Numerical modeling of the Alto Tiberina low angle normal fault

The aim of this Thesis is to obtain a better understanding of the mechanical behavior of the active Alto Tiberina normal fault (ATF). Integrating geological, geodetic and seismological data, we perform 2D and 3D quasi-static and dynamic mechanical models to simulate the interseismic phase and rupture dynamic of the ATF. Effects of ATF locking depth, synthetic and antithetic fault activity, lithology and realistic fault geometries are taken in account. The 2D and 3D quasi-static model results suggest that the deformation pattern inferred by GPS data is consistent with a very compliant ATF zone (from 5 to 15 km) and Gubbio fault activity. The presence of the ATF compliant zone is a first order condition to redistribute the stress in the Umbria-Marche region; the stress bipartition between hanging wall (high values) and footwall (low values) inferred by the ATF zone activity could explain the microseismicity rates that are higher in the hanging wall respect to the footwall. The interseismic stress build-up is mainly located along the Gubbio fault zone and near ATF patches with higher dip (30°

Shape memory and elastoplastic materials: from constitutive and numerical to fatigue modeling

Shape memory materials (SMMs) represent an important class of smart materials that have the ability to return from a deformed state to their original shape. Thanks to such a property, SMMs are utilized in a wide range of innovative applications. The increasing number of applications and the consequent involvement of industrial players in the field have motivated researchers to formulate constitutive models able to catch the complex behavior of these materials and to develop robust computational tools for design purposes. Such a research field is still under progress, especially in the prediction of shape memory polymer (SMP) behavior and of important effects characterizing shape memory alloy (SMA) applications. Moreover, the frequent use of shape memory and metallic materials in biomedical devices, particularly in cardiovascular stents, implanted in the human body and experiencing millions of in-vivo cycles by the blood pressure, clearly indicates the need for a deeper understanding of fatigue/fracture failure in microsize components. The development of reliable stent designs against fatigue is still an open subject in scientific literature. Motivated by the described framework, the thesis focuses on several research issues involving the advanced constitutive, numerical and fatigue modeling of elastoplastic and shape memory materials. Starting from the constitutive modeling, the thesis proposes to develop refined phenomenological models for reliable SMA and SMP behavior descriptions. Then, concerning the numerical modeling, the thesis proposes to implement the models into numerical software by developing implicit/explicit time-integration algorithms, to guarantee robust computational tools for practical purposes. The described modeling activities are completed by experimental investigations on SMA actuator springs and polyethylene polymers. Finally, regarding the fatigue modeling, the thesis proposes the introduction of a general computational approach for the fatigue-life assessment of a classical stent design, in order to exploit computer-based simulations to prevent failures and modify design, without testing numerous devices.

Modeling hydrothermal system: deriving observables and hydrothermal instability in volcanic and non-volcanic setting

Hydrothermal fluids are a fundamental resource for understanding and monitoring volcanic and non-volcanic systems. This thesis is focused on the study of hydrothermal system through numerical modeling with the geothermal simulator TOUGH2. Several simulations are presented, and geophysical and geochemical observables, arising from fluids circulation, are analyzed in detail throughout the thesis. In a volcanic setting, fluids feeding fumaroles and hot spring may play a key role in the hazard evaluation. The evolution of the fluids circulation is caused by a strong interaction between magmatic and hydrothermal systems. A simultaneous analysis of different geophysical and geochemical observables is a sound approach for interpreting monitored data and to infer a consistent conceptual model. Analyzed observables are ground displacement, gravity changes, electrical conductivity, amount, composition and temperature of the emitted gases at surface, and extent of degassing area. Results highlight the different temporal response of the considered observables, as well as the different radial pattern of variation. However, magnitude, temporal response and radial pattern of these signals depend not only on the evolution of fluid circulation, but a main role is played by the considered rock properties. Numerical simulations highlight differences that arise from the assumption of different permeabilities, for both homogeneous and heterogeneous systems. Rock properties affect hydrothermal fluid circulation, controlling both the range of variation and the temporal evolution of the observable signals. Low temperature fumaroles and low discharge rate may be affected by atmospheric conditions. Detailed parametric simulations were performed, aimed to understand the effects of system properties, such as permeability and gas reservoir overpressure, on diffuse degassing when air temperature and barometric pressure changes are applied to the ground surface. Hydrothermal circulation, however, is not only a characteristic of volcanic system. Hot fluids may be involved in several mankind problems, such as studies on geothermal engineering, nuclear waste propagation in porous medium, and Geological Carbon Sequestration (GCS). The current concept for large-scale GCS is the direct injection of supercritical carbon dioxide into deep geological formations which typically contain brine. Upward displacement of such brine from deep reservoirs driven by pressure increases resulting from carbon dioxide injection may occur through abandoned wells, permeable faults or permeable channels. Brine intrusion into aquifers may degrade groundwater resources. Numerical results show that pressure rise drives dense water up to the conduits, and does not necessarily result in continuous flow. Rather, overpressure leads to new hydrostatic equilibrium if fluids are initially density stratified. If warm and salty fluid does not cool passing through the conduit, an oscillatory solution is then possible. Parameter studies delineate steady-state (static) and oscillatory solutions.

