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Three-dimensional Simulations (three-dimensional + simulation)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Engineering	31%
Earth and Environmental Science	25%
Physics and Astronomy	18%
Polymers and Materials Science	12%

Selected Abstracts

A Three-Dimensional Simulation of Age-Related Remodeling in Trabecular Bone,

JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 4 2001
J. C. Van Der Linden
Abstract After peak bone mass has been reached, the bone remodeling process results in a decrease in bone mass and strength. The formation deficit, the deficit of bone formation compared with previous resorption, results in bone loss. Moreover, trabeculae disconnected by resorption cavities probably are not repaired. The contributions of these mechanisms to the total bone loss are unclear. To investigate these contributions and the concomitant changes in trabecular architecture and mechanical properties, we made a computer simulation model of bone remodeling using microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) scans of human vertebral trabecular bone specimens. Up to 50 years of physiological remodeling were simulated. Resorption cavities were created and refilled 3 months later. These cavities were not refilled completely, to simulate the formation deficit. Disconnected trabeculae were not repaired; loose fragments generated during the simulation were removed. Resorption depth, formation deficit, and remodeling space were based on biological data. The rate of bone loss varied between 0.3% and 1.1% per year. Stiffness anisotropy increased, and morphological anisotropy (mean intercept length [MIL]) was almost unaffected. Connectivity density increased or decreased, depending on the remodeling parameters. The formation deficit accounted for 69,95%, disconnected trabeculae for 1,21%, and loose fragments for 1,17% of the bone loss. Increasing formation deficit from 1.8% to 5.4% tripled bone loss but only doubled the decrease in stiffness. Increasing resorption depth from 28 to 56 ,m slightly increased bone loss but drastically decreased stiffness. Decreasing the formation deficit helps to prevent bone loss, but reducing resorption depth is more effective in preventing loss of mechanical stiffness. [source]

Three-dimensional simulation of planar contraction viscoelastic flow by penalty finite element method

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 7 2010
Yue Mu
Abstract The planar contraction flow is a benchmark problem for the numerical investigation of viscoelastic flow. The mathematical model of three-dimensional viscoelastic fluids flow is established and the numerical simulation of its planar contraction flow is conducted by using the penalty finite element method with a differential Phan-Thien,Tanner constitutive model. The discrete elastic viscous split stress formulation in cooperating with the inconsistent streamline upwind scheme is employed to improve the computation stability. The distributions of velocity and stress obtained by simulation are compared with that of Quinzani's experimental results detected by laser,doppler velocimetry and flow-induced birefringence technologies. It shows that the numerical results agree well with the experimental results. The numerical methods proposed in the study can be well used to predict complex flow patterns of viscoelastic fluids. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Gas assisted injection molding of a handle: Three-dimensional simulation and experimental verification

POLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 8 2005
A. Polynkin
Methods implemented in a three-dimensional finite element code for the simulation of gas assisted injection molding are described, and predictions compared with the results of molding trials. The emphasis is on prediction of primary gas penetration and plastic wall thickness, including the effects of cooling during a delay before gas injection. For the latter, time dependent heat transfer coefficients at the cavity surface are used, determined in a separate analysis of transient heat conduction through the plastic and the mold tool to the circulating coolant. This shows how the initial value of 25,000 W/m2K falls by about an order of magnitude during the first few seconds of cooling, and also how values vary from cycle to cycle as steady periodic conditions are approached. For a tubular handle molded in polystyrene, with melt flow modeled by a Cross WLF model, comparisons of simulations with sectioned parts show excellent prediction of wall thickness and its variation circumferentially and in bends. The increase in wall thickness due to cooling during a gas delay is accurately modeled, as is the occurrence of a blow out. POLYM. ENG. SCI. 45:1049,1058, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers [source]

Three-dimensional simulation of the ASTEX Lagrangian 1 field experiment with a regional numerical weather prediction model

