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Item Open Access 2016 British Crystallographic Association (BCA) Spring Meeting, April 4–7, 2016(Cambridge University Press, 2016-12) Rendle, DReview of the 2016 British Crystallographic Association (BCA) Spring Meeting, April 4–7, 2016Item Open Access 3D automatic target recognition for missile platforms(2017-05) Kechagias Stamatis, Odysseas; Aouf, NabilThe quest for military Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) procedures arises from the demand to reduce collateral damage and fratricide. Although missiles with two-dimensional ATR capabilities do exist, the potential of future Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) missiles with three-dimensional (3D) ATR abilities shall significantly improve the missile’s effectiveness in complex battlefields. This is because 3D ATR can encode the target’s underlying structure and thus reinforce target recognition. However, the current military grade 3D ATR or military applied computer vision algorithms used for object recognition do not pose optimum solutions in the context of an ATR capable LIDAR based missile, primarily due to the computational and memory (in terms of storage) constraints that missiles impose. Therefore, this research initially introduces a 3D descriptor taxonomy for the Local and the Global descriptor domain, capable of realising the processing cost of each potential option. Through these taxonomies, the optimum missile oriented descriptor per domain is identified that will further pinpoint the research route for this thesis. In terms of 3D descriptors that are suitable for missiles, the contribution of this thesis is a 3D Global based descriptor and four 3D Local based descriptors namely the SURF Projection recognition (SPR), the Histogram of Distances (HoD), the processing efficient variant (HoD-S) and the binary variant B-HoD. These are challenged against current state-of-the-art 3D descriptors on standard commercial datasets, as well as on highly credible simulated air-to-ground missile engagement scenarios that consider various platform parameters and nuisances including simulated scale change and atmospheric disturbances. The results obtained over the different datasets showed an outstanding computational improvement, on average x19 times faster than state-of-the-art techniques in the literature, while maintaining or even improving on some occasions the detection rate to a minimum of 90% and over of correct classified targets.Item Open Access 3D conformal antennas for radar applications(2018) Fourtinon, L; Balleri, AlessioEmbedded below the radome of a missile, existing RF-seekers use a mechanical rotating antenna to steer the radiating beam in the direction of a target. Latest research is looking at replacing the mechanical antenna components of the RF seeker with a novel 3D conformal antenna array that can steer the beam electronically. 3D antennas may oer signicant advantages, such as faster beamsteering and better coverage but, at the same time, introduce new challenges resulting from a much more complex radiation pattern than that of 2D antennas. Thanks to the mechanical system removal, the new RF-seeker has a wider available space for the design of a new 3D conformal antenna. To take best benets of this space, dierent array shapes are studied, hence the impact of the position, orientation and conformation of the elements is assessed on the antenna performance in terms of directivity, ellipticity and polarisation. To facilitate this study of 3D conformal arrays, a Matlab program has been developed to compute the polarisation pattern of a given array in all directions. One of the task of the RF-seeker consists in estimating the position of a given target to correct the missile trajectory accordingly. Thus, the impact of the array shape on the error between the measured direction of arrival of the target echo and its true value is addressed. The Cramer-Rao lower bound is used to evaluate the theoretical minimum error. The model assumes that each element receives independently and allows therefore to analyse the potential of active 3D conformal arrays. Finally, the phase monopulse estimator is studied for 3D conformal arrays whose quadrants do not have the same characteristics. A new estimator more adapted to non-identical quadrants is also proposed.Item Open Access 3D Lagrangian particle tracking of a subsonic jet using multi-pulse Shake-The-Box(Elsevier, 2021-01-19) Manovski, Peter; Novara, Matteo; Karthik, Nagendra; Mohan, Depuru; Geisler, Reinhard; Schanz, Daniel; Agocs, Janos; Godbersen, Philipp; Schröder, AndreasThree-dimensional (3D) Lagrangian Particle Tracking (LPT) was performed on a subsonic jet flow at Mach 0.506 and 0.845 generated by a round nozzle with diameter-based Reynolds numbers of 1.7×105 and 3.1×105, respectively. The Multi-Pulse Shake-The-Box (MP-STB) technique was employed to reconstruct particle tracks along the four-pulse sequences, which were obtained by using orthogonally polarised light to separate the pulses on camera images. The MP-STB method applied here has a number of differences compared to previous publications, in particular, a new adaptive search radii approach and an iterative strategy and particle track validation criteria that have been customised for high subsonic/transonic flows. A description of this methodology is given followed by presentation of the instantaneous 3D flow velocity and material acceleration particle tracks. By ensemble-averaging the scattered instantaneous measurements extracted from individual particle tracks into small volumetric bins, highly