Extending lagrange interpolation to develop a 4-node quadrilateral element

Today finite element method is a well established tool in engineering analysis and design. Though there axe many two and three dimensional finite elements available, it is rare that a single element performs satisfactorily in majority of practical problems. The present work deals with the development of 4-node quadrilateral element using extended Lagrange interpolation functions. The classical univariate Lagrange interpolation is well developed for 1-D and is used for obtaining shape functions. We propose a new approach to extend the Lagrange interpolation to several variables. When variables axe more than one the method also gives the set of feasible bubble functions. We use the two to generate shape function for the 4-node arbitrary quadrilateral. It will require the incorporation of the condition of rigid body motion, constant strain and Navier equation by imposing necessary constraints. The procedure obviates the need for isoparametric transformation since interpolation functions are generated for arbitrary quadrilateral shapes. While generating the element stiffness matrix, integration can be carried out to the accuracy desired by dividing the quadrilateral into triangles. To validate the performance of the element which we call EXLQUAD4, we conduct several pathological tests available in the literature. EXLQUAD4 predicts both stresses and displacements accurately at every point in the element in all the constant stress fields. In tests involving higher order stress fields the element is assured to converge in the limit of discretisation. A method thus becomes available to generate shape functions directly for arbitrary quadrilateral. The method is applicable also for hexahedra. The approach should find use for development of finite elements for use with other field equations also.

Studies on Stone Age Housepits in Fennoscandia (4000 - 2000 cal BC) : Changes in ground plan, site location and degree of sedentism

Housepits have a remarkably short research history as compared to Fennoscandian archaeological research on the Stone Age in general. The current understanding of the numbers and the distribution of Stone Age housepits in the Nordic countries has, for the most part, been shaped by archaeological studies carried out over the last twenty to thirty years. The main subjects of this research are Neolithic housepits, which are archaeological remains of semi-subterranean pithouses. This dissertation consists of five peer-reviewed articles and a synthesis paper. The articles deal with the development of housepits as seen in the data gathered from Finland (the Lake Saimaa area and south-eastern Finland) and Russia (the Karelian Isthmus). This synthesis expands the discussion of the changes observed in the Papers to include Fennoscandian housepit research as a whole. Certain changes in the size, shape, environmental location, and clustering of housepits extended into various cultures and ecological zones in northern Fennoscandia. Previously, the evolution of housepits has been interpreted to have been caused by the adaptation of Neolithic societies to prevailing environmental circumstances or to re-organization following contacts with the agrarian Corded Ware/Battle Axe Cultures spreading to North. This dissertation argues for two waves of change in the pithouse building tradition. Both waves brought with them certain changes in the pithouses themselves and in the practices of locating the dwellings in the environment/landscape. The changes in housepits do not go hand in hand with other changes in material culture, nor are the changes restricted to certain ecological environments. Based on current information, it appears that the changes relate primarily to the spread of new concepts of housing and possibly to new technology, as opposed to representing merely a local response to environmental factors. This development commenced already before the birth of the Corded Ware/Battle Axe Cultures. Therefore, the changes are argued to have resulted from the spreading of new ideas through the same networks that actively distributed commodities, exotic goods, and raw materials over vast areas between the southern Baltic Sea, the north-west Russian forest zone, and Fennoscandia.

Finite element simulation of BAW propagation in inhomogeneous plate due to piezoelectric actuation

A set of finite elements (FEs) is formulated to analyze wave propagation through inhomogeneous material when subjected to mechanical, thermal loading or piezo-electric actuation. Elastic, thermal and electrical properties of the materials axe allowed to vary in length and thickness direction. The elements can act both as sensors and actuators. These elements are used to model wave propagation in functionally graded materials (FGM) and the effect of inhomogeneity in the wave is demonstrated. Further, a surface acoustic wave (SAW) device is modeled and wave propagation due to piezo-electric actuation from interdigital transducers (IDTs) is studied.

