Modeling and computer simulation of ultrasonic/sonic driller/corer (USDC)

Simulation and analytical models for the ultrasonic/sonic drill/corer (USDC) are described in this paper. The USDC was developed as a tool for in-situ rock sampling and analysis in support of the NASA planetary exploration program. The USDC uses a novel drive mechanism, which transfers ultrasonic vibrations of a piezoelectric actuator into larger oscillations of a free-flying mass (free-mass). The free-mass impact on the drill bit creates a stress pulse at the drill tip/rock interface causing fracture in the rock. The main parts of the device (transducer, free-mass, bit, and rock) and the interactions between them were analyzed and numerically modeled to explore the drive mechanism. Each of these interactions is normally described by a time-dependent 2- or 3-D model involving slowly converging solutions, which makes the conventional approach unsuitable for USDC optimization studies. A simplified integrated model using tabulated data was developed to simulate the operation of the USDC on desktop PC and successfully predicted the characteristics of the device under a variety of conditions. The simulated results of the model and the experimental data used to verify the model are presented.     

Mechanically based models: Adaptive refinement for B‐spline finite element

This article presents two new methods for adaptive refinement of a B‐spline finite element solution within an integrated mechanically based computer aided engineering system. The proposed techniques for adaptively refining a B‐spline finite element solution are a local variant of np‐refinement and a local variant of h‐refinement. The key component in the np‐refinement is the linear co‐ordinate transformation introduced into the refined element. The transformation is constructed in such a way that the transformed nodal configuration of the refined element is identical to the nodal configuration of the neighbour elements. Therefore, the assembly proceeds as with classic finite elements, while the solution approximation conforms exactly along the inter‐element boundaries. For the h‐refinement, this transformation is introduced into a construction that merges the super element from the finite element world with the hierarchical B‐spline representation from the computational geometry. In the scope of developing sculptured surfaces, the proposed approach supports C⁰ as well as the Hermite B‐spline C¹ continuous shapes. For sculptured solids, C⁰ continuity only is considered in this article. The feasibility of the proposed methods in the scope of the geometric design is demonstrated by several examples of creating sculptured surfaces and volumetric solids. Numerical performance of the methods is demonstrated for a test case of the two‐dimensional Poisson equation. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Low levels of beta hexosaminidase A in healthy individuals with apparent deficiency of this enzyme

The common denominator of the different meanings of dizziness is a disturbance of spatio-postural orientation, which indicates an imminent danger of fall. H?henschwindel (fear of hights) with grasping and holding in the primate is instinctive behavior caused by a visual cliff or sudden dizziness. Because of the many possible meanings of dizziness, the case history is important for differential diagnosis. Vertiginous and non-vertiginous dizziness, black out and unsteady gait without vertigo should be distinguished. In addition, the duration and time course of the attack, releasing mechanisms and accompanying symptoms of dizziness should be explored. In recurrent dizziness without hearing loss, vestibular, vascular, cardial and epileptic disorders should be considered as well as intoxication, cerebral tumor, cerebellar hemangioblastoma, multiple sclerosis, neurosis and psychosis. Epileptic dizziness occurs not only in the prodromal stage of grand mal attacks and in temporal lobe epilepsy, but also in petit mal absences of short duration (less than 5 s) in which the blurring of consciousness is not apparent; absences of short duration are easily overlooked in childhood. Besides the objective history obtained from the patient's relatives, EEG-recording when falling asleep in the morning after one night of sleep deprivation are the best means for the diagnosis of epilepsia. Spontaneous nystagmus after complete exclusion of visual fixation is a physiological phenomenon. For differential diagnosis between physiological and pathological spontaneous nystagmus, Frenzel's spectacles in the dark room are indispensable. The distinction of spontaneous nystagmus in the narrower sense, gaze nystagmus and fixation nystagmus is discussed. The diagnostic importance of the direction of nystagmus is mentioned. Jerking nystagmus may be congenital. Pendular nystagmus may be acquired. Therefore, additional criteria for the differential diagnosis between congenital and acquired nystagmus are necessary.     

Review: Investigation of Partially Pre-mixed Charge Ignitions (PPCI) Engine Mode

This paper embraces the key points of unpolluted internally combusted engine emissions. Core objective is focused on the recent effort to improve compression ignition(CI) and spark ignition(SI) engine to have fuel-efficient and minimized pollutant emissions. There are many advanced internal combustion engines to overcome the challenges of conventional compression ignition engines of the high level of particulate matter(PM) and oxides of nitrogen emission. One of the latest options on which many ...     

Internal Layout Design of a Warehouse

Two configurations of shelves, in a homogeneous or a zoned warehouse, are compared. Handling costs as well as costs associated with the warehouse area and perimeter are taken into consideration. From these, expressions for optimal design parameters are developed. It is shown that, depending on ratios between the relevant costs, some general preference rules for the two layouts examined can be laid down.     

