Layout Configuration Research Articles

Innovative robotization of manual manufacturing processes

Manufacturing industries are continually challenged to adapt to a competitive environment. Consequently, there is an urgency to opt for automation technologies to upgrade their manufacturing facilities and make them more flexible. Especially this relates to automating manual manufacturing processes, which is often challenging to structure to ensure repetitiveness and generalization to other processes within the facility. Consequently, innovating systematic approaches to identify robotization opportunities is an interesting proposition for manufacturing set-ups that would like to integrate collaborative robots on the shop floor and struggle with the decision steps to follow.In this paper, a framework for supporting robotization effort for manufacturing set-ups is proposed. The methodology consisting of five phases, culminating in the identification of robotization opportunities. A case for manual milling manufacturing processes is demonstrated as a ‘proof-of-concept’. The first step of the proposed approach focuses on task decomposition, in which manual manufacturing tasks are characterized. This is followed by task allocation to a robot and human agent based on intrinsic characteristics of the task to capabilities of the agent. Next, alternative layout configurations for candidate cell layouts are generated. In the final step, a candidate layout is selected and modeled in an agent-based simulation platform, considering factors such as realism, interaction safety between the robot and human agent, and interesting manufacturing metrics such as resource utilization and throughput rate. A final configuration is optimized, which visualizes a collaborative robot performs loading and unloading tasks alongside an operator performing highly cognitive tasks. For safety, zoning of the manufacturing cell is visualized, considering a working area separated by a safety fence.

Collaborative Workplace Design: A Knowledge-Based Approach to Promote Human–Robot Collaboration and Multi-Objective Layout Optimization

The innovation-driven Industry 5.0 leads us to consider humanity in a prominent position as the center of the manufacturing field even more than Industry 4.0. This pushes us towards the hybridization of manufacturing plants promoting a full collaboration between humans and robots. However, there are currently very few workplaces where effective Human–Robot Collaboration takes place. Layout designing plays a key role in assuring safe and efficient Human–Robot Collaboration. The layout design, especially in the context of collaborative robotics, is a complex problem to face, since it is related to safety, ergonomics, and productivity aspects. In the current work, a Knowledge-Based Approach (KBA) is adopted to face the complexity of the layout design problem. The framework resulting from the KBA allows for developing a modeling paradigm that enables us to define a streamlined approach for the layout design. The proposed approach allows for placing resource within the workplace according to a defined optimization criterion, and also ensures compliance with various standards. This approach is applied to an industrial case study in order to prove its feasibility. A what-if analysis is performed by applying the proposed approach. Changing three control factors (i.e., minimum distance, robot speed, logistic space configuration) on three levels, in a Design of Experiments, 27 layout configurations of the same workplace are generated. Consequently, the inputs that most affect the layout design are identified by means of an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The results show that only one layout is eligible to be the best configuration, and only two out of three control factors are very significant for the designing of the HRC workplace layout. Hence, the proposed approach enables the designing of standard compliant and optimized HRC workplace layouts. Therefore, several alternatives of the layout for the same workplace can be easily generated and investigated in a systematic manner.

URANS PREDICTION OF THE SLAMMING COEFFICIENTS FOR PERFORATED PLATES DURING WATER ENTRY

The slamming coefficients for perforated plates of various perforation ratios and layout configurations were predicted using Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) solver STAR-CCM+. The numerical model was validated by comparing with experimental measurements of slamming coefficient for a circular cylinder. The slamming coefficients and free surface profiles of perforated plates were then predicted at full-scale. It was found the air compressibility plays an important role by studying flat plate water entry phenomena. For perforated plates with small gap length/width ratios, the ability of the trapped air to evacuate through the space between the bottom of the plate and free surface is similar. For perforated plates with different gap number at a fixed perforation ratio, the slamming coefficient is increased with the increase in gap length/width ratio. However, a further increase in length/width ratio may impose a negative impact on the escape of trapped air due to the increase of gap number.

