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An approach to numerical analysis of thermo-hydraulic processes proceeding in a fast-neutron reactor is described in the given article. The description covers physical models, numerical schemes and geometry simplifications accepted in the computational model. Steady-state and dynamic regimes of reactor operation are considered. The steady-state regimes simulate the reactor operation at nominal power. The dynamic regimes simulate the shutdown reactor cooling by means of the heat-removal system.

Simulation of thermo-hydraulic processes is carried out in the FlowVision CFD software. A mathematical model describing the coolant flow in the first loop of the fast-neutron reactor was developed on the basis of the available geometrical model. The flow of the working fluid in the reactor simulator is calculated under the assumption that the fluid density does not depend on pressure, with use a $k–\varepsilon$ turbulence model, with use of a model of dispersed medium, and with account of conjugate heat exchange. The model of dispersed medium implemented in the FlowVision software allowed taking into account heat exchange between the heat-exchanger lops. Due to geometric complexity of the core region, the zones occupied by the two heat exchangers were modeled by hydraulic resistances and heat sources.

Numerical simulation of the coolant flow in the FlowVision software enabled obtaining the distributions of temperature, velocity and pressure in the entire computational domain. Using the model of dispersed medium allowed calculation of the temperature distributions in the second loops of the heat exchangers. Besides that, the variation of the coolant temperature along the two thermal probes is determined. The probes were located in the cool and hot chambers of the fast-neutron reactor simulator. Comparative analysis of the numerical and experimental data has shown that the developed mathematical model is correct and, therefore, it can be used for simulation of thermo-hydraulic processes proceeding in fast-neutron reactors with sodium coolant.

The temporal variability of exergy of short-wave and long-wave radiation and its relationships with sensible heat, water vapor (H₂O) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) fluxes on a recently clear-cut area in a mixed coniferous and small-leaved forest in the Tver region is discussed. On the basis of the analysis of radiation and exergy efficiency coefficients suggested by Yu.M. Svirezhev it was shown that during the first eight months after clearcutting the forest ecosystem functions as a "heat engine" i.e. the processes of energy dissipation dominated over processes of biomass production. To validate the findings the statistical analysis of temporary variability of meteorological parameters, as well as, daily fluxes of sensible heat, H₂O and CO₂ was provided using the trigonometrical polynomials. The statistical models that are linearly depended on an exergy of short-wave and long-wave radiation were obtained for mean daily values of CO₂ fluxes, gross primary production of regenerated vegetation and sensible heat fluxes. The analysis of these dependences is also confirmed the results obtained from processing the radiation and exergy efficiency coefficients. The splitting the time series into separate time intervals, e.g. “spring–summer” and “summer–autumn”, allowed revealing that the statistically significant relationships between atmospheric fluxes and exergy were amplified in summer months as the clear-cut area was overgrown by grassy and young woody vegetation. The analysis of linear relationships between time-series of latent heat fluxes and exergy showed their statistical insignificance. The linear relationships between latent heat fluxes and temperature were in turn statistically significant. The air temperature was a key factor improving the accuracy of the models, whereas effect of exergy was insignificant. The results indicated that at the time of active vegetation regeneration within the clear-cut area the seasonal variability of surface evaporation is mainly governed by temperature variation.

The biological structure is considered as an open nonequilibrium system which properties can be described on the basis of kinetic equations. New problems with nonequilibrium boundary conditions are introduced. The nonequilibrium distribution tends gradually to an equilibrium state. The region of spatial inhomogeneity has a scale depending on the rate of mass transfer in the open system and the characteristic time of metabolism. In the proposed approximation, the internal energy of the motion of molecules is much less than the energy of translational motion. Or in other terms we can state that the kinetic energy of the average blood velocity is substantially higher than the energy of chaotic motion of the same particles. We state that the relaxation problem models a living system. The flow of entropy to the system decreases in downstream, this corresponds to Shrödinger’s general ideas that the living system “feeds on” negentropy. We introduce a quantity that determines the complexity of the biosystem, more precisely, this is the difference between the nonequilibrium kinetic entropy and the equilibrium entropy at each spatial point integrated over the entire spatial region. Solutions to the problems of spatial relaxation allow us to estimate the size of biosystems as regions of nonequilibrium. The results are compared with empirical data, in particular, for mammals we conclude that the larger the size of animals, the smaller the specific energy of metabolism. This feature is reproduced in our model since the span of the nonequilibrium region is larger in the system where the reaction rate is shorter, or in terms of the kinetic approach, the longer the relaxation time of the interaction between the molecules. The approach is also used for estimation of a part of a living system, namely a green leaf. The problems of aging as degradation of an open nonequilibrium system are considered. The analogy is related to the structure, namely, for a closed system, the equilibrium of the structure is attained for the same molecules while in the open system, a transition occurs to the equilibrium of different particles, which change due to metabolism. Two essentially different time scales are distinguished, the ratio of which is approximately constant for various animal species. Under the assumption of the existence of these two time scales the kinetic equation splits in two equations, describing the metabolic (stationary) and “degradative” (nonstationary) parts of the process.

