Design Method Research Articles

The Future of Accounting: Efficacy of Big Data on Accountant’s Functions in the Accounting Information Systems

Before the advent of big data, accounting operations were performed mainly using historical and structured data. The emergence, however, introduced the use of big data to enhance and complement functions in the accounting information system, which improves the real-time and effective management of accounting data for varying uses of stakeholders. This study examined the efficacy of big data on accountant’s functions in the accounting information system in Nigeria. The study utilised survey research design method by administering structured Likert scaled questionnaire. This study was rooted in resource-based view theory and agency theory. The targeted population and the sample size was 283, which comprised accountants with experience in information systems. A purposive sampling technique was adopted to determine the respondent. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The empirical findings revealed that big data proxied with prescriptive analytics, predictive analytics, machine learning, and the Hadoop ecosystem had significant but negative effect on accountant’s functions in accounting information systems in Nigeria. This suggests that although these technologies are relevant and influential, their integration may be challenging or counterproductive to accountants' traditional roles. The negative effect could be due to factors like complexity, the need for new skill sets, inefficiencies in system adaptation, or resistance to change, which may hinder the effectiveness of accountants in fully leveraging these technologies within their work processes. This study concluded that while big data has the potential to significantly enhance accounting information systems, its integration into the accounting profession in Nigeria has been problematic. It was recommended that organizations should invest in comprehensive training programs for accountants, focusing on developing the necessary skills to handle big data tools effectively.

A unified cross-series marine propeller design method based on machine learning

Propeller design diagrams, like Bp-δ diagram, are widely applied in ship propeller design. However, different propeller series use various selection approaches, so comparisons between designs are only possible after individual candidates are chosen.This paper proposes a unified approach based on machine learning to allow efficient comparison and facilitate the selection of the optimal propeller amongst the available propeller series. The process starts by compiling propeller series data to generate a comprehensive dataset on propeller performance. This dataset is then used to train an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model, which accurately predicts open-water propeller performance. Optimization techniques are applied to maximize propeller efficiency based on the specific needs of the vessel, while ensuring compliance with cavitation and noise constraints for safety. The model's accuracy is validated using data from the KRISO Container Ship (KCS), demonstrating the prediction's reliability. The method is then applied to select both open and ducted propellers for a variety of ship types to meet specific operational requirements. Ultimately, the optimized results are ranked by efficiency, offering an organized set of options for selecting the most suitable propeller. This approach eliminates the need for manual dataset correlation, significantly improving the efficacy of generating an outperforming initial design.

Reducing low-frequency noise radiation from a concrete box girder bridge using acoustic short circuits

Low-frequency noise (20–200 Hz) radiated from concrete box girder bridges on urban viaduct railway lines is a significant source of disturbance to nearby residents. Many researchers have investigated methods which can be used to effectively reduce this bridge noise. Currently, most of the methods are based on the principles of vibration isolation and/or absorption. This paper, after modelling and analysing the contributions of various parts of a concrete box girder bridge to the total noise radiated from the bridge, presents a study on the potential in bridge noise control of making holes to create acoustic short circuits on the bridge wings. It is found that by this means the bridge noise can be reduced by up to 6.8 dB at standard-specified measurement points. Additionally, a 3dB-effectiveness distance ratio design method for acoustic short-circuiting is proposed, which effectively reduces bridge noise and achieves stable noise reduction outcomes.

