J. R. Ockendon

The Dynamics of a Current Collection System for an Electric Locomotive

The motion of an overhead trolley wire, suspended at equal intervals by stiff springs, in response to a pantograph moving with constant speed is analysed. The pantograph is modelled by two discrete masses connected by springs and dampers. Away from the supports the inertia and elasticity of the pantograph can be neglected and a simple solution for the wire and pantograph displacement is obtained. Near a support this solution is not valid as it predicts discontinuities in the vertical pantograph velocity. A different first approximation is then required in which the support elasticity and the pantograph inertia and elasticity must be included. This problem is reduced to that of solving a system of four linear differential equations containing one term with a stretched argument. The numerical and asymptotic solution of such a system is discussed and results are obtained for the contact force and pantograph displacement near a support in typical operating conditions. This disturbance at the support is propagated with the wire wave speed and reflected at the subsequent support, thus interacting with the pantograph again. This interaction is analysed and a uniformly valid solution obtained for the contact force over a complete span. Some conclusions are made about possible operating conditions in which loss of contact between the pantograph and the wire may occur.

Incompressible water-entry problems at small deadrise angles

This paper summarizes and extends some mathematical results for a model for a class of water-entry problems characterized by the geometrical property that the impacting body is nearly parallel to the undisturbed water surface and that the impact is so rapid that gravity can be neglected. Explicit solutions for the pressure distributions are given in the case of two-dimensional flow and a variational formulation is described which provides a simple numerical algorithm for three-dimensional flows. We also pose some open questions concerning the well-posedness and physical relevance of the model for exit problems or when there is an air gap between the impacting body and the water.

Macroscopic models for superconductivity

This paper reviews the derivation of some macroscopic models for superconductivity and also some of the mathematical challenges posed by these models. The paper begins by exploring certain analogies between phase changes in superconductors and those in solidification and melting. However, it is soon found that there are severe limitations on the range of validity of these analogies and outside this range many interesting open questions can be posed about the solutions to the macroscopic models.

On the Theory of Complex Rays

The article surveys the application of complex-ray theory to the scalar Helmholtz equation in two dimensions. The first objective is to motivate a framework within which complex rays may be used to make predictions about wavefields in a wide variety of geometrical configurations. A crucial ingredient in this framework is the role played by Sp{} in determining the regions of existence of complex rays. The identification of the Stokes surfaces emerges as a key step in the approximation procedure, and this leads to the consideration of the many characterizations of Stokes surfaces, including the adaptation and application of recent developments in exponential asymptotics to the complex Wentzel--Kramers--Brilbuin expansion of these wavefields. Examples are given for several cases of physical importance.

“Waiting-time” Solutions of a Nonlinear Diffusion Equation

Similarity solutions of the equation

Droplet impact on a thin fluid layer

\partial c/\partial t = ( \partial /\partial x ) ( c^n \partial c/\partial x ),n > 0

A mathematical model for drying paint layers

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Resonant sloshing in shallow water

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Multidimensional reaction diffusion equations with nonlinear boundary conditions

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On a mathematical model for fiber tapering

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