Use Of Simulation Tools Research Articles

The Use of Simulation Tools in the Assessment of External Stationary Sources in Terms of Noise

The article is focused on the application of the simulation program to calculate the predicted noise levels from a stationary noise source. These findings are particularly important in the case of protected buildings in category II. According to the Health Ministry Decree No. 549/2007 of the Laws. It gives a concrete solution by simulation program CADNA A, for the purposes of noise study.

Development of a Transportation System Simulation Manual Framework: From Theory to Practice

After several decades of advances, simulation has become an important tool in the modeling of transportation systems and is widely applied in practice. Guides have been created by organizations in several countries, and dozens of papers have been published in scientific journals on the theory and application of transport simulation; these works are aimed at guiding practitioners in the use of simulation tools. However, transport simulation still lacks a unified and comprehensive guide for use in practice. The lack of such a document leads to conflicts between modelers, agencies, and decision makers and allows inappropriate use of the models. The outcome is often inaccurate results, inefficient use of resources, and conflict. This paper reviews and analyzes the existing transportation simulation guides. It identifies gaps and limitations and proposes an outline for a comprehensive simulation manual that is based on stakeholder input. Review of the existing guidance documents reveals that almost all these documents focus on traffic operations, and they provide either broad guidelines for building simulation models or advice on using a specific software product. Other issues, particularly those related to topics such as safety assessments, environmental impacts, public transportation, pedestrians, bicycles, simulation algorithms, agent-based simulation, and multimodal simulation, are addressed in only a cursory fashion. This paper proposes a possible structure for a transportation system simulation manual that would cover the limitations and gaps in the existing literature. The proposed document would consist of five volumes: concepts, model building, verification and validation, results analysis, and case studies and supplementary materials.

Augmentation of Learning Through The Use of Simulation Tools & Techniques in Under-Graduate Metal Forming Course

Experiential/activity based learning is the process of learning through doing an activity and is thought to be useful to increase the retention of theoretical concepts and will help in bridging the gap between theory and practice. The inspiration for this work is the fact that learning can be fruitful only when the class-room theoretical concepts are visualized/experienced through laboratory practice and is the essence of experiential/activity based learning teaching practices. The attempt has been made to bridge the gap between theory and real-time industry practices by means of open ended activity learning for the undergraduate course of V-semester Manufacturing Technology- Metal Forming. In today's era numerical simulation as a component of the virtual manufacturing concept of sheet metal forming has emerged as one of the important processes in manufacturing technology. This has resulted in reduced lead time and increased product quality. To inculcate these concepts to the students for a better understanding, a metal forming simulation software has been incorporated as part of this activity. Here student groups identified the sheet metal components (which included the sheet metal forming operations like shearing, bending, deep-drawing, etc.). They carried the design, modeling, simulation, analysis and interpreted the results. This activity not only helped students to get acquainted with the design process, but also lead to better understanding of class-room theoretical concepts. A close resemblance is experienced by students between the simulation results and theoretical calculation which resulted in cognitive and synergic atmosphere for learning among the students and by this the outcome b-Ability to design and perform laboratory experiments for manufacturing & allied systems as well as to analyze and interpret data of ABET 3b has been achieved.

Angular spectrum methods for nonlinear ultrasound wave propagation: Mathematical development and implementation

The use of simulation tools is required in many domains, especially in medical ultrasound (US). In US propagation, the nonlinear wave distortion is used in clinical application as harmonic or contrast imaging. Various methods exist to compute and evaluate the harmonic increase depending on the medium and the probe geometry. Among these methods, the angular spectrum method (ASM) proposes good compromise between accuracy and computation time. After expressing the wave propagation equation into Fourier domain, either a quasi-linear approximation or a slowly variation envelope approximation (SVEA) can be used to evaluate the harmonic increase which provide two tools. SVEA overcomes the quasi-linear limitation and evaluates the nonlinear frequency interaction during the propagation. A GPU implementation and optimization of both techniques allow a fast computation of the full nonlinear propagation. For both techniques, the computed fields are close and validate our proposed approach. Thanks to the GPU implementation, the computation is strongly reduced compare to Matlab or C version. Of course, some limitations in ASM are present, such as the one way computation of the US field, which did not allow the computation of reflection for media with inhomogeneities in density, celerity, attenuation, or coefficient of nonlinearity.

