Suction

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Terms modified by Suction

  • suction blister
  • suction curettage
  • suction device
  • suction system
  • suction tip
  • suction trap

  • Selected Abstracts


    Direct Dentin Bonding Technique Sensitivity When Using Air/Suction Drying Steps

    JOURNAL OF ESTHETIC AND RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY, Issue 2 2008
    PASCAL MAGNE DMD
    ABSTRACT Statement of Problem:, Moisture control before and after application of the primer/adhesive components of etch-and-rinse dentin bonding agents is usually achieved using a stream of air delivered by an air syringe. Suction drying with a suction tip is a common alternative for moisture control, but data about the use of suction drying instead of the air syringe is scarce or nonexistent. Purpose:, The purpose of this study was to compare the dentin microtensile bond strength (MTBS) using either the air syringe or the suction tip to control the amount of moisture. Materials and Methods:, Fifteen freshly extracted human molars were divided randomly into three groups of five. A three-step etch-and-rinse dentin bonding agent (OptiBond FL) was used. Group 1 was the control group and utilized air drying alone (with an air syringe) during the placement of the dentin adhesive on the ground-flat occlusal dentin surface. Group 2 also used air drying alone, but teeth were prepared with a standardized MOD cavity. Group 3 utilized suction drying alone in the standardized MOD cavity. All teeth were restored with 1.5-mm-thick horizontal increments of composite resin (Filtek Z100). Specimens were stored in water for 24 hours, then prepared for a nontrimming MTBS test. Bond strength data were analyzed with a Kruskal,Wallis test at p < 0.05. Specimens were also evaluated for mode of fracture and interface characterization using scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis. Results:, The mean MTBSs were not statistically different from one another (p = 0.54) at 54.0 MPa (air-drying, flat dentin), 53.4 MPa (air-drying, MOD), and 49.2 MPa (suction drying, MOD). Microscopic evaluation of failure modes indicated that most failures were interfacial. Failed interfaces, when analyzed under SEM, appeared typically mixed with areas of failed adhesive resin and areas of cohesively failed dentin. Conclusions:, There are no differences in MTBS to human dentin using either the air syringe or the suction tip to control the amount of moisture. The conventional three-step dentin bonding agent used in the present study not only proved insensitive to the moisture-control method but also to the effect of increased polymerization shrinkage stress (ground-flat versus MOD preparation). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Although the effect of common errors on the performance of total-etch adhesives has been investigated, data about the use of suction drying instead of an air syringe is scarce or nonexistent. The present study demonstrated that both the air syringe and the suction tip can be used to control moisture when using etch-and-rinse dentin bonding agents. The conventional three-step dentin bonding agent tested, OptiBond FL, demonstrated low technique sensitivity. [source]


    Characterization of the developmental stages of sucking in preterm infants during bottle feeding

    ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 7 2000
    C Lau
    It is acknowledged that the difficulty many preterm infants have in feeding orally results from their immature sucking skills. However, little is known regarding the development of sucking in these infants. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that the bottle-feeding performance of preterm infants is positively correlated with the developmental stage of their sucking. Infants' oral-motor skills were followed longitudinally using a special nipple/bottle system which monitored the suction and expression/compression component of sucking. The maturational process was rated into five primary stages based on the presence/absence of suction and the rhythmicity of the two components of sucking, suction and expression/compression. This five-point scale was used to characterize the developmental stage of sucking of each infant. Outcomes of feeding performance consisted of overall transfer (percent total volume transfered/volume to be taken) and rate of transfer (ml/min). Assessments were conducted when infants were taking 1-2, 3-5 and 6-8 oral feedings per day. Significant positive correlations were observed between the five stages of sucking and postmenstrual age, the defined feeding outcomes, and the number of daily oral feedings. Overall transfer and rate of transfer were enhanced when infants reached the more mature stages of sucking. We have demonstrated that oral feeding performance improves as infants' sucking skills mature. In addition, we propose that the present five-point sucking scale may be used to assess the developmental stages of sucking of preterm infants. Such knowledge would facilitate the management of oral feeding in these infants. [source]


    Suction Device for Epidermal Grafting in Vitiligo: Employing a Syringe and a Manometer to Provide an Adequate Negative Pressure

    DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 7 2000
    Han-uk Kim MD
    Background. Suction devices for epidermal grafting need a suction pump to provide a negative pressure. The authors have developed a suction device in which a syringe and a manometer are employed to provide a negative pressure. Objective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of our suction device in vitiligo patients. Methods. The suction device was used to obtain epidermal blisters from the donor site. A CO2 laser was employed to remove the depigmented epidermis. The blister roofs of the donor site were harvested and were placed onto the recipient area. Ten patients with stable vitiligo were treated by epidermal grafting. Results. Epidermal blisters were produced by suction in all patients. Also, all 10 patients regained repigmentation. Conclusion. Our suction blister device is simple and inexpensive to make, and it may become an alternative to the other suction devices. [source]


    COLLAPSE-SUBMERGENCE METHOD: SIMPLE COLONOSCOPIC TECHNIQUE COMBINING WATER INFUSION WITH COMPLETE AIR REMOVAL FROM THE RECTOSIGMOID COLON

    DIGESTIVE ENDOSCOPY, Issue 1 2007
    Takeshi Mizukami
    Colonoscopy is a difficult examination to conduct for inexperienced examiners. In an attempt to improve the view, there is often a tendency to overinsufflate air, which causes elongation or acute angulations of the colon and makes passage of the scope difficult. Sakai et al. were the first to describe a simple colonoscopic technique using water infusion instead of air insufflation. We have modified this technique to simplify the procedure further by combining water infusion using disposable syringes with complete air suction from the rectum to the descending colon. With the resultant elimination of the boundary lines between water and air, a good view of the lumen is obtained though the transparent water. With the patient in the left lateral position, this procedure allows the water to flow straight down into the descending colon through the ,collapsed' lumen, and the scope to be easily negotiated through the straightened recto-sigmoid colon and sigmoid-descending colon junction with minimum discomfort. Measurements of the patients' abdominal circumference during colonoscopy showed that colonic distension hardly occurred. Under supervision by the author, six complete novices were allowed to insert the colonoscope within 10 min by this method for one patient per week, as long as the patients did not complain of pain. The average trial number for the first cecal intubation within 10 min was 3.3, and the average success rate during the first 3 months was 58.6%. We believe that this ,collapse-submergence method' is easy to master, even for inexperienced examiners. [source]


    Conservative management of duodenal perforation following endoscopic sphincterotomy

    DIGESTIVE ENDOSCOPY, Issue 2 2005
    Chee Fook Choong
    Overall endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) complication rates of 4,10% and mortality rates of 1.5% have been reported. For those patients who fail conservative therapy, a mortality rate of almost 50% has been reported. This has led some authors to recommended early operation in all duodenal perforations. We report two cases of duodenal perforations following endoscopic sphincterotomy. Perforation was suspected immediately post-ERCP in one case and, in the second case, perforation was evident during ERCP and a biliary stent was inserted. Both of the patients were managed conservatively with bowel rest, nasogastric suction, analgesia and intravenous antibiotics. Although abdominal XR and CT showed extensive intraperitoneal and retroperitoneal gas, both of the patients made an uneventful recovery without surgical management. Based on our experience and literature review, routine surgery is not required in patients with duodenal perforations following endoscopic sphincterotomy. Surgery should be considered in any patients with clinical signs of sepsis, abscess or fluid collection in the retroperitoneum or peritoneum, documented ERCP perforation with cholelithiasis, choledocholithiasis or retained hardware. There are currently no strong data to support the benefits of early routine surgery and management should be tailored individually according to the patient's clinical condition and response to therapy. [source]


    A microfabricated CE chip for DNA pre-concentration and separation utilizing a normally closed valve

    ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 18 2009
    Chen-Hua Kuo
    Abstract A simple, sequential DNA pre-concentration and separation method by using a micro-CE chip integrated with a normally closed valve, which is activated by pneumatic suction, has been developed. The CE chip is fabricated using PDMS. A surface treatment technique for coating a polymer bilayer with an anionic charge is applied to modify the surface of the microchannel. A normally closed valve with anionic surface charges forms a nanoscale channel that only allows the passage of electric current but traps the DNA samples so that they are pre-concentrated. After the pre-concentration step, a pneumatic suction force is applied to the normally closed valve. This presses down the valve membrane, which reconnects the channels. The DNA samples are then moved into a separation channel for further separation and analysis. Successful DNA pre-concentration and separation has been achieved. Fluorescent intensity at the pre-concentration area is increased by approximately 3570 times within 1.9,min of operation. The signals from the separation of ,X174 DNA/HaeIII markers are enhanced approximately 41 times after 100,s of pre-concentration time, as compared with the results using a traditional cross-shaped micro-CE chip. These results clearly demonstrate that successful DNA pre-concentration for signal enhancement and separation analysis can be performed by using this new micro-CE chip. [source]


    New insight into suction and dilution effects in CE coupled to MS via an ESI interface.

    ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 10 2009
    Dilution effect
    Abstract The hyphenation of CE with MS is nowadays accepted as a powerful analytical approach. As far as ESI, the most common interface, is concerned, one challenge is to provide the most sensitive as well as quantitative information, which is quite a difficult task, as it is linked, among other factors, to suction and dilution effects. In the coaxial ESI configuration, it has been previously demonstrated that suction effect depends on many parameters inherent to the ESI interface geometry, the prevailing ones being the CE capillary protrusion from the interface needle, the sheath liquid (SL) and the overall BGE flow rates and velocity profile. In this paper, dilution effect is studied, as the CE electrolyte is mixed with SL at the interface. Considering peak intensity and efficiency, this effect was studied as a function of the various parameters of the interface (capillary protrusion from the SL tube, nebulizing gas, SL and CE electrolyte flow rates) or of the source (skimmer and ESI voltages, drying gas flow rate and temperature). It appears that the dilution effect seems slightly lower than what can be anticipated from the proportions of the liquid flow rates. This study also indicates that suction effect has to be considered first to better understand the dilution phenomenon, as suction effect leads to an increase in peak intensity, before a dilution effect appears. [source]


    Impaired cardiovagal and vasomotor responses to baroreceptor stimulation in type II diabetes mellitus

    EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 7 2003
    E. O. Sanya
    Abstract Background In diabetic patients, impairment of the cardiovagal limb of the baroreflex has been well established. However, the role of sympathetic mediated baroreflex vasomotor control of the blood vessels is not well defined. We therefore assessed the vasomotor responses to sinusoidal baroreceptor stimulation in diabetic patients. Materials and methods We studied 14 type II diabetic patients (age; 57 ± 7 years) and 18 healthy controls (age; 59 ± 11 years). Oscillatory neck suction was applied at 0·1 Hz to assess the sympathetic modulation of the heart and blood vessels, and at 0·2 Hz to assess the effect of parasympathetic stimulation on the heart. Breathing was paced at 0·25 Hz. Spectral analysis was used to evaluate the oscillatory responses of RR-interval and blood pressure. Results The diabetic patients showed a significantly lower RR-interval response (P < 0·05) to the 0·1 Hz neck suction (2·52 ± 0·50,3·62 ± 0·54 ln ms2) than the controls (4·23 ± 0·31,6·74 ± 0·36 ln ms2). The increase in power of 0·1 Hz systolic blood pressure oscillations during 0·1 Hz suction was also significantly smaller (P < 0·05) in the diabetics (1·17 ± 0·44,1·69 ± 0·44 mmHg2) than in the controls (1·60 ± 0·29 mmHg2,5·87 ± 1·25 mmHg2). The magnitude of the peak of the 0·2 Hz oscillation in the RR-interval in response to 0·2 Hz neck stimulation was significantly greater (P < 0·05) in the controls (3·42 ± 0·46 ln ms2) than in the diabetics (1·58 ± 0·44 ln ms2). Conclusion In addition to cardiovagal dysfunction, baroreflex-mediated sympathetic modulation of the blood vessels is impaired in type II diabetic patients. [source]


