Properties of blocked linear systems

This paper presents a systematic study on the properties of blocked linear systems that have resulted from blocking discrete-time linear time invariant systems. The main idea is to explore the relationship between the blocked and the unblocked systems. Existing results are reviewed and a number of important new results are derived. Focus is given particularly on the zero properties of the blocked system as no such study has been found in the literature.     

Soot predictions in premixed and non-premixed laminar flames using a sectional approach for PAHs and soot

A new soot model is presented, which has been developed for CFD applications, combining accuracy and efficiency. While the chemical reactions of small gas phase species are captured by a detailed chemical kinetic mechanism, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and soot particles are represented by sectional approaches. The latter account for important mechanisms such as the formation of sections, their oxidation, the condensation of acetylene, and the collisions between sections. The model has been designed to predict soot for a variety of fuels with good accuracy at relatively low computational cost. Universal model parameters are applied, which require no tuning in dependence of test case or fuel. Soot predictions of ethylene, propylene, kerosene surrogate, and toluene flames are presented, which show good agreement with the experimental data. Furthermore, the importance of the correct choice for thermodynamic data of PAHs and soot is highlighted and the impact of heat radiation is discussed.     

Enhancement of limited water supply network data for deterioration modelling and determination of rehabilitation rate

In the past decades, the main focus of water supply management has moved from construction of new water supply networks to rehabilitation and adaptation of the existing infrastructure. The decision-making process for the rehabilitation management relies heavily on the quality of the applied deterioration model. A recurring problem in the application of such models relates to the quality and availability of network data. These data are often incomplete or unreliable because building measures and damages are only documented properly recently and the recovery of older data is difficult and expensive. A key point in rehabilitation planning is therefore data collection and data reconstruction. Consequently, the aim of this paper is to present a methodology for the enhancement of the available data of water supply networks and the prognosis of the necessary rehabilitation rates under limited data availability. Results indicate that the presented data reconstruction technique has advantages as compared to traditional data extrapolation. It also allows the reconstruction of fragmentary data about existing water supply and wastewater collection systems for the operating utilities. However, it cannot be used for reconstructing failure types as well as the whole information on pipes (e.g. more than two missing information).     

Microstructure of the HMX‐Based PBX KS32 after Mechanical Loading

Non‐destructive X‐ray diffraction techniques were applied in order to monitor the influence of mechanical and shock‐loading on the microstructure of the plastic‐bonded high explosive KS32. The investigations uncovered damage to embedded coarse HMX crystals and to the binder system HTPB‐IPDI. Damage to the crystals occurred already during the kneading process in terms of deformation twinning. On higher loading between 400 MPa (static) and 480 MPa (dynamic) also crystal fracture was observed. The change in the binder structure was found after both static and dynamic loading, but not in the cured, differently kneaded samples. Moreover, the change in binder structure after dynamic loading was verified by dynamic mechanical analysis, and interpreted as a partial damage of the binder rubber shell around the explosive particles. The results are compared to literature data from imaging techniques.     

Discrete Element Method for the thermal field: Proof of concept and determination of the material parameters

The physical behaviour of materials and complicated components is nowadays numerically predicted by using the Finite Element Method (FEM). Another method, older than the finite element idea, is the Discrete Element Method (DEM), with which it is possible to make continuum-based calculations not only in the mechanical field but also in the thermal field, as will be shown in this paper.One major drawback of the FEM is that continuum-based methods are unable to include the stochastically distributed microscopic effects in the macroscopically oriented calculations. The Discrete Element Method is one method with which these effects can be considered.For making realistic fracture and life time predictions for components at high temperatures, it is important to adapt the DEM for the thermal field. This paper describes the mathematical proof of the 2D Discrete Element Method (or Lattice Model) for the thermal field. It will specifically be shown that the heat flux inside the framework can be transferred to the heat conduction equation. Furthermore, some examples demonstrate how the heat flux can be calculated with this method and how the corresponding material parameters are found and implemented. Also, as will be shown in this paper, anisotropic or orthotropic heat flux effects can be integrated in the DEM model.     

Technical developments at the KIT gyrotron test facility

Parasitic beam tunnel oscillations have been discovered on some of the series production gyrotrons for W7-X and also on the coaxial pre-prototype gyrotron for ITER. Solutions to remedy these problems have resulted in a modified beam tunnel design, technologically close to the existing beam tunnel. The new design has successfully been tested on both the coaxial and also the f-step-tunable gyrotrons and has subsequently been implemented on one of the W7-X series-production-tubes presently undergoing factory acceptance tests in Karlsruhe.The ECRH test loads at KIT are operated under normal atmospheric conditions. Several loads have eventually failed in 1 MW long pulse experiments and KIT has therefore started to design its own loads. The first KIT-load is based on a fixed conical mirror and an aluminum cylinder coated with a lossy material for increased absorption. The new load has so far successfully been used during the acceptance tests of two 1-MW CW gyrotrons. Nevertheless a new load based on pure (uncoated) stainless steel absorbers is being developed as a backup solution for the ongoing high priority gyrotron testing.A superconducting magnet capable of rapid field changes between 4.15 and 5.67 T for frequency step-tunable gyrotrons has been procured, has demonstrated a (static) field of 7.2 T and its capability of rapid field-changes.     

Ultrahydrophobic PMMA micro- and nano-textured surfaces fabricated by optical lithography and plasma etching for X-ray diffraction studies

Polymeric (PMMA) ultrahydrophobic surfaces with contact angles up to about 170° have been fabricated and used in the context of synchrotron radiation experiments on biological droplets. The different microfabrication processes included either an optical lithography phase followed by a plasma texturing one or a single step deep reactive ion etch attack.The drying of several biological solution droplets has been monitored. Room temperature evaporation experiments (lysozyme, lactalbumin, cytochrome C, doxorubicin and synthesized peptides) finally result in the formation of easily detachable hollow residuals because of the low interaction between the ultrahydrophobic substrate and the aqueous droplet while pilot experiments (bovine insulin) in a sitting-drop environment bring to the formation of well defined crystals. Recent results about in situ X-ray diffraction experiments by SAXS & WAXS (Small and Wide Angle X-ray Scattering) μ-beam techniques confirm that the presence of such surfaces influences the formation of crystal or fibril structures. These substrates represent indeed a suitable support to study biological and inorganic droplets in a near contact-free environment exploiting the homogeneous evaporation rate induced by the ultrahydrophobicity of the system.     

Mechanical performance of hybrid rice straw/sea weed polypropylene composites

Rice straw (Rs)/polypropylene (PP) composites were prepared in the different ratio of 5 : 95, 10 : 90, 15 : 85, 20 : 80, 25 : 75, and 30 : 70 (Rs wt % : PP wt %) by an injection molding process. This work investigated the tensile strength (TS), bending strength (BS), and impact strength (IS) of the composites. From the results, it is observed that Rs20 : PP80 mixture composite showed better performance with mechanical properties (TS = 26.2 MPa, BS = 58 N/mm², and IS = 1.7 KJ/mm²) among the composites prepared. Two hybrid composites were also fabricated using 20% Rs, 10% seaweed with 70% PP and 20% Rs, 30% seaweed with 70% PP. In between the two hybrid composites, superior mechanical behavior showed by the hybrid composite in ratio of Rs20 : Sw10 : PP70 with enhanced results such as TS = 28 MPa, BS = 68 N/mm², and IS = 2.5 KJ/mm². Water uptake, simulating weathering, and soil degradation test of different composites were also performed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011