Time-dependent numerical modeling of large-scale astrophysical processes: from relatively smooth flows to explosive events with extremely large discontinuities and high Mach numbers

We calculate self-consistent time-dependent models of astrophysical processes. We have developed two types of our own (magneto) hydrodynamic codes, either the operator-split, finite volume Eulerian code on a staggered grid for smooth hydrodynamic flows, or the finite volume unsplit code based on the Roe’s method for explosive events with extremely large discontinuities and highly supersonic outbursts. Both the types of the codes use the second order Navier-Stokes viscosity to realistically model the viscous and dissipative effects. They are transformed to all basic orthogonal curvilinear coordinate systems as well as to a special non-orthogonal geometric system that fits to modeling of astrophysical disks. We describe mathematical background of our codes and their implementation for astrophysical simulations, including choice of initial and boundary conditions. We demonstrate some calculated models and compare the practical usage of numerically different types of codes.     

Numerical modeling of interaction between surface radiation and natural convection of atmospheric aerosol in presence of transverse magnetic field

After the era of industrialization, technology is developing daily since the last century. Urbanization, communication, and transportation have grown rapidly and simultaneously deforestation and volcanic eruptions take place on a large scale. As result every moment tons of foreign particles like soot, dust, ash, and bio-fuel contaminants are released into the atmosphere. These contaminants mix with air and various green house gases, form a blanket structure in atmosphere. This mixture of ultrafine particle suspension with atmospheric air is known as aerosol. In the present study, numerical simulations of hydrodynamic single cell buoyant convection of atmospheric aerosol sample enclosed within a gray enclosure in the presence of a transverse magnetic field and surface radiation is addressed. Flow of the aerosol over deserts and industrial belts is a practical example of such a condition, where the thermal radiation emanating from the surface, affects the flow mechanism of the aerosol transport. The emphasis of the present study is only on carbon-black solid particles of a size in the nanometer range present in atmospheric air. The aerosol is treated as nanofluid for the numerical simulation. A comprehensive study on the controlling parameters that affect the flow and heat transfer characteristics are delineated. The governing equations are solved using modified MAC method and SIMPLER algorithm has been used to solve pressure velocity coupling employing relaxation technique. The transport equation for surface radiation is solved using the net radiation method. The cross string method is used to evaluate the view factor. The most striking result is that the heat transfer rate increases with increase in the volume fraction of the carbon-black particles, which has an adverse effect on both the climate and living creatures. The results are presented in tabular and graphical form. The heat transfer and flow characteristics are depicted in the form of isotherms and streamlines revealing the physics of this complex phenomenon.     

Micropolar fluid flow through the membrane composed of impermeable cylindrical particles coated by porous layer under the effect of magnetic field

In the present work, the magnetohydrodynamic flow of a micropolar fluid through the membrane composed of impermeable cylindrical particles coated by porous layer is considered. The flow of a fluid is taken parallel to an axis of cylinder and a uniform magnetic field is applied in transverse direction of the flow. The problem is solved by using the cell model technique for the flow through assemblage of cylindrical particles. The solution of the problem has been obtained by using no-slip condition, continuity of velocity and stresses at interfaces along with Happle's no-couple stress condition as the boundary conditions. The expressions for the linear velocity, micro-rotational velocity, flow rate and hydrodynamic permeability of the membrane are achieved in this work. The obtained solution for velocities is used to plot the graph against various transport parameters such as, Hartmann number, coupling parameter, porosity, scaling parameter etc. The effect of these transport parameters on the flow velocity, micro-rotational velocity, and the hydrodynamic permeability of the membrane have been presented and discussed in this work.     

Iber: herramienta de simulación numérica del flujo en ríos

The recent requirements of Spanish regulations and directives, on their turn based on European directives, have led to the development of a new two dimensional open channel flow modelling tool. The tool, named Iber, combines a hydrodynamic module, a turbulence module and a sediment transport module, and is based in the finite volume method to solve the involved equations. The simulation code has been integrated in a pre-process and post-process interface based on GiD software, developed by CIMNE. The result is a flow and sediment modelling system for rivers and estuaries that uses advanced numerical schemes, robust and stable, which are especially suitable for discontinuous flows taking place in torrential and hydrologically irregular rivers.     

