Nonequilibrium Effects During Spontaneous Imbibition

Accurate models of multiphase flow in porous media and predictions of oil recovery require a thorough understanding of the physics of fluid flow. Current simulators assume, generally, that local capillary equilibrium is reached instantaneously during any flow mode. Consequently, capillary pressure and relative permeability curves are functions solely of water saturation. In the case of imbibition, the assumption of instantaneous local capillary equilibrium allows the balance equations to be cast in the form of a self-similar, diffusion-like problem. Li et al. [J. Petrol. Sci. Eng. 39(3) (2003), 309–326] analyzed oil production data from spontaneous countercurrent imbibition experiments and inferred that they observed the self-similar behavior expected from the mathematical equations. Others (Barenblatt et al. [Soc. Petrol. Eng. J. 8(4) (2002), 409–416]; Silin and Patzek [Transport in Porous Media 54 (2004), 297–322]) assert that local equilibirum is not reached in porous media during spontaneous imbibition and nonequilibirium effects should be taken into account. Simulations and definitive experiments are conducted at core scale in this work to reveal unequivocally nonequilbirium effects. Experimental in-situ saturation data obtained with a computerized tomography scanner illustrate significant deviation from the numerical local-equilibrium based results. The data indicates: (i) capillary imbibition is an inherently nonequilibrium process and (ii) the traditional, multi-phase, reservoir simulation equations may not well represent the true physics of the process.     

Dynamics of a Non-Autonomous ODE System Occurring in Coagulation Theory

We consider a constant coefficient coagulation equation with Becker–D?ring type interactions and power law input of monomers J ₁(t) = α t ^ω, with α > 0 and . For this infinite dimensional system we prove solutions converge to similarity profiles as t and j converge to infinity in a similarity way, namely with either or constants, where is a function of t only. This work generalizes to the non-autonomous case a recent result of da Costa et al. (2004). Markov Processes Relat. Fields 12, 367–398. and provides a rigorous derivation of formal results obtained by Wattis J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 37, 7823–7841. The main part of the approach is the analysis of a bidimensional non-autonomous system obtained through an appropriate change of variables; this is achieved by the use of differential inequalities and qualitative theory methods. The results about rate of convergence of solutions of the bidimensional system thus obtained are fed into an integral formula representation for the solutions of the infinite dimensional system which is then estimated by an adaptation of methods used by da Costa et al. (2004). Markov Processes Relat. Fields 12, 367–398.      

Unsaturated Transport with Linear Kinetic Sorption Under Unsteady Vertical Flow

We consider transport of a solute obeying linear kinetic sorption under unsteady flow conditions. The study relies on the vertical unsaturated flow model developed by Indelman et al. [J. Contam. Hydrol. 32 (1998), 77–97] to account for a cycle of infiltration and redistribution. One of the main features of this type of transport, as compared with the case of a continuous water infiltration, is the finite depth of solute penetration. In the infiltration stage an analytical solution that generalizes the previous results of Lassey [Water Resour. Res. 24 (1988), 343–350] and Severino and Indelman [J. Contam. Hydrol. 70 (2004), 89–115] is derived. This solution accounts for quite general initial solute distributions in both the mobile and immobile concentration. When the redistribution is also considered, two timescales become relevant, namely: (i) the desorption rate k⁻¹, and (ii) the water application time t_ap. In particular, we have assumed that the quantity ε =(k t_ap)⁻¹ can be regarded as a small parameter so that a perturbation analytical solution is obtained. At field-scale the concentration is calculated by means of the column model of Dagan and Bresler [Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 43 (1979), 461–467], i.e. as ensemble average over an infinite series of randomly distributed and uncorrelated soil columns. It is shown that the heterogeneity of hydraulic properties produces an additional spreading of the plume. An unusual phenomenon of plume contraction is observed at long times of solute propagation during the drying period. The mean solute penetration depth is studied with special emphasis on the impact of the variability of the saturated conductivity upon attaining the maximum solute penetration depth.     

Prevalent Behavior of Strongly Order Preserving Semiflows

Classical results in the theory of monotone semiflows give sufficient conditions for the generic solution to converge toward an equilibrium or toward the set of equilibria (quasiconvergence). In this paper, we provide new formulations of these results in terms of the measure-theoretic notion of prevalence, developed in Christensen (Israel J. Math., 13, 255–260, 1972) and Hunt et al. (Bull. Am. Math. Soc., 27, 217–238, 1992). For monotone reaction–diffusion systems with Neumann boundary conditions on convex domains, we show the prevalence of the set of continuous initial conditions corresponding to solutions that converge to a spatially homogeneous equilibrium. We also extend a previous generic convergence result to allow its use on Sobolev spaces. Careful attention is given to the measurability of the various sets involved.     

