A novel bi-level distributed dynamic optimization method of ship fleets energy consumption

The optimization of ship energy consumption is attracting a great deal of attention, as societies seek to save energy and reduce emissions. Shipping companies are more concerned with the energy consumption of a ship fleet, as opposed to that of a single ship. Because the energy consumption of a fleet is influenced by multiple factors...

A review on the pumping behavior of modern concrete

Pumping is the most common technique used to transport fresh concrete in construction sites. The large-scale use of concrete all over the world makes the pumping increasingly important. A wide variety of additives and admixtures are incorporated into modern concrete in order for sustainable development. The performance of modern concrete is...

Co-simulation of energy transition in residential sectors of Chinese lower-tier cities

China is undergoing large changes to tackle carbon dioxide emissions and air pollution. While the top-down governance allows for clear setting of emission reduction targets for industrial sectors and major cities, reducing emissions in residential sectors in smaller (the so-called low-tier) cities remain challenging and often unaddressed. This...

A novel method for joint optimization of the sailing route and speed considering multiple environmental factors for more energy efficient shipping

Energy saving and emission reduction have attracted a great deal of attention in the maritime industry. The optimization of a ship's energy efficiency can reduce energy consumption and CO₂ emissions effectively. However, most of the available studies only focus on either the sailing speed or route optimization, and the interaction...

Green synthesis of ultrapure La(OH)₃ nanoparticles by one-step method through spark ablation and electrospinning and its application to phosphate removal

La(OH)₃ metal engineered nanoparticles (MENPs) are efficient phosphate binders; however, complex synthesis procedures and purity as well as agglomeration issues impede their development and practical applications. Herein, a green and a one-step method in combination with the spark ablation aerosol technology and electrospinning is...

Triple-action self-healing protective coatings based on shape memory polymers containing dual-function microspheres

In this study, a new self-healing shape memory polymer (SMP) coating was prepared to protect the aluminum alloy 2024-T3 from corrosion by the incorporation of dual-function microspheres containing polycaprolactone and the corrosion inhibitor 8-hydroxyquinoline (8HQ). The self-healing properties of the coatings were investigated via scanning...

Dual-action smart coatings with a self-healing superhydrophobic surface and anti-corrosion properties

This work introduces a new self-healing superhydrophobic coating based on dual actions by the corrosion inhibitor benzotriazole (BTA) and an epoxy-based shape memory polymer (SMP). Damage to the surface morphology (e.g., crushed areas and scratches) and the corresponding superhydrophobicity are shown to be rapidly healed through a simple heat...

Spectroscopic evidence for bulk-band inversion and three-dimensional massive Dirac fermions in ZrTe₅

Three-dimensional topological insulators (3D TIs) represent states of quantum matters in which surface states are protected by timereversal symmetry and an inversion occurs between bulk conduction and valence bands. However, the bulk-band inversion, which is intimately tied to the topologically nontrivial nature of 3D Tis, has rarely been...

String Stability of Heterogeneous Platoons with Non-connected Automated Vehicles

It is expected that automated vehicles will gradually penetrate on public roads, resulting in mixed traffic in the next decades. This can impact traffic flow operations, especially the roadway capacity and flow stability. It is of paramount<br/>importance to understand and predict the implications of automated driving systems on traffic flow at...

Hydrologic and cryospheric processes observed from space

Ten Dragon 3 projects deal with hydrologic and cryosphere processes, with a focus on the Himalayas and Qinghai – Tibet Plateau, but not limited to that. At the 1st Dragon 3 Progress Symposium in 2013 a significant potential for a better and deeper integration appeared very clearly and we worked out an overview of the ten projects identifying...

Off-board Visual Odometry and Control of an Ultralight Quadrotor MAV

In this paper, we propose an approach to autonomously control a quadrotor micro aerial vehicle (MAV). With take-off weight of 50 g and 8-min flight endurance, the MAV platform codenamed ‘KayLion’ developed by the National University of Singapore (NUS) is able to perform autonomous flight with pre-planned path tracking. The vision-based...

Hydrological Changes of the Irtysh River and the Possible Causes

Hydrological changes of the Irtysh River were analyzed concerning the changes of annual runoff and its distribution features within a year measured by coefficient of variation and concentration degree. Abrupt changes were detected by the heuristic segmentation method. Possible causes of the hydrological changes were investigated considering...