Topology Optimization of Vehicle B-Pillar

Weight reduction techniques have been practiced by automobile manufacturers for the purpose of long range, less fuel consumption and achieving higher speeds. Due to the numerous set objectives that must be met, especially with respect to of car safety, automotive chassis design for vehicle weight reduction is a difficult task. In passenger classed vehicles using a monocoque chassis for vehicle construction has been a great solution for reducing overall wight of the vehicle body yet the structure is more stiffened and sturdier. However, some parts such as A-pillar, B-pillar, roof structure, floor pan can be further optimized to reduce more weight without affecting the strength needed for respective purposes. In this paper, the main focus is on reducing weight of the B-pillar. The B-pillar of a passenger car has been optimized using topology optimization and optimum weight reduction has been done. The modelling and simulation are done using SOLIDWORKS 3D software. The B-pillar in this study has been subjected to a static load of 140 KN. Further by providing goals and constraints the optimization was caried out. The results of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of the original model are explained. The Topology Optimization resulted in reducing 53% of the original weight of the B-pillar. Keywords: Structural optimization techniques, weight reduction techniques, weight reduction technologies, need for weight reduction, Topology optimization, B-pillar design, structural optimization of B-pillar, Topology optimization of B-pillar.

Towards Autonomous Drone Racing without GPU Using an OAK-D Smart Camera

Recent advances have shown for the first time that it is possible to beat a human with an autonomous drone in a drone race. However, this solution relies heavily on external sensors, specifically on the use of a motion capture system. Thus, a truly autonomous solution demands performing computationally intensive tasks such as gate detection, drone localisation, and state estimation. To this end, other solutions rely on specialised hardware such as graphics processing units (GPUs) whose onboard hardware versions are not as powerful as those available for desktop and server computers. An alternative is to combine specialised hardware with smart sensors capable of processing specific tasks on the chip, alleviating the need for the onboard processor to perform these computations. Motivated by this, we present the initial results of adapting a novel smart camera, known as the OpenCV AI Kit or OAK-D, as part of a solution for the ADR running entirely on board. This smart camera performs neural inference on the chip that does not use a GPU. It can also perform depth estimation with a stereo rig and run neural network models using images from a 4K colour camera as the input. Additionally, seeking to limit the payload to 200 g, we present a new 3D-printed design of the camera’s back case, reducing the original weight 40%, thus enabling the drone to carry it in tandem with a host onboard computer, the Intel Stick compute, where we run a controller based on gate detection. The latter is performed with a neural model running on an OAK-D at an operation frequency of 40 Hz, enabling the drone to fly at a speed of 2 m/s. We deem these initial results promising toward the development of a truly autonomous solution that will run intensive computational tasks fully on board.

Researching the change in the weight of split oak firewood due to different drying methods

In this paper, the influences of stacking methods and drying places of split oak firewood in winter conditions (Quercus cerris) have been experimentally and theoretically investigated, due to the great importance of use in heating with such wood. The research was conducted on a sample of 48 pieces of logs with bark made of freshly cut oak. The logs were obtained by mechanized technology with the help of grafting by a hydraulic splitter and a chainsaw. Each log was measured for a research length of 0.30 m, marked with numbers 1-24. On each log, the weight was measured on a scale of 5 kg with an accuracy of 0.5 grams. Drying of logs was performed in two places. The first drying place was in outdoor conditions, sheltered from the snow and ventilated. The second place was indoors, at approximately constant room temperature. The logs were stacked in a crossed way for better air circulation. They were dried between 15/12/2020 and 15/02/2021, a total of 62 days. The average initial weight of logs dried in the facility was 1130.3 g, in the dried state the average weight was 952.87 g, which represented 84.3% of the original weight. The average initial weight of logs dried in outdoor conditions was 1192.125 g, in the dried state 1076.37 g, which represented 90.29% of the original weight. The average initial water content in the logs dried in the facility was 37.9%, in the dried state it was 27.5%. For logs dried in outdoor conditions, the average initial amount of water was 36.6%, in the dried state the average amount of water was 31.2%.

