Fluid–structure interaction modeling of ringsail parachutes with disreefing and modified geometric porosity

Fluid?Cstructure interaction (FSI) modeling of parachutes poses a number of computational challenges. These include the lightness of the parachute canopy compared to the air masses involved in the parachute dynamics, in the case of ringsail parachutes the geometric porosity created by the construction of the canopy from ??rings?? and ??sails?? with hundreds of ??ring gaps?? and ??sail slits,?? in the case of parachute clusters the contact between the parachutes, and ??disreefing?? from one stage to another when the parachute is used in multiple stages. The Team for Advanced Flow Simulation and Modeling (T?AFSM) has been successfully addressing these computational challenges with the Stabilized Space?CTime FSI (SSTFSI) technique, which was developed and improved over the years by the T?AFSM and serves as the core numerical technology, and a number of special techniques developed in conjunction with the SSTFSI technique. The quasi-direct and direct coupling techniques developed by the T?AFSM, which are applicable to cases with nonmatching fluid and structure meshes at the interface, yield more robust algorithms for FSI computations where the structure is light. The special technique used in dealing with the geometric complexities of the rings and sails is the homogenized modeling of geometric porosity (HMGP), which was developed and improved in recent years by the T?AFSM. The surface-edge-node contact tracking (SENCT) technique was introduced by the T?AFSM as a contact algorithm where the objective is to prevent the structural surfaces from coming closer than a minimum distance in an FSI computation. The recently-introduced conservative version of the SENCT technique is more robust and is now an essential technology in the parachute cluster computations carried out by the T?AFSM. As an additional computational challenge, the parachute canopy might, by design, have some of its panels and sails removed. In FSI computation of parachutes with such ??modified geometric porosity,?? the flow through the ??windows?? created by the removal of the panels and the wider gaps created by the removal of the sails cannot be accurately modeled with the HMGP and needs to be actually resolved during the FSI computation. In this paper we focus on parachute disreefing, including the disreefing of parachute clusters, and parachutes with modified geometric porosity, including the reefed stages of such parachutes. We describe the additional special techniques we have developed to address the challenges involved and report FSI computations for parachutes and parachute clusters with disreefing and modified geometric porosity.     

Sequentially-coupled space–time FSI analysis of bio-inspired flapping-wing aerodynamics of an MAV

We present a sequentially-coupled space–time (ST) computational fluid–structure interaction (FSI) analysis of flapping-wing aerodynamics of a micro aerial vehicle (MAV). The wing motion and deformation data, whether prescribed fully or partially, is from an actual locust, extracted from high-speed, multi-camera video recordings of the locust in a wind tunnel. The core computational FSI technology is based on the Deforming-Spatial-Domain/Stabilized ST (DSD/SST) formulation. This is supplemented with using NURBS basis functions in temporal representation of the wing and mesh motion, and in remeshing. Here we use the version of the DSD/SST formulation derived in conjunction with the variational multiscale (VMS) method, and this version is called “DSD/SST-VMST.” The structural mechanics computations are based on the Kirchhoff–Love shell model. The sequential-coupling technique is applicable to some classes of FSI problems, especially those with temporally-periodic behavior. We show that it performs well in FSI computations of the flapping-wing aerodynamics we consider here. In addition to the straight-flight case, we analyze cases where the MAV body has rolling, pitching, or rolling and pitching motion. We study how all these influence the lift and thrust.     

Space–time computation techniques with continuous representation in time (ST-C)

We introduce space–time computation techniques with continuous representation in time (ST-C), using temporal NURBS basis functions. This gives us a temporally smooth, NURBS-based solution, which is desirable in some cases, and a more efficient way of dealing with the computed data. We propose two versions of ST-C. In the first version, the smooth solution is extracted by projection from a solution computed with a different temporal representation, typically a discontinuous one. We use a successive projection technique with a small number of temporal NURBS basis functions at each projection, and therefore the extraction can take place as the solution with discontinuous temporal representation is being computed, without storing a large amount of time-history data. This version is not limited to solutions computed with ST techniques. In the second version, the solution with continuous temporal representation is computed directly by using a small number of temporal NURBS basis functions in the variational formulation associated with each time step.     