resolved statistical quantities were obtained. The performance of MP-STB was assessed by comparing velocity profiles with published particle image velocimetry (PIV) data-sets. MP-STB was better able to resolve the steep velocity gradients, in particular the thin jet shear layer near the nozzle exit. At this location the MP-STB results also yielded higher turbulence intensities compared with the reported studies for similar flow conditions. The MP-STB acceleration flow statistics were compared for the two Mach numbers, and for the Mach 0.506 case, higher levels of normalised acceleration and fluctuations were found. The position accuracy of the 3D imaging system was quantified and it was found that the use of two different states of polarisation had a direct impact on the accuracy and the amount successfully tracked particles. Further assessment of the particle imaging quality of each camera revealed a significant disparity between cameras. This was attributed to the particle light scattering intensity variations, which were highly dependent on the particle size, camera angles and different states of polarised light. Despite these challenges, an average of40,000 individual particle tracks could be reconstructed from a typical particle image density of 0.02 particles per px (and an active sensor area of 1800×2200 px2). Furthermore, the accuracy of the measurement was shown to be relatively high, with respect to PIV.Item Open Access 3D printing, the future of cost effective biomechanical testing(SAFE, 2017-04-06) Franceskides, C.; Arnold, Emily; Horsfall, Ian; Clasper, J.; Tozzi, G.; Zioupos, PeterItem Open Access A 3D-collaborative wireless network: towards resilient communication for rescuing flood victims(IEEE, 2018-04-02) Rahman, Md. Arafatur; Hasan, Md. Munirul; Asyhari, A. Taufiq; Alam Bhuiyan, Md. ZakirulEvery year, floods result in huge damage and devastation both to lives and properties all over the world. Much of this devastation and its prolonged effects result from a lack of collaboration among the rescue agents as a consequence of the lack of reliable and resilient communication platform in the disrupted and damaged environments. In order to counteract this issue, this paper aims to propose a three-dimensional (3D)- collaborative wireless network utilizing air, water and ground based communication infrastructures to support rescue missions in flood-affected areas. Through simulated Search and Rescue(SAR) activities, the effectiveness of the proposed network model is validated and its superiority over the traditional SAR is demonstrated, particularly in the harsh flood environments. The model of the 3D-Collaborative wireless network is expected to significantly assist the rescuing teams in accomplishing their task more effectively in the corresponding disaster areas.Item Open Access 3D-printed coded apertures for x-ray backscatter radiography(SPIE, 2017-09-07) Munoz, Andre Arelius Marcus; Vella, Anna; Healy, M. J. F.; Lane, David W.; Jupp, Ian; Lockley, D.Many different mask patterns can be used for X-ray backscatter imaging using coded apertures, which can find application in the medical, industrial and security sectors. While some of these patterns may be considered to have a self-supporting structure, this is not the case for some of the most frequently used patterns such as uniformly redundant arrays or any pattern with a high open fraction. This makes mask construction difficult and usually requires a compromise in its design by drilling holes or adopting a no two holes touching version of the original pattern. In this study, this compromise was avoided by 3D printing a support structure that was then filled with a radiopaque material to create the completed mask. The coded masks were manufactured using two different methods, hot cast and cold cast. Hot casting involved casting a bismuth alloy at 80°C into the 3D printed acrylonitrile butadiene styrene mould which produced an absorber with density of 8.6 g cm-3. Cold casting was undertaken at room temperature, when a tungsten/epoxy composite was cast into a 3D printed polylactic acid mould. The cold cast procedure offered a greater density of around 9.6 to 10 g cm-3 and consequently greater X-ray attenuation. It was also found to be much easier to manufacture and more cost effective. A critical review of the manufacturing procedure is presented along with some typical images. In both cases the 3D printing process allowed square apertures to be created avoiding their approximation by circular holes when conventional drilling is used.Item Open Access 5 year public health impacts of an urban greenway, Belfast, Northern Ireland: Causal Loop Diagram (Abstract no diagram)(Oxford University Press, 2023-10-24) Hunter, R.; Garcia, L.; Clewley, Natalie; Hafezi, Mehdi; Hilton, JeremyBackground The development of large scale urban green space infrastructure, such as a new urban greenway, provokes a cascade of changes abating a series of public health impacts, in the realms of: health, society, economy and the environment. The relationships between these factors sustain reciprocal and dynamic influence with potential to generate a virtuous cycle. However, such long-term impacts and their inter-relationships are poorly understood. Methods We aimed to co-develop a shared understanding of the public health impacts of the Connswater Community Greenway with multi-sectoral stakeholders 5 years post-implementation. Objectives were to (a) build shared understanding of the complex system influencing the public health impact of the Connswater Community Greenway, and (b) identify and explore priorities, opportunities, and