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In this research, a tribocharging model based on the prominent condenser model was used in combination with an Eulerian-Lagrangian CFD model to simulate particle tribocharging in particle-laden flows. The influence of different parameters on particle-wall interactions during particle transport in a particle-laden pipe flow was elucidated. An artificial neural network was developed for predicting particle-wall collision numbers based on a database obtained through CFD simulations. The particle-wall collision number from the CFD model was validated against experimental data in the literature. The tribocharging and CFD models were coupled with the experimental tribocharging data to estimate the contact potential difference of powders, which is a function of contact surfaces' work functions and depends on the physicochemical properties of materials. While the contact potential difference between the particles and wall is an essential parameter in the tribocharging models, the accurate measurement of the property is a complex process requiring a highly controlled environment and special equipment. The results from this research also confirm that particle tribocharging is very much dependant on the particle-wall collision number influenced by various parameters, such as particle size and density, air velocity, and pipe dimensions. Plotting the experimentally measured charge-to-mass ratios against the calculated contact potential differences for samples with different protein contents uncovered a linear trend, which opens a novel approach for protein quantification of powders for a given particle size. Therefore, an algorithm is proposed for rapid quantification of protein content and particle size determination of samples during transport in particle-laden flows based on the triboelectric charge measurement. The algorithm requires a CFD-based artificial neural network to estimate the particle-wall interactions based on the hydrodynamic characteristics of the particles and flow systems. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

<p> This thesis examines the rotation-vibration spectra of systems of two and three particles (spin zero). The results in the two-particle case agree with many of the gross features of the spectra of deformed axially symmetric even-even nuclei. In the three-particle case, the set of basis functions used i n the expansions of the wavefunctions was too small to give accurate eigenvalues and eigenvectors, but nevertheless the spectrum clearly corresponds to that of an asymmetric even-even nucleus. </p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

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No description available.

Particle ingestion and deposition is an issue of concern for gas turbine engines operating in harsh environments. The ingested particles accelerate the deterioration of engine components and thus reduce its service life. This effect is observed to a greater extent in aircrafts/helicopters operating in particle laden environment. Understanding the effects of particle ingestion at engine representative condition leads to improved designs for turbomachinery. Experiments have been in an Aerothermal Rig facility at Virginia Tech to study particle deposition at engine representative temperatures. The Aerothermal Rig was upgraded to achieve air temperatures of up to 1100°C at the test section. The experiments are performed using Arizona Road Dust (ARD) of 20-40 μm size range. The temperature of air and particles are around 1100°C at a constant velocity of 70 m/s. The target coupon is made of Hastelloy X, a nickel-based alloy and the angle at which the particles impact the coupon varies from 30° to 80°. The experiments were performed with different amounts of total particle injected, concentration, and coupon angle to understand their effects on deposition. Similar research was carried out in the past at the same facility to study particle deposition at temperatures up to 1050°C and 70 m/s flow velocity. However, this previous research only studied how the coupon angle affects particle deposition; other parameters such as total particle input and particle concentration were not studied. It was found that particle deposition increases significantly at higher temperatures beyond 1050°C for higher coupon angle and amount of sand injected. Results from current study also show that deposition increases with increase in total sand injected, concentration, and coupon angle for a given temperature and velocity. / Master of Science

A measurement of the W+ and W− cross section in the electron channel is presented. The measurement is performed using data collected with the ATLAS experiment in 2011, amounting to an integrated luminosity of 4.58 fb⁻¹. The centre of mass energy is √s = 7 TeV. The measurement is performed differentially in the electron pseudorapidity. The W charge asymmetry is also presented. The results are compared to theoretical predictions calculated at next-to-next-to-leading order in perturbative QCD using various Parton Distribution Functions.

In the Standard Model of particle physics, the non-zero masses of the W and Z bosons and the fermions are generated through interactions with the Higgs field, excitations of which correspond to Higgs bosons. Thus, the experimental discovery of the Higgs boson is of prime importance to physics, and would confirm our understanding of fundamental mass generation. This thesis describes a search for the gg → H → WW → lνlν process of Higgs boson production and decay. It uses the LHC Run I dataset of pp collisions recorded by the ATLAS detector, which corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 4.5 fb⁻¹ at √s = 7 TeV and 20.3 fb⁻¹ at √s = 8 TeV. An excess of events is observed with a significance of 4.8 standard deviations, which is consistent with Higgs boson production. The significance is extended to 6.1 standard deviations when the vector boson fusion production process is included. The measured signal strength is 1.11^+0.23<sub style='position: relative; left: -2.1em;'>-0.21</sub> at m_H = 125 GeV. A cross section measurement of WW production, a major background to this search, is also presented using the √s = 7 TeV dataset only.

An advanced understanding of particle entrainment is required to optimise the design and maintenance of numerous open channel hydraulic systems and structures placed in these systems; including river channels and canals. This study is on particle entrainment (defined as the movement of a particle from a stationary position to being mobile in the flow). Three aspects of particle entrainment were identified as the focus of this work: First, the waiting time for an exposed particle to entrain under constant flow conditions. Second, the flow features responsible for the entrainment of an individual exposed particle. Third, the motion of an entrained particle immediately after entrainment. Waiting time was found to be highly sensitive to protrusion, with a small increase in protrusion resulting in a significant decrease in waiting time. Contrary to previous suggestions the waiting time to entrainment was found to be poorly described by an exponential distribution; instead Weibull or gamma distributions provide an improved fit in both qualitative and quantitative terms. Ensemble averaged flow fields at the point of entrainment were computed to determine the features responsible for entrainment. The data from the transverse vertical PIV plane indicated the presence of two counter-rotating vortices, with the boundary between the vortices located directly over the entrainment particle. The streamwise vertical PIV measurements showed the presence of a structure extending for a considerable distance in the streamwise direction, the length of which appeared to be independent of submergence. Further, the inclination of the downstream end of the structure appeared to increase with submergence. From the point of entrainment particle dffusion in all three coordinate directions displays an exponent significantly greater than that of ballistic diffusion. From the point of entrainment particle diffusion in all three coordinate directions displays an exponent significantly greater than that of ballistic diffusion. The results highlight the clear difference in the local scale between the diffusion of an already mobile particle with one starting from a position of rest.