La compétence du tribunal arbitral dans l'arbitrage commercial

"Mémoire présenté à la Faculté des études supérieures En vue de l'obtention du grade de Maîtrise en droit (L.L.M)"

The Influence of ICC Arbitral Decisions on Canadian Law: Comparative Study between Civil Law and Common Law Jurisdictions

L’objectif de cette recherche est de démontrer que les décisions arbitrales de la Chambre de commerce internationale peuvent être considérées comme une source potentielle de droit au Canada. Il existe actuellement une incertitude quant au droit matériel utilisé en arbitrage international pour résoudre les différends commerciaux. Bien que l’utilisation de la lex mercatoria pour résoudre un litige soit une option, elle se heurte à de nombreuses incertitudes terminologiques et conceptuelles. L’utilisation d’une approche méthodologique de la lex mercatoria permettrait une classification de ses sources en deux branches: (1) le droit statutaire international et (2) le stare decisis des tribunaux d’arbitrage commercial international. Une telle approche méthodologique conférerait plus de certitude quant à l’application d’un droit uniforme. De plus, elle faciliterait l’étude de l’interlégalité entre les règles de la lex mercatoria et le droit matériel interne. Plus particulièrement, elle permet de comparer les similitudes et les différences des règles du droit matériel entre les décisions arbitrales internationales, le droit statutaire international et les juridictions canadiennes de common law et de droit civil. Cette comparaison rend possible une évaluation de l’influence potentielle des décisions arbitrales de la Chambre de commerce internationale sur le droit matériel canadien et si cette influence est plus importante en droit civil ou en common law.

The effect of an insoluble surfactant on the skin friction of a bubble

In this paper, we develop a novel moving mesh method suitable for solving axisymmetric free-boundary problems, including the Marangoni effect induced by surfactant or temperature variation. This method employs a body-fitted grid system where the gas-liquid interface is one line of the grid system. We model the surfactant equation of state with a non-linear Langmuir law, and, for simplicity, we limit ourselves to the situation of an insoluble surfactant. We solve complicated dynamic boundary conditions accurately on the gas-liquid interface in the framework of finite-volume methods. Our method is used to study the effect of a surfactant on the skin friction of a bubble in a uniaxial flow. For the limiting case where the surface diffusivity is zero, the effect of a tangential stress generated by the surface tension gradient, allows us to explain a new phenomenon in high concentration regimes: larger surface tension, but also larger deformation. Furthermore, this condition leads to the formation of boundary layers and flow separation at high Reynolds numbers. The influence of these complex flow patterns is examined. © 2005 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.

The effect of an upstream turbine on a low-aspect ratio vane

The interaction between a high-pressure rotor and a downstream vane is dominated by vortex-blade interaction. Each rotor blade passing period two co-rotating vortex pairs, the tip-leakage and upper passage vortex and the lower passage and trailing shed vortex, impinge on, and are cut by, the vane leading edge. In addition to the streamwise vortex the tip-leakage flow also contains a large velocity deficit. This causes the interaction of the tip-leakage flow with a downstream vane to differ from typical vortex blade interaction. This paper investigates the effect these interaction mechanisms have on a downstream vane. The test geometry considered was a low aspect ratio second stage vane located within a S-shaped diffuser with large radius change mounted downstream of a shroudless high-pressure turbine stage. Experimental measurements were conducted at engine-representative Mach and Reynolds numbers, and data was acquired using a fast-response aerodynamic probe upstream and downstream of the vane. Time-resolved numerical simulations were undertaken with and without a rotor tip gap in order to investigate the relative magnitude of the interaction mechanisms. The presence of the upstream stage is shown to significantly change the structure of the secondary flow in the vane and to cause a small drop in its performance.

Proceedings of an international workshop on the value of computer-based engineering tools, held in Cambridge in April 1997

There is increasing adoption of computer-based tools to support the product development process. Tolls include computer-aided design, computer-aided manufacture, systems engineering and product data management systems. The fact that companies choose to invest in tools might be regarded as evidence that tools, in aggregate, are perceived to possess business value through their application to engineering activities. Yet the ways in which value accrues from tool technology are poorly understood.

This report records the proceedings of an international workshop during which some novel approaches to improving our understanding of this problem of tool valuation were presented and debated. The value of methods and processes were also discussed. The workshop brought together British, Dutch, German and Italian researchers. The presenters included speakers from industry and academia (the University of Cambridge, the University of Magdeburg and the Politechnico de Torino)

The work presented showed great variety. Research methods include case studies, questionnaires, statistical analysis, semi-structured interviews, deduction, inductive reasoning, the recording of anecdotes and analogies. The presentations drew on financial investment theory, the industrial experience of workshop participants, discussions with students developing tools, modern economic theories and speculation on the effects of company capabilities.

The effect of an electric field on the nonlinear response of InAs/GaAs quantum dots

The refