A sequential filter used for parameter estimation in a passive solar system

The use of a sequential least squares filter for estimating passive solar system parameters is presented as it applies to certain types of systems. The method given is used to identify parameters in a particular existing system, and the results are given. A discussion is also included on a comparison of various sampling rates used by the filter, with a view toward selecting a “reasonable” sampling rate.     

Modeling particle inflation from poly(amic acid) powdered precursors. III. Experimental determination of kinetic parameters

Several concurrent phenomena occur during the thermal inflation of poly(amic acid) precursor particles leading to polyimide foams as part of the solid‐state powder foaming process. The precursor experiences bubble growth from within while volatiles desorb and the polymer itself increases its molecular weight and changes its backbone structure. These changes affect the transport properties of the material by modifying significantly the effective glass transition temperature, T_g. By studying the chemical transformations that take place during the inflation process (amidation and imidization reactions), a complete understanding of the material's molecular changes can be obtained and corresponding property changes can be followed. This article is the third of a series where the inflation of precursor materials for polyimide foams has been studied. The two previous articles in the series present numerical models that simulate the inflation process from first principles. In this article, the authors discuss the experimental and analytical methodologies employed to accurately characterize and incorporate the changes in material and transport properties as a function of the glass transition temperature. POLYM. ENG SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Pesticides on household surfaces may influence dietary intake of children

The physical and chemical environment influences children's exposures to pesticides in and around the home. Children's activities, which increase their potential for exposure especially during eating, have been captured in the Children's Dietary Intake Model (CDIM). In addition to the chemical exposure associated with the food itself, this model incorporates excess dietary exposures due to handling of food during consumption. To stochastically evaluate CDIM, distributions of measured, and in some cases estimated, model factors were determined from measurements of permethrin, chlorpyrifos, and diazinon derived from assembled databases and laboratory experiments. Using the distributions of these factors, Monte Carlo simulations were performed to obtain distributions of total dietary intake of pesticides. To target the sources of pesticide contamination that were influencing total dietary intake, each factor was evaluated. We found pesticide surface concentration to be highly influential. By excluding surface concentration, we were also able to determine the influence of the other factors based on the F-statistic. Transfer efficiencies, followed by pesticide residue in consumed foods and amount of food consumed, were the next most influential factors within the model. With these distributions for model inputs, CDIM has the potential to more accurately predict total dietary intake of a contaminant by a child.     

Variability in expiratory trajectory angles during consonant production by one human subject and from a physical mouth model: Application to respiratory droplet emission

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to improve understanding of droplet transport during expiratory emissions. While historical emphasis has been placed on violent events such as coughing and sneezing, the recognition of asymptomatic and presymptomatic spread has identified the need to consider other modalities, such as speaking. Accurate prediction of infection risk produced by speaking requires knowledge of both the droplet size distributions that are produced, as well as the expiratory flow fields that transport the droplets into the surroundings. This work demonstrates that the expiratory flow field produced by consonant productions is highly unsteady, exhibiting extremely broad inter- and intra-consonant variability, with mean ejection angles varying from ≈+30° to −30°. Furthermore, implementation of a physical mouth model to quantify the expiratory flow fields for fricative pronunciation of [f] and [θ] demonstrates that flow velocities at the lips are higher than previously predicted, reaching 20–30 m/s, and that the resultant trajectories are unstable. Because both large and small droplet transport are directly influenced by the magnitude and trajectory of the expirated air stream, these findings indicate that prior investigations of the flow dynamics during speech have largely underestimated the fluid penetration distances that can be achieved for particular consonant utterances.     

Intra-hour forecasting with a total sky imager at the UC San Diego solar energy testbed

A method for intra-hour, sub-kilometer cloud forecasting and irradiance nowcasting using a ground-based sky imager at the University of California, San Diego is presented. Sky images taken every 30 s were processed to determine sky cover using a clear sky library and sunshine parameter. From a two-dimensional cloud map generated from coordinate-transformed sky cover, cloud shadows at the surface were estimated. Limited validation on four partly cloudy days showed that (binary) cloud conditions were correctly nowcast 70% of the time for a network of six pyranometer ground stations spread out over an area of 2 km². Cloud motion vectors were generated by cross-correlating two consecutive sky images. Cloud locations up to 5 min ahead were forecasted by advection of the two-dimensional cloud map. Cloud forecast error increased with increasing forecast horizon due to high cloud cover variability over the coastal site.     

Process induces fiber orientation: Numerical simulation with experimental verification

The performance of short fiber molded composite structures is determined uniquely by the properties of the molding material and the process induced fiber orientation. Consequently, the capability to accurately predict the fiber orientation distribution is of fundamental importance in computer-aided mold design. Methodology for the numerical prediction of fiber orientation during the mold-fill process is presented for a short glass fiber thermoset (57 percent phenolic resin, 10 percent calcium carbonate filler, and 33 percent glass fiber by volume). On the basis of a finite element flow characterization, Jeffery's orientation equation is numerically integrated along streamlines to calculate fiber orientation. Correlation of experimental and numerical results for an end-gated bar with a molded-in hole is reasonably good.