Computational Fluid Dynamics Characterization of High-Capacity Structured Packing

The novel wire gauze structured packing, PACK-860, was characterized by means of numerical methods. The main features of PACK-860 such as height equivalent to a theoretical plate (HETP) and dry/wet pressure drop were evaluated. The flow structure in this packing was described by numerical simulation. To estimate the amount of HETP and dry/wet pressure drop, three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (3D CFD) modeling with the Eulerian-Eulerian multiphase approach was applied. The average relative errors between the results obtained from CFD simulation and experimental findings for mass transfer efficiency and wet and dry pressure drop were assessed. Numerical observations were found to agree well with the empirical results, proving the reliability of CFD simulations for modeling separation processes.     

Combustion and Coprecipitation Synthesis of Co–Zn Ferrite Nanoparticles: Comparison of Structure and Magnetic Properties

In this study, we used urea and ammonia to synthesize zinc cobalt ferrites via microwave‐assisted hydrothermal method from metallic nitrates. It was figured that despite the common synthesis method and equal amount of nitrates, magnetic properties of nanoparticles were different. Changes in magnetic properties are discussed based on factors such as nanoparticles’ size, surface atom spins, cationic distribution, magnetocrystalline energy. Nanoparticles synthesized with ammonia showed lower magnetization while higher magnetocrystalline energy and greater coercivity was obtained due to better cationic distribution. It was also revealed that by increasing magnetization, the susceptibility of nanoparticles increases and then declines.     

Modelling human balance using switched systems with linear feedback control

We are interested in understanding the mechanisms behind and the character of the sway motion of healthy human subjects during quiet standing. We assume that a human body can be modelled as a single-link inverted pendulum, and the balance is achieved using linear feedback control. Using these assumptions, we derive a switched model which we then investigate. Stable periodic motions (limit cycles) about an upright position are found. The existence of these limit cycles is studied as a function of system parameters. The exploration of the parameter space leads to the detection of multi-stability and homoclinic bifurcations.     

Electrochemical examining behavior of epoxy coating incorporating zinc-free phosphate-based anticorrosion pigment

Protective performance of the epoxy primer containing strontium aluminum polyphosphate (SAPP) as a zinc-free phosphate-based anticorrosion pigment is aimed to assess in this work through taking advantage of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and electrochemical noise method (ENM). The absence of zinc offers an excellent environmentally friendly profile to the class of inhibiting compound. In the pigment extracts, the electrochemical techniques revealed superiority of SAPP compared to the conventional zinc phosphate (ZP). The behavior was connected to precipitation of a protective layer on the surface exposed to SAPP. In comparison with ZP, the most effective SAPP content in the protective primer was then determined using EIS.     

基于MSPH方法模拟激光对树脂基复合材料的辐照效应

树脂基复合材料在激光辐照下通常会发生复杂的物理化学变化,可能涉及材料热分解、烧蚀、汽化和比较复杂的界面问题。鉴于无网格粒子法在处理大变形、网格畸变和材料烧蚀等问题时有优势,利用改进的光滑粒子方法对激光辐照下复合材料树脂基热解时的三维温度场模型进行数值求解。将数值模拟结果与实验结果进行对比,考察了改进的光滑粒子方法对所考虑问题的适用性。结果表明:改进的光滑粒子方法适合于模拟激光对树脂基复合材料的辐照效应,在激光与物质相互作用领域,该方法也是值得关注的一种数值方法。     

Mechanical properties of Bombyx mori silk yarns studied with tensile testing method

The mechanical properties of Bombyx mori silk yarns and baves were investigated with tensile testing method. After silk yarns were pre‐extended at different strain levels and fixed for a while followed by recovery process, the tensile characteristics were examined in detail. It was commonly observed that low preliminary extensions up to 2–3% do not cause the changes of the mechanical properties and stress‐strain curves because they result in small structural changes and distortions, which were recovered within relatively short time (～ 1 min) in recovery process. However, pre‐extension values >3% strain lead to great changes of the mechanical properties and fibre structure, i.e., the changes of the shape of stress‐strain curve where additional transition point was observed, increase in the rigidity and stress at rupture, but decrease in extensibility as a result of orientation and destruction of the fibre structure especially in the amorphous region. It was stated that silk fibre consists of two distinct deformation regions, namely first linear region extending up to 2–3% strain and the second region beyond 2–3% strain where the main reorganization processes of the fibre structure, that is, the straining of macromolecular chains especially in the amorphous regions, the orientation of structural units such as β‐sheet microcrystals in stretching direction, and the destruction of macromolecules take place. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Behaviour of a priority standby redundant system with different types of repair facilities

This paper discusses the stochastic behaviour of a two unit priority standby redundant system, in which priority units gets priority for all operations, with different types of repair facilities. Failure time distributions of Unit are exponential, whereas other distributions are arbitrary.     

Geometric surface mesh optimization

This paper presents a surface mesh optimization method suitable to obtain a geometric finite element mesh, given an initial arbitrary surface triangulation. The first step consists of constructing a geometric support, continuous, associated with the initial surface triangulation, which represents an adequate approximation of the underlying surface geometry. The initial triangulation is then optimized with respect to this geometry as well as to the element shape quality. A specific application of this technique to the geometric mesh simplification is then outlined, which aims at reducing the number of mesh entities while preserving the geometric approximation of the surface. Several examples of surface meshes intended for different application areas emphasize the efficiency of the proposed approach. Received: 11 September 1997 / Accepted: 19 February 1998     

Multi-physics modelling of a compliant humanoid robot

We present a multibody simulator being used for compliant humanoid robot modelling and report our reasoning for choosing the settings of the simulator’s key features. First, we provide a study on how the numerical integration speed and accuracy depend on the coordinate representation of the multibody system. This choice is particularly critical for mechanisms with long serial chains (e.g. legs and arms). Our second contribution is a full electromechanical model of the inner dynamics of the compliant actuators embedded in the COMAN robot, since joints’ compliance is needed for the robot safety and energy efficiency. Third, we discuss the different approaches for modelling contacts and selecting an appropriate contact library. The recommended solution is to couple our simulator with an open-source contact library offering both accurate and fast contact modelling. The simulator performances are assessed by two different tasks involving contacts: a bimanual manipulation task and a squatting tasks. The former shows reliability of the simulator. For the latter, we report a comparison between the robot behaviour as predicted by our simulation environment, and the real one.