Two-dimensional Numerical Simulations Research Articles

Numerical study on the interaction of AGNs winds and interstellar medium

Abstract Accretion disk winds can leave from active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and interact with the interstellar medium (ISM) of their host galaxies. We perform two-dimensional numerical simulations to investigate the interaction of AGNs winds and ISM. We study the properties of outflows in the 1 − 1000pc region under different gravitational potentials and ISM gas densities, and compare these ionized outflows with the observed warm absorbers (WAs). We find that AGNs winds drag the ISM and transfer their momentum/energy to the ISM. The properties of winds depend on the gas density of the initial ISM. The higher the initial ISM density, the lower the winds speed, and the narrower the opening angle of the winds. For the case of ρ0 = 10−25gcm−3, the winds have the strongest intensity at the outer boundary. They can blow the ISM gas, giving feedback on star formation and galaxy evolution. We also find that the interaction of AGNs winds and ISM can generate WAs in certain conditions and AGNs winds play some roles in generating WAs.

Towards the understanding of convective dissolution in confined porous media: thin bead pack experiments, two-dimensional direct numerical simulations and physical models

We consider the process of convective dissolution in a homogeneous and isotropic porous medium. The flow is unstable due to the presence of a solute that induces a density difference responsible for driving the flow. The mixing dynamics is thus driven by a Rayleigh–Taylor instability at the pore scale. We investigate the flow at the scale of the pores using Hele-Shaw type experiment with bead packs, two-dimensional direct numerical simulations and physical models. Experiments and simulations have been specifically designed to mimic the same flow conditions, namely matching porosities, high Schmidt numbers and linear dependency of fluid density with solute concentration. In addition, the solid obstacles of the medium are impermeable to fluid and solute. We characterise the evolution of the flow via the mixing length, which quantifies the extension of the mixing region and grows linearly in time. The flow structure, analysed via the centreline mean wavelength, is observed to grow in agreement with theoretical predictions. Finally, we analyse the dissolution dynamics of the system, quantified through the mean scalar dissipation, and three mixing regimes are observed. Initially, the evolution is controlled by diffusion, which produces solute mixing across the initial horizontal interface. Then, when the interfacial diffusive layer is sufficiently thick, it becomes unstable, forming finger-like structures and driving the system into a convection-dominated phase. Finally, when the fingers have grown sufficiently to touch the horizontal boundaries of the domain, the mixing reduces dramatically due to the absence of fresh unmixed fluid. With the aid of simple physical models, we explain the physics of the results obtained numerically and experimentally. The solute evolution presents a self-similar behaviour, and it is controlled by different length scales in each stage of the mixing process, namely the length scale of diffusion, the pore size and the domain height.

Study on the Interaction Propagation Mechanism of Inter-Cluster Fractures under Different Fracturing Sequences

Horizontal-well multi-cluster fracturing is one of the most important techniques for increasing the recovery rate in unconventional oil and gas reservoir development. However, under the influence of complex induced stress fields, the mechanism of interaction and propagation of fractures within each segment remains unclear. In this study, based on rock fracture criteria, combined with the boundary element displacement discontinuity method, a two-dimensional numerical simulation model of hydraulic fracturing crack propagation in a planar plane was established. Using this model, the interaction and propagation process of inter-cluster fractures under different fracturing sequences within horizontal well segments and the mechanism of induced stress field effects were analyzed. The influence mechanism of cluster spacing, fracture design length, and fracture internal pressure on the propagation morphology of inter-cluster fractures was also investigated. The research results indicate that, when using the alternating fracturing method, it is advisable to appropriately increase the cluster spacing to weaken the inhibitory effect of induced stress around the fractures created by prior fracturing on subsequent fracturing. Compared to the alternating fracturing method, the propagation morphology of fractures under the symmetrical fracturing method is more complex. At smaller cluster spacing, fractures created by prior fracturing are more susceptible to being captured by fractures from subsequent fracturing. The findings of this study provide reliable theoretical support for the optimization design of fracturing sequences and fracturing processes in horizontal well segments.

