Generating an adverse pressure gradient (APG), using a rotating cylinder in the proximity of a plane wall under a laminar freestream flow, is studied numerically in this work. The magnitude of the generated APG is a function of the gap, G, between the cylinder and the wall, and the rotational speed of the cylinder, Ω. The flow in such a configuration is characterized by periodic transient vortex shedding at high Reynolds number. A numerical model for the computation of the transient flow for this configuration is developed using the ANSYS CFD simulation tool. The model is validated against published experimental and numerical data for similar flow configurations and excellent agreement is observed. A parametric study is carried out for different combinations of G and Ω for two different Reynolds numbers of 200 and 1000 to examine the development of the resulting separation bubble due to the generated APG. The mechanism of the boundary layer separation over the plane wall and the corresponding wake dynamics is investigated. Results are presented in terms of the distribution of the pressure coefficient as well as skin friction coefficient along the wall and flow patterns around and downstream of the cylinder in the proximity of the wall. The results of these computations confirm that using a rotating cylinder over a plane wall in a freestream flow is an effective technique to generate a controlled range of adverse pressure gradients.

A finite element (FE) model for the generation of single fiber action potentials (SFAPs) in a muscle undergoing various degrees of fiber shortening has been developed. The muscle is assumed to be fusiform with muscle fibers following a curvilinear path described by a Gaussian function. Different degrees of fiber shortening are simulated by changing the parameters of the fiber path and maintaining the volume of the muscle constant. The conductivity tensor is adapted to the muscle fiber orientation. At each point of the volume conductor, the conductivity of the muscle tissue in the direction of the fiber is larger than that in the transversal direction. Thus, the conductivity tensor changes point-by-point with fiber shortening, adapting to the fiber paths. An analytical derivation of the conductivity tensor is provided. The volume conductor is then studied with an FE approach using the analytically derived conductivity tensor (Mesin, Joubert, Hanekom, Merletti&Farina 2006). Representative simulations of SFAPs with the muscle at different degrees of shortening are presented. It is shown that the geometrical changes in the muscle, which imply changes in the conductivity tensor, determine important variations in action potential shape, thus affecting its amplitude and frequency content. The model is expanded to include the simulation of motor unit action potentials (MUAPs). Expanding the model was done by assigning each single fiber (SF) in the motor unit (MU) a random starting position chosen from a normal distribution. For the model 300 SFs are included in an MU, with an innervation zone spread of 12 mm. Only spatial distribution was implemented. Conduction velocity (CV) was the same for all fibers of the MU. Representative simulations for the MUAPs with the muscle at different degrees of shortening are presented. The influence of interelectrode distance and angular displacement are also investigated as well as the influence of the inclusion of the conductivity tensor. It has been found that the interpretation of surface electromyography during movement or joint angle change is complicated owing to geometrical artefacts i.e. the shift of the electrodes relative to the muscle fibers and also because of the changes in the conductive properties of the tissue separating the electrode from the muscle fibers. Detection systems and electrode placement should be chosen with care. The model provides a new tool for interpreting surface electromyography (sEMG) signal features with changes in muscle geometry, as happens during dynamic contractions. / Dissertation (MEng (Bio-Engineering))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering / MEng (Bio-Engineering) / unrestricted

No description available.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第23862号 / 工博第4949号 / 新制||工||1773(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院工学研究科都市社会工学専攻 / (主査)教授 角 哲也, 准教授 竹門 康弘, 准教授 Kantoush Sameh / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DFAM

The last two decades have seen new insights, data and analytical methods to establish the behaviour of structures in fire. These methods have slowly migrated into practice and now form the basis for modern quantitative structural fire engineering. This study presents a novel methodology for determining the imposed heat fluxes on structural members. To properly characterise the temperature rise of the structural elements, a post-processing model for computational fluid dynamics tools was developed to establish the heat fluxes imposed on all surfaces by a fire. This model acts as a tool for any computational fluid dynamics model and works on the basis of well resolved local gas conditions. Analysis of the smoke layer and products of combustion allow for heat fluxes to be defined based on smoke absorption coefficients and temperatures. These heat fluxes are defined at all points on the structure by considering full spatial and temporal distributions. Furthermore, heat fluxes are defined by considering directionality and both characteristic length and time scales in fires. Length scales are evaluated for different structural member geometries, while time scales are evaluated for different structural materials including applied fire protection. It is the output given by this model that provides the input for the thermal analysis of the structural members that is a necessary step prior to the structural analysis to be undertaken. The model is validated against the experimental results of the previously mentioned large scale fire tests, showing good agreement. In addition, comparisons are made to current methods to highlight their potential inadequacies.

