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The purpose of this paper is to develop a new failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) framework for evaluation, prioritization and improvement of failure modes.

A hybrid multiple criteria decision-making method combining VIKOR, decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is used to rank the risk of the failure modes identified in FMEA. The modified VIKOR method is employed to determine the effects of failure modes on together. Then the DEMATEL technique is used to construct the influential relation map among the failure modes and causes of failures. Finally, the AHP approach based on the DEMATEL is utilized to obtain the influential weights and give the prioritization levels for the failure modes.

A case study of diesel engine’s turbocharger system is provided to illustrate the potential application and benefits of the proposed FMEA approach. Results show that the new risk priority model can be effective in helping analysts find the high risky failure modes and create suitable maintenance strategies.

The proposed FMEA can overcome the shortcomings and improve the effectiveness of the traditional FMEA. Particularly, the dependence and interactions between different failure modes and effects have been addressed by the new failure analysis method.

This paper presents a systemic analytical model for FMEA. It is able to capture the complex interrelationships among various failure modes and effects and provide guidance to analysts by setting the suitable maintenance strategies to improve the safety and reliability of complex systems.

In this paper, with the goal of reducing the fuel consumption of UAV, the engine performance optimization is studied and on the basis of aircraft/engine integrated control, the minimum fuel consumption optimization method of engine given thrust is proposed. In the case of keeping the given thrust of the engine unchanged, the main fuel flow of the engine without being connected to the afterburner is optimally controlled so as to minimize the fuel consumption.

In this study, the reference model real-time optimization control method is adopted. The engine reference model uses a nonlinear real-time mathematical model of a certain engine component method. The quasi-Newton method is adopted in the optimization algorithm. According to the optimization variable nozzle area, the turbine drop-pressure ratio corresponding to the optimized nozzle area is calculated, which is superimposed with the difference of the drop-pressure ratio of the conventional control plan and output to the conventional nozzle controller of the engine. The nozzle area is controlled by the conventional nozzle controller.

The engine real-time minimum fuel consumption optimization control method studied in this study can significantly reduce the engine fuel consumption rate under a given thrust. At the work point, this is a low-altitude large Mach work point, which is relatively close to the edge of the flight envelope. Before turning on the optimization controller, the fuel consumption is 0.8124 kg/s. After turning on the optimization controller, you can see that the fuel supply has decreased by about 4%. At this time, the speed of the high-pressure rotor is about 94% and the temperature after the turbine can remain stable all the time.

The optimal control method of minimum fuel consumption for the given thrust of UAV is proposed in this paper and the optimal control is carried out for the nozzle area of the engine. At the same time, a method is proposed to indirectly control the nozzle area by changing the turbine pressure ratio. The relevant UAV and its power plant designers and developers may consider the results of this study to reach a feasible solution to reduce the fuel consumption of UAV.

Fuel consumption optimization can save fuel consumption during aircraft cruising, increase the economy of commercial aircraft and improve the combat radius of military aircraft. With the increasingly wide application of UAVs in military and civilian fields, the demand for energy-saving and emission reduction will promote the UAV industry to improve the awareness of environmental protection and reduce the cost of UAV use and operation.

The cable inspection robot is essential in maintaining bridge cables. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the maintenance methods of bridge cables. It summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of the critical structures of the external overall frame, intermediate adhesion device, attachment mechanism and driving method of the cable inspection robot. Finally, it discusses the challenges the cable inspection robot faces and the direction of future research.

This paper summarizes the research progress of the cable inspection robot and details the advantages and disadvantages of critical structures such as the external frame, intermediate adhesion device, attachment mechanism, driving method and safe return device of the robot. Finally, it points out the future direction of cable inspection robots, including lightweight design, hybrid design, multi-robot cooperative work, multi-technology integration and intelligent cable inspection digital twin model.

The cables are the main load-bearing components of a bridge, and their safety is crucial. However, subjected to varying loads and environmental influences over a long period, cables are prone to damage, threatening the bridge’s stability. Cable inspection robots can comprehensively detect and repair cable damage, significantly improving efficiency and safety.

This paper provides a comprehensive review of the current research on cable inspection robots, enabling readers to have a comprehensive and systematic understanding of the critical structures and key technologies of cable inspection robots and providing scientific references for researchers working on cable inspection robots.

The purpose of this paper is to study the behavior of a single ridge passing through elastohydrodynamic lubrication of point contacts problem for different ridge shapes and sizes, including flat-top, triangular and cosine wave pattern to get an optimal ridge profile.

The time-dependent Reynolds’ equation is solved using Newton–Raphson technique. Several shapes of surface feature are simulated and the film thickness and pressure distribution are obtained at every time step by simultaneous solution of the Reynolds’ equation and film thickness equation, including elastic deformation. Film thickness and pressure distribution are chosen to be the criteria in the comparisons.

The geometrical characteristics of the ridge play an important role in the formation of lubricant film thickness profile and the pressure distribution through the contact zone. To minimize wear, friction and fatigue life, an optimal ridge profile should have smooth shape with small ridge size. Obtained results are compared with other published numerical results and show a good agreement.

The study evaluates the performance of different surface features of a single ridge with different shapes and sizes passing through elastohydrodynamic of point contact problem in relation to film thickness and pressure profile.

This paper aims to investigate the effect of different texture ratios of bionic scallop microtextures on the tribological performance of shot-peened 65Mn steel plow surfaces.

This study first uses ultrasonic shot peening to strengthen the 65Mn steel plow surface, followed by laser processing to create bio-inspired scallop shell microtexture protrusions with varying texture ratios. The hardness of the samples is measured using an HV-1000D Vickers hardness tester, and the surface roughness is assessed using a TR200 roughness tester. Tribological performance tests are conducted under lubrication with earthworm body fluid using an HSR-2M reciprocating friction and wear tester. The surface structure and wear scar morphology of the samples are observed using an M330BD-HK830 metallurgical microscope and an S-4800FE scanning electron microscope.

Ultrasonic shot peening increases the surface roughness of the 65Mn steel plow, leading to increased friction, while the enhanced hardness improves wear resistance. The single bionic scallop microtexture protrusions have limited effectiveness in improving the friction and wear resistance of the 65Mn steel plow surface. However, bionic scallop microtextures with different texture ratios can improve the friction and wear resistance of the shot-peened 65Mn steel plow surface to varying degrees. When the texture ratio is 37%, compared to the single shot-peened sample, the maximum reduction in friction coefficient under 20 N and 50 N loads is 19.86% and 22.98%, respectively, while the maximum reduction in wear rate is 84.25% and 87.91%, respectively.

The research results provide a reference for preparation methods to achieve plow surfaces with excellent anti-adhesion, drag reduction and wear resistance properties.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-08-2024-0303/