An application of the operational calculus to the equations of the Rayleigh Problem in MHD

Summary The operational calculus in the form developed by Van der Pol and Bremmer is applied to obtain some solutions for the equations of the Rayleigh Problem in MHD. The diffusivities in these solutions can have arbitrary values. A limiting case of the solutions is studied, and it is shown that the solutions have some advantages as compared to the integrals of Chang and Yen, and of Hide and Roberts. Finally an example of Ludford is used to verify that the integrals obtained here will make their appearance in the solution of some boundary value problems.MHD stands for magnetohydrodynamics.     

Exact solution of the Navier-Stokes equations in a fluid layer between the moving parallel plates

This paper studies exact solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations for a layer between parallel plates the distance between which increases proportionally to the square root of time. A countable set of exact solutions and their derived countable set of continuous families of exact solutions are obtained. It is shown that certain intervals of the Reynolds parameter have two solutions and some of them one solution.     

Resolving Controversies in the Application of the Method of Multiple Scales and the Generalized Method of Averaging

I compare application of the method of multiple scales with reconstitution and the generalized method of averaging for determining higher-order approximations of three single-degree-of-freedom systems and a two-degree-of-freedom system. Three implementations of the method of multiple scales are considered, namely, application of the method to the system equations expressed as second-order equations, as first-order equations, and in complex-variable form. I show that all of these methods produce the same modulation equations.I address the problem of determining higher-order approximate solutions of the Duffing equation in the case of primary resonance. I show that the conclusions of Rahman and Burton that the method of multiple scales, the generalized method of averaging, and Lie series and transforms might lead to incorrect results, in that spurious solutions occur and the obtained frequency–response curves bear little resemblance to the actual response, is the result of their using parameter values for which the neglected terms are the same order as the retained terms. I show also that spurious solutions cannot be avoided, in general, in any consistent expansion and their presence does not constitute a limitation of the methods. In particular, I show that, for the Duffing equation, the second-order frequency–response equation does not possess spurious solutions for the case of hardening nonlinearity, but possesses spurious solutions for the case of softening nonlinearity. For sufficiently small nonlinearity, the spurious solutions are far removed from the actual response. But as the strength of the nonlinearity increases, these solutions move closer to the backbone and eventually distort it. This is not a drawback of the perturbation methods but an indication of an application of the analysis for parameter values outside the range of validity of the expansion.Also, I address the problem of obtaining non-Hamiltonian modulation equations in the application of the method of multiple scales to multi-degree-of-freedom Hamiltonian systems written as second-order equations in time and how this problem can be overcome by attacking the state-space form of the governing equations. Moreover, I show that application of a variation of the method of Rahman and Burton to multi-degree-of-freedom systems leads to results that do not agree with those obtained with the generalized method of averaging.Contributed by Prof. R.A. Ibrahim.     

Incompressible Euler Equations and the Effect of Changes at a Distance

Because pressure is determined globally for the incompressible Euler equations, a localized change to the initial velocity will have an immediate effect throughout space. For solutions to be physically meaningful, one would expect such effects to decrease with distance from the localized change, giving the solutions a type of stability. Indeed, this is the case for solutions having spatial decay, as can be easily shown. We consider the more difficult case of solutions lacking spatial decay, and show that such stability still holds, albeit in a somewhat weaker form.     

Global attractors for the three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations

In this paper we show that the weak solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations on any bounded, smooth three-dimensional domain have a global attractor for any positive value of the viscosity. The proof of this result, which bypasses the two issues of the possible nonuniqueness of the weak solutions and the possible lack of global regularity of the strong solutions, is based on a new point of view for the construction of the semiflow generated by these equations. We also show that, under added assumptions, this global attractor consists entirely of strong solutions.     

Remarks on the Perturbation Methods in Solving the Second-Order Delay Differential Equations

The paper presents a study on the validity of perturbation methods, suchas the method of multiple scales, the Lindstedt–Poincaré method and soon, in seeking for the periodic motions of the delayed dynamic systemsthrough an example of a Duffing oscillator with delayed velocityfeedback. An important observation in the paper is that the method ofmultiple scales, which has been widely used in nonlinear dynamics, worksonly for the approximate solutions of the first two orders, and givesrise to a paradox for the third-order approximate solutions of delaydifferential equations. The same problem appears when theLindstedt–Poincaré method is implemented to find the third-orderapproximation of periodic solutions for delay differential equations,though it is effective in seeking for any order approximation ofperiodic solutions for nonlinear ordinary differential equations. Apossible explanation to the paradox is given by the results obtained byusing the method of harmonic balance. The paper also indicates thatthese perturbation methods, despite of some shortcomings, are stilleffective in analyzing the dynamics of a delayed dynamic system sincethe approximate solutions of the first two orders already enable one togain an insight into the primary dynamics of the system.     

