V-shaped Plate Research Articles

NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF V-SHAPED PROTECTIVE PLATES AT VARIOUS ANGLES SUBJECTED TO BLAST LOADING – A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

The mechanical response of blast-resistant vehicles, such as Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs), Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicles (MICVs), Armored Personal Vehicles (APVs), and Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected (MRAP) vehicles, is crucial for their effective design. When designing armored vehicles, it is important to achieve a balance between rigid designs that transmit blast forces to the troop's cabins and softer designs that prevent excessive structure deformation hazardous to the troops. This study investigates the performance of V-shaped plates at different angles under blast loading. The focus is on modeling blast effects using the Conventional Weapon (ConWep) method and the Johnson-Cook material model. The material used for V-shaped protective plates STRENX700 (S690QL) armor steel is commonly used for blast protection in Anti-Landmine (ALM) Vehicles. The blast-wave induces large deformation, erosion, high strain rates, non-linear material behavior and fragmentation. The numerical simulation results are presented in the form of vertical displacement of the central node on the protective plate, von Mises equivalent stress, and equivalent plastic strain.

Three-Dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling Using the RANS Approach of Indirect-Type Solar Dryers Based on Smooth and Corrugated Absorber Plates

Abstract Solar dryers are traditional devices used for drying various products. Different indirect solar dryer (ISD) geometries were theoretically examined using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). This paper presents a numerical investigation of two indirect solar dryers using CFD simulation, comparing the velocity and thermal performance of dryers with smooth and corrugated absorber plates. The temperature values obtained by numerical simulations were compared to the experimental measurements and found a maximum variation difference of 1.26%. The maximum velocity in the solar air collector (SAC) and the value of average temperature at the SAC outlet were found to be 0.58 m/s and 336 K for the smooth absorber ISD, and 0.77 m/s and 350 K for the corrugated absorber ISD. It was observed that the corrugated absorber plate exhibited superior thermal performance and a higher maximum velocity compared to the smooth absorber plate. Within the cabinet, a uniform temperature profile was observed, particularly for the corrugated case. V-shaped absorber plates offer higher heat transfer rates, increased turbulence, and greater surface area for heat transfer, making them more efficient for drying processes compared to smooth absorber plates. Therefore, corrugated absorber plates in solar air collectors are a more efficient option than using smooth absorber plates.

V-Shaped Toothed Roller Cotton Stalk Puller: Numerical Modeling and Field-Test Validation

The V-shaped toothed roller cotton stalk puller has a low removal ratio and weak pulling effect. Hence, we constructed a simplified mathematical model of the V-shaped tooth roller stalk puller based on elastic collision theory and simple beam theory and conducted a mechanical analysis based on this model to explore the causes of pulling errors and fractures. Specifically, the V-shaped tooth plates of the machine were optimized in an orthogonal experiment with the rotational speed, cogging angle, and ground clearance as the influencing factors, and the removal ratio as the evaluation index. This experiment was designed to enable analysis of the physical characteristics of cotton stalks, and the forces applied during the pulling process. Additionally, a V-shaped toothed roller-type stalk-pulling test bench was constructed. The results revealed that, unlike the cogging angle, the ground clearance significantly affected the removal ratio. Furthermore, the highest removal ratio (i.e., 97%) was achieved when the ground clearance was −20 mm, the rotational speed was 300 rpm, and the cogging angle was 32.5°. An L9 (34) orthogonal field experiment was also conducted with the rotational speed, cogging angle, and ground clearance as the influencing factors to investigate their respective influences on the stalk removal ratio. The results revealed that the ground clearance most significantly influenced the ratio, followed by the rotational speed, and cogging angle. The ground clearance and rotational speed of the V-shaped toothed roller were each found to significantly influence the ratio. Furthermore, a ground clearance of −20 mm, rotational speed of 300 r/min, and cogging angle of 25° yielded an average removal ratio of 98.27%. Through this research, the mechanism of toothed roller stalk pulling is further deepened and the toothed series stalk pulling technology provides theoretical support.

