Table of contents

Preface

The Special Issue on Complex equipment of quality control laboratories consist of papers and scientific notes provided by staff and guests speakers of Saint-Petersburg Mining University as part of seminars and lectures dedicated to the topic.

During the year 2018, in one of the oldest Russian universities scientists, engineers and quality control specialists from different institutions have met together to exchange knowledge, make oral contributions and poster presentations. Reports and discussion on the topics are considered to have a significant scientific site by participants.

The featured papers cover a wide range of technical areas and modern theoretical aspects of industrial electronics, precise measurements and instruments engineering. Among the authors are distinguished scientists of leading universities of the Russian Federation and young promising scholars. The significant part of reports were made in collaboration with members of internationally recognized professional organizations, societies and institutions.

All papers published in this volume of Journal of Physics: Conference Series have been peer reviewed through processes administered by the proceedings Editors. Reviews were conducted by expert referees to the professional and scientific standards expected of a proceedings journal published by IOP Publishing.

The paper presents experimental results related to the study of braking parameters, namely the mean fully developed deceleration and its response time formed due to vehicle loading, presence (absence) of ABS and a trailer, type and condition of a road pavement, as well as due to vehicle-road adhesion - a tire and its seasonal type. It describes the mathematical models defining the studied values. Is also justifies the advisability of specifying the traffic accident reconstruction method by introducing the adjusting factors K_dd and K_t into the main estimated dependences to increase the reliability and objectivity of conclusions during traffic expertise.

The paper considers the influence of solid phase concentration in slurry flow and its viscosity on the process of pipeline transportation. In view of carried out researches it was assumed that slurry viscosity is proportional to solid particles concentration. The dependence of effective viscosity coefficient on slurry concentration is determined. Calculation of specific pressure drops for hydraulic transportation of concentration tailings is made with and without rheological properties of the thickened slurry tailings. The feasibility assessment of using polyurethane-lined steel pipes in the operating hydraulic transport tailings system of the Kachkanarsk Mineral processing plant is given. The comparison of total capital expenditure and operational costs for each of the considered options of the hydraulic transport system development is made. It has been estimated that the cost advantage is about 1060,38 million rubles for the operation period of 10 years of one technological chain of polyurethane coated pipeline with the diameter of 1000 mm in comparison with the traditional steel pipeline without such coating in the conditions of tail facilities of the Kachkanarsk Mineral processing plant.

The article presents the results of the development of a combined method of hardening the parts used in the manufacture of cutting tools for band-saw machines, working in the conditions of wear and alternating loads

Results of studies of nondestructive control of multilayer titanium panel, made by the method of diffusion welding and superplastic forming, are considered. By ultrasonic control of the echo method with the use of a direct piezoelectric transducer, areas on which diffusion did not occur or has not occurred completely, as well as various inclusions trapped in the welded joint area during assembly, are determined. The quality of the formation of the inner surface (corrugated sheet) can be controlled by radiographic inspection, and according to the results of the control, it is possible to detect breaks, cracks, and the violation of the shape of internal partitions that appear from a technological process failure.

It is ascertained that operation of mechanical equipment on technical state requires a switch over permanent inspection of elements instead of periodic examination since a possible failure of the mechanical equipment of hydraulic structure system in the headworks will result in emerging causes for possible anthropogenic accidents. Changes in stressed and strained state of the whole structure significantly influence the equipment strength. Corrosion and mechanical loads as well as emergency conditions arisen result in sites for corrosion cracking of elements. Forming and opening of such cracks occur transiently and even instantly, but their character and spreading velocity are difficultly fore casted. Computation was carried out with the help of a software complex SCAD office, operation of which is based on the method of finite elements and superelements, emergence of various possible defects is simulated and their maximum level for safe operation of the mechanical equipment by the criterion of stressed and strained state is determined.

To identify the imperfection of technological processes during smelting of rail steel and the subsequent production of rails in modern conditions, traditional methods of research are not enough. Implementation of Barkhausen effect amplitude measurement, residual stresses for defect detection, material structure analysis with the purpose of improving production technology is proposed. Thus, combination of traditional metallographic, mechanical and new research methods that complement and ascertain the requirements of GOST R 51685-2013 can allow conducting fast and accurate analyzes of the conformity of rail steels to GOSTs, and will also determine the causes of rail failure, inconsistencies in technological processes.

