Least-squares finite element methods for the Navier-Stokes equations for generalized Newtonian fluids

In this contribution we present the least-squares finite element method (LSFEM) for the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. In detail, we consider a non-Newtonian fluid flow, which is described by a power-law model, see [1]. The second-order problem is reformulated by introducing a first-order div-grad system consisting of the equilibrium condition, the incompressibility condition and the constitutive equation, which are written in residual forms, see [2]. Here, higher-order finite elements which are an important aspect regarding accuracy for the present formulation are investigated. (© 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Rapid production of monodisperse cross-linked red blood corpuscle-like particles via scalable one-pot dispersion polymerization

Cross-linked polystyrene (PS) particles having red blood corpuscle (RBC)-like shape were synthesized by one-pot dispersion polymerization of styrene with ethanol/water mixture and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the reaction medium and cross-linker, respectively. Monitoring of the reaction showed that RBC-like shape forms due to asymmetric shrinkage of a cross-linked network during the phase separation. In addition, three dimensional phase diagram was generated based on the yielded data that showed that the formation of such unique shape extremely depends on the polarity of the medium and injection time of the cross-linker. In situ synthesis of RBC-like particles, as promising biomaterials in targeted drug delivery and a model for the understanding of the cell behavior, via such fast and high solid content approach makes it to be conducive to subsequent scale up, i.e. potential commercial adoption.     

Diffusion bonding in multi-layers systems

 A mathematical model is presented to simulate the diffusion bonding in multi-layers systems. The model is solved analytically using Green's function method. The time required by the bonding material to attain its maximum solvability in the other two layers is estimated. Received on 4 January 2000     

A hybrid DSMC/Navier–Stokes frame to solve mixed rarefied/nonrarefied hypersonic flows over nano‐plate and micro‐cylinder

We extend a hybrid DSMC/Navier–Stokes (NS) approach to unify the DSMC and the NS simulators in one framework capable of solving the mixed non‐equilibrium and near‐equilibrium flow regions efficiently. Furthermore, we use a one‐way state‐based coupling (Dirichlet–Dirichlet boundary‐condition coupling) to transfer the required information from the continuum region to the rarefied one. The current hybrid DSMC–NS frame is applied to the hypersonic flows over nanoflat plate and microcylinder cases. The achieved solutions are compared with the pure DSMC and NS solutions. The results show that the current hybrid approach predicts the surface heat transfer rate and shear stress magnitudes very accurately. Some important conclusions can be drawn from this study. For example, although the shock wave region would be a non‐equilibrium region, it is not necessary to use a pure DSMC simulator to solve it entirely. This is important when the researchers wish to predict the surface properties such as velocity slip, temperature jump, wall heat flux rate, and friction drag magnitudes accurately. Our investigation showed that our hybrid solution time would be at least 40% (for the flat plate) and 35% (for the cylinder) of the time that must be spent by a pure DSMC solver to attain the same accuracy.Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fermi velocity enhancement in monolayer and bilayer graphene

In single-layer graphene sheets non-local interband exchange leads to a renormalized Fermi-surface effective mass which vanishes in the low carrier-density limit. We report on a comparative study of Fermi surface effective mass renormalization in single-layer and AB-stacked bilayer graphene. We explain why the mass does not approach zero in the bilayer case, although its value is still strongly suppressed.     

Combination of MCDM and covering techniques in a hierarchical model for facility location: A case study

In this paper, locating some warehouses as distribution centers (DCs) in a real-world military logistics system will be investigated. There are two objectives: finding the least number of DCs and locating them in the best possible locations. The first objective implies the minimum cost of locating the facilities and the latter expresses the quality of the DCs locations, which is evaluated by studying the value of appropriate attributes affecting the quality of a location. Quality of a location depends on a number of attributes; so the value of each location is determined by using Multi Attribute Decision Making models, by considering the feasible alternatives, the related attributes and their weights according to decision maker’s (DM) point of view. Then, regarding the obtained values and the minimum number of DCs, the two objective functions are formed. Constraints imposed on these two objectives cover all centers, which must be supported by the DCs. Using Multiple Objective Decision Making techniques, the locations of DCs are determined. In the final phase, we use a simple set partitioning model to assign each supported center to only one of the located DCs.     

Chirality and correlations in graphene

Graphene is described at low energy by a massless Dirac equation whose eigenstates have definite chirality. We show that the tendency of Coulomb interactions in lightly doped graphene to favor states with larger net chirality leads to suppressed spin and charge susceptibilities. Our conclusions are based on an evaluation of graphene's exchange and random-phase-approximation correlation energies. The suppression is a consequence of the quasiparticle chirality switch which enhances quasiparticle velocities near the Dirac point.