An engineering approach to modelling of dynamic insulation using ESP-r

The use of Dynamic Insulation (DI) can enable recovery of conduction heat loss through a building envelope. This is an active process that allows air to move through the fabric against the temperature gradient. Additionally it promises better indoor air quality, primarily due to filtration properties of the construction material [11]. This paper is concerned with quantifying the energy savings and enhancement of human comfort if this technology is integrated into a building. To ascertain the impact of the technology on whole-building performance, it is necessary to undertake detailed dynamic modelling. A suitable building and plant simulation computer tool (ESP-r) was employed to do this. A technique for modelling the dynamic insulation was developed and validated against known analytical solutions. A full-size test house was then simulated, in the UK climate, with and without DI. Comparative results show that better thermal comfort and energy savings are possible with the use of DI. The results obtained have been translated into suggestions for best practice

Workshop island 3: algebraic aspects of integrability. Introduction to an additional volume of selected papers arising from the conference on algebraic aspects of integrable systems, Island 3, Islay 2007

As did the very first ISLAND workshop, ISLAND 3 took place on the Hebridean island of Islay, providing a beautiful and serene surrounding for the meeting which ran for over four days. Building on the success of the previous meetings, ISLAND 3 saw the largest number (so far) of participants coming from countries all over the world. A complete list can be found below

Introducing instrumentation and data acquisition to mechanical engineering students using LabVIEW

For several years, LabVIEW has been used within the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Strathclyde as the basis for introducing the basic concepts and practice of data acquisition, and more generally, instrumentation, to postgraduate engineering students and undergraduate project students. The objectives of introducing LabVIEW within the curriculum were to expose students to instrumentation and experimental analysis, and to create courseware that could be used flexibly for a range of students. It was also important that staff time for laboratory work be kept to manageable levels. A course module was developed which allows engineering students with very little or no previous knowledge of instrumentation or programming to become acquainted with the basics of programming, experimentation and data acquisition. The basic course structure has been used to teach both undergraduates and postgraduates as well as laboratory technical staff. The paper describes the objectives of the use of LabVIEW for teaching, the structure of the module developed, and the response of students who have been subjected to the course, and how it is intended to expand the delivery to greater student numbers

Novikov algebras and a classification of multicomponent Camassa-Holm equations

A class of multi-component integrable systems associated to Novikov algebras, which interpolate between KdV and Camassa-Holm type equations, is obtained. The construction is based on the classification of low-dimensional Novikov algebras by Bai and Meng. These multi-component bi-Hamiltonian systems obtained by this construction may be interpreted as Euler equations on the centrally extended Lie algebras associated to the Novikov algebras. The related bilinear forms generating cocycles of first, second and third order are classified. Several examples, including known integrable equations, are presented.Comment: V2: some comments and references are adde

Role of Strain on Electronic and Mechanical Response of Semiconducting Transition-Metal Dichalcogenide Monolayers: an ab-initio study

We characterize the electronic structure and elasticity of monolayer transition-metal dichalcogenides MX2 (M=Mo, W, Sn, Hf and X=S, Se, Te) with 2H and 1T structures using fully relativistic first principles calculations based on density functional theory. We focus on the role of strain on the band structure and band alignment across the series 2D materials. We find that strain has a significant effect on the band gap; a biaxial strain of 1% decreases the band gap in the 2H structures, by as a much 0.2 eV in MoS2 and WS2, while increasing it for the 1T materials. These results indicate that strain is a powerful avenue to modulate their properties; for example, strain enables the formation of, otherwise impossible, broken gap heterostructures within the 2H class. These calculations provide insight and quantitative information for the rational development of heterostructures based on these class of materials accounting for the effect of strain.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, supplementary materia

Testing of the high accuracy inertial navigation system in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Lab

