Low Sidewall Research Articles

Effect of composition gradient on detonation initiation in fuel-rich hydrogen-air mixtures in an obstructed channel

Numerical simulations were performed to study the effect of composition gradient and obstacle arrangement on detonation initiation in fuel-rich hydrogen-air mixtures. A third-order WENO method with adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) was used to solve the unsteady, fully-compressible, reactive Navier-Stokes equations coupled to a calibrated chemical-diffusive model (CDM). An obstructed channel at a blockage ratio of 0.3 filled with non-uniform hydrogen-air mixtures of an average H2 concentration 50 vol% was considered. The results show that unilateral obstacle arrangement is more conducive to flame acceleration (FA) and DDT than bilateral obstacle arrangement for both homogeneous and inhomogeneous mixtures. For inhomogeneous mixtures, the flame accelerates faster, and the detonation onset time is shorter when obstacles are placed on the sidewall with a hydrogen concentration closer to the stoichiometric ratio than the those when obstacles are placed on the other sidewall. However, the placement of unilateral obstacles on either the upper or lower sidewall does not significantly affect the DDT run-up distance. Besides, for fuel-rich inhomogeneous hydrogen-air mixtures, detonation tends to be initiated in the regions of high H2 concentration. Idealized models were introduced to simplify the intricate interactions of the reaction waves and flow fields to better understand the connection between H2 concentration distribution and detonation initiation. The analysis suggests that the minimum shock strength required for detonation initiation decreases with increasing equivalence ratio. This is supported by a kinetics analysis with detailed reaction model, which shows that ignition delay increases with decreasing equivalence ratio when detonation is about to be initiated.

A simple and efficient parallel immersed boundary-lattice Boltzmann method for fully resolved simulations of incompressible settling suspensions

This study presents an efficient and parallel fully resolved direct numerical simulation (FR-DNS) of settling suspensions on multiple CPU cores based on the boundary-thickening direct forcing immersed boundary method (BTDF-IBM) and incompressible lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). The simple BTDF-IBM is used to meet the no-slip and no-penetration conditions on particle boundaries, and the incompressible LBM is used to achieve the capability of large pressure fluctuations in suspensions. In addition, a theoretical force model is used to compensate for the unresolved lubrication force between the two approaching particles. A swap strategy for the streaming step is used to reduce the memory storage of the LBM particle density functions to half. A distribution and communication strategy is proposed to handle the IBM computing and complete the immersed boundary (IB) force of the particles residing in the interface region between adjacent subdomains. The developed BTDF-IBM-LBM solver “PFlows” can simulate large particle-laden flows with more than O(106) particles and with a particle volume fraction of up to 0.4. An almost linear parallel speedup and efficiency of higher than 0.8 are obtained by testing three-dimensional (3D) cases (up to 1.0 billion fluid grids and 0.45 million particles) and two-dimensional (2D) cases (up to 1.2 billion fluid grids and 2.39 million particles). Finally, the framework is applied to three large-scale real simulations involving 50,000 particles settling in 2D and 3D bounded and unbounded domains for qualitative and quantitative validations. The particle settling behaviors and disturbed complex fluid flows in the vertical channel are demonstrated. The Boycott effect in the inclined channel is uncovered by a new mechanism that combines particle sliding at the lower sidewall with fluid convection in the upper region. The hindered settling of particles in the 3D periodic domain, which is affected by the strong particle-fluid hydrodynamic interactions and particle-particle many-body interactions at a high solid volume fraction, are analyzed. The complex behaviors and statistical characteristics of the suspensions are preliminarily revealed and analyzed, which demonstrates the prospective capability of the present framework for FR-DNS of large-scale 2D and 3D suspension flows that are relevant to many industrial applications by IB-LBM.

