Changes In Boundary Conditions Research Articles

Atypical Attack of the Dissimilar Metal Welds of a Water–Water Energetic Reactor Nuclear Power Plant Secondary Circuit: Possible Mechanisms of Failure

ABSTRACTDissimilar metal welds are utilized in the energy industry to connect two materials with different material characteristics. In the case of nuclear power plants, the connected materials tend to be low‐alloyed steel and high‐alloyed material. Despite different material and corrosion properties, under the proper environmental conditions, the used construction materials and weld metals are protected either by a passive layer or by a high‐temperature oxide. Although dissimilar metal welds are used in both primary and secondary circuits, the most frequently documented damage is in the secondary circuit, where, in addition to material heterogeneities, local environmental heterogeneities may form. For dissimilar metal welds in WWER nuclear power plants, a water–water energetic reactor, a subtype of pressure water reactor, we note two main types of attack near the dissimilar fusion boundary: on the carbon steel side or on the high‐alloyed weld metal side (X10CrNiMoN16‐25‐6). The possible causes of the latter “atypical” corrosion attack are debated and can be generalized as a consequence of change of the grain boundary condition.

Comparative Study on the Application Efficacy of Small Disturbance Equation versus One-Dimensional Euler Equation in Nozzle Flow Analysis

This paper presents a numerical simulation study of subsonic and supersonic nozzle flow regimes utilizing the Small Disturbance Equation (SDE), implemented through Python to analyze flow stability under various boundary conditions. The SDE, extensively applied in aerospace, meteorology, and fluid mechanics, offers a critical framework for examining aircraft stability and maneuverability, essential for ensuring flight safety. Additionally, its application extends to spacecraft stability and control in aerospace science. The findings from this study reveal that subsonic flows, characterized by their stability and smoothness, respond more predictably under varying boundary conditions compared to their supersonic counterparts. Conversely, supersonic flows demonstrate increased sensitivity to changes in boundary conditions, resulting in more complex flow patterns. This sensitivity underscores the need for precise control mechanisms in supersonic applications to maintain flow stability and ensure the safety and efficiency of aerospace operations. The simulations underscore the practical importance of the SDE in advancing the understanding of dynamic flow problems across different scientific and engineering disciplines.

Challenges of high-fidelity air quality modeling in urban environments – PALM sensitivity study during stable conditions

Abstract. Urban air quality is an important part of human well-being, and its detailed and precise modeling is important for efficient urban planning. In this study the potential sources of errors in large eddy simulation (LES) runs of the PALM model in stable conditions for a high-traffic residential area in Prague, Czech Republic, with a focus on street canyon ventilation, are investigated. The evaluation of the PALM model simulations against observations obtained during a dedicated campaign revealed unrealistically high concentrations of modeled air pollutants for a short period during a winter inversion episode. To identify potential reasons, the sensitivities of the model to changes in meteorological boundary conditions and adjustments of model parameters were tested. The model adaptations included adding the anthropogenic heat from cars, setting a bottom limit of the subgrid-scale turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), adjusting the profiles of parameters of the synthetic turbulence generator in PALM, and limiting the model time step. The study confirmed the crucial role of the correct meteorological boundary conditions for realistic air quality modeling during stable conditions. Besides this, the studied adjustments of the model parameters proved to have a significant impact in these stable conditions, resulting in a decrease in concentration overestimation in the range 30 %–66 % while exhibiting a negligible influence on model results during the rest of the episode. This suggested that the inclusion or improvement of these processes in PALM is desirable despite their negligible impact in most other conditions. Moreover, the time step limitation test revealed numerical inaccuracies caused by discretization errors which occurred during such extremely stable conditions.

