Imaging diffusion in a microfluidic device by third harmonic microscopy

We monitor and characterize near-surface diffusion of miscible, transparent liquids in a microfluidic device by third harmonic microscopy. The technique enables observations even of transparent or index-matched media without perturbation of the sample. In particular, we image concentrations of ethanol diffusing in water and estimate the diffusion coefficient from the third harmonic images. We obtain a diffusion coefficient D?=?(460?±?30) ??m²/s, which is consistent with theoretical predictions. The investigations clearly demonstrate the potential of harmonic microscopy also under the challenging conditions of transparent fluids.     

Pointwise Bounds for the Solutions of the Smoluchowski Equation with Diffusion

We prove various decay bounds on solutions (f _n : n > 0) of the discrete and continuous Smoluchowski equations with diffusion. More precisely, we establish pointwise upper bounds on n ^? f _n in terms of a suitable average of the moments of the initial data for every positive ?. As a consequence, we can formulate sufficient conditions on the initial data to guarantee the finiteness of ${L^p(\mathbb{R}^d \times [0, T])}$ norms of the moments ${X_a(x, t) := \sum_{m\in\mathbb{N}}m^a f_m(x, t)}$ , ( ${\int_0^{\infty} m^a f_m(x, t)dm}$ in the case of continuous Smoluchowski’s equation) for every ${p \in [1, \infty]}$ . In previous papers [11] and [5] we proved similar results for all weak solutions to the Smoluchowski’s equation provided that the diffusion coefficient d(n) is non-increasing as a function of the mass. In this paper we apply a new method to treat general diffusion coefficients and our bounds are expressed in terms of an auxiliary function ${\phi(n)}$ that is closely related to the total increase of the diffusion coefficient in the interval (0, n].     

Micromechanics modeling the solute diffusivity of unsaturated granular materials

This work is devoted to modeling the evolution of the homogenized solute diffusion coefficient within unsaturated granular materials by means of micromechanics approach. On the basis of its distinct role in solute diffusion, the liquid water within unsaturated granular materials is distinguished into four types, namely intergranular layer (interconnected capillary water), isolated capillary water, wetting layer and water film. Application on two sands shows the capability of the model to accurately reproduce the experimental results. When saturation degree is higher than the residual saturation degree Sr^r, the evolution of homogenized solute diffusion coefficient with respect to the saturation degree depends significantly on the connectivity of the capillary water. Below Sr^r, depending on the connectivity of the wetting layer, the homogenized solute diffusion coefficient within unsaturated sands decreases by 2–6 orders of magnitude with respect to that in bulk liquid water. The upper bound of the solute diffusion coefficient contributed by the water films is 4–6 orders of magnitude lower than that in bulk liquid water.     

Approach to Equilibrium of a Body Colliding Specularly and Diffusely with a Sea of Particles

We consider a rigid body acted upon by two forces, a constant force and the collective force of interaction with a continuum of particles. We assume that some of the particles that collide with the body reflect elastically (specularly), while others reflect probabilistically with some probability distribution K. We find that the rate of approach of the body to equilibrium is O(t ^?3?p ) in three dimensions where p can take any value in (0, 2], depending on K.     

Numerical modeling of fluid flow and heat transfer in a narrow Taylor-Couette-Poiseuille system

We consider turbulent flows in a differentially heated Taylor-Couette system with an axial Poiseuille flow. The numerical approach is based on the Reynolds Stress Modeling (RSM) of [Elena and Schiestel, 1996] and [Schiestel and Elena, 1997] widely validated in various rotor-stator cavities with throughflow ( [Poncet, 2005], [Poncet et al., 2005] and [Haddadi and Poncet, 2008]) and heat transfer (Poncet and Schiestel, 2007). To show the capability of the present code, our numerical predictions are compared very favorably to the velocity measurements of Escudier and Gouldson (1995) in the isothermal case, for both the mean and turbulent fields. The RSM model improves, in particular, the predictions of the k-ε model of Naser (1997). Then, the second order model is applied for a large range of rotational Reynolds (3744 ? Re_i ? 37,443) and Prandtl numbers (0.01 ? Pr ? 12), flow rate coefficient (0 ? C_w ? 30,000) in a very narrow cavity of radius ratio s = R_i/R_o = 0.961 and aspect ratio L = (R_o − R_i)/h = 0.013, where R_i and R_o are the radii of the inner and outer cylinders respectively and h is the cavity height. Temperature gradients are imposed between the incoming fluid and the inner and outer cylinders. The mean hydrodynamic and thermal fields reveal three distinct regions across the radial gap with a central region of almost constant axial and tangential mean velocities and constant mean temperature. Turbulence, which is weakly anisotropic, is mainly concentrated in that region and vanishes towards the cylinders. The mean velocity distributions are not clearly affected by the rotational Reynolds number and the flow rate coefficient. The effects of the flow parameters on the thermal field are more noticeable and considered in details. Correlations for the averaged Nusselt numbers along both cylinders are finally provided according to the flow control parameters Re_i, C_w, and Pr.     

