This paper features a survey of some recent developments in asymptotic techniques, which are valid not only for weakly nonlinear equations, but also for strongly ones. Further, the obtained approximate analytical solutions are valid for the whole solution domain. The limitations of traditional perturbation methods are illustrated, various modied perturbation techniques are proposed, and some mathematical tools such as variational theory, homotopy technology, and iteration technique are introduced to overcome the shortcomings. In this paper the following categories of asymptotic methods are emphasized: (1) variational approaches, (2) parameter-expanding methods, (3) parameterized perturbation method, (4) homotopy perturbation method (5) iteration perturbation method, and ancient Chinese methods. The emphasis of this article is put mainly on the developments in this eld in China so the references, therefore, are not exhaustive.

Some asymptotic methods for strongly nonlinear equations

The widespread use of molecular machines in biology has long suggested that great rewards could come from bridging the gap between synthetic molecular systems and the machines of the macroscopic world. In the last two decades, it has proved possible to design synthetic molecular systems with architectures where triggered large amplitude positional changes of submolecular components occur. Perhaps the best way to appreciate the technological potential of controlled molecular-level motion is to recognize that nanomotors and molecular-level machines lie at the heart of every significant biological process. Over billions of years of evolution, nature has not repeatedly chosen this solution for performing complex tasks without good reason. When mankind learns how to build artificial structures that can control and exploit molecular level motion and interface their effects directly with other molecular-level substructures and the outside world, it will potentially impact on every aspect of functional molecule and materials design. An improved understanding of physics and biology will surely follow.

The first steps on the long path to the invention of artificial molecular machines were arguably taken in 1827 when the Scottish botanist Robert Brown observed the haphazard motion of tiny particles under his microscope.1,2 The explanation for Brownian motion, that it is caused by bombardment of the particles by molecules as a consequence of the kinetic theory of matter, was later provided by Einstein, followed by experimental verification by Perrin.3,4 The random thermal motion of molecules and its implications for the laws of thermodynamics in turn inspired Gedankenexperiments (“thought experiments”) that explored the interplay (and apparent paradoxes) of Brownian motion and the Second Law of Thermodynamics. Richard Feynman’s famous 1959 lecture “There’s plenty of room at the bottom” outlined some of the promise that manmade molecular machines might hold.5,6 However, Feynman’s talk came at a time before chemists had the necessary synthetic and analytical tools to make molecular machines. While interest among synthetic chemists began to grow in the 1970s and 1980s, progress accelerated in the 1990s, particularly with the invention of methods to make mechanically interlocked molecular systems (catenanes and rotaxanes) and control and switch the relative positions of their components.7−24

Here, we review triggered large-amplitude motions in molecular structures and the changes in properties these can produce. We concentrate on conformational and configurational changes in wholly covalently bonded molecules and on catenanes and rotaxanes in which switching is brought about by various stimuli (light, electrochemistry, pH, heat, solvent polarity, cation or anion binding, allosteric effects, temperature, reversible covalent bond formation, etc.). Finally, we discuss the latest generations of sophisticated synthetic molecular machine systems in which the controlled motion of subcomponents is used to perform complex tasks, paving the way to applications and the realization of a new era of “molecular nanotechnology”.

1.1. The Language Used To Describe Molecular Machines
Terminology needs to be properly and appropriately defined and these meanings used consistently to effectively convey scientific concepts. Nowhere is the need for accurate scientific language more apparent than in the field of molecular machines. Much of the terminology used to describe molecular-level machines has its origins in observations made by biologists and physicists, and their findings and descriptions have often been misinterpreted and misunderstood by chemists. In 2007 we formalized definitions of some common terms used in the field (e.g., “machine”, “switch”, “motor”, “ratchet”, etc.) so that chemists could use them in a manner consistent with the meanings understood by biologists and physicists who study molecular-level machines.14

The word “machine” implies a mechanical movement that accomplishes a useful task. This Review concentrates on systems where a stimulus triggers the controlled, relatively large amplitude (or directional) motion of one molecular or submolecular component relative to another that can potentially result in a net task being performed. Molecular machines can be further categorized into various classes such as “motors” and “switches” whose behavior differs significantly.14 For example, in a rotaxane-based “switch”, the change in position of a macrocycle on the thread of the rotaxane influences the system only as a function of state. Returning the components of a molecular switch to their original position undoes any work done, and so a switch cannot be used repetitively and progressively to do work. A “motor”, on the other hand, influences a system as a function of trajectory, meaning that when the components of a molecular motor return to their original positions, for example, after a 360° directional rotation, any work that has been done is not undone unless the motor is subsequently rotated by 360° in the reverse direction. This difference in behavior is significant; no “switch-based” molecular machine can be used to progressively perform work in the way that biological motors can, such as those from the kinesin, myosin, and dynein superfamilies, unless the switch is part of a larger ratchet mechanism.14

Artificial Molecular Machines

http://numericaltank.sjtu.edu.cn/KeyArticles/LIAO-Notes-2009.pdf

Notes on the homotopy analysis method: Some definitions and theorems

A powerful, easy-to-use analytic technique for nonlinear problems, the homotopy analysis method, is employed to give analytic solutions of magnetohydrodynamic viscous flows of non-Newtonian fluids over a stretching sheet. For the so-called second-order and third-order power-law fluids, the explicit analytic solutions are given by recursive formulas with constant coefficients. Also, for real power-law index and magnetic field parameter in a quite large range, an analytic approach is proposed. All of our analytic results agree well with numerical ones. In particular, a simple analytic formula of the dimensionless velocity gradient at the wall is found, which is accurate for all real power-law indices and magnetic field parameters. This analytic formula can give sufficiently accurate results for the skin friction on the moving sheet that it would find wide application in industries. Physically, they indicate that the magnetic field tends to increase the skin friction, and that this effect is more pronounced for shear-thinning than for shear-thickening fluids.

