A Versatile Nonlinear Method for Predictive Modeling

As computational fluid dynamics techniques and tools become widely accepted for realworld practice today, it is intriguing to ask: what areas can it be utilized to its potential in the future. Some promising areas include design optimization and exploration of fluid dynamics phenomena (the concept of numerical wind tunnel), in which both have the common feature where some parameters are varied repeatedly and the computation can be costly. We are especially interested in the need for an accurate and efficient approach for handling these applications: (1) capturing complex nonlinear dynamics inherent in a system under consideration and (2) versatility (robustness) to encompass a range of parametric variations. In our previous paper, we proposed to use first-order Taylor expansion collected at numerous sampling points along a trajectory and assembled together via nonlinear weighting functions. The validity and performance of this approach was demonstrated for a number of problems with a vastly different input functions. In this study, we are especially interested in enhancing the method's accuracy; we extend it to include the second-orer Taylor expansion, which however requires a complicated evaluation of Hessian matrices for a system of equations, like in fluid dynamics. We propose a method to avoid these Hessian matrices, while maintaining the accuracy. Results based on the method are presented to confirm its validity

Nonlinear Modeling by Assembling Piecewise Linear Models

To preserve nonlinearity of a full order system over a parameters range of interest, we propose a simple modeling approach by assembling a set of piecewise local solutions, including the first-order Taylor series terms expanded about some sampling states. The work by Rewienski and White inspired our use of piecewise linear local solutions. The assembly of these local approximations is accomplished by assigning nonlinear weights, through radial basis functions in this study. The efficacy of the proposed procedure is validated for a two-dimensional airfoil moving at different Mach numbers and pitching motions, under which the flow exhibits prominent nonlinear behaviors. All results confirm that our nonlinear model is accurate and stable for predicting not only aerodynamic forces but also detailed flowfields. Moreover, the model is robustness-accurate for inputs considerably different from the base trajectory in form and magnitude. This modeling preserves nonlinearity of the problems considered in a rather simple and accurate manner

Aerodynamic shape optimization of co-flow jet airfoil using a multi-island genetic algorithm

The co-flow jet is a Zero-Net-Mass-Flux (ZNMF) active flow control strategy and presents great potential to improve the aerodynamic efficiency of future fuel-efficient aircraft. The present work is to integrate the co-flow jet technology into aerodynamic shape optimization to further realize the potential of co-flow-jet technology and improve co-flow jet airfoil performance. The optimization results show that the maximum energy efficiency ratio of lift-augmentation and drag-reduction increased by 203.53% (α=0◦) and 10.25% (α=10◦) at the Power-1 condition (power coefficient of 0.3), respectively. A larger curvature is observed near the leading edge of the optimized aerodynamic shape, which leads to the early onset of flow separation and improves energy transfer efficiency from the jet to the free stream. In addition, the higher mid-span of the optimized airfoil is characterized by accelerating the flow in the middle of the airfoil, increasing the strength of the negative pressure zone, thus improving the stall margin and enhancing the co-flow jet circulation

Study on the nonlinear transient response for the non-contact mechanical face seal

Considering the tilt of the seal ring, the transient vibration response analysis model of the non-contact mechanical seal is presented. The model is consisted of the transient Reynolds equation, the equation of motion and the equation for solving the high order nonlinear dynamic coefficients of seal. The relative error of the high order nonlinear film force to the linear film force is also obtained. With Euler method, the characteristic parameters of the transient vibration response are obtained, which include the axial vibration displacements and the angle-swing of the static ring. The 14 nonlinear force and 14 nonlinear overturning moment dynamic coefficients for the non-contact mechanical seal are calculated. The results show that the influence of the damping effects of the sealed fluid between the seal gap on the axial vibration displacements and the angle-swing is linear. The film thickness distribution changes with the axial vibration of seal, which will lead to static ring swing, and the swing also can cause the axial vibration of the seal. With the increase of the nonlinear order, the relative error of the nonlinear film force decreases. All of the nonlinear film forces, the non-linear stiffness coefficient and damping coefficient decrease with the seal film thickness increases

Lock-in mechanism of flow over a low-Reynolds-number airfoil with morphing surface

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.To understand the frequency lock-in mechanism of flow separation control of an airfoil at low Reynolds number, a systematic analysis is performed by extracting the Lagrangian Coherent Structures (LCSs) from the unsteady flow. The actuation is considered via periodic morphing surface, and the dynamical behaviors between morphing surface and unsteady flow are studied from the viewpoint of fluid transport. Attention is drawn to fluid transport and lift improvement when the actuation frequency is locked onto the vortex shedding frequency. The results show that the fluid particle near the actuator is accelerated by the actuation and interacts with the slow fluid particle in boundary layer on the airfoil surface. The so-called stirring jet mechanism is observed, whereby a cusp structure is formed like a jet acting on the flow, which enhances the fluid transport from main stream into separation zone by reducing dead air zone effectively. The results also show that the actuation frequency is found to be the key factor for lift enhancement and determines the cusp structures and the vortex strength on the upper surface of the airfoil

A reduced-order model for gradient-based aerodynamic shape optimisation

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.This work presents a reduced order model for gradient based aerodynamic shape optimization. The solution of the fluid Euler equations is converted to reduced Newton iterations by using the Least Squares Petrov-Galerkin projection. The reduced order basis is extracted by Proper Orthogonal Decomposition from snapshots based on the fluid state. The formulation distinguishes itself by obtaining the snapshots for all design parameters by solving a linear system of equations. Similarly, the reduced gradient formulation is derived by projecting the full-order model state onto the subspace spanned by the reduced basis. Auto-differentiation is used to evaluate the reduced Jacobian without forming the full fluid Jacobian explicitly during the reduced Newton iterations. Throughout the optimisation trajectory, the residual of the reduced Newton iterations is used as an indicator to update the snapshots and enrich the reduced order basis. The resulting multi-fidelity optimisation problem is managed by a trust-region algorithm. The ROM is demonstrated for a subsonic inverse design problem and for an aerofoil drag minimization problem in the transonic regime. The results suggest that the proposed algorithm is capable of aerodynamic shape optimization while reducing the number of full-order model queries and time to solution with respect to an adjoint gradient based optimisation framework

TROP2 promotes proliferation, migration and metastasis of gallbladder cancer cells by regulating PI3K/AKT pathway and inducing EMT

The human trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (TROP2) is overexpressed in many cancers. However, its effect on proliferation, migration and metastasis of gallbladder cancer remains unclear. In this study, we found that TROP2 was highly expressed in gallbladder cancer. Overexpression of TROP2 was associated with poor prognosis. Knockdown of TROP2 in gallbladder cancer cell lines strongly inhibited the cell proliferation, clone formation, invasion and migration in vitro, while TROP2 overexpression had opposite effects. In addition, knockdown of TROP2 increased the expression of total PTEN, p-PTEN and PDK-1 but reduced p-AKT via PI3K/AKT pathway. TROP2 downregulation also inhibited vimentin and increased E-cadherin expression during epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Moreover, gallbladder cancer cells with TROP2 knockdown formed smaller xenografted tumors in vivo. In consistent with in vitro results, TROP2 inhibition decreased Akt phosphorylation, increased PTEN expression and postponed EMT of gallbladder cancer cells in vivo. In conclusion, we revealed that TROP2 promoted the proliferation, migration and metastasis of gallbladder cancer cells by regulating PI3K/ AKT pathway and inducing EMT. TROP2 could serve as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for the clinical management of gallbladder cancer

A 3D study on the amplification of regional haze and particle growth by local emissions

The role of new particle formation (NPF) events and their contribution to haze formation through subsequent growth in polluted megacities is still controversial. To improve the understanding of the sources, meteorological conditions, and chemistry behind air pollution, we performed simultaneous measurements of aerosol composition and particle number size distributions at ground level and at 260 m in central Beijing, China, during a total of 4 months in 2015-2017. Our measurements show a pronounced decoupling of gas-to-particle conversion between the two heights, leading to different haze processes in terms of particle size distributions and chemical compositions. The development of haze was initiated by the growth of freshly formed particles at both heights, whereas the more severe haze at ground level was connected directly to local primary particles and gaseous precursors leading to higher particle growth rates. The particle growth creates a feedback loop, in which a further development of haze increases the atmospheric stability, which in turn strengthens the persisting apparent decoupling between the two heights and increases the severity of haze at ground level. Moreover, we complemented our field observations with model analyses, which suggest that the growth of NPF-originated particles accounted up to similar to 60% of the accumulation mode particles in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area during haze conditions. The results suggest that a reduction in anthropogenic gaseous precursors, suppressing particle growth, is a critical step for alleviating haze although the number concentration of freshly formed particles (3-40 nm) via NPF does not reduce after emission controls.Peer reviewe

Chiroptical properties of carbo[6]helicene derivatives bearing extended π-conjugated cyano substituents.

International audienceNew carbo[6]helicene derivatives grafted with π-conjugated cyano-phenyl arms were synthesized in enantiopure forms and their π-conjugation examined by UV-vis spectroscopy. The influence of the π-conjugation on the circular dichroism spectra and molar rotations is discussed based on comparing experimental data with results from quantum-chemical calculations. The results highlight the fact that increasing the spatial extension of the π-system in a helicene molecule is an efficient way of increasing its molar rotation