THE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY, Issue 597 2004
Robert Sigg
Abstract The Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX) first Lagrangian experiment (Lagrangian 1) is here simulated with a modified version of the regional forecast model HIRLAM (High Resolution Limited Area Model). The main modification is that moist turbulent fluxes are accounted for in the model. Trajectory calculations show good agreement with earlier estimations. The initially rather shallow stratocumulus topped marine boundary layer is deepening along the trajectory, and in the end cumulus clouds are formed that penetrate the boundary-layer top. The model predicts this change in cloudiness, but the boundary layer is too shallow in the model. A simulation with modified initial conditions shows improved results, but is still too slow in increasing the boundary-layer depth. Additional factors that influence the boundary-layer growth are: the increase in sea surface temperatures, lower modelled wind speeds, low entrainment rates due to coarse vertical resolution, and synoptic-scale subsidence. An anticyclone at the surface moved slightly northward during the simulation. The anticyclone was accompanied at 500 hPa by a deepening cyclone and, therefore, one would expect synoptic subsidence in the area of the Lagrangian 1. The modelled negative vertical wind component at the boundary-layer top oscillates, and this is examined using spectral analysis. The results show that the vertical velocity is influenced by cumulus clouds on time-scales up to 15 h with a peak at 9 h. The horizontal and vertical wavelengths of the vertical velocity disturbances are estimated from model output to be 400,500 km and 6,10 km, respectively. Using the estimated vertical wavelength and linear theory for hydrostatic inertia,gravity waves, a horizontal wavelength of 350,550 km was calculated for a frequency of 9 h. The model results thus indicate that these types of waves are responsible for the undulating vertical velocity. Finally, an estimation of the synoptic-scale vertical velocity is calculated by filtering out all scales smaller than 15 h from the vertical velocity signal. This results in subsidence both at the beginning and the end of the Lagrangian with vertical velocities between ,0.1 and ,0.4 cm s,1. Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society [source]

Three-dimensional simulations of biofilm growth in porous media

AICHE JOURNAL, Issue 2 2009
D. A. Graf von der Schulenburg
Abstract Biofilm growth occurs in a variety of random porous media in a range of industrial processes; prediction of its growth and subsequent influence on hydrodynamics is hence desirable. In this study, we present the first numerical 3D pore-scale model of biofilm growth in porous media, based on a lattice Boltzmann simulation platform complemented with an individual-based biofilm model (IbM). We use it to explore the coupled interaction between nutrient mass transport, biofilm growth, and hydrodynamics. Biofilm is shown to be very effective at reducing the permeability of porous media, particularly under nutrient limited conditions. We conclude with a direct comparison of 3D and 2D biofilm growth simulations in porous media and show the necessity of performing the simulations in 3D. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009 [source]

Suction vortices and spiral breakdown in numerical simulations of tornado-like vortices

ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE LETTERS, Issue 2 2009
Brian Fiedler
Abstract Three-dimensional simulations of tornado-like vortices are presented. The simulations are from a numerical model of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations, with a Reynolds number, based on scales of the entire recirculating updraft, of up to 4.0 × 104. In a companion axisymmetric model, the theory for the corner flow swirl ratio provides an excellent prediction of the results. For the three-dimensional nonaxisymmetric model, the corner flow swirl ratio is not easily applied a priori, but nonetheless provides a framework for identifying a consistent departure of the three-dimensional simulations from the axisymmetric simulations. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society [source]

Three-dimensional transient free-surface flow of viscous fluids inside cavities of arbitrary shape

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 10 2003
Kyu-Tae Kim
Abstract The three-dimensional transient free-surface flow inside cavities of arbitrary shape is examined in this study. An adaptive (Lagrangian) boundary-element approach is proposed for the general three-dimensional simulation of confined free-surface flow of viscous incompressible fluids. The method is stable as it includes remeshing capabilities of the deforming free-surface, and thus can handle large deformations. A simple algorithm is developed for mesh refinement of the deforming free-surface mesh. Smooth transition between large and small elements is achieved without significant degradation of the aspect ratio of the elements in the mesh. The method is used to determine the flow field and free-surface evolution inside cubic, rectangular and cylindrical containers. These problems illustrate the transient nature of the flow during the mixing process. Surface tension effects are also explored. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Inverse determination of the elastoplastic and damage parameters on small punch tests

FATIGUE & FRACTURE OF ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES, Issue 11 2009
I. PEÑUELAS
ABSTRACT The small punch test (SPT) is very useful in those situations where it is necessary to use small volumes of material. The aim of this paper is to create and validate a methodology for the determination of the mechanical and damage properties of steels from the load-displacement curve obtained by means of SPTs. This methodology is based on the inverse method, the design of experiments, the polynomial curve adjustment and the evolutionary multi-objective optimization, and also allows simulating the SPTs. In order to validate the proposed methodology, the numerical results have been compared with experimental results obtained by means of normalized tests. Two dimensional axisymmetric and three-dimensional simulations have been performed in order to allow the analysis of isotropic and anisotropic materials, respectively. [source]

