Numerical modelling of deformation behaviour of red blood cells in microvessels using the coupled SPH-DEM method

This thesis developed an advanced computational model to investigate the motion and deformation properties of red blood cells in capillaries. The novel model is based on the meshfree particle methods and is capable of modelling the large deformation of red blood cells moving through blood vessels. The developed model was employed to simulate the deformation behaviour of healthy and malaria infected red blood cells as well as the motion of red blood cells in stenosed capillaries.

A numerical study of thermocapillary flow in a rectangular cavity during laser melting

The surface tension gradient driven flow that occurs during laser melting has been studied. The vorticity-streamfunction form of the Navier-Stokes equations and the energy equation has been solved by the ‘Alternative Direction Implicit’ method. It has been shown that the inertia forces in the melt strongly influence the flow pattern in the melt. The convection in the melt modifies the isotherms in the melt at high surface tension Reynolds number and high Prandtl number. The buoyancy driven flow has been shown to be negligible compared to the surface tension gradient driven flow in laser melting.

Stay-green wheat for increased yield and yield stability

This project will provide information, germplasm, selection techniques and strategies for breeders to develop high-yielding stay-green wheat cultivars for Australian growers via a "three pronged" research strategy.

Enhancing pasture stability and profitability for producers in Poplar Box and Silver-leaved Ironbark woodlands.

Over 7 years, this project collected data about the pasture, tree and soil surface dynamics of two major Aristida/Bothriochloa pasture types within the eucalypt woodlands of central Queensland. Six different grazing management scenarios were compared ecologically and economically, along with the effects of spring burns and tree killing. Heavy stocking (3-4 ha per adult equivalent) produced the greatest short-term financial return from healthy pastures but was not a sustainable practice and long-term cash returns were no better than those from moderate stocking. The environmental benefits of moderate grazing over heavy grazing were very clear. Light stocking produced better environmental outcomes compared to moderate stocking but was clearly inferior with respect to economic returns. Killing silver-leaved ironbark trees near Rubyvale produced no measurable improvement in pasture growth or quality for at least 6 years whereas at Injune the same treatment of poplar box trees resulted in an immediate and large enhancement in pasture production and carrying capacity. The gritty red duplex soil at Rubyvale was much more erodible than the grey solodic at Injune although the latter becomes very erodible if the stable surface soil is breached. Good seasonal rainfall produced faster changes in pasture composition than extremes of grazing management. The perennial grasses were easier to recruit than to eliminate by grazing management changes.

On an analytical-numerical procedure for the analysis of cylindrical-shells with arbitrarily oriented cracks

An analytical-numerical procedure for obtaining stress intensity factor solutions for an arbitrarily oriented crack in a long, thin circular cylindrical shell is presented. The method of analysis involves obtaining a series solution to the governing shell equation in terms of Mathieu and modified Mathieu functions by the method of separation of variables and satisfying the crack surface boundary conditions numerically using collocation. The solution is then transformed from elliptic coordinates to polar coordinates with crack tip as the origin through a Taylor series expansion and membrane and bending stress intensity factors are computed. Numerical results are presented and discussed for the pressure loading case.

A dual-slope analogue-to-digital converter for generating polynomials

A new digital polynomial generator using the principle of dual-slope analogue-to-digital conversion is proposed. Techniques for realizing a wide range of integer as well as fractional coefficients to obtain the desired polynomial have been discussed. The suitability of realizing the proposed polynomial generator in integrated circuit form is also indicated.

Some direct numerical approaches to the solution of the singular nonlinear transonic integral equation

The nonlinear singular integral equation of transonic flow is examined, noting that standard numerical techniques are not applicable in solving it. The difficulties in approximating the integral term in this expression were solved by special methods mitigating the inaccuracies caused by standard approximations. It was shown how the infinite domain of integration can be reduced to a finite one; numerical results were plotted demonstrating that the methods proposed here improve accuracy and computational economy.

Stability criteria for single pulse solutions of cw passive mode-locked lasers

The stability of the steady-state solutions of mode-locking of cw lasers by a fast saturable absorber is imvestigated. It is shown that the solutions are stable if the condition (Ps/Pa) = (2/3) (P0Pa) is satisfied, where (Ps/Pa) is the steady-state la ser power, (P0/Pa) is the power at mode-locking threshold, and Pa is the saturated power of the absorber.