Alternative Culture Systems for Bovine Oocyte In Vitro Maturation: Liquid Marbles and Differentially Shaped 96-Well Plates.

In vivo-matured oocytes exhibit higher developmental competence than those matured in vitro but mimicking the in vivo environment by in vitro conditions has been challenging. Until now, conventional two-dimensional (2D) systems have been used for in vitro maturation of bovine cumulus-oocytes-complexes (COCs). However, using such systems present certain limitations. Therefore, alternative low-cost methodologies may help to optimize oocyte in vitro maturation. Here, we used two different systems to culture COCs and evaluate their potential influence on embryo development and quality. In the first system, we used treated fumed silica particles to create a 3D microenvironment (liquid marbles; LM) to mature COCs. In the second system, we cultured COCs in 96-well plates with different dimensions (flat, ultra-low attachment round-bottom, and v-shaped 96-well plates). In both systems, the nuclear maturation rate remained similar to the control in 2D, showing that most oocytes reached metaphase II. However, the subsequent blastocyst rate remained lower in the liquid marble system compared with the 96-well plates and control 2D systems. Interestingly, a lower total cell number was found in the resulting embryos from both systems (LM and 96-well plates) compared with the control. In conclusion, oocytes matured in liquid marbles or 96-well plates showed no remarkable change in terms of meiotic resumption. None of the surface geometries influenced embryo development while oocyte maturation in liquid marbles led to reduced embryo development. These findings show that different geometry during maturation did not have a large impact on oocyte and embryo development. Lower embryo production after in vitro maturation in liquid marbles was probably detected because in vitro maturation was performed in serum-free medium, which makes oocytes more sensitive to possible toxic effects from the environment.

Diffraction-Limited Focusing of Acoustic Waves by a Mesoscopic Flat Janus Lens

Anisotropic focusing by a mesoscopic (Mie size parameter of about 18) acoustic cubic lens based on V-shaped plate structures has been simulated numerically and confirmed experimentally. It has been shown for the first time that this lens with an edge dimension of about three wavelengths ensures the focusing of an acoustic wave in air into a diffraction-limited region. In the inverse geometry of the structure, the lens completely reflects the incident acoustic wave.

A NOVEL SPHEROIDAL PROGENITOR CELL DIFFERENTIATION AND BONE-LIKE IN VITRO BIOMINERALIZATION MODEL

Many age-related diseases affect our skeletal system, but bone health-targeting drug development strategies still largely rely on 2D in vitro screenings. We aimed at developing a scaffold-free progenitor cell-based 3D biomineralization model for more physiological high-throughput screenings.MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast spheroids were cultured in V-shaped plates for 28 days in alpha-MEM (10% FCS, 1% L-Gln, 1X NEAA) with 1% pen/strep, changed every two days, and differentiation was induced by 10mM b-glycerophosphate and 50µg/ml ascorbic-acid. Osteogenic cell differentiation was assessed through profiling mRNA expression of selected osteogenic markers by efficiency corrected normalized 2^DDCq RT-qPCR. Biomineralization in spheroids was evaluated by histochemistry (Alizarin Red/von Kossa staining), Alkaline phosphatase (Alp) activity, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses, micro-CT analyses, and scanning electron microscopy on critical point-dried samples. GraphPad Prism 9 analyses comprised Shapiro-Wilk and Brown-Forsythe tests as well as 2-way ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc and non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis with Dunn post-hoc tests.During mineralization, as opposed to non-mineralizing conditions, characteristic mRNA expression profiles of selected early and late osteoblast differentiation markers (e.g., RunX, Alp, Col1a1, Bglap) were observed between day 0 and 28 of culture; Alp was strongly upregulated (p<0.001) from day 7 on, followed by its enzymatic activity (p<0.001). Bglap and Col1a1 expression peaked on (p<0.001) and from day 14 on (p<0.05), respectively. IHC revealed osteocalcin staining in the spheroid core regions at day 14, while type I collagen staining of the cores was most prominent from day 21 on. Alizarin Red and Von Kossa confirmed central and radially outwards expanding mineralization patterns between day 14 and day 28, which was accompanied by a steady increase in extracellular calcium deposition over time (p<0.001). Micro-CT analyses allowed quantitative appreciation of the overall increase in mineral density over time (day21, p<0.05; d28, p<0.001), while SEM-EDX and FTIR ultimately confirmed a bone-like hydroxyapatite mineral deposition in 3D.A novel and thoroughly characterized versatile bone-like 3D biomineralization in vitro model was established, which allows for studying effects of pharmacological interventions on bone mineralization ex vivo under physiomimetic conditions. Ongoing studies currently aim at elucidating in how far it specifically recapitulates intramembranous ossification.

