Sub-iteration leads to accuracy and stability enhancements of semi-implicit schemes for the Navier–Stokes equations

We present an iterative semi-implicit scheme for the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations, which is stable at CFL numbers well above the nominal limit. We have implemented this scheme in conjunction with spectral discretizations, which suffer from serious time step limitations at very high resolution. However, the approach we present is general and can be adopted with finite element and finite difference discretizations as well. Specifically, at each time level, the nonlinear convective term and the pressure boundary condition – both of which are treated explicitly in time – are updated using fixed-point iteration and Aitken relaxation. Eigenvalue analysis shows that this scheme is unconditionally stable for Stokes flows while numerical results suggest that the same is true for steady Navier–Stokes flows as well. This finding is also supported by error analysis that leads to the proper value of the relaxation parameter as a function of the flow parameters. In unsteady flows, second- and third-order temporal accuracy is obtained for the velocity field at CFL number 5–14 using analytical solutions. Systematic accuracy, stability, and cost comparisons are presented against the standard semi-implicit method and a recently proposed fully-implicit scheme that does not require Newton’s iterations. In addition to its enhanced accuracy and stability, the proposed method requires the solution of symmetric only linear systems for which very effective preconditioners exist unlike the fully-implicit schemes.     

Anti-diffusion method for interface steepening in two-phase incompressible flow

In this paper, we present a method for obtaining sharp interfaces in two-phase incompressible flows by an anti-diffusion correction, that is applicable in a straight-forward fashion for the improvement of two-phase flow solution schemes typically employed in practical applications. The underlying discretization is based on the volume-of-fluid (VOF) interface-capturing method on unstructured meshes. The key idea is to steepen the interface, independently of the underlying volume-fraction transport equation, by solving a diffusion equation with reverse time, i.e. an anti-diffusion equation, after each advection time step of the volume fraction. As the solution of the anti-diffusion equation requires regularization, a limiter based on the directional derivative is developed for calculating the gradient of the volume fraction. This limiter ensures the boundedness of the volume fraction. In order to control the amount of anti-diffusion introduced by the correction algorithm we propose a suitable stopping criterion for interface steepening. The formulation of the limiter and the algorithm for solving the anti-diffusion equation are applicable to 3-dimensional unstructured meshes. Validation computations are performed for passive advection of an interface, for 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional rising-bubbles, and for a rising drop in a periodically constricted channel. The results demonstrate that sharp interfaces can be recovered reliably. They show that the accuracy is similar to or even better than that of level-set methods using comparable discretizations for the flow and the level-set evolution. Also, we observe a good agreement with experimental results for the rising drop where proper interface evolution requires accurate mass conservation.     

Energy law preserving C finite element schemes for phase field models in two-phase flow computations

We use the idea in [33] to develop the energy law preserving method and compute the diffusive interface (phase-field) models of Allen–Cahn and Cahn–Hilliard type, respectively, governing the motion of two-phase incompressible flows. We discretize these two models using a C⁰ finite element in space and a modified midpoint scheme in time. To increase the stability in the pressure variable we treat the divergence free condition by a penalty formulation, under which the discrete energy law can still be derived for these diffusive interface models. Through an example we demonstrate that the energy law preserving method is beneficial for computing these multi-phase flow models. We also demonstrate that when applying the energy law preserving method to the model of Cahn–Hilliard type, un-physical interfacial oscillations may occur. We examine the source of such oscillations and a remedy is presented to eliminate the oscillations. A few two-phase incompressible flow examples are computed to show the good performance of our method.     

First-order system least squares and the energetic variational approach for two-phase flow

This paper develops a first-order system least-squares (FOSLS) formulation for equations of two-phase flow. The main goal is to show that this discretization, along with numerical techniques such as nested iteration, algebraic multigrid, and adaptive local refinement, can be used to solve these types of complex fluid flow problems. In addition, from an energetic variational approach, it can be shown that an important quantity to preserve in a given simulation is the energy law. We discuss the energy law and inherent structure for two-phase flow using the Allen–Cahn interface model and indicate how it is related to other complex fluid models, such as magnetohydrodynamics. Finally, we show that, using the FOSLS framework, one can still satisfy the appropriate energy law globally while using well-known numerical techniques.     