The method of balanced identification was used to describe the response of Net Ecosystem Exchange of CO₂ (NEE) to change of environmental factors, and to fill the gaps in continuous CO₂ flux measurements in a sphagnum peat bog in the Tver region. The measurements were provided in the peat bog by the eddy covariance method from August to November of 2017. Due to rainy weather conditions and recurrent periods with low atmospheric turbulence the gap proportion in measured CO₂ fluxes at our experimental site during the entire period of measurements exceeded 40%. The model developed for the gap filling in long-term experimental data considers the NEE as a difference between Ecosystem Respiration (RE) and Gross Primary Production (GPP), i.e. key processes of ecosystem functioning, and their dependence on incoming solar radiation (Q), soil temperature (T), water vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and ground water level (WL). Applied for this purpose the balanced identification method is based on the search for the optimal ratio between the model simplicity and the data fitting accuracy — the ratio providing the minimum of the modeling error estimated by the cross validation method. The obtained numerical solutions are characterized by minimum necessary nonlinearity (curvature) that provides sufficient interpolation and extrapolation characteristics of the developed models. It is particularly important to fill the missing values in NEE measurements. Reviewing the temporary variability of NEE and key environmental factors allowed to reveal a statistically significant dependence of GPP on Q, T, and VPD, and RE — on T and WL, respectively. At the same time, the inaccuracy of applied method for simulation of the mean daily NEE, was less than 10%, and the error in NEE estimates by the method was higher than by the REddyProc model considering the influence on NEE of fewer number of environmental parameters. Analyzing the gap-filled time series of NEE allowed to derive the diurnal and inter-daily variability of NEE and to obtain cumulative CO₂ fluxs in the peat bog for selected summer-autumn period. It was shown, that the rate of CO₂ fixation by peat bog vegetation in August was significantly higher than the rate of ecosystem respiration, while since September due to strong decrease of GPP the peat bog was turned into a consistent source of CO₂ for the atmosphere.

Atherosclerotic diseases such as carotid artery diseases (CAD) and chronic kidney diseases (CKD) are the major causes of death worldwide. The onset of these atherosclerotic diseases in the arteries are governed by complex blood flow dynamics and hemodynamic parameters. Atherosclerosis in renal arteries leads to reduction in arterial efficiency, which ultimately leads to Reno-vascular hypertension. This work attempts to identify the localization of atherosclerotic plaque in human abdominal aorta — renal artery junction using Computational fluid dynamics (CFD).

The atherosclerosis prone regions in an idealized human abdominal aorta-renal artery junction are identified by calculating relevant hemodynamic indicators from computational simulations using the rheologically accurate shear-thinning Yeleswarapu model for human blood. Blood flow is numerically simulated in a 3-D model of the artery junction using ANSYS FLUENT v18.2.

Hemodynamic indicators calculated are average wall shear stress (AWSS), oscillatory shear index (OSI), and relative residence time (RRT). Simulations of pulsatile flow (f=1.25 Hz, Re = 1000) show that low AWSS, and high OSI manifest in the regions of renal artery downstream of the junction and on the infrarenal section of the abdominal aorta lateral to the junction. High RRT, which is a relative index and dependent on AWSS and OSI, is found to overlap with the low AWSS and high OSI at the cranial surface of renal artery proximal to the junction and on the surface of the abdominal aorta lateral to the bifurcation: this indicates that these regions of the junction are prone to atherosclerosis. The results match qualitatively with the findings reported in literature and serve as initial step to illustrate utility of CFD for the location of atherosclerotic plaque.

