Brownian dynamics simulation of dense binary colloidal mixtures. II. Translational and bond-orientational order

We report the Brownian dynamics simulation results on the translational and bond-angle-orientational correlations for charged colloidal binary suspensions as the interparticle interactions are increased to form a crystalline (for a volume fraction phi = 0.2) or a glassy (phi = 0.3) state. The translational order is quantified in terms of the two- and four-point density autocorrelation functions whose comparisons show that there is no growing correlation length near the glass transition. The nearest-neighbor orientational order is determined in terms of the quadratic rotational invariant Q(l) and the bond-orientational correlation functions g(l)(t). The l dependence of Q(l) indicates that icosahedral (l = 6) order predominates at the cost of the cubic order (l = 4) near the glass as well as the crystal transition. The density and orientational correlation functions for a supercooled liquid freezing towards a glass fit well to the streched-exponential form exp[-(t/tau)(beta)]. The average relaxation times extracted from the fitted stretched-exponential functions as a function of effective temperatures T* obey the Arrhenius law for liquids freezing to a crystal whereas these obey the Vogel-Tamman-Fulcher law exp[AT(0)*/(T* - T-0*)] for supercooled Liquids tending towards a glassy state. The value of the parameter A suggests that the colloidal suspensions are ''fragile'' glass formers like the organic and molecular liquids.

Tunable Brownian vortex at the interface

A general kind of Brownian vortices is demonstrated by applying an external nonconservative force field to a colloidal particle bound by a conservative optical trapping force at a liquid-air interface. As the liquid medium is translated at a constant velocity with the bead trapped at the interface, the drag force near the surface provides enough rotational component to bias the particle's thermal fluctuations in a circulatory motion. The interplay between the thermal fluctuations and the advection of the bead in constituting the vortex motions is studied, and we infer that the angular velocity of the circulatory motion offers a comparative measure of the interface fluctuations.

Dynamics of Fractional Brownian Walks

We investigate the dynamics of polymers whose solution configurations are represented by fractional Brownian walks. The calculation of the two dynamical quantities considered here, the longest relaxation time tau(r) and the intrinsic viscosity [eta], is formulated in terms of Langevin equations and is carried out within the continuum approach developed in an earlier paper. Our results for tau(r) and [eta] reproduce known scaling relations and provide reasonable numerical estimates of scaling amplitudes. The possible relevance of the work to the study of globular proteins and other compact polymeric phases is discussed.

Modeling re-ignition and chuffing in solid rocket motors

A nonlinear model is developed to numerically simulate dynamic combustion inside a solid rocket motor chamber. Using this model, the phenomena of re-ignition and chuffing are investigated under low-L* conditions. The model consists of two separate submodels (coupled to each other), one for unsteady burning of propellant and the other for unsteady conservation of mass and energy within the chamber. The latter yields instantaneous pressure and temperature within the chamber. The instantaneous burning rate is calculated using a one-dimensional, nonlinear, transient gas-phase model previously developed by the authors. The results presented in this paper show that the model predicts not only the critical L*, but also the various regimes of L*-instabihty. Specifically, the results exhibit (1) amplifying pressure oscillations leading to extinction, and (2) re-ignition after a dormant period following extinction. The re-ignition could be observed only when a radiation heat flux (from the combustion chamber to the propellant surface) was included. Certain high-frequency oscillations, possibly due to intrinsic instability, are observed when the pressure overshoots during re-ignition. At very low values of initial L*, successive cycles of extinction/reignition displaying typical characteristics of chuffing are predicted. Variations of the chuffing frequency and the thickness of propellant burned off during a chuff with L* are found to be qualitatively the same as that reported from experimental observations.

A Hybrid Energy-insensitive Explicit Guidance Scheme for Long Range Flight Vehicles with Solid Motors

Combining the newly developed nonlinear model predictive static programming technique with null range direction concept, a novel explicit energy-insensitive guidance design method is presented in this paper for long range flight vehicles, which leads to a closed form solution of the necessary guidance command update. Owing to the closed form nature, it does not lead to computational difficulties and the proposed optimal guidance algorithm can be implemented online. The guidance law is verified in a solid motor propelled long range flight vehicle, for which coming up with an effective guidance law is more difficult as compared to a liquid engine propelled vehicle (mainly because of the absence of thrust cutoff facility). Assuming the starting point of the second stage to be a deterministic point beyond the atmosphere, the scheme guides the vehicle properly so that it completes the mission within a tight error bound. The simulation results demonstrate its ability to intercept the target, even with an uncertainty of greater than 10% in burnout time.

