Improving the detection of tectonic transients in Japan by accounting for Earth's deformation response to surface mass loading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martens, H. R.; Simons, M.; Moore, A. W.; Owen, S. E.; Rivera, L. A.

2016-12-01

We explore the contributions of oceanic, atmospheric, and hydrologic mass loading to Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-inferred observations of surface displacements in Japan. Surface mass loading (SML) generates mm- to cm-level deformation of the solid Earth on time scales of hours to years, which exceeds the measurement uncertainties of most GNSS position estimates. By improving the efficiency and accuracy of the prediction and empirical estimation of SML response, we aim to reduce the variance of GNSS time series and therefore enhance the ability to resolve subtle tectonic signals, such as aseismic transients associated with subduction zone processes. Using the GIPSY software in precise point positioning mode, we estimate time series of sub-daily receiver positions for the GNSS Earth Observation Network System (GEONET) in Japan. We also model the Earth's elastic deformation response to a variety of surface mass loads, including loads of atmospheric (e.g., ECMWF) and oceanic (e.g., TPXO8-Atlas, ECCO2) origin. We extract periodic signals, such as the ocean tides and seasonal variations in hydrological loading, using harmonic analysis. Deformation caused by non-periodic loads, such as non-tidal oceanic and atmospheric loads, can be predicted and removed to further reduce the variance. We seek to streamline the workflow for estimating SML-induced surface displacements from a variety of sources in order to account for loading signals in routine GNSS data processing, thereby improving the ability to assess the mechanics of plate boundaries.

The von Mises stress distribution on the surface of UHMWPE with texture-shaped variation in the presence of normal load and dry sliding contact

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lestari, W. D.; Jamari, J.; Bayuseno, A. P.

2017-04-01

The texture shapes play a key role in the tribological performance of the surface material. This paper presents a study on the use of the 3D finite element method for surface stress analysis on the different texture shape under load and dry sliding contact. The five texture-shaped model was investigated in this work, namely square, circle, ellipse, triangle, and chevron. The result shown that the square shape has the highest value of von Mises resultant stress under static load. In contrast, the dry sliding contact on the triangle shape provided the highest von Mises stress distribution. The lowest value of von Mises stress can be found in the texture pattern of circle, square, and chevron under influence of load for 17 N, 30 N, and 50 N, respectively. Those texture patterns applied to surface of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) may have a strong effect on the reduction of wear rate and enhance tribological performance.

Analysis of surface cracks in finite plates under tension or bending loads

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Newman, J. C., Jr.; Raju, I. S.

1979-01-01

Stress-intensity factors calculated with a three-dimensional, finite-element analysis for shallow and deep semielliptical surface cracks in finite elastic isotropic plates subjected to tension or bending loads are presented. A wide range of configuration parameters was investigated. The ratio of crack depth to plate thickness ranged from 0.2 to 0.8 and the ratio of crack depth to crack length ranged from 0.2 to 2.0. The effects of plate width on stress-intensity variations along the crack front was also investigated. A wide-range equation for stress-intensity factors along the crack front as a function of crack depth, crack length, plate thickness, and plate width was developed for tension and bending loads. The equation was used to predict patterns of surface-crack growth under tension or bending fatigue loads. A modified form of the equation was also used to correlate surface-crack fracture data for a brittle epoxy material within + or - 10 percent for a wide range of crack shapes and crack sizes.

Thermal load leveling during silicon crystal growth from a melt using anisotropic materials

DOEpatents

Carlson, Frederick M.; Helenbrook, Brian T.

2016-10-11

An apparatus for growing a silicon crystal substrate comprising a heat source, an anisotropic thermal load leveling component, a crucible, and a cold plate component is disclosed. The anisotropic thermal load leveling component possesses a high thermal conductivity and may be positioned atop the heat source to be operative to even-out temperature and heat flux variations emanating from the heat source. The crucible may be operative to contain molten silicon in which the top surface of the molten silicon may be defined as a growth interface. The crucible may be substantially surrounded by the anisotropic thermal load leveling component. The cold plate component may be positioned above the crucible to be operative with the anisotropic thermal load leveling component and heat source to maintain a uniform heat flux at the growth surface of the molten silicon.

Estimation of real-time N load in surface water using dynamic data driven application system

Treesearch

Y. Ouyang; S.M. Luo; L.H. Cui; Q. Wang; J.E. Zhang

2011-01-01

Agricultural, industrial, and urban activities are the major sources for eutrophication of surface water ecosystems. Currently, determination of nutrients in surface water is primarily accomplished by manually collecting samples for laboratory analysis, which requires at least 24 h. In other words, little to no effort has been devoted to monitoring real-time variations...

Hydrology and water quality of forested lands in eastern North Carolina

Treesearch

G.M. Chescheir; M.E. Lebo; D.M. Amatya; J. Hughes; J.W. Gilliam; R.W. Skaggs; R.B. Herrmann

2003-01-01

Nonpoint sources of nutrients (NPS) are a widespread source of surface water pollution throu&out the United States. Characterizing the sources of this NPS nutrient loading is challenging due to variation in land management practices, physioyaphic setting, site conditions such as soil type, and climatic variation. For nutrients, there is the added challenge of...

Lateral variations in foreland flexure of a rifted continental margin: The Aquitaine Basin (SW France)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Angrand, P.; Ford, M.; Watts, A. B.

2017-12-01

We study the effects of the inherited Aptian to Cenomanian rift on crustal rheology and evolution of the Late Cretaceous to Neogene flexural Aquitaine foreland basin, northern Pyrenees. We use surface and subsurface geological data to define the crustal geometry and the post-rift thermal subsidence, and Bouguer gravity anomalies and flexural modeling to study the lateral variation of the elastic thickness, flexure of the European plate and controlling loads. The Aquitaine foreland can be divided along-strike into three sectors. The eastern foreland is un-rifted and is associated with a simple flexural subsidence. The central sector is affected by crustal stretching and the observed foreland base is modeled by combining topographic and buried loads, with post-rift thermal subsidence. In the western sector the foreland basin geometry is mainly controlled by post-rift thermal subsidence. These three sectors are separated by major lineaments, which affect both crustal and foreland geometry. These lineaments seem to be part of a larger structural pattern that includes the Toulouse and Pamplona Faults. The European foreland shows lateral variations in flexural behavior: the relative role of surface and sub-surface (i.e., buried) loading varies along-strike and the elastic thickness values decrease from the north-east to the south-west where the plate is the most stretched. We suggest that foreland basins are influenced by the thermal state of the underlying lithosphere if it was initiated soon after rifting and that thermal cooling can contribute significantly to subsidence.

Thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication of spur gears

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, K. L.; Cheng, H. S.

1980-01-01

An analysis and computer program called TELSGE were developed to predict the variations of dynamic load, surface temperature, and lubricant film thickness along the contacting path during the engagement of a pair of involute spur gears. The analysis of dynamic load includes the effect of gear inertia, the effect of load sharing of adjacent teeth, and the effect of variable tooth stiffness which are obtained by a finite-element method. Results obtained from TELSGE for the dynamic load distributions along the contacting path for various speeds of a pair of test gears show patterns similar to that observed experimentally. Effects of damping ratio, contact ratio, tip relief, and tooth error on the dynamic load were examined. In addition, two dimensionless charts are included for predicting the maximum equilibrium surface temperature, which can be used to estimate directly the lubricant film thickness based on well established EHD analysis.

Structural and elastic properties and stability characteristics of oxygenated carbon nanotubes under physical adsorption of polymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ansari, R.; Ajori, S.; Rouhi, S.

2015-03-01

The importance of covalent and non-covalent functionalization approaches for modification the properties of carbon nanotubes is being more widely recognized. To this end, elastic properties and buckling behavior of oxygenated CNT with atomic oxygen and hydroxyl under physical adsorption of PE (Polyethylene) and PEO (Poly (ethylene oxide)) are determined through employing the molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The results demonstrate that non-covalent bonding of polymer on the surface of oxygenated CNT causes reductions in the variations of critical buckling load and critical strain compared to oxygenated CNTs. Critical buckling load and critical strain of oxygenated CNT/polymer are higher than those of oxygenated CNT. Also, it is demonstrated that critical buckling load and critical strain values in the case of oxygenated CNT/polymer are independent of polymer type unlike the value of Young's modulus. It is shown that variations of Young's modulus decrease as PE adsorbed on the surface of oxygenated CNT. Moreover, the presence of oxygen atom on PEO chain leads to bigger variations of Young's modulus with weight percentage of chemisorbed component, i.e. atomic oxygen and hydroxyl. It is also demonstrated that Young's modulus reduces more considerably in the presence of PEO chain compared to PE one.

How does ice sheet loading affect ocean flow around Antarctica?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dijkstra, H. A.; Rugenstein, M. A.; Stocchi, P.; von der Heydt, A. S.

2012-12-01

Interactions and dynamical feedbacks between ocean circulation, heat and atmospheric moisture transport, ice sheet evolution, and Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA) are overlooked issues in paleoclimatology. Here we will present first results on how ocean flows were possibly affected by the glaciation of Antarctica across the Eocene-Oligocene Transition (~ 34 Ma) through GIA and bathymetry variations. GIA-induced gravitationally self-consistent bathymetry variations are determined by solving the Sea Level Equation (SLE), which describes the time dependent shape of (i) the solid Earth and (ii) the equipotential surface of gravity. Since the ocean circulation equations are defined relative to the equipotential surface of gravity, only bathymetry variations can influence ocean flows, although the sea surface slope will also change through time due to gravitational attraction. We use the Hallberg Isopycnal Model under late Eocene conditions to calculate equilibrium ocean flows in a domain in which the bathymetry evolves under ice loading according to the SLE. The bathymetric effects of the glaciation of Antarctica lead to substantial spatial changes in ocean flows, and close to the coast, the flow even reverses direction. Volume transports through the Drake Passage and Tasman Seaway adjust to the new bathymetry. The results indicate that GIA-induced ocean flow variations alone may have had an impact on sedimentation and erosion patterns, the repositioning of fronts, ocean heat transport and grounding line and ice sheet stability.

Variability of bed mobility in natural, gravel-bed channels and adjustments to sediment load at local and reach scales

Treesearch

Thomas E. Lisle; Jonathan M. Nelson; John Pitlick; Mary Ann Madej; Brent L. Barkett

2000-01-01

Abstract - Local variations in boundary shear stress acting on bed-surface particles control patterns of bed load transport and channel evolution during varying stream discharges. At the reach scale a channel adjusts to imposed water and sediment supply through mutual interactions among channel form, local grain size, and local flow dynamics that govern bed mobility...

A model for seasonal changes in GPS positions and seismic wave speeds due to thermoelastic and hydrologic variations

USGS Publications Warehouse

Tsai, V.C.

2011-01-01

It is known that GPS time series contain a seasonal variation that is not due to tectonic motions, and it has recently been shown that crustal seismic velocities may also vary seasonally. In order to explain these changes, a number of hypotheses have been given, among which thermoelastic and hydrology-induced stresses and strains are leading candidates. Unfortunately, though, since a general framework does not exist for understanding such seasonal variations, it is currently not possible to quickly evaluate the plausibility of these hypotheses. To fill this gap in the literature, I generalize a two-dimensional thermoelastic strain model to provide an analytic solution for the displacements and wave speed changes due to either thermoelastic stresses or hydrologic loading, which consists of poroelastic stresses and purely elastic stresses. The thermoelastic model assumes a periodic surface temperature, and the hydrologic models similarly assume a periodic near-surface water load. Since all three models are two-dimensional and periodic, they are expected to only approximate any realistic scenario; but the models nonetheless provide a quantitative framework for estimating the effects of thermoelastic and hydrologic variations. Quantitative comparison between the models and observations is further complicated by the large uncertainty in some of the relevant parameters. Despite this uncertainty, though, I find that maximum realistic thermoelastic effects are unlikely to explain a large fraction of the observed annual variation in a typical GPS displacement time series or of the observed annual variations in seismic wave speeds in southern California. Hydrologic loading, on the other hand, may be able to explain a larger fraction of both the annual variations in displacements and seismic wave speeds. Neither model is likely to explain all of the seismic wave speed variations inferred from observations. However, more definitive conclusions cannot be made until the model parameters are better constrained. Copyright ?? 2011 by the American Geophysical Union.

Prediction of Unsteady Blade Surface Pressures on an Advanced Propeller at an Angle of Attack

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nallasamy, M.; Groeneweg, J. F.

1989-01-01

The numerical solution of the unsteady, three-dimensional, Euler equations is considered in order to obtain the blade surface pressures of an advanced propeller at an angle of attack. The specific configuration considered is the SR7L propeller at cruise conditions with a 4.6 deg inflow angle corresponding to the plus 2 deg nacelle tilt of the Propeller Test Assessment (PTA) flight test condition. The results indicate nearly sinusoidal response of the blade loading, with angle of attack. For the first time, detailed variations of the chordwise loading as a function of azimuthal angle are presented. It is observed that the blade is lightly loaded for part of the revolution and shocks appear from hub to about 80 percent radial station for the highly loaded portion of the revolution.

Prediction of unsteady blade surface pressures on an advanced propeller at an angle of attack

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nallasamy, M.; Groeneweg, J. F.

1989-01-01

The paper considers the numerical solution of the unsteady, three-dimensional, Euler equations to obtain the blade surface pressures of an advanced propeller at an angle of attack. The specific configuration considered is the SR7L propeller at cruise conditions with a 4.6 deg inflow angle corresponding to the +2 deg nacelle tilt of the Propeller Test Assessment (PTA) flight test condition. The results indicate nearly sinusoidal response of the blade loading, with angle of attack. For the first time, detailed variations of the chordwise loading as a function of azimuthal angle are presented. It is observed that the blade is lightly loaded for part of the revolution and shocks appear from hub to about 80 percent radial station for the highly loaded portion of the revolution.

Analysis of an electrohydraulic aircraft control surface servo and comparison with test results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Edwards, J. W.

1972-01-01

An analysis of an electrohydraulic aircraft control-surface system is made in which the system is modeled as a lumped, two-mass, spring-coupled system controlled by a servo valve. Both linear and nonlinear models are developed, and the effects of hinge-moment loading are included. Transfer functions of the system and approximate literal factors of the transfer functions for several cases are presented. The damping action of dynamic pressure feedback is analyzed. Comparisons of the model responses with results from tests made on a highly resonant rudder control-surface servo indicate the adequacy of the model. The effects of variations in hinge-moment loading are illustrated.

Flight control actuation system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wingett, Paul T. (Inventor); Gaines, Louie T. (Inventor); Evans, Paul S. (Inventor); Kern, James I. (Inventor)

2004-01-01

A flight control actuation system comprises a controller, electromechanical actuator and a pneumatic actuator. During normal operation, only the electromechanical actuator is needed to operate a flight control surface. When the electromechanical actuator load level exceeds 40 amps positive, the controller activates the pneumatic actuator to offset electromechanical actuator loads to assist the manipulation of flight control surfaces. The assistance from the pneumatic load assist actuator enables the use of an electromechanical actuator that is smaller in size and mass, requires less power, needs less cooling processes, achieves high output forces and adapts to electrical current variations. The flight control actuation system is adapted for aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, and other flight vehicles, especially flight vehicles that are large in size and travel at high velocities.

Flight control actuation system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wingett, Paul T. (Inventor); Gaines, Louie T. (Inventor); Evans, Paul S. (Inventor); Kern, James I. (Inventor)

2006-01-01

A flight control actuation system comprises a controller, electromechanical actuator and a pneumatic actuator. During normal operation, only the electromechanical actuator is needed to operate a flight control surface. When the electromechanical actuator load level exceeds 40 amps positive, the controller activates the pneumatic actuator to offset electromechanical actuator loads to assist the manipulation of flight control surfaces. The assistance from the pneumatic load assist actuator enables the use of an electromechanical actuator that is smaller in size and mass, requires less power, needs less cooling processes, achieves high output forces and adapts to electrical current variations. The flight control actuation system is adapted for aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, and other flight vehicles, especially flight vehicles that are large in size and travel at high velocities.

Studies on biodegradation of crosslinked hydroxy terminated-poly(proplyene fumarate) and formation of scaffold for orthopedic applications.

PubMed

Shalumon, K T; Jayabalan, M

2009-12-01

Biodegradation of crosslinked-hydroxy terminated-poly(proplyene fumarate) (X-HTPPF) has been studied in simulated physiological media to assess the formation of porous scaffold structure for bone growth and remodeling in load bearing orthopedic applications. Variation in crosslink density and surface hydrophilicity of X-HTPPF are observed due to non-stoichiometric mass of reacting partners. These variations influence absorption of the medium and biodegradation during aging. Though the initial absorption of medium is relatively higher with the crosslinked polymer (PNVP1) having 63.6% HT-PPF and 36.4% comonomer n-vinyl pyrrolidone (NVP) during the initial period of aging, the weight loss due to subsequent degradation with time is relatively lesser. PNVP1 undergo slow degradation with formation of fibril structure on the surface. The present crosslinked material PNVP1 is a candidate for the load bearing orthopedic applications.

Bending Properties of Nickel Electrodes for Nickel-Hydrogen Batteries

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lerch, Brad A.; Wilson, Richard M.; Keller, Dennis; Corner, Ralph

1995-01-01

Recent changes in manufacturing have resulted in nickel-hydrogen batteries that fail prematurely by electrical shorting, This failure is believed to be a result of a blistering problem in the nickel electrodes. In this study the bending properties of nickel electrodes are investigated in an attempt to correlate the bending properties of the electrode with its propensity to blister. Nickel electrodes from three different batches of material were tested in both the as-received and impregnated forms. The effects of specimen curvature and position within the electrode on the bending strength were studied, and within-electrode and batch-to-batch variations were addressed. Two color-imaging techniques were employed to differentiate between the phases within the electrodes. These techniques aided in distinguishing the relative amounts of nickel hyroxide surface loading on each electrode, thereby relating surface loading to bend strength. Bend strength was found to increase with the amount of surface loading.

Steady internal flow and aerodynamic loads analysis of shuttle thermal protection system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Petley, D. H.; Alexander, W., Jr.; Ivey, G. W., Jr.; Kerr, P. A.

1984-01-01

An analytical model for calculation of ascent steady state tile loading was developed and validated with wind tunnel data. The analytical model is described and results are given. Results are given for loading due to shocks and skin friction. The analysis included calculation of internal flow (porous media flow and channel flow) to obtain pressures and integration of the pressures to obtain forces and moments on an insulation tile. A heat transfer program was modified by using analogies between heat transfer and fluid flow so that it could be used for internal flow calculation. The type of insulation tile considered was undensified reusable surface insulation (RSI) without gap fillers, and the location studied was the lower surface of the orbiter. Force and moment results are reported for parameter variations on surface pressure distribution, gap sizes, insulation permeability, and tile thickness.

Our contaminated atmosphere: The danger of climate change, phases 1 and 2. [effect of atmospheric particulate matter on surface temperature and earth's radiation budget

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cimorelli, A. J.; House, F. B.

1974-01-01

The effects of increased concentrations of atmospheric particulate matter on average surface temperature and on the components of the earth's radiation budget are studied. An atmospheric model which couples particulate loading to surface temperature and to changes in the earth's radiation budget was used. A determination of the feasibility of using satellites to monitor the effect of increased atmospheric particulate concentrations is performed. It was found that: (1) a change in man-made particulate loading of a factor of 4 is sufficient to initiate an ice age; (2) variations in the global and hemispheric weighted averages of surface temperature, reflected radiant fluz and emitted radiant flux are nonlinear functions of particulate loading; and (3) a black satellite sphere meets the requirement of night time measurement sensitivity, but not the required day time sensitivity. A nonblack, spherical radiometer whose external optical properties are sensitive to either the reflected radiant fluz or the emitted radiant flux meets the observational sensitivity requirements.

The Pressure Distribution over the Wings and Tail Surfaces of a PW-9 Pursuit Airplane in Flight

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rhode, Richard

1931-01-01

This report presents the results of an investigation to determine (1) the magnitude and distribution of aerodynamic loads over the wings and tail surfaces of a pursuit-type airplane in the maneuvers likely to impose critical loads on the various subassemblies of the airplane structure. (2) To study the phenomenon of center of pressure movement and normal force coefficient variation in accelerated flight, and (3) to measure the normal accelerations at the center of gravity, wing-tip, and tail, in order to determine the nature of the inertia forces acting simultaneously with the critical aerodynamic loads. The results obtained throw light on a number of important questions involving structural design. Some of the more interesting results are discussed in some detail, but in general the report is for the purpose of making this collection of airplane-load data obtained in flight available to those interested in airplane structures.

Magmatic pulse driven by sea-level changes associated with the Messinian salinity crisis

PubMed Central

Sternai, Pietro; Caricchi, Luca; Garcia-Castellanos, Daniel; Jolivet, Laurent; Sheldrake, Tom E.; Castelltort, Sébastien

2017-01-01

Between 5 and 6 million years ago, during the so-called Messinian salinity crisis, the Mediterranean basin became a giant salt repository. The possibility of abrupt and kilometre-scale sea-level changes during this extreme event is debated. Messinian evaporites could signify either deep- or shallow-marine deposits, and ubiquitous erosional surfaces could indicate either subaerial or submarine features. Significant and fast reductions in sea level unload the lithosphere, which can increase the production and eruption of magma. Here we calculate variations in surface load associated with the Messinian salinity crisis and compile the available time constraints for pan-Mediterranean magmatism. We show that scenarios involving a kilometre-scale drawdown of sea level imply a phase of net overall lithospheric unloading at a time that appears synchronous with a magmatic pulse from the pan-Mediterranean igneous provinces. We verify the viability of a mechanistic link between unloading and magmatism using numerical modelling of decompression partial mantle melting and dike formation in response to surface load variations. We conclude that the Mediterranean magmatic record provides an independent validation of the controversial kilometre-scale evaporative drawdown and sheds new light on the sensitivity of magmatic systems to the surface forcing. PMID:29081834

GPS Recovery of Daily Hydrologic and Atmospheric Mass Variation: A Methodology and Results From the Australian Continent

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Shin-Chan; Razeghi, S. Mahdiyeh

2017-11-01

We present a methodology to invert a regional set of vertical displacement data from Global Positioning System (GPS) to determine the surface mass redistribution. It is assumed that GPS deformation is a result of the Earth's elastic response to the surface mass load of hydrology, atmosphere, and/or ocean. We develop an algorithm to estimate the spectral information of displacements from "regional" GPS data through regional spherical (Slepian) basis functions and apply the load Love numbers to estimate the mass load. The same approach is applied to determine global mass changes from "global" geopotential change data of Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE). We rigorously examine all systematic errors caused by various truncations (spherical harmonic series and Slepian series) and the smoothing constraint applied to the GPS inversion. We demonstrate the technique by processing 16 years of daily vertical motions determined from 114 GPS stations in Australia. The GPS-inverted surface mass changes are validated against GRACE data, atmosphere and ocean models, and a land surface model. Seasonal and interannual terrestrial mass variations from GPS are in good agreement with GRACE data and the water storage models. The GPS recovery compares better with the water storage model around the smaller coastal basins than two different GRACE solutions. The submonthly mass changes from GPS provide meaningful results agreeing with atmospheric mass changes in central Australia. Finally, it is suggested to integrate GPS and GRACE data to draw a comprehensive picture of daily mass changes on different continents.

Use of satellite gravimetry for estimating recent solid Earth changes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramillien, Guillaume

2014-05-01

Since its launch in March 2002, the Gravity Recovery & Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite mission provides a global mapping of the time variations of the Earth's gravity field for the recent period. Official centers such as Center of Space Research (CSR) in Austin, TX, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, CA and GeoForschungZentrum (GFZ) in Potsdam, Germany, provide 10-day and monthly solutions of Stokes coefficients (i.e., spherical harmonic coefficients of the geopotential) up to harmonic degree 50-60 (or, equivalently, a spatial resolution of 300-400 km) for the timespan 2002-2012. Tiny variations of the gravity measured by GRACE are mainly due to the total water storage change on continents. Therefore, these solutions of water mass can be used to correct other datasets, and then isolate the gravity signatures of large and sudden earthquakes, as well as of the continuous Post Glacial Rebound (PGR) rate. As these measured seasonal variations of continental hydrology represent the variations of water mass load, it is also possible to derive the deformation of the terrestrial surface associated to this varying load using Love numbers. These latter numbers are obtained by assuming an elastic Earth model. In the center of the Amazon basin, the seasonal displacements of the surface due to hydrology reach amplitudes of a few centimeters typically. Time-series of GRACE-based radial displacement of the surface can be analysed and compared with independent local GPS records for validation.

Influence of aspect ratio and surface defect density on hydrothermally grown ZnO nanorods towards amperometric glucose biosensing applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shukla, Mayoorika; Pramila; Dixit, Tejendra; Prakash, Rajiv; Palani, I. A.; Singh, Vipul

2017-11-01

In this work, hydrothermally grown ZnO Nanorods Array (ZNA) has been synthesized over Platinum (Pt) coated glass substrate, for biosensing applications. In-situ addition of strong oxidizing agent viz KMnO4 during hydrothermal growth was found to have profound effect on the physical properties of ZNA. Glucose oxidase (GOx) was later immobilized over ZNA by means of physical adsorption process. Further influence of varying aspect ratio, enzyme loading and surface defects on amperometric glucose biosensor has been analyzed. Significant variation in biosensor performance was observed by varying the amount of KMnO4 addition during the growth. Moreover, investigations revealed that the suppression of surface defects and aspect ratio variation of the ZNA played key role towards the observed improvement in the biosensor performance, thereby significantly affecting the sensitivity and response time of the fabricated biosensor. Among different biosensors fabricated having varied aspect ratio and surface defect density of ZNA, the best electrode resulted into sensitivity and response time to be 18.7 mA cm-2 M-1 and <5 s respectively. The observed results revealed that apart from high aspect ratio nanostructures and the extent of enzyme loading, surface defect density also hold a key towards ZnO nanostructures based bio-sensing applications.

Estimation of wing nonlinear aerodynamic characteristics at supersonic speeds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carlson, H. W.; Mack, R. J.

1980-01-01

A computational system for estimation of nonlinear aerodynamic characteristics of wings at supersonic speeds was developed and was incorporated in a computer program. This corrected linearized theory method accounts for nonlinearities in the variation of basic pressure loadings with local surface slopes, predicts the degree of attainment of theoretical leading edge thrust, and provides an estimate of detached leading edge vortex loadings that result when the theoretical thrust forces are not fully realized.

The Influence of The Temperature on Dry Friction of AISI 3315 Steel Sliding Against AISI 3150 Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Odabas, D.

2018-01-01

In this paper, the effects the influence of frictional heating on the wear of AISI 3315 Steel were investigated experimentally using a pin-on-ring geometry. All the tests were carried out in air without any lubricant. In order to understand the variation in frictional coefficient and temperature with load and speed, the friction tests were carried out at a speed of 1 m/s and loads in the range 115-250 N, and at a speed range 1-4 m/s, a load of 115 N. The sliding distance was 1500 m. The bulk temperature of the specimen was measured from the interface surface at a distance of 1 mm from the contact surface by using type K thermocouples (Ni-Cr-Ni). The coefficient of friction was determined as a function of test load and speed. The steady state coefficient of friction of the test material decreases with increasing load and speed due to the oxide formation. But the unsteady state coefficient of friction increases with an increase in load and speed.

Global seasonal strain and stress models derived from GRACE loading, and their impact on seismicity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chanard, K.; Fleitout, L.; Calais, E.; Craig, T. J.; Rebischung, P.; Avouac, J. P.

2017-12-01

Loading by continental water, atmosphere and oceans deforms the Earth at various spatio-temporal scales, inducing crustal and mantelic stress perturbations that may play a role in earthquake triggering.Deformation of the Earth by this surface loading is observed in GNSS position time series. While various models predict well vertical observations, explaining horizontal displacements remains challenging. We model the elastic deformation induced by loading derived from GRACE for coefficients 2 and higher. We estimate the degree-1 deformation field by comparison between predictions of our model and IGS-repro2 solutions at a globally distributed network of 700 GNSS sites, separating the horizontal and vertical components to avoid biases between components. The misfit between model and data is reduced compared to previous studies, particularly on the horizontal component. The associated geocenter motion time series are consistent with results derived from other datasets. We also discuss the impact on our results of systematic errors in GNSS geodetic products, in particular of the draconitic error.We then compute stress tensors time series induced by GRACE loads and discuss the potential link between large scale seasonal mass redistributions and seismicity. Within the crust, we estimate hydrologically induced stresses in the intraplate New Madrid Seismic Zone, where secular stressing rates are unmeasurably low. We show that a significant variation in the rate of micro-earthquakes at annual and multi-annual timescales coincides with stresses induced by hydrological loading in the upper Mississippi embayment, with no significant phase-lag, directly modulating regional seismicity. We also investigate pressure variations in the mantle transition zone and discuss potential correlations between the statistically significant observed seasonality of deep-focus earthquakes, most likely due to mineralogical transformations, and surface hydrological loading.

Assessment of an improved hydrological loading model from space geodesy: case study in South America

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nicolas, Joëlle; Boy, Jean-Paul; Durand, Frédéric; Mémin, Anthony

2017-04-01

Loading effects are crustal deformations induced by ocean, atmosphere and continental water mass redistributions. In this study we focus on hydrological loading effect monitored by space geodesy and in particular by GNSS and GRACE. Classically, hydrological loading models take into account snow and soil-moisture but don't consider surface waters (rivers, lakes…). As a result, huge discrepancies between GPS observations and those models arise around large rivers such as the Amazon where nearly half of the vertical signal cannot be explained by the combination of atmospheric, oceanic and hydrological loading models. To better resolve the hydrological signal, we improve the continental water storage models computed from soil-moisture and snow GLDAS/Noah or MERRA data sets by including surface water runoff. We investigate how continental water storage model improvements are supported by GNSS and GRACE observations in South America main river basins: Amazon, Orinoco and Parana. In this area the hydrological effects are among the largest in the world mainly due to the river level variations. We present the results of time series analyses with spectral and principal component analysis (PCA) methods. We extract the dominant spatio-temporal annual mode. We also identify and characterize the spatio-temporal changes in the annual hydrology signal, which is the key to a better understanding of the water cycle variations of those major rivers. We demonstrate that it is crucial to take into account the river contribution in fluid signatures before investigating high-frequency variability and episodic events.

Friction-induced surface activity of some hydrocarbons with clean and oxide-covered iron

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buckley, D. H.

1973-01-01

Sliding friction studies were conducted on a clean and oxide-covered iron surface with exposure of that surface to various hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbons included ethane, ethylene ethyl chloride, methyl chloride, and vinyl chloride. Auger cylindrical mirror analysis was used to follow interactions of the hydrocarbon with the iron surface. Results with vinyl chloride indicate friction induced surface reactivity, adsorption to surface oxides, friction sensitivity to concentration and polymerization. Variation in the loads employed influence adsorption and accordingly friction. In contrast with ethyl and vinyl chloride, friction induced surface reactivity was not observed with ethane and ethylene.

Influence of Aerosols And Surface Reflectance On NO2 Retrieval Over China From 2005 to 2015

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, M.; Lin, J.

2016-12-01

Satellite observation is a powerful way to analysis annual and seasonal variations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2). However, much retrieval of vertical column densities (VCDs) of normally do not explicitly account for aerosol optical effects and surface reflectance anisotropy that vary with space and time. In traditional retrieval, aerosols' effects are often considered as cloud. However, China has complicated aerosols type and aerosol loading. Their optical properties may be very different from the cloud. Furthermore, China has undergone big changes in land use type in recent 10 years. Traditional climatology surface reflectance data may not have representation. In order to study spatial-temporal variation of and influences of these two factors on variations and trends, we use an improved retrieval method of VCDs over China, called the POMINO, based on measurements from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), and we compare the results of without aerosol, without surface reflectance treatments and without both to the original POMINO product from 2005 to 2015. Furthermore, we will study correspondent spatial-temporal variations of aerosols, represented by MODIS aerosol optical depth (AOD) data and CALIOP extinction data; surface reflectance, represented by MODIS bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) data.

Estimation of ozone dry deposition over Europe for the period 2071-2100

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Komjáthy, Eszter; Gelybó, Györgyi; László Lagzi, István.; Mészáros, Róbert

2010-05-01

Ozone in the lower troposphere is a phytotoxic air pollutant which can cause injury to plant tissues, causing reduction in plant growth and productivity. In the last decades, several investigations have been carried out for the purpose to estimate ozone load over different surface types. At the same time, the changes of atmospheric variables as well as surface/vegetation parameters due to the global climate change could also strongly modify both temporal and spatial variations of ozone load over Europe. In this study, the possible effects of climate change on ozone deposition are analyzed. Using a sophisticated deposition model, ozone deposition was estimated on a regular grid over Europe for the period 2071-2100. Our aim is to determine the uncertainties and the possible degree of change in ozone deposition velocity as an important predictor of total ozone load using climate data from multiple climate models and runs. For these model calculations, results of the PRUDENCE (Predicting of Regional Scenarios and Uncertainties for Defining European Climate Change Risks and Effects) climate prediction project were used. As a first step, seasonal variations of ozone deposition over different vegetation types in case of different climate scenarios are presented in this study. Besides model calculations, in the frame of a sensitivity analyses, the effects of surface/vegetation parameters (e.g. leaf area index or stomatal resistance) on ozone deposition under a modified climate regime have also been analyzed.

Seasonal Mass Changes and Crustal Vertical Deformations Constrained by GPS and GRACE in Northeastern Tibet

PubMed Central

Pan, Yuanjin; Shen, Wen-Bin; Hwang, Cheinway; Liao, Chaoming; Zhang, Tengxu; Zhang, Guoqing

2016-01-01

Surface vertical deformation includes the Earth’s elastic response to mass loading on or near the surface. Continuous Global Positioning System (CGPS) stations record such deformations to estimate seasonal and secular mass changes. We used 41 CGPS stations to construct a time series of coordinate changes, which are decomposed by empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs), in northeastern Tibet. The first common mode shows clear seasonal changes, indicating seasonal surface mass re-distribution around northeastern Tibet. The GPS-derived result is then assessed in terms of the mass changes observed in northeastern Tibet. The GPS-derived common mode vertical change and the stacked Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mass change are consistent, suggesting that the seasonal surface mass variation is caused by changes in the hydrological, atmospheric and non-tidal ocean loads. The annual peak-to-peak surface mass changes derived from GPS and GRACE results show seasonal oscillations in mass loads, and the corresponding amplitudes are between 3 and 35 mm/year. There is an apparent gradually increasing gravity between 0.1 and 0.9 μGal/year in northeast Tibet. Crustal vertical deformation is determined after eliminating the surface load effects from GRACE, without considering Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA) contribution. It reveals crustal uplift around northeastern Tibet from the corrected GPS vertical velocity. The unusual uplift of the Longmen Shan fault indicates tectonically sophisticated processes in northeastern Tibet. PMID:27490550

Experimental verification of Advanced Collapsed-cone Engine for use with a multichannel vaginal cylinder applicator.

PubMed

Cawston-Grant, Brie; Morrison, Hali; Menon, Geetha; Sloboda, Ron S

2017-05-01

Model-based dose calculation algorithms have recently been incorporated into brachytherapy treatment planning systems, and their introduction requires critical evaluation before clinical implementation. Here, we present an experimental evaluation of Oncentra ® Brachy Advanced Collapsed-cone Engine (ACE) for a multichannel vaginal cylinder (MCVC) applicator using radiochromic film. A uniform dose of 500 cGy was specified to the surface of the MCVC using the TG-43 dose formalism under two conditions: (a) with only the central channel loaded or (b) only the peripheral channels loaded. Film measurements were made at the applicator surface and compared to the doses calculated using TG-43, standard accuracy ACE (sACE), and high accuracy ACE (hACE). When the central channel of the applicator was used, the film measurements showed a dose increase of (11 ± 8)% (k = 2) above the two outer grooves on the applicator surface. This increase in dose was confirmed with the hACE calculations, but was not confirmed with the sACE calculations at the applicator surface. When the peripheral channels were used, a periodic azimuthal variation in measured dose was observed around the applicator. The sACE and hACE calculations confirmed this variation and agreed within 1% of each other at the applicator surface. Additionally for the film measurements with the central channel used, a baseline dose variation of (10 ± 4)% (k = 2) of the mean dose was observed azimuthally around the applicator surface, which can be explained by offset source positioning in the central channel. © 2017 The Authors. Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

Investigation in Simulated Vertical Descent of the Characteristics of a Cargo-Dropping Device having Extensible Rotating Blades

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stone, Ralph W., Jr.; Hultz, Burton E.

1949-01-01

The characteristics of a cargo-dropping device having extensible rotating blades as load-carrying surfaces have been studied in simulated vertical descent in the Langley 20-foot free-spinning tunnel. The investigation included tests to determine the variation in vertical sinking speed with load. A study of the blade characteristics and of the test results indicated a method of dynamically balancing the blades to permit proper functioning of the device.

The atmosphere- and hydrosphere-correlated signals in GPS observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bogusz, Janusz; Boy, Jean-Paul; Klos, Anna; Figurski, Mariusz

2015-04-01

The circulation of surface geophysical fluids (e.g. atmosphere, ocean, continental hydrology, etc.) induces global mass redistribution at the Earth's surface, and then surface deformations and gravity variations. The deformations can be reliably recorded by permanent GPS observations nowadays. The loading effects can be precisely modelled by convolving outputs from global general circulation models and Green's functions describing the Earth's response. Previously published papers showed that either surface gravity records or space-based observations can be efficiently corrected for atmospheric loading effects using surface pressure fields from atmospheric models. In a similar way, loading effects due to continental hydrology can be corrected from precise positioning observations. We evaluated 3-D displacement at the selected ITRF2008 core sites that belong to IGS (International GNSS Service) network due to atmospheric, oceanic and hydrological circulation using different models. Atmospheric and induced oceanic loading estimates were computed using the ECMWF (European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts) operational and reanalysis (ERA interim) surface pressure fields, assuming an inverted barometer ocean response or a barotropic ocean model forced by air pressure and winds (MOG2D). The IB (Inverted Barometer) hypothesis was classically chosen, in which atmospheric pressure variations are fully compensated by static sea height variations. This approximation is valid for periods exceeding typically 5 to 20 days. At higher frequencies, dynamic effects cannot be neglected. Hydrological loading were provided using MERRA land (Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications - NASA reanalysis for the satellite era using a major new version of the Goddard Earth Observing System Data Assimilation System Version 5 (GEOS-5)) for the different stations. After that we compared the results to the GPS-derived time series of North, East and Up components. The analysis of satellite data was performed twofold: firstly, the time series from network solution (NS) processed in Bernese 5.0 software by the Military University of Technology EPN Local Analysis Centre, secondly, the ones from PPP (Precise Point Positioning) from JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) processing in Gipsy-Oasis were analyzed. Both were modelled with wavelet decomposition with Meyer orthogonal mother wavelet. Here, nine levels of decomposition were applied and eighth detail of it was interpreted as changes close to one year. In this way, both NS and PPP time series where presented as curves with annual period with amplitudes and phases changeable in time. The same analysis was performed for atmospheric (ATM) and hydrospheric (HYDR) models. All annual curves (modelled from NS, PPP, ATM and HYDR) were then compared to each other to investigate whether GPS observations contain the atmosphere and hydrosphere correlated signals and in what way the amplitudes of them may disrupt the GPS time series.

Secular changes in Earth's shape and surface mass loading derived from combinations of reprocessed global GPS networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Booker, David; Clarke, Peter J.; Lavallée, David A.

2014-09-01

The changing distribution of surface mass (oceans, atmospheric pressure, continental water storage, groundwater, lakes, snow and ice) causes detectable changes in the shape of the solid Earth, on time scales ranging from hours to millennia. Transient changes in the Earth's shape can, regardless of cause, be readily separated from steady secular variation in surface mass loading, but other secular changes due to plate tectonics and glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) cannot. We estimate secular station velocities from almost 11 years of high quality combined GPS position solutions (GPS weeks 1,000-1,570) submitted as part of the first international global navigation satellite system service reprocessing campaign. Individual station velocities are estimated as a linear fit, paying careful attention to outliers and offsets. We remove a suite of a priori GIA models, each with an associated set of plate tectonic Euler vectors estimated by us; the latter are shown to be insensitive to the a priori GIA model. From the coordinate time series residuals after removing the GIA models and corresponding plate tectonic velocities, we use mass-conserving continental basis functions to estimate surface mass loading including the secular term. The different GIA models lead to significant differences in the estimates of loading in selected regions. Although our loading estimates are broadly comparable with independent estimates from other satellite missions, their range highlights the need for better, more robust GIA models that incorporate 3D Earth structure and accurately represent 3D surface displacements.

Large-surface-area diamond (111) crystal plates for applications in high-heat-load wavefront-preserving X-ray crystal optics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stoupin, Stanislav; Antipov, Sergey; Butler, James E.

Fabrication and results of high-resolution X-ray topography characterization of diamond single-crystal plates with large surface area (10 mm × 10 mm) and (111) crystal surface orientation for applications in high-heat-load X-ray crystal optics are reported. The plates were fabricated by laser-cutting of the (111) facets of diamond crystals grown using high-pressure high-temperature methods. The intrinsic crystal quality of a selected 3 mm × 7 mm crystal region of one of the studied samples was found to be suitable for applications in wavefront-preserving high-heat-load crystal optics. Wavefront characterization was performed using sequential X-ray diffraction topography in the pseudo plane wave configurationmore » and data analysis using rocking-curve topography. In conclusion, the variations of the rocking-curve width and peak position measured with a spatial resolution of 13 µm × 13 µm over the selected region were found to be less than 1 µrad.« less

Large-surface-area diamond (111) crystal plates for applications in high-heat-load wavefront-preserving X-ray crystal optics.

PubMed

Stoupin, Stanislav; Antipov, Sergey; Butler, James E; Kolyadin, Alexander V; Katrusha, Andrey

2016-09-01

Fabrication and results of high-resolution X-ray topography characterization of diamond single-crystal plates with large surface area (10 mm × 10 mm) and (111) crystal surface orientation for applications in high-heat-load X-ray crystal optics are reported. The plates were fabricated by laser-cutting of the (111) facets of diamond crystals grown using high-pressure high-temperature methods. The intrinsic crystal quality of a selected 3 mm × 7 mm crystal region of one of the studied samples was found to be suitable for applications in wavefront-preserving high-heat-load crystal optics. Wavefront characterization was performed using sequential X-ray diffraction topography in the pseudo plane wave configuration and data analysis using rocking-curve topography. The variations of the rocking-curve width and peak position measured with a spatial resolution of 13 µm × 13 µm over the selected region were found to be less than 1 µrad.

Large-surface-area diamond (111) crystal plates for applications in high-heat-load wavefront-preserving X-ray crystal optics

DOE PAGES

Stoupin, Stanislav; Antipov, Sergey; Butler, James E.; ...

2016-08-10

Fabrication and results of high-resolution X-ray topography characterization of diamond single-crystal plates with large surface area (10 mm × 10 mm) and (111) crystal surface orientation for applications in high-heat-load X-ray crystal optics are reported. The plates were fabricated by laser-cutting of the (111) facets of diamond crystals grown using high-pressure high-temperature methods. The intrinsic crystal quality of a selected 3 mm × 7 mm crystal region of one of the studied samples was found to be suitable for applications in wavefront-preserving high-heat-load crystal optics. Wavefront characterization was performed using sequential X-ray diffraction topography in the pseudo plane wave configurationmore » and data analysis using rocking-curve topography. In conclusion, the variations of the rocking-curve width and peak position measured with a spatial resolution of 13 µm × 13 µm over the selected region were found to be less than 1 µrad.« less

The effect of dryer load on freeze drying process design.

PubMed

Patel, Sajal M; Jameel, Feroz; Pikal, Michael J

2010-10-01

Freeze-drying using a partial load is a common occurrence during the early manufacturing stages when insufficient amounts of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) are available. In such cases, the immediate production needs are met by performing lyophilization with less than a full freeze dryer load. However, it is not obvious at what fractional load significant deviations from full load behavior begin. The objective of this research was to systematically study the effects of variation in product load on freeze drying behavior in laboratory, pilot and clinical scale freeze-dryers. Experiments were conducted with 5% mannitol (high heat and mass flux) and 5% sucrose (low heat and mass flux) at different product loads (100%, 50%, 10%, and 2%). Product temperature was measured in edge as well as center vials with thermocouples. Specific surface area (SSA) was measured by BET gas adsorption analysis and residual moisture was measured by Karl Fischer. In the lab scale freeze-dryer, the molar flux of inert gas was determined by direct flow measurement using a flowmeter and the molar flux of water vapor was determined by manometric temperature measurement (MTM) and tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) techniques. Comparative pressure measurement (capacitance manometer vs. Pirani) was used to determine primary drying time. For both 5% mannitol and 5% sucrose, primary drying time decreases and product temperature increases as the load on the shelves decreases. No systematic variation was observed in residual moisture and vapor composition as load decreased. Further, SSA data suggests that there are no significant freezing differences under different load conditions. Independent of dryer scale, among all the effects, variation in radiation heat transfer from the chamber walls to the product seems to be the dominant effect resulting in shorter primary drying time as the load on the shelf decreases (i.e., the fraction of edge vials increases).

Large scale mass redistribution and surface displacement from GRACE and SLR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, M.; Ries, J. C.; Tapley, B. D.

2012-12-01

Mass transport between the atmosphere, ocean and solid earth results in the temporal variations in the Earth gravity field and loading induced deformation of the Earth. Recent space-borne observations, such as GRACE mission, are providing extremely high precision temporal variations of gravity field. The results from 10-yr GRACE data has shown a significant annual variations of large scale vertical and horizontal displacements occurring over the Amazon, Himalayan region and South Asia, African, and Russian with a few mm amplitude. Improving understanding from monitoring and modeling of the large scale mass redistribution and the Earth's response are a critical for all studies in the geosciences, in particular for determination of Terrestrial Reference System (TRS), including geocenter motion. This paper will report results for the observed seasonal variations in the 3-dimentional surface displacements of SLR and GPS tracking stations and compare with the prediction from time series of GRACE monthly gravity solution.

Road dust emissions from paved roads measured using different mobile systems.

PubMed

Pirjola, Liisa; Johansson, Christer; Kupiainen, Kaarle; Stojiljkovic, Ana; Karlsson, Hans; Hussein, Tareq

2010-12-01

Very few real-world measurements of road dust suspension have been performed to date. This study compares two different techniques (referred to as Sniffer and Emma) to measure road dust emissions. The main differences between the systems are the construction of the inlet, different instruments for recording particulate matter (PM) levels, and different loads on the wheel axes (the weight of Sniffer was much higher than that of Emma). Both systems showed substantial small-scale variations of emission levels along the road, likely depending on-road surface conditions. The variations observed correlated quite well, and the discrepancies are likely a result of variations in dust load on the road surface perpendicular to the driving direction that cause variations in the measurements depending on slightly different paths driven by the two vehicles. Both systems showed a substantial influence on the emission levels depending on the type of tire used. The summer tire showed much lower suspension than the winter tires (one nonstudded and one studded). However, the relative importance of the nonstudded versus studded tire was rather different. For the ratio of studded/nonstudded, Emma shows higher values on all road sections compared with Sniffer. Both techniques showed increased emission levels with increasing vehicle speed. When the speed increased from 50 to 80 km hr(-1), the relative concentrations increased by 30-170% depending on the tire type and dust load. However, for road sections that were very dirty, Sniffer showed a much higher relative increase in the emission level with the nonstudded tire. Sniffer's absolute concentrations were mostly higher than Emma's. Possible reasons for the differences are discussed in the paper. Both systems can be used for studying relative road dust emissions and for designing air quality management strategies.

Increased Mediterranean Magma Production and Volcanism Triggered by the Messinian Salinity Crisis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sternai, P.; Caricchi, L.; Garcia-Castellanos, D.; Jolivet, L.; Sheldrake, T.; Castelltort, S.

2017-12-01

For more than four decades, large controversies about the causes, effects and timing of the Mediterranean Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC) have evolved in the light of a continuously growing body of evidences. The igneous response to such extreme event, however, has remained largely unexplored despite known relationships between surface load variations and the production, transfer and eruption of magma. Here, we compile published geochemical data and recognize a two-fold increase of volcanic eruptions from pan-Mediterranean magmatic provinces coinciding with the proposed "shallow-water phase" of the MSC between 5.70-5.33 Ma. Estimates of surface load variations due to the desiccation event corrected for water density change and deposition of salt deposits suggest a net mean lithospheric unloading of up to 15 MPa during the shallow-water phase of the MSC. Because the timescale of interest is too short for changes of the Mediterranean tectonics to significantly affect the bulk of the magma production, we propose that such net surface unloading enhanced the mantle decompression melting and dike formation, in turn causing the observed increase of volcanic events. If correct, the Mediterranean magmatic record provides an independent validation of the "shallow-water" model for the formation of salt deposits and testifies the high sensitivity of the melting of the Earth's interior to the surface forcing.

Effect of counterface roughness on the friction of bionic wall-shaped microstructures for gecko-like attachments.

PubMed

Kasem, Haytam; Cohen, Yossi

2017-08-04

Hairy adhesive systems involved in gecko locomotion have drawn the interest of many researchers regarding the development of bionic solutions for fast and reversible adhesive technologies. To date, despite extensive efforts to design gecko-inspired adhesive surfaces, adhesion and friction capacities are often evaluated using smooth and rigid counterfaces, in general glass, whereas most natural and artificial surfaces inevitably have a certain level of roughness. For that reason, in this study experiments tested the effects of the substrate roughness on the friction of bionic wale-shaped microstructures for gecko-like attachments. To this end, 12 substrates with different isotropic roughness were prepared using the same Epoxy material. Friction force was measured under various normal loads. It was concluded that classical roughness parameters, considered separately, are not appropriate to explain roughness-related variations in friction force. This has led us to develop a new integrative roughness parameter that combines characteristics of the surface. The parameter is capable of classifying the obtained experimental results in a readable way. An analytical model based on the experimental results has been developed to predict the variation of the friction force as a function of counterface roughness and applied normal load.

On the variation in crack-opening stresses at different locations in a three-dimensional body

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chermahini, R. G.; Blom, Anders F.

1990-01-01

Crack propagation and closure behavior of thin, and thick middle crack tension specimens under constant amplitude loading were investigated using a three dimensional elastic plastic finite element analysis of fatigue crack propagation and closure. In the thin specimens the crack front closed first on the exterior (free) surface and closed last in the interior during the unloading portion of cyclic loading; a load reduced displacement technique was used to determine crack opening stresses at specified locations in the plate from the displacements calculated after the seven cycle. All the locations were on the plate external surface and were located near the crack tip, behind the crack tip, at the centerline of the crack. With this technique, the opening stresses at the specified points were found to be 0.52, 0.42, and 0.39 times the maximum applied stress.

Surface Deformation Caused by Pressure Changes in the Fluid Core

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fang, Ming; Hager, Bradford H.; Herring, Thomas A.

1995-01-01

Pressure load Love numbers are presented for the mantle deformation induced by the variation of the pressure field at the core mantle boundary (CNB). We find that the CMB geostrophic pressure fields, derived from 'frozen-flux' core surface flow estimates at epochs 1965 and 1975, produce a relative radial velocity (RRV) field in the range of 3mm/decade with uplift near the equator and subsidence near the poles. The contribution of this mechanism to the change in the length of day (l.o.d) is small --- about 2.3 x 10(exp -2) ms/decade. The contribution to the time variation of the ellipticity coefficient is more important --- -1.3 x 10(exp -11)/yr.

Multi-geodetic characterization of the seasonal signal at the CERGA geodetic reference station, France

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mémin, Anthony; Viswanathan, Vishnu; Fienga, Agnes; Santamarìa-Gómez, Alvaro; Boy, Jean-Paul; Cavalié, Olivier; Deleflie, Florent; Exertier, Pierre; Bernard, Jean-Daniel; Hinderer, Jacques

2017-04-01

Crustal deformations due to surface-mass loading account for a significant part of the variability in geodetic time series. A perfect understanding of the loading signal observed by geodetic techniques should help in improving terrestrial reference frame (TRF) realizations. Yet, discrepancies between crustal motion estimates from models of surface-mass loading and observations are still too large so that no model is currently recommended by the IERS for reducing the observations. We investigate the discrepancy observed in the seasonal variations of the position at the CERGA station, South of France. We characterize the seasonal motions of the reference geodetic station CERGA from GNSS, SLR, LLR and InSAR. We investigate the consistency between the station motions deduced from these geodetic techniques and compare the observed station motion with that estimated using models of surface-mass change. In that regard, we compute atmospheric loading effects using surface pressure fields from ECMWF, assuming an ocean response according to the classical inverted barometer (IB) assumption, considered to be valid for periods typically exceeding a week. We also used general circulation ocean models (ECCO and GLORYS) forced by wind, heat and fresh water fluxes. The continental water storage is described using GLDAS/Noah and MERRA-land models. Using the surface-mass models, we estimate that the seasonal signal due to loading deformation at the CERGA station is about 8-9, 1-2 and 1-2 mm peak-to-peak in Up, North and East component, respectively. There is a very good correlation between GPS observations and non-tidal loading predicted deformation due to atmosphere, ocean and hydrology which is the main driver of seasonal signal at CERGA. Despite large error bars, LLR observations agree reasonably well with GPS and non-tidal loading predictions in Up component. Local deformation as observed by InSAR is very well correlated with GPS observations corrected for non-tidal loading. Finally, we estimate local mass changes using the absolute gravity measurement campaigns available at the station and the global models of surface-mass change. We compute the induced station motion that we compare with the local deformation observed by InSAR and GPS.

Wind-tunnel investigation of aerodynamic loading on a 0.237-scale model of a remotely piloted research vehicle with a thick, high-aspect-ratio supercritical wing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Byrdsong, T. A.; Brooks, C. W., Jr.

1983-01-01

Wind-tunnel measurements were made of the wing-surface static-pressure distributions on a 0.237 scale model of a remotely piloted research vehicle equipped with a thick, high-aspect-ratio supercritical wing. Data are presented for two model configurations (with and without a ventral pod) at Mach numbers from 0.70 to 0.92 at angles of attack from -4 deg to 8 deg. Large variations of wing-surface local pressure distributions were developed; however, the characteristic supercritical-wing pressure distribution occurred near the design condition of 0.80 Mach number and 2 deg angle of attack. The significant variations of the local pressure distributions indicated pronounced shock-wave movements that were highly sensitive to angle of attack and Mach number. The effect of the vertical pod varied with test conditions; however at the higher Mach numbers, the effects on wing flow characteristics were significant at semispan stations as far outboard as 0.815. There were large variations of the wing loading in the range of test conditions, both model configurations exhibited a well-defined peak value of normal-force coefficient at the cruise angle of attack (2 deg) and Mach number (0.80).

What causes the trends in Geocenter motion estimates?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rietbroek, Roelof; Schrama, Ernst

2015-04-01

Over time, the geometrical center of figure of the Earth (CF) and the center of mass of the Earth system (CM) exhibit small changes. This phenomena, generally referred to as 'geocenter motion', is mainly caused by present-day and past surface loading and (visco)-elastic deformation processes occurring near the surface of the Earth. It is now well known that the computation of surface loading variations from the GRACE product requires the application of geocenter corrections, and not doing so introduce significant errors in estimates of, for example, melt-rates of the cryosphere. But, to understand observed geocenter motion more closely, one can also ask how much the different surface loading phenomena contribute to it. In this study, we compare different estimates of the geocenter motion, and discuss the underlying causes, with a special focus on trends. Using a 'fingerprint' inversion approach, where predefined patterns are fitted to GRACE and altimetry data, we can now consistently break down the geocenter estimates into different contributions. We find that the present day melting in Antarctica and Greenland shift the CM-CF offset with 0.1 mm/yr and -0.3 mm/yr in the Z-direction respectively, while GIA additionally contributes with roughly -0.3 mm/yr.

Three-dimensional analysis of surface crack-Hertzian stress field interaction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ballarini, R.; Hsu, Y.

1989-01-01

The results are presented of a stress intensity factor analysis of semicircular surface cracks in the inner raceway of an engine bearing. The loading consists of a moving spherical Hertzian contact load and an axial stress due to rotation and shrink fit. A 3-D linear elastic Boundary Element Method code was developed to perform the stress analysis. The element library includes linear and quadratic isoparametric surface elements. Singular quarter point elements were employed to capture the square root displacement variation and the inverse square root stress singularity along the crack front. The program also possesses the capability to separate the whole domain into two subregions. This procedure enables one to solve nonsymmetric fracture mechanics problems without having to separate the crack surfaces a priori. A wide range of configuration parameters was investigated. The ratio of crack depth to bearing thickness was varied from one-sixtieth to one-fifth for several different locations of the Hertzian load. The stress intensity factors for several crack inclinations were also investigated. The results demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of the Boundary Element Method. Moreover, the results can provide the basis for crack growth calculations and fatigue life prediction.

Early diagnostic of concurrent gear degradation processes progressing under time-varying loads

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guilbault, Raynald; Lalonde, Sébastien

2016-08-01

This study develops a gear diagnostic procedure for the detection of multi- and concurrent degradation processes evolving under time-varying loads. Instead of a conventional comparison between a descriptor and an alarm level, this procedure bases its detection strategy on a descriptor evolution tracking; a lasting descriptor increase denotes the presence of ongoing degradation mechanisms. The procedure works from time domain residual signals prepared in the frequency domain, and accepts any gear conditions as reference signature. To extract the load fluctuation repercussions, the procedure integrates a scaling factor. The investigation first examines a simplification assuming a linear connection between the load and the dynamic response amplitudes. However, while generally valuable, the precision losses associated with large load variations may mask the contribution of tiny flaws. To better reflect the real non-linear relation, the paper reformulates the scaling factor; a power law with an exponent value of 0.85 produces noticeable improvements of the load effect extraction. To reduce the consequences of remaining oscillations, the procedure also includes a filtering phase. During the validation program, a synthetic wear progression assuming a commensurate relation between the wear depth and friction assured controlled evolutions of the surface degradation influence, whereas the fillet crack growth remained entirely determined by the operation conditions. Globally, the tested conditions attest that the final strategy provides accurate monitoring of coexisting isolated damages and general surface deterioration, and that its tracking-detection capacities are unaffected by severe time variations of external loads. The procedure promptly detects the presence of evolving abnormal phenomena. The tests show that the descriptor curve shapes virtually describe the constant wear progression superimposed on the crack length evolution. At the tooth fracture, the mean values of the residual signal evince strong perturbations, while after this episode, the monitoring curves continue signaling the ongoing wear process.

Recovery Efficiency and Limit of Detection of Aerosolized Bacillus anthracis Sterne from Environmental Surface Samples ▿

PubMed Central

Estill, Cheryl Fairfield; Baron, Paul A.; Beard, Jeremy K.; Hein, Misty J.; Larsen, Lloyd D.; Rose, Laura; Schaefer, Frank W.; Noble-Wang, Judith; Hodges, Lisa; Lindquist, H. D. Alan; Deye, Gregory J.; Arduino, Matthew J.

2009-01-01

After the 2001 anthrax incidents, surface sampling techniques for biological agents were found to be inadequately validated, especially at low surface loadings. We aerosolized Bacillus anthracis Sterne spores within a chamber to achieve very low surface loading (ca. 3, 30, and 200 CFU per 100 cm2). Steel and carpet coupons seeded in the chamber were sampled with swab (103 cm2) or wipe or vacuum (929 cm2) surface sampling methods and analyzed at three laboratories. Agar settle plates (60 cm2) were the reference for determining recovery efficiency (RE). The minimum estimated surface concentrations to achieve a 95% response rate based on probit regression were 190, 15, and 44 CFU/100 cm2 for sampling steel surfaces and 40, 9.2, and 28 CFU/100 cm2 for sampling carpet surfaces with swab, wipe, and vacuum methods, respectively; however, these results should be cautiously interpreted because of high observed variability. Mean REs at the highest surface loading were 5.0%, 18%, and 3.7% on steel and 12%, 23%, and 4.7% on carpet for the swab, wipe, and vacuum methods, respectively. Precision (coefficient of variation) was poor at the lower surface concentrations but improved with increasing surface concentration. The best precision was obtained with wipe samples on carpet, achieving 38% at the highest surface concentration. The wipe sampling method detected B. anthracis at lower estimated surface concentrations and had higher RE and better precision than the other methods. These results may guide investigators to more meaningfully conduct environmental sampling, quantify contamination levels, and conduct risk assessment for humans. PMID:19429546

Recovery efficiency and limit of detection of aerosolized Bacillus anthracis Sterne from environmental surface samples.

PubMed

Estill, Cheryl Fairfield; Baron, Paul A; Beard, Jeremy K; Hein, Misty J; Larsen, Lloyd D; Rose, Laura; Schaefer, Frank W; Noble-Wang, Judith; Hodges, Lisa; Lindquist, H D Alan; Deye, Gregory J; Arduino, Matthew J

2009-07-01

After the 2001 anthrax incidents, surface sampling techniques for biological agents were found to be inadequately validated, especially at low surface loadings. We aerosolized Bacillus anthracis Sterne spores within a chamber to achieve very low surface loading (ca. 3, 30, and 200 CFU per 100 cm(2)). Steel and carpet coupons seeded in the chamber were sampled with swab (103 cm(2)) or wipe or vacuum (929 cm(2)) surface sampling methods and analyzed at three laboratories. Agar settle plates (60 cm(2)) were the reference for determining recovery efficiency (RE). The minimum estimated surface concentrations to achieve a 95% response rate based on probit regression were 190, 15, and 44 CFU/100 cm(2) for sampling steel surfaces and 40, 9.2, and 28 CFU/100 cm(2) for sampling carpet surfaces with swab, wipe, and vacuum methods, respectively; however, these results should be cautiously interpreted because of high observed variability. Mean REs at the highest surface loading were 5.0%, 18%, and 3.7% on steel and 12%, 23%, and 4.7% on carpet for the swab, wipe, and vacuum methods, respectively. Precision (coefficient of variation) was poor at the lower surface concentrations but improved with increasing surface concentration. The best precision was obtained with wipe samples on carpet, achieving 38% at the highest surface concentration. The wipe sampling method detected B. anthracis at lower estimated surface concentrations and had higher RE and better precision than the other methods. These results may guide investigators to more meaningfully conduct environmental sampling, quantify contamination levels, and conduct risk assessment for humans.

Elevated Aerosol Layers and Their Radiative Impact over Kanpur During Monsoon Onset Period

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sarangi, Chandan; Tripathi, S. N.; Mishra, A. K.; Welton, E. J.

2016-01-01

Accurate information about aerosol vertical distribution is needed to reduce uncertainties in aerosol radiative forcing and its effect on atmospheric dynamics. The present study deals with synergistic analyses of aerosol vertical distribution and aerosol optical depth (AOD) with meteorological variables using multisatellite and ground-based remote sensors over Kanpur in central Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP). Micro-Pulse Lidar Network-derived aerosol vertical extinction (sigma) profiles are analyzed to quantify the interannual and daytime variations during monsoon onset period (May-June) for 2009-2011. The mean aerosol profile is broadly categorized into two layers viz., a surface layer (SL) extending up to 1.5 km (where sigma decreased exponentially with height) and an elevated aerosol layer (EAL) extending between 1.5 and 5.5 km. The increase in total columnar aerosol loading is associated with relatively higher increase in contribution from EAL loading than that from SL. The mean contributions of EALs are about 60%, 51%, and 50% to total columnar AOD during 2009, 2010, and 2011, respectively. We observe distinct parabolic EALs during early morning and late evening but uniformly mixed EALs during midday. The interannual and daytime variations of EALs are mainly influenced by long-range transport and convective capacity of the local emissions, respectively. Radiative flux analysis shows that clear-sky incoming solar radiation at surface is reduced with increase in AOD, which indicates significant cooling at surface. Collocated analysis of atmospheric temperature and aerosol loading reveals that increase in AOD not only resulted in surface dimming but also reduced the temperature (approximately 2-3 C) of lower troposphere (below 3 km altitude). Radiative transfer simulations indicate that the reduction of incoming solar radiation at surface is mainly due to increased absorption by EALs (with increase in total AOD). The observed cooling in lower troposphere in high aerosol loading scenario could be understood as a dynamical feedback of EAL-induced stratification of lower troposphere. Further, the observed radiative effect of EALs increases the stability of the lower troposphere, which could modulate the large-scale atmospheric dynamics during monsoon onset period. These findings encourage follow-up studies on the implication of EALs to the Indian summer monsoon dynamics using numerical models.

Long-Term Hydrologic Impact Assessment of Non-point Source Pollution Measured Through Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) Changes in a Tropical Complex Catchment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdulkareem, Jabir Haruna; Sulaiman, Wan Nor Azmin; Pradhan, Biswajeet; Jamil, Nor Rohaizah

2018-03-01

The contribution of non-point source pollution (NPS) to the contamination of surface water is an issue of growing concern. Non-point source (NPS) pollutants are of various types and altered by several site-specific factors making them difficult to control due to complex uncertainties involve in their behavior. Kelantan River basin, Malaysia is a tropical catchment receiving heavy monsoon rainfall coupled with intense land use/land cover (LULC) changes making the area consistently flood prone thereby deteriorating the surface water quality in the area. This study was conducted to determine the spatio-temporal variation of NPS pollutant loads among different LULC changes and to establish a NPS pollutant loads relationships among LULC conditions and sub-basins in each catchment. Four pollutants parameters such as total suspended solids (TSS), total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN) and ammonia nitrogen (AN) were chosen with their corresponding event mean concentration values (EMC). Soil map and LULC change maps corresponding to 1984, 2002 and 2013 were used for the calculation of runoff and NPS pollutant loads using numeric integration in a GIS environment. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was conducted for the comparison of NPS pollutant loads among the three LULC conditions used and the sub-basins in each catchment. The results showed that the spatio-temporal variation of pollutant loads in almost all the catchments increased with changes in LULC condition as one moves from 1984 to 2013, with 2013 LULC condition found as the dominant in almost all cases. NPS pollutant loads among different LULC changes also increased with changes in LULC condition from 1984 to 2013. While urbanization was found to be the dominant LULC change with the highest pollutant load in all the catchments. Results from ANOVA reveals that statistically most significant (p < 0.05) pollutant loads were obtained from 2013 LULC conditions, while statistically least significant (p < 0.05) pollutant loads were obtained under 1984 LULC condition. This reveals the clear effect of LULC changes on NPS pollution. The findings of this study may be useful to water resource planners in controlling water pollution for future planning.

Long-Term Hydrologic Impact Assessment of Non-point Source Pollution Measured Through Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) Changes in a Tropical Complex Catchment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdulkareem, Jabir Haruna; Sulaiman, Wan Nor Azmin; Pradhan, Biswajeet; Jamil, Nor Rohaizah

2018-05-01

The contribution of non-point source pollution (NPS) to the contamination of surface water is an issue of growing concern. Non-point source (NPS) pollutants are of various types and altered by several site-specific factors making them difficult to control due to complex uncertainties involve in their behavior. Kelantan River basin, Malaysia is a tropical catchment receiving heavy monsoon rainfall coupled with intense land use/land cover (LULC) changes making the area consistently flood prone thereby deteriorating the surface water quality in the area. This study was conducted to determine the spatio-temporal variation of NPS pollutant loads among different LULC changes and to establish a NPS pollutant loads relationships among LULC conditions and sub-basins in each catchment. Four pollutants parameters such as total suspended solids (TSS), total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN) and ammonia nitrogen (AN) were chosen with their corresponding event mean concentration values (EMC). Soil map and LULC change maps corresponding to 1984, 2002 and 2013 were used for the calculation of runoff and NPS pollutant loads using numeric integration in a GIS environment. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was conducted for the comparison of NPS pollutant loads among the three LULC conditions used and the sub-basins in each catchment. The results showed that the spatio-temporal variation of pollutant loads in almost all the catchments increased with changes in LULC condition as one moves from 1984 to 2013, with 2013 LULC condition found as the dominant in almost all cases. NPS pollutant loads among different LULC changes also increased with changes in LULC condition from 1984 to 2013. While urbanization was found to be the dominant LULC change with the highest pollutant load in all the catchments. Results from ANOVA reveals that statistically most significant ( p < 0.05) pollutant loads were obtained from 2013 LULC conditions, while statistically least significant ( p < 0.05) pollutant loads were obtained under 1984 LULC condition. This reveals the clear effect of LULC changes on NPS pollution. The findings of this study may be useful to water resource planners in controlling water pollution for future planning.

The influence of sweep on the aerodynamic loading of an oscillating NACA 0012 airfoil. Volume 1: Technical report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

St.hilaire, A. O.; Carta, F. O.; Fink, M. R.; Jepson, W. D.

1979-01-01

Aerodynamic experiments were performed on an oscillating NACA 0012 airfoil utilizing a tunnel-spanning wing in both unswept and 30 degree swept configurations. The airfoil was tested in steady state and in oscillatory pitch about the quarter chord. The unsteady aerodynamic loading was measured using pressure transducers along the chord. Numerical integrations of the unsteady pressure transducer responses were used to compute the normal force, chord force, and moment components of the induced loading. The effects of sweep on the induced aerodynamic load response was examined. For the range of parameters tested, it was found that sweeping the airfoil tends to delay the onset of dynamic stall. Sweeping was also found to reduce the magnitude of the unsteady load variation about the mean response. It was determined that at mean incidence angles greater than 9 degrees, sweep tends to reduce the stability margin of the NACA 0012 airfoil; however, for all cases tested, the airfoil was found to be stable in pure pitch. Turbulent eddies were found to convect downstream above the upper surface and generate forward-moving acoustic waves at the trailing edge which move upstream along the lower surface.

Biofiltration: Fundamentals, design and operations principles and applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Swanson, W.J.; Loehr, R.C.

1997-06-01

Biofiltration is a biological air pollution control technology for volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This paper summarizes the fundamentals, design and operation, and application of the process. Biofiltration has been demonstrated to be an effective technology for VOCs from many industries. Large and full-scale systems are in use in Europe and the US. With proper design and operation, VOC removal efficiencies of 95--99% have been achieved. Important parameters for design and performance are empty-bed contact time, gas surface loading, mass loading, elimination capacity, and removal efficiency. Key design and operation factors include chemical and media properties, moisture, pH, temperature, nutrient availability,more » gas pretreatment, and variations in loading.« less

Effects of Nose Radius and Aerodynamic Loading on Leading Edge Receptivity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hammerton, P. W.; Kerschen, E. J.

1998-01-01

An analysis is presented of the effects of airfoil thickness and mean aerodynamic loading on boundary-layer receptivity in the leading-edge region. The case of acoustic free-stream disturbances, incident on a thin cambered airfoil with a parabolic leading edge in a low Mach number flow, is considered. An asymptotic analysis based on large Reynolds number is developed, supplemented by numerical results. The airfoil thickness distribution enters the theory through a Strouhal number based on the nose radius of the airfoil, S = (omega)tau(sub n)/U, where omega is the frequency of the acoustic wave and U is the mean flow speed. The influence of mean aerodynamic loading enters through an effective angle-of-attack parameter ti, related to flow around the leading edge from the lower surface to the upper. The variation of the receptivity level is analyzed as a function of S, mu, and characteristics of the free-stream acoustic wave. For an unloaded leading edge, a finite nose radius dramatically reduces the receptivity level compared to that for a flat plate, the amplitude of the instability waves in the boundary layer being decreased by an order of magnitude when S = 0.3. Modest levels of aerodynamic loading are found to further decrease the receptivity level for the upper surface of the airfoil, while an increase in receptivity level occurs for the lower surface. For larger angles of attack close to the critical angle for boundary layer separation, a local rise in the receptivity level occurs for the upper surface, while for the lower surface the receptivity decreases. The effects of aerodynamic loading are more pronounced at larger values of S. Oblique acoustic waves produce much higher receptivity levels than acoustic waves propagating downstream parallel to the airfoil chord.

Influence of ground surface characteristics on the mean radiant temperature in urban areas.

PubMed

Lindberg, Fredrik; Onomura, Shiho; Grimmond, C S B

2016-09-01

The effect of variations in land cover on mean radiant temperature (T mrt ) is explored through a simple scheme developed within the radiation model SOLWEIG. Outgoing longwave radiation is parameterised using surface temperature observations on a grass and an asphalt surface, whereas outgoing shortwave radiation is modelled through variations in albedo for the different surfaces. The influence of ground surface materials on T mrt is small compared to the effects of shadowing. Nevertheless, altering ground surface materials could contribute to a reduction in T mrt to reduce the radiant load during heat-wave episodes in locations where shadowing is not an option. Evaluation of the new scheme suggests that despite its simplicity it can simulate the outgoing fluxes well, especially during sunny conditions. However, it underestimates at night and in shadowed locations. One grass surface used to develop the parameterisation, with very different characteristics compared to an evaluation grass site, caused T mrt to be underestimated. The implications of using high temporal resolution (e.g. 15 minutes) meteorological forcing data under partly cloudy conditions are demonstrated even for fairly proximal sites.

Ocean power technology design optimization

DOE PAGES

van Rij, Jennifer; Yu, Yi -Hsiang; Edwards, Kathleen; ...

2017-07-18

For this study, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) conducted a collaborative code validation and design optimization study for OPT's PowerBuoy wave energy converter (WEC). NREL utilized WEC-Sim, an open-source WEC simulator, to compare four design variations of OPT's PowerBuoy. As an input to the WEC-Sim models, viscous drag coefficients for the PowerBuoy floats were first evaluated using computational fluid dynamics. The resulting WEC-Sim PowerBuoy models were then validated with experimental power output and fatigue load data provided by OPT. The validated WEC-Sim models were then used to simulate the power performance and loads for operationalmore » conditions, extreme conditions, and directional waves, for each of the four PowerBuoy design variations, assuming the wave environment of Humboldt Bay, California. And finally, ratios of power-to-weight, power-to-fatigue-load, power-to-maximum-extreme-load, power-to-water-plane-area, and power-to-wetted-surface-area were used to make a final comparison of the potential PowerBuoy WEC designs. Lastly, the design comparison methodologies developed and presented in this study are applicable to other WEC devices and may be useful as a framework for future WEC design development projects.« less

Ocean power technology design optimization

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

van Rij, Jennifer; Yu, Yi -Hsiang; Edwards, Kathleen

For this study, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) conducted a collaborative code validation and design optimization study for OPT's PowerBuoy wave energy converter (WEC). NREL utilized WEC-Sim, an open-source WEC simulator, to compare four design variations of OPT's PowerBuoy. As an input to the WEC-Sim models, viscous drag coefficients for the PowerBuoy floats were first evaluated using computational fluid dynamics. The resulting WEC-Sim PowerBuoy models were then validated with experimental power output and fatigue load data provided by OPT. The validated WEC-Sim models were then used to simulate the power performance and loads for operationalmore » conditions, extreme conditions, and directional waves, for each of the four PowerBuoy design variations, assuming the wave environment of Humboldt Bay, California. And finally, ratios of power-to-weight, power-to-fatigue-load, power-to-maximum-extreme-load, power-to-water-plane-area, and power-to-wetted-surface-area were used to make a final comparison of the potential PowerBuoy WEC designs. Lastly, the design comparison methodologies developed and presented in this study are applicable to other WEC devices and may be useful as a framework for future WEC design development projects.« less

Improved flaw detection and characterization with difference thermography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Winfree, William P.; Zalameda, Joseph N.; Howell, Patricia A.

2011-05-01

Flaw detection and characterization with thermographic techniques in graphite polymer composites is often limited by localized variations in the thermographic response. Variations in properties such as acceptable porosity, variations in fiber volume content and surface polymer thickness result in variations in the thermal response that in general cause significant variations in the initial thermal response. These variations result in a noise floor that increases the difficulty of detecting and characterizing deeper flaws. The paper investigates comparing thermographic responses taken before and after a change in state in a composite to improve the detection of subsurface flaws. A method is presented for registration of the responses before finding the difference. A significant improvement in the detectability is achieved by comparing the differences in response. Examples of changes in state due to application of a load and impact are presented.

Improved Flaw Detection and Characterization with Difference Thermography

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Winfree, William P.; Zalameda, Joseph N.; Howell, Patricia A.

2011-01-01

Flaw detection and characterization with thermographic techniques in graphite polymer composites is often limited by localized variations in the thermographic response. Variations in properties such as acceptable porosity, variations in fiber volume content and surface polymer thickness result in variations in the thermal response that in general cause significant variations in the initial thermal response. These variations result in a noise floor that increases the difficulty of detecting and characterizing deeper flaws. The paper investigates comparing thermographic responses taken before and after a change in state in a composite to improve the detection of subsurface flaws. A method is presented for registration of the responses before finding the difference. A significant improvement in the detectability is achieved by comparing the differences in response. Examples of changes in state due to application of a load and impact are presented.

Evaluating the relative roles of ecological regions and land-cover composition for guiding establishment of nutrient criteria

Treesearch

James D. Wickham; Kurt H. Riitters; Timothy G. Wade; K. Bruce Jones

2005-01-01

The continuing degradation of United States surface waters by excessive nutrient loads has motivated the establishment of nutrient criteria for streams, lakes, and estuaries as a means to protect aquatic resources. Nutrient criteria have been established based on ecoregional differences, recognizing that geographic variation in climate, topography, geology, and land...

Experimental studies of breaking of elastic tired wheel under variable normal load

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fedotov, A. I.; Zedgenizov, V. G.; Ovchinnikova, N. I.

2017-10-01

The paper analyzes the braking of a vehicle wheel subjected to disturbances of normal load variations. Experimental tests and methods for developing test modes as sinusoidal force disturbances of the normal wheel load were used. Measuring methods for digital and analogue signals were used as well. Stabilization of vehicle wheel braking subjected to disturbances of normal load variations is a topical issue. The paper suggests a method for analyzing wheel braking processes under disturbances of normal load variations. A method to control wheel baking processes subjected to disturbances of normal load variations was developed.

