On the orders of the best approximations of integrals of functions by integrals of rank <Emphasis Type="Italic">σ</Emphasis>

We study the values e _σ(f) of the best approximation of integrals of functions from the spaces L _p (A, dμ) by integrals of rank σ. We determine the orders of the least upper bounds of these values as σ → ∞ in the case where the function ? is the product of two nonnegative functions one of which is fixed and the other varies on the unit ball U _p (A) of the space L _p (A, dμ). We consider applications of the obtained results to approximation problems in the spaces S _p ^? .     

Elastic properties of Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–NiAl: a modified version of Hashin–Shtrikman bounds

The modified nonlinear relations for the estimation of elastic constants of Al₂O₃–NiAl composite material are developed. The concept of microstructure and interconnectivity of phases at the interface is used. Hashin–Shtrikman relations are described in their actual form and modified version of Hashin–Shtrikman relations for bulk and shear moduli are discussed. These relations for elastic and mechanical properties are applied mainly for Al₂O₃–NiAl composite material. Theoretical predictions using modified relations are compared with Hashin–Shtrikman bounds and experimental results of elastic properties for Al₂O₃–NiAl matrix-inclusion-based composite. It is found that the predicted values of elastic and mechanical properties using modified relations are quite close to the experimental results.     

Application of X-ray CT investigation of CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–brine flow in porous media

A clear understanding of two-phase flows in porous media is important for investigating CO₂ geological storage. In this study, we conducted an experiment of CO₂/brine flow process in porous media under sequestration conditions using X-ray CT technique. The flow properties of relative permeability, porosity heterogeneity, and CO₂ saturation were observed in this experiment. The porous media was packed with glass beads having a diameter of 0.2 mm. The porosity distribution along the flow direction is heterogeneous owing to the diameter and shape of glass beads along the flow direction. There is a relationship between CO₂ saturation and porosity distribution, which changes with different flow rates and fractional flows. The heterogeneity of the porous media influences the distribution of CO₂; moreover, gravity, fractional flows, and flow rates influence CO₂ distribution and saturation. The relative permeability curve was constructed using the steady-state method. The results agreed well with the relative permeability curve simulated using pore-network model.     

Topological classification of affine mappings from ℝ<Superscript>2</Superscript> into ℝ<Superscript>2</Superscript>

We investigate affine mappings from ℝ² into ℝ² and establish necessary and sufficient conditions for the topological conjugacy of these mappings. Translated from Neliniini Kolyvannya, Vol. 11, No. 4, pp. 472–480, October–December, 2008.     

Global stability of a virus dynamics model with Beddington–DeAngelis incidence rate and CTL immune response

In this paper, the global stability of virus dynamics model with Beddington–DeAngelis infection rate and CTL immune response is studied by constructing Lyapunov functions. We derive the basic reproduction number R ₀ and the immune response reproduction number R ⁰ for the virus infection model, and establish that the global dynamics are completely determined by the values of R ₀. We obtain the global stabilities of the disease-free equilibrium E ₀, immune-free equilibrium E ₁ and endemic equilibrium E ^∗ when R ₀≤1, R ₀>1, R ⁰>1, respectively.     

Analytical and numerical solutions of the problem of gravity-induced mixing of a light layer using the <Emphasis Type="Italic">k</Emphasis>–<Emphasis Type="Italic">ε</Emphasis> turbulence model

An analytical solution for the self-similar stage in the problem of gravity-induced turbulent mixing in a light (heavy) layer is obtained on the basis of the k–ε model equations. The solution obtained is compared with the results of a numerical investigation of the problem using both three-dimensional direct numerical simulation and the k–ε model. The calculations were performed using the two- and three-dimensional versions of the EGAK method. The results of all the calculations and the available experimental data are in reasonable agreement.     

The Singular Set of <Emphasis Type="Italic">ω</Emphasis>-minima

We consider ω-minima of convex variational integrals in the vectorial case n,N≥2, and we provide estimates for the Hausdorff dimension of their singular sets.     

