19684 research outputs found
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Recent developments on pantograph-overhead line interaction
No full textRailway transport plays a critical role in the socio-economic development of modern societies, breaking down barriers of distance and travel time, with recognised high levels of safety and comfort, and low carbon emissions. One crucial element for the reliable operation of electric-powered trains concerns the energy collection system and the ability to supply a proper and uninterrupted source of electricity to the train, maintaining the required operational speeds with no losses of service. This paper presents a state-of-the-art on pantograph-overhead line interaction, including modelling methodologies, hybrid simulations, testing, wear and degradation mechanisms, aerodynamics and emerging trends in this area of knowledge.</p
Cavitation failure analysis and mechanism study of the wet cylinder liner in heavy-duty diesel engines
No full textCavitation failure of the cylinder liner is one of the main reliability problems in heavy-duty diesel engines. It can shorten engine lifespan, increase maintenance costs, and even lead to catastrophic failures. This paper conducts a systematic study of cylinder liner cavitation by integrating microstructure analysis, cavitation process observation, and numerical simulation. The morphology and chemical composition of the damaged regions are analysed at both macro and micro levels, providing comprehensive insights into the cavitation erosion behaviour and damage mechanisms. The vibration and pressure fluctuation characteristics of the cylinder liner-water jacket system are investigated by a structure-acoustic coupling model. The predicted cavitation risk regions of the cylinder liner are in good agreement with the actual cavitation erosion regions. Cavitation damage is primarily concentrated within a 26 mm vertical zone adjacent to the lower seal of the cylinder liner. The minimum pressure in the water jacket occurs at 373.3 °CA. When the engine speed exceeds 1400 rpm, the risk of cavitation arises and progressively intensifies with increasing speed and load. The results enrich the theoretical system of cavitation erosion in cylinder liners and provide a valuable reference for the cavitation prediction and mitigation.</p
Analysis of failure mechanisms for CFRP laminated composite bogie frames of the next generation high-speed trains under service environment
No full textCarbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminated composites are gradually adopted in next-generation high-speed train bogie frames due to their superior mechanical properties. However, the failure behavior of CFRP structures under service conditions remains insufficiently understood. To address this, a progressive fatigue damage method based on element-level analysis is employed and integrated into a novel rigid–flexible coupled high-speed train model incorporating CFRP laminated bogie frames. In particular, the model established here enables real-time updates of material stiffness, strength, and governing equations in the degradation progresses based on the finite element method (FEM) and the floating frame of reference, making it particularly well-suited for analyzing the failure behavior of CFRP laminated bogie frame under service conditions. Numerical results indicate that under the excitation of track irregularity, there are three main failure modes of the bogie frame during high-speed train operation (running 100 kilometers on a straight track with a constant speed 300 km/h), i.e., matrix tensile failure (FM3), matrix compression failure (FM4), and tensile delamination (FM5). Specifically, FM3 occurs when the E 12 is reduced by approximately 46%–48%, FM4 is triggered with a 21%–23% reduction in E 12, and FM5 is associated with a reduction of interlaminar tensile strength (S 3t) by about 85%–87%. These findings may offer practical design guidance. Among others, symmetric ±45°ply orientations should be incorporated in shear-critical regions, such as the curved areas of the side beam, to enhance shear stiffness and delay matrix-dominated failure. Additionally, localized reinforcements, such as applying interlayer resin near the suspension areas, can help mitigate delamination risk. The numerical strategy provides a robust foundation for fatigue prediction, optimization, and the development of damage-tolerant designs for CFRP bogie frames in high-speed rail applications.</p
Continuing Professional Development (CPD):a pilot programme between hoot creative arts and Cultures of Creative Health
No full textAs part of the Cultures of Creative Health programme, we partnered with hoot creative arts (hoot); an arts and mental health charity based in Huddersfield to develop a pilot CPD offer for socially engaged creative practitioners. hoot is a leading arts and health organisation based in Kirklees, West Yorkshire, dedicated to improving mental health and wellbeing through creative engagement. For over 20-years, hoot has been at the forefront of the Creative Health movement, delivering arts-based interventions that empower individuals and communities to manage, explore, express, and transform their live
Design and Optimization of Stacked Wideband On-Body Antenna with Parasitic Elements and Defected Ground Structure for Biomedical Applications Using SB-SADEA Method
No full textThe ability to measure vital signs using electromagnetic waves has been extensively investigated as a less intrusive method capable of assessing different biosignal sources while using a single device. On-body antennas, when directly coupled to the human body, offer a comfortable and effective alternative for daily monitoring. Nonetheless, on-body antennas are challenging to design primarily due to the high dielectric constant of body tissues. While the simulation process may often include a body model, a unique model cannot account for inter-individual variability, leading to discrepancies in measured antenna parameters. A potential solution is to increase the antenna’s bandwidth, guaranteeing the antenna’s impedance matching and robustness for all users. This work describes a new on-body microstrip antenna having a stacked structure with parasitic elements, designed and optimized using artificial intelligence (AI). By using an AI-driven design approach, a self-adaptive Bayesian neural network surrogate-model-assisted differential evolution for antenna optimization (SB-SADEA) method to be specific, and a stacked structure having parasitic elements and a defected ground structure with 27 tuneable design parameters, the simulated impedance bandwidth of the on-body antenna was successfully enhanced from 150 MHz to 1.3 GHz, while employing a single and simplified body model in the simulation process. Furthermore, the impact of inter-individual variability on the measured S-parameters was analyzed. The measured results relative to ten subjects revealed that for certain subjects, the SB-SADEA-optimized antenna’s bandwidth reached 1.6 GHz
