Search Results (453)

Saudi Arabia has a large part of the country’s power consumption in the building area, mainly operated by cooling demands under extreme climatic conditions, where the summer temperature is more than 45 °C and solar radiation peaks are more than 1200 W/MIC. Facing this challenge, this research examines the translation of biometric principles in the design of adaptive building construction for dry areas. We present a comprehensive, four-phase method structure: removing thermoregulatory and shading strategies from desert vegetation; computer display simulation using EnergyPlus 9.7.0 and CFD (ANSYS Fluent 2022 R2); and the development of an implementation guideline. Our findings achieve three central insights. First, the dynamic factor system, such as the electrochromic glazing tested in our student project, reduced the use of HVAC energy by 30%, while advanced materials, such as the polycarbonate panel, demonstrated notable thermal stability. Secondly, the synergy between cultural knowledge and technical performance proved to be decisive; vernacular-inspired Mushrabias improved generic louver not only in thermal efficiency but also in user acceptance, which increased the 97% approval rate in post-acquisition surveys. Finally, we demonstrate that scalability is economically viable, indicating a seven-year payback period for simulation, phase-transit material (PCM), which aligns with the budgetary realities of public and educational projects. By fusing the plant-induced strategies with rigorous computational modeling and real-world applications, the work provides actionable guidelines for permanent failure design in the warm-dry climate. It underlines that maximizing energy efficiency requires the cohesion of thermodynamic principles with the craft traditions of local architecture, an approach directly aligned with the Saudi Green Initiative and the ambitions of global carbon neutrality goals. Full article

Creating the most accurate numerical models with the same dynamic behavior as real structures plays an important role in the development process of various facilities. This article deals with the use of experimental methods, particularly experimental modal analysis (EMA), scanning, detection, spectral analysis, and mechanical testing in combination with the optimization techniques of the ANSYS 2024 R1 software to calibrate numerical models of axisymmetric structures. The proposed methodology was tested on a steel pipe whose geometric and material properties were both available. Within the updating of finite element models (FEMU) with one or two design variables, the influence of the range of feasible values on the accuracy of the observed parameters was examined. The updating process led to the acquisition of such a pipe model, which natural frequencies differed by less than 1.5% from the results estimated in EMA, and its weight also differed only minimally. The proposed methodology was then used for the FEMU of a pressure vessel whose contour was obtained by a 3D scanning method; material properties were investigated, and all wall thicknesses, i.e., eleven design variables, were unknown and thus determined by an iterative optimization technique. Using the Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm (MOGA) method, the dimensions of the vessel were first updated for their shell model and subsequently for the 3D model. The resulting natural frequencies of the model with applied internal pressures of 0 bar, 40 bar, and 80 bar differed from those estimated experimentally by less than 1.2%. Full article

The blending of hydrogen significantly impacts the diffusion and safety characteristics of natural gas within indoor environments. This study employs ANSYS Fluent 2021 R1 to numerically investigate the diffusion and ventilation characteristics of hydrogen-blended natural gas (HBNG) leakage in indoor spaces. A physical and mathematical model of gas leakage from pipelines is established to study hazardous areas, flammable regions, ventilation characteristics, alarm response times, safe ventilation rates, and the concentration distribution of leaked gas. The effects of hydrogen blending ratio (HBR), ventilation conditions, and space dimensions on leakage diffusion and safety are analyzed. Results indicate that HBNG leakage forms vertical concentration stratification in indoor spaces, with ventilation height being negatively correlated with gas concentration and flammable regions. In the indoor space conditions of this study, by improving ventilation conditions, the hazardous area can be reduced by up to 92.67%. Increasing HBR substantially expands risk zones—with pure hydrogen producing risk volumes over five times greater than natural gas. Mechanical ventilation significantly enhances indoor safety. Safe ventilation rates escalate with hydrogen content, providing quantitative safety criteria for HBNG implementation. The results underscore the critical influence of HBR and ventilation strategy on risk assessment, providing essential insights for the safe indoor deployment of HBNG. Full article

Cement is a widely used construction material, but its high temperature after milling can lead to issues such as gypsum dehydration, cement agglomeration, and increased slump, all of which negatively affect concrete performance. Existing cement heat exchangers have several limitations, such as low efficiency, high energy consumption, and strict processing precision requirements. This study introduces a novel layered-plate heat exchanger and analyzes its cooling performance using ANSYS Fluent 2024 R1 software. The results indicated that increasing the height of the cooling unit group significantly improved cooling efficiency from 7.83% at 1 m to 35.99% at 10 m. When the cooling unit group height was maintained constant, adding fins and increasing the cooling water flow rate were key methods to improve cooling efficiency. At a 10 m height, adopting 100 mm (F-1) and 200 mm (F-2) fin spacings and increasing the cooling water usage of over 90t/h can reduce the temperature of 130 °C cement powder to below 80 °C, with a cooling efficiency exceeding 38.47%. This study offers an effective method for lowering the temperature of freshly milled cement, providing theoretical support for cement manufacturers to effectively address the issue of high-temperature cement. Full article

