NUMERICAL MODELLING AND ASSESSMENT OF THE UGEN FLOATING WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER

The paper presents a linear hydrodynamic model for the UGEN wave energy converter, an analysis of the dynamics of the system and the predicted ability to extract energy from the waves. The UGEN (floating device with a U tank for GENeration of electricity from waves) consists of an asymmetric floater with a large internal U tank filled with water, where the energy is extracted from the relative motion between the water inside the tank and the rolling of the floater. The floater rolling mode of motion is the main stimulator of the motion of the water in the tank, however the sway and heave motions are also coupled therefore the system has motion.

Improving the technology of rolling rail steels by a comprehensive optimization parameter

The authors have developed a technique for improving the rolling modes of rail steels based on a complex optimization parameter. The technology of rolling rail profiles in the roughing stands of rail-and-structural steel mills and the technology of rolling ball blanks and grinding balls from the rejection of continuously cast blanks of rail steels are selected as the methodology objects. The generalized optimization parameter is the generalized Harrington desirability function, which depends on the partial desirability indicators according to the criteria of energy efficiency, quality of rolled products, material conservation and mill productivity. The share of influence of the listed partial optimization criteria on the generalized desirability function is taken into account by using weighting coefficients. Justification of the coefficient values is based on the results of a comparative analysis of reserves for reducing costs or losses in value terms. An algorithm for applying the technique has been developed. The analysis and generalization of the available initial data and additional research were carried out as a part of the first block. These studies are aimed at obtaining justified analytical dependencies of particular optimization criteria and measured rolling parameters. The second block is justification of the specific direction of rolling modes, the choice of which is carried out on the basis of checking the compliance of boundary conditions. The third block includes development of the parameters of the new rolling mode and assessment of its applicability and effectiveness. The fourth block involves pilot testing of a new rolling mode in the conditions of an existing rolling mill and if it is necessary, adjusting the methodology for determining the forecast values of the measured indicators. With the use of the developed methodology, the modes of rolling of railway and sharp rails in the roughing stands of universal rail-and-structural steel mill of JSC “EVRAZ ZSMK” were improved, and the mode of rolling grinding balls from the rejection of rail blanks at the cross-screw rolling mill of JSC “GMZ” was changed. There is a significant improvement in the quality, technical and economic indicators, which indicates the effectiveness of the developed methodology.

Interplay of Active Stress and Driven Flow in Self-Assembled, Tumbling Active Nematics

Lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals (LCLCs) are a special type of hierarchical material in which self-assembled molecular aggregates are responsible for the formation of liquid crystal phases. Thanks to its unusual material properties and bio compatibility, it has found wide applications including the formation of active nematic liquid crystals. Recent experiments have uncovered tumbling character of certain LCLCs. However, how tumbling behavior modifies structure and flow in driven and active nematics is poorly understood. Here, we rely on continuum simulation to study the interplay of extensile active stress and externally driven flow in a flow-tumbling nematic with a low twist modulus to mimic nematic LCLCs. We find that a spontaneous transverse flow can be developed in a flow-tumbling active nematic confined to a hybrid alignment cell when it is in log-rolling mode at sufficiently high activities. The orientation of the total spontaneous flow is tunable by tuning the active stress. We further show that activity can suppress pressure-driven flow of a flow-tumbling nematic in a planar-anchoring cell but can also promote a transition of the director field under a pressure gradient in a homeotropic-anchoring cell. Remarkably, we demonstrate that the frequency of unsteady director dynamics in a tumbling nematic under Couette flow is invariant against active stress when below a threshold activity but exhibits a discontinuous increase when above the threshold at which a complex, periodic spatiotemporal director pattern emerges. Taken together, our simulations reveal qualitative differences between flow-tumbling and flow-aligning active nematics and suggest potential applications of tumbling nematics in microfluidics.

Stressstrain state of metal at the initial stage of railway rails rolling

Based on the studies of stress­strain metal formation during railway rails rolling in roughing stands of a universal rail­and­beam mill, carried out using the DEFORM­3D software package, the authors have determined the features of distribution of the Cockcroft­Latham criterion over the cross­section of the rolled stock of various shapes. An extremely uneven distribution of the Cockcroft­Latham criterion over the roll section has been established. According to the data obtained, values of the specifed criterion are minimal in the axial zone, and in the near­surface layers the greatest value of the Cockcroft­Latham criterion and, accordingly, the highest probability of defects formation occur near the gauge vertical axis. In gauges of complex shape (“trapezium”, “recumbent trapezium”, rail gauges), the authors have revealed the presence of local zones with maximum Cockcroft­Latham criterion, located in the places where the foot of the rail profle is formed. And rolling in gauge of the “trapezium” type is marked by the presence of such a zone in the near­surface area near the gauge vertical axis. Within the framework of determining formation regularities of the diagram of metal stress­strain state at the initial stage of rail rolling, direct relationship was established between the uneven temperature distribution over the section of rolling and the values (maximum and average over the section) of the Cockcroft­Latham criterion. At the same time, it was shown that uneven temperature distribution over the cross­section of the roll tends to decrease with an increase in the coefcients of extracts along the passes and increase in tilting frequency, regardless of the shape of the used gauges. For gauges of complex shape, in addition to the listed parameters, an increase in similarity of shape of the roll and gauge used also has a signifcant effect on reducing temperature inhomogeneity. Based on the results of theoretical studies, a new mode of railway rails rolling has been developed. Its pilot testing in the conditions of a universal rail­and­beam mill of JSC “EVRAZ ZSMK” has shown a decrease in rail rejection by 0.78 % compared to the previously used rolling mode.

