Elastic properties of glasses: a multiscale approach

Very different materials are named ‘Glass’, with Young's modulus E and Poisson's ratio ν extending from 5 to 180 GPa and from 0.1 to 0.4, respectively, in the case of bulk inorganic glasses. Glasses have in common the lack of long range order in the atomic organization. Beside the essential role of elastic properties for materials selection in mechanical design, we show in this analysis that macroscopical elastic characteristics (E,ν) provide an interesting way to get insight into the short- and medium-range orders existing in glasses. In particular, ν, the packing density (C_g) and the glass network dimensionality appear to be strongly correlated. Networks consisting primarily of chains and layers units (chalcogenides, low Si-content silicate glasses) correspond to ν>0.25 and C_g>0.56, with maximum values observed for metallic glasses (ν0.4 and C_g>0.7). On the contrary, ν<0.25 is associated to a highly cross-linked network with a tri-dimensional organization resulting in a low packing density. Moreover, the temperature dependence of the elastic moduli brings a new light on the ‘fragility’ of glasses (as introduced by Angell) and on the level of cooperativity of atomic movements at the source of the deformation process. To cite this article: T. Rouxel, C. R. Mecanique 334 (2006).     

Variance of the virtual displacement

We show that the affine structure of the 3-dimensional space is deeply enmeshed with the static laws expression. The relevance of tensorial rules for calculus in mechanics is thus enhanced. The virtual work principle is stated precisely but a little twist is given to the usual statements: the tensorial nature of the so-called virtual displacement vector is asserted to be covariant. To cite this article: C. Vallée et al., C. R. Mecanique 332 (2004).

Résumé

Nous montrons que la structure affine de l'espace tridimensionnel est fortement imbriquée avec l'expression des lois de la statique. La pertinence de l'application des règles du calcul tensoriel à la mécanique est ainsi renforcée. Le principe des travaux virtuels est établi précisément avec une seule entorse aux exposés classiques : la nature tensorielle de l'habituel vecteur déplacement virtuel est affirmée covariante. Pour citer cet article : C. Vallée et al., C. R. Mecanique 332 (2004).     

Liquid sheet disintegration at high pressure: An experimental approach

The primary atomization was studied in a 300 μm thickness water sheet, generated by a planar airblast atomizer. The research novelty consisted in increasing the airflow absolute pressure from atmospheric conditions to 6 bar. The experimental techniques employed included Oscillometry by Laser Intensity Reflexion (ORIL), Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) and flow visualization by fast video camera. The atomization mechanisms, described in the literature at atmospheric environments, were observed at high pressure conditions, for a constant momentum flux ratio. Furthermore, a new atomization mechanism was observed at high values of this ratio. Finally, dimensionless relations have been proposed for the global oscillation frequency, minimum air oscillation velocity, break-up distance and transversal wavelength. To cite this article: V.G. Fernandez et al., C. R. Mecanique 337 (2009).     

Injection coupling with high amplitude transverse modes: Experimentation and simulation

High frequency combustion instabilities have technical importance in the design of liquid rocket engines. These phenomena involve a strong coupling between transverse acoustic modes and combustion. They are currently being investigated by combining experimentation and numerical simulations. On the experimental level, the coupling is examined in a model scale system featuring a multiple injector combustor (MIC) comprising five coaxial injectors fed with liquid oxygen and gaseous methane. This system is equipped with a novel VHAM actuator (Very High Amplitude Modulator) which comprises two nozzles and a rotating toothed wheel blocking the nozzles in an alternate fashion. This device was designed to obtain the highest possible levels of transverse oscillation in the MIC. After a brief review of the VHAM, this article reports cold flow experiments using this modulator. Velocity maps obtained under resonant conditions using the VHAM are examined at different instants during a cycle of oscillation. Experimental data are compared with numerical pressure and velocity fields obtained from an acoustic solver. The good agreement observed in the nozzle vicinity indicates that numerical simulations can be used to analyze the complex flow field generated by the VHAM. To cite this article: Y. Mery et al., C. R. Mecanique 337 (2009).     

Impact of a bead on a rotating wall

We study experimentally the impact of a plastic bead on a rotating wall made of steel (velocity Ω; radial position x₀). The results show that the restitution coefficient is directly function of the impact velocity x₀Ω and is invariant by changing frame reference. The influence of the height of release of the particle on its angular velocity after impact is also studied. We observe an increase of the angular velocity with height followed by a saturation. We propose an interpretation for this evolution considering that the particle may roll without sliding during all the impact. This physical feature is not always taken into account in existing models of impact between rigid bodies. To cite this article: F. Rioual et al., C. R. Mecanique 336 (2008).     

