The propagation mechanism of high speed turbulent deflagrations

The propagation regimes of combustion waves in a 30 cm by 30 cm square cross–sectioned tube with an obstacle array of staggered vertical cylindrical rods (with BR=0.41 and BR=0.19) are investigated. Mixtures of hydrogen, ethylene, propane, and methane with air at ambient conditions over a range of equivalence ratios are used. In contrast to the previous results obtained in circular cross–sectioned tubes, it is found that only the quasi–detonation regime and the slow turbulent deflagration regimes are observed for ethylene–air and for propane–air. The transition from the quasi–detonation regime to the slow turbulent deflagration regime occurs at (where D is the tube “diameter” and is the detonation cell size). When , the quasi–detonation velocities that are observed are similar to those in unobstructed smooth tubes. For hydrogen–air mixtures, it is found that there is a gradual transition from the quasi–detonation regime to the high speed turbulent deflagration regime. The high speed turbulent deflagration regime is also observed for methane–air mixtures near stoichiometric composition. This regime was previously interpreted as the “choking” regime in circular tubes with orifice plate obstacles. Presently, it is proposed that the propagation mechanism of these high speed turbulent deflagrations is similar to that of Chapman–Jouguet detonations and quasi-detonations. As well, it is observed that there exists unstable flame propagation at the lean limit where . The local velocity fluctuates significantly about an averaged velocity for hydrogen–air, ethylene–air, and propane–air mixtures. Unstable flame propagation is also observed for the entire range of high speed turbulent deflagrations in methane–air mixtures. It is proposed that these fluctuations are due to quenching of the combustion front due to turbulent mixing. Quenched pockets of unburned reactants are swept downstream, and the subsequent explosion serves to overdrive the combustion front. The present study indicates that the dependence on the propagation mechanisms on obstacle geometry can be exploited to elucidate the different complex mechanisms of supersonic combustion waves. Received 5 November 2001 / Accepted 12 June 2002 / Published online 4 November 2002 Correspondence to: J. Chao (e-mail: jenny.chao@mail.mcgill.ca) An abridged version of this paper was presented at the 18th Int. Colloquium on the Dynamics of Explosions and Reactive Systems at Seattle, USA, from July 29 to August 3, 2001.     

Measurement and chemical kinetic model predictions of detonation cell size in methanol–oxygen mixtures

In this study, detonation cell sizes of methanol–oxygen mixtures are experimentally measured at different initial pressures and compositions. Good agreement is found between the experiment data and predictions based on the chemical length scales obtained from a detailed chemical kinetic model. To assess the detonation sensitivity in methanol–oxygen mixtures, the results are compared with those of hydrogen–oxygen and methane–oxygen mixtures. Based on the cell size comparison, it is shown that methanol–oxygen is more detonation sensitive than methane–oxygen but less sensitive than hydrogen–oxygen.     

Solving initial–boundary-value creep problems

The Galerkin–Bubnov method with global approximations is used to find approximate solutions to initial–boundary-value creep problems. It is shown that this approach allows obtaining solutions available in the literature. The features of how the solutions of initial–boundary-value problems for oneand three-dimensional models are found are analyzed. The approximate solutions found by the Galerkin–Bubnov method with global approximations is shown to be invariant to the form of the equations of the initial–boundary-value problem. It is established that solutions of initial–boundary-value creep problems can be classified according to the form of operators in the mathematical problem formulation     

On a Generalized Nonlinear K–ε Model and the Use of Extended Thermodynamics in Turbulence

A resent extension of the nonlinear K–ε model is critically discussed from a basic theoretical standpoint. While it was said in the paper that this model was formulated to incorporate relaxation effects, it will be shown that the model is incapable of describing one of the most basic such turbulent flows as is obvious but is described for clarity. It will be shown in detail that this generalized nonlinear K–ε model yields erroneous results for the Reynolds stress tensor when the mean strains are set to zero in a turbulent flow – the return-to-isotropy problem which is one of the most elementary relaxational turbulent flows. It is clear that K–ε type models cannot describe relaxation effects. While their general formalism can describe relaxation effects, the nonlinear K–ε model – which the paper is centered on – cannot. The deviatoric part of the Reynolds stress tensor is predicted to be zero when it actually only gradually relaxes to zero. Since this model was formulated by using the extended thermodynamics, it too will be critically assessed. It will be argued that there is an unsubstantial physical basis for the use of extended thermodynamics in turbulence. The role of Material Frame-Indifference and the implications for future research in turbulence modeling are also discussed. Received 19 February 1998 and accepted 23 October 1998     