Rigorous Asymptotic Expansions for Critical Wave Speeds in a Family of Scalar Reaction-Diffusion Equations

We investigate traveling wave solutions in a family of reaction-diffusion equations which includes the Fisher–Kolmogorov–Petrowskii–Piscounov (FKPP) equation with quadratic nonlinearity and a bistable equation with degenerate cubic nonlinearity. It is known that, for each equation in this family, there is a critical wave speed which separates waves of exponential decay from those of algebraic decay at one of the end states. We derive rigorous asymptotic expansions for these critical speeds by perturbing off the classical FKPP and bistable cases. Our approach uses geometric singular perturbation theory and the blow-up technique, as well as a variant of the Melnikov method, and confirms the results previously obtained through asymptotic analysis in [J.H. Merkin and D.J. Needham, (1993). J. Appl. Math. Phys. (ZAMP) A, vol. 44, No. 4, 707–721] and [T.P. Witelski, K. Ono, and T.J. Kaper, (2001). Appl. Math. Lett., vol. 14, No. 1, 65–73].     

Multibody Formulation with Large Bending Finite Elements (LBFE)

The goal of this paper is to present a flexible multibody formulation for Euler-Bernoulli beams involving large displacements. This method is based on a discretisation of internal and kinetic energies. The beam is represented by its line of centroids and each section is oriented by a frame defined by three Euler angles. We apply a finite element formulation to describe the evolution of these angles along the neutral fibre and describe the internal energy. The kinetic energy is approximated as the one of two rigid bars tangent to the neutral fibre at the ends of the beam. We derive the equations of motion from a Lagrange formulation. These equations are solved using the Newmark method or/and the Newton-Raphson technique. We solve some very classic problems taken from the literature as the curved beam presented by Simo [Simo, J. C., ‘A three-dimensional finite-strain rod model. the three-dimensional dynamic problem. Part I’, Comput. Meths. Appl. Mech. Engrg. 49, 1985, 55–70; Simo, J. C. and Vu-Quoc, L., ‘A three-dimensional finite-strain rod model, Part II: Computationals aspects’, Comput. Meths. Appl. Mech. Engrg. 58, 1988, 79–116] and Lee [Lee, Kisu, ‘Analysis of large displacements and large rotations of three-dimensional beams by using small strains and unit vectors’, Commun. Numer. Meth. Engrg. 13, 1997, 987–997] or the rotational rod presented by Avello [Avello, A., Garcia de Jalon, J., and Bayo, E., ‘Dynamics of flexible multibody systems using cartesian co-ordinates and large displacement theory’, Int. J. Num. Methods in Engineering 32, 1991, 1543–1563] and Simo [Simo, J. C. and Vu-Quoc, L., ‘On the dynamics of flexible beams under large overall motions – the planar case. Part I’ Jour. of Appl. Mech. 53, 1986, 849–854; Simo, J. C. and Vu-Quoc, L., ‘On the dynamics of flexible beams under large overall motions – the planar case. Part II’, Jour. of Appl. Mech. 53, 1986, 855–863].     

High-speed fiber spinning process with spinline flow-induced crystallization and neck-like deformation

The dynamics and stability of the high-speed fiber spinning process with spinline flow-induced crystallization and neck-like deformation have been studied using a simulation model equipped with governing equations of continuity, motion, energy, and crystallinity, along with the Phan-Thien–Tanner constitutive equation. Despite the fact that a simple one-phase model was incorporated into the governing equations to describe the spinline crystallinity, as opposed to the best-known two-phase model [Doufas et al. J Non-Newton Fluid Mech, 92:27–66, 2000a]; [Kohler et al. J Macromol Sci Phys, 44:185–202, 2005] that treats amorphous and crystalline phases separately in computing the spinline stress, the simulation has successfully portrayed the typical nonlinear characteristic of the high-speed spinning process called neck-like spinline deformation. It has been found that the criterion for the neck-like deformation to occur on the spinline is for the extensional viscosity to decrease on the spinline, so that the spinning is stabilized by the formation of the spinline neck-like deformation. The accompanying linear stability analysis explains this stabilizing effect of the spinline neck-like deformation, corroborating a recent experimental finding [Takarada et al. Int Polym Process, 19:380–387, 2004].This paper was presented at the 2nd Annual European Rheology Conference 2005 on April 21–23, 2005, in Grenoble, France.     

