Structural properties of impact ices accreted on aircraft structures

The structural properties of ice accretions formed on aircraft surfaces are studied. The overall objectives are to measure basic structural properties of impact ices and to develop finite element analytical procedures for use in the design of all deicing systems. The Icing Research Tunnel (IRT) was used to produce simulated natural ice accretion over a wide range of icing conditions. Two different test apparatus were used to measure each of the three basic mechanical properties: tensile, shear, and peeling. Data was obtained on both adhesive shear strength of impact ices and peeling forces for various icing conditions. The influences of various icing parameters such as tunnel air temperature and velocity, icing cloud drop size, material substrate, surface temperature at ice/material interface, and ice thickness were studied. A finite element analysis of the shear test apparatus was developed in order to gain more insight in the evaluation of the test data. A comparison with other investigators was made. The result shows that the adhesive shear strength of impact ice typically varies between 40 and 50 psi, with peak strength reaching 120 psi and is not dependent on the kind of substrate used, the thickness of accreted ice, and tunnel temperature below 4 C

An improved closed-loop stability related measure for finite-precision digital controller realizations

The pole-sensitivity approach is employed to investigate the stability issue of the discrete-time control system, where a digital controller, implemented with finite word length (FWL), is used. A new stability related measure is derived, which is more accurate in estimating the closed-loop stability robustness of an FWL implemented controller than some existing measures for the pole-sensitivity analysis. This improved stability measure thus provides a better criterion to find the optimal realizations for a generic controller structure that includes output-feedback and observer-based controllers. A numerical example is used to verify the theoretical analysis and to illustrate the design procedure

A methodology for unified hardware-software design

Unified hardware-software design for digital computer

An improved closed-loop stability related measure for finite-precision digital controller realizations

The pole-sensitivity approach is employed to investigate the stability issue of the discrete-time control system, where a digital controller, implemented with finite word length (FWL), is used. A new stability related measure is derived, which is more accurate in estimating the closed-loop stability robustness of an FWL implemented controller than some existing measures for the pole-sensitivity analysis. This improved stability measure thus provides a better criterion to find the optimal realizations for a generic controller structure that includes output-feedback and observer-based controllers. A numerical example is used to verify the theoretical analysis and to illustrate the design procedure

STM imaging of a bound state along a step on the surface of the topological insulator Bi2_2Te3_3

Detailed study of the LDOS associated with the surface-state-band near a step-edge of the strong topological-insulator Bi2Te3, reveal a one-dimensional bound state that runs parallel to the stepedge and is bound to it at some characteristic distance. This bound state is clearly observed in the bulk gap region, while it becomes entangled with the oscillations of the warped surface band at high energy, and with the valence band states near the Dirac point. Using the full effective Hamiltonian proposed by Zhang et al., we obtain a closed formula for this bound state that fits the data and provide further insight into the general topological properties of the electronic structure of the surface band near strong structural defects.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Charge dynamics of the spin-density-wave state in BaFe2_2As2_2

We report on a thorough optical investigation of BaFe$_2$As$_2$ over a broad spectral range and as a function of temperature, focusing our attention on its spin-density-wave (SDW) phase transition at $T_{SDW}=135$ K. While BaFe$_2$As$_2$ remains metallic at all temperatures, we observe a depletion in the far infrared energy interval of the optical conductivity below $T_{SDW}$, ascribed to the formation of a pseudogap-like feature in the excitation spectrum. This is accompanied by the narrowing of the Drude term consistent with the $dc$ transport results and suggestive of suppression of scattering channels in the SDW state. About 20% of the spectral weight in the far infrared energy interval is affected by the SDW phase transition

Divergent nematic susceptibility in an iron arsenide superconductor

Within the Landau paradigm of continuous phase transitions, ordered states of matter are characterized by a broken symmetry. Although the broken symmetry is usually evident, determining the driving force behind the phase transition is often a more subtle matter due to coupling between otherwise distinct order parameters. In this paper we show how measurement of the divergent nematic susceptibility of an iron pnictide superconductor unambiguously distinguishes an electronic nematic phase transition from a simple ferroelastic distortion. These measurements also reveal an electronic nematic quantum phase transition at the composition with optimal superconducting transition temperature.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure