Capacitance estimate for electrostatically actuated narrow microbeams

A novel estimate for the line-to-ground capacitance that accurately predicts the pull-in instability parameters for narrow electrostatically actuated microbeams is proposed. Parameters in the proposed formula are obtained by least square fitting data from a fully converged numerical solution with the method of moments. For a narrow microbeam, it is shown that the new formula significantly improves upon classical formulas that neglect fringing field effects due to the finite thickness of the microbeam cross-section     

Battery-operated STM

A scanning tunnelling microscope operating with ±12 V is described. A scanning range higher than 1 μm is achieved in the three orthogonal scanning directions for that low voltage. This translator arrangement, based on the use of piezoelectric discs mounted on metallic circular plates acting like flat springs, may provide a better performance than the tube scanners or rectangular bimorphs since it allows a greater volume to be run by the tip for a given voltage.     

Free and Forced Vibrations of a Segmented Bar by a Meshless Local Petrov–Galerkin (MLPG) Formulation

We use the meshless local Bubnov–Galerkin (MLPG6) formulation to analyze free and forced vibrations of a segmented bar. Three different techniques are employed to satisfy the continuity of the axial stress at the interface between two materials: Lagrange multipliers, jump functions, and modified moving least square basis functions with discontinuous derivatives. The essential boundary conditions are satisfied in all cases by the method of Lagrange multipliers. The related mixed semidiscrete formulations are shown to be stable, and optimal in the sense that the ellipticity and the inf-sup (Babuška-Brezzi) conditions are satisfied. Numerical results obtained for a bimaterial bar are compared with those from the analytical, and the finite element methods. The monotonic convergence of first two natural frequencies, first three mode shapes, and a static solution in the L ², and H ¹ norms is shown. The relative error in the numerical solution for a transient problem is also very small.     

Modeling of a confinement bypass accident with CONSEN,a fast-running code for safety analyses in fusion reactors

The CONSEN (CONServation of ENergy) code is a fast running code to simulate thermal-hydraulic transients, specifically developed for fusion reactors. In order to demonstrate CONSEN capabilities, the paper deals with the accident analysis of the magnet induced confinement bypass for ITER design 1996. During a plasma pulse, a poloidal field magnet experiences an over-voltage condition or an electrical insulation fault that results in two intense electrical arcs. It is assumed that this event produces two one square meters ruptures, resulting in a pathway that connects the interior of the vacuum vessel to the cryostat air space room. The rupture results also in a break of a single cooling channel within the wall of the vacuum vessel and a breach of the magnet cooling line, causing the blow down of a steam/water mixture in the vacuum vessel and in the cryostat and the release of 4 K helium into the cryostat. In the meantime, all the magnet coils are discharged through the magnet protection system actuation. This postulated event creates the simultaneous failure of two radioactive confinement barrier and it envelopes all type of smaller LOCAs into the cryostat. Ice formation on the cryogenic walls is also involved. The accident has been simulated with the CONSEN code up to 32 h. The accident evolution and the phenomena involved are discussed in the paper and the results are compared with available results obtained using the MELCOR code.     

Transverse harmonic oscillations of laminae in viscous fluids: a lattice Boltzmann study

In this paper, we use the lattice Boltzmann method with the Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook linear collision operator to study the flow physics induced by a rigid lamina undergoing moderately large harmonic oscillations in a viscous fluid. We propose a refill procedure for the hydrodynamic quantities in the lattice sites that are in the vicinity of the oscillating lamina. The numerically estimated flow field is used to compute the complex hydrodynamic function that describes the added mass and hydrodynamic damping experienced by the lamina. Results of the numerical simulations are validated against theoretical predictions for small amplitude vibrations and experimental and numerical findings for moderately large oscillations.     

Circuit analog of a beam and its application to multimodal vibration damping,using piezoelectric transducers

In this paper we solve the synthesis problem of finding a completely passive electric circuit analog to a vibrating beam. The synthesis problem is of interest when one wants to suppress beam mechanical vibrations by using distributed piezoelectric transduction. Indeed, an effective electromechanical energy transduction is guaranteed when the electric circuit (interconnecting the transducers' terminals) is resonant at all mechanical resonance frequencies and is able to mimic all the mechanical modal shapes. The designed electric circuit behaves as an electric controller of mechanical vibrations (i.e. an electric vibration damper) once suitably endowed with a set of resistors. Because of its completely passive nature, it does not require external power units and stands as an economical means of controlling vibrations. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modelling and predicting the effect of social distancing and travel restrictions on COVID-19 spreading

To date, the only effective means to respond to the spreading of the COVID-19 pandemic are non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), which entail policies to reduce social activity and mobility restrictions. Quantifying their effect is difficult, but it is key to reducing their social and economic consequences. Here, we introduce a meta-population model based on temporal networks, calibrated on the COVID-19 outbreak data in Italy and applied to evaluate the outcomes of these two types of NPIs. Our approach combines the advantages of granular spatial modelling of meta-population models with the ability to realistically describe social contacts via activity-driven networks. We focus on disentangling the impact of these two different types of NPIs: those aiming at reducing individuals’ social activity, for instance through lockdowns, and those that enforce mobility restrictions. We provide a valuable framework to assess the effectiveness of different NPIs, varying with respect to their timing and severity. Results suggest that the effects of mobility restrictions largely depend on the possibility of implementing timely NPIs in the early phases of the outbreak, whereas activity reduction policies should be prioritized afterwards.     

严肃设计与特定表意

Abrouq号，这艘华丽的游船是由意大利比萨的一家造船所受中东某国的委托而设计的，主要用于在波斯湾海区的游览娱乐。室内设计由Ivana Porfiri设计完成，Ivana Porfiri是近年来在豪华游船室内设计上具有丰富经验的专业设计师。