Comment on the Shiner–Davison–Landsberg Measure

The complexity measure from Shiner et al. [Physical Review E 59, 1999, 1459–1464] (henceforth abbreviated as SDL-measure) has recently been the subject of a fierce debate. We discuss the properties and shortcomings of this measure, from the point of view of our recently constructed fundamental, statistical mechanics-based measures of complexity C_s(γ,β) [Stoop et al., J. Stat. Phys. 114, 2004, 1127–1137]. We show explicitly, what the shortcomings of the SDL-measure are: It is over-universal, and the implemented temperature dependence is trivial. We also show how the original SDL-approach can be modified to rule out these points of critique. Results of this modification are shown for the logistic parabola.     

Lyapunov and Sacker–Sell Spectral Intervals

In this work, we show that for linear upper triangular systems of differential equations, we can use the diagonal entries to obtain the Sacker and Sell, or Exponential Dichotomy, and also –under some restrictions– the Lyapunov spectral intervals. Since any bounded and continuous coefficient matrix function can be smoothly transformed to an upper triangular matrix function, our results imply that these spectral intervals may be found from scalar homogeneous problems. In line with our previous work [Dieci and Van Vleck (2003), SIAM J. Numer. Anal. 40, 516–542], we emphasize the role of integral separation. Relationships between different spectra are shown, and examples are used to illustrate the results and define types of coefficient matrix functions that lead to continuous Sacker–Sell spectrum and/or continuous Lyapunov spectrum.      

Investigation of the effect of the Coriolis force on a thin fluid film on a rotating disk

The effect of the Coriolis force on the evolution of a thin film of Newtonian fluid on a rotating disk is investigated. The thin-film approximation is made in which inertia terms in the Navier–Stokes equation are neglected. This requires that the thickness of the thin film be less than the thickness of the Ekman boundary layer in a rotating fluid of the same kinematic viscosity. A new first-order quasi-linear partial differential equation for the thickness of the thin film, which describes viscous, centrifugal and Coriolis-force effects, is derived. It extends an equation due to Emslie et al. [J. Appl. Phys. 29, 858 (1958)] which was obtained neglecting the Coriolis force. The problem is formulated as a Cauchy initial-value problem. As time increases the surface profile flattens and, if the initial profile is sufficiently negative, it develops a breaking wave. Numerical solutions of the new equation, obtained by integrating along its characteristic curves, are compared with analytical solutions of the equation of Emslie et al. to determine the effect of the Coriolis force on the surface flattening, the wave breaking and the streamlines when inertia terms are neglected.     

Effects of Snap-Off in Imbibition in Porous Media with Different Spatial Correlations

Quasi-static imbibition was simulated using random and correlated stochastic network models. Using the snap-off pore-scale displacement observed by Lernormand et al. (1983) the effects of many parameters on relative permeabilities and residual saturation reported in the literature were reproduced and explained. Increased relative permeabilities and decreased residual non-wetting phase saturation were the results of an increased contact angle (Li and Wardlaw, 1986b; Gauglitz and Radke, 1990; Blunt et al., 1992; Mogensen and Stenby, 1998) a decreased pore–throat aspect ratio, the presence of long-range pore-pore size correlations (Iaonnidis and Chatzis, 1993; Blunt, 1997a), or local pore–throat correlations (Jerauld and Salter, 1990; Iaonnidis and Chatzis, 1993). By modifying the level of snap-off, or its spatial distribution, these parameters varied the efficiency of the displacement patterns and ultimately affect relative permeabilities and residual saturations. Mani and Mohanty (1999) performed simulations on networks with infinite-ranged fractional Brownian motion (fBm) correlations and reported trends of relative permeabilities and residual saturations that were opposite to others’ results (Ioannidis and Chatzis, 1993; Blunt, 1997a). Applying a cut-off length to the fBm correlations reversed Mani and Mohanty’s trends to conform with the common observations.     

Temperature dependent viscosity and thermal conductivity effects on combined heat and mass transfer in MHD three-dimensional flow over a stretching surface with Ohmic heating

An analysis has been carried out to obtain the flow, heat and mass transfer characteristics of a viscous electrically conducting fluid having temperature dependent viscosity and thermal conductivity past a continuously stretching surface, taking into account the effect of Ohmic heating. The flow is subjected to a uniform transverse magnetic field normal to the plate. The resulting governing three-dimensional equations are transformed using suitable three-dimensional transformations and then solved numerically by using fifth order Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg scheme with a modified version of the Newton–Raphson shooting method. Favorable comparisons with previously published work are obtained. The effects of the various parameters such as magnetic parameter M, the viscosity/temperature parameter θ _r , the thermal conductivity parameter S and the Eckert number Ec on the velocity, temperature, and concentration profiles, as well as the local skin-friction coefficient, local Nusselt number, and the local Sherwood number are presented graphically and in tabulated form.     