Ce travail de thèse s’est inscrit dans le contexte d’utilisation d’un cycle de conversion de l’énergie de type Brayton au CO2 supercritique, pour les réacteurs à neutrons rapides refroidis au sodium (RNRNa). Dans le cas d’une fuite accidentelle dans l’échangeur de chaleur Na − CO2 d’un RNRNa, le CO2, avec une pression opérative d’environ 200 bars, serait injecté dans le sodium liquide qui se trouve à basse pression,provoquant un jet sous-détendu et réactif deCO2 dans le sodium. L’objectif principal de ce travail de thèse était le développement d’un modèle numérique du jet réactif diphasique de CO2 dans du sodium.Un modèle numérique d’un jet sous-détendu non-réactif de gaz dans du liquide, utilisant une approche3D non-stationnaire de type multi-fluide CFD, a été développé. Les résultats numériques ont été validés à travers la comparaison avec résultats expérimentaux obtenus avec mesures optiques. Un modèle décrivant la réaction chimique entre le sodium et le CO2 a été ensuite développé et intégré dans le modèle 3D multi-fluide. Le modèle résultant permet de calculer les profils de température obtenus au sein du jet et sur les parois des tubes de l’échangeur de chaleur. / This PhD work was motivated by the investigations in the frame of supercritical CO2 Brayton cycles as possible energy conversion cycles for the Sodium-cooled Fast nuclear Reactors (SFRs). Following an accidental leakage inside the sodium-CO2 heat exchanger of a SFR, the CO2, having an operating pressure of about 200 bars, would be injected into the low-operatingpressure liquid sodium, creating an underexpanded reactive CO2-into-sodium jet. The goal of this PhD work is the development of a numerical model of the two-phase reactive CO2-into-sodium jet.A numerical model of an underexpanded non-reactive gas-into-liquid jet was developed, adopting a 3D unsteady multi-fluid CFD approach. The numerical results have been validated through the experimental results obtained with a facility employing optical probe technique. A numerical model for the chemical reaction between sodium and CO2 was then developed and integrated into the 3D two-fluid model. The resulting model allows to determine the temperature profiles inside the reactive jet and on the heat exchanger tubes.

Apresenta-se um trabalho numérico e experimental, com o objetivo de estudar o comportamento dos pavimentos de concreto estruturalmente armados, quando submetidos a forças verticais estáticas e repetidas. Avalia-se a contribuição da armadura de flexão, na resistência de placas de concreto apoiadas sobre meio elástico. Verifica-se experimentalmente o modo de ruína de placas submetidas a carregamento monotônico e a carregamento repetido, com e sem armadura, e acompanha-se o desenvolvimento das fissuras no concreto e das deformações no aço. Comparam-se os resultados obtidos, com as recomendações da NBR 6118:2003, para o dimensionamento de estruturas submetidas à fadiga. É desenvolvido modelo numérico capaz de representar a interface do solo com a placa do pavimento, a fissuração do concreto, a contribuição da armadura e o comportamento pós-fissuração. Com auxílio do modelo numérico, validado a partir dos resultados experimentais, estuda-se a influência de alguns parâmetros importantes para o dimensionamento dos pavimentos, tais como: capacidade de suporte da fundação, espessura das placas, área de aço, dimensões das placas em planta, posição de aplicação da força e presença de juntas de transferência de deslocamento. Os resultados experimentais mostram uma significativa contribuição da armadura positiva na resistência de placas isoladas sob forças verticais centradas. Verificou-se que as forças repetidas provocam fadiga do aço e que o número de ciclos depende da deformação provocada na armadura. A partir dos resultados são traçadas diretrizes para o dimensionamento, no qual devem ser considerados os momentos positivos e os negativos, e deve ser feita a verificação da fadiga do concreto e da armadura / A numerical and experimental study on the behavior of structurally reinforced concrete pavement under vertical static and repeated load is presented. The contribution of bending reinforcement to the strength of concrete slab is assessed. It is experimentally verified the fracture of reinforced and plain concrete slabs under monotonic loads and under cyclic loads. The concrete cracking and the strain on steel are monitored. The results are compared to the brazilian code recommendations to the design of structures under fatigue. A numerical model that represents the soil-slab interface, the concrete cracking, the reinforcement contribution and the tension stiffening behavior is developed. Some important parameters to the pavement design are analyzed using this finite element model, whose reliability was verified to experimental results. These parameters are: the soil capacity; the slab thickness; reinforcement ratio; slab dimensions; load positions; and joints conditions. The tests data show an important contribution of the positive reinforcement on the strength of an isolated slab with centered load. It has been verified the fatigue of the steel. The number of cycles depends on the reinforcement strain. The results are used to propose some directions to the design. The positive and negative bending moments have to be considered and the fatigue on the concrete and on the reinforcement has to be verified

