Russell G. Keanini

Optimization of Multiprobe Cryosurgery

This paper describes a general technique for optimising cryosurgical procedures. The method, which is based on the simplex minimisation algorithm, minimises unnecessary freesing by optimising various surgical parameters. The optimisation procedure is illustrated using a simplified model of prostatic cryosurgery. In this illustratine case, the function to be minimised, F, defined as the volume of healthy tissue destroyed during complete freesing of the prostate, is assumed to depend on three parameters: the number of cryoprobes used, the freesing length per cryoprobe, and the cryoprobe diameter

Three-dimensional simulation of the plasma arc welding process

Abstract A finite element-based simulation of the plasma arc welding process is presented. The simulation determines the weld pools three-dimensional capillary surface shape, the approximate solid-liquid phase boundary, and calculates the pools three-dimensional flow and temperature fields. The simulation is first used to examine the effect of ambient temperature and plate speed on pool shape. Pool flow is then studied. The flows qualitative features are primarily determined by jet shear and thermocapillarity while buoyancy is of secondary importance.

A THEORETICAL MODEL OF CIRCULATORY INTERSTITIAL FLUID FLOW AND SPECIES TRANSPORT WITHIN POROUS CORTICAL BONE

A three-dimensional model of interstitial fluid flow and passive species transport within mineralized regions surrounding cross-cortical vessel canals is developed. In contrast to earlier studies, the present model applies to circulatory, non-stress-induced interstitial flow in porous cortical bone. Based on previous experimental observations, the canals are modeled as line sources that pass at an oblique angle through the cortex. Cross-cortical interstitial flow from the endosteal surface to the periosteal surface is also taken into account. It is found that model transport characteristics are qualitatively consistent with reported observations. In addition, parametric studies reveal the following: (1) Solute contact with the matrix is maximized when the ratio of canal radius to cortex thickness (R) is near physiological R values. (2) Solute-matrix contact falls to low levels when R falls below the physiological range. (3) Solute-matrix contact is maximized when the cross-cortical velocity is approximately an order of magnitude smaller than the canal outflow velocity. The first and second findings suggest that within porous bone physiological ranges of R promote near optimal species contact with the mineralized matrix. The third finding suggests that relatively impermeable layers of bone within the cortex can effectively promote solute-matrix contact by limiting cross-cortical flow. Finally, the model suggests that intra-canal resorption associated with reduced external loading may effectively compensate for reduced stress-induced interstitial flow by enhancing circulatory interstitial flow and species transport.

Mercury release from dental amalgams into continuously replenished liquids.

OBJECTIVE Studies have been performed using high- and low-copper amalgams to measure the amounts of mercury dissolution from dental amalgam in liquids such as artificial saliva; however, in most cases, mercury dissolution has been measured under static conditions and as such, may be self-limiting. This study measured the mercury release from low- and high-copper amalgams into flowing aqueous solutions to determine whether the total amounts of dissolution vary under these conditions when tested at neutral and acidic pH. METHODS High- and low-copper amalgam specimens were prepared and kept for 3 days. They were then longitudinally suspended in dissolution cells with an outlet at the bottom. Deionized water or acidic solution (pH1) was pumped through the cell. Test solutions were collected at several time periods up to 6 days or 1 month and then analyzed with a cold vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometer. After dissolution testing, the specimens were examined using SEM/XEDA for any selective degradation of the phases in the amalgam. RESULTS Except for the high-copper amalgam in the pH1 solution, the dissolution rates were found to decrease exponentially with time. The rate for the high-copper amalgam in pH1 solution slowly increased for 1 month. The total amounts (microgram/cm(2)) of mercury released over 6 days or 1 month from both types of amalgam in deionized water were not significantly different (p>/=0.05). The high-copper amalgam released significantly more mercury than the low-copper amalgam in the pH1 solution at both time periods. For both amalgams, the dissolution in pH1 was significantly higher than in deionized water. SIGNIFICANCE Mercury dissolution from amalgam under dynamic conditions is enhanced in an acidic media, and most prominently for a high-copper formulation.

Characterization of Side Load Phenomena Using Measurement of Fluid/Structure Interaction

During ground-tests of most production rocket engines over the last 30 years, large asymmetric transient side loads coming from the nozzle and related steady-state vibrational loads within the nozzle have been measured. The widely varying magnitude of these loads has been large enough to fail interfacing components as well as nozzles in these engines. This paper will discuss a comprehensive test and analysis program that has been undertaken to develop a methodology to accurately predict the character and magnitude of this loading. The project to-date has incorporated analytical modeling of both the fluid flow and the nozzle structure and testing of both full-scale and sub-scale rocket nodes. Examination of the test data indicates that one of the two-nodal diameter structural modes may be interacting with flow separation from the nozzle inside-wall in a self-excited or aeroelastic vibration phenomenon. If verified, this observation will be used to develop a methodology for design and analysis. A fuller understanding of the characteristics of this vibration will provide an increase in the accuracy and confidence of side load predictions, which will be critical for the successful construction of the next generation of low-cost, reliable rocket engines.

