Repeated Richardson extrapolation applied to the two-dimensional Laplace equation using triangular and square grids

The focus of this work is to verify the efficiency of the Repeated Richardson Extrapolation (RRE) to reduce the discretization error in a triangular grid and to compare the result to the one obtained for a square grid for the two-dimensional Laplace equation. Two different geometries were employed: the first one, a unitary square domain, was discretized into a square or triangular grid; and the second, a half square triangle, was discretized into a triangular grid. The methodology employed used the following conditions: the finite volume method, uniform grids, second-order accurate approximations, several variables of interest, Dirichlet boundary conditions, grids with up to 16,777,216 nodes for the square domain and up to 2097,152 nodes for the half square triangle domain, multigrid method, double precision, up to eleven Richardson extrapolations for the first domain and up to ten Richardson extrapolations for the second domain. It was verified that (1) RRE is efficient in reducing the discretization error in a triangular grid, achieving an effective order of approximately 11 for all the variables of interest for the first geometry; (2) for the same number of nodes and with or without RRE, the discretization error is smaller in a square grid than in a triangular grid; and (3) the magnitude of the numerical error reduction depends on, among other factors, the variable of interest and the domain geometry.     

An image encryption scheme based on rotation matrix bit-level permutation and block diffusion

This paper proposes a novel image encryption scheme based on rotation matrix bit-level permutation and block diffusion. Firstly, divide plain image into non-overlapping 8 × 8 pixels blocks with a random matrix, then transform each block into an 8 × 8 × 8 three-dimensional (3-D) binary matrix, which has six directions just as a cube. Permutation is performed by multiplying the 3-D matrix by the rotation matrix that relies on plain image according to different direction. Secondly, use block diffusion to further change the statistical characteristics of the image after confusion. Experiment results and analysis show that the scheme can not only achieve a satisfactory security performance, but also have the suitability for a parallel mode and the robustness against noise in communication system.     

A cartographic study of the phase space of the elliptic restricted three body problem. Application to the Sun–Jupiter–Asteroid system

This work deals with numerical investigations of the phase space of the planar elliptic restricted three body model. The Sun–Jupiter–Asteroid system is considered and the fast Lyapunov indicator (FLI) is used as a tool to examine various types of orbits on which the infinitesimal mass can undergo. The FLI is computed on given grids of initial conditions regularly spaced in the domain 1.5 AU ? a ? 6 AU and 0 ? e ? 0.5 and for various choices of initial angles: the argument of perihelion ω and mean anomaly M. On the obtained charts the stability regions, the chaotic zones and the geography of resonances are clearly displayed. Moreover, the ‘V’ shaped layers associated with the mean motion resonances of low order with its chaotic zones due to separatrix splitting and libration regions are clearly distinguished. Their size is discussed as a function of the resonance order and the parameters entering into the perturbing function. The results are discussed and compared with analytical studies concerning the subject.     

Approximate solutions of a nonlinear oscillator typified as a mass attached to a stretched elastic wire by the homotopy perturbation method

The homotopy perturbation method is used to solve the nonlinear differential equation that governs the nonlinear oscillations of a system typified as a mass attached to a stretched elastic wire. The restoring force for this oscillator has an irrational term with a parameter λ that characterizes the system (0 ? λ ? 1). For λ = 1 and small values of x, the restoring force does not have a dominant term proportional to x. We find this perturbation method works very well for the whole range of parameters involved, and excellent agreement of the approximate frequencies and periodic solutions with the exact ones has been demonstrated and discussed. Only one iteration leads to high accuracy of the solutions and the maximal relative error for the approximate frequency is less than 2.2% for small and large values of oscillation amplitude. This error corresponds to λ = 1, while for λ < 1 the relative error is much lower. For example, its value is as low as 0.062% for λ = 0.5.     

Vacuum polarization in light two-electron atoms and ions

A general theory of the vacuum polarization in light atomic and muon-atomic systems is considered. We derive the closed analytical expression for the Uehling potential and evaluate corrections on vacuum polarization for the 1¹S-state of the two-electron ³He and ⁴He atoms and for some two-electron ions, including the Li⁺, Be²⁺, B³⁺ and C⁴⁺ ions. The correction for vacuum polarization in two-electron He atoms has been evaluated as ΔE_ueh ≈ 7.253 ± 0.0025 × 10⁻⁷ a.u. The analogous corrections in the two-electron He-like ions rapidly increase with the nuclear charge Q (ΔE_ueh ≈ 2.7061 × 10⁻⁶ a.u. for the Li⁺ ion and ΔE_ueh ≈ 2.3495 × 10⁻⁵ a.u. for the C⁴⁺ ion). The corresponding corrections have also been evaluated for the electron–nucleus and electron–electron interactions.     