This study presents a three-dimensional finite element (FE) analysis of the human foot bone structure under mid-stance loading during race walking. A subject-specific biomodel comprising 26 bones and over 40 ligaments was reconstructed from computed tomography (CT) data using Materialise Mimics Research 21.0 and 3-Matic Research 13.0, and subsequently analyzed in ANSYS Workbench 2024 R1. The model included explicit cortical, trabecular, and ligamentous volumes, each assigned linear-elastic, isotropic material properties based on biomechanical literature data. Boundary conditions simulated the mid-stance phase of race walking, applying a distributed plantar pressure of 0.25 MPa over the metatarsal and phalangeal regions. Numerical simulations yielded maximum total displacements of 0.00018 mm, maximum von Mises stresses of 0.171 MPa, and maximum strains of 2.5 × 10⁻⁵, all remaining well within the elastic range of bone tissue. The results confirm the model’s numerical stability, geometric fidelity, and capacity to represent physiologically realistic loading responses. The developed framework demonstrates the potential of high-resolution, image-based finite element modelling for investigating stress–strain patterns of the foot during athletic gait, and establishes a reproducible reference for future analyses involving pathological gait, orthotic optimisation, and musculoskeletal load assessment in sports biomechanics. Full article

End-stage temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders often necessitate total joint replacement, and the selection of biomaterial directly impacts long-term outcomes. Ti6Al4V and CoCrMo are commonly used alloys, yet their biomechanical performance in patient-specific prostheses remains insufficiently compared. This study aimed to evaluate the mechanical response of custom TMJ prostheses fabricated from these alloys using finite element analysis (FEA). A three-dimensional mandibular model was created from computed tomography data, and a patient-specific prosthesis was designed in SolidWorks (Dassault Systèmes, SolidWorks Corp., Waltham, MA, USA) and analyzed in ANSYS Workbench 2022 R1 (Ansys Inc., Canonsburg, PA, USA). Physiological loading was simulated by applying forces at the insertion sites of the temporalis, masseter, and medial pterygoid muscles. In the Ti6Al4V model, maximum von Mises stresses reached 192.18 MPa on the mandibular component and 92.004 MPa on the fossa prosthesis, whereas the CoCrMo model demonstrated higher stresses of 204.31 MPa and 94.182 MPa, respectively. Both alloys exhibited similar stress distributions, but Ti6Al4V generated lower stress magnitudes, indicating more favorable load transfer and a reduced risk of mechanical overload on articulating components. These findings underscore the significance of alloy selection in optimizing TMJ prostheses and demonstrate the value of FEA as a tool for guiding future patient-specific designs. Full article

The rapid proliferation of electric vehicles (EVs) demands lightweight yet efficient battery thermal management systems (BTMS). The fin-embedded phase-change material energy storage tube (PCM-EST) offers significant potential due to its high thermal energy density and passive operation, but conventional designs face a critical trade-off: enhancing heat transfer typically increases mass, conflicting with EV lightweight requirements. To resolve this conflict, this study proposes a multi-objective surrogate optimization framework integrating computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and Kriging modeling. Fin geometric parameters—number, height, and tube length—were rigorously analyzed via ANSYS (2020 R1) Fluent simulations to quantify their coupled effects on PCM melting/solidification dynamics and structural mass. The results reveal that fin configurations dominate both thermal behavior and weight. An enhanced multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) algorithm was then deployed to simultaneously maximize heat transfer and minimize mass, generating a Pareto-optimal solution. The optimized design achieves 8.7% enhancement in heat exchange capability and 0.732 kg mass reduction—outperforming conventional single-parameter designs by 37% in weight savings. This work establishes a systematic methodology for synergistic thermal-structural optimization, advancing high-performance BTMS for sustainable EVs. Full article

The Free Water Knock Out (FWKO) vessel is a critical device in the oil sands treatment process, responsible for separating water, oil, and gas. This study investigates the gas–oil interface within the FWKO and analyzes the flow characteristics of the unresolved mixture near the interface. To enhance the separation efficiency by increasing the residence time of the mixture, a concave-shaped weir was introduced. Numerical simulations were conducted using ANSYS Fluent 2023 R1, applying the Volume of Fluid (VOF) model to capture the multiphase flow behavior. Optimization was performed using a genetic algorithm, and the optimal weir curvature with a minor radius of 0.017333 m and a major radius of 0.19032 m yielded the highest separation efficiency. The model incorporating the optimized weir demonstrated a 1.26% improvement in separation efficiency compared to the reference model, and a 2.13% improvement over the baseline model without curvature. These findings confirm that applying curvature to the traditionally flat weir can achieve higher separation efficiency. Moreover, improving separation efficiency through such a simple geometric modification demonstrates significant economic effectiveness. Full article

