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The paper presents a review of recent developments of hybrid discrete-continuous models in cell population dynamics. Such models are widely used in the biological modelling. Cells are considered as individual objects which can divide, die by apoptosis, differentiate and move under external forces. In the simplest representation cells are considered as soft spheres, and their motion is described by Newton’s second law for their centers. In a more complete representation, cell geometry and structure can be taken into account. Cell fate is determined by concentrations of intra-cellular substances and by various substances in the extracellular matrix, such as nutrients, hormones, growth factors. Intra-cellular regulatory networks are described by ordinary differential equations while extracellular species by partial differential equations. We illustrate the application of this approach with some examples including bacteria filament and tumor growth. These examples are followed by more detailed studies of erythropoiesis and immune response. Erythrocytes are produced in the bone marrow in small cellular units called erythroblastic islands. Each island is formed by a central macrophage surrounded by erythroid progenitors in different stages of maturity. Their choice between self-renewal, differentiation and apoptosis is determined by the ERK/Fas regulation and by a growth factor produced by the macrophage. Normal functioning of erythropoiesis can be compromised by the development of multiple myeloma, a malignant blood disorder which leads to a destruction of erythroblastic islands and to sever anemia. The last part of the work is devoted to the applications of hybrid models to study immune response and the development of viral infection. A two-scale model describing processes in a lymph node and other organs including the blood compartment is presented.

Mechanical unfolding of two identical in structure but differ in their amino acid sequences immunoglobulinbinding domains of proteins L and G under the action of external forces have been investigating  using the method of molecular dynamics with explicit model of solvent. Mechanical characteristics of these proteins have been calculated. It has been shown that in the way of the mechanical unfolding of both proteins appear intermediate states. Calculations revealed three significantly different ways of mechanical unfolding of proteins L and G.

The paper reviews possibilities to predict buckling of thin cylindrical shells with non-destructive techniques during operation. It studies shallow shells made of high strength materials. Such structures are known for surface displacements exceeding the thickness of the elements. In the explored shells relaxation oscillations of significant amplitude can be generated even under relatively low internal stresses. The problem of the cylindrical shell oscillation is mechanically and mathematically modeled in a simplified form by conversion into an ordinary differential equation. To create the model, the researches of many authors were used who studied the geometry of the surface formed after buckling (postbuckling behavior). The nonlinear ordinary differential equation for the oscillating shell matches the well-known Duffing equation. It is important that there is a small parameter before the second time derivative in the Duffing equation. The latter circumstance enables making a detailed analysis of the obtained equation and describing the physical phenomena — relaxation oscillations — that are unique to thin high-strength shells.

It is shown that harmonic oscillations of the shell around the equilibrium position and stable relaxation oscillations are defined by the bifurcation point of the solutions to the Duffing equation. This is the first point in the Feigenbaum sequence to convert the stable periodic motions into dynamic chaos. The amplitude and the period of relaxation oscillations are calculated based on the physical properties and the level of internal stresses within the shell. Two cases of loading are reviewed: compression along generating elements and external pressure.

It is highlighted that if external forces vary in time according to the harmonic law, the periodic oscillation of the shell (nonlinear resonance) is a combination of slow and stick-slip movements. Since the amplitude and the frequency of the oscillations are known, this fact enables proposing an experimental facility for prediction of the shell buckling with non-destructive techniques. The following requirement is set as a safety factor: maximum load combinations must not cause displacements exceeding specified limits. Based on the results of the experimental measurements a formula is obtained to estimate safety against buckling (safety factor) of the structure.

The numerical model of sedimentation and suspension filtration is proposed in this paper. The model is based on dynamic variant of discrete element method. This model represents the particles behavior on microand meso-scales: pores, arches, flocks formation. In addition, the proposed model qualitatively reproduces macro phenomenon: sedimentation of particle layer, slow shrinkage of the layer, sealing of the layer under its own weight of the particles and the external applied force.

This paper demonstrates the advantages of using artificial intelligence algorithms for the design of experiment theory, which makes possible to improve the accuracy of parameter identification for an elastostatic robot model. Design of experiment for a robot consists of the optimal configuration-external force pairs for the identification algorithms and can be described by several main stages. At the first stage, an elastostatic model of the robot is created, taking into account all possible mechanical compliances. The second stage selects the objective function, which can be represented by both classical optimality criteria and criteria defined by the desired application of the robot. At the third stage the optimal measurement configurations are found using numerical optimization. The fourth stage measures the position of the robot body in the obtained configurations under the influence of an external force. At the last, fifth stage, the elastostatic parameters of the manipulator are identified based on the measured data.

The objective function required to finding the optimal configurations for industrial robot calibration is constrained by mechanical limits both on the part of the possible angles of rotation of the robot’s joints and on the part of the possible applied forces. The solution of this multidimensional and constrained problem is not simple, therefore it is proposed to use approaches based on artificial intelligence. To find the minimum of the objective function, the following methods, also sometimes called heuristics, were used: genetic algorithms, particle swarm optimization, simulated annealing algorithm, etc. The obtained results were analyzed in terms of the time required to obtain the configurations, the optimal value, as well as the final accuracy after applying the calibration. The comparison showed the advantages of the considered optimization techniques based on artificial intelligence over the classical methods of finding the optimal value. The results of this work allow us to reduce the time spent on calibration and increase the positioning accuracy of the robot’s end-effector after calibration for contact operations with high loads, such as machining and incremental forming.

Certifying a transport airplane for the flights under icing conditions in Russia was carried out within the framework of the requirements of Annex С to the AP-25 Aviation Rules. In force since 2023 to replace AP-25 the new Russian certification document “Airworthiness Standards” (NLG-25) proposes the introduction of Appendix O. A feature of Appendix O is the need to carry out calculations in conditions of high liquid water content and with large water drops (500 microns or more). With such parameters of the dispersed flow, such physical processes as the disruption and splashing of a water film when large drops enter it become decisive. The flow of a dispersed medium under such conditions is essentially polydisperse. This paper describes the modifications of the IceVision technique implemented on the basis of the FlowVision software package for the ice accretion calculations within the framework of Appendix O.

The main difference between the IceVision method and the known approaches is the use of the Volume of fluid (VOF) technology to the shape of ice changes tracking. The external flow around the aircraft is calculated simultaneously with the growth of ice and its heating. Ice is explicitly incorporated in the computational domain; the heat transfer equation is solved in it. Unlike the Lagrangian approaches, the Euler computational grid is not completely rebuilt in the IceVision technique: only the cells containing the contact surface are changed.

The IceVision 2.0 version accounts for stripping the film, as well as bouncing and splashing of falling drops at the surfaces of the aircraft and ice. The diameter of secondary droplets is calculated using known empirical correlations. The speed of the water film flow over the surface is determined taking into account the action of aerodynamic forces, gravity, hydrostatic pressure gradient and surface tension force. The result of taking into account surface tension is the effect of contraction of the film, which leads to the formation of water flows in the form of rivulets and ice deposits in the form of comb-like growths. An energy balance relation is fulfilled on the ice surface that takes into account the energy of falling drops, heat exchange between ice and air, the heat of crystallization, evaporation, sublimation and condensation. The paper presents the results of solving benchmark and model problems, demonstrating the effectiveness of the IceVision technique and the reliability of the obtained results.

The paper continues our series of papers [1-4] devoted to the development of mathematical model on rotation of F₁-AТPase molecular motor. Here it has been considered the synthesis of ATP induced by external force applied to the rotor.

