No description available.

The methods and principles of cybernetics are applied to a discussion of stability and regulation in social systems taking a global viewpoint. The fundamental but still classical notion of stability as applied to homeostatic and ultrastable systems is discussed, with a particular reference to a specific well-studied example of a closed social group (the Tsembaga studied by Roy Rappaport in New Guinea). The discussion extends to the problem of evolution in large systems and the question of regulating evolution is addressed without special qualifications. A more comprehensive idea of stability is introduced as the argument turns to the problem of evolution for viability in general. Concepts pertaining to the problem of evolution are exemplified by a computer simulation model of an abstractly defined ecosystem in which various dynamic processes occur allowing the study of adaptive and evolutionary behaviour. In particular, the role of coalition formation and cooperative behaviour is stressed as a key factor in the evolution of complexity. The model consists of a population of several species of dimensionless automata inhabiting a geometrically defined environment in which a commodity essential for metabolic requirements (food) appears. Automata can sense properties of their environment, move about it, compete for food, reproduce or combine into coalitions thus forming new and more complex species. Each species is associated with a specific genotype from which the species’ behavioural characteristics (its phenotype) are derived. Complexity and survival efficiency of species increases through coalition formation, an event which occurs when automata are faced with an “undecidable” situation that is resolvable only by forming a new and more complex organization. Exogenous manipulation of the food distribution pattern and other critical factors produces different environmental conditions resulting in different behaviour patterns of automata and in different evolutionary “pathways.” Eve-1, the computer program developed to implement this model, accepts a high-level command language which allows for the setting of parameters, definition of initial configurations, and control of output formats. Results of simulation are produced graphically and include various pertinent tables. The program was given a modular hierarchical structure which allows easy generation of new versions incorporating different sets of rules. The model strives to capture the essence of the evolution of complexity viewed as a general process rather than to describe the evolution of a particular “real” system. In this respect it is not context-specific, and the behaviours which are observable in different runs can receive various interpretation depending on specific identifications. Of these, biological, ecological, and sociological interpretations are the most obvious and the latter, in particular, is stressed.

This work investigated a numerical approach to the search of a maximum heat transfer rate density (the overall heat transfer dissipated per unit of volume) from a two-dimensional laminar multiscale array of cylinders in cross-flow under an applied fixed pressure drop and subject to the constraint of fixed volume. It was furthermore assumed that the flow field was steady state and incompressible. The configuration had two degrees of freedom in the stationary state, that is, the spacing between the cylinders and the diameter of the smaller cylinders. The angular velocity of the cylinders was in the range 0 ≤ ϖ, ≤ 0.1. Two cylinders of different diameters were used, in the first case, the cylinders were aligned along a plane which lay on their centrelines. In the second case, the cylinder leading edge was aligned along the plane that received the incoming fluid at the same time. The diameter of the smaller cylinder was fixed at the optimal diameter obtained when the cylinders were stationary. Tests were conducted for co-rotating and counterrotating cylinders. The results were also compared with results obtained in the open literature and the trend was found to be the same. Results showed that the heat transfer from a rotating array of cylinders was enhanced in certain cases and this was observed for both directions of rotation from an array which was aligned on the centreline. For rotating cylinders with the same leading edge, there is heat transfer suppression and hence the effect of rotation on the maximum heat transfer rate density is insignificant. This research is important in further understanding of heat transfer from rotating cylinders, which can be applied to applications ranging from contact cylinder dryers in the chemical processes industry and rotating cylinder electrodes to devices used for roller hearth furnaces. / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering / unrestricted

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No description available.

