Asymmetric tree-like branched networks are explored by geometric algorithms. Based on the network, an analysis of the thermal conductivity is presented. The relationship between effective thermal conductivity and geom...Asymmetric tree-like branched networks are explored by geometric algorithms. Based on the network, an analysis of the thermal conductivity is presented. The relationship between effective thermal conductivity and geometric structures is obtained by using the thermal-electrical analogy technique. In all studied cases, a clear behaviour is observed, where angle (δ,θ) among parent branching extended lines, branches and parameter of the geometric structures have stronger effects on the effective thermal conductivity. When the angle δ is fixed, the optical diameter ratio β+ is dependent on angle θ. Moreover, γand m are not related to β*. The longer the branch is, the smaller the effective thermal conductivity will be. It is also found that when the angle θ〈δ2, the higher the iteration m is, the lower the thermal conductivity will be and it tends to zero, otherwise, it is bigger than zero. When the diameter ratio β1 〈 0.707 and angle δ is bigger, the optimal k of the perfect ratio increases with the increase of the angle δ; when β1 〉 0.707, the optimal k decreases. In addition, the effective thermal conductivity is always less than that of single channel material. The present results also show that the effective thermal conductivity of the asymmetric tree-like branched networks does not obey Murray's law.展开更多
Microchannel heat sink with high heat transfer coefficients has been extensively investigated due to its wide application prospective in electronic cooling. However, this cooling system requires a separate pump to dri...Microchannel heat sink with high heat transfer coefficients has been extensively investigated due to its wide application prospective in electronic cooling. However, this cooling system requires a separate pump to drive the fluid transfer, which is uneasy to minimize and reduces their reliability and applicability of the whole system. In order to avoid these problems, valveless piezoelectric pump with fractal-like Y-shape branching tubes is proposed. Fractal-like Y-shape branching tube used in microchannel heat sinks is exploited as no-moving-part valve of the valveless piezoelectric pump. In order to obtain flow characteristics of the pump, the relationship between tube structure and flow rate of the pump is studied. Specifically, the flow resistances of fractal-like Y-shape branching tubes and flow rate of the pump are analyzed by using fractal theory. Then, finite element software is employed to simulate the flow field of the tube, and the relationships between pressure drop and flow rate along merging and dividing flows are obtained. Finally, valveless piezoelectric pumps with fractal-like Y-shape branching tubes with different fractal dimensions of diameter distribution are fabricated, and flow rate experiment is conducted. The experimental results show that the flow rate of the pump increases with the rise of fractal dimension of the tube diameter. When fractal dimension is 3, the maximum flow rate of the valveless pump is 29.16 mL/min under 100 V peak to peak (13 Hz) power supply, which reveals the relationship between flow rate and fractal dimensions of tube diameter distribution. This paper investigates the flow characteristics of valveless piezoelectric pump with fractal-like Y-shape branching tubes, which provides certain references for valveless piezoelectric pump with fractal-like Y-shape branching tubes in application on electronic chip cooling.展开更多
This study applies the Lindenmayer system based on fractal theory to generate synthetic fracture networks in hydraulically fractured wells.The applied flow model is based on complex analysis methods,which can quantify...This study applies the Lindenmayer system based on fractal theory to generate synthetic fracture networks in hydraulically fractured wells.The applied flow model is based on complex analysis methods,which can quantify the flow near the fractures,and being gridless,is computationally faster than traditional discrete volume simulations.The representation of hydraulic fractures as fractals is a more realistic representation than planar bi-wing fractures used in most reservoir models.Fluid withdrawal from the reservoir with evenly spaced hydraulic fractures may leave dead zones between planar fractures.Complex fractal networks will drain the reservoir matrix more effectively,due to the mitigation of stagnation flow zones.The flow velocities,pressure response,and drained rock volume(DRV)are visualized for a variety of fractal fracture networks in a single-fracture treatment stage.The major advancement of this study is the improved representation of hydraulic fractures as complex fractals rather than restricting to planar fracture geometries.Our models indicate that when the complexity of hydraulic fracture networks increases,this will suppress the occurrence of dead flow zones.In order to increase the DRV and improve ultimate recovery,our flow models suggest that fracture treatment programs must find ways to create more complex fracture networks.展开更多
A study was conducted at Msekera Regional Agricultural Research Station in eastern Zambia to (1) describe canopy branching properties of Acacia angustissima, Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena collinsii in short rotatio...A study was conducted at Msekera Regional Agricultural Research Station in eastern Zambia to (1) describe canopy branching properties of Acacia angustissima, Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena collinsii in short rotation forests, (2) test the existence of self similarity from repeated iteration of a structural unit in tree canopies, (3) examined intra-specifie relationships between functional branching characteristics, and (4) determine whether allometric equations for relating aboveground tree biomass to fractal properties could accurately predict aboveground biomass. Measurements of basal diameter (Din0) at 10em aboveground and total height (H), and aboveground biomass of 27 trees were taken, but only nine trees representative of variability of the stand and the three species were processed for functional branching analyses (FBA) of the shoot systems. For each species, fractal properties of three trees, includ- ing fractal dimension (Dfract), bifurcation ratios (p) and proportionality ratios (q) of branching points were assessed. The slope of the linear re- gression ofp on proximal diameter was not significantly different (P 〈 0.01) from zero and hence the assumption that p is independent of scale, a pre-requisite for use of fraetal branching rules to describe a fraetal tree canopy, was fulfilled at branching orders with link diameters 〉1.5 cm. The proportionality ration q for branching patterns of all tree species was constant at all scales. The proportion of q values 〉0.9 (fq) was 0.8 for all species. Mean fraetal dimension (Df^ct) values (1.5-1.7) for all species showed that branching patterns had an increasing magnitude of intricacy. Since Dfraet values were 〉1.5, branching patterns within species were self similar. Basal diameter (D10), proximal diameter and Dfraet described most of variations in aboveground biomass, suggesting that allometric equa- tions for relating aboveground tree biomass to fractal properties could accurately predict aboveground biomass. Thus, assessed Acacia, Gliri- cidia and Leucaena trees were fractals and their branching propertiescould be used to describe variability in size and aboveground biomass.展开更多
The topic of airway-parenchymal interdependence (API) is of great importance to those interested in identifying factors that influence airway patency. A carefully designed experiment has raised questions about the cla...The topic of airway-parenchymal interdependence (API) is of great importance to those interested in identifying factors that influence airway patency. A carefully designed experiment has raised questions about the classical concept of API. This paper proposes a new mechanism of API. The pulmonary lobe is an aggregated body consisting of many Miller’s lobular polyhedrons and a fractal bronchial tree. The fractal cartilaginous bronchial tree was assumed to be characterized by both Horton’s ratio (Lj+1/Lj=2λ, where Lj+1, and Lj denote the mean lengths of branches at Horsfield’ order of j + 1 and j) and power laws between diameters and lengths of branches. Fluid dynamic parameters of fractal trees were assumed to be interrelated among powers and λ. A non-cartilaginous lobular bronchiole is adjoined to the edge of a lobular polyhedron, and is encircled by an inextensible basement membrane to reflect a reversible relationship of rlLl = constant(c), where rl and Ll denote the diameter and the length of a lobular bronchiole, respectively. API at the level of the lobu-lar bronchiole was described by log(rl) = -(1+λ)/(1+5λ)log(hl/c), where rl and hl denote the diameter of the lobular bronchiole and the parenchymal parameter relating the size of the lobular polyhedron, respectively. If the distribution in sizes of the lobular polyhedrons was described by a Weibull’s probability density function characterized by the shape parameter m as well as the fractal parameter λ = 0.5, the diameter R of a cartilaginous bronchial branch was determined by log(R) = F - 3/7log(h/c), where F(m) denotes a function of m, and h denotes the mean size of the polyhedrons in the lobe. As a conclusion, API can be described by a combination of both lobular API and corresponding adaptive changes in the degree of contraction of airway smooth muscles.展开更多
基金Project supported by the State Key Development Program for Basic Research of China (Grant No 2006CB708612)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No 10572130)the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province, China (Grant No Y607425)
文摘Asymmetric tree-like branched networks are explored by geometric algorithms. Based on the network, an analysis of the thermal conductivity is presented. The relationship between effective thermal conductivity and geometric structures is obtained by using the thermal-electrical analogy technique. In all studied cases, a clear behaviour is observed, where angle (δ,θ) among parent branching extended lines, branches and parameter of the geometric structures have stronger effects on the effective thermal conductivity. When the angle δ is fixed, the optical diameter ratio β+ is dependent on angle θ. Moreover, γand m are not related to β*. The longer the branch is, the smaller the effective thermal conductivity will be. It is also found that when the angle θ〈δ2, the higher the iteration m is, the lower the thermal conductivity will be and it tends to zero, otherwise, it is bigger than zero. When the diameter ratio β1 〈 0.707 and angle δ is bigger, the optimal k of the perfect ratio increases with the increase of the angle δ; when β1 〉 0.707, the optimal k decreases. In addition, the effective thermal conductivity is always less than that of single channel material. The present results also show that the effective thermal conductivity of the asymmetric tree-like branched networks does not obey Murray's law.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.51275235,51375227)Major Research Plan of National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.91223201)Independent Projects Fund of State Key Lab of Mechanics and Control of Mechanical Structures of China(Grant No.0313G01)
文摘Microchannel heat sink with high heat transfer coefficients has been extensively investigated due to its wide application prospective in electronic cooling. However, this cooling system requires a separate pump to drive the fluid transfer, which is uneasy to minimize and reduces their reliability and applicability of the whole system. In order to avoid these problems, valveless piezoelectric pump with fractal-like Y-shape branching tubes is proposed. Fractal-like Y-shape branching tube used in microchannel heat sinks is exploited as no-moving-part valve of the valveless piezoelectric pump. In order to obtain flow characteristics of the pump, the relationship between tube structure and flow rate of the pump is studied. Specifically, the flow resistances of fractal-like Y-shape branching tubes and flow rate of the pump are analyzed by using fractal theory. Then, finite element software is employed to simulate the flow field of the tube, and the relationships between pressure drop and flow rate along merging and dividing flows are obtained. Finally, valveless piezoelectric pumps with fractal-like Y-shape branching tubes with different fractal dimensions of diameter distribution are fabricated, and flow rate experiment is conducted. The experimental results show that the flow rate of the pump increases with the rise of fractal dimension of the tube diameter. When fractal dimension is 3, the maximum flow rate of the valveless pump is 29.16 mL/min under 100 V peak to peak (13 Hz) power supply, which reveals the relationship between flow rate and fractal dimensions of tube diameter distribution. This paper investigates the flow characteristics of valveless piezoelectric pump with fractal-like Y-shape branching tubes, which provides certain references for valveless piezoelectric pump with fractal-like Y-shape branching tubes in application on electronic chip cooling.
文摘This study applies the Lindenmayer system based on fractal theory to generate synthetic fracture networks in hydraulically fractured wells.The applied flow model is based on complex analysis methods,which can quantify the flow near the fractures,and being gridless,is computationally faster than traditional discrete volume simulations.The representation of hydraulic fractures as fractals is a more realistic representation than planar bi-wing fractures used in most reservoir models.Fluid withdrawal from the reservoir with evenly spaced hydraulic fractures may leave dead zones between planar fractures.Complex fractal networks will drain the reservoir matrix more effectively,due to the mitigation of stagnation flow zones.The flow velocities,pressure response,and drained rock volume(DRV)are visualized for a variety of fractal fracture networks in a single-fracture treatment stage.The major advancement of this study is the improved representation of hydraulic fractures as complex fractals rather than restricting to planar fracture geometries.Our models indicate that when the complexity of hydraulic fracture networks increases,this will suppress the occurrence of dead flow zones.In order to increase the DRV and improve ultimate recovery,our flow models suggest that fracture treatment programs must find ways to create more complex fracture networks.
基金funded by the Gates Cambridge Trust at Cambridge University
文摘A study was conducted at Msekera Regional Agricultural Research Station in eastern Zambia to (1) describe canopy branching properties of Acacia angustissima, Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena collinsii in short rotation forests, (2) test the existence of self similarity from repeated iteration of a structural unit in tree canopies, (3) examined intra-specifie relationships between functional branching characteristics, and (4) determine whether allometric equations for relating aboveground tree biomass to fractal properties could accurately predict aboveground biomass. Measurements of basal diameter (Din0) at 10em aboveground and total height (H), and aboveground biomass of 27 trees were taken, but only nine trees representative of variability of the stand and the three species were processed for functional branching analyses (FBA) of the shoot systems. For each species, fractal properties of three trees, includ- ing fractal dimension (Dfract), bifurcation ratios (p) and proportionality ratios (q) of branching points were assessed. The slope of the linear re- gression ofp on proximal diameter was not significantly different (P 〈 0.01) from zero and hence the assumption that p is independent of scale, a pre-requisite for use of fraetal branching rules to describe a fraetal tree canopy, was fulfilled at branching orders with link diameters 〉1.5 cm. The proportionality ration q for branching patterns of all tree species was constant at all scales. The proportion of q values 〉0.9 (fq) was 0.8 for all species. Mean fraetal dimension (Df^ct) values (1.5-1.7) for all species showed that branching patterns had an increasing magnitude of intricacy. Since Dfraet values were 〉1.5, branching patterns within species were self similar. Basal diameter (D10), proximal diameter and Dfraet described most of variations in aboveground biomass, suggesting that allometric equa- tions for relating aboveground tree biomass to fractal properties could accurately predict aboveground biomass. Thus, assessed Acacia, Gliri- cidia and Leucaena trees were fractals and their branching propertiescould be used to describe variability in size and aboveground biomass.
文摘The topic of airway-parenchymal interdependence (API) is of great importance to those interested in identifying factors that influence airway patency. A carefully designed experiment has raised questions about the classical concept of API. This paper proposes a new mechanism of API. The pulmonary lobe is an aggregated body consisting of many Miller’s lobular polyhedrons and a fractal bronchial tree. The fractal cartilaginous bronchial tree was assumed to be characterized by both Horton’s ratio (Lj+1/Lj=2λ, where Lj+1, and Lj denote the mean lengths of branches at Horsfield’ order of j + 1 and j) and power laws between diameters and lengths of branches. Fluid dynamic parameters of fractal trees were assumed to be interrelated among powers and λ. A non-cartilaginous lobular bronchiole is adjoined to the edge of a lobular polyhedron, and is encircled by an inextensible basement membrane to reflect a reversible relationship of rlLl = constant(c), where rl and Ll denote the diameter and the length of a lobular bronchiole, respectively. API at the level of the lobu-lar bronchiole was described by log(rl) = -(1+λ)/(1+5λ)log(hl/c), where rl and hl denote the diameter of the lobular bronchiole and the parenchymal parameter relating the size of the lobular polyhedron, respectively. If the distribution in sizes of the lobular polyhedrons was described by a Weibull’s probability density function characterized by the shape parameter m as well as the fractal parameter λ = 0.5, the diameter R of a cartilaginous bronchial branch was determined by log(R) = F - 3/7log(h/c), where F(m) denotes a function of m, and h denotes the mean size of the polyhedrons in the lobe. As a conclusion, API can be described by a combination of both lobular API and corresponding adaptive changes in the degree of contraction of airway smooth muscles.