actions to improve future impacts. We undertook Group Model Building workshops with people representing relevant stakeholders involved in the development and/or maintenance of the Connswater Community Greenway, and local residents living on or along the greenway. Results 23 participants were involved in the workshop included local governmental agencies, local residents, advocacy groups, private sector, and researchers. Stakeholders produced a systems map detailing the public health impacts of the Connswater Community Greenway 5 years post-implementation. Key impacts included increased in mental wellbeing, sense of community pride, increased biodiversity, increased economic investment in the local area. Participants identified a range of priority actions that, in their view, could impact and help reshape the system and influence the future impacts of the greenway. Conclusions The CLD was reflective of the various stakeholders’ experience, knowledge, perceptions, and views about the factors, and the inter-relationships between these factors, of the public health impact of the Connswater Community Greenway at 5 years post-implementation. Key messages • Systems thinking approaches can help identify the public health impacts and plausible causal pathways of green space interventions. • 5 year impacts of an urban greenway included improvements in the realms of health, wellbeing, the environment, the economy and society.Item Open Access 6 Shipwreck archaeology in the past 10 years(Cambridge University Press (CUP), 2023-12-08) Briggs, Lisa; Campbell, Peter B.This paper reviews the trends, topics, and research directions in shipwreck archaeology over the past decade. As archaeology increasingly embraces advances in technological methods that can aid our research, the so-called ‘digital turn’, it behoves maritime archaeologists, and archaeologists more broadly, to consider how collaborative utilization of specialized fields including biomolecular archaeology, geophysics, and contemporary philosophy have spurred on a rapid modernization of our field in recent times. Archaeological research, both terrestrial and underwater, has long been a collaborative discipline. However, we argue here that difficulties in working underwater have encouraged maritime and underwater archaeologists to embrace technological developments at a rapid pace. An explicit theoretical framework and the incorporation of contemporary philosophy in the field of underwater archaeology was, until recently, largely lacking in the discipline’s discourse. The incorporation and advancement of adjacent disciplines within the field of underwater archaeology mark the most relevant changes within the shifting tides of shipwreck research.Item Open Access AD tools and prospects for optimal AD in CFD flux Jacobian calculations(2002-01-01T00:00:00Z) Tadjouddine, M.; Forth, Shaun A.; Pryce, J.We consider the problem of linearising the short (approximately 100 lines of) code that defines the numerical fluxes of mass, energy and momentum across a-cell face in a finite volume compressible flow calculation. Typical of such formulations is the numerical flux due to Roe, widely used in the numerical approximation of flow fields containing moderate to strong shocks. Roe's flux takes as input 10 variables describing the flow either side of a cell face and returns as output the 5 variables for the numerical flux. We present results concerning the efficiency of derivative calculations for Roe's flux using several currently available AD tools. We also present preliminary work on deriving near optimal differentiated code using the node elimination approach. We show that such techniques, within a source transformation approach, will yield substantial gains for application code such as the Roe flux.Item Open Access AD Tools and Prospects for Optimal AD in CFD Flux Jacobian Calculations.(2002-01-01T00:00:00Z) Tadjouddine, Mohamed; Forth, Shaun A.; Pryce, John D.We consider the problem of linearising the short (approximately 100 lines of) code that defines the numerical fluxes of mass, energy and momentum across a cell face in a finite volume compressible flow calculation. Typical of such formulations is the numerical flux due to Roe, widely used in the numerical approximation of flow fields containing moderate to strong shocks. Roe's flux takes as input 10 variables describing the flow either side of a cell face and returns as output the 5 variables for the numerical flux. We present results concerning the efficiency of derivative calculations for Roe's flux using several currently available AD tools. We also present preliminary work on deriving near optimal differentiated code using the node elimination approach. We show that such techniques, within a source transformation approach, will yield substantial gains for application code such as the Roe flux.Item Open Access An AD-enabled optimization toolbox in LabVIEW(TM)(2012-07-30T00:00:00Z) Gupta, Abhishek Kr.; Forth, Shaun A.LabVIEW(TM) is a visual programming environment for data acquisition, instrument control and industrial automation. This article presents LVAD, a graphically programmed implementation of forward mode Automatic Differentiation for LabVIEW. Our results show that the overhead of using overloaded AD in LabVIEW is sufficiently low as to warrant further investigation and that, within the graphical programming environment, AD may be made reasonably user friendly. We further introduce a prototype LabVIEW Optimization Toolbox which utilizes LVAD's derivative information. Our toolbox presently contains two main LabVIEW procedures fzero and fmin for