Mechanical Engineering - Research Publications

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    Modelling the effect of roughness density on turbulent forced convection
    Abu Rowin, W ; Zhong, K ; Saurav, T ; Jelly, T ; Hutchins, N ; Chung, D (Cambridge University Press, 2024-01-11)
    By examining a systematic set of direct numerical simulations, we develop a model which captures the effect of roughness density on global and local heat transfer in forced convection. The surfaces considered are zero-skewed three-dimensional sinusoidal rough walls with solidities, Λ (defined as the frontal area divided by the total plan area), ranging from low Λ=0.09, medium Λ=0.18 to high Λ=0.36. For each solidity, we vary the roughness height characterised by the roughness Reynolds number, k+, from transitionally rough to fully rough conditions. The findings indicate that, as the fully rough regime is approached, there is a pronounced breakdown in the analogy between heat and momentum transfer, whereby the velocity roughness function ΔU+ continues to increase and the temperature roughness function ΔΘ+ attains a peak with increasing k+. This breakdown occurs at higher sand-grain roughness Reynolds numbers (k+s) with increasing solidity. Locally, we find that the heat transfer can be meaningfully partitioned into two categories: exposed, high-shear regions experiencing higher heat transfer obeying a local Reynolds analogy and sheltered, reversed-flow regions experiencing lower and spatially uniform heat transfer. The relative contribution of these distinct mechanisms to the global heat transfer depends on the fraction of the total surface area covered by these regions, which ultimately depends on Λ. These insights enable us to develop a model for the rough-wall heat-transfer coefficient, Ch,k(k+,Λ,Pr), where Pr is the molecular Prandtl number, that assumes different heat-transfer laws in exposed and sheltered regions. We show that the exposed–sheltered surface-area fractions can be modelled through simple ray tracing that is solely dependent on the surface topography and a prescribed sheltering angle. Model predictions compare well when applied to heat-transfer data of traverse ribs from the literature.
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    Pressure drag reduction via imposition of spanwise wall oscillations on a rough wall
    Deshpande, R ; Kidanemariam, AG ; Marusic, I (Cambridge University Press, 2024-01-11)
    The present study tests the efficacy of the well-known viscous drag reduction strategy of imposing spanwise wall oscillations to reduce pressure drag contributions in transitional and fully rough turbulent wall flow. This is achieved by conducting a series of direct numerical simulations of a turbulent flow over two-dimensional (spanwise-aligned) semi-cylindrical rods, placed periodically along the streamwise direction with varying streamwise spacing. Surface oscillations, imposed at fixed viscous-scaled actuation parameters optimum for smooth wall drag reduction, are found to yield substantial drag reduction ( $\gtrsim$ 25 %) for all the rough wall cases, maintained at matched roughness Reynolds numbers. While the total drag reduction is due to a drop in both viscous and pressure drag in the case of transitionally rough flow (i.e. with large inter-rod spacing), it is associated solely with pressure drag reduction for the fully rough cases (i.e. with small inter-rod spacing), with the latter being reported for the first time. The study finds that pressure drag reduction in all cases is caused by the attenuation of the vortex shedding activity in the roughness wake, in response to wall oscillation frequencies that are of the same order as the vortex shedding frequencies. Contrary to speculations in the literature, this study confirms that the mechanism behind pressure drag reduction, achieved via imposition of spanwise oscillations, is independent of the viscous drag reduction. This mechanism is responsible for weakening of the Reynolds stresses and increase in base pressure in the roughness wake, explaining the pressure drag reduction observed by past studies, across varying roughness heights and geometries.
