Thermal analysis of the roll in the strip casting process

Coiled strip can be directly produced through the twin-roll strip casting process from the melt by incorporating casting and hot rolling together into a single step. In this unique process, the strip formation from the molten metal critically relies upon the casting rolls. Thus, the design of the rolls is extremely essential. The coupled heat transfer and deformation analysis of the casting roll is carried out in a two-dimensional numerical model, using a finite element program (MARC) to examine the thermal stress and displacement. The effects of several factors such as the nickel overlay thickness on the roll surface, the casting speed, and the roll diameter on thermal characteristics are investigated.     

Fatigue crack growth behavior of Al7050-T7451 attachment lugs under flight spectrum variation

This paper discusses an analytical and experimental investigations of the fatigue crack growth behavior in attachment lugs subjected to a randomized flight-by-flight spectrum. In the analysis, the stress intensity factors for through-the-thickness cracks initiating from lug holes were compared by weight function method, boundary element method (BEM), the interpolation of Brussat’s solution. The stress intensity factors of a corner crack at a transition region were obtained using two parameter weight function method and correction factors. Fatigue life under a load spectrum was predicted using stress intensity factors and Willenborg retardation model considering the effects of a tensile overload. Experiments were performed under a load spectrum and compared with the fatigue life prediction using the stress intensity factors by different methods. Changes of fatigue life and aspect ratio according to the clipping level of the spectrum were discussed through experiment and prediction. Effect of the spectrum clipping level on the fatigue life was experimentally evaluated by using beach marks of fractured surface.     

Instability of a layer op lightly ionized plasma in crossed electric and magnetic fields

In a lightly ionized plasma, charged-particle drift due to collisions with neutral atoms occurs at different velocities: $$\begin{array}{*{20}c} {v_{Ea} = \mp \frac{{b_a E}}{{1 + (\omega _a \tau _a )^2 }},v_{ \bot a} = \frac{{b_a E(\omega _a \tau _a )}}{{1 + (\omega _a \tau _a )^2 }}} \\ {\left( {b_a = \frac{{|e|\tau _a }}{{m_a }},\omega _a = \frac{{|e|\tau _a }}{{m_a }}} \right),} \\ \end{array} $$ where b_a is the mobility of particles of the type a;ω_a is the Larmor frequency; the upper sign refers to electrons and the lower sign to ions. A difference in the charged-particle drift velocities can cause instability of an inhomogeneous lightly ionized plasma. Let us consider the following example. Assume that in the initial state of the plasma there is a concentration gradient along the x-axis, that the external electric field is directed along the x-axis, and that the magnetic field coincides with the z-axis. In this system, under the influence of a Lorentz force the charged particles will move in a direction opposite to the y-axis. Since electrons have a higher velocity than ions, an electric field is induced in this direction. This electric field, together with the magnetic field, causes particle drift in the negative direction of the x-axis. Consequently, if the concentration gradient in the initial state is directed opposite to the x-axis this state cannot be stable. Instability of this kind has been examined by Simon [1]. On the basis of studies by Kadomtsev and Nedospasov [2], as well as by Rosenbluth and Longmire [3], Simon developed a theory of instability of a lightly ionized plasma in crossed fields with an inhomogeneous density distribution in the direction of the external electric field. Somewhat later, Simon's theory was developed [4]. In devices with inhomogeneous plasma flow in which the plasma (conducting) layers alternate with nonconducting layers, the external electric field and concentration are normal to one another. We shall bear this case in mind below and shall examine the instability of a lightly ionized plasma in crossed fields when the concentration inhomogeneity is in a direction perpendicular to the external electric field.     

Axisymmetric impingement of a hot jet on a flat plate: equilibrium flow analysis of high-temperature air

The flow structure of an underexpanded supersonic jet with high reservoir temperature impinging on a flat plate has been numerically investigated using a Total Variation Diminishing (TVD) scheme. When the temperature of the flow field is high enough to cause chemical reaction, the specific heat ratio,, is no longer equal to 1.4, nor constant. This explains the difference found in the literature between the flow properties of the calorically perfect gas and that of the chemically reacting flow. Under the equilibrium flow assumption the effect of high temperature gas on the impinging jet has been taken into account in the present paper by using specific heat ratio and speed of sound given by correlation polynomials of thermodynamic variables. The limiting case of cold jet calculation in the present numerical results agreed well with the existing experimental data. For the equilibrium jet with high reservoir temperature,T _o=1000K, qualitative support of the present result has been provided by means of the approximation theory.This article was processed using Springer-Verlag T_EX Shock Waves macro package 1.0 and the AMS fonts, developed by the American Mathematical Society.     

