Instability Analysis of Incompressible Open Cavity Flows

El problema del flujo sobre una cavidad abierta ha sido estudiado en profundidad en la literatura, tanto por el interés académico del problema como por sus aplicaciones prácticas en gran variedad de problemas ingenieriles, como puede ser el alojamiento del tren de aterrizaje de aeronaves, o el depósito de agua de aviones contraincendios. Desde hace muchos a˜nos se estudian los distintos tipos de inestabilidades asociadas a este problema: los modos bidimensionales en la capa de cortadura, y los modos tridimensionales en el torbellino de recirculación principal dentro de la cavidad. En esta tesis se presenta un estudio paramétrico completo del límite incompresible del problema, empleando la herramienta de estabilidad lineal conocida como BiGlobal. Esta aproximación permite contemplar la estabilidad global del flujo, y obtener tanto la forma como las características de los modos propios del problema físico, sean estables o inestables. El estudio realizado permite caracterizar con gran detalle todos los modos relevantes, así como la envolvente de estabilidad en el espacio paramétrico del problema incompresible (Mach nulo, variación de Reynolds, espesor de capa límite incidente, relación altura/profundidad de la cavidad, y longitud característica de la perturbación en la dirección transversal). A la luz de los resultados obtenidos se proponen una serie de relaciones entre los parámetros y características de los modos principales, como por ejemplo entre el Reynolds crítico de un modo, y la longitud característica del mismo. Los resultados numéricos se contrastan con una campaña experimental, siendo la principal conclusión de dicha comparación que los modos lineales están presentes en el flujo real saturado, pero que existen diferencias notables en frecuencia entre las predicciones teóricas y los experimentos. Para intentar determinar la naturaleza de dichas diferencias se realiza una simulación numérica directa tridimensional, y se utiliza un algoritmo de DMD (descomposición dinámica de modos) para describir el proceso de saturación. ABSTRACT The problem of the flow over an open cavity has been studied in depth in the literature, both for being an interesting academical problem and due to the multitude of industrial applications, like the landing gear of aircraft, or the water deposit of firefighter airplanes. The different types of instabilities appearing in this flow studied in the literature are two: the two-dimensional shear layer modes, and the three-dimensional modes that appear in the main recirculating vortex inside the cavity. In this thesis a parametric study in the incompressible limit of the problem is presented, using the linear stability analysis known as BiGlobal. This approximation allows to obtain the global stability behaviour of the flow, and to capture both the morphological features and the characteristics of the eigenmodes of the physical problem, whether they are stable or unstable. The study presented here characterizes with great detail all the relevant eigenmodes, as well as the hypersurface of instability on the parameter space of the incompressible problem (Mach equal to zero, and variation of the Reynolds number, the incoming boundary layer thickness, the length to depth aspect ratio of the cavity and the spanwise length of the perturbation). The results allow to construct parametric relations between the characteristics of the leading eigenmodes and the parameters of the problem, like for example the one existing between the critical Reynolds number and its characteristic length. The numerical results presented here are compared with those of an experimental campaign, with the main conclusion of said comparison being that the linear eigenmode are present in the real saturated flow, albeit with some significant differences in the frequencies of the experiments and those predicted by the theory. To try to determine the nature of those differences a three-dimensional direct numerical simulation, analyzed with Dynamic Mode Decomposition algorithm, was used to describe the process of saturation.

Numerical simulation of a synthetic jet with OpenFoam

Numerical simulations of flow surrounding a synthetic jet actuating device are presented. By modifying a dynamic mesh technique available in OpenFoam-a well-documented open-source solver for fluid dynamics, detailed computations of the sinusoidal motion of the synthetic jet diaphragm were possible. Numerical solutions were obtained by solving the two dimensional incompressible viscous N-S equations, with the use of a second order implicit time marching scheme and a central finite volume method for spatial discretization in both streamwise and crossflow directions. A systematic parametric study is reported here, in which the external Reynolds number, the diaphragm amplitude and frequency, and the slot dimensions are varied.