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    Readiness of Brazilian Industrial Engineering postgraduate programs for Industry 4.0: A knowledge dimensions assessment
    Tortorella, GL ; Cauchick-Miguel, PA ; Frazzon, EM ; Fogliatto, FS ; Godinho Filho, M ; Thuerer, M (Wiley, 2023-05)
    This study examines how Industrial Engineering postgraduate programs intend to develop the competencies required for Industry 4.0 in their students. An exploratory and descriptive approach was adopted. Multiple sources of evidence were collected in four of Brazil's best‐ranked and most traditional Industrial Engineering postgraduate programs, involving experienced academics and directors of these programs. Four knowledge dimensions were used to frame our study: factual, conceptual, procedural, and metacognitive. Results indicate that Industrial Engineering postgraduate courses tend to emphasize technical competencies, such as problem and conflict‐solving, decision‐making, and analytical and research skills, rather than competencies related to interpersonal relationships, such as creativity, entrepreneurial thinking, leadership, adaptability, and flexibility. We also found that the development of Industry 4.0 competencies in the examined Industrial Engineering postgraduate programs mostly relies on activities related to procedural knowledge. Our study provides Industrial Engineering instructors and academics arguments to revisit their curricula and better prepare postgraduate students for the challenges imposed by Industry 4.0.
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    Effect of Industry 4.0 on the relationship between socio-technical practices and workers' performance
    Tortorella, G ; Fogliatto, FS ; Kumar, M ; Gonzalez, V ; Pepper, M (EMERALD GROUP PUBLISHING LTD, 2023-01-17)
    Purpose This paper aims to examine the moderating effect of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies on the relationship between socio-technical (ST) practices and workers' health, quality and productivity performance. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, 192 practitioners from different manufacturing firms adopting I4.0 technologies were surveyed, analyzed the collected data using multivariate techniques and discussed the results in light of ST theory. Findings Findings indicate that I4.0 moderates the relationship between ST practices and performance, to an extent and direction that varied according to the focus of the technologies and practices adopted. Originality/value The I4.0 movement has triggered changes in the work organization at unprecedented rates, impacting firms' social and technical aspects. This study bridges a gap in the literature concerning the integration of I4.0 technologies into manufacturing firms adopting ST practices, enabling the verification of the moderating effects on workers' performance. Although previous studies have investigated that relationship, the moderating effect of I4.0 on performance is still underexplored, characterizing an important contribution of this research.
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    Lean production, information and communication technologies and operational performance
    Marodin, G ; Chiappetta Jabbour, CJ ; Godinho Filho, M ; Luz Tortorella, G (ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD, 2023-01-02)
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    The significance of octane numbers to hybrid electric vehicles with turbocharged direct injection engines
    Zhou, Z ; Yang, Y ; Brear, M ; Kar, T ; Leone, T ; Anderson, J ; Shelby, M ; Lacey, J (ELSEVIER SCI LTD, 2023-02-15)
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    A viscous vortex model for predicting the drag reduction of riblet surfaces
    Wong, J ; Camobreco, CJ ; García-Mayoral, R ; Hutchins, N ; Chung, D (Cambridge University Press, 2024-01-10)
    This paper introduces a viscous vortex model for predicting the optimal drag reduction of riblet surfaces, eliminating the need for expensive direct numerical simulations (DNSs) or experiments. The footprint of a typical quasi-streamwise vortex, in terms of the spanwise and wall-normal velocities, is extracted from smooth-wall DNS flow fields in close proximity to the surface. The extracted velocities are then averaged and used as boundary conditions in a Stokes-flow problem, wherein riblets with various cross-sectional shapes are embedded. Here, the same smooth-wall-based boundary conditions can be used for riblets, as we observe from the DNSs that the quasi-streamwise vortices remain unmodified apart from an offset. In particular, the position of these vortices remain unpinned above small riblets. The present approach is compared with the protrusion-height model of Luchini et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 228, 1991, pp. 87–109), which is also based on a Stokes calculation, but represents the vortex with only a uniform spanwise velocity boundary condition. The key novelty of the present model is the introduction of a wall-normal velocity component into the boundary condition, thus inducing transpiration at the riblet crests, which becomes relevant as the riblet size increases. Consequently, the present model allows for the drag-reduction prediction of riblets up to the optimal size. The present approach does not rely on the scale separation formally required by homogenisation techniques, which are only applicable for vanishingly small riblets.
