Showing papers on "Beam (structure) published in 2011"

Beam Structures: Classical and Advanced Theories

Abstract: Beam theories are exploited worldwide to analyze civil, mechanical, automotive, and aerospace structures. Many beam approaches have been proposed during the last centuries by eminent scientists such as Euler, Bernoulli, Navier, Timoshenko, Vlasov, etc. Most of these models are problem dependent: they provide reliable results for a given problem, for instance a given section and cannot be applied to a different one. Beam Structures: Classical and Advanced Theories proposes a new original unified approach to beam theory that includes practically all classical and advanced models for beams and which has become established and recognised globally as the most important contribution to the field in the last quarter of a century. The Carrera Unified Formulation (CUF) has hierarchical properties, that is, the error can be reduced by increasing the number of the unknown variables. This formulation is extremely suitable for computer implementations and can deal with most typical engineering challenges. It overcomes the problem of classical formulae that require different formulas for tension, bending, shear and torsion; it can be applied to any beam geometries and loading conditions, reaching a high level of accuracy with low computational cost, and can tackle problems that in most cases are solved by employing plate/shell and 3D formulations.

Code symbol reading system employing dynamically-elongated laser scanning beams for improved levels of performance

Abstract: A laser scanning bar code symbol reading system for scanning and reading poor quality and damaged bar code symbols in flexible operating conditions. The system includes a housing having a light transmission window; a dynamically-elongated laser beam production module, including a multi-cavity visible laser diode (VLD), for producing a dynamically-elongated laser beam having (i) a direction of propagation extending along a z reference direction, (ii) a height dimension being indicated by the y reference direction, and (iii) a width dimension being indicated by the x reference direction, where x, y and z directions are orthogonal to each other. Each dynamically-elongated laser beam is characterized by an elongation ratio (ER) that is defined as Y/X where, for any point within the working range of the laser scanning bar code symbol reading system, extending along the z direction, (i) Y indicates the beam height of the dynamically-elongated laser beam measured in the Y reference direction, (ii) X indicates the beam width of the dynamically-elongated laser beam measured in the X reference direction, and (iii) the beam height (Y) and the laser beam width (X) are measured at 1/e 2 intensity clip level. A laser scanning mechanism is provided for scanning the dynamically-elongated laser beam out the light transmission window and across a scanning field defined external to the housing, in which a bar code symbol is present for scanning by the dynamically-elongated laser scanning beam.

Plasmonic Airy beam generated by in-plane diffraction

Abstract: We report an experimental realization of a plasmonic Airy beam, which is generated thoroughly on a silver surface. With a carefully designed nanoarray structure, such Airy beams come into being from an in-plane propagating surface plasmon polariton wave, exhibiting nonspreading, self-bending, and self-healing properties. Besides, a new phase-tuning method based on nonperfectly matched diffraction processes is proposed to generate and modulate the beam almost at will. This unique plasmonic Airy beam as well as the generation method would significantly promote the evolutions in in-plane surface plasmon polariton manipulations and indicate potential applications in lab-on-chip photonic integrations.

Generalized Lorenz-Mie Theories

Abstract: Background in Maxwell's Electromagnetism and Maxwell's Equations.- Resolution of Special Maxwell's Equations.- Generalized Lorenz-Mie Theories in the Strict Sense, and other GLMTs.- Gaussian Beams, and Other Beams.- Finite Series.- Special Cases of Axisymmetric and Gaussian Beams.- The Localized Approximation and Localized Beam Models.- Applications, and Miscellaneous Issues.- Conclusion.

Assessment of Motor Balance and Coordination in Mice using the Balance Beam

Abstract: Brain injury, genetic manipulations, and pharmacological treatments can result in alterations of motor skills in mice. Fine motor coordination and balance can be assessed by the beam walking assay. The goal of this test is for the mouse to stay upright and walk across an elevated narrow beam to a safe platform. This test takes place over 3 consecutive days: 2 days of training and 1 day of testing. Performance on the beam is quantified by measuring the time it takes for the mouse to traverse the beam and the number of paw slips that occur in the process. Here we report the protocol used in our laboratory, and representative results from a cohort of C57BL/6 mice. This task is particularly useful for detecting subtle deficits in motor skills and balance that may not be detected by other motor tests, such as the Rotarod.

