Twofold adaptive partition of unity implicits

Partition of Unity Implicits (PUI) has been recently introduced for surface reconstruction from point clouds. In this work, we propose a PUI method that employs a set of well-observed solutions in order to produce geometrically pleasant results without requiring time consuming or mathematically overloaded computations. One feature of our technique is the use of multivariate orthogonal polynomials in the least-squares approximation, which allows the recursive refinement of the local fittings in terms of the degree of the polynomial. However, since the use of high-order approximations based only on the number of available points is not reliable, we introduce the concept of coverage domain. In addition, the method relies on the use of an algebraically defined triangulation to handle two important tasks in PUI: the spatial decomposition and an adaptive polygonization. As the spatial subdivision is based on tetrahedra, the generated mesh may present poorly-shaped triangles that are improved in this work by means a specific vertex displacement technique. Furthermore, we also address sharp features and raw data treatment. A further contribution is based on the PUI locality property that leads to an intuitive scheme for improving or repairing the surface by means of editing local functions.

Numerical solution of the PTT constitutive equation for unsteady three-dimensional free surface flows

This work deals with the development of a numerical technique for simulating three-dimensional viscoelastic free surface flows using the PTT (Phan-Thien-Tanner) nonlinear constitutive equation. In particular, we are interested in flows possessing moving free surfaces. The equations describing the numerical technique are solved by the finite difference method on a staggered grid. The fluid is modelled by a Marker-and-Cell type method and an accurate representation of the fluid surface is employed. The full free surface stress conditions are considered. The PTT equation is solved by a high order method, which requires the calculation of the extra-stress tensor on the mesh contours. To validate the numerical technique developed in this work flow predictions for fully developed pipe flow are compared with an analytic solution from the literature. Then, results of complex free surface flows using the FIT equation such as the transient extrudate swell problem and a jet flowing onto a rigid plate are presented. An investigation of the effects of the parameters epsilon and xi on the extrudate swell and jet buckling problems is reported. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Numerical Solution of the Upper-Convected Maxwell Model for Three-Dimensional Free Surface Flows

This work presents a finite difference technique for simulating three-dimensional free surface flows governed by the Upper-Convected Maxwell (UCM) constitutive equation. A Marker-and-Cell approach is employed to represent the fluid free surface and formulations for calculating the non-Newtonian stress tensor on solid boundaries are developed. The complete free surface stress conditions are employed. The momentum equation is solved by an implicit technique while the UCM constitutive equation is integrated by the explicit Euler method. The resulting equations are solved by the finite difference method on a 3D-staggered grid. By using an exact solution for fully developed flow inside a pipe, validation and convergence results are provided. Numerical results include the simulation of the transient extrudate swell and the comparison between jet buckling of UCM and Newtonian fluids.

Self-assembling of phenothiazine compounds investigated by small-angle X-ray scattering and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy

Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) have been carried out to investigate the structure of the self-aggregates of two phenothiazine drugs, chlorpromazine (CPZ) and trifluoperazine (TFP), in aqueous solution. In the SAXS studies, drug solutions of 20 and 60 mM, at pH 4.0 and 7.0, were investigated and the best data fittings were achieved assuming several different particle form factors with a homogeneous electron density distribution in respect to the water environment. Because of the limitation of scattering intensity in the q range above 0.15 angstrom(-1), precise determination of the aggregate shape was not possible and all of the tested models for ellipsoids, cylinders, or parallelepipeds fitted the experimental data equally well. The SAXS data allows inferring, however, that CPZ molecules might self-assemble in a basis set of an orthorhombic cell, remaining as nanocrystallites in solution. Such nanocrystals are composed of a small number of unit cells (up to 10, in c-direction), with CPZ aggregation numbers of 60-80. EPR spectra of 5- and 16-doxyl stearic acids bound to the aggregates were analyzed through simulation, and the dynamic and magnetic parameters were obtained. The phenothiazine concentration in EPR experiments was in the range of 5-60 mM. Critical aggregation concentration of TFP is lower than that for CPZ, consistent with a higher hydrophobicity of TFP. At acidic pH 4.0 a significant residual motion of the nitroxide relative to the aggregate is observed, and the EPR spectra and corresponding parameters are similar to those reported for aqueous surfactant micelles. However, at pH 6.5 a significant motional restriction is observed, and the nitroxide rotational correlation times correlate very well with those estimated for the whole aggregated particle from SAXS data. This implies that the aggregate is densely packed at this pH and that the nitroxide is tightly bound to it producing a strongly immobilized EPR spectrum. Besides that, at pH 6.5 the differences in motional restriction observed between 5- and 16-DSA are small, which is different from that observed for aqueous surfactant micelles.