    Effects of age on the cardiac and vascular limbs of the arterial baroreflex

    EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 1 2003
    C. M. Brown
    Abstract Background Healthy ageing has several effects on the autonomic control of the circulation. Several studies have shown that baroreflex-mediated vagal control of the heart deteriorates with age, but so far there is little information regarding the effect of ageing on sympathetically mediated baroreflex responses. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of ageing on baroreflex control of the heart and blood vessels. Materials and Methods In 40 healthy volunteers, aged 20,87 years, we applied oscillatory neck suction at 0·1 Hz to assess the sympathetic modulation of the heart and blood vessels and at 0·2 Hz to assess the effect of parasympathetic stimulation on the heart. Breathing was maintained at 0·25 Hz. Blood pressure, electrocardiographic RR intervals and respiration were recorded continuously. Spectral analysis was used to evaluate the magnitude of the low-frequency (0·03,0·14 Hz) and high-frequency (0·15,0·50 Hz) oscillations in the RR interval and blood pressure. Responses to neck suction were assessed as the change in power of the RR interval and blood pressure fluctuations at the stimulation frequency from baseline values. Results Resting low- and high-frequency powers of the RR interval decreased significantly with age (P < 0·01). However, the low-frequency power of systolic blood pressure did not correlate with age. Spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity (alpha-index) showed a significant inverse correlation with age (r = ,0·46, P < 0·05). Responses of the RR interval and systolic blood pressure to 0·1 Hz neck suction stimulation were not related to age, however, the RR interval response to 0·2 Hz neck suction declined significantly with age (r = ,0·61, P < 0·01). Conclusions These results confirm an age-related decrease in cardiovagal baroreflex responses. However, sympathetically mediated baroreflex control of the blood vessels is preserved with age. [source]


    Effect of temperature on water retention phenomena in deformable soils: theoretical and experimental aspects

    EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 1 2010
    S. Salager
    In this paper, a theoretical and experimental investigation of the effect of temperature on water retention phenomena in deformable soils is presented. A general law expressing the change in suction with water content, temperature and void ratio is proposed theoretically. This law accounts for the influence of density and temperature on water retention. It also provides a general framework which appears to be well-adapted to describe many particular cases. The effect of temperature is studied through a predictive relationship which is established in this framework. This relationship allows us to obtain the water retention curve at any temperature from that at a reference temperature, thus reducing strongly the number of tests required to characterize the thermo-hydraulic behaviour of a soil. The relevance of this relationship was experimentally verified from new tests as well as the results previously reported in the literature. The new tests were performed on two model media, namely, a terracotta ceramic and a clayey-silty sand. The tests taken from the literature concerned two different clays. Comparison between theoretical prediction and experimental data was particularly promising and shows the capability of the model to cover a wide range of soils. [source]


    Material stiffness, branching pattern and soil matric potential affect the pullout resistance of model root systems

    EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 6 2007
    S. B. Mickovski
    Summary Understanding of the detailed mechanisms of how roots anchor in and reinforce soil is complicated by the variability and complexity of both materials. This study controlled material stiffness and architecture of root analogues, by using rubber and wood, and also employed real willow root segments, to investigate the effect on pullout resistance in wet and air-dry sand. The architecture of model roots included either no laterals (tap-root) or a single pair at two different locations (herringbone and dichotomous). During pullout tests, data on load and displacement were recorded. These studies were combined with Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) image analysis of the model root-soil system at a transparent interface during pullout to increase understanding of mechanical interactions along the root. Model rubber roots with small stiffness had increasing pullout resistance as the branching and the depth of the lateral roots increased. Similarly, with the stiff wooden root models, the models with lateral roots embedded deeper showed greatest resistance. PIV showed that rubber model roots mobilized their interface shear strength progressively whilst rigid roots mobilized it equally and more rapidly over the whole root length. Soil water suction increased the pullout resistance of the roots by increasing the effective stress and soil strength. Separate pullout tests conducted on willow root samples embedded in sand showed similar behaviour to the rigid model roots. These tests also demonstrated the effect of the root curvature and rough interface on the maximum pullout resistance. [source]


    On the capillary stress tensor in wet granular materials

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 10 2009
    L. Scholtès
    Abstract This paper presents a micromechanical study of unsaturated granular media in the pendular regime, based on numerical experiments using the discrete element method, compared with a microstructural elastoplastic model. Water effects are taken into account by adding capillary menisci at contacts and their consequences in terms of force and water volume are studied. Simulations of triaxial compression tests are used to investigate both macro and micro-effects of a partial saturation. The results provided by the two methods appear to be in good agreement, reproducing the major trends of a partially saturated granular assembly, such as the increase in the shear strength and the hardening with suction. Moreover, a capillary stress tensor is exhibited from capillary forces by using homogenization techniques. Both macroscopic and microscopic considerations emphasize an induced anisotropy of the capillary stress tensor in relation with the pore fluid distribution inside the material. Insofar as the tensorial nature of this fluid fabric implies shear effects on the solid phase associated with suction, a comparison has been made with the standard equivalent pore pressure assumption. It is shown that water effects induce microstructural phenomena that cannot be considered at the macro level, particularly when dealing with material history. Thus, the study points out that unsaturated soil stress definitions should include, besides the macroscopic stresses such as the total stress, the microscopic interparticle stresses such as the ones resulting from capillary forces, in order to interpret more precisely the implications of the pore fluid on the mechanical behaviour of granular materials. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    A hypoplastic model for mechanical response of unsaturated soils