On breaks of the Indian monsoon

For over a century, the term break has been used for spells in which the rainfall over the Indian monsoon zone is interrupted. The phenomenon of 'break monsoon' is of great interest because long intense breaks are often associated with poor monsoon seasons. Such breaks have distinct circulation characteristics (heat trough type circulation) and have a large impact on rainfed agriculture. Although interruption of the monsoon rainfall is considered to be the most important feature of the break monsoon, traditionally breaks have been identified on the basis of the surface pressure and wind patterns over the Indian region. We have defined breaks (and active spells) on the basis of rainfall over the monsoon zone. The rainfall criteria are chosen so as to ensure a large overlap with the traditional breaks documented by Ramamurthy (1969) and De et al (1998). We have identified these rainbreaks for 1901-89. We have also identified active spells on the basis of rainfall over the Indian monsoon zone. We have shown that the all-India summer monsoon rainfall is significantly negatively correlated with the number of rainbreak days (correlation coefficient -0.56) and significantly positively correlated with the number of active days (correlation coefficient 0.47). Thus the interannual variation of the all-India summer monsoon rainfall is shown to be related to the number of days of rainbreaks and active spells identified here. There have been several studies of breaks (and also active spells in several cases) identified on the basis of different criteria over regions differing in spatial scales (e.g., Webster et al 1998; Krishnan et al 2000; Goswami and Mohan 2000; and Annamalai and Slingo 2001). We find that there is considerable overlap between the rainbreaks we have identified and breaks based on the traditional definition. There is some overlap with the breaks identified by Krishnan et al (2000) but little overlap with breaks identified by Webster et al (1998). Further, there are three or four active-break cycles in a season according to Webster et al (1998) which implies a time scale of about 40 days for which Goswami and Mohan (2000), and Annamalai and Slingo'(2001) have studied breaks and active minus break fluctuations. On the other hand, neither the traditional breaks (Ramamurthy 1969; and De et al 1998) nor the rainbreaks occur every year. This suggests that the 'breaks' in these studies axe weak spells of the intraseasonal variation of the monsoon, which occur every year. We have derived the OLR and circulation patterns associated with rainbreaks and active spells and compared them with the patterns associated with breaks/active minus break spells from these studies. Inspite of differences in the patterns over the Indian region, there is one feature which is seen in the OLR anomaly patterns of breaks identified on the basis of different criteria as well as the rainbreaks identified in this paper viz., a quadrapole over the Asia-west Pacific region arising from anomalies opposite (same) in sign to those over the Indian region occurring over the equatorial Indian Ocean and northern tropical (equatorial) parts of the west Pacific. Thus it appears that this quadrapole is a basic feature of weak spells of the intraseasonal,variation over the Asia-west Pacific region. Since the rainbreaks are intense weak spells, this basic feature is also seen in the composite patterns of these breaks. We find that rainbreaks (active spells) are also associated with negative (positive) anomalies over a part of the cast Pacific suggesting that the convection over the Indian region is linked to that over the east Pacific not only on the interannual scale (as evinced by the link between the Indian summer monsoon rainfall and ENSO) but on the intraseasonal scale as well.

Turbulent flow computations using upwind RANS technique for a flat plate and an airfoil

Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) equations are solved using third order upwind biased Roe's scheme for the inviscid fluxes and second order central difference scheme for the viscous fluxes. The Baldwin & Lomax turbulence model is employed for Reynolds stresses. The governing equations are solved using finite-volume implicit scheme in body fitted curvilinear coordinate O-grid system. Computations axe reported for a flat plate apart from RAE 2822 and NACA 0012 airfoils. Results for the flat plate at M = 0.3, R-c = 4.0 x 10(6) compare favourably with the analytical solution. Results for the two airfoils are compared with experiment. There is a good agreement in C-p distribution between experiment and computation for both the airfoils. Comparison of C-f distribution with experiment for RAE 2822 airfoil is reasonable.

Damage of a high-energy solid propellant and its effects on combustion

In order to improve the safety of high-energy solid propellants, a study is carried out for the effects of damage on the combustion of the NEPE (Nitrate Ester Plasticized Polyether) propellant. The study includes: (1) to introduce damage into the propellants by means of a large-scale drop-weight apparatus; (2) to observe microstructural variations of the propellant with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and then to characterize the damage with density measurements; (3) to investigate thermal decomposition; (4) to carry out closed-bomb tests. The NEPE propellant can be considered as a viscoelastic material. The matrices of damaged samples axe severely degraded, but the particles are not. The results of the thermal decomposition and closed-bomb tests show that the microstructural damage in the propellant affects its decomposition and burn rate.

Fazendo planos para a educação: políticas do dizer e processos de subjetivação.