O principal objetivo desta tese é estudar os efeitos inerciais e de pressão do escoamento médio sobre o próprio escoamento médio de jatos bi-dimensionais confinados. Os escoamentos considerados no presente trabalho são turbulentos, isotérmicos, incompressíveis e compostos por fluidos simples. A introdução e a revisão bibliográfica são feitas por meio da apresentação: das motivações tecnológicas e fundamentais para a escolha do tema da presente tese; do cenário no qual a abordagem adotada está inserida; dos parâmetros adimensionais usualmente adotados na literatura para caracterizar os jatos bidimensionais confinados (parâmetros clássicos); e dos dados experimentais levantados na literatura na forma de correlações semi-empíricas, e de perfis de propriedades do escoamento. A presente tese desenvolve uma abordagem integral e adimensional para jatos confinados. As hipóteses adotadas nesta abordagem são aquelas relativas a escoamentos em camada fina cisalhante, e a escoamentos não dissipativos. A abordagem é baseada em balanços integrais de massa e quantidade de movimento. Os termos de quantidade de movimento são classificados como inerciais ou de pressão; e como fluxos, forças ou fontes. Esta classificação permite analisar os efeitos considerados pelos parâmetros adimensionais clássicos. Os parâmetros clássicos não satizfazem simultaneamente às seguintes condições: ser baseado em uma superfície de controle fechada; e ter os efeitos inerciais e de pressão separados em parâmetros distintos. Desta forma, são desenvolvidos dois parâmetros adimensionais novos. Estes parâmetros novos são usados na definição de variáveis adimensionais cuja finalidade é obter uma regra de escalonamento apropriada. A regra de escalonamento desenvolvida é validada por meio de sua aplicação a três bancos de dados de literatura. Esta aplicação mostra a influência dos efeitos inerciais e de pressão sobre o escoamento. A qualidade dos dados experimentais de literatura e próprios também é avaliada pela aplicação desta mesma regra de escalonamento. O túnel de vento construído para estudo de jatos confinados axi-simétricos é apresentado por meio: dos requisitos de projeto; dos critérios de projeto; e da descrição dos componentes. Este túnel possui seção de teste com 300mm de diâmetro e 1500mm de comprimento; contração com razão de área de 4 : 1 e lanças de ar com diâmetros de 10mm, 40mm, 75mm e 150mm. Os procedimentos experimentais adotados na caracterização do escoamento do túnel de vento axi-simétrico incluem: a técnica de determinação do tensor das tensões de Reynolds e do vetor velocidade média em função de medições de velocidade média e de tensão normal de Reynolds em 6 direções distintas; a validação desta técnica; e as correções de posicionamento e de direcionamento do intrumento de medição. O instrumento de medição utilizado foi um anemômetro a laser (LDV). As principais contribuições da presente tese são as seguintes: redesenvolvimento dos parâmetros adimensionais clássicos de jatos confinados por meio de uma metodologia e nomenclatura unificada; proposição de dois parâmetros adimensionais para jatos confinados, um para efeitos inerciais e outro para efeitos de pressão; incremento do banco de dados experimentais referentes a jatos confinados; construção de um túnel de vento axi-simétrico para estudo de jatos confinados; e descoberta da existência de similaridade em jatos confinados com gradiente de pressão elevado. / The main objective of this thesis is to study the mean flow inertial and pressure effects on the mean flow itself in two-dimensional confined jets. The flows considered in the present work are turbulent, isothermal, incompressible and single-fluid. The introduction and the bibliographical review are done by the following presentations: technological and fundamental motivations for the choice of the thesis subject; the scene where the adopted approach is included; dimensionless parameters usually adopted in the literature for two-dimensional confined jets characterization (classic parameters); and experimental data found in literature as semi-empirical correlation, and as mean flow properties profiles. This thesis develops an integral and dimensionless approach for confined jets. The hypotheses adopted in such approach are the thin shear layer approximation, and the non-dissipative flow assumption. The approach is based on mass and momentum integral balances. The terms are classified as inertial or as pressure; and as flux, as force, or as source. Such classification allows the analysis of the effects considered by the dimensionless classic parameters. The classic parameters do not satisfy the following conditions simultaneously: to be based on a closed control surface; and to separate the inertial and pressure effects in distinct parameters. Due to this, two new dimensionless parameters are developed. The new dimensionless parameters are used in dimensionless variables definition whose purpose is to obtain a proper scaling rule. The developed scaling rule is validated applying it to three data banks from literature. This application shows the inertial and pressure effects on the flow. The quality of the literature and the own data bank is evaluated by this scaling rule application. The wind tunnel built for axi-symmetric confined jets studies is presented by: project requirements; project criteria; and components description. This tunnel has a test section with 300mm in diameter and 1500mm in length; contraction area rate of 4 : 1; and air guns with 10mm, 40mm, 75mm and 150mm in diameters. The procedures adopted in the axi-symmetric wind tunnel flow characterization include: the scheme to determine the Reynolds stress tensor and the mean velocity vector from mean velocity and normal Reynolds stress measurements in six distinct directions; this scheme validation; and the positioning and directioning probe corrections. The instrument used was a laser Doppler velocimeter. The main contributions of the present thesis are the following: redevelopment of the confined jets classic dimensionless parameters through an unified methodology and nomenclature; the proposition of two new confined jets dimensionless parameters, one for inertial effects and other for pressure effects. improvement of experimental data bank regarding confined jets; construction of an axi-symmetric wind tunnel for confined jet studies; and the discovery of the similarity existence in confined jets with high pressure gradient.