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 15 2008
    David Ma
    Abstract A new constitutive model is developed for the mechanical behaviour of unsaturated soils based on the theory of hypoplasticity and the effective stress principle. The governing constitutive relations are presented and their application is demonstrated using several experimental data from the literature. Attention is given to the stiffening effect of suction on the mechanical response of unsaturated soils and the phenomenon of wetting-induced collapse. All model parameters have direct physical interpretation, procedures for their quantification from test data are highlighted. Quantitative predictions of the model are presented for wetting, drying and constant suction tests. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Implicit integration of a chemo-plastic constitutive model for partially saturated soils

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 14 2008
    H. W. Zhang
    Abstract A chemo-plastic constitutive model for partially saturated soils is proposed in this paper based on the existing models developed in Hueckel (Int. J. Numer. Anal. Meth. Geomech. 1997; 21:43,72) and Gallipoli et al. (Geotechnique 2003; 53:123,135). The chemical softening effects due to the increase in contaminant mass concentration are considered based on Hueckel's chemo-plastic model. Gallipoli's model is used to simulate the effects of suction and degree of saturation on mechanical behavior of partially saturated porous materials. In order to implement the proposed model in a finite element code, a fully implicit backward-Euler integration algorithm is put forward. Numerical solutions for the tests at local level and the application of the algorithm to the real boundary value problem demonstrate the accuracy and convergence properties of the proposed integration scheme. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    A density-dependent elastoplastic hydro-mechanical model for unsaturated compacted soils

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 11 2007
    D. A. Sun
    Abstract This paper presents a three-dimensional elastoplastic constitutive model for predicting the hydraulic and mechanical behaviour of unsaturated soils. It is based on experimental results obtained from a series of controlled-suction triaxial tests on unsaturated compacted clay with different initial densities. Hydraulic hysteresis in the water-retention behaviour is modelled as an elastoplastic process, with the elastic part modelled by a series of scanning curves and the elastoplastic part modelled by the main drying and wetting curves. The effect of void ratio on the water-retention behaviour is studied using data obtained from controlled-suction wetting,drying cyclic tests on unsaturated compacted clay with different initial densities. The effect of the degree of saturation on the stress,strain-strength behaviour and the effect of void ratio on the water-retention behaviour are considered in the model, as is the effect of suction on the hydraulic and mechanical behaviour. The initial density dependency of the compacted soil behaviour is modelled by experimental relationships between the initial density and the corresponding yield stress and, thereby, between the initial density and the normal compression line. The model is generalized to three-dimensional stress states by assuming that the shapes of the failure and yield surfaces in the deviatoric stress plane are given by the Matsuoka,Nakai criterion. Model predictions of the stress,strain and water-retention behaviour are compared with those obtained from triaxial tests with different initial densities under isotropic compression, triaxial compression and triaxial extension, with or without variation in suction. The comparisons indicate that the model accurately predicts the hydraulic and mechanical behaviour of unsaturated compacted soils with different initial densities using the same material constant. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    A unified bounding surface plasticity model for unsaturated soils

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 3 2006
    A.R. Russell
    Abstract A unified constitutive model for unsaturated soils is presented in a critical state framework using the concepts of effective stress and bounding surface plasticity theory. Consideration is given to the effects of unsaturation and particle crushing in the definition of the critical state. A simple isotropic elastic rule is adopted. A loading surface and a bounding surface of the same shape are defined using simple and versatile functions. The bounding surface and elastic rules lead to the existence of a limiting isotropic compression line, towards which the stress trajectories of all isotropic compression load paths approach. A non-associated flow rule of the same general form is assumed for all soil types. Isotropic hardening/softening occurs due to changes in plastic volumetric strains as well as suction for some unsaturated soils, enabling the phenomenon of volumetric collapse upon wetting to be accounted for. The model is used to simulate the stress,strain behaviour observed in unsaturated speswhite kaolin subjected to three triaxial test load paths. The fit between simulation and experiment is improved compared to that of other constitutive models developed using conventional Cam-Clay-based plasticity theory and calibrated using the same set of data. Also, the model is used to simulate to a high degree of accuracy the stress,strain behaviour observed in unsaturated Kurnell sand subjected to two triaxial test load paths and the oedometric compression load path. For oedometric compression theoretical simulations indicate that the suction was not sufficiently large to cause samples to separate from the confining ring. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Thermal effects in partially saturated soils: a constitutive model

