New results on the semidiscrete Boltzmann equation for a binary gas mixture

Summary A plane semidiscrete model of the Boltzmann equation for a binary gas mixture with molecular collisions ruled by the hard-spheres interaction potential is described. After establishing a model, a theorem demostrating the global existence of mild solutions of the initial-value problem is given and the propagation of unidimensional shock waves examined.

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Sommario Si propone un modello semidiscreto piano dell'equazione di Boltzmann per una miscela binaria con collisioni molecolari soggette al potenziale di interazione delle sfere rigide. Costruito il modello, si dà un teorema di esistenza globale di soluzioni generalizzate per il problema di Cauchy, e si analizza la propagazione di onde d'urto unidimensionali.

     

A Stefan-type free boundary problem in a thermal switch

Summary We study a mathematical model of thermal switch in a glass under the Joule heating. We prove the existence of solutions for the free boundary problem related to the model. This problem is a Stefan-type problem with a source depending on the free boundary and the latent heat depending on the history of the free boundary.

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Sommario Si studia un modello matematico che descrive un fenomeno di cambiamento di fase in un vetro attraversato da una corrente elettrica. In particolare si dimostra l'esistenza di soluzioni per il problema a frontiera libera connesso con il modello. Questo problema è del tipo di Stafan, con sorgente funzione della frontiera libera e con calore latente che dipende dalla storia della frontiera.

     

Gasdynamics of a plasma in a multiple-mirror magnetic trap with “point” mirrors

Equations are derived for the gasdynamics of a dense plasma confined by a multiple-mirror magnetic field. The limiting cases of large and small mean free paths have been analyzed earlier: ₀ and k, where is the length of an individual mirror machine, ₀ is the size of the mirror, and k is the mirror ratio. The present work is devoted to a study of the intermediate range of mean free paths ₀ k. It is shown that in this region of the parameters the process of expansion of the plasma has a diffusional nature, and the coefficients of transfer of the plasma along the magnetic field are calculated.Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Mekhaniki i Tekhnicheskoi Fiziki, No. 6, pp. 14–19, November–December, 1974.The authors thank D. D. Ryutov for the statement of the problem and interest in the work.     

Stochastic response of structures with small geometric imperfections

Summary A probabilistic model of the geometric imperfections of a real structure is proposed, in order to provide a general theory of the stochastic response of structures in presence of small random deviations from the perfect scheme. The main statistical measures of the stochastic response are derived and an application to the study of a particular conservative elastic system is developed.

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Sommario Si propone una teoria generale della risposta probabilistica di strutture, in presenza di piccole deviazioni aleatorie dei dati iniziali rispetto allo schema geometrico perfetto. Si deducono le principali proprietà statistiche della risposta della struttura a sollecitazioni esterne deterministiche, e si sviluppa una applicazione riguardante il comportamento aleatorio di un particolare sistema elastico conservativo.

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List of symbols element of the sample space of events - _kn random variables modelling the structural imperfections - P(o) probability density of random variables - random imperfection of the unloaded structure - u additional displacement of the loaded structure - u_o deterministic fundamental solution for the perfect structure - difference between the additional displacement of the loaded structure and the deterministic fundamental solution for the perfect structure - V₁=u₁ buckling mode of the perfect structure - _i intrinsic coordinates of the structure - suitable measure of the magnitude of the random imperfections - scalar geometric variable representing the internal product - random imperfection divided by - single scalar variable denoting the magnitude of the prescribed loads - potential energy of the structure - potential energy of the perfect structure - difference between and - _c lowest critical load - _s real local maximum for the magnitude of the prescribed loads - _c divided by _S - E{} expected value of a random variable - ² variance of a random variable - , random variables defined by Eq. (21)     

The Kepler problem spinor regularization and quantization on the manifolds S2

Summary In a previous research we have shown that the KS-transformation, developed by Kustaanheimo and Stiefel for the regularization of the Kepler problem, may be interpreted as the correspondence which associates to each null 4-vector of the space of Minkowski a one-index spinor, defined up to a phase factor, and we have obtained a new form of the KS-transformation. In the present research we show that this formulation allows a straight derivation of the Hopf fibering of the sphere S³ (characterized by unit spinors) having the base space given by the section (sphere S²) of the light cone, and we show that the KS-transformation allows the quantization of the symplectic manifold S² in the sense of Souriau. The sphere S³ turns out to be a contact quantized manifold. The bilinear relation characteristic of the KS-theory and the column vectors of the KS-matrix are intimately related to the contact structure.

