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The purpose of this paper is to establish a new dynamic coupled discrete-element contact model used for investigating fresh concrete with different grades and different motion states, and demonstrate its correctness and reliability according to the rheological property results of flow fresh concrete in different working states through simulating the slump process and mixing process.

To accurately express the motion and force of flowing fresh concrete in different working states from numerical analysis, a dynamic coupled discrete-element contact model is proposed for fresh concrete of varying strength. The fluid-like fresh concrete is modelled as a two-phase fluid consisting of mortar and aggregate. Depending on the contact forms of the aggregate and mortar, the model is of one of the five types, namely, Hertz–Mindlin, pendular LB contact, funicular mucous contact, capillary LB contact or slurry lift/drag contact.

To verify the accuracy of this contact model, concrete slump and cross-vane rheometer tests are simulated using the traditional LB model and dynamic coupled contact model, for five concrete strengths. Finally, by comparing the simulation results from the two different contact models with experimental data, it is found that those from the proposed contact model are closer to the experimental data.

This contact model could be used to address issues such as (a) the mixing, transportation and pumping of fresh concrete, (b) deeper research and discussion on the influence of fresh concrete on the dynamic performance of agitated-transport vehicles, (c) the behaviour of fresh concrete in mixing tanks and (d) the abrasion of concrete pumping pipes.

To accurately express the motion and force of flowing fresh concrete in different working states from numerical analysis, a dynamic coupled discrete-element contact model is proposed for fresh concrete of varying strength.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the load balancing (LB) problem in clusters of heterogeneous processors using delayed artificial neural networks theory, optimal control theory, and linear matrix inequalities (LMIs).

Starting with a mathematical model that includes delays and processors with different processing velocities, this model is transformed into a special case of a neural network model known as delayed cellular neural network (DCNN) model. A new energy function is proposed to this delayed neural network special case, assuring convergence conditions through the use of LMIs. Some performance criteria subject to stability conditions to the non‐linear model version are analyzed, and a new LB controller systematic method of synthesis is proposed, using two coupled LMIs – one guaranteeing global convergence and the other guaranteeing performance in a linear region of operation. Simulations and experiments proves the efficiency of this approach, reducing LB time with a viable computational cost for clusters with high number of processors.

A new approach for the LB problem was proposed based on an special case of a delayed neural network model. Performance criterium can also be imposed over it using a quadratic cost function, giving a possibility to extend the idea to other classes of delayed neural network.

The novelty associated with this paper is the introduction of an approach which the LB problem on an heterogeneous cluster of local processors can be modeled as a delayed neural network and the performance of the LB algorithm can be imposed, at least locally, by a quadratic cost function. Also, the delayed neural network can also be seen as a Persidskii system with delay.

Market trend data show a growing popularity of discount food stores and of cheaper food products as opposed to more expensive leading brands (LB). Unexpectedly little is known about how these economic food choices affect diet quality and/or health. The purpose of this paper is to examine differences in nutrient content and cost of daily food intake data modeled to contain food exclusively from either LB, generic brands (GB) or discount brands (DB).

This study analyzed nutrition information of 430 food products that were selected based on dietary intake data from a sub-sample of the Amsterdam Growth and Health Longitudinal Study. Data were collected in Dutch supermarkets, where information was copied from back-of-pack nutrition tables.

Results showed that there were no statistically significant differences between the LB, GB or DB daily intake models in energy (kJ), protein, carbohydrates, total fat, saturated fatty acids, fiber or added sugar contents. However, there were significant differences in sodium content where LB had significant less sodium compared to GB and DB. Also, there were significant price differences: LB vs GB+2.75/day; LB vs DB+7.17/day; GB vs DB+4.42/day.

To the knowledge, this is the first study analyzing differences in nutrient content and price of leading, generic and discount food brand formats on a diet level. The analysis revealed that there is little reason to suggest that dietary nutrient quality is negatively affected by an increased consumption of DB products. Indeed, the substantial price difference between leading and DB suggests that discount products provide a reasonable alternative to LB.

The advancements in the cloud computing has gained the attention of several researchers to provide on-demand network access to users with shared resources. Cloud computing is important a research direction that can provide platforms and softwares to clients using internet. However, handling huge number of tasks in cloud infrastructure is a complicated task. Thus, it needs a load balancing (LB) method for allocating tasks to virtual machines (VMs) without influencing system performance. This paper aims to develop a technique for LB in cloud using optimization algorithms.

