4,557 research outputs found
A computational model for path loss in wireless sensor networks in orchard environments.
A computational model for radio wave propagation through tree orchards is presented. Trees are modeled as collections of branches, geometrically approximated by cylinders, whose dimensions are determined on the basis of measurements in a cherry orchard. Tree canopies are modeled as dielectric spheres of appropriate size. A single row of trees was modeled by creating copies of a representative tree model positioned on top of a rectangular, lossy dielectric slab that simulated the ground. The complete scattering model, including soil and trees, enhanced by periodicity conditions corresponding to the array, was characterized via a commercial computational software tool for simulating the wave propagation by means of the Finite Element Method. The attenuation of the simulated signal was compared to measurements taken in the cherry orchard, using two ZigBee receiver-transmitter modules. Near the top of the tree canopies (at 3 m), the predicted attenuation was close to the measured one-just slightly underestimated. However, at 1.5 m the solver underestimated the measured attenuation significantly, especially when leaves were present and, as distances grew longer. This suggests that the effects of scattering from neighboring tree rows need to be incorporated into the model. However, complex geometries result in ill conditioned linear systems that affect the solver's convergence
Flood propagation modelling with the Local Inertia Approximation: theoretical and numerical analysis of its physical limitations
Attention of the researchers has increased towards a simplification of the
complete Shallow water Equations called the Local Inertia Approximation (LInA),
which is obtained by neglecting the advection term in the momentum conservation
equation. In the present paper it is demonstrated that a shock is always
developed at moving wetting-drying frontiers, and this justifies the study of
the Riemann problem on even and uneven beds. In particular, the general exact
solution for the Riemann problem on horizontal frictionless bed is given,
together with the exact solution of the non-breaking wave propagating on
horizontal bed with friction, while some example solution is given for the
Riemann problem on discontinuous bed. From this analysis, it follows that
drying of the wet bed is forbidden in the LInA model, and that there are
initial conditions for which the Riemann problem has no solution on smoothly
varying bed. In addition, propagation of the flood on discontinuous sloping bed
is impossible if the bed drops height have the same order of magnitude of the
moving-frontier shock height. Finally, it is found that the conservation of the
mechanical energy is violated. It is evident that all these findings pose a
severe limit to the application of the model. The numerical analysis has proven
that LInA numerical models may produce numerical solutions, which are
unreliable because of mere algorithmic nature, also in the case that the LInA
mathematical solutions do not exist. The applicability limits of the LInA model
are discouragingly severe, even if the bed elevation varies continuously. More
important, the non-existence of the LInA solution in the case of discontinuous
topography and the non-existence of receding fronts radically question the
viability of the LInA model in realistic cases. It is evident that classic SWE
models should be preferred in the majority of the practical applications
Analytical Models of Exoplanetary Atmospheres. I. Atmospheric Dynamics via the Shallow Water System
Within the context of exoplanetary atmospheres, we present a comprehensive
linear analysis of forced, damped, magnetized shallow water systems, exploring
the effects of dimensionality, geometry (Cartesian, pseudo-spherical and
spherical), rotation, magnetic tension and hydrodynamic and magnetic sources of
friction. Across a broad range of conditions, we find that the key governing
equation for atmospheres and quantum harmonic oscillators are identical, even
when forcing (stellar irradiation), sources of friction (molecular viscosity,
Rayleigh drag and magnetic drag) and magnetic tension are included. The global
atmospheric structure is largely controlled by a single, key parameter that
involves the Rossby and Prandtl numbers. This near-universality breaks down
when either molecular viscosity or magnetic drag acts non-uniformly across
latitude or a poloidal magnetic field is present, suggesting that these effects
will introduce qualitative changes to the familiar chevron-shaped feature
witnessed in simulations of atmospheric circulation. We also find that
hydrodynamic and magnetic sources of friction have dissimilar phase signatures
and affect the flow in fundamentally different ways, implying that using
Rayleigh drag to mimic magnetic drag is inaccurate. We exhaustively lay down
the theoretical formalism (dispersion relations, governing equations and
time-dependent wave solutions) for a broad suite of models. In all situations,
we derive the steady state of an atmosphere, which is relevant to interpreting
infrared phase and eclipse maps of exoplanetary atmospheres. We elucidate a
pinching effect that confines the atmospheric structure to be near the equator.
Our suite of analytical models may be used to decisively develop physical
intuition and as a reference point for three-dimensional, magnetohydrodynamic
(MHD) simulations of atmospheric circulation.Comment: Accepted by ApJS, 36 pages, 6 figures, 3 tables, 273 equation
General Relativity and Gravitation: A Centennial Perspective
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of general relativity, the International
Society on General Relativity and Gravitation (ISGRG) commissioned a Centennial
Volume, edited by the authors of this article. We jointly wrote introductions
to the four Parts of the Volume which are collected here. Our goal is to
provide a bird's eye view of the advances that have been made especially during
the last 35 years, i.e., since the publication of volumes commemorating
Einstein's 100th birthday. The article also serves as a brief preview of the 12
invited chapters that contain in-depth reviews of these advances. The volume
will be published by Cambridge University Press and released in June 2015 at a
Centennial conference sponsored by ISGRG and the Topical Group of Gravitation
of the American Physical Society.Comment: 37 page
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