Slope stability assessments are classical problems for geotechnical engineers. The predictions of slope stability in soil or rock masses play an important role when designing for dams, roads, tunnels, excavations, open pit mines and other engineering structures. Stability charts continue to be used by engineers as preliminary design tools and by educators for training purposes. However, the majority of the existing chart solutions assume the slope problem is semi-infinite (plane-strain) in length. It is commonly believed that this assumption is conservative for design, but non-conservative when a back-analysis is performed. In order to obtain a more economical design or more precise parameters from a back-analysis, it is therefore important to quantify three dimensional boundary effects on slope stability. A significant aim of this research is to look more closely at the effect of three dimensions when predicting slope stability. In engineering practice, the limit equilibrium method (LEM) is the most popular approach for estimating the slope stability. It is well known that the solution obtained from the limit equilibrium method is not rigorous, because neither static nor kinematic admissibility conditions are satisfied. In addition, assumptions are made regarding inter slice forces for a two dimensional case and inter-column forces for a three dimensional case in order to find a solution. Therefore, a number of more theoretically rigorous numerical methods have been used in this research when studying 2D and 3D slope problems. In this thesis, the results of a comprehensive numerical study into the failure mechanisms of soil and rock slopes are presented. Consideration is given to the wide range of parameters that influence slope stability. The aim of this research is to better understand slope failure mechanisms and to develop rigorous stability solutions that can be used by design engineers. The study is unique in that two distinctly different numerical methods have been used in tandem to determine the ultimate stability of slopes, namely the upper and lower bound theorems of limit analysis and the displacement finite element method. The limit equilibrium method is also employed for comparison purposes. A comparison of the results from each technique provides an opportunity to validate the findings and gives a rigorous evaluation of slope stability.

O principal objetivo desta tese é estudar os efeitos inerciais e de pressão do escoamento médio sobre o próprio escoamento médio de jatos bi-dimensionais confinados. Os escoamentos considerados no presente trabalho são turbulentos, isotérmicos, incompressíveis e compostos por fluidos simples. A introdução e a revisão bibliográfica são feitas por meio da apresentação: das motivações tecnológicas e fundamentais para a escolha do tema da presente tese; do cenário no qual a abordagem adotada está inserida; dos parâmetros adimensionais usualmente adotados na literatura para caracterizar os jatos bidimensionais confinados (parâmetros clássicos); e dos dados experimentais levantados na literatura na forma de correlações semi-empíricas, e de perfis de propriedades do escoamento. A presente tese desenvolve uma abordagem integral e adimensional para jatos confinados. As hipóteses adotadas nesta abordagem são aquelas relativas a escoamentos em camada fina cisalhante, e a escoamentos não dissipativos. A abordagem é baseada em balanços integrais de massa e quantidade de movimento. Os termos de quantidade de movimento são classificados como inerciais ou de pressão; e como fluxos, forças ou fontes. Esta classificação permite analisar os efeitos considerados pelos parâmetros adimensionais clássicos. Os parâmetros clássicos não satizfazem simultaneamente às seguintes condições: ser baseado em uma superfície de controle fechada; e ter os efeitos inerciais e de pressão separados em parâmetros distintos. Desta forma, são desenvolvidos dois parâmetros adimensionais novos. Estes parâmetros novos são usados na definição de variáveis adimensionais cuja finalidade é obter uma regra de escalonamento apropriada. A regra de escalonamento desenvolvida é validada por meio de sua aplicação a três bancos de dados de literatura. Esta aplicação mostra a influência dos efeitos inerciais e de pressão sobre o escoamento. A qualidade dos dados experimentais de literatura e próprios também é avaliada pela aplicação desta mesma regra de escalonamento. O