Simulating shock to detonation transition: Algorithm and results

An algorithm based on flux-corrected transport and the Lagrangian finite element method is presented for solving the problem of shock dynamics. It is verified through the model problem of one-dimensional strain elastoplastic shock wave propagation that the algorithm leads to stable, non-oscillatory results. Shock initiation and detonation wave propagation is simulated using the algorithm, and some interesting results are obtained. (C) 1999 Academic Press.

Experimental Study on the Transition Process to the Oscillatory Thermocapillary Convections in a Floating Half Zone

The transition process of the thermocapillary convection from a steady and axisymmetric mode to the oscillatory mode in a liquid bridge with a fixed aspect ratio and varied volume ratio was studied experimentally. To ensure the surface tension to play an important role in the ground-based experiment, the geometrical configuration of the liquid bridge was so designed that the associated dynamic Bond number Bd ≈ 1. The velocity fields were measured by Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique to effectively distinguish the different flow modes during the transition period in the experiments. Our experiments showed that as the temperature difference increased the slender and fat bridges presented quite different features on the evolution in their flow feature: for the former the thermocapillary convection transformed from a steady and axisymmetric pattern directly into an oscillatory one; but for the latter a transition flow status, characterized by an axial asymmetric steady convection, appeared before reaching the oscillatory mode. Experimental observations agree with the results of numerical simulations and it is obvious that the volume of liquid bridge is a sensitive geometric parameter. In addition, at the initial stage of the oscillation, for the former a rotating oscillatory convection with azimuthal wave number m = 1 was observed while for the latter a pulsating oscillatory pattern with azimuthal wave number m = 2 emerged, and then with further increase of the temperature difference, the pulsating oscillatory convection with azimuthal wave number m = 2 evolved into a rotating oscillatory pattern with azimuthal wave number m = 2.

Slug to annular flow transition of microgravity two-phase flow

A new model is developed for predicting the transition from the slug to annular flow of adiabatic two-phase gas/liquid flow in microgravity (mu g) environment. This model is based on the analyses of the effects of the surface tension and the gas inertia in a sense of more physical approach. The drift-flux model is applied to determine the gas void fraction near the transition region. The new model is compared with previous models and experimental data, and the results show the improvement in explanation of the experimental results.

Stability of ZrTiCuNiBe Bulk Metallic Glass Upon Isothermal Annealing Near the Glass Transition Temperature

The stability of Zr41Ti14Cu12.5Ni10Be22.5 bulk metallic glass (BMG) upon isothermal annealing near the glass transition temperature has been investigated by using x-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and the pulse echo overlap method. The density, elastic constants, and thermodynamic parameters as well as their annealing time dependence have been determined. The microstructural and properties changes of the annealed BMG were checked by acoustic measurement. Obvious structural and property changes were observed with prolonged annealing of the BMG near the glass transition temperature.

Carbon transition efficiency and process cost in high-rate, large-area deposition of diamond films by DC arc plasma jet

A new DC plasma torch in which are jet states and deposition parameters can be regulated over a wide range has been built. It showed advantages in producing stable plasma conditions at a small gas flow rate. Plasma jets with and without magnetically rotated arcs could be generated. With straight are jet deposition, diamond films could be formed at a rate of 39 mu m/h on Mo substrates of Phi 25 mm, and the conversion rate of carbon in CH4 to diamond was less than 3%. Under magnetically rotated conditions, diamond films could be deposited uniformly in a range of Phi 40 mm at 30 mu m/h, with a quite low total gas flow rate and high carbon conversion rate of over 11%. Mechanisms of rapid and uniform deposition of diamond films with low gas consumption and high carbon transition efficiency are discussed.

Coherent Structures in Transition of a Flat-Plate Boundary Layer at Ma=0.7

Direct numerical simulation (DNS) of a spatially evolving flat-plate boundary layer transition process at free stream Mach number 0.7 is performed. Tollmien-Schlichting (T-S) waves are added on the inlet boundary as the disturbances before transition. Typical coherent structures in the transition process are investigated based on the second invariant of velocity gradient tensor. The instantaneous shear stress and the mean velocity profile in the transition region are studied. In our view, the fact that the peak value of shear stress in the stress concentration area increases and exceeds a threshold value during the later stage of the transition process plays an important role in the laminar breakdown process.

Damage of a High-Energy Solid Propellant and Its Deflagration-to-Detonation Transition

In order to assess the safety of high-energy solid propellants, the effects of damage on deflagration-to-detonation transition (DDT) in a nitrate ester plasticized polyether (NEPE) propellant, is investigated. A comparison of DDT in the original and impacted propellants was studied in steel tubes with synchronous optoelectronic triodes and strain gauges. The experimental results indicate that the microstructural damage in the propellant enhances its transition rate from deflagration to detonation and causes its danger increase. It is suggested that the mechanical properties of the propellant should be improved to restrain its damage so that the likelihood of DDT might be reduced.

