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In this paper, the turbulent Taylor – Couette flow is investigated using two-dimensional modeling based on the averaged Navier – Stokes (RANS) equations and a new two-fluid approach to turbulence at Reynolds numbers in the range from 1000 to 8000. The flow due to a rotating internal and stationary external cylinders. The case of ratio of cylinder diameters 1:2 is considered. It is known that the emerging circular flow is characterized by anisotropic turbulence and mathematical modeling of such flows is a difficult task. To describe such flows, either direct modeling methods are used, which require large computational costs, or rather laborious Reynolds stress methods, or linear RANS models with special corrections for rotation, which are able to describe anisotropic turbulence. In order to compare different approaches to turbulence modeling, the paper presents the numerical results of linear RANS models SARC, SST-RC, Reynolds stress method SSG/LRR-RSM-w2012, DNS direct turbulence modeling, as well as a new two-fluid model. It is shown that the recently developed twofluid model adequately describes the considered flow. In addition, the two-fluid model is easy to implement numerically and has good convergence.

In this paper, we consider predator – prey models and carry out a global bifurcation analysis of the Leslie –Gower system with an additive Allee effect and a simplified Holling type III functional response, which models the dynamics of predator and prey populations in a given ecological or biomedical system. This system uses the most common mathematical form of expressing the Allee effect (or law) through the prey growth function. Allee’s law states that there is a very specific relationship between individual fitness to living conditions and the number or density of individuals of a given species, namely: with an increase in the population size, the ability to survive and reproductive ability also increases. After algebraic transformations, the rational Leslie –Gower system with additive Allee effect and simplified Holling type III functional response can be written as a quantic-sextic dynamical system, i. e., as a system with polynomials of the fifth and sixth degrees. Using information about its singular points and applying our bifurcation-geometric approach to qualitative analysis, we study global bifurcations of limit cycles of the quintic-sextic system. To control all limit cycle bifurcations, especially bifurcations of multiple limit cycles, it is necessary to know the properties and combine the actions of all parameters rotating the vector field of the system. This can be done using the Wintner – Perko termination principle, according to which a maximal one-parameter family of multiple limit cycles terminates either at a singular point, which typically has the same multiplicity (cyclicity), or at a separatrix cycle, which also typically has the same multiplicity (cyclicity). This principle is a consequence of the principle of natural termination which was stated for higher-dimensional dynamical systems by Wintner who studied one-parameter families of periodic orbits of the restricted three-body problem and proved that in the analytic case any oneparameter family of periodic orbits can be uniquely continued through any bifurcation except a period-doubling bifurcation. Applying the planar Wintner – Perko principle, we prove that if the cyclicity of the focus in the system under consideration is three, then the system can have at most three limit cycles surrounding one singular point.

In this paper we study the rotational oscillations of the nitrous bases forming a central pair in a short DNA fragment consisting of three base pairs. A simple mechanical analog of the fragment where the bases are imitated by pendulums and the interactions between pendulums — by springs, has been constructed. We derived Lagrangian of the model system and the nonlinear equations of motions. We found solutions in the homogeneous case when the fragment considered consists of identical base pairs: Adenine-Thymine (AT- pair) or Guanine-Cytosine (GC-pair). The trajectories of the model system in the configuration space were also constructed.

New method for calculation of spatial light distribution of differently oriented LEDs is proposed. The main idea is combination of coordinate systems associated with these light sources. Unlike other conventional approaches, this method can be applied to the emitters with light distribution with arbitrary symmetry or without symmetry at all.

In this paper, we address the mathematical modeling of robots based on tensegrity structures. The pivotal property of such structures is the forming elements working only for compression or tension, which allows the use of materials and structural solutions that minimize the weight of the structure while maintaining its strength.

Tensegrity structures hold several properties important for collaborative robotics, exploration and motion tasks in non-deterministic environments: natural compliance, compactness for transportation, low weight with significant impact resistance and rigidity. The control of such structures remains an open research problem, which is associated with the complexity of describing the dynamics of such structures.

We formulate an approach for describing the dynamics of such structures, based on second-order dynamics of the Cartesian coordinates of structure elements (rods), first-order dynamics for angular velocities of rods, and first-order dynamics for quaternions that are used to describe the orientation of rods. We propose a numerical method for solving these dynamic equations. The proposed methods are implemented in the form of a freely distributed mathematical package with open source code.

