The trend toward higher speed, higher power density liquid turbomachinery has inevitably increased the potential for fluid/structure interaction problems, and the severity of those problems. Fluid structure interaction phenomena can lead to increased wear and to structure failure. There are many factors affecting hydraulic and dynamic performance of pumping plants. These factors contribute to d...

Massive actuator arrays found their applications in robotics, pharmaceutics, aerospace, etc. Compared with electrically and/or pneumatically powered actuator array, hydraulic actuator has the comprehensive advantages of higher force density (i.e. force / actuation area), better controllability, and simpler remote control accessibility. This paper presents approaches to construct and control a m...

Hydraulic buffer systems play a significant role in energy absorption and improving belt arrest reliability in downward belt conveyors. In order give hydraulic buffer systems more preferable buffer properties, a parameters optimization method based on a reference model is proposed. Firstly, the working principle of a hydraulic buffer system for a belt arrestor is provided. Secondly, the mathema...

Channel improvements involving channel expansion upstream of culverts may result in increased sediment deposition near the structure, which in turn may result in decreased hydraulic performance and safety. These conditions are investigated through physical and numerical modeling. An improved understanding of the hydraulic performance of channel expansions is developed, improved performance curv...

We present a simple viscous theory of free-surface flows in boundary layers, which can accommodate regions of separated flow. In particular this yields the structure of stationary hydraulic jumps, both in their circular and linear versions, as well as structures moving with a constant speed. Finally we show how the fundamental hydraulic concepts of subcritical and supercritical flow, originatin...

1. Pinus ponderosa occurs in a range of contrasting environments in the western USA. Xeric populations typically have lower leaf : sapwood area ratio ( A L / A S ) and higher whole-tree leaf specific hydraulic conductance ( K L ) than mesic populations. These climatedriven shifts in hydraulic architecture are considered adaptive because they maintain minimum leaf water potential above levels th...

The design of hydraulic systems is founded on deep physical connections. It needs creativity and, at the present time, it cannot be automated. Nevertheless, powerful design support in hydraulics is still possible. This paper presents a new view to the design of hydraulic systems and shows how sophisticated subtasks of the hydraulic design procedure can be tackled. We identify the “model synthes...

Increased drought frequency and severity may reshape tree species distribution in arid environments. Dioecious tree species may be more sensitive to climate warming if sex-related vulnerability to drought occurs, since lower performance of one sex may drive differential stress tolerance, sex-related mortality rates and biased sex ratios. We explored the effect of sex and environment on branch h...