1,837 research outputs found
Forced response prediction of turbine blades with flexible dampers: the impact of engineering modelling choices
This paper focuses on flexible friction dampers (or âstripsâ) mounted on the underside of adjacent turbine blade platforms for sealing and damping purposes. A key parameter to ensure a robust and trustworthy design is the correct prediction of the maximum frequency shift induced by the strip damper coupling adjacent blades. While this topic has been extensively addressed on rigid friction dampers, both experimentally and numerically, no such investigation is available as far as flexible dampers are concerned. This paper builds on the authorsâ prior experience with rigid dampers to investigate the peculiarities and challenges of a robust dynamic model of blade-strips systems. The starting point is a numerical tool implementing state-of-the-art techniques for the efficient solution of the nonlinear equations, e.g., multi-harmonic balance method with coupled static solution and state-of-the-art contact elements. The full step-by-step modelling process is here retraced and upgraded to take into account the damper flexibility: for each step, key modelling choices (e.g., mesh size, master nodes selection, contact parameters) which may affect the predicted response are addressed. The outcome is a series of guidelines which will help the designer assign numerical predictions the proper level of trust and outline a much-needed experimental campaign
Sharing the Personal Income Tax among levels of government: some open issue
This paper considers some open issues concerning the role of the personal income tax in regional and local finance. It compares different technical instruments to share the personal income tax among levels of government, analyzing particularly the differential effects of the two main forms of overlapping taxation, the surtax and the surcharge. It is proved that both instruments increase the redistributional impact of personal income taxation, the surcharge to a larger extent than the surtax. The second part of the paper describes the present framework of the sharing of income tax in Italy, based upon regional and local surtaxes, and the new perspectives opened by the reform of intergovernmental fiscal relations recently approved by Parliament
A general framework for crankshaft balancing and counterweight design
In the automotive field, the requirements in terms of carbon emissions and improved efficiency are shifting the focus of designers towards reduced engine size. As a result, the dynamic balancing of an engine with strict limitations on the number of cylinders, the weight and the available space becomes a challenging task. The present contribution aims at providing the designer with a tool capable of selecting fundamental parameters needed to correctly balance an internal combustion engine, including the masses and geometry of the elements to be added directly onto the crankshaft and onto the balancing shafts. The relevant elements that distinguish the tool from others already proposed are two. The first is the comprehensive matrix formulation which makes the tool fit for a wide variety of engine configurations. The second is an optimisation procedure that selects not only the position of the mass and centre of gravity of the counterweight but also its complete geometric configuration, thus instantaneously identifying the overall dimensions and weight of the crankshaft
The PVLAS experiment: measuring vacuum magnetic birefringence and dichroism with a birefringent Fabry-Perot cavity
Vacuum magnetic birefringence was predicted long time ago and is still
lacking a direct experimental confirmation. Several experimental efforts are
striving to reach this goal, and the sequence of results promises a success in
the next few years. This measurement generally is accompanied by the search for
hypothetical light particles that couple to two photons. The PVLAS experiment
employs a sensitive polarimeter based on a high finesse Fabry-Perot cavity. In
this paper we report on the latest experimental results of this experiment. The
data are analysed taking into account the intrinsic birefringence of the
dielectric mirrors of the cavity. Besides the limit on the vacuum magnetic
birefringence, the measurements also allow the model-independent exclusion of
new regions in the parameter space of axion-like and milli-charged particles.
In particular, these last limits hold also for all types of neutrinos,
resulting in a laboratory limit on their charge
First results from the new PVLAS apparatus: a new limit on vacuum magnetic birefringence
Several groups are carrying out experiments to observe and measure vacuum
magnetic birefringence, predicted by Quantum Electrodynamics (QED). We have
started running the new PVLAS apparatus installed in Ferrara, Italy, and have
measured a noise floor value for the unitary field magnetic birefringence of
vacuum T (the error
represents a 1 deviation). This measurement is compatible with zero and
hence represents a new limit on vacuum magnetic birefringence deriving from non
linear electrodynamics. This result reduces to a factor 50 the gap to be
overcome to measure for the first time the value of predicted by QED:
~T. These birefringence measurements also yield improved
model-independent bounds on the coupling constant of axion-like particles to
two photons, for masses greater than 1 meV, along with a factor two improvement
of the fractional charge limit on millicharged particles (fermions and
scalars), including neutrinos
Hydraulic Actuation System with Active Control for the Lateral Suspensions of High Speed Trains
High speed trains normally use actively controlled pneumatic systems to recenter the carbody with respect to the bogie when the train negotiates a curve. Pneumatic systems are used because of their softness, which adds a little contribution to the elastic force generated by the mechanical springs of the lateral suspension system, thereby allowing the neccessary dynamic isolation between carbody and bogie. Howeve, pneumatic systems have the drawbacks of large dimensions and slow response, often accompanied by a few damped oscillations. An innovative solution was developed which makes use of hydraulic actuators providing them with artificial compliance generated by an appropriate control, hence making hydraulic actuators suitable for this application. A carbody centering system is thus obtained presenting fast response, small volume and a softness comparable to that of a pneumatic system. The optimal control law for this system was defined, the system dynamic characteristics were analyzed and a technological demonstrator was built to assess the system merits. The paper outlines the theoretical grounds for the system control, its performance and the most significant results obtained during a test campaign conducted on the technological demonstrator
New PVLAS model independent limit for the axion coupling to for axion masses above 1meV
During 2014 the PVLAS experiment has started data taking with a new apparatus
installed at the INFN Section of Ferrara, Italy. The main target of the
experiment is the observation of magnetic birefringence of vacuum. According to
QED, the ellipticity generated by the magnetic birefringence of vacuum in the
experimental apparatus is expected to be . No ellipticity signal is present so far with a noise floor
after 210 hours of data taking.
The resulting ellipticity limit provides the best model independent upper limit
on the coupling of axions to for axion masses above eV
Measurement of the Cotton Mouton effect of water vapour
In this paper we report on a measurement of the Cotton Mouton effect of water
vapour. Measurement performed at room temperature ( K) with a wavelength
of 1064 nm gave the value for the
unit magnetic birefringence (1 T magnetic field and atmospheric pressure)
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