Bioclimatic rehabilitation of an open market place by a computational fluid dynamics simulation assessment

These days urban design of open spaces is strongly related to bioclimatic techniques and practices. It is here presented the procedure of a bioclimatic study by the use of simulation tools. The area of an open market place is characterized of decreased human thermal comfort conditions during summer time. The employment of computational fluid dynamics has contributed in the understanding of what interventions should be made at the open space in order to succeed the defined thermal related targets. Table of the proposed rehabilitation explains what the interventions would contribute in the improvement of the local environment.

IUmote: A Framework for the Efficient Modelling, Evaluation, and Deployment of Algorithms and Hardware for Underwater Communications

We present an approach for the modelling and simulating of the modem section of underwater sensor networks. The proposal is based on a specially designed modem architecture and the use of simulation tools and models that represent each of the communication elements: the water medium, physical transducers, electronics, and coding/decoding software. The algorithms can be simulated in the modelling environment; this framework does not require recoding and allows the combination of real and modelled elements. In physical terms, the modem engine provides a decoupled pipelined design of the processing path for the algorithms which allows users to run complex algorithms without requiring a highly demanding specific hardware. The proposal includes a methodology that has allowed us to significantly reduce the effort required in the process, from algorithm development to the effective deployment of the system. As a case study, this paper shows its application and results in the evaluation of a multipath and Doppler-shift correction algorithms.

An approach to integrate numerical simulation within KBE applications

This paper presents an approach to automate and integrate numerical simulations within knowledge-based engineering applications to improve the use of simulation tools, especially in small and medium enterprises. Main discussed issues concern: (a) the importance of the CAD model as an input of the process, (b) data migration from CAD to CAE tools, (c) model characterisation, (d) effects of parameters variations, (e) simulation steps, and (f) results evaluation. In addition, formalisation and representation of rules and procedures to automate the design process, in particular the simulation tasks, are presented. Two case studies are described to explain and verify the approach. The first case concerns the design process of centrifugal industrial fans, during which simulation tools are used to verify the correct sizing of impeller blades. The second one is related to a non-industrial process; actually, it regards a medical device, and more precisely lower limb prosthesis. Finally, main results are discussed.

Using Impairment Simulation Tools to Demonstrate Age-Related Challenges in Everyday Tasks and Promote Universal Design

The increasing proportion of the population that is over age 65 stimulates the need for more technologies that can be safely and easily used by older adults to allow them to continue living in their homes. Yet, even designers who know typical age-related declines may not understand specifically how the declines affect interaction with everyday technologies to complete activities of daily living. Thus, technologies may not be effectively designed to accommodate these declines. Through demonstration, participants will develop this experience by completing activities typical of older adults while wearing tools that simulate typical sensory and motor declines. Facilitators will encourage discussion of the specific difficulties experienced by participants with other observers, highlighting features that may facilitate or hinder use given the simulated disability. Highlighting limitations and task difficulties that may be experienced through use of simulation tools will encourage a better understanding of universal design criteria that will be more inclusive of the overall population.

Potent angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory tripeptides identified by a computer-based approach

Currently, peptides and peptidomimetics are the main focus in attempts to identify inhibitors of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), the dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase that causes blood vessels to constrict and blood pressure to increase. This study was conducted to identify the most potent ACE-inhibitory tripeptides with a proline C-terminus, using a novel three-step (tautomerization-docking-ADME simulation) virtual screening process and in vitro assays. Sixteen candidates were identified, and their IC50 values ranged from 5.6 to 274.4μM. ACE inhibition activity for 14 of the 16 tripeptides was reported for the first time. We also found that changing from the L-form to the D-form of the amino acid at the amino and carboxyl termini resulted in a decrease of inhibition, but a greater decrease was observed for C-terminal changes. With low IC50 values and high-predicted bioavailability, the peptides identified by our protocol are comparable in terms of ACE-inhibition to those derived from costly and time-consuming wet screening. Our in vitro and docking results showed that the configuration of the C-terminus is a critical parameter contributing to the inhibitory activity of tripeptides with proline at this position. These findings will contribute to the use of simulation tools for rational drug design, especially for ACE inhibitors.

Nationwide program of education for undergraduates in the field of disaster medicine: development of a core curriculum centered on blended learning and simulation tools.