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 9 2005
    Gabriella Bolzon
    Abstract The present paper is centred on the assessment of an elastic,plastic model for partially saturated soils, earlier proposed by the authors, for its predictive capability with respect to temperature changes, on the light of available experimental results. The model is cast within a constitutive framework that uses Bishop's stress and suction as main variables governing the volumetric response of the material. Some enhancement to the original temperature-independent formulation is proposed. In particular, functions describing the yield surface and the compressibility modulus are modified to account for the shrinking of the elastic domain and for the increase of irreversible volumetric strain with heating. Some examples illustrate the main features of the present proposal. Comparison with some experimental results is also included. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    A double structure generalized plasticity model for expansive materials

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 8 2005
    Marcelo Sánchez
    Abstract The constitutive model presented in this work is built on a conceptual approach for unsaturated expansive soils in which the fundamental characteristic is the explicit consideration of two pore levels. The distinction between the macro- and microstructure provides the opportunity to take into account the dominant phenomena that affect the behaviour of each structural level and the main interactions between them. The microstructure is associated with the active clay minerals, while the macrostructure accounts for the larger-scale structure of the material. The model has been formulated considering concepts of classical and generalized plasticity theories. The generalized stress,strain rate equations are derived within a framework of multidissipative materials, which provides a consistent and formal approach when there are several sources of energy dissipation. The model is formulated in the space of stresses, suction and temperature; and has been implemented in a finite element code. The approach has been applied to explaining and reproducing the behaviour of expansive soils in a variety of problems for which experimental data are available. Three application cases are presented in this paper. Of particular interest is the modelling of an accidental overheating, that took place in a large-scale heating test. This test allows the capabilities of the model to be checked when a complex thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) path is followed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Effect of suction on the mechanical behaviour of iron ore rock

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 8 2005
    Dragan Grgic
    Abstract The effect of suction on the behaviour of iron ore has been studied from both physical and mechanical points of view. The porosity and the suction phenomena have been analysed using different experimental techniques. Uniaxial compressive tests on partially saturated samples have shown that the suction is responsible for strength and cohesion improvement. Considering the theory of partially saturated porous soils of Coussy and Dangla (Mécanique des sols non saturés (2002 edn). Hermès Science: 2002; 390), we have proposed a constitutive law for partially saturated iron ore. The real increase in the apparent cohesion due to the capillary attraction forces is overestimated if the yield function is written in terms of effective stresses. The effect of the capillary cohesion has been modelled with a function in the expression of the apparent cohesion of the yield function. The effect of suction on the mechanical behaviour has been represented in the effective stresses space and in the total stresses space like the Alonso model (Géotechnique 1990; 40:405,430). Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Fabric evolution during hydromechanical loading of a compacted silt

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 6 2004
    Olivier Cuisinier
    Abstract A study was undertaken on a compacted silt to determine fabric modifications induced by suction and/or stress variations. The link between fabric and hydromechanical behaviour was also investigated. A suction-controlled oedometer, using air overpressure, was developed for this purpose and mercury intrusion porosimetry was employed to determine sample fabric. The initial samples fabric was made of macro and micropores. It was shown that suction increase produced a strong decrease in the macroporosity associated with an increase in microporosity. However, some macropores were not significantly affected by the suction increase; this phenomenon might be related to the initial fabric of the samples. Second, it appears that loading under saturated conditions also produces strong fabric modification: the higher the applied stress, the lower the macroporosity. Soil fabric depends on the maximum stress experienced by the soil. Finally, some tests have shown the influence of suction, as well as the role of the degree of saturation, on the deformation process and the mechanical behaviour. The test results show that in the case of unsaturated mechanical loading, all macropores are not destroyed by the mechanical loading. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Finite element formulation and algorithms for unsaturated soils.

