Rigid Wall Research Articles

Development of dynamic centrifuge models for measurement and visualization of deformation mechanisms in liquefiable soils

Recent advancements in geotechnical physical modeling have enabled visualization and analysis of deformation mechanisms in soil sections through the integration of Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) in dynamic centrifuge modeling. PIV requires a rigid wall container. In this paper, we summarize the design considerations that enable reliable measurement and visualization of soil deformation mechanisms at the University of Colorado (CU) Boulder’s 400 g-ton, 5.5 m radius centrifuge facility. The primary objective of this system is to investigate the response of complex and stratigraphically variable, saturated granular soil deposits beneath shallow-founded structures, though it can also be used for other configurations that benefit from advanced visualization in the centrifuge. The setup aims to enable quantification and visualization of different deformation mechanisms, including shear, volumetric, and soil ejecta formation, near and away from structures. The paper provides detailed design considerations for the system components, including a rigid container with a transparent Perspex wall and duct seal inclusions, a linear-elastic single-degree of freedom (SDOF) structure, soil texture, a potential ground improvement technique, and a high-speed camera system. Through fully-coupled, three-dimensional (3D) nonlinear finite element analyses, we investigate the influence of container type, domain size, and duct seal geometry on boundary effects, with consideration of nonlinearities within various soil profile configurations with and without the presence of a building model. The findings highlight the critical impact of proximity to lateral boundaries of the container on accelerations, excess pore pressures, foundation settlement, tilt, and shear strains, as well as the benefits of duct seal in reducing those boundary effects. The results also show that the extent of boundary effects on key performance measures depends on the properties of the container, soil layers, and ground motion. The simulations also show that surface ejecta potential within stratigraphic soil profiles is highly sensitive to the depth of the groundwater table and variations in soil permeability, which must be considered in designing experimental programs that investigate the development of soil ejecta.

Impact of left atrial wall motion assumptions in fluid simulations on proposed predictors of thrombus formation

AbstractAtrial fibrillation (AF) poses a significant risk of stroke due to thrombus formation, which primarily occurs in the left atrial appendage (LAA). Medical image‐based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations can provide valuable insight into patient‐specific hemodynamics and could potentially enhance personalized assessment of thrombus risk. However, the importance of accurately representing the left atrial (LA) wall dynamics has not been fully resolved. In this study, we compared four modeling scenarios; rigid walls, a generic wall motion based on a reference motion, a semi‐generic wall motion based on patient‐specific motion, and patient‐specific wall motion based on medical images. We considered a LA geometry acquired from 4D computed tomography during AF, systematically performed convergence tests to assess the numerical accuracy of our solution strategy, and quantified the differences between the four approaches. The results revealed that wall motion had no discernible impact on LA cavity hemodynamics, nor on the markers that indicate thrombus formation. However, the flow patterns within the LAA deviated significantly in the rigid model, indicating that the assumption of rigid walls may lead to errors in the estimated risk factors. In contrast, the generic, semi‐generic, and patient‐specific cases were qualitatively similar. The results highlight the crucial role of wall motion on hemodynamics and predictors of thrombus formation, and also demonstrate the potential of using a generic motion model as a surrogate for the more complex patient‐specific motion. While the present study considered a single case, the employed CFD framework is entirely open‐source and designed for adaptability, allowing for integration of additional models and generic motions.

Decoupling cell size homeostasis in diatoms from the geometrical constraints of the silica cell wall.

Unicellular organisms are known to exert tight control over their cell size. In the case of diatoms, abundant eukaryotic microalgae, two opposing notions are widely accepted. On the one hand, the rigid silica cell wall that forms inside the parental cell is thought to enforce geometrical reduction of the cell size. On the other hand, numerous exceptions cast doubt on the generality of this model. Here, we monitored clonal cultures of the diatom Stephanopyxis turris for up to 2 yr, recording the sizes of thousands of cells, in order to follow the distribution of cell sizes in the population. Our results show that S. turris cultures above a certain size threshold undergo a gradual size reduction, in accordance with the postulated geometrical driving force. However, once the cell size reaches a lower threshold, it fluctuates around a constant size using the inherent elasticity of cell wall elements. These results reconcile the disparate observations on cell size regulation in diatoms by showing two distinct behaviors, reduction and homeostasis. The geometrical size reduction is the dominant driving force for large cells, but smaller cells have the flexibility to re-adjust the size of their new cell walls.