Dynamics of chain particle aggregates in viscous flow

The dynamics of aggregates consisting of chains of particles and their union in the form of a two-dimensional network in viscous flow is numerically simulated. It is assumed that the particles in a chain can move relative to each other so that the distance between two neighboring ones remains unchanged. The hydrodynamic interaction forces between all particles in an aggregate are taken into account. The deposition of particle chains and their dynamics in a linear flow are considered in the case an unbounded fluid volume and near a flat wall. The interaction forces between the particles necessary for retaining them in a chain are calculated, and places of the most probable breakage in the chain are determined.     

Eddy cascade of instabilities and transition to turbulence

Numerical simulation is used to investigate a shear layer influenced by a constant external forcing in the theory of turbulence (Kolmogorov’s problem). The dynamics of flows developing in the case of various initial streamwise velocity profiles are studied. The transition from a two-dimensional laminar flow to a three-dimensional turbulent flow is considered. It is shown that developing hydrodynamic instabilities give rise to an eddy cascade, which, in the transition of the flow to a turbulent stage, corresponds to an eddy cascade developing in the energy and, then, inertial ranges.     

Significance of plaque morphology in modifying flow characteristics in a diseased coronary artery: Numerical simulation using plaque measurements from intravascular ultrasound imaging

The paper deals with numerical investigation of the effect of plaque morphology on the flow characteristics in a diseased coronary artery using realistic plaque morphology. The morphological information of the lumen and the plaque is obtained from intravascular ultrasound imaging measurements of 42 patients performed at Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio. For this data, study of Bhaganagar et al. (2010) [1] has revealed the stenosis for 42 patients can be categorized into four types – type I (peak-valley), type II (ascending), type III (descending), and type IV (diffuse). The aim of the present study is to isolate the effect of shape of the stenosis on the flow characteristics for a given degree of the stenosis. In this study, we conduct fluid dynamic simulations for the four stenosis types (type I–IV) and analyze the differences in the flow characteristics between these types. Finely refined tetrahedral mesh for the 3-D solid model of the artery with plaques has been generated. The 3-D steady flow simulations were performed using the turbulence (k–ε) model in a finite volume based computational fluid dynamics solver. The axial velocity, the radial velocity, turbulence kinetic energy and wall shear stress profiles of the plaque have been analyzed. From the axial and radial velocity profiles results the differences in the velocity patterns are significantly visible at proximal as well as distal to the throat, region of maximum stenosis. Turbulent kinetic energy and wall shear stress profiles have revealed significant differences in the vicinity of the plaque. Additional unsteady flow simulations have been performed to validate the hypothesis of the significance of plaque morphology in flow alterations in diseased coronary artery. The results revealed the importance of accounting for plaque morphology in addition to plaque height to accurately characterize the turbulent flow in a diseased coronary artery.     

Modelling and characterization of a pneumatically actuated peristaltic micropump

There is an emerging class of microfluidic bioreactors which possess long-term, closed circuit perfusion under sterile conditions with in vivo-like flow parameters. Integrated into microfluidics, peristaltic-like pneumatically actuated displacement micropumps are able to meet these requirements. We present both a theoretical and experimental characterization of such pumps. In order to examine volume flow rate, we have developed a mathematical model describing membrane motion under external pressure. The viscoelasticity of the membrane and hydrodynamic resistance of the microfluidic channel have been taken into account. Unlike other models, the developed model includes only the physical parameters of the pump and allows the estimation of their impact on the resulting flow. The model has been validated experimentally.     

On the oscillations of a thin-walled structure containing a fluid, in the presence of a hydrodynamic damper : PMM vol. 43, no. 6, 1979, pp. 1095–1101

A model of a hydrodynamic oscillation damper is proposed. The model is used to obtain the equations describing longitudinal oscillations of a structure which includes a shell partially filled with fluid, and contains a hydrodynamic damper. It is shown that the use of the damper leads to considerable increase in the damping of the oscillations of specified frequencies within the structure.

