The fluidic oscillator is a device that generates an oscillating jet when supplied with fluid at pressure. The oscillator has no moving parts – the creation of the unsteady jet is based solely on fluid-dynamic interactions. Fluidic oscillators can operate at frequencies ranging up to 20 kHz, and are useful for flow control applications. The fluidic oscillator evaluated in the current study is c...

This study investigates which factors may influence producers’ use of irrigation technologies and/or water management practices (WMPs). One major finding is that Arkansas producers are more likely to rely on WMPs instead of sprinkler irrigation as a response to changes in depth to water and drought occurrences. This finding highlights the importance of expanding the existing literature that foc...

This paper reports an enhancement in fluorescence detection via the formation of fluidic microlens in micro-optical fluidic system (MOFS). The fluidic microlens is formed by three laminar flows in the expansion chamber. By changing the flow rate of each flow, the shape and focal length of the fluidic lens will be changed. Therefore, the fluidic microlens provides a wide range of tunability to e...

Methods of modifying the water distribution pattern of an impact-drive sprinkler are described. A method of pattern modification called intermittent diffusion is introduced. A deflector attached to the drive arm intermittently diffuses the jet of a standard circular-orifice nozzle, producing desirable pattern shapes while maintaining a large pattern radius. Uniformity of application for both wi...

Scarcity of fresh high-quality water has heightened the importance of wastewater reuse primarily in dry regions together with improving its efficient use by implementing the Subsurface Drip Irrigation (SDI) method. Sustainable effluent reuse combines soil and plant aspects, along with the maintainability of the application system. In this study, field experiments were conducted for two years on...

Dairy manure increases the yields of dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) from eroded, furrow-irrigated soils and may increase corn (Zea mays L.) silage yield from steeper eroded areas under sprinkler irrigation. In a 2-year field study in southern Idaho on Portneuf silt loam (coarse silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Durinodic Xeric Haplocalcid), the effects o...

The Laser Direct Synthesis and Patterning (LDSP) technology has advantages in terms of processing time and cost compared to nanomaterials-based laser additive microfabrication processes. In LDSP, a scanning laser on the substrate surface induces chemical reactions in the reactive liquid solution and selectively deposits target material in a preselected pattern on the substrate. In this study, w...

Engineering education in fluidics means to convey the physical principles behind pneumatic or hydraulic building blocks such as valves or cylinders. Up to now fluidic hardware plays an important role in this connection: Education laboratories with semi-professional components are used to build up small circuits and to perform experiments respecting hydraulic and pneumatic laws of nature. Based ...

Introduction In modeling real world tasks, one inevitably has to deal with uncertainty. This uncertainty is due to the fact that many facts are unknown and or simply ignored and summarized. Suppose that one morning you find out that your grass is wet. Is it due to rain, or is it due to the sprinkler? If there is no other information, you can only talk in terms of probabilities. In a probabilist...

Current regulations for fire suppression systems in underground coal mines to protect conveyor belt installations have been in place since the Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 was enacted. Over time, the coal conveyer equipment being used and ventilation conditions underground have changed significantly, particularly the width of the conveyor belts and the use of belt air at the face. Th...