Numerical and Analytical Methods for Laser-Plasma Acceleration Physics

Theories and numerical modeling are fundamental tools for understanding, optimizing and designing present and future laser-plasma accelerators (LPAs). Laser evolution and plasma wave excitation in a LPA driven by a weakly relativistically intense, short-pulse laser propagating in a preformed parabolic plasma channel, is studied analytically in 3D including the effects of pulse steepening and energy depletion. At higher laser intensities, the process of electron self-injection in the nonlinear bubble wake regime is studied by means of fully self-consistent Particle-in-Cell simulations. Considering a non-evolving laser driver propagating with a prescribed velocity, the geometrical properties of the non-evolving bubble wake are studied. For a range of parameters of interest for laser plasma acceleration, The dependence of the threshold for self-injection in the non-evolving wake on laser intensity and wake velocity is characterized. Due to the nonlinear and complex nature of the Physics involved, computationally challenging numerical simulations are required to model laser-plasma accelerators operating at relativistic laser intensities. The numerical and computational optimizations, that combined in the codes INF&RNO and INF&RNO/quasi-static give the possibility to accurately model multi-GeV laser wakefield acceleration stages with present supercomputing architectures, are discussed. The PIC code jasmine, capable of efficiently running laser-plasma simulations on Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) clusters, is presented. GPUs deliver exceptional performance to PIC codes, but the core algorithms had to be redesigned for satisfying the constraints imposed by the intrinsic parallelism of the architecture. The simulation campaigns, run with the code jasmine for modeling the recent LPA experiments with the INFN-FLAME and CNR-ILIL laser systems, are also presented.

Modellizzazione numerica e caratterizzazione sperimentale di macchine e componenti oleodinamici

Nella prima parte di questa tesi di dottorato sono presentate le attività svolte, di carattere numerico, ai fini della modellizzazione di macchine volumetriche ad ingranaggi esterni. In particolare viene dapprima presentato un modello a parametri concentrati utilizzato per l’analisi dei fenomeni che coinvolgono l’area di ingranamento della macchina; un codice di calcolo associato al modello è stato sviluppato ed utilizzato per la determinazione dell’influenza delle condizioni di funzionamento e delle caratteristiche geometriche della macchina sulle sovra-pressioni e sull’eventuale instaurarsi della cavitazione nei volumi tra i denti che si trovano nell’area di ingranamento. In seguito vengono presentati i risultati ottenuti dall’analisi del bilanciamento assiale di diverse unità commerciali, evidenziando l’influenza delle caratteristiche geometriche delle fiancate di bilanciamento; a questo proposito, viene presentato anche un semplice modello a parametri concentrati per valutare il rendimento volumetrico della macchina ad ingranaggi esterni, con l’intenzione di usare tale parametro quale indice qualitativo della bontà del bilanciamento assiale. Infine, viene presentato un modello completo della macchina ad ingranaggi esterni, realizzato in un software commerciale a parametri concentrati, che permette di analizzare nel dettaglio il funzionamento della macchina e di studiare anche l’interazione della stessa con il circuito idraulico in cui è inserita. Nella seconda parte della tesi si presentano le attività legate alla messa in funzione di due banchi prova idraulici per la caratterizzazione sperimentale di macchine volumetriche e componenti di regolazione, con particolare attenzione dedicata alla messa a punto del sistema di acquisizione e gestione dei dati sperimentali; si presentano infine i risultati di alcune prove eseguite su componenti di regolazione e macchine volumetriche.

