Tackling Variability of Clay to Provide a Robust Binder

Locally available and with infinite recycling possibilities, the use of earth as building material leads to one of the lowest environmental impacts in the construction sector. Recent advances in the earth materials field have been made based on concrete and ceramics technologies to facilitate its uses in dense areas. It is possible to modify clay particle interactions and the material's whole behavior by adding inorganic dispersants and flocculants into clay paste. Earth becomes easy to cast and unmold into formworks, and by removing cement in its composition, poured earth can reach a low CO2 emission rate. Even if this technology is promising, further work has to be performed, as it cannot be implemented on earth from excavation sites with high variability. Tackling the clay nature variability is now the main issue to push this product on the market with robust properties. This research investigates the robustness of the poured earth binder. In this way, several clays (three montmorillonites, two kaolinites, and binary mixes at different proportions) were investigated. Their compacity (C) was determined following the water demand protocol with Vicat apparatus and compared to their consistency properties (liquidity and plasticity limits), and a correlation between these values is established. Different clay pastes prepared at different solid volume fractions were tested to define the influence of the clay nature on the paste consistency evolution. The results showed that clay nature for paste at high solid volume fraction does not influence constituency's evolution when their respectivecompacity is taking into account. It can be suggested that for a clay binder with a consistency close to C, which might be mandatory for poured earth application, only the swelling capacity might influence the mix design.

Heat and mass source effect on MHD double-diffusive mixed convection and entropy generation in a curved enclosure filled with nanofluid

This paper examines the two-dimensional laminar steady magnetohydrodynamic doublediffusive mixed convection in a curved enclosure filled with different types of nanofluids. The enclosure is differentially heated and concentrated, and the heat and mass source are embedded in a part of the left wall having temperature Th (>Tc) and concentration ch (>cc). The right vertical wall is allowed to move with constant velocity in a vertically upward direction to cause a shear-driven flow. The governing equations along with the boundary conditions are transformed into a nondimensional form and are written in stream function-velocity formulation, which is then solved numerically using the Bi-CGStab method. Based on the numerical results, the effects of the dominant parameters such as Richardson number (1 ≤ Ri ≤ 50), Hartmann number (0 ≤ Ha ≤ 60), solid volume fraction of nanoparticles (0.0 ≤ ϕ ≤ 0.02), location and length of the heat and mass source are examined. Results indicate that the augmentation of Richardson number, heat and mass source length and location cause heat and mass transfer to increase, while it decreases when Hartmann number and volume fraction of the nanoparticles increase. The total entropy generation rises by 1.32 times with the growing Richardson number, decreases by 1.21 times and 1.02 times with the rise in Hartmann number and nanoparticles volume fraction, respectively.

Two-Way Coupling Simulation of Solid-Liquid Two-Phase Flow and Wear Experiments in a Slurry Pump

The slurry pump is one of the most important pieces of equipment in mineral transportation and separation systems, and it has complex two-phase flow characteristics and wear mechanisms. By employing numerical and experimental methods, the solid–liquid two-phase flow characteristics and wear patterns were investigated in this study. A two-way coupling discrete phase model (DPM) method was used to predict the flow pattern and the wear location and shows good agreement with the experimental observations. The pump performance characteristics of numerical results under pure water conditions were consistent with the experimental results. The effects of particle parameters and operating conditions on the internal flow field and wear were compared and discussed. The results show that the wear degree increased with the increase in volume flow rate and solid volume fraction. With the increase in particle size, the wear range at the impeller inlet became significantly smaller, but the wear degree became obviously larger. This study provides a basis for reducing the wear and improving the hydraulic performance of slurry pumps.

Applied Mathematical Modelling and Heat Transport Investigation in Hybrid Nanofluids under the Impact of Thermal Radiation: Numerical Analysis

Nanofluids are solid-liquid mixtures that have a dispersion of nanometer-sized particles in conventional base fluids. The flow and heat transmission in an unstable mixed convection boundary layer are affected by the thermal conductivity and dynamic viscosity uncertainty of a nanofluid over a stretching vertical surface. There is time-dependent stretching velocity and surface temperature instability in both the flow and temperature fields. It is possible to scale the governing partial differential equations and then solve them using ordinary differential equations. Cu and Al2O3 nanofluids based on water are among the possibilities being investigated. An extensive discussion has been done on relevant parameters such as the unsteadiness parameter and the mixed convection parameter's effect on solid volume fraction of nanoparticles. In addition, alternative nanofluid models based on distinct thermal conductivity and dynamic viscosity formulas are examined for their flow and heat transmission properties. On the basis of the comparison, it is concluded that the results are spot on for steady state flow.

