Influence of capillary effects on strength of non-saturated porous mediaInfluence des effets capillaires sur la résistance d'un milieu poreux non saturé

The mechanical behavior of a partially saturated porous medium is addressed by means of a micro-to-macro reasoning. First, an estimate of the quadratic average over the solid phase of the equivalent shear strain is proposed. The latter is used in the framework of a nonlinear homogenization technique (‘modified secant’ method) in order to model the nonlinear poroelastic behavior in partially saturated conditions. The determination of the macroscopic strength criterion is then considered. Finally, the influence of membrane tension effects on strength is investigated. To cite this article: L. Dormieux et al., C. R. Mecanique 334 (2006).     

Parameter Estimation for Multiscale Diffusions

We study the problem of parameter estimation for time-series possessing two, widely separated, characteristic time scales. The aim is to understand situations where it is desirable to fit a homogenized single-scale model to such multiscale data. We demonstrate, numerically and analytically, that if the data is sampled too finely then the parameter fit will fail, in that the correct parameters in the homogenized model are not identified. We also show, numerically and analytically, that if the data is subsampled at an appropriate rate then it is possible to estimate the coefficients of the homogenized model correctly. The ideas are studied in the context of thermally activated motion in a two-scale potential. However the ideas may be expected to transfer to other situations where it is desirable to fit an averaged or homogenized equation to multiscale data.     

Diffusion approximation for billiards with totally accommodating scatterers

We study the 2D motion of independent point particles colliding with a periodic array of circular obstacles. The interaction between the particles and the obstacles is described by a total accommodation reflection law. Assuming that the array of scatterers has finite horizon, the density of particles is approximated by the solution of a diffusion equation in the long-time and large-scale regime. The proof relies on a multiscale asymptotics and gives the order of approximation.     

Microprobe analysis of low alloyed sintered steels

Homogenization of Mo, W and Cr in alloyed P/M carbon steels during sintering with a transient liquid phase has been investigated by microscopic and microanalytical means. The reaction was found to start with carburization of the VIa metal, continues with the formation of different carbides, and generation of a liquid phase between the carbide and -Fe. The steady state equilibrium remains stable until all VIa metal has been consumed. Microprobe analysis was found to yield optimum results if selected model samples, in which homogenization should not proceed too fast, are investigated.Dedicated to Professor Günther Tölg on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

COMPUTATIONAL MULTISCALE METHODS FOR LINEAR HETEROGENEOUS POROELASTICITY

We consider a strongly heterogeneous medium saturated by an incompressible viscous fluid as it appears in geomechanical modeling.This poroelasticity problem suffers from rapidly oscillating material parameters,which calls for a thorough numerical treatment.In this paper,we propose a method based on the local orthogonal decomposition technique and motivated by a similar approach used for linear thermoelasticity.Therein,local corrector problems are constructed in line with the static equations,whereas we propose to consider the full system.This allows to benefit from the given saddle point structure and results in two decoupled corrector problems for the displacement and the pressure.We prove the optimal first-order convergence of this method and verify the result by numerical experiments.     

A boundary element method for homogenization of periodic structures

Homogenized coefficients of periodic structures are calculated via an auxiliary partial differential equation in the periodic cell. Typically, a volume finite element discretization is employed for the numerical solution. In this paper, we reformulate the problem as a boundary integral equation using Steklov–Poincaré operators. The resulting boundary element method only discretizes the boundary of the periodic cell and the interface between the materials within the cell. We prove that the homogenized coefficients converge super-linearly with the mesh size, and we support the theory with examples in two and three dimensions.     

Nonlinear reynolds equation for lubrication of a rapidly rotating shaft

Using the homogenization theory, we derive the nonlinear Reynolds equation governing the process of lubrication of a slipper bearing with rapidly rotating shaft. We prove that this nonliner lubrication law is an approximation of the full Navier-Stokes equations in a thin cylinder with periodic roughness. The analyticity of the nonlinear function giving the relation between the velocity and the pressure drop is proved. The first term in its Taylor's expansion is the classical linear Reynolds law. Boundary layer correctors are computed.     

Stochastic homogenization of heat transfer in polycrystals with nonlinear contact conductivities

The heat transfer problem in a polycrystal with nonlinear jump conditions on the grain boundaries will be homogenized using the method of stochastic two-scale convergence developed by Zhikov and Pyatnitskii [V.V. Zhikov and A.L. Pyatnitskii, Homogenization of random singular structures and random measures, Izv. Math. 70(1) (2006), pp. 19–67] and recently extended by the author [M. Heida, An extension of stochastic two-scale convergence and application, Asympt. Anal. (2010) (in press)]. It will be shown that for monotone Lipschitz jump conditions differentiable in 0, the nonlinearity vanishes in the limit. Additionally, existing Poincaré inequalities will be extended to more general geometric settings with the only restriction of local C ¹-interfaces with finite intensity. In particular, the result can now be applied to the Poisson–Voronoi tessellation.