Accelerating method of moments based package-board 3D parasitic extraction using FPGA

In this article, a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)-based hardware accelerator for 3D electromagnetic extraction, using Method of Moments (MoM) is presented. As the number of nets or ports in a system increases, leading to a corresponding increase in the number of right-hand-side (RHS) vectors, the computational cost for multiple matrix-vector products presents a time bottleneck in a linear-complexity fast solver framework. In this work, an FPGA-based hardware implementation is proposed toward a two-level parallelization scheme: (i) matrix level parallelization for single RHS and (ii) pipelining for multiple-RHS. The method is applied to accelerate electrostatic parasitic capacitance extraction of multiple nets in a Ball Grid Array (BGA) package. The acceleration is shown to be linearly scalable with FPGA resources and speed-ups over 10x against equivalent software implementation on a 2.4GHz Intel Core i5 processor is achieved using a Virtex-6 XC6VLX240T FPGA on Xilinx's ML605 board with the implemented design operating at 200MHz clock frequency. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 58:776-783, 2016

Cold gas in cluster cores: global stability analysis and non-linear simulations of thermal instability

We perform global linear stability analysis and idealized numerical simulations in global thermal balance to understand the condensation of cold gas from hot/virial atmospheres (coronae), in particular the intracluster medium (ICM). We pay particular attention to geometry (e.g. spherical versus plane-parallel) and the nature of the gravitational potential. Global linear analysis gives a similar value for the fastest growing thermal instability modes in spherical and Cartesian geometries. Simulations and observations suggest that cooling in haloes critically depends on the ratio of the cooling time to the free-fall time (t(cool)/t(ff)). Extended cold gas condenses out of the ICM only if this ratio is smaller than a threshold value close to 10. Previous works highlighted the difference between the nature of cold gas condensation in spherical and plane-parallel atmospheres; namely, cold gas condensation appeared easier in spherical atmospheres. This apparent difference due to geometry arises because the previous plane-parallel simulations focused on in situ condensation of multiphase gas but spherical simulations studied condensation anywhere in the box. Unlike previous claims, our non-linear simulations show that there are only minor differences in cold gas condensation, either in situ or anywhere, for different geometries. The amount of cold gas depends on the shape of tcool/tff; gas has more time to condense if gravitational acceleration decreases towards the centre. In our idealized plane-parallel simulations with heating balancing cooling in each layer, there can be significant mass/energy/momentum transfer across layers that can trigger condensation and drive tcool/tff far beyond the critical value close to 10.

用于激波控制反应器的原料气加速特性研究

为观察超声速混合过程，设计制造了专用的实验装置．实验结果表明：混合过程的总压损失随两种超声速流的密度比、静温比增大而增加．若密度比、静温比相同或相近时，速度差对总压损失的影响可忽略．但速度差随密度比、静温比增大而增大时总压损失亦随之增大．

Governing Equations and Numerical Solutions of Tension Leg Platform with Finite Amplitude Motion

It is demonstrated that when tension leg platform (TLP) moves with finite amplitude in waves, the inertia force, the drag force and the buoyancy acting on the platform are nonlinear functions of the response of TLP. The tensions of the tethers are also nonlinear functions of the displacement of TLP. Then the displacement, the velocity and the acceleration of TLP should be taken into account when loads are calculated. In addition, equations of motions should be set up on the instantaneous position. A theoretical model for analyzing the nonlinear behavior of a TLP with finite displacement is developed, in which multifold nonlinearities are taken into account, i.e., finite displacement, coupling of the six degrees of freedom, instantaneous position, instantaneous wet surface, free surface effects and viscous drag force. Based on the theoretical model, the comprehensive nonlinear differential equations are deduced. Then the nonlinear dynamic analysis of ISSC TLP in regular waves is performed in the time domain. The degenerative linear solution of the proposed nonlinear model is verified with existing published one. Furthermore, numerical results are presented, which illustrate that nonlinearities exert a significant influence on the dynamic responses of the TLP.