Wave trapping by porous breakwater near a wall under the influence of ocean current

In this paper, oblique water wave interaction with a surface piercing box-type porous structure placed in front of a vertical rigid wall is investigated in the presence of current, which flows parallel to vertical wall. The current speed is considered distinct in different subdomains. However, in a particular subdomain current speed is uniform throughout the water depth. In this analysis, Sollitt and Cross model is used for the study of wave motion inside the porous structure. Employing small amplitude linear water wave theory, the present model of our interest is developed into a boundary value problem and solved analytically using the eigenfunction expansion method. Using the developed solution, the reflection coefficient and hydrodynamic wave forces on porous structure are computed for different values of parameters: the dimension of porous structure, the friction coefficient of porous structure, the current speed of following current and opposing current. This research paper suggests that suitable arrangement of rigid walls and surface-piercing partially extended porous structures can be an effective and economical approach for guiding ocean currents and protecting marine facilities against wave attacks.

Direct numerical simulations of microlayer formation during heterogeneous bubble nucleation

In this article, we present direct numerical simulation results for the expansion of spherical cap bubbles attached to a rigid wall due to a sudden drop in the ambient pressure. The critical pressure drop beyond which the bubble growth becomes unstable is found to match well with the predictions from classical theory of heterogeneous nucleation imposing a quasi-static bubble evolution. When the pressure drop is significantly higher than the critical value, a liquid microlayer appears between the bubble and the wall. In this regime, the interface outside the microlayer grows at an asymptotic velocity that can be predicted from the Rayleigh–Plesset equation, while the contact line evolves with another asymptotic velocity that scales with a visco-capillary velocity that obeys the Cox–Voinov law. In general, three distinctive regions can be distinguished: the region very close to the contact line where dynamics is governed by visco-capillary effects, an intermediate region controlled by inertio-viscous effects away from the contact line yet inside the viscous boundary layer, and the region outside the boundary layer dominated by inertial effects. The microlayer forms in a regime where the capillary effects are confined in a region much smaller than the viscous boundary layer thickness. In this regime, the global capillary number takes values much larger then the critical capillary number for bubble nucleation, and the microlayer height is controlled by viscous effects and not surface tension.

In vivo femtosecond laser nanosurgery of the cell wall enabling patch-clamp measurements on filamentous fungi

Studying the membrane physiology of filamentous fungi is key to understanding their interactions with the environment and crucial for developing new therapeutic strategies for disease-causing pathogens. However, their plasma membrane has been inaccessible for a micron-sized patch-clamp pipette for pA current recordings due to the rigid chitinous cell wall. Here, we report the first femtosecond IR laser nanosurgery of the cell wall of the filamentous fungi, which enabled patch-clamp measurements on protoplasts released from hyphae. A reproducible and highly precise (diffraction-limited, submicron resolution) method for obtaining viable released protoplasts was developed. Protoplast release from the nanosurgery-generated incisions in the cell wall was achieved from different regions of the hyphae. The plasma membrane of the obtained protoplasts formed tight and high-resistance (GΩ) contacts with the recording pipette. The entire nanosurgical procedure followed by the patch-clamp technique could be completed in less than 1 hour. Compared to previous studies using heterologously expressed channels, this technique provides the opportunity to identify new ionic currents and to study the properties of the ion channels in the protoplasts of filamentous fungi in their native environment.

On the role of tissue mechanics in fluid–structure interaction simulations of patient‐specific aortic dissection

AbstractModeling an aortic dissection represents a particular challenge from a numerical perspective, especially when it comes to the interaction between solid (aortic wall) and liquid (blood flow). The complexity of patient‐specific simulations requires a variety of parameters, modeling assumptions and simplifications that currently hinder their routine use in clinical settings. We present a numerical framework that captures, among other things, the layer‐specific anisotropic properties of the aortic wall, the non‐Newtonian behavior of blood, patient‐specific geometry, and patient‐specific flow conditions. We compare hemodynamic indicators and stress measurements in simulations with increasingly complex material models for the vessel tissue ranging from rigid walls to anisotropic hyperelastic materials. We find that for the present geometry and boundary conditions, rigid wall simulations produce different results than fluid–structure interaction simulations. Considering anisotropic fiber contributions in the tissue model, stress measurements in the aortic wall differ, but shear stress‐based biomarkers are less affected. In summary, the increasing complexity of the tissue model enables capturing more details. However, an extensive parameter set is also required. Since the simulation results depend on these modeling choices, variations can lead to different recommendations in clinical applications.

