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In this study, the effect of five geometric design features, including radius, superelevation, longitudinal grade, lane and shoulder width, on the average speed in the horizontal curve on a two-lane undivided rural road was investigated. The standardized regression coefficients showed that the most important factor affecting the speed was the radius (10.47) followed by the longitudinal grade (4.46). Superelevation and lane width had little effect. Shoulder width had no significant effect. This would be due to the wide width of the lanes. It was found that the relationships between speed and radius, longitudinal grade, superelevation and lane width were radical, quadratic, linear and linear, respectively. Increasing the longitudinal grade has increased the speed of the drivers. Increasing the superelevation was effective when its value changed from negative to positive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

R. Lyons, R. Pemantle and Y. Peres (Ann. Probab. 24 (4), 1996, 1993–2006) conjectured that for a Cayley graph G with a growth rate gr(G) > 1, the speed of a biased random walk exists and is positive for the biased parameter λ ∈ (1, gr(G)). And Gabor Pete (Probability and geometry ´ on groups, Chaper 9, 2024) sheds light on the intricate relationship between the spectral radius of the graph and the speed of the biased random walk. Here, we focus on an example of a Cayley graph, a free product of complete graphs. In this paper, we establish the continuity of the spectral radius of biased random walks with respect to the bias parameter in this class of Cayley graphs. Our method relies on the Kesten-Cheeger-Dodziuk-Mohar theorem and the analysis of generating functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the effect of the flow velocity, which varies exponentially with time, on solute transport in a finite porous medium with radial geometry. The two-dimensional advection-dispersion equation in the cylindrical coordinate system is solved by using finite difference method. The concentration profiles are established for a duration of four hours of infiltration. It appears that the concentrations are lower in the case of the decreasing exponential velocity. The analysis of the effect of the injection radius showed that the retention of pollutants decreases when the injection radius increases. These findings can be used to design the size of a filter system for drinking water provision, and the environment protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerical simulation of fatigue crack growth (FCG) is presented, based on the application of the extended finite element method (XFEM). Couple of case studies are presented, as a review of recent experience of the Belgrade school of XFEM simulations, established at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Case studies comprised Charpy specimen with initial crack at the notch tip, oil rig pipe with an axial surface crack, pressure vessels with a crack at the welded joint with connecting pipe, turbine shaft with a crack at the transition radius, optimization of a wing spar in respect to FCG, the effect of mesh size on fatigue life estimation of a stringer panel, fatigue life estimation of wing‐to‐fuselage connecting lug, geometry effect on fatigue life of orthopedic plates and fatigue life of hip implant. Based on these case studies, XFEM is discussed in respect to its accuracy and efficiency. It is concluded that XFEM is a versatile tool for simulation of FCG, providing an excellent option for precise and reliable fatigue life of a cracked component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The standard configuration of a sonic black hole (SBH) is a discrete set of rings with back cavities at a duct termination, whose inner radii decrease according to a power-law. Although several practical realizations of this type of slow-sound waveguide have been investigated, the continuous problem in which the number of ring/cavity sets goes to infinity has not been analyzed in depth. Understanding its performance is interesting in itself and could provide clues for new designs. For this purpose, we transform the generalized Webster equation for the acoustic pressure inside the ideal SBH into a spatially varying wavenumber Helmholtz equation for a new locally scaled pressure. We eliminate the singularity of the original problem at the SBH termination by considering a rigid residual surface that will be shown to play a role analogous to that of the acoustic black hole (ABH) residual thickness in beams and plates. The variational formulation of the Helmholtz equation is presented and solved by expanding the unknown scaled pressure in terms of a basis of Gaussian functions. The same framework is used to set up an eigenvalue problem that provides the SBH modes and thereby a modal decomposition for the pressure within the SBH. Once the theoretical foundations are established, the variation of the speed of sound and wavenumber in the SBH is presented. The dependence of the shape and distribution of the modes on the residual surface and damping helps to clarify the occurrence and disappearance of oscillations in the input admittance and reflection coefficient of the SBH at different frequencies. For the latter, a detailed parametric study is carried out. Alternative profiles to the power law are also investigated, some showing reflection coefficient values similar to those of the classical SBH. • Sonic black holes at the end of ducts provide minimal wave reflection. • A theoretical approach is proposed to solve the SBH governing equation. • The modal distribution in the SBH is strongly affected by the residual radius. • The modal distribution explains the oscillations in