Layout Design Research Articles

Design of Rocket Engine Nozzle Using Method of Characteristics

Abstract: This report focuses on the design of a 2D theoretical layout of a rocket engine nozzle. Convergent and divergent are to be designed separately with the focus on divergent part for a minimum length nozzle. The divergent part is to be designed using method of characteristics with left and right running characteristics using the known (sonic) values at the throat of the convergent-divergent nozzle. These characteristics would be pressure, density, velocity and temperature. A computer code has been designed to calculate the values of these characteristics and the end characteristics at the exit. CFD analysis has also been carried out on the designed nozzle using commercial software ANSYS.

Multi-Objective Optimization of an Assembly Layout Using Nature-Inspired Algorithms and a Digital Human Modeling Tool

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONS In the context of Industry 5.0, our study advances manufacturing factory layout planning by integrating multi-objective optimization with nature-inspired algorithms and a digital human modeling tool. This approach aims to overcome the limitations of traditional planning methods, which often rely on engineers’ expertise and inputs from various functions in a company, leading to slow processes and risk of human errors. By focusing the multi-objective optimization on three primary targets, our methodology promotes objective and efficient layout planning, simultaneously considering worker well-being and system performance efficiency. Illustrated through a pedal car assembly station layout case, we demonstrate how layout planning can transition into a transparent, cross-disciplinary, and automated activity. This methodology provides multi-objective decision support, showcasing a significant step forward in manufacturing factory layout design practices.

How Industry 4.0 technologies can contribute to plant layout design and management: a systematic literature review

How Industry 4.0 technologies can contribute to plant layout design and management: a systematic literature review

Effects of confined distance and wire spacing on flame spread over double electrical wires for the layout design in buildings

In this study, the flame merging and flame spread behaviors over two identical parallel electrical wires (the ratios of copper core diameter to entire wire diameter are: 6mm/10 mm and 8mm/12 mm for typeⅠand typeⅡ, respectively) were experimentally investigated under different wire spacings (3∼18 mm) and confined distances(10∼30 mm). The results show that the smaller confined distance D will promote the merging, making the wire spacing s increase for the fully merging. With the increase of D, the flame width and flame spread rate Vf will increase.While the flame height will be stretched at smaller D. And Vf is larger than that of single wire at the same D for different wire spacings.The interesting finding is that a pool fire is formed at the middle of the wire spacing when s and D are small, which will enhance the flame spread.The heat flux feedback of components including of the conductive heat flux q˙c″, the first single flame heat flux q˙f1″, the second flame heat flux q˙f2″, the pool fire heat flux q˙pf″ and the gypsum board heat flux q˙g″ are quantitatively analyzed. At the intermittent and non merging stages, the convective and radiative heat fluxes q˙vf2″ and q˙rf2″ will decrease largely due to the interaction weakened greatly. Based on the heat transfer analysis, a flame spread model is established, which can well predict the flame spread rate.These findings can give the useful suggestions on the layout design of electrical wires in confined space in buildings.

Design of heat exchanger network physical layout in process plants using a mixed-integer model

Design of heat exchanger network physical layout in process plants using a mixed-integer model

Формирование методики автоматизированного проектирования аэрогидродинамических компоновок экранопланов на основе численного моделирования

