Wei He - Böcker

This book presents the concerns, concepts and methodologies of Ecological Discourse Analysis (EDA) based on the shared positions and practices of previous undertakings of discourse analysis. EDA is regarded as an emerging paradigm in discourse studies which undertakes ecologically motivated study of discourses that influences ecological relations. The authors propose a multifaceted ecosophy that incorporates Chinese ethical and philosophical traditions and ecological principles. The ecosophy of 'Diversity and Harmony, Interaction and Co-existence' describes the features of ecological dynamics, providing a basis for the evaluation of the ecological meaning represented in discourses. This ecosophy contributes to such efforts with its origin in Chinese philosophies, therefore offering new opportunities for East-West dialogues on ecological values.An ecogrammar built on Systemic Functional Linguistics is provided as the analytical tool and is applied in the analysis of textbooks, news reports and advertisements. The book also examines the provision of EDA for other fields of study, inspiring research possibilities that are beneficial for an ecological future and inspiring interdisciplinary and multi-methodological studies to be integrated with EDA.

Comprehensive treatment of several representative flexible systems, ranging from dynamic modeling and intelligent control design through to stability analysis Fully illustrated throughout, Dynamic Modeling and Neural Network-Based Intelligent Control of Flexible Systems proposes high-efficiency modeling methods and novel intelligent control strategies for several representative flexible systems developed by means of neural networks. It discusses tracking control of multi-link flexible manipulators, vibration control of flexible buildings under natural disasters, and fault-tolerant control of bionic flexible flapping-wing aircraft and addresses common challenges like external disturbances, dynamic uncertainties, output constraints, and actuator faults. Expanding on its theoretical deliberations, the book includes many case studies demonstrating how the proposed approaches work in practice. Experimental investigations are carried out on Quanser Rotary Flexible Link, Quanser 2 DOF Serial Flexible Link, Quanser Active Mass Damper, and Quanser Smart Structure platforms. The book starts by providing an overview of dynamic modeling and intelligent control of flexible systems, introducing several important issues, along with modeling and control methods of three typical flexible systems. Other topics include: Foundational mathematical preliminaries including the Hamilton principle, model discretization methods, Lagrange’s equation method, and Lyapunov’s stability theoremDynamic modeling of a single-link flexible robotic manipulator and vibration control design for a string with the boundary time-varying output constraintUnknown time-varying disturbances, such as earthquakes and strong winds, and how to suppress them and use MATLAB and Quanser to verify effectiveness of a proposed controlAdaptive vibration control methods for a single-floor building-like structure equipped with an active mass damper (AMD)Dynamic Modeling and Neural Network-Based Intelligent Control of Flexible Systems is an invaluable resource for researchers and engineers seeking high-efficiency modeling methods and neural-network-based control solutions for flexible systems, along with industry engineers and researchers who are interested in control theory and applications and students in related programs of study.

Dynamics and Control of Mechanical Systems in Offshore Engineering is a comprehensive treatment of marine mechanical systems (MMS) involved in processes of great importance such as oil drilling and mineral recovery. Ranging from nonlinear dynamic modeling and stability analysis of flexible riser systems, through advanced control design for an installation system with a single rigid payload attached by thrusters, to robust adaptive control for mooring systems, it is an authoritative reference on the dynamics and control of MMS. Readers will gain not only a complete picture of MMS at the system level, but also a better understanding of the technical considerations involved and solutions to problems that commonly arise from dealing with them. The text provides:                                                                                                                                 ·         a complete framework of dynamical analysis and control design for marine mechanical systems;·         new results on the dynamical analysis of riser, mooring and installation systems together with a general modeling method for a class of MMS;·         a general method and strategy for realizing the control objectives of marine systems with guaranteed stability the effectiveness of which is illustrated by extensive numerical simulation; and ·         approximation-based control schemes using neural networks for installation of subsea structures with attached thrusters in the presence of time-varying environmental disturbances and parametric uncertainties.Most of the results presented are analytical with repeatable design algorithms with proven closed-loop stability and performance analysis of the proposed controllers is rigorous and detailed.Dynamicsand Control of Mechanical Systems in Offshore Engineering is primarily intended for researchers and engineers in the system and control community, but graduate students studying control and marine engineering will also find it a useful resource as will practitioners working on the design, running or maintenance of offshore platforms.

This book covers nonlinear dynamic modeling and stability analysis of flexible riser systems, advanced control design for an installation system with a single rigid payload attached by thrusters, robust adaptive control for mooring systems and other topics.

This book coins the term “Networked Public” to describe the active social actors in new media ecology. The author argues that, in today’s network society, Networked Public Communication is different than, yet has similarities with, mass communication and interpersonal communication. As such it is the emergent paradigm for research. The book reviews the historical, technological and social context for the rising of Networked Public, analyzes its constituents and characteristics, and discusses the categories and features of social media in China. By analyzing abundant cases from recent years, the book provides answers to the key questions at micro, meso and macro-levels, including how information flows under regulation in the process of Networked Public Communication; what its features and models are; what collective action strategies  and“resistance culture”have been developed as a result of Internet regulate; the nature of power games among Networked Public, mass media, political forces and capital, and the links with the development of Chinese civil society.

