Artículos (Ingeniería Mecánica y Fabricación)

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Advances in mechanobiological pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic models of osteoporosis treatment – Pathways to optimise and exploit existing therapies
(Elsevier, 2024-09) Pivonka, Peter; Calvo Gallego, José Luis; Schmidt, Stephan; Martínez Reina, Francisco Javier; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica y Fabricación; Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICIN). España; Australian Research Council (ARC), Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Joint Biomechanics; Universidad de Sevilla. TEP111: Ingeniería Mecánica
Osteoporosis (OP) is a chronic progressive bone disease which is characterised by reduction of bone matrix volume and changes in the bone matrix properties which can ultimately lead to bone fracture. The two major forms of OP are related to aging and/or menopause. With the worldwide increase of the elderly population, particularly age-related OP poses a serious health issue which puts large pressure on health care systems. A major challenge for development of new drug treatments for OP and comparison of drug efficacy with existing treatments is due to current regulatory requirements which demand testing of drugs based on bone mineral density (BMD) in phase 2 trials and fracture risk in phase 3 trials. This requires large clinical trials to be conducted and to be run for long time periods, which is very costly. This, together with the fact that there are already many drugs available for treatment of OP, makes the development of new drugs inhibitive. Furthermore, an increased trend of the use of different sequential drug therapies has been observed in OP management, such as sequential anabolic-anticatabolic drug treatment or switching from one anticatabolic drug to another. Running clinical trials for concurrent and sequential therapies is neither feasible nor practical due to large number of combinatorial possibilities. In silico mechanobiological pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) models of OP treatments allow predictions beyond BMD, i.e. bone microdamage and degree of mineralisation can also be monitored. This will help to inform clinical drug usage and development by identifying the most promising scenarios to be tested clinically (confirmatory trials rather than exploratory only trials), optimise trial design and identify subgroups of the population that show benefit-risk profiles (both good and bad) that are different from the average patient. In this review, we provide examples of the predictive capabilities of mechanobiological PK-PD models. These include simulation results of PMO treatment with denosumab, implications of denosumab drug holidays and coupling of bone remodelling models with calcium and phosphate systems models that allows to investigate the effects of co-morbidities such as hyperparathyroidism and chronic kidney disease together with calcium and vitamin D status on drug efficacy.
Assessment of mechanical variables best describing bone remodelling responses based on their correlation with bone density
(2024-12) Martínez Reina, Francisco Javier; Ojeda Granja, Joaquín; Calvo Gallego, José Luis; Pivonka, Peter; Martelli, Saulo; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica y Fabricación; Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICIN). España; Australian Research Council (ARC), Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Joint Biomechanics; Universidad de Sevilla. TEP111: Ingeniería Mecánica
Density distribution in bones can be estimated using bone remodelling models (BRM) and applying daily normal loads to assess the stress/strain state to which the bone is subjected. These models locally relate a certain mechanical stimulus, derived from the stress/strain state, directly to bone density or to its variation over time. The background of this idea is Frost’s Mechanostat Theory, which states that overloading states tend to increase bone density and disuse states tend to decrease it. Different variables have been proposed in the literature to measure the mechanical stimulus. Strain energy density (SED) and stresses have been commonly used as mechanical stimuli, but to date their use has not been justified with convincing arguments. In this paper we have selected several variables derived from stress and strain tensors and correlated them with the distribution of bone density in the femur of 13 elderly women to conclude which would be most appropriate for use as a mechanical stimulus in a BRM. We have performed this correlation analysis for six different activities: walking normally, fast walking, stair ascent, stair descent, rising from and sitting on a chair, and jumping in place. Musculoskeletal models were used to estimate joint reaction and muscle forces of each individual for each activity. These were applied to the corresponding finite element model of the femur to obtain stress and strain tensors at each point. The variables proposed as mechanical stimulus and derived from these tensors were correlated to the actual density obtained for each individual from CT-scans. Our results show that stress variables are the best correlated with density. In contrast, the correlations of SED are very weak, so it is not a good candidate for mechanical stimulus. Strains are also weakly correlated to density, but in this case because their distribution across the femur is rather uniform. This is in agreement with the Mechanostat Theory which states that bone reacts to load changes by changing its stiffness so to keep strains in a certain interval. Consequently, a plausible choice for a remodelling criterion could be keeping that strain uniformity.
Optimisation of romosozumab plus denosumab sequential treatments against postmenopausal osteoporosis. Insights from in silico simulations
(Springer Nature, 2025) Ruiz Lozano, Rocío; Calvo Gallego, José Luis; Pivonka, Peter; Martínez Reina, Francisco Javier; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica y Fabricación; Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICIN). España; Australian Research Council (ARC), Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Joint Biomechanics; Universidad de Sevilla. TEP111: Ingeniería Mecánica
Drug treatments against osteoporosis are commonly divided into anti-catabolic and anabolic. Anti-catabolic drugs reduce bone turnover and increase bone mass mainly through mineralization of the existing bone matrix. Anabolic drugs, on the other hand, enhance osteoblastic activity, resulting in new bone formation. Treatments are often limited to a few years due to reported side effects, which increases fracture risk upon discontinuation. Switching to a different drug is a common strategy. However, it is not clear what is the best combination of a dual-drug therapy, the lapse between treatments and other parameters defining the combination. In this study, we conducted in silico trials to assess the efficacy of two drugs: denosumab (anti-catabolic) and romosozumab (anabolic and anti-catabolic). Our simulations indicate that starting treatment with romosozumab leads to greater bone mass gain. This is because anti-catabolic treatments reduce bone rate and, due to osteoblast-osteoclast coupling, the number of osteoblast precursors. Romosozumab increases the proliferation of these precursors, so their population should be maximised for optimal efficacy. Therefore, prior administration of an anti-catabolic drug may be counterproductive to the effectiveness of romosozumab. We also found that a rest period between treatments does not benefit bone mass gain. Furthermore, concurrent administration of romosozumab and denosumab results in greater bone mass gain and might be worth investigating in future clinical trials. Finally, we showed that reduction of fracture risk in patients undergoing sequential treatments is dose dependent and consequently, dosage could be optimised in a patient-specific manner.
Experimental study of the use of a transfer function to find rail corrugation from axle-box accelerations
(Elsevier, 2025-05) Yu, Xinxin; Muñoz Moreno, Sergio; Urda Gómez, Pedro; Fernández Aceituno, Javier; Rodríguez Gómez, Miguel; Escalona Franco, José Luis; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Ingeniería y Ciencia de los Materiales y del Transporte; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica y Fabricación; Consejería de Economía, Ciencia, Empresa y Universidades. Junta de Andalucía; Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MICIU). España; Universidad de Sevilla. TEP111: Ingeniería Mecánica; Universidad de Sevilla. TEP123: Metalurgia e Ingeniería de los Materiales
This investigation uses a scale vehicle-track experimental facility to study the calculation of rail corrugation using vertical accelerations measured in the axle-box of rail vehicles and a transfer function (TF). The rail corrugated profile is machined in the rail heads of the scale track following a periodic function with four harmonics. Experiments are performed with a scale bogie-like vehicle at different forward velocities in the range inspection velocities. Two simple analytical forms of the TF are studied: the kinematic TF, that assumes that the axle box follows the rail profile, and the TF of a 2-dof model of the vehicle-track system. For the vehicle response analysis, this work proposes to normalize the measured acceleration with the square of the forward velocity of the vehicle, that is assumed to be approximately constant. This normalized acceleration reduces the effect of the forward velocity on the TF. Experimental results show that the kinematic TF can be used to measure the track corrugation for moderate forward velocities providing reasonable but not accurate results. The limitation of the kinematic TF is mainly due to free flights and wheel rail curvature incompatibility. The measured axle-box accelerations may include frequency peaks that are not excitation frequencies and can distort the rail profile measurement. Results show that linear elastic models like the assumed 2-dof model do not explain the appearance of these non-excitation peaks.
Hybrid kinetic-MHD modeling of alpha-driven TAEs in the SPARC tokamak
(IOP PUBLISHING, 2025-03) Tinguely, R. Alexander; Gonzalez Martin, Javier; Todo, Yasushi; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica y Fabricación; Agencia Estatal de Investigación. España
As the magnetic confinement fusion community prepares for the next generation of fusion devices and burning plasmas, there is still a question of whether fast ions (FIs) will drive MHD instabilities, causing significant redistribution or even loss of FIs, thereby leading to reduced plasma performance and possibly threatening the integrity of the first wall. In this paper, we explore the existence and stability of toroidicity-induced Alfvén eigenmodes (TAEs) in the > 100 MW , Q ∼ 9 -11 DT-fusion power ‘Primary Reference Discharge’ (PRD) of the SPARC tokamak; the PRD has a relatively low on-axis alpha pressure, β α 0 ≈ 0.6 % , due to the high magnetic field strength, B 0 = 12.2 T . A scan in toroidal mode number is performed in the vicinity of the estimated ‘most unstable’ modes, n ≈ 5-20, with the linear eigenvalue code NOVA-K and nonlinear initial-value code MEGA. Both codes identify the same (even) n = 10 TAE located near q = 1 with frequency f ≈ 360 kHz and alpha drive γ / ω ≈ + 0.6 % . While MEGA evaluates this mode to be marginally unstable for the nominal alpha pressure, NOVA-K instead identifies a higher frequency (odd) n = 10 TAE as marginally destabilized; different evaluations of radiative damping are likely the cause of this discrepancy. These results indicate that AEs may be only marginally unstable for the highest performing SPARC PRD, at least for the q profile explored here. They also serve as a starting point for further scans, inclusion of FIs from auxiliary heating systems, and exploration of AE-induced FI transport, as well as a guide for diagnostic measurements of these n ≈ 10 AEs.
The influence of thermo-electromechanical coupling on the performance of lead-free BNT-PDMS piezoelectric composites
(IOP Publishing, 2024) Akshayveer; Buroni Cuneo, Federico Carlos; Melnik, Roderick; Rodríguez de Tembleque Solano, Luis; Sáez Pérez, Andrés; Singh, Sundeep; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica y Fabricación; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Mecánica de Medios Continuos y Teoría de Estructuras; Universidad de Sevilla. TEP245: Ingeniería de las Estructuras
In recent times, there have been notable advancements in haptic technology, particularly in screens found on mobile phones, laptops, light-emitting diode (LED) screens, and control panels. However, it is essential to note that the progress in high-temperature haptic applications is still in the developmental phase. Due to their complex phase and domain structures, lead-free piezoelectric materials such as Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 (BNT)-based haptic technology behave differently at high temperatures than in ambient conditions. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the aspects of thermal management and thermal stability, as temperature plays a vital role in the phase and domain transition of BNT material. A two-dimensional thermo-electromechanical model has been proposed in this study to analyze the thermal stability of the BNT-PDMS composite by analyzing the impact of temperature on effective electromechanical properties and mechanical and electric field parameters. However, the thermo-electromechanical modelling of the BNT-PDMS composite examines the macroscopic effects of the applied thermal field on mechanical and electric field parameters, as phase change and microdomain dynamics are not considered in this model. This study analyzes the impact of thermo-electromechanical coupling on the performance of the BNT-PDMS composite compared to conventional electromechanical coupling. The results predicted a significant improvement in piezoelectric response compared to electromechanical coupling due to the increased thermoelectric effect in the absence of phase change and microdomain switching for temperature boundary conditions below depolarization temperature (Td ∼ 200◦C for pure BNT material).
Recent progress of JT-60SA project toward plasma operation
(2024-09-12) Shirai, H.; Takahashi, K.; Di Pietro, E.; Abate, D.; Abdel Maksoud, W.; Abe, H.; Ayllón Guerola, Juan Manuel; Garcia Dominguez, Javier; García López, Francisco Javier; García Muñoz, Manuel; Gonzalez Martin, Javier; Higashijima, S.; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Física Atómica, Molecular y Nuclear; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica y Fabricación
Superconducting (SC) tokamak JT-60SA plays an essential role in fusion research and development by supporting and complementing the ITER project, providing directions to the DEMO design activity and fostering next generation scientists and engineers. Since the short circuit incident at the terminal joints of equilibrium field coil #1 during the integrated commissioning (IC) in March 2021, both EU and JA implementing agencies (IAs) have examined how to ensure safe operation of JT-60SA by mitigating the risk of possible discharge occurrence inside the cryostat. Based on the experience of the global Paschen tests, the IAs have established a strategy of risk mitigation measures, which is a combination of (i) reinforcement of insulation, (ii) avoiding unnecessary voltage application to the coil systems and (iii) immediate de-energization of the coils when deteriorated vacuum conditions are detected. Thanks to the considerable efforts of the Integrated Project Team members, the IC restarted in May 2023. After confirmation of the SC state of the coil systems (TF, EF and CS), the coil energization test and the plasma operation phase 1 (OP-1) started. The first plasma was successfully achieved on 23 October 2023 with a limited value of voltage and current applied to the coils. The plasma configuration control was also confirmed with low plasma current and low auxiliary heating power conditions. Based on the IO–F4E–QST collaboration, activities of JT-60SA have been shared with the IO and provided an important lesson for ITER assembly and commissioning, and will provide an outstanding contribution to fusion research at large. After OP-1, maintenance & enhancement phase 1 (M/E-1) starts from January 2024, in which in-vessel components are installed, and heating and diagnostic systems are extensively upgraded to allow a high power heating experiment planned in OP-2. In order to make the best use of JT-60SA, a newly organized JT-60SA experiment team will refine the research plan for the future high heating power operation phase.
Novel test designs for assessing the shear fracture forming limit in thin-walled tubes
(Elsevier, 2025-05) Suntaxi, C.; López Fernández, José Andrés; Centeno Báez, Gabriel; Vallellano Martín, Carpóforo; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica y de Fabricación; Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MICIU). España; Agencia Estatal de Investigación. España; Next Generation EU; Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICIN). España; Universidad de Sevilla. TEP111: Ingeniería Mecánica
Thin-walled tubes are used for the manufacturing of essential components in several industries. Indeed, the characterization of their formability and failure is vital for tool design, product quality and safety. In the recent years, the number of procedures and test designs for characterizing tubes in forming has experienced a significant development. This progress has been achieved in combination with the use of digital image correlation techniques and finite element analysis, making use of different plastic anisotropy criteria. Nevertheless, most of those tests are aimed at the assessment of failure in mode I of fracture mechanics, being the analysis of fracture under in-plane shear, i.e. mode II of fracture mechanics, reduced to a very limited number of research works based in the adaptation of the corresponding sheet metal forming tests inducing shear. To this regard, this work presents two new procedures based on the specific thin-walled tube geometry for characterizing formability in-plane shear and failure in mode II of fracture mechanics, addressing the absence of specific experimental methods for evaluating the shear fracture forming limit (SFFL) for tubes. The results, based on a combined numerical modelling and experimental analysis of the proposed tests, show that the SFFL can be accurately evaluated by controlling a set of geometrical parameters in the specimens designed to generate shear in tubes by applying either tensile or compressive forces. These proposed tests provide a valuable tool for characterizing the SFFL of thin-walled tubes.
Self-adaptive diagnostic of radial fast-ion loss measurements on the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak (invited)
(American Institute of Physics, 2021-05-14) Gonzalez Martin, Javier; García Muñoz, Manuel; Sieglin, B.; Herrmann, A.; Lunt, T.; Ayllón Guerola, Juan Manuel; Galdón Quiroga, Joaquín; Hidalgo-Salaverri, J.; Kovacsik, A.; Rivero Rodríguez, Juan Francisco; Sanchis Sánchez, Lucía; Silvagni, D.; Zoletnik, S.; Domínguez Abascal, Jaime; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Física Atómica, Molecular y Nuclear; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica y de Fabricación; EUROfusion Consortium; Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICIN). España
A poloidal array of scintillator-based Fast-Ion Loss Detectors (FILDs) has been installed in the ASDEX Upgrade (AUG) tokamak. While all AUG FILD systems are mounted on reciprocating arms driven externally by servomotors, the reciprocating system of the FILD probe located just below the midplane is based on a magnetic coil that is energized in real-time by the AUG discharge control system. This novel reciprocating system allows, for the first time, real-time control of the FILD position including infrared measurements of its probe head temperature to avoid overheating. This considerably expands the diagnostic operational window, enabling unprecedented radial measurements of fast-ion losses. Fast collimator-slit sweeping (up to 0.2 mm/ms) is used to obtain radially resolved velocity-space measurements along 8 cm within the scrape-off layer. This provides a direct evaluation of the neutral beam deposition profiles via first-orbit losses. Moreover, the light-ion beam probe (LIBP) technique is used to infer radial profiles of fast-ion orbit deflection. This radial-LIBP technique is applied to trapped orbits (exploring both the plasma core and the FILD stroke near the wall), enabling radial localization of internal plasma fluctuations (neoclassical tearing modes). This is quantitatively compared against electron cyclotron emission measurements, showing excellent agreement. For the first time, radial profiles of fast-ion losses in MHD quiescent plasmas as well as in the presence of magnetic islands and edge localized modes are presented.
On the determination of forming limits in thin-walled tubes
(Elsevier, 2019-05) Magrinho, J. P.; Silva, M.B.; Centeno Báez, Gabriel; Moedas, F.; Vallellano Martín, Carpóforo; Martins, P.A.F.; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica y de Fabricación; Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia. Portugal; Universidad de Sevilla. TEP111: Ingeniería Mecánica
This paper proposes a methodology to determine the formability limits of thin-walled tubes and to plot them in principal strain space and in the space of effective strain vs. stress-triaxiality. Digital image correlation (DIC), combined either with time-dependent methodologies or strain-force approaches, is utilized to identify the onset of failure by necking and obtain the corresponding limit strains. Thickness measurements and determination of the gauge length strains across the cracked regions are utilized to characterize the onset of fracture and to evaluate the fracture limit strains. Results show that the utilization of tube expansion with rigid punches and elastomers allow obtaining strain loading paths and fracture loci by necking and fracture across a wide range of tube forming conditions ranging from biaxial stretching in the first quadrant to pure tension in the second quadrant of principal strain space. The fracture forming line (FFL) is the first time ever determined for thin-walled tubes. The forming limit curve (FLC) and the FFL resemble those of sheet and strip materials and their use is of paramount importance in the design and optimization of tube forming processes.
A detailed study of short fatigue crack directions for carbon steel specimens with circular holes subject to cyclic biaxial loads
(Elsevier, 2023-12) Balbín Molina, José Antonio; Chaves Repiso, Víctor Manuel; Navarro Robles, Alfredo; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica y de Fabricación; European Commission (EC). Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER); Agencia Estatal de Investigación. España; Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICIN). España; Universidad de Sevilla. TEP022: Diseño Industrial e Ingeniería del Proyecto y la Innovación; Universidad de Sevilla. TEP111: Ingeniería Mecánica
The effect of notches and biaxial fatigue loading on the crack paths was studied in detail for thin-walled tube specimens with a passing-through hole, paying special attention to the short-crack period. The study was focused on the high cycle fatigue regime. The material was a carbon steel and the tests were under load control, at t 𝑅𝜎 = −1 . The crack initiation point on the notch surface and the crack direction were studied with an optical microscope on the specimen outer surface and with a scanning electron microscope and a non-contact 3D optical profilometer on the fracture surface. The crack direction was analyzed for several crack lengths, ranging from the length of one average grain to the length of twenty average grains, all lengths within the short-crack regime, in order to carefully observe the evolution of the crack direction in the Stage I and during the transition from Stage I to Stage II. A statistical analysis of the crack initiation point and the experimental crack directions was carried out. In general, the crack initiation point was close to the maximum principal stress point. The crack direction during the first grains was approximately the Mode I direction. There was no initiation in Mode II. The crack continued in the Mode I direction as it got longer, within the short-crack period. The experimental fatigue limits were compared with the predictions calculated with two models from the literature. The direction of the straight lines used by the models to make the predictions were compared with the average crack directions measured experimentally. The goodness of the models, not only from the point of view of the fatigue limit value prediction but also from the closeness of the direction of the line used for the prediction to the experimental crack direction, was discussed.
On the lowest-frequency bandgap of 1D phononic crystals
(Elsevier, 2025-01) González-Carbajal, Javier; Lemm, M.; García Suárez, Joaquín; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica y de Fabricación; Universidad de Sevilla. TEP111: Ingeniería Mecánica
This manuscript puts forward and verifies an analytical approach for the design of phononic crystals that feature a bandgap at the lowest possible frequencies, in the sense of finding the optimal layer thicknesses for a given set of materials in a prescribed layering order. The mathematical formulation rests upon the exact form of the half-trace function (half of the trace of the global transfer matrix) of the layered medium, which is directly connected to its bandgap structure. After showing that there is a tight relation between the frequency at which the first bandgap opens up and the curvature of the half-trace function at zero frequency, a new optimization strategy is proposed, based on the minimization of this curvature. Notably, the optimal solution is expressed as a closed-form equation and remains valid for any number of layers within the unit cell. We validate this analytical result by comparison with a numerically optimized design, finding remarkably good agreement between both solutions.
Directions of high cycle fatigue cracks emanating from circular notches studied by optical profilometry
(Elsevier, 2022-12) Balbín Molina, José Antonio; Chaves Repiso, Víctor Manuel; Larrosa, N.O.; Madrigal Sánchez, Carmen; Navarro Robles, Alfredo; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Ingeniería del Diseño; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica y de Fabricación; European Commission (EC). Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER); Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICIN). España; Agencia Estatal de Investigación. España; Universidad de Sevilla. TEP022: Diseño Industrial e Ingeniería del Proyecto y la Innovación; Universidad de Sevilla. TEP111: Ingeniería Mecánica
Current models for predicting the fatigue endurance of notched solids use the stresses along a straight line, beginning at the notch root, as a simplification of the real crack propagation path. In this work, the experimental crack paths for hollow notched samples were analysed through different microscopy techniques, with the objective of establishing high cycle fatigue crack growth directions in a mild steel. Fully reversed tension–compression fatigue tests (𝑅 = −1) of thin-walled tube specimens with a passing-through hole were carried out. The crack paths observed in the outer cylindrical surface were studied in each case, with special attention to the crack initiation point and the crack direction along the first grains. Moreover, the analysis of the fracture surfaces allowed the same analysis to be performed to determine the internal crack paths. It was observed that the crack initiation point was close to the maximum principal stress point at the hole contour as obtained from linear elastic finite element analysis, and the crack direction in its initiation was generally close to Mode I direction, contrary to the conventionally accepted 45◦ crack growth direction.
On the influence of structural and chemical properties on the elastic modulus of woven bone under healing
(Frontiers, 2024-10) Blázquez Carmona, Pablo; Mora Macías, Juan; Pajares, Antonia; Mármol, Álvaro; Reina Romo, Esther; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica y de Fabricación; Agencia Estatal de Investigación. España; Universidad de Sevilla. TEP111: Ingeniería Mecánica
Woven bone, a heterogeneous and temporary tissue in bone regeneration, is remodeled by osteoblastic and osteoclastic activity and shaped by mechanical stress to restore healthy tissue properties. Characterizing this tissue at different length scales is crucial for developing micromechanical models that optimize mechanical parameters, thereby controlling regeneration and preventing non-unions.
Overview of the EUROfusion Tokamak Exploitation programme in support of ITER and DEMO
(Institute of Physics Publishing, 2024-11-01) Jet Contributors; Ayllón Guerola, Juan Manuel; Cruz Zabala, Diego José; Domínguez Palacios Durán, Jesús José; Doyle, Scott James; Galdón Quiroga, Joaquín; García Muñoz, Manuel; Hidalgo Salaverri, Javier; Mancini, Alessio; McKay, Kiera Anne; Oyola Domínguez, Pablo; Rivero Rodríguez, Juan Francisco; Romero Madrid, Carlos Francisco; Rueda Rueda, José; Toscano Jiménez, Manuel; Van Vuuren, Anton Jansen; Velarde Gallardo, Lina; Viezzer, Eleonora; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Física Atómica, Molecular y Nuclear; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Física Aplicada III; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Ingeniería Energética; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica y de Fabricación; EUROfusion Consortium
Within the 9th European Framework programme, since 2021 EUROfusion is operating five tokamaks under the auspices of a single Task Force called ‘Tokamak Exploitation’. The goal is to benefit from the complementary capabilities of each machine in a coordinated way and help in developing a scientific output scalable to future largre machines. The programme of this Task Force ensures that ASDEX Upgrade, MAST-U, TCV, WEST and JET (since 2022) work together to achieve the objectives of Missions 1 and 2 of the EUROfusion Roadmap: i) demonstrate plasma scenarios that increase the success margin of ITER and satisfy the requirements of DEMO and, ii) demonstrate an integrated approach that can handle the large power leaving ITER and DEMO plasmas. The Tokamak Exploitation task force has therefore organized experiments on these two missions with the goal to strengthen the physics and operational basis for the ITER baseline scenario and for exploiting the recent plasma exhaust enhancements in all four devices (PEX: Plasma EXhaust) for exploring the solution for handling heat and particle exhaust in ITER and develop the conceptual solutions for DEMO. The ITER Baseline scenario has been developed in a similar way in ASDEX Upgrade, TCV and JET. Key risks for ITER such as disruptions and run-aways have been also investigated in TCV, ASDEX Upgrade and JET. Experiments have explored successfully different divertor configurations (standard, super-X, snowflakes) in MAST-U and TCV and studied tungsten melting in WEST and ASDEX Upgrade. The input from the smaller devices to JET has also been proven successful to set-up novel control schemes on disruption avoidance and detachment.
Experimental research on the TCV tokamak
(Institute of Physics Publishing, 2024-10-29) Duval, B. P.; Abdolmaleki, A.; Agostini, M.; Ajay, C. J.; Alberti, S.; Alessi, E.; Anastasiou, G.; Andrèbe, Y.; Apruzzese, G. M.; Ayllón Guerola, Juan Manuel; Galdón Quiroga, Joaquín; García Muñoz, Manuel; Gil, L.; Zurita, M.; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Física Atómica, Molecular y Nuclear; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica y de Fabricación; EUROfusion Consortium; Department of Energy. United States
Tokamak à configuration variable (TCV), recently celebrating 30 years of near-continual operation, continues in its missions to advance outstanding key physics and operational scenario issues for ITER and the design of future power plants such as DEMO. The main machine heating systems and operational changes are first described. Then follow five sections: plasma scenarios. ITER Base-Line (IBL) discharges, triangularity studies together with X3 heating and N2 seeding. Edge localised mode suppression, with a high radiation region near the X-point is reported with N2 injection with and without divertor baffles in a snowflake configuration. Negative triangularity (NT) discharges attained record, albeit transient, βN ∼ 3 with lower turbulence, higher low-Z impurity transport, vertical stability and density limits and core transport better than the IBL. Positive triangularity L-Mode linear and saturated ohmic confinement confinement saturation, often-correlated with intrinsic toroidal rotation reversals, was probed for D, H and He working gases. H-mode confinement and pedestal studies were extended to low collisionality with electron cyclotron heating obtaining steady state electron iternal transport barrier with neutral beam heating (NBH), and NBH driven H-mode configurations with off-axis co-electron cyclotron current drive. Fast particle physics. The physics of disruptions, runaway electrons and fast ions (FIs) was developed using near-full current conversion at disruption with recombination thresholds characterised for impurity species (Ne, Ar, Kr). Different flushing gases (D2, H2) and pathways to trigger a benign disruption were explored. The 55 kV NBH II generated a rich Alfvénic spectrum modulating the FI fas ion loss detector signal. NT configurations showed less toroidal Alfvén excitation activity preferentially affecting higher FI pitch angles. Scrape-off layer and edge physics. gas puff imaging systems characterised turbulent plasma ejection for several advanced divertor configurations, including NT. Combined diagnostic array divertor state analysis in detachment conditions was compared to modelling revealing an importance for molecular processes. Divertor physics. Internal gas baffles diversified to include shorter/longer structures on the high and/or low field side to probe compressive efficiency. Divertor studies concentrated upon mitigating target power, facilitating detachment and increasing the radiated power fraction employing alternative divertor geometries, optimised X-point radiator regimes and long-legged configurations. Smaller-than-expected improvements with total flux expansion were better modelled when including parallel flows. Peak outer target heat flux reduction was achieved (>50%) for high flux-expansion geometries, maintaining core performance (H98 > 1). A reduction in target heat loads and facilitated detachment access at lower core densities is reported. Real-time control. TCV’s real-time control upgrades employed MIMO gas injector control of stable, robust, partial detachment and plasma β feedback control avoiding neoclassical tearing modes with plasma confinement changes. Machine-learning enhancements include trajectory tracking disruption proximity and avoidance as well as a first-of-its-kind reinforcement learning-based controller for the plasma equilibrium trained entirely on a free-boundary simulator. Finally, a short description of TCV’s immediate future plans will be given.
Divertor Tokamak Test facility project: status of design and implementation
(Institute of Physics (IOP Publishing), 2024-11-01) Romanelli, F.; Ayllón Guerola, Juan Manuel; Galdón Quiroga, Joaquín; García López, Javier; García Muñoz, Manuel; Hidalgo Salaverri, J.; Rueda Rueda, José; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica y de Fabricación; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Física Atómica, Molecular y Nuclear; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Construcciones Arquitectónicas I (ETSA); European Union (UE); Universidad de Sevilla. FQM402: Ciencias y Tecnologías del Plasma y el Espacio; Universidad de Sevilla. TEP130: Aquitectura, Patrimonio y Sostenibilidad: Acústica, Iluminación, Óptica y Energía
An overview is presented of the progress since 2021 in the construction and scientific programme preparation of the Divertor Tokamak Test (DTT) facility. Licensing for building construction has been granted at the end of 2021. Licensing for Cat. A radiologic source has been also granted in 2022. The construction of the toroidal field magnet system is progressing. The prototype of the 170 GHz gyrotron has been produced and it is now under test on the FALCON facility. The design of the vacuum vessel, the poloidal field coils and the civil infrastructures has been completed. The shape of the first DTT divertor has been agreed with EUROfusion to test different plasma and exhaust scenarios: single null, double null, X-divertor and negative triangularity plasmas. A detailed research plan is being elaborated with the involvement of the EUROfusion laboratories.
EUROfusion contributions to ITER nuclear operation
(Institute of Physics (IOP Publishing), 2024-11) Litaudon, X.; Galdón Quiroga, Joaquín; García Muñoz, Manuel; Gonzalez Martin, Javier; Sanchis Sánchez, Lucía; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Física Atómica, Molecular y Nuclear; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica y de Fabricación; European Union (UE); Academy of Finland; Universidad de Sevilla. FQM402: Ciencias y Tecnologías del Plasma y el Espacio
ITER is of key importance in the European fusion roadmap as it aims to prove the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion as a future energy source. The EUROfusion consortium of labs within Europe is contributing to the preparation of ITER scientific exploitation and operation and aspires to exploit ITER outcomes in view of DEMO. The paper provides an overview of the major progress obtained recently, carried out in the frame of the new (initiated in 2021) EUROfusion work-package called 'Preparation of ITER Operation' (PrIO). The overview paper is directly supported by the eleven EUROfusion PrIO contributions given at the 29th Fusion Energy Conference (16–21 October 2023) London, UK [www.iaea.org/events/fec2023]. The paper covers the following topics: (i) development and validation of tools in support to ITER operation (plasma breakdown/burn-through with evolving plasma volume, new infra-red synthetic diagnostic for off-line analysis and wall monitoring using Artificial Intelligence techniques, synthetic diagnostics development, development and exploitation of multi-machine databases); (ii) R&D for the radio-frequency ITER neutral beam sources leading to long duration of negative deuterium/hydrogen ions current extraction at ELISE and participation in the neutral beam test facility with progress on the ITER source SPIDER, and, the commissioning of the 1 MV high voltage accelerator (MITICA) with lessons learned for ITER; (iii) validation of neutronic tools for ITER nuclear operation following the second JET deuterium–tritium experimental campaigns carried out in 2021 and in 2023 (neutron streaming and shutdown dose rate calculation, water activation and activated corrosion products with advanced fluid dynamic simulation; irradiation of several materials under 14.1 MeV neutron flux etc).
Estudio de fuerzas elasticas en elementos finitos formulados en coordenadas nodales absolutas
(Asociación Española de Ingeniería Mecánica, 2008) García Vallejo, Daniel; García Martín, D.; Escalona Franco, José Luis; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica y de Fabricación; Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (MEC). España; Universidad de Sevilla. TEP111: Ingenieria Mecanica
Actualmente existen determinados elementos finitos tipo viga basados en la formulación en coordenadas nodales absolutas (ANCF). Entre ellos, el elemento finito tipo viga Euler-Bermoulli parametrizado por su línea media es ampliamente utilizado.
Formulación espacial de sistemas multicuerpo con sólidos rígidos y flexibles mediante coordenadas absolutas
(Asociación Espñaola de Ingeniería Mecánica (AEIM), 2004) García Vallejo, Daniel; Mayo Núñez, Juana María; Escalona Franco, José Luis; Domínguez Abascal, Jaime; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica y de Fabricación; García Vallejo, Daniel; Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología (CICYT). España; Universidad de Sevilla. TEP111: Ingenieria Mecanica
El uso de matrices de masa constantes en mecanismos rígido-flexibles de barra da lugar a ecuaciones en las que no aparecen términos de fuerzas de inercia centrífugas y de Coriolis, además, la factorización de la matriz de masa solo se hace una vez. Las formulaciones en coordenadas nodales absolutas y naturales ofrecen dichas ventajas para sólidos flexibles y rígidos, respectivamente. Ambas utilizan el mismo tipo de variables, lo cual permite reducir enormemente el conjunto de ecuaciones de restricción.

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