Force measurement on coupled flapping flags in uniform flow

An experimental study on the coupled flapping of two identical flags arranged in parallel, tandem, and staggered positions in uniform flow was conducted in a wind tunnel. The dynamic characteristics of each flag were measured using an in-house designed balance and the flapping modes were analyzed through a high-speed video recording technique and a "Spatio-Temporal Evolution" software. For the side-by-side arrangement, the dependences of the kinematic and dynamic parameters on the flow speed and on the mutual distance were observed. The results indicated that the coupling motion and dynamics of two parallel flags in uniform flow were mainly affected by their mutual position. Significant drag reductions were observed when the flags flapped in the in-phase mode for a relatively small separation. For two flags in tandem arrangement, both the upstream and downstream flags experienced a drag reduction compared to the scenario of a single flag in the same flow. Especially, for relatively large separation the upstream flag had a smaller drag coefficient than that of the downstream one. For very small separation, the drag coefficient of the upstream flag was larger than that of the downstream one. Finally, for two flags arranged in a staggered configuration, an anomalous drag distribution was found. This work provides valuable experimental data and casts insight into the coupling mechanism of multiple flexible structures in an air flow

Lattice Boltzmann modeling of dendritic growth in forced and natural convection

AbstractA two-dimensional (2D) coupled model is developed for the simulation of dendritic growth during alloy solidification in the presence of forced and natural convection. Instead of conventional continuum-based Navier–Stokes (NS) solvers, the present model adopts a kinetic-based lattice Boltzmann method (LBM), which describes flow dynamics by the evolution of distribution functions of moving pseudo-particles, for the numerical computations of flow dynamics as well as thermal and solutal transport. The dendritic growth is modeled using a solutal equilibrium approach previously proposed by Zhu and Stefanescu (ZS), in which the evolution of the solid/liquid interface is driven by the difference between the local equilibrium composition and the local actual liquid composition. The local equilibrium composition is calculated from the local temperature and curvature. The local temperature and actual liquid composition, controlled by both diffusion and convection, are obtained by solving the LB equations using the lattice Bhatnagar–Gross–Krook (LBGK) scheme. Detailed model validation is performed by comparing the simulations with analytical predictions, which demonstrates the quantitative capability of the proposed model. Furthermore, the convective dendritic growth features predicted by the present model are compared with those obtained from the Zhu–Stefanescu and Navier–Stokes (ZS–NS) model, in which the fluid flow is calculated using an NS solver. It is found that the evolution of the solid fraction of dendritic growth calculated by both models coincides well. However, the present model has the significant advantages of numerical stability and computational efficiency for the simulation of dendritic growth with melt convection

Comparison of Vlasov-Uehling-Uhlenbeck model with 4 π Heavy Ion Data

Streamer chamber data for collisions of Ar + KCl and Ar + BaI2 at 1.2 GeV/nucleon are compared with microscopic model predictions based on the Vlasov-Uehling-Uhlenbeck equation, for various density-dependent nuclear equations of state. Multiplicity distributions and inclusive rapidity and transverse momentum spectra are in good agreement. Rapidity spectra show evidence of being useful in determining whether the model uses the correct cross sections for binary collisions in the nuclear medium, and whether momentum-dependent interactions are correctly incorporated. Sideward flow results do not favor the same nuclear stiffness parameter at all multiplicities

Onsager Relations and Hydrodynamic Balance Equations in 2D Quantum Wells

In this letter we clarify the role of heat flux in the hydrodynamic balance equations in 2D quantum wells, facilitating the formulation of an Onsager relation within the framework of this theory. We find that the Onsager relation is satisfied within the framework of the 2D hydrodynamic balance equation transport theory at sufficiently high density. The condition of high density is consonant with the requirement of strong electron-electron interactions for the validity of our balance equation formulation.Comment: 11 pages, RevTex, 4 postscript figures are avaliable upon reques

Theoretical approach and impact of correlations on the critical packet generation rate in traffic dynamics on complex networks

Using the formalism of the biased random walk in random uncorrelated networks with arbitrary degree distributions, we develop theoretical approach to the critical packet generation rate in traffic based on routing strategy with local information. We explain microscopic origins of the transition from the flow to the jammed phase and discuss how the node neighbourhood topology affects the transport capacity in uncorrelated and correlated networks.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

Transpolar arc observation after solar wind entry into the high-latitude magnetosphere

Recently, Cluster observations have revealed the presence of new regions of solar wind plasma entry at the high-latitude magnetospheric lobes tailward of the cusp region, mostly during periods of northward interplanetary magnetic field. In this study, observations from the Global Ultraviolet Imager (GUVI) experiment on board the TIMED spacecraft and Wideband Imaging Camera imager on board the IMAGE satellite are used to investigate a possible link between solar wind entry and the formation of transpolar arcs in the polar cap. We focus on a case when transpolar arc formation was observed twice right after the two solar wind entry events were detected by the Cluster spacecraft. In addition, GUVI and IMAGE observations show a simultaneous occurrence of auroral activity at low and high latitudes after the second entry event, possibly indicating a two-part structure of the continuous band of the transpolar arc

Localization by disorder in the infrared conductivity of (Y,Pr)Ba2Cu3O7 films

The ab-plane reflectivity of (Y{1-x}Prx)Ba2Cu3O7 thin films was measured in the 30-30000 cm-1 range for samples with x = 0 (Tc = 90 K), x = 0.4 (Tc = 35 K) and x = 0.5 (Tc = 19 K) as a function of temperature in the normal state. The effective charge density obtained from the integrated spectral weight decreases with increasing x. The variation is consistent with the higher dc resistivity for x = 0.4, but is one order of magnitude smaller than what would be expected for x = 0.5. In the latter sample, the conductivity is dominated at all temperatures by a large localization peak. Its magnitude increases as the temperature decreases. We relate this peak to the dc resistivity enhancement. A simple localization-by-disorder model accounts for the optical conductivity of the x = 0.5 sample.Comment: 7 pages with (4) figures include

The evolution of microstructure and electrical performance in doped Mn-Co and Cu-Mn oxide layers with the extended oxidation time

Mn-Co and Cu-Mn based alloy coatings are deposited on 430 SS by high energy micro-arc alloying process, and then alloy coatings are oxidized at 750 ℃ in air to form the spinel oxides. Some composite oxides, such as Co3O4, Mn2O3 and (Mn,Co)3O4, are formed at the initial stage of oxidation. The single-phase spinel (pure MnCo2O4) without impurity phases is only found on the surface of Co-33Mn-17Cu oxide layer with the extended oxidation time, its area-specific resistance values at 500 ℃ to 800 ℃ are low and close to that of Mn-35Cu oxide layer which mainly composed of Cu1.2Mn1.8O4 spinel