Francis turbines are widely used due to their large capacity and broad head adaptability, placing higher demands on the internal flow characteristics and runner performance of the units. In this paper, numerical simulations of a Francis turbine model were conducted using ANSYS CFX 2022 R1. The SST turbulence model, ZGB cavitation model, and VOF multiphase flow model were selected for the calculations. The internal flow characteristics and pressure pulsations in the runner and draft tube under different operating conditions were analyzed, and the variations in normal and tangential forces acting on the runner blades during operation were investigated. The results indicate significant differences in the internal flow within the runner and draft tube under various guide vane opening conditions. The pressure pulsation in the unit is influenced by both the internal flow in the draft tube and the rotation of the runner. The mechanical load on the runner blades is affected by multiple factors, including the wake from upstream fixed guide vanes, rotor–stator interaction, and downstream vortex ropes. Under low-flow conditions, the variation in forces acting on the runner blades is relatively small, whereas under high-flow conditions, the runner blades are prone to abrupt force fluctuations at 0.6–0.8 times the rotational frequency. This is manifested as periodic abrupt force changes in both the X and Y directions of the runner blades under high-flow conditions. The normal force in the Z-direction of the runner blades increases instantaneously and then decreases immediately, while the tangential force decreases instantaneously and then increases promptly. Full article

The present work investigated numerically turbulent airflows over a hybrid Darrieus/Savonius vertical axis wind turbine. Firstly, the isolated turbines were validated in comparison to previous studies from the literature. Later, new recommendations were obtained for the simulation of a hybrid turbine subject to turbulent airflow. The numerical simulations consisted of the solution of time-averaged equations of mass and momentum in x and y directions using the finite volume method, available in the commercial code Ansys Fluent (version 2022 R1). For closure of turbulence, the k − ω SST (Shear Stress Transport) model was employed. For lower magnitudes of tip speed ratio (TSR), the hybrid turbine improved the power coefficient (C_P) compared to the Darrieus turbine (e.g., by 70% at TSR = 0.75), thereby demonstrating the self-starting capability of the hybrid configuration. Unexpectedly, at the optimal TSR = 1.5, the hybrid turbine performed about 6.5% better than the Darrieus turbine, indicating that the balance between the additional power generated by the Savonius rotor and losses caused by flow disturbances in the hybrid configuration was positive. As a novelty, results highlighted the role of each rotor (Darrieus and Savonius) for the performance of the hybrid turbine by comparing it with isolated Darrieus and Savonius turbines under the same conditions. Full article

This study investigates premature fatigue failure in rocker arm gears of large-mining-height shearers operating at alternating ±45° working angles, where insufficient lubrication generates non-uniform thermal -stress fields. In this study, an integrated multiphysics framework combining transient thermal–fluid–structure coupling simulations with fatigue life prediction is proposed. Transient thermo-mechanical coupling analysis simulated dry friction conditions, capturing temperature and stress fields under varying speeds. Fluid–thermal–solid coupling analysis modeled wet lubrication scenarios, incorporating multiphase flow to track oil distribution, and calculated convective heat transfer coefficients at different immersion depths (25%, 50%, 75%). These coupled simulations provided the critical time-varying temperature and thermal stress distributions acting on the gears (Z6 and Z7). Subsequently, these simulated thermo-mechanical loads were directly imported into ANSYS 2024R1 nCode DesignLife to perform fatigue life prediction. Simulations demonstrate that dry friction induces extreme operating conditions, with Z6 gear temperatures reaching over 800 °C and thermal stresses peaking at 803.86 MPa under 900 rpm, both escalating linearly with rotational speed. Lubrication depth critically regulates heat dissipation, where 50% oil immersion optimizes convective heat transfer at 8880 W/m²·K for Z6 and 11,300 W/m²·K for Z7, while 25% immersion exacerbates thermal gradients. Fatigue life exhibits an inverse relationship with speed but improves significantly with cooling. Z6 sustains a lower lifespan, exemplified by 25+ days at 900 rpm without cooling versus 50+ days for Z7, attributable to higher stress concentrations. Based on the multiphysics analysis results, two physics-informed engineering optimizations are proposed to reduce thermal stress and extend gear fatigue life: a staged cooling system using spiral copper tubes and an intelligent lubrication strategy with gear-pump-driven dynamic oil supply and thermal feedback control. These strategies collectively enhance gear longevity, validated via multiphysics-driven topology optimization. Full article