Analisis Of Upgrading Low-Crested Structures As An Adaptation Measure To Climate Change For Coastal Protection: A Hybrid Approach

Coastal zones have consistently been among the most appealing settlement areas due to their proximity to the sea, rich natural resources, and the high quality of life they offer (Lamberti et al., 2005). However, these regions are affected by climate change impacts, such as sea-level rise, storm surges, and an increased intensity of extreme weather events (Burcharth et al., 2014). Traditional low-crested rubble mound breakwaters are commonly used to protect coastal areas from wave damage. However, it is expected that the variability of climate conditions will induce a loss of functionality and structural integrity in the coming decades. Coastal communities and coastal managers, within the framework of sustainable development, are demanding new approaches that include not only the preservation of the hydraulic performance of the breakwaters, but also other factors, including social and environmental impacts. These requests significantly affect the traditional way to conceive those structures to be integrated into the coastal landscape. To cope with the variation of climate drivers, existing low-crested breakwaters must be adapted to accommodate social demands and environmental issues. Therefore, upgrading and maintaining the existing rubble-mound breakwater is a hot topic in coastal engineering, and deserves special attention due to the possible intensification of external loads resulting from the impacts of climate change (Stagnitti et al., 2023). Upgrading can be done by modifying the structure profile and/or adding structure elements (Burcharth et al., 2014). In 2011, Cappietti provided curves for the functional design of submerged breakwaters to be used in place of preexisting emergent breakwaters. Burcharth et al. (2014) explained that the best way to improve the structure is to put an additional layer of protection on the front slope, as long as the foreshore has a mild slope of around 1:100. But if the foreshore becomes steeper because of erosion, then a front berm will also be needed. Stagnitti et al. (2022) introduced a novel methodology based on the calculation of the failure probability during a lifetime due to independent failure modes. Their method was employed to evaluate the performance of upgraded breakwaters in response to climate change. Estimating the wave overtopping of both existing and upgraded breakwaters is essential for designing upgrade options that can ensure the safety of port operations. Stagnitti et al. (2023) applied the numerical model IH2VOF, which was calibrated using experimental data, to study the wave overtopping of damaged and upgraded rubble-mound breakwaters. The present work examines the feasibility of converting emerged rubble-mound breakwaters into submerged breakwaters to minimize their detrimental environmental effects. To achieve this goal, an investigation was conducted to evaluate the hydraulic performance of submerged breakwaters that are created by lowering the crest of existing emerged breakwaters. Additionally, two-dimensional numerical simulations were performed using IH2VOF to investigate wave interactions with the structures.

Simulation of a two-phase loop thermosyphon using a new interface-resolved phase change model

The remarkable progress made in power electronics has been coupled with the miniaturization of systems, requiring high-performance cooling. A solution that has garnered significant interest involves the use of two-phase loops, in which heat transfer is associated with the phase change of the working-fluid. This paper aims at modeling two-phase flow with separated phases in a gravity-driven two-phase loop. The Volume-of-Fluid method is employed to capture the moving interface. Amid the variety of the phase change models available in the literature, we have chosen to employ a hybrid model: a subgrid-scale model to generate phase change at the wall in the absence of an interface, and a interface-resolved model for phase change at pre-existing liquid-vapor interfaces. These models have been implemented in the OpenFOAM computational code. The developed solver makes possible the simulation of compressible laminar two-phase flow with diabatic liquid-vapor phase change. Conjugate heat transfer between the wall and the fluid is also taken into account. Two-dimensional numerical simulations demonstrate that the developed solver is capable of reproducing flow regimes obtained from experiments, including the formation of Taylor bubbles and the propulsion of liquid from the evaporator to the condenser during geyser boiling. Furthermore, this study examines how the filling ratio affects flow regimes and performance.

The diffraction and re-initiation characteristics of gaseous detonations with an irregular cellular structure

Two-dimensional numerical simulations were performed in this study to look at the diffraction and subsequent evolution of an irregular structure detonation in a stoichiometric hydrogen-air mixture, propagating from a small-width pre-detonator (width d) into a larger-width testing channel (width D). By varying the ratio D/d from 1.1 to 5.5, three kinds of propagation modes and the corresponding dynamics of the irregular structure detonation waves are elucidated. The numerical results show that, for an irregular structure detonation wave, the D/d range from 1.0 to 1.1 corresponds to the supercritical mode, the critical mode for D/d ranging from 1.2 to 5.0, and a D/d larger than 5.0 results in the subcritical mode. Compared to the equivalent numerical study for regular structure detonations, the critical width ratios for the supercritical mode and the critical mode are found different for irregular structure detonation. Detonation waves with an irregular structure are more likely to change from the supercritical mode to the critical mode. In the critical mode, the re-initiation process of an irregular structure detonation could originate in two ways, i.e., the Mach reflection of the diffracting lead shock LS to form the main triple point TP1 or self-sustained triple points (the TP2∼TP4) from the diffracting cellular detonation front. On the other hand, the re-initiation process of a regular structure detonation could result solely from the Mach reflection of the LS to form the TP1. By defining the distance between the backward-facing step and the explosion bubble HS formed by the collision of the new triple points as the characteristic distance L (mm), it is shown that the irregular structure detonation requires a longer characteristic distance L than the regular structure detonation to generate the HS at the centerline. The findings of this study offer potential avenues for optimizing pre-detonator and combustion chamber configurations in detonation engines.

A numerical study on machine-learning-based ultrasound tomography of bubbly two-phase flows

Ultrasound tomography (UT) of bubbly two-phase flows using machine learning (ML) was investigated by performing two-dimensional ultrasound numerical simulations using a finite element method simulator. Studies on UT for two-phase flow measurements have been conducted only for some bubbles. However, in an actual bubbly flow, numerous bubbles are complexly distributed in the cross-section of the flow channel. This limitation of previous studies originates from the transmission characteristics of ultrasound waves through a medium. The transmission characteristics of ultrasound waves differ from those of other probe signals, such as radiation, electrical, and optical signals. This study evaluated the feasibility of combining UT with ML for predicting dense bubble distributions with up to 20 bubbles (cross-sectional average void fraction of approximately 0.29). We investigated the effects of the temporal length of the received waveform and the number of sensors to optimize the system on the prediction performance of the bubble distribution. The simultaneous driving of the installed sensors was simulated to reduce the measurement time for the entire cross-section and verify the method’s applicability. Thus, it was confirmed that UT using ML has sufficient prediction performance, even for a complex bubble distribution with many bubbles, and that the cross-sectional average void fraction can be predicted with high accuracy.

Flow-induced vibration of two tandem square cylinders at low Reynolds number: transitions among vortex-induced vibration, biased oscillation and galloping

The flow-induced vibrations (FIVs) of two identical tandem square cylinders with mass ratio m* = 3.5 at Reynolds number Re = 150 are investigated through two-dimensional direct numerical simulation (DNS) and linear stability analysis over a parameter range of spacing ratio 1.5 ≤ L* ≤ 5 and reduced velocity 3 ≤ Ur ≤ 34. Three kinds of FIV responses, namely vortex-induced vibration (VIV), biased oscillation (BO) and galloping (GA), are identified. The FIVs are then further classified into the branches of initial VIV (IV), resonant VIV (RV and RV′), flutter-induced VIV (FV), desynchronized VIV (DV), VIV developing from GA (GV), transitional state between VIV and GA (TR), BO and GA based on the characteristics of the vibration responses. The transitions among different FIV branches are examined by combining the DNS with linear stability analysis, where the transition boundaries among the VIV, BO and GA branches over the concerned parameters are identified on the branch maps. The transition from IV to RV or RV′ is found to be related to the unstable wake mode, while the FV, transiting from RV or RV′, is induced by the unstable structural factor in the wake-structure mode. The structural instability is considered as the physical origin of GA, whereas the mode competition between unstable wake and structure leads to DV, GV and TR, and thus delays the appearance of GA. The transition from DV to BO with biased equilibrium position, accompanied by the even-order harmonic frequencies, is essentially induced by the symmetry breaking bifurcation.