On the analytic solution of magnetohydrodynamic flows of non-Newtonian fluids over a stretching sheet

A neural network particle finding algorithm and a new four-frame predictive tracking algorithm are proposed for three-dimensional Lagrangian particle tracking (LPT). A quantitative comparison of these and other algorithms commonly used in three-dimensional LPT is presented. Weighted averaging, one-dimensional and two-dimensional Gaussian fitting, and the neural network scheme are considered for determining particle centers in digital camera images. When the signal to noise ratio is high, the one-dimensional Gaussian estimation scheme is shown to achieve a good combination of accuracy and efficiency, while the neural network approach provides greater accuracy when the images are noisy. The effect of camera placement on both the yield and accuracy of three-dimensional particle positions is investigated, and it is shown that at least one camera must be positioned at a large angle with respect to the other cameras to minimize errors. Finally, the problem of tracking particles in time is studied. The nearest neighbor algorithm is compared with a three-frame predictive algorithm and two four-frame algorithms. These four algorithms are applied to particle tracks generated by direct numerical simulation both with and without a method to resolve tracking conflicts. The new four-frame predictive algorithm with no conflict resolution is shown to give the best performance. Finally, the best algorithms are verified to work in a real experimental environment.

A quantitative study of three-dimensional Lagrangian particle tracking algorithms

A porous-wavemaker theory is developed to analyse small-amplitude surface waves on water of finite depth, produced by horizontal oscillations of a porous vertical plate. Analytical solutions in closed forms are obtained for the surface-wave profile, the hydrodynamic-pressure distribution and the total force on the wavemaker. The influence of the wave-effect parameter C and the porous-effect parameter G, both being dimensionless, on the surface waves and on the hydrodynamic pressures is discussed in detail.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022112083001676

A porous-wavemaker theory

In this paper, we apply a new analytical technique for nonlinear problems, namely the Homotopy Analysis Method Liao 1992a), to give two-period formulas fo oscillations of conservative single-degree-of-freedom systems with odd nonlinearity. These two formulas are uniformly valid for any possible amplitudes of oscillation. Four examples are given to illustrate the validity of the two formulas. This paper also demonstrates the general validity and the great potential of the Homotopy Analysis Method.

Application of Homotopy Analysis Method in Nonlinear Oscillations

A new inner product is developed based on the Fourier analysis to study the scattering of surface waves by a floating semi-infinite elastic plate in a two-dimensional water domain of finite depth. The eigenfunctions for the plate-covered region are orthogonal with respect to this new inner product. The problem is studied for various wave and geometrical conditions. Especially, the influence of different edge conditions on the hydrodynamic behavior is investigated and compared. The edge conditions considered in the present study involve (i) a free edge, (ii) a simply supported edge, and (iii) a built-in edge. The hydrodynamic performance of an elastic plate is characterized for various conditions in terms of wave reflection and transmission, plate deflection, and surface strain. It is observed that the hydrodynamic behavior depends on the wave conditions, the geometrical settings, and the edge conditions. The built-in edge condition induces the maximum wave reflection and the minimum wave transmission. The free edge condition leads to the maximum plate deflection.

/pdf/scattering-of-surface-waves-by-a-semi-infinite-floating-euui15vxg5.pdf

Scattering of surface waves by a semi-infinite floating elastic plate

The trapping and generation of surface waves by submerged vertical permeable barriers or plates kept at one end of a semi-infinitely long channel of finite depth are investigated for various barrier and plate configurations. The various fixed barrier configurations are (1) a surface-piercing barrier; (2) a bottom-touching barrier; (3) a barrier with a gap; and (4) a fully submerged barrier. The different moving plate (or wavemaker) configurations are of types 1, 2, and 4, respectively. The boundary value problems are converted to dual/triple series relations by a suitable application of the eigenfunction expansion method and then the full solutions are obtained by the least-squares method. The variations of reflection coefficients are obtained and discussed for different values of the porous-effect parameter, the normalized distance between the barrier and the channel end-wall, and the length of submergence of barriers for all types of barrier configurations. The dynamic pressure distributions for various...

Trapping and Generation of Waves by Vertical Porous Structures

Wave‐induced oscillation in a semicircular harbor with porous breakwaters is studied on the basis of the linear potential wave theory and a newly derived boundary condition for the breakwaters. By separation of variables, general expressions of the velocity potential in terms of unknown constants are obtained in the harbor region and in the open sea. These expressions are matched so that the porous boundary condition and the continuity of mass flux and free surface at the harbor entrance are satisfied. The velocity potential and, consequently, the free surface oscillation in the whole domain concerned are thus determined. The frequency response of a harbor with breakwaters of various porous properties is investigated. It is noted that the inertial effect of the porous structure is mainly to increase the resonant wave number and it does not reduce the amplitude of the resonant oscillation significantly. On the other hand, the porous resistance gives rise to little change of the resonant wave number but it ...

Allen T. Chwang

Papers

A porous-wavemaker theory

Application of Homotopy Analysis Method in Nonlinear Oscillations

Scattering of surface waves by a semi-infinite floating elastic plate

Trapping and Generation of Waves by Vertical Porous Structures

Wave-induced oscillation in harbor with porous breakwaters