooms. Wood rays are connected with very quiet activity in ambulance waiting rooms or religious buildings and museums. Knot decors are considered the most natural and are recommended for interiors with very or medium-intensive activities such as restaurants, cafes, and hotel receptions, but attention should be paid to the way the wall decors are arranged on the walls. Sapwood–hardwood decors are the subject of further research and improvement concerning the relationship between the dark and light parts of the veneer. In conclusion, the results provide useful guidelines for manufacturers with a large veneer residue in production and who want to design decorative wall panels, as well as for designers and architects designing interiors for a specific purpose and function where certain user behavior and psychological stimulation are desired. Full article

Interior design requires designer creativity and significant workforce investments. Meanwhile, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is crucial for enhancing the creativity and efficiency of interior design. Therefore, this study proposes an innovative method to generate multistyle interior design and videos with AI. First, this study created a new indoor dataset to train an AI that can generate a specified design style. Subsequently, video generation and super-resolution modules are integrated to establish an end-to-end workflow that generates interior design videos from texture-free 3D models. The proposed method utilizes AI to produce diverse interior design videos directly, thus replacing the tedious tasks of texture selection, lighting arrangement, and video rendering in traditional design processes. The research results indicate that the proposed method can effectively provide diverse interior design videos, thereby enriching design presentation and improving design efficiency. Additionally, the proposed workflow is versatile and scalable, thus holding significant reference value for transforming traditional design toward intelligence. Full article