Achieving low cost and high quality aero structure assembly through integrated digital metrology systems

Measurement assisted assembly (MAA) has the potential to facilitate a step change in assembly efficiency for large structures such as airframes through the reduction of rework, manually intensive processes and expensive monolithic assembly tooling. It is shown how MAA can enable rapid part-to-part assembly, increased use of flexible automation, traceable quality assurance and control, reduced structure weight and improved aerodynamic tolerances. These advances will require the development of automated networks of measurement instruments; model based thermal compensation, the automatic integration of 'live' measurement data into variation simulation and algorithms to generate cutting paths for predictive shimming and drilling processes. This paper sets out an architecture for digital systems which will enable this integrated approach to variation management. © 2013 The Authors.

Generation of harmonic oscillations in ring resonator with high Q-factor

We report on generation of harmonic oscillations with frequencies of hundreds of MHz and radio-frequency linewidth of 13 Hz in unidirectional ring laser oscillator. This high stability makes these oscillators a suitable substitute for existing quartz resonators used in high frequency optoelectronics applications.

Report on the High Quality Jobs Program (HQJP) and the Grow Iowa Values Fund (GIVF), administered by the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), previously known as the Department of Economic Development, for the period July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2014

Report on the High Quality Jobs Program (HQJP) and the Grow Iowa Values Fund (GIVF), administered by the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), previously known as the Department of Economic Development, for the period July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2014

Seed layer technique for high quality epitaxial manganite films

We introduce an innovative approach to the simultaneous control of growth mode and magnetotransport properties of manganite thin films, based on an easy-to-implement film/substrate interface engineering. The deposition of a manganite seed layer and the optimization of the substrate temperature allows a persistent bi-dimensional epitaxy and robust ferromagnetic properties at the same time. Structural measurements confirm that in such interface-engineered films, the optimal properties are related to improved epitaxy. A new growth scenario is envisaged, compatible with a shift from heteroepitaxy towards pseudo-homoepitaxy. Relevant growth parameters such as formation energy, roughening temperature, strain profile and chemical states are derived.

Comparison of High Q microresonators operating on a thin plate mode : the Lamé-mode

International audience

High Quality Acoustic Time History Measurements of Rotor Harmonic Noise in Confined Spaces

A methodology has been developed and presented to enable the use of small to medium scale acoustic hover facilities for the quantitative measurement of rotor impulsive noise. The methodology was applied to the University of Maryland Acoustic Chamber resulting in accurate measurements of High Speed Impulsive (HSI) noise for rotors running at tip Mach numbers between 0.65 and 0.85 – with accuracy increasing as the tip Mach number was increased. Several factors contributed to the success of this methodology including: • High Speed Impulsive (HSI) noise is characterized by very distinct pulses radiated from the rotor. The pulses radiate high frequency energy – but the energy is contained in short duration time pulses. • The first reflections from these pulses can be tracked (using ray theory) and, through adjustment of the microphone position and suitably applied acoustic treatment at the reflected surface, reduced to small levels. A computer code was developed that automates this process. The code also tracks first bounce reflection timing, making it possible to position the first bounce reflections outside of a measurement window. • Using a rotor with a small number of blades (preferably one) reduces the number of interfering first bounce reflections and generally improves the measured signal fidelity. The methodology will help the gathering of quantitative hovering rotor noise data in less than optimal acoustic facilities and thus enable basic rotorcraft research and rotor blade acoustic design.

High-quality draft genome sequence of Bifidobacterium longum E18, isolated from a healthy adult

Bifidobacteria are important gastrointestinal commensals of a number of animals, including humans, and various beneficial effects on host health have been attributed to them. Here, we announce the noncontiguous finished genome sequence of Bifidobacterium longum E18, isolated from a healthy adult, which reveals traits involved in its interaction with the host.

