An efficient edge based data structure for the compressible Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations on hybrid unstructured meshes

An efficient edge based data structure has been developed in order to implement an unstructured vertex based finite volume algorithm for the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations on hybrid meshes. In the present approach, the data structure is tailored to meet the requirements of the vertex based algorithm by considering data access patterns and cache efficiency. The required data are packed and allocated in a way that they are close to each other in the physical memory. Therefore, the proposed data structure increases cache performance and improves computation time. As a result, the explicit flow solver indicates a significant speed up compared to other open-source solvers in terms of CPU time. A fully implicit version has also been implemented based on the PETSc library in order to improve the robustness of the algorithm. The resulting algebraic equations due to the compressible Navier–Stokes and the one equation Spalart–Allmaras turbulence equations are solved in a monolithic manner using the restricted additive Schwarz preconditioner combined with the FGMRES Krylov subspace algorithm. In order to further improve the computational accuracy, the multiscale metric based anisotropic mesh refinement library PyAMG is used for mesh adaptation. The numerical algorithm is validated for the classical benchmark problems such as the transonic turbulent flow around a supercritical RAE2822 airfoil and DLR-F6 wing-body-nacelle-pylon configuration. The efficiency of the data structure is demonstrated by achieving up to an order of magnitude speed up in CPU times.     

石墨基液流电池复合双极板

液流电池是一种安全性高、使用寿命长、可扩展的大规模储能系统,可以协助电网调峰储能,提高能源利用率,发展前景广阔。双极板是液流电池的重要组成部分。功能上起到了分隔、串联电池、传导电流、为电堆提供结构支撑等作用。从成本构成角度看,双极板的价格占电堆成本的比重也较大。开发高性能、低成本的双极板对加快液流电池的商业化应用具有重要意义,也是目前业界的迫切需求。虽然文献上报道了许多针对液流电池双极板开发的工作,但是目前高性能、低成本的液流电池双极板产品仍无法充分满足市场需求。本文着重介绍了石墨基复合双极板的研究现状,介绍了材料选择、工艺流程对关键性能的影响,对相关工作进行了评述,并为液流电池双极板的开发提出了建议。     

氧化铝/氮化硅双层膜晶硅钝化的开尔文探针力显微镜研究

对晶体硅(c-Si)太阳能电池而言, 氧化铝(AlOx)是一种广泛使用的钝化材料, 因为它具有优异的沉积保形性和良好的钝化质量. 为了确保AlOx发挥其良好的钝化效果, 在沉积后退火并氢化处理是必不可少的. 通过在AlOx薄膜上沉积氢化氮化硅(SiNx:H)来实现氢化, 利用开尔文探针力显微镜研究了在不同热处理和氢化作用下, AlOx/SiNx:H双层薄膜功函数的变化, 并基于沉积薄膜所含氢与固定电荷展开了讨论. 发现钝化质量和功函数之间有相关性, 影响因素包括薄膜厚度、氢化与热处理顺序.     

Prediction of the drag reduction effect of pulsating pipe flow based on machine learning

Prediction of drag reduction effect caused by pulsating pipe flows is examined using machine learning. First, a large set of flow field data is obtained experimentally by measuring turbulent pipe flows with various pulsation patterns. Consequently, more than 7000 waveforms are applied, obtaining a maximum drag reduction rate and maximum energy saving rate of 38.6% and 31.4%, respectively. The results indicate that the pulsating flow effect can be characterized by the pulsation period and pressure gradient during acceleration and deceleration. Subsequently, two machine learning models are tested to predict the drag reduction rate. The results confirm that the machine learning model developed for predicting the time variation of the flow velocity and differential pressure with respect to the pump voltage can accurately predict the nonlinearity of pressure gradients. Therefore, using this model, the drag reduction effect can be estimated with high accuracy.     

