Modelling,simulation, animation,and real-time control (MoSART) for a class of electromechanical systems: a system-theoretic approach

This paper describes an interactive modelling, simulation, animation, and real-time control (MoSART) environment for a class of ‘cart-pendulum’ electromechanical systems that may be used to enhance learning within differential equations and linear algebra classes. The environment is useful for conveying fundamental mathematical/systems concepts through computer-aided analysis, design, graphical visualization, and 3D animation. Referred to as Cart-Pendulum Control3D-Lab1Control3D-Lab-short for control 3D animation laboratory. The author to whom correspondence should be addressed., the environment is based on Microsoft Windows/Visual C++/Direct-3D and MATLAB/Simulink2MATLAB and Simulant are trademarks of The Masterworks, Inc.. Pull-down menus provide access to systems/models/control laws, exogenous signals, parameters, animation models and visual indicators, a suite of (easy-to-modify) Simulant diagrams containing models and control laws, MATLAB m-files for detailed analysis and design, and detailed documentation for each of the above. Three blocks enable animation, joystick inputs, and real-time animation within Simulant. Examples are presented to illustrate the utility of the environment as a valuable tool for analysing/visualizing the above class of electromechanical systems and for enhancing mathematics instruction.     

The Saffman-Taylor problem for an extremely shear-thinning fluid

We consider a steady flow driven by pushing a finger of gasinto a highly shear-thinning power-law fluid, with exponentn, in a Hele-Shaw channel. We formulate the problem in termsof the streamfunction , which satisfies the p-Laplacian equation (with ), and investigate travelling wave solutions in the large-n (extreme shear-thinning) limit.We take a Legendre transform of the free-boundary problem for, which reduces it to a linear problem on a fixed domain. The solution to this problem is foundby using matched asymptotic expansions and the resulting shapeof the finger deduced (being, to leading order, a semi-infinitestrip). The nonlinear problem for the streamfunction is alsotreated using matched asymptotic expansion in the physical plane.The finger-width selection problem is briefly discussed in termsof our results.     

HUMIC MACROMOLECULES IN NATURAL WATERS

Abstract

Humic substances are the major organic constituents of soils and sediments. They also occur in small concentrations in natural surface waters and groundwaters. They form through the breakdown of plant and animal tissues by chemical and biological processes that tend to produce complex chemical structures that are more stable than the original material from which they were derived. One of the more important characteristics of humic substances is their ability to form water-soluble and water-insoluble complexes with metal ions and hydrous oxides and to interact with clay minerals and various organic compounds such as alkanes, fatty acids, and toxic organic substances such as pesticides.     

Major,minor and trace element mass fractions determined using ED-XRF,WD-XRF and INAA for five certified clay reference materials: NCS DC 60102–60105; NCS DC 61101 (GBW 03101A, 03102A, 03103, and 03115)

Major, minor and trace element mass fractions were determined using wavelength dispersive and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence and instrumental neutron activation analysis for five clay certified reference materials (NCS DC 60102–60105, 61101) distributed by the National Research Center for Certified Reference Materials in China. We report mass fractions for 10 major and the following 29 minor and trace elements: As, Ba, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Eu, Hf, La, Lu, Nb, Nd, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sm, Sr, Ta, Tb, Th, U, V, Y, Yb, Zn, and Zr.     

Isothermal nucleation and growth kinetics of Pd/Ag alloy phase via in situ time-resolved high-temperature X-ray diffraction (HTXRD) analysis

Among several different approaches to form Pd/Ag alloys for hydrogen separation applications, ex situ studies carried out by conventional X-ray point scanning detectors might fail to reveal the key aspects of the phase transformation between Pd and Ag metals. In this respect, in situ time-resolved high-temperature X-ray diffraction (HTXRD) was employed to study the Pd/Ag alloy phase nucleation and growth kinetics. By the use of linear position sensitive detectors, advanced optics and profile fitting with the use of JADE-6.5 software, isothermal phase evolution of the Pd/Ag alloy at 500 °C, 550 °C and 600 °C under hydrogen atmosphere were quantified to elucidate the mechanistic details of the Pd/Ag alloy phase nucleation and growth pattern. Analysis of the HTXRD data by the Avrami model indicated that the nucleation of the Pd/Ag alloy phase was instantaneous where the growth mechanism was through diffusion-controlled one-dimensional thickening of the Pd/Ag alloy layer. The value of the Avrami exponent, n, was found to increase with temperature with the values of 0.34, 0.39 and 0.67 at 500 °C, 550 °C and 600 °C, respectively. In addition, parabolic rate law analysis suggested that the nucleation of the Pd/Ag alloy phase was through a heterogeneous nucleation mode, in which the nucleation sites were defined as the non-equilibrium defects. Indeed, the cross-sectional SEI micrographs indicated that the Pd/Ag alloy phase growth was strongly dependent upon the deposition morphology of the as-synthesized Pd and Ag layers formed by the electroless plating. Based on the Avrami model and the parabolic rate law, the estimated activation energies for the phase transformation were 236.5 kJ/mol and 185.6 kJ/mol and in excellent agreement with the literature values (183–239.5 kJ/mol). Finally, the in situ annealing of the 15.6 μm thick composite Pd/Ag/PSS membrane at 550 °C in hydrogen atmosphere indicated that the Pd/Ag alloy phase formation was not complete even after 500 h. According to the Avrami model, the increase in the hydrogen permeance from 7.1 m³/m² h atm^0.5 to 21.3 m³/m² h atm^0.5 at 550 °C over a period of 500 h corresponded to an 83% Pd/Ag alloy phase formation.     

The single-mode rate equations for semiconductor lasers with thermal effects

A mathematical model describing the coupling of electrical,optical and thermal effects in semiconductor lasers is introduced.Numerical and asymptotic solutions are derived, including expressionsfor key physical quantities such as the initial time delay,the frequency of spike oscillation and the temperature rise,together with its influence on the photon density, the electronconcentration and the threshold current. The consequences ofthermal effects in reducing efficiency are thus quantified.