Fluid Motion (fluid + motion)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Small-scale fluid motion mediates growth and nutrient uptake of Selenastrum capricornutum

FRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2006
T. A. WARNAARS
Summary 1. A fluid-flow reactor using submersible speakers was constructed to generate small-scale fluid motion similar to conditions measured in open water environments; flow was quantified by particle image velocimetry. Additionally a Couette-type rotating cylinder was used to generate shear flows; flow was quantified using an optical hotwire probe and torque measurements. Growth rates of the green alga Selenastrum capricornutum were determined from changes in cell counts and viability was tested using the fluorogenic probe fluoresceine diacetate. 2. Evidence that fluid motion directly affects growth rates was obtained as a significant difference between growth in a moving versus non-moving fluid. A near 2-fold increase in growth rate was achieved for an energy dissipation rate of , = 10,7 m2 s,3; a rate common in lakes and oceans. The onset of the viability equilibrium, identified as the day of the test period when the number of active cells equalled non-active cells, was delayed by 2 days for moving fluid conditions as compared with a non-moving fluid. 3. Nutrient uptake was determined by a decrease in the bulk fluid concentration and cellular phosphorus concentration was also estimated. The thickness of the diffusive sublayer surrounding a cell, a zone dominated by molecular diffusion, was estimated. Increasing fluid motion was found to decrease the thickness of this layer. The Sherwood number (ratio of total mass flux to molecular mass flux) showed that advective flux surrounding cells dominated molecular diffusion flux with regard to Péclet numbers (ratio of advective transport to molecular diffusion transport). Fluid motion facilitated uptake rates and resulted in increased growth rates, compared with no-flow conditions. The rate-of-rotation and the rate-of-strain in a moving fluid equally mediated the diffusive sublayer thickness surrounding the cells. Our study demonstrates that small-scale fluid motion mediates algal growth kinetics and therefore should be included in predictive models for algal blooms. [source]


Variations in the Earth's gravity field caused by torsional oscillations in the core

GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2004
Mathieu Dumberry
SUMMARY We investigate whether a component of the flow in the Earth's fluid core, namely torsional oscillations, could be detected in gravity field data at the surface and whether it could explain some of the observed time variations in the elliptical part of the gravity field (J2). Torsional oscillations are azimuthal oscillations of rigid coaxial cylindrical surfaces and have typical periods of decades. This type of fluid motion supports geostrophic pressure gradients, which produce deformations of the core,mantle boundary. Because of the density discontinuity between the core and the mantle, such deformations produce changes in the gravity field that, because of the flow geometry, are both axisymmetric and symmetric about the equator. Torsional oscillations are thus expected to produce time variations in the zonal harmonics of even degree in the gravity field. Similarly, the changes in the rotation rates of the mantle and inner core that occur to balance the change in angular momentum carried by the torsional oscillations also produce zonal variations in gravity. We have built a model to calculate the changes in the gravity field and in the rotation rates of the mantle and inner core produced by torsional oscillations. We show that the changes in the rotation rate of the inner core produce changes in J2 that are a few orders of magnitude too small to be observed. The amplitudes of the changes in J2 from torsional oscillations are 10 times smaller than the temporal changes that are observed to occur about a linear secular trend. However, provided the mechanism responsible for these changes in J2 is identified and that this contribution is removed from the data, it may be possible in the future to detect the lowest harmonic degrees of the torsional oscillations in the gravity field data. We also show that torsional oscillations have contributed to the linear secular change in J2 by about ,0.75 × 10,12 per year in the last 20 years. Finally, the associated change in the vertical ground motion at the surface of the Earth that is predicted by our mechanism is of the order of 0.2 mm, which is too small to be detected with the current precision in measurements. [source]


Hydromagnetic flow and heat transfer of a conducting Casson fluid in a rectangular channel

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 4 2006
Hazem Ali Attia
Abstract The transient hydromagnetic flow of an electrically conducting viscous incompressible non-Newtonian Casson fluid bounded by two parallel non-conducting plates is studied with heat transfer considering the Hall effect. An external uniform magnetic field is applied perpendicular to the plates and the fluid motion is subjected to a pressure gradient in the axial direction. The lower plate is stationary and the upper plate is suddenly set into motion and simultaneously suddenly isothermally heated to a temperature other than the lower plate temperature. Numerical solutions are obtained for the governing momentum and energy equations taking the Joule and viscous dissipations into consideration. The effect of the Hall term and the parameter describing the non-Newtonian behaviour on both the velocity and temperature distributions are studied. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


A viscous vortex particle method for deforming bodies with application to biolocomotion

