Sharif Digital Repository

Organ-on-chip (OOC) platforms have attracted attentions of pharmaceutical companies as powerful tools for screening of existing drugs and development of new drug candidates. OOCs have primarily used human cell lines or primary cells to develop biomimetic tissue models. However, the ability of human stem cells in unlimited self-renewal and differentiation into multiple lineages has made them attractive for OOCs. The microfluidic technology has enabled precise control of stem cell differentiation using soluble factors, biophysical cues, and electromagnetic signals. This study discusses different tissue- and organ-on-chip platforms (i.e., skin, brain, blood–brain barrier, bone marrow, heart,... 

Recently, colloidal gas aphron (CGA) fluids technology has been employed to drill depleted oil and gas reservoirs. Almost all reported experience on CGA fluids were conducted at ambient conditions, and little attention has been paid on the behavior of CGAs at high pressures which is more close to real conditions. In this study, high pressure experiments were conducted by using High Pressure Microscope cell to visualize/monitor the behavior of CGAs at elevated pressures. Single bubble behavior and bubble size distribution (BSD) of CGAs were investigated under different scenarios of pressure change. Results of experiments revealed that BSD of CGAs is controlled by the path of pressure changes,... 

In this research, a parametric study is carried out on the effect of soil-structure interaction on the ductility and strength demand of buildings with embedded foundation. Both kinematic interaction (KI) and inertial interaction effects are considered. The sub-structure method is used in which the structure is modeled by a simplified single degree of freedom system with idealized bilinear behavior. Besides, the soil sub-structure is considered as a homogeneous half-space and is modeled by a discrete model based on the concept of cone models. The foundation is modeled as a rigid cylinder embedded in the soil with different embedment ratios. The soil-structure system is then analyzed subjected... 

It is always crucial to estimate process capability index (PCI) when the quality characteristic does not follow normal distribution, however skewed distributions come about in many processes. The classical method to estimate process capability is not applicable for non-normal processes. In the existing methods for non-normal processes, probability density function (pdf) of the process or an estimate of it is required. Estimating pdf of the process is a hard work and resulted PCI by estimated pdf may be far from real value of it. In this paper an artificial neural network is proposed to estimate PCI for right skewed distributions without appeal to pdf of the process. The proposed neural... 

The heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) is one of the few equipments that are custom made for combined cycle power plants, and any change in its design affects all performance parameters of a steam cycle directly. Thus providing an optimization tool to optimize its design parameters and the layout of its heat exchangers is of great importance. A new method is introduced for modeling a steam cycle in advanced combined cycles by organizing non-linear equations and their simultaneous solutions by use of the hybrid Newton methods in this article. Thereafter, optimal thermodynamic performance conditions for HRSGs are calculated with the help of the genetic algorithm. In the conclusion, the... 

In most real-world manufacturing systems, the production of goods comprises several autocorrelated stages and the quality characteristics of the goods at each stage are correlated random variables. This paper addresses the problem of monitoring a multivariate-multistage manufacturing process and diagnoses the possible causes of out-of-control signals. To achieve this purpose using multivariate time series models, first a model for the autocorrelated data coming from multivariate-multistage processes is developed. Then, a single neural network is designed, trained and employed to control and classify mean shifts in quality characteristics of all stages. In-control and out-of-control average... 

The dynamics of a two dimensional plane jet injected at the base of a step, parallel to the wall, in backward facing step flow geometry is numerically studied. The objective of this work is to gain insight into the dynamics of the igniter flow field in solid fuel ramjet motors. Solid fuel ramjets operate by ingestion of air and subsequent combustion with a solid fuel grain such as polyethylene. The system of governing equations is solved with a finite volume approach using a structured grid in which the AUSM+ scheme is used to calculate the convective fluxes. The Spalart and Allmaras turbulence model is used in these simulations. Experimental data have been used to validate the flow solver... 

Nonlinearity characteristics, such as backlash, in various mechanisms, limit the performance of feedback systems by causing delays, undesired oscillations and inaccuracy. Backlash influence analysis and modeling is necessary to design a precision controller for this nonlinearity. Backlash between meshing gears in an electromechanical system is modeled by the use of differential equations and a nonlinear spring-damper. According to this model, the paper shows that oscillations and delays cannot be compensated by a state feedback controller. Therefore, an adaptive algorithm is designed, based on different regions of the system angular position error. Since this controller needs an estimation... 

This paper presents an efficient mixed-integer linear formulation for long term maintenance schedule of overhead lines. The proposed formulation is based on risk management approach and utilizes the model of decoupled risk factors. The proposed methodology yields a significant computational saving comparing to the previously reported dynamic programming. Risk management approach enables the asset managers to consider the actual condition of electrical equipment and expected consequence of their failures. Furthermore, the decoupled risk strategy in conjunction with the mixed-integer linear programming formulation establishes a precise description of time-dependent deterioration failure rate... 

In this study, the homotopy analysis method (HAM) is used to study dynamic pull-in instability in microbeams considering different sources of nonlinearity. Electrostatic actuation, fringing field effect and midplane stretching causes strong nonlinearity in microbeams. In order to investigate dynamic pull-in behavior, using Galerkin's decomposition method, the nonlinear partial differential equation of motion is reduced to a single nonlinear ordinary differential equation. The obtained equation is solved analytically in time domain using HAM. The problem is studied by two separate manners: direct use of HAM and indirect use of HAM in conjunction with He's Modified Lindstedt- Poincaré Method.... 

Functionally graded materials are advanced composite materials consisting two or more material ingredients that are engineered to have a continuous spatial variation of properties. There are a few analytical methods available to solve the governing equations of FGM made structures, confined to some specific and limited shapes, loadings and boundary conditions. Hence the numerical methods such as FEM are used to treat these materials. In previous studies the finite element method was used to solve thin walled FG structures like shells and plates by modification of the conventional shell and plate elements. Solving the thick walled FG structures confronts some difficulties. One of the methods... 

In this paper we propose to control a bipedal robot in an unstable position by means of a PID controller that gains are turned by a fuzzy logic system. For that, a model of planar 3 linked segment consisting of limb, trunk and extended arms with fixed base is used. Fuzzy if-then rules are constructed based on human expert knowledge and biomechanics studies for tuning of PID's gain. For construction of tuning rules, we have developed an optical measuring system to record experimental data of balance keeping of a human in an unstable position. The control model is based on three sets of different global variables: (1) limb orientation and its derivative, (2) trunk/upper attitude and its... 

Extensive wind tunnel tests have been conducted to investigate the unsteady flow field over and behind a 2D model of a 660 kW wind turbine blade section in pitching motion. The surface pressure and wake dynamic pressure variation at a distance of 1.5 chord length from trailing edge were measured by pressure transducers during several oscillating cycles at 3 reduced frequencies and oscillating amplitudes. Moreover, form drag and linear momentum deficit are extracted and compared at various conditions. The results show that the wake velocity field and surface pressure of the model have similar behavior before and after the airfoil beyond the static stall angle of attack. In addition, the... 

In the new competitive dynamic market, manufacturing success and survival are becoming more and more difficult to ensure. In other words, getting the right product with low cost and high quality is not the only key to success. New requirements such as production responsiveness and flexibility should be considered. Reconfigurable Manufacturing System. (RMS) is a new paradigm that enables manufacturing systems to achieve rapid response to market demand. The effectiveness of an RMS depends on implementing key characteristics and capabilities of RMS in system design stage and benefiting from them in utilisation stage. In this paper, we introduced a methodology to adjust rapidly and productively... 

In this paper, a new visco-hyperelastic constitutive law for describing the rate dependent behavior of foams is proposed. The proposed model was based on a phenomenological Zener model: a hyperelastic equilibrium spring, which describes the steady-state, long-term response, parallel to a Maxwell element, which captures the rate-dependency. A nonlinear viscous damper connected in series to a hyperelastic intermediate spring, controls the rate-dependency of the Maxwell element. Therefore, the stress is the sum of equilibrium stress on the equilibrium spring and overstress on the intermediate spring. In hyperelastic theory stress is not calculated directly as in the case of small-strain, linear... 

The Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) process, a developed Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) process to recover oil and bitumen, has been studied theoretically and experimentally in conventional reservoirs and models and is found a promising EOR method for certain heavy oil reservoirs. In this work simulation studies of the SAGD process were made on different fractured models consisting of fractures in both Near Well Region (NWR) and Above Well Region (AWR) and even in the presence of networked fractures. At early stage of the SAGD process in fractured system, steam moves through the fractures first and then the matrix blocks are heated primarily by conduction and possibly some steam... 

In this paper, the performance of a turbocharger twin-entry radial inflow turbine is investigated analytically and experimentally under steady state, full and partial admission conditions. In this modeling, the mass flow rate, pressure ratio and efficiency of the turbine are assumed unknown. The turbine geometry and the inlet total pressure and temperature are known, hence, the turbine performance characteristics can be obtained. In the turbocharger laboratory, performance characteristics of the turbine are determined, measuring the main parameters for various operating conditions. Comparing the model and experimental results shows good agreement. Also, considering the effect of test... 

A small volume fraction of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) added in a polymeric matrix increases significantly the mechanical properties of the polymers. It is experimentally determined from the TEM images of CNT-based nanocomposites that nanotubes don't stand straight in their embedded matrix and they have some curvature in their shape. The load transfer mechanism between CNT and polymer matrix is also one of the most important issues which is not understood explicitly, yet. In this paper a wavy Single Walled Carbon Nanotube (SWCNT) is modeled as inclusion in a polymer matrix and its effective mechanical properties is studied. This model is based on using 3-D Representive Volume Element (RVE) with... 

This study aims to investigate the role of fluid-fluid interactions during low salinity water flooding, using crude oil from an Iranian oil reservoir. To minimize the effects of mineral heterogeneity and wettability alteration, a synthetic sintered glass core was utilized and all coreflooding experiments were performed at low temperatures without any aging process. The effect of fluid-fluid interactions were investigated in both secondary and tertiary injection modes. pH measurements as well as UV-Vis spectroscopy and interfacial tension (IFT) analysis were performed on the effluent brine samples. Results: show that fluid-fluid interactions, mainly the dissolution of crude oil polar... 

The influx of solid or liquid particles of drilling mud into the pores of rock or mud loss phenomenon and clay swelling can sometimes lead to severe productive formation damage and cause to wettability alterations of reservoir rock from hydrophilic to oleophilic. Therefore, designing an appropriate fluid that is compatible with formation fluids and could reduce reservoir damage and increase the productivity of wells is very important. The two main mechanisms of surfactants are reduction of the surface tension and wettability alteration of rock reservoir that are effective in taking the oil. Regarding the importance of the wettability in reservoir productivity, this article is aimed to study...