Computational Mechanics
Articles tagged with Computational Mechanics
Why dolphins swim so fast: the secrets of eddies
A team of researchers from The University of Osaka used supercomputer simulations to study how vortices generated by dolphin kicks power fast swimming. They found that large, powerful vortices created by the movement of the dolphin's tail are responsible for most of the propulsion, while smaller ones contribute little to forward motion.
From springs and bolts, St. Olaf researchers built a computer that doesn’t require electricity
St. Olaf researchers create mechanical computers that can perform simple computations without a computer chip or power source, harnessing their power from physical force. The devices demonstrate proof of design for alternative computing in harsh settings, paving the way for smart materials and responsive artificial limbs.
New research brings machine‑learning‑based physics a step closer to solving real engineering challenges
A new machine-learning method detects sudden changes in fluid behavior, improving simulation capabilities for everyday applications like weather prediction and nuclear reactor safety. This enables faster design testing, real-time adjustments, and reduced computational burden.
UCF researchers unlock scalable entanglement for next-generation quantum computing
The breakthrough enables complex states of light to be used in quantum computing, reducing imperfections and increasing scalability. This achievement paves the way for innovations in medicine, materials science, data management, and security.
Four NYU faculty win Sloan Foundation research fellowships
Four NYU faculty members have been awarded Sloan Research Fellowships for their groundbreaking work in brain injury, organic chemistry, computing, and software. Since 1955, 102 NYU faculty members have been selected as recipients, including this year's 126 fellows.
Particle-in-cell study of electron beam propagation through ionospheric plasma
Researchers investigated e-beam propagation through ionospheric plasma using particle-in-cell simulations. Nonrelativistic e-beams exhibit laminar-to-turbulent transition with beam compression factor quantified for the first time.
Making lighter work of calculating fluid and heat flow
Scientists from Tokyo Metropolitan University have re-engineered the Lattice-Boltzmann Method to store certain data, reducing memory usage and overcoming a key bottleneck. The new algorithm achieves significant accuracy and stability in simulations of fluids and heat.
Taking the shock out of predicting shock wave behavior with precise computational modeling
Computational models now accurately represent very weak shock waves, which are crucial in flows involving shock waves. The final state of a moving shock wave can be classified into three regimes: dissipated, transitional and thinly captured.
Easter Island’s statues actually “walked” – and physics backs it up
Researchers used 3D modeling, field experiments to confirm how Rapa Nui people moved iconic moai statues. The team found that the statues were likely walked in a zig-zag motion along carefully designed roads using rope, with a physics-backed explanation.
Smarter flow simulation model for analyzing blood flow in brain aneurysms
A new computational method combines 4D flow MRI, CFD, and data assimilation to estimate blood flow in brain aneurysms with greater accuracy and efficiency. The approach focuses on the aneurysm region, reducing computational cost while improving flow estimation.
Physicists use machine learning to find out how layered gases and metals melt
Researchers have used machine learning to study the melting of layered materials, discovering a complex two-step process that contradicts prior theories. The team identified changes in topological excitations as the key to understanding the unexpected melting behavior, enabling predictions up to 12 material layers.
Mathematics professor Yue Yu receives prestigious Gallagher Young Investigator Award
Yue Yu, Lehigh University mathematics professor, wins award for pioneering work in data-driven nonlocal models and integrating mathematical analysis into computational model design. The recognition honors her outstanding contributions to the field of computational mechanics at a young age.
SwRI, U-Michigan engineers create more effective burner to reduce methane emissions
Researchers at SwRI and U-M have created a new methane flare burner using additive manufacturing and machine learning that eliminates 98% of methane vented during oil production. The burner's design, with a complex nozzle base and impeller, allows for efficient combustion even in challenging crosswind conditions.
Moving in sync, slowly, in glassy liquids
A study published in Nature Materials reveals that cooperative particle rearrangements influence structural order and dynamic behavior in glass-forming liquids. The researchers identified a key process called T1, which maintains local order and leads to super-Arrhenius behavior.
Optical imaging technique offers more precise diagnosis of sleep apnea
A recent study has explored a new imaging approach that uses swept-source optical coherence tomography to visualize the upper airway with high precision. By integrating computational fluid dynamics, researchers were able to identify areas of turbulence and pinpoint obstruction sites, leading to more accurate diagnoses and treatment pla...