Non-Ergodicity of the Nosé–Hoover Thermostatted Harmonic Oscillator

The Nosé–Hoover thermostat is a deterministic dynamical system designed for computing phase space integrals for the canonical Gibbs distribution. Newton’s equations are modified by coupling an additional reservoir variable to the physical variables. The correct sampling of the phase space according to the Gibbs measure is dependent on the Nosé–Hoover dynamics being ergodic. Hoover presented numerical experiments to show that the Nosé–Hoover dynamics are non-ergodic when applied to the harmonic oscillator. In this article, we prove that the Nosé–Hoover thermostat does not give an ergodynamical system for the one- dimensional harmonic oscillator when the “mass” of the reservoir is large. Our proof of non-ergodicity uses KAM theory to demonstrate the existence of invariant tori for the Nosé–Hoover dynamical system that separate phase space into invariant regions. We present numerical experiments motivated by our analysis that seem to show that the dynamical system is not ergodic even for a moderate thermostat mass.     

On the Range of Applicability of the Reissner–Mindlin and Kirchhoff–Love Plate Bending Models

We show that the Reissner–Mindlin plate bending model has a wider range of applicability than the Kirchhoff–Love model for the approximation of clamped linearly elastic plates. Under the assumption that the body force density is constant in the transverse direction, the Reissner–Mindlin model solution converges to the three-dimensional linear elasticity solution in the relative energy norm for the full range of surface loads. However, for loads with a significant transverse shear effect, the Kirchhoff–Love model fails. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Combined effect of thermal modulation and rotation on the onset of stationary convection in a porous layer

The stability of a fluid-saturated horizontal rotating porous layer subjected to time-periodic temperature modulation is investigated when the condition for the principle of exchange of stabilities is valid. The linear stability analysis is used to study the effect of infinitesimal disturbances. A regular perturbation method based on small amplitude of applied temperature field is used to compute the critical values of Darcy–Rayleigh number and wavenumber. The shift in critical Darcy–Rayleigh number is calculated as a function of frequency of modulation, Taylor number, and Darcy–Prandtl number. It is established that the convection can be advanced by the low frequency in-phase and lower-wall temperature modulation, where as delayed by the out-of-phase modulation. The effect of Taylor number and Darcy–Prandtl number on the stability of the system is also discussed. We found that by proper tuning of modulation frequency, Taylor number, and Darcy–Prandtl number it is possible to advance or delay the onset of convection.     

A comparison of three adsorption equations and sensitivity study of parameter uncertainty effects on adsorption refrigeration thermal performance estimation

This paper presents isosteric-based adsorption equilibrium tests of three activated carbon samples with methanol as an adsorbate. Experimental data was fitted into Langmuir equation, Freundlich equation and Dubinin-Astakov (D–A) equation, respectively. The fitted adsorption equations were compared in terms of agreement with experimental data. Moreover, equation format’s impacts on calculation of the coefficient of performance (COP) and refrigeration capacity of an adsorption refrigeration system was analyzed. In addition, the sensitivity of each parameter in each adsorption equation format to the estimation of cycle’s COP and refrigeration capacity was investigated. It was found that the D–A equation is the best form for presenting the adsorptive property of a carbon-methanol working pair. The D–A equation is recommended for estimating thermal performance of an adsorption refrigeration system because simulation results obtained using the D–A equation are less sensitive to errors of experimentally determined D–A equation’s parameters.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">L</Emphasis><Superscript>2</Superscript> Formulation of Multidimensional Scalar Conservation Laws

We show that Kruzhkov’s theory of entropy solutions to multidimensional scalar conservation laws (Kruzhkov in Mat Sb (N.S.), 81(123), 228–255, 1970) can be entirely recast in L ² and fits into the general theory of maximal monotone operators in Hilbert spaces. Our approach is based on a combination of level-set, kinetic and transport-collapse approximations, in the spirit of previous works by Brenier (in C R Acad Sci Paris Ser I Math, 292, 563–566, 1981; in J Diff Equ, 50, 375–390, 1983; in SIAM J Numer Anal, 21, 1013–1037; in Methods Appl Anal, 11, 515–532, 2004), Giga and Miyakawa (in Duke Math J, 50, 505–515, 1983), and Tsai et al. (in Math Comp, 72, 159–181, 2003).     