Experimental analysis of particle clustering in moderately dense gas–solid flow

In collisional gas–solid flows, dense particle clusters are often observed that greatly affect the transport properties of the mixture. The characterisation and prediction of this phenomenon are challenging due to limited optical access, the wide range of scales involved and the interplay of different mechanisms. Here, we consider a laboratory setup in which particles fall against upward-moving air in a square vertical duct: a classic configuration in riser reactors. The use of non-cohesive, monodispersed, spherical particles and the ability to independently vary the solid volume fraction ( $\varPhi _V = 0.1\,\% - 0.8\,\%$ ) and the bulk airflow Reynolds number ( $Re_{bulk} = 300 - 1200$ ) allows us to isolate key elements of the multiphase dynamics, providing the first laboratory observation of cluster-induced turbulence. Above a threshold $\varPhi _V$ , the system exhibits intense fluctuations of concentration and velocity, as measured by high-speed imaging via a backlighting technique which returns optically depth-averaged fields. The space–time autocorrelations reveal dense and persistent mesoscale structures falling faster than the surrounding particles and trailing long wakes. These are shown to be the statistical footprints of visually observed clusters, mostly found in the vicinity of the walls. They are identified via a percolation analysis, tracked in time, and characterised in terms of size, shape, location and velocity. Larger clusters are denser, longer-lived and have greater descent velocity. At the present particle Stokes number, the threshold $\varPhi _V \sim 0.5$ % (largely independent from $Re_{bulk}$ ) is consistent with the view that clusters appear when the typical interval between successive collisions is shorter than the particle response time.

Digital Twin Geometry for Fibrous Air Filtration Media

Computational modeling of air filtration is possible by replicating nonwoven nanofibrous meltblown or electrospun filter media with digital representative geometry. This article presents a methodology to create and modify randomly generated fiber geometry intended as a digital twin replica of fibrous filtration media. Digital twin replicas of meltblown and electrospun filter media are created using Python scripting and Ansys SpaceClaim. The effect of fiber stiffness, represented by a fiber relaxation slope, is analyzed in relation to resulting filter solid volume fraction and thickness. Contemporary air filtration media may also be effectively modeled analytically and tested experimentally in order to yield valuable information on critical characteristics, such as overall resistance to airflow and particle capture efficiency. An application of the Single Fiber Efficiency model is incorporated in this work to illustrate the estimation of performance for the generated media with an analytical model. The resulting digital twin fibrous geometry compares well with SEM imagery of fibrous filter materials. This article concludes by suggesting adaptation of the methodology to replicate digital twins of other nonwoven fiber mesh applications for computational modeling, such as fiber reinforced additive manufacturing and composite materials.

Slip Microrotation Flow of Silver-Sodium Alginate Nanofluid via Mixed Convection in a Porous Medium

In the previous decennium, considerable applications ofnanoparticles have been developed in the area of science. Nanoparticles with micropolar fluid suspended in conventional fluids can increase the heat transfer. Micropolar fluids have attracted much research attention because of their use in industrial processes. Exotic lubricants, liquid crystal solidification, cooling of a metallic plate in a bath, extrusion of metals and polymers, drawing of plastic films, manufacturing of glass and paper sheets, and colloidal suspension solutions are just a few examples. The primary goal of this studywas to see how radiation and velocity slip affect the mixed convection of sodium alginate nanofluid flow over a non-isothermal wedge in a saturated porous media.In this communication, theTiwari and Das model was employed to investigate the micropolarnanofluid flow via mixed convection over aradiated wedge in a saturated porous medium with the velocity slip condition. Nanoparticles of silver (Ag) wreused in asodium alginate base fluid. The intended system of governing equations is converted to a set of ordinary differential equations and then solved applying the finite difference method. Variousfluid flows, temperatures, and physical quantities of interest were examined. The effects of radiation on the skin friction are negligible in the case of forced and mixed convection, whereas radiation increases the skin friction in free convection. It is demonstrated that the pressure gradient, solid volume fraction, radiation, and slip parameters enhance the Nusselt number, whereas the micropolar parameter reduces the Nusselt number.

