Compressive sensing based sparse antenna array design for directional modulation

Directional modulation (DM) can be achieved based on uniform linear arrays where the maximum spacing between adjacent antennas is half-wavelength of the frequency of interest in order to avoid spatial aliasing. To exploit the additional degrees of freedom provided in the spatial domain, sparse antenna arrays can be employed for more effective DM. In this study, the spare array design problem in the context of DM is formulated from the viewpoint of compressive sensing (CS), so that it can be solved using standard convex optimisation toolboxes in the CS area. In detail, a common set of active antennas needs to be found for all modulation symbols generating a response close to the desired one. The key to the solution is to realise that group sparsity has to be employed, as a common antenna set cannot be guaranteed if the antenna locations are optimised for each modulation symbol individually. Moreover, two practical scenarios are considered for the proposed design: robust design with model errors and design with practical non-zero-sized antennas, and corresponding solutions are found by modifying the proposed standard solution

Semi-analytical solution to the second-order wave loads on a vertical cylinder in bi-chromatic bi-directional waves

A complete solution is presented for the second-order wave loads experienced by a 15 uniform vertical cylinder in bi-chromatic bi-directional waves. The solution is obtained 16 based on the introduction of an assisting radiation potential without explicitly 17 evaluating the second-order diffraction potential. The semi-analytical formulation for 18 calculating the wave loads is provided and an efficient numerical technique is 19 developed to treat the oscillatory free-surface integral that appears in the force 20 formulation. After validating the present solution by comparing with the predictions 21 based on other methods, numerical studies are conducted for different combinations of 22 incident wave frequencies and wave headings, and the influence of frequencies and 23 headings of dual waves on the second-order wave loads is investigated. In addition, by 24 expressing the second-order wave loads in a power expansion with respect to the wave 25 frequency difference and wave heading difference which are both assumed to be small, 26 approximations on the calculation of wave loads are developed. The accuracy of 27 different approximations is assessed by comparing the approximate results with those 28 based on the complete solution

Processing and Characterization of Basalt Fiber Reinforced Ceramic Composites for High Temperature Applications Using Polymer Precursors

The development of high temperature structural composite materials has been very limited due to the high cost of the materials and the processing needed. Polymer Derived Ceramics (PDCs) begin as a polymer matrix, which allows a shape to be formed prior to the cure, and is then pyrolized in order to obtain a ceramic with the associated thermal and mechanical properties. The two PDCs used in this development are polysiloxane and polycarbosilane. Basalt fibers are used for the reinforcement in the composite system. The use of basalt in structural and high temperature applications has been under development for over 50 years, yet there has been little published research on the incorporation of basalt fibers as a reinforcement in composites. Continuous basalt fiber reinforced PDCs have been fabricated and tested for the applicability of this composite system as a high temperature structural composite material

Modeling GRB 050904: Autopsy of a Massive Stellar Explosion at z=6.29

GRB 050904 at redshift z=6.29, discovered and observed by Swift and with spectroscopic redshift from the Subaru telescope, is the first gamma-ray burst to be identified from beyond the epoch of reionization. Since the progenitors of long gamma-ray bursts have been identified as massive stars, this event offers a unique opportunity to investigate star formation environments at this epoch. Apart from its record redshift, the burst is remarkable in two respects: first, it exhibits fast-evolving X-ray and optical flares that peak simultaneously at t~470 s in the observer frame, and may thus originate in the same emission region; and second, its afterglow exhibits an accelerated decay in the near-infrared (NIR) from t~10^4 s to t~3 10^4 s after the burst, coincident with repeated and energetic X-ray flaring activity. We make a complete analysis of available X-ray, NIR, and radio observations, utilizing afterglow models that incorporate a range of physical effects not previously considered for this or any other GRB afterglow, and quantifying our model uncertainties in detail via Markov Chain Monte Carlo analysis. In the process, we explore the possibility that the early optical and X-ray flare is due to synchrotron and inverse Compton emission from the reverse shock regions of the outflow. We suggest that the period of accelerated decay in the NIR may be due to suppression of synchrotron radiation by inverse Compton interaction of X-ray flare photons with electrons in the forward shock; a subsequent interval of slow decay would then be due to a progressive decline in this suppression. The range of acceptable models demonstrates that the kinetic energy and circumburst density of GRB 050904 are well above the typical values found for low-redshift GRBs.Comment: 45 pages, 7 figures, and ApJ accepted. Revised version, minor modifications and 1 extra figur

Processing and Characterization of Basalt Fiber Reinforced Ceramic Composites for High Temperature Applications Using Polymer Precursors