The article reports the findings of an investigation into pollution migration processes at the municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill located in the water protection zone of Lake Seliger (Tver Region). The distribution of pollutants is investigated and migration parameters are determined in field and laboratory conditions at the landfill site. A mathematical model describing physical and chemical processes of substance migration in soil strata is constructed. Pollutant migration is found to be due to a variety of factors. The major ones, having a significant impact on the migration of MSW ingredients and taken into account mathematically, include convective transport, diffusion and sorption processes. A modified mathematical model differs from its conventional counterparts by considering a number of parameters reflecting the decrease in the concentration of ammonium and nitrate nitrogen ions in ground water (transpiration by plant roots, dilution with infiltration waters, etc.). An analytical solution to assess the pollutant spread from the landfill is presented. The mathematical model provides a set of simulation models helping to obtain a computational solution of specific problems, vertical and horizontal migration of substances in the underground flow. Numerical experiments, analytical solutions, as well as field and laboratory data was studied the dynamics of pollutant distribution in the object under study up to the lake. A long-term forecast for the spread of landfill pollution is made. Simulation experiments showed that some zones of clean groundwater interact with those of contaminated groundwater during the pollution migration from the landfill, each characterized by a different pollutant content. The data of a computational experiments and analytical calculations are consistent with the findings of field and laboratory investigations of the object and give grounds to recommend the proposed models for predicting pollution migration from a landfill. The analysis of the pollution migration simulation allows to substantiate the numerical estimates of the increase in $NH_4^+$ and $NO_3^-$ ion concentration with the landfill operation time. It is found that, after 100 years following the landfill opening, toxic filtrate components will fill the entire pore space from the landfill to the lake resulting in a significant deterioration of the ecosystem of Lake Seliger.

In this work, we consider a special approximation of the general perturbation formula for the electromagnetic field by a set of electrically small inhomogeneities located in the domain of interest. The problem considered in this paper arises in many applications of technical electrodynamics, radar technologies and subsurface remote sensing. In the general case, it is formulated as follows: at some point in the perturbed domain, it is necessary to determine the amplitude of the electromagnetic field. The perturbation of electromagnetic waves is caused by a set of electrically small scatterers distributed in space. The source of electromagnetic waves is also located in perturbed domain. The problem is solved by introducing the far field approximation and through the formulation for the scatterer radar cross section value. This, in turn, allows one to significantly speed up the calculation process of the perturbed electromagnetic field by a set of a spherical inhomogeneities identical to each other with arbitrary electrophysical parameters. In this paper, we consider only the direct scattering problem; therefore, all parameters of the scatterers are known. In this context, it may be argued that the formulation corresponds to the well-posed problem and does not imply the solution of the integral equation in the generalized formula. One of the features of the proposed algorithm is the allocation of a characteristic plane at the domain boundary. All points of observation of the state of the system belong to this plane. Set of the scatterers is located inside the observation region, which is formed by this surface. The approximation is tested by comparing the results obtained with the solution of the general formula method for the perturbation of the electromagnetic field. This approach, among other things, allows one to remove a number of restrictions on the general perturbation formula for E-filed analysis.

Numerical modeling of turbulent flows requires finding the balance between accuracy and computational efficiency. For example, DNS and LES models allow to obtain more accurate results, comparing to RANS models, but are more computationally expensive. Because of this, modern applied simulations are mostly performed with RANS models. But even RANS models can be computationally expensive for complex geometries or series simulations due to the necessity of resolving the boundary layer. Some methods, such as wall functions and near-wall domain decomposition, allow to significantly improve the speed of RANS simulations. However, they inevitably lose precision due to using a simplified model in the near-wall domain. To obtain a model that is both accurate and computationally efficient, it is possible to construct a surrogate model based on previously made simulations using the precise model.