Approach to local axisymmetry in a turbulent cylinder wake

The objective of this experimental study is to characterise the small-scale turbulence in the intermediate wake of a circular cylinder using measured mean-squared velocity gradients. Seven of the twelve terms which feature in ε, the mean dissipation rate of the turbulent kinetic energy, were measured throughout the intermediate wake at a Reynolds number of Re _d  ≈ 3000 based on the cylinder diameter (d). Earlier measurements of the nine major terms of ε by Browne et al. (J Fluid Mech 179: 307–326 1987) at a downstream distance (x) of x = 420d and Re _d  ≈ 1170 are also used. Whilst departures from local isotropy are significant at all locations in the wake, local axisymmetry of the small-scale turbulence with respect to the mean flow direction is first satisfied approximately at x = 40d. The approach towards local axisymmetry is discussed in some detail in the context of the relative values of the mean-squared velocity gradients. The data also indicate that axisymmetry is approximately satisfied by the large scales at x/d ≥ 40, suggesting that the characteristics of the small scales reflect to a major extent those of the large scales. Nevertheless, the far-wake data of Browne et al. (1987) show a discernible departure from axisymmetry for both small and large scales.     

Group classification of one-dimensional nonisentropic equations of fluids with internal inertia

A systematic application of the group analysis method for modeling fluids with internal inertia is presented. The equations studied include models such as the nonlinear one-velocity model of a bubbly fluid (with incompressible liquid phase) at small volume concentration of gas bubbles (Iordanski Zhurnal Prikladnoj Mekhaniki i Tekhnitheskoj Fiziki 3, 102–111, 1960; Kogarko Dokl. AS USSR 137, 1331–1333, 1961; Wijngaarden J. Fluid Mech. 33, 465–474, 1968), and the dispersive shallow water model (Green and Naghdi J. Fluid Mech. 78, 237–246, 1976; Salmon 1988). These models are obtained for special types of the potential function W(r,[(r)\dot],S){W(\rho,\dot \rho,S)} (Gavrilyuk and Teshukov Continuum Mech. Thermodyn. 13, 365–382, 2001). The main feature of the present paper is the study of the potential functions with W _S  ≠ 0. The group classification separates these models into 73 different classes.     

Eshelby Tensor of a Polygonal Inclusion and its Special Properties

Nozaki and Taya (ASME J. Appl. Mech. 64 (1997) 495–502) analyzed the elastic field in a convex polygonal inclusion in an infinite body. By numerical analysis, they found that, when the shape of the inclusion is a regular polygon, “the strain at the center of inclusion” and “the strain energy per unit volume of inclusion” have strange and remarkable properties: these values are the same as those of a circular inclusion and are invariant for inclusion's orientation if the shape of the inclusion is not a square. In this paper, we first derive a simple, exact expression of the Eshelby tensor for an arbitrary polygonal inclusion. Using the expression, we then show a mathematical explanation why these special properties appear. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Eigenvalues of Self-Similar Solutions of the Dafermos Regularization of a System of Conservation Laws via Geometric Singular Perturbation Theory

The Dafermos regularization of a system of n conservation laws in one space dimension admits smooth self-similar solutions of the form u=u(X/T). In particular, there are such solutions near a Riemann solution consisting of n possibly large Lax shocks. In Lin and Schecter (2004, SIAM. J. Math. Anal. 35, 884–921), eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the linearized Dafermos operator at such a solution were studied using asymptotic expansions. Here we show that the asymptotic expansions correspond to true eigenvalue–eigenfunction pairs. The proofs use geometric singular perturbation theory, in particular an extension of the Exchange Lemma.     

MHD flow and heat transfer for the upper-convected Maxwell fluid over a stretching sheet

In the present work, the effect of MHD flow and heat transfer within a boundary layer flow on an upper-convected Maxwell (UCM) fluid over a stretching sheet is examined. The governing boundary layer equations of motion and heat transfer are non-dimensionalized using suitable similarity variables and the resulting transformed, ordinary differential equations are then solved numerically by shooting technique with fourth order Runge–Kutta method. For a UCM fluid, a thinning of the boundary layer and a drop in wall skin friction coefficient is predicted to occur for higher the elastic number. The objective of the present work is to investigate the effect of Maxwell parameter β, magnetic parameter Mn and Prandtl number Pr on the temperature field above the sheet.     

