High temperature compression creep of aluminium nitride after immersion in molten stainless steel

The effect of immersion in molten steel on subsequent creep behaviour has been investigated in two AlN ceramics. Steady-state creep was not significantly affected but an enhanced initial creep rate was observed, especially when the surface layer had not been removed after immersion. In immersed samples, SEM revealed some open porosity and microcracks near the surface and particles containing steel constituents were found by TEM deep inside samples, in grain-boundary secondary phases. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Subspace model identification Part 2. Analysis of the elementary output-error state-space model identification algorithm

The elementary MOESP algorithm presented in the first part of this series of papers is analysed in this paper. This is done in three different ways. First, we study the asymptotic properties of the estimated state-space model when only considering zero-mean white noise perturbations on the output sequence. It is shown that, in this case, the MOESPl implementation yields asymptotically unbiased estimates. An important constraint to this result is that the underlying system must have a finite impulse response and subsequently the size of the Hankel matrices, constructed from the input and output data at the beginning of the computations, depends on the number of non-zero Markov parameters. This analysis, however, leads to a second implementation of the elementary MOESP scheme, namely MOESP2. The latter implementation has the same asymptotic properties without the finite impulse response constraint. Secondly, we compare the MOESP2 algorithm with a classical state space model identification scheme. The latter scheme, referred to as the CLASSIC algorithm, is based on the Ho and Kalman realization scheme and estimated Markov parameters. The comparison is done by a sensitivity study, where the effect is studied of the errors on the data on the calculated column space of the shift-invariant subspace. This study demonstrates that the elementary MOESP2 scheme is more robust with respect to the errors considered than the CLASSIC algorithm. In the third part, the model reduction capabilities of the elementary MOESP schemes are analysed when the observations are error-free. We demonstrate in which sense the reduced order model is optimal when acquired with the MOESP schemes. The optimality is expressed by the difference between the 2-norm of the errors on the state (or output) sequence of the reduced-order model and the 2-norm of the matrix containing the rejected singular values being as small as possible. The insights obtained in these three parts are evaluated in a simulation study, and validated in this paper. They lead to the assertion that the MOESP2 implementation allows identification of a compact, low-dimensional, state-space model accurately describing the input -output behaviour of the system to be identified, while making use of ‘perturbed’ input-output data. This can be done efficiently.     

Carbon Dioxide and Global Change: Earth in Transition. - S.B.IDSO

The authors have proposed a generalisation of the J-CHART method [1] for a polyvalent modular drying system obtained by multiple simulation of thermal performance of two standard configurations: without recycling the air leaving the dryer, with 50% recycling of the air leaving the dryer and mixing with the air leaving the collectors.

This method, named as “GJ-CHART” is based on the use of charts or polynomial correlations which allows to determine the fraction of monthly average heating load supplied by solar energy and the fraction of monthly average economized energy as function of the two dimensionless parameters. These parameters are related to the standard collector parameters, the data of monthly average radiation, temperature and the estimates of drying loads, which by consequence, allows for a more general use.

The GJ-CHART method was developed for drying 27 kg of apple slices placed in single layers on the trays of the modular dryer. The temperature and the drying air flow rate are 60^°C and 0.09 kg s^-1 respectively. The drying time of a drying operation depends on the configurations of the system used, varying between 12 to 13 hours. According to the assumptions we used and the ways in which the calculations are done, this design method can be generalized to provide a mean for quick estimation of the long-term performance of the partially solar heated polyvalent modular drying system.

Les auteurs proposent, à l'aide de multiples simulations, une généralisation méthode J-CHART [I] de dimensionnement d'un système de séchage modulaire polyvalent valable pour les deux configurations suivantes: sans recyclage de l'air sortant du sèchoir; avec recyclage partiel (50%) et mélange avec l'air sortant des insolateurs.

Cette méthode, baptisée “GJ-ABAQUE”, est basée sur I'utilisation d'abaques ou des relations polynomials qui sen déduisent: ceux-ci permettent de déterminer la couverture solaire mensuelle et la fraction de chaleur de séchage économisée mensuelle à partir de deux couples de paramètres adimensionnels qui les caractérisent respectivement. Ces derniers font intervenir notamment les paramètres standard des insolateurs, les conditions climatiques du site, la surface de captation et la chaleur totale de I'opération de séchage, ce qui permet, par conséquent, une utilisation assez générale.

Les travaux ont porté sur le séchage de 27 kg de rondelles de pommes déposées en couche unique sur des claies, dans un module de séchage, lorsque la temperature de I'air asséchant est de 60^°C et son débit de 0,09 kg s^-1. La durée d'une opération de séchage varie, suivant la configuration retenue, de 12 à 13 heures.     

On the bounds of the trajectories of differential systems†

The behaviour of differential systems is investigated by considering the stability and instability of such systems with respect to certain sub-sets of the state space These Sets may in general be time-varying, and their properties do not only yield information about the stability of a system but also estimates of the bounds of the system trajectories. In all cases the results which are established yield sufficient conditions for stability and instability, and in general involve the existence of Lyapunov-like functions which do not appear to possess the usual definiteness requirements on V and [Vdot].

