Wave dynamics on a thin-liquid film falling down a heated wall

The dynamics of a thin liquid film falling down a uniformly heated wall is studied. The model introduced by Kalliadasis et al. [J. Fluid Mech. 475 (2003) 377] for the same problem is revisited and its deficiencies, namely the prediction of a critical Reynolds number with 20% error, cured. For the energy equation a high-order Galerkin projection in terms of polynomial test functions is developed. It is shown that not only does this more refined formulation correct the critical Reynolds number, but it also gives, with an appropriate expansion close to criticality, the long-wave theory. Bifurcation diagrams for permanent solitary waves are constructed and compared with the solution branches obtained from different models. It is shown that, in all cases, the long-wave theory exhibits limit points and branch multiplicity, while the other models predict the continuing existence of solitary waves. Time-dependent computations show that the free surface and interfacial temperature approach a train of coherent structures that resemble the infinite-domain stationary solitary pulses.     

Textural Transitions in a Rotating Slab of 3He-A

The operation of a torsional oscillator for detection, of flow-driven textural transitions in, ³He-A is described. The detection technique, tracking the shift of the resonant frequency of the torsional oscillator, allows us to observe textural changes and the presence of vortices in zero magnetic field. It relies on. the anisotropic superfluid density of ³He-A and its change due to reorientation of the Î-texture caused by counterflow.     

A comparative study of the gas sensing behavior of nanostructured nickel ferrite synthesized by hydrothermal and reverse micelle techniques

A comparative study of gas sensing behavior of nanocrystalline nickel ferrite synthesized by micro-emulsion and hydrothermal method to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is presented. Nanocrystalline nickel ferrite synthesized by hydrothermal method indicated higher electrical conductivity and gas sensitivity at low operating temperature compared to nanocrystalline nickel ferrite synthesized by reverse micelle technique. This difference in the gas sensing behavior can be attributed to the presence of more oxygen vacancies (i.e. non-stoichiometry) in the hydrothermally synthesized nickel ferrite. Incorporation of palladium had a catalytic effect and the operating temperature was significantly reduced in both the samples. The higher operating temperature of the reverse micelle nickel ferrite material makes the sensor response speed faster (∼10 s) compared to the hydrothermally synthesized material (∼1 min).     

Methodologies for the optimal design of parallel manipulators

In this paper the problem of determining a manipulator design so that its workspace corresponds to a prescribed workspace is considered. Two different strategies, resulting in two different types of optimization problem are considered. The first strategy attempts to obtain a good overall approximation to the prescribed workspace and results in an unconstrained optimization problem. The second strategy entails designing a manipulator so that its workspace fully encloses the prescribed workspace and results in a constrained optimization problem. Two specific formulations of the constrained problem are proposed. The first constrained problem simply aims to fit the manipulator workspace as exactly as possible to the prescribed workspace, while still ensuring that the prescribed workspace is fully enclosed. The second constrained optimization formulation is used to design a manipulator, the workspace of which fully encloses the prescribed workspace, but which is also well‐conditioned throughout the workspace with respect to some performance measure. The particular manipulator used to illustrate and evaluate these formulations is a simple 2‐dof planar parallel manipulator, and the final formulation is also applied to a 3‐dof planar parallel manipulator. Although the manipulators studied here are simple, the objective of this study is to obtain a robust numerical methodology which can be extended to more practical and complex manipulators. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Solution of a multidimensional inverse radiation problem by means of mode reduction

The Karhunen–Loève Galerkin procedure is employed to solve an inverse radiation problem of determining the time‐varying strength of a heat source, which mimics flames in a furnace, from temperature measurements in three‐dimensional participating media where radiation and conduction occur simultaneously. The inverse radiation problem is solved through the minimization of a performance function, which is expressed by the sum of square residuals between calculated and observed temperature, using a conjugate gradient method. Through the Karhunen–Loève Galerkin procedure, one can represent the system dynamics with a minimum degree of freedom, and consequently the amount of computation required in the solution of the inverse problem is reduced drastically when the present technique is adopted. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electrical conductivity and gas sensitivity of Zn-Sb-O thick films

The thick film of Zn-Sb-O was prepared by coating the paste of nanoparticles mixture (Sb₂O₃:ZnO=1:3) on the alumina substrate, followed by sintering at 500-900 °C for 2 h in air. The electrical resistance and gas-sensing properties to benzene, alcohol and acetone of Zn-Sb-O films were found to be dependent on the change of phase structure caused by sintering temperature.     

Study of liquid injection impact on the performance of new refrigerant mixtures

In this paper, the test results of liquid injection impact on the performance of new alternative refrigerant mixtures such as: R-410A, R-507, R-407C and R-404A are discussed, analysed and presented. The test results were obtained using an air-source heat pump set-up with enhanced surface tubing under various liquid injection ratios. Performance tests were conducted according to the ARI/ASHRAE standards. The performance data demonstrated that as liquid injection ratio increases, compressor head pressure and discharge temperature decrease. This has a positive effect in protecting the compressor. The effect of liquid injection on mixture behaviour varies from one mixture to another depending upon the mixture's composition. Furthermore, liquid injection appears to have a significant influence on R-410A behaviour compared to the other mixtures in question. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the role of high-energy electrons in the formation of a plasma-beam discharge structure in a diode with a slit cathode

The spatial structure of visible emission from plasma of a transverse nanosecond pulsed electric discharge in a gas-filled diode with a hollow (slit) cathode has been experimentally studied. A relation is established between the regime of electron energy relaxation and the plasma-beam discharge structure formation. High values of the electron emission coefficient are observed in the experiment, which cannot be explained using the notion of electron emission from a cathode bombarded by fast heavy particles.     

High-strain-rate superplasticity of nanocrystalline aluminum alloy 1570

The structure and mechanical properties of nanocrystalline aluminum alloy 1570 obtained by means of severe plastic deformation have been studied. Being tested in a temperature range from 300 to 400°C, the alloy exhibits high-strain-rate superplasticity. At 400°C, the superplasticity is manifested in a very broad range of strain rates, extending from 5 × 10^?3 to 1 s^?1.     

Studying chaotic microwave oscillations in a TWO with depressed collector

Broadband chaotic oscillations were monitored in a depressed potential collector of a traveling-wave oscillator (TWO). This signal appears due to the oscillations of a virtual cathode, which is formed in the spent electron beam under the action of retarding fields existing in the multistage depressed collector.