Caracterización estructural de los rellenos situados en el trasdós de bóvedas de edificios históricos

El papel esencial de los rellenos en el comportamiento y la estabilidad de las construcciones de fábrica ha sido sorprendentemente ignorado en la bibliografía técnica, contribuyendo este trabajo a cubrir esta laguna del conocimiento. Se presenta en primer lugar la configuración morfológica de los rellenos del trasdós de bóvedas en la Península Ibérica en tres periodos histórico-técnicos: la construcción romana, la románica y la gótica. La clasificación se ha realizado en base a inspecciones visuales de diferentes edificios. En sendos anexos se presentan análisis comparados de la base de datos que se ha reunido y las fichas de las construcciones consideradas. En segundo lugar se ha caracterizado el papel estructural de los rellenos, identificándose las características intrínsecas que se estiman más significativas de dichos rellenos en relación tanto con su propia configuración como con su función estructural. Muy en particular se proponen unas leyes de empujes coherentes con la naturaleza y con las condiciones de contorno de los rellenos y las bóvedas. En esta tesis se ha desarrollado una sencilla, potente y suficiente herramienta de análisis que considera las principales variables que intervienen en el comportamiento de una estructura de fábrica, incluyendo muy particularmente los rellenos. Para ello se ha planteado una herramienta basada en el análisis límite que incluye la comprobación tensional de los diferentes esfuerzos, normales o tangenciales, así como la interfaz entre bóvedas y rellenos, dotándose a los técnicos de una herramienta que permite entender estas estructuras, de complejo funcionamiento. La herramienta propuesta incluye consideraciones energéticas para encontrar la solución más cercana al funcionamiento real. La herramienta se ha calibrado con ejemplos analizados por otros autores con diferentes procedimientos, poniéndose de manifiesto su suficiente precisión y eficacia, especialmente si se tiene en cuenta que requiere sólo de unos datos mínimos. La calibración se ha extendido al ensayo en modelo reducido de este tipo de estructuras en el Laboratorio de Estructuras de la Escuela de Ingenieros de Caminos, Canales y Puertos de Madrid. Fruto de esa calibración, se ha realizado un amplio estudio paramétrico que permite cuantificar la influencia que tienen en el comportamiento estructural variables como el apuntamiento de las bóvedas (relación luz/flecha), su esbeltez (relación luz/canto en clave), la altura de los rellenos rígidos, la altura de los rellenos granulares, etc. Ese estudio ha permitido identificar los puntos críticos, las ratios características que condicionan el comportamiento y, en fin, los aspectos clave del análisis estructural de estas construcciones desde el punto de vista de la interrelación, hasta ahora desconocida, de estructura y relleno, que también es estructura. Ello permitirá orientar de mejor manera las inspecciones de estas estructuras y sus análisis estructurales. Finalmente, la tesis concluye con el desarrollo de tres ejemplos, correspondientes cada uno de ellos a los periodos históricos referidos, en los que se pone de manifiesto el papel crucial de los rellenos en la estabilidad no sólo de las bóvedas sino del resto de elementos estructurales que componen un edificio (pilares, muros, botareles, etc.). Al final se presentan las conclusiones del trabajo y se enumeran las muchas líneas de trabajo que quedan abiertas tras esta tesis. It is surprising that the essential role of the backfill at the extrados of masonry vaults and domes has been ignored or misunderstood in the technical literature. The main purpose of this work is to contribute to overcome such a lacuna. Firstly, the morphological configuration of backfill that can be found in the Iberian Peninsula in Roman, Romanesque and Gothic buildings is also presented. Two annexes are devoted to show the collected database and the result of its analysis. Then, the structural role of backfill is characterised, as well as the intrinsic and most significant properties related both to its configuration and structural function. Thus, specific thrust values are proposed to analyse such structures, taking into account the nature and boundary conditions of walls and vaults. The simple, powerful and sufficient tool of analysis that has been developed is also presented, including the main variables involved, especially the backfill. The limit analysis method, followed by a stress verification, including the extrados of vaults and backfill interface, and an enhanced algorithm based on energetic considerations, are used to provide technicians a tool to understand this type of structures efficiently, in a balanced situation between the rather scarce amount of information and sufficient accuracy and liability. The tool was calibrated by comparing the experimental and theoretical results provided by different authors regarding several examples, as well as our own experimental campaign carried out at the Civil Engineering School of Madrid. A parametric study is also developed, providing original information about the structural importance of several parameters, as the span-to-depth or span-to-rise ratios, relative height of backfill, etc. As a result of this analysis, critical points and tendencies of structural behaviour were detected, helping technicians to inspect and analyse these constructions, also revealing some particularities related to their construction. Furthermore, a set of three examples corresponding to the three structural typologies analysed (Roman, Romanesque and Gothic) is studied. The crucial importance of backfill is then highlighted, not only for the stability of vaults or domes, but also for the equilibrium of walls, pillars and buttresses. Finally, the conclusions of the study and the future research fields are also presented.