In this paper, an algorithm for automating experimental research using computer modeling is presented. The grinding process in the jaw crusher was chosen as the process for the study. Conducting experimental studies of crushing processes is a time-consuming process that takes considerable time. To obtain and confirm the characteristics of equipment and particles involved in the grinding process, it is necessary to conduct auxiliary experiments, which also require a long time and special equipment. Therefore, to accelerate the process of experimental studies of work in particular new equipment, it is effective to use numerical simulation. The main goal of the project was to create a methodology for determining the conditions and results of the crushing process instead of numerous experiments, which in turn would greatly accelerate and facilitate the research process. In the presented work, a model of the crushing process in a jaw crusher using the Discrete Element Method (MDE) was realized. The use of modern software allowed studying in detail the impact of the cheeks of the crusher on the crushing material. In the article, the process of modeling is considered step by step, starting with the design of the crusher construction and ending with a comparative analysis of the results obtained with the experimental data. The obtained results were compared with computer simulation in accordance with the features of the operation of the presented installation, the nature of the destruction and the distribution of particles by size. The above analysis and comparison of results show the comparison of physical experiment and computer simulation.

This article is devoted to aerodynamic studies of one of the promising aerodynamic configurations of unmanned aerial vehicles (hereinafter UAV) of vertical take-off/landing type catamarans with partial aerostatic unloading. The technique of setting up virtual (numerical) experiment is described; the results obtained are analyzed. The authors defined a mutual arrangement of structural elements of the UAV (bearing surface, the cylinder with the carrier gas, propeller), in which they mutually influence (interference) positively on the mode flight (cruise mode) and hovering. An increase in the aerodynamic quality of the apparatus at these modes was confirmed precisely as a result of the positive interference of the structural elements.

A lot of researchers are developing new DEM parameters calibration approaches based on an experiment plan or the use of learning algorithms. This research is aimed at improving iterative algorithms frequently used for calibration. The big time consumption as a main problem of iterative algorithms is questioned. It is proposed to use Random forest algorithm to determine DEM parameters impact on the measured bulk responses. Measured responses are the parameters obtained by image processing using a technical vision system. As a result of 200 experiments processing, DEM parameters impact values on each bulk response were generated and presented as histograms. Obtained results were interpreted on the basis of the bulk material behavior and its physical properties. There is a discussion on the possibility of developing a universal DEM parameters calibration method based on the iterative algorithm.

Grinding methods of affecting the material being ground in a vertical roller mill and ball mill have fundamental differences. Subsequently, these differences have an impact on the dispersion of the crushed samples, the degree of defects in the surface of the grains, and as a consequence on strength characteristics of the ground products. This article studies the impact of the affecting method in the compared grinding units on the cement dispersion indicators.

The technique used in the article allows one to fix a specific value of the level of defectiveness. The experiment showed that the efficiency of using high-quality spare parts amounted to an average of 32.5 thousand rubles per year, and the number of defective spare parts in recent years has decreased significantly (≈ 30 %).

A technique for x-ray spectral quantitative determination of lanthanides in solid products of metallurgical industries have been developed and coupling equations have been derived that make it possible to calculate the concentration of rare earth metals with an accuracy that meets the requirements of the technological process. The study performed samples of the analyte with monochromatic gamma or x-ray radiation with simultaneous recording of the intensities of the characteristic radiation and incoherently scattered radiation by the same breakdown of the primary radiation, the concentration measurement of the element being determined is carried out according to the analytical parameter taking into account the effect of the background of the characteristic radiation. The technical result was the provision of the possibility of determining the concentration of elements in samples of different chemical and material composition, having a different structure and density, without identifying the phase composition, but with a preliminary correction of the background.

Processing of natural and technogenic materials, utilization of industrial waste, production of goods at the first stage are associated with the grinding of materials. Traditional grinders often do not fully perform their functions, while they have high specific energy consumption and large metal consumption. In addition, for the production of composite materials, it is necessary to mix the original components efficiently, which is not always possible in typical mixer designs. The solution of the problems of joint grinding and mixing is considered in this article. In addition, it is necessary to mix the original components efficiently for the production of composite materials, which is not always possible in typical mixer designs. The solution of the problems of co-grinding and mixing is considered in this article.

To control the production process of nanomodifiers, automated control and regulation of technological parameters, equipment protection, a process control system for the associated production of nanostructured concentrates is being developed. The optimal process for extracting nanostructures from technogenic wastes of silicon production is flotation.

