872 research outputs found

    Optimization of Patterned Surfaces for Improved Superhydrophobicity Through Cost-Effective Large-Scale Computations

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    The growing need for creating surfaces with specific wetting properties, such as superhyrdophobic behavior, asks for novel methods for their efficient design. In this work, a fast computational method for the evaluation of patterned superhyrdophobic surfaces is introduced. The hydrophobicity of a surface is quantified in energy terms through an objective function. The increased computational cost led to the parallelization of the method with the Message Passing Interface (MPI) communication protocol that enables calculations on distributed memory systems allowing for parametric investigations at acceptable time frames. The method is demonstrated for a surface consisting of an array of pillars with inverted conical (frustum) geometry. The parallel speedup achieved allows for low cost parametric investigations on the effect of the fine features (curvature and slopes) of the pillars on the superhydophobicity of the surface and consequently for the optimization of superhyrdophobic surfaces.Comment: 18 pages, 18 figure

    Microstructure Clustering in Multiphase Materials: The role of dimensionless temperature and surface fraction

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    The significant development and intensified use of composite materials (reinforced plastics, extruded materials and mechanically blended thermoplastics) over the last 30 years has provided the impetus for intense research on their processability as well as on the durability and properties of the final products. In disperse multiphase systems, the dispersion/distribution of particles (microstructure) is regarded as a key factor, both affected by processing and in its turn determining performance

    A digital platform for the design of patient-centric supply chains

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    Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell therapies have received increasing attention, showing promising results in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and aggressive B cell lymphoma. Unlike typical cancer treatments, autologous CAR T cell therapies are patient-specific; this makes them a unique therapeutic to manufacture and distribute. In this work, we focus on the development of a computer modelling tool to assist the design and assessment of supply chain structures that can reliably and cost-efficiently deliver autologous CAR T cell therapies. We focus on four demand scales (200, 500, 1000 and 2000 patients annually) and we assess the tool’s capabilities with respect to the design of responsive supply chain candidate solutions while minimising cost

    Isokinetic Evaluation of the Elbow Joint at 45° and 80° of Shoulder Abduction

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    Since Hislop and Thistle published the first reports on isokinetic exercise, a lot of progress has been made towards the use of isokinetic exercise and isokinetic evaluation of muscle and joint performance in sports and orthopedic physical therapy. Cybex II+ with the Cybex Data Reduction Computer is one of the most widely used isokinetic systems for research and rehabilitation purposes. There are more than 500 published works describing the use of Cybex in various applications, Many investigations have used the Cybex isokinetic system to develop normative data on torque and work measurements of various muscle groups. Normative data are valuable to clinicians in the evaluation of the severity of an injury in terms of muscle performance deficits. In addition, such data provide physical therapists with objective data in setting rehabilitation goals, and enabling sports medicine experts to identify functional deficiencies during screening of athletes. There is a limited number of published works that have developed normative data for elbow flexor and extensor muscle groups. While there is some information about peak torque and agonist-antagonist ratios, minimal information is available about torque acceleration energy, work endurance ratios, average power and flexion-extension total work ratios. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 450 and 800 of shoulder abduction on torque and work measurements of the elbow joint. In addition, normative data for elbow flexion and extension at both arm positions (testing positions suggested by Cybex) were developed

    Propagation of acoustic-gravity waves in inhomogeneous ocean environment based on modal expansions and HP-FEM

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    A coupled mode model is presented for the propagation of acoustic-gravity waves in layered ocean waveguides. The analysis extends previous work for acoustic waves in inhomogeneous environment. The coupled mode system is derived by means of a variational principle in conjunction with local mode series expansion, obtained by utilizing eigenfunction systems defined in the vertical section. These are obtained through the solution of vertical eigenvalue problems formulated along the waveguide. A crucial factor is the inclusion of additional modes accounting for the effects of spatialy varying boundaries and interfaces. This enhancement provides an implicit summation for the slowly convergent part of the localmode series, rendering the series rapidly convergent, increasing substantialy the efficiency of the method. Particular aspects of the method include high order Lagrange Finite Element Methods for the solution of local vertical eigenvalue problems in the case of multilayered waveguides, and Gauss-type quadrature for the computation of the coupled-mode system coefficients. The above aspects make the present method quite efficient for long range propagation in extended waveguides, such as the ones found in geophysical applications, e.g. ocean basins, as only few modes are needed for the accurate representation of the wave field

    Hydroelastic analysis of ice shelves under long wave excitation

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    Abstract. The transient hydroelastic response of an ice shelf under long wave excitation is analysed by means of the finite element method. The simple model, presented in this work, is used for the simulation of the generated kinematic and stress fields in an ice shelf, when the latter interacts with a tsunami wave. The ice shelf, being of large length compared to its thickness, is modelled as an elastic Euler-Bernoulli beam, constrained at the grounding line. The hydrodynamic field is represented by the linearised shallow water equations. The numerical solution is based on the development of a special hydroelastic finite element for the system of governing of equations. Motivated by the 2011 Sulzberger Ice Shelf (SIS) calving event and its correlation with the Honshu Tsunami, the SIS stable configuration is studied. The extreme values of the bending moment distribution in both space and time are examined. Finally, the location of these extrema is investigated for different values of ice shelf thickness and tsunami wave length
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