Semi-empirical formulas on notch stress field and SIF of orthotropic V-shaped thin plate with initial crack under tensile-bending loads

For orthotropic materials, the solution of notch stress field and stress intensity factor (SIF) is not only related to crack opening angle, crack depth, notch length, geometric parameters, but also obviously influenced by material characteristics and constitutive relation. On the basis of isotropic notch stress field and SIF theoretical formula, a series of multi-parameter models of orthotropic materials were constructed and fitted. The effects of notch depth, crack length, the ratio of notch depth to plate width, opening angle and mechanical properties of composite materials on geometric correction coefficient YI are systematically analyzed. On this basis, a semi-empirical formula of YI is put forward by combining stress field analysis and multi-parameter fitting. The semi-empirical formula is further verified with finite element method, traditional formula and various composite materials. The numerical results show that the simple formula proposed in this paper has higher prediction accuracy. Finally, the proposed formula is extended to the solution of notch stress field and geometric correction coefficient for V-notch-cracked plate under bending load, tension-bending complex loads.

Control of the surface profile of powder using the flexural vibration of a V-shaped plate

In the pharmaceutical field, a technique to level the surface of powdered medicines is important in the dispensing process because the flatness of the powder surface affects the packaging accuracy directly. This paper investigates a method for leveling of the surface profile of powder using ultrasound vibration on a plate. The system used comprises a V-shaped plate and two ultrasound transducers, and the plate configuration required was determined from the results of simulations performed by finite element analysis. The resonant longitudinal vibration of the transducers generated the resonant flexural vibration mode of the plate at 27.4 kHz, which resulted in transportation and leveling of the powder. The powder was aggregated at the nodal positions of the flexural standing wave, and a correlation was observed between the sound pressure distribution over the plate and the surface profile of the powder. The powder leveling accuracy was investigated by varying the driving phase difference between the transducers, and it was found that a smaller standing wave ratio for the flexural vibration produced higher leveling accuracy. When the input voltage to the transducers was increased, the leveling time decreased and the leveling accuracy improved; the highest leveling accuracy obtained was 2.2 mm at 130 Vpp.

Physiological Mineralization during In Vitro Osteogenesis in a Biomimetic Spheroid Culture Model.

Bone health-targeting drug development strategies still largely rely on inferior 2D in vitro screenings. We aimed at developing a scaffold-free progenitor cell-based 3D biomineralization model for more physiological high-throughput screenings. MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts were cultured in α-MEM with 10% FCS, at 37 °C and 5% CO2 for up to 28 days, in non-adherent V-shaped plates to form uniformly sized 3D spheroids. Osteogenic differentiation was induced by 10 mM β-glycerophosphate and 50 µg/mL ascorbic acid. Mineralization stages were assessed through studying expression of marker genes, alkaline phosphatase activity, and calcium deposition by histochemistry. Mineralization quality was evaluated by Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analyses and quantified by micro-CT analyses. Expression profiles of selected early- and late-stage osteoblast differentiation markers indicated a well-developed 3D biomineralization process with strongly upregulated Col1a1, Bglap and Alpl mRNA levels and type I collagen- and osteocalcin-positive immunohistochemistry (IHC). A dynamic biomineralization process with increasing mineral densities was observed during the second half of the culture period. SEM–Energy-Dispersive X-ray analyses (EDX) and FTIR ultimately confirmed a native bone-like hydroxyapatite mineral deposition ex vivo. We thus established a robust and versatile biomimetic, and high-throughput compatible, cost-efficient spheroid culture model with a native bone-like mineralization for improved pharmacological ex vivo screenings.

