Finite element analysis of fluid-filled elastic piping systems

Two finite element procedures are described for predicting the dynamic response of general 3-D fluid-filled elastic piping systems. The first approach, a low frequency procedure, models each straight pipe or elbow as a sequence of beams. The contained fluid is modeled as a separate coincident sequence axial members (rods) which are tied to the pipe in the lateral direction. The model includes the pipe hoop strain correction to the fluid sound speed and the flexibility factor correction to the elbow flexibility. The second modeling approach, an intermediate frequency procedure, follows generally the original Zienkiewicz-Newton scheme for coupled fluid-structure problems except that the velocity potential is used as the fundamental fluid unknown to symmetrize the coefficient matrices. From comparisons of the beam model predictions to both experimental data and the 3-D model, the beam model is validated for frequencies up to about two-thirds of the lowest fluid-filled labor pipe mode. Accurate elbow flexibility factors are seen to be crucial for effective beam modeling of piping systems

The dynamic analysis of submerged structures

Methods are described by which the dynamic interaction of structures with surrounding fluids can be computed by using finite element techniques. In all cases, the fluid is assumed to behave as an acoustic medium and is initially stationary. Such problems are solved either by explicitly modeling the fluid (using pressure or displacement as the basic fluid unknown) or by using decoupling approximations which take account of the fluid effects without actually modeling the fluid

Effective g-factor in Majorana Wires

We use the effective g-factor of subgap states, g*, in hybrid InAs nanowires with an epitaxial Al shell to investigate how the superconducting density of states is distributed between the semiconductor core and the metallic shell. We find a step-like reduction of g* and improved hard gap with reduced carrier density in the nanowire, controlled by gate voltage. These observations are relevant for Majorana devices, which require tunable carrier density and g* exceeding the g-factor of the proximitizing superconductor. Additionally, we observe the closing and reopening of a gap in the subgap spectrum coincident with the appearance of a zero-bias conductance peak

Tunneling Spectroscopy of Quasiparticle Bound States in a Spinful Josephson Junction

The spectrum of a segment of InAs nanowire, confined between two superconducting leads, was measured as function of gate voltage and superconducting phase difference using a third normal-metal tunnel probe. Sub-gap resonances for odd electron occupancy---interpreted as bound states involving a confined electron and a quasiparticle from the superconducting leads, reminiscent of Yu-Shiba-Rusinov states---evolve into Kondo-related resonances at higher magnetic fields. An additional zero bias peak of unknown origin is observed to coexist with the quasiparticle bound states.Comment: Supplementary information available here: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1742676/Chang_Sup.pd

AVATAR -- ATM VideoAudio Transmit and Receive

To facilitate the transport of audio and video data across emerging Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) networks, a simple, low cost, audio/video ATM appliance, the AVATAR, has been developed. This appliance is capable of handling uncompressed bidirectional audio and NTSC video connections. The intended applications for this device include TeleMentoring (a NSF sponsored exploration of distance mentoring), video conferencing, and network monitoring. Our experience has shown that AVATAR is an effective, low cost means of providing multimedia connectivity between sites within the Aurora Gigabit testbed