Dam break wave of thixotropic fluid

Thixotropy is the characteristic of a fluid to form a gelled structure over time when it is not subjected to shearing, and to liquefy when agitated. Thixotropic fluids are commonly used in the construction industry (e.g., liquid concrete and drilling fluids), and related applications include some forms of mud flows and debris flows. This paper describes a basic study of dam break wave with thixotropic fluid. Theoretical considerations were developed based upon a kinematic wave approximation of the Saint-Venant equations down a prismatic sloping channel. A very simple thixotropic model, which predicts the basic theological trends of such fluids, was used. It describes the instantaneous state of fluid structure by a single parameter. The analytical solution of the basic flow motion and theology equations predicts three basic flow regimes depending upon the fluid properties and flow conditions, including the initial degree of jamming of the fluid (related to its time of restructuration at rest). These findings were successfully compared with systematic bentonite suspension experiments. The present work is the first theoretical analysis combining the basic principles of unsteady flow motion with a thixotropic fluid model and systematic laboratory experiments.

Numerical simulation of abrupt contraction flows using the Double Convected Pom-Pom model

The Double Convected Pom-Pom model was recently introduced to circumvent some numerical and theological defects found in other formulations of the Pom-Pom concept. It is used here for the simulation of a benchmark problem: the flow in an abrupt planar contraction. The predictions are compared with birefringence measurements and show reasonable quantitative agreement with experimental data. A parametric study is also carried out with the aim of analysing the effect of the branching parameter on vortex dynamics and extrudate swell. The results show that the Double Convected Pom-Pom model (DCPP) model is able to discriminate between branched and linear macromolecular structures in accordance with experimental observations. In that respect, the role of the extensional properties in determining complex flow behaviour is stressed. Also, the ratio of the first normal stress difference to the shear stress appears to play a major role in die swell observation. For the time being, the role of the second normal stress difference appears to be less obvious to evaluate in this complex flow. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Pore size characterization of mesoporous materials by a thermodynamic approach: A curvature-dependent solid-fluid potential

A thermodynamic analysis of nitrogen adsorption in cylindrical pores of MCM-41 and SBA-15 samples at 77 K is presented within the framework of the Broekhoff and de Boer (BdB) theory. We accounted for the effect of the solid surface curvature on the potential exerted by the pore walls. The developed model is in quantitative agreement with the non-local density functional theory (NLDFT) for pores larger than 2 tun. This modified BdB theory accounting for the Curvature Dependent Potential (CDP-BdB) was applied to determine the pore size distribution (PSD) of a number of MCM-41 and SBA-15 samples on the basis of matching the equilibrium theoretical isotherm against the adsorption branch of the experimental isotherm. In all cases investigated the PSDs determined with the new approach are very similar to those determined with the non-local density functional theory also using the same basis of matching of theoretical isotherm against the experimental adsorption branch. The developed continuum theory is very simple in its utilization, suggesting that CDP-BdB could be used as an alternative tool to obtain PSD for mesoporous solids from the analysis of adsorption branch of adsorption isotherms of any sub-critical fluids.

An experimental and finite element poroelastic creep response analysis of an intervertebral hydrogel disc model in axial compression

A hydrogel intervertebral disc (lVD) model consisting of an inner nucleus core and an outer anulus ring was manufactured from 30 and 35% by weight Poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel (PVA-H) concentrations and subjected to axial compression in between saturated porous endplates at 200 N for 11 h, 30 min. Repeat experiments (n = 4) on different samples (N = 2) show good reproducibility of fluid loss and axial deformation. An axisymmetric nonlinear poroelastic finite element model with variable permeability was developed using commercial finite element software to compare axial deformation and predicted fluid loss with experimental data. The FE predictions indicate differential fluid loss similar to that of biological IVDs, with the nucleus losing more water than the anulus, and there is overall good agreement between experimental and finite element predicted fluid loss. The stress distribution pattern indicates important similarities with the biological lVD that includes stress transference from the nucleus to the anulus upon sustained loading and renders it suitable as a model that can be used in future studies to better understand the role of fluid and stress in biological IVDs. (C) 2005 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.

Vitamin B-12 release from P(HEMA-co-THFMA) in water and SBF: A model drug release study

A model drug release study on the ingress of water and Kokubo simulated body fluid (SBF) into poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (THFMA) and its copolymers with tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate (THFMA) loaded with vitamin B-12 was undertaken over the temperature range 298-318 K. The polymers were studied as cylinders and were loaded with either 5 or 10 wt-% of the drug. The drug release from the polymers was found to follow a Fickian diffusion mechanism in the early stages of the drug release, with higher normalized release rates at higher temperatures and higher drug loadings. The normalized release rates were also found to be higher for the SBF solution than for water. The copolymer composition was found to have a significant effect on the rate of release of the drug, with the rate falling rapidly between HEMA mole fractions of 1.0 and 0.8, but for lower mole fractions of HEMA the normalized release rate decreased more slowly. This behaviour followed the trend found for the changes in the equilibrium penetrant contents for the copolymers.

