SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY ACTUATORS ARE USED TO CREATE A VARIABLE AREA JET NOZZLE FOR NOISE REDUCTION: A REVIEW

The real study details the design and implementation of Shape memory alloy actuators to produce a noise-reducing variable area jet nozzle. A subscale design specification of a changeable area jet nozzle was created using SMA actuators in an asymmetrical design. Commercial transportation planes must be quieter, cleaner, and more efficient, according to the international community. The aviation industry is reacting by developing new technology in order to achieve those objectives. Changing the area of a commercial jet engine's fan nozzle can result in substantial noise reduction and reduced fuel economy. At takeoff and approach, a bigger diameter reduces jet velocity, which reduces noise. In cruise, adjusting the diameter to account for variable Mach numbers, altitude, and other factors helps optimise fan loading and minimise fuel consumption and emissions. Boeing has tested a 20 percent area change scaled variable area jet nozzle. At the nozzle exit, Shape Memory Alloy actuators were utilised to place 12 interlocking panels. To maintain a range of consistent diameters with variable flow circumstances and to alter the diameter under constant flow conditions, a closed loop control system was utilised. At each condition, acoustic data was gathered using side line microphones, and flow field measurements were taken using PIV at various crosssections. The design of a variable area nozzle is explained in this work. The diameter of the nozzle and its influence on acoustic performance are discussed. The effects of the joints between the interlocking panels are seen in the flow field data.

Structural design of tetravalent T-cell engaging bispecific antibodies: improve developability by engineering disulfide bonds

Since the advances in protein engineering and manufacture, over the last 30 years, antibody-based immunotherapeutic has become a powerful strategy to treat diseases. The T-cell engaging bispecific antibody (BsAb) by combining the Fab binding domain of tumor antigens and Fab or single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) binding domain of CD3 molecules, could redirect cytotoxic T cells to kill tumor cells. The IgG-scFv format of BsAb is a dual bivalent and asymmetrical design, which adds the benefit of potent cytotoxicity and less complicated for manufacture but limits the stability and production. Here, we engineered a series of interchain disulfide bonds in the Fab region of IgG-svFv BsAbs and evaluated its biophysical and biological properties. We found that simultaneously replaced the position of VH44-VL100 and CH1126-CL121 residues with cysteine, to form two additional disulfide bonds, could markedly increase monomeric BsAb formation and yield. The thermostability and stability against aggregation and degradation also performed better than BsAbs without extra disulfide bonds introduction. Besides, the affinity of engineered BsAbs was maintained, and the h8B-BsAb antibody had a slight enhancement in an inhibitory effect on target cells.

Numerical Investigation on the Influence of the Streamlined Structures of the High-Speed Train’s Nose on Aerodynamic Performances

The structural design of the streamlined shape is the basis for high-speed train aerodynamic design. With use of the delayed detached-eddy simulation (DDES) method, the influence of four different structural types of the streamlined shape on aerodynamic performance and flow mechanism was investigated. These four designs were chosen elaborately, including a double-arch ellipsoid shape, a single-arch ellipsoid shape, a spindle shape with a front cowcatcher and a double-arch wide-flat shape. Two different running scenes, trains running in the open air or in crosswind conditions, were considered. Results reveal that when dealing with drag reduction of the whole train running in the open air, it needs to take into account how air resistance is distributed on both noses and then deal with them both rather than adjust only the head or the tail. An asymmetrical design is feasible with the head being a single-arch ellipsoid and the tail being a spindle with a front cowcatcher to achieve the minimum drag reduction. The single-arch ellipsoid design on both noses could aid in moderating the transverse amplitude of the side force on the tail resulting from the asymmetrical vortex structures in the flow field behind the tail. When crosswind is considered, the pressure distribution on the train surface becomes more disturbed, resulting in the increase of the side force and lift. The current study reveals that the double-arch wide-flat streamlined design helps to alleviate the side force and lift on both noses. The magnitude of side force on the head is 10 times as large as that on the tail while the lift on the head is slightly above that on the tail. Change of positions where flow separation takes place on the streamlined part is the main cause that leads to the opposite behaviors of pressure distribution on the head and on the tail. Under the influence of the ambient wind, flow separation occurs about distinct positions on the train surface and intricate vortices are generated at the leeward side, which add to the aerodynamic loads on the train in crosswind conditions. These results could help gain insight on choosing a most suitable streamlined shape under specific running conditions and acquiring a universal optimum nose shape as well.