túnel de vento construído para estudo de jatos confinados axi-simétricos é apresentado por meio: dos requisitos de projeto; dos critérios de projeto; e da descrição dos componentes. Este túnel possui seção de teste com 300mm de diâmetro e 1500mm de comprimento; contração com razão de área de 4 : 1 e lanças de ar com diâmetros de 10mm, 40mm, 75mm e 150mm. Os procedimentos experimentais adotados na caracterização do escoamento do túnel de vento axi-simétrico incluem: a técnica de determinação do tensor das tensões de Reynolds e do vetor velocidade média em função de medições de velocidade média e de tensão normal de Reynolds em 6 direções distintas; a validação desta técnica; e as correções de posicionamento e de direcionamento do intrumento de medição. O instrumento de medição utilizado foi um anemômetro a laser (LDV). As principais contribuições da presente tese são as seguintes: redesenvolvimento dos parâmetros adimensionais clássicos de jatos confinados por meio de uma metodologia e nomenclatura unificada; proposição de dois parâmetros adimensionais para jatos confinados, um para efeitos inerciais e outro para efeitos de pressão; incremento do banco de dados experimentais referentes a jatos confinados; construção de um túnel de vento axi-simétrico para estudo de jatos confinados; e descoberta da existência de similaridade em jatos confinados com gradiente de pressão elevado. / The main objective of this thesis is to study the mean flow inertial and pressure effects on the mean flow itself in two-dimensional confined jets. The flows considered in the present work are turbulent, isothermal, incompressible and single-fluid. The introduction and the bibliographical review are done by the following presentations: technological and fundamental motivations for the choice of the thesis subject; the scene where the adopted approach is included; dimensionless parameters usually adopted in the literature for two-dimensional confined jets characterization (classic parameters); and experimental data found in literature as semi-empirical correlation, and as mean flow properties profiles. This thesis develops an integral and dimensionless approach for confined jets. The hypotheses adopted in such approach are the thin shear layer approximation, and the non-dissipative flow assumption. The approach is based on mass and momentum integral balances. The terms are classified as inertial or as pressure; and as flux, as force, or as source. Such classification allows the analysis of the effects considered by the dimensionless classic parameters. The classic parameters do not satisfy the following conditions simultaneously: to be based on a closed control surface; and to separate the inertial and pressure effects in distinct parameters. Due to this, two new dimensionless parameters are developed. The new dimensionless parameters are used in dimensionless variables definition whose purpose is to obtain a proper scaling rule. The developed scaling rule is validated applying it to three data banks from literature. This application shows the inertial and pressure effects on the flow. The quality of the literature and the own data bank is evaluated by this scaling rule application. The wind tunnel built for axi-symmetric confined jets studies is presented by: project requirements; project criteria; and components description. This tunnel has a test section with 300mm in diameter and 1500mm in length; contraction area rate of 4 : 1; and air guns with 10mm, 40mm, 75mm and 150mm in diameters. The procedures adopted in the axi-symmetric wind tunnel flow characterization include: the scheme to determine the Reynolds stress tensor and the mean velocity vector from mean velocity and normal Reynolds stress measurements in six distinct directions; this scheme validation; and the positioning and directioning probe corrections. The instrument used was a laser Doppler velocimeter. The main contributions of the present thesis are the following: redevelopment of the confined jets classic dimensionless parameters through an unified methodology and nomenclature; the proposition of two new confined jets dimensionless parameters, one for inertial effects and other for pressure effects. improvement of experimental data bank regarding confined jets; construction of an axi-symmetric wind tunnel for confined jet studies; and the discovery of the similarity existence in confined jets with high pressure gradient.