Low Reynolds number backward-facing step flow calculation and adaptive mesh application

In this paper, a study of the flow behavior in a backward facing step in low Reynolds number range from 100 to 800 is conducted using COMSOL Multiphysics®. The k-ε turbulence model is takne into account. The investigation starts from a standard mesh and then refine the standard mesh using an adaptive mesh refinement method. The horizontal and vertical velocity component profiles, pressures and the velocity quiver are shown on the refined meshes. The overall characteristics of separating shear layer, the flow behavior of the transverse vortices in the main flow and a reattachment length on a lower side wall is presented. The effectiveness of the adaptive mesh refinement method is verified and the method could be expected as a CAE analysis tool for industrial utilization.

Thermal environment characteristics of large space building with stratified air conditioning based on Block-Gebhart model during the cooling season

The thermal environment of large space building with stratified air distribution is characterized by its obvious gradient of vertical temperature, and the stratified air conditioning load (SACL) is closely related to the thermal environment. The Block-Gebhart (B-G) model in summer is established for an actual large space building which has two stratified air distribution (STRAD) systems. One system is the air supply nozzles (ASN) arranged at middle sidewall, the other is the half-cylinder diffusers (HCD) arranged at low sidewall. In order to quickly calculate the air temperature of unoccupied zone (ATUZ), two regression equations for the air temperature gradient under the conditions of two STRAD systems were proposed. Considering six factors, the B-G model was used to calculate 648 cases and the two equations were obtained by multiple regression analysis. Through the field measurement in summer, in three cases of ASN system, the mean absolute error (MAE) between predicted and experimental values of ATUZ was 1.4°C, and the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) was 4.5%; in three cases of HCD system, the MAE was 1.0°C and the MAPE was 3.0%. The results of this study establish the foundation for the calculation of SACL.

Topological description of near-wall flows around a surface-mounted square cylinder at high Reynolds numbers

This study topologically describes near-wall flows around a surface-mounted cylinder at a high Reynolds number ( $Re$ ) of $5\times 10^4$ and in a very thick boundary layer, which were partially measured or technically approximated from the literature. For complete and rational flow construction, we use high-resolution simulations and critical-point theory. The large-scale near-wake vortex is composed of two connected segments rolled up from the sides of the cylinder and from the free end. Another large-scale side vortex clearly roots on two notable foci on the lower side wall. In the junction region, the side vortex moves upwards with a curved trajectory, which induces the formation of nodes on the ground surface. In the free-end region, the side vortex is compressed, which results in a smaller trailing-edge vortex and its downstream movement. Only tip vortices are observed in the far wake. The origin of the tip vortices and their distinction from the near-wake vortex are discussed. Further analyses suggest that $Re$ independence should be treated with high caution when $Re$ increases from 500 to ${O}(10^4)$ . The occurrence of upwash flow behind the cylinder strongly depends on the increase in $Re$ , the mechanism of which is also provided. The separation–reattachment process in the junction region and the trailing-edge vortices are discovered only at a high $Re$ . The former should significantly affect the strength of the side vortex in the junction region and the latter should cause a sharp drop in pressure near the trailing edge.

Environmental and Fecal Indicator Organisms on Fruit Contact Surfaces and Fruit from Blueberry Mechanical Harvesters

Although previous studies have examined microbial loads on food contact surfaces in blueberry packing plants, there is currently no information regarding microbial risks associated with mechanical berry harvesters used in commercial blueberry production. In this study, we surveyed up to nine fruit contact surfaces on seven mechanical harvesters in each of 2015 and 2016 in the field. These surfaces included the shaking rods at the front of the harvester, the sidewalls of the harvesting tunnel behind the shaking mechanism, the catcher plates collecting the detached berries, horizontal and vertical fruit conveyor belts, and berry lugs collecting the fruit at the back of the harvester. Swab samples were collected from each surface three times a day (morning, noon, and evening) and assessed for environmental and fecal indicator organisms including total aerobes, total yeasts and molds, coliforms and fecal coliforms, and enterococci. At the same time points, fruit samples were assessed for microbial loads before the fruit entered each harvester and after they exited the harvester. Results showed statistically significant differences in microbial loads among harvester surfaces, whereas the effect of sampling time was generally not significant. High levels of total aerobes and total yeasts and molds were recorded, especially on horizontal surfaces and/or those located at the bottom of the harvester such as the lower sidewall, the catcher plates, and the horizontal conveyor belt. These surfaces therefore should be targeted by cleaning and sanitization practices. There was also statistical evidence that passage through the harvester may increase the levels of the environmental microorganisms on fruit in the field. In contrast, fecal indicator organisms such as fecal coliforms and enterococci were detected only sporadically and at very low densities on harvester surfaces and blueberry fruit, and there was no evidence that passage through the harvester increased their levels on the fruit. Berry lugs consistently harbored microbial loads, and given their movement back and forth between the field and the packing plant, deserve particular attention with regard to cleaning, sanitization, and storage protocols.

