An approach to optimize the design of hydraulic reservoirs

Increasing demands regarding performance, safety and environmental compatibility of hydraulic mobile machines in combination with rising cost pressures create a growing need for specialized optimization of hydraulic systems; particularly with regard to hydraulic reservoirs. In addition to the secondary function of cooling the oil, two main functions of the hydraulic reservoir are oil storage and de-aeration of the hydraulic oil. While designing hydraulic reservoirs regarding oil storage is quite simple, the design regarding de-aeration can be quite difficult. The author presents an approach to a system optimization of hydraulic reservoirs which combines experimental and numerical techniques to resolve some challenges facing hydraulic tank design. Specialized numerical tools are used in order to characterize the de-aeration performance of hydraulic tanks. Further the simulation of heat transfer is used to study the cooling function of hydraulic tank systems with particular attention to plastic tank solutions. To accompany the numerical tools, experimental test rigs have been built up to validate the simulation results and to provide additional insight into the design and optimization of hydraulic tanks which will be presented as well

Thickness dependence of electron-electron interactions in topological p-n junctions

Electron-electron interactions in topological p-n junctions consisting of vertically stacked topological insulators are investigated. n-type Bi2Te3 and p-type Sb2Te3 of varying relative thicknesses are deposited using molecular beam epitaxy and their electronic properties measured using low-temperature transport. The screening factor is observed to decrease with increasing sample thickness, a finding which is corroborated by semi-classical Boltzmann theory. The number of two-dimensional states determined from electron-electron interactions is larger compared to the number obtained from weak-antilocalization, in line with earlier experiments using single layers.Comment: 38 pages, 5 figures, 1 tabl

Determining energy relaxation length scales in two-dimensional electron gases

We present measurements of the energy relaxation length scale $\ell$ in two-dimensional electron gases (2DEGs). A temperature gradient is established in the 2DEG by means of a heating current, and then the elevated electron temperature $T_e$ is estimated by measuring the resultant thermovoltage signal across a pair of deferentially biased bar-gates. We adapt a model by Rojek and K\"{o}nig [Phys. Rev. B \textbf{90}, 115403 (2014)] to analyse the thermovoltage signal and as a result extract $\ell$, $T_e$, and the power-law exponent $\alpha_i$ for inelastic scattering events in the 2DEG. We show that in high-mobility 2DEGs, $\ell$ can attain macroscopic values of several hundred microns, but decreases rapidly as the carrier density $n$ is decreased. Our work demonstrates a versatile low-temperature thermometry scheme, and the results provide important insights into heat transport mechanisms in low-dimensional systems and nanostructures. These insights will be vital for practical design considerations of future nanoelectronic circuits.We acknowledge funding from the Leverhulme Trust, UK and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), UK.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from AIP via http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.492633

Effects of intra-operative fluoroscopic 3D-imaging on peri-operative imaging strategy in calcaneal fracture surgery

Introduction: Previous studies demonstrated that intra-operative fluoroscopic 3D-imaging (3D-imaging) in calcaneal fracture surgery is promising to prevent revision surgery and save costs. However, these studies limited their focus to corrections performed after 3D-imaging, thereby neglecting corrections after intra-operative fluoroscopic 2D-imaging (2D-imaging). The aim of this study was to assess the effects of additional 3D-imaging on intra-operative corrections, peri-operative imaging used, and patient-relevant outcomes compared to 2D-imaging alone. Patients and methods: In this before–after study, data of adult patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of a calcaneal fracture between 2000 and 2014 in our level-I Trauma center were collected. 3D-imaging (BV Pulsera with 3D-RX, Philips Healthcare, Best, The Netherlands) was available as of 2007 at the surgeons’ discretion. Patient and fracture characteristics, peri-operative imaging, intra-operative corrections and patient-relevant outcomes were collected from the hospital databases. Patients in whom additional 3D-imaging was applied were compared to those undergoing 2D-imaging alone. Results: A total of 231 patients were included of whom 107 (46%) were operated with the use of 3D-imaging. No significant differences were found in baseline characteristics. The median duration of surgery was significantly longer when using 3D-imaging (2:08 vs. 1:54 h; p = 0.002). Corrections after additional 3D-imaging were performed in 53% of the patients. However, significantly fewer corrections were made after 2D-imaging when 3D-imaging was available (Risk difference (RD) −15%; 95% Confidence interval (CI) −29 to −2). Peri-operative imaging, besides intra-operative 3D-imaging, and patient-relevant outcomes were similar between groups. Conclusion: Intra-operative 3D-imaging provides additional information resulting in additional corrections. Moreover, 3D-imaging probably changed the surgeons’ attitude to rely more on 3D-imaging, hence a 15%-decrease of corrections performed after 2D-imaging when 3D imaging was available. No substantiation for cost reduction was found through reduction in peri-operative imaging or in terms of improved patient-relevant outcomes

Effect of temperature on magnetic solitons induced by spin-transfer torque

Spin-transfer torques in a nanocontact to an extended magnetic film can create spin waves that condense to form dissipative droplet solitons. Here we report an experimental study of the temperature dependence of the current and applied field thresholds for droplet soliton formation, as well as the nanocontact's electrical characteristics associated with droplet dynamics. Nucleation requires lower current densities at lower temperatures, in contrast to typical spin-transfer-torque-induced switching between static magnetic states. Magnetoresistance and electrical noise measurements (10 MHz-1 GHz) show that droplet solitons become more stable at lower temperature. These results are of fundamental interest in understanding the influence of thermal noise on droplet solitons and have implications for the design of devices using the spin-transfer-torque effects to create and control collective spin excitations

Thickness dependence of electron-electron interactions in topological p-n junctions

Electron-electron interactions in topological p-n junctions consisting of vertically stacked topological insulators are investigated. n-type Bi2Te3 and p-type Sb2Te3 of varying relative thicknesses are deposited using molecular beam epitaxy and their electronic properties measured using low-temperature transport. The screening factor is observed to decrease with increasing sample thickness, a finding which is corroborated by semi-classical Boltzmann theory. The number of two-dimensional states determined from electron-electron interactions is larger compared to the number obtained from weak-antilocalization, in line with earlier experiments using single layers

Topological states and phase transitions in Sb2Te3-GeTe multilayers

Topological insulators (TIs) are bulk insulators with exotic ‘topologically protected’ surface conducting modes. It has recently been pointed out that when stacked together, interactions between surface modes can induce diverse phases including the TI, Dirac semimetal, and Weyl semimetal. However, currently a full experimental understanding of the conditions under which topological modes interact is lacking. Here, working with multilayers of the TI Sb2Te3 and the band insulator GeTe, we provide experimental evidence of multiple topological modes in a single Sb2Te3-GeTe-Sb2Te3 structure. Furthermore, we show that reducing the thickness of the GeTe layer induces a phase transition from a Dirac-like phase to a gapped phase. By comparing different multilayer structures we demonstrate that this transition occurs due to the hybridisation of states associated with different TI films. Our results demonstrate that the Sb2Te3-GeTe system offers strong potential towards manipulating topological states as well as towards controlledly inducing various topological phases