Designing a Dynamic Data Driven Application System for Estimating Real-Time Load of DOC in a River

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ouyang, Y.; None

2011-12-01

Understanding the dynamics of naturally occurring dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in a river is central to estimating surface water quality, aquatic carbon cycling, and climate change. Currently, determination of DOC in surface water is primarily accomplished by manually collecting samples for laboratory analysis, which requires at least 24 hours. In other words, no effort has been devoted to monitoring real-time variations of DOC in a river due to the lack of suitable and/or cost-effective wireless sensors. However, when considering human health, carbon footprints, and effects of urbanization, industry, and agriculture on water resource supply, timely DOC information may be critical. We have developed here a new paradigm, a dynamic data driven application system (DDDAS), for estimating the real-time load of DOC into a river. This DDDAS consisted of the following four components: (1) a Visual Basic (VB) program for downloading US Geological Survey real-time chlorophyll and discharge data; (2) a STELLA model for evaluating real-time DOC load based on the relationship between chlorophyll a, DOC, and river discharge; (3) a batch file for linking the VB program and STELLA model; and (4) a Microsoft Windows Scheduled Tasks wizard for executing the model and displaying output on a computer screen at selected times. Results show that the real-time load of DOC into the St. Johns River basin near Satsuma, Putnam County, Florida, USA varied over a range from -13,143 to 29,248 kg/h at the selected site in Florida, USA. The negative loads occurred because of the back flow in the estuarine reach of the river. The cumulative load of DOC in the river for the selected site at the end of the simulation (178 hours) was about 1.2 tons. Our results support the utility of the DDDAS developed in this study for estimating the real-time variations of DOC in river ecosystems.

An evaluation of surface properties and frictional forces generated from Al-Mo-Ni coating on piston ring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karamış, M. B.; Yıldızlı, K.; Çakırer, H.

2004-05-01

Surface properties of the Al-Mo-Ni coating plasma sprayed on the piston ring material and the frictional forces obtained by testing carried out under different loads, temperatures and frictional conditions were evaluated. Al-Mo-Ni composite material was deposited on the AISI 440C test steel using plasma spraying method. The coated and uncoated samples were tested by being exposed to frictional testing under dry and lubricated conditions. Test temperatures of 25, 100, 200, and 300 °C and loads of 83, 100, 200, and 300 N were applied during the tests in order to obtain the frictional response of the coating under conditions similar to real piston ring/cylinder friction conditions. Gray cast iron was used as a counterface material. All the tests were carried out with a constant sliding speed of 1 m/s. The properties of the coating were determined by using EDX and SEM analyses. Hardness distribution on the cross-section of the coating was also determined. In addition, the variations of the surface roughness after testing with test temperatures and loads under dry and lubricated conditions were recorded versus sliding distance. It was determined that the surface roughness increased with increasing loads. It increased with temperature up to 200 °C and then decreased at 300 °C under dry test conditions. Under lubricated conditions, the roughness decreased under the loads of 100 N and then increased. The roughness decreased at 200 °C but below and above this point it increased with the test temperature. Frictional forces observed under dry and lubricated test conditions increased with load at running-in period of the sliding. The steady-state period was then established with the sliding distance as a normal situation. However, the frictional forces were generally lower at a higher test temperature than those at a lower test temperature. Surprisingly, the test temperature of 200 °C was a critical point for frictional forces and surface roughness.

Comprehensive nonlocal analysis of piezoelectric nanobeams with surface effects in bending, buckling and vibrations under magneto-electro-thermo-mechanical loading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ebrahimi-Nejad, Salman; Boreiry, Mahya

2018-03-01

The bending, buckling and vibrational behavior of size-dependent piezoelectric nanobeams under thermo-magneto-mechano-electrical environment are investigated by performing a parametric study, in the presence of surface effects. The Gurtin-Murdoch surface elasticity and Eringen’s nonlocal elasticity theories are applied in the framework of Euler–Bernoulli beam theory to obtain a new non-classical size-dependent beam model for dynamic and static analyses of piezoelectric nanobeams. In order to satisfy the surface equilibrium equations, cubic variation of stress with beam thickness is assumed for the bulk stress component which is neglected in classical beam models. Results are obtained for clamped - simply-supported (C-S) and simply-supported - simply-supported (S-S) boundary conditions using a proposed analytical solution method. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the effects of length, surface effects, nonlocal parameter and environmental changes (temperature, magnetic field and external voltage) on deflection, critical buckling load and natural frequency for each boundary condition. Results of this study can serve as benchmarks for the design and analysis of nanostructures of magneto-electro-thermo-elastic materials.

Secular and annual hydrologic effects from the Plate Boundary Observatory GPS network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meertens, C. M.; Wahr, J. M.; Borsa, A. A.; Jackson, M. E.; Herring, T.

2009-12-01

The Plate Boundary Observatory (PBO) GPS network is providing accurate and spatially coherent vertical signals that can be interpreted in terms of hydrological loading and poroelastic effects from both natural and anthropogenic changes in water storage. Data used for this analysis are the precise coordinate time series produced on a daily basis by PBO Analysis Centers at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology and at Central Washington University and combined by the Analysis Center Coordinator at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. These products, as well as derived velocity solutions, are made freely available from the UNAVCO Data Center in Boulder. Analysis of secular trends and annual variations in the time series was made using the analysis software of Langbein, 2008. Spatial variations in the amplitude and phase of the annual vertical component of motion allow for identification of anthropogenic effects due to water pumping, irrigation, and reservoir lake variations, and of outliers due to instrumental or other local site effects. Vertical annual signals of 8-10 mm peak-to-peak amplitude are evident at stations in the mountains of northern and central California and the Pacific Northwest. The peak annual uplift is in October and is correlated to hydrological loading effects. Mountainous areas appear to be responding elastically to the load of the water contained in surface soil, fractures, and snow. Vertical signals are highest when the water load is at a minimum. The vertical elastic hydrologic loading signal was modeled using the 0.25 degree community NOAH land-surface model (LSM) and generally fits the observed GPS signal. Addition comparisons will be made using the Mosaic LSM and the NOAA “Leaky Bucket” hydrologic model. In contrast to mountain stations that are installed principally in bedrock, stations in the valleys of California are installed in sediments. Observations from these stations show greater spatial variability ranging from almost no detectable annual signal to very large, 20-30 mm, vertical amplitudes that reach a maximum in March. Vertical signals in the valleys are the result of poroelastic effects induced by groundwater variations caused by pumping for irrigation or other purposes and are highest when groundwater is at maximum recharge level. Secular trends in the vertical time series show 1-3 mm/yr of subsidence across the western U.S. In areas of groundwater pumping the rates are up to several cm/yr showing subsidence as pumping exceeds annual recharge over a multi-year time period. In the mountainous areas where hydrologic loading is evident in the annual signals, secular trends show uplift of 1-3 mm/yr possibly due to regional drought and decreased overall water volumes that result in less load and vertical uplift. Overall, these results illustrate the potential of using GPS data to constrain hydrological models. In return, accurate hydrologic loading models will be needed to better measure and detect vertical tectonic motions at the mm-level.

Repetitive heterocoagulation of oppositely charged particles for enhancement of magnetic nanoparticle loading into monodisperse silica particles.

PubMed

Matsumoto, Hideki; Nagao, Daisuke; Konno, Mikio

2010-03-16

Oppositely charged particles were repetitively heterocoagulated to fabricate highly monodisperse magnetic silica particles with high loading of magnetic nanoparticles. Positively charged magnetic nanoparticles prepared by surface modification with N-trimethoxysilylpropyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (TSA) were used to heterocoagulate with silica particles under basic conditions to give rise to negative silica surface charge and prevent the oxidation of the magnetic nanoparticles. The resultant particles of silica core homogeneously coated with the magnetic nanoparticles were further coated with thin silica layer with sodium silicate in order to enhance colloidal stability and avoid desorption of the magnetic nanoparticles from the silica cores. Five repetitions of the heterocoagulation and the silica coating could increase saturation magnetization of the magnetic silica particles to 27.7 emu/g, keeping the coefficient of variation of particle sizes (C(V)) less than 6.5%. Highly homogeneous loading of the magnetic component was confirmed by measuring Fe-to-Si atomic ratios of individual particles with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.

Effect of counter-pulsation control of a pulsatile left ventricular assist device on working load variations of the native heart.

PubMed

Choi, Seong Wook; Nam, Kyoung Won; Lim, Ki Moo; Shim, Eun Bo; Won, Yong Soon; Woo, Heung Myong; Kwak, Ho Hyun; Noh, Mi Ryoung; Kim, In Young; Park, Sung Min

2014-04-03

When using a pulsatile left ventricular assist device (LVAD), it is important to reduce the cardiac load variations of the native heart because severe cardiac load variations can induce ventricular arrhythmia. In this study, we investigated the effect of counter-pulsation control of the LVAD on the reduction of cardiac load variation. A ventricular electrocardiogram-based counter-pulsation control algorithm for a LVAD was implemented, and the effects of counter-pulsation control of the LVAD on the reduction of the working load variations of the left ventricle were determined in three animal experiments. Deviations of the working load of the left ventricle were reduced by 51.3%, 67.9%, and 71.5% in each case, and the beat-to-beat variation rates in the working load were reduced by 84.8%, 82.7%, and 88.2% in each ease after counter-pulsation control. There were 3 to 12 premature ventricle contractions (PVCs) before counter-pulsation control, but no PVCs were observed during counter-pulsation control. Counter-pulsation control of the pulsatile LVAD can reduce severe cardiac load variations, but the average working load is not markedly affected by application of counter-pulsation control because it is also influenced by temporary cardiac outflow variations. We believe that counter-pulsation control of the LVAD can improve the long-term safety of heart failure patients equipped with LVADs.

Stress Variation Caused by the Terrestrial Water Storage Inferred from GRACE Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yi, H.; Wen, L.

2014-12-01

We estimate stress variation caused by the terrestrial water storage (TWS) change from 2003 to 2013. We first infer the TWS change from the monthly gravity field change in the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE). We then estimate the stress change at the Earth's surface caused by elastic loading of mass change associated with the inferred TWS change.The monthly spherical harmonics of the GRACE gravity solutions are processed using a decorrelation filter and Gaussian smoothing, to suppress the noise in high degree and order, following the approach of Swenson and Wahr [2006] and Chen et al. [2007]. The gravity variation associated with the glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) is further removed from the GRACE solutions based on a geodynamical model by Paulson et al. [2007]. The inferred TWS changes exhibit a trend of increase from 2003 to 2013 in Amazon basin, southern Africa, the northern United State America (USA) and Queen Maud Land of Antarctica, and a trend of decrease in the same period in central Argentina, southern Chile, northern India, northern Iran, Alaska of the USA, Greenland and Marie Byrd Land of Antarctica.Surface stress variation due to the TWS loading is calculated, assuming an incompressible and self-gravitating Earth, with an elastic crust and a viscoelastic mantle overlying an inviscid core based on PREM model. We will present the geographical distribution of the stress variation caused by the TWS loading and discuss its possible implications. Chen, J. L., C. R. Wilson, B. D. Tapley, and S. Grand (2007), GRACE detects coseismic and postseismic deformation from the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake, Geophys Res Lett, 34(13), doi:10.1029/2007GL030356. Paulson, A., S. J. Zhong, and J. Wahr (2007), Inference of mantle viscosity from GRACE and relative sea level data, Geophys J Int, 171(2), 497-508, doi:10.1111/j.1365-246X.2007.03556.x. Swenson, S., and J. Wahr (2006), Post-processing removal of correlated errors in GRACE data, Geophys Res Lett, 33(8), doi:10.1029/2005GL025285.

Increasing runoff and sediment load from the Greenland ice sheet at kangerlussuaq (Sonder Stromfjord) in a 30-year perspective, 1979-2008

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mernild, Sebastian Haugard; Liston, Glen; Hasholt, Bent

2009-01-01

This observation and modeling study provides insights into runoff and sediment load exiting the Watson River drainage basin, Kangerlussuaq, West Greenland during a 30 year period (1978/79-2007/08) when the climate experienced increasing temperatures and precipitation. The 30-year simulations quantify the terrestrial freshwater and sediment output from part of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) and the land between the GrIS and the ocean, in the context of global warming and increasing GrIS surface melt. We used a snow-evolution modeling system (SnowModel) to simulate the winter accumulation and summer ablation processes, including runoff and surface mass balance (SMB), of the Greenland icemore » sheet. Observed sediment concentrations were related to observed runoff, producing a sediment-load time series. To a large extent, the SMB fluctuations could be explained by changes in net precipitation (precipitation minus evaporation and sublimation), with 8 out of 30 years having negative SMB, mainly because of relatively low annual net precipitation. The overall trend in net precipitation and runoff increased significantly, while 5MB increased insignificantly throughout the simulation period, leading to enhanced precipitation of 0.59 km{sup 3} w.eq. (or 60%), runoff of 0.43 km{sup 3} w.eq (or 54%), and SMB of 0.16 km3 w.eq. (or 86%). Runoff rose on average from 0.80 km{sup 3} w.eq. in 1978/79 to 1.23 km{sup 3} w.eq. in 2007/08. The percentage of catchment oudet runoff explained by runoff from the GrIS decreased on average {approx} 10%, indicating that catchment runoff throughout the simulation period was influenced more by precipitation and snowmelt events, and less by runoff from the GrIS. Average variations in the increasing Kangerlussuaq runoff from 1978/79 through 2007/08 seem to follow the overall variations in satellite-derived GrIS surface melt, where 64% of the variations in simulated runoff were explained by regional melt conditions on the GrIS. Throughout the simulation period, the sediment load varied from a minimum of 0.96 x 10{sup 6} t y{sup -1} in 1991/92 to a maximum of 3.52 x 10{sup 6} t y{sup -1} in 2006/07, showing an average increase of sediment load of 9.42 x 10{sup 5} t (or 72%) throughout the period.« less

Theoretical antisymmetric span loading for wings of arbitrary plan form at subsonic speeds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Deyoung, John

1951-01-01

A simplified lifting-surface theory that includes effects of compressibility and spanwise variation of section lift-curve slope is used to provide charts with which antisymmetric loading due to arbitrary antisymmetric angle of attack can be found for wings having symmetric plan forms with a constant spanwise sweep angle of the quarter-chord line. Consideration is given to the flexible wing in roll. Aerodynamic characteristics due to rolling, deflected ailerons, and sideslip of wings with dihedral are considered. Solutions are presented for straight-tapered wings for a range of swept plan forms.

Development of a Dynamic Biomechanical Model for Load Carriage: Phase 4, Part C2: Assessment of Pressure Measurement Systems on Curved Surfaces for the Dynamic Biomechanical Model of Human Load Carriage

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-08-01

excellente justesse comparativement au F-Scan® pendant les essais sur le modèle de hanche. Les deux systèmes présentaient un certain degré de variation...in appendix C. The experimental design consisted of three steps (See Figure 1). Two were undertaken using a physical model for the shoulder in order...increase in accuracy error compared to Table 1 suggests that the current software for the XSENSOR® system is not designed to compensate for errors

Analysis of cracked RC beams under vibration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Capozucca, R.; Magagnini, E.

2017-05-01

Among the methods of monitoring of integrity, vibration analysis is more convenient as non-destructive testing (NDT) method. Many aspects regarding the vibration monitoring of the structural integrity of damaged RC elements have not been completely analysed in literature. The correlation between the development of the crack pattern on concrete surface under bending loadings, as well as the width and depth of cracks, and the variation of dynamic parameters on a structural element is an important aspects that has to be more investigated. This paper deals with cracked RC beams controlled by NDT based on natural vibration, which may be correlated to damage degree due to cracking of concrete under severe state of loading. An experimental investigation on the assessment of RC beams in different scale under loading has been done through dynamic tests in different constraint conditions of edges measuring frequency values and frequency variation. Envelope of Frequency Response Functions (FRFs) are shown and the changes of natural frequency values are related to the damage degree of RC beams subjected to static tests. Finally, a comparison between data obtained by finite element analysis and experimental results is shown.

Sensitivity kernels for viscoelastic loading based on adjoint methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Al-Attar, David; Tromp, Jeroen

2014-01-01

Observations of glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) allow for inferences to be made about mantle viscosity, ice sheet history and other related parameters. Typically, this inverse problem can be formulated as minimizing the misfit between the given observations and a corresponding set of synthetic data. When the number of parameters is large, solution of such optimization problems can be computationally challenging. A practical, albeit non-ideal, solution is to use gradient-based optimization. Although the gradient of the misfit required in such methods could be calculated approximately using finite differences, the necessary computation time grows linearly with the number of model parameters, and so this is often infeasible. A far better approach is to apply the `adjoint method', which allows the exact gradient to be calculated from a single solution of the forward problem, along with one solution of the associated adjoint problem. As a first step towards applying the adjoint method to the GIA inverse problem, we consider its application to a simpler viscoelastic loading problem in which gravitationally self-consistent ocean loading is neglected. The earth model considered is non-rotating, self-gravitating, compressible, hydrostatically pre-stressed, laterally heterogeneous and possesses a Maxwell solid rheology. We determine adjoint equations and Fréchet kernels for this problem based on a Lagrange multiplier method. Given an objective functional J defined in terms of the surface deformation fields, we show that its first-order perturbation can be written δ J = int _{MS}K_{η }δ ln η dV +int _{t0}^{t1}int _{partial M}K_{dot{σ }} δ dot{σ } dS dt, where δ ln η = δη/η denotes relative viscosity variations in solid regions MS, dV is the volume element, δ dot{σ } is the perturbation to the time derivative of the surface load which is defined on the earth model's surface ∂M and for times [t0, t1] and dS is the surface element on ∂M. The `viscosity kernel' Kη determines the linearized sensitivity of J to viscosity perturbations defined with respect to a laterally heterogeneous reference earth model, while the `rate-of-loading kernel' K_{dot{σ }} determines the sensitivity to variations in the time derivative of the surface load. By restricting attention to spherically symmetric viscosity perturbations, we also obtain a `radial viscosity kernel' overline{K}_{η } such that the associated contribution to δJ can be written int _{IS}overline{K}_{η }δ ln η dr, where IS denotes the subset of radii lying in solid regions. In order to illustrate this theory, we describe its numerical implementation in the case of a spherically symmetric earth model using a 1-D spectral element method, and calculate sensitivity kernels for a range of realistic observables.

Study on the repeatability of manufacturing nano-silica (SiO2) reinforced composite laminates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prince Jeya Lal, L.; Ramesh, S.; Natarajan, Elango

2018-04-01

Repeatability to manufacture nano-silica reinforced composite laminates with consistent mechanical properties is studied. In this study, composite laminates are manufactured by hand layup and there after mechanical properties of the laminates are evaluated under tensile and flexural loading conditions. Composite laminates are fabricated and tested under equivalent conditions. Plain weave E-Glass fabric and epoxy LY556 are used as reinforcement and matrix. Nano-silica of size 17nm is used as filler. To enhance the reliability of composite characterization, utmost care is taken to avoid defects like voids, surface defects and under-saturations. Homogeneous distribution of nano silica in matrix is analyzed using TEM study. Inconsistencies in mechanical properties are quantified by coefficient of variation. In this study, the coefficient of variation is estimated in terms of break load for tensile test is 4.45 and for flexural test is 2.27 and is well within the limits.

Statistical Simulation of the Performance and Degradation of a PEMFC Membrane Electrode Assembly

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Harvey, David; Bellemare-Davis, Alexander; Karan, Kunal

2012-07-01

A 1-D MEA Performance model was developed that considered transport of liquid water, agglomerate catalyst structure, and the statistical variation of the MEA characteristic parameters. The model was validated against a low surface area carbon supported catalyst across various platinum loadings and operational conditions. The statistical variation was found to play a significant role in creating noise in the validation data and that there was a coupling effect between movement in material properties with liquid water transport. Further, in studying the low platinum loaded catalyst layers it was found that liquid water played a significant role in the increasing themore » overall transport losses. The model was then further applied to study platinum dissolution via potential cycling accelerated stress tests, in which the platinum was found to dissolve nearest the membrane effectively resulting in reaction distribution shifts within the layer.« less

Stability analysis of nanoscale surface patterns in stressed solids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kostyrko, Sergey A.; Shuvalov, Gleb M.

2018-05-01

Here, we use the theory of surface elasticity to extend the morphological instability analysis of stressed solids developed in the works of Asaro, Tiller, Grinfeld, Srolovitz and many others. Within the framework of Gurtin-Murdoch model, the surface phase is assumed to be a negligibly thin layer with the elastic properties which differ from those of the bulk material. We consider the mass transport mechanism driven by the variation of surface and bulk energy along undulated surface of stressed solid. The linearized surface evolution equation is derived in the case of plane strain conditions and describes the amplitude change of surface perturbations with time. A parametric analysis of this equation leads to the definition of critical conditions which depend on undulation wavelength, residual surface stress, applied loading, surface and bulk elastic constants and predict the surface morphological stability.

Using surface displacement derived from GRACE to constrain the water loading signal in cGPS measurements in the Amazon Basin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jose, L.; Bennett, R. A.; Harig, C.

2017-12-01

Currently, cGPS data is well suited to track vertical changes in the Earth's surface. However, there are annual, semi-annual, and interannual signals within cGPS time series that are not well constrained. We hypothesize that these signals are primarily due to water loading. If this is the case, the conventional method of modeling cGPS data as an annual or semiannual sinusoid falls short, as such models cannot accurately capture all variations in surface displacement, especially those due to extreme hydrologic events. We believe that we can better correct the cGPS time series with another method we are developing wherein we use a time series of surface displacement derived from the GRACE geopotential field instead of a sinusoidal model to correct the data. Currently, our analysis is constrained to the Amazon Basin, where the signal due to water loading is large enough to appear in both the GRACE and cGPS measurements. The vertical signal from cGPS stations across the Amazon Basin show an apparent spatial correlation, which further supports our idea that these signals are due to a regional water loading signal. In our preliminary research, we used tsview for Matlab to find that the WRMS of the corrected cGPS time series can be reduced as much as 30% from the model corrected data to the GRACE corrected data. The Amazon, like many places around the world, has experienced extreme drought, in 2005, 2010, and recently in 2015. In addition to making the cGPS vertical signal more robust, the method we are developing has the potential to help us understand the effects of these weather events and track trends in water loading.

Factors controlling stream water nitrate and phosphor loads during precipitation events

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rozemeijer, J.; van der Velde, Y.; van Geer, F.; de Rooij, G. H.; Broers, H.; Bierkens, M. F.

2009-12-01

Pollution of surface waters in densely populated areas with intensive land use is a serious threat to their ecological, industrial and recreational utilization. European and national manure policies and several regional and local pilot projects aim at reducing pollution loads to surface waters. For the evaluation of measures, water authorities and environmental research institutes are putting a lot of effort into monitoring surface water quality. Within regional surface water quality monitoring networks, the measurement locations are usually situated in the downstream part of the catchment to represent a larger area. The monitoring frequency is usually low (e.g. monthly), due to the high costs for sampling and analysis. As a consequence, human induced trends in nutrient loads and concentrations in these monitoring data are often concealed by the large variability of surface water quality caused by meteorological variations. Because this natural variability in surface water quality is poorly understood, large uncertainties occur in the estimates of (trends in) nutrient loads or average concentrations. This study aims at uncertainty reduction in the estimates of mean concentrations and loads of N and P from regional monitoring data. For this purpose, we related continuous records of stream water N and P concentrations to easier and cheaper to collect quantitative data on precipitation, discharge, groundwater level and tube drain discharge. A specially designed multi scale experimental setup was installed in an agricultural lowland catchment in The Netherlands. At the catchment outlet, continuous measurements of water quality and discharge were performed from July 2007-January 2009. At an experimental field within the catchment we collected continuous measurements of precipitation, groundwater levels and tube drain discharges. 20 significant rainfall events with a variety of antecedent conditions, durations and intensities were selected for analysis. Singular and multiple regression analysis were used to identify relations between the N and P response to the rainfall events and the quantitative event characteristics. We successfully used these relations to predict the N and P responses to events and to improve the interpolation between low frequency grab sample measurements. Incorporating the predicted concentration changes during high discharge events dramatically improved the precision of our load estimations.

Modulation of mechanical and muscular load by footwear during catering.

PubMed

Kersting, U G; Janshen, L; Böhm, H; Morey-Klapsing, G M; Brüggemann, G-P

2005-03-15

The BGN (Berufsgenossenschaft Nahrungsmithl und Gaststätten) reports 70% of job induced days off work to be connected with traumas of the ankle joint or overloading of the leg, knee and lower back, with an increased incidence in service areas outdoors (R. Grieshaber, personal communication). Workspace environments usually contain narrow passages, slopes or stairs and sudden changes between different surfaces. The aim of this study was to investigate the biomechanical load on the lower extremity and the low back during catering service when wearing different types of footwear. Thus, the potential for altering mechanical stress experienced during catering by variations in footwear was explored. Sixteen experienced waiters followed a course typical for a combined indoor-outdoor service area. Three different types of footwear were investigated using pressure distribution measurements, rearfoot goniometry and electromyography. A discriminant analysis revealed that the factors subject, shoe and surface affect rear foot movement or pressure distribution in different ways. A MANOVA demonstrated significant differences in loading parameters between footwear types. In general, these differences increased in magnitude in critical situations, such as climbing stairs or crossing slippery surfaces. The results of this study demonstrate that manipulations to footwear offer a great potential for modulating loads experienced during catering. Based on the results, the effects of constructional features are discussed. The method proposed can be applied to evaluate shoe modifications under realistic workplace conditions.

Electro-thermal analysis of contact resistance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pandey, Nitin; Jain, Ishant; Reddy, Sudhakar; Gulhane, Nitin P.

2018-05-01

Electro-Mechanical characterization over copper samples are performed at the macroscopic level to understand the dependence of electrical contact resistance and temperature on surface roughness and contact pressure. For two different surface roughness levels of samples, six levels of load are selected and varied to capture the bulk temperature rise and electrical contact resistance. Accordingly, the copper samples are modelled and analysed using COMSOLTM as a simulation package and the results are validated by the experiments. The interface temperature during simulation is obtained using Mikic-Elastic correlation and by directly entering experimental contact resistance value. The load values are varied and then reversed in a similar fashion to capture the hysteresis losses. The governing equations & assumptions underlying these models and their significance are examined & possible justification for the observed variations are discussed. Equivalent Greenwood model is also predicted by mapping the results of the experiment.

Polyurethane foam loaded with SDS for the adsorption of cationic dyes from aqueous medium: Multivariate optimization of the loading process.

PubMed

Robaina, Nicolle F; Soriano, Silvio; Cassella, Ricardo J

2009-08-15

This paper reports the development of a new procedure for the adsorption of four cationic dyes (Rhodamine B, Methylene Blue, Crystal Violet and Malachite Green) from aqueous medium employing polyurethane foam (PUF) loaded with sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) as solid phase. PUF loading process was based on the stirring of 200mg PUF cylinders with acidic solutions containing SDS. The conditions for loading were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) using a Doehlert design with three variables that were SDS and HCl concentrations and stirring time. Results obtained in the optimization process showed that the stirring time is not a relevant parameter in the PUF loading, evidencing that the transport of SDS from solution to PUF surface is fast. On the other hand, both SDS and HCl concentrations were important parameters causing significant variation in the efficiency of the resulting solid phase for the removal of dyes from solution. At optimized conditions, SDS and HCl concentrations were 4.0 x 10(-4) and 0.90 mol L(-1), respectively. The influence of stirring time was evaluated by univariate methodology. A 20 min stirring time was established in order to make the PUF loading process fast and robust without losing efficiency. The procedure was tested for the removal of the four cationic dyes from aqueous solutions and removal efficiencies always better than 90% were achieved for the two concentrations tested (2.0 x 10(-5) and 1.0 x 10(-4)mol L(-1)).

Monitoring the tidal response of a sea levee with ambient seismic noise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Planès, Thomas; Rittgers, Justin B.; Mooney, Michael A.; Kanning, Wim; Draganov, Deyan

2017-03-01

Internal erosion, a major cause of failure of earthen dams and levees, is often difficult to detect at early stages using traditional visual inspection. The passive seismic-interferometry technique could enable the early detection of internal changes taking place within these structures. We test this technique on a portion of the sea levee of Colijnsplaat, Netherlands, which presents signs of concentrated seepage in the form of sandboils. Applying seismic interferometry to ambient noise collected over a 12-hour period, we retrieve surface waves propagating along the levee. We identify the contribution of two dominant ambient seismic noise sources: the traffic on the Zeeland bridge and a nearby wind turbine. Here, the sea-wave action does not constitute a suitable noise source for seismic interferometry. Using the retrieved surface waves, we compute time-lapse variations of the surface-wave group velocities during the 12-hour tidal cycle for different frequency bands, i.e., for different depth ranges. The estimated group-velocity variations correlate with variations in on-site pore-water pressure measurements that respond to tidal loading. We present lateral profiles of these group-velocity variations along a 180-meter section of the levee, at four different depth ranges (0m-40m). On these profiles, we observe some spatially localized relative group-velocity variations of up to 5% that might be related to concentrated seepage.

Wind Tunnel Testing of Microtabs and Microjets for Active Load Control of Wind Turbine Blades

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cooperman, Aubryn Murray

Increases in wind turbine size have made controlling loads on the blades an important consideration for future turbine designs. One approach that could reduce extreme loads and minimize load variation is to incorporate active control devices into the blades that are able to change the aerodynamic forces acting on the turbine. A wind tunnel model has been constructed to allow testing of different active aerodynamic load control devices. Two such devices have been tested in the UC Davis Aeronautical Wind Tunnel: microtabs and microjets. Microtabs are small surfaces oriented perpendicular to an airfoil surface that can be deployed and retracted to alter the lift coefficient of the airfoil. Microjets produce similar effects using air blown perpendicular to the airfoil surface. Results are presented here for both static and dynamic performance of the two devices. Microtabs, located at 95% chord on the lower surface and 90% chord on the upper surface, with a height of 1% chord, produce a change in the lift coefficient of 0.18, increasing lift when deployed on the lower surface and decreasing lift when deployed on the upper surface. Microjets with a momentum coefficient of 0.006 at the same locations produce a change in the lift coefficient of 0.19. The activation time for both devices is less than 0.3 s, which is rapid compared to typical gust rise times. The potential of active device to mitigate changes in loads was tested using simulated gusts. The gusts were produced in the wind tunnel by accelerating the test section air speed at rates of up to 7 ft/s 2. Open-loop control of microtabs was tested in two modes: simultaneous and sequential tab deployment. Activating all tabs along the model span simultaneously was found to produce a change in the loads that occurred more rapidly than a gust. Sequential tab deployment more closely matched the rates of change due to gusts and tab deployment. A closed-loop control system was developed for the microtabs using a simple feedback control based on lift measurements from a six-component balance. An alternative input to the control system that would be easier to implement on a turbine was also investigated: the lift force was estimated using the difference in surface pressure at 15% chord. Both control system approaches were found to decrease lift deviations by around 50% during rapid changes in the free stream air speed.

On the Retrieval of Geocenter Motion from Gravity Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosat, S.; Mémin, A.; Boy, J. P.; Rogister, Y. J. G.

2017-12-01

The center of mass of the whole Earth, the so-called geocenter, is moving with respect to the Center of Mass of the solid Earth because of the loading exerted by the Earth's fluid layers on the solid crust. Space geodetic techniques tying satellites and ground stations (e.g. GNSS, SLR and DORIS) have been widely employed to estimate the geocenter motion. Harmonic degree-1 variations of the gravity field are associated to the geocenter displacement. We show that ground records of time-varying gravity from Superconducting Gravimeters (SGs) can be used to constrain the geocenter motion. Two major difficulties have to be tackled: (1) the sensitivity of surface gravimetric measurements to local mass changes, and in particular hydrological and atmospheric variabilities; (2) the spatial aliasing (spectral leakage) of spherical harmonic degrees higher than 1 induced by the under-sampling of station distribution. The largest gravity variations can be removed from the SG data by subtracting solid and oceanic tides as well as atmospheric and hydrologic effects using global models. However some hydrological signal may still remain. Since surface water content is well-modelled using GRACE observations, we investigate how the spatial aliasing in SG data can be reduced by employing GRACE solutions when retrieving geocenter motion. We show synthetic simulations using complete surface loading models together with GRACE solutions computed at SG stations. In order to retrieve the degree-one gravity variations that are associated with the geocenter motion, we use a multi-station stacking method that performs better than a classical spherical harmonic stacking when the station distribution is inhomogeneous. We also test the influence of the network configuration on the estimate of the geocenter motion. An inversion using SG and GRACE observations is finally presented and the results are compared with previous geocenter estimates.

Cornering and wear behavior of the Space Shuttle Orbiter main gear tire

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Daugherty, Robert H.; Stubbs, Sandy M.

1987-01-01

One of the factors needed to describe the handling characteristics of the Space Shuttle Orbiter during the landing rollout is the response of the vehicle's tires to variations in load and yaw angle. An experimental investigation of the cornering characteristics of the Orbiter main gear tires was conducted at the NASA Langley Research Center Aircraft Landing Dynamics Facility. This investigation compliments earlier work done to define the Orbiter nose tire cornering characteristics. In the investigation, the effects of load and yaw angle were evaluated by measuring parameters such as side load and drag load, and obtaining measurements of aligning torque. Because the tire must operate on an extremely rough runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), tests were also conducted to describe the wear behavior of the tire under various conditions on a simulated KSC runway surface. Mathematical models for both the cornering and the wear behavior are discussed.

Toward a Global Horizontal and Vertical Elastic Load Deformation Model Derived from GRACE and GNSS Station Position Time Series

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chanard, Kristel; Fleitout, Luce; Calais, Eric; Rebischung, Paul; Avouac, Jean-Philippe

2018-04-01

We model surface displacements induced by variations in continental water, atmospheric pressure, and nontidal oceanic loading, derived from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) for spherical harmonic degrees two and higher. As they are not observable by GRACE, we use at first the degree-1 spherical harmonic coefficients from Swenson et al. (2008, https://doi.org/10.1029/2007JB005338). We compare the predicted displacements with the position time series of 689 globally distributed continuous Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) stations. While GNSS vertical displacements are well explained by the model at a global scale, horizontal displacements are systematically underpredicted and out of phase with GNSS station position time series. We then reestimate the degree 1 deformation field from a comparison between our GRACE-derived model, with no a priori degree 1 loads, and the GNSS observations. We show that this approach reconciles GRACE-derived loading displacements and GNSS station position time series at a global scale, particularly in the horizontal components. Assuming that they reflect surface loading deformation only, our degree-1 estimates can be translated into geocenter motion time series. We also address and assess the impact of systematic errors in GNSS station position time series at the Global Positioning System (GPS) draconitic period and its harmonics on the comparison between GNSS and GRACE-derived annual displacements. Our results confirm that surface mass redistributions observed by GRACE, combined with an elastic spherical and layered Earth model, can be used to provide first-order corrections for loading deformation observed in both horizontal and vertical components of GNSS station position time series.

Comparison of Contaminant Transport in Agricultural Drainage Water and Urban Stormwater Runoff

PubMed Central

Ranaivoson, Andry Z.; Feyereisen, Gary W.; Rosen, Carl J.; Moncrief, John F.

2016-01-01

Transport of nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural and urban landscapes to surface water bodies can cause adverse environmental impacts. The main objective of this long-term study was to quantify and compare contaminant transport in agricultural drainage water and urban stormwater runoff. We measured flow rate and contaminant concentration in stormwater runoff from Willmar, Minnesota, USA, and in drainage water from subsurface-drained fields with surface inlets, namely, Unfertilized and Fertilized Fields. Commercial fertilizer and turkey litter manure were applied to the Fertilized Field based on agronomic requirements. Results showed that the City Stormwater transported significantly higher loads per unit area of ammonium, total suspended solids (TSS), and total phosphorus (TP) than the Fertilized Field, but nitrate load was significantly lower. Nitrate load transport in drainage water from the Unfertilized Field was 58% of that from the Fertilized Field. Linear regression analysis indicated that a 1% increase in flow depth resulted in a 1.05% increase of TSS load from the City Stormwater, a 1.07% increase in nitrate load from the Fertilized Field, and a 1.11% increase in TP load from the Fertilized Field. This indicates an increase in concentration with a rise in flow depth, revealing that concentration variation was a significant factor influencing the dynamics of load transport. Further regression analysis showed the importance of targeting high flows to reduce contaminant transport. In conclusion, for watersheds similar to this one, management practices should be directed to load reduction of ammonium and TSS from urban areas, and nitrate from cropland while TP should be a target for both. PMID:27930684

Comparison of Contaminant Transport in Agricultural Drainage Water and Urban Stormwater Runoff.

PubMed

Ghane, Ehsan; Ranaivoson, Andry Z; Feyereisen, Gary W; Rosen, Carl J; Moncrief, John F

2016-01-01

Transport of nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural and urban landscapes to surface water bodies can cause adverse environmental impacts. The main objective of this long-term study was to quantify and compare contaminant transport in agricultural drainage water and urban stormwater runoff. We measured flow rate and contaminant concentration in stormwater runoff from Willmar, Minnesota, USA, and in drainage water from subsurface-drained fields with surface inlets, namely, Unfertilized and Fertilized Fields. Commercial fertilizer and turkey litter manure were applied to the Fertilized Field based on agronomic requirements. Results showed that the City Stormwater transported significantly higher loads per unit area of ammonium, total suspended solids (TSS), and total phosphorus (TP) than the Fertilized Field, but nitrate load was significantly lower. Nitrate load transport in drainage water from the Unfertilized Field was 58% of that from the Fertilized Field. Linear regression analysis indicated that a 1% increase in flow depth resulted in a 1.05% increase of TSS load from the City Stormwater, a 1.07% increase in nitrate load from the Fertilized Field, and a 1.11% increase in TP load from the Fertilized Field. This indicates an increase in concentration with a rise in flow depth, revealing that concentration variation was a significant factor influencing the dynamics of load transport. Further regression analysis showed the importance of targeting high flows to reduce contaminant transport. In conclusion, for watersheds similar to this one, management practices should be directed to load reduction of ammonium and TSS from urban areas, and nitrate from cropland while TP should be a target for both.

Comparing models of seasonal deformation to horizontal and vertical PBO GPS data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bartlow, N. M.; Fialko, Y. A.; van Dam, T. M.

2015-12-01

GPS monuments around the world exhibit seasonal displacements in both the horizontal and vertical direction with amplitudes on the order of centimeters. For analysis of tectonic signals, researchers typically fit and remove a sine function with an annual period, and sometimes an additional sine function with a semiannual period. As interest grows in analyzing small-amplitude, long-period deformation signals it becomes more important to accurately correct for seasonal variations. It is well established that the vertical component of seasonal GPS signals is largely due to continental water storage cycles (e.g. van Dam et al., GRL, 2001). Other recognized sources of seasonal loading include atmospheric pressure loading and oceanic loading due to non-steric changes in ocean height (e.g. van Dam et al., J. Geodesy, 2012). Here we attempt to build a complete physical model of seasonal loading by considering all of these sources (continental water storage, atmospheric pressure, and oceanic loading) and comparing our model to horizontal and vertical GPS data in the Western US. Atmospheric loading effects are computed from the National Center for Environmental Prediction 6-hourly global reanalysis surface pressure fields; the terrestrial water loading and ocean loading models are generated using SPOTL (Some Programs for Ocean Tide Loading; Agnew, SIO Technical Report, 2012) and parameters from NASA's Land Data Assimilation Systems and the Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean model, version 4. We find that with a few exceptions, our seasonal loading model predicts the correct phases but underestimates the amplitudes of vertical seasonal loads, and is a generally poor fit to the observed horizontal seasonal signals. This implies that our understanding of the driving mechanisms behind seasonal variations in the GPS data is still incomplete and needs to be improved before physics-based models can be used as an effective correction tool for the GPS timeseries.

Traits of surface water pollution under climate and land use changes: A remote sensing and hydrological modeling approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jordan, Yuyan C.; Ghulam, Abduwasit; Hartling, Sean

2014-01-01

In this paper, spatial and temporal trajectories of land cover/land use change (LCLUC) derived from Landsat data record are combined with hydrological modeling to explore the implication of vegetation dynamics on soil erosion and total suspended sediment (TSS) loading to surface rivers. The inter-annual coefficient of variation (CoV) of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) is used to screen the LCLUC and climate change. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is employed to identify the monthly TSS for two times interval (1991 to 2001 and 2001 to 2011) at subbasin levels. SWAT model is calibrated from 1991 to 2001 and validated from 2002 to 2011 at three USGS gauging sites located in the study area. The Spearman's rank correlation of annual mean TSS is used to assess the temporal trends of TSS dynamics in the subbasins in the two study periods. The spatial correlation among NDVI, LCLUC, climate change and TSS loading rate changes is quantified by using linear regression model and negative/positive trend analysis. Our results showed that higher rainfall yields contribute to higher TSS loading into surface waters. A higher inter-annual accumulated vegetation index and lower inter-annual CoV distributed over the uplands resulted in a lower TSS loading rate, while a relatively low vegetation index with larger CoV observed over lowlands resulted in a higher TSS loading rate. The TSS loading rate at the basin outlet increased with the decrease of annual NDVI due to expanding urban areas in the watershed. The results also suggested nonlinearity between the trends of TSS loading with any of a specific land cover change because of the fact that the contribution of a factor can be influenced by the effects of other factors. However, dominant factors that shape the relationship between the trend of TSS loading and specific land cover changes were detected. The change of forest showed a negative relationship while agriculture and pasture demonstrated positive relationships with TSS loading change. Our results do not show any significant causal relationship between urbanization and the TSS loading change suggesting that further investigation needs to be carried out to understand the mechanism of the impact of urban sprawl on surface water quality.

Field measurements of the linear and nonlinear shear moduli of cemented alluvium using dynamically loaded surface footings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Kwangsoo

In this dissertation, a research effort aimed at development and implementation of a direct field test method to evaluate the linear and nonlinear shear modulus of soil is presented. The field method utilizes a surface footing that is dynamically loaded horizontally. The test procedure involves applying static and dynamic loads to the surface footing and measuring the soil response beneath the loaded area using embedded geophones. A wide range in dynamic loads under a constant static load permits measurements of linear and nonlinear shear wave propagation from which shear moduli and associated shearing strains are evaluated. Shear wave velocities in the linear and nonlinear strain ranges are calculated from time delays in waveforms monitored by geophone pairs. Shear moduli are then obtained using the shear wave velocities and the mass density of a soil. Shear strains are determined using particle displacements calculated from particle velocities measured at the geophones by assuming a linear variation between geophone pairs. The field test method was validated by conducting an initial field experiment at sandy site in Austin, Texas. Then, field experiments were performed on cemented alluvium, a complex, hard-to-sample material. Three separate locations at Yucca Mountain, Nevada were tested. The tests successfully measured: (1) the effect of confining pressure on shear and compression moduli in the linear strain range and (2) the effect of strain on shear moduli at various states of stress in the field. The field measurements were first compared with empirical relationships for uncemented gravel. This comparison showed that the alluvium was clearly cemented. The field measurements were then compared to other independent measurements including laboratory resonant column tests and field seismic tests using the spectral-analysis-of-surface-waves method. The results from the field tests were generally in good agreement with the other independent test results, indicating that the proposed method has the ability to directly evaluate complex material like cemented alluvium in the field.

Water vapor adsorption on goethite.

PubMed

Song, Xiaowei; Boily, Jean-François

2013-07-02

Goethite (α-FeOOH) is an important mineral contributing to processes of atmospheric and terrestrial importance. Their interactions with water vapor are particularly relevant in these contexts. In this work, molecular details of water vapor (0.0-19.0 Torr; 0-96% relative humidity at 25 °C) adsorption at surfaces of synthetic goethite nanoparticles reacted with and without HCl and NaCl were resolved using vibrational spectroscopy. This technique probed interactions between surface (hydr)oxo groups and liquid water-like films. Molecular dynamics showed that structures and orientations adopted by these waters are comparable to those adopted at the interface with liquid water. Particle surfaces reacted with HCl accumulated less water than acid-free surfaces due to disruptions in hydrogen bond networks by chemisorbed waters and chloride. Particles reacted with NaCl had lower loadings below ∼10 Torr water vapor but greater loadings above this value than salt-free surfaces. Water adsorption reactions were here affected by competitive hydration of coexisting salt-free surface regions, adsorbed chloride and sodium, as well as precipitated NaCl. Collectively, the findings presented in this study add further insight into the initial mechanisms of thin water film formation at goethite surfaces subjected to variations in water vapor pressure that are relevant to natural systems.

A fiber-optic technique for the measurement of contact angle in a clearance-fit pin-loaded hole

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Prabhakaran, R.; Naik, R. A.

1987-01-01

A fiber-optic technique for measuring contact angle during pin loading of a specimen is proposed. The experimental design and procedures for loading a 49.8-mm-diameter instrumented pin into an quasi-isotropic graphite-epoxy specimen are described. The optical fiber was located just above the surface of the pin outer diameter in order to obtain accurate pin-hole contact-angle measurements at increasing load levels. The movement of the optical fiber through the no-contact, contact, and no-contact regions is discussed; the photodiode output decreased monotonically as the fiber moved from the no-contact to the contact region and then decreased monotonically as the fiber moved from the contact region to the no-contact region. Variations in the contact angle measurements are examined as function of applied load level. The measurements are compared to contact angle values obtained using a finite element analysis and an electrical technique; it is determined that the data correlate well.

Ultrasound Velocity Measurements in High-Chromium Steel Under Plastic Deformation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lunev, Aleksey; Bochkareva, Anna; Barannikova, Svetlana; Zuev, Lev

2016-04-01

In the present study, the variation of the propagation velocity of ultrasound in the plastic deformation of corrosion-resistant high-chromium steel 40X13 with ferrite-carbide (delivery status), martensitic (quenched) and sorbitol (after high-temperature tempering) structures have beem studied/ It is found that each state shows its view of the loading curve. In the delivery state diagram loading is substantially parabolic throughout, while in the martensitic state contains only linear strain hardening step and in the sorbitol state the plastic flow curve is three-step. The velocity of ultrasonic surface waves (Rayleigh waves) was measured simultaneously with the registration of the loading curve in the investigated steel in tension. It is shown that the dependence of the velocity of ultrasound in active loading is determined by the law of plastic flow, that is, the staging of the corresponding diagram of loading. Structural state of the investigated steel is not only changing the type of the deformation curve under uniaxial tension, but also changes the nature of ultrasound speed of deformation.

Modeling electrical response of polymer-coated SAW resonators by equivalent circuit representation.

PubMed

Kshetrimayum, Roshan; Yadava, R D S; Tandon, R P

2011-07-01

The paper presents an equivalent circuit model of the polymer coated surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators by combining coupling-of-mode (COM) description of SAW resonators and perturbation calculation of SAW propagation under polymer loading. An expression for the motional load produced by polymer coating is deduced in terms of COM parameters and polymer characteristics. In addition, expressions for the shifts in resonance frequency and attenuation due to polymer loading are obtained. Simulation results are presented for one-port and two-port resonator devices coated with viscoelastic thin polymer film. The influence of polymer film on resonator response is studied with regard to variations in film thickness and shear modulus. The model simplifies understanding of polymer-coated SAW sensors. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Intercomparison of Satellite Dust Retrieval Products over the West African Sahara During the Fennec Campaign in June 2011

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Banks, J.R.; Brindley, H. E.; Flamant, C.; Garay, M. J.; Hsu, N. C.; Kalashnikova, O. V.; Klueser, L.; Sayer, A. M.

2013-01-01

Dust retrievals over the Sahara Desert during June 2011 from the IASI, MISR, MODIS, and SEVIRI satellite instruments are compared against each other in order to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each retrieval approach. Particular attention is paid to the effects of meteorological conditions, land surface properties, and the magnitude of the dust loading. The period of study corresponds to the time of the first Fennec intensive measurement campaign, which provides new ground-based and aircraft measurements of the dust characteristics and loading. Validation using ground-based AERONET sunphotometer data indicate that of the satellite instruments, SEVIRI is most able to retrieve dust during optically thick dust events, whereas IASI and MODIS perform better at low dust loadings. This may significantly affect observations of dust emission and the mean dust climatology. MISR and MODIS are least sensitive to variations in meteorological conditions, while SEVIRI tends to overestimate the aerosol optical depth (AOD) under moist conditions (with a bias against AERONET of 0.31), especially at low dust loadings where the AOD<1. Further comparisons are made with airborne LIDAR measurements taken during the Fennec campaign, which provide further evidence for the inferences made from the AERONET comparisons. The effect of surface properties on the retrievals is also investigated. Over elevated surfaces IASI retrieves AODs which are most consistent with AERONET observations, while the AODs retrieved by MODIS tend to be biased low. In contrast, over the least emissive surfaces IASI significantly underestimates the AOD (with a bias of -0.41), while MISR and SEVIRI show closest agreement.

Isostatic models and isostatic gravity anomalies of the Arabian plate and surroundings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaban, Mikhail K.; El Khrepy, Sami; Al-Arifi, Nassir

2015-04-01

Isostaic anomalies represent one of the most useful "geological" reduction of the gravity field. With the isostatic correction it is possible to remove a significant part of the effect of deep density heterogeneity, which dominates in the Bouguer gravity anomalies. This correction is based on the fact that a major part of the near-surface load is compensated by variations of the lithosphere boundaries (chiefly the Moho and LAB) and by density variations within the crust and upper mantle. It is usually supposed that it is less important to a first order, what is the actual compensation model when reducing the effect of compensating masses, since their total weight is exactly opposite to the near-surface load. We compare several compensating models for the Arabian plate and surrounding area. The Airy model gives very significant regional isostatic anomalies, which can not be explained by the upper crust structure or disturbances of the isostatic equilibrium. Also the predicted "isostatic" Moho is very different from the existing observations. The second group of the isostatic models includes the Moho, which is based on existing seismic determinations. Additional compensation is provided by density variations within the lithosphere (chiefly in the upper mantle). In this way we minimize regional anomalies over the Arabian plate. The residual local anomalies well correspond to tectonic structure of the plate. Still very significant anomalies are associated with the Zagros fold belt, the collision zone of the Arabian and Eurasian plates.

Thermo-Elastic Triangular Sandwich Element for the Complete Stress Field Based on a Single-Layer Theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Das, M.; Barut, A.; Madenci, E.; Ambur, D. R.

2004-01-01

This study presents a new triangular finite element for modeling thick sandwich panels, subjected to thermo-mechanical loading, based on a {3,2}-order single-layer plate theory. A hybrid energy functional is employed in the derivation of the element because of a C interelement continuity requirement. The single-layer theory is based on five weighted-average field variables arising from the cubic and quadratic representations of the in-plane and transverse displacement fields, respectively. The variations of temperature and distributed loading acting on the top and bottom surfaces are non-uniform. The temperature varies linearly through the thickness.

Recovery of surface mass redistribution from a joint inversion of GPS and GRACE data - A methodology and results from the Australian and other continents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, S. C.; Tangdamrongsub, N.; Razeghi, S. M.

2017-12-01

We present a methodology to invert a regional set of vertical displacement data from Global Positioning System (GPS) to determine surface mass redistribution. It is assumed that GPS deformation is a result of the Earth's elastic response to the surface mass load of hydrology, atmosphere, and ocean. The identical assumption is made when global geopotential change data from Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) are used to determine surface mass changes. We developed an algorithm to estimate the spectral information of displacements from "regional" GPS data through regional spherical (Slepian) basis functions and apply the load Love numbers to estimate the mass load. We rigorously examine all systematic errors caused by various truncations (spherical harmonic series and Slepian series) and the smoothing constraint applied to the GPS-only inversion. We demonstrate the technique by processing 16 years of daily vertical motions determined from 114 GPS stations in Australia. The GPS inverted surface mass changes are validated against GRACE data, atmosphere and ocean models, and a land surface model. Seasonal and inter-annual terrestrial mass variations from GPS are in good agreement with GRACE data and the water storage models. The GPS recovery compares better with the water storage model around the smaller coastal basins of Australia than two different GRACE solutions. The sub-monthly mass changes from GPS provide meaningful results agreeing with atmospheric mass changes in central Australia. Finally, we integrate GPS data from different continents with GRACE in the least-square normal equations and solve for the global surface mass changes by jointly inverting GPS and GRACE data. We present the results of surface mass changes from the GPS-only inversion and from the joint GPS-GRACE inversion.

Preliminary shape analysis of the outline of the baropodometric foot: patterns of covariation, allometry, sex and age differences, and loading variations.

PubMed

Bruner, E; Mantini, S; Guerrini, V; Ciccarelli, A; Giombini, A; Borrione, P; Pigozzi, F; Ripani, M

2009-09-01

Baropodometrical digital techniques map the pressures exerted on the foot plant during both static and dynamic loadings. The study of the distribution of such pressures makes it possible to evaluate the postural and locomotory biomechanics together with its pathological variations. This paper is aimed at evaluating the integration between baropodometric analysis (pressure distribution) and geometrical models (shape of the footprints), investigating the pattern of variation associated with normal plantar morphology. The sample includes 91 individuals (47 males, 44 females), ranging from 5 to 85 years of age (mean and standard deviation = 40 + or - 24).The first component of variation is largely associated with the breadth of the isthmus, along a continuous gradient of increasing/decreasing flattening of the foot plant. This character being dominant upon the whole set of morphological components even in a non-pathological sample, such multivariate computation may represent a good diagnostic tool to quantify its degree of expression in individual subject or group samples. Sexual differences are not significant, and allometric variations associated with increasing plantar surface or stature are not quantitatively relevant. There are some differences between adult and young individuals, associated in the latter with a widening of the medial and posterior areas. These results provide a geometrical framework of baropodometrical analysis, suggesting possible future applications in diagnosis and basic research.

Analysis of host genetic diversity and viral entry as sources of between-host variation in viral load

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wargo, Andrew R.; Kell, Alison M.; Scott, Robert J.; Thorgaard, Gary H.; Kurath, Gael

2012-01-01

Little is known about the factors that drive the high levels of between-host variation in pathogen burden that are frequently observed in viral infections. Here, two factors thought to impact viral load variability, host genetic diversity and stochastic processes linked with viral entry into the host, were examined. This work was conducted with the aquatic vertebrate virus, Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV), in its natural host, rainbow trout. It was found that in controlled in vivo infections of IHNV, a suggestive trend of reduced between-fish viral load variation was observed in a clonal population of isogenic trout compared to a genetically diverse population of out-bred trout. However, this trend was not statistically significant for any of the four viral genotypes examined, and high levels of fish-to-fish variation persisted even in the isogenic trout population. A decrease in fish-to-fish viral load variation was also observed in virus injection challenges that bypassed the host entry step, compared to fish exposed to the virus through the natural water-borne immersion route of infection. This trend was significant for three of the four virus genotypes examined and suggests host entry may play a role in viral load variability. However, high levels of viral load variation also remained in the injection challenges. Together, these results indicate that although host genetic diversity and viral entry may play some role in between-fish viral load variation, they are not major factors. Other biological and non-biological parameters that may influence viral load variation are discussed.

Controlling the interparticle spacing of Au-salt loaded micelles and Au nanoparticles on flat surfaces.

PubMed

Bansmann, J; Kielbassa, S; Hoster, H; Weigl, F; Boyen, H G; Wiedwald, U; Ziemann, P; Behm, R J

2007-09-25

The self-organization of diblock copolymers into micellar structures in an appropriate solvent allows the deposition of well ordered arrays of pure metal and alloy nanoparticles on flat surfaces with narrow distributions in particle size and interparticle spacing. Here we investigated the influence of the materials (substrate and polymer) and deposition parameters (temperature and emersion velocity) on the deposition of metal salt loaded micelles by dip-coating from solution and on the order and inter-particle spacing of the micellar deposits and thus of the metal nanoparticle arrays resulting after plasma removal of the polymer shell. For identical substrate and polymer, variation of the process parameters temperature and emersion velocity enables the controlled modification of the interparticle distance within a certain length regime. Moreover, also the degree of hexagonal order of the final array depends sensitively on these parameters.

Rheological properties of styrene-butadiene rubber filled with electron beam modified surface treated dual phase fillers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shanmugharaj, A. M.; Bhowmick, Anil K.

2004-01-01

The rheological properties of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) loaded with dual phase filler were measured using Monsanto Processability Tester (MPT) at three different temperatures (100°C, 110°C and 130°C) and four different shear rates (61.3, 306.3, 613, and 1004.5 s -1). The effect of electron beam modification of dual phase filler in absence and presence of trimethylol propane triacrylate (TMPTA) or triethoxysilylpropyltetrasulphide (Si-69) on melt flow properties of SBR was also studied. The viscosity of all the systems decreases with shear rate indicating their pseudoplastic or shear thinning nature. The higher shear viscosity for the SBR loaded with the electron beam modified filler is explained in terms of variation in structure of the filler upon electron beam irradiation. Die swell of the modified filler loaded SBR is slightly higher than that of the unmodified filler loaded rubber, which is explained by calculating normal stress difference for the systems. Activation energy of the modified filler loaded SBR systems is also slightly higher than that of the control filler loaded SBR system.

Ejecta Particle Size Distributions for Shock Loaded Sn And Al Targets

DTIC Science & Technology

1999-06-01

respectively. For the first time, particle distributions that results from microjet production will be presented. Results from these experiments will...performed. For the first time, particle size distributions that result from microjet production will be presented. The energy in the microjets will...the metal to break up as a shock wave moves through the material. The figure also shows that if there are surface finish variations, microjets will

Phosphorus and water budgets in an agricultural basin.

PubMed

Faridmarandi, Sayena; Naja, Ghinwa M

2014-01-01

Water and phosphorus (P) budgets of a large agricultural basin located in South Florida (Everglades Agricultural Area, EAA) were computed from 2005 to 2012. The annual surface outflow P loading from the EAA averaged 157.2 mtons originating from Lake Okeechobee (16.4 mtons, 10.4%), farms (131.0 mtons, 83.4%), and surrounding basins (9.8 mtons, 6.2%) after attenuation. Farms, urban areas, and the adjacent C-139 basin contributed 186.1, 15.6, and 3.8 mtons/yr P to the canals, respectively. The average annual soil P retention was estimated at 412.5 mtons. Water and P budgets showed seasonal variations with high correlation between rainfall and P load in drainage and surface outflows. Moreover, results indicated that the canals acted as a P sink storing 64.8 mtons/yr. To assess the P loading impact of farm drainage on the canals and on the outflow, dimensionless impact factors were developed. Sixty-two farms were identified with a high and a medium impact factor I1 level contributing 44.5% of the total drainage P load to the canals, while their collective area represented less than 23% of the EAA area (172 farms). Optimizing the best management practice (BMP) strategies on these farms could minimize the environmental impacts on the downstream sensitive wetlands areas.

Suitability of Biomorphic Silicon Carbide Ceramics as Drug Delivery Systems against Bacterial Biofilms

PubMed Central

Díaz-Rodríguez, P.; Pérez-Estévez, A.; Seoane, R.; González, P.; Serra, J.; Landin, M.

2013-01-01

The present work is aimed at getting a new insight into biomorphic silicon carbides (bioSiCs) as bone replacement materials. BioSiCs from a variety of precursors were produced, characterized, and loaded with a broad-spectrum antibiotic. The capacity of loaded bioSiCs for preventing and/or treating preformed S. aureus biofilms has been studied. The differences in precursor characteristics are maintained after the ceramic production process. All bioSiCs allow the loading process by capillarity, giving loaded materials with drug release profiles dependent on their microstructure. The amount of antibiotic released in liquid medium during the first six hours depends on bioSiC porosity, but it could exceed the minimum inhibitory concentration of Staphylococcus aureus, for all the materials studied, thus preventing the proliferation of bacteria. Differences in the external surface and the number and size of open external pores of bioSiCs contribute towards the variations in the effect against bacteria when experiments are carried out using solid media. The internal structure and surface properties of all the systems seem to facilitate the therapeutic activity of the antibiotic on the preformed biofilms, reducing the number of viable bacteria present in the biofilm compared to controls. PMID:23936680

The effect of meteorological data on atmospheric pressure loading corrections in VLBI data analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balidakis, Kyriakos; Glaser, Susanne; Karbon, Maria; Soja, Benedikt; Nilsson, Tobias; Lu, Cuixian; Anderson, James; Liu, Li; Andres Mora-Diaz, Julian; Raposo-Pulido, Virginia; Xu, Minghui; Heinkelmann, Robert; Schuh, Harald

2015-04-01

Earth's crustal deformation is a manifestation of numerous geophysical processes, which entail the atmosphere and ocean general circulation and tidal attraction, climate change, and the hydrological circle. The present study deals with the elastic deformations induced by atmospheric pressure variations. At geodetic sites, APL (Atmospheric Pressure Loading) results in displacements covering a wide range of temporal scales which is undesirable when rigorous geodetic/geophysical analysis is intended. Hence, it is of paramount importance that the APL signal are removed at the observation level in the space geodetic data analysis. In this study, elastic non-tidal components of loading displacements were calculated in the local topocentric frame for all VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry) stations with respect to the center-of-figure of the solid Earth surface and the center-of-mass of the total Earth system. The response of the Earth to the load variation at the surface was computed by convolving Farrell Green's function with the homogenized in situ surface pressure observations (in the time span 1979-2014) after the subtraction of the reference pressure and the S1, S2 and S3 thermal tidal signals. The reference pressure was calculated through a hypsometric adjustment of the absolute pressure level determined from World Meteorological Organization stations in the vicinity of each VLBI observatory. The tidal contribution was calculated following the 2010 International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service conventions. Afterwards, this approach was implemented into the VLBI software VieVS@GFZ and the entirety of available VLBI sessions was analyzed. We rationalize our new approach on the basis that the potential error budget is substantially reduced, since several common errors are not applicable in our approach, e.g. those due to the finite resolution of NWM (Numerical Weather Models), the accuracy of the orography model necessary for adjusting the former as well as the inconsistencies between them, and the interpolation scheme which yields the elastic deformations. Differences of the resulting TRF (Terrestrial Reference Frame) determinations and other products derived from VLBI analysis between the approach followed here and the one employing NWM's data for obtaining the input pressure fields, are illustrated. The providers of the atmospheric pressure loading models employed for our comparisons are GSFC/NASA, the University of Luxembourg, the University of Strasbourg, the Technical University of Vienna and GeoForschungsZentrum of Potsdam.

Variable Emissivity Through MEMS Technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Darrin, Ann Garrison; Osiander, Robert; Champion, John; Swanson, Ted; Douglas, Donya; Grob, Lisa M.; Powers, Edward I. (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

This paper discusses a new technology for variable emissivity (vari-e) radiator surfaces, which has significant advantages over traditional radiators and promises an alternative design technique for future spacecraft thermal control systems. All spacecraft rely on radiative surfaces to dissipate waste heat. These radiators have special coatings, typically with a low solar absorptivity and a high infrared-red emissivity, that are intended to optimize performance under the expected heat load and thermal sink environment. The dynamics of the heat loads and thermal environment make it a challenge to properly size the radiator and often require some means of regulating the heat rejection rate of the radiators in order to achieve proper thermal balance. Specialized thermal control coatings, which can passively or actively adjust their emissivity offer an attractive solution to these design challenges. Such systems would allow intelligent control of the rate of heat loss from a radiator in response to heat load and thermal environmental variations. Intelligent thermal control through variable emissivity systems is well suited for nano and pico spacecraft applications where large thermal fluctuations are expected due to the small thermal mass and limited electric resources. Presently there are three different types of vari-e technologies under development: Micro ElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) louvers, Electrochromic devices, and Electrophoretic devices. This paper will describe several prototypes of micromachined (MEMS) louvers and experimental results for the emissivity variations measured on theses prototypes. It will further discuss possible actuation mechanisms and space reliability aspects for different designs. Finally, for comparison parametric evaluations of the thermal performances of the new vari-e technology and standard thermal control systems are presented in this paper.

Adsorptive removal of arsenic by novel iron/olivine composite: Insights into preparation and adsorption process by response surface methodology and artificial neural network.

PubMed

Ghosal, Partha S; Kattil, Krishna V; Yadav, Manoj K; Gupta, Ashok K

2018-03-01

Olivine, a low-cost natural material, impregnated with iron is introduced in the adsorptive removal of arsenic. A wet impregnation method and subsequent calcination were employed for the preparation of iron/olivine composite. The major preparation process parameter, viz., iron loading and calcination temperature were optimized through the response surface methodology coupled with a factorial design. A significant variation of adsorption capacity of arsenic (measured as total arsenic), i.e., 63.15 to 310.85 mg/kg for arsenite [As(III) T ] and 76.46 to 329.72 mg/kg for arsenate [As(V) T ] was observed, which exhibited the significant effect of the preparation process parameters on the adsorption potential. The iron loading delineated the optima at central points, whereas a monotonous decreasing trend of adsorption capacity for both the As(III) T and As(V) T was observed with the increasing calcination temperature. The variation of adsorption capacity with the increased iron loading is more at lower calcination temperature showing the interactive effect between the factors. The adsorbent prepared at the optimized condition of iron loading and calcination temperature, i.e., 10% and 200 °C, effectively removed the As(III) T and As(V) T by more than 96 and 99%, respectively. The material characterization of the adsorbent showed the formation of the iron compound in the olivine and increase in specific surface area to the tune of 10 multifold compared to the base material, which is conducive to the enhancement of the adsorption capacity. An artificial neural network was applied for the multivariate optimization of the adsorption process from the experimental data of the univariate optimization study and the optimized model showed low values of error functions and high R 2 values of more than 0.99 for As(III) T and As(V) T . The adsorption isotherm and kinetics followed Langmuir model and pseudo second order model, respectively demonstrating the chemisorption in this study. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Atmospheric pressure loading effects on Global Positioning System coordinate determinations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vandam, Tonie M.; Blewitt, Geoffrey; Heflin, Michael B.

1994-01-01

Earth deformation signals caused by atmospheric pressure loading are detected in vertical position estimates at Global Positioning System (GPS) stations. Surface displacements due to changes in atmospheric pressure account for up to 24% of the total variance in the GPS height estimates. The detected loading signals are larger at higher latitudes where pressure variations are greatest; the largest effect is observed at Fairbanks, Alaska (latitude 65 deg), with a signal root mean square (RMS) of 5 mm. Out of 19 continuously operating GPS sites (with a mean of 281 daily solutions per site), 18 show a positive correlation between the GPS vertical estimates and the modeled loading displacements. Accounting for loading reduces the variance of the vertical station positions on 12 of the 19 sites investigated. Removing the modeled pressure loading from GPS determinations of baseline length for baselines longer than 6000 km reduces the variance on 73 of the 117 baselines investigated. The slight increase in variance for some of the sites and baselines is consistent with expected statistical fluctuations. The results from most stations are consistent with approximately 65% of the modeled pressure load being found in the GPS vertical position measurements. Removing an annual signal from both the measured heights and the modeled load time series leaves this value unchanged. The source of the remaining discrepancy between the modeled and observed loading signal may be the result of (1) anisotropic effects in the Earth's loading response, (2) errors in GPS estimates of tropospheric delay, (3) errors in the surface pressure data, or (4) annual signals in the time series of loading and station heights. In addition, we find that using site dependent coefficients, determined by fitting local pressure to the modeled radial displacements, reduces the variance of the measured station heights as well as or better than using the global convolution sum.

Variation in the reference Shields stress for bed load transport in gravel‐bed streams and rivers

USGS Publications Warehouse

Mueller, Erich R.; Pitlick, John; Nelson, Jonathan M.

2005-01-01

The present study examines variations in the reference shear stress for bed load transport (τr) using coupled measurements of flow and bed load transport in 45 gravel‐bed streams and rivers. The study streams encompass a wide range in bank‐full discharge (1–2600 m3/s), average channel gradient (0.0003–0.05), and median surface grain size (0.027–0.21 m). A bed load transport relation was formed for each site by plotting individual values of the dimensionless transport rate W* versus the reach‐average dimensionless shear stress τ*. The reference dimensionless shear stress τ*r was then estimated by selecting the value of τ* corresponding to a reference transport rate of W* = 0.002. The results indicate that the discharge corresponding to τ*r averages 67% of the bank‐full discharge, with the variation independent of reach‐scale morphologic and sediment properties. However, values of τ*r increase systematically with average channel gradient, ranging from 0.025–0.035 at sites with slopes of 0.001–0.006 to values greater than 0.10 at sites with slopes greater than 0.02. A corresponding relation for the bank‐full dimensionless shear stress τ*bf, formulated with data from 159 sites in North America and England, mirrors the relation between τ*r and channel gradient, suggesting that the bank‐full channel geometry of gravel‐ and cobble‐bedded streams is adjusted to a relatively constant excess shear stress, τ*bf − τ*r, across a wide range of slopes.

Three Dimensional Constraint Effects on the Estimated (Delta)CTOD during the Numerical Simulation of Different Fatigue Threshold Testing Techniques

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Seshadri, Banavara R.; Smith, Stephen W.

2007-01-01

Variation in constraint through the thickness of a specimen effects the cyclic crack-tip-opening displacement (DELTA CTOD). DELTA CTOD is a valuable measure of crack growth behavior, indicating closure development, constraint variations and load history effects. Fatigue loading with a continual load reduction was used to simulate the load history associated with fatigue crack growth threshold measurements. The constraint effect on the estimated DELTA CTOD is studied by carrying out three-dimensional elastic-plastic finite element simulations. The analysis involves numerical simulation of different standard fatigue threshold test schemes to determine how each test scheme affects DELTA CTOD. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) prescribes standard load reduction procedures for threshold testing using either the constant stress ratio (R) or constant maximum stress intensity (K(sub max)) methods. Different specimen types defined in the standard, namely the compact tension, C(T), and middle cracked tension, M(T), specimens were used in this simulation. The threshold simulations were conducted with different initial K(sub max) values to study its effect on estimated DELTA CTOD. During each simulation, the DELTA CTOD was estimated at every load increment during the load reduction procedure. Previous numerical simulation results indicate that the constant R load reduction method generates a plastic wake resulting in remote crack closure during unloading. Upon reloading, this remote contact location was observed to remain in contact well after the crack tip was fully open. The final region to open is located at the point at which the load reduction was initiated and at the free surface of the specimen. However, simulations carried out using the constant Kmax load reduction procedure did not indicate remote crack closure. Previous analysis results using various starting K(sub max) values and different load reduction rates have indicated DELTA CTOD is independent of specimen size. A study of the effect of specimen thickness and geometry on the measured DELTA CTOD for various load reduction procedures and its implication in the estimation of fatigue crack growth threshold values is discussed.

Silicon microfluidic flow focusing devices for the production of size-controlled PLGA based drug loaded microparticles.

PubMed

Keohane, Kieran; Brennan, Des; Galvin, Paul; Griffin, Brendan T

2014-06-05

The increasing realisation of the impact of size and surface properties on the bio-distribution of drug loaded colloidal particles has driven the application of micro fabrication technologies for the precise engineering of drug loaded microparticles. This paper demonstrates an alternative approach for producing size controlled drug loaded PLGA based microparticles using silicon Microfluidic Flow Focusing Devices (MFFDs). Based on the precise geometry and dimensions of the flow focusing channel, microparticle size was successfully optimised by modifying the polymer type, disperse phase (Qd) flow rate, and continuous phase (Qc) flow rate. The microparticles produced ranged in sizes from 5 to 50 μm and were highly monodisperse (coefficient of variation <5%). A comparison of Ciclosporin (CsA) loaded PLGA microparticles produced by MFFDs vs conventional production techniques was also performed. MFFDs produced microparticles with a narrower size distribution profile, relative to the conventional approaches. In-vitro release kinetics of CsA was found to be influenced by the production technique, with the MFFD approach demonstrating the slowest rate of release over 7 days (4.99 ± 0.26%). Finally, MFFDs were utilised to produce pegylated microparticles using the block co-polymer, PEG-PLGA. In contrast to the smooth microparticles produced using PLGA, PEG-PLGA microparticles displayed a highly porous surface morphology and rapid CsA release, with 85 ± 6.68% CsA released after 24h. The findings from this study demonstrate the utility of silicon MFFDs for the precise control of size and surface morphology of PLGA based microparticles with potential drug delivery applications. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Characteristics and thermal behavior analysis of lithium-ion batteries for application in hybrid locomotives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chatterjee, Krishnashis

The locomotive industry accounts for 2.5 % of the total fuel consumption in the US. Thus the necessity for reducing fuel consumption and emissions led to the development of the concept of hybrid locomotive which is dual powered by the diesel engine and electric motors. But the energy dissipated in braking such a locomotive in a year is enough to power over 9100 average US households over the same period of time. Recovering this energy using regenerative braking system and storing it in a electric battery is of great interest among researchers for improving overall efficiency and reducing consumption of fuels. In the present study, LiFePO4 batteries, a type of the state-of-art lithium-ion batteries, have been tested under different environmental and load conditions. Environmental temperatures were varied to analyze their effects on the charging and discharging patterns of the battery by using the CADEX battery analyzer in order to find the temperature range for optimum battery performance. The fluctuations of temperature of the battery surface were monitored along the length of the tests, using Infra-Red imaging and thermocouple probes at different points on the battery surface. Both battery performance characteristics and the variation of the battery surface temperature were also recorded for different load cycles in order to get a comprehensive picture of the heat generation and its effect on the behavior of the battery under different load conditions. Lastly a practical Load Cycle analysis of the battery has been performed which gave a picture of the heat generated by the battery and also the performance characteristics as it is subjected to a practical Load Cycle.

Human Footprint Variation while Performing Load Bearing Tasks

PubMed Central

Wall-Scheffler, Cara M.; Wagnild, Janelle; Wagler, Emily

2015-01-01

Human footprint fossils have provided essential evidence about the evolution of human bipedalism as well as the social dynamics of the footprint makers, including estimates of speed, sex and group composition. Generally such estimates are made by comparing footprint evidence with modern controls; however, previous studies have not accounted for the variation in footprint dimensions coming from load bearing activities. It is likely that a portion of the hominins who created these fossil footprints were carrying a significant load, such as offspring or foraging loads, which caused variation in the footprint which could extend to variation in any estimations concerning the footprint’s maker. To identify significant variation in footprints due to load-bearing tasks, we had participants (N = 30, 15 males and 15 females) walk at a series of speeds carrying a 20kg pack on their back, side and front. Paint was applied to the bare feet of each participant to create footprints that were compared in terms of foot length, foot width and foot area. Female foot length and width increased during multiple loaded conditions. An appreciation of footprint variability associated with carrying loads adds an additional layer to our understanding of the behavior and morphology of extinct hominin populations. PMID:25738496

Empirical Analysis of the Variability of Wind Generation in India: Implications for Grid Integration

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Phadke, Amol; Abhyankar, NIkit; Rao, Poorvi

We analyze variability in load and wind generation in India to assess its implications for grid integration of large scale wind projects using actual wind generation and load data from two states in India, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. We compare the largest variations in load and net load (load ?wind, i.e., load after integrating wind) that the generation fleet has to meet. In Tamil Nadu, where wind capacity is about 53percent of the peak demand, we find that the additional variation added due to wind over the current variation in load is modest; if wind penetration reaches 15percent and 30percentmore » by energy, the additional hourly variation is less than 0.5percent and 4.5percent of the peak demand respectively for 99percent of the time. For wind penetration of 15percent by energy, Tamil Nadu system is found to be capable of meeting the additional ramping requirement for 98.8percent of the time. Potential higher uncertainty in net load compared to load is found to have limited impact on ramping capability requirements of the system if coal plants can me ramped down to 50percent of their capacity. Load and wind aggregation in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka is found to lower the variation by at least 20percent indicating the benefits geographic diversification. These findings suggest modest additional flexible capacity requirements and costs for absorbing variation in wind power and indicate that the potential capacity support (if wind does not generate enough during peak periods) may be the issue that has more bearing on the economics of integrating wind« less

Interaction of the Climate System and the Solid Earth: Analysis of Observations and Models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bryan, Frank

2001-01-01

Under SENH funding we have carried out a number of diverse analyses of interactions of the climate system (atmosphere, ocean, land surface hydrology) with the solid Earth. While the original work plan emphasized analysis of excitation of variations in Earth rotation, with a lesser emphasis on time variable gravity, opportunities that developed during the proposal period in connection with preparations for the GRACE mission led us to a more balanced effort between these two topics. The results of our research are outlined in several topical sections: (1) oceanic excitation of variations in Earth rotation; (2) short period atmosphere-ocean excitation of variations in Earth rotation; (3) analysis of coupled climate system simulation; (4) observing system simulation studies for GRACE mission design; and (5) oceanic response to atmospheric pressure loading.

A comprehensive analysis of surface acoustic wave reflections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robinson, H.; Hahn, Y.; Gau, J. N.

1989-06-01

A thorough study of the perturbative and variational approaches is carried out for the surface acoustic wave reflection problem. We have shown that the perturbation treatment by Datta and Hunsinger and potentially powerful variational formulation by Chen and Haus [IEEE Trans. Sonics Ultrason. SU-32, 395 (1985)] are mutually consistent. In their common region of validity, these two approaches yield nearly identical results for the reflection coefficients and velocity shifts due to metal finger and groove overlays. Term-by-term comparison of the mass- and stress-loading effects, and also the electric shorting effect, is carried out to provide a coherent picture of the reflection phenomena. The on- and off-resonance behavior of the reflection coefficient can be described correctly using either one of these theories, with proper inclusion of the overlay shape dependence. A new term for electric shorting is derived for groove overlays.

Crack Growth Behavior in the Threshold Region for High Cyclic Loading

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Forman, R.; Figert, J.; Beek, J.; Ventura, J.; Martinez, J.; Samonski, F.

2011-01-01

The present studies show that fanning in the threshold regime is likely caused by other factors than a plastic wake developed during load shedding. The cause of fanning at low R-values is a result of localized roughness, mainly formation of a faceted crack surface morphology , plus crack bifurcations which alters the crack closure at low R-values. The crack growth behavior in the threshold regime involves both crack closure theory and the dislocation theory of metals. Research will continue in studying numerous other metal alloys and performing more extensive analysis, such as the variation in dislocation properties (e.g., stacking fault energy) and its effects in different materials.

Lithosphere deformation methods and models constrained by surface fault data on Mars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dimitrova, Lada L.

