Engineering

Could three buildings of this type be constructed to form a triangle, where the inner support wires connect between the towers instead of to the ground? http://www.thebigtower.com/live/SandyHeath/Index.htm Floors could then be inserted and thick fabric sheets be wrapped around the structure. To deal with wind the structure could be fragmented, such that only every other floor was used, the wind blowing though the thiner empty stories.

Hi! An attempted explanation for the tragedy of Lac-Megantic is that the only running locomotive was shut down by the fire brigade when extinguishing it, and as this locomotive stopped to provide pressurized air to the train, the wagon's brakes opened and the train ran away. Which I can't understand, because at least here in Europe, for over a century and exactly for the cited explanation, all brakes are pressed by a spring and need pressure to open. Could this be any different in Canada or the US? Thanks!

I'm considering doing aerospace engineering in the university But my parents want me to do the actual study. I want to know what it will be like if I do the aerospace engineering. Is that a good career?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work_hardening [math]\sigma = \sigma_y + G \alpha b \rho_{\perp}^{1/2}[/math] [math]\sigma \approx \sigma_y + K \epsilon_{p}^{0.2 - 0.5}[/math] So, simplistically stated, the perpendicular / transverse dislocation density (# / m2) is proportional to the plastic strain ? [math]\rho_{\perp} \approx \epsilon_p[/math] Now, [math]\rho_{\perp}^{1/2} = 1/<d>[/math] where <d> = average distance between dislocations. So, seemingly, [math]\sigma \approx \sigma_y + \frac{\left( \alpha G b \right)}{<d>}[/math] And, a 1/d dependency resembles viscous fluid flow, [math]F = \mu A v / \Delta h[/math]. So, th…

This is a hats-off crankshaft :

From what I can tell, there are a few basic leg/foot articulation types. What I'm really curious about is the difference in two of them: 1. The human bipedal one (basically straight leg, 90-degree angle at ankle to foot). 2. The general "chicken" shape (theropod, avian) The question I am trying to get a feel for is which leg shape is stronger at higher weights, and why. I don't know enough about engineering to be able to calculate the stresses on the bones with the varying bone angles. So here's the proposed question: Let us assume we have to identical cubes of lead A and B, each with a mass of 250 kilograms. Cube A is supported by two standard huma…

Hello dear friends! Here I plan to describe automatic spacecraft and manned spaceships that aerobrake at celestial bodies like Earth and Mars, and have big movable control surfaces in order to adjust much the braking force, provide stability, and when needed provide downlift. They look roughly like a capsule fitted with big movable petals, which can be behind the capsule for weaker braking, or extended for stronger braking. The same petals are useful as a parachute at lower altitude and speed, and possibly as legs to land and to move the spacecraft. This may save some mass, and limits the risks of unwanted interactions. Drawings are in the pipe and should make it clea…

Which is more interesting and beneficial among Engineering Math and Engineering Physic?

Hi; I have a question about NVT thermostat; what is the meaning of the following number after the NVT in code? and what are they want to describe? for example: fix 0 all nvt temp 300 300 0.01 in this case what is the first 300? and what is the second 300? and whar is the .01 thanks from your attention Best Regards

Hola Comrades! I'm a newbie here, but I must say the threads in this forum are quite interesting. Might as well stick around for a while. So I'm working with a group on a project to demonstrate "magnetic refrigeration", having thoroughly understood the concept of the magnetocaloric effect, we are unable to comprehend the construction of the heat exchangers that would provide us with such a high rate of conduction (For rotary type). It seems beyond our current IQ limits. It'd great if you guys could pool in some ideas. Also, obtaining the element Gadolinium is proving to be a very tedious task, we're in need for some substitutes, Nevermind if they aren't that efficient…

Which is more interesting and beneficial among Engineering Math and Engineering Physic?

I understand that connecting batteries in parallel is not recommended, if not quite dangerous. Because any small difference in voltage will result in an equalizing current following between the batteries - possibly a very large equalizing current. But is not a single battery effectively an infinite number of batteries in parallel? Or, expressed another way: how close do two batteries connected in parallel need to be to be viewed as one larger battery? And even if it isn't considered an infinite number of batteries, chances are there'll be uneven voltages over the plate(s) area during discharge. Which surely must mean equalizing currents within the battery - possib…

Hi, I am new to the forum. Straight to question: Material I have: Two Batteries each 200Apms 12 Volts Solar PV as follows: 200W 24 Volts 6 Amps 250W 24 Volts 7 Amps 230W 24 Volts 7 Amps Inverter Input 24 Volts from solar to 12 V output to battery. Questions I have: 1. Amps written on the Solar PV as 6 or 7 amps are 6 amps/hr? Or does it means something else? 2. How many hours will my solar panels take to charge my two batteries? (I understand that there is a solar charge controller in between to control) If you can give the calculation, I would really appreciate. 3. What is required to charge battery - voltage or Amps or both? Is it correct to say that to ch…

