Abstract: This paper introduces a framework to perform Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) by presenting the development and validation of a low-power, solar-powered Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) tailored for bridge structures. The system integrates accelerometers and temperature sensors for dynamic structural assessment, all interconnected through the energy efficient MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) messaging protocol. The paper delves into the details of sensor selection, calibration, and the design considerations necessary to address the unique challenges associated with bridge structures. Special attention is given to the solar-powered aspect, allowing for extended deployment periods without the need for frequent maintenance or battery replacements. To validate the proposed system, a comprehensive field deployment was conducted on an actual bridge structure. The collected data were transmitted through MQTT messages and analyzed by means of operational modal analysis (OMA). Comparative studies with traditional wired systems underscore the advantages of the solar-powered wireless solution in terms of sustainability, scalability, and ease of deployment. Results from the validation phase demonstrate the system’s capability to provide accurate and real-time data needed to assess the health state of the monitored asset. The paper concludes with insights into the practical implications of adopting such a solar-powered WSN, emphasizing its potential to revolutionize bridge health monitoring by offering a cost-effective and energy-efficient solution for long-term infrastructure resilience.

Abstract: Studying the interactions between biological organisms and their environment provides engineers with valuable insights for developing complex mechanical systems, and fostering the creation of novel technological innovations. In this study, we introduce a novel bio-inspired three degrees of freedom (DOF) spherical robotic manipulator (SRM), designed to emulate the biomechanical properties observed in nature. The design utilizes the transformation of spherical Complex Spatial Kinematic Pairs (CSKPs) to synthesize bio-inspired robotic manipulators. Additionally, the use of screw theory and the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm for kinematic parameter computation supports further advancements in human-robot interaction and simplifies control processes. By directly transmitting motion from the motors, the platform replicates the ball and socket mobility observed in biological joints, while minimizing mechanical losses and optimizing energy efficiency, thereby ensuring superior performance in spatial mobility. The proposed 3DOF SRM provides advantages including an expanded workspace, enhanced dexterity, and a lightweight, compact design. Experimental validation, conducted through SolidWorks, MATLAB, Python, and Arduino, demonstrates the versatility and broad application potential of the novel bio-inspired 3DOF SRM, positioning it as a robust solution for a wide range of robotic applications.

Abstract:

This paper presents our work in which we investigate an approach to use pure FPGA architecture to develop safety functions when designing a small, compact, and modular control system for a critical power generation process. We show that such an approach facilitates the Verification and Validation activities and contributes to satisfying the IEC 62566-2012 standard for the development of category A functions required in the instrumentation and control (I&C) of nuclear power plants. Our approach suggests the shift from traditional paradigm that uses microprocessors which are based on the Von NEUMANN architecture to build control systems such as Programmable Logic Controllers or Distributed Control Systems to new one that uses native HDL features to configure an FPGA circuit for the design and the development of I&C safety functions. This later paradigm offers several advantages such as, on the one hand, the development of functional simulations of the implemented features of the user application, so that verification of the specification can be carried out to ensure that the expected requirements are correctly understood and well specified by the users (application developers). And on the other hand, the parallel activation of independent functionalities which avoids the sequential processing of instructions inherent to the Von NEUMANN architecture.

Abstract:

