Wind tunnel testing of a full scale helicopter blade section with an upstream active Gurney flap

Wind tunnel tests were performed on an aerofoil section comparable to that of a full scale helicopter blade section with an upstream active Gurney flap in the framework of the European project CleanSky ITD Green RotorCraft. A modified NACA0012 profile was used, with 23 Kulite pressure transducers embedded in the profile’s surface and with an integrated actuator system for the Gurney flap. The Gurney flap, positioned at 95% of the chord length and with a deployed size of 1.3% of the chord length, extended the full span width of the section. The aerofoil was supported by a mounting system with automated control of the angle of attack. The effect of the Gurney flap is assessed for various deployment strategies. The test campaign carried out was successful. The aerodynamic behaviour can be extracted from the data and contains valuable information for validation of 2D numerical models developed by other partners in the project. The most important improvement of the setup for future use is the stabilisation of the inclinometer readings, which showed a significant amount of noise

Uncertainty modelling of a suspension unit

Many organizations are increasingly relying on design simulation rather than expensive and time-consuming prototype testing for product evaluation. However, uncertainties in analytical and computational methods need to be understood in order to improve confidence in their use, and models need to be validated. This paper presents a case study of a MacPherson strut automotive suspension analysis, and evaluates the uncertainties in the modelling of this complex dynamic problem using a simplified analytical model and a complex computational model. In both cases, variability in design variables is characterized using probabilistic design methods. As a first step, the model variables are described by assumed datasets, which are collated from several sources such as tolerances specified in drawings, expert opinion, published data, etc. Measurement of the properties of the suspension system components is then performed (spring stiffness, damping coeffcient, etc.), and the statistical parameters so obtained are used in probabilistic calculations for specified time sequences from measured test track road load data. The results are used to accumulate evidence of uncertainties in analytical and computational methods, to correlate predicted results to experimental data for vehicle chassis top mount force, and to derive sensitivity measures. A response surface function is approximated which is useful for parametric studies for new variants of the system studied. Sources of uncertainty in this case study and methods for improving the correlations are then suggested

Development and characterisation of error functions in design

As simulation is increasingly used in product development, there is a need to better characterise the errors inherent in simulation techniques by comparing such techniques with evidence from experiment, test and inservice. This is necessary to allow judgement of the adequacy of simulations in place of physical tests and to identify situations where further data collection and experimentation need to be expended. This paper discusses a framework for uncertainty characterisation based on the management of design knowledge leading to the development and characterisation of error functions. A classification is devised in the framework to identify the most appropriate method for the representation of error, including probability theory, interval analysis and Fuzzy set theory. The development is demonstrated with two case studies to justify rationale of the framework. Such formal knowledge management of design simulation processes can facilitate utilisation of cumulated design knowledge as companies migrate from testing to simulation-based design

Improved utility and application of probabilistic methods for reliable mechanical design

In a modern product development process such as in the automotive and aerospace sectors, extensive analytical and simulation approaches often are used to assess the ability of a design in fulfilling its requirements. Consideration of uncertainty in such situations is critical in ensuring a reliable design is produced. Probabilistic methods facilitate an improved understanding of design performance through characterization of uncertainty in the design parameters. The probabilistic methods developed over the past several decades have a range of capabilities and modes of application, for example, to predict reliability, for optimization, and to perform sensitivity studies, but have yet to be taken up routinely by industry due to a number of reasons. In this paper, issues that have typically inhibited their use or prevented a successful outcome are addressed through a systematic framework for improved utility and successful application of probabilistic designing for mechanical reliability

Mitochondrial Function as a Potential Tool for Assessing Function, Quality and Adulteration in Medicinal Herbal Teas