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 9 2003
    Part I: Theory
    Abstract This paper presents a complete finite-element treatment for unsaturated soil problems. A new formulation of general constitutive equations for unsaturated soils is first presented. In the incremental stress,strain equations, the suction or the pore water pressure is treated as a strain variable instead of a stress variable. The global governing equations are derived in terms of displacement and pore water pressure. The discretized governing equations are then solved using an adaptive time-stepping scheme which automatically adjusts the time-step size so that the integration error in the displacements and pore pressures lies close to a specified tolerance. The non-linearity caused by suction-dependent plastic yielding, suction-dependent degree of saturation, and saturation-dependent permeability is treated in a similar way to the elastoplasticity. An explicit stress integration scheme is used to solve the constitutive stress,strain equations at the Gauss point level. The elastoplastic stiffness matrix in the Euler solution is evaluated using the suction as well as the stresses and hardening parameters at the start of the subincrement, while the elastoplastic matrix in the modified Euler solution is evaluated using the suction at the end of the subincrement. In addition, when applying subincrementation, the same rate is applied to all strain components including the suction. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Modelling of elastoplastic damage in concrete due to desiccation shrinkage

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 8 2002
    F. Bourgeois
    We present a numerical modelling of elastoplastic damage due to drying shrinkage of concrete in the framework of mechanics of partially saturated porous media. An elastoplastic model coupled with isotropic damage is first formulated. Two plastic flow mechanisms are involved, controlled by applied stress and suction, respectively. A general concept of net effective stress is used in take into account effects of capillary pressure and material damage on stress-controlled plastic deformation. Damage evolution depends both on elastic and plastic strains. The model's parameters are determined or chosen from relevant experimental data. Comparisons between numerical simulations and experimental data are presented to show the capacity of model to reproduce mains features of concrete behaviour under mechanical loading and during drying shrinkage of concrete. An example of application concerning drying of a concrete wall is finally presented. The results obtained allow to show potential capacity of proposed model for numerical modelling of complex coupling processes in concrete structures. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Microstructural deformation mechanisms of unsaturated granular soils

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 5 2002
    J. A. Gili
    Abstract A discrete model for unsaturated granular soils has been developed. Three discrete entities have been defined: particles, water menisci and pores. Local interaction forces and water transfer mechanisms have been integrated into a model through the appropriate equilibrium and balance equations. The results of several numerical tests using this model have been described and discussed. Simulations include wetting and drying under load tests, the application of suction cycles and the effect of a deviatoric stress ratio on wetting-induced collapse. The model reacts just as true granular soil samples behave in laboratory tests. The model provides a new insight into the internal mechanisms leading to large-scale features of behaviour such as wetting-induced collapse or the increase in soil strength provided by suction. The paper also stresses that matric suction changes acting on a granular structure are capable of explaining most of the macroscopic features of stress,strain behaviour. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Solution of the unsaturated soil moisture equation using repeated transforms

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 15 2001
    S. G. Fityus
    Abstract An alternative method of solution for the linearized ,theta-based' form of the Richards equation of unsaturated flow is developed in two spatial dimensions. The Laplace and Fourier transformations are employed to reduce the Richards equation to an ordinary differential equation in terms of a transformed moisture content and the transform variables, s and ,. Separate analytic solutions to the transformed equation are developed for initial states which are either in equilibrium or dis-equilibrium. The solutions are assembled into a finite layer formulation satisfying continuity of soil suction, thereby facilitating the analysis of horizontally stratified soil profiles. Solution techniques are outlined for various boundary conditions including prescribed constant moisture content, prescribed constant flux and flux as a function of moisture change. Example solutions are compared with linearized finite element solutions. The agreement is found to be good. An adaptation of the method for treating the quasilinearized Richards equation with variable diffusivity is also described. Comparisons of quasilinear solutions with some earlier semi-analytical, finite element and finite difference results are also favourable. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Effects of chemical reaction, heat and mass transfer on non-linear MHD flow over an accelerating surface with heat source and thermal stratification in the presence of suction or injection

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 7 2003
    S. P. Anjali Devi
    Abstract An approximate numerical solution for the steady MHD laminar boundary-layer flow over an accelerating vertical surface with suction or injection in the presence of species concentration and mass diffusion has been obtained by solving the governing equations using R.K. Gill method. The fluid is assumed to be viscous, incompressible and electrically conducting with a magnetic field applied transversely to the direction of the flow. It has been observed that in the presence of mass diffusion: (i) in the case of suction, the velocity decreases and the temperature distribution and concentration of the fluid increase and for injection, the velocity increases and the temperature distribution and concentration of the fluid decrease with increase of thermal stratification parameter, (ii) in the presence of thermal stratification parameter in both the cases of suction and injection, the skin friction and rate of mass transfer decrease and the rate of heat transfer of the fluid increases with increase of chemical reaction effects, (iii) in the cases of suction and injection, an increase in the strength of magnetic field leads to fall in the velocity and rise in the temperature and concentration of the fluid along the surface. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Analysis of velocity equation of steady flow of a viscous incompressible fluid in channel with porous walls