In recent years, effective models of disaster medicine curricula for medical schools have been established. However, only a small percentage of medical schools worldwide have considered at least basic disaster medicine teaching in their study program. In Italy, disaster medicine has not yet been included in the medical school curriculum. Perceiving the lack of a specific course on disaster medicine, the Segretariato Italiano Studenti in Medicina (SISM) contacted the Centro di Ricerca Interdipartimentale in Medicina di Emergenza e dei Disastri ed Informatica applicata alla didattica e alla pratica Medica (CRIMEDIM) with a proposal for a nationwide program in this field. Seven modules (introduction to disaster medicine, prehospital disaster management, definition of triage, characteristics of hospital disaster plans, treatment of the health consequences of different disasters, psychosocial care, and presentation of past disasters) were developed using an e-learning platform and a 12-hour classroom session which involved problem-based learning (PBL) activities, table-top exercises, and a computerized simulation (Table 1). The modules were designed as a framework for a disaster medicine curriculum for undergraduates and covered the three main disciplines (clinical and psychosocial, public health, and emergency and risk management) of the core of "Disaster Health" according to the World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine (WADEM) international guidelines for disaster medicine education. From January 2011 through May 2013, 21 editions of the course were delivered to 21 different medical schools, and 524 students attended the course. The blended approach and the use of simulation tools were appreciated by all participants and successfully increased participants' knowledge of disaster medicine and basic competencies in performing mass-casualty triage. This manuscript reports on the designing process and the initial outcomes with respect to learners' achievements and satisfaction of a 1-month educational course on the fundamentals of disaster medicine. This experience might represent a valid and innovative solution for a disaster medicine curriculum for medical students that is easily delivered by medical schools. [table: see text].

Regulatory atmospheric short and medium range dispersion models in Italy

Since the (partial) acceptance in Italy of the EU Directive 85/337/EEC concerning environmental impact assessment procedures, there has been a rapid growth in the use of atmospheric dispersion simulation tools, which are also being used in air–quality management plans. This paper describes the state of the art in the development and application in Italy of the short and medium range atmospheric models, limiting the analysis to deterministic and to inert (or linear chemistry) pollutants models. A number of software packages capable of describing the concentration and dose field using analytical solutions of the advection diffusion equation exist, and they have been thoroughly used and compared with a number of field data. Among these, a brief description of DIMULA (ENEA), APC–2 (ENEL), AMETISTA (ANPA), KAPPAG (CNR) and MRBT is given. A puff model (AVACTA) is also described that takes into account the spatial and temporal variability of average wind and turbulence for rough terrain, since it was partly developed in Italy where it is extensively applied. More recently, efforts have been made by different groups in the development and assessment of Lagrangian particle models for complex terrain. They are based on the solution of the Langevin equation and are usually coupled with the output of 3–D prognostic or diagnostic flow models for the calculation of particle trajectories. Descriptions are given of ARCO (ANPA), SPRAY (ENEL–CNR) and MONTECARLO (JRC–Ispra) together with a comparison of their results with some short and mesoscale field experiments. There is at present no list of officially approved models for regulatory purposes in Italy, The recent decision to establish the Italian Environment Agency (ANPA) indicates that this important issue will soon be considered.

Use of Simulation Tools To Illustrate the Effect of Data Management Practices for Low and Negative Plate Counts on the Estimated Parameters of Microbial Reduction Models

In the last 20 years, the use of microbial reduction models has expanded significantly, including inactivation (linear and nonlinear), survival, and transfer models. However, a major constraint for model development is the impossibility to directly quantify the number of viable microorganisms below the limit of detection (LOD) for a given study. Different approaches have been used to manage this challenge, including ignoring negative plate counts, using statistical estimations, or applying data transformations. Our objective was to illustrate and quantify the effect of negative plate count data management approaches on parameter estimation for microbial reduction models. Because it is impossible to obtain accurate plate counts below the LOD, we performed simulated experiments to generate synthetic data for both log-linear and Weibull-type microbial reductions. We then applied five different, previously reported data management practices and fit log-linear and Weibull models to the resulting data. The results indicated a significant effect (α = 0.05) of the data management practices on the estimated model parameters and performance indicators. For example, when the negative plate counts were replaced by the LOD for log-linear data sets, the slope of the subsequent log-linear model was, on average, 22% smaller than for the original data, the resulting model underpredicted lethality by up to 2.0 log, and the Weibull model was erroneously selected as the most likely correct model for those data. The results demonstrate that it is important to explicitly report LODs and related data management protocols, which can significantly affect model results, interpretation, and utility. Ultimately, we recommend using only the positive plate counts to estimate model parameters for microbial reduction curves and avoiding any data value substitutions or transformations when managing negative plate counts to yield the most accurate model parameters.