Gigantic asteroid impact shifted the axis of Solar System's biggest moon
A Kobe University researcher found that the massive impact on Ganymede was around 20 times larger than the one that ended the dinosaurs, causing a 1,400km crater and reorienting its axis, according to a new study published in Scientific Reports. The asteroid's diameter was estimated at around 300 kilometers.
Are birds flying atoms?
A new study by an international team, including MIT and CNRS, observed that similarities exist between the behavior of birds in flight and physical systems. The research suggests that the transition from disorder to coordination is not as different between particles and biological elements as previously thought.
Sleep apnea patients can breathe easy about CPAP therapy, study finds
A comprehensive study by University of Technology Sydney researchers confirms CPAP therapy's safety without adverse effects on the respiratory system. The study uses computational modeling to assess airflow velocity and shear stress, providing reassurance for patients.
Learning the intrinsic dynamics of spatio-temporal processes through Latent Dynamics Networks
Politecnico researchers developed a new type of neural network called Latent Dynamics Network (LDNet) that can accurately predict the evolution of complex systems in low-dimensional spaces. This approach offers significant innovations over traditional methods, enabling up to 5 times more accurate results with a reduction of over 90% in...
Four real: Quantum computing engineers perform multiple control methods in just one atom
Researchers at UNSW Sydney have successfully encoded quantum information in four distinct ways using a single antimony atom. This breakthrough enables more flexibility in designing future quantum computing chips, with each method offering unique advantages and potential trade-offs.
CityU researchers tackle a century-old teletraffic challenge to enhance medical and public service efficiency
A research team at City University of Hong Kong has developed a novel performance evaluation method called Information Exchange Surrogate Approximation (IESA) to calculate blocking probabilities in queueing systems with overflow. IESA provides ways to allocate limited resources better, enhancing resource allocation and capacity plannin...
Seeing cancer’s spread through a computational window
Researchers at Duke University have developed a new computational model called Adaptive Physics Refinement (APR) that can simulate the movement of individual cancer cells across long distances within the entire human body. This approach captures detailed cellular interactions and their effects on cellular trajectory, providing valuable...
The conservation laws of a dynamical system are no mystery to artificial intelligence
Researchers from Osaka University developed an AI algorithm called FINDE that discovers and preserves the underlying conservation laws of real-world dynamical systems, not just superficial dynamics. FINDE allows for more accurate computer simulations and can reveal additional information about a system's structure.
Detecting, predicting, and preventing aortic ruptures with computational modeling
Using image-based computational blood dynamics, researchers mimicked health conditions and investigated hemodynamic parameters to better understand how aneurysm size affects blood flow. They found that altered blood flow velocity distribution can lead to rupture, emphasizing the importance of early detection and treatment options.
Tiny underwater sand dunes may shed light on larger terrestrial and Martian formations
Researchers from Brazil and UCLA used computational fluid dynamics/discrete element method to study barchan dune formation, shedding light on grain-scale dynamics. The study enables investigation of forces within dunes and grain motion, paving the way for predicting future dune fields on Earth and Mars.
Neural networks being used to improve the performance of high-power wind turbines
Researchers at University of the Basque Country have developed a convolutional neural network to predict flow characteristics around flow control devices on wind turbines. The model achieves accurate results with minimal computational time, reducing errors compared to traditional CFD simulations.
Sophisticated fluid mechanics model is on a roll
The Rice-Waseda team created a computer simulation model that can accurately depict the complex aerodynamics around a moving car and its rolling tires. The model uses NURBS Surface-to-Volume Guided Mesh Generation method, which enables it to capture the deformation of tires as they roll on the road.
New images lead to better prediction of shear thickening
Shear thickening occurs when particles in a low-viscosity solution behave like a solid under stress. Researchers at North Carolina State University captured microscopic images of particles as they underwent shear thickening, revealing complex networks formed between particles and their shapes dependent on particle roughness.
Creating cooler cities
Cities experience higher temperatures than surrounding rural areas due to the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, caused by urban infrastructure absorbing heat. Researchers propose applying cooler surfaces to strategic locations to decrease cost and increase usage, offering an effective solution for resilient and sustainable infrastructure.