Respuesta estática y sísmica de gasoductos

El objetivo de esta tesis es el estudio de la respuesta estructural de los gasoductos sometidas a solicitaciones estáticas y dinámicas, enfocando prioritariamente en la respuesta sísmica. Los gasoductos, como las tuberías en general, se utilizan principalmente para la transportación de fluidos, como agua, gas o petróleo, de ahí la importancia de que el diseño y la estructura se realicen adecuadamente. La tubería debe ser capaz de soportar tanto los efectos de cargas estáticas como las debidas al peso propio o de la presión de la tierra, así como los diferentes tipos de cargas dinámicas ocurridas durante un evento sísmico, como los debidos a las ondas o el desplazamiento de fallas. En la primera parte de la tesis se describen aspectos generales de la tubería y su uso, y se da una breve historia de uso en la industria y las redes de abastecimiento urbano. Aparte de otros aspectos, se discuten las ventajas y desventajas de los diferentes materiales de las tuberías. En la segunda parte de la tesis se desarrollan las ecuaciones de equilibrio de una sección transversal de la tubería bajo cargas estáticas, tales como la presión interna, peso propio, presión de la tierra y las cargas externas. Un número de diferentes combinaciones de carga es analizado por medio de programas codificados como Matlab, los cuales se han desarrollado específicamente para este propósito. Los resultados se comparan con los obtenidos en Ansys utilizando un código de elementos finitos. En la tercera parte se presenta la respuesta dinámica de las tuberías, que abarca los efectos de las ondas y los desplazamientos de fallas. Se presentan las características relevantes del suelo como las velocidades de ondas, así como los métodos para estimar el desplazamiento máximo de las fallas. Un estudio paramétrico se emplea para ilustrar la influencia de estos parámetros en la respuesta estructural de la tubería. Con este fin se han utilizado dos métodos, el Pseudoestático y el Simplificado. En la última parte de la tesis son desarrollados los modelos de elementos finitos que permiten simular adecuadamente el comportamiento no lineal del suelo y la tubería. Los resultados se comparan con los obtenidos por un método simplificado utilizado con frecuencia que fue propuesto por Kennedy en 1977. Estudios paramétricos se presentan con el fin de examinar la validez de las hipótesis del método de Kennedy. La tesis concluye con recomendaciones que indican en qué casos los resultados obtenidos por el método de Kennedy son conservadores y cuando es preferible utilizar modelos de elementos finitos para estimar la respuesta de las tuberías durante los terremotos. ABSTRACT The subject of this thesis is the study of the structural response of pipelines subjected to static and dynamic loads with special attention to seismic design loads. Pipelines, as pipes in general, are used primarily for the transportation of fluids like water, gas or oil, hence the importance of an adequate design and structural behaviour. The pipe must be able to withstand both the effects of static loads like those due to self-weight or earth pressure as well as the different types of dynamic loads during a seismic event like those due to wave passing or fault displacements. In the first part of the thesis general aspects of pipelines and their use are described and a brief history of their usage in industry and for urban supply networks is given. Apart from other aspects, the advantages and disadvantages of different pipe materials are discussed. In the second part of the thesis the equilibrium equations of a transverse section of the pipe under static loads such as internal pressure, self-weight, earth pressure and external loads are developed. A number of different load combinations is analysed by means of programs coded in Matlab that have been specifically developed for this purpose. The results are compared to those obtained with the commercial Finite Element code Ansys. In the third part the dynamic response of pipelines during earthquakes is presented, covering the effects of passing waves and fault displacements. Relevant soil characteristics like wave propagation velocities as well as methods to estimate the maximum fault displacements are presented. A parametric study is employed to illustrate the influences of these parameters on the structural response of the pipe. To this end two methods have been used, the Pseudostatic and the Simplified method. In the last part of the thesis Finite Element models are developed which allow to adequately simulate the nonlinear behaviour of the soil and the pipe. The results are compared to those obtained by a frequently used simplified method which was proposed by Kennedy in 1977. Parametric studies are presented in order to examine the validity of the hypotheses Kennedys’ method is based on. The thesis concludes with recommendations indicating in which cases the results obtained by Kennedy’s method are conservative and when it is preferable to use Finite Element models to estimate the response of pipelines during earthquakes.

Numerical and experimental study of the parametric rolling of a fisihing vessel in regular head waves

The dynamic behaviour of a fishing vessel in waves is studied in order to reveal its parametric rolling characteristics. This paper presents experimental and numerical results in longitudinal regular waves. The experimental results are compared against the results of a time-domain non-linear strip theory model of ship motions in six degrees-of-freedom. These results contribute to the validation of the parametric rolling prediction method, so that it can be used as an assessment tool to evaluate both the susceptibility and severity of occurrence of parametric rolling at the early design stage of these types of vessels.