Using Temperature to Test Models of Flow Near Yucca Mountain, Nevada

GROUND WATER, Issue 5 2003
Scott Painter
Ground water temperatures in the fractured volcanic aquifer near Yucca Mountain, Nevada, have previously been shown to have significant spatial variability with regions of elevated temperatures coinciding roughly with near-vertical north-south trending faults. Using insights gained from one-dimensional models, previous investigators have suggested upwelling along faults from an underlying aquifer as a likely explanation for this ground water temperature pattern. Using a three-dimensional coupled flow and heat-transport model, we show that the thermal high coinciding with the Paintbrush fault zone can be explained without significant upwelling from the underlying aquifer. Instead, the thermal anomaly is consistent with thermal conduction enhanced slightly by vertical ground water movement within the volcanic aquifer sequence. If more than -400 m3/day of water enters the volcanic aquifer from below along a 10 km fault zone, the calculated temperatures at the water table are significantly greater than the measured temperatures. These results illustrate the potential limitations in using one-dimensional models to interpret ground water temperature data, and underscore the value in combining temperature data with fully coupled three-dimensional simulations. [source]

Numerical simulation of bubble and droplet deformation by a level set approach with surface tension in three dimensions

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 9 2010
Roberto Croce
Abstract In this paper we present a three-dimensional Navier,Stokes solver for incompressible two-phase flow problems with surface tension and apply the proposed scheme to the simulation of bubble and droplet deformation. One of the main concerns of this study is the impact of surface tension and its discretization on the overall convergence behavior and conservation properties. Our approach employs a standard finite difference/finite volume discretization on uniform Cartesian staggered grids and uses Chorin's projection approach. The free surface between the two fluid phases is tracked with a level set (LS) technique. Here, the interface conditions are implicitly incorporated into the momentum equations by the continuum surface force method. Surface tension is evaluated using a smoothed delta function and a third-order interpolation. The problem of mass conservation for the two phases is treated by a reinitialization of the LS function employing a regularized signum function and a global fixed point iteration. All convective terms are discretized by a WENO scheme of fifth order. Altogether, our approach exhibits a second-order convergence away from the free surface. The discretization of surface tension requires a smoothing scheme near the free surface, which leads to a first-order convergence in the smoothing region. We discuss the details of the proposed numerical scheme and present the results of several numerical experiments concerning mass conservation, convergence of curvature, and the application of our solver to the simulation of two rising bubble problems, one with small and one with large jumps in material parameters, and the simulation of a droplet deformation due to a shear flow in three space dimensions. Furthermore, we compare our three-dimensional results with those of quasi-two-dimensional and two-dimensional simulations. This comparison clearly shows the need for full three-dimensional simulations of droplet and bubble deformation to capture the correct physical behavior. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

A numerical scheme for strong blast wave driven by explosion

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 12 2006
Kaori Kato
Abstract After the detonation of a solid high explosive, the material has extremely high pressure keeping the solid density and expands rapidly driving strong shock wave. In order to simulate this blast wave, a stable and accurate numerical scheme is required due to large density and pressure changes in time and space. The compressible fluid equations are solved by a fractional step procedure which consists of the advection phase and non-advection phase. The former employs the Rational function CIP scheme in order to preserve monotone signals, and the latter is solved by interpolated differential operator scheme for achieving the accurate calculation. The procedure is categorized into the fractionally stepped semi-Lagrangian. The accuracy of our scheme is confirmed by checking the one-dimensional plane shock tube problem with 103 times initial density and pressure jump in comparison with the analytic solution. The Sedov,Taylor blast wave problem is also examined in the two-dimensional cylindrical coordinate in order to check the spherical symmetry and the convergence rates. Two- and three-dimensional simulations for the blast waves from the explosion in the underground magazine are carried out. It is found that the numerical results show quantitatively good agreement with the experimental data. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Modelling CO formation in the turbulent interstellar medium

MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Issue 1 2010
S. C. O. Glover
ABSTRACT We present results from high-resolution three-dimensional simulations of turbulent interstellar gas that self-consistently follow its coupled thermal, chemical and dynamical evolution, with a particular focus on the formation and destruction of H2 and CO. We quantify the formation time-scales for H2 and CO in physical conditions corresponding to those found in nearby giant molecular clouds, and show that both species form rapidly, with chemical time-scales that are comparable to the dynamical time-scale of the gas. We also investigate the spatial distributions of H2 and CO, and how they relate to the underlying gas distribution. We show that H2 is a good tracer of the gas distribution, but that the relationship between CO abundance and gas density is more complex. The CO abundance is not well-correlated with either the gas number density n or the visual extinction AV: both have a large influence on the CO abundance, but the inhomogeneous nature of the density field produced by the turbulence means that n and AV are only poorly correlated. There is a large scatter in AV, and hence CO abundance, for gas with any particular density, and similarly a large scatter in density and CO abundance for gas with any particular visual extinction. This will have important consequences for the interpretation of the CO emission observed from real molecular clouds. Finally, we also examine the temperature structure of the simulated gas. We show that the molecular gas is not isothermal. Most of it has a temperature in the range of 10,20 K, but there is also a significant fraction of warmer gas, located in low-extinction regions where photoelectric heating remains effective. [source]

Structures of the magnetoionic media around the Fanaroff,Riley Class I radio galaxies 3C 31 and Hydra A

MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Issue 2 2008
R. A. Laing
ABSTRACT We use high-quality Very Large Array (VLA) images of the Fanaroff,Riley Class I radio galaxy 3C 31 at six frequencies in the range 1365,8440 MHz to explore the spatial scale and origin of the rotation measure (RM) fluctuations on the line of sight to the radio source. We analyse the distribution of the degree of polarization to show that the large depolarization asymmetry between the north and south sides of the source seen in earlier work largely disappears as the resolution is increased. We show that the depolarization seen at low resolution results primarily from unresolved gradients in a Faraday screen in front of the synchrotron-emitting plasma. We establish that the residual degree of polarization in the short-wavelength limit should follow a Burn law and we fit such a law to our data to estimate the residual depolarization at high resolution. We discuss how to interpret the structure function of RM fluctuations in the presence of a finite observing beam and how to address the effects of incomplete sampling of RM distribution using a Monte Carlo approach. We infer that the observed RM variations over selected areas of 3C 31, and the small residual depolarization found at high resolution, are consistent with a power spectrum of magnetic fluctuations in front of 3C 31 whose power-law slope changes significantly on the scales sampled by our data. The power spectrum P(f) can only have the form expected for Kolmogorov turbulence [P(f) ,f,11/3] on scales ,5 kpc. On larger scales, we find . We briefly discuss the physical interpretation of these results. We also compare the global variations of RM across 3C 31 with the results of three-dimensional simulations of the magnetic-field fluctuations in the surrounding magnetoionic medium. We infer that the RM variation across 3C 31 is qualitatively as expected from relativistic-jet models of the brightness asymmetry wherein the apparently brighter jet is on the near side of the nucleus and is seen through less magnetoionic material than the fainter jet. We show that our data are inconsistent with observing 3C 31 through a spherically symmetric magnetoionic medium, but that they are consistent with a field distribution that favours the plane perpendicular to the jet axis , probably because the radio source has evacuated a large cavity in the surrounding medium. We also apply our analysis techniques to the case of Hydra A, where the shape and the size of the cavities produced by the source in the surrounding medium are known from X-ray data. We emphasize that it is essential to account for the potential exclusion of magnetoionic material from a large volume containing the radio source when using the RM variations to derive statistical properties of the fluctuations in the foreground magnetic field. [source]

Sintering of porous silicon

PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 1 2003
G. Müller
Abstract In this paper we study the dynamics of pore coarsening in porous silicon during annealing. We model the sintering of pores with two-dimensional and three-dimensional simulations. We compare our simulations with transmission and scanning electron micrographs of experimentally annealed porous silicon samples. Simulations and experiments yield lognormally distributed pore sizes. The quantitative agreement between simulation and experiment shows that minimization of the inner surface energy is the driving force for morphological changes in PS during annealing. Surface diffusion is the dominant mechanism in the reorganization of Si-atoms in PS. [source]

Suction vortices and spiral breakdown in numerical simulations of tornado-like vortices

Numerical simulations of rotors, hydraulic jumps and eddy shedding in the Falkland Islands

ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE LETTERS, Issue 4 2005
P. F. Sheridan
Abstract High-resolution three-dimensional simulations of flows over East Falkland, South Atlantic, are presented. With a temperature inversion upwind, lee waves, rotors and hydraulic jumps are found to occur, giving rise to highly unsteady phenomena such as wakes and eddy shedding. Such flows are known to represent a significant hazard to aviation. Copyright © 2006 Royal Meteorological Society [source]