Calculation of convective heat flux in the vicinity of the stagnation point for partially ionized gas flow past a body

From numerical solutions of the boundary layer equations for a four-component gas mixture (E, N⁺, N₂, and N) with gas injection, approximate formulas for the heat flux as a function of the variation of λρ/c_p and h^* across the boundary layer and the magnitude of the objection are obtained (λ is the thermal conductivity of the mixture,ρ is density, c_p is the specific heat, and h^* is the enthalpy of the ideal gas state of the mixture). An effective ambipolar diffusion coefficient D^(a)(i) is introduced, making possible finite formulas for the convective heat fluxes in the “frozen” boundary layer. We study the behavior of these coefficients within the boundary layer. A formula is obtained for convective heat flux to the wall from partially ionized air for a nine-component mixture (E, O⁺, N⁺, NO⁺, O, N, NO, O₂ N₂). Even for simpler four-component gas model three effective ambipolar diffusion coefficients are necessary: $$\begin{gathered} D^{(a)} (A) = D (A, M) D^{(a)} (I) = 2D (A, M), \hfill \\ D^{(a)} (M) = [ 1 + c_e (I)] D(A, M). \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ Here D(A, M) is the binary diffusion coefficient of the atoms into molecules, and c_e(I) is the ion concentration at the outer edge of the boundary layer. The assumption of an infinitely large charge-exchange cross section and the other simplifying assumptions used in [1] lead to overestimation of the magnitude of the dimensionless heat flux by 7–15% for the “frozen” boundary layer case.     

Axisymmetric stagnation point flow and mass transfer for power-law fluids II. Moderate schmidt number correction

The theory for axisymmetric stagnation point flow of power-law fluids has been extended to include the correction terms for convective diffusion at moderate Schmidt numbers. The dimensionless mass transfer rate is expressed as an asymptotic series that is valid for Re^{(1 ? n)/3(1 + n)}Sc^{?$\text{1}\text{3}$} < 1. The result can be used to predict accurate diffusion coefficients for dilute species in fluids with specified power-law characteristics.     

Composite viscoelasticity in glassy,transitional and molten states

As part of a study of viscous and elastic behaviors, over a range of temperatures from below the glass transition up to the hot melt, we here report steady-shear viscosities at 0.007 to 13 s^?1 and at 160 to 220 °C of polystyrene containing 0 to 60% by mass of 0.18-micron diameter titanium dioxide particles. The materials were shearthinning without a yield stress, with a constant activation energy at constant stress, but having a shear-dependent activation energy at constant shear rate — proportional to the volume fraction of the polymer matrix. Superposition of the flow curves at different temperatures for the unfilled and filled systems was possible. All the data were represented by one equation with four parameters: 1) a shear stress coefficient (units Pa · s²); 2) a characteristic stress level for non-Newtonian behavior, independent of temperature and composition; 3) an activation energy at constant stress; and 4) an Einstein coefficient (or intrinsic viscosity of the filler). Other equations also fitted the data, but the others diverged widely when extrapolated.     

Concentration profiles in drying cylindrical filaments

We analyze theoretically the drying of cylindrical filaments. For modelling the mass transfer on the gas side of the liquid-gas interface of the shrinking circular cylindrical filament, we apply the model of Abramzon and Sirignano, which was originally developed for spherical geometry. As a consequence of mass transfer at constant Sherwood number, we obtain a d²-law for the shrinkage of the cylinder as in the case of the spherical geometry, which expresses that the cross-sectional area of the cylinder shrinks at a constant rate with time. For this situation, the diffusion equation for the liquid phase mixture components becomes separable upon transformation into similarity coordinates and is solved analytically to obtain the concentration profiles inside the filament as functions of time. The dependency of the profiles on the radial coordinate is determined by a series of Kummer’s functions. Applying this result, we study the evolution of the concentration profiles in the liquid phase with time as dependent on a parameter given as the ratio of rate of shrinkage of the cross-sectional area of the cylinder to liquid-phase diffusion coefficient, which was identified as relevant for the shape of the concentration profiles formed in the liquid during the drying process. As an example, we present computed results for the constant evaporation rate regime in the dry-spinning process of a polyvinyl-alcohol (PVA)-water system. Comparison of our analytical results with full numerical solutions of the diffusion equation from the literature, achieved with concentration-dependent diffusion coefficient, reveals very good agreement.     

