Modeling and Vibration Suppression for Telescopic Systems of Structural Members with Clearance

Telescopic systems of structural members with clearance are found in many applications, e.g., mobile cranes, rack feeders, fork lifters, stacker cranes (see Figure 1). Operating these machines, undesirable vibrations may reduce the performance and increase safety problems. Therefore, this contribution has the aim to reduce these harmful vibrations. For a better understanding, the dynamic behaviour of these constructions is analysed. The main interest is the overlapping area of each two sections of the above described systems (see markings in Figure 1) which is investigated by measurements and by computations. A test rig is constructed to determine the dynamic behaviour by measuring fundamental vibrations and higher frequent oscillations, damping coefficients, special appearances and more. For an appropriate physical model, the governing boundary value problem is derived by applying Hamilton’s principle and a classical discretisation procedure is used to generate a coupled system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations as the corresponding truncated mathematical model. On the basis of this model, a controller concept for preventing harmful vibrations is developed.

Short-arc tracklet association for geostationary objects

Measurement association and initial orbit determination is a fundamental task when building up a database of space objects. This paper proposes an efficient and robust method to determine the orbit using the available information of two tracklets, i.e. their line-of-sights and their derivatives. The approach works with a boundary-value formulation to represent hypothesized orbital states and uses an optimization scheme to find the best fitting orbits. The method is assessed and compared to an initial-value formulation using a measurement set taken by the Zimmerwald Small Aperture Robotic Telescope of the Astronomical Institute at the University of Bern. False associations of closely spaced objects on similar orbits cannot be completely eliminated due to the short duration of the measurement arcs. However, the presented approach uses the available information optimally and the overall association performance and robustness is very promising. The boundary-value optimization takes only around 2% of computational time when compared to optimization approaches using an initial-value formulation. The full potential of the method in terms of run-time is additionally illustrated by comparing it to other published association methods.

Increasing the Glutathione Content in a Chilling-Sensitive Maize Genotype Using Safeners Increased Protection against Chilling-Induced Injury

With the aim of analyzing their protective function against chilling-induced injury, the pools of glutathione and its precursors, cysteine (Cys) and gamma -glutamyl-Cys, were increased in the chilling-sensitive maize (Zea mays) inbred line Penjalinan using a combination of two herbicide safeners. Compared with the controls, the greatest increase in the pool size of the three thiols was detected in the shoots and roots when both safeners were applied at a concentration of 5 muM. This combination increased the relative protection from chilling from 50% to 75%. It is interesting that this increase in the total glutathione (TG) level was accompanied by a rise in glutathione reductase (GR; EC 1.6.4.2) activity. When the most effective safener combination was applied simultaneously with increasing concentrations of buthionine sulfoximine, a specific inhibitor of glutathione synthesis, the total gamma -glutamyl-Cys and TG contents and GR activity were decreased to very low levels and relative protection was lowered from 75% to 44%. During chilling, the ratio of reduced to oxidized thiols first decreased independently of the treatments, but increased again to the initial value in safener-treated seedlings after 7 d at 5 degreesC. Taking all results together resulted in a linear relationship between TG and GR and a biphasic relationship between relative protection and GR or TG, thus demonstrating the relevance of the glutathione levels in protecting maize against chilling-induced injury.

Electrical resistivity change in amorphous Ta42Si13N45 films by stress relaxation

In a first experiment, a reactively sputtered amorphous Ta₄₂Si₁₃N₄₅ film about 260 nm thick deposited on a flat and smooth alumina substrate was thermally annealed in air for 30 min and let cooled again repeatedly at successively higher temperatures from 200 to 500 °C. This treatment successively and irreversibly increases the room temperature resistivity of the film monotonically from its initial value of 670 μΩ cm to a maximum of 705 μΩ cm (+5.2 %). Subsequent heat treatments at temperatures below 500 °C and up to 6 h have no further effect on the room temperature resistivity. The new value remains unchanged after 3.8 years of storage at room temperature. In a second experiment, the evolution of the initially compressive stress of a film similarly deposited by reactive sputtering on a 2-inch silicon wafer was measured by tracking the wafer curvature during similar thermal annealing cycles. A similar pattern of irreversible and reversible changes of stress was observed as for the film resistivity. Transmission electron micrographs and secondary ion mass profiles of the film taken before and after thermal annealing in air establish that both the structure and the composition of the film scarcely change during the annealing cycles. We reason that the film stress is implicated in the resistivity change. In particular, to interpret the observations, a model is proposed where the interface between the film and the substrate is mechanically unyielding.

