An augmented Lagrangian approach to simulating yield stress fluid flows around a spherical gas bubble

We simulated the flow of a yield stress fluid around a gas bubble using an augmented Lagrange approach. The piecewise linear equal‐order finite elements for both the velocity and the pressure approximations proposed and analyzed by Latché and Vola in 2004 were applied. A mesh adaptive strategy based on this element‐pair choice was also proposed to render the yield surfaces of desired resolution. The corresponding numerical scheme was formulated for general Herschel–Bulkley fluids. Numerical results on Bingham fluid flows around a slowly rising spherical gas bubble were provided to validate the proposed algorithm. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Functionalized block copolymers for preparation of reactive self‐assembled surface patterns

Two phase separating block copolymers equipped with functional groups (acid and alkyne) were synthesized via reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Thin films of these materials were prepared and examined with regard to surface morphology, surface composition, and film stability. Self‐assembled structures with domain sizes of about 40 nm were detected through atomik force microscopy (AFM) analysis while X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements revealed a balanced surface exposure of the two segregated phases. Thus, reactive groups being present in both phases are specifically provided within nanoscopic surface areas. The films showed good stability on exposure to various solvents but the self‐organized surface patterns were only resistant toward ethanol. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Validity and reliability of two standard test devices in assessing mechanical properties of different sport surfaces

The Artificial Athlete (AA) and the Advanced Artificial Athlete (AAA) devices are the two key test methods for the assessment of shock absorption (SA) and vertical deformation (VD) of sports surfaces. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between them. Laboratory tests were carried out in accordance with international regulations and standards on 50 athletics tracks and 44 artificial turf systems using both test methods. No significant differences between methods were observed. Measurements with the AA and the AAA were compared using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), showing acceptable to excellent inter-method reliability (ICC ranged from 0.47 to 0.91). The Bland-Altman test revealed an overall SA overestimation and VD underestimation with the AAA. Linear regression analysis was performed, obtaining excellent agreement between test methods for the assessment of SA (R² = 0.994) and VD (R² = 0.985). It is concluded that, by applying Equations (1) and (2) in this study, the AA and the AAA could be used interchangeably when assessing SA and VD on athletics tracks and artificial turf surfaces.     

Understanding the defect chemistry of oxide nanoparticles for creating new functionalities:A critical review

This work presents a critical review on the studies of defect chemistry of oxide nanoparticles for creating new functionalities pertinent to energy applications including dilute-magnetic semiconductors,giant-dielectrics,or white light generation.Emphasis is placed on the relationships between the internal structure and defective surfaces of oxide nanoparticles and their synergy in tailoring the materials properties.This review is arranged in a sequence:(1) structural fundamentals of bulk oxides,using TiO2 a...     

Phase equilibrium in non-fluids and non-fluid mixtures

A criterion of phase equilibrium for mixtures of materials with arbitrary symmetry (e.g. between solid and fluid or two solid mixture phases) is deduced using a rational thermodynamics approach. This criterion, known also as Maxwell relation, is expressed via the difference of chemical potential tensors (Eshelby tensors) on the singular surface dividing the bulk phases.The thermomechanical balance equations, the entropy inequality and the Maxwell relation for phase equilibrium are given first for the case of pure (one-constituent) materials of arbitrary symmetry and then for the case of mixtures (including chemically reacting ones) of arbitrary symmetry.In the special case of fluids it is shown that the chemical potential tensors reduce to the classical scalar chemical potentials and the Maxwell relations to the classical thermodynamic criterion for the phase equilibrium.     

Artificial boundary conditions on polyhedral truncation surfaces for three-dimensional elasticity systemsConditions aux limites artificielles sur des surfaces polyhédrales de troncature pour des systèmes d'élasticité tridimensionalle

For a three-dimensional exterior problem in the framework of anisotropic elasticity, artificial boundary conditions are constructed on a polyhedral truncation surface. These conditions do not need an explicit formula for the fundamental matrix. An approach to adapt the shape of truncation surfaces to the shape of the enclosed cavity is discussed. To cite this article: S. Langer et al., C. R. Mecanique 332 (2004).     

Squeeze flow of soft solids between rough surfaces

Newtonian liquids and non-Newtonian soft solids were squeezed between parallel glass plates by a constant force F applied at time t=0. The plate separation h(t) and the squeeze-rate were measured for different amplitudes of plate roughness in the range 0.3–31 m. Newtonian liquids obeyed the relation Vh ³ of Stephan (1874) for large plate separations. Departures from this relation that occurred when h approached the roughness amplitude were attributed to radial liquid permeation through the rough region. Most non-Newtonian materials showed boundary-slip that varied with roughness amplitude. Some showed slip that varied strongly during the squeezing process. Perfect slip (zero boundary shear stress) was not approached by any material, even when squeezed by optically-polished plates. If the plates had sufficient roughness amplitude (e.g. about 30 m), boundary slip was practically absent, and the dependence of V on h was close to that predicted by no-slip theory of a Herschel-Bulkley fluid in squeeze flow (Covey and Stanmore 1981, Adams et al. 1994).     

Mixing of hot gases in an axisymmetric channel with a pre-swirled flow

The problem of the mixing of hot turbulent gases in an axisymmetric channel with a lateral surface of arbitrary shape and a pre-swirled flow is considered. The flowfields and the temperature and concentration distributions are calculated for various inlet conditions.     

Elastic contact stiffness and contact resistance for the Weierstrass profile

The Weierstrass series comprises a system of superposed self-affine sine waves that can be used to define a simple idealization of a two-dimensional fractal rough surface profile. The load-compliance relation for the contact of this profile with a rigid plane is here estimated using Westergaard's solution for the contact of a single sine wave with a plane and various approximations concerning the interaction of the different terms in the series. These approximations are compared with a numerical solution for the contact of the profile defined by the first few terms of the series. Once the load-compliance relation is established, the electrical contact resistance can be determined, using an analogy between the conduction and incremental elastic contact problems. The results show that these simple estimates give quite good predictions of the relations between load, compliance and contact resistance. They also confirm that these relations are largely determined by the coarse scale features of the surface profile, in contrast to the predictions of classical asperity model theories.