Perpendicular exchange bias in IrMn/Pt/[Co/Pt](3) multilayers with cone magnetization

The perpendicular exchange bias and magnetic anisotropy were investigated in IrMn/Pt/[Co/Pt](3) multilayers through the analysis of in-plane and out-of-plane magnetization hysteresis loops. A phenomenological model was used to simulate the in-plane curves and the effective perpendicular anisotropies were obtained employing the area method. The canted state anisotropy was introduced by taking into account the first and second uniaxial anisotropy terms of the ferromagnet with the corresponding uniaxial anisotropy direction allowed to make a nonzero angle with the film`s normal. This angle, obtained from the fittings, was of approximately 15 degrees for IrMn/[Co/Pt](3) film and decreases with the introduction of Pt in the IrMn/Pt/[Co/Pt](3) system, indicating that the Pt interlayer leads to a predominant perpendicular anisotropy. A maximum of the out-of-plane anisotropy was found between 0.5 and 0.6 nm of Pt, whereas a maximum of the perpendicular exchange bias was found at 0.3 nm. These results are very similar to those obtained for IrMn/Cu/[Co/Pt](3) system; however, the decrease of the exchange bias with the spacer thickness is more abrupt and the enhacement of the perpendicular anisotropy is higher for the case of Cu spacer as compared with that of Pt spacer. The existence of a maximum in the perpendicular exchange bias as a function of the Pt layer thickness was attributed to the predominance of the enhancement of exchange bias due to more perpendicular Co moment orientation over the exponential decrease of the ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic exchange coupling and, consequently, of the exchange-bias field. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Environmental formaldehyde analysis by active diffusive sampling with a bundle of polypropylene porous capillaries followed by capillary zone electrophoretic separation and contactless conductivity detection

Compared to other volatile carbonylic compounds present in outdoor air, formaldehyde (CH2O) is the most toxic, deserving more attention in terms of indoor and outdoor air quality legislation and control. The analytical determination of CH2O in air still presents challenges due to the low-level concentration (in the sub-ppb range) and its variation with sampling site and time. Of the many available analytical methods for carbonylic compounds, the most widespread one is the time consuming collection in cartridges impregnated with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine followed by the analysis of the formed hydrazones by HPLC. The present work proposes the use of polypropylene hollow porous capillary fibers to achieve efficient CH2O collection. The Oxyphan (R) fiber (designed for blood oxygenation) was chosen for this purpose because it presents good mechanical resistance, high density of very fine pores and high ratio of collection area to volume of the acceptor fluid in the tube, all favorable for the development of air sampling apparatus. The collector device consists of a Teflon pipe inside of which a bundle of polypropylene microporous capillary membranes was introduced. While the acceptor passes at a low flow rate through the capillaries, the sampled air circulates around the fibers, impelled by a low flow membrane pump (of the type used for aquariums ventilation). The coupling of this sampling technique with the selective and quantitative determination of CH2O, in the form of hydroxymethanesulfonate (HMS) after derivatization with HSO3-, by capillary electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (CE-(CD)-D-4) enabled the development of a complete analytical protocol for the CH2O evaluation in air. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Identifiering av parametrar till ackumulatortanken Solus1050 från consolar - en metodbeskrivning