Aspect-ratio dependence of transient Taylor vortices close to threshold

We perform a detailed numerical study of transient Taylor vortices arising from the instability of cylindrical Couette flow with the exterior cylinder at rest for radius ratio η = 0.5 and variable aspect ratio Γ. The result of Abshagen et al. (J Fluid Mech 476:335–343, 2003) that onset transients apparently evolve on a much smaller time–scale than decay transients is recovered. It is shown to be an artefact of time scale estimations based on the Stuart–Landau amplitude equation which assumes frozen space dependence while full space–time dependence embedded in the Ginzburg–Landau formalism needs to be taken into account to understand transients already at moderate aspect ratio. Sub-critical pattern induction is shown to explain the apparently anomalous behaviour of the system at onset while decay follows the Stuart–Landau prediction more closely. The dependence of time scales on boundary effects is studied for a wide range of aspect ratios, including non-integer ones, showing general agreement with the Ginzburg–Landau picture able to account for solutions modulated by Ekman pumping at the disks bounding the cylinders.      

In situ force-balance tensiometry

 Although a fundamental physical parameter, surface tension is difficult to measure. Common tensiometry inaccuracy comes from failure to control air–liquid–solid contact conditions, or account for liquid meniscus geometry and buoyancy corrections. This paper describes an in situ tensiometry technique, based on withdrawal of a thin-walled tube from the liquid interface, that enforces a known air–liquid–solid contact condition. This technique can be pursued at any level of experimental hygiene. Experimental results for filtered tap water, an alcohol–water solution, and a surfactant–water solution show that results repeatable to three significant digits are obtained with modest effort for a variety of geometrical parameters. Received: 7 October 1997/Accepted: 23 April 1998     

On the nature of the relaxation time,the Maxwell–Cattaneo and Fourier law in the thermodynamics of a continuous medium,and the scale effects in thermal conductivity

We present the theory of space–time elasticity and demonstrate that it is the extended reversible thermodynamics and gives the coupled model of thermoelasticity and heat conductivity and involves traditional thermoelasticity. We formulate the generally covariant variational model’s dynamic thermoelasticity and heat conductivity in which the basic kinematic and static variables are unified tensor objects (subject, matter). Variation statement defines the whole set of the initial-boundary problems for the 4D vector governing equation (Euler equation), the spatial projections of which define motion equations and the time projection gives the heat conductivity equation. We show that space–time elasticity directly implies the Fourier and the Maxwell–Cattaneo laws of heat conduction. However, space–time elasticity is richer than classical thermoelasticity, and it advocates its own equations of motion for coupled thermoelasticity. Moreover, we establish that the Maxwell–Cattaneo law and Fourier law can be defined for the reversible processes as compatibility equations without introducing dissipation. We argue that the present framework of space–time elasticity should prove adequate to describe the thermoelastic phenomena at low temperatures for interpreting the results of molecular simulations of heat conduction in solids and for the optimal heat and stress management in the microelectronic components and the thermoelectric devices.     

Quasi-Neutral Limit for a Model of Viscous Plasma

We perform a rigorous analysis of the quasi-neutral limit for a model of viscous plasma represented by the Navier–Stokes–Poisson system of equations. It is shown that the limit problem is the Navier–Stokes system describing a barotropic fluid flow, with the pressure augmented by a component related to the nonlinearity in the original Poisson equation.     