Direct numerical simulation and global stability analysis of three-dimensional instabilities in a lid-driven cavity

The first bifurcation in a lid-driven cavity characterized by three-dimensional Taylor–Görtler-Like instabilities is investigated for a cubical cavity with spanwise periodic boundary conditions at Re=1000. The modes predicted by a global linear stability analysis are compared to the results of a direct numerical simulation. The amplification rate, and the shape of the three-dimensional perturbation fields from the direct numerical simulation are in very good agreement with the characteristics of the steady S1 mode from the stability analysis, showing that this mode dominates the other unstable unsteady modes. To cite this article: J. Chicheportiche et al., C. R. Mecanique 336 (2008).     

Edge singularities and structure of the 3-D Williams expansion

The elastic solution in a vicinity of a re-entrant wedge can be described by a Williams like expansion in terms of powers of the distance to a point on the edge. This expansion has a particular structure due to the invariance of the problem by translation parallel to the edge. We show here that some terms, so-called primary solutions, derive directly from solutions to the 2-D corner problem posed in the orthogonal cross section of the domain. The others, baptized shadow functions, derive of the primary solutions by integration along the axis parallel to the edge. This 3-D Williams expansion is shown to be equivalent to the edge expansion proposed by Costabel et al. [M. Costabel, M. Dauge, Z. Yosibash, A quasidual function method for extracting edge stress intensity functions, SIAM J. Math. Anal. 35 (5) (2004) 1177–1202]. To cite this article: T. Apel et al., C. R. Mecanique 336 (2008).     

Modèles discrets de structures tissées : Analyse de stabilité et de drapéDiscrete models of woven structures: stability and draping analysis

A discrete model of a woven fabric structure is established, whereby nodes endowed with a mass and a rotational rigidity are connected by rigid bars to form a two-dimensional truss. The set of four bars that delineate a quadrilateral area is further endowed with a torsion deformation mode. The kinematics of the truss reproduces the large rotations and displacements encountered for real tissues. The equilibrium shape of such a structure is obtained as the minimum of its total potential energy versus the whole set of kinematic translational and rotational variables, accounting for eventual kinematic constraints due to contact with a rigid surface by the Lagrange multipliers method. A stability analysis is conducted, and the potentiality of the model is illustrated by fabric draping simulations. To cite this article: B. Ben Boubaker et al., C. R. Mecanique 330 (2002) 871–877.     

Dynamics of premixed confined swirling flames

Considerable effort is currently being extended to examine the fundamental mechanisms of combustion instabilities and develop methods allowing predictions of these phenomena. One central aspect of this problem is the dynamical response of the flame to incoming perturbations. This question is examined in the present article, which specifically considers the response of premixed swirling flames to perturbations imposed on the upstream side of the flame in the feeding manifold. The flame response is characterized by measuring the unsteady heat release induced by imposed velocity perturbations. A flame describing function is defined by taking the ratio of the relative heat release rate fluctuation to the relative velocity fluctuation. This quantity is determined for a range of frequencies and for different levels of incoming velocity perturbations. The flame dynamics is also documented by calculating conditional phase averages of the light emission from the flame and taking the Abel transform of these average images to obtain the flame geometry at various instants during the cycle of oscillation. These data can be useful to the determination of possible regimes of instability. To cite this article: P. Palies et al., C. R. Mecanique 337 (2009).     

Computing Green's function of elasticity in a half-plane with impedance boundary condition

This Note presents an effective and accurate method for numerical calculation of the Green's function G associated with the time harmonic elasticity system in a half-plane, where an impedance boundary condition is considered. The need to compute this function arises when studying wave propagation in underground mining and seismological engineering. To theoretically obtain this Green's function, we have drawn our inspiration from the paper by Durán et al. (2005), where the Green's function for the Helmholtz equation has been computed. The method consists in applying a partial Fourier transform, which allows an explicit calculation of the so-called spectral Green's function. In order to compute its inverse Fourier transform, we separate as a sum of two terms. The first is associated with the whole plane, whereas the second takes into account the half-plane and the boundary conditions. The first term corresponds to the Green's function of the well known time-harmonic elasticity system in (cf. J. Dompierre, Thesis). The second term is separated as a sum of three terms, where two of them contain singularities in the spectral variable (pseudo-poles and poles) and the other is regular and decreasing at infinity. The inverse Fourier transform of the singular terms are analytically computed, whereas the regular one is numerically obtained via an FFT algorithm. We present a numerical result. Moreover, we show that, under some conditions, a fourth additional slowness appears and which could produce a new surface wave. To cite this article: M. Durán et al., C. R. Mecanique 334 (2006).     