The paper presents the results of solving the problem of creating an area oscillator, the design of which allows direct oscillations to be obtained in one housing. Moreover, the direction of the action of the driving force can be changed within 360⁰, during installation. The paper presents a methodology and a tool for the calculation and design of vibration devices with an asymmetric forcing force, which allows you to send a large part of the generated oscillation energy to perform useful work and reduce its consumption during the idle stage. The novelty of the work is that it presents some completed results of theoretical studies and practical implementation of them, relating to the second and third level of enhancement of vibration equipment. The presented scientific and practical results expand the capabilities of engineers of designers and creators of vibration equipment in the field of its improvement and expansion of the field of application. The article outlines the conceptual issues of the formation of the idea and directions of research on the development of the theoretical foundations for the design of vibration modules for technological processes using vibrational technologies. The main results obtained in the development of experimental industrial models of innovative vibration mechanisms and in the development of methods for their design are given.

The subject of the paper includes modeling methods of a set of technical services for transport operation. The object of the paper covers technical services for transport operation. The purpose of the paper is to develop the methodical basis for technical service system of models used in design and quality assessment of a set of transport services within transport serviceology. The synthesis strategy of a system of models to describe, design and assess the quality of railway transport technical services for further optimization of technical services within the railway transport is proposed. Analysis and synthesis, modeling, system approach, classification methods, comparative analysis, forecasting, design, positioning, standardization, and modeling are used as methods of the study. The scientific novelty of the paper is related to the synthesis strategy of a system of models for design and quality assessment of technical transport services.

As a result of full-scale surveys of parameters of open mining facilities, a set of discrete values is basically obtained. The geomechanical state of the ledges of the sides of the pit and dumps can not be fully represented without obtaining objective information about the dynamics of the deformation regime of the observed object. This information is necessary throughout the life of the quarry, in order to ensure its trouble-free operation. Thus, effective monitoring of the ledges of the sides of quarries and dumps is a necessary part of the mining safety system for the enterprise, and also allows checking the correctness of the previously adopted design solutions for setting the sides and ledges of the quarry to a stationary position. This paper presents a measurement technique that allows obtaining continuous data in real time to ensure the safety of work.

The possibility of applying hydrocarboaliminate calcium, synthesized in aluminum processing for production of special cement brands as by-products in a complex processing of nepheline raw material, is justified in this article. Basic technical characteristics of new products are provided.

At present, the modern society utilizes composite materials in various branches of the national economy. The properties of such materials depend on their composition and structure, and may considerably differ from the properties of source materials. In turn, texture and structure of crystals, their packing order, size and level of sophistication affect the structure of materials. This is particularly demonstrated by hydration curing materials on the basis of gypsum and magnesia binding materials, as well as portland cement. Structuring control is one of the key problems of composite materials. Gypsum binding materials with various modification composition are suggested as a model system to study the influence of texture and structure of materials on their properties. One of them is the construction gypsum – an anhydrite binder and a multiphase gypsum binder (MGB). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was chosen as the main method of study. It is found that gypsum crystals that are formed during hydration and curing of gypsum binders with various modification composition have different texture and structure. It prevents from getting the optimal packing of a material. It is justified and confirmed that the MGB consisting of several modifications of calcium sulfate allow choosing the best material composition due to the combination of crystals having different size and form. Besides, MGB contains significant amounts of insoluble anhydrite that reduces the water-gypsum ratio of a binder and compacts its structure. Considerable attention is paid to microfillers, which significantly affect the texture and structure of materials based on gypsum binders. Iron ore concentrate of the Lebedinsky GOK generally consisting of magnetite, as well as impalpable flour cullet waste of sodium and potassium glass were used as microfillers in the given study. Ultra- and nanodispersed powders at their introduction to gypsum and anhydrite compositions change the size and morphology of crystal newgrowths and ensure the formation of ordered, denser and uniform fine-crystalline structures of composite materials, which leads to the reduction of structure imperfection, porosity and increase in contact areas of crystalline hydrates increasing physical and mechanical performance of gypsum materials. Efficient composite construction materials are obtained on the basis of MGB and microfillers.

In the article the use of technogenic raw materials (dropout of quartzite sandstone crushing) as filler for concrete is considered. Methods of research of the filler by the leading scientists of Russia are given. The physical and mechanical characteristics of the filler such as: size modulus, bulk density, real density, voidness, water demand, cement demand, are considered. Studies prove the possibility of effective use of droupout of quartzite sandstone crushing as filler for fibre concrete.

