Numerical Parametric Study Research Articles

Mechanical performance of timber structures in tropical climate

ABSTRACT Timber construction is increasingly utilized in tropical regions; however, the influence of tropical climates on their mechanical performance remains not fully understood, characterized by high humidity and temperature, significant daily relative humidity (RH) fluctuations, and limited seasonal RH variations. This study investigates the mechanical performance of timber structures in tropical climates, focusing specifically on the effects of short-term ambient RH variations. Experimental studies were conducted to measure real-time strain variations in response to changes in the ambient environment, using a digital image correlation (DIC) system. The experimental results were used to validate a numerical model that accounts for the transient moisture transfer process. This model was subsequently employed for a systematic numerical parametric study based on actual climate data, with a focus on tropical cities. The model calculated moisture content variations for timber members of varying sizes and investigated the effects of different coatings. The impact on the mechanical performance of these timber members, including eigen-stress and mechano-sorptive creep, was evaluated. The findings indicate that, despite significant daily RH variations, the tropical climate leads to relatively less severe eigen-stress and mechano-sorptive creep compared to climates with a significantly seasonal RH variation.

Light-weighted quasi-zero stiffness device based on connected inclined beams on a flexible support

QZS isolators are particularly useful for low frequency excitations that are difficult to isolate for traditional isolation techniques. These isolators can be designed based on bistable structure which is very simple and of low weight. However, an external rigid restraint in transverse direction is often required for this kind of isolator which severely limits its application. This paper investigates a light-weighted QZS device that shows the QZS regardless of flexibility of the support. The device is based on inclined beams connected axially in series. Mechanism of the structure to generate the quasi-zero stiffness is discussed. A numerical model is developed for predicting its behavior. A series of tests were conducted to validate behavior of the structure and the numerical model, and a thorough numerical parametric study was performed. Based on the results, QZS isolators were designed and tested which is shown to have light weight and a good loading capacity.

Characteristics and Efficiency of Heat Transfer for Natural Convection by Ag-CuO/H2O Hybrid Nanofluid Inside a Square Cavity with Corrugated Walls

A parametric numerical study is conducted on laminar natural convection and heat transfer in a cavity with opposing undulated walls saturated with a hybrid Ag-CuO/water nanofluid. The two vertical walls of the sinusoidally undulated cavity are maintained at hot and cold temperatures, while the upper and lower walls are thermally insulated. The investigation examines the effects of relevant parameters such as the sinusoidally undulated geometry of the walls for different volumetric fractions of nanoparticles (0% ≤φ≤6%) and Rayleigh numbers (103 ≤ Ra ≤ 106) Thefinite-volumee discretization method is employed to solve the system of governing equations. The results indicate that an increase in the volumetric fraction of nanoparticles enhances the heat exchange rate in the cavity. Additionally, the Rayleigh number, with a significant increase in surface area, strongly influences the dominant heat transfer mode in the cavity. Furthermore, an increase in the number of wall undulations leads to a reduction in the heat transfer rate.

Comparison and parametric study of characteristics of eleven types of anisotropic woods based on the behaviour of Lamb wave propagation

AbstractKnowledge in advance of the nine orthotropic independent elastic constants (Cij) of the wood medium is essential for evaluating its mechanical properties. The most prominent technique to retrieve Cij is the ultrasonic testing technique. This technique uses guided waves that can propagate through the material under test. Accordingly, it is worth noting that the numerical modelling of the phase and group velocities of guided waves is an unavoidable preliminary step before experimentally producing guided wave modes. Therefore, the main goal of the present work is to numerically calculate the phase velocity, group velocity and the relevant optimal incidence angles of Lamb waves in anisotropic wood that can be used as a numerical parametric study for any future experimental setup. Here, Lamb dispersion curves are calculated for eleven types of woods, where the Legendre polynomial method is employed to solve the wave equations. Moreover, the optimal incidence angle for each Lamb mode is calculated according to the Snell–Descartes law. By calculating out the three parameters of phase velocity, group velocity and optimal incidence angle of Lamb modes in eleven types of anisotropic woods, we hope to fast-track the researchers in considering the present work to facilitate their experimental measurements.

