600 research outputs found
Discharge estimation in open channels by means of water level hydrograph analysis
A new methodology, based on the synchronous measurement of stage hydrographs in two river sections located some kilometers from each other, was developed to estimate the discharge hydrograph in the upstream section. The methodology is based on the one-parameter calibration of a numerical flow routing algorithm, solving the Saint-Venant equations in diffusive or complete form. The methodology was validated using results of laboratory experiments carried out at the Polytechnic of Bari University. A known discharge hydrograph was generated in the upstream tank of a rectangular flume, where two water level sensors were located. Two different bed materials have been used, to account for different roughness coefficients. Eight measured discharge hydrographs have been compared with the hydrographs computed using both a diffusive and a fully dynamic model. The diffusive model provides a good estimate of the measured discharge in the experiments with the highest roughness value
Analysis of dynamic mechanical response in torsion
We investigate the dynamic response of industrial rubbers (styrene-butadiene random copolymers, SBR) in torsion and compare against common small amplitude oscillatory shear measurements by using a torsion rectangular fixture, a modified torsion cylindrical fixture, and a conventional parallel plate fixture, respectively, in two different rheometers (ARES 2kFRTN1 from TA Instruments, USA and MCR 702 from Anton Paar-Physica, Austria). The effects of specimen geometry (length-to-width aspect ratio) on storage modulus and level of clamping are investigated. For cylindrical specimens undergoing torsional deformation, we find that geometry and clamping barely affect the shear moduli, and the measurements essentially coincide with those using parallel plates. In contrast, a clear dependence of the storage modulus on the aspect ratio is detected for specimens having rectangular cross section. The empirical correction used routinely in this test is based on geometrical factors and can account for clamping effects, but works only for aspect ratios above a threshold value of 1.4. By employing a finite element analysis, we perform a parametric study of the effects of the aspect ratio in the cross-sectional stress distribution and the linear viscoelastic torsional response. We propose a new, improved empirical equation for obtaining accurate moduli values in torsion at different aspect ratios, whose general validity is demonstrated in both rheometers. These results should provide a guideline for measurements with different elastomers, for which comparison with dynamic oscillatory tests may not be possible due to wall slip issues
Doxorubicin and congo red effectiveness on prion infectivity in golden Syrian hamster
The effect of doxorubicin and Congo Red on prion protein (PrP) infectivity in experimental scrapie was studied to better understand the effect of these compounds in prion diseases and to establish whether a dose-response correlation exists for Congo Red. This was performed in order to test the effectiveness of compounds that may easily be used in human prion diseases. Brain homogenate containing membrane bound PrPSc monomers was used as inoculum and was previously incubated with doxorubicin 10(-3) M and with increasing concentrations of Congo Red ranging from 10(-7) to 10(-2) M. This study shows for the first time that doxorubicin, and confirms that Congo Red, may interact with pathological PrP monomers modifying their infectious properties. Pre-incubation of infected brain homogenate with Congo Red resulted in prolonged incubation time and survival, independently of Congo Red concentration (p<0.05). Doxorubicin and Congo Red effects do not depend upon interaction with PrP amyloid material
Mechanical analysis of the ENEA TF coil proposal for the EU DEMO fusion reactor
The design of the superconducting magnet system of the European DEMO fusion reactor is currently being pursued in the framework of the EUROfusion Magnets Work Package (WPMAG). Three alternative winding pack (WP) options for the Toroidal Field Coils (TFCs) are being proposed by different research units, each featuring a different conductor manufacturing technology (react-and-wind vs. wind-and-react) or winding layout (layer vs. pancake).
One of the options (namely, WP#2), proposed by Italian ENEA, features a layer-wound WP design adopting a wind-and-react conductor with rectangular cross section with high aspect ratio, obtained squeezing an initially circular conductor.
In order to assess the capability of all the TFC components to withstand the electromagnetic loads due to the huge Lorentz forces without any structural failure during the magnet lifetime, the mechanical analysis of the 2016 version of the WP#2 design option is performed here applying a hierarchical approach herein defined as the Stress Recovery Tool (SRT): the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of a whole magnet (including the casing) is performed at a low computational cost adopting a coarse WP model with smeared (homogenized) properties. The displacements computed on the smeared WP are then used as boundary conditions for a refined FEA of some WP slices, located in selected (critical) poloidal positions, where all the conductors detailed features (jacket, insulations) are properly accounted for
Topology-Induced Critical Current Enhancement in Josephson Networks
We investigate the properties of Josephson junction networks with
inhomogeneous architecture. The networks are shaped as "quare comb" planar
lattices on which Josephson junctions link superconducting islands arranged in
the plane to generate the pertinent topology. Compared to the behavior of
reference linear arrays, the temperature dependencies of the Josephson currents
of the branches of the network exhibit relevant differences. The observed
phenomena evidence new and surprising behavior of superconducting Josephson
arrays as well as remarkable similarities with bosonic junction arrays.Comment: improved figures (added magnetic pattern and single junction
switching) some changes in the text and in the titl
Adiabatic evolution of a coupled-qubit Hamiltonian
We present a general method for studying coupled qubits driven by
adiabatically changing external parameters. Extended calculations are provided
for a two-bit Hamiltonian whose eigenstates can be used as logical states for a
quantum CNOT gate. From a numerical analysis of the stationary Schroedinger
equation we find a set of parameters suitable for representing CNOT, while from
a time-dependent study the conditions for adiabatic evolution are determined.
Specializing to a concrete physical system involving SQUIDs, we determine
reasonable parameters for experimental purposes. The dissipation for SQUIDs is
discussed by fitting experimental data. The low dissipation obtained supports
the idea that adiabatic operations could be performed on a time scale shorter
than the decoherence time.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, to be pub.in Phys Rev
Performance of prototype BTeV silicon pixel detectors in a high energy pion beam
The silicon pixel vertex detector is a key element of the BTeV spectrometer.
Sensors bump-bonded to prototype front-end devices were tested in a high energy
pion beam at Fermilab. The spatial resolution and occupancies as a function of
the pion incident angle were measured for various sensor-readout combinations.
The data are compared with predictions from our Monte Carlo simulation and very
good agreement is found.Comment: 24 pages, 20 figure
Beam Test of BTeV Pixel Detectors
The silicon pixel vertex detector is one of the key elements of the BTeV
spectrometer. Detector prototypes were tested in a beam at Fermilab. We report
here on the measured spatial resolution as a function of the incident angles
for different sensor-readout electronics combinations. We compare the results
with predictions from our Monte Carlo simulation.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, Invited talk given by J.C. Wang at "Vertex 2000,
9th International Workshop on Vertex Detectors", Michigan, Sept 10-15, 2000.
To be published in NIM
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