На сегодняшний день известно множество компьютерных программ, предназначенных для оптимального проектирования судов различных типов, которые в совокупности с CAD-пакетами (CAD – computer aided design, позволяют разработать компьютерную модель обводов и спецификации основных элементов судна для ее последующего использования в разработке конструкторской документации. В настоящей работе исследуются возможности применения современных компьютерных технологий в формировании методики автоматизированного проектирования аэрогидродинамической компоновки экраноплана, удовлетворяющей требованиям продольной статической устойчивости. Приводятся результаты решения задачи оптимального проектирования компоновки крыла и оперения экраноплана на основе численного моделирования аэрогидродинамики. Предложен алгоритм проектирования аэрогидродинамической компоновки экраноплана на основе численного моделирования. Today, there are many computer programs designed for optimal design of ships of various types, which, together with CAD packages (CAD - computer aided design, allow you to develop a computer model of the contours and specifications of the main elements of the vessel for its subsequent use in the development of design documentation. In this paper, the possibilities of using modern computer technologies in the formation of a computer-aided design methodology for the aerohydrodynamic layout of an ekranoplane that meets the requirements of longitudinal static stability are investigated. The results of solving the problem of optimal design of the wing and tail assembly of an ekranoplane based on numerical modeling of aero-hydrodynamics are presented. An algorithm for designing the aerohydrodynamic layout of an ekranoplane based on numerical modeling is proposed.

Challenges for Leading Edge node FINFET

The primary focus of this work is to find out the challenges associated with 7nm node finFET. To enable the current generation of gadgets/instruments, foundries are going toward smaller geometries (FinFET 7nm, 5nm, etc.) for manufacturing SOC/ASIC. To support the 7nm technology node without EUV, the Layout Design Rules have been scaled quite aggressively. As a result, obtaining satisfactory performance and yield in High Volume Manufacturing (HVM) has become a difficult undertaking. The gains in terms of power, performance, and other characteristics that become available with reduced geometries are the main drivers driving this movement. Analog/mixed-signal circuits, on the other hand, do not fully achieve these gains. They get increasingly difficult to design, with higher parasitic resistance and capacitance, more layout-dependent effects, and, in certain cases, layout growth. While in terms of fabrication the challenges are in node and cost, mask making, patterning, transistor formation, BEOL, MEOL, Technology parasitic elements and process control etc. This indicate what are the challenges for design of 7nm node FinFET.

Layout Design by Comparing Dedicated Storage Method and Class-Based Storage Method of Spare Parts Warehouse at Phthalic Anhydride (PA) Company

Layout Design by Comparing Dedicated Storage Method and Class-Based Storage Method of Spare Parts Warehouse at Phthalic Anhydride (PA) Company

Layout Characteristics and Design Principles of Atrium Integrated Space

With the development of China's cruise tourism industry, it is necessary to study the design and construction of cruise ships, especially the central atrium, which is an important part of public area design and represents the quality and characteristics of the entire ship's design. However, compared with Europe, China's research foundation for large-scale cruise ship design is still lacking. Therefore, studying the spatial layout characteristics of the central atrium is of great significance for improving China's cruise industry. This article focuses on the design principles and characteristics of integrated space layout in the central atrium of cruise ships. By applying basic theories from architecture, shipbuilding engineering, aesthetics, international maritime safety conventions and technology to analyzing representative central atria from 25 typical domestic and foreign cruise brands through data collection and research methods including mathematical statistics methodology, clustering methodology and cases research methodology. Through comparison and generalization of the cases, the study eventually summarizes six overall principles and four structural principles for designing integrated space in the central atrium of a cruise ship. The six overall principles include safety, rationality, applicability, artistry, coordination and technique-economics. The four structural principles include clear space circulation, natural spatial connection, theme coordination & unification and prominent key levels. This study provides insights into designing integrated space in the central atriums of cruise ships that hopefully can be applied in improving China's cruise design work while also supporting guidance for future related fields. Keywords: central atrium of cruise ship, integrated space, design principles, functional layout, decoration style

Study on electromagnetic stirring–braking structure layout design and its synergistic mechanism in electromagnetic metallurgy

During the continuous casting process, electromagnetic stirring (EMS) can control the flow pattern of the molten steel on the meniscus in the slab mould, while it is difficult to effectively control the entire molten steel. To this end, a novel composite magnetic field structure of EMS and electromagnetic braking (EMBr) is proposed, and the EMS–EMBr synergistic mechanism is analysed. The flow field of molten steel without a magnetic field is analysed. The magnetic field regulation strategy required to control the molten steel is clarified. The coil core structure layout of existing EMS is analysed. The action mechanism of EMS is studied through simulation, revealing the poor control effect of EMS on the molten steel under high casting speeds. Thus, a novel EMS–EMBr structure layout is proposed to enable the braking magnetic field to cover the key areas within the slab mould, ensuring that the main flow is effectively suppressed. On this basis, the effects of EMS–EMBr synergy and different process parameters on the flow pattern of molten steel are studied. The results indicate that the EMS–EMBr composite magnetic field structure proposed can more effectively control the molten steel, providing technical support for the development of electromagnetic metallurgical equipment.

Integrated infection and crowd behaviour model for COVID-19 infection risk assessment onboard large passenger vessels

The development of the global COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 onward has had significant impact on the world and specifically the maritime industry. Striking examples were COVID-19 outbreaks onboard the Diamond Princess cruise vessel and the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier at the start of the pandemic. Contagious disease management onboard large passenger ships remains a complex issue, amplified by the international character of the industry, confined environment and shared facilities. This paper therefore presents an integrated infection and crowd behavior model used to calculate agent-specific infection risk, incorporating guest and crew circulation through a passenger ship layout. The integrated model is used to investigate the effect of ship layout design, capacity reduction and mask wearing on COVID-19 airborne infection risk onboard large passenger vessels.

Dynamic content layout optimization for news website front pages

Purpose The home page design of a digital news website is a key factor in determining its attractiveness to readers. This study aims to propose an approach to manage the frequent adjustment of the dynamic layout of the news content on the website home page in a real-time environment to increase its attractiveness to readers. Design/methodology/approach This paper shows that this news website layout design problem can be modeled as an optimization problem based on the information of news contents that change within a multiple-period planning horizon similar to the dynamic facility layout problem. A hybrid genetic algorithm-based approach integrated with local search heuristic methods is also proposed to improve the solution. Findings This paper finds that the DPLP model is effective in modeling the changing layout of a digital news website. The problem can solved in a timely manner using the proposed hybrid genetic algorithm. Research limitations/implications This paper was based on hypothetical data and on the assumption of equal section size. Actual data would help fine-tune the application of the dynamic facility layout model. As well the algorithm could be enhanced for unequal size sections. Practical implications The model should help online newspapers apply sophisticated algorithms to optimize the layout of news websites dynamically in a timely manner. Social implications News websites are increasingly the desired medium to consume news. So it has an important role in educating society. Thus optimizing and improving the process will help in this regard. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first one to apply the DPLP model to the digital newspaper website dynamic design problem.

Research on the Dust Transport Law in Large Mining Height Fully Mechanized Mining Face

The fully mechanized mining face with high mining height has always been a high-risk area for coal mine dust pollution. In order to further understand the spatiotemporal transport law of dust in the zoning of the high mining height fully mechanized mining face, the 122109 high mining height fully mechanized mining face of Caojiatan Coal Mine was taken as the research object. Numerical simulation method was used to simulate and analyze the dust transport situation of the 122109 fully mechanized mining machine drum single dust source, the hydraulic support moving frame single dust source, and the superposition of all dust sources in forward and backward wind cutting coal. The research results can guide the ventilation layout design in the early stage of the mine and the dust control in the comprehensive mining process, which is of great significance for the construction of safe and green mines.

