Techniques and errors in measuring cross- correlation and cross-spectral density functions

Techniques and errors in measuring cross spectral density and cross correlation functions of stationary dynamic pressure dat

An Adaptive Partial Response Data Channel for Hard Disk Magnetic Recording

An adaptive data channel is proposed which is better able to deal with the variations in performance typically found in the recording components of a hard disk drive. Three such categories of variation were investigated in order to gain an understanding of their relative and absolute significance; variations over radius, along the track length, and between different head / media pairs. The variations were characterised in terms of their effects on the step-response pulse width and signal-to-noise ratio. It was found that in each of the categories investigated, significant variations could be found in both longitudinal and perpendicular recording systems which, with the exception of radial variations, were nondeterministic over different head / media pairs but were deterministic for any particular head / media pair characterised. Conventional data channel design assumes such variations are non-deterministic and is therefore designed to provide the minimum error rate performance for the worst case expected recording performance within the range of accepted manufacturing tolerance. The proposed adaptive channel works on the principle that once a particular set of recording components are assembled into the disk drive, such variations become deterministic if they are able to be characterised. Such ability is facilitated by the recent introduction of partial response signalling to hard disk magnetic recording which brings with it the discrete-time sampler and the ability of the microprocessor to analyse signals digitally much more easily than analogue domain alternatives. Simple methods of measuring the step-response pulse width and signal to noise ratio with the partial response channel's electronic components are presented. The expected error rate as a function of recording density and signal to noise ratio is derived experimentally for the PR4 and EPR4 classes of partial response. On the basis of this information and the recording performance it has measured, the adaptive channel is able to implement either PR4 or EPR4 signalling and at any data rate. The capacity advantage over the non-adaptive approach is investigated for the variables previously identified. It is concluded on the basis of this investigation that the proposed adaptive channel could provide significant manufacturing yield and capacity advantages over the non-adaptive approach for a modest increase in electronic complexity

Design study of tradeoffs in spacecraft tape recorder development Final engineering report

Tradeoff design study in spacecraft tape recorder developmen

Effects of boom-corridor thinning on harvester productivity and residual stand structure

Biomass derived from small-diameter, dense, thinning stands is largely underutilized within the European Union, mainly because of in-effective harvesting methods and cutting technology, leading to high supply costs. Therefore, the efficacy of boom-corridor thinning (BCT) and selective thinning (ST) on harvester felling and bunching productivity was compared for the first thinning of whole tree biomass in small-diameter, dense stands. BCT working method is when trees are cut with linear movements of the harvester's boom reach, along narrow corridors, instead of cutting each tree selectively (ST). Trials were performed in six forest stands, one in Sweden, two in Finland, and three in Slovenia, using the same harvester and operator. A time-and-motion study was carried out in 64 pre-marked study units (32 replications per method), across a variety of stand conditions. The biomass removal for both treatments averaged 40.2 dry t ha -1 and BCT productivity averaged 5.4 dry t PMh -1. For BCT, harvester work time consumption (sec tree -1) and productivity (dry t PMh -1) were on average 27% lower and 16% higher, respectively, compared with ST. The effectiveness of the accumulating felling head technology used could potentially be increased by implementing a feed-roller system when handling excessive tree lengths. Developing dedicated harvesting technology for BCT could further boost productivity, facilitating cost-effective and sustainable utilization of low-value small-diameter tree biomass and replacing fossil resources