Enhancement of aerodynamic performance of Savonius wind turbine with airfoil-shaped blade for the urban application

The present study introduces a novel rotor configuration with an airfoil-shaped blade, based on the low-speed high-lift FX74-CL5-140 airfoil, for enhancing the performance of the Savonius wind turbine for a practical application in urban areas. The preferment of the present design over the original one with a semicircular shape is confirmed by the sequence of unsteady two-dimensional (2D) numerical simulation. The results demonstrate a new power coefficient peak (up to 16.5 % better than that of the original rotor) could be gained at the tip speed ratio (TSR) of 1.1. The effective working range is further extended to TSR > 0.7 compared to that at TSR > 1.0 in the literature. Insight into the flow dynamic, including pressure, velocity, streamline, and wake analysis, reveals that the thick blade near the overlap region, benefiting in terms of the turbine’s high performance. The airfoil blade increases the momentum energy around the rotor, changes the pressure on the concave side, and varies the origin of the pressure force, leading to an increase in the moment arm with more torque exhibited on the rotor at high TSR. In addition, the proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) analysis is also performed to better understand the flow phenomena behind the rotor. Overall, the present design is beneficial for urban applications because it can enhance the rotor performance without losing the omnidirectional and compactness features.

Kelvin-Helmholtz-induced mixing in multi-fluid partially ionized plasmas.

Turbulence is a fundamental process that drives mixing and energy redistribution across a wide range of astrophysical systems. For warm ([Formula: see text]) plasma, the material is partially ionized, consisting of both ionized and neutral species. The interactions between ionized and neutral species are thought to play a key role in heating (or cooling) of partially ionized plasmas. Here, mixing is studied in a two-fluid partially ionized plasma undergoing the shear-driven Kelvin-Helmholtz instability to evaluate the thermal processes within the mixing layer. Two-dimensional numerical simulations are performed using the open-source (PIP) code that solves for a two-fluid plasma consisting of a charge-neutral plasma and multiple excited states of neutral hydrogen. Both collisional and radiative ionization and recombination are included. In the mixing layer, a complex array of ionization and recombination processes occur as the cooler layer joins the hotter layer, and vice versa. In localized areas of the mixing layer, the temperature exceeds the initial temperatures of either layer with heating dominated by collisional recombinations over turbulent dissipation. The mixing layer is in approximate ionization-recombination equilibrium, however the obtained equilibrium is different to the Saha-Boltzmann local thermal equilibrium. The dynamic mixing processes may be important in determining the ionization states, and with that intensities of spectral lines, of observed mixing layers. This article is part of the theme issue 'Partially ionized plasma of the solar atmosphere: recent advances and future pathways'.

Numerical investigation of vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) of a rotating cylinder in in-line and cross-flow directions subjected to oscillatory flow

This study investigates vortex-induced vibration (VIV) generated by a rotating circular cylinder across various rotation rates (α = 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1) subjected to oscillatory flow through two-dimensional numerical simulations. Numerical simulations are performed for two Keulegan-Carpenter (KC) numbers, 5 and 10, at Reynolds number (Re) of 150. A wide range of Reduced Velocity (Vr) is considered, ranging from 1 to 20. The vibration amplitude in both inline and cross-flow directions is significantly affected by the rotation of the cylinder, as well as the KC number and Vr. Notably, the impact of rotation is more pronounced on cross-flow direction vibrations than on in-line direction vibrations. For a non-rotating cylinder (α = 0), the cross-flow direction vibration for both KC numbers nearly ceases after surpassing the critical value of reduced velocity: Vr = 6 for KC = 5 and Vr = 11 for KC = 10. In rotating cylinders (α ≠ 0), vibration amplitude becomes zero only at the critical reduced velocity, beyond which it increases and eventually stabilizes. It is also observed that rotation rates significantly influence VIV behavior, notably widening the lock-in range of Vr for rotating cylinders compared to non-rotating ones. The vortex shedding is significantly affected by the rotation and becomes asymmetric.