Development of an Analytical <Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-Function PDF Integration Algorithm for Simulation of Non-premixed Turbulent Combustion

Among many presumed-shape pdf approaches for modeling non-premixed turbulent combustion, the presumed β-function pdf is widely used in the literature. However, numerical integration of the β-function pdf may encounter singularity difficulties at mixture fraction values of Z = 0 or 1. To date, this issue has been addressed by few publications. The present study proposes the Piecewise Integration Method (PIM), an efficient, robust and accurate algorithm to overcome these numerical difficulties with the added benefit of improving computational efficiency. Comparison of this method to the existing numerical integration methods shows that the PIM exhibits better accuracy and greatly increases computational efficiency. The PIM treatment of the β-function pdf integration is first applied to the Burke–Schumann solution in conjunction with the k − ε turbulence model to simulate a CH₄/H₂ bluff-body turbulent flame. The proposed new method is then applied to the same flow using a more complex combustion model, the laminar flamelet model. Numerical predictions obtained by using the proposed β-function pdf integration method are compared to experimental values of the velocity field, temperature and species mass fractions to illustrate the efficiency and accuracy of the present method.     

A Global Foliation of Einstein–Euler Spacetimes with Gowdy-Symmetry on <Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis><Superscript>3</Superscript>

We investigate the initial value problem for the Einstein–Euler equations of general relativity under the assumption of Gowdy symmetry on T ³, and we construct matter spacetimes with low regularity. These spacetimes admit both impulsive gravitational waves in the metric (for instance, Dirac mass curvature singularities propagating at light speed) and shock waves in the fluid (that is, discontinuities propagating at about the sound speed). Given an initial data set, we establish the existence of a future development, and we provide a global foliation in terms of a globally and geometrically defined time-function, closely related to the area of the orbits of the symmetry group. The main difficulty lies in the low regularity assumed on the initial data set which requires a distributional formulation of the Einstein–Euler equations.     

Two-Scale <Emphasis Type="Italic">Γ</Emphasis>-Convergence of Integral Functionals and its Application to Homogenisation of Nonlinear High-Contrast Periodic Composites

An analytical framework is developed for passing to the homogenisation limit in (not necessarily convex) variational problems for composites whose material properties oscillate with a small period ε and that exhibit high contrast of order \({\varepsilon^{-1}}\) between the constitutive, “stress-strain”, response on different parts of the period cell. The approach of this article is based on the concept of “two-scale Γ-convergence”, which is a kind of “hybrid” of the classical Γ-convergence (De Giorgi and Franzoni in Atti Accad Naz Lincei Rend Cl Sci Fis Mat Natur (8)58:842–850, 1975) and the more recent two-scale convergence (Nguetseng in SIAM J Math Anal 20:608–623, 1989). The present study focuses on a basic high-contrast model, where “soft” inclusions are embedded in a “stiff” matrix. It is shown that the standard Γ-convergence in the L ^p -space fails to yield the correct limit problem as \({\varepsilon \to 0,}\) due to the underlying lack of L ^p -compactness for minimising sequences. Using an appropriate two-scale compactness statement as an alternative starting point, the two-scale Γ-limit of the original family of functionals is determined via a combination of techniques from classical homogenisation, the theory of quasiconvex functions and multiscale analysis. The related result can be thought of as a “non-classical” two-scale extension of the well-known theorem by Müller (Arch Rational Mech Anal 99:189–212, 1987).     

Quantitative evaluation of PIV peak locking through a multiple Δ<Emphasis Type="Italic">t</Emphasis> strategy: relevance of the rms component

The possibility of using different times between laser pulses (Δt) in a PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry) measurement of the same real flow field for error assessment has already been proposed by the authors in a recent paper Nogueira et al. (Meas Sci Technol 20, 2009). It is a simple procedure that is available with the usual PIV setup. In that work, peak locking was considered basically as a bias error. Later measurements indicated that, using appropriate processing algorithms, this error is not the main peak-locking effect. Scenarios with the rms (root mean square) error due to peak locking as the most relevant contribution are more common than initially expected and require a differentiated approach. This issue is relevant due to the impact of the rms error in the evaluation of flow quantities like turbulent kinetic energy. The first part of this work is centred on showing that peak-locking error in PIV is not always a measurement bias towards the closest pixel integer displacement. Insight in the subject indicates that this is the case only for algorithm-induced peak locking. The peak locking coming out of image acquisition limitations (i.e. resolution) is not ‘a priory’ biased. It is a random error with a peculiar probability density function. Discussion on the subject is offered, and a particular approach to use a simple multiple Δt strategy to asses this error is proposed. The results reveal that in real images where amplitude of the peak-locking bias error is assessed to be as small as 0.02 pixels, rms errors can be in the order of 0.1 pixels. As PIV approaches maturity, providing a quantitative confidence interval by estimating measurement error seems essential. The method developed is robust enough to quantify these values in the presence of turbulence with rms up to ~0.6 pixels. This proposal constitutes a relevant step forward from the traditional histogram-based considerations that only reveal whether strong peak-locking error is present or not, without any information on its magnitude or whether its origin is bias or rms.     