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Sommario In un precedente lavoro si è mostrato che la trasformazione KS, introdotta da Kustaanheimo e Stiefel per regolarizzare il problema di Keplero, è riconducibile alla ben nota corrispondenza fra vettori del cono isotropo dello spazio di Minkowski e spinori semplici, definiti a meno della fase, e si è pervenuti ad una nuova formulazione della KS. Nel presente lavoro si mostra come da tale formulazione scaturisca in modo naturale la fibrazione di Hopf della sfera S³ (caratterizzata dagli spinori unitari) avente quale base una sezione (sfera S²) del cono isotropo e si mette in luce come la trasformazione KS consenta di effettuare la quantizzazione della varietà simplettica S² nel senso di Souriau e di ottenere la sfera S³ quale varietà quantica di contatto. La relazione bilineare caratteristica della teoria KS ed i vettori colonna della matrice KS risultano intimamente legati alla struttura di contatto.

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Presented at the VI Congresso Nazionale dell'Associazione Italiana di Meccanica Teorica ed Applicata (AIMETA), Genova, October 1982. Work performed under the auspices of G.N.F.M. of the C.N.R. (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche).     

On mean rotations in finite deformations

Summary Firstly, the classical interpretation of the mean rotation tensor of Cauchy and Novozhilov is revised. Indeed, two distinctive and defective features of this interpretation reflect a severe restriction on the class of admissible deformations. Secondly, an alternative measure of mean rotation is introduced and its explicit aspect for pure rotations, pure strains and additively pure rotations is determined.

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Sommario In questa nota viene riesaminata l'interpretazione classica del tensore di rotazione media di Cauchy e Novozhilov. Preliminarmente, si mostra come due tratti distintivi di questa interpretazione ne limitino l'ampiezza e riflettano una severa restrizione della classe delle deformazioni ammissibili. Successivamente, si perviene ad una misura alternativa di rotazione media, il cui calcolo esplicito è condotto nei casi di rotazioni pure, deformazioni pure e rotazioni additivamente pure.

     

Dynamic shakedown by modal analysis

Summary Dynamic shakedown of discrete elastic-perfectly plastic structures under a specified load history is studied using the dynamic characteristics of the structure provided by modal analysis. Several statical and kinematical theorems are presented, including lower and upper bound theorems for the minimum adaptation time of the structure. In the formulation of the kinematical theorems a crucial role is played by the appropriate definition of admissible plastic strain cycle.

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Sommario Si studia il problema dell'adattamento dinamico (shakedown) di una struttura discreta elasto-perfetta-mente plastica e soggetta ad una storia di carichi prestabilita, facendo uso a tale scopo delle caratteristiche dinamiche della struttura fornite dalla analisi modale. Vengono presentati svariati teoremi, sia di tipo statico che cinematico, tra cui taluni teoremi di delimitazione superiore ed inferiore del tempo minimo di adattamento. Nella formulazione dei teoremi cinematici ha un ruolo cruciale la corretta definizione di ciclo deformativo ammissibile.

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This paper is part of a research project sponsored by the National (Italian) Research Council, C.N.R., Group of Structural Engineering, and by the National Department of Education (M.P.I.).     

The Kepler problem spinor regularization and pre-quantization of the negative-energy manifold

Summary We extend the results of our two foregoing papers to the whole phase space of the Kepler problem, by: i) developing a natural spinor extension of the KS-regulari-zation of the Kepler problem, due to Kustaanheimo and Stiefel, and ii) applying the results to the pre-quantization (in the sense of Souriau) of the negative-energy manifold, the energy levels satisfying a well-known condition. We show that the quantized manifold is diffeomorphic to the symplectic productS ₃×S ₃ of two 3-spheres of the spinor phase space, factored through a suitable equívalence relation.

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Sommario Estendendo i risultati ottenuti in due prece denti lavori all'intero spazio delle fasi del problema di Keplero, si perviene nella presente nota ad una naturale estensione spinorialedella trasformazione KS (introdotta da Kustaanheimo e Stiefel per regolarizzare il problema di Keplero) la quale consente di prequantizzare, nel senso di Souriau, la varietà delle orbite kepleriane isoenergetiche, con energia negativa spddisfacente ad una ben nota condizione. Si mostra che la varietà quantica associata è diffeomorfa al prodotto simplettico S ₃×S ₃,opportunamente quozientato, di due 3-sfere dello spazio spinoriale delle fasi.

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Work performed under the auspices of G.N.F.M. of the Italian Research Council (C.N.R.).     