Nesta tese, considerando as críticas e as queixas ao distanciamento entre as políticas públicas, a formação docente e a prática profissional, problematizamos a produção / circulação de expectativas sobre o trabalho do professor. Investimos numa dupla perspectiva teórica: a da psicologia social e a da linguística. A partir de uma compreensão da subjetividade como produção, recorremos a noções como as de governamentalização neoliberal (FOUCAULT, 2008a; FOUCAULT, 2008b) para encaminhar uma análise das formas de controle (DELEUZE, 2006a) e o desafio de constituir a experiência (BENJAMIN, 1996) como um plano (DELEUZE; GUATTARI, 2005). Do ponto de vista dos estudos da linguagem, priorizam-se os debates em torno interdiscurso (BAKHTIN, 2004; MAINGUENEAU, 2005), conceito que é responsável por descartar aportes baseados estritamente no conteudismo e ressignifica os planos da enunciação e da pragmática. Em nossas análises, colocamos em confronto textos de prescrição à atividade docente e discussão de professores e estagiários apontando o que ganha consistência ou não em seu cotidiano profissional. As análises desdobram-se em três momentos. No primeiro deles, discutimos o Decreto do PDE como gênero do discurso (BAKHTIN, 2000), analisando as tarefas atribuídas ao professor nas metas e as estratégias de poder instauradas pelo IDEB. No segundo momento, observamos as dicas ao professor divulgadas no portal eletrônico Todos pela Educação, considerando como marca linguística os pressupostos (DUCROT, 1987; MAINGUENEAU, 2005). A análise dos pressupostos nos conduziu a ocorrências de enunciados em afirmação polêmica. No terceiro momento, constituímos uma discussão em grupo com professores e com estagiários, colocando em análise temas como trabalho, formação, práticas de si e relação com a pesquisa. Os resultados das análises apontam para uma desqualificação da análise coletiva das demandas do cotidiano, gerando a redução do trabalho do professor como execução de tarefas e transmissão de saberes. As políticas públicas agem por mecanismos de competição e recompensa, colocando a ênfase sobre a performance. Fortalece-se a figura de um professor empreendedor, como alguém que pretende apenas atingir as metas, sem discutir sua eficácia e seus efeitos. Ao lado disso, o vetor precarização indica lutas por melhores condições e reconhecimento de trabalho. Para além das metas propostas, o percurso com o conhecimento surge como possibilidade de experiência singular, compartilhada entre professores e alunos.

O lugar do analista na clínica psicanalítica com crianças autistas

Esta dissertação tem como fundamento causal o percurso de formação da autora e de seu trabalho na clínica com crianças autistas. Usa como fio condutor o caso clínico Rafael, o qual possibilitou a imersão da autora na reflexão sobre a clínica com crianças autistas, trazendo à luz a questão sobre o que é necessário saber para ocupar o lugar do analista. Defende a hipótese de que um dos principais fundamentos para a sustentação da clínica psicanalítica com crianças autistas é o que Lacan conceituou como o desejo do analista. Nesse sentido, apresenta uma discussão teórico-clínico sobre o desejo do analista, usando o exemplo do caso Rafael para mostrar que é possível a construção de uma demanda na clínica com crianças autistas a partir desse desejo, usando a linguagem musical como um recurso favorável para possibilitar o comparecimento do sujeito. Para tal, é necessário que o analista aposte que o autista, mesmo não estando no discurso, está no campo da linguagem e seus atos podem assumir um estatuto equivalente à fala. Nesse caminho, explora os conceitos de alienação e separação, propostos por Lacan como operações constitutivas do sujeito, para sustentar a idéia de que no autismo ocorre um tipo de alienação específica, a saber, sem a afânise. Por fim, apresenta exemplos de experiências de instituições que possuem a presença da psicanálise no campo da saúde, proporcionando destaque ao trabalho realizado no Centro de Atendimento Psicossocial Infanto Juvenil - CAPSi Pequeno Hans, cujo tratamento de crianças autistas e psicóticas ocorre pelo dispositivo psicanalítico ampliado.

The River Lyn SAP Consultation Document

This is the River Lyn Salmon Action Plan Consultation document produced by the Environment Agency in 2003. The report pays attention on the external consultation of the River Lyn Salmon Action Plan (SAP). This approach to salmon management within the England and Wales introduces the concept of river-specific Conservation Limits as a method of assessing the status of the salmon stock. The River Lyn Salmon Action Plan follows the format of those completed for the Rivers Exe, Axe, Avon & Erme, Teign, Torridge, Taw and Dart. It is the last of eight action plans that have been produced for salmon rivers within Devon Area. The River Lyn Salmon Action Plan contains a description of the river catchment and highlights particular features that are relevant to the salmon population and the associated fishery. The Lyn salmon stock is judged to be meeting its Conservation Limit. However, this assessment is uncertain as it is based on an estimate of rod exploitation rate, which in itself is also uncertain.