Approximate representations and pointwise bounds for solutions of a class of non-linear boundary value problems

This article establishes an approximation in the implicit form (within the limits of error) of solutions of [L + M(ε)]x = ρ(t, x) satisfying the limiting conditions x^(2k)(0) = x^(2k+1)(τ) = 0, k = 0,1,…, n?1, L being a linear differential operator of degree equal to 2n with constant coefficients and M(ε) a differential operator of an inferior order enabling the absorption terms and the coefficients to vary slowly. f(t,x) is continuous in the sense of Lipschitz, not negative, monotonous, increasing in x and of the saturation type.     

Dehydration characteristics and mathematical modelling of lemon slices drying undergoing oven treatment

In this study, the effect of drying temperature on drying behaviour and mass transfer parameters of lemon slices was investigated. The drying experiments were conducted in a laboratory air ventilated oven dryer at temperatures of 50, 60 and 75 °C. It was observed that the drying temperature affected the drying time and drying rate significantly. Drying rate curves revealed that the process at the temperature levels taken place in the falling rate period entirely. The usefulness of eight thin layer models to simulate the drying kinetics was evaluated and the Midilli and Kucuk model showed the best fit to experimental drying curves. The effective moisture diffusivity was determined on the basis of Fick’s second law and obtained to be 1.62 × 10^?11, 3.25 × 10^?11 and 8.11 × 10^?11 m² s^?1 for the temperatures of 50, 60 and 75 °C, respectively. The activation energy and Arrhenius constant were calculated to be 60.08 kJ mol^?1 and 0.08511 m² s^?1, respectively. The average value of convective mass transfer coefficient for the drying temperatures of 50, 60 and 75 °C was calculated to be 5.71 × 10^?7, 1.62 × 10^?6 and 2.53 × 10^?6 m s^?1, respectively.     

Recoil in macromolecular solutions according to rigid dumbbell kinetic theory

A macromolecular solution is represented by the simple model of rigid dumbbells suspended in a Newtonian fluid with Brownian motion included. Hydrodynamic interaction is not taken into account. It is found that for this model there will be recoil after the cessation of steady shearing flow. The ultimate shear recovery S _∞ is developed as a power series in κ^?, the shear rate prior to the cessation of the steady shear flow: $$S_\infty = (\theta _0 /2\eta _0 ) \kappa ^\user1{ - } + O(\kappa ^\user1{ - } )^3$$ where η₀ and θ₀ values of the viscosity and primary normal stress functions respectively at zero-shear rate. The coefficient of the term in (κ^?)³ is calculated. In addition, the behavior of the normal stresses during the recoil process is found; during recoil τ₂₂?τ₃₃ has the opposite sign from τ₁₁?τ₂₂.     

An inversion method for identification of elastoplastic properties of a beam from torsional experiment

A new method of determining elastoplastic properties of a beam from an experimentally given value T?T(φ) of torque (or torsional rigidity), during the quasistatic process of torsion, given by the angle of twist φ∈[φ_*,φ^*], is proposed. The mathematical model leads to the inverse problem of determining the unknown coefficient g=g(ξ²), ξ?|∇u|, of the non-linear differential equation −∇(g(|∇u|²)∇u)=2φ, x∈Ω⊂R². The inversion method is based on the parametrization of the unknown coefficient, according to the discrete values of the gradient ξ?|∇u|. Within the range of J₂-deformation theory, it is shown that the considered inverse coefficient problem is an ill-conditioned one. A numerical reconstruction algorithm based on parametrization of the unknown coefficient g=g(ξ²), with optimal selection of the experimentally given data T_m?T(φ_m), is proposed as a new regularization scheme for the considered inverse problem. Numerical results with noise free and noisy data illustrate applicability and high accuracy of the proposed method.     

