Transient External Force Research Articles

Numerical study on flow instability in parallel helical tubes under ocean conditions

The superimposed coupling of flow oscillations generated by transient external forces under ocean conditions and flow oscillations in parallel helical tubes during two-phase flow instability may lead to more complex flow oscillation phenomena in parallel helical tubes. However, there is still a lack of understanding regarding the effect of ocean conditions on the two-phase flow instability within parallel helical tubes. The two-phase flow instability in parallel helical tubes under ocean conditions is numerically investigated in the present study. The effects of ocean conditions on the flow behavior and instability threshold in parallel helical tubes are studied with mass flux 200 kg/m2s and inlet subcooling within 5–70 °C. The results show that the mass flow rate decreases as the inclination angle increases. A larger rolling amplitude or shorter period increases the flow and temperature oscillation amplitude. Two characteristic frequencies are found in the natural circulation flow instability under the rolling motion. As the rolling amplitude increases, the compound flow oscillation amplitude is larger and more chaotic with a certain phase shift. The effect of stationary inclining on the flow instability threshold is rather significant than rolling effect. The results of the present study can serve as a significant reference for the operation and design of the helical-coiled once-through steam generator under ocean conditions.

Transient external force induces phenotypic reversion of malignant epithelial structures via nitric oxide signaling.

Non-malignant breast epithelial cells cultured in three-dimensional laminin-rich extracellular matrix (lrECM) form well organized, growth-arrested acini, whereas malignant cells form continuously growing disorganized structures. While the mechanical properties of the microenvironment have been shown to contribute to formation of tissue-specific architecture, how transient external force influences this behavior remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that brief transient compression applied to single malignant breast cells in lrECM stimulated them to form acinar-like structures, a phenomenon we term 'mechanical reversion.' This is analogous to previously described phenotypic 'reversion' using biochemical inhibitors of oncogenic pathways. Compression stimulated nitric oxide production by malignant cells. Inhibition of nitric oxide production blocked mechanical reversion. Compression also restored coherent rotation in malignant cells, a behavior that is essential for acinus formation. We propose that external forces applied to single malignant cells restore cell-lrECM engagement and signaling lost in malignancy, allowing them to reestablish normal-like tissue architecture.

Triggered dynamics in a model of different fault creep regimes.

The study is focused on the effect of transient external force induced by a passing seismic wave on fault motion in different creep regimes. Displacement along the fault is represented by the movement of a spring-block model, whereby the uniform and oscillatory motion correspond to the fault dynamics in post-seismic and inter-seismic creep regime, respectively. The effect of the external force is introduced as a change of block acceleration in the form of a sine wave scaled by an exponential pulse. Model dynamics is examined for variable parameters of the induced acceleration changes in reference to periodic oscillations of the unperturbed system above the supercritical Hopf bifurcation curve. The analysis indicates the occurrence of weak irregular oscillations if external force acts in the post-seismic creep regime. When fault motion is exposed to external force in the inter-seismic creep regime, one finds the transition to quasiperiodic- or chaos-like motion, which we attribute to the precursory creep regime and seismic motion, respectively. If the triggered acceleration changes are of longer duration, a reverse transition from inter-seismic to post-seismic creep regime is detected on a larger time scale.

Reversibility of red blood cell deformation

The ability of cells to undergo reversible shape changes is often crucial to their survival. For red blood cells (RBCs), irreversible alteration of the cell shape and flexibility often causes anemia. Here we show theoretically that RBCs may react irreversibly to mechanical perturbations because of tensile stress in their cytoskeleton. The transient polymerization of protein fibers inside the cell seen in sickle cell anemia or a transient external force can trigger the formation of a cytoskeleton-free membrane protrusion of μm dimensions. The complex relaxation kinetics of the cell shape is shown to be responsible for selecting the final state once the perturbation is removed, thereby controlling the reversibility of the deformation. In some case, tubular protrusion are expected to relax via a peculiar "pearling instability."

Cortical mechanisms underlying stretch reflex adaptation to intention: A combined EEG–TMS study

During voluntary motor acts, potential perturbations due to transient external forces are counteracted very quickly by short- and long-latency stretch reflexes (SLSR and LLSR, respectively). The LLSR, presumably linked to a transcortical loop, can be modulated by the subjects' intention. Here, we used combined TMS–EEG to study cortical mechanisms involved in this intention-related modulation both before and during the reaction to a mechanical perturbation. Subjects had to prepare for a brisk wrist extension under the instruction either to ‘resist’ the perturbation or to ‘let-go’. Following the perturbation, the early cortical evoked activity (45–75ms) was greater in the ‘let-go’ condition; moreover, its amplitude was negatively correlated with the LLSR amplitude, regardless of condition. After 100ms the pattern reversed, the late evoked activity (presumably linked to the voluntary reaction) was greater in the ‘resist’ condition. The early and late evoked activities also differed in their topography. Therefore, the cortical mechanisms involved in the intention-related LLSR modulation differ from those involved in the voluntary reaction. In addition, in response to a single-pulse TMS delivered during the expectation of the mechanical perturbation, the TMS-evoked N100 amplitude decreased when subjects intended to ‘let-go’, suggesting anticipatory decreased activity of intracortical inhibitory sensorimotor networks. Taken together, these results support the idea that anticipatory processes preset the sensorimotor cortex so as to adapt its early reaction to the perturbation relative to the subjects' intention.

