Academic literature on the topic 'Shape diameter function'

Purpose The purpose of this study is to evaluate the geometric quality of small diameter holes in parts printed by direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) technology. An in-process optical inspection method is proposed and assessed during a pilot study. The influence of the theoretical hole diameter assumed in a computer-aided design (CAD) system and the sample thickness (hole length) on the hole clearance was analyzed. Design/methodology/approach The samples are made of two different materials: EOS MaragingSteel MS1 and aluminium alloy EOS Aluminium consisted of straight through holes of different diameters and lengths. Dimensional and shape accuracy of the holes were determined with the use of the image processing software and the computer analysis of two-dimensional (2-D) images. The definition of the equivalent hole diameter was proposed to calculate the hole clearance. Feret’s diameters were determined for the evaluation of the shape accuracy. Findings The dependency between the equivalent hole diameter and the theoretical diameter was approximated by the linear function for a specific sample thickness. Additionally, a general empirical model for determining the hole clearance was developed, allowing for calculating the equivalent hole diameter as a function of a sample thickness and a theoretical hole diameter. Practical implications Developed functions can be used by designers for a proper assignment of a hole diameter to achieve the required patency. The relevant procedures and macros based on proposed empirical models can be embedded in CAD systems to support the designing process. Originality/value The analysis of the geometric quality of the holes in parts printed by DMLS was based on the computer analysis of 2-D images. The proposed method of assessing the shape accuracy of straight through holes is relatively cheap, is widely available and can be applied to the features of other shapes produced by three-dimensional printing.

3D model segmentation is a new research focus in the field of computer graphics. The segmentation algorithm of this paper is consistent segmentation which is about a group of 3D model with shape similarity. A volume-based shape-function called the shape diameter function (SDF) is used to on behalf of the characteristics of the model. Gaussian mixture model (GMM) is fitting k Gaussians to the SDF values, and EM algorithm is used to segment 3D models consistently. The experimental results show that this algorithm can effectively segment the 3D models consistently.

Digital image processing (DIP) is used to measure shape properties and settling velocity of soil particles. Particles with diameters of 1 to 10 mm are arbitrarily sampled for the test. The size of each particle is also measured by a Vernier caliper for comparison with the classification results using the shape classification table. The digital images were taken with a digital camera (Canon EOS 100d). Shape properties are calculated by image analysis software. Settling velocity of soil particles is calculated by displacement and time difference of images during settling. The fastest settling particles are spherical shaped. Shape factors well explain the difference of settling velocity by a particle shape. In particular, the aspect ratio has a high negative correlation with residual of settling velocity versus mean diameter. Especially, DIP has a higher applicability than classification using the shape classification table because it can measure a number of particles at once. The settling velocity of soil particles is expressed as a function of mean diameter and aspect ratio.

Mortality rate is thought to show a U-shape relationship to tree size. This shape could result from a decrease of competition-related mortality as diameter increases, followed by an increase of senescence and disturbance-related mortality for large trees. Modeling mortality rate as a function of diameter is nevertheless difficult, first because this relationship is strongly nonlinear, and second because data can be unbalanced, with few observations for large trees. Parametric functions, which are inflexible and sensitive to the distribution of observations, tend to introduce biases in mortality rate estimates. In this study we use mortality data for Abies alba Mill. and Picea abies (L.) Karst. to demonstrate that mortality rate estimates for extreme diameters were biased when using classical parametric functions. We then propose a semiparametric approach allowing a more flexible relationship between mortality and diameter. We show that the relatively shade-tolerant A. alba has a lower annual mortality rate (2.75%) than P. abies (3.78%) for small trees (DBH <15 cm). Picea abies, supposedly more sensitive to bark beetle attacks and windthrows, had a higher mortality rate (up to 0.46%) than A. alba (up to 0.30%) for large trees (DBH ≥50 cm).

We have employed a quantum confinement (QC) model to the study of different shapes of nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si) quantum dot. Each dots (shapes), although within the limits of an effective diameter of 3nm, exhibits divergence leading to different electronic energy based on the transitions from the quantum selection rule. Also, the graphical representation of the energies from each shape as a function of the effective diameter gives a qualitatively similar spectrum of discrete energies. The results obtained in this work using QC model are in good agreement with experiment and other models in literature.

