Numerical investigation of upstream fuel injection through porous media for scramjet engines via surrogate-assisted evolutionary algorithms

A multi-objective design optimization study has been conducted for upstream fuel injection through porous media applied to the first ramp of a two-dimensional scramjet intake. The optimization has been performed by coupling evolutionary algorithms assisted by surrogate modeling and computational fluid dynamics with respect to three design criteria, that is, the maximization of the absolute mixing quantity, total pressure saving, and fuel penetration. A distinct Pareto optimal front has been obtained, highlighting the counteracting behavior of the total pressure against the mixing efficiency and fuel penetration. The injector location and size have been identified as the key design parameters as a result of a sensitivity analysis, with negligible influence of the porous properties in the configurations and conditions considered in the present study. Flowfield visualization has revealed the underlying physics associated with the effects of these dominant parameters on the shock structure and intensity.

Electromechanical interactions in a carbon nanotube based thin film field emitting diode

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have emerged as promising candidates for biomedical x-ray devices and other applications of field emission. CNTs grown/deposited in a thin film are used as cathodes for field emission. In spite of the good performance of such cathodes, the procedure to estimate the device current is not straightforward and the required insight towards design optimization is not well developed. In this paper, we report an analysis aided by a computational model and experiments by which the process of evolution and self-assembly (reorientation) of CNTs is characterized and the device current is estimated. The modeling approach involves two steps: (i) a phenomenological description of the degradation and fragmentation of CNTs and (ii) a mechanics based modeling of electromechanical interaction among CNTs during field emission. A computational scheme is developed by which the states of CNTs are updated in a time incremental manner. Finally, the device current is obtained by using the Fowler–Nordheim equation for field emission and by integrating the current density over computational cells. A detailed analysis of the results reveals the deflected shapes of the CNTs in an ensemble and the extent to which the initial state of geometry and orientation angles affect the device current. Experimental results confirm these effects.

Rotorcraft research in India: recent developments

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to discuss published research in rotorcraft which has taken place in India during the last ten years The helicopter research is divided into the following parts health monitoring smart rotor design optimization control helicopter rotor dynamics active control of structural response (ACSR) and helicopter design and development Aspects of health monitoring and smart rotor are discussed in detail Further work needed and areas for international collaboration are pointed out Design/methodology/approach - The archival journal papers on helicopter engineering published from India are obtained from databases and are studied and discussed The contribution of the basic research to the state of the art in helicopter engineering science is brought out Findings - It is found that strong research capabilities have developed in rotor system health and usage monitoring rotor blade design optimization ACSR composite rotor blades and smart rotor development Furthermore rotorcraft modeling and analysis aspects are highly developed with considerable manpower available and being generated in these areas Practical implications - Two helicopter projects leading to the advanced light helicopter and light combat helicopter have been completed by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd These helicopter programs have benefited from the basic research and also provide platforms for further basic research and deeper industry academic collaborations The development of well trained helicopter engineers is also attractive for international helicopter design and manufacturing companies The basic research done needs to be further developed for practical and commercial applications Originality/value - This is the first comprehensive research on rotorcraft research in India an important emerging market manufacturing and sourcing destination for the industry

Análisis Dinámico de mecanismos paralelos con requisitos de diseño mecatrónico

[ES]El objetivo del presente TFG es el Análisis Dinámico de mecanismos paralelos según las necesidades de la mecatrónica. La mecatrónica requiere expresiones explícitas de las fuerzas motoras que sólo dependen de las propias posiciones, velocidades y aceleraciones en los accionamientos. Ello requiere métodos avanzados de la mecánica analítica de sólido rígido. Concretamente se han desarrollado la ecuación de Lagrange modificada (según [11]) y la ecuación de Boltzmann-Hamel modificada, siendo esta última una aportación de este TFG. Como aplicación práctica se ha programado un modelo mecatrónico para un manipulador paralelo 5R y se ha optimizado el diseño de una Multi Axis Simulation Table 3PRS.

Dimensionamiento geométrico y resistente de manipulador paralelo XY.

[ES]Se trata de diseñar, programar, fabricar y montar un manipulador paralelo de 5 pares de revolución, que sirva para el atrape y posterior desplazamiento de objetos pequeños en un área de trabajo determinado. Este proyecto se centra exclusivamente en el análisis cinemático, resistente y posterior optimización del diseño del mecanismo de barras del manipulador.

Otimização de torre de aço para aerogerador eólico.

Diversas formas de geração de energia vêm sendo desenvolvidas com o objetivo de oferecer alternativas ecologicamente corretas. Neste contexto, a energia eólica vem se destacando na região Nordeste do Brasil, devido ao grande potencial dos ventos da região. As torres, que representam parcela significativa do custo total do sistema, tendem a crescer buscando ventos mais fortes e permitindo assim a utilização de aerogeradores com maior capacidade de geração de energia. Este trabalho tem como objetivo formular um modelo de otimização de torres tubulares de aço, para aerogeradores eólicos. Busca-se minimizar o volume total (custo, indiretamente), tendo como variáveis de projeto as espessuras da parede da torre. São impostas restrições relativas à frequência natural e ao comportamento estrutural (tensão e deslocamento máximo de acordo com recomendações da norma Europeia). A estrutura da torre é modelada com base no Método dos Elementos Finitos e o carregamento atuante na estrutura inclui os pesos da torre, do conjunto de equipamentos instalados no topo (aerogerador), e o efeito estático da ação do vento sobre a torre. Para verificação das tensões, deslocamentos e frequências naturais, foram utilizados elementos finitos de casca disponíveis na biblioteca do programa de análise ANSYS. Os modelos de otimização foram também implementados no modulo de otimização do programa ANSYS (design optimization), que utiliza técnicas matemáticas em um processo iterativo computadorizado até que um projeto considerado ótimo seja alcançado. Nas aplicações foram usados os métodos de aproximação por subproblemas e o método de primeira ordem. Os resultados obtidos revelam que torres para aerogeradores merecem atenção especial, em relação à concepção do projeto estrutural, sendo que seu desempenho deve ser verificado através de metodologias completas que englobem além das análises clássicas (estáticas e dinâmicas), incluam também as análises de otimização.

Beam propagation modelling of tapered waveguide lasers

A dynamic beam propagation model allows design optimization of high power low divergence tapered waveguide lasers. The model is extended to include spatially-resolved temperature profiles and a temperature dependent gain. Using this model, design parameters such as the optimum facet reflectivity, taper angle, and waveguide dimension can be calculated for low far-field divergence and high continuous wave power.

Viscous layer meshes from level sets on cartesian meshes

The long term goal of our work is to enable rapid prototyping design optimization to take place on geometries of arbitrary size in a spirit of a real time computer game. In recent papers we have reported the integration of a Level Set based geometry kernel with an octree-based cut-Cartesian mesh generator, RANS flow solver and post-processing all within a single piece of software - and all implemented in parallel with commodity PC clusters as the target. This work has shown that it is possible to eliminate all serial bottlenecks from the CED Process. This paper reports further progress towards our goal; in particular we report on the generation of viscous layer meshes to bridge the body to the flow across the cut-cells. The Level Set formulation, which underpins the geometry representation, is used as a natural mechanism to allow rapid construction of conformal layer meshes. The guiding principle is to construct the mesh which most closely approximates the body but remains solvable. This apparently novel approach is described and examples given.