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Laser polishing is a promising technology for the finishing of fused quartz (fused silica or quartz glass) products, enabling the removal of subsurface defects induced by mechanical processing. However, the complexity and nonlinearity of the physical processes occurring during laser irradiation complicate the selection of optimal technological parameters. The present paper aims to develop, comparatively analyze, and apply high-precision predictive models for forecasting and optimizing the key performance indicators of the laser polishing process for quartz glass. A verified finite element model implemented in the ANSYS software environment produced a dataset of temperature and stress fields for various combinations of process parameters. This dataset was used to develop and validate four types of predictive models: Polynomial Regression, a Fuzzy Logic System, an Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS), and a Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) neural network. The models’ quality was evaluated on a test set using the statistical metrics MAE, RMSE, MAPE, $R^2$, and  $R^2_{Adj}$. A comparative analysis of the models revealed the significant superiority of the MLP neural network, which demonstrated the highest prediction accuracy for all output parameters, achieving Adjusted $R^2$ ($R^2_{Adj}$.) values above 0.97 and a Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) in the range of 0.7–2.8%. This model was effectively utilized as a surrogate function in combination with a genetic algorithm to successfully identify the optimal process parameters. The constructed MLP neural network model functions as a reliable and high-precision tool, facilitating both prediction and the optimization of fused quartz polishing outcomes using a CO₂ laser. This approach effectively approximates the complex nonlinear dependencies inherent in the process and can serve as a foundation for developing intelligent control and optimization systems for this technology.

The paper presents results of numerical modeling of stress-strain state of jack-up rigs used for shelf hydrocarbon reservoirs exploitation. The work studied the equilibrium stress state of a jack-up rig standing on seafloor and mechanical behavior of the rig under seismic loading. Surface elastic wave caused by a distant earthquake acts a reason for the loading. Stability of jack-up rig is the main topic of the research, as stability can be lost due to redistribution of stresses and strains in the elements of the rig due to seismic loading. Modeling results revealed that seismic loading can indeed lead to intermittent growth of stresses in particular elements of the rig’s support legs resulting into stability loss. These results were obtained using the finite element-based numerical scheme. The paper contains the proof of modeling results convergence obtained from analysis of one problem — the problem of stresses and strains distributions for the contact problem of a rigid cylinder indenting on elastic half space. The comparison between numerical and analytical solutions proved the used numerical scheme to be correct, as obtained results converged. The paper presents an analysis of the different factors influencing the mechanical behavior of the studied system. These factors include the degree of seismic loading, mechanical properties of seafloor sediments, and depth of support legs penetration. The results obtained from numerical modeling made it possible to formulate preliminary conclusions regarding the need to take site-specific conditions into account whenever planning the use of jack-up rigs, especially, in the regions with seismic activity. The approach presented in the paper can be used to evaluate risks related to offshore hydrocarbon reservoirs exploitation and development, while the reported numerical scheme can be used to solve some contact problems of theory of elasticity with the need to analyze dynamic processes.

This paper presents the development and verification of a finite element algorithm for modeling nonlinear deformation in the functional spinal unit (FSU) of the human lumbar spine. The study is motivated by the increasing prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and the need for improved predictive methods for spinal motion segment behavior under various loading conditions and pathologies.

Current modeling approaches often employ simplified geometry and linear deformation laws (Hooke’s law) for all spinal elements, including the intervertebral disc. However, these models inadequately represent human anatomy and the physical properties of the intervertebral disc, which comprises the annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus exhibiting pronounced nonlinear and viscoelastic characteristics.

To address these limitations, the authors propose a mathematical model wherein vertebrae are treated as linearly elastic, heterogeneous bodies, while the intervertebral disc is modeled according to nonlinear deformation theory. An anatomically accurate 3D reconstruction of the lumbar spine was generated from computed tomography (CT) images. Volumetric tetrahedral finite elements were employed for discretization. The intervertebral disc behavior is described using thin plate bending theory based on Kirchhoff-Love assumptions.

The algorithm’s key feature is a two-step solution procedure: an initial linear elastic solution is obtained, followed by the calculation of additional nodal forces for disc elements, enabling efficient nonlinear analysis without stiffness matrix modification.

Model verification was performed using two geometric representations of the lumbar spine: a simplified version comprising parallelepipeds and cylinders, and a patient-specific realistic model derived from CT data. Numerical simulation results demonstrate that incorporating nonlinear properties of the intervertebral disc substantially alters both deformation patterns and magnitudes compared to purely elastic models, producing nonlinear segments on stress-strain curves. The discrepancy between results obtained with the proposed algorithm and those from Comsol software did not exceed 10%, confirming the model’s validity. This algorithm shows promise for investigating lumbar spine biomechanics under normal conditions, degenerative changes, and post-surgical states.

Methods for modeling blood flow and its rheological properties are reviewed. Blood is considered as a particle suspencion. The methods are boundary integral equation method (BIEM), lattice Boltzmann (LBM), finite elements on dynamic mesh, dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) and agent based modeling. The analysis of these methods’ applications on high-performance systems with various architectures is presented.