Spatial charge distribution in fibrous dielectrics

In this work, an attempt was made to study the spatial charge distribution in fibrous dielectrics using pulsed electro-acoustic method. The polarized dielectrics displayed in-depth charge polarization and exhibited slow charge decay. The initial charge density was found to increase with an increase in polarization voltage as well as polarization time. The statistical analysis revealed that though the polarization voltage affected the initial charge density significantly, the polarization time was insignificant. A multiple linear regression model of initial charge density was developed and found to predict the experimental results quite satisfactorily.     

A difference-fractal model for the permeability of fibrous porous media

In this Letter, a difference-fractal model for the permeability of viscous flow through fibrous porous media is proposed. Since fractal objects have well-defined geometric properties, and are discrete and discontinuous, we apply the difference approach to developing the fractal model. The model of non-dimensional permeability is expressed as a function of porosity and fractal dimension. To verify the validity of the proposed model, the predicted permeability values are compared with those of experimental measurements. A good agreement between the prediction of the fractal model and the existing experimental data from the literature is found.     

Combined effect of pore radius and protein dielectric coefficient on the selectivity of a calcium channel

Calcium-selective ion channels often contain a selectivity filter made of similar amino acids, rich in carboxlylates, although the Ca2+ affinities of these channels range from micromolar to millimolar. To understand the physical mechanism for this range of affinities, we use grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations to study the competition of Na+ and Ca2+ in the selectivity filter of a reduced model of a Ca channel. We show that Ca2+ affinity is increased dramatically when both the volume and dielectric coefficient of the protein are reduced.     

基于显微CT图像的岩芯孔隙分形特征

采用国内自主开发的高分辨率显微CT设备,对岩芯样本进行图像采集,运用数字图像分析方法获得图像中的岩芯孔隙目标,并以此为基础重建三维模型。然后基于分形理论,分别从二维图像和重建的三维模型角度计算孔隙的分形维数。最后,再采用基于多孔介质的分形模型对岩芯孔隙分形特征进行验证,得出岩芯的二维分形维数和三维分形维数之间的差值均值为1.000 3,最大偏差为0.004,很好地满足多孔介质分形模型中关于二维和三维分形维数的关系。     

基于显微CT图像的岩芯孔隙分形特征

采用国内自主开发的高分辨率显微CT设备,对岩芯样本进行图像采集,运用数字图像分析方法获得图像中的岩芯孔隙目标,并以此为基础重建三维模型。然后基于分形理论,分别从二维图像和重建的三维模型角度计算孔隙的分形维数。最后,再采用基于多孔介质的分形模型对岩芯孔隙分形特征进行验证,得出岩芯的二维分形维数和三维分形维数之间的差值均值为1.000 3,最大偏差为0.004,很好地满足多孔介质分形模型中关于二维和三维分形维数的关系。     

基于自动对焦技术的透镜曲率半径检测

为实现光学透镜曲率半径的快速准确测量,设计了一种基于自动对焦技术的非接触式透镜曲率半径测量方案。测量系统分别在被测透镜表面的顶点位置和曲率中心位置自动对焦,系统所记录的两个位置之间的距离即为曲率半径。针对透镜曲率半径检测应用,对自动对焦技术进行了改进:将连通区域提取技术应用于定位目标图像,提高了清晰度评价函数的灵敏度;利用均值比较法和三点法改进了传统爬山搜索策略。实验结果表明:基于自动对焦技术的透镜曲率半径检测是有效的,测量误差低于0.196%,测量重复性好于0.109%。该方法已经成功应用于透镜曲率半径测量仪。     

Microwave permeability of metamaterials based on ferromagnetic composites

In this paper, we focus on metamaterials based on ferromagnetic composite combined with an inductive pattern. CoFeSiB amorphous ferromagnetic glass-coated microwires and thin films are involved in the composite. The inductive pattern is a coiling of Copper wire with a varying number of loops. We derived the microwave permeability of the ferromagnetic material inside the inductive pattern through a Landau–Gilbert model of gyromagnetism. In agreement with experimental results, the engineering of resonance frequency of the sample is achieved through the number of loops of the coiling.     

Effects of grain size distribution on coercivity and permeability of ferromagnets

Grain size dependence of coercivity and permeability (GSDCP) theory is extended to include grain size distribution in ferromagnets. It is found that the experimental data do not agree with the GSDCP theory on the transition location of different grain size ranges (The GSDCP theory has three different grain size ranges for different magnetization processes.). Correspondingly, including the grain size distribution the GSDCP theory fits the experimental data very well. These results prove that the grain size distribution indeed affects the magnetic properties of nanocrystalline ferromagnets.     