Identification of the ten inertia parameters of a rigid body

A special antisymmetric 4 × 4 matrix form of the equation of motion of a rigid body is proposed. This form depends linearly on the symmetric (4 × 4)-matrix of the Fayet global inertia tensor, containing the ten inertia parameters of a rigid body (the mass, the three coordinates of the centre of mass and the six components of the classical inertia tensor). For identifying the global inertia tensor, an algorithm is proposed which is based on the method of least squares and the method of conjugate gradients and tested using the example of a rigid body, the motion of which is obtained by computer modelling.     

Students’ coordination of lower and higher dimensional units in the context of constructing and evaluating sums of consecutive whole numbers

This paper examines how three eighth grade students coordinated lower and higher dimensional units (e.g., composite units and pairs) in the context of constructing a formula for evaluating sums of consecutive whole numbers while solving combinatorics problems (e.g., 1 + 2 + ⋯ + 15 = (16 × 15)/2). The data is drawn from the beginning of an 8-month teaching experiment. The findings from the study include: (1) a framework for understanding how students coordinate lower and higher dimensional units; (2) identification of key learning that occurred as students made the transition between solving two kinds of combinatorics problems; and (3) identification of the links between the way students’ coordinated lower and higher dimensional units and their evaluation of sums of consecutive whole numbers. Implications for research and teaching are considered.     

Space–time symmetry violation,configuration mixing model and E-infinity theory

We have studied the time reversal symmetry violation on the bases of the configuration mixing model and E-infinity theory. With the use of the Cabibbo angle approximation, we have presented the transformation matrix in terms of the golden ratio (?), and shown that the time reversal symmetry violation is described by the configuration mixing of the unstable and stable manifolds (W^u, W^s). The magnitude of the mixing for the weak interaction field is given by the expression sin² θ_T(theor) ≈ sin⁴ θ_C(theor) ≈ (?)¹² = 3.105 × 10^?3, which is compared to the Kaon decay experiment ～2.3 × 10^?3. We have also discussed the space–time symmetry violation by using the CPT theorem.     

Anytime anyspace probabilistic inference

This paper investigates methods that balance time and space constraints against the quality of Bayesian network inferences––we explore the three-dimensional spectrum of “time × space × quality” trade-offs. The main result of our investigation is the adaptive conditioning algorithm, an inference algorithm that works by dividing a Bayesian network into sub-networks and processing each sub-network with a combination of exact and anytime strategies. The algorithm seeks a balanced synthesis of probabilistic techniques for bounded systems. Adaptive conditioning can produce inferences in situations that defy existing algorithms, and is particularly suited as a component of bounded agents and embedded devices.     

On tropical matrices of small factor rank

The notion of the factor rank of tropical matrices is considered. We construct a linear-time algorithm that either finds a full-rank 3 × 3 submatrix of a given matrix A or concludes that the factor rank of A is less than 3. We show that there exist matrices of factor rank 4 whose 4 × 4 submatrices are all rank deficient.     

On mathematical models and numerical simulation of the fluidization of polydisperse suspensions

The well-known Masliyah–Lockett–Bassoon (MLB) model for sedimentation of small particles is extended to fluidization of polydisperse suspensions. For N particle species that differ in size and density, this model leads to a first-order system of N conservation laws, which in general is of mixed (in the case N = 2, hyperbolic–elliptic) type. By a simple algebraic steady-state analysis, we derive necessary compatibility conditions on the size and density parameters that admit the formation of stationary fluidized beds. We then proceed to determine the composition of polydisperse fluidized beds of given compatible species by varying the fluidization velocity and the initial composition of the suspensions, and prove that, within the framework of the MLB model combined with the Richardson–Zaki formula, the constructed bidisperse beds always cause the equations to be hyperbolic. This means that these states are always predicted to be stable. The transient behaviour of the MLB model applied to fluidization is illustrated by three numerical examples, in which the system of conservation laws is solved for N = 2, N = 3 and N = 5, respectively. These examples illustrate the effects of bed expansion and layer inversion caused by successively increasing the applied fluidization velocity and show that the predicted fluidized states are indeed attained.     

