Influence of uniformity of the axial magnetic field in a vacuum interrupter on the performance of the contacts

A vacuum interrupter utilises magnetic field for effective arc extinction. Based on the type of field, the vacuum interrupters are classified as radial or axial magnetic type of vacuum interrupters. This paper focuses on the axial magnetic field type of vacuum interrupters. The magnitude and distribution of the axial magnetic field is a function of the design of the contact system. It also depends on the orientations of the movable and fixed contact systems with respect to each other. This paper investigates the dependence of arcing and erosion performance of the contact on the magnitude and distribution of this axially oriented magnetic field. The experimental observations are well supported by electromagnetic simulations.

Axial wave propagation in coupled nanorod system with nonlocal small scale effects

This article deals with the axial wave propagation properties of a coupled nanorod system with consideration of small scale effects. The nonlocal elasticity theory has been incorporated into classical rod/bar model to capture unique features of the coupled nanorods under the umbrella of continuum mechanics theory. Nonlocal rod model is developed for coupled nanorods. The strong effect of the nonlocal scale has been obtained which leads to substantially different wave behavior of nanorods from those of macroscopic rods. Explicit expressions are derived for wavenumber, cut-off frequency and escape frequency of nanorods. The analysis shows that the wave characteristics of nanorods are highly over estimated by the classical rod model, which ignores the effect of small-length scale. The studies also shows that the nonlocal scale parameter introduces certain band gap region in axial or longitudinal wave mode, where no wave propagation occurs. This is manifested in the spectrum cures as the region, where the wavenumber tends to infinite or wave speed tends to zero. The effect of the coupled spring stiffness is also capture in the present analysis. It has been also shown that the cut-off frequency increases as the stiffness of the coupled spring increases and also the coupled spring stiffness has no effect on escape frequency of the axial wave mode in the nanorod. This cut-off frequency is also independent of the nonlocal small scale parameter. The present study may bring in helpful insights while investigating multiple-nanorod-system-models for future nano-optomechanical systems applications. The results can also provide useful guidance for the study and design of the next generation of nanodevices that make use of the wave propagation properties of coupled single-walled carbon nanotubes or coupled nanorods. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Plane wave analysis of rectangular axial-inlet, axial-outlet and transverse-inlet, transverse-outlet air cleaners

In this work, one-dimensional flow-acoustic analysis of two basic configurations of air cleaners, (i) Rectangular Axial-Inlet, Axial-Outlet (RAIAO) and (ii) Rectangular Transverse-Inlet, Transverse-Outlet (RTITO), has been presented. This 1-D analytical approach has been verified with the help of 3-D FEM based software. Through subtraction of the acoustic performance of the bare plenum (without filter element) from that of the complete air cleaner box, the solitary performance of the filter element has been evaluated. Part of the present analysis illustrates that the analytical formulation remains effective even with offset positioning of the air pipes from the centre of the cross section of the air cleaner. The 1-D analytical tool computes much faster than its 3-D simulation counterpart. The present analysis not only predicts the acoustical impact of mean flow, but it also depicts the scenario with increased resistance of the filter element. Thus, the proposed 1-D analysis would help in the design of acoustically efficient air cleaners for automotive applications. (C) 2011 Institute of Noise Control Engineering.

Evolution of sub-micron grain size and weak texture in magnesium alloy Mg-3Al-0.4Mn by a modified multi-axial forging process

This is the first successful attempt to produce simultaneously ultrafine grain size and weak texture in a single-phase magnesium alloy Mg-3Al-0.4Mn through an optimal choice of processing parameters in a modified multi-axial forging (MAF) process. An average grain size of similar to 0.4 mu m and a weak texture could be achieved. This has led to an increase in the strength as well as room-temperature ductility (55%). The plot of the yield loci shows a decrease in anisotropy after MAF. (C) 2011 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Low-inductance axial flux BLDC motor drive for more electric aircraft

As aircraft technology is moving towards more electric architecture, use of electric motors in aircraft is increasing. Axial flux BLDC motors (brushless DC motors) are becoming popular in aero application because of their ability to meet the demand of light weight, high power density, high efficiency and high reliability. Axial flux BLDC motors, in general, and ironless axial flux BLDC motors, in particular, come with very low inductance Owing to this, they need special care to limit the magnitude of ripple current in motor winding. In most of the new more electric aircraft applications, BLDC motor needs to be driven from 300 or 600 Vdc bus. In such cases, particularly for operation from 600 Vdc bus, insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT)-based inverters are used for BLDC motor drive. IGBT-based inverters have limitation on increasing the switching frequency, and hence they are not very suitable for driving BLDC motors with low winding inductance. In this study, a three-level neutral point clamped (NPC) inverter is proposed to drive axial flux BLDC motors. Operation of a BLDC motor driven from three-level NPC inverter is explained and experimental results are presented.

Fatigue crack growth studies on lug joints

Pin loaded lug joints fitted with different types of pins are analysed in the presence of cracks at pin-plate interface. An algorithm for finite element contact stress analysis of joints developed earlier to deal with varying partial contact/separation at the pin-plate interface using a marching solution is used in the present analysis. Stress Intensity Factors (SIF) at the crack tips are evaluated using Modified Crack Closure Integral (MCCI) method within the realm of Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM) assumptions. A comparison of fatigue crack growth lives between interference and push fit pin joints is carried out using these SIF's. Results from a finite element analysis on a push fit pin joint are used to fit experimental fatigue crack growth data.