Experimental analysis of control technology and deformation failure mechanism of inclined coal seam roadway using non-contact DIC technique

The deformation and failure forms of inclined coal seam roadway under the joint action of dip angle and various geological conditions are complex, and there is a lack of targeted support measures, which brings great problems to the stability control of roadway surrounding rock. In order to safely and economically mine inclined coal seams, taking the engineering geology of Shitanjing No. 2 mining area as the background, and the physical similarity model of right-angle trapezoidal roadway in inclined coal seam, in which the non-contact digital image correlation (DIC) technology and the stress sensor is employed to provide full-field displacement and stress measurements. The deformation control technology of the roadway surrounding rock was proposed, verified by numerical simulation and applied to engineering practice. The research results show that the stress and deformation failure of surrounding rock in low sidewall of roadway are greater than those in high sidewall, showing asymmetric characteristics, and the maximum stress concentration coefficients of roadway sidewall, roof and floor are 4.1, 3.4 and 2.8, respectively. A concept of roadway "cyclic failure" mechanism is proposed that is, the cyclic interaction of the two sidewalls, the sharp angles and roof aggravated the failure of roadway, resulting in the overall instability of roadway. The roadway sidewall is serious rib spalling, the roof is asymmetric "Beret" type caving arch failure, and the floor is slightly bulging. On this basis, the principle of roadway deformation control is revealed and asymmetric support design is adopted, and the deformation of roadway is controlled, which support scheme is effective.

Radial distribution of solid holdup and its fluctuation characteristics in a three-phase scrubbing-cooling chamber

The local solid holdup in the three-phase scrubbing-cooling chamber was measured using optical fiber probes under different solid-phase properties, liquid-phase properties, and superficial gas velocities. The root-mean-square (RMS) fluctuations of the solid fraction (v′¯) were used to describe the local solid volume fraction fluctuations quantitatively. The results showed that the bubble wake is the dominant factor affecting the radial solid holdup distribution uniformity. The bubble wake entrainment in the central area and the fluid reflux in the near-wall area resulted in the radial distribution of solids holdup with “low center and high sidewalls.” In addition, the increase of solid volume fraction and the enhanced entrainment ability of bubble wake both encourage the growth of local v′¯ and lead to a more uneven radial distribution of v′¯. A regional model of v′¯ is established, and its predicted values agree well with the experimental values.

On Predicting the Frequency of a Flip-Flop Jet Nozzle

This research deals with the oscillation frequency of a classical and simple flip-flop jet nozzle with one feed-back loop based on the measurements of pressure and velocity. From these measurements, the traces of pressure difference between both ends of a connecting tube are modeled by a triangular wave, and the flow velocities in the connecting tube are calculated numerically. The resulting accumulated flow work, which consists of the time integral of mass flux into the re-circulation region on the low pressure side wall from the re-circulation region on the opposite high-pressure side wall through the connecting tube, is more adequate to determine jet-oscillation frequency than any other time integrals. This includes those of momentum flux and kinetic-energy flux. It is confirmed that jet-oscillation frequency predicted on the basis of this accumulated flow work agrees well with experiment.

