20 research outputs found

    Unsteady effects during resistance tests on a ship model in a towing tank

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    It is known that there are oscillations in the wave resistance during the constantvelocity phase of a towing-tank resistance test on a ship model. In this work, the unsteady thin-ship resistance theory has been applied to this case. The results have been compared with experiment data obtained using a towing carriage the velocity history of which can be programmed. It is demonstrated here that generally excellent correlation exists between the theory and the experiments. In particular, one can predict the influence of Froude number, rate of acceleration, and type of smoothing of the acceleration on the characteristics of the oscillations. These characteristics include the amplitude, rate of decay, frequency, and phasing of the oscillations in the curve of wave resistance versus time

    Chronic disease prevalence and care among the elderly in urban and rural Beijing, China - a 10/66 Dementia Research Group cross-sectional survey

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Demographic ageing is occurring at an unprecedented rate in China. Chronic diseases and their disabling consequences will become much more common. Public policy has a strong urban bias, and older people living in rural areas may be especially vulnerable due to limited access to good quality healthcare, and low pension coverage. We aim to compare the sociodemographic and health characteristics, health service utilization, needs for care and informal care arrangements of representative samples of older people in two Beijing communities, urban Xicheng and rural Daxing.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A one-phase cross-sectional survey of all those aged 65 years and over was conducted in urban and rural catchment areas in Beijing, China. Assessments included questionnaires, a clinical interview, physical examination, and an informant interview. Prevalence of chronic diseases, self-reported impairments and risk behaviours was calculated adjusting for household clustering. Poisson working models were used to estimate the independent effect of rural versus urban residence, and to explore the predictors of health services utilization.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We interviewed 1002 participants in rural Daxing, and 1160 in urban Xicheng. Those in Daxing were more likely to be younger, widowed, less educated, not receiving a pension, and reliant on family transfers. Chronic diseases were more common in Xicheng, when based on self-report rather than clinical assessment. Risk exposures were more common in Daxing. Rural older people were much less likely to access health services, controlling for age and health. Community health services were ineffective, particularly in Daxing, where fewer than 3% of those with hypertension were adequately controlled. In Daxing, care was provided by family, who had often given up work to do so. In Xicheng, 45% of those needing care were supported by paid caregivers. Caregiver strain was higher in Xicheng. Dementia was strongly associated with care needs and caregiver strain, but not with medical helpseeking.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Apparent better health in Daxing might be explained by under-diagnosis, under-reporting or selective mortality. Far-reaching structural reforms may be needed to improve access and strengthen rural healthcare. The impact of social and economic change is already apparent in Xicheng, with important implications for future long-term care.</p

    A Theoretical Study of the Optimal Dynaplane Vessel

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    A dynaplane is a planing vessel in which the wetted surface at the operational speed possesses a downward curvature, thereby replicating the camber associated with high efficiency lifting airfoils. In addition, the aspect ratio is chosen to be large in order to further improve the lifting efficiency. It is the higher planing efficiency together with the relatively small wetted surface that leads to the low resistance of the dynaplane. Typical resistance-to-weight ratios as low as 0.1 have been achieved in the past.We demonstrate here that a simple analysis can be based on modeling the hydrodynamic influence of the planing surface by means of the corresponding pressure distribution. Remarkably, the precise form of the pressure distribution is unimportant. The efficiency is greatly enhanced by choosing large aspect ratios of the order of 10 - a result analogous to the aerodynamic lifting problem. The investigation here shows that resistance-to-weight ratios as low as 0.025 are possible; hence, even higher levels of performance are ideally possible

    Wave generation of a compartmented surface-effect ship

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    A series of carefully controlled experiments on the wave-generation characteristics of a model of a compartmented surface-effect ship has been conducted in a towing tank. Configurations of the model included cases encompassing one subcushion and two subcushions, as well as differing values of the pressures in the subcushions. It was shown that a reduced wave generation in the appropriate Froude number range could be achieved in this manner. Furthermore, a previously developed theory for the wave generation of marine vessels was verified for the model for a Froude number greater than 0.40

    Power Elements

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