Phase-field lattice-Boltzmann study on fully coupled thermal-solute-convection dendrite growth of Al-Cu alloy

Dendrite growth is a complex liquid-solid phase transition process involving multiple physical factors.A phase-field lattice-Boltzmann method was developed to simulate the two-and three-dimension dendrite growth of Al-Cu alloy.The effect of fully coupled thermal-solute-convection interaction on the dendrite growth was investigated by incorporating a parallel-adaptive mesh refinement algorithm into the numerical model.By accurately reproducing the latent heat release,solute diffusion and convective transport behaviors at the liquidsolid interface,the interaction mechanism among thermal-solute-convection transport as well as their coupling effects on the dendrite growth dynamics were discussed.The simulation results show that the release of latent heat slows down the dendrite growth rate,and both natural and forced convection disrupt the symmetrical growth of dendrites.Their combination makes the growth of dendrites more complex,capturing important physical aspects such as recalescence,dendrite tip splitting,dendrite tilting,dendrite remelting,and solute plume in the simulation case.Based on the robustness and powerful ability of the numerical model,the formation mechanisms of these physical aspects were revealed.

Effect of traveling-wave magnetic field on dendrite growth of high-strength steel slab: Industrial trials and numerical simulation

The dendrite growth behavior of high-strength steel during slab continuous casting with a traveling-wave magnetic field was studied in this paper. The morphology of the solidification structure and composition distribution were analyzed. Results showed that the columnar crystals could deflect and break when the traveling-wave magnetic field had low current intensity. With the increase in current intensity, the secondary dendrite arm spacing and solute permeability decreased, and the columnar crystal transformed into an equiaxed crystal. The electromagnetic force caused by the traveling-wave magnetic field changed the temperature gradient and velocity magnitude and promoted the breaking and fusing of dendrites. Dendrite compactness and composition uniformity were arranged in descending order as follows:columnar-toequiaxed transition (high current intensity), columnar crystal zone (low current intensity), columnar-to-equiaxed transition (low current intensity), and equiaxed crystal zone (high current intensity). Verified numerical simulation results combined with the boundary layer theory of solidification front and dendrite breaking–fusing model revealed the dendrite deflection mechanism and growth process. When thermal stress is not considered, and no narrow segment can be found in the dendrite, the velocity magnitude on the solidification front of liquid steel can reach up to 0.041 m/s before the dendrites break.

GPU parallel computation of dendrite growth competition in forced convection using the multi-phase-field-lattice Boltzmann model

A graphics-processing-unit(GPU)-parallel-based computational scheme is developed to realize the competitive growth process of converging bi-crystal in two-dimensional states in the presence of forced convection conditions by coupling a multi-phase field model and a lattice Boltzmann model.The elimination mechanism in the evolution process is analyzed for the three conformational schemes constituting converging bi-crystals under pure diffusion and forced convection conditions,respectively,expanding the research of the competitive growth of columnar dendrites under melt convection conditions.The results show that the elimination mechanism for the competitive growth of converging bi-crystals of all three configurations under pure diffusion conditions follows the conventional Walton-Chalmers model.When there is forced convection with lateral flow in the liquid phase,the anomalous elimination phenomenon of unfavorable dendrites eliminating favorable dendrites occurs in the grain boundaries.In particular,the anomalous elimination phenomenon is relatively strong in conformation 1 and conformation 2 when the orientation angle of unfavorable dendrites is small,and relatively weak in conformation 3.Moreover,the presence of convection increases the tip growth rate of both favorable and unfavorable dendrites in the grain boundary.In addition,the parallelization of the multi-phase-field-lattice Boltzmann model is achieved by designing the parallel computation of the model on the GPU platform concerning the computerunified-device-architecture parallel technique,and the results show that the parallel computation of this model based on the GPU has absolute advantages,and the parallel acceleration is more obvious as the computation area increases.

FEM simulations and experimental studies of the temperature field in a large diamond crystal growth cell

We investigate the temperature field variation in the growth region of a diamond crystal in a sealed cell during the whole process of crystal growth by using the temperature gradient method （TGM） at high pressure and high temperature （HPHT）. We employ both the finite element method （FEM） and in situ experiments. Simulation results show that the temperature in the center area of the growth cell continues to decrease during the process of large diamond crystal growth. These results are in good agreement with our experimental data, which demonstrates that the finite element model can successfully predict the temperature field variations in the growth cell. The FEM simulation will be useful to grow larger high-quality diamond crystal by using the TGM. Furthermore, this method will be helpful in designing better cells and improving the growth process of gem-quality diamond crystal.

Faceting transitions in crystal growth and heteroepitaxial growth in the anisotropic phase-field crystal model

We modify the anisotropic phase-field crystal model （APFC）, and present a semi-implicit spectral method to numerically solve the dynamic equation of the APFC model. The process results in the acceleration of computations by orders of magnitude relative to the conventional explicit finite-difference scheme, thereby, allowing us to work on a large system and for a long time. The faceting transitions introduced by the increasing anisotropy in crystal growth are then discussed. In particular, we investigate the morphological evolution in heteroepitaxial growth of our model. A new formation mechanism of misfit dislocations caused by vacancy trapping is found. The regular array of misfit dislocations produces a small-angle grain boundary under the right conditions, and it could significantly change the growth orientation of epitaxial layers.

Effects of geometric parameters and axial magnetic field on buoyant-thermocapillary convection during detached solidification

In order to understand the effect of geometric parameters and axial magnetic field on buoyant-thermocapillary convection during detached solidification, a series of threedimensional numerical simulations were conducted by the finite-difference method. The results indicate that the stable flow is observed when the Marangoni number （Ma） is small; however, when the value of Ma increases and exceeds a threshold value, the stable steady flow transits to be unstable flow. As the height of the melt increases, the flow is enhanced at first and then gets weakened. As the width of gap decreases gradually, the strength of flow is enhanced. The approach of using axial magnetic field is an effective way to suppress the buoyant-thermocapillary convection. As the magnetic field strength increases, the inhibition is enhanced. The critical Marangoni number increases slightly with a greater melt height, a narrower width of gap, and a more strength of magnetic field.

Correlations between the Global Earth Healing and Global Consciousness Projects—Brain-Mind-Matter-Interactions through Physical Noise Generators

Inspired by Roger Nelson’s Global Consciousness Project (GCP), the Global Earth Healing Project (GEHP) uses a network of several hundred physical noise generators to amplify the combined intentions of their users in order to infuse positive affirmations into the global consciousness. As mentioned in the original study design, it was intended to use the GCP as a reference for the effectiveness of its activities. The data of the GEHP consisting of 21 events from 2013 to 2020 is analyzed and statistically compared to the data of the GCP. An astonishing synchronicity was observed, which suggests an interaction between the brain states of the observers and the physical noise generators of the GCP.

Impact of Commercial Organic Ameliorants on Nitrogen and Phosphorus Concentrations of Maize Biomass at Ninth Leaf and Silking Growth Stages

The response of grain yield, biomass yield and harvest index of maize to the application of commercial organic ameliorants was inconsistent and poor. Hence it was hypothesized that the supply of N and P to maize plants was inadequate during vegetative growth, resulting in low concentrations of the two nutrients in maize biomass. The effects of nine ameliorants on the N and P concentrations of maize plants at ninth leaf (V9) and silking (R1) stages of maize were studied over three years at Bothaville (8% clay), Ottosdal (12% clay) and Potchefstroom (34% clay). All ameliorants were applied as prescribed by manufacturers. The N and P concentrations in maize biomass of the ameliorants at V9 and R1 were lower, comparable or higher, showing that the inconsistent and poor response of yield parameters can not be ascribed to inadequate uptake of N and P. A matter of concern that justifies thorough investigation, is the prescribed use of Crop care and Growmor with partial and of Montys and Promis with no NPK fertilization, an unsustainable practice over the long term. Characterization of the active ingredient(s) of the ameliorants is deemed also of importance for better insight.