Estruturas fundamentais dos gêneros literários: narração e descrição, regularidade e irregularidade

Toda a reflexão sobre os gêneros literários desenvolvida ao longo da história do Ocidente acaba, de uma maneira ou outra, por afirmar uma dualidade de procedimentos compositivos, os quais estruturam os mais diversos gêneros literários historicamente constituídos: os procedimentos de narrar e descrever. Enquanto o primeiro incorpora o aspecto temporal da experiência humana, com ênfase na causalidade, hierarquia, universalidade e subordinação de partes a um todo, o segundo incorpora o aspecto espacial da experiência humana, com ênfase na aleatoriedade, liberdade, particularidade e permutação coordenativa de partes integrantes de um todo. Narração e descrição, com qualidades estilísticas bem particulares, veiculam visões de mundo antitéticas, porém complementares. Já que dizem respeito mais ao sentido último das obras, podem ser chamadas de princípios morfossemânticos de construção das obras literárias. Todavia, ocorre que esses princípios não abarcam todos os aspectos diferenciadores das obras. Do mesmo modo como se dá ao nível do sentido último do texto, a dualidade universal/particular se reproduz na própria materialidade da linguagem, instaurando a diferença entre estruturas de elocução regular e estruturas de elocução irregular. Esse, afinal, é o cerne da diferenciação canônica entre obra lírica e obra épica, a primeira mais irregular, a segunda mais regular. Trata-se, aí, dos princípios morfológicos de construção das obras literárias. As duas ordens de princípios convergem, de maneira que a narração está para a regularidade do mesmo modo como a descrição está para a irregularidade

Synthesis of composite AIN powder mixed with sintering additives by the Lanxide method

Composite AlN powder, mixed with the sintering additive Y2O3, was synthesized by the direct nitridation of molten Al-Mg-Y alloys. The character of products was determined by means of electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, granularmetric analysis and chemical composition analysis etc. The results show that the nitridation rate of the raw alloys is higher, and the nitridation products axe porous enough to be easily crushed. Composite AlN powder, obtained by the Lanxide method, has excellent characters such as high purity, especially low oxygen content, and narrow well-distributed grain size and so on.

Observation of the resonant Raman behavior of individual single-walled carbon nanotubes

The different resonant Raman scattering process of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) has been found between the Stokes and anti-Stokes sides of the radial breathing modes (RBMs), and this provides strong evidence that Raman spectra of some special diametric SWNTs are in resonance with their electronic transitions between the singularities in the one-dimensional electronic density of states in the valence and conduction bands, and other SWNTs axe beyond the resonant condition. Because of the coexistence of resonant and non-resonant Raman scattering processes for different diametric SWNTs, the relative intensity of each RBM does not reflect the proportion of a particular SWNT.

Quark distributions in nuclei and nuclear effects on nucleon structure functions

Extended quark distribution functions are presented obtained by fitting a large amount of experimental data of the l-A DIS process on the basis of an improved nuclear density model. The experimental data of l-A DIS processes with A >= 3 in the region 0.0010 <= x <= 0.9500 axe quite satisfactorily described by using the extended formulae. Our knowledge of the influence of nuclear matter on the quark distributions is deepened.

Vacuum window of intermediate energy heavy-ion microbeam irradiation facility

The beam must be extracted into the air through the vacuum window to irradiate the living cell. In the window design, the material and thickness must be chosen to compromise the beam spot size broadening and the window safety. The structure-static analysis on the window of different structures and materials is done with the finite element analysis method, and the deformation and the equivalent stress axe simulated. The safety of these candidates is investigated using the intensity theory. In addition, the small angle scattering and the transverse range of ions are simulated using SRIM code, including all the effects on the beam spot size broadening, such as the incident ion energy, the material and the thickness of the window and the air composing. At last, the appropriate vacuum windows are presented, including the structure, material and thickness.

Isospin effect of projectile fragment yields

Isospin asymmetry is very important in the nuclear equation of state (EOS), isotope yield from the projectile fragments can give information of the reaction process. In this paper projectile fragment yields are measured in the collision Ar-36,Ar-40 + Ni-64 at incident energy 50 MeV/u with different isospin asymmetry project Ar-36,Ar-40, data analysis, particle identification and event selection are described. Isotope yields are compared in these two reactions, and axe also compared with the empirical parametrization of fragmentation cross-section calculated by EPAX.