Time-dependent analysis of an N2O gasdynamic laser

A simplified two-temperature model is presented for the vibrational energy levels of the N2O and N2 molecules of an N2O-N2-He gasdynamic laser (GDL), and the governing equations for the unsteady flow of the gas mixture in a convergent-divergent contour nozzle are solved using a time-dependent numerical technique. Final steady-state distributions are obtained for vibrational temperatures, population inversion, and the small-signal laser gain along the nozzle. It is demonstrated that, for plenum temperatures lower than 1200 K, an N2O GDL such as the present is more efficient than a CO2 GDL in identical operating conditions

Helicopter blade flapping with and without small angle assumption in the presence of dynamic stall

The flapping equation for a rotating rigid helicopter blade is typically derived by considering (1)small flap angle, (2) small induced angle of attack and (3) linear aerodynamics. However, the use of nonlinear aerodynamics such as dynamic stall can make the assumptions of small angles suspect as shown in this paper. A general equation describing helicopter blade flap dynamics for large flap angle and large induced inflow angle of attack is derived. A semi-empirical dynamic stall aerodynamics model (ONERA model) is used. Numerical simulations are performed by solving the nonlinear flapping ordinary differential equation for steady state conditions and the validity of the small angle approximations are examined. It is shown that the small flapping assumption, and to a lesser extent, the small induced angle ofattack assumption, can lead to inaccurate predictions of the blade flap response in certain flight conditions for some rotors when nonlinear aerodynamics is considered. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Unsteady MHD forced flow due to a point sink

An analysis is performed to study the unsteady laminar incompressible boundary-layer flow of an electrically conducting fluid in a cone due to a point sink with an applied magnetic field. The unsteadiness in the flow is considered for two types of motion, viz. the motion arising due to the free stream velocity varying continuously with time and the transient motion occurring due to an impulsive change either in the strength of the point sink or in the wall temperature. The partial differential equations governing the flow have been solved numerically using an implicit finite-difference scheme in combination with the quasilinearization technique. The magnetic field increases the skin friction but reduces heat transfer. The heat transfer and temperature field are strongly influenced by the viscous dissipation and Prandtl number. The velocity field is more affected at the early stage of the transient motion, caused by an impulsive change in the strength of the point sink, as compared to the temperature field. When the transient motion is caused by a sudden change in the wall temperature, both skin friction and heat transfer take more time to reach a new steady state. The transient nature of the flow and heat transfer is active for a short time in the case of suction and for a long time in the case of injection. The viscous dissipation prolongs the transient behavior of the flow.

Foaming of slags under dynamic conditions

Slag foaming under dynamic conditions has been studied in laboratory scale to examine the influence of properties commonly used to describe the foaminess and foam stability of slags under steady-state conditions. Synthetically produced slags with compositions relevant to tool steel and stainless steel production were studied through X-ray equipment in measurements simulating the dynamic conditions found in real processes. It is found that the dynamic systems display a more complex behavior than systems Under steady state. Traditional theories for foaming do not seem to be valid for slag foaming under dynamic conditions. The foam displays a fluctuating behavior, which the presently available models are not able to take into account. The concept of a foaming index does not seem to be applicable, resulting in the need for alternative models.

Creep Behaviour of AE42 Magnesium Alloy and Its Composites Using Impression Creep Technique

The creep behaviour of a creep-resistant AE42 magnesium alloy has been examined in the temperature range of 150 to 240 degrees C at the stress levels ranging from 40 to 120 MPa using impression creep technique. A normal creep behaviour, i.e., strain rate decreasing with strain and then reaching a steady state, is observed at all the temperatures and stresses employed The stress exponent varies from 5.1 to 5.7 and the apparent activation energy varies from 130 to 140 kJ/mol, which suggests the high temperature climb of dislocation controlled by lattice self-diffusion being the dominant creep mechanism in the stress and temperature range employed The creep behaviour of the AE42 alloy has also been compared with its composites reinforced with Saffil short fibres and SiC particles in four combinations. All the composites exhibited a lower creep rate than the monolithic AE42 alloy tested at the same temperature and stress levels and the decrease in creep rate was greater in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction, as expected. All the hybrid composites, i.e., the composites reinforced with a combination of Saffil short fibres and SiC particles, exhibited creep rates comparable to the composite reinforced with 20% Saffil short fibres alone at all the temperature and stress levels employed, which is beneficial from the commercial point of view.

Experimental estimation of friction force in lubricated cutting of steel

Friction force generated in lubricated cutting of steel is experimentally estimated by recording the tangential force experienced by the spherical face of a pin rubbing against a freshly cut surface. The pin and the cutting tool are both submerged in the lubricant and the pin is situated on the cut-track to record the force. The recording shows an instantaneous achievement of a peak in the force curve followed by a decline in time to a steady state value. The peak and not the steady state friction was found to be sensitive to the structure of the hydrocarbon and addition of additive to the oil. The configuration was designed and tested to demonstrate the influence of a reaction film which develops during cutting, on cutting tool friction. Given the strong correlation between the peak friction and the existence of a tribofilm in the cutting zone, the configuration is used to determine the lower limit of a cutting speed regime, which marks the initiation of lubricant starvation, in cutting of steel using an emulsion as a cutting fluid. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Risk minimization in water quality control problems of a river system

Methodologies are presented for minimization of risk in a river water quality management problem. A risk minimization model is developed to minimize the risk of low water quality along a river in the face of conflict among various stake holders. The model consists of three parts: a water quality simulation model, a risk evaluation model with uncertainty analysis and an optimization model. Sensitivity analysis, First Order Reliability Analysis (FORA) and Monte-Carlo simulations are performed to evaluate the fuzzy risk of low water quality. Fuzzy multiobjective programming is used to formulate the multiobjective model. Probabilistic Global Search Laussane (PGSL), a global search algorithm developed recently, is used for solving the resulting non-linear optimization problem. The algorithm is based on the assumption that better sets of points are more likely to be found in the neighborhood of good sets of points, therefore intensifying the search in the regions that contain good solutions. Another model is developed for risk minimization, which deals with only the moments of the generated probability density functions of the water quality indicators. Suitable skewness values of water quality indicators, which lead to low fuzzy risk are identified. Results of the models are compared with the results of a deterministic fuzzy waste load allocation model (FWLAM), when methodologies are applied to the case study of Tunga-Bhadra river system in southern India, with a steady state BOD-DO model. The fractional removal levels resulting from the risk minimization model are slightly higher, but result in a significant reduction in risk of low water quality. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Time Dependent Operator-split and Unsplit Schemes for One Dimensional Premixed Flames

This paper is concerned with a study of an operator split scheme and unsplit scheme for the computation of adiabatic freely propagating one-dimensional premixed flames. The study uses unsteady method for both split and unsplit schemes employing implicit chemistry and explicit diffusion, a combination which is stable and convergent. Solution scheme is not sensitive to the initial starting estimate and provides steady state even with straight line profiles (far from steady state) in small number of time steps. Two systems H2-Air and H2-NO (involving complex nitrogen chemistry) are considered in presentinvestigation. Careful comparison shows that the operator split approach is slightly superior than the unsplit when chemistry becomes complex. Comparison of computational times with those of existing steady and unsteady methods seems to suggest that the method employing implicit-explicit algorithm is very efficient and robust.

Vacuum emissivity meter for thermal emittance measurements of coatings

The problems in measuring thermal emittance by steady?state calorimetric technique have been analyzed. A few suggestions to make it more accurate, simple, and rapid have been discussed and results are presented.

Synthesis of FeCu Nanopowder by Levitational Gas Condensation Process

Condensation from the vapor state is an important technique for the preparation of nanopowders. Levitational gas condensation is one such technique that has a unique ability of attaining steady state. Here, we present the results of applying this technique to an iron-copper alloy (96Fe-4Cu). A qualitative model of the process is proposed to understand the process and the characteristics of resultant powder. A phase diagram of the alloy system in the liquid-vapor region was calculated to help understand the course of condensation, especially partitioning and coring during processing. The phase diagram could not explain coring in view of the simultaneous occurrence of solidification and the fast homogenization through diffusion in the nanoparticles; however, it could predict the very low levels of copper observed in the levitated drop. The enrichment of copper observed near the surface of the powder was considered to be a manifestation of the lower surface energy of copper compared with that of iron. Heat transfer calculations indicated that most condensed particles can undergo solidification even when they are still in the proximity of the levitated drop. It helped us to predict the temperature and the cooling rate of the powder particles as they move away from the levitated drop. The particles formed by the process seem to be single domain, single crystals that are magnetic in nature. They, thus, can agglomerate by forming a chain-like structure, which manifests as a three-dimensional network enclosing a large unoccupied space, as noticed in scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy studies. This also explains the observed low packing density of the nanopowders.

Analysis of transients in a canal network

A generalised formulation of the mathematical model developed for the analysis of transients in a canal network, under subcritical flow, with any realistic combination of control structures and their multiple operations, has been presented. The model accounts for a large variety of control structures such as weirs, gates, notches etc. discharging under different conditions, namely submerged and unsubmerged. A numerical scheme to compute and approximate steady state flow condition as the initial condition has also been presented. The model can handle complex situations that may arise from multiple gate operations. This has been demonstrated with a problem wherein the boundary conditions change from a gate discharge equation to an energy equation and back to a gate discharge equation. In such a situation the wave strikes a fixed gate and leads to large and rapid fluctuations in both discharge and depth.