The seed adsorption disk is an important component of the seed metering device. The differences in size and shape of suction hole on the adsorption disk result in variation of the airflow field formed. A finite element analysis of airflow field for the suction holes of different size and shape was conducted in this paper. The two dimensional simulation of airflow field for different shaped suction hole under the condition of identical bore diameter and air pressure difference reveals that the average airflow velocity inside the different shape of suction holes are the highest one in cylindrical hole and the lowest in tapered hole, the airflow speed at inlet opening of three different suction hole does not vary evidently. Both the result of airflow field two dimensional finite element analysis of different bore diameter suction hole and its proof under the condition of the shape of suction holes and air pressure difference being identical reveal that with the bore diameter being enlarged, the airflow speed inside the suction hole increases in comparison of the airflow speed field for three different suction holes of different bore diameter. To enlarge the bore diameter of suction hole and expand the adsorption surface area of the seed will result in the airflow rate and airflow speed getting higher and the adsorption function on the seed growing stronger.

Equilibrium structures of both homogeneous and heterogeneous systems are, within statistical thermodynamics, characterized by distribution functions. Using the approach proposed recently - based on the determination of the cavity functions for the pair of hard spheres (HS) and the combined body - we studied the effect of different choices of the probe HS (which determines the shape of the combined hard body - enlarged dumbbell) on the prediction of the distribution functions in binary mixtures of HS with the aspect ratio 0.9, ternary mixtures with diameter ratios 1, 0.6 and 0.3, and density profiles of HS mixture with the aspect ratio 2 near a hard wall. It was found that the method, that uses the average geometric functionals determined for the probe HS with individual diameters multiplied by the respective mole fractions yields better results than the approaches based on average probe diameters.

Due to the excellent strength/weight ratio, good energy absorbing ability, superior thermal, and acoustic insulation properties together with reasonable costs, polymer foams are the material of choice for many applications. The incorporation of particulate or fibrous fillers can even improve the properties. In this article, we investigate an open-cell polyurethane foam filled with cellulose particles. This is a new moisture-absorbing wood–plastic composite used for special mattresses. The foam was characterized by high-resolution cone-beam X-ray computed tomography (XCT) with voxel sizes between 0.7 µm3 and 2.2 µm3. The XCT measurements were performed with a tube voltage of 50 kV to obtain enough contrast. The XCT data were processed by various algorithmic steps (e.g., smoothing, thresholding, watershed transformation, erosion, dilation, and feature extraction) to ascertain the three-dimensional open-cell structure together with particle distribution, size, and position. Quantitative data for the cells (mean diameter, shape, volume, and position), for the cellulose particles (mean diameter, shape, volume, and position), for the polymer vertices (shape and position) and for combinations of them (e.g., distance between particles and vertices) were derived from the XCT data. 15.2 cells/mm3, 41 cellulose particles/mm3, and 88.7 polymer vertices/mm3 were found. The average diameter value for the mostly globular cells was found to be 465 µm with a Gaussian-like distribution function. The cellulose particles are globular and elongated and the distribution resembles an exponential function where 95% of the particles have diameters below 60 µm. The particles are situated within the polymer walls and close to the surface. The function for the distance of the particles from the closest vertices corresponds to a Weibull distribution function with a scale parameter of 53 µm and a shape parameter of 1.7.

La fibrillazione atriale (FA) è l'aritmia cardiaca sostenuta di più frequente riscontro nella pratica clinica, in quanto colpisce l'1-2% della popolazione generale. La terapia farmacologica rimane un fondamento nel trattamento dell'aritmia, ma negli ultimi anni nuove tecniche come l'ablazione transcatetere stanno diventando valide alternative, garantendo una migliore qualità di vita al paziente e una maggiore probabilità di mantenere ritmo sinusale. Uno dei problemi principali associati alla FA è l'insorgere di recidive a breve o lungo termine. Per evitare terapie inefficaci, prevenire le recidive e soprattutto ridurre gli eventi clinici legati all'aritmia, la ricerca si sta spingendo verso la valutazione di possibili fattori predittori di ricorrenza della FA, tra cui il volume dell'atrio sinistro. Una conseguenza molto frequente della FA è infatti la dilatazione dell'atrio sinistro, che può facilitare l'innesco dell'aritmia e determinarne la ricorrenza. Una corretta valutazione della volumetria atriale potrebbe quindi essere di grande aiuto al medico nella scelta delle migliori strategie da adottare per ciascun paziente e potrebbe anche essere predittivo di ricorrenza di FA in seguito ad ablazione. Il lavoro di tesi proposto si inserisce all'interno di un progetto più ampio volto allo sviluppo di un modello di atrio sinistro patient-specific al fine di fornire un'accurata guida anatomica in sede di ablazione e caratterizzare il volume atriale e la sua relazione con l'outcome della procedura. In particolare ci si è occupati dell'implementazione in ambiente Matlab di un algoritmo per l'esclusione delle vene polmonari da mesh 3D dell'atrio sinistro e della successiva chiusura della mesh per il calcolo del volume. L’algoritmo è stato testato su 26 pazienti: per la validazione del metodo, i dati ottenuti sono stati poi confrontati con un gold standard, rappresentato dal volume ottenuto dal tracciamento manuale del radiologo.

In 3D modelling software, deformations are used to add, to remove, or to modify geometric features of existing 3D models to create new models with similar but slightly different details. Traditional techniques for deforming virtual 3D models require users to explicitly define control points and regions of interest (ROIs), and to define precisely how to deform ROIs using control points. The awkwardness of defining these factors in traditional 3D modelling software makes it difficult for people with limited experience of 3D modelling to deform existing 3D models as they expect. As applications which require virtual 3D model processing become more and more widespread, it becomes increasingly desirable to lower the "difficulty of use" threshold of 3D model deformations for users. This thesis argues that the user experience, in terms of intuitiveness and ease of use, of a user interface for deforming virtual 3D models, can be greatly enhanced by employing sketch-based 3D model deformation techniques, which require the minimal quantities of interactions, while keeping the plausibility of the results of deformations as well as the responsiveness of the algorithms, based on modern home grade computing devices. A prototype system for sketch-based 3D model deformations is developed and implemented to support this hypothesis, which allows the user to perform a deformation using a single deforming stroke, eliminating the need to explicitly select control points, the ROI and the deforming operation. GPU based accelerations have been employed to optimise the runtime performance of the system, so that the system is responsive enough for real-time interactions. The studies of the runtime performance and the usability of the prototype system are conducted to provide evidence to support the hypothesis.