Effective magnetic permeability of a turbulent fluid with macroferroparticles

A fully developed turbulent flow is capable to mix and homogenize a suspension of heavy macroscopic particles even at a high concentration of particles. If the particles are ferromagnetic, a kind of “turbulent ferrofluid" can be obtained. In the present work, we present a direct measurements of the effective magnetic permeability in a turbulent fluid with suspended ferromagnetic particles of typical size 0.01-0.1 mm and volume fraction c up to 25%. We show that the effective permeability can be fitted by the linear law = 1 + 5.3c for c? 10%. For higher volume fractions the permeability exceeds this linear relation. Received 11 January 2002     

Structure of liquid-vapor interface of square well fluid confined in a cylindrical pore

By means of the canonical Monte Carlo simulations, the vapor-liquid (VL) equilibrium and structure of square well (SW) fluids confined in a single cylindrical pore with repulsive surface, have been studied. Coexistence curves of the confined VL interface are determined for a wide range of temperatures and pore diameters. It is demonstrated that the confinement not only reduces the VL coexistence region but also induces strong inhomogeneities of the VL interface: coexistence liquid densities are different at the pore center and at the wall surface. It may be considered as a preliminary step for an isolated droplet formation inside the pore, as well as a tentative reason of the two VL phase transitions of simple fluids adsorbed into disordered porous media.     

The phase behaviour of a fluid in a slitlike pore with permeable walls

The confinement of a lattice fluid in a set of slitlike pores separated by semipermeable walls with a finite width has been studied. The walls are modelled by a square-well repulsive potential with a finite height. The thermodynamic properties and the phase behaviour of the system are evaluated by means of Monte Carlo simulations. For some states theoretical calculations have been made using a mean-field-type theory. These investigations confirm previous findings for confined Lennard-Jones fluids, obtained from a density functional approach. For intermediate and low potential barriers that separate the pores, the isotherms exhibit two hysteresis loops and the liquid-vapour coexistence curve divides into two branches describing condensation inside the pore and inside the permeable wall. These two branches are separated by a triple point. At temperatures lower than the triple point temperature, the condensation takes place instantaneously in both the pore and inside the permeable wall. It was found that when the temperature is scaled by the bulk critical temperature, the phase diagram emerging from this simple mean-field treatment is close to the phase diagram obtained from simulation.     

Hydraulic permeability of (un)bounded fibrous media using the lattice boltzmann method

Several articles have been written regarding the hydraulic permeability of ordered and disordered fibrous media. Here, we explore wall effects on hydraulic permeabilities for ordered and disordered media using the lattice Boltzmann (LB) simulation method. Simulation results are found to be in excellent agreement with the semi analytic result of Sangani and Acrivos, and simulation results for disordered media are in good agreement with the results of Jackson and James and Higdon and Ford's fcc lattice. The macroscopic behavior, the hydraulic permeability, shows a distinct connection with the geometry of the system. This connection is explored and elucidated for ordered and disordered media. Finally, hydraulic permeabilities for bounded media at various wall separations are presented for both ordered and disordered media and results are compared with hydraulic permeabilities calculated for the unbounded media, and a phenomenological correlation is presented to facilitate rapid prediction of hydraulic permeabilities for both unbounded and bounded fibrous media.     

纳米通道内液态微流动密度分布特性数值模拟研究

微通道内流动因表面积/体积比值极大, 造成许多微尺度效应, 进而使微通道内出现完全不同于宏观流动的流体密度分布特性. 本文以纳米通道内液态Poiseuille流为对象, 采用非平衡分子动力学模拟方法研究了流体原子间相互作用强度ε_LL, 流体原子间平衡距离σ_LL以及壁面原子与流体原子间平衡距离σ_LS对通道内流体密度分布的影响规律. 数值模拟中, 统计系综取微正则系综, 势能函数选用LJ/126模型, 壁面设为Rigid-atom壁面, 温度校正使用速度定标法, 牛顿运动方程的求解则采用Verlet算法. 模拟结果表明, 随ε_LL的减弱, 近壁面区密度分布的振荡幅度则逐渐增大; 而σ_LL 则同时影响流体原子的存在形态和密度分布, 较大的σ_LL 会造成流体原子在整个通道内呈现面心立方结构的类似固体排列, 较小的σ_LL会使得流体原子呈现不断变化的 "团簇" 结构; 随σ_LS的变大, 近壁面区流体密度振荡幅度增大, 且流体密度分布起点离壁面越远. 另外, 本文还从近壁面区流体原子的 "俘获-逃逸" 行为角度, 初步解释了原子间相互作用强度对密度分布的影响规律. 关键词： 纳米通道 微流动 密度分布 分子动力学     

Changes in pore size distribution inside sludge under various ultrasonic conditions

The pore size distribution is quite significant for determining the transport capacity of heat and moisture in sludge during the drying process. It is crucial to investigate the transformation of the pore size in sludge under sonication. In this paper, the microstructures of pores inside sludge before and after ultrasonic treatment with various ultrasonic conditions were observed using a microscope. Fractal geometry and image analysis were combined to quantitatively identify the evolution of pore size in sludge undergoing various acoustic energy densities and treatment times. The surface fractal dimension (d_f) was applied to characterize the pore size distribution of sludge. The results confirmed that sonication has a positive influence on the characteristics of pore structure inside the sludge and that the average pore size increases with increasing ultrasonic energy level, as determined by both acoustic energy density and treatment time. The d_f appropriately characterizes and quantifies the evolution of the pore size distribution of sludge under various ultrasonic conditions. This work is quite valuable for further investigating and evaluating moisture removal in the sludge drying process assisted by ultrasonic treatment.     

