PROGRAM

The 4th WSEAS International Conference on

FLUID MECHANICS

(FLUIDS '07)
 

Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, January 17-19, 2007

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

PLENARY LECTURE 1

Computing Capillary-Dominated Fluid States and Stabilities

Professor Steven H. Collicott

School of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA

E-mail: collicot@purdue.edu

Abstract: Capillary stability, critical wetting conditions, and the determination of the minimum-energy state among several possible solution topologies in capillary fluids problems all depend strongly on both the contact angle of the liquid on the solid and on an ability to solve for three-dimensional equilibrium free surfaces. Spaceflight, micro-scale devices that use, process, or analyze liquids, and human physiology are fields in which three-dimensional capillary-dominated fluids problems are important. Solution of such capillary fluids problems enables both research advances and the subsequent engineering necessary to create practical devices and systems. Topics drawn from a large collection of three-dimensional capillary fluids results beginning with the Gravity Probe-B spacecraft in 1993 and extending to code validation and present research are presented and discussed. Use of the unique Surface Evolver code of K. A. Brakke is the key to the research results that are discussed. The excellent contact angle, complex curvature, and volume conservation capabilities of the code are essential to the success of the research. Lessons from the 13 years of unique efforts in research and engineering are presented. Computation of capillary interfaces, stability, and critical wetting phenomena and the application of these results to on-orbit propellant gauging in satellites, occlusion of pulmonary passages by liquids, and the design of a low-gravity fluids experiment for space station are discussed.

PLENARY LECTURE 2

Exact Variational Principles of 3-D Unsteady Navier-Stokes Equations
 

Professor Gao-Lian Liu

Institute of Appl. Mathematics & Mechanics,
Shanghai University, Shanghai 200072, P.R. CHINA

E-mail: liu_gaolian@hotmail.com

Abstract: As is well known, the search for exact variational principles (VP) for the full Navier-Stokes equations of 3-D unsteady viscous flow is an extremely difficult, still open problem in fluid mechanics due to the unsymmetry and nonlinearity of the differential operators in the N-S equations. In the present paper this problem is successfully solved for the first time by means of a systematic reversed deduction approach encompassing both Lagrange multipliers and a new undetermined function suggested recently by the present author. It is shown that although the existence of primary VP{i.e.VP in terms of the primary (primitive) variables , p} is ruled out by the Vainberg’s theorem [B.A.Finlayson, Phys.Fluids, 1972,15: 963-967], it is, nevertheless, owing to the introduction of the undetermined function that we still possible instead to establish VP of alternative types: mixed VP {i.e.VP in terms of some primary variables and some adjoint(dual)variables} and/or dual VP{i.e.VP in terms of dual variables}. It is well known that duality is one of the most fundamental, well-developed and very useful concepts and tools in mathematics and plays a particularly important role in optimization and optimal control theory. Such a primary/dual program approach is quite commonly employed in linear and nonlinear programming theory, where the dual program is preferred to use if it is simpler to solve than the primary one. As a result, two families of mixed VP and dual VP are established herein for the 3-D unsteady N-S equations. In this way, a new rigorous theoretical basis for the analysis of 3-D unsteady viscous flow by the finite element method or by the variational difference method, especially for the direct numerical simulation (DNS)of turbulent flow, is founded.

PLENARY LECTURE 3

Environmental Concerns with the Evolution of Gasoline Additives
 

Assoc. Professor Ting-Nien Wu

Department of Environmental Engineering
Kun Shan University, 949 Da Wan Road, Yung-Kang City, Tainan Hsien

71003, TAIWAN, R.O.C.

E-mail: wutn@mail.ksu.edu.tw

Abstract: This lecture addressed the evolution of gasoline additives and their potentially imposing environmental impacts. Alkyl lead additives were first used to put in gasoline to prevent knocking of the engine; however their continual use was banned later because of the resulting air pollution from vehicle exhaust. Since the late 1970s, methyl tertiary butyl ester (MTBE, C5H12O) has replaced alkyl lead additives as the most widely used gasoline additive for maintaining the adequate octane rating. Although the use of MTBE in reformulated gasoline has brought about remarkable improvements on air quality in many urban areas, MTBE appears to have imposed significant adverse impacts on groundwater supply. Besides of pre-blended MTBE in gasoline, gasoline additive products were broadly applied for improving vehicle performance or solving specific problems. The use of most gasoline additive products was able to reduce the emissions of regulated pollutants including CO, HC, and NOx. Some gasoline additive products was found to impose more emissions of metal oxides, aromatics (such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene), or aldehydes to the environment. As the energy source was shifting to biofuel, new formulated additive needs to be developed for meeting the demands of high combustion efficiency and low exhaust emission.

 SESSION: Applied mechanics and numerical methods in fluid mechanics
 Chair: Shiqiao Gao, Pedro Lima

Thursday, January 18, 2007

 SESSION: Aerodynamics and modelling in fluid mechanics

 Chair: Geunjo Han, Yong Kweon Suh

Friday, January 19, 2007

 SESSION: Fluid dynamics and applications

 Chair: Takaharu Tanaka, Gao-Lian Liu