Topological Invariants in a Model of a Time-Delayed Chua's Circuit

In the last 30 years, some authors have been studying several classes of boundary value problems (BVP) for partial differential equations (PDE) using the method of reduction to obtain a difference equation with continuous argument which behavior is determined by the iteration of a one-dimensional (1D) map (see, for example, Romanenko, E. Yu. and Sharkovsky, A. N., International Journal of Bifurcation and Chaos 9(7), 1999, 1285–1306; Sharkovsky, A. N., International Journal of Bifurcation and Chaos 5(5), 1995, 1419–1425; Sharkovsky, A. N., Analysis Mathematica Sil 13, 1999, 243–255; Sharkovsky, A. N., in “New Progress in Difference Equations”, Proceedings of the ICDEA'2001, Taylor and Francis, 2003, pp. 3–22; Sharkovsky, A. N., Deregel, Ph., and Chua, L. O., International Journal of Bifurcation and Chaos 5(5), 1995, 1283–1302; Sharkovsky, A. N., Maistrenko, Yu. L., and Romanenko, E. Yu., Difference Equations and Their Applications, Kluwer, Dordrecht, 1993.). In this paper we consider the time-delayed Chua's circuit introduced in (Sharkovsky, A. N., International Journal of Bifurcation and Chaos 4(5), 1994, 303–309; Sharkovsky, A. N., Maistrenko, Yu. L., Deregel, Ph., and Chua, L. O., Journal of Circuits, Systems and Computers 3(2), 1993, 645–668.) which behavior is determined by properties of one-dimensional map, see Sharkovsky, A. N., Deregel, Ph., and Chua, L. O., International Journal of Bifurcation and Chaos 5(5), 1995, 1283–1302; Maistrenko, Yu. L., Maistrenko, V. L., Vikul, S. I., and Chua, L. O., International Journal of Bifurcation and Chaos 5(3), 1995, 653–671; Sharkovsky, A. N., International Journal of Bifurcation and Chaos 4(5), 1994, 303–309; Sharkovsky, A. N., Maistrenko, Yu. L., Deregel, Ph., and Chua, L. O., Journal of Circuits, Systems and Computers 3(2), 1993, 645–668. To characterize the time-evolution of these circuits we can compute the topological entropy and to distinguish systems with equal topological entropy we introduce a second topological invariant.     

Vorticity and Regularity for Viscous Incompressible Flows under the Dirichlet Boundary Condition. Results and Related Open Problems

In reference [7] it is proved that the solution of the evolution Navier–Stokes equations in the whole of R ³ must be smooth if the direction of the vorticity is Lipschitz continuous with respect to the space variables. In reference [5] the authors improve the above result by showing that Lipschitz continuity may be replaced by 1/2-H?lder continuity. A central point in the proofs is to estimate the integral of the term (ω · ∇)u · ω, where u is the velocity and ω = ∇ × u is the vorticity. In reference [4] we extend the main estimates on the above integral term to solutions under the slip boundary condition in the half-space R ₊³. This allows an immediate extension to this problem of the 1/2-H?lder sufficient condition. The aim of these notes is to show that under the non-slip boundary condition the above integral term may be estimated as well in a similar, even simpler, way. Nevertheless, without further hypotheses, we are not able now to extend to the non slip (or adherence) boundary condition the 1/2-H?lder sufficient condition. This is not due to the “nonlinear" term (ω · ∇)u · ω but to a boundary integral which is due to the combination of viscosity and adherence to the boundary. On the other hand, by appealing to the properties of Green functions, we are able to consider here a regular, arbitrary open set Ω.      

Influence of chemical reaction on heat and mass transfer by natural convection from vertical surfaces in porous media considering Soret and Dufour effects

The heat and mass transfer characteristics of natural convection about a vertical surface embedded in a saturated porous medium subjected to a chemical reaction is numerically analyzed, by taking into account the diffusion-thermo (Dufour) and thermal-diffusion (Soret) effects. The transformed governing equations are solved by a very efficient numerical method, namely, a modified version of the Keller-box method for ordinary differential equations. The parameters of the problem are Lewis, Dufour and Soret numbers, sustentation parameter, the order of the chemical reaction n and the chemical reaction parameter γ. Local Nusselt number and local Sherwood number variations and dimensionless concentration profiles in the boundary layer are presented graphically and in tables for various values of problem parameters and it is concluded that γ and n play a crucial role in the solution.