Studio dell'intrusione salina all'interno di un acquifero freatico costiero (Ravenna; Italia)

L’acquifero freatico costiero ravennate è intensamente salinizzato fino a diversi km nell’entroterra. Il corpo dell’acquifero è formato da sabbie che poggiano su un substrato argilloso ad una profondità media di 25 m, i depositi affioranti sono sabbie e argille. Il lavoro svolto consiste in una caratterizzazione dello stato di salinizzazione con metodologie indirette (geoelettrica) e metodologie dirette (letture dei parametri fisici delle acque in pozzo). I sondaggi elettrici verticali (V.E.S.) mostrano stagionalità dovuta alle differenti quantità di pioggia e quindi di ricarica, le aree con depositi superficiali ad alta conducibilità idraulica (sabbie) hanno una lente d’acqua dolce compresa tra 0,1 e 2,25 m di spessore, al di sotto della quale troviamo una zona di mescolamento con spessori che vanno da 1,00 a 12,00 m, mentre quando in superficie abbiamo depositi a bassa conducibilità idraulica (limi sabbiosi e argille sabbiose) la lente d’acqua dolce scompare e la zona di mescolamento è sottile. Le misure dirette in pozzo mostrano una profondità della tavola d’acqua quasi ovunque sotto il livello del mare in entrambi i mesi monitorati, Giugno e Dicembre 2010, presentando una profondità leggermente maggiore nel mese di Dicembre. Dalla ricostruzione litologica risulta un acquifero composto da 4×109 m3 di sabbia, per cui ipotizzando una porosità media del 30% sono presenti 1,2×109 m3 di acqua. Dalla modellazione numerica (Modflow-SEAWAT 2000) risulta che l’origine dell’acqua salata che si trova in falda trova più facilmente spiegazione ipotizzando la sua presenza fin dalla formazione dell’acquifero, residuo delle acque marine che regredivano. Un’altra problematica analizzata è valutare l’applicazione della metodologia a minifiltri in uno studio sulla salinizzazione delle acque di falda. É stata implementata la costruzione di un transetto sperimentale, che ha permesso la mappatura dell’interfaccia acqua dolce/salmastra/salata con una precisione finora non raggiungibile.

Numerical optimization,modeling and system evaluation of a thermophotovoltaic hybrid panel

Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels generally produce electricity in the 6% to 16% efficiency range, the rest being dissipated in thermal losses. To recover this amount, hybrid photovoltaic thermal systems (PVT) have been devised. These are devices that simultaneously convert solar energy into electricity and heat. It is thus interesting to study the PVT system globally from different point of views in order to evaluate advantages and disadvantages of this technology and its possible uses. In particular in Chapter II, the development of the PVT absorber numerical optimization by a genetic algorithm has been carried out analyzing different internal channel profiles in order to find a right compromise between performance and technical and economical feasibility. Therefore in Chapter III ,thanks to a mobile structure built into the university lab, it has been compared experimentally electrical and thermal output power from PVT panels with separated photovoltaic and solar thermal productions. Collecting a lot of experimental data based on different seasonal conditions (ambient temperature,irradiation, wind...),the aim of this mobile structure has been to evaluate average both thermal and electrical increasing and decreasing efficiency values obtained respect to separate productions through the year. In Chapter IV , new PVT and solar thermal equation based models in steady state conditions have been developed by software Dymola that uses Modelica language. This permits ,in a simplified way respect to previous system modelling softwares, to model and evaluate different concepts about PVT panel regarding its structure before prototyping and measuring it. Chapter V concerns instead the definition of PVT boundary conditions into a HVAC system . This was made trough year simulations by software Polysun in order to finally assess the best solar assisted integrated structure thanks to F_save(solar saving energy)factor. Finally, Chapter VI presents the conclusion and the perspectives of this PhD work.