Product Re-Engineering by Topology Optimization for Forged Component

Optimization tools are used when a set of objectives is used to find the best alternative proposed design. Topology optimization adds a whole new level of process of developing creative design space. The objective of topology design is to obtain a material distribution inside a given design space that is optimum in this aspect. Material is rearranged and elements that are not necessary from an objective point of view are eliminated throughout the optimization process. For Topology optimization of the forged component which is selected from industry which is steering knuckle assembly is optimized and presented in this study. For topology optimization, platform such as 3D experience is used to simulate the part. A number of modules from 3D experience is used for FEA analysis, mesh-smoothening techniques and creating parametric geometry in terms of shape and explored in way to produce the topology geometry more functional. Functional Generative Design module is used for topology optimization. From this study overall weight reduction is achieved after using the finite element method to analyze a steering knuckle assembly and performing topology optimization. And the part is optimized in terms of shape and for further suitable manufacturing process. According to the result of this research, 64% relative weight reduction is achieved in respect to a given target is 50%. The original weight of the knuckle was 843 gm. however it has since been reduced to 513 gm. As a result, the cost of knuckle is lowered.

Synthetic glass and jute fabric reinforced soy-based biocomposites: Development and characterization

In this work, both glass fabric and jute fabric reinforced nanoclay modified soy matrix-based composites were developed and characterized. Glass fabric (60 wt.%) reinforced composite showed maximum tensile strength of 70.2 MPa and thermal stability up to 202°C, which are 82.8% and 12.2% higher than those observed with corresponding jute composite. Water absorption and contact angle values of glass-soy specimens were tested, and found composites are water stable. Biodegradation study of composites under soil burial condition revealed that glass-soy composite with 40 wt.% glass fabric lost maximum 32.6% of its original weight after 60 days of degradation. The developed glass fabric-soy hybrid composites with reasonable mechanical, thermal, and hydrolytic stability can be used in different sectors as an alternative to the nondegradable thermoplastic reinforced glass fabric composites.

Oral Kefir Grains Supplementation Improves Metabolism and Liver Antioxidant Enzymes Expression in Malnourished Mice

Scope: This study has a novel approach to investigate the effects of oral supplementation of kefir grains on metabolic improvement and the expression of the antioxidant enzymes Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) and Catalase (CAT) of the liver in malnourished mice. Method and Results: Swiss mice were divided into four groups and subjected to two treatment phases: the food restriction phase of 20% in relation to the control group was maintained until animals reached a weight deficit of about 20% in relation to their original weight and the renutrition phase, the animals received diets every day for 30 days. Diets (chow powder plus kefir grains) were administered orally. Thereafter, during throughout the experiment measurements of body weight and energy consumption were obtained. After the end of treatment, fasting glucose tolerance tests were performed at night and insulin sensitivity with fed mice. Soon in then, the mice were euthanized by beheading in guillotine and the blood and liver were collected for evaluation of biochemical parameters, Histopathological assessments and Reverse transcriptase (RT-PCR). Conclusion: The present study demonstrated the kefir grains ability to modulate inflammation and hepatic oxidative-stress under malnourished-state. Keywords: Food Restriction; Malnutrition; Hepatic; Oxidative Stress; Nutrition

Social media advertisements with deposit contracts and fitness club/gym membership: are consumers persuaded?

Purpose This study aims to examine the association of social media advertising with deposit contracts and consumers joining a fitness club/gym. Design/methodology/approach This paper surveyed 745 college students. Three deposit contract options were presented with goals of losing 5% of your original weight, losing 10 pounds from your weight and exercising for 75 min. Findings This paper found that consumers chose deposit contracts at higher rates than no contract or regular contract options. This paper found that behavioral control was positively associated with choosing a deposit contract. This paper found that presence of a weight problem was positively associated with choosing a deposit contract with very concrete goals of losing 10 pounds or exercising for 75 min while no association occurred for the less specific concrete goal of losing 5% of your original weight. Originality/value In conclusion, marketers can consider a novel advertising approach on social media of advertising deposit contract information to possibly interest consumers to join a fitness club/gym.

Central Splitting of A2 Discrete Fourier–Weyl Transforms

Two types of bivariate discrete weight lattice Fourier–Weyl transforms are related by the central splitting decomposition. The two-variable symmetric and antisymmetric Weyl orbit functions of the crystallographic reflection group A2 constitute the kernels of the considered transforms. The central splitting of any function carrying the data into a sum of components governed by the number of elements of the center of A2 is employed to reduce the original weight lattice Fourier–Weyl transform into the corresponding weight lattice splitting transforms. The weight lattice elements intersecting with one-third of the fundamental region of the affine Weyl group determine the point set of the splitting transforms. The unitary matrix decompositions of the normalized weight lattice Fourier–Weyl transforms are presented. The interpolating behavior and the unitary transform matrices of the weight lattice splitting Fourier–Weyl transforms are exemplified.