Mechanical Properties Optimization and Microstructure Analysis of Pure Copper Heterostructured Laminates via Rolling

Heterogeneous metallic structures constitute a novel class of materials with excellent mechanical properties. However, the existing process for obtaining heterostructures from a single material does not meet large-scale industrial requirements. In this study, a pure copper heterostructured laminate (HSL) composed of a surface elongated-grain layer and a central equiaxed-grain layer was fabricated by rolling bonding and annealing. To study the effect of the interface on the mechanical properties of gradient-structured materials, both laminate metal composite (LMC) and non-composite laminate (NCL) were fabricated by cold-rolling pretreatment of the center layer (60% reduction) and cold-rolling bonding of the whole blank (67% reduction). Then, the HSL was obtained by controlling the post-annealing regimes, the microstructure of each layer was optimized, and a larger degree of microstructural heterogeneities, such as grain size, misorientation angle, and grain orientation, was obtained, which resulted in obvious mechanical differences. Tensile tests of the HSL, surface layer, center layer, and NCL specimens revealed that the HSL annealed at 300 °C for 1 h had a significantly higher strength than the center layer and a higher elongation than the surface layer. The HSL had a tensile strength and elongation at fracture of 278.08 MPa and 46.2%, respectively, indicating a good balance of strength and plasticity. The improved properties were primarily attributed to the strengthening or strain hardening due to the inhomogeneous deformation of the heterogeneous layers in the laminate and the mutual constraint acquired by the distinct layers with strong mechanical differences. The HSL had an interfacial bonding strength of 178.5 MPa, which played a vital role in the coordinated deformation of the heterogeneous layers. This study proposes an HSL design method that effectively simplifies the process of obtaining heterostructures in homogeneous materials by controlling the cumulative deformation of the surface and center layers.

A Novel Delivery System for the Combined Use of Natural Ingredients: The Preparation of Berberine Hydrochloride–Matrine Liposomes and Preliminary Exploration of Their Anti-Tumor Activity

Berberine hydrochloride (BH) extracted from Coptis chinensis (CC) and Matrine (MT) separated from Sophora flavescens (SF) are alkaloids with potent anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor effects. Motivated by the clinical practice of using CC and SF together, we aimed to demonstrate that the synergistic application of the natural compounds BH and MT could enhance therapeutic effects and minimize side effects. Two types of liposomes, liposomes containing only BH (BH-LP) and liposomes containing both BH and MT (BH-MT-LP), were successfully prepared via the reverse evaporation method. The liposome preparation process was optimized by single-factor screening and the Box–Behnken experimental design method. The results showed that the liposomes had particle sizes in the range of 222.7 to 235.4 nm, polydispersity indicated in the range of 11.8% to 23.3%, and zeta potentials in the range of −35.9 to −31.1 mv. BH-MT-LP showed superior anti-tumor activity against MDA-MB-231, HepG-2, and HGC-27 cells in vitro. The incorporation of MT effectively promoted the anti-tumor effect of BH, while the controlled release from liposomes further enhanced the therapeutic efficacy of BH. Furthermore, based on the flow cytometry results, we speculated that BH-MT-LP might promote apoptosis by blocking the G1 phase of cells and inducing cell death. In conclusion, BH-MT-LP provides evidence for the combined use of natural compounds as a stable, safe, and practical drug delivery system for the treatment of potential cancers. Meanwhile, the successful preparation for BH-MT-LP also provides a new approach to the combined use of traditional Chinese medicine ingredients.

Preparation and Evaluation of Poloxamer/Carbopol In-Situ Gel Loaded with Quercetin: In-Vitro Drug Release and Cell Viability Study.

Periodontitis is a severe chronic inflammatory disease, whose traditional systemic antimicrobial therapy faces great limitations. In-situ gels provide an effective solution as an emerging local drug delivery system. In this study, the novel thermosensitive poloxamer/carbopol in-situ gels loaded with 20μmol/L quercetin for the treatment of periodontitis were prepared by cold method. Thirteen batches of in-situ gels based on two independent factors (X1: poloxamer 407 and X2: carbopol 934P) were designed and optimized by the statistical method of central composite design (CCD). The transparency, pH, injectability, viscosity, gelation temperature, gelation time, elasticity modulus, degradation rate and in-vitro drug release studies of the batches were evaluated, and the percentage of drug release in the first hour, the time required for 90% drug release, gelation temperature, and gelation time were selected as dependent variables. These two independent factors significantly affected the four dependent variables (p < 0.05). The optimization result displayed that the optimized concentration of poloxamer 407 was 20.84% (w/v), and carbopol 934P was 0.5% (w/v). The optimized formulation showed a clear appearance (++), acceptable injectability (Pass), viscosity(151,798mPas), gelation temperature (36°C), gelation time (213s), preferable cell viability and cell proliferation, conformed to first-order release kinetics, and had a significant antibacterial effect. The article demonstrates the great potential of the quercetin in-situ gel as an effective treatment for periodontitis.