The developed theory is applied to two special cases: in one case, only time-invariant sub-sets are considered: in the second case, the time interval [t₀, ∞) over which the systems me defined is truncated to [t ₀, t _a  + T), T < ∞, So the that case of stability over a finite time interval may be considered.     

不同电解质溶液及其离子浓度和pH值对改性微滤膜流动电势的影响(英文)

采用商品级α-Al2O3微滤膜.由均质共沉淀法制备了TiO2改性α-Al2O3微滤膜.研究了不同的电解质溶液、溶液的离子浓度和pH值对TiO2 改性的α-Al2O3微滤膜流动电势的影响规律.结果表明:对于NaCl溶液,膜流动电势随溶液离子浓度的增大向降低,其等电点在4.3左右:随着溶液的pH值由3增加到10.膜流动电势由值逐渐变为负值.而对于FeSO4,CaSO4,Na2SO4,NaCl和CaCl2溶液,当溶液的离子浓度固定时,膜流动 电势则随溶液的电导率的增加而降低.     

ABA during reproductive development in non-irrigated grapevines (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Tempranillo)

In grapevines, stomatal aperture decreases after a mid-morning peak during summer days. Afternoon stomatal closure increases in non-irrigated plants as water limitation progresses, which suggests the involvement of abscisic acid (ABA) in the control of stomatal aperture. The objective of this work was to study the seasonal and diurnal time-courses of CO₂ assimilation rate, leaf conductance, leaf water potential +, and ABA concentration in xylem sap, leaves, flowers and berries in non-irrigated field-grown Tempranillo grapevines throughout reproductive development. Leaf decreased throughout fruit development because water availability decreased towards the end of the reproductive cycle. CO₂ assimilation rate, leaf conductance and xylem ABA concentration also decreased during the course of the growing season. Combining all measurements xylem ABA was either not correlated, or only slightly correlated, with leaf water status + and daily leaf conductance, respectively. This lack of relationship indicates that xylem ABA during fruit ripening had functions other than provision of a non-hydraulic signal. On a seasonal basis, xylem ABA concentration measured in non-irrigated grapevines was well related to berry ABA concentration, especially at the end of fruit development (veraison and harvest).     

Emulsion Stability as Affected by Competitive Adsorption Between an Oil-Soluble Emulsifier and Milk Proteins at the Interface

The effect of an oil-soluble emulsifier upon adsorption properties of β-casein and β-lactoglobulin at the oil-water interface was studied. Addition of emulsifier improved the emulsification properties, but lowered emulsion stability. Higher concentrations decreased emulsification capacity, due to an increase in oil phase viscosity, and interfered with several protein assays, except the o-phthaldialdehyde (OPA) assay. Depletion measurements revealed that the emulsifier displaced β-casein more readily than β-lactoglobulin from the surface of droplets, which correlated with emulsification and stability measurements. Displacement of proteins was not complete due to emulsifier-induced formation of a multiple w-o-w emulsion, which accounted for the missing protein in the continuous phase.     

Mass-Spectrometric and Electrochemical Studies of Thermodynamic Properties of Liquid and Solid Phases in the System CaO-Al2O3

The activities of CaO and Al₂O₃ in lime-alumina melts were studied by Knudsen cell-mass spectrometry at 2060 K. Emf of solid state cells, with CaF₂ as the electrolyte, was measured from 923 to 1223 K to obtain the free energies of formation of the interoxide compounds. The results are critically evaluated in the light of data reported in the literature on phase equilibria, activities in melts, and stabilities of compounds. A coherent set of data is presented, including the previously unknown free energy of formation of CaO.6Al₂O₃ and the temperature dependence of activities in the liquid phase.     

RELATIONSHIPS OF SELECTED WHEAT PARAMETERS TO BURGHUL-MAKING QUALITY

Ten Triticum aestivum and eleven Triticum turgidum var. durum varieties were screened for their one thousand kernel weight (1000 KW), particle size index (PSI), sodium-dodecyl-sulfate (SDS) sedimentation volume, flour swelling power, protein content, amylose content and swelling power of starch. The varieties were processed to Burghul (parboiled wheat) and utilized in the preparation of Burghul Mufalfal and Kibbeh. The products were rated sensorially for particle separation and hardness (Burghul Mufalfal) and denseness (Kibbeh). Marked differences were noted between the aestivums and durums as to their 1000 KW, PSI and SDS-sedimentation volumes. Significant correlations were observed between the sensory ratings of the two Burghul-based products and the 1000 KW, PSI and SDS-sedimentation volumes. Cluster analysis, using the chemical/physicochemical parameters as variables, identified two clusters; a “durum” cluster (11 durums, 2 aestivums) and an “aestivum” cluster (8 aestivums). The varieties of the “durum” cluster yielded quality Burghul Mufalfal and Kibbeh; the varieties of the “aestivum” cluster yielded inferior Burghul Mufalfal and less compact Kibbeh. Quality Burghul is best-processed from large size and hard-grained varieties of low SDS-sedimentation volumes (mostly durums) having 1000 KW > 34.5 g, 31.9 < PSI < 45.6 and 13.8 mL < SDS-sedimentation volumes < 30.1 mL.