This article aims to perform system identification of a nearly 30-year-old cable-stayed steel footbridge over the Wisłok River in Rzeszów (Poland). The design documentation of the bridge has been lost, and since its construction, the footbridge has been subject to renovations. The structure is highly susceptible to pedestrian traffic, and before any actions are taken to improve the comfort of use, it is necessary to create and validate a numerical model and assess the force distribution in the structure. Models are often built as mappings of an ideal structure. However, real structures are not ideal. The comparison of numerical and measured data can allow for an indication of potential damage areas. Two main purposes of the article have been formulated: (1)Development of a numerical model of an old footbridge, whose components have been degraded due to long-term use. Changes, compared to the ‘original’, focused on elongation of the cables due to rheology and a decrease in their tension. (2) Demonstrate the challenges in modeling and validating this type of bridge. In the article, the result of the numerical simulation (Finite Element Method and Ansys2024 R2 was applied, the verification was made in RFEM6) for models with different boundary conditions and varied pre-tension in cables was compared with the results of static and dynamic examination of a real object. The dynamic tests showed an uneven distribution of pre-tension in cables. The ratio of the first natural frequencies of inner cables on the north side is as high as 16%. The novelty demonstrated in the article is that static tests are insufficient for proper system identification; the same value of vertical displacement can be obtained for a selected static load, with varied tension in cables. Therefore, dynamic testing is essential. Full model updating requires a multicriteria approach, which will be made in the future. Full article

Finite element analysis (FEA)-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are essential in biomedical engineering for studying haemodynamics, yet their high computational cost limits large-scale parametric studies. This paper presents a comparative analysis of FEA and surrogate modelling techniques applied to renal artery haemodynamics. The aortic–renal bifurcation strongly influences renal perfusion, affecting conditions such as hypertension, infarction, and transplant rejection. This study evaluates GPU-accelerated voxel simulations (Ansys 2024 R2 Discovery), 2D and 3D FEA simulations (COMSOL Multiphysics 6.3), finite volume CFD (Ansys 2020 R2 Fluent), and deep neural networks (DNNs) as surrogate models. Branching angles and blood pressure were systematically varied, and their effects on velocity, pressure, and turbulent kinetic energy were assessed in a time-dependent framework. Fluent provided accurate baseline results, while COMSOL 2D gave sufficient accuracy with much lower runtimes. In contrast, COMSOL 3D required over 160 times longer, making it prohibitive. Surrogate models trained on 6500 or more FEA-derived samples achieved high predictive accuracy (R² > 0.98 for velocity and pressure), balancing training cost and result quality. Cost analysis showed surrogate models become advantageous after 76–93 simulations. Symmetry is expressed in balancing model fidelity and computational efficiency, providing a resource-effective methodology with broad potential in vascular applications. Full article

This article presents the technology of automated placement of an injection molding gate based on a parametric optimization algorithm with technological constraints consideration. The algorithm is based on the modification of the genetic algorithm using the criterion of maximum equivalent stresses on the weld line as an optimization criterion. The proposed software’s modular structure combines the authors’ modules that implement a new optimization algorithm with the ANSYS 2022R1 and Moldflow calculation kernels called via API interfaces. This structure provides an opportunity to implement developed technology to solve industrial problems using standard mesh generation tools and complex geometric models due to the flexibility of modules and computing kernel scalability. The consideration of the technological constraints allows us to reduce the population size and optimization problem solution computational time to 1.9 times. The developed algorithms are used to solve the gate location optimization problem using the example of an aerospace bracket made of short-reinforced composite material with a nonzero genus surface and a weld line. The use of the proposed technology made it possible to increase the strength of the studied structure by two times. Full article

Dielectric covers are generally used to provide external protection to antenna systems by providing electromagnetic transparency. They are utilized in ground applications as well as for protecting airborne, Sat Com, terrestrial and underwater antenna installations. This paper presents a unique and universal design of dielectric sandwich-layered cover that can effectively protect antennas operating in a large frequency band from 1 GHz to 28 GHz, including millimeter-wave and microwave ranges, with minimum insertion loss for various incident angles. The proposed single dielectric cover may give sufficient protection for an entire tower or chimney housing multiple antennas, ranging from first-generation to fifth-generation microwave base-station antennas, as well as other wireless/broadcast antennas in millimeter or lower frequency ranges. In the first step, optimum dielectric constant and thickness of the dielectric cover are calculated numerically through a MATLAB (R2015a) code. In the second step, a floquet port analysis is performed to observe the insertion loss through the transmission coefficient against various frequency band-spectrums in microwave and millimeter-wave ranges for validation of the proposed synthesis. The ANSYS 18.2 HFSS tool is used for the purpose. In the third step, fabrication of the dielectric-layered structure is completed with the optimum design parameters. In the final step, the dielectric package is tested under various fabricated antennas in different frequency ranges. Full article