This paper proposes a hybrid optimization technique, named elephant herding-based grey wolf optimizer (EHGWO), in the cloud computing model for LB by determining the optimal VMs for executing the reallocated tasks. The proposed EHGWO is derived by incorporating elephant herding optimization (EHO) in grey wolf optimizer (GWO) such that the tasks are allocated to the VM by eliminating the tasks from overloaded VM by maintaining the system performance. Here, the load of physical machine (PM), capacity and load of VM is computed for deciding whether the LB has to be done or not. Moreover, two pick factors, namely, task pick factor (TPF) and VM pick factor (VPF), are considered for choosing the tasks for reallocating them from overloaded VM to underloaded VM. The proposed EHGWO decides the task to be allocated in the VM based on the newly derived fitness functions.

The minimum load and makespan obtained in the existing methods, constraint measure based LB (CMLB), fractional dragonfly based LB algorithm (FDLA), EHO, GWO and proposed EHGWO for the maximum number of VMs is illustrated. The proposed EHGWO attained minimum makespan with value 814,264 ns and minimum load with value 0.0221, respectively. Meanwhile, the makespan values attained by existing CMLB, FDLA, EHO, GWO, are 318,6896 ns, 230,9140 ns, 1,804,851 ns and 1,073,863 ns, respectively. The minimum load values computed by existing methods, CMLB, FDLA, EHO, GWO, are 0.0587, 0.026, 0.0248 and 0.0234. On the other hand, the proposed EHGWO with minimum load value is 0.0221. Hence, the proposed EHGWO attains maximum performance as compared to the existing technique.

This paper illustrates the proposed LB algorithm using EHGWO in a cloud computing model using two pitch factors, named TPF and VPF. For initiating LB, the tasks assigned to the overloaded VM are reallocated to under loaded VMs. Here, the proposed LB algorithm adapts capacity and loads for the reallocation. Based on TPF and VPF, the tasks are reallocated from VMs using the proposed EHGWO. The proposed EHGWO is developed by integrating EHO and GWO algorithm using a new fitness function formulated by load of VM, migration cost, load of VM, capacity of VM and makespan. The proposed EHGWO is analyzed based on load and makespan.

The Lattice Boltzmann (LB) method offers an alternative to conventional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods. However, its practical use for complex turbulent flows of engineering interest is still at an early stage. This paper aims to outline an LB wall-modeled large-eddy simulation (WMLES) solver.

The solver is dedicated to complex high-Reynolds flows in the context of WMLES. It relies on an improved LB scheme and can handle complex geometries on multi-resolution block structured grids.

Dynamic and acoustic characteristics of a turbulent airflow past a rod-airfoil tandem are examined to test the capabilities of this solver. Detailed direct comparisons are made with both experimental and numerical reference data.

This study allows assessing the potential of an LB approach for industrial CFD applications.

The Navier‐Stokes equation and the species continuity equation have been solved numerically in a boundary fitted coordinate system comprising the geometry of a single strand bare tundish. The solution of the species continuity equation predicts the time evolution of the concentration of a tracer at the outlet of the tundish. The numerical prediction of the tracer concentration has been made with nine different turbulence models and has been compared with the experimental observation for the tundish. It has been found that the prediction from the standard k‐ε model, the k‐ε Chen‐Kim (ck) and the standard k‐ε with Yap correction (k‐ε Yap), matches well with that of the experiment compared to the other turbulence models as far as gross quantities like the mean residence time and the ratio of mixed to dead volume are concerned. It has been found that the initial transient development of the tracer concentration is best predicted by the low Reynolds number Lam‐Bremhorst model (LB model) and then by the k‐ε RNG model, while these two models under predict the mean residence time as well as the ratio of mixed to dead volume. The Chen‐Kim low Reynolds number (CK low Re) model (with and without Yap correction) as well as the constant effective viscosity model over predict the mixing parameters, i.e. the mean residence time and the ratio of mixed to dead volume. Taking the solution of the k‐ε model as a starting guess for the large eddy simulation (LES), a solution for the LES could be arrived after adopting a local refinement of the cells twice so that the near wall y⁺ could be set lower than 1. Such a refined grid gave a time‐independent solution for the LES which was used to solve the species continuity equation. The LES solution slightly over predicted the mean residence time but could predict fairly well the mixed volume. However, the LES could not predict both the peaks in the tracer concentration like the k‐ε, RNG and the Lam‐Bremhorst model. An analysis of the tracer concentration on the bottom plane of the tundish could help to understand the presence of plug and mixed flow in it.

A coupled numerical method for the direct simulation of particle‐fluid systems is formulated and implemented. The Navier‐Stokes equations governing fluid flow are solved using the lattice Boltzmann method, while the equations of motion governing particles are solved with the discrete element method. Particle‐fluid coupling is realized through an immersed moving boundary condition. Particle forcing mechanisms represented in the model to at least the first‐order include static and dynamic fluid‐induced forces, and intergranular forces including particle collisions, static contacts, and cementation. The coupling scheme is validated through a comparison of simulation results with the analytical solution of cylindrical Couette flow. Simulation results for the fluid‐induced erosive failure of a cemented particulate constriction are presented to demonstrate the capability of the method.