The analyticity of solutions of the Stefan problem

The Stefan problem of a semi-infinite body with arbitrarily prescribed initial and boundary conditions is studied. One of the objectives of the paper is to investigate the analyticity of the solutions. For this purpose, the prescribed initial and boundary conditions are considered to be series of fractional powers of their arguments. It is found that the exact solutions of the problem for various forms of the initial and boundary conditions can be established in series of parabolic cylinder functions and time t. Existence and convergence of the series solutions are studied and proved. The present solutions include the known exact solutions as special cases. On the basis of the present solutions, the question of the analyticity of solutions of the Stefan problem, raised by Rubinstein in his book, can be answered. Conditions for analyticity of the solutions with various initial and boundary conditions are fully discussed.     

On the stability of the shear flow of a viscoelastic fluid with slip along the fixed wall

In this paper we solve the time-dependent shear flow of an Oldroyd-B fluid with slip along the fixed wall. We use a non-linear slip model relating the shear stress to the velocity at the wall and exhibiting a maximum and a minimum. We assume that the material parameters in the slip equation are such that multiple steady-state solutions do not exist. The stability of the steady-state solutions is investigated by means of a one-dimensional linear stability analysis and by numerical calculations. The instability regimes are always within or coincide with the negative-slope regime of the slip equation. As expected, the numerical results show that the instability regimes are much broader than those predicted by the linear stability analysis. Under our assumptions for the slip equation, the Newtonian solutions are stable everywhere. The interval of instability grows as one moves from the Newtonian to the upper-convected Maxwell model. Perturbing an unstable steady-state solution leads to periodic solutions. The amplitude and the period of the oscillations increase with elasticity.     

基于第二类四边形面积坐标的弹性力学纯弯解及MacNeal局限定理的破解

为了提高有限元的性能,弹性力学的解析解(齐次方程的通解)常常可用作有限元的试探函数。然而单元自由度数与完备的直角坐标解析解个数并不匹配,不完备的试函数会导致单元有方向依赖性。利用新型局部自然坐标——第二类四边形面积坐标QACM-II(S,T),给出了平面问题对应任意方向纯弯曲状态的应力函数解析解,即S3和T3的线性组合,并推导出了这两组应力函数对应的应力、应变和位移解析解。之后,利用QACM-II表示的解析解构造了非对称的平面4节点8自由度单元USQ4,该单元可以同时通过常应力/应变分片检验和纯弯测试,从而破解了MacNeal局限定理对平面低阶单元的限制。     

Convergence of periodic wavetrains in the limit of large wavelength

The Korteweg-de Vries equation was originally derived as a model for unidirectional propagation of water waves. This equation possesses a special class of traveling-wave solutions corresponding to surface solitary waves. It also has permanent-wave solutions which are periodic in space, the so-called cnoidal waves. A classical observation of Korteweg and de Vries was that the solitary wave is obtained as a certain limit of cnoidal wavetrains.This result is extended here, in the context of the Korteweg-de Vries equation. It is demonstrated that a general class of solutions of the Korteweg-de Vries equation is obtained as limiting forms of periodic solutions, as the period becomes large.     

The approximate solutions to the non-linear heat conduction problems in a semi-infinite medium

The approximate solutions to the non-linear heat conduction problems in a semi-infinite medium are investigated. The entire temperature range is divided into a number of small sub-regions where the thermal properties can be approximated to be constant. The resulting problems can be considered as the Stefan’s problem of a multi-phase with no latent heat and the exact solutions called Neumann’s solution are available. In order to obtain the solutions, however, a set of highly non-linear equations in determining the phase boundaries should be solved simultaneously. This work presents a semi-analytic algorithm to determine the phase boundaries without solving the highly non-linear equations. Results show that the solutions for a set of highly non-linear equations depend strongly on the initial guess, bad initial guess leads to the wrong solutions. However, the present algorithm does not require the initial guess and always converges to the correct solutions.     

Nonuniqueness of the solution of the problem of viscous interaction on an axisymmetric body

The article discusses solutions of the equations of the hypersonic boundary layer on an axisymmetric offset slender body (with a power exponent equal to 3/4), taking account of interactions with a nonviscous flow. It is shown that, in this case, the equations of the boundary layer have solutions differing from the self-similar solution corresponding to flow around a semi-infinite body. The solutions obtained are analogous to solutions for a strong interaction on a plate with slipping and triangular vanes [1–4], but are obtained over a wide range of values of the parameter of viscous interaction. An asymptotic solution is given to the problem with the approach to zero of the interaction parameter.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 5, pp. 41–47, September–October, 1973.The authors thank V. V. Mikhailova for discussion of the work and useful advice.     

