Sharif Digital Repository

Molecular dynamics simulations are carried out to investigate the manipulation of metallic clusters on double-layer surfaces. The system parts are made of transition metals. The conditions which are subjected to change in the tests are material combinations for cluster, main substrate and lubricant layer (adlayer). In addition to qualitative observations, two criteria which represent the particle deformation and substrate abrasion are utilized as evaluation tools and are computed for each case. Obtaining this sort of knowledge is highly beneficial for further experiments in order to be able to plan the conditions and routines, which guarantee better success in the manipulation process  

In this paper, entropy generation in heat exchangers used in Indirect Evaporative Coolers (IDECs) is studied. First, expressions for the rate of entropy generation in tube-type and plate-type cross-flow heat exchangers used as IDECs are obtained. Then, by introducing appropriate geometric constraints and employing thermohydraulic design equations, the variation of the rate of entropy generation within the heat exchangers is investigated. The maximum EER, outlet temperatures and the optimum sizes are obtained for several cases. The results of several experiments conducted on an optimum tube-type experimental prototype are presented and compared with the numerical data. Copyright © 2009... 

Due to the complexity of the human spinal motion segments, the intervertebral joints are often simulated in the musculoskeletal trunk models as pivots thus allowing no translational degrees of freedom (DOFs). This work aims to investigate, for the first time, the effect of such widely used assumption on trunk muscle forces, spinal loads, kinematics, and stability during a number of static activities. To address this, the shear deformable beam elements used in our nonlinear finite element (OFE) musculoskeletal model of the trunk were either substantially stiffened in translational directions (SFE model) or replaced by hinge joints interconnected through rotational springs (HFE model). Results... 

The performance of perturbation method in nonlinear analyses of plates subjected to mechanical, thermal, and thermo-mechanical loadings is investigated. To this end, cylindrical bending of FG plates with clamped and simply-supported edges is considered. The governing equations of Mindlin's first-order shear deformation theory with von Kármán's geometric nonlinearity are solved using one- and two-parameter perturbation methods and the results are compared with the results of an analytical solution. The material properties are assumed to vary continuously through the thickness of the plate according to a power-law distribution of the volume fraction of the constituents. It is shown that the... 

The performance of perturbation method in nonlinear analyses of plates subjected to mechanical, thermal, and thermo-mechanical loadings is investigated. To this end, cylindrical bending of FG plates with clamped and simply-supported edges is considered. The governing equations of Mindlin's first-order shear deformation theory with von Kármán's geometric nonlinearity are solved using one- and two-parameter perturbation methods and the results are compared with the results of an analytical solution. The material properties are assumed to vary continuously through the thickness of the plate according to a power-law distribution of the volume fraction of the constituents. It is shown that the... 

Based on the fact that the manipulation of fine nanoclusters calls for more precise modelling, the aim of this paper is to conduct an atomistic investigation for interaction analysis of particle-substrate system for pushing and positioning purposes. In the present research, 2D molecular dynamics simulations have been used to investigate such behaviours. Performing the planar simulations can provide a fairly acceptable qualitative tool for our purpose while the computation time is reduced extremely in comparison to 3D simulations. To perform this study, Nose-Hoover dynamics and Sutton-Chen interatomic potential will be used to investigate the behaviour of the aforementioned system. Pushing of... 

Molecular dynamics simulations are carried out to investigate the manipulation of metallic clusters on stepped surfaces. Five surface forms are considered in the simulations. The system parts are made of pure transition metals and Sutton-Chen many-body potential is used as interatomic potential. The conditions which are subjected to change in the tests include: materials used for particles and substrate, and surface step conditions. In addition to qualitative observations, two criteria which represent the particle deformation and substrate abrasion are utilized as evaluation tools and are computed for each case. Simulation results show the effect of the aforementioned working conditions on... 

Excessive loads on the human spine is recognized as a risk factor for back injuries/pain. Various lifting analysis tools such as musculoskeletal models, regression equations and NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) lifting equation (NLE) have been proposed to evaluate and mitigate associated risks during manual material handling activities. Present study aims to compare predicted spinal loads from 5 different lifting analysis tools as well as to critically evaluate the NIOSH recommended weight limit (RWL). Spinal loads were estimated under different symmetric/asymmetric lifting tasks in which hand-load mass at each task was set based on RWL from NLE. Estimated... 

