Characteristics of the Thrust Bearing with Accelerating Slider

Thrust bearing characteristics are examined in the motion generated by the accelerating slider. The selected case is the situation where the fluid within the lubricating film initially is at rest and at time zero the infinitely long slider assumes a velocity which is a function of time. Numerical solutions to the governing differential equations are obtained for the case of constant but arbitrary acceleration and for the case of acceleration proportional to time. The corresponding previously published analytical solutions are compared with those numerical results.     

Generalized singular value decomposition in multidimensional condition monitoring of machines—A proposal of comparative diagnostics

With the modern metrology, we can measure almost all variables in the phenomenon field of working machine, and many of measuring quantities can be symptoms of machine condition. On this basis, we can form the symptom observation matrix (SOM) for condition monitoring. From the other side we know that contemporary complex machines may have many modes of failure, so-called faults, which form the fault space. Even if we apply some modern tool like singular value decomposition (SVD) for the fault extraction purpose, this multidimensional problem is not a simple one. Therefore, the question remains if one can learn considering similar problem when having SOM of similar machine observed just before. In this way, we can consider the application of generalized singular value decomposition (GSVD) to the machine condition monitoring problems, and uncover some new possibilities.     

Evaluation of various integration algorithms for transient inelastic response of shear walls

Inelastic dynamic response of building walls made of reinforced concrete is considered by using various explicit and implicit algorithms. The numerical examples show the computational efficiency of algorithms for different low and high walls.     

Importance of the triboemission process for tribochemical reaction

Chemical reactions under boundary lubrication conditions are distinct from those of thermochemical ones. Flash temperature is very short and holding in esteem the mechanically triggered chemistry and thermally triggered chemistry at the contact of asperities caused by the flash temperature effect, the following question arises. ‘Can this reaction initiation process be considered in terms of overcoming the activation energy by heat or by another form of energy’? The purpose of this paper is to discuss that question in terms of the hypothesis: The common denominator of tribochemical reactions is that they might be initiated by low-energy electrons. This is consistent with the negative-ion-radical action mechanism (NIRAM) approach assuming that tribochemical reactions are initiated by electrons in the energy-range of 1–4 eV. The hypothesis is also relevant to the next author's hypothesis saying that the intermediate reactive species of both tribochemical reactions and some heterogeneous catalytic reactions are produced by the same mechanism, governed by the NIRAM approach. The catalyst effect on a chemical reaction is to increase its rate. The reaction rate is further increased when the catalyst is under friction (tribocatysis). The primary objective of this work is to better understand mechanisms of tribochemical reactions and catalytic processes. To initiate thermochemical reactions, heat should be supplied. The same is due to heterogeneous catalytic reactions, however, the catalyst lowers the reaction activation energy. Even a very high calculated flash temperature is short lived, thus, it rather cannot initiate tribochemical reactions by heat. The present author assumes that flash temperature can be expressed in the form of the thermionic emission. Bearing this in mind, it is possible to hypothesize that heterogeneous catalytic reactions are also initiated by thermal electrons. Accordingly, the tribocatalytic process might be initiated and/or enhanced by triboelectrons. Important objective of this work is to better understand both tribochemical reactions and catalytic/tribocatalytic processes. Tribochemistry of simple environment friendly lubricant compounds and examples of water synthesis catalytic and tribocatalytic processes are presented and discussed.     

An analysis of a pulse combustion drying system

The paper presents a theoretical and experimental analysis of a pulse combustion spray drying system. Measurements of the velocity flow field inside the drying chamber and extensive tests on drying and water evaporation were carried out for various feed rates and operating parameters of the pulse combustor. Each test included the analysis of temperature distribution in the dryer, evaporation level and sprayed material structure. LDA and PDA techniques were employed to determine the character of pulsating flow in the chamber, amount of water evaporated and to perform a profound analysis of spray structure. Experimental results show an intensive and efficient drying process. An attempt was made to perform theoretical predictions of velocity and temperature distribution in the drying chamber. The CFD technique was used to calculate time-dependent flow in the chamber. Results show vanishing velocity, pressure and temperature oscillations along the length of the drying chamber. Temperature oscillations decline faster than oscillations of pressure and velocity. Satisfactory agreement between calculations and experimental results was found in certain regions of the drying chamber. Discrepancies might be caused by simplification of the system geometry and flow pattern which were assumed to perform calculations in reasonable time.     

