Department of Mechanical Engineering

IIT Madras is a public technical and research university located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Founded in 1959, it is recognised as an Institute of National Importance.

IIT Madras has been ranked as the top engineering institute in India for four years in a row by the National Institutional Ranking Framework of the MHRD

It currently offers undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees across 16 disciplines in Engineering, Sciences, Humanities and Management. About 596 faculty belonging to science and engineering departments and centres of the Institute are engaged in teaching, research and industrial consultancy.

IIT Madras

Detail characterization of the liquid jet core in a model cross-stream airblast atomizer by application of the Optical Connectivity (OC) technique is the goal of the present paper. The unique ability of the technique in imaging the fluorescence signal exclusively from the jet core region facilitates simultaneous visualization of the liquid jet from the side- and the front-view with high background contrast. This allows measurement of some important primary breakup characteristics. The jet penetration and breakup length are obtained from the side-view images, while the front view images provides the jet width and the spreading angle. The above parameters are measured for a wide range of injector operating conditions. The measurement of mean jet trajectory and mean penetration/breakup length indicated large difference in comparison to the past studies based on experiments conducted in wind-tunnels. This is attributed to air flow confinement within the atomizer in the present case and also accurate measurement of breakup location in the OC technique. The range of the measured mean width of the jet and spreading angle indicated ’sheet breakup mode’ of the liquid jet for all injector operating conditions. Correlations are obtained to describe the evolution of different mean quantities with respect to relevant non-dimensional numbers. The fluctuations of jet breakup parameters are also measured. Some interesting correlations are obtained between fluctuations of different primary breakup characteristics which are discussed in the paper. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd

World University root node

International Journal of Multiphase Flow

Liquid jet core characterization in a model crossflow airblast atomizer

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is a common condition in humans marking the gradual decrease in hearing with age. Perturbations in the tip-link protein cadherin-23 that absorbs the mechanical tension from sound and maintains the integrity of hearing is associated with ARHL. Here, in search of molecular origins for ARHL, we dissect the conformational behavior of cadherin-23 along with the mutant S47P that progresses the hearing loss drastically. Using an array of experimental and computational approaches, we highlight a lower thermodynamic stability, significant weakening in the hydrogen-bond network and inter-residue correlations among β-strands, due to the S47P mutation. The loss in correlated motions translates to not only a remarkable two orders of magnitude slower folding in the mutant but also to a proportionately complex unfolding mechanism. We thus propose that loss in correlated motions within cadherin-23 with aging may trigger ARHL, a molecular feature that likely holds true for other disease-mutations in β-strand-rich proteins. © 2021 The Author(s).

Department Of Biotechnology

Fulltext

Biochemical Journal

Weakening of interaction networks with aging in tip-link protein induces hearing loss

For high precision laser surgery, noninvasive tool for prediction of laser ablation profile beforehand is imperative. The present study proposed a method to utilize nondestructive FTIR and Raman probes for predicting laser ablation profile overcoming the challenge of heterogeneity on individual target tissue. By ascribing the chemical heterogeneity of teeth drive their differential machining capability, the study establishes a correlation between the chemical composition and their ablation parameters (ω0,Deff and Fth). The chemical composition of teeth was obtained by noninvasive tools (FTIR and Raman) in terms of absorption peak intensity. To further correlate with key laser ablation parameters, the laser irradiation study was carried out using 800 nm, 100 fs, Ti:Sapphire laser. The surface morphology of irradiated sample was measured by optical profiler. A strong correlation was observed between laser ablation parameters and peak intensity of phosphate group for both FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. The concentration of phosphate group shows a positive relationship to ablation threshold fluence, while the effective Gaussian beam radius and effective energy penetration depth show negative correlation. Both nondestructive probes show good linearity which enable us to extrapolate the key laser ablation parameters for predicting laser ablation profile on random dentin and enamel samples. The ablation profiles predicted based on both FTIR and Raman are well-matched in dentin, whereas it shows a slight deviation in enamel. The predicted profiles are consistent with experimental results at lower power whereas it shows a slight deviation at higher power due to screening effect. Thus, FTIR and Raman probes can be used to predict laser ablation profile nondestructively in real-time and obviate the need for trial runs. Furthermore, the present study has predicted the laser ablation rate and ablation efficiency for performing laser surgery in optimum laser processing conditions irrespective of teeth heterogeneity. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd

Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials

FTIR and Raman as a noninvasive probe for predicting the femtosecond laser ablation profile on heterogeneous human teeth