Open-pit mining of mineral deposits is characterised by a significant level of adverse effects on the atmospheric air due to both natural and technogenic phenomena. When assessing the environmental impact, some authors often do not take into account the phenomenon of endogenous spontaneous coal combustion, which can lead to the release of various toxic substances into the atmosphere. In cases of an imperfect control system, and untimely adoption of fire prevention measures, spontaneous combustion can cause catastrophic consequences. This issue is particularly acute in decommissioned facilities, where uncontrolled temperature growth occurs in a fire seat, the area of which increases daily in the absence of monitoring of combustion in strata and dumps. Such circumstances are observed at the Korkino Coal Mine, where seats of endogenous brown coal combustion have been observed for over 25 years. Since the mine is decommissioned, its reclamation is necessary with the development of complex works on the isolation of endogenous burning seats. Carrying out these works at the modern level requires the creation of a mathematical model of the process, providing a comprehensive study of the main parameters of spontaneous combustion, and also estimates of release intensity of the main fire gases at different temperatures. This paper presents the results of an analysis of the experience of conducting experimental studies of the processes of spontaneous combustion of brown coal, which served as the basis for building an experimental facility for studying the processes of spontaneous combustion and endogenous combustion of brown coals of the Korkino Coal Mine.

The issues of bridge monitoring using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) are considered. A technology of determining point coordinates by the differential method of satellite observations is discussed. The measuring complex for continuous monitoring of deformations of the bridge across the Malaya Neva River in St. Petersburg is described. The technological scheme of bridge monitoring is developed. The results of observations are presented. The issue of applying global navigation satellite systems in bridge monitoring is investigated. Based on the study results, diagrams of the spatial position of the upper pylon site and the middle of the channel span were drawn taking into account vehicle loads in the test mode and in the full workload mode. Further research directions necessary for forecasting the technical state of the bridge are determined.

This article presents the results of the application of the georadar area near-surface sounding and the possibility of using a georadar for hydrogeological monitoring in the zone of negative influence of the liquidated coal mines.

Currently the development of new machine designs and methods of their engineering calculation is one of the most priority areas of construction industry. It allows one to carry out research at the stage of theoretical calculations in order to predict the expected result. One of the promising constructive solutions for economic profitability increase of mixing equipment is the use of deformable working chambers. The main feature of such working chamber is the ability to change its overall dimensions during its deformation, which allows obtaining a new mechanism of influence on the processed medium, using it as a working element. Thus, the main output parameter for any deformable working elements is the movement transferred to the particles of the materials being mixed. Output parameters that have a small effect on the value of particle displacement are the characteristics of the chamber such as the material (stiffness, elasticity in the presence of cording) and execution (shape, installation method, various design decisions). Various types of rubber can be used as the material for chamber making that depends on the required mixing conditions such as the degree, type and intensity of the chamber deformations, as well as the required quality of the final product. Simplicity of introducing mixers into existing technological lines should also be noted. That increases the economic efficiency for both large and small enterprises, focused on making a profit at minimal cost.

The aim of the work is to develop a technique for Express determination of trout falsification by the method of heat treatment by differentiating its thermal state: "chilled" - "frozen" with the use of a synchronous thermal analysis device. The device of the synchronous thermal analysis STA 449 F3, Jupiter, made by NETZSCH was used for experiments. The trout samples were examined in a copper furnace with the connection of a Dewar's vessel in oxidized aluminum crucibles in helium atmosphere, while simultaneously fixing differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves and and the weight loss (WL) curves. The developed methodology includes recommendations for the selection of a trout sample for analysis; the DSC temperature program for monitoring fish processing and storage, the conditions for obtaining a DSC curve for the reference sample; a criterion for the thermal state of the experimental sample of trout. The DSC temperature program provides for sequential two-fold freezing operations - heating of a sample of trout muscle tissue from its spine mass of 24 mg in the temperature range from 25 to minus 30 ° C by cooling with nitrogen at a speed of 5 K/min. The exothermic effect of the second freezing for the reference sample serves as a criterion for the thermal state of the experimental trout sample.

Intensification of any modern production is accompanied by the creation and implementation of new complex systems of technological equipment, characterized by significant changes in the organization and design methods. In modern conditions, one of the main tools at the research stage and at the stage of building such systems is modeling and comprehensive study of the projected objects on a computer. Imitation modeling is currently an effective tool for studying technological processes and industrial productions. The study of technical-technological subsystems of industrial processes using the simulation method has an analogy with the full-scale experiment. In this case, the computer experiment is carried out using a computer that automates the modeling process and provides the required number of tests in a shorter period. The article discusses the development of an imitation model of the textile industry. It was created on the basis of the structural approach proposed by N.P. Buslenko. Herewith takes into account the stochastic character of the technological processes of textile production. Applied programs, modeling cotton spinning and weaving processes have been developed that allow real-time monitoring of the system status and its parameters.