Numerical and analytical vibro-acoustic modelling of porous materials: the Cell Method for poroelasticity and the case of inclusions

Porous materials are widely used in many fields of industrial applications, to achieve the requirements of noise reduction, that nowadays derive from strict regulations. The modeling of porous materials is still a problematic issue. Numerical simulations are often problematic in case of real complex geometries, especially in terms of computational times and convergence. At the same time, analytical models, even if partly limited by restrictive simplificative hypotheses, represent a powerful instrument to capture quickly the physics of the problem and general trends. In this context, a recently developed numerical method, called the Cell Method, is described, is presented in the case of the Biot's theory and applied for representative cases. The peculiarity of the Cell Method is that it allows for a direct algebraic and geometrical discretization of the field equations, without any reduction to a weak integral form. Then, the second part of the thesis presents the case of interaction between two poroelastic materials under the context of double porosity. The idea of using periodically repeated inclusions of a second porous material into a layer composed by an original material is described. In particular, the problem is addressed considering the efficiency of the analytical method. A analytical procedure for the simulation of heterogeneous layers based is described and validated considering both conditions of absorption and transmission; a comparison with the available numerical methods is performed. ---------------- I materiali porosi sono ampiamente utilizzati per diverse applicazioni industriali, al fine di raggiungere gli obiettivi di riduzione del rumore, che sono resi impegnativi da norme al giorno d'oggi sempre più stringenti. La modellazione dei materiali porori per applicazioni vibro-acustiche rapprensenta un aspetto di una certa complessità. Le simulazioni numeriche sono spesso problematiche quando siano coinvolte geometrie di pezzi reali, in particolare riguardo i tempi computazionali e la convergenza. Allo stesso tempo, i modelli analitici, anche se parzialmente limitati a causa di ipotesi semplificative che ne restringono l'ambito di utilizzo, rappresentano uno strumento molto utile per comprendere rapidamente la fisica del problema e individuare tendenze generali. In questo contesto, un metodo numerico recentemente sviluppato, il Metodo delle Celle, viene descritto, implementato nel caso della teoria di Biot per la poroelasticità e applicato a casi rappresentativi. La peculiarità del Metodo delle Celle consiste nella discretizzazione diretta algebrica e geometrica delle equazioni di campo, senza alcuna riduzione a forme integrali deboli. Successivamente, nella seconda parte della tesi viene presentato il caso delle interazioni tra due materiali poroelastici a contatto, nel contesto dei materiali a doppia porosità. Viene descritta l'idea di utilizzare inclusioni periodicamente ripetute di un secondo materiale poroso all'interno di un layer a sua volta poroso. In particolare, il problema è studiando il metodo analitico e la sua efficienza. Una procedura analitica per il calcolo di strati eterogenei di materiale viene descritta e validata considerando sia condizioni di assorbimento, sia di trasmissione; viene effettuata una comparazione con i metodi numerici a disposizione.

Parallel modeling of the electric field distribution in the brain

The term "Brain Imaging" identi�es a set of techniques to analyze the structure and/or functional behavior of the brain in normal and/or pathological situations. These techniques are largely used in the study of brain activity. In addition to clinical usage, analysis of brain activity is gaining popularity in others recent �fields, i.e. Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI) and the study of cognitive processes. In this context, usage of classical solutions (e.g. f MRI, PET-CT) could be unfeasible, due to their low temporal resolution, high cost and limited portability. For these reasons alternative low cost techniques are object of research, typically based on simple recording hardware and on intensive data elaboration process. Typical examples are ElectroEncephaloGraphy (EEG) and Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT), where electric potential at the patient's scalp is recorded by high impedance electrodes. In EEG potentials are directly generated from neuronal activity, while in EIT by the injection of small currents at the scalp. To retrieve meaningful insights on brain activity from measurements, EIT and EEG relies on detailed knowledge of the underlying electrical properties of the body. This is obtained from numerical models of the electric �field distribution therein. The inhomogeneous and anisotropic electric properties of human tissues make accurate modeling and simulation very challenging, leading to a tradeo�ff between physical accuracy and technical feasibility, which currently severely limits the capabilities of these techniques. Moreover elaboration of data recorded requires usage of regularization techniques computationally intensive, which influences the application with heavy temporal constraints (such as BCI). This work focuses on the parallel implementation of a work-flow for EEG and EIT data processing. The resulting software is accelerated using multi-core GPUs, in order to provide solution in reasonable times and address requirements of real-time BCI systems, without over-simplifying the complexity and accuracy of the head models.