As the global climate security situation becomes increasingly severe, the development of renewable energy has become an important strategic direction for global energy transformation and addressing climate risks. Terminal energy electrification is a key measure to accelerate this strategic shift from the energy consumption end. By increasing the proportion of clean energy power supply in terminal energy consumption, it can reduce dependence on fossil energy, improve energy utilization efficiency, reduce environmental pollution, and promote sustainable development. Under the "dual carbon" goal, China proposes to build a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system, accelerate the construction of a new power system with new energy as the main body, and promote the large-scale optimization of clean power resources. However, China's power structure, which is dominated by thermal power, is heavily dependent on coal, and energy resources and power demand are inversely distributed. More than 80% of energy resources are distributed in the western and northern regions, while more than 70% of energy consumption is concentrated in the eastern and central regions. Against this background, the country has adopted macro-adjustment measures such as "west-to-east power transmission" and "north-to-south coal transportation" to optimize energy allocation and promote energy supply and demand balance. At the same time, the western and northern regions have borne many negative externalities of energy production transferred from the eastern and central regions, such as coal-fired power generation, carbon emissions in coal production, environmental pollution, and health impacts. In addition, for resource-based cities and high-carbon industry clusters that are highly dependent on fossil energy, In the short term, terminal energy electrification will increase the burden on economic income, energy security, reemployment, electricity costs, etc., and thus cause new regional social equity issues. Therefore, in the context of China accelerating the high-quality development of new energy in the new era and large-scale layout of renewable energy base construction, it is of great practical significance to focus on the three dilemmas of energy "security, equity, and ecology" and study and identify the spatiotemporal pattern characteristics and key influencing factors of the coupled coordinated development of regional terminal energy electrification and social equity.

Abstract: In recent years, spoof localized surface plasmons (SLSPs) have gained increasing attention due to their strong electromagnetic wave confinements. Based on the multipole resonance of the SLSPs, a high-Q-factor terahertz resonator based on CMOS technology is proposed. Specifically, a quad-rilateral hybridized SLSPs structure composed of a core and a cavity SLSPs resonator, is designed to reduce electric dimension and improve the Q-factor. The experimentally measured Q-factor reaches 56.7 at 194 GHz, which is a quite high value within the terahertz frequency band, partic-ularly given the compact electrical dimension of 0.081λ0.081λ. Moreover, the pharmaceutical testing in the terahertz frequency range have been successfully conducted, including glucose and two traditional Chinese medicine: Chuan bei and Sanqi. And three frequency shifts(4GHz, 3.2GHz, 1.4GHz) are observed. Thus, the SLSPs resonator holds great potential for high-performance te-rahertz applications.

Abstract: Traditional In-Person Semester-Length (IP-SL) courses often struggle with inherent time constraints, lack of flexibility, and geographic limitations, which collectively delay effective learning and accessibility for students. Moreover, the extended duration of the Semester-Length (SL) structure may lead to decreased student focus due to lengthy engagement with multiple subjects simultaneously, increased stress levels, and limited opportunities for timely feedback and assessment. This study evaluates the Online Real-Time Block Model (ORT-BM) as a solution to these issues, focusing on its ability to enhance gender equity and industry relevance while addressing the building industry's demand for a skilled and diverse workforce. Building surveying professionals must stay current with rapidly evolving building codes, regulations, and sustainability practices; however, the rigid structure of IP-SL courses often hinders this, resulting in graduates being less prepared to meet industry needs. Conducting a comparative analysis of a case study: the Bachelor of Building Surveying program at an Australian higher education institution, the research compares three teaching models: IP-SL (2016–2018), In-Person Block Model (IP-BM, 2019–2020), and ORT-BM (2020–2023) using Student Evaluation of Units (SEU) data. The findings indicate that ORT-BM significantly improves student satisfaction, supports gender equity by providing flexible learning options, and enhances accessibility. Furthermore, SEU results quantitatively demonstrate that ORT-BM's innovative strategies and utilization of digital tools have the potential to align building and construction education with rapidly evolving industry standards while addressing gender imbalances. Future research may explore developing hybrid models to optimize cognitive load further, improve accessibility, and enhance flexibility.