In this paper, an operator is constructed that allows reconstruction of the flow field obtained by an accurate model based on the flow field obtained by the simplified model. Spalart–Allmaras model with approximate nearwall domain decomposition and Spalart–Allmaras model resolving the near-wall region are taken as the simplified and the base models respectively. The operator is constructed using a local approach, i. e. to reconstruct a point in the flow field, only features (flow variables and their derivatives) at this point in the field are used. The operator is constructed using the Random Forest algorithm. The efficiency and accuracy of the obtained surrogate model are demonstrated on the supersonic flow over a compression corner with different values for angle $\alpha$ and Reynolds number. The investigation has been conducted into interpolation and extrapolation both by $Re$ and $\alpha$.

There are conditions of uneven combustion for tubular powder elements of large elongation used in artillery propelling charges. Here it is necessary to consider in parallel the processes of combustion and movement of powder gases inside and outside the channels of the powder tubes. Without this, it is impossible to adequately formulate and solve the problems of ignition, erosive combustion and stress-strain state of tubular powder elements in the shot process. The paper presents a physical and mathematical formulation of the main problem of the internal ballistics of an artillery shot for a charge consisting of a set of powder tubes. Combustion and movement of a bundle of powder tubes along the barrel channel is modeled by an equivalent tubular charge of all-round combustion. The end and cross-sectional areas of the channel of such a charge (equivalent tube) are equal to the sum of the areas of the ends and cross-sections of the channels of the powder tubes, respectively. The combustion surface of the channel is equal to the sum of the inner surfaces of the tubes in the bundle. The outer combustion surface of the equivalent tube is equal to the sum of the outer surfaces of the tubes in the bundle. It is assumed that the equivalent tube moves along the axis of the bore. The speed of motion of an equivalent tubular charge and its current position are determined from Newton’s second law. To calculate the flow parameters, we used two-dimensional axisymmetric equations of gas dynamics, for the solution of which an axisymmetric orthogonalized difference mesh is constructed, which adapts to the flow conditions. When the tube moves and burns, the difference grid is rearranged taking into account the changing regions of integration. The control volume method is used for the numerical solution of the system of gas-dynamic equations. The gas parameters at the boundaries of the control volumes are determined using a self-similar solution to the Godunov problem of decay for an arbitrary discontinuity. The developed technique was used to calculate the internal ballistics parameters of an artillery shot. This approach is considered for the first time and allows a new approach to the design of tubular artillery charges, since it allows obtaining the necessary information in the form of fields of velocity and pressure of powder gases for calculating the process of gradual ignition, unsteady erosive combustion, stress-strain state and strength of powder elements during the shot. The time dependences of the parameters of the internal ballistics process and the distribution of the main parameters of the flow of combustion products at different times are presented.

Migration has a significant impact on the shaping of the demographic structure of the territories population, the state of regional and local labour markets. As a rule, rapid change in the working-age population of any territory due to migration processes results in an imbalance in supply and demand on labour markets and a change in the demographic structure of the population. Migration is also to a large extent a reflection of socio-economic processes taking place in the society. Hence, the issues related to the study of migration factors, the direction, intensity and structure of migration flows, and the prediction of their magnitude are becoming topical issues these days.

Mathematical tools are often used to analyze, predict migration processes and assess their consequences, allowing for essentially accurate modelling of migration processes for different territories on the basis of the available statistical data. In recent years, quite a number of scientific papers on modelling internal and external migration flows using mathematical methods have appeared both in Russia and in foreign countries in recent years. Consequently, there has been a need to systematize the currently most commonly used methods and tools applied in migration modelling to form a coherent picture of the main trends and research directions in this field.

The presented review considers the main approaches to migration modelling and the main components of migration modelling methodology, i. e. stages, methods, models and model classification. Their comparative analysis was also conducted and general recommendations on the choice of mathematical tools for modelling were developed. The review contains two sections: migration modelling methods and migration models. The first section describes the main methods used in the model development process — econometric, cellular automata, system-dynamic, probabilistic, balance, optimization and cluster analysis. Based on the analysis of modern domestic and foreign publications on migration, the most common classes of models — regression, agent-based, simulation, optimization, probabilistic, balance, dynamic and combined — were identified and described. The features, advantages and disadvantages of different types of migration process models were considered.