Experimental Data for the Validation of Numerical Methods - SAE Reference Notchback Model

The use of simulation tools by vehicle manufacturers to design, optimize and validate their vehicles is essential if they are to respond to the demands of their customers, to meet legislative requirements and deliver new vehicles ever more quickly. The use of such tools in the aerodynamics community is already widespread, but they remain some way from replacing physical testing completely. Further advances in simulation capabilities depend on the availability of high quality validation data so that simulation code developers can ensure that they are capturing the physics of the problems in all the important areas of the flow-field. This paper reports on an experimental program to generate such high quality validation data for a SAE 20 degree backlight angle notchback reference model. This geometry is selected as a particularly powerful test case for the development and validation of numerical tools because the flow exhibits a realistic impingement and A pillar regime, significant three dimensional structures and the backlight/boot-deck exhibits a local separation and reattachment. The paper includes force and moment data, surface pressures for the centerline, slant, boot-deck and base and detailed PIV data for the impingement region, model centerline, A pillar and multiple planes on the slant and boot-deck. Time averaged, statistical and instantaneous data are presented. Results are discussed with regard to the overall flow features, the correlation between the different data sets and the accuracy and limitations of each of the experimental techniques in this particular application. Example data is included throughout the paper and full data sets are freely available in the Loughborough University Institutional Repository as a resource for future code development. © 2014 SAE International.

Modeling delivery performance in pressurized irrigation systems from simulated peak-demand flow configurations

A methodology to assess performance of pressurized irrigation distribution networks is presented, which is based on generation of flow configurations from simulated delivery scenarios, and on subsequent analysis of network operation and delivery achievements. The rationale of the methodology entails simulating the peak-demand flow configurations in the pipe network through a deterministic–stochastic combined agro-hydrological model, and forecasting the delivery performance by means of a hydraulic simulation model and of some specific performance indicators. The agro-hydrological model generates disaggregated information on soil water deficits for all the cropped fields downstream from the delivery hydrants, and forecasts the demand flow hydrographs and irrigation deliveries for the entire service area during peak-demand periods. The simulated-demand flow configurations are then passed on to the hydraulic simulation model, which evaluates the hydraulic performance achievable by the pipe network. The performance analysis is then refined using additional indicators specifically adapted to pressurized irrigation networks. The proposed methodology was applied to a large-scale pressurized irrigation system of southern Italy that is in need of modernization. Results proved the usefulness of the combined use of simulation tools as components of an analytical framework to address modernization and re-engineering of existing irrigation delivery networks, on the basis of targeted delivery performance.

Evaluation of the application of cool materials in urban spaces: A case study in the center of Florina

Abstract In the last years there is a strong interest for application of bioclimatic techniques and practices in urban neighborhoods and open spaces. This paper presents a bioclimatic study of an open space in an urban area by the use of simulation tools giving emphasis on the replacement of conventional materials with cool materials. Routes linking traditional monuments in the Greek city of Florina are characterized of decreased human thermal comfort conditions during summer time. The employment of computational fluid dynamics has contributed in the understanding of what interventions should be made on urban populated routes in order to meet defined thermal related targets during the warmest day of the year. The proposed replacement of conventional materials by “cool” ones would result in the reduction of the mean surface temperature by 3.52 °C while the mean maximum air temperature would be reduced by 1.39 °C during noon of the warmest day.

On the Analysis and Customization of an iCIM 3000 System: A take on the Material Flow, its Complexity and a few General Issues to Improve

The present paper starts generally describing a few aims and main facilities of an academic-research oriented Institution. However, in essence, the paper mainly offers a step more into the description, analysis, identification of problems and a few customization/initial solution issues of a new iCIM 3000 system In this process, special emphasis is made on the material flow problem. For this, besides offering a description and analysis of the system and its main parts, also some tips on how to define other possible alternative material flow scenarios and a partial analysis of the combinatorial nature of the problem are offered as well; all this is done with the intentions of relating it with the use of simulation tools. For a better comprehension, the previous elements are supported by a few figures and expressions which would help obtaining necessary data. Such data and others will be used in the future, when simulating the scenarios in the search of the best material flow configurations.