Industrial robots have made it possible for robotics to become a worldwide discipline both in economy and in science. However, their capabilities are limited, especially regarding contact tasks where it is required to regulate or at least limit contact forces. At one point, it was noticed that elasticity in the joint transmission, which was treated as a drawback previously, is actually helpful in this regard. This observation led to the introduction of elastic joint robots that are well-suited to contact tasks and cooperative behavior in particular, so they become more and more widespread nowadays. Many researchers try to implement such devices not with trivial series elastic actuators (SEA) but with more sophisticated variable stiffness actuators (VSA) that can regulate their own mechanical stiffness. All elastic actuators demonstrate shock robustness and safe interaction with external objects to some extent, but when stiffness may be varied, it provides additional benefits, e. g., in terms of energy efficiency and task adaptability. Here, we present a novel variable stiffness actuator with a magnetic coupler as an elastic element. Magnetic transmission is contactless and thus advantageous in terms of robustness to misalignment. In addition, the friction model of the transmission becomes less complex. It also has milder stiffness characteristic than typical mechanical nonlinear springs, moreover, the stiffness curve has a maximum after which it descends. Therefore, when this maximum torque is achieved, the coupler slips, and a new pair of poles defines the equilibrium position. As a result, the risk of damage is smaller for this design solution. The design of the joint is thoroughly described, along with its mathematical model. Finally, the control system is also proposed, and simulation tests confirm the design ideas.

We consider a one-dimensional three velocity kinetic lattice Boltzmann model, which represents a secondorder difference scheme for hydrodynamic equations. In the framework of kinetic theory this system describes the propagation and interaction of three types of particles. It has been shown previously that the lattice Boltzmann model with external virtual force is equivalent at the hydrodynamic limit to the one-dimensional hemodynamic equations for elastic vessels, this equivalence can be achieved with use of the Chapman – Enskog expansion. The external force in the model is responsible for the ability to adjust the functional dependence between the lumen area of the vessel and the pressure applied to the wall of the vessel under consideration. Thus, the form of the external force allows to model various elastic properties of the vessels. In the present paper the physiological boundary conditions are considered at the inlets and outlets of the arterial network in terms of the lattice Boltzmann variables. We consider the following boundary conditions: for pressure and blood flow at the inlet of the vascular network, boundary conditions for pressure and blood flow for the vessel bifurcations, wave reflection conditions (correspond to complete occlusion of the vessel) and wave absorption at the ends of the vessels (these conditions correspond to the passage of the wave without distortion), as well as RCR-type conditions, which are similar to electrical circuits and consist of two resistors (corresponding to the impedance of the vessel, at the end of which the boundary conditions are set and the friction forces in microcirculatory bed) and one capacitor (describing the elastic properties of arterioles). The numerical simulations were performed: the propagation of blood in a network of three vessels was considered, the boundary conditions for the blood flow were set at the entrance of the network, RCR boundary conditions were stated at the ends of the network. The solutions to lattice Boltzmann model are compared with the benchmark solutions (based on numerical calculations for second-order McCormack difference scheme without viscous terms), it is shown that the both approaches give very similar results.

Numerical simulation of moving sportsman external flow is presented. The unique method is developed for obtaining integral aerodynamic characteristics, which were the function of the flow regime (i.e. angle of attack, flow speed) and body position. Individual anthropometric characteristics and moving boundaries of sportsman (or sports equipment) during the race are taken into consideration.

Numerical simulation is realized using FlowVision CFD. The software is based on the finite volume method, high-performance numerical methods and reliable mathematical models of physical processes. A Cartesian computational grid is used by FlowVision, the grid generation is a completely automated process. Local grid adaptation is used for solving high-pressure gradient and object complex shape. Flow simulation process performed by solutions systems of equations describing movement of fluid and/or gas in the computational domain, including: mass, moment and energy conservation equations; state equations; turbulence model equations. FlowVision permits flow simulation near moving bodies by means of computational domain transformation according to the athlete shape changes in the motion. Ski jumper aerodynamic characteristics are studied during all phases: take-off performance in motion, in-run and flight. Projected investigation defined simulation method, which includes: inverted statement of sportsman external flow development (velocity of the motion is equal to air flow velocity, object is immobile); changes boundary of the body technology defining; multiple calculations with the national team member data projecting. The research results are identification of the main factors affected to jumping performance: aerodynamic forces, rotating moments etc. Developed method was tested with active sportsmen. Ski jumpers used this method during preparations for Sochi Olympic Games 2014. A comparison of the predicted characteristics and experimental data shows a good agreement. Method versatility is underlined by performing swimmer and skater flow simulation. Designed technology is applicable for sorts of natural and technical objects.