Experimental investigation on the interaction of spark-generated array bubbles near a rigid wall

This study experimentally investigates the interaction of an array of bubbles near a rigid wall. Three bubbles are simultaneously generated using underwater electric discharges, forming a linear alignment with approximately equal sizes. A high-speed camera was used to record the evolution of the bubbles, with the pressure sensors placed on the surface of the rigid wall to measure the pressure resulting from both the jet and collapse of the bubbles. The results demonstrate that the behavior of the array bubbles, including collapse, jetting, and coalescence, is significantly influenced by the dimensionless distances Ra = da/Rm and Rh = dh/Rm (where Rm is the maximum bubble radius, and da and dh represent the inter-bubble distance and bubble-wall distance, respectively). A series of experiments, designed with various Ra and Rh, were conducted to systematically investigate the behaviors of the bubbles and their resulting pressure characteristics on the central of the wall. This research aims to offer a practical reference for understanding interacting array bubbles and the potential pressure threats to nearby structures.

Dynamics of multi-mode nonlinear internal waves in fluids of great depth

This paper is mainly concerned with the dynamics of strongly nonlinear internal waves in two-dimensional fluids of great depth. A fully nonlinear model for a three-layer fluid of great depth containing topography, a Miyata–Choi–Camassa (MCC)-type system, is developed based on the generalization of the Ablowitz–Fokas–Musslimani global-relation formulation for free-surface water waves. Mode-1 internal solitary waves are numerically found in the MCC-type equation using the Petviashvili iteration technique and in the full Euler equations based on the boundary integral equation method. The comparison between the results validates the broad applicability of the MCC-type system. Mode-2 internal solitary waves are found in the MCC-type equations and are shown to be a type of gap solitary wave. Using the multi-mode internal solitary-wave solutions in the MCC-type equations, we apply the conformal mapping technique to calculate streamlines and particle trajectories. For unsteady simulations, we propose a pseudo-spectral algorithm to handle the time-coupled equations and investigate the generation mechanism of multi-mode internal solitary waves due to the resonance effect of local protrusion on the rigid wall, as well as their collisions when the wall is flat. For flows past protrusion on the rigid wall, the flow speed can be divided into subcritical, transcritical, and supercritical. The shedding of multi-mode internal solitary waves can occur only in the transcritical region of flow speed. We implement the carving of bifurcation curves with inflection to achieve the regional delimitation and, based on this, the interpretation of the generation mechanism from a physical point of view.

Velocity characteristics of microjets generated by double bubbles near a rigid wall under ultrasound

The cavitation bubble collapse and associated microjets are widely used in ultrasound and chemical engineering. However, much remains to be known about the interplay of double bubbles and their microjets. The dynamic models for the single-bubble and double-bubble near the rigid wall under ultrasound were constructed and numerically solved to reveal the bubble collapse behavior. Results indicates that compared to a free wall, rigid walls have a strong inhibitory effect on the collapse of a single bubble, but have a certain promoting effect on the collapse of double bubbles. The double bubbles have a higher velocity and smaller range of initial bubble radii than a single bubble to produce microjets. When the bubble is close to the stiff wall, the microjet of a single bubble is always stronger than that of double bubbles. But when bubbles move away from rigid walls, the microjet velocity of double bubbles may be greater than that of a single bubble. Compared with the single bubble, the double bubbles can generate microjets with a narrower range of the ultrasound pressure amplitude and a smaller ultrasound frequency. The study will give new insights into the velocity of microjets in ultrasonic related processing applications.

Investigation of ice wedge bearing capacity based on an anisotropic beam analogy

Ships and offshore structures operating in ice-covered waters need to be able to break ice. The hulls of ships and offshore structures are often designed to be inclined so that an out-of-plane force can be incurred to initiate flexural failure. During this process, an in-plane force co-exists as the result of the hull inclination, which can affect the bending process and alter the magnitude of interaction force. Additionally, the loading process can be rapid and incur dynamic effect within the ice sheet, resulting in higher peak loads compared to the scenario of quasi-static loading. The effect of in-plane force and loading speed, however, are often neglected in the modelling of the icebreaking process in order to enable simplified solutions of analytical form, which leads to deviations in the estimation of ice loads. This paper aims to investigate the effects of in-plane force and loading speed on the ice bearing capacity during the icebreaking process. This is conducted via the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) with the Cohesive Element Method (CEM). An anisotropic beam analogy concept is proposed to model a 3D ice wedge with a 2D beam which has varying properties along the axial direction. The analogy enables fast and stable simulation of ice crack propagation through its thickness direction, while maintaining properties of the ice wedge in 3D. The analogy is verified with Nevel's closed-form solution for a narrow wedge resting on an elastic foundation. After that, the beam is loaded with a rigid wall with different inclination angles and loading speeds. The results reveal that the in-plane force and loading speed have significant influence on the icebreaking process, resulting in different bearing capacity and overall energy consumption. Based on the numerical results, a regression study is conducted to derive a correction coefficient accounting for the joint effect of in-plane force and loading speed on the bearing capacity, which can be incorporated into ice-structure interaction simulation models.

