A subdomain boundary element method for high‐Reynolds laminar flow using stream function‐vorticity formulation

The paper presents a new formulation of the integral boundary element method (BEM) using subdomain technique. A continuous approximation of the function and the function derivative in the direction normal to the boundary element (further ‘normal flux’) is introduced for solving the general form of a parabolic diffusion‐convective equation. Double nodes for normal flux approximation are used. The gradient continuity is required at the interior subdomain corners where compatibility and equilibrium interface conditions are prescribed. The obtained system matrix with more equations than unknowns is solved using the fast iterative linear least squares based solver. The robustness and stability of the developed formulation is shown on the cases of a backward‐facing step flow and a square‐driven cavity flow up to the Reynolds number value 50 000. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The exponential power law: partial wetting kinetics and dynamic contact angles

An equation for the kinetics of partial drop spreading is proposed. This equation was empirically derived from experimental data for the spreading kinetics of partially wetting liquids in terms of the wet area versus time. The equation has the form of an exponential power law (EPL), and transforms into the well-known power law for complete wetting, when the equilibrium contact angle approaches zero. The EPL fits very well available experimental data. To lend additional support to the validity of this generalized equation, it will be demonstrated that when it is transformed to present the dynamic contact angle (DCA), it fits very well DCA experimental data for other wetting processes, such as capillary flow and tape coating.     

On existence and stability in the theory of swelling porous elastic soils

The aim of this paper is to introduce a new functional in thestudy of swelling porous elastic soils saturated by a fluid.This new functional is a useful tool; it allows us to provethe existence of solutions in the case of a compressible fluid.We also prove the stability of solutions and the exponentialdecay in the case of an incompressible fluid. We study as wellthe continuous dependence with respect to the initial time.     

Finite element computations of two-dimensional arterial flow in the presence of a transverse magnetic field

A finite element solution of the Navier-Stokes equations for steady flow under the magnetic effect through a double-branched two-dimensional section of a three-dimensional model of the canine aorta is discussed. The numerical scheme involves transforming the physical co-ordinates to a curvilinear boundary-fitted co-ordinate system. The shear stress at the wall is calculated for a Reynolds number of 1000 with the branch-to-main aortic flow rate ratio as a parameter. The results are compared with earlier works involving experimental data and found to be in reasonable qualitative agreement. The steady flow, shear stress and branch flow under the effect of a magnetic field have been discussed in detail.     

Separation of screw-sensed particles in a homogeneous shear field

The Stokes motions of three-dimensional screw-sensed slender particles in a homogeneous shear field are investigated, including the effects of buoyancy. Conclusions are drawn about the possibility of achieving a separation of mixtures of right- and left-handed particles. The linearity of the Stokes equations allows complex flows to be solved by adding the effects of the several terms which describe the flow in which the particle is immersed. The homogeneous shear flow considered here consists of three such terms; solutions for a series of 12 unit motions are sufficient to determine the hydrodynamic resistance tensors. The forces and torques experienced by screw-sensed particles are calculated from these 51 resistance tensors, using slender-filament theory. The results allow an estimate of the range of buoyancy parameters for which gravitational sedimentation can be neglected. The fundamental component of the particle motion is a rotation, at approximately the same angular velocity as that of the fluid. Superimposed on this are variations, of large period, in the particle orientation. A phase plane analysis is used to find the terminal orientations. Very long calculation times are required for the phase portrait. An approximate method based on azimuthally-averaged equations is developed to avoid the requirements for long time integration.     

A numerical study of an unsteady laminar flow in a doubly constricted 3D vessel

Unsteady flow dynamics in doubly constricted 3D vessels have been investigated under pulsatile flow conditions for a full cycle of period T. The coupled non‐linear partial differential equations governing the mass and momentum of a viscous incompressible fluid has been numerically analyzed by a time accurate Finite Volume Scheme in an implicit Euler time marching setting. Roe's flux difference splitting of non‐linear terms and the pseudo‐compressibility technique employed in the current numerical scheme makes it robust both in space and time. Computational experiments are carried out to assess the influence of Reynolds' number and the spacing between two mild constrictions on the pressure drop across the constrictions. The study reveals that the pressure drop across a series of mild constrictions can get physiologically critical and is also found to be sensitive both to the spacing between the constrictions and the oscillatory nature of the inflow profile. The flow separation zone on the downstream constriction is seen to detach from the diverging wall of the constriction leading to vortex shedding with 3D features earlier than that on the wall in the spacing between the two constrictions. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On estimating pressure build-up in severely accelerated,shocked flow

A new approach to the calculation of the high pressures characterizing the flow field in front of a piston undergoing severe acceleration over the short term is presented. In contrast with previous approaches where the computational domain is altered but which stop short of transforming velocities, here the problem is solved in an accelerating non-Euclidean co-ordinate system where the piston is stationary. The method is applied to a study of the problem of premature sabot separation. Through use of Harten's second-order-accurate TVD scheme, flow simulations are performed for both 1D and 3D axisymmetric geometries. The simple 1D model gives pressure profiles surprisingly close to those of the more physical 3D model.     

Measurements and simulations of particle dispersion in a turbulent flow

A particle imaging technique has been used to collect droplet displacement statistics in a round turbulent jet of air. Droplets are injected on the jet axis, and a laser sheet and position-sensitive photomultiplier tube are used to track their radial displacement and time-of-flight. Dispersion statistics can be computed which are Lagrangian or Eulerian in nature. The experiments have been simulated numerically using a second-order closure scheme for the jet and a stochastic simulation for the particle trajectories. Results are presented for non-vaporizing droplets of sizes from 35 to 160 μm. The simulations have underscored the importance of initial conditions and early droplet displacement history on the droplet trajectory for droplets with large inertia relative to the turbulence. Estimates of initial conditions have been made and their effect on dispersion is quantified.     

A new approach to potential flow around axisymmetric bodies

A new method is introduced to solve potential flow problems around axisymmetric bodies. The approach relies on expressing the infinite series expansion of the Laplace equation solution in terms of a finite sum which preserves the Laplace solution for the potential function under a Neumann-type boundary condition. Then the coefficients of the finite sum are calculated in a least squares approximation sense using the Gram-Schmidt orthonormalization method. Sample benchmark problems are presented and discussed in some detail. The solutions are accurate and converged faster when a rather small number of terms were used. The method is simple and can be easily programmed.     

Flow injection-spectrophotometric determination of cresol compounds in water by reaction withp-aminophenol

A spectrophotometric method has been developed for the simultaneous determination ofo-cresol andm-cresol in water by reaction withp-aminophenol (PAP). Three different methodologies have been assayed; (i) batch analysis, after reaction in an alkaline medium in the presence of dissolved molecular oxygen as oxidizing agent, (ii) a stopped-flow procedure, carried out in the presence of KIO₄ and (iii) a flow injection method based on the same approach. The batch procedure requires 22 min for the full development of colour witho-cresol and 12 min form-cresol. In the stopped-flow mode, using KIO₄ and a reaction time of 12 min, better sensitivity can be obtained for both compounds and limits of detection of 10 g 1^–1 foro-cresol and 30 g 1^–1 form-cresol were found. The flow injection method has a lower sensitivity but permits more than 80 injections per hour. Based on the different maximum absorbance wavelengths obtained for the reaction products of PAP witho-cresol (614 nm) andm-cresol (632 nm), both compounds can be simultaneously determined in water samples and recoveries of 90 to 115% were found in spiked water samples of different types.