Experimental measurements and computational modeling of the flow field in an idealized human oropharynx

The velocity field in the central sagittal plane of an idealized representation of the human oropharynx (HOP) during steady inspiration, simulating oral inhalation through an inhaler mouthpiece, was measured experimentally using endoscopic particle image velocimetry (PIV). Measurements were made at three flow rates: 15, 30, and 90 L/min, which correspond to a wide range of physiological conditions. Extensive tests were performed to verify the veracity of the PIV data. The flow was also modeled computationally using Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods. The PIV data clearly indicate the complex nature of HOP flow, with three-dimensionality and several regions of separation and recirculation evident. Comparison of the experimental and computational results shows that, although the RANS CFD reproduces the basic features of the flow, it does not adequately capture the increased viscous effects at lower Reynolds numbers. The results demonstrate the need for more development and validation of CFD modeling, in particular RANS methods, in these flows.     

Deformation of a Peridynamic Bar

The deformation of an infinite bar subjected to a self-equilibrated load distribution is investigated using the peridynamic formulation of elasticity theory. The peridynamic theory differs from the classical theory and other nonlocal theories in that it does not involve spatial derivatives of the displacement field. The bar problem is formulated as a linear Fredholm integral equation and solved using Fourier transform methods. The solution is shown to exhibit, in general, features that are not found in the classical result. Among these are decaying oscillations in the displacement field and progressively weakening discontinuities that propagate outside of the loading region. These features, when present, are guaranteed to decay provided that the wave speeds are real. This leads to a one-dimensional version of St. Venant's principle for peridynamic materials that ensures the increasing smoothness of the displacement field remotely from the loading region. The peridynamic result converges to the classical result in the limit of short-range forces. An example gives the solution to the concentrated load problem, and hence provides the Green's function for general loading problems.     

Some features of flexural-gravity wave propagation in the presence of a crack in sheet ice

The effect of a crack in an ice sheet on the propagation of surface flexural-gravity waves in a basin of constant depth is analyzed. The ice sheet is simulated by two floating semi-infinite fragments of a thin elastic isotropic plate. As the boundary-contact conditions on the line of contact between the parts of the plate the conditions of continuity of displacements for arbitrary slopes simulating one ice-floe overlying on another and free-edge conditions (crack) are considered. The dependence of the amplitude characteristics of the perturbations on the thickness of the ice, its degree of compression, the incident wave frequency, the depth of the basin, and the form of the boundary-contact conditions is investigated. Problems of wave diffraction on inhomogeneities of an elastic plate were solved in [1, 2], and on a crack in the ice sheet in [3, 4].Sevastopol. Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 2, pp. 144–150, March–April, 1996.     

Dynamic compression-shear response of brittle materials with specimen recovery

A new configuration for compression-shear soft-recovery experiments is presented. This technique is used to investigate various failure mechanisms during dynamic multiaxial loading of an Al₂O₃/SiC nanocomposite and TiB₂. Velocity profiles of the target surface are measured with a variable sensitivity displacement interferometer, yielding normal and transverse velocity-time histories. A dynamic shear stress of approximately 280 MPa is obtained, in the Al₂O₃/SiC nanocomposite, for an imposed axial stress of about 3.45 GPa on a 540 m thick sample. This dynamic shear stress is well below the value predicted by elastic wave propagation theory. This could be the result of stress-induced damage and inelasticity in the bulk of the sample or inelasticity on the sample surface due to frictional sliding. To gain further insight into the possible failure mechanisms, an investigation of compression-shear recovery techniques, with simultaneous trapping of longitudinal and lateral release waves, is conducted.     

Carrier testing program in a high-risk cystic fibrosis population from northeastern Italy. Active recruitment of relatives via probands' parents

OBJECTIVE: To assess the practicability and monitor the results of an active carrier testing program among relatives of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. METHODS: Parents of CF patients in the Veneto and Trentino regions of northeastern Italy were asked to help recruit relatives aged between 18 and 45 years for CF mutation testing. RESULTS: Of 409 enrolled CF parents, 59.6% agreed to send to the CF Center family composition data of relatives up to the third degree, and 28.8% recruited relatives to carrier testing, providing names and addresses of those who, being contacted, expressed a willingness to be tested. The participation of parents was higher if they were young and had a child recently diagnosed with CF. Recruiting parents indicated 333 close relatives (59%) for testing. When contacted by the CF Center, 170 of these 333 (51%) attended for testing. The percentage of close relatives who spontaneously asked for the test was 5.4% before the carrier testing program started; it rose to 25.3% following the introduction of the active strategy. CONCLUSIONS: The participation of the parents of CF patients is an important factor affecting the utilization of testing by relatives. Besides this, the influence of a favorable medical and cultural context (participation of gynecologists and family doctors in testing programs, genetic education of the general population) has to be considered.     