Freshwater inflow requirements for the protection of the critical habitat and the drinking water sources in the Yangtze River Estuary,China

Freshwater inflow requirements (FIRs for short), which considered the requirements for protection of drinking water sources as well as the first-grade state protection wildlife (Acipenser sinensis) in larval periods, were analyzed in this paper for the Yangtze River Estuary, China. Based on the different levels of salinity objectives and the relationship between salinity and the freshwater inflows, the FIRs for the Yangtze River Estuary were determined. The estuary FIRs were determined based on the habitat ecosystem health from April to November with minimum and medium levels, from March to December with high level; and on the requirement of protection of drinking water sources in other months of the year, accordingly. Combined the salinity objectives of drinking water sources and critical habitat in the Yangtze River Estuary, the FIRs for the estuary are calculated to be 938.2 × 10⁹, 729.4 × 10⁹ and 615.5 × 10⁹ m³ in the whole year with different levels, which is equal to 100.8%, 78.4% and 66.2% of the average annual river discharge for the Yangtze River Estuary, respectively. Annual river discharges can satisfy the medium and minimum levels of FIRs for the estuary. However, the temporal variation of the actual runoff has distinct difference from the FIRs for the estuary in critical periods (May, July and August) for the habitat ecosystem, 5% of the FIRs for the estuary should be maintained from December to February for protection of drinking water sources.     

A generalized AKNS hierarchy,bi-Hamiltonian structure,and Darboux transformation

A new generalized AKNS hierarchy is presented starting from a 4 × 4 matrix spectral problem with four potentials. Its generalized bi-Hamiltonian structure is also investigated by using the trace identity. Moreover, the special coupled nonlinear equation, the coupled KdV equation, the KdV equation, the coupled mKdV equation and the mKdV equation are produced from the generalized AKNS hierarchy. Most importantly, a Darboux transformation for the generalized AKNS hierarchy is established with the aid of the gauge transformation between the corresponding 4 × 4 matrix spectral problem, by which multiple soliton solutions of the generalized AKNS hierarchy are obtained. As a reduction, a Darboux transformation of the mKdV equation and its new analytical positon, negaton and complexiton solutions are given.     

On the stochastic response of a fractionally-damped Duffing oscillator

A numerical method is presented to compute the response of a viscoelastic Duffing oscillator with fractional derivative damping, subjected to a stochastic input. The key idea involves an appropriate discretization of the fractional derivative, based on a preliminary change of variable, that allows to approximate the original system by an equivalent system with additional degrees of freedom, the number of which depends on the discretization of the fractional derivative. Unlike the original system that, due to the presence of the fractional derivative, is governed by non-ordinary differential equations, the equivalent system is governed by ordinary differential equations that can be readily handled by standard integration methods such as the Runge–Kutta method. In this manner, a significant reduction of computational effort is achieved with respect to the classical solution methods, where the fractional derivative is reverted to a Grunwald–Letnikov series expansion and numerical integration methods are applied in incremental form. The method applies for fractional damping of arbitrary order α (0 < α < 1) and yields very satisfactory results. With respect to its applications, it is worth remarking that the method may be considered for evaluating the dynamic response of a structural system under stochastic excitations such as earthquake and wind, or of a motorcycle equipped with viscoelastic devices on a stochastic road ground profile.     

Neural networks analysis of free laminar convection heat transfer in a partitioned enclosure

The feasibility of using neural networks (NNs) to predict the complete thermal and flow variables throughout a complicated domain, due to free convection, is demonstrated. Attention is focused on steady, laminar, two-dimensional, natural convective flow within a partitioned cavity. The objective is to use NN (trained on a database generated by a CFD analysis of the problem of a partitioned enclosure) to predict new cases; thus saving effort and computation time. Three types of NN are evaluated, namely General Regression NNs, Polynomial NNs, and a versatile design of Backpropagation neural networks. An important aspect of the study was optimizing network architecture in order to achieve best performance. For each of the three different NN architectures evaluated, parametric studies were performed to determine network parameters that best predict the flow variables.A CFD simulation software was used to generate a database that covered the range of Rayleigh number Ra = 10⁴–5 × 10⁶. The software was used to calculate the temperature, the pressure, and the horizontal and vertical components of flow speed. The results of the CFD were used for training and testing the neural networks (NN). The robustness of the trained NNs was tested by applying them to a “production” data set (1500 patterns for Ra = 8 × 10⁴ and 1500 patterns for Ra = 3 × 10⁶), which the networks have never been “seen” before. The results of applying the technique on the “production” data set show excellent prediction when the NNs are properly designed. The success of the NN in accurately predicting free convection in partitioned enclosures should help reduce analysis-time and effort. Neural networks could potentially help solve some cases in which CFD fails to solve because of numerical instability.     