Models of lithospheric deformation tie observed field measurements of gravity and topography with surface observations of tectonic features. An understanding of the sources of stress, and the expected style, orientation, and magnitudes of stress and associated elastic strain is important for understanding the evolution of faulting on Mars and its relationship to loading. At the same time, theoretical models of deformation mechanisms and forces, when tied to tectonic observations, can be interpreted in terms of major tectonic events and allow insights into the planet's history and evolution as well as its internal structure and processes. This is particularly important for understanding solid planetary bodies other than Earth where the seismic data is either sparse, e.g. the Moon, or non-existent, e.g. Mars. This kind of research has implications for, and benefits from, an understanding of the petrology and surface processes. In this work, I use MGS MOLA and Radio Science data products (topography and gravity) to systematically test new geodynamic models and evaluate lithosphere dynamics on Mars as a function of time, while satisfying geologic surface observations (surface features) that have been and are being catalogued and studied from Viking, MOLA, MOC, and THEMIS IR images. I investigate (1) the role of internal loads (internal body force effects), (2) loading from the surface and base of lithosphere, and the effects of this loading on membrane and flexural strains and stresses, and (3) the role of global contraction, all viewed in the context of how the surface elastic layer has changed as the planet has evolved. I show that deviatoric stresses associated with gravitational potential differences do a good job at matching the normal faults; however, fitting all the surface-breaking faults is more difficult. I argue that global planetary contraction is an unlikely source of significant deformation. Instead, the simplest inverse models show that small lateral variations (1¡6%) in crust and mantle density in conjunction with small vertical displacement, O(100m), provide sufficient additional GPE and membrane stress to fit the majority of the data. These inverse models are consistent with lithosphere modification by erosion from running water.

Comparison of observation level versus 24-hour average atmospheric loading corrections in VLBI analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

MacMillan, D. S.; van Dam, T. M.

2009-04-01

Variations in the horizontal distribution of atmospheric mass induce displacements of the Earth's surface. Theoretical estimates of the amplitude of the surface displacement indicate that the predicted surface displacement is often large enough to be detected by current geodetic techniques. In fact, the effects of atmospheric pressure loading have been detected in Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinate time series [van Dam et al., 1994; Dong et al., 2002; Scherneck et al., 2003; Zerbini et al., 2004] and very long baseline interferometery (VLBI) coordinates [Rabble and Schuh, 1986; Manabe et al., 1991; van Dam and Herring, 1994; Schuh et al., 2003; MacMillan and Gipson, 1994; and Petrov and Boy, 2004]. Some of these studies applied the atmospheric displacement at the observation level and in other studies, the predicted atmospheric and observed geodetic surface displacements have been averaged over 24 hours. A direct comparison of observation level and 24 hour corrections has not been carried out for VLBI to determine if one or the other approach is superior. In this presentation, we address the following questions: 1) Is it better to correct geodetic data at the observation level rather than applying corrections averaged over 24 hours to estimated geodetic coordinates a posteriori? 2) At the sub-daily periods, the atmospheric mass signal is composed of two components: a tidal component and a non-tidal component. If observation level corrections reduce the scatter of VLBI data more than a posteriori correction, is it sufficient to only model the atmospheric tides or must the entire atmospheric load signal be incorporated into the corrections? 3) When solutions from different geodetic techniques (or analysis centers within a technique) are combined (e.g., for ITRF2008), not all solutions may have applied atmospheric loading corrections. Are any systematic effects on the estimated TRF introduced when atmospheric loading is applied?

Effect of cold plasma pre-treatment on photocatalytic activity of 3D fabric loaded with nano-photocatalysts: Response surface methodology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghoreishian, Seyed Majid; Badii, Khashayar; Norouzi, Mohammad; Malek, Kaveh

2016-03-01

In this study, the physico-chemical effects occasioned by the cold plasma discharge (CPD) on the photo-decolorization of Reactive Orange 16 (RO16) by 3D fabrics (spacer fabrics) loaded with ZnO:TiO2 nano-photocatalysts (nphs) were optimized via response surface methodology (RSM). CPD was employed to improve the surface characteristics of the spacer fabrics for nphs loading. Surface morphology and color variation were studied utilizing scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and CIE-Lab system, respectively. The effect of CPD on the wetting ability of the spacer fabrics was examined using dynamic adsorption measurement (DAM). Also, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) was utilized to investigate the durability of the nphs on the spacer fabrics. All the experiments were implemented in a Box-Behnken design (BBD) with three independent variables (CPD treatment time, dye concentration and irradiation time) in order to optimize the decolorization of RO16. The anticipated values of the decolorization efficiency were found to be in excellent agreement with the experimental values (R2 = 0.9996, Adjusted R2 = 0.9992). The kinetic analysis demonstrated that the photocatalytic decolorization followed the Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic model. In conclusion, this heterogeneous photocatalytic process is capable of decolorizing and mineralizing azoic reactive dye in textile wastewater. Moreover, the results confirmed that RSM based on the BBD was a suitable method to optimize the operating conditions of RO16 degradation.

Pressure distributions induced by elevon deflections on swept wings and adjacent end-plate surfaces at Mach 6

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kaufman, L. G., II; Johnson, C. B.

1977-01-01

Surface pressure distributions are presented for regions where three-dimensional separated flow effects are prominent on swept-wing-elevon-end-plate models of 0 degree, 50 degree, and 70 degree sweepback, and with 0 degree, 10 degree, 20 degree, and 30 degree elevon deflections. Surface-oil-flow photographs and pressure distributions on the flat-plate wing, elevon, and end-plate surfaces are presented for numerous geometric variations, including various spacings between the elevon and the end plate, with and without a tip fin. The data, for a free-stream Mach number of 6 and a wing-root-chord Reynolds number of 20 x 10 to the sixth power, reveal considerably larger regions of elevon induced loads on the adjacent end-plate surface than would be anticipated by using inviscid flow analyses.

Fluvial sediment supply to a mega-delta reduced by shifting tropical-cyclone activity.

PubMed

Darby, Stephen E; Hackney, Christopher R; Leyland, Julian; Kummu, Matti; Lauri, Hannu; Parsons, Daniel R; Best, James L; Nicholas, Andrew P; Aalto, Rolf

2016-11-10

The world's rivers deliver 19 billion tonnes of sediment to the coastal zone annually, with a considerable fraction being sequestered in large deltas, home to over 500 million people. Most (more than 70 per cent) large deltas are under threat from a combination of rising sea levels, ground surface subsidence and anthropogenic sediment trapping, and a sustainable supply of fluvial sediment is therefore critical to prevent deltas being 'drowned' by rising relative sea levels. Here we combine suspended sediment load data from the Mekong River with hydrological model simulations to isolate the role of tropical cyclones in transmitting suspended sediment to one of the world's great deltas. We demonstrate that spatial variations in the Mekong's suspended sediment load are correlated (r = 0.765, P < 0.1) with observed variations in tropical-cyclone climatology, and that a substantial portion (32 per cent) of the suspended sediment load reaching the delta is delivered by runoff generated by rainfall associated with tropical cyclones. Furthermore, we estimate that the suspended load to the delta has declined by 52.6 ± 10.2 megatonnes over recent years (1981-2005), of which 33.0 ± 7.1 megatonnes is due to a shift in tropical-cyclone climatology. Consequently, tropical cyclones have a key role in controlling the magnitude of, and variability in, transmission of suspended sediment to the coast. It is likely that anthropogenic sediment trapping in upstream reservoirs is a dominant factor in explaining past, and anticipating future, declines in suspended sediment loads reaching the world's major deltas. However, our study shows that changes in tropical-cyclone climatology affect trends in fluvial suspended sediment loads and thus are also key to fully assessing the risk posed to vulnerable coastal systems.

Measurement of Great Salt Lake Loading by the BARGEN Continuous GPS Network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elósegui, P.; Davis, J. L.; Mitrovica, J. X.; Wernicke, B. P.; Bennett, R. A.

2002-12-01

The northernmost segment of the Basin and Range Geodetic network (BARGEN) forms an east-west transect from western Utah to eastern California between the latitudes of N~40° and N~41°. Two of our GPS sites, COON and CEDA, are located within 20~km south of the Great Salt Lake (GSL), which extends NNW for a length of ~100~km. Lake level records for GSL during the period of the operation of BARGEN (mid-1996 to present) indicate seasonal elevation variations of ~0.5~m amplitude superimposed on a roughly ``decadal'' feature of amplitude ~1~m. Using an elastic Green's function based on PREM and a simplified load geometry for GSL, we calculate that these elevation variations translate into vertical crustal loading signals of +/-0.5~mm (seasonal) and +/- 1~mm (decadal). The calculated maximum horizontal loading signals are roughly a factor of two smaller. Despite the small size of the expected loading signals, we conclude that we can observe them using time series for the three-dimensional coordinates of COON and CEDA. For CEDA, the variations in the time series are in phase with, and the same magnitude as, both the predicted seasonal and decadal variations. For COON, we obtain a similar match for the decadal variations, but the observed seasonal variations, although in-phase with the predicted variations, are a factor of 3--4 larger. We speculate that this difference may be caused by some combination of local precipitation-induced site motion, unmodeled loading from other nearby sources, errors in the GSL load geometry, and atmospheric errors. We will present these results, and also discuss the loading effect as an error source for estimates of long-term site velocity.

SANS contrast variation study of magnetoferritin structure at various iron loading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Melnikova, Lucia; Petrenko, Viktor I.; Avdeev, Mikhail V.; Ivankov, Oleksandr I.; Bulavin, Leonid A.; Garamus, Vasil M.; Almásy, László; Mitroova, Zuzana; Kopcansky, Peter

2015-03-01

Magnetoferritin, a synthetic derivate of iron storage protein - ferritin, has been synthesized with different iron oxide loading values. Small-angle neutron scattering experiments were applied to study the structure of magnetoferritin solutions using contrast variation method by varying the light to heavy water ratio of the solvent. Higher iron loading leads to increase of the neutron scattering length density of magnetoferritin and also to the increase of the polydispersity of complexes. The formation of the magnetic core and the variation of the protein shell structure upon iron loading are concluded.

Comparison of GPS and GRACE hydrological loading signatures in Myanmar, India, Bangladesh, and Bhutan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Materna, K.; Feng, L.; Lindsey, E. O.; Hill, E.; Burgmann, R.

2017-12-01

The elastic response of the lithosphere to surface mass redistributions produces significant deformation that can be observed in geodetic time series. This deformation is especially pronounced in Southeast Asia, where the annual monsoon produces large-amplitude hydrological loads. The MIBB network of 20 continuous GPS stations in Myanmar, India, Bangladesh, and Bhutan, operational since 2012, provides an opportunity to study the earth's response to these loads. In this study, we use GRACE gravity products as an estimate of surface water distribution, and input these estimates into an elastic loading calculation. We compare the predicted deformation with that observed with GPS. We find that elastic loading from the GRACE gravity field is able to explain the phase and the peak-to-peak amplitude (typically 2-3 cm) of the vertical GPS oscillations in northeast India and central Myanmar. GRACE-based corrections reduce the RMS scatter of the GPS data by 30%-45% in these regions. However, this approach does not capture all of the variation in central Bangladesh and southern Myanmar. Local hydrological effects, non-tidal ocean loads, poroelastic deformation, or differences in elastic properties may explain discrepancies between the GPS and GRACE signals in these places. The results of our calculations have practical implications for campaign GPS measurements in Myanmar, which make up the majority of geodetic measurements at this point. We may be able to reduce errors in campaign measurements and increase the accuracy of velocity estimates by correcting for hydrologic signals with GRACE data. The results also have potential implications for crustal rheology in Southeast Asia.

Temporal and spatial mapping of atmospheric dust opacity and surface albedo on Mars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, S. W.; Clancy, R. T.; Gladstone, G. R.; Martin, T. Z.

1993-01-01

The Mariner 9 and Viking missions provided abundant evidence that eolian processes are active over much of the surface of Mars. Past studies have demonstrated that variations in regional albedo and wind streak patterns are indicative of sediment transport through a region, while thermal inertia data (derived from the Viking Infrared Thermal Mapper (IRTM) datasets) are indicative of the degree of surface mantling by dust deposits. We are making use of the method developed by T. Z. Martin to determine dust opacity from IRTM thermal observations. We have developed a radiative transfer model that allows corrections for the effects of atmospheric dust loading on observations of surface albedo to be made. This approach to determining 'dust-corrected surface albedo' incorporates the atmospheric dust opacity, the single-scattering albedo and particle phase function of atmospheric dust, the bidirectional reflectance of the surface, and accounts for variable lighting and viewing geometry.

Regional Variation of Bone Tissue Properties at the Human Mandibular Condyle

PubMed Central

Kim, Do-Gyoon; Jeong, Yong-Hoon; Kosel, Erin; Agnew, Amanda M.; McComb, David W.; Bodnyk, Kyle; Hart, Richard T.; Kim, Min Kyung; Han, Sang Yeun; Johnston, William M.

2015-01-01

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) bears different types of static and dynamic loading during occlusion and mastication. As such, characteristics of mandibular condylar bone tissue play an important role in determining the mechanical stability of the TMJ under the macro-level loading. Thus, the objective of this study was to examine regional variation of the elastic, plastic, and viscoelastic mechanical properties of human mandibular condylar bone tissue using nanoindentation. Cortical and trabecular bone were dissected from mandibular condyles of human cadavers (9 males, 54 to 96 years). These specimens were scanned using microcomputed tomography to obtain bone tissue mineral distribution. Then, nanoindentation was conducted on the surface of the same specimens in hydration. Plastic hardness (H) at a peak load, viscoelastic creep (Creep/Pmax), viscosity (η), and tangent delta (tan δ) during a 30 second hold period, and elastic modulus (E) during unloading were obtained by a cycle of indentation at the same site of bone tissue. The tissue mineral and nanoindentation parameters were analyzed for the periosteal and endosteal cortex, and trabecular bone regions of the mandibular condyle. The more mineralized periosteal cortex had higher mean values of elastic modulus, plastic hardness, and viscosity but lower viscoelastic creep and tan δ than the less mineralized trabecular bone of the mandibular condyle. These characteristics of bone tissue suggest that the periosteal cortex tissue may have more effective properties to resist elastic, plastic, and viscoelastic deformation under static loading, and the trabecular bone tissue to absorb and dissipate time-dependent viscoelastic loading energy at the TMJ during static occlusion and dynamic mastication. PMID:25913634

Surface structural damage study in cortical bone due to medical drilling.

PubMed

Tavera R, Cesar G; De la Torre-I, Manuel H; Flores-M, Jorge M; Hernandez M, Ma Del Socorro; Mendoza-Santoyo, Fernando; Briones-R, Manuel de J; Sanchez-P, Jorge

2017-05-01

A bone's fracture could be produced by an excessive, repetitive, or sudden load. A regular medical practice to heal it is to fix it in two possible ways: external immobilization, using a ferule, or an internal fixation, using a prosthetic device commonly attached to the bone by means of surgical screws. The bone's volume loss due to this drilling modifies its structure either in the presence or absence of a fracture. To observe the bone's surface behavior caused by the drilling effects, a digital holographic interferometer is used to analyze the displacement surface's variations in nonfractured post-mortem porcine femoral bones. Several nondrilled post-mortem bones are compressed and compared to a set of post-mortem bones with a different number of cortical drillings. During each compression test, a series of digital interferometric holograms were recorded using a high-speed CMOS camera. The results are presented as pseudo 3D mesh displacement maps for comparisons in the physiological range of load (30 and 50 lbs) and beyond (100, 200, and 400 lbs). The high resolution of the optical phase gives a better understanding about the bone's microstructural modifications. Finally, a relationship between compression load and bone volume loss due to the drilling was observed. The results prove that digital holographic interferometry is a viable technique to study the conditions that avoid the surgical screw from loosening in medical procedures of this kind.

Multi-geodetic characterization of the seasonal signal at the CERGA geodetic reference, France

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Memin, A.; Viswanathan, V.; Fienga, A.; Santamaría-Gómez, A.; Boy, J. P.

2016-12-01

Crustal deformations due to surface-mass loading account for a significant part of the variability in geodetic time series. A perfect understanding of the loading signal observed by geodetic techniques should help in improving terrestrial reference frame (TRF) realizations. Yet, discrepancies between crustal motion estimates from models of surface-mass loading and observations are still too large so that no model is currently recommended by the IERS for reducing the data. We investigate the discrepancy observed in the seasonal variations of the CERGA station, South of France.We characterize the seasonal motions of the reference geodetic station CERGA from GNSS, SLR and LLR. We compare the station motion observed with GNSS and SLR and we estimate changes in the station-to-the-moon distance using an improved processing strategy. We investigate the consistency between these geodetic techniques and compare the observed station motion with that estimated using models of surface-mass change. In that regard, we compute atmospheric loading effects using surface pressure fields from ECMWF, assuming an ocean response according to the classical inverted barometer (IB) assumption, considered to be valid for periods typically exceeding a week. We also used general circulation ocean models (ECCO and GLORYS) forced by wind, heat and fresh water fluxes. The continental water storage is described using GLDAS/Noah and MERRA-land models.Using the surface-mass models, we estimate the amplitude of the seasonal vertical motion of the CERGA station ranging between 5 and 10 mm with a maximum reached in August, mostly due to hydrology. The horizontal seasonal motion of the station may reach up to 3 mm. Such a station motion should induce a change in the distance to the moon reaching up to 10 mm, large enough to be detected in LLR time series and compared to GNSS- and SLR-derived motion.

Distributed photovoltaic architecture powering a DC bus: Impact of duty cycle and load variations on the efficiency of the generator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Allouache, Hadj; Zegaoui, Abdallah; Boutoubat, Mohamed; Bokhtache, Aicha Aissa; Kessaissia, Fatma Zohra; Charles, Jean-Pierre; Aillerie, Michel

2018-05-01

This paper focuses on a photovoltaic generator feeding a load via a boost converter in a distributed PV architecture. The principal target is the evaluation of the efficiency of a distributed photovoltaic architecture powering a direct current (DC) PV bus. This task is achieved by outlining an original way for tracking the Maximum Power Point (MPP) taking into account load variations and duty cycle on the electrical quantities of the boost converter and on the PV generator output apparent impedance. Thereafter, in a given sized PV system, we analyze the influence of the load variations on the behavior of the boost converter and we deduce the limits imposed by the load on the DC PV bus. The simultaneous influences of 1- the variation of the duty cycle of the boost converter and 2- the load power on the parameters of the various components of the photovoltaic chain and on the boost performances are clearly presented as deduced by simulation.

Spatial and temporal variations in lagoon and coastal processes of the southern Brazilian coast

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dejesusparada, N. (Principal Investigator); Herz, R.

1980-01-01

From a collection of information gathered during a long period, through the orbital platforms SKYLAB and LANDSAT, it was possible to establish a method for the systematic study of the dynamical regime of lagoon and marine surface waters, on coastal plain of Rio Grande do Sul. The series of multispectral images analyzed by visual and automatic techniques put in evidence spatial and temporal variations reflected in the optical properties of waters, which carry different loads of materials in suspension. The identified patterns offer a synoptic picture of phenomena of great amplitude, from which trends of circulation can be inferred, correlating the atmospheric and hydrologic variables simultaneously to the overflight of orbital vehicles.

The impact of water loading on postglacial decay times in Hudson Bay

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Holly Kyeore; Gomez, Natalya

2018-05-01

Ongoing glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) due to surface loading (ice and water) variations during the last glacial cycle has been contributing to sea-level changes globally throughout the Holocene, especially in regions like Canada that were heavily glaciated during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The spatial and temporal distribution of GIA, as manifested in relative sea-level (RSL) change, are sensitive to the ice history and the rheological structure of the solid Earth, both of which are uncertain. It has been shown that RSL curves near the center of previously glaciated regions with no ongoing surface loading follow an exponential-like form, with the postglacial decay times associated with that form having a weak sensitivity to the details of the ice loading history. Postglacial decay time estimates thus provide a powerful datum for constraining the Earth's viscous structure and improving GIA predictions. We explore spatial patterns of postglacial decay time predictions in Hudson Bay by decomposing numerically modeled RSL changes into contributions from water and ice loading effects, and computing their relative impact on the decay times. We demonstrate that ice loading can contribute a strong geographic trend on the decay time estimates if the time window used to compute decay times includes periods that are temporally close to (i.e. contemporaneous with, or soon after) periods of active loading. This variability can be avoided by choosing a suitable starting point for the decay time window. However, more surprisingly, we show that across any adopted time window, water loading effects associated with inundation into, and postglacial flux out of, Hudson Bay and James Bay will impart significant geographic variability onto decay time estimates. We emphasize this issue by considering both maps of predicted decay times across the region and site-specific estimates, and we conclude that variability in observed decay times (whether based on existing or future data sets) may reflect this water loading signal.

Long-term visibility variation in Athens (1931-2013): a proxy for local and regional atmospheric aerosol loads

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Founda, Dimitra; Kazadzis, Stelios; Mihalopoulos, Nikolaos; Gerasopoulos, Evangelos; Lianou, Maria; Raptis, Panagiotis I.

2016-09-01

This study explores the interdecadal variability and trends of surface horizontal visibility at the urban area of Athens from 1931 to 2013, using the historical archives of the National Observatory of Athens (NOA). A prominent deterioration of visibility in the city was detected, with the long-term linear trend amounting to -2.8 km decade-1 (p < 0.001), over the entire study period. This was not accompanied by any significant trend in relative humidity or precipitation over the same period. A slight recovery of visibility levels seems to be established in the recent decade (2004-2013). It was found that very good visibility (> 20 km) occurred at a frequency of 34 % before the 1950s, while this percentage drops to just 2 % during the decade 2004-2013. The rapid impairment of the visual air quality in Athens around the 1950s points to the increased levels of air pollution on a local and/or regional scale, related to high urbanization rates and/or increased anthropogenic emissions on a global scale at that period. Visibility was found to be negatively/positively correlated with relative humidity/wind speed, the correlation being statistically valid at certain periods. Wind regime and mainly wind direction and corresponding air mass origin were found to highly control visibility levels in Athens. The comparison of visibility variation in Athens and at a non-urban reference site on Crete island revealed similar negative trends over the common period of observations. This suggests that apart local sources, visibility in Athens is highly determined by aerosol load of regional origin. AVHRR and MODIS satellite-derived aerosol optical depth (AOD) retrievals over Athens and surface measurements of PM10 confirmed the relation of visibility to aerosol load.

The atmospheric electric global circuit. [thunderstorm activity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kasemir, H. W.

1979-01-01

The hypothesis that world thunderstorm activity represents the generator for the atmospheric electric current flow in the earth atmosphere between ground and the ionosphere is based on a close correlation between the magnitude and the diurnal variation of the supply current (thunderstorm generator current) and the load current (fair weather air-earth current density integrated over the earth surface). The advantages of using lightning survey satellites to furnish a base for accepting or rejecting the thunderstorm generator hypothesis are discussed.

Variations in local elastic modulus along the length of the aorta as observed by use of a scanning haptic microscope (SHM).

PubMed

Moriwaki, Takeshi; Oie, Tomonori; Takamizawa, Keiichi; Murayama, Yoshinobu; Fukuda, Toru; Omata, Sadao; Kanda, Keiichi; Nakayama, Yasuhide

2011-12-01

Variations in microscopic elastic structures along the entire length of canine aorta were evaluated by use of a scanning haptic microscope (SHM). The total aorta from the aortic arch to the abdominal aorta was divided into 6 approximately equal segments. After embedding the aorta in agar, it was cut into horizontal circumferential segments to obtain disk-like agar portions containing ring-like samples of aorta with flat surfaces (thickness, approximately 1 mm). The elastic modulus and topography of the samples under no-load conditions were simultaneously measured along the entire thickness of the wall by SHM by using a probe with a diameter of 5 μm and a spatial resolution of 2 μm at a rate of 0.3 s/point. The elastic modulus of the wall was the highest on the side of the luminal surface and decreased gradually toward the adventitial side. This tendency was similar to that of the change in the elastin fiber content. During the evaluation of the mid-portion of each tunica media segment, the highest elastic modulus (40.8 ± 3.5 kPa) was identified at the thoracic section of the aorta that had the highest density of elastic fibers. Under no-load conditions, portions of the aorta with high elastin density have a high elastic modulus.

Effects of thermal deformation on optical instruments for space application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Segato, E.; Da Deppo, V.; Debei, S.; Cremonese, G.

2017-11-01

Optical instruments for space missions work in hostile environment, it's thus necessary to accurately study the effects of ambient parameters variations on the equipment. In particular optical instruments are very sensitive to ambient conditions, especially temperature. This variable can cause dilatations and misalignments of the optical elements, and can also lead to rise of dangerous stresses in the optics. Their displacements and the deformations degrade the quality of the sampled images. In this work a method for studying the effects of the temperature variations on the performance of imaging instrument is presented. The optics and their mountings are modeled and processed by a thermo-mechanical Finite Element Model (FEM) analysis, then the output data, which describe the deformations of the optical element surfaces, are elaborated using an ad hoc MATLAB routine: a non-linear least square optimization algorithm is adopted to determine the surface equations (plane, spherical, nth polynomial) which best fit the data. The obtained mathematical surface representations are then directly imported into ZEMAX for sequential raytracing analysis. The results are the variations of the Spot Diagrams, of the MTF curves and of the Diffraction Ensquared Energy due to simulated thermal loads. This method has been successfully applied to the Stereo Camera for the BepiColombo mission reproducing expected operative conditions. The results help to design and compare different optical housing systems for a feasible solution and show that it is preferable to use kinematic constraints on prisms and lenses to minimize the variation of the optical performance of the Stereo Camera.

Rapid control of mold temperature during injection molding process

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liparoti, Sara; Titomanlio, Giuseppe; Hunag, Tsang Min

2015-05-22

The control of mold surface temperature is an important factor that determines surface morphology and its dimension in thickness direction. It can also affect the frozen molecular orientation and the mold surface replicability in injection molded products. In this work, thin thermally active films were used to quickly control the mold surface temperature. In particular, an active high electrical conductivity carbon black loaded polyimide composites sandwiched between two insulating thin polymeric layers was used to condition the mold surface. By controlling the heating time, it was possible to control precisely the temporal variation of the mold temperature surface during themore » entire cycle. The surface heating rate was about 40°C/s and upon contact with the polymer the surface temperature decreased back to 40°C within about 5 s; the overall cycle time increased only slightly. The effect on cross section sample morphology of samples of iPP were analyzed and discussed on the basis of the recorded temperature evolution.« less

Emulating DC constant power load: a robust sliding mode control approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Suresh; Fulwani, Deepak; Kumar, Vinod

2017-09-01

This article presents emulation of a programmable power electronic, constant power load (CPL) using a dc/dc step-up (boost) converter. The converter is controlled by a robust sliding mode controller (SMC). A novel switching surface is proposed to ensure a required power sunk by the converter. The proposed dc CPL is simple in design, has fast dynamic response and high accuracy, and offers an inexpensive alternative to study converters for cascaded dc distribution power system applications. Furthermore, the proposed CPL is sufficiently robust against the input voltage variations. A laboratory prototype of the proposed dc CPL has been developed and validated with SMC realised through OPAL-RT platform. The capability of the proposed dc CPL is confirmed via experimentations in varied scenarios.

Structural integrity of additive materials: Microstructure, fatigue behavior, and surface processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Book, Todd A.

Although Additive Manufacturing (AM) offers numerous performance advantages over existing methods, AM structures are not being utilized for critical aerospace and mechanical applications due to uncertainties in their structural integrity as a result of the microstructural variations and defects arising from the AM process itself. Two of these uncertainties are the observed scatter in tensile strength and fatigue lives of direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) parts. With strain localization a precursor for material failure, this research seeks to explore the impact of microstructural variations in DMLS produced materials on strain localization. The first part of this research explores the role of the microstructure in strain localization of DMLS produced IN718 and Ti6Al4V specimens (as-built and post-processed) through the characterization of the linkage between microstructural variations, and the accumulation of plastic strain during monotonic and low cycle fatigue loading. The second part of this research explores the feasibility for the application of select surface processing techniques in-situ during the DMLS build process to alter the microstructure in AlSi10Mg to reduce strain localization and improve material cohesion. This study is based on utilizing experimental observations through the employment of advanced material characterization techniques such as digital image correlation to illustrate the impacts of DMLS microstructural variation.

Carrier characteristics influence the kinetics of passive drug loading into lipid nanoemulsions.

PubMed

Göke, Katrin; Bunjes, Heike

2018-05-01

Passive loading as a novel screening approach is a material-saving tool for the efficient selection of a suitable colloidal lipid carrier system for poorly water soluble drug candidates. This method comprises incubation of preformed carrier systems with drug powder and subsequent determination of the resulting drug load of the carrier particles after removal of excess drug. For reliable routine use and to obtain meaningful loading results, information on the kinetics of the process is required. Passive loading proceeds via a dissolution-diffusion-based mechanism, where drug surface area and drug water solubility are key parameters for fast passive loading. While the influence of the drug characteristics is mostly understood, the influence of the carrier characteristics remains unknown. The aim of this study was to examine how the lipid nanocarriers' characteristics, i.e. the type of lipid, the lipid content and the particle size, influence the kinetics of passive loading. Fenofibrate was used as model drug and the loading progress was analyzed by UV spectroscopy. The saturation solubility in the nanocarrier particles, i.e. the lipid type, did not influence the passive loading rate constant. Low lipid content in the nanocarrier and a small nanocarrier particle size both increased passive loading speed. Both variations increase the diffusivity of the nanocarrier particles, which is the primary cause for fast loading at these conditions: The quicker the carrier particles diffuse, the higher is the speed of passive loading. The influence of the diffusivity of the lipid nanocarriers and the effect of drug dissolution rate were included in an overall mechanistic model developed for similar processes (A. Balakrishnan, B.D. Rege, G.L. Amidon, J.E. Polli, Surfactant-mediated dissolution: contributions of solubility enhancement and relatively low micelle diffusivity, J. Pharm. Sci. 93 (2004) 2064-2075). The resulting mechanistic model gave a good estimate of the speed of passive loading in nanoemulsions. Whilst the drug's characteristics - apart from drug surface area - are basically fixed, the lipid nanocarriers can be customized to improve passive loading speed, e.g. by using small nanocarrier particles. The knowledge of the loading mechanism now allows the use of passive loading for the straightforward, material-saving selection of suitable lipid drug nanocarriers. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Improvement of Tidal Analysis Results by a Priori Rain Fall Modelling at the Vienna and Membach stations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meurers, B.; van Camp, M.; Petermans, T.

2005-12-01

We investigate how far tidal analysis results can be improved when a rain fall admittance model is applied on the superconducting gravity (SG) data. For that purpose both Vienna and Membach data have been analysed with and without a priori rain fall correction. In Membach the residual drop for most events (80%) can be explained by the rain water load, while in Vienna only 50% of all events fit the model in detail. In the other cases the Newtonian effect of vertical air mass redistribution (vertical density variation without air pressure change), predominantly connected with high vertical convection activity, e.g. thunderstorms, plays an essential role: short-term atmospheric signals show up steep gravity residual decreases of a few nms-2 within 10 - 60 min, well correlated with outdoor air temperature in most cases. However, even in those cases the water load model is able to explain the dominating part of the residual drop especially during heavy rain fall. In Vienna more than 110 events have been detected over 10 years. 84% of them are associated with heavy rain starting at or up to 10 min later than the residual drop while the rest (16%) shows no or only little rainfall. The magnitude of the gravity drop depends on the total amount of rainfall accumulated during the meteorological event. Step like signals deteriorate the frequency spectrum estimates. This even holds for tidal analysis. As the drops are of physical origin, they should not be eliminated blindly but corrected using water load modeling constrained by high temporal resolution (1 min) rain data. 3D modeling of the water mass load due to a rain event is based on the following assumptions: (1) Rain water intrudes into the uppermost soil layer (close to the topography surface) and remains there at least until rain has stopped. This is justified for a period of some hours after the rainfall as evapotranspiration is not yet effective. (2) No run-off except of sealed areas or building roofs, where water can not intrude into the soil but will drain off into the sewage water system instead. (3) Rainfall is equal everywhere in the station surroundings. (4) No surface deformation due to the water mass load Correcting for rain fall effects reduces by about 10% the standard deviation of the residuals after tidal parameter adjustment. Amplitude factor changes are in the order of 10-3 or less, phase lags change by 10-3 to 10-2: statistically, these variations are not significant as they lie within the error bars. However, it is worth noting that the amplitude factors of tidal constituents with high amplitude (O1, P1, K1) and even Ψ1 and Φ1 show similar variations in Vienna and Membach. Generally the tidal parameter variation is less in the SD than in the D band.

Thermoelastic Stress Analysis: An NDE Tool for the Residual Stress Assessment of Metallic Alloys

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gyekenyesi, Andrew L.; Baaklini, George Y.

2000-01-01

During manufacturing, certain propulsion components that will be used in a cyclic fatigue environment are fabricated to contain compressive residual stresses on their surfaces because these stresses inhibit the nucleation of cracks. Overloads and elevated temperature excursions cause the induced residual stresses to dissipate while the component is still in service, lowering its resistance to crack initiation. Research at the NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field has focused on employing the Thermoelastic Stress Analysis technique (TSA, also recognized as SPATE: Stress Pattern Analysis by Thermal Emission) as a tool for monitoring the residual stress state of propulsion components. TSA is based on the fact that materials experience small temperature changes when they are compressed or expanded. When a structure is cyclically loaded (i.e., cyclically compressed and expanded), the resulting surface-temperature profile correlates to the stress state of the structure s surface. The surface-temperature variations resulting from a cyclic load are measured with an infrared camera. Traditionally, the temperature amplitude of a TSA signal has been theoretically defined to be linearly dependent on the cyclic stress amplitude. As a result, the temperature amplitude resulting from an applied cyclic stress was assumed to be independent of the cyclic mean stress.

Estimating geocenter motion and barystatic sea-level variability from GRACE observations with explicit consideration of self-attraction and loading effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bergmann-Wolf, I.; Dobslaw, H.

2015-12-01

Estimating global barystatic sea-level variations from monthly mean gravity fields delivered by the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite mission requires additional information about geocenter motion. These variations are not available directly due to the mission implementation in the CM-frame and are represented by the degree-1 terms of the spherical harmonics expansion. Global degree-1 estimates can be determined with the method of Swenson et al. (2008) from ocean mass variability, the geometry of the global land-sea distribution, and GRACE data of higher degrees and orders. Consequently, a recursive relation between the derivation of ocean mass variations from GRACE data and the introduction of geocenter motion into GRACE data exists.In this contribution, we will present a recent improvement to the processing strategy described in Bergmann-Wolf et al. (2014) by introducing a non-homogeneous distribution of global ocean mass variations in the geocenter motion determination strategy, which is due to the effects of loading and self-attraction induced by mass redistributions at the surface. A comparison of different GRACE-based oceanographic products (barystatic signal for both the global oceans and individual basins; barotropic transport variations of major ocean currents) with degree-1 terms estimated with a homogeneous and non-homogeneous ocean mass representation will be discussed, and differences in noise levels in most recent GRACE solutions from GFZ (RL05a), CSR, and JPL (both RL05) and their consequences for the application of this method will be discussed.

Lifetime Reliability Prediction of Ceramic Structures Under Transient Thermomechanical Loads

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nemeth, Noel N.; Jadaan, Osama J.; Gyekenyesi, John P.

2005-01-01

An analytical methodology is developed to predict the probability of survival (reliability) of ceramic components subjected to harsh thermomechanical loads that can vary with time (transient reliability analysis). This capability enables more accurate prediction of ceramic component integrity against fracture in situations such as turbine startup and shutdown, operational vibrations, atmospheric reentry, or other rapid heating or cooling situations (thermal shock). The transient reliability analysis methodology developed herein incorporates the following features: fast-fracture transient analysis (reliability analysis without slow crack growth, SCG); transient analysis with SCG (reliability analysis with time-dependent damage due to SCG); a computationally efficient algorithm to compute the reliability for components subjected to repeated transient loading (block loading); cyclic fatigue modeling using a combined SCG and Walker fatigue law; proof testing for transient loads; and Weibull and fatigue parameters that are allowed to vary with temperature or time. Component-to-component variation in strength (stochastic strength response) is accounted for with the Weibull distribution, and either the principle of independent action or the Batdorf theory is used to predict the effect of multiaxial stresses on reliability. The reliability analysis can be performed either as a function of the component surface (for surface-distributed flaws) or component volume (for volume-distributed flaws). The transient reliability analysis capability has been added to the NASA CARES/ Life (Ceramic Analysis and Reliability Evaluation of Structures/Life) code. CARES/Life was also updated to interface with commercially available finite element analysis software, such as ANSYS, when used to model the effects of transient load histories. Examples are provided to demonstrate the features of the methodology as implemented in the CARES/Life program.

Sewer infiltration/inflow: long-term monitoring based on diurnal variation of pollutant mass flux.

PubMed

Bares, V; Stránský, D; Sýkora, P

2009-01-01

The paper deals with a method for quantification of infiltrating groundwater based on the variation of diurnal pollutant load and continuous water quality and quantity monitoring. Although the method gives us the potential to separate particular components of wastewater hygrograph, several aspects of the method should be discussed. Therefore, the paper investigates the cost-effectiveness, the relevance of pollutant load from surface waters (groundwater) and the influence of measurement time step. These aspects were studied in an experimental catchment of Prague sewer system, Czech Republic, within a three-month period. The results indicate high contribution of parasitic waters on night minimal discharge. Taking into account the uncertainty of the results and time-consuming maintenance of the sensor, the principal advantages of the method are evaluated. The study introduces a promising potential of the discussed measuring concept for quantification of groundwater infiltrating into the sewer system. It is shown that the conventional approach is sufficient and cost-effective even in those catchments, where significant contribution of foul sewage in night minima would have been assumed.

The Influence of Surface Gravity Waves on Marine Current Turbine Performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lust, E.; Luznik, L.; Flack, K. A.; Walker, J.; Van Benthem, M.

2013-12-01

Surface gravity waves can significantly impact operating conditions for a marine current turbine, imparting unsteady velocities several orders of magnitude larger than the ambient turbulence. The influence of surface waves on the performance characteristics of a two-bladed horizontal axis marine current turbine was investigated experimentally in a large towing tank facility at the United States Naval Academy. The turbine model had a 0.8 m diameter (D) rotor with a NACA 63-618 cross section, which is Reynolds number independent with respect to lift coefficient in the operating range of Rec ≈ 4 x 105. The torque, thrust and rotational speed were measured at a range of tip speed ratios (TSR) from 5 < TSR < 11. Tests were performed at two rotor depths (1.3D and 2.25D) with and without waves. The average turbine performance characteristics were largely unchanged by depth or the presence of waves. However, tests with waves indicate large variations in thrust, rotational speed, and torque occurred with the passage of the wave. These results demonstrate the impact of surface gravity waves on power production and structural loading and suggest that turbines should be positioned vertically within the water column at a depth which maximizes power output while minimizing material fatigue. Keywords-- marine current turbine, tidal turbine, towing-tank experiments, surface gravity waves, fatigue loading, phase averaging

Surface Cleaning and Disinfection: Efficacy Assessment of Four Chlorine Types Using Escherichia coli and the Ebola Surrogate Phi6.

PubMed

Gallandat, Karin; Wolfe, Marlene K; Lantagne, Daniele

2017-04-18

In the 2014 West African Ebola outbreak, international organizations provided conflicting recommendations for disinfecting surfaces contaminated by uncontrolled patient spills. We compared the efficacy of four chlorine solutions (sodium hypochlorite, sodium dichloroisocyanurate, high-test hypochlorite, and generated hypochlorite) for disinfection of three surface types (stainless steel, heavy-duty tarp, and nitrile) with and without pre-cleaning practices (prewiping, covering, or both) and soil load. The test organisms were Escherichia coli and the Ebola surrogate Phi6. All tests achieved a minimum of 5.9 and 3.1 log removal in E. coli and Phi6, respectively. A 15 min exposure to 0.5% chlorine was sufficient to ensure <8 Phi6 plaque-forming unit (PFU)/cm 2 in all tests. While chlorine types were equally efficacious with and without soil load, variation was seen by surface type. Wiping did not increase disinfection efficacy and is not recommended because it generates infectious waste. Covering spills decreased disinfection efficacy against E. coli on heavy-duty tarp but does prevent splashing, which is critical in Ebola contexts. Our results support the recommendation of a 15 min exposure to 0.5% chlorine, independently of chlorine type, surface, pre-cleaning practices, and organic matter, as an efficacious measure to interrupt disease transmission from uncontrolled spills in Ebola outbreaks.

Assessment of Spatial and Temporal Variation of Surface Water Quality in Streams Affected by Coalbed Methane Development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chitrakar, S.; Miller, S. N.; Liu, T.; Caffrey, P. A.

2015-12-01

Water quality data have been collected from three representative stream reaches in a coalbed methane (CBM) development area for over five years to improve the understanding of salt loading in the system. These streams are located within Atlantic Rim development area of the Muddy Creek in south-central Wyoming. Significant development of CBM wells is ongoing in the study area. Three representative sampling stream reaches included the Duck Pond Draw and Cow Creek, which receive co-produced water, and; South Fork Creek, and upstream Cow Creek which do not receive co-produced water. Water samples were assayed for various parameters which included sodium, calcium, magnesium, fluoride, chlorine, nitrate, O-phosphate, sulfate, carbonate, bicarbonates, and other water quality parameters such as pH, conductivity, and TDS. Based on these water quality parameters we have investigated various hydrochemical and geochemical processes responsible for the high variability in water quality in the region. However, effective interpretation of complex databases to understand aforementioned processes has been a challenging task due to the system's complexity. In this work we applied multivariate statistical techniques including cluster analysis (CA), principle component analysis (PCA) and discriminant analysis (DA) to analyze water quality data and identify similarities and differences among our locations. First, CA technique was applied to group the monitoring sites based on the multivariate similarities. Second, PCA technique was applied to identify the prevalent parameters responsible for the variation of water quality in each group. Third, the DA technique was used to identify the most important factors responsible for variation of water quality during low flow season and high flow season. The purpose of this study is to improve the understanding of factors or sources influencing the spatial and temporal variation of water quality. The ultimate goal of this whole research is to develop coupled salt loading and GIS-based hydrological modelling tool that will be able to simulate the salt loadings under various user defined scenarios in the regions undergoing CBM development. Therefore, the findings from this study will be used to formulate the predominant processes responsible for solute loading.

Crustal deformation at very long baseline interferometry sites due to seasonal air-mass and ground water variations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stolz, A.; Larden, D. R.

1980-01-01

The seasonal deformation normal to the Earth's surface was calculated at stations involved or interested in very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) geodesy and at hypothetical sites in Australia and Brazil using global atmospheric pressure data, values for groundwater storage, and load Love numbers deduced from current Earth models. It was found that the annual range of deformation approached the centimeter level measuring potential of the VLBI technqiue at Greenbank, Haystack, and the Brazil site.

Viral genetic variation accounts for a third of variability in HIV-1 set-point viral load in Europe.

PubMed

Blanquart, François; Wymant, Chris; Cornelissen, Marion; Gall, Astrid; Bakker, Margreet; Bezemer, Daniela; Hall, Matthew; Hillebregt, Mariska; Ong, Swee Hoe; Albert, Jan; Bannert, Norbert; Fellay, Jacques; Fransen, Katrien; Gourlay, Annabelle J; Grabowski, M Kate; Gunsenheimer-Bartmeyer, Barbara; Günthard, Huldrych F; Kivelä, Pia; Kouyos, Roger; Laeyendecker, Oliver; Liitsola, Kirsi; Meyer, Laurence; Porter, Kholoud; Ristola, Matti; van Sighem, Ard; Vanham, Guido; Berkhout, Ben; Kellam, Paul; Reiss, Peter; Fraser, Christophe

2017-06-01

HIV-1 set-point viral load-the approximately stable value of viraemia in the first years of chronic infection-is a strong predictor of clinical outcome and is highly variable across infected individuals. To better understand HIV-1 pathogenesis and the evolution of the viral population, we must quantify the heritability of set-point viral load, which is the fraction of variation in this phenotype attributable to viral genetic variation. However, current estimates of heritability vary widely, from 6% to 59%. Here we used a dataset of 2,028 seroconverters infected between 1985 and 2013 from 5 European countries (Belgium, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom) and estimated the heritability of set-point viral load at 31% (CI 15%-43%). Specifically, heritability was measured using models of character evolution describing how viral load evolves on the phylogeny of whole-genome viral sequences. In contrast to previous studies, (i) we measured viral loads using standardized assays on a sample collected in a strict time window of 6 to 24 months after infection, from which the viral genome was also sequenced; (ii) we compared 2 models of character evolution, the classical "Brownian motion" model and another model ("Ornstein-Uhlenbeck") that includes stabilising selection on viral load; (iii) we controlled for covariates, including age and sex, which may inflate estimates of heritability; and (iv) we developed a goodness of fit test based on the correlation of viral loads in cherries of the phylogenetic tree, showing that both models of character evolution fit the data well. An overall heritability of 31% (CI 15%-43%) is consistent with other studies based on regression of viral load in donor-recipient pairs. Thus, about a third of variation in HIV-1 virulence is attributable to viral genetic variation.

Subcritical crack growth in soda-lime glass in combined mode I and mode II loading

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Singh, Dileep; Shetty, Dinesh K.

1990-01-01

Subcritical crack growth under mixed-mode loading was studied in soda-lime glass. Pure mode I, combined mode I and mode II, and pure mode II loadings were achieved in precracked disk specimens by loading in diametral compression at selected angles with respect to the symmetric radial crack. Crack growth was monitored by measuring the resistance changes in a microcircuit grid consisting of parallel, electrically conducting grid lines deposited on the surface of the disk specimens by photolithography. Subcritical crack growth rates in pure mode I, pure mode II, and combined mode I and mode II loading could be described by an exponential relationship between crack growth rate and an effective crack driving force derived from a mode I-mode II fracture toughness envelope. The effective crack driving force was based on an empirical representation of the noncoplanar strain energy release rate. Stress intensities for kinked cracks were assessed using the method of caustics and an initial decrease and a subsequent increase in the subcritical crack growth rates of kinked cracks were shown to correlate with the variations of the mode I and the mode II stress intensities.

A comparison of hydrological deformation using GPS and global hydrological model for the Eurasian plate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Zhen; Yue, Jianping; Li, Wang; Lu, Dekai; Li, Xiaogen

2017-08-01

The 0.5° × 0.5° gridded hydrological loading from Global Land Surface Discharge Model (LSDM) mass distributions is adopted for 32 GPS sites on the Eurasian plate from January 2010 to January 2014. When the heights of these sites that have been corrected for the effects of non-tidal atmospheric and ocean loading are adjusted by the hydrological loading deformation, more than one third of the root-mean-square (RMS) values of the GPS height variability become larger. After analyzing the results by continuous wavelet transform (CWT) and wavelet transform coherence (WTC), we confirm that hydrological loading primarily contributes to the annual variations in GPS heights. Further, the cross wavelet transform (XWT) is used to investigate the relative phase between the time series of GPS heights and hydrological deformation, and it is indicated that the annual oscillations in the two time series are physically related for some sites; other geophysical effect, GPS systematic errors and hydrological modeling errors could result in the phase asynchrony between GPS and hydrological loading signals for the other sites. Consequently, the phase asynchrony confirms that the annual fluctuations in GPS observations result from a combination of geophysical signals and systematic errors.

Variations in Crustal Structure, Lithospheric Flexural Strength, and Isostatic Compensation Mechanisms of Mars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ding, M.; Lin, J.; Zuber, M. T.

2014-12-01

We analyze gravity and topography of Mars to investigate the spatial variations in crustal thickness, lithospheric strength, and mechanisms of support of prominent topographic features on Mars. The latest gravity model JGMRO110c (released in 2012) from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter mission has a spatial block size resolution of ~97 km (corresponding to degree-110), enabling us to resolve crustal structures at higher spatial resolution than those determined from previous degree-80 and 85 gravity models [Zuber et al., 2000; McGovern et al., 2002, 2004; Neumann et al., 2004; Belleguic et al., 2005]. Using the latest gravity data, we first inverted for a new version of crustal thickness model of Mars assuming homogeneous crust and mantle densities of 2.9 and 3.5 g/cm3. We calculated "isostatic" topography for the Airy local isostatic compensation mechanism, and "non-isostatic" topography after removing the isostatic part. We find that about 92% of the Martian surface is in relatively isostatic state, indicating either relatively small lithospheric strength and/or small vertical loading. Relatively isostatic regions include the hemispheric dichotomy, Hellas and Argyre Planitia, Noachis and Arabia Terra, and Terra Cimmeria. In contrast, regions with significant amount of non-isostatic topography include the Olympus, Ascraeus, Arsia, Pavonis, Alba, and Elysium Mons, Isidis Planitia and Valles Marineris. Their relatively large "non-isostatc topography" implies relatively strong lithospheric strength and large vertical loading. Spectral analysis of the admittance and correlation relationship between gravity and topography were conducted for the non-isostatic regions using the localized spectra method [Wieczorek and Simons, 2005, 2007] and thin-shell lithospheric flexural approximation [Forsyth, 1985; McGovern et al., 2002, 2004]. The best-fitting models reveal significant variations in the effective lithospheric thickness with the greatest values for the Olympus Mon, Valles Marineris, and Isidis Planitia; reduced values for the Ascraeus, Arsis, and Pavonis Mons; and smallest values for the Alba and Elysium Mons. Our models also suggest that there could be significant sub-surface loading underneath the Olympus, Ascraeus, Arsia, and Pavonis Mons, and Isidis Planitia.

Reliability assessment of an OVH HV power line truss transmission tower subjected to seismic loading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Winkelmann, Karol; Jakubowska, Patrycja; Soltysik, Barbara

2017-03-01

The study focuses on the reliability of a transmission tower OS24 ON150 + 10, an element of an OVH HV power line, under seismic loading. In order to describe the seismic force, the real-life recording of the horizontal component of the El Centro earthquake was adopted. The amplitude and the period of this excitation are assumed random, their variation is described by Weibull distribution. The possible space state of the phenomenon is given in the form of a structural response surface (RSM methodology), approximated by an ANOVA table with directional sampling (DS) points. Four design limit states are considered: stress limit criterion for a natural load combination, criterion for an accidental combination (one-sided cable snap), vertical and horizontal translation criteria. According to these cases the HLRF reliability index β is used for structural safety assessment. The RSM approach is well suited for the analysis - it is numerically efficient, not excessively time consuming, indicating a high confidence level. Given the problem conditions, the seismic excitation is shown the sufficient trigger to the loss of load-bearing capacity or stability of the tower.

Raman chemical mapping of magnesium stearate delivered by a punch-face lubrication system on the surface of placebo and active tablets.

PubMed

Šašiċ, Slobodan; Ojakovo, Peter; Warman, Martin; Sanghvi, Tapan

2013-09-01

Raman chemical mapping was used to determine the distribution of magnesium stearate, a lubricant, on the surface of tablets. The lubrication was carried out via a punch-face lubrication system with different spraying rates applied on placebo and active-containing tablets. Principal component analysis was used for decomposing the matrix of Raman mapping spectra. Some of the loadings associated with minuscule variation in the data significantly overlap with the Raman spectrum of magnesium stearate in placebo tablets and allow for imaging the domains of magnesium stearate via corresponding scores. Despite the negligible variation accounted for by respective principal components, the score images seem reliable as demonstrated through thresholding the one-dimensional representation and the spectra of the hot pixels that show a weak but perceivable magnesium stearate band at 1295 cm(-1). The same approach was applied on the active formulation, but no magnesium stearate was identified, presumably due to overwhelming concentration and spectral contribution of the active pharmaceutical ingredient.

Measurement of contact angle in a clearance-fit pin-loaded hole

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Prabhakaran, R.; Naik, R. A.

1986-01-01

A technique which measures load-contact variation in a clearance-fit, pin-loaded hole is presented in detail. A steel instrumented pin, which activates a make-or-break electrical circuit in the pin-hole contact region, was inserted into one aluminum and one polycarbonate specimen. The resulting load-contact variations are indicated schematically. The ability to accurately determine the arc of contact at any load was crucial to this measurement. It is noted that this simple experimental technique is applicable to both conducting and nonconducting materials.

Thermomechanical response of metal-ceramic graded composites for high-temperature aerospace applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deierling, Phillip Eugene

Airframes operating in the hypersonic regime are subjected to complex structural and thermal loads. Structural loads are a result of aggressive high G maneuvers, rapid vehicle acceleration and deceleration, and dynamic pressure, while thermal loads are a result of aerodynamic heating. For such airframes, structural members are typically constructed from steel, titanium and nickel alloys. However, with most materials, rapid elevations in temperature lead to undesirable changes in material properties. In particular, reductions in strength and stiffness are observed, along with an increase in thermal conductivity, specific heat and thermal expansion. Thus, hypersonic airframes are typically designed with external insulation, active cooling or a thermal protection system (TPS) added to the structure to protect the underling material from the effects of temperature. Such thermal protection may consist of adhesively bonded, pinned, and bolted thermal protection layers over exterior panels. These types of attachments create abrupt changes in thermal expansion and stiffness that make the structure susceptible to cracking and debonding as well as adding mass to the airframe. One of the promising materials concepts for extreme environments that was introduced in the past is the so-called Spatially Tailored Advanced Thermal Structures (STATS). The concept of STATS is rooted in functionally graded materials (FGMs), in which a directional variation of material properties exists. These materials are essentially composites and consist of two or more phases of distinct materials in which the volume fractions of each phase continuously change in space. Here, the graded material will serve a dual-purpose role as both the structural/skin member and thermal management with the goal of reducing the weight of the structure while maintaining structural soundness. This is achieved through the ability to tailor material properties to create a desired or enhanced thermomechanical response through spatial variation (e.g. grading). The objective of this study is to present a computational framework for modeling and evaluating the thermomechanical response of STATS and FGMs for highly maneuverable hypersonic (Mach > 5) airframes. To meet the objective of this study, four key steps have been defined to study the thermomechanical response of such materials in extreme environments. They involve: (1) modeling of graded microstructures; (2) validation of analytical and numerical modeling techniques for graded microstructures; (3) determination of effective properties of variable composition composites; (4) parametric studies to evaluate the performance of FGMs for use in the hypersonic operating environment; (5) optimization of the material spatial grading in hypersonic panels aiming to improve the thermomechanical performance. Modeling of graded microstructures, representing particulate reinforced FGMs, has been accomplished using power law distribution functions to specify the spatial variation of the constituents. Artificial microstructures consisting of disks and spheres have been generated using developed algorithms. These algorithms allow for the creation of dense packing fractions up to 0.61 and 0.91 for 2D and 3D geometry, respectively. Effective properties of FGMs are obtained using micromechanics models and finite element analysis of representative volume elements (RVEs). Two approaches have been adopted and compared to determine the proper RVE for materials with graded microstructures. In the first approach, RVEs are generated by considering regions that have a uniform to slow variation in material composition (i.e., constant volume fraction), resulting in statistically homogenous piecewise RVEs of the graded microstructure neglecting interactions from neighboring cells. In the second approach, continuous RVEs are generated by considering the entire FGM. Here it is presumed that modeling of the complete variation in a microstructure may influence the surrounding layers due to the interactions of varying material composition, particularly when there is a steep variation in material composition along the grading direction. To determine these effects of interlayer interactions, FGM microstructures were generated using three different types of material grading functions, linear, quadratic and square root, providing uniform, gradual and steep variations, respectively. Two- and three-dimensional finite element analysis was performed to determine the effective temperature-dependent material properties of the composite over a wide temperature range. The outcome of the computational analysis show that the similar effective properties are obtained by each of the modeling approaches. Furthermore, the obtained computational results for effective elastic, thermal, and thermal expansion properties are consistent with the known analytical bounds. Resulting effective temperature-dependent material properties were used to evaluate the time-dependent thermostructural response and effectiveness of FGM structural panels. Structural panels are subjected to time- and spatial-dependent thermal and mechanical loads resulting from hypersonic flight over a representative trajectory. Mechanical loads are the by-product of aggressive maneuvering at high air speeds and angles of attack. Thermal loads as a result of aerodynamic heating are applied to the material systems as laminar, turbulent and transitional heat flux on the outer surface. Laminar and turbulent uniform heat fluxes are used to evaluate the effectiveness of FGM panels graded in the through-thickness direction only. Transitional heat fluxes are used to evaluate the effectiveness of FGMs graded in two principal directions, e.g., through-thickness and the surface parallel to flow. The computational results indicate that when subjected to uniform surface heat flux, the graded material system can eliminate through-thickness temperature gradients that are otherwise present in traditional thermal protection systems. Furthermore, two-dimensional graded material systems can also eliminate through-thickness temperature gradients and significantly reduce in-plane surface temperature gradients when subjected to non-uniform surface aerodynamic heating.

Crystallization, mechanical properties, and controlled enzymatic degradation of biodegradable poly(epsilon-caprolactone)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes nanocomposites.

PubMed

Qiu, Zhaobin; Wang, Huishan; Xu, Changling

2011-09-01

Biodegradable poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes containing carboxylic groups (f-MWNTs) nanocomposites were prepared via simple melt compounding at low f-MWNTs loading in this work. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy observations indicate a homogeneous and fine distribution of f-MWNTs throughout the PCL matrix. The effect of low f-MWNTs loading on the crystallization, mechanical properties, and controlled enzymatic degradation of PCL in the nanocomposites were studied in detail with various techniques. The experimental results indicate that the incorporation of f-MWNTs enhances both the nonisothermal crystallization peak temperature and the overall isothermal crystallization rate of PCL in the PCL/f-MWNTs nanocomposites relative to neat PCL; moreover, the incorporation of a small quantity of f-MWNTs has improved apparently the mechanical properties of the PCL/MWNTs nanocomposites compared to neat PCL. The enzymatic degradation of neat PCL and the PCL/f-MWNTs nanocomposites at low f-MWNTs loading was studied in detail. The variation of weight loss with enzymatic degradation time, the surface morphology change, the reduced film thickness, the appearance of f-MWNTs on the surface of the films, and the almost unchanged molecular weight after enzymatic degradation suggest that the enzymatic degradation of neat PCL and the PCL/f-MWNTs nanocomposites may proceed via surface erosion mechanism. The presence of f-MWNTs reduces the enzymatic degradation rate of the PCL matrix in the nanocomposites compared with that of the pure PCL film.

Space station thermal control surfaces. [space radiators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maag, C. R.; Millard, J. M.; Jeffery, J. A.; Scott, R. R.

1979-01-01

Mission planning documents were used to analyze the radiator design and thermal control surface requirements for both space station and 25-kW power module, to analyze the missions, and to determine the thermal control technology needed to satisfy both sets of requirements. Parameters such as thermal control coating degradation, vehicle attitude, self eclipsing, variation in solar constant, albedo, and Earth emission are considered. Four computer programs were developed which provide a preliminary design and evaluation tool for active radiator systems in LEO and GEO. Two programs were developed as general programs for space station analysis. Both types of programs find the radiator-flow solution and evaluate external heat loads in the same way. Fortran listings are included.

Influences of the manufacturing process chain design on the near surface condition and the resulting fatigue behaviour of quenched and tempered SAE 4140

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klein, M.; Eifler, D.

2010-07-01

To analyse interactions between single steps of process chains, variations in material properties, especially the microstructure and the resulting mechanical properties, specimens with tension screw geometry were manufactured with five process chains. The different process chains as well as their parameters influence the near surface condition and consequently the fatigue behaviour in a characteristic manner. The cyclic deformation behaviour of these specimens can be benchmarked equivalently with conventional strain measurements as well as with high-precision temperature and electrical resistance measurements. The development of temperature-values provides substantial information on cyclic load dependent changes in the microstructure.

Influences of granular constraints and surface effects on the heterogeneity of elastic, superelastic, and plastic responses of polycrystalline shape memory alloys

DOE PAGES

Paranjape, Harshad M.; Paul, Partha P.; Sharma, Hemant; ...

2017-02-16

Deformation heterogeneities at the microstructural length-scale developed in polycrystalline shape memory alloys (SMAs) during superelastic loading are studied using both experiments and simulations. In situ X-ray diffraction, specifically the far-field high energy diffraction microscopy (ff-HEDM) technique, was used to non-destructively measure the grain-averaged statistics of position, crystal orientation, elastic strain tensor, and volume for hundreds of austenite grains in a superelastically loaded nickel-titanium (NiTi) SMA. These experimental data were also used to create a synthetic microstructure within a finite element model. The development of intragranular stresses were then simulated during tensile loading of the model using anisotropic elasticity. Driving forcesmore » for phase transformation and slip were calculated from these stresses. The grain-average responses of individual austenite crystals examined before and after multiple stress-induced transformation events showed that grains in the specimen interior carry more axial stress than the surface grains as the superelastic response "shakes down". Examination of the heterogeneity within individual grains showed that regions near grain boundaries exhibit larger stress variation compared to the grain interiors. As a result, this intragranular heterogeneity is more strongly driven by the constraints of neighboring grains than the initial stress state and orientation of the individual grains.« less

A comparison of annual vertical crustal displacements from GPS and Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) over Europe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Dam, T.; Wahr, J.; LavalléE, David

2007-03-01

We compare approximately 3 years of GPS height residuals (with respect to the International Terrestrial Reference Frame) with predictions of vertical surface displacements derived from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) gravity fields for stations in Europe. An annual signal fit to the residual monthly heights, corrected for atmospheric pressure and barotropic ocean loading effects, should primarily represent surface displacements due to long-wavelength variations in water storage. A comparison of the annual height signal from GPS and GRACE over Europe indicates that at most sites, the annual signals do not agree in amplitude or phase. We find that unlike the annual signal predicted from GRACE, the annual signal in the GPS heights is not coherent over the region, displaying significant variability from site to site. Confidence in the GRACE data and the unlikely possibility of large-amplitude small-scale features in the load field not captured by the GRACE data leads us to conclude that some of the discrepancy between the GPS and GRACE observations is due to technique errors in the GPS data processing. This is evidenced by the fact that the disagreement between GPS and GRACE is largest at coastal sites, where mismodeling of the semidiurnal ocean tidal loading signal can result in spurious annual signals.

Influences of granular constraints and surface effects on the heterogeneity of elastic, superelastic, and plastic responses of polycrystalline shape memory alloys

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Paranjape, Harshad M.; Paul, Partha P.; Sharma, Hemant

Deformation heterogeneities at the microstructural length-scale developed in polycrystalline shape memory alloys (SMAs) during superelastic loading are studied using both experiments and simulations. In situ X-ray diffraction, specifically the far-field high energy diffraction microscopy (ff-HEDM) technique, was used to non-destructively measure the grain-averaged statistics of position, crystal orientation, elastic strain tensor, and volume for hundreds of austenite grains in a superelastically loaded nickel-titanium (NiTi) SMA. These experimental data were also used to create a synthetic microstructure within a finite element model. The development of intragranular stresses were then simulated during tensile loading of the model using anisotropic elasticity. Driving forcesmore » for phase transformation and slip were calculated from these stresses. The grain-average responses of individual austenite crystals examined before and after multiple stress-induced transformation events showed that grains in the specimen interior carry more axial stress than the surface grains as the superelastic response "shakes down". Examination of the heterogeneity within individual grains showed that regions near grain boundaries exhibit larger stress variation compared to the grain interiors. As a result, this intragranular heterogeneity is more strongly driven by the constraints of neighboring grains than the initial stress state and orientation of the individual grains.« less

Geometry and Dynamics of the Mesopotamian Foreland Basin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pirouz, M.; Avouac, J. P.; Gualandi, A.; Hassanzadeh, J.; Sternai, P.

2016-12-01

We have constrained the geometry of the Zagros foreland basin along the entire northern edge of the Arabian plate using subsurface data from Iran, Iraq and Syria. We use the Oligo-Miocene marine Asmari Formation and its equivalents in the region to reconstruct high resolution foreland basin geometry. This extensive carbonate platform limestone unit separates pre-collisional passive margin marine sediments from the Cenozoic foreland deposits dominated by continental sources; and therefore it can be used as a measure of post-collisional deflection. The 3D reconstructed Asmari Formation shows along-strike thickness variations of the foreland basin deposits from 1 to 6 km. The deepest part of the foreland basin coincides with the Dezful embayment in Iran, and its depth decreases on both sides. In principle the basin geometry should reflect the loading resulted from overthrusting in the Zagros fold-thrust belt, the sediment fill and dynamic stresses due to lithospheric and upper mantle deformation. To estimate these various sources of loads we analyze the basin geometry in combination with gravity, free air anomaly, and Moho depths determined from seismological observations. Our analysis suggests in particular that redistribution of surface load by surface processes is a primary controlling factor of the basin geometry. The wavelength of a foreland basin may bear little information on the elastic flexural rigidity of the lithosphere.

Neutron and X-ray Microbeam Diffraction Studies around a Fatigue-Crack Tip after Overload

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, Sooyeol; Barabash, Rozaliya; Chung, Jin-Seok

2008-01-01

An in-situ neutron diffraction technique was used to investigate the lattice-strain distributions and plastic deformation around a crack tip after overload. The lattice-strain profiles around a crack tip were measured as a function of the applied load during the tensile loading cycles after overload. Dislocation densities calculated from the diffraction peak broadening were presented as a function of the distance from the crack tip. Furthermore, the crystallographic orientation variations were examined near a crack tip using polychromatic X-ray microdiffraction combined with differential aperture microscopy. Crystallographic tilts are considerably observed beneath the surface around a crack tip, and these are consistentmore » with the high dislocation densities near the crack tip measured by neutron peak broadening.« less

Studying the loading effect of acidic type antioxidant on amorphous silica nanoparticle carriers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ravinayagam, Vijaya; Rabindran Jermy, B.

2017-06-01

The study investigates the suitable nanosilica carriers to transport acidic type cargo molecules for potential targeted drug delivery application. Using phenolic acidic type antioxidant gallic acid (GA) as model compound, the present study investigates the loading effect of GA (0.3-15.9 mmol GA g-1 support) on textural characteristics of amorphous silica nanoparticles such as Q10 silica (1D), structured two-dimensional Si-MCM-41 (2D), and three-dimensional Si-SBA-16 (3D). The variation in the nature of textures after GA loading was analyzed using X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption, FT-IR, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Among the nanocarriers, high adsorption of GA was found in the following order: Si-SBA-16 (3D)˜Si-KIT-6 (3D) > Si-MCM-41 (2D) > ultralarge pore FDU-12 (ULPFDU-12; 3D) > Q10 (1D)˜mesostructured cellular silica foam (MSU-F). 3D-type silicas Si-SBA-16 and KIT-6 were shown to maintain structural integrity at acidic condition (pH ˜3) and accommodate GA in non-crystalline form. In the case of ULPFDU-12 and MSU-F cellular foam, only crystalline deposition of GA occurs with a significant variation in the surface area and pore volume. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kelekis, Alexios, E-mail: akelekis@med.uoa.gr; Filippiadis, Dimitrios K., E-mail: dfilippiadis@yahoo.gr; Vergadis, Chrysovalantis, E-mail: valvergadis@yahoo.gr

PurposeThrough a prospective comparison of patients with vertebral fractures and normal population, we illustrate effect of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) upon projection of load distribution changes.MethodsVertebroplasty group (36 symptomatic patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures) was evaluated on an electronic baropodometer registering projection of weight bearing areas on feet. Load distribution between right and left foot (including rear-front of the same foot) during standing and walking was recorded and compared before (group V1) and the day after (group V2) PV. Control group (30 healthy asymptomatic volunteers-no surgery record) were evaluated on the same baropodometer.ResultsMean value of load distribution difference between rear-front ofmore » the same foot was 9.45 ± 6.79 % (54.72–45.28 %) upon standing and 14.76 ± 7.09 % (57.38–42.62 %) upon walking in the control group. Respective load distribution values before PV were 16.52 ± 11.23 and 30.91 ± 19.26 % and after PV were 10.08 ± 6.26 and 14.25 ± 7.68 % upon standing and walking respectively. Mean value of load distribution variation between the two feet was 6.36 and 14.6 % before and 4.62 and 10.4 % after PV upon standing and walking respectively. Comparison of load distribution variation (group V1–V2, group V1-control group) is statistically significant. Comparison of load distribution variation (group V2-control group) is not statistically significant. Comparison of load distribution variation among the two feet is statistically significant during walking but not statistically significant during standing.ConclusionsThere is a statistically significant difference when comparing load distribution variation prior vertebroplasty and that of normal population. After vertebroplasty, this difference normalizes in a statistically significant way. PV is efficient on equilibrium-load distribution improvement as well.« less

Annual modulation of non-volcanic tremor in northern Cascadia

USGS Publications Warehouse

Pollitz, Fred; Wech, Aaron G.; Kao, Honn; Burgmann, Roland

2013-01-01

Two catalogs of episodic tremor events in northern Cascadia, one from 2006 to 2012 and the other from 1997 to 2011, reveal two systematic patterns of tremor occurrence in southern Vancouver Island: (1) most individual events tend to occur in the third quarter of the year; (2) the number of events in prolonged episodes (i.e., episodic tremor and slip events), which generally propagate to Vancouver Island from elsewhere along the Cascadia subduction zone, is inversely correlated with the amount of precipitation that occurred in the preceding 2 months. We rationalize these patterns as the product of hydrologic loading of the crust of southern Vancouver Island and the surrounding continental region, superimposed with annual variations from oceanic tidal loading. Loading of the Vancouver Island crust in the winter (when the land surface receives ample precipitation) and unloading in the summer tends to inhibit and enhance downdip shear stress, respectively. Quantitatively, for an annually variable surface load, the predicted stress perturbation depends on mantle viscoelastic rheology. A mechanical model of downdip shear stress on the transition zone beneath Vancouver Island—driven predominantly by the annual hydrologic cycle—is consistent with the 1997–2012 tremor observations, with peak-to-peak downdip shear stress of about 0.4 kPa. This seasonal dependence of tremor occurrence appears to be restricted to southern Vancouver Island because of its unique situation as an elongated narrow-width land mass surrounded by ocean, which permits seasonal perturbations in shear stress at depth.

Instant Variations in Velocity and Attenuation of Seismic Waves in a Friable Medium Under a Vibrational Dynamic Loading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geza, N.; Yushin, V.

2007-12-01

Instant variations of the velocities and attenuation of seismic waves in a friable medium subjected to dynamic loading have been studied by new experimental techniques using a powerful seismic vibrator. The half-space below the operating vibrator baseplate was scanned by high-frequency elastic waves, and the recorded fluctuations were exposed to a stroboscopic analysis. It was found that the variations of seismic velocities and attenuation are synchronous with the external vibrational load but have phase shift from it. Instant variations of the seismic waves parameters depend on the magnitude and absolute value of deformation, which generally result in decreasing of the elastic-wave velocities. New experimental techniques have a high sensitivity to the dynamic disturbance in the medium and allow one to detect a weak seismic boundaries. The relaxation process after dynamic vibrational loading were investigated and the results of research are presented.

Heavy metal assessment using geochemical and statistical tools in the surface sediments of Vembanad Lake, Southwest Coast of India.

PubMed

Selvam, A Paneer; Priya, S Laxmi; Banerjee, Kakolee; Hariharan, G; Purvaja, R; Ramesh, R

2012-10-01

The geochemical distribution and enrichment of ten heavy metals in the surface sediments of Vembanad Lake, southwest coast of India was evaluated. Sediment samples from 47 stations in the Lake were collected during dry and wet seasons in 2008 and examined for heavy metal content (Al, Fe, Mn, Cr, Zn, Ni, Pb, Cu, Co, Cd), organic carbon, and sediment texture. Statistically significant spatial variation was observed among all sediment variables, but negligible significant seasonal variation was observed. Correlation analysis showed that the metal content of sediments was mainly regulated by organic carbon, Fe oxy-hydroxides, and grain size. Principal component analysis was used to reduce the 14 sediment variables into three factors that reveal distinct origins or accumulation mechanisms controlling the chemical composition in the study area. Pollution intensity of the Vembanad Lake was measured using the enrichment factor and the pollution load index. Severe and moderately severe enrichment of Cd and Zn in the north estuary with minor enrichment of Pb and Cr were observed, which reflects the intensity of the anthropogenic inputs related to industrial discharge into this system. The results of pollution load index reveal that the sediment was heavily polluted in northern arm and moderately polluted in the extreme end and port region of the southern arm of the lake. A comparison with sediment quality guideline quotient was also made, indicating that there may be some ecotoxicological risk to benthic organisms in these sediments.

Atmospheric aerosols parameters behavior and its association with meteorological activities variables over western Indian tropical semi-urban site i.e., Udaipur

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vyas, B. M.; Saxenna, Abhishek; Panwar, Chhagan

2016-05-01

The present study has been focused to the identify the role of meteorological processes on changing the monthly variation of AOD at 550nm, Angstrom Exponent Coefficient (AEC, 440/670nm) and Cloud Effective Radius (CER, μm) measured during January, 2005 to December 2013 over western Indian location i.e., Udaipur (24.6° N, 73.7° E, 560 m amsl). The monthly variation of AOD 550nm, AEC and during entire study period have shown the strong combined influence of different local surface meteorological parameters in varying amplitude with different nature. The higher values of wind speed, ambient surface temperature, planetary boundary layer, and favorable wind direction coming from desert and oceanic region (W and SW) may be recognize as some of possible factor to exhibit the higher aerosols loading of bigger aerosol size particles in pre-monsoon. These meteorological factors seem also to be plausible responsible factors for drastically reducing the cloud effective radius in pre-monsoon season. In contrary to this, in winter, lower atmospheric aerosols burden and more abundance of fine size particles along with increasing the CER sizes also seem to be influenced and governed by the adverse nature of meteorological conditions such lowering the PBL, T, WS as well as with air pollutants transportation by wind from the N and NE region, of high aerosols loading of fine size particles as anthropogenic aerosols located far away to the observing site.

Transfer of glyphosate and its degradate AMPA to surface waters through urban sewerage systems.

PubMed

Botta, Fabrizio; Lavison, Gwenaëlle; Couturier, Guillaume; Alliot, Fabrice; Moreau-Guigon, Elodie; Fauchon, Nils; Guery, Bénédicte; Chevreuil, Marc; Blanchoud, Hélène

2009-09-01

A study of glyphosate and aminomethyl phosphonic acid (AMPA) transfer in the Orge watershed (France) was carried out during 2007 and 2008. Water samples were collected in surface water, wastewater sewer, storm sewer and wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). These two molecules appeared to be the most frequently detected ones in the rivers and usually exceeded the European quality standard concentrations of 0.1microg L(-1) for drinking water. The annual glyphosate estimated load was 1.9 kg year(-1) upstream (agricultural zone) and 179.5 kg year(-1) at the catchment outlet (urban zone). This result suggests that the contamination of this basin by glyphosate is essentially from urban origin (road and railway applications). Glyphosate reached surface water prevalently through storm sewer during rainfall event. Maximum concentrations were detected in storm sewer just after a rainfall event (75-90 microg L(-1)). High concentrations of glyphosate in surface water during rainfall events reflected urban runoff impact. AMPA was always detected in the sewerage system. This molecule reached surface water mainly via WWTP effluent and also through storm sewer. Variations in concentrations of AMPA during hydrological episodes were minor compared to glyphosate variations. Our study highlights that AMPA and glyphosate origins in urban area are different. During dry period, detergent degradation seemed to be the major AMPA source in wastewater.

Cardiomyocyte Ca2+ handling and structure is regulated by degree and duration of mechanical load variation.

PubMed

Ibrahim, Michael; Kukadia, Punam; Siedlecka, Urszula; Cartledge, James E; Navaratnarajah, Manoraj; Tokar, Sergiy; Van Doorn, Carin; Tsang, Victor T; Gorelik, Julia; Yacoub, Magdi H; Terracciano, Cesare M

2012-12-01

Cardiac transverse (t)-tubules are altered during disease and may be regulated by stretch-sensitive molecules. The relationship between variations in the degree and duration of load and t-tubule structure remains unknown, as well as its implications for local Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release (CICR). Rat hearts were studied after 4 or 8 weeks of moderate mechanical unloading [using heterotopic abdominal heart-lung transplantation (HAHLT)] and 6 or 10 weeks of pressure overloading using thoracic aortic constriction. CICR, cell and t-tubule structure were assessed using confocal-microscopy, patch-clamping and scanning ion conductance microscopy. Moderate unloading was compared with severe unloading [using heart-only transplantation (HAHT)]. Mechanical unloading reduced cardiomyocyte volume in a time-dependent manner. Ca(2+) release synchronicity was reduced at 8 weeks moderate unloading only. Ca(2+) sparks increased in frequency and duration at 8 weeks of moderate unloading, which also induced t-tubule disorganization. Overloading increased cardiomyocyte volume and disrupted t-tubule morphology at 10 weeks but not 6 weeks. Moderate mechanical unloading for 4 weeks had milder effects compared with severe mechanical unloading (37% reduction in cell volume at 4 weeks compared to 56% reduction after severe mechanical unloading) and did not cause depression and delay of the Ca(2+) transient, increased Ca(2+) spark frequency or impaired t-tubule and cell surface structure. These data suggest that variations in chronic mechanical load influence local CICR and t-tubule structure in a time- and degree-dependent manner, and that physiological states of increased and reduced cell size, without pathological changes are possible. © 2012 The Authors Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine © 2012 Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine/Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Simulation of vertical dynamic vehicle-track interaction in a railway crossing using Green's functions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, X.; Torstensson, P. T.; Nielsen, J. C. O.

2017-12-01

Vertical dynamic vehicle-track interaction in the through route of a railway crossing is simulated in the time domain based on a Green's function approach for the track in combination with an implementation of Kalker's variational method to solve the non-Hertzian, and potentially multiple, wheel-rail contact. The track is described by a linear, three-dimensional and non-periodic finite element model of a railway turnout accounting for the variations in rail cross-sections and sleeper lengths, and including baseplates and resilient elements. To reduce calculation time due to the complexity of the track model, involving a large number of elements and degrees-of-freedom, a complex-valued modal superposition with a truncated mode set is applied before the impulse response functions are calculated at various positions along the crossing panel. The variation in three-dimensional contact geometry of the crossing and wheel is described by linear surface elements. In each time step of the contact detection algorithm, the lateral position of the wheelset centre is prescribed but the contact positions on wheel and rail are not, allowing for an accurate prediction of the wheel transition between wing rail and crossing rail. The method is demonstrated by calculating the wheel-rail impact load and contact stress distribution for a nominal S1002 wheel profile passing over a nominal crossing geometry. A parameter study is performed to determine the influence of vehicle speed, rail pad stiffness, lateral wheelset position and wheel profile on the impact load generated at the crossing. It is shown that the magnitude of the impact load is more influenced the wheel-rail contact geometry than by the selection of rail pad stiffness.

