The combined finite-discrete element method (FEM/DEM) has been used to simulate processes of brittle fracturing and associated seismicity. With the newly extended FEM/DEM algorithm, two topics involving rock mechanics and geophysics are investigated. In the first topic, a velocity-weakening law is implemented to investigate the initiation of frictional slip, and an innovative method that incorporates surface roughness with varying friction coefficients is introduced to examine the influences of surface roughness. Simulated results revealed detailed responses of stresses to the propagation of the slip front. In the second topic, acoustic activities induced in confined compression tests are simulated and quantitatively studied using the internal monitoring algorithm in FEM/DEM. It is shown that with increasing confinement, AE events are spatially more concentrated and temporally more separated, accompanied by a decreasing b-value. Moreover, interesting correlation between orientations of cracks and the mechanical behavior of the rock was observed.

In this study underground dams are briefly described and detailed information about the design and construction aspects is provided. Since the material, of which dam wall is composed, is the main variable influencing the groundwater behavior, various types of dam wall are discussed. The use and usefulness of the underground dams as a means of sustainable development, and their performance in the management of groundwater resources are analyzed with the help of two example studies. In the first example a hypothetical idealized aquifer is considered, while in the second one, a real aquifer is selected. For the performance evaluation, and for the analysis of the impact of the underground dams on the groundwater behavior, numerical simulation is opted. For that purpose, a well-known computer code, MODFLOW, A Modular Three-Dimensional Finite Difference Groundwater Flow Model of U.S. Geological Survey, (McDonald and Harbaugh, 1988) is used.

This thesis analyzes the probable outcome of the fictitious failure of a dam under a set of pre-defined scenarios, within the framework of a case study, the case subject being the Cinarcik Dam located within Bursa Province of Turkey. The failure of the dam is not analyzed neither structural nor hydraulic-wise but is assumed to be triggered when certain critical criteria are exceeded. Hence, the analyses focus on the aftermath of the failure and strive to anticipate the level of inundation downstream of the dam itself. For the purpose of the analyses, the FLDWAV software developed by the National Weather Service of USA is used to spatially and temporally predict the flow profiles, water surface elevations and discharges occurring downstream of the &Ccedil / inarcik Dam under the defined set of scenarios. Based on these analyses, indicative inundation maps and settlements under risk will be identified, and the thesis study will further address some available pre-event measures that may be taken in advance.

