Efficiency of different types of ED-tether thrusters

The efficiencies of electrodynamic-tether (EDT) thrusters made of single bare tethers with different types of cross sections, several parallel bare tethers, or a fully insulated tether with a three-dimensional passive end-collector, are discussed. Current collection, mass, and ohmic resistance considerations are balanced against each other in discussing efficiencies. Use is made of recent results on the validity domain of orbital-motion-limited (OML) collection, the current law beyond that domain, and interference effects between parallel bare tethers; and on current adjustment to variations in electron density encountered in orbit. Comparisons between EDT thrusters and electrical thrusters in terms of the ratio of dedicated mass to the total mission impulse show EDT to be superior for mission times over 50-100 days.

Análisis y optimización de la resistencia de interferencia en multicascos

Esta tesis presenta un estudio de la resistencia de interferencia en multicascos, término que engloba las variaciones en la resistencia al avance debidas a la interacción entre cascos. Su característica más notable es que puede ser tanto positiva como negativa, contribuyendo favorablemente en este último caso a la reducción de la resistencia total. Su análisis permanece como un área activa dentro de la comunidad hidrodinámica, si bien se ha detectado una significativa falta de información experimental sobre el flujo entre cascos. En primer lugar se incluye una caracterización de los fenómenos de interferencia, evaluando su impacto en las diferentes componentes de la resistencia al avance. Al igual que la resistencia total, su predicción requiere el uso de técnicas experimentales o numéricas al ser inviable su solución analítica. Ambos procedimientos han sido considerados en esta tesis. El análisis experimental de la resistencia de interferencia supone el núcleo central del trabajo realizado. Se han ensayado dos geometrías diferentes, un catamarán de servicio comercial PESBO junto con un catamarán compuesto por dos Serie 60 (S60) en paralelo. Los ensayos se han llevado a cabo en dos canales de experiencias, CEHINAV y CEHIPAR, midiéndose resistencia al avance, asiento y trimados dinámicos, y cortes de olas en la zona entre cascos. Mención especial a estos últimos, dado que a pesar de ser en la zona central donde ocurren los principales efectos de interferencia, no se encontró información previa publicada en la literatura. Su medición requirió la fabricación de un sistema de soporte especifico para las probetas de medición. Por otro lado, aunque el Serie 60 es una geometría bien conocida en la comunidad hidrodinámica, a conocimiento del autor su comportamiento como multicasco no había sido aun caracterizado experimentalmente. Los bastidores de unión se fabricaron de forma que permitieran variar la separación entre cascos. Además, los multicascos son en general embarcaciones de alta velocidad mostrando asientos y trimados dinámicos significativos. Para cuantificar su efecto en la resistencia total y de interferencia se construyo un sistema de fijación del modelo al carro que los restringiera, posibilitando comparar los resultados en esta condición con los del modelo libre. Como resultado, se han obtenido resultados experimentales de las dos geometrías estudiadas con múltiples separaciones, incluyendo un solo casco, y con modelo fijo y libre. Una de las principales utilidades de los resultados experimentales es servir como referencia para validar modelos de predicción. Como primera aplicación, los datos experimentales obtenidos con el catamarán S60 se han contrastado con las predicciones numéricas de Yeung et al. (2004). El análisis numérico de la resistencia de interferencia se completa con la realización de simulaciones numéricas utilizando dos códigos substancialmente diferentes: Tdynlin y CD--‐Adapco Star--‐CCM+. Los cortes de olas obtenidos en las simulaciones se comparan con los valores experimentales, mostrándose además los campos de presiones y velocidades calculados sobre el casco. La principal aportación de esta tesis es una extensa caracterización experimental de los fenómenos de interferencia, con la intención de servir de referencia para futuros estudios con multicascos. El análisis de los resultados permite comprender mejor el impacto que la interacción entre cascos, así como las variaciones dinámicas de las condiciones de navegación, tienen en las diferentes componentes de la resistencia. Por otro lado, permite apreciar la dependencia de la resistencia de interferencia con la velocidad y separación entre cascos, de cara a su utilización como parámetro de diseño. ABSTRACT This thesis presents a study of the interference resistance in multihulls, which comprises all the variations in the ship resistance due to the interaction between hulls. Its most remarkable characteristic is that it can be positive or negative, contributing in the second case to the reduction of the total ship resistance. Its study remains an active area in the hydrodynamic community, although there is a significant lack of published experimental data regarding the flow between hulls. First of all, the interference phenomena are characterized, evaluating the impact in the different components of the ship resistance. Similar to the total resistance, their prediction requires experimental or numerical techniques, as no analytic solutions are known. Both procedures have been considered in this thesis. The experimental analysis of the interference resistance is the core of the work done. Two different geometries have been tested, a commercial catamaran PESBO and a catamaran composed by two parallel Series 60 (S60). The tests have been carried out in two towing tanks, CEHINAV and CEHIPAR, measuring ship resistance, dynamic sinkage and trim, and wave cuts in--‐between the hulls. Special mention to the wave cuts, as no previous published information was found regarding this zone, even if it is where the main interference effects happen. Their measurement required building a support tripod for the probes, specifically designed for this experimental campaign. In addition, although the Series 60 is a well known hull for experimental and computational analyses, to the author’s knowledge its behavior as a multihull had not yet been experimentally described. The connection frames between the hulls were built so they allowed adjusting the hull spacing. Furthermore, multihulls are usually high--‐speed vessels, acquiring significant dynamic sinkage and trim. To quantify the effect of these dynamic variations of the interference resistance, a clamping system was developed to fixed the model and compare the results with the free model condition. Thus, experimental results have been obtained for various hull separations with the two geometries analyzed, including a single hull, and with free and fixed model. One of the main applications of experimental results is to serve as a reference to validate prediction models. As a first step, the obtained experimental data with the catamaran S60 have been compared with the numerical predictions of Yeung et al. (2004). The numerical analysis of the interference resistance is completed with the inclusion of numerical simulations using two codes substantially different: Tdynlin and CD--‐Adapco Star--‐CCM+. The wave cuts obtained from the simulations are compared with the experimental ones, showing also the pressure and velocity fields over the hulls. The main contribution of this thesis is an extensive experimental characterization of the interference phenomena, aiming to serve as reference for future studies about multihulls. The analysis of the results provides insights into the impact that the interaction between hulls, as well as the dynamic variations of the sailing conditions, have in the different components of the ship resistance. Moreover, it allows us to observe the dependence of the interference resistance on the velocity and hull spacing, useful towards its use as a design parameter.