Space–time VMS computation of wind-turbine rotor and tower aerodynamics

We present the space–time variational multiscale (ST-VMS) computation of wind-turbine rotor and tower aerodynamics. The rotor geometry is that of the NREL 5MW offshore baseline wind turbine. We compute with a given wind speed and a specified rotor speed. The computation is challenging because of the large Reynolds numbers and rotating turbulent flows, and computing the correct torque requires an accurate and meticulous numerical approach. The presence of the tower increases the computational challenge because of the fast, rotational relative motion between the rotor and tower. The ST-VMS method is the residual-based VMS version of the Deforming-Spatial-Domain/Stabilized ST (DSD/SST) method, and is also called “DSD/SST-VMST” method (i.e., the version with the VMS turbulence model). In calculating the stabilization parameters embedded in the method, we are using a new element length definition for the diffusion-dominated limit. The DSD/SST method, which was introduced as a general-purpose moving-mesh method for computation of flows with moving interfaces, requires a mesh update method. Mesh update typically consists of moving the mesh for as long as possible and remeshing as needed. In the computations reported here, NURBS basis functions are used for the temporal representation of the rotor motion, enabling us to represent the circular paths associated with that motion exactly and specify a constant angular velocity corresponding to the invariant speeds along those paths. In addition, temporal NURBS basis functions are used in representation of the motion and deformation of the volume meshes computed and also in remeshing. We name this “ST/NURBS Mesh Update Method (STNMUM).” The STNMUM increases computational efficiency in terms of computer time and storage, and computational flexibility in terms of being able to change the time-step size of the computation. We use layers of thin elements near the blade surfaces, which undergo rigid-body motion with the rotor. We compare the results from computations with and without tower, and we also compare using NURBS and linear finite element basis functions in temporal representation of the mesh motion.     

Room-temperature synthesis of γ-Ga2O3 nanoparticles from gallium metal via ultrasound irradiation

In this study, gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃) nanoparticles were synthesized by sonochemical techniques at room temperature. We investigate the ultrasound irradiation conditions and the solvent type to synthesize Ga₂O₃ nanoparticles. γ-Ga₂O₃ nanoparticles were synthesized by irradiating gallium metal with ultrasound in hydrazine monohydrate solvent. The irradiation of hydrazine with ultasound suppresses the generation of ·OH, and GaOOH was not formed, and gallium metal directly oxidized. When the synthesized γ-Ga₂O₃ nanoparticles were heat-treated, a transition to β-Ga₂O₃ was observed. The heat-treated Ga₂O₃ nanoparticles showed excellent photocatalytic activity for the decomposition of RhB under UV irradiation.     

A study on flammability limits of fuel mixtures

Flammability limit measurements were made for various binary and ternary mixtures prepared from nine different compounds. The compounds treated are methane, propane, ethylene, propylene, methyl ether, methyl formate, 1,1-difluoroethane, ammonia, and carbon monoxide. The observed values of lower flammability limits of mixtures were found to be in good agreement to the calculated values by Le Chatelier's formula. As for the upper limits, however, some are close to the calculated values but some are not. It has been found that the deviations of the observed values of upper flammability limits from the calculated ones are mostly to lower concentrations. Modification of Le Chatelier's formula was made to better fit to the observed values of upper flammability limits. This procedure reduced the average difference between the observed and calculated values of upper flammability limits to one-third of the initial value.     

Constrictive effect of thyroxine on the ductus arteriosus in fetal rats

This work was conducted to know whether thyroxine (T4) when injected into fetal rats would induce a constriction of the ductus arteriosus (DA). In Experiment 1, fetal rats on day 20 of gestation were given a subcutaneous injection of 1 or 10 micrograms T4 through the maternal uterine wall, and were autopsied 3 or 6 hr later. Similarly, in Experiment 2, the mother rats were given an injection of hydrocortisone (10 mg/kg) just after fetal T4 injections. In either series of experiments, uninjected littermates served as controls. According to the whole-body freezing and shaving method, the DA was exposed and calibrated under a dissecting microscope. In Experiment 1, the DAs of the T4-injected fetuses, 3 hr later, were significantly smaller in caliber than those of their controls, but recovered 6 hr later. In Experiment 2 with fetal T4 injection followed by maternal hydrocortisone injection, the DAs of the T4-injected fetuses were further smaller in caliber than those of their controls which were clearly shrunken as compared with those of controls in Experiment 1. These results indicate that T4 exerts a constrictive effect on the DA, an effect which is strengthened in the presence of hydrocortisone.     

Asbestos body and fiber concentrations in pathological autopsy tissues of patients with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma

Toxoplasma gondii tissue cyst reactivation is a major pathogenic mechanism in ocular toxoplasmosis, disease associated with AIDS and organ transplantation. The mechanisms associated with cyst formation and reactivation have not been elucidated. The complexity of studying these issues in animal models has led to the development of in vitro tissue culture strategies for cyst formation. In the present study we have adopted the human embryonic lung fibroblast (HEL) as the host cell and have compared the cyst forming abilities of eight clinical isolates. We describe by transmission electron microscopy and quantitative light microscopy the development of cysts in vitro. The numbers of in vitro cysts increased with time for all isolates. Cyst cultures were stabilised by manipulation of the free parasite load, an observation not previously recorded. Thus, in this paper we describe a viable model for the analysis of the mechanisms of Toxoplasma cyst development.     

Roxithromycin inhibits cytokine production by and neutrophil attachment to human bronchial epithelial cells in vitro

We evaluated the effect of roxithromycin on cytokine production and neutrophil attachment to human airway epithelial cells. Roxithromycin suppressed production of interleukin 8 (IL-8), IL-6, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. It inhibited neutrophil adhesion to epithelial cells. Roxithromycin modulates local recruitment and activation of inflammatory cells, which may have relevance to its efficacy in airway diseases.