A mathematical framework for finite strain elastoplastic consolidation. Part 1: Balance laws, variational formulation, and linearization

A mathematical formulation for finite strain elasto plastic consolidation of fully saturated soil media is presented. Strong and weak forms of the boundary-value problem are derived using both the material and spatial descriptions. The algorithmic treatment of finite strain elastoplasticity for the solid phase is based on multiplicative decomposition and is coupled with the algorithm for fluid flow via the Kirchhoff pore water pressure. Balance laws are written for the soil-water mixture following the motion of the soil matrix alone. It is shown that the motion of the fluid phase only affects the Jacobian of the solid phase motion, and therefore can be characterized completely by the motion of the soil matrix. Furthermore, it is shown from energy balance consideration that the effective, or intergranular, stress is the appropriate measure of stress for describing the constitutive response of the soil skeleton since it absorbs all the strain energy generated in the saturated soil-water mixture. Finally, it is shown that the mathematical model is amenable to consistent linearization, and that explicit expressions for the consistent tangent operators can be derived for use in numerical solutions such as those based on the finite element method.

Adams methods: implementation as predictor-corrector methods

In this paper, Adams explicit and implicit formulas are obtained in a simple way and a relationship between them is established, allowing for their joint implementation as predictor-corrector methods. It is shown the purposefulness, from a didactic point of view, of Excel spreadsheets for calculations and for the orderly presentation of results in the application of Adams methods to solving initial value problems in ordinary differential equations.

Latent hardening size effect in small-scale plasticity

We aim at understanding the multislip behaviour of metals subject to irreversible deformations at small-scales. By focusing on the simple shear of a constrained single-crystal strip, we show that discrete Dislocation Dynamics (DD) simulations predict a strong latent hardening size effect, with smaller being stronger in the range [1.5 µm, 6 µm] for the strip height. We attempt to represent the DD pseudo-experimental results by developing a flow theory of Strain Gradient Crystal Plasticity (SGCP), involving both energetic and dissipative higher-order terms and, as a main novelty, a strain gradient extension of the conventional latent hardening. In order to discuss the capability of the SGCP theory proposed, we implement it into a Finite Element (FE) code and set its material parameters on the basis of the DD results. The SGCP FE code is specifically developed for the boundary value problem under study so that we can implement a fully implicit (Backward Euler) consistent algorithm. Special emphasis is placed on the discussion of the role of the material length scales involved in the SGCP model, from both the mechanical and numerical points of view.

Latent hardening size effect in small-scale plasticity

We aim at understanding the multislip behaviour of metals subject to irreversible deformations at small-scales. By focusing on the simple shear of a constrained single-crystal strip, we show that discrete Dislocation Dynamics (DD) simulations predict a strong latent hardening size effect, with smaller being stronger in the range [1.5 µm, 6 µm] for the strip height. We attempt to represent the DD pseudo-experimental results by developing a flow theory of Strain Gradient Crystal Plasticity (SGCP), involving both energetic and dissipative higher-order terms and, as a main novelty, a strain gradient extension of the conventional latent hardening. In order to discuss the capability of the SGCP theory proposed, we implement it into a Finite Element (FE) code and set its material parameters on the basis of the DD results. The SGCP FE code is specifically developed for the boundary value problem under study so that we can implement a fully implicit (Backward Euler) consistent algorithm. Special emphasis is placed on the discussion of the role of the material length scales involved in the SGCP model, from both the mechanical and numerical points of view.

Estudio de la permeabilidad y de la resistencia a tracción en hormigones precomprimidos

Entre los requisitos que deben cumplir las estructuras se debe garantizar que estas posean la durabilidad necesaria para permanecer en servicio a lo largo de todo el periodo de vida útil para el que han sido proyectadas. Para conseguir este objetivo las normativas han ido incorporando prescripciones para el diseño del hormigón, en base a distintas clases de exposición dependiendo del origen y magnitud de la agresividad exterior. En ambientes con una elevada agresividad, una de las comprobaciones que debe cumplir el hormigón es que tenga una permeabilidad inferior a los valores máximos fijados según la clase de exposición, y que en caso de considerar como ensayo de referencia el de penetración de agua, analiza el frente de penetración limitando las profundidades de penetración media y máxima. Adicionalmente a las condiciones de diseño según el tipo de ambiente, principalmente basadas en la dosificación del hormigón en términos de la relación agua/cemento y el mínimo contenido de cemento y el recubrimiento de las armaduras, durante la vida en servicio las estructuras pueden están solicitadas por distintas acciones imprevistas que pueden provocar cambios en la microestructura interna del hormigón que modifican su permeabilidad y resistencia, y por tanto pueden alterar la durabilidad inicialmente prevista. Es conocido el efecto de cansancio del hormigón cuando está solicitado por cargas de compresión mantenidas en el tiempo, provocando bajas en su resistencia debido al incremento de la microfisuración. Dada la relación entre la permeabilidad y la microfisuración del hormigón, es previsible el aumento de la permeabilidad en hormigones que han sido precomprimidos durante un periodo largo de tiempo. Los estudios de la permeabilidad en hormigones previamente comprimidos se han realizado analizando periodos de tiempo de compresión cortos que no permiten evaluar el efecto del cansancio sobre la permeabilidad. La presente tesis doctoral investiga la permeabilidad y resistencia a tracción en hormigones que previamente han sido comprimidos en carga mantenida durante distintos plazos de tiempo, al objeto de conocer su evolución en base al tiempo de precompresión. La investigación se apoya en el estudio de otras dos variables como son el tipo de hormigón de acuerdo a su dosificación según el tipo de ambiente considerando una agresividad baja, media o alta, y el grado de compresión aplicado respecto de su carga última de rotura. En los resultados del plan experimental desarrollado se ha obtenido que la permeabilidad presenta un incremento significante con el tiempo de precompresión, que dependiendo del valor inicial de la permeabilidad que tiene el hormigón puede provocar que hormigones que previamente satisfacen las limitaciones de permeabilidad pasen a incumplirlas, pudiendo afectar a su durabilidad. También se confirma la influencia del tiempo de precompresión sobre la resistencia a tracción obteniendo bajas de resistencia importantes en los casos pésimos ensayados, que deben ser tenidas en consideración en tanto afectan a la capacidad resistente del hormigón como a otros aspectos fundamentales como el anclaje de las armaduras en el hormigón armado y pretensado. One of the requirements that structures must meet is to guarantee their durability to remain in service throughout all the working life period for which they have been designed. To achieve this goal, building standards and codes have included specifications for the design of concrete structures, based on different exposure classes depending on the environmental conditions and their origin and magnitude. In severe aggressive environments, one of the specifications the concrete must meet is to have a permeability lower than the maximum values set for a certain exposure class. If this parameter is referenced to water penetration on specimens, then the average and maximum depths of front penetration are analyzed. In addition to the design conditions depending on the exposure class, which regulate the dosage of concrete in terms of the water/cement ratio, minimum samples that have been pre-compressed for a long period of time. Previous studies on permeability have been carried on pre-compressed concrete elements analyzing short periods of time. However, they have not studied the effects of compression forces on concrete in the long term. This Thesis investigates permeability and tensile strength of concrete samples that have been previously compressed under loads applied for different periods of time. The goal is to understand its evolution based on the time exposed to compression. The research variables also include the type of concrete according to the dosage used - depending on the environmental exposure it will have low, medium or high aggressiveness-, and the amount of compression applied in relation to its failure load. Results of the experimental tests showed that permeability increases significantly over the time of pre-compression. Depending on the initial value of permeability, this change could make the concrete not meet the original permeability restrictions and therefore affect its durability. These investigations also confirmed the influence of time of pre-compression in tensile strength, where some cases showed a significant decrease of resistance. These issues must be taken into consideration as they affect the bearing capacity of the material and other key features such as the anchoring of steel bars in reinforced and pre-stressed concrete. amount of cement content and the minimum concrete cover of the steel bars, during their working life structures may be subject to various unforeseen actions. As a result, the concrete’s internal microstructure might be affected, changing its permeability and resistance, and possibly altering the original specified durability. It is a known fact that when concrete is loaded in compression maintained over a long time, its resistance to compression forces is diminished due to the increase in micro-cracking. Considering the relationship between permeability and microcracking of concrete, an increase in permeability may be expected in concrete

