I.K. Lifanov¹, Y.A. Melnikov², A.S. Nenashev³

The International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences, Vol.3, No.2, pp. 101-106, 2007, DOI:10.3970/icces.2007.003.101

Abstract Two different boundary integral equation method-based approaches are developed for computing potential fields generated by point sources in multiply-connected regions of irregular configuration. Numerical experiment is conducted to demonstrate the computational potential of the approaches. More >

Christopher J. Hunter^∗,†, Sophia Bianchi^*, Phil Cheng^‡, Ken Muldrew^∗,‡

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.4, No.4, pp. 227-238, 2007, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2007.004.227

Abstract The nucleus pulposi of many species contain residual cells from the embryonic notochord, which exhibit a very unusual appearance (large vacuoles occupying ~80% of the cell volume, surrounded by an actin cytoskeleton). While the vacuoles have been qualitatively described, their composition and function has remained elusive. Given that these cells are believed to generate and experience significant osmotic pressures in both the notochord and intervertebral disc, we hypothesized that the vacuoles may serve as osmoregulatory organelles. Using both experimental and theoretical means, we demonstrated that the vacuoles contain a low-osmolality solution, generated via ion pumps More >

Jason W. Triplett^∗, Rita O’Riley^∗, Kristyn Tekulve^∗, Suzanne M. Norvell^∗, Fredrick M. Pavalko^†

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.4, No.1, pp. 13-26, 2007, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2007.004.013

Abstract Maintenance of optimal bone physiology requires the coordinated activity of osteoclasts that resorb old bone and osteoblasts that deposit new bone. Mechanical loading of bone and the resulting movement of interstitial fluid within the spaces surrounding bone cells is thought to play a key role is maintaining optimal bone mass. One way in which fluid movement may promote bone formation is by enhancing osteoblast survival. We have shown previously that application of fluid flow to osteoblasts in vitro confers a protective effect by inhibiting osteoblast apoptosis (Pavalko et al., 2003, J. Cell Physiol., 194: 194-205).… More >

Cha’o-Kuang Chen¹, Shing-Cheng Chang¹, Szu-Yu Sun¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.22, No.3, pp. 203-216, 2007, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2007.022.203

Abstract In this study, the channel flow is discussed by the LBM simulations. In the cases of channel with obstacles inside, the square pillars play the role of causing interruption within the fluid field, and hence change the direction of fluid flow. The recirculation region is formed behind the obstacles and influences the fluid passed through not only in the velocity field but also in the temperature field. Therefore, heat transfer is enhanced in local region.
The field synergy principle is applied in the research to demonstrate that the increased interruption within the fluid increases the More >

S. Chen^1,2, Y. Liu^1,3, B.C. Khoo⁴, X.J. Fan⁵, J.T. Fan⁶

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.19, No.3, pp. 181-196, 2007, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2007.019.181

Abstract The mesoscopic simulation for fluids flow in a square microchannel is investigated using dissipative particle dynamics. The velocity distribution for single fluid in a square channel is compared with the solutions of CFD solver, which is found to be in good agreement with each other. The no-slip boundary condition could be well held for the repulsive coefficient ranged from 9.68 to 18.0. For the same range of repulsive coefficient, various wettabilities could be obtained by changing the repulsive coefficient for binary immiscible fluids, in which the immiscible fluids are achieved by increasing the repulsive force… More >

Chein-Shan Liu¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.19, No.2, pp. 145-162, 2007, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2007.019.145

Abstract A new method is developed to solve the Dirichlet problems for the two-dimensional Laplace equation in the doubly-connected domains, namely the meshless regularized integral equations method (MRIEM), which consists of three portions: Fourier series expansion, the Fredholm integral equations, and linear equations to determine the unknown boundary conditions onartificial circles. The boundary integral equations on artificial circles are singular-free and the kernels are degenerate. When boundary-type methods are inefficient to treat the problems with complicated domains, the new method can be applicable for such problems. The new method by using the Fourier series and the Fourier coefficients More >

Y.F. Nie¹, S. Chang¹, X.K. Fan¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.19, No.2, pp. 135-144, 2007, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2007.019.135

Abstract A new parallel mechanism for Node-based Seamless Finite Element Method was proposed in this paper, which possessed the following three prominent points: realizing the workload balance for the parallel processes naturally, achieving synchronization of all the schedules under complex parallel environment, and filling up the gap between pre-processing and main processing. To support the scheme, three specific solutions of the parallel mechanism were proposed in this paper, all of which achieved the highly efficient parallel seamless connection between the FEM mesh generation process and structure analysis process. Two of the three schemes, i.e. dynamic scheme More >

L. Lamberti^1,2, C. Pappalettere^1,3

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.18, No.3, pp. 183-222, 2007, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2007.018.183

Abstract This paper presents a novel optimization algorithm for minimizing weight of skeletal structures. The algorithm--denoted as MPISA (Multi Point Improved Simulated Annealing)--utilizes a multi-level simulated annealing scheme where different candidate designs are compared simultaneously. This is done in purpose to increase computational efficiency and to minimize the number of exact structural analyses.
MPISA is tested in three complicated design problems of skeletal structures: (i) sizing optimization of a planar bar truss under five independent loading conditions including 200 design variables; (ii) sizing-configuration optimization of a cantilevered bar truss including 81 design variables; (iii) sizing-configuration optimization More >

S.Y. Wang^1,2, K.M. Lim^2,3, B.C. Khoo^2,3, M.Y. Wang⁴

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.18, No.3, pp. 155-182, 2007, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2007.018.155

Abstract In this paper, a geometric deformation constrained level set method is presented as an effective approach for structural shape and topology optimization. A level set method is used to capture the motion of the free boundary of a structure. Furthermore, the geometric deformation of the free boundary is constrained to preserve the structural connectivity and/or topology during the level set evolution. An image-processing-based structural connectivity and topology preserving approach is proposed. A connected components labeling technique based on the 4-neighborhood connectivity measure and a binary image is used for the present region identification. The corresponding… More >

K. Han ¹, Y. T. Feng ¹, D. R. J. Owen¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.18, No.2, pp. 87-100, 2007, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2007.018.087

Abstract Numerical procedures are introduced for simulations of irregular particle transport in turbulent flows using the coupled lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) and the discrete element method (DEM). The fluid field is solved by the extended LBM with the incorporation of the Smagorinsky turbulence approach, while particle interaction is modeled by the DEM. The hydrodynamic interactions between fluid and particles are realised through an immersed boundary condition, which gives rise to a coupled solution strategy to model the fluid-particle system under consideration. Main computational aspects comprise the lattice Boltzmann formulation for the solution of fluid flows; the More >