Current status and future perspective of flattening filter free photon beams

Abstract: Purpose: Flattening filters (FFs) have been considered as an integral part of the treatment head of a medical accelerator for more than 50 years. The reasons for the longstanding use are, however, historical ones. Advanced treatment techniques, such as stereotactic radiotherapy or intensity modulated radiotherapy have stimulated the interest in operating linear accelerators in a flattening filter free (FFF) mode. The current manuscript reviews treatment head physics of FFF beams, describes their characteristics and the resulting potential advantages in their medical use, and closes with an outlook. Methods: A number of dosimetric benefits have been determined for FFF beams, which range from increased dose rate and dose per pulse to favorable output ratio in-air variation with field size, reduced energy variation across the beam, and reduced leakage and out-of-field dose, respectively. Finally, the softer photon spectrum of unflattened beams has implications on imaging strategies and radiation protection. Results: The dosimetric characteristics of FFF beams have an effect on treatment delivery, patient comfort, dose calculation accuracy, beam matching, absorbed dose determination, treatment planning, machine specific quality assurance, imaging, and radiation protection. When considering conventional C-arm linacs in a FFF mode, more studies are needed to specify and quantify the clinical advantages, especially with respect to treatment plan quality and quality assurance. Conclusions: New treatment units are already on the market that operate without a FF or can be operated in a dedicated clinical FFF mode. Due to the convincing arguments of removing the FF, it is expected that more vendors will offer dedicated treatment units for advanced photon beam therapy in the near future. Several aspects related to standardization, dosimetry, treatment planning, and optimization need to be addressed in more detail in order to facilitate the clinical implementation of unflattened beams. (C) 2011 American Association of Physicists in Medicine. [DOI: 10.1118/1.3554643]

Luminosity Determination in pp Collisions at sqrt(s)=7 TeV Using the ATLAS Detector at the LHC

Abstract: Measurements of luminosity obtained using the ATLAS detector during early running of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at root s = 7 TeV are presented. The luminosity is independently determined using several detectors and multiple algorithms, each having different acceptances, systematic uncertainties and sensitivity to background. The ratios of the luminosities obtained from these methods are monitored as a function of time and of mu, the average number of inelastic interactions per bunch crossing. Residual time- and mu-dependence between the methods is less than 2% for 0 < mu < 2.5. Absolute luminosity calibrations, performed using beam separation scans, have a common systematic uncertainty of +/- 11%, dominated by the measurement of the LHC beam currents. After calibration, the luminosities obtained from the different methods differ by at most +/- 2%. The visible cross sections measured using the beam scans are compared to predictions obtained with the PYTHIA and PHOJET event generators and the ATLAS detector simulation.

Development of a High-Bandwidth XY Nanopositioning Stage for High-Rate Micro-/Nanomanufacturing

Abstract: This paper presents the design analysis fabrication and testing of a high-bandwidth piezo-driven parallel kinematic nanopositioning XY stage. The monolithic stage design has two axes and each axis is composed of a doubly clamped beam and a parallelogram hybrid flexure with compliant beams and circular flexure hinges. The doubly clamped beam that is actuated by a piezoelectric actuator acts as a linear prismatic axis. The parallelogram hybrid flexures are used to decouple the actuation effect from the other axis. The mechanism design decouples the motion in the X- and Y-directions and restricts parasitic rotations in the XY plane while allowing for an increased bandwidth with linear kinematics in the operating region. Kinematic and dynamic analysis shows that the mechanical structure of the stage has decoupled motion in XY-direction while achieving high bandwidth and good linearity. The stage is actuated by piezoelectric stack actuators, and two capacitive gauges were added to the system to build a closed-loop positioning system. The results from frequency tests show that the resonant frequencies of the two vibrational modes are over 8 kHz. The stage is capable of about 15 μm of motion along each axis with a resolution of about 1 nm. Due to parallel kinematic mechanism design, a uniform performance is achieved across the workspace. A PI controller is implemented for the stage and a closed-loop bandwidth of 2 kHz is obtained.