Nanoparticles in natural systems II: The natural oxide fraction at interaction with natural organic matter and phosphate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hiemstra, Tjisse; Antelo, Juan; van Rotterdam, A. M. D.(Debby); van Riemsdijk, Willem H.

2010-01-01

Information on the particle size and reactive surface area of natural samples and its interaction with natural organic matter (NOM) is essential for the understanding bioavailability, toxicity, and transport of elements in the natural environment. In part I of this series ( Hiemstra et al., 2010), a method is presented that allows the determination of the effective reactive surface area ( A, m 2/g soil) of the oxide particles of natural samples which uses a native probe ion (phosphate) and a model oxide (goethite) as proxy. In soils, the natural oxide particles are generally embedded in a matrix of natural organic matter (NOM) and this will affect the ion binding properties of the oxide fraction. A remarkably high variation in the natural phosphate loading of the oxide surfaces ( Γ, μmol/m 2) is observed in our soils and the present paper shows that it is due to surface complexation of NOM, acting as a competitor via site competition and electrostatic interaction. The competitive interaction of NOM can be described with the charge distribution (CD) model by defining a ≡NOM surface species. The interfacial charge distribution of this ≡NOM surface species can be rationalized based on calculations done with an evolved surface complexation model, known as the ligand and charge distribution (LCD) model. An adequate choice is the presence of a charge of -1 v.u. at the 1-plane and -0.5 v.u. at the 2-plane of the electrical double layer used (Extended Stern layer model). The effective interfacial NOM adsorption can be quantified by comparing the experimental phosphate concentration, measured under standardized field conditions (e.g. 0.01 M CaCl 2), with a prediction that uses the experimentally derived surface area ( A) and the reversibly bound phosphate loading ( Γ, μmol/m 2) of the sample (part I) as input in the CD model. Ignoring the competitive action of adsorbed NOM leads to a severe under-prediction of the phosphate concentration by a factor ˜10 to 1000. The calculated effective loading of NOM is low at a high phosphate loading ( Γ) and vice versa, showing the mutual competition of both constituents. Both constituents in combination usually dominate the surface loading of natural oxide fraction of samples and form the backbone in modeling the fate of other (minor) ions in the natural environment. Empirically, the effective NOM adsorption is found to correlate well to the organic carbon content (OC) of the samples. The effective NOM adsorption can also be linked to DOC. For this, a Non-Ideal Competitive adsorption (NICA) model is used. DOC is found to be a major explaining factor for the interfacial loading of NOM as well as phosphate. The empirical NOM-OC relation or the parameterized NICA model can be used as an alternative for estimating the effective NOM adsorption to be implemented in the CD model for calculation of the surface complexation of field samples. The biogeochemical impact of the NOM-PO 4 interaction is discussed.

In vivo degradation of polyethylene liners after gamma sterilization in air.

PubMed

Kurtz, Steven M; Rimnac, Clare M; Hozack, William J; Turner, Joseph; Marcolongo, Michele; Goldberg, Victor M; Kraay, Matthew J; Edidin, Avram A

2005-04-01

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene degrades during storage in air following gamma sterilization, but the extent of in vivo degradation remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to quantify the extent to which the mechanical properties and oxidation of conventional polyethylene acetabular liners treated with gamma sterilization in air change in vivo. Fourteen modular cementless acetabular liners were revised at an average of 10.3 years (range, 5.9 to 13.5 years) after implantation. All liners, which had been machined from GUR 415 resin, had been gamma-sterilized in air; the average shelf life was 0.3 year (range, 0.0 to 0.8 year). After removal, the components were expeditiously frozen to minimize ex vivo changes to the polyethylene prior to characterization. The average duration between freezing and testing was 0.6 year. Mechanical properties and oxidation were measured with use of the small-punch test and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, respectively, in the loaded and unloaded regions of the liners. There was substantial regional variation in the mechanical properties and oxidation of the retrieved liners. The ultimate load was observed to vary by >90% near the surface. On the average, the rim and the unloaded bearing showed evidence of severe oxidation near the surface after long-term in vivo aging, but these trends were not typically observed on the loaded bearing surface or near the backside of the liners. The mechanical properties of polyethylene that has been gamma-sterilized in air may decrease substantially in vivo, depending on the location in the liner. The most severe oxidation was observed at the rim, suggesting that the femoral head inhibits access of oxygen-containing body fluids to the bearing surface. This is perhaps why in vivo oxidation has not been associated with clinical performance to date.

Occurrence and distribution of dissolved solids, selenium, and uranium in groundwater and surface water in the Arkansas River Basin from the headwaters to Coolidge, Kansas, 1970-2009

USGS Publications Warehouse

Miller, Lisa D.; Watts, Kenneth R.; Ortiz, Roderick F.; ,

2010-01-01

In 2007, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with City of Aurora, Colorado Springs Utilities, Colorado Water Conservation Board, Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District, Pueblo Board of Water Works, Southeastern Colorado Water Activity Enterprise, Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District, and Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District began a retrospective evaluation to characterize the occurrence and distribution of dissolved-solids (DS), selenium, and uranium concentrations in groundwater and surface water in the Arkansas River Basin based on available water-quality data collected by several agencies. This report summarizes and characterizes available DS, dissolved-selenium, and dissolved-uranium concentrations in groundwater and surface water for 1970-2009 and describes DS, dissolved-selenium, and dissolved-uranium loads in surface water along the main-stem Arkansas River and selected tributary and diversion sites from the headwaters near Leadville, Colorado, to the USGS 07137500 Arkansas River near Coolidge, Kansas (Ark Coolidge), streamgage, a drainage area of 25,410 square miles. Dissolved-solids concentrations varied spatially in groundwater and surface water in the Arkansas River Basin. Dissolved-solids concentrations in groundwater from Quaternary alluvial, glacial drift, and wind-laid deposits (HSU 1) increased downgradient with median values of about 220 mg/L in the Upper Arkansas subbasin (Arkansas River Basin from the headwaters to Pueblo Reservoir) to about 3,400 mg/L in the Lower Arkansas subbasin (Arkansas River Basin from John Martin Reservoir to Ark Coolidge). Dissolved-solids concentrations in the Arkansas River also increased substantially in the downstream direction between the USGS 07086000 Arkansas River at Granite, Colorado (Ark Granite), and Ark Coolidge streamgages. Based on periodic data collected from 1976-2007, median DS concentrations in the Arkansas River ranged from about 64 mg/L at Ark Granite to about 4,060 mg/L at Ark Coolidge representing over a 6,000 percent increase in median DS concentrations. Temporal variations in specific conductance values (which are directly related to DS concentrations) and seasonal variations in DS concentrations and loads were investigated at selected sites in the Arkansas River from Ark Granite to Ark Coolidge. Analyses indicated that, for the most part, specific conductance values (surrogate for DS concentrations) have remained relatively constant or have decreased in the Arkansas River since about 1970. Dissolved-solids concentrations in the Arkansas River were higher during the nonirrigation season (November-February) than during the irrigation season (March-October). Average annual DS loads, however, were higher during the irrigation season than during the nonirrigation season. Average annual DS loads during the irrigation season were at least two times and as much as 23 times higher than average annual DS loads during the nonirrigation season with the largest differences occurring at sites located downstream from the two main-stem reservoirs at USGS 07099400 Arkansas River above Pueblo, Colorado (Ark Pueblo), (which is below Pueblo Reservoir) and USGS 07130500 Arkansas River below John Martin Reservoir, Colorado (Ark below JMR). View report for unabridged abstract.

Estimating geocenter motion and barystatic sea-level variability from GRACE observations with explicit consideration of self-attraction and loading effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bergmann-Wolf, Inga; Dobslaw, Henryk

2016-04-01

Estimating global barystatic sea-level variations from monthly mean gravity fields delivered by the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite mission requires additional information about geocenter motion. These variations are not available directly due to the mission implementation in the CM-frame and are represented by the degree-1 terms of the spherical harmonics expansion. Global degree-1 estimates can be determined with the method of Swenson et al. (2008) from ocean mass variability, the geometry of the global land-sea distribution, and GRACE data of higher degrees and orders. Consequently, a recursive relation between the derivation of ocean mass variations from GRACE data and the introduction of geocenter motion into GRACE data exists. In this contribution, we will present a recent improvement to the processing strategy described in Bergmann-Wolf et al. (2014) by introducing a non-homogeneous distribution of global ocean mass variations in the geocenter motion determination strategy, which is due to the effects of loading and self-attraction induced by mass redistributions at the surface. A comparison of different GRACE-based oceanographic products (barystatic signal for both the global oceans and individual basins; barotropic transport variations of major ocean currents) with degree-1 terms estimated with a homogeneous and non-homogeneous ocean mass representation will be discussed, and differences in noise levels in most recent GRACE solutions from GFZ (RL05a), CSR, and JPL (both RL05) and their consequences for the application of this method will be discussed. Swenson, S., D. Chambers and J. Wahr (2008), Estimating geocenter variations from a combination of GRACE and ocean model output, J. Geophys. Res., 113, B08410 Bergmann-Wolf, I., L. Zhang and H. Dobslaw (2014), Global Eustatic Sea-Level Variations for the Approximation of Geocenter Motion from GRACE, J. Geod. Sci., 4, 37-48

Effects of overstory composition and prescribed fire on fuel loading across a heterogeneous managed landscape in the southeastern USA

Treesearch

Bernard R. Parresol; John I. Blake; Andrew J. Thompson

2012-01-01

In the southeastern USA, land use history, forest management and natural geomorphic features have created heterogeneous fuel loads. This apparent temporal and spatial variation in fuel loads make it difficult to reliably assess potential fire behavior from remotely sensed canopy variables to determine risk and to prescribe treatments. We examined this variation by...

The use of simulated rainfall to study the discharge process and the influence factors of urban surface runoff pollution loads.

PubMed

Qinqin, Li; Qiao, Chen; Jiancai, Deng; Weiping, Hu

2015-01-01

An understanding of the characteristics of pollutants on impervious surfaces is essential to estimate pollution loads and to design methods to minimize the impacts of pollutants on the environment. In this study, simulated rainfall equipment was constructed to investigate the pollutant discharge process and the influence factors of urban surface runoff (USR). The results indicated that concentrations of total suspended solids (TSS), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) appeared to be higher in the early period and then decreased gradually with rainfall duration until finally stabilized. The capacity and particle size of surface dust, rainfall intensity and urban surface slopes affected runoff pollution loads to a variable extent. The loads of TP, TN and COD showed a positive relationship with the surface dust capacity, whereas the maximum TSS load appeared when the surface dust was 0.0317 g·cm⁻². Smaller particle sizes (<0.125 mm) of surface dust generated high TN, TP and COD loads. Increases in rainfall intensity and surface slope enhanced the pollution carrying capacity of runoff, leading to higher pollution loads. Knowledge of the influence factors could assist in the management of USR pollution loads.

Transmitral flow velocity-contour variation after premature ventricular contractions: a novel test of the load-independent index of diastolic filling.

PubMed

Boskovski, Marko T; Shmuylovich, Leonid; Kovács, Sándor J

2008-12-01

The new echocardiography-based, load-independent index of diastolic filling (LIIDF) M was assessed using load-/shape-varying E-waves after premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). Twenty-six PVCs in 15 subjects from a preexisting simultaneous echocardiography-catheterization database were selected. Perturbed load-state beats, defined as the first two post-PVC E-waves, and steady-state E-waves, were subjected to conventional and model-based analysis. M, a dimensionless index, defined by the slope of the peak driving-force vs. peak (filling-opposing) resistive-force regression, was determined from steady-state E-waves alone, and from load-perturbed E-waves combined with a matched number of subsequent beats. Despite high degrees of E-wave shape variation, M derived from load-varying, perturbed beats and M derived from steady-state beats alone were indistinguishable. Because the peak driving-force vs. peak resistive-force relation determining M remains highly linear in the extended E-wave shape and load variation regime observed, we conclude that M is a robust LIIDF.

Load variation effects on the pressure fluctuations exerted on a Kaplan turbine runner

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amiri, K.; Mulu, B.; Raisee, M.; Cervantes, M. J.

2014-03-01

Introduction of intermittent electricity production systems like wind power and solar systems to electricity market together with the consumption-based electricity production resulted in numerous start/stops, load variations and off-design operation of water turbines. The hydropower systems suffer from the varying loads exerted on the stationary and rotating parts of the turbines during load variations which they are not designed for. On the other hand, investigations on part load operation of single regulated turbines, i.e., Francis and propeller, proved the formation of rotating vortex rope (RVR) in the draft tube. The RVR induces oscillating flow both in plunging and rotating modes which results in oscillating force with two different frequencies on the runner blades, bearings and other rotating parts of the turbine. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of transient operations on the pressure fluctuations on the runner and mechanism of the RVR formation/mitigation. Draft tube and runner blades of the Porjus U9 model, a Kaplan turbine, were equipped with pressure sensors. The model was run in off-cam mode during different load variation conditions to check the runner performance under unsteady condition. The results showed that the transients between the best efficiency point and the high load happens in a smooth way while transitions to/from the part load, where rotating vortex rope (RVR) forms in the draft tube induces high level of fluctuations with two frequencies on the runner; plunging and rotating mode of the RVR.

Pressure-Distribution Measurements on O-2H Airplane in Flight

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pearson, H A

1937-01-01

Results are given of pressure-distribution measurements made over two different horizontal tail surfaces and the right wing cellule, including the slipstream area, of an observation-type biplane. Measurements were also taken of air speed, control-surface positions, control-stick forces, angular velocities, and accelerations during various abrupt maneuvers. These maneuvers consisted of push-downs and pull-ups from level flight, dive pull-outs, and aileron rolls with various thrust conditions. The results from the pressure-distribution measurements over the wing cellule are given on charts showing the variation of individual rib coefficients with wing coefficients; the data from the tail-surface pressure-distribution measurements are given mainly as total loads and moments. These data are supplemented by time histories of the measured quantities and isometric views of the rib pressure distributions occurring in abrupt maneuvers.

Photocatalytic water splitting over titania supported copper and nickel oxide in photoelectrochemical cell; optimization of photoconversion efficiency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muti Mohamed, Norani; Bashiri, Robabeh; Kait, Chong Fai; Sufian, Suriati

2018-04-01

we investigated the influence of fluctuating the preparation variables of TiO2 on the efficiency of photocatalytic water splitting in photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell. Hydrothermal associated sol-gel technique was applied to synthesis modified TiO2 with nickel and copper oxide. The variation of water (mL), acid (mL) and total metal loading (%) were mathematically modelled using central composite design (CCD) from the response surface method (RSM) to explore the single and combined effects of parameters on the system performance. The experimental data were fitted using quadratic polynomial regression model from analysis of variance (ANOVA). The coefficient of determination value of 98% confirms the linear relationship between the experimental and predicted values. The amount of water had maximum effect on the photoconversion efficiency due to a direct effect on the crystalline and the number of defects on the surface of photocatalyst. The optimal parameter ratios with maximum photoconversion efficiency were 16 mL, 3 mL and 5 % for water, acid and total metal loading, respectively.

Microstructure, mechanical and fretting wear properties of TiC-stainless steel composites

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Akhtar, F.; Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore; Guo, S.J.

2008-01-15

This study deals with the processing, microstructure, and wear behavior of TiC-reinforced stainless steel matrix composites, containing 50 to 70 wt.% TiC. Powder technology was used to successfully fabricate the composites. The microstructure of the composite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The microstructural study revealed that the TiC particles were distributed uniformly in the steel matrix phase. Interface debonding and microcracks were not observed in the composite. The composite hardness increased with TiC content. The fretting wear resistance of the composites was studied against high speed steel. The wear mechanisms are discussed by means of microscopical observations on themore » worn surfaces. The wear was severe at higher wear loads and lower TiC content. Microplowing of the stainless steel matrix was found to be the dominant wear mechanism. Heavy microplowing and rapid removal of material from the wear surface was observed at high wear load. The variation of wear loss with volume fraction and mean free path of the binder phase is also reported.« less

Copoly(imide siloxane) Abhesive Materials with Varied Siloxane Oligomer Length

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wohl, Christoper J.; Atkins, Brad M.; Lin, Yi; Belcher, Marcus A.; Connell, John W.

2010-01-01

In this work, low surface energy copoly(imide siloxane)s were synthesized with various siloxane segment lengths. Characterization of these materials revealed that domain formation of the low surface energy component within the matrix was more prevalent for longer siloxane segments as indicated by increased opacity, decreased mechanical properties, and variation of the Tg. Incorporation of siloxanes lowered the polymer s surface energy as indicated by water contact angle values. Topographical modification of these materials by laser ablation patterning further reduced the surface energy, even generating superhydrophobic surfaces. Combined, the contact angle data and particle adhesion testing indicated that copoly(imide siloxane) materials may provide greater mitigation to particulate adhesion than polyimide materials alone. These enhanced surface properties for abhesive applications did result in a reduction of the tensile moduli of the copolymers. It is possible that lower siloxane loading levels would result in retention of the mechanical properties of the polyimide while still affording abhesive surface properties. This hypothesis is currently being investigated. Laser ablation patterning offers further reduction in particle retention as the available surface area for particle adhesion is reduced. Pattern variation and size dependencies are currently being evaluated. For the purposes of lunar dust adhesion mitigation, it is likely that this approach, termed passive due to the lack of input from an external energy source, would not be sufficient to mitigate surface contamination or clean contaminated surfaces for some lunar applications. It is feasible to combine these materials with active mitigation strategies - methods that utilize input from external energy sources - would broaden the applicability of such materials for abhesive purposes. Collaborative efforts along these lines have been initiated with researchers at NASA Kennedy Space Center where experiments are being conducted involving a series of embedded electrodes within polymeric matrices.

Effect of loading speed on the stress-induced magnetic behavior of ferromagnetic steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bao, Sheng; Gu, Yibin; Fu, Meili; Zhang, Da; Hu, Shengnan

2017-02-01

The primary goal of this research is to investigate the effect of loading speed on the stress-induced magnetic behavior of a ferromagnetic steel. Uniaxial tension tests on Q235 steel were carried out with various stress levels under different loading speeds. The variation of the magnetic signals surrounding the tested specimen was detected by a fluxgate magnetometer. The results indicated that the magnetic signal variations depended not only on the tensile load level but on the loading speed during the test. The magnetic field amplitude seemed to decrease gradually with the increase in loading speed at the same tensile load level. Furthermore, the evolution of the magnetic reversals is also related to the loading speed. Accordingly, the loading speed should be considered as one of the influencing variables in the Jies-Atherton model theory of the magnetomechanical effect.

Verification of a three-dimensional viscous flow analysis for a single stage compressor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsuoka, Akinori; Hashimoto, Keisuke; Nozaki, Osamu; Kikuchi, Kazuo; Fukuda, Masahiro; Tamura, Atsuhiro

1992-12-01

A transonic flowfield around rotor blades of a highly loaded single stage axial compressor was numerically analyzed by a three dimensional compressible Navier-Stokes equation code using Chakravarthy and Osher type total variation diminishing (TVD) scheme. A stage analysis which calculates both flowfields around inlet guide vane (IGV) and rotor blades simultaneously was carried out. Comparing with design values and experimental data, computed results show slight difference quantitatively. But the numerical calculation simulates well the pressure rise characteristics of the compressor and its flow pattern including strong shock surface.

Mechanism of force mode dip-pen nanolithography

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yang, Haijun, E-mail: yanghaijun@sinap.ac.cn, E-mail: swguo@sjtu.edu.cn, E-mail: wanghuabin@cigit.ac.cn; Interfacial Water Division and Key Laboratory of Interfacial Physics and Technology, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, CAS, Shanghai 201800; Xie, Hui

In this work, the underlying mechanism of the force mode dip-pen nanolithography (FMDPN) is investigated in depth by analyzing force curves, tapping mode deflection signals, and “Z-scan” voltage variations during the FMDPN. The operation parameters including the relative “trigger threshold” and “surface delay” parameters are vital to control the loading force and dwell time for ink deposition during FMDPN. A model is also developed to simulate the interactions between the atomic force microscope tip and soft substrate during FMDPN, and verified by its good performance in fitting our experimental data.

The Dry Aerosol Deposition Device (DADD): An Instrument for Depositing Microbial Aerosols onto Surfaces (PREPRINT)

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-12-01

TASK NUMBER 5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR( S ) 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME( S ) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER 9...SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME( S ) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSOR/MONITOR’S ACRONYM( S ) 11. SPONSOR/MONITOR’S REPORT NUMBER( S ) 12. DISTRIBUTION...exceeding 1X104 CFU/cm2. The coefficient of variation (CV) 38  for sample-to-sample loading within an experiment was 13.6% for spores and 6.1% for 39  S

Isometric deformations of unstretchable material surfaces, a spatial variational treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yi-Chao; Fosdick, Roger; Fried, Eliot

2018-07-01

The stored energy of an unstretchable material surface is assumed to depend only upon the curvature tensor. By control of its edge(s), the surface is deformed isometrically from its planar undistorted reference configuration into an equilibrium shape. That shape is to be determined from a suitably constrained variational problem as a state of relative minimal potential energy. We pose the variational problem as one of relative minimum potential energy in a spatial form, wherein the deformation of a flat, undistorted region D in E2 to its distorted form S in E3 is assumed specified. We then apply the principle that the first variation of the potential energy, expressed as a functional over S ∪ ∂S , must vanish for all admissible variations that correspond to isometric deformations from the distorted configuration S and that also contain the essence of flatness that characterizes the reference configuration D , but is not covered by the single statement that the variation of S correspond to an isometric deformation. We emphasize the commonly overlooked condition that the spatial expression of the variational problem requires an additional variational constraint of zero Gaussian curvature to ensure that variations from S that are isometric deformations also contain the notion of flatness. In this context, it is particularly revealing to observe that the two constraints produce distinct, but essential and complementary, conditions on the first variation of S. The resulting first variation integral condition, together with the constraints, may be applied, for example, to the case of a flat, undistorted, rectangular strip D that is deformed isometrically into a closed ring S by connecting its short edges and specifying that its long edges are free of loading and, therefore, subject to zero traction and couple traction. The elementary example of a closed ring without twist as a state of relative minimum potential energy is discussed in detail, and the bending of the strip by opposing specific bending moments on its short edges is treated as a particular case. Finally, the constrained variational problem, with the introduction of appropriate constraint reactions as Lagrangian multipliers to account for the requirements that the deformation from D to S is isometric and that D is flat, is formulated in the spatial form, and the associated Euler-Lagrange equations are derived. We then solve the Euler-Lagrange equations for two representative problems in which a planar undistorted rectangular material strip is isometrically deformed by applied edge tractions and couple tractions (i.e., specific edge moments) into (i) a bent and twisted circular cylindrical helical state, and (ii) a state conformal with the surface of a right circular conical form.

Scaling and biomechanics of surface attachment in climbing animals

PubMed Central

Labonte, David; Federle, Walter

2015-01-01

Attachment devices are essential adaptations for climbing animals and valuable models for synthetic adhesives. A major unresolved question for both natural and bioinspired attachment systems is how attachment performance depends on size. Here, we discuss how contact geometry and mode of detachment influence the scaling of attachment forces for claws and adhesive pads, and how allometric data on biological systems can yield insights into their mechanism of attachment. Larger animals are expected to attach less well to surfaces, due to their smaller surface-to-volume ratio, and because it becomes increasingly difficult to distribute load uniformly across large contact areas. In order to compensate for this decrease of weight-specific adhesion, large animals could evolve overproportionally large pads, or adaptations that increase attachment efficiency (adhesion or friction per unit contact area). Available data suggest that attachment pad area scales close to isometry within clades, but pad efficiency in some animals increases with size so that attachment performance is approximately size-independent. The mechanisms underlying this biologically important variation in pad efficiency are still unclear. We suggest that switching between stress concentration (easy detachment) and uniform load distribution (strong attachment) via shear forces is one of the key mechanisms enabling the dynamic control of adhesion during locomotion. PMID:25533088

The role of crystallographic texture in achieving low friction zinc oxide nanolaminate films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mojekwu, Nneoma

Metal oxide nanolaminate films are potential high temperature solid lubricants due to their ability to exhibit significant plasticity when grain size is reduced to the nanometer scale, and defective growth structure is achieved by condensation of oxygen vacancies to form intrinsic stacking faults. This is in contrast to conventional microcrystalline and single crystal oxides that exhibit brittle fracture during loading in a sliding contact. This study emphasizes the additional effect of growth orientation, in particular crystallographic texture, on determining the sliding friction behavior in nanocolumnar grain zinc oxide films grown by atomic layer deposition. It was determined that zinc oxide low (0002) versus higher (101¯3) surface energy crystallographic planes influenced the sliding friction coefficient. Texturing of the (0002) grains resulted in a decreased adhesive component of friction thereby lowering the sliding friction coefficient to ˜0.25, while the friction coefficient doubled to ˜0.5 with increasing contribution of surface (101¯3) grains. In addition, the variation of the x-ray grazing incident angle from 0.5° to 5° was studied to better understand the surface grain orientation as a function of ZnO layer thickness in one versus four bilayer nanolaminates where the under layer (seed layer) was load-bearing Zn(Ti,Zr)O3.

Studies on adsorption, reaction mechanisms and kinetics for photocatalytic degradation of CHD, a pharmaceutical waste.

PubMed

Sarkar, Santanu; Bhattacharjee, Chiranjib; Curcio, Stefano

2015-11-01

The photocatalytic degradation of chlorhexidine digluconate (CHD), a disinfectant and topical antiseptic and adsorption of CHD catalyst surface in dark condition has been studied. Moreover, the value of kinetic parameters has been measured and the effect of adsorption on photocatalysis has been investigated here. Substantial removal was observed during the photocatalysis process, whereas 40% removal was possible through the adsorption route on TiO2 surface. The parametric variation has shown that alkaline pH, ambient temperature, low initial substrate concentration, high TiO2 loading were favourable, though at a certain concentration of TiO2 loading, photocatalytic degradation efficiency was found to be maximum. The adsorption study has shown good confirmation with Langmuir isotherm and during the reaction at initial stage, it followed pseudo-first-order reaction, after that Langmuir Hinshelwood model was found to be appropriate in describing the system. The present study also confirmed that there is a significant effect of adsorption on photocatalytic degradation. The possible mechanism for adsorption and photocatalysis has been shown here and process controlling step has been identified. The influences of pH and temperature have been explained with the help of surface charge distribution of reacting particles and thermodynamic point of view respectively. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Novel test-bed facility for PSI issues in fusion reactor conditions on the base of next generation QSPA plasma accelerator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garkusha, I. E.; Chebotarev, V. V.; Herashchenko, S. S.; Makhlaj, V. A.; Kulik, N. V.; Ladygina, M. S.; Marchenko, A. K.; Petrov, Yu. V.; Staltsov, V. V.; Shevchuk, P. V.; Solyakov, D. G.; Yelisyeyev, D. V.

2017-11-01

In this report a concept of a new generation QSPA with external B-field up to 2 T has been discussed. A novel test-bed facility, which was recently constructed in Kharkov IPP NSC KIPT, has been described. It allows for a new level of plasma stream parameters and its wide variation in new QSPA-M device, as well as possible combination of steady-state and pulsed plasma loads to the materials during the exposures. First plasma is recently obtained. Careful optimization of the operational regimes of the plasma accelerator’s functional components and plasma dynamics in the magnetic system of QSPA-M device has started approaching step by step the necessary level of plasma parameters and their effective variation. The relevant results on plasma stream characterization are presented. Energy density distributions in plasma stream have been measured with calorimetry. Spectroscopy and probe technique have also been applied for plasma parameters measurements. The obtained results demonstrate the ability of QSPA-M to reproduce the ELM impacts in fusion reactor, both in terms of heat load and particle flux to the surface.

Assessing the Contribution of Superconducting Gravimetry and GPS to Lunar Laser Ranging at Apache Point Observatory, New Mexico

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crossley, D. J.; Murphy, T.; Borsa, A. A.; Boy, J. P.

2016-12-01

Lunar laser ranging (LLR) is one of the main techniques used to test fundamental aspects of theories of the general relativity by monitoring the Earth-Moon distance to high accuracy. A current limitation of the APO processing is knowledge of the deformation of the telescope orientation at the sub-cm level in response to local loading and attraction effects. To this end in 2009 a superconducting gravimeter was installed at the Apache Point Observatory (APO), close to one of the Plate Boundary Observatory (PBO) GPS sites at the Sunspot solar observatory. APO is also visited regularly for AG measurements by the NGA. We present a comprehensive analysis of the 7 years of gravity data from APO, and the height variations from GPS, to give accurate estimates of the local elastic parameters and vertical variations common to both sites. By including the full spectrum (e.g. from tides, polar motion, and hydrology) of known loading and surface mass variability effects on gravity and GPS, we assess the vertical control that such geodetic techniques can bring to LLR measurements, and by extension, to other astronomical installations.

Tides and lake-level variations in the great Patagonian lakes: Observations, modelling and geophysical implications.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marderwald, Eric; Richter, Andreas; Horwath, Martin; Hormaechea, Jose Luis; Groh, Andreas

2016-04-01

In Patagonia, the glacial-isostatic adjustment (GIA) to past ice-mass changes (Ivins & James 2004; Klemann et al. 2007) is of particular interest in the context of the determination of the complex regional rheology related to plate subduction in a triple-junction constellation. To further complicate the situation, GIA is overlaid with load deformation not only due to present ice mass changes but also due to water-level changes in the lakes surrounding the icefields and the ocean surrounding Patagonia. These elastic deformations affect the determination of glacial-isostatic uplift rates from GPS observations (Dietrich et al. 2010; Lange et al. 2014). Observations of lake tides and their comparison with the theoretical tidal signal have been used previously to validate predictions of ocean tidal loading and have revealed regional deviations from conventional global elastic earth models (Richter et al. 2009). In this work we investigate the tides and lake-level variations in Lago Argentino, Lago Viedma, Lago San Martín/O'Higgins and Lago Buenos Aires/General Carrera. This allows us to test, among other things, the validity of tidal loading models. We present pressure tide-gauge records from two sites in Lago Argentino extending over 2.5 years (Richter et al. 2015). These observations are complemented by lake-level records provided by the Argentine National Hydrometeorological Network. Based on these lake-level time series the principal processes affecting the lake level are identified and quantified. Lake-level changes reflecting variations in lake volume are dominated by a seasonal cycle exceeding 1 m in amplitude. Lake-volume changes occur in addition with a daily period in response to melt water influx from surrounding glaciers. In Lago Argentino sporadic lake-volume jumps are caused by bursting of the ice dam of Perito Moreno glacier. Water movements in these lakes are dominated by surface seiches reaching 20 cm in amplitude. A harmonic tidal analysis of the lake-level time series from Lagos Argentino and Viedma yields the amplitudes and phases of the lake tides for the four major tidal constituents M2, S2, O1 and K1. The maximum amplitude, corresponding to the semi-diurnal moon tide M2 in Lago Argentino, amounts to 3 mm. For the four lakes under investigation the theoretical amplitudes and phases of seven constituents (Q1, O1, P1, K1, N2, M2 and S2) are modelled accounting for the contributions of both the solid earth's body tides and the ocean tidal loading (Marderwald 2014). Both contributions involve a deformation of the earth surface and of the equipotential surfaces of the gravity field. For the load tide computation the global ocean tide model EOT11a (Savcenko and Bosch, 2012) and the Gutenberg-Bullen A earth model (Farrell, 1972) was applied and the conservation of water volume is taken into account. The comparison of the tidal signal extracted from the lake-level observations in Lagos Argentino and Viedma with the lake tide models indicates a phase shift which is most likely explained by an 1 hour phase lag of the employed global ocean tide model in the region of the highly fragmented Pacific coast. REFERENCES: Farrell, W. E., (1972). Deformation of the Earth by Surface Loads. Rev. Geophy. Space Phy., 10(3):761-797. Ivins, E., James, T., 2004. Bedrock response to Llanquihue Holocene and present-day glaciation in southernmost South America. Geophys. Res. Lett. 31 (L24613). Doi:10.1029/2004GL021500. Klemann, V., E. R. Ivins, Z. Martinec, and D. Wolf (2007), Models of active glacial isostasy roofing warm subduction: Case of the South Patagonian Ice Field, J. Geophys. Res., 112, B09405, doi: 10.1029/2006JB004818. Lange, H., Casassa, G., Ivins, E. R., Schröder, L., Fritsche, M., Richter, A., Groh, A., Dietrich, R., (2014). Observed crustal uplift near the Southern Patagonian Icefield constrains improved viscoelastic Earth models. Geophysical Research Letters, DOI: 10.1002/2013GL058419. Marderwald ER, 2014. Modelado de las mareas de grandes lagos patagónicos. Licenciatura thesis, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina. Richter, A., Marderwald, E., Hormaechea, J.L., Mendoza, L., Perdomo, R., Connon, G., Scheinert, M., Horwath, M., Dietrich, R. (2015): Lake-level variations and tides in Lago Argentino, Patagonia: insights from pressure tide gauge records. Journal of Limnology (accepted), doi:10.4081/jlimnol.2015.1189. Richter A, Hormaechea JL, Dietrich R, Perdomo R, Fritsche M, Del Cogliano D, Liebsch G, Mendoza L, 2009. Anomalous ocean load tide signal observed in lake-level variations in Tierra del Fuego. Geophys. Res. Lett. 36:L05305. Savcenko, R., and W. Bosch (2012), EOT11a - Empirical Ocean Tide Model from Multi-Mission Satellite Altimetry. Deutsches Geodätisches Forschungsinstitut (DGFI), Munich, Report Number 89.

Experimental study on surface wrinkling of silicon monoxide film on compliant substrate under thermally induced loads

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Chuanwei; Kong, Yingxiao; Jiang, Wenchong; Wang, Zhiyong; Li, Linan; Wang, Shibin

2017-06-01

The wrinkling of a silicon monoxide thin film on a compliant poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) substrate structure was experimentally investigated in this study. The self-expansion effect of PDMS during film deposition was utilized to impose a pretensile strain on the structure through a specially made fixture. A laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM) system with an in situ heating stage was employed for the real-time measurement. The Young’s modulus of the silicon monoxide thin film as well as the PDMS substrate was measured on the basis of the elasticity theory. Moreover, the effects of temperature variations on geometric parameters in the postbuckling state, such as wavelength and amplitude, were analyzed. It was proved that wavelength is relatively immune to thermal loads, while amplitude is much more sensitive.

Roughness evolution of metallic implant surfaces under contact loading and nanometer-scale chemical etching.

PubMed

Ryu, J J; Letchuman, S; Shrotriya, P

2012-10-01

Surface damage of metallic implant surface at taper lock and clamped interfaces may take place through synergistic interactions between repeated contact loading and corrosion. In the present research, we investigated the influence of surface roughness and contact loading on the mechanical and chemical damage phenomena. Cobalt-chromium (CoCrMo) specimens with two different roughness configurations created by milling and grinding process were subjected to normal and inclined contact loading. During repeated contact loading, amplitude of surface roughness reached a steady value after decreasing during the first few cycles. During the second phase, the alternating experiment of rough surface contact and micro-etching was conducted to characterize surface evolution behavior. As a result, surface roughness amplitude continuously evolved-decreasing during contact loading due to plastic deformation of contacting asperities and increasing on exposure to corrosive environment by the preferential corrosion attack on stressed area. Two different instabilities could be identified in the surface roughness evolution during etching of contact loaded surfaces: increase in the amplitude of dominant wavenumber and increase in amplitude of a small group of roughness modes. A damage mechanism that incorporates contact-induced residual stress development and stress-assisted dissolution is proposed to elucidate the measured instabilities in surface roughness evolution. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Stiffness of the endplate boundary layer and endplate surface topography are associated with brittleness of human whole vertebral bodies

PubMed Central

Nekkanty, Srikant; Yerramshetty, Janardhan; Kim, Do-Gyoon; Zauel, Roger; Johnson, Evan; Cody, Dianna D.; Yeni, Yener N.

2013-01-01

Stress magnitude and variability as estimated from large scale finite element (FE) analyses have been associated with compressive strength of human vertebral cancellous cores but these relationships have not been explored for whole vertebral bodies. In this study, the objectives were to investigate the relationship of FE-calculated stress distribution parameters with experimentally determined strength, stiffness, and displacement based ductility measures in human whole vertebral bodies, investigate the effect of endplate loading conditions on vertebral stiffness, strength, and ductility and test the hypothesis that endplate topography affects vertebral ductility and stress distributions. Eighteen vertebral bodies (T6-L3 levels; 4 female and 5 male cadavers, aged 40-98 years) were scanned using a flat panel CT system and followed with axial compression testing with Wood’s metal as filler material to maintain flat boundaries between load plates and specimens. FE models were constructed using reconstructed CT images and filler material was added digitally. Two different FE models with different filler material modulus simulating Wood’s metal and intervertebral disc (W-layer and D-layer models) were used. Element material modulus to cancellous bone was based on image gray value. Average, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation of von Mises stress in vertebral bone for W-layer and D-layer models and also the ratios of FE parameters from the two models (W/D) were calculated. Inferior and superior endplate surface topographical distribution parameters were calculated. Experimental stiffness, maximum load and work to fracture had the highest correlation with FE-calculated stiffness while experimental ductility measures had highest correlations with FE-calculated average von Mises stress and W-layer to D-layer stiffness ratio. Endplate topography of the vertebra was also associated with its structural ductility and the distribution parameter that best explained this association was kurtosis of inferior endplate topography. Our results indicate that endplate topography variations may provide insight into the mechanisms responsible for vertebral fractures. PMID:20633709

Weight and volume variation in truckloads of logs hauled in the central Appalachians

Treesearch

Floyd G. Timson

1974-01-01

Variation in volume and weight was found among loaded log trucks even when such factors as truck type, logging job, and driver influence were eliminated. A load range of 10,000 pounds or 1,000 board feet was commonplace for the same truck, driver, and cutting site. Differences in log size, shape, weight, and species caused a major share of this variation. Yet,...

The Impact of Water Loading on Estimates of Postglacial Decay Times in Hudson Bay

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, H. K.; Gomez, N. A.

2016-12-01

Ongoing glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) due to surface loading (ice and water) variations since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) has been contributing to sea level changes globally throughout the Holocene, especially in regions like the Canada that were heavily glaciated during the LGM. The spatial and temporal distribution of GIA and relative sea level change are attributed to the ice history and the rheological structure of the solid Earth, both of which are uncertain. It has been shown that relative sea level curves in previously glaciated regions follow an exponential-like form, and the post glacial decay times associated with that form have weak sensitivity to the details of the ice loading history (Andrews 1970, Walcott 1980, Mitrovica & Peltier 1995). Post glacial decay time estimates may therefore be used to constrain the Earth's structure and improve GIA predictions. However, estimates of decay times in Hudson Bay in the literature differ significantly due to a number of sources of uncertainty and bias (Mitrovica et al. 2000). Previous decay time analyses have not considered the potential bias that surface loading associated with Holocene sea level changes can introduce in decay time estimates derived from nearby relative sea level observations. We explore the spatial patterns of post glacial decay time predictions in previously glaciated regions, and their sensitivity to ice and water loading history. We compute post glacial sea level changes over the last deglaciation from 21ka to the modern associated with the ICE5G (Peltier, 2004) and ICE6G (Argus et al. 2014, Peltier et al. 2015) ice history models. We fit exponential curves to the modeled relative sea level changes, and compute maps of post glacial decay time predictions across North America and the Arctic. In addition, we decompose the modeled relative sea level changes into contributions from water and ice loading effects, and compute the impact of water loading redistribution since the LGM on present day decay times. We show that Holocene water loading in the Hudson Bay may introduce significant bias in decay time estimates and we highlight locations where biases are minimized.

Accuracy of Snow Water Equivalent Estimated From GPS Vertical Displacements: A Synthetic Loading Case Study for Western U.S. Mountains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Enzminger, Thomas L.; Small, Eric E.; Borsa, Adrian A.

2018-01-01

GPS monitoring of solid Earth deformation due to surface loading is an independent approach for estimating seasonal changes in terrestrial water storage (TWS). In western United States (WUSA) mountain ranges, snow water equivalent (SWE) is the dominant component of TWS and an essential water resource. While several studies have estimated SWE from GPS-measured vertical displacements, the error associated with this method remains poorly constrained. We examine the accuracy of SWE estimated from synthetic displacements at 1,395 continuous GPS station locations in the WUSA. Displacement at each station is calculated from the predicted elastic response to variations in SWE from SNODAS and soil moisture from the NLDAS-2 Noah model. We invert synthetic displacements for TWS, showing that both seasonal accumulation and melt as well as year-to-year fluctuations in peak SWE can be estimated from data recorded by the existing GPS network. Because we impose a smoothness constraint in the inversion, recovered TWS exhibits mass leakage from mountain ranges to surrounding areas. This leakage bias is removed via linear rescaling in which the magnitude of the gain factor depends on station distribution and TWS anomaly patterns. The synthetic GPS-derived estimates reproduce approximately half of the spatial variability (unbiased root mean square error ˜50%) of TWS loading within mountain ranges, a considerable improvement over GRACE. The inclusion of additional simulated GPS stations improves representation of spatial variations. GPS data can be used to estimate mountain-range-scale SWE, but effects of soil moisture and other TWS components must first be subtracted from the GPS-derived load estimates.

Viral genetic variation accounts for a third of variability in HIV-1 set-point viral load in Europe

PubMed Central

Wymant, Chris; Cornelissen, Marion; Gall, Astrid; Bakker, Margreet; Bezemer, Daniela; Hall, Matthew; Hillebregt, Mariska; Ong, Swee Hoe; Albert, Jan; Bannert, Norbert; Fellay, Jacques; Fransen, Katrien; Gourlay, Annabelle J.; Grabowski, M. Kate; Gunsenheimer-Bartmeyer, Barbara; Günthard, Huldrych F.; Kivelä, Pia; Kouyos, Roger; Laeyendecker, Oliver; Liitsola, Kirsi; Meyer, Laurence; Porter, Kholoud; Ristola, Matti; van Sighem, Ard; Vanham, Guido; Berkhout, Ben; Kellam, Paul; Reiss, Peter; Fraser, Christophe

2017-01-01

HIV-1 set-point viral load—the approximately stable value of viraemia in the first years of chronic infection—is a strong predictor of clinical outcome and is highly variable across infected individuals. To better understand HIV-1 pathogenesis and the evolution of the viral population, we must quantify the heritability of set-point viral load, which is the fraction of variation in this phenotype attributable to viral genetic variation. However, current estimates of heritability vary widely, from 6% to 59%. Here we used a dataset of 2,028 seroconverters infected between 1985 and 2013 from 5 European countries (Belgium, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom) and estimated the heritability of set-point viral load at 31% (CI 15%–43%). Specifically, heritability was measured using models of character evolution describing how viral load evolves on the phylogeny of whole-genome viral sequences. In contrast to previous studies, (i) we measured viral loads using standardized assays on a sample collected in a strict time window of 6 to 24 months after infection, from which the viral genome was also sequenced; (ii) we compared 2 models of character evolution, the classical “Brownian motion” model and another model (“Ornstein–Uhlenbeck”) that includes stabilising selection on viral load; (iii) we controlled for covariates, including age and sex, which may inflate estimates of heritability; and (iv) we developed a goodness of fit test based on the correlation of viral loads in cherries of the phylogenetic tree, showing that both models of character evolution fit the data well. An overall heritability of 31% (CI 15%–43%) is consistent with other studies based on regression of viral load in donor–recipient pairs. Thus, about a third of variation in HIV-1 virulence is attributable to viral genetic variation. PMID:28604782

Dynamic analysis of elastic rubber tired car wheel breaking under variable normal load

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fedotov, A. I.; Zedgenizov, V. G.; Ovchinnikova, N. I.

2017-10-01

The purpose of the paper is to analyze the dynamics of the braking of the wheel under normal load variations. The paper uses a mathematical simulation method according to which the calculation model of an object as a mechanical system is associated with a dynamically equivalent schematic structure of the automatic control. Transfer function tool analyzing structural and technical characteristics of an object as well as force disturbances were used. It was proved that the analysis of dynamic characteristics of the wheel subjected to external force disturbances has to take into account amplitude and phase-frequency characteristics. Normal load variations impact car wheel braking subjected to disturbances. The closer slip to the critical point is, the higher the impact is. In the super-critical area, load variations cause fast wheel blocking.

Determination of hand soil loading, soil transfer, and particle size variations after hand-pressing and hand-mouthing activities

EPA Science Inventory

Hand-pressing trials and hand-to-mouth soil transfer experiments were conducted to better understand soil loadings, soil transfer ratios for three mouthing activities, and variations in particle size distributions under various conditions. Results indicated that sand caused highe...

Thermal elastoplastic structural analysis of non-metallic thermal protection systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chung, T. J.; Yagawa, G.

1972-01-01

An incremental theory and numerical procedure to analyze a three-dimensional thermoelastoplastic structure subjected to high temperature, surface heat flux, and volume heat supply as well as mechanical loadings are presented. Heat conduction equations and equilibrium equations are derived by assuming a specific form of incremental free energy, entropy, stresses and heat flux together with the first and second laws of thermodynamics, von Mises yield criteria and Prandtl-Reuss flow rule. The finite element discretization using the linear isotropic three-dimensional element for the space domain and a difference operator corresponding to a linear variation of temperature within a small time increment for the time domain lead to systematic solutions of temperature distribution and displacement and stress fields. Various boundary conditions such as insulated surfaces and convection through uninsulated surface can be easily treated. To demonstrate effectiveness of the present formulation a number of example problems are presented.

Sensitivity of Stream Methyl Hg Concentrations to Environmental Change in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, USA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burns, D. A.; Riva-Murray, K.; Nystrom, E.; Millard, G.; Driscoll, C. T.

2014-12-01

The Adirondacks of New York have high levels of mercury (Hg) bioaccumulation as demonstrated by a region-wide fish consumption advisory for children and women who may become pregnant. The source of this Hg is atmospheric deposition that originates from regional, continental, and global emissions. Soils in the region have large Hg stores equivalent to several decades of atmospheric deposition suggesting that the processes controlling Hg transport from soils to surface waters may greatly affect Hg concentrations and loads in surface waters. Furthermore, Hg can be converted to its neuro-toxic methyl form (MeHg), particularly in riparian and wetland soils where biogeochemical conditions favor net methylation. We measured MeHg concentrations during 33 months at Fishing Brook, a 65 km2 catchment in the upper Hudson River basin in the Adirondacks. Seasonal variation in stream MeHg concentrations was more than tenfold, consistent with temperature-driven variation in net methylation rates in soils and sediment. These data also indicate greater than twofold annual variation in stream MeHg concentrations among the three monitored growing seasons. The driest growing season had the lowest MeHg concentrations, and these values were greater during the two wetter growing seasons. We hypothesize that contact of the riparian water table with abundant organic matter and MeHg stored in the shallowest soil horizons is a dominant control on MeHg transport to the stream. An empirical model was developed that accounted for 81% of the variation in stream MeHg concentrations. Water temperature and the length of time the simulated riparian water table remained in the shallow soil were key predictive variables, highlighting the sensitivity of MeHg to climatic variation. Future changes in other factors such as Hg emissions and deposition and acid deposition will likely also influence stream MeHg concentrations and loads. For example, lime application to an Adirondack stream to increase pH and enhance ecosystem recovery from acidification has increased MeHg concentrations, which may be associated with parallel increases in dissolved organic carbon concentrations. Future changes in the Hg cycle of this region will likely be complex, reflecting changes in climatic drivers and emissions of Hg and other air pollutants.

Assessing response of sediment load variation to climate change and human activities with six different approaches.

PubMed

Zhao, Guangju; Mu, Xingmin; Jiao, Juying; Gao, Peng; Sun, Wenyi; Li, Erhui; Wei, Yanhong; Huang, Jiacong

2018-05-23

Understanding the relative contributions of climate change and human activities to variations in sediment load is of great importance for regional soil, and river basin management. Considerable studies have investigated spatial-temporal variation of sediment load within the Loess Plateau; however, contradictory findings exist among methods used. This study systematically reviewed six quantitative methods: simple linear regression, double mass curve, sediment identity factor analysis, dam-sedimentation based method, the Sediment Delivery Distributed (SEDD) model, and the Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. The calculation procedures and merits for each method were systematically explained. A case study in the Huangfuchuan watershed on the northern Loess Plateau has been undertaken. The results showed that sediment load had been reduced by 70.5% during the changing period from 1990 to 2012 compared to that of the baseline period from 1955 to 1989. Human activities accounted for an average of 93.6 ± 4.1% of the total decline in sediment load, whereas climate change contributed 6.4 ± 4.1%. Five methods produced similar estimates, but the linear regression yielded relatively different results. The results of this study provide a good reference for assessing the effects of climate change and human activities on sediment load variation by using different methods. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Optimization of process parameters for a quasi-continuous tablet coating system using design of experiments.

PubMed

Cahyadi, Christine; Heng, Paul Wan Sia; Chan, Lai Wah

2011-03-01

The aim of this study was to identify and optimize the critical process parameters of the newly developed Supercell quasi-continuous coater for optimal tablet coat quality. Design of experiments, aided by multivariate analysis techniques, was used to quantify the effects of various coating process conditions and their interactions on the quality of film-coated tablets. The process parameters varied included batch size, inlet temperature, atomizing pressure, plenum pressure, spray rate and coating level. An initial screening stage was carried out using a 2(6-1(IV)) fractional factorial design. Following these preliminary experiments, optimization study was carried out using the Box-Behnken design. Main response variables measured included drug-loading efficiency, coat thickness variation, and the extent of tablet damage. Apparent optimum conditions were determined by using response surface plots. The process parameters exerted various effects on the different response variables. Hence, trade-offs between individual optima were necessary to obtain the best compromised set of conditions. The adequacy of the optimized process conditions in meeting the combined goals for all responses was indicated by the composite desirability value. By using response surface methodology and optimization, coating conditions which produced coated tablets of high drug-loading efficiency, low incidences of tablet damage and low coat thickness variation were defined. Optimal conditions were found to vary over a large spectrum when different responses were considered. Changes in processing parameters across the design space did not result in drastic changes to coat quality, thereby demonstrating robustness in the Supercell coating process. © 2010 American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists

Characterization of surface-water quality based on real-time monitoring and regression analysis, Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, south-central Kansas, December 1998 through June 2001

USGS Publications Warehouse

Christensen, V.G.

2001-01-01

Because of the considerable wildlife benefits offered by the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in south-central Kansas, there is a desire to ensure suitable water quality. To assess the quality of water flowing from Rattlesnake Creek into the refuge, the U.S. Geological Survey collected periodic water samples from December 1998 through June 2001 and analyzed the samples for physical properties, dissolved solids, total suspended solids, suspended sediment, major ions, nutrients, metals, pesticides, and indicator bacteria. Concentrations of 10 of the 125 chemicals analyzed did not meet water-quality criteria to protect aquatic life and drinking water in a least one sample. These were pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, dissolved solids, sodium, chloride, phosphorus, total coliform bacteria, E. coli bacteria, and fecal coliform bacteria. No metal or pesticide concentrations exceeded water-quality criteria. Twenty-two of the 43 metals analyzed were not detected, and 36 of the 46 pesticides analyzed were not detected. Because dissolved solids, sodium, chloride, fecal coliform bacteria, and other chemicals that are a concern for the health and habitat of fish and wildlife at the refuge cannot be measured continuously, regression equations were developed from a comparison of the analytical results of periodic samples and in-stream monitor measurements of specific conductance, pH, water temperature, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen. A continuous record of estimated chemical concentrations was developed from continuously recorded in-stream measurements. Annual variation in water quality was evaluated by comparing 1999 and 2000 sample data- the 2 years for which complete data sets were available. Median concentrations of alkalinity, fluoride, nitrate, and fecal coliform bacteria were smaller or did not change from 1999 to 2000. Dissolved solids, total suspended solids, sodium, chloride, sulfate, total organic nitrogen, and total phosphorus had increases in median concentrations from 1999 to 2000. Increases in the median concentrations of the major ions were expected due to decreased rainfall in 2000 and very low streamflow late in the year. Increases for solids and nutrients may have been due to the unusually high streamflow in the early spring of 2000. This was the time of year when fields were tilled, exposing solids and nutrients that were transported with runoff to Rattlesnake Creek. Load estimates indicate the chemical mass transported into the refuge and can be used in the development of total maximum daily loads (as specified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) for water-quality contaminants in Rattlesnake Creek. Load estimates also were used to evaluate seasonal variation in water quality. Seasonal variation was most pronounced in the estimates of nutrient loads, and most of the nutrient load transported to the refuge occurred during just a few periods of surface runoff in the spring and summer. This information may be used by resource managers to determine when water-diversion strategies would be most beneficial. Load estimates also were used to calculate yields, which are useful for site comparisons. The continuous and real-time nature of the record of estimated concentrations, loads, and yields may be important for resource managers, recreationalists, or others for evaluating water-diversion strategies, making water-use decisions, or assessing the environmental effects of chemicals in time to prevent adverse effects on fish or other aquatic life at the refuge.

Time series of low-degree geopotential coefficients from SLR data: estimation of Earth's figure axis and LOD variations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luceri, V.; Sciarretta, C.; Bianco, G.

2012-12-01

The redistribution of the mass within the earth system induces changes in the Earth's gravity field. In particular, the second-degree geopotential coefficients reflect the behaviour of the Earth's inertia tensor of order 2, describing the main mass variations of our planet impacting the EOPs. Thanks to the long record of accurate and continuous laser ranging observations to Lageos and other geodetic satellites, SLR is the only current space technique capable to monitor the long time variability of the Earth's gravity field with adequate accuracy. Time series of low-degree geopotential coefficients are estimated with our analysis of SLR data (spanning more than 25 years) from several geodetic satellites in order to detect trends and periodic variations related to tidal effects and atmospheric/oceanic mass variations. This study is focused on the variations of the second-degree Stokes coefficients related to the Earth's principal figure axis and oblateness: C21, S21 and C20. On the other hand, surface mass load variations induce excitations in the EOPs that are proportional to the same second-degree coefficients. The time series of direct estimates of low degree geopotential and those derived from the EOP excitation functions are compared and presented together with their time and frequency analysis.

Combustion dynamics of low vapour pressure nanofuel droplets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pandey, Khushboo; Chattopadhyay, Kamanio; Basu, Saptarshi

2017-07-01

Multiscale combustion dynamics, shape oscillations, secondary atomization, and precipitate formation have been elucidated for low vapour pressure nanofuel [n-dodecane seeded with alumina nanoparticles (NPs)] droplets. Dilute nanoparticle loading rates (0.1%-1%) have been considered. Contrary to our previous studies of ethanol-water blend (high vapour pressure fuel), pure dodecane droplets do not exhibit internal boiling after ignition. However, variation in surface tension due to temperature causes shape deformations for pure dodecane droplets. In the case of nanofuels, intense heat release from the enveloping flame leads to the formation of micron-size aggregates (of alumina NPS) which serve as nucleation sites promoting heterogeneous boiling. Three boiling regimes (A, B, and C) have been identified with varying bubble dynamics. We have deciphered key mechanisms responsible for the growth, transport, and rupture of the bubbles. Bubble rupture causes ejections of liquid droplets termed as secondary atomization. Ejection of small bubbles (mode 1) resembles the classical vapour bubble collapse mechanism near a flat free surface. However, large bubbles induce severe shape deformations as well as bulk oscillations. Rupture of large bubbles results in high speed liquid jet formation which undergoes Rayleigh-Plateau tip break-up. Both modes contribute towards direct fuel transfer from the droplet surface to flame envelope bypassing diffusion limitations. Combustion lifetime of nanofuel droplets consequently has two stages: stage I (where bubble dynamics are dominant) and stage II (formation of gelatinous mass due to continuous fuel depletion; NP agglomeration). In the present work, variation of flame dynamics and spatio-temporal heat release (HR) have been analysed using high speed OH* chemiluminescence imaging. Fluctuations in droplet shape and flame heat release are found to be well correlated. Droplet flame is bifurcated in two zones (I and II). Flame response is manifested in two frequency ranges: (i) buoyant flame flickering and (ii) auxiliary frequencies arising from high intensity secondary ejections due to bubble ruptures. Addition of alumina NPs enhances the heat absorption rate and ensures the rapid transfer of fuel parcels (detached daughter droplets) from droplet surface to flame front through secondary ejections. Therefore, average HR shows an increasing trend with particle loading rate (PLR). The perikinetic agglomeration model is used to explain the formation of gelatinous sheath during the last phase of droplet burning. Gelatinous mass formed results in bubble entrapment. SEM images of combustion precipitates show entrapped bubble cavities along with surface and sub-surface blowholes. Morphology of combustion precipitate shows a strong variation with PLRs. We have established the coupling mechanisms among heat release, shape oscillations, and secondary atomizations that underline the combustion behaviour of such low vapour pressure nanofuels.

Recent increase in aerosol loading over the Australian arid zone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mitchell, R. M.; Campbell, S. K.; Qin, Y.

2009-10-01

Collocated sun photometer and nephelometer measurements at Tinga Tingana in the Australian Outback over the decade 1997-2007 show a significant increase in aerosol loading following the onset of severe drought conditions in 2002. The mean mid-visible scattering coefficient obtained from nephelometer measurements over the period 2003-2007 is approximately double that recorded over the preceding 5 yr, with consistent trends in the column aerosol optical depth derived from the sun photometer. This increase is confined to the season of dust activity, particularly September to March. In contrast, background aerosol levels during May, June and July remained stable. The enhanced aerosol loadings during the latter 5 yr of the study period can be understood as a combination of dune destabilisation through loss of ephemeral vegetation and surface crust, and the changing supply of fluvial sediments to ephemeral lakes and floodplains within the Lake Eyre Basin. Major dust outbreaks are generally highly localised, although significant dust activity was observed at Tinga Tingana on 50% of days when a major event occurred elsewhere in the Lake Eyre Basin, suggesting frequent basin-wide dust mobilisation. Combined analysis of aerosol optical depth and scattering coefficient shows weak correlation between the surface and column aerosol (R2=0.24). The aerosol scale height is broadly distributed with a mode typically between 2-3 km, with clearly defined seasonal variation. Climatological analysis reveals bimodal structure in the annual cycle of aerosol optical depth, with a summer peak related to maximal dust activity, and a spring peak related to lofted fine-mode aerosol. There is evidence for an increase in near-surface aerosol during the period 2003-2007 relative to 1997-2002, consistent with an increase in dust activity. This accords with an independent finding of increasing aerosol loading over the Australian region as a whole, suggesting that rising dust activity over the Lake Eyre Basin may be a significant contributor to changes in the aerosol budget of the continent.

Transverse Isotropy of Phyllite Under Brazilian Tests: Laboratory Testing and Numerical Simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Guowen; He, Chuan; Chen, Ziquan; Su, Ang

2018-04-01

Phyllite is a low-grade, metamorphic rock with well-developed foliation. We characterized the fracture pattern and failure strength of phyllite specimens under Brazilian tests. The specimens were obtained from the Zhegu mountain tunnel in China and had different foliation-loading angles, namely 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75° and 90°. The processes for the initiation and propagation of macro-cracks were recorded using high-speed photography. The evolution of micro-cracks was analyzed based on the results of acoustic emission (AE) tests. The failure process of the specimens during the Brazilian tests was simulated with a new numerical approach based on the particle discrete element method. The influence of foliation strength and the microstructure of the rock matrix were also studied numerically. The experimental results showed that the failure strength of the specimens was related to their fracture patterns and the areas of their fracture surfaces. The initial cracking point of the specimens appeared at the upper or lower loading position, and the cracks propagated to the boundaries of the specimens along or across foliation. The temporal distributions of the AE counts and AE energy of the specimens were affected predominantly by the fracture pattern, and we divided these distributions into two modes: the peak mode and the uniformly distributed mode. The numerical results indicated that the fracture surface was roughly parallel to the loading direction and that the surface was located in the central part of the disk specimens for rocks with loose structure (low coordination number or large crack density) or with strong foliation, i.e., foliation with high shear strength. The failure pattern and trends of variation in failure strength as a function of foliation-loading angles varied with the ratio of cohesion to the tensile strength of foliation, the crack density, and the coordination number.

Detection of glycoprotein using fiber optic surface plasmon resonance sensors with boronic acid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Fang; Zhang, Yang; Liu, Zigeng; Qian, Siyu; Gu, Yiying; Jing, Zhenguo; Sun, Changsen; Peng, Wei

2017-04-01

In this paper, we present a tilted fiber Bragg gratings (TFBG) based surface Plasmon resonance (SPR) label-free sensors with boronic acid derivative (ABA-PBA) as receptor molecule to detect glycoprotein with high sensitivity and selectivity. Tilted fiber Bragg gratings (TFBG) as a near infrared wavelengths detecting element can be able to excite a number of cladding modes whose properties can be detected accurately by measuring the variation of transmitted spectra. A 10° TFBG coated by 50nm gold film was manufactured to stimulate surface plasmon resonance on the surface of the sensor. The sensor was loaded with boronic acid derivative as the recognition molecule which has been widely used in various areas for the recognition matrix of diol-containing biomolecules. The proposed TFBG-SPR sensors exhibit good selectivity and repeatability with the protein concentration sensitivity up to 2.867dB/ (mg/ml) and the limit of detection was 2*10-5g/ml.

GGFC Special Bureau for Loading: current status and plans

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Dam, T.; Plag, H.-P.; Francis, O.; Gegout, P.

The Earth's surface is perpetually being displaced due to temporally varying atmospheric, oceanic and continental water mass surface loads. These non-geodynamic signals are of substantial magnitude that they contribute significantly to the scatter in geodetic observations of crustal motion. In February, 2002, the International Earth Rotation Service (IERS) established a Special Bureau of Loading (SBL) whose primary charge is to provide consistent and valid estimates of surface mass loading effects to the IERS community for the purpose of correcting geodetic time series. Here we outline the primary principles involved in modelling the surface displacements and gravity changes induced by surface mass loading including the basic theory, the Earth model and the surface load data. We then identify a list of operational issues, including product validation, that need to be addressed by the SBL before products can be provided to the community. Finally, we outline areas for future research to further improve the loading estimates. We conclude by formulating a recommendation on the best procedure for including loading corrections into geodetic data. Success of the SBL will depend on our ability to efficiently provide consistent and reliable estimates of surface mass loading effects. It is imperative that we work closely with the existing Global Geophysical Fluids Center (GGFC) Special Bureaus and with the community to as much as possible to verify the products.

Experimental and Analytical Determination of the Motion of Hydraulically Operated Valve Stems in Oil Engine Injection Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gelalles, A G; Rothrock, A M

1930-01-01

This research on the pressure variations in the injection system of the N.A.C.A. Spray Photography Equipment and on the effects of these variations on the motion of the timing valve stem was undertaken in connection with the study of fuel injection systems for high-speed oil engines. The methods of analysis of the pressure variations and the general equation for the motion of the spring-loaded stem for the timing valve are applicable to a spring-loaded automatic injection valve, and in general to all hydraulically operated valves. A sample calculation for a spring-loaded automatic injection valve is included.

Does stronger pollen competition improve offspring fitness when pollen load does not vary?

PubMed

Pélabon, Christophe; Hennet, Lauriane; Bolstad, Geir H; Albertsen, Elena; Opedal, Øystein H; Ekrem, Runa K; Armbruster, W Scott

2016-03-01

Competition among pollen grains from a single donor is expected to increase the quality of the offspring produced because of the recessive deleterious alleles expressed during pollen-tube growth. However, evidence for such an effect is inconclusive; a large number of studies suffer from confounding variation in pollen competition with variation in pollen load. In this study, we tested the effect of pollen competition on offspring performance independently of pollen-load variation. We compared seed mass and early seedling performance in Dalechampia scandens (Euphorbiaceae) between crosses in which variation in pollen competition was achieved, without variation in pollen load, by manipulating the dispersion of pollen grains on the stigmas. Despite a large sample size (211 crosses on 20 maternal plants), we failed to find an effect of pollen competition on seed characteristics or early seedling performance. Paternal effects were always limited, and pollen competition never reduced the within-father (residual) variance. These results suggest that limited within-donor variation in genetic quality of pollen grains reduces the potential benefits of pollen competition in the study population. The lack of paternal effects on early sporophyte performance further suggests that benefits of pollen competition among pollen from multiple donors should be limited as well, and it raises questions about the significance of pollen competition as a mechanism of sexual selection. © 2016 Botanical Society of America.

Aeroelastic considerations for torsionally soft rotors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mantay, W. R.; Yeager, W. T., Jr.

1986-01-01

A research study was initiated to systematically determine the impact of selected blade tip geometric parameters on conformable rotor performance and loads characteristics. The model articulated rotors included baseline and torsionally soft blades with interchangeable tips. Seven blade tip designs were evaluated on the baseline rotor and six tip designs were tested on the torsionally soft blades. The designs incorporated a systemmatic variation in geometric parameters including sweep, taper, and anhedral. The rotors were evaluated in the NASA Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel at several advance ratios, lift and propulsive force values, and tip Mach numbers. A track sensitivity study was also conducted at several advance ratios for both rotors. Based on the test results, tip parameter variations generated significant rotor performance and loads differences for both baseline and torsionally soft blades. Azimuthal variation of elastic twist generated by variations in the tip parameters strongly correlated with rotor performance and loads, but the magnitude of advancing blade elastic twist did not. In addition, fixed system vibratory loads and rotor track for potential conformable rotor candidates appears very sensitive to parametric rotor changes.

Adaptive torque estimation of robot joint with harmonic drive transmission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Zhiguo; Li, Yuankai; Liu, Guangjun

2017-11-01

Robot joint torque estimation using input and output position measurements is a promising technique, but the result may be affected by the load variation of the joint. In this paper, a torque estimation method with adaptive robustness and optimality adjustment according to load variation is proposed for robot joint with harmonic drive transmission. Based on a harmonic drive model and a redundant adaptive robust Kalman filter (RARKF), the proposed approach can adapt torque estimation filtering optimality and robustness to the load variation by self-tuning the filtering gain and self-switching the filtering mode between optimal and robust. The redundant factor of RARKF is designed as a function of the motor current for tolerating the modeling error and load-dependent filtering mode switching. The proposed joint torque estimation method has been experimentally studied in comparison with a commercial torque sensor and two representative filtering methods. The results have demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed torque estimation technique.

Prediction of Experimental Surface Heat Flux of Thin Film Gauges using ANFIS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarma, Shrutidhara; Sahoo, Niranjan; Unal, Aynur

2018-05-01

Precise quantification of surface heat fluxes in highly transient environment is of paramount importance from the design point of view of several engineering equipment like thermal protection or cooling systems. Such environments are simulated in experimental facilities by exposing the surface with transient heat loads typically step/impulsive in nature. The surface heating rates are then determined from highly transient temperature history captured by efficient surface temperature sensors. The classical approach is to use thin film gauges (TFGs) in which temperature variations are acquired within milliseconds, thereby allowing calculation of surface heat flux, based on the theory of one-dimensional heat conduction on a semi-infinite body. With recent developments in the soft computing methods, the present study is an attempt for the application of intelligent system technique, called adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) to recover surface heat fluxes from a given temperature history recorded by TFGs without having the need to solve lengthy analytical equations. Experiments have been carried out by applying known quantity of `impulse heat load' through laser beam on TFGs. The corresponding voltage signals have been acquired and surface heat fluxes are estimated through classical analytical approach. These signals are then used to `train' the ANFIS model, which later predicts output for `test' values. Results from both methods have been compared and these surface heat fluxes are used to predict the non-linear relationship between thermal and electrical properties of the gauges that are exceedingly pertinent to the design of efficient TFGs. Further, surface plots have been created to give an insight about dimensionality effect of the non-linear dependence of thermal/electrical parameters on each other. Later, it is observed that a properly optimized ANFIS model can predict the impulsive heat profiles with significant accuracy. This paper thus shows the appropriateness of soft computing technique as a practically constructive replacement for tedious analytical formulation and henceforth, effectively quantifies the modeling of TFGs.

Nanoscale elastic modulus variation in loaded polymeric micelle reactors.

PubMed

Solmaz, Alim; Aytun, Taner; Deuschle, Julia K; Ow-Yang, Cleva W

2012-07-17

Tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TM-AFM) enables mapping of chemical composition at the nanoscale by taking advantage of the variation in phase angle shift arising from an embedded second phase. We demonstrate that phase contrast can be attributed to the variation in elastic modulus during the imaging of zinc acetate (ZnAc)-loaded reverse polystyrene-block-poly(2-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P2VP) diblock co-polymer micelles less than 100 nm in diameter. Three sample configurations were characterized: (i) a 31.6 μm thick polystyrene (PS) support film for eliminating the substrate contribution, (ii) an unfilled PS-b-P2VP micelle supported by the same PS film, and (iii) a ZnAc-loaded PS-b-P2VP micelle supported by the same PS film. Force-indentation (F-I) curves were measured over unloaded micelles on the PS film and over loaded micelles on the PS film, using standard tapping mode probes of three different spring constants, the same cantilevers used for imaging of the samples before and after loading. For calibration of the tip geometry, nanoindentation was performed on the bare PS film. The resulting elastic modulus values extracted by applying the Hertz model were 8.26 ± 3.43 GPa over the loaded micelles and 4.17 ± 1.65 GPa over the unloaded micelles, confirming that phase contrast images of a monolayer of loaded micelles represent maps of the nanoscale chemical and mechanical variation. By calibrating the tip geometry indirectly using a known soft material, we are able to use the same standard tapping mode cantilevers for both imaging and indentation.

Reference-free fatigue crack detection using nonlinear ultrasonic modulation under various temperature and loading conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lim, Hyung Jin; Sohn, Hoon; DeSimio, Martin P.; Brown, Kevin

2014-04-01

This study presents a reference-free fatigue crack detection technique using nonlinear ultrasonic modulation. When low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) inputs generated by two surface-mounted lead zirconate titanate (PZT) transducers are applied to a structure, the presence of a fatigue crack can provide a mechanism for nonlinear ultrasonic modulation and create spectral sidebands around the frequency of the HF signal. The crack-induced spectral sidebands are isolated using a combination of linear response subtraction (LRS), synchronous demodulation (SD) and continuous wavelet transform (CWT) filtering. Then, a sequential outlier analysis is performed on the extracted sidebands to identify the crack presence without referring any baseline data obtained from the intact condition of the structure. Finally, the robustness of the proposed technique is demonstrated using actual test data obtained from simple aluminum plate and complex aircraft fitting-lug specimens under varying temperature and loading variations.

Comparison and Analysis on Mechanical Property and Machinability about Polyetheretherketone and Carbon-Fibers Reinforced Polyetheretherketone

PubMed Central

Ji, Shijun; Sun, Changrui; Zhao, Ji; Liang, Fusheng

2015-01-01

The aim of this paper is to compare the mechanical property and machinability of Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and 30 wt% carbon-fibers reinforced Polyetheretherketone (PEEK CF 30). The method of nano-indentation is used to investigate the microscopic mechanical property. The evolution of load with displacement, Young’s modulus curves and hardness curves are analyzed. The results illustrate that the load-displacement curves of PEEK present better uniformity, and the variation of Young’s modulus and hardness of PEEK both change smaller at the experimental depth. The machinability between PEEK and PEEK CF 30 are also compared by the method of single-point diamond turning (SPDT), and the peak-to-valley value (PV) and surface roughness (Ra) are obtained to evaluate machinability of the materials after machining. The machining results show that PEEK has smaller PV and Ra, which means PEEK has superior machinability. PMID:28793428

Comparison and Analysis on Mechanical Property and Machinability about Polyetheretherketone and Carbon-Fibers Reinforced Polyetheretherketone.

PubMed

Ji, Shijun; Sun, Changrui; Zhao, Ji; Liang, Fusheng

2015-07-07

The aim of this paper is to compare the mechanical property and machinability of Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and 30 wt% carbon-fibers reinforced Polyetheretherketone (PEEK CF 30). The method of nano-indentation is used to investigate the microscopic mechanical property. The evolution of load with displacement, Young's modulus curves and hardness curves are analyzed. The results illustrate that the load-displacement curves of PEEK present better uniformity, and the variation of Young's modulus and hardness of PEEK both change smaller at the experimental depth. The machinability between PEEK and PEEK CF 30 are also compared by the method of single-point diamond turning (SPDT), and the peak-to-valley value (PV) and surface roughness (Ra) are obtained to evaluate machinability of the materials after machining. The machining results show that PEEK has smaller PV and Ra, which means PEEK has superior machinability.

Relationship of surface fuels to fire radiative energy as estimated from airborne lidar and thermal infrared imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hudak, A. T.; Dickinson, M. B.; Kremens, R.; Loudermilk, L.; O'Brien, J.; Satterberg, K.; Strand, E. K.; Ottmar, R. D.

2013-12-01

Longleaf pine stand structure and function are dependent on frequent fires, so fire managers maintain healthy longleaf pine ecosystems by frequently burning surface fuels with prescribed fires. Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) in the Florida panhandle boasts the largest remnant of longleaf pine forest, providing a productive setting for fire scientists to make multi-scale measurements of fuels, fire behavior, and fire effects in collaboration with Eglin AFB fire managers. Data considered in this analysis were collected in five prescribed burn units: two forested units burned in 2011 and a forested unit and two grassland units burned in 2012. Our objective was to demonstrate the linear relationship between biomass and fire energy that has been shown in the laboratory, but using two independent remotely sensed airborne datasets collected at the unit level: 1) airborne lidar flown over the burn units immediately prior to the burns, and 2) thermal infrared image time series flown over the burn units at 2-3 minute intervals. Airborne lidar point cloud data were reduced to 3 m raster metrics of surface vegetation height and cover, which were in turn used to map surface fuel loads at 3 m resolution. Plot-based measures of prefire surface fuels were used for calibration/validation. Preliminary results based on 2011 data indicate airborne lidar can explain ~30% of variation in surface fuel loads. Multi-temporal thermal infrared imagery (WASP) collected at 3 m resolution were calibrated to units of fire radiative power (FRP), using simultaneous FRP measures from ground-based radiometers, and then temporally integrated to estimate fire radiative energy (FRE) release at the unit level. Prior to AGU, FRP and FRE will be compared to estimates of the same variables derived from ground-based FLIR thermal infrared imaging cameras, each deployed with a nadir view from a tripod, at three sites per burn unit. A preliminary proof-of-concept, comparing FRE derived from a tripod-based FLIR (3.2 MW), to another FLIR deployed with an oblique view from atop a 36 m boom lift (2.1 MW), demonstrated reasonable agreement. Unit-level estimates of FRE will also be compared to estimates of surface fuel consumption (~5 Mg/ha) that were summarized at the unit level from pre- and post-fire clip plots of surface fuel biomass. At AGU, we will also compare predictions of surface fuel loads to estimates of energy release, as mapped at 3 m resolution from these independent remotely sensed data sources. These results will serve to demonstrate our ability to remotely measure and relate fuel loads to fire behavior at a landscape level.

Derivation of charts for determining the horizontal tail load variation with any elevator motion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pearson, Henry A

1943-01-01

The equations relating the wing and tail loads are derived for a unit elevator displacement. These equations are then converted into a nondimensional form and charts are given by which the wing- and tail-load-increment variation may be determined under dynamic conditions for any type of elevator motion and for various degrees of airplane stability. In order to illustrate the use of the charts, several examples are included in which the wing and tail loads are evaluated for a number of types of elevator motion. Methods are given for determining the necessary derivatives from results of wind-tunnel tests when such tests are available.

Fatigue crack growth with single overload - Measurement and modeling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davidson, D. L.; Hudak, S. J., Jr.; Dexter, R. J.

1987-01-01

This paper compares experiments with an analytical model of fatigue crack growth under variable amplitude. The stereoimaging technique was used to measure displacements near the tips of fatigue cracks undergoing simple variations in load amplitude-single overloads and overload/underload combinations. Measured displacements were used to compute strains, and stresses were determined from the strains. Local values of crack driving force (Delta-K effective) were determined using both locally measured opening loads and crack tip opening displacements. Experimental results were compared with simulations made for the same load variation conditions using Newman's FAST-2 model. Residual stresses caused by overloads, crack opening loads, and growth retardation periods were compared.

Mechanical and Thermal Characterization of Silica Nanocomposites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cunningham, Anthony Lamar

Polymer nanocomposites are a class of materials containing nanoparticles with a large interfacial surface area. Only a small quantity of nanoparticles are needed to provide superior multifunctional properties; such as mechanical, thermal, electrical, and moisture absorption properties in polymers. Nanoparticles tend to agglomerate, so special techniques are required for homogeneous distribution. Nanosilica is now readily available as colloidal sols, for example; Nanopox RTM F400 (supplied by Evonik Nanoresins AG, Germany). The nanoparticles are first synthesized from aqueous sodium silicate solution, and then undergo a surface modification process with organosilane and matrix exchange. F400 contains 40%wt silica nanoparticles colloidally dispersed in a DGEBA epoxy resin. The mean particle diameter is about 20 nm with a narrow distribution range of about 5 to 35 nm. The objectives of this study are to develop a reproducible processing method for nanosilica enhanced resin systems used in the manufacturing of fiber reinforced composites that will be characterized for mechanical and thermal properties. Research has concluded that shows improvements in the properties of the matrix material when processed in loading variations of 0 to 25%wt silica nanoparticles. The loadings were also used to manufacture fiberglass reinforced nanocomposite laminates and also tested for mechanical and thermal properties.

Etnean and Hyblean volcanism shifted away from the Malta Escarpment by crustal stresses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neri, Marco; Rivalta, Eleonora; Maccaferri, Francesco; Acocella, Valerio; Cirrincione, Rosolino

2018-03-01

A fraction of the volcanic activity occurs intraplate, challenging our models of melting and magma transfer to the Earth's surface. A prominent example is Mt. Etna, eastern Sicily, offset from the asthenospheric tear below the Malta Escarpment proposed as its melt source. The nearby Hyblean volcanism, to the south, and the overall northward migration of the eastern Sicilian volcanism are also unexplained. Here we simulate crustal magma pathways beneath eastern Sicily, accounting for regional stresses and decompression due to the increase in the depth of the Malta Escarpment. We find non-vertical magma pathways, with the competition of tectonic and loading stresses controlling the trajectories' curvature and its change in time, causing the observed migration of volcanism. This suggests that the Hyblean and Etnean volcanism have been fed laterally from a melt pooling region below the Malta Escarpment. The case of eastern Sicily shows how the reconstruction of the evolution of magmatic provinces may require not only an assessment of the paleostresses, but also of the contribution of surface loads and their variations; at times, the latter may even prevail. Accounting for these competing stresses may help shed light on the distribution and wandering of intraplate volcanism

Mineral and water content of A. gigas scales determine local micromechanical properties and energy dissipation mechanisms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Troncoso, Omar P.; Gigos, Florian; Torres, Fernando G.