Effectiveness of abstract interpretation in automatic parallelization: a case study in logic programming

We report on a detailed study of the application and effectiveness of program analysis based on abstract interpretation to automatic program parallelization. We study the case of parallelizing logic programs using the notion of strict independence. We first propose and prove correct a methodology for the application in the parallelization task of the information inferred by abstract interpretation, using a parametric domain. The methodology is generic in the sense of allowing the use of different analysis domains. A number of well-known approximation domains are then studied and the transformation into the parametric domain defined. The transformation directly illustrates the relevance and applicability of each abstract domain for the application. Both local and global analyzers are then built using these domains and embedded in a complete parallelizing compiler. Then, the performance of the domains in this context is assessed through a number of experiments. A comparatively wide range of aspects is studied, from the resources needed by the analyzers in terms of time and memory to the actual benefits obtained from the information inferred. Such benefits are evaluated both in terms of the characteristics of the parallelized code and of the actual speedups obtained from it. The results show that data flow analysis plays an important role in achieving efficient parallelizations, and that the cost of such analysis can be reasonable even for quite sophisticated abstract domains. Furthermore, the results also offer significant insight into the characteristics of the domains, the demands of the application, and the trade-offs involved.

Ensemble transcript interaction networks: A case study on Alzheimer's disease

Systems biology techniques are a topic of recent interest within the neurological field. Computational intelligence (CI) addresses this holistic perspective by means of consensus or ensemble techniques ultimately capable of uncovering new and relevant findings. In this paper, we propose the application of a CI approach based on ensemble Bayesian network classifiers and multivariate feature subset selection to induce probabilistic dependences that could match or unveil biological relationships. The research focuses on the analysis of high-throughput Alzheimer's disease (AD) transcript profiling. The analysis is conducted from two perspectives. First, we compare the expression profiles of hippocampus subregion entorhinal cortex (EC) samples of AD patients and controls. Second, we use the ensemble approach to study four types of samples: EC and dentate gyrus (DG) samples from both patients and controls. Results disclose transcript interaction networks with remarkable structures and genes not directly related to AD by previous studies. The ensemble is able to identify a variety of transcripts that play key roles in other neurological pathologies. Classical statistical assessment by means of non-parametric tests confirms the relevance of the majority of the transcripts. The ensemble approach pinpoints key metabolic mechanisms that could lead to new findings in the pathogenesis and development of AD

A non-perturbative renormalization group study of the stochastic NavierStokes equation

We study the renormalization group flow of the average action of the stochastic Navier-Stokes equation with power-law forcing. Using Galilean invariance, we introduce a nonperturbative approximation adapted to the zero-frequency sector of the theory in the parametric range of the Hölder exponent 4−2 ɛ of the forcing where real-space local interactions are relevant. In any spatial dimension d, we observe the convergence of the resulting renormalization group flow to a unique fixed point which yields a kinetic energy spectrum scaling in agreement with canonical dimension analysis. Kolmogorov's −5/3 law is, thus, recovered for ɛ=2 as also predicted by perturbative renormalization. At variance with the perturbative prediction, the −5/3 law emerges in the presence of a saturation in the ɛ dependence of the scaling dimension of the eddy diffusivity at ɛ=3/2 when, according to perturbative renormalization, the velocity field becomes infrared relevant.

Evaluation and improvement of empirical models of global solar irradiation: Case study northern Spain

This paper presents a new methodology to build parametric models to estimate global solar irradiation adjusted to specific on-site characteristics based on the evaluation of variable im- portance. Thus, those variables higly correlated to solar irradiation on a site are implemented in the model and therefore, different models might be proposed under different climates. This methodology is applied in a study case in La Rioja region (northern Spain). A new model is proposed and evaluated on stability and accuracy against a review of twenty-two already exist- ing parametric models based on temperatures and rainfall in seventeen meteorological stations in La Rioja. The methodology of model evaluation is based on bootstrapping, which leads to achieve a high level of confidence in model calibration and validation from short time series (in this case five years, from 2007 to 2011). The model proposed improves the estimates of the other twenty-two models with average mean absolute error (MAE) of 2.195 MJ/m2 day and average confidence interval width (95% C.I., n=100) of 0.261 MJ/m2 day. 41.65% of the daily residuals in the case of SIAR and 20.12% in that of SOS Rioja fall within the uncertainty tolerance of the pyranometers of the two networks (10% and 5%, respectively). Relative differences between measured and estimated irradiation on an annual cumulative basis are below 4.82%. Thus, the proposed model might be useful to estimate annual sums of global solar irradiation, reaching insignificant differences between measurements from pyranometers.

