1,292 research outputs found
Singular solutions of a modified two-component Camassa-Holm equation
The Camassa-Holm equation (CH) is a well known integrable equation describing
the velocity dynamics of shallow water waves. This equation exhibits
spontaneous emergence of singular solutions (peakons) from smooth initial
conditions. The CH equation has been recently extended to a two-component
integrable system (CH2), which includes both velocity and density variables in
the dynamics. Although possessing peakon solutions in the velocity, the CH2
equation does not admit singular solutions in the density profile. We modify
the CH2 system to allow dependence on average density as well as pointwise
density. The modified CH2 system (MCH2) does admit peakon solutions in velocity
and average density. We analytically identify the steepening mechanism that
allows the singular solutions to emerge from smooth spatially-confined initial
data. Numerical results for MCH2 are given and compared with the pure CH2 case.
These numerics show that the modification in MCH2 to introduce average density
has little short-time effect on the emergent dynamical properties. However, an
analytical and numerical study of pairwise peakon interactions for MCH2 shows a
new asymptotic feature. Namely, besides the expected soliton scattering
behavior seen in overtaking and head-on peakon collisions, MCH2 also allows the
phase shift of the peakon collision to diverge in certain parameter regimes.Comment: 25 pages, 11 figure
Capillary-gravity waves: The effect of viscosity on the wave resistance
The effect of viscosity on the wave resistance experienced by a 2d
perturbation moving at uniform velocity over the free surface of a fluid is
investigated. The analysis is based on Rayleigh's linearized theory of
capillary-gravity waves. It is shown in particular that the wave resistance
remains bounded as the velocity of the perturbation approches the minimun phase
speed, unlike what is predicted by the inviscid theory.Comment: Europhysics Letters, in pres
High-Reynolds Number Active Blowing Semi-Span Force Measurement System Development
Recent wind-tunnel tests at the NASA Langley Research Center National Transonic Facility utilized high-pressure bellows to route air to the model for evaluating aircraft circulation control. The introduction of these bellows within the Sidewall Model Support System significantly impacted the performance of the external sidewall mounted semi-span balance. As a result of this impact on the semi-span balance measurement performance, it became apparent that a new capability needed to be built into the National Transonic Facility s infrastructure to allow for performing pressure tare calibrations on the balance in order to properly characterize its performance under the influence of static bellows pressure tare loads and bellows thermal effects. The objective of this study was to design both mechanical calibration hardware and an experimental calibration design that can be employed at the facility in order to efficiently and precisely perform the necessary loadings in order to characterize the semi-span balance under the influence of multiple calibration factors (balance forces/moments and bellows pressure/temperature). Using statistical design of experiments, an experimental design was developed allowing for strategically characterizing the behavior of the semi-span balance for use in circulation control and propulsion-type flow control testing at the National Transonic Facility
Reflection and Ducting of Gravity Waves Inside the Sun
Internal gravity waves excited by overshoot at the bottom of the convection
zone can be influenced by rotation and by the strong toroidal magnetic field
that is likely to be present in the solar tachocline. Using a simple Cartesian
model, we show how waves with a vertical component of propagation can be
reflected when traveling through a layer containing a horizontal magnetic field
with a strength that varies with depth. This interaction can prevent a portion
of the downward-traveling wave energy flux from reaching the deep solar
interior. If a highly reflecting magnetized layer is located some distance
below the convection zone base, a duct or wave guide can be set up, wherein
vertical propagation is restricted by successive reflections at the upper and
lower boundaries. The presence of both upward- and downward-traveling
disturbances inside the duct leads to the existence of a set of horizontally
propagating modes that have significantly enhanced amplitudes. We point out
that the helical structure of these waves makes them capable of generating an
alpha-effect, and briefly consider the possibility that propagation in a shear
of sufficient strength could lead to instability, the result of wave growth due
to over-reflection.Comment: 23 pages, 5 figures. Accepted for publication in Solar Physic
Partial differential equations for self-organization in cellular and developmental biology
Understanding the mechanisms governing and regulating the emergence of structure and heterogeneity within cellular systems, such as the developing embryo, represents a multiscale challenge typifying current integrative biology research, namely, explaining the macroscale behaviour of a system from microscale dynamics. This review will focus upon modelling how cell-based dynamics orchestrate the emergence of higher level structure. After surveying representative biological examples and the models used to describe them, we will assess how developments at the scale of molecular biology have impacted on current theoretical frameworks, and the new modelling opportunities that are emerging as a result. We shall restrict our survey of mathematical approaches to partial differential equations and the tools required for their analysis. We will discuss the gap between the modelling abstraction and biological reality, the challenges this presents and highlight some open problems in the field
Obesity: A Biobehavioral Point of View
Excerpt: If you ask an overweight person, “Why are you fat?’, you will, almost invariably, get the answer, “Because 1 eat too much.” You will get this answer in spite of the fact that of thirteen studies, six find no significant differences in the caloric intake of obese versus nonobese subjects, five report that the obese eat significantly less than the nonobese, and only two report that they eat significantly more
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