Mathematical Problems in Engineering
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Acceptance rate11%
Submission to final decision118 days
Acceptance to publication28 days
CiteScore2.600
Journal Citation Indicator-
Impact Factor-

A Study on the Vehicle Antilock System Based on Adaptive Neural Network Sliding Mode Control

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 Journal profile

Mathematical Problems in Engineering is a broad-based journal publishing results of rigorous engineering research across all disciplines, carried out using mathematical tools.

 Editor spotlight

Chief Editor, Professor Guangming Xie, is currently a full professor of dynamics and control with the College of Engineering, Peking University. His research interests include complex system dynamics and control and intelligent and biomimetic robots.

 Special Issues

We currently have a number of Special Issues open for submission. Special Issues highlight emerging areas of research within a field, or provide a venue for a deeper investigation into an existing research area.

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Research Article

Optimized Distance-Based Algorithm for Cloud Space—Tourist Route Recommendation for Heritage Town, Pondicherry, India

Architecture, often regarded as a three-dimensional art form, relies on a multitude of abstractions during the design process. In this context, architectural elements are effectively represented through vector-based data processing techniques, offering a canvas for creative exploration. To further our understanding of spatial configurations and generate multiple design insights, mathematical structures known as graphs come into play. Graph theory, a fundamental component of this process, it is a mathematical field that studies relationships and connections between objects using vertices and edges, finding applications in computer science, network analysis, and more finds application in architectural design. This study delves into the application of graph theory in the analytical exploration of urban networks, with a focus on tourism parameters in the picturesque town of Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, India. Traditionally, urban network analysis seeks to determine the shortest distance between origin and destination, a metric rooted in accessibility. However, in leisure destinations, a novel approach involving an optimized distance-based algorithm is introduced. This innovative methodology aims to facilitate efficient access to all tourist destinations within the spatial extent while minimizing discrete physical distances. To illustrate this concept, we take the iconic French Quarters in the White Town of Pondicherry as a case study. By applying the optimized distance-based algorithm, we endeavor to uncover the most efficient route for tourists to navigate and leisurely explore the area. The outcome of this analysis reveals a path graph structure, which, when compared to a circular graph structure, demonstrates superior efficiency in guiding tourists through the space. The implications of this tourist route extend beyond the realm of tourism itself. It has the potential to enhance the organization of tourist activities, allowing stakeholders to manage and regulate the flow of visitors. Additionally, it presents an opportunity to promote and develop the region’s often-underestimated tourist destinations, which can, in turn, have a positive impact on the local economy. In summary, the integration of graph theory into architectural and urban design methodologies enriches the approach to tourism and offers a holistic perspective on spatial optimization.

Research Article

Post-Fracture Stiffness and Residual Capacity Assessment of Film-Retrofitted Monolithic Glass Elements by Frequency Change

The primary goal of safety films for glass in buildings is to retrofit existing monolithic elements and prevent, in the post-fracture stage, any fall-out of shards. Their added value is that—as far as the fragments are kept bonded—a cracked film-glass element can ensure a minimum residual mechanical and load-bearing capacity, which is strictly related to the shards interlocking and debond. To prevent critical issues, such a mechanical characterization is both important and uncertain, and requires specific methodologies. In this regard, a dynamic investigation is carried out on fractured film-bonded glass samples, to assess their post-fracture stiffness trends and its sensitivity to repeated vibrations. The adopted laboratory layout is chosen to assess the effects of random vibrations (220 repetitions) on a total of 12 cracked specimens in a cantilever setup (with 0.5–5 m/s2 the range of randomly imposed acceleration peaks). By monitoring the cracked vibration frequency, the film efficiency and corresponding residual bending stiffness of cracked glass samples are quantified as a function of damage severity, with a focus on fragments interlock. Quantitative experimental estimates are comparatively analyzed and validated with the support of finite element (FE) numerical models and analytical calculations. As shown—at least at the small-scale level—a progressive post-fracture stiffness reduction takes place under repeated random vibrations, and this implicitly affects the residual load-bearing capacity of glass members. Most importantly, for the tested configurations, it is shown that the cracked vibration frequency is minimally affected by crack geometry, and follows a rather linear decrease with the number of imposed random impacts (up to an average of ≈20 for each sample), thus confirming the retrofit potential and efficiency in providing some mechanical capacity through fragments interlock.