calculating roots and minima respectively of an objective function in a single variable. Two algorithms, Newton and Secant, have been implemented in each case. Our optimization package may be applied to graphically coded objective functions, not the simple string definition of functions used by many of the optimizers of LabVIEW's own optimization package.Item Open Access ADAMS model validation for an all terrain vehicle using test track data(Sage, 2019-07-15) Kanchwala, Husain; Chatterjee, AnindyaMD ADAMS R is widely used for vehicle suspension modeling. In this paper we present modeling, simulation, and test track evaluation of an all terrain recreational vehicle. Our intention is to study the degree to which simplified ADAMS modeling actually matches human-driven vehicle response. For suspension model validation, a vehicle is generally tested on a four-post test rig and base-excitation is applied at four ground-wheel contacts. However, actual driving experience does not match idealized testing conditions. In this work the vehicle is manually driven on a variety of tracks at different speeds, and the vertical accelerations at four axle locations and four body points are measured. The same are then compared in detail against predictions from ADAMS simulation with vertical base excitation. The contribution of this paper is in identifying those aspects of the simulation results that match experiments well, and identifying possible sources for the observed mismatch, especially under more severe test conditions.Item Open Access Additively manufactured (3DP) thermite structures vs conventionally manufactured equivalents(IPSUSA Seminars, 2022-07-14) McGee, Christine; Vrcelj, RankoResearch into additive manufacturing (AM) has been steadily expanding over the past five decades. Where once only polymeric materials could be reliably printed, AM has been adapted to print with a range of materials such as biological, metallic, ceramic and even foodstuffs. The advantages of manufacturing in an additive manner include; a) a layer-by-layer approach allows the creation of architecturally complex structures, b) a reduction in weight, c) lessening of waste and d) the ability to create parts that that are otherwise difficult or too costly to produce. Pyrotechnic materials, including thermites, are used in a wide range of commercial and defence applications. However, hazards present during manufacturing and storage have resulted in major accidents around the world, with subsequent loss of life and in some cases loss of public infrastructure. AM, using a dry powder printing technique means that parts can be manufactured on demand, reducing the need for storage of large volumes of fully formed products or mixes, thus increasing the safety over lifetime of a product. The performance of pyrotechnics materials is dependent on a number of properties, including chemical composition, thermodynamic properties and physical form. In combination with composition, architecture could be utilised to understand and control these properties. A bespoke printer capable of additively manufacturing pyrotechnic materials has been constructed with the aim to explore this research area. In this presentation, we compare the burn rates of AM thermites and compare them to conventionally fabricated compositions and discuss the effects of the print parameters and confinement. We conclude with the results from the burning of AM thermite structures and compare their performance with conventionally prepared equivalent thermite examples.Item Open Access Adequacy of test standards in evaluating blast overpressure (BOP) protection for the torso(2016-11-18) Whyte, Tamlin; Horsfall, IanThe blast wave emanating from an explosion produces an almost instantaneous rise in pressure which can then cause Blast Overpressure (BOP) injuries to nearby persons. BOP injury criteria are specified in test standards to relate BOP measurements in a testing environment to a risk of BOP injury. This study considered the adequacy of test standards in evaluating BOP protection concepts for the torso. Four potential BOP injury scenarios were studied to determine the likelihood of injury and the adequacy of test standards for appropriate protection concepts. In the case of vehicle blast, BOP injury is unlikely and test standards are adequate. In the scenario involving an explosive charge detonated within a vehicle, and the close proximity to a hand grenade scenario, test standards are not available. The demining scenario was identified as of importance as test standards are available, but do not mandate the evaluation of BOP protection. A prototype South African Torso Surrogate (SATS) was developed to explore this scenario further. The SATS was required to be relatively inexpensive and robust. The SATS was cast from silicone (selected to represent body tissue characteristics) using a torso mould containing a steel frame and instrumented with chest face-on pressure transducer and accelerometer. The SATS was subjected to an Anti-Personnel (AP) mine test and the Chest Wall Velocity Predictor and Viscous Criterion were used to predict that BOP injuries would occur in a typical demining scenario. This result was confirmed by applying the injury criteria to empirical blast predictions from the Blast Effects Calculator Version 4 (BECV4). Although limitations exist in the ability of injury criteria and measurement methods to accurately predict BOP injuries, generally a conservative approach should be taken. Thus, it is recommended that the risk of BOP injuries should be evaluated in demining personal protective equipment test standards.Item Open Access Adjoint Differentiation of a Structural Dynamics Solver.