This paper aims to show how consumers process information differently under two dissimilar types of brand strategies. By analysing data from dishwashing detergent consumers who evaluated two different brands, one with a high differentiated/performance/price brand (HB) strategy and other with a low differentiated/cost/price brand (LB) strategy, it is shown how the structural relationship between some constructs differ under each price brand strategy. With a structural path analysis, the product performance, customer satisfaction, customer perceived value and behavioural intentions relationship are assessed. Additionally, the moderating effect of the brand strategy in this structural relationship is tested.

Data of a sample of n = 273 Mexican dishwashing detergent users were analysed. Respondents evaluated two brands of dishwashing detergent. One brand followed a high differentiated/performance/price strategy (Axion) and the other used a low differentiated/cost/price strategy (Roma). Participants had to have been consumers of both brands of detergents. A structural path analysis to show the moderating effect of the brand strategy was implemented. A nested comparison invariance test for structural weights to corroborate differences was used, as well.

Results confirm structural differences between both brand strategies in the constructs relationship. The HB strategy showed that both satisfaction and perceived value have a mediating effect between product performance and brand intentions; on the other hand, the LB strategy showed that only satisfaction has a mediating effect between these two constructs. The explanation amount for dependent latent variables was higher for the HB strategy than for the LB strategy.

This study offers a distinct view of the differentiated/quality brand strategy – low cost/price brand strategy duality. It provides a theoretical-empirical explanation of the cognitive processes that both strategies involve for a customer. As well, this study conceptually relates the generic strategies theory with the use of specific brand strategies.

The purpose of this paper is to present and validate some improvements to the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) for solving radiative heat transfer in a participating medium. Validation of the model is performed by investigating the effects of spatial and angular discretizations and extinction coefficient on the solution. The error analysis and the order of convergence of the scheme are also reported.

LB scheme is derived from the radiative transfer equation, where isotropic scattering and radiative equilibrium condition are assumed. Azimuthal angle is discretized according to the lattice velocities on the computational plane, while, concerning the polar angle, an additional component of the discrete velocity normal to the plane is introduced. Radiative LB scheme is used to solve a 2‐D square enclosure benchmark problem. In order to validate the model, results of LB scheme are compared with a reference solution obtained through a Richardson extrapolation of the results of a standard finite volume method.

The proposed improvements drastically increase the accuracy of the previous method. Radiative LB scheme is found to be (at most) first order accurate. Numerical results show that solution gets more accurate when spatial and azimuthal angle discretizations are improved, but a saturation threshold exists. With regard to polar angle, minimum error occurs when a particular subdivision is considered.

The paper provides simple but effective improvements to the recently proposed lattice Boltzmann method for solving radiative heat transfer in a participating medium.

The purpose of this paper is to carry out an in-depth analysis of heat dissipation performance by natural convection phenomenon inside light-emitting diode (LED) lamps containing hot pin-fins because of its significant industrial applications.

The problem is assimilated to heat transfer inside air-filled rectangular cavity with various governing parameters appraised in ranges interesting engineering application and scientific research. The lattice Boltzmann method is used to predict the dynamic and thermal behaviors. Effects of monitoring parameters such as Rayleigh number Ra (10³-10⁶), fin length (0-0.25) and its position, pin-fins number (1-8), the tilting-angle (0-180°) and cavity aspect ratio Ar (0.25-4) are carried out.

The rising behaviors of the dynamic and thermal structures and heat transfer rate (Nu), the heatlines distribution and the irreversibility rate are appraised. It was found that the flow is constantly two contra-rotating symmetric cells. The heat transfer is almost doubled by increasing Ra. A lack of cooling performance was identified between Ar = 0.5 and 0.75. The inclination 45° is the most appropriate cooling case. At constant Ra, the maximum stream-function and the global entropy generation remain almost unchanged by increasing the pin number from 1 to 8 and the entropy generation is of thermal origin for low Ra, so that the fluid friction irreversibility becomes dominant for Ra larger than 10⁵.

Improvements may include three-dimensional complex geometries, accounting for thermal radiation, high unit power and turbulence modelling. Such factors effects will be conducted in the future.

The cooling performance/heat dissipation in LED lamps is a key manufacturing factors, which determines the lifetime of the electronic components. The best design and installation give the opportunity to increase further the product shelf-life.

Both cooling performance, irreversibility rate and enclosure configuration (aspect ratio and inclination) are taken into account. This cooling scheme will give a superior operating mode of the hot components in an era where energy harvesting, storage and consumption is met with considerable attention in the worldwide.