Meccanica最新文献

The analysis of coupled transport phenomena is one of the most outstanding aspects of non-equilibrium thermodynamics. In this paper the attention is put on thermoelectricity, i.e., the coupling of heat and electricity. We propose a theoretical model which goes beyond the usual relations employed at macro-scale to describe thermoelectric effects. It introduces the non-local effects which should be taken into account in view of the possible applications of thermoelectric effects at nano-scale. The proposed model is here employed to investigate how non-local effects may influence the propagation of waves.

The paper proposes a refined CT-based FE modelling strategy that implements a limit analysis numerical procedure, namely the Elastic Compensation Method (ECM), to estimate a lower bound to the collapse load of a human femur. In particular, the model geometry was obtained from CT images by segmentation of a fresh-frozen human cadaveric femur that was discretized with second-order tetrahedral 3D finite elements. A yield criterion of Tsai–Wu-type, expressed in principal stress space, was adopted to model the bone tissues for which the strength limit values in tension, compression and shear are computed locally from the femoral density distribution also derived from CT images. The developed CT-based numerical technique showed the ability to predict, at least for the examined femur for which the experimental collapse load is available, a lower bound to the collapse load. The proposed approach seems a promising and effective tool that could be adopted into clinical practice to predict the fracture risk of human femur starting from patient-specific data given by medical imaging.

The complex fluid–solid coupling movement of macro–micro structures and lymphatic fluid in the cochlea plays a crucial role in the mechanism of sound perception in the human ear. However, previous studies have primarily focused on the macrostructure and overlooked the microstructure of the Organ of Corti (OC). In reality, the microstructure of the OC can regulate the vibration of the basilar membrane, which is important for sound perception. To address this, a three-dimensional spiral passive cochlear model containing a complete OC that conforms to the real physiology of the human ear was developed, but the significant amplification of its motion by the action of outer hair cells (OHC) in the living cochlea was not considered. The fluid–solid coupling calculations were conducted on this model, specifically examining the mechanical response of the OC microstructure and the pressure changes in the lymphatic fluid. The results showed that the lower stiffness structure in the OC has a lower stress level, which contributes to the realization of sound perception. As the frequencies increases, the region of peak stress and displacement in the OHC moves from the apex to the base of the cochlea, reflecting frequency-selective characteristics. The tunnel of the OC amplifies pressure waves at specific locations, enabling more accurate frequency recognition. Furthermore, the presence of the OC not only causes significant radial differences in lymphatic fluid pressure in the scala vestibule, but also enhances internal cochlear vibration, playing an undeniable regulatory role in the sound perception.Kindly check and verify edit made in article title.We have checked and verified the editing in the article title.

Measurements of a single flow velocity component are still prevalent due to their reasonable costs and some difficulties in multiple-component measurements. If the transverse component can be obtained additionally by a numerical technique, qualitative features of the flow will be understood more effectively. In this context, methods based on the 2-dimensonal divergence-free assumption have been widely used for problems in which a single velocity component is measured over a planar domain. In this study, the authors proposed a method of approximating the second planar velocity component by minimising an objective function expressed with divergence and vorticity so that the mass transport in the out-of-plane direction could be taken into consideration. The present method was tested with numerically produced 3-dimensional flows in a hexahedral chamber and a flow around a bluff body measured by particle image velocimetry. There was a tendency that the present method calculated the second velocity component with smaller errors than existing divergence-free approaches. It was also shown that the present method had a high capability to locate strong suction and generation caused by the mass transport in the out-of-plane direction. The present method is deemed promising for many one-component flow measurements in engineering and medicine.

Seismic performance evaluation of masonry structures is of paramount importance for ensuring the safety and resilience of buildings in earthquake-prone regions. There are limited number of studies on pumice elements in the literature. In addition, there are almost no studies investigating the earthquake behavior of pumice masonry building as a whole structure. In this context, a comprehensive understanding of their seismic response and dynamic characteristics has been lacking. To address this knowledge gap, a shake-table experimental campaign was undertaken, wherein half-scale pumice masonry building was exposed to simulated seismic forces. To enhance the experimental findings, numerical simulations were performed to confirm and expand our comprehension of how the pumice masonry structure responds to dynamic forces. Integrating both experimental and numerical outcomes provides a holistic understanding of how pumice masonry buildings behave during seismic events. At the end of the experimental study, the frequency values of the pumice model were observed to decrease up to 23.5% in the modes compared to the undamaged state. In the numerical model, this value decreases up to 19.85%. For the undamaged and damaged model, the first three experimental mode shapes were similar to the numerical mode shapes. Both experimental and numerical results show that the expected damages occur in the same regions. These results show that nonlinear FE models can be helpful in determining potential damage model locations. The findings have implications for the seismic design and retrofitting of similar traditional masonry buildings, facilitating the development of resilient and sustainable engineering solutions in seismic-prone regions.

We present analytical and numerical results on integrability and transition to chaotic motion for a generalized Ziegler pendulum, a double pendulum subject to an angular elastic potential and a follower force. Several variants of the original dynamical system, including the presence of gravity and friction, are considered, in order to analyze whether the integrable cases are preserved or not in presence of further external forces, both potential and non-potential. Particular attention is devoted to the presence of dissipative forces, that are analyzed in two different formulations. Furthermore, a study of the discrete version is performed. The analysis of periodic points, that is presented up to period 3, suggests that the discrete map associated to the dynamical system has not dense sets of periodic points, so that the map would not be chaotic in the sense of Devaney for a choice of the parameters that corresponds to a general case of chaotic motion for the original system.

Reducing relative sliding between tooth surfaces contributes to the improved reliability of gear operation. This paper presents an active design of an internal gear drive with low sliding ratio (LSR). In order to achieve a lower sliding ratio, the relationship between the sliding ratio and the contact path is established. The tooth profiles of the internal gear are determined based on a given contact path using a cubic function. Tooth interference issues arising during gear meshing and machining are systematically analyzed. Additionally, tooth profile features are illustrated through an example. The operating performance, including tooth strength and lubrication characteristics, is evaluated through a comparison with that of the traditional involute gear drive. Results indicate that the novel internal gear transmission exhibits excellent resistance to wear, bending, and lubrication performance. Finally, the rationality of the tooth profile design is validated through physical assembly.

This paper presents a numerical investigation of the film cooling performance of a new hybrid film cooling geometry. The new hybrid concept was created to enhance the film cooling performance of gas turbine blade. The scheme consists of a converging slot hole or console with a cylindrical hole featuring a branching cylindrical hole. An analysis of the cooling performance of the advanced hybrid film cooling model was carried out across blowing ratios of (B = 0.37, 0.60, and 0.87) at a density ratio of DR=1. A numerical simulation was performed using open-source CFD software OpenFOAM. The validity of the current numerical model was evaluated for the console case, revealing excellent agreement between the numerical results and the experimental data. In this study, two distinct forms, F1 and F2, are represented with the same position variation; the SST K − ({omega }) turbulence model was selected as the turbulence model for the analysis. The results show that the hybrid concepts, including auxiliary jets, enhance film cooling efficiency by effectively dispersing coolant across downstream surfaces and reducing the impact of the counter-rotating vortex pair by improving mixing with the mainstream flow. Furthermore, the supplementary jet ensures the primary coolant jet moves beside the test surface, which results in higher effectiveness, especially at high blowing ratios.