Dynamics of a bubble-pair between two parallel rigid walls

The dynamics of two gas bubbles placed side-by-side in liquid between parallel rigid plates is studied numerically using the multiphase volume of fluid (VOF) model in OpenFOAM. This model solves a single set of Navier–Stokes equations for both the gas in the bubbles and the surrounding liquid. Being initially stationary, the bubbles first expand to their maximum volume due to the high gas pressure inside them and then collapse. Both phases are treated as viscous and immiscible without any phase change. The model is validated against available experimental data of a single bubble oscillation between parallel plates and a bubble-pair oscillation near a single rigid wall. Parametric studies are then performed, with the main variables being the initial sizes of the bubbles and their standoff distances from the rigid plates. The bubbles exhibit symmetric or asymmetric behavior depending on these two variables. Three distinct scenarios are identified in the symmetric case based on the relative influence of bubble-bubble and bubble-wall interactions. The jet strength and direction, bubble oscillation period, coalescence, and early asymmetric bubble collapse are characterized by initial distances and radii. This study provides valuable insights into intricate hydrodynamic interactions and behaviors of bubble pairs bounded by rigid surfaces.

Current design of rectangular steel silos: limitations and improvement

This study proposes a modification for the current design approach for square and rectangular silos that accounts for silos’ wall flexibility. First, the authors investigated the effect of wall stiffness symbolized by the wall width-to-thickness ratio (a/t) and silo’s dimensions, on the wall-filling pressure using a recently validated 3D finite element model (FEM). The model was then employed to predict the pressures acting on silos’ walls accounting for the stress state in stored granular materials. Most design formulas and guidelines assume silos’ walls to be rigid. This assumption is acceptable for the case of rigid wall concrete silos; however, it is questionable for semi-rigid, flexible wall metal silos. Consequentially, it is crucial to determine the minimum wall stiffness necessary to secure the applicability of the current design rigid wall assumptions and to propose a way to deal with semi-rigid and flexible walls. To this end, several wall pressure distributions that correspond to filling steel silos with varied wall thicknesses were studied. A new adjustment to the Janssen technique was proposed for a better estimate of the wall-filling pressures for square and rectangular silos. In the case of prismatic silos, the Eurocode uses the Janssen equation together with an equivalent radius of a corresponding circular silo (with the same hydraulic radius) to determine the wall pressure. This method predicts pressure values that are practically accurate for rigid-wall silos, but its accuracy decreases for semi-rigid and flexible-wall silos. As an enhancement, the Janssen equation was modified in this research to generate more accurate pressure estimates based on the equivalent volume concept. The finite element results of several developed models with the same granular material were compared to the estimations of the newly established approach to verify the broad range of its applicability.

Calculation Method for Active Non-limit Earth Pressure of Cohesive Soil on a Rigid Wall Based on the Nonlinear Mohr–Coulomb Failure Criterion

Calculation Method for Active Non-limit Earth Pressure of Cohesive Soil on a Rigid Wall Based on the Nonlinear Mohr–Coulomb Failure Criterion

Carotenoids production and extraction from Yarrowia lipolytica cells: A biocompatible approach using biosolvents

The use of carotenoids, pigments with significant importance in the food and pharmaceutical industries, has been widely recognized because of their functions as colorants and antioxidants. The production of carotenoids from oleaginous yeasts is an efficient and eco-friendly alternative to that of synthetic carotenoids. Yarrowia lipolytica, due to its ability to synthesize high-value-added compounds, including carotenoids and lipids, has emerged as a promising biotechnological platform for this purpose. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of biosolvents for carotenoid extraction with the goal of replacing toxic organic solvents that pose risks to both human health and the environment. The Solid-Liquid Extraction (SLE) technique was employed to disrupt the rigid cell wall and extract intracellular pigments. Subsequent extractions were conducted using a 2:3:1 (w/w/w) ratio of ethanol:ethyl acetate:water, resulting in a total β-carotene concentration of approximately 5 mg β-carotene equivalent/g dry biomass. The COSMO-SAC model was utilized to elucidate the solute–solvent affinity, and the results obtained were consistent with the experimental findings. To improve the process, various ratios of biosolvents were investigated, and a subsequent Solid-Liquid-Liquid Extraction (SLLE) was introduced. Process integration and adjustments to the mixed biosolvent composition achieved yields ranging from 50 to 100 % in just four consecutive extractions. The proposed integrative platform not only enhances the efficiency of the extraction process but also enables the fractionation and purification of bioproducts from Y. lipolytica cells, thereby maximizing their biotechnological potential.

