Stochastic stability of the discrete-time extended Kalman filter

The authors analyze the error behavior for the discrete-time extended Kalman filter for general nonlinear systems in a stochastic framework. In particular, it is shown that the estimation error remains bounded if the system satisfies the nonlinear observability rank condition and the initial estimation error as well as the disturbing noise terms are small enough. This result is verified by numerical simulations for an example system     

Calculation of crack tip phase transformation zones with the weight function method

Stabilized Zirconia ceramics can undergo a stress-induced tetragonal-to-monoclinic phase transformation. This way, a transformation zone with compressive stresses develops around crack tips, leading to an increase in fracture toughness. The increase in fracture toughness depends on the size of the transformation zone. Therefore, the ability to compute the phase transformation zone at a crack tip is crucial to determine the transformation toughening due to phase transformation. In the case of subcritical phase transformation, the crack tip phase transformation zone has been calculated using the finite element method. In some Zirconia ceramics, such as ceria-stabilized TZP Zirconia ceramics, an autocatalytic phase transformation takes place, leading to large, elongated transformation zones. As this supercritical phase transformation cannot be computed with finite elements, several methods for investigating supercritical phase transformation have been developed. In this paper, a method based on the weight function method will be described.     

Stress intensity factors of sickle-shaped cracks in cylindrical bars

The stress intensity factor at the deepest point of sickle-shaped cracks is calculated for a constant, a linear and a quadratic locally varying stress distribution by use of a weight function derived from finite element results.     

Novel approach to establish model-based development and virtual commissioning in practice

Engineering with Computers - Due to several challenges such as faster development cycles or growing customer demands, the engineering of machines and plants is becoming increasingly complex....     

Carbon as a catalyst in oxidation reactions and hydrogen halide elimination reactions

Carbon catalyses many reactions, mainly oxidation reactions with oxygen and with halogens, e.g. $\text{SO}{}_2\text{+}\text{1}\text{20}{}_2\text{→ SO}{}_3$, or CO + Cl₂→ COCl₂. It is known, however, that different carbons behave quite differently in the reduction of oxygen on fuel cell cathodes. Therefore the catalytic activity of carbons has been studied in other reactions. A convenient test reaction is the oxidation of dilute aqueous sulphurous acid. It became apparent that all catalytically active carbons contain small quantities of nitrogen, and inactive carbons such as wood charcoal or carbon blacks can be rendered highly active by treatment with N H₃ or HCN at elevated temperatures. Photoelectron spectra indicate that the catalytic activity increases parallel to the incorporation of a nitrogen species which is pyridine-like, i.e. incorporated in the aromatic layers. Treatment with NH₃ at 900 °C leads also to massive gasification of the carbons, increasing their surface area. Other reactions studied included the oxidation of aqueous oxalic acid and of methanol to formaldehyde. A quite different type of reaction is the elimination of hydrogen chloride from 1-chloroalkanes, e.g. 1 -chlorobutane. Again, activity changes in parallel to nitrogen content. Reaction products are olefins, dimers of the alkyl groups, and a polymer on the catalyst surface. The formation of alkyl dimers, e.g. n-octane in the case of n-butylchloride, suggests that radicals are involved in the reaction.     

Synthesis gas production from methane and propane in a miniaturized GlidArc reformer

The current paper focuses on the miniaturization and utilization of the GlidArc^® principle for the reforming of fuel gases (such as methane and propane) to synthesis gas (H₂ + CO). The reforming characteristics and optimal operating conditions to achieve maximum synthesis gas yield were determined. Parametric screening studies were performed with different (i) atomic ratios of oxygen to carbon (O/C) in the range from 1 to 2, (ii) and feed flow rates from 2 to 10 L/min using alternating current voltage to produce the plasma in the reactor, which was varied from 2.8 to 4.6 kV. A Higher synthesis gas ratio of H₂/CO ≈ 2.35 was achieved when methane was processed at O/C = 1 in comparison with propane (H₂/CO ≈ 1.52).     

Liquid chromatographic determination of azinphos methyl oxon in foliar dislodgeable residues and in soil surface dusts from an azinphos methyl-treated orange grove

Specific parts of the worker environment in an orange grove that had been sprayed with azinphos methyl formulation were tested for azinphos methyl oxon. Extracts of soil surface dusts and dislodgeable residues from orange leaf surfaces were prepared and analyzed by liquid chromatographic procedures incorporating an ultraviolet absorption detector primarily for quantitation and an on-stream chemical reaction detector primarily for confirmation. Azinphos methyl oxon residues were found in both types of samples collected 3-59 days after spraying. Foliar dislodgeable residues of the oxon ranged from a high of 0.057 microgram/sq cm of leaf surface on the 17th day to a low of 0.014 microgram/sq cm on the 59th day for trees treated with a low-volume spray. The corresponding range in soil dust samples was 5.2 microgram/g (ppm) of dust on the 10th day to 1.4 microgram/g on the 59th day. Values were 9.7 and 2.7 microgram/g, respectively, for samples from under trees similarly treated with a high-volume spray.     

Analysis of the flow field and pressure drop in fixed-bed reactors with the help of lattice Boltzmann simulations

The pressure drop of technical devices is a crucial property for their design and operation. In this paper, we show how the results of lattice Boltzmann simulations can be used in science and engineering to improve the physical understanding of the pressure drop and the flow inhomogeneities in porous media, especially in sphere-packed fixed-bed reactors with low aspect ratios. Commonly used pressure drop correlations are based on simplified assumptions such as the capillary or tortuosity model, which do not reflect all hydrodynamic effects. Consequently, empirical correlations for certain classes of media have been introduced in the past to bridge the gap between the models and the experimental findings. As is shown in this paper by the detailed analysis of the velocity field in the void space of packed beds, the pressure drop is due to more complex hydrodynamics than considered in the above-mentioned models. With the help of lattice Boltzmann simulations, we were able to analyse the different contributions to the total dissipation, namely shear and deformation of the fluid, for different geometries over a wide range of Reynolds numbers. We further show that the actual length of the flow paths changes considerably with the radial and circumferential position.