Stagnation-point flow of upper-convected Maxwell fluids

Two-dimensional stagnation-point flow of viscoelastic fluids is studied theoretically assuming that the fluid obeys the upper-convected Maxwell (UCM) model. Boundary-layer theory is used to simplify the equations of motion which are further reduced to a single non-linear third-order ODE using the concept of stream function coupled with the technique of the similarity solution. The equation so obtained was solved using Chebyshev pseudo-spectral collocation-point method. Based on the results obtained in the present work, it is concluded that the well-established but controversial prediction that in stagnation-point flows of viscoelastic fluids the velocity inside the boundary layer may exceed that outside the layer may just be an artifact of the rheological model used in previous studies (namely, the second-grade model). No such peculiarity is predicted to exist for the Maxwell model. For a UCM fluid, a thickening of the boundary layer and a drop in wall skin friction coefficient is predicted to occur the higher the elasticity number. These predictions are in direct contradiction with those reported in the literature for a second-grade fluid.     

Sakiadis flow of an upper-convected Maxwell fluid

The flow of an upper-convected Maxwell (UCM) fluid is studied theoretically above a rigid plate moving steadily in an otherwise quiescent fluid. It is assumed that the Reynolds number of the flow is high enough for boundary layer approximation to be valid. Assuming a laminar, two-dimensional flow above the plate, the concept of stream function coupled with the concept of similarity solution is utilized to reduce the governing equations into a single third-order ODE. It is concluded that the fluid's elasticity destroys similarity between velocity profiles; thus an attempt was made to find local similarity solutions. Three different methods will be used to solve the governing equation: (i) the perturbation method, (ii) the fourth-order Runge-Kutta method, and (iii) the finite-difference method. The velocity profiles obtained using the latter two methods are shown to be virtually the same at corresponding Deborah number. The velocity profiles obtained using perturbation method, in addition to being different from those of the other two methods, are dubious in that they imply some degree of reverse flow. The wall skin friction coefficient is predicted to decrease with an increase in the Deborah number for Sakiadis flow of a UCM fluid. This prediction is in direct contradiction with that reported in the literature for a second-grade fluid.     

Coalescence of viscous drops translating through a capillary tube

An experimental study of the interaction and coalescence of viscous drops moving through a cylindrical capillary tube under low Reynolds number conditions is presented. The combined pressure- and buoyancy-driven motion of drops in a Newtonian continuous phase is examined. The interaction between two drops is quantified using image analysis, and measurements of the coalescence time are reported for various drop size ratios, Bond numbers, and viscosity ratios. The time scale for coalescence in the non-axisymmetric configuration is found to be substantially larger than that for coalescence in the axisymmetric configuration. Measurements of the radius of the liquid film formed between the two drops at the instant of apparent contact are used in conjunction with a planar film drainage model to predict the dependence of the coalescence time on drop size ratio for coalescence of low viscosity-ratio drops in the axisymmetric configuration.     

Comparison of experimental data with the numerical simulation of planar entry flow: Role of the constitutive equation

The goal of this research was to determine whether there is any interaction between the type of constitutive equation used and the degree of mesh refinement, as well as how the type of constitutive equation might affect the convergence and quality of the solution, for a planar 4:1 contraction in the finite eiement method. Five constitutive equations were used in this work: the Phan-Thien–Tanner (PTT), Johnson–Segalman (JS), White–Metzner (WM), Leonov-like and upper convected Maxwell (UCM) models. A penalty Galerkin finite element technique was used to solve the system of non-linear differential equations. The constitutive equations were fitted to the steady shear viscosity and normal stress data for a polystyrene melt. In general it was found that the convergence limit based on the Deborah number De and the Weissenberg number We varied from model to model and from mesh to mesh. From a practical point of view it was observed that the wall shear stress in the downstream region should also be indicated at the point where convergence is lost, since this parameter reflects the throughput conditions. Because of the dependence of convergence on the combination of mesh size and constitutive equation, predictions of the computations were compared with birefringence data obtained for the same polystyrene melt flowing through a 4:1 planar contraction. Refinement in the mesh led to better agreement between the predictions using the PTT model and flow birefringence, but the oscillations became worse in the corner region as the mesh was further refined, eventually leading to the loss of convergence of the numerical algorithm. In comparing results using different models at the same wall shear stress conditions and on the same mesh, it was found that the PTT model gave less overshoot of the stresses at the re-entrant corner. Away from the corner there were very small differences between the quality of the solutions obtained using different models. All the models predicted solutions with oscillations. However, the values of the solutions oscillated around the experimental birefringence data, even when the numerical algorithm would not converge. Whereas the stresses are predicted to oscillate, the streamlines and velocity field remained smooth. Predictions for the existence of vortices as well as for the entrance pressure loss (ΔP_ent) varied from model to model. The UCM and WM models predicted negative values for ΔP_ent.     

