Uniqueness and stability of steady states of continuous chemical reactors

We examine the uniqueness and stability of the solutions to the problem of steady-state operation of a continuous chemical reactor in which longitudinal diffusion and heat conduction are taken into account. We investigate an adiabatic reactor in which the concentration and temperature distributions are similar (the thermal diffusivity and diffusion coeffecient are equal) and an isothermic reactor. These two cases are considered together because the mathematical formulations of the problem are equivalent.The question of the existence and number of steady states was analyzed in [1, 2], where references were made to earlier investigations. The results obtained in [1, 2] are now extended. The stability of the steady states is investigated by the small-perturbation method.     

Untersuchung der verdickung von latex-dispersionen durch ethylacrylat-methacrylsäure-copolymere

Zusammenfassung Es wurden dynamische and stationdre Scherversuche durchgeführt, um den Verdickungseinfluß von Copolymeren aus Ethylacrylat and 15, 40 bzw. 65 Gew. % Methacrylsdure auf Latex-Dispersionen aus Ethylacrylat mit 0 bzw. 1 Gew. % Acrylsaure zu untersuchen. Nach Überschreiten eines Schwellwertes der Verdickungsmittelkonzentration, welche mit dem Sauregehalt im Verdickungsmittel und im Latex abnahm, wurde ein starker Anstieg des Speicher-und Verlust-Moduls (G and G) sowie der Fließgrenze und der Thixotropie beobachtet. Gleichzeitig wurde ein Überwiegen der viskosen Eigenschaften sowie eine zunehmende Flockulationsfähigkeit des Verdickungsmittels festgestellt. Bei größerem Säuregehalt im Latex überwogen die elastischen Eigenschaften, gleichzeitig erhöhte sich die Bestandigkeit gegen Flockulation. Die Verdickungswirkung der unterschiedlich zusammengesetzen Systeme wird durch die Ausbildung einer Raumnetzstruktur erklärt. Das Flockulationsverhalten wird auf Änderungen der Ladung und des freien Volumens zurückgeführt.

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The thickening effect of latices of ethylacrylate-methacrylic acid copolymers (15, 40, and 65 wt. % of the acid) on latices of ethylacrylate-acrylic acid copolymers (0 and 1 wt. % of the acid) was studied by using dynamic and steady shear flow measurement. It was found that beyond a certain concentration of the thickener the storage modulus G, the loss modulus G, the yield stress values, and thixotropic behavior rapidly increased. At the same time, viscous properties and the flocculation ability of the thickeners prevailed. On the contrary, an increase in acid content in the latex made the elastic properties and flocculation resistance of the system more pronounced. The thickening effect is explained by the formation of an ordered structure. The flocculation behavior is explained by changes of the electrical charge and the free volume.

Teilweise vorgetragen an der Jahrestagung der Deutschen Rheologischen Gesellschaft, 13.–15. Mai 1991, Berlin.     

On the receptivity and nonparallel stability of traveling disturbances in rotating-disk flow

The generation and evolution of small amplitude long wavelength traveling disturbances in rotating-disk flow is the subject of this paper. The steady rotational speed of the disk is perturbed so as to introduce high-frequency oscillations in the flow field. Secondly, we introduce surface imperfections on the disk such as roughness elements. The interaction of these two disturbances will generate the instability waves whose evolution is governed by parabolic partial differential equations which are solved numerically. It is found that, for the class of disturbances considered here (wavelength on the order of Reynolds number), eigensolutions exist which decay or grow algebraically in the radial direction. However, these solutions grow only for frequencies larger than 4.58 times the steady rotational speed of the disk. The computed receptivity coefficient shows that there is an optimum size of roughness for which these modes are preferentially excited. The width of these roughness elements in the radial direction is about 0.1r ₀ ^* where r ₀ ^* is the radial location of the roughness. It is also found that the receptivity coefficient is larger for a negative spanwise wave number than for a positive one. The cumulative wave pattern produced from the roughness site shows that the typical wave angles for these disturbances are about –26° with about seven waves around the circumference. This is in contrast with the wave angles of 10°–14° found for the 30 or so inviscid cross-flow vortices.This work was sponsored by NASA Langley Research Center under Contracts NAS1-18240 (P.B. and M.R.M.) and NAS1-18605 (P.H.).     