Crashworthiness capability of thin-walled fibre metal laminate tubes under axial crushing

This study aims to evaluate the crushing behaviour of aluminium-glass fibre reinforced plastic (GFRP) with different layer configurations known as fibre metal laminate (FML) subject to dynamic loading conditions. The tubes were assembled to form 2/1 and 3/2 layout configurations. Resin and braided fiberglass sleeve were introduced as composite layer and sandwiched with two layers of aluminium tubes in forming 2/1 lay-up structure while a layer of composite and aluminium tube is added up alternately for 3/2 lay-up structure. These tubes were tested to evaluate the impact characteristics under low-speed axial impact loading. A finite element (FE) model was also developed and validated against the experimental results. In the numerical evaluation using a validated FE model, the internal energy of an aluminium tube was higher than the internal energy of a GFRP tube when the FML tube was progressively crushed. A series of parametric studies have shown that the increase in aluminium and GFRP wall thickness resulted higher specific energy absorption (SEA). The FML tube fold similar to the crush mode of outer tube material as when it is in its single tube form. All tube configurations were progressively crushed and unlikely to fail under catastrophic failure. FE model founds the aluminium tube layer is more dominant in energy absorption mechanism of the FML tube and increasing the number of tube layers improved crashworthiness significantly. From this discovery, a FML tube could be considered as a suitable lightweight candidate for energy absorbing applications with considerable crashworthiness capability.

Investigation and Suppression of Holding Voltage Deterioration in Multifinger SCR for Robust High-Voltage ESD Engineering

For robust high-voltage (HV) electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection engineering, such as 8-KV or 15-KV ESD target, the silicon-controlled rectifiers (SCRs) with high holding voltage are needed to mitigate latch-up risk. However, when implemented in the multifinger layout configuration for satisfying high robust ESD requirement, these devices may encounter holding voltage deterioration problems. In this article, such holding voltage deterioration has been explored by theoretical analysis and experimental verification. The transmission line pulsing (TLP) results indicate that the sharing of adjacent WELL pickup and removing of inner guard ring in the typical multifinger layout (TMF) are the root causes for holding voltage deterioration. Through the appropriate test-key design, both of these culprits have been identified independently. Finally, by keeping the average WELL pickup length and average number of parasitic paths of each SCR finger in the multifinger layout constant, such holding voltage deterioration can be restrained effectively, achieving a stable holding voltage regardless of the number of fingers. Therefore, this article offers very useful work for HV ESD engineering.

Sustainable layout design of steel buildings through embodied energy and costs optimization

Structural design process is a major phase in construction that has an impact not only on the cost of the project but on the environmental aspects as well. Although the majority of structural engineers aims to reduce the structural cost by reducing the weight of the elements, yet a handful of engineers has the information required to consider the environmental impact of their decisions. This paper presents an attempt to develop a multi-objective optimization model for steel floor structural system against cost and embodied energy using genetic algorithm. In addition, a novel study is conducted to address the embodied energy values for structural materials is Egypt. The presented model allows for determining the optimum layout of certain space taking into consideration the architectural constraints imposed on this space. In this optimization problem, the layout configuration of the steel beams, the steel beams profiles, the metal deck thickness, and the concrete slab thickness are determined. The developed model is elaborated along with the results of applying the model on two problems, which shows its ability to address several types of applications.

Performance-driven design methodology for habitation shell design in extreme conditions on Mars

The research project illustrates how performance-driven design tools can be conducted as an architectural design methodology that suggests an innovative approach to design a habitation shell in extreme environmental conditions without human assistance. This research study attempts to use environmental data revealed by NASA and its habitat design requirements to develop a conceptual design for an innovative habitation form and then simulate it with Mars conditions to analyze the habitation shell's structural behavior according to finite element analysis. In this regard, research phases, including layout configuration, form-finding, and structural analysis, have been conducted to explore a habitation concept implemented with generative design tools as a decision-maker in extreme conditions. In conclusion, two generated typologies of proposed habitation forms will be compared in terms of their structural performance under extreme loads of the martian environment. Within this research project, due to the numerous extreme challenges of design and construction of habitation in extreme conditions using conventional approaches, a performance-driven design methodology will provide a rational and sustainable design methodology to tackle extreme barriers to Mars's environment.

The Role of the Physical Environment in Shaping Interruptions and Disruptions in Complex Health Care Settings: A Scoping Review.

