Modeling and simulation of martensitic phase transitions with a triple point

A framework for modeling complex global energy landscapes in a piecewise manner is presented. Specifically, a class of strain-dependent energy functions is derived for the triple point of Zirconia (ZrO₂), where tetragonal, orthorhombic (orthoI) and monoclinic phases are stable. A simple two-dimensional framework is presented to deal with this symmetry breaking. An explicit energy is then fitted to the available elastic moduli of Zirconia in this two-dimensional setting. First, we use the orbit space method to deal with symmetry constraints in an easy way. Second, we introduce a modular (piecewise) approach to reproduce or model elastic moduli, energy barriers and other characteristics independently of each other in a sequence of local steps. This allows for more general results than the classical Landau theory (understood in the sense that the energy is a polynomial of invariant polynomials). The class of functions considered here is strictly larger. Finite-element simulations for the energy constructed here demonstrate the pattern formation in Zirconia at the triple point.     

Wave propagation in an elastic tube: a numerical study

In this paper, a fluid–wall interaction model, called the elastic tube model, is introduced to investigate wave propagation in an elastic tube and the effects of different parameters. The unsteady flow was assumed to be laminar, Newtonian and incompressible, and the vessel wall to be linear-elastic, isotropic and incompressible. A fluid–wall interaction scheme is constructed using a finite element method. The results demonstrate that the elastic tube plays an important role in wave propagation. It is shown that there is a time delay between the velocity waveforms at two different locations and that the peak velocity increases while the low velocity decreases in the elastic tube model, contrary to the rigid tube model where velocity waveforms overlap each other. Compared with the elastic tube model, the increase of the wall thickness makes wave propagation faster and the time delay cannot be observed clearly, however, the velocity amplitude is reduced slightly due to the decrease of the internal radius. The fluid–wall interaction model simulates wave propagation successfully and can be extended to study other mechanical properties considering complicated geometrical and material factors.     

Wave induced thermal boundary layers in a compressible fluid: analysis and numerical simulations

The response of a semi-infinite compressible fluid to a step-wise change in temperature of its boundary is investigated analytically and numerically. Numerical results of the boundary layer structure are compared with Clarke’s analytical solution for a gas with thermal conductivity proportional to temperature. To avoid unwanted numerical dissipation in the numerical analysis, the space-time conservation element and solution element (CESE) method has been adopted to solve the unsteady 1-D Navier-Stokes equations. Good agreement between analytical and numerical results has been found for the development of the thermal boundary layer on a long time scale. Weak shock waves and expansion waves induced by the thermal boundary layer due to its compressibility, are observed in the numerical simulation. Finally, the numerical method has been applied to the reflection of a non-linear expansion wave and to a shock wave from an isothermal wall, thereby illustrating the effect of the boundary layer on the external flow field.     

The elastic fields of misfit cylindrical particles: a dislocation-based numerical approach

Analytical solutions for the displacement and stress fields due to a misfit particle in a host matrix can be difficult to obtain, especially for complex particle geometries. In this work, we present a numerical method for finding such fields in the case of infinitely-long particles. The method is based on discretizing the continuous misfit region between the particle and matrix into local misfit regions consisting of interstitial dislocation loops. The results presented here indicate very good agreement with analytical solutions and better convergence with increasing loop density.     

The elastic response of a cohesive aggregate—a discrete element model with coupled particle interaction

