Search results for " finite element method"
showing 10 items of 58 documents
Multi-physical modelling of reverse electrodialysis
2017
Abstract Reverse electrodialysis (RED) is an electrochemical membrane process that directly converts the energy associated with the concentration difference between two salt solutions into electrical energy by means of a selective controlled mixing. The physics of RED involves the interaction of several phenomena of different nature and space-time scales. Therefore, mathematical modelling and numerical simulation tools are crucial for performance prediction. In this work, a multi-physical modelling approach for the simulation of RED units was developed. A periodic portion of a single cell pair was simulated in two dimensions. Fluid dynamics was simulated by the Navier-Stokes and continuity …
Cohesive delamination and frictional contact on joining surface via XFEM
2018
In the present paper, the complex mechanical behaviour of the surfaces joining two different bodies is analysed by a cohesive-frictional interface constitutive model. The kinematical behaviour is characterized by the presence of discontinuous displacement fields, that take place at the internal connecting surfaces, both in the fully cohesive phase and in the delamination one. Generally, in order to catch discontinuous displacement fields, internal connecting surfaces (adhesive layers) are modelled by means of interface elements, which connect, node by node, the meshes of the joined bodies, requiring the mesh to be conforming to the geometry of the single bodies and to the relevant connectin…
The MAST-FV/FE scheme for the simulation of thermohaline processes in variable density saturated porous media
2009
A novel methodology for the simulation of 2D thermohaline double diffusive processes, driven by heterogeneous temperature and concentration fields in variable-density satu- rated porous media, is presented. The stream function is used to describe the flow field and it is defined in terms of mass flux. The partial differential equations governing system is given by the mass conservation equation of the fluid phase written in terms of the mass- based stream function, as well as by the advection–diffusion transport equations of the contaminant concentration and of the heat. The unknown variables are the stream func- tion, the contaminant concentration and the temperature. The governing equatio…
Virtual simulation of an osseointegrated trans-humeral prosthesis: A falling scenario
2018
Abstract Introduction Traditional prosthetic solutions expose the amputee to numerous problems that limit his ability to safely perform the normal activities of daily life. In order to eliminate the problems related to the use of the traditional prosthesis with socket, a new technique was developed for fixing the prosthesis to the amputees based on the principle of osseointegration. The aim of this paper is to study and analyze the stress distribution on the interface between a trans-humeral osseointegrated prosthetic implant and the residual bone, identifying the most stressed areas and thus foreseeing possible failure phenomena of the entire prosthetic system and, after, to compare the st…
On the use of EMI for the assessment of dental implant stability
2014
The achievement and the maintenance of dental implant stability are prerequisites for the long-term success of the osseointegration process. Since implant stability occurs at different stages, it is clinically required to monitor an implant over time, i.e. between the surgery and the placement of the artificial tooth. In this framework, non-invasive tests able to assess the degree of osseointegration are necessary. In this paper, the electromechanical impedance (EMI) method is proposed to monitor the stability of dental implants. A 3D finite element model of a piezoceramic transducer (PZT) bonded to a dental implant placed into the bone was created, considering the presence of a bone- impla…
A telescopic wind tower with reduced environmental impact - The Perima Project
2019
A prototype of a telescopic pole for wind energy production with low environmental impact and its lifting system for a 60 to 250 kW turbine and a height of 30 m have been designed and manufactured. A telescopic tower, which is raised and lowered by automation or by remote control, allows to differentiate the presence of the generator within the landscape over time. Research target: the optimal design of the telescopic coupling, the design for maintaining the preload and for the rotational decoupling, the optimization of the pairs of sleeves, the design of the pegs and the bushes of the jack-up lifting system. All the components of the wind tower have been preliminary analyzed through FEM st…
Piezoelectric energy harvesting from raised crosswalk devices
2015
This paper presents the main characteristics of an experimental energy harvesting device that can be used to recover energy from the vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The use of a piezoelectric bender devices leads to a innovative approach to Henergy Harvesting. The study focuses on the definition and specification of a mechanical configuration able to transfer the vibration from the main box to the piezoelectric transducer. The piezoelectric devices tested is the commonly used monolithic piezoceramic material lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT). The experimental results estimate the efficiency of this device tested and identify the feasibility of their use in real world applications. The results…
A beam finite element for magneto-electro-elastic multilayered composite structures
2012
Abstract A new finite element based upon an elastic equivalent single-layer model for shear deformable and straight magneto-electro-elastic generally laminated beam is presented. The element has six degrees of freedom represented by the displacement components and the cross-section rotation of its two nodes. The magneto-electric boundary conditions enter the discrete problem as work-equivalent forces and moments while the electro-magnetic state characterization constitutes a post-processing step. The element possesses the superconvergence property for the static problem of beams with uniform cross-section and homogenous material properties along the beam axis direction. Moreover, it is free…
MAST-2D diffusive model for flood prediction on domains with triangular Delaunay unstructured meshes
2011
Abstract A new methodology for the solution of the 2D diffusive shallow water equations over Delaunay unstructured triangular meshes is presented. Before developing the new algorithm, the following question is addressed: it is worth developing and using a simplified shallow water model, when well established algorithms for the solution of the complete one do exist? The governing Partial Differential Equations are discretized using a procedure similar to the linear conforming Finite Element Galerkin scheme, with a different flux formulation and a special flux treatment that requires Delaunay triangulation but entire solution monotonicity. A simple mesh adjustment is suggested, that attains t…