Performance Evaluation of ANCF Tetrahedral Elements in the Analysis of Liquid Sloshing

The performance of the absolute nodal coordinate formulation (ANCF) tetrahedral element in the analysis of liquid sloshing is evaluated in this paper using a total Lagrangian nonincremental solution procedure. In this verification study, the results obtained using the ANCF tetrahedral element are compared with the results of the ANCF solid element which has been previously subjected to numerical verification and experimental validation. The tetrahedral-element model, which allows for arbitrarily large displacements including rotations, can be systematically integrated with computational multibody system (MBS) algorithms that allow for developing complex sloshing/vehicle models. The new fluid formulation allows for systematically increasing the degree of continuity in order to obtain higher degree of smoothness at the element interface, eliminate dependent variables, and reduce the model dimensionality. The effect of the fluid/container interaction is examined using a penalty contact approach. Simple benchmark problems and complex railroad vehicle sloshing scenarios are used to examine the performance of the ANCF tetrahedral element in solving liquid sloshing problems. The simulation results show that, unlike the ANCF solid element, the ANCF tetrahedral element model exhibits nonsmoothness of the free surface. This difference is attributed to the gradient discontinuity at the tetrahedral-element interface, use of different meshing rules for the solid- and tetrahedral-elements, and the interaction between elements. It is shown that applying curvature-continuity conditions leads, in general, to higher degree of smoothness. Nonetheless, a higher degree of continuity does not improve the solution accuracy when using the ANCF tetrahedral elements.

FAMILY OF SHAPE PRESERVING FRACTAL-LIKE BÉZIER CURVES

Subdivision schemes generate self-similar curves and surfaces for which it has a familiar connection between fractal curves and surfaces generated by iterated function systems (IFS). Overveld [Comput.-Aided Des. 22(9) (1990) 591–597] proved that the subdivision matrices can be perturbated in such a way that it is possible to get fractal-like curves that are perturbated Bézier cubic curves. In this work, we extend the Overveld scheme to [Formula: see text]th degree curves, and deduce the condition for curvature continuity and convex hull property. We find the conditions for positive preserving fractal-like Bézier curves in the proposed subdivision matrices. The resulting 2D/3D curves from these binary subdivision matrices resemble with fractal images. Finally, the dependence of the shape of these fractal-like curves on the elements of subdivision matrices is demonstrated with suitably chosen examples.

Geometric Modeling of Novel Generalized Hybrid Trigonometric Bézier-Like Curve with Shape Parameters and Its Applications

The main objective of this paper is to construct the various shapes and font designing of curves and to describe the curvature by using parametric and geometric continuity constraints of generalized hybrid trigonometric Bézier (GHT-Bézier) curves. The GHT-Bernstein basis functions and Bézier curve with shape parameters are presented. The parametric and geometric continuity constraints for GHT-Bézier curves are constructed. The curvature continuity provides a guarantee of smoothness geometrically between curve segments. Furthermore, we present the curvature junction of complex figures and also compare it with the curvature of the classical Bézier curve and some other applications by using the proposed GHT-Bézier curves. This approach is one of the pivotal parts of construction, which is basically due to the existence of continuity conditions and different shape parameters that permit the curve to change easily and be more flexible without altering its control points. Therefore, by adjusting the values of shape parameters, the curve still preserve its characteristics and geometrical configuration. These modeling examples illustrate that our method can be easily performed, and it can also provide us an alternative strong strategy for the modeling of complex figures.

