Modified crack closure integral (MCCI) for 3-d problems using 20 noded brick elememnts

The Modified Crack Closure Integral (MCCI) technique based on Irwin's crack closure integral concept is very effective for estimation of strain energy release rates G in individual as well as mixed-mode configurations in linear elastic fracture mechanics problems. In a finite element approach, MCCI can be evaluated in the post-processing stage in terms of nodal forces and displacements near the crack tip. The MCCI expressions are however, element dependent and require a systematic derivation using stress and displacement distributions in the crack tip elements. Earlier a general procedure was proposed by the present authors for the derivation of MCCI expressions for 3-dimensional (3-d) crack problems modelled with 8-noded brick elements. A concept of sub-area integration was proposed to estimate strain energy release rates at a large number of points along the crack front. In the present paper a similar procedure is adopted for the derivation of MCCI expressions for 3-d cracks modelled with 20-noded brick elements. Numerical results are presented for centre crack tension and edge crack shear specimens in thick slabs, showing a comparison between present results and those available in the literature.

Simulations and experiments in punching spring-steel devices with sub-millimeter features

This work demonstrates the feasibility of mesoscale (100 μm to mm) punching of multiple holes of intricate shapes in metals. Analytical modeling, finite element (FE)simulation, and experimentations are used in this work. Two dimensional FE simulations in ABAQUS were done with an assumed material modeling and plane-strain condition. A known analytical model was used and compared with the ABAQUS simulation results to understand the effects of clearance between the punch and the die. FE simulation in ABAQUS was done for different clearances and corner radii at punch, die, and holder. A set of punches and dies were used to punch out a miniature spring-steel gripper. Comparison of compliant grippers manufactured by wire-cut electro discharge machining(EDM) and punching shows that realizing sharp interior and re-entrant corners by punching is not easy to achieve. Punching of circular holes with 5 mm and 2.5 mm diameter is achieved. The possibility of realizing meso-scale parts with complicated shapes through punching is demonstrated in this work; and some strategies are suggested for improvement.

Three-dimensional localization of multiple acoustic sources in shallow ocean with non-Gaussian noise

In this paper, a low-complexity algorithm SAGE-USL is presented for 3-dimensional (3-D) localization of multiple acoustic sources in a shallow ocean with non-Gaussian ambient noise, using a vertical and a horizontal linear array of sensors. In the proposed method, noise is modeled as a Gaussian mixture. Initial estimates of the unknown parameters (source coordinates, signal waveforms and noise parameters) are obtained by known/conventional methods, and a generalized expectation maximization algorithm is used to update the initial estimates iteratively. Simulation results indicate that convergence is reached in a small number of (<= 10) iterations. Initialization requires one 2-D search and one 1-D search, and the iterative updates require a sequence of 1-D searches. Therefore the computational complexity of the SAGE-USL algorithm is lower than that of conventional techniques such as 3-D MUSIC by several orders of magnitude. We also derive the Cramer-Rao Bound (CRB) for 3-D localization of multiple sources in a range-independent ocean. Simulation results are presented to show that the root-mean-square localization errors of SAGE-USL are close to the corresponding CRBs and significantly lower than those of 3-D MUSIC. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

3-D GPU Based Real Time Diffuse Optical Tomographic System

3-Dimensional Diffuse Optical Tomographic (3-D DOT) image reconstruction algorithm is computationally complex and requires excessive matrix computations and thus hampers reconstruction in real time. In this paper, we present near real time 3D DOT image reconstruction that is based on Broyden approach for updating Jacobian matrix. The Broyden method simplifies the algorithm by avoiding re-computation of the Jacobian matrix in each iteration. We have developed CPU and heterogeneous CPU/GPU code for 3D DOT image reconstruction in C and MatLab programming platform. We have used Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) programming framework and CUDA linear algebra library (CULA) to utilize the massively parallel computational power of GPUs (NVIDIA Tesla K20c). The computation time achieved for C program based implementation for a CPU/GPU system for 3 planes measurement and FEM mesh size of 19172 tetrahedral elements is 806 milliseconds for an iteration.