Reduced three-wave model to study the hard transition to chaotic dynamics in Alfven wave-fronts

The derivative nonlinear Schrödinger (DNLS) equation, describing propagation of circularly polarized Alfven waves of finite amplitude in a cold plasma, is truncated to explore the coherent, weakly nonlinear, cubic coupling of three waves near resonance, one wave being linearly unstable and the other waves damped. In a reduced three-wave model (equal damping of daughter waves, three-dimensional flow for two wave amplitudes and one relative phase), no matter how small the growth rate of the unstable wave there exists a parametric domain with the flow exhibiting chaotic dynamics that is absent for zero growth-rate. This hard transition in phase-space behavior occurs for left-hand (LH) polarized waves, paralelling the known fact that only LH time-harmonic solutions of the DNLS equation are modulationally unstable.

Applied continuous modelling in the study of pyrotechnic shock propagation on Ariane 5

This paper deals with the theoretical method and the modelling problems on the analysis of the Pyrotechnic Shock Propagation in the Vehicle Equipment Bay Structure of the ARIANE 5 during the separation of the upper stage. This work has been developed under a contract with the Spanish Firm Construcciones Aeronáuticas S.A. From all the analysis and the studies it can be concluded that: 1.- The mathematical method used for the study of the pyrotechnic shock phenomena is very well suited for conducting parametric studies. 2.- A careful model of the structure should be developed taking into account the realistic stiffness and dissipation properties at the junctions. 3.- The load produced by the pyrotechnic device should be carefully calibrated to reach a good agreement between theoretical and test results. 4.- In any case with the adquired experience it can be said that with the modelling of continuous elements the order of magnitude of the accelerations can be predicted with the accuracy needed in practical applications.

A wind tunnel two-dimensional parametric investigation of biplane configurations

This paper presents an experimental and systematic investigation about how geometric parameters on a biplane configuration have an influence on aerodynamic parameters. This experimental investigation has been developed in a two-dimensional approach. Theoretical studies about biplanes configurations have been developed in the past, but there is not enough information about experimental wind tunnel data at low Reynolds number. This two-dimensional study is a first step to further tridimensional investigations about the box wing configuration. The main objective of the study is to find the relationships between the geometrical parameters which present the best aerodynamic behavior: the highest lift, the lowest drag and the lowest slope of the pitching moment. A tridimensional wing-box model will be designed following the pattern of the two dimensional study conclusions. It will respond to the geometrical relationships that have been considered to show the better aerodynamic behavior. This box-wing model will be studied in the aim of comparing the advantages and disadvantages between this biplane configuration and the plane configuration, looking for implementing the box-wing in the UAV?s field. Although the box wing configuration has been used in a small number of existing UAV, prestigious researchers have found it as a field of high aerodynamic and structural potential.

Parametric analysis on bridge reinforced concrete elevated pile-cap foundations

Current design practices recommend to comply with the capacity protection principle, which pays special attention to ensuring an elastic response of the foundations under ground motion events. However, in cases such as elevated reinforced concrete (RC) pile-cap foundation typologies, this design criterion may lead to conservative designs, with excessively high construction costs. Reinforced concrete elevated pile-cap foundations is a system formed by a group of partially embedded piles connected through an aboveground stayed cap and embedded in soil. In the cases when they are subjected to ground motions, the piles suffer large bending moments that make it difficult to maintain their behavior within the elastic range of deformations. Aiming to make an in-depth analysis of the nonlinear behavior of elevated pile-cap foundations, a cyclic loading test was performed on a concrete 2x3 pile configuration specimen of elevated pile-cap foundation. Two results of this test, the failure mechanism and the ductile behavior, were used for the calibration of a numerical model built in OpenSees framework, by using a pushover analysis. The calibration of the numerical model enabled an in-depth study of the seismic nonlinear response of this kind of foundations. A parametric analysis was carried for this purpose, aiming to study how sensitive RC elevated pile-cap foundations are, when subjected to variations in the diameter of piles, reinforcement ratios, external loads, soil density or multilayer configurations. This analysis provided a set of ductility factors that can be used as a reference for design practices and which correspond to each of the cases analyzed.