Low Leakage and High Forward Current Density Quasi-Vertical GaN Schottky Barrier Diode With Post-Mesa Nitridation

In this brief, a high-performance quasi-vertical GaN Schottky barrier diode (SBD) on sapphire substrate with post-mesa nitridation process is reported, featuring a low damaged sidewall with extremely low leakage current. The fabricated SBD with a drift layer of 1 μm has achieved a very high ON/OFF current ratio (ION/IOFF) of 1012 with a low leakage current of ~10 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">-9</sup> A/cm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> @-10 V, high forward current density of 5.2 kA/cm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> at 3 V in dc, a low differential specific ON-resistance (RON,sp) of 0.3 mΩ·cm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> , and ideality factor of 1.04. In addition, a transmission-line-pulse (TLP) I-Vtest was carried out and 53 kA/cm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> at 30 V in pulsed measurement was obtained without device failure, exhibiting a great potential for high power applications.

Refractory failure in entrained-flow gasifier: Investigation of partitioned erosion characteristics in an industrial opposed multi-burner gasifier

Based on an industrial opposed multi-burner (OMB) gasification plant, a complete review of spent refractory materials inside a gasifier, including a study of the macrostructure and partitioned erosion characteristics, is reported based on systemic industrial data. The results are compared with those from a bench-scale gasification platform as well as numerical simulation. Five heavily eroded regions of the refractory were observed in the industrial OMB gasifier: two in the impinging up-flow zone, one in the burner plane, one in the impinging down-flow zone, and one in the cone zone. The erosion of the refractory material in the dome zone and the plug-flow zone is mild. The spalling on the lower side wall is uneven; therefore, the bricks below the region between two adjacent burners are more eroded in the longitudinal direction. Herein, the results can be used for the development of new refractory structure and the optimization of ultra-large-scale gasifiers.

Low damage patterning of In0.53Ga0.47As film for its integration as n-channel in a fin metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor architecture

One of the challenges of InGaAs integration as a channel in a fin field effect transistor architecture is the patterning of the III–V fin with nanometer scale definition, vertical sidewalls, and undamaged surfaces. In this work, the authors propose a two-step process to etch anisotropically and with minimal damage thin layers of InGaAs material. The first step of the process aims to modify the InGaAs surface on a well-defined thickness with limited sputtering by implanting light ions generated by a low pressure He/O2 plasma. The depth of the material modification is well controlled by the ion energy and saturates with process time, giving to this step a self-limited behavior. The second step uses aqueous HF solution to remove the modified oxidized InGaAs layer with infinite selectivity over the nonmodified InGaAs layer. The repetition of cycles of the two-step process was applied to etch the thin film of InGaAs as well as pattern using a SiN hard mask. Blanket experiments show that each cycle of the two-step process allows to remove a fixed and reproducible InGaAs thickness of 5.7 nm, while blanket SiN films are not consumed. After the process, the InGaAs surface roughness is kept intact, but the surface stoichiometry is slightly degraded with Arsenic enrichment because of the wet chemical reactions between the III-As semiconductors and the acids. The results on the pattern show that it is possible to transfer the SiN hard mask into the InGaAs layer using cycles of the two-step process with a reproducible consumed InGaAs thickness at each cycle and low sidewalls surface damage. However, the process leads to tapered InGaAs profile because of the lateral consumption of the SiN hard mask due to preferential sputtering at grazing incidence angle.

Fatigue damage investigation of ultra-large tire components

Off-road ultra-large tires experience different modes of heat-related fatigue failure in operation due to inherent material defects that grow into visible cracks under service loads. This study implements the cracking energy density theory to predict nucleation life of selected components of a 56/80R63 tire. The method uses an assumed intrinsic flaw, a fatigue crack growth law, and a rubber constitutive law to compute local crack driving forces from strain history loads obtained via FEA. The results show that the lower sidewall, belt endings, and inner tread lug corners are the critical regions for crack initiation with lives 5.03 × 105, 1.207 × 105, and 2.01 × 104 cycles, respectively.