Environmental flows for the Yangtze Estuary based on salinity objectives

Environmental flows based on the salinity objectives for China’s Yangtze Estuary were quantified to assess the impacts of changing freshwater inflow on the estuarine ecosystem. The salinity objectives for three benthos habitats in the Yangtze Estuary were studied to determine their requirements during the most critical period of the year. The temporal variation in the natural monthly river discharge represented the temporal variation of the ecological objectives used to maintain natural flow regimes. A numerical model, coupled a hydrodynamic processes model with a salinity model and validated using field data of tidal height, current velocity, and salinity at different stations, was developed to simulate the spatial distribution of salinity as a function of the variation in freshwater inflows. The prediction results of the proposed model agreed well with the field data. Considering the salinity objectives for the different habitats, the environmental flow requirements for the Yangtze Estuary were determined. Annual environmental flows should be 9.63 × 10¹¹, 6.32 × 10¹¹, and 4.70 × 10¹¹ m³ for the high, medium, and minimum objectives, which are equivalent to 104%, 68%, and 50% of the annual river discharge, respectively. The periods from September to November should be considered as the critical seasons to maintain the minimum environmental flows in the Yangtze Estuary.     

Group theory and unification of forces: Application to ‘non-universal’ gaugino masses

We will give an overview on how to embed the Standard Model (SM), based on SU(3) × SU(2) × U(1), within larger groups. We will review the different chains one follows when spontaneously breaking SO(10) down to the SM. Finally, We shall discuss the question of non-universal gaugino masses in supersymmetric SO(10) theories.     

Computational modelling of fluid structure interaction at nano-scale boundaries with modified Maxwellian velocity distribution

The soft collisions among fluid–fluid and fluid-wall molecules are modeled from first principles. In particular, the assumption of Maxwellian distribution of velocities for thermalized molecules, in both parallel and perpendicular directions to the wall, has been re-evaluated with supporting experimental and/or numerical evidence.It is proposed that the normal component of molecular velocity post collision is conserved for all fluid molecules. The slip effect at the wall boundary, introduced by the surface roughness, is accounted by an accommodation coefficient f. A moving least square method is used to calculate macroscopic velocity values. The influence of molecular interaction on the macroscopic velocity distribution is investigated at 40 MPa and 300 K for slit pore, inclined and stepped wall configurations. The accommodation coefficient values f = 0, 0.07, 0.257, 0.45, 0.681 and 1; and acceleration values ranging from zero to 1 × 10¹¹ m/s² and 250 × 10¹¹ m/s² are used for comparison.The distribution of macroscopic velocity parallel to the wall is studied to observe the effect of the slip behaviour. The detailed study of average of velocity values at various magnitudes of acceleration has shown an evidence of characteristic low and high speed of molecular flows that is considered as significant and a comparison is sought with an equivalent laminar and turbulent flow style behaviour. The two dimensional vector and contour plots of macroscopic velocity provide further insights in understanding Continuum velocity distributions resulting from molecular fluid-wall interaction at nanoscale. The research has highlighted the need to develop molecular dynamics simulation techniques for non-periodic boundary conditions.     

The applications of a higher-dimensional Lie algebra and its decomposed subalgebras

With the help of invertible linear transformations and the known Lie algebras, a higher-dimensional 6 × 6 matrix Lie algebra sμ(6) is constructed. It follows a type of new loop algebra is presented. By using a (2 + 1)-dimensional partial-differential equation hierarchy we obtain the integrable coupling of the (2 + 1)-dimensional KN integrable hierarchy, then its corresponding Hamiltonian structure is worked out by employing the quadratic-form identity. Furthermore, a higher-dimensional Lie algebra denoted by E, is given by decomposing the Lie algebra sμ(6), then a discrete lattice integrable coupling system is produced. A remarkable feature of the Lie algebras sμ(6) and E is used to directly construct integrable couplings.     

On generating (2 + 1)-dimensional hierarchies of evolution equations

Two isospectral problems are constructed with the help of a 6-dimensional Lie algebra. By using the Tu scheme, a (1 + 1)-dimensional expanding integrable couplings of the KdV hierarchy is obtained and the corresponding Hamiltonian structure is established. In addition, the 2-order matrix operators proposed by Tuguizhang are extended to the case where some 4-order matrices are given. Based on the extension, a new hierarchy of 2 + 1 dimensions is obtained by the Hamiltonian operator of the above (1 + 1)-dimensional case and the TAH scheme. The new hierarchy of 2 + 1 dimensions can be reduced to a coupled (2 + 1)-dimensional nonlinear equation and furthermore it can be reduced to the (2 + 1)-dimensional KdV equation which has important physics applications. The Hamiltonian structure for the (2 + 1)-dimensional hierarchy is derived with the aid of an extended trace identity. To the best of our knowledge, generating the (2 + 1)-dimensional equation hierarchies by virtue of the TAH scheme has not been studied in detail except to previous little work by Tu et al.