Capture of small drops by large drops in an electric field

In the investigation of the process of the breakdown of emulsions by the coalescence of drops, up to the present time, use has been made of the theory of the coagulation of colloids (for example, [1]). However, there is a considerable difference between colloids and emulsions. Forces of attraction, bringing about the coalescence of two colloidal particles, become predominant at distances much greater than the particle size, so that, in a hydrodynamic sense, it can be assumed that colloidal particles do not interact. On the contrary, the disperse phase in emulsions consists of molecularly smooth spherical drops with a size from a few tenths of a micron or more and, with approach of the drops, forces of hydrodynamic interaction, inhibiting coalescence, become substantial. As a rule, the drops can be regarded as rigid undeformed spheres since their surface is stabilized by surface-active substances. With the approach of such spheres, the layer of liquid between them generates a braking force proportional to the rate of approach of the drops and inversely proportional to the distance between their surfaces. As a result, the approach of drops under the action of a finite force takes place over an infinite time. It follows from this that the process of the coalescence of drops requires the presence of a force of attraction, rising to infinity with approach of the drops, and any theory of coalescence must take simultaneous account of the forces of attraction of the drops and of the hydrodynamic forces.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 5, pp. 61–68, September–October, 1973.     

Bubble size distribution prediction for large-scale ship flows: Model evaluation and numerical issues

Prediction of the bubble size distribution in the wake of a ship is important to analyze its acoustic signature. To achieve CFD simulation of dynamic ships with moving control surfaces and rotating propellers in waves, a robust implementation is paramount. In this work a mass conserving multigroup discretization strategy of the Boltzmann transport equation for polydispersed bubbly flows is presented, as well as an analysis of available breakup and coalescence models. Modifications of the discrete equations for the fixed pivot method at the boundaries are introduced that guarantee exact bubble mass conservation. The role of the time stepping scheme in the conservation of mass and number of bubbles is discussed. Though the conservation properties of the discrete system of equations are satisfied provided they are solved exactly, in practice an iterative procedure must be used since the ODE’s are non-linear. Three iterative schemes are proposed and they are analyzed in terms of robustness and efficiency. Breakup, coalescence and dissolution models are analyzed from the numerical point of view. Available models of breakup and coalescence are studied finding appropriate choices for ship applications. Other models are appropriate as well, but are more costly numerically. As appropriate for ship applications, an extension to the model of Prince and Blanch for salt water is proposed and analyzed. The final model is tested against experimental data and computations by other researchers, and convergence properties in bubble size discretization is studied. It is found that for salt water the final steady state is dependent on the initial condition since there is a range of sizes for which coalescence and breakup are both negligible.     

Calculation of the rate of coalescence of an emulsion in a turbulent flow

The central moment of the theory describing the merging (coalescence) of the drops of an emulsion is determination of the time of the approach of a drop or a number of drops colliding with a given drop in unit time. In the stage immediately preceding the merging of the drops the forces of the hydrodynamic braking of the approaching drops are found to be considerable. The role of these forces has been analyzed earlier for the case of the capture of small drops by large drops in an oncoming flow in the presence of an external electrical field [1] and for the problem of the Brownian coalescence of drops, taking account of the effect of the electric double layer and of surface forces of interaction [2–4]. The present article considers the approach of drops with turbulent diffusion in an electrical field. Of the greatest interest is the sharp slowing of the approach due to the hydrodynamic interaction of the drops, considerably sharper than in the case of molecular diffusion [2]. As a result, the sharp acceleration of the approach and coalescence of drops with the action of an electrical field on an emulsion in a turbulent flow becomes understandable.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 3, pp. 47–55, May–June, 1976.The authors are grateful to G. I. Barenblatt, A. I. Leonov, V. I. Loginov, and L. P. Smirnov for their evaluation and criticism of the work.     

The size dependence of micro-toughness in ductile fracture

Micro-toughness in ductile fracture is defined as the plastic work dissipated per unit fracture surface area in the material separation processes of void growth and coalescence. A micromechanics model for the estimation of the size dependence of micro-toughness in ductile fracture is presented. Size effects are incorporated in the model using the conventional mechanism-based strain gradient plasticity (CMSG) theory. A finite element model of an axisymmetric representative unit cell with an initial spherical void is used to validate model predictions. Two characteristic length scales emerge from the model. The initial void radius sets the scale for the initial spherical void growth. For the subsequent void coalescence, the scale is set by the width of the intervoid ligament. Energy dissipation in ductile fracture is found to be dominated by the mechanisms of coalescence, and the micro-toughness in ductile fracture is found to be size dependent for dimple sizes approximately one order of magnitude larger than the material length scale.     

