Measurement and Characterisation of a Diffuse Acoustic Field Using a Phased Array

A diffuse acoustic field has been increasingly used to infer temporal changes in the structures,such as early dislo-cations and microcracking.This study explores three different techniques to characterise acoustic field by using a single ultrasonic phased array.The first two techniques are proposed to measure spatial uniformity of wave field by examining differences in the integral of energy and the maximum energy respectively at multiple inspection loca-tions.The third one is developed to evaluate the degree of phase coherence between propagating waves transmitted sequentially by two neighbouring array elements.The efficacy of these techniques are investigated by examining their metrics on simulations and well-known samples.The results suggest that two selected metrics can be used to quantitatively estimate the diffuse field start time as well as the field size by comparing their value with the idealised diffuse state(15%for the energy integral metric,ηarea and 1 for the phase coherence metric,ηphase)and identifying the convergence start point.

Visualizing diffusion tensor fields on streamsurfaces with merging ellipsoids

Streamsurfaces in diffusion tensor fields are used to represent structures with pri- marily planar diffusion. So far, however, no effort has been made on the visualization of the anisotropy of diffusion on them, although this information is very important to identify the problematic regions of these structures. We propose two methods to display this anisotropy information. The first one employs a set of merging ellipsoids, which simultaneously character- ize the local tensor details - anisotropy - on them and portray the shape of the streamsurfaces. The weight between the streamsurfaces continuity and the discrete local tensors can be inter- actively adjusted by changing some given parameters. The second one generates a dense LIC （line integral convolution） texture of the two tangent eigenvector fields along the streamsurfaces firstly, and then blends in some color mapping indicating the anisotropy information. For high speed and high quality of texture images, we confine both the generation and the advection of the LIC texture in the image space. Merging ellipsoids method reveals the entire anisotropy information at discrete points by exploiting the geometric attribute of ellipsoids, and thus suits for local and detailed examination of the anisotropy; the texture-based method gives a global representation of the anisotropy on the whole streamsurfaces with texture and color attributes. To reveal the anisotropy information more efficiently, we integrate the two methods and use them at two different levels of details.

Analysis of flowout gas field simulations and ignition methods for sulphuric gas wells

To avoid potential human casualties and environmental pollution,flowout gas from sulphuric gas wells showing high concentrations of volatile gas must be neutralized by controlled ignition.Simulation model is built by using CFD software for flowout gas,and ignition methods are analyzed.The simulation results indicate that the optimal ignition zone is located between 150mm and 570mm above the gas flowout device.Two ignition methods,electronical and chemical,are developed.12 and 6 experimental tests are performed respectively for these two methods.Results from the above tests verify that both approaches are successful in igniting the gas promptly and safely.In addition,our experience proves that the former way is more suitable for the fixed position ignition case,while the latter is more suitable for the long-distance or emergent ignition case.These two approaches can potentially be applied to a wide range of situations other than the fixed position ignition case and long distance ignition case.

Preliminary examination of early neuroconnectivity features in the R6/1 mouse model of Huntington's disease by ultra-high field diffusion MRI

During the last decades,advances in the understanding of genetic,cellular,and microstructural alterations associated to Huntington's disease(HD)have improved the understanding of this progressive and fatal illness.However,events related to early neuropathological events,neuroinflammation,deterioration of neuronal connectivity and compensatory mechanisms still remain vastly unknown.Ultra-high field diffusion MRI(UHFD-MRI)techniques can contribute to a more comprehensive analysis of the early microstructural changes observed in HD.In addition,it is possible to evaluate if early imaging microstructural parameters might be linked to histological biomarkers.Moreover,qualitative studies analyzing histological complexity in brain areas susceptible to neurodegeneration could provide information on inflammatory events,compensatory increase of neuroconnectivity and mechanisms of brain repair and regeneration.The application of ultra-high field diffusion-MRI technology in animal models,particularly the R6/1 mice(a common preclinical mammalian model of HD),provide the opportunity to analyze alterations in a physiologically intact model of the disease.Although some disparities in volumetric changes across different brain structures between preclinical and clinical models has been documented,further application of different diffusion MRI techniques used in combination like diffusion tensor imaging,and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging have proved effective in characterizing early parameters associated to alteration in water diffusion exchange within intracellular and extracellular compartments in brain white and grey matter.Thus,the combination of diffusion MRI imaging techniques and more complex neuropathological analysis could accelerate the discovery of new imaging biomarkers and the early diagnosis and neuromonitoring of patients affected with HD.

Simulation of hydrogen diffusion in welded joint of X80 pipeline steel

Hydrogen diffusion coefficients of different regions in the welded joint of X80 pipeline steel were measured using the electro-chemical permeation technique. Using ABAQUS software, hydrogen diffusion in X80 pipeline steel welded joint was studied in consideration of the inhomogeneity of the welding zone, and temperature-dependent thermo-physical and mechanical properties of the metals. A three dimensional finite element model was developed and a coupled thermo-mechanical-diffusion analysis was performed. Hydrogen concentration distribution across the welded joint was obtained. It is found that the postweld residual hydrogen exhibits a non-uniform distribution across the welded joint. A maximum equivalent stress occurs in the immediate vicinity of the weld metal. The heat affected zone has the highest hydrogen concentration level, followed by the weld zone and the base metal.Simulation results are well consistent with theoretical analysis.