No description available.

<p>Knowledge of the turbulent fluxes at the sea surface is important for understanding the interaction between atmosphere and ocean. With better knowledge, improvements in the estimation of the heat exchange coefficients can be made and hence models are able to predict the weather and future climate with higher accuracy.</p><p>The exchange coefficients of latent and sensible heat during stable stratification vary in the literature. Therefore it is necessary to investigate the processes influencing the air-sea exchange of water vapour and heat in order to estimate these values. With measurements from a tower and a directional waverider buoy at the site Östergarnsholm in the Baltic Sea, data used in this study have been sampled from the years 2005-2007. This site represents open-ocean conditions during most situations when the wind comes from the south-east sector. The neutral exchange coefficients, CEN and CHN, have been calculated along with the non-dimensional profile functions for temperature and wind to study the dependence of stability and other parameters of relevance.</p><p>It was found that CEN increased slightly with wind speed and reached a mean value of approximately 1.45×10-3. The highest values of CEN were observed during near neutral conditions and low wave ages. CHN attained a mean value of approximately 0.77×10-3 and did not show any relation to wind speed or to wave age. No significant dependence with wind or wave direction could be shown for either CEN or CHN in the sector 80-220°. The stability correction, performed to reduce the dependence on stratification for CEN and CHN, was well performed for stabilities higher than 0.15. The stability is represented by a relationship between the height and the Obukhov-length (z/L).</p><p>Validity of the non-dimensional profile functions for temperature and wind showed that, for smaller stabilities, these functions gave higher values than the corresponding functions recommended by Högström (1996). The profile funtions for temperature was shown to have a larger scatter while the profile functions for wind was less scattered and deviated more from the functions given by Högström</p> / <p>Kunskap om turbulenta flöden i det marina gränsskiktet är viktigt för att förstå växelverkan mellan atmosfär och hav. Med bättre kunskap kan förbättringar i bestämningen av utbyteskoefficienterna för latent och sensibelt värme erhållas. Det medför att modeller kan prognostisera väder och framtida klimat med högre noggrannhet.</p><p>Utbyteskoefficienterna för latent och sensibelt värme har för stabil skiktning olika värden i litteraturen. Detta gör det nödvändigt att undersöka de processer som påverkar utbytet av vattenånga och värme mellan luft och hav för att kunna bestämma dessa värden. Data som har använts i den här studien insamlades mellan år 2005 och 2007 från en boj och ett torn vid mätplatsen Östergarnsholm i Baltiska havet. För det flesta situationer, när vinden blåser från syd-ost, representerar mätplatsen ett förhållande likvärdigt det över öppet hav. De neutrala utbyteskoefficienterna, CEN och CHN, och de dimensionslösa profilfunktionera för temperatur och vind, och , har beräknats för att studera beroendet av stabilitet samt andra relevanta parametrar.</p><p>Beräkningarna visade att CEN ökade något med vindhastighet och hamnade på ett medelvärde av ungefär 1.45×10-3. De högsta värdena på CEN observerades vid nära neutrala förhållanden och låga vågåldrar. CHN uppmättes till att ha ett medelvärde på ungefär 0.77×10-3 och uppvisade inget beroende med vindhastighet eller vågålder. Inget märkbart beroende med vind- eller vågriktning kunde visas för CEN eller CHN i sektorn 80-220°. Stabilitetskorrektionen, utförd för att reducera beroendet av atmosfärens skiktning för CEN och CHN, var bra för stabiliteter högre än 0.15. Stabiliteten representeras av förhållandet mellan höjden och Obukhov-längden (z/L).</p><p>Utvärdering av de dimensionslösa funktionerna för temperatur och vind visade att dessa funktioner, för små stabiliteter, gav högre värden än motsvarande funktioner som rekommenderas av Högström (1996). Värdena på profilfunktionerna för temperatur hade större spridning än värdena på profilfunktionerna för vind och avvek mer från funktionerna givna av Högström.</p>