Perfect fluid distribution in class one space-time

Space-times of class one for which the elementary divisors of the second fundamental tensor are real but not simple, do not admit perfect fluid distributions.     

Optimizing the source distribution in fluid mixing

A passive scalar is advected by a velocity field, with a nonuniform spatial source that maintains concentration inhomogeneities. For example, the scalar could be temperature with a source consisting of hot and cold spots, such that the mean temperature is constant. Which source distributions are best mixed by this velocity field? This question has a straightforward yet rich answer that is relevant to real mixing problems. We use a multiscale measure of steady-state enhancement to mixing and optimize it by a variational approach. We then solve the resulting Euler-Lagrange equation for a perturbed uniform flow and for simple cellular flows. The optimal source distributions have many broad features that are as expected: they avoid stagnation points, favour regions of fast flow, and their contours are aligned such that the flow blows hot spots onto cold and vice versa. However, the detailed structure varies widely with diffusivity and other problem parameters. Though these are model problems, the optimization procedure is simple enough to be adapted to more complex situations.     

Dynamically tessellating algorithm for analysis of pore size distribution in particle agglomerates

We describe a novel physical application of the OctTree data structure [P. Meagher, Comput. Graphics Image Process 19(2) (1982) 129–147] in a dynamically tessellating algorithm, in conjunction with an object-oriented, constructive solid geometry library (DOC), to efficiently determine pore size distributions in large multi-particle systems. We apply the DOC library to investigate the evolving dynamics of pore formation in multi-particle systems, such as a mixture of smooth hard cubes and spheres and a collection of frictional soft spheres. We demonstrate that the algorithm is able to provide insight into the effect of structural changes on the porosity network; for example, during the uniaxial compaction of soft spheres, we find the number density of pores increases while the mean volume of the pores decreases. This trend is responsible for a shift in the distribution of the pore volumes to favour smaller volumes. We anticipate that the DOC method will have wider applications in the area of granular materials for studying the changes in pore structure in both experimental and numerical systems as a complement to the analysis of particle packing.     

Cut-off frequency of magnetostrictive materials based on permeability spectra

The loss behavior and cut-off frequency of TbDyFe alloy and TbDyFe/epoxy composite have been investigated by measuring their permeability spectra. The loss factor of TbDyFe alloy increases exponentially as the frequency goes up, while it is almost unchanged for the TbDyFe/epoxy composite. The loss factor value for the TbDyFe composite is only 4.3% of that for the monolithic TbDyFe alloy at high frequency of 10 kHz under the peak magnetic induction of 10 mT. The cut-off frequency of TbDyFe/epoxy composite is 6800 kHz, 3 orders of magnitude larger than that of TbDyFe alloy. The cut-off frequency is found to be the ferromagnetic resonance frequency and can be calculated from Snoek's law.     

Relation between conductivity and fluid flow permeability in porous alumina ceramics

Alumina ceramics with various porosity have been used to test the theoretical predictions of a recent model of Wong et al. relating the electrical conductivity and fluid flow permeability of sedimentary rocks. The exponent of Archie's law and modified Kozeny equation are found to be, respectively, m = 1.91 and m′ = 3.82, in agreement with the theoretical value of m′ = 2m. The values of these exponents correspond to a non uniform pore distribution which is indeed what is observed using electron microscopy.     

Heavy-metal distribution in pore waters of the Cona Marsh: A preliminary investigation on surface sediments

Summary The results of an investigation about the heavy-metal distribution in pore waters of an estuarine shallow-water system (Cona Marsh, Venice Lagoon) are described. The area was sampled for surface and subsurface sediments; pore waters were extracted by centrifugation and heavy-metal concentration measured by means of PIXE technique. A high variability of heavy-metal concentration was observed in pore waters of sampled sites, as a result of physico-chemical conditions in the water sediment column, with a different spatial distribution between two groups of metals (Fe, Mn and Crvs. Cu, Ni and Zn). Concentration gradients between pore and bottom waters were evaluated in order to investigate the metal enrichment as a function of their mobility in the sediment and diagenesis phenomena. Paper presented at the IX Congresso del Gruppo Nazionale per la Fisica dell'Atmosfera e dell'Oceano, June 8–10, 1992, Rome.