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.

Development and Application of Multi-phase Nitrides Bonded Silicon Carbide Lintel Blocks for Dry Quenching Furnaces

Multi-phase nitrides bonded silicon carbide lintel blocks were prepared using industrial SiC(SiC≥98 mass%,3-0.5,≤0.5 and≤0.044 mm),Si powder(Si≥98 mass%,≤0.044 mm),and SiO2 micropowder(SiO2≥96 mass%,d50=0.15 pm)as raw materials,and calcium lignosulfonate as the additive,batching,mixing,and molding on a vibration pressure molding machine,drying and then firing at 1420℃for 10 h in high-purity N2.The apparent porosity,the bulk density,the cold modulus of rupture,the hot modulus of rupture,and the linear expansion coefficient of the samples were tested.The phase composition and the microstructure of the samples at different nitriding depths(50,100,and 150 mm)were analyzed by XRD and SEM.The field application effects of the blocks were studied.The results show that:(1)the multi-phase nitrides bonded silicon carbide refractories can dynamically adjust their own phase composition and minimize structural and thermal stresses,improving the service life of key parts of dry quenching furnaces;(2)calcium lignosulfonate can improve the nitriding micro-environment of multi-phase nitrides bonded silicon carbide lintel blocks,successfully increasing the effective nitriding thickness of the blocks to 300 mm;(3)Sinosteel LI RR provides a unique concept in the design of materials and block types as well as the stable and scientific overall structure,promoting the industrialization process of dry quenching furnaces with long service life in China.

Interface state-based bound states in continuum and below-continuum-resonance modes with high-Q factors in the rotational periodic system

We have introduced a new approach to calculate the orbital angular momentum(OAM)of bound states in continuum(BICs)and below-continuum-resonance(BCR)modes in the rotational periodic system nested inside and outside by transforming the Bloch wave number from the translational periodic system.We extensively classify and study these BICs and BCR modes,which exhibit high-quality(high-Q)factors,in different regions relative to the interface of the system.These BICs and BCR modes with a high-Q factor have been studied in detail based on distinctive structural parameters and scattering theory.The outcomes of this research break the periodic limitation of interface state-based BICs,and realize more and higher symmetry interface state-based BICs and BCR modes.Moreover,we can control the region where light is captured by adjusting the frequency,and show that the Q factor of BICs is more closely related to the ordinal number of rings and the rotational symmetry number of the system.

Using fracture-based continuum modeling of coupled geomechanical-hydrological processes for numerical simulation of hydraulic fracturing

This paper describes numerical simulation of hydraulic fracturing using fracture-based continuum modeling(FBCM)of coupled geomechanical-hydrological processes to evaluate a technique for high-density fracturing and fracture caging.The simulations are innovative because of modeling discrete fractures explicitly in continuum analysis.A key advantage of FBCM is that fracture initiation and propagation are modeled explicitly without changing the domain grid(i.e.no re-meshing).Further,multiple realizations of a preexisting fracture distribution can be analyzed using the same domain grid.The simulated hydraulic fracturing technique consists of pressurizing multiple wells simultaneously:initially without permeating fluids into the rock,to seed fractures uniformly and at high density in the wall rock of the wells;followed by fluid injection to propagate the seeded fracture density hydraulically.FBCM combines the ease of continuum modeling with the potential accuracy of modeling discrete fractures and fracturing explicitly.Fractures are modeled as piecewise planar based on intersections with domain elements;fracture geometry stored as continuum properties is used to calculate parameters needed to model individual fractures;and rock behavior is modeled through tensorial aggregation of the behavior of discrete fractures and unfractured rock.Simulations are presented for previously unfractured rock and for rock with preexisting fractures of horizontal,shallow-dipping,steeply dipping,or vertical orientation.Simulations of a single-well model are used to determine the pattern and spacing for a multiple-well design.The results illustrate high-density fracturing and fracture caging through simultaneous fluid injection in multiple wells:for previously unfractured rock or rock with preexisting shallow-dipping or horizontal fractures,and in situ vertical compressive stress greater than horizontal.If preexisting fractures are steeply dipping or vertical,and considering the same in situ stress condition,well pressurization without fluid permeation appears to be the only practical way to induce new fractures and contain fracturing within the target domain.