Application of quantitative structure-activity relationship to the determination of binding constant based on fluorescence quenching

Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model was used to predict and explain binding constant (log K) determined by fluorescence quenching. This method allowed us to predict binding constants of a variety of compounds with human serum albumin (HSA) based on their structures alone. Stepwise multiple linear regression (MLR) and nonlinear radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) were performed to build the models. The statistical parameters provided by the MLR model (R²=0.8521, RMS=0.2678) indicated satisfactory stability and predictive ability while the RBFNN predictive ability is somewhat superior (R²=0.9245, RMS=0.1736). The proposed models were used to predict the binding constants of two bioactive components in traditional Chinese medicines (isoimperatorin and chrysophanol) whose experimental results were obtained in our laboratory and the predicted results were in good agreement with the experimental results. This QSAR approach can contribute to a better understanding of structural factors of the compounds responsible for drug-protein interactions, and can be useful in predicting the binding constants of other compounds.     

Controlling of symmetric and asymmetric mode coupling in long-period fiber gratings singe-side induced by long-pulse CO2 laser

We report a simple fabricating approach to control the mode couplings in long-period fiber gratings (LPFGs) through side exposing fiber to long-pulse-10.6-μm laser from a cheap, internally modulated CO₂ tube. By tuning focused-spot size on fibers, not only circularly symmetric mode coupling but also asymmetric mode couplings can be effectively achieved. Simulation of mode profiles in grating cross-section with Finite Element Method (FEM), and LPFG-cladding etching experiment with hydrofluoric acid (HF), support our explanation that asymmetric mode coupling in LPFGs depends on local refractive-index (RI) change within an azimuthally thin cladding layer, resulted from large-spot method induced deep melt flow on fiber surface during CO₂ laser irradiation.     

壁面结构对非定常薄膜流动表面波特性的影响

采用VOF方法,在入口处引入周期扰动,对沿矩形结构底板下落的二维非定常薄膜流动进行直接数值模拟.计算结果表明,不同频率的外加周期扰动在流场中激发出不同波长的自由表面波.当壁面结构的波长与之相比较小时,由于壁面结构引起的静态波骑行在外加扰动形成的行进波上.若这两个波长相近,非线性效应将促进附近的表面波之间的合并.当薄膜无...     

主喷管叶片中热壁面对分流管道流场特性的影响

 连续波化学激光器运转时,位于主喷管叶片内的副气流的分流管道壁面将被主喷管叶片加热而形成热壁面。通过3维的数值模拟,分析了单端、双端不同供气方式下,热壁面对分流管道流场特性的影响。热壁面将使总管气流总温沿着气流的流动方向逐渐升高,由此引起的支管入口总温的升高会降低支管的流量。无论是单端供气,还是双端供气,热壁面引起的管道流量波动幅度都要远大于绝热壁面的情况,最大波动幅度达2.16%。对进入总管的气流预热,适当增加供气总温,或将冷却管道与供气管道分开设计,气流总温变化引起的流量波动将会得到一定地抑制。     

迫流冷却二极NbTi超导磁体的研究

首先介绍了导体的测试结果;其次,为评估迫流冷却的二极NbTi超导磁体正常工况下对液氦产生的低温热负荷,基于surf152表面效应单元对线圈盒进行了辐射传热分析;此外,为减小通过线圈盒支撑的传导热负荷并且提高其机械强度,依据线圈盒支撑杆的设计尺寸,提出使用玻璃纤维经过三维编织的各向异性复合材料-G10制作线圈盒支撑杆,从...     

Modelling of multi-bodies in close proximity under water waves——Fluid resonance in narrow gaps

Viscous fluid model and potential flow model with and without artificial damping force(f=-μV,μ the damping coefficient and V the local averaging flow velocity) are employed in this work to investigate the phenomenon of fluid resonance in narrow gaps between multi-bodies in close proximity under water waves.The numerical results are compared with experimental data available in the literature.The comparison demonstrates that both the viscous fluid model and the potential flow model are able to predict the res...