Research Article

Blockchain-Based Electronic Voting System: Significance and Requirements

In a democratic regime, voting is crucial to making collective decisions. Unfortunately, although this activity has great significance and value, little effort has been made to improve the way we vote. Paper ballots are still the most used method, although this method is relatively simple, brings many inconveniences, and represents a contradiction to the modern world and its advances. This paper mostly focuses on a review study of blockchain-based voting systems. It aims at identifying the strategies and the guidelines as well as provides a comprehensive end-to-end electronic voting system based on blockchain, with the help of cryptographic techniques such as zero-knowledge proofs to improve privacy. The novelty of this paper is that we tackle the limitations of electronic voting systems found in the literature, including cost, identity management, and scalability problems. Our purpose is to provide key elements for organizations on how to design their proper electronic voting system based on blockchain technology.

Research Article

Obstacle Avoidance Path Planning of a 4-DOF Weapon Arm Based on Improved RRT (RRT-H) Algorithm

To improve soldiers’ combat capability, weapon arms have a good development prospect. However, due to special work scenarios and tasks, new requirements are exerted on. Based on the fast-expanding random tree algorithm (RRT), path algorithm optimization (RRT-H) is proposed for the path planning of weapon arms. Overall path optimization is achieved by reducing the local path length with a closer path point planning to the obstacle. In a complex environment, the RRT-H algorithm can avoid local traps by guiding the new path extension direction and exploring multiple different paths in the map. The superiority of this algorithm is verified with 2D plane obstacle avoidance and pathfinding simulation experiments. Compared to , smart, and information , the RRT-H can obtain high-quality calculation results in a shorter time. After setting degrees of freedom (DOF) as that of variables, the algorithm is applied to the 4-DOF weapon arm, which confirms an effective reduction to the 4-DOF weapon arm’s motion costs.

Research Article

A Case Study of Tunnel Reinforcement Measure during Traffic Upgrading in Chongqing City, China

Because the urban tunnel is an essential knot of urban traffic and an easy blocking point in busy hours, upgrading the urban tunnel was necessary for the city after the tunnel being in service for a long time. However, to demolish the existing tunnel, some problems may be encountered, and these problems include occurrence of longitudinal cracks at the tunnel vault, increase of load due to infrastructure construction over the tunnel, unloading due to excavation of the rock over the tunnel, and uneven load due to asymmetric excavation or construction. To reinforce a cracked tunnel in Chongqing City, China, steel arches were installed to improve its bearing capacity, but some steel arches failed during the excavation of ground over the tunnel. Therefore, the scheme of “steel arch + shotcrete + tube column + transversal horizontal bracing” (hereinafter referred to as SASTCT) was proposed to ensure tunnel safety due to unloading and uneven load during the subsequent construction procedures. Numerical analysis indicated that the SASTCT measure can ensure the safety of the traffic and subsequent construction, which can provide some suggestions for similar tunnel upgrades in the future.

Research Article

Navigation Path Following Platform for a Greenhouse Shuttle Robot Using the State-flow Method

Localization is an important method for autonomous indoor robots to recognize their positions. Generally, the navigation of a mobile robot is conducted using a camera, Lidar, and global positioning system. However, for an indoor environment, GPS is unavailable. Therefore, a, state-trajectory tracking method is utilized based on a Lidar map. This paper presents the path following of an autonomous indoor mobile robot, that is, a shuttle robot, using a state-flow method via a robot operating system network. MATLAB and Linux high-level computers and an inertial measurement unit sensor are used to obtain the Cartesian coordinate information of a bicycle-type mobile robot. The path following problem can be solved in the state-flow block by setting appropriate time and linear and angular velocity variables. After the predetermined time, the linear and angular velocities are set based on the length of the path and radius of the quarter-circle of the left and right turns in the state-flow block, path planning, which can execute the work effectively, is established using the state-flow algorithm. The state-flow block produces time-series data that are sent to Linux system, which facilitates real-time mobile platform path following scenario. Several cases within the path-following problem of the mobile robot were considered, depending on the linear and angular velocity settings: the mobile robot moved forward and backward, turned in the right and left directions on the circular path. The effectiveness of the method was demonstrated using the desktop-based indoor mobile robot control results. Thus, the paper focuses on the application of the state-flow algorithm to the shuttle robot specifically in the narrow indoor environment.

Mathematical Problems in Engineering
 Journal metrics
See full report
Acceptance rate11%
Submission to final decision118 days
Acceptance to publication28 days
CiteScore2.600
Journal Citation Indicator-
Impact Factor-
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