Enhancing the Goos-Hänchen shift based on quasi-bound states in the continuum through material asymmetric dielectric compound gratings

Quasi-bound state in the continuum(QBIC)resonance is gradually attracting attention and being applied in Goos-Hänchen(GH)shift enhancement due to its high quality(Q)factor and superior optical confinement.Currently,symmetry-protected QBIC resonance is often achieved by breaking the geometric symmetry,but few cases are achieved by breaking the material symmetry.This paper proposes a dielectric compound grating to achieve a high Q factor and high-reflection symmetry-protectede QBIC resonance based on material asymmetry.Theoretical calculations show that the symmetry-protected QBIC resonance achieved by material asymmetry can significantly increase the GH shift up to-980 times the resonance wavelength,and the maximum GH shift is located at the reflection peak with unity reflectance.This paper provides a theoretical basis for designing and fabricating high-performance GH shift tunable metasurfaces/dielectric gratings in the future.

Static-to-kinematic modeling and experimental validation of tendon-driven quasi continuum manipulators with nonconstant subsegment stiffness

Continuum robots with high flexibility and compliance have the capability to operate in confined and cluttered environments. To enhance the load capacity while maintaining robot dexterity, we propose a novel non-constant subsegment stiffness structure for tendon-driven quasi continuum robots(TDQCRs) comprising rigid-flexible coupling subsegments.Aiming at real-time control applications, we present a novel static-to-kinematic modeling approach to gain a comprehensive understanding of the TDQCR model. The analytical subsegment-based kinematics for the multisection manipulator is derived based on screw theory and product of exponentials formula, and the static model considering gravity loading,actuation loading, and robot constitutive laws is established. Additionally, the effect of tension attenuation caused by routing channel friction is considered in the robot statics, resulting in improved model accuracy. The root-mean-square error between the outputs of the static model and the experimental system is less than 1.63% of the arm length(0.5 m). By employing the proposed static model, a mapping of bending angles between the configuration space and the subsegment space is established. Furthermore, motion control experiments are conducted on our TDQCR system, and the results demonstrate the effectiveness of the static-to-kinematic model.

Nonlinear wave dispersion in monoatomic chains with lumped and distributed masses:discrete and continuum models

The main objective of this paper is to investigate the influence of inertia of nonlinear springs on the dispersion behavior of discrete monoatomic chains with lumped and distributed masses.The developed model can represent the wave propagation problem in a non-homogeneous material consisting of heavy inclusions embedded in a matrix.The inclusions are idealized by lumped masses,and the matrix between adjacent inclusions is modeled by a nonlinear spring with distributed masses.Additionally,the model is capable of depicting the wave propagation in bi-material bars,wherein the first material is represented by a rigid particle and the second one is represented by a nonlinear spring with distributed masses.The discrete model of the nonlinear monoatomic chain with lumped and distributed masses is first considered,and a closed-form expression of the dispersion relation is obtained by the second-order Lindstedt-Poincare method(LPM).Next,a continuum model for the nonlinear monoatomic chain is derived directly from its discrete lattice model by a suitable continualization technique.The subsequent use of the second-order method of multiple scales(MMS)facilitates the derivation of the corresponding nonlinear dispersion relation in a closed form.The novelties of the present study consist of(i)considering the inertia of nonlinear springs on the dispersion behavior of the discrete mass-spring chains;(ii)developing the second-order LPM for the wave propagation in the discrete chains;and(iii)deriving a continuum model for the nonlinear monoatomic chains with lumped and distributed masses.Finally,a parametric study is conducted to examine the effects of the design parameters and the distributed spring mass on the nonlinear dispersion relations and phase velocities obtained from both the discrete and continuum models.These parameters include the ratio of the spring mass to the lumped mass,the nonlinear stiffness coefficient of the spring,and the wave amplitude.

