A blog/web for mechanics, former one known as Applied mechanics news.
Link as: http://imechanica.org/
The new one is running by Harvard University. Till now, most of the posters are writen by "Chinese" mechanicians. This is a very good idea to have a internet community to post and discuss new ideas, and maybe know different people.
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There are three possible directions in the futher work on thermomechanical modelling of pebble beds, but the discussion with my supervisor is needed first. These ideas are seperated, but still in the same framework.
1. Thermal contact conductance model, and its application in HELICA mock-up.
The first simulation has been carried out. The influences have been estimated by current TCC model, while for beryllium pebbles, the pebble-wall interactions are more significant.
2. Thermal conductivity of packed beds, with the consideration of temperature.
The basic of this activity can be traced back to 1970s-1980s, a professor (Schlunder) in University of Karlsruhe developed one model (SZB) describing the solid-gas conductivity, which consists well with existing experimental data. But, there are many other important facts to be taken into account, such as the pressure effects developed by Chan and Tien. And in the late 90s, the DEM has been used in different cases, but the theoretical work can be reconsidered and can surely predict more gerneral problems.
3. Failure analysis of packed beds, and analysis of single pebble compaction experiments.
First case has been simulated to find out the difference between Hertz solution and exact multi contact situations. But the current results show that the comparison with experiments is not so well, and the reason should be found first. An research assistant is needed for this project for systematic simulation on contacts.
上周二坐了6个小时火车，转车3次，才到了开会附近的城市Alkmaar，途经Amsterdam，看到的景色不错，可惜这次没有时间去转一下了。
会议的行程安排得非常紧密，只有第二天下午才有些时间，和几个同事骑车从Shoorl的宾馆，穿过一个自然保护区到了海边。会议一结束，就赶回Karlsruhe。所在的地区，是以前围海造田的区域，以牧业为主，牛羊散养，一片田园风光。荷兰的建筑也很有特色，屋檐上铺干茅草，坡度很大，一眼看来便与德国的房屋不同。
整整3天的会议，演讲也有20多个，发现很多听不懂，不少是由于语言的原因。有一个日本同事上去讲了10分钟，我才发现他原来没有在讲日语。以前出来前，不知道听谁说的日本人英语好，现在算是领教了。参加会议的有欧盟、日本、美国、中国，后两方都只有一人参加。美国是由于最近ITER经费削减的原因，而中国的研究则刚刚起步。不过有个日本九州大学的教授，讲得还是挺幼意思。说是30年前，他得老师就说30年后我们会有第一个聚变堆，但30年过去了，我们依然说30年后有第一个聚变堆，因为我们要让公众相信而得到合理的资助。他这么说的时候，发现我的几个德国同事纷纷摇头，比较有趣。第二天，轮到我的演讲，就上去讲了我们的材料模型和最近的结果，自我感觉效果不错，之后也讨论了不少的相关的问题。
通过聊天，初步取消了以后毕业后去UCLA的打算。原因有二：UCLA那边的教授比较抠门，招中国的交换生，自己不出钱，看见好的倒要留下来，让国内的部门怎么想；关于TBM项目，欧盟已经远远领先，因为ITER之后，欧盟的DEMO计划已经上了日程，项目都在向前推，日本的研究过于基础，美国的经费又是问题。
会议之后，有一个实验室参观的项目，NRG Petten可以实现材料中子辐照后的性能研究。因此实验室也是有一定放射性的，进出都需要检查。检查的机器是德国产品，没有问题就是“nicht contaminate”。不过人家老员工说，工作几十年，一直没有听过另外一个结果。进实验室需要穿防护服，比较夸张，想来幸好只是参观。
明年的会议最后订在日本东京...
下周，9月5日从Karlsruhe出发到荷兰Petten，经Amsterdam、Alkmaar。会议为6～8日，结束后直接回Karlsruhe。会议举办方，这一次是荷兰核技术研究与咨询中心（NRG, The nuclear research and consultancy group），位于荷兰Petten，从地图上看就在海边，应该是荷兰几世纪前围海造田的区域之内。
下图标记，Petten为会议举办地；Schoorl为宾馆所在地；Amsterdam在图下侧不可见区域(
)。
CBBI: 14th International Workshop on Ceramic Breeder Blanket Interaction
Hotel: Golden Tulip Jan van Scorel