Elimination of circumferential cracking in reactor''s internal jacket

In many petrochemical plants reactors are subjected to cyclic random fluctuation of temperatures over the internal shell surface. The fluctuations cause premature failures of several patterns due to thermal fatigue. In the synfuels production business reactors that are subjected to thermal and mechanical loads are used. These reactors are continuously cooled by means of internal water jackets.

The jackets have been subjected to structural failures in the following order of appearance: Cracking on the manholes necks, patches of cracks resembling “elephant skin” on the parent plates inner surface, circumferential cracks, mainly but not solely along the heat affected zones of the horizontal weld joints, growing permanent bulges. These structural failures have shortened the operating life of the reactors and required periodical replacements. Relatively frequent occurrence of the failures resulted in high costs due to production losses, materials, fabrication and installation costs.

A comprehensive systematic development programme was launched in order to understand the phenomena, direct prioritised solutions evaluate all the possible alternatives. Shortly after start it was realised that the highest cost savings can result from the minimisation of the circumferential cracking and reduction in jacket replacement time. The programme focused on four improvement avenues: Reduction of thermal stresses; elimination of discontinuities; improve material properties; develop alternative structure. This multi-year development program resulted in a new design that incorporated thinning of the jacket, minimising geometrical and material discontinuities combined with simplified installation.

The improved design was installed in all the reactors and after ±6 years of operation it was proved that the installed jackets exceeded the performance of the original ones both in life cycle and reduction in installation. Moreover, no circumferential go through crack occurred for the last 8 years.     

Flooding in inclined pipes — Effect of entrance section

Flooding in countercurrent flow of air and water in inclined tubes has been investigated. Data on flooding inception in the whole range of inclinations have been collected and predictive models for calculating the flooding conditions as a function of the flow rates and pipe inclination were proposed. Special attention is placed on the effect of the liquid injection mode. It has been shown that the porous injection system causes a local disturbance and enhances flooding at relatively shallow inclinations and high liquid flow rates.     

Colloid transport in porous media: impact of hyper-saline solutions

The transport of colloids suspended in natural saline solutions with a wide range of ionic strengths, up to that of Dead Sea brines (10^0.9 M) was explored. Migration of microspheres through saturated sand columns of different sizes was studied in laboratory experiments and simulated with mathematical models.Colloid transport was found to be related to the solution salinity as expected. The relative concentration of colloids at the columns outlet decreased (after 2-3 pore volumes) as the solution ionic strength increased until a critical value was reached (ionic strength > 10^−1.8 M) and then remained constant above this level of salinity.The colloids were found to be mobile even in the extremely saline brines of the Dead Sea. At such high ionic strength no energetic barrier to colloid attachment was presumed to exist and colloid deposition was expected to be a favorable process. However, even at these salinity levels, colloid attachment was not complete and the transport of ∼30% of the colloids through the 30-cm long columns was detected.To further explore the deposition of colloids on sand surfaces in Dead Sea brines, transport was studied using 7-cm long columns through which hundreds of pore volumes were introduced. The resulting breakthrough curves exhibited a bimodal shape whereby the relative concentration (C/C₀) of colloids at the outlet rose to a value of 0.8, and it remained relatively constant (for the ∼18 pore volumes during which the colloid suspension was flushed through the column) and then the relative concentration increased to a value of one. The bimodal nature of the breakthrough suggests different rates of colloid attachment. Colloid transport processes were successfully modeled using the limited entrapment model, which assumes that the colloid attachment rate is dependent on the concentration of the attached colloids. Application of this model provided confirmation of the colloid aggregation and their accelerated attachment during transport through soil in high salinity solution.     

Mussel-Inspired Deposition of Ag Nanoparticles on Dopamine-Modified Cotton Fabric and Analysis of its Functional,Mechanical and Dyeing Properties

Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials - Textile fabrics with functional properties have a huge interest in many applications, including protective clothing, packaging...     

6‐Amino‐6‐deoxy‐5,6‐di‐N‐(N′‐octyliminomethylidene)nojirimycin: Synthesis,Biological Evaluation,and Crystal Structure in Complex with Acid β‐Glucosidase

6‐Amino‐6‐deoxy‐5,6‐di‐ N ‐( N ′‐octyliminomethylidene)nojirimycin , a reducing analogue of N‐nonyl‐1‐deoxynojirimycin, proved to be a potent and very selective inhibitor of β‐glucosidases, including human acid β‐glucosidase. Structural studies of the enzyme–inhibitor complex showed a binding mode in which the anomeric hydroxy group is accommodated in the “wrong” α configuration.