Barchan swarm dynamics from a Two-Flank Agent-Based Model

Abstract. In this work, we simulate barchan swarms using the Two-Flank Agent-Based Model and investigate how changes to model parameters and environmental drivers lead to different swarm dynamics. In particular, we explore how the parameter qshift, which controls the rate of equilibration between the flanks of an asymmetric dune and thereby the stability of an asymmetric morphology, influences the frequencies of different collision types in the swarm and can be adjusted to produce swarms with dune sizes that are longitudinally homogeneous. Such size stability has been observed in real-world swarms but has not been obtained by previous agent-based models. We also find that, for certain densities of newly added barchans, the dune number density remains constant with downwind distance, something which has also been reported in nature but not in previous agent-based models. We also investigated how boundary condition changes propagate through swarms, something which will become increasingly important in the face of human infrastructure expansion and anthropogenic climate change. Finally, we are able to investigate how asymmetry and spatially patterning in the swarms are influenced by bimodal wind regimes. Since these simulations produce many more realistic phenomena than previous models, this work represents a significant step forward in the our understanding of the interplay between environmental conditions and dune interactions in shaping the dynamics of barchan swarms.

Dynamic control of Lamb modes in phononic crystals

This study explores the possibilities of temporal control of one-dimensional phononic crystal consisting of a homogeneous piezoelectric plate on which metallic electrodes are structured. Previous works [1] have shown that Lamb-type guided modes in these periodically structured piezoelectric ceramic plates exhibit a tunable frequency dispersion that can be controlled by external electric circuits connected to the electrodes. In this study we develop a device enabling changes in the electric boundary conditions (EBC) from one condition to another by making use of switches driven by a microcontroller. This device agility is exploited to perform dynamic control of the crystal properties. To our knowledge, this is the first study devoted to the dynamic modulation of Lamb-type guided waves. Here, we do not simply change the EBCs as a function of time, but we create a "wave" of modulation of properties. Broadband translation of Lamb-wave dispersion curves in the frequency-wavenumber space (f, k) are observed, depending on the modulation speed. Experimentally, the translation of the S0 mode is detected. The relationship between the position of static bands and the position of bands after temporal modulation obeys a very simple vector rule in the (f, k) space. [1] Phys. Rev. B 99, 094302 (2019).

Effects of Glacial Isostatic Adjustment on Fault Reactivation and Its Consequences on Radionuclide Migration in Crystalline Host Rocks

AbstractTo assess the robustness of a safety case for a deep geological repository (DGR), it is necessary to analyze a range of scenarios covering likely, less likely, and hypothetical future developments. Crystalline rock can, under ideal conditions, provide a suitable hydrogeologic barrier due to its extremely low matrix permeability. However, this host rock is often fractured, which can compromise its hydro-mechanical (HM) barrier function. We quantify how faults that are prone to reactivation during glacial events can affect radionuclide migration around a DGR in a crystalline host rock. We extend a previously developed finite element model of coupled fluid flow and radionuclide transport to numerically solve the component transport problem before and after fault reactivation. Assuming that fault reactivation is triggered by changes in mechanical boundary conditions, we derive heterogeneous permeability distributions in the reactivated faults by evaluating the Coulomb failure stress criterion of finite element solutions of a complementary hydro-mechanical problem. Specifically, we evaluate the consequences of glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) during a glacial cycle. We find that the increased permeability in the reactivated faults accelerates the migration of radionuclides along the fault by channeling the flow, while it is reduced in the direction perpendicular to the fault. The channeling observed is also a result of heterogeneous permeability enhancement, and the flow fields differ from those of the previous model which postulated a homogeneous permeability enhancement. Although the proposed numerical workflow has been applied to the case of GIA, it is adaptable to study hydro-mechanical processes induced by seismic events or by hydrofracking in enhanced geothermal systems.

Theoretical modeling and investigation of the influence of deaerator on the transient process in power plants

Deaerator is one of the most important equipment for steady state and dynamic operation of power plants. The deaerator energy storage utilization process is one of the most essential ways to enhance the variable load rate of power plants. The purpose of this study is to improve the dynamic simulation performance of the deaerator during unit load changes by constructing a more reasonable deaerator model, aiming to provide guidance for practical operations. In this paper, a thermal mass microelement algorithm is proposed for the heat transfer between droplets and steam in the deaerator, followed by segmental modeling of the deaerator. By comparing with the operation data of a power plant, the steady state operation error of the deaerator model is within 0.6 %. Subsequently, the unit load variation process is simulated and the dynamic variation accuracy of the model proposed in this paper is enhanced by 1–2 % compared to the lumped parameter model. The dynamic characteristics of the deaerator are obtained by simulating the step and ramp changes of the deaerator boundary conditions and the deaerator start-up process. In addition, during the simulation of condensate throttling, the maximum power of the unit using the deaerator model in this paper is 0.2–1.5 MW larger than that of the lumped parameter model.

