7,616 research outputs found
Navier-Stokes analysis and experimental data comparison of compressible flow within ducts
Many aircraft employ ducts with centerline curvature or changing cross-sectional shape to join the engine with inlet and exhaust components. S-ducts convey air to the engine compressor from the intake and often decelerate the flow to achieve an acceptable Mach number at the engine compressor by increasing the cross-sectional area downstream. Circular-to-rectangular transition ducts are used on aircraft with rectangular exhaust nozzles to connect the engine and nozzle. To achieve maximum engine performance, the ducts should minimize flow total pressure loss and total pressure distortion at the duct exit. Changes in the curvature of the duct centerline or the duct cross-sectional shape give rise to streamline curvature which causes cross stream pressure gradients. Secondary flows can be caused by deflection of the transverse vorticity component of the boundary layer. This vortex tilting results in counter-rotating vortices. Additionally, the adverse streamwise pressure gradient caused by increasing cross-sectional area can lead to flow separation. Vortex pairs have been observed in the exit planes of both duct types. These vortices are due to secondary flows induced by pressure gradients resulting from streamline curvature. Regions of low total pressure are produced when the vortices convect boundary layer fluid into the main flow. The purpose of the present study is to predict the measured flow field in a diffusing S-duct and a circular-to-rectangular transition duct with a full Navier-Stokes computer program, PARC3D, and to compare the numerical predictions with new detailed experimental measurements. The work was undertaken to extend previous studies and to provide additional CFD validation data needed to help model flows with strong secondary flow and boundary layer separation. The S-duct computation extends the study of Smith et al, and Harloff et al, which concluded that the computation might be improved by using a finer grid and more advanced turbulence models. The present study compares results for both the Baldwin-Lomas and k-epsilon turbulence models and is conducted with a refined grid. For the transition duct, two inlet conditions were considered, the first with straight flow and the second with swirling flow. The first case permits examination of the effects of the geometric transition on the flow field, while the second case includes the rotational flow effect characteristic of a gas turbine engine
X-Ray Scattering at FeCo(001) Surfaces and the Crossover between Ordinary and Normal Transitions
In a recent experiment by Krimmel et al. [PRL 78, 3880 (1997)], the critical
behavior of FeCo near a (001) surface was studied by x-ray scattering. Here the
experimental data are reanalyzed, taking into account recent theoretical
results on order-parameter profiles in the crossover regime between ordinary
and normal transitions. Excellent agreement between theoretical expectations
and the experimental results is found.Comment: 9 pages, Latex, 1 PostScript figure, to be published in Phys.Rev.
Constraint and cost of oxidative stress on reproduction: correlative evidence in laboratory mice and review of the literature.
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND: One central concept in evolutionary ecology is that current and residual reproductive values are negatively linked by the so-called cost of reproduction. Previous studies examining the nature of this cost suggested a possible involvement of oxidative stress resulting from the imbalance between pro- and anti-oxidant processes. Still, data remain conflictory probably because, although oxidative damage increases during reproduction, high systemic levels of oxidative stress might also constrain parental investment in reproduction. Here, we investigated variation in oxidative balance (i.e. oxidative damage and antioxidant defences) over the course of reproduction by comparing female laboratory mice rearing or not pups.
RESULTS: A significant increase in oxidative damage over time was only observed in females caring for offspring, whereas antioxidant defences increased over time regardless of reproductive status. Interestingly, oxidative damage measured prior to reproduction was negatively associated with litter size at birth (constraint), whereas damage measured after reproduction was positively related to litter size at weaning (cost).