Resolución numérica de un problema de valor óptimo de una opción

The option value problem with two costs is written as a variational inequality. The advantage of this formulation is that it takes place in a fixed domain. Thus no front tracking is needed for numerical approximation of the free boundary. An iterative algorithm is proposed which can be used to solve the nonlinear system obtained by finite differences or finite elements procedures. Especial care has to be taken in the design of differences finites schemes o finite elements due to the degeneracy of the differential operator. These schemes can be absortion or convection dominated nearly to the axis. This is a preliminary note to the study of this kind of problems.

Killing K Channels with TEA+

Tetraethylammonium (TEA+) is widely used for reversible blockade of K channels in many preparations. We noticed that intracellular perfusion of voltage-clamped squid giant axons with a solution containing K+ and TEA+ irreversibly decreased the potassium current when there was no K+ outside. Five minutes of perfusion with 20 mM TEA+, followed by removal of TEA+, reduced potassium current to <5% of its initial value. The irreversible disappearance of K channels with TEA+ could be prevented by addition of ≥ 10 mM K+ to the extracellular solution. The rate of disappearance of K channels followed first-order kinetics and was slowed by reducing the concentration of TEA+. Killing is much less evident when an axon is held at −110 mV to tightly close all of the channels. The longer-chain TEA+ derivative decyltriethylammonium (C10+) had irreversible effects similar to TEA+. External K+ also protected K channels against the irreversible action of C10+. It has been reported that removal of all K+ internally and externally (dekalification) can result in the disappearance of K channels, suggesting that binding of K+ within the pore is required to maintain function. Our evidence further suggests that the crucial location for K+ binding is external to the (internal) TEA+ site and that TEA+ prevents refilling of this location by intracellular K+. Thus in the absence of extracellular K+, application of TEA+ (or C10+) has effects resembling dekalification and kills the K channels.

Responses of the phototransduction cascade to dim light.

The biochemistry of visual excitation is kinetically explored by measuring the activity of the cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) at light levels that activate only a few tens of rhodopsin molecules per rod. At 23 degrees C and in the presence of ATP, the pulse of PDE activity lasts 4 s (full width at half maximum). Complementing the rod outer segments (ROS) with rhodopsin kinase (RK) and arrestin or its splice variant p44 does not significantly shorten the pulse. But when the ROS are washed, the duration of the signal doubles. Adding either arrestin or p44 back to washed ROS approximately restores the pulse width to its initial value, with p44 being 10 times more efficient than arrestin. This supports the idea that, in vivo, capping of phosphorylated R* is mostly done by p44. When myristoylated (14:0) recoverin is added to unwashed ROS, the pulse duration and amplitude increase by about 50% if the free calcium is 500 nM. This effect increases further if the calcium is raised to 1 microM. Whenever R* deactivation is changed--when RK is exogenously enriched or when ATP is omitted from the buffer--there is no impact on the rising slope of the PDE pulse but only on its amplitude and duration. We explain this effect as due to the unequal competition between transducin and RK for R*. The kinetic model issued from this idea fits the data well, and its prediction that enrichment with transducin should lengthen the PDE pulse is successfully validated.