Development of planar rigid-elastic coupling tyre model with analytical multi-stiffness sidewall

In this study, combining the membrane feature with inflation pressure and the structural deformation caused by sidewall curvature, rigid-elastic coupling tyre model with analytical multi-stiffness sidewall is proposed for a heavy-loaded radial tyre with a large section ratio. The membrane pre-tension of sidewall arc resulting from inflation pressure is investigated. By means of virtual work principle, the structural deformation of sidewall curved arc resulting from the arc curvature, including stretching, bending and shearing deformation is derived. The structural stiffness caused by the sidewall curvature and membrane pre-tension caused by the inflation pressure are combined for the multi-stiffness sidewall model. The influence of the sidewall structural and geometrical parameters on the sidewall multi-stiffness, modal resonant frequency and transfer function is researched and discussed. The non-linear characteristic of sidewall multi-stiffness with respect to the sidewall radial deformation is investigated. Experimental and theoretical results show that: (1) the multi-stiffness of sidewall can characterise the membrane-tension stiffness caused by inflation pressure and the structural stiffness led by the sidewall curvature and material properties; (2) the different multi-stiffnesses of upper and lower sidewall arcs results from the different interval angles; (3) the multi-stiffness of sidewall is non-linear to the radial sidewall deformation. Taking the flexible deformation of tyre carcass and the analytical multi-stiffness of tyre sidewall into consideration, rigid-elastic coupling tyre model with multi-stiffness sidewall is suitable for the heavy-loaded radial tyre with a large section ratio or tyres under impulsive loading and large deformation.

Novel Cyclosilazane-Type Silicon Precursor and Two-Step Plasma for Plasma-Enhanced Atomic Layer Deposition of Silicon Nitride.

We designed cyclosilazane-type silicon precursors and proposed a three-step plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) process to prepare silicon nitride films with high quality and excellent step coverage. The cyclosilazane-type precursor, 1,3-di-isopropylamino-2,4-dimethylcyclosilazane (CSN-2), has a closed ring structure for good thermal stability and high reactivity. CSN-2 showed thermal stability up to 450 °C and a sufficient vapor pressure of 4 Torr at 60 °C. The energy for the chemisorption of CSN-2 on the undercoordinated silicon nitride surface as calculated by density functional theory method was -7.38 eV. The PEALD process window was between 200 and 500 °C, with a growth rate of 0.43 Å/cycle. The best film quality was obtained at 500 °C, with hydrogen impurity of ∼7 atom %, oxygen impurity less than 2 atom %, low wet etching rate, and excellent step coverage of ∼95%. At 300 °C and lower temperatures, the wet etching rate was high especially at the lower sidewall of the trench pattern. We introduced the three-step PEALD process to improve the film quality and the step coverage on the lower sidewall. The sequence of the three-step PEALD process consists of the CSN-2 feeding step, the NH3/N2 plasma step, and the N2 plasma step. The H radicals in NH3/N2 plasma efficiently remove the ligands from the precursor, and the N2 plasma after the NH3 plasma removes the surface hydrogen atoms to activate the adsorption of the precursor. The films deposited at 300 °C using the novel precursor and the three-step PEALD process showed a significantly improved step coverage of ∼95% and an excellent wet etching resistance at the lower sidewall, which is only twice as high as that of the blanket film prepared by low-pressure chemical vapor deposition.

Katabatically Driven Cold Air Intrusions into a Basin Atmosphere

AbstractThe interactions between a katabatic flow on a plain and a circular basin cut into the plain and surrounded by an elevated rim were examined during a 5-h steady-state period during the Second Meteor Crater Experiment (METCRAX II) to explain observed disturbances to the nocturnal basin atmosphere. The approaching katabatic flow split horizontally around Arizona’s Meteor Crater below a dividing streamline while, above the dividing streamline, an ~50-m-deep stable layer on the plain was carried over the 30–50-m rim of the basin. A flow bifurcation occurred over or just upwind of the rim, with the lowest portion of the stable layer having negative buoyancy relative to the air within the crater pouring continuously over the crater’s upwind rim and accelerating down the inner sidewall. The cold air intrusion was deepest and coldest over the direct upwind crater rim. Cold air penetration depths varied around the inner sidewall depending on the temperature deficit of the inflow relative to the ambient environment inside the crater. A shallow but extremely stable cold pool on the crater floor could not generally be penetrated by the inflow and a hydraulic jump–like feature formed on the lower sidewall as the flow approached the cold pool. The upper nonnegatively buoyant portion of the stable layer was carried horizontally over the crater, forming a neutrally stratified, low–wind speed cavity or wake in the lee of the upwind rim that extended downward into the crater over the upwind sidewall.