Dipolar cross-correlation effects in the nuclear overhauser experiments of weakly and strongly coupled spins

The effect of dipolar cross correlation in 1H---1H nuclear Overhauser effect experiments is investigated by detailed calculation in an ABX spin system. It is found that in weakly coupled spin systems, the cross-correlation effects are limited to single-quantum transition probabilities and decrease in magnitude as ωτc increases. Strong coupling, however, mixes the states and the cross correlations affect the zero-quantum and double-quantum transition probabilities as well. The effect of cross correlation in steady-state and transient NOE experiments is studied as a function of strong coupling and ωτc. The results for steady-state NOE experiments are calculated analytically and those for transient NOE experiments are calculated numerically. The NOE values for the A and B spins have been calculated by assuming nonselective perturbation of all the transitions of the X spin. A significant effect of cross correlation is found in transient NOE experiments of weakly as well as strongly coupled spins when the multiplets are resolved. Cross correlation manifests itself largely as a multiplet effect in the transient NOE of weakly coupled spins for nonselective perturbation of all X transitions. This effect disappears for a measuring pulse of 90° or when the multiplets are not resolved. For steady-state experiments, the effect of cross correlation is analytically zero for weakly coupled spins and small for strongly coupled spins.

Systems analysis for planning of air fleets and maintenance facilities

The high cost and extraordinary demands made on sophisticated air defence systems, pose hard challenges to the managers and engineers who plan the operation and maintenance of such systems. This paper presents a study aimed at developing simulation and systems analysis techniques for the effective planning and efficient operation of small fleets of aircraft, typical of the air force of a developing country. We consider an important aspect of fleet management: the problem of resource allocation for achieving prescribed operational effectiveness of the fleet. At this stage, we consider a single flying-base, where the operationally ready aircraft are stationed, and a repair-depot, where the planes are overhauled. An important measure of operational effectiveness is ‘ availability ’, which may be defined as the expected fraction of the fleet fit for use at a given instant. The tour of aircraft in a flying-base, repair-depot system through a cycle of ‘ operationally ready ’ and ‘ scheduled overhaul ’ phases is represented first by a deterministic flow process and then by a cyclic queuing process. Initially the steady-state availability at the flying-base is computed under the assumptions of Poisson arrivals, exponential service times and an equivalent singleserver repair-depot. This analysis also brings out the effect of fleet size on availability. It defines a ‘ small ’ fleet essentially in terms of the important ‘ traffic ’ parameter of service rate/maximum arrival rate.A simulation model of the system has been developed using GPSS to study sensitivity to distributional assumptions, to validate the principal assumptions of the analytical model such as the single-server assumption and to obtain confidence intervals for the statistical parameters of interest.

Inelastic dynamic response of R.C. beam column joints by using B.E.M.

A BEM formulation to obtain the inelastic response of R.C. Beam-Column joints subjected to sinusoidal loading along the boundary is presented. The equations of motion are written along with kinematical and constitutive equations. The dynamic reciprocal theorem is presented and the temporal dependence is removed by assuming steady state response.

Maturation of a transient outward potassium current in mouse fetal hypothalamic neurons in culture

The whole-cell voltage clamp technique was used to record potassium currents in mouse fetal hypothalamic neurons developing in culture medium from days 1 to 17. The neurons were derived from fetuses of IOPS/OF1 mice on the 14th day of gestation. The mature neurons (>six days in culture) showed both a transient potassium current and a non-inactivating delayed rectifier potassium current. These were identified pharmacologically by using the potassium channel blockers tetraethyl ammonium chloride and 4-aminopyridine, and on the basis of their kinetics and voltage sensitivities. The delayed rectifier potassium current had a threshold of −20 mV, a slow time-course of activation, and was sustained during the voltage pulse. The 4-aminopyridine-sensitive current was transient, and was activated from a holding potential more negative (−80 mV) than that required for evoking the delayed rectifier potassium current (−40 mV). The delayed rectifier potassium current was detectable from day 1 onwards, while the transient potassium current showed a distinct developmental trend. The time-constant of inactivation became faster with age in culture. The half steady-state inactivation potential showed a shift towards less negative membrane potentials with age, and the relationship was best described by a logarithmic regression equation.The developmental trend of the transient potassium current may relate functionally to the progressive morphological changes, and the appearance of synaptic connections during ontogenesis.