This book coins the term “Networked Public” to describe the active social actors in new media ecology. The author argues that, in today’s network society, Networked Public Communication is different than, yet has similarities with, mass communication and interpersonal communication. As such it is the emergent paradigm for research. The book reviews the historical, technological and social context for the rising of Networked Public, analyzes its constituents and characteristics, and discusses the categories and features of social media in China. By analyzing abundant cases from recent years, the book provides answers to the key questions at micro, meso and macro-levels, including how information flows under regulation in the process of Networked Public Communication; what its features and models are; what collective action strategies  and“resistance culture”have been developed as a result of Internet regulate; the nature of power games among Networked Public, mass media, political forces and capital, and the links with the development of Chinese civil society.

This book presents theoretical explorations of several fundamental problems in the dynamics and control of flexible beam systems. By integrating fresh concepts and results to form a systematic approach to control, it establishes a basic theoretical framework. It includes typical control design examples verified using MATLAB simulation, which in turn illustrate the successful practical applications of active vibration control theory for flexible beam systems. The book is primarily intended for researchers and engineers in the control system and mechanical engineering community, offering them a unique resource.

The book investigates fundamental issues in flexible manipulator systems, including distributed parameter modeling and boundary controller design. It presents theoretical explorations of several fundamental problems concerning the dynamics and control of these systems. By integrating fresh concepts and results to form a systematic approach to control, it also provides a basic theoretical framework.In turn, the book offers a comprehensive treatment of flexible manipulator systems, addressing topics ranging from related distributed parameter modeling and advanced boundary controller design for these systems with input constraint, to active control with output constraint.In brief, the book addresses dynamical analysis and control design for flexible manipulator systems. Though primarily intended for researchers and engineers in the control system and mechanical engineering community, it can also serve as supplemental reading on the modeling and control of flexible manipulator systems at the postgraduate level.

The book investigates fundamental issues in flexible manipulator systems, including distributed parameter modeling and boundary controller design. It presents theoretical explorations of several fundamental problems concerning the dynamics and control of these systems. By integrating fresh concepts and results to form a systematic approach to control, it also provides a basic theoretical framework.In turn, the book offers a comprehensive treatment of flexible manipulator systems, addressing topics ranging from related distributed parameter modeling and advanced boundary controller design for these systems with input constraint, to active control with output constraint.In brief, the book addresses dynamical analysis and control design for flexible manipulator systems. Though primarily intended for researchers and engineers in the control system and mechanical engineering community, it can also serve as supplemental reading on the modeling and control of flexible manipulator systems at the postgraduate level.

This book presents iterative learning control (ILC) to address practical issues of flexible structures. It is divided into four parts: Part I provides a general introduction to ILC and flexible structures, while Part II proposes various types of ILC for simple flexible structures to address issues such as vibration, input saturation, input dead-zone, input backlash, external disturbances, and trajectory tracking. It also includes simple partial differential equations to deal with the common problems of flexible structures. Part III discusses the design of ILC for flexible micro aerial vehicles and two-link manipulators, and lastly, Part IV offers a summary of the topics covered. Unlike most of the literature on ILC, which focuses on ordinary differential equation systems, this book explores distributed parameter systems, which are comparatively less stabilized through ILC.Including a comprehensive introduction to ILC of flexible structures, it also examines novel approaches used in ILC to address input constraints and disturbance rejection. This book is intended for researchers, graduate students and engineers in various fields, such as flexible structures, external disturbances, nonlinear inputs and tracking control.

This book presents iterative learning control (ILC) to address practical issues of flexible structures. It is divided into four parts: Part I provides a general introduction to ILC and flexible structures, while Part II proposes various types of ILC for simple flexible structures to address issues such as vibration, input saturation, input dead-zone, input backlash, external disturbances, and trajectory tracking. It also includes simple partial differential equations to deal with the common problems of flexible structures. Part III discusses the design of ILC for flexible micro aerial vehicles and two-link manipulators, and lastly, Part IV offers a summary of the topics covered. Unlike most of the literature on ILC, which focuses on ordinary differential equation systems, this book explores distributed parameter systems, which are comparatively less stabilized through ILC.Including a comprehensive introduction to ILC of flexible structures, it also examines novel approaches used in ILC to address input constraints and disturbance rejection. This book is intended for researchers, graduate students and engineers in various fields, such as flexible structures, external disturbances, nonlinear inputs and tracking control.

This book introduces the fundamentals of materials science and is intended to be used by undergraduate students in materials-related majors mainly in China. The book focusses on the basic theories of the three primary types of solid state materials (metals, ceramics and polymers) and composites and emphasizes the relationships between the structures and properties of materials. In addition, it presents the crystal structure, imperfections, microstructure, material processing and performance of the materials from the electronic and atomic levels. The physicochemical processes in materials such as diffusion, phase diagram and phase transition are also explained from the thermodynamic point of view. To highlight the fundamental role of the materials science to the modern technologies and the development of the society, the materials science-related content about Nobel Prizes is introduced in this book. Exercises and questions are included at the end of each chapter for students to practice and gain hands-on experience. Given its scope, this book is of interest to undergraduate students major in materials science and engineering and other related areas and is also beneficial for researchers, graduates and engineers with interdisciplinary backgrounds.