Multistep peripherin-2/rds self-assembly drives membrane curvature for outer segment disk architecture and photoreceptor viability

Rod and cone photoreceptor outer segment (OS) structural integrity is essential for normal vision; disruptions contribute to a broad variety of retinal ciliopathies. OSs possess many hundreds of stacked membranous disks, which capture photons and scaffold the phototransduction cascade. Although the molecular basis of OS structure remains unresolved, recent studies suggest that the photoreceptor-specific tetraspanin, peripherin-2/rds (P/rds), may contribute to the highly curved rim domains at disk edges. Here, we demonstrate that tetrameric P/rds self-assembly is required for generating high-curvature membranes in cellulo, implicating the noncovalent tetramer as a minimal unit of function. P/rds activity was promoted by disulfide-mediated tetramer polymerization, which transformed localized regions of curvature into high-curvature tubules of extended lengths. Transmission electron microscopy visualization of P/rds purified from OS membranes revealed disulfide-linked tetramer chains up to 100 nm long, suggesting that chains maintain membrane curvature continuity over extended distances. We tested this idea in Xenopus laevis photoreceptors, and found that transgenic expression of nonchain-forming P/rds generated abundant high-curvature OS membranes, which were improperly but specifically organized as ectopic incisures and disk rims. These striking phenotypes demonstrate the importance of P/rds tetramer chain formation for the continuity of rim formation during disk morphogenesis. Overall, this study advances understanding of the normal structure and function of P/rds for OS architecture and biogenesis, and clarifies how pathogenic loss-of-function mutations in P/rds cause photoreceptor structural defects to trigger progressive retinal degenerations. It also introduces the possibility that other tetraspanins may generate or sense membrane curvature in support of diverse biological functions.

Path Planning for Multi-UAV Formation Rendezvous Based on Distributed Cooperative Particle Swarm Optimization

This paper studies the problem of generating cooperative feasible paths for formation rendezvous of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Cooperative path-planning for multi-UAV formation rendezvous is mostly a complicated multi-objective optimization problem with many coupled constraints. In order to satisfy the kinematic constraints, i.e., the maximum curvature constraint and the requirement of continuous curvature of the UAV path, the Pythagorean hodograph (PH) curve is adopted as the parameterized path because of its curvature continuity and rational intrinsic properties. Inspired by the co-evolutionary theory, a distributed cooperative particle swarm optimization (DCPSO) algorithm with an elite keeping strategy is proposed to generate a flyable and safe path for each UAV. This proposed algorithm can meet the kinematic constraints of UAVs and the cooperation requirements among UAVs. Meanwhile, the optimal or sub-optimal paths can be obtained. Finally, numerical simulations in 2-D and 3-D environments are conducted to demonstrate the feasibility and stability of the proposed algorithm. Simulation results show that the paths generated by the proposed DCPSO can not only meet the kinematic constraints of UAVs and safety requirements, but also achieve the simultaneous arrival and collision avoidance between UAVs for formation rendezvous. Compared with the cooperative co-evolutionary genetic algorithm (CCGA), the proposed DCPSO has better stability and a higher searching success rate.

CYFFD Parameterization Method for Cylindrical Components of Aircrafts

This paper proposes a parameterization method using cylindrical coordinates based free-form deformation(CYFFD) technique by introducing a coordinate transformation method and a virtual lattice method. The method is suitable for axisymmetric and non-axisymmetric cylindrical applications. CYFFD is able to deform radially and circumferentially and to maintain first order and curvature continuity across frame border. First, the coordinate transformation step helps capture geometrical characteristics of cylindrical objects to conduct radial and circumferential deformation. Due to the need of delicate shape design, FFD lattice need be set up closely around cylinder-like objects and this will cause the boundary of FFD frame to intersect with the objects, which lead to derivative discontinuity at the intersection. The virtual lattice method is introduced to reuse some control points as virtual ones so that first order and curvature continuity can be preserved. A cylinder deformation example compares the capability of CYFFD with that of conventional FFD for radial and circumferential deformation and keeping derivative continuity. An airplane nose example shows the possibility to use CYFFD and NFFD together for complex shape. A nacelle deformation example and fitting example show that CYFFD is valuable for non-axisymmetric cylindrical objects with complex shapes. The optimization example on cylinder nose shape indicates that CYFFD can give good optimization results and it is valuable for parameterizing cylinder-like objects.