CONCLUSIONS: Globally, our correlative results and the review of literature describing the links between reproduction and oxidative stress underline the importance of timing/dynamics when studying and interpreting oxidative balance in relation to reproduction. Our study highlights the duality (constraint and cost) of oxidative stress in life-history trade-offs, thus supporting the theory that oxidative stress plays a key role in life-history evolution
CFD Arc Simulation of a Switching-off Process in a Model Chamber
This paper deals with the investigation of the switching arc process in a model chamber by CFD arc simulation. A transient axisymmetric model based on the @Fluent software is used. The applied arc model considers electromagnetic phenomena, radiative transfer, ablation of PTFE parts and pin motion as well. The influence of the boundary conditions for the solution of the current continuity equation is highlighted. The obtained results are validated by measurements on the model chamber [1]
Change Mining in Adaptive Process Management Systems
The wide-spread adoption of process-aware information systems has resulted in a bulk of computerized information about real-world processes. This data can be utilized for process performance analysis as well as for process improvement. In this context process mining offers promising perspectives. So far, existing mining techniques have been applied to operational processes, i.e., knowledge is extracted from execution logs (process discovery), or execution logs are compared with some a-priori process model (conformance checking). However, execution logs only constitute one kind of data gathered during process enactment. In particular, adaptive processes provide additional information about process changes (e.g., ad-hoc changes of single process instances) which can be used to enable organizational learning. In this paper we present an approach for mining change logs in adaptive process management systems. The change process discovered through process mining provides an aggregated overview of all changes that happened so far. This, in turn, can serve as basis for all kinds of process improvement actions, e.g., it may trigger process redesign or better control mechanisms
Nucleosynthesis of light nuclei and hypernuclei in central Au+Au collisions at =3 GeV
We analyze the experimental data on nuclei and hypernuclei yields recently
obtained by the STAR collaboration. The hybrid dynamical and statistical
approaches which have been developed previously are able to describe the
experimental data reasonably. We discuss the intriguing difference between the
yields of normal nuclei and hypernuclei which may be related to the properties
of hypermatter at subnuclear densities. Most importantly new (hyper-)nuclei
could be detected via particle correlations, and such measurements are relevant
to pin down the production mechanism.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure
Pan-European grading scales: lessons from national systems and the ECTS
This article assesses the impact of the Bologna Process on the grading schemes of EU member countries. In light of some problems regarding the implementation of the European Credit Transfer system (ECTS), the author proposes further reforms and offers some elements of a unified grading system for European higher education. The author explores the variation among Europe’s grading systems and the resulting lessons learned are shared here. Lastly, this article also argues that principles of justice and fairness, deemed central to academic freedom, are best upheld by the use of a unified grading system at national and European levels
A search for X-ray emission from rich clusters, extended halos around clusters, and superclusters
The all-sky data base acquired with the HEAO A-2 experiment was searched for X-ray emission on a variety of metagalactic size scales which were either predicted or previously detected. Results in the 0.2-60 keV energy range are presented. The optically richest clusters, including those from which a microwave decrement were observed, appear to be relatively underluminous in X-rays. Observations of Abell 576 show its luminosity to be less than earlier estimates, and moreover less than the luminosity predicted from its microwave decrement, unless the intracluster gas is a factor of approximately 10 hotter than in typical clusters. Near SC0627 there are two X-ray sources, and the identification of the dominant source with SCO627 is probably incorrect. New spectral observations of Abell 401 and 2147, possible superclusters, reveal that they have typical cluster spectra with iron line emission
Investigating Differences between Graphical and Textual Declarative Process Models
Declarative approaches to business process modeling are regarded as well
suited for highly volatile environments, as they enable a high degree of
flexibility. However, problems in understanding declarative process models
often impede their adoption. Particularly, a study revealed that aspects that
are present in both imperative and declarative process modeling languages at a
graphical level-while having different semantics-cause considerable troubles.
In this work we investigate whether a notation that does not contain graphical
lookalikes, i.e., a textual notation, can help to avoid this problem. Even
though a textual representation does not suffer from lookalikes, in our
empirical study it performed worse in terms of error rate, duration and mental
effort, as the textual representation forces the reader to mentally merge the
textual information. Likewise, subjects themselves expressed that the graphical
representation is easier to understand
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