Vibration characteristics of piezoelectric torsional transducers

The vibrational characteristics of Langevin-type torsional transducers, which consist of two piezoelectric torsional disks and two elastic blocks, are studied theoretically and experimentally in this paper. The differential equations of piezoelectric torsional motions are derived in terms of the circumferential displacement and the electric potential. Solutions of the boundary-value problem yield the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the transducers, and the natural frequencies are verified by comparing the numerical results with the experimental ones. The theoretical results enable one to quantitatively predict the effect of the elastic blocks on the reduction of the natural frequencies of a Langevin-type torsional transducer.     

Bandwidth-tunable band-rejection filter based on helicoidal fiber grating pair of opposite helicities

We have developed a new type of all-fiber band-rejection filter consisting of a helicoidal long-period fiber grating pair of opposite helicities, which provides highly flexible spectral control over the rejection bandwidth. The detailed fabrication method and operation principles of the proposed bandwidth-tunable band-rejection filter are described. The proposed device enables unique rejection bandwidth tuning over more than 14 nm at the rejection level of 15 dB, with low insertion loss and polarization-dependent loss achieved by adjusting torsion stress.     

Performance limits of pico-cell systems using radio-over-fiber techniques with an electroabsorption modulator

We investigate the performance limits of a pico-cell system using the radio- over-fiber technique with an electroabsorption modulator (EAM) in a 2.4 GHz wireless local area network (WLAN) environment. To understand the performance limits of the system using an EAM as the optical transceiver, we vary the optical modulation index (OMI) of the transmitter for different bias voltages to the EAM. Power margins in the links are found to estimate a possible service range, and packet loss rates (PLRs) in the pico-cell system are measured to evaluate the transmission performance. The total service range can be extended up to 3 m by adjusting the OMI of the transmitter for different applied bias voltages to the EAM.     

Kinetic stabilization of Fe film on GaAs(1 0 0): An in situ X-ray reflectivity study

We study the growth of Fe films on GaAs(1 0 0) at a low temperature, 140 K, by in situ X-ray reflectivity (XRR) using synchrotron radiation. The XRR curves are well modeled by a single Fe layer on GaAs both at the growth temperature and after annealed at the room temperature. We found that the surface became progressively rougher during the growth with the growth exponent, β_S = 0.43 ± 0.14. The observed β_S is attributed to the restricted interlayer diffusion at the low growth temperature. The change of the interface width during growth was minimal. When the Fe film was annealed to room temperature, the surface smoothed, keeping the interface width almost unchanged. The confinement of the interface derives from that the diffusion of Ga and As proceeds via the inefficient bulk diffusion, and the overlying Fe film is kinetically stabilized.     

Validation of the catalytic properties of Cu-Os/13X using single fixed bed reactor in selective catalytic reduction of NO

Catalytic decomposition of NO over Cu-Os/13X has been carried out in a tubular fixed bed reactor at atmospheric pressure and the results were compared with literature data performed by high-throughput screening (HTS). The activity and durability of Cu-Os/13X prepared by conventional ion-exchange method have been investigated in the presence of H₂O and SO₂. It was found that Cu-Os/13X prepared by ion-exchange shows a high activity in a wide temperature range in selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO with C₃H₆ compared to Cu/13X, proving the existence of more NO adsorption site on Cu-Os/13X. However, Cu-Os/13X exhibited low activity in the presence of water, and was quite different from the result reported in literature. SO₂ resistance is also low and does not recover its original activity when the SO₂ was blocked in the feed gas stream. This result suggested that catalytic activity between combinatorial screening and conventional testing should be compared to confirm the validity of high-throughput screening.     

Beam Recombination Characteristics in Array Laser Amplification Using Stimulated Brillouin Scattering Phase Conjugation

Beam recombination characteristics were numerically investigated in array laser amplification using stimulated Brillouin scattering phase conjugation. To clarify the effect of piston errors due to imperfect phase locking, spatial intensity profiles of the beam recombination output were calculated in both the near and the far field on the basis of Rayleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction theory. The analyses indicate that piston errors are seriously detrimental to the quality of a beam recombination output and should be eliminated by a proper phase locking. It is also found that the gap between the beam splitting-combining wedges has a negligible effect.Presented at 1996 International Workshop on Interferometry (IWI ‘96), August 27-29, Saitama, Japan.     

