Accurate Higher-Order Analytical Approximate Solutions to Large-Amplitude Oscillating Systems with a General Non-Rational Restoring Force

A new approximate analytical approach for accurate higher-order nonlinear solutions of oscillations with large amplitude is presented in this paper. The oscillatory system is subjected to a non-rational restoring force. This approach is built upon linearization of the governing dynamic equation associated with the method of harmonic balance. Unlike the classical harmonic balance method, simple linear algebraic equations instead of nonlinear algebraic equations are obtained upon linearization prior to harmonic balancing. This approach also explores large parameter regions beyond the classical perturbation methods which in principle are confined to problems with small parameters. It has significant contribution as there exist many nonlinear problems without small parameters. Through some examples in this paper, we establish the general approximate analytical formulas for the exact period and periodic solution which are valid for small as well as large amplitudes of oscillation.     

Inverse method to determine elastic constants using a circular disk and moiré interferometry

We propose an inverse method, using a circular disk in diametrical compression, for the simultaneous determination of two elastic constants,E andv, from a single displacement map. Moiré interferometry combined with the phase-shifting technique provides a full-field displacement field. An overdeterministic approach using the least-squares method is implemented to fit the experimentally determined displacements to the theoretical solution. An implementation guideline is provided, considering the effects of accidental rigid-body motions, random noise and imperfect position of the origin. Accuracy and repeatability of the proposed method are verified experimentally.     

Global stability analysis of parametrically excited cylindrical shells through the evolution of basin boundaries

In the present study, the large-amplitude vibrations and stability of a perfect circular cylindrical shell subjected to axial harmonic excitation in the neighborhood of the lowest natural frequencies are investigated. Donnell's shallow shell theory is used and the shell spatial discretization is obtained by the Ritz method. An efficient low-dimensional model presented in previous publications is used to discretize the continuous system. The main purpose of this work is to discuss the use of basins of attraction as a measure of the reliability and safety of the structure. First, the nonlinear behavior of the conservative system is discussed and the basin structure and volume is understood from the topologic structure of the total energy and its evolution as a function of the system parameters. Then, the behavior of the forced oscillations of the harmonically excited shell is analyzed. First the stability boundaries in force control space are obtained and the bifurcation events connected with these boundaries are identified. Based on the bifurcation diagrams, the probability of parametric instability and escape are analyzed through the evolution and erosion of basin boundaries within a prescribed control volume defined by the manifolds. Usually, basin boundaries become fractal. This together with the presence of catastrophic subcritical bifurcations makes the shell very sensitive to initial conditions, uncertainties in system parameters, and initial imperfections. Results show that the analysis of the evolution of safe basins and the derivation of appropriate measures of their robustness is an essential step in the derivation of safe design procedures for multiwell systems.     

Buoyancy-driven convection of water near its density maximum with time periodic partially active vertical walls

The effect of density inversion on transient natural convection heat transfer of cold water in a square cavity with partially active vertical walls is studied numerically. The governing equations are solved by control volume method with power law scheme. In the hot location the temperature is varied sinusoidally and in the cold location uniform temperature is maintained. Nine different positions of the active zones are considered. Results are discussed for various values of the amplitude, period and different Grashof numbers and presented graphically in the form of isotherms, streamlines, mid-height velocity profile and average Nusselt number. It is found that density inversion of water affects natural convection flow and heat transfer. Heat transfer rate is enhanced upto 80% when the heating location is in the middle of the hot wall.     

Gaseous flow measurements in an internal combustion engine assembly using molecular tagging velocimetry

A molecular tagging velocimetry (MTV) system was applied for mapping in-cylinder flows in an internal combustion engine. The images were captured inside an optical engine assembly that reproduces operation of a 2.2 L four stroke gasoline engine. A recently developed algorithm to process MTV images is based on a fast-normalized spatial correlation approach implemented using MATLAB software. The code allows accurate detection of the MTV grid nodes displacements. It processes simultaneously velocity vector and circulation fields for individual cycles, and ensemble averages of those over a few hundred sequential cycles to obtain mean and standard deviation values. Then probability density functions are reconstructed to quantify cycle-to-cycle variability of the in-cylinder flow.     

Some properties of homogeneous flows of rarefied gases

A generalization of the existence conditions for homogeneous flows of a rarefied monatomic gas mixture [2, 3] to the case where external forces are present is presented in [1]. Below we obtain for this case the solution of the Cauchy problem for the Boltzmann equation under free molecular (collisionless) conditions, when the collision integrals may be neglected (Knudsen number K 1). On the basis of this solution we construct a general solution for the equations of the kinetic moments of a Maxwellian monatomic gas mixture in the form of a series in inverse powers of K. Some additional remarks are made concerning the properties of the solutions of the second-order kinetic moment equations, and on the applicability of the Grad 13-moment equations and the Chapman-Enskog method [in particular, for the calculation of slow (Stokesian) motions of a gas mixture].The authors wish to thank M. N. Kogan and A. A. Nikol'skii for their comments.     

A review of the rheo-optical properties of linear high polymers

Some principles ans laws, expressing the mechanical and optical behavior of linear viscoelastic materials, are reviewed. The mechanical properties of the polymers in the transition region may be represented by a condensed general method containing Ferry's modulus or compliance-reduction scheme, the time-temperature superposition principle and the Gauss error integral representation. The optical behavior of high polymers is expressed by the stress- and strain-optical coefficients in creep or relaxation, which relate birefringence to stresses or strains. It was recently shown experimentally that, instead of a pair of independent linear differential operator relations, which characterize the mechanical properties of the viscoelastic materials, only one operator relation is needed and the initial value of another at the glassy or rubbery state. Then, a single test is sufficient for the complete determination of the mechanical and optical viscoelastic behavior, provided the value of another elastic constant at the glassy or rubbery state is also determined and the variation of birefringence with time is simultaneously measured with the mechanical-characteristic quantities of the material.