Bones are multifunctional passive organs of movement that supports soft tissue and directly attached muscles. They also protect internal organs and are a reserve of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. Each bone is covered with periosteum, and the adjacent bone surfaces are covered by articular cartilage. Histologically, the bone is an organ composed of many different tissues. The main component is bone tissue (cortical and spongy) composed of a set of bone cells and intercellular substance (mineral and organic), it also contains fat, hematopoietic (bone marrow) and cartilaginous tissue. Bones are a tissue that even in adult life retains the ability to change shape and structure depending on changes in their mechanical and hormonal environment, as well as self-renewal and repair capabilities. This process is called bone turnover. The basic processes of bone turnover are: • bone modeling (incessantly changes in bone shape during individual growth) following resorption and tissue formation at various locations (e.g. bone marrow formation) to increase mass and skeletal morphology. This process occurs in the bones of growing individuals and stops after reaching puberty • bone remodeling (processes involve in maintaining bone tissue by resorbing and replacing old bone tissue with new tissue in the same place, e.g. repairing micro fractures). It is a process involving the removal and internal remodeling of existing bone and is responsible for maintaining tissue mass and architecture of mature bones. Bone turnover is regulated by two types of transformation: • osteoclastogenesis, i.e. formation of cells responsible for bone resorption • osteoblastogenesis, i.e. formation of cells responsible for bone formation (bone matrix synthesis and mineralization) Bone maturity can be defined as the completion of basic structural development and mineralization leading to maximum mass and optimal mechanical strength. The highest rate of increase in pig bone mass is observed in the first twelve weeks after birth. This period of growth is considered crucial for optimizing the growth of the skeleton of pigs, because the degree of bone mineralization in later life stages (adulthood) depends largely on the amount of bone minerals accumulated in the early stages of their growth. The development of the technique allows to determine the condition of the skeletal system (or individual bones) in living animals by methods used in human medicine, or after their slaughter. For in vivo determination of bone properties, Abstract 10 double energy X-ray absorptiometry or computed tomography scanning techniques are used. Both methods allow the quantification of mineral content and bone mineral density. The most important property from a practical point of view is the bone’s bending strength, which is directly determined by the maximum bending force. The most important factors affecting bone strength are: • age (growth period), • gender and the associated hormonal balance, • genotype and modification of genes responsible for bone growth • chemical composition of the body (protein and fat content, and the proportion between these components), • physical activity and related bone load, • nutritional factors: – protein intake influencing synthesis of organic matrix of bone, – content of minerals in the feed (CA, P, Zn, Ca/P, Mg, Mn, Na, Cl, K, Cu ratio) influencing synthesis of the inorganic matrix of bone, – mineral/protein ratio in the diet (Ca/protein, P/protein, Zn/protein) – feed energy concentration, – energy source (content of saturated fatty acids - SFA, content of polyun saturated fatty acids - PUFA, in particular ALA, EPA, DPA, DHA), – feed additives, in particular: enzymes (e.g. phytase releasing of minerals bounded in phytin complexes), probiotics and prebiotics (e.g. inulin improving the function of the digestive tract by increasing absorption of nutrients), – vitamin content that regulate metabolism and biochemical changes occurring in bone tissue (e.g. vitamin D3, B6, C and K). This study was based on the results of research experiments from available literature, and studies on growing pigs carried out at the Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences. The tests were performed in total on 300 pigs of Duroc, Pietrain, Puławska breeds, line 990 and hybrids (Great White × Duroc, Great White × Landrace), PIC pigs, slaughtered at different body weight during the growth period from 15 to 130 kg. Bones for biomechanical tests were collected after slaughter from each pig. Their length, mass and volume were determined. Based on these measurements, the specific weight (density, g/cm3) was calculated. Then each bone was cut in the middle of the shaft and the outer and inner diameters were measured both horizontally and vertically. Based on these measurements, the following indicators were calculated: • cortical thickness, • cortical surface, • cortical index. Abstract 11 Bone strength was tested by a three-point bending test. The obtained data enabled the determination of: • bending force (the magnitude of the maximum force at which disintegration and disruption of bone structure occurs), • strength (the amount of maximum force needed to break/crack of bone), • stiffness (quotient of the force acting on the bone and the amount of displacement occurring under the influence of this force). Investigation of changes in physical and biomechanical features of bones during growth was performed on pigs of the synthetic 990 line growing from 15 to 130 kg body weight. The animals were slaughtered successively at a body weight of 15, 30, 40, 50, 70, 90, 110 and 130 kg. After slaughter, the following bones were separated from the right half-carcass: humerus, 3rd and 4th metatarsal bone, femur, tibia and fibula as well as 3rd and 4th metatarsal bone. The features of bones were determined using methods described in the methodology. Describing bone growth with the Gompertz equation, it was found that the earliest slowdown of bone growth curve was observed for metacarpal and metatarsal bones. This means that these bones matured the most quickly. The established data also indicate that the rib is the slowest maturing bone. The femur, humerus, tibia and fibula were between the values of these features for the metatarsal, metacarpal and rib bones. The rate of increase in bone mass and length differed significantly