The Use of Managerial Tools to Support Policymaking in a Peace Process: The Case of Displaced Population in Colombia

For more than 50 years, Colombia has suffered from internal conflicts between the government and different armed groups (guerillas, paramilitary forces, drug lords, private armies). Since last year, the negotiation process between the main guerilla group (FARC) and the government has defined a broad 6-topic agenda which hopefully will lead to a peaceful end of war. A key component that must be addressed for the success of this negotiation is the development of public policies regarding the reparation of the victims of this conflict. This paper focuses on evaluating possible tools that can be used to support the challenges related to the planning and assessment of the required resources for the implementation of a comprehensive policy towards the displaced population. We argue that the use of simulation tools and methodologies such as system dynamics can be an effective approach to learn about the effectiveness of those policies. Any policy aiming to provide compensation or other reparations to victims of forced displacement (almost ten per cent of the whole population of the country) needs to be carefully crafted, as elements such as the information delays, feedback cycles, and other characteristics related with this situation could provide more challenging without the aid of a planning tool as such. We build a preliminary simulation model exemplifying the implementation of a policy aiming to repair victims from forced displacement in Colombia comparing the prescribed terms defined by law, as opposed to the real lapses that the process is taking into practice. We argue that, assessing the requirements and the limitations of the restitution of land in Colombia in a simulation environment will be a useful tool to learn about the challenges and inform policies in this extent.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Model Identification using Multi-Objective Optimization Techniques

The total amount of UAVs civil applications is getting bigger and bigger. The cost and the risks of the development phase of this systems has to be decreased in order to make them affordable. It is required to minimize the number of hours of real flight, making use of simulation tools and taking full advantage of the acquired data. Thus, obtaining a dynamic model that tightly adjusts to the real flight behaviour of the aircraft gains in importance, in the way that it will lead to precise simulation results and, therefore, to correctly designed control algorithms. A model identification technique based on experimental data and Multi-Objective optimization evolution algorithm, is presented here. This methodology makes profit of the possibility given by this type of algorithm of facing different objetives at the same time, to take full advantage of the experimental data and to get better adjusted models.

Évaluation de l’utilisation de la simulation dans la formation des jeunes urologues français : une enquête de l’association française des urologues en formation (AFUF)

To study the place of simulation in the training curriculum of French urologists-in-training. An online questionnaire was sent to all residents and fellows members of the AFUF between February and May, 2013. Results are presented as the median (interquartile range). The answers of 125 urologists-in-training were computed (response rate 38%). They were residents in 90 cases (72%), and fellows in 35 cases (28%). Median age was 29 (27-30), male proportion 77%. All French academic urology departments were represented. Ninety of them (72%) had access to a pelvi-trainer and 66 (53%) to animal or cadaveric models, although they never used them or less than once a month in 83 and 97% of cases, respectively. Seventy-two (58%) had used a virtual-reality based simulator at least once and 38 (30%) had regular access to one, but without supervision in 64% of cases. Factors limiting simulation-based training were the lack of available simulators (70%), the lack of time (58%), the absence of incitement (34%) and supervision (20%). If these conditions were met, 86% of urologists-in-training would be ready to spend more than one hour a-week training on a simulator. This study revealed among the sample of respondents a limited use of simulation tools for skills aquisition. This was explained by a limited availability of these tools but also by an insufficient use of the tools when available.

Urban environment thermal improvement by the bioclimatic simulation of a populated open urban space in Greece

Urban neighbourhoods and open spaces are strongly related to bioclimatic techniques and practices. The procedure of a bioclimatic study is presented by the use of simulation tools. Routes linking archaeological monuments in the Greek city of Arta are characterised of decreased human thermal comfort conditions during summer time. The employment of computational fluid dynamics has contributed to the understanding of what interventions should be made at the urban populated routes in order to succeed the defined environmental thermal-related targets. The proposed rehabilitation explains what the interventions would contribute to the improvement of the local environment.