Human immunodeficiency virus cascade–continuum of care stages and outcomes in a hospital in southern Brazil

BACKGROUND The human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)continuum of care cascade illustrates the 90-90-90 goals defined by the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(UNAIDS).The care cascade includes the following five steps:Diagnosis,linkage to care,retention in care,adherence to antiretroviral therapy(ART),and viral suppression.AIM To elaborate the HIV cascade of patients diagnosed with HIV at the Nossa Senhora da Conceição Hospital(HNSC)and to determine possible local causes for the loss of patients between each step of the cascade.METHODS This retrospective cohort study included patients diagnosed with HIV infection from January 1,2015 to December 31,2016 and followed up until July 31,2019.The data were analyzed by IBM SPSS software version 25,and Poisson regression with simple robust variance was used to analyze variables in relation to each step of the cascade.Variables with P<0.20 were included in multivariable analysis,and P<0.05 was considered significant.Pearson’sχ^(2) test was used to compare the groups of patients followed up at the HNSC and those followed up at other sites.RESULTS The results were lower than those expected by the UNAIDS,with 94%of patients linked,91%retained,81%adhering to ART,and 84%in viral suppression.Age and site of follow-up were the variables with the highest statistical significance.A comparison showed that the cascade of patients from the HNSC had superior results than outpatients,with a significant difference in the last step of the cascade.CONCLUSION The specialized and continued care provided at the HNSC was associated with better results and was closer to the goals set by the UNAIDS.The development of the HIV cascade using local data allowed for the stratification and evaluation of risk factors associated with the losses occurring between each step of the cascade.

MULTI-PHASE ACTIVE CONTOUR MODEL FOR IMAGE SEGMENTATION BASED ON LEVEL SETS

A new multi-phase active contour model is proposed for the image segmentation. It is a generalization of the C-V model with the following characteristics： （1） A key technique, called the technique of painting background （TPBG）, is developed to remove the information of the background, which blocks the detection of weak boundaries in the object; （2） The two-phase level set is applied multiple times for getting the multi-phase segmentation model （n-1 times for the n-phase model, n〉1）; （3） A scaling-based method is introduced to improve the basic model. Experimental results show that the proposed model is effective for detecting weak boundaries.

Multi-phase signal setting and capacity of signalized intersection

A capacity model of multi-phase signalized intersections is derived by a stopping-line method. It is simplified with two normal situations： one situation involves one straight lane and one left-turn lane; the other situation involves two straight lanes and one left-turn lane. The results show that the capacity is mainly relative to signal cycle length, phase length, intersection layout and following time. With regard to the vehicles arrival rates, the optimal model is derived based on each phase＇s remaining time balance, and it is solved by Lagrange multipliers. Therefore, the calculation models of the optimal signal cycle length and phase lengths are derived and simplified. Compared to the existing models, the proposed model is more convenient and practical. Finally, a practical intersection is chosen and its signal cycles and phase lengths are calculated by the proposed model.

Numerical simulation of complex multi-phase fluid of casting process and its applications

The fluid of casting process is a typical kind of multi-phase flow. Actually, many casting phenomena have close relationship with the multi-phase flow, such as molten metal filling process, air entrapment, slag movement, venting process of die casting, gas escaping of lost foam casting and so on. Obviously, in order to analyze these phenomena accurately, numerical simulation of the multi-phase fluid is necessary. Unfortunately, so far, most of the commercial casting simulation systems do not have the ability of multi-phase flow modeling due to the difficulty in the multi-phase flow calculation. In the paper, Finite Different Method (FDM) technique was adopt to solve the multi-phase fluid model. And a simple object of the muiti-phase fluid was analyzed to obtain the fluid rates of the liquid phase and the entrapped air phase.

A New Method for Hydrocarbon Detection Based on Multi-phase Theory

The hydrocarbon detection techniques used currently are generally based on the theory of single-phase medium, but hydrocarbon reservoir mostly is multi-phase medium, therefore, multisolutions and uncertainties are existed in the result of hydrocarbon detection. This paper presents a fast way to detect hydrocarbon in accordance with BOIT theory and laboratory data. The technique called DHAF technique has been applied to several survey area and obtained good result where the coincidence rate for hydrocarbon detection is higher than other similar techniques. The method shows a good prospect of the application in hydrocarbon detecting at exploration stage and in reservoir monitoring at production stage.