This paper presents the results of a series of shake table tests carried out on a half-scale single-story unreinforced masonry building with asymmetric openings. First, the unretrofitted building is subjected to seven increasing steps of bidirectional seismic excitation. The damaged building is then rehabilitated using steel mesh and shotcrete layer with two walls retrofitted from the exterior face and the other two from the interior face. Afterward, the shake table test is again conducted on the retrofitted specimen in nine increasing excitation levels. Three cases of interior-to-interior, interior-to-exterior, and exterior-to-exterior shotcrete connections are considered at the... 

As a primary load-resisting component, annulus fibrosus (AF) maintains structural integrity of the entire intervertebral disc. Experiments have demonstrated that permanent deformation and damage take place in the tissue under mechanical loads. Development of an accurate model to capture the complex behaviour of AF tissue is hence crucial in disc model studies. We, therefore, aimed to develop a non-homogenous model to capture elastic, inelastic and failure responses of the AF tissue and the entire disc model under axial load. Our model estimations satisfactorily agreed with results of existing uniaxial (along fiber, circumferential and axial directions) and biaxial tissue-level tests. The... 

Background Motor control exercise was claimed to improve spinal stability in patients with chronic non-specific back pain, but to investigate the effectiveness of this exercise, other outcome measures have been used rather than spinal stability itself. The aim of our study is to assess motor control exercise effects on spinal stability using a biomechanical model. Methods Fifty-one patients were assigned to either motor control or general exercises. Before and after trainings, participants were tested for spinal stability at seven isometric tasks. Electromyography signals were recorded from ten superficial muscles, and a hybrid EMG-driven musculoskeletal model estimated spinal stability... 

Underlying mechanisms of obesity-related back pain remain unexplored. Thus, we aim to determine the effect of obesity and its shapes on the spinal loads and the associated risks of injury. Obesity shapes were initially constructed by principal component analysis based on datasets on 5852 obese individuals. Spinal loads, cycles to vertebral failure and trunk stability margin were estimated in a subject-specific trunk model taking account of personalized musculature, passive ligamentous spine, obesity shapes, segmental weights, spine kinematics and bone mineral density. Three obesity shapes (mean and extreme abdominal circumferences) at three body weights (BWs) of 86, 98 and 109 kg were... 

Development of a subject-specific computational musculoskeletal trunk model (accounting for age, sex, body weight and body height), estimation of muscle forces and internal loads as well as subsequent validation by comparison with measured intradiscal pressure in various lifting tasks are novel, important and challenging. The objective of the present study is twofold. First, it aims to update and personalize the passive and active structures in an existing musculoskeletal kinematics-driven finite element model. The scaling scheme used an existing imaging database and biomechanical principles to adjust muscle geometries/cross-sectional-areas and passive joint geometry/properties in accordance... 

Maximum voluntary exertion (MVE) tasks quantify trunk strength and maximal muscle electromyography (EMG) activities with both clinical and biomechanical implications. The aims here are to evaluate the performance of an existing trunk musculoskeletal model, estimate maximum muscle stresses and spinal forces, and explore likely differences between males and females in maximum voluntary exertions. We, therefore, measured trunk strength and EMG activities of 19 healthy right-handed subjects (9 females and 10 males) in flexion, extension, lateral and axial directions. MVEs for all subjects were then simulated in a subject-specific trunk musculoskeletal model, and estimated muscle activities were... 

Maximum voluntary exertion (MVE) tasks quantify trunk strength and maximal muscle electromyography (EMG) activities with both clinical and biomechanical implications. The aims here are to evaluate the performance of an existing trunk musculoskeletal model, estimate maximum muscle stresses and spinal forces, and explore likely differences between males and females in maximum voluntary exertions. We, therefore, measured trunk strength and EMG activities of 19 healthy right-handed subjects (9 females and 10 males) in flexion, extension, lateral and axial directions. MVEs for all subjects were then simulated in a subject-specific trunk musculoskeletal model, and estimated muscle activities were... 

Workplace safety assessment, personalized treatment design and back pain prevention programs require accurate subject-specific estimation of spinal loads. Since no noninvasive method can directly estimate spinal loads, easy-to-use regression equations that are constructed based on the results of complex musculoskeletal models appear as viable alternatives. Thus, we aim to develop subject-specific regression equations of L4-L5 and L5-S1 shear and compression forces during various symmetric/asymmetric tasks using a nonlinear personalized finite element musculoskeletal trunk model. Kinematics and electromyography (EMG) activities of 19 young healthy subjects were collected during 64 different...