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Parameter identification of photovoltaic (PV) modules plays a vital role in modeling PV systems. This study aims to propose a novel hybrid approach to identify the seven parameters of the two-diode model of PV modules with high accuracy.

The proposed hybrid approach combines an improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO) algorithm with an analytical approach. Three parameters are optimized using IPSO, whereas the other four are analytically determined. To improve the performance of IPSO, three improvements are adopted, that is, evaluating the particles with two evaluation functions, adaptive evolutionary learning and adaptive mutation.

The performance of proposed approach is first verified by comparing with several well-established algorithms for two case studies. Then, the proposed method is applied to extract the seven parameters of CSUN340-72M under different operating conditions. The comprehensively experimental results and comparison with other methods verify the effectiveness and precision of the proposed method. Furthermore, the performance of IPSO is evaluated against that of several popular intelligent algorithms. The results indicate that IPSO obtains the best performance in terms of the accuracy and robustness.

An improved hybrid approach for parameter identification of the two-diode model of PV modules is proposed. The proposed approach considers the recombination saturation current of the p–n junction in the depletion region and makes no assumptions or ignores certain parameters, which results in higher precision. The proposed method can be applied to the modeling and simulation for research and development of PV systems.

A wire-based additive manufacturing system works with high manufacturing efficiency and low dimensional precision. The purpose of this paper is to study the dimensional characteristics of Ti-6Al-4V thin-walled parts with wire-based multi-laser additive manufacturing in vacuum.

Wire-based multi-laser additive manufacturing was carried out to understand the effect brought from different parameters. The Ti-6Al-4V thin-walled parts were formed by different height increments, power inputs and inter-layer cooling times in vacuum.

The result shows that, with the number of layers increment, the layer width of thin-walled part increases gradually in the beginning and stabilizes soon afterward. Height increment, laser power and inter-layer cooling time could affect the energy input to the deposited bead and heat accumulation of thin-walled part. The layer width decreases, while the height increment increases. The increment of laser power could increase the layer width. And, the increment of inter-layer cooling time (more than 5 s) has little effect on the layer width.

The heat dissipation mode of thin-walled parts in vacuum and the influence of different parameters on layer width are explained in this paper. It provides a reference for further understanding and controlling dimension precision of Ti-6Al-4V thin-walled part with wire-based multi-laser additive manufacturing in vacuum. At the same time, it provides a reference for researches of dimensional characteristics in the additive manufacturing industry.

This paper aims to explore the effect of automatic transmission fluid (ATF) temperature on the dynamic friction-wear properties of the friction component in a wet multi-disc clutch during the running-in process.

The running-in evolution was explored in terms of global friction performance and instantaneous friction characteristics. The variation of friction torque of the initial 300 engagement cycles was obtained by wet-clutch tests. Finally, an optical microscope was used to detect the wear mechanism of friction surfaces.

The ATF temperature showed a significant effect on the friction-wear performance in the clutch running-in process. The mean coefficient of friction decreased with the increase of the ATF temperature and decreased rapidly in the approximately initial 60 clutch engagements. The higher the ATF temperature was, the thinner the ATF film was, and more asperity summits were cut, thus leading to a smoother surface. Considering the slightly instantaneous friction fluctuation and the wear performance, a proper ATF temperature is necessary.

The results provide theoretical guidance for selecting the optimal ATF temperature during the running-in process.

One of the major shortcomings in the data process of the traditional wheel force transducers (WFTs) is the theoretical errors of initial value determination. A new method to identify the initial values of the WFT for the solution of this problem is proposed in this paper. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

With this method, the initial values can be obtained by equations which are established based on multiple stops on horizontal road.

The calibration and contrast tests on the MTS calibration platform illustrate the better performance with the new method. Moreover, the real vehicle test confirms the effectiveness in practice.

The test results show that the new method of initial calibration has an advanced performance compared to the traditional one. In addition, it is effective in the brake test with a real vehicle.

Wheel force transducers (WFTs) have performance characteristics that make them attractive for applications in endurance evaluation of road vehicles, ride and handling optimization, tire development and vehicle dynamics. As a WFT is mounted on the the driven wheel, the loads on the wheel and the outputs of WFTs are usually nonlinearly related. Thus, a real-time filter is needed to measure the true loads on the wheel.

In this paper, a new nonlinear filtering algorithm utilizing quadrature Kalman filter (QKF) is proposed to track the actual loads in real time through establishing the specific observation equations with Singer models.

The simulation results show that the accuracy and the rapidity of QKF outperforms the capability of the unscented Kalman filter (UKF). Then, the dynamic tests on the MTS testing platform give the comparisons between the real-time QKF and the wavelet transform, where the former has superior dynamic accuracy. Finally, the practical tests of shifting and braking on a real vehicle confirm the effectiveness of QKF, which further validates the proposed method fitting reality.

In this paper, a newly improved algorithm with QKF for WFT has been proposed and tested experimentally. As the wheel loads are always time-varying and complex, introducing Gaussian noise in the outputs of the transducer, WFT-suitable Singer model and WFT measurement equation base on a QKF are established. The experiment results show that QKF has advanced performance than the traditional UKF. Also, the road wheel test bed produced by MTS has been exploited as the test platform to demonstrate the dynamic efficiency of the proposed real-time filter under various operating conditions for a wide range of loads. And, the practical tests with the real vehicle are accomplished to verify the value and effectiveness of the proposed method.

