Numerical and Experimental Comparison of Spinnaker Aerodynamics Close to Curling

When sailing downwind with a spinnaker, the “verge of curling” is one of the common recommendations that sailors follow for efficient sailing. Wind tunnel experiments on spinnaker models conducted by Aubin et al. (2017) in the Twisted Flow Wind Tunnel of the Yacht Research Unit of the University of Auckland have shown that curling can be related to better performance at Apparent Wind Angle ≥ 100°. In the present article, we will focus on the aerodynamic performance jump observed at Apparent Wind Angle AWA = 100°, where the drive force increases up to 15% when the sail starts to flap. Thanks to four triggered HD cameras and coded targets stuck on the sail, three flying shapes of the spinnaker are reconstructed by photogrammetry for different sheet lengths from over trimmed to flapping occurrence. The pimpleFOAM solver from OpenFOAM is used to simulate the aerodynamics of the three rigid extracted flying shapes. Results highlight the ability of the model to simulate the experimental jump observed closed to curling and the significant confinement effect of the roof of the wind tunnel.

Minimization of excess torque in multi-time deployment-folding hinge joints

The paper presents a method for minimizing the torque value of the multi-time deploymentfolding hinges. The objects of research were the hinges assembly of multi-time deployment-folding mechanical devices of solar array, which are used as part of the platforms of spacecraft. A computational analysis of the forces and moments that act in the hinges in the process of their opening and folding is carried out. The minimization of the excessive torque value without changing the design and layout of the hinge is possible by changing the shape of the dependence of the spring drive force on the angle of rotation of the hinge. The possibility of using constant force springs as part of the hinge is considered, the existing design algorithms are improved and a program for calculating the geometric and mechanical characteristics of constant force springs is developed. Experimental data were obtained for measuring the forces of springs of various configurations, showing the dependence of the magnitude of the force on the magnitude of the spring deformation and confirming the efficiency of the proposed calculation algorithm. A prototype of a hinge assembly with a constant force spring drive was developed and manufactured. The possibility of minimizing the excess torque without the need to change the design of the hinge while maintaining its technical characteristics was experimentally confirmed.

Synchronized Molecular-Dynamics Simulation of the Thermal Lubrication of an Entangled Polymeric Liquid

The thermal lubrication of an entangled polymeric liquid in wall-driven shear flows between parallel plates is investigated by using a multiscale hybrid method, coupling molecular dynamics and hydrodynamics (i.e., the synchronized molecular dynamics method). The temperature of the polymeric liquid rapidly increases due to viscous heating once the drive force exceeds a certain threshold value, and the rheological properties drastically change at around the critical drive force. In the weak viscous-heating regime, the conformation of polymer chains is dominated by the flow field so that the polymers are more elongated as the drive force increases. However, in the large viscous-heating regime, the conformation dynamics is dominated by the thermal agitation of polymer chains so that the conformation of polymers recovers more uniform and random structures as the drive force increases, even though the local shear flows are further enhanced. Remarkably, this counter-intuitive transitional behavior gives an interesting re-entrant transition in the stress–optical relation, where the linear stress–optical relation approximately holds even though each of the macroscopic quantities behaves nonlinearly. Furthermore, the shear thickening behavior is also observed in the large viscous-heating regime—this was not observed in a series of previous studies on an unentangled polymer fluid. This qualitative difference of the thermo-rheological property between the entangled and unentangled polymer fluids gives completely different velocity profiles in the thermal lubrication system.

Strength reanalysis and influence line equation of rack system drive force

The paper deals with strength reanalysis of proposed rack system design. At previous analysis it was found out that the structure does not met the safety and reliability conditions due to exceeding allowable stress. After structure modification the next step will be determination of influence line equation for rack system drive force as its effect is time dependent in operation.

Synchronized Molecular-Dynamics Simulation of the Thermal Lubrication of an Entangled Polymeric Liquid

The thermal lubrication of an entangled polymeric liquid in wall-driven shear flows between parallel plates is investigated by using a multiscale hybrid method coupling molecular dynamics and the hydrodynamics (i.e., the synchronized molecular dynamics method). The temperature of the polymeric liquid rapidly increases due to viscous heating once the drive force exceeds a certain threshold value. The rheological properties of the polymeric liquid drastically change at around the critical drive force. In the weak viscous-heating regime, the conformation of polymer chains is dominated by the local shear flow so that the anisotropy of the bond orientation tensor grows as the drive force increases. However, in the large viscous-heating regime, the conformation dynamics is dominated by the thermal agitation of polymer chains so that the bond orientation tensor recovers more uniform and random structures as the drive force increases, even though the local shear flows are further enhanced. Remarkably, these counter-intuitive transitional behaviors give an interesting re-entrant transition in the stress--optical relation, where a linear formalism in the stress--optical relation approximately holds even though each of the macroscopic quantities behaves nonlinearly. The robustness of the linear stress--optical relation is also confirmed in the spatiotemporal evolution at the hydrodynamic level.