Slices of the Kerr ergosurface

The intrinsic geometry of the Kerr ergosurface on constant Boyer-Lindquist (BL), Kerr, and Doran time slices is characterized. Unlike the BL slice, which had been previously studied, the other slices (i) do not have conical singularities at the poles (except the Doran slice in the extremal limit), (ii) have finite polar circumference in the extremal limit, and (iii) for sufficiently large spin parameter fail to be isometrically embeddable as a surface of revolution above some latitude. The Doran slice develops an embeddable polar cap for spin parameters greater than about 0.96.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures; v.2: minor editing for clarification, references added, typos fixed, version published in Classical and Quantum Gravit

On Internal Fracture of Solids

Initiation and propagation of internal fracture in solid

Novel high-speed induction motor for a commercial centrifugal compressor

Copyright © 2000 IEEEThis paper describes the electrical, mechanical, and metallurgical design, construction, and testing of a novel low-cost high-speed high-efficiency induction motor to drive a new type of small centrifugal compressor in industrial cooling applications. The 28-shaft-hp 50-kr/min motor features a unique laminated rotor with a multifunction high-strength copper-alloy cage brazed with a novel process. Relatively thin high-silicon steel laminations were used to achieve low losses and high mechanical strength at low cost. Different heat treatments for the stator and rotor laminations were used to optimize the mechanical and magnetic properties. The preprototype motors achieved about 94% (electromagnetic) efficiency at the rated point, including inverter harmonics, while meeting cost (less than one-tenth of aerospace practice) and produceability goals.Wen L. Soong, Gerald B. Kliman, Roger N. Johnson, Raymond A. White, and Joseph E. Mille

Intuitive Tools for the Design and Analysis of Communication Payloads for Satellites

In an effort to make future communications satellite payload design more efficient and accessible, two tools were created with intuitive graphical user interfaces (GUIs). The first tool allows payload designers to graphically design their payload by using simple drag and drop of payload components onto a design area within the program. Information about each picked component is pulled from a database of common space-qualified communication components sold by commerical companies. Once a design is completed, various reports can be generated, such as the Master Equipment List. The second tool is a link budget calculator designed specifically for ease of use. Other features of this tool include being able to access a database of NASA ground based apertures for near Earth and Deep Space communication, the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) base apertures, and information about the solar system relevant to link budget calculations. The link budget tool allows for over 50 different combinations of user inputs, eliminating the need for multiple spreadsheets and the user errors associated with using them. Both of the aforementioned tools increase the productivity of space communication systems designers, and have the colloquial latitude to allow non-communication experts to design preliminary communication payloads

Human genetics and genomics a decade after the release of the draft sequence of the human genome

10.1186/1479-7364-5-6-577Human Genomics56577-62

Triboelectrostatic Separation of Mineral Matter from Slovakian Coals

V èlánku sú diskutované niektoré technické aspekty triboelektrostatickej separácie a výs-ledky aplikácie tohto postupu pri úprave troch typov uhlia, konkrétne energetického uhlia z Cíg¾a, Handlovej a Novák. Bolo zistené, e úèinnos separácie ve¾mi úzko závisí na druhu separovan uhlia. Prvé výsledky preukázali súvislos medzi úèinnosou separácie obsahom popola v uhlí

Detection of broken rotor bar faults and effects of loading in induction motors during rundown

© Copyright 2007 IEEEThe detection of broken rotor bar faults based on the common steady-state Fourier transform technique is known to be dependent on the loading condition and the quality of the supply. This paper attempts to minimise these issues by utilising the induced voltage in the stator windings after supply disconnection. When the supply is disconnected, the stator current rapidly drops to zero and the only source of the stator induced voltage an instant after the supply disconnection is due to currents in the rotor. The rotor currents are sensitive to broken rotor bar faults and directly affect the rundown induced voltage in the stator windings. The performance of two different broken rotor bar detection techniques, based on the Fourier transform and the wavelet transform, are investigated over a wide range of loading conditions

Investigation of static eccentricity fault frequencies using multiple sensors in induction motors and effects of loading

A significant number of studies have been reported in the literature on the detection of eccentricity faults in induction machines; however these have generally used one type of sensor such as current or vibration, and not studied in detail the effect of loading. This paper examines the use of fault frequency components in the current, flux and vibration sensor signals with the aim of both detecting and estimating the severity of static eccentricity faults in the presence of load variations. The research is based on an extensive series of sensor measurements taken using a specially modified 2.2kW induction machine under varying conditions of static eccentricity and loading.R. Supangat, J. Grieger, N. Ertugrul, W.L. Soong, D.A. Gray, C. Hanse

Assessment of 1991 NEHRP Provisions for Nonstructural Components and Recommended Revisions

As one part of the 1994 update effort of the 1991 NEHRP provisions, the seismic design force formulas for nonstructural components as they exist in the 1991 provisions are critically assessed and some of their shortcomings are identified. Various levels of improvements to these formulas are then presented which, on the one hand, preserve the equivalent lateral force format for design applicability and, on the other, correct some of the deficiencies on the basis of analyses, experimental results and observation data from past earthquakes. Based on different interpretations of the component seismic coefficients as well as different degrees of simplicity required in practical design, three recommendations are proposed. The first recommended revision is the most comprehensive in that both effects of nonstructural component anchorage detailing and its supporting structural characteristics are taken into account. The second recommendation is a structure-driven type of modification of the current provisions and is motivated by the possibility that nonstructural component information during a design process is not available. The third revision, however, mainly concentrates on the effect of nonstructural component characteristics on the design force although it partially implies structural effects in the process of determining the response modification coefficient. The maximum and minimum design forces in the three recommendations are compared with those produced by the 1991 NEHRP provisions, the 1991 UBC, and the 1985 Tri-Service codes. Case studies of a parapet, a storage rack and a general equipment attached to a reinforced concrete shear wall structure are provided to show the relative conservatism involved in different codes and the importance of the factors ignored in the current provisions. Simple displacement equations are also developed in this report to provide deformation information needed in some cases of practical design

Design and Characterization of a Non-Linear Variable Inerter in Vehicle Suspension System

Inerter is a two-terminal component in suspension system such that the force at the two terminals is directly proportional to the relative acceleration of these two points. Studies have shown that the inerter can provide satisfactory vibration isolation for a number of suspension applications, including train suspension, building suspension and vehicle suspension. In the context of vehicle suspension, the existing passive inerter has been shown to provide benefits to vehicle dynamics performance measures, such as ride comfort and road holding ability. However, a basic passive inerter has fixed characteristic, and hence its potential is limited. This study overcome this limitation by incorporating variable inertia in inerter flywheel, however its non-linear characteristic needs to be determined. The method of achieving variable inertia in inerter flywheel is through introduction of movable masses or sliders attached with springs into inerter flywheel. The change of moment of inertia is caused by position change of sliders due to centrifugal force when the flywheel is rotating. Results showed that the proposed variable inerter exhibits a non-linear force-acceleration relationship with respect to its operating rotational speed. A vehicle suspension system equipped with a variable inerter is also able to further reduce vertical vehicle body acceleration and vehicle’s dynamic tire load when compared with vehicle suspension system without inerter and equipped with a passive inerter, which indirectly relates to a better vehicle ride and handling performance improvements. Hence, it can be proved that the proposed variable inerter is better than a passive inerter and is able to provide better ride comfort and road holding ability to a vehicle