A bibliography /with abstracts/ on gas-lubricated bearings Interim report

Gas lubricated bearings - annotated bibliograph

Enhanced coding, clock recovery and detection for a magnetic credit card

Merged with duplicate record 10026.1/2299 on 03.04.2017 by CS (TIS)This thesis describes the background, investigation and construction of a system for storing data on the magnetic stripe of a standard three-inch plastic credit in: inch card. Investigation shows that the information storage limit within a 3.375 in by 0.11 in rectangle of the stripe is bounded to about 20 kBytes. Practical issues limit the data storage to around 300 Bytes with a low raw error rate: a four-fold density increase over the standard. Removal of the timing jitter (that is prob-' ably caused by the magnetic medium particle size) would increase the limit to 1500 Bytes with no other system changes. This is enough capacity for either a small digital passport photograph or a digitized signature: making it possible to remove printed versions from the surface of the card. To achieve even these modest gains has required the development of a new variable rate code that is more resilient to timing errors than other codes in its efficiency class. The tabulation of the effects of timing errors required the construction of a new code metric and self-recovering decoders. In addition, a new method of timing recovery, based on the signal 'snatches' has been invented to increase the rapidity with which a Bayesian decoder can track the changing velocity of a hand-swiped card. The timing recovery and Bayesian detector have been integrated into one computation (software) unit that is self-contained and can decode a general class of (d, k) constrained codes. Additionally, the unit has a signal truncation mechanism to alleviate some of the effects of non-linear distortion that are present when a magnetic card is read with a magneto-resistive magnetic sensor that has been driven beyond its bias magnetization. While the storage density is low and the total storage capacity is meagre in comparison with contemporary storage devices, the high density card may still have a niche role to play in society. Nevertheless, in the face of the Smart card its long term outlook is uncertain. However, several areas of coding and detection under short-duration extreme conditions have brought new decoding methods to light. The scope of these methods is not limited just to the credit card

Atomisers for the Aerial Application of Pesticides in Tsetse (Glossina sp) and Armyworm (Spodoptera exempta) Control

Aerial application of insecticides is likely to remain an important component in realistically-costed vector and migratory pest control operations for the foreseeable future. The objective of this work was to identify or design improved atomisers for use in two such operations, tsetse (Glossina sp. ) and African armyworm (Spodoptera exempta) control, the former requiring an insecticide aerosol ýx'ith a VMD of 20 to 30ýim at rates upto 0.5 litres/minute and the latter a fine spray with a VMD of 80 to 120ýtm at rates around 16 litres/minute. In both cases rotary atomisation was confirmed as the most appropriate technique. Assessments were made of seven commerciall%, available atomisers and two existinc, prototypes, on the basis of existing reports and new data generated under simulated flight conditions in a wind tunnel. Droplet sizing was carried out using an optical array probe set to give a resolution of 54m over a range of 3.6 -3) 12.54m. None of the atomisers tested met the specification for tsetse-spraying, the limiting factors being rotation speed and inability to distribute low volumes of liquid across their full atomising surface. The Micronair AU4000 and AU5000 and the Micron X-I were found to be suitable for armyworm control, the Micron X-1 having the additional ability to produce spray with VMDs down to 40ýim. A review of rotary atomiser literature provided design guidelines for the design of an atomiser capable of meeting tsetse specifications. The principle effect of liquid flow 4D within the atomiser was found to be on the uniformity of fluid distribution. Premature ligament formation and formation of cross-flow vortices were identified as factors which could adversely influence fluid distribution under some conditions. Ligzan ment seperation from disks can be aided byI slender teeth, providing that these have a spaciniz similar to the natural spacing of ligaments predicted by Taylor instability theoInry . The effect of rotation speed and atomiser diameter on droIp let diameter is determined by the degree of stretching of the ligament due to its acceleration relative to the atomiser, implying that a finer spray would be achieved using a smaller rotating diameter disc than a larger diameter disc with the same peripheral speed. A series of experimental studies was carried out usinrgD higZDh speed photogZ_r_a phy in conjunction with the droplet sizinaprobe. Disturbancesh a,,i,n, g the forrn predicted for C cross-flow vortices were observed in liquid on a plain spinning disc. A sin(-)'Ieligament generator was constructed. With increasing rotation speed this rt\'taled a series of increasingly unstable ligament disintegration modes in which interaction with the surroundin4g15 air became a controlling-- factor. Complete shattering of the ligament occured at a Weber number of between 4 and 5, similar to reported values for liquid jets in a cross flo%v of cyas. Droplet sizing indicated that the specified performance for tsetse operations could be obtained from 50mm diameter atomisers with a total of around _'30000is suing points at a rotation speed of 26000 RPNI. This Zý sucy(yestecdN l,i ndcr rather than disc-based atomisers. A slit was found to be impractical as a means of distributing liquid unifom-ily at high rotation speeds but distribution was sucýe: ssfully achieved using a porous flow resistor. Prototype wind- and electi-ically-driven atornisers were constructed using rotating porous cylinders fed internally by spray bars designed with the help of finite element methods. Ligament formation was found to occur from a film of liquid on the outer surface of the cylinder, the variation in spacing with feedrate and rotation speed suggesting Taylor instability to be the controlling factor. The prototype atomisers achieved a performance suitable for tsetse control operations. This was not enhanced by the provision of discrete issuing points