Correction of medial prefrontal cortex and adrenal gland left/right imbalance by deep brain stimulation for depression in rats

Hemispheric brain asymmetries are related to stress coping in both humans and rodents, and imbalanced neural activity between the left and right medial prefrontal cortexes (mPFCs) is observed in depression disorders. Brain stimulation of the PFC is effective to cure depression symptoms. We therefore hypothesized that the imbalanced activity of the mPFCs as well as depression-like behaviors can be induced by chronic stress in rats, and that deep brain stimulation (DBS) can treat such behavior by correcting the asymmetrical activity of the brain regions. Our results indeed show that chronic stress exposure by social isolation (SI) causes depression-like behavior and left/right mPFC activity changes. SI suppressed the activity of both the prelimbic and the infralimbic cortex; however, the extent of the suppression in these regions was oppositely asymmetric. Two weeks of DBS recovered the depression-like behavior and corrected the imbalanced brain activity. In addition, original weight differences between the left and right adrenal glands (AGs) were decreased by SI and recovered by DBS. The integrated index obtained from the mPFCs and AGs asymmetry scores could be useful for estimating the degree of depression. In conclusion, DBS can recover depression-like behavior accompanied by correcting imbalances in both the mPFCs and the AGs.

The effect of salinity on Na/Ca in cultured shells of the foraminifer Operculina ammonoides

<p>Na is incorporated into marine carbonate minerals and was recently proposed as a proxy for paleo-salinity. However we demonstrated that Na/Ca ratio in foraminiferal shells (Na/Ca<sub>shell</sub>) is actually a novel proxy for past ocean Ca concentrations (Ca<sub>sw</sub>) in benthic foraminifera (Hauzer et al., 2018). In the present study, we determined the extent to which foraminiferal Na/Ca (and other elements) change with salinity for the high-Mg large benthic foraminifer <em>Operculina ammonoides</em>. This laboratory culture experiment was conducted under four different salinities 32.9, 36.1, 40.65 and 43.0 PSU, at a constant temperature of 25 °C and pH of ~8.17. <em>O. ammonoides</em> specimens were labeled with the fluorescent dye Calcein (40 µM) for five days prior to the experiment. Experimental seawater was prepared from filtered Gulf of Eilat seawater (40.65 PSU) and the salinity was modified by the addition of deionized water or by the evaporation to the desired value at room temperature. All experimental seawater were spiked with <sup>135</sup>Ba in order to unambiguously determine newly grown CaCO<sub>3</sub> during spatially-resolved analysis of the shell. Six specimens of each treatment were selected according to the presence of non-fluorescent chambers past the Calcein mark. The CaCO<sub>3</sub> shells were analyzed using the LA-ICPMS. Water chemistry was analyzed using ICP-OES and ICP-MS. Experimental foraminifera added 90-160% of their original weight, based on alkalinity-depletion measurements during the experiment. The elemental ratios of Na, Mg and Li to Ca in<em> O. ammonoides</em> shells increased linearly with increasing seawater salinity. In contrast, Sr/Ca<sub>shell</sub> showed no resolvable change with salinity. Since Na/Ca<sub>shell</sub> does correlate with salinity, it appears that it could be used as a paleosalinity proxy. However, when variations of Na/Ca<sub>shell</sub> due to salinity are compared to variations due to Ca<sub>sw</sub>, it is clear that salinity has a minor effect compared to the Ca concentrations. Thus, when reconstructing paleosalinity, Na/Ca<sub>shell</sub> will produce accurate results only for samples that are within the residence time of Ca<sub>sw</sub> (~1My). Furthermore, regional and global changes in ocean salinity over geological time can only slightly affect the use of Na/Ca<sub>shell</sub> as a proxy for past changes in Ca<sub>sw</sub>.</p><p>Hauzer, H., Evans, D., Müller, W., Rosenthal, Y., & Erez, J. (2018). Calibration of Na partitioning in the calcitic foraminifer <em>Operculina ammonoides</em> under variable Ca concentration: Toward reconstructing past seawater composition. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 497, 80-91.</p>