Parameters of streamer breakdown in xenon

It is known from experiments [1–3] that the velocity of streamers, induced in the center of the interelectrode gap and propagating to the electrodes under conditions when the streamer length is comparable with the distance between the electrodes, increases linearly as the streamer length increases. This relationship is in qualitative agreement with theory [4], Nevertheless, the velocity of streamers starting from the electrodes and propagating in a long interelectrode gap remains practically constant during the whole propagation process [5, 6], In the case of short gaps (2–5 cm), constancy of the velocity is observed during the stage of the process when the length of the streamer is much less (20%) than the length of the gap [7], Since the electric field at its end controls the streamer propagation, the constancy of the streamer velocity indicates that the controlling field is constant under these conditions. A number of theoretical models were proposed in [8–13] which describe uniformly moving anode- and cathode-directed streamers (henceforth called anode and cathode streamers). Comparison of experimental data with the corresponding theoretical model enables one to determine the streamer parameters: the electric field, the charged-particle density, the current density, the channel radius, etc. In the case of an anode streamer in Xe an attempt at such a comparison was made, in particular, in [6]. However, the lack of reliable data on the value of the drift velocity and the diffusion coefficient of electrons in Xe for E/p (10² – 10³) V/cm · mm Hg allowed only rough estimates to be made. In this paper a numerical calculation is made of the drift velocity, the diffusion coefficient of electrons in Xe, and the rate of excitation of Xe atoms in the resonance level in the range of values of E/p (10¹–10³) V cm · mm Hg, and the volt-ampere characteristic of the breakdown is measured under conditions described in [6] (p₀=300 mm Hg and E 10⁴–10⁵ V/cm). Using these results, the formulas for the velocity of anode [12] and cathode [13] streamers, and experimental data [6], the parameters of the streamers studied in [6] are determined.Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Meknaniki i Tekhmcheskoi Fiziki, No. 3, pp. 6–11, May–June, 1976.The authors thank A. T. Rakhimov and A. N. Starostin for useful discussions, and A. V. Markov for help with the experiments.     

Characterization of Anisotropic Polymeric Foam Under Static and Dynamic Loading

An orthotropic polymeric foam with transverse isotropy (Divinycell H250) used in composite sandwich structures was characterized at various strain rates. Uniaxial experiments were conducted along principal material axes as well as along off-axis directions under tension, compression, and shear to determine engineering constants, such as Young??s and shear moduli. Uniaxial strain experiments were conducted to determine mathematical stiffness constants, i. e., C _ij . An optimum specimen aspect ratio for these tests was selected by means of finite element analysis. Quasi-static and intermediate strain rate tests were conducted in a servo-hydraulic testing machine. High strain rate tests were conducted using a split Hopkinson Pressure Bar system built for the purpose using polymeric (polycarbonate) bars. The polycarbonate material has an impedance that is closer to that of foam than metals and results in lower noise to signal ratios and longer loading pulses. It was determined by analysis and verified experimentally that the loading pulses applied, propagated along the polycarbonate rods at nearly constant phase velocity with very low attenuation and dispersion. Material properties of the foam were obtained at three strain rates, quasi-static (10^?4 s^?1), intermediate (1 s^?1), and high (10³ s^?1) strain rates. A simple model proposed for the Young??s modulus of the foam was in very good agreement with the present and published experimental results.     

Dynamical Structure of Some Nonlinear Degenerate Diffusion Equations

We consider degenerate reaction diffusion equations of the form u _t ?=???u ^m ?+?f(x, u), where f(x, u) ~ a(x)u ^p with 1??? p m. We assume that a(x)?>?0 at least in some part of the spatial domain, so that ${u \equiv 0}$ is an unstable stationary solution. We prove that the unstable manifold of the solution ${u \equiv 0 }$ has infinite Hausdorff dimension, even if the spatial domain is bounded. This is in marked contrast with the case of non-degenerate semilinear equations. The above result follows by first showing the existence of a solution that tends to 0 as ${t\to -\infty}$ while its support shrinks to an arbitrarily chosen point x* in the region where a(x)?>?0, then superimposing such solutions, to form a family of solutions of arbitrarily large number of free parameters. The construction of such solutions will be done by modifying self-similar solutions for the case where a is a constant.     

Nonhomogeneous Dirichlet Problems for Degenerate Parabolic-Hyperbolic Equations

The aim of the paper is to give a formulation for the initial boundary value problem of parabolic-hyperbolic type in the case of nonhomogeneous boundary data a ₀. Here u=u(x,t)∈?, with (x,t)∈Q=Ω× (0,T), where Ω is a bounded domain in ? ^N with smooth boundary and T>0. The function b is assumed to be nondecreasing (allowing degeneration zones where b is constant), Φ is locally Lipschitz continuous and g∈L ^∞(Ω× (0,b)). After introducing the definition of an entropy solution to the above problem (in the spirit of Otto [14]), we prove uniqueness of the solution in the proposed setting. Moreover we prove that the entropy solution previously defined can be obtained as the limit of solutions of regularized equations of nondegenerate parabolic type (specifically the diffusion function b is approximated by functions b ^? that are strictly increasing). The approach proposed for the hyperbolic-parabolic problem can be used to prove similar results for the class of hyperbolic-elliptic boundary value problems of the form again in the case of nonconstant boundary data a ₀.     