Collaboration in an Online Environment:Creativity in Popular Music Songwriting and Production During Covid-19 Lockdowns
No full textMomentous events like the Covid-19 pandemic can have a catalytic function. The lockdown brought all face-to-face interactions in the recorded music sector to a sudden halt and necessitated a radical shift online. Using a practice-led methodology with complementary interviews, this article explores music collaboration in an online environment to determine how remote interaction and the underlying technologies affect the collaborative creative process of popular music songwriters, musicians, engineers, and producers. Data analysis indicated an ambivalent experience. While the change in social interaction and limited access to production resources altered individual workflows and collaboration, it hindered and fostered creativity in equal measure. The findings suggest that online collaboration could be an equally viable alternative to traditional popular music songwriting and production methods from the initial compositional idea to the finished project if the limitations of internet speed and software functionality can be overcome and music creators adapt their workflows and interactive habits
Enhancing film measurement accuracy with calibration and correction techniques for a line-field Linnik white-light dispersive interferometer
Full text linkWhite-light dispersive interferometry (WLDI) is an optical metrology technique that is used to measure precise and complex surfaces. However, the accuracy of spectral signal acquisition can affect the precision and subsequent evaluation of measurement results, particularly for the measurement of surface profiles and film thickness. We proposed a high-precision WLDI system, and a new method is introduced to correct various error sources in the system, including spectral distortion, objective lens mismatch, misalignment of optical components, and numerical aperture of the objective lens. This calibration method significantly enhances measurement accuracy in interferometry systems and closely aligns with manufacturing specifications. The experimental results show that this method can be applied to improve the high-accuracy simultaneous measurement of the profile and thickness of films.</p
Visions du Réel 2025:We Made Telephones
No full textPublication by invitation of WE MADE TELEPHONES in Visions du Réel's catalogue of the world's most notable creative documentaries of 2024/25.The VdR–Film Market is an online platform that includes a selection of new creative documentaries with international potential. It groups Visions du Réel’s Official Selection as well as many more documentaries proposed by our own selection committee, partner institutions, sales agents and producers
Digital Competencies, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Education:An Introduction to the Digital Competency Framework to Develop Digital Pedagogical Competencies of Educators in Disaster Risk Reduction
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic was a novel biological hazard that emerged in 2019 and significantly impacted various sectors of society. While sectors such as the economy and health were severely affected, the education sector was no stranger to the grave impact of the pandemic. While the pandemic called for regulations such as lockdowns and social distancing, the education sector was required to shift the classrooms into distance digital-based classrooms, which led to several grave impacts. In this context, the EU Erasmus + co-funded project titled INCLUsive Disaster Education (INCLUDE) was initiated to find solutions to these adverse impacts of the emergency shift towards digital education in the field of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Education with partners from Lithuania, Japan, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. This chapter presents the project's final output, a digital competency framework for DRR educators. This framework is not just a tool, but a significant step in building the digital pedagogical competencies of educators, thereby enhancing the quality of DRR education. The methodology adopted to develop the framework was threefold. The process initiated with a literature review to trace the main types of digital pedagogical competencies. Next, the existing project output reports were evaluated to investigate the relevant digital competencies the DRR educators require. Finally, the framework was developed by matching the findings of the first two stages, and it was validated with the inputs of relevant experts. The literature review showed that knowledge, skills and attitudes have been recognised as critical in developing a digital competency framework. Therefore, the competency framework was developed based on those dimensions within the DRR education throughout the stages of preparation, execution and reflection. Further, the framework was based on the main virtues of responsiveness, adaptability and flexibility to consider the multidisciplinary and context-specific challenges of online DRR education. As a way forward, the research team recommends considering the role of institutions as the primary regulatory stakeholders in providing digital DRR education
Passive control of vortex breakdown on slender delta wing using control bump and cavity at low Reynolds number
No full textVortex breakdown and stall are frequent occurrence on delta wings which have prompted the development of various methods to improve stability and manoeuvrability of vehicles equipped with such wings. This study investigates an in-house developed slender delta wing modified with bump and cavity geometries, examined through Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) method at a Reynolds number of 1.4×10 5. The modifications were applied to the suction side of the wing to analyse their effects on vortex breakdown and flow morphology. Results indicate that the bump geometrical modification alters the streamline patterns, shifting the location and structure of vortex breakdown downstream and causing drag reduction of up to 20 % in certain configurations. Although these modifications don't significantly increase the lift force, they effectively reduce the drag force in certain configurations by relocating the breakdown formation further downstream and higher up above the wing surface. The reduction in the drag force by the bump modification leads to an improvement in the aerodynamic efficiency, which translates to a reduction in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. In comparison, the cavity modification causes the formation of a vortex trap area, which moves the vortex breakdown closer to the suction surface of the wing.</p
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