Structure of artificial disturbances induced by an external acoustic field in a supersonic boundary layer

The wave structure of the artificial disturbances generated by an external acoustic field in a supersonic boundary layer is investigated. The disturbances are classified with respect to phase velocity. Disturbances whose phase velocity in the direction of flow is greater than unity and waves located at the boundary of the discrete and continuous spectra are detected.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 3, pp. 82–86, May–June, 1989.     

Effect of homogeneous shear flow on small long-lived perturbations in a stratified fluid

Conclusions In the transitional stage of the evolution of small perturbations in a flowing stratified fluid various structures may be formed. The form of these structures will depend on the initial conditions, the velocity shear, the stratification, and the dissipative characteristics of the fluid. In some cases in the intermediate stage the perturbations may increase.However, at large times in the final dissipative stage all the perturbations decay and the structure of the longest-lived of them is fairly simple. Owing to the shear effect the surviving perturbations are highly elongated in the direction of flow. However, under the influence of the stratification, from all the perturbations with _h L/g in the transverse plane perturbations of two types are gradually filtered out: internal waves and thin horizontal layered structures.In the presence of shear flow the layered structure in a stratified fluid is not only preserved but even becomes more sharply expressed owing to the suppression by the shear if many of the competing perturbations.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 2, pp. 94–102, March–April, 1988.     

The propagation of nonlinear waves in a bidisperse fluidized bed

A study is made of the propagation of nonlinear kinematic waves of concentrations of solid particles in a fluidized bed of particles of two different sizes. A hyperbolic system of quasilinear equations is obtained which describes the propagation of the waves. A dependence of the characteristic velocities on the concentrations of the phases and the ratio of the sizes of the particles is found. The influence of an admixture of fine particles on the propagation of porosity waves in the fluidized bed is analyzed. The nature of the formation of jumps in the porosity depending on the concentration of the admixture is studied, as is the process of the transfer of the admixture of fine particles in the bed. The nature of the propagation of nonlinear waves in a fluidized bed of identical particles is clarified. A characteristic velocity is found and conditions are determined for the formation of discontinuities of concentration of the dispserse phase in rarefaction compression waves.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 1, pp. 49–58, January–February, 1985.     

Hypersonic multicycle gas jet with a high degree of underexpansion at the nozzle exit

Experimental research on highly underexpanded gas jets flowing from supersonic nozzles into an ambient medium has shown that for fairly large Mach and Reynolds numbers at the nozzle exit the jet consists of several cycles or barrels [1–3]. The authors have made a theoretical study of these jets, using the nonstationary analogy method (law of plane sections). An approximate model of the flow is constructed and an analytic solution is obtained for the location of the boundary of the multicycle jet. The corresponding equivalent nonstationary problem of the expansion of a cylindrical slug of gas is solved numerically. The results are found to be consistent with the experimental data and make it possible to explain a number of observations. It is shown, for example, that the experimentally observed decrease in the amplitude of the cycles (maximum radius of the barrels) as they progress downstream is due to the dissipation of energy in shock waves. It appears that the length of the cycles is more or less independent of the dissipation and almost constant. The effect of the removal (supply) of heat, for example, due to radiation, the relaxation of internal degrees of freedom, etc., on the geometry of the jet is examined. It is shown that the removal of heat leads to a decrease in the amplitude of the cycles and the supply of heat to an increase, but, like dissipation, neither affects the length of the cycles. The problem of a jet in a weakly inhomogeneous atmosphere is solved. It has shown that the jet geometry possesses an adiabatic invariant linking the length and amplitude of the cycles.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 6, pp. 27–35, November–December, 1984.