River Bifurcation Analysis by Physical and Numerical Modeling

In the framework of a river regulation design of the Po River Delta (Northern Italy), a study on a large physical model of the bifurcation Po di Goro-Po di Venezia was conducted with the main objective of determining the discharge subdivision rate at the river node, in order to assess the inflow conditions in the Po di Goro River for flood risk analysis. In this context, a two-dimensional depth averaged numerical model was tested against measured values, with reference to the prototype. In this paper a comprehensive analysis and discussion of the results is reported in order to highlight the applicability of numerical models in comparison with physical ones in river engineering applications.     

Supercritical Flow over a Dentated Sill

Experimental analysis concerning supercritical flow over a dentated sill in nonsubmerged conditions and the local scour downstream of this sill is presented. In this case, the energy dissipation is incomplete so that a scour control downstream of the hydraulic structure could be required. The use of this type of dissipation device could be needed in cases where the maximum flow depth upstream of the sill must be limited to satisfy physical or structural conditions. This could happen, for instance, in the restoration of stilling basin in gravity dams and at the outlet of diversion systems. Experimental and theoretical results, useful in the design of this type of stilling basin and scour control, are presented in the paper, with an application to the case of the Molato Dam in Italy.     

Calorimetric and microwave dielectric monitoring of epoxy resin cure

The cure process of a BADGE (diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A) resin (Epon 828) and ethylenediamine has been investigated by means of calorimetry and dielectrometry in the microwave region (10⁷–10¹⁰ Hz) in the temperature range 50 to 70°C. Kinetic data from calorimetry were analyzed in detail. An overall kinetic order of 2.5 has been obtained. The time domain reflectometry (TDR) has been used to characterize pure components and their mixtures. Cure monitoring was carried out with both TDR and a cavity method at fixed frequency (9.5 × 10⁹ Hz). A very good agreement was obtained between the reaction rate as measured by calorimetry and the rate of decrease of dielectric constants up to very high conversion. This was explained by admitting that the rates of disappearance of dielectric dipoles and of reactive species coincided.     

Residential electrical power storage scenario simulations with a large-scale lithium ion battery

The advent of time-of-use (TOU) household electricity prices provides an opportunity for large lithium ion batteries to become a component of residential electrical power equipment for either storage or cogeneration. This project investigates household power use and cogeneration scenarios combined with lithium ion battery technology via simulation. The simulation treats transient battery charge and discharge based on electrochemical fundamentals. The analysis of both storage and cogeneration systems containing a batteries serves to demonstrate economic advantages of these types of power storage, as well as to identify size, materials, and performance criteria suitable for designing a lithium ion battery unit meeting real application demands.     

Photorefractivity of poly-N-vinylindole-based materials as compared with that of poly-N-vinylcarbazole-based blends

The asymmetric two-beam coupling technique has been employed to measure the photorefractivity of thin films of polymer blends containing 2,5-dimethyl-4-(p-nitrophenylazo)anisole as the nonlinear optical component. Poly-(1-vinylindole) and poly-(2,3-dimethyl-1-vinylindole) were the photoconductive polymer counterparts. The values of the photorefractivity are reported. It appears that they are comparable with those of similar blends based on the well-known poly-(9-vinylcarbazole) (PVK), here considered as a reference standard. Careful differential scanning calorimetry analyses have been accomplished on the different blends taken into account to rationalize the significantly longer shelf lifetime of the indolyl-based films with respect to the PVK-based blends.     

Influence of dislocation on magnetic domains in plastically deformed 3% Si-Fe

Characteristic layer-like magnetic domains are observed on many large crystals of a polycrystalline bioriented type     

Calorimetry for Fast Authentication of Edible Oils

There are little data in the literature on how to authenticate edible oils through calorimetry techniques. However, oil melting curves can be used to represent correlations between calorimetric results and oil quality. A calorimetric method has been developed for studying the solid–liquid phase transitions of olive oil and seed oils, in which melting peak behavior is correlated to the type, quality, and composition of the oil. Good reproducible thermograms were obtained by defining precise protocols for use in testing, which take into account the specific characteristics of a particular oil. This approach does not replace classical analytical methods; nevertheless, it is believed that calorimetric tests could be a useful preliminary stage for quality testing. The calorimetric technique allows the detection of the adulterant (seed oils or refined olive oil), oil origin, and possible photo-oxidation degradation processes, before more complex and expensive procedures and analyses are applied.     

Tocopherol speciation as first screening for the assessment of extra virgin olive oil quality by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography/fluorescence detector

A method based on reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detector has been developed for the determination of tocopherols in vegetable oils. Oils were diluted in acetonitrile/tetrahydrofuran (THF) and injected directly onto HyPurity C₁₈ column. Methanol and THF (90:10) mixture was used as a mobile phase. Tocopherols were detected by fluorescence detector. The method had good limit of detection (LOD) (7 ng/g for α-tocopherol and 6 ng/g for β-, γ- and δ-tocopherols) and reproducibility (CV% < 2.8%).     

An approach to planning and control of advanced projects

A conventional approach to project planning is inadequate whenever it is applied either to projects that are outside the standard market conditions, or to those (such as the implementation of important transport systems via offshore pipelines) that are subject to environmental situations outside human control. Under these circumstances, an analytical approach based on appropriate design information and simulation techniques is the management tool that allows an early anticipation of implementation and investment schedules and results in more successful project management. The broad outline of such a scheme used during the implementation of offshore pipeline projects in the Mediterranean Basin and the North Sea is described.