Solidification characteristics in a spherical capsule integrated with pin fins and rectangular fins - a comparative study

This study aims at investigating the solidification characteristics in a spherical capsule with pin fins and rectangular fins of same length and volume immersed in a constant temperature bath (-6°C, -9°C, -12°C). The fins are made of copper and are attached to the inner surface of the spherical capsule. The fin lengths correspond to the annulus fill volume margin of 75% taken on the inside wall of the spherical container. The findings showed that the overall solidification period of the capsules with rectangular fins was reduced. Also, the subcooling phenomena is completely eliminated at bath temperature of -6°C. Results also indicated that 50% PCM mass is reduced effectively with the provision of fins. Thus, with the employment of rectangular fins better potential energy savings can be attained when operated at partial charging mode at higher bath temperature.

Computational Study of Compartment Size Effects on Backdraft Intensity

A computational study was performed to evaluate the effects of compartment size on backdraft intensity. The compartment sizes were selected such that each direction was enlarged by a factor of 2, 2.5, 2.625, and 3 based on the reduced-scale compartment of a previous experimental study. A fire dynamics simulator was used for the computation, and a large eddy simulation and a mixing-controlled fast chemistry combustion model were adopted. Results revealed that the overall equivalence ratio defined by the amounts of fuel inside the compartment and oxygen induced from the opening had similar values at the moment when the air reached the inside wall. The fuel–air mixing inside the compartment was found to be achieved more rapidly with a decreased compartment size. The peaks of pressure and heat release rate inside the compartment increased with an increase in compartment size. However, these peaks were found to increase exponentially with an increase in the ratio of the compartment volume and opening size, and the correlation showed a very high R-squared value.

Nanoindentation and Hierarchy Structure of the Bovine Hoof Wall

The bovine hoof wall with an α-keratin structure protects the bovine foot from impact loads when the cattle are running. Reduced modulus, hardness and creep behavior of the bovine hoof wall have been investigated by a nanoindentation technique. The average reduced modulus of the Transverse Direction (TD) specimens from the outside to inside wall is 3.76 and 2.05 GPa, respectively, while the average reduced modulus of the Longitudinal Direction (LD) specimens from the outside to inside wall is 4.54 and 3.22 GPa, respectively. Obviously, the orientation and the position of the bovine hoof wall have a significant influence on its mechanical properties. The use of the generalized Voigt–Kelvin model can make a good prediction of creep stage. Mechanical properties of the LD specimens are stronger than those of the TD specimens. The bovine hoof wall has a layered structure, which can effectively absorb the energy released by the crack propagation and passivate the crack tip. Therefore, a kind of structural model was designed and fabricated by three-dimensional printing technology, which has a 55% performance improvement on fracture toughness. It is believed that the reported results can be useful in the design of new bionic structure materials which may be used in motorcycle helmets and athletes’ protective equipment to achieve light weight and improved strength at the same time.

How to Discriminate Lung Cancer From Benign Pulmonary Nodules and Masses? Usefulness of Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging With Apparent Diffusion Coefficient and Inside/Wall Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Ratio

Background: Although diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is useful for differential diagnosis between lung cancers and benign pulmonary nodules and masses (BPNMs), it is difficult to differentiate pulmonary abscesses from lung cancers because pulmonary abscesses show restricted diffusion. With this research we will present how to assess the total apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and inside/wall ADC ratio for these pulmonary nodules and masses (PNMs). Methods: The pulmonary lesions were divided into next 3 groups. There were 40 lung cancers, 41 inflammatory benign PNMs (mycobacteria disease 13, pneumonia 12, pulmonary abscess 10, other 6) and 7 noninflammatory benign PNMs. Definitions were as follows: wall ADC = ADC value in outer one-third of the lesion; inside ADC = ADC value in central two-thirds of the lesion: inside/wall ADC ratio = ratio of inside ADC/wall ADC. Results: Mean total ADC (1.26 ± 0.32 × 10−3 mm2/s) of the lung cancers was remarkably lower than that (1.53 ± 0.53) of the BPNMs. The mean total ADC values were 1.26 ± 0.32 in lung cancer, 1.45 ± 0.47 in inflammatory BPNM and 2.04 ± 0.63 in noninflammatory BPNM, and there were significant differences among them. The mean inside ADC value (1.33 ± 0.32) of the lung cancers was remarkably higher than that (0.94 ± 0.42) of the pulmonary abscesses. The mean inside/wall ADC ratio (1.20 ± 0.28) of the lung cancers was remarkably higher than that (0.74 ± 0.14) of the pulmonary abscesses. Conclusions: Although ADC of DWI could differentiate lung cancer from BPNM, the inside/wall ADC ratio of DWI is efficient for differentiation between lung cancer and lung abscess. The inside/wall ADC ratio of DWI strengthens a weak point of DWI.

Investigation of dynamic characteristics of rolling particle dampers

In this article, the investigation of the use of a rolling particle damper under sinusoidal excitation is described. A rolling particle damper is a type of ball vibration absorber and consists of a rotating cylinder placed on a curved track mounted on a primary system. The rotating cylinder is partially filled with granular materials. When the rotating cylinder rolls inside the curved track, the granular materials also move. The friction between the granular materials and the inside wall of the rotating cylinder results in some energy dissipation. A rolling particle damper can be adopted in a harsh environment because it can be operated in a wide temperature range. The effects of the mass ratio, the particle material, and the particle diameter on the damping performance were examined experimentally. To elucidate the behavior of the entire system in detail, a numerical solution using the discrete element method was established. The predicted damping results were compared with experimental results for various mass ratios. In addition, the effect of the frequency ratio on the highest displacement amplitude of the primary system was examined referring to the numerical results.