A Comparative Study on Shear Size Effect of Steel-And BFRP-RC Shear Walls Under Cyclic Lateral Loads

ABSTRACT This paper presents a comparative study on the size effect behaviors of shear performances of concrete shear walls reinforced by steel bars and Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer (BFRP) bars. All the works are conducted through a two-dimensional meso-scale numerical simulation model representing the concrete shear wall. The horizontal reinforcement ratio and the sectional size are the main parameters concerned by the present study. Both the seismic behaviors under cyclic loading and the size effect behaviors of the shear performances were simulated and investigated. It can be concluded from the simulation results, (1) the use of steel bars or BFRP bars as horizontal reinforcement does not change the shear failure modes of concrete shear walls, (2) the size effect on the nominal shear strength of BFRP reinforced concrete (BFRP-RC) shear wall is more significant compared to that for steel-RC shear wall, (3) the increase of horizontal reinforcement ratio improves the shear capacity of the concrete shear wall, while weakens the size effect on the nominal shear strength, and (4) the size effect law for the nominal shear strength of steel-RC shear wall is applicable to BFRP-RC shear wall. Finally, the importance of considering size effect in the evaluation of shear performance of steel-/BFRP-RC shear wall is manifested by comparing the predictive results of several popular design codes with the simulation results.

Evaluation of charging process performance of phase change material enhanced with a partially filled metal matrix: A numerical study

Phase change materials (PCMs) may be employed in thermal energy storage to bridge the gap between supply and demand for energy. The main obstacle to PCMs' broad adoption is their limited heat conductivity, leading to their rates of energy recovery and storage being sluggish. This work focuses on tackling this difficulty by adopting a honeycomb structure to improve the performance of a phase-change material using a two-dimensional numerical simulation of melting time. The thermal behavior of a two-dimensional rectangular thermal storage container with phase change material and a honeycomb structure HCS partly filled in the enclosure was the focus of the studies. The current work compares the thermal behavior during melting in a rectangular cavity filled with (Pure PCM alone, Bottom, and Top HCS configurations) that are exposed to a continuous heat source, both with and without natural convection. The solidification/melting module of the commercial CFD software ‘ANSYS Fluent’, which is based on the enthalpy-porosity model, permits modeling based on a transient calculation, making it feasible to examine the charging process of eicosane. For all three configurations, the evolution of the liquid fraction is represented. The storage unit's thermal performance is improved by the use of partially filled honeycomb structures (HCS), according to numerical findings. The optimal reduction in total melting time is attained through the implementation of a top-HCS arrangement, yielding a significant 11% enhancement when natural convection is neglected, while the inclusion of a honeycomb matrix enables only a 3% improvement for the bottom-HCS configuration. Moreover, outcomes reveal that natural convection minimizes melting time differences between the three studied configurations and expedites the process, notably benefiting the reference configuration compared to the two other scenarios. Furthermore, the outcomes demonstrate that natural convection reduces discrepancies in melting times among the three studied configurations and accelerates the charging process. The influence of natural convection is notably more significant for the reference case.

Progressive collapse analysis of the corner strut subsystem in a propped excavation with inadequate system safety performance

Frequent collapse accidents in propped excavations stem from inadequate attention to the system safety performance of the retaining structures. This paper examines a propped excavation accident case, where the corner section of the retaining system, with two levels of struts failed, contrasting with the intact section with only one level of strut. The failure causes and the performances of different excavation designs were analyzed and compared by two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) numerical simulations. The actual retaining system design incorporated two levels of struts in the corner section to protect the building outside, presenting a disparity in strut elevation between the corner sections and those with only one level of strut. Despite the 2D analysis deeming the design safe, the 3D analysis reveals a high risk of structural failure due to significant bending moments in the capping beam between different sections. The absence of axial support from the fractured capping beam resulted in the overturning of the corner strut subsystem of the retaining structures into the excavation. This study reveals the progressive collapse mechanism of the corner strut subsystem and highlights the necessity of 3D analysis for excavation design to ensure the system safety performance of the retaining structures. Ensuring the integrity of retaining structures, particularly the connecting structural components between different sections, and preventing local structural failures to enhance system safety performance are critical in complex excavation designs.