Quality control has been a significant issue in herbal medicine since herbs became widely used to heal. With the advent of modern technologies, evaluating the quality of medicinal herbs has become more sophisticated but so have the methods of adulterating them. In this paper we undertook a comprehensive literature search to identify the key analytical techniques used in the quality assurance of herbal medicine, reviewing their uses and limitations. We also present a new tool, based on mitochondrial profiling, that can be used to measure medicinal herbal quality. Besides being fundamental to the energy metabolism required for most cellular activities, mitochondria play a direct role in cellular signalling, apoptosis, stress responses, inflammation, cancer, ageing, and neurological function, mirroring some of the most common reasons people take herbal medicines. A fingerprint of the specific mitochondrial effects of medicinal herbs can be documented in order to assess their potential efficacy, detect adulterations that modulate these effects and determine the relative potency of batches. Furthermore, through this method it will be possible to assess whole herbs or complex formulas thus avoiding the issues inherent in identifying active ingredients which may be complex or unknown. Thus, while current analytical methods focus on determining the chemical quality of herbal medicines, including adulteration and contamination, mitochondrial functional analysis offers a new way of determining the quality of plant derived products that is more closely linked to the biological activity of a product and its potential clinical effectiveness

Analysis of increasing torque with recurrent slip in interference-fits

Previous research associated with interference-fitted assemblies has shown that as recurring slip occurs (i.e. load to total slip, unloading and reload to total slip) there is an observed increase in the holding torque after each loading cycle. The aim of this work was to identify the reasons for this ‘torque strengthening’ phenomenon. The work also has industrial relevance in the optimum design of interference-fitted rolls used for the hot rolling of steel sections. Previous work has shown that the major contributors to the overall holding torque were the interface pressure, material properties and the coefficient of friction between component materials. In this work, neutron diffraction tests and crack compliance tests showed no correlation between the interface pressure and increased holding torque. Meanwhile, experimental holding torque tests on sample interference-fits showed that for each recurring holding torque failure (slip) in a test cycle, the holding torque increased. Subsequent wear investigations showed that the wear of the surfaces increased throughout the testing and once a specific type of wear had occurred through a ‘ploughing’ mechanism, significant damage could be done to the more expensive shaft component. These observations suggest that an effective increase in the coefficient of friction between shaft and hub is responsible for the increase in holding torque, while the same level of interface pressure is maintained throughout slipping. The research provides a basis for the optimisation of interference-fit design in order that the working lives of expensive shafts, which are prone to damage through ploughing, and brittle hubs, which are prone to sudden fracture, are maximised when experiencing recurrent slipping

Low-latency Gravitational-wave Alerts for Multimessenger Astronomy during the Second Advanced LIGO and Virgo Observing Run

Advanced LIGO's second observing run (O2), conducted from 2016 November 30 to 2017 August 25, combined with Advanced Virgo's first observations in 2017 August, witnessed the birth of gravitational-wave multimessenger astronomy. The first ever gravitational-wave detection from the coalescence of two neutron stars, GW170817, and its gamma-ray counterpart, GRB 170817A, led to an electromagnetic follow-up of the event at an unprecedented scale. Several teams from across the world searched for EM/neutrino counterparts to GW170817, paving the way for the discovery of optical, X-ray, and radio counterparts. In this article, we describe the online identification of gravitational-wave transients and the distribution of gravitational-wave alerts by the LIGO and Virgo collaborations during O2. We also describe the gravitational-wave observables that were sent in the alerts to enable searches for their counterparts. Finally, we give an overview of the online candidate alerts shared with observing partners during O2. Alerts were issued for 14 candidates, 6 of which have been confirmed as gravitational-wave events associated with the merger of black holes or neutron stars. Of the 14 alerts, 8 were issued less than an hour after data acquisition

Search for Eccentric Binary Black Hole Mergers with Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo during Their First and Second Observing Runs

When formed through dynamical interactions, stellar-mass binary black holes (BBHs) may retain eccentric orbits (e > 0.1 at 10 Hz) detectable by ground-based gravitational-wave detectors. Eccentricity can therefore be used to differentiate dynamically formed binaries from isolated BBH mergers. Current template-based gravitational-wave searches do not use waveform models associated with eccentric orbits, rendering the search less efficient for eccentric binary systems. Here we present the results of a search for BBH mergers that inspiral in eccentric orbits using data from the first and second observing runs (O1 and O2) of Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo. We carried out the search with the coherent WaveBurst algorithm, which uses minimal assumptions on the signal morphology and does not rely on binary waveform templates. We show that it is sensitive to binary mergers with a detection range that is weakly dependent on eccentricity for all bound systems. Our search did not identify any new binary merger candidates. We interpret these results in light of eccentric binary formation models. We rule out formation channels with rates ⪆100 Gpc-3 yr-1 for e > 0.1, assuming a black hole mass spectrum with a power-law index ≲2