the reflection coefficient. • Alternative SBH profiles to the power law are studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study a Riemann-Liouville-type fractional Riemann-Stieltjes integral boundary value problem under some conditions regarding the spectral radius of the relevant linear operator. The existence of nontrivial solutions is obtained using topological degree, and our results improve and generalize some results in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the observational mass–radius (M–R) relation for a sample of 47 magnetized white dwarfs (WDs) with the magnetic field strength (B) ranging from 1 to 773 MG, identified from the SDSS data release 7 (DR7). We derive their effective temperature, surface gravity (log g), luminosity, radius, and mass. While atmospheric parameters are derived using a Virtual Observatory Spectral Energy Distribution Analyzer (VOSA), the mass is derived using their location in the HR diagram in comparison with the evolutionary tracks of different masses. We implement this mass measurement instead of a more traditional method of deriving masses from log g , which is unreliable as is based on SED and generates errors from other physical parameters involved. The main disadvantage of this method is that we need to assume a core composition of WDs. As it is complicated to identify the exact composition of these WDs from low-resolution spectra, we use tracks for the masses 0.2 to 0.4 M⊙ assuming a He-core, 0.5 to 1.0 M⊙ assuming CO core, and above M⊙ assuming O–Ne–Mg core. We compare the observed M–R relation with those predicted by the finite temperature model by considering different B , which are well in agreement considering their relatively low-surface fields, ≲109 G. Currently, there is no direct observational detection of magnetized WDs with B > 109 G. We propose that our model can be further extrapolated to higher B , which may indicate the existence of super-Chandrasekhar mass (M > 1.4 M⊙) WDs at higher B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Establish a new classification system of distal radius fracture based on computed tomographic (CT), and evaluate its reliability and reproducibility preliminarily, and provide a new theoretical reference for clinicians to use the clinical classification system. The imaging data and clinical data of 204 inpatients with distal radius fracture during 6 years from January 1, 2014 to January 1, 2019 in orthopaedic department were analyzed retrospectively and classified based on CT. Three observers evaluated the image data of 48 randomly selected cases based on CT at different time nodes of T1 and T2. Cohen's kappa was used to calculate the consistency. At the last follow-up, patients' Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), Patient Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE), and VAS scores were collected. Among 204 cases, there were 12 cases of type 1, including 6 cases of type 1-D, 4 cases of type 1-V and 2 cases of type 1-R. There were 6 cases of type 2, including 2 cases of type 2-DV, 2 cases of type 2-DR and 2 cases of type 2-VR. There were 186 cases of type 3, including 32 cases of type 3–0, 127 cases of type 3–1 and 27 cases of type 3–2. There was no significant difference in DASH, PRWE and VAS scores among all types (P > 0.05). The results of interobserver reproducibility were kappa = 0.985, ICC = 0.984 in the first evaluation, kappa = 0.986, ICC = 0.986 in the second evaluation. The results of intraobserver reproducibility were O1 = 0.991, O2 = 0.991, O3 = 0.989 respectively. The new classification system of distal radius fracture based on CT has theoretical and practical significance for incision selection, fracture reduction and internal fixation. 123 classification system is clear, comprehensive, easy to understand and remember. Moreover, it has higher interobserver reliability and intraobserver reproducibility than other systems reported at present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ignition electrodes have an immense impact on the accurate measurement of the flame propagation spherical radius. In this study, a flame-radius calculation method is designed. The method is able to eliminate effects due to the ignition electrodes. The adaptability and optimization effects of the proposed method are analyzed. The results show that the ratio of the angle is affected by the ignition electrodes under the Han II method. There are three obvious divisions include a high-value area, a sharp-variation area, and a mild-variation area. The ratio of the angle affected by the ignition electrodes is only applicable to the mild-variation region when the flame presents respective convex and concave distributions. For these distributions, the increment rate of the mean radius is 0.4–0.85% and 0.42–3.19%. The reduced rate of the standard deviation of the radius extraction value is 11.91–22.1% and 5.13–17.99%, and the reduced rate of the radius extraction value range is 20.32–39.51% and 0.32–8.09%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a semi-analytical technique based on Taylor's series method namely DTM has been used to solve the differential equation which governs the motion of three types of annular FGM plates. The differential equation has been obtained using Hamilton principle and classical plate theory. The mechanical properties of the plate (Young's modulus and density) are considered to be graded in thickness direction and vary following the power-law. The behaviour of volume fraction index and radii ratio has been investigated onto first three modes of frequency parameter for all three plates. Moreover, the novelty of this paper is the application of the versatile technique DTM to study the effect of radii ratio and volume fraction index