Interaction of viscous drops in a yield stress material

The interaction of Newtonian drops of various volumes moving in yield stress material is investigated experimentally. Tetrachloroethylene drops move in a rectangular reservoir filled with neutralized 0.07% w/w Carbopol gel under the action of gravity. For initially vertically aligned drop pairs, we present time evolution of separation distance, velocities during the interaction and conditions for coalescence of the drops, which depend on the volumes of the drops and the initial separation between them. For the asymmetric interaction of the pairs, we present interaction patterns, which have been used for estimation of the size of the yielded region and its shape around the leading drop.     

The effect of strain softening in the matrix material during void growth

A Finite element analysis has been employed to investigate the growth of an initially spherical void embedded in a cylinder of elastic-plastic material. The boundary displacement of this cylindrical cell is regulated by the value of a parameter α which controls the radial shrinkage of the cell as it elongates. A large strain analysis was used and results for both strain hardening and strain softening (after an appropriate amount of hardening has taken place) have been obtained. The effects of different mean tensile stresses, equivalent strains and initial void volume fractions have also been included. The numerical work shows relationships between the mechanical and geometrical variables that may favour ductile fracture by void coalescence or by shear decohesion.     

Re-entrant corner behavior of the PTT fluid

We integrate the constitutive equation of the Phan-Thien-Tanner (PTT) fluid near a re-entrant 270° corner. The velocity field is assumed given (Newtonian). In contrast to the case of the upper convected Maxwell (UCM) fluid, we find the following features: (1) The elastic stresses near the corner are less singular than Newtonian stresses; (2) Boundary layers near the walls are much less sharp than for the UCM fluid; (3) There are no spurious stresses due to downstream instabilities.     

室温下镁合金板循环塑性随动强化本构模型研究

本文在具有各向异性屈服强度和拉压不对称的CPB06屈服准则的基础上,建立了基于随动强化的循环塑性本构模型．通过引入滑移、孪晶以及去孪等不同变形模式下的背应力演化方程,对室温下镁合金板材异常循环硬化行为进行了模拟．选取了AZ31B-O和AZ31B两种镁合金板材,通过拉伸-压缩-拉伸(T-C-T)和压缩-拉伸(C-T)等不同加载路径下的部分实验曲线确定模型的参数,采用三次插值多项式建立了背应力参数与上一变形模式中累积的等效塑性应变（即预应变）之间的函数关系．使用本模型对剩下的实验曲线进行了预测,发现预测结果与实验结果有良好的一致性,说明了当前模型的正确性．     

The vibration and stability analysis of moderate thick plates by the method of lines

The method of lines based on Hu Hai-chang's theory for the vibration and stability of moderate thick plates is developed. The standard nonlinear ordinary differential equation (ODE) system for natural frequencies and critical load is given by use of ODE techniques, and then any indicated eigenvalue could be obtained directly from ODE solver by employing the so-called initial eigenfunction technique instead of the mode orthogonality condition.Numerical examples show that the present method is very effective and reliable.     

Pull-in analysis of electrically actuated viscoelastic microbeams based on a modified couple stress theory

A new beam model is developed for the viscoelastic microbeam based on a modified couple stress model which contains only one material length scale parameter. The governing equations of equilibrium together with initial conditions and boundary conditions are obtained by a combination of the basic equations of modified couple stress theory and Hamilton’s principle. This new beam model is then used for an electrically actuated microbeam-based MEMS structure. The dynamic and quasi-static governing equations of an electrically actuated viscoelastic microbeam are firstly given where the axial force created by the midplane stretching effect is also considered. Galerkin method is used to solve above equation and this method is also validated by the finite element method (FEM) when our model is reduced into an elastic case. The numerical results show that the instantaneous pull-in voltage, durable pull-in voltage and pull-in delay time predicted by this newly developed model is larger (longer) than that predicted by the classical beam model. A comparison between the quasi-static model results and the dynamic model results is also given.     

多柔体系统数值分析的模型降噪方法

多柔体系统的动力学方程通常是一组刚性微分方程, 目前普遍采用的刚性微分方程数值解法主要通过数值阻尼滤除系统响应中的高频分量, 其求解效率难以令人满意. 为了降低多柔体系统动力学方程的刚性, 从而可采用ODE45等常规微分方程求解器进行求解, 研究了在建模过程中滤除高频振荡分量的方法. 在以当前时刻为起点的短时间内对柔性体的应力进行均匀化, 用均匀化后的应力计算柔性体的变形虚功率, 由此得到的系统动力学方程的解中不含过高频率的弹性振动, 并且可以通过调节均匀化时间区间的长度参数控制滤波的范围. 数值算例表明: 这种模型降噪方法的计算效率和精度均不低于刚性微分方程求解器, 并且在刚性微分方程求解器失效的情况下模型降噪方法仍有良好的精度和效率. 本文所提的模型降噪方法可成为求解多柔体系统动力学方程的新途径.      

