In this work, we perform a numerical study on the flow induced by the motion of a rigid cantilever beam undergoing finite amplitude oscillations, in a viscous fluid, under a free surface. To this aim, we use a lattice Boltzmann volume of fluid (LB-VOF) integrated method, which includes the tracking of the fluid surface. The adopted approach couples the simplicity of the LB method with the possibility to track the free surface by means of a VOF strategy. Through a parametric analysis, we study the effects related to the depth of submergence, for several values of the oscillation frequency and amplitude. Results are provided in terms of a complex hydrodynamic function, whose real and imaginary parts are the added mass and the viscous damping, respectively, acting on the lamina. Validation of the results is carried out by comparing the solution, for the limit case of lamina submerged in an infinite fluid, with those from available literature studies. We find that the presence of the free surface strongly influences the flow physics around the lamina, especially at low values of the depth of submergence. In facts, when the lamina approaches to the free surface, the fluid waves, generated by the motion of the lamina, interact with the oscillating body itself, giving rise to additional effects, which we quantify in terms of added mass and viscous damping.

Recent advances in web technology have transformed the World-Wide-Web from delivering static text to providing an easily accessible multimedia channel for dynamic, interactive communication. By using such technologies, academic teaching may evolve toward the next-generation way to transfer knowledge. At present time, there are two approaches that can be found: the Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) approach that delivers video interactive classes to the vast audience with an open-access philosophy and Restrict-Access Courses (RAC) that deliver classes and, more important, standard degrees to limited audience [1]. While the two approaches are comparable when dealing with most academic disciplines, teaching engineering has some peculiarities that let the restricted–access course a more viable solution. First of all, engineering schools must prepare the student for the profession. In most countries, after the degree there is a professional practice period, thus a closer relation between teacher and students allows bringing the professional knowledge embedded in the academy. Being also a scientific discipline, engineering takes advantage from a close contact between teaching and research, especially for cutting-edge technologies. Finally, student projects are one of the most important steps of the educational path of the young engineers. Good student projects need one to one supervision, an adequate environment in particular for lab practice, and campuses that only restricted-access academies may provide.

The evaluation and improvement of internal combustion engine performance is a challenge of major importance and it has been the object of research efforts over the last centuries. Phenomena like fuel cavitation inside diesel injector nozzles, the formation of spray and its break-up in the combustion chamber as well as the impingement of fuel droplets on engine walls are known to have a great influence on energy release during combustion and on pollutant formation and emissions, as well. In this work, a methodology based on the Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) is used to directly simulate phenomena affecting diesel injection. LBM is a numerical method based on Boltzmann’s Kinetic Equation, which has been successfully employed in recent years for the simulation of phenomena of technical interest. The results of LB simulations are displayed and compared to experimental data from literature, proving the accuracy of the proposed investigation method.

In multi hole Diesel injectors, cavitation can offer advantages in the development on the fuel spray, because the primary atomization of the liquid fuel jet can be improved due to the enhanced turbulence. Several multi dimensional models of cavitating nozzle flow have been developed in order to provide information about the flow at the exit of a cavitating orifice. In this paper an analytical one-dimensional model, by Sarre et al. [1], to predict the flow conditions at the exit of a cavitating nozzle, is analyzed. The results obtained are compared with the ones obtained using the multi dimensional code Fluent in order to investigate the predictive capability of the one-dimensional code. The model provides initial conditions for multidimensional spray modeling: the effective injection velocity and the initial drop or injected liquid ‘blob’ size. The simulations were performed using an improved version of the KIVA3V code, in which an hybrid break up model, developed by the authors, is used and the results in terms of penetrations and global SMD are compared with the experimental ones. The one dimensional model predicts reasonable discharge coefficient for sharp injector geometry. Where the r/d ratio increases and the cavitation effects appear not clearly marked there are same discrepancies between the one dimensional and the multidimensional approach.

The need to shorten the development time for new engine and vehicles is leading to the increasing use of computational design and simulation methods in the automotive industry. In the last years 3D computational models have been used successfully in vehicle and engine development. It is clear that in this kind of simulation, the input complexity, the output data management and the computational time increase. On the other hand 3D simulations increase the details of the results and their link with the analyzed geometry. During a vehicle design several numerical techniques can be used (finite difference, finite volume, spectral methods, boundary elements, etc.) Often, in a complex simulation, that involves several different physical phenomena such as fluid flow and heat transfer only the use of different simulation techniques allows to obtain good results in a acceptable time. In several industrial applications the use of coupled codes, with different features (1D, 3D or different numerical schemes) could provide an optimal solution for the simulation approach. In this paper an example of a complex simulation of an Under Hood Cooling (UHC) of a vehicle is carried out using two different 3D codes with different numerical approaches with the objective to reduce the simulation time [1].