The study of the shear behavior of particulate (soil) – continuum (man-made material) interfaces has received significant attention during the last three decades. The historical belief that the particulate – continuum interface represents the weak link in most geotechnical systems has been shown to be incorrect for many situations. Namely, prescribing properties of the continuum material, such as its surface roughness and hardness, can result in interface strengths that are equal to the contacting soil mass internal shear strength. This research expands the engineering implications of these findings by studying the response of interface systems in different loading conditions. Specifically, the axial and torsional shear modes are studied in detail. Throughout this thesis it is shown that taking an engineering approach to design the loading conditions induced to the interface system can result in interface strengths that exceed the previously considered limiting shear strength of the contacting soil. Fundamental experimental and numerical studies on specimens of different types of sand subjected to torsional and axial interface shear highlighted the inherent differences of these processes. Specifically, micro-scale soil deformation measurements showed that torsional shear induces larger soil deformations as compared to axial shear, as well as complex volume-change tendencies consisting of dilation and contraction in the primary and secondary shear zones. Studies on the global response of torsional and axial shear tests showed that they are affected differently by soil properties such as particle angularity and roughness. This difference in global behavior highlights the benefits of making systems that transfer load to the contacting soil in different manners available for use in geotechnical engineering. Discrete Element Modeling (DEM) simulations allowed for internal information of the specimens to be studied, such as their fabric and shear-induced loading conditions. These findings allowed for the development of links between the measured micro-scale behavior and the observed global-scale response. The understanding of the behavior of torsional and axial interfaces has allowed provides a framework for the development of enhanced geotechnical systems and applications. The global response of torsional shear found to induce larger cyclic contractive tendencies within the contacting soil mass. Therefore, this shear mode is more desirable than the conventional axial shear for the study of phenomena that depend on soil contractive behavior, such as liquefaction. A study on the influence of surface roughness form revealed that surfaces with periodic profiles of protruding elements that prevent clogging are capable of mobilizing interface friction angles that are 20 to 60% larger than the soil friction angle. These findings have direct implications in engineering design since their implementation can result in more resilient and sustainable geotechnical systems.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1985 K57 / Master of Science

Le groupe de recherche CAMUS de l'Université de Sherbrooke a conceptualisé et breveté en 2011 une nouvelle architecture de turbine à gaz nommé SRGT (Supersonic Rim-Rotor Gas Turbine). Aucune démonstration expérimentale n’a encore permis d’évaluer ses performances. Ce projet de maitrise consiste donc à l’analyse de la dynamique des gaz d’une turbomachine de type SRGT afin d’évaluer la possibilité de générer de la puissance nette positive en régime permanent. L’objectif de ce projet de recherche est de concevoir les composantes aérodynamiques d’une turbine à gaz SRGT en mode supersonique et de caractériser l’écoulement sur toute la plage d’opération du moteur. Ainsi, on pourra évaluer le potentiel de cette technologie et la pertinence de continuer le développement vers un produit futur. L’évaluation des performances aérodynamiques des composantes du moteur a été effectuée selon un modèle analytique 1D généralisé des écoulements compressibles et selon l’analyse des triangles des vitesses. Des simulations numériques par la méthode de la mécanique des fluides numérique (CFD) ont permis de valider le modèle analytique du moteur. Le point d’opération du moteur (vitesse du moteur de 125 000 rpm, débit massique d’air de 130 g/s, rapport de pression du compresseur de 2.75 et température maximum à l’entrée de la turbine de 1000 K) a été sélectionné afin de produire une puissance nette de plus de 1 kW. Un prototype a été fabriqué et mis en fonction sur un banc de test développé spécialement pour le moteur. L’expérimentation a démontré que le compresseur peut fournir un rapport de pression de plus de 1.35 à 100 krpm pour un débit massique d’air supérieur à 50 g/s. La carte de performance du compresseur a été obtenue expérimentalement ainsi que ses limites d’opérations (limite de blocage et de pompage) pour des vitesses jusqu’à 90 krpm. Des tests d’allumage ont démontré que le moteur avait un gain de puissance de plus de 1 kW durant sa phase d’accélération, bien que la puissance nette du moteur reste négative. La caractérisation de la turbine n’a pas pu révéler si sa conception était adéquate en mode supersonique. L’expérimentation du prototype n’a pas permis de valider si le moteur peut produire une puissance nette positive en régime permanent.