The W-11-4A platform comprehensive strength monitoring system

A comprehensive strength monitoring system used on a fixed jacket platform is presented in this paper. The long-term monitoring of W-11-4A platform achieved. Structural responses (strain and acceleration) at selected locations, as well as associated environmental parameters, have been obtained. The emphasis of the paper is placed on the system design, and the instrumentation and operation methodology employed in the monitoring of the structural responses. The performance of the system and the characteristic results obtained during its 13-month operation are also summarized.

Influence of Obstacle-Produced Turbulence on Development of Premixed Flames

An investigation into influence of obstructions on premixed flame propagation has been carried out in a semi-open tube. It is found that there exists flame acceleration and rising overpressure along the path of flame due to obstacles. According to the magnitude of flame speeds, the propagation of flame in the tube can be classified into three regimes: the quenching, the choking and the detonation regimes. In premixed flames near the flammability limits, the flame is observed first to accelerate and then to quench itself after propagating past a certain number of obstacles. In the choking regime, the maximum flame speeds are somewhat below the combustion product sound speeds, and insensitive to the blockage ratio. In the more sensitive mixtures, the transition to detonation (DDT) occurs when the equivalence ratio increases. The transition is not observed for the less sensitive mixtures. The dependence of overpressure on blockage ratio is not monotonous. Furthermore, a numerical study of flame acceleration and overpressure with the unsteady compressible flow model is performed, and the agreement between the simulation and measurements is good.

Computer generated hologram from point cloud using graphics processor

Computer generated holography is an extremely demanding and complex task when it comes to providing realistic reconstructions with full parallax, occlusion, and shadowing. We present an algorithm designed for data-parallel computing on modern graphics processing units to alleviate the computational burden. We apply Gaussian interpolation to create a continuous surface representation from discrete input object points. The algorithm maintains a potential occluder list for each individual hologram plane sample to keep the number of visibility tests to a minimum.We experimented with two approximations that simplify and accelerate occlusion computation. It is observed that letting several neighboring hologramplane samples share visibility information on object points leads to significantly faster computation without causing noticeable artifacts in the reconstructed images. Computing a reduced sample set via nonuniform sampling is also found to be an effective acceleration technique. © 2009 Optical Society of America.

Numerical Simulation and Experimental Investigation about Internal and External Flows

In this paper, TASCflow3D is used to solve inner and outer 3D viscous incompressible turbulent flow (R-e = 5.6 X 10(6)) around axisymmetric body with duct. The governing equation is a RANS equation with standard k-epsilon turbulence model. The discrete method used is a finite volume method based on the finite element approach. In this method, the description of geometry is very flexible and at the same time important conservative properties are retained. The multi-block and algebraic multi-grid techniques are used for the convergence acceleration. Agreement between experimental results and calculation is good. It indicates that this novel approach can be used to simulate complex flow such as the interaction between rotor and stator or propulsion systems containing tip clearance and cavitation.

Microgravity Smoldering Combustion Of Flexible Polyurethane Foam With Central Ignition

Smoldering constitutes a significant fire risk both in normal gravity and in microgravity. This space experiment has been conducted aboard the China Recoverable Satellite SJ-8 to investigate smoldering characteristics of flexible polyurethane foam with central ignition in a forced flow of oxidizer. This configuration resulted in a combination of opposed and forward flow smolder. The microgravity experiment is rather unique in that it was performed at constant pressure, and with a relatively high ambient oxygen concentration (35% by volume). The smoldering characteristics are inferred from measurements of temperature histories at several locations along the foam sample. Particularly important is the discovery that there is a transition from smoldering to flaming near the sample end in the opposed smoldering. This transition seems to be caused by strong acceleration of the smoldering reaction. The observed transition serves to initiate a vigorous forward-propagating oxidation reaction in the char left behind by the smoldering reaction. The secondary char oxidation reaction propagates through the sample and consumes most of the remaining char. In forward flow smoldering, the oxidizer depletion by the upstream opposed smolder prevents an exothermic oxidation reaction from being established in the foam until this preceding reaction is completed. Once fresh oxidizer flows in the sample, the existing conditions are sufficient for a self-sustained forward smoldering reaction to take place.

