Direct Numerical Simulation of Turbulence in a Stably Stratified Fluid and Wave-Shear Interaction

Turbulence decay in a strongly stratified medium is simulated by a direct pseudo-spectral code solving the three-dimensional equations of motion under the Boussinesq approximation. The results are compared to non-stratified simulations results. We focus on the production of mean shear energy observed in the stratified case. We then simulate the decay of stratified turbulence when affected by an initial horizontal mean flow and show that this mean flow is the major component remaining at large t. Next, we give some analytical elements on wave-shear interaction by using a simple refraction calculation with WKB hypothesis. This calculation is illustrated by simulating the interaction between one monochromatic internal wave and a vertical shear profile. We conclude that the existence of singularities in the mean shear production term in the presence of internal gravity waves may be one of the possible mechanisms involved within stratified turbulent shear flows.     

Justification of the kinematic assumptions for thin-walled rods with shallow profile

In this Note we present a justification of the kinematic assumptions for thin-walled rods with shallow profile. These assumptions are fundamental to writing the one-dimensional equilibrium equations for such structures. The obtained kinematics are different from the Vlassov case, which is only valid for strongly curved profiles. They are also different from the that classically used in shell theory. The justification given in this Note is based on an asymptotic approach. To cite this article: L. Grillet et al., C. R. Mecanique 333 (2005).     

Bifurcations et solutions multiples en cavité 3D différentiellement chaufféeBifurcations and multiple solutions in a differentially heated cubic cavity

In this paper, a differentially heated square/cubic cavity is studied by performing three-dimensional direct numerical simulations. The first bifurcation observed at $\text{R}{}_{\mathrm{a}}\text{≈3.2×10}{}^7$ is due to the 3D vortex structures generated at the end regions of vertical boundary layers near the median plane. The main results of this Note are that the flow returns to a steady state for higher values of the Rayleigh number $\text{R}{}_{\mathrm{a}}$ (7×10⁷ and 10⁸ for example) still exhibiting these 3D vortex structures, and that multiple steady flows which differ by their symmetry properties, are obtained for $\text{R}{}_{\mathrm{a}}\text{=10}{}^8$. However, the flow reverts to unsteadiness for $\text{R}{}_{\mathrm{a}}\text{=3×10}{}^8$. In this latter case, the instability is due to the vertical boundary layers. To cite this article: G. de Gassowski et al., C. R. Mecanique 331 (2003).     

Mean stress in a granular medium in dynamics

In this paper we propose to construct a mean stress tensor for a granular medium, valid in static and in dynamics, which takes into account the contact reactions and the body forces acting at the grain level. A simple analytical example shows that taking account of inertia forces is essential to insure the symmetry of the mean stress tensor in dynamics. Finally, numerical simulations illustrating this definition of the mean stress tensor are presented for a granular medium ensiled.     

Space-time perturbation modes for non-linear dynamic analysis of beams

In this work an attempt is made at bridging the powerful perturbation methods of analytical dynamics to the versatile finite element techniques which can readily handle arbitrarily complex structures. The proposed analysis methodology has two distinguishing features. First, a space-time finite element formulation is used, and hence the concept of modes is here naturally extended to that of space-time modes, where the time dependency is implied in the assumed modes. As a result, the partial differential equations of motion are directly reduced to purely algebraic non-linear simultaneous equations. Second, perturbation modes, rather than the usual vibration mode shapes are used and shown to be an appropriate basis for non-linear dynamic analysis. These modes bring information about the non-linearities of the system through the higher order derivatives of the strain and kinetic energies. The procedure is illustrated on non-linear beam problems and the results are compared with those of a full finite element model, i.e., when all the degrees of freedom are considered, as well as with analytical results, when available.     

Turbulence in cooling channels of rocket engines: Large Eddy Simulations

The aim of this Note is to predict by means of large eddy simulations the three-dimensional structures and secondary mass and heat fluxes which develop within a heated curved duct, for applications to rocket engines cooling channels. We show the existence of unsteady Görtler-type vortices above the concave wall, as well as intense secondary vortices taking the shape of two quasi-steady counter-rotating cells of Ekman type close to the convex wall. These cells control heat exchanges. They induce ejections and sweeps close to the convex wall when it is heated. In this case the Nusselt number undergoes strong transverse fluctuations which might induce material alterations. To cite this article: C. Münch, O. Métais, C. R. Mecanique 333 (2005).     