Young’s modulus defect for the solid solution of hydrogen in palladium (PdH<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>)

We use the internal friction method in the free vibration mode to study the temperature dependence of the spectra of dissipative losses and shear modulus in the Pd polycrystalline system, the PdH _x penetration solid solution, and in the dehydrogenized Pd system. Studying the spectra and shear moduli, we discovered that the hydrogen desorption from the α- and β-phases of the PdH _x system occurs completely after the first cycle of heating of this system. The temperature dependences of the shear modulus of the original and dehydrogenized systems coincide. The existence of dissipative processes in the solid solution is related to the mobility of hydrogen atoms in the face-centered cubic lattice of the Pd structure and provokes the appearance of peaks of losses on the modulus defect spectrum in the temperature region. We consider the possibility of describing the modulus defect in the framework of phenomenological models of elasticity. Dissolution of hydrogen atoms in a metal structure results in changes in the physical-mechanical characteristics of the obtained solid solutions compared with the original dehydrogenized metals.     

Adaptive <Emphasis Type="Italic">Q</Emphasis>–<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis> synchronization of non-identical chaotic systems with unknown parameters

This work investigates the adaptive Q–S synchronization of non-identical chaotic systems with unknown parameters. The sufficient conditions for achieving Q–S synchronization of two different chaotic systems (including different dimensional systems) are derived, based on Lyapunov stability theory. By the adaptive control technique, the control laws and the corresponding parameter update laws are proposed such that the non-identical chaotic systems are to have Q–S synchronization. Finally, four illustrative numerical simulations are also given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.     

Linear <Emphasis Type="Italic">Γ</Emphasis>-limits of multiwell energies in nonlinear elasticity theory

We derive linearized theories from nonlinear elasticity theory for multiwell energies. Under natural assumptions on the nonlinear stored energy densities, the properly rescaled nonlinear energy functionals are shown to Γ-converge to the relaxation of a corresponding linearized model. Minimizing sequences of problems with displacement boundary conditions and body forces are investigated and found to correspond to minimizing sequences of the linearized problems. As applications of our results we discuss the validity and failure of a formula that is widely used to model multiwell energies in the regime of linear elasticity. Applying our convergence results to the special case of single well densities, we also obtain a new strong convergence result for the sequence of minimizers of the nonlinear problem.      

Synchronization of unified chaotic system by sliding mode/mixed <Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis><Subscript>2</Subscript>/<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis><Subscript>∞</Subscript> control

This paper deals with the synchronization of uncertain unified chaotic system in the presence of two kinds of disturbances, white noise and bounded power signal. A sliding mode controller (SMC) is established to guarantee the sliding motion. Moreover, a proportional-integral (PI) switching surface is used to determine the performance of the system in the sliding motion. Also, by using a mixed H ₂/H _∞ approach, the effect of external disturbances on the sliding motion is reduced. The necessary parameters of constructing controller and switching surface are found via semidefinite programming (SDP) which can be solved effectively by a standard software. Finally, a numerical simulation is presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Fractional-order Euler–Lagrange equations and formulation of Hamiltonian equations

This paper presents the fractional order Euler–Lagrange equations and the transversality conditions for fractional variational problems with fractional integral and fractional derivatives defined in the sense of Caputo and Riemann–Liouville. A fractional Hamiltonian formulation was developed and some illustrative examples were treated in detail.