Polymorphic phase transition and thermal stability in squaric acid (H2C4O4)

Phase transformations in squaric acid (H₂C₄O₄) have been investigated by thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry with different heating rates β. The mass loss in TG apparently begins at onset temperatures T_di=245±5 °C (β=5 °C min^?1), 262±5 °C (β=10 °C min^?1), and 275±5 °C (β=20 °C min^?1). A polymorphic phase transition was recognized as a weak endothermic peak in DSC around 101 °C (T_c⁺). Further heating with β=10 °C min^?1 in DSC revealed deviation of the baseline around 310 °C (T_i), and a large unusual exothermic peak around 355 °C (T_p), which are interpreted as an onset and a peak temperature of thermal decomposition, respectively. The activation energy of the thermal decomposition was obtained by employing relevant models. Thermal decomposition was recognized as a carbonization process, resulting in amorphous carbon.     

Thermal-noise effect on the transition to Rayleigh-Bénard convection

We report measurements of fluctuation and roll patterns near the transition to Rayleigh-Bénard convection which are consistent with a fluctuation-induced first-order transition, as predicted by Swift and Hohenberg. Above onset, we find convection rolls with noise-induced fluctuations, time-dependent amplitude modulation and roll undulation, and homogeneous dislocation nucleation.     

In situ deposition behavior of silica-based layers and its effect on thermal degradation of IN713 turbine blades during operation of a micro-gas turbine

This study examined the in situ deposition behavior of silica-based layers on IN713 turbine blades during the operation of a 13 kgf-class gas turbine at a rotation speed of 20,000/min as well as its effect on the degradation of the metallic substrate. Tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) was mixed with the fuel (liquid petroleum gas, LPG) and burned to generate silica-based coating precursors for deposition from the flame. Two deposition conditions were adopted. For condition 1 (C1), the silicon-to-carbon ratio in the mixed fuel was set at 0.1 mol% for the first 5 min and at zero mol% for the final 95 min in a 100-min operation. For condition 2 (C2), the ratio was set at 0.005 mol% during the entire 100 min operation. The total TEOS feed was the same under both conditions. C1 resulted in a rather uniform and thicker (5-10 μm on the pressure side) porous silica-based coating on the blade than C2. The in situ deposited layer of C1 was well preserved on the blade and protected the underlying metallic substrate from oxidation during the entire 100 min operation. The layer on the C2 blades was ∼5 μm thick at the region near to root, but was too thin in the other areas on the blade to be protective. The early build-up of a porous layer to an effective thickness on the blades produced a thermal barrier toward the substrate as well as a diffusion barrier toward the oxidizing elements during operation.     

Dynamic behavior analysis of cracked rotor

In the present study, the additional slope is used to consider the crack breathing, and is expressed explicitly in the equation of motion as one of the inputs to produce the bending moment at the crack position. Inversely, the additional slope is calculated by integrating on the crack region based on a fracture mechanics concept. The response of a cracked rotor is formulated based on the transfer matrix method. The transient behavior due to the crack breathing is considered by introducing a ‘moving’ Fourier-series expansion concept to the additional slope. The time-varying harmonic components of the additional slope are used to calculate the harmonic responses. The application considered is a general rotor model composed of multiple shafts, disks and cracks, and resilient bearings at both ends. Verification analysis is carried out for a simple rotor model similar to those found in the literature. Using the additional slope, the cracked rotor behavior is explained by the crack depth and rotation speed increase. It is shown that region on the crack front line having the dominant stress intensity factor value moves from the central area to both ends, as the crack depth increases. The result matches well with the crack propagation pattern shown in a bench mark test in the literature. Whirl orbits near the critical and sub-critical speed ranges of the rotor are discussed. It is shown that there exists some speed range near the critical speed, where the temporary whirl direction reversal and phase shift exist. When an unbalance is applied, the peculiar features, such as the whirl direction reversal and phase shift, disappear.