Coding the Beams: Improving Beamforming Training in mmWave Communication System

Abstract: The mmWave communication system is operating at a regime with high number of antennas and very limited number of RF analog chains. Large number of antennas are used to extend the communication range for recovering the high path loss while fewer RF analog chains are designed to reduce transmit and processing power and hardware complexity. In this regime, typical MIMO algorithms are not applicable. Before any communication starts, devices are needed to align their beam pointing angles towards each other. An efficient searching protocol to obtain the best beam angle pair is therefore needed. It is called BeamForming (BF) training protocol. This paper presents a new BF training technique called beam coding. Each beam angle is assigned unique signature code. By coding multiple beam angles and steering at their angles simultaneously in a training packet, the best beam angle pair can be obtained in a few packets. The proposed BF training technique not only shows the robustness in non-line- of-sight environment, but also provides very flat power variation within a packet in contrast to the IEEE 802.11ad standard whose scheme may lead to large dynamic range of signals due to beam angles varying across a training packet.

High-resolution Imaging of Solar Flare Ribbons and Its Implication on the Thick-target Beam Model

Abstract: We report on high-resolution optical and hard X-ray observations of solar flare ribbons seen during the GOES X6.5 class white-light flare of 2006 December 6. The data consist of imaging observations at 430 nm (the Fraunhofer G band) taken by the Hinode Solar Optical Telescope with the hard X-rays observed by the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager. The two sets of data show closely similar ribbon structures, strongly suggesting that the flare emissions in white light and in hard X-rays have physically linked emission mechanisms. While the source structure along the ribbons is resolved at both wavelengths (length ~ 30''), only the G-band observations resolve the width of the ribbon, with values between ~05 and ~18. The unresolved hard X-ray observations reveal an even narrower ribbon in hard X-rays (the main footpoint has a width perpendicular to the ribbon of 5 × 1012 erg s–1 cm–2 provided by an electron flux of 1 × 1020 electrons s–1 cm–2 above 18 keV. This requires that the beam density of electrons above 18 keV be at least 1 × 1010 cm–3. Even if field lines converge toward the chromospheric footpoints, the required beam in the corona has too high a density to be described as a dilute tail population on top of a Maxwellian core. We discuss this issue and others associated with this extreme event, which poses serious questions to the standard thick target beam interpretation of solar flares.

On the Effectiveness of Higher-Order Terms in Refined Beam Theories

Abstract: This work deals with refined theories for beams with an increasing number of displacement variables. Reference has been made to the asymptotic and axiomatic methods. A Taylor-type expansion up to the fourth-order has been assumed over the section coordinates. The finite element governing equations have been derived in the framework of the Carrera unified formulation (CUF). The effectiveness of each expansion term, that is, of each displacement variable, has been established numerically considering various problems (traction, bending, and torsion), several beam sections (square, annular, and airfoil-type), and different beam slenderness ratios. The accuracy of these theories have been evaluated for displacement and stress components at different points over the section and along the beam axis. Error-type parameters have been introduced to establish the role played by each generalized displacement variable. It has been found that the number of terms that have to be retained for each of the considered beam theories is closely related to the addressed problem; different variables are requested to obtain accurate results for different problems. It has, therefore, been concluded that the full implementation of CUF, retaining all the available terms, would avoid the need of changing the theory when a problem is changed (geometries and/or loading conditions), as what happens in most engineering problems. On the other hand, CUF could be used to construct suitable beam theories in view of the fulfillment of prescribed accuracies..

A Monte Carlo pencil beam scanning model for proton treatment plan simulation using GATE/GEANT4