Enhanced Power Density of Alcohol Biofuel Cell by Polymer-assisted Crosslinks of 3D Graphene on Carbon Paper as the Bioanode

Herein, we successfully construct the 3D biocompatible graphene through crosslinking 2D graphene nanosheet onto carbon fiber paper with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) as anode of the alcohol biofuel cell. Compared with the bioanode without 3D graphene, the current density and output power of PDDA-graphene-ADH bioanode is increased by 23 % and 41 % at a high concentration of ethanol at pH 8.9, suggesting the stabilization role of graphene in enzyme loading. The study provides us a deep analysis on structures and performances of the bioanode incl. electrochemistry, X-ray photoelectron spectra, and atomic force microscopy images, which is significant to develop the new methods to construct 3D porous electrodes in energy conversion device.     

Application of wake oscillators to two-dimensional vortex-induced vibrations of circular cylinders in oscillatory flows

A nonlinear time-domain simulation model for predicting two-dimensional vortex-induced vibration (VIV) of a flexibly mounted circular cylinder in planar and oscillatory flow is presented. This model is based on the utilization of van der Pol wake oscillators, being unconventional since wake oscillators have typically been applied to steady flow VIV predictions. The time-varying relative flow–cylinder velocities and accelerations are accounted for in deriving the coupled hydrodynamic lift, drag and inertia forces leading to the cylinder cross-flow and in-line oscillations. The system fluid–structure interaction equations explicitly contain the time-dependent and hybrid trigonometric terms. Depending on the Keulegan–Carpenter number (KC) incorporating the flow maximum velocity and excitation frequency, the model calibration is performed, entailing a set of empirical coefficients and expressions as a function of KC and mass ratio. Parametric investigations in cases of varying KC, reduced flow velocity, cylinder-to-flow frequency ratio and mass ratio are carried out, capturing some qualitative features of oscillatory flow VIV and exploring the effects of system parameters on response prediction characteristics. The model dependence of hydrodynamic coefficients on the Reynolds number is studied. Discrepancies and limitations versus advantages of the present model with different feasible solution scenarios are illuminated to inform the implementation of wake oscillators as a computationally efficient prediction model for VIV in oscillatory flows.     

Effects of van der Waals force on nonlinear vibration of electromechanical integrated electrostatic harmonic actuator

An electromechanical integrated electrostatic harmonic actuator is promising for the miniaturization of electromechanical devices. As the dimensions of the actuator decrease, the effects of the van der Waals force become obvious. In this study, by considering the nonlinearity of electrostatic and van der Waals forces, nonlinear vibration equations of the flexible ring of an electrostatic harmonic actuator are deduced. Using these equations, the nonlinear free vibration and nonlinear forced response of the actuator are investigated. The effects of the van der Waals force on the nonlinear vibration of the flexible ring are analyzed. Results show that these effects of the van der Waals force are relatively obvious under some conditions and should be considered.     

Direct visualization of the nanoscopic three‐phase structure and stiffness of NBR/PVC blends by AFM nanomechanical mapping

The PeakForce Quantitative Nanomechanical Mapping based on atomic force microscope (AFM) is employed to first visualize and then quantify the elastic properties of a model nitrile rubber/poly(vinyl chloride) (NBR/PVC) blend at the nanoscale. This method allows us to consistently observe the changes in mechanical properties of each phase in polymer blends. Beyond measuring and discriminating elastic modulus and adhesion forces of each phase, we tune the AFM tips and the peak force parameters in order to reliably image samples. In view of viscoelastic difference in each phase, a three‐phase coexistence of an unmixed NBR phase, the mixed phase, and PVC microcrystallites is directly visualized in NBR/PVC blends. The nanomechanical investigation is also capable of recognizing the crosslinked rubber phase in cured rubber. The contribution of the mixed phase was quantified and it was found that the mechanical properties of blends are mainly determined by the homogeneity and stiffness of the mixed phase. This study furthers our understanding the structure–mechanical property relationship of thermoplastic elastomers, which is important for their potential design and applications. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 662–669