Nitrogen use efficiency and optimization of nitrogen fertilizer application for stable yields and high quality of cereals grown in conservation agriculture

In most agroecosystems, nitrogen (N) is the most important nutrient limiting plant growth. One management strategy that affects N cycling and N use efficiency (NUE) is conservation agriculture (CA), an agricultural system based on a combination of minimum tillage, crop residue retention and crop rotation. Available results on the optimization of NUE in CA are inconsistent and studies that cover all three components of CA are scarce. Presently, CA is promoted in the Yaqui Valley in Northern Mexico, the country´s major wheat-producing area in which from 1968 to 1995, fertilizer application rates for the cultivation of irrigated durum wheat (Triticum durum L.) at 6 t ha-1 increased from 80 to 250 kg ha-1, demonstrating the high intensification potential in this region. Given major knowledge gaps on N availability in CA this thesis summarizes the current knowledge of N management in CA and provides insights in the effects of tillage practice, residue management and crop rotation on wheat grain quality and N cycling. Major aims of the study were to identify N fertilizer application strategies that improve N use efficiency and reduce N immobilization in CA with the ultimate goal to stabilize cereal yields, maintain grain quality, minimize N losses into the environment and reduce farmers’ input costs. Soil physical and chemical properties in CA were measured and compared with those in conventional systems and permanent beds with residue burning focusing on their relationship to plant N uptake and N cycling in the soil and how they are affected by tillage and N fertilizer timing, method and doses. For N fertilizer management, we analyzed how placement, time and amount of N fertilizer influenced yield and quality parameters of durum and bread wheat in CA systems. Overall, grain quality parameters, in particular grain protein concentration decreased with zero-tillage and increasing amount of residues left on the field compared with conventional systems. The second part of the dissertation provides an overview of applied methodologies to measure NUE and its components. We evaluated the methodology of ion exchange resin cartridges under irrigated, intensive agricultural cropping systems on Vertisols to measure nitrate leaching losses which through drainage channels ultimately end up in the Sea of Cortez where they lead to algae blooming. A throughout analysis of N inputs and outputs was conducted to calculate N balances in three different tillage-straw systems. As fertilizer inputs are high, N balances were positive in all treatments indicating the risk of N leaching or volatilization during or in subsequent cropping seasons and during heavy rain fall in summer. Contrary to common belief, we did not find negative effects of residue burning on soil nutrient status, yield or N uptake. A labeled fertilizer experiment with urea 15N was implemented in micro-plots to measure N fertilizer recovery and the effects of residual fertilizer N in the soil from summer maize on the following winter crop wheat. Obtained N fertilizer recovery rates for maize grain were with an average of 11% very low for all treatments.

The development of the viticulture for a high quality tropical wine production in the world.

2011

Study of high-quality ALD gate dielectrics in radiation sensitive oxide field effect transistors

Radiation dosimetry is crucial in many fields, where the exposure of ionizing radiation must be precisely controlled to avoid health and environmental safety issues. Radiotherapy and radioprotection are two examples in which fast and reliable detectors are needed. Compact and large area wearable detectors are being developed to address real-life radiation dosimetry applications, their ideal properties include flexibility, lightness, and low-cost. This thesis contributed to the development of Radiation sensitive OXide Field Effect Transistors (ROXFETs), which are detectors able to provide fast and real-time radiation read out. ROXFETs are based on thin film transistors fabricated with high-mobility amorphous oxide semiconductor, making them compatible with large area, flexible, and low cost production over plastic substrates. The gate dielectric material has high dielectric constant and high atomic number, which results in high performances and high radiation sensitivity, respectively. The aim of this work was to establish a stable and reliable fabrication process for ROXFETs made with atomic layer deposited gate dielectric. A study on the effect of gate dielectric materials was performed, focusing the attention on the properties of the dielectric-semiconductor interface. Single and multi layer dielectric structures were compared during this work. Furthermore, the effect of annealing temperature was studied. The device performances were tested to understand the underlying physical processes. In this way, it was possible to determine a reliable fabrication procedure and an optimal structure for ROXFETs. An outstanding sensitivity of (65±3)V/Gy was measured in detectors with a bi-layer Ta₂O₅-Al₂O₃ gate dielectric with low temperature annealing performed at 180°C.

Microwave Dielectric Properties of RETiTaO6 (RE = La, Ce,Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Y, Er, Yb, Al, and In) Ceramics

