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Purpose - In engineering applications, gas-solid two-phase reaction flow with multi-moving boundaries is a common phenomenon. The launch process of multiple projectiles is a typical example. The flow of adjacent powder chambers is coupled by projectile's motion. The purpose of this paper is to study this flow by numerical simulation. Design/methodology/approach - A one-dimensional two-phase reaction flow model and MacCormack difference scheme are implemented in a computational code, and the code is used to simulate the launch process of a system of multiple projectiles. For different launching rates and loading conditions, the simulated results of the launch process of three projectiles are obtained and discussed. Findings - At low launching rates, projectiles fired earlier in the series have little effect on the launch processes of projectiles fired later. However, at higher launching rates, the projectiles fired first have a great influence on the launch processes of projectiles fired later. As the launching rate increases, the maximum breech pressure for the later projectiles increases. Although the muzzle velocities increase initially, they reach a maximum at some launching rate, and then decrease rapidly. The muzzle velocities and maximum breech pressures of the three projectiles have an approximate linear relationship with the charge weight, propellant web size and chamber volume. Originality/value - This paper presents a prediction tool to understand the physical phenomenon of the gas-solid two-phase reaction flow with multi-moving boundaries, and can be used as a research tool for future interior ballistics studies of launch system of multiple projectiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The numerical simulation of the serial launch process of multiple projectiles is an important engineering problem. However, the projectiles’ motion law is hard to obtain completely only by interior ballistic model. The muzzle flow field affects the projectiles’ velocities when the projectiles pass through it. Also, the propellant gas from previous projectiles may decelerate the later projectiles. Therefore, the aftereffect period should be simulated together with the interior ballistic process of multiple projectiles when researching the serial launch process for accurate motion law of the projectiles.Design/methodology/approach The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software is used to simulate the muzzle flow field. A one-dimensional two-phase reaction flow model is implemented in a computational code for the numerical simulation of gas-solid two-phase reaction flow, during the serial launch process. The computational code is coupled with CFD software by a user-defined function.Findings Compared with the first projectile, the formation process of the shock bottle of the second projectile is different. After the projectile head flies out of the muzzle, the projectile head pressure decreases rapidly, but then, it is not always equal to 0.1 MPa. After the projectiles leave the muzzle, the velocity increments of each projectile are mainly determined by muzzle pressure.Originality/value This paper presents a prediction tool to understand the projectiles’ motion law during the serial launch process of the multiple projectiles considering aftereffect period, and can be used as a research tool for future ballistic studies of a serial launch system of multiple projectiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Nowadays, various software is available for simulating physical processes in induction heating. The software is often limited in its ability to simulate the billet movement, sometimes assuming uniform distribution of voltages on the inductor winding, uniformity of the physical properties of the billet, etc. The mathematical model of moving cylindrical ferromagnetic billets described in this paper takes into account the billet's movement, the billet phase heterogeneity and the nonuniformity of the supply voltage distribution in the inductor turns. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – The research methodology is based on FEM analysis of the coupled problem, including the electromagnetic and thermal boundary problem with additional algebraic equations, using Comsol 3.5a software. Findings – The electromagnetic and temperature field in the billet and the voltage distribution on the winding turns have been calculated. The phase distribution in the billet has been predicted. Significant interaction of the nonuniformity of the supply voltage distribution, the billet's movement, the billet phase heterogeneity and side effect on the ends of the inductor have been shown. Practical implications – The results received can be used for designing the induction heating unit for moving cylindrical billets made from ferromagnetic material and improving their characteristics. Originality/value – Investigation of moving cylindrical ferromagnetic billets induction heating can be done by numerical solving the coupled problem including the electromagnetic and thermal boundary problem with additional algebraic equations for the supply voltage distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The numerical simulation of practical thermal processes is generally complicated because of multiple transport mechanisms and complex phenomena that commonly arise. In addition, the materials encountered are often not easily characterized and typically involve large property changes over the ranges of interest. The boundary conditions may not be properly defined and or may be unknown. However, it is important to obtain accurate and dependable numerical results from the simulation in order to study, design, and optimize most practical thermal processes of current and future interest. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the main challenges that are encountered in obtaining accurate numerical simulation results on practical thermal processes and systems. Design/methodology/approach – A wide range of thermal systems is considered and the challenges faced in the numerical simulation are outlined. The methods that may be used to meet these challenges are presented in terms of grid, solution strategies, multiscale modeling and combined mechanisms. The models employed must be validated and the accuracy of the simulation results established if the simulation is to form the basis for improving existing systems and developing new ones. Findings – Of particular interest are concerns like verification and validation, imposition of appropriate boundary conditions, and modelling of complex, multimode transport phenomena in multiple scales. Additional effects such as viscous dissipation, surface tension, buoyancy and rarefaction that could arise and complicate the modelling are discussed. Uncertainties that arise in material properties and in boundary conditions are also important in design and optimization. Large variations in the geometry and coupled multiple regions are also discussed. Research limitations/implications – The paper is largely focused on numerical modeling and simulation. Experimental data are considered mainly for validation and for physical insight.Practical implications – A wide variety of practical systems, ranging from materials processing to energy, cooling, and transportation is considered. Originality/value – Future needs in this interesting and challenging area are also outlined in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – A detailed numerical study is conducted on the effect of surface radiation on laminar natural convection in a tall vertical cavity filled with air. The cavity is heated and cooled, through its two vertical walls, by a linear or uniform heat flux q(y) and by a constant cold temperature, respectively. The horizontal walls are considered adiabatic. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – The radiosity method is employed to calculate the net radiative heat exchanges between elementary surfaces, while the finite volume method is implemented to resolve the governing equations of the fluid flow. Findings – For each heat flux q(y) (ascending, descending or uniform), the effect of the emissivity ε (0ε1) on the local, average and maximum temperatures of the heated wall is determined as a function of the average Rayleigh number Ram (103Ram 6×104) and the cavity aspect ratio A (10A80). The effect of the coupling on the flow structures, convective and radiative heat transfers is also presented and analyzed. Overall, it is shown that surface radiation significantly reduces the local and average temperatures of the heated wall and therefore reduces the convective heat transfer between the active walls. Practical implications – The studied configuration is of practical interest in several areas where overheating must be avoided. For this purpose, a simple design tool is developed to estimate the mean and the maximum temperatures of the hot wall in different operating conditions (Ram, A et ε). Originality/value – The originality lies in the study of the interaction between surface radiation and natural convection in tall cavities submitted to a non-uniform heat flux and a constant cold temperature on the active walls. Also, the development of an original simplified calculation procedure for the hot wall temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]