Macroscopic rheology of non-Brownian suspensions at high shear rates: the influence of solid volume fraction and non-Newtonian behaviour of the liquid phase

Modelling the macroscopic rheology of non-Brownian suspensions is complicated by the non-linear behaviour that originates from the interaction between solid particles and the liquid phase. In this contribution, a model is presented that describes suspension rheology as a function of solid volume fraction and shear rate dependency of both the liquid phase, as well as the suspension as a whole. It is experimentally validated using rotational rheometry ($$\varphi$$ φ ≤ 0.40) and capillary rheometry (0.55 ≤ $$\varphi$$ φ ≤ 0.60) at shear rates > 50 s−1. A modified Krieger-Dougherty relation was used to describe the influence of solid volume fraction on the consistency coefficient, $$K$$ K , and was fitted to suspensions with a shear thinning liquid phase, i.e. having a flow index, $$n$$ n , of 0.50. With the calculated fit parameters, it was possible to predict the consistency coefficients of suspensions with a large variation in the shear rate dependency of the liquid phase ($$n$$ n = 0.20–1.00). With increasing solid volume fraction, the flow indices of the suspensions were found to decrease for Newtonian and mildly shear thinning liquid phases ($$n$$ n ≥0.50), whereas they were found to increase for strongly shear thinning liquid phases ($$n$$ n ≤0.27). It is hypothesized that this is related to interparticle friction and the relative contribution of friction forces to the viscosity of the suspension. The proposed model is a step towards the prediction of the flow curves of concentrated suspensions with non-Newtonian liquid phases at high shear rates.

Turbulent Nanofluid Flow Analysis Passing a Shell and Tube Thermal Exchanger with Kays-Crawford Model

Temperature dissipation in a proficient mode has turned into a crucial challenge in industrial sectors because of worldwide energy crisis. In heat transfer analysis, shell and tube thermal exchangers is one of the mostly used strategies to control competent heat transfer in industrial progression applications. In this research, a numerical analysis of turbulent flow has been conceded in a shell and tube thermal exchanger using Kays-Crawford model to investigate the thermal performance of pure water and different concentrated water-MWCNT nanofluid. By means of finite element method the Reynold-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) and heat transport equations along with suitable edge conditions have been worked out numerically. The implications of velocity, solid concentration, and temperature of water-MWCNT nanofluid on the fluid flow formation and heat transfer scheme have been inspected thoroughly. The numerical results indicate that the variation of nanoparticles solid volume fraction, inflow fluid velocity and inlet temperature mannerism considerably revolutionize in the flow and thermal completions. It is perceived that using 3% concentrated water-MWCNT nanofluid, higher rate of heat transfer 12.24% is achieved compared that of water and therefore to enhance the efficiency of this heat exchanger. Furthermore, a new correlation has been developed among obtained values of thermal diffusion rate, Reynolds number and volume concentration of nanoparticle and found very good correlation coefficient among the values.

Influence of a Darcy-Forchheimer porous medium on the flow of a radiative magnetized rotating hybrid nanofluid over a shrinking surface

In this paper, the heat transfer properties in the three-dimensional (3D) magnetized with the Darcy-Forchheimer flow over a shrinking surface of the $$Cu + Al_{2} O_{3} /$$ C u + A l 2 O 3 / water hybrid nanofluid with radiation effect were studied. Valid linear similarity variables convert the partial differential equations (PDEs) into the ordinary differential equations (ODEs). With the help of the shootlib function in the Maple software, the generalized model in the form of ODEs is numerically solved by the shooting method. Shooting method can produce non-unique solutions when correct initial assumptions are suggested. The findings are found to have two solutions, thereby contributing to the introduction of a stability analysis that validates the attainability of first solution. Stability analysis is performed by employing if bvp4c method in MATLAB software. The results show limitless values of dual solutions at many calculated parameters allowing the turning points and essential values to not exist. Results reveal that the presence of dual solutions relies on the values of the porosity, coefficient of inertia, magnetic, and suction parameters for the specific values of the other applied parameters. Moreover, it has been noted that dual solutions exist in the ranges of $$F_{s} \le F_{sc}$$ F s ≤ F sc , $$M \ge M_{C}$$ M ≥ M C ,$$S \ge S_{C} ,$$ S ≥ S C , and $$K_{C} \le K$$ K C ≤ K whereas no solution exists in the ranges of $$F_{s} > F_{sc}$$ F s > F sc , $$M < M_{c}$$ M < M c , $$S < S_{c}$$ S < S c , and $$K_{C} > K$$ K C > K . Further, a reduction in the rate of heat transfer is noticed with a rise in the parameter of the copper solid volume fraction.