Recent tree growth decline unprecedented over the last four centuries in a Tibetan juniper forest

Forest structure and function are subject to risks of growth declines from intensified drought and frequent extreme events related to climate warming.Knowledge of tree growth declines will help anticipate future responses of forests to climate change.In this study,we investigated tree growth declines over the last four centuries in a juniper forest on the eastern Tibetan Plateau.By analyzing the radial growth trajectories of individual trees,we identified two events of intense growth decline,one in 1817–1830 and the other in 1969–1999 over the past four centuries.The intensity of the recent decline was unprecedented in the period under study.Ring-width chronology showed a positive correlation with self-calibrating Palmer Drought Severity Indices and a negative correlation with mean monthly temperatures in May and June.The recent intensified growth decline may have been due to temperatureinduced frequent droughts in the study area.Our findings suggest that trees in this juniper forest may face a higher risk of growth decline and even mortality under continued climate warming.

Model for Methane Emission from Rice Fields and Its Application in Southern China

A process model has been developed. The model has been used to calculate the methane emission from rice fields. The influence of climate conditions, field water management, organic fertilizers and soil types on methane emission from rice fields are considered. There are three major segments which are highly interactive in nature in the model:rice growth, decomposition of soil organic matter and methane production, transport efficiency and methane emission rate. Explicit equations for modeling each segment mentioned above are given. The main results of the model are: 1. The seasonal variation of methane emission of the model output agrees with that of field experiments. The deviation of seasonal average methane emission rate between modeled value and experimental data is about 10%. 2. In the whole rice growing period, model output is similar to experimental data in the seasonal variation of transport ability of rice plant. 3. Soil organic matter content and soil physics and chemistry are major factors that determine the total season average emission rate, while soil temperature controls the temporal variation of methane emission from rice fields.

Phase field modeling of multiple dendrite growth of Al-Si binary alloy under isothermal solidification

Phase field method offers the prospect of being able to perform realistic numerical experiments on dendrite growth in metallic systems. In this study, the growth process of multiple dendrites in AI-2-mole-%-Si binary alloy under isothermal solidification was simulated using phase field model. The simulation results showed the impingement of arbitrarily oriented crystals and the competitive growth among the grains during solidification. With the increase of growing time, the grains begin to coalesce and impinge the adjacent grains. When the dendrites start to impinge, the dendrite growth is obviously inhibited.

Association of host plant growth and weed occurrence with armyworm(Mythimna separata) damage in corn fields

To clarify association between armyworm（Mythimna separata） damage level and the corn growth and weed occurrence, we investigated corn plant height, stem diameter and vigor as well as weed coverage and biomass. The investigations were conducted at three locations of Shaanxi Province, China which were suffered seriously from armyworm. Significant correlations were found between the parameters analyzed. At stunted corn growth and presence of plenty of weeds, the armyworm damage tended to be heavy; oppositely, when corn grew well and weed density were low, armyworm harm was the minimal. Therefore, corn growing status and weed density can significantly affect armyworm damage level. Our results imply that promoting corn growth and timely removal of weeds are conducive to reducing armyworm occurrence.

Effects of sludge on germination and initial growth performance of Leucaena leucocephala seedlings in the nursery

A study was carried out to determine the influence of different types of sludges （municipal, industrial and residential） on field germination, growth and nodulation of L. leucocephala seedlings in the nursery. Before sowing of seeds, different combinations of sludges were incorporated with the nutrient deficient natural forest soils. Field germination, nodulation status and physical growth parameters of seedlings （shoot and root length, vigor index, collar diameter, leaf number, fresh and dry weight of shoot and root and total dry biomass increment） were recorded after three and six months of seed sowing. Field germination, nodulation status and growth parameters were varied significantly in the soil amended with sludges in comparison to control. The highest number of nodule was recorded from soil amended with residential sludge （ 1：1 ） and highest fresh and dry nodule weight was also found from the same combination in both three and six month old seedlings. In case of growth parameters, the highest growth was recorded from soil and residential sludge （ 1：1 ） combination compared to control. From the study, it can be recommended that soil amended with residential sludge （ 1：1 ） provide better field germination, growth and nodule formation of L. leucocephala in degraded soil.

