Deformation Mechanism Analysis of Three-Roller Continuous and Synchronous Calibration Process of Straightness and Roundness For LSAW Pipes

Continuous and synchronous calibration process of straightness and roundness for LSAW (Longitudinally Submerged Arc Welding, LSAW) pipes with three rollers is a bidirectional reciprocating bending process that includes axial and circumferential directions. It is particularly important to reveal the deformation mechanism, which provides theoretical support for the calibration process to be applied to actual production. Based on this, through the combination of references, theoretical analysis and numerical simulation, the deformation mechanism is analyzed in this paper. The whole deformation process of pipe is modeled and then numerically simulated with FEM software of ABAQUS. The results show that reciprocating bending can eliminate the difference of initial curvature, so that the axial curvature and circumferential curvature are unified to the same direction and value respectively. The synergy between the axial reciprocating bending straightening process and the circumferential reciprocating bending rounding process realizes the calibration process of LSAW pipes. The simulation results support the theoretical results, and the deformation is mainly caused by axial stress and circumferential stress.

Elastin-Dependent Aortic Heart Valve Leaflet Curvature Changes During Cyclic Flexure

The progression of calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is characterized by extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, leading to structural abnormalities and improper valve function. The focus of the present study was to relate aortic valve leaflet axial curvature changes as a function of elastin degradation, which has been associated with CAVD. Circumferential rectangular strips (L × W = 10 × 2.5 mm) of normal and elastin-degraded (via enzymatic digestion) porcine AV leaflets were subjected to cyclic flexure (1 Hz). A significant increase in mean curvature (p < 0.05) was found in elastin-degraded leaflet specimens in comparison to un-degraded controls at both the semi-constrained (50% of maximum flexed state during specimen bending and straightening events) and fully-constrained (maximally-flexed) states. This significance did not occur in all three flexed configurations when measurements were performed using either minimum or maximum curvature. Moreover, the mean curvature increase in the elastin-degraded leaflets was most pronounced at the instance of maximum flexure, compared to un-degraded controls. We conclude that the mean axial curvature metric can detect distinct spatial changes in aortic valve ECM arising from the loss in bulk content and/or structure of elastin, particularly when there is a high degree of tissue bending. Therefore, the instance of maximum leaflet flexure during the cardiac cycle could be targeted for mean curvature measurements and serve as a potential biomarker for elastin degradation in early CAVD remodeling.

Turbulent wake behind a curved circular cylinder

This paper reports results from a direct numerical simulation of the flow past a circular cylinder with axial curvature. The main objective is to explore the effects of spanwise curvature on the stability of the shear layers and the turbulent wake at the subcritical Reynolds number of 3900. The bluff-body geometry is adapted from a previous study conducted at lower Reynolds numbers, in which a quarter segment of a ring represented the deformed cylinder. A convex configuration in which the free-stream direction is towards the outer face of the ring is adopted here. The present results show a striking distinction between the upper and lower wake regions. Despite the turbulent character of the wake, the upper wake region is more coherent due to the periodic vortex shedding of primary vortical structures, which are in close alignment with the axial curvature. A mild axial flow develops upwards along the lee face of the curved cylinder, displacing the vortex formation region further downstream from the location expected for a straight cylinder at the same Reynolds number. In the lower wake region the vortex shedding strength is drastically reduced due to larger local inclination, resulting in higher three-dimensionality and loss of coherence. A strong downdraft with a swirling pattern is the dominating feature in the lower base region. This is associated with a substantial decrease of the base suction, and the suppression of the characteristic recirculating backflow.

On the thinnest steady threads obtained by gravitational stretching of capillary jets

Experiments and global linear stability analysis are used to obtain the critical flow rate below which the highly stretched capillary jet, generated when a Newtonian liquid issues from a vertically oriented tube, is no longer steady. The theoretical description, based on the one-dimensional mass and momentum equations retaining the exact expression for the interfacial curvature, accurately predicts the onset of jet self-excited oscillations experimentally observed for wide ranges of liquid viscosity and nozzle diameter. Our analysis, which extends the work by Sauter & Buggisch (J. Fluid Mech.vol. 533, 2005, pp. 237–257), reveals the essential stabilizing role played by the axial curvature of the jet, the latter effect being especially relevant for injectors with a large diameter. Our findings allow us to conclude that, surprisingly, the size of the steady threads produced at a given distance from the exit can be reduced by increasing the nozzle diameter.

On the Adequacy of Shell Models for Predicting Stresses and Strains in Thick-Walled Tubes Subjected to Detonation Loading

This paper analyzes the adequacy of shell models for predicting stresses and strains in thick-walled tubes subjected to detonation loads. Of particular interest are the large axial strains which are produced at the inner and outer surfaces of the tube due to bending along the tube axis. First, comparisons between simple shell theory and a static finite element model are used to show that the axial strain varies proportionally with wall thickness and inversely with the square of the axial wavelength. For small wavelengths, this comparison demonstrates nonlinear behavior and a breakdown of the shell model. Second, a dynamic finite element model is used to evaluate the performance of transient shell equations. This comparison is used to quantify the error of the shell model with increasing wall thickness and show that shell models can be inaccurate near the load front where the axial curvature is high. Finally, the results of these analyses are used to show that the large axial strains which are sometimes observed in experiments cannot be attributed to through-wall bending and appear to be caused instead by non-ideal conditions present in the experiments.