Finite Element-Based Brownian Dynamics Simulation of Nanofiber Suspensions Using Monte Carlo Method1

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongdong Zhang ◽  
Douglas E. Smith

This paper presents a computational approach for simulating the motion of nanofibers during fiber-filled composites processing. A finite element-based Brownian dynamics simulation (BDS) is proposed to solve for the motion of nanofibers suspended within a viscous fluid. We employ a Langevin approach to account for both hydrodynamic and Brownian effects. The finite element method (FEM) is used to compute the hydrodynamic force and torque exerted from the surrounding fluid. The Brownian force and torque are regarded as the random thermal disturbing effects which are modeled as a Gaussian process. Our approach seeks solutions using an iterative Newton–Raphson method for a fiber's linear and angular velocities such that the net forces and torques, including both hydrodynamic and Brownian effects, acting on the fiber are zero. In the Newton–Raphson method, the analytical Jacobian matrix is derived from our finite element model. Fiber motion is then computed with a Runge–Kutta method to update fiber position and orientation as a function of time. Instead of remeshing the fluid domain as a fiber migrates, the essential boundary condition is transformed on the boundary of the fluid domain, so the tedious process of updating the stiffness matrix of finite element model is avoided. Since the Brownian disturbance from the surrounding fluid molecules is a stochastic process, Monte Carlo simulation is used to evaluate a large quantity of motions of a single fiber associated with different random Brownian forces and torques. The final fiber motion is obtained by averaging numerous fiber motion paths. Examples of fiber motions with various Péclet numbers are presented in this paper. The proposed computational methodology may be used to gain insight on how to control fiber orientation in micro- and nanopolymer composite suspensions in order to obtain the best engineered products.

Author(s):  
Dongdong Zhang ◽  
Douglas E. Smith

This paper presents a computational approach for simulating the motion of nano-fibers during polymer nano-composites processing. A finite element-based Brownian dynamics simulation is proposed to solve the motion of nano-fibers suspended within a viscous fluid. In this paper, a Langevin approach is used to account for both hydrodynamic and Brownian effects. We develop a stand-alone Finite Element Method (FEM) for modeling the hydrodynamic effect exerted from the surrounding fluid. The Brownian effects are regarded as the random thermal disturbing forces/torques, which are modeled as a Gaussian process. Our approach seeks solutions using an iterative Newton-Raphson method for the fiber’s linear and angular velocities such that the net forces and torques, i.e. the combination of hydrodynamic and Brownian effects, acting on the fiber are zero. In the Newton-Raphson method, the analytical Jacobian matrix is derived from our finite element model. Fiber motion is then computed with a Runge-Kutta method to update the fiber positions and orientations as a function of time. Instead of re-meshing the fluid domain as fiber moves, we applied the transformed essential boundary conditions on the boundary of fluid domain, so the tedious process of updating stiffness matrix of finite element model is avoided. Since Brownian disturbance from the fluid molecules is a stochastic process, Monte-Carlo simulation is used to evaluate the motion of a great many fibers associated with different random Brownian forces and torques. The final fiber motion is obtained by averaging a numerous fiber motion paths. Examples of fiber motions with various Péclet numbers are presented in this paper. The proposed computational methodology will be used to gain insight on how to control fiber orientations in micro- and nano-polymer composite suspensions in order to obtain the best engineered products.


1984 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
pp. 1517-1524 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott H. Northrup ◽  
Stuart A. Allison ◽  
J. Andrew McCammon

2002 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 877-902 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Laplante ◽  
T. Chen ◽  
A. Baz ◽  
W. Sheilds

Vibration and sound radiation from fluid-loaded cylindrical shells are controlled using patches of Active Constrained Layer Damping (ACLD). The performance and the enhanced damping characteristics via reduced vibrations and sound radiation in the surrounding fluid is demonstrated both theoretically and experimentally. A prime motivation for this work is the potential wide applications in submarines and torpedoes where acoustic stealth is critical to the effectiveness of missions. A finite element model is also developed to predict the vibration and the acoustic radiation in the surrounding fluid of the ACLD-treated cylinders. The developed model is used to study the effectiveness of the control and placement strategies of the ACLD in controlling the fluid-structure interactions. A water tank is constructed that incorporates test cylinders treated with two ACLD patches placed for targeting specific vibration modes. Using this arrangement, the effectiveness of different control strategies is studied when the submerged cylinders are subjected to internal excitation, and the radiated sound pressure level in the water is observed. Comparisons are made between the experimental results and the theoretical predictions to validate the finite element model.


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