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As a key factor, it is vital to mathematically model the electrical efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) systems. This paper investigates the efficient modeling of a 2.5 kW grid-connected PV system, located in Mahan, Kerman, Iran, with respect to different factors like solar radiation, humidity, dust deposition, temperature, and shading. For this aim, different nonlinear models are considered and a curvefitting approach is used to optimally determine the unknown parameters. Over the case study, simulation results show that when the dust deposition is not included in the modeling (solar radiation, ambient temperature, cell temperature, humidity, and shading as inputs), the third-degree polynomial model leads to more accurate result than the other models. By use of the third-degree polynomial model, the value of root mean square error (RMSE) for train and test data sets is obtained 0.0123 and 0.0109, respectively. In this case, the average RMSE value is 0.0116. On the other hand, when dust impact is included in the modeling (solar radiation, ambient temperature, humidity, and number of dusty days as inputs), the accuracy of the exponential model is more than the other ones. In this case, the value of RMSE for both train and test data sets is obtained 0.0018. Sensitivity analysis shows that the system efficiency depends mainly on the radiation, cell temperature, and dust and less on the humidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluation of wave impacts on submarine landslides is an essential element in geohazard studies. The slight desaturation of sediments (due to dissociation of gas hydrates) has been found to adversely impact the slide of the sloping seabed in the Fraser River Delta in Canada. In this study, to investigate the role of wave action on the slide of partially saturated seabed slopes, an integrated FEM model is developed. Despite most earlier studies that used a simplified decoupled undrained analysis, in this article, a more realistic model for coupled flow-and-deformation processes (within the sediments) and fluid-seabed interaction is utilized. Linear wave theory and Biot's poroelasticity for the fluid and seabed domains are considered, respectively, and continuity of flux and traction is enforced along the interface of the media. The instability of the sloping seabed is investigated using strength reduction finite element method (SRFEM) with Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion. The limitation of limit equilibrium methods in the evaluation of submarine landslides is shown through comparison with SRFEM analyses where partly-dynamic and quasi-static idealizations of seabed response are considered. Finally, the adverse impacts of slight desaturation on seabed instability are assessed, and the reduction of the stability number with seabed steepness is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wave-induced liquefaction in seabed may adversely impact the stability and bearing capacity of the foundation elements of coastal structures. The interaction of wave, seabed, and structure has been studied mostly for only mildly sloping seabed (<5 deg) using a decoupled approach. However, some of the marine hydrokinetic devices (MHKs) may be built on or anchored to the seabed with significant steepness. The wave-induced response and instantaneous liquefaction within sloping seabed supporting a small structure (representing a small MHK device) are evaluated herein by developing an almost fully coupled finite element model. The effects of coupling approach on the stress response and liquefaction of the seabed soils are investigated. Subsequently, post-liquefaction deformation of seabed soils around the structure is assessed. The poroelasticity equations governing the seabed response coupled with those for other domains are solved simultaneously. For post-liquefaction analysis, the soil is modeled as elastic-perfectly plastic material. The development of instantaneously liquefied zones near the foundation is studied in terms of seabed steepness and wave parameters. The changes in the effective stress paths due to the development of liquefied zones are evaluated in view of the soil's critical state. The results indicate that the decoupled solution yields significantly larger stresses and liquefaction zones around the structure. The seabed response and the liquefaction zones become smaller for steeper slopes. The presence of liquefied zones brings the stress state closer to the failure envelope, reduces the confining stresses, and induces larger plastic strains around the foundation element. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the new concept i -isodominism between two graphs is introduced, where i is a positive integer. The i -isodominism is a pair of the graph isomorphism which depends on the smallest i -dominating sets. By this tool, a graph with one vertex, complete graphs, wheels and stars are in the same 1 -isodominism class. Furthermore, some results about the 1 -isodominism classes of paths, cycles and star polygon are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wave-induced instability of seabed may cause damage to coastal and offshore structures. This issue has been investigated mostly for mildly sloping (< 5 °) seabed considering uncoupled or one-way coupled response of wave and seabed interaction. However, some of the marine structures are founded on seabed with steeper slopes. In this study, the wave-induced response and instability of sloping seabed are evaluated using a coupled finite element model. The interaction between fluid and porous seabed accounting for the effect of fluid motion on the seabed response, and conversely the effect of seabed response on the fluid motion (but not on the surface wave profile) is considered. The results indicate that the system response (fluid pressure, stresses, etc.) and the extent of instantaneously liquefied zone within the sloping seabed with significant steepness are lesser than those for horizontal seabed. Moreover, for typical sediment and wave characteristics, for the flat seabed, the response obtained from fully coupled analysis is not significantly different from those obtained by uncoupled analysis. For the sloping bed, such difference is slightly greater as compared to that for the flat bed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this paper, we present a block format of left-looking AINV preconditioner for a nonsymmetric matrix. This preconditioner has block 1 × 1 or 2 × 2 pivot entries. It is introduced based on a block format of Gaussian Elimination process which has been studied in [14]. We have applied the multilevel nested dissection reordering as the preprocessing and have compared this block preconditioner by the plain left-looking AINV preconditioner. If we mix the multilevel nested dissection by the maximum weighted matching process, then the numerical experiments indicate that the number of 2 × 2 pivot entries in the block preconditioner will grow up. In this case, the block preconditioner makes GMRES method convergent in a smaller number of iterations. In the numerical section, we have also compared the ILUT and block left-looking AINV preconditioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of mechanical activation on the synthesis temperature decreasing of silicon carbide was investigated and a kinetic model of a carbothermic reduction of silicon carbide was obtained. Silicon carbide was synthesized using silica activated in a planetary mill at different times up to 40 h under an argon atmosphere. Structural changes due to the milling and the reduction of the activated silica were studied by the X-Ray diffraction (XRD) method and non-isothermal TGA with a heating rate of 10 °C min-1 respectively. The kinetic model obtained by the fitting technique for an unmilled sample was found to be chemically controlled of the second order with E = 138.92 Kcal.mol-1 and A = 3.92×1015 s-1. For the sample milled up to 20 h, according to the Avrami-Erofeev3 equation; A = 1465633 s-1 and E = 66.71 Kcal.mol-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A technique for computing an ILU preconditioner based on the factored approximate inverse (FAPINV) algorithm is presented. We show that this algorithm is well-defined for H-matrices. Moreover, when used in conjunction with Krylov-subspace-based iterative solvers such as the GMRES algorithm, results in reliable solvers. Numerical experiments on some test matrices are given to show the efficiency of the new ILU preconditioner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Flash point of six flammable binary mixtures, acetic acid+Pentan-1-ol, Pentan-1-ol+n-hexanol, acetic acid+n-hexanol, acetic acid+cyclohexanon, Pentan-1-ol+cyclohexanon, n-hexanol+cyclohexanon and ternary mixture of acetic acid+n-hexanol+cyclohexanon were measured using the tag close cup apparatus by equilibrium test method. In this study attempt has been made to assess prediction models including Liaw model, Wickey model and Catoire model to calculate the flash point of these mixtures. UNIFAC model is employed in the mixture flash point predictions, in non ideal assumption. The results revealed that the Liaw et al. model can predict the flash point of studied mixtures with good accuracy. Also UNIFAC model when no experimental vapor–liquid equilibrium data are available is applicable for taking account non ideal assumptions in flash point calculations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We present an incomplete UL (IUL) decomposition of matrix A which is extracted as a by-product of BFAPINV (backward factored approximate inverse) process. We term this IUL factorization as IULBF.We have used ILUFF [3] and IULBF as left preconditioner for linear systems. Different versions of ILUFF and IULBF preconditioners are computed by using different dropping techniques. In this paper, we compare quality of different versions of ILUFF and IULBF preconditioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]