Viscous-Inviscid Interactions in a Boundary-Layer Flow Induced by a Vortex Array

In this paper, we investigate the asymptotic validity of boundary-layer theory. For a flow induced by a periodic row of point-vortices, we compare Prandtl’s boundary-layer solution to Navier-Stokes solutions with different Reynolds numbers. We show how Prandtl’s solution develops a finite-time separation singularity. On the other hand, the Navier-Stokes solutions are characterized by the presence of two distinct types of viscous-inviscid interactions that can be detected by the analysis of the enstrophy and of the pressure gradient on the wall. Moreover, we apply the complex singularity-tracking method to Prandtl and Navier-Stokes solutions and analyze the previous interactions from a different perspective.     

Cross-Diffusion Driven Instability in a Predator-Prey System with Cross-Diffusion

In this work we investigate the process of pattern formation induced by nonlinear diffusion in a reaction-diffusion system with Lotka-Volterra predator-prey kinetics. We show that the cross-diffusion term is responsible of the destabilizing mechanism that leads to the emergence of spatial patterns. Near marginal stability we perform a weakly nonlinear analysis to predict the amplitude and the form of the pattern, deriving the Stuart-Landau amplitude equations. Moreover, in a large portion of the subcritical zone, numerical simulations show the emergence of oscillating patterns, which cannot be predicted by the weakly nonlinear analysis. Finally, when the pattern invades the domain as a travelling wavefront, we derive the Ginzburg-Landau amplitude equation which is able to describe the shape and the speed of the wave.     

Ancient coins: cluster analysis applied to find a correlation between corrosion process and burial soil characteristics

Although it is well known that any material degrades faster when exposed to an aggressive environment as well as that "aggressive" cannot be univocally defined as depending also on the chemical-physical characteristics of material, few researches on the identification of the most significant parameters influencing the corrosion of metallic object are available.A series of ancient coins, coming from the archaeological excavation of Palazzo Valentini (Rome) were collected together with soils, both near and far from them, and then analysed using different analytical techniques looking for a correlation between the corrosion products covering the coins and the chemical-physical soil characteristics. The content of soluble salts in the water-bearing stratum and surfacing in the archaeological site, was also measured.The obtained results stress the influence of alkaline soils on formation of patina. Cerussite, probably due to the circulation of water in layers rich in marble and plaster fragments, was the main corrosion product identified by X-ray Diffraction (XRD). Copper, lead and vanadium were found in soil surrounding coins. By measuring conductivity, pH and soluble salts content of the washing solutions from both coins and soils, we could easily separate coins coming from different stratigraphic units of the site.Data were treated by cluster and multivariate analysis, revealing a correlation between part of the coins and the nearby soil samples.     

Microclimate monitoring in the Carcer Tullianum: temporal and spatial correlation and gradients evidenced by multivariate analysis; first campaign

Too often microclimate studies in the field of cultural heritage are published without any or scarce information on sampling design, sensors (type, number, position) and instrument validation. Lacking of this fundamental information does not allow an open discussion in the scientific community. This work aims to be an invitation for a different approach.Three main parameters (temperature, humidity, luminance) were monitored in a selected part of a complex construction by an inexpensive self-assembled system along some horizontal and vertical vectors. All data was then processed and analyse by chemometric methods. Some measurements of oxygen, carbon monoxide and dioxide and pressure were also performed.Correlation of some indoor and outdoor data was shown for temperature and humidity. In case of outdoor changes the indoor environment reacted with a certain delay which is position-dependent and more evident for humidity data. The two observed rooms (Carcer and Tullianum) behave differently and the hypogean one is less influenced by the outdoor environment. Instrument validation before and after the campaign, allows to consider detected variations as significant.The fundamental importance of Sampling Design and of instrument validation before and after the monitoring campaign was enhanced. The choice of two main and two minor vectors allowed detection of different behaviour for the two rooms, also permitting to detect for both rooms a trend towards a spontaneous microclimate necessary for a conservation project. In the next campaign we will focus on the choice of the best sampling frequency to use more sophisticated statistical methods.     

TG and NMR analysis of commercial plant oil seeds

Experiments were performed to obtain rapid quantitative information on the water and oil content, and on the ash residue of some plant oil seeds, all of considerable commercial interest.

TG, DTG and low-resolution NMR were used as the analytical techniques.