Statistical Analysis and a-priori Modelling of Flame Surface Density Transport in Turbulent Stratified Flames: A Direct Numerical Simulation Study

Statistically planar turbulent premixed and stratified flames for different initial intensities of decaying turbulence have been simulated for global equivalence ratios <???> = 0.7 and <???> = 1.0 using three-dimensional simplified chemistry based Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS). The simulation parameters are chosen such that the thin reaction zones regime combustion is realised in all cases and a random bi-modal distribution of equivalence ratio ? is introduced in the unburned gas ahead of the flame to account for the mixture inhomogeneity for stratified flames. The modelling of the unclosed terms (i.e. the turbulent transport term T ₁, the tangential strain rate term T ₂, the propagation term T ₃, and the curvature term T ₄) of the generalised FSD transport equation has been addressed in the context of RANS simulations. It has been found that the turbulent transport term T ₁ remains small in comparison to the leading order contributions of the tangential strain rate and curvature terms (i.e. T ₂ and T ₄, respectively) in the globally stoichiometric cases, but T ₁ begins to play a more important role in the globally fuel-lean cases. The strain rate term T ₂ remains positive throughout the flame brush and acts as a leading order source term for all the flames considered in this analysis. It is has been found that the magnitude of T ₂ decreases with decreasing root-mean-square velocity fluctuations u ^′ (<???>) for a given value of <???> (u ^′). The contribution of the propagation term T ₃ remains generally positive towards the unburned gas side of the flame brush but assumes generally negative values towards the burned gas side of the flame brush. Moreover, whilst the order of magnitude of the propagation term T ₃ is comparable in all cases, T ₃ remains small in comparison to the leading order contributors (i.e. T ₂ and T ₄) in the globally stoichiometric cases however it plays a more important role in the globally fuel-lean cases. The curvature term T ₄ acts as a leading order sink term in all cases except towards the unburned gas side of the flame brush in low u ^′ globally stoichiometric (i.e. <???> = 1.0) flames. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that the magnitude of T ₄ decreases with decreasing u ^′ (<???>) for a given value of <???> (u ^′). Appropriate model expressions have been identified for T ₁, T ₂, T ₃ and T ₄ based on an a-priori analysis of the DNS data.     

Rheological modeling of the diffusion process and the interphase of symmetrical bilayers based on PVDF and PMMA with varying molecular weights

The diffusion process in the molten state at a polymer/polymer interface of symmetrical and model bilayers has been investigated using a small-amplitude oscillatory shear measurement. The polymers employed in this study were poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) of varying molecular weights and polydispersities. The measurements were conducted in the linear viscoelastic regime (small deformations) so as to decouple the effect of flow from the diffusion. The focus of this paper has been to investigate the effects of healing time, angular frequency (ω), temperature, and molecular weight on the inter-diffusion and the triggered interphase between the neighboring layers. The kinetics of diffusion, based on the evolution of the apparent diffusion coefficient (D _a) versus the healing time, was experimentally obtained. The transition from the non-Fickian to the normal Fickian region for the inter-diffusion at the interface was clearly observed, qualitatively consistent with the reptation model, but it occurred at a critical time greater than the reptation time (τ _rep). In non-Fickian region, effects of frequency and temperature were studied with regard to the ratio of the apparent diffusion coefficient to the self-diffusion coefficient (D _a/D _s). The D _s determined in the Fickian region was found to be consistent with Graessley’s model as well as with the literatures. And the dependence of the D_s on the frequency agreed well with the Doi–Edwards theory, in particular, scaling as $D_{\rm s} \sim \omega^{1/2}$ at ω?>?1/τ _e and $D_{\rm s} \sim \omega^{0}$ at ω?<?1/τ _rep. Our experimental results also confirmed that the dependence of the D _s on the temperature for PMMA and PVDF can be well described by the Arrhenius law. Moreover, blends of PMMAs have been proposed in order to be able to change the $\overline M_\emph{w} $ . The rheological investigations of these corresponding bilayers rendered it possible to monitor the effect of $\overline M_\emph{w} $ on the diffusion process. The obtained results gave $D_{\rm s} \sim \overline M_\emph{w}^{-1}$ , thus corroborating some earlier studies and some experimental results recently reported by Time-Resolved Neutron Reflectivity Measurements. Lastly, the thickness of the interphase and its corresponding viscoelastic properties could be theoretically determined as a function of the healing?time.