12,772 research outputs found
Spin bearing retainer design optimization
The dynamics behavior of spin bearings for momentum wheels (control-moment gyroscope, reaction wheel assembly) is critical to satellite stability and life. Repeated bearing retainer instabilities hasten lubricant deterioration and can lead to premature bearing failure and/or unacceptable vibration. These instabilities are typically distinguished by increases in torque, temperature, audible noise, and vibration induced by increases into the bearing cartridge. Ball retainer design can be optimized to minimize these occurrences. A retainer was designed using a previously successful smaller retainer as an example. Analytical methods were then employed to predict its behavior and optimize its configuration
Uniaxial and biaxial soft deformations of nematic elastomers
We give a geometric interpretation of the soft elastic deformation modes of
nematic elastomers, with explicit examples, for both uniaxial and biaxial
nematic order. We show the importance of body rotations in this non-classical
elasticity and how the invariance under rotations of the reference and target
states gives soft elasticity (the Golubovic and Lubensky theorem). The role of
rotations makes the Polar Decomposition Theorem vital for decomposing general
deformations into body rotations and symmetric strains. The role of the square
roots of tensors is discussed in this context and that of finding explicit
forms for soft deformations (the approach of Olmsted).Comment: 10 pages, 10 figures, RevTex, AmsTe
Impact-induced acceleration by obstacles
We explore a surprising phenomenon in which an obstruction accelerates,
rather than decelerates, a moving flexible object. It has been claimed that the
right kind of discrete chain falling onto a table falls \emph{faster} than a
free-falling body. We confirm and quantify this effect, reveal its complicated
dependence on angle of incidence, and identify multiple operative mechanisms.
Prior theories for direct impact onto flat surfaces, which involve a single
constitutive parameter, match our data well if we account for a characteristic
delay length that must impinge before the onset of excess acceleration. Our
measurements provide a robust determination of this parameter. This supports
the possibility of modeling such discrete structures as continuous bodies with
a complicated constitutive law of impact that includes angle of incidence as an
input.Comment: small changes and corrections, added reference
Friction force microscopy : a simple technique for identifying graphene on rough substrates and mapping the orientation of graphene grains on copper
At a single atom thick, it is challenging to distinguish graphene from its substrate using conventional techniques. In this paper we show that friction force microscopy (FFM) is a simple and quick technique for identifying graphene on a range of samples, from growth substrates to rough insulators. We show that FFM is particularly effective for characterizing graphene grown on copper where it can correlate the graphene growth to the three-dimensional surface topography. Atomic lattice stickâslip friction is readily resolved and enables the crystallographic orientation of the graphene to be mapped nondestructively, reproducibly and at high resolution. We expect FFM to be similarly effective for studying graphene growth on other metal/locally crystalline substrates, including SiC, and for studying growth of other two-dimensional materials such as molybdenum disulfide and hexagonal boron nitride
Inorganic Surface Passivation of PbS Nanocrystals resulting in Strong Photoluminescent Emission
Strong photoluminescent emission has been obtained from 3 nm PbS nanocrystals
in aqueous colloidal solution, following treatment with CdS precursors. The
observed emission can extend across the entire visible spectrum and usually
includes a peak near 1.95 eV. We show that much of the visible emission results
from absorption by higher-lying excited states above 3.0 eV with subsequent
relaxation to and emission from states lying above the observed band-edge of
the PbS nanocrystals. The fluorescent lifetimes for this emission are in the
nanosecond regime, characteristic of exciton recombination.Comment: Preprint, 23 pages, 6 figure
Partial Dynamical SU(3) Symmetry and the Nature of the Lowest K=0 Collective Excitation in Deformed Nuclei
We discuss the implications of partial dynamical SU(3) symmetry (PDS) for the
structure of the lowest K=0^{+} (K=0_2) collective excitation in deformed
nuclei. We consider an interacting boson model Hamiltonian whose ground and
gamma bands have good SU(3) symmetry while the K=0_2 band is mixed. It is shown
that the double-phonon components in the K=0_2 wave function arise from SU(3)
admixtures which, in turn, can be determined from absolute E2 rates connecting
the K=0_2 and ground bands. An explicit expression is derived for these
admixtures in terms of the ratio of K=0_2 and gamma bandhead energies. The
SU(3) PDS predictions are compared with existing data and with broken-SU(3)
calculations for ^{168}Er.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figure
Dwarf Nova Oscillations and Quasi-Periodic Oscillations in Cataclysmic Variables - VIII. VW Hyi in outburst observed with the Southern African Large Telescope
We analyse four light curves obtained at high time resolution (~ 0.1 s) with
the 11-m Southern African Large Telescope, at the ends of two normal outbursts
and one superoutburst of the dwarf nova VW Hyi. All of these contain at least
some Dwarf Nova Oscillations (DNOs), which, when at their highest amplitudes,
are seen in unprecedented detail. In addition to the expected DNOs with periods
> 20 s we find a previously unknown modulation at 13.39 s, but none at shorter
periods. The various DNOs and their interaction with the longer period
Quasi-periodic Oscillations are interpreted in terms of the model of
magnetically controlled flow from an accretion disc proposed earlier in this
series of papers. Our observations include rare DNOs very late in outburst; we
find that the fundamental period does not increase beyond ~ 90 s, which is the
same value that the independent ``longer period DNOs'' converge on.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 7 pages, 10 figures, 2 table
Examining the Potential Role of Descriptive Norms in Landscape Water Conservation Programs
The study reported here was conducted to inform potential social norms approaches to water conservation programs. Using a theoretically informed survey instrument, we examined Floridians\u27 perceived descriptive norms of close-peer, neighborhood, state, and national groups pertaining to water conservation. Respondents perceived that people conserved less as groups became more distant and perceived that conservation among close peers was most strongly related to their own conservation practices. When we considered perceptions of the four groups together, we found that only perceptions of close peers\u27 conservation efforts significantly predicted respondents\u27 conservation behaviors. Our findings revealed opportunities to highlight descriptive norms as an Extension strategy, especially among clientele\u27s close peers
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