The link between stress and health was supported by many studies. However, probably due to problems in the stress measures used, the issue of chronic stress monitoring still remains. Higher levels of chronic stress exposure were contributors to an increased risk for several mental and physical health conditions, such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, posttraumatic stress disorders, irritable bowel disease, anxiety disorders, depression and others. In order to prevent development, maintenance, or stimulation of them, the method for assisting the effects of chronic stress on the human body was developed based on the results of the previous studies in the field.

The article analyses factors affecting the quality of products manufactured on the basis of peat raw materials. The method for estimating the degree of peat processing by means of the roller-disk mechanism is presented taking into account the assumption of the continuity condition and the unchanged volume of the passing raw materials. This will further determine the energy cost for manufacturing peat products with the use of similar devices.

The paper justifies the possibility of using unstandardized techniques and methods to assess the quality (activity) of components with different composition and method of production. It illustrates physical and chemical properties of mineral modifiers obtained on the basis of crystal and amorphized raw materials with different composition. It also proves their high activity in relation to cellular concrete binding irrespective of the curing method. The obtained properties allow forecasting high efficiency of mineral modifying components within a porous system.

Based on use of electrodynamic impact of alternating magnetic field on liquid metal, the fundamentally new method of continuous casting has become an important stage in the development of casting technology that has changed conditions of ingots formation and its quality radically. It is possible to implement this principle by means of induction heating . To optimize the technology losses in the windings of induction heaters are calculated and the electrodynamic forces in coils of windings are determined. The developed method of electrodynamic forces calculation for the casting of aluminum in an electromagnetic crystallizer allows improving the quality of aluminum ingots during electromagnetic processing

This article presents the results of the analysis of the process of grinding of materials with an anisotropic structure and a new approach is proposed to increase of its efficiency.

The modeling of the microstrip line with side grounded conductors located near air-substrate boundary is performed. The dependences of per-unit-length delay and the characteristic impedance on a distance between the grounded conductors are calculated with a change in the height above the boundary and the burying into the substrate. The change of the points of zero sensitivity of the per-unit-length delay to the position of the side grounding conductors over and under the air-substrate boundary is investigated. The possibility of obtaining a minimum (up to zero) sensitivity of the impedance to the height of the side grounding conductors near the air-substrate boundary is revealed.

The article presents the results of the analysis of the kinetics of the grinding process in a ball mill. The operating modes of grinding loading at various schemes of energy exchange devices installation, in a drum of a ball mill are defined. It is established that the nature of the dynamic action of grinding media in the mill drum is significantly influenced by the mutual location of the energy exchange devices both in the longitudinal and in the cross section of the mill body. The results of experimental studies on the process of grinding the material in an energy-saving complex include: a press roller grinder and a ball mill equipped with energy exchange devices. The influence of load factors of grinding bodies of the first and second chambers of the ball mill, their lengths, angles of inclination and mutual arrangement of energy exchange devices on the output parameters of the grinding process is studied. Their rational values are obtained.

This work studies the effect on the strength and other mechanical characteristics of hardening structures in the "cement-water" system with a filler of identical chemical nature consisting of cement granules or cubes at different age and with their own characteristics. This study was performed in the light of a new paradigm in natural science and the unity and opposites of markovian and non-markovian processes with forming structures similar to own ones where the indicators are harmonic numbers, golden proportion and Fibonacci numbers. Moreover, structured modeling of the above mentioned systems was carried out, and effect of the ratio of adhesive and cohesive forces on the structure formation of cement systems was investigated. It was shown that it is necessary to have 238732 particles per 1 m of the sample, taking into account that the density of particles packing with a diameter of 1 cm is 100 %. If the density is lower, it is necessary to have 152788 particles. It was established that the strength of hardening structures depends on the age and configuration of filler granules.

The article considers energy-saving equipment for production of composite binder. The use of equipment makes it possible to reduce the power consumption of the grinding process up to 50%. Improving the energy efficiency of the line is achieved through the operation of the press roll grinder and rotor-vortex mills of the new design.

The problem of technological supplying of durability is researched. Herewith, the influence of surface layer quality parameters must be concerned and researched: what methods, treatment regimes, instruments supplies are the required quality parameters. In the optimization problem, the criteria is fatigue durability, parameters of optimization are treatment regimes. An account of technological heredity is also necessary. A selection of optimal turningand subsequent surface plastic deformation regimes (finishing and strengthening stage of the technological treatment route) is researched. The optimal regimes were found as a result of fatigue tests of samples, which were treated with various turning and subsequent surface plastic deformation regimes. The authors calculated values of fatigue durability on the base of the formula, derived by the author. The calculated and experimental values were compared.