The evaluation of electrolytically polished surfaces

A new method for the evalution of the quality of electropolished suraces is presented. A theoretical analysis was carried out and the results were confirmed by experiment. The relevance of the slope of the surface profile to the evaluation of surface quality was determined. Electropolishing processes affect to a much greater extent the reduction of the standard deviation of the slope than the reduction of the standard deviation ordinates.     

Smart Suspension System for Linear Guideways

This paper presents a new method for the semi-active control of the span system of linear guideways subjected to a travelling load. Two elastic beams are coupled by a set of controlled dampers. The relative velocity of the spans provides an opportunity for efficient control via semi-active suspension. The magnitude of the moving force is assumed to be constant by neglecting inertial forces. The response of the system is solved in modal space. The full analytical solution is based on the power series method and can be given over an arbitrary time interval. The control strategy is formulated by using bilinear optimal control theory. As a result, bang-bang controls are taken into account. The final solution is obtained as a numerical mean value. Several examples demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed method. The controlled system outperforms passive solutions over a wide range. Due to the simplicity of its design, the presented solution should be interesting to engineers.     

DRYING KINETICS AND PARTICLE RESIDENCE TIME IN SPRAY DRYING

A unique experimental equipment for extensive trials on the spray drying kinetics and particles residence time involving “in situ” analysis of the properties of continuous and dispersed phases was designed, built, and tested. Advanced experimental techniques (including laser techniques) to determine current parameters of spray drying process (temperature, humidity, moisture content) and current structure of spray (particle size distribution, particle velocities, etc.) were employed. Full scale spray drying tests of baker's yeast and maltodextrin enabled identification of the effect of process parameters on drying kinetics and spray residence time in the tower. Quantitative relationship describing spray drying kinetics as a function of atomization ratio and drying agent temperature were determined. The experimental results proved that spray residence time was controlled by atomization ratio and airflow rate. Drying kinetics in spray drying process is presented for the first time in the literature.     

Influence of temperature on the tribochemical reactions of hexadecane

This paper investigates the tribochemical reactions of n‐hexa‐decane proceeding in a tribosystem lubricated by n‐hexadecane at ambient and elevated temperatures. It is hypothesised that, at ambient temperature, reactions are mostly initiated by the mechanical action of the system, and at elevated temperature (200°C) thermochemical reactions should be dominant. An experimental study was performed using a ball‐on‐disc machine with steel‐on‐steel mating elements. To analyse wear tracks, Fourier transform infrared microspectrophotometry (FTIRM) and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA/XPS) were used. To investigate chemical changes in the bulk lubri cant, gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/ MS) was applied. The results provide clear evidence for the hypothesis that two types of oxygenation processes of n‐hexa ‐decane under boundary lubrication conditions should be considered. The first, at ambient temperature, is controlled by the mechanical action and the second is clearly controlled by temperature. The analytical techniques applied gave evidence of the formation of some reaction products from hexadecane under boundary lubrication conditions. These products include compounds having Fe‐O bonding (salts and chelates), carbonyl compounds, and iron carbide.     

Thermal effects in an accelerating thrust bearing

This study is mainly concerned with the development of transient temperatures in a thrust bearing. The effect of Prandtl number on temperatures was also investigated. All lubricant properties were assumed to be constant. It was found that the location of highest temperatures depended on the bearing ratio. The effect of Prandtl number on temperatures was small. However, its effect on the heat transfer at the surfaces was significant.