A proposed NMR solution for multi-phase flow fluid detection

In the petroleum industry,detection of multi-phase fluid flow is very important in both surface and down-hole measurements.Accurate measurement of high rate of water or gas multi-phase flow has always been an academic and industrial focus.NMR is an efficient and accurate technique for the detection of fluids;it is widely used in the determination of fluid compositions and properties.This paper is aimed to quantitatively detect multi-phase flow in oil and gas wells and pipelines and to propose an innovative method for online nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)detection.The online NMR data acquisition,processing and interpretation methods are proposed to fill the blank of traditional methods.A full-bore straight tube design without pressure drop,a Halbach magnet structure design with zero magnetic leakage outside the probe,a separate antenna structure design without flowing effects on NMR measurement and automatic control technology will achieve unattended operation.Through the innovation of this work,the application of NMR for the real-time and quantitative detection of multi-phase flow in oil and gas wells and pipelines can be implemented.

A new analytical model for thermal stresses in multi-phase materials and lifetime prediction methods

Based on the fundamental equations of the mechanics of solid continuum, the paper employs an analytical model for determination of elastic thermal stresses in isotropic continuum represented by periodically distributed spherical particles with different distributions in an infinite matrix, imaginarily divided into identical cells with dimensions equal to inter-particle distances, containing a central spherical particle with or without a spherical envelope on the particle surface. Consequently, the multi-particle-（envelope）- matrix system, as a model system regarding the analytical modelling, is applicable to four types of multi-phase materials. As functions of the particle volume fraction v, the inter-particle distances dl, d2, d3 along three mutually per- pendicular axes, and the particle and envelope radii, R1 and R2, respectively, the thermal stresses within the cell, are originated during a cooling process as a consequence of the difference in thermal expansion coefficients of phases rep- resented by the matrix, envelope and particle. Analytical-（experimental）-computational lifetime prediction methods for multi-phase materials are proposed, which can be used in engineering with appropriate values of parameters of real multi-phase materials.

Phase Transition Analysis Based Quality Prediction for Multi-phase Batch Processes

Batch processes are usually involved with multiple phases in the time domain and many researches on process monitoring as well as quality prediction have been done using phase information. However, few of them consider phase transitions, though they exit widely in batch processes and have non-ignorable impacts on product qualities. In the present work, a phase-based partial least squares (PLS) method utilizing transition information is proposed to give both online and offline quality predictions. First, batch processes are divided into several phases using regression parameters other than prior process knowledge. Then both steady phases and transitions which have great influences on qualities are identified as critical-to-quality phases using statistical methods. Finally, based on the analysis of different characteristics of transitions and steady phases, an integrated algorithm is developed for quality prediction. The application to an injection molding process shows the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in comparison with the traditional MPLS method and the phase-based PLS method.

Optimization study of a PEM fuel cell performance using 3D multi-phase computational fluid dynamics model

An optimization study using a comprehensive 3D, multi-phase, non-isothermal model of a PEM （proton exchange membrane） fuel cell that incorporates significant physical processes and key parameters affecting fuel cell performance is presented and discussed in detail. The model accounts for both gas and liquid phase in the same computational domain, and thus allows for the implementation of phase change inside the gas diffusion layers. The model includes the transport of gaseous species, liquid water, protons, energy, and water dissolved in the ion-conducting polymer. Water is assumed to be exchanged among three phases： liquid, vapottr, and dissolved, with equilibrium among these phases being assumed. This model also takes into account convection and diffusion of different species in the channels as well as in the porous gas diffusion layer, heat transfer in the solids as well as in the gases, and electrochemical reactions. The results showed that the present multi-phase model is capable of identifying important parameters for the wetting behaviour of the gas diffusion layers and can be used to identify conditions that might lead to the onset of pore plugging, which has a detrimental effect on the fuel cell performance. This model is used to study the effects of several operating, design, and material parameters on fuel cell performance. Detailed analyses of the fuel cell performance under various operating conditions have been conducted and examined.

