K. Matsunaga¹, H. Kawamura¹

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.2, No.1, pp. 59-64, 2006, DOI:10.3970/fdmp.2006.002.059

Abstract Existing studies on solidification phenomena mainly focused on the solidification processes per se. In real systems, however, one cannot neglect the effects of molten material convective flow, such as natural and thermocapillary convection (they strongly affect the resulting quality of the solidified materials). The present study aims to experimentally investigate on the effect of the thermocapillary flow upon the directional solidification in a liquid layer with a free upper surface. If no free surface exists, the solid--liquid interface (SLI) is vertical and straight, while, with the free surface, the SLI is inclined against the wall-normal More >

A.Kurenkov¹, A.Thess², H.Babovsky³

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.2, No.1, pp. 47-58, 2006, DOI:10.3970/fdmp.2006.002.047

Abstract A possibility for the determination of the interface between two electrically conducting fluids in cylindrical geometry is presented. The fluids with different conductivities are situated in an infinite cylinder. Along the axis of the cylinder a homogeneous electrical current is applied. The perturbation of the interface leads to an inhomogeneous electrical current and, therefore, results in an electrical potential change in the fluids and a magnetic field modification outside the fluids. The dependence of the electrical potential on the interface shape is obtained analytically. The interface profile is then recovered from data of the electrical More >

M. Kassemi¹, Y. Wang², S. Barsi^1,3, B.T.F. Chung²

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.2, No.1, pp. 27-46, 2006, DOI:10.3970/fdmp.2006.002.027

Abstract Microgravity experiments, especially materials processing experiments, have often been hampered by presence of unwanted bubbles. In this work, the effect of thermocapillary convection generated by a bubble on the Bridgman growth of a dilute binary alloy in microgravity is investigated numerically. The model is based on the quasi-steady Navier-Stokes equations for the fluid flow in the melt coupled with the conservation equations for transport of energy and species in the growth ampoule. Numerical results indicate three different growth regimes based on the distance between the bubble and the growth interface: a diffusion dominated regime that More >

M.El-Gammal¹, J.M.Floryan¹

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.2, No.1, pp. 17-26, 2006, DOI:10.3970/fdmp.2006.002.017

Abstract Interface deformation and thermocapillary rupture in a cavity with free upper surface subject to concentrated heating from above is investigated. The dynamics of the process is modulated by placing different amounts of liquid in the cavity. The results determined for large Biot and zero Marangoni numbers show the existence of limit points beyond which steady, continuous interface cannot exist and processes leading to the interface rupture develop. Evolution of the limit point as a function of the mass of the liquid is investigated. The topology of the flow field is found to be qualitatively similar, More >

Milica Radisic^1,2, Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic³

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.2, No.1, pp. 1-16, 2006, DOI:10.3970/fdmp.2006.002.001

Abstract To engineer cardiac tissue in vitro with properties approaching those of native tissue, it is necessary to reproduce many of the conditions found in vivo. In particular, cell density must be sufficiently high to enable contractility, which implies a three-dimensional culture with a sufficient oxygen and nutrient supply. In this review, hydrogels and scaffolds that support high cell densities are examined followed by a discussion on the utility of scaffold perfusion to satisfy high oxygen demand of cardiomyocytes and an overview of new bioreactors developed in our laboratory to accomplish this task more simply. More >

Vladimir Sladek¹, Jan Sladek¹, Chuanzeng Zhang²

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.4, No.3, pp. 177-188, 2006, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2006.004.177

Abstract This paper concerns the stability, convergence of accuracy and cost efficiency of four various formulations for solution of boundary value problems in non-homogeneous elastic solids with functionally graded Young's modulus. The meshless point interpolation method is employed with using various basis functions. The interaction among the elastic continuum constituents is considered in the discretized formulation either by collocation of the governing equations or by integral satisfaction of the force equilibrium on local sub-domains. The exact benchmark solutions are used in numerical tests. More >

R. Han¹, M.S. Ingber¹, H.L. Schreyer¹

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.4, No.3, pp. 163-176, 2006, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2006.004.163

Abstract Decohesion is an important failure mode associated with fiber-reinforced composite materials. Analysis of failure progression at the fiber-matrix interfaces in fiber-reinforced composite materials is considered using a softening decohesion model consistent with thermodynamic concepts. In this model, the initiation of failure is given directly by a failure criterion. Damage is interpreted by the development of a discontinuity of displacement. The formulation describing the potential development of damage is governed by a discrete decohesive constitutive equation. Numerical simulations are performed using the direct boundary element method. Incremental decohesion simulations illustrate the progressive evolution of debonding zones More >

S. Smaoui¹, A. Ben Hamida¹, I. Djeran-Maigre², H. Dumontet¹

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.4, No.3, pp. 153-162, 2006, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2006.004.153

Abstract An iterative homogenization approach is proposed in order to predict the nonlinear hydro-mechanical behaviour of porous media. This process is coupled to classical and modified secant extended methods and linear homogenization predictive schemes. At convergence of the iterative process, same equivalent behaviour is obtained for any secant method, any simplified homogenization used for the linear comparison material and for any initial porosity of the media. An application to the study of the nonlinear behaviour of clayey sediments is presented. The model parameters quantification is based on oedometric experimental results for different clays. More >

G. Mishuris¹, A. Öchsner², G. Kuhn³

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.4, No.3, pp. 137-152, 2006, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2006.004.137

Abstract Nonclassical transmission conditions for dissimilar elastic structures with imperfect interfaces are investigated. The thin interface zone is assumed to be soft or stiff in comparison with the bonded materials and the transmission conditions for stiff interfaces are evaluated based on asymptotic analysis. The accuracy of the transmission conditions is clarified not only in terms of asymptotic estimate, but, which is especially important for users, also in values by accurate FEM calculations. The ranges of applicability of the conditions are discussed. More >

S. Marguet¹, P. Rozycki¹, L. Gornet¹

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.4, No.3, pp. 119-136, 2006, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2006.004.119

Abstract This paper deals with the modelling until rupture of composite structures made of glass-fibre / epoxy-resin woven fabrics submitted to dynamic loadings. The model is built at the mesoscale of the elementary ply. It takes into account the slightly nonlinear brittle behaviour of the fibres under tensile sollicitations, their nonlinear behaviour in compression as well as the strongly non linear and irreversible behaviour of the ply in shear. Strain rate effects are also introduced and special attention is paid to the objectivity of the model in the context of finite element calculation. Therefore the choice… More >