A Lorentz force flow meter for application at blast furnaces: design and calibration

A reference Lorentz force flow meter (LFF) has been developed to measure molten steel mass flow at the end of the runner of an experimental blast furnace. It works according to the principles of Lorentz force velocimetry [1] in which a static magnetic field interacts with a liquid metal stream. The magnetic field lines are generated by an arrangement of permanent magnets and penetrate the entire cross-section of the flow generating eddy currents and a total Lorentz force inside the melt. This force is proportional to the mass flow of the liquid metal and owing Newton's third law, there is a counter force of the same magnitude acting on the magnet system which is connected to a load cell. For accurate flow rate measurements, a “dry and wet calibration” of the LFF needs to be performed [2]. (© 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Model Predictive Control of two-phase flow using a diffuse interface approach

We propose a feedback control strategy for the stabilization of two-phase flow with variable densities, where we use an inexact variant of Model Predictive Control, called Instantaneous Control. The physical system is governed by the Cahn–Hilliard Navier–Stokes system with different densities proposed in [1]. (© 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Failure in anisotropic nonwoven materials at finite deformation

The current work proposes a finite deformation strong discontinuity approach based modeling of failure in anisotropic materials with reorientation based micromechanical network model for the bulk response. These materials consist of randomly cross-linked one dimensional filaments at their microstructure which undergo non-affine deformation as well as reorientation upon loading before undergoing complete failure. The computationally efficient strong discontinuity approach allows to capture the failure kinematics by introducing a local problem where a strong discontinuity exists, thereby leading to an enhanced deformation gradient. A precise evaluation of the bulk response is done by homogenizing the physical microscopic response of constituent filaments where reorientation is introduced with an initial straightening effect of fiber undulations. (© 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Phase field modeling of complex crack patterns in multi-physics problems

Recently developed continuum phase field models for brittle fracture show excellent modeling capability in situations with complex crack topologies including branching in the small and large strain applications. This work presents a generalization towards fully coupled multi-physics problems at large strains. A modular concept is outlined for the linking of the diffusive crack modeling with complex multi field material response, where the focus is put on the model problem of finite thermo-elasticity. This concerns a generalization of crack driving forces from the energetic definitions towards stress-based criteria, the constitutive modeling of degradation of non-mechanical fluxes on generated crack faces. Particular assumptions are made on the generation of convective heat exchanges approximating surface load integrals of the sharp crack approach by distinct volume integrals. The coupling effect is also shown in generation of cracks due to thermally induced stress states. We finally demonstrate the performance of the phase field formulation of fracture at large strains by means of representative numerical examples. (© 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Finite-element heterogeneous multiscale method for the Helmholtz equation

We show that the standard Finite Element Heterogeneous Multiscale Method (FE-HMM) can be used to approximate the effective behavior of solutions to the classical Helmholtz equation in highly oscillatory media. Using a novel combination of well-known results about FE-HMM and the notion of T-coercivity, we derive an a priori error bound. Numerical experiments corroborate the analytical findings.     

Rethinking the role of algorithms in school mathematics: a conceptual model with focus on cognitive development

Starting from the context of mathematics learning in the East and West, this paper discusses the position and role of algorithms within school mathematics and argues that learning of algorithms has suffered from an alleged dichotomy between procedures and understanding, in that algorithms have been associated with low-level cognition. The paper first introduces a broad perspective about algorithms in school mathematics, and then, partially drawing on Bloom’s taxonomy and Säljö’s categorization of learning, proposes a model for the learning of algorithms with focus on students’ cognitive development. The model consists of three cognitive levels: (1) Knowledge and Skills, (2) Understanding and Comprehension, and (3) Evaluation and Construction. The model suggests that the learning of algorithms does not simply imply a low level of cognition, and provides a new perspective and framework to analyse the learning of algorithms. Following the model, we present examples to demonstrate the three levels and discuss related teaching strategies. We propose that the model can be used as an analysis tool to reconceptualize the role of algorithms in school mathematics and pose some questions for further research and scholarly discourse in this direction.     

Complex classical fields: An example

We study complex, classical, scalar fields within a new framework introduced in a previous work. We replace the usual functional integral by a complex functional arising from a boosted Hamiltonian. We generalize the Feynman–Kac relation to this setting, and use it to establish the spectral condition on a cylinder. We consider also positive-temperature states.     

The Generalized Lognormal Distribution and the Stieltjes Moment Problem

This paper studies a Stieltjes-type moment problem defined by the generalized lognormal distribution, a heavy-tailed distribution with applications in economics, finance, and related fields. It arises as the distribution of the exponential of a random variable following a generalized error distribution, and hence figures prominently in the exponential general autoregressive conditional heteroskedastic (EGARCH) model of asset price volatility. Compared to the classical lognormal distribution it has an additional shape parameter. It emerges that moment (in)determinacy depends on the value of this parameter: for some values, the distribution does not have finite moments of all orders, hence the moment problem is not of interest in these cases. For other values, the distribution has moments of all orders, yet it is moment-indeterminate. Finally, a limiting case is supported on a bounded interval, and hence determined by its moments. For those generalized lognormal distributions that are moment-indeterminate, Stieltjes classes of moment-equivalent distributions are presented.     

On heterogeneous latent class models with applications to the analysis of rating scores

Discovering the preferences and the behaviour of consumers is a key challenge in marketing. Information about such topics can be gathered through surveys in which the respondents must assign a score to a number of items. A strategy based on different latent class models can be used to analyze such data and achieve this objective: it consists in identifying groups of consumers whose response patterns are similar and characterizing them in terms of preferences and covariates. The basic latent class model can be extended by including covariates to model differences in (1) latent class probabilities and (2) conditional probabilities. A strategy for fitting and choosing a suitable model among them is proposed taking into account identifiability issues, the identification of potential covariates and the checking of goodness-of-fit. The tools to perform this analysis are implemented in the R package covLCA available from CRAN. We illustrate and explain the application of this strategy using data about the preferences of Belgian households for supermarkets.