A model is presented for the deformation of a cohesive aggregate of elastic particles that incorporates two important effects of large-sized inter-particle junctions. A finite element model is used to derive a particle response rule, for both normal and tangential relative deformations between pairs of particles. This model agrees with the Hertzian contact theory for small junctions, and is valid for junctions as large as half the nominal particle size. Further, the aggregate model uses elastic superposition to account for the coupled force–displacement response due to the simultaneous displacement of all of the neighbors of each particle in the aggregate. A particle stiffness matrix is developed, relating the forces at each junction to the three displacement degrees of freedom at all of the neighboring-particle junctions. The particle response satisfies force and moment equilibrium, so that the model is properly posed to allow for rigid rotation of the particle without introducing rotational degrees of freedom. A computer-simulated sintering algorithm is used to generate a random particle packing, and the stiffness matrix is derived for each particle. The effective elastic response is then estimated using a mean field or affine displacement calculation, and is also found exactly by a discrete element model, solving for the equilibrium response of the aggregate to uniform-strain boundary conditions. Both the estimate and the exact solution compare favorably with experimental data for the bulk modulus of sintered alumina, whereas Hertzian contact-based models underestimate the modulus significantly. Poisson's ratio is, however, accurately determined only by the full equilibrium discrete element solution, and shown to depend significantly on whether or not rigid particle rotation is permitted in the model. Moreover, this discrete element model is sufficiently robust, so it can be applied to problems involving non-homogeneous deformations in such cohesive aggregates.     

Buckling of nano-fibre reinforced composites: a re-examination of elastic buckling

Elastic buckling of layered/fibre reinforced composites is investigated. Assuming the existence of both shear and transverse modes of failure, the fibre is analysed as a layer embedded in a matrix. Interacting stresses, acting at the interfaces are determined from an exact derived stress field in the matrix. It is shown that buckling can occur only in the shear buckling mode and that the transverse buckling mode is spurious. As opposed to the well known Rosen shear buckling mode solution (predicated on an infinite buckling wavelength), shear buckling is shown to exist under two régimes: buckling of dilute composites with finite wavelengths and buckling of non-dilute composites with infinite wavelengths. Based on the analysis, a model is constructed which defines the fibre concentration at which the transition between the two régimes occurs. The buckling strains are shown to be (approximately) constant for dilute composites and, in the case of very stiff fibres, to have realistic values compatible with elastic behaviour. For the case of non-dilute composites, the strains are found to be in agreement with those given by the Rosen shear buckling solution. Numerical results for the buckling strains and stresses are presented and compared with the Rosen solution. These reveal that the Rosen solution is valid only for the case of non-dilute composites. The investigation demonstrates that elastic buckling may be a dominant failure mechanism of composites consisting of very stiff fibres fabricated in the framework of nano-technology.     

The merging of two co-rotating vortices: a numerical study

The merging of two-dimensional co-rotating vortices is analysed through direct numerical simulations at large Reynolds numbers. It is shown how the Reynolds number affects each of the three phases that characterise this phenomenon. In the first phase, we examine the merging onset and focus on its definition. During the second rapid phase, the contributions of various flow regions upon the dynamics of a vortex are quantitatively studied. These regions are respectively the companion vortex, the filaments and an intermediate zone between vortices and filaments. The third phase is interpreted in terms of an advection diffusion process. Finally the final profile and circulation of the merged vortex is determined: the two thirds of the total circulation of the two initial vortices is contained in the newly formed vortex.     

Extraction of cohesive-zone laws from elastic far-fields of a cohesive crack tip: a field projection method

A solution method of an inverse problem is developed to extract cohesive-zone laws from elastic far-fields surrounding a crack-tip cohesive zone. The solution method is named the “field projection method (FPM).” In the process of developing the method a general form of cohesive-crack-tip fields is obtained and used for eigenfunction expansions of the plane elastic field in a complex variable representation. The closing tractions and the separation-gradients at the cohesive zone are expressed in terms of orthogonal polynomial series expansions of the general-form complex functions. The series expansion forms a set of cohesive-crack-tip eigenfunctions, which is complete and orthogonal in the sense of the interaction J-integral in the far field as well as at the cohesive-zone faces. The coefficients of the eigenfunctions in the J-orthogonal representation are extracted directly, using interaction J-integrals in the far field between the physical field of interest and auxiliary probing fields. The path-independence of the interaction J-integral enables us to identify the cohesive-zone variables, i.e. tractions and separations, and thus the cohesive-zone constitutive laws uniquely from the far-field data. A set of numerical algorithms is developed for the inversion method and the results from numerical experiments suggest that the proposed algorithms are well suited for extracting cohesive-zone laws from the far-field data. The set includes methods to find the position and size of a cohesive zone. Further included are discussions on error analysis and stability of the inversion scheme.     