Multi-phase field simulation of grain growth in multiple phase transformations of a binary alloy

This work establishes a temperature-controlled sequence function, and a new multi-phase-field model, for liquid- solid-solid multi-phase transformation by coupling the liquid-solid phase transformation model with the solid-solid phase transformation model. Taking an Fe-C alloy as an example, the continuous evolution of a multi-phase transformation is simulated by using this new model. In addition, the growth of grains affected by the grain orientation of the parent phase （generated in liquid-solid phase transformation） in the solid-solid phase transformation is studied. The results show that the morphology of ferrite grains which nucleate at the boundaries of the austenite grains is influenced by the orientation of the parent austenite grains. The growth rate of ferrite grains which nucleate at small-angle austenite grain boundaries is faster than those that nucleate at large-angle austenite grain boundaries. The difference of the growth rate of ferrites grains in different parent phase that nucleate at large-angle austenite grain boundaries, on both sides of the boundaries, is greater than that of ferrites nucleating at small-angle austenite grain boundaries.

Mechanical properties of irradiated multi-phase polycrystalline BCC materials

Structure materials under severe irradiations in nuclear environments are known to degrade because of irradiation hardening and loss of ductility,resulting from irradiation-induced defects such as vacancies,interstitials and dislocation loops,etc.In this paper,we develop an elastic-viscoplastic model for irradiated multi-phase polycrystalline BCC materials in which the mechanical behaviors of individual grains and polycrystalline aggregates are both explored.At the microscopic grain scale,we use the internal variable model and propose a new tensorial damage descriptor to represent the geometry character of the defect loop,which facilitates the analysis of the defect loop evolutions and dislocation-defect interactions.At the macroscopic polycrystal scale,the self-consistent scheme is extended to consider the multiphase problem and used to bridge the individual grain behavior to polycrystal properties.Based on the proposed model,we found that the work-hardening coefficient decreases with the increase of irradiation-induced defect loops,and the orientation/loading dependence of mechanical properties is mainly attributed to the different Schmid factors.At the polycrystalline scale,numerical results for pure Fe match well with the irradiation experiment data.The model is further extended to predict the hardening effect of dispersoids in oxide-dispersed strengthened steels by the considering the Orowan bowing.The influences of grain size and irradiation are found to compete to dominate the strengthening behaviors of materials.

THE RATE-INDEPENDENT CONSTITUTIVE MODELING FOR POROUS AND MULTI-PHASE NANOCRYSTALLINE MATERIALS

To determine the time-independent constitutive modeling for porous and multi- phase nanocrystalline materials and understand the effects of grain size and porosity on their mechanical behavior, each phase was treated as a mixture of grain interior and grain bound- ary, and pores were taken as a single phase, then Budiansky＇s self-consistent method was used to calculate the Young＇s modulus of porous, possible multi-phase, nanocrystalline materials, the prediction being in good agreement with the results in the literature. Further, the established method is extended to simulate the constitutive relations of porous and possible multi-phase nanocrystalline materials with small plastic deformation in conjunction with the secant-moduli approach and iso-strain assumption. Comparisons between the experimental grain size and porosity dependent mechanical data and the corresponding predictions using the established model show that it appears to be capable of describing the time-independent mechanical behaviors for porous and multi-phase nanocrystalline materials in a small plastic strain range. Further discussion on the modification factor, the advantages and limitations of the model developed were present.

Multi-phase computer modeling and laboratory study of dust capture by an inertial Vortecone scrubber

Dust generated in mining and tunneling activities is hazardous to health of persons and safety of operations. These projects employ pick-milling machines to extract minerals and rock by mechanical breakage.The machines are equipped with flooded-bed scrubbers that encase dust particles within fine water films as particles encounter a flooded wire-mesh screen. A major disadvantage is that the screen gets clogged when particles become trapped within the wire mesh, reducing airflow through the scrubber and increasing ambient dust concentrations. Thus, the system requires frequent maintenance or replacement. The application of a Vortecone scrubber as an improved alternative to conventional fibrous type scrubbers is investigated. A Vortecone forces dust-laden air and water to follow a complex, rapidly swirling motion.The momentum drives dust particles towards the periphery where they are captured by the water film.The operating characteristics of a reduced-scale physical model of a Vortecone, with its primary axis mounted in the horizontal orientation, was analyzed numerically and experimentally. Computational fluid dynamics(CFD) models depicting the spraying action and multi-phase air/water flows using the volume of fraction(VOF) approach, are presented. Experimental results, utilizing an optical particle counting technique to establish the dust-cleaning capabilities of the model, are also described.