The Gram-positive pathogens Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Streptococcus pyogenes both require iron for survival. These bacteria have developed sophisticated heme uptake and transport protein machinery responsible for the import of iron into the cell, in the form of heme from the human host. The heme utilization pathway (hmu) of C. diphtheriae utilizes multiple proteins to bind and transport heme into the cell. One of these proteins, HmuT, delivers heme to the ABC transporter HmuUV. The axial ligation of the heme in HmuT was probed by examination of wild-type HmuT and a series of conserved heme pocket residue mutants, H136A, Y235A, R237A, Y272A, M292A, Y349A, and Y349F. Characterization by UV-visible absorption, resonance Raman, and magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopies indicated that H136 and Y235 are the axial ligands in HmuT. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry was also utilized to assess the roles of conserved residues in contribution to heme binding. The S. pyogenes streptococcal iron acquisition (sia)/heme transport system (hts) utilizes multiple proteins to bring host heme to the intracellular space. Both the substrate binding protein SiaA and the hemoprotein surface receptor Shr were investigated. The kinetic effects on SiaA heme release were probed through chemical unfolding of axial ligand mutants M79A and H229A, as well mutants thought to contribute to heme binding, K61A and C58A, and a control mutant, C47A. The unfolding pathways showed two processes for protein denaturation. This is consistent with heme loss from protein forms differing by the orientation of the heme in the binding pocket. The ease of protein unfolding is related to the strength of interaction of the residues with the heme. Shr contains two NEAT (near-iron transporter) domains (Shr-N1 and Shr-N2) which can both bind heme. Biophysical studies of both Shr-N1 and Shr-N2 indicated a new class of NEAT domains which utilize methionine as an axial ligand, rather than a tyrosine. Thermal and chemical unfolding showed ferrous Shr-N1 and Shr-N2 to be most resistant to denaturation. Shr-N2 was prone to autoreduction. Together, sequence alignment, homology modeling, and spectral signatures are all consistent with two methionines as the heme ligands of this novel type of NEAT heme-binding domain.

Thesis (MScEng (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / The objective of the thesis is to improve the performance prediction of axial compressors, using a streamline throughflow method (STFM) code by modelling the hub and casing wall boundary layers, and additional flow mechanisms that occur within a blade row passage. Blade row total pressure loss and deviation correlations are reviewed. The effect of Mach number and the blade tip clearance gap are also reviewed as additional loss sources. An entrainment integral method is introduced to model the hub and casing wall boundary layers. Various 1-dimensional test cases are performed before implementing the integral boundary layer method into the STFM. The boundary layers represent an area blockage throughout the compressor, similar to a displacement thickness, but affects two velocity components. This effectively reduces the compressor flow area by altering the hub and casing radial positions at all stations. The results from the final STFM code with the integral boundary layer model, Mach number model and tip clearance model is compared against high pressure ratio compressor test cases. The blockage results, individual blade row and overall performance results are compared with published data. The deviation angle curve fits developed by Roos and Aungier are compared. There is good agreement for all parameters, except for the slope of deviation angle with incidence angle for low solidity. For the three compressors modelled, there is good agreement between the blockage prediction obtained and the blockage prediction of Aungier. The NACA 5-stage transonic compressor overall performance shows good agreement at all speeds, except for 90% of design speed. The NACA 10-stage subsonic compressor shows good agreement for low and medium speeds, but needs improvement at 90% and 100% of design speeds. The NACA 8-stage transonic compressor results compared well only at low speeds.

Thesis (MScEng (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this investigation is to determine the performance of an axial ow compressor operating in a closed loop helium cycle under high through- ow conditions. The GTHTR300 four-stage helium test compressor was chosen for this investigation. Limited information on the helium test compressor's blade pro les are available, therefore a mathematical model was developed to calculate the blade geometries based on the theory of Lieblein and Aungier. A locally available three-stage compressor was used to con rm whether the mathematical model calculated the blade pro le geometries correctly. The Stellenbosch University Compressor Code (SUCC), an axisymmetric inviscid through- ow code, was used to compare the performance of the calculated three-stage compressor blade geometries with available experimental data. Excellent correlation was obtained, thus it was concluded that the mathematical model as well as the SUCC could be used to predict the performance of an axial ow compressor. The blade geometries of the helium test compressor were calculated and the pressure ratio and e ciency predictions of the SUCC correlated well with the experimental data. The helium test compressor was simulated to verify the calculated blade geometries further using the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) package NUMECA FINE /Turbo. The FINE /Turbo pressure ratio and e ciency predictions compared adequately with the SUCC and available experimental data, especially in the design region. At high mass ow rates the stator blade row experiences negative incidence stall which results in a large recirculation zone in the stator blade wake. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie ondersoek is om vas te stel wat die werkverrigting is van 'n aksiale kompressor in 'n geslote lus helium siklus onderhewig aan hoë deurvloei kondisies. Die GTHTR300 vier-stadium helium toets kompressor is gekies vir die ondersoek. Daar is egter beperkte inligting oor die helium kompressor se lem geometrie, dus is 'n wiskundige model ontwikkel om dit te bereken gebaseer op die werk van Lieblein en Aungier. Om te bevestig dat die lem geometrie akkuraat was, was die lem geometrie van die 'n plaaslike beskikbare drie-stadium kompressor bereken. Die Stellenbosch University Compressor Code (SUCC), 'n aksisimmetriese nie-viskeuse deurvloei kode, is gebruik om die prestasie van die berekende lem geometrie met beskikbare eksperimentele data te vergelyk. Uitstekende korrelasie is verkry vir die drukverhouding en benuttingsgraad resultate, dus is die gevolgtrekking gemaak dat die wiskundige model sowel as die SUCC gebruik kon word om die lem geometrie en werkverrigting van aksiale kompressors te bereken en voorspel. Die helium toets kompressor is gesimuleer met behulp van die numeriese vloei-dinamika pakket NUMECA FINE /Turbo om die berkende lem geometrie verder te veri eer. Die FINE /Turbo drukverhouding en benuttingsgraad resultate het goed gekorreleer met beide die SUCC resultate en eksperimentele data, veral in die ontwerpsgebied. Teen hoë massa vloei tempo's vind daar groot wegbreking teen negatiewe invalshoek plaas in die stator lemry en dit veroorsaak 'n hersirkulasie sone in die naloop van die stator lem.