Mathematical modeling of thermal processes during "cassette" crystallization of chalcogenides

A new, relatively simple and highly efficient modification of the directional melt crystallization method in the form of a multi-cassette process has been considered. This study is based on Russian Patents and technological studies conducted at National Research and Technological University MISiS. As a result, mathematical models of a multi-cassette method have been developed for 3D radiation and conduction analysis of thermal processes in the entire volume of the heating unit and 2D analysis of convection and conduction heat exchange in a separate cassette. Parameters have been calculated on the basis of these mathematical models for clarifying the effect of heating unit component arrangement and dimensions on the formation of thermal fields in cassette units, the effect of vertical homogeneity of heat supply to the cassette unit and heating power reduction rate during crystallization on the shape of the crystallization front, as well as the effect of small asymmetry in cassette design and violation of cassette bottom cooling homogeneity on convection and asymmetrical heat transfer. Application of the conductive and radiative heat exchange model to the entire heating unit has allowed us to calculate process parameters on the basis of which we have analyzed the effect of heating unit components, their arrangement and temperature on the heat exchange conditions at the cassette unit boundaries. Application of the convective and conductive model to one growth cassette has shown that asymmetrical design and boundary thermal conditions as well as unstable vertical temperature gradient lead to the formation of convection vortices and substantial crystallization front deviation from planar shape. Calculations on the basis of the convective mass exchange model have shown that an increase in the crystallization rate by one order of magnitude greatly increases the tellurium flow into the crystal thus substantially altering the melt composition in the vicinity of the crystallization front and hence serving as a potential origin of dendrite growth. The authenticity of the calculation results has been verified in a number of tests aimed at analyzing the effect of heat and mass transport on crystallization front shape for cassette cooling rates that are typical of polycrystalline bismuth telluride growth processes.

Enhanced emission in organic nanocrystals via asymmetrical design of spirocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Due to the different structural symmtery of a spiro-center, distinguishing nanocrystal morphologies with unique crystallization-enhanced/quenched emission was achieved.

Physics of animal health: on the mechano-biology of hoof growth and form

Global inequalities in economic access and agriculture productivity imply that a large number of developing countries rely on working equids for transport/agriculture/mining. Therefore, the understanding of hoof conditions/shape variations affecting equids' ability to work is still a persistent concern. To bridge this gap, using a multi-scale interdisciplinary approach, we provide a bio-physical model predicting the shape of equids’ hooves as a function of physical and biological parameters. In particular, we show (i) where the hoof growth stress originates from, (ii) why the hoof growth rate is one order of magnitude higher than the proliferation rate of epithelial cells and (iii) how the soft-to-hard transformation of the epithelium is possible allowing the hoof to fulfil its function as a weight-bearing element. Finally (iv), we demonstrate that the reason for hoof misshaping is linked to the asymmetrical design of equids' feet (shorter quarters/long toe) together with the inability of the biological growth stress to compensate for such an asymmetry. Consequently, the hoof can adopt a dorsal curvature and become ‘dished’ overtime, which is a function of the animal's mass and the hoof growth rate. This approach allows us to discuss the potential occurrence of this multifaceted pathology in equids.

A Successive Approximation Time-to-Digital Converter with Single Set of Delay Lines for Time Interval Measurements

The paper is focused on design of time-to-digital converters based on successive approximation (SA-TDCs—Successive Approximation TDCs) using binary-scaled delay lines in the feedforward architecture. The aim of the paper is to provide a tutorial on successive approximation TDCs (SA-TDCs) on the one hand, and to make the contribution to optimization of SA-TDC design on the other. The proposed design optimization consists essentially in reduction of circuit complexity and die area, as well as in improving converter performance. The main paper contribution is the concept of reducing SA-TDC complexity by removing one of two sets of delay lines in the feedforward architecture at the price of simple output decoding. For 12 bits of resolution, the complexity reduction is close to 50%. Furthermore, the paper presents the implementation of 8-bit SA-TDC in 180 nm CMOS technology with a quantization step 25 ps obtained by asymmetrical design of pair of inverters and symmetrized multiplexer control.