The article presents an approach to solve the problem of non-standard errors correction in the process of creating permanent joints using high-temperature methods such as induction soldering, electron beam welding, diffusion welding. The use of such high-tech methods for creating integral joints causes the use of intelligent methods for correcting non-normative errors. Within the framework of this work, it is proposed to use artificial neural networks for correction of non-normative errors in the technological process of creating integral connections. The work includes the process of development, training and experimental verification of the non-normative errors correction method of based on artificial neural networks.

Analysis of applicability of methods using microspecimens indentation tests to determine the physico-mechanical characteristics of steels, as well as the damage state of the material by the example of steel 10 and steel 20, was conducted. The dependency of the load value, to which the steel was subjected, on specific characteristics obtained by testing microspecimens was received.

One of the causes of corrosion and destruction of refractory lining in pyrometallurgical processes is the occurrence of melts in the most intensively altered zones of refractory material. This phenomenon has a direct analogy with the process of interaction of magma with crystalline rocks of various composition and the contact changes manifested in high-temperature metamorphism. Silicate, oxide (wustite and magnetite) and metallic melts which are produced resulting from mutual components diffusion in metallurgical processes are analogous with natural magmas. The formed minerals with complex isomorphism such as olivine, spinel, perovskite-brownmillerite have the analogues in natural objects as well. The petrographic studies applied in technical petrography (the petrography section) are used to investigate the artificial stone materials: concrete, cement, building bricks, ceramics, crystalline glass and glasses, slags, refractories, abrasives, ore agglomerates, etc. They allow to establish the structural and phase transformations in the lining during its operation and to draw a conclusion about its durability increase or decrease. This enables the creation of new lining materials that would allow to do alloy smelting in induction crucible furnace at mains frequency at higher temperatures.

Performance of the tanks depends on the tightness of all their components and joints, quality thereofis formed during the construction phase. Analysis of the results of the VST (vertical steel tank) examination shows that a greater number of defects are concentrated in the chuck unit of the tank - the place where wall and bottom meet. The main issue that arises in the installation of vertical steel tanks is technological lack of penetration of the chuck unit, as well as excess of the clearance in the joint of the welded joint directly prior to welding, due to high threshold deviations in the foundation base dimensions and imperfect assembly operations. Additional tensile stresses resulting from elastic deformation of the bottom to ensure the required clearance in the welding lead to premature failure of the tank. It has been experimentally shown that with increasing clearance in the joint (with subsequent reduction to the rated value), the fatigue life of the chuck unit decreases. Various types of additional treatment allowing one to prolongservice life of the chuck unit.

The approach to improving the accuracy of flow measurement using vortex flowmeters is discussed. One of the ways of flow measurement accuracy improvement is finding the suitable flowmeter transformation function. Such task is difficult to formalize and is usually solved by expert means. The approach for automatic selection of the vortex flowmeters transformation function form is described. The method is based on the evolutionary method for solving the symbolic regression problems. This is a genetic programming method. A description of the approach is given. The numerical study conditions of the proposed approach reliability are presented concerning the problems of determining the vortex flowmeters transformation function formula. The analysis of the obtained results makes it possible to state that the proposed approach allows solving the problem efficiently. The prospective direction of designing an adaptive transformation function is stated on the basis of modifications of the genetic programming method.

Plasticity anomalies relation of single-phase brasses with ~ 32 % Zn, cast with~ 8 % Sn and annealed with ~ 13 % Sn tin bronze, modified with ~ 14 % and non-modified with ~ 12 % Si silumin, aged duralumin with ~ 6 % Cu, annealed steel with ~ 0,5 % C as a result of qualitative changes in temperature extension crystallization interval are confirmed by comparing anomalies with equilibrium and non-equilibrium diagrams Cu − Zn, Cu − Sn, Al − Si, Al − Cu, Fe − C. Here, basing on the anomalies – intermediate phases of the most common alloys are declared – brasses, bronze, silumin, duralumin and steels.

The article describes the operational reliability of a vibration-centrifugal unit. The deformations and stresses of the most loaded structural elements are calculated, and a method of their minimization with the aim of ensuring the operational reliability of the unit is established.

The technique of digital non-metric camera calibration with the purpose of obtaining reliable spatial information on an object by its photos is given in the article. The procedure for performing calibration and processing the received images is described. The methods to deal with the issue, to perform geometric interpretation and to estimate the accuracy of the results obtained are given. The degree of influence of calibration on the final data is investigated. It is found that the accuracy of measurements increases with decreasing pixel size of the camera. The results of the comparison of control measurements with their true values are given, confirming the possibility of effective use of the cameras to solve practical problems of collecting geospatial information on engineering facilities.