This report describes the work done creating a computer model of a kombi tank from Consolar. The model was created with Presim/Trnsys and Fittrn and DF were used to identify the parameters. Measurements were carried out and were used to identify the values of the parameters in the model. The identifications were first done for every circuit separately. After that, all parameters are normally identified together using all the measurements. Finally the model should be compared with other measurements, preferable realistic ones. The two last steps have not yet been carried out, because of problems finding a good model for the domestic hot water circuit.The model of the domestic hot water circuit give relatively good results for low flows at 5 l/min, but is not good for higher flows. In the report suggestions for improving the model are given. However, there was not enough time to test this within the project as much time was spent trying to solve problems with the model crashing. Suggestions for improving the model for the domestic circuit are given in chapter 4.4. The improved equations that are to be used in the improved model are given by equation 4.18, 4.19 and 4.22.Also for the boiler circuit and the solar circuit there are improvements that can be done. The model presented here has a few shortcomings, but with some extra work, an improved model can be created. In the attachment (Bilaga 1) is a description of the used model and all the identified parameters.A qualitative assessment of the store was also performed based on the measurements and the modelling carried out. The following summary of this can be given: Hot Water PreparationThe principle for controlling the flow on the primary side seems to work well in order to achieve good stratification. Temperatures in the bottom of the store after a short use of hot water, at a coldwater temperature of 12°C, was around 28-30°C. This was almost independent of the temperature in the store and the DHW-flow.The measured UA-values of the heat exchangers are not very reliable, but indicates that the heat transfer rates are much better than for the Conus 500, and in the same range as for other stores tested at SERC.The function of the mixing valve is not perfect (see diagram 4.3, where Tout1 is the outlet hot water temperature, and Tdhwo and Tdhw1 is the inlet temperature to the hot and cold side of the valve respectively). The outlet temperature varies a lot with different temperatures in the storage and is going down from 61°C to 47°C before the cold port is fully closed. This gives a problem to find a suitable temperature setting and gives also a risk that the auxiliary heating is increased instead of the set temperature of the valve, when the hot water temperature is to low.Collector circuitThe UA-value of the collector heat exchanger is much higher than the value for Conus 500, and in the same range as the heat exchangers in other stores tested at SERC.Boiler circuitThe valve in the boiler circuit is used to supply water from the boiler at two different heights, depending on the temperature of the water. At temperatures from the boiler above 58.2°C, all the water is injected to the upper inlet. At temperatures below 53.9°C all the water is injected to the lower inlet. At 56°C the water flow is equally divided between the two inlets. Detailed studies of the behaviour at the upper inlet shows that better accuracy of the model would have been achieved using three double ports in the model instead of two. The shape of the upper inlet makes turbulence, that could be modelled using two different inlets. Heat lossesThe heat losses per m3 are much smaller for the Solus 1050, than for the Conus 500 Storage. However, they are higher than those for some good stores tested at SERC. The pipes that are penetrating the insulation give air leakage and cold bridges, which could be a major part of the losses from the storage. The identified losses from the bottom of the storage are exceptionally high, but have less importance for the heat losses, due to the lower temperatures in the bottom. High losses from the bottom can be caused by air leakage through the insulation at the pipe connections of the storage.

Influence of hydraulics and control of thermal storage in solar assisted heat pump combisystems

This paper studies the influence of hydraulics and control of thermal storage in systems combined with solar thermal and heat pump for the production of warm water and space heating in dwellings. A reference air source heat pump system with flat plate collectors connected to a combistore was defined and modeled together with the IEA SHC Task 44 / HPP Annex 38 (T44A38) “Solar and Heat Pump Systems” boundary conditions of Strasbourg climate and SFH45 building. Three and four pipe connections as well as use of internal and external heat exchangers for DHW preparation were investigated as well as sensor height for charging of the DHW zone in the store. The temperature in this zone was varied to ensure the same DHW comfort was achieved in all cases. The results show that the four pipe connection results in 9% improvement in SPF compared to three pipe and that the external heat exchanger for DHW preparation leads to a 2% improvement compared to the reference case. Additionally the sensor height for charging the DHW zone of the store should not be too low, otherwise system performance is adversely affected

Sheet Metal Examples

A wall in the Sheet Metal Department at the New York Trade School shows many examples of duct work, pipe, and decorative metal work that students learn to produce. Black and white photograph that is starting to fade.

George E. McLaughlin Speaking at a New York Trade School Commencement Ceremony

A George E. McLaughlin, a New York Trade School administrator, is pictured speaking along with others on dais at the May 1958 commencement ceremony of the New York Trade School. Photograph is black and white.

Decision Tree Classification Model In Water Supply Network

With the service life of water supply network (WSN) growth, the growing phenomenon of aging pipe network has become exceedingly serious. As urban water supply network is hidden underground asset, it is difficult for monitoring staff to make a direct classification towards the faults of pipe network by means of the modern detecting technology. In this paper, based on the basic property data (e.g. diameter, material, pressure, distance to pump, distance to tank, load, etc.) of water supply network, decision tree algorithm (C4.5) has been carried out to classify the specific situation of water supply pipeline. Part of the historical data was used to establish a decision tree classification model, and the remaining historical data was used to validate this established model. Adopting statistical methods were used to access the decision tree model including basic statistical method, Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) and Recall-Precision Curves (RPC). These methods has been successfully used to assess the accuracy of this established classification model of water pipe network. The purpose of classification model was to classify the specific condition of water pipe network. It is important to maintain the pipeline according to the classification results including asset unserviceable (AU), near perfect condition (NPC) and serious deterioration (SD). Finally, this research focused on pipe classification which plays a significant role in maintaining water supply networks in the future.

