Microphysical Characteristics and Environmental Isotope Effects of the Micro-Droplet Groups under the Action of Acoustic Waves

Acoustics can cause particles/droplets to agglomerate in the air medium, thereby accelerating gravity sedimentation. To assess the microphysical characteristics and environmental isotope effects of micro-droplet groups under the action of acoustic waves, an air chamber experimental platform was established, and 100 groups of controlled experiments were conducted. The characteristic particle size, size spectrum, isotope values, corresponding linear relationships with hydrogen and oxygen, and d values were analyzed. The isotope exchange equation between the micro-droplet groups and environmental water vapor inside the air chamber was investigated. The results showed that the peak size values of the micro-droplet groups increased under the action of acoustic waves. The characteristic particle size (D90) showed a “trigger effect” with the acoustic operation with a positive deviation in the size spectrum and isotope exchange between the micro-droplet groups and environmental water vapor. The relative variations in theoretical values for different sedimentation conditions were consistent with those of the experimental results. Environment isotopes could be used to trace the acoustic agglomeration process of micro-droplets in the future.

The Influence of Co-Precipitation Technique on the Structure, Morphology and Dual-Modal Proton Relaxivity of GdFeO3 Nanoparticles

Nanocrystals of gadolinium orthoferrite (GdFeO3) with morphology close to isometric and superparamagnetic behavior were successfully synthesized using direct, reverse and microreactor co-precipitation of gadolinium and iron(III) hydroxides with their subsequent heat treatment in the air. The obtained samples were investigated by PXRD, FTIR, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements, HRTEM, SAED, DRS and vibration magnetometry. According to the X-ray diffraction patterns, the GdFeO3 nanocrystals obtained using direct co-precipitation have the smallest average size, while the GdFeO3 nanocrystals obtained using reverse and microreactor co-precipitation have approximately the same average size. It was shown that the characteristic particle size values are much larger than the corresponding values of the average crystallite size, which indicates the aggregation of the obtained GdFeO3 nanocrystals. The GdFeO3 nanocrystals obtained using direct co-precipitation aggregate more than the GdFeO3 nanocrystals obtained using reverse co-precipitation, which, in turn, tend to aggregate more strongly than the GdFeO3 nanocrystals obtained using microreactor co-precipitation. The bandgap of the obtained GdFeO3 nanocrystals decreases with decreasing crystallite size, which is apparently due to their aggregation. The colloidal solutions of the obtained GdFeO3 nanocrystals with different concentrations were investigated by 1H NMR to measure the T1 and T2 relaxation times. Based on the obtained r2/r1 ratios, the GdFeO3 nanocrystals obtained using microreactor, direct and reverse co-precipitation may be classified as T1, T2 and T1–T2 dual-modal MRI contrast agents, respectively.

Devising a model of the airflow with dust particles in the intake system of a vehicle’s internal combustion engine

This paper considers the mechanism of malfunction of internal combustion engines that implies the accelerated local wear of parts in individual cylinders as a result of uneven distribution of dust particles that pass through the air filter in the intake system. In order to acquire quantitative data on the effect of the structure of the intake system on the redistribution of dust in engine cylinders, the two-phase flow of air with dust particles in the standard elements of the intake system was mathematically modeled. ANSYS software package was used to solve the problem. A simulation technique was devised in which the airflow was first calculated to determine the boundary conditions for dust, after which the flow of air with particles was calculated. The calculations were carried out in a range of air velocities of 5‒20 m/s in branching channels with diversion angles of 45°, 90°, and 135° for the most characteristic particle sizes of 5‒30 µm. It has been estimated that dust particles deviate from the air streamlines by inertia and can slip through the lateral drain the stronger the larger particle size, diversion angle, and velocity of air. The comparison of the simulation results with experimental data confirmed that in the intake system of some engines, due to uneven particle distribution, there is local abrasive wear in one or more cylinders, which can significantly reduce the resource. This paper shows the need to take into consideration the centrifugation and redistribution of dust in the intake systems during the design, modernization, expert studies to determine the causes of faults associated with faulty operating conditions, as well as to clarify the regulations for the maintenance of existing engines.

Micropolar medium in a funnel-shaped crusher

In this paper, the solution to a coupled flow problem for a micropolar medium undergoing structural changes is presented. The structural changes occur because of a grinding of the medium in a funnel-shaped crusher. The standard macroscopic equations for mass and linear momentum are solved in combination with a balance equation for the microinertia tensor containing a production term. The constitutive equations of the medium describe a linear viscous material with a viscosity coefficient depending on the characteristic particle moment of inertia, the so-called microinertia. A coupled system of equations is presented and solved numerically in order to determine the distribution of the fields for velocity, pressure, viscosity coefficient, and microinertia in all points of the continuum. The numerical solution to this problem is found by using the implicit finite difference method and the upwind scheme.

Anisotropic nature of the capillary stress tensor

The paper describes a micromechanical approach that explores the anisotropic nature of the capillary stress tensor and its evolution in pendular granular materials via Discrete Element Modeling (DEM) simulations. Dimensionless parameters are used to address the conditions under which the contribution of capillarity (or cohesive interparticle forces) to the stress transmission within a Representative Elementary Volume (REV) is expected to be considerable. From a series of suction-controlled conventional triaxial tests, numerical results show that the significance of the capillary stress and the relative magnitude of its mean to deviatoric components is directly connected to the characteristic particle size and applied stress. In addition, it is shown that the anisotropic character of the capillary stress tensor intensifies with increasing suction. Furthermore, a simple shear test is conducted at constant mean stress to reveal the development of deviatoric capillary stresses in the absence of any change in mean stress, which cannot be captured by the commonly used Bishop’s stress expression.

Experimental characterization of firebrand ignition of some wood building materials

Paper presents investigation on behaviour of wood construction material samples (plywood, oriented strand board, chipboard) in laboratory conditions as a result of a heat flux effect from naturally occurring flaming and glowing firebrands. The data of comparing ignition delay time of pine wood and wood-based construction materials (plywood, oriented strand board, chipboard) depending on the size and quantity of firebrands, initial temperature of samples, as well as the presence of air flow in firebrands falling zone is obtained. Ignition probability and conditions of wood construction materials as a result of the thermal effect of flaming and glowing pine firebrands are also studied. The obtained data allowed one to judge that according to chosen experimental parameters, the ignition time decreased with increasing air flow, as well as with an increase in the size and number of particles. It was experimentally confirmed that particle size plays a significant role in igniting of building structure. If the characteristic particle size is less than a certain characteristic value, which can be defined as the ratio of its volume to the surface area in contact with wood, then ignition mode with an abrupt maximum of temperature near phase boundary is not appear.

A Technique for Estimating Liquid Droplet Diameter and Liquid Water Content in Stratocumulus Clouds Using Radar and Lidar Measurements

This paper describes a technique for estimating the liquid water content (LWC) and a characteristic particle diameter in stratocumulus clouds using radar and lidar observations. The uncertainty in LWC estimate from radar and lidar measurements is significantly reduced once the characteristic particle diameter is known. The technique is independent of the drop size distribution. It is applicable for a broad range of W-band reflectivity Z between −30 and 0 dBZ and all values of lidar backscatter β observations. No partitioning of cloud or drizzle is required on the basis of an arbitrary threshold of Z as in prior studies. A method for estimating droplet diameter and LWC was derived from the electromagnetic simulations of radar and lidar observations. In situ stratocumulus cloud and drizzle probe spectra were input to the electromagnetic simulation. The retrieved droplet diameter and LWC were validated using in situ measurements from the southeastern Pacific Ocean. The retrieval method was applied to radar and lidar measurements from the northeastern Pacific. Uncertainty in the retrieved droplet diameter and LWC that are due to the measurement errors in radar and lidar backscatter measurements are 7% and 14%, respectively. The retrieved LWC was validated using the concurrent G-band radiometer estimates of the liquid water path.

Characteristics of Direct Shear and Particle Breakage of Pebble Gravel Materials

Particle size is an important factor affecting the Thermal-Hydraulic-Mechanical (THM) coupling behavior of graveled rock mass, especially for the shear mechanical properties. In this study, three groups of the particle size range and nine particle grading samples are designed for a large-scale direct shear test. The relationships between shear stress and shear displacement, shear strength, stress ratio, shear strength parameters, and particle breakage of pebble gravel are analyzed. The influence of particle size range and grade on the strength and particle breakage of gravel material is discussed. Results show evident particle breakage in the process of direct shear, and the degree of fragmentation is controlled by the normal load and the particle size distribution of the sample. The shear strength of the sample is no longer applicable to Mohr-Coulomb strength theory because of particle breakage that is more in line with the power function relationship. Shear strength of pebble gravel material has scale effect, and a corresponding relationship model between friction coefficient f of material and characteristic particle size of the sample is proposed.