CFD modeling of two-phase boiling flows in the slug flow regime with an interface capturing technique

The objective of this thesis was to improve the commercial CFD software Ansys Fluent to obtain a tool able to perform accurate simulations of flow boiling in the slug flow regime. The achievement of a reliable numerical framework allows a better understanding of the bubble and flow dynamics induced by the evaporation and makes possible the prediction of the wall heat transfer trends. In order to save computational time, the flow is modeled with an axisymmetrical formulation. Vapor and liquid phases are treated as incompressible and in laminar flow. By means of a single fluid approach, the flow equations are written as for a single phase flow, but discontinuities at the interface and interfacial effects need to be accounted for and discretized properly. Ansys Fluent provides a Volume Of Fluid technique to advect the interface and to map the discontinuous fluid properties throughout the flow domain. The interfacial effects are dominant in the boiling slug flow and the accuracy of their estimation is fundamental for the reliability of the solver. Self-implemented functions, developed ad-hoc, are introduced within the numerical code to compute the surface tension force and the rates of mass and energy exchange at the interface related to the evaporation. Several validation benchmarks assess the better performances of the improved software. Various adiabatic configurations are simulated in order to test the capability of the numerical framework in modeling actual flows and the comparison with experimental results is very positive. The simulation of a single evaporating bubble underlines the dominant effect on the global heat transfer rate of the local transient heat convection in the liquid after the bubble transit. The simulation of multiple evaporating bubbles flowing in sequence shows that their mutual influence can strongly enhance the heat transfer coefficient, up to twice the single phase flow value.

Advanced Numerical Simulation of Silicon-Based Solar Cells

Photovoltaic (PV) conversion is the direct production of electrical energy from sun without involving the emission of polluting substances. In order to be competitive with other energy sources, cost of the PV technology must be reduced ensuring adequate conversion efficiencies. These goals have motivated the interest of researchers in investigating advanced designs of crystalline silicon solar (c-Si) cells. Since lowering the cost of PV devices involves the reduction of the volume of semiconductor, an effective light trapping strategy aimed at increasing the photon absorption is required. Modeling of solar cells by electro-optical numerical simulation is helpful to predict the performance of future generations devices exhibiting advanced light-trapping schemes and to provide new and more specific guidelines to industry. The approaches to optical simulation commonly adopted for c-Si solar cells may lead to inaccurate results in case of thin film and nano-stuctured solar cells. On the other hand, rigorous solvers of Maxwell equations are really cpu- and memory-intensive. Recently, in optical simulation of solar cells, the RCWA method has gained relevance, providing a good trade-off between accuracy and computational resources requirement. This thesis is a contribution to the numerical simulation of advanced silicon solar cells by means of a state-of-the-art numerical 2-D/3-D device simulator, that has been successfully applied to the simulation of selective emitter and the rear point contact solar cells, for which the multi-dimensionality of the transport model is required in order to properly account for all physical competing mechanisms. In the second part of the thesis, the optical problems is discussed. Two novel and computationally efficient RCWA implementations for 2-D simulation domains as well as a third RCWA for 3-D structures based on an eigenvalues calculation approach have been presented. The proposed simulators have been validated in terms of accuracy, numerical convergence, computation time and correctness of results.