Interval-valued spherical fuzzy quality function deployment methodology: Metaverse collaborative system design application

The metaverse collaborative system (MCS) aims to assist users in working together, sharing resources, and participating in joint activities in the metaverse environment. As an interactive system, identifying essential design requirements (DRs) based on user requirements (URs) during the conceptual design phase of MCS is challenging as it directly affects the cost of subsequent optimization design and user experimentation, as well as user experience. Therefore, we propose a quality function deployment (QFD) method based on multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) in an interval-valued spherical fuzzy (IVSF) environment to establish a mapping relationship between URs and DRs and identify human-centered DRs to guide the conceptual design process of MCS. Firstly, we summarized the URs for MCS design and calculated their weights using IVSF based analytical hierarchy process (IVSF-AHP). Afterward, we determined DRs based on URs and established the UR-DR relationship in the house of quality of QFD. Next, we integrate the VlseKriterijuska Optimizacija I Komoromisno Resenje (VIKOR) method in the IVSF environment into QFD to determine the priority of DRs. The results indicate that system functional design, scene layout design, compatibility design, and multi-user collaborative optimization design are important DRs for designing MCS and should be carefully considered. We validated the applicability of this method through an urban planning MCS design example and provided a conceptual design case including functional blueprints. Sensitivity analysis and comparative analysis demonstrate the flexibility and reliability of the proposed method.

Early Marine Systems' Design – Cracking the wicked problem - The case of a novel biomass harvesting vessel

Several IMDC contributions have argued for a better approach to capture stakeholders' expectations in vessel newbuilding projects' execution. The appropriate processes of requirements elucidation are, however, often forgotten or insufficiently handled in traditional ship design and customer-designer settings. Such situations most often reveal a situation in which both "tamed" and "wicked" problems are addressed and must be dealt with properly and effectively at the earliest stage of the process. This paper shows how such problems can be addressed by using the existing multidisciplinary methodology. A practical approach consisting of a set of methods, tools, and work processes integrated into the Accelerated Business Development (ABD) approach is applied to a specific use case, a next-generation factory stern trawler development. A detailed step-by-step story of the early vessel design process – requirements elucidation in parallel with concept design solution development – is outlined following a narrative approach. The process being described covers how necessary support information, stakeholders' expectations identification, business[1]related analyses, specific design layout, onboard comfort, and fish process handling and storage are dealt with effectively and efficiently. This case study exemplifies specific solutions to better handle particularly wicked problem situations, but also tamed problems are addressed systemically. The paper concludes by showing how a final ship design solution can look like and consequently be prepared for and to be built. The handover process and documentation from requirements capture and concept design solution development to further basic design activities are highlighted. The case vessel at hand won the prestigious “ship-of-the-year” award in Norway in 2023. The paper critically discusses what are likely to be the most important factors leading to this outcome.

A wirelessly programmable, skin-integrated thermo-haptic stimulator system for virtual reality

Sensations of heat and touch produced by receptors in the skin are of essential importance for perceptions of the physical environment, with a particularly powerful role in interpersonal interactions. Advances in technologies for replicating these sensations in a programmable manner have the potential not only to enhance virtual/augmented reality environments but they also hold promise in medical applications for individuals with amputations or impaired sensory function. Engineering challenges are in achieving interfaces with precise spatial resolution, power-efficient operation, wide dynamic range, and fast temporal responses in both thermal and in physical modulation, with forms that can extend over large regions of the body. This paper introduces a wireless, skin-compatible interface for thermo-haptic modulation designed to address some of these challenges, with the ability to deliver programmable patterns of enhanced vibrational displacement and high-speed thermal stimulation. Experimental and computational investigations quantify the thermal and mechanical efficiency of a vertically stacked design layout in the thermo-haptic stimulators that also supports real-time, closed-loop control mechanisms. The platform is effective in conveying thermal and physical information through the skin, as demonstrated in the control of robotic prosthetics and in interactions with pressure/temperature-sensitive touch displays.