Culation of partial molar volume and its components for molecular dynamics models of dilute solutions

This paper is a review of our recent computational studies of volumetric characteristics using computer models of dilute solutions. Partial molar volume (PMV) and its components are calculated for simple and complex molecules in water (methane, noble gases, surfactants, polypeptides). Advantages and disadvantages of various computational methods are discussed. It is proposed to use the Voronoi-Delaunay technique to determine the reasonable boundary between a solute molecule and solvent molecules and to identify the PMV components related to the molecule, the boundary layer, and the solvent. It is noted that the observed increase in PMV with temperature for large molecules is due to an increase in the volume of voids in the boundary layer, i.e., due to the “thermal volume.” In this case, the solvent gives a negative contribution to the PMV. In contrast, for simple molecules (methane), the contribution from the solvent is positive and is the main factor in the increase in the PMV, which is associated with a specific change in water structure around a spherical hydrophobic particle outside the boundary layer. For surfactant molecules, the contribution from the solvent changes sign (from negative to positive) with increasing temperature.     

Decoding ‘Maximum Entropy’ Deconvolution

For over five decades, the mathematical procedure termed “maximum entropy” (M-E) has been used to deconvolve structure in spectra, optical and otherwise, although quantitative measures of performance remain unknown. Here, we examine this procedure analytically for the lowest two orders for a Lorentzian feature, obtaining expressions for the amount of sharpening and identifying how spurious structures appear. Illustrative examples are provided. These results enhance the utility of this widely used deconvolution approach to spectral analysis.     

An Application of Inverse Reinforcement Learning to Estimate Interference in Drone Swarms

Despite the increasing applications, demands, and capabilities of drones, in practice they have only limited autonomy for accomplishing complex missions, resulting in slow and vulnerable operations and difficulty adapting to dynamic environments. To lessen these weaknesses, we present a computational framework for deducing the original intent of drone swarms by monitoring their movements. We focus on interference, a phenomenon that is not initially anticipated by drones but results in complicated operations due to its significant impact on performance and its challenging nature. We infer interference from predictability by first applying various machine learning methods, including deep learning, and then computing entropy to compare against interference. Our computational framework begins by building a set of computational models called double transition models from the drone movements and revealing reward distributions using inverse reinforcement learning. These reward distributions are then used to compute the entropy and interference across a variety of drone scenarios specified by combining multiple combat strategies and command styles. Our analysis confirmed that drone scenarios experienced more interference, higher performance, and higher entropy as they became more heterogeneous. However, the direction of interference (positive vs. negative) was more dependent on combinations of combat strategies and command styles than homogeneity.     

Comparative Metabolomic Analysis of Moromi Fermented Using Different Aspergillus oryzae Strains

Aspergillus oryzae (A. oryzae) is an important starter in the fermentation of koji and moromi. However, the effect of different A. oryzae strains on the quality of moromi has rarely been studied. For this reason, this study analyzed the physicochemical properties, enzyme activity, sensory quality, and metabolite profiles of moromi samples fermented using two strains (A. oryzae KCCM12012P (moromi-1) and KCCM12804P (moromi-2)), which were newly isolated from fermented soy foods, and compared them to those of a commercialized A. oryzae strain (control). Amino-type nitrogen contents of moromi-1 and moromi-2 samples were higher than that of control moromi, and their amylase and protease activities were also higher. Moreover, metabolite profiles of moromi were significantly altered according to strains. In particular, the levels of many amino acids, peptides, nucleotides, and acidic compounds were altered, which resulted in changes in the sensory quality of moromi. Although volatile compounds were not investigated, the results suggested that the quality of moromi was significantly different for newly isolated strains, especially A. oryzae KCCM12804P, and they were superior to the commercial strain in terms of taste-related substances. Therefore, these strains could be used as good starters to produce moromi and soy sauce with good sensory quality.     

Functional Characterization of an Arabidopsis Profilin Protein as a Molecular Chaperone under Heat Shock Stress

Profilins (PFNs) are actin monomer-binding proteins that function as antimicrobial agents in plant phloem sap. Although the roles of Arabidopsis thaliana profilin protein isoforms (AtPFNs) in regulating actin polymerization have already been described, their biochemical and molecular functions remain to be elucidated. Interestingly, a previous study indicated that AtPFN2 with high molecular weight (HMW) complexes showed lower antifungal activity than AtPFN1 with low molecular weight (LMW). These were bacterially expressed and purified to characterize the unknown functions of AtPFNs with different structures. In this study, we found that AtPFN1 and AtPFN2 proteins have LMW and HMW structures, respectively, but only AtPFN2 has a potential function as a molecular chaperone, which has never been reported elsewhere. AtPFN2 has better protein stability than AtPFN1 due to its higher molecular weight under heat shock conditions. The function of AtPFN2 as a holdase chaperone predominated in the HMW complexes, whereas the chaperone function of AtPFN1 was not observed in the LMW forms. These results suggest that AtPFN2 plays a critical role in plant tolerance by increasing hydrophobicity due to external heat stress.