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System Conditions (system + condition)
Selected AbstractsSSOR preconditioned GMRES for the FEM analysis of waveguide discontinuities with anisotropic dielectricINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NUMERICAL MODELLING: ELECTRONIC NETWORKS, DEVICES AND FIELDS, Issue 2 2004R. S. Chen Abstract The anisotropic media and active properties of the perfectly matched layer (PML) absorbers significantly deteriorate the finite element method (FEM) system condition and as a result, convergence of the iterative solver is substantially slowed down. To address this issue, the symmetric successive over-relaxation (SSOR) preconditioning scheme is applied to the generalized minimal residual (GMRES) for solving a large sparse and non-symmetric system of linear equations resulting from the analysis of ferrite waveguide device by use of edge-based FEM. Consequently, this preconditioned GMRES (PGMRES) approach can reach convergence ten times faster than GMRES for the typical structures. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A methodology for simulating power system vulnerability to cascading failures in the steady stateEUROPEAN TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTRICAL POWER, Issue 8 2008Murali Kumbale Abstract Simulations of power system conditions and event sequences leading to either local or widespread blackout has acquired increasing importance following wide-impact network collapses that have occurred over the past several years in North America and Europe. This paper summarizes an analytical framework that has been developed, implemented, and practically used by Southern Company to evaluate system vulnerability to cascading failures using the steady state model. This methodology was first used by Southern Company in 1999. The studies performed at Southern Company have already influenced and motivated certain transmission development projects. Future improvements to the method could include better modeling and sequencing of cascading steps, including time sequence of failures using equipment response time. Significant interest exists in developing preventive methods and procedures and in the application of this technology in the infrastructure security arena. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Geochemical constraints of the eclogite and granulite facies metamorphism as recognized in the Raobazhai complex from North Dabie Shan, ChinaJOURNAL OF METAMORPHIC GEOLOGY, Issue 1 2001Y. L. Xiao Abstract A combined study of major and trace elements, fluid inclusions and oxygen isotopes has been carried out on garnet pyroxenite from the Raobazhai complex in the North Dabie Terrane (NDT). Well-preserved compositional zoning with Na decreasing and Ca and Mg increasing from the core to rim of pyroxene in the garnet pyroxenite indicates eclogite facies metamorphism at the peak metamorphic stage and subsequent granulite facies metamorphism during uplift. A P,T path with substantial heating (from c. 750 to 900 °C) after the maximum pressure reveals a different uplift history compared with most other eclogites in the South Dabie Terrane (SDT). Fluid inclusion data can be correlated with the metamorphic grade: the fluid regime during the peak metamorphism (eclogite facies) was dominated by N2 -bearing NaCl-rich solutions, whereas it changed into CO2 -dominated fluids during the granulite facies retrograde metamorphism. At a late retrograde metamorphic stage, probably after amphibolite facies metamorphism, some external low-salinity fluids were involved. In situ UV-laser oxygen isotope analysis was undertaken on a 7 mm garnet, and impure pyroxene, amphibole and plagioclase. The nearly homogeneous oxygen isotopic composition (,18OVSMOW = c. 6.7,) in the garnet porphyroblast indicates closed fluid system conditions during garnet growth. However, isotopic fractionations between retrograde phases (amphibole and plagioclase) and garnet show an oxygen isotopic disequilibrium, indicating retrograde fluid,rock interactions. Unusual MORB-like rare earth element (REE) patterns for whole rock of the garnet pyroxenite contrast with most ultra-high-pressure (UHP) eclogites in the Dabie-Sulu area. However, the age-corrected initial ,Nd(t) is ,,2.9, which indicates that the protolith of the garnet pyroxenite was derived from an enriched mantle rather than from a MORB source. Combined with the present data of oxygen isotopic compositions and the characteristic N2 content in the fluid inclusions, we suggest that the protolith of the garnet pyroxenite from Raobazhai formed in an enriched mantle fragment, which has been exposed to the surface prior to the Triassic metamorphism. [source] Modeling water flux in forward osmosis: Implications for improved membrane designAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 7 2007Jeffrey R. Mccutcheon Abstract Osmotically-driven membrane processes, such as forward osmosis and pressure retarded osmosis, operate on the principle of osmotic transport of water across a semipermeable membrane from a dilute feed solution into a concentrated draw solution. The major hindrance to permeate water flux performance is the prevalence of concentration polarization on both sides of the membrane. This article evaluates the external and internal boundary layers, which decrease the effective osmotic driving force. By modeling permeate flux performance, the role that feed and draw concentrations, membrane orientation, and membrane structural properties play in overall permeate flux performance are elucidated and linked to prevalence of external and internal concentration polarization. External concentration polarization is found to play a significant role in the reduction of driving force, though internal concentration polarization has a far more pronounced effect for the chosen system conditions. Reduction of internal concentration polarization by way of membrane modification was found to improve the predicted flux performance significantly, suggesting that alteration of membrane design will lead to improved performance of osmotically driven membrane processes. © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2007 [source] Geochemistry, dispersal, volumes and chronology of Holocene silicic tephra layers from the Katla volcanic system, IcelandJOURNAL OF QUATERNARY SCIENCE, Issue 2 2001Gudrún Larsen Abstract At least 12 silicic tephra layers (SILK tephras) erupted between ca. 6600 and ca. 1675 yr BP from the Katla volcanic system, have been identified in southern Iceland. In addition to providing significant new knowledge on the Holocene volcanism of the Katla system which typically produces basaltic tephra, the SILK tephras form distinct and precise isochronous marker horizons in a climatically sensitive location close to both the atmospheric and marine polar fronts. With one exception the SILK tephras have a narrow compositional range, with SiO2 between 63 and 67%. Geochemically they are indistinguishable from ocean transported pumice found on beaches in the North Atlantic region, although they differ significantly from the silicic component of the North Atlantic Ash Zone One (NAAZO). Volumes of airborne SILK tephra range from 0.05 to 0.3 km3. We present new isopach maps of the six largest layers and demonstrate that they originate within the Katla caldera. The apparently stable magma system conditions that produced the SILK tephras may have been established as a consequence of the eruption of the silicic component of NAAZO (ca. 10.3 ka) and disrupted by another large-scale event, the tenth century ad Eldgjá eruption (ca. 1 ka). Despite the current long repose, silicic activity of this type may occur again in the future, presenting hitherto unknown hazards. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Shock-melted material in the Krymka LL3.1 chondrite: Behavior of the opaque mineralsMETEORITICS & PLANETARY SCIENCE, Issue 2 2005Vira P. Semenenko The shock pressure, nominally in the range of 75,90 GPa, could only have been 30,35 GPa in a porous material like fine-grained matrix. The melted regions have an igneous texture and their silicates are zoned and unequilibrated. Large metal-troilite intergrowths formed in these regions. The metal has a nickel content corresponding to martensite and the troilite contains up to 4.2 wt% nickel. Melting must have been very short and cooling very fast (>100 °C/h at high temperature). The metal contains up to 0.7 wt% phosphorus. Abundant chromite crystals and sodium-iron phosphate glass globules are found in troilite. The differences in composition between the opaque phases found in the melted regions and those generally observed in unmetamorphosed chondrules are assigned to melting under closed system conditions. Surprisingly high Co concentrations (up to 13 wt%) were found in some metal grains in or at the periphery of melted regions. They likely resulted from sulfurization of metal by sulfur vapor produced during the shock. After solidification, at least one other shock led to mechanical effects in the melted regions. [source] Risk indicators for hearing loss in infants treated in different Neonatal Intensive Care UnitsACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 3 2010P Van Dommelen Abstract Aim:, To assess which infants' characteristics and specialized procedures are risk indicators for unilateral or bilateral hearing loss (HL) and to evaluate whether these risk indicators are associated with variation in prevalence of HL between Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). Methods:, For 2002,2005, data from the NICU hearing screening database in the Netherlands were matched with the national neonatology database in which all NICU infants with their patient characteristics and specialized procedures are registered. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess risk indicators for HL and to explain differences in prevalence rates between NICUs. Results:, A total of 10 830 infants were available for analyses. The prevalence of HL was 1.8% and ranged from 0.7 to 3.7% between NICUs. Infants' characteristics that significantly increased the risk of HL were the presence of craniofacial anomalies, chomosomal/syndromal anomalies, central nervous system conditions, circulatory system conditions and intra-uterine infections. The specialized procedures involving ,12 days of intensive care and high frequency oxygenation ventilation were independent risk indicators for HL. Approximately 20% of the variance can be explained by the studied risk indicators. Differences in prevalence rates between NICUs were slightly reduced after adjustment for these risk indicators. NICUs with the highest prevalence rates of HL were situated in the largest cities in the Netherlands with a mixed population because of immigration. Therefore, ethnicity may be a risk indicator. Conclusions:, Several independent risk indicators for HL were found, but they could not explain all differences in prevalence rates of HL between NICUs. [source] Numerical modelling of the potential effects of a dam on a coastal aquifer in S. SpainHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 9 2009M. L. Calvache Abstract This study presents the results of a three-dimensional variable-density numerical modelling of the Motril-Salobreña coastal aquifer and the possible effects of the entry into service in May 2005 of the Rules Dam, located just 17 km from the coast. Present parameters of the Motril-Salobreña aquifer show that the system's conditions are very similar to a natural regime. The dam will substantially alter aquifer recharge, as the entry flow through the alluvial sediments of the Guadalfeo River will be entirely cut off or drastically reduced. Different scenarios reproducing the possible evolution of the aquifer under operation of the Rules Dam have been modelled. In most cases, results indicate that the conditions of the aquifer would worsen, with a general advance of the freshwater,saltwater interface. The area with most risk of saltwater intrusion is the old mouth of the Guadalfeo River, where the mixing zone could advance 1200 m inland. It is proposed that maintaining a 5,6 Mm3 year,1 ,ecological flow' in the Guadalfeo River could prevent this saline advance. This application demonstrates that variable-density models are potentially useful tools for estimating the effects of dams on the hydrodynamic and hydrochemical conditions of a coastal aquifer. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Fuzzy approach to dependability performance evaluationQUALITY AND RELIABILITY ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL, Issue 7 2008Dejan Ivezi Abstract This paper presents a model for dependability performance evaluation by fuzzy sets utilization. Basic dependability indicators (reliability, maintainability and maintenance support) are used for the analysis of technical systems' conditions from the aspects of design, construction, maintenance and logistics. These indicators as well as associated dependability expressions itself are described by linguistic variables, which are characterized by a membership function to the defined classes. The proposed model is primarily appropriate for introduction, analysis and synthesis of information related to quality of systems in operation. Such data are often available only as experts' judgment and estimations. A practical engineering example (mechanical system at bucket wheel excavator) has been presented to demonstrate the proposed dependability analysis and synthesis model. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||