A new millipede-parasitizing horsehair worm, Gordius chiashanus sp. nov., at medium altitudes in Taiwan (Nematomorpha, Gordiida)

Gordius chiashanussp. nov., a newly described horsehair worm that parasitizes the Spirobolus millipede, is one of the three described horsehair worm species in Taiwan. It is morphologically similar to G. helveticus Schmidt-Rhaesa, 2010 because of the progressively broadening distribution of bristles concentrated on the male tail lobes, but it is distinguishable from G. helveticus because of the stout bristles on the mid-body. In addition, a vertical white stripe on the anterior ventral side and areoles on the inside wall of the cloacal opening are rarely mentioned in other Gordius species. Free-living adults emerged and mated on wet soil under the forest canopy in the winter (late November to early February) at medium altitudes (1100–1700 m). Mucus-like structure covering on the body surface, which creates a rainbow-like reflection, might endow the worm with high tolerance to dehydration. Although Gordius chiashanussp. nov. seems to be more adaptive to the terrestrial environment than other horsehair worm species, cysts putatively identified as belonging to this hairworm species found in the aquatic paratenic host, Ephemera orientalis McLachlan, 1875, suggest the life cycle of Gordius chiashanussp. nov. could involve water and land. The free-living adults emerged from the definitive hosts might reproduce in the terrestrial environment or enter an aquatic habitat by moving or being washed away by heavy rain instead of manipulating the behavior of their terrestrial definitive hosts.

Comparative Study on Flow-Accelerated Corrosion and Erosion–Corrosion at a 90° Carbon Steel Bend

Electrochemical measurements and surface analysis are performed to comparatively study flow-accelerated corrosion (FAC) and erosion–corrosion (E-C) behavior at a 90° carbon steel bend. The corrosion rates are higher under FAC conditions than those under E-C conditions. For FAC, the corrosion is more serious at the inside wall. However, corrosion is exacerbated at the outside wall under E-C conditions. No erosion scratches are observed under FAC conditions and at the inside wall under E-C conditions, while remarkable erosion scratches appear at the outside wall under E-C conditions. The dominant hydrodynamics affecting FAC and E-C are remarkably different.

Modeling of Liquid Hot Metal Sloshing in Ladles During Transportation by Locomotives (A Bond Graph Method)

Safe and secure transportation of liquid hot metal in steel plants is very challenging. About ninety percent of transportation is by means of locomotives. Sloshing is a common phenomenon in open container liquid transportation due to external excitation. Non-linear sloshing dynamics of liquid hot metal in ladle due to locomotive movement is the prime consideration of this paper. Liquid hot metal inside the ladle has been considered in the line of an equivalent mechanical system. Resulting forces and moments acting on the ladle inside wall are considered equal in all senses. An equivalent mechanical dynamic system representation of sloshing by bond graph modellinghas been formulated by keeping records in a satisfactory way.Future research scopes has been identifiedin parallel with an outline mapped. Hot metal liquid has two distinct components of the hydrodynamic pressure in consideration of rigid containershas been identified. Bottom segment of the molten metal column moves unison with the ladleandis directlyproportional with the acceleration of the ladle. Whereas the second one ‘convective’ pressure at the free surface, particularly experiences the sloshing tendency due to external forces.

Limit Load Analysis of a Torispherical Head With Thermal Hot Spot Damage

Vessel dished heads are widely being used in storage tanks or pressure vessels. These heads are available in different shapes including hemispherical, ellipsoidal and torispherical heads. In this paper, pressure limit load of torispherical head with thermal hotspot damage is investigated. Thermal hotspots are one of the common types of in-service degradation in some pressurized components and can be considered as damage. This type of damage is usually caused by the loss of refractory lining on the inside wall of pressure components or due to a misdistribution of the flow within vessels containing catalysts. Hotspot damage potentially jeopardizes the integrity of the components [1]. In the current research, the impact of a thermal hotspot on the load carrying capacity of various shapes of torispherical heads is investigated using numerical simulation. Also, sensitivity analysis has been performed to investigate the effect of location of thermal hot spots and thickness in the torispherical heads, with and without thermal hot spot damage.

Recognition of Metal Objects inside Wall using Antipodal Vivaldi Antenna

This paper present a recognition technique of metal placed inside and between two walls. A unique scheme of recognition of metallic objects through Ultra Wide Band (UWB) Modified Antipodal Vivaldi Antenna (MAVA) frequency range of (3.1GHz to 10.6 GHz) is presented in this paper.The working mechanism of detection system based on Time Domain Reflectrometry (TDR) using through wall imaging (TWMI). A very small duration pulses generated by Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) which are used for illuminate the wall.The analysis of a system under UWB antenna probe array. The simulation results of MAVA have given an enormous potential of penetration, in order to recognize concealed metal objects with fine precision, proving a smart development in the detection system technology. The improvement of resolution in an image, special filters have been developed and implemented. The design and optimization progression is conceded out via CST simulation software for parametric performance assessment of return loss, radiation pattern and directivity.