Abstract: This work proposes a generic method for modeling scanned ion beam delivery systems, without simulation of the treatment nozzle and based exclusively on beam data library (BDL) measurements required for treatment planning systems (TPS). To this aim, new tools dedicated to treatment plan simulation were implemented in the Gate Monte Carlo platform. The method was applied to a dedicated nozzle from IBA for proton pencil beam scanning delivery. Optical and energy parameters of the system were modeled using a set of proton depth-dose profiles and spot sizes measured at 27 therapeutic energies. For further validation of the beam model, specific 2D and 3D plans were produced and then measured with appropriate dosimetric tools. Dose contributions from secondary particles produced by nuclear interactions were also investigated using field size factor experiments. Pristine Bragg peaks were reproduced with 0.7 mm range and 0.2 mm spot size accuracy. A 32 cm range spread-out Bragg peak with 10 cm modulation was reproduced with 0.8 mm range accuracy and a maximum point-to-point dose difference of less than 2%. A 2D test pattern consisting of a combination of homogeneous and high-gradient dose regions passed a 2%/2 mm gamma index comparison for 97% of the points. In conclusion, the generic modeling method proposed for scanned ion beam delivery systems was applicable to an IBA proton therapy system. The key advantage of the method is that it only requires BDL measurements of the system. The validation tests performed so far demonstrated that the beam model achieves clinical performance, paving the way for further studies toward TPS benchmarking. The method involves new sources that are available in the new Gate release V6.1 and could be further applied to other particle therapy systems delivering protons or other types of ions like carbon.

An investigation into the compressive properties of stainless steel micro-lattice structures

Abstract: This article presents a theoretical analysis for predicting the initial stiffness E*, and plastic collapse strength σ*pl of BCC micro-lattice blocks under compressive loading. This theoretical analysis is based on the observed deformation mechanisms, and can, in principle, be developed to predict the elastic properties of other micro-lattice structures. The analytical solutions are verified by comparing the predictions with FEM data using 1D beam and 3D solid elements and uniaxial compression tests on samples fabricated by selective laser melting. The FEM predictions using the 3D solid elements agree well with the experimental data for a wide range of strut aspect ratios, d/L. In addition, the range of applicability of the analytical model and the FEM predictions using beam elements are clarified.

Passive, Self-Tuning Energy Harvester for Extracting Energy From Rotational Motion

Abstract: Energy harvester. The harvester includes a radially extending beam having a proximal end mounted a selected distance from an axis of rotation of an object and includes a mass at its distal end. The mass, beam characteristics, and the selected distance are chosen so that the beam resonant frequency during rotation of the object substantially matches the driven rotational frequency of the object.

An energy harvester using piezoelectric cantilever beams undergoing coupled bending-torsion vibrations

Abstract: Recently, piezoelectric cantilevered beams have received considerable attention for vibration-to-electric energy conversion. Generally, researchers have investigated a classical piezoelectric cantilever beam with or without a tip mass. In this paper, we propose the use of a unimorph cantilever beam undergoing bending‐torsion vibrations as a new piezoelectric energy harvester. The proposed design consists of a single piezoelectric layer and a couple of asymmetric tip masses; the latter convert part of the base excitation force into a torsion moment. This structure can be tuned to be a broader band energy harvester by adjusting the first two global natural frequencies to be relatively close to each other. We develop a distributed-parameter model of the harvester by using the Euler-beam theory and Hamilton’s principle, thereby obtaining the governing equations of motion and associated boundary conditions. Then, we calculate the exact eigenvalues and associated mode shapes and validate them with a finite element (FE) model. We use these mode shapes in a Galerkin procedure to develop a reduced-order model of the harvester, which we use in turn to obtain closed-form expressions for the displacement, twisting angle, voltage output, and harvested electrical power. These expressions are used to conduct a parametric study for the dynamics of the system to determine the appropriate set of geometric properties that maximizes the harvested electrical power. The results show that, as the asymmetry is increased, the harvester’s performance improves. We found a 30% increase in the harvested power with this design compared to the case of beams undergoing bending only. We also show that the locations of the two masses can be chosen to bring the lowest two global natural frequencies closer to each other, thereby allowing the harvesting of electrical power from multi-frequency excitations. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)

Generalized Lorenz–Mie theories and description of electromagnetic arbitrary shaped beams: Localized approximations and localized beam models, a review

Abstract: The description of electromagnetic arbitrary shaped beams (e.g. laser beams) under expanded forms requires the evaluation of expansion coefficients known as beam shape coefficients. Several methods have been designed to evaluate these coefficients but the most efficient one relies on the use of localization operators, leading to localized approximations and to localized beam models, whose history and features are reviewed in this paper. Localized approximations and localized beam models have been particularly useful for speeding up numerical computations in the framework of generalized Lorenz–Mie theories (GLMTs), i.e. theories dealing with the interaction between electromagnetic arbitrary shaped beams and a regular particle, allowing one to solve the problem by using the method of separation of variables. However, they can be useful in other scattering approaches, such as the extended boundary condition method (or null-field method), or more generally, when the need of an efficient description of an electromagnetic arbitrary shaped beam is required.