Interface and mixing zone between soil waters arising from upward and downward seepage - Part II: Heterogeneous total density.

Freshwater lenses in otherwise saline environments contain an important source of fresh water for natural vegetation and agricultural crops. Such lenses are regularly found in areas where both upward seeping saline groundwater and downward infiltrating fresh recharge water occur simultaneously during part of the year, resulting in shallow freshwater lenses which are highly susceptible to changes in recharge or seepage. In a series of two papers, we consider the water – and solute transport in a 2D cross-section between two parallel outflow faces. In this second part of the series, we build upon expressions presented in the first part to consider a situation where the density of seepage water exceeds that of recharge water, as typical for many deltaic areas around the world. Analytical expressions and approximations are given to obtain the steady state position of the interface between the two types of water using a sharp interface approximation, with a focus on the position midway between two outflow faces. Results show that the effect of a heterogeneous density distribution is limited when the seepage flux exceeds the density difference induced flux, but increases rapidly for ratios of the seepage flux over the density flux falling below 1. The heterogeneous density distribution then results in a decrease in freshwater lens thickness and, correspondingly, a decrease in fresh water availability. We also consider time-variant, oscillatory boundary conditions, and show that for heterogeneous density distributions the interface approaches its equilibrium position faster than for a corresponding situation with a homogeneous density distribution, indicating a higher vulnerability for changing boundary conditions. We also demonstrate that heterogeneous density distributions have limited effect on the amplitude of the interface oscillations. Analytical results obtained with the simplified model are validated using the numerical code SUTRA, which solves the full model for a numerical grid.

A Mathematical Model for Postimplant Collagen Remodeling in an Autologous Engineered Pulmonary Arterial Conduit.

This study was undertaken to develop a mathematical model of the long-term in vivo remodeling processes in postimplanted pulmonary artery (PA) conduits. Experimental results from two extant ovine in vivo studies, wherein polyglycolic-acid (PGA)/poly-L-lactic acid tubular conduits were constructed, cell seeded, incubated for 4 weeks, and then implanted in mature sheep to obtain the remodeling data for up to two years. Explanted conduit analysis included detailed novel structural and mechanical studies. Results in both studies indicated that the in vivo conduits remained dimensionally stable up to 80 weeks, so that the conduits maintained a constant in vivo stress and deformation state. In contrast, continued remodeling of the constituent collagen fiber network as evidenced by an increase in effective tissue uniaxial tangent modulus, which then stabilized by one year postimplant. A mesostructural constitute model was then applied to extant planar biaxial mechanical data and revealed several interesting features, including an initial pronounced increase in effective collagen fiber modulus, paralleled by a simultaneous shift toward longer, more uniformly length-distributed collagen fibers. Thus, while the conduit remained dimensionally stable, its internal collagen fibrous structure and resultant mechanical behaviors underwent continued remodeling that stabilized by one year. A time-evolving structural mixture-based mathematical model specialized for this unique form of tissue remodeling was developed, with a focus on time-evolving collagen fiber stiffness as the driver for tissue-level remodeling. The remodeling model was able to fully reproduce (1) the observed tissue-level increases in stiffness by time-evolving simultaneous increases in collagen fiber modulus and lengths, (2) maintenance of the constant collagen fiber angular dispersion, and (3) stabilization of the remodeling processes at one year. Collagen fiber remodeling geometry was directly verified experimentally by histological analysis of the time-evolving collagen fiber crimp, which matches model predictions very closely. Interestingly, the remodeling model indicated that the basis for tissue homeostasis was maintenance of the collagen fiber ensemble stress for all orientations, and not individual collagen fiber stresses. Unlike other growth and remodeling models that traditionally treat changes in the external boundary conditions (e.g., changes in blood pressure) as the primary input stimuli, the driver herein is changes to the internal constituent collagen fiber themselves due to cellular mediated cross-linking.