Effects of the Spanwise Characteristic Length on the Transition Feature in the Wake of a Cylinder

The transition features of the wake behind a uniform circular cylinder at Re = 200, which is just beyond the critical Reynolds number of 3-D transition, are investigated in detail by direct numerical simulations of 3-D incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. The spanwise characteris-tic length determines the transition features and global properties of the wake.

Transition to Chaos in the Floating Half Zone Convection

The transition process from steady convection to chaos is experimentally studied in thermocapillary convections of floating half zone. The onset of temperature oscillations in the liquid bridge of floating half zone and further transitions of the temporal convective behaviour are detected by measuring the temperature in the liquid bridge. The fast Fourier transform reveals the frequency and amplitude characteristics of the flow transition. The experimental results indicate the existence of a sequence of period-doubling bifurcations that culminate in chaos. The measured Feigenbaum numbers are delta(2) = 4.69 and delta(4) = 4.6, which are comparable with the theoretical asymptotic value delta = 4.669.

Theoretical investigation of epitaxial deformation and the hcp-bcc transition of alkali metals

The deformation of alkali metals K, Rb, and Cs under epitaxial deformation is studied via the ab initio pseudopotential plane wave method using the local-density approximation. Under loading from the stable fee phase, metastable stares along directions [001], [111], and [201] are identified. One metastable state, presented at direction [201], has a very low symmetry in contrast to the planes [001] and [201]. Our results show that the softening direction and sequences of growth is significantly affected by the existence of the metastable states and magnitude of the energy barrier. The resulting softening sequences from soft to hard are [201], [110], [001], and [111] under biaxial compression and [001], [111], [201], and [110] under biaxial tension. An orthorhombic deformation path is used to investigate the fact, that the structure of the alkali films K and Cs evolve from the quasihexagonal structure into the (110)-oriented bcc structure, observed by experiments.

On the transition from displacement to mixing ventilation with a localized heat source

We investigate the steady state natural ventilation of a room heated at the base and consisting of two vents at different levels. We explore how the air flow rate and internal temperature relative to the exterior vary as a function of the vent areas, position of the vents and heat load in order to establish appropriate ventilation strategies for a room. When the room is heated by a distributed source, the room becomes well mixed and the steady state ventilation rate depends on the heating rate, the area of the vents and the distance between the lower and upper level vents. However, when the room is heated by a localised source the room becomes stratified. If the effective ventilation area is sufficiently large, then the interface separating the two layers lies above the inlet vent and the lower layer is comprised of ambient fluid. In this case the upper layer is warmer than in the well mixed case and the ventilation rate is smaller. However, if the effective area for ventilation is sufficiently small, then the interface separating the two layers lies below the inlet vent and the lower layer is comprised of warm fluid which originates as the cold incoming fluid mixes during descent from the vent through the upper layer. In this case both the ventilation rate and the upper layer temperature are the same as in the case of a distributed heat load. As the vertical separation between lower and upper level vents decreases, then the temperature difference between the layers falls to zero and the room becomes approximately well mixed. These findings suggest how the appropriate ventilation strategy for a room can be varied depending on the exterior temperature, with mixing ventilation more suitable for winter conditions and displacement ventilation for warmer external temperatures.

Experimental investigation of a control method for SI-HCCI-SI transition in a multi-cylinder gasoline engine

In HCCI engines, the Air/Fuel Ratio (AFR) and Residual Gas Fraction (RGF) are difficult to control during the SI-HCCI-SI transition, and this may result in incomplete combustion and/or high pressure raise rates. As a result, there may be undesirably high engine load fluctuations. The objectives of this work are to further understand this process and develop control methods to minimize these load fluctuations. This paper presents data on instantaneous AFR and RGF measurements, both taken by novel experimental techniques. The data provides an insight into the cyclic AFR and RGF fluctuations during the switch. These results suggest that the relatively slow change in the intake Manifold Air Pressure (MAP) and actuation time of the Variable Valve Timing (VVT) are the main causes of undesired AFR and RGF fluctuations, and hence an unacceptable Net IMEP (NIMEP) fluctuation. We also found large cylinder-to-cylinder AFR variations during the transition. Therefore, besides throttle opening control and VVT shifting, cyclic and individual cylinder fuel injection control is necessary to achieve a smooth transition. The control method was developed and implemented in a test engine, and the result was a considerably reduced NIMEP fluctuation during the mode switch. The instantaneous AFR and RGF measurements could furthermore be adopted to develop more sophisticated control methods for SI-HCCI-SI transitions. © 2010 SAE International.