on three different types of annular FGM plates. A comparison has been made between the obtained numerical results and the results are available in the literature. A good agreement of the results verifies the accuracy of the present technique. Three-dimensional mode shapes for all three plates are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Any 3D AFM image is a convolution of the geometry of the AFM tip and the profile of the scanned sample, especially when the dimensions of the scanned sample are comparable to those of the AFM tip shape. The precise profile of the scanned sample can be extracted from the 3D AFM image if the geometry of the AFM tip is known. Therefore, in order to separate the geometry of the AFM probe tip from the 3D AFM image of a diffraction grating with a rectangular profile and to correct for the topographic convolutions induced by the AFM probe tip, a method is used to quantitatively evaluate the geometry of the AFM probe tip, including the tip radius and the included angle. A model for reconstructing the measured AFM image is proposed to correct topography convolutions caused by the AFM tip shape when scanning a diffraction grating with rectangular profiles. A series of experiments were performed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed AFM tip geometry evaluation method, and comparison experiments were conducted to demonstrate the feasibility and reliability of the proposed reconstruction model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Traumatic brain injuries, a primary global health concern, can lead to severe disabilities. Acute subdural haematoma is one type of traumatic brain injury resulting from the rupture of bridging veins in the brain. Existing numerical models often oversimplify these structures. This study's main goals were to understand how the cerebral vein's cross-sectional shape affects its response, more akin to real-life testing, and to introduce a hyperelastic model for these veins that captures their non-linear behaviour. The results reveal that the vein's shape significantly influences its response to stretching, highlighting the need for more realistic geometries in modelling. Additionally, hyperelastic models, like the Marlow and polynomial models, were successfully implemented. This research provides valuable insights into the mechanical properties of bridging veins and their response to tensile loading, potentially improving our understanding of traumatic brain injuries. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious global health issue, leading to serious disabilities. One type of TBI is acute subdural haematoma (ASDH), which occurs when a bridging vein ruptures. Many numerical models of these structures, mainly based on the finite element method, have been developed. However, most rely on linear elasticity (without validation) and others on simplifications at the geometrical level. An example of the latter is the assumption of a regular cylinder with a constant radius, or the geometry of the vein acquired from medical images. Unfortunately, these do not replicate the real conditions of a mechanical tensile test. In this work, the main goal is to evaluate the influence of the vein's geometry in its mechanical behaviour under tensile loading, simulating the real conditions of experimental tests. The second goal is to implement a hyperelastic model of the bridging veins where it would be possible to observe its non-linear elastic behaviour. The results of the developed finite element models were compared to experimental data available in the literature and other models. It was possible to conclude that the geometry of the vein structure influences the tensile stress–strain curve, which means that flattened specimens should be modelled when validating constitutive models for bridging veins. Additionally, the implementation of hyperelastic material models has been verified, highlighting the potential application of the Marlow and reduced polynomial (of fourth and sixth orders) constitutive models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The median location problem concerns finding locations of one or several new facilities that minimize the overall weighted distances from the existing to the new facilities. We address the problem of locating one new facility with a radius r on networks. Furthermore, the radius r is flexible and the objective function is the conic combination of the traditional 1-median function and the value r. We call this problem an extensive 1-median problem with radius on networks. To solve the problem, we first induce the so-called finite dominating set, that contains all points on the underlying network and radius values which are candidate for the optimal solution of the problem. This helps to develop a combinatorial algorithm that solves the problem on a general network G = (V,E) in O(|E||V|³) time. We also consider the underlying problem with improved algorithm on trees. Based the convexity of the objective function with variable radius, we develop a linear time algorithm to find an extensive 1-median with radius on the underlying tree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traffic noise mapping frequently employs Kriging, Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW), and Triangular Irregular Networks (TIN) spatial interpolations. This study uses the Henk de Kluijver noise model to evaluate the performance of spatial interpolations. Effective traffic noise mapping requires that noise observation points (Nops) be designed as 2 m grids. The upper and lower slopes function as noise barriers to reduce sound levels. Therefore, assessment of accuracy is essential for visualising noise levels in undulating and level terrain. In addition, this work gives an accurate comparison of traffic noise interpolation in undulating areas. The elements of spatial interpolations, such as the weighting factor, variogram, radius, and number of points influence the interpolation accuracy. The Kriging with a Gaussian variogram, where the radius is 5 m and the number of points is 12 demonstrates the highest level of precision. However, there is no direct relationship between accuracy validation and cross-validation. In cross-validation, however, the accuracy of the Gaussian variogram with a 7 m radius and 18 points is more accurate. In addition, this study demonstrates that Kriging is superior for extrapolating noise levels in undulating regions. Accurate visualising traffic noise levels requires a prior understanding of spatial interpolations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduced s-index weakly positive tensors and discussed the calculation of the spectral radius of this kind of nonnegative tensors. Using the diagonal similarity transformation of tensor and Perron-Frobenius theory of nonnegative tensor, the calculation method of the maximum H-eigenvalue of s-index weakly positive tensors was given. A variable parameter was introduced in each iteration of the algorithm, which is equivalent to a translation transformation of the tensor in each iteration to improve the calculation speed. At the same time, it was proved that the algorithm is linearly convergent for the calculation of the spectral radius of s-index weakly positive tensors. The final numerical example shows the effectiveness of the algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a new DIRECT-type SCABALL (scattering balls) algorithm with a new partition method for derivation-free optimization problems. It does not focus on dividing the region of interest into specific geometric shapes, but rather scatters several balls to cover it. In SCABALL, several potential optimal regions are selected at each iteration, and they are covered by smaller balls sequentially. In this way, the SCABALL ensures the everywhere dense convergence. The center points and radii of the scattered balls significantly influence the efficiency of SCABALL; therefore, the minimax designs are used in the initial and sequential stages to obtain better coverage. The SCABALL parameters, including the number of balls and their radii, were analyzed by numerical investigation. We provided the empirical choices for those parameters and found that the balls' radii can be contracted to balance efficiency and global convergence. Numerical experiments show that the SCABALL algorithm is locally biased and robust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For objects belonging to a known model set and observed through a prescribed linear process, we aim at determining methods to recover linear quantities of these objects that are optimal from a worst-case perspective. Working in a Hilbert setting, we show that, if the model set is the intersection of two hyperellipsoids centered at the origin, then there is an optimal recovery method which is linear. It is specifically given by a constrained regularization procedure whose parameters can be precomputed by semidefinite programming. This general framework can be applied to several scenarios, including the two-space problem and problems involving ℓ 2 -inaccurate data. It can also be applied to the problem of recovery from ℓ 1 -inaccurate data. For the latter, we reach the conclusion of existence of an optimal recovery method which is linear, again given by constrained regularization, under a computationally verifiable sufficient condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this investigation, Direct Simulation Monte Carlo Method is used to compute the surface properties of inflatable aerodynamic decelerators (IAD) applied for the reentry, recovery, and reuse of cubeSats. Surface properties calculation is of fundamental importance for flexible thermal protection system materials selection that withstand the harsh reentry environment. Furthermore, simulations are extremely important to detect possible hot spots at the IAD before design and flight. In this work, three IAD configurations are exposed to a rarefied hypersonic flow with freestream conditions that correspond to those found at reentry conditions at 105 km altitude. All geometries are assumed to be axisymmetric and have a maximum radius of 0.3 m from the center line to the shoulder edge. The main differences between the geometries are the angle between the IAD and cubeSat body and the IAD curvature for geometry 3. According to the results, all IAD geometries are effective in protecting the cubeSat during the reentry phase. It is shown that the IAD geometry has a significant influence on the heat transfer, pressure, and skin friction coefficient distribution over the flexible heat shield. The maximum heat transfer coefficient computed for geometry 1, 2, and 3 is 0.90, 0.97, and 0.84, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of numerical differentiation for periodic functions with finite smoothness is investigated. For multivariate functions, different variants of the truncation method are constructed and their approximation properties are obtained. Based on these results, sharp bounds (in the power scale) of the minimal radius of Galerkin information for the problem under study are found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Most accurate geometry of attached mortar geometry for recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) modelling; • Comparative analysis with several attached mortar geometries; • Comparison of the mechanical behaviour of RAC with natural aggregate concrete (NAC). The geometry of the attached mortar present in recycled concrete aggregates influences the behaviour of recycled aggregate concrete, since this mortar is porous, rough and tends to increase the elongation of aggregate particles. These factors influence shape, volume, and complexity of the mesoscopic phases of concrete (including the interfacial transition zone), but studies on this topic so far have not realistically represented the geometry and mesoscopic phases of recycled aggregate concrete. This hinders a proper analysis of the effect of the attached mortar's geometry. This paper develops a mesoscopic model for recycled aggregate concrete, considering four types of attached mortar's geometry based on experimental observation. Concrete mixes numerically modelled with either: i) the four attached mortar's geometries combined on a mixed model (representative of real cases); or ii) a single type of attached mortar's geometry was analysed regarding the effect of the attached mortar's geometry on the compressive and tensile behaviour and on fracture development. The main findings of the paper are: (1) the geometry of the attached mortar is relevant to the behaviour of recycled aggregate concrete; (2) modelling the attached mortar as present in both ends of the larger radius of the recycled aggregate leads to more realistic results; (3) modelling the attached mortar as fully enclosing the recycled aggregate overestimates the mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Maxwell-Smoluchowski (MS) theory of gas diffusion is revisited here in the context of gas transport in straight channels in the Knudsen regime of large mean free path. This classical theory is based on a phenomenological model of gas-surface interaction that posits that a fraction ϑ of molecular collisions with the channel surface consists of diffuse collisions, i.e., the direction of post-collision velocities is distributed according to the Knudsen Cosine Law, and a fraction 1 − ϑ undergoes specular reflection. From this assumption one obtains the value D = 2 − ϑ ϑ D K for the self-diffusivity constant, where D K is a reference value corresponding to ϑ = 1. In this paper we show that ϑ can be expressed in terms of micro- and macro-geometric parameters for a model consisting of hard spheres colliding elastically against a rigid surface with prescribed microgeometry. Our refinement of the MS theory is based on the observation that the classical surface scattering operator associated to the microgeometry has a canonical velocity space diffusion approximation by a generalized Legendre differential operator whose spectral theory is known explicitly. More specifically, starting from an explicit description of the effective channel surface microgeometry—a concept which incorporates both the actual surface microgeometry and the molecular radius—and using this operator approximation, we show that ϑ can be resolved into easily obtained geometric parameters, ϑ = λ h / C , having the following interpretation: C is a macroscopic parameter determined by the shape of the channel cross-section; h is a parameter that precisely captures the degree of roughness of the effective microgeometry, and λ is a parameter that characterizes the overall curvature of the surface microgeometry independent of h. Thus ϑ is resolved as the quotient of microscopic (λh) over macroscopic (C) signature parameters of the channel geometry. The identity ϑ = λ h / C holds up to higher order terms in the roughness parameter h , so our main result better applies to well polished, or low roughness, surfaces. • The Maxwell-Smoluchowski theory of gas diffusion is revisited in the context of gas transport in straight channels in the Knudsen regime of large mean free path, in the special case of channel surface having low roughness. • A factorization of the phenomenological tangential momentum accommodation coefficient introduced in the Maxwell-Smoluchowski model is derived in terms of micro- and macro-geometric parameters based on a detailed analysis of the surface scattering of gas molecules under the assumption of low roughness. • A new concept of roughness is proposed which enters into the description of self-diffusivity in a more direct way than standard definitions, and these different notions of roughness are compared. • Utilizing a very simple model of micro-geometry, the new analysis obtains estimates for self-diffusivity of gas transport in carbon nanotubes in line with the very high values observed experimentally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Born equation is a seminal model to study the solvation process of ions in solution, devised originally for ions at infinite dilution. Diverse modifications have been proposed in literature since the publication of the original work by Max Born in 1920, with varying degrees of success. In this work, we analyze and discuss various modifications to the Born equation. We verify their performance for Gibbs Free Energy, Enthalpy, and Entropy of solvation using data from a comprehensive database of 143 ions with charges from −4 to ＋4 in 26 different solvents. We show how the Born radius is a natural consequence of introducing the dielectric saturation effect in an approximate form, and therefore most of the proposed models are special cases of considering a continuous radial dependence for the dielectric constant. Finally, we propose a new analytical modification to the Born equation, which encloses the previous theoretical modifications and has a better performance than previous modifications. [Display omitted] • The Born radius is a consequence of dielectric saturation in the Born equation. • The S-Born model is an alternative to the proposed versions of the Born equation. • A temperature-dependent correction improves results for solvation properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]