Variational principles and differential inclusions for unilateral constraints in analytical mechanics

Summary The present paper deals with variational principles in terms of hemivariational inequalities and with differential inclusions for unilateral constraints in analytical mechanics. It is discussed how it is possible to describe one-sided constraints in a very general manner by the help of Clarke's generalized gradient.

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Sommario Questo scritto prende in esame i principi variazionali nella forma delle hermivariational inequalities e le inclusioni differenziali per vincoli unilaterali nella meccanica analitica. Si deduce come sia pissobile descrivere vincoli unilaterali, in modo generale facendo uso di gradienti generalizzati di Clarke.

     

The Italian contribution to the mathematical theory of elasticity

Summary The contributions of Italian mathematical physicists to the mathematical theory of elasticity are reviewed, starting from the second half of the last century. The work of Piola, Betti, Beltrami, Volterra, Somigliana, Signorini and many other eminent scholars is briefly outlined, showing how Italian mathematics achieved a leading position, comparable to that unanimously accorded Italy in other areas of mathematics, in this field where theory is so close to application.

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Sommario Vengono passati in rassegna i contributi che i fisico-matematici italiani, a partire, circa, dall'inizio della seconda metà del secolo scorso, hanno dato alla teoria matematica dell'elasticità. L'opera di Piola, Betti, Beltrami, Volterra, Somigliana, Signorini e di tanti altri eminenti studiosi viene brevemente riassunta e posto in luce come la matematica italiana, anche in questo campo, cosi vicino alle applicazioni, abbia raggiunto posizioni di primato, comparabili a quelle che, unanimamente, sono state riconosciute all'Italia in altri settori della matematica.

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Invited paper.This article was taken from a lecture given by the author at the University of Palermo on December 16, 1977 and published in the Rendiconti del Circolo Matematico di Palermo (vol. XXVIII, sr. II). The editors of this publication have kindly given Meccanica permission to publish this abbreviated version of the lecture in English.     

Heat transfer at a wedge in a hypersonic low-density gas stream

Results are presented of an approximate analysis of steady heat transfer on a sharp thin (sin < 1) strongly cooled (t_w 1) wedge, washed by a hypersonic (M 1) gas stream at zero angle of attack under almost free-molecule conditions. Dimensionless parameters on which the heat transfer depends have been established; approximate formulas for estimation purposes are given.The present analysis is not a rigorous quantitative theory and its results should be regarded only as estimates; its conclusions may be useful for experimental planning and for generalization of test data. The method used here is analogous to that applied in [1] in analyzing flow over a flat plate.     

Thermal and diffusive relaxation of an evaporating drop with internal heat liberation

The problem of nonsteady-state evaporation or growth of a radiating drop with uniformly distributed internal heat sources is considered. The Reynolds R=ua/v 1 and Peclet P_D= ua/D 1 numbers are assumed to be small (a is the radius of the drop, u the velocity of its relative motion, andv, D, the coefficients of viscosity, diffusion and thermal diffusivity of the vapor-gas medium). This enables the convective transfer of vapor and heat to be neglected, and the concentration and temperature fields to be regarded as spherically symmetric [1]. In view of the fact that the density of saturated vapor is less than the density of liquid the convective flow caused by the change in radius of the drop is not taken into account [2]. It has already been shown [3,4], that for _r (, _r are the coefficients of molecular and radiative thermal conductivity) there exists a bounded region ryo (1/) /_r ( is the absorption coefficient for radiation in the gas), in which the effect of radiation on the temperature relaxation of the vapor-gas medium is negligible. If the conditiona (1/) /_r is satisfied, then the temperature at the outer boundary of this region will be practically the same as the temperature at infinity T=T. This means that terms in the energy equation connected with energy transferred by radiation can be neglected. It is assumed that the free path of molecules in the gas is less than the radius of the drop, and so concentration and temperature discontinuities close to the surface of the drop can be neglected [2].Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Mekhaniki i Tekhnicheskoi Fiziki, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 78–87, January–February, 1970.The authors are grateful to V. G. Levich for discussing the results of the paper.     

Effect of blowing on the resistance of a sphere in laminar flow of viscous fluid

Using the method of matching asymptotic expansions [1–3], a stationary field of velocities is obtained in the vicinity of a sphere for Reynolds numbers R and R computed from the blowing velocity and the fluid flow, respectively; they satisfy the relations R² 1 and R 1. It is also shown that for intensive blowing (R 1), the resistive force is considerably smaller than that found by using the Stokes formula. For weak blowing the results are in good agreement with the solution of Oseen.Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Mekhaniki i Tekhnicheskai Fiziki, No. 3, pp. 110–114, May–June, 1972.     

