Solar duct for lighting and ventilation Santa Amalia building Barcelona -Spain

The Santa Amalia building in Barcelona is a block of six flats incorporating a duct by which ligth is sent to the kitchens - previously without natural ligthing- and also allows natural ventilation. Moreover, the passive solar gains obtained from the extensive glazed surfaces and the conservation of internal heat gains, along with a high degree of isulation, give energy saving of 68% for heating.     

Reactive energy measurement using frequency controlled analog-to-pulse-rate converter

Contents This paper analyzes a problem of phase shifting and deseribes a novel method for electronic reactive energy measurement. The proposed measurement structure, composed of an integrator as a phase shifting circuit and a frequency controlled analog-to-pulse-rate converter, provides for the measurement completely in accordance with IEC definition of reactive energy, which is performed with simple but high performance metering device.

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Die Blindverbrauchsmessung anhand eines netzsynchronisierten Analog-Frequenz-Wandlers

Übersicht In diesem Artikel wird das Problem der Phasenverschiebung analysiert und eine neue Meßmethode für elektronische Blindverbrauschsmessung aufgezeigt. Die vorgeschlagene Strucktur, bestehend aus einem Integrator als Phasenschieber und netzkontrolliertem Analog-Frequenz-Wandler, ermöglicht die Verwirklichung eines einfachen aber präzisen Elektrizitätszählers zur Messung der Blindenergie, dessen Arbeitsprinzip mit den IEC Empfehlungen vollkommen übereinstimmt.

     

Mass change detection based on reduced measurements

Summary Changes in the mass matrix of a dynamic structure can be detected by using reduced measurements [1]. In the here proposed method the stiffness matrix is assumed to be correct. The missing measurements can be calculated by utilizing the connection between the measured and unmeasured quantities through the iterative process of identification of the tested structure. The missing measurements and to some extent the partial measurements obtained during the tests are treated as hidden functions of the mass parameters of the structure. This makes the Euclidean norm of the appropriate matrix to be minimized a nonlinear function of the parameters. This norm may have more than one minimum. The changes in the mass matrix must be identified by looking for the global mininum of the Euclidean norm. The global minimum can be found by changing the initial values of the mass parameters or by changing some special coefficients, or both.In order to identify the mass parameters of the structure the measured and the supplied missing quantities are forced to comply with the general laws for a linear structure. This compliance is achieved during any step of the iterative process.     

Twisted axially loaded rod with shear and compressibility

Summary Stability of a twisted and axially compressed elastic rod is analysed using the Euler method of adjacent equilibrium configuration. The constitutive equations of the rod are assumed in the form that takes into account both shear of the cross-sections and compressibility of the rod axis. It is shown that bifurcation points of the non-linear system of equations describing equilibrium are determined from the linearized system of equations. The influence of shear and compressibility on the critical values of twisting couple and compressive force is obtained. Moreover, the bifurcation pattern is examined by using the Liapunov-Schmidt method.     

Induced free liquid surface oscillations in a visco-elastic liquid column due to angular temperature fluctuations

The response due to time-fluctuating temperature distribution applied at the free surface of a viscoelastic cylindrical liquid column with no axial dependency has been determined analytically. The amplitude of the radial- and angular velocity as well as the free liquid surface elevation has been presented as a function of the “reduced” forcing frequency of the oscillatory temperature and has numerically been evaluated for an angular temperature field proportional to sin 2φ. It was found, that visco-elasticity as described by the Maxwell model has quite some influence upon the liquid behavior. It shows for larger relaxation times besides the enlarged resonance peak additional peaks below and above resonance. This is particularly evident inside the liquid column, indicating a more pronounced elastic behavior of the liquid.     

On simulation methods for solving the Boltamann equation

We will give an overview of the problem and then show how to modify an already present algorithm, so that it is also useful from a practical point of view. Further we will show that this algorithm is suitable for parallel computing and prove by means of an example that it can compete with the Bird algorithm, which is almost always applied by engineers but has only a heuristic base.     

Relation between hardness and compressive strength of polymer concrete

Experimental studies were made of the influence of mixing and casting techniques and of curing time upon the compressive strength and hardness of methyl methacrylate based polymer concrete. The Rockwell K and F scales were found to be suitable for the hardness determinations. Over a wide range of hardness and strength values, the average compressive strength (f_c) varied linearly with the average hardness (R_K) according to the relation f_c (psi) = 560 R_K - 12000, irrespective of casting and curing variables. The weaker materials exhibited greater variations in hardness. Hardness testing is found to provide a meaningful and convenient method for evaluating the quality of polymer concrete.     

INTEGER analysis of two-dimensional polygonal objects

A consistent modelling scheme for digital images is presented, with the grey-level raster image as input and the list-oriented polygonal image as output. The output information consists of two parts: The metric of the polygonal object, represented by coordinates of marked positions, and the global topology, which takes the form of a two-dimensional topologic order. The central problem, which has to be solved, is to select a digital polygon, approximating a digital arc such that the essential feature of the arc is represented at a predefined precision level. The proposed algorithm uses simple incremental calculations of INTEGER quantities to solve the problem.