Analysis on high-temperature oxidation and growth stress of iron-based alloy using phase field method

High-temperature oxidation is an important property to evaluate thermal protection materials. However, since oxidation is a complex process involving microstructure evolution, its quantitative analysis has always been a challenge. In this work, a phase field method （PFM） based on the thermodynamics theory is developed to simulate the oxidation behavior and oxidation induced growth stress. It involves microstructure evolution and solves the problem of quantitatively computational analysis for the oxidation behavior and growth stress. Employing this method, the diffusion process, oxidation performance, and stress evolution axe predicted for Fe-Cr-A1-Y alloys. The numerical results agree well with the experimental data. The linear relationship between the maximum growth stress and the environment oxygen concentration is found. PFM provides a powerful tool to investigate high-temperature oxidation in complex environments.

Morphological evolution and growth kinetics of Kirkendall voids in binary alloy system during deformation process-Phase field crystal simulation study

The formation and growth of Kirkendall voids in a binary alloy system during deformation process were investigated byphase field crystal model.The simulation results show that Kirkendall voids nucleate preferentially at the interface,and the averagesize of the voids increases with both the time and strain rate.There is an obvious coalescence of the voids at a large strain rate whenthe deformation is applied along the interface under both constant and cyclic strain rate conditions.For the cyclic strain rate appliedalong the interface,the growth exponent of Kirkendall voids increases with increasing the strain rate when the strain rate is largerthan1.0×10-6,while it increases initially and then decreases when the strain rate is smaller than9.0×10?7.The growth exponent ofKirkendall voids increases initially and then decreases gradually with increasing the length of cyclic period under a square-waveform constant strain rate.

Origin and growth mechanisms of strike-slip faults in the central Tarim cratonic basin, NW China

Through fault structure analysis and chronology study, we discuss the origin and growth mechanisms of strike-slip faults in the Tarim Basin.(1) Multiple stages strike-slip faults with inherited growth were developed in the central Tarim cratonic basin. The faults initiation time is constrained at the end of Middle Ordovician of about 460 Ma according to U-Pb dating of the fault cements and seismic interpretation.(2) The formation of the strike-slip faults was controlled by the near N-S direction stress field caused by far-field compression of the closing of the Proto-Tethys Ocean.(3) The faults localization and characteristics were influenced by the pre-existing structures of the NE trending weakening zones in the basement and lithofacies change from south to north.(4) Following the fault initiation under the Andersonian mechanism, the strike-slip fault growth was dominantly fault linkage, associated with fault tip propagation and interaction of non-Andersonian mechanisms.(5) Sequential slip accommodated deformation in the conjugate strike-slip fault interaction zones, strong localization of the main displacement and deformation occurred in the overlap zones in the northern Tarim, while the fault tips, particularly of narrow-deep grabens, and strike-slip segments in thrust zones accumulated more deformation and strain in the Central uplift. In conclusion, non-Andersonian mechanisms, dominantly fault linkage and interaction, resulted in the small displacement but long intraplate strike-slip fault development in the central Tarim Basin. The regional and localized field stress, and pre-existing structures and lithofacies difference had strong impacts on the diversity of the strike-slip faults in the Tarim cratonic basin.

INFLUENCE OF EXTERNAL MAGNETIC FIELD ON THE FLOW FIELD IN MOLTEN SEMICONDUCTOR OF CZOCHRALSKI CRYSTAL GROWTH——A NUMERICAL SIMULATION

Numerical results show that an external magnetic field may influence significantly the flow pattern in the molten semiconductor of Czochralski crystal growth. The melt flow could be pronouncedly damped by a magnet. ic field with the intensity of several thousands Gauss, while the temperature field is affected only in a less extent by the magnetic field.

