Failure Analysis of a Reactor after Explosion Accident

AbstractBurst of a reactor occurred in an explosion accident during the production of antistatic agent process. According to the results of site survey, the current regulations and standards as well as the requirements of the accident investigation group, the reason of burst was discussed by failure analysis of the shell and bolts. The shell strength was analyzed by visual inspection, thickness measurement, and strength verification as well as estimating of bursting pressure. It can be concluded that the tank strength met the requirements of design condition. The bolts of the reactor was broken in the accident, so the failure analysis of bolts was carried out in detail, including visual inspection, fracture examination, chemical composition analysis, mechanical testing and strength verification. According to the results of the measured mechanical properties, the strength of the bolts was verified. It can be concluded that the bolts could bear the proof pressure test safely. Fracture analysis shows that no obvious metallurgical defects were found, the bolts were broken due to extreme overload. According to the technical analysis of the shell and the bolts, it can be concluded that the reactor could service safely under normal operating conditions. The cause of the bursting was transient extreme overpressure

Some New Results in Differential Algebraic Control Theory

In this paper, static state and dynamic state feedback linearisation are considered in the framework of differential algebra. The relationship between dynamic feedback and FLATNESS defined by Fliess is discussed. The existence of an equivalent PROPER DIFFERENTIAL I-O SYSTEM for a given differential I-O system is discussed, which is closely related to the choice of a proper fictitious output in control design. The concept of FLATNESS and its relaxation to dynamic feedback libearisability, controlability, observability, invertibility and minimal realisation are discussed. Finally it is demonstrated that many fundamental control concepts and their interrelationships can be incorporated into an extended control diagram

Numerical Simulations of Morphology, Flow Structures and Forces for a Sonic Jet Exhausting in Supersonic Crossflow

A numerical study is performed for a sonic jet issuing from a blunted cone to provide possible directional control in supersonic crossflow by solving the unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations with the twoequation k −ω turbulence model. Results are presented in the form of static aerodynamic coefficients, computed at a free stream Mach number 4.0, with varying pressure ratios, incidence angle and keeping zero yaw and roll angles. The morphology and flow structure for the jet exhausting in crossflow at various pressure ratios is described in detail. The Flight control of the projectile can be accomplished by taking advantage of a complex shock-boundary layer interaction produced by jet interacting with the oncoming crossflow by altering pressure distribution in vicinity of the jet, a net increase in the net force can be utilized for maneuvering of vehicle and possible flight control. Computed static aerodynamic coefficients and pressure distribution using CFD analyses is with an accuracy of ± 5% in the supersonic range

State curves and flipping for an orbiting cylinder at low Reynolds numbers

Sudden changes found in the time-mean and rms values of forcecoefficients of a circular cylinder in forced orbital motion placed in a uniform stream when plotted against ellipticity of the orbital path suggest that two solutions(states) exist. This 2D numerical simulation was performed in order to gain furtherevidence of this hypothesis through flipping of the solution. Time histories and limit cycle curves of force coefficients for stationary, in-line, and orbital paths around the time of the flip were investigated, as well as time-mean and rms values of lift, drag, and base pressure coefficients versus ellipticity for the flipped solution. Results provide evidence of the existence of two solutions

The effect of applied electric field on pulsed radio frequency and pulsed direct current plasma jet array

Here we compare the plasma plume propagation characteristics of a 3-channel pulsed RF plasma jet array and those of the same device operated by a pulsed dc source. For the pulsed-RF jet array, numerous long life time ions and metastables accumulated in the plasma channel make the plasma plume respond quickly to applied electric field. Its structure similar as “plasma bullet” is an anode glow indeed. For the pulsed dcplasma jet array, the strong electric field in the vicinity of the tube is the reason for the growing plasma bullet in the launching period. The repulsive forces between the growing plasma bullets result in the divergence of the pulsed dcplasma jet array. Finally, the comparison of 309 nm and 777 nm emissions between these two jet arrays suggests the high chemical activity of pulsed RF plasma jet array

Anisotropic behaviour of human gallbladder walls

Inverse estimation of biomechanical parameters of soft tissues from non-invasive measurements has clinical significance in patient-specific modelling and disease diagnosis. In this paper, we propose a fully nonlinear approach to estimate the mechanical properties of the human gallbladder wall muscles from in vivo ultrasound images. The iteration method consists of a forward approach, in which the constitutive equation is based on a modified Hozapfel–Gasser–Ogden law initially developed for arteries. Five constitutive parameters describing the two orthogonal families of fibres and the matrix material are determined by comparing the computed displacements with medical images. The optimisation process is carried out using the MATLAB toolbox, a Python code, and the ABAQUS solver. The proposed method is validated with published artery data and subsequently applied to ten human gallbladder samples. Results show that the human gallbladder wall is anisotropic during the passive refilling phase, and that the peak stress is 1.6 times greater than that calculated using linear mechanics. This discrepancy arises because the wall thickness reduces by 1.6 times during the deformation, which is not predicted by conventional linear elasticity. If the change of wall thickness is accounted for, then the linear model can used to predict the gallbladder stress and its correlation with pain. This work provides further understanding of the nonlinear characteristics of human gallbladder

The energy spectrum of all-particle cosmic rays around the knee region observed with the Tibet-III air-shower array

We have already reported the first result on the all-particle spectrum around the knee region based on data from 2000 November to 2001 October observed by the Tibet-III air-shower array. In this paper, we present an updated result using data set collected in the period from 2000 November through 2004 October in a wide range over 3 decades between $10^{14}$ eV and $10^{17}$ eV, in which the position of the knee is clearly seen at around 4 PeV. The spectral index is -2.68 $\pm$ 0.02(stat.) below 1PeV, while it is -3.12 $\pm$ 0.01(stat.) above 4 PeV in the case of QGSJET+HD model, and various systematic errors are under study now.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, accepted by Advances in space researc