WAVE PROPAGATION IN A SYSTEM OF COAXIAL TUBES FILLED WITH INCOMPRESSIBLE MEDIA: A MODEL OF PULSE TRANSMISSION IN THE INTRACRANIAL ARTERIES

The propagation of harmonic waves through a system formed of coaxial tubes filled with incompressible continua is considered as a model of arterial pulse propagation in the craniospinal cavity. The inner tube represents a blood vessel and is modelled as a thin-walled membrane shell. The outer tube is assumed to be rigid to account for the constraint imposed on the vessels by the skull and the vertebrae. We consider two models: in the first model the annulus between the tubes is filled with fluid; in the second model the annulus is filled with a viscoelastic solid separated from the tubes by thin layers of fluid. In both models, the elastic tube is filled with fluid. The motion of the fluid is described by the linearized form of the Navier–Stokes equations, and the motion of the solid by classical elasticity theory. The results show that the wave speed in the system is lower than that for a fluid-filled elastic tube free of any constraint. This is due to the stresses generated to satisfy the condition that the volume in the system has to be conserved. However, the effect of the constraint weakens as the radius of the outer tube is increased, and it should be insignificant for the typical physiological parameter range.     

Modulus, Fracture Strength, and Brittle vs. Plastic Response of the Outer Shell of Arc-grown Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes

The fracture strengths and elastic moduli of arc-grown multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were measured by tensile loading inside of a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Eighteen tensile tests were performed on 14 MWCNTs with three of them being tested multiple times (3×, 2×, and 2×, respectively). All the MWCNTs fractured in the “sword-in-sheath” mode. The diameters of the MWCNTs were measured in a transmission electron microscope (TEM), and the outer diameter with an assumed 0.34 nm shell thickness was used to convert measured load-displacement data to stress and strain values. An unusual yielding before fracture was observed in two tensile loading experiments. The 18 outer shell fracture strength values ranged from 10 to 66 GPa, and the 18 Young's modulus values, obtained from a linear fit of the stress–strain data, ranged from 620 to 1,200 GPa, with a mean of 940 GPa. The possible influence of stress concentration at the clamps is discussed.     

Test-time extension behind reflected shock waves using CO2–He and C3H8–He driver mixtures

To study combustion chemistry at low temperatures in a shock tube, it is of great importance to increase experimental test times, and this can be done by tailoring the interface between the driver and driven gases. Using unconventional driver-gas tailoring with the assistance of tailoring curves, shock-tube test times were increased from 1 to 15 ms for reflected-shock temperatures below 1,000 K. Provided in this paper is the introduction of tailoring curves, produced from a one-dimensional perfect gas model for a wide range of driver gases and the production and demonstration of successful driver mixtures containing helium combined with either propane or carbon dioxide. The He/CO₂ and He/C₃H₈ driver mixtures provide a unique way to produce a tailored interface and, hence, longer test times, when facility modification is not an option. The tailoring curves can be used to guide future applications of this technique to other configurations. Nonreacting validation experiments using driver mixtures identified from the tailoring curves were performed over a range of reflected-shock temperatures from approximately 800 to 1,400 K, and some examples of ignition-time experiments that could not have otherwise been erformed are presented.     

A Technique for Dynamic Tensile Testing of Human Cervical Spine Ligaments

An experimental study is undertaken to examine the dynamic stress–strain characteristics of ligaments from the human cervical spine (neck). Tests were conducted using a tensile split Hopkinson bar device and the engineering strain rates imposed were of the order of 10²∼10³/s. As ligaments are extremely soft and pliable, specialized test protocols applicable to Hopkinson bar testing were developed to facilitate acquisition of reliable and accurate data. Seven primary ligaments types from the cervical spines of three male cadavers were subjected to mechanical tests. These yielded dynamic stress–strain curves which could be approximated by empirical equations. The dynamic failure stress/load, failure stain/deformation, modulus/stiffness, as well as energy absorption capacity, were obtained for the various ligaments and classified according to their location, the strain rate imposed and the cadaveric source. Compared with static responses, the overall average dynamic stress–strain behavior foreach type of ligament exhibited an elevation in strength but reduced elongation.     