Experimental Analysis and Numerical Simulation of Quench in Superconducting HTS Tapes and Coils

The quench characteristics of second generation (2 G) YBCO Coated Conductor (CC) tapes are of fundamental importance for the design and safe operation of superconducting cables and magnets based on this material. Their ability to transport high current densities at high temperature, up to 77 K, and at very high fields, over 20 T, together with the increasing knowledge in their manufacturing, which is reducing their cost, are pushing the use of this innovative material in numerous system applications, from high field magnets for research to motors and generators as well as for cables. The aim of this Ph. D. thesis is the experimental analysis and numerical simulations of quench in superconducting HTS tapes and coils. A measurements facility for the characterization of superconducting tapes and coils was designed, assembled and tested. The facility consist of a cryostat, a cryocooler, a vacuum system, resistive and superconducting current leads and signal feedthrough. Moreover, the data acquisition system and the software for critical current and quench measurements were developed. A 2D model was developed using the finite element code COMSOL Multiphysics R . The problem of modeling the high aspect ratio of the tape is tackled by multiplying the tape thickness by a constant factor, compensating the heat and electrical balance equations by introducing a material anisotropy. The model was then validated both with the results of a 1D quench model based on a non-linear electric circuit coupled to a thermal model of the tape, to literature measurements and to critical current and quench measurements made in the cryogenic facility. Finally the model was extended to the study of coils and windings with the definition of the tape and stack homogenized properties. The procedure allows the definition of a multi-scale hierarchical model, able to simulate the windings with different degrees of detail.

Automotive diesel engine transient operation: modeling, optimization and control

Traditionally, the study of internal combustion engines operation has focused on the steady-state performance. However, the daily driving schedule of automotive engines is inherently related to unsteady conditions. There are various operating conditions experienced by (diesel) engines that can be classified as transient. Besides the variation of the engine operating point, in terms of engine speed and torque, also the warm up phase can be considered as a transient condition. Chapter 2 has to do with this thermal transient condition; more precisely the main issue is the performance of a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system during cold start and warm up phases of the engine. The proposal of the underlying work is to investigate and identify optimal exhaust line heating strategies, to provide a fast activation of the catalytic reactions on SCR. Chapters 3 and 4 focus the attention on the dynamic behavior of the engine, when considering typical driving conditions. The common approach to dynamic optimization involves the solution of a single optimal-control problem. However, this approach requires the availability of models that are valid throughout the whole engine operating range and actuator ranges. In addition, the result of the optimization is meaningful only if the model is very accurate. Chapter 3 proposes a methodology to circumvent those demanding requirements: an iteration between transient measurements to refine a purpose-built model and a dynamic optimization which is constrained to the model validity region. Moreover all numerical methods required to implement this procedure are presented. Chapter 4 proposes an approach to derive a transient feedforward control system in an automated way. It relies on optimal control theory to solve a dynamic optimization problem for fast transients. From the optimal solutions, the relevant information is extracted and stored in maps spanned by the engine speed and the torque gradient.

Analysis and mathematical modeling of wave-structure interaction

The aim of this thesis, included within the THESEUS project, is the development of a mathematical model 2DV two-phase, based on the existing code IH-2VOF developed by the University of Cantabria, able to represent together the overtopping phenomenon and the sediment transport. Several numerical simulations were carried out in order to analyze the flow characteristics on a dike crest. The results show that the seaward/landward slope does not affect the evolution of the flow depth and velocity over the dike crest whereas the most important parameter is the relative submergence. Wave heights decrease and flow velocities increase while waves travel over the crest. In particular, by increasing the submergence, the wave height decay and the increase of the velocity are less marked. Besides, an appropriate curve able to fit the variation of the wave height/velocity over the dike crest were found. Both for the wave height and for the wave velocity different fitting coefficients were determined on the basis of the submergence and of the significant wave height. An equation describing the trend of the dimensionless coefficient c_h for the wave height was derived. These conclusions could be taken into consideration for the design criteria and the upgrade of the structures. In the second part of the thesis, new equations for the representation of the sediment transport in the IH-2VOF model were introduced in order to represent beach erosion while waves run-up and overtop the sea banks during storms. The new model allows to calculate sediment fluxes in the water column together with the sediment concentration. Moreover it is possible to model the bed profile evolution. Different tests were performed under low-intensity regular waves with an homogeneous layer of sand on the bottom of a channel in order to analyze the erosion-deposition patterns and verify the model results.