2017-11-01

Arapaima gigas scales are natural laminated composite materials made of individual layers with different degrees of mineralization, accompanied of varying mechanical properties. This natural design provides scales with hardness and flexibility, and can serve as a source of inspiration for the development of new layered composites with a hard surface and flexible base. In this paper, we have carried out cyclic micro-indentation tests on both; the internal and the highly mineralized external surface of air dried and wet scales, in order to assess the variation of their local micromechanical properties with regard to the mineral and water content. The load-penetration (P-h) curves showed that creep takes place throughout the application of a constant force during the micro-indentation tests, confirming the time dependent response of A. gigas scales. A model that accounted for the elastic, plastic and viscous responses of the samples was used to fit the experimental results. The penetration depth during loading and creep, as well as the energy dissipated are dependent on the water content. The used model suggests that the viscous response of the internal layer increases with the water content.

Ultrasonic fatigue of SiC particle reinforced aluminum in the VHCF-regime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wolf, M.; Wagner, G.; Eifler, D.

At the WKK ultrasonic testing facilities (UTF) are used to perform fatigue experiments in the VHCF regime with a frequency of 20 kHz. These systems allow an on-line characterization of the actual fatigue state by changes of different process parameters such as generator power, displacement, temperature or frequency-response characteristic. Moreover the experiments can be interrupted at user defined events in order to investigate variations of the surface microstructure or changes in the electrical resistance of the specimens. The fatigue tests were realized as load increase tests as well as constant amplitude tests.

Assessment of 3D hydrologic deformation using GRACE and GPS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watson, C. S.; Tregoning, P.; Fleming, K.; Burgette, R. J.; Featherstone, W. E.; Awange, J.; Kuhn, M.; Ramillien, G.

2009-12-01

Hydrological processes cause variations in gravitational potential and surface deformations, both of which are detectable with ever increasing precision using space geodetic techniques. By comparing the elastic deformation computed from continental water load estimates derived from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), with three-dimensional surface deformation derived from GPS observations, there is clear potential to better understand global to regional hydrological processes, in addition to acquiring further insight into the systematic error contributions affecting each space geodetic technique. In this study, we compare elastic deformation derived from water load estimates taken from the CNES, CSR, GFZ and JPL time variable GRACE fields. We compare these surface displacements with those derived at a global network of GPS sites that have been homogeneously reprocessed in the GAMIT/GLOBK suite. We extend our comparison to include a series of different GPS solutions, with each solution only subtly different based on the methodology used to down weight the height component in realizing site coordinates on the terrestrial reference frame. Each of the GPS solutions incorporate modeling of atmospheric loading and utilization of the VMF1 and a priori zenith hydrostatic delays derived via ray tracing through ECMWF meteorological fields. The agreement between GRACE and GPS derived deformations is not limited to the vertical component, with excellent agreement in the horizontal component across areas where large hydrologic signals occur over broad spatial scales (with correlation in horizontal components as high as 0.9). Agreement is also observed at smaller scales, including across Europe. These comparisons assist in understanding the magnitude of current error contributions within both space geodetic techniques. With the emergence of homogeneously reprocessed GPS time series spanning the GRACE mission, this technique offers one possible means of validating the amplitude and phase of quasi-periodic signals present in GPS time series.

Linking river nutrient concentrations to land use and rainfall in a paddy agriculture-urban area gradient watershed in southeast China.

PubMed

Xia, Yongqiu; Ti, Chaopu; She, Dongli; Yan, Xiaoyuan

2016-10-01

The effects of land use and land-use changes on river nutrient concentrations are not well understood, especially in the watersheds of developing countries that have a mixed land use of rice paddy fields and developing urban surfaces. Here, we present a three-year study of a paddy agricultural-urban area gradient watershed in southeast China. The annual anthropogenic nitrogen (N) input from the agricultural region to the urban region was high, yet the results showed that the monthly nutrient concentrations in the river were low in the rainy seasons. The nutrient concentrations decreased continuously as the river water passed through the traditional agriculture region (TAR; paddy rice and wheat rotation) and increased substantially in the city region (CR). The traditional agricultural reference region exported most of the nutrient loads at high flows (>1mmd(-1)), the intensified agricultural region (IAR, aquaculture and poultry farming) exported most of the nutrient loads at moderate flows (between 0.5 and 1mmd(-1)), and the CR reference area exported most of the nutrient loads under low to moderate flows. We developed a statistical model to link variations in the nutrient concentrations to the proportion of land-use types and rainfall. The statistical results showed that impervious surfaces, which we interpret as a proxy for urban activities including sewage disposal, were the most important drivers of nutrient concentrations, whereas water surfaces accounted for a substantial proportion of the nutrient sinks. Therefore, to efficiently reduce water pollution, sewage from urban areas must be addressed as a priority, although wetland restoration could also achieve substantial pollutant removal. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Cortical bone viscoelasticity and fixation strength of press-fit femoral stems: an in-vitro model.

PubMed

Norman, T L; Ackerman, E S; Smith, T S; Gruen, T A; Yates, A J; Blaha, J D; Kish, V L

2006-02-01

Cementless total hip femoral components rely on press-fit for initial stability and bone healing and remodeling for secondary fixation. However, the determinants of satisfactory press-fit are not well understood. In previous studies, human cortical bone loaded circumferentially to simulate press-fit exhibited viscoelastic, or time dependent, behavior. The effect of bone viscoelastic behavior on the initial stability of press-fit stems is not known. Therefore, in the current study, push-out loads of cylindrical stems press-fit into reamed cadaver diaphyseal femoral specimens were measured immediately after assembly and 24 h with stem-bone diametral interference and stem surface treatment as independent variables. It was hypothesized that stem-bone interference would result in a viscoelastic response of bone that would decrease push-out load thereby impairing initial press-fit stability. Results showed that push-out load significantly decreased over a 24 h period due to bone viscoelasticity. It was also found that high and low push-out loads occurred at relatively small amounts of stem-bone interference, but a relationship between stem-bone interference and push-out load could not be determined due to variability among specimens. On the basis of this model, it was concluded that press-fit fixation can occur at relatively low levels of diametral interference and that stem-bone interference elicits viscoelastic response that reduces stem stability over time. From a clinical perspective, these results suggest that there could be large variations in initial press-fit fixation among patients.

Loading rate and test temperature effects on fracture of In Situ niobium silicide-niobium composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rigney, Joseph D.; Lewandowski, John J.

1996-10-01

Arc cast, extruded, and heat-treated in situ composites of niobium suicide (Nb5Si3) intermetallic with niobium phases (primary—Nbp and secondary—Nbs) exhibited high fracture resistance in comparison to monolithic Nb5Si3. In toughness tests conducted at 298 K and slow applied loading rates, the fracture process proceeded by the microcracking of the Nb5Si3 and plastic deformation of the Nbp and Nbs phases, producing resistance-curve behavior and toughnesses of 28 MPa√m with damage zone lengths less than 500 μm. The effects of changes in the Nbp yield strength and fracture behavior on the measured toughnesses were investigated by varying the loading rates during fracture tests at both 77 and 298 K. Quantitative fractography was utilized to completely characterize each fracture surface created at 298 K in order to determine the type of fracture mode ( i.e., dimpled, cleavage) exhibited by the Nbp. Specimens tested at either higher loading rates or lower test temperatures consistently exhibited a greater amount of cleavage fracture in the Nbp, while the Nbs, always remained ductile. However, the fracture toughness values determined from experiments spanning six orders of magnitude in loading rate at 298 and 77 K exhibited little variation, even under conditions when the majority of Nbp phases failed by cleavage at 77 K. The changes in fracture mode with increasing loading rate and/or decreasing test temperature and their effects on fracture toughness are rationalized by comparison to existing theoretical models.

Prestressing Shock Resistant Mechanical Components and Mechanisms Made from Hard, Superelastic Materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

DellaCorte, Christopher (Inventor)

2014-01-01

A method and an apparatus confer full superelastic properties to the active surface of a mechanical component constructed of a superelastic material prior to service. A compressive load is applied to the active surface of the mechanical component followed by removing the compressive load from the active surface whereby substantially all load strain is recoverable after applying and removing of subsequent compressive loads.

Effect of laser parameters on surface roughness of laser modified tool steel after thermal cyclic loading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lau Sheng, Annie; Ismail, Izwan; Nur Aqida, Syarifah

2018-03-01

This study presents the effects of laser parameters on the surface roughness of laser modified tool steel after thermal cyclic loading. Pulse mode Nd:YAG laser was used to perform the laser surface modification process on AISI H13 tool steel samples. Samples were then treated with thermal cyclic loading experiments which involved alternate immersion in molten aluminium (800°C) and water (27°C) for 553 cycles. A full factorial design of experiment (DOE) was developed to perform the investigation. Factors for the DOE are the laser parameter namely overlap rate (η), pulse repetition frequency (f PRF) and peak power (Ppeak ) while the response is the surface roughness after thermal cyclic loading. Results indicate the surface roughness of the laser modified surface after thermal cyclic loading is significantly affected by laser parameter settings.

Bench Press Upper-Body Muscle Activation Between Stable and Unstable Loads.

PubMed

Dunnick, Dustin D; Brown, Lee E; Coburn, Jared W; Lynn, Scott K; Barillas, Saldiam R

2015-12-01

The bench press is one of the most commonly used upper-body exercises in training and is performed with many different variations, including unstable loads (ULs). Although there is much research on use of an unstable surface, there is little to none on the use of an UL. The purpose of this study was to investigate muscle activation during the bench press while using a stable load (SL) vs. UL. Twenty resistance-trained men (age = 24.1 ± 2 years; ht = 177.5 ± 5.8 cm; mass = 88.7 ± 13.7 kg) completed 2 experimental conditions (SL and UL) at 2 different intensities (60 and 80% one repetition maximum). Unstable load was achieved by hanging 16 kg kettlebells by elastic bands from the end of the bar. All trial lifts were set to a 2-second cadence with a slight pause at the bottom. Subjects had electrodes attached to 5 muscles (pectoralis major, anterior deltoid, medial deltoid, triceps brachii, and latissimus dorsi) and performed 3 isometric bench press trials to normalize electromyographic data. All 5 muscles demonstrated significantly greater activation at 80% compared with 60% load and during concentric compared with eccentric actions. These results suggest that upper body muscle activation is not different in the bench press between UL and SL. Therefore, coaches should use their preference when designing training programs.

Controls of tectonics and sediment source locations on along-strike variations in transgressive deposits on the northern California margin

USGS Publications Warehouse

Spinelli, G.A.; Field, M.E.

2003-01-01

We identify two surfaces in the shallow subsurface on the Eel River margin offshore northern California, a lowstand erosion surface, likely formed during the last glacial maximum, and an overlying surface likely formed during the most recent transgression of the shoreline. The lowstand erosion surface, which extends from the inner shelf to near the shelfbreak and from the Eel River to Trinidad Head (???80 km), truncates underlying strata on the shelf. Above the surface, inferred transgressive coastal and estuarine sedimentary units separate it from the transgressive surface on the shelf. Early in the transgression, Eel River sediment was likely both transported down the Eel Canyon and dispersed on the slope, allowing transgressive coastal sediment from the smaller Mad River to accumulate in a recognizable deposit on the shelf. The location of coastal Mad River sediment accumulation was controlled by the location of the paleo-Mad River. Throughout the remainder of the transgression, dispersed sediment from the Eel River accumulated an average of 20 m of onlapping shelf deposits. The distribution and thickness of these transgressive marine units was strongly modified by northwest-southeast trending folds. Thick sediment packages accumulated over structural lows in the lowstand surface. The thinnest sediment accumulations (0-10 m) were deposited over structural highs along faults and uplifting anticlines. The Eel margin, an active margin with steep, high sediment-load streams, has developed a thick transgressive systems tract. On this margin sediment accumulates as rapidly as the processes of uplift and downwarp locally create and destroy accommodation space. Sequence stratigraphic models of tectonically active margins should account for variations in accommodation space along margins as well as across them. ?? 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Background aerosol over the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau: observed characteristics of aerosol mass loading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, B.; Cong, Z.; Wang, Y.; Xin, J.; Wan, X.; Pan, Y.; Liu, Z.; Wang, Y.; Zhang, G.; Kang, S.

2016-12-01

To investigate the atmospheric aerosols of the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau (HTP), an observation network was established within the region's various ecosystems, including at Ngari, Qomolangma (QOMS), Nam Co, and SouthEastern Tibetan (SET) stations. In this paper we illustrate aerosol mass loadings by integrating in situ measurements with satellite and ground-based remote sensing datasets for the 2011-2013 period, on both local and large scales. Mass concentrations of these surface atmospheric aerosols were relatively low and varied with land cover, showing a general tendency of Ngari and QOMS (barren sites) > Nam Co (grassland site) > SET (forest site). Bimodal mass distributions of size-segregated particles were found at all sites, with a relatively small peak in accumulation mode and a more notable peak in coarse mode. Diurnal variations in fine aerosol masses generally displayed a bi-peak pattern at the QOMS, Nam Co and SET stations and a single-peak pattern at the Ngari station, controlled by the effects of local geomorphology, mountain-valley breeze circulation and aerosol emissions. Combining surface aerosols data and atmospheric-column aerosol optical properties, the TSP mass and aerosol optical depth (AOD) of the Multi-angle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) generally decreased as land cover changed from barren to forest, in inverse relation to the PM2.5 ratios. The seasonality of aerosol mass parameters was land-cover dependent. Over forest and grassland areas, TSP mass, PM2.5 mass, MISR-AOD and fine-mode AOD were higher in spring and summer, followed by relatively lower values in autumn and winter. At the barren site (the QOMS station), there were inconsistent seasonal variations between surface TSP mass (PM2.5 mass) and atmospheric column AOD (fine-mode AOD). Our findings implicate that, HTP aerosol masses (especially their reginal characteristics and fine particle emissions) need to be treated sensitively in relation to assessments of their climatic effect

SIMULATED RESPONSES OF THE GULF OF MEXICO HYPOXIA TO VARIATIONS IN CLIMATE AND ANTHROPOGENIC NUTRIENT LOADING. (R827785E02)

EPA Science Inventory

A mathematical model was used to simulate monthly responses of the Gulf of Mexico hypoxia to variations in climate and anthropogenic nutrient loading over a 45-year period. We examined six hypothetical future scenarios that are based on observed and projected changes in the Mi...

Earthquake Prediction in Large-scale Faulting Experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Junger, J.; Kilgore, B.; Beeler, N.; Dieterich, J.

2004-12-01

We study repeated earthquake slip of a 2 m long laboratory granite fault surface with approximately homogenous frictional properties. In this apparatus earthquakes follow a period of controlled, constant rate shear stress increase, analogous to tectonic loading. Slip initiates and accumulates within a limited area of the fault surface while the surrounding fault remains locked. Dynamic rupture propagation and slip of the entire fault surface is induced when slip in the nucleating zone becomes sufficiently large. We report on the event to event reproducibility of loading time (recurrence interval), failure stress, stress drop, and precursory activity. We tentatively interpret these variations as indications of the intrinsic variability of small earthquake occurrence and source physics in this controlled setting. We use the results to produce measures of earthquake predictability based on the probability density of repeating occurrence and the reproducibility of near-field precursory strain. At 4 MPa normal stress and a loading rate of 0.0001 MPa/s, the loading time is ˜25 min, with a coefficient of variation of around 10%. Static stress drop has a similar variability which results almost entirely from variability of the final (rather than initial) stress. Thus, the initial stress has low variability and event times are slip-predictable. The variability of loading time to failure is comparable to the lowest variability of recurrence time of small repeating earthquakes at Parkfield (Nadeau et al., 1998) and our result may be a good estimate of the intrinsic variability of recurrence. Distributions of loading time can be adequately represented by a log-normal or Weibel distribution but long term prediction of the next event time based on probabilistic representation of previous occurrence is not dramatically better than for field-observed small- or large-magnitude earthquake datasets. The gradually accelerating precursory aseismic slip observed in the region of nucleation in these experiments is consistent with observations and theory of Dieterich and Kilgore (1996). Precursory strains can be detected typically after 50% of the total loading time. The Dieterich and Kilgore approach implies an alternative method of earthquake prediction based on comparing real-time strain monitoring with previous precursory strain records or with physically-based models of accelerating slip. Near failure, time to failure t is approximately inversely proportional to precursory slip rate V. Based on a least squares fit to accelerating slip velocity from ten or more events, the standard deviation of the residual between predicted and observed log t is typically 0.14. Scaling these results to natural recurrence suggests that a year prior to an earthquake, failure time can be predicted from measured fault slip rate with a typical error of 140 days, and a day prior to the earthquake with a typical error of 9 hours. However, such predictions require detecting aseismic nucleating strains, which have not yet been found in the field, and on distinguishing earthquake precursors from other strain transients. There is some field evidence of precursory seismic strain for large earthquakes (Bufe and Varnes, 1993) which may be related to our observations. In instances where precursory activity is spatially variable during the interseismic period, as in our experiments, distinguishing precursory activity might be best accomplished with deep arrays of near fault instruments and pattern recognition algorithms such as principle component analysis (Rundle et al., 2000).

Weathering steel as a potential source for metal contamination: Metal dissolution during 3-year of field exposure in a urban coastal site.

PubMed

Raffo, Simona; Vassura, Ivano; Chiavari, Cristina; Martini, Carla; Bignozzi, Maria C; Passarini, Fabrizio; Bernardi, Elena

2016-06-01

Surface and building runoff can significantly contribute to the total metal loading in urban runoff waters, with potential adverse effects on the receiving ecosystems. The present paper analyses the corrosion-induced metal dissolution (Fe, Mn, Cr, Ni, Cu) from weathering steel (Cor-Ten A) with or without artificial patinas, exposed for 3 years in unsheltered conditions at a marine urban site (Rimini, Italy). The influence of environmental parameters, atmospheric pollutants and surface finish on the release of dissolved metals in rain was evaluated, also by means of multivariate analysis (two-way and three-way Principal Component Analysis). In addition, surface and cross-section investigations were performed so as to monitor the patina evolution. The contribution provided by weathering steel runoff to the dissolved Fe, Mn and Ni loading at local level is not negligible and pre-patination treatments seem to worsen the performance of weathering steel in term of metal release. Metal dissolution is strongly affected by extreme events and shows seasonal variations, with different influence of seasonal parameters on the behaviour of bare or artificially patinated steel, suggesting that climate changes could significantly influence metal release from this alloy. Therefore, it is essential to perform a long-term monitoring of the performance, the durability and the environmental impact of weathering steel. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Method for Estimating Operational Loads on Aerospace Structures Using Span-Wisely Distributed Surface Strains

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ko, William L.; Fleischer, Van Tran

2013-01-01

This report presents a new method for estimating operational loads (bending moments, shear loads, and torques) acting on slender aerospace structures using distributed surface strains (unidirectional strains). The surface strain-sensing stations are to be evenly distributed along each span-wise strain-sensing line. A depth-wise cross section of the structure along each strain-sensing line can then be considered as an imaginary embedded beam. The embedded beam was first evenly divided into multiple small domains with domain junctures matching the strain-sensing stations. The new method is comprised of two steps. The first step is to determine the structure stiffness (bending or torsion) using surface strains obtained from a simple bending (or torsion) loading case, for which the applied bending moment (or torque) is known. The second step is to use the strain-determined structural stiffness (bending or torsion), and a new set of surface strains induced by any other loading case to calculate the associated operational loads (bending moments, shear loads, or torques). Performance of the new method for estimating operational loads was studied in light of finite-element analyses of several example structures subjected to different loading conditions. The new method for estimating operational loads was found to be fairly accurate, and is very promising for applications to the flight load monitoring of flying vehicles with slender wings.

Observation-based estimation of aerosol-induced reduction of planetary boundary layer height

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zou, Jun; Sun, Jianning; Ding, Aijun; Wang, Minghuai; Guo, Weidong; Fu, Congbin

2017-09-01

Radiative aerosols are known to influence the surface energy budget and hence the evolution of the planetary boundary layer. In this study, we develop a method to estimate the aerosol-induced reduction in the planetary boundary layer height (PBLH) based on two years of ground-based measurements at a site, the Station for Observing Regional Processes of the Earth System (SORPES), at Nanjing University, China, and radiosonde data from the meteorological station of Nanjing. The observations show that increased aerosol loads lead to a mean decrease of 67.1 W m-2 for downward shortwave radiation (DSR) and a mean increase of 19.2 W m-2 for downward longwave radiation (DLR), as well as a mean decrease of 9.6 Wm-2 for the surface sensible heat flux (SHF) in the daytime. The relative variations of DSR, DLR and SHF are shown as a function of the increment of column mass concentration of particulate matter (PM2.5). High aerosol loading can significantly increase the atmospheric stability in the planetary boundary layer during both daytime and nighttime. Based on the statistical relationship between SHF and PM2.5 column mass concentrations, the SHF under clean atmospheric conditions (same as the background days) is derived. In this case, the derived SHF, together with observed SHF, are then used to estimate changes in the PBLH related to aerosols. Our results suggest that the PBLH decreases more rapidly with increasing aerosol loading at high aerosol loading. When the daytime mean column mass concentration of PM2.5 reaches 200 mg m-2, the decrease in the PBLH at 1600 LST (local standard time) is about 450 m.

Influence of lanthanum on the surface structure and CO hydrogenation activity of supported cobalt catalysts

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ledford, J.S.; Houalla, M.; Proctor, A.

1989-09-07

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ESCA or XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, H{sub 2} chemisorption, and gravimetric analysis have been used to characterize three series of La/Al{sub 3}O{sub 3} and CoLa/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} catalysts. CoLa/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} catalysts were prepared by two methods: impregnation of La first followed by Co (designated CoLay) and impregnation of Co first followed by La (designated LayCo). The information obtained from surface and bulk characterization has been compared with CO hydrogenation activity and selectivity of the supported Co/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} catalysts. For CoLay catalysts with low La loadings (La/Al atomic ratio {le} 0.026), the presence ofmore » La had little effect on the structure or CO hydrogenation activity. However, the selectivity to higher hydrocarbons and olefinic products increased with increasing La content. For CoLay catalysts with higher La loadings, Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} is suppressed in favor of an amorphous dispersed La-Co mixed oxide. ESCA and H{sub 2} chemisorption indicated higher dispersion of the metallic cobalt phase for high La loadings. The turnover frequency (TOF) for CO hydrogenation decreased dramatically for high La loadings. This has been correlated to the decrease in the amount of Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} present in the La-rich catalysts. Catalysts prepared by reverse impregnation (LayCo) showed little evidence of La-Co interaction. No significant variation in reducibility or cobalt metal dispersion was observed. Lanthanum addition had little effect on the TOF for CO hydrogenation or the selectivity to olefinic products and higher hydrocarbons.« less

Dry-Processed, Binder-Free Holey Graphene Electrodes for Supercapacitors with Ultrahigh Areal Loadings.

PubMed

Walsh, Evan D; Han, Xiaogang; Lacey, Steven D; Kim, Jae-Woo; Connell, John W; Hu, Liangbing; Lin, Yi

2016-11-02

For commercial applications, the need for smaller footprint energy storage devices requires more energy to be stored per unit area. Carbon nanomaterials, especially graphene, have been studied as supercapacitor electrodes and can achieve high gravimetric capacities affording high gravimetric energy densities. However, most nanocarbon-based electrodes exhibit a significant decrease in their areal capacitances when scaled to the high mass loadings typically used in commercially available cells (∼10 mg/cm 2 ). One of the reasons for this behavior is that the additional surface area in thick electrodes is not readily accessible by electrolyte ions due to the large tortuosity. Furthermore, the fabrication of such electrodes often involves complicated processes that limit the potential for mass production. Here, holey graphene electrodes for supercapacitors that are scalable in both production and areal capacitance are presented. The lateral surface porosity on the graphene sheets was created using a facile single-step air oxidation method, and the resultant holey graphene was compacted under ambient conditions into mechanically robust monolithic shapes that can be directly used as binder-free electrodes. In comparison, pristine graphene discs under similar binder-free compression molding conditions were extremely brittle and thus not deemed useful for electrode applications. The coin cell supercapacitors, based on these holey graphene electrodes exhibited small variations in gravimetric capacitance over a wide range of areal mass loadings (∼1-30 mg/cm 2 ) at current densities as high as 30 mA/cm 2 , resulting in the near-linear increase of the areal capacitance (F/cm 2 ) with the mass loading. The prospects of the presented method for facile binder-free ultrathick graphene electrode fabrication are discussed.

Dietary correlates of temporomandibular joint morphology in the great apes.

PubMed

Terhune, Claire E

2013-02-01

Behavioral observations of great apes have consistently identified differences in feeding behavior among species, and these differences have been linked to variation in masticatory form. As the point at which the mandible and cranium articulate, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is an important component of the masticatory apparatus. Forces are transmitted between the mandible and cranium via the TMJ, and this joint helps govern mandibular range of motion. This study examined the extent to which TMJ form covaries with feeding behavior in the great apes by testing a series of biomechanical hypotheses relating to specific components of joint shape using linear measurements extracted from three-dimensional coordinate data. Results of these analyses found that taxa differ significantly in TMJ shape, particularly in the mandibular fossa. Chimpanzees have relatively more anteroposteriorly elongated joint surfaces, whereas gorillas tend to have relatively anteroposteriorly compressed joints. Orangutans were most commonly intermediate in form between Pan and Gorilla, perhaps reflecting a trade-off between jaw gape and load resistance capabilities. Importantly, much of the observed variation among taxa reflects differences in morphologies that facilitate gape over force production. These data therefore continue to emphasize the unclear relationship between mandibular loading and bony morphology, but highlight the need for further data regarding food material properties, jaw gape, and ingestive/food processing behaviors. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Finite element modeling of arachnid slit sensilla: II. Actual lyriform organs and the face deformations of the individual slits.

PubMed

Hössl, Bernhard; Böhm, Helmut J; Schaber, Clemens F; Rammerstorfer, Franz G; Barth, Friedrich G

2009-09-01

Arachnid slit sensilla respond to minute strains in the exoskeleton. After having applied finite element (FE) analysis to simplified arrays of five straight slits (Hössl et al. J Comp Physiol A 193:445-459, 2007) we now present a computational study of the effects of more subtle natural variations in geometry, number and arrangement of slits on the slit face deformations. Our simulations show that even minor variations in these parameters can substantially influence a slit's directional response. Using white-light interferometric measurements of the surface deformations of a lyriform organ, it is shown that planar FE models are capable of predicting the principal characteristics of the mechanical responses. The magnitudes of the measured and calculated slit face deformations are in good agreement. At threshold, they measure between 1.7 and 43 nm. In a lyriform organ and a closely positioned loose group of slits, the detectable range of loads increases to approximately 3.5 times the range of the lyriform organ alone. Stress concentration factors (up to ca. 29) found in the vicinity of the slits were evaluated from the models. They are mitigated due to local thickening of the exocuticle and the arrangement of the chitinous microfibers that prevents the formation of cracks under physiological loading conditions.

Study of seasonal and long-term vertical deformation in Nepal based on GPS and GRACE observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Tengxu; Shen, WenBin; Pan, Yuanjin; Luan, Wei

2018-02-01

Lithospheric deformation signal can be detected by combining data from continuous global positioning system (CGPS) and satellite observations from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE). In this paper, we use 2.5- to 19-year-long time series from 35 CGPS stations to estimate vertical deformation rates in Nepal, which is located in the southern side of the Himalaya. GPS results were compared with GRACE observations. Principal component analysis was conducted to decompose the time series into three-dimensional principal components (PCs) and spatial eigenvectors. The top three high-order PCs were calculated to correct common mode errors. Both GPS and GRACE observations showed significant seasonal variations. The observed seasonal GPS vertical variations are in good agreement with those from the GRACE-derived results, particularly for changes in surface pressure, non-tidal oceanic mass loading, and hydrologic loading. The GPS-observed rates of vertical deformation obtained for the region suggest both tectonic impact and mass decrease. The rates of vertical crustal deformation were estimated by removing the GRACE-derived hydrological vertical rates from the GPS measurements. Most of the sites located in the southern part of the Main Himalayan Thrust subsided, whereas the northern part mostly showed an uplift. These results may contribute to the understanding of secular vertical crustal deformation in Nepal.

Probabilistic Design and Analysis Framework

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Strack, William C.; Nagpal, Vinod K.

2010-01-01

PRODAF is a software package designed to aid analysts and designers in conducting probabilistic analysis of components and systems. PRODAF can integrate multiple analysis programs to ease the tedious process of conducting a complex analysis process that requires the use of multiple software packages. The work uses a commercial finite element analysis (FEA) program with modules from NESSUS to conduct a probabilistic analysis of a hypothetical turbine blade, disk, and shaft model. PRODAF applies the response surface method, at the component level, and extrapolates the component-level responses to the system level. Hypothetical components of a gas turbine engine are first deterministically modeled using FEA. Variations in selected geometrical dimensions and loading conditions are analyzed to determine the effects of the stress state within each component. Geometric variations include the cord length and height for the blade, inner radius, outer radius, and thickness, which are varied for the disk. Probabilistic analysis is carried out using developing software packages like System Uncertainty Analysis (SUA) and PRODAF. PRODAF was used with a commercial deterministic FEA program in conjunction with modules from the probabilistic analysis program, NESTEM, to perturb loads and geometries to provide a reliability and sensitivity analysis. PRODAF simplified the handling of data among the various programs involved, and will work with many commercial and opensource deterministic programs, probabilistic programs, or modules.

Variable Thermal-Force Bending of a Three-Layer Bar with a Compressible Filler

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Starovoitov, E. I.; Leonenko, D. V.

2017-11-01

Deformation of a three-layer elastoplastic bar with a compressible filler in a temperature field is considered. To describe the kinematics of a pack asymmetric across its thickness, the hypothesis of broken line is accepted, according to which the Bernoulli hypothesis is true in thin bearing layers, and the Timoshenko hypothesis is valid for a filler compressible across the its thickness, with a linear approximation of displacements across the layer thickness. The work of filler in the tangential direction is taken into account. The physical stress-strain relations correspond to the theory of small elastoplastic deformations. Temperature variations are calculated from a formula obtained by averaging the thermophysical properties of layer materials across the bar thickness. Using the variational method, a system of differential equilibrium equations is derived. On the boundary, the kinematic conditions of simply supported ends of the bar are assumed. The solution of the boundary problem is reduced to the search for four functions, namely, deflections and longitudinal displacements of median surfaces of the bearing layers. An analytical solution is derived by the method of elastic solutions with the use of the Moskvitin theorem on variable loadings. Its numerical analysis is performed for the cases of continuous and local loads.

Storm event-scale nutrient attenuation in constructed wetlands experiencing a Mediterranean climate: A comparison of a surface flow and hybrid surface-subsurface flow system.

PubMed

Adyel, Tanveer M; Oldham, Carolyn E; Hipsey, Matthew R

2017-11-15

Among different Water Sensitive Urban Design options, constructed wetlands (CWs) are used to protect and restore downstream water quality by attenuating nutrients generated by stormwater runoff. This research compared the nutrient attenuation ability during a diverse population of storm events of two CWs: (a) a hybrid CW with multiple alternating surface flow (SF) and laterite-based subsurface flow (SSF) compartments, and (b) a single stage SF CW. Within-storm variability, nutrient concentrations were assessed at 2 to 3-h intervals at both the main inlet and outlet of each CW. Dissolved oxygen concentrations of the surface waters were also monitored at 10-min intervals using high frequency in situ sensors. Nutrient loads into the CWs were observed to be higher when a high rainfall event occurred, particularly after longer antecedent dry conditions. Longer hydraulic retention times promoted higher attenuation at both sites. However, the relative extent of nutrient attenuation differed between the CW types; the mean total nitrogen (TN) attenuation in the hybrid and SF CW was 45 and 48%, respectively. The hybrid CW attenuated 67% total phosphorus (TP) loads on average, while the SF CW acted as a net TP source. Periodic storm events transitioned the lentic CW into a lotic CW and caused riparian zone saturation; it was therefore hypothesized that such saturation of organic matter rich-riparian zones led to release of TP in the system. The hybrid CW attenuated the released TP in the downstream laterite-based SSF compartments. Diel oxygen metabolism calculated before and after the storm events was found to be strongly correlated with water temperature, solar exposure and antecedent dry condition during the pre-storm conditions. Furthermore, the SF CW showed a significant relationship between overall nutrient load attenuation and the change in oxygen metabolism during the storm perturbation, suggesting oxygen variation could be a useful proxy indicator of CW function. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Mass Redistribution in the Core and Time-varying Gravity at the Earth's Surface

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kuang, Wei-Jia; Chao, Benjamin F.; Fang, Ming

2003-01-01

The Earth's liquid outer core is in convection, as suggested by the existence of the geomagnetic field in much of the Earth's history. One consequence of the convection is the redistribution of mass resulting from relative motion among fluid parcels with slightly different densities. This time dependent mass redistribution inside the core produces a small perturbation on the gravity field of the Earth. With our numerical dynamo solutions, we find that the mass redistribution (and the resultant gravity field) symmetric about the equator is much stronger than that anti-symmetric about the equator. In particular, J(sub 2) component is the strongest. In addition, the gravity field variation increases with the Rayleigh number that measures the driving force for the geodynamo in the core. With reasonable scaling from the current dynamo solutions, we could expect that at the surface of the Earth, the J(sub 2) variation from the core is on the order of l0(exp -16)/year relative to the mean (i.e. spherically symmetric) gravity field of the Earth. The possible shielding effect due to core-mantle boundary pressure variation loading is likely much smaller and is therefore negligible. Our results suggest that time-varying gravity field perturbation due to core mass redistribution may be measured with modem space geodetic observations, which will result a new means of detecting dynamical processes in the Earth's deep interior.

Spray-dried casein-based micelles as a vehicle for solubilization and controlled delivery of flutamide: formulation, characterization, and in vivo pharmacokinetics.

PubMed

Elzoghby, Ahmed O; Helmy, Maged W; Samy, Wael M; Elgindy, Nazik A

2013-08-01

Novel casein (CAS)-based micelles loaded with the poorly soluble anti-cancer drug, flutamide (FLT), were successfully developed in a powdered form via spray-drying technique. Genipin (GNP) was used to crosslink CAS micelles as demonstrated by color variation of the micelles. Drug solubilization was enhanced by incorporation within the hydrophobic micellar core which was confirmed by solubility study and UV spectra. Spherical core-shell micelles were obtained with a particle size below 100 nm and zeta potential around -30 mV. At low drug loading, FLT was totally incorporated within micellar core as revealed by thermal analysis. However, at higher loading, excess non-incorporated drug at micelle surface caused a significant reduction in the surface charge density. Turbidity measurements demonstrated the high physical stability of micelles for 2 weeks dependent on GNP-crosslinking degree. In a dry powdered form, the micelles were stable for 6 months with no significant changes in drug content or particle size. A sustained drug release from CAS micelles up to 5 days was observed. After i.v. administration into rats, CAS micelles exhibited a prolonged plasma circulation of FLT compared to drug solution. Furthermore, a more prolonged drug systemic circulation was observed for GNP-crosslinked micelles. Overall, this study reports the application of spray-dried natural protein-based micelles for i.v. delivery of hydrophobic anti-cancer drugs such as FLT. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Development and Validation of a Statistical Shape Modeling-Based Finite Element Model of the Cervical Spine Under Low-Level Multiple Direction Loading Conditions

PubMed Central

Bredbenner, Todd L.; Eliason, Travis D.; Francis, W. Loren; McFarland, John M.; Merkle, Andrew C.; Nicolella, Daniel P.

2014-01-01

Cervical spinal injuries are a significant concern in all trauma injuries. Recent military conflicts have demonstrated the substantial risk of spinal injury for the modern warfighter. Finite element models used to investigate injury mechanisms often fail to examine the effects of variation in geometry or material properties on mechanical behavior. The goals of this study were to model geometric variation for a set of cervical spines, to extend this model to a parametric finite element model, and, as a first step, to validate the parametric model against experimental data for low-loading conditions. Individual finite element models were created using cervical spine (C3–T1) computed tomography data for five male cadavers. Statistical shape modeling (SSM) was used to generate a parametric finite element model incorporating variability of spine geometry, and soft-tissue material property variation was also included. The probabilistic loading response of the parametric model was determined under flexion-extension, axial rotation, and lateral bending and validated by comparison to experimental data. Based on qualitative and quantitative comparison of the experimental loading response and model simulations, we suggest that the model performs adequately under relatively low-level loading conditions in multiple loading directions. In conclusion, SSM methods coupled with finite element analyses within a probabilistic framework, along with the ability to statistically validate the overall model performance, provide innovative and important steps toward describing the differences in vertebral morphology, spinal curvature, and variation in material properties. We suggest that these methods, with additional investigation and validation under injurious loading conditions, will lead to understanding and mitigating the risks of injury in the spine and other musculoskeletal structures. PMID:25506051

ICESat-derived lithospheric flexure as caused by an endorheic lake's expansion on the Tibetan Plateau and the comparison to modeled flexural responses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Madson, Austin; Sheng, Yongwei; Song, Chunqiao

2017-10-01

A substantial and rapid expansion beginning in the late 1990s of Siling Co, the largest endorheic lake on the central Tibetan Plateau (TP), has caused a measurable lithospheric deflection in the region adjacent to the lake. Current broad-scale measuring of this flexural response is mainly derived from InSAR processing techniques or time-consuming field campaigns. The rheological constraints of the lithosphere from the underlying lithospheric response to large lake loads in this region are not well understood. This paper highlights a more efficient spaceborne LiDAR remote sensing technique to measure the deflection in the vicinity of Siling Co and to investigate the mechanisms of the observed lithospheric response in order to garner a better understanding of the local rheology. A lake-adjacent deflection rate and Siling Co water load variations are calculated utilizing the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) onboard NASA's Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) and the joint NASA/USGS Landsat series of Earth observing satellites. A downward deflection rate of ∼5.6 mm/yr for the first 4 km of lake-adjacent land is calculated from the GLAS instrument, and this response is compared to the flexural outputs from a spherically symmetric, non-rotating, elastic, and isotropic (SNREI) Earth model in order to better understand the underlying mechanisms of the lithospheric response to the rapid increase of Siling Co loads. The modeled elastic response is ∼6.9 times lower than the GLAS derived flexure, thereby providing further evidence that a purely elastic lithospheric response cannot explain the deflection in this region. The relationship between the modeled elastic response and the GLAS derived flexure is applied to a long-term lake load change dataset to create the longest-running flexural response curve as caused by the last ∼40 years of Siling Co load variations, and these results show an accumulated lake-adjacent flexure of ∼12.6 cm from an overall lake load increase of 25.9 Gt. Our findings help to provide a better understanding of the lithospheric response to the recent expansion of Siling Co by introducing a new spaceborne laser altimeter derived technique to measure surface deformation caused by an extreme case of hydrologic loading.

Morphological and performance measures of polyurethane foams using X-ray CT and mechanical testing.

PubMed

Patterson, Brian M; Henderson, Kevin; Gilbertson, Robert D; Tornga, Stephanie; Cordes, Nikolaus L; Chavez, Manuel E; Smith, Zachary

2014-08-01

Meso-scale structure in polymeric foams determines the mechanical properties of the material. Density variations, even more than variations in the anisotropic void structure, can greatly vary the compressive and tensile response of the material. With their diverse use as both a structural material and space filler, polyurethane (PU) foams are widely studied. In this manuscript, quantitative measures of the density and anisotropic structure are provided by using micro X-ray computed tomography (microCT) to better understand the results of mechanical testing. MicroCT illustrates the variation in the density, cell morphology, size, shape, and orientation in different regions in blown foam due to the velocity profile near the casting surface. "Interrupted" in situ imaging of the material during compression of these sub-regions indicates the pathways of the structural response to the mechanical load and the changes in cell morphology as a result. It is found that molded PU foam has a 6 mm thick "skin" of higher density and highly eccentric morphological structure that leads to wide variations in mechanical performance depending upon sampling location. This comparison is necessary to understand the mechanical performance of the anisotropic structure.

A novel model to assess the efficacy of steam surface pasteurization of cooked surimi gels inoculated with realistic levels of Listeria innocua.

PubMed

Skåra, Torstein; Valdramidis, Vasilis P; Rosnes, Jan Thomas; Noriega, Estefanía; Van Impe, Jan F M

2014-12-01

Steam surface pasteurization is a promising decontamination technology for reducing pathogenic bacteria in different stages of food production. The effect of the artificial inoculation type and initial microbial load, however, has not been thoroughly assessed in the context of inactivation studies. In order to optimize the efficacy of the technology, the aim of this study was to design and validate a model system for steam surface pasteurization, assessing different inoculation methods and realistic microbial levels. More specifically, the response of Listeria innocua, a surrogate organism of Listeria monocytogenes, on a model fish product, and the effect of different inoculation levels following treatments with a steam surface pasteurization system was investigated. The variation in the resulting inoculation level on the samples was too large (77%) for the contact inoculation procedure to be further considered. In contrast, the variation of a drop inoculation procedure was 17%. Inoculation with high levels showed a rapid 1-2 log decrease after 3-5 s, and then no further inactivation beyond 20 s. A low level inoculation study was performed by analysing the treated samples using a novel contact plating approach, which can be performed without sample homogenization and dilution. Using logistic regression, results from this method were used to model the binary responses of Listeria on surfaces with realistic inoculation levels. According to this model, a treatment time of 23 s will result in a 1 log reduction (for P = 0.1). Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Influence of occlusal contact area on cusp defection and stress distribution.

PubMed

Costa, Anna Karina Figueiredo; Xavier, Thaty Aparecida; Paes-Junior, Tarcisio José Arruda; Andreatta-Filho, Oswaldo Daniel; Borges, Alexandre Luiz Souto

2014-11-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of occlusal contact area for loading on the cuspal defection and stress distribution in a first premolar restored with a high elastic modulus restorative material. The Rhinoceros 4.0 software was used for modeling the three-dimensional geometries of dental and periodontal structures and the inlay restoration. Thus, two different models, intact and restored teeth with three occlusal contact areas, 0.1, 0.5 and 0.75 mm(2), on enamel at the occlusal surface of buccal and lingual cusps. Finite element analysis (FEA) was performed with the program ANSYS (Workbench 13.0), which generated a mesh with tetrahedral elements with greater refinement in the regions of interest, and was constrained at the bases of cortical and trabecular bone in all axis and loaded with 100 N normal to each contact area. To analysis of maximum principal stress, the smaller occlusal contact area showed greater compressive stress in region of load application for both the intact and inlay restored tooth. However, tensile stresses at the occlusal isthmus were similar for all three tested occlusal contact areas (60 MPa). To displacement of the cusps was higher for teeth with inlay (0.46-0.48 mm). For intact teeth, the smaller contact area showed greater displacement (0.10 mm). For teeth with inlays, the displacement of the cusps were similar in all types of occlusal area. Cuspal displacement was higher in the restored tooth when compared to the intact tooth, but there were no significant variations even with changes in the occlusal contact area. RELEVANCE CLINICAL: Occlusal contacts have a great influence on the positioning of teeth being able to maintain the position and stability of the mandible. Axial loads would be able to generate more uniform stress at the root presenting a greater concentration of load application in the point and the occlusal surface. Thus, is necessary to analyze the relationship between these occlusal contacts as dental wear and subsequent occlusal interferences.

Hot-Tearing Assessment of Multicomponent Nongrain-Refined Al-Cu Alloys for Permanent Mold Castings Based on Load Measurements in a Constrained Mold

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sabau, Adrian S.; Mirmiran, Seyed; Glaspie, Christopher; Li, Shimin; Apelian, Diran; Shyam, Amit; Allen Haynes, J.; Rodriguez, Andres F.

2018-06-01

The hot-tearing resistance of multicomponent Al-Cu alloys during permanent mold casting was investigated using a constrained permanent mold in which the load and temperature were measured. The nominal Cu composition was varied from 5 to 8 wt pct. Casting experiments were conducted without adding any grain-refining inoculants. The following variables, which were obtained from the measured load data during casting, were considered to assess the hot-tearing resistance of the Al-Cu multicomponent alloys: "V"-like signature in the load rate variation, load at solidus point, and load rate average over the freezing range. In addition, a hot-tearing criterion based on the variation of the fraction of solid in the late stages of solidification was used. It was found that all criteria considered can accurately predict the alloys with the lowest and highest hot-tear resistance, respectively. It was found that the rate of measured load during casting could be used to indicate substantial hot tearing. However, the load rate variation could not be used to detect when small hot tears were present. Among all the criteria considered, the load at the solidus point shows an excellent agreement with experimentally observed hot-tearing resistance for all but one alloy. The poorly resistant hot-tearing alloys exhibited mainly coarse columnar grains while the most hot-tearing resistant alloys exhibited a much more refined grain microstructure. This is the first study in which good hot-tear resistance is demonstrated for multicomponent Al-Cu alloys with nominal Cu content greater than 7 wt pct.

Continental hydrology loading observed by VLBI measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eriksson, David; MacMillan, D. S.

2014-07-01

Variations in continental water storage lead to loading deformation of the crust with typical peak-to-peak variations at very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) sites of 3-15 mm in the vertical component and 1-2 mm in the horizontal component. The hydrology signal at VLBI sites has annual and semi-annual components and clear interannual variations. We have calculated the hydrology loading series using mass loading distributions derived from the global land data assimilation system (GLDAS) hydrology model and alternatively from a global grid of equal-area gravity recovery and climate experiment (GRACE) mascons. In the analysis of the two weekly VLBI 24-h R1 and R4 network sessions from 2003 to 2010 the baseline length repeatabilities are reduced in 79 % (80 %) of baselines when GLDAS (GRACE) loading corrections are applied. Site vertical coordinate repeatabilities are reduced in about 80 % of the sites when either GLDAS or GRACE loading is used. In the horizontal components, reduction occurs in 70-80 % of the sites. Estimates of the annual site vertical amplitudes were reduced for 16 out of 18 sites if either loading series was applied. We estimated loading admittance factors for each site and found that the average admittances were 1.01 0.05 for GRACE and 1.39 0.07 for GLDAS. The standard deviations of the GRACE admittances and GLDAS admittances were 0.31 and 0.68, respectively. For sites that have been observed in a set of sufficiently temporally dense daily sessions, the average correlation between VLBI vertical monthly averaged series and GLDAS or GRACE loading series was 0.47 and 0.43, respectively.

On the Variation of Hardness Due to Uniaxial and Equi-Biaxial Residual Surface Stresses at Elastic-Plastic Indentation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Larsson, Per-Lennart

2018-05-01

It is established long since that the material hardness is independent of residual stresses at predominantly plastic deformation close to the contact region at indentation. Recently though, it has been shown that when elastic and plastic deformations are of equal magnitude this invariance is lost. For materials such as ceramics and polymers, this will complicate residual stress determination but can also, if properly understood, provide additional important information for performing such a task. Indeed, when the residual stresses are equi-biaxial, the situation is quite well understood, but additional efforts have to be made to understand the mechanical behavior in other loading states. Presently therefore, the variation of hardness, due to residual stresses, is examined at a uniaxial stress state. Correlation with global indentation quantities is analyzed, discussed and compared to corresponding equi-biaxial results. Cone indentation of elastic-perfectly plastic materials is considered.

Characterization of Stress in Thallium Bromide Devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Datta, Amlan; Motakef, Shariar

2015-04-01

Thallium bromide (TlBr) is a wide bandgap, compound semiconductor with high gamma-ray stopping power and promising physical properties. Several surface modification techniques have been demonstrated to increase the lifetime of TlBr devices at room temperature. However, absence of reproducibility in the performance of TlBr detectors (even with low ionic conduction at -20°C) suggests presence of unexplored bulk phenomena. Stress in the TlBr crystal due to various intrinsic (e.g. grain boundaries and dislocations networks) in conjunction with external factors such as thermal, mechanical, and electrical loadings explains detector-to-detector variations. Photoelasticity and opto-electrical techniques were applied to visualize and qualitatively correlate the device performance with stress. Changes in stress patterns with variations in ambient temperature were clearly demonstrated. Electric field fluctuations in TlBr detectors with time were for the first time observed using the Pockels effect.

Updated Magmatic Flux Rate Estimates for the Hawaii Plume

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wessel, P.

2013-12-01

Several studies have estimated the magmatic flux rate along the Hawaiian-Emperor Chain using a variety of methods and arriving at different results. These flux rate estimates have weaknesses because of incomplete data sets and different modeling assumptions, especially for the youngest portion of the chain (<3 Ma). While they generally agree on the 1st order features, there is less agreement on the magnitude and relative size of secondary flux variations. Some of these differences arise from the use of different methodologies, but the significance of this variability is difficult to assess due to a lack of confidence bounds on the estimates obtained with these disparate methods. All methods introduce some error, but to date there has been little or no quantification of error estimates for the inferred melt flux, making an assessment problematic. Here we re-evaluate the melt flux for the Hawaii plume with the latest gridded data sets (SRTM30+ and FAA 21.1) using several methods, including the optimal robust separator (ORS) and directional median filtering techniques (DiM). We also compute realistic confidence limits on the results. In particular, the DiM technique was specifically developed to aid in the estimation of surface loads that are superimposed on wider bathymetric swells and it provides error estimates on the optimal residuals. Confidence bounds are assigned separately for the estimated surface load (obtained from the ORS regional/residual separation techniques) and the inferred subsurface volume (from gravity-constrained isostasy and plate flexure optimizations). These new and robust estimates will allow us to assess which secondary features in the resulting melt flux curve are significant and should be incorporated when correlating melt flux variations with other geophysical and geochemical observations.

Wireless Metal Detection and Surface Coverage Sensing for All-Surface Induction Heating

PubMed Central

Kilic, Veli Tayfun; Unal, Emre; Demir, Hilmi Volkan

2016-01-01

All-surface induction heating systems, typically comprising small-area coils, face a major challenge in detecting the presence of a metallic vessel and identifying its partial surface coverage over the coils to determine which of the coils to power up. The difficulty arises due to the fact that the user can heat vessels made of a wide variety of metals (and their alloys). To address this problem, we propose and demonstrate a new wireless detection methodology that allows for detecting the presence of metallic vessels together with uniquely sensing their surface coverages while also identifying their effective material type in all-surface induction heating systems. The proposed method is based on telemetrically measuring simultaneously inductance and resistance of the induction coil coupled with the vessel in the heating system. Here, variations in the inductance and resistance values for an all-surface heating coil loaded by vessels (made of stainless steel and aluminum) at different positions were systematically investigated at different frequencies. Results show that, independent of the metal material type, unique identification of the surface coverage is possible at all freqeuncies. Additionally, using the magnitude and phase information extracted from the coupled coil impedance, unique identification of the vessel effective material is also achievable, this time independent of its surface coverage. PMID:26978367

14 CFR 23.443 - Gust loads.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... STANDARDS: NORMAL, UTILITY, ACROBATIC, AND COMMUTER CATEGORY AIRPLANES Structure Vertical Surfaces § 23.443 Gust loads. (a) Vertical surfaces must be designed to withstand, in unaccelerated flight at speed V C... computed as follows: ER09FE96.000 Where— Lvt=Vertical surface loads (lbs.); ER09FE96.001 ER09FE96.002 Ude...

14 CFR 23.443 - Gust loads.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... STANDARDS: NORMAL, UTILITY, ACROBATIC, AND COMMUTER CATEGORY AIRPLANES Structure Vertical Surfaces § 23.443 Gust loads. (a) Vertical surfaces must be designed to withstand, in unaccelerated flight at speed V C... computed as follows: ER09FE96.000 Where— Lvt=Vertical surface loads (lbs.); ER09FE96.001 ER09FE96.002 Ude...

14 CFR 23.443 - Gust loads.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... STANDARDS: NORMAL, UTILITY, ACROBATIC, AND COMMUTER CATEGORY AIRPLANES Structure Vertical Surfaces § 23.443 Gust loads. (a) Vertical surfaces must be designed to withstand, in unaccelerated flight at speed V C... computed as follows: ER09FE96.000 Where— Lvt=Vertical surface loads (lbs.); ER09FE96.001 ER09FE96.002 Ude...

14 CFR 23.443 - Gust loads.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... STANDARDS: NORMAL, UTILITY, ACROBATIC, AND COMMUTER CATEGORY AIRPLANES Structure Vertical Surfaces § 23.443 Gust loads. (a) Vertical surfaces must be designed to withstand, in unaccelerated flight at speed V C... computed as follows: ER09FE96.000 Where— Lvt=Vertical surface loads (lbs.); ER09FE96.001 ER09FE96.002 Ude...

14 CFR 23.443 - Gust loads.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... STANDARDS: NORMAL, UTILITY, ACROBATIC, AND COMMUTER CATEGORY AIRPLANES Structure Vertical Surfaces § 23.443 Gust loads. (a) Vertical surfaces must be designed to withstand, in unaccelerated flight at speed V C... computed as follows: ER09FE96.000 Where— Lvt=Vertical surface loads (lbs.); ER09FE96.001 ER09FE96.002 Ude...

Surface deterioration of dental materials after simulated toothbrushing in relation to brushing time and load.

PubMed

Heintze, S D; Forjanic, M; Ohmiti, K; Rousson, V

2010-04-01

(1) To evaluate the changes in surface roughness and gloss after simulated toothbrushing of 9 composite materials and 2 ceramic materials in relation to brushing time and load in vitro; (2) to assess the relationship between surface gloss and surface roughness. Eight flat specimens of composite materials (microfilled: Adoro, Filtek Supreme, Heliomolar; microhybrid: Four Seasons, Tetric EvoCeram; hybrid: Compoglass F, Targis, Tetric Ceram; macrohybrid: Grandio), two ceramic materials (IPS d.SIGN and IPS Empress polished) were fabricated according to the manufacturer's instructions and optimally polished with up to 4000 grit SiC. The specimens were subjected to a toothbrushing (TB) simulation device (Willytec) with rotating movements, toothpaste slurry and at three different loads (100g/250g/350g). At hourly intervals from 1h to 10h TB, mean surface roughness Ra was measured with an optical sensor and the surface gloss (Gl) with a glossmeter. Statistical analysis was performed for log-transformed Ra data applying two-way ANOVA to evaluate the interaction between load and material and load and brushing time. There was a significant interaction between material and load as well as between load and brushing time (p<0.0001). The microhybrid and hybrid materials demonstrated more surface deterioration with higher loads, whereas with the microfilled resins Heliomolar and Adoro it was vice versa. For ceramic materials, no or little deterioration was observed over time and independent of the load. The ceramic materials and 3 of the composite materials (roughness) showed no further deterioration after 5h of toothbrushing. Mean surface gloss was the parameter which discriminated best between the materials, followed by mean surface roughness Ra. There was a strong correlation between surface gloss and surface roughness for all the materials except the ceramics. The evaluation of the deterioration curves of individual specimens revealed a more or less synchronous course suspecting hinting specific external conditions and not showing the true variability in relation to the tested material. The surface roughness and gloss of dental materials changes with brushing time and load and thus results in different material rankings. Apart from Grandio, the hybrid composite resins were more prone to surface changes than microfilled composites. The deterioration potential of a composite material can be quickly assessed by measuring surface gloss. For this purpose, a brushing time of 10h (=72,000 strokes) is needed. In further comparative studies, specimens of different materials should be tested in one series to estimate the true variability. Copyright (c) 2009 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Spatial and temporal variations of water quality in an artificial urban river receiving WWTP effluent in South China.

PubMed

Zhang, Di; Tao, Yi; Liu, Xiaoning; Zhou, Kuiyu; Yuan, Zhenghao; Wu, Qianyuan; Zhang, Xihui

2016-01-01

Urban wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent as reclaimed water provides an alternative water resource for urban rivers and effluent will pose a significant influence on the water quality of rivers. The objective of this study was to investigate the spatial and temporal variations of water quality in XZ River, an artificial urban river in Shenzhen city, Guangdong Province, China, after receiving reclaimed water from WWTP effluent. The water samples were collected monthly at different sites of XZ River from April 2013 to September 2014. Multivariate statistical techniques and a box-plot were used to assess the variations of water quality and to identify the main pollution factor. The results showed the input of WWTP effluent could effectively increase dissolved oxygen, decrease turbidity, phosphorus load and organic pollution load of XZ River. However, total nitrogen and nitrate pollution loads were found to remain at higher levels after receiving reclaimed water, which might aggravate eutrophication status of XZ River. Organic pollution load exhibited the lowest value on the 750 m downstream of XZ River, while turbidity and nutrient load showed the lowest values on the 2,300 m downstream. There was a higher load of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in the dry season and at the beginning of wet season.

Surface loading of a viscoelastic earth-I. General theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tromp, Jeroen; Mitrovica, Jerry X.

1999-06-01

We present a new normal-mode formalism for computing the response of an aspherical, self-gravitating, linear viscoelastic earth model to an arbitrary surface load. The formalism makes use of recent advances in the theory of the Earth's free oscillations, and is based upon an eigenfunction expansion methodology, rather than the tradi-tional Love-number approach to surface-loading problems. We introduce a surface-load representation theorem analogous to Betti's reciprocity relation in seismology. Taking advantage of this theorem and the biorthogonality of the viscoelastic modes, we determine the complete response to a surface load in the form of a Green's function. We also demonstrate that each viscoelastic mode has its own unique energy partitioning, which can be used to characterize it. In subsequent papers, we apply the theory to spherically symmetric and aspherical earth models.

Reliability Analysis of Retaining Walls Subjected to Blast Loading by Finite Element Approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

GuhaRay, Anasua; Mondal, Stuti; Mohiuddin, Hisham Hasan

2018-02-01

Conventional design methods adopt factor of safety as per practice and experience, which are deterministic in nature. The limit state method, though not completely deterministic, does not take into account effect of design parameters, which are inherently variable such as cohesion, angle of internal friction, etc. for soil. Reliability analysis provides a measure to consider these variations into analysis and hence results in a more realistic design. Several studies have been carried out on reliability of reinforced concrete walls and masonry walls under explosions. Also, reliability analysis of retaining structures against various kinds of failure has been done. However, very few research works are available on reliability analysis of retaining walls subjected to blast loading. Thus, the present paper considers the effect of variation of geotechnical parameters when a retaining wall is subjected to blast loading. However, it is found that the variation of geotechnical random variables does not have a significant effect on the stability of retaining walls subjected to blast loading.

Prediction of forest canopy and surface fuels from Lidar and satellite time series data in a bark beetle-affected forest

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bright, Benjamin C.; Hudak, Andrew T.; Meddens, Arjan J.H.; Hawbaker, Todd J.; Briggs, Jenny S.; Kennedy, Robert E.

2017-01-01

Wildfire behavior depends on the type, quantity, and condition of fuels, and the effect that bark beetle outbreaks have on fuels is a topic of current research and debate. Remote sensing can provide estimates of fuels across landscapes, although few studies have estimated surface fuels from remote sensing data. Here we predicted and mapped field-measured canopy and surface fuels from light detection and ranging (lidar) and Landsat time series explanatory variables via random forest (RF) modeling across a coniferous montane forest in Colorado, USA, which was affected by mountain pine beetles (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) approximately six years prior. We examined relationships between mapped fuels and the severity of tree mortality with correlation tests. RF models explained 59%, 48%, 35%, and 70% of the variation in available canopy fuel, canopy bulk density, canopy base height, and canopy height, respectively (percent root-mean-square error (%RMSE) = 12–54%). Surface fuels were predicted less accurately, with models explaining 24%, 28%, 32%, and 30% of the variation in litter and duff, 1 to 100-h, 1000-h, and total surface fuels, respectively (%RMSE = 37–98%). Fuel metrics were negatively correlated with the severity of tree mortality, except canopy base height, which increased with greater tree mortality. Our results showed how bark beetle-caused tree mortality significantly reduced canopy fuels in our study area. We demonstrated that lidar and Landsat time series data contain substantial information about canopy and surface fuels and can be used for large-scale efforts to monitor and map fuel loads for fire behavior modeling at a landscape scale.

Relations of surface-water quality to streamflow in the Atlantic Coastal, lower Delaware River, and Delaware Bay basins, New Jersey, water years 1976-93

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hunchak-Kariouk, Kathryn; Buxton, Debra E.; Hickman, R. Edward

1999-01-01

Relations of water quality to streamflow were determined for 18 water-quality constituents at 28 surface-water-quality stations within the drainage area of the Atlantic Coastal, lower Delaware River, and Delaware Bay Basins for water years 1976-93. Surface-water-quality and streamflow data were evaluated for trends (through time) in constituent concentrations during high and low flows, and relations between constituent concentration and streamflow, and between constituent load and streamflow, were determined. Median concentrations were calculated for the entire period of study (water years 1976-93) and for the last 5 years of the period of study (water years 1989-93) to determine whether any large variation in concentration exists between the two periods. Medians also were used to determine the seasonal Kendall\\'s tau statistic, which was then used to evaluate trends in concentrations during high and low flows. Trends in constituent concentrations during high and low flows were evaluated to determine whether the distribution of the observations changes through time for intermittent (nonpoint storm runoff) and constant (point sources and ground water) sources, respectively. High- and low-flow trends in concentrations were determined for some constituents at 26 of the 28 water-quality stations. Seasonal effects on the relations of concentration to streamflow are evident for 10 constituents at 14 or more stations. Dissolved oxygen shows seasonal dependency at all stations. Negative slopes of relations of concentration to streamflow, which indicate a decrease in concentration at high flows, predominate over positive slopes because of dilution of instream concentrations from storm runoff. The slopes of the regression lines of load to streamflow were determined in order to show the relative contributions to the instream load from constant (point sources and ground water) and intermittent sources (storm runoff). Greater slope values indicate larger contributions from storm runoff to instream load, which most likely indicate an increased relative importance of nonpoint sources. Load-to-streamflow relations along a stream reach that tend to increase in a downstream direction indicate the increased relative importance of contributions from storm runoff. Likewise, load-to-streamflow relations along a stream reach that tend to decrease in a downstream direction indicate the increased relative importance of point sources and ground-water discharge. The magnitudes of the load slopes for five constituents increase in the downstream direction along the Great Egg Harbor River, indicating an increased relative importance of storm runoff for these constituents along the river. The magnitudes of the load slopes for 11 constituents decrease in the downstream direction along the Assunpink Creek and for 5 constituents along the Maurice River, indicating a decreased relative importance of storm runoff for these constituents along the rivers.

Typhoon-Induced Ground Deformation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mouyen, M.; Canitano, A.; Chao, B. F.; Hsu, Y.-J.; Steer, P.; Longuevergne, L.; Boy, J.-P.

2017-11-01

Geodetic instruments now offer compelling sensitivity, allowing to investigate how solid Earth and surface processes interact. By combining surface air pressure data, nontidal sea level variations model, and rainfall data, we systematically analyze the volumetric deformation of the shallow crust at seven borehole strainmeters in Taiwan induced by 31 tropical cyclones (typhoons) that made landfall to the island from 2004 to 2013. The typhoon's signature consists in a ground dilatation due to air pressure drop, generally followed by a larger ground compression. We show that this compression phase can be mostly explained by the mass loading of rainwater that falls on the ground and concentrates in the valleys towards the strainmeter sensitivity zone. Further, our analysis shows that borehole strainmeters can help quantifying the amount of rainwater accumulating and flowing over a watershed during heavy rainfalls, which is a useful constraint for building hydrological models.

Microstructure of enamel.

PubMed

Boyde, A

1997-01-01

Enamel is a composite material consisting of mineral and organic phases. The properties of the mineral phase are modulated dramatically by its division into microscopic crystals, cemented together by the organic matrix protein polymer. A good concept of the 3D orientations of the crystals derives from visualizing their growth perpendicular to the surface in which they develop, which is pitted by the secretory poles of the ameloblasts. The arrangement of the crystals is the cause of the discontinuities, known as the prism boundaries or junctions, in the otherwise continuous structure. These locations acquire a more concentrated organic matrix during maturation, and they are both crack stoppers and crack propagation tracks in the adult tissue. Any tendency of prisms to cleave may be reduced by their varicosities, which reflect daily variations in the rate of production; their cross-sectional shape; the non-parallelism of adjacent groups, which develops through translocation of groups of cells across the surface during development; and the support of any one microscopic tissue element by other tissue, including dentine, placed to resist an applied load. Incremental growth lines are preferential cleavage planes within the enamel. Failure patterns of enamel in normal and abnormal use can be explained by these parameters, with additional consideration of functional variation and fatigue.

A finite element method to compute three-dimensional equilibrium configurations of fluid membranes: Optimal parameterization, variational formulation and applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rangarajan, Ramsharan; Gao, Huajian

2015-09-01

We introduce a finite element method to compute equilibrium configurations of fluid membranes, identified as stationary points of a curvature-dependent bending energy functional under certain geometric constraints. The reparameterization symmetries in the problem pose a challenge in designing parametric finite element methods, and existing methods commonly resort to Lagrange multipliers or penalty parameters. In contrast, we exploit these symmetries by representing solution surfaces as normal offsets of given reference surfaces and entirely bypass the need for artificial constraints. We then resort to a Galerkin finite element method to compute discrete C1 approximations of the normal offset coordinate. The variational framework presented is suitable for computing deformations of three-dimensional membranes subject to a broad range of external interactions. We provide a systematic algorithm for computing large deformations, wherein solutions at subsequent load steps are identified as perturbations of previously computed ones. We discuss the numerical implementation of the method in detail and demonstrate its optimal convergence properties using examples. We discuss applications of the method to studying adhesive interactions of fluid membranes with rigid substrates and to investigate the influence of membrane tension in tether formation.

Pedogenesis on ice (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hodson, A. J.

2010-12-01

It is well known from ice cores that organic and mineral debris accumulates within glacier ice following atmospheric deposition. However, the concentrations of such debris are usually greatest upon the ice surface, especially at the margins of continental glaciers and ice sheets, where it forms mm-scale aggregate particles called “cryoconite”. According to the literature, cryoconite covers about 2 % of the ablation areas of glaciers outside Greenland and Antarctica, equivalent to a mass loading of ca. 25 g/m2. Of the great ice sheets not included in this figure, Greenland is the easiest to estimate, and new observations from the NE and SW sectors indicate mass loadings in the range 17 - 440 g/m2. Studies of cryoconite often report the presence of a significant biomass (usually 10^4 - 10^7 cells/g) that is capable of a wide range of biogeochemical functions. The first part of this presentation will therefore explore the contention that the formation of cryoconite represents the first stages of pedogenesis, resulting in the production of soil-type aggregates that inoculate glacial forefields following glacier retreat. Emphasis will be given to the relevant processes that result in aggregate formation, including rapid cell-mineral attachment within melting snowpacks and the slower, biological processes of cementation within thermodynamically stable habitats such as cryoconite holes. The second part of the presentation will use examples from Svalbard, Greenland and Antarctica to consider the carbon balance of the cryoconite during the longest phase of its life cycle: upon the ice. It will be demonstrated how the efficacy of photosynthesis is strongly influenced by thermodynamic conditions at or near this surface. Data from the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets will show how thermal equilibration decouples variations in photosynthesis from variations in incident radiation over timescales > 1 d, resulting in an equitable, low-carbon economy for aggregates within deep cryoconite holes. Here rates of primary production can be low (e.g. average 2.2 µg C/g (cryoconite)/d in East Antarctica). However, upon maritime glaciers and perhaps parts of the Greenland Ice Sheet margin, high rates of sensible heat transfer maintain cryoconite aggregates close to or upon the ice surface, rendering a communal existence far less likely. This near-surface habitat enables higher rates of photosynthesis (e.g. average 17 µgC/g/d in Svalbard), but also means the probability of meltwater flushing from the ice surface is greatly increased.

Numerical modeling of the load effect on PZT-induced guided wave for load compensation of damage detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Hu; Zhang, Aijia; Wang, Yishou; Qing, Xinlin P.

2017-04-01

Guided wave-based structural health monitoring (SHM) has been given considerable attention and widely studied for large-scale aircraft structures. Nevertheless, it is difficult to apply SHM systems on board or online, for which one of the most serious reasons is the environmental influence. Load is one fact that affects not only the host structure, in which guided wave propagates, but also the PZT, by which guided wave is transmitted and received. In this paper, numerical analysis using finite element method is used to study the load effect on guided wave acquired by PZT. The static loads with different grades are considered to analyze its effect on guided wave signals that PZT transmits and receives. Based on the variation trend of guided waves versus load, a load compensation method is developed to eliminate effects of load in the process of damage detection. The probabilistic reconstruction algorithm based on the signal variation of transmitter-receiver path is employed to identify the damage. Numerical tests is conducted to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the given method.

Modeling Aircraft Wing Loads from Flight Data Using Neural Networks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allen, Michael J.; Dibley, Ryan P.

2003-01-01

Neural networks were used to model wing bending-moment loads, torsion loads, and control surface hinge-moments of the Active Aeroelastic Wing (AAW) aircraft. Accurate loads models are required for the development of control laws designed to increase roll performance through wing twist while not exceeding load limits. Inputs to the model include aircraft rates, accelerations, and control surface positions. Neural networks were chosen to model aircraft loads because they can account for uncharacterized nonlinear effects while retaining the capability to generalize. The accuracy of the neural network models was improved by first developing linear loads models to use as starting points for network training. Neural networks were then trained with flight data for rolls, loaded reversals, wind-up-turns, and individual control surface doublets for load excitation. Generalization was improved by using gain weighting and early stopping. Results are presented for neural network loads models of four wing loads and four control surface hinge moments at Mach 0.90 and an altitude of 15,000 ft. An average model prediction error reduction of 18.6 percent was calculated for the neural network models when compared to the linear models. This paper documents the input data conditioning, input parameter selection, structure, training, and validation of the neural network models.

Optical surface pressure measurements: Accuracy and application field evaluation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bukov, A.; Mosharov, V.; Orlov, A.; Pesetsky, V.; Radchenko, V.; Phonov, S.; Matyash, S.; Kuzmin, M.; Sadovskii, N.

1994-07-01

Optical pressure measurement (OPM) is a new pressure measurement method rapidly developed in several aerodynamic research centers: TsAGI (Russia), Boeing, NASA, McDonnell Douglas (all USA), and DLR (Germany). Present level of OPM-method provides its practice as standard experimental method of aerodynamic investigations in definite application fields. Applications of OPM-method are determined mainly by its accuracy. The accuracy of OPM-method is determined by the errors of three following groups: (1) errors of the luminescent pressure sensor (LPS) itself, such as uncompensated temperature influence, photo degradation, temperature and pressure hysteresis, variation of the LPS parameters from point to point on the model surface, etc.; (2) errors of the measurement system, such as noise of the photodetector, nonlinearity and nonuniformity of the photodetector, time and temperature offsets, etc.; and (3) methodological errors, owing to displacement and deformation of the model in an airflow, a contamination of the model surface, scattering of the excitation and luminescent light from the model surface and test section walls, etc. OPM-method allows getting total error of measured pressure not less than 1 percent. This accuracy is enough to visualize the pressure field and allows determining total and distributed aerodynamic loads and solving some problems of local aerodynamic investigations at transonic and supersonic velocities. OPM is less effective at low subsonic velocities (M less than 0.4), and for precise measurements, for example, an airfoil optimization. Current limitations of the OPM-method are discussed on an example of the surface pressure measurements and calculations of the integral loads on the wings of canard-aircraft model. The pressure measurement system and data reduction methods used on these tests are also described.

Short-term variations of Icelandic ice cap mass inferred from cGPS coordinate time series

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Compton, Kathleen; Bennett, Richard A.; Hreinsdóttir, Sigrún; van Dam, Tonie; Bordoni, Andrea; Barletta, Valentina; Spada, Giorgio

2017-06-01

As the global climate changes, understanding short-term variations in water storage is increasingly important. Continuously operating Global Positioning System (cGPS) stations in Iceland record annual periodic motion—the elastic response to winter accumulation and spring melt seasons—with peak-to-peak vertical amplitudes over 20 mm for those sites in the Central Highlands. Here for the first time for Iceland, we demonstrate the utility of these cGPS-measured displacements for estimating seasonal and shorter-term ice cap mass changes. We calculate unit responses to each of the five largest ice caps in central Iceland at each of the 62 cGPS locations using an elastic half-space model and estimate ice mass variations from the cGPS time series using a simple least squares inversion scheme. We utilize all three components of motion, taking advantage of the seasonal motion recorded in the horizontal. We remove secular velocities and accelerations and explore the impact that seasonal motions due to atmospheric, hydrologic, and nontidal ocean loading have on our inversion results. Our results match available summer and winter mass balance measurements well, and we reproduce the seasonal stake-based observations of loading and melting within the 1σ confidence bounds of the inversion. We identify nonperiodic ice mass changes associated with interannual variability in precipitation and other processes such as increased melting due to reduced ice surface albedo or decreased melting due to ice cap insulation in response to tephra deposition following volcanic eruptions, processes that are not resolved with once or twice-yearly stake measurements.

Functional characterization of normal and degraded bovine meniscus: Rate-dependent indentation and friction studies

PubMed Central

Baro, Vincent J.; Bonnevie, Edward D.; Lai, Xiaohan; Price, Christopher; Burris, David L.; Wang, Liyun

2013-01-01

The menisci are known to play important roles in normal joint function and the development of diseases such as osteoarthritis. However, our understanding of meniscus’ load bearing and lubrication properties at the tissue level remains limited. The objective of this investigation was to characterize the site- and rate-dependency of the compressive and frictional responses of the meniscus under a spherical contact load. Using a custom testing device, indentation tests with rates of 1, 10, 25, 50, and 100 μm/s were performed on bovine medial meniscus explants, which were harvested from five locations including the femoral apposing surface at the anterior, central, and posterior locations and the central portion at the deep layer and at the tibial apposing surface (n=5 per location). Sliding tests with rates of 0.05, 0.25, 1, and 5 mm/s were performed on the central femoral aspect and central tibial aspect superficial samples (n=6 per location). A separate set of superficial samples were subjected to papain digestion and tested prior to and post treatment. Our findings are: i) the Hertz contact model can be used to fit the force responses of meniscus under the conditions tested; ii) the anterior region is significantly stiffer than the posterior region and tissue modulus does not vary with tissue depth at the central region; iii) the friction coefficient of the meniscus is on the order of 0.02 under migratory contacts and the femoral apposing surface tends to show lower friction than the tibial apposing surface; iv) the meniscus exhibits increased modulus and lubrication with increased indentation and sliding rates; v) matrix degradation impedes the functional load support and lubrication properties of the tissue. The site- and rate-dependent properties of the meniscus may be attributed to spatial variations of the tissue’s biphasic structure. These properties substantiate the role of the meniscus as one of the important bearing surfaces of the knee. These data contribute to an improved understanding of meniscus function, and its role in degenerative joint diseases. In addition, the results provide functional metrics for developing engineered tissue replacements. PMID:22449445

Impact of the variation in dynamic vehicle load on flexible pavement responses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahsanuzzaman, Md

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the dynamic variation in asphalt pavement critical responses due to dynamic tire load variations. An attempt was also made to develop generalized regression equations to predict the dynamic response variation in flexible pavement under various dynamic load conditions. The study used an extensive database of computed pavement response histories for five different types of sites (smooth, rough, medium rough, very rough and severely rough), two different asphalt pavement structures (thin and thick) at two temperatures (70 °F and 104 °F), subjected to a tandem axle dual tire at three speeds 25, 37 and 50 mph (40, 60 and 80 km/h). All pavement responses were determined using the 3D-Move Analysis program (Version 1.2) developed by University of Nevada, Reno. A new term called Dynamic Response Coefficient (DRC) was introduced in this study to address the variation in critical pavement responses due to dynamic loads as traditionally measured by the Dynamic Load Coefficient (DLC). While DLC represents the additional varying component of the tire load, DRC represents the additional varying component of the response value (standard deviation divided by mean response). In this study, DRC was compared with DLC for five different sites based on the roughness condition of the sites. Previous studies showed that DLC varies with vehicle speed and suspension types, and assumes a constant value for the whole pavement structure (lateral and vertical directions). On the other hand, in this study, DRC was found to be significantly varied with the asphalt pavement and function of pavement structure, road roughness conditions, temperatures, vehicle speeds, suspension types, and locations of the point of interest in the pavement. A major contribution of the study is that the variation of pavement responses due to dynamic load in a flexible pavement system can be predicted with generalized regression equations. Fitting parameters (R2) in the rage of 0.60 to 0.87 were observed the DRC predictive equations. In addition, verification of those generalized equations was evaluated using different sets of asphalt pavement structures and pavement materials. The differences between calculated and predicted values were found to be within +/-20% for the maximum tensile strain and +/-30% for the maximum compressive strain in the asphalt layer.

Occurrence and fate of carbamazepine, clofibric acid, diclofenac, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and naproxen in surface waters.

PubMed

Tixier, Céline; Singer, Heinz P; Oellers, Sjef; Müller, Stephan R

2003-03-15

Although various single-concentration measurements of pharmaceuticals are available in the literature, detailed information on the variation over time of the concentration and the load in wastewater effluents and rivers and on the fate of these compounds in the aquatic environment are lacking. We measured the concentrations of six pharmaceuticals, carbamazepine, clofibric acid, diclofenac, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and naproxen, in the effluents of three wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), in two rivers and in the water column of Lake Greifensee (Switzerland) over a time period of three months. In WWTP effluents, the concentrations reached 0.95 microg/L for carbamazepine, 0.06 microg/L for clofibric acid, 0.99 microg/L for diclofenac, 1.3 microg/L for ibuprofen, 0.18 microg/L for ketoprofen, and 2.6 microg/L for naproxen. The relative importance in terms of loads was carbamazepine, followed by diclofenac, naproxen, ibuprofen, clofibric acid, and ketoprofen. An overall removal rate of all these pharmaceuticals was estimated in surface waters, under real-world conditions (in a lake), using field measurements and modeling. Carbamazepine and clofibric acid were fairly persistent. Phototransformation was identified as the main elimination process of diclofenac in the lake water during the study period. With a relatively high sorption coefficient to particles, ibuprofen might be eliminated by sedimentation. For ketoprofen and naproxen, biodegradation and phototransformation might be elimination processes. For the first time, quantitative data regarding removal rates were determined in surface waters under real-world conditions. All these findings are important data for a risk assessment of these compounds in surface waters.