Semiconductor laser apparatus and optical apparatus

Abstract: A semiconductor laser apparatus comprises a first semiconductor laser device that emits a blue-violet laser beam, a second semiconductor laser device that emits a red laser beam, and a conductive package body. The first semiconductor laser device has a p-side pad electrode and an n-side electrode. The p-side pad electrode and n-side electrode of the first semiconductor laser device are electrically isolated from the package body. The p-side pad electrode of the first semiconductor laser device is connected with a drive circuit that generates a positive potential, while the n-side electrode thereof is connected with a dc power supply that generates a negative potential.

Performance test of Si PIN photodiode line scanner for thermal neutron detection

Abstract: Thermal neutron imaging using Si PIN photodiode line scanner and Eu-doped LiCaAlF6 crystal scintillator has been developed. The pixel dimensions of photodiode are 1.18 mm (width)×3.8 mm (length) with 0.4 mm gap and the module has 192 channels in linear array. The emission peaks of Eu-doped LiCaAlF6 after thermal neutron excitation are placed at 370 and 590 nm, and the corresponding photon sensitivities of photodiode are 0.04 and 0.34 A/W, respectively. Polished scintillator blocks with a size of 1.18 mm (width)×3.8 mm (length)×5.0 mm (thickness) were wrapped by several layers of Teflon tapes as a reflector and optically coupled to the photodiodes by silicone grease. JRR-3 MUSASI beam line emitting 13.5 meV thermal neutrons with the flux of 8×105 n/cm2 s was used for the imaging test. As a subject for imaging, a Cd plate was moved at the speed of 50 mm/s perpendicular to the thermal neutron beam. Analog integration time was set to be 416.6 μs, then signals were converted by a delta–sigma A/D converter. After the image processing, we successfully obtained moving Cd plate image under thermal neutron irradiation using PIN photodiode line scanner coupled with Eu-doped LiCaAlF6 scintillator.

Bending and twisting of soft materials by non-homogenous swelling

Abstract: Soft materials such as biological tissues and gels undergo morphological changes, motion, and instabilities when subjected to external stimuli. We examine how thin elastic plates undergo rapid bending and buckling instabilities after non-homogenous exposure to a favorable solvent that swells the network. An unconstrained beam bends along its length, while a circular disc bends and buckles with multiple curvatures. In the case of a disc, a large-amplitude transverse travelling wave rotates azimuthally around the disc. We provide theoretical interpretations inspired by the complementary thermal expansion problem of transient shape changes triggered by non-homogenous time-dependent heating, which allows collapse of time-dependent swelling data onto universal curves. Control of dynamical, swelling-induced shape changes provides new directions for the utilization of soft materials.

Angular momentum flux of nonparaxial acoustic vortex beams and torques on axisymmetric objects.

Abstract: An acoustic vortex in an inviscid fluid and its radiation torque on an axisymmetric absorbing object are analyzed beyond the paraxial approximation to clarify an analogy with an optical vortex. The angular momentum flux density tensor from the conservation of angular momentum is used as an efficient description of the transport of angular momentum. Analysis of a monochromatic nonparaxial acoustic vortex beam indicates that the local ratio of the axial (or radial) flux density of axial angular momentum to the axial (or radial) flux density of energy is exactly equal to the ratio of the beam's topological charge $l$ to the acoustic frequency $\ensuremath{\omega}$. The axial radiation torque exerted by the beam on an axisymmetric object centered on the beam's axis due to the transfer of angular momentum is proportional to the power absorbed by the object with a factor $l/\ensuremath{\omega}$, which can be understood as a result of phonon absorption from the beam. Depending on the vortex's helicity, the torque is parallel or antiparallel to the beam's axis.