For the last two decades heart disease has been the highest single cause of death for the human population. With an alarming number of patients requiring heart transplant, and donations not able to satisfy the demand, treatment looks to mechanical alternatives. Rotary Ventricular Assist Devices, VADs, are miniature pumps which can be implanted alongside the heart to assist its pumping function. These constant flow devices are smaller, more efficient and promise a longer operational life than more traditional pulsatile VADs. The development of rotary VADs has focused on single pumps assisting the left ventricle only to supply blood for the body. In many patients however, failure of both ventricles demands that an additional pulsatile device be used to support the failing right ventricle. This condition renders them hospital bound while they wait for an unlikely heart donation. Reported attempts to use two rotary pumps to support both ventricles concurrently have warned of inherent haemodynamic instability. Poor balancing of the pumps’ flow rates quickly leads to vascular congestion increasing the risk of oedema and ventricular ‘suckdown’ occluding the inlet to the pump. This thesis introduces a novel Bi-Ventricular Assist Device (BiVAD) configuration where the pump outputs are passively balanced by vascular pressure. The BiVAD consists of two rotary pumps straddling the mechanical passive controller. Fluctuations in vascular pressure induce small deflections within both pumps adjusting their outputs allowing them to maintain arterial pressure. To optimise the passive controller’s interaction with the circulation, the controller’s dynamic response is optimised with a spring, mass, damper arrangement. This two part study presents a comprehensive assessment of the prototype’s ‘viability’ as a support device. Its ‘viability’ was considered based on its sensitivity to pathogenic haemodynamics and the ability of the passive response to maintain healthy circulation. The first part of the study is an experimental investigation where a prototype device was designed and built, and then tested in a pulsatile mock circulation loop. The BiVAD was subjected to a range of haemodynamic imbalances as well as a dynamic analysis to assess the functionality of the mechanical damper. The second part introduces the development of a numerical program to simulate human circulation supported by the passively controlled BiVAD. Both investigations showed that the prototype was able to mimic the native baroreceptor response. Simulating hypertension, poor flow balancing and subsequent ventricular failure during BiVAD support allowed the passive controller’s response to be assessed. Triggered by the resulting pressure imbalance, the controller responded by passively adjusting the VAD outputs in order to maintain healthy arterial pressures. This baroreceptor-like response demonstrated the inherent stability of the auto regulating BiVAD prototype. Simulating pulmonary hypertension in the more observable numerical model, however, revealed a serious issue with the passive response. The subsequent decrease in venous return into the left heart went unnoticed by the passive controller. Meanwhile the coupled nature of the passive response not only decreased RVAD output to reduce pulmonary arterial pressure, but it also increased LVAD output. Consequently, the LVAD increased fluid evacuation from the left ventricle, LV, and so actually accelerated the onset of LV collapse. It was concluded that despite the inherently stable baroreceptor-like response of the passive controller, its lack of sensitivity to venous return made it unviable in its present configuration. The study revealed a number of other important findings. Perhaps the most significant was that the reduced pulse experienced during constant flow support unbalanced the ratio of effective resistances of both vascular circuits. Even during steady rotary support therefore, the resulting ventricle volume imbalance increased the likelihood of suckdown. Additionally, mechanical damping of the passive controller’s response successfully filtered out pressure fluctuations from residual ventricular function. Finally, the importance of recognising inertial contributions to blood flow in the atria and ventricles in a numerical simulation were highlighted. This thesis documents the first attempt to create a fully auto regulated rotary cardiac assist device. Initial results encourage development of an inlet configuration sensitive to low flow such as collapsible inlet cannulae. Combining this with the existing baroreceptor-like response of the passive controller will render a highly stable passively controlled BiVAD configuration. The prototype controller’s passive interaction with the vasculature is a significant step towards a highly stable new generation of artificial heart.

Local scour around bridge piers can cause serious damages and structural failure to the bridge. Correct prediction of the scour is an important criterion for the engineering design. Though the subject has been investigated for many decades, the theoretical developments have been very limited due to the complicated interaction of three-dimensional flow and the sediment transport. This thesis concerns the flow around a vertical bottom mounted cylinder exposed to currents and is considered as the initial phase of a study towards modeling local scour around vertical bottom-mounted structures. The aim of the present study is to obtain a better understanding of the complex three-dimensional flow and the mechanisms related to the scouring. The study started with the development of a three-dimensional numerical model to simulate flow around cylindrical structures. After validation of the model, the model was applied to investigate flow around an isolated rectangular cylinder. Unsteady flows around cylinders of a square cross section (A/D = 1) and a rectangular cross section (A/D = 2) were simulated to understand the flow properties around a cylinder other than a circular cross section. Three-dimensional flow patterns, pressure distribution, forces on the cylinder and vortex-shedding frequencies were discussed. It was found that the present numerical results generally agree well with the experimental data. Flow around a vertical cylinder mounted on a rigid bed was then investigated by the numerical model. A circular and a square cross sections were considered respectively. Flow structures of horseshoe vortex and the wake vortex which are the major mechanisms leading to the scouring around the base of the vertical cylinder were explored. The bed shear stress distributions that directly affect the scour processes were discussed. Finally the numerical model was applied to study the flow around a submerged square cylinder mounted on a bed, which has significant engineering relevance to the local scour around structures, such as bridge pier foundation itself, or a caisson placed underwater around the pier bottom for scour protection. The numerical calculations were carried out at different cylinder heights to investigate the effect of the cylinder height on the flow properties. It was found that for submerged cylinders with the height of less than one and a half of the cylinder side width the maximum bed shear stress amplification is about 60% of the value of an infinite long cylinder. The quantification of the shear stress reduction is important for scour protection design.