Diffusion Mechanism of Energy Flow in Multi-heat-source Synthesis of SiC

Through the experiments and the numerical simulation of temperature field in multi-heatsource synthesis Si C furnace, in order to research the feature point in multi-heat-source synthesis furnace, the variation law of heat fl ux was studied and the multi-directional energy fl ow diffusion mechanism was revealed. The results show that, due to the shielding action between the heat-source and the superposition effect of thermal fields, the insulating effect is best in multi-heat-source synthesis furnace. The heat emission effect is good outside the common area between heat-sources, but the heat storage is poor. Compared with the synthesis furnace that heat source is parallelly arranged, the furnace of stereoscopic arrangement has a more obvious heat stacking effect and better heat preservation effect, but the air permeability of heat source connecting regions is worse. In the case with the same ingredients, the resistance to thermal diffusion and mass diffusion is higher in heat source connecting regions.

Using Traveltime Tomography to Reconstruct Electrical Conductivity

A new method for reconstructing electrical conductivity distribution from electromagnetic (EM) data by using traveltime tomography is presented in this paper. Diffusive EM fields can be mathematically transformed to wavefields defined in a time like variable. The transform uniquely relates a field satisfying a diffusion equation in time, or in frequency, to an integral of the corresponding wavefield. This paper first transforms numerically calculated transient magnetic fields to wavefields. Traveltime data from a source to the receivers are estimated from the transformed wavefields. Then an iterative reconstruction algorithm is used to obtain the slowness distribution of a medium. This algorithm is an improved ART algorithm taking account of bending ray paths. The slowness distribution is transformed to electrical conductivity distribution according to their relation. The simulation result is presented in this paper.

Relation between sound transfer function from diffuse sound field to the eardrum and temporary threshold shift

Twelve volunteers with normal hearing (9 males and 3 females) participated in this work The sound transfer functions (STFS) from diffuse sound field to the subject's eardrums were measured and correlated to the temporary threshold shift (TTS) due to fiffuse-exposure.A probe tube with a miniature microphone was used for STF measurements in which successive 1/3 oct bandwidth random noise with central frequency from 0.25 kKz to 8 kHz were used. The subjects were divided into two groups, with the STF maxima at 2 kHz and 4 kHz respectively Pre- and post- exposure sweep Bekesy audiograms were recorded and the temporary thresh old shift calctilated as the difference between the two. Frequency of the maximum TTS was correlated to that of the maximum STF. The average TTS was very small or zero at frequen cies below the band noise exposure , but was noticeable even at the highest measured frequency (8 kHz) for beyond the noise band. Also individual differences in STF were found at frequencies between 2 kHz and 4 kHz

Application of the three-dimensional telegraph equation to cosmic-ray transport

An analytical solution to the three-dimensional telegraph equation is presented. This equation has recently received some attention but so far the treatment has been one-dimensional. By using the structural similarity to the Klein-Gordon equation, the telegraph equation can be solved in closed form. Illustrative examples are used to discuss the qualitative differences from the diffusion solution. A comparison with a numerical test-particle simulation reveals that some features of an intensity profile can be better explained using the telegraph approach.

Effects of elevated atmospheric CO_2 concentration and temperature on the soil profile methane distribution and diffusion in rice–wheat rotation system

The aim of this experiment was to determine the impacts of climate change on soil profile concentrations and diffusion effluxes of methane in a rice-wheat annual rotation ecosystem in Southeastern China. We initiated a field experiment with four treatments：ambient conditions（CKs）, CO2 concentration elevated to - 500 μmol/mol（FACE）,temperature elevated by ca. 2°C（T） and combined elevation of CO2 concentration and temperature（FACE ＋ T）. A multilevel sampling probe was designed to collect the soil gas at four different depths, namely, 7 cm, 15 cm, 30 cm and 50 cm. Methane concentrations were higher during the rice season and decreased with depth, while lower during the wheat season and increased with depth. Compared to CK, mean methane concentration was increased by 42%, 57% and 71% under the FACE, FACE ＋ T and T treatments, respectively, at the 7 cm depth during the rice season（p 〈 0.05）. Mean methane diffusion effluxes to the 7 cm depth were positive in the rice season and negative in the wheat season, resulting in the paddy field being a source and weak sink, respectively. Moreover, mean methane diffusion effluxes in the rice season were 0.94, 1.19 and 1.42 mg C/（m^2·hr） in the FACE,FACE ＋ T and T treatments, respectively, being clearly higher than that in the CK. The results indicated that elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration and temperature could significantly increase soil profile methane concentrations and their effluxes from a rice-wheat field annual rotation ecosystem（p 〈 0.05）.