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Parametric Study (parametric + study)
Selected AbstractsParametric Study of Blade Tip Clearance, Flow Rate, and Impeller Speed on Blood Damage in Rotary Blood PumpARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 6 2009Nahn Ju Kim Abstract Phenomenological studies on mechanical hemolysis in rotary blood pumps have provided empirical relationships that predict hemoglobin release as an exponential function of shear rate and time. However, these relations are not universally valid in all flow circumstances, particularly in small gap clearances. The experiments in this study were conducted at multiple operating points based on flow rate, impeller speed, and tip gap clearance. Fresh bovine red blood cells were resuspended in phosphate-buffered saline at about 30% hematocrit, and circulated for 30 min in a centrifugal blood pump with a variable tip gap, designed specifically for these studies. Blood damage indices were found to increase with increased impeller speed or decreased flow rate. The hemolysis index for 50-µm tip gap was found to be less than 200-µm gap, despite increased shear rate. This is explained by a cell screening effect that prevents cells from entering the smaller gap. It is suggested that these parameters should be reflected in the hemolysis model not only for the design, but for the practical use of rotary blood pumps, and that further investigation is needed to explore other possible factors contributing to hemolysis. [source] Parametric study of chemical looping combustion for tri-generation of hydrogen, heat, and electrical power with CO2 captureINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 8 2005J. Wolf Abstract In this article, a novel cycle configuration has been studied, termed the extended chemical looping combustion integrated in a steam-injected gas turbine cycle. The products of this system are hydrogen, heat, and electrical power. Furthermore, the system inherently separates the CO2 and hydrogen that is produced during the combustion. The core process is an extended chemical looping combustion (exCLC) process which is based on classical chemical looping combustion (CLC). In classical CLC, a solid oxygen carrier circulates between two fluidized bed reactors and transports oxygen from the combustion air to the fuel; thus, the fuel is not mixed with air and an inherent CO2 separation occurs. In exCLC the oxygen carrier circulates along with a carbon carrier between three fluidized bed reactors, one to oxidize the oxygen carrier, one to produces and separate the hydrogen, and one to regenerate the carbon carrier. The impacts of process parameters, such as flowrates and temperatures have been studied on the efficiencies of producing electrical power, hydrogen, and district heating and on the degree of capturing CO2. The result shows that this process has the potential to achieve a thermal efficiency of 54% while 96% of the CO2 is captured and compressed to 110 bar. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Parametric study on the silica gel,calcium chloride composite desiccant rotary wheel employing fractal BET adsorption isothermINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 1 2005X. J. Zhang Abstract In this paper a family of new silica gel,calcium chloride composite adsorbents is presented for desiccant rotary wheel in dehumidification system. For these desiccants the water sorption equilibrium has been measured in a wide relative vapour pressure range. This experimental study shows that the vapour adsorption properties of the composites using calcium chloride as impregnated salt can be controllably modified by varying the amount of the salt inside the pores. The thermodynamic performance of such desiccant rotary wheel is analysed based on the adsorption equilibrium equations obtained through nonlinear regressions using fractal BET theory. The simulation results show that the new composite desiccants can be effectively used in a rotary wheel dehumidifier and to improve its performance, various optimum operational/system parameters have been identified. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Parametric study and synthesis of 60-GHz Fabry,Perot resonatorsMICROWAVE AND OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 4 2002R. Sauleau Abstract The analysis and the synthesis of plane-parallel Fabry,Perot (FP) resonators, illuminated by a normally incident plane wave, are investigated theoretically and experimentally in the 60-GHz band. The reflecting mirrors are inductive metal meshes with square apertures. The frequency response of symmetrical and asymmetric FP cavities is studied (a) approximately with the transmission-line theory (TL), and (b) and rigorously with the Finite-difference,time-domain (FDTD) technique combined with periodic boundary conditions. Then, the inverse problem is solved with the use of an iterative procedure based on the FDTD method. In particular, it is shown theoretically and checked experimentally that the thickness of the cavity is the most critical parameter in the design, although the grid dimensions enable a precise adjustment of the module and of the phase of the internal reflection coefficients. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 34: 247,252, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10429 [source] Parametric study of a 6-column countercurrent solvent gradient purification (MCSGP) unit,BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 5 2007Lars Aumann Abstract The novel "multicolumn countercurrent solvent gradient purification" (MCSGP) process has been modeled for the purification of a polypeptide mixture characterized by a strong non-linear competitive adsorption isotherm. As a model system, the purification of an industrial polypeptide mixture containing 46% of the hormone calcitonin has been selected. The many impurities contained in the mixture have been lumped into three key impurities, which are selected as the ones eluting closer to the main component. The simulation model allows for a better understanding of the complex operating behavior of the multicolumn system, which has been experimentally investigated in a previous work. Through a systematic parametric analyses of the model behavior, the main operating parameters controlling the process performance in terms of purity and yield are investigated. The study of internal liquid and adsorbed phase concentration profiles along the unit for the different operating conditions allow elucidating the working principle of the new separation process. It is found that the MCSGP unit achieves much higher yields for a given product purity than the corresponding single-column batch units. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007;98: 1029,1042. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Single-cell detection by gradient echo 9.4 T MRI: a parametric studyCONTRAST MEDIA & MOLECULAR IMAGING, Issue 4 2006P. Smirnov Abstract Recent studies have shown that cell migration can be monitored in vivo by magnetic resonance imaging after intracellular contrast agent incorporation. This is due to the dephasing effect on proton magnetization of the local magnetic field created by a labelled cell. Anionic iron oxide nanoparticles (AMNP) are among the most efficient and non-toxic contrast agents to be spontaneously taken up by a wide variety of cells. Here we measured the iron load and magnetization of HeLa tumour cells labelled with AMNP, as a function of the external magnetic field. High-resolution gradient echo 9.4,T MRI detected individual labelled cells, whereas spin echo sequences were poorly sensitive. We then conducted a systematic study in order to determine the gradient echo sequence parameters (echo time, cell magnetization and resolution) most suitable for in vivo identification of single cells. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Multi-scale system reliability analysis of lifeline networks under earthquake hazardsEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 3 2010Junho Song Abstract Recent earthquake events evidenced that damage of structural components in a lifeline network may cause prolonged disruption of lifeline services, which eventually results in significant socio-economic losses in the affected area. Despite recent advances in network reliability analysis, the complexity of the problem and various uncertainties still make it a challenging task to evaluate the post-hazard performance and connectivity of lifeline networks efficiently and accurately. In order to overcome such challenges and take advantage of merits of multi-scale analysis, this paper develops a multi-scale system reliability analysis method by integrating a network decomposition approach with the matrix-based system reliability (MSR) method. In addition to facilitating system reliability analysis of large-size networks, the multi-scale approach enables optimizing the level of computational effort on subsystems; identifying the relative importance of components and subsystems at multiple scales; and providing a collaborative risk management framework. The MSR method is uniformly applied for system reliability analyses at both the lower-scale (for link failure) and the higher-scale (for system connectivity) to obtain the probability of general system events, various conditional probabilities, component importance measures, statistical correlation between subsystem failures and parameter sensitivities. The proposed multi-scale analysis method is demonstrated by its application to a gas distribution network in Shelby County of Tennessee. A parametric study is performed to determine the number of segments during the lower-scale MSR analysis of each pipeline based on the strength of the spatial correlation of seismic intensity. It is shown that the spatial correlation should be considered at both scales for accurate reliability evaluation. The proposed multi-scale analysis approach provides an effective framework of risk assessment and decision support for lifeline networks under earthquake hazards. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The effect of foundation embedment on inelastic response of structuresEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 4 2009Mojtaba Mahsuli Abstract In this research, a parametric study is carried out on the effect of soil,structure interaction on the ductility and strength demand of buildings with embedded foundation. Both kinematic interaction (KI) and inertial interaction effects are considered. The sub-structure method is used in which the structure is modeled by a simplified single degree of freedom system with idealized bilinear behavior. Besides, the soil sub-structure is considered as a homogeneous half-space and is modeled by a discrete model based on the concept of cone models. The foundation is modeled as a rigid cylinder embedded in the soil with different embedment ratios. The soil,structure system is then analyzed subjected to a suit of 24 selected accelerograms recorded on alluvium deposits. An extensive parametric study is performed for a wide range of the introduced non-dimensional key parameters, which control the problem. It is concluded that foundation embedment may increase the structural demands for slender buildings especially for the case of relatively soft soils. However, the increase in ductility demands may not be significant for shallow foundations with embedment depth to radius of foundation ratios up to one. Comparing the results with and without inclusion of KI reveals that the rocking input motion due to KI plays the main role in this phenomenon. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Error estimation of closed-form solution for annual rate of structural collapseEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 15 2008Brendon A. Bradley Abstract With the increasing emphasis of performance-based earthquake engineering in the engineering community, several investigations have been presented outlining simplified approaches suitable for performance-based seismic design (PBSD). Central to most of these PBSD approaches is the use of closed-form analytical solutions to the probabilistic integral equations representing the rate of exceedance of key performance measures. Situations where such closed-form solutions are not appropriate primarily relate to the problem of extrapolation outside of the region in which parameters of the closed-form solution are fit. This study presents a critical review of the closed-form solution for the annual rate of structural collapse. The closed-form solution requires the assumptions of lognormality of the collapse fragility and power model form of the ground motion hazard, of which the latter is more significant regarding the error of the closed-form solution. Via a parametric study, the key variables contributing to the error between the closed-form solution and solution via numerical integration are illustrated. As these key variables cannot be easily measured, it casts doubt on the use of such closed-form solutions in future PBSD, especially considering the simple and efficient nature of using direct numerical integration to obtain the solution. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Seismic design of bridges accounting for spatial variability of ground motionEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 4-5 2005A. Lupoi Abstract The effects of the spatial variability of the ground motion on the response of bridge structures are investigated in this study. Following a well-established convention, the phenomenon is represented as the combined effect of three causes: the loss of coherence of the motion with distance, the wave-passage, and the local site conditions. Since the nature and amount of non-synchronism vary within ample limits a statistical approach is adopted. A parametric study is carried out on a representative set of bridges subjected to carefully selected combinations of the factors inducing spatial variability. The investigation has shown that the phenomenon affects the response considerably and, hence, the level of protection of these structures. It is observed that for all bridge types considered, the ductility demands at the base of the piers in the presence of spatial variability increase in the majority of cases. Further, for a given bridge type, the probabilities of failure vary by more than one order of magnitude depending on the combination of the parameters. Attention has been focused on a parameter representing the ratio between the maximum curvature ductility demand and the same quantity for the case of fully synchronous motion. This parameter has been used to correct the conventional synchronous design procedure by increasing the available ductility. The re-analysis of all the cases with a modified ductility capacity shows that the procedure is effective in reducing the fragilities to the values corresponding to synchronous input. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Inelastic spectra for infilled reinforced concrete framesEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 15 2004Matja Abstract In two companion papers a simplified non-linear analysis procedure for infilled reinforced concrete frames is introduced. In this paper a simple relation between strength reduction factor, ductility and period (R,µ,T relation) is presented. It is intended to be used for the determination of inelastic displacement ratios and of inelastic spectra in conjunction with idealized elastic spectra. The R,µ,T relation was developed from results of an extensive parametric study employing a SDOF mathematical model composed of structural elements representing the frame and infill. The structural parameters, used in the proposed R,µ,T relation, in addition to the parameters used in a usual (e.g. elasto-plastic) system, are ductility at the beginning of strength degradation, and the reduction of strength after the failure of the infills. Formulae depend also on the corner periods of the elastic spectrum. The proposed equations were validated by comparing results in terms of the reduction factors, inelastic displacement ratios, and inelastic spectra in the acceleration,displacement format, with those obtained by non-linear dynamic analyses for three sets of recorded and semi-artificial ground motions. A new approach was used for generating semi-artificial ground motions compatible with the target spectrum. This approach preserves the basic characteristics of individual ground motions, whereas the mean spectrum of the whole ground motion set fits the target spectrum excellently. In the parametric study, the R,µ,T relation was determined by assuming a constant reduction factor, while the corresponding ductility was calculated for different ground motions. The mean values proved to be noticeably different from the mean values determined based on a constant ductility approach, while the median values determined by the different procedures were between the two means. The approach employed in the study yields a R,µ,T relation which is conservative both for design and performance assessment (compared with a relation based on median values). Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Earthquake behavior of structures with copper energy dissipatorsEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 3 2004Juan C. De la Llera Abstract The earthquake behavior of structures with supplemental copper dampers is evaluated in this study. The investigation is divided into two parts: (i) an experimental work with seven pairs of hourglass copper dampers of different aspect ratios and side profiles; and (ii) a parametric study of 6-, 12-, and 25-story planar structures with elastic as well as inelastic behavior in the primary structure and copper dampers. The copper used in this study is electrolytic tough pitch (ETP) copper C11000; probably the most commonly used of all coppers; ductile, with a low-yield, and highly resistant to corrosion. Experimental results demonstrate that all copper plates reached stable angular distortions of the order of ,=25%, which implies transverse distortions in the devices larger than 40mm. The behavior of the devices is highly dependent on the aspect ratio of the plate, h/t, and a recommendation is made to use plates in the range 11 h/t,18. Plates beyond this range exhibit either large stress and strain concentrations in the neck of the device or a strong influence of axial deformations in their cyclic behavior. The inelastic earthquake response of structures with such devices shows that drift reduction factors of the order of 30 to 40% can be achieved with reasonably economic designs. It is also shown that the efficiency of these devices depends on the soil conditions and flexibility of the primary structure. Finally, it is concluded that supplemental copper dampers are a good alternative for drift reduction in a wide range of structural layouts, ranging from coupled shear-wall systems to moment-resisting frames, and for impulsive as well as non-impulsive ground motions. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Hybrid platform for vibration control of high-tech equipment in buildings subject to ground motion.EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 8 2003Part 2: analysis Abstract The experimental results of using a hybrid platform to mitigate vibration of a batch of high-tech equipment installed in a building subject to nearby traffic-induced ground motion have been presented and discussed in the companion paper. Based on the identified dynamic properties of both the building and the platform, this paper first establishes an analytical model for hybrid control of the building-platform system subject to ground motion in terms of the absolute co-ordinate to facilitate the absolute velocity feedback control strategy used in the experiment. The traffic-induced ground motion used in the experiment is then employed as input to the analytical model to compute the dynamic response of the building-platform system. The computed results are compared with the measured results, and the comparison is found to be satisfactory. Based on the verified analytical model, coupling effects between the building and platform are then investigated. A parametric study is finally conducted to further assess the performance of both passive and hybrid platforms at microvibration level. The analytical study shows that the dynamic interaction between the building and platform should be taken into consideration. The hybrid control is effective in reducing both velocity response and drift of the platform/high-tech equipment at microvibration level with reasonable control force. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Asymmetric one-storey elastic systems with non-linear viscous and viscoelastic dampers: Earthquake responseEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 4 2003Wen-Hsiung Lin Abstract Investigated are earthquake responses of one-way symmetric-plan, one-storey systems with non-linear fluid viscous dampers (FVDs) attached in series to a linear brace (i.e. Chevron or inverted V-shape braces).Thus, the non-linear damper is viscous when the brace is considered rigid or viscoelastic (VE) when the brace is flexible. The energy dissipation capacity of a non-linear FVD is characterized by an amplitude-dependent damping ratio for an energy-equivalent linear FVD, which is determined assuming the damper undergoes harmonic motion. Although this formulation is shown to be advantageous for single-degree-of-freedom (SDF) systems, it is difficult to extend its application to multi-degree-of-freedom (MDF) systems for two reasons: (1) the assumption that dampers undergo harmonic motion in parameterizing the non-linear damper is not valid for its earthquake-induced motion of an MDF system; and (2) ensuring simultaneous convergence of all unknown amplitudes of dampers is difficult in an iterative solution of the non-linear system. To date, these limitations have precluded the parametric study of the dynamics of MDF systems with non-linear viscous or VE dampers. However, they are overcome in this investigation using concepts of modal analysis because the system is weakly non-linear due to supplemental damping. It is found that structural response is only weakly affected by damper non-linearity and is increased by a small amount due to bracing flexibility. Thus, the effectiveness of supplemental damping in reducing structural responses and its dependence on the planwise distribution of non-linear VE dampers were found to be similar to that of linear FVDs documented elsewhere. As expected, non-linear viscous and VE dampers achieve essentially the same reduction in response but with much smaller damper force compared to linear dampers. Finally, the findings in this investigation indicate that the earthquake response of the asymmetric systems with non-linear viscous or VE dampers can be estimated with sufficient accuracy for design applications by analysing the same asymmetric systems with all non-linear dampers replaced by energy-equivalent linear viscous dampers. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Thermal modeling and simulation of an integrated solid oxide fuel cell and charcoal gasification systemENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, Issue 3 2009C. Ozgur Colpan Abstract In this study we propose a novel integrated charcoal gasification and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system, which is intended to produce electricity and heat simultaneously. This system mainly consists of an updraft gasifier using air and steam as the gasification agents, a planar and direct internal reforming SOFC and a low temperature gas cleanup system. The performance of this system is assessed through numerical modeling using a pre-developed and validated heat transfer model of the SOFC and thermodynamic models for the rest of the components. These models are used to simulate the performance of the cell and system for a case study. In addition, a parametric study is conducted to assess the effect of Reynolds number at the fuel channel inlet of the SOFC on the cell performance, e.g., fuel utilization and power density, and the system performance, e.g., electrical efficiency, exergetic efficiency, and power to heat ratio. The number of stacks is also calculated for different Reynolds numbers to discuss the economical feasibility of the integrated system. The results show that the electrical efficiency, exergetic efficiency and power to heat ratio of this system are 33.31%, 45.72%, and 1.004, respectively, for the base case. The parametric study points out that taking the Reynolds number low yields higher electrical and exergetic efficiencies for the system, but it also increases the cost of the system. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2009 [source] Relation of apical dendritic spikes to output decision in CA1 pyramidal cells during synchronous activation: a computational studyEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 5 2006José M. Ibarz Abstract Recent studies on the initiation and propagation of dendritic spikes have modified the classical view of postsynaptic integration. Earlier we reported that subthreshold currents and spikes recruited by synaptic currents play a critical role in defining outputs following synchronous activation. Experimental factors strongly condition these currents due to their nonlinear behaviour. Hence, we have performed a detailed parametric study in a CA1 pyramidal cell model to explore how different variables interact and initiate dendritic spiking, and how they influence cell output. The input pattern, the relative excitability of axon and dendrites, the presence/modulation of voltage-dependent channels, and inhibition were cross analysed. Subthreshold currents and spikes on synaptically excited branches fired spikes in other branches to jointly produce different modalities of apical shaft spiking with a variable impact on cell output. Synchronous activation initiated a varying number and temporal scatter of firing branches that produced in the apical shaft-soma axis nonpropagating spikes, pseudosaltatory or continuous forward conduction, or backpropagation. As few as 6,10 local spikes within a time window of 2 ms ensure cell output. However, the activation mode varied extremely when two or more variables were cross-analysed, becoming rather unpredictable when all the variables were considered. Spatially clustered inputs and upper modulation of dendritic Na+ or Ca2+ electrogenesis favour apical decision. In contrast, inhibition biased the output decision toward the axon and switched between dendritic firing modes. We propose that dendrites can discriminate input patterns and decide immediate cell output depending on the particular state of a variety of endogenous parameters. [source] Bearing capacity of shallow foundations in transversely isotropic granular mediaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 8 2010A. Azami Abstract The main focus in this work is on the assessment of bearing capacity of a shallow foundation in an inherently anisotropic particulate medium. Both the experimental and numerical investigations are carried out using a crushed limestone with elongated angular-shaped aggregates. The experimental study involves small-scale model tests aimed at examining the variation of bearing capacity as a function of the angle of deposition of the material. In addition, the results of a series of triaxial and direct shear tests are presented and later employed to identify the material functions/parameters. The numerical part of this work is associated with the development and implementation of a constitutive framework that describes the mechanical response of transversely isotropic frictional materials. The framework is based on the elastoplasticity and accounts for the effects of strain localization and inherent anisotropy of both the deformation and strength characteristics. The results of numerical simulations are compared withthe experimental data. A parametric study is also carried out aimed at examining the influence of various simplifications in the mathematical framework on its predictive abilities. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Consolidation around stone columns.INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 7 2009Influence of column deformation Abstract A solution is presented for the radial consolidation around stone columns under constant surcharge load. The solution considers the influence of vertical and radial deformation of the column, either in elastic and elastoplastic regimes. The solution is in terms of the average excess pore pressure in the soil. It is based on previous solutions, initially developed for rigid column, or including only vertical deformation. For elastic column, the solution gives the variation of strains and stresses between the undrained and final states, for which it coincides with the existing elastic solutions. All the results are given in closed form, and both the elastic and plastic deformations of the column lead to an equivalent coefficient of consolidation for the radial flow, which enables the application of the existing methods of integration of the consolidation equation. A parametric study is presented, showing the influence of the main problem features. A design example is used to illustrate the application to practical cases. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Wave-induced progressive liquefaction in a poro-elastoplastic seabed: A two-layered modelINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 5 2009Z. Liu Abstract In this study, the prediction model proposed by Sassa et al. (Geotechnique 2001; 51(10):847,857) for the wave-induced progressive liquefaction in marine sediment, based on two-layered inviscid fluid system, is re-examined. An alternative approach with a similar framework of Sassa et al. (Geotechnique 2001; 51(10):847,857) is developed to correct the inappropriate mechanism of wave components used. Then, a two-layered wave model which includes viscous effects is established and applied to describe the progressive nature of wave-induced liquefaction. A comprehensive comparison shows that Sassa's model overestimates the maximum liquefaction depth. It is found that the viscosity of liquefied soil cannot be ignored and the solution for an infinite seabed is not suitable for liquefaction analysis of shallow seabed. A parametric study demonstrates the significant influence of numerous wave and soil characteristics on the liquefaction depth. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Analytical study of mine closure behaviour in a poro-visco-elastic mediumINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 14 2008H. Wong Abstract This paper is interested in the hydro-mechanical behaviour of an underground cavity abandoned at the end of its service life. It is an extension of a previous study that accounted for a poro-elastic behaviour of the rock mass (Int. J. Comput. Geomech. 2007; DOI: 10.1016/j.compgeo.2007.11.003). Deterioration of the lining support with time leads to the transfer of the loading from the exterior massif to the interior backfill. The in situ material has a poro-visco-elastic constitutive behaviour while the backfill is poro-elastic, both saturated with water. This loading transfer is accompanied by an inward cavity convergence, thereby compressing the backfill, and induces an outward water flow. This leads to a complex space,time evolution of pore pressures, displacements and stresses, which is not always intuitive. In its general setting, a semi-explicit solution to this problem is developed, using Laplace transform, the inversion being performed numerically. Analytical inversion leading to a quasi-explicit solution in the time domain is possible by identifying the characteristic creep and relaxation times of volumetric strains with those of the deviatoric strains, on the basis of a parametric study. A few numerical examples are given to illustrate the hydro-mechanical behaviour of the cavity and highlight the influence of key parameters (e.g. stiffness of backfill, lining deterioration rate, etc.). Further studies accounting for more general material behaviours for the backfill and external ground are ongoing. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Mohr,Coulomb MiniCLoE model Uniqueness and localization studies, links with normality ruleINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 1 2003R. Chambon Abstract This paper is devoted to a parametric study of a plane Mohr,Coulomb CLoE model. As CLoE models are designed with a consistency condition, it is possible to define a normality condition and to study its consequences. The positiveness of the second order work which implies the uniqueness of the solution of a small strain boundary value problem is studied firstly. Then the localization criterion is also studied. It is proved that normality has consequences similar to those for classical elasto plastic models. However if induced anisotropy is introduced in the hypoplastic CLoE model, some conclusions are no longer true. Finally plane strain experimental data are used to identify the parameters of the model. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Effect of element size on the static finite element analysis of steep slopesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 14 2001Scott A. Ashford Abstract The accuracy of the computed stress distribution near the free surface of vertical slopes was evaluated in this study as a function of the element size, including aspect ratio. To accomplish this objective, a parametric study was carried out comparing stresses computed using the finite element method (FEM) to those obtained from a physical model composed of photoelastic material. The results of the study indicate a reasonable agreement between a gelatin model and the FEM model for shear stresses, and an overall good agreement between the two models for the principal stresses. For stresses along the top of the slope, the height of the element tends to be more important than width or aspect ratio, at least for aspect ratios up to 4. In all cases, the greatest difference between the two models occurs in the vicinity of the slope. Specifically, if H is defined as the slope height, an element height of H/10 appears to be adequate for the study of stresses deep within the slope, such as for typical embankment analyses. However, for cases where tensile stresses in the vicinity of the slope face which are critical, such as for the stability analysis of steep slopes, element heights as small as H/32, or higher-order elements, are necessary. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Boundary elements for half-space problems via fundamental solutions: A three-dimensional analysisINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING, Issue 11 2001J. Liang Abstract An efficient solution technique is proposed for the three-dimensional boundary element modelling of half-space problems. The proposed technique uses alternative fundamental solutions of the half-space (Mindlin's solutions for isotropic case) and full-space (Kelvin's solutions) problems. Three-dimensional infinite boundary elements are frequently employed when the stresses at the internal points are required to be evaluated. In contrast to the published works, the strongly singular line integrals are avoided in the proposed solution technique, while the discretization of infinite elements is independent of the finite boundary elements. This algorithm also leads to a better numerical accuracy while the computational time is reduced. Illustrative numerical examples for typical isotropic and transversely isotropichalf-space problems demonstrate the potential applications of the proposed formulations. Incidentally, the results of the illustrative examples also provide a parametric study for the imperfect contact problem. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Dynamic stiffness for piecewise non-uniform Timoshenko column by power series,part I: Conservative axial forceINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING, Issue 5 2001A. Y. T. Leung Abstract The dynamic stiffness method uses the solutions of the governing equations as shape functions in a harmonic vibration analysis. One element can predict many modes exactly in the classical sense. The disadvantages lie in the transcendental nature and in the need to solve a non-linear eigenproblem for the natural modes, which can be solved by the Wittrick,William algorithm and the Leung theorem. Another practical problem is to solve the governing equations exactly for the shape functions, non-uniform members in particular. It is proposed to use power series for the purpose. Dynamic stiffness matrices for non-uniform Timoshenko column are taken as examples. The shape functions can be found easily by symbolic programming. Step beam structures can be treated without difficulty. The new contributions of the paper include a general formulation, an extended Leung's theorem and its application to parametric study. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Passive control of the flow around a square cylinder using porous mediaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 4 2004Charles-Henri Bruneau Abstract The passive control of bluff body flows using porous media is investigated by means of the penalization method. This method is used to create intermediate porous media between solid obstacles and the fluid in order to modify the boundary layer behaviour. The study covers a wide range of two-dimensional flows from low transitional flow to fully established turbulence by direct numerical simulation of incompressible Navier,Stokes equations. A parametric study is performed to illustrate the effect of the porous layer permeability and thickness on the passive control. The numerical results reveal the ability of porous media to both regularize the flow and to reduce the drag forces up to 30%. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Modelling of a downdraft biomass gasifier with finite rate kinetics in the reduction zoneINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 9 2009Prokash C. Roy Abstract A model of a downdraft gasifier has been developed based on chemical equilibrium in the pyro-oxidation zone and finite rate kinetic-controlled chemical reactions in the reduction zone. The char reactivity factor (CRF) in the reduction zone, representing the number of active sites on the char and its degree of burn out, has been optimized by comparing the model predictions against the experimental results from the literature. The model predictions agree well with the temperature distribution and exit gas composition obtained from the experiments at CRF=100. A detailed parametric study has been performed at different equivalence ratios (between 2 and 3.4) and moisture content (in the range of 0,40%) in the fuel to obtain the composition of the producer gas as well as its heating value. It is observed that the heating value of the producer gas increases with the increase in the equivalence ratio and decrease in the biomass moisture content. The effect of divergence angle of the reduction zone geometry (in the range of 30,150°) on the temperature and species concentration distributions in the gasifier has been studied. An optimum divergence angle, giving the best quality of the producer gas, has been identified for a particular height of the reduction zone. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A parametric study of multi-phase and multi-species transport in the cathode of PEM fuel cellsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 8 2008Nada Zamel Abstract In this study, a mathematical model is developed for the cathode of PEM fuel cells, including multi-phase and multi-species transport and electrochemical reaction under the isothermal and steady-state conditions. The conservation equations for mass, momentum, species and charge are solved using the commercial software COMSOL Multiphysics. The catalyst layer is modeled as a finite domain and assumed to be composed of a uniform distribution of supported catalyst, liquid water, electrolyte and void space. The Stefan,Maxwell equation is used to model the multi-species diffusion in the gas diffusion and catalyst layers. Owing to the low relative species' velocity, Darcy's law is used to describe the transport of gas and liquid phases in the gas diffusion and catalyst layers. A serpentine flow field is considered to distribute the oxidant over the active cathode electrode surface, with pressure loss in the flow direction