Interruptions and disruptions in complex healthcare environments, such as trauma rooms, can lead to compromised workflow and safety issues due to the physical environment's characteristics. This scoping review investigated the impact of the physical environment on interruptions and disruptions and the associated outcomes in complex environments, as they relate to the components of the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) was used to conduct the scoping review. CINAHL, Web of Science, and PubMed databases were searched. After removing duplicates and eligibility screening, quality assessment was conducted using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Of 1,158 articles found, 20 were selected. Poor layout configurations, tripping hazards, and technology integration were common examples. More research must be conducted to unveil the impact of the physical environment on interruptions and disruptions.

Response analysis of a multi-story building structure with a variety of horizontal irregularities and shear wall geometries

The growing growth of human activities has led to changes in housing patterns in urban areas. The land crisis in urban areas has made land prices uneconomical, so buildings are designed vertically. One solution to resist earthquakes in multi-story buildings is to add a shear wall structure with the proper profile and layout. Shear wall designs with variations influence the base shear, drift ratio, lateral deflection, and story drift patterns. This study presents the structural response comparison of buildings against variations in the profile and layout of shear walls subjected to earthquake loads. Force Based Design method utilizing the response spectrum approach was adopted in the analysis and carried out using SAP200. Six structural models comprise a frame without shear walls, three L-profile shear walls, two I-profile (straight) shear walls. The simulation results of the overall structural models show that the profile and layout configuration of shear walls in the frame structure of a multi-story building correlates directly to the performance of base shear, drift ratio, and story drift with relatively comparative conditions.

Neutronics and shielding design of CFETR HCCB blanket

Tritium breeding blanket (TBB) is one of the most important components of China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor (CFETR) with functions of tritium breeding, heat generating and nuclear shielding. This paper presents the progress on the neutronics and shielding design of the helium cooled ceramic breeder tritium breeding blanket (HCCB TBB) developed by the Southwestern Institute of Physics (SWIP). Based on the latest profile and layout configuration of CFETR TBB, the preliminary neutronics design, optimization and analysis of HCCB TBB have been completed. After several rounds of neutronics design and optimization, the TBR of HCCB TBB is 1.177, and the value drops to 1.101 considering the influence of auxiliary systems, which can meet the design objectives of CFETR. The total nuclear heating of HCCB TBB is 1402 MW with 1500 MW fusion power. Among all the blanket modules, blanket module #3 is subjected to the strongest neutron irradiation. Meanwhile, the overall shielding analysis for TF coils of CFETR has been performed based on the current design of HCCB TBB, and the preliminary shielding design and optimization for the weak shielding areas such as HCCB TBB, divertor and neutral beam injector (NBI) port have been carried out. After shielding optimization, the fast neutron fluence and nuclear heating of all TF coils are below the design limit. By increasing the number of source neutron histories and using some variance reduction techniques in the MCNP calculation, the relative errors of neutronics and shielding analysis results for HCCB TBB are all less than 5%.

Uplift resistance capacity of anchor piles used in marine aquaculture

Anchor piles are widely used in marine aquaculture, and the safety is largely determined by the uplift resistance capacity,especially in harsh ocean environments. However, there are few practical guides to the design and installation of the anchor piles for mooring the body of marine aquaculture equipment. Laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of the initial tension angle, pile diameter, embedded depth, and pile configuration on the uplift resistance capacity of anchor piles under oblique loads. CCD camera and load cell were utilized to measure the corresponding displacement and load, respectively. The results show that increasing the initial tension angle of circular and square single piles can significantly improve the uplift resistance capacity. The failure load of the square single pile was slightly higher than that of the circular single pile. Increasing the pile diameter can effectively improve the failure load and delay the development speed of the pile top displacement. Increasing the embedded depth can effectively improve the failure load and increase the lateral displacement of the pile top. The uplift resistance capacity of the dual anchor piles was better than that of the single anchor piles. The layout configuration has little effect on the failure load, but has a large effect on the displacement development.

Compact periscope-type objective based on wedge-shaped prisms with free-form surfaces

Peculiarities of the optical layout configuration of a periscope-type objective based on wedge-shaped prisms with free-form surfaces are considered. Guidelines on the correction of aberrations of the initial optical system and control of ray incidence angles on the prism surfaces in the areas where ray reflection and refraction zones overlap are formulated. The effectiveness of these guidelines is demonstrated by calculation of a compact periscope-type objective operating in a spectral interval spanning visible and near-infrared ranges. Elements of the optical layout of the objective are fabricated using advanced commercially available types of plastic.