Design Method for Low-Ice-Class Propellers Based on Multi-Objective Optimization

The objective of this paper was to establish a comprehensive methodology for the optimized design of propellers for ice-class vessels, aiming to enhance hydrodynamic efficiency while ensuring structural integrity. This paper begins by introducing a novel approach for calculating blade stress, which takes into account both extreme ice loads and hydrodynamic loads, to be utilized in the propeller strength design process. Subsequently, a backpropagation (BP) neural network model was developed based on the data obtained from B-series propeller charts and integrated with a genetic algorithm to achieve a preliminary optimized design of the propeller’s hydrodynamic performance. To illustrate the application of this methodology, a case study of an ice-breaking tug propeller design is presented, detailing the optimization design process, including the preliminary, intermediate, and final design stages. The study also addresses key aspects such as geometric parameterization, the selection of optimization variables, the implementation of optimization algorithms, and the balance of multi-objective trade-offs. The proposed design approach can serve as a valuable reference for the practical engineering design of propellers for ice-class vessels, providing a systematic framework for achieving optimal performance in challenging operating conditions.

Research on High Power Density Flyback Converter With a New Passive Lossless Snubber

ABSTRACTThis paper proposes a flyback converter with a new passive lossless snubber. It eliminates the power dissipation of the traditional RCD snubber, while providing protection against MOS breakdown from energy stored in the power‐transformer leakage. This energy is used to power the power chip, which simplifies the design of the transformer. Meanwhile, an optimal design method for high power density planar transformers is presented. Applying the principle of flux cancellation, a matrix transformer that originally needed an independent magnetic core was integrated into a single magnetic core to reduce the volume of the core. This method effectively reduces the printed circuit board (PCB) layer number of the planar transformer and increases the possibility of the application of the planar transformer in the flyback converter. The detailed operation principle and design considerations are presented. Finally, a multi‐output flyback converter with a frequency of 100 kHz is designed to verify the practical performance of the structure.

Study on the influence of pipe effect on the vibration characteristics of electro-hydraulic exciter

In this paper, an electro-hydraulic exciter controlled by an alternating current distribution valve is proposed, and a systematic analysis of the influence of pipe effect on the vibration characteristics of the electro-hydraulic exciter is investigated by simulation and experiments. The vibration characteristics curves for different pipe parameters are obtained, and the relative errors between simulation and experiment are evaluated. Moreover, a significant regression model of pipe parameters and vibration characteristics of the electro-hydraulic exciter is established by using the quadratic regression analysis method and the Box-Behnken experiment design method. Significant differences in the influence of pipe parameters on vibration characteristics are obtained by ANOVA (Analysis of Variance), and the influence of pipe parameter interaction on vibration characteristics is discussed. The results show that the relative importance of pipe parameters on the vibration characteristics of electro-hydraulic exciter, from high to low, is as follows: pipe diameter, elastic modulus, and pipe length. Notably, there is also an interaction between the pipe parameters, and the significance of these interactions is ranked from high to low as the interaction between the layers of steel wire and diameter, the interaction between diameter and length, and the interaction between the layers of steel wire and length.