Translation of a sphere in a rotating viscous fluid: A numerical study

The translation of a sphere moving along the axis of a rotating viscous fluid is studied by the finite difference method at moderate Reynolds (up to R = 500) and Taylor (up to T = 100) numbers. Suppression of the separation is observed with increasing rotation parameter T. The drag coefficient is also presented. It is observed that the drag coefficient is less than that with no rotation in the range 0<N<0·7, where N = 2T/R is the inverse Rossby number. The same phenomenon was observed experimentally by Maxworthy in the range 0<N<0·75±0·03.     

Height of burst explosions: a comparative study of numerical and experimental results

In the current work, we use the Constant Volume model and the numerical method, Regularized Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (RSPH) to study propagation and reflection of blast waves from detonations of the high explosives C-4 and TNT. The results from simulations of free-field TNT explosions are compared to previously published data, and good agreement is found. Measurements from height of burst tests performed by the Norwegian Defence Estates Agency are used to compare against numerical simulations. The results for shock time of arrival and the pressure levels are well represented by the numerical results. The results are also found to be in good agreement with results from a commercially available code. The effect of allowing different ratios of specific heat capacities in the explosive products are studied. We also evaluate the effect of changing the charge shape and height of burst on the triple point trajectory.      

A numerical study of a rectangular jet along a shear free boundary: Surface jet

A numerical simulation of a rectangular surface jet is performed at a Reynolds number of ${\mathit{Re}}_j=4400$. The global parameters of the jet e.g. maximum velocity decay, jet surface normal and lateral spread rates, entrainment, jet momentum flux and turbulent momentum flux are in agreement with several other studies reported in the literature. It is shown that the mean velocity and Reynolds stress profiles scale with the maximum local streamwise velocity and jet half width in the surface normal and lateral directions. The current simulation provides balance, explicitly calculated budgets for the turbulence kinetic energy, Reynolds normal and shear stresses. The surface jet develops a thin layer of fast moving fluid in the lateral direction near the surface. This layer is called the ‘surface current’. It has been suggested that the surface current arises due to the Reynolds stress anisotropy in the near surface region. The current study shows that this explanation is incomplete. The turbulence production for the Reynolds stress in the lateral direction is negative, which can drive the mean flow in the lateral direction. The higher level of negative production in the near surface region is responsible for the development of the surface current.     

How a flexible tail improves the power extraction efficiency of a semi-activated flapping foil system: A numerical study

The improvement of power extraction of a semi-activated flapping foil system via the use of a flexible tail is numerically investigated in this work. A NACA0015 airfoil arranged in a two-dimensional laminar flow synchronously executes a forced pitching motion and an induced plunging motion. A flat plate attached to the trailing edge of the foil is utilized to model a tail, and thereby they are considered as a unit for the purpose of power extraction. The tail is either rigid or deformable. At a Reynolds number of 1100 and the position of the pitching axis at third chord, the effects of the mass and flexibility of the tail as well as the frequency of pitching motion on the net power extraction are systematically examined. It is found that compared to the foil with a rigid tail, the efficiency of net power extraction for the foil with a deformable tail can be improved. Based on the numerical analysis, it is indicated that the enhanced power extraction, which is caused by the increased lift force, directly contributes to the net efficiency improvement. Moreover, owing to high enhancement of power extraction, a flexible tail with high flexibility is recommended in the semi-activated flapping foil based power extraction system.     