Direct Numerical Simulation Of Three-Dimensional Richtmyer-Meshkov Instability

Direct numerical simulation (DNS) is used to study flow characteristics after interaction of a planar shock with a spherical media interface in each side of which the density is different. This interfacial instability is known as the Richtmyer-Meshkov (R-M) instability. The compressible Navier-Stoke equations are discretized with group velocity control (GVC) modified fourth order accurate compact difference scheme. Three-dimensional numerical simulations are performed for R-M instability installed passing a shock through a spherical interface. Based on numerical results the characteristics of 3D R-M instability are analysed. The evaluation for distortion of the interface, the deformation of the incident shock wave and effects of refraction, reflection and diffraction are presented. The effects of the interfacial instability on produced vorticity and mixing is discussed.

Elastodynamic stress intensity factor history for a semi-infinite crack under three-dimensional transient loading

The dynamic stress intensity factor history for a semi-infinite crack in an otherwise unbounded elastic body is analyzed. The crack is subjected to a pair of suddenly-applied point loadings on its faces at a distance L away from the crack tip. The exact expression for the mode I stress intensity factor as a function of time is obtained. The method of solution is based on the direct application of integral transforms, the Wiener-Hopf technique and the Cagniard-de Hoop method. Due to the existence of the characteristic length in loading this problem was long believed a knotty problem. Some features of the solutions are discussed and graphical result for numerical computation is presented.

A new high-order Fourier continuation-based elasticity solver for complex three-dimensional geometries

This thesis presents a new approach for the numerical solution of three-dimensional problems in elastodynamics. The new methodology, which is based on a recently introduced Fourier continuation (FC) algorithm for the solution of Partial Differential Equations on the basis of accurate Fourier expansions of possibly non-periodic functions, enables fast, high-order solutions of the time-dependent elastic wave equation in a nearly dispersionless manner, and it requires use of CFL constraints that scale only linearly with spatial discretizations. A new FC operator is introduced to treat Neumann and traction boundary conditions, and a block-decomposed (sub-patch) overset strategy is presented for implementation of general, complex geometries in distributed-memory parallel computing environments. Our treatment of the elastic wave equation, which is formulated as a complex system of variable-coefficient PDEs that includes possibly heterogeneous and spatially varying material constants, represents the first fully-realized three-dimensional extension of FC-based solvers to date. Challenges for three-dimensional elastodynamics simulations such as treatment of corners and edges in three-dimensional geometries, the existence of variable coefficients arising from physical configurations and/or use of curvilinear coordinate systems and treatment of boundary conditions, are all addressed. The broad applicability of our new FC elasticity solver is demonstrated through application to realistic problems concerning seismic wave motion on three-dimensional topographies as well as applications to non-destructive evaluation where, for the first time, we present three-dimensional simulations for comparison to experimental studies of guided-wave scattering by through-thickness holes in thin plates.