Optimal Rehabilitation Strategy In Water Distribution Systems Considering Reduction In Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Most of water distribution systems (WDS) need rehabilitation due to aging infrastructure leading to decreasing capacity, increasing leakage and consequently low performance of the WDS. However an appropriate strategy including location and time of pipeline rehabilitation in a WDS with respect to a limited budget is the main challenge which has been addressed frequently by researchers and practitioners. On the other hand, selection of appropriate rehabilitation technique and material types is another main issue which has yet to address properly. The latter can affect the environmental impacts of a rehabilitation strategy meeting the challenges of global warming mitigation and consequent climate change. This paper presents a multi-objective optimization model for rehabilitation strategy in WDS addressing the abovementioned criteria mainly focused on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions either directly from fossil fuel and electricity or indirectly from embodied energy of materials. Thus, the objective functions are to minimise: (1) the total cost of rehabilitation including capital and operational costs; (2) the leakage amount; (3) GHG emissions. The Pareto optimal front containing optimal solutions is determined using Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm NSGA-II. Decision variables in this optimisation problem are classified into a number of groups as: (1) percentage proportion of each rehabilitation technique each year; (2) material types of new pipeline for rehabilitation each year. Rehabilitation techniques used here includes replacement, rehabilitation and lining, cleaning, pipe duplication. The developed model is demonstrated through its application to a Mahalat WDS located in central part of Iran. The rehabilitation strategy is analysed for a 40 year planning horizon. A number of conventional techniques for selecting pipes for rehabilitation are analysed in this study. The results show that the optimal rehabilitation strategy considering GHG emissions is able to successfully save the total expenses, efficiently decrease the leakage amount from the WDS whilst meeting environmental criteria.

Redes sociais e o empreendedorismo de alta tecnologia em São Carlos: limites e potencialidades para o incentivo governamental a negócios inovadores

A presente dissertação utilizou a abordagem da Sociologia Econômica para a realização de um estudo de caso sobre empreendedorismo e redes sociais na cidade de São Carlos (SP), tendo como unidade de análise os projetos beneficiados por um programa público da Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP): o Programa Inovação Tecnológica na Pequena Empresa (PIPE). Este trabalho foi baseado nos estudos de Mark Granovetter sobre a imersão social da ação econômica, redes sociais e seu papel no desenvolvimento do Vale do Silício (EUA) para a identificação, no caso de São Carlos, dos vínculos que importam entre empreendedores e pesquisadores, das redes sociais construídas em torno do empreendedorismo de base tecnológica e dos arranjos institucionais entre atores públicos, privados e não-governamentais que contribuem para que a cidade seja considerada uma “fábrica de PIPE’s” e um dos principais pólos de inovação tecnológica do país. O estudo apontou que os empreendedores de base tecnológica em São Carlos, sob a ótica da Sociologia Econômica, constituem uma rede social endógena e focada na pesquisa científica, pouco se conectando com instituições de suporte de mercado, o que limita o desenvolvimento da atividade empreendedora, entendida como a criação de empresas que façam interações formais com o mercado. Acredita-se que os resultados desta pesquisa permitirão um melhor entendimento da realidade empreendedora na região de São Carlos sob o ponto de vista sociológico e contribuirão para o desenvolvimento de iniciativas governamentais que levem em consideração a necessidade de compreender a estrutura social e as redes de relações sob as quais se implantarão futuras políticas públicas de incentivo ao empreendedorismo.

