A coarse-grained bonded particle model for large-scale rock simulation

For solving the computationally intensive problem encountered by the discrete element method(DEM)in simulating large-scale engineering problems,it is essential to establish a numerical model that can effectively simulate large-scale rocks.In this study,the coarse-graining effect of a linear-Mindlin with bonding model was studied in the unconfined compression strength(UCS)and Brazilian tensile strength(BTS)tests.We found that the main reason for the coarse-graining effect of the BTS tests is that the type I fracture toughness is positively correlated with the size of the particles.Based on the results analysis and fracture mechanics,the coarse-grained(CG)modeling theory was combined with a bonded particle model(BPM)for the first time and a coarse-grained bonded particle model(CG-BPM)was developed,which can be effectively used to model the tensile strength of large-scale rocks with different particle sizes.The excavation damage zone(EDZ)in an underground research laboratory(URL)was selected as an application case,which shows that the coarse-grained bonding model presented in this paper is more accurate and reliable than the traditional one in large-scale rock simulation,at least in the scenario where tensile failure is dominant.

Analysis of Bone Remodeling Under Piezoelectricity Effects Using Boundary Elements

Piezoelectric materials exhibit a response to mechanical-electrical coupling, which represents an important contribution to the electrical-mechanical interaction in bone remodeling process. Therefore, the study of the piezoelectric effect on bone re- modeling has high interest in applied biomechanics. The effects of mechano-regulation and electrical stimulation on bone healing are explained. The Boundary Element Method （BEM） is used to simulate piezoelectric effects on bones when shearing forces are applied to collagen fibers to make them slip past each other. The piezoelectric fundamental solutions are obtained by using the Radon transform. The Dual Reciprocity Method （DRM） is used to simulate the particular solutions in time-dependent problems. BEM analysis showed the strong influence of electrical stimulation on bone remodeling. The examples discussed in this work showed that, as expected, the electrically loaded bone surfaces improved the bone deposition. BEM results confirmed previous findings obtained by using the Finite Element Method （FEM）. This work opens very promising doors in biomechanics research, showing that mechanical loads can be replaced, in part, by electrical charges that stimulate strengthening bone density. The obtained results herein are in good agreement with those found in literature from experimental testing and/or other simu- lation approaches.

A Preconditioned Implicit Free-Surface Capture Scheme for Large Density Ratio on Tetrahedral Grids

We present a three dimensional preconditioned implicit free-surface capture scheme on tetrahedral grids.The current scheme improves our recently reported method[10]in several aspects.Specifically,we modified the original eigensystem by applying a preconditioning matrix so that the new eigensystem is virtually independent of density ratio,which is typically large for practical two-phase problems.Further,we replaced the explicit multi-stage Runge-Kutta method by a fully implicit Euler integration scheme for the Navier-Stokes(NS)solver and the Volume of Fluids(VOF)equation is now solved with a second order Crank-Nicolson implicit scheme to reduce the numerical diffusion effect.The preconditioned restarted GeneralizedMinimal RESidual method(GMRES)is then employed to solve the resulting linear system.The validation studies show that with these modifications,the method has improved stability and accuracy when dealing with large density ratio two-phase problems.

Drag reduction via turbulent boundary layer flow control

Turbulent boundary layer control(TBLC) for skin-friction drag reduction is a relatively new technology made possible through the advances in computational-simulation capabilities,which have improved the understanding of the flow structures of turbulence.Advances in micro-electronic technology have enabled the fabrication of active device systems able to manipulating these structures.The combination of simulation,understanding and micro-actuation technologies offers new opportunities to significantly decrease drag,and by doing so,to increase fuel efficiency of future aircraft.The literature review that follows shows that the application of active control turbulent skin-friction drag reduction is considered of prime importance by industry,even though it is still at a low technology readiness level(TRL).This review presents the state of the art of different technologies oriented to the active and passive control for turbulent skin-friction drag reduction and contributes to the improvement of these technologies.