agricultural products are affected by static and dynamic forces at different stages of harvesting, handling and processing. in most cases, the damages are inflicted upon raw products. in the present study the mechanical properties of tomato fruits were found out for two cultivars (super bta and petoerly ch), during 4 periods of time (1, 5, 10 and 15 days past harvest), and at two levels of frui...

Discrete particle swarm optimization (DPSO) is a powerful stochastic evolutionary algorithm that is used to solve the large-scale, discrete and nonlinear optimization problems. However, it has been observed that standard DPSO algorithm has premature convergence when solving a complex optimization problem like transmission expansion planning (TEP). To resolve this problem an advanced discrete pa...

This paper presents the application of bifurcation method on the steady state three-phase load-flow Jacobian method to study the voltage stability of unbalanced distribution systems. The eigenvalue analysis is used to study distribution system behavior under different operating conditions. Two-bus connected by asymmetrical line is used as the study system. The effects of both unbalance and extr...

The single-phase traction load has essentially an unbalance characteristic at the Point of Common Coupling (PCC), which injects harmonic into the utility grid. In this paper, the effect of harmonic distortion and unbalance loading are investigated simultaneously for electrical railway systems. Special traction transformers (i.e. single-phase, V/V, Wye-Delta, Scott, and Le Blanc) are used betwee...

The heat loading on plasma facing components (PFCs) provides a critical limitation for design and operation of the first wall, divertor, and other special components. Power plants will have high power entering the scrape-off layer and transporting to the first wall and divertor. Although the design for steady heat loads is understood, the approach for transient and off-normal loading is not. Th...

Mechanical behavior of the Space Shuttle redesigned solid rocket motor (RSRM) propellant is studied from a phenomenological point of view. Motivated by the study of the experimental data three initially isotropic constitutive models have been developed. All models represent the e ect of strain rate, superimposed hydrostatic pressure, and cyclic loading on the stress and dilatation response of t...

this paper presents the effects of different amounts of reclaimed asphalt on fatigue life of asphalt mixtures. central composite method was used to design of experiments based on response surface method (rsm). binder type (pen 60/70 and pen 85/100), reclaimed asphalt pavement (rap) content (25, 50 and 75%) and loading strain (150, 250 and 350 micro strain) were selected as independent variables...

this research was conducted in order to evaluate fatigue behavior of asphalt mixes containing electric arc furnace (eaf) steel slag. after initial evaluation of the properties of eaf steel slag using x-ray diffraction (xrd) and scanning electric microscope (sem), six sets of laboratory mixtures were prepared. each set were treated replacing various portions of limestone aggregates of the mix wi...

objective: in this paper, finite element model of the l4 vertebra subjected to combination of compression and flexion loading in isotropic and anisotropic cases is investigated. methods: in both cases, the vertebra is considered homogeneous. also, the body of vertebra is divided to cancellous and cortical sections in anisotropic model, but the process is assumed isotropic such as isotropic mode...

The ability of low boiling point liquid perfluorocarbons (PFCs) to undergo a phase change from a liquid to a gas upon ultrasound irradiation makes PFC-based emulsions promising vehicles for triggered delivery of payloads. However, loading hydrophilic agents into PFC-based emulsions is difficult due to their insolubility in PFC. Here, we address this challenge by taking advantage of microfluidic...