On the asymptotic spatial behaviour in the theory of mixtures of thermoelastic solids

This paper is concerned with the study of asymptotic spatial behaviour of solutions in a mixture consisting of two thermoelastic solids. A second-order differential inequality for an adequate volumetric measure and the maximum principle for solutions of the one-dimensional heat equation are used to establish a spatial decay estimate of solutions in an unbounded body occupied by the mixture. For a fixed time, the result in question proves that the mechanical and thermal effects are controlled by an exponential decay estimate in terms of the square of the distance from the support of the external given data. The decay constant depends only on the thermal constitutive coefficients of the mixture.     

Loeb solutions of the boltzmann equation

Existence problems for the Boltzmann equation constitute a main area of research within the kinetic theory of gases and transport theory. The present paper considers the spatially periodic case with L¹ initial data. The main result is that the Loeb subsolutions obtained in a preceding paper are shown to be true solutions. The proof relies on the observation that monotone entropy and finite energy imply Loeb integrability of non-standard approximate solutions, and uses estimates from the proof of the H-theorem. Two aspects of the continuity of the solutions are also considered.     

Several exact solutions of the simplified Navier-Stokes equations (SNSE)

The Simplified Navier-Stokes equations (SNSE) and their exact solutions for the flow near a rotating disk and the flow in the vicinity of a stagnation point for both two- and three-dimensional flows are presented in this paper. The analysis shows that in the aforementioned cases the exact solutions of the inner-outer-layer-matched SNSE^[4] are completely consistent with those of the complete Navier-Stokes equations (CNSE) and that the exact velocity solutions of D-SNSE^[1,3] agree with those of CNSE, however, the exact pressure solutions of D-SNSE do not agree with those of CNSE. The maximum relative pressure errors between the exact solutions of D-SNSE and CNSE can be as high as a hundred per cent.     

Incompressible Limit for the Compressible Flow of Liquid Crystals

The connection between the compressible flow of liquid crystals with low Mach number and the incompressible flow of liquid crystals is studied in a bounded domain. In particular, the convergence of weak solutions of the compressible flow of liquid crystals to the weak solutions of the incompressible flow of liquid crystals is proved when the Mach number approaches zero; that is, the incompressible limit is justified for weak solutions in a bounded domain.     

On use of the Dirac delta function in the vibration analysis of elastic structures

The Dirac delta function has often been employed to represent the amplitude of concentrated harmonic forces in the analysis of vibration of elastic structures such as beams and plates. It is known that this function, as represented by a truncated Fourier series, does not provide a true representation of a concentrated force, nevertheless, it is frequently employed and good convergence is usually, though not always, encountered in solutions thereby obtained. In this paper, the nature of the function is discussed and for illustrative purposes it is used to obtain series solutions for some selected beam and plate free vibration problems. In some cases problems are chosen for which exact solutions are already obtainable by analytical means. This permits powerful checks to be made on rates of convergence experienced when the series solutions are investigated. Rates of convergence are discussed in detail and it is explained why convergence is to be expected when analyzing certain families of problems when employing this function and a lack of convergence is to be expected in others.     

Critical concentrations of polymers in solutions according to measurements of the viscosity and specific surface area of aerogels resulting after sublimation of the solvent

Conclusion Measurement of the viscosities of polystyrene and cyclolinear polyphenylsiloxane depending on their concentrations has revealed critical concentrations of these polymers to exist corresponding to the formation of a fluctuating continuous supermolecular network in the solutions. It has been shown on the example of polystyrene solutions that changing from a good to a poor solvent has little effect on the value of the critical concentration. Calculation of the critical concentration with the use of the parameters employed in the free volume theory after the Pezzin method shows good agreement with the critical concentrations determined from the shape of the viscosity vs. concentration dependences of polystyrene solutions.A method is described for producing polymer aerogels by sublimation of the frozen solvent from polymer solutions. It is shown that to obtain aerogels with very high specific surface areas from crystallized solutions is necessary to fulfil at least two conditions: 1. to freeze them quickly; 2. to sublimate the solvent in vacuo at a sufficiently low temperature. Special attention is drawn to the fact that the effectivity of sublimation drying should be estimated by the specific surface area of the preparations obtained as a result of drying.Mesurement of the specific surface areas of aerogels obtained under appropriate conditions from polymer solutions of different concentrations shows that with a poor solvent the aerogels have specific surface areas one decimal order lower. Hence it is concluded that solutions of polymers in poor solvents should yield stronger and less permeable polymeric systems. In all the cases studied the dependence of the specific surface area of the aerogel on the concentration of the polymer in the solution has a distinct maximum which corresponds to the critical concentration determined viscometrically. This is evidence of the correspondence between the structure of the aerogels and the structure of the initial solutions, at least, at concentrations in the region of their critical and above-critical values. Sublimation of the solvent from frozen polymer solutions results in contraction of the samples, which is the most considerable at polymer concentrations below critical. This is also connected with the relatively low specific surface areas of aerogels obtained from solutions of low concentrations.