In modern technology one encounters various types of problems connected with restricting the amplitudes of the axisymmetric vibrations of shells and of the longitudinal oscillations of structures consisting of shells partially filled with fluid. Various devices have been proposed [1] for solving these problems. All these devices have a common feature, namely an elastic shell filled with gas and placed in the fluid. The natural frequency of oscillations of such a shell in a fluid can be tuned to required frequency. The effect of such a device is analogous to the effect of a dynamic vibration damper in mechanical systems [2]. A part of the fluid contained in the shell serves as the active mass of the dynamic damper, and for this reason we shall call such devices the hydrodynamic vibration dampers.     

Effect of bulk viscosity in supersonic flow past spacecraft

In this paper, we consider the effect of bulk viscosity in various hydrodynamic problems. We numerically study this effect on the front structure of the one-dimensional stationary shock wave and on the flow past blunt body. We estimate the effect of the bulk viscosity coefficient (BVC) on the heat transfer and drag of a sphere in a supersonic flow, apparently for the first time, by the numerical solution of parabolized Navier–Stokes equations. The solution is obtained by an original fast convergent method of global iterations of the longitudinal pressure gradient. The directions of further investigations of bulk viscosity are suggested.     

Change in the mechanical properties of human compact bone tissue upon aging

The ultimate tensile strength σ_z, elastic modulus E, maximum deformation ?, and Brinell hardness H_B of human compact bone tissue were determined. The contents of the minerals calcium and phosphorus, nitrogen, and water (relative to mass and volume), as well as the density were studied in the same bone samples. It was found that all the characteristics studied changed with increasing age. It is emphasized that various types of destructive mechanisms are characteristics of different ages.     

Numerical modelling of residual flow and salinity in the Río de la Plata

The Río de la Plata discharges into the Atlantic Ocean. The particular characteristics of the study area, the variable width and shallowness of the river, the high fluvial discharges and the dynamic processes involving interactions between river discharges, tidal currents and wind, generate complex velocity and salinity fields. We applied the hydrodynamic model RMA-10 to examine the effects of various forcing (tides, flow discharge and winds) on residual currents and salinity fields in the Río de la Plata, focusing on the outer zone of the river. The RMA-10 code, developed by Ian King, is a multiparameter finite element model representing estuarine flow in three dimensions. In this study the model has been applied in a depth-averaged-baroclinic mode and a series of observed data is used for model calibration and verification. The model result shows that it is able to simulate velocity and the salinity fields with a reasonable accuracy. The analysis of residual currents in the river, when forced by freshwater discharge and astronomical tide, shows that the flow discharge takes place mainly over the shallower areas of the river and that the saline water is advected up-river through the deeper channels. The numerical simulations show that the winds from the South-West and North-East quadrants have a great influence over the salinity and velocity fields.     

三维横向流体诱发直管振动的数值模拟

基于有限体积法和有限元法,结合动网格控制技术,建立了横向流体作用下三维弹性直管流致振动计算的数值模型,实现了计算结构动力学与计算流体力学之间的联合仿真．首先,通过对刚性管的静止绕流计算,研究了网格离散方式和不同湍流模型对圆柱类结构静止绕流流场特征的影响和预测能力,得到了适用于双向耦合分析的CFD模型;其次,利用基于双向流固耦合方法的流致振动模型,计算并分析了流体力与结构位移间的相位关系,指出流体力与位移间的相位差是由流体力引起的,同时对双向耦合和单向耦合进行了比较分析;最后通过对直管流致振动的数值计算,联合管表面压力、尾流区时均速度、分离角等时均量,分析了尾流区的流场特征.     

Hydrodynamic processes on beach: Wave breaking,up-rush,and backwash

This paper presents two-dimensional numerical predictions of wave breaking, up-rush, and backwash in inner surf and swash zones and analyzes the hydrodynamic processes involved. In the numerical simulations, the Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations, a non-linear k–ε turbulence closure, and a piecewise linear interface construction volume of fluid (PLIC-VOF) method are employed. On the basis of a series of model calibration using experimental data, plunging and spilling breakers are simulated at different wave parameters and slope angles. The numerical results indicate that there are non-linear interactions between hydrodynamic characteristics in surf zones such as wave breaking heights and those in swash zones such as up-rush heights, and the breaker type plays an important role in hydrodynamic processes in the two zones.     