Desde meados de 2007, um aumento significativo de unidades construídas pelo sistema Paredes de concreto tem influenciado o mercado da construção habitacional no Brasil. Em abril de 2012, foi publicada uma norma brasileira que trata exclusivamente desse sistema. Além disso, o desafio em minimizar o déficit habitacional estimula a utilização desse método alternativo, pois quando aplicado adequadamente proporciona alta produtividade e menor custo em relação a outros métodos construtivos. Por essas razões, é importante conhecer quais modelos de cálculo são seguros e pertinentes para a análise estrutural de edificações construídas pelo sistema Paredes de Concreto. Neste trabalho são avaliados, por meio da comparação de resultados, quatro modelos de cálculo, dos quais dois são numéricos, utilizados para o pré-dimensionamento e dimensionamento de paredes de concreto armado, moldadas no local. Este tipo de estrutura tem sido bastante utilizada na construção de edifícios. Deste modo utilizou-se como estudo de caso, um projeto adaptado de um edifício real com quinze pavimentos tipo, para a aplicação dos modelos de cálculo e algumas normas de projeto. Os dois modelos numéricos foram desenvolvidos no software SAP2000, baseado no Método dos Elementos Finitos, considerando análise elástica linear. O primeiro discretiza as paredes com elementos de casca e o segundo com elementos de barra. A interação entre o solo e a estrutura não foi considerada neste trabalho. Normas de projeto foram comparadas na etapa de pré-dimensionamento quanto às resistências últimas à compressão com objetivo de avaliar a recente norma brasileira. A verificação ao dimensionamento das paredes quanto às tensões normais de compressão e tração e tensões de cisalhamento foi realizada baseada nas expressões da NBR 16055:2012. Por fim, verificou-se o Estado Limite de Serviço das deformações excessivas globais, referentes à movimentação lateral do edifício e a estabilidade global do edifício estudado, pela NBR 6118:2007. / Since 2007, a significant use of the system known as Concrete Wall has been influenced the Brazilian residential construction market. In April 2012, a Brazilian code exclusively devoted to this system was published. Besides that, the challenge in reducing housing deficit estimulate the use of this alternative method, because when properly applied it provides high productivity and lower costs compared with other construction methods. For these reasons it is important to evaluate which designing models are safe and appropriate to structural analysis of buildings constructed in Concrete Wall system. In this work it is evaluated, through results comparison, four designing models, of which two are numerical, used to pre-design and to design reinforced concrete walls casted in place. This kind of structure has been widely used in buildings construction. Thus, an adapted project from a real building with fifteen floors was used as a case study in order to apply the designing models and some project design codes. Both numerical models were developed in SAP2000 software, based on Finite Element Method, considering elastic linear analysis. The former used shell elements to represent the walls and the latter used frame elements. The soil-structure interaction has not been considered in this work. Project design codes were compared at the pre-design stage in terms of the ultimate compression resistance, aiming evaluate the recent Brazilian code. The check of normal stress of compression, normal stress of tension, and shear stress, was made based on NBR 16055:2012 expressions. Finally, the service limit state related to global excessive deformation due to the lateral movement of the building and the global stability was verified through NBR 6118:2007.

