Kinematic Simulation of Fully Developed Turbulent Channel Flow

We detail a new method of generating kinematic simulation fields in a channel. We employ a new decomposition for kinematic simulation which ensures that the boundary conditions are automatically satisfied while preserving incompressibility. We impose statistics up to second order, including the Reynolds shear-stress and one-dimensional spectral densities. We observe streak-like structures kinematically similar to those observed in the laboratory, with a similar scaling with the wall-normal distance. We explain the appearance and scaling of the streak-like structures in terms of the two-dimensional spectra imposed on the fields.     

Fuzzy integral sliding mode controller design for boost converters

We consider the problem of designing an integral sliding mode controller for a nonlinear boost DC–DC converter based on the Takagi–Sugeno (T–S) fuzzy approach. We give an accurate T-S fuzzy model of a boost converter. We derive an existence condition of a sliding surface in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). We give a parameterization of the sliding surface using the solution matrices of the LMI existence condition. We also give a switching feedback control strategy to guarantee the reachability condition. We show that the proposed method can robustly regulate the output voltage under bounded model uncertainties. Finally, we give some simulation and experimental results to show the practicality and feasibility of the proposed method.     

A variational approach to the fracture of brittle thin films subject to out-of-plane loading

We address the problem of fracture in homogenous linear elastic thin films using a variational model. We restrict our attention to quasi-static problems assuming that kinetic effects are minimal. We focus on out-of-plane displacement of the film and investigate the effect of bending on fracture. Our analysis is based on a two-dimensional model where the thickness of the film does not need to be resolved. We derive this model through a formal asymptotic analysis. We present numerical simulations in a highly idealized setting for the purpose of verification, as well as more realistic micro-indentation experiments.     

Boundary element method for long-time water wave propagation over rapidly varying bottom topography

We study numerically the linear water wave equations for shallow channels with rapidly varying bottom topography. We do not use the shallow water approximation because it is not valid when the bottom is rapidly varying. We use the boundary element method because it allows accurate tracking of the surface waves for long times. We present the results of a range of numerical validation experiments and a comparison between propagation over a periodic and a random rough bottom topography.     

Mel’nikov Methods and Homoclinic Orbits in Discontinuous Systems

We consider a discontinuous system exhibiting a, possibly non-smooth, homoclinic trajectory. We assume that the critical point lies on the discontinuity level. We study the persistence of such a trajectory when the system is subject to a smooth non-autonomous perturbation. We use a Mel’nikov type approach and we introduce conditions which enable us to reformulate the problem in the setting of smooth systems so that we can follow the outline of the classical theory.     

Gent models for the inflation of spherical balloons

We revisit an iconic deformation of non-linear elasticity: the inflation of a rubber spherical thin shell. We use the 3-parameter Mooney and Gent-Gent (GG) phenomenological models to explain the stretch–strain curve of a typical inflation, as these two models cover a wide spectrum of known models for rubber, including the Varga, Mooney–Rivlin, one-term Ogden, Gent-Thomas and Gent models. We find that the basic physics of inflation exclude the Varga, one-term Ogden and Gent-Thomas models. We find the link between the exact solution of non-linear elasticity and the membrane and Young–Laplace theories often used a priori in the literature. We compare the performance of both models on fitting the data for experiments on rubber balloons and animal bladder. We conclude that the GG model is the most accurate and versatile model on offer for the modelling of rubber balloon inflation.     

Investigation of Forced Oscillations in Circular Cylindrical Vessels Separated by Diametrical Barriers

We consider nonlinear oscillations of an ideal incompressible liquid in a partially filled vertical semicircular cylindrical tank. We construct approximate periodic solutions for a four-mode system that describes nonlinear oscillations in a semicircular cylindrical tank under the action of a perturbation force in the plane of the barrier. We construct and investigate the domains of stability and instability for the physical processes considered. We perform a numerical realization of the method and analyze the hydrodynamic interaction of the liquid with the tank. The problem considered is of interest for the investigation of nonlinear processes in a liquid in the case of tanks with diametrical barriers.     

The effects of Knudsen-dependent flow velocity on vibrations of a nano-pipe conveying fluid

In this paper, we investigate the effect of nano-flow on vibration of nano-pipe conveying fluid using Knudsen (Kn). We use Euler–Bernoulli plug-flow beam theory. We modify no-slip condition of nano-pipe conveying fluid based on Kn. We define a Kn-dependent flow velocity. We consider effect of slip condition, for a liquid and a gas flow. We reformulate Navier–Stokes equations, with modified versions of Kn-dependent flow velocity. We observe that for passage of gas through nano-pipe with nonzero Kn, the critical flow velocities decreased considerably as opposed to those for zero Kn. This can show that ignoring Kn effect on a gas nano-flow may cause non-conservative design of nano-devices. Furthermore, a more impressive phenomenon happens in the case of clamped-pinned pipe conveying gas fluid. While we do not observe any coupled-mode flutter for a zero Kn, we can see the coupled-mode flutter, accompanying the second-mode divergence, for a nonzero Kn.     

An Incompressible Fluid in a Weakly Deformable Shell. Part I: Analysis of the Model

We consider the flow of a viscous incompressible fluid in a pipe when the boundary is a deformable shell of Naghdi type. We prove that the corresponding system of partial differential equations has a solution when the deformation of the shell is smooth and small enough. We propose an algorithm that uncouples the unknowns and prove its convergence.     

Landau Damping in Sobolev Spaces for the Vlasov-HMF Model

We consider the Vlasov-HMF (Hamiltonian Mean-Field) model. We consider solutions starting in a small Sobolev neighborhood of a spatially homogeneous state satisfying a linearized stability criterion (Penrose criterion). We prove that these solutions exhibit a scattering behavior to a modified state, which implies a nonlinear Landau damping effect with polynomial rate of damping.     

Non-linear convection due to compositional and thermal buoyancy in Earth's outer core

The linear stability of convection due to compositional and thermal buoyancy in Earth's outer core has been investigated. We have obtained the values of Takens-Bogdanov bifurcation points by plotting graphs of neutral curves corresponding to stationary and oscillatory convection for different values of physical parameters. We have derived a non-linear two-dimensional Landau-Ginzburg equation with real coefficients near the onset of stationary convection at a supercritical pitchfork bifurcation and two non-linear one-dimensional coupled Landau-Ginzburg type equations with complex coefficients near the onset of oscillatory convection at a supercritical Hopf bifurcation. We have studied Nusselt number contribution from a Landau-Ginzburg equation at the onset of stationary convection. We have discussed the stability regions of standing and travelling waves. We have also discussed the occurrence of secondary instabilities such as Eckhaus, zigzag and Benjamin-Feir instabilities. We have also derived the non-linear amplitude equation near the Takens-Bogdanov bifurcation point.     

Nonlinear vibrations and dynamic stability of a viscoelastic circular cylindrical shell with shear strain and inertia of rotation taken into account

We consider nonlinear vibration and dynamic stability problems for a viscoelastic circular cylindrical shell according to the refined Timoshenko theory, which takes into account the shear strain and the inertia of rotation, in a geometrically nonlinear setting. The problem data are reduced to systems of nonlinear integro-differential equations with singular relaxation kernels, which can be solved by the Bubnov-Galerkin method combined with a numerical method based on quadrature formulas. We study the numerical convergence of the Bubnov-Galerkin method. We analyze the shell dynamic behavior in a wide range of physical-mechanical and geometric parameters. We demonstrate the influence of the viscoelastic properties of the material on the nonlinear vibrations and dynamic stability of a circular cylindrical shell. We also compare the results obtained according to different theories.     