A double-front structure of detonation wave as the result of phase transitions

Using thermochemical code calculations, we show that the nanographite–nanodiamond phase transition, which may occur in the detonation products of a number of carbon containing explosives, can affect the detonation properties and can cause a specific detonation regime with some unusual peculiarities. Among them, we first note the failure of the Chapman–Jouguet condition and the presence of the sonic plane, where the Mach number is equal to unity, in a detonation product expansion wave at a lower pressure than that at the Chapman–Jouguet point. The peculiarities of this detonation regime are demonstrated by the example of TNT, HNS, and RDX. The computed detonation velocities are in excellent agreement with experiments over a wide range of initial charge densities for all of the investigated explosives. The results of this work allow one to explain, e.g., contradictory experimental data on the detonation pressure and on the length of the reaction zone for TNT. We believe that some other solid–solid, solid–liquid, and liquid–liquid phase transformations in the detonation products may also cause a detonation regime with the same features as shown here for the nanographite–nanodiamond transition. We suggest a computational study that should facilitate proposing detonation experiments strongly arguing in favor of the model presented. PACS 47.40.-x; 47.40.Rs; 64.70.-p; 64.70.Kb; 05.70.-a; 05.70-.CeThis paper was based on the work that was presented at the 19th International Colloquium on the Dynamics of Explosions and Reactive Systems, Hakone, Japan, July 27–August 1, 2003.     

Global Solvability in W 2 2,1 -Weighted Spaces of the Two-Dimensional Navier–Stokes Problem in Domains with Strip-Like Outlets to Infinity

The time-dependent Navier–Stokes system is studied in a two-dimensional domain with strip-like outlets to infinity in weighted Sobolev function spaces. It is proved that under natural compatibility conditions there exists a unique solution with prescribed fluxes over cross-sections of outlets to infinity which tends in each outlet to the corresponding time-dependent Poiseuille flow. The obtained results are proved for arbitrary large norms of the data (in particular, for arbitrary fluxes) and globally in time. The authors are supported by EC FP6 MC–ToK programme SPADE2, MTKD–CT–2004–014508.     

Characteristics of liquid sheets formed by splash plate nozzles

An experimental study was conducted to identify the effect of viscosity on the characteristics of liquid sheets formed by a splash plate nozzle. Various mixtures of corn syrup and water are used to obtain viscosities in the range 1–170 mPa.s. Four different splash plates with nozzle diameters of 0.5, 0.75, 1, and 2 mm, with a constant plate angle of 55° were tested. Liquid sheets formed under various operating conditions were directly visualized. The sheet atomization process for the range of parameters studied here is governed by two different mechanisms: Rayleigh–Plateau (R–P) and Rayleigh–Taylor (R–T) instabilities. R–P occurs at the rim and R–T occurs on the thin sheet. The rim instability can be laminar or turbulent, depending on the jet Reynolds number. The R–T instability of the sheet is observed at the outer edges of the radially spreading sheet, where the sheet is the thinnest. It can also occur inside the sheet, due to formation of holes and ruptures.     

Charging and coagulation of water aerosols with a small admixture of highly radioactive droplets

The mechanism of electrocoagulation of water aerosols with a small admixture of highly radioactive droplets is examined. A corresponding mathematical model describing the processes of ionization, electrization and coagulation of radioactive water aerosols is developed. The time dependence of the ion concentration and the charge and concentration of the nonradioactive droplets and of the charge and radius of the radioactive droplets is numerically investigated for a number of typical aerosols. It is shown that the electrocoagulation process may lead to an increase in the radius of the droplets from 5–10 to 30–40μm in ≃10⁴ sec ≃3 h and, consequently, may play a significant part in the development of aerosols with a droplet radius of up to 20μm, when gravitational coagulation is unimportant. Moscow. Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No.2, pp. 90–96, March–April, 1994.     

Linearized Burnett Equation for the Dynamic Pressure of a Relativistic Gas

The linearized Burnett equation for the dynamic pressure of a relativistic gas of hadrons is calculated from a relativistic kinetic theory. It is shown, as in a previous paper [1], that the coefficient of the term with a non-homogeneous temperature field, – the heating term – is bigger than the one with the divergence of the four-velocity, – the bulk viscosity term.     

Limiting Chain Extensibility Constitutive Models of Valanis–Landel Type

A new general constitutive model in terms of the principal stretches is proposed to reflect limiting chain extensibility resulting in severe strain-stiffening for incompressible, isotropic, homogeneous elastic materials. The strain-energy density involves the logarithm function and has the general Valanis–Landel form. For specific functions in the Valanis–Landel representation, we obtain particular strain-energies, some of which have been proposed in the recent literature. The stress–stretch response in some basic homogeneous deformations is described for these particular strain-energy densities. It is shown that the stress response in these deformations is similar to that predicted by the Gent model involving the first invariant of the Cauchy–Green tensor. The models discussed here depend on both the first and second invariants.