I took apart an old air conditioner, and attached a belt to the rod on the fan, and intend to use it to drive a pulley, however the fan doesnt have enough strength to fully spin with the load attached (the fan puts out 0.03 hp). Is there a way to increase the volts going into the eletrical engine to give it more force to rotate with the load attached. I has 120 volts flowing through, is it possible to have 140, 180, 240 volts? ~EE

As never dealt with water wells... In my backyard there is a now unused water well, never seen or dug it, and a single (plugged to avoid dirt in) 2" black polyethylene pipe comes out of the ground. It was connected to the inlet of a now defunct plain pump + pressure tank that looks like this set: http://inspectapedia.com/water/JetPump020DJF.jpg House is on a swampy lowland From the type of pump; ---> Is it safe to assume it is a shallow well < 10m/30ft ? ---> It is safe to assume there is a non-return valve at the deep end of the pipe ? ---> Can anyone suggest a 12V DC pump to take its place ? Not much pressure needed, it is a single story dwelling. Not m…

Snowbird has been built by AeroVelo, a team of students at the university of Toronto The previous (young strong light wo-) man-powered one relied on ground effect to hover little above the ground. Toronto's team has obviously improved a lot, since their flies higher, not using the ground effect (winning as a consequence the Sikorsky prize, which had been proposed so long ago), and since the pilot doesn't even look exhausted. Fantastic achievement!

I heard recently that in many places much of a person’s time is spent collecting fire wood to heat water for the purpose of sterilization. I was wondering if a solar oven could be used instead of fire. I'm thinking of something like this. a plastic box with reflective surface with a reflective interior measuring 1Mx1Mx1m and a lid which would be propped open at a 45 degree angle (and is reflective) would this be an effective solar water purifier?

My roommate tells me that he is a refrigerator expert, and the reason my refrigerators on the patio are not cooling properly is because they are plugged in with an extension cord. Is there any truth to this? He says the refrigerators are not getting enough power, and will not get cold enough, because they need to plugged into a wall socket. The patio has a solid roof, and the sides are covered with tarps, so the refrigerators are not exposed to the sun. We have three refrigerators on the patio: 1) 4.7 cubic feet, 2) 14 cubic feet, 3) 21 cubic feet. The big one is the main problem, and has not been working properly ever since I got it over a year ago (from Crai…

I plan to make a small induction heater using copper tubing for the work coil, and run water through the tubing for cooling purposes. Assuming water as the coolant fluid, an inside diameter of [math]d[/math], a maximum height differential of [math]h[/math]" (going through a cooling block), and a total tubing length of [math]l[/math], how can I calculate the maximum volume of water and the necessary PSI of the pump? There'll either be a sharp 180⁰ bend where the tubing doubles back, or else the 180⁰ turnaround will be made more gently by transitioning to a nonconductive pipe -- depends upon how much of an impact the sharp bend would have on the maximum flow. I …

Do planes really fly faster when they fly at lower altitudes?

Down here on earth there we have a o zone layer that knocks most of the sunlight too another part of space we use solar panels here on earth right ?Well imagine if told you if we used solar panels in space we gather more sunlight which means more energy all we have to do construct a satellite with solar panels on it and place battery's inside the satellite the battery's will be charging off the solar panel for 30 years place the satellite a little further out in the ozone layer to collect the energy and i have a feeling the battery's will be super charged by time 30 years have passed depending on how close the satellite is to the sun .

This oldish engineering news from MIT introduces shape shifting robots and electric motors with memory, both with potential real world applications. The robotic equivalent of a Swiss army knife

Concerning a Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube, I'm wondering about the effect of the curve of the spiral vortex chamber on the device's performance. Specifically, I'm wondering if there would be any particular effect if the curve were a golden spiral rather than just any old spiral. I haven't found any references online, so I'm tossing it into this remarkable collection of creative minds to see if anyone has any thoughts. What do you think? Thanks!

It's about this vehicle I sketched, and how it would work as a real vehicle: It's supposed to be a convergence between a motorcycle and an airplane. I was thinking that it would utilize the ground effect for most of it's lift, while the rest of the lifting force would come from a small jet engine (Supposed to be able to reach 500 km/h in 0-3 seconds). It already has the control flaps as required of jet planes. It's wingspan is supposed to be somewhere around 12-14 feet. With these statistics in mind, how far above the ground would it get?

A very long open canal dug on plain soil has contaminated water, or seawater if you prefer. As very long means nothing; assume 10 Km. Placing an electrode touching that water, with 120VAC 60Hz phase from mains; a sustantial current flows trough the water into ground. (actually a 60W bulb in series is nearly at full brilliance !, say 80% (~0.4A) as conductivity is very high.) Current path: 120VAC phase-------------------lightbulb---------------------------immersed in murky water-----------------------canalground. [The bulb acts a current limiter] How far reaching is the effect of the current ? Is there a way to calculate such distance? Obviously if d…