One of the promising directions in mining industry is improvement of effectiveness in transportation of processed products. Current development, which requires minimization of tailings' volumes, leads to increase of solids (tailings) concentration in a flow of stowing pulps. It, consequently, leads to additional pressure losses in a pipeline. As a result, it becomes necessary to create higher head in order to overcome flow friction. One of the first steps to estimate optimum parameters of hydraulic transport operation is analysis of rheological properties of transported material.

Results of laboratory studies, which were taken to determine a correlation between viscosities of stowing pulps based on mill tailings and solids concentration in the pulps flow, are shown in this paper. Rheological curves were plotted to determine dynamic viscosities and shear strengths of pulps with different concentration of solids, based on experimental results. These results were obtained using rotational viscometer VT 550. It was determined that with the increase of pulp's density, its viscosity and shear strength increase with some initial shear stress, showing properties of non-Newtonian fluid. An attempt to estimate functional correlation between rheological parameters of filling pulp's flow and concentration of inert filler, using the regression analysis method, was taken as a research problem in this paper. Hydraulic fluid compositions with change in concentration from 10 to 38% volume (from 20 to 60% mass) were taken in these experiments. Reliability of the derived mathematical model was determined using the least square method. Obtained results show that derived regression describes experimental studies by 88%.

The approach to the study of metallurgical processes with the help of analysis of the trends of dependencies of the main parameters on the technological process is considered. The adopted technique for experimental data processing makes it possible to interpret the results obtained for their further practical application. The way of definition of probabilistic dependences between variables of the research object, checking the efficiency of ACS control using the basic material flows, and quality of a target product is presented. The influence of individual factors on the composition of the desired product is analyzed.

The effect of the dispersion of effective roughness on the intensity of flow turbulence is considered in the paper. The results of the investigation of the effect of roughness parameters on the energy consumption of pumping equipment during the transportation of a liquid flow are presented.

In this paper, evaluation of the current status in the field of electrical voltage measurement at a certain moment is given. The reference base and measuring instruments of approved types are analyzed.

When developing a measurement technique for the resonant frequency of a series oscillatory circuit, an important problem is to select the method and means of measurement. In this paper, calculations are carried out with using two methods based on different principles. The first was made by means of the universal bridge (bridge method) with the subsequent calculation of indications, the second - by means of the measuring installation realizing the resonant principle of measurement of frequency. Relative errors were calculated (δ_1f = 0.56 % and δ_2f = 0.08% respectively) and the confidence intervals of the frequency value were determined for each of the methods. Despite the high labor costs, a method based on the resonance principle was chosen to develop the measurement technique, as it has the necessary accuracy.

The article is devoted to the development of a RFID signal level model using time series for an automated system for the control and identification of industrial products. It describes the developed project for industrial products based on RFID technologies. It describes the developed RFID signal level model. Conducted experimental studies in the laboratory are described in the article.

The paper presents data on the problem of monitoring the technical condition of torpedo ladle cars in the iron and steel works. The structure of information technology for monitoring the technical condition of torpedo ladle cars has been developed and described as a system-organized sequence of operations performed with the information on the state of the torpedo ladle cars applying the proposed methods. There has been information technology software developed to implement the operations of information processing for torpedo ladle cars and to support decision-making on selecting their operational mode.

This article is concerned with the automation of the experimental examinations of the phase states of multicomponent hydrocarbon systems. Experimental examinations of the mixtures of natural gas and gas condensate from the gas-condensate field on the PVT-installation have been performed to determine if the composition of the hydrocarbon mixtures influence the regularities of their phase changes. The comparison of the calculations by means of the REFPROP software package with the experimental data of Russian and foreign authors show that this software program can be used for automatization of the estimated calculations of the phase balances in the range of low temperatures as well as for controlling of the critical parameters of hydrocarbon mixtures. The authors demonstrate the possibility of the REFPROP software package application for choice automation of the hydrocarbon mixture composition for transportation in the low-temperature pipelines in the chosen range of temperatures and pressures.

Some operating characteristics of heading-and-winning machines 'Ural-20R' were subject to investigation. It was proved that the scope of effective application of these winning machines is restricted by the capacity of the loading operating equipment: screw conveyors and chain-and-flight conveyors. The potash solid destruction by means of the business end of 'Ural-20R' machines is supplemented by intense ore circulation and over-degradation when transported using single-thread screw conveyors. Feeding of ore in discrete quantities to the conveyor causes significant base plate vibrations and formation of dynamic loads on drive elements of chain-and-flight conveyors. When using winning machines in workings at a negative inclination angle, flight-and-chain conveyors capacity decreases significantly. Technical proposals on the improvement of potash ore loading process efficiency were developed based on the analysis of specific design properties of screw conveyors and 'Ural-20R' combined machine conveyors.