Abstract: The diagnosis of kidney diseases presents significant challenges, including the reliance on variable and unstable biomarkers and the necessity for laboratory tests, which is often expensive and complex. Raman spectroscopy emerges as a promising technique for detecting biomarkers of kidney disease, however, its complexity, high cost and limited accessibility outside clinical con-texts complicates its application. Moreover, analyzing Raman spectra, especially from biological fluids like urine, is a challenging and intensive task. In response to these challenges, the devel-opment of a portable, simplified and low-cost Raman system offers a practical solution for analysis of complex biological fluids. The methodology adopted for the system’s development was based on the ‘Starter Edition’ from the OpenRAMAN website. The study of urine fluorescence was an essential step to determine the appropriate laser wavelength for the acquisition of urine spectra, to minimize fluorescence interference. The system’s optimization involved two stages: adjusting the laser’s operating temperature, by evaluating its emission spectrum under different temperatures with a spectrometer ; and optimizing the acquisition parameters of the software used, through the acquisition of ethanol spectrum to identify the settings that improve spectral quality. The system validation was performed through the acquisition of Raman spectra from five different urine samples, demonstrating its consistency and sensitivity to composition variations in urine samples. Finally, a neural network was designed and trained using methanol and ethanol solutions. The model’s hyperparameters were optimized to maximize its precision and accuracy. This approach explored the model’s potential for classifying Raman spectra.

Abstract: In the context of seismic hazard assessment and engineering design, a comprehensive understanding of local geological and geophysical factor is essential. However, previous studies have lacked crucial components such as local soil condition, ground response analysis, topographic influences, active fault characteristics,slip rates, groundwater behavior, and slope considerations. To ensure the accuracy of seismic hazard map of a country for the safe and cost-effective design of engineering structures in urban areas, a detailed analysis of these factors are imperative. Moreover, multidisciplinary investigations, such as logic tree considerations, are needed to enhance seismic hazard map. Consequently, the adoption of a performance based approach in structural design becomes an urgent necessity. Performance based approach allows engineers to design buildings to specified performance levels (IO, LS, CP) even without a reliable seismic hazard map. This approach is akin to a miracle for countries which doesn’t have reliable seismic hazard map. This study presents a systematic and comprehensive bibliometric analysis of academic literature pertaining to performance based design (PBD). By fostering collaborative efforts and expanding research networks, we aim to facilitate the development of coordinated initiatives within the field. Prefered Jouranals , Leading Countries, Leading Organizations and International institutions identified Utilizing the Scopus database. This study examined 3,469 PBD-related publications spanning from 1969 to 2023 using VOSviewer version 1.6.19, a bibliometric mapping and visualization software tool. The analysis of co-citations revealed that performance-based design serves as the primary theoretical foundation for structural design and analysis. Furthermore, through a co-word analysis, we tracked the evolution of research topics within the PBD domain over time. This investigation uncovered noteworthy trends, including the steady growth of research output, the increasing prominence of the term "PBD," and a focus on various types of performance based analyses.

Abstract: Technological advances for the production of Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) are increasingly and increasing the number of components inserted on the surface, leading the electronics industry to seek improvements in their inspection processes, making it often necessary to increase the level of automation on the production line, the use of machine vision in quality inspection within the manufacturing processes, has increasingly collaborated in decision-making to approve or reject products outside the established quality standards. This article proposes developing a hybrid industrial vision system with machine vision and vision sensors to verify 24 components and 7 screw threads. This research aims to use machine vision to increase inspection reliability in an automated way and reduce non-conformity rates in the manufacturing process on the assembly line of automotive products.

Abstract: A literature review in the context of polymer composites reveals that the natural fibers have been widely used as reinforcement phase, at least, in the last two decades. In this development direction, the lignocellulosic fibers have been highlighted due to their environmental, thermomechanical and economic advantages to many industry sectors. This research aims to analyze experimentally the fracture of ramie woven fabric reinforced epoxy composite specimens subjected to Charpy test and based on specific theoretical knowledge, to state a novel relationship between the quality of interface and the fracture energy. To reach this objectives, the study is designed with three groups (40%, 50% and 60% of fiber volume fractions) of intact samples and three groups of C-UV aged specimens containing the same percentage of reinforcement. Afterwards, a fracture surface analysis is done to support the study about the samples fracture behavior and describe the referred relation introducing an interface quality variable. According to the results obtained, could be concluded that the relationship proposed is in congruence with the fracture surface characterizations made.