Systems Actuated by Shape Memory Alloys: Identification and Modeling

This paper presents the identification of thermal and mechanical parameters of shape memory alloys by using the heat transfer equation and a constitutive model. The identified parameters are then used to describe the mathematical model of a fiber-elastomer composite embedded with shape memory alloys. To verify the validity of the obtained equations, numerical simulations of the SMA temperature and composite bending are carried out and compared with the experimental results.

Temperature distribution in the three-layered upper mantle beneath a continent

Temperature distribution in the upper mantle underneath the continent, as well as temperature distribution in the lower mantle, is obtained. In the continental lithosphere, the solution to the heat transfer equation is obtained in the model of conduction heat transfer with inner heat within the crust. To calculate the temperature distribution in the upper and lower mantle, we use the results of laboratory and theoretical modeling of free convective heat transfer in a horizontal layer heated from below and cooled from above.

The comparison of a discrete-continuous approach and a method of finite differences in solving the problem of unsteady-state heat and moisture transfer in the building envelope

This article is devoted to the development of methods for calculating heat and humidity regime in the building envelope. The equation of steady-state thermal conductivity with boundary conditions of the third kind and the formula for calculating heat losses of a building based on the heat transfer equation have been considered. The equation of unsteady-state thermal conductivity as well as its solution using the discrete-continual approach has also been studied. The solution of the unsteady-state heat conductivity problem with invariable over time boundary conditions using the discrete-continuous approach was proposed by A.B. Zolotov and P.A. Akimov. The subsequent modernization of the solution was conducted by V.N. Sidorov and S.M. Matskevich. The unsteady-state equation of moisture transfer based on Fick’s second law using the theory of moisture potential is derived. The solution of the unsteady-state moisture transfer equation using the finite difference method according to an explicit difference scheme as well as the solution of the unsteady-state moisture transfer equation using the discrete-continuous approach is demonstrated. To prove the effectiveness of using the discrete-continuous approach in the area of the unsteady-state humidity conditions we compared the calculation results of the distribution of moisture in a single-layer enclosing structure made of aerated concrete using two methods of moisture potential theory. It was found that the difference in the results of calculation by the discrete-continual formula and by the method of finite differences does not exceed 3.2%.