Optimal numerical design of bucket elevators using discontinuous deformation analysis

Bucket elevators are efficient machines to transport granular materials in industrial and civil engineering applications. These materials are composed of hundreds, thousands or even more particles, the global behavior of which is defined by contact interactions. The first attempts to analyze the transportation of granular materials were treated by very simple continuum methods that do not take into account these interactions, producing simulations that do not fit the experimental results accurately. Given the internal discontinuity nature of granular media, it is reasonable to use numerical methods to model their behavior, such as discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA)-a member of the discrete element method family that started to be used in the 90s to analyze similar problems. The version of DDA used in the current work treats grains as rigid circular particles with friction, damping and eventually cohesion with the objective of simulating and analyzing in detail the discharge of granular materials with bucket elevators. A deterministic computer code has been implemented and validated against simplified analytical formulae and experimental results taken from the literature. This computer code is then used to obtain optimum two-dimensional bucket geometries under specific working conditions. The optimization aims to maximize transport distance and to minimize remaining material, taking into account bucket velocity and the properties of the grains. The resulting geometries are discussed and compared against standard designs.J.L. Perez-Aparicio, R. Bravo were partially supported by the MFOM I+D (2004/38), both by MICIIN #BIA 2008-00522 and the first also by Polytechnic University of Valencia under grant PAID 05-10-2674. J.J. 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A Re-Evaluation of the nuclear Structure Function Ratios for D, He, Li, C and Ca

We present a re-evaluation of the structure function ratios F2(He)/F2(D), F2(C)/F2(D) and F2(Ca)/F2(D) measured in deep inelastic muon-nucleus scattering at an incident muon momentum of 200 GeV. We also present the ratios F2(C)/F2(Li), F2(Ca)/F2(Li) and F2(Ca)/F2(C) measured at 90 GeV. The results are based on data already published by NMC; the main difference in the analysis is a correction for the masses of the deuterium targets and an improvement in the radiative corrections. The kinematic range covered is 0.0035 < x < 0.65, 0.5 < Q^2 <90 GeV^2 for the He/D, C/D and Ca/D data and 0.0085 < x < 0.6, 0.84 < Q^2 < 17 GeV^2 for the Li/C/Ca ones.Comment: 6 pages, Latex, 3 figures as uuencoded compressed tar file included at the end, in case of problems contact [email protected] (Antje Bruell

Percepção dos consumidores relativamente à carne de bovino: critérios de escolha a partir de grupos de discussão

Nas economias desenvolvidas, a segurança dos alimentos, o bem‑estar animal e o ambiente têm vindo a assumir relevância nas preocupações dos consumidores. Procurámos saber, através da metodologia dos grupos de discussão (focus groups) realizados em duas cidades de Portugal, Lisboa e Porto, as preocupações e perceções dos consumidores relativamente a estes atributos, os quais são essencialmente acreditados. Este conhecimento é fundamental para a aplicação posterior de métodos de preferências declaradas. Foi ainda possível obter, com base em exercícios de seleção entre carnes diferenciadas, e através de um modelo logit, intervalos de preços passíveis de serem utilizados posteriormente na definição de cenários em experiências de escolha (método de preferências declaradas) -----ABSTRACT-----In developed economies, food safety, animal welfare and the environment have become relevant consumers’ concerns. We conducted several focus groups in two Portuguese cities, Lisboa and Porto, in order to get participants perceptions and concerns for these attributes, which are essentially credence attributes. This knowledge is critical for the subsequent application of stated preference methods. It was also possible to estimate, based on exercises of selection among different meats, and through a logit model, price ranges that could be used in the definition of scenarios for choice experiments (stated preference method)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio