Dynamics of collapse of an impact central uplift: Evidence from folds and faults in the collar of the Vredefort Dome, South Africa

ABSTRACT Structural analysis of overturned metasedimentary strata of the lower Witwatersrand Supergroup in the inner collar of the Vredefort Dome reveals the presence of tangential folds and faults associated with the 2.02 Ga impact. The folds are distinct from previously identified subradially oriented, vertical to plunging-inclined, gentle folds that are interpreted as the products of convergent flow (constriction) during the initial stages of central uplift formation. The tangential folds comprise disharmonic, open, asymmetric, horizontal to plunging-inclined anticline-syncline pairs with centripetally dipping axial planes and right-way-up intermediate limbs. They display centripetal-down vergence (anticline radially outward of the syncline) that is consistent with steep inward-directed shear of the overturned strata. We attribute this kinematic pattern to subvertical collapse of the Vredefort central uplift during the latter stages of crater modification. The folds are cut by pseudotachylite-bearing steep to vertical tangential faults that display center-down slip of <10 m up to ~150 m. Both the tangential folds and the faults suggest that the large-scale overturning of strata related to outward collapse of the Vredefort central uplift was accompanied by a component of inward-directed collapse via layer-parallel shearing and folding, followed by faulting. Subradially oriented faults with conjugate strike separations of 1–2 km in the NNE collar of the dome suggest penecontemporaneous tangential extension of the inner collar rocks. This evidence indicates that second-order structures in the metasedimentary collar of the Vredefort Dome preserve a complex, multistage record of evolving strain associated with both initial convergent and upward flow (constriction) related to central uplift rise and later divergent and downward flow (flattening) linked to its collapse, and that centripetally directed collapse features may be important components of the structural inventory of very large central uplifts.

Computational study of particle distribution development in a cold-flow laboratory scale downer reactor

The use of downer reactors (gas-solid co-current downward flow) in the Fluid Catalytic cracking (FCC) process for the upgrading of heavy crude oil into more valuable products has gradually become more common in the last decades. This kind of reactor is characterized by having homogeneous axial and radial flow structures, no back mixing, and shorter residence times as compared with the riser reactor type. Although downer reactors were introduced a long time ago, available information in literature about the multiphase hydrodynamic behavior at FCC industrial scale is scarce. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct experimental and computational studies to enhance the understanding of the hydrodynamics of two-phase co-current downward flow. The Computational Fluids Dynamics (CFD) software, Ansys Fluent, is used to study two-dimensional gas (air) and solid (catalyst particle) flow in a downer section of a cold-flow circulation fluidized bed (CFB) system at a laboratory scale. The implemented computational model is validated by comparing numerical results for solid velocity and volume fraction with measurements carried out on a CFB system using a fiber-optic probe laser velocimeter. According to numerical results obtained for different gas velocity and solid flux, flow development cannot only be estimated by considering solid axial velocity changes along the reactor; it is also necessary to take into account solid volume fraction axial variations as radial profiles can change even when velocity profiles are developed.

Airflow Study of A Closed Room in the Public Spaces and Mass Transportation for Healthy and Safe from The Transmission of Covid19

We present engineering airflow to intercept the transmission of Covid19 in public spaces and public transportations, which relatively fast and simple. This technique is to suppress effectively and as massive as possible the spread of aerosols and droplets contaminated with the COVID-19 virus that is flying in the air by providing a vertical downward flow using fans placed on the ceilings and the use of floors of the certain material so that aerosol and microdroplets will not bounce back up, difficult to roll, and firmly attached to the floor. The numerical airflow simulation shows that positioning the fan on the ceiling of the room will cause the air particle to move faster downward, which will push the microdroplets to fall to the floor more quickly, so that the microdroplets and aerosols will quickly move away from the most risk organs from the transmission, namely the mouth and nose. The contactangle test results on several floor materials always show a value of fewer than 90 degrees. These phenomena cause microdroplets or aerosols that fall to the floor will stick tightly and not easily roll. This phenomenon will cause the room to be more sterile from aerosols and microdroplets that may be contaminated with Covid19. The room will be healthier and safer. This technique can be a solution that is relatively inexpensive and simple to implement on a field scale and is very effective in reducing the radius of the spread of droplets or aerosols in closed spaces, both public spaces and public transportation, such as trains and city buses which are very susceptible to Covid19 transmission.

Gas-liquid downward flow through narrow vertical conduits: effect of angle of entry and tube-diameter on flow patterns

The present study investigates the flow pattern characteristics of air-water co-current down-flow in millichannels. The experiments have been performed in glass tube of diameter 0.0042 and 0.008 m. The fluids are injected through Y entry the included angle between the Y arms being 45°, 90°, 135°, and 180° (T Entry). The investigation reveals that the flow patterns are function of tube-diameter, and angle of fluid entry. Interestingly, stratified flow has been observed for steeper Y entry section at low liquid flow rates.