Three-dimensional numerical computations have been carried out in flow past two inline finite-height circular cylinders using Open Source Field Operation and Manipulation. Investigations have been carried out for the varying Reynolds number (Re) ranging from 150 to 300. The diameter of the upstream cylinder is varied in such a way that the size ratio (SR, ratio of the diameter of the upstream cylinder to that of the downstream cylinder) takes values of 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0. For each size of the upstream cylinder, the downstream cylinder is placed at different locations in the streamwise direction. Effects of Re, SR, and inter-cylinder spacing (S) on three-dimensional unsteady wake characteristics behind upstream and downstream cylinders have been examined using iso-Q surfaces. Unsteady wake oscillations in both the wakes are analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively in terms of Hilbert spectra and the degree of stationarity using the transverse velocity component in the wake. Different flow regimes for upstream and downstream wakes have been identified and discussed with the change in Re, SR, and S. Transitions in the wake flow are illustrated using vorticity contours, frequency spectra, and bifurcation diagram. The level of wake synchronization in the upstream wake, downstream wake, and between both the wakes has been identified with the help of the cross correlation function. © 2021 Author(s).

Department of Computer Science and Engineering

Physics of Fluids

Effects of size ratio and inter-cylinder spacing on wake transition in flow past finite inline circular cylinders mounted on plane surface

Experimental and numerical studies of downward flame spread over polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) with and without addition of triphenyl phosphate (TPP) are reported. Using the micro-thermocouple technique and molecular beam spectrometry, detailed flame structures of PMMA and PMMA+10%TPP were measured. From the experiments and quantum chemistry calculations, the retardancy capability of TPP on gas-phase reaction is proposed. Addition of flame retardant (10%, 20% TPP) results in reduction of the flame spread rate, the mass burning rate and conductive heat flux from the flame to the polymer surface. Numerical calculation was carried out to simulate the downward flame spread over PMMA and PMMA-TPP slabs. Based on the assumption of the TPP gas phase retardancy performance, a modified one-step reaction rate constant with pre-exponent dependent on the TPP mass content in the polymer and TPP retardancy effectivity is proposed. The predicted results have been compared with the data from sophisticated experimental measurement on thermal and chemical structures of both PMMA and PMMA+TPP flames. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Department of Aerospace Engineering

Proceedings of the Combustion Institute

Experimental and numerical studies of downward flame spread over PMMA with and without addition of tri phenyl phosphate

We investigate the evolution of the thermal field during evaporation, a fundamental aspect of evaporating sessile drops. With numerous reports in the literature investigating the contact line dynamics, we aspire to identify generalized features in the evolution of the thermal field and ultimately correlate these with the contact line dynamics. Considering a broad range of experimental parameters such as substrate wettability, substrate temperature, initial volume of the drop, and ambient relative humidity results in a wide range of evaporation rates, in turn affecting the strength of internal convective flows. Infrared thermography is utilized to extract the thermal field at the liquid–vapor interface, and optical imaging is used to record the evolution of drop shape during evaporation. We observe that the onset and presence of a convective cell as a cold spot at the interface highlights a non-axisymmetry in the thermal field. In consequence, a hitherto unreported asymmetry in the internal flow field is observed, as evidenced by the particle image velocimetry. Among the multitude of experiments conducted, we report four distinct trends in the evolution of interfacial temperature difference depending on the presence and duration of the presence of the convective cell, which are elucidated by discussing the evolution of maximum and minimum temperatures at the interface. The interplay between heat conducted into the drop and heat released due to evaporation can result in a momentary decrease in temperature of the drop, which is not reported previously. Lastly, a theoretical estimate for the temperature difference within the drop is extracted using vapor diffusion model and energy balance during evaporation. Comparison of this theoretical temperature difference with experimental observations highlights the influence of internal convective flows in homogenizing the thermal field within the drop. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.

Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects

Insights into the evolution of the thermal field in evaporating sessile pure water drops

Improving accuracy in cutting of expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam using hot wire depends on understanding and controlling the kerf width, which in turn depends on temperature distribution in the foam during cutting. We present here a comprehensive temperature-validated numerical thermal model that incorporates important factors such as convective heat transfer between the wire and molten/ablated foam and the surroundings, thermal coupling between the wire and EPS, temperature dependent EPS foam and wire properties and the latent heat of melting and ablation of EPS, to predict the three-dimensional temperature distributions in the EPS foam in the region immediately around the hot wire and across the entire width of the EPS foam being cut. Based on isothermal temperature contour at the melting point of the foam, kerf width is predicted and compared with experimental measurements. Average kerf width and kerf width variation across the width of the work are seen to be predicted reasonably by the model. The barrelling of the cut profile due to the variation of wire temperature along its length is also quantified and compared with experiments. Selectively switching off various model parameters such as temperature dependent EPS and wire properties and the thermal coupling between wire and EPS shows significant contributions of these factors towards the error in kerf width predictions. Convective heat losses are found to be important when the width of EPS being cut is less such as in thin sheets. As confirmed by experimental data, kerf width is higher near the work edges and stays constant within the bulk region of the work. The model developed comprehensively captures the thermal effects and thus can be used to improve precision while cutting EPS shapes. © 2020 The Society of Manufacturing Engineers