Fabrication, Characterization, And Deformation of 3D Structural Meta-Materials

Current technological advances in fabrication methods have provided pathways to creating architected structural meta-materials similar to those found in natural organisms that are structurally robust and lightweight, such as diatoms. Structural meta-materials are materials with mechanical properties that are determined by material properties at various length scales, which range from the material microstructure (nm) to the macro-scale architecture (μm – mm). It is now possible to exploit material size effect, which emerge at the nanometer length scale, as well as structural effects to tune the material properties and failure mechanisms of small-scale cellular solids, such as nanolattices. This work demonstrates the fabrication and mechanical properties of 3-dimensional hollow nanolattices in both tension and compression. Hollow gold nanolattices loaded in uniaxial compression demonstrate that strength and stiffness vary as a function of geometry and tube wall thickness. Structural effects were explored by increasing the unit cell angle from 30° to 60° while keeping all other parameters constant; material size effects were probed by varying the tube wall thickness, t, from 200nm to 635nm, at a constant relative density and grain size. In-situ uniaxial compression experiments reveal an order-of-magnitude increase in yield stress and modulus in nanolattices with greater lattice angles, and a 150% increase in the yield strength without a concomitant change in modulus in thicker-walled nanolattices for fixed lattice angles. These results imply that independent control of structural and material size effects enables tunability of mechanical properties of 3-dimensional architected meta-materials and highlight the importance of material, geometric, and microstructural effects in small-scale mechanics. This work also explores the flaw tolerance of 3D hollow-tube alumina kagome nanolattices with and without pre-fabricated notches, both in experiment and simulation. Experiments demonstrate that the hollow kagome nanolattices in uniaxial tension always fail at the same load when the ratio of notch length (a) to sample width (w) is no greater than 1/3, with no correlation between failure occurring at or away from the notch. For notches with (a/w) > 1/3, the samples fail at lower peak loads and this is attributed to the increased compliance as fewer unit cells span the un-notched region. Finite element simulations of the kagome tension samples show that the failure is governed by tensile loading for (a/w) < 1/3 but as (a/w) increases, bending begins to play a significant role in the failure. This work explores the flaw sensitivity of hollow alumina kagome nanolattices in tension, using experiments and simulations, and demonstrates that the discrete-continuum duality of architected structural meta-materials gives rise to their flaw insensitivity even when made entirely of intrinsically brittle materials.

A method for analyzing the coupling of 3-D tapered rib waveguides with fibers

The fields in 3-dimensional tapered waveguides are unstable compared with the fields in the straight waveguides. In the case of waveguide-to-fiber coupling and fiber-to-waveguide coupling, a sequence of short straight waveguides has been modeled to approximate the 3-dimensional tapered waveguide; and the unstable incident and reflected fields, as well as their derivatives, were determined by the beam propagation method(BPM). Then free space radiation mode(FSRM) was employed to calculate the reflected and transmitted powers. Analysis results of the coupling of fiber with silicon-on-insulator(SOI) tapered rib waveguides showed the feasibility of the method.

Numerical simulations of interrupted and conventional microchannel heat sinks

We provide three-dimensional numerical simulations of conjugate heat transfer in conventional and the newly proposed interrupted microchannel heat sinks. The new microchannel heat sink consists of a set of separated zones adjoining shortened parallel microchannels and transverse microchambers. Multi-channel effect, physical property variations, and axial thermal conduction are considered. It is found that flow rate variations in different channels can be neglected, while heat received by different channels accounts for 2% deviations from the averaged value when the heat flux at the back surface of the silicon chip reaches 100 W/cm(2). The computed hydraulic and thermal boundary layers are redeveloping in each separated zone due to shortened flow length for the interrupted microchannel heat sink. The periodic thermal developing flow is responsible for the significant heat transfer enhancement. Two effects influence pressure drops across the newly proposed microchannel heat sink. The first one is the pressure recovery effect in the microchamber, while the second one is the head loss when liquid leaves the microchamber and enters the next zone. The first effect compensates or suppresses the second one, leading to similar or decreased pressure drop than that for the conventional microchannel heat sink, with the fluid Prandtl number larger than unity.

Thermoluminescence characteristics of NaSr4(BO3)(3):Ce3+ under beta-ray irradiation

The thermoluminescence (TL) properties of Ce3+ doped NaSr4(BO3)(3) phosphor under the beta-ray irradiation were reported. The polycrystalline sample was synthesized by high temperature solid-state reaction. The TL glow curve of NaSr4(BO3)(3):Ce3+ phosphor was composed of only one peak. TL kinetic parameters of NaSr4(BO3)(3):Ce3+ were deduced by the peak shape method, the activation energy (E) was 0.590 eV and the frequency factor was 1.008x10(6) s(-1). TL dose response was linear in the range of measurement. The 3-dimensional (3D) TL emission spectrum was also recorded, the emission spectrum consisted of two bands located at 441 and 479 nm respectively, corresponding to the characteristic 4f(0)5d(1)-> F-2((5/2,7/2)) transitions of the Ce3+ ion. The fading behavior of the NaSr4(BO3)(3):Ce3+ phosphor over a period of 15 d was also studied.