A fast marching level set method for monotonically advancing fronts.

A fast marching level set method is presented for monotonically advancing fronts, which leads to an extremely fast scheme for solving the Eikonal equation. Level set methods are numerical techniques for computing the position of propagating fronts. They rely on an initial value partial differential equation for a propagating level set function and use techniques borrowed from hyperbolic conservation laws. Topological changes, corner and cusp development, and accurate determination of geometric properties such as curvature and normal direction are naturally obtained in this setting. This paper describes a particular case of such methods for interfaces whose speed depends only on local position. The technique works by coupling work on entropy conditions for interface motion, the theory of viscosity solutions for Hamilton-Jacobi equations, and fast adaptive narrow band level set methods. The technique is applicable to a variety of problems, including shape-from-shading problems, lithographic development calculations in microchip manufacturing, and arrival time problems in control theory.

Modelo computacional para avaliação do desempenho hidrodinâmico de embarcações de planeio em águas calmas.

Em geral, uma embarcação de planeio é projetada para atingir elevados níveis de velocidade. Esse atributo de desempenho está diretamente relacionado ao porte da embarcação e à potência instalada em sua planta propulsiva. Tradicionalmente, durante o projeto de uma embarcação, as análises de desempenho são realizadas através de resultados de embarcações já existentes, retirados de séries sistemáticas ou de embarcações já desenvolvidas pelo estaleiro e/ou projetista. Além disso, a determinação dos atributos de desempenho pode ser feita através de métodos empíricos e/ou estatísticos, onde a embarcação é representada através de seus parâmetros geométricos principais; ou a partir de testes em modelos em escala reduzida ou protótipos. No caso específico de embarcações de planeio, o custo dos testes em escala reduzida é muito elevado em relação ao custo de projeto. Isso faz com que a maioria dos projetistas não opte por ensaios experimentais das novas embarcações em desenvolvimento. Ao longo dos últimos anos, o método de Savitsky foi largamente utilizado para se realizar estimativas de potência instalada de uma embarcação de planeio. Esse método utiliza um conjunto de equações semi-empíricas para determinar os esforços atuantes na embarcação, a partir dos quais é possível determinar a posição de equilíbrio de operação e a força propulsora necessária para navegar em uma dada velocidade. O método de Savitsky é muito utilizado nas fases iniciais de projeto, onde a geometria do casco ainda não foi totalmente definida, pois utiliza apenas as características geométricas principais da embarcação para realização das estimativas de esforços. À medida que se avança nas etapas de projeto, aumenta o detalhamento necessário das estimativas de desempenho. Para a realização, por exemplo, do projeto estrutural é necessária uma estimativa do campo de pressão atuante no fundo do casco, o qual não pode ser determinado pelo método de Savitsky. O método computacional implementado nesta dissertação, tem o objetivo de determinar as características do escoamento e o campo de pressão atuante no casco de uma embarcação de planeio navegando em águas calmas. O escoamento é determinado através de um problema de valor de contorno, no qual a superfície molhada no casco é considerada um corpo esbelto. Devido ao uso da teoria de corpo esbelto o problema pode ser tratado, separadamente, em cada seção, onde as condições de contorno são forçadamente respeitadas através de uma distribuição de vórtices.

Accurate integration of forced and damped oscillators

The new methods accurately integrate forced and damped oscillators. A family of analytical functions is introduced known as T-functions which are dependent on three parameters. The solution is expressed as a series of T-functions calculating their coefficients by means of recurrences which involve the perturbation function. In the T-functions series method the perturbation parameter is the factor in the local truncation error. Furthermore, this method is zero-stable and convergent. An application of this method is exposed to resolve a physic IVP, modeled by means of forced and damped oscillators. The good behavior and precision of the methods, is evidenced by contrasting the results with other-reputed algorithms implemented in MAPLE.