Journal of Manufacturing Processes

A comprehensive numerical model for kerf width prediction in hot wire cutting of expanded polystyrene

Understanding the physics of primary liquid breakup process and its correlation with the evolution of spray characteristics in a rotary slinger atomizer is the goal of the present research. Experiments were conducted in a high-speed slinger test rig that houses a static liquid delivery manifold to uniformly supply the liquid to the rotating slinger disc that contains a single row of orifices carved on its peripheral surface for liquid injection.The atomizer was operated for a wide range of conditions by varying the rotational speed and liquid feed rate. The liquid breakup structure at the exit of the slinger orifices was visualized using front light illumination technique, while the droplet size was measured at different radial stations away from the slinger surface by application of the Interferometric Laser Imaging for Droplet Sizing (ILIDS) technique. The visualization images highlighted strong influence of Coriolis force as the liquid tends to accumulate on one side of the channel (that is opposite to the rotational direction) for all cases. It was observed that while the liquid thickness is smaller for higher rotational speed, it does not vary much with liquid feed rate at the same speed and, instead, in such case the span of the liquid is wider. A theoretical analysis was developed to describe the in-channel liquid behaviour that accounts for the effect of Coriolis and surface tension forces. Interestingly, the theory could explain the above observations. The differences in the predictions in comparison to the analysis by Dahm et al. (2006a) was attributed to the assumption of annular film flow in the latter. The liquid breakup mode (stream, sheet or transition mode) could be described by Coriolis Bond number (Bo) that refers to the ratio of Coriolis to surface tension forces and proportional to the spread parameter (span to thickness ratio), while the liquid breakup regimes were identified on a Bo−q plot, where q is the liquid to air momentum flux ratio. The variation of characteristic droplet sizes with both rotational speed and feed rate were examined, and again some interesting trends are identified. The correlation between liquid breakup mode/regime with the measured droplet size was established using the above non-dimensional numbers. © 2020

Coriolis-induced liquid breakup and spray evolution in a rotary slinger atomizer: Experiments and analysis

Tropical cyclones (TCs) that make landfall over India’s east coast are responsible for significant loss of life along affected coastlines. TCs forming over the Bay of Bengal (BoB) region in October, November, and December have, in the past, intensified significantly at the time of landfall. The effects of climate change on TCs of different strengths and their characteristics such as track, intensity, precipitation, and convective available potential energy over the BoB region have not been well studied. This study explores the effects of climate change on two TCs of very severe cyclonic storm (VSCS) category (TC Vardah and TC Madi), and two other TCs of extremely severe cyclonic storm (ESCS) category (TC Hudhud and TC Phailin) formed over BoB, both in the short term (2035) and long term (2075). The high-resolution Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is used to simulate the TCs under current and future climate conditions. The simulated TC track and intensity in the current climate agree well with the observations. To explore the impacts of climate change on TCs, the mean climate change signal, computed from future projections of the Community Climate System Model (CCSM4) in different representative concentration pathway (RCP) scenarios, is added to current climate conditions by using the pseudo global warming method. Results show a climate change-related reduction in TC translation speed, deepening of TC core, increased maximum surface wind, and increased precipitation over land in future RCP (4.5, 6.0, and 8.5) scenarios. The TCs in future RCP scenarios are seen to be more intensified compared to current climate simulations. Results demonstrate that all VSCS and ESCS category TCs considered in this study are likely to further intensify to the next higher category level with respect to their current classification, particularly in the far future RCP 6.0 and in the far future RCP 8.5 scenarios. The cyclone damage potential index of TC Vardah, TC Hudhud, and TC Phailin is projected to increase in a future warming climate. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature.

Department Of Civil Engineering

Climate Dynamics

Impact of climate change on intense Bay of Bengal tropical cyclones of the post-monsoon season: a pseudo global warming approach

Isogeometric Analysis introduced by Hughes et al.[1] has gained importance in the recent times due to its ability to capture accurate solutions and exact geometry representations. In the present study, IGA-Collocation is extended for oscillatory problems in acoustics. Numerical solutions of oscillatory problems often suffer from numerical dispersion errors, which demands use of minimum of ten nodes per wavelength or higher order bases. But employing higher order bases in IGA based on Galerkin approach (IGA-G) is computationally expensive. To overcome this issue, we employed IGA based on Collocation (IGA-C)[2] which is often regarded as a rank sufficient one-point quadrature scheme and has the potential to reduce the computational cost. In the present study, IGA-C with higher order bases is employed for solving rectangular waveguide and oscillating cylinder problems with different wave numbers. The performance of IGA-C is compared with the IGA-G in terms of efficacy and computational time. From the results, the potential of IGA-C is clearly observed in solving wave problems. © 2021, Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.