Further, we show how the provided software package can be used for modeling the dynamics and determining the operating modes of tensegrity structures. We present an example of a tensegrity structure moving in zero gravity with three rigid rods and nine elastic elements working in tension (cables), showing the features of the dynamics of the structure in reaching the equilibrium position. The range of initial conditions for which the structure operates in the normal mode is determined. The results can be directly used to analyze the nature of passive dynamic movements of the robots based on a three-link tensegrity structure, considered in the paper; the proposed modeling methods and the developed software are suitable for modeling a significant variety of tensegrity robots.

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.

The article considers the problem of the stability of the vertical position of a Maxwell pendulum during its periodic up-down movements. Two types of transition movements are considered: “stop” — occurs when the body of the pendulum in its highest position on the string (during its “standard” upward movement) stops for a moment; “two-link pendulum” — occurs when the entire thread from the body of the pendulum is selected (the lowest position of the body on the thread during its “standard” downward movement), and the body is forced to rotate relative to the thread around the point of its attachment to the body. It is shown that for any values of the pendulum parameters, this position is unstable in the sense that oscillations of the thread around the vertical of finite amplitude occur in the system for arbitrarily small initial deviations. In addition, it has been established that no shock phenomena occur during the movement of the Maxwell pendulum, and the model of this pendulum itself, with the values of its parameters often used in the literature, is incorrect according to Hadamard. In this work, it is shown that the vertical position of the pendulum threads during the indicated oscillatory movements of the body along the threads for any non-degenerate values of the parameters of the Maxwell pendulum is always unstable in the above sense. Moreover, this instability is caused precisely by transitional movements of the 2nd type. In this work, it is further shown that no jumps in speeds or accelerations (due to which shocks or “jerks” in the tension of the threads can occur) do not occur during the indicated movements of the Maxwell pendulum model under consideration. In our opinion, the “jerks” observed in the experiments are due to other reasons, for example, the technical imperfection of the instruments on which the experiments were carried out.

For the three-axis stabilization of the spacecraft in the orbital coordinate system, including in the indirect equilibrium position, an electrodynamic control method is used based on the simultaneous use of two control torques that affect the dynamics of the spacecraft’s rotational motion in the Earth’s magnetic field (EMF), namely, the Lorentz torque and the torque of magnetic interaction. It is assumed that the spacecraft, equipped with an electric charge with a controlled vector of static moment of charge of the first order and a controlled intrinsic magnetic moment, moves in a Keplerian circular Earth orbit of arbitrary inclination. It was previously shown that combining two control systems, magnetic and Lorentz control, into a single electrodynamic control system (EDCS) makes it possible to successfully solve various problems of controlling the angular motion of spacecraft. Unlike many well-known studies performed for one or another approximate EMF model, this work does not impose restrictions on the accuracy of the EMF approximation. Previous studies have shown the limited capabilities of the EDCS for spacecraft moving in orbits close to the polar ones, due to the presence in this case of such points on the spacecraft trajectory in which it is possible for the lines of action of the geomagnetic induction vector and the spacecraft velocity vector relative to the EMF. Therefore, in this paper, the problem of overcoming these difficulties is posed and solved. A modification of the EDCS is proposed, based, firstly, on optimizing the control of the angular motion of the spacecraft and, secondly, on limiting the maximum value of the modulus of the vector of the center of charge relative to the center of mass of the spacecraft, which must be created during control. A method for selecting parameters for a modified EMF is recommended. The presented results of numerical experiments for spacecraft located in polar and circumpolar orbits not only demonstrate the operability of the proposed modification of the EDCS, but also indicate the possibility of technical implementation of the modified electrodynamic method of three-axis spacecraft stabilization.

The article presents the results of computer simulations aimed to assess the influence of tree spatial locations (planting schemes) on the productivity and the dynamics of soil fertility in forest plantations. The growth of aspen (Populus tremula L.) in plantations with short rotation (30 years) was simulated in the EFIMOD system of models with the soil and climatic data matching forested lands in the Mari El Republic. The outcome reveals that higher biomass rates, increase in soil organic matter stocks, and the minimal loss of soil nitrogen can be obtained when the distance between trees in the row equals 1–4 m and 4–6 м in aisles.

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.