Hydraulic conductivity tensor of anisotropic soils: the impact on seepage flow

Natural or artificial changes in soil stratigraphic-plane (i.e., the deposition of soil and sediments into distinct layers) orientation can cause variations in hydraulic conductivity in different direction. Hydraulic conductivity must, therefore, be considered – in this case – as a nondiagonal, full tensor to appropriately represent the effect of the orientation of soil stratigraphic planes on the seepage flow pattern. This paper introduces the derivation of the formula for the three-dimensional nondiagonal hydraulic conductivity full tensor calculation in terms of azimuth and vertical angles. Furthermore, two-dimensional numerical simulations of the seepage flow beneath a concrete dam are presented to demonstrate the need to account for the nondiagonal elements of the hydraulic conductivity tensor in anisotropic soils of varying degrees of stratigraphic tilt with respect to the coordinate system.

Generative-Adversarial-Network-Based Image Reconstruction for the Capacitively Coupled Electrical Impedance Tomography of Stroke.

This study investigated the potential of machine-learning-based stroke image reconstruction in capacitively coupled electrical impedance tomography. The quality of brain images reconstructed using the adversarial neural network (cGAN) was examined. The big data required for supervised network training were generated using a two-dimensional numerical simulation. The phantom of an axial cross-section of the head without and with impact lesions was an average of a three-centimeter-thick layer corresponding to the height of the sensing electrodes. Stroke was modeled using regions with characteristic electrical parameters for tissues with reduced perfusion. The head phantom included skin, skull bone, white matter, gray matter, and cerebrospinal fluid. The coupling capacitance was taken into account in the 16-electrode capacitive sensor model. A dedicated ECTsim toolkit for Matlab was used to solve the forward problem and simulate measurements. A conditional generative adversarial network (cGAN) was trained using a numerically generated dataset containing samples corresponding to healthy patients and patients affected by either hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke. The validation showed that the quality of images obtained using supervised learning and cGAN was promising. It is possible to visually distinguish when the image corresponds to the patient affected by stroke, and changes caused by hemorrhagic stroke are the most visible. The continuation of work towards image reconstruction for measurements of physical phantoms is justified.

Influence of slit asymmetry on blow-off and flashback in methane/hydrogen laminar premixed burners

One way to decarbonize the heat production sector is to gradually replace natural gas with hydrogen. The design of laminar premixed burners capable of operating with both methane and hydrogen is however challenging as these fuels have drastically different burning properties, which narrows the operating range. While methane flames face limitations in stabilization due to blow-off at high power, hydrogen flames tend to be susceptible to flashback at low power. This study investigates the effects of slits symmetry breaking on the blow-off of methane flames and flashback of hydrogen flames through two-dimensional direct numerical simulations of canonical asymmetrical slit configurations, revealing uneven interactions between the main openings and smaller auxiliary slits. The equations governing the reactive flow dynamics are coupled to a heat transfer solver in the solid phase to elucidate the thermal and hydrodynamic mechanisms determining the operability limits. Viscous dissipation in the small auxiliary slits together with a substantial preheating of the fresh gases by heat redistribution through the solid phase is found to govern flame stabilization in asymmetrical geometries, improving blow-off resistance of methane-air flames. Then, flashback of hydrogen-air flame is found to be driven by the competition between (i) the mass flow rate distribution between the main and auxiliary slits, (ii) preheating of the gas through the auxiliary slits and (iii) the ability of the main and auxiliary slits to quench the flame. The interplay of these phenomena gives rise to complex behaviors, wherein asymmetrical configurations could exhibit significantly enhanced resistance to flashback compared to symmetrical geometries. This conclusion, verified for different burner thicknesses and slit spacing, may be used to guide the design of fuel-flexible laminar burners.Novelty and significance statement1. Analyzing the effect of slits symmetry breaking on blow-off of methane flames and flashback of hydrogen flames for multi-perforated laminar burners.2. Defining a strategy for wall heat flux redistribution to assess the asymmetrical interaction between the main and auxiliary flames through the flame-holder.3. Demonstrating and explaining the positive impact of symmetry breaking on the blow-off resistance of methane flames.4. Highlighting the substantial and non-monotonous impact of symmetry breaking on hydrogen flame flashback.5. Identifying the interplay of thermal and hydrodynamic mechanisms in asymmetrical slits leading to improvement of flashback resistance for hydrogen-air flames compared to symmetrical configurations.