The description, results, and interpretation is presented of comparison testing between the High Accuracy Inertial Navigation System (HAINS) and KT-70 Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). The objective was to show the HAINS can replace the KT-70 IMU in the space shuttle Orbiter, both singularly and totally. This testing was performed in the Guidance, Navigation, and Control Test Station (GTS) of the Shuttle Avionics Integration Lab (SAIL). A variety of differences between the two instruments are explained. Four, 5 day test sessions were conducted varying the number and slot position of the HAINS and KT-70 IMUs. The various steps in the calibration and alignment procedure are explained. Results and their interpretation are presented. The HAINS displayed a high level of performance accuracy previously unseen with the KT-70 IMU. The most significant improvement of the performance came in the Tuned Inertial/Extended Launch Hold tests. The HAINS exceeded the 4 hr specification requirement. The results obtained from the SAIL tests were generally well beyond the requirements of the procurement specification

Practical applications of data mining in plant monitoring and diagnostics

Using available expert knowledge in conjunction with a structured process of data mining, characteristics observed in captured condition monitoring data, representing characteristics of plant operation may be understood, explained and quantified. Knowledge and understanding of satisfactory and unsatisfactory plant condition can be gained and made explicit from the analysis of data observations and subsequently used to form the basis of condition assessment and diagnostic rules/models implemented in decision support systems supporting plant maintenance. This paper proposes a data mining method for the analysis of condition monitoring data, and demonstrates this method in its discovery of useful knowledge from trip coil data captured from a population of in-service distribution circuit breakers and empirical UHF data captured from laboratory experiments simulating partial discharge defects typically found in HV transformers. This discovered knowledge then forms the basis of two separate decision support systems for the condition assessment/defect clasification of these respective plant items

Re-examining the Consumption-Wealth Relationship: The Role of Model Uncertainty

This paper discusses the consumption-wealth relationship. Following the recent influential work of Lettau and Ludvigson [e.g. Lettau and Ludvigson (2001), (2004)], we use data on consumption, assets and labor income and a vector error correction framework. Key findings of their work are that consumption does respond to permanent changes in wealth in the expected manner, but that most changes in wealth are transitory and have no effect on consumption. We investigate the robustness of these results to model uncertainty and argue for the use of Bayesian model averaging. We find that there is model uncertainty with regards to the number of cointegrating vectors, the form of deterministic components, lag length and whether the cointegrating residuals affect consumption and income directly. Whether this uncertainty has important empirical implications depends on the researcher's attitude towards the economic theory used by Lettau and Ludvigson. If we work with their model, our findings are very similar to theirs. However, if we work with a broader set of models and let the data speak, we obtain somewhat different results. In the latter case, we find that the exact magnitude of the role of permanent shocks is hard to estimate precisely. Thus, although some support exists for the view that their role is small, we cannot rule out the possibility that they have a substantive role to play.wealth effect; vector error correction model; Bayesian model averaging; cointegration; variance decomposition.

Evidence from Rb–Sr mineral ages for multiple orogenic events in the Caledonides of Shetland, Scotland

Shetland occupies a unique central location within the North Atlantic Caledonides. Thirty-three new high-precision Rb–Sr mineral ages indicate a polyorogenic history. Ages of 723–702 Ma obtained from the vicinity of the Wester Keolka Shear Zone indicate a Neoproterozoic (Knoydartian) age and preclude its correlation with the Silurian Moine Thrust. Ordovician ages of c. 480–443 Ma obtained from the Yell Sound Group and the East Mainland Succession constrain deformation fabrics and metamorphic assemblages to have formed during Grampian accretionary orogenic events, broadly contemporaneously with orogenesis of the Dalradian Supergroup in Ireland and mainland Scotland. The relative paucity of Silurian ages is attributed to a likely location at a high structural level in the Scandian nappe pile relative to mainland Scotland. Ages of c. 416 and c. 411 Ma for the Uyea Shear Zone suggest a late orogenic evolution that has more in common with East Greenland and Norway than with northern mainland Scotland