Modeling of droplet collisions using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics

We present an approach to model collisions of different droplets using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH). We consider bouncing and coalescence of two droplets. We only discretize the droplets neglecting the gaseous phase and consider a free surface at the boundaries. We use a modified continuum surface force model for the surface tension at a free surface. The transition between bouncing and coalescence is modeled using a critical Weber number and calculating the loss of kinetic energy during the collision to determine the point of coalescence. We demonstrate numerical convergence and analyze the error of the method for the transition of bouncing and coalescence. We show that the proposed approach is applicable to weakly-compressible SPH and incompressible SPH and compare binary collisions of Newtonian droplets with experimental results from the literature. Finally we apply the model to non-Newtonian droplets that show shear-thinning and shear-thickening behavior and discuss the differences to Newtonian droplets.     

A Geometrical Approach to Nonconservative Shocks and Elastoplastic Shocks

We study systems of conservation laws with convex inequality constraints. We analyze shock solutions for the underlying nonconservative system of partial differential equations. Then we study a model elastoplastic system of partial differential equations in the context of hypoelasticity. We show that a sonic point is necessary to construct a compression solution that begins at a constrained compressed state.     

Classification of the Spatial Equilibria of the Clamped Elastica: Symmetries and Zoology of Solutions

We investigate the configurations of twisted elastic rods under applied end loads and clamped boundary conditions. We classify all the possible equilibrium states of inextensible, unshearable, isotropic, uniform and naturally straight and prismatic rods. We show that all solutions of the clamped boundary value problem exhibit a π-flip symmetry. The Kirchhoff equations which describe the equilibria of these rods are integrated in a formal way which enable us to describe the boundary conditions in terms of 2 closed form equations involving 4 free parameters. We show that the flip symmetry property is equivalent to a reversibility property of the solutions of the Kirchhoff differential equations. We sort these solutions according to their period in the phase plane. We show how planar untwisted configurations as well as circularly closed configurations play an important role in the classification. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Energy Dissipation and Regularity for a Coupled Navier–Stokes and Q-Tensor System

We study a complex non-Newtonian fluid that models the flowof nematic liquid crystals. The fluid is described by a system that couples a forced Navier–Stokes system with a parabolic-type system. We prove the existence of global weak solutions in dimensions two and three.We show the existence of a Lyapunov functional for the smooth solutions of the coupled system and use cancellations that allow its existence to prove higher global regularity in dimension two. We also show the weak–strong uniqueness in dimension two.     

Comparison of different theoretical approaches to experiments on film flow down an inclined wavy channel

We study the flow of a liquid down an inclined channel with a sinusoidal bottom profile. We show how wavy bottom variations, which are long compared with the film thickness or the amplitude, modify the flow with respect to that down a flat inclined channel. We consider different perturbation analyses. Their results are compared with experimental data on the velocity profiles and on the film thickness. We discuss the effect of waviness, inclination angle, film thickness, and Reynolds number.     

Analysis of Nitrogen and Steam Injection in a Porous Medium with Water

We formulate conservation laws governing steam and nitrogen injection in a one-dimensional porous medium containing water. Compressibility, heat conductivity and capillarity are neglected. We study the condensation front and shock waves arising in the flow. We find that there are four possible types of solutions for the initial and boundary conditions of interest. We describe a simple construction in the temperature saturation plane that determines the complete solution for the given conditions. Applications of the theory developed here are in clean up of soil contaminated with nonaqueous phase liquids. We show that a substantial cold gaseous zone develops in all solutions of practical interest, thus counteracting downward migration of the pollutant.     

Implicit symmetrized streamfunction formulations of magnetohydrodynamics

We apply the finite element method to the classic tilt instability problem of two‐dimensional, incompressible magnetohydrodynamics, using a streamfunction approach to enforce the divergence‐free conditions on the magnetic and velocity fields. We compare two formulations of the governing equations, the standard one based on streamfunctions and a hybrid formulation with velocities and magnetic field components. We use a finite element discretization on unstructured meshes and an implicit time discretization scheme. We use the PETSc library with index sets for parallelization. To solve the nonlinear problems on each time step, we compare two nonlinear Gauss‐Seidel‐type methods and Newton's method with several time‐step sizes. We use GMRES in PETSc with multigrid preconditioning to solve the linear subproblems within the nonlinear solvers. We also study the scalability of this simulation on a cluster. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.