Phase Noise in Real‐World Twin‐Field Quantum Key Distribution

AbstractThe impact of noise sources in real‐world implementations of twin‐field quantum key distribution (TF‐QKD) protocols is investigated, focusing on phase noise from photon sources and connecting fibers. This work emphasizes the role of laser quality, network topology, fiber length, arm balance, and detector performance in determining key rates. Remarkably, it reveals that the leading TF‐QKD protocols are similarly affected by phase noise despite different mechanisms. This study demonstrates duty cycle improvements of over a factor of two through narrow‐linewidth lasers and phase‐control techniques, highlighting the potential synergy with high‐precision time and frequency distribution services. Ultrastable lasers, evolving toward integration and miniaturization, offer promising solutions for agile TF‐QKD implementations on existing networks. Properly addressing phase noise and practical constraints allows for consistent key rate predictions, protocol selection, and layout design, crucial for establishing secure long‐haul links for the quantum communication infrastructures under development in several countries.

Intelligent design of shear wall layout based on diffusion models

AbstractThis study explores artificial intelligence (AI) for shear wall layout design, aiming to overcome challenges in data feature sparsity and the complexity of drawing representations in existing AI‐based methods. We pioneer an innovative method leveraging the potential of diffusion models, establishing a suitable drawing representation, and examining the impact of various conditions. The proposed image‐prompt diffusion model incorporating a mask tensor featuring tailored training methods demonstrates superior feature extraction and design effectiveness. A comparative study reveals the advanced capabilities of the Struct‐Diffusion model in capturing engineering designs and optimizing performance metrics such as inter‐story drift ratio (in elastic analysis), offering significant improvements over previous methods and paving the way for future innovations in intelligent designs.

A Novel Drone Design Based on a Reconfigurable Unmanned Aerial Vehicle for Wildfire Management

Our study introduces a new approach, leveraging robotics technology and remote sensing for multifaceted applications in forest and wildfire management. Presented in this paper is PULSAR, an innovative UAV with reconfigurable capabilities, able of operating as a quadcopter, a co-axial quadcopter, and a standalone octocopter. Tailored to diverse operational requirements, PULSAR accommodates multiple payloads, showcasing its adaptability and versatility. This paper meticulously details material selection and design methods, encompassing both initial and detailed design, while the electronics design section seamlessly integrates essential avionic components. The 3D drone layout design, accomplished using SOLIDWORKS, enhances understanding by showcasing all three different configurations of PULSAR’s structure. Serving a dual purpose, this study highlights UAV applications in forest and wildfire management, particularly in detailed forest mapping, edge computing, and cartographic product generation, as well as detection and tracking of elements, illustrating how a UAV can be a valuable tool. Following the analysis of applications, this paper presents the selection and integration of payloads onto the UAV. Simultaneously, each of the three distinct UAV configurations is matched with a specific forest application, ensuring optimal performance and efficiency. Lastly, computational validation of the UAV’s main components’ structural integrity is achieved through finite element analysis (FEA), affirming the absence of issues regarding stress and displacement. In conclusion, this research underscores the efficacy of PULSAR, marking a significant leap forward in applying robotics technology for wildfire science.

The Beamline Layout Design Based on the Mathematical Model for Different Water Terrain

Multi-beam sounding is one of the important components of marine surveying. For different water terrain, if the line layout scheme can be reasonably formulated according to the principle of multi-beam sounding, it can greatly improve the sounding efficiency and reduce the loss of manpower, material resources and time while ensuring the accuracy of the sounding results.Based on the different water terrain, the definition of overlap rate and the calculation method in simple cases are given first.For the water with flat bottom terrain, the main selection of isobath, control different spacing and Angle to meet the overlap rate requirements as much as possible.For waters with relatively rugged and changeable underwater terrain, the water area is first rationally divided into several sub-areas, in which the underwater depth and slope change little. Then, the plane fitting is carried out for each sub-area, and the wiring idea of flat underwater terrain is adopted for wiring. For two adjacent areas with similar water depth, the water area is divided into several sub-areas.The starting end of the survey line in the latter area should be made to coincide with the end end of the survey line in the previous area. For the calculation of the coincidence rate, the data points at each depth of the bottom are iterated several times to determine whether they are in the overlapping part of the measurement area of the two survey lines, so as to arrange the multi-beam survey line as far as possible to meet the corresponding requirements.