Speckle-interferometric camera for displacement measurements

A simple setup of standard optical elements comparable to a shearographic camera can be used to record speckle interferograms with a fast lens. Rigid-body translations of the object are compensated for by a reference mirror attached to the object; the method requires only moderate stability and resolution of the storage medium (film). Interferogram reconstruction is possible with white light. Hence the method unites advances of different holographic and speckle-interferometric setups.     

Shape of a shock wave diffracted by a rounded corner

The diffraction of shock waves by rounded corners has been studied experimentally. Some features introduced by the rounding of the corner in the profile of the diffracted shock wave are found. The velocity of the wall part of the diffracted shock wave in the flat section after the rounding is determined. The unsteady motion of a shock wave along a cylindrical surface is considered.     

An interferometric investigation of the effect of separation distance and temperature imbalance on natural convection for two horizontal cylinders at moderate Rayleigh numbers

An experimental investigation has been carried out to study the natural convection interaction between a pair of horizontal cylinders located directly one above the other. It is found that the presence of the upper cylinder has negligible effect on the heat transfer rate from the lower cylinder, thus attention has been given on the heat transfer characteristics from the upper cylinder The ratio S/D of the center-to-center separation distance was varied from three to six by a step of one. The temperature imbalance ΔT₁/ΔT₂ was also varied independently. The experiments were conducted with Rayleigh numbers varying from 6300 to 13000. It was found that maximum enhancement of the heat transfer from the upper cylinder for a given ratio S/D depends primarily from the temperature imbalance ΔT₁/ΔT₂ and weakly from the Rayleigh number. The experimental results for the maximum enhancement, can be presented fairly well by the empirical formula (ΔT₁/ΔT₂)_op=0.136(S/D)^0.75 for 2≦S/D≦6, 1000≦Ra≦200000. The findings of this investigation agree closely with those previously reported in the literature.     

Motion of bed-loads under the influence of flow of a liquid

Equations are obtained for the motion of a water-soil mixture in the layer next to the base. The water-soil mixture is modeled by means of a viscous-friable medium, and the acceleration of the mixture is assumed to be small and is not taken into account. The validity of the equations is confirmed by the experimental data for the following characteristics of uniform motion of a flow: for the speed of the start of particles touching on an even bed and with allowance for inclines of a bed, and also for the flow rate of loads on an even bed.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 2, pp. 182–185.The author is grateful to A. G. Kulikovskii, V. Ya. Shkadov, and M. É. Églit for discussing the results of the study.     

A machine for static and dynamic triaxial testing

A machine has been developed for studying the static and dynamic triaxial constitutive behavior of large specimens of geologic and construction materials. Test specimens can also contain a cylindrical tunnel cavity to permit study of tunnel-reinforcement structures and rock-structure interaction. The specimens are 0.3 m in diameter and 0.3 to 0.45 m high; the model tunnels can be up to 50 mm in diameter. Static and dynamic triaxial loads can be applied with maximum pressures of 200 MPa in static tests and 100 MPa in dynamic tests. Dynamic loading can also be superimposed on a static preload as large as 20 MPa. To facilitate study of tunnel reinforcement, the tunnel is maintained at ambient pressure, with access at both ends for instrumentation and photography. Example results show the influence on tunnel deformation of loading rate as well as the presence of joints and their orientation. For a given allowable tunnel closure, substantially greater pressures can be sustained under dynamic loading than under static loading, and substantially greater pressures can be sustained by an intact specimen than by a jointed specimen.