MODELING OF A SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC REGULATION OF THE TENSION MODE IN THE ROUGHING GROUP OF STANDS OF A CONTINUOUS SECTION MIL

The subject of the research is automatic control system modeling features for tensioning of stands roughing group, which takes into account changes in the rolling speed at exit of the previous stand and entrance to the next stand. Control systems for high-speed rolling on section mills are the most critical systems, since the trouble-free operation of rolling mill largely depends on their work. Rolling speed control is understood to mean tension regulation in the roughing group of stands and stabilization of the rolling loop in the finishing groups. The influence of such technological factors as uneven heating of blanks, change in the crimping mode in stands, etc. leads to the appearance of tension or back-up forces, deviation of rolled loop from the specified values. Tension rolling, in contrast to loop rolling, is a stable rolling mode. However, (at significant values of tension in the rolled products) such a rolling mode leads to different thicknesses of the finished product. The loop rolling mode is an unstable mode and is impossible without automatic control systems. Both in the tension rolling mode and in the free rolling mode with a loop, it is necessary to study automatic control systems in order to determine the possibilities of compensating for disturbing influences and obtaining rolled products of the given accuracy. Therefore, the main task of the automatic control system is to maintain the rolling mode with the lowest possible tension. To achieve this goal, direct control of the tension of the rolled strip with modern technical means is rather difficult, and the operation of tension control systems is based on indirect methods of measuring it, and the study of the system efficiency is reduced to modeling the process itself. The developed model consists of three stands and two inter-stand spaces, since it takes into account changes in rolling speed at the exit of previous stand and the entrance to the next stand. It is due to this that adequate simulation results are obtained that are close to the real rolling process. Keywords: automation, rolls, stand, inter-stand spacing, modeling, loop tension, rolling mill, roughing group.

Measurement of Low Concentration of Micro-Plastics by Detection of Bioaffinity-Induced Particle Retention Using Surface Plasmon Resonance Biosensors

The issue of micro-plastics is becoming more and more important due to their ubiquity and the harm they cause to the human body. Therefore, evaluating the biological–physical interaction of micro-plastics with health cells has become the focus of many research efforts. This study focuses on the movement mode and low concentration detection development for micro-plastics in surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Firstly, 20-micrometer micro-plastics were prepared by grinding and filtering, and the movement mode was explored; then, the characteristics were investigated by SPR. Chromatographic analysis showed that the surface charge of micro-plastics dominated the elution time, and estrogen receptors (ERs) played a supporting role. A difference of micro-plastics in SPR sensorgram was observed, inferring the micro-plastics’ movement in rolling mode on the ERs. Characteristics analysis indicated that the low particle number of micro-plastics on SPR showed a linear relationship with the response unit (RU). When ERs were immobilized on the biosensor, the force of the binding of micro-plastics to ERs under an ultra-low background was equivalent to the dissociation rate constant shown as follows: PS (0.05 nM) > PVC (0.09 nM) > PE (0.14) nM). The ELISA-like magnetic beads experiment verified the specificity between ERs and micro-plastics. Therefore, by using the SPR technique, a biological-derived over-occupation of PS was found via higher binding force with ERs and longer retention time. In the future, there will be considerable potential for micro-plastics issues, such as identification in natural samples, biomarking, real-time detection in specific environments/regions and human health subject.

Use of the kinematic radius in the rolling mechanics of an elastic wheel

The analysis of the physical essence of the kinematic and dynamic radii of the wheel is given. It is stated that the rolling radius of the wheel is a conditional kinematic parameter that characterizes only the rolling mode of the wheel. It is not the shoulder of all longitudinal forces acting on the wheel and should not be used to determine tractive forces, rolling resistance and wheel braking forces. Specific examples are given to illustrate the inappropriateness of using the kinematic radius to determine forces and moments. Keywords: elastic wheel, rolling radius, kinematic radius, dynamic radius, arm of force, traction force, rolling resistance force, braking force, rolling mode

Formation of quality indicators for flat surfaces of machine parts when running them with a reinforcing roller

The forming of parameters of quality of parts flat surfaces during their rolling by strengthening roller is studied and it is shown that for each value of rolling force there are extremely achievable indicators of quality of the surface layer. It has been established that the spread of quality indicators values on the strengthened surface of the part is stabilized and becomes minimal after three passes of the roller. The functional dependence of the roughness parameter value of the part flat surface on it’s previous value and rolling mode is obtained, which allows solving a number of technological problem.