Energy Conversion in Shape Memory Alloy Heat Engine Part I: Theory

Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) can be easily deformed to a new shape by applying a small external load at low temperature, and then recovers its original configuration upon heating. This unique shape memory phenomenon has inspired many novel designs. SMA based heat engine is one among them. SMA heat engine is an environment-friendly alternative to extract mechanical energy from low-grade energies, for instance, warm wastewater, geothermal energy, solar thermal energy, etc. The aim of this paper is to present an applicable theoretical model for simulation of SMA-based heat engines. First, a micro-mechanical constitutive model is derived for SMAs. The volume fractions of austenite and martensite variants are chosen as internal variables to describe the evolution of microstructure in SMA upon phase transition. Subsequently, the energy equation is derived based on the first thermodynamic law and the previous SMA model. From Fourier’s law of heat conduction and Newton’s law of cooling, both differential and integral forms of energy conversion equation are obtained.

First demonstration on the non-transparency of FWM and its application of 40 Gbit/s all-optical CSRZ-to-RZ format conversion

We report first experimental demonstration on the non-transparent characteristic of FWM using NRZ-DPSK, RZ-DPSK, CSRZ-DPSK, and CSRZ signals. One potential non-transparency application of 40Gbit/s CSRZ-to-RZ format conversion is experimentally demonstrated. © 2008 IEEE.

Limiting States Of Internal Wave Rays

Existing models of baroclinic tides are based upon the "traditional approximation'', i. e., neglect of the horizontal component of the Earth's rotation, leading to a well- known conclusion that no freely propagating internal waves can exist beyond the critical latitude and the wave rays are symmetric to the vertical. However, recent studies have contended that the situation may change if both the vertical and horizontal components of the Earth's rotation are taken into account. With the full account of the Coriolis force, characteristics of the internal wavefield generated by tidal flow over uneven topography are investigated. It is found that "nontraditional effects'' profoundly change not only the dynamics of internal waves but also the rate at which the barotropic tidal energy is fed into the internal wavefield. Discarding the traditional approximation, internal waves are proved to be able to generate poleward of the critical latitude, rays of which are no longer symmetric and the limiting values of ray angles become greater or less than 90 degrees, depending on the local latitude and the direction of ray. More importantly, in contrast to the predictions of models based upon the traditional approximation, a substantial conversion occurs in the situations when stratification is so weak that the buoyancy frequency is below the tidal one.

Frequency of insecticide spray application for control of fall armyworm (Lepidóptera: Noctuidae) on sorghum

Existe desconocimiento del efecto de frecuencias de aplicación de los insecticidas sobre el comportamiento de las poblaciones del gu· sano cogollero ( Spodoptera frugipercta) y la repercusión de estas en los rendimientos del sorgo granifero (Sorghum bicolor l. Moench). El estudio se realizó en la Estación Experimental dos del Centro Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria y Forestal (CENTA), ubicado en San Andrés, departamento de La Libertad, El Salvador, durante los meses de septiembre del año 2001 y enero de 2002. El objetivo de la investigación fue determinar el efecto del numero de aplicaciones de clorpirifos sobre las poblaciones de larvas de gusano cogollero en el cultivo del sorgo. Para este ensayo se estableció un diseño de bloques al azar con cinco tratamientos y cuatro repeticiones. Se realizaron aplicaciones de Chlorpyrifos en el cultivo del sorgo, en dosis de 1.4 1 ha·1, en 285 1 de agua durante cuatro fechas (4 estados de desarrollo de la planta), específicamente a los 15, 25, 35 y 45 días después de la siembra. Las parcelas contratamientos recibieron 1 , 2, 3 y 4 aplicaciones de insecticidas y fueron comparadas con una parcela sin aplicación. Cada tratamiento insecticida inicialmente tuvo reducciones significativas en las poblaciones de cogollero, comparados con la parcela sin aplicación. Tratamientos con cada aplicación adicional tuvo reducciones significativas en las poblaciones de larvas vivas, comparados con tratamientos que tuvieron menor numero de aplicaciones. El cogollero, tuvo reinfestaciones, en las parcelas que recibieron ya sea una, dos o tres aplicaciones de insecticidas, durante el periodo de observación después de cada uno de los tres tratamientos. Estos resultados muestran las reinfecciones de las poblaciones de cogollero después de las aplicaciones de insecticidas, y la carencia de efecto residual de los mismos. A pesar de que no se determinaron diferencias significativas en el rendimiento de grano, las diferencias numéricas oscilaron desde 555 a 1 674 kg ha·1 mas allá del rendimiento observado en el tratamiento sin aplicación, lo cual sugiere que el manejo efectivo del daño ocasionado por el cogollero en el cultivo de sorgo, puede resultar en mejora de los rendimientos.

Wave propagation and the frequency domain Green's functions in viscoelastic Biot/squirt (BISQ) media

In this paper, we examine the characteristics of elastic wave propagation in viscoelastic porous media, which contain simultaneously both the Biot-flow and the squirt-flow mechanisms (BISQ). The frequency-domain Green's functions for viscoelastic BISQ media are then derived based on the classic potential function methods. Our numerical results show that S-waves are only affected by viscoelasticity, but not by squirt-flows. However, the phase velocity and attenuation of fast P-waves are seriously influenced by both viscoelasticity and squirt-flows; and there exist two peaks in the attenuation-frequency variations of fast P-waves. In the low-frequency range, the squirt-flow characteristic length, not viscoelasticity, affects the phase velocity of slow P-waves, whereas it is opposite in the high-frequency range. As to the contribution of potential functions of two types of compressional waves to the Green's function, the squirt-flow length has a small effect, and the effects of viscoelastic parameter are mainly in the higher frequency range. Crown Copyright (C) 2006 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.