Phase-field simulation of dendritic growth in a binary alloy with thermodynamics data

This paper simulates the dendrite growth process during non-isothermal solidification in the Al-Cu binary alloy by using the phase-field model. The heat transfer equation is solved simultaneously. The thermodynamic and kinetic parameters are directly obtained from existing database by using the Calculation of Phase Diagram （CALPHAD） method. The effects of the latent heat and undercooling on the dendrite growth, solute and temperature profile during the solidification of binary alloy are investigated. The results indicate that the dendrite growing morphologies could be simulated realistically by linking the phase-field method to CALPHAD. The secondary arms of solidification dendritic are better developed with the increase of undercooling. Correspondingly, the tip speed and the solute segregation in solid-liquid interface increase, but the tip radius decreases.

Electrical fields and the promotion of endogenous angiogenesis in a rat spinal cord injury model

BACKGROUND： Previous studies have shown that direct current electrical fields affect development and growth of human microvascular endothelial cells, but the role of electrical fields on promoting angiogenesis in tissues following spinal cord injury remains poorly understood. OBJECTIVE： To determine the effects of electrical fields on angiogenesis and spinal cord repair following traumatic spinal cord injury in rats. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized, controlled, animal experiment was performed at the Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China from September 2007 to August 2008. MATERIALS： Hydrogen blood flow detector （Soochow University Medical Instrument, China）, Power Lab System （AD Instruments, Colorado Springs, CO, USA） and mouse anti-vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） monoclonal antibody （Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA） were used in this study. METHODS： A total of 60 healthy, adult, Sprague Dawley rats were equally and randomly assigned to sham-surgery, model, and electrical field groups. The Allen＇s weight-drop method was used to induce complete spinal cord injury in the model and electrical field groups. Rats in the electrical field group were implanted with silver needles and electrical fields （350 V/m） were applied following traumatic injury. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Latency of somatosensory-evoked potential was detected and spinal cord blood flow was measured by hydrogen blood flow detector. Microvascular density was determined by histological analysis. VEGF expression in the spinal cord was observed by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS： Recovery of spinal cord blood flow was significantly increased in the electrical field group （at 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 days after injury） compared with the model group （P 〈 0.05 or P 〈 0.01）. Latency of P1 waves in somatosensory-evoked potential of electrical field group （at 1,2, 4, 8, and 24 days after injury） was significantly shorter than the model group （P 〈 0.05 or P 〈 0.01）. Microvascular density and VEGF expression were greater in the electrical field group compared with the model group at 24 days after injury （P 〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： Electrical fields （350 V/m） promoted angiogenesis within injured rat tissue following spinal cord injury and improved spinal cord function. Electrical fields could help to ameliorate spinal cord injury. The mechanisms of action could be related to increased VEGF expression.

Study on Growth and Decline Law of Contagious Pleuro-pneumonia in Piglets

In order to establish the immune procedure for Actinobacillus pleuropneumonia and to determine the date for the first immunization on piglets, the growth and decline law of A. pleuropneumonia material antibodies in the piglets borne by cows inoculated with A. pleuropneumonia vaccines （type I, II, and VII） before delivery was detected. The results showed that type I, II, and VII maternal antibodies in piglets decreased gradually with the age growing overall, and was at the critical protection value at the ages of 42-50 days （type I） and 28 days （type VII）, lower than the quantification rate; and the antibodies all turned to be negative until the ages of 70 days （type I）, 60 days （type VII） and 35 days （type II）. The first immunization should be carried out at the age of 42-50 days using type I A. pleuropneumonia vaccine, and at the age of 28 days using type VII A. pleuropneumonia vaccine. However, type II A. pleuropneumonia maternal antibody had lower level and positive rate and could not well protect piglets, so the various A. pleuropneumonia vaccines differed in the date for the first immunization. In order to achieve a better immunization effect, A. pleuropneumonia vaccines with different valences should be further researched and developed.