Isogeometric boundary element methods for three dimensional static fracture and fatigue crack growth

We present a novel numerical method to simulate crack growth in 3D, directly from the Computer-Aided Design (CAD) geometry of the component, without any mesh generation. The method is an isogeometric boundary element method (IGABEM) based on non-uniform rational B-splines (NURBS). NURBS basis functions are used for the domain and crack representation as well as to approximate the physical quantities involved in the simulations. A stable quadrature scheme for singular integration is proposed to enhance the robustness of the method in dealing with highly distorted elements. Convergence studies in the crack opening displacement is performed for a penny-shaped crack and an elliptical crack. Two approaches to extract stress intensity factors (SIFs): the contour M integral and the virtual crack closure integral are compared using dual integral equations. The results show remarkable accuracy in the computed SIFs, leading to smooth crack paths and reliable fatigue lives, without requiring the generation of any mesh from the CAD model of the component under consideration

Isogeometric boundary element methods for three dimensional static fracture and fatigue crack growth

We present a novel numerical method to simulate crack growth in 3D, directly from the Computer-Aided Design (CAD) geometry of the component, without any mesh generation. The method is an isogeometric boundary element method (IGABEM) based on non-uniform rational B-splines (NURBS). NURBS basis functions are used for the domain and crack representation as well as to approximate the physical quantities involved in the simulations. A stable quadrature scheme for singular integration is proposed to enhance the robustness of the method in dealing with highly distorted elements. Convergence studies in the crack opening displacement is performed for a penny-shaped crack and an elliptical crack. Two approaches to extract stress intensity factors (SIFs): the contour M integral and the virtual crack closure integral are compared using dual integral equations. The results show remarkable accuracy in the computed SIFs, leading to smooth crack paths and reliable fatigue lives, without requiring the generation of any mesh from the CAD model of the component under consideration

Structural shape optimization of three dimensional acoustic problems with isogeometric boundary element methods

The boundary element method (BEM) is a powerful tool in computational acoustics, because the analysis is conducted only on structural surfaces, compared to the finite element method (FEM) which resorts to special techniques to truncate infinite domains. The isogeometric boundary element method (IGABEM) is a recent progress in the category of boundary element approaches, which is inspired by the concept of isogeometric analysis (IGA) and employs the spline functions of CAD as basis functions to discretize unknown physical fields. As a boundary representation approach, IGABEM is naturally compatible with CAD and thus can directly perform numerical analysis on CAD models, avoiding the cumbersome meshing procedure in conventional FEM/BEM and eliminating the difficulty of volume parameterization in isogeometric finite element methods. The advantage of tight integration of CAD and numerical analysis in IGABEM renders it particularly attractive in the application of structural shape optimization because (1) the geometry and the analysis can be interacted, (2) remeshing with shape morphing can be avoided, and (3) an optimized solution returns a CAD geometry directly without postprocessing steps. In the present paper, we apply the IGABEM to structural shape optimization of three dimensional exterior acoustic problems, fully exploiting the strength of IGABEM in addressing infinite domain problems and integrating CAD and numerical analysis. We employ the Burton–Miller formulation to overcome fictitious frequency problems, in which hyper-singular integrals are evaluated explicitly. The gradient-based optimizer is adopted and shape sensitivity analysis is conducted with implicit differentiation methods. The design variables are set to be the positions of control points which directly determine the shape of structures. Finally, numerical examples are provided to verify the algorithm

Stokes Diagnostis of 2D MHD-simulated Solar Magnetogranulation

We study the properties of solar magnetic fields on scales less than the spatial resolution of solar telescopes. A synthetic infrared spectropolarimetric diagnostics based on a 2D MHD simulation of magnetoconvection is used for this. We analyze two time sequences of snapshots that likely represent two regions of the network fields with their immediate surrounding on the solar surface with the unsigned magnetic flux density of 300 and 140 G. In the first region we find from probability density functions of the magnetic field strength that the most probable field strength at logtau_5=0 is equal to 250 G. Weak fields (B < 500 G) occupy about 70% of the surface, while stronger fields (B 1000 G) occupy only 9.7% of the surface. The magnetic flux is -28 G and its imbalance is -0.04. In the second region, these parameters are correspondingly equal to 150 G, 93.3 %, 0.3 %, -40 G, and -0.10. We estimate the distribution of line-of-sight velocities on the surface of log tau_5=-1. The mean velocity is equal to 0.4 km/s in the first simulated region. The averaged velocity in the granules is -1.2 km/s and in the intergranules is 2.5 km/s. In the second region, the corresponding values of the mean velocities are equal to 0, -1.8, 1.5 km/s. In addition we analyze the asymmetry of synthetic Stokes-V profiles of the Fe I 1564.8 nm line. The mean values of the amplitude and area asymmetry do not exceed 1%. The spatially smoothed amplitude asymmetry is increased to 10% while the area asymmetry is only slightly varied.Comment: 24 pages, 12 figure

Spectroscopic Signatures of Convection in the Spectrum of Procyon. Fundamental Parameters and Iron Abundance

We have observed the spectrum of Procyon A (F5IV) from 4559 to 5780 A with a S/N of ~ 1e3 and a resolving power of 2e5. We have measured the line bisectors and relative line shifts of a large number of Fe I and Fe II lines, comparing them to those found in the Sun. A three-dimensional(3D) hydrodynamical model atmosphere has been computed and is tested against observations. The model reproduces in detail most of the features observed, although we identify some room for improvement. At all levels, the comparison of the 3D time-dependent calculations with the observed spectral lines shows a much better agreement than for classical homogeneous models, making it possible to refine previous estimates of the iron abundance, the projected rotational velocity, the limb-darkening, and the systemic velocity of the Procyon binary system. The difference between the iron abundance determined with the 3D model and its 1D counterpart is <~ 0.05 dex. We find consistency between the iron abundance derived from Fe I and Fe II lines, suggesting that departures from LTE in the formation of the studied lines are relatively small. The scatter in the iron abundance determined from different lines still exceeds the expectations from the uncertainties in the atomic data, pointing out that one or more components in the modeling can be refined further.Comment: 30 pages, 19 figures; uses emulateapj.sty (included); to appear in ApJ (Feb 2002

Genome-wide association study for frozen-thawed sperm motility in stallions across various horse breeds

Objective: The semen quality of stallions including sperm motility is an important target of selection as it has a high level of individual variability. However, effects of the molecular architecture of the genome on the mechanisms of sperm formation and their preservation after thawing have been poorly investigated. Here, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for the sperm motility of cryopreserved semen in stallions of various breeds. Methods: Semen samples were collected from the stallions of 23 horse breeds. The following semen characteristics were examined: progressive motility (PM), progressive motility after freezing (FPM), and the difference between PM and FPM. The respective DNA samples from these stallions were genotyped using Axiom™ Equine Genotyping Array. Results: We performed a GWAS search for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and potential genes related to motility properties of frozen-thawed semen in the stallions of various breeds. As a result of the GWAS analysis, two SNP markers, rs1141327473 and rs1149048772, were identified that were associated with preservation of the frozen-thawed stallion sperm motility, the relevant putative candidate genes being NME8, OR2AP1 and OR6C4. Potential implications of effects of these genes on sperm motility are herein discussed. Conclusion: The GWAS results enabled us to localize novel SNPs and candidate genes for sperm motility in stallions. Implications of the study for horse breeding and genetics are a better understanding of genomic regions and candidate genes underlying stallion sperm quality, and improvement in horse reproduction and breeding techniques. The identified markers and genes for sperm cryotolerance and the respective genomic regions are promising candidates for further studying the biological processes in the formation and function of the stallion reproductive system

Experimental Detection of the CNO Cycle

Borexino recently reported the first experimental evidence for a CNO neutrino. Since this process accounts for only about 1% of the Sun’s total energy production, the associated neutrino flux is remarkably low compared to that of the pp chain, the dominant hydrogen-burning process. This experimental evidence for the existence of CNO neutrinos was obtained using a highly radio-pure Borexino liquid scintillator. Improvements in the thermal stabilization of the detector over the last five years have allowed us to exploit a method of constraining the rate of 210Bi background. Since the CNO cycle is dominant in massive stars, this result is the first experimental evidence of a major stellar hydrogen-to-helium conversion mechanism in the Universe

Solar and geoneutrinos

Thanks to the progress of neutrino physics, today we are able of exploiting neutrinos as a tool to study astrophysical objects. The latter in turn serve as unique sources of elusive neutrinos, which fundamental properties are still to be understood. This contribution attempts to summarize the latest results obtained by measuring neutrinos emitted from the Sun and geoneutrinos produced in radioactive decays inside the Earth, with a particular focus on a recent discovery of the CNO-cycle solar neutrinos by Borexino. Comprehensive measurement of the pp-chain solar neutrinos and the first directional detection of sub-MeV solar neutrinos by Borexino, the updated 8B solar neutrino results of Super-Kamiokande, as well as the latest Borexino and KamLAND geoneutrino measurements are also discussed

First Directional Measurement of sub-MeV Solar Neutrinos with Borexino

We report the measurement of sub-MeV solar neutrinos through the use of their associated Cherenkov radiation, performed with the Borexino detector at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso. The measurement is achieved using a novel technique that correlates individual photon hits of events to the known position of the Sun. In an energy window between 0.54 to 0.74 MeV, selected using the dominant scintillation light, we have measured 10 887þ2386 ðstatÞ � 947ðsystÞ (68% confidence interval) −2103 solar neutrinos out of 19904 total events. This corresponds to a 7Be neutrino interaction rate of 51.6þ13.9 counts=ðday · 100 tonÞ, which is in agreement with the standard solar model predictions and the −12.5 previous spectroscopic results of Borexino. The no-neutrino hypothesis can be excluded with > 5σ confidence level. For the first time, we have demonstrated the possibility of utilizing the directional Cherenkov information for sub-MeV solar neutrinos, in a large-scale, high light yield liquid scintillator detector. This measurement provides an experimental proof of principle for future hybrid event reconstruction using both Cherenkov and scintillation signatures simultaneously