Active Earth Pressure Characteristics of Light Weight Soil with EPS Particles Behind Rigid Retaining Wall

Active Earth Pressure Characteristics of Light Weight Soil with EPS Particles Behind Rigid Retaining Wall

Analysis of Intracranial Aneurysm Haemodynamics Altered by Wall Movement.

Computational fluid dynamics is intensively used to deepen our understanding of aneurysm growth and rupture in an attempt to support physicians during therapy planning. Numerous studies assumed fully rigid vessel walls in their simulations, whose sole haemodynamics may fail to provide a satisfactory criterion for rupture risk assessment. Moreover, direct in vivo observations of intracranial aneurysm pulsation were recently reported, encouraging the development of fluid-structure interaction for their modelling and for new assessments. In this work, we describe a new fluid-structure interaction functional setting for the careful evaluation of different aneurysm shapes. The configurations consist of three real aneurysm domes positioned on a toroidal channel. All geometric features, employed meshes, flow quantities, comparisons with the rigid wall model and corresponding plots are provided for the sake of reproducibility. The results emphasise the alteration of flow patterns and haemodynamic descriptors when wall deformations were taken into account compared with a standard rigid wall approach, thereby underlining the impact of fluid-structure interaction modelling.

Numerical investigation of solute dispersion in a non-Newtonian fluid flow through a catheterized artery with mild stenosis

The phenomenon of Casson fluid flow and solute dispersion through a catheterized artery with constriction is studied. An analytical solution to the flow equations is obtained for low Womersley number. The finite element method is utilized to numerically solve the governing equation for solute dispersion and obtain the local and mean concentrations. The combined influence of pulsatile flow nature, catheter insertion, non-Newtonian rheology, and mild stenosis on dispersion within the artery are analysed by considering axial and temporal variations of the local concentration and mean concentration. The study shows that the Womersley frequency parameter and amplitude of the pressure gradient have no qualitative effect on the dispersion in the case of mild stenosis artery; this is in agreement with the case of tube flow with rigid walls. However, the fluid yield stress and height of the stenotic region have a marked impact on the dispersion phenomenon. These results have applications to oxygen or drug transport processes in catheterized and stenosed arteries.

Application of CRISPR-Cas technology in food safety

Food safety has become one of the most important public health issues in the world. Safety, nutrition, and food security are all interdependent. Unsafe food contributes to a cycle of illness and starvation that disproportionately affects young children, the elderly, and the ill. Therefore, it is essential to develop tests that are quick, efficient, and reliable. The CRISPR/Cas system is a bacterial acquired immune system that attacks invading DNA, plasmids, and phages. Genome editing using CRISPR/Cas offers new opportunities for plant breeding. Compared to animal cells, plant cells have rigid cell walls, making it challenging to deliver genome editing tools into plant cells. When using plants for industrial purposes, transgene insertion into the genome should be avoided. Therefore, delivery of Cas-gRNA ribonucleoprotein (RNP) into plant cells is preferred. This review proposed a novel RNP delivery strategy in rice and introduced a technology: whisker technology (commonly used for plant DNA delivery) to deliver RNPs into rice. This review also discussed ultrasound-assisted whisker technology via RNP management, combined with marker gene delivery, to identify genome editing events in rice decay cells in the absence of any other events, albeit at a lower frequency. Therefore, utilizing whiskers to generate RNP-based genome editing lineages in plants may be an attractive strategy.

The sound absorption properties of a double-leaf micro perforated panel (DL-MPP) made from a double-layered polypropylene material.

Micro-perforated panel sound absorbers are recognized as an alternative method for noise control, offering advantages over conventional porous absorbers. However, the sound absorption of a single micro-perforated panel (MPP) is limited in its ability to cover a broad range of frequencies, especially in the low-frequency region. Therefore, the primary focus of this study is to investigate the sound absorption performance of a double-leaf micro-perforated panel (DL-MPP) absorber, which aims to achieve high sound absorption across a wide frequency range. This study examines the impact of varying parameters, including perforation ratio, diameter of perforated holes, and air gap thickness, on the sound absorption characteristics of a polypropylene-based DL-MPP absorber. Polypropylene was used as the sound absorption material for this investigation. The DL-MPP absorber consists of two perforated panels installed parallel to a rigid back wall, with an air gap between them. To assess the sound absorption performance, a prototype of the DL-MPP absorber was fabricated and tested using a two-microphone impedance tube method following ASTM E1050 standard. The results demonstrate that the optimal sound absorption performance was achieved by designing the MPPs with a 1% perforation ratio, 1 mm diameter of perforated holes, and a 1 mm sample thickness.