Age-Related Effects in Working Memory Recognition Modulated by Retroactive Interference

One of the main causes for age-related declines in working memory is a higher vulnerability to retroactive interference due to a reduced ability to suppress irrelevant information. However, the underlying neural correlates remain to be established. Magnetoencephalography was used to investigate differential neural patterns in young and older adults performing an interference-based memory task with two experimental conditions, interrupting and distracting, during successful recognition. Behaviorally, both types of retroactive interference significantly impaired accuracy at recognition more in older adults than in young adults with the latter exhibiting greater disruptions by interrupters. Magnetoencephalography revealed the presence of differential age-related neural patterns. Specifically, time-modulated activations in temporo-occipital and superior parietal regions were higher in young adults compared with older adults for the interrupting condition. These results suggest that age-related deficits in inhibitory mechanisms that increase vulnerability to retroactive interference may be associated with neural under-recruitments in a high-interference task.

Spatial effects on rural commerce

Commerce in rural territories should not be considered as a needed service, but as a basic infrastructure, that impact not only existent population, but also tourism, and rural industrialization. So, the rural areas need not only agriculture but industry and services, to have a global and balanced development, including for the countryside and the population. In the work presented in this paper, we are considering the formulation of the direct relation between population and the endowment of commerce sites within a geographical territory, the ?area of commercial interactions?. These are the closer set of towns that can gravitate to each other to cover the required needs for the populations within the area. The products retailed, range from basic products for the daily lives, to all other products for industry, agriculture, and services. The econometric spatial model developed to evaluate the interactions and estimate the parameters, is based on the Spatial Error Model, which allows for other spatial hidden effects to be considered without direct interference to the commercial disposition. The data and territory used to test the model correspond to a rural area in the Spanish Palencia territory (NUTS-3 level). The parameters have dependence from population levels, local rent per head, local and regional government budgets, and particular spatial restrictions. Interesting results are emerging form the model. The more significant is that the spatial effects can replace some number of commerce sites in towns, given the right spatial distribution of the sites and the towns. This is equivalent to consider the area of commercial interactions as the unit of measurement for the basic infrastructure and not only the towns.

Collection effects on close pararell bare tethers

We review previously published results, and present new results, on the way current to a cylindrical probe drops below the orbital-motion-limited (OML) value for probe cross-sections too large or concave. Results on size and shape effects arise from unrelated behavior in the near and far potential field, and apply to a general cross-section, which can be characterised by radius Req and perimeter peij of equivalent circles. These results are used to discuss collection interference among two or more parallel bare tethers when brought from far away to contact.