Inspection of the Strength Characteristics and Heat-Treatment Quality of Ferromagnetic Articles Based on Parameters of the Residual-Magnetization Hysteresis Loop upon Their Local Magnetization and Magnetization Reversal in a Pulsed Magnetic Field with a Variable Amplitude: I. Parameters of the Hysteresis Loop

Results of an experimental study of the anomalous behavior of the residual-magnetization hysteresis of ferromagnetic articles that, under local magnetization and magnetization reversal in a pulsed magnetic field with a variable amplitude, were subjected to heat treatment under different conditions are reported. Parameters of the hysteresis and their dependence on the magnetization and magnetization-reversal conditions, as well as on the magnetic properties of a material, are considered.__________Translated from Defektoskopiya, Vol. 41, No. 5, 2005, pp. 3–13.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Matyuk, Mel’gui, Pinchukov, Lyubarets.All papers in this issue are devoted to the 100th anniversary of the birth of the late M.N. Mikheev, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences and one of the founders of magnetic structural analysis.     

Invariance and polynomial design of strategies in the linear-quadratic game

A new algorithm to solve the H ^∞ control problem in the case of full information was presented. It combines the spectral and matrix methods. The polynomial Lur’e-Riccati operator was introduced. Parametrization of all solutions of the controlled plant equation by hidden variables was presented within the framework of the J.C. Willems behavioral approach. The kernel of the polynomial Lur’e-Riccati operator was decomposed into the direct sum of subspaces that are similar to the Jordan blocks. The saddle point of the linear-quadratic game which was found by V.A. Yakubovich in 1970 was shown to provide solution to the H ^∞ control problem for a considerable class of controlled plants.     

Ultrasound‐activated Knoevenagel condensation of malononitrile with carbonylic compounds catalysed by alkaline‐doped saponites

α,β‐Unsaturated nitriles have been synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation of a carbonylic compound with malononitrile, assisted by sonochemical irradiation. Two alkaline‐promoted clays (Li⁺‐ and Cs⁺‐exchanged saponites) have been employed as catalysts. The influence of the carbonylic compound (benzaldehyde or cyclohexanone) and the use of a solvent on the catalytic activity have been studied. Remarkable increase in the conversion values has been found when the reaction is activated by ultrasound, as compared with the thermal activation. In this green, solvent‐free procedure, α,β‐unsaturated nitriles have been produced in very high yields (97%) when the Cs⁺‐saponite is used as catalyst. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

The impact of agricultural management practices on nutrient losses to water: data on the effects of soil drainage characteristics.

Against the background of increasing nutrient concentrations in Irish water bodies, this study set out to gain information on the potential of agricultural grassland to lose nutrients to water. Overland flow, flow from artificial subsurface drains and stream flow were gauged and sampled during heavy rainfall events. Dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP), potassium (K), total ammonia (TA), and total oxidised nitrogen (TON) were measured in water samples. When the nutrient concentrations in water were examined in relation to the grassland management practices of the study catchments it emerged that soil P levels, the application of organic and inorganic fertilisers before heavy rainfall and the presence of grazing animals could all influence nutrient concentrations in surface and subsurface drainage water. Overall, the drainage characteristics of soil were found to have a considerable influence on the potential of land to lose nutrients to water.     

Reactive Power Compensation Technologies: State-of-the-Art Review

This paper presents an overview of the state of the art in reactive power compensation technologies. The principles of operation, design characteristics and application examples of Var compensators implemented with thyristors and self-commutated converters are presented. Static Var generators are used to improve voltage regulation, stability, and power factor in ac transmission and distribution systems. Examples obtained from relevant applications describing the use of reactive power compensators implemented with new static Var technologies are also described.     

The Effect of Nucleators on the Quality of the Surface of Glass-Ceramic Denture Coatings

The effect of nucleator additives on the surface relief and the degree of crystallization of material intended for the dentine and enamel layers of artificial denture is considered. It is established that hydroxyapatite additive is optimal for producing the required relief in the prime and dentine layers.     

Surface Attractive Forces of Glass Batch Particles

The forces of surface interaction between glass batch components are considered. A comparison between capillary and gravitational forces for particles of different sizes at different stages of glass batch preparation is carried out. The dependences of capillary force on the volume of liquid and the distance between particles are discussed.__________Translated from Steklo i Keramika, No. 3, pp. 7 – 9, March, 2005.     

Simulation and experimental analyses of electromagnetic transients behaviors of lightning surge on vertical conductors

Simulation of very fast surge phenomena in a three-dimensional (3-D) structure requires a method based on Maxwell's equations, such as the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method or the method of moments, because circuit-equation-based methods cannot handle the phenomena. This paper uses a method of thin-wire representation of the vertical conductor system for the FDTD method which is suitable for the 3-D surge simulation. The thin-wire representation is indispensable to simulate electromagnetic surges on wires or steel frames in which the radius is smaller than a discretized space step used in the FDTD simulation. In this paper, a general surge analysis program named the virtual surge test lab based on the Maxwell's equations formulated by the FDTD method, is used to simulate the surge phenomena of a vertical conductor, including the effects of horizontal wave incidence and vertical wave incidence. Experimental results on the reduced scale model have been presented in order to compare among the simulation results by the FDTD method and the results using numerical electromagnetic code based on the MoM.     

Wettability of tundish periclase lining by steel

Results of a study of the wettability of the tundish periclase lining by molten steel using a sessile drop method are presented. The wetting angle θ tends to decrease with increase in temperature and contact time on adding glass fiber and Fe₂O₃ powder in excess of 2% to the magnesite powder; a similar effect is observed in steels high in manganese. An increase in angle θ is observed on adding carbon fiber or glass fiber (not in excess of 1%) to the magnesite powder; the angle θ tends to increase with increase in MgO powder grain size and with carbon contained in steel in excess of 0.04%. __________ Translated from Novye Ogneupory, No. 1, pp. 63–68, January, 2006.     

Comments on the shortcomings of predicting the precision of Cavalieri volume estimates based upon assumed measurement functions

It is well known that the estimation of an object's volume by means of serial cross-sections, the so-called Cavalieri method, yields an unbiased estimate. But by itself it provides no means by which to estimate how precise this estimate is unless the shape of the volume is fully known beforehand. This knowledge can only be partially determined from the serial section information that is collected. Methods have been developed that claim to surmount this difficulty by using the serial section data to create a mathematical model of the volume's shape properties. The model then is used to estimate (predict) the precision of the volume estimate (its CE) from the single set of data available. Unfortunately, the theory underlying the model is flawed and so the model itself amounts to no more than an unsubstantiated guess about the shape of the volume. Therefore, the precision of the volume estimates that one obtains from the method is only as good as the model and this cannot be ascertained from the single set of acquired data. In this letter I explain the inadequacies of the modelling method. I suggest that it be used only with caution, if at all. Instead I suggest two alternative ways to predict the CE, one that is based upon a rule-of-thumb approach to the object's shape, and another that is based upon spectral analysis of the measurement function and that is easy to implement with available computer software.