Interface and mixing zone between soil waters arising from upward and downward seepage - Part I: Homogeneous total density

Thin water lenses floating on top of the main groundwater body are important for many natural and agricultural systems, owing to their different properties in terms of chemical composition or density compared to the surrounding groundwater. In settings with upward seeping groundwater, lenses may form that have thicknesses ranging from tens of centimeters to a few meters, making them prone to changing conditions in the short (seasonal) or long term (climate change). Knowing their thickness, shape, movement and mixing zone width may help in managing these lenses.In a series of two papers, we present a mathematical description of the flow of water and transport of solute in a 2D cross-section between two parallel outflow faces and compare a simplified model to a complete model as described by the numerical code SUTRA. In this first paper of the series, we consider situations with a homogeneous density distribution. In the simplified model we employ the sharp interface approximation to obtain an expression for the stream function, the interface between the two types of water and the corresponding maximum lens thickness in steady state in the domain considered. This steady state description is used for travel time analyses and forms the basis for the transient analyses. For a typical example of oscillatory (e.g. seasonal) fluctuations in boundary conditions, we obtain expressions of the movement of the interface midway between two outflow faces by separating the problem into two timescales using the interface motion equation. This analysis provides insight into the importance of parameters on the vulnerability of water lenses under changing conditions, and may easily be extended to situations with abrupt or gradual changes in boundary conditions reflecting changes in land use or climate, respectively. Finally, we derive an analytical approximation of the mixing zone midway between the drains for steady state solutions, stepping away from the sharp interface approach. For a variety of examples, we validate the obtained expressions of the simplified mathematical model against the numerical model code SUTRA, which solves the fluid and solute mass balances explicitly.

Impact of cardiac patch alignment on restoring post-infarct ventricular function

Acute myocardial infarction (MI) leads to a loss of cardiac function which, following adverse ventricular remodeling (AVR), can ultimately result in heart failure. Tissue-engineered contractile patches placed over the infarct offer potential for restoring cardiac function and reducing AVR. In this computational study, we investigate how improvement of pump function depends on the orientation of the cardiac patch and the fibers therein relative to the left ventricle (LV). Additionally, we examine how model outcome depends on the choice of material properties for healthy and infarct tissue. In a finite element model of LV mechanics, an infarction was induced by eliminating active stress generation and increasing passive tissue stiffness in a region comprising 15% of the LV wall volume. The cardiac patch was modeled as a rectangular piece of healthy myocardium with a volume of 25% of the infarcted tissue. The orientation of the patch was varied from 0 to 150∘\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$150^ \\circ $$\\end{document} relative to the circumferential plane. The infarct reduced stroke work by 34% compared to the healthy heart. Optimal patch support was achieved when the patch was oriented parallel to the subepicardial fiber direction, restoring 9% of lost functionality. Typically, about one-third of the total recovery was attributed to the patch, while the remainder resulted from restored functionality in native myocardium adjacent to the infarct. The patch contributes to cardiac function through two mechanisms. A contribution of tissue in the patch and an increased contribution of native tissue, due to favorable changes in mechanical boundary conditions.