Validity ranges of interfacial wave theories in a two-layer fluid system

In the present paper, we endeavor to accomplish a diagram, which demarcates the validity ranges for interfacial wave theories in a two-layer system, to meet the needs of design in ocean engineering. On the basis of the available solutions of periodic and solitary waves, we propose a guideline as principle to identify the validity regions of the interfacial wave theories in terms of wave period T, wave height H, upper layer thickness d(1), and lower layer thickness d(2), instead of only one parameter-water depth d as in the water surface wave circumstance. The diagram proposed here happens to be Le Mehautes plot for free surface waves if water depth ratio r = d(1)/d(2) approaches to infinity and the upper layer water density rho(1) to zero. On the contrary, the diagram for water surface waves can be used for two-layer interfacial waves if gravity acceleration g in it is replaced by the reduced gravity defined in this study under the condition of sigma = (rho(2) - rho(1))/rho(2) -> 1.0 and r > 1.0. In the end, several figures of the validity ranges for various interfacial wave theories in the two-layer fluid are given and compared with the results for surface waves.

Effects of high-frequency vibration on critical marangoni number

The influence of vibration on thermocapillary convection and critical Marangoni number in liquid bridge of half floating zone was discussed for the low frequency range 0.4-1.5 Hz and the intermediate frequency range 2.5-15 Hz in our previous papers. This paper extends the study to high frequency range 15-100Hz. This ground based experiment was completed on the deck of an electromagnetic vibration machine. The results of our experiment shows when the frequency of the applied acceleration is high enough, the amplitude of the time varying part of the temperature response is disappear and the shape of the free surface of the liquid bridge exhibits no fluctuations due to inertia. The critical Marangoni number which is defined to describe the transitions from a peroidical convection in response to vibration to an oscillatory convection due to internal instability is nearly the same as the critical Marangoni number for oscillatory flow in the absence of vibration.

G-jitter effects on half floating-zone convection in intermediate-frequency range

The g-jitter influence on thermocapillary convection and critical Marangoni number in a liquid bridge of half-floating rone was discussed in the low frequency range of 0.4 to 1.5 Hz in a previous paper. This paper extended the experiments to the intermediate frequency range of 2 to 18 Hz, which htrs often been recorded as vibration environment of spacecrafts. The experiment was completed on the deck of a vibration machine, which gave a periodical applied acceleration to simulate the effects of g-jitter. The experimental results in the intermediate frequency range are different from that in the low frequency range. The velocity field and the shape of the free surface have periodical fluctuations in response to g-jitter. The amplitude of the periodical varying part of the temperature response decreases obviously with increasing frequency of g-jitter and vanishes almost when the frequency of g-jitter is high enough. The critical Marangoni number is defined to describe the transition from a periodical convection in response to g-jitter to an oscillatory convection due to internal instability, and will increase with increasing g-jitter frequency. According to the spectral analysis, it can be found that the oscillatory part of temperature is a superposition of two harmonic waves if the Marangoni number is larger than a critical value.

Effects of g-jitter on the critical marangoni number

A half floating zone is fixed on a vibrational deck, which supports a periodical applied acceleration to simulate the effect of g-jitter. This paper deals with the effects of g-jitter on the fluid fields and the critical Marangoni number, which describes the transition from a forced oscillation of thermocapillary convection into an instability oscillatory convection in a liquid bridge of half floating zone with top rod heated. The responses of g-jitter field on the temperature profiles and flow pattern in the liquid bridge were obtained experimentally. The results indicated that the critical Marangoni number decreases with the increasing of g-jitter effect and is slightly smaller for higher frequency of g-jitter with fixed strength of applied gravity.

Optimization of 2-stage gas gun for fusion refueling pellet injection with consideration of real effects

Analytic expression of pellet acceleration by constant base pressure with consideration of gas-wall friction, heat transfer and viscous dissipation that important for high speed injection is obtained. The process of compression stage is formulated by a set of governing equations and can be numerically integrated. Excellent confirmation with experiments is obtained and the ways to optimum match the compression stage with the launch stage are suggested.