Spatial and temporal variation of heavy metal risk and source in sediments of Dongting Lake wetland, mid-south China.

PubMed

Liang, Jie; Liu, Jiayu; Yuan, Xingzhong; Zeng, Guangming; Lai, Xu; Li, Xiaodong; Wu, Haipeng; Yuan, Yujie; Li, Fei

2015-01-01

Surface sediments of Dongting Lake wetland were collected from ten sites to investigate variation trend, risk and sources of heavy metal distribution in dry seasons of 2011∼2013. The three-year mean concentrations (mg/kg) of Cr, Cu, Pb, Cd, Hg and As were 91.33, 36.27, 54.82, 4.39, 0.19 and 25.67, respectively, which were all higher than the corresponding background values. Sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) and Geo-accumulation index (Igeo) were used for the assessment of pollution level of heavy metals. The pollution risk of Cd, Hg and As were great and that of Cr needed urgent attention because of its obvious increase. Pollution load index (PLI) and geographic information system (GIS) methods were conducted to assess spatial and temporal variation of heavy metal contamination. Results confirmed an increased contamination contribution inflow from Xiang River. Multivariate statistical analyses were applied to identify contribution sources of heavy metal, which showed anthropogenic origin mainly from mining, smelting, chemical industry and agricultural activity.

Earth's surface loading study using InSAR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amelung, F.; Zhao, W.; Doin, M. P.

2014-12-01

Earth's surface loading/unloading such as glacier retreat, lake water level change, ocean tide, cause measurable (centimeter to millimeter) surface deformation from Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (InSAR). Such seasonal or decadal deformation signals are useful for the estimation of the amount of load and the parameterization of crust and upper mantle - typically under an elastic or a visco-elastic mechanism. Since 2010, we established a study of surface loading using small baseline InSAR time-series analysis. Four sites are included in this study, which are Vatnajokull ice cap, Lake Yamzho Yumco, Petermann glacier, and Barnes ice cap using different satellites such as ERS1/2, Envisat, Radarsat-2, TerraSAR-X. We present results that mainly answer three questions: 1) Is InSAR time-series capable for the detection of millimeter level deformation due to surface loading; 2) When the Earth's rheology is known, how much load change occured; 3) When the surface loading is known, what are the Earth's parameters such as Young's modulus, viscosity. For glacier retreat problem, we introduce a new model for the ice mass loss estimation considering the spatial distribution of ice loss. For lake unloading problem, modeled elastic parameters are useful for the comparison to other 1-D models, e.g. the model based on seismic data.

Free-Spinning Wind-Tunnel Tests of a Low-Wing Monoplane with Systematic Changes in Wings and Tails V : Effect of Airplane Relative Density

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Seidman, Oscar; Neihouse, A I

1940-01-01

The reported tests are a continuation of an NACA investigation being made in the free-spinning wind tunnel to determine the effects of independent variations in load distribution, wing and tail arrangement, and control disposition on the spin characteristics of airplanes. The standard series of tests was repeated to determine the effect of airplane relative density. Tests were made at values of the relative-density parameter of 6.8, 8.4 (basic), and 12.0; and the results were analyzed. The tested variations in the relative-density parameter may be considered either as variations in the wing loading of an airplane spun at a given altitude, with the radii of gyration kept constant, or as a variation of the altitude at which the spin takes place for a given airplane. The lower values of the relative-density parameter correspond to the lower wing loadings or to the lower altitudes of the spin.

Effects of Load and Speed on Wear Rate of Abrasive Wear for 2014 Al Alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Odabas, D.

2018-01-01

In this paper, the effects of the normal load and sliding speed on wear rate of two-body abrasive wear for 2014 Al Alloy were investigated in detail. In order to understand the variation in wear behaviour with load and speed, wear tests were carried out at a sliding distance of 11 m, a speed of 0.36 m/s, a duration of 30 s and loads in the range 3-11 N using 220 grit abrasive paper, and at a speed range 0.09-0.90 m/s, a load of 5 N and an average sliding distance of 11 m using abrasive papers of 150 grit size under dry friction conditions. Before the wear tests, solution treatment of the 2014 Al alloy was carried out at temperatures of 505 and 520 °C for 1 h in a muffle furnace and then quenched in cold water at 15 °C. Later, the ageing treatment was carried out at 185 °C for 8 h in the furnace. Generally, wear rate due to time increased linearly and linear wear resistance decreased with increasing loads. However, the wear rate was directly proportional to the load up to a critical load of 7 N. After this load, the slope of the curves decreased because the excessive deformation of the worn surface and the instability of the abrasive grains began to increase. When the load on an abrasive grain reaches a critical value, the groove width is about 0.17 of the abrasive grain diameter, and the abrasive grains begin to fail. The wear rate due to time increased slightly as the sliding speed increased in the range 0.09-0.90 m/s. The reason for this is that changes arising from strain rate and friction heating are expected with increasing sliding speeds.

14 CFR 23.341 - Gust loads factors.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... loads factors. (a) Each airplane must be designed to withstand loads on each lifting surface resulting...=airplane mass ratio; U de=Derived gust velocities referred to in § 23.333(c) (f.p.s.); ρ=Density of air... C NA per radian if the gust loads are applied to the wings and horizontal tail surfaces...

14 CFR 23.341 - Gust loads factors.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... loads factors. (a) Each airplane must be designed to withstand loads on each lifting surface resulting...=airplane mass ratio; U de=Derived gust velocities referred to in § 23.333(c) (f.p.s.); ρ=Density of air... C NA per radian if the gust loads are applied to the wings and horizontal tail surfaces...

14 CFR 23.341 - Gust loads factors.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... loads factors. (a) Each airplane must be designed to withstand loads on each lifting surface resulting...=airplane mass ratio; U de=Derived gust velocities referred to in § 23.333(c) (f.p.s.); ρ=Density of air... C NA per radian if the gust loads are applied to the wings and horizontal tail surfaces...

14 CFR 23.341 - Gust loads factors.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... loads factors. (a) Each airplane must be designed to withstand loads on each lifting surface resulting...=airplane mass ratio; U de=Derived gust velocities referred to in § 23.333(c) (f.p.s.); ρ=Density of air... C NA per radian if the gust loads are applied to the wings and horizontal tail surfaces...

Responses of biofilm characteristics to variations in temperature and NH4(+)-N loading in a moving-bed biofilm reactor treating micro-polluted raw water.

PubMed

Zhang, Shuangfu; Wang, Yayi; He, Weitao; Wu, Min; Xing, Meiyan; Yang, Jian; Gao, Naiyun; Yin, Daqiang

2013-03-01

A pilot-scale moving-bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) for biological treatment of micro-polluted raw water was operated over 400days to investigate the responses of biofilm characteristics and nitrification performance to variations in temperature and NH4(+)-N loading. The mean removal efficiency of NH4(+)-N in the MBBR reached 71.4±26.9%, and batch experiments were performed to study nitrification kinetics for better process understanding. Seven physical-chemical parameters, including volatile solids (VS), polysaccharides (PS) and phospholipids (PL) increased firstly, and then rapidly decreased with increasing temperature and NH4(+)-N loading, and properly characterized the attached biomass during biofilm development and detachment in the MBBR. The biofilm compositions were described by six ratios, e.g., PS/VS and PL/VS ratios showed different variation trends, indicating different responses of PS and PL to the changes in temperature and NH4(+)-N loading. Furthermore, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis revealed that increased NH4(+)-N loadings caused an enrichment of the nitrifying biofilm. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Holographic Determination Of Demineralization Of Bones

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ebbeni, J.; Huybrecht, A.; Orloff, S.

1980-05-01

Patients with osteomalacia often complain of back pain or diffuse peripheral bone aches where a mechanical component warrants closer investigations. In order to study the stress-strain patterns in whole human bones and the influence of the degree of calcification upon these patterns, normal bones are submitted to stress and holographic studies are performed prior to and after demineralization. Interpretation of fringes is delicate because the type of loading must be the same in all the experiments with the same bone. Or the demineralization can change non uniformaly the nature of the osseous inhomogeneous structure and caution must be taken to avoid resulting change namely in momentum. Displacements components must be determined in each face of the bone and the calcul of stresses is made in a first step with assumption of equivalent homogeneous material. The problems arrizing in the machanical behaviour of bones are studied experimentally with the various stress analysis techniques. Among these holographical interferometry proved to be particularly well suited because of its high sensitivity, the rough bone surface needs no preparation and it yields the whole deformation field of the surface. Unfortunately the mechanical comportment of the osseous material depends of many factors and the demineralization namely can change non uniformaly the nature of the inhomogeneous structures like bones and caution must be taken for the interpretation of holographic fringes : because of structural variations in bones, apparently similar types of loading can be different namely by evolution of the position of the neutral axis for momentum. Those phenomena will be analysed in different examples. If estimation of demineralization effect is desired, for instance by measurement of appropriated change in elastic modulus, it is important to know any variation in the loading conditions due to specific changes of the material. The first problem considered concerned the measure of Young's modulus E and Poisson's ration of a tigh-bone or tibia. Small test specimens of constant rectangular section are cut out and submitted to pure bending. Classical double exposure holograms are recorded, with the directions of lighting n1 and observation n2 of the specimen nearly parallel to the normal Oz by use of a mirror. (cfr Figure 1).

Nitrogen dynamics in a tidal river zone influenced by highly urbanization, western Japan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saito, M.; Onodera, S. I.; Shimizu, Y.; Maruyama, Y.; Jin, G.; Aritomi, D.

2014-12-01

Tidal river and estuary are the transition zone between freshwater and seawater with high biological production. These areas have characteristics of water level fluctuation which causes surface water-groundwater interaction and the associated change in dynamics of nitrogen. Generally in coastal megacities, severe groundwater depression and high contaminants load influence on the environment of tidal river. However, these effects on the nitrogen dynamics and its load from a river to sea have not been fully evaluated in previous studies. Therefore, we aimed to clarify the characteristics of the nitrogen dynamics with the surface water-groundwater interaction in the tidal river zone of Osaka metropolitan city, western Japan. We conducted the field survey from the river mouth to the 7km upstream area of Yamato River, which has a length of 68km and a watershed area of 1,070 km2. Spatial variations in radon (222Rn) concentrations and the difference of hydraulic potential between river waters and the pore waters suggest that the groundwater discharges to the river channel in the upstream area. In contrast, the river water recharged into the groundwater near the river mouth area. It may be caused by the lowering of groundwater level associated with the excess abstraction in the urban area. The spatial and temporal variations in nutrient concentration indicate that nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) concentration changed temporally and it was negatively correlated with dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) concentration. Based on the mass balance estimation in winter and summer periods, nitrogen was removed in tidal river zone in both periods which was estimated to be about 10 % of total nitrogen (TN) load from the upstream. However, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and DON was re-produced in winter and summer periods, respectively. NO3-N concentrations were negatively correlated with velocity of river water, which suggests the progress of denitrification in the tidal river zone under low discharge condition. Nitrogen and oxygen stable isotope ratios (δ15N, δ18O) of nitrate (NO3-) suggests the possibility of nitrification progress in the winter periods.

Correlation of cervical endplate strength with CT measured subchondral bone density

PubMed Central

Ordway, Nathaniel R.; Lu, Yen-Mou; Zhang, Xingkai; Cheng, Chin-Chang; Fang, Huang

2007-01-01

Cervical interbody device subsidence can result in screw breakage, plate dislodgement, and/or kyphosis. Preoperative bone density measurement may be helpful in predicting the complications associated with anterior cervical surgery. This is especially important when a motion preserving device is implanted given the detrimental effect of subsidence on the postoperative segmental motion following disc replacement. To evaluate the structural properties of the cervical endplate and examine the correlation with CT measured trabecular bone density. Eight fresh human cadaver cervical spines (C2–T1) were CT scanned and the average trabecular bone densities of the vertebral bodies (C3–C7) were measured. Each endplate surface was biomechanically tested for regional yield load and stiffness using an indentation test method. Overall average density of the cervical vertebral body trabecular bone was 270 ± 74 mg/cm3. There was no significant difference between levels. The yield load and stiffness from the indentation test of the endplate averaged 139 ± 99 N and 156 ± 52 N/mm across all cervical levels, endplate surfaces, and regional locations. The posterior aspect of the endplate had significantly higher yield load and stiffness in comparison to the anterior aspect and the lateral aspect had significantly higher yield load in comparison to the midline aspect. There was a significant correlation between the average yield load and stiffness of the cervical endplate and the trabecular bone density on regression analysis. Although there are significant regional variations in the endplate structural properties, the average of the endplate yield loads and stiffnesses correlated with the trabecular bone density. Given the morbidity associated with subsidence of interbody devices, a reliable and predictive method of measuring endplate strength in the cervical spine is required. Bone density measures may be used preoperatively to assist in the prediction of the strength of the vertebral endplate. A threshold density measure has yet to be established where the probability of endplate fracture outweighs the benefit of anterior cervical procedure. PMID:17712574

Annual variations in chemical composition of atmospheric precipitation, eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia

USGS Publications Warehouse

Fisher, Donald W.

1967-01-01

A 2-year study of precipitation composition over eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia has been completed. Chemical analyses were made of the major ions in monthly rainfall samples from each of 12 sampling locations. Areal and seasonal distributions were determined for chloride, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, sulfate, and nitrate. Annual changes in loads and in geographical distribution of sulfate and of nitrate are small. Yearly rainfall sulfate loads amount to approximately 7 tons per square mile, whereas deposition of nitrate is about 2 tons per square mile per year in the interior of the network and less near the coast. Areal patterns of chloride content are consistent with the assumption that the ocean is the only major source of rainfall chloride in the area. Chloride loads were 2.1 and 1.8 tons per square mile per year; the difference can be attributed to meteorological conditions. Cation concentrations in network precipitation appear to depend on localized sources, probably soil dust. Annual loads of the major cations are approximately 2 tons per square mile of calcium, 1.8 tons per square mile of sodium, 0.5 ton per square mile of magnesium, and 0.3 ton per square mile of potassium; considerable year-to-year differences were noted in these values. Bicarbonate and hydrogen ion in network rainfall are closely related to the relative concentrations of sulfate and calcium. Apparently, reaction of an acidic sulfur-containing aerosol with an alkaline calcium source is one of the principal controls on precipitation alkalinity and pH. Ions in precipitation contribute substantially to the quality of surface water in the network area. Comparisons between precipitation input and stream export of ions for four North Carolina rivers show that rainfall sulfate is equal to sulfate discharged, whereas nitrate in rain slightly exceeds stream nitrate. Contributions of cations to the streams by way of precipitation range from about 20 percent for potassium to almost 50 percent for calcium. Chloride deposited by precipitation amounts to about one-fourth of the stream load. Additions of manufactured salt may account for much of the remainder of the surface-water load.

Tiled fuzzy Hough transform for crack detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vaheesan, Kanapathippillai; Chandrakumar, Chanjief; Mathavan, Senthan; Kamal, Khurram; Rahman, Mujib; Al-Habaibeh, Amin

2015-04-01

Surface cracks can be the bellwether of the failure of any component under loading as it indicates the component's fracture due to stresses and usage. For this reason, crack detection is indispensable for the condition monitoring and quality control of road surfaces. Pavement images have high levels of intensity variation and texture content, hence the crack detection is difficult. Moreover, shallow cracks result in very low contrast image pixels making their detection difficult. For these reasons, studies on pavement crack detection is active even after years of research. In this paper, the fuzzy Hough transform is employed, for the first time to detect cracks on any surface. The contribution of texture pixels to the accumulator array is reduced by using the tiled version of the Hough transform. Precision values of 78% and a recall of 72% are obtaining for an image set obtained from an industrial imaging system containing very low contrast cracking. When only high contrast crack segments are considered the values move to mid to high 90%.

Linearized Lifting-Surface and Lifting-line Evaluations of Sidewash Behind Rolling Triangular Wings at Supersonic Speeds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bobbitt, Percy J

1957-01-01

The lifting-surface sidewash behind rolling triangular wings has been derived for a range of supersonic Mach numbers for which the wing leading edges remain swept behind the mark cone emanating from the wing apex. Variations of the sidewash with longitudinal distance in the vertical plane of symmetry are presented in graphical form. An approximate expression for the sidewash has been developed by means of an approach using a horseshoe-vortex approximate-lifting-line theory. By use of this approximate expression, sidewash may be computed for wings of arbitrary plan form and span loading. A comparison of the sidewash computed by lifting-surface and lifting-line expressions for the triangular wing showed good agreement except in the vicinity of the trailing edge when the leading edge approached the sonic condition. An illustrative calculation has been made of the force induced by the wing sidewash on a vertical tail located in various longitudinal positions.

Postpollination discrimination between self and outcross pollen covaries with the mating system of a self-compatible flowering plant.

PubMed

Cruzan, Mitchell B; Barrett, Spencer C H

2016-03-01

Variation in the mating system of hermaphroditic plant populations is determined by interactions between genetic and environmental factors operating via both pre- and postmating processes. Models predicting the maintenance of intermediate outcrossing rates in animal-pollinated plants often assume that the mating system is primarily controlled by floral morphology and pollinator availability, but rarely has the influence of postpollination processes on variation in outcrossing been examined. We investigated the influence of stylar discrimination between illegitimate and legitimate pollen-tube growth and the pollen-load capacity of stigmas on mating-system variation in the annual, tristylous species Eichhornia paniculata using controlled crosses and genetic markers. This species exhibits an exceptionally broad range of outcrossing rates in natural populations. There was significant variation among populations in the pollen-load capacity of stigmas and the ability of styles to discriminate between illegitimate vs. legitimate pollen. There was strong correspondence between stylar-discrimination ability and variation in outcrossing rate among populations and style morphs. The combination of stigmatic pollen-load capacity and stylar discrimination explained more than 80% of the variation in outcrossing rates among populations. The finding that stigmatic pollen-load capacity and stylar-discrimination ability contributed significantly to explaining the wide range of outcrossing rates in E. paniculata suggests that postpollination mechanisms play an important role in governing mating patterns in this species. The difference in levels of stylar discrimination between outcrossing and selfing populations may reflect a trade-off between selection for increased outcrossing and greater reproductive assurance. © 2016 Botanical Society of America.

Hyperspectral Vehicle BRDF Learning: An Exploration of Vehicle Reflectance Variation and Optimal Measures of Spectral Similarity for Vehicle Reacquisition and Tracking Algorithms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Svejkosky, Joseph

The spectral signatures of vehicles in hyperspectral imagery exhibit temporal variations due to the preponderance of surfaces with material properties that display non-Lambertian bi-directional reflectance distribution functions (BRDFs). These temporal variations are caused by changing illumination conditions, changing sun-target-sensor geometry, changing road surface properties, and changing vehicle orientations. To quantify these variations and determine their relative importance in a sub-pixel vehicle reacquisition and tracking scenario, a hyperspectral vehicle BRDF sampling experiment was conducted in which four vehicles were rotated at different orientations and imaged over a six-hour period. The hyperspectral imagery was calibrated using novel in-scene methods and converted to reflectance imagery. The resulting BRDF sampled time-series imagery showed a strong vehicle level BRDF dependence on vehicle shape in off-nadir imaging scenarios and a strong dependence on vehicle color in simulated nadir imaging scenarios. The imagery also exhibited spectral features characteristic of sampling the BRDF of non-Lambertian targets, which were subsequently verified with simulations. In addition, the imagery demonstrated that the illumination contribution from vehicle adjacent horizontal surfaces significantly altered the shape and magnitude of the vehicle reflectance spectrum. The results of the BRDF sampling experiment illustrate the need for a target vehicle BRDF model and detection scheme that incorporates non-Lambertian BRDFs. A new detection algorithm called Eigenvector Loading Regression (ELR) is proposed that learns a hyperspectral vehicle BRDF from a series of BRDF measurements using regression in a lower dimensional space and then applies the learned BRDF to make test spectrum predictions. In cases of non-Lambertian vehicle BRDF, this detection methodology performs favorably when compared to subspace detections algorithms and graph-based detection algorithms that do not account for the target BRDF. The algorithms are compared using a test environment in which observed spectral reflectance signatures from the BRDF sampling experiment are implanted into aerial hyperspectral imagery that contain large quantities of vehicles.

High-Resolution Numerical Analysis of the Triggering Mechanism of M L5.7 Aswan Reservoir Earthquake Through Fully Coupled Poroelastic Finite Element Modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Huihong; Zhang, Huai; Shi, Yaolin

2016-05-01

In 1981, a powerful M L5.7 earthquake occurred 50 km away from the Aswan Reservoir dam. After the statistical analysis on the correlationship between long-term continuous seismicity occurrence and the reservoir water level variation attributed to the impoundment and drainage procedures, researchers believe that this event is a typical reservoir-triggered seismicity (Nature 301(6):14, 1983; Earthquake Activity in the Aswan Region, Egypt. Birkhäuser, Basel, pp. 69-86, 1995), although its triggering mechanism is poorly understood to date. To quantitatively address the triggering mechanism as well as its relationship with the characteristics of local geological settings around the reservoir region, in this paper, a fully coupled three-dimensional poroelastic finite element model of the Aswan reservoir is put forward by taking the consideration of the realistic observation data, for example, the high-resolution topography, water level fluctuation history, flood zone boundary and water depth variation, fault parameters, etc. Meanwhile, the change of Coulomb Failure Stress (ΔCFS) in correspondence to elastic stress and pore pressure variations induced by fluid diffusion is calculated. And the elastic strain energy accumulation in the reservoir region due to the impoundment load is obtained as well. Our primary results indicate that both the pore pressure and the coulomb stress on the seismogenic fault plane gradually increase with the respect of time while the water level rises. The magnitude of ΔCFS at the hypocenter of this major event is around 0.1 MPa, suggesting that the impoundment of the Aswan Reservoir possibly triggered the M L5.7 earthquake. The contribution of the elastic load is less than 3 percent of the total ΔCFS; on the other hand, the dynamic pore pressure change predominantly accounts for the contribution. The accumulative maximum surface deformation beneath the Aswan reservoir is up to 80 cm since its impounding began until the M L5.7 earthquake occurred. Although the total elastic strain energy accumulation caused by the impoundment water load is around 1.0 × 1010J, this energy density still insignificant compared to that of the vast reservoir inundation area, as it is only less than few percent of the total energy released by the major event, which confirms that the sustained regional geological loading controls the occurrence of this large reservoir-induced event. Furthermore, elastic loading and pore fluid pore pressure diffusion due to the impoundment of the Aswan reservoir might accelerate its occurrence.

On the influence of the diurnal variations of aerosol content to estimate direct aerosol radiative forcing using MODIS data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Hui; Guo, Jianping; Ceamanos, Xavier; Roujean, Jean-Louis; Min, Min; Carrer, Dominique

2016-09-01

Long-term measurements of aerosol optical depth (AOD) from the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) located in Beijing reveal a strong diurnal cycle of aerosol load staged by seasonal patterns. Such pronounced variability is matter of importance in respect to the estimation of daily averaged direct aerosol radiative forcing (DARF). Polar-orbiting satellites could only offer a daily revisit, which turns in fact to be even much less in case of frequent cloudiness. Indeed, this places a severe limit to properly capture the diurnal variations of AOD and thus estimate daily DARF. Bearing this in mind, the objective of the present study is however to evaluate the impact of AOD diurnal variations for conducting quantitative assessment of DARF using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) AOD data over Beijing. We provide assessments of DARF with two different assumptions about diurnal AOD variability: taking the observed hourly-averaged AOD cycle into account and assuming constant MODIS (including Terra and Aqua) AOD value throughout the daytime. Due to the AOD diurnal variability, the absolute differences in annual daily mean DARFs, if the constant MODIS/Terra (MODIS/Aqua) AOD value is used instead of accounting for the observed hourly-averaged daily variability, is 1.2 (1.3) Wm-2 at the top of the atmosphere, 27.5 (30.6) Wm-2 at the surface, and 26.4 (29.3) Wm-2 in the atmosphere, respectively. During the summertime, the impact of the diurnal AOD variability on seasonal daily mean DARF estimates using MODIS Terra (Aqua) data can reach up to 2.2 (3.9) Wm-2 at the top of the atmosphere, 43.7 (72.7) Wm-2 at the surface, and 41.4 (68.8) Wm-2 in the atmosphere, respectively. Overall, the diurnal variation in AOD tends to cause large bias in the estimated DARF on both seasonal and annual scales. In summertime, the higher the surface albedo, the stronger impact on DARF at the top of the atmosphere caused by dust and biomass burning (continental) aerosol. This indicates that the impact on DARFs estimates is sensitive to assumptions of aerosol type and surface albedo.

Tribological behavior of 440C martensitic stainless steel from -184 C to 750 C

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Slifka, A. J.; Compos, R.; Morgan, T. J.; Siegwarth, J. D.; Chaudhuri, Dilip K.

1992-01-01

Characterization of the coefficient of friction and wear rate of 440C stainless steel is needed to understand the effects of frictional heating in the bearings of the High Pressure Oxygen Turbopump of the Space Shuttle Main Engine. The coefficient of friction and wear rate have been measured over a range of temperature varying from liquid oxygen temperature (-184 C) to 750 C. The normal load has also been varied resulting in a variation of Hertzian stress from 0.915 to 3.660 GPa while the surface velocity has been varied from 0.5 to 2.0 m/s.

Hot-Tearing Assessment of Multicomponent Nongrain-Refined Al-Cu Alloys for Permanent Mold Castings Based on Load Measurements in a Constrained Mold

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sabau, Adrian S.; Mirmiran, Seyed; Glaspie, Christopher

Here, the hot-tearing resistance of multicomponent Al-Cu alloys during permanent mold casting was investigated using a constrained permanent mold in which the load and temperature were measured. The nominal Cu composition was varied from 5 to 8 wt pct. Casting experiments were conducted without adding any grain-refining inoculants. The following variables, which were obtained from the measured load data during casting, were considered to assess the hot-tearing resistance of the Al-Cu multicomponent alloys: “V”-like signature in the load rate variation, load at solidus point, and load rate average over the freezing range. In addition, a hot-tearing criterion based on themore » variation of the fraction of solid in the late stages of solidification was used. It was found that all criteria considered can accurately predict the alloys with the lowest and highest hot-tear resistance, respectively. It was found that the rate of measured load during casting could be used to indicate substantial hot tearing. However, the load rate variation could not be used to detect when small hot tears were present. Among all the criteria considered, the load at the solidus point shows an excellent agreement with experimentally observed hot-tearing resistance for all but one alloy. The poorly resistant hot-tearing alloys exhibited mainly coarse columnar grains while the most hot-tearing resistant alloys exhibited a much more refined grain microstructure. This is the first study in which good hot-tear resistance is demonstrated for multicomponent Al-Cu alloys with nominal Cu content greater than 7 wt pct.« less

Hot-Tearing Assessment of Multicomponent Nongrain-Refined Al-Cu Alloys for Permanent Mold Castings Based on Load Measurements in a Constrained Mold

DOE PAGES

Sabau, Adrian S.; Mirmiran, Seyed; Glaspie, Christopher; ...

2018-02-16

Here, the hot-tearing resistance of multicomponent Al-Cu alloys during permanent mold casting was investigated using a constrained permanent mold in which the load and temperature were measured. The nominal Cu composition was varied from 5 to 8 wt pct. Casting experiments were conducted without adding any grain-refining inoculants. The following variables, which were obtained from the measured load data during casting, were considered to assess the hot-tearing resistance of the Al-Cu multicomponent alloys: “V”-like signature in the load rate variation, load at solidus point, and load rate average over the freezing range. In addition, a hot-tearing criterion based on themore » variation of the fraction of solid in the late stages of solidification was used. It was found that all criteria considered can accurately predict the alloys with the lowest and highest hot-tear resistance, respectively. It was found that the rate of measured load during casting could be used to indicate substantial hot tearing. However, the load rate variation could not be used to detect when small hot tears were present. Among all the criteria considered, the load at the solidus point shows an excellent agreement with experimentally observed hot-tearing resistance for all but one alloy. The poorly resistant hot-tearing alloys exhibited mainly coarse columnar grains while the most hot-tearing resistant alloys exhibited a much more refined grain microstructure. This is the first study in which good hot-tear resistance is demonstrated for multicomponent Al-Cu alloys with nominal Cu content greater than 7 wt pct.« less

Effect of Loading Rate and Surface Conditions on Flexural Strength of Borosilicate Glass

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nie, X; Chen, Wayne; Wereszczak, Andrew A

2009-01-01

This study evaluates the loading rate and surface condition dependence of the flexural strength of a borosilicate glass. The glass specimens are subjected to three different surface treatments before four-point bending tests to study the effect of surface flaws. Quasistatic (Material Test System 810) and dynamic (Kolsky bar) experiments are performed at loading rates ranging from 0.7 to 4 x 10{sup 6} MPa/s. The results show that the flexural strength of the borosilicate glass has a strong dependence on the loading rate. A chemically etched surface produces an enhanced flexural strength by about an order of magnitude. Scanning electron microscopymore » images on fracture surfaces indicate that the failure is governed by different types of flaws under different surface treatment conditions. Edge failure is also identified for samples possessing high flexural strength.« less

Fretting Fatigue Analysis of Additively Manufactured Blade Root Made of Intermetallic Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb Alloy at High Temperature.

PubMed

Lavella, Mario; Botto, Daniele

2018-06-21

Slots in the disk of aircraft turbines restrain the centrifugal load of blades. Contact surfaces between the blade root and the disk slot undergo high contact pressure and relative displacement that is the typical condition in which fretting occurs. The load level ranges from zero to the maximum during take-off. This cycle is repeated for each mission. In this paper, a fretting fatigue analysis of additively manufactured blades is presented. Blades are made of an intermetallic alloy γTiAl. Fretting fatigue experiments were performed at a frequency of 0.5 Hz and at a temperature of 640 °C to match the operating condition of real blades. The minimum load was fixed at 0.5 KN and three maximum loads were applied, namely 16, 18 and 20 kN. Both an analytical and a two-dimensional finite element model were used to evaluate the state of stress at the contact interfaces. The results of the analytical model showed good agreement with the numerical model. Experiments showed that cracks nucleate where the analytical model predicts the maximum contact pressure and the numerical model predicts the maximum equivalent stress. A parametric analysis performed with the analytical model indicates that there exists an optimum geometry to minimize the contact pressure. Tests showed that the component life changed dramatically with the maximum load variation. Optical topography and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis reveals information about the damage mechanism.

Processing Capacity under Perceptual and Cognitive Load: A Closer Look at Load Theory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fitousi, Daniel; Wenger, Michael J.

2011-01-01

Variations in perceptual and cognitive demands (load) play a major role in determining the efficiency of selective attention. According to load theory (Lavie, Hirst, Fockert, & Viding, 2004) these factors (a) improve or hamper selectivity by altering the way resources (e.g., processing capacity) are allocated, and (b) tap resources rather than…

Influence of the heater material on the critical heat load at boiling of liquids on surfaces with different sizes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anokhina, E. V.

2010-05-01

Data on critical heat loads q cr for the saturated and unsaturated pool boiling of water and ethanol under atmospheric pressure are reported. It is found experimentally that the critical heat load does not necessarily coincide with the heat load causing burnout of the heater, which should be taken into account. The absolute values of q cr for the boiling of water and ethanol on copper surfaces 65, 80, 100, 120, and 200 μm in diameter; tungsten surface 100 μm in diameter; and nichrome surface 100 μm in diameter are obtained experimentally.

Optimization of Friction and Wear Properties of Electroless Ni-P Coatings Under Lubrication Using Grey Fuzzy Logic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mukhopadhyay, Arkadeb; Duari, Santanu; Barman, Tapan Kumar; Sahoo, Prasanta

2017-10-01

The present study aims to evaluate the friction and wear behaviour of electroless Ni-P coatings sliding against hardened chromium coated steel under lubrication. Tribological tests are carried out on a block-on-roller configuration multi tribotester. The effect of variation of applied normal load, rotation speed of the counterface roller and test duration on the coefficient of friction and wear depth is analyzed using Taguchi's robust design philosophy and design of experiments. Optimal setting of the tribo-testing parameters is evaluated using a hybrid grey fuzzy reasoning analysis in a quest to achieve optimal tribological performance of the coatings under lubrication. Analysis of variance reveals the highest contribution by applied normal load in controlling the tribological behaviour under lubrication. Whereas the interaction effect of load and time is also seen to cast a significant effect. Surface morphology studies reveal a typical nodular structure of the deposits. The coatings are seen to be amorphous in its as-deposited condition which becomes crystalline on heat treatment. Further, the synergistic effects of test parameters, microstructure of the coatings, lubrication, etc. on the tribological behaviour are assessed.

Variation of Time Domain Failure Probabilities of Jack-up with Wave Return Periods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Idris, Ahmad; Harahap, Indra S. H.; Ali, Montassir Osman Ahmed

2018-04-01

This study evaluated failure probabilities of jack up units on the framework of time dependent reliability analysis using uncertainty from different sea states representing different return period of the design wave. Surface elevation for each sea state was represented by Karhunen-Loeve expansion method using the eigenfunctions of prolate spheroidal wave functions in order to obtain the wave load. The stochastic wave load was propagated on a simplified jack up model developed in commercial software to obtain the structural response due to the wave loading. Analysis of the stochastic response to determine the failure probability in excessive deck displacement in the framework of time dependent reliability analysis was performed by developing Matlab codes in a personal computer. Results from the study indicated that the failure probability increases with increase in the severity of the sea state representing a longer return period. Although the results obtained are in agreement with the results of a study of similar jack up model using time independent method at higher values of maximum allowable deck displacement, it is in contrast at lower values of the criteria where the study reported that failure probability decreases with increase in the severity of the sea state.

Field Testing and Load Rating Report, Bridge S-1090

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-05-01

alignment to the road- way. The steel beams are rolled sections with cover plates welded to the bottom flange. Shear stud connectors were specified...live-load and superimposed dead-loads. In this case, there was no wearing surface on the bridge, and all dead-loads were applied to the...and live-load at Section G_Standard MCap 1021.9 kN-m Superimposed dead-load applied to composite model— wearing surface and railing DW 0.0 kN-m

The influence of canopy shading of snow on effective albedo in forested environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Webster, C.; Jonas, T.

2017-12-01

The overlap of highly reflective snow and absorbent forested areas creates strong heterogeneity in the effective surface albedo compared to forest-free areas. Current errors in calculations of effective forest snow albedo arise due to uncertainties in how models should treat masking of snow by vegetation but improvement of local and large scale models is currently limited by a lack of measurements that demonstrate both spatial and temporal variability over forests. We present above-canopy measurements of winter-time effective forest snow albedo using up- and down-looking radiometers mounted on an octocopter UAV for a total of fifteen flights on eight different days. Ground-view fractions across the flight path were between 0.12 and 0.81. Correlations between effective albedo and both ground-view fraction and canopy height were statistically significant during 14 out of 15 flights, but varied between flights due to solar angle and snow cover. Measured effective albedo across the flight path differed by up to 0.33 during snow-on canopy conditions. A comparison between maximum interception and no interception showed effective albedo varied by up 0.17, which was the same variation between effective albedo during high (46°) and low (23°) solar elevation angles. Temporal and spatial variations in effective albedo caused by canopy shading of the snow surface are therefore as important as temporal variations caused by interception of snow by the canopy. Calculation of effective albedo over forested areas therefore requires careful consideration of canopy height, canopy coverage, solar angle and interception load. The results of this study should be used to inform snow albedo and canopy structure parametrisations in local and larger scale land surface models.

Understanding the effect of carbon status on stem diameter variations

PubMed Central

De Swaef, Tom; Driever, Steven M.; Van Meulebroek, Lieven; Vanhaecke, Lynn; Marcelis, Leo F. M.; Steppe, Kathy

2013-01-01

Background Carbon assimilation and leaf-to-fruit sugar transport are, along with plant water status, the driving mechanisms for fruit growth. An integrated comprehension of the plant water and carbon relationships is therefore essential to better understand water and dry matter accumulation. Variations in stem diameter result from an integrated response to plant water and carbon status and are as such a valuable source of information. Methods A mechanistic water flow and storage model was used to relate variations in stem diameter to phloem sugar loading and sugar concentration dynamics in tomato. The simulation results were compared with an independent model, simulating phloem sucrose loading at the leaf level based on photosynthesis and sugar metabolism kinetics and enabled a mechanistic interpretation of the ‘one common assimilate pool’ concept for tomato. Key Results Combining stem diameter variation measurements and mechanistic modelling allowed us to distinguish instantaneous dynamics in the plant water relations and gradual variations in plant carbon status. Additionally, the model combined with stem diameter measurements enabled prediction of dynamic variables which are difficult to measure in a continuous and non-destructive way, such as xylem water potential and phloem hydrostatic potential. Finally, dynamics in phloem sugar loading and sugar concentration were distilled from stem diameter variations. Conclusions Stem diameter variations, when used in mechanistic models, have great potential to continuously monitor and interpret plant water and carbon relations under natural growing conditions. PMID:23186836

Accelerated and enhanced bone formation on novel simvastatin-loaded porous titanium oxide surfaces.

PubMed

Nyan, Myat; Hao, Jia; Miyahara, Takayuki; Noritake, Kanako; Rodriguez, Reena; Kasugai, Shohei

2014-10-01

With increasing application of dental implants in poor-quality bones, the need for implant surfaces ensuring accelerated osseointegration and enhanced peri-implant bone regeneration is increased. A study was performed to evaluate the osseointegration and bone formation on novel simvastatin-loaded porous titanium oxide surface. Titanium screws were treated by micro-arc oxidation to form porous oxide surface and 25 or 50 μg of simvastatin was loaded. The nontreated control, micro-arc oxidized, and simvastatin-loaded titanium screws were surgically implanted into the proximal tibia of 16-week-old male Wistar rats (n = 36). Peri-implant bone volume, bone-implant contact, and mineral apposition rates were measured at 2 and 4 weeks. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey's post hoc test. New bone was formed directly on the implant surface in the bone marrow cavity in simvastatin-loaded groups since 2 weeks. Bone-implant contact values were significantly higher in simvastatin-loaded groups than control and micro-arc oxidized groups at both time points (p < .05). Peri-implant bone volume and mineral apposition rate of simvastatin-loaded groups were significantly higher than control and micro-arc oxidized groups at 2 weeks (p < .05). These data suggested that simvastatin-loaded porous titanium oxide surface provides faster osseointegration and peri-implant bone formation and it would be potentially applicable in poor-quality bones. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Strain Gage Loads Calibration Testing of the Active Aeroelastic Wing F/A-18 Aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lokos, William A.; Olney, Candida D.; Chen, Tony; Crawford, Natalie D.; Stauf, Rick; Reichenbach, Eric Y.; Bessette, Denis (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

This report describes strain-gage calibration loading through the application of known loads of the Active Aeroelastic Wing F/A-18 airplane. The primary goal of this test is to produce a database suitable for deriving load equations for left and right wing root and fold shear; bending moment; torque; and all eight wing control-surface hinge moments. A secondary goal is to produce a database of wing deflections measured by string potentiometers and the onboard flight deflection measurement system. Another goal is to produce strain-gage data through both the laboratory data acquisition system and the onboard aircraft data system as a check of the aircraft system. Thirty-two hydraulic jacks have applied loads through whiffletrees to 104 tension-compression load pads bonded to the lower wing surfaces. The load pads covered approximately 60 percent of the lower wing surface. A series of 72 load cases has been performed, including single-point, double-point, and distributed load cases. Applied loads have reached 70 percent of the flight limit load. Maximum wingtip deflection has reached nearly 16 in.

Determination of mean camber surfaces for wings having uniform chordwise loading and arbitrary spanwise loading in subsonic flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Katzoff, S; Faison, M Frances; Dubose, Hugh C

1954-01-01

The field of a uniformly loaded wing in subsonic flow is discussed in terms of the acceleration potential. It is shown that, for the design of such wings, the slope of the mean camber surface at any point can be determined by a line integration around the wing boundary. By an additional line integration around the wing boundary, this method is extended to include the case where the local section lift coefficient varies with spanwise location (the chordwise loading at every section still remaining uniform). For the uniformly loaded wing of polygonal plan form, the integrations necessary to determine the local slope of the surface and the further integration of the slopes to determine the ordinate can be done analytically. An outline of these integrations and the resulting formulas are included. Calculated results are given for a sweptback wing with uniform chordwise loading and a highly tapered spanwise loading, a uniformly loaded delta wing, a uniformly loaded sweptback wing, and the same sweptback wing with uniform chordwise loading but elliptical span load distribution.

The effect of track load correlation on ground-borne vibration from railways

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ntotsios, Evangelos; Thompson, David; Hussein, Mohammed

2017-08-01

In predictions of ground-borne vibration from railways, it is generally assumed that the unevenness profile of the wheel and rail is fully correlated between the two rails and the two wheels of an axle. This leads to identical contact forces at the two rails and can allow further simplifications of the vehicle model, the track model and the track/ground interface conditions. In the present paper, the level of correlation of the track loading at the wheel/rail interface due to rail unevenness and its influence on predictions of ground vibration is investigated. The extent to which the unevenness of the two rails is correlated has been estimated from measurements of track geometry obtained with track recording vehicles for four different tracks. It was found that for wavelengths longer than about 3 m the unevenness of the two rails can be considered to be strongly correlated and in phase. To investigate the effect of this on ground vibration, an existing model expressed in the wavenumber-frequency domain is extended to include separate inputs on the two rails. The track is modelled as an infinite invariant linear structure resting on an elastic stratified half-space. This is excited by the gravitational loading of a passing train and the irregularity of the contact surfaces between the wheels and the rails. The railway model is developed in this work to be versatile so that it can account or discard the effect of load correlations on the two rails beside the effects of variation of the tractions across the width of the track-ground interface and the vehicle sprung mass, as well as the roll motion of the sleepers and the axle. A comparative analysis is carried out on the influence of these factors on the response predictions using numerical simulations. It is shown that, when determining the vibration in the free field, it is important to include in the model the traction variation across the track-ground interface and the non-symmetrical loading at the two rails that occurs for unevenness wavelengths shorter than about 3 m.

A Generalized Hydrodynamic-Impact Theory for the Loads and Motions of Deeply Immersed Prismatic Bodies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Markey, Melvin F.

1959-01-01

A theory is derived for determining the loads and motions of a deeply immersed prismatic body. The method makes use of a two-dimensional water-mass variation and an aspect-ratio correction for three-dimensional flow. The equations of motion are generalized by using a mean value of the aspect-ratio correction and by assuming a variation of the two-dimensional water mass for the deeply immersed body. These equations lead to impact coefficients that depend on an approach parameter which, in turn, depends upon the initial trim and flight-path angles. Comparison of experiment with theory is shown at maximum load and maximum penetration for the flat-bottom (0 deg dead-rise angle) model with bean-loading coefficients from 36.5 to 133.7 over a wide range of initial conditions. A dead-rise angle correction is applied and maximum-load data are compared with theory for the case of a model with 300 dead-rise angle and beam-loading coefficients from 208 to 530.

Applications of low lift to drag ratio aerobrakes using angle of attack variation for control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mulqueen, J. A.

1991-01-01

Several applications of low lift to drag ratio aerobrakes are investigated which use angle of attack variation for control. The applications are: return from geosynchronous or lunar orbit to low Earth orbit; and planetary aerocapture at Earth and Mars. A number of aerobrake design considerations are reviewed. It was found that the flow impingement behind the aerobrake and the aerodynamic heating loads are the primary factors that control the sizing of an aerobrake. The heating loads and other loads, such as maximum acceleration, are determined by the vehicle ballistic coefficient, the atmosphere entry conditions, and the trajectory design. Several formulations for defining an optimum trajectory are reviewed, and the various performance indices that can be used are evaluated. The 'nearly grazing' optimal trajectory was found to provide the best compromise between the often conflicting goals of minimizing the vehicle propulsive requirements and minimizing vehicle loads. The relationship between vehicle and trajectory design is investigated further using the results of numerical simulations of trajectories for each aerobrake application. The data show the sensitivity of the trajectories to several vehicle parameters and atmospheric density variations. The results of the trajectory analysis show that low lift to drag ratio aerobrakes, which use angle of attack variation for control, can potentially be used for a wide range of aerobrake applications.

A progress report on suspended sediment in several western Oregon and western Washington streams.

Treesearch

Manes Barton

1951-01-01

Streams transport their loads by traction (the bed load) in suspension (the suspended load) and as salts in solution (the solution load). The total load is the sum of these three and is commonly called the water quality. The amounts of and variation in stream flow and water quality have become in the past few years accepted criteria for evaluating watershed conditions...

A quasi-dynamic nonlinear finite element model to investigate prosthetic interface stresses during walking for trans-tibial amputees.

PubMed

Jia, Xiaohong; Zhang, Ming; Li, Xiaobing; Lee, Winson C C

2005-07-01

To predict the interface pressure between residual limb and prosthetic socket for trans-tibial amputees during walking. A quasi-dynamic finite element model was built based on the actual geometry of residual limb, internal bones and socket liner. To simulate the friction/slip boundary conditions between the skin and liner, automated surface-to-surface contact was used. Besides variable external loads and material inertia, the coupling between the large rigid displacement of knee joint and small elastic deformation of residual limb and prosthetic components were also considered. Interface pressure distribution was found to have the same profile during walking. The high pressures fall over popliteal depression, middle patella tendon, lateral tibia and medial tibia regions. Interface pressure predicted by static or quasi-dynamic analysis had the similar double-peaked waveform shape in stance phase. The consideration of inertial effects and motion of knee joint cause 210% average variation of the area between the pressure curve and the horizontal line of pressure threshold between two cases, even though there is only a small change in the peak pressure. The findings in this paper show that the coupling dynamic effects of inertial loads and knee flexion must be considered to study interface pressure between residual limb and prosthetic socket during walking.

In vitro and in vivo mRNA delivery using lipid-enveloped pH-responsive polymer nanoparticles

PubMed Central

Su, Xingfang; Fricke, Jennifer; Kavanagh, Daniel; Irvine, Darrell J.

2012-01-01

Biodegradable core-shell structured nanoparticles with a poly(β-amino-ester) (PBAE) core enveloped by a phospholipid bilayer shell were developed for in vivo mRNA delivery, with a view toward delivery of mRNA-based vaccines. The pH-responsive PBAE component was chosen to promote endosome disruption, while the lipid surface layer was selected to minimize toxicity of the polycation core. Messenger RNA was efficiently adsorbed via electrostatic interactions onto the surface of these net positively-charged nanoparticles. In vitro, mRNA-loaded particle uptake by dendritic cells (DCs) led to mRNA delivery into the cytosol with low cytotoxicity, followed by translation of the encoded protein in these difficult-to-transfect cells at a frequency of ~30%. Particles loaded with mRNA administered intranasally in mice led to the expression of the reporter protein luciferase in vivo as soon as 6 h after administration, a timepoint when naked mRNA given i.n. showed no expression. At later timepoints, luciferase expression was detected in naked mRNA-treated mice, but this group showed a wide variation in levels of transfection, compared to particle-treated mice. This system may thus be promising for non-invasive delivery of mRNA-based vaccines. PMID:21417235

Effect of Experimental Variables of Abrasive Wear on 3D Surface Roughness and Wear Rate of Al-4.5 % Cu Alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghosh, Debashis; Mallik, Manab; Mandal, Nilrudra; Dutta, Samik; Roy, Himadri; Lohar, Aditya Kumar

2017-04-01

This investigation was primarily carried out to examine the abrasive wear behavior of as cast Al-4.5 % Cu alloy. Wear tests have been carried out using an abrasive wear machine with emery paper embedded with SiC particles acting as abrasive medium. The experiments were planned using central composite design, with, load, cycle and grit size as input variables, whereas wear rate and 3D roughness were considered as output variable. Analysis of variance was applied to check the adequacy of the mathematical model and their respective parameters. Microstructural investigations of the worn surfaces have been carried out to explain the observed results and to understand the wear micro-mechanisms as per the planned experiments. Desirability function optimization technique was finally employed to optimize the controlling factors. The observed results revealed that, grit size plays a significant role in the variation of wear rate and 3D roughness as compared to load and cycles. Based on the significance of interactions, the regression equations were derived and verified further with a number of confirmation runs to assess the adequacy of the model. A close agreement (±10 %) between the predicted and experimentally measured results was obtained from this investigation.

Repeatability of knee impulsive loading measurements with skin-mounted accelerometers and lower limb surface electromyographic recordings during gait in knee osteoarthritic and asymptomatic individuals

PubMed Central

Lyytinen, T.; Bragge, T.; Hakkarainen, M.; Liikavainio, T.; Karjalainen, P.A.; Arokoski, J.P.

2016-01-01

Objectives: To determine the repeatability of knee joint impulsive loading measurements with skin-mounted accelerometers (SMAs) and lower limb surface electromyography (EMG) recordings during gait. Methods: Triaxial SMA and EMG from 4 muscles during level and stair walking in nine healthy and nine knee osteoarthritis (OA) subjects were used. The initial peak acceleration (IPA), root mean square (RMS), maximal acceleration transient rate (ATRmax) and mean EMG activity (EMGact) were calculated. The coefficient of variation (CV) and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated to measure repeatability. Results: The CV and ICC of RMS accelerations ranged from 4.9% to 10.9% and from 0.69 to 0.96 in both study groups during level walking. The CV and ICC of IPA and ATRmax varied from 7.7% to 14.2% and from 0.85 to 0.99 during level and stairs up walking in healthy subjects. The CV and ICC of EMGact ranged from 8.3% to 31.7% and from 0.16 to 0.97 in both study groups. Conclusions: RMS accelerations exhibited good repeatability during walking in healthy and knee OA subjects. The repeatability of EMG measurements was acceptable in healthy subjects depending on the measured muscles. PMID:26944825

Effects of periods of nonuse and fluctuating ammonia concentration on biofilter performance.

PubMed

Chen, Ying-Xu; Yin, Jun; Wang, Kai-Xiong; Fang, Shi

2004-01-01

A systematic study on the transient behavior of odor treatment using biofilters is described. The biofilters were exposed to variations in contaminant loading and periods of nonuse. Two bench-scale biofilters with different filter media were used. Mixtures of compost/perlite (5:1) and dry sludge/granular active carbon (5:1) were used as filter media. Ammonia (NH3), one of the main malodorous gases, was used as the target compound. The response of each biofilter to variations in contaminant mass loading, periodic nonuse, water content, and inlet concentration pulse was studied. The nonuse period comprised of two stages: the "idle phase" when no air was passing through the biofilters, and the "no-contaminant-loading phase" when only humidified air was passing through the biofilters. Concentration spike was applied to study the effects of shock loading on the biofilter performance. Biofilters responded effectively to NH3 concentration variations and shock loading by rapidly recovering to the original removal rates within 6-12h. The results indicated re-acclimation times ranged from several hours to longer than a day. Longer idle phase produced longer re-acclimation periods than periods of no contaminant loading. When the media was dried during the biofiltration process, elimination capacity dropped accordingly for both biofilters. After 24 h of drying, the biofilter experiment could be restarted and run for a few days for recovering.

The behaviour of 39 pesticides in surface waters as a function of scale

USGS Publications Warehouse

Capel, P.D.; Larson, S.J.; Winterstein, T.A.

2001-01-01

A portion of applied pesticides runs off agricultural fields and is transported through surface waters. In this study, the behaviour of 39 pesticides is examined as a function of scale across 14 orders of magnitude from the field to the ocean. Data on pesticide loads in streams from two US Geological Survey programs were combined with literature data from field and watershed studies. The annual load as percent of use (LAPU) was quantified for each of the fields and watersheds and was used as the normalization factor across watersheds and compounds. The in-stream losses of each pesticide were estimated for a model stream with a 15 day travel time (similar in characteristics to the upper Mississippi River). These estimated in-stream losses agreed well with the observed changes in apparent LAPU values as a function of watershed area. In general, herbicides applied to the soil surface had the greatest LAPU values and minimal in-stream losses. Soil-incorporated herbicides had smaller LAPU values and substantial in-stream losses. Insecticides generally had LAPU values similar to the incorporated herbicides, but had more variation in their in-stream losses. On the basis of the LAPU values of the 39 pesticides as a function of watershed area, a generalized conceptual model of the movement of pesticides from the field to the ocean is suggested. The importance of considering both field runoff and in-stream losses is discussed in relation to interpreting monitoring data and making regulatory decisions.

Validation of a Nylon-Flocked-Swab Protocol for Efficient Recovery of Bacterial Spores from Smooth and Rough Surfaces▿

PubMed Central

Probst, Alexander; Facius, Rainer; Wirth, Reinhard; Moissl-Eichinger, Christine

2010-01-01

In order to meet planetary-protection requirements, culturable bacterial spore loads are measured representatively for the total microbial contamination of spacecraft. However, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) cotton swab protocols for spore load determination have not changed for decades. To determine whether a more efficient alternative was available, a novel swab was evaluated for recovery of different Bacillus atrophaeus spore concentrations on stainless steel and other surfaces. Two protocols for the nylon-flocked swab (NFS) were validated and compared to the present NASA standard protocol. The results indicate that the novel swab protocols recover 3- to 4-fold more (45.4% and 49.0% recovery efficiency) B. atrophaeus spores than the NASA standard method (13.2%). Moreover, the nylon-flocked-swab protocols were superior in recovery efficiency for spores of seven different Bacillus species, including Bacillus anthracis Sterne (recovery efficiency, 20%). The recovery efficiencies for B. atrophaeus spores from different surfaces showed a variation from 5.9 to 62.0%, depending on the roughness of the surface analyzed. Direct inoculation of the swab resulted in a recovery rate of about 80%, consistent with the results of scanning electron micrographs that allowed detailed comparisons of the two swab types. The results of this investigation will significantly contribute to the cleanliness control of future life detection missions and will provide significant improvement in detection of B. anthracis contamination for law enforcement and security efforts. PMID:20543054

Dusty Plasmas on the Lunar Surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Horanyi, M.; Andersson, L.; Colwell, J.; Ergun, R.; Gruen, E.; McClintock, B.; Peterson, W. K.; Robertson, S.; Sternovsky, Z.; Wang, X.

2006-12-01

The electrostatic levitation and transport of lunar dust remains one of the most interesting and controversial science issues from the Apollo era. This issue is also of great engineering importance in designing human habitats and protecting optical and mechanical devices. As function of time and location, the lunar surface is exposed to solar wind plasma, UV radiation, and/or the plasma environment of our magnetosphere. Dust grains on the lunar surface collect an electrostatic charge; alter the large-scale surface charge density distribution, ?and subsequently develop an interface region to the background plasma and radiation. There are several in situ and remote sensing observations that indicate that dusty plasma processes are likely to be responsible for the mobilization and transport of lunar soil. These processes are relevant to: a) understanding the lunar surface environment; b) develop dust mitigation strategies; c) to understand the basic physical processes involved in the birth and collapse of dust loaded plasma sheaths. This talk will focus on the dusty plasma processes on the lunar surface. We will review the existing body of observations, and will also consider future opportunities for the combination of in situ and remote sensing observations. Our goals are to characterize: a) the temporal variation of the spatial and size distributions of the levitated/transported dust; and b) the surface plasma environment

Analysis of Contraction Joint Width Influence on Load Stress of Pavement Panels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Wei; Cui, Wei; Sun, Wei

2018-05-01

The width of transverse contraction joint of the cement road varies with temperatures, which leads to changes in load transmission among plates of the road surface and affects load stress of the road plates. Three-dimensional element analysis software EverFE is used to address the relation between the contraction joint width and road surface load stress, revealing the impact of reducing contraction joint width. The results could be of critical value in maintaining road functions and extending the service life of cement road surfaces.

Tests of Lead-bronze Bearings in the DVL Bearing-testing Machine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fischer, G

1940-01-01

The lead-bronze bearings tested in the DVL machine have proven themselves very sensitive to load changes as in comparison with bearings of light metal. In order to prevent surface injuries and consequently running interruptions, the increase of the load has to be made in small steps with sufficient run-in time between steps. The absence of lead in the running surface, impurities in the alloy (especially iron) and surface irregularities (pores) decreases the load-carrying capacity of the bearing to two or three times that of the static load.

Nontidal Loading Applied in VLBI Geodetic Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

MacMillan, D. S.

2015-12-01

We investigate the application of nontidal atmosphere pressure, hydrology, and ocean loading series in the analysis of VLBI data. The annual amplitude of VLBI scale variation is reduced to less than 0.1 ppb, a result of the annual components of the vertical loading series. VLBI site vertical scatter and baseline length scatter is reduced when these loading models are applied. We operate nontidal loading services for hydrology loading (GLDAS model), atmospheric pressure loading (NCEP), and nontidal ocean loading (JPL ECCO model). As an alternative validation, we compare these loading series with corresponding series generated by other analysis centers.

Variation of Water Quality Parameters with Siltation Depth for River Ichamati Along International Border with Bangladesh Using Multivariate Statistical Techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roy, P. K.; Pal, S.; Banerjee, G.; Biswas Roy, M.; Ray, D.; Majumder, A.

2014-12-01

River is considered as one of the main sources of freshwater all over the world. Hence analysis and maintenance of this water resource is globally considered a matter of major concern. This paper deals with the assessment of surface water quality of the Ichamati river using multivariate statistical techniques. Eight distinct surface water quality observation stations were located and samples were collected. For the samples collected statistical techniques were applied to the physico-chemical parameters and depth of siltation. In this paper cluster analysis is done to determine the relations between surface water quality and siltation depth of river Ichamati. Multiple regressions and mathematical equation modeling have been done to characterize surface water quality of Ichamati river on the basis of physico-chemical parameters. It was found that surface water quality of the downstream river was different from the water quality of the upstream. The analysis of the water quality parameters of the Ichamati river clearly indicate high pollution load on the river water which can be accounted to agricultural discharge, tidal effect and soil erosion. The results further reveal that with the increase in depth of siltation, water quality degraded.

Development of an Aerosol Surface Inoculation Method for Bacillus Spores ▿

PubMed Central

Lee, Sang Don; Ryan, Shawn P.; Snyder, Emily Gibb

2011-01-01

A method was developed to deposit Bacillus subtilis spores via aerosolization onto various surface materials for biological agent decontamination and detection studies. This new method uses an apparatus coupled with a metered dose inhaler to reproducibly deposit spores onto various surfaces. A metered dose inhaler was loaded with Bacillus subtilis spores, a surrogate for Bacillus anthracis. Five different material surfaces (aluminum, galvanized steel, wood, carpet, and painted wallboard paper) were tested using this spore deposition method. This aerosolization method deposited spores at a concentration of more than 107 CFU per coupon (18-mm diameter) with less than a 50% coefficient of variation, showing that the aerosolization method developed in this study can deposit reproducible numbers of spores onto various surface coupons. Scanning electron microscopy was used to probe the spore deposition patterns on test coupons. The deposition patterns observed following aerosol impaction were compared to those of liquid inoculation. A physical difference in the spore deposition patterns was observed to result from the two different methods. The spore deposition method developed in this study will help prepare spore coupons via aerosolization fast and reproducibly for bench top decontamination and detection studies. PMID:21193670

Development of an aerosol surface inoculation method for bacillus spores.

PubMed

Lee, Sang Don; Ryan, Shawn P; Snyder, Emily Gibb

2011-03-01

A method was developed to deposit Bacillus subtilis spores via aerosolization onto various surface materials for biological agent decontamination and detection studies. This new method uses an apparatus coupled with a metered dose inhaler to reproducibly deposit spores onto various surfaces. A metered dose inhaler was loaded with Bacillus subtilis spores, a surrogate for Bacillus anthracis. Five different material surfaces (aluminum, galvanized steel, wood, carpet, and painted wallboard paper) were tested using this spore deposition method. This aerosolization method deposited spores at a concentration of more than 10(7) CFU per coupon (18-mm diameter) with less than a 50% coefficient of variation, showing that the aerosolization method developed in this study can deposit reproducible numbers of spores onto various surface coupons. Scanning electron microscopy was used to probe the spore deposition patterns on test coupons. The deposition patterns observed following aerosol impaction were compared to those of liquid inoculation. A physical difference in the spore deposition patterns was observed to result from the two different methods. The spore deposition method developed in this study will help prepare spore coupons via aerosolization fast and reproducibly for bench top decontamination and detection studies.

A Molecular Dynamics Investigation of the Physical-Chemical Properties of Calicivirus Capsid Protein Adsorption to Fomites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peeler, David; Matysiak, Silvina

2013-03-01

Any inanimate object with an exposed surface bears the possibility of hosting a virus and may therefore be labeled a fomite. This research hopes to distinguish which chemical-physical differences in fomite surface and virus capsid protein characteristics cause variations in virus adsorption through an alignment of in silico molecular dynamics simulations with in vitro measurements. The impact of surface chemistry on the adsorption of the human norovirus (HNV)-surrogate calicivirus capsid protein 2MS2 has been simulated for monomer and trimer structures and is reported in terms of protein-self assembled monolayer (SAM) binding free energy. The coarse-grained MARTINI forcefield was used to maximize spatial and temporal resolution while minimizing computational load. Future work will investigate the FCVF5 and SMSVS4 calicivirus trimers and will extend beyond hydrophobic and hydrophilic SAM surface chemistry to charged SAM surfaces in varying ionic concentrations. These results will be confirmed by quartz crystal microbalance experiments conducted by Dr. Wigginton at the University of Michigan. This should provide a novel method for predicting the transferability of viruses that cannot be studied in vitro such as dangerous foodborne and nosocomially-acquired viruses like HNV.

Thrust-isolating mounting. [characteristics of support for loads mounted in spacecraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wetzler, D. G. (Inventor)

1974-01-01

A supporting frame for a load, such as one or more telescopes, is isolated from all multi-gravitational forces, which will be developed within that load as that load is propelled into space, by using a shroud to fully and solidly hold that load until that load has been propelled into space. Thereafter, that shroud will be jettisoned; and then supports which are on, and which are movable with, that load will have surfaces thereon moved into supporting engagement with complementary surfaces on that supporting frame to enable that supporting frame and those supports to fully and solidly hold that load.

Rocketdyne LOX bearing tester program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Keba, J. E.; Beatty, R. F.

1988-01-01

The cause, or causes, for the Space Shuttle Main Engine ball wear were unknown, however, several mechanisms were suspected. Two testers were designed and built for operation in liquid oxygen to empirically gain insight into the problems and iterate solutions in a timely and cost efficient manner independent of engine testing. Schedules and test plans were developed that defined a test matrix consisting of parametric variations of loading, cooling or vapor margin, cage lubrication, material, and geometry studies. Initial test results indicated that the low pressure pump thrust bearing surface distress is a function of high axial load. Initial high pressure turbopump bearing tests produced the wear phenomenon observed in the turbopump and identified an inadequate vapor margin problem and a coolant flowrate sensitivity issue. These tests provided calibration data of analytical model predictions to give high confidence in the positive impact of future turbopump design modification for flight. Various modifications will be evaluated in these testers, since similar turbopump conditions can be produced and the benefit of the modification will be quantified in measured wear life comparisons.

A critical evaluation of theories for predicting microcracking in composite laminates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nairn, John A.; Hu, Shoufeng; Bark, Jong S.

1993-01-01

We present experimental results on 21 different layups of Hercules AS4 carbon fiber/3501-6 epoxy laminates. All laminates had 90 deg plies; some had them in the middle, while some had them on a free surface. During tensile loading, the first form of damage in all laminates was microcracking of the 90 deg plies. For each laminate, we recorded both the crack density and the complete distribution of crack spacings as a function of the applied load. By rearranging various microcracking theories, we developed a master-curve approach that permitted plotting the results from all laminates on a single plot. By comparing master-curve plots for different theories, it was possible to critically evaluate the quality of those theories. We found that a critical-energy-release-rate criterion calculated using a 2D variational stress analysis gave the best results. All microcracking theories based on a strength-failure criteria gave poor results. All microcracking theories using 1D stress analyses, regardless of the failure criterion, also gave poor results.

Measurements of spatially resolved velocity variations in shock compressed heterogeneous materials using a line-imaging velocity interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trott, Wayne M.; Knudson, Marcus D.; Chhabildas, Lalit C.; Asay, James R.

2000-04-01

Relatively straightforward changes in the design of a conventional optically recording velocity interferometer system (ORVIS) can be used to produce a line-imaging instrument that allows adjustment of spatial resolution over a wide range. As a result, line-imaging ORVIS can be tailored to various specific applications involving dynamic deformation of heterogeneous materials as required by their characteristic length scales (ranging from a few μm for ferroelectric ceramics to a few mm for concrete). A line-imaging system has been successfully interfaced to a compressed gas gun driver and fielded on numerous tests in combination with simultaneous dual delay-leg, "push-pull" VISAR measurements. These tests include shock loading of glass-reinforced polyester composites, foam reverberation experiments (measurements at the free surface of a thin aluminum plate impacted by foam), and measurements of dispersive velocity in a shock-loaded explosive simulant (sugar). Results are presented that illustrate the capability for recording detailed spatially resolved material response.

Spatial and seasonal variation of pollution sources in proximity of the Jaranman-Saryangdo area in Korea.

PubMed

Jung, Yeoun Joong; Park, Young Cheol; Lee, Ka Jeong; Kim, Min Seon; Go, Kyeong Ri; Park, Sang Gi; Kwon, Soon Jae; Yang, Ji Hye; Mok, Jong Soo

2017-02-15

We aimed to compare the spatial and seasonal distributions of fecal coliforms (FCs) and other physiochemical factors in the drainage basin of the Jaranman-Saryangdo area. Among the pollution sources, the mean daily loads and half-circle radii of FCs were the highest in June. However, the pollutants did not reach the boundary line of the designated area due to an existing buffer zone. The value of the FC geometric mean at station 1 was highest in August during periods of heavy rainfall; however, this value was lower than the regulation limit. The highest daily loads of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) in seawater were in the surface layer in August; however, dissolved oxygen (DO) in the bottom water layer was at its lowest in August. This study demonstrated that season and rainfall have significant effects on the FC, COD, DO, and Chl-a concentrations in seawater. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Utilization of Optimization for Design of Morphing Wing Structures for Enhanced Flight

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Detrick, Matthew Scott

Conventional aircraft control surfaces constrain maneuverability. This work is a comprehensive study that looks at both smart material and conventional actuation methods to achieve wing twist to potentially improve flight capability using minimal actuation energy while allowing minimal wing deformation under aerodynamic loading. A continuous wing is used in order to reduce drag while allowing the aircraft to more closely approximate the wing deformation used by birds while loitering. The morphing wing for this work consists of a skin supported by an underlying truss structure whose goal is to achieve a given roll moment using less actuation energy than conventional control surfaces. A structural optimization code has been written in order to achieve minimal wing deformation under aerodynamic loading while allowing wing twist under actuation. The multi-objective cost function for the optimization consists of terms that ensure small deformation under aerodynamic loading, small change in airfoil shape during wing twist, a linear variation of wing twist along the length of the wing, small deviation from the desired wing twist, minimal number of truss members, minimal wing weight, and minimal actuation energy. Hydraulic cylinders and a two member linkage driven by a DC motor are tested separately to provide actuation. Since the goal of the current work is simply to provide a roll moment, only one actuator is implemented along the wing span. Optimization is also used to find the best location within the truss structure for the actuator. The active structure produced by optimization is then compared to simulated and experimental results from other researchers as well as characteristics of conventional aircraft.

Caffeine, an anthropogenic marker for wastewater comtamination of surface waters.

PubMed

Buerge, Ignaz I; Poiger, Thomas; Müller, Markus D; Buser, Hans-Rudolf

2003-02-15

The suitability of caffeine as a chemical marker for surface water pollution by domestic wastewaters was assessed in this study. Caffeine concentrations in influents and effluents of Swiss wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs, 7-73 and 0.03-9.5 microg/L, respectively) indicated an efficient elimination of 81-99.9%. Corresponding loads in untreated wastewater showed small variations when normalized forthe population discharging to the WWTPs (15.8 +/- 3.8 mg person(-1) d(-1)), reflecting a rather constant consumption. WWTP effluent loads were considerably lower (0.06 +/- 0.03 mg person(-1) d(-1)), apart from installations with low sludge age (< or = 5 d, loads up to 4.4 mg person(-1) d(-1)). Despite the efficient removal in most WWTPs, caffeine was ubiquitously found in Swiss lakes and rivers (6-250 ng/ L), except for remote mountain lakes (<2 ng/L; analytical procedure for wastewater and natural waters: SPE, GC-MS-SIM or GC-MS-MS-MRM, internal standard 13C3-labeled caffeine). Caffeine concentrations in lakes correlated with the anthropogenic burden by domestic wastewaters, demonstrating the suitability of caffeine as a marker. A mass balance for Greifensee revealed that approximately 1-4% of the wastewaters had been discharged without treatment, presumably on rainy days when the capacity of WWTPs had been exceeded. For Zürichsee, it could be shown that the monthly inputs of caffeine correlated with precipitation data. The depth- and seasonal-dependent concentrations in this lake were adequately rationalized by a numerical model considering flushing, biodegradation, and indirect photodegradation via HO. radicals as elimination processes and caffeine inputs as fitting variables.

Heterogeneity of muscle recruitment pattern during pedaling in professional road cyclists: a magnetic resonance imaging and electromyography study.

PubMed

Hug, François; Bendahan, David; Le Fur, Yann; Cozzone, Patrick J; Grélot, Laurent

2004-07-01

Although a number of studies have been devoted to the analysis of the activity pattern of the muscles involved in pedaling in sedentary subjects and/or amateur cyclists, data on professional cyclists are scarce and the issue of inter-individual differences has never been addressed in detail. In the present series of experiments, we performed a non-invasive investigation using functional magnetic resonance imaging and surface electromyography to determine the pattern of activity of lower limb muscles during two different exhausting pedaling exercises in eight French professional cyclists. Each subject performed an incremental exercise during which electromyographic activity of eight lower limb muscles and respiratory variables were recorded. After a 3-h recovery period, transverse relaxation times (T2) were measured before and just after a standardized constant-load maximal exercise in order to quantify exercise-related T2 changes. The global EMG activity illustrated by the root mean square clearly showed a large inter-individual difference during the incremental exercise regardless of the investigated muscle (variation coefficient up to 81%). In addition, for most of the muscles investigated, the constant-load exercise induced T2 increases, which varied noticeably among the subjects. This high level of variation in the recruitment of lower limb muscles in professional cyclists during both incremental and constant-load exercises is surprising given the homogeneity related to maximal oxygen consumption and training volume. The high degree of expertise of these professional cyclists was not linked to the production of a common pattern of pedaling and our results provide an additional evidence that the nervous system has multiple ways of accomplishing a given motor task, as has been suggested previously by neural control theorists and experimentalists.

Tracking spatial variation in river load from Andean highlands to inter-Andean valleys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tenorio, Gustavo E.; Vanacker, Veerle; Campforts, Benjamin; Álvarez, Lenín; Zhiminaicela, Santiago; Vercruysse, Kim; Molina, Armando; Govers, Gerard

2018-05-01

Mountains play an important role in the denudation of continents and transfer erosion and weathering products to lowlands and oceans. The rates at which erosion and weathering processes take place in mountain regions have a substantial impact on the morphology and biogeochemistry of downstream reaches and lowlands. The controlling factors of physical erosion and chemical weathering and the coupling between the two processes are not yet fully understood. In this study, we report physical erosion and chemical weathering rates for five Andean catchments located in the southern Ecuadorian Andes and investigate their mutual interaction. During a 4-year monitoring period, we sampled river water at biweekly intervals, and we analyzed water samples for major ions and suspended solids. We derived the total annual dissolved, suspended sediment, and ionic loads from the flow frequency curves and adjusted rating curves and used the dissolved and suspended sediment yields as proxies for chemical weathering and erosion rates. In the 4-year period of monitoring, chemical weathering exceeds physical erosion in the high Andean catchments. Whereas physical erosion rates do not exceed 30 t km-2 y-1 in the relict glaciated morphology, chemical weathering rates range between 22 and 59 t km-2 y-1. The variation in chemical weathering is primarily controlled by intrinsic differences in bedrock lithology. Land use has no discernible impact on the weathering rate but leads to a small increase in base cation concentrations because of fertilizer leaching in surface water. When extending our analysis with published data on dissolved and suspended sediment yields from the northern and central Andes, we observe that the river load composition strongly changes in the downstream direction, indicating large heterogeneity of weathering processes and rates within large Andean basins.

Identification of critical equipment and determination of operational limits in helium refrigerators under pulsed heat load

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dutta, Rohan; Ghosh, Parthasarathi; Chowdhury, Kanchan

2014-01-01

Large-scale helium refrigerators are subjected to pulsed heat load from tokamaks. As these plants are designed for constant heat loads, operation under such varying load may lead to instability in plants thereby tripping the operation of different equipment. To understand the behavior of the plant subjected to pulsed heat load, an existing plant of 120 W at 4.2 K and another large-scale plant of 18 kW at 4.2 K have been analyzed using a commercial process simulator Aspen Hysys®. A similar heat load characteristic has been applied in both quasi steady state and dynamic analysis to determine critical stages and equipment of these plants from operational point of view. It has been found that the coldest part of both the cycles consisting JT-stage and its preceding reverse Brayton stage are the most affected stages of the cycles. Further analysis of the above stages and constituting equipment revealed limits of operation with respect to variation of return stream flow rate resulted from such heat load variations. The observations on the outcome of the analysis can be used for devising techniques for steady operation of the plants subjected to pulsed heat load.

High temperature lubricating process

DOEpatents

Taylor, R.W.; Shell, T.E.

1979-10-04

It has been difficult to provide adequate lubrication for load bearing, engine components when such engines are operating in excess of about 475/sup 0/C. The present invention is a process for providing a solid lubricant on a load bearing, solid surface, such as in an engine being operated at temperatures in excess of about 475/sup 0/C. The process comprises contacting and maintaining the following steps: a gas phase is provided which includes at least one component reactable in a temperature dependent reaction to form a solid lubricant; the gas phase is contacted with the load bearing surface; the load bearing surface is maintained at a temperature which causes reaction of the gas phase component and the formation of the solid lubricant; and the solid lubricant is formed directly on the load bearing surface. The method is particularly suitable for use with ceramic engines.

High temperature lubricating process

DOEpatents

Taylor, Robert W.; Shell, Thomas E.

1982-01-01

It has been difficult to provide adaquate lubrication for load bearing, engine components when such engines are operating in excess of about 475.degree. C. The present invention is a process for providing a solid lubricant on a load bearing, solid surface (14), such as in an engine (10) being operated at temperatures in excess of about 475.degree. C. The process comprises contacting and maintaining steps. A gas phase (42) is provided which includes at least one component reactable in a temperature dependent reaction to form a solid lubricant. The gas phase is contacted with the load bearing surface. The load bearing surface is maintained at a temperature which causes reaction of the gas phase component and the formation of the solid lubricant. The solid lubricant is formed directly on the load bearing surface. The method is particularly suitable for use with ceramic engines.

Analysis of Load Stress for Asphalt Pavement of Lean Concrete Base

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lijun, Suo; Xinwu, Wang

The study revealed that whether it is early distresses in asphalt pavement or not depends largely on working performance of base. In the field of asphalt pavement, it is widely accepted that lean concrete base, compared with the general semi-rigid base, has better working performance, such as high strength and good eroding resistance. Problem of early distresses in asphalt pavement, which caused by more traffic loadings, can be settled effectively when lean concrete is used in asphalt pavement. Traffic loading is important parameter used in the analysis of the new pavement design. However, few studies have done extensive and intensive research on the load stress for asphalt pavement of lean concrete base. Because of that, it is necessary to study the load stress for the asphalt pavement. In the paper, first of all, three-dimension finite element model of the asphalt pavement is created for the aim of doing mechanical analysis for the asphalt pavement. And then, the two main objectives of this study are investigated. One is analysis for load stress of lean concrete base, and the other is analysis for load stress of asphalt surface. The results show that load stress of lean concrete base decreases, decrease and increase with increase of base's thickness, surface's thickness and ratio of base's modulus to foundation's modulus respectively. So far as the asphalt surface is concerned, maximum shearing stress, which is caused by load, is evident in asphalt surface which is located in transverse contraction joint of lean concrete base of asphalt pavement. Maximum shearing stress decrease, decrease, decrease and increase respectively with increase of the surface's modulus, the surface's thickness, base's thickness and ratio of base's modulus to foundation's modulus.

Gear tooth stress measurements of two helicopter planetary stages

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Krantz, Timothy L.

1992-01-01

Two versions of the planetary reduction stages from U.S. Army OH-58 helicopter main rotor transmissions were tested at NASA Lewis. One sequential and one nonsequential planetary were tested. Sun gear and ring gear teeth strains were measured, and stresses were calculated from the strains. The alternating stress at the fillet of both the loaded and unloaded sides of the teeth and at the root of the sun gear teeth are reported. Typical stress variations as the gear tooth moves through mesh are illustrated. At the tooth root location of the thin rimmed sun gear, a significant stress was produced by a phenomenon other than the passing of a planet gear. The load variation among the planets was studied. Each planet produced its own distinctive load distribution on the ring and sun gears. The load variation was less for a three planet, nonsequential design as compared to that of a four planet, sequential design. The reported results enhance the data base for gear stress levels and provide data for the validation of analytical methods.

In situ strain profiling of elastoplastic bending in Ti-6Al-4V alloy by synchrotron energy dispersive x-ray diffraction

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Croft, M.; National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973; Shukla, V.

