A simplified two-dimensional boundary element method with arbitrary uniform mean flow

To reduce computational costs, an improved form of the frequency domain boundary element method（BEM） is proposed for two-dimensional radiation and propagation acoustic problems in a subsonic uniform flow with arbitrary orientation. The boundary integral equation（BIE） representation solves the two-dimensional convected Helmholtz equation（CHE） and its fundamental solution, which must satisfy a new Sommerfeld radiation condition（SRC） in the physical space. In order to facilitate conventional formulations, the variables of the advanced form are expressed only in terms of the acoustic pressure as well as its normal and tangential derivatives, and their multiplication operators are based on the convected Green＇s kernel and its modified derivative. The proposed approach significantly reduces the CPU times of classical computational codes for modeling acoustic domains with arbitrary mean flow. It is validated by a comparison with the analytical solutions for the sound radiation problems of monopole,dipole and quadrupole sources in the presence of a subsonic uniform flow with arbitrary orientation.

Feature analysis of acoustic emission sources for rail crack detection by the finite element method

The safety of rail is very important for the development of high speed railway, and it is necessary to investigate the features of inner cracks in rail. In order to obtain the features of Acoustic Emission （AE） sources of inner cracks in rail, AE sources with different types, depths and propagation distances are examined for crack in rail. The finite element method is utilized to model the rail with cracks and the results of experiment demonstrate the effectiveness of this model. Wavelet transform and Rayleigh-Lamb equations are utilized to extract the features of crack AE sources. The results illustrate that the intensity ratio among AE modes can identify the AE source types and the AE sources with different frequencies in rail. There are uniform AE mode features existing in the AE signals from AE sources in rail web, however AE signals from AE sources in rail head and rail base have the complex and unstable AE modes. Different AE source types have the different propagation features in rail. It is helpful to understand the rail cracks and detect the rail cracks based on the AE technique.

Source apportionment of atmospheric particulate carbon in Las Vegas,Nevada,USA

A study was conducted to quantify wintertime contributions of source types to carbonaceous PM2.5 at four urban sites in the Las Vegas Valley, one of the most rapidly growing urban areas in the southwestern United States. Twenty-four hour average ambient samples were collected for mass, ions, elements, organic carbon （OC）, elemental carbon （EC）, and trace organic markers analysis. Additional measurements were made to determine diurnal patterns in light-absorbing black carbon （BC） as a marker for combustion sources. Carbonaceous PM sources of on-road gasoline vehicles, on-road diesel vehicles, and off-road diesel engines were characterized with their chemical profiles, as well as fuel-based emission factors, using an In-Plume Sampling System. The Effective Variance Chemical Mass Balance （EV-CMB） source apportionment model was applied to the ambient samples collected, using source profiles developed in this study as well as profiles from other relevant studies. Four main sources contributed to PM2.5 carbon within the Las Vegas Valley： （1） paved road dust, （2） on-road gasoline vehicles, （3） residential wood combustion, and （4） on-road diesel vehicles. CMB estimated that on-road mixed fleet gasoline vehicles are the largest source for OC and EC at all the sites. The contribution of paved road dust to both OC and EC was 5-10% at the four sites. On-road diesel vehicles contribute 22% of the OC and 34% of the EC at a site near the city center, which is located immediately downwind of a major freeway. Residential wood combustion is a more important source than on-road diesel vehicles for two residential neighborhood sites, These results are consistent with our conceptual model, and the research methodology may be applied to studying other urban areas.