Airflow modeling suggests driving with all windows down safest to prevent COVID-19 transmission
Computational fluid dynamics simulations suggest driving with all windows down and the passenger seated as far possible from driver reduces transmission of simulated infectious droplets. The opposite scenario, all four windows up, was found to be the riskiest due to highest airflow velocity.
Virginia Tech researchers still have much to learn from flying snakes
Virginia Tech researchers are exploring the biomechanics of snake flight, focusing on undulation patterns that allow the snakes to glide through the air. They aim to uncover the fundamental fluid mechanics underlying this complex behavior, which could lead to advancements in robotics and aerodynamics.
Researchers examining computational & biological approach to flow diversion
Researchers use 3-D rotational angiography images and data on flow-diverting devices to construct computational fluid dynamics models of cerebral aneurysms. They investigate hemodynamic differences between immediate occlusions and long-term patency, as well as possible causes of hemorrhages after treatment.
Using physics to improve root canal efficiency
Higher temperatures can improve cleansing, but beyond a point, decrease efficiency; optimal cleansing found at 45C with fixed power consumption
Fossils reveal swimming patterns of long extinct cephalopod
Researchers used computational fluid dynamics to analyze the swimming patterns of extinct ammonoid cephalopods, which lived over 300 million years ago. The study reveals insights into the stability of marine ecosystems and how they recover diversity after drastic extinctions.
Analysis of Galileo's Jupiter entry probe reveals gaps in heat shield modeling
Researchers analyzed data from Galileo's 1995 fireball and found the recession rate exceeded predictions, highlighting issues with current heat shield models. New fluid dynamics models using faster computers and data from the probe have led to a better understanding of atmospheric entry vehicles.
Fluid dynamics simulation reveals the underlying physics of liquid jet cleaning
Mechanical engineers at Keio University developed a fluid dynamics simulation to study the impact of water droplets against surfaces, enabling efficient and damage-free cleaning. The research provides insights into the trade-off between particle removal efficiency and surface damage.
Earth's first ecosystems were more complex than previously thought, study finds
A recent study has revealed that Earth's first large and complex organisms formed more intricate ecosystems than previously thought. The research focused on an extinct organism called Tribrachidium, which lived during the Ediacaran period, characterized by suspension feeding, a feeding mode not documented in ancient species.
SIAM's Ralph E. Kleinman Prize goes to George Em Karniadakis
Brown University professor George Em Karniadakis has been awarded the Ralph E. Kleinman Prize by SIAM for his contributions to applied mathematics, specifically in computational fluid dynamics and stochastic modeling. The $5,000 prize recognizes his research bridging high-level mathematics with practical applications.
NYU School of Engineering professor honored for contributions to mechanical vibration
Porfiri's research on mechanical vibrations could lead to safer ships and ways to harvest energy from aquatic systems. His work aims to design lightweight, fuel-efficient marine vessels and microsystems with untapped energy-harvesting capabilities.
Computational fluid dynamics in coronary plaques predict coronary artery disease
3D simulations analyze local flow fields and identify correlation between left coronary angulation and wall shear stress changes. CFD complements cardiac CT imaging by defining internal biomechanics, including stresses and strain within the coronary artery system.
Faster simulation -- award for new method
Dominik Schillinger's novel simulation concept enables direct integration of CAD geometry into finite element analysis, eliminating mesh generation. This technology is expected to significantly influence design processes in mechanical, automotive, aerospace, and civil engineering.
Dr. X. Frank Xu receives prestigious 2010 K.J. Bathe Award
Dr. X. Frank Xu has been awarded the 2010 K.J. Bathe Award for his groundbreaking work on multiscale methods for uncertainty quantification of heterogeneous materials. His research aims to improve the assessment and optimization of advanced materials like functionally graded materials.
E. Vincent Zoby wins 2009 AIAA Thermophysics Award
E. Vincent Zoby, a specialist in hypersonic aerothermodynamics, received the award for his work on accurate engineering codes and mentoring of aerospace engineers. He has served on numerous advisory boards and is an AIAA Fellow with over 100 technical papers published.