The Vectorial Parameterization of Rotation

The parameterization of rotation is the subject of continuous research and development in many theoretical and applied fields of mechanics, such as rigid body, structural, and multibody dynamics, robotics, spacecraft attitude dynamics, navigation, image processing, and so on. This paper introduces the vectorial parameterization of rotation, a class of parameterization techniques encompassing many formulations independently developed to date for the analysis of rotational motion. The exponential map of rotation, the Rodrigues, Cayley, Gibbs, Wiener, and Milenkovic parameterization all are special cases of the vectorial parameterization. This generalization parameterization sheds additional light on the fundamental properties of these techniques, pointing out the similarities in their formal structure and showing their inter-relationships. Although presented in a compact manner, all of the formulae needed for a complete implementation of the vectorial parameterization of rotation are included in this paper.     

Active control of the turbulent drag by a localized periodical blowing dissymmetric in time

Experimental results on the reaction of the near wall turbulence and drag to a localized time periodical blowing are reported. The injection velocity is periodical and dissymmetric in time, with a rapid acceleration phase followed by a slow deceleration one. The flow is relaminarized during 70% of the oscillation period mainly during the deceleration phase. The latter maintains stable the vorticity layer induced by the blowing and prevents its roll-up contrarily to a sinusoidal time periodical blowing. Thus, a time mean drag reduction of 50% is obtained in the region recovering 200 wall units downstream of the blowing slot and this is 40% larger than the drag reduction obtained by a steady blowing with the same time mean severity parameter. The dissymmetric blowing annihilates considerably the wall turbulence activity and gives better results in terms of drag reduction compared with steady and sinusoidal blowing.

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Deformation and stress from in-pore drying-induced crystallization of salt

The deformation and the fracture of porous solids from internal crystallization of salt is explored in the framework of the thermodynamics of unsaturated brittle poroelasticity. In the first place the usual theory of crystal growth in confined conditions is further developed in order to include both the deformation and the drying of the porous solid. The thermodynamics reveals the existence of a dilation coefficient associated with the crystallization process, and provides a solute-crystal equilibrium condition which involves the relative humidity, the supersaturation, and the salt characteristics. This thermodynamic condition and the mechanical equilibrium of the solution-crystal interface combine to give the current crystallization pore radius. Upscaling this information at the macroscopic scale, and taking into account the salt mass supplied by the invading solution, the approach leads to a quantitative analysis of the role of the pore size distribution on the crystal growth under repeated imbibition-drying cycles. The deformation and the fracture of the porous solid from drying-induced crystallization are then considered in the context of brittle poroelasticity. The current unsaturated macroscopic poroelastic properties are upscaled from the microscopic elastic properties of the solid matrix and from the current liquid, crystal and gas saturations. The adoption of a fracture criterion based on the elastic energy that the solid matrix can ultimately store finally leads to the determination of how long a stone can resist repeated cycles of drying-induced crystallization of salt.     

Influence of the Metal Ion on the Two‐Photon Absorption Properties of Lanthanide Complexes Including Near‐IR Emitters

The synthesis of tris(2‐thenoyltrifluoroacetonate)lanthanide(III) complexes featuring a diethylaminostyryl‐2,2′‐bipyridine coligand was achieved for lanthanum; the near‐infrared (NIR) emitters neodymium, erbium, and ytterbium; and the transition‐metal yttrium. The photophysical properties were thoroughly studied, and it was demonstrated that the conjugated bipyridine ligand acts as a good antenna for the sensitization of the NIR emitters. The two‐photon absorption (TPA) properties of all five complexes were investigated by using both two‐photon excited fluorescence and the Z‐scan method. We demonstrate that the nature of the rare earth ion has almost no influence on the TPA properties centered on the conjugated bipyridyl ligand. Finally, we show that Yb^III is sensitized by a two‐photon antenna effect, and that Nd^III is mostly sensitized by a one‐photon process involving direct excitation of forbidden f–f transitions.