Numerical simulation of the interaction between flow and flexible nets

A numerical approach is proposed to simulate the interaction between flow and flexible nets in steady current. The numerical approach is based on the joint use of the porous-media model and the lumped-mass model. The configuration of flexible nets can be simulated using the lumped-mass model and the flow field around fishing nets can be simulated using the porous-media model. Using an appropriate iterative scheme, the fluid–structure interaction problem can be solved and the steady flow field around flexible nets can be obtained. In order to validate the numerical models, the numerical results were compared with the data obtained from corresponding physical model tests. The comparisons show that the numerical results are in good agreement with the experimental data. Using the proposed numerical approach, this paper presents the flow field around a single flexible net and two flexible nets with a spacing distance. Both the configuration of the flexible nets and the flow velocity results are in accordance with those of the corresponding physical model tests.     

Study of broad bandwidth vibrational energy harvesting system with optimum thickness of PET substrate

In this paper, we present the development of a flexible PET-based (polyethylene terephthalate; PET) vibrational energy harvesting system with broad bandwidth. This broad bandwidth harvesting system comprises of four units of individual ZnO (zinc oxide) piezoelectric harvester in the form of a cantilever structure connected in parallel, and rectifying circuit with storage module. This system has ability to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy from the varying ambient vibration. The design and simulation of a piezoelectric cantilever plate was described by using commercial software ANSYS FEA (Finite Element Analysis) to determine the optimum thickness of PET substrate, internal stress distribution, operation frequency and electric potential. With the optimum thickness predicted by developed accurate analytical formula analysis, the one-way mechanical strain that is efficient to enhance the induced electric potential can be controlled within the piezoelectric ZnO layer. In addition, the relationship among the model solution of piezoelectric cantilever plate equation, vibration-induced electric potential and electric power was realized. An individual piezoelectric harvester consists of flexible PET substrate, piezoelectric ZnO thin film with (002) c-axis preferred orientation, and selectively deposited UV-curable resin lump structure which is used to change the resonant frequency of the harvester. In combination with multi-harvesters and rectifying with storage module together, an energy harvesting system with broad bandwidth can be fabricated. One individual harvester achieves a maximum OCV (open-circuit voltage) up to 4 V with power density of 1.247 μW/cm³. So far, we succeeded in accomplishing a broad bandwidth system with operating frequency range within 100 Hz-450 Hz to enhance powering efficiency. When the DC voltage (direct current voltage) across a storage module is charged up to 1.55 V after rectification, a flash LED (light emitting diode) is driven.     

Assembly of a new circle connecting circle chain through exerting the template role of a Keggin polyoxometalate

By using the flexible bis(triazole) ligand 1,2-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)ethane (bte), a polyoxometalate-templated compound, [Zn₂(bte)₄(SiW₁₂O₄₀)]·2H₂O (1), was synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. The compound was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. Compound 1 is constructed from two motifs: the [SiW₁₂O₄₀]^4? polyanion and a bi-nuclear metal-organic circle [Zn₂(bte)₂]⁴⁺. The polyanion exerts a template role, inducing the formation of the bi-nuclear circle. The circles build a 1-D circle connecting circle chain through sharing the same Zn ions. Adjacent circles in the chain are vertical with each other. The template polyanion is surrounded by four circles from four different 1-D chains, forming a 3-D supramolecular structure.     

Construction of three 2-D silver(I) coordination architectures with a flexible pyrazine-based ligand

To investigate the impact of weak intermolecular interactions in construction of metal–organic frameworks, three silver(I) coordination complexes with the flexible N-heterocyclic ligand 1-((2-pyrazinyl)-1H-benzoimidazol-1-yl)methyl)-1H-benzotriazole (PBMBT), {Ag(C₁₈H₁₃N₇)NO₃} _n (1), {Ag(C₁₈H₁₃N₇)ClO₄} _n (2), and {Ag(C₁₈H₁₃N₇)SO₃CF₃} _n (3), were prepared under solvothermal conditions and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, IR spectrum, and elemental analyses. Complexes 1–3 exhibit 2-D reticulate structures, and these 2-D layers are further connected into 3-D supramolecular motifs by π···π interactions and hydrogen bonds. Luminescence indicates that 1–3 show analogous fluorescent emissions compared with the PBMBT in the solid state at room temperature.     