Microwave dielectric ceramics based on RETiTaO6 (RE = La, Cc, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Y, Er, Yb, Al, and In) were prepared using a conventional solid-state ceramic route. The structure and microstructure of the samples were analyzed using x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy techniques. The sintered samples were characterized in the microwave frequency region. The ceramics based on Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, and Dy, which crystallize in orthorhombic aeschynite structure, had a relatively high dielectric constant and positive T f while those based on Ho, Er, and Yb, with orthorhombic euxenite structure, had a low dielectric constant and negative Tf. The RETiTaO6 ceramics had a high-quality factor. The dielectric constant and unit cell volume of the ceramics increased with an increase in ionic radius of the rare-earth ions, but density decreased with it. The value of Tf increased with an increase in RE ionic radii, and a change in the sign of Tf occurred when the ionic radius was between 0.90 and 0.92 A. The results indicated that the boundary of the aeschynite to euxenite morphotropic phase change lay between DyTiTaO6 and HoTiTaO6. Low-loss ceramics like ErTiTaO6 (Er = 20.6, Qxf = 85,500), EuTiTaO6 (Er = 41.3, Qxf = 59,500), and YTiTaO6 (Er = 22.1, Q„xf = 51,400) are potential candidates for dielectric resonator applications

Preparation, Characterization and Microwave Dielectric Properties of Ba (B1/2Nb1/2)03 [B' = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Y, Yb and In] Ceramics

Microwave dielectric resonators (DRs) based on Ba(B1,2Nbi/2)03 [B' = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Y, Yb, and In] complex perovskites have been prepared by conventional solid state ceramic route. The dielectric properties (relative permittivity, Er; quality factor, Q; and resonant frequency, rr) of the ceramics have been measured in the frequency range 4-6 GHz using resonance methods. The resonators have relatively high dielectric constant in the range 36-45, high quality factor and small temperature variation of resonant frequency. The dielectric properties are found to depend on the tolerance factor (t), ionic radius (r), and lattice parameter (ap)

Superfícies eletromagnéticas de microondas com controle do regime de trapped-mode

Neste trabalho foram investigadas (FSSs) com ressonância de alto fator de qualidade (fator Q) e independência da polarização para uma onda plana com incidência normal. Estas FSSs são baseadas em um arranjo planar de metalizações sobre um substrato. Um alto fator Q é obtido por meio da excitação do trapped-mode e a independência da polarização, por meio da alta simetria rotacional dos elementos que compõe o arranjo. Para o projeto de FSSs com controle do regime de trapped-mode, foram utilizados substratos feitos de materiais com possibilidade de controle de suas propriedades elétricas ou magnéticas (ferrite magnetizada ou silício ativado oticamente). O arranjo de dois anéis concêntricos em um substrato dielétrico analisado neste trabalho apresenta uma ressonância de trapped-mode com fator Q em torno de 12 e transmitância máxima de 70 %. Com a utilização de um substrato de ferrite magnetizada nesse arranjo, é mostrado que é possível deslocar a frequência de ressonância do trappedmode em torno de 20 %, sem degradação significativa da ressonância de transmisão. Com o emprego de um substrato de silício ativado opticamente, é demonstrado que é possível realizar um chaveamento praticamente completo da banda de transmissão desse arranjo. Para realização das simulações computacionais foram utilizados o método dos momentos no domínio espectral (SDMM) e os programas comerciais Ansoft Designer 5 Planar EM e CST 2009.

Electromechanical resonators as measuring transducers

With the increasing use of digital computers for data acquisition and digital process control, frequency domain transducers have become very attractive due to their virtual digital output. Essentially they are electrically maintained oscillators where the sensor is the controlling resonator.They are designed to make the frequency a function of the physical parameter being measured. Because of their high quality factor, mechanical resonators give very good frequency stability and are widely used as sensors. For this work symmetrical mechanical resonators such as the tuning fork were considered, to be the most promising. These are dynamically clamped and can be designed to have extensive regions where no vibrations occur.This enables the resonators to be robustly mounted in a way convenient for various applications. Designs for the measurement of fluid density and tension have been produced. The principle of the design of the resonator for fluid density measurement is a thin gap (trapping a lamina of fluid) between its two members which vibrate in antiphase.An analysis of the inter­ action between this resonator and the fluid lamina has carried out.In gases narrow gaps are needed for a good sensitivity and the use of the material fused quartz, because of its low density and very low temperature coefficient, is ideally suitable. In liquids an adequate sensitivity is achieved even with a wide lamina gap. Practical designs of such transducers have been evolved. The accuracy for liquid measurements is better than 1%. For gases it was found that, in air, a change of atmospheric pressure of 0.3% could be detected. In constructing a tension transducer using such a mechanical sensor as a wire or a beam, major difficulties are encountered in making an efficient clamping arrangement for the sensor. The use of dynamically clamped beams has been found to overcome the problem and this is the basis of the transducer investigated.