The gas hydrate system of the western Black Sea Basin

The basin-scale distribution of gas hydrates and methane migration pathways in the western Black Sea remains enigmatic, owing to the region's complex geological history. Characterizing the abundant gas hydrate accumulations across temporal scales poses significant challenges. In this study, we developed and applied a 3D large-scale numerical model to study the formation, development, and fate of natural gas hydrate systems in the western Black Sea sub-basin. Our model enables us to simulate the dynamic evolution of basin geometry and facies distribution over the last 98 million years and under dynamically changing boundary conditions, e.g. due to sea-level changes. Our study estimates the total volume of gas hydrates stored within western Black Sea sediments at ∼14,607 MtC, equivalent to ∼30,073 × 1011 m3 of CH4 (at STP conditions) which is about 5 times higher than average gas hydrate density at continental margins. Our findings reveal three distinct mechanisms driving gas hydrate reservoir formation within the reconstructed sub-basin: gas hydrate recycling zones, chimney-like structure formation, and gas hydrate deposits associated with paleo-deep sea fans. We identified and simulated key controlling parameters, related to methane migration pathways and regional geomorphology, governing each type of hydrate formation. Subsequently, we conduct a detailed analysis of regional gas hydrate systems, focusing on the Dniepr paleo-fan system, the Danube paleo-fan region, multiple offshore locations near Turkey, and the central Black Sea area. Furthermore, we investigate various biogenic methane formation kinetics and their impact on basin-scale methane generation. Our sensitivity studies enable us to predict the optimal temperature range for microbial activity driving methanogenesis in the Black Sea sediments at 30 °C–40 °C. Overall, our study provides a novel understanding and quantitative correlation between methane generation, migration, and storage in the form of gas hydrates on a basin-scale in the western Black Sea.

Computationally Efficient Emulation of Spheroidal Elastic Deformation Sources Using Machine Learning Models: A Gaussian‐Process‐Based Approach

AbstractElastic continuum mechanical models are widely used to compute deformations due to pressure changes in buried cavities, such as magma reservoirs. In general, analytical models are fast but can be inaccurate as they do not correctly satisfy boundary conditions for many geometries, while numerical models are slow and may require specialized expertise and software. To overcome these limitations, we trained supervised machine learning emulators (model surrogates) based on parallel partial Gaussian processes which predict the output of a finite element numerical model with high fidelity but >1,000× greater computational efficiency. The emulators are based on generalized nondimensional forms of governing equations for finite non‐dipping spheroidal cavities in elastic halfspaces. Either cavity volume change or uniform pressure change boundary conditions can be specified, and the models predict both surface displacements and cavity (pore) compressibility. Because of their computational efficiency, using the emulators as numerical model surrogates can greatly accelerate data inversion algorithms such as those employing Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling. The emulators also permit a comprehensive evaluation of how displacements and cavity compressibility vary with geometry and material properties, revealing the limitations of analytical models. Our open‐source emulator code can be utilized without finite element software, is suitable for a wide range of cavity geometries and depths, includes an estimate of uncertainties associated with emulation, and can be used to train new emulators for different source geometries.

Comparative Study on PSD and HHT Techniques for Condition Assessment of Steel Truss Bridge Using Acceleration Data

Bridge structures deteriorate over time due to factors like corrosion, fatigue, aging of materials, and unexpected natural or accidental events. Consequently, the vibrations measured in these structures exhibit time-varying and non-stationary characteristics. Additionally, non-linearities are inherent in these structures due to material behavior, boundary condition changes, and joints or connections. Analysis of non-linear and non-stationary structural vibration data is necessary to extract information on the condition of the bridge. Most methods assessing bridge conditions from acceleration responses rely on the Power Spectral Density (PSD) which is based on the Fourier Transform. However, the accuracy of the Fourier transforms for non-linear and non-stationary signals limits its application potential. The Hilbert–Huang Transform (HHT) has emerged as an alternative for handling these non-stationary signals due to its time-frequency-energy representation. This study provides a comparative study of both techniques by utilizing the data obtained from continuously monitored Pamban Bridge. This steel truss bridge was fitted with accelerometers to record bidirectional acceleration time histories at twenty bottom node points on the bridge. This study examines the continuous variations in the frequency component by both methods for 136 days. A linear best-fit trendline is obtained for the frequency parameters at different sensor positions. The slope and intercept values of this linear best fit trendline is further studied. The HHT showcases various evolving dominant frequency components over time in contrast to the PSD representation. The frequency spectrum from the HHT displays less variation over time at each sensor position compared to the predominant peak value derived from the PSD of the acceleration signal. The spatial variability in the predominant frequency obtained from HHT is also less than the PSD. Therefore, the ability of HHT to discriminate damages needs further investigations.

