Simulation of subcritical flow pattern in 180° uniform and convergent open-channel bends using SSIIM 3-D model

In meandering rivers, the flow pattern is highly complex, with specific characteristics at bends that are not observed along straight paths. A numerical model can be effectively used to predict such flow fields. Since river bends are not uniform-some are divergent and others convergent-in this study, after the SSIIM 3-D model was calibrated using the result of measurements along a uniform 180° bend with a width of 0.6 m, a similar but convergent 180v bend, 0.6 m to 0.45 m wide, was simulated using the SSI1M 3-D numerical model. Flow characteristics of the convergent 180° bend, including lengthwise and vertical velocity profiles, primary and secondary flows, lengthwise and widtbwise slopes of the water surface, and the helical flow strength, were compared with those of the uniform 180° bend. The verification results of the model show that the numerical model can effectively simulate the flow field in the uniform bend. In addition, this research indicates that, in a convergent channel, the maximum velocity path at a plane near the water surface crosses the channel＇s centerline at about a 30° to 40° cross-section, while in the uniform bend, this occurs at about the 50° cross-section. The varying range of the water surface elevation is wider in the convergent channel than in the uniform one, and the strength of the helical flow is generally greater in the uniform channel than in the convergent one. Also, unlike the uniform bend, the convergent bend exhibits no rotational cell against the main direction of secondary flow rotation at the 135° cross-section.

Static analysis of ultra-thin beams based on a semi-continuum model

A linear semi-continuum model with discrete atomic layers in the thickness direction was developed to investigate the bending behaviors of ultra-thin beams with nanoscale thickness.The theoretical results show that the deflection of an ultra-thin beam may be enhanced or reduced due to different relaxation coefficients.If the relaxation coefficient is greater/less than one,the deflection of micro/nano-scale structures is enhanced/reduced in comparison with macro-scale structures.So,two opposite types of size-dependent behaviors are observed and they are mainly caused by the relaxation coefficients.Comparisons with the classical continuum model,exact nonlocal stress model and finite element model （FEM） verify the validity of the present semi-continuum model.In particular,an explanation is proposed in the debate whether the bending stiffness of a micro/nano-scale beam should be greater or weaker as compared with the macro-scale structures.The characteristics of bending stiffness are proved to be associated with the relaxation coefficients.

Energy loss at bends in the pneumatic conveying of fly ash

An accurate estimation of the total pressure drop of a pipeline is important to the reliable design of a pneumatic conveying system. The present paper presents results from an investigation into the modelling of the pressure drop at a bend in the pneumatic conveying of fly ash. Seven existing bend models were used （in conjunction with solids friction models for horizontal and vertical straight pipes, and initial acceleration losses） to predict the total pipeline pressure drop in conveying fly ash （median particle diameter： 30 }zm; particle density： 2300 kg/m^3; loose-poured bulk density： 700 kg/m3） in three test rigs （pipelines with dimensions of 69 mm inner diameter （I.D.） × 168 m length; 105 mm I.D. × 168 m length; 69 mm I.D. × 554 m length）. A comparison of the pneumatic conveying characteristics （PCC） predicted using the seven bend models and experimental results shows that the predicted total pipeline PCC and trends depend on the choice of bend model. While some models predict trends that agree with the experimental results, other models predicted greater bend pressure drops for the dense phase of fly ash than for the dilute phase. Models of Pan, R. （1992）. Improving scale-up procedures for the design of pneumatic conveying systems. Doctoral dissertation, University of Wollongong, Australia, Pan, R., ＆ Wypych, P.W. （1998）. Dilute and dense phase pneumatic conveying of fly ash. In Proceedings of the sixth International Conference on Bulk Materials Storage and Transportation （pp. 183-189）, Wollongong, NSW, Australia and Chambers, A.J., ＆ Marcus, R.D. （1986）. Pneumatic conveying calculations. In Proceedings of the second International Conference on Bulk Materials Storage and Transportation （pp. 49-52）, Wollongong, Australia reliably predicted the bend losses for systems conveying fly ash over a large range of air flows.