Efficient Lagrangian scalar tracking method for reactive local mass transport simulation through porous media

Mass transfer in the presence of chemical reactions for flows through porous media is of interest to many disciplines. The Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is particularly attractive in such cases due to the ease with which it handles complicated boundary conditions. However, useful Lagrangian information (such as solute survival distance, effective diffusivity, collision frequency) is challenging to obtain from the LBM. In this paper, we present a straightforward and efficient Lagrangian methodology (Lagrangian scalar tracking, LST) for performing solute transport simulations in the presence of heterogeneous, first‐order, irreversible reactions, based on a velocity field obtained from LBM. The hybrid LST/LBM technique tracks passive mass markers that have two contributions to their movement: convective (obtained through interpolation of a previously obtained velocity field) and Brownian. Various Schmidt number solutes and different solute release modes can be modeled with a single solvent flow field using this method. Moreover, the mass markers can have a range of reaction rate coefficients. This allows for the exploration of the whole spectrum of first‐order heterogeneous reaction rates with just a single simulation. In order to show the applicability of the LST/LBM scheme, results from a case study are presented in which the consumption of oxygen and/or nutrients within a porous bone tissue engineering scaffold is modeled under flow perfusion culturing conditions. Although the reactive LST methodology described in this paper compliments the LBM, it can also be used with any other flow simulation that can generate the velocity field. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The predicted compressive strength of a pyramidal lattice made from case hardened steel tubes

A sandwich panel with a core made from solid pyramidal struts is a promising candidate for multifunctional application such as combined structural and heat-exchange function. This study explores the performance enhancement by making use of hollow struts, and examines the elevation in the plastic buckling strength by either strain hardening or case hardening. Finite element simulations are performed to quantify these enhancements. Also, the sensitivity of competing collapse modes to tube geometry and to the depth of case hardening is determined. A comparison with other lattice materials reveals that the pyramidal lattice made from case hardened steel tubes outperforms lattices made from solid struts of aluminium or titanium and has a comparable strength to a core made from carbon fibre reinforced polymers.     

Asymptotics of Selberg-like integrals by lattice path counting

We obtain explicit expressions for positive integer moments of the probability density of eigenvalues of the Jacobi and Laguerre random matrix ensembles, in the asymptotic regime of large dimension. These densities are closely related to the Selberg and Selberg-like multidimensional integrals. Our method of solution is combinatorial: it consists in the enumeration of certain classes of lattice paths associated to the solution of recurrence relations.     

Characterization of Mn-doped Sb1.5Bi0.5Te3 single crystals

Abstract

Single crystals of (Sb_0.75Bi_0.25)_2-xMn_xTe₃ (x = 0.0–0.05) were characterized by X-ray diffraction, measurements of reflectance in the plasma resonance frequency region, Hall coefficient, electrical conductivity, and Seebeck coefficient. It was found that Mn atoms in the crystal structure of Sb_1.5Bi_0.5Te₃ behave like acceptors; the increase in the hole concentration is explained by the formation of substitutional defects of Mn'_Sb and Mn'_Bi in the crystal lattice of the studied crystals.     

Planar lattices with tailorable coefficient of thermal expansion and high stiffness based on dual-material triangle unit

The unexpected thermal distortions and failures in engineering raise the big concern about thermal expansion controlling. Thus, design of tailorable coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) is urgently needed for the materials used in large temperature variation circumstance. Here, inspired by multi-fold rotational symmetry in crystallography, we have devised six kinds of periodic planar lattices, which incorporate tailorable CTE and high specific biaxial stiffness. Fabrication process, which overcame shortcomings of welding or adhesion connection, was developed for the dual-material planar lattices. The analytical predictions agreed well with the CTE measurements. It is shown that the planar lattices fabricated from positive CTE constituents, can give large positive, near zero and even negative CTEs. Furthermore, a generalized stationary node method was proposed for aperiodic lattices and even arbitrary structures with desirable thermal expansion. As an example, aperiodic quasicrystal lattices were designed and exhibited zero thermal expansion property. The proposed method for the lattices of lightweight, robust stiffness, strength and tailorable thermal expansion is useful in the engineering applications.     

Discrete and non-local elastica

In this paper, the buckling and post-buckling behavior of an elastic lattice system referred to as the discrete elastica problem is investigated using an equivalent non-local continuum approach. The geometrically exact post-buckling analysis of the elastic chain, also called Hencky system, is first numerically solved using the shooting method. This discrete physical model is also mathematically equivalent to a finite difference formulation of the continuum elastica. Starting from the exact difference equations of the discrete problem, a continualization method is applied for approximating the difference operators by differential ones, in order to better characterize the discrete system by an enriched continuous one. It is shown that the new continuum associated with the discrete system exactly fits the discrete elastica post-buckling problem, where the non-locality is of Eringen׳s type (also called stress gradient non-local model). An asymptotic expansion is performed for both the discrete and the non-local continuum models, in order to approximate the post-buckling branches of the discrete system. Some numerical investigations show the efficiency of the non-local approach, especially for capturing the scale effects inherent to the cell size of the lattice model.     

Numerical and experimental study on the motion characteristics of single bubble in a complex channel

This paper is an extended study from previous work. In this study, the focus is paid to the dynamics of bubble rising and deformation in a complex channel, while the previous work is in straight channel. For this purpose, a three-dimensional lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is employed to simulate the dynamics behaviour of a bubble rising in a complex channel consisting of three half-round throats. To validate the numerical method, a visual experiment was carried out by means of a high-speed digital camera and computer image processing technology. The behaviour of the rising bubble through glycerine solution in a complex channel was recorded. Some physical parameters such as rising velocities, trajectory and shapes of the bubble were calculated and processed based on the experimental data. In the same conditions, the trajectory, shapes and rising velocities of the bubble were simulated during its rising process by the proposed LBM. The numerical results are in good agreement with the experimental results. It demonstrates that LBM used in this work is feasible for simulating two-phase flow in such a complex channel.