Adhesion and anti-adhesion of viscous fluids on solid surfaces—A study of ink transfer mechanism in waterless offset printing

The transfer of a liquid under dynamic conditions onto a solid surface relies on wetting/adhesion under transient external forces. We found the phenomena associated with forced wetting and dewetting could not be explained by thermodynamic approaches which are based on surface energy and work of adhesion. This is because these approaches do not take account of the dynamic nature of the forced wetting and dewetting. This study uses ink transfer in waterless offset printing as an example to present a new understanding of adhesion and anti-adhesion of a liquid to a solid surface under dynamic conditions. We focus on the adhesion strength, instead of work of adhesion, at the ink–plate interface and experimentally quantified ink adhesion forces on the image and non-image areas of the printing plate. Based on adhesion force measurements we proposed that the formation of a weak boundary layer and/or the softening the non-image area due to solvent swelling are likely to be the mechanisms that causes ink refusal on the non-image area. AFM images are presented to show changes of the non-image surface before and after contacting with ink.

Simulation of dynamic train–track interaction with state-dependent track properties

A previously published numerical method for simulation of vertical dynamic interaction between a train and a railway track is expanded to account for state-dependent track properties. Track properties are separated into linear contributions corresponding to an unloaded track, and non-linear contributions that are dependent on the time-variant state of the different track components due to the dynamic loading from a moving train model. A complex modal superposition is adopted to decouple the equations of motion of the linear track model with a non-proportional spatial distribution of viscous damping. The state-dependent properties are accounted for by applying equivalent transient external forces to the corresponding nodes of the linear finite element model of the track. Simulations are carried out in the time domain with a moving mass model. The need for a state-dependent track model is discussed with respect to reported field and laboratory measurements. The numerical method and the state-dependent track model are validated versus field measurements of wheel–rail contact force and rail bending moment as caused by a 100 mm long and 0.9 mm deep wheel flat.

Exact solutions of the forced Burgers equation

Two new methods for obtaining exact solutions of the initial-value problem on an unbounded straight line (the Cauchy problem) for the inhomogeneous Burgers equation are considered. They are applied to the cases of a stationary and a transient external force. A self-similar solution and a solution which describes the localization (blocking) of solitary traveling waves are obtained as examples.

Dynamic analysis of large 3‐D underground structures by the bem

AbstractAn up to date literature survey on the dynamics of underground structures is presented briefly. The dynamic response of large three‐dimensional underground structures to external or internal dynamic forces or to seismic waves is numerically determined by the frequency domain boundary element method. This method is used to model both the structure and the soil medium, which are assumed to behave as linear elastic or viscoelastic bodies. The full‐space dynamic fundamental solution is employed in the formulation and this requires a free soil surface discretization, confined to a finite portion around the area of interest, in addition to soil—structure interface and free structural surface discretizations. The dynamic disturbances can have a harmonic or a transient time variation. The transient case is treated with the aid of numerical Laplace transforms with respect to time. Various numerical examples involving lined cavities and long lined tunnels buried in the full‐ or the half‐space subjected to harmonic or transient external forces or seismic waves are presented to illustrate the method and demonstrate its advantages.

Pancharatnam phase for displaced number states

The Pancharatnam phase for displaced number states of the harmonic oscillator is discussed. In particular, it is examined how a single quantum oscillator, driven by a suitable transient external force, evolves form the initial eigenstate um(x) to the final, displaced number state modified with a suitable phase factor. The significance of this, usually neglected, phase factor for the solution of the relevant time-dependent Schrodinger equation and for the geometric phase accumulated in the wavefunction during the time evolution of the system is examined. The general expression for the geometric phase for a noncyclic evolution from an initial displaced number state at time t1 to the final state at time t2 is derived and two applications, that of delta and harmonic forcing, are worked out. The special case of cyclic evolution is subsequently discussed and, in particular, the conditions leading to such an evolution are derived. The relationship to the classical notion of cyclic evolution is also examined in some detail and it is demonstrated that the general expression for the Pancharatnam phase reduces to the corresponding Berry phase.

Time Domain Analysis of Ship Responses in Waves

In the numerical simulations of ship maneuvering, a set of ordinary differential equations with constant coefficients is traditionally used. However, when the transient external forces due to rudder motions and waves are concerned, this type of equations of motions is not precise in a strict sense. But the research on the relationship between two types equations is sparse. Therefore, in this paper, the study has been made to clear the relations between them.For this purpose, based on the Strip Theory which is practicaly used to evaluate the seakeeping quality of a ship, the equation of motion described in the time domain with a convolution integral is derived. And by the analytical and numerical considerations, the comparisons of two types equations of motions have been made.

Dynamic response of flexible strip-foundations by boundary and finite elements

A time domain Boundary Element-Finite method is employed to determine the dynamic response of flexible surface two-dimensional foundations under conditions of plane strain placed on an elastic soil medium and subjected either to transient external forces or to obliquely incident seismic waves. The elastic, isotropic, and homogeneous soil medium is treated by the time domain Direct Boundary Element Method, while the flexible foundation is treated by the Finite Element Method. The two methods are appropriately combined through equilibrium and compatibility considerations at the soil-foundation interface. Parametric studies examining the effect of the relative stiffness between the foundation and the soil and the spatial distribution of the dynamic disturbances on the foundation response are presented.