An efficient solution methodology to study the response of a beam on viscoelastic and nonlinear unilateral foundation: Static response

Many engineering materials and foundations such as soils demonstrate nonlinear and viscoelastic behaviour. Yet, it is challenging to develop static and dynamic models of systems that include these materials and are able to predict the behaviour over a wide range of loading conditions. This research is focused on a specific example: a pinned–pinned beam interacting with polyurethane foam foundation. Two cases, when the foundation can react in tension and compression as well as only in compression, are considered. The model developed here is capable of predicting the response to static as well as dynamic forces, whether concentrated or distributed. Galerkin’s method is used to derive modal amplitude equations. In the tensionless foundation case, the contact region changes with beam motion and the estimation of the co-ordinates of the lift-off points is embedded into the solution procedure. An efficient solution technique is proposed that is capable of handling cases where there are multiple contact and non-contact regions. Depending on the loading profiles a high number of modes may need to be included in the solution and to speed up computation time, a convolution method is used to evaluate the integral terms in the model. The adaptability of the solution scheme to complicated loading patterns is demonstrated via examples. The solution approach proposed is applicable to dynamic loadings as well and in these cases the automated treatment of complicated response patterns makes the convolution approach particularly attractive. The influence of various parameters on the static response is discussed.     

Conjugate natural convection from an array of discrete heat sources: part 2 — a numerical parametric study

Coupled conduction and natural convection transport within a discretely heated cavity have been investigated numerically. One vertical wall of the cavity is composed of discrete, isoflux heat sources mounted in a substrate of finite thermal conductivity. The opposite vertical wall and the horizontal walls are assumed to be isothermal and adiabatic, respectively. The governing steady-state partial differential equations for the fluid and solid region are solved simultaneously using a control volume formulation, coupled with an additive correction multigrid procedure that increases the convergence rate of the solution. The fluid Prandtl number and heater/fluid thermal conductivity ratio are fixed at 25 and 2350, respectively, corresponding to a dielectric fluid (FC-77) and heaters manufactured from silicon. With increasing modified Rayleigh number (10⁴ < Ra_Lz^* < 109), the cavity flow becomes more boundary layer-like along the vertical walls, and multiple fluid cells develop in the central region. Thermal spreading in the substrate increases with decreasing modified Rayleigh number and with increasing values of the substrate/fluid thermal conductivity ratio (10⁻¹ <- R_s ≤ 10³). For large R_s, the discrete heat sources lose their thermal identity, and the streamlines and isotherms resemble those associated with a differentially heated cavity. Thermal spreading in the substrate also has a significant effect on circulation in the cavity and on maximum surface temperatures.     

Reological behaviour of concentrated monodisperse suspensions as a function of preshear conditions and temperature: an experimental study

 The influence of preshearing on the rheological behaviour of model suspensions was investigated with a stress-controlled cone-and-plate rheometer. The used matrix fluids showed Newtonian behaviour over the whole range of applied shear stresses. Highly monodisperse spherical glass spheres with various particle diameters were used as fillers. By applying steady preshearing at a low preshear stress, where a diffusion of particles can be expected, it was found for all model suspensions investigated at volume fractions ranging from 0.20 to 0.35 that the time-temperature superposition in the steady shear and in the dynamic mode holds within the chosen temperature range. Furthermore, all presheared model suspensions displayed a high and a low frequency range which are either separated by a shoulder or by a plateau value of G′ at intermediate frequencies. It could clearly be demonstrated that the low frequency range strongly depends on the preshear conditions. Hence, the features observed in the low frequency range can be attributed to a structure formation of a particulate network. In the high frequency range a frequency-dependent behaviour was observed which obeys the classical behaviour of Newtonian fluids (G′∝ω², G′′∝ω). The resulting temperature shift factors from the dynamic and the steady shear mode are identical and independent of the volume fraction and the particle size of the filler. Received: 29 November 2000 Accepted: 12 July 2001     

An experimental study of nonrheometric flows of viscoelastic fluids: II. Flow in a liquid jet exiting from a vertical tube