Switching Transients in Single-Phase Induction Motors

The subject of transients in polyphase induction motors and synchronous machines has been studied in very great detail by several investigators, but no published literature exists dealing exclusively with the analysis of the problem of transients in single-phase induction motors. This particular problem has been studied in this paper by applying the Laplace transform. The results of actual computation of the currents and developed electrical torque are compared with the data obtained by setting up the integro-differential equations of the machine on an electronic differential analyzer. It is shown that if the motor is switched on to the supply when the potential passes through its zero value, there is a pulsating fundamental frequency torque superimposed on the average steady-state unidirectional torque. If, on the other hand, the switch is closed when the applied potential passes through its maximum value, the developed electrical torque settles down to its final steady-state value during the first cycle of the supply voltage.

Suggested improvements in the performance calculations of single-phase induction motors

a complete and accurate analysis is provided for the solution of single-phase induction motor performance characteristics based on a paper by F.W. Suhr ["SYMMETRICAL COMPONENTS AS APPLIED TO THE SINGLE PHASE INDUCTION MOTOR," Electrical Engineering (AlEE Transactions), volume 64, September 1945, pages 651-66].

Subdiffusion in hair bundle dynamics: The role of protein conformational fluctuations

The detection of sound signals in vertebrates involves a complex network of different mechano-sensory elements in the inner ear. An especially important element in this network is the hair bundle, an antenna-like array of stereocilia containing gated ion channels that operate under the control of one or more adaptation motors. Deflections of the hair bundle by sound vibrations or thermal fluctuations transiently open the ion channels, allowing the flow of ions through them, and producing an electrical signal in the process, eventually causing the sensation of hearing. Recent high frequency (0.1-10 kHz) measurements by Kozlov et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 109, 2896 (2012)] of the power spectrum and the mean square displacement of the thermal fluctuations of the hair bundle suggest that in this regime the dynamics of the hair bundle are subdiffusive. This finding has been explained in terms of the simple Brownian motion of a filament connecting neighboring stereocilia (the tip link), which is modeled as a viscoelastic spring. In the present paper, the diffusive anomalies of the hair bundle are ascribed to tip link fluctuations that evolve by fractional Brownian motion, which originates in fractional Gaussian noise and is characterized by a power law memory. The predictions of this model for the power spectrum of the hair bundle and its mean square displacement are consistent with the experimental data and the known properties of the tip link. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4768902]

Medium Voltage Drive for Induction Motors Using Multilevel Octadecagonal Voltage Space Vectors

Multilevel inverters with hexagonal and dodecagonal voltage space vector structures have improved harmonic profile compared to two-level inverters. Further improvement in the quality of the waveform is possible using multilevel octadecagonal (18-sided polygon) voltage space vectors. This paper proposes an inverter circuit topology capable of generating multilevel octadecagonal voltage space vectors, by cascading two asymmetric three-level inverters. By the proper selection of dc-link voltages and the resultant switching states for the inverters, voltage space vectors, whose tips lie on three concentric octadecagons, are obtained. The advantages of octadecagonal voltage space vector-based pulsewidth modulation (PWM) techniques are the complete elimination of fifth, seventh, eleventh, and thirteenth harmonics in phase voltages and the extension of linear modulation range. In this paper, a simple PWM timing calculation method is also proposed. Experimental results have been presented in this paper to validate the proposed concept.

Position control of DC motors with experience mapping based prediction controller

The paper presents a new controller inspired by the human experience based, voluntary body action control (dubbed motor control) learning mechanism. The controller is called Experience Mapping based Prediction Controller (EMPC). EMPC is designed with auto-learning features without the need for the plant model. The core of the controller is formed around the motor action prediction-control mechanism of humans based on past experiential learning with the ability to adapt to environmental changes intelligently. EMPC is utilized for high precision position control of DC motors. The simulation results are presented to show that accurate position control is achieved using EMPC for step and dynamic demands. The performance of EMPC is compared with conventional PD controller and MRAC based position controller under different system conditions. Position Control using EMPC is practically implemented and the results are presented.

Biological application of multi-component nanowires in hybrid devices powered by F-1-ATPase motors

In this paper, construction of hybrid device by integrating nanowires with F1-ATPase motors is described. The nickel nanowires and multi-segment nanowires, including gold and nickel, were fabricated by electrochemical deposition in nanoporous templates. The nickel nanowires functionalized by biotinylated peptide can be assembled directly onto F1-ATPase motors to act as the propellers. If the multicomponent nanowires, including gold and nickel, were selectively functionalized by the thiol group modified ssDNA and the synthetic peptide, respectively, the biotinylated F1- ATPase motors can be attached to the biotinylated peptide on nickel segment of the nanowires. Then, the multi-component nanowires can also be used as the propellers, and one may observe the rotations of the multi-component nanowires driven by F1-ATPase motors. Therefore, introduction of multiple segments along the length of a nanowire can lead to a variety of multiple chemical functionalities, which can be selectively bound to cells and special biomolecules. This method provides an insight for the construction of other hybrid devices with its controlling arrangement of different biomolecule on designed nanometer scale structures.