Factors predictive of intravenous fluid administration errors in Australian surgical care wards

Background: Intravenous (IV) fluid administration is an integral component of clinical care. Errors in administration can cause detrimental patient outcomes and increase healthcare costs, although little is known about medication administration errors associated with continuous IV infusions. Objectives: ( 1) To ascertain the prevalence of medication administration errors for continuous IV infusions and identify the variables that caused them. ( 2) To quantify the probability of errors by fitting a logistic regression model to the data. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on three surgical wards at a teaching hospital in Australia. All study participants received continuous infusions of IV fluids. Parenteral nutrition and non-electrolyte containing intermittent drug infusions ( such as antibiotics) were excluded. Medication administration errors and contributing variables were documented using a direct observational approach. Results: Six hundred and eighty seven observations were made, with 124 (18.0%) having at least one medication administration error. The most common error observed was wrong administration rate. The median deviation from the prescribed rate was 247 ml/h (interquartile range 275 to + 33.8 ml/ h). Errors were more likely to occur if an IV infusion control device was not used and as the duration of the infusion increased. Conclusions: Administration errors involving continuous IV infusions occur frequently. They could be reduced by more common use of IV infusion control devices and regular checking of administration rates.

Theoretical and numerical analysis of large-scale heat transfer problems with temperature-dependent pore-fluid densities

Purpose - In many scientific and engineering fields, large-scale heat transfer problems with temperature-dependent pore-fluid densities are commonly encountered. For example, heat transfer from the mantle into the upper crust of the Earth is a typical problem of them. The main purpose of this paper is to develop and present a new combined methodology to solve large-scale heat transfer problems with temperature-dependent pore-fluid densities in the lithosphere and crust scales. Design/methodology/approach - The theoretical approach is used to determine the thickness and the related thermal boundary conditions of the continental crust on the lithospheric scale, so that some important information can be provided accurately for establishing a numerical model of the crustal scale. The numerical approach is then used to simulate the detailed structures and complicated geometries of the continental crust on the crustal scale. The main advantage in using the proposed combination method of the theoretical and numerical approaches is that if the thermal distribution in the crust is of the primary interest, the use of a reasonable numerical model on the crustal scale can result in a significant reduction in computer efforts. Findings - From the ore body formation and mineralization points of view, the present analytical and numerical solutions have demonstrated that the conductive-and-advective lithosphere with variable pore-fluid density is the most favorite lithosphere because it may result in the thinnest lithosphere so that the temperature at the near surface of the crust can be hot enough to generate the shallow ore deposits there. The upward throughflow (i.e. mantle mass flux) can have a significant effect on the thermal structure within the lithosphere. In addition, the emplacement of hot materials from the mantle may further reduce the thickness of the lithosphere. Originality/value - The present analytical solutions can be used to: validate numerical methods for solving large-scale heat transfer problems; provide correct thermal boundary conditions for numerically solving ore body formation and mineralization problems on the crustal scale; and investigate the fundamental issues related to thermal distributions within the lithosphere. The proposed finite element analysis can be effectively used to consider the geometrical and material complexities of large-scale heat transfer problems with temperature-dependent fluid densities.

Study of flow behaviour in a three-product cyclone using computational fluid dynamics

Simplicity in design and minimal floor space requirements render the hydrocyclone the preferred classifier in mineral processing plants. Empirical models have been developed for design and process optimisation but due to the complexity of the flow behaviour in the hydrocyclone these do not provide information on the internal separation mechanisms. To study the interaction of design variables, the flow behaviour needs to be considered, especially when modelling the new three-product cyclone. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to model the three-product cyclone, in particular the influence of the dual vortex finder arrangement on flow behaviour. From experimental work performed on the UG2 platinum ore, significant differences in the classification performance of the three-product cyclone were noticed with variations in the inner vortex finder length. Because of this simulations were performed for a range of inner vortex finder lengths. Simulations were also conducted on a conventional hydrocyclone of the same size to enable a direct comparison of the flow behaviour between the two cyclone designs. Significantly, high velocities were observed for the three-product cyclone with an inner vortex finder extended deep into the conical section of the cyclone. CFD studies revealed that in the three-product cyclone, a cylindrical shaped air-core is observed similar to conventional hydrocyclones. A constant diameter air-core was observed throughout the inner vortex finder length, while no air-core was present in the annulus. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Prediction of slurry transport in SAG mills using SPH fluid flow in a dynamic DEM based porous media

DEM modelling of the motion of coarse fractions of the charge inside SAG mills has now been well established for more than a decade. In these models the effect of slurry has broadly been ignored due to its complexity. Smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) provides a particle based method for modelling complex free surface fluid flows and is well suited to modelling fluid flow in mills. Previous modelling has demonstrated the powerful ability of SPH to capture dynamic fluid flow effects such as lifters crashing into slurry pools, fluid draining from lifters, flow through grates and pulp lifter discharge. However, all these examples were limited by the ability to model only the slurry in the mill without the charge. In this paper, we represent the charge as a dynamic porous media through which the SPH fluid is then able to flow. The porous media properties (specifically the spatial distribution of porosity and velocity) are predicted by time averaging the mill charge predicted using a large scale DEM model. This allows prediction of transient and steady state slurry distributions in the mill and allows its variation with operating parameters, slurry viscosity and slurry volume, to be explored. (C) 2006 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Mechanisms influencing levitation and the scaling laws in nanopores: Oscillator model theory

We provide here a detailed theoretical explanation of the floating molecule or levitation effect, for molecules diffusing through nanopores, using the oscillator model theory (Phys. Rev. Lett. 2003, 91, 126102) recently developed in this laboratory. It is shown that on reduction of pore size the effect occurs due to decrease in frequency of wall collision of diffusing particles at a critical pore size. This effect is, however, absent at high temperatures where the ratio of kinetic energy to the solid-fluid interaction strength is sufficiently large. It is shown that the transport diffusivities scale with this ratio. Scaling of transport diffusivities with respect to mass is also observed, even in the presence of interactions.

Using computational fluid dynamics in combating erosion-corrosion

Computational fluid dynamics was used to search for the links between the observed pattern of attack seen in a bauxite refinery's heat exchanger headers and the hydrodynamics inside the header. Validation of the computational fluid dynamics results was done by comparing then with flow parameters measured in a 1:5 scale model of the first pass header in the laboratory. Computational fluid dynamics simulations were used to establish hydrodynamic similarity between the 1:5 scale and full scale models of the first pass header. It was found that the erosion-corrosion damage seen at the tubesheet of the first pass header was a consequence of increased levels of turbulence at the tubesheet caused by a rapidly turning flow. A prismatic flow corrections device introduced in the past helped in rectifying the problem at the tubesheet but exaggerated the erosion-corrosion problem at the first pass header shell. A number of alternative flow correction devices were tested using computational fluid dynamics. Axial ribbing in the first pass header and an inlet flow diffuser have shown the best performance and were recommended for implementation. Computational fluid dynamics simulations have revealed a smooth orderly low turbulence flow pattern in the second, third and fourth pass as well as the exit headers where no erosion-corrosion was seen in practice. This study has confirmed that near-wall turbulence intensity, which can be successfully predicted by using computational fluid dynamics, is a good hydrodynamic predictor of erosion-corrosion damage in complex geometries. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Zinc deposits and related mineralization of the Burketown mineral field, including the world-class Century Deposit, Northern Australia: Fluid inclusion and stable isotope evidence for basin fluid sources