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 12 2009
Li Jeany Zhang
Abstract Bio-inspired mechanics of locomotion generally consist of the interaction of flexible structures with the surrounding fluid to generate propulsive forces. In this work, we extend, for the first time, the viscous vortex particle method (VVPM) to continuously deforming two-dimensional bodies. The VVPM is a high-fidelity Navier,Stokes computational method that captures the fluid motion through evolution of vorticity-bearing computational particles. The kinematics of the deforming body surface are accounted for via a surface integral in the Biot,Savart velocity. The spurious slip velocity in each time step is removed by computing an equivalent vortex sheet and allowing it to flux to adjacent particles; hence, no-slip boundary conditions are enforced. Particles of both uniform and variable size are utilized, and their relative merits are considered. The placement of this method in the larger class of immersed boundary methods is explored. Validation of the method is carried out on the problem of a periodically deforming circular cylinder immersed in a stagnant fluid, for which an analytical solution exists when the deformations are small. We show that the computed vorticity and velocity of this motion are both in excellent agreement with the analytical solution. Finally, we explore the fluid dynamics of a simple fish-like shape undergoing undulatory motion when immersed in a uniform free stream, to demonstrate the application of the method to investigations of biomorphic locomotion. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Study on flow past two spheres in tandem arrangement using a local mesh refinement virtual boundary method

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 5 2005
Jian-Feng Zou
Abstract A local mesh refinement virtual boundary method based on a uniform grid is designed to study the transition between the flow patterns of two spheres in tandem arrangement for Re=250. For a small gap (L/D=1.5), the flow field is axisymmetric. As the spacing ratio increases to 2.0, the pressure gradient induces the circumferential fluid motion and a plane-symmetric flow is constructed through a regular bifurcation. For L/D,2.5, the vortices are periodically shed from the right sphere, but the planar symmetry remains. The case for L/D=3.0 is picked up to give a detail investigation for the unsteady flow. The shedding frequency of vortical structure from the upper side of the right sphere is found to be double of the frequency of the lower side. With the flow spectra of various gaps given, the underlying competitive mechanism between the two shedding frequencies is studied and a critical spacing gap is revealed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Targeted mechanical properties for optimal fluid motion inside artificial bone substitutes

JOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH, Issue 8 2009
L.D. Blecha
Abstract Our goal was to develop a method to identify the optimal elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio, porosity, and permeability values for a mechanically stressed bone substitute. We hypothesized that a porous bone substitute that favors the transport of nutriments, wastes, biochemical signals, and cells, while keeping the fluid-induced shear stress within a range that stimulates osteoblasts, would likely promote osteointegration. Two optimization criteria were used: (i) the fluid volume exchange between the artificial bone substitute and its environment must be maximal and (ii) the fluid-induced shear stress must be between 0.03 and 3 Pa. Biot's poroelastic theory was used to compute the fluid motion due to mechanical stresses. The impact of the elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio, porosity, and permeability on the fluid motion were determined in general and for three different bone substitute sizes used in high tibial osteotomy. We found that fluid motion was optimized in two independent steps. First, fluid transport was maximized by minimizing the elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio, and porosity. Second, the fluid-induced shear stress could be adjusted by tuning the bone substitute permeability so that it stayed within the favorable range of 0.03 to 3 Pa. Such method provides clear guidelines to bone substitute developers and to orthopedic surgeons for using bone substitute materials according to their mechanical environment. © 2009 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 27: 1082,1087, 2009 [source]


Hydromechanical stimulation of bioluminescent plankton

LUMINESCENCE: THE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL LUMINESCENCE, Issue 6 2002
Stefan Blaser
Abstract The response of the bioluminescent dinoflagellate Pyrocystis fusiformis was investigated for different hydraulic conditions (,hydromechanical stimulation'). Pipe flow and oscillating shear produced luminescence, whereas changes in hydrostatic pressure were not stimulating. More intense fluid motion led to higher intensity, mainly due to a higher probability of cell response. The organism was also able to emit light in a glucose,salt mixture. The experiments suggest that the cells are effectively stimulated if the flow conditions change in time. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Design of a Small Centrifugal Blood Pump With Magnetic Bearings

ARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 9 2009
Said Jahanmir
Abstract Design of a blood pump with a magnetically levitated rotor requires rigorous evaluation of the magnetic bearing and motor requirements and analysis of rotor dynamics and hydraulic performance with attention to hemolysis and thrombosis potential. Given the desired geometric dimensions, the required operating speed, flow in both the main and wash flow regions, and magnetic bearing performance, one of several design approaches was selected for a new prototype. Based on the estimated operating speed and clearance between the rotor and stator, the motor characteristics and dimensions were estimated. The motor stiffness values were calculated and used along with the hydraulic loading due to the fluid motion to determine the best design for the axial and radial magnetic bearings. Radial and axial stability of the left ventricular assist device prototype was verified using finite element rotor dynamic analysis. The analysis indicated that the rotor could be completely levitated and spun to the desired operating speed with low power loss and no mechanical contact. In vitro experiments with a mock loop test setup were performed to evaluate the performance of the new blood pump prototype. [source]