Elastic and plastic strain evolution under four-point bending has been studied by synchrotron energy dispersive x-ray diffraction. Measured strain profiles across the specimen thickness showed an increasing linear elastic strain gradient under increasing four-point bending load up to approx2 kN. The bulk elastic modulus of Ti-6Al-4V was determined as 118 GPa. The onset of plastic deformation was found to set in at a total in-plane strain of approx0.008, both under tension and compression. Plastic deformation under bending is initiated in the vicinity of the surface and at a stress of 1100 MPa, and propagates inward, while a finite core regionmore » remains elastically deformed up to 3.67 kN loading. The onset of the plastic regime and the plastic regime itself has been verified by monitoring the line broadening of the (100) peak of alpha-Ti. The effective compression/tension stress-strain curve has been obtained from the scaling collapse of strain profile data taken at seven external load levels. A similar multiple load scaling collapse of the plastic strain variation has also been obtained. The level of precision in strain measurement reported herein was evaluated and found to be 1.5x10{sup -5} or better.« less

Using in situ vertical displacements to characterize changes in moisture load

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murdoch, Lawrence C.; Freeman, Clay E.; Germanovich, Leonid N.; Thrash, Colby; DeWolf, Scott

2015-08-01

Changes in soil moisture content alter the load on underlying material, and we have developed a technique for characterizing this effect by using an extensometer to measure the displacement caused by the load change. The extensometer is pushed into soil at depths of 5 m or more, and displacement between two anchors separated by ˜1.5 m is measured with a resolution of better than 0.01 μm (10-8 m). The instrument is sensitive to load changes at the ground surface within a radial distance that is roughly twice its depth, potentially providing a method for averaging changes in water content over hundreds of m2 or more. During a field trial at a site in South Carolina, compressive displacements in unsaturated saprolite were strongly correlated to rainfall with a calibration factor of 0.16 μm displacement per mm of rainfall ±0.002 μm/mm (R2 = 0.95). Estimates of the net change in water volume per unit area made using the calibration factor from rainfall were similar to independent estimates of evapotranspiration. The technique was affected by barometric pressure variations, but the sensitivity was less than expected and does not hinder meaningful application. A companion instrument demonstrated the displacement signal was repeatable. This article was corrected on 11 SEP 2015. See the end of the full text for details.

Deformation behavior of FRP-metal composites locally reinforced with carbon fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scholze, M.; Kolonko, A.; Lindner, T.; Lampke, T.; Helbig, F.

2016-03-01

This study investigates variations of hybrid laminates, consisting of one aluminum sheet and a unidirectional glass fiber (GF) reinforced polyamide 6 (PA6) basic structure with partial carbon fiber (CF) reinforcement. To create these heterogeneous FRP laminates, it is necessary to design and produce semi-finished textile-based products. Moreover, a warp knitting machine in conjunction with a warp thread offset unit was used to generate bionic inspired compounds. By the variation of stacking prior to the consolidation process of the hybrid laminate, an oriented CF reinforcement at the top and middle layer of the FRP is realized. In both cases the GFRP layer prevents contact between the aluminum and carbon fibers. In so doing, the high strength of carbon fibers can be transferred to the hybrid laminate in load directions with an active prevention of contact corrosion. The interface strength between thermoplastic and metal component was improved by a thermal spray coating on the aluminum sheet. Because of the high surface roughness and porosity, mechanical interlock was used to provide high interface strength without bonding agents between both components. The resulting mechanical properties of the hybrid laminates are evaluated by three point bending tests in different load directions. The effect of local fiber orientation and layer positioning on failure and deformation mechanism is additionally investigated by digital image correlation (DIC).

SCC of 2304 Duplex Stainless Steel—Microstructure, Residual Stress and Surface Grinding Effects

PubMed Central

Zhou, Nian; Peng, Ru Lin; Schönning, Mikael; Pettersson, Rachel

2017-01-01

The influence of surface grinding and microstructure on chloride induced stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behavior of 2304 duplex stainless steel has been investigated. Grinding operations were performed both parallel and perpendicular to the rolling direction of the material. SCC tests were conducted in boiling magnesium chloride according to ASTM G36; specimens were exposed both without external loading and with varied levels of four-point bend loading. Residual stresses were measured on selected specimens before and after exposure using the X-ray diffraction technique. In addition, in-situ surface stress measurements subjected to four-point bend loading were performed to evaluate the deviation between the actual applied loading and the calculated values according to ASTM G39. Micro-cracks, initiated by grinding induced surface tensile residual stresses, were observed for all the ground specimens but not on the as-delivered surfaces. Loading transverse to the rolling direction of the material increased the susceptibility to chloride induced SCC. Grinding induced tensile residual stresses and micro-notches in the as-ground surface topography were also detrimental. PMID:28772582

SCC of 2304 Duplex Stainless Steel-Microstructure, Residual Stress and Surface Grinding Effects.

PubMed

Zhou, Nian; Peng, Ru Lin; Schönning, Mikael; Pettersson, Rachel

2017-02-23

The influence of surface grinding and microstructure on chloride induced stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behavior of 2304 duplex stainless steel has been investigated. Grinding operations were performed both parallel and perpendicular to the rolling direction of the material. SCC tests were conducted in boiling magnesium chloride according to ASTM G36; specimens were exposed both without external loading and with varied levels of four-point bend loading. Residual stresses were measured on selected specimens before and after exposure using the X-ray diffraction technique. In addition, in-situ surface stress measurements subjected to four-point bend loading were performed to evaluate the deviation between the actual applied loading and the calculated values according to ASTM G39. Micro-cracks, initiated by grinding induced surface tensile residual stresses, were observed for all the ground specimens but not on the as-delivered surfaces. Loading transverse to the rolling direction of the material increased the susceptibility to chloride induced SCC. Grinding induced tensile residual stresses and micro-notches in the as-ground surface topography were also detrimental.

Relations of surface-water quality to streamflow in the Hackensack, Passaic, Elizabeth, and Rahway River basins, New Jersey, water years 1976-93

USGS Publications Warehouse

Buxton, Debra E.; Hunchak-Kariouk, Kathryn; Hickman, R. Edward

1998-01-01

Relations of water quality to streamflow were determined for 18 water-quality constituents at 19 surface-water-quality stations within the drainage basins of the Hackensack, Passaic, Elizabeth, and Rahway Rivers in New Jersey for water years 1976-93. Surface-waterquality and streamflow data were evaluated for trends (through time) in constituent concentrations during high and low flows, and relations between constituent concentration and streamflow, and constituent load and streamflow, were determined. Median concentrations were calculated for the entire period of study (water years 1976-93) and for the last 5 years of the period of study (water years 1989-93) to determine whether any large variation in concentration exists between the two periods. Medians also were used to determine the seasonal Kendall’s tau statistic, which was then used to evaluate trends in concentrations during high and low flows.Trends in constituent concentrations during high and low flows were evaluated to determine whether the distribution of the observations changes over time for intermittent (nonpoint storm runoff) or constant (point sources and ground water) sources, respectively. Highand low-flow concentration trends were determined for some constituents at 11 of the 19 waterquality stations; 8 stations have insufficient data to determine trends. Seasonal effects on the relations of concentration to streamflow are evident for 16 of the 18 constituents. Negative slopes of relations of concentration to streamflow, which indicate a decrease in concentration at high flows, predominate over positive slopes because of dilution of instream concentrations from storm runoff.The slopes of the regression lines of load to streamflow were determined in order to show the relative contributions to the instream load from constant (point sources and ground water) and intermittent sources (storm runoff). Greater slope values suggest larger contributions from storm runoff to instream load, which most likely indicate an increased relative importance of nonpoint sources. Load-to-streamflow relations along a stream reach that tend to increase in a downstream direction indicate the increased relative importance of contributions from storm runoff. Likewise, load-to-streamflow relations along a stream reach that tend to decrease in a downstream direction indicate the increased relative importance of point sources and ground-water discharge. For most of the 18 constituents, load-to-streamflow relations at stations along a river reach remain constant or decrease in a downstream direction. The slopes increase in the downstream direction for some or all of the nutrient species at the Ramapo, lower Passaic, and Rahway Rivers; for dissolved solids, dissolved sodium, and dissolved chloride at the lower Passaic River; and for alkalinity and hardness at the Rahway River.

Effect of natural ageing on surface of silver loaded TPE and its influence in antimicrobial efficacy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tomacheski, Daiane; Pittol, Michele; Simões, Douglas Naue; Ribeiro, Vanda Ferreira; Santana, Ruth Marlene Campomanes

2017-05-01

The aim of this study is to characterize the modifications in silver loaded TPE surfaces exposed to weathering and their relation to susceptibility to microbial attack. Silver loaded TPE materials were exposed to natural ageing for nine months and modifications in antimicrobial properties and surface characteristics were evaluated. Chemical changes were investigated by using the infrared spectra. The average surface roughness and topography were determined by atomic force microscopy. Contact angle was measured to verify wettability conditions and surface free energy (SFE). After nine months of exposure, a decrease in the antimicrobial properties of loaded TPE compounds was observed. A reduction in surface roughness and improvement in wettability and high values of polar component of SFE were verified. The best antibacterial action was noticed in the sample with high Lewis acid force, lower roughness and lower carbonyl index.

Friction and wear behavior of aluminum and composite I-beam stiffened airplane skins

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jackson, K. E.

1985-01-01

Friction and wear behavior was determined for I-beam stiffened skins constructed of aluminum, graphite-epoxy composite, and glass hybrid composite under abrasive loading conditions typical of those occurring on the underside of a transport airplane during an emergency belly landing. A test apparatus was developed to abrade the test specimens on actual runway surface under a range of pressures (2-5 psi) and velocities (16-50 mph). These parameters were chosen to fall within the range of conditions typical of an airframe sliding on a runway surface. The effects of the test variables on the wear rate and the coefficient of friction are discussed and comparisons are made between the composite materials and aluminum. In addition, the test apparatus was equipped to monitor the temperature variations on the backside of the skins during abrasion and these results are presented.

Light requirements of seagrasses determined from historical records of light attenuation along the Gulf coast of peninsular Florida.

PubMed

Choice, Zanethia D; Frazer, Thomas K; Jacoby, Charles A

2014-04-15

Seagrasses around the world are threatened by human activities that degrade water quality and reduce light availability. In this study, light requirements were determined for four common and abundant seagrasses along the Gulf coast of peninsular Florida using a threshold detecting algorithm. Light requirements ranged from 8% to 10% of surface irradiance for Halophila engelmannii to 25-27% of surface irradiance for Halodule wrightii. Requirements for all species differed from previous reports generated at other locations. Variations were attributed to morphological and physiological differences, as well as adaptation to light histories at specific locations. In addition, seagrasses were absent from stations with significantly higher concentrations of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, chlorophyll a and color. These results confirm the need to address links between increased anthropogenic nutrient loads, eutrophication, reduced light penetration, and loss of seagrasses and the services they provide. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Effects Of Suspension-Line Damping On LADT #3 And Supersonic BLDT Parachute Inflation Dynamics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Poole, Lamont R.

1972-01-01

A two-body computerized mathematical model is used to calculate planar dynamics of the LADT #3 and supersonic BLDT parachute inflations. Results indicate that the calculated loads and motions of the LADT #3 inflation are not affected appreciably by variation in the suspension-line damping coefficient. However, variation of the coefficient results in significant changes in the calculated loads and strain rates of the supersonic BLDT inflation.

Performance of Savonius Blade Waterwheel with Variation of Blade Number

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sule, L.; Rompas, P. T. D.

2018-02-01

The utilization of water energy source is mainly used as a provider of electrical energy through hydroelectric power. The potential utilization of water flow energy is relatively small. The objective of this study is to know the best blade of Savonius waterwheel with various variables such as water discharge, blade number, and loading. The data used the efficiency of waterwheel, variation of blade number, variable water discharge, and loading in the shaft. The test results have shown that the performances of a top-water mill with the semicircular curve where the variation in the number of blades are 4, 6, and 8 at discharge and loading of 0.01587 m3/s and 1000 grams respectively were 9.945%, 13.929%, and 17.056% respectively. The blades number of 8 obtained the greatest performance. The more number of blades the greater the efficiency of the waterwheel Savonius.

Sea-level responses to sediment transport over the last ice age cycle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferrier, K.; Mitrovica, J. X.

2013-12-01

Sea-level changes over the last ice age cycle were instrumental in steering Earth's topographic evolution. These sea-level variations were driven by changes in surface mass loads, including not only ice and ocean mass variations but also the transfer of rock from eroding mountains to sedimentary deposits. Here we use an extended numerical model of ice age sea level (Dalca et al., 2013) to explore how sediment erosion and deposition affected global sea-level variations over the last ice age cycle. The model takes histories of ice and sediment loads as inputs, and it computes gravitationally self-consistent sea level responses by accounting for the deformational, gravitational, and rotational perturbations in the Earth's viscoelastic form. In these model simulations, we use published estimates of erosion rates, sedimentation rates, and ice sheet variations to constrain sediment and ice loading since the Last Interglacial. We explore sea-level responses to several erosional and depositional scenarios, and in each we quantify the relative contributions of crustal deformation and gravitational perturbation to the computed sea-level change. We also present a case study to illustrate the effects that sediment transfer can have on sea level at the regional scale. In particular, we focus on the region surrounding the Indus River, where fluvial sediment fluxes are among the highest on Earth. Preliminary model results suggest that sediment fluxes from Asia to the ocean are large enough to produce a significant response in sea level along the northeastern coast of the Arabian Sea. Moreover, they suggest that modeled sea-level histories are sensitive to the timing and spatial distribution of sediment erosion and deposition. For instance, sediment deposition along the continental shelf - which may have been the primary site of Indus River sediment deposition during the Holocene - produces a different sea-level response than sediment deposition on the deep-sea Indus Fan, where most of the Indus sediment may have been deposited during the glacial period preceding the Holocene. These simulations highlight the role that massive continent-to-ocean sediment fluxes can play in driving sea-level patterns over thousands of years. References: Dalca A.V., Ferrier K.L., Mitrovica J.X., Perron J.T., Milne G.A., Creveling J.R., 2013. On postglacial sea level - III: Incorporating sediment redistribution. Geophys. J. Int., doi: 10.1093/gji/ggt089.

A computer solution for the dynamic load, lubricant film thickness, and surface temperatures in spiral-bevel gears

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chao, H. C.; Baxter, M.; Cheng, H. S.

1983-01-01

A computer method for determining the dynamic load between spiral bevel pinion and gear teeth contact along the path of contact is described. The dynamic load analysis governs both the surface temperature and film thickness. Computer methods for determining the surface temperature, and film thickness are presented along with results obtained for a pair of typical spiral bevel gears.

Arsenic load in rice ecosystem and its mitigation through deficit irrigation.

PubMed

Mukherjee, Arkabanee; Kundu, M; Basu, B; Sinha, B; Chatterjee, M; Bairagya, M Das; Singh, U K; Sarkar, S

2017-07-15

Rice the staple food is a notable intake source of arsenic to the rural population of eastern India through food-chain. A field survey was carried out to study the variation of arsenic load in different parts of rice genotype Shatabdi (most popular genotype of the region) exposed to varying level of arsenic present in the irrigation water and soil. As irrigation is the primary source of arsenic contamination, a study was conducted to assess arsenic load in rice ecosystem under deficit irrigation practices like intermittent ponding (IP), saturation (SAT) and aerobic (AER) imposed during stress allowable stage (16-40 days after transplanting) of the crop (genotype Shatabdi). Present survey showed that arsenic content in water and soil influenced the arsenic load of rice grain. Variation in arsenic among different water and soil samples influenced grain arsenic load to the maximum extent followed by straw. Deviation in root arsenic load due to variation in water and soil arsenic content was lowest. Arsenic concentration of grain is strongly related to the arsenic content of both irrigation water and soil. However, water has 10% higher impact on grain arsenic load over soil. Translocation of arsenic from root to shoot decreased with the increase in arsenic content of water. Imposition of saturated and aerobic environment reduced both yield and grain arsenic load. In contrast under IP a marked decrease in grain arsenic content recorded with insignificant reduction in yield. Deficit irrigation resulted in significant reduction (17.6-25%) in arsenic content of polished rice and the values were lower than that of the toxic level (<0.2 mg kg -1 ). In contrast the decrease in yield was to the tune of 0.9% under IP regime over CP. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Variations in medial-lateral hamstring force and force ratio influence tibiofemoral kinematics.

PubMed

Shalhoub, Sami; Fitzwater, Fallon G; Cyr, Adam J; Maletsky, Lorin P

2016-10-01

A change in hamstring strength and activation is typically seen after injuries or invasive surgeries such as anterior cruciate reconstruction or total knee replacement. While many studies have investigated the influence of isometric increases in hamstring load on knee joint kinematics, few have quantified the change in kinematics due to a variation in medial to lateral hamstring force ratio. This study examined the changes in knee joint kinematics on eight cadaveric knees during an open-chain deep knee bend for six different loading configurations: five loaded hamstring configurations that varied the ratio of a total load of 175 N between the semimembranosus and biceps femoris and one with no loads on the hamstring. The anterior-posterior translation of the medial and lateral femoral condyles' lowest points along proximal-distal axis of the tibia, the axial rotation of the tibia, and the quadriceps load were measured at each flexion angle. Unloading the hamstring shifted the medial and lateral lowest points posteriorly and increased tibial internal rotation. The influence of unloading hamstrings on quadriceps load was small in early flexion and increased with knee flexion. The loading configuration with the highest lateral hamstrings force resulted in the most posterior translation of the medial lowest point, most anterior translation of the lateral lowest point, and the highest tibial external rotation of the five loading configurations. As the medial hamstring force ratio increased, the medial lowest point shifted anteriorly, the lateral lowest point shifted posteriorly, and the tibia rotated more internally. The results of this study, demonstrate that variation in medial-lateral hamstrings force and force ratio influence tibiofemoral transverse kinematics and quadriceps loads required to extend the knee. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:1707-1715, 2016. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Morphology and Performance of 5Cr5MoV Casting Die Steel in the Process of Surfacing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Yulai; Kong, Xiangrui; Yang, Pengcong; Fu, Hongde; Wang, Xuezhu

2017-12-01

To investigate the microstructures and mechanical properties of the deposited metal on surface of die steel, two layer of weld-seam were prepared on the surface of 5Cr5MoV die steel by arc surfacing. The surface microstructures and microhardness were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometer and Vickers microhardness tester, respectively. The effect of load on the abrasion resistance and wear mechanism of the base metal and surfacing metal was studied by pin-on-disk tribometer. The results showed that martensite and retained austenite exist in weld-seam, both of them grow up in the form of dendrites and equiaxed grains and microhardness reach 774.2HV. The microstructures of the quenching zone mainly consist of martensite and retained austenite, while tempered martensite is the dominant phase in partial quenching zone. The abrasion resistance of the surfacing metal is superior to the base metal based on the results of wear test. The wear rates of surfacing metal and base metal raise with the increase of load. The wear rates of base metal raise extremely when the load reach 210N. Both of two kinds of materials have the similar wear mechanism, namely, abrasive wear at low load, oxidative wear and adhesive wear at high load.

Characterization of Chlorhexidine-Loaded Calcium-Hydroxide Microparticles as a Potential Dental Pulp-Capping Material.

PubMed

Priyadarshini, Balasankar M; Selvan, Subramanian T; Narayanan, Karthikeyan; Fawzy, Amr S

2017-06-22

This study explores the delivery of novel calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)₂] microparticles loaded with chlorhexidine (CHX) for potential dental therapeutic and preventive applications. Herein, we introduce a new approach for drug-delivery to deep dentin-surfaces in the form of drug-loaded microparticles. Unloaded Ca(OH)₂ [Ca(OH)₂/Blank] and CHX-loaded/Ca(OH)₂ microparticles were fabricated by aqueous chemical-precipitation technique. The synthesized-microparticles were characterized in vitro for determination of surface-morphology, crystalline-features and thermal-properties examined by energy-dispersive X-ray scanning and transmission electron-microscopy (EDX-SEM/TEM), Fourier-transform infrared-spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning-calorimetry (DSC). Time-related pH changes, initial antibacterial/biofilm-abilities and cytotoxicity of CHX-loaded/Ca(OH)₂ microparticles were evaluated. Microparticles were delivered to dentin-surfaces with subsequent SEM examination of treated dentin-substrates. The in vitro and ex vivo CHX-release profiles were characterized. Ca(OH)₂/Blank were hexagonal-shaped with highest z -average diameter whereas CHX-inclusion evidenced micro-metric spheres with distinguishable surface "rounded deposits" and a negative-shift in diameter. CHX:Ca(OH)₂/50 mg exhibited maximum encapsulation-efficiency with good antibacterial and cytocompatible properties. SEM examination revealed an intact layer of microparticles on exposed dentin-surfaces with retention of spherical shape and smooth texture. Microparticles loaded on dentin-surfaces showed prolonged release of CHX indicating substantial retention on dentin-substrates. This study validated the inherent-applicability of this novel drug-delivery approach to dentin-surfaces using micro-metric CHX-loaded/Ca(OH)₂ microparticles.

Staging of the Acoustic Response at Laboratory Modelling of Tidal Influence upon Seismicity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saltykov, Vadim; Patonin, Andrey; Kugaenko, Yulia

2010-05-01

INTRODUCTION The seismic radiation is varied through the wide range of seismic energy from seismic emission (high-frequency seismic noise, HFSN) to earthquakes. Some features of external influence response on the different scales allow to consider the medium as a single whole seismoactive object. Earth tide is a bright example of external excited field. Tidal topic has long history in seismology. Results obtained by different scientists are contradictory and ambiguous often. We denoted instability of tidal effect manifestation as possible reason of this situation. In view of the aforesaid it is significant, that tidal effects in weak seismicity and HFSN prove more strongly in the stage of large earthquake preparation [Rykunov et al., 1998, Saltykov et al., 2004, 2007]. It is presumed that the metastable medium has more high tidal sensitivity. For example, sources of prepared earthquakes and extensive near-surface zones of micro-fissuring and dilatancy, which appear during source formation and stretch far enough. [Alekseev et all., 2001, Goldin, 2004, 2005]. Common features of observed effects allow to suggest existence of tidal modulation mechanism, which is similar (may be single) for different seismic scales. Modelling of these processes can improve our understanding of tidal effect nature. LABORATORY EXPERIMENT Results of rock sample destruction experiments under controlling are presented. Acoustic emission (AE) pulses act as analogue of seismic events. Tides are simulated by weak long-period variations added to quasi-stationary subcritical loading. The results of tidal modeling confirmed AE intensity synchronization with external periodic influence with large (5-10%) variations of loading are known [Lockner, Beeler, 1999, Ponomarev et al., 2007]. But real (in nature) tidal strain&stress variations are much less and equal to splits of percent. Therefore, investigation of weak modulation influence upon deformed rock is one of main proposed purposes. Used software-programmable electro-hydraulic system INOVA [Patonin, 2006], can provide various procedures of experiment, among them programmable modulatory action. Axial deformation with stable strain rate and additional action of meander with specified period and amplitude was chosen as mode of operation. The relation between background and periodic strains reaches three orders, which corresponds to real relation between maximal tectonic and tidal strains. RESULTS For detection of periodic loading modulation of AE we used procedure based on Rayleigh criteria of uniformity and considered uniformity of AE impulses distribution on time interval, multiple to period of loading. Moreover, the predominant phase of periodical loading, corresponding to maximal AE activity, was calculated in sliding time window. In all experiments we observed instability of modulation effects. So the following stages were distinguished: - synchronization of AE and periodic loading at the initial part of test; - absence of synchronization at the elastic stage; - resumption of synchronization during plastic deformation. Stability of phase corresponding to maximal AE activity was discovered within the initial part and plastic deformation stage. Absolute values of phase for initial loading and during plastic deformation are different. CONCLUSION Now we regard revealed staging of AE response to weak periodical loading as our main result of these experiments. Different stages of AE response are connected with different state of rock samples during loading and destruction. Observed effects of synchronization can be considered as analogue of tidal modulation of HFSN and appearance of "tidal" seismicity in source zone of prepared large earthquake. This investigation was supported by RFBR, grant 08-05-00692.

Regulation of Post-Logging N Turnover and Mobile N by Solar Insolation in a Steep Rocky Mountain Watershed

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stewart, D. M.; Silins, U.; Emelko, M.; Stone, M.

2016-12-01

While forest harvesting effects on nitrogen (N) cycling and watershed nitrogen export are generally well documented, the factors that govern variation in post-disturbance watershed export of N after forest disturbance across different hydro-climatic regions as less well understood. Factors that regulate the coupling of N dynamics on hillslopes with receiving streams are not well understood in steeper mountainous terrain where strong spatial variation in radiation, temperature, and nutrient turnover potentially govern post-disturbance catchment exports of N. Objectives of this study were to explore the relative influence of variation in hillslope position (upper vs lower) and radiation load among contrasting south- and north-facing hillslope positions in regulating soil nitrogen turnover and mobile nitrogen (NO-3) after clear-cut logging in the Rocky Mountains of south-west Alberta, Canada. A combined approach employing replicated measurement of key soil N species in soil solution (available N, using ion exchange membranes) and shallow hillslope pore water N (using suction lysimeters) was used to explore how variation in hillslope position and radiation load (S/N facing) after clear-cut logging of a Lodgepole pine dominated Rocky Mountain watershed in southwest Alberta. These were compared to parallel measurements in unharvested (reference) hillslopes in the same watershed. Logging was completed in 2015 with measurements of soil and shallow groundwater N at 6 week intervals from April to Oct. 2016. Compared to other types of forest disturbance (i.e. wildfire) common in this region, clear-cut harvesting did not produce a large impact on both surface and deeper available N for reference and harvested stands. In particular, early season available NO-3 is enriched in upper stands, while other factors showed less of an effect. Overall, results provide important insights into how disturbance effects on mobile N among hillslopes of contrasting energy gain, soil moisture, and thermal regimes interact in driving post-disturbance N export in steep, mountainous terrain.

Transmural variation in elastin fiber orientation distribution in the arterial wall.

PubMed

Yu, Xunjie; Wang, Yunjie; Zhang, Yanhang

2018-01-01

The complex three-dimensional elastin network is a major load-bearing extracellular matrix (ECM) component of an artery. Despite the reported anisotropic behavior of arterial elastin network, it is usually treated as an isotropic material in constitutive models. Our recent multiphoton microscopy study reported a relatively uniform elastin fiber orientation distribution in porcine thoracic aorta when imaging from the intima side (Chow et al., 2014). However it is questionable whether the fiber orientation distribution obtained from a small depth is representative of the elastin network structure in the arterial wall, especially when developing structure-based constitutive models. To date, the structural basis for the anisotropic mechanical behavior of elastin is still not fully understood. In this study, we examined the transmural variation in elastin fiber orientation distribution in porcine thoracic aorta and its association with elastin anisotropy. Using multi-photon microscopy, we observed that the elastin fibers orientation changes from a relatively uniform distribution in regions close to the luminal surface to a more circumferential distribution in regions that dominate the media, then to a longitudinal distribution in regions close to the outer media. Planar biaxial tensile test was performed to characterize the anisotropic behavior of elastin network. A new structure-based constitutive model of elastin network was developed to incorporate the transmural variation in fiber orientation distribution. The new model well captures the anisotropic mechanical behavior of elastin network under both equi- and nonequi-biaxial loading and showed improvements in both fitting and predicting capabilities when compared to a model that only considers the fiber orientation distribution from the intima side. We submit that the transmural variation in fiber orientation distribution is important in characterizing the anisotropic mechanical behavior of elastin network and should be considered in constitutive modeling of an artery. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Pupillary transient responses to within-task cognitive load variation.

PubMed

Wong, Hoe Kin; Epps, Julien

2016-12-01

Changes in physiological signals due to task evoked cognitive load have been reported extensively. However, pupil size based approaches for estimating cognitive load on a moment-to-moment basis are not as well understood as estimating cognitive load on a task-to-task basis, despite the appeal these approaches have for continuous load estimation. In particular, the pupillary transient response to instantaneous changes in induced load has not been experimentally quantified, and the within-task changes in pupil dilation have not been investigated in a manner that allows their consistency to be quantified with a view to biomedical system design. In this paper, a variation of the digit span task is developed which reliably induces rapid changes of cognitive load to generate task-evoked pupillary responses (TEPRs) associated with large, within-task load changes. Linear modelling and one-way ANOVA reveals that increasing the rate of cognitive loading, while keeping task demands constant, results in a steeper pupillary response. Instantaneous drops in cognitive load are shown to produce statistically significantly different transient pupillary responses relative to sustained load, and when characterised using an exponential decay response, the task-evoked pupillary response time constant is in the order of 1-5 s. Within-task test-retest analysis confirms the reliability of the moment-to-moment measurements. Based on these results, estimates of pupil diameter can be employed with considerably more confidence in moment-to-moment cognitive load estimation systems. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Knee Joint Kinematics during Walking Influences the Spatial Cartilage Thickness Distribution in the Knee

PubMed Central

Koo, Seungbum; Rylander, Jonathan H.; Andriacchi, Thomas P.

2010-01-01

The regional adaptation of knee cartilage morphology to the kinematics of walking has been suggested as an important factor in the evaluation of the consequences of alteration in normal gait leading to osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of spatial cartilage thickness distributions of the femur and tibia in the knee to the knee kinematics during walking. Gait data and knee MR images were obtained from 17 healthy volunteers (age 33.2±9.8 years). Cartilage thickness maps were created for the femoral and tibial cartilage. Locations of thickest cartilage in the medial and lateral compartments in the femur and tibia were identified using a numerical method. The flexion-extension (FE) angle associated with the cartilage contact regions on the femur, and the anterior-posterior (AP) translation and internal-external (IE) rotation associated with the cartilage contact regions on the tibia at the heel strike of walking were tested for correlation with the locations of thickest cartilage. The locations of the thickest cartilage had relatively large variation (SD 8.9°) and was significantly associated with the FE angle at heel strike only in the medial femoral condyle (R2=0.41, p<0.01). The natural knee kinematics and contact surface shapes seem to affect the functional adaptation of knee articular cartilage morphology. The sensitivity of cartilage morphology to kinematics at the knee during walking suggests that regional cartilage thickness variations are influenced by both loading and the number of loading cycles. Thus walking is an important consideration in the analysis of the morphological variations of articular cartilage, since it is the dominant cyclic activity of daily living. The sensitivity of cartilage morphology to gait kinematics is also important in understanding the etiology and pathomechanics of osteoarthritis. PMID:21371712

Excitation of plane Lamb wave in plate-like structures under applied surface loading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Kai; Xu, Xinsheng; Zhao, Zhen; Yang, Zhengyan; Zhou, Zhenhuan; Wu, Zhanjun

2018-02-01

Lamb waves play an important role in structure health monitoring (SHM) systems. The excitation of Lamb waves has been discussed for a long time with absorbing results. However, little effort has been made towards the precise characterization of Lamb wave excitation by various transducer models with mathematical foundation. In this paper, the excitation of plane Lamb waves with plane strain assumption in isotropic plate structures under applied surface loading is solved with the Hamiltonian system. The response of the Lamb modes excited by applied loading is expressed analytically. The effect of applied loading is divided into the product of two parts as the effect of direction and the effect of distribution, which can be changed by selecting different types of transducer and the corresponding transducer configurations. The direction of loading determines the corresponding displacement of each mode. The effect of applied loading on the in-plane and normal directions depends on the in-plane and normal displacements at the surface respectively. The effect of the surface loading distribution on the Lamb mode amplitudes is mainly reflected by amplitude versus frequency or wavenumber. The frequencies at which the maxima and minima of the S0 or A0 mode response occur depend on the distribution of surface loading. The numerical results of simulations conducted on an infinite aluminum plate verify the theoretical prediction of not only the direction but also the distribution of applied loading. A pure S0 or A0 mode can be excited by selecting the appropriate direction and distribution at the corresponding frequency.

Peculiar Features of Microstructure Formation and Microhardness Variations During Torsional Straining of Tantalum Specimens in Bridgman Anvils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ditenberg, I. A.; Tymentsev, A. N.; Korznikov, A. V.

2015-04-01

Using the method of transmission electron microscopy, peculiar features of evolution of microstructure and variations in microhardness of Та are investigated under torsional loading in the Bridgman anvil as a function of plastic deformation at room temperature. A quantitative examination of grain and defect's structure of the material under study and the values of local internal stresses is performed in different loading stages. The mechanisms of formation of submicrocrystalline and nanostructured states are analyzed and so is the microstructure variation as a function of the defect-structure characteristics, strain level, and spacing from the axis of torsion.

Drought-induced uplift in the western United States as observed by the EarthScope Plate Boundary Observatory GPS network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borsa, A. A.; Agnew, D. C.; Cayan, D. R.

2014-12-01

The western United States (WUS) has been experiencing severe drought since 2013. The solid earth response to the accompanying loss of surface and near-surface water mass should be a broad region of uplift. We use seasonally-adjusted time series from continuously operating GPS stations in the EarthScope Plate Boundary Observatory and several smaller networks to measure this uplift, which reaches 15 mm in the California Coastal Ranges and Sierra Nevada and has a median value of 4 mm over the entire WUS. The pattern of mass loss due to the drought, which we recover from an inversion of uplift observations, ranges up to 50 cm of water equivalent and is consistent with observed decreases in precipitation and streamflow. We estimate the total deficit to be 240 Gt, equivalent to a uniform 10 cm layer of water over the entire region, or the magnitude of the current annual mass loss from the Greenland Ice Sheet. In the WUS, interannual changes in crustal loading are driven by changes in cool-season precipitation, which cause variations in surface water, snowpack, soil moisture, and groundwater. The results here demonstrate that the existing network of continuous GPS stations can be used to recover loading changes due to both wet and dry climate patterns. This suggests a new role for GPS networks such as that of the Plate Boundary Observatory. The exceptional stability of the GPS monumentation means that this network is also capable of monitoring the long-term effects of regional climate change. Surface displacement observations from GPS have the potential to expand the capabilities of the current hydrological observing network for monitoring current and future hydrological changes, with obvious social and economic benefits.

A Global Model Simulation of Aerosol Effects of Surface Radiation Budget- Toward Understanding of the "Dimming to Brightening" Transition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chin, Mian; Diehl, Thomas; Bian, Huisheng; Yu, Hongbin

2008-01-01

We present a global model study on the role aerosols play in the change of solar radiation at Earth's surface that transitioned from a decreasing (dimming) trend to an increasing (brightening) trend. Our primary objective is to understand the relationship between the long-term trends of aerosol emission, atmospheric burden, and surface solar radiation. More specifically, we use the recently compiled comprehensive global emission datasets of aerosols and precursors from fuel combustion, biomass burning, volcanic eruptions and other sources from 1980 to 2006 to simulate long-term variations of aerosol distributions and optical properties, and then calculate the multi-decadal changes of short-wave radiative fluxes at the surface and at the top of the atmosphere by coupling the GOCART model simulated aerosols with the Goddard radiative transfer model. The model results are compared with long-term observational records from ground-based networks and satellite data. We will address the following critical questions: To what extent can the observed surface solar radiation trends, known as the transition from dimming to brightening, be explained by the changes of anthropogenic and natural aerosol loading on global and regional scales? What are the relative contributions of local emission and long-range transport to the surface radiation budget and how do these contributions change with time?

The Effect of Indenter Ball Radius on the Static Load Capacity of the Superelastic 60NiTi for Rolling Element Bearings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dellacorte, Christopher; Moore, Lewis E.

2014-01-01

Static load capacity is a critical design parameter for rolling element bearings used in space mechanisms because of the potential for Brinell (surface dent) damage due to shock and vibration loading events during rocket launch. Brinell damage to bearing raceways can lead to torque variations (noise) and reduced bearing life. The growing use of ceramic rolling elements with high stiffness in hybrid bearings exacerbates the situation. A new family of hard yet resilient materials based upon nickel-titanium is emerging to address such bearing challenges. 60NiTi is a superelastic material that simultaneously exhibits high hardness and a relatively low elastic modulus (approx. 100 GPa) and has been shown to endure higher indentation loads than conventional and high performance steel. Indentation load capacity has been reported for relatively large (12.7 mm diameter) ceramic (Si3N4) indenter balls pressed against flat plates of 60NiTi. In order to develop damage load threshold criteria applicable to a wide range of bearing designs and sizes, the effects of indenter ball radius and the accuracy of interpolation of the Hertz contact stress relations for 60NiTi must be ascertained. In this paper, results of indentation tests involving ceramic balls ranging from 6.4 to 12.7 mm in diameter and highly polished 60NiTi flat plates are presented. When the resulting dent depth data for all the indenter ball sizes are normalized using the Hertz equations, the data (dent depth versus stress) are comparable. Thus when designing bearings made from 60NiTi, the Hertz stress relations can be applied with relative confidence over a range of rolling element sizes and internal geometries.

The Effect of Indenter Ball Radius on the Static Load Capacity of the Superelastic 60NiTi for Rolling Element Bearings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dellacorte, Christopher; Moore, Lewis E.; Clifton, Joshua S.

2014-01-01

Static load capacity is a critical design parameter for rolling element bearings used in space mechanisms because of the potential for Brinell (surface dent) damage due to shock and vibration loading events during rocket launch. Brinell damage to bearing raceways can lead to torque variations (noise) and reduced bearing life. The growing use of ceramic rolling elements with high stiffness in hybrid bearings exacerbates the situation. A new family of hard yet resilient materials based upon nickel-titanium is emerging to address such bearing challenges. 60NiTi is a superelastic material that simultaneously exhibits high hardness and a relatively low elastic modulus (100GPa) and has been shown to endure higher indentation loads than conventional and high performance steel. Indentation load capacity has been reported for relatively large (12.7mm diameter) ceramic (Si3N4) indenter balls pressed against flat plates of 60NiTi. In order to develop damage load threshold criteria applicable to a wide range of bearing designs and sizes, the effects of indenter ball radius and the accuracy of interpolation of the Hertz contact stress relations for 60NiTi must be ascertained. In this paper, results of indentation tests involving ceramic balls ranging from 6.4 to 12.7mm in diameter and highly polished 60NiTi flat plates are presented. When the resulting dent depth data for all the indenter ball sizes are normalized using the Hertz equations, the data (dent depth vs. stress) are comparable. Thus when designing bearings made from 60NiTi, the Hertz stress relations can be applied with relative confidence over a range of rolling element sizes and internal geometries.

Estimating Critical Nitrogen Loads for a California Grassland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weiss, S. B.

2007-12-01

Rigorously established critical nitrogen loads to protect biodiversity can be effective policy tools for addressing the insidious impacts of atmospheric N-deposition on ecosystems. This presentation describes methods for determining critical N-loads to a California grassland ecosystem by careful examination of the continuum from emissions, transport, atmospheric chemistry, deposition, ecosystem response, and impacts on biodiversity. Nutrient-poor soils derived from serpentinite bedrock support diverse native grasslands with dazzling wildflower displays and numerous threatened and endangered species, including the Bay checkerspot butterfly. Under moderate atmospheric N-deposition, these sites are rapidly invaded by introduced nitrophilous annual grasses in the absence of appropriate grazing or other management. Critical loads to this ecosystem have been approached by measurements of atmospheric concentrations of reactive N gases using Ogawa passive samplers and seasonally averaged deposition velocities. A regional-scale pollution gradient was complemented by a very local-scale pollution gradient extending a few hundred meters downwind of a heavily traveled road in a relatively unpolluted area. The local gradient suggests a critical load of 5 kg-N ha-1 a-1 or less. The passive monitor calculations largely agree with deposition calculated with the CMAQ model at 4 km scale. Emissions of NH3 from catalytic converters are the dominant N-source at the roadway site, and are a function of traffic volume and speed. Plant tissue N-content and 15N gradients support the existence of N-deposition gradients. The complexities of more detailed calculations and measurements specific to this ecosystem include seasonal changes in LAI, temporal coincidence of traffic emissions and stomatal conductance, surface moisture, changes in oxidized versus reduced N sources, and annual weather variation. The concept of a "critical cumulative load" may be appropriate over decadal time scales in this ecosystem and other semi-arid systems where N-export is minimal.

The Effect of Indenter Ball Radius on the Static Load Capacity of the Superelastic 60NiTi for Rolling Element Bearings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

DellaCorte, Christopher; Moore, Lewis E., III; Clifton, Joshua S.

2014-01-01

Static load capacity is a critical design parameter for rolling element bearings used in space mechanisms because of the potential for Brinell (surface dent) damage due to shock and vibration loading events during rocket launch. Brinell damage to bearing raceways can lead to torque variations (noise) and reduced bearing life. The growing use of ceramic rolling elements with high stiffness in hybrid bearings exacerbates the situation. A new family of hard yet resilient materials based upon nickel-titanium is emerging to address such bearing challenges. 60NiTi is a superelastic material that simultaneously exhibits high hardness and a relatively low elastic modulus (approx. 100 GigaPascals) and has been shown to endure higher indentation loads than conventional and high performance steel. Indentation load capacity has been reported for relatively large (12.7 millimeters diameter) ceramic (Si3N4) indenter balls pressed against flat plates of 60NiTi. In order to develop damage load threshold criteria applicable to a wide range of bearing designs and sizes, the effects of indenter ball radius and the accuracy of interpolation of the Hertz contact stress relations for 60NiTi must be ascertained. In this paper, results of indentation tests involving ceramic balls ranging from 6.4 to 12.7 mm in diameter and highly polished 60NiTi flat plates are presented. When the resulting dent depth data for all the indenter ball sizes are normalized using the Hertz equations, the data (dent depth versus stress) are comparable. Thus when designing bearings made from 60NiTi, the Hertz stress relations can be applied with relative confidence over a range of rolling element sizes and internal geometries.

Convective Heat Transfer with and without Film Cooling in High Temperature, Fuel Rich and Lean Environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Greiner, Nathan J.

Modern turbine engines require high turbine inlet temperatures and pressures to maximize thermal efficiency. Increasing the turbine inlet temperature drives higher heat loads on the turbine surfaces. In addition, increasing pressure ratio increases the turbine coolant temperature such that the ability to remove heat decreases. As a result, highly effective external film cooling is required to reduce the heat transfer to turbine surfaces. Testing of film cooling on engine hardware at engine temperatures and pressures can be exceedingly difficult and expensive. Thus, modern studies of film cooling are often performed at near ambient conditions. However, these studies are missing an important aspect in their characterization of film cooling effectiveness. Namely, they do not model effect of thermal property variations that occur within the boundary and film cooling layers at engine conditions. Also, turbine surfaces can experience significant radiative heat transfer that is not trivial to estimate analytically. The present research first computationally examines the effect of large temperature variations on a turbulent boundary layer. Subsequently, a method to model the effect of large temperature variations within a turbulent boundary layer in an environment coupled with significant radiative heat transfer is proposed and experimentally validated. Next, a method to scale turbine cooling from ambient to engine conditions via non-dimensional matching is developed computationally and the experimentally validated at combustion temperatures. Increasing engine efficiency and thrust to weight ratio demands have driven increased combustor fuel-air ratios. Increased fuel-air ratios increase the possibility of unburned fuel species entering the turbine. Alternatively, advanced ultra-compact combustor designs have been proposed to decrease combustor length, increase thrust, or generate power for directed energy weapons. However, the ultra-compact combustor design requires a film cooled vane within the combustor. In both these environments, the unburned fuel in the core flow encounters the oxidizer rich film cooling stream, combusts, and can locally heat the turbine surface rather than the intended cooling of the surface. Accordingly, a method to quantify film cooling performance in a fuel rich environment is prescribed. Finally, a method to film cool in a fuel rich environment is experimentally demonstrated.

Nighttime Infrared radiative cooling and opacity inferred by REMS Ground Temperature Sensor Measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martín-Torres, Javier; Paz Zorzano, María; Pla-García, Jorge; Rafkin, Scot; Lepinette, Alain; Sebastián, Eduardo; Gómez-Elvira, Javier; REMS Team

2013-04-01

Due to the low density of the Martian atmosphere, the temperature of the surface is controlled primarily by solar heating, and infrared cooling to the atmosphere and space, rather than heat exchange with the atmosphere. In the absence of solar radiation the infrared (IR) cooling, and then the nighttime surface temperatures, are directly controlled by soil termal inertia and atmospheric optical thickness (τ) at infrared wavelengths. Under non-wind conditions, and assuming no processes involving latent heat changes in the surface, for a particular site where the rover stands the main parameter controlling the IR cooling will be τ. The minimal ground temperature values at a fixed position may thus be used to detect local variations in the total dust/aerosols/cloud tickness. The Ground Temperature Sensor (GTS) and Air Temperature Sensor (ATS) in the Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS) on board the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity rover provides hourly ground and air temperature measurements respectively. During the first 100 sols of operation of the rover, within the area of low thermal inertia, the minimal nightime ground temperatures reached values between 180 K and 190 K. For this season the expected frost point temperature is 200 K. Variations of up to 10 K have been observed associated with dust loading at Gale at the onset of the dust season. We will use these measurements together with line-by-line radiative transfer simulations using the Full Transfer By Optimized LINe-by-line (FUTBOLIN) code [Martín-Torres and Mlynczak, 2005] to estimate the IR atmospheric opacity and then dust/cloud coverage over the rover during the course of the MSL mission. Monitoring the dust loading and IR nightime cooling evolution during the dust season will allow for a better understanding of the influence of the atmosphere on the ground temperature and provide ground truth to models and orbiter measurements. References Martín-Torres, F. J. and M. G. Mlynczak, Application of FUTBOLIN (FUll Transfer By Ordinary Line-by-Line) to the analysis of the solar system and extrasolar planetary atmospheres, Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 37, p.1566, 2005

3D Thermomechanical Modeling of Rifted Margins with Coupled Surface Processes: the North West Shelf, Australia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moresi, L. N.; Beucher, R.; Morón, S.; Rey, P. F.; Salles, T.; Brocard, G. Y.; Farrington, R.; Giordani, J.; Mansour, J.

2017-12-01

Thermo-mechanical numerical models and analogue experiments with a layered lithosphere have emphasised the role played by the composition and thermal state of the lithosphere on the style of extension. The variation in rheological properties and the coupling between lithospheric layers promote depth-dependent extension with the potential for complex rift evolution over space and time. Local changes in the stress field due to loading / unloading of the lithosphere can perturb the syn and post-rift stability of the margins. We investigate how erosion of the margins and sedimentation within the basins integrate with the thermo-mechanical processes involved in the structural and stratigraphic evolution of the North West Shelf (NWS), one of the most productive and prospective hydrocarbon provinces in Australia. The complex structural characteristics of the NWS include large-scale extensional detachments, difference between amounts of crustal and lithospheric extension and prolonged episodes of thermal sagging after rifting episodes. It has been proposed that the succession of different extensional styles mechanisms (Cambrian detachment faulting, broadly distributed Permo-Carboniferous extension and Late Triassic to Early Cretaceous localised rift development) is best described in terms of variation in deformation response of a lithosphere that has strengthened from one extensional episode to the next. However, previous models invoking large-scale detachments fail to explain changes in extensional styles and overestimate the structural importance of relatively local detachments. Here, we hypothesize that an initially weak lithosphere would distribute deformation by ductile flow within the lower crust and that the interaction between crustal flow, thermal-evolution and sediment loading/unloading could explain some of the structural complexities recorded by the NWS. We run a series of fully coupled 3D thermo-mechanical numerical experiments that include realistic thermal and mechanical properties, as well as surface processes (erosion, sediments transport and sedimentation). This modeling approach aims to provide insights into the thermal and structural history of the NWS, and a better understanding of the complex interactions between tectonics and surface processes at rifted margins.

Premonitory slip and tidal triggering of earthquakes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lockner, D.A.; Beeler, N.M.

1999-01-01

We have conducted a series of laboratory simulations of earthquakes using granite cylinders containing precut bare fault surfaces at 50 MPa confining pressure. Axial shortening rates between 10-4 and 10-6 mm/s were imposed to simulate tectonic loading. Average loading rate was then modulated by the addition of a small-amplitude sine wave to simulate periodic loading due to Earth tides or other sources. The period of the modulating signal ranged from 10 to 10,000 s. For each combination of amplitude and period of the modulating signal, multiple stick-slip events were recorded to determine the degree of correlation between the timing of simulated earthquakes and the imposed periodic loading function. Over the range of parameters studied, the degree of correlation of earthquakes was most sensitive to the amplitude of the periodic loading, with weaker dependence on the period of oscillations and the average loading rate. Accelerating premonitory slip was observed in these experiments and is a controlling factor in determining the conditions under which correlated events occur. In fact, some form of delayed failure is necessary to produce the observed correlations between simulated earthquake timing and characteristics of the periodic loading function. The transition from strongly correlated to weakly correlated model earthquake populations occurred when the amplitude of the periodic loading was approximately 0.05 to 0.1 MPa shear stress (0.03 to 0.06 MPa Coulomb failure function). Lower-amplitude oscillations produced progressively lower correlation levels. Correlations between static stress increases and earthquake aftershocks are found to degrade at similar stress levels. Typical stress variations due to Earth tides are only 0.001 to 0.004 MPa, so that the lack of correlation between Earth tides and earthquakes is also consistent with our findings. A simple extrapolation of our results suggests that approximately 1% of midcrustal earthquakes should be correlated with Earth tides. Triggered seismicity has been reported resulting from the passage of surface waves excited by the Landers earthquake. These transient waves had measured amplitudes in excess of 0.1 MPa at frequencies of 0.05 to 0.2 Hz in regions of notable seismicity increase. Similar stress oscillations in our laboratory experiments produced strongly correlated stick-slip events. We suggest that seemingly inconsistent natural observations of triggered seismicity and absence of tidal triggering indicate that failure is amplitude and frequency dependent. This is the expected result if, as in our laboratory experiments, the rheology of the Earth's crust permits delayed failure.

Wear behavior of pressable lithium disilicate glass ceramic.

PubMed

Peng, Zhongxiao; Izzat Abdul Rahman, Muhammad; Zhang, Yu; Yin, Ling

2016-07-01

This article reports effects of surface preparation and contact loads on abrasive wear properties of highly aesthetic and high-strength pressable lithium disilicate glass-ceramics (LDGC). Abrasive wear testing was performed using a pin-on-disk device in which LDGC disks prepared with different surface finishes were against alumina pins at different contact loads. Coefficients of friction and wear volumes were measured as functions of initial surface finishes and contact loads. Wear-induced surface morphology changes in both LDGC disks and alumina pins were characterized using three-dimensional laser scanning microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The results show that initial surface finishes of LDGC specimens and contact loads significantly affected the friction coefficients, wear volumes and wear-induced surface roughness changes of the material. Both wear volumes and friction coefficients of LDGC increased as the load increased while surface roughness effects were complicated. For rough LDGC surfaces, three-body wear was dominant while for fine LDGC surfaces, two-body abrasive wear played a key role. Delamination, plastic deformation, and brittle fracture were observed on worn LDGC surfaces. The adhesion of LDGC matrix materials to alumina pins was also discovered. This research has advanced our understanding of the abrasive wear behavior of LDGC and will provide guidelines for better utilization and preparation of the material for long-term success in dental restorations. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 104B: 968-978, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Engineering nanoscale surface features to sustain microparticle rolling in flow.

PubMed

Kalasin, Surachate; Santore, Maria M

2015-05-26

Nanoscopic features of channel walls are often engineered to facilitate microfluidic transport, for instance when surface charge enables electro-osmosis or when grooves drive mixing. The dynamic or rolling adhesion of flowing microparticles on a channel wall holds potential to accomplish particle sorting or to selectively transfer reactive species or signals between the wall and flowing particles. Inspired by cell rolling under the direction of adhesion molecules called selectins, we present an engineered platform in which the rolling of flowing microparticles is sustained through the incorporation of entirely synthetic, discrete, nanoscale, attractive features into the nonadhesive (electrostatically repulsive) surface of a flow channel. Focusing on one example or type of nanoscale feature and probing the impact of broad systematic variations in surface feature loading and processing parameters, this study demonstrates how relatively flat, weakly adhesive nanoscale features, positioned with average spacings on the order of tens of nanometers, can produce sustained microparticle rolling. We further demonstrate how the rolling velocity and travel distance depend on flow and surface design. We identify classes of related surfaces that fail to support rolling and present a state space that identifies combinations of surface and processing variables corresponding to transitions between rolling, free particle motion, and arrest. Finally we identify combinations of parameters (surface length scales, particle size, flow rates) where particles can be manipulated with size-selectivity.

Redesigning of a Canard Control Surface of an Advanced Fighter Aircraft: Effect on Buckling and Aerodynamic Behavior

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shrivastava, Sachin; Mohite, P. M.

2015-01-01

A redesign of canard control-surface of an advanced all-metallic fighter aircraft was carried out by using carbon fibre composite (CFC) for ribs and panels. In this study ply-orientations of CFC structure are optimized using a Genetic-Algorithm (GA) with an objective function to have minimum failure index (FI) according to Tsai-Wu failure criterion. The redesigned CFC structure was sufficiently strong to withstand aerodynamic loads from stress and deflection points of view. Now, in the present work CFC canard structure has been studied for its buckling strength in comparison to existing metallic design. In this study, the existing metallic design was found to be weak in buckling. Upon a detailed investigation, it was revealed that there are reported failures in the vicinity of zones where initial buckling modes are excited as predicted by the finite element based buckling analysis. In view of buckling failures, the redesigned CFC structure is sufficiently reinforced with stringers at specific locations. After providing reinforcements against buckling, the twist and the camber variations of the airfoil are checked and compared with existing structure data. Finally, the modal analysis has been carried out to compare the variation in excitation frequency due to material change. The CFC structure thus redesigned is safe from buckling and aerodynamic aspects as well.

A probabilistic bridge safety evaluation against floods.

PubMed

Liao, Kuo-Wei; Muto, Yasunori; Chen, Wei-Lun; Wu, Bang-Ho

2016-01-01

To further capture the influences of uncertain factors on river bridge safety evaluation, a probabilistic approach is adopted. Because this is a systematic and nonlinear problem, MPP-based reliability analyses are not suitable. A sampling approach such as a Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) or importance sampling is often adopted. To enhance the efficiency of the sampling approach, this study utilizes Bayesian least squares support vector machines to construct a response surface followed by an MCS, providing a more precise safety index. Although there are several factors impacting the flood-resistant reliability of a bridge, previous experiences and studies show that the reliability of the bridge itself plays a key role. Thus, the goal of this study is to analyze the system reliability of a selected bridge that includes five limit states. The random variables considered here include the water surface elevation, water velocity, local scour depth, soil property and wind load. Because the first three variables are deeply affected by river hydraulics, a probabilistic HEC-RAS-based simulation is performed to capture the uncertainties in those random variables. The accuracy and variation of our solutions are confirmed by a direct MCS to ensure the applicability of the proposed approach. The results of a numerical example indicate that the proposed approach can efficiently provide an accurate bridge safety evaluation and maintain satisfactory variation.

Investigation of the Influence of Shapes-Texture on Surface Deformation of UHMWPE as a Bearing Material in Static Normal Load and Rolling Contact

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lestari, W. D.; Ismail, R.; Jamari, J.; Bayuseno, A. P.

2017-05-01

Surface texture is a common method for improving wear properties of a tribo-pair of soft and hard bearing material. The reduction of wear rates on the contacting surface material is becoming important issues. In the present study, analysis of the contact pressure on the flat surface of UHMWPE (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) under the static- and rolling motion with the surface of steel ball used the 3D finite element method (FEM) (the ABAQUS software version 6.12). Five shaped-texture models (square, circle, ellipse, triangle, and chevron) were presented on the flat surface for analysis. The normal load of 17, 30 and 50 N was deliberately set-up for static and rolling contact analysis. The contact pressure was determined to predict the wear behavior of the shaped-texture on the flat surface of UHMWPE. The results have shown that the static normal load yielded the lowest von-Mises stress distribution on the shaped-texture of the ellipse for all values applied a load, while the square shape experienced the highest stress distribution. Under rolling contact, however, the increasing load yielded the increasing von Mises stress distribution for the texture with a triangle shape. Moreover, the texture shapes for circle, ellipse, and chevron respectively, may undergo the lowest stress distribution for all load. The wear calculation provided that the circle and square shape may undergo the highest wear rates. Obviously, the surface texture of circle, ellipse, and chevron may experience the lowest wear rates and is potential for use in the surface engineering of bearing materials.

Exploring load, velocity, and surface disorder dependence of friction with one-dimensional and two-dimensional models.

PubMed

Dagdeviren, Omur E

2018-08-03

The effect of surface disorder, load, and velocity on friction between a single asperity contact and a model surface is explored with one-dimensional and two-dimensional Prandtl-Tomlinson (PT) models. We show that there are fundamental physical differences between the predictions of one-dimensional and two-dimensional models. The one-dimensional model estimates a monotonic increase in friction and energy dissipation with load, velocity, and surface disorder. However, a two-dimensional PT model, which is expected to approximate a tip-sample system more realistically, reveals a non-monotonic trend, i.e. friction is inert to surface disorder and roughness in wearless friction regime. The two-dimensional model discloses that the surface disorder starts to dominate the friction and energy dissipation when the tip and the sample interact predominantly deep into the repulsive regime. Our numerical calculations address that tracking the minimum energy path and the slip-stick motion are two competing effects that determine the load, velocity, and surface disorder dependence of friction. In the two-dimensional model, the single asperity can follow the minimum energy path in wearless regime; however, with increasing load and sliding velocity, the slip-stick movement dominates the dynamic motion and results in an increase in friction by impeding tracing the minimum energy path. Contrary to the two-dimensional model, when the one-dimensional PT model is employed, the single asperity cannot escape to the minimum energy minimum due to constraint motion and reveals only a trivial dependence of friction on load, velocity, and surface disorder. Our computational analyses clarify the physical differences between the predictions of the one-dimensional and two-dimensional models and open new avenues for disordered surfaces for low energy dissipation applications in wearless friction regime.

Vibration studies of a lightweight three-sided membrane suitable for space application

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sewell, J. L.; Miserentino, R.; Pappa, R. S.

1983-01-01

Vibration studies carried out in a vacuum chamber are reported for a three-sided membrane with inwardly curved edges. Uniform tension was transmitted by thin steel cables encased in the edges. Variation of ambient air pressure from atmospheric to near vacuum resulted in increased response frequencies and amplitudes. The first few vibration modes measured in a near vacuum are shown to be predictable by a finite element structural analysis over a range of applied tension loads. The complicated vibration mode behavior observed during tests at various air pressures is studied analytically with a nonstructural effective air-mass approximation. The membrane structure is a candidate for reflective surfaces in space antennas.

Water-quality assessment of the largely urban blue river basin, Metropolitan Kansas City, USA, 1998 to 2007

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wilkison, D.H.; Armstrong, D.J.; Hampton, S.A.

2009-01-01

From 1998 through 2007, over 750 surface-water or bed-sediment samples in the Blue River Basin - a largely urban basin in metropolitan Kansas City - were analyzed for more than 100 anthropogenic compounds. Compounds analyzed included nutrients, fecal-indicator bacteria, suspended sediment, pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Non-point source runoff, hydrologic alterations, and numerous waste-water discharge points resulted in the routine detection of complex mixtures of anthropogenic compounds in samples from basin stream sites. Temporal and spatial variations in concentrations and loads of nutrients, pharmaceuticals, and organic wastewater compounds were observed, primarily related to a site's proximity to point-source discharges and stream-flow dynamics. ?? 2009 ASCE.

Study of fuel cell thermal control systems for advanced missions.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Caputo, R. S.

1972-01-01

This study evaluated many heat rejection and thermal control concepts which could be applied to fuel cells for long term (600 hours) orbital and lunar surface missions. The concepts considered several types of radiators which utilized pumped gas, liquid and two phase working fluids and incorporated solid conduction fins as well as heat pipe (vapor chamber) fins. The comparison of the concepts was based on weight, area and other factors such as standby power, ability to accommodate heat load variation, control complexity, and meteoroid survival capability. A design selection matrix was established and an optimum (primary) and an alternate (secondary) heat rejection concept was chosen. Heat rejection techniques utilizing self-controlled heat pipe radiators dominate the results.

Crustal deformation in Great California Earthquake cycles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Li, Victor C.; Rice, James R.

1987-01-01

A model in which coupling is described approximately through a generalized Elsasser model is proposed for computation of the periodic crustal deformation associated with repeated strike-slip earthquakes. The model is found to provide a more realistic physical description of tectonic loading than do simpler kinematic models. Parameters are chosen to model the 1857 and 1906 San Andreas ruptures, and predictions are found to be consistent with data on variations of contemporary surface strain and displacement rates as a function of distance from the 1857 and 1906 rupture traces. Results indicate that the asthenosphere appropriate to describe crustal deformation on the earthquake cycle time scale lies in the lower crust and perhaps the crust-mantle transition zone.

The dynamic failure behavior of tungsten heavy alloys subjected to transverse loads

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tarcza, Kenneth Robert

Tungsten heavy alloys (WHA), a category of particulate composites used in defense applications as kinetic energy penetrators, have been studied for many years. Even so, their dynamic failure behavior is not fully understood and cannot be predicted by numerical models presently in use. In this experimental investigation, a comprehensive understanding of the high-rate transverse-loading fracture behavior of WHA has been developed. Dynamic fracture events spanning a range of strain rates and loading conditions were created via mechanical testing and used to determine the influence of surface condition and microstructure on damage initiation, accumulation, and sample failure under different loading conditions. Using standard scanning electron microscopy metallographic and fractographic techniques, sample surface condition is shown to be extremely influential to the manner in which WHA fails, causing a fundamental change from externally to internally nucleated failures as surface condition is improved. Surface condition is characterized using electron microscopy and surface profilometry. Fracture surface analysis is conducted using electron microscopy, and linear elastic fracture mechanics is used to understand the influence of surface condition, specifically initial flaw size, on sample failure behavior. Loading conditions leading to failure are deduced from numerical modeling and experimental observation. The results highlight parameters and considerations critical to the understanding of dynamic WHA fracture and the development of dynamic WHA failure models.

Sewage-treatment under substantial load variations in winter tourism areas--a full case study.

PubMed

Winkler, S; Matsché, N; Gamperer, T; Dum, M

2004-01-01

The sewage-load variations in winter tourism areas are characterized by sudden increases--in the range of a factor two to three--within only a few days at the start and the end of the tourist season, especially at Christmas. The sudden load increases occur during periods of low wastewater temperatures, which is an additional demanding factor with respect to nitrogen removal. A full case study was carried out at WWTP Saalfelden, which is located near one of Austria's largest skiing resorts. The plant is designed for 80,000 PE and built according to the HYBRID-concept, which is a special two stage activated sludge process for extensive nutrient removal.

Characterization of Chlorhexidine-Loaded Calcium-Hydroxide Microparticles as a Potential Dental Pulp-Capping Material

PubMed Central

Priyadarshini, Balasankar M.; Selvan, Subramanian T.; Narayanan, Karthikeyan; Fawzy, Amr S.

2017-01-01

This study explores the delivery of novel calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2] microparticles loaded with chlorhexidine (CHX) for potential dental therapeutic and preventive applications. Herein, we introduce a new approach for drug-delivery to deep dentin-surfaces in the form of drug-loaded microparticles. Unloaded Ca(OH)2 [Ca(OH)2/Blank] and CHX-loaded/Ca(OH)2 microparticles were fabricated by aqueous chemical-precipitation technique. The synthesized-microparticles were characterized in vitro for determination of surface-morphology, crystalline-features and thermal-properties examined by energy-dispersive X-ray scanning and transmission electron-microscopy (EDX-SEM/TEM), Fourier-transform infrared-spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning-calorimetry (DSC). Time-related pH changes, initial antibacterial/biofilm-abilities and cytotoxicity of CHX-loaded/Ca(OH)2 microparticles were evaluated. Microparticles were delivered to dentin-surfaces with subsequent SEM examination of treated dentin-substrates. The in vitro and ex vivo CHX-release profiles were characterized. Ca(OH)2/Blank were hexagonal-shaped with highest z-average diameter whereas CHX-inclusion evidenced micro-metric spheres with distinguishable surface “rounded deposits” and a negative-shift in diameter. CHX:Ca(OH)2/50 mg exhibited maximum encapsulation-efficiency with good antibacterial and cytocompatible properties. SEM examination revealed an intact layer of microparticles on exposed dentin-surfaces with retention of spherical shape and smooth texture. Microparticles loaded on dentin-surfaces showed prolonged release of CHX indicating substantial retention on dentin-substrates. This study validated the inherent-applicability of this novel drug-delivery approach to dentin-surfaces using micro-metric CHX-loaded/Ca(OH)2 microparticles. PMID:28952538

Composition and temporal stability of turf sediments on inner-shelf coral reefs.

PubMed

Gordon, Sophie E; Goatley, Christopher H R; Bellwood, David R

2016-10-15

Elevated sediment loads within the epilithic algal matrix (EAM) of coral reefs can increase coral mortality and inhibit herbivory. Yet the composition, distribution and temporal variability of EAM sediment loads are poorly known, especially on inshore reefs. This study quantified EAM sediment loads (including organic particulates) and algal length across the reef profile of two bays at Orpheus Island (inner-shelf Great Barrier Reef) over a six month period. We examined the total sediment mass, organic load, carbonate and silicate content, and the particle sizes of EAM sediments. Throughout the study period, all EAM sediment variables exhibited marked variation among reef zones. However, EAM sediment loads and algal length were consistent between bays and over time, despite major seasonal variation in climate including a severe tropical cyclone. This study provides a comprehensive description of EAM sediments on inshore reefs and highlights the exceptional temporal stability of EAM sediments on coral reefs. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Methods for Combining Payload Parameter Variations with Input Environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Merchant, D. H.; Straayer, J. W.

1975-01-01

Methods are presented for calculating design limit loads compatible with probabilistic structural design criteria. The approach is based on the concept that the desired limit load, defined as the largest load occuring in a mission, is a random variable having a specific probability distribution which may be determined from extreme-value theory. The design limit load, defined as a particular value of this random limit load, is the value conventionally used in structural design. Methods are presented for determining the limit load probability distributions from both time-domain and frequency-domain dynamic load simulations. Numerical demonstrations of the methods are also presented.

Optically controlled dielectric properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes for terahertz wave applications.

PubMed

Smirnov, Serguei; Anoshkin, Ilya V; Demchenko, Petr; Gomon, Daniel; Lioubtchenko, Dmitri V; Khodzitsky, Mikhail; Oberhammer, Joachim

2018-06-21

Materials with tunable dielectric properties are valuable for a wide range of electronic devices, but are often lossy at terahertz frequencies. Here we experimentally report the tuning of the dielectric properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes under light illumination. The effect is demonstrated by measurements of impedance variations at low frequency as well as complex dielectric constant variations in the wide frequency range of 0.1-1 THz by time domain spectroscopy. We show that the dielectric constant is significantly modified for varying light intensities. The effect is also practically applied to phase shifters based on dielectric rod waveguides, loaded with carbon nanotube layers. The carbon nanotubes are used as tunable impedance surface controlled by light illumination, in the frequency range of 75-500 GHz. These results suggest that the effect of dielectric constant tuning with light, accompanied by low transmission losses of the carbon nanotube layer in such an ultra-wide band, may open up new directions for the design and fabrication of novel Terahertz and optoelectronic devices.

Influence of graphene quantum dots on electrical properties of polymer composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arthisree, D.; Joshi, Girish M.

2017-07-01

We successfully prepared synthetic nanocomposite (SNC) by dispersing graphene quantum dots (GQD) in cellulose acetate (CA) polymer system. The dispersion and occupied network of GQD were foreseen by microscopic techniques. The variation of plane to crossed linked array network was observed by the polarizing optical microscopic (POM) technique. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the leaves like impressions of GQD in host polymer system. The series network of GQD occupied in CA at higher resolution was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The two dimensional (2D) topographic images demonstrated an entangled polymer network to plane morphology. The variation in surface roughness was evaluated from the dimensional (3D) topography. The influence of temperature on AC conductivity with highest value (4  ×  10-5 S cm-1), contributes to the decrease in activation energy. The DC conductivity obeys the percolation criteria co-related to the GQD loading by weight fraction. Furthermore, this synthetic nanocomposite is feasible for the development of sensing and electrical applications.

Tidal influence through LOD variations on the temporal distribution of earthquake occurrences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Varga, P.; Gambis, D.; Bizouard, Ch.; Bus, Z.; Kiszely, M.

2006-10-01

Stresses generated by the body tides are very small at the depth of crustal earth- quakes (~10^2 N/m2). The maximum value of the lunisolar stress within the depth range of earthquakes is 10^3 N/m2 (at depth of about 600 km). Surface loads, due to oceanic tides, in coastal areas are ~ 104 N/m2. These influences are however too small to affect the outbreak time of seismic events. Authors show the effect on time distribution of seismic activity due to ΔLOD generated by zonal tides for the case of Mf, Mm, Ssa and Sa tidal constituents can be much more effective to trigger earthquakes. According to this approach we show that the tides are not directly triggering the seismic events but through the generated length of day variations. That is the reason why in case of zonal tides a correlation of the lunisolar effect and seismic activity exists, what is not the case for the tesseral and sectorial tides.

Chewed out: an experimental link between food material properties and repetitive loading of the masticatory apparatus in mammals

PubMed Central

Scott, Jeremiah E.; McAbee, Kevin R.; Veit, Anna J.; Fling, Annika L.

2015-01-01

Using a model organism (rabbits) that resembles a number of mammalian herbivores in key aspects of its chewing behaviors, we examined how variation in dietary mechanical properties affects food breakdown during mastication. Such data have implications for understanding phenotypic variation in the mammalian feeding apparatus, particularly with respect to linking jaw form to diet-induced repetitive loading. Results indicate that chewing frequency (chews/s) is independent of food properties, whereas chewing investment (chews/g) and chewing duration(s), which are proportional to repetitive loading of the jaws, are positively related to food stiffness and toughness. In comparisons of displacement-limited and stress-limited fragmentation indices, which respectively characterize the intraoral breakdown of tough and stiff foods, increases in chewing investment and duration are linked solely to stiffness. This suggests that stiffer foods engender higher peak loads and increased cyclical loading. Our findings challenge conventional wisdom by demonstrating that toughness does not, by itself, underlie increases in cyclical loading and loading duration. Instead, tough foods may be associated with such jaw-loading patterns because they must be processed in greater volumes owing to their lower nutritive quality and for longer periods of time to increase oral exposure to salivary chemicals. PMID:26557436

Density and lithospheric structure at Tyrrhena Patera, Mars, from gravity and topography data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grott, M.; Wieczorek, M. A.

2012-09-01

The Tyrrhena Patera highland volcano, Mars, is associated with a relatively well localized gravity anomaly and we have carried out a localized admittance analysis in the region to constrain the density of the volcanic load, the load thickness, and the elastic thickness at the time of load emplacement. The employed admittance model considers loading of an initially spherical surface, and surface as well as subsurface loading is taken into account. Our results indicate that the gravity and topography data available at Tyrrhena Patera is consistent with the absence of subsurface loading, but the presence of a small subsurface load cannot be ruled out. We obtain minimum load densities of 2960 kg m-3, minimum load thicknesses of 5 km, and minimum load volumes of 0.6 × 106 km3. Photogeological evidence suggests that pyroclastic deposits make up at most 30% of this volume, such that the bulk of Tyrrhena Patera is likely composed of competent basalt. Best fitting model parameters are a load density of 3343 kg m-3, a load thickness of 10.8 km, and a load volume of 1.7 × 106 km3. These relatively large load densities indicate that lava compositions are comparable to those at other martian volcanoes, and densities are comparable to those of the martian meteorites. The elastic thickness in the region is constrained to be smaller than 27.5 km at the time of loading, indicating surface heat flows in excess of 24 mW m-2.

The influence of modifications of a fatigue loading history program on fatigue lifetime

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Branger, J.

1972-01-01

Rectangular specimens of 7075 and 2014 aluminum alloys with two holes (stress concentration factor of 3.24) have been tested under axial fatigue loading on a six-rod test bed with modifications of the loading program, the surface particulars, and the frequency. The length of the precrack stage was investigated by use of a new crack detector. In most cases the two alloys behaved similarly, with similar life to crack start under the same loading. Some overloads lengthened the life. Truncation by omission of the lowest peak loads should be limited to about 20 percent of the ultimate load. Simplifying counting methods gave misleading results. Very thin surface layers of anodizing, protection by vinyl, dry nitrogen atmosphere, as well as stepwise reaming or grinding the surface of the holes, lengthened the life; thick anodized layers shortened the life. Compressing the hole surface by rolling had no influence. Frequencies at about 210 to 240 cpm produced shorter lives than those at 40 cpm. At 5.4 cpm the life was considerably longer. A model to better understand the precrack-stage fatigue mechanism is discussed.

Performance model of a recirculating stack nickel hydrogen cell

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zimmerman, Albert H.

1994-01-01

A theoretical model of the nickel hydrogen battery cell has been utilized to describe the chemical and physical changes during charge and overcharge in a recirculating stack nickel hydrogen cell. In particular, the movement of gas and electrolyte have been examined as a function of the amount of electrolyte put into the cell stack during cell activation, and as a function of flooding in regions of the gas screen in this cell design. Additionally, a two-dimensional variation on this model has been utilized to describe the effects of non-uniform loading in the nickel-electrode on the movement of gas and electrolyte within the recirculating stack nickel hydrogen cell. The type of nonuniform loading that has been examined here is that associated with higher than average loading near the surface of the sintered nickel electrode, a condition present to some degree in many nickel electrodes made by electrochemical impregnation methods. The effects of high surface loading were examined primarily under conditions of overcharge, since the movement of gas and electrolyte in the overcharging condition was typically where the greatest effects of non-uniform loading were found. The results indicate that significant changes in the capillary forces between cell components occur as the percentage of free volume in the stack filled by electrolyte becomes very high. These changes create large gradients in gas-filled space and oxygen concentrations near the boundary between the separator and the hydrogen electrode when the electrolyte fill is much greater than about 95 percent of the stack free volume. At lower electrolyte fill levels, these gaseous and electrolyte gradients become less extreme, and shift through the separator towards the nickel electrode. Similarly, flooding of areas in the gas screen cause higher concentrations of oxygen gas to approach the platinum/hydrogen electrode that is opposite the back side of the nickel electrode. These results illustrate the need for appropriate pore size distributions, and the maintenance of both convective electrolyte and gas flow paths through the stack, if the recirculating stack nickel hydrogen cell design is to work properly.

Build-up and wash-off dynamics of atmospherically derived Cu, Pb, Zn and TSS in stormwater runoff as a function of meteorological characteristics.

PubMed

Murphy, Louise U; Cochrane, Thomas A; O'Sullivan, Aisling

2015-03-01

Atmospheric pollutants deposited on impermeable surfaces can be an important source of pollutants to stormwater runoff; however, modelling atmospheric pollutant loads in runoff has rarely been done, because of the challenges and uncertainties in monitoring their contribution. To overcome this, impermeable concrete boards (≈ 1m(2)) were deployed for 11 months in different locations within an urban area (industrial, residential and airside) throughout Christchurch, New Zealand, to capture spatially distributed atmospheric deposition loads in runoff over varying meteorological conditions. Runoff was analysed for total and dissolved Cu, Zn, Pb, and total suspended solids (TSS). Mixed-effect regression models were developed to simulate atmospheric pollutant loads in stormwater runoff. In addition, the models were used to explain the influence of different meteorological characteristics (e.g. antecedent dry days and rain depth) on pollutant build-up and wash-off dynamics. The models predicted approximately 53% to 69% of the variation in pollutant loads and were successful in predicting pollutant-load trends over time which can be useful for general stormwater planning processes. Results from the models illustrated the importance of antecedent dry days on pollutant build-up. Furthermore, results indicated that peak rainfall intensity and rain duration had a significant relationship with TSS and total Pb, whereas, rain depth had a significant relationship with total Cu and total Zn. This suggested that the pollutant speciation phase plays an important role in surface wash-off. Rain intensity and duration had a greater influence when the pollutants were predominantly in their particulate phase. Conversely, rain depth exerted a greater influence when a high fraction of the pollutants were predominantly in their dissolved phase. For all pollutants, the models were represented by a log-arctan relationship for pollutant build-up and a log-log relationship for pollutant wash-off. The modelling approach enables the site-specific relationships between individual pollutants and rainfall characteristics to be investigated. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Surface Irregularity Factor as a Parameter to Evaluate the Fatigue Damage State of CFRP

PubMed Central

Zuluaga-Ramírez, Pablo; Frövel, Malte; Belenguer, Tomás; Salazar, Félix

2015-01-01

This work presents an optical non-contact technique to evaluate the fatigue damage state of CFRP structures measuring the irregularity factor of the surface. This factor includes information about surface topology and can be measured easily on field, by techniques such as optical perfilometers. The surface irregularity factor has been correlated with stiffness degradation, which is a well-accepted parameter for the evaluation of the fatigue damage state of composite materials. Constant amplitude fatigue loads (CAL) and realistic variable amplitude loads (VAL), representative of real in- flight conditions, have been applied to “dog bone” shaped tensile specimens. It has been shown that the measurement of the surface irregularity parameters can be applied to evaluate the damage state of a structure, and that it is independent of the type of fatigue load that has caused the damage. As a result, this measurement technique is applicable for a wide range of inspections of composite material structures, from pressurized tanks with constant amplitude loads, to variable amplitude loaded aeronautical structures such as wings and empennages, up to automotive and other industrial applications. PMID:28793655

THE IMPACT OF HUMANS ON CONTINENTAL EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilkinson, B.; McElroy, B.

2009-12-01

Tectonic uplift and erosional denudation of orogenic belts have long been the most important geologic processes that serve to shape continental surfaces, but the rate of geomorphic change resulting from these natural phenomena has now been outstripped by human activities associated with agriculture, construction, and mining. Although humans are now the most important geomorphic agent on the planet’s surface, natural and anthropogenic processes serve to modify quite different parts of the Earth landscape. In order to better understand the impact of humans on continental erosion, we have examined both long-term and short-term data on rates of sediment transfer in response to glacio-fluvial and anthropogenic processes. Phanerozoic rates of subaerial denudation inferred from preserved volumes of sedimentary rock require a mean continental erosion rate on the order of 16 meters per million years (m/My), resulting in the accumulation of about 5 giga-tons of sediment per year (Gt/y). Erosion irregularly increased over the ~542 million year span of Phanerozoic time to a Pliocene value of 81 m/My (~19 Gt/y). Current estimates of large river sediment loads are similar to this late Neogene value, and require net denudation of ice-free land surfaces at a rate of about 74 m/My (~25 Gt/y). Consideration of variation in large river sediment loads and the geomorphology of respective river basin catchments suggests that natural erosion is primarily confined to drainage headwaters; ~83% of the global river sediment flux is derived from the highest 10% of the Earth’s surface. Subaerial erosion as a result of human activity, primarily through agricultural practices, has resulted in a sharp increase in net rates of continental denudation; although less well constrained than estimates based on surviving rock volumes or current river loads, available data suggest that present farmland denudation is proceeding at a rate of about 600 m/My (~74 Gt/y), and is largely confined to lower elevations of the Earth’s land surface, primarily along passive continental margins; ~83% of cropland erosion occurs over the lower 65% of the Earth’s surface. The conspicuous disparity between natural sediment fluxes suggested by data on rock volumes and river loads (~25 Gt/y) and anthropogenic fluxes inferred from measured and modeled cropland soil losses (74 Gt/y) is readily resolved by data on thicknesses and ages of alluvial sediment that has been deposited immediately down slope from eroding croplands over the history of human agriculture. Accumulation of post-settlement alluvium on higher order tributary channels and floodplains (mean rate ~12,600 m/My) is the most important geomorphic process in terms of the erosion and deposition of sediment that is currently shaping the landscape of the Earth. It far exceeds even the impact of Pleistocene continental glaciers or the current impact of alpine erosion by glacial and/or fluvial processes. Human beings are therefore the dominant agent of topographic change operating on the surface of the planet today.

