Finite element simulation of internal flows with heat transfer using a velocity correction approach

This paper enumerates finite-element based prediction of internal flow problems, with heat transfer. The present numerical simulations employ a velocity correction algorithm, with a Galerkin weighted residual formulation. Two problems each in laminar and turbulent flow regimes are investigated, by solving full Navier-Stokes equations. Flow over a backward-facing step is studied with extensive validations. The robustness of the algorithm is demonstrated by solving a very complex problem viz. a disk and doughnut baffled heat exchanger, which has several obstructions in its flow path. The effect of wall conductivity in turbulent heat transfer is also studied by performing a conjugate analysis. Temporal evolution of flow in a channel due to circular, square and elliptic obstructions is investigated, to simulate the vortex dynamics. Flow past an in-line tube bank of a heat exchanger shell is numerically studied. Resulting heat and fluid flow patterns are analysed. Important design parameters of interest such as the Nusselt number, Strouhal number, skin friction coefficient, pressure drop etc. are obtained. It is successfully demonstrated that the velocity correction approach with a Galerkin weighted residual formulation is able to effectively simulate a wide range of fluid flow features.     

Tribology Analysis of Cobalt Particulate Filled Al 7075 Alloy for Gear Materials: a Comparative Study

Silicon - The present study aims at developing a theoretical model for sliding wear analysis of the cobalt metal powder reinforced Aluminum (Al7075) alloy composites and perform an experimental run...     

Ligand-Induced GPR110 Activation Facilitates Axon Growth after Injury

Recovery from axonal injury is extremely difficult, especially for adult neurons. Here, we demonstrate that the activation of G-protein coupled receptor 110 (GPR110, ADGRF1) is a mechanism to stimulate axon growth after injury. N-docosahexaenoylethanolamine (synaptamide), an endogenous ligand of GPR110 that promotes neurite outgrowth and synaptogenesis in developing neurons, and a synthetic GPR110 ligand stimulated neurite growth in axotomized cortical neurons and in retinal explant cultures. Intravitreal injection of GPR110 ligands following optic nerve crush injury promoted axon extension in adult wild-type, but not in gpr110 knockout, mice. In vitro axotomy or in vivo optic nerve injury rapidly induced the neuronal expression of gpr110. Activating the developmental mechanism of neurite outgrowth by specifically targeting GPR110 that is upregulated upon injury may provide a novel strategy for stimulating axon growth after nerve injury in adults.     

Physico-mechanical and Surface Wear Assessment of Magnesium Oxide Filled Ceramic Composites for Hip Implant Application

Silicon - In the present study, applicability of ceramic composites as ceramic-on-ceramic hip prostheses is explored. Hence, ceramic composites containing zirconium oxide, silicon nitride, chromium...     

Interferon-inducer polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid: a potent anti-gastric ulcer agent and inhibitor of the gastric proton pump in rats

Obesity was defined by a body mass index more than 30 kg/m2. Many risks were related to this pathology, and sometimes, menstrual disorders or infertility. In order to obtain an adequate response to ovarian stimulation during IVF cycles, higher doses of menotropins are necessary in the group of obese patients. The mechanism of this phenomenon is still unclear. Leptin is one of the main hypothesis, and could act on obesity and reproductive system simultaneously. The likelihood to have an ongoing pregnancy after IVF treatment is less in the group of obese patients because of the increased risk of miscarriage and obstetrical complications. Weight loss prior IVF remains the main advice in order to decrease the risks of the procedure and to treat successfully these patients.     

Micromixing and the steady-state performance of bioreactors using recombinant bacteria--analysis through a reversed two-environment model

A reversed two-environment model has been used to study micromixing in continuous fermentation for growth and product formation by recombinant bacteria. As an example, an Escherichia coli M72 strain harbouring the plasmid pPLc23trpA1 and producing tryptophan synthetase is considered. With excess substrate, 10% plasmid-free bacteria in the initial broth do not affect the steady-state concentrations of plasmid-containing bacteria but their mass fractions decrease significantly. With a smaller substrate concentration, the mass fractions decrease sharply as the dilution rate increases if micromixing is good; but concentrations still remain high. There is also a clear demarcation between regions of good and poor micromixing. These results are explained and an optimal combination of micromixing and dilution rate is suggested to maximise productivity.     

PROTECTIVE COATINGS FOR AERO ENGINE HOT SECTION COMPONENTS

Aluminide coatings have been widely used in the aircraft industries for the protection of gas turbine engine hot section components against oxidation and/or hot corrosion. This paper considers modes of coating degradation under conditions of cyclic oxidation, hot corrosion and corrosion-erosion interactions during service, as well as the effects of interdiffusion between coating and substrate alloys either during service or coating application. It also discusses means of improving existing coatings as well as advanced coating systems currently under development. In assessing coating performance, consideration must be given to the influence that coatings may have on substrate properties such as mechanical strength, resistance to creep and resistance to mechanical and thermal fatigue. Finally, it is stressed that proven performance for a given coating/substrate combination is no guarantee that no deleterious reaction will occur when the same coating is used with a different substrate alloy. Therefore, coating substitution requires requalification.     

Towards formal specification of a distributed computing system

Onboard spacecraft computing system is a case of a functionally distributed system that requires continuous interaction among the nodes to control the operations at different nodes. A simple and reliable protocol is desired for such an application. This paper discusses a formal approach to specify the computing system with respect to some important issues encountered in the design and development of a protocol for the onboard distributed system. The issues considered in this paper are concurrency, exclusiveness and sequencing relationships among the various processes at different nodes. A 6-tuple model is developed for the precise specification of the system. The model also enables us to check the consistency of specification and deadlock caused due to improper specification. An example is given to illustrate the use of the proposed methodology for a typical spacecraft configuration. Although the theory is motivated by a specific application the same may be applied to other distributed computing system such as those encountered in process control industries, power plant control and other similar environments.