A novel complex air supply model for indoor air quality control via the occupant micro-environment demand ventilation

Protection of indoor air quality and human health can be achieved via ventilation, which has becomes one of the most important tasks for sustainable buildings. This approach also requires highly efficient and energy saving methods for modern building ventilations consisting of a set of parameters of the complex indoor system. Therefore, the advancement in understanding the characteristics of various ventilation methods is highly necessary. This study presents one novel air supply model for the complex occupant micro-environment demand control ventilations, to analyze the efficiency of various ventilation types. This model is established primarily according to the momentum and mass conservations, and goal of occupant micro-environment demand, which is a complex system with the characteristics of diversity and dynamic variation. As for different occupant densities, characteristics of outdoor air supply for controlling gaseous pollutant and three basic features of outdoor airflow supply reaching occupant micro-environment were obtained. This research shows that for various types of occupant density and storey height, the rising and descending rates of the demand outdoor airflow in mixing ventilation are higher than those under displacement ventilation conditions. In addition, since the structure is better designed and sewage flow is more efficient, the mixing ventilation also requires a much higher peak demand outdoor airflow than its counterpart. The increase of storey height will lead to a decline of pollutants in the breathing zone and the demand outdoor airflow. Fluctuations of air flow diffusion caused by the change of occupant density in architectural space, will lead to variations of outdoor airflow reaching occupant micro-environment. Accordingly, it would lead to the different peak values of demand outdoor airflow, and the difference becomes even significant if the occupant density increases. The variations of the air supply and fraction of air reaching the occupant-breathing zone show the characteristics of a complex system. This research is meaningful for design and optimization of the complex indoor air environment in sustainable buildings.     

Some dynamic properties of volume preserving curvature driven flows

This paper is concerned with the following three types of geometric evolution equations: the volume preserving mean curvature flow, the intermediate surface diffusion flow, and the surface diffusion flow. Important common properties of these flows are the preservation of volume and the decrease of perimeter. It is shown in this paper that the intermediate surface diffusion flow can lose convexity. Hence the volume preserving mean curvature flow is the only flow among the evolution equations under consideration which preserves convexity, cf. [11, 16, 14, 17]. Moreover, several sufficient conditions are presented, which illustrate that each of the above mentioned flows can move smooth initial configurations into singularities in finite time.     

CFD modeling of hydrodynamic characteristics of a gas–liquid two-phase stirred tank

A three-dimensional CFD model was developed in this work to simulate hydrodynamic characteristics of a gas–liquid two-phase stirred tank with two six-bladed turbines and four baffles, coupling of the Multiple Size Group model to determine bubble size distribution. Important hydrodynamic parameters of the multi-phase system such as volume-averaged overall and time-averaged local gas holdups and axial liquid velocities along time and transversal courses were simulated and analyzed in detail, under varied operating conditions (inlet air flow rate and impeller rotation speed). Model predictions of local transient gas holdup and liquid velocity distributions on vertical and horizontal sections of the tank were also carried out. The overall flow patterns were discussed in detail to assess the mixing. Bubble size distributions were further predicted to reveal the unique properties of gas phase. Experimental measurements of overall gas holdups and local axial liquid velocities were used to validate the developed model.     

Inversion transformation of Stokes flows bounded by parallel planes

The positive inversion transformation applied to a two-dimensional Stokes flow around bodies leads alike to a Stokes flow. This fact can be exploited to find new two-dimensional Stokes flow solutions around inverse bodies. Some features of this method, such as the relations between the reference and inverse fluid velocity fields, are presented followed by an application to examples of cellular flow between two parallel plates induced by rotating or translating cylinder. Thus hydrodynamic characteristics of flow around circular bodies obtained by inversion of the plates are straightforward deduced. Typical fluid flow patterns around two circular cylinders in contact placed in the centre of a rotating or a translating circular cylinder are thus illustrated.