In this paper the effect of design parameters of excavators operating equipment on the dynamic load of drives is demonstrated using the example of the hoisting mechanism as the most energy-loaded one (the total power of the drive motors of the hoisting mechanism is comparable to the power of all other excavator drives combined).

Current methods for revealing hidden failures of automation systems became obsolete and require innovative approaches. The oil and gas sector has specific features as opposed to conventional plants and requires maximum reliability and advanced methods for testing and analyzing the equipment for hidden failures. Our team have focused on diagnosing switching devices as one of the backbone elements of any plant and electric power supply system in general. The study in this field allows increasing the safety level at the power consuming facilities and planning short-term maintenance and preventive-maintenance measures at production facilities.

The paper proposes the social potential of rural areas. It gives the comparison of the quality of the population life of different countries through the criterion of expenditures and consumption of home economics. It also compares the rates of introduction of residential houses and improvement of housing stock, which demonstrated the growth of indicators in rural areas, as an evidence of their social potential growth. It states the theoretical substantiation of the necessity of attracting additional resources for the development of the socio-economic potential of the rural area and its structure. The motivation of the necessity of active involvement in the development of the territory of public organizations and the economic management system is also given here.

The most energy consuming stage in production of macaroni products is drying. Moreover, at this stage, the final quality of macaroni products is achieved. The main element deteriorating the macaroni products is cracking. This paper is devoted to the development of an automatic device significantly accelerating the study of cracking.

The paper describes methods for setpoints setting of digital protections (terminals) in traction DC networks. A technique for their improvement and protection settings in a complete scheme is proposed. Besides, the main technical characteristics of digital protection and automation devices are listed. Numerous network parameters, which include those affecting its service reliability, are also reviewed. The parameter factor evaluation of dc traction network servicing, including the random parameter affects, is given. The algorithm and the design procedure of the dc traction network are reported in the paper. Besides, a real operation circuit of traction network protection at the experimental site is considered.

Fibre concrete is one of the most promising materials for load-bearing structures. Studies in this area are mainly concerned with improving running abilities of new materials. This work deals with studying the usage capability of the waste from basaltic fibre-heat insulation material as a fibre. It was shown that the introduction of secondary mineral wool raw material in the range of 0.5-1.0 mass % concentration inside the matrix of fibre-grained concrete leads to improving the breaking strength of a sample up to 34 %, and the compression strength up to 10 %. Research results allowed establishing that samples reinforced by fibre made of secondary mineral wool raw material have homogeneous and dense contact zones at the fibre\matrix boundary. Processes of fibre components corrosion, being in contact with alkaline aqueous media formed by the interaction of cement and water, were considered and substantiated taking into account chemical properties of oxide components of basaltic fibre. Conducted research allows improving the production and solves the problem related to recycling ecologically harmful large tonnage construction materials.

In this paper, we consider a probabilistic mathematical model for estimating the state of the traction motor of a trolleybus. The operation of electric motors in transport is inevitably associated with a gradual wear and tear and the need for periodic repairs. For the effective construction of systems of preventive measures, control, testing, current and major repairs, the importance of the causes of the failure of electric motors is necessary.

Today, humanity faces the development of unmanned vehicles. No automated vehicle control system can be without sensors which read out data on its motion. The accuracy of unmanned vehicle motion directly depends on the instrument accuracy and applicability of sensors integrated in the automated vehicle control system. The design of such sensors should consider defects which occur during their manufacturing. The aim of this work is to study the technology component effect on the dynamic properties of a multi-axis gyroscope intended for the automated vehicle control.

Lead-containing tin bronzes are a good antifriction material. The area of their application is limited because of low strength properties. It is possible to enhance the strength properties by changing their structure using modification by nanopowders. This article presents data on the influence of admixtures of the aluminum oxide nanopowder on the structure of the cast bronze (with lead and tin). For the castings, containing different amounts of the prepared modifier based on aluminum oxide, metallographic studies and structural studies were undertaken. Based on the results of the work, the concentrations of the aluminum oxide nanopowder in the modifier, strongly influencing the structure of the castings, have been chosen. It has been shown that even small admixtures of the modifier (0.07-0.25%) based on aluminum oxide allow refining the casting grain, reducing the average size of lead inclusions and forming a dispersed network of eutectoid inclusions.