Linear and non-linear pulse propagation in fluid-filled compliant tubes

Summary Here we study impact-initiated disturbances in fluid-filled elastic tubes. The undeformed tube diameter, wall thickness, and elastic modulus of the tube material are assumed to be functions of the distance along the centre line of the tube. The linearized version of the governing equations are solved by the Laplace transform, which is inverted by means of an approximate method. The original non-linear system of governing equations is solved numerically by the method of characteristics. Relationships between the axial fluid velocity and axial coordinate as well as between velocity and time are displayed for fixed values of time and axial coordinate respectively for the linear and nonlinear theory for ease of comparison.

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Sommario Si studiano le perturbazioni prodotte da impatto in tubi elastici riempiti di fluidi. Si assume che il diametro del tubo indeformato, lo spessore della parete e il modulo elastico del materiale del tubo siano funzioni della distanza misurata lungo la linea centrale del tubo. La versione linearizzata delle equazioni che governano il fenomeno è risolta con la trasformata di Laplace, invertita con un metodo approssimato. Il sistema originale non lineare delle equazioni è risolto numericamente con il metodo delle caratteristiche. Vengono rappresentate, per valori fissati del tempo e della coordinata assiale, le relazioni tra la velocità assiale del fluido e la coordinata assiale oltre alle relazioni fra velocità e tempo, sia per la teoria lineare sia per quella non lineare.

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Torsional-mode transients in variable-thickness shells of revolution

For thin shells of revolution the existence of torsional-vibration modes, uncoupled from bending and extensional modes, has been established[1]. Here a linear second-order differential equation for the uncoupled torsional stress mode is obtained and its solution for impact loading of shells is sought. The mode-superposition method which utilizes the natural modes of vibration predicted by elementary theory, is, in general, not satisfactory for sharp impact loading as many modes are often required for convergence. Hence we employ two novel techniques for solving the impact problems. Firstly a formal asymptotic procedure, based on extensions to geometrical optics, is employed to generate asymptotic wavefront expansions. Rigorous justifications for this formal technique are provided in an appendix. Secondly a transform technique whereby solutions are sought in terms of Bessel functions is discussed and applied to particular impact loading problems. The Bessel function solutions found here can be used to determine the natural frequencies of the shells. Shells both finite and infinite in extent are discussed and reflections at a stress-free end are examined.     

Influence of vent positions on smoke clearance from a room

Results of solutions to the equations governing the clearance of smoke in laminar and in turbulent flow from a single rectilinear room are presented fof five different vent arrangements. These results show that the average smoke concentration in the room decreases in an approximately exponential manner with time at a rate that depdends much more on room geometry (vent positions in the present case) than on whether the flow is laminar or turbulent. The benefit of this observation is that, provided the clearance air jet is disrupted by impingement on a solid surface within the room, the analysis of smoke movement can for many practical purposes be limited to consideration of laminar flow only. An exceptional case is when the jet is allowed to take a straight line path between the inlet and outlet vents. Here in the absence of the large scale eddies caused by jet impingement, the smaller scale eddies of turbulent flow become relatively important as a mixing mechanism and give higher clearance rates than in laminar flow. Even so, this type of geometry is best avoided. The appearance of the jet is shown in a graphic presentation of the numerical results for laminar flow.     

Application of a new focused microwave technology with species-specific isotope dilution analysis for the quantitative extraction of organometallic contaminants in solid environmental matrices

A new self-tuning single-mode-focused microwave technology has been evaluated in this work to perform the quantitative routine extraction of organometallic species from solid matrices of environmental interest. Species-specific isotope dilution analysis has been employed to better investigate the real influence of the microwave-assisted extractions on the final results. The advantages of such methodology in comparison with other established microwave units for the routine speciation analysis of organomercury and organotin compounds are discussed (such as the capability of using disposable glass vials, a self-tuning mode to provide an accurate control of the temperature and pressure inside of the vials, and the possibility of performing automated sequence of extractions with low sample size). The results obtained in this work demonstrated that such technology provides a fast and reliable quantitative extraction of the organometallic species in a wide range of extraction conditions even when the multi-elemental (Sn and Hg) species-specific determination is carried out.     

MODELS OF HOST-PARASITOID INTERACTIONS TO DETERMINE THE OPTIMAL INSTAR OF PARASITIZATION FOR PEST CONTROL

Four models are presented to investigate the effects of the host instar that is parasitized on host equilibrium numbers. The models are age structured and density dependent. The models indicate that the equilibrium density of adult hosts is a positive function of the host age at attack. This result is independent of the host survivorship curve. The effects of the other parameters are outlined, and compared for the various positions of density dependence. The equilibria of both parasitoids and hosts are generally larger when density dependence is in the parasitoids than when in the hosts. Numerical runs indicate that the birth rate and stage-specific survivorship of the hosts are the most important parameters of the system in determining both stability around equilibrium and the host growth rate below equilibrium.     

Understanding the electron-stimulated surface reactions of organometallic complexes to enable design of precursors for electron beam-induced deposition

Standard practice in electron beam-induced deposition (EBID) is to use precursors designed for thermal processes, such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD). However, organometallic precursors that yield pure metal deposits in CVD often create EBID deposits with high levels of organic contamination. This contamination negatively impacts the deposit’s properties (e.g., by increasing resistivity or decreasing catalytic activity) and severely limits the range of potential applications for metal-containing EBID nanostructures. To provide the information needed for the rational design of precursors specifically for EBID, we have employed an ultra-high vacuum (UHV) surface science approach to identify the elementary reactions of organometallic precursors during EBID. These UHV studies have demonstrated that the initial electron-induced deposition of the surface-bound organometallic precursors proceeds through desorption of one or more of the ligands present in the parent compound. In specific cases, this deposition step has been shown to proceed via dissociative electron attachment, involving low-energy secondary electrons generated by the interaction of the primary beam with the substrate. Electron beam processing of the surface-bound species produced in the initial deposition event usually causes decomposition of the residual ligands, creating nonvolatile fragments. This process is believed to be responsible for a significant fraction of the organic contaminants typically observed in EBID nanostructures. A few ligands (e.g., halogens) can, however, desorb during electron beam processing while other ligands (e.g., PF₃, CO) can thermally desorb if elevated substrate temperatures are used during deposition. Using these general guidelines for reactivity, we propose some design strategies for EBID precursors. The ultimate goal is to minimize organic contamination and thus overcome the key bottleneck for fabrication of relatively pure EBID nanostructures.     

COMBINING METHODS OF PEST CONTROL: COMPLEMENTARITY OF METHODS AND A GUIDING PRINCIPLE

Four sets of models are examined which represent various pairwise combinations of several methods of pest control. These methods involve the release of sterile male pests, the inundative release of parasitoids, insecticide application, pheromone trapping and food-baited trapping with either insecticides or sterilants. It was observed that two pest control methods will combine synergistically, and thus be complimentary, if their optimal action is at different pest densities and varies differently with pest density. The synergism thus generated by differing dependence on density, can however, be obscured if the two control methods interfere with each other in some other way, as occurs for example with the use of both insecticides and inundative release of parasitoids.