Boundary kinetic effects in the problem of slow flow over an evaporating heat-conducting spherical particle

It is shown that for sufficiently large values of the thermal conductivity of the condensed phase' as compared with the thermal conductivity of the vapor (/' Kn) the effects associated with the presence of a Knudsen layer on the evaporating surface must be taken into account in order to obtain a solution of the problem of a spherical particle in a slow (Re, 1) continuum (Knudsen number Kn 1) flow of its own vapor. The drag is calculated for various types of boundary conditions on the particle surface.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 2, pp. 134–139, March–April, 1987.In conclusion the authors wish to thank V. S. Galkin and M. N. Kogan for useful discussions.     

Application of the Chapman-Enskog method to the case of a binary two-temperature gas mixture

An interesting property of the flows of a binary mixture of neutral gases for which the molecular mass ratio =m/M1 is that within the limits of the applicability of continuum mechanics the components of the mixture may have different temperatures. The process of establishing the Maxwellian equilibrium state in such a mixture divides into several stages, which are characterized by relaxation times _i which differ in order of magnitude. First the state of the light component reaches equilibrium, then the heavy component, after which equilibrium between the components is established [1]. In the simplest case the relaxation times differ from one another by a factor of ^*.Here the mixture component temperature difference relaxation time _T /, where is the relaxation time for the light component. If 1, 1, so that _T ~1, then for the characteristic hydrodynamic time scale t~1 the relative temperature difference will be of order unity. In the absence of strong external force fields the component velocity difference is negligibly small, since its relaxation time _vt1.In the case of a fully ionized plasma the Chapman-Enskog method is quite easily extended to the case of the two-temperature mixture [3], since the Landau collision integral is used, which decomposes directly with respect to . In the Boltzmann cross collision integral, the quantity appears in the formulas relating the velocities before and after collision, which hinders the decomposition of this integral with respect to , which is necessary for calculating the relaxation terms in the equations for temperatures differing from zero in the Euler approximation [4] (the transport coefficients are calculated considerably more simply, since for their determination it is sufficient to account for only the first (Lorentzian [5]) terms of the decomposition of the cross collision integrals with respect to ). This led to the use in [4] for obtaining the equations of the considered continuum mixture of a specially constructed model kinetic equation (of the Bhatnagar-Krook type) which has an undetermined degree of accuracy.In the following we use the Boltzmann equations to obtain the equations of motion of a two-temperature binary gas mixture in an approximation analogous to that of Navier-Stokes (for convenience we shall term this approximation the Navier-Stokes approximation) to determine the transport coefficients and the relaxation terms of the equations for the temperatures. The equations in the Burnett approximation, and so on, may be obtained similarly, although this derivation is not useful in practice.     

On a path-independent integral approach to fast tearing of elastomers

Summary The feasibility of a path-independent integral approach to fracture mechanics of elastomers and the objectivity of the pertinent crack stability criterion are discussed with reference to tearing with negligible mechanical dissipations.

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Sommario In questo articolo si discutono le possibilità offerte dall'impiego dell'integrale J e del relativo criterio di stabilità della cricca nello studio della frattura veloce di materiali elastomerici.

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List of symbols and abbreviations F Deformation gradient. - Feled Finite Element for Large Elastic Deformations. - T Strain energy release per unit crack growth (termedG in fracture mechanics of metals). - T _l First Piola-Kirchhoff stress tensor. - u Displacement vector. - W Stored energy function per unit of volume in the undeformed configuration. - x Spatial co-ordinates. - X Material co-ordinates.     

Thermal stresses in plane elasticity: Numerical solutions based only on harmonic functions

Summary A theoretical treatment is outlined allowing solution of thermal stress problems in plane elasticity by using only numerical methods suited to solving — in 2 D — the Laplace equation. Only one type of element matrix (supposing for the sake of simplicity F.E.M.s are used) and only one mesh would thus be required, both for the determination of the thermal field and of the displacement/stress field. The numerical solutions required in the plane domain of interest entail, consequently, only one variable per node in place of two. Even if numerous unit solutions are required in order to impose arbitrary boundary conditions, this reduction of nodal variables allows to spend less computation time in solving linear systems, at least for problems of a certain extent.