Use of Faraday instabilities to enhance fuel pulverisation in air-blast atomisers

The atomization of liquids into a spray is an important process in many industrial applications and particularly in the aero-engine sector. Conventional air-blast injectors in aircraft engines today use aerodynamic shearing effects to atomize the liquid fuel. However, at operating conditions where the air velocity is below 30 m/s (such as ground start and high altitude restart) the atomization quality is poor. Consequently combustion is less efficient with high pollutant emissions. The objective of this study is to validate a new concept of injector which couples the shearing effects with the principle of ultrasonic atomization. The latter consists of using piezoelectric actuators to generate the oscillations of a wall in contact with the liquid film. This excitation perpendicular to the liquid film surface creates Faraday instabilities at the liquid/air interface. Amplitudes higher than a defined threshold value induce the break-up of ligaments and the formation of droplets. To cite this article: M. Boukra et al., C. R. Mecanique 337 (2009).     

Large-Eddy Simulation of transcritical flows

The present study uses the LES code AVBP, developed at CERFACS, to simulate transcritical flows. Real gas effects are accounted for by the use of a cubic equation of state, in conjunction with appropriate viscosity and thermal conductivity coefficients. First a single nitrogen round jet at supercritical pressure injected in a gaseous reservoir is simulated. Two cases are considered, one demonstrating a transcritical injection (high density injection), the other being directly injected at supercritical temperature (lower density injection). Comparison with available measurements shows good agreement. Finally, the simulation of a reacting case from the Mascotte bench (ONERA) is performed, consisting in a single coaxial injector injecting transcritical oxygen and supercritical hydrogen in a 60 bar chamber. Mean flow characteristics are in good agreement with the experimental observations of OH^* emission, whereas temperature comparisons are more difficult to interpret. To cite this article: T. Schmitt et al., C. R. Mecanique 337 (2009).     

Comparison of numerical methods and combustion models for LES of a ramjet

Ramjets are very sensitive to instabilities and their numerical predictions can only be addressed adequately by Large Eddy Simulation (LES). With this technique, solvers can be implicit or explicit and handle structured, unstructured or hybrid meshes, etc. Turbulence and combustion models are other sources of differences. The impact of these options is here investigated for the ONERA ramjet burner. To do so, two LES codes developed by ONERA and CERFACS compute one stable operating condition. Preliminary LES results of the two codes underline the overall robustness of LES. Mean flow features at the various critical sections are reasonably well predicted by both codes. Disagreement mainly appear in the chamber where combustion positions differ pointing to the importance of the combustion and subgrid mixing models. The two LES produce different energy containing motions. With CEDRE, a low frequency dominates while AVBP produces different ranges of low frequencies that can be linked with acoustic modes of the configuration. To cite this article: A. Roux et al., C. R. Mecanique 337 (2009).     

Resolution of linear viscoelastic equations in the frequency domain using real Helmholtz boundary integral equations

Boundary integral equations are well suitable for the analysis of seismic waves propagation in unbounded domains. Formulations in elastodynamics are well developed. In contrast, for the dynamic analysis of viscoelastic media, there are very seldom formulations by boundary integral equations. In this Note, we propose a new and simple formulation of time harmonic viscoelasticity with the Zener model, which reduces to classical elastodynamics if a compatibility condition is satisfied by boundary conditions. Intermediate variables which satisfy the classical elastodynamic equations are introduced. It makes it possible to utilize existing numerical tools of time harmonic elastodynamics. To cite this article: S. Chaillat, H.D. Bui, C. R. Mecanique 335 (2007).     

Modélisation du comportement thermique d'un outil de fraisage : approche par identification de système non entierThermal modelling of a milling tool: a noninteger system identification approach

In this work we present an experimental apparatus devoted to the thermal characterisation of a milling tool. The experimental device used thermistors, one for each insert. Each thermistor is located at a point in the tool close to the tip of the insert. The heat flux in each insert is expressed according to the temperature at the sensor from a non-integer model. The parameters of the model are identified from transient evolutions measurements of the temperature on the sensor and on the cutting edge. An application shows the difference in the behaviour of each insert during machining from the estimated heat fluxes. To cite this article: J.-L. Battaglia et al., C. R. Mecanique 330 (2002) 857–864.     

On the slow gravity-driven migration of arbitrary clusters of small solid particles

A new approach is advocated to compute at a low cpu time cost the rigid-body motions of settling solid particles when inertial effects are negligible. In addition to the relevant boundary-integral equations, the numerical implementation and a few convincing benchmark tests we address two configurations of equivalent spheres and spheroids, i.e. that exhibit when isolated the same settling velocity. To cite this article: A. Sellier, C. R. Mecanique 332 (2004).

Résumé

On propose une approche originale pour déterminer le mouvement d'une assemblée de particules solides et de formes arbitraires soumise à l'action de la pesanteur dans l'approximation de Stokes. Outre les intégrales de frontière et la méthode numérique associées on présente quelques comparaisons et examine le cas de deux configurations de sphères et ellipsoides de révolution équivalents, c'est-à-dire dotés lorsqu'ils sont seuls de la même vitesse de sédimentation. Pour citer cet article : A. Sellier, C. R. Mecanique 332 (2004).