Original Article
Tesla’s Fountain – Modeling and simulation in ceramics technology

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2018.01.041Get rights and content

Abstract

In this paper, we present Tesla’s Fountain in ceramics technology reconstruction from basic 3D model, simulation of the engine, light and fluids till the real materialization. As the one of the most important model purposes, we enrich this solution by additional multicolor lights. All of this elements are designed based on Tesla’s original patent no. 1,113,716, US patent office, granted Oct,13. In this model we applied ceramics technology based on ceramic materials casting and sintering. At the time when the patent was granted, the metal materials science and technologies were more advanced than the ceramics technology and applications. We performed all materials characteristics analyses and preparation steps based on the one author’s patent no. 46121, Serbia patent office, granted 21.12.1991. This is one original two patents solution with complete new over-bridging by the state-of-the-art computer modeling and simulation technology.

Introduction

The world famous inventor Nikola Tesla, besides his mainstream inventions in the field of electro techniques, also created Fountain in original design solution and materials [1]. The project “Computer Simulation and 3-D Modelling of the Original Patents of Nikola Tesla” in cooperation with “Nikola Tesla Museum” of Belgrade, which represents an institution of national importance, has started in 2009 [2]. Basically, the main purpose of the project is to digitalize, visualize and reconstruct (in real models) the original legacy of the Museum. The part of this paper is based on research within the project entitled “Computer Simulation and Modelling of the Original Patents of Nikola Tesla” and approved by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia.The first Tesla's patent that was under our attention was Tesla’s Fountain patented as Tesla’s Fountain, no. 1,113,716, US patent office, granted Oct,13,1914 (Fig. 1).

We were working intensively to produce 300.000 particle 3D model of Tesla’s Fountain (Fig. 3.) [1]. The application that were used are 3ds Max, Adobe Photoshop, RealFlow, V-Ray, Microsoft Visual Studio C++. Then, we used different tools to generate digital model of Tesla's fountain in various configurations and environments. To comply this complex plan, there has been cooperation among the authors and professional experts from Museum. We used original construction schema from Museum (Fig. 2.) to generate first 3D model of Tesla’s Fountain.

The original construction predicts the solid materials for basic structure (metal). The main idea in patent is to use just one induction motor to generate water flow (from down to up) and to run the complex light control mechanism using the mechanical redactors (Fig. 2).

The Tesla Fountain in ceramics has many benefits for research of the inner structure as well as artistic and visual ones. After the initial structure modelling we concentrate on a problem of light control. In his original patent (Fig. 1) Tesla used multi color filters to generate interesting color effects in Fountain water flow. We implemented this original idea in our model (Fig. 3):

To run this color filter system on the top on the Fountain, Tesla predicted complex mechanical system with differentials, similar to clock mechanism. This unit reduces the high rotational speed of main induction motor which also runs the water pump on the same axis (Fig. 1). Our model follows this part of the original construction also (Fig. 4.).

As to the authors known the first Tesla’s experiments have been done in materials like metal, bronze-metal and also in some phases. This is the first time, that the authors applied ceramic materials technologies in combination of casting and sintering. The basic knowledge and results in this technology are very well known but also here is presented quite new application.

When the Tesla as an inventor, used basic metal materials science for his patent, the ceramic materials properties had still been developing. If ceramics solution was implemented, It would be easier to consolidate the samples, and they would be much lighter, very firm and stable in construction, with possible controlled porosity, than in the case of the metal technology implementation. Regarding atmospheric corrosion, and other environmental conditions, ceramics have advantages in comparison with metal applications. Also, ceramics have much better thermal characteristics than metal considering the outdoor physical- chemical impacts on the fountain. Also the ceramics materials described in the patent feature one very important characteristic such as the surface layer, which allows the material to be resistant to environmental effects. It is very flexible for modeling, especially using contemporary software technologies. Eventually, the ceramics technology is much cheaper than the metal technology. The ceramic designing is more flexible and more likely to result in a more attractive final shape.

Section snippets

Theoretical basis of the fluid simulation

This section offers a definition of the types of computational fluid dynamics methods which define the fluid flows, as well as detailed theoretical foundation of the Smoothed-Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) numerical method used for simulation of the Tesla fountain [3,4].

Usage of SPH in the simulation

The Fountain fluid flow simulation has many steps, and most of them are performed continuously (throughout the whole duration of the simulation). The steps can be presented adequately using a flow chart to describe the algorithm. The flow chart for an SPH simulation that has been used for Fountain looks like in Fig. 5:

The key structure used in our simulation is Quaternion. It is a structure that holds the information about objects, in this case the particle's rotation. Quaternions are also used

Model realization pipeline

Realization of Tesla Fountain is complex. We used different hardware and software [2,17].

Software: 4.14.3+ Unreal engine, Nvidia codeworks for Android, Oculus Rift Tools, Maya 2017 LT.

Hardware: WINDOWS 10 64 OS, PC Athlon FX 4200, 8GB RAM, 2GB VRAM 6870, VR GEAR SAMSUNG, SAMSUNG GALAXY E7, Intel i7 16GB RAM, GeForce GTX 1050.

The modeling was done in Maya software based on original photos of fountains Nikola Tesla who are from the Nikola Tesla Museum. The same software is made and optimization

Production in ceramics

After the animation of the model, the main inventor idea is presented visually – one induction motor works like a water pump and at the same time it is connected via mechanical differentials to run the color filter which speed is proportional to the water flow in that way. The next steps are to develop new ceramic material as the basic structure for Tesla’s Fountain [[18], [19], [20]].

The invention belongs to the field of ceramics technology, and it is classified by International Classification

COnclusion

In this paper theoretical and practical realization of the Tesla’s Fountain model is proposed. Tesla Fountain model is realized through the project with Museum of Nikola Tesla. The main intention of this paper is to develop ceramic model of Tesla’s Fountain beginning from Tesla’s original patent pending schemes through the all necessary steps of modeling. Introduction represents starting point in a view of Tesla original patent. Section 1 provides a mathematical foundation and theoretical basis

Acknowledgements

This paper is supported with III44006-10 and OI 172057 projects of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development and Museum of Nikola Tesla in Belgrade, Serbia.

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