AN UPPER BOUND ON RANDOM BUFFETING FORCES CAUSED BY TWO-PHASE FLOWS ACROSS TUBES

This paper investigates the random buffeting excitation forces that apply to tubes in two-phase cross-flows. The spectral magnitude of these forces is studied with the help of a database that includes most of the available experimental data on direct or indirect force measurements. Different fluid mixtures, namely steam–water, air–water and various types of Freon, as well as different thermohydraulic or geometrical situations are included in the database. Using a formalism similar in principle to that used successfully in the modelling of buffeting in single-phase flows, the scaling of the data is undertaken. While dynamic pressure, viscosity or surface tension are found not to be relevant parameters, gravity forces allow us to define appropriate dimensionless spectra for all cases. The meaning of these parameters as well as the effects of flow regimes or fluid mixtures are discussed. Finally, an upper bound on the magnitude of these forces, which is of practical applicability, is proposed.     

Higgs interchange and bound states of superheavy fermions

Hypothetical superheavy fourth-generation fermions with a very small coupling with the rest of the Standard Model can give rise to long enough lived bound states. The production and the detection of these bound states would be experimentally feasible at the LHC. Extending, in the present study, the analysis of other authors, a semirelativistic wave equation is solved using an accurate numerical method to determine the binding energies of these possible superheavy fermion-bound states. The interaction given by the Yukawa potential of the Higgs boson exchange is considered; the corresponding relativistic corrections are calculated by means of a model based on the covariance properties of the Hamiltonian. We study the effects given by the Coulomb force. Moreover, we calculate the contributions given by the Coulombic and confining terms of the strong interaction in the case of superheavy quark bound states. The results of the model are critically analysed.     

Optical components from a new vitrifying liquid crystal

New low molar mass liquid crystalline vitrifying materials have been synthesized and tested for application in optical films. The molecules were based on spiro compounds derived from pentaerythritol and mesogenic groups derived from cyanobiphenylyl moieties. The resulting materials showed glass transition temperatures as high as 85 degrees C and nematic to isotropic phase transition temperatures up to 222 degrees C. Crystallization from the melt was strongly suppressed. Well-aligned, solid, birefringent layers were obtained from the materials by spincoating. Uniaxially oriented layers with an optic axis tilted with respect to the substrate were obtained by spincoating the liquid crystals on pretilt amplification layers. When an anisotropic dye was incorporated in the liquid crystals, polarizers with a tilted absorption axis were obtained. In addition, the compounds were found to be suitable as hosts for photo-induced reorientation of photo-isomerizable dyes.     

A knowledge-based approach to scheduling in an F.M.S.

This paper reports the development of a computer-based system for production scheduling in a dedicated FMS. The system is based on the state-operator framework commonly used in artificial intelligence. Such a system consists of three components: (i) a knowledge base of states, which describes both the current task domain situation and the goal to be achieved; (ii) a set of operators that are used to manipulate the knowledge base; and (iii) a control strategy to decide which operators to apply next and to resolve conflicts. Some of the interesting features of the scheduling system include: (i) the ability to detect resource conflicts; (ii) the ability to determine alternate routes for a given part in the event of a resource conflict; and (iii) the ability to amend plans if an alternate route is found. These features allow the system to take advantage of the flexible routing for parts that an FMS allows. The system has been implemented using the XLISP programming language. Implementation considerations are discussed. A small but comprehensive example is presented. Further research directions are suggested.     

Pole-placement controllers for linear systems with point delays

This paper presents a robust control algorithm for plants involvingboth internal (i.e. in the state) and external (i.e. in theoutput or input) known point delays. Several stabilizing controllerstructures are given and analysed for the case of perfectlymodelled plants with known parameters. The parametrized partsof two of the controller structures involve delays, while thoseof the two remaining controllers are delay-free. However, auxiliarycompensating signals which weight the plant input and outputintegrals are incorporated in all the controller structuresfor stabilization and model matching purposes.