Shear band evolution in zirconium/hafnium-based bulk metallic glasses under static and dynamic indentations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Hongwen

In this thesis, a detailed investigation of thermal stability and mechanical deformation behavior of Zr/Hf-based Bulk Metallic Glasses is conducted. First, systematic studies had been implemented to understand the influence of relative compositions of Zr and Hf on thermal stability and mechanical property evolution. Second, shear band evolution under indentations were investigated experimentally and theoretically. It was found in the present work that gradually replacing Zr by Hf remarkably increases the density and improves the mechanical properties. However, a slight decrease in glass forming ability with increasing Hf content has also been identified through thermodynamic analysis although all the materials in the current study were still found to be amorphous. Many indentation studies have revealed only a few shear bands surrounding the indent on the top surface of the specimen. This small number of shear bands cannot account for the large plastic deformation beneath the indentations. Therefore, a bonded interface technique has been used to observe the slip-steps due to shear band evolution. Vickers indentations were performed along the interface of the bonded split specimen at increasing loads. At small indentation loads, the plastic deformation was primarily accommodated by semi-circular primary shear bands surrounding the indentation. At higher loads, secondary and tertiary shear bands were formed inside this plastic zone. A modified expanding cavity model was then used to predict the plastic zone size characterized by the shear bands and to identify the stress components responsible for the evolution of the various types of shear bands. The applicability of various hardness - yield-strength (H-sigma y) relationships currently available in the literature for bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) is also investigated. Experimental data generated on ZrHf-based BMGs in the current study and those available elsewhere on other BMG compositions were used to validate the models. A modified expanding-cavity model, employed in earlier work, was extended to propose a new H-sigmay relationship. Unlike previous models, the proposed model takes into account not only the indenter geometry and the material properties, but also the pressure sensitivity index of the BMGs. The influence of various model parameters is systematically analyzed. It is shown that there is a good correlation between the model predictions and the experimental data for a wide range of BMG compositions. Under dynamic Vickers indentation, a decrease in indentation hardness at high loading rate was observed compared to static indentation hardness. It was observed that at equivalent loads, dynamic indentations produced more severe deformation features on the loading surface than static indentations. Different from static indentation, two sets of widely spaced semi-circular shear bands with two different curvatures were observed. The observed shear band pattern and the strain rate softening in indentation hardness were rationalized based on the variations in the normal stress on the slip plane, the strain rate of shear and the temperature rise associated with the indentation deformation. Finally, a coupled thermo-mechanical model is proposed that utilizes a momentum diffusion mechanism for the growth and evolution of the final spacing of shear bands. The influence of strain rate, confinement pressure and critical shear displacement on the shear band spacing, temperature rise within the shear band, and the associated variation in flow stress have been captured and analyzed. Consistent with the known pressure sensitive behavior of BMGs, the current model clearly captures the influence of the normal stress in the formation of shear bands. The normal stress not only reduces the time to reach critical shear displacement but also causes a significant temperature rise during the shear band formation. Based on this observation, the variation of shear band spacing in a typical dynamic indentation test has been rationalized. The temperature rise within a shear band can be in excess of 2000K at high strain rate and high confinement pressure conditions. The associated drop in viscosity and flow stress may explain the observed decrease in fracture strength and indentation hardness. The above investigations provide valuable insight into the deformation behavior of BMGs under static and dynamic loading conditions. The shear band patterns observed in the above indentation studies can be helpful to understand and model the deformation features under complex loading scenarios such as the interaction of a penetrator with armor. Future work encompasses (1) extending and modifying the coupled thermo-mechanical model to account for the temperature rise in quasistatic deformation; and (2) expanding this model to account for the microstructural variation-crystallization and free volume migration associated with the deformation. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Time-Varying Upper-Plate Deformation during the Megathrust Subduction Earthquake Cycle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Furlong, Kevin P.; Govers, Rob; Herman, Matthew

2015-04-01

Over the past several decades of the WEGENER era, our abilities to observe and image the deformational behavior of the upper plate in megathrust subduction zones has dramatically improved. Several intriguing inferences can be made from these observations including apparent lateral variations in locking along subduction zones, which differs from interseismic to coseismic periods; the significant magnitude of post-earthquake deformation (e.g. following the 20U14 Mw Iquique, Chile earthquake, observed on-land GPS post-EQ displacements are comparable to the co-seismic displacements); and incompatibilities between rates of slip deficit accumulation and resulting earthquake co-seismic slip (e.g. pre-Tohoku, inferred rates of slip deficit accumulation on the megathrust significantly exceed slip amounts for the ~ 1000 year recurrence.) Modeling capabilities have grown from fitting simple elastic accumulation/rebound curves to sparse data to having spatially dense continuous time series that allow us to infer details of plate boundary coupling, rheology-driven transient deformation, and partitioning among inter-earthquake and co-seismic displacements. In this research we utilize a 2D numerical modeling to explore the time-varying deformational behavior of subduction zones during the earthquake cycle with an emphasis on upper-plate and plate interface behavior. We have used a simplified model configuration to isolate fundamental processes associated with the earthquake cycle, rather than attempting to fit details of specific megathrust zones. Using a simple subduction geometry, but realistic rheologic layering we are evaluating the time-varying displacement and stress response through a multi-earthquake cycle history. We use a simple model configuration - an elastic subducting slab, an elastic upper plate (shallower than 40 km), and a visco-elastic upper plate (deeper than 40 km). This configuration leads to an upper plate that acts as a deforming elastic beam at inter-earthquake loading times and rates with a viscously relaxed regime at depths greater than 40 km. Analyses of our preliminary model results lead to the following: 1. Co-seismic stress transfer from the unloading elastic layer (shallow) into an elastically loading visco-elastic layer (deeper) - extends ~ 100 km inboard of locked zone. This stress transfer affects both coseismic and post-seismic surface displacements. 2. Post-seismic response of upper plate involves seaward motion for initial 10-20 years (~ 2 Maxwell times) after EQ. This occurs in spite of there being no slip on locked plate boundary - i.e. this is not plate boundary after-slip but rather is a consequence of stress relaxation in co-seismically loaded visco-elastic layer. However standard inversions of the surface displacement field would indicate significant after-slip along the locked plate interface. 3. By approximately 80 years (8 Maxwell times) system has returned to simple linear displacement pattern - the expected behavior for a shortening elastic beam. Prior to that time, the surface (observable) displacement pattern changes substantially over time and would result in an apparent temporal variation in coupling - from near-zero coupling to fully locked over ~ 80 years post-earthquake. These preliminary results indicate that care is needed in interpreting observed surface displacement fields from GPS, InSAR, etc. during the interseismic period. temporal variations in crustal deformation observed in regions such as the recent Tohoku, Maule, and Iquique megathrust events which are ascribed to fault plane after-slip may in fact reflect processes associated with re-equilibration of the visco-elastic subduction system.

Sensing cantilever beam bending by the optical lever technique and its application to surface stress.

PubMed

Evans, Drew R; Craig, Vincent S J

2006-03-23

Cantilever beams, both microscopic and macroscopic, are used as sensors in a great variety of applications. An optical lever system is commonly employed to determine the deflection and thereby the profile of the cantilever under load. The sensitivity of the optical lever must be calibrated, and this is usually achieved by application of a known load or deflection to the free end of the cantilever. When the sensing operation involves a different type of load or a combination of types of loadings, the calibration and the deflection values derived from it become invalid. Here we develop a master equation that permits the true deflection of the cantilever to be obtained simply from the measurement of the apparent deflection for uniformly distributed loadings and end-moment loadings. These loadings are relevant to the uniform adsorption or application of material to the cantilever or the application of a surface stress to the cantilever and should assist experimentalists using the optical lever, such as in the atomic force microscope, to measure cantilever deflections in a great variety of sensing applications. We then apply this treatment to the experimental evaluation of surface stress. Three forms of Stoney's equation that relate the apparent deflection to the surface stress, which is valid for both macroscopic and microscopic experiments, are derived. Analysis of the errors arising from incorrect modeling of the loading conditions of the cantilever currently applied in experiments is also presented. It is shown that the reported literature values for surface stress in microscopic experiments are typically 9% smaller than their true value. For macroscopic experiments, we demonstrate that the added mass of the film or coating generally dominates the measured deflection and must be accounted for accurately if surface stress measurements are to be made. Further, the reported measurements generally use a form of Stoney's equation that is in error, resulting in an overestimation of surface stress by a factor >5.

Testing Machine for Biaxial Loading

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Demonet, R. J.; Reeves, R. D.

1985-01-01

Standard tensile-testing machine applies bending and tension simultaneously. Biaxial-loading test machine created by adding two test fixtures to commercial tensile-testing machine. Bending moment applied by substrate-deformation fixture comprising yoke and anvil block. Pneumatic tension-load fixture pulls up on bracket attached to top surface of specimen. Tension and deflection measured with transducers. Modified test apparatus originally developed to load-test Space Shuttle surface-insulation tiles and particuarly important for composite structures.

Thermally determining flow and/or heat load distribution in parallel paths

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chainer, Timothy J.; Iyengar, Madhusudan K.; Parida, Pritish R.

A method including obtaining calibration data for at least one sub-component in a heat transfer assembly, wherein the calibration data comprises at least one indication of coolant flow rate through the sub-component for a given surface temperature delta of the sub-component and a given heat load into said sub-component, determining a measured heat load into the sub-component, determining a measured surface temperature delta of the sub-component, and determining a coolant flow distribution in a first flow path comprising the sub-component from the calibration data according to the measured heat load and the measured surface temperature delta of the sub-component.

Thermally determining flow and/or heat load distribution in parallel paths

DOEpatents

Chainer, Timothy J.; Iyengar, Madhusudan K.; Parida, Pritish R.

2016-12-13

A method including obtaining calibration data for at least one sub-component in a heat transfer assembly, wherein the calibration data comprises at least one indication of coolant flow rate through the sub-component for a given surface temperature delta of the sub-component and a given heat load into said sub-component, determining a measured heat load into the sub-component, determining a measured surface temperature delta of the sub-component, and determining a coolant flow distribution in a first flow path comprising the sub-component from the calibration data according to the measured heat load and the measured surface temperature delta of the sub-component.

Intradiscal pressure variation under spontaneous ventilation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roriz, Paulo; Ferreira, J.; Potes, J. C.; Oliveira, M. T.; Santos, J. L.; Simões, J. A.; Frazão, O.

2014-05-01

The pressure measured in the intervertebral discs is a response to the loads acting on the spine. External loads, such as the reaction forces resulting from locomotion, manual handling and collisions are probably the most relevant in studying spine trauma. However, the physiological functions such as breathing and hearth rate also participate in subtle variations of intradiscal pressure that can be observed only in vivo at resting. Present work is an effort to measure the effect of breathing on intradiscal pressure of an anesthetized sheep.

Dynamics of rain-induced pollutographs of solubles in sewers.

PubMed

Rutsch, M; Müller, I; Krebs, P

2005-01-01

When looking at acute receiving water impacts due to combined sewer overflows the characteristics of the background diurnal sewage flux variation may influence the peak loads from combined sewer overflows (CSO) and wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent significantly. In this paper, effects on the dynamic compounds transported in the sewer, on CSO discharges and WWTP loading are evaluated by means of hydrodynamic simulations. The simulations are based on different scenarios for diurnal dry-weather flow variations induced by different infiltration rates.

Effect of the Conditions of the Nanostructuring Frictional Treatment Process on the Structural and Phase States and the Strengthening of Metastable Austenitic Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Makarov, A. V.; Skorynina, P. A.; Yurovskikh, A. S.; Osintseva, A. L.

2017-12-01

The effect of the multiplicity of frictional loading with a sliding synthetic diamond indenter at room temperature in an argon medium and the temperature of loading in the range of -196 to +250°C on the phase composition, fine structure, and micromechanical properties of the surface layer of metastable austenitic chromium-nickel steel has been studied. It has been established that the completeness of the strain-induced martensitic γ → α' transformation in the surface layer of steel is determined by the loading multiplicity and temperature, as well as the level of strengthening grows with an increase in the frictional loading multiplicity, but weakly depends on the frictional treatment temperature. According to the microindentation data, the characteristics of the surface layer strength and resistance to elastic and plastic deformation are improved with an increase in the frictional loading multiplicity. Frictional treatment by scanning with a synthetic diamond indenter at room and negative temperatures provides high quality for the treated surface with a low roughness parameter ( Ra = 80.115 nm), and an increase in the frictional loading temperature to 150-250°C leads to the development of a seizure and growth in Ra to 195-255 nm. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), it has been shown that frictional treatment results in the formation of nanocrystalline and fragmented submicrocrystalline structures of strain-induced α'-martensite (at a loading temperature of -196°C) and austenite (at a loading temperature of +250°C) in the surface layer of steel alongside with two-phase martensitic-austenitic structures (at a loading temperature of +20°C).

Finite element based contact analysis of radio frequency MEMs switch membrane surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Jin-Ya; Chalivendra, Vijaya; Huang, Wenzhen

2017-10-01

Finite element simulations were performed to determine the contact behavior of radio frequency (RF) micro-electro-mechanical (MEM) switch contact surfaces under monotonic and cyclic loading conditions. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to capture the topography of RF-MEM switch membranes and later they were analyzed for multi-scale regular as well as fractal structures. Frictionless, non-adhesive contact 3D finite element analysis was carried out at different length scales to investigate the contact behavior of the regular-fractal surface using an elasto-plastic material model. Dominant micro-scale regular patterns were found to significantly change the contact behavior. Contact areas mainly cluster around the regular pattern. The contribution from the fractal structure is not significant. Under cyclic loading conditions, plastic deformation in the 1st loading/unloading cycle smooth the surface. The subsequent repetitive loading/unloading cycles undergo elastic contact without changing the morphology of the contacting surfaces. The work is expected to shed light on the quality of the switch surface contact as well as the optimum design of RF MEM switch surfaces.

Stochastic clustering of material surface under high-heat plasma load

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Budaev, Viacheslav P.

2017-11-01

The results of a study of a surface formed by high-temperature plasma loads on various materials such as tungsten, carbon and stainless steel are presented. High-temperature plasma irradiation leads to an inhomogeneous stochastic clustering of the surface with self-similar granularity - fractality on the scale from nanoscale to macroscales. Cauliflower-like structure of tungsten and carbon materials are formed under high heat plasma load in fusion devices. The statistical characteristics of hierarchical granularity and scale invariance are estimated. They differ qualitatively from the roughness of the ordinary Brownian surface, which is possibly due to the universal mechanisms of stochastic clustering of material surface under the influence of high-temperature plasma.

Development of an epiphyte indicator of nutrient enrichment. A ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

An extensive review of the literature on epiphytes on submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), primarily seagrasses but including some brackish and freshwater rooted macrophytes, was conducted in order to evaluate the evidence for response of epiphyte metrics to increased nutrients. Evidence from field observational studies together with laboratory and field mesocosm experiments was assembled from the literature and evaluated for evidence of a hypothesized positive response to nutrient addition. There was general consistency in the results to confirm that elevated nutrients tended to increase the load of epiphytes on the surface of SAV, in the absence of other limiting factors. In spite of multiple sources of uncontrolled variation, positive relationships of epiphyte load to nutrient concentration or load (either N or P) were often observed along strong anthropogenic or natural nutrient gradients in coastal regions, although response patterns may only be evident for parts of the year. Mesocosm nutrient studies tended to be more common for temperate regions and field addition studies more common for tropical and subtropical regions. Addition of nutrients via the water column tended to elicit stronger epiphyte responses than sediment additions, and may be a factor in the lack of epiphyte response reported in some studies. Mesograzer activity is a critical covariate for epiphyte response under experimental nutrient elevation, but the epiphyte response is highly de

Magnetic evidence for heavy metal pollution of topsoil in Shanghai, China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Guan; Liu, Yuan; Chen, Jiao; Ren, Feifan; Chen, Yuying; Ye, Fangzhou; Zhang, Weiguo

2018-03-01

This study presents the results obtained from magnetic susceptibility and heavy metal (Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cr) concentration measurements of soil profiles collected from arable land and urban parks in Baoshan District, an industrial district of Shanghai, China. The study focuses on the investigation of vertical variations in magnetic susceptibilities and heavy metal concentrations and on correlations between magnetic susceptibilities and heavy metal concentrations in soil profiles. The results demonstrate that magnetic enhancement in the surface layer of the soil profile is associated with increased heavy metal pollution. The enrichment factors (EF) and the Tomlinson Pollution Load Index (PLI-EF) are calculated for estimating the level of heavy metal pollution of soil profiles in the study. The significant positive correlations between heavy metal contents, enrichment factors (EF), Tomlinson pollution load index (PLI-CF), modified Tomlinson pollution load index (PLI-EF), and magnetic susceptibility (c) indicate that much of the heavy metal contamination in the study area is linked to combustion derived particulate emissions. The results confirm that the combined magnetic measurement and heavy metal concentration analysis could provide useful information for soil monitoring in urban environments. However, the use of magnetic technique to locate the heavy metal pollution boundary in the soil profile of this studied area should be confirmed by further geochemical analysis.

Evaluating Aquatic Life Benefits of Reducing Nutrient Loading ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Theoretical linkages between excess nutrient loading, nutrient-enhanced community metabolism (i.e., production and respiration), and hypoxia in estuaries are well-understood. In seasonally-stratified estuaries and coastal systems (e.g., Chesapeake Bay, northern Gulf of Mexico), hypoxia is predominantly seasonal, such that the spatial extent indicates potential aquatic life impacts. However, in relatively small and shallow Gulf of Mexico bays and bayous, hypoxia frequently occurs episodically or on a diel basis. This study utilized continuous DO monitoring and 3-D hydrodynamic (Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code) and water quality (Water Quality Analysis Simulation Program) models to examine physical and biological controls on DO dynamics and ecosystem metabolism in Weeks Bay, AL. Observed vertical DO gradients varied on a diel basis, with larger amplitude variations at depth relative to the surface, underscoring the importance of benthic production and respiration as a driver of ecosystem metabolism in shallow estuaries. Hydrodynamic and water quality models simulated seasonal and event-driven dynamics, but struggled to resolve the amplitude of daily DO fluctuations, particularly in bottom waters. Using these data in conjunction with the 10-year continuous O2 record from Weeks Bay, we applied empirical relationships and simple scaling relations to predict how reducing nutrient loading may affect the frequency, severity and duration of hypoxia. We further applied

Simultaneous or separated; comparison approach for saccharification and fermentation process in producing bio-ethanol from EFB

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bardant, Teuku Beuna; Dahnum, Deliana; Amaliyah, Nur

2017-11-01

Simultaneous Saccharification Fermentation (SSF) of palm oil (Elaeis guineensis) empty fruit bunch (EFB) pulp were investigated as a part of ethanol production process. SSF was investigated by observing the effect of substrate loading variation in range 10-20%w, cellulase loading 5-30 FPU/gr substrate and yeast addition 1-2%v to the ethanol yield. Mathematical model for describing the effects of these three variables to the ethanol yield were developed using Response Surface Methodology-Cheminformatics (RSM-CI). The model gave acceptable accuracy in predicting ethanol yield for Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation (SSF) with coefficient of determination (R2) 0.8899. Model validation based on data from previous study gave (R2) 0.7942 which was acceptable for using this model for trend prediction analysis. Trend prediction analysis based on model prediction yield showed that SSF gave trend for higher yield when the process was operated in high enzyme concentration and low substrate concentration. On the other hand, even SHF model showed better yield will be obtained if operated in lower substrate concentration, it still possible to operate in higher substrate concentration with slightly lower yield. Opportunity provided by SHF to operate in high loading substrate make it preferable option for application in commercial scale.

An in vitro simulation model to assess the severity of edge loading and wear, due to variations in component positioning in hip joint replacements.

PubMed

O'Dwyer Lancaster-Jones, O; Williams, S; Jennings, L M; Thompson, J; Isaac, G H; Fisher, J; Al-Hajjar, M

2017-09-23

The aim of this study was to develop a preclinical in vitro method to predict the occurrence and severity of edge loading condition associated with the dynamic separation of the centres of the head and cup (in the absence of impingement) for variations in surgical positioning of the cup. Specifically, this study investigated the effect of both the variations in the medial-lateral translational mismatch between the centres of the femoral head and acetabular cup and the variations in the cup inclination angles on the occurrence and magnitude of the dynamic separation, the severity of edge loading, and the wear rate of ceramic-on-ceramic hip replacement bearings in a multi-station hip joint simulator during a walking gait cycle. An increased mismatch between the centres of rotation of the femoral head and acetabular cup resulted in an increased level of dynamic separation and an increase in the severity of edge loading condition which led to increased wear rate in ceramic-on-ceramic bearings. Additionally for a given translational mismatch, an increase in the cup inclination angle gave rise to increased dynamic separation, worst edge loading conditions, and increased wear. To reduce the occurrence and severity of edge loading, the relative positions (the mismatch) of the centres of rotation of the head and the cup should be considered alongside the rotational position of the acetabular cup. This study has considered the combination of mechanical and tribological factors for the first time in the medial-lateral axis only, involving one rotational angle (inclination) and one translational mismatch. © 2017 The Authors Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2017. © 2017 The Authors Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Assessment of the Spatial and Temporal Variations of Water Quality for Agricultural Lands with Crop Rotation in China by Using a HYPE Model

PubMed Central

Yin, Yunxing; Jiang, Sanyuan; Pers, Charlotta; Yang, Xiaoying; Liu, Qun; Yuan, Jin; Yao, Mingxing; He, Yi; Luo, Xingzhang; Zheng, Zheng

2016-01-01

Many water quality models have been successfully used worldwide to predict nutrient losses from anthropogenically impacted catchments, but hydrological and nutrient simulations with limited data are difficult considering the transfer of model parameters and complication of model calibration and validation. This study aims: (i) to assess the performance capabilities of a new and relatively more advantageous model, namely, Hydrological Predictions for the Environment (HYPE), that simulates stream flow and nutrient load in agricultural areas by using a multi-site and multi-objective parameter calibration method and (ii) to investigate the temporal and spatial variations of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorous (TP) concentrations and loads with crop rotation by using the model for the first time. A parameter estimation tool (PEST) was used to calibrate parameters. Results show that the parameters related to the effective soil porosity were highly sensitive to hydrological modeling. N balance was largely controlled by soil denitrification processes. P balance was influenced by the sedimentation rate and production/decay of P in rivers and lakes. The model reproduced the temporal and spatial variations of discharge and TN/TP relatively well in both calibration (2006–2008) and validation (2009–2010) periods. Among the obtained data, the lowest Nash-Suttclife efficiency of discharge, daily TN load, and daily TP load were 0.74, 0.51, and 0.54, respectively. The seasonal variations of daily TN concentrations in the entire simulation period were insufficient, indicated that crop rotation changed the timing and amount of N output. Monthly TN and TP simulation yields revealed that nutrient outputs were abundant in summer in terms of the corresponding discharge. The area-weighted TN and TP load annual yields in five years showed that nutrient loads were extremely high along Hong and Ru rivers, especially in agricultural lands. PMID:26999184

Prediction of glycosaminoglycan synthesis in intervertebral disc under mechanical loading.

PubMed

Gao, Xin; Zhu, Qiaoqiao; Gu, Weiyong

2016-09-06

The loss of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content is a major biochemical change during intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. Abnormal mechanical loading is one of the major factors causing disc degeneration. In this study, a multiscale mathematical model was developed to quantify the effect of mechanical loading on GAG synthesis. This model was based on a recently developed cell volume dependent GAG synthesis theory that predicts the variation of GAG synthesis rate of a cell under the influence of mechanical stimuli, and the biphasic theory that describes the deformation of IVD under mechanical loading. The GAG synthesis (at the cell level) was coupled with the mechanical loading (at the tissue level) via a cell-matrix unit approach which established a relationship between the variation of cell dilatation and the local tissue dilatation. This multiscale mathematical model was used to predict the effect of static load (creep load) on GAG synthesis in bovine tail discs. The predicted results are in the range of experimental results. This model was also used to investigate the effect of static (0.2MPa) and diurnal loads (0.1/0.3MPa and 0.15/0.25MPa in 12/12 hours shift with an average of 0.2MPa over a cycle) on GAG synthesis. It was found that static load and diurnal loads have different effects on GAG synthesis in a diurnal cycle, and the diurnal load effects depend on the amplitude of the load. The model is important to understand the effect of mechanical loading at the tissue level on GAG synthesis at the cellular level, as well as to optimize the mechanical loading in growing engineered tissue. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Surface modification of paclitaxel-loaded tri-block copolymer PLGA- b-PEG- b-PLGA nanoparticles with protamine for liver cancer therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Nansha; Chen, Zhihong; Xiao, Xiaojun; Ruan, Changshun; Mei, Lin; Liu, Zhigang; Zeng, Xiaowei

2015-08-01

In order to enhance the therapeutic effect of chemotherapy on liver cancer, a biodegradable formulation of protamine-modified paclitaxel-loaded poly(lactide- co-glycolide)- b-poly(ethylene glycol)- b-poly(lactide- co-glycolide) (PLGA- b-PEG- b-PLGA) nanoparticles (PTX-loaded/protamine NPs) was prepared. Tri-block copolymer PLGA- b-PEG- b-PLGA was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization and characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography. PTX-loaded and PTX-loaded/protamine NPs were characterized in terms of size, size distribution, zeta potential, surface morphology, drug encapsulation efficiency, and drug release. Confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that coumarin 6-loaded/protamine NPs were internalized by hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2. The cellular uptake efficiency of NPs was obviously elevated after protamine modification. With commercial formulation Taxol® as the reference, HepG2 cells were also used to study the cytotoxicity of the NPs. PTX-loaded/protamine NPs exhibited significantly higher cytotoxicity than PTX-loaded NPs and Taxol® did. All the results suggested that surface modification of PTX-loaded PLGA- b-PEG- b-PLGA NPs with protamine boosted the therapeutic efficacy on liver cancer.

Functional and morphological correlates of mandibular symphyseal form in a living human sample.

PubMed

Holton, Nathan E; Franciscus, Robert G; Ravosa, Matthew J; Southard, Thomas E

2014-03-01

Variation in recent human mandibular form is often thought to reflect differences in masticatory behavior associated with variation in food preparation and subsistence strategies. Nevertheless, while mandibular variation in some human comparisons appear to reflect differences in functional loading, other comparisons indicate that this relationship is not universal. This suggests that morphological variation in the mandible is influenced by other factors that may obscure the effects of loading on mandibular form. It is likely that highly strained mandibular regions, including the corpus, are influenced by well-established patterns of lower facial skeletal integration. As such, it is unclear to what degree mandibular form reflects localized stresses incurred during mastication vs. a larger set of correlated features that may influence bone distribution patterns. In this study, we examine the relationship between mandibular symphyseal bone distribution (i.e., second moments of area, cortical bone area) and masticatory force production (i.e., in vivo maximal bite force magnitude and estimated symphyseal bending forces) along with lower facial shape variation in a sample of n = 20 living human male subjects. Our results indicate that while some aspects of symphyseal form (e.g., wishboning resistance) are significantly correlated with estimates of symphyseal bending force magnitude, others (i.e., vertical bending resistance) are more closely tied to variation in lower facial shape. This suggests that while the symphysis reflects variation in some variables related to functional loading, the complex and multifactorial influences on symphyseal form underscores the importance of exercising caution when inferring function from the mandible especially in narrow taxonomic comparisons. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Bed Surface Adjustments to Spatially Variable Flow in Low Relative Submergence Regimes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monsalve, A.; Yager, E. M.

2017-11-01

In mountainous rivers, large relatively immobile grains partly control the local and reach-averaged flow hydraulics and sediment fluxes. When the flow depth is similar to the size of these grains (low relative submergence), heterogeneous flow structures and plunging flow cause spatial distributions of bed surface elevations, textures, and sedimentation rates. To explore how the bed surface responds to these flow variations we conducted a set of experiments in which we varied the relative submergence of staggered hemispheres (simulated large boulders) between runs. All experiments had the same average sediment transport capacity, upstream sediment supply, and initial bed thickness and grain size distribution. We combined our laboratory measurements with a 3-D flow model to obtain the detailed flow structure around the hemispheres. The local bed shear stress field displayed substantial variability and controlled the bed load transport rates and direction in which sediment moved. The divergence in bed shear stress caused by the hemispheres promoted size-selective bed load deposition, which formed patches of coarse sediment upstream of the hemisphere. Sediment deposition caused a decrease in local bed shear stress, which combined with the coarser grain size, enhanced the stability of this patch. The region downstream of the hemispheres was largely controlled by a recirculation zone and had little to no change in grain size, bed elevation, and bed shear stress. The formation, development, and stability of sediment patches in mountain streams is controlled by the bed shear stress divergence and magnitude and direction of the local bed shear stress field.

Partitioning phase preference for secondary organic aerosol in an urban atmosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Wayne Li-Wen

Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) comprises a significant portion of atmospheric particular matter (PM). The impact of PM on both human health and global climate has long been recognized. Despite its importance, there are still many unanswered questions regarding the formation and evolution of SOA in the atmosphere. This study uses a modeling approach to understand the preferred partitioning behavior of SOA species into aqueous or organic condensed phases. More specifically, this work uses statistical analyses of approximately 24,000 data values for each variable from a state-of-the-art 3-D airshed model. Spatial and temporal distributions of fractions of SOA residing in the aqueous phase (fAQ) in the South Coast Air Basin of California are presented. Typical values of fAQ within the basin near the surface range from 5 to 80%. Results show that the distribution of fAQ values is inversely proportional to the total SOA loading. Further analysis accounting for various meteorological parameters indicates that large fAQ values are the results of aqueous-phase SOA insensitivity to the ambient conditions; while organic-phase SOA concentrations are dramatically reduced under unfavorable SOA formation conditions, aqueous-phase SOA level remains relatively unchanged, thus increasing fAQ at low SOA loading. Diurnal variations of fAQ near the surface are also observed: it tends to be larger during daytime hours than nighttime hours. When examining the vertical gradient of fAQ, largest values are found at heights above the surface layer. In summary, one must consider SOA in both organic and aqueous phases for proper regional and global SOA budget estimation.

Motion state analysis of space target based on optical cross section

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tian, Qichen; Li, Zhi; Xu, Can; Liu, Chenghao

2017-10-01

In order to solve the problem that the movement state analysis method of the space target based on OCS is not related to the real motion state. This paper proposes a method based on OCS for analyzing the state of space target motion. This paper first establish a three-dimensional model of real STSS satellite, then change the satellite's surface into element, and assign material to each panel according to the actual conditions of the satellite. This paper set up a motion scene according to the orbit parameters of STSS satellite in STK, and the motion states are set to three axis steady state and slowly rotating unstable state respectively. In these two states, the occlusion condition of the surface element is firstly determined, and the effective face element is selected. Then, the coordinates of the observation station and the solar coordinates in the satellite body coordinate system are input into the OCS calculation program, and the OCS variation curves of the three axis steady state and the slow rotating unstable state STSS satellite are obtained. Combining the satellite surface structure and the load situation, the OCS change curve of the three axis stabilized satellite is analyzed, and the conclude that the OCS curve fluctuates up and down when the sunlight is irradiated to the load area; By using Spectral analysis method, autocorrelation analysis and the cross residual method, the rotation speed of OCS satellite in slow rotating unstable state is analyzed, and the rotation speed of satellite is successfully reversed. By comparing the three methods, it is found that the cross residual method is more accurate.

Natural and ion-exchanged illite clays reduce bacterial burden and inflammation in cutaneous meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in mice

PubMed Central

Otto, Caitlin C.; Kilbourne, Jacquelyn

2016-01-01

Discoveries associated with antibacterial activity of hydrated clays necessitate assessments of in vivo efficacy, practical use and safety. Surface properties of clays can lead to variations in the composition and abundance of bound compounds or ions, thus affecting antibacterial activity. Since exchangeable metal ions released from the clay surface are responsible for in vitro antibacterial activity, we evaluated the in vivo antibacterial efficacy of four natural clays (one illite clay, two montmorillonite clays and one kaolinite clay) and three ion-exchanged, antibacterial clays against superficial, cutaneous meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in mice. Superficial, cutaneous wounds on the back of SKH1-Elite mice were generated and subsequently infected with MRSA. Following twice daily applications of a hydrated clay poultice to infected wounds for 7 days, we observed significant differences in the in vivo antibacterial efficacy between different types of clays. The natural and ion-exchanged illite clays performed best, as measured by bacterial load, inflammatory response and gross wound morphology with significant decreases in bacterial viability and dermatitis. Topical application of kaolinite clay was the least effective, resulting in the lowest decrease in bacterial load and exhibiting severe dermatitis. These data suggest that specific types of clays may offer a complementary and integrative strategy for topically treating MRSA and other cutaneous infections. However, since natural clays exhibit in vitro antibacterial variability and vary vastly in surface chemistries, adsorptive/absorptive characteristics and structural composition, the properties and characteristics of illite clays could aid in the development of standardized and customized aluminosilicates for topical infections. PMID:26508716

Resurfacing Damaged Articular Cartilage to Restore Compressive Properties

PubMed Central

Grenier, Stephanie; Donnelly, Patrick E.; Gittens, Jamila; Torzilli, Peter A.

2014-01-01

Surface damage to articular cartilage is recognized as the initial underlying process causing the loss of mechanical function in early-stage osteoarthritis. In this study, we developed structure-modifying treatments to potentially prevent, stabilize or reverse the loss in mechanical function. Various polymers (chondroitin sulfate, carboxymethylcellulose, sodium hyaluronate) and photoinitiators (riboflavin, irgacure 2959) were applied to the surface of collagenase-degraded cartilage and crosslinked in situ using UV light irradiation. While matrix permeability and deformation significantly increased following collagenase-induced degradation of the superficial zone, resurfacing using tyramine-substituted sodium hyaluronate and riboflavin decreased both values to a level comparable to that of intact cartilage. Repetitive loading of resurfaced cartilage showed minimal variation in the mechanical response over a 7 day period. Cartilage resurfaced using a low concentration of riboflavin had viable cells in all zones while a higher concentration resulted in a thin layer of cell death in the uppermost superficial zone. Our approach to repair surface damage initiates a new therapeutic advance in the treatment of injured articular cartilage with potential benefits that include enhanced mechanical properties, reduced susceptibility to enzymatic degradation and reduced adhesion of macrophages. PMID:25468298

Thermomechanical modeling of the Colorado Plateau-Basin and range transition zone

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Londe, M. D.

1985-01-01

The Colorado Plateau (CP) basin and range (B & R) boundary is marked by a transition zone on the order of 75 to 150 km in width. As one moves westward across this transition from the CP interior to the B & R there is a variation in the surface topography, surface heat flow, Bouguer gravity, seismicity, and crustal structure. This transition extends eastward into the western CP from the Wastach-Hurricane fault line and is largely coincident with the high plateaus of Utah and the Wasatch Mountains. It has been suggested that this transition zone marks a thermal and tectonic encroachment of the CP by the B & R. A simple two dimensional numerical model of the thermal regime for the transition zone was constructed to test the hypothesis that the observed geophysical signatures across the transition are due to lateral heat conduction from steady state uniform extension within the B & R lithosphere. Surface heat flow, uplift due to flexure from thermal buoyant loading, and regional Bouguer gravity are computed for various extension rates, crustal structures, and compensation depths.

Rhodamine/Nanodiamond as a System Model for Drug Carrier.

PubMed

Reina, G; Orlanducci, S; Cairone, C; Tamburri, E; Lenti, S; Cianchetta, I; Rossi, M; Terranova, M L

2015-02-01

In this paper we present some strategies that are being developed in our labs towards enabling nanodiamond-based applications for drug delivery. Rhodamine B (RhB) has been choosen as model molecule to study the loading of nanodiamonds with active moieties and the conditions for their controlled release. In order to test the chemical/physical interactions between functionalized detonation nanodiamond (DND) and complex molecules, we prepared and tested different RhB@DND systems, with RhB adsorbed or linked by ionic bonding to the DND surface. The chemical state of the DND surfaces before conjugation with the RhB molecules, and the chemical features of the DND-RhB interactions have been deeply analysed by coupling DND with Au nanoparticles and taking advantage of surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy SERS. The effects due to temperature and pH variations on the process of RhB release from the DND carrier have been also investigated. The amounts of released molecules are consistent with those required for effective drug action in conventional therapeutic applications, and this makes the DND promising nanostructured cargos for drug delivery applications.

Preliminary results of unsteady blade surface pressure measurements for the SR-3 propeller

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heidelberg, L. J.; Clark, B. J.

1986-01-01

Unsteady blade surface pressures were measured on an advanced, highly swept propeller known as SR-3. These measurements were obtained because the unsteady aerodynamics of these highly loaded transonic blades is important to noise generation and aeroelastic response. Specifically, the response to periodic angle-of-attack change was measured for both two- and eight-bladed configurations over a range of flight Mach numbers from 0.4 to 0.85. The periodic angle-of-attack change was obtained by placing the propeller axis at angles up to 4 deg to the flow. Most of the results are presented in terms of the unsteady pressure coefficient variation with Mach number. Both cascade and Mach number effects were largest on the suction surface near the leading edge. The results of a three-dimensional Euler code applied in a quasi-steady fashion were compared to measured data at the reduced frequency of 0.1 and showed relatively poor agreement. Pressure waveforms are shown that suggest shock phenomena may play an important part in the unsteady pressure response at some blade locations.

Parametric Study on the Response of Compression-Loaded Composite Shells With Geometric and Material Imperfections

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hilburger, Mark W.; Starnes, James H., Jr.

2004-01-01

The results of a parametric study of the effects of initial imperfections on the buckling and postbuckling response of three unstiffened thinwalled compression-loaded graphite-epoxy cylindrical shells with different orthotropic and quasi-isotropic shell-wall laminates are presented. The imperfections considered include initial geometric shell-wall midsurface imperfections, shell-wall thickness variations, local shell-wall ply-gaps associated with the fabrication process, shell-end geometric imperfections, nonuniform applied end loads, and variations in the boundary conditions including the effects of elastic boundary conditions. A high-fidelity nonlinear shell analysis procedure that accurately accounts for the effects of these imperfections on the nonlinear responses and buckling loads of the shells is described. The analysis procedure includes a nonlinear static analysis that predicts stable response characteristics of the shells and a nonlinear transient analysis that predicts unstable response characteristics.

Grinding and its influence to ground surface durability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holesovsky, F.; Novak, M.

2011-01-01

A number of parameters of running process effect on the formed surface at grinding. Above all, the following influences can be mentioned: grinding wheel speed, workpiece speed, tool properties, rigidity of machine tool, etc. The plastic deformation and thermal load of surface layer are evoked at the action of cutting conditions. A new surface keeps the definite properties, which are given by its roughness, surface profile, geometry accuracy, intensity and residual stress distribution, respectively microhardness course in surface layer and changes of microstructure in this layer. The surface properties predict the surface behaviour in the real machinery at the dynamical, respectively static loading. At the load, the changes of surface properties proceed, e.g. roughness, residual stress. Simultaneously, changes of surface properties influence the durability of machine part and can also lead to surface damage and machine part breakdown. The slackness can also evoke the cracks, which leads to the fracture. The behaviour of part differs in the operating environment without and with oil or in the corrosion environment.

Characterization of 3d Contact Kinematics and Prediction of Resonant Response of Structures Having 3d Frictional Constraint

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, B. D.; Menq, C. H.

1998-11-01

A 3D friction contact model has been developed for the prediction of the resonant response of structures having 3D frictional constraint. In the proposed model, a contact plane is defined and its orientation is assumed invariant. Consequently, the relative motion of the two contacting surfaces can be resolved into two components: the in-plane tangential motion on the contact plane and the normal component perpendicular to the plane. The in-plane tangential relative motion is often two-dimensional, and it can induce stick-slip friction. On the other hand, the normal relative motion can cause variation of the contact normal load and, in extreme circumstances, separation of the two contacting surfaces. In this study, the joined effect of the 2D tangential relative motion and the normal relative motion on the contact kinematics of a friction contact is examined and analytical criteria are developed to determine the transitions among stick, slip, and separation, when experiencing variable normal load. With these transition criteria, the induced friction force on the contact plane and the variable normal load perpendicular to the plane can be predicted for any given cyclic relative motions at the contact interface and hysteresis loops can be produced so as to characterize the equivalent damping and stiffness of the friction contact. These non-linear damping and stiffness along with the harmonic balance method are then used to predict the resonance of a frictionally constrained 3-DOF oscillator. The predicted results are compared with those of the time integration method and the damping effect, the resonant frequency shift, and the jump phenomenon are examined.

Loading capacity and interaction of DNA binding on catanionic vesicles with different cationic surfactants.

PubMed

Xu, Lu; Chen, Jingfei; Feng, Lei; Dong, Shuli; Hao, Jingcheng

2014-12-07

Cationic and anionic (catanionic) vesicles were constructed from the mixtures of sodium laurate (SL) and alkyltrimethylammonium bromide (CnTAB, n = 12, 14, and 16) and were used to control the loading capacity of DNA. The binding saturation point (BSP) of DNA to catanionic vesicles increases with the chain length of cationic surfactants, which is at 1.0, 1.3 and 1.5 for CnTAB with n = 12, 14, and 16, respectively. Our measurements showed that the loading capacity and affinity of DNA can be controlled by catanionic vesicles. It increases with the chain length of cationic surfactants. Because of a large reduction in surface charge density, catanionic vesicles are prone to undergo re-aggregation or fusion with the addition of DNA. DNA molecules can still maintain original coil state during the interaction with catanionic CnTAL vesicles. (1)H NMR data reveals that the obvious dissociation of anionic ions, L(-), from catanionic C14TAL vesicles is due to the interaction with DNA; however, this phenomenon cannot be observed in C12TAB-SL vesicles. Agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) results demonstrate that the electrostatic interaction between the two oppositely charged cationic and anionic surfactants is stronger than that between DNA and cationic surfactant, CnTAB (n = 12, 14, and 16). Not only is the dissociation of L(-) simply determined by the charge competition, but it also depends largely on the variations in the surface charge density as well as the cationic and anionic surfactant competing ability in geometry configuration of catanionic vesicles. The complicated interaction between DNA and catanionic vesicles induces the deformation of cationic vesicles. Our results should provide clear guidance for choosing more proper vectors for DNA delivery and gene therapy in cell experiments.

Estimation of Shallow Groundwater Discharge and Nutrient Load into a River

Treesearch

Ying Ouyang

2012-01-01

Pollution of rivers with excess nutrients due to groundwater discharge, storm water runoff, surface loading,and atmospheric deposition is an increasing environmental concern worldwide. While the storm water runoff and surface loading of nutrients into many rivers have been explored in great detailed, the groundwater discharge of nutrients into the rivers has not yet...

Relating fuel loads to overstorey structure and composition in a fire-excluded Sierra Nevada mixed conifer forest

Treesearch

Jamie M. Lydersen; Brandon M. Collins; Eric E. Knapp; Gary B. Roller; Scott Stephens

2015-01-01

Although knowledge of surface fuel loads is critical for evaluating potential fire behaviour and effects, their inherent variability makes these difficult to quantify. Several studies relate fuel loads to vegetation type, topography and spectral imaging, but little work has been done examining relationships between forest overstorey variables and surface fuel...

Flexible Sensors for Pressure Therapy: Effect of Substrate Curvature and Stiffness on Sensor Performance.

PubMed

Khodasevych, Iryna; Parmar, Suresh; Troynikov, Olga

2017-10-20

Flexible pressure sensors are increasingly being used in medical and non-medical applications, and particularly in innovative health monitoring. Their efficacy in medical applications such as compression therapy depends on the accuracy and repeatability of their output, which in turn depend on factors such as sensor type, shape, pressure range, and conformability of the sensor to the body surface. Numerous researchers have examined the effects of sensor type and shape, but little information is available on the effect of human body parameters such as support surfaces' curvature and the stiffness of soft tissues on pressure sensing performance. We investigated the effects of body parameters on the performance of pressure sensors using a custom-made human-leg-like test setup. Pressure sensing parameters such as accuracy, drift and repeatability were determined in both static (eight hours continuous pressure) and dynamic (10 cycles of pressure application of 30 s duration) testing conditions. The testing was performed with a focus on compression therapy application for venous leg ulcer treatments, and was conducted in a low-pressure range of 20-70 mmHg. Commercially available sensors manufactured by Peratech and Sensitronics were used under various loading conditions to determine the influence of stiffness and curvature. Flat rigid, flat soft silicone and three cylindrical silicone surfaces of radii of curvature of 3.5 cm, 5.5 cm and 6.5 cm were used as substrates under the sensors. The Peratech sensor averaged 94% accuracy for both static and dynamic measurements on all substrates; the Sensitronics sensor averaged 88% accuracy. The Peratech sensor displayed moderate variations and the Sensitronics sensor large variations in output pressure readings depending on the underlying test surface, both of which were reduced markedly by individual pressure calibration for surface type. Sensor choice and need for calibration to surface type are important considerations for their application in healthcare monitoring.

Site Distribution and Aliasing Effects in the Inversion for Load Coefficients and Geocenter Motion from GPS Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wu, Xiaoping; Argus, Donald F.; Heflin, Michael B.; Ivins, Erik R.; Webb, Frank H.

2002-01-01

Precise GPS measurements of elastic relative site displacements due to surface mass loading offer important constraints on global surface mass transport. We investigate effects of site distribution and aliasing by higher-degree (n greater than or equal 2) loading terms on inversion of GPS data for n = 1 load coefficients and geocenter motion. Covariance and simulation analyses are conducted to assess the sensitivity of the inversion to aliasing and mismodeling errors and possible uncertainties in the n = 1 load coefficient determination. We found that the use of center-of-figure approximation in the inverse formulation could cause 10- 15% errors in the inverted load coefficients. n = 1 load estimates may be contaminated significantly by unknown higher-degree terms, depending on the load scenario and the GPS site distribution. The uncertainty in n = 1 zonal load estimate is at the level of 80 - 95% for two load scenarios.

Validated measurements of microbial loads on environmental surfaces in intensive care units before and after disinfecting cleaning.

PubMed

Frickmann, H; Bachert, S; Warnke, P; Podbielski, A

2018-03-01

Preanalytic aspects can make results of hygiene studies difficult to compare. Efficacy of surface disinfection was assessed with an evaluated swabbing procedure. A validated microbial screening of surfaces was performed in the patients' environment and from hands of healthcare workers on two intensive care units (ICUs) prior to and after a standardized disinfection procedure. From a pure culture, the recovery rate of the swabs for Staphylococcus aureus was 35%-64% and dropped to 0%-22% from a mixed culture with 10-times more Staphylococcus epidermidis than S. aureus. Microbial surface loads 30 min before and after the cleaning procedures were indistinguishable. The quality-ensured screening procedure proved that adequate hygiene procedures are associated with a low overall colonization of surfaces and skin of healthcare workers. Unchanged microbial loads before and after surface disinfection demonstrated the low additional impact of this procedure in the endemic situation when the pathogen load prior to surface disinfection is already low. Based on a validated screening system ensuring the interpretability and reliability of the results, the study confirms the efficiency of combined hand and surface hygiene procedures to guarantee low rates of bacterial colonization. © 2017 The Society for Applied Microbiology.

Investigation of distributor vane jets to decrease the unsteady load on hydro turbine runner blades

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lewis, B. J.; Cimbala, J. M.; Wouden, A. M.

2012-11-01

As the runner blades of a Francis hydroturbine pass though the wakes created from the wicket gates, they experience a significant change in absolute velocity, flow angle, and pressure. The concept of adding jets to the trailing edge of the wicket gates is proposed as a method for reducing the dynamic load on the hydroturbine runner blades. Computational experiments show a decrease in velocity variation experienced by the runner blade with the addition of the jets. The decrease in velocity variation resulted in a 43% decrease in global torque variation at the runner passing frequency. However, an increased variation was observed at the wicket gate passing frequency. Also, a 5.7% increase in average global torque was observed with the addition of blowing from the trailing-edge of the wicket gates.

Effect of cyclic fatigue on the fracture toughness of Polyoxymethylene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramoa, B.; Berer, M.; Schwaiger, M.; Pinter, G.

2017-05-01

Polymers are used in a wide range of applications and their properties are dependent upon the morphological development during processing and the specimen configuration which in turn define the mechanical properties. In this context fatigue and monotonic testing are part of the standard procedure to assess relevant mechanical and material parameters to ensure a better part design. The present work addresses the performance issues of a real component made of Polyoxymethylene (POM) which is subjected to cyclic loads from intermediate levels to high peak values inside a damping mechanism. For this linear elastic fracture mechanics concepts were used to characterize the behavior of a POM homopolymer resin used in this application. Injection molded compact tension specimens, with sharp and blunt notches, were tested under a combination of cyclic and monotonic loads and the fracture surfaces were examined. The critical stress intensity factor obtained by monotonic tests was evaluated as a function of the cycle number, where an increase after the first 1000 cycles followed by a continuous decrease with higher numbers of cycles was observed. A variation of approximately 50% and 70% were obtained along the duration of the tests for the sharp and blunt notch specimens, respectively. In light of the obtained results, a discussion is presented considering the dynamic specimen compliance and the structural features observed on the fracture surfaces in combination with the fracture mechanical response.

A mechanistic understanding of the wear coefficient: From single to multiple asperities contact

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frérot, Lucas; Aghababaei, Ramin; Molinari, Jean-François

2018-05-01

Sliding contact between solids leads to material detaching from their surfaces in the form of debris particles, a process known as wear. According to the well-known Archard wear model, the wear volume (i.e. the volume of detached particles) is proportional to the load and the sliding distance, while being inversely proportional to the hardness. The influence of other parameters are empirically merged into a factor, referred to as wear coefficient, which does not stem from any theoretical development, thus limiting the predictive capacity of the model. Based on a recent understanding of a critical length-scale controlling wear particle formation, we present two novel derivations of the wear coefficient: one based on Archard's interpretation of the wear coefficient as the probability of wear particle detachment and one that follows naturally from the up-scaling of asperity-level physics into a generic multi-asperity wear model. As a result, the variation of wear rate and wear coefficient are discussed in terms of the properties of the interface, surface roughness parameters and applied load for various rough contact situations. Both new wear interpretations are evaluated analytically and numerically, and recover some key features of wear observed in experiments. This work shines new light on the understanding of wear, potentially opening a pathway for calculating the wear coefficient from first principles.

Statistical shape analysis of clavicular cortical bone with applications to the development of mean and boundary shape models.

PubMed

Lu, Yuan-Chiao; Untaroiu, Costin D

2013-09-01

During car collisions, the shoulder belt exposes the occupant's clavicle to large loading conditions which often leads to a bone fracture. To better understand the geometric variability of clavicular cortical bone which may influence its injury tolerance, twenty human clavicles were evaluated using statistical shape analysis. The interior and exterior clavicular cortical bone surfaces were reconstructed from CT-scan images. Registration between one selected template and the remaining 19 clavicle models was conducted to remove translation and rotation differences. The correspondences of landmarks between the models were then established using coordinates and surface normals. Three registration methods were compared: the LM-ICP method; the global method; and the SHREC method. The LM-ICP registration method showed better performance than the global and SHREC registration methods, in terms of compactness, generalization, and specificity. The first four principal components obtained by using the LM-ICP registration method account for 61% and 67% of the overall anatomical variation for the exterior and interior cortical bone shapes, respectively. The length was found to be the most significant variation mode of the human clavicle. The mean and two boundary shape models were created using the four most significant principal components to investigate the size and shape variation of clavicular cortical bone. In the future, boundary shape models could be used to develop probabilistic finite element models which may help to better understand the variability in biomechanical responses and injuries to the clavicle. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Genotypic richness predicts phenotypic variation in an endangered clonal plant

PubMed Central

Sinclair, Elizabeth A.; Poore, Alistair G.B.; Bain, Keryn F.; Vergés, Adriana

2016-01-01

Declines in genetic diversity within a species can affect the stability and functioning of populations. The conservation of genetic diversity is thus a priority, especially for threatened or endangered species. The importance of genetic variation, however, is dependent on the degree to which it translates into phenotypic variation for traits that affect individual performance and ecological processes. This is especially important for predominantly clonal species, as no single clone is likely to maximise all aspects of performance. Here we show that intraspecific genotypic diversity as measured using microsatellites is a strong predictor of phenotypic variation in morphological traits and shoot productivity of the threatened, predominantly clonal seagrass Posidonia australis, on the east coast of Australia. Biomass and surface area variation was most strongly predicted by genotypic richness, while variation in leaf chemistry (phenolics and nitrogen) was unrelated to genotypic richness. Genotypic richness did not predict tissue loss to herbivores or epiphyte load, however we did find that increased herbivore damage was positively correlated with allelic richness. Although there was no clear relationship between higher primary productivity and genotypic richness, variation in shoot productivity within a meadow was significantly greater in more genotypically diverse meadows. The proportion of phenotypic variation explained by environmental conditions varied among different genotypes, and there was generally no variation in phenotypic traits among genotypes present in the same meadows. Our results show that genotypic richness as measured through the use of presumably neutral DNA markers does covary with phenotypic variation in functionally relevant traits such as leaf morphology and shoot productivity. The remarkably long lifespan of individual Posidonia plants suggests that plasticity within genotypes has played an important role in the longevity of the species. However, the strong link between genotypic and phenotypic variation suggests that a range of genotypes is still the best case scenario for adaptation to and recovery from predicted environmental change. PMID:26925313

MACHINING ELIMINATION THROUGH APPLICATION OF THREAD FORMING FASTENERS IN NET SHAPED CAST HOLES

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cleaver, Ryan J; Cleaver, Todd H; Talbott, Richard

The ultimate objective of this work was to eliminate approximately 30% of the machining performed in typical automotive engine and transmission plants by using thread forming fasteners in as-cast holes of aluminum and magnesium cast components. The primary issues at the source of engineers reluctance to implementing thread forming fasteners in lightweight castings are: * Little proof of consistency of clamp load vs. input torque in either aluminum or magnesium castings. * No known data to understand the effect on consistency of clamp load as casting dies wear. The clamp load consistency concern is founded in the fact that amore » portion of the input torque used to create clamp load is also used to create threads. The torque used for thread forming may not be consistent due to variations in casting material, hole size and shape due to tooling wear and process variation (thermal and mechanical). There is little data available to understand the magnitude of this concern or to form the basis of potential solutions if the range of clamp load variation is very high (> +/- 30%). The range of variation that can be expected in as-cast hole size and shape over the full life cycle of a high pressure die casting die was established in previous work completed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, (PNNL). This established range of variation was captured in a set of 12 cast bosses by designing core pins at the size and draft angles identified in the sited previous work. The cast bosses were cut into nuts that could be used in the Ford Fastener Laboratory test-cell to measure clamp load when a thread forming fastener was driven into a cast nut. There were two sets of experiments run. First, a series of cast aluminum nuts were made reflecting the range of shape and size variations to be expected over the life cycle of a die casting die. Taptite thread forming fasteners, (a widely used thread forming fastener suitable for aluminum applications), were driven into the various cored, as-cast nuts at a constant input torque and resulting clamp loads were recorded continuously. The clamp load data was used to determine the range of clamp loads to be expected. The bolts were driven to failure. The clamp load corresponding to the target input of 18.5 Nm was recorded for each fastener. In a like fashion, a second set of experiments were run with cast magnesium nuts and ALtracs thread forming fasteners, (a widely used thread forming fastener suitable for magnesium applications). Again all clamp loads were recorded and analyzed similarly to the Taptites in aluminum cast nuts. Results from previous work performed on the same test cell for a Battelle project using standard M8 bolts into standard M8 nuts were included as a comparator for a standard bolt and nut application. The results for the thread forming fasteners in aluminum cast holes were well within industry expectations of +/- 30% for out of the box and robustness range testing. The results for the dry and lubed extreme conditions were only slightly higher than industry expectations at +/- 35.6%. However, when compared to the actual Battelle results (+/- 40%) for a standard bolt and nut the tread forming fasteners performed slightly better. The results for the thread forming fasteners in magnesium cast holes were all well within industry expectations of +/- 30% for all three conditions. The robustness range (.05mm larger and smaller holes than the expected wear pattern of a die casting die at full life cycle) results also fell within the industry expectations for standard threaded fasteners. These results were very encouraging. It was concluded that this work showed that clamp load variation with thread forming fasteners is consistent with industry expectations for standard steel bolts and nuts at +/- 30%. There does not appear to be any significant increase in clamp load variation due to the application of thread forming fasteners in as-cast holes of aluminum or magnesium over the effective life of a die casting mold. The fully implemented potential benefit of thread forming fasteners in as-cast holes of aluminum and magnesium is estimated to be 6 trillion Btu per year for North America. Economic benefit is estimated to be nearly $800 million per year. Environmental benefits and quality improvements will also result from full implementation of this technology.« less

Heterogeneity in fire severity within early season and late season prescribed burns in a mixed-conifer forest

USGS Publications Warehouse

Knapp, E.E.; Keeley, J.E.

2006-01-01

Structural heterogeneity in forests of the Sierra Nevada was historically produced through variation in fire regimes and local environmental factors. The amount of heterogeneity that prescription burning can achieve might now be more limited owing to high fuel loads and increased fuel continuity. Topography, woody fuel loading, and vegetative composition were quantified in plots within replicated early and late season burn units. Two indices of fire severity were evaluated in the same plots after the burns. Scorch height ranged from 2.8 to 25.4 m in early season plots and 3.1 to 38.5 m in late season plots, whereas percentage of ground surface burned ranged from 24 to 96% in early season plots and from 47 to 100% in late season plots. Scorch height was greatest in areas with steeper slopes, higher basal area of live trees, high percentage of basal area composed of pine, and more small woody fuel. Percentage of area burned was greatest in areas with less bare ground and rock cover (more fuel continuity), steeper slopes, and units burned in the fall (lower fuel moisture). Thus topographic and biotic factors still contribute to the abundant heterogeneity in fire severity with prescribed burning, even under the current high fuel loading conditions. Burning areas with high fuel loads in early season when fuels are moister may lead to patterns of heterogeneity in fire effects that more closely approximate the expected patchiness of historical fires.

Wastewater treatment using a novel bioreactor with submerged packing bed of polyethylene tape.

PubMed

Mijaylova Nacheva, P; Moeller Chávez, G

2010-01-01

The performance of a novel aerobic bioreactor with a specially designed submerged packing bed of high specific surface area density, made of polyethylene tape, was studied for the treatment of domestic wastewater. The reactor has a volume of 0.71 m(3) and the specific area of the packing bed was 1,098 m(2)/m(3). The operation was performed with and without effluent recycling, applying different organic loads in the range of 4.0-17.6 g COD m(-2) d(-1). No back-washings were carried out. Overall BOD(5) removals of 90-95% were obtained with organic loads of 4.0-17.6 g COD m(-2) d(-1) and HRT of 0.2-1.1 h. Overall TN removal of 69-72% was obtained at loads of 0.8-4.6 g TN m(-2) d(-1) when effluent recycling was used. The reactor allowed obtaining high quality water for urban reuse and demonstrated an effective process performance and resistance to load variations. The developed biofilm was completely penetrated by the organic matter, ammonia and oxygen, providing high removal rates. Large biomass quantities, up to 13 g dry VS/m(2), were reached in the reactor and the determined sludge yield coefficient was relatively low, of 0.25 g VSS/g COD. These results allow obtaining compact treatment systems with low sludge production and make the technology a suitable option for small wastewater treatment plants.

Wintertime characteristics of aerosols over middle Indo-Gangetic Plain: Vertical profile, transport and radiative forcing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, M.; Raju, M. P.; Singh, R. K.; Singh, A. K.; Singh, R. S.; Banerjee, T.

2017-01-01

Winter-specific characteristics of airborne particulates over middle Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) were evaluated in terms of aerosol chemical and micro-physical properties under three-dimensional domain. Emphases were made for the first time to identify intra-seasonal variations of aerosols sources, horizontal and vertical transport, effects of regional meteorology and estimating composite aerosol short-wave radiative forcing over an urban region (25°10‧-25°19‧N; 82°54‧-83°4‧E) at middle-IGP. Space-borne passive (Aqua and Terra MODIS, Aura OMI) and active sensor (CALIPSO-CALIOP) based observations were concurrently used with ground based aerosol mass measurement for entire winter and pre-summer months (December, 1, 2014 to March, 31, 2015). Exceptionally high aerosol mass loading was recorded for both PM10 (267.6 ± 107.0 μg m- 3) and PM2.5 (150.2 ± 89.4 μg m- 3) typically exceeding national standard. Aerosol type was mostly dominated by fine particulates (particulate ratio: 0.61) during pre to mid-winter episodes before being converted to mixed aerosol types (ratio: 0.41-0.53). Time series analysis of aerosols mass typically identified three dissimilar aerosol loading episodes with varying attributes, well resemble to that of previous year's observation representing its persisting nature. Black carbon (9.4 ± 3.7 μg m- 3) was found to constitute significant proportion of fine particulates (2-27%) with a strong diurnal profile. Secondary inorganic ions also accounted a fraction of particulates (PM2.5: 22.5%; PM10: 26.9%) having SO4- 2, NO3- and NH4+ constituting major proportion. Satellite retrieved MODIS-AOD (0.01-2.30) and fine mode fractions (FMF: 0.01-1.00) identified intra-seasonal variation with transport of aerosols from upper to middle-IGP through continental westerly. Varying statistical association of columnar and surface aerosol loading both in terms of fine (r; PM2.5: MODIS-AOD: 0.51) and coarse particulates (PM10: MODIS-AOD: 0.53) was found influenced by local meteorology (boundary layer and humidity) and aerosol vertical profile. A gradual increase in aerosol vertical profile (surface to 4.9 km) was evident with dominance of polluted continental, polluted dust and smoke at lower altitude. Presence of mineral dusts in higher altitude during later phase was linked with its transboundary transport, originating from western dry regions. Conclusively, winter-specific short-wave aerosol radiative forcing revealed an ATM warming effect (31-47 W m- 2) while cooling both at TOA (- 20 to - 32 W m- 2) and SUF (- 51 to - 80 W m- 2) with significant level of intra-seasonal variations in heating rates (0.86-1.32 K day- 1).

Guided waves by axisymmetric and non-axisymmetric surface loading on hollow cylinders

PubMed

Shin; Rose

1999-06-01

Guided waves generated by axisymmetric and non-axisymmetric surface loading on a hollow cylinder are studied. For the theoretical analysis of the superposed guided waves, a normal mode concept is employed. The amplitude factors of individual guided wave modes are studied with respect to varying surface pressure loading profiles. Both theoretical and experimental focus is given to the guided waves generated by both axisymmetric and non-axisymmetric excitation. For the experiments, a comb transducer and high power tone burst function generator system are used on a sample Inconel tube. Surface loading conditions, such as circumferential loading angles and axial loading lengths, are used with the frequency and phase velocity to control the axisymmetric and non-axisymmetric mode excitations. The experimental study demonstrates the use of a practical non-axisymmetric partial loading technique in generating axisymmetric modes, particularly useful in the inspection of tubing and piping with limited circumferential access. From both theoretical and experimental studies, it also could be said that the amount of flexural modes reflected from a defect contains information on the reflector's circumferential angle, as well as potentially other classification and sizing feature information. The axisymmetric and non-axisymmetric guided wave modes should both be carefully considered for improvement of the overall analysis of guided waves generated in hollow cylinders.

Effects of electric field on the fracture toughness (KIc) of ceramic PZT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goljahi, Sam; Lynch, Christopher S.

2013-09-01

This work was motivated by the observation that a small percentage of the ceramic lead zirconate titanate (PZT) parts in a device application, one that requires an electrode pattern on the PZT surface, developed fatigue cracks at the edges of the electrodes; yet all of the parts were subjected to similar loading. To obtain additional information on the fracture behavior of this material, similar specimens were run at higher voltage in the laboratory under a microscope to observe the initiation and growth of the fatigue cracks. A sequence of experiments was next performed to determine whether there were fracture toughness variations that depended on material processing. Plates were cut from a single bar in different locations and the Vickers indentation technique was used to measure the relative fracture toughness as a function of position along the bar. Small variations in toughness were found, that may account for some of the devices developing fatigue cracks and not others. Fracture toughness was measured next as a function of electric field. The surface crack in flexure technique was modified to apply an electric field perpendicular to a crack. The results indicate that the fracture toughness drops under a positive electric field and increases under a negative electric field that is less than the coercive field, but as the negative coercive field is approached the fracture toughness drops. Examination of the fracture surfaces using an optical microscope and a surface profilometer reveal the initial indentation crack shape and (although less accurately) the crack shape and size at the transition from stable to unstable growth. These results are discussed in terms of a ferroelastic toughening mechanism that is dependent on electric field.

The nitrate response of a lowland catchment and groundwater travel times

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van der Velde, Ype; Rozemeijer, Joachim; de Rooij, Gerrit; van Geer, Frans

2010-05-01

Intensive agriculture in lowland catchments causes eutrophication of downstream waters. To determine effective measures to reduce the nutrient loads from upstream lowland catchments, we need to understand the origin of long-term and daily variations in surface water nutrient concentrations. Surface water concentrations are often linked to travel time distributions of water passing through the saturated and unsaturated soil of the contributing catchment. This distribution represents the contact time over which sorption, desorption and degradation takes place. However, travel time distributions are strongly influenced by processes like tube drain flow, overland flow and the dynamics of draining ditches and streams and therefore exhibit strong daily and seasonal variations. The study we will present is situated in the 6.6 km2 Hupsel brook catchment in The Netherlands. In this catchment nitrate and chloride concentrations have been intensively monitored for the past 26 years under steadily decreasing agricultural inputs. We described the complicated dynamics of subsurface water fluxes as streams, ditches and tube drains locally switch between active or passive depending on the ambient groundwater level by a groundwater model with high spatial and temporal resolutions. A transient particle tracking approach is used to derive a unique catchment-scale travel time distribution for each day during the 26 year model period. These transient travel time distributions are not smooth distributions, but distributions that are strongly spiked reflecting the contribution of past rainfall events to the current discharge. We will show that a catchment-scale mass response function approach that only describes catchment-scale mixing and degradation suffices to accurately reproduce observed chloride and nitrate surface water concentrations as long as the mass response functions include the dynamics of travel time distributions caused by the highly variable connectivity of the surface water network.

Coupled retrieval of aerosol properties and land surface reflection using the Airborne Multiangle SpectroPolarimetric Imager

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Feng; van Harten, Gerard; Diner, David J.; Kalashnikova, Olga V.; Seidel, Felix C.; Bruegge, Carol J.; Dubovik, Oleg

2017-07-01

The Airborne Multiangle SpectroPolarimetric Imager (AirMSPI) has been flying aboard the NASA ER-2 high-altitude aircraft since October 2010. In step-and-stare operation mode, AirMSPI acquires radiance and polarization data in bands centered at 355, 380, 445, 470*, 555, 660*, 865*, and 935 nm (* denotes polarimetric bands). The imaged area covers about 10 km by 11 km and is typically observed from nine viewing angles between ±66° off nadir. For a simultaneous retrieval of aerosol properties and surface reflection using AirMSPI, an efficient and flexible retrieval algorithm has been developed. It imposes multiple types of physical constraints on spectral and spatial variations of aerosol properties as well as spectral and temporal variations of surface reflection. Retrieval uncertainty is formulated by accounting for both instrumental errors and physical constraints. A hybrid Markov-chain/adding-doubling radiative transfer (RT) model is developed to combine the computational strengths of these two methods in modeling polarized RT in vertically inhomogeneous and homogeneous media, respectively. Our retrieval approach is tested using 27 AirMSPI data sets with low to moderately high aerosol loadings, acquired during four NASA field campaigns plus one AirMSPI preengineering test flight. The retrieval results including aerosol optical depth, single-scattering albedo, aerosol size and refractive index are compared with Aerosol Robotic Network reference data. We identify the best angular combinations for 2, 3, 5, and 7 angle observations from the retrieval quality assessment of various angular combinations. We also explore the benefits of polarimetric and multiangular measurements and target revisits in constraining aerosol property and surface reflection retrieval.

Investigation of Magnetotelluric Source Effect Based on Twenty Years of Telluric and Geomagnetic Observation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kis, A.; Lemperger, I.; Wesztergom, V.; Menvielle, M.; Szalai, S.; Novák, A.; Hada, T.; Matsukiyo, S.; Lethy, A. M.

2016-12-01

Magnetotelluric method is widely applied for investigation of subsurface structures by imaging the spatial distribution of electric conductivity. The method is based on the experimental determination of surface electromagnetic impedance tensor (Z) by surface geomagnetic and telluric registrations in two perpendicular orientation. In practical explorations the accurate estimation of Z necessitates the application of robust statistical methods for two reasons:1) the geomagnetic and telluric time series' are contaminated by man-made noise components and2) the non-homogeneous behavior of ionospheric current systems in the period range of interest (ELF-ULF and longer periods) results in systematic deviation of the impedance of individual time windows.Robust statistics manage both load of Z for the purpose of subsurface investigations. However, accurate analysis of the long term temporal variation of the first and second statistical moments of Z may provide valuable information about the characteristics of the ionospheric source current systems. Temporal variation of extent, spatial variability and orientation of the ionospheric source currents has specific effects on the surface impedance tensor. Twenty year long geomagnetic and telluric recordings of the Nagycenk Geophysical Observatory provides unique opportunity to reconstruct the so called magnetotelluric source effect and obtain information about the spatial and temporal behavior of ionospheric source currents at mid-latitudes. Detailed investigation of time series of surface electromagnetic impedance tensor has been carried out in different frequency classes of the ULF range. The presentation aims to provide a brief review of our results related to long term periodic modulations, up to solar cycle scale and about eventual deviations of the electromagnetic impedance and so the reconstructed equivalent ionospheric source effects.

Water quantity and quality response of a green roof to storm events: Experimental and monitoring observations.

PubMed

Carpenter, Corey M G; Todorov, Dimitar; Driscoll, Charles T; Montesdeoca, Mario

2016-11-01

Syracuse, New York is working under a court-ordered agreement to limit combined sewer overflows (CSO) to local surface waters. Green infrastructure technologies, including green roofs, are being implemented as part of a CSO abatement strategy and to develop co-benefits of diminished stormwater runoff, including decreased loading of contaminants to the wastewater system and surface waters. The objective of this study was to examine the quantity and quality of discharge associated with precipitation events over an annual cycle from a green roof in Syracuse, NY and to compare measurements from this monitoring program with results from a roof irrigation experiment. Wet deposition, roof drainage, and water quality were measured for 87 storm events during an approximately 12 month period over 2011-2012. Water and nutrient (total phosphorus, total nitrogen, and dissolved organic carbon) mass balances were conducted on an event basis to evaluate retention annually and during the growing and non-growing seasons. These results are compared with a hydrological manipulation experiment, which comprised of artificially watering of the roof. Loadings of nutrients were calculated for experimental and actual storms using the concentration of nutrients and the flow data of water discharging the roof. The green roof was effective in retaining precipitation quantity from storm events (mean percent retention 96.8%, SD = 2.7%, n = 87), although the relative fraction of water retained decreased with increases in the size of the event. There was no difference in water retention of the green roof for the growing and non-growing seasons. Drainage waters exhibited high concentration of nutrients during the warm temperature growing season, particularly total nitrogen and dissolved organic carbon. Overall, nutrient losses were low because of the strong retention of water. However, there was marked variation in the retention of nutrients by season due to variations in concentrations in roof runoff. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Analysis and Design of Variable Stiffness Composite Cylinders

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tatting, Brian F.; Guerdal, Zafer

1998-01-01

An investigation of the possible performance improvements of thin circular cylindrical shells through the use of the variable stiffness concept is presented. The variable stiffness concept implies that the stiffness parameters change spatially throughout the structure. This situation is achieved mainly through the use of curvilinear fibers within a fiber-reinforced composite laminate, though the possibility of thickness variations and discrete stiffening elements is also allowed. These three mechanisms are incorporated into the constitutive laws for thin shells through the use of Classical Lamination Theory. The existence of stiffness variation within the structure warrants a formulation of the static equilibrium equations from the most basic principles. The governing equations include sufficient detail to correctly model several types of nonlinearity, including the formation of a nonlinear shell boundary layer as well as the Brazier effect due to nonlinear bending of long cylinders. Stress analysis and initial buckling estimates are formulated for a general variable stiffness cylinder. Results and comparisons for several simplifications of these highly complex governing equations are presented so that the ensuing numerical solutions are considered reliable and efficient enough for in-depth optimization studies. Four distinct cases of loading and stiffness variation are chosen to investigate possible areas of improvement that the variable stiffness concept may offer over traditional constant stiffness and/or stiffened structures. The initial investigation deals with the simplest solution for cylindrical shells in which all quantities are constant around the circumference of the cylinder. This axisymmetric case includes a stiffness variation exclusively in the axial direction, and the only pertinent loading scenarios include constant loads of axial compression, pressure, and torsion. The results for these cases indicate that little improvement over traditional laminates exists through the use of curvilinear fibers, mainly due to the presence of a weak link area within the stiffness variation that limits the ultimate load that the structure can withstand. Rigorous optimization studies reveal that even though slight increases in the critical loads can be produced for designs with an arbitrary variation of the fiber orientation angle, the improvements are not significant when compared to traditional design techniques that utilize ring stiffeners and frames. The second problem that is studied involves arbitrary loading of a cylinder with a stiffness variation that changes only in the circumferential direction. The end effects of the cylinder are ignored, so that the problem takes the form of an analysis of a cross-section for a short cylinder segment. Various load cases including axial compression, pressure, torsion, bending, and transverse shear forces are investigated. It is found that the most significant improvements in load-carrying capability exist for cases which involve loads that also vary around the circumference of the shell, namely bending and shear forces. The stiffness variation of the optimal designs contribute to the increased performance in two ways: lowering the stresses in the critical areas through redistribution of the stresses; and providing a relatively stiff region that alters the buckling behavior of the structure. These results lead to an in-depth optimization study involving weight optimization of a fuselage structure subjected to typical design constraints. Comparisons of the curvilinear fiber format to traditional stiffened structures constructed of isotropic and composite materials are included. It is found that standard variable stiffness designs are quite comparable in terms of weight and load-carrying capability yet offer the added advantage of tailorability of distinct regions of the structure that experience drastically different loading conditions. The last two problems presented in this work involve the nonlinear phenomenon of long tubes under bending. Though this scenario is not as applicable to fuselage structures as the previous problems, the mechanisms that produce the nonlinear effect are ideally suited to be controlled by the variable stiffness concept. This is due to the fact that the dominating influence for long cylinders under bending is the ovalization of the cross-section, which is governed mainly by the stiffness parameters of the cylindrical shell. Possible improvement of the critical buckling moments for these structures is investigated using either a circumferential or axial stiffness variation. For the circumferential case involving infinite length cylinders, it is found that slight improvements can be observed by designing structures that resist the cross-sectional deformation yet do not detract from the buckling resistance at the critical location. The results also indicate that buckling behavior is extremely dependent on cylinder length. This effect is most easily seen in the solution of finite length cylinders under bending that contain an axial stiffness variation. For these structures, the only mechanism that exhibits improved response are those that effectively shorten the length of the cylinder, thus reducing the cross-sectional deformation due to the forced restraint at the ends. It was found that the use of curvilinear fibers was not able to achieve this effect in sufficient degree to resist the deformation, but that ring stiffeners produced the desired response admirably. Thus, it is shown that the variable stiffness concept is most effective at improving the bending response of long cylinders through the use of a circumferential stiffness variation.

Controlled Fab installation onto polymeric micelle nanoparticles for tuned bioactivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Shaoyi; Florinas, Stelios; Teitgen, Abigail; Xu, Ze-Qi; Gao, Changshou; Wu, Herren; Kataoka, Kazunori; Cabral, Horacio; Christie, R. James

2017-12-01

Antibodies and antigen-binding fragments (Fabs) can be used to modify the surface of nanoparticles for enhanced target binding. In our previous work, site-specific conjugation of Fabs to polymeric micelles using conventional methods was limited to approximately 30% efficiency, possibly due to steric hindrance related to macromolecular reactants. Here, we report a new method that enables conjugation of Fabs onto a micelle surface in a controlled manner with up to quantitative conversion of nanoparticle reactive groups. Variation of (i) PEG spacer length in a heterofunctionalized cross-linker and (ii) Fab/polymer feed ratios resulted in production of nanoparticles with a range of Fab densities on the surface up to the theoretical maximum value. The biological impact of variable Fab density was evaluated in vitro with respect to cell uptake and cytotoxicity of a drug-loaded (SN38) targeted polymeric micelle bearing anti-EphA2 Fabs. Fab conjugation increased cell uptake and potency compared with non-targeted micelles, although a Fab density of 60% resulted in decreased uptake and potency of the targeted micelles. Altogether, our findings demonstrate that conjugation strategies can be optimized to allow control of Fab density on the surface of nanoparticles and also that Fab density may need to be optimized for a given cell-surface target to achieve the highest bioactivity.

Lifting-surface theory for calculating the loading induced on a wing by a flap

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, W. A.

1972-01-01

A method is described for using lifting-surface theory to obtain the pressure distribution on a wing with a trailing-edge flap or control surface. The loading has a logarithmic singularity at the flap edges, which may be determined directly by the method of matched asymptotic expansions. Expressions are given for the singular flap loading for various flap hinge line and side edge geometries, both for steady and unsteady flap deflection. The regular part of the flap loading must be obtained by inverting the lifting-surface-theory integral equation relating the pressure and the downwash on the wing: procedures are described to accomplish this for a general wing and flap geometry. The method is applied to several example wings, and the results are compared with experimental data. Theory and test correlate well.