Inverse finite element reduced mesh method for predicting multi-dimensional phase change boundaries and nonlinear solid phase heat transfer

An inverse finite element method is developed for simultaneous solution of multi-dimensional solid-liquid phase boundaries and associated three-dimensional solid phase temperature fields. The tech- nique, applicable to quasisteady phase change problems, fixes element nodes at known temperature locations and uses a coarse, spatially limited mesh. This approach is designed to: (1) reduce direct and overall solution costs, (2) eliminate iterative direct solutions associated with temperature dependent thermophysical properties, (3) limit calculations to the heat affected zone and (4) eliminate ad hoc assump- tions concerning the boundary heat flux distribution. The inverse algorithm couples a nonlinear solid phase conduction solver with conjugate gradient minimization. First-order regularization and upwind differencing are implemented to improve solution smoothness and stability and an analog welding experiment is used to investigate the techniques capabilities.

Color Schlieren imaging of high-pressure overexpanded planar nozzle flow using a simple, low-cost test apparatus

Complex flow features within rocket nozzles can exert significant influence on both the dynamics and safety of rockets during flight. Specifically, under over-expanded flow conditions, during, low altitude flight, random, often large side loads can appear within nozzles. While significant research has focused on this classical problem, due to the high nozzle pressure ratios (NPR) extant across rocket nozzles, most experimental work: (1) has focused on measuring wall pressure distributions under conditions when side loads appear, (2) has been carried out in large government or industrial test facilities, and (3) has only provided limited, though crucially important, visualization data. This short paper describes the construction and operation of a very simple, low cost test apparatus that allows imaging of flow features within planar nozzles, under the high NPR conditions characteristic of medium-to-large rockets. Representative color Schlieren images of flow shock structure obtained within the test apparatus are also presented and briefly described.Graphical abstract

Phycornyces: TURGOR PRESSURE BEHAVIOR DURING THE LIGHT AND AVOIDANCE GROWTH RESPONSES

Abstract— The turgor pressure of the stage 4b sporangiophore of Phycomyces blakesleeanus was continuously measured with a pressure probe before and during a period of increased elongational growth rate elicited by a step‐up in blue light fiuence rate (a positive light growth response) or by a double‐barrier stimulus (avoidance growth response). In these and other experiments it was found that a step‐up in turgor pressure between 0.02 and 0.05 MPa may elicit an increase in growth rate that is comparable to those of the light and avoidance growth responses. The results of the present work demonstrate that the turgor pressure does not increase during these growth responses, indicating that the increased growth rate is solely the result of altered cell wall mechanical properties. Furthermore, very small decreases in turgor pressure could be detected during the period of increased growth rate. This turgor pressure depression is predicted by the Growth Equations, and provides further support for the conclusion that the light and avoidance growth responses are solely the result of changes in cell wall mechanical properties.

Mechanical weathering and rock erosion by climate-dependent subcritical cracking

This work constructs a fracture mechanics framework for conceptualizing mechanical rock breakdown and consequent regolith production and erosion on the surface of Earth and other terrestrial bodies. Here our analysis of fracture mechanics literature explicitly establishes for the first time that all mechanical weathering in most rock types likely progresses by climate-dependent subcritical cracking under virtually all Earth surface and near-surface environmental conditions. We substantiate and quantify this finding through development of physically based subcritical cracking and rock erosion models founded in well-vetted fracture mechanics and mechanical weathering, theory, and observation. The models show that subcritical cracking can culminate in significant rock fracture and erosion under commonly experienced environmental stress magnitudes that are significantly lower than rock critical strength. Our calculations also indicate that climate strongly influences subcritical cracking—and thus rock weathering rates—irrespective of the source of the stress (e.g., freezing, thermal cycling, and unloading). The climate dependence of subcritical cracking rates is due to the chemophysical processes acting to break bonds at crack tips experiencing these low stresses. We find that for any stress or combination of stresses lower than a rocks critical strength, linear increases in humidity lead to exponential acceleration of subcritical cracking and associated rock erosion. Our modeling also shows that these rates are sensitive to numerous other environment, rock, and mineral properties that are currently not well characterized. We propose that confining pressure from overlying soil or rock may serve to suppress subcritical cracking in near-surface environments. These results are applicable to all weathering processes.

Influence of nozzle random side loads on launch vehicle dynamics

It is well known that the dynamic performance of a rocket or launch vehicle is enhanced when the length of the divergent section of its nozzle is reduced or the nozzle exit area ratio is increased. However, there exists a significant performance trade-off in such rocket nozzle designs due to the presence of random side loads under overexpanded nozzle operating conditions. Flow separation and the associated side-load phenomena have been extensively investigated over the past five decades; however, not much has been reported on the effect of side loads on the attitude dynamics of rocket or launch vehicle. This paper presents a quantitative investigation on the influence of in-nozzle random side loads on the attitude dynamics of a launch vehicle. The attitude dynamics of launch vehicle motion is captured using variable-mass control-volume formulation on a cylindrical rigid sounding rocket model. A novel physics-based stochastic model of nozzle side-load force is developed and embedded in the rigid-body model...