     

On the convergence of successive Galerkin approximation for nonlinear output feedback <Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis><Subscript>∞</Subscript> control

Although the formulation of the nonlinear theory of H _∞ control has been well developed, solving the Hamilton–Jacobi–Isaacs equation remains a challenge and is the major bottleneck for practical application of the theory. Several numerical methods have been proposed for its solution. In this paper, results on convergence and stability for a successive Galerkin approximation approach for nonlinear H _∞ control via output feedback are presented. An example is presented illustrating the application of the algorithm.     

Impact of <Emphasis Type="Italic">θ</Emphasis>-burst stimulation on memory mechanism: modeling study

The information stored in working memory can be transformed into the system of long-term memory due to the long-term potential (LTP) mechanism. The θ-burst stimulation (TBS) can be used as an LTP induction protocol in some experiments, but it has not been used in the models related to memory. In this work, an improved Camperi-Wang (C-W) model with the Ca²⁺ subsystem-induced bistability is adopted, and the TBS is simulated to be the initial stimuli of this model. With the evolution of the effects of the stimuli properties such as the cycle, the amplitude, and the duty ration on the memory mechanism of this model, the TBS can be adopted to activate working memory models and produce long-term memory. The study helps to propose the relationship between working memory and long-term memory, which lays a theoretical basis for the study of the neural mechanism of long-term memory.     

DNS Scrutiny of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">ζ</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis> Elliptic-Relaxation Eddy-Viscosity Model in Channel Flows with a Moving Wall

In this paper we present a Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) of channel flow with stationary and moving walls. Three cases, Poiseuille-type with U_W/U_b = 0.75, intermediate-type with U_W/U_b = 1.215, and Couette-type with U_W/U_b = 1.5 (U_W and U_b are the wall and the bulk velocity), were compared with the pure Poiseuille U_W/U_b = 0, at a bulk Reynolds number equal to 4,800 corresponding to Re _\uptau = 288_{\uptau} =288. The DNS results were used to scrutinize the capabilities of ζ-f eddy viscosity model (based on the elliptic relaxation concept) in reproducing the near-wall turbulence in non conventional flows where the shear stress structures are strongly different with respect to the cases used for models calibration. The ζ-f model (also in its basic formulation) demonstrated to have good prospects to reproduce the main phenomenology of such class of flows due to its built-in capabilities to account separately for the different (and opposite) near wall effects on turbulence: the damping due to viscosity and pressure reflection. The results of the computations demonstrated that standard ζ-f model can reasonably reproduce the phenomenology of these flows in terms of velocity and turbulent kinetic energy profiles and budgets.     

Experimental study of flow structures in a large range downstream the spacer grid in a 5 × 5 rod bundle using TR-PIV

In this paper, the time-resolved particle image velocimetry (TR-PIV) and match index refractive (MIR) techniques were used to study the flow field in a large range (0 – 22 D_h) downstream a spacer grid (SG) in a 5 × 5 rod bundle channel at different Reynolds number. The sodium chloride solution (1%) is used as the working fluid to reduce the refractive index error of fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) and water. The proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) background removal technique was used to minimize the FEP reflection. These methods greatly reduced the interference of background noise and improved the accuracy of cross-correlation calculation. For TR-PIV velocity fields downstream of the mixing vanes, time-averaged, statistical, spectral, and cross-correlation analysis were performed for the instantaneous full-field experimental data. The transport characteristics of coherent structures in different subchannels of rod bundles are calculated and discussed. The results show that the SG caused a relatively large transverse velocity and reduces the axial velocity. With the increase of the Reynolds number, the SG promotes the generation of transverse flow and has a great resistance to the axial flow. There is relatively large turbulence intensity downstream of the SG due to the mixing effect. The attenuation of transverse turbulence intensity component is slower than the axial component. Moreover, spectrum analysis shows that cross-arranged mixing vanes will generate periodic vortices but single mixing vane will not. These periodic vortices gradually propagate downstream along the inner subchannel and dissipate in the gap subchannel due to the effect of viscosity. The cross-correlation analysis shows that the mixing effect of the SG will reduce the scale of the coherent structure, and increase the convection velocity. The results of current research are helpful for understanding the strong anisotropic turbulence in the rod bundle channel with SG. Finally, the experimental results can be utilized to benchmark the applicability of turbulence models under different Reynolds number and the performance of partially averaged Naiver–Stokes or multiple RANS algorithms downstream of the SG.