Fundamental Experiment and Numerical Simulation of Ne/Xe Plasma Magnetohydrodynamic Electrical Power Generation

We conducted experiments in a shock-tube facility to test magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) electrical power generation with Xe-seeded Ne plasma. The performance and plasma behavior of the experimental generator were examined using time-dependent r-θ two-dimensional numerical simulations. In the experiment, an enthalpy extraction ratio of about 5.0% was obtained using a disk-shaped MHD generator with radio frequency pre-ionization. The numerical simulations show that the enthalpy extraction ratio is improved by adding small amounts of Xe to Ne, but also that adding excessive amounts of Xe deteriorates the generator performance. When an appropriate inlet electron temperature is assumed in the simulations, 5900–6450 K (inlet ionization degree of 0.25×10−4–0.72×10−4) for a seed fraction (mole % of Xe) of 0.1%, 6050–6280 K (1.08×10−4–1.70×10−4) for a seed fraction of 1.0%, and 5750–5950 K (1.27×10−4–1.97×10−4) for a seed fraction of 5.0%, the plasma structure almost becomes similar to the nonuniform plasma structure observed in the experiment, as too does the enthalpy extraction ratio. The simulations suggest that achieving an inlet ionization degree above 5–6×10−4 when using Ne/Xe with a seed fraction of 0.1–1.0% as the working gas should enable an enthalpy extraction ratio above 20%, which is expected to surpass that for pure Ar.

Viscoplastic elliptical objects impacting a solid surface

This theoretical and numerical study focuses on the physical mechanism driving the spreading of viscoplastic elliptical millimetric/centimetric objects after they impact a solid surface under no-slip conditions. The two-dimensional impacting objects are described as Bingham fluids. The two-dimensional numerical simulations are based on a variational multi-scale approach devoted to multiphase non-Newtonian fluid flows. The obtained results are analyzed considering the spreading dynamics, energy budgets and scaling laws. They show that, under negligible capillary effects, the impacting kinetic energy of the elliptical objects is dissipated through viscoplastic effects during the spreading process, giving rise to three flow regimes: inertio-viscous, inertio-plastic, and mixed inertio-visco-plastic. These regimes are strongly affected by the initial aspect ratio of the impacting objects, which reveals the possibility of using morphology to control spreading. Finally, the results are summarized in a diagram linking the object's maximum spreading and spreading time with different spreading regimes through a single dimensionless parameter called impact number.

A numerical study of natural convection through a vertical heated channel with a confined circular cylinder

This study examines thermal flow structures and heat transfer through a vertical heated channel with an adiabatic circular cylinder symmetrically positioned between lateral walls. A two-dimensional numerical simulation is conducted covering a range of parameters including Rayleigh numbers Ra = 8.9 × 106–8.9 × 108, cylinder positions relative to the channel height h = 0–0.50, and blockage ratios (the ratio of cylinder diameter to channel width) β = 0.25–0.75. Three distinct flow regimes are observed at different Rayleigh numbers and blockage ratios, including steady symmetric, unsteady periodic, and unsteady asymmetric flow regimes. The steady symmetric and unsteady periodic flows are observed at all blockage ratios, while the unsteady asymmetric flow is only observed at the highest blockage ratio of β = 0.75 for Rayleigh numbers above 8.9 × 107. It is found that the presence of the cylinder significantly enhances mixing and turbulence in the channel, which in turn enhances heat transfer through the channel. A 64.3% enhancement of heat transfer is achieved at β = 0.50 and h = 0.05 for Ra = 8.9 × 108.