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Sommario Si delinea una tecnica che permette di risolvere i problemi di coazioni termiche in elasticità piana facendo uso solo di metodi numerici atti a risolvere l'equazione di Laplace. Un solo tipo di matrice degli elementi (nel caso si usi una formulazione a E. F.) e una sola reticolazione sono pertanto richiesti tanto per il problema termico come per quello elastico. Ne consegue altresì il vantaggio che le soluzioni numeriche richieste nel dominio di interesse cornportano una sola variabile per nodo, anzichè due; anche tenuto conto che sono richieste numerose soluzioni unitarie per poter imporre condizioni al contorno comunque definite, ne deriva per problemi di una certa ampiezza una riduzione del tempo di calcolo speso nella soluzione di sistemi.

     

Unsteady effects in a thin viscous shock layer near a three-dimensional stagnation point of a body moving with given acceleration and deceleration

An unsteady viscous shock layer near a stagnation point is studied. The Navier-Stokes equations are analyzed in the limit 1, Re₀ , df/dt = ^n-mF(t/^m). The Reynolds number Re₀ is defined in the paper by Eq. (1.3) (df/dt is the velocity of the body with respect to an inertial frame of reference moving with the original steady velocity –V'_t8, ₂ = ( – 1)/( + 1)). Various flow regimes in the case 1, l, n max(2m, m + 1), m 0, where ² = 1/Re₀ are analyzed. Equations are derived that generalize the asymptotic analysis to the case of a viscous unsteady flow of gas in a thin three-dimensional shock layer. The problem of a thin unsteady viscous shock layer near the stagnation point of a body with two curvatures is formulated. Examples of numerical solution are given for different ratios of the principal curvatures of the body, the wall temperature, the parameters of the original steady flow, and the acceleration and deceleration regimes.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 2, pp. 100–111, March–April, 1981.I thank Yu. D. Shevelev for a fruitful discussion of the work.     

Instability of a plane axisymmetric flow with a shear discontinuity in the velocity profile

It is proposed to investigate the stability of a plane axisymmetric flow with an angular velocity profile (r) such that the angular velocity is constant when r < r_O – L and r > r_O + L but varies monotonically from ₁ to ₂ near the point r_O, the thickness of the transition zone being small L r_O, whereas the change in velocity is not small ¦₂ – ₁¦ ₂, ₁. Obviously, as L O short-wave disturbances with respect to the azimuthal coordinate (k=m/r_O 1/r_O) will be unstable with a growth rate-close to the Kelvin—Helmholtz growth rate. In the case L=O (i.e., for a profile with a shear-discontinuity) we find the instability growth rate _O and show that where the thickness of the discontinuity L is finite (but small) the growth rate does not differ from _O up to terms proportional to kL 1 and 1/m 1. Using this example it is possible to investigate the effect of rotation on the flow stability. It is important to note that stabilization (or destabilization) of the flow in question by rotation occurs only for three-dimensional or axisymmetric perturbations.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 1, pp. 111–114, January–February, 1985.     

Optical co-ordinates in general relativity 2 — the problem of distance

Summary Let denote the congruence of null geodesics associated with a given optical observer inV ₄. We prove that determines a unique collection of vector fieldsM₍₎ ( =1, 2, 3) and ₍₀₎ overV ₄, satisfying a weak version of Killing's conditions.This allows a natural interpretation of these fields as the infinitesimal generators of spatial rotations and temporal translation relative to the given observer. We prove also that the definition of the fieldsM₍₎ and ₍₀₎ is mathematically equivalent to the choice of a distinguished affine parameter f along the curves of, playing the role of a retarded distance from the observer.The relation between f and other possible definitions of distance is discussed.

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Sommario Sia la congruenza di geodetiche nulle associata ad un osservatore ottico assegnato nello spazio-tempoV ₄. Dimostriamo che determina un'unica collezione di campi vettorialiM₍₎ ( =1, 2, 3) e ₍₀₎ inV ₄ che soddisfano una versione in forma debole delle equazioni di Killing. Ciò suggerisce una naturale interpretazione di questi campi come generatori infinitesimi di rotazioni spaziali e traslazioni temporali relative all'osservatore assegnato. Dimostriamo anche che la definizione dei campiM₍₎, ₍₀₎ è matematicamente equivalente alla scelta di un parametro affine privilegiato f lungo le curve di, che gioca il ruolo di distanza ritardata dall'osservatore. Successivamente si esaminano i legami tra f ed altre possibili definizioni di distanza in grande.

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Work performed in the sphere of activity of: Gruppo Nazionale per la Fisica Matematica del CNR.