along the channel. The dependency of the capillary pressure on the saturation is modeled using the Leverette function and the Brooks and Corey relation. A parametric study is carried out to investigate the effects of pressure drop in the flow channel, permeability, inlet relative humidity and shoulder/channel width ratio on the performance of the cell and the transport of liquid water. An inlet relative humidity of 90 and 80% leads to the highest performance in the cathode. Owing to liquid water evaporation, the relative humidity in the catalyst layer reaches 100% with an inlet relative humidity of 90 and 80%, resulting in a high electrolyte conductivity. The electrolyte conductivity plays a significant role in determining the overall performance up to a point. Further, the catalyst layer is found to be important in controlling the water concentration in the cell. The cross-flow phenomenon is shown to enhance the removal of liquid water from the cell. Moreover, a shoulder/channel width ratio of 1:2 is found to be an optimal ratio. A decrease in the shoulder/channel ratio results in an increase in performance and an increase in cross flow. Finally, the Leverette function leads to lower liquid water saturations in the backing and catalyst layers than the Brooks and Corey relation. The overall trend, however, is similar for both functions. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The performance of natural draft dry cooling towers under crosswind: CFD studyINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 2 2004Rafat Al-Waked Abstract The thermal performance of a natural draft dry cooling tower (NDDCT) under a crosswind has been investigated using a general-purpose CFD code. A three-dimensional study using the standard k,, turbulence model to simulate airflow in and around an NDDCT has been conducted. A parametric study has been carried out to examine the effect of crosswind velocity profile and air dry-bulb temperature on the thermal performance of an NDDCT. Two approaches have been considered in this study to quantify the crosswind effect. Firstly, simulations have been conducted at the nominal conditions and crosswind effect has been represented by thermal effectiveness parameter. Secondly, the ejected heat from the NDDCT has been maintained at a constant value (285 MW) and the crosswind effect has been represented by the change in the cooling tower approach parameter. After quantifying the effect of the crosswind on the thermal performance, windbreak walls have been introduced as a means of reducing this effect. The results in this paper show the importance of considering the crosswind velocity profile. Moreover, the introduction of windbreak walls has indicated an improvement in reducing the thermal performance losses due to the crosswind. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Application of exergy analysis to various psychrometric processesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 12 2003Bilal A. Qureshi Abstract The relation between work and changes in entropy generation arises from the simultaneous treatment of the first and second laws referred to as exergy (or available energy) analysis. In this paper, we discuss thermodynamic analysis of various psychrometric processes using the concept of exergy. A parametric study of each of the processes is carried out to determine the variation of second-law efficiency as a function of mass flow rate, relative humidity and temperature. Other trends such as variation of temperature with relative humidity are also shown where applicable. Irreversible losses are calculated by applying an exergy balance on each system. In this regard, an engineering equation solver (EES) programme is used, which is unique because it has built-in functions for most thermodynamic and transport properties; removing the need for approximate equations. The concept of total exergy as the sum of thermomechanical and chemical parts is employed in calculating the flow exergies for air and water vapor mixtures. It is shown for some processes investigated that an increase in the relative humidity of the incoming air stream increases second-law efficiency. We notice that a decrease in mass flow rate of fresh air (second incoming stream) in the case of adiabatic mixing decreases the second-law efficiency of the process. Also, it is shown that the mass flow rate (of both water and steam) has almost a linear relationship with relative humidity in the range investigated. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Computer-aided design of a CPW-fed slot antenna for MM-wave applicationsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RF AND MICROWAVE COMPUTER-AIDED ENGINEERING, Issue 1 2004S. K. Padhi Abstract This article presents a comprehensive parametric study with experimental characterization of an inductively coupled CPW-fed slot antenna on a GaAs substrate for MMIC applications. The length, width, and feed inset of the antenna are varied and their influences on the input impedance, bandwidth, and gain are investigated. The parametric study reveals that the slot length is the prime factor for determining the resonant frequency, while the width is used for fine-tuning of resonant frequency and gain-bandwidth product. For the fixed slot dimensions, the feed inset tremendously affects both resonant frequency and input match. The manufactured antenna resonates at 22.4 GHz with a 6.1% impedance bandwidth, 2% gain bandwidth, 2.5-dBi boresight gain, and 5-dB front-to-back (F/B) radiation level. The antenna exhibits bidirectional radiation patterns with almost omnidirectional patterns in the E-plane and a wide beamwidth of 84° 3-dB beam width in the H-plane. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 14, 4,14, 2004 [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||