Turbine endwall two-cylinder program

Progress is reported in an effort to study the three dimensional separation of fluid flow around two isolated cylinders mounted on an endwall. The design and performance of a hydrogen bubble generator for water tunnel tests to determine bulk flow properties and to measure main stream velocity and boundary layer thickness are described. Although the water tunnel tests are behind schedule because of inlet distortion problems, tests are far enough along to indicate cylinder spacing, wall effects and low Reynolds number behavior, all of which impacted wind tunnel model design. The construction, assembly, and operation of the wind tunnel and the check out of its characteristics are described. An off-body potential flow program was adapted to calculate normal streams streamwise pressure gradients at the saddle point locations

Implicit self-comparisons against others could bias quality of life assessments

Objectives: To explore how patient-reported health related quality of life (HRQL) and global health status are affected by use of differing personal reference frames. We hypothesised that implicit comparisons against self at an earlier time, against healthy peers or against ill patients would greatly affect patients’ response values. Study design and setting: Patients in a randomised trial for treatment of Paget’s disease completed annual HRQL questionnaires. Supplementary questions were appended, asking the patients whether they were aware of having made implicit comparisons. Results: The majority of patients reported considering themselves a year ago (31% at baseline), themselves before becoming ill (23%) or other healthy people (24%), with similar proportions during follow up. Mean HRQL scores varied substantially according to the declared frame of reference, with differences as big as 19% of the scale score, or a standardised mean effect size of 0.74 standard deviations. Conclusion: Reported reference frames were associated with effects of similar magnitude to the differences in HRQL that are regarded as clinically important. This may be of particular concern in trials that andomise patients to management in different settings, such as treatment at home / in hospital, or surgery / chemotherapy, and might bias or obscure HRQL differences

Turbine endwall single cylinder program

Measurements of the flow field in front of a large-scale single cylinder, mounted in a wind tunnel are discussed. Static pressures on the endwall and cylinder surfaces, extensive five-hole probe pressures in front of and around the cylinder, and velocity fluctuations using a hot-wire probe where the flow is steady enough to yield meaningful results are included

Measurements of a turbulent horseshoe vortex formed around a cylinder

An experimental investigation was conducted to characterize a symmetrical horseshoe vortex system in front of and around a single large-diameter right cylinder centered between the sidewalls of a wind tunnel. Surface flow visualization and surface static pressure measurements as well as extensive mean velocity and pressure measurements in and around the vortex system were acquired. The results lend new insight into the formation and development of the vortex system. Contrary to what has been assumed previously, a strong vortex was not identified in the streamwise plane of symmetry, but started a significant angular distance away from it. Rather than the multiple vortex systems reported by others, only a single primary vortex and saddle point were found. The scale of the separation process at the saddle point was much smaller than the scale of the approaching boundary layer thickness. Results of the present study not only shed light on such phenomena as the nonsymmetrical endwall flow in axial turbomachinery but can also be used as a test case for three-dimensional computational fluid mechanics computer codes

2015 AQ Summit: Identified R&D Needs Report

The Maine Aquaculture Coordinating Council recognized these issues and identified the need to strengthen connectivity between key components of the Maine aquaculture research community, and to develop a much greater alignment between research capacity and industry needs with the aim of strengthening the competitiveness and sustainability of the aquaculture sector while growing the research capacity. This includes fostering integration of existing multidisciplinary research capacity and capability not traditionally aligned with aquaculture-related activities. On January 14th, 2015 the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center, and the University of Maine Aquaculture Research Institute hosted the first annual Maine Aquaculture R&D Forum (later renamed to Summit). This was a unique opportunity for members of the industry and researchers to meet, exchange ideas, and explore innovative, cutting edge solutions for Maine’s aquaculture industry needs

ARI Brochure 2015

Aquaculture Research Institute at the University of Maine

2015 AQ Summit: Short Report

The Maine Aquaculture Coordinating Council recognized these issues and identified the need to strengthen connectivity between key components of the Maine aquaculture research community, and to develop a much greater alignment between research capacity and industry needs with the aim of strengthening the competitiveness and sustainability of the aquaculture sector while growing the research capacity. This includes fostering integration of existing multidisciplinary research capacity and capability not traditionally aligned with aquaculture-related activities. On January 14th, 2015 the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center, and the University of Maine Aquaculture Research Institute hosted the first annual Maine Aquaculture R&D Forum (later renamed to Summit). This was a unique opportunity for members of the industry and researchers to meet, exchange ideas, and explore innovative, cutting edge solutions for Maine’s aquaculture industry needs

Effect of Phenolic Matrix Microcracking on the Structural Response of a 3-D Woven Thermal Protection System

The effect of microcracking in the phenolic matrix of a three-dimensional woven thermal protection system (TPS) and the resulting material stiffness reduction was studied via a comparison of finite element analysis results from a linear analysis and an iterative linear analysis. A TPS is necessary to protect space vehicles from the aerodynamic heating of planetary entry. The Heatshield for Extreme Entry Environment Technology (HEEET) project has developed a TPS for use in high heat-flux and pressure missions. The material is a dual-layer continuous dry weave, which is then infiltrated with a low-density phenolic resin matrix to form a rigid ablator. The phenolic resin matrix does not have structural load transfer requirements, and testing has shown that the phenolic resin can fully satisfy thermal requirements when the matrix contains microcracks. Due to high stresses in the through-the-thickness direction of the material, phenolic microcracks may form in the matrix material, which would result in a reduction of stiffness. An exploratory study was conducted to determine if reduction in material stiffness would change the load paths and/or decrease the structural margins. A comparison was performed between a linear finite element analysis that did not take into account phenolic microcracking and an iterative linear finite element analysis that accounted for propagation of phenolic microcracking. Four subcases using varying assumptions were analyzed and the results indicate that the assumed strength at which the phenolic microcracking propagates was the critical parameter for determining the extent of microcracking in the phenolic matrix. Phenolic microcracking does not have an adverse effect on the structural response of the test article and is not a critical failure

Beware the Non-uniqueness of Einstein Rings

We explain how an approximation to the rings formed by the host galaxies in lensed QSOs can be inferred from the QSO data alone. A simple ring image can be made from any lens model by a simple piece of computer graphics: just plot a contour map of the arrival-time surface with closely-spaced contours. We go on to explain that rings should be (a) sensitive to time-delay ratios between different pairs of images, but (b) very insensitive to H_0. We illustrate this for the well-known quads 1115+080 and 1608+656.Comment: To appear in AJ (circa Aug 2001