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    Feasibility and performance analysis of hybrid ground source heat pump systems in fourteen cities
    Weeratunge, H ; Aditya, GR ; Dunstall, S ; de Hoog, J ; Narsilio, G ; Halgamuge, S (PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD, 2021-11-01)
    Ground source heat pump systems (GSHP) for residential building heating, cooling, and hot water are highly energy efficient but capital intensive when sized for peak demands. The use of supplemental sources of energy with GSHP systems enables improved life-cycle economics through the reduction in the size and cost of the GSHP components. This paper investigates the life-cycle economics of hybrid solar-assisted ground source heat pump systems (SAGSHP) using simulations validated from field data. The economics and optimal sizing of SAGSHP systems for heating dominant climates in four locations in Australia and ten locations elsewhere are evaluated in order to explore the suitability and relative merits of SAGSHP systems in a range of heating dominant climates. In locations having high or moderate levels of solar irradiation, high electricity prices, and high or moderate gas prices, SAGSHP systems are shown to have the lowest life cycle cost amongst alternatives, with predicted savings of up to 30%.
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    Conversion of Upper-Limb Inertial Measurement Unit Data to Joint Angles: A Systematic Review.
    Fang, Z ; Woodford, S ; Senanayake, D ; Ackland, D (MDPI AG, 2023-07-19)
    Inertial measurement units (IMUs) have become the mainstay in human motion evaluation outside of the laboratory; however, quantification of 3-dimensional upper limb motion using IMUs remains challenging. The objective of this systematic review is twofold. Firstly, to evaluate computational methods used to convert IMU data to joint angles in the upper limb, including for the scapulothoracic, humerothoracic, glenohumeral, and elbow joints; and secondly, to quantify the accuracy of these approaches when compared to optoelectronic motion analysis. Fifty-two studies were included. Maximum joint motion measurement accuracy from IMUs was achieved using Euler angle decomposition and Kalman-based filters. This resulted in differences between IMU and optoelectronic motion analysis of 4° across all degrees of freedom of humerothoracic movement. Higher accuracy has been achieved at the elbow joint with functional joint axis calibration tasks and the use of kinematic constraints on gyroscope data, resulting in RMS errors between IMU and optoelectronic motion for flexion-extension as low as 2°. For the glenohumeral joint, 3D joint motion has been described with RMS errors of 6° and higher. In contrast, scapulothoracic joint motion tracking yielded RMS errors in excess of 10° in the protraction-retraction and anterior-posterior tilt direction. The findings of this study demonstrate high-quality 3D humerothoracic and elbow joint motion measurement capability using IMUs and underscore the challenges of skin motion artifacts in scapulothoracic and glenohumeral joint motion analysis. Future studies ought to implement functional joint axis calibrations, and IMU-based scapula locators to address skin motion artifacts at the scapula, and explore the use of artificial neural networks and data-driven approaches to directly convert IMU data to joint angles.
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    Evaporation induced convection enhances mixing in the upper ocean
    Falor, D ; Gayen, B ; Sengupta, D ; Ivey, GN (FRONTIERS MEDIA SA, 2023-05-16)
    The upper ocean surface layer is directly affected by the air-sea fluxes. The diurnal variations in these fluxes also cause the upper ocean mixed layer turbulence and mixing to diurnally vary. The underlying thermohaline structure also varies accordingly throughout the day. Here we use large-eddy simulation to quantify the role of surface evaporation in modulating the diurnal mixed layer turbulence and mixing in the presence of wind forcing. During daytime, the upper ocean boundary layer becomes thermally stratified, and a salinity inversion layer is formed in the upper 10m, leading to double diffusive salt-fingering instability. During nighttime, the mixed layer undergoes convective deepening due to surface buoyancy loss redfrom both surface cooling and evaporation. We find that salinity makes a major contribution to the convective instability during both transitions between day and night. Overall surface evaporation increases the mixed layer depth and irreversible mixing through convection, both during nighttime and daytime, and leads to better prediction of the dynamical variables as sea surface salinity (SSS) and sea surface temperature (SST). Our findings can help improve the ocean parameterizations to improve the forecasts on a diurnal timescale.