Multi-objective optimal design of Tuned Mass Damper Inerter for base isolated structures

The BIS-TMDI is a hybrid control strategy that significantly reduces the seismic response of structures compared to conventional BIS through proper tuning, albeit with the trade-off of increased control forces exerted by the TMDI on the host building structure. However, these potentially significant forces are generally not considered in current TMDI tuning approaches. In this paper, a multi-objective optimization design method is herein developed to determine the compromise between the competing objectives of suppressing earthquake-induced vibrations in buildings and avoiding the generation of excessive control forces of TMDI. The study shows that under non-stationary excitations, the average control force of the TMDI system can be reduced by 16% compared to single optimization constraint, with a maximum reduction of up to 25%. Finally, the optimization design methods of this paper are applied to an 8-story frame as a validation case.

Structure design and ultimate strength envelope of a modular carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminate tube box on a 5000 ft deep-sea ultra large unmanned underwater vehicle

Deep-sea tube box is a crucial and basic structural component of various deep-sea equipment such as deep-sea submarine and unmanned underwater vehicles. The deep-sea ultra large unmanned underwater vehicle (ULUUV) is the most representative one of them. Tube boxes are the basic modular members on the ULUUV, which are widely used as the load-bearing hull in torpedo launch, load transportation, pipeline protection and etc. Due to the extremely harsh operation condition, deep-sea tube box simultaneously suffers extremely high lateral water pressure and tremendous axial compression induced by water pressure. Considering the strict requirements for lightweight, high strength, and corrosion resistance of deep-sea tube boxes, carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRP) have become the most potential choice for the construction materials of future deep-sea tube box. Thus, the aim of this paper is to make a structure design of a deep-sea CFRP tube box which can operate at the water depth of 5000 ft. In this paper, a detailed design process of the deep-sea CFRP tube box was introduced, including geometrical configuration, critical buckling load prediction method, FE modeling technique and experimental validation. Corresponding to 5 ply schemes, 495 cases of FE analyses were performed to obtain the ultimate strength envelopes of the CFRP tube box subjected to combined axial compression and external lateral water pressure. Based on the obtained results, the best ply scheme for the deep-sea CFRP tube box was figured out. This paper could provide design method and data references for deep-sea CFRP structures which are subjected to combined loads.

Structural design and motion characteristics analysis of dual-mode active swing arm tracked robot

Focusing on the demand for complex terrain traversal capability of mobile robots, this paper presents a mobile and creep dual-mode tracked robot configuration with capability of autonomous extrication, in response to solving the problem of tracked robots trapped due to insufficient obstacle-crossing capability. Based on the geometrical characteristics of parallelogram and its dynamic computation on the ground, a topological configuration of mobile tracked mechanism with the ability of creep is studied. An integrated structural design method of mobile chassis that integrates the swing arm and the tracked mechanism is proposed and a dual-mode active swing arm tracked robot structural model is established. The mobile and creep characteristics of the dual-mode active swing arm tracked robot are revealed through comparative simulations in multiple working conditions; Through the prototype tests in such typical working conditions as climbing, turning and obstacle-crossing, the feasibility of creep for the robot is verified and it is proved that the obstacle-crossing ability can be effectively improved. The research results provide theoretical support for improving the adaptability and possibility of mobile robots in complex terrain.

Uniform multiple laminates interpolation model and design method for double–double laminates based on multi-material topology optimization

Double–Double (DD) laminates, incorporating a repetition of sub-plies featuring two groups of balanced angles, offer broad design flexibility together with the ease of design and manufacturing. In this work, a novel optimization design method is proposed for DD composite laminates based on multi-material topology optimization. First, the uniform multiple laminates interpolation (UMLI) model is proposed to describe the certainty of the stacking direction in multi-layer composite structures, inspired by the interpolation model in multi-material topology optimization. Specifically, the stiffness matrices of all alternative angle combinations of laminates are interpolated to form virtual laminates. The UMLI model eliminates the need for adding interlayer constraints during the optimization process. Then, the optimization problem is defined to minimize the compliance of the composite structures and is solved using the gradient-based optimization algorithm. Finally, the proposed method is applied to the design of the composite stiffened panel, the composite Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) wing, and the rear fuselage. The results demonstrate that the UMLI model and proposed optimization method have considerable potential in the angle optimization design of multi-layer structures.

