Electronic packaging and reduction in modelling time using domain decomposition

The domain decomposition method is directed to electronic packaging simulation in this article. The objective is to address the entire simulation process chain, to alleviate user interactions where they are heavy to mechanization by component approach to streamline the model simulation process.

Narrating the archive and archiving narrative: the electronic book and the logic of the index

The creation of my hypermedia work Index of Love, which narrates a love story as an archive of moments, images and objects recollected, also articulated for me the potential of the book as electronic text. The book has always existed as both narrative and archive. Tables of contents and indexes allow the book to function simultaneously as linear narrative and non-linear, searchable database. The book therefore has more in common with the so-called 'new media' of the 21st century than it does with the dominant 20th century media of film, video and audiotape, whose logic and mode of distribution are resolutely linear. My thesis is that the non-linear logic of new media brings to the fore an aspect of the book - the index - whose potential for the production of narrative is only just beginning to be explored. When a reader/user accesses an electronic work, such as a website, via its menu, they simultaneously experience it as narrative and archive. The narrative journey taken is created through the menu choices made. Within the electronic book, therefore, the index (or menu) has the potential to function as more than just an analytical or navigational tool. It has the potential to become a creative, structuring device. This opens up new possibilities for the book, particularly as, in its paper based form, the book indexes factual work, but not fiction. In the electronic book, however, the index offers as rich a potential for fictional narratives as it does for factual volumes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new 14+: vocational diplomas and the future of schools, colleges and universities. An educational and campaigning pamphlet

Written in an accessible and campaigning style, this pamphlet affords a valuable context to the introduction of the first group of specialist diplomas for 14 year olds in September 2008. The diplomas are the latest in a line of failed initiatives that have sought to provide vocational ‘alternatives’ for those young people staying in full-time education and not considered ‘academic’. Rather than developing any useful employment skills, Allen and Ainley argue that their introduction reflects the changing significance of education in the division and social control of learners that now extends from school to college and on to university. Those who are opposed to the current post-14 agenda, must not only put forward radical alternatives to the current curriculum offer but also, the authors argue, address issues of democracy and accountability. To do this, teacher trade unionists must make new types of alliances with local communities and also with their students.

Computational statistics, electronic publishing, and access to research data

Abstract not available

Low Reynolds number turbulence models for accurate thermal simulations of electronic components

The electronics industry and the problems associated with the cooling of microelectronic equipment are developing rapidly. Thermal engineers now find it necessary to consider the complex area of equipment cooling at some level. This continually growing industry also faces heightened pressure from consumers to provide electronic product miniaturization, which in itself increases the demand for accurate thermal management predictions to assure product reliability. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is considered a powerful and almost essential tool for the design, development and optimization of engineering applications. CFD is now widely used within the electronics packaging design community to thermally characterize the performance of both the electronic component and system environment. This paper discusses CFD results for a large variety of investigated turbulence models. Comparison against experimental data illustrates the predictive accuracy of currently used models and highlights the growing demand for greater mathematical modelling accuracy with regards to thermal characterization. Also a newly formulated low Reynolds number (i.e. transitional) turbulence model is proposed with emphasis on hybrid techniques.

Turbulence modelling and its impact on CFD predictions for cooling of electronic components

This paper will discuss Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) results from an investigation into the accuracy of several turbulence models to predict air cooling for electronic packages and systems. Also new transitional turbulence models will be proposed with emphasis on hybrid techniques that use the k-ε model at an appropriate distance away from the wall and suitable models, with wall functions, near wall regions. A major proportion of heat emitted from electronic packages can be extracted by air cooling. This flow of air throughout an electronic system and the heat extracted is highly dependent on the nature of turbulence present in the flow. The use of CFD for such investigations is fast becoming a powerful and almost essential tool for the design, development and optimization of engineering applications. However turbulence models remain a key issue when tackling such flow phenomena. The reliability of CFD analysis depends heavily on the turbulence model employed together with the wall functions implemented. In order to resolve the abrupt fluctuations experienced by the turbulent energy and other parameters located at near wall regions and shear layers a particularly fine computational mesh is necessary which inevitably increases the computer storage and run-time requirements. The PHYSICA Finite Volume code was used for this investigation. With the exception of the k-ε and k-ω models which are available as standard within PHYSICA, all other turbulence models mentioned were implemented via the source code by the authors. The LVEL, LVEL CAP, Wolfshtein, k-ε, k-ω, SST and kε/kl models are described and compared with experimental data.

Accuracy of turbulence models and CFD for thermal characterisation of electronic systems

A major percentage of the heat emitted from electronic packages can be extracted by air cooling whether by means of natural or forced convection. This flow of air throughout an electronic system and the heat extracted is highly dependable on the nature of turbulence present in the flow field. This paper will discuss results from an investigation into the accuracy of turbulence models to predict air cooling for electronic packages and systems.

Numerical Modelling for Electronic Packaging - Future Requirements

The fabrication, assembly and testing of electronic packaging can involve complex interactions between physical phenomena such as temperature, fluid flow, electromagnetics, and stress. Numerical modelling and optimisation tools are key computer-aided-engineering technologies that aid design engineers. This paper discusses these technologies and there future developments.