C-24 暖房空間の垂直温度分布の簡易計算法 : その2.上部吹出し・下部吸込み方式における計算モデルとその検証

C-24 暖房空間の垂直温度分布の簡易計算法 : その2.上部吹出し・下部吸込み方式における計算モデルとその検証

High-aspect ratio nanopatterning via combined thermal scanning probe lithography and dry etching

Thermal scanning probe lithography is an emerging nanofabrication technique for rapid prototyping of arbitrary topographies in thermally sensitive resist. This feature, paired to the recent advances in dry plasma etching techniques, allows the fabrication of high-resolution nanopatterns in hard substrates. Here, we investigate the key process parameters allowing the fabrication of high aspect ratio nanopatterns in silicon. By a combination of resist heat treatment, the use of a hard mask and optimized etch parameters during pattern transfer, we amplified the shallow resist patterns by a factor of 100 into the silicon substrate. Low surface roughness and vertical sidewalls are thereby maintained. We demonstrate the fabrication of 240nm wide lines and 4μm deep single crystal silicon patterns.

기존 어도의 개선에 관한 조사 연구 - 우리나라 동해안 하류 하천 내 어도를 중심으로 -

This study aims at examining the structural and managemental problems of the existing fishways which affect the migrations of fishes, and at suggesting alternatives to improve the fishways' efficiency. The study focuses on the fishways constructed in the diversion weirs in the lower reaches of 41 rivers(2 national rivers and 39 rural rivers) in the eastern coast of Korea. Most of water-using facilities in Korean rivers are diversion weirs, and fishways are established as subsidiary facilities of most of the weirs. Among the 58 or so fishways examined in this study, only a few are doing their proper function, and most of them need improvement. This study aims at strengthening those fishways function and increasing their economic efficiency and migration efficiency. Based on the results of this study, the followings are suggested. In case the fishway sticks out downstream from the apron, a subsidiary fishway diverging from the main is suggested to attract fish. The entrance to the subsidiary should head below the raised part of the apron and a pool should be constructed in the connecting part with the main. To attract fish and let the upstream migrators rest for a while, an entrance pool should be constructed in the fishway. Most of the examined fishways have low side walls, which allow the upstreamers to jump out of the fishway. Those side walls are suggested to be raised above the jumping height of target fishes. The exit parts of most fishways are too shallow, or have no grass to protect the fish from the birds. Protective facilities are suggested to keep the birds from entering the fishway. By the time Ice-harbor type and Vertical-slot type fishways are scientifically proved to be defective, the fishway should not diverge from the standard design.

Three-dimensional patterning in polymer optical waveguides using focused ion beam milling

Waveguide (WG) photonic-bridge taper modules are designed for symmetric planar coupling between silicon WGs and single-mode fibers (SMFs) to minimize photonic chip and packaging footprint requirements with improving broadband functionality. Micromachined fabrication and evaluation of polymer WG tapers utilizing high-resolution focused ion beam (FIB) milling is performed and presented. Polymer etch rates utilizing the FIB and optimal methods for milling polymer tapers are identified for three-dimensional patterning. Polymer WG tapers with low sidewall roughness are manufactured utilizing FIB milling and optically tested for fabrication loss. FIB platforms utilize a focused beam of ions (Ga+) to etch submicron patterns into substrates. Fabricating low-loss polymer WG taper prototypes with the FIB before moving on to mass-production techniques provides theoretical understanding of the polymer taper and its feasibility for connectorization devices between silicon WGs and SMFs.