Bio-Inspired Multimodal Imaging in Reduced Visibility

The visual systems found in nature rely on capturing light under different modalities, in terms of spectral sensitivities and polarization sensitivities. Numerous imaging techniques are inspired by this variety, among which, the most famous is color imaging inspired by the trichromacy theory of the human visual system. We investigate the spectral and polarimetric properties of biological imaging systems that will lead to the best performance on scene imaging through haze, i.e., dehazing. We design a benchmark experiment based on modalities inspired by several visual systems, and adapt state-of-the-art image reconstruction algorithms to those modalities. We show the difference in performance of each studied systems and discuss it in front of our methodology and the statistical relevance of our data.

The low acoustic noise and turbulence wind tunnel of the University of Sao Paulo

This paper introduces the Low Acoustic Noise and Turbulence (LANT) wind tunnel of the Sao Carlos School of Engineering, University of Sao Paulo (USP-EESC), Brazil. The closed-loop wind tunnel features several devices to improve flow uniformity, reduce swirl, and lower the background acoustic noise and turbulence, enabling stability and aeroacoustic experiments. The design criteria was based on the best practices reported, in particular for low turbulence wind tunnels. Yet, these criteria are conflicting and we discuss the decisions that had to be made and present flow quality results that were achieved. The 16-bladed axial fan with 13-blade stators is driven by a variable-speed electric motor. At the corners, 100 mm dense acoustic foam is installed on the vertical walls, floor and ceiling, and the turning vanes are filled with acoustic-absorbing material. The long settling chamber contains a 3.175 mm mesh hexagonal honeycomb and five fine mesh nylon screens, ending in a 7:1 area ratio short contraction. The 3-m long closed-working section has a $1\times 1\ {\rm m}^2$ cross-section area. At 15 m/s the working section wall boundary layer is less than 100 mm thick, providing an area of at least $800\times 800\ \mathrm{mm}^2$ where the streamwise flow uniformity was within 1%. In the 10–30 m/s flow speed range, the turbulence intensity ranged from 0.05% to 0.071% and the background acoustic noise level, obtained with an inflow microphone, ranged from 90 and 110 dB. A benchmark experiment on a flat plate boundary layer produced an almost perfect two-dimensional Blasius profile up to $Re_x \approx 2.5 \times 10^6$ . A beamforming benchmark experiment on aeroacoustics accurately identified the sound emitted by a cylinder immersed in the flow.

Numerical Simulation of Macrosegregation Formation in a 2.45 ton Steel Ingot Using a Three-Phase Equiaxed Solidification Model

In the present work macrosegregation during solidification of a 2.45 ton steel ingot is simulated with a pure equiaxed model, which was tested previously via modeling of a benchmark experiment. While the columnar structure is not taken into account, a packed layer formed over inner walls of the mold at an early stage of solidification reproduces to some extent phenomena generally related to zones of columnar dendrites. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that interaction of free-floating equiaxed grains with ascending convective flow in the bulk liquid results in flow instabilities. This defines the irregular form of the negative segregation zone, the formation of which at the ingot bottom corresponds to experimental observation. Vertical channels reported in experimental measurements are reproduced in simulations. It is confirmed that intensification of ingot cooling may decrease segregation in the ingot.