Submitted by Lucienne Costa (lucienneferreira@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-04-04T20:52:13Z No. of bitstreams: 1 JÉSSICA BARBOSA DA SILVA DO NASCIMENTO - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGEM) 2017.pdf: 5634263 bytes, checksum: 929da71867fefc79201bbfa0a102a100 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-04T20:52:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JÉSSICA BARBOSA DA SILVA DO NASCIMENTO - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGEM) 2017.pdf: 5634263 bytes, checksum: 929da71867fefc79201bbfa0a102a100 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-08-17 / Capes / Os separadores são equipamentos utilizados no processamento primário da indústria do petróleo com o objetivo de separar a mistura multifásica proveniente dos poços produtores. O trabalho avaliou o efeito dos dispositivos internos do vaso separador sobre a dinâmica do escoamento no processo de separação gás/óleo. Foi definido uma modelagem matemática com base na dinâmica de fluidos computacional (CFD) do separador horizontal bifásico. Adotou-se a abordagem Euleriana-Euleriana, considerando o modelo de mistura, disponibilizado no software Ansys CFX 15.0. O domínio consiste em um separador horizontal cilíndrico constituído de uma placa porosa que o divide em duas regiões: a região de separação primária, contendo três dispositivos internos (um defletor e duas chicanas) e a região de decantação. Foi gerada uma malha numérica empregando elementos tetraédricos, para a discretização das equações de conservação de massa, momento linear e de turbulência k padrão usando o método dos volumes finitos. Assumiu-se o escoamento em regimes permanente e transiente, isotérmico, com propriedades dos fluidos constantes e das forças interfaciais foram consideradas apenas as forças de arraste. Os resultados dos campos vetoriais de velocidade, assim como a fração volumétrica das fases indicam que a dinâmica do escoamento é fortemente dependente dos dispositivos internos. Na região de separação primária observou-se um alto nível de mistura causada pela turbulência gerada pelo impacto dos fluidos sobre a placa defletora posicionada imediatamente após a seção de entrada. A placa porosa possibilitou uma redução da turbulência dos fluidos, causada pela resistência do meio poroso ao escoamento. / The separators are equipments used in the primary processing of the petroleum industry to separate the multiphase mixture from the producing wells. The work evaluated the effect of the internal devices of the separator vessel on the flow dynamics in the gas/oil separation process. A mathematical model was defined based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) of the horizontal two-phase separator. The Eulerian-Eulerian approach was adopted, considering the mixture model, available in Ansys CFX 15.0 software. The domain consists of a horizontal cylindrical separator consisting of a porous plate that divides it in to two regions: the primary separation, containing three internal devices (one deflector plate and two baffles) and the settling region. A numerical grid was generated employing tetrahedral elements, for the discretization of the mass conservation, linear momentum and k standard turbulence equations using the finite volume method. Isothermal flow with constant fluid properties in both steady state and transient regimes were assumed, and, from the interfacial forces, only the drag forces were considered. The velocity vector field results as well as the volumetric fraction of the phases indicate that the flow dynamics are strongly dependent on the internal devices. In the primary separation region, a high-level of mixing was observed due to the turbulence generated by the impact of the fluids on a deflector plate positioned immediately after the inlet section. The porous plate allowed a reduction of the turbulence of the fluids, caused by the resistance of the porous medium to the flow.