The purpose of this paper is to present and develop an ontology-based approach for automatic generation of assembly sequences.

In this approach, an assembly sequence planning ontology is constructed to represent the structure and interrelationship of product geometry information and assembly process information. In the constructed ontology, certain reasoning rules are defined to describe the knowledge and experience. Based on the ontology with reasoning rules, the algorithm for automatically generating assembly sequences is designed and implemented.

The effectiveness of this approach is verified via applying it to generate the assembly sequences of a gear reducer.

The main contribution of the paper is presenting and developing an ontology-based approach for automatically generating assembly sequences. This approach can provide a feasible solution for the issue that mathematics-based assembly sequence generation approaches have great difficulty in explicitly representing assembly experience and knowledge.

This paper aims to gain the real-time terrain parameters of the battlefield for the evaluation of military vehicle trafficability. In military missions, improvements in vehicle mobility have the potential to greatly increase the military operational capacity, in which vehicle trafficability plays a significant role.

In this framework, an online terrain parameter estimation method based on the Gauss-Newton algorithm is proposed to estimate the primary terrain mechanical parameters. Good estimation results are indicated, unless the initial values involved are properly selected. Correspondingly, a method of terrain classification is then presented to contribute to the selection of the initial values. This method uses the wavelet packet transform technique for feature extraction and adopts the support vector machine algorithm for terrain classification. Once the terrain type is identified, advices can be given on the initial value selection referring to the empirical terrain parameters.

On the basis of a dynamic testing system suitable for real military vehicles, the proposed algorithms are validated. High estimation accuracy of the terrain parameters is indicated on sandy loam, and good classification performance is demonstrated on four tested terrains.

The presented algorithm outperforms the existing methods, which not only realizes the online terrain parameter estimation but also develops the estimation accuracy. Moreover, its effectiveness is confirmed by real vehicle tests in practice.

This paper aims to explore the influence of applied pressure on the tribological properties of the friction component in a wet multi-disc clutch during the running-in process.

The running-in evolutionary was explored in terms of global friction performance. The variation of friction torque and mean COF of the initial 300 engagement cycles was obtained by full-scale tests. Finally, an optical microscope was used to detect the wear characteristics of friction surfaces.

The applied pressure showed a significant influence on the tribological behaviors of wet clutches during the running-in process. The mean COF decreased and then increases with the increase of the applied pressure. A higher applied pressure contributed to more asperity summits being sheared, thus resulting in a smoother surface. Considering a suitable wore performance, properly applied pressure is necessary.

The results provide theoretical guidance for selecting the optimal applied pressure in the running-in of wet clutches.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-08-2022-0256/

This paper aims to demonstrate that, in line with the emerging trend of multifunctional yarn development, cotton yarn can effectively harness renewable solar energy to achieve photothermal conversion and thermochromism. This innovation not only maintains the comfort associated with natural fiber cotton yarn but also enhances its ultraviolet (UV) light resistance.

In this work, 4% zirconium carbide (ZrC) and thermochromic powder were adhered to cotton yarn through polyurethane (PU) by sizing coating method. After sizing, the two cotton yarns are twisted by ring spinning to obtain composite yarns with photothermal conversion and thermochromic functions.

The yarn obtained by cotton/6%PU/8% thermochromic dye single yarn and cotton/6%PU/4% ZrC single yarn composite is the best match. After 5 min of infrared light, the temperature of the composite yarn rose to the maximum, increasing by 36.1°C. The ΔE* value before and after irradiation of infrared lamp is 26.565, which proves that the thermochromic function is good. The yarn dryness unevenness was significantly reduced by 27.2%. The composite yarn has a UPF value of up to 89.22, and its performance characteristics remain stable after 100 minutes of washing.

The composite yarn’s photothermal conversion and thermochromism functions are mutually reinforcing. Using sunlight can simultaneously achieve heating and discoloration effects without consuming additional energy. The cotton yarn used in this application is versatile, and suitable for a wide range of uses including clothing, temperature visualization detection and other scenarios.

The purpose of this study is to reduce the gloss of the surface of silk fabrics, by treating the fabrics with tea and matting agent, to imitate the aging and retro effects of silk artefacts.

Silk fabrics were treated with different processing techniques. The aged appearance and surface gloss of the silk fabrics were characterised by sensory analysis, measurement of reflectivity, scanning electron microscopy, measurement of brightness and chroma to identify the influential factors.

The application of matting agent on silk fabrics could reduce the lustre of silk fabrics. Treated with matting agent and tea pigments, silk fabrics could be “aged” to achieve retro effects within a relatively short period of time. A number of other factors and mechanisms that affect the reflectivity of the silk fabrics were also identified.

There is no definite index to evaluate the antique effect of fabrics.

The method developed through this study provided a simple and practical solution to achieving aging and retro effects on silk fabrics.

The method for reducing the lustre of silk fabrics by treating them with matting agent is novel and the finding of the relationships among reflectivity and brightness and chroma is original.