A laser anemometer has been used to study the region of accelerating shear flow near the exit of a vertical tube. It is in this region that the transition between steady laminar shear flow in the upstream tube and elongational flow in the downstream liquid jet takes place.Downstream velocity profiles were measured for solutions of 0.9% polyacrylamide in 85% glycerol/water and 0.9% polyacrylamide in water. Reynolds numbers (based on wall conditions in the fully developed upstream flow) ranged from 45 to 310 and Froude numbers from 0.294 to 4.11. Tubes, having sharpedged and rounded exit corners, with diameters of 1.25 cm and 1.90 cm were usedUpstream velocity profiles were measured for a solution of 0.9% polyacrylamide in water. Reynolds numbers ranged from 16 to 670. Only tubes having sharp-edged exit corners were used.It was found that the transition region did not extend upstream into the tube but was confined to the downstream jet. The transition took place over a distance of about 3–5 tube diameters depending upon the value of the Froude number. The axial distance downstream from the tube exit plane at which the velocity profile first became flat increased with increasing Froude number. The magnitude of the jet velocity at this point decreased with increasing Froude number.The condition of the tube exit corner was found to influence the flow in the transition region. Downstream velocity profiles obtained using tubes having rounded exit corners initially develop more slowly than, but soon catch up with and eventually overtake, the corresponding profiles obtained using tubes with sharp-edged exit corners.Downstream velocity profiles obtained for the 0.9% polyacrylamide in 85% glycerol/water solution were found to develop smoothly. The transition from steady shear flow in the tube to elongational flow in the jet took place through the combined processes of acceleration of the outer layers of the jet due to radial transfer of momentum with adjacent inner layers, the process spreading steadily inwards with increasing axial distance from the tube exit plane, and acceleration of the whole due to gravity. However, the velocity profiles obtained for the 0.9% polyacrylamide in water solution did not always develop so smoothly. At a Reynolds number of 310 and Froude number of 2.06 the radial momentum transfer process was restricted to a narrow outer region of the jet until a downstream axial distance of about 2 tube diameters was reached. Thereafter, the transition to a flat profile took place smoothly.     

Shocks and slip systems: Predictions from a mesoscale theory of continuum dislocation dynamics

Exploring a recently developed mesoscale continuum theory of dislocation dynamics, we derive three predictions about plasticity and grain boundary formation in crystals. (1) There is a residual stress jump across grain boundaries and plasticity-induced cell walls as they form, which self-consistently acts to attract neighboring dislocations; residual stress in this theory appears as a remnant of the driving force behind wall formation under both polygonization and plastic deformation. We derive the predicted asymptotic late-time dynamics of the grain-boundary formation process. (2) During grain boundary formation at high temperatures, there is a predicted cusp in the elastic energy density. (3) In early stages of plasticity, when only one type of dislocation is active (single-slip), cell walls do not form in the theory; instead we predict the formation of a hitherto unrecognized jump singularity in the dislocation density.     

An experimental approach to the study of the sedimentation of dispersed particles in a centrifugal field

Summary  On the basis of an especially developed centrifuge, a PC-controlled separation analyser has been assembled for the continuous registration of particles' sedimentation process in a fluid, caused by centrifugal acceleration. The system enables the parallel investigation of up to eight samples. During the centrifugation, the radial and temporal variation of light transmission through the samples is registered by means of a CCD line detector. Experiments were carried out with the separation analyser on manipulated rigid and sphered red blood cells for the verification of an established one-dimensional mixture fluid model. In particular, the influence of particle volume concentration as well as of the angular velocity on the sedimentation process was investigated. Justification could be furnished for the one-dimensional model based on the theory of kinematic waves and shocks. In addition, an algorithm has been developed for the experimental determination of the suspension's effective or apparent viscosity. Received 20 March 2001; accepted for publication 23 August 2001 RID=" ID=" This work is an abridged version of a part of the first author's PhD thesis. The study was supported in part by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (project 03 TOU 2063) and the foundation Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (project Le 734/1&ndash;2).