Syntheses,structures, and photoluminescence of three cadmium(II) coordination polymers with flexible bis(benzimidazole) ligands

Three cadmium(II) coordination polymers, [CdBr₂(L₁)] _n (1), [CdI₂(L₂)] _n (2), and Cd₂Br₄(L₃)₂ (3), where L₁?=?1,3-bis(5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole)propane, L₂?=?1,4-bis(5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole)butane, and L₃?=?1,6-bis(5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole)hexane, have been synthesized by hydrothermal methods and characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra, TGA, PXRD, and X-ray crystallographic diffraction. Complex 1 contains a 1-D helical chain in which CdBr₂ units are linked by L₁. For 2, each CdI₂ is connected by two different conformations of L₂ to form a 1-D zigzag chain. For 3, each CdBr₂ is linked by L₃ bridges to afford a binuclear structure. These results indicate that the spacer length of the ligands play important roles in assembly of Cd(II) coordination polymers. Thermogravimetric analyses and solid-state luminescent properties of the complexes have also been investigated.     

Preparation of chemically sintered ZnO films and their application in dye sensitized solar cells formed on plastic substrates

Meso-porous zinc oxide films were prepared on tin-doped indium oxide-coated, polyethelene naphthalate substrates from binder-free ZnO slurry. The reaction with ammonium hydroxide was found to increase connection between ZnO grains by forming a nano-rod like structure followed by heating at 150 °C. The enhancement of adhesion among ZnO grains was evaluated using a nano-scratch technique. Two different xanthene dyes were used to sensitize ZnO electrodes, with a photo-voltage of 657 mV, fill-factor of 73% and photo-current of 4.1 mA cm⁻² with a maximum light to-electrical energy conversion efficiency of 2.0% being obtained for the plastic based ZnO|mercurochrome|electrolyte solar cell under 1 sun.     

Heteroclinic bifurcations in completely liquid-filled spacecraft with flexible appendage

In this paper, the chaotic dynamics in an attitude transition maneuver of a rigid body with a completely liquid-filled cavity in going from minor axis to major axis spin under the influence of viscous damping and a small flexible appendage constrained to undergo only torsional vibration is investigated. The focus in this paper is on the way in which the dynamics of the liquid and flexible appendage vibration are coupled. The equations of motion are derived and then transformed into a form suitable for the application of Melnikov's method. Melnikov's integral is used to predict the transversal intersections of the stable and unstable manifolds for the perturbed system. An analytical criterion for chaotic motion is derived in terms of the system parameters. This criterion is evaluated for its significance to the design of spacecraft. The dependence of the onset of chaos on quantities such as body shape and magnitude of damping values, fuel fraction and frequency of flexible appendage vibration are investigated.     

Deployment/retrieval optimization for flexible tethered satellite systems

A methodology for deployment/retrieval optimization of tethered satellite systems is presented. Previous research has focused on the case where the tether is modeled as an inelastic, straight rod for the determination of optimal system trajectories. However, the tether shape and string vibrations can often be very important, particularly when the deployment/retrieval speed changes rapidly, or when external forces such as aerodynamic drag or electrodynamic forces are present. An efficient mathematical model for flexible tethered systems is first derived, which treats the tether as composed of a system of lumped masses connected via inelastic links. A tension control law is presented based on a discretization of the tether length dynamics via Chebyshev polynomials. A scheme that minimizes the second derivative of length over the trajectory based on physically meaningful coefficients is presented. This is utilized in conjunction with evolutionary optimization methods to minimize the rigid body and flexible modes of the system during deployment/retrieval. It is shown that only a very small number of parameters are required to generate accurate trajectories. The results are compared to the case where the tether is modeled as a straight rod.     

Dynamics, chaos and synchronization of self-sustained electromechanical systems with clamped-free flexible arm

An electromechanical system with flexible arm is considered. The mechanical part is a linear flexible beam and the electrical part is a nonlinear self-sustained oscillator. Oscillatory solutions are obtained using an averaging method. Chaotic behavior is studied via the Lyapunov exponent. The synchronization of regular and chaotic states of two such devices is discussed and the stability boundaries for the synchronization process are derived using the Floquet theory. We compare the results obtained from a finite difference simulation to those from the classical modal approach.     

Active control and experiment study of a flexible hub-beam system

The first-order approximation coupling （FOAC） model was proposed recently for dynamics and control of flexible hub-beam systems. This model may deal with system dynamics for both low and high rotation speed, while the classical zeroth-order approximation coupling （ZOAC） model is only available for low rotation speed. This paper assumes the FOAC model to present experimental study of active positioning control of a flexible hub-beam system. Linearization and nonlinear control strategies are both considered. An experiment system based on a DSP TMS320F2812 board is introduced. The difference between linearization and nonlinear control strategies are studied both numerically and experimentally. Simulation and experimental results indicate that, linearized controller can make the system reach an expected position with suppressed vibration of flexible beam, but the time taken to position is longer than expected, whereas nonlinear controller works well with precise positioning, suppression of vibration and time control.