An experimental study of two-phase flow in simulated reduced-gravity condition: dispersed droplet to slug flow transition and slug flow

The results from an experimental study of reduced-gravity two-phase flows are reported in this paper. The experiments were conducted in simulated reduced-gravity conditions in a ground-based test facility with a circular test section of 25 mm inner diameter. The flow conditions for which data were acquired lie in the dispersed droplet to slug flow transition and slug flow regime. Local data were acquired for 17 different flow conditions at three axial locations. The acquired data complement and extend those discussed in an earlier paper by the authors (Vasavada et al. in, Exp Fluids 43: 53–75, 2007). The radial profiles and axial changes in the local data are analyzed and discussed in this paper. The area-averaged data, in conjunction with the local data, are discussed to highlight important interaction mechanisms occurring between fluid particles, i.e., drops. The data clearly show the effect of progressive coalescence leading to formation of slug drops. Furthermore, the shape of slug drops in reduced-gravity conditions was observed to be different from that in normal-gravity case. The analyses presented here show the presence of drop coalescence mechanisms that lead to the formation of slug drops and transition from dispersed droplet flow to the slug flow regime. The most likely causes of the coalescence mechanism are random collision of drops driven by turbulence eddies in the continuous phase and wake entrainment of smaller drops that follow preceding larger drops in the wake region. Data from flow conditions in which the breakup mechanism due to impact of turbulent eddies on drops illustrate the disintegration mechanism.     

Interaction between two consecutive axisymmetric Taylor drops flowing in a heavier liquid in a vertical tube

A study regarding the interaction between two consecutive Taylor drops flowing in a heavier liquid in a vertical tube is reported. Under certain conditions, due to the wake of the leading drop, the trailing drop accelerates, leading to coalescence of the two drops. This study was developed using a numerical model based in the Volume of Fluid method in an axisymmetric geometry. The simulations reported in the present work had to fulfill two conditions: axisymmetry (due to the numerical model) and a high enough drop Reynolds number (which is related to the disturbances in the wake of an isolated drop, and thus to the tendency to drop interaction). Relevant dimensionless numbers are used to assess the effect of the acting forces. Detailed flow patterns and drop shapes are provided. Furthermore, the approaching velocity acquired by the trailing drop is analyzed and velocity profiles between the leading and the trailing drop are also reported. In general, the trailing drop shows an accelerating region, followed by a deceleration near the leading drop. The increase of Eotvos number promotes higher accelerations, while the increase in Morton number and viscosity ratio has the opposite effect. By comparison to literature gas-liquid studies, it was also found that interfacial forces promote the shape stability of the drops.     

Numerical Investigation of the Coalescence of Viscous-Liquid Drops

The coalescence of two identical viscous-liquid drops in weightlessness under the action of surface tension is considered. Inside the drops, the flow is described by the Navier-Stokes and Poisson (for the pressure) equations. On the liquid free surface in contact with the medium at rest, the dynamic and kinematic conditions are used. The problem is solved by a finite-difference method. The coalescence of the drops and the subsequent oscillations of the resultant drop are investigated. The results are compared with the known data.     

A homogenized microstructural approach to creep fracture

A two-dimensional nonlocal continuum model is proposed in this paper for creep damage in polycrystalline materials. Starting from previous micromechanical modeling, a heuristic homogenization approach is adopted to derive a theory for the macroscopic response. The model accounts for the main damage mechanisms (grain boundary sliding, nucleation, growth and coalescence of cavities along the grain boundaries) responsible for the creep fracture process. The resulting constitutive law takes into account the nonlocalities expressed through the gradients of the stresses and the damage variables.     

Investigation of liquid–liquid drop coalescence using tomographic PIV

High-speed tomographic PIV was used to investigate the coalescence of drops placed on a liquid/liquid interface; the coalescence of a single drop and of a drop in the presence of an adjacent drop (side-by-side drops) was investigated. The viscosity ratio between the drop and surrounding fluids was 0.14, the Ohnesorge number (Oh = μ_d/(ρ_dσD)^1/2) was 0.011, and Bond numbers (Bo = (ρ _d  − ρ _s )gD ²/σ) were 3.1–7.5. Evolving volumetric velocity fields of the full coalescence process allowed for quantification of the velocity scales occurring over different time scales. For both single and side-by-side drops, the coalescence initiates with an off-axis film rupture and film retraction speeds an order of magnitude larger than the collapse speed of the drop fluid. This is followed by the formation and propagation of an outward surface wave along the coalescing interface with wavelength of approximately 2D. For side-by-side drops, the collapse of the first drop is asymmetric due to the presence of the second drop and associated interface deformation. Overall, tomographic PIV provides insight into the flow physics and inherent three-dimensionalities in the coalescence process that would not be achievable with flow visualization or planar PIV only.