The stratiform Century Zn-Pb deposit and the discordant Zn-Pb lode deposits of the Burketown mineral field, northern Australia, host ore and gangue minerals with primary fluid inclusions that have not been affected by the Isan orogeny, thus providing a unique opportunity to investigate the nature of the ore-forming brines. All of the deposits are hosted in shales and siltstones belonging to the Isa superbasin and comprise sphalerite, pyrite, carbonate, quartz, galena, minor chalcopyrite, and minor illite. According to Pb model ages, the main ore stage of mineralization at Century formed at I575 Ma, some 20 m.y. after deposition of the host shale sequence. Microthermometry on undeformed, primary fluid inclusions hosted in porous sphalerite shows that the Zn at Century was transported to the deposit by a homogeneous, Ca2+- and Na+-bearing brine with a salinity of 21.6 wt percent NaCl equiv. delta D-fluid of the fluid inclusion water ranges from -89 to -83 per mil, consistent with a basinal brine that evolved from meteoric water. Fluid inclusion homogenization temperatures range between 74 degrees and 125 degrees C, which are lower than the 120 degrees to 160 degrees C range calculated from vitrinite reflectance and illite crystallinity data from the deposit. This discrepancy indicates that mineralization likely formed at 50 to 85 Mpa, corresponding to a depth of 1,900 to 3,100 m. Transgressive galena-sphalerite veins that cut stratiform mineralization at Century and breccia-filled quartz-dolomite-sphalerite-galena veins in the discordant Zn-Pb lodes have Pb model ages between 1575 and 1485 Ma. Raman spectroscopy and microthermometry reveal that the primary fluid inclusions in these veins contain Ca2+, Na+. but they have lower salinities between 23 and 10 wt percent NaCl equiv and higher delta D-fluid values ranging from -89 to -61 per mil than fluid inclusions in porous sphalerite from Century. Fluid inclusion water from sphalerite in one of the lode deposits has delta O-18(fluid) values of 1.6 and 2.4 per mil, indistinguishable from delta O-18(fluid) values between -0.3 to +7.4 per mil calculated from the isotopic composition of coexisting quartz, dolomite, and illite. The trend toward lower salinities and higher delta D-fluid values relative to the earlier mineralizing fluids is attributed to mixing between the fluid that formed Century and a seawater-derived fluid from a different source. Based on seismic data from the Lawn Hill platform and paragenetic and geochemical results from the Leichhardt River fault trough to the south, diagenetic aquifers in the Underlying Calvert superbasin appear to have been the most likely sources for the fluids that formed Century and the discordant lode deposits. Paragenetically late sphalerite and calcite cut sphalerite, quartz, and dolomite in the lode deposits and contain Na+-dominated fluid inclusions with much lower salinities than their older counterparts. The isotopic composition of calcite also indicates delta O-18(fluid) from 3.3 to 10.7 per mil, which is larger than the range obtained from synmineralization minerals, supporting the idea that a unique fluid source was involved. The absolute timing of this event is unclear, but a plethora of Pb model, K-Ar, and Ar-40/Ar-39 ages between 1440 and 1300 Ma indicate that a significant volume of fluid was mobilized at this time. The deposition of the Roper superbasin from ca. 1492 +/- 4 Ma suggests that these late veins formed from fluids that may have been derived from aquifers in overlying sediments of the Roper superbasin. Clear, buck, and drusy quartz in veins unrelated to any form of Pb-Zn mineralization record the last major fluid event in the Burketown mineral field and form distinct outcrops and ridges in the district. Fluid inclusions in these veins indicate formation from a low-salinity, 300 degrees +/- 80 degrees C fluid. Temperatures approaching 300 degrees C recorded in organic matter adjacent to faults and at sequence boundaries correspond to K-Ar ages spanning 1300 to 1100 Ma, which coincides with regional hydrothermal activity in the northern Lawn Hill platform and the emplacement of the Lakeview Dolerite at the time of assemblage of the Rodinia supercontinent.

In vivo demonstration of load-induced fluid flow in the rat tibia and its potential implications for processes associated with functional adaptation

Load-induced extravascular fluid flow has been postulated to play a role in mechanotransduction of physiological loads at the cellular level. Furthermore, the displaced fluid serves as a carrier for metabolites, nutrients, mineral precursors and osteotropic agents important for cellular activity. We hypothesise that load-induced fluid flow enhances the transport of these key substances, thus helping to regulate cellular activity associated with processes of functional adaptation and remodelling. To test this hypothesis, molecular tracer methods developed previously by our group were applied in vivo to observe and quantify the effects of load-induced fluid flow under four-point-bending loads. Preterminal tracer transport studies were carried out on 24 skeletally mature Sprague Dawley rats. Mechanical loading enhanced the transport of both small- and larger-molecular-mass tracers within the bony tissue of the tibial mid-diaphysis. Mechanical loading showed a highly significant effect on the number of periosteocytic spaces exhibiting tracer within the cross section of each bone. For all loading rates studied, the concentration of Procion Red tracer was consistently higher in the tibia subjected to pure bending loads than in the unloaded, contralateral tibia, Furthermore, the enhancement of transport was highly site-specific. In bones subjected to pure bending loads, a greater number of periosteocytic spaces exhibited the presence of tracer in the tension band of the cross section than in the compression band; this may reflect the higher strains induced in the tension band compared with the compression band within the mid-diaphysis of the rat tibia. Regardless of loading mode, the mean difference between the loaded side and the unloaded contralateral control side decreased with increasing loading frequency. Whether this reflects the length of exposure to the tracer or specific frequency effects cannot be determined by this set of experiments. These in vivo experimental results corroborate those of previous ex vivo and in vitro studies, Strain-related differences in tracer distribution provide support for the hypothesis that load-induced fluid flow plays a regulatory role in processes associated with functional adaptation.