Performance investigation of a supergravity CO2 refrigeration cycle under off-design conditions

The transcritical CO2 refrigeration cycle is a research hotspot in CO2 refrigeration technology, but it suffers from significant throttling, compression, and gas cooling losses. The recently proposed supergravity CO2 refrigeration cycle, which utilizes centrifugal potential energy-pressure energy conversion in the rotating heat exchanger, provides a new approach to address these issues. However, the flow efficiency of the serpentine rotating channels requires further validation, and the operating characteristics of the system under off-design conditions need exploration. To this end, we first conducted a study on the pressure drop characteristics of a serpentine rotating channel using experimental and numerical simulation methods. We found a strong linear relationship between the friction factor and the rotation number, with the flow efficiency approaching 1.0 beyond a certain threshold, providing critical support for the cycle. Additionally, we established a distributed parameter model for the cycle and theoretically analyzed its operational performance. The results show that the COP of this cycle reaches 6.91 under air conditioning conditions. This is primarily because the local isentropic compression/expansion efficiency of CO2 in the rotating channel exceeds 99 %. Additionally, the temperature slip during the gas cooling process is only 1.2 °C, demonstrating the feasibility of achieving nearly isothermal compression through the rotating heat exchanger. Furthermore, the results showed that changes in boundary conditions resulted in minimal changes in system pressure differential, not exceeding 2 %. However, increases in CO2 charge and rotational speed led to substantial changes in system pressure differential, increasing by 39 % and 51 %, respectively. These trends reflect the effect of the centrifugal potential energy-pressure energy conversion on the operating characteristics of the system. In addition, there exists a maximum charge limit to prevent the cycle from entering the two-phase region. There is also an optimal combination of rotating heat exchanger and compressor speeds that ensures maximum COP while guaranteeing the cooling capacity. The main novelty of this paper lies in elucidating the coupling mechanism between operational parameters and the thermodynamic parameters of the supergravity CO2 refrigeration cycle.

Effects of upstream and downstream boundary conditions on lacustrine shallow-water delta morphologies: A numerical modeling approach

Lacustrine shallow-water deltas exhibit highly variable morphologies, owing to their high sensitivity to changes in the upstream and downstream boundary conditions, where a small change significantly alters their morphology. In this study, we present the results from a numerical model (DELFT3D) used to explore the mechanism of distributary network amalgamation and delta evolution under various boundary conditions. We established a reference case to model the delta building-out process considering the basin water depth difference (shallow and deep). Geological and hydrodynamic models were established by varying the water level under a steady river discharge and sediment supply. Despite similar initial conditions, each modeled delta exhibits a unique morphological evolution, progressing through distinct stages: (i) formation of unstable, narrow channels with quasi-radial shapes; (ii) channel development, shaping the delta based on controlling factors; (iii) reduction of deltaic activity and increased channel avulsion due to delta submergence, and; (iv) new channels emerging, paving the way for reshaping and migration towards new paths, resulting in fewer bifurcations and straighter channels. Quantitative relationships characterizing delta morphology and distributary channels were established, and the following results were noted: (i) a positive correlation between active and abandoned channels, distributary channel network opening angle, and delta area with discharge and sediment grain size, and negative correlation with basin depth and falling water level; (ii) a positive correlation of lobe elongation with basin depth and discharge, and a negative correlation with sediment grain size; and (iii) roughness and length-to-width ratio emerging as key predictors of delta shape. By applying the model predictions to real-world scenarios, including modern deltas (Sile and Chiemsee) and ancient systems (Bohai Bay Basin), this study can provide valuable insights into the dynamics of lacustrine deltaic systems and their responses to changing boundary conditions. This highlights the importance of understanding deltaic systems for both theoretical research and practical applications.

Effect of flywheels in pump stations for reducing the volume of air chambers

ABSTRACT The most common and destructive event of unsteady flow in pipes is water hammer. This phenomenon is caused by a sudden change in boundary conditions in pressurized pipes. Unsteady flow in pipelines can lead to a significant increase or decrease in pressure. This pressure generation may cause cavitation, bursting of pipes, and failure of the whole system. One type of equipment that can control both positive and negative pressure phases is a pressurized tank. Implementing such a pressure tank can impose increased costs. In order to reduce the design costs, the combination of a flywheel with the pressure tank can be used. In this study, a transmission pipeline from Zarineh River to Tabriz city is numerically simulated, and the effect of increasing the inertia of the flywheel on the reduction of the pressurized tank volume is investigated. The results show that increasing the flywheel inertia from 125 to 165 Nm2 can reduce the pressurized tank volume from 90 to 75 m3.