O fenômeno de injeção de vapor em tanques de alívio é de relevância no projeto de reatores de água leve, sejam eles do tipo reator de água pressurizada (PWR) ou reator de água fervente (BWR). Este fenômeno permite a rápida absorção do vapor injetado em massa de água, por meio de sua condensação, uma vez que este vapor pode conter contaminantes químicos ou radiológicos que não permitem o seu descarte diretamente no ambiente. Desta forma, facilita-se a coleta do vapor produzido por descarga de vapor da água do resfriamento do reator, radiologicamente contaminada, e evita-se o que projeto de dispositivos e equipamentos necessite considerar a elevada pressão do vapor. A rapidez com que se dá a condensação é fruto de processos físicos que ocorrem na interface de vapor e água e que ainda não possuem modelo analítico e numérico definido. Em 1972 um modelo semi-empírico foi proposto, o qual, desde então, vem evoluindo. Não obstante, até o presente momento, não há modelo definitivo que se proponha a abranger toda extensão das condições experimentais. Estes modelos são fortemente dependentes do fluxo de massa que atravessa a interface de vapor e água, entretanto, até a presente data, não há expressão que determine este fluxo de massa, de tal forma que o valor de 275 Kg/m2/s vem sendo assumido como \"representativo da ordem de grandeza do fenômeno\" até o presente momento. Neste trabalho, é proposto um método de cálculo analítico do fluxo de massa, considerando-se como premissa a isentropia da injeção, e o desenvolvimento da 1ª e 2ª leis da Termodinâmica. Ainda, o fenômeno é analisado experimentalmente, por meio da análise dos dados produzidos no experimento do Circuito Termo Hidráulico de 150 bar (Loop 150), realizado nas dependências do CENTRO TECNOLÓGICO DA MARINHA EM SÃO PAULO. Por fim, um modelo numérico em software comercial foi desenvolvido para complementar a análise. Os resultados obtidos comprovam que a formulação isentrópica do fluxo de massa corrige de maneira satisfatória o fluxo de massa constante utilizado até então nos modelos semi-empíricos. Tal comprovação se deu através de análise numérica e da confrontação com dados experimentais obtidos na literatura. / The phenomenon of vapor injection in relief tanks presents relevance in the design of light water reactors, be they of the type pressurized water reactor (PWR) or boiling water reactor (BWR). This phenomenon allows the rapid absorption of the vapor injected in a mass of water, by condensation. Since this vapor may contain chemical or radiological contaminants that do not allow its discharge directly in the environment, it must be collected. The condensation avoids the design of devices and equipment, which need to consider the high vapor pressure, and allows the vapor to be collected. The rapidity with which the condensation occurs is the result of physical processes that occur at the interface of steam and water. These processes do not yet have a defined numerical and analytical model. In 1972 a semi-empirical model was proposed, which has, since then, evolved. Nevertheless, up to the present moment, there is no definitive model that intends to cover every extension of the experimental conditions. These models are strongly dependent on the mass flow through the steam and water interface, however, up to date, there is no expression that determines this mass flow. For the sake of this, the value of 275 kg / m2 / s has been assumed as \"representative of the order of magnitude of the phenomenon\" up to the present moment. In this work, a method of analytical calculation of mass flow is proposed, considering as premise the isotropy of the injection, and the development of the 1st and 2nd laws of thermodynamics. Still, the phenomenon is analyzed experimentally, by means of the analysis of the data produced in the experiment of Loop 150, realized in dependencies of the CENTRO TECNOLÓGICO DA MARINHA EM SÃO PAULO. Finally, a numerical model in commercial software was developed to complement the analysis. The result is proven with an isentropic mass flow formulation, which satisfactorily corrected the mass used in the former semi-empirical models. Such verification was performed through a series of data and confrontation with experimental data in the literature.

A utilização de concreto projetado como suporte de túneis é uma prática amplamente difundida no mundo inteiro. Este tipo material possui a característica de começar a agir estruturalmente desde pequenas idades. Apesar disso, os correntes processos de dimensionamento de suportes negligenciam o desenvolvimento de suas propriedades com o tempo, em acoplamento aos efeitos tridimensionais da região onde se localiza a frente de escavação. O presente trabalho tem a finalidade de relatar os procedimentos utilizados na análise da influência de alguns parâmetros da interação maciço - suporte, sobre os esforços solicitantes finais do suporte de um túnel, tanto para o caso de concreto projetado, com suas propriedades dependentes do tempo, quanto para materiais com propriedades constantes. São elaboradas soluções adimensionais para o problema da quantificação de esforços solicitantes de compressão e flexão no suporte. A maioria das simulações realizadas para atingir essa meta foi conduzida com auxílio de técnicas de processamento paralelo. / Shotcrete has been more and more used worldwide for tunnel support. This kind of material has the characteristics of starting to act structurally since early ages. Nevertheless, the current processes of support design neglect the development of its properties after some time in connection to the 3D effects of the region where the face of the tunnel is located. The present work relates the procedures adopted in analyzing the influence of some ground-support interaction parameters on the support structure internal forces of a tunnel, not only when shotcrete is used, with its time-dependent properties, but for materials with constant properties as well. Dimensionless solutions are developed for the support thrust and bending moments quantification problem. Most of the numerical simulations performed to reach this purpose were carried out by means of parallel processing techniques.