Development of Durability Test Device for Magnetorheological Fluids with Two Types of Rotors and Their Long-Term Torque Characteristics

Magnetorheological fluids (MRFs) are composites of micron-sized and/or nano-sized Fe particles and nonmagnetic oils, and their rheological properties change with changes in the magnetic field. To distinguish between material and mechanical deterioration, we developed a durability test system without the influence of mechanical sealing and bearing on the MRFs. We used a set of rotors and stators to create a V-shaped MRF layer. However, the test device produces a constant magnetic field with a permanent magnet instead of an electromagnetic coil to make a compact design and cannot be tested under various dynamic magnetic inputs. Therefore, we developed a durability test system with an electric magnet to create a variable magnetic input and two sets of rotors, and compared their magnetic properties and the results of the durability tests. From the findings, the measured torque for the parallel plate case was lower than the predicted value. In contrast, the V-shaped disk exhibits a higher torque than the estimated values. Durability tests for the two types of MRFs were conducted. The torque variation for the nano MRF is significantly smaller for both the parallel and V-shaped plates. In addition, the duration of both MRFs for the V-shaped plate was much shorter than that for the parallel plate.

Dynamic Response of Structurally Reinforced Wing Leading Edge against Soft Impact

In this current research, a commercial aircraft metallic leading edge structurally reinforced with a Y-shaped and V-shaped plate system is numerically examined to investigate the effectiveness of such reinforcements against soft impacts, more commonly known as bird strikes in the aviation industry. A non-linear finite element code Ansys Explicit is adopted to run the virtual test cases. The computational bird model is presented with the Lagrange algorithm and Mooney–Rivlin hyperelastic material parameters which are validated against the experimental data found in the literature. A second validation of the leading edge deformation pattern is also carried out to ensure the accuracy of the present work. Numerical outcomes suggest that due to the presence of the reinforcement, the leading edge skin is restrained from being drastically deformed and the bird model tears apart into two pieces requiring the leading edge model to absorb much less kinetic energy. Additionally, it is found that both the reinforcements have similar crashworthiness performance against bird impacts. The novelty of the research lies in founding the structural reinforcement as a primary preference to strengthen the vulnerable wing leading edge during bird impacts.

144 A comparative study using flat, round, and V-shaped 96-well plates during bovine oocyte in vitro maturation.

Reproduction, Fertility and Development is an international journal publishing original research , review and comment in the fields of reproduction and developmental biology in humans, domestic animals and wildlife

Establishment of Patient-Derived Organoid Culture Platform of Mantle Cell Lymphoma

BackgroundMantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) is a rare incurable non-Hodgkin's lymphoma despite remarkable recent therapeutic innovations such as CAR T cell therapies. Drug sensitivity and immunotherapy efficacy assays using preclinical tumor models are important in new therapy development. As for preclinical tumor models, in addition to the commonly used mouse model such as patient-derived xenograft (PDX) and genetically engineered mouse models, a 3 rd tumor model, the patient-derived organoid (PDO) in 3D culture model has been established in many types of solid tumors. However, no PDO models have been generated from MCL yet. We have established MCL PDO model by optimizing cell isolation, culture add-ons, spatial and temporal conditions. Our protocol presents a versatile MCL PDO platform, suitable for quick drug screens and applicable for rapid immunotherapy evaluation. For proof of concept demonstration, we tested the therapeutic efficacy of CD19-targeted CAR T-cell in MCL-specific PDOs. The established PDO procedures can be used for diverse biopsies including whole blood, apheresis, bone marrow, lymph node and previously established PDX tumors.MethodsFor human blood, bone marrow and apheresis biospecimens, we first eliminated red blood cells using RBC lysis buffer. The cells were then spun down and cell pellets were resuspended in culture medium and aliquoted and spun-down into V-shaped 96-well plates at 1-6´10 6 cells per well. After overnight incubation, the cell culture medium was replaced by 60 ml of precooled 60% Matrigel per well. The 3D formed aggregates were gently transferred into 24-well plate and feed the solidified domes with the medium containing an in-house cytokine cocktail. The developed organoids reach the drug screening optimal phase within 3-6 days or it can be further expanded for future use. For PDX tumor and human lymph node biospecimens, we first sliced tumor tissue using surgical scalpel blade, which resulted in small tissue pieces that were then resuspended in HBSS. Debris (>100 mm) were removed by brief gravity sedimentation. The resultant tissue pieces were then resuspended in 60% Matrigel in culture medium and dispensed onto pre-warmed 24-well plates. The primary tumor organoids were observed for 3-5 days before drug testing on processed for further expansion. For organoid passaging, primary organoids were extracted in pre-cooled medium by mechanically breaking the gel domes. The extracted organoids were digested by collagenase/dispase. The resultant MCL and stromal cells were enforced to aggregate in V-shape wells as described in the apheresis procedure. Organoid cell composition was examined using FACS. Drug sensitivity and T-cell activity against the MCL organoids were assessed using CellTiter-Glo 3D kit.ResultsWe have successfully established and optimized the PDO procedure from diverse MCL biopsies (Fig. 1A). The success rate of MCL organoid from apheresis was > 80% with even higher success rates when using PDX tumors, lymph node and bone marrow samples (> 90%). One critical step for processing the biopsies is preserving the original stromal cells. FACS analysis showed that although <5% of total cell population is composed of macrophages, circulating fibroblast, epithelial and endothelial cells and they are indispensable for organoid formation and expansion. Addition of hematopoietic cytokines in culture medium significantly improved the organoid formation and expansion from diverse biopsies. FACS with lineage markers revealed that the cell populations of the primary and secondary organoids were not significantly different (Fig. 1B). Tumor-killing activity of the CD19-targeting CAR T cells was assessed by co-culturing the CAR T cells with MCL organoids.ConclusionWe have established an MCL PDO platform which is time-efficient, labor-saving, cost-effective and highly reproducible. This platform provides a rapid approach for immune cell activity assays and drug screening. The organoids have been successfully used to generate PDX models. This platform can also be used for investigating the mechanism of drug resistance in the context of different TMEs. [Display omitted] DisclosuresWang: Acerta Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; BioInvent: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Lilly: Research Funding; CStone: Consultancy; Oncternal: Consultancy, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy; OMI: Honoraria; Newbridge Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; Hebei Cancer Prevention Federation: Honoraria; Moffit Cancer Center: Honoraria; Molecular Templates: Research Funding; Physicians Education Resources (PER): Honoraria; Mumbai Hematology Group: Honoraria; InnoCare: Consultancy, Research Funding; Anticancer Association: Honoraria; VelosBio: Consultancy, Research Funding; Loxo Oncology: Consultancy, Research Funding; DTRM Biopharma (Cayman) Limited: Consultancy; Juno: Consultancy, Research Funding; Epizyme: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bayer Healthcare: Consultancy; CAHON: Honoraria; BeiGene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Imedex: Honoraria; Kite Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Scripps: Honoraria; Dava Oncology: Honoraria; The First Afflicted Hospital of Zhejiang University: Honoraria; Clinical Care Options: Honoraria; Chinese Medical Association: Honoraria; BGICS: Honoraria; Miltenyi Biomedicine GmbH: Consultancy, Honoraria.