Estruturação de derrames e interações lava-sedimento na porção central da província basáltica continental do Paraná

A Província Basáltica Continental do Paraná (PBCP) ocupa uma área de cerca 1,2 x 106 km2 na América do Sul e tem sua origem vinculada a fragmentação do Gondwana e a abertura do Oceano Atlântico Sul durante o Cretáceo Inferior. Estudos enfocando a morfologia e origem das estruturas nos basaltos na PBCP, realizados na porção oeste do estado do Paraná, determinaram a identificação de derrames do tipo pahoehoe e ‘a‘a , com o predomínio de pahoehoe simples e compostos. Em alguns locais constatou-se o processo de interação entre lavas e sedimentos e a ocorrência de peperitos fluidais. Na área estudada verificou-se que os derrames pahoehoe compostos são formados por lobos do tipo P (pipe) e do tipo S (spongy), com o predomínio dos primeiros. A predominância de lobos do tipo P pode ser relacionada com o rompimento e geração de pequenos lobos na porção distal de espessos derrames inflados. As características destes lobos indicam um longo tempo de residência das lavas, em um sistema de distribuição antes da extrusão. As feições de superfície originadas em derrames pahoehoe e ‘a‘a estão bem preservadas e são de fácil reconhecimento. Os derrames possuem extensão lateral de até 50 km e podem ser divididos em três porções em relação ao conduto: proximal, mediana e distal. Na porção proximal os derrames pahoehoe são espessos (40-70 m) e possuem a crosta superior e o núcleo maciço bem delimitado. Na porção mediana predominam derrames pahoehoe simples com espessura entre 20 e 30 m, localmente ocorrem derrames compostos. Na porção distal predominam derrames compostos de até 5 m de espessura, formados por lobos. A geração de derrames tipo pahoehoe inflados sugerem baixas taxas de erupção na geração dos basaltos do oeste do Paraná. Estimativas baseadas na espessura da crosta superior indicam um período de 33 meses para a geração de fluxos inflados com 25 m de espessura total. Os peperitos foram gerados pela interação entre derrames e sedimentos úmidos, predominantemente silte e argila, depositados em um ambiente lacustre. A presença destes sedimentos indica uma mudança climática, que ocorreu entre a erupção da porção basal da PBCP, associada com ambiente desértico (Formação Botucatu) e a porção superior associada com ambiente lacustre. Nesta fase interrupções no vulcanismo possibilitaram a deposição de sedimentos em pequenos lagos estabelecidos sobre os derrames. A presença de sedimento vesiculado preenchendo vesículas e fraturas e a deformação de estruturas sedimentares indicam que a fração sedimentar estava inconsolidada ou pouco consolidada e úmida, quando da geração dos peperitos. As texturas presentes nos peperitos fluidais indicam que os principais fatores que influenciaram no mingling entre lava e sedimentos foram: 1- as propriedades da lava (baixa viscosidade), 2- a presença de sedimentos inconsolidados a pouco consolidados e úmidos e 3- um evento único na interação entre lava e sedimento. Neste ambiente os peperitos eram formados na base do derrame e processos posteriores, como a inflação do derrame e a extrusão de outros derrames, não causaram perturbações nos domínios de peperito gerados previamente. Os trabalhos realizados na porção oeste do Paraná indicam que os derrames da PBCP são dominantemente do tipo pahoehoe, tanto simples como compostos, associados com fluxos inflados. Estas evidências contrariam a estruturação convencionalmente estabelecida para a Formação Serra Geral onde os derrames são espessos, maciços e com geometria tabular. Esta aparente organização pode ser também gerada pela amalgamação de sucessivos e simultâneos lobos de lavas.

Implementação da rotina de unfolding para determinação de distribuição de tamanho de grãos esféricos via distribuição de interceptos lineares e de área de seção

Na unfolding method of linear intercept distributions and secction área distribution was implemented for structures with spherical grains. Although the unfolding routine depends on the grain shape, structures with spheroidal grains can also be treated by this routine. Grains of non-spheroidal shape can be treated only as approximation. A software was developed with two parts. The first part calculates the probability matrix. The second part uses this matrix and minimizes the chi-square. The results are presented with any number of size classes as required. The probability matrix was determined by means of the linear intercept and section area distributions created by computer simulation. Using curve fittings the probability matrix for spheres of any sizes could be determined. Two kinds of tests were carried out to prove the efficiency of the Technique. The theoretical tests represent ideal cases. The software was able to exactly find the proposed grain size distribution. In the second test, a structure was simulated in computer and images of its slices were used to produce the corresponding linear intercept the section area distributions. These distributions were then unfolded. This test simulates better reality. The results show deviations from the real size distribution. This deviations are caused by statistic fluctuation. The unfolding of the linear intercept distribution works perfectly, but the unfolding of section area distribution does not work due to a failure in the chi-square minimization. The minimization method uses a matrix inversion routine. The matrix generated by this procedure cannot be inverted. Other minimization method must be used