Research on design method of inertial interference self-compensating balance

This paper proposes a design method for a wind tunnel balance that can compensate for inertial interference, aiming to address the issue of short effective time in pulse wind tunnels. This method also tackles the problem of the force measuring system’s inability to dampen quickly and the coupling of inertia vibration signals with the output signal of the balance, which affects aerodynamic measurement accuracy. The method calculates vibration displacement at specific positions of the balance structure using its acceleration, constructs compensation signals based on the relationship between these displacements and balance outputs, and then superimposes them onto the balance signal for compensation. The effectiveness of this compensation method is evaluated through finite element simulations and wind tunnel tests. The results demonstrate that by compensating for the balance signal, there is a significant reduction in the amplitude of the inertia vibration signal, leading to an enhancement in the repeatability accuracy of the measurement. This compensation method effectively solves under-compensation or over-compensation issues when accelerometers are placed on complex models with various modes, where obtaining accurate compensation signals becomes challenging. It provides a new technical approach to improve aerodynamic measurement accuracy by mitigating inertial interference during pulse wind tunnel testing.

Design Method on Low Vibration and Noise of a High-Temperature Superconducting Motor

Design Method on Low Vibration and Noise of a High-Temperature Superconducting Motor

Constructing Soil–Landscape Units Based on Slope Position and Land Use to Improve Soil Prediction Accuracy

Topography is one of the dominant factors in regional soil formation and development. Soil distribution has a certain pattern from high to low in space, and this pattern has a high degree of consistency with slope position. Most of the current research on soil mapping uses landscape types generated by existing methods directly as environmental covariates, and there are few landscape classification methods specifically oriented toward soil surveys. There is rarely any research on landform classification using relative slope position (RSP) and elevation. Therefore, we designed a landform classification method based on RSP and elevation, Terrainforms (TF), and combined the landform type with land use type to construct soil–landscape units for soil type and attribute spatial prediction. In this study, two commonly used landform classification methods, Geomorphons and Landforms, were also used to compare with this design method. It was found that the constructed soil–landscape units had a high consistency with the soil spatial distribution. The landform types based on RSP and elevation obtained the second-highest prediction accuracy in both soil type and soil organic carbon (SOC), and the constructed soil–landscape types obtained the highest prediction accuracy. The results show that the landform classification method based on RSP and elevation is not easily limited by the analysis scale, and is an efficient and accurate landform classification method. The TF landform type and its constructed soil–landscape types can be used as an important environmental variable in soil prediction and sampling, which can provide some guidance and reference for landform classification and digital soil mapping.

Research on flexural behavior and design method of formwork free UHPC wet joint in prefabricated small box girder bridges

This study aims to enhance the bearing capacity of wet joints in prefabricated small box girder bridges while simplifying the on-site construction process. Experimental tests were conducted on formwork-free ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) wet joints, focusing on failure modes, ultimate flexural capacities, and cracking and strain behaviors. These were compared to the behaviors observed in rectangular and funnel-shaped wet joints. The results demonstrate that the width of the joint significantly influences flexural performance, with the horizontal strip playing a crucial role in resisting cracks. It is recommended that for formwork-free UHPC wet joints, the strip height h2 should be no less than 0.1 times the thickness of the bridge deck, and the joint width W should be at least eight times the diameter of the transverse steel reinforcement. Considering the contribution of UHPC in the tensile zone, formulas were developed to calculate the flexural capacity of UHPC-normal concrete (NC) composite section beams. Based on these flexural test results and numerical analysis, a design method for formwork-free UHPC wet joints is proposed.