Treatment of patients with complicated fractures of the distal humerus using the fixators of limited-contact multiplanar osteosynthesis

Treatment of distal humerus fractures is a complex problem in traumatology. The result of treatment depends on the choice of fixator according to the fracture area. Objective. To improve the techno­logy of treatment in patients with complicated distal humerus fractures with fixators of small contact and multiplanar osteosynthesis and to evaluate its efficacy. Methods. 39 patients were treated for the period 2000–2020 with distal humerus nonunion (types 12-B1, 12-C1, 12-C2) and 23 patients with complicated above- and transcondylar humerus fractures (types 13-A2, 13-C1, 13-C2). Fixation of bone fragments of the distal humerus was made with device for fixation (Patent 17502 UA). It is a shaped plate with a groove on which half rings with threaded holes are stabilized. For the osteosynthesis of above- and transcondylar humerus fractures we used V-shaped plate with the possibility to regulate branch spreading width as for the condylar size (Patent 33358 UA). Autografting was performed as for necessity. Results. Plate osteosynthesis was performed mainly through anterior approach with minimal tissues traumatization. Release of radial nerve we made as for necessity. This device provides the stable fixation even in a case of short distal fragment. Device for bone fragments fixation was placed on the posterior condylar surface and lower part of the humerus through olecranon osteotomy. Osteosynthesis with suggested device is one of the options with bone autografting and can be method of choice at repeated surgery. Follow-up period was 1–2 years and later. In 60 patients we obtained good results with completed bone union. Conclusions. Suggested device can be used in cases of distal humerus nonunion. It allows to decrease the damage of surgery, to avoid many complications. Key words. Complicated fractures of the distal humerus, devices for limited-contact multiplanar osteosynthesis.

Parametric Study on Optimum Angle of V-Shaped Plate to Mitigate Blast Load Utilizing LS-DYNA

This paper presents the parametric studies to obtain the optimum V-shaped angle plate due to blast load by using numerical simulations i.e., LS-DYNA. Constant magnitudes of mass of TNT and standoff distance were used while the angle of the V-shaped plate was varied in 5 °’ interval from 60 ° down to 10 °. This study found that the optimum V-shaped angle plate that could mitigate the maximum amount of blast load while experiencing minimal deformation at the vertex of the V-shaped plate was 25 °. Detailed parametric steps were presented in this study in order to arrive at the optimum angle of V-shaped plate to mitigate the blast load.

Application of Anatomically Designed 2-Dimensional V Plate in Management of Mandible Fracture: A Pilot Study.

Mandible is the only mobile facial jaw bone and it aides in various functions such as phonation and mastication. Therefore, management of mandible fracture becomes inevitable due to its functional and anatomical importance. Fracture fixation methods and techniques have steadily evolved with various osteosynthesis systems. In this article, we discuss the management of mandible fracture using a newly designed two-dimensional (2D) hybrid V-shaped plate. In this paper, we have evaluated the efficacy of the newly developed 2D V-shaped locking plate in the management of mandibular fractures. We have assessed 12 cases of different mandibular fractures ranging from symphysis, parasymphysis, angle and subcondylar region. Treatment outcome was assessed both clinically and radiologically at regular intervals with various intraoperative and postoperative parameters. Results of this study suggest that fixation of mandible fracture with the 2D hybrid V-shaped plate facilitates anatomic reduction and functional stability and carries a low morbidity and infection rate. The 2D anatomic hybrid V-shaped plate can be a suitable alternative to conventional miniplate and 3D plates as it offers satisfactory anatomic reduction and functional stability. Positioning the plate in relation to the mental nerve and plate adaptation along the angle region are much easier.

A new species of emTyphlodromus/em (Anthoseius) De Leon and redescription of emT. (A.)/em emmontanus/em Chant amp; Yoshida-Shaul from Russia.

Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) tetraporus sp. nov., collected on grasses in Crimea, is proposed as a new species for science. The new species can be separated from all known species of Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) by the combination of following characters; peritreme extending almost to level of setae j1, four pairs of solenostomes on dorsal shield, two pairs of setae on sternal shield, a sclerotised v-shaped plate posterior to sternal shield, four pairs of pre-anal setae, a pair of small rounded pre-anal solenostomes, differentiated and larger atrium of spermatheca and eight setae on genu II. In addition, T. (A.) montanus Chant Yoshida-Shaul (Acari: Phytoseiidae), a species only known based on its original description from Canada is reported for the first time in Russia. The new record is redescribed and illustrated based on female specimens collected from Prunus padus L. (Rosaceae) where it was associated with eriophyid mites in Pereval Seminskiy, Altai Republic. This species may be an important predator as a potential biological control agent of eriophyid mites.

Finite element analysis of response of v-shaped hull plates under blast loading

Armoured vehicles usually employ shaped plate for protection from blast loads arising from landmines. In most of the cases the plates deflect a part of the load away from the vehicle thus protecting the crew. Important parameters which affect the design of the plates include the included angle of the V shaped plate and standoff distance between the explosive and plate. In this study Finite Element (FE) analysis is carried out to estimate energy absorbed by the plates and the impulse transmitted to the superstructure. A validated numerical procedure with ABAQUS is used to conduct the parametric studies to compare and estimate the effectiveness of two different configurations. Guidelines for selecting the required plate angle and location of the plate could be developed based on the suggestions of the numerical study.

Performance Investigation of Solar Water Heating System with V-Shaped Absorber Plate Integrated PCM Storage

The use of solar energy source using Solar Water Heating (SWH) system for hot water supply is increasing due to environmentally friendly technology. The increase of the application of solar energy equipment is beneficial for technology development related to the issue of sustainable energy and green energy buildings. This study develops a SWH system for hot water supply with modification of absorber plate. An integrated V-shaped absorber plate with phase change material (PCM) energy storage in the SWH system has been installed and its performance has been investigated experimentally. Two SWH systems consisting of V-shape absorber plate with and without PCM storage are built. The V-shape absorber plate is constructed and integrated with PCM storage in the system. The experimental tests of the two SWH systems using V-shaped absorber plate with and without PCM storage have been carried-out in the same operation time with various flowrates. The temperature of the paraffin has increased until the melting temperature and has decreased with the decrease of solar radiation in the afternoon. Paraffin as PCM storage contributes to increase the outlet water temperature. The results show that the average efficiency of the SWH system with PCM storage using paraffin is higher than the one of the SWH system without PCM storage. It has increased significantly of 20%, 14% and 13% with flowrates of 0.5; 1 and 1.5 L/min respectively. In addition, the characteristics of the PCM storage are shown clearly from 16:00 to 20:00 local time. After 16:00 local time, the storage energy can be a source of heat energy to heat the water up to the end of the day.

Blast response of aluminum foam sandwich panel with double V-shaped face plate

Critical instruments and buildings demand enhanced blast protection under the environments of increased local conflicts and terrorist attacks. There are currently two widely researched measures for blast protection: blast energy absorption by cellular materials and energy dispersion by V-shaped plates. Although several studies have focused on these individual protection measures, their combination has rarely been reported. Therefore, in the present study, these two measures were combined. The resulting aluminum foam sandwich panel with a double V-shaped face plate, along with its anti-blast performance, was numerically analyzed. The numerical model was validated, and then the blast responses of different structural designs of the proposed sandwich panel were examined. Finally, parametric analyses of the protection performance of the double V-shaped face plated sandwich panel were conducted. The results indicated that the designed sandwich panel could not only disperse the blast impulse but also maintain the energy-absorption property of the foam core. Gaps in the sandwich panel should be avoided to prevent acceleration of the face plate. Owing to the relatively large local energy absorption, eccentric loading did not significantly affect the performance of the V-shaped face-plated sandwich panel. The stiffness of the front and back face plates of the proposed sandwich panel must be matched properly to balance the effects of energy dispersion and energy absorption for achieving the optimal protection performance. This study provides a valuable reference for designing new protective structures and enhancing blast and impact protection.