D. Els

The Determination of Fan Blade Aerodynamic Loading From a Measured Response

Large-scale cooling system fans often operate under distorted inlet air flow conditions due to the presence of other fans and the prevalent wind conditions. Strain gauge measurements have been used to determine the blade loading as a result of the unsteady aerodynamic forces. However, these measurements are of the blade’s response to the aerodynamic forces and include the deformation as a result of the first natural frequency being excited. When considering the dominant first natural frequency and bending mode of the fan blade, one can approximate the fan blade as a cantilever beam that acts as a single degree-of-freedom system. The response of a single degree-of-freedom system can be calculated analytically for any excitation if the system’s properties are known. The current investigation focuses on using these equations to create an algorithm that can be applied to the measured response of a fan blade to then extract the aerodynamic forces exciting it. This is performed by using a simple non-linear, least-squares optimization algorithm to fit a complex Fourier series to the response and using the coefficients of each harmonic term to determine the Fourier series representing the excitation function. The algorithm was first tested by applying it to the response of a finite element cantilever beam representing a simplified model of the fan blade. Good results were obtained for a variety of excitation forces and as such the algorithm was then applied to the measured response of a full-scale fan blade. The full-scale blade was excited with a shaker where the forcing function could be accurately controlled. Once validated, the algorithm was applied to a set of strain gauge measurements that were recorded at a full-scale fan while in operation. The reconstructed aerodynamic loading showed increased forces when the blade passed beneath the fan bridge as well as when it approached the windward side of the casing.Copyright

Damping of Rotating Beams With Particle Dampers

The main research objective of this study was to determine the performance parameters of particle dampers (PDs) under centrifugal loads. A test bench was developed consisting of a rotating cantilever beam with a PD at the tip. Equal mass containers with di erent depths, filled with a range of uniform sized steel ball bearings, were used as PDs. For all the tests, the total PD mass was identical. During operation the tip of the beam was displaced, and after release, the beam could vibrate freely. The decay in the vibratory motion of the tip of the beam was measured over a range of centrifugal loads. From the data analysis, it can be concluded that there are two zones of damping, one with a high and one with a low damping factor. These damping zones depend on the ratio between the peak vibration acceleration and the centrifugal loading. Each zone has a limit in terms of the centrifugal loading beyond which the PD cannot function if the vibration amplitude is fixed. In the high damping zone, it was found that the excitation state of the particles was high enough for the system vibration frequency to change. In the low damping zone, there is only limited motion between the particles. The main parameters that influence the performance of the PDs are the PD length/diameter aspect ratio, and the particle size. An important finding is that a PD with less layers (increase in particle size) will still function at a higher centrifugal load compared to one with a smaller number number of layers.

Prolongation of segmental and pancreaticoduodenal allografts in the primate with total-lymphoid irradiation and cyclosporine

The prolongation of segmental and pancreaticoduodenal allografts (PDA) by total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) and in combination with cyclosporine (CsA) was assessed in a well established total pancreatectomy, diabetic, primate transplantation model. Pancreatic transplantation was performed in 119 pancreatectomized baboons (Papio ursinus). Of a total of 109 allografts performed, 71 were segmental allografts (open duct drainage) and 38 PDA. Of 119 graft recipients, 10 received segmental pancreatic autografts. TLI and CsA administered separately to segmental allograft recipients resulted in modest allograft survival and indefinite graft survival was not observed. 8 of 17 (47%) segmental allograft recipients that received TLI and CsA had graft survival beyond 100 days, indicating highly significant pancreatic allograft survival. All long-term segmental allograft recipients were rendered normoglycemic (plasma glucose less than 8 mmol/L) by this immunosuppressive regimen. In contrast, poor results were observed in PDA recipients treated with TLI and CsA. Mean survival in 18 treated PDA recipients was 23.8 days, 8 survived longer than 20 days (44.4%), and 1 greater than 100 days (5.5%). Despite treatment, early rejection of the duodenum in PDA recipients frequently resulted in necrosis and perforation and contributed to a high morbidity and mortality. This study indicates that, in contrast to the significant prolongation of segmental allografts by TLI and CsA, poor immunosuppression was achieved by this regimen in PDA recipients and was associated with a high morbidity and mortality caused by early rejection of the duodenum.