Automated configuration design framework for payload integration in unmanned aerial vehicles

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have became appreciably compact and lightweight over the years, imposing stricter geometric and stability constraints. The new-generation UAVs are required to carry numerous sensors and peripheral components for a variety of tasks. These components are placed in accordance with the requirements for use and stability conditions, which complicates the determination of an optimal layout configuration. This article presents the design automation framework for determining favourable sensor placement locations under specific stability constraints. The proposed methodology is a unique end-to-end framework that determines convenient locations for sensor placement, considering the finite element model of UAVs and payload-related parameters as inputs. The design automation routine proposes an integrated approach using the support vector machine and extended pattern search algorithms to identify the design space and relevant cost function. The efficacy of the proposed framework is examined by leveraging finite element solvers to optimize payload placements on a simulated UAV model.

Investigation of Mission-Driven Inverse Aircraft Design Space Exploration with Machine Learning

The goal of this work was to investigate the feasibility of developing machine learning models for predicting the values of aircraft configuration design variables when provided with time series of mission-informed performance parameters. Regression artificial neural networks, along with their associated training data, have been generated and tested for aircraft design space exploration scenarios. The bounds of the data used to train the models were partially informed by the configuration characteristics of the Boeing 737 Next Generation family. The effects of varying neural network architecture, along with the application of different data filtering schemes, on the models’ predictive accuracy have been examined. The results obtained demonstrated that cascade-forward shallow neural networks not only exhibited excellent generalization across the design space for which the model was calibrated for, but also showcased versatility when tasked with predicting design variable values for a configuration layout relatively different from the ones used for training. Furthermore, these models had favorable metrics in computational wall-clock time required and number of epochs needed for training.

Identifying Health Care Environment Contradictions in Terms of Infection Control during a Pandemic with a Focus on Health Workers’ Experience

During the past year, health care environments have struggled to cope with the various impacts of COVID-19 around the world. Health care facilities need to help strengthen resistance to pathogen threats and provide care for patients and health workers in the safest possible way. Architectural design strategies can play a significant role in infection prevention and control. The current study aims to examine the experiences of health workers with hospital spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic. Identifying the difficulties they face, the present study attempts to shed light on the role of the health care layout configuration in combating pandemics. The authors conducted observations at four hospitals and a series of online semi-structured interviews with 162 health care staff from March to May 2020. The study indicated that space configuration and the hospitalization of patients, layout and circulation of the environment, operation services such as indoor environment conditions, maintenance of health care system, and organizational support for health care staff were the most critical factors affecting infection control in health care environments. The initial zoning and separation of patients were the most effective methods of controlling infection. Hospitals with clustered plan layouts were found to be the most effective buildings for the zoning of COVID-19 patients during the pandemic and for infection control.

Effect of Time-Real Marine Environment Exposure on the Mechanical Behavior of FRP Composites

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites coupons were exposed to real sea environment to assess the influence on the mechanical behavior of composite materials used in the construction of marine structures. Real-life sea environment conditions were opted for instead of the more common simulated and laboratory versions of seawater in the attempt to obtain more realistic structural modeling environmental input design parameters for marine structures. Exposure was performed over prolonged time span instead of the usual accelerated tests. Epoxy and polyester resins, reinforced with glass fibers in three fiber layout configurations, were used to manufacture standardized tensile testing coupons. Mass changes due to seawater absorption, microorganism growth, changes in tensile strength (standard tensile tests), and surface morphology of the coupons were evaluated after 6- and 12-month long periods of submersion in the sea in the Rijeka bay, Croatia. All specimens showed mass increase due to water absorption and growth of attached algae and sea microorganisms. Various levels of reduction in tensile strength, depending on the fiber layout configurations, were observed. Significant changes in the matrix material structure were noticed, effectively producing “voids”. Based on these results, sustainability of FRP composites in marine environment is addressed and discussed.