Overall losses in swash plate type axial piston machines are mainly defined by three tribological interfaces. These are swash plate/slipper, piston/cylinder and cylinder block/valve plate. Within a research project, funded by the German Research Foundation, a combined approach of experimental research and simulation is chosen to acquire further knowledge on the cylinder block/valve plate contact. The experimental investigations focus on the friction torque within the contact and the measurement of the cylinder block movement in all six degrees of freedom. Simultaneously a simulation model is created focusing on the main physical effects. By considering the results of the experimental investigations significant physical effects for the simulation model are assessed. Within this paper a first comparison between experimental results and the simulation is presented, showing that for a qualitative match the implemented effects (mainly the fluid film, solid body movement, solid body contact, surface deformation) are sufficient to model the general behaviour of theinvestigated pump.

The cylinder block/valve plate interface is a critical design element of axial piston machines. In the past, extensive work has been done at Maha Fluid Power Research center to model this interface were a novel fluid structure thermal interaction model was developed which accounts for thermal and elasto-hydrodynamic effects and has been proven to give an accurate prediction of the fluid film thickness. This paper presents an in-depth investigation of the impact of the elastic deformation due to pressure and thermal loadings of the end case/housing on the performance of the cylinder block/valve plate interface. This research seeks to understand in a systematic manner the sensitivity of the cylinder block/valve plate interface to the structural design and material properties. A comparison between simulations results is done by utilizing different end case designs and material compositions, both in the valveplate and end case solids.

Markets show a clear trend towards an ever more extensive electronic networking in mobile and stationary applications. This requires a certain degree of electronic integration of hydraulic components such as axial piston pumps. Beside some wellknow approaches, the transmission of axial piston units still is relatively unexplored regarding electronification. Nonetheless there is a quite high potential to be optimized by electronic. In view of this fact, the present paper deals with the tribological contacts of pumps based on a demand driven hydrostatic relief. The contact areas at cylinder - distributor plate, cradle bearing and slipper - swash plate will be investigated in detail and it will be shown how the pump behavior can be improved considerably through a higher level of relief and a central remaining force ratio. The potential of optimization is to improve the efficiency, especially in partial loaded operation, power range, also for multi quadrant operation, precision and stability. A stable lubricating film for slow-speed running and for very high speeds at different pressures is ensured as well.

The present study investigates the f ormation of tribolayers on bronze CuSn12Ni2. Two different test rigs are used, of which one is a sliding bearing test rig in order to perform lubricated thrust bearing tests. Bronze CuSn12Ni2 is used for the sliding elements and the counter body is made of C45 steel. In addition to that, an axial piston pump test rig was used to determine t he transfera bility of the results to th e axial pist on pump. The test conditions are set up in a way t hat the tribological load s in the contacts are similar to each other. Changes in the subsurfa ce morphology and the chemical composition of the tribolayer were analysed using electron pro be micro a nalysis (EPMA), trans mission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X -ray spectro scopy (EDS) and X-ra y photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Focused ion beam (FIB) milling was used to prepare site -specific TE M foils fro m the wear track. The formation of a nano scale tribolayer was associat ed with red uced wear, which leads to low leak age in the a xial piston pump. This tribolayer is enriched with oxygen, sulfur and zinc, which is an effect of tribochemical reactions of environment molecules and surface molecules.