Rotational spectra of vibrationally excited CCH and CCD

The millimeter-wave rotational spectra of the lowest bending and stretching vibrational levels of CCH and CCD were observed in a low pressure discharge through acetylene and helium. The rotational, centrifugal distortion, and fine structure constants were determined for the (02(0)0) and (02(2)0) bending states, the (100) and (001) stretching levels, and the (011) combination level of CCH. The same pure bending and stretching levels, and the (110) combination level were observed in CCD. Apparent anomalies in the spectroscopic constants in the bending states were shown to be due to l-type resonances. Hyperfine constants, which in CCH are sensitive to the degree of admixture of the A 2Pi excited electronic state, were determined in the excited vibrational levels of both isotopic species. Theoretical Fermi contact and dipole-dipole hyperfine constants calculated by Peric et al. [J. Mol. Spectrosc. 150, 70 (1991)] were found to be in excellent agreement with the measured constants. In CCD, new rotational lines tentatively assigned to the (100) level largely on the basis of the observed hyperfine structure support the assignment of the C-H stretching fundamental (nu1) by Stephens et al. [J. Mol. Struct. 190, 41 (1988)]. Rotational lines in the excited vibrational levels of CCH are fairly intense in our discharge source because the vibrational excitation temperatures of the bending vibrational levels and the (110) and (011) combination levels are only about 100 K higher than the gas kinetic temperature, unlike the higher frequency stretching vibrations, where the excitation temperatures are five to ten times higher.     

Nonlinear dynamic behavior of a microbeam array subject to parametric actuation at low,medium and large DC-voltages

The dynamic response of parametrically excited microbeam arrays is governed by nonlinear effects which directly influence their performance. To date, most widely used theoretical approaches, although opposite extremes with respect to complexity, are nonlinear lumped-mass and finite-element models. While a lumped-mass approach is useful for a qualitative understanding of the system response it does not resolve the spatio-temporal interaction of the individual elements in the array. Finite-element simulations, on the other hand, are adequate for static analysis, but inadequate for dynamic simulations. A third approach is that of a reduced-order modeling which has gained significant attention for single-element micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), yet leaves an open amount of fundamental questions when applied to MEMS arrays. In this work, we employ a nonlinear continuum-based model to investigate the dynamic behavior of an array of N nonlinearly coupled microbeams. Investigations focus on the array’s behavior in regions of its internal one-to-one, parametric, and several internal three-to-one and combination resonances, which correspond to low, medium and large DC-voltage inputs, respectively. The nonlinear equations of motion for a two-element system are solved using the asymptotic multiple-scales method for the weakly nonlinear system in the afore mentioned resonance regions, respectively. Analytically obtained results of a two-element system are verified numerically and complemented by a numerical analysis of a three-beam array. The dynamic behavior of the two- and three-beam systems reveal several in- and out-of-phase co-existing periodic and aperiodic solutions. Stability analysis of such co-existing solutions enables construction of a detailed bifurcation structure. This study of small-size microbeam arrays serves for design purposes and the understanding of nonlinear nearest-neighbor interactions of medium- and large-size arrays. Furthermore, the results of this present work motivate future experimental work and can serve as a guideline to investigate the feasibility of new MEMS array applications.     

Bifurcations and loss of orbital stability in nonlinear viscoelastic beam arrays subject to parametric actuation

The collective dynamic response of microbeam arrays is governed by nonlinear effects, which have not yet been fully investigated and understood. This work employs a nonlinear continuum-based model in order to investigate the nonlinear dynamic behavior of an array of N nonlinearly coupled micro-electromechanical beams that are parametrically actuated. Investigations focus on the behavior of small size arrays in the one-to-one internal resonance regime, which is generated for low or zero DC voltages. The dynamic equations of motion of a two-element system are solved analytically using the asymptotic multiple-scales method for the weakly nonlinear system. Analytically obtained results are verified numerically and complemented by a numerical analysis of a three-beam array. The dynamic responses of the two- and three-beam systems reveal coexisting periodic and aperiodic solutions. The stability analysis enables construction of a detailed bifurcation structure, which reveals coexisting stable periodic and aperiodic solutions. For zero DC voltage only quasi-periodic and no evidence for the existence of chaotic solutions are observed. This study of small size microbeam arrays yields design criteria, complements the understanding of nonlinear nearest-neighbor interactions, and sheds light on the fundamental understanding of the collective behavior of finite-size arrays.     

Stabilization of a multi-tethered lighter-than-air rigid-body sphere undergoing vortex-induced vibrations in uniform flow

Nonlinear Dynamics - We consider the stabilization of a multi-tethered lighter-than-air sphere undergoing vortex-induced vibrations in uniform flow. Motivated by recent engineering applications, we...     

Total variation diminishing Runge-Kutta schemes

In this paper we further explore a class of high order TVD (total variation diminishing) Runge-Kutta time discretization initialized in a paper by Shu and Osher, suitable for solving hyperbolic conservation laws with stable spatial discretizations. We illustrate with numerical examples that non-TVD but linearly stable Runge-Kutta time discretization can generate oscillations even for TVD (total variation diminishing) spatial discretization, verifying the claim that TVD Runge-Kutta methods are important for such applications. We then explore the issue of optimal TVD Runge-Kutta methods for second, third and fourth order, and for low storage Runge-Kutta methods.