Perfluorocarbon facilitated O2 transport in a hepatic hollow fiber bioreactor

BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 5 2009
Guo Chen
Abstract A mathematical model describing O2 transport in a hepatic hollow fiber (HF) bioreactor supplemented with perfluorocarbons (PFCs) in the circulating cell culture media was developed to explore the potential of PFCs in properly oxygenating a bioartificial liver assist device (BLAD). The 2-dimensional model is based on the geometry of a commercial HF bioreactor operated under steady-state conditions. The O2 transport model considers fluid motion of a homogeneous mixture of cell culture media and PFCs, and mass transport of dissolved O2 in a single HF. Each HF consists of three distinct regions: (1) the lumen (conducts the homogeneous mixture of cell culture media and PFCs), (2) the membrane (physically separates the lumen from the extracapillary space (ECS), and (3) the ECS (hepatic cells reside in this compartment). In a single HF, dissolved O2 is predominantly transported in the lumen via convection in the axial direction and via diffusion in the radial direction through the membrane and ECS. The resulting transport equations are solved using the finite element method. The calculated O2 transfer flux showed that supplementation of the cell culture media with PFCs can significantly enhance O2 transport to the ECS of the HF when compared with a control with no PFC supplementation. Moreover, the O2 distribution and subsequent analysis of ECS zonation demonstrate that limited in vivo-like O2 gradients can be recapitulated with proper selection of the operational settings of the HF bioreactor. Taken together, this model can also be used to optimize the operating conditions for future BLAD development that aim to fully recapitulate the liver's varied functions. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2009 [source]


Recent modelling of sedimentation of suspended particles: a survey,

IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE, Issue 2 2001
P. Boogerd
modélisation de la sédimentation; dépostition granulaire; transport sédimentaire Abstract Recent literature on modelling of sedimentation was studied. Attention was paid to hydrodynamics, numerical simulation, settling velocity models, sediment and velocity distribution functions, and sediment transport equations. Many popular theories, e.g. those regarding stratification and preferential sweeping, are under discussion. The traditional view that large-scale, energy-containing fluid motions dominate the transport of particles is found to be under attack, as is the modification of the von Karman coefficient to account for the presence of sediment. It is unclear which model for hindered settling should be used under what circumstances, and the effect of particle distribution cannot yet be calculated. Even the most basic problems, such as settling of multiple and/or non-spherical particles in a quiescent liquid, still require research. In the field of sediment distribution functions new solutions are still not entirely satisfactory. Furthermore, the predictive value of transport rate models is still rather low, and several popular sediment transport functions consistently allow more degradation than aggradation. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Ce document est une étude de la littérature récente de la modélisation de la sédimentation, en prêtant attention à la hydrodynamique, les simulations numériques, les modèles de la vitesse de déposer, les fonctions de la répartition du sédiment et de la vitesse, et les équations du transport sédimentaire. Beaucoup de théories modernes, celles concernant la stratification et l'entraînage préférentiel par exemple, sont en cours de discussion. L'idée traditionnelle que les mouvements fluides au champ extensif et contenant de l'energie dominent le transport granulaire est attaquée, ainsi que la modification du coefficient von Karman pour tenir compte de la présence du sédiment. Quel modèle à user pour la déposition gênée, et en quelle situation, n'est pas évident, et l'effet de la répartition granulométrique est incalculable. Même les problèmes les plus fondamentaux, comme la déposition d'e multiples granules ou des granules non-sphériques dans un liquide quiescent, ont besoin de recherche. Dans le domaine des fonctions de la répartition du sédiment, les nouvelles solutions ne sont pas encore entièrement satisfaisantes. En outre la valeur prédictionnaire des modèles de la vitesse de transport est encore assez basse, et plusieurs fonctions de transport populaires permettent constamment plus de dégradation que d'accroissement. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Fluid-Borne entities in the impeller stream of a rushton turbine

THE CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 2 2000
Larry A. Glasgow
Abstract The breakage or disintegration of suspended entities by energetic fluid motions in stirred tanks is an essential aspect of many operations in the chemical process industries. However, the hydrodynamic inhomogeneity of such tanks makes it extremely difficult to characterize the stresses experienced in any simple manner. This work provides a determination of both the location and the frequency of interaction of spherical fluid-borne entities with the discharge of a Rushton turbine. These data show how both particle size and impeller speed affect the severity of the exposure, setting the groundwork for improved descriptions of the dynamic behaviour of the particle size distribution in a wide variety of dispersed-phase processes. La rupture ou la désintégration de particules suspendues par des déplacements de fluides énergé-tiques dans des réservoirs agités est un aspect essentiel de nombreuses opérations des industries de procédés chimiques. Toutefois, la non-homogénéité hydrody-namique de ces réservoirs rend extrçmement difficile la caractérisation des forces en jeu par une méthode simple. On détermine dans ce travail la position et la fréquence d'interaction de particules sphériques transpottées par le fluide dans la zone de refoulement d'une turbine Rushton. Ces données montrent comment la taille des particules et la vitesse de la turbine influent toutes deux sur la sévérité de l'exposi-tion, jetant ainsi les bases pour améliorer la description du comportement dynamique de la distribution de taille des particules dans un large éventail de procédés en phase dispersée. [source]