between the examined bones, but in all cases it was lower (coefficient b <1) than the growth rate of the whole body of the animal. The fastest growth rate was estimated for the rib mass (coefficient b = 0.93). Among the long bones, the humerus (coefficient b = 0.81) was characterized by the fastest rate of weight gain, however femur the smallest (coefficient b = 0.71). The lowest rate of bone mass increase was observed in the foot bones, with the metacarpal bones having a slightly higher value of coefficient b than the metatarsal bones (0.67 vs 0.62). The third bone had a lower growth rate than the fourth bone, regardless of whether they were metatarsal or metacarpal. The value of the bending force increased as the animals grew. Regardless of the growth point tested, the highest values were observed for the humerus, tibia and femur, smaller for the metatarsal and metacarpal bone, and the lowest for the fibula and rib. The rate of change in the value of this indicator increased at a similar rate as the body weight changes of the animals in the case of the fibula and the fourth metacarpal bone (b value = 0.98), and more slowly in the case of the metatarsal bone, the third metacarpal bone, and the tibia bone (values of the b ratio 0.81–0.85), and the slowest femur, humerus and rib (value of b = 0.60–0.66). Bone stiffness increased as animals grew. Regardless of the growth point tested, the highest values were observed for the humerus, tibia and femur, smaller for the metatarsal and metacarpal bone, and the lowest for the fibula and rib. Abstract 12 The rate of change in the value of this indicator changed at a faster rate than the increase in weight of pigs in the case of metacarpal and metatarsal bones (coefficient b = 1.01–1.22), slightly slower in the case of fibula (coefficient b = 0.92), definitely slower in the case of the tibia (b = 0.73), ribs (b = 0.66), femur (b = 0.59) and humerus (b = 0.50). Bone strength increased as animals grew. Regardless of the growth point tested, bone strength was as follows femur > tibia > humerus > 4 metacarpal> 3 metacarpal> 3 metatarsal > 4 metatarsal > rib> fibula. The rate of increase in strength of all examined bones was greater than the rate of weight gain of pigs (value of the coefficient b = 2.04–3.26). As the animals grew, the bone density increased. However, the growth rate of this indicator for the majority of bones was slower than the rate of weight gain (the value of the coefficient b ranged from 0.37 – humerus to 0.84 – fibula). The exception was the rib, whose density increased at a similar pace increasing the body weight of animals (value of the coefficient b = 0.97). The study on the influence of the breed and the feeding intensity on bone characteristics (physical and biomechanical) was performed on pigs of the breeds Duroc, Pietrain, and synthetic 990 during a growth period of 15 to 70 kg body weight. Animals were fed ad libitum or dosed system. After slaughter at a body weight of 70 kg, three bones were taken from the right half-carcass: femur, three metatarsal, and three metacarpal and subjected to the determinations described in the methodology. The weight of bones of animals fed aa libitum was significantly lower than in pigs fed restrictively All bones of Duroc breed were significantly heavier and longer than Pietrain and 990 pig bones. The average values of bending force for the examined bones took the following order: III metatarsal bone (63.5 kg) <III metacarpal bone (77.9 kg) <femur (271.5 kg). The feeding system and breed of pigs had no significant effect on the value of this indicator. The average values of the bones strength took the following order: III metatarsal bone (92.6 kg) <III metacarpal (107.2 kg) <femur (353.1 kg). Feeding intensity and breed of animals had no significant effect on the value of this feature of the bones tested. The average bone density took the following order: femur (1.23 g/cm3) <III metatarsal bone (1.26 g/cm3) <III metacarpal bone (1.34 g / cm3). The density of bones of animals fed aa libitum was higher (P<0.01) than in animals fed with a dosing system. The density of examined bones within the breeds took the following order: Pietrain race> line 990> Duroc race. The differences between the “extreme” breeds were: 7.2% (III metatarsal bone), 8.3% (III metacarpal bone), 8.4% (femur). Abstract 13 The average bone stiffness took the following order: III metatarsal bone (35.1 kg/mm) <III metacarpus (41.5 kg/mm) <femur (60.5 kg/mm). This indicator did not differ between the groups of pigs fed at different intensity, except for the metacarpal bone, which was more stiffer in pigs fed aa libitum (P<0.05). The femur of animals fed ad libitum showed a tendency (P<0.09) to be more stiffer and a force of 4.5 kg required for its displacement by 1 mm. Breed differences in stiffness were found for the femur (P <0.05) and III metacarpal bone (P <0.05). For femur, the highest value of this indicator was found in Pietrain pigs (64.5 kg/mm), lower in pigs of 990 line (61.6 kg/mm) and the lowest in Duroc pigs (55.3 kg/mm). In turn, the 3rd metacarpal bone of Duroc and Pietrain pigs had similar stiffness (39.0 and 40.0 kg/mm respectively) and was smaller than that of line 990 pigs (45.4 kg/mm). The thickness of the cortical bone layer took the following order: III metatarsal bone (2.25 mm) <III metacarpal bone (2.41 mm) <femur (5.12 mm). The feeding system did not affect this indicator. Breed differences (P <0.05) for this trait were found only for the femur bone: Duroc (5.42 mm)> line 990 (5.13 mm)> Pietrain (4.81 mm). The cross sectional area of the examined bones was arranged in the following order: III metatarsal bone (84 mm2) <III metacarpal bone (90 mm2) <femur (286 mm2). The feeding system had no effect on the value of this bone trait, with the exception of the femur, which in animals fed the dosing system was 4.7% higher (P<0.05) than in pigs fed ad libitum. Breed differences (P<0.01) in the coross sectional area were found only in femur and III metatarsal bone. The value of this indicator was the highest in Duroc pigs, lower in 990 animals and the lowest in Pietrain pigs. The cortical index of individual bones was in the following order: III metatarsal bone (31.86) <III metacarpal bone (33.86) <femur (44.75). However, its value did not significantly depend on the intensity of feeding or the breed of pigs.

SEPs recorded with surface electrodes represent volume-conducted activity arising from myelinated peripheral and central axons, synapses in central gray matter, and changes in the size and shape of the volume conductor. They provide an objective measure of function in large-diameter myelinated sensory afferents peripherally and in proprioceptive pathways centrally. Changes in amplitude and latency can be used to localize lesions in the nervous system, to identify objectively abnormalities in patients with few sensory manifestations or none at all, and to monitor function over time.

Malignant melanoma has caused countless deaths in recent years. Many calculation methods have been created for automatic melanoma detection. In this chapter, based on the traditional concept of shape signature and convex hull, an improved boundary description shape signature is developed. The convex defect-based signature (CDBS) proposed in this paper scans contour irregularities and is applied to skin lesion classification in macroscopic images. Border irregularities of skin lesions are the predominant criteria for ABCD (asymmetry, border, color, and diameter) to distinguish between melanoma and nonmelanoma. The performance of the CDBS is compared with popular shape descriptors: shape signature, indentation depth function, invariant elliptic Fourier descriptor (IEFD), and rotation invariant wavelet descriptor (RIWD), where the proposed descriptor shows better results. Multilayer perceptron neural network is used as a classifier in this work. Experimental results show that the proposed approach achieves significant performance with mean accuracy of 90.49%.

Artefact design is not neutral, but is aimed, whether consciously or not, at different categories of users, as explained in Chapter 1. This chapter will explore design intentions as they relate to different user-groups in more detail, investigating some of the ways artefacts function to construct and maintain social categories, and also how these categories may be resisted or questioned by users. Firstly, we will examine how artefact design relates to the Roman life course, through an exploration of the motifs on finger-rings and the social categories of men, women, and children. Secondly, Roman attitudes to leftand right-handedness may be examined in relation to various items. Thirdly, we will examine some particular types of boxes and their methods of opening, artefacts in which cultural knowledge potentially impacts upon the facility with the objects may be used. In each case, we will consider how the design features may include or exclude certain users and what the implications are for a wider understanding of both Roman social practice, and the role of artefacts in enacting and reproducing social norms and behaviours. Finger-rings, among other personal artefacts, are scaled to a specific part of the body, and through this feature they provide an opportunity to examine how artefacts may have been designed for particular categories of people. Users will need rings with an appropriate diameter that is large enough to fit a particular digit, yet not so large that it risks becoming lost. Finger sizes of course vary according to age and sex, and so provide an opportunity to examine objects designed specifically for women, children, and men. We will focus here on those finger-rings displaying a central motif (usually engraved, although sometimes in relief, or occurring as a modelled form), which exist in large numbers. Most are oval in shape, and they are found in a wide range of sizes, from 9 to 27mm in inner horizontal diameter. Many are gem-set rings, and the gem iconography that they display was remarkably consistent across the Roman Empire, consisting of a range of popular themes such as the principal deities and/or their attributes, personifications, mythological scenes, animals, portraits, and objects.

Chapter 3 gives examples of how grapevines, being woody perennials, have the potential to develop extensive, deep root systems when soil conditions are favorable. One of the most important factors governing root growth is a soil’s structure, the essential attributes of which are • Spaces (collectively called the pore space or porosity) through which roots grow, gases diffuse, and water flows • Storage of water and natural drainage following rain or irrigation • Stable aggregation • Strength that not only enables moist soil to bear the weight of machinery and resist compaction but also influences the ease with which roots can push through the soil The key attributes of porosity, aeration and drainage, water storage, aggregation, and soil strength are discussed in turn. Various forces exerted by growing roots, burrowing animals and insects, the movement of water and its change of state (e.g., from liquid to ice) together organize the primary soil particles—clay, silt, and sand—into larger units called aggregates. Between and within these aggregates exists a network of spaces called pores. Total soil porosity is defined by the ratio . . . Porosity = Volume of pores/Volume of soil . . . A soil’s A horizon, containing organic matter, typically has a porosity between 0.5 and 0.6 cubic meter per cubic meter (m3/m3)—also expressed as 50% to 60%. In subsoils, where there is little organic matter and usually more clay, the porosity is typically 40% to 50%. Box 4.1 describes a simple way of estimating a soil’s porosity. Total porosity is important because it determines how much of the soil volume water, air, and roots can occupy. Equally important are the shape and size of the pores. The pores created by burrowing earthworms, plant roots, and fungal hyphae are roughly cylindrical, whereas those created by alternate wetting and drying appear as cracks. Overall, however, we express pore size in terms of diameter (equivalent to a width for cracks). Table 4.1 gives a classification of pore size based on pore function.

The physiology of the upper airway is fundamental to current and trending therapy for obstructive sleep apnea and neurostimulation in particular. Proper functioning of the upper airway will promote sleep health by supporting the requisite airflow without snoring or significant flow limitation. Dysfunction produces snoring, obstructive hypopneas, and the metabolic sequelae of sleep disordered breathing. How a particular section of the upper airway (e.g., velopharynx, oropharynx, or hypopharynx) remains open while it is suspended from the skull base, maxilla, and mandible is the result of anatomy and neuromuscular control. The genioglossus muscle, originally designed for bringing food into the mouth and swallowing, along with multiple other muscles, participates in the maintenance of patency of the muscular pharynx during wakefulness and sleep. If the genioglossus were the only muscle important for airway stability, then hypoglossal nerve stimulation would likely be universally rather than selectively effective; instead, its effectiveness is predicted by velopharyngeal functions, which in terms of sleep health are poorly described. Literature clearly indicates a fundamental role for muscles other than the genioglossus in maintaining airway diameter, shape, and wall stiffness. Models that incorporate a more complete neuromechanical coupling of these components are necessary to understand a stable airway during sleep and helpful for decisions in management of obstructive sleep apnea.

There is great interest in making shape-changing aircraft structures that are more biomimetic. Cylindrical McKibben-like flexible actuators efficiently convert fluid pressure into mechanical energy and thus offer excellent force-to-weight ratios while behaving similar to biological muscle. McKibben-like Rubber Muscle Actuators (RMAs) were embedded into elastomer panels. The effect of actuator spacing on the performance of these shape-changing panels was investigated. The work included nonlinear finite element analysis, fabrication, and testing of panels where four RMAs were spaced side-by-side, 1/2, 1, and 1.3 RMA diameters apart. Nonlinear “Laminated Plate” and “Rod & Plate” finite element models of individual RMAs were created from existing RMA dimensions. After adjusting for an initial “activation pressure,” the models produced realistic RMA forces. The laminated plate models used less computer resources, but only produced small amounts of actuator contraction (actuator strain). The more resource-intensive Rod & Plate models better replicated fiber/braid re-orientation and produced axial strains up to 60% of test values. Three types of embedded RMA panel FEA models; a “2D Cross-Section,” a “Full 3D Panel” (with either Laminated Plate or Rod & Plate RMAs) and a “3D Unit Cell” (also with either Laminated Plate or Rod & Plate RMAs). The Full 3D Rod & Plate model gave the most accurate strains and forces, but required unsustainable levels of computing resources. The 2D cross-section model predicted optimal RMA spacing to be at 1 diameter. All other FEA models show optimal panel performance between 1/2 and 1 diameter spacing. Panels with embedded RMAs were fabricated and tested with air or water pressure. Panel force as a function of pressure and as a function of contraction (strain) was obtained. Overall, FEA and test results for panels indicate that optimal performance occurs when the RMAs are spaced between 1/2 to 1 diameter apart. Actuator force as a function of spacing is fairly flat in this region, indicating that minor design or manufacturing differences may not significantly affect performance. However, the total amount of axial contraction decreases significantly at greater than optimal spacing. Useful design, simulation, and test methodologies for embedded RMA panels have been demonstrated.

This paper presents numerical optimization of a rotating rectangular channel design with the staggered arrays of pin-fins using Kriging meta-modeling technique. In the reference case, the channel aspect ratio (AR) is 4:1, the pin length to diameter ratio (H/D) is 2.0, and the pin spacing to diameter ratio is 2.0 in both the streamwise and spanwise directions. The rotation number is 0.15, while the Reynolds number based on hydraulic diameter is fixed at 10,000. Rotation of the channel slightly reduces the heat transfer on the leading surface and increases it on the trailing surface due to Coriolis effects. Two non-dimensional variables, the ratio of the height to diameter of the pin-fin and the ratio of the spacing between the pin-fins to diameter of the pin-fins, are chosen as design variables. The objective function defined as a linear combination of heat transfer and friction loss related terms with a weighting factor is selected for the optimization. Twenty training points generated by Latin hypercube sampling (LHS) are evaluated by three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) analysis with the shear stress transport (SST) model for the turbulence closure. The predictions of objective function by Kriging meta-modeling at optimum point show reasonable accuracy in comparison with the values calculated by RANS analysis. The results of optimization show that the cooling performance of the optimized shape is enhanced significantly through the optimization.

Abstract Residual stresses in net-shaped plasma sprayed tubes was measured by X-ray microdiffraction, as a function of radial position in the sample. A tensile to compressive hoop stress profile was measured, ranging 200 MPa in tension at the outer diameter, to ~125 MPa at the inner. A force balance model was used to explain the evolution of stresses when incrementally adding layers to the pre-existent material.

The understanding of physical phenomena such as flow behaviour and mass transfer performance is needed in order to develop appropriate micromixers for industrial or biomedical applications. In this work, CFD is used to characterize the flow and the liquid mixing quality in a micromixer as a function of the Reynolds number. Two micromixers are studied in steady flow conditions; they are based on two geometries, respectively T-shaped (⊤) and cross-type (+). Simulations allow, in the case of ⊤ micromixers, to chart the topology of the flow and to describe the evolution of species concentration downstream the crossing. The streamlines layout and the mixing quality curves reveal three characteristic types of flow previously reported in the literature, depending on Reynolds number: stratified, vortex and engulfment flows. In the case of cross-type micromixers, the structure of the flow is strongly three-dimensional and is characterized by symmetrical vortices in both output channels. The results show that the + shaped system can improve the mixing process in comparison with the micromixers having ⊤ geometry. The second part of the study is experimental. Two cells are constructed, for both geometries (T-shaped and cross) using square channels with 400 μm hydraulic diameter. In order to use particle image velocimetry (PIV), a system has been adapted to measure velocity fields for various channel plans at different channel depths. This allows observing the evolution of the flow and the vortices development along the microchannels. A second experimental technique, the electrochemical one involving microelectrodes implemented at several positions on the channel wall located near the crossing, has been used. The electrochemical method can locally characterize the formation of swirling flows. These two complementary experimental results will be analysed and a comparison with the CFD results will be performed.

The effect of confinement (flame-wall interactions) on the response of a turbulent, swirl-stabilized flame is experimentally examined, with a focus on the shape and structure of these flames. A series of three cylindrical combustors of 0.11, 0.15 and 0.19 m diameter are used to vary the degree of confinement experienced by the flame. Using CH* chemiluminescence images, the shape of the flame in each combustor is described. These images are then further analyzed and reveal marked similarities in the geometry and location of these flames in a defined ‘flame base’ region near the combustor inlet. This similarity in location of the flame base leads to a similarity in the response of this portion of the flame to imposed oscillations. In particular, the phase of the fluctuations in this region are shown to be the same in each confinement. The nature of the fluctuations in the mean flame position are also shown to be similar in each confinement. These results indicate that the geometry of the flame in the base region is not a function of confinement and that the flames are responding to the same convective mechanisms, and in the same manner, in this region of the flame.

Continuous composite extrusion offers the possibility for manufacturing shape memory alloy metal matrix composites (SMA-MMC) with an actuator function. Due to an eccentric position of the SMA wires as well as the transformation stress caused by the suppressed shape memory effect, a bending moment can be generated during thermal activation. In this paper it is examined how the amount of necessary prestrain as well as the activation temperature influences the generated curvature of the specimens. The investigated actuator concept requires a sufficient bonding between matrix material and SMA wire to transfer the occurring stresses. For this reason, it is furthermore investigated how the process steps of stretching and subsequent thermal activation affect the quality of the bonding zone. Conventional NiTi wires (SM495) with a diameter of 1.5 mm are embedded in an aluminum AA6060 matrix for experimental investigation.

A numerical procedure to optimize the shape of a staggered dimpled surface to enhance the turbulent heat transfer in a rectangular channel is presented in this work. A Kriging model-based optimization technique is used with Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes analysis of the fluid flow and heat transfer with Shear Stress Transport turbulence model. The dimple depth-to-dimple print diameter ratio, channel height-to-dimple print diameter ratio, and dimple print diameter-to-pitch ratio are chosen as design variables. The objective function is defined as a linear combination of terms related to heat transfer and friction loss with a weighting factor. Latin Hypercube Sampling is used to determine the training points as a mean of the Design of Experiment. Through a sensitivity analysis, it was found that the objective function is most sensitive to the ratio of the dimple depth to dimple print diameter. Optimal values of the design variables were obtained in a range of the weighting factor.

Uniquely shaped tubes extruded with an inner circular flow passage and an outer streamlined profile are proposed to withstand the inside fluid pressure and simultaneously to reduce the pressure drop across heat exchanger tube bundles comprising hundreds of small-diameter, thin-walled polymer tubes. Heat transfer rates are characterized by treating the tubes as the combination of a base circular tube and longitudinal fin(s) of oval or lenticular profile. Numerical solution of the non-linear differential equation for surface temperature provides the shaped tube efficiency, similar in function to fin efficiency. The effects of Biot number and a dimensionless shape factor on the tube efficiency and the convective heat transfer rate are discussed. A comparison of a circular to an oval shaped tube indicates that convective heat transfer is enhanced for 2000 ≤ Re ≤ 20,000 when Bi < 0.3.