Topology optimization designed twisted conformal cooling channel for additive-manufactured hot-stamping tool

Hot stamping is a manufacturing process that can be used to produce complex-shaped parts with high mechanical properties. In this process, the part quality and the production rate are strongly influenced by the efficiency of the cooling system within the tool. Improving the efficiency of the cooling system is therefore a key factor in reducing production time and costs. Traditional cooling systems for hot stamping tools often rely on simple drilled channels, limiting their potential for optimization. But recent improvements in additive manufacturing of steel have made it possible to design and produce cooling channels of more complex shapes and therefore allow the use of innovative design approaches such as topology optimization. This paper proposes a new rational method for optimum design of cooling system for additively manufactured hot stamping tools. The proposed new methodology is based on fluid-thermal topology optimization (TO). A low-fidelity model using the Stokes-Darcy equations is used to simulate fluid flow in the cooling channels. The objective function and constraints are designed to minimize the maximum temperature of the tool surface (cooling efficiency) with limited pressure drop of the cooling system. Advanced computations techniques including parallel computation, stabilization techniques, adaptive mesh and iterative solvers are used to ensure the computation performance. The procedure developed is first tested on a simple example to check the consistency of the results obtained. Then, to demonstrate the contribution of our work to the field under study, the procedure developed is used to optimize the design of the cooling system for an industrial hot stamping punch to be additively manufactured. The obtained optimum design is compared with standard drilled channels design and the deign with shell and core technology (with insert). These comparisons clearly shows that the optimal design combined with additive manufacturing can reduce quenching time by 37 % compared to conventional drilled straight channels, with very similar pressure drop and very similar load-bearing capacity. This research offers significant potential for improving efficiency and reducing costs in hot stamping and other manufacturing processes.

Automated Layout Design of Hydraulic Components With Constraints on Flow Channels

Abstract The lightweight design of hydraulic equipment has always been of vital interest. Additive manufacturing (AM) technology can meet the manufacturing requirements of heteroideus and lightweight hydraulic equipment. However, traditional layout optimization often cannot satisfy the functional constraints of hydraulic components. This article proposes a design method of function-based automatic layout optimization for hydraulic components to solve this problem. The proposed method combines multi-component layout optimization with flow-up channel path planning and uses the triangular mesh model of hydraulic components directly as layout units. The spatial pose of the layout unit is used as the gene sequence for a genetic algorithm (GA). To meet the functional constraints, this study also proposes a fast, accurate collision detection algorithm for irregular 3D models and the generating strategy for follow-up flow channels. Here, the volume of the layout units, the total centroid radius of the layout plan, the length of flow channels, and the pressure loss are taken as the objective functions, and an automatic layout optimization algorithm for hydraulic components is developed. By optimizing the initial layout plan of an aviation electro-hydrostatic actuator (EHA), the characteristic volume of the optimized layout is reduced by 30.68% and the total length of the flow channels is decreased by 39.53%, demonstrating the efficiency of this method for lightweight hydraulic equipment design.

Performance sensitivity analysis and aerodynamic optimization of compressor cascades by a turbulence adjoint method

Sensitivity, which is useful for evaluating the contributions of input variations to output changes, favors designers exploiting the most sensitive design parameters and completing design optimization in aerospace. This study introduces the turbulence adjoint method due to its low computational cost in calculating sensitivities with high accuracy and then solves the adjoint partial differential equations with respect to both the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes and turbulence model equations with the assistance of an automatic differentiation tool. By utilizing the turbulence adjoint method, the sensitivities of aerodynamic performance to the blade profile modifications of two-dimensional and three-dimensional compressor cascades are calculated, allowing for the investigations of the impact of geometric variations on the changes in the flow field. Ultimately, aerodynamic optimization of the compressor cascades is conducted. After optimization, the adiabatic efficiency of the two-dimensional cascade increases by 3.11%, and it increases by 1.15% for the three-dimensional cascade. The variations in flow fields of both the original and optimized cascades are illustrated to discover the origins of performance improvements. The changes in blade profile are almost consistent with those forecasted from sensitivity analysis, demonstrating the potential superiority of the adjoint method for aerodynamic design.