Physical Limits (physical + limit)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Effect of sample size on cyst recovery by flotation methods: Recommendations for sample processing during EU monitoring of potato cyst nematodes (Globodera spp.)

EPPO BULLETIN, Issue 2 2008
J. Bellvert
Under EC Council Directive 2007/33/EC member states of the European Union are recommended to take soil samples ranging from 100 mL to >1500 mL to monitor populations of potato cyst nematodes [PCN] (Globodera spp.) in targeted fields. This study examines the effects of varying sample size on sample processing and cyst extraction using two widely used laboratory methods. Cyst recovery was stable using the Fenwick can from 100 mL up to the physical limits of the can. Recovery was significantly lower for low density 50 mL samples; however, this was partly due to a statistical artefact since higher numbers of cysts were lost from successively larger samples with constant cyst numbers (i.e. decreasing densities). The Schuiling centrifuge had functional limits of <100 mL and >500 mL. Outside this range, cyst recovery from low density samples was significantly reduced. Cyst recovery from samples of varying size, but with equal numbers of cysts was only constant above 100 mL. However, samples ranging from 200,500 mL were optimal for the Schuiling centrifuge. Cyst extraction efficiency was similar using both methods for samples ranging from 150 mL to 1500 mL, where larger samples were divided into <500 mL portions. However, processing times (i.e. cyst extraction and microscopic examination) and water consumption increased significantly with increasing sample size and were significantly higher when using the Fenwick can. [source]


A new shear flexible cubic spline plate element for vibration analysis

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING, Issue 11 2002
B. P. Patel
Abstract Here, a new cubic B-spline plate element is developed using field consistency principle, for vibration analysis. The formulation includes anisotropy, transverse shear deformation, in-plane and rotary inertia effects. The element is based on a laminated refined plate theory, which satisfies the interface transverse shear stress and displacement continuity, and has a vanishing shear stress on the top and bottom surfaces of the plates. The lack of consistency in the shear strain field interpolations in its constrained physical limits produces poor convergence and results in unacceptable solutions due to locking phenomenon. Hence, numerical experimentation for the evaluation of natural frequencies of plates is carried out to check this deficiency with a series of assumed shear strain functions, redistributed in a field consistent manner. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Numerical aspects of an algorithm for the Eulerian simulation of two-phase flows

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 10-11 2003
Paulo J. Oliveira
Abstract It is often the case that the numerical simulation of two phase flows leads to a number of difficulties associated with the solution algorithms utilized. Those difficulties manifest themselves as an impossibility to converge the iterative solution process, typical of the finite-volume pressure-correction methods, and are particularly persistent in cases with phase segregation (complete, or almost complete, separation of one phase from the other) and with fine meshes. A number of effective measures to overcome such problems are here proposed and tested, encompassing: (1) modification of the momentum equations formulation in a way that avoids singularity as volume fractions (,) tend to zero; (2) bounding of the volume fractions during the iterative algorithm in a way that enforces the physical limits, ,0 and 1; (3) symmetric treatment of some terms in the equations, and consistent formulation of cell-face fluxes in order to prevent numerical-induced oscillations. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Gain,bandwidth limitations of microwave transistor

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RF AND MICROWAVE COMPUTER-AIDED ENGINEERING, Issue 6 2002
Filiz Güne
Abstract This work enables one to obtain the potential gain (GT) characteristics with the associated source (ZS) and load (ZL) termination functions, depending upon the input mismatching (Vi), noise (F), and the device operation parameters, which are the configuration type (CT), bias conditions (VDS, IDS), and operation frequency (f). All these functions can straightforwardly provide the following main properties of the device for use in the design of microwave amplifiers with optimum performance: the extremum gain functions (GT max, GT min) and their associated ZS, ZL terminations for the Vi and F couple and the CT, VDS, IDS, and f operation parameters of the device point by point; all the compatible performance (F, voltage,standing wave ratio Vi, GT) triplets within the physical limits of the device, which are F , Fmin, Vi , 1, GT min , GT , GT max, together with their ZS, ZL termination functions; and the potential operation frequency bandwidth for a selected performance (F, Vi, GT) triplet. The selected performance triplet and termination functions can be realized together with their potential operation bandwidth using the novel amplifier design techniques. Many examples are presented for the potential gain characteristics of the chosen low-noise or ordinary types of transistor. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 12, 483,495, 2002. Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mmce.10049 [source]


Does OPEC have enough spare capacity?

OIL AND ENERGY TRENDS, Issue 5 2005
Article first published online: 18 MAY 200
As world oil demand continues to rise strongly, OPEC is raising its own output accordingly. At present, markets seem to be adequately supplied and crude oil stocks show signs of increasing in the US and other major markets. Most OPEC countries, however, are now producing close to their physical limits and there are increasing worries that if demand goes on growing at its present rate there will be scarcely any spare output capacity available outside Saudi Arabia. [source]


Bi-criteria optimal control of redundant robot manipulators using LVI-based primal-dual neural network

OPTIMAL CONTROL APPLICATIONS AND METHODS, Issue 3 2010
Binghuang Cai
Abstract In this paper, a bi-criteria weighting scheme is proposed for the optimal motion control of redundant robot manipulators. To diminish the discontinuity phenomenon of pure infinity-norm velocity minimization (INVM) scheme, the proposed bi-criteria redundancy-resolution scheme combines the minimum kinetic energy scheme and the INVM scheme via a weighting factor. Joint physical limits such as joint limits and joint-velocity limits could also be incorporated simultaneously into the scheme formulation. The optimal kinematic control scheme can be reformulated finally as a quadratic programming (QP) problem. As the real-time QP solver, a primal-dual neural network (PDNN) based on linear variational inequalities (LVI) is developed as well with a simple piecewise-linear structure and global exponential convergence to optimal solutions. Since the LVI-based PDNN is matrix-inversion free, it has higher computational efficiency in comparison with dual neural networks. Computer simulations performed based on the PUMA560 manipulator illustrate the validity and advantages of such a bi-criteria neural optimal motion-control scheme for redundant robots. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Analysis of SR thermal load studied by FEA

PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 8 2007

Abstract This work deals with analysis of the thermal effects and inherent mechanical deformations under absorption of the X-ray beam heat. The work is motivated by recent research concentrated on the development of optics for high-flux synchrotron radiation sources. We present the analyses of the static thermal load effects on the surface deformation field for a monocrystalline silicon target, which is the basic material for crystal X-ray optics. The surface and bulk thermal load induces the gradient of temperature and mechanical deformations of the target that are affecting the reflection and diffraction properties of the target. The paper presents the finite-element analyses (FEA) and simulation results of mechanical deformation of flat and slotted silicon targets. The hints for improved target geometry and physical limits for an actual cooling system can be obtained from the presented analyses. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]