Experimental abatement data of underflow baffles for removal of floatables in the CSOs of the Greater Montréal (Canada) area.

Underflow baffles have gained in popularity over the years as a viable mean to intercept floatables in Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs). This choice was mainly justified by the extremely low capital cost (CAPEX) and operational cost (OPEX) of this solution, although the efficiency of underflow baffles has never been clearly proven. The only similar application to underflow baffles are scum boards in grit chambers and clarifier. However, the flow conditions at CSOs vary considerably from those in grit chambers and clarifier. For this reason, review of the behavior of floatables in a rapid flow is paramount. Only then can comprehensive design criteria for underflow baffles and overflow chambers be suggested. Pilot scale tests, performed in a 17 metres long basin at various flowrates, had already shown that a critical horizontal velocity for floatables (Vcr) may develop in the overflow chambers. In this follow up study, the fate of intercepted floatables was investigated. It appears from this latest data that permanent capture of floatables decreases rapidly with an increase in the horizontal velocity of the flow, no matter what the baffle depth. Baffle depth increases capture at lower velocities (0.17 m/s) but become irrelevant at higher velocities (0.61 m/s). This data suggests that capture efficiency of existing underflow baffles in overflow chambers can be, at best, very low whenever the horizontal velocity increases above 0.30 m/s or 1 ft/s.     

On body-fitted co-ordinates for separated laminar flows past wall-mounted obstacles

A body-fitted curvilinear co-ordinate system is used to solve the equations of two-dimensional incompressible laminar flow over bluff obstructions by finite differences. Arbitrary conditions at the corner are removed by this method. Results for a backward-facing step are in reasonable agreement with those obtained with conventional mesh systems, and the differences are explained. A treatment of a channel expansion, in comparison with empirical data, is also included. The capability of the present method to handle arbitrary two-dimensional geometries is stressed and demonstrated, using a triangle and a semi-circle as examples.     

Mathematisch-statistische Simulierung der mechanischen Eigenschaften von Bauspanplatten

Physical and process manufacturing factors affecting the properties of particleboard were examined and mathematical relationships were derived to predict board modulus of elasticity and internal bond. The equations, derived from a series of previous laboratory investigations, allow the simulation of the effects of various process conditions on final properties of 1/2-inch (12-mm) boards.     

Crystallization of some anorthite-diopside glass precursors

Anorthite and diopside have been obtained from complete devitrification of glasses belonging to the quaternary system MgO-CaO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂. Microstructure, the natural trend of the nucleation mechanism and kinetic studies on the crystallization phenomenon have been investigated by means of optical and electron microscopies, thermal and thermomechanical techniques and X-ray powder diffractometry. All the glasses investigated show a complete crystallization starting from a simple surface nucleation process. The activation energy for the crystallization process proved to be higher than that for viscous flow, leading to an important aspect modification in the sample during ceramization. Thermal stability and physical properties of both glass and glass-ceramic materials have been tested, suggesting the possible use of these materials in industrial application.     

Calculation of approximate weight functions in fracture mechanics by FEM

A method is presented for the calculation of weight functions used in fracture mechanics to determine stress intensity factors of cracks loaded by stress gradients. The reference solution for the stress intensity factor and for the reference crack opening displacement field is computed numerically by use of finite elements. The accuracy of the method is checked by comparison with well-known solutions from the literature.     

Nonlinear static and dynamic analysis of circular plates and shallow spherical shells using the collocation method

The present work investigates the efficacy and applicability of interior global orthogonal point collocation method to the axisymmetric nonlinear analysis of elastic circular plates and shallow spherical shells subjected to uniformly distributed transverse load. Spacewise discretisation has been carried out using a polynomial expansion with the zeros of a Chebyshev polynomial as collocation points. Timewise integration has been carried out with Newmark k-β scheme corresponding to average acceleration method. The static response and snap-through buckling results, as well as, the dynamic response and dynamic buckling results under a uniformly distributed step load have been obtained and found to agree closely with the available results.     

ESD–RF co-design methodology for the state of the art RF-CMOS blocks

This paper describes an approach to design ESD protection for integrated low noise amplifier (LNA) circuits used in narrowband transceiver front-ends. The RF constraints on the implementation of ESD protection devices are relaxed by co-designing the RF and the ESD blocks, considering them as one single circuit to optimise. The method is applied for the design of 0.25 μm CMOS LNA. Circuit protection levels higher than 3 kV HBM stress are achieved using conventional highly capacitive ggNMOS snapback devices. The methodology can be extended to other RF-CMOS circuits requiring ESD protection by merging the ESD devices in the functionality of the corresponding matching blocks.     

Exoatmospheric interception problem solved using output feedback law

Interception problems are often dealt with by separating guidance and autopilot design. Guidance law can be obtained using optimal control theory and autopilot design is performed on a linearized system. In this paper, we introduce a new approach that determines a global guidance and autopilot law, based on direct output feedback design. Application of this method to exoatmospheric interception problem results in good performances. Extension to endoatmospheric case is under investigation.     

Formation of ordered metal nanowire-inorganic salt composites

A new phenomenon accompanying the electrolysis of salts has been observed, whereby an ordered composite is formed under certain conditions (electrolyte composition, current density). The composite comprises an inorganic salt crystal penetrated by metal nano- and microwires. This phenomenon can serve as a basis for the technology of oriented and ordered nanowire array synthesis.