Numerical study of structural parameters of perforated baffle on heat transfer enhancement in coiled elastic copper tube heat exchanger

Numerical study of structural parameters of perforated baffle on heat transfer enhancement in coiled elastic copper tube heat exchanger

Numerical study of effective parameters on deformation and coalescence of ferrofluid droplets under uniform magnetic field

This research examines different numerical techniques for modeling ferrofluids in a non-magnetic liquid subjected to homogeneous and steady magnetic field. It particularly compares the conservative level set method with the Volume of Fluid (VOF) and Simple Coupled Level Set and Volume of Fluid (SCLSVOF) methods. By comparing these methods with experimental data, we established the superiority of the utilized method in this study. Several case studies were conducted to evaluate how a homogeneous magnetic actuation affects ferrofluid dynamics, considering parameters such as initial droplet size, surface tension coefficient, and magnetic susceptibility. Additionally, the study explored the coalescence of two falling ferrofluid droplets under the combined effects of an external magnetic field and gravity. The conservative level set method was shown to be extendable to three-dimensional environments, unlike the standard level set method. The novelty of this work lies in demonstrating that the conservative level set method is particularly effective for ferrofluids, accurately capturing their complex dynamics. The main novelty of this article lies in demonstrating the precision of Conservative Level Set Method while utilizing a reduced number of equations compared to other works. This reduction in complexity enhances the method's efficiency without compromising precision, making it especially suited for applications requiring both speed and accuracy, such as model-based control systems.

Analysis of the Vertical Dynamic Response of SDCM Piles in Coastal Areas

The stiffened deep cement mixing (SDCM) pile, as a new type of rigid–flexible composite pile, significantly enhances the vertical bearing capacity of traditional precast piles, thus holding broad application prospects in the substructure construction of nearshore bridges and marine energy structures. This paper investigates the vertical dynamic response of SDCM piles through theoretical derivation and parameter analysis. Firstly, based on elastic dynamics theory and the three-phase porous media model, vertical vibration control equations for both SDCM piles and fractional-order viscoelastic unsaturated soils are established. Secondly, theoretical derivations yield exact analytical solutions for the surrounding dynamic impedance, top dynamic stiffness, and dynamic damping of the SDCM pile. Finally, through numerical examples and parameter studies, the impact mechanisms of physical parameters in the SDCM pile–unsaturated soil dynamic coupling system on the top dynamic stiffness and dynamic damping of the SDCM pile are analyzed. The research results presented in this paper indicate that reducing the radius of the rigid core pile while increasing the thickness of the exterior pile has a positive effect on enhancing its vibration resistance. Additionally, increasing the length of SDCM piles contributes to improved vibration performance. However, an increase in the elastic modulus of the cement–soil exterior pile is detrimental to the vibration resistance of the rigid composite pile. On the other hand, an increase in the elastic modulus of the concrete core pile only enhances its ability to resist vibration under low-frequency load excitation. Furthermore, enlarging the soil saturation, decreasing the intrinsic permeability, and enlarging the soil relaxation shear modulus have a significant positive impact on improving the vibration resistance of SDCM piles. In contrast, changes in porosity have a negligible effect on the ability to resist vertical vibrations of SDCM piles.

Experimental, Numerical, and Analytical Investigation of the Reinforced Concrete Hidden and Wide Beams

AbstractThis research presents an experimental, analytical, and numerical study to predict the flexural behavior of reinforced concrete hidden and wide beams embedded in slabs. The experimentally studied parameters of testing eight specimens include beam depth, beam width, and beam eccentricity from the column. The obtained test results were compared to the predictions of finite element analysis using the ANSYS program. A numerical parametric study was conducted by the ANSYS program to explore other parameters affecting the ultimate flexural strength of beams. The studied parameters encompass concrete compressive strength, steel reinforcement strength, bottom reinforcement ratio, top-to-bottom reinforcement ratio, and web reinforcement ratio. The results revealed that an increase in beam depth led to higher ultimate load and secant stiffness, along with a decrease in deflection. The increase in beam width significantly affected beam depth, resulting in increased ultimate load and secant stiffness and a slight decrease in deflection. The increase in beam eccentricity from the column resulted in a decrease in ultimate load and secant stiffness while increasing the deflection. Comparisons between experimental and numerical results were made against calculations based on the ECP 203-2017 and ACI 318-19 codes, and the comparison yielded satisfactory results.