Thermal improvement of traditional and historic buildings is going to play a crucial role in the achievement of established carbon emission targets. The suitable retrofit options for traditional buildings are, however, very limited and their long term performance is still uncertain. Evaluation of risks, prior to any alteration of building physics, is critical to avoid future damage to the fabric or occupants’ health. Moisture dynamics in building envelopes are affected by the enclosure’s geometry, materials properties and external and internal boundary conditions. Since the internal boundary is heavily influenced by users, understanding their behaviour is essential to predict the outcome of energy retrofit measures more accurately. The effect of user behaviour on energy demand has been extensively investigated; however, its impact on the hygrothermal performance of the envelopes has barely been explored. This research approached the connection between users and buildings from a new angle looking at the effect that user behaviour has on moisture dynamics of buildings’ envelopes after the retrofit. Qualitative and quantitative research methods were used to develop a holistic evaluation of the question. Firstly, factors influencing the adoption of energy efficiency measures in traditional buildings were explored by means of semi-structured interviews with private owners and project managers. Subsequently, a multi-case study including interviews with occupants and monitoring of environmental conditions was conducted. Data collected at this stage was used to explore users’ daily practices of comfort and to characterise the internal climate of traditional dwellings. Lastly, users’ impact was quantified using Heat, Air and Moisture (HAM) numerical simulation. This allowed for the evaluation of the hygrothermal performance of walls under different internal climate scenarios. Combined results of interviews, environmental monitoring and simulation showed that internal climate can compromise envelope performance after the retrofit and highlighted the need to consider users in the decision making process. Ultimately, the results of this research will help to increase awareness about the potential impact of user behaviour and provide recommendations to decision makers involved in the energy retrofit of traditional structures.

abstract: Many methods of passive flow control rely on changes to surface morphology. Roughening surfaces to induce boundary layer transition to turbulence and in turn delay separation is a powerful approach to lowering drag on bluff bodies. While the influence in broad terms of how roughness and other means of passive flow control to delay separation on bluff bodies is known, basic mechanisms are not well understood. Of particular interest for the current work is understanding the role of surface dimpling on boundary layers. A computational approach is employed and the study has two main goals. The first is to understand and advance the numerical methodology utilized for the computations. The second is to shed some light on the details of how surface dimples distort boundary layers and cause transition to turbulence. Simulations are performed of the flow over a simplified configuration: the flow of a boundary layer over a dimpled flat plate. The flow is modeled using an immersed boundary as a representation of the dimpled surface along with direct numerical simulation of the Navier-Stokes equations. The dimple geometry used is fixed and is that of a spherical depression in the flat plate with a depth-to-diameter ratio of 0.1. The dimples are arranged in staggered rows separated by spacing of the center of the bottom of the dimples by one diameter in both the spanwise and streamwise dimensions. The simulations are conducted for both two and three staggered rows of dimples. Flow variables are normalized at the inlet by the dimple depth and the Reynolds number is specified as 4000 (based on freestream velocity and inlet boundary layer thickness). First and second order statistics show the turbulent boundary layers correlate well to channel flow and flow of a zero pressure gradient flat plate boundary layers in the viscous sublayer and the buffer layer, but deviates further away from the wall. The forcing of transition to turbulence by the dimples is unlike the transition caused by a naturally transitioning flow, a small perturbation such as trip tape in experimental flows, or noise in the inlet condition for computational flows. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Mechanical Engineering 2011

abstract: The flow around a golf ball is studied using direct numerical simulation (DNS). An immersed boundary approach is adopted in which the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations are solved using a fractional step method on a structured, staggered grid in cylindrical coordinates. The boundary conditions on the surface are imposed using momentum forcing in the vicinity of the boundary. The flow solver is parallelized using a domain decomposition strategy and message passing interface (MPI), and exhibits linear scaling on as many as 500 processors. A laminar flow case is presented to verify the formal accuracy of the method. The immersed boundary approach is validated by comparison with computations of the flow over a smooth sphere. Simulations are performed at Reynolds numbers of 2.5 × 104 and 1.1 × 105 based on the diameter of the ball and the freestream speed and using grids comprised of more than 1.14 × 109 points. Flow visualizations reveal the location of separation, as well as the delay of complete detachment. Predictions of the aerodynamic forces at both Reynolds numbers are in reasonable agreement with measurements. Energy spectra of the velocity quantify the dominant frequencies of the flow near separation and in the wake. Time-averaged statistics reveal characteristic physical patterns in the flow as well as local trends within dimples. A mechanism of drag reduction due to the dimples is confirmed, and metrics for dimple optimization are proposed. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering 2011

