Single-crystal growth and magnetic properties of the metallic molybdate pyrochlore Sm2Mo2O7

We have successfully grown cm3-size single crystals of the metallic-ferromagnet Sm2Mo2O7 by the floating-zone method using an infrared-red image furnace. The growth difficulties and the remedies found using a 2-mirror image furnace are discussed. Magnetization studies along the three crystalline axes of the compound are presented and discussed based on our recent proposal of an ordered spin-ice ground state for this compoun

A robust design methodology suitable for application to one-off products

Robust design is an activity of fundamental importance when designing large, complex, one-off engineering products. Work is described which is concerned with the application of the theory of design of experiments and stochastic optimization methods to explore and optimize at the concept design stage. The discussion begins with a description of state-of-the-art stochastic techniques and their application to robust design. The content then focuses on a generic methodology which is capable of manipulating design algorithms that can be used to describe a design concept. An example is presented, demonstrating the use of the system for the robust design of a catamaran with respect to seakeeping

Quality engineering of a traction alternator by robust design

Robust design is an engineering methodology for improving productivity during research and development so that high-quality products can be developed and produced quickly and at low cost. A large electrical company was developing traction alternators for a diesel electrical engine. Customer requirement was to obtain very high efficiency which, in turn, was influenced by several design parameters. The usual approach of the 'design-build-test' cycle was considered time-consuming and costly; it used to take anywhere from 4 months to 1 year before finalizing the product design parameters as it involved physical assembly and also testing. Instead, the authors used Taguchi's parameter design approach. This approach took about 8 weeks to arrive at optimum design parameter values; clearly demonstrating the cutting edge of this methodology over the traditional design-build-test approach. The prototype built and tested accordingly gave satisfactory overall performance, meeting and even exceeding customer requirements

Determination of the Joint Confidence Region of Optimal Operating Conditions in Robust Design by Bootstrap Technique

Robust design has been widely recognized as a leading method in reducing variability and improving quality. Most of the engineering statistics literature mainly focuses on finding "point estimates" of the optimum operating conditions for robust design. Various procedures for calculating point estimates of the optimum operating conditions are considered. Although this point estimation procedure is important for continuous quality improvement, the immediate question is "how accurate are these optimum operating conditions?" The answer for this is to consider interval estimation for a single variable or joint confidence regions for multiple variables. In this paper, with the help of the bootstrap technique, we develop procedures for obtaining joint "confidence regions" for the optimum operating conditions. Two different procedures using Bonferroni and multivariate normal approximation are introduced. The proposed methods are illustrated and substantiated using a numerical example.Comment: Two tables, Three figure

Pure Anderson Motives and Abelian \tau-Sheaves

Pure t-motives were introduced by G. Anderson as higher dimensional generalizations of Drinfeld modules, and as the appropriate analogs of abelian varieties in the arithmetic of function fields. In order to construct moduli spaces for pure t-motives the second author has previously introduced the concept of abelian \tau-sheaf. In this article we clarify the relation between pure t-motives and abelian \tau-sheaves. We obtain an equivalence of the respective quasi-isogeny categories. Furthermore, we develop the elementary theory of both structures regarding morphisms, isogenies, Tate modules, and local shtukas. The later are the analogs of p-divisible groups.Comment: final version as it appears in Mathematische Zeitschrif

The robustness of carbon fibre members bonded to aluminium connectors in aerial delivery systems

In this paper a framework for robust design solution of an adhesively bonded joint between a composite material and an aluminum connector is developed. To this end, an approach has been developed to automate the process of robust design by linking Ansys workbench and an in-house MATLAB code. The model employed in this study investigated the possibility of joining composite materials to aluminum components which is a problematic process in terms of preparation, implementation, etc. Before designing such a join, it is necessary to fully understand the behaviour of the proposed aluminum connector with the carbon fibre member. To achieve this, the investigation of the adhesive layer’s behaviour and the uncertainties involved in such structures was identified. The behaviour of the adhesive between the carbon fibre composite and the aluminum connector was modelled based on the assumption that this layer acts as a “spring system” within a “cohesive” zone. Initially, the properties of Permabond ET5428 BLACK adhesive were used for validating the finite element model using the obtained test data. A robust design method is then employed to identify the right adhesive for the joint which not only maximizes the debonding force and sliding distance but is also robust with respect to the variation in its mechanical properties. A wide range of adhesive properties have been employed and a robust design technique based on uncertainty analysis is proposed

Lower-stratospheric radiative damping and polar-night jet oscillation events

The effect of stratospheric radiative damping time scales on stratospheric variability and on stratosphere–troposphere coupling is investigated in a simplified global circulation model by modifying the vertical profile of radiative damping in the stratosphere while holding it fixed in the troposphere. Perpetual-January conditions are imposed, with sinusoidal topography of zonal wavenumber 1 or 2. The depth and duration of the simulated sudden stratospheric warmings closely track the lower-stratospheric radiative time scales. Simulations with the most realistic profiles of radiative damping exhibit extended time-scale recoveries analogous to polar-night jet oscillation (PJO) events, which are observed to follow sufficiently deep stratospheric warmings. These events are characterized by weak lower-stratospheric winds and enhanced stability near the tropopause, which persist for up to 3 months following the initial warming. They are obtained with both wave-1 and wave-2 topography. Planetary-scale Eliassen–Palm (EP) fluxes entering the vortex are also suppressed, which is in agreement with observed PJO events. Consistent with previous studies, the tropospheric jets shift equatorward in response to the warmings. The duration of the shift is closely correlated with the period of enhanced stability. The magnitude of the shift in these runs, however, is sensitive only to the zonal wavenumber of the topography. Although the shift is sustained primarily by synoptic-scale eddies, the net effect of the topographic form drag and the planetary-scale fluxes is not negligible; they damp the surface wind response but enhance the vertical shear. The tropospheric response may also reduce the generation of planetary waves, further extending the stratospheric dynamical time scales

Onset of fluidization in vertically shaken granular material

When granular material is shaken vertically one observes convection, surface fluidization, spontaneous heap formation and other effects. There is a controversial discussion in literature whether there exists a threshold for the Froude number $\Gamma=A_0\omega_0^2/g$ below which these effects cannot be observed anymore. By means of theoretical analysis and computer simulation we find that there is no such single threshold. Instead we propose a modified criterion which coincides with critical Froude number $\Gamma_c=1$ for small driving frequency $\omega_0$.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

Global structure of thermal tides in the upper cloud layer of Venus revealed by LIR onboard Akatsuki

Longwave Infrared Camera (LIR) onboard Akatsuki first revealed the global structure of the thermal tides in the upper cloud layer of Venus. The data were acquired over three Venusian years, and the analysis was done over the areas from the equator to the mid-latitudes in both hemispheres and over the whole local time. Thermal tides at two vertical levels were analyzed by comparing data at two different emission angles. Dynamical wave modes consisting of tides were identified; the diurnal tide consisted mainly of Rossby-wave and gravity-wave modes, while the semidiurnal tide predominantly consisted of a gravity-wave mode. The revealed vertical structures were roughly consistent with the above wave modes, but some discrepancy remained if the waves were supposed to be monochromatic. In turn, the heating profile that excites the tidal waves can be constrained to match this discrepancy, which would greatly advance the understanding of the Venusian atmosphere.Comment: 27 pages, 8 figure