An analytical model for the determination of stability boundaries in a natural circulation single-phase thermosyphon loop

In this paper, an extension of previous analyses of natural circulation in a simple single-phase loop is presented. Assuming more general correlations for the friction factor and the heat transfer coefficient, an analytical model describing the system is obtained and a parametric representation of its dynamic behaviour is achieved. On this basis, stability maps can be drawn. A preliminary validation of the analytical model has been carried out by using an independent program developed for the analysis of stability in natural circulation loops. The aim of the present work is to provide a simple analytical tool devoted to the stability analysis of a reference single-phase loop. This model can be applied in a relatively wide range of conditions and regimes to provide benchmark solutions for thermal-hydraulic codes and related nodalisations.     

Thermal analysis of the roll in the strip casting process

Coiled strip can be directly produced through the twin-roll strip casting process from the melt by incorporating casting and hot rolling together into a single step. In this unique process, the strip formation from the molten metal critically relies upon the casting rolls. Thus, the design of the rolls is extremely essential. The coupled heat transfer and deformation analysis of the casting roll is carried out in a two-dimensional numerical model, using a finite element program (MARC) to examine the thermal stress and displacement. The effects of several factors such as the nickel overlay thickness on the roll surface, the casting speed, and the roll diameter on thermal characteristics are investigated.     

Entlastungsvorgänge in der durch eine kreisringförmige Wärmequelle plastisch deformierten Scheibe

Übersicht Es wird die instationäre Spannungsverteilung zufolge einer kreisringförmigen Wärmequelle in der elastisch-idealplastischen Scheibe untersucht. Diese stellt ein Modell der rotierenden Anode einer Röntgenröhre dar. Als Kriterium für das Auftreten von plastischem Fließen dient die Trescasche Fließbedingung. Während der Erhitzung bildet sich in der Umgebung der Wärmequelle in plastischer Bereich. Dieser wird nach dem Abschalten von einer entlasteten Zone aufgezehrt.

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Elastic unloading of a disk after plastic deformation by a circular heat source

Summary Subject of the investigation is the transient stress distribution in an elastic-plastic disk acted upon by a circular heat source. The disk serves as a mechanical model of the rotating anode of an x-ray-tube. The calculation is based on Tresca's yield criterion and the flow rule associated to it. During heating, a plastic region spreads around the source, which is absorbed by an unloaded zone after the removal of the source.

     

A pulsed light generator for high speed photography

A pulsed light generator for stroboscopic photography which makes use of LED's has been developed. The maximum light power which may be extracted from a single LED is approximately 1 Watt. The pulse repetition rate ranges up to 1 MHz and the length of the pulses is adjustable between 0.05 and 1 s. The light emitted from the diodes is especially suited for the observation of phase objects by interferometric methods due to its pronounced coherence. Results of the electrical and optical performance of the generator are presented.     

Telecentric lenses for imaging in particle image velocimetry: a new stereoscopic approach

A new stereoscopic approach based on telecentric lenses is introduced. The method offers in-focus imaging at high viewing angles (highly tilted object planes) with diminishing systematic image distortion. In single-view particle image velocimetry (PIV) applications telecentric lenses can be used to eliminate projection errors. Normal and oblique viewing are tested using a commercial telecentric lens with particle image velocimetry.     

On Sanders' energy-release rate integral and conservation laws in finite elastostatics

Sanders showed in 1960, within the framework of two-dimensional elasticity, that in any body a certain integral I around a closed curve containing a crack is path-independent. I is equal to the rate of release of potential energy of the body with respect to crack length. Here we first derive, in a simple way, Sanders' integral I for a loaded elastic body undergoing finite deformations and containing an arbitrary void. The strain energy density need not be homogeneous nor isotropic and there may be body forces. In the absence of body forces, for flat continua, and for special forms of the strain energy density, it is shown that I reduces to the well-known vector and scalar path-independent integrals often denoted by J, L, and M.