(2006-12-01T00:00:00Z) Tadjouddine, Mohamed; Forth, Shaun A.; Keane, Andy J.The design of a satellite boom using passive vibration control by Keane [J. of Sound and Vibration, 1995, 185(3),441-453] has previously been carried out using an energy function of the design geometry aimed at minimising mechanical noise and vibrations. To minimise this cost function, a Genetic Algorithm (GA) was used, enabling modification of the initial geometry for a better design. To improve efficiency, it is proposed to couple the GA with a local search method involving the gradient of the cost function. In this paper, we detail the generation of an adjoint solver by automatic differentiation via ADIFOR. This has resulted in a gradient code that runs in 7.4 times the time of the function evaluation. This should reduce the rather time-consuming process (over 10 CPU days by using parallel processing) of the GA optimiser for this problem.Item Open Access Adopting the bottom-up approach and cluster analysis on North American and European male serial killers(JSciMed Central, 2017-11-23) Taylor, Sadie; Cahillane, Marie; Workman, LanceThis study explores the application of the FBI’s organised-disorganised classification to North-American and European male serial killers. Adopting the same method as Taylor, Lambeth, Green, Bone and Cahillane’s 2012 study, 52 crime scene criteria were used to categorise the murders committed by 25 male European and 25 male North-American serial killers. Applying content analysis, murders committed were dichotomously coded for the presence or absence of crime scene criteria using numerous secondary sources. Two separate agglomerative hierarchical cluster analyses using Ward’s method as the clustering algorithm formed two clusters for the North-American and two for the European serial killers. There were differences in the crime scene criteria for clusters between North-American and European serial murders. The ‘bottom-up’ approach resulted in clusters from the crime scene criteria demonstrating that there are problems associated with classifying traits as simply organised and disorganised. All clusters comprised of a degree of core organised traits -consistent with Canter, Alison, Alison and Wentink’s (2004) assumption that all serial killings require a degree of organisation. Further examination of frequency of occurrence measures suggests there are subtle but inherent differences between the MO of North American and European serial killers.Item Open Access Adult fly age estimations using cuticular hydrocarbons and Artificial Neural Networks in forensically important Calliphoridae species(Elsevier, 2017-10-08) Moore, Hannah E.; Butcher, John B.; Day, Charles R.; Drijfhout, Falko P.Blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are forensically important as they are known to be one of the first to colonise human remains. The larval stage is typically used to assist a forensic entomologists with adult flies rarely used as they are difficult to age because they remain morphologically similar once they have gone through the initial transformation upon hatching. However, being able to age them is of interest and importance within the field. This study examined the cuticular hydrocarbons (CHC) of Diptera: Calliphoridae species Lucilia sericata, Calliphora vicina and Calliphora vomitoria. The CHSs were extracted from the cuticles of adult flies and analysed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The chemical profiles were examined for the two Calliphora species at intervals of day 1, 5, 10, 20 and 30 and up to day 10 for L. sericata. The results show significant chemical changes occurring between the immature and mature adult flies over the extraction period examined in this study. With the aid of a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), samples were seen to cluster, allowing for the age to be established within the aforementioned time frames. The use of ANNs allowed for the automatic classification of novel samples with very good performance. This was a proof of concept study, which developed a method allowing to age post-emergence adults by using their chemical profilesItem Open Access Advanced cognitive networked radar surveillance(IEEE, 2021-06-18) Jahangir, Mohammed; Baker, Chris J.; Antoniou, Michail; Griffin, Benjamin; Balleri, Alessio; Money, David; Harman, StephenThe concept of a traditional monostatic radar with co-located transmit and receive antennas naturally imposes performance limits that can adversely impact applications. Using a multiplicity of transmit and receive antennas and exploiting spatial diversity provides additional degrees of design freedom that can help overcome such limitations. Further, when coupled with cognitive signal processing, such advanced systems offer significant improvement in performance over their monostatic counterparts. This will also likely lead to new applications for radar sensing. In this paper we explore the fundamentals of multistatic network radar highlighting both potential and constraints whilst identifying future research needs and applications. Initial experimental results are presented for a 2-node networked staring radar.Item Open Access Advanced detection and tracking in medium PRF radar(2009-03-12T15:51:08Z) Hughes, Evan J.; Lewis, M.This paper describes an improved method of target tracking particularly applicable to littoral environments where a wide range of clutter characteristics are present. A light weight multiple hypothesis tracker based on multiple intelligent software agents is presented.