Holographic entanglement renormalisation for fermionic quantum matter

We demonstrate the emergence of a holographic dimension in a system of 2D non-interacting Dirac fermions placed on a torus, by studying the scaling of multipartite entanglement measures under a sequence of renormalisation group (RG) transformations applied in momentum space. Geometric measures defined in this emergent space can be related to the RG beta function of the spectral gap, hence establishing a holographic connection between the spatial geometry of the emergent spatial dimension and the entanglement properties of the boundary quantum theory. We prove, analytically, that changing the boundedness of the holographic space involves a topological transition accompanied by a critical Fermi surface in the boundary theory. We go on to show that this results in the formation of a quantum wormhole geometry that connects the UV and the IR of the emergent dimension. The additional conformal symmetry at the transition also supports a relation between the emergent metric and the stress-energy tensor. In the presence of an Aharonov–Bohm flux, the entanglement gains a geometry-independent piece which is shown to be topological, sensitive to changes in boundary conditions, and related to the Luttinger volume of the system. Upon the insertion of a strong transverse magnetic field, we show that the Luttinger volume is linked to the Chern number of the occupied single-particle Landau levels.

A size‐dependent energy‐based strain burst criterion

AbstractThis paper presents a size‐dependent energy‐based strain burst criterion linking strength, elasticity, fracture energies and specimen size effect with stress state due to changes in boundary conditions. It proposes the concept of a ‘Burst Envelope’, a surface in three‐dimensional principal stress space derived based on energy storing and dissipation characteristics of a rock sample, taking into account the size of the specimen and potential localised failure pattern. A scalar burst index is also proposed to quantify the bursting scale. To illustrate and verify its functioning, a numerical modelling framework based on the distinct element method and employing a new cohesive‐frictional contact model is used to perform virtual strain burst experiments under different polyaxial loading‐unloading scenarios, mimicking various underground excavation scenarios. The obtained results are in good agreement with the theoretical prediction of burst occurrence. On that basis, the variation of burst possibility and magnitude are investigated with key factors, including confinement level and the material's elastic, strength and fracture properties. The effect of the specimen's aspect ratio and size on the rock burst potential is elaborated and verified using virtual strain burst experiments, facilitating the linking of the proposed theoretical framework with the evaluation of in‐situ strain bursts in rock masses around underground openings.

Onset of thermal convection in a solid spherical shell with melting at either or both boundaries

SUMMARY Thermal convection in planetary solid (rocky or icy) mantles sometimes occurs adjacent to liquid layers with a phase equilibrium at the boundary. The possibility of a solid–liquid phase change at the boundary has been shown to greatly help convection in the solid layer in spheres and plane layers and a similar study is performed here for a spherical shell with a radius-independent central gravity subject to a destabilizing temperature difference. The solid–liquid phase change is considered as a mechanical boundary condition and applies at either or both horizontal boundaries. The boundary condition is controlled by a phase change number, Φ, that compares the timescale for latent heat exchange in the liquid side to that necessary to build a topography at the boundary. We introduce a numerical tool, available at https://github.com/amorison/stablinrb, to carry out the linear stability analysis of the studied setup as well as other similar situations (Cartesian geometry, arbitrary temperature and viscosity depth-dependent profiles). Decreasing Φ makes the phase change more efficient, which reduces the importance of viscous resistance associated to the boundary and makes the critical Rayleigh number for the onset of convection smaller and the wavelength of the critical mode larger, for all values of the radii ratio, γ. In particular, for a phase change boundary condition at the top or at both boundaries, the mode with a spherical harmonics degree of 1 is always favoured for Φ ≲ 10−1. Such a mode is also favoured for a phase change at the bottom boundary for small (γ ≲ 0.45) or large (γ ≳ 0.75) radii ratio. Such dynamics could help explaining the hemispherical dichotomy observed in the structure of many planetary objects.