Assim como em qualquer processo de fabricação, a qualidade do produto final deve estar aliada à otimização dos custos do processo, portanto, deve-se conhecer os fatores que alteram as propriedades do produto e que possam causar alguma influência indesejada. A trefilação de barras de aço é usualmente utilizada para conferir precisão dimensional e melhores propriedades mecânicas ao material. Um dos grandes problemas encontrados na fabricação de eixos através deste processo é o aparecimento de distorções de forma após o tratamento térmico. Tais distorções estão diretamente ligadas ao acúmulo de tensões residuais geradas durante as etapas de pré-endireitamento, jateamento e trefilação propriamente dita, modificando o comportamento e resistência mecânica, bem como a resistência à fadiga e à corrosão das peças. Portanto, este trabalho tem por objetivo analisar, através de uma abordagem numérica computacional, a influência de parâmetros de processo e propriedades do material no aparecimento de distorções em barras trefiladas de aço AISI 1045, em função de possíveis fontes geradoras de heterogeneidades, principalmente de tensões residuais durante o processo de fabricação. A análise das tensões foi realizada através da modelagem numérica 3D do processo de trefilação, sendo utilizado o software de simulação numérica computacional DeformTM. Da mesma maneira, foram analisadas as formas de agarre que fornecem a velocidade do processo, a primeira utilizando um puxador na extremidade da barra, a segunda com um puxador envolto movimentando-se ao longo da barra. Através destas análises, verificou-se que a forma de como a barra é tracionada ocasiona uma redução de até 100 MPa nas tensões residuais no centro da barra, o que representa um fator importante no estudo das possíveis causas das distorções. Observou-se ainda que os fatores de velocidade e homogeneidade da lubrificação modificaram o perfil das tensões residuais na barra. Outros parâmetros, como desalinhamento da ferramenta, diferenças de atrito, excentricidade do eixo e curvatura da barra, também foram avaliados, sendo que ambos influenciam consideravelmente na distribuição das tensões residuais ao longo do perfil da barra. Torna-se evidente a importância de um eficiente pré-endireitamento do fio máquina, pois os resultados das simulações com curvatura mostram que a força de trefilação e a distribuição das tensões residuais ao longo da barra trefilada aumentam, bem como a barra apresenta certa curvatura remanescente, para ambas as fieiras com ângulo de 15° e 20°. Sendo assim, tais resultados evidenciam a elevada influência dos parâmetros estudados no aparecimento de distorções no produto final. / As with any manufacturing process, the quality of the final product must be coupled with cost optimization of the process, so you should know the factors that alter the properties of the product that may cause some unwanted influence. The drawing of steel bars is usually used to impart better dimensional accuracy and mechanical properties to the material. One of the major problems encountered in the manufacturing of axes through this process is the appearance of distortion of size and shape after heat treatment. Such distortions are directly linked to the accumulation of residual stresses generated during the stages of pre-straightening, shot blasting and drawing itself, modifying behavior and mechanical strength, residual stresses and resistance to fatigue and corrosion of parts. Therefore, this work aims to examine, through a computational numerical approach, the influence of material parameters and process the appearance of distortions in cold drawn steel bars AISI 1045, due to possible sources of residual stresses during the manufacture. The analysis of strains and residual stresses were performed by 3D numerical modeling of the drawing process, the software being used numerical simulation computational DeformTM. In order to transmit the drawing speed, the forms of grip were analyzed using a first end of the puller bar, the second wrapped with a puller moving along the bar. Since through these analyzes, it was found that as the shape of the bar is pulled up causes a reduction in the residual stress 100 MPa in the center of the bar, which is an important factor in the study of the possible causes of the distortion. As well as factors speed and homogeneity of lubrication significantly altered the profile of residual stresses in the bar. Other parameters, such as misalignment of the tool, friction differences, curvature and eccentricity of the axis of the bar were also evaluated, both of which significantly modify the distribution of residual stresses along the profile of the bar. It became evident that an efficient pre-straightening of the wire is important because the results of simulations show that the curvature with the drawing force and the distribution of residual stresses along the bar Cold Drawn Bars increase as well as the bar has some remnant curvature, for both dies with an angle of 15 ° and 20 °. Thus, these results demonstrate the high influence of the parameters studied distortions in the appearance of the final product.