High-dimensional assembly depending on polyoxoanion templates, metal ion coordination geometries, and a flexible bis(imidazole) ligand

By introducing the flexible 1,1'-(1,4-butanediyl)bis(imidazole) (bbi) ligand into the polyoxovanadate system, five novel polyoxoanion-templated architectures based on [As8V14O42](4-) and [V16O38Cl](6-) building blocks were obtained: [M(bbi)(2)](2)[As8V14O42(H2O)] [M = Co (1), Ni (2), and Zn (3)], [Cu(bbi)](4)[As8V14O42(H2O)] (4), and [Cu(bbi)](6)[V16O38Cl] (5). Compounds 1-3 are isostructural, and they exhibit a binodal (4,6)-connected 2D structure with Schlafli symbol (3(4)center dot 4(2))(3(4)center dot 4(4)center dot 5(4)center dot 6(3))(2), in which the polyoxoanion induces a closed four-membered circuit of M-4(bbi)(4). Compound 4 exhibits an interesting 3D framework constructed from tetradentate [As8V14O42](4-) cluster anions and cationic ladderlike double chains. There exists a bigger M-8(bbi)(6)O-2 circuit in 4. The 3D extended structure of 5 is composed of heptadentate [V16O38Cl](6-) anions and flexural cationic chains; the latter consists of six Cu(bbi) segments arranged alternately. It presents the largest 24-membered circuit of M-24(bbi)(24) so far observed made of bbi molecules and transition-metal cations. Investigation of their structural relations shows the important template role of the polyoxoanions and the synergetic interactions among the polyoxoanions, transition-metal ions, and flexible ligand in the assembly process.

THE EFFECTS OF MONSOONS AND CONNECTIVITY OF SOUTH CHINA SEA ON THE SEASONAL VARIATIONS OF WATER EXCHANGE IN THE LUZON STRAIT

Seasonal variations of water exchange in the Luzon Strait are studied numerically using the improved Princeton Ocean Model (POM) with a consideration of the effects of connectivity of South China Sea (SCS) and monsoons. The numerical simulations are carried out with the strategy of variable grids, coarse grids for the Pacific basin and fine grids for the SCS. It. is shown that the Mindoro Strait plays an important role in adjusting the water balance between the Pacific and the SCS. The SCS monsoon in summer seasons hinders the entrance of the Pacific water into the SCS through the Luzon Strait while the SCS monsoon in winter seasons promotes the entrance of Pacific water into the SCS through the Luzon Strait. However, the SCS monsoon does not affect the annual mean Luzon Strait transport, as is mainly determined by the Pacific basin wind.

Scalable and efficient graph colouring in 3 dimensions using emergence engineering principles

This paper describes ways in which emergence engineering principles can be applied to the development of distributed applications. A distributed solution to the graph-colouring problem is used as a vehicle to illustrate some novel techniques. Each node acts autonomously to colour itself based only on its local view of its neighbourhood, and following a simple set of carefully tuned rules. Randomness breaks symmetry and thus enhances stability. The algorithm has been developed to enable self-configuration in wireless sensor networks, and to reflect real-world configurations the algorithm operates with 3 dimensional topologies (reflecting the propagation of radio waves and the placement of sensors in buildings, bridge structures etc.). The algorithm’s performance is evaluated and results presented. It is shown to be simultaneously highly stable and scalable whilst achieving low convergence times. The use of eavesdropping gives rise to low interaction complexity and high efficiency in terms of the communication overheads.

Vacuum arc remelting time dependent modelling

Newly developed numerical modelling tools are described, which address the 3-dimensional (3D) time-dependent magnetohydrodynamic and thermal behaviour in the liquid pool zone in the adjacent ingot, electrode and crucible. The melting electrode film flow and the droplet detachment initiation are simulated separately by an axisymmetric transient model.