How do Chinese as a second language (CSL) learners acquire orthographic knowledge: component, structure and position regularity

Learning Chinese characters could be challenging for many CSL learners due to the distinction in orthographic features between the Chinese written system and their first languages. While acquisition of orthographic knowledge could be important for learning Chinese characters, how they can gain knowledge about different aspects of Chinese orthography (i.e. component, structure and position regularity) remains less studied. The component is a basic perceptual constituent of Chinese characters, the character structure is the configuration layout formed by relative positions of components. Many components are supposed to follow the implicit position regularity rule when they are integrated to form characters. In this study, a total of 213 CSL students in Hong Kong were invited to complete three tasks measuring students’ component knowledge, structural knowledge, and position regularity knowledge. It has been found that overall CSL students’ performance in these tasks seemed to be affected by character structures. Furthermore, we found that component knowledge had an indirect effect on position regularity knowledge via the mediation of structural knowledge, which showed a possible link about how learners gradually understand complex orthographic rules based on the perceptual observation. Implications for the teaching and learning of the Chinese language were also discussed.

Toward Sustainable Urban Drainage Infrastructure Planning: A Combined Multiobjective Optimization and Multicriteria Decision-Making Platform

This study aims to introduce a generic solution in the context of a multicriteria decision making (MCDM) platform to (1) facilitate the optimization of hybrid (de)centralized urban drainage infrastructures with many decisions and often conflicting objectives (reliability, resilience, sustainability, and construction costs); (2) investigate the trade-offs between performance indicators and system configuration; and (3) avoid conflicts between optimization analysts and decision makers by involving the latter in different stages of planning. For this purpose, first, all optimum design scenarios of hybrid urban drainage systems (UDSs) are generated through multiobjective optimization (MOO). Then a platform based on MCDM is presented to comprehensively analyze the solutions found by MOO and to rank the solutions. For the sake of demonstration, the proposed framework is applied to a real case study. The results confirm the ability of the proposed framework in handling many decisions, objectives, and indicators for solving a complex optimization problem in a reasonable time by delivering realistic solutions. In addition, the results demonstrate the important role of the degree of (de)centralization (DC) and the layout configuration in obtaining optimal solutions.

Collaborative optimization model of renewable energy development considering peak shaving costs of various flexibility resources

China has set carbon emission goals for 2030 and 2060. Renewable energy sources, primarily wind and photovoltaic power, are being considered as the future of power generation. The major limitation to the development of new energies is the limited flexibility of regulations on power system resources, resulting in insufficient consumption capacity. Thus, the flexible resource costs for peak shaving as well as the reasonable coordinated development and operation optimization of regional renewable energy need to be considered. In this study, a renewable energy development layout configuration analysis method was established by considering the composite cost of a power system, comprehensively analyzing the potential of various flexibility regulation resources for the power system and its composite peak shaving cost, and combining renewable energy output characteristics, load forecasting, grid development, and other factors. For the optimization of various flexible resource utilization methods, a peak shaving cost estimation method from the perspective of the entire power system was established by combining the on-grid electricity prices and operating costs of different power sources. A collaborative optimization model of power system operation that aims at the lowest peak shaving cost and satisfies the constraints of operation, safety, and environmental protection was proposed. Finally, a certain area of Gansu Province was used as an example to perform detailed analysis and calculation, which demonstrated that the model has an optimal effect. This model can provide an analysis method for regional renewable energy development layout configurations and system optimization operations.

Model parameter prediction of lumped plasticity model for nonlinear simulation of circular reinforced concrete columns

This paper presents the model parameter estimation of a lumped plasticity model to realistically simulate the nonlinear load-deformation response of circular reinforced concrete columns under cyclic lateral loading. The model parameter calibration is based on an experimental database consisting of 210 circular columns with various input parameters, such as material strength, reinforcement layout, specimen geometry, and test configuration. The model parameter values for the initial stiffness, plastic rotation capacity, moment strength, and cyclic damage parameters are calibrated to the first-cycle envelope of each set of test data. Empirical predictive equations are developed to estimate the model parameters as functions of the input parameters using four different regression techniques: stepwise, ridge, lasso, and elastic net regression. The equations developed with lasso regression provided a reasonable trade-off between the prediction error and the number of input parameters. Important input parameters that affect the model parameters are the volumetric transverse reinforcement ratio, spacing of confinement steel, and axial load. As an application of the proposed column model, seismic fragilities of bridge columns in two bridge classes with different interior bent type are compared based on an existing distributed plasticity model and the proposed lumped plasticity model. The seismic vulnerability prediction discrepancy between the proposed and existing models tend to increase as the level of ground motion intensity increases. The prediction trend between the two models may differ by bent configuration and deck mass. The proposed column model reduces the seismic vulnerability of one-column bent bridge class, but increases the vulnerability of two-column bent bridge class.