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 9 2010
    M. Babaelahi
    Abstract Steady flow of a viscous incompressible fluid in a channel, driven by suction or injection of the fluid through the channel walls, is investigated. The velocity equation of this problem is reduced to nonlinear ordinary differential equation with two boundary conditions by appropriate transformation and convert the two-point boundary-value problem for the similarity function into an initial-value problem in which the position of the upper channel. Then obtained differential equation is solved analytically using differential transformation method and compare with He's variational iteration method and numerical solution. These methods can be easily extended to other linear and nonlinear equations and so can be found widely applicable in engineering and sciences. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Prediction of entrance length and mass suction rate for a cylindrical sucking funnel

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 6 2010
    Dipti Prasad Mishra
    Abstract Conservation equations for mass, momentum and energy have been solved numerically for a cylindrical funnel with louvers (lateral openings on the side wall of the cylindrical funnel through which air can come into it) to compute the suction rate of air into the funnel. The nozzle placed centrally at the bottom of the cylinder ejects high-velocity hot gaseous products so that atmospheric air gets sucked into the funnel. The objective of the work is to compute the ratio of the rate of mass suction to that of the mass ejected by the nozzle for different operating conditions and geometrical size of the funnel. From the computation it has been found that there exists optimum funnel diameter and optimum funnel height for which the mass suction is the highest. The protruding length of the nozzle into the funnel has almost no effect on the mass suction rate after a certain funnel height. The louvers opening area has a very high impact on the mass suction rate. The entrance length for such a sucking funnel is strikingly much lower compared with a simple cylindrical pipe having uniform flow at the inlet at same Reynolds number. A new correlation has been developed to propose the entrance length for a sucking pipe, the rate of mass suction into it and the exhaust plume temperature over a wide range of operating parameters that are normally encountered in a general funnel operations of naval or merchant ship. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Drag reduction by flow separation control on a car after body

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 11 2009
    Mathieu Rouméas
    Abstract New development constraints prompted by new pollutant emissions and fuel consumption standards (Corporate Average Economy Fuel) require that automobile manufacturers develop new flow control devices capable of reducing the aerodynamic drag of motor vehicles. The solutions envisaged must have a negligible impact on the vehicle geometry. In this context, flow control by continuous suction is seen as a promising alternative. The control configurations identified during a previous 2D numerical analysis are adapted for this purpose and are tested on a 3D geometry. A local suction system located on the upper part of the rear window is capable of eliminating the rear window separation on simplified fastback car geometry. Aerodynamic drag reductions close to 17% have been obtained. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Görtler vortices in Falkner,Skan flows with suction and blowing

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 3 2008
    O. John E. MatssonArticle first published online: 15 MAY 200
    Abstract In this paper, we use nonlinear calculations to study curved boundary-layer flows with pressure gradients and self-similar suction or blowing. For an accelerated outer flow, stabilization occurs in the linear region while the saturation amplitude of vortices is larger than for flows with a decelerating outer flow. The combined effects of boundary-layer suction and a favourable pressure gradient can give a significant stabilization of the flow. Streamwise vortices can be amplified on both concave and convex walls for decelerated Falkner,Skan flow with an overshoot in the velocity profile. The disturbance amplitude is generally lower far downstream compared with profiles without overshoot. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Vortex surface method: some numerical problems of the potential calculation

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 8 2001
    T. Belamri
    Abstract The singularities method is used to analyze the flow around an isolated profile or through a plane cascade. In this paper, a numerical study has been developed in order to discuss the accuracy of solutions. The aims of this study are summarized as follows: (1) to expose the elements that influence the method,precision in the geometrical profile definition, trailing-edge geometry, smoothing problems, number of discretization points, precision of calculation, etc.; (2) to provide an accurate solution for these different problems. For example, some profiles, obtained by the Joukowski transformation, present, in spite of an analytical definition, a crossing of the suction and pressure sides at the trailing edge. This crossing causes a serious error in the velocity field computation. A new procedure to solve this problem is presented. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]