The development of high temperature structural composite materials has been very limited due to the high cost of the materials and the processing needed. Ceramics can take much higher temperatures, but they are difficult to produce and form in bulk volumes. Polymer Derived Ceramics (PDCs) begin as a polymer matrix, allowing a shape to be formed and cured and then to be pyrolized in order to obtain a ceramic with the associated thermal and mechanical properties. The two PDCs used in this development are polysiloxane and polycarbosilane. Polysiloxanes contain a silicon oxycarbide backbone when pyrolized up to 1000 deg C. Polycarbosilane, an organosilicon polymer, contain a silicon-carbon backbone; around 1200 deg C, Beta-SiC begins to crystallize. The use of basalt in structural and high temperature applications has been under development for over 50 years, yet there has been little published research on the incorporation of basalt fibers as a reinforcement in composites. Basalt is a naturally occurring material found in volcanic rock. Continuous basalt fiber reinforced PDCs have been fabricated and tested for the applicability of this composite system as a high temperature structural composite material. Thermal and mechanical testing includes oxyacetylene torch testing and three point bend testing

Multiple Avalanche Processes in Acoustic Emission Spectroscopy: Multibranching of the Energy−Amplitude Scaling

Several physical processes can conspire to generate avalanches in materials. Such processes include avalanche mechanisms like dislocation movements, friction processes by pinning magnetic domain walls, moving dislocation tangles, hole collapse in porous materials, collisions of ferroelectric and ferroelastic domain boundaries, kinks in interfaces, and many more. Known methods to distinguish between these species which allow the physical identification of multiavalanche processes are reviewed. A new approach where the scaling relationship between the avalanche energies E and amplitudes A is considered is then described. Avalanches with single mechanisms scale experimentally as E = SiAi2. The energy E reflects the duration D of the avalanche and A(t), the temporal amplitude. The scaling prefactor S depends explicitly on the duration of the avalanche and on details of the avalanche profiles. It is reported that S is not a universal constant but assumes different values depending on the avalanche mechanism. If avalanches coincide, they can still show multivalued scaling between E and A with different S-values for each branch. Examples for this multibranching effect in low-Ni 316L stainless steel, 316L stainless steel, polycrystalline Ni, TC21 titanium alloy, and a Fe40Mn40Co10Cr10 high-entropy alloy are shown

Students designing for students: a peer mentorship toolkit for a cross-campus, EDI, engineering transition scheme

The smooth transition of students from secondary education to university study is seen as a factor of student retention and achievement. This is especially important in the case of students from non-traditional backgrounds who may lack the social capital that could help ease their transition. Peer transition mentoring is one of the tools universities use to enhance the experience of new students. This study examines how the transition mentoring scheme of a highly selective institution (UCL) could be modified to cater for the students of a new EQF level 3 engineering preparatory programme (Foundation Engineering) which is aimed exclusively at students from under-represented groups. The transition mentoring scheme needs to address two practical obstacles: the lack of peer mentors with knowledge of the needs of the non-traditional student demographic and the physical distance between the main campus, where the peer mentors are located, and the off-campus location of the preparatory programme. A Students as Partners approach is implemented to examine the transition mentors' perceptions of their role. Semi- structured interviews with 16 current and former transition mentors were conducted to investigate the experiences of peer mentors and to establish their training needs. The paper concludes with practical guidance on best practice for organising and managing training for students mentoring peers from non-traditional backgrounds

Thermal Performance of Naturally Ventilated Classroom in the Faculty of Engineering Hasanuddin University, Gowa Campus

This study aims to identify the thermal performance of naturally ventilated classrooms of the new campus of Faculty of Engineering, Hasanuddin University in Gowa. The natural ventilation system has three main functions that are to provide healthy air for occupants, to provide thermal comfort to the occupants, and to cool the fabrics in the building interior. Thermal comfort perceived by the user is determined by many factors, including physical, psychological, etc. This research was conducted by using the experimental method with research analysis using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulation method. The input parameters in the simulation were obtained through field measurement in the form of room dimension, ventilation open area, and microclimate parameter. The simulation is carried out at maximum open conditions in existing ventilation system with open and closed class door treatment. The simulation treatment of airflow input speeds were 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 m/s. The results showed that the existing ventilation system of Classroom at Faculty of Engineering (FoE) Hasanuddin University (Unhas) with an opening ratio of 16.59 to 22.76% of the floor area is good enough to flow and distribute comfortable air movement inside the classroom, especially at airflow speeds above 0.5 m/s