AimTo analyze the influence of the needle type, insertion depth, and irrigant flow rate on irrigant flow pattern, flow velocity, and apical pressure by ex-vivo based endodontic irrigation computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis.MethodsHuman upper canine root canal was prepared using rotary files. Contrast fluid was introduced in the root canal and scanned by computed tomography (CT) providing a three-dimensional object that was exported to the computer-assisted design (CAD) software. Two probe points were established in the apical portion of the root canal model for flow velocity and pressure measurement. Three different CAD models of 27G irrigation needles (closed-end side-vented, notched open-end, and bevel open-end) were created and placed at 25, 50, 75, and 95% of the working length (WL). Flow rates of 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 mL/s were simulated. A total of 60 irrigation simulations were performed by CFD fluid flow solver.ResultsClosed-end side-vented needle required insertion depth closer to WL, regarding efficient irrigant replacement, compared to open-end irrigation needle types, which besides increased velocity produced increased irrigant apical pressure. For all irrigation needle types and needle insertion depths, the increase of flow rate was followed by an increased irrigant apical pressure.ConclusionsThe human root canal shape obtained by CT is applicable in the CFD analysis of endodontic irrigation. All the analyzed values –irrigant flow pattern, velocity, and pressure – were influenced by irrigation needle type, as well as needle insertion depth and irrigant flow rate.

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This work investigates mixing phenomena in a pressurized pipe system with two sequential Tee junctions and experiments are conducted for a range of different inlet flow ratios, varying distances between Tee junctions and two pipe branching configurations. Additionally, obtained experimental results are compared with results from previous studies by different authors and are used to validate the numerical model using the open source computational fluid dynamics toolbox OpenFOAM. Two different numerical approaches are used—Passive scalar model and Multiphase model. It is found that both numerical models produce similar results and that they are both greatly dependent on the turbulent Schmidt number. After the calibration procedure, both models provided good results for all investigated flow ratios, double-Tee junction distances, and pipe branching configurations, therefore both numerical models can be applied for a wide range of pipe networks configurations, but passive scalar model is the viable choice due to its much higher computational efficiency. Obtained results also describe the relationship between the double-Tee distances and complete mixing occurrence.

This paper evaluates the applicability of the hexahedral block structured grids for marine propeller performance predictions. Hydrodynamic characteristics for Potsdam Propeller Test Case (PPTC), namely thrust and torque coefficients, were determined using numerical simulations in two commercial solvers: Ansys Fluent and STAR-CCM+. Results were attained for hexahedral and tetrahedral hybrid grids equivalent in terms of cell count and quality, and compared to the experimental results. Furthermore, accuracy of Realizable k- ϵ and SST k- ω turbulent models when analyzing marine propeller performance was investigated. Finally, performance characteristics were assessed in cavitating flow conditions for a single advance ratio using Zwart–Gerber–Belamri and Schnerr and Sauer models. The resulting cavitation pattern was compared to cavity extents and shape noted during measurements. The results suggest that hexa and hybrid grids, in certain range of advance ratios, do provide similar results; however, for low and high ratios, structured grids in conjunction with Realizable k- ϵ model can achieve more accurate results.