Optimal simultaneous maximum a posterioriestimation of states, noise statistics and parameters II. Numerical performance

A very general and numerically quite robust algorithm has been proposed by Sastry and Gauvrit (1980) for system identification. The present paper takes it up and examines its performance on a real test example. The example considered is the lateral dynamics of an aircraft. This is used as a vehicle for demonstrating the performance of various aspects of the algorithm in several possible modes.

nvestigations on the Stability and Extinction of a Laminar Diffusion Flame Over a Porous Flat Plate

The limits of stability and extinction of a laminar diffusion flame have been experimentally studied in a two-dimensional laminar boundary layer over a porous flat plate through which n-pentane vapour was uniformly injected. The stability and extinction boundaries are mapped on a plot of free stream oxidant velocity versus fuel injection velocity. Effects of free stream temperature and of dilution of fuel and oxidant on these boundaries have been examined. The results show that there exists a limiting oxidant flux beyond which the diffusion flame cannot be sustained. This limiting oxidant flux has been found to depend_on the free stream oxygen concentration, fuel concentration and injection'velocity of the fuel.

Numerical studies on CFRP strengthened steel circular members under marine environment

The durability of carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) strengthened steel circular hollow section (CHS) members has now become a real challenge to researchers. In addition, various parameters that may affect the durability of such members have not been revealed yet. This paper presents brief experimental results and the first finite element (FE) approach of CFRP strengthened steel CHS beams conditioned in simulated sea water, along with an accelerated corrosion environment at ambient (24 OC ± 4 OC) and 50 OC temperatures. The beams were loaded to failure under four-point bending. It was found that the strength and stiffness reduced significantly after conditioning in an accelerated corrosion environment. Numerical simulation is implemented using the ABAQUS static general approach. A cohesive element was utilised to model the interface element and an 8-node quadrilateral in-plane general-purpose continuum shell was used to model CFRP elements. A mixed mode cohesive law was deployed for all the three components of stresses in the proposed FE approach, which were one normal component and two shear components. The validity of the FE models was ascertained by comparing the ultimate load and load vs deflection response from experimental results. A range of parametric studies were conducted to investigate the effects of bond length, adhesive types, thickness and diameter of tubes. The results of parametric studies indicated that the adhesive with high tensile modulus performed better and durability design factors varied from section to section.

Oxidative stability of phytosterols in food models and foods

An important safety aspect to be considered when foods are enriched with phytosterols and phytostanols is the oxidative stability of these lipid compounds, i.e. their resistance to oxidation and thus to the formation of oxidation products. This study concentrated on producing scientific data to support this safety evaluation process. In the absence of an official method for analyzing of phytosterol/stanol oxidation products, we first developed a new gas chromatographic - mass spectrometric (GC-MS) method. We then investigated factors affecting these compounds' oxidative stability in lipid-based food models in order to identify critical conditions under which significant oxidation reactions may occur. Finally, the oxidative stability of phytosterols and stanols in enriched foods during processing and storage was evaluated. Enriched foods covered a range of commercially available phytosterol/stanol ingredients, different heat treatments during food processing, and different multiphase food structures. The GC-MS method was a powerful tool for measuring the oxidative stability. Data obtained in food model studies revealed that the critical factors for the formation and distribution of the main secondary oxidation products were sterol structure, reaction temperature, reaction time, and lipid matrix composition. Under all conditions studied, phytostanols as saturated compounds were more stable than unsaturated phytosterols. In addition, esterification made phytosterols more reactive than free sterols at low temperatures, while at high temperatures the situation was the reverse. Generally, oxidation reactions were more significant at temperatures above 100°C. At lower temperatures, the significance of these reactions increased with increasing reaction time. The effect of lipid matrix composition was dependent on temperature; at temperatures above 140°C, phytosterols were more stable in an unsaturated lipid matrix, whereas below 140°C they were more stable in a saturated lipid matrix. At 140°C, phytosterols oxidized at the same rate in both matrices. Regardless of temperature, phytostanols oxidized more in an unsaturated lipid matrix. Generally, the distribution of oxidation products seemed to be associated with the phase of overall oxidation. 7-ketophytosterols accumulated when oxidation had not yet reached the dynamic state. Once this state was attained, the major products were 5,6-epoxyphytosterols and 7-hydroxyphytosterols. The changes observed in phytostanol oxidation products were not as informative since all stanol oxides quantified represented hydroxyl compounds. The formation of these secondary oxidation products did not account for all of the phytosterol/stanol losses observed during the heating experiments, indicating the presence of dimeric, oligomeric or other oxidation products, especially when free phytosterols and stanols were heated at high temperatures. Commercially available phytosterol/stanol ingredients were stable during such food processes as spray-drying and ultra high temperature (UHT)-type heating and subsequent long-term storage. Pan-frying, however, induced phytosterol oxidation and was classified as a rather deteriorative process. Overall, the findings indicated that although phytosterols and stanols are stable in normal food processing conditions, attention should be paid to their use in frying. Complex interactions between other food constituents also suggested that when new phytosterol-enriched foods are developed their oxidative stability must first be established. The results presented here will assist in choosing safe conditions for phytosterol/stanol enrichment.