Influence of in-plane transverse compression on the behaviour of the face plate component in weak axis and tubular steel joints

The behaviour of the face-plate component under out-of-plane loading has been previously studied, and analytical formulations characterizing the initial stiffness have been proposed. However, research investigating the response of this component under simultaneous transverse loading is limited. This study examines the influence of in-plane transverse compression on the out-of-plane behaviour of the face-plate component in weak axis and tubular beam-to-column steel joints. An experimental test campaign was conducted, covering five representative joint configurations for connections to both I-section and tubular columns. Finite element models of the tested specimen were generated and validated based on the test results. Subsequently, these results were supplemented by two sets of numerical parametric studies, encompassing a total of 329 connections under different levels of transverse loads. The results indicate the detrimental effect of transverse compression on the stiffness and resistance of the face-plate component. Analytical expressions for the reduction of initial stiffness under compressive in-plane transverse loads were proposed and validated, facilitating easy incorporation into design standards.

Numerical Parametric Study on Structural Response of Drilled Shaft Footings Subjected to Concentric Axial Force

Numerical Parametric Study on Structural Response of Drilled Shaft Footings Subjected to Concentric Axial Force

Impact of steel tube wall thickness on axial compression behavior of reinforced and recycled aggregate concrete-filled square steel tube short columns

Tests and numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the impact of wall thickness of steel tube on the axial load performance of reinforced and recycled aggregate concrete (RAC)-filled square steel tube short columns (R-RACFST). The test groups consisted of R-RACFST, concrete-filled square steel tube (CFST), and RAC-filled square steel tube (RACFST). Each group had five different wall thicknesses of the steel tube, and the RAC infill was made of 100 % recycled coarse aggregate (RCA). Two replicate specimens were prepared for each group and wall thickness. The tests were used to analyze the effect of steel ratio on failure mode, loading performance, and ductility. The analyses clarified that the reinforcement effectively enhanced the confinement effect on RAC, compensating for the inadequate confinement of the square tubes and the brittleness of the RAC with 100 % RCA. To further understand the acting role of reinforcement, numerical parametric studies were conducted. A novel numerical model for R-RACFSTs was established and verified with the tests. A total of 81 models were then simulated, considering the coupling effects between the wall thickness of the steel tube, the amount of reinforcement, and the strength of RAC. Based on the simulations, the coupling relationship between the steel tube and reinforcement, as well as the optimal range of steel ratio, were determined. Additionally, strength prediction equations were studied and proposed. The findings indicate that it is feasible to fill RAC with 100 % RCA in R-RACFSTs; when combined with appropriate reinforcement, R-RACFSTs with thinner tubes can achieve the same or better performance compared to RACFSTs with thicker tubes; the recommended reasonable range for the steel ratio and corresponding confinement coefficient in R-RACFSTs are 6.4 % to 13.7 % and 1.00 to 2.04, respectively; the predictions proposed are accurate and reliable.

Numerical Study of Structural Parameters of Dust Particle Chains of Different Lengths

Numerical Study of Structural Parameters of Dust Particle Chains of Different Lengths

Formation of double emulsion droplets in flow-focusing microchips: a numerical parametric study

Formation of double emulsion droplets in flow-focusing microchips: a numerical parametric study

Fire Performance of FRCM-Confined RC Columns: Experimental Investigation and Parametric Analysis

This study presents an experimental investigation of the fire response of six columns strengthened with polyparaphenylene benzobisoxazole (PBO) FRCM system, and tested in a large-scale furnace following ASTM E119 standards. The parameters investigated included the number of PBO-FRCM layers and the presence of a fireproofing insulation layer. Test results highlighted the effectiveness of PBO-FRCM in insulating the column, with the strengthened column showing a substantial 31.9% reduction in temperature readings at the concrete surface compared to its unstrengthened counterpart. Furthermore, the presence of Sikacrete 213F fireproofing system reduced temperature readings within the column's section by an average of 65%. Based on the experimental results, a parametric numerical study were developed and verified using ABAQUS software. The parameters studied included the number of PBO-FRCM layers (0, 1, and 2 layers), the presence of a 30 mm thick insulation layer, and the axial preloading taken as 40, 60, and 75% of the ultimate column's capacity. The model accurately predicted the temperature readings across the columns. Strengthening the columns with PBO-FRCM significantly increased their resistance during fire, doubling fire-resistance duration with one layer. Adding fireproof insulation led to significant increase in load resistance duration. The percentage drop in temperature after 1 hour of fire exposure was around 70% at the FRCM surface for the insulated column strengthened with one layer of FRCM. Higher preload percentages reduced both the fire-resistance duration and ductility of the columns. For the group of columns strengthened with one layer, increasing the preloading percentage to 60% and 75% resulted in decreases in the fire-resistance duration of 35% and 73%, respectively.

Local buckling behaviour of web perforated cold-formed steel lipped channel columns

To connect beams and bracings with storage rack uprights, closely spaced perforations are provided along the web, flanges, and rear flanges of uprights. These perforations can significantly lower the ultimate capacity of such compression members with the possible influence of its natural buckling modes. This capacity reduction can depend on various parameters such as (a) geometrical shape, proportioning of cross-section, and stiffeners; (b) perforation shape, size, spacing, and location; (b) slenderness of member, cross-section, and elements of cross-section; and (d) material properties. A thorough understanding of the influence of the above-mentioned factors is necessary for the accurate strength prediction of perforated Cold-formed steel (CFS) compression members. Even though the current design standards are updated for the accurate strength prediction of unperforated CFS compression members, they do not collectively account for the influence of all the aforementioned factors on the load-carrying capacity of the perforated CFS members, particularly for the local buckling capacity. Though the Direct Strength Method (DSM) of design is the most accepted method for accurate strength prediction of CFS members even for complex cross-sectional shapes, recent research on the strength evaluation of perforated CFS members using DSM has emphasized the need for refinement in DSM. The Modified Direct Strength Method (MDSM), which accounts for the simultaneous buckling of flanges and web, includes the cross-section aspect ratio and cross-section slenderness to predict more accurately the local buckling design strength. However, it was developed only for unperforated specimens. Hence, a systematic experimental and numerical investigation was done to understand the influence of the perforation in the local buckling behavior of the lipped channel section. In total, 14 specimens, including 2 unperforated and 12 web perforated CFS lipped channel stub columns were physically tested with fixed support conditions. The Finite Element Analysis using ABAQUS software was used to conduct an extensive parametric numerical study. The results were used to compare the strength curves of DSM and MDSM and the modification in the design curves has been proposed by considering the erosion in strength due to the presence of perforation.

Hygro-mechanical long-term behaviour of spruce, pine and lime wood: parameter identification and model validation

Lime wood, spruce and pine are investigated with regard to its hygro-mechanical long-term behaviour. Experiments are conducted for an identification of model parameters and for model validation. Swelling and shrinkage coefficients, dry density, sorption characteristics and parameters for visco-elasticity, visco-plasticity and mechano-sorption are determined for the main material directions. Supplemented by literature values, a complete set of parameters for long-term hygro-mechanical modelling of wood species is found. Constrained swelling and shrinkage are analysed and the origin of the stress development is investigated. It is demonstrated, that creep phenomena lead to significant stress reduction by relaxation, in case of moisture changes especially due to mechano-sorption. The influence of different model parts is investigated. A numerical parameter study shows the influence of several material parameters on the stress evolution. Experimental material investigations such as those presented here are essential for the application of numerical simulation methods for the prediction of material behaviour and for the assessment of deformations, stresses and damage potential of climatically loaded timber structures.

Numerical Assessment of the Effect of CFRP Anchorages on the Flexural and Shear Strengthening Performance of RC Beams

This study investigates the effectiveness of a hybrid solution that combines carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) systems for the flexural and shear strengthening of T-cross section reinforced concrete (RC) beams. The hybrid solution consists of near-surface mounted CFRP laminates for flexural enhancement and externally bonded U-shaped CFRP strips for shear strengthening. Moreover, an innovative CFRP anchorage system is proposed to prevent premature debonding of the U-CFRP strips and to improve their shear contribution. To address the limitations of the experimental program and propose an efficient and design-oriented simulation approach for NSM-EBR strengthening RC beams with the innovative anchorage system, a comprehensive numerical investigation was conducted by considering the key parameters affecting the performance of the strengthened system. This paper presents the results of an experimental program and a nonlinear finite element analysis that simulate the behavior of the materials up to their failure and the bond conditions between CFRP and concrete. This study also includes a numerical parametric study to assess the effectiveness of the proposed strengthening concept with several possible scenarios, as well as the predictive performance of the fib Bulletin 90 and ACI 440.2R-17 formulations.

Flow dynamics and heat transfer characteristics of air/water mist jet impingement using Eulerian-Eulerian approach

The present numerical study focuses on a two-phase Eulerian-Eulerian approach to model the flow structure and heat transfer characteristics of an air/water mist jet emanating from a coaxial jet nozzle and impinging on an isothermal heated flat plate. A detailed parametric numerical study has been performed to investigate the effect of various operating parameters like air Reynolds number (2400-9142), mist Reynolds number(1.87–8.68), mist loading fraction (0 % - 0.96 %), droplet diameter (1 μm – 60 μm), and non-dimensional nozzle to plate spacing (10–42) on the flow structure and heat transfer characteristics of air/water mist jet. The present numerical results are in agreement with the experimental results, within 16 % accuracy. The heat transfer increases with an increase in the air Reynolds number or mist loading fraction. The increase in air Reynolds number provides better heat transfer enhancement as high as 94.5 % compared to 27.6 % in the case of an increment in the mist loading fraction. Additionally, the effect of droplet diameter on the flow structure and heat transfer characteristics of air/water mist jet is analyzed at depth. The increase in nozzle-to-plate distance from 10 to 42 leads to a decrease in stagnation point Nusselt number of the order of 31 %. Further, correlations have been proposed to predict the Nusselt number at the stagnation point, stagnation region, and average Nusselt number for the target plate.

Hybrid thermochemical cycle for cold and electricity cogeneration: Experimental and numerical analyses of the process behavior and expander-reactor coupling

The valorization of waste heat to respond to the increase demand on electricity and cooling is an important energetic challenge. For this purpose, a hybrid thermochemical cycle is proposed. This discontinuous sorption cycle is based on reversible endothermic/exothermic solid–gas reactions, and it is able to recover medium grade waste heat (between 150 and 250 °C) to valorize it in a second step by providing cold production at its endothermic component and mechanical work thanks to the integration of an expander on the gas line. Moreover, the two-step operation leads to a storage functionality. This paper presents an experimental study of this new hybrid cycle prototype in different operating conditions, and a sensitivity study of the design parameters of the prototype performed through a steady state model. The experimentation shows the influence of the electrical load applied to the generator on the coupling between the expander and reactor, by affecting the rotational speed, the torque of the expander and the pressure of the reactor. The analysis of the experimental results highlighted the effect of two main limitations in the prototype: the internal leaks on the expander side (unlubricated scroll expander) and the heat transfer on the reactor side. A numerical parametric study is done on these two parameters, showing the possibility of cogenerating 125 W of mechanical power and 2.3 kW of cold for defined enhanced parameters of the prototype. These promising results prompt the next step of conducting a detailed exergetic analysis of the cycle. This analysis will aim to identify the primary sources of exergy destruction and to explore ways for reducing them by minimizing main irreversibilities in the cycle.

ROGER: A method for determining the geothermal potential in urban areas

Shallow geothermal energy is increasingly adopted for heating and cooling purposes because of the short pay-back time of initial installation investments. As a result, a relevant concentration of Ground Heat Exchangers is being experienced in urban areas. Planning issues thus arise to manage interferences and optimize the use of underground heat resources without depletion, harm to the environment nor efficiency losses on heat pumps or plant oversizing. This study provides a rational approach to optimise geothermal resources based on the use of Geographic Information Systems and transient 3D Thermo-Hydro numerical models. An optimised semi-analytical formula for the assessment of Borehole Heat Exchangers geothermal potential in hydrodynamic conditions is developed through a parametric numerical study. The long-term performances of BHE subjected to groundwater velocity in the range of 0 to 1 m/day were analysed with multiple aquifer thermal parameters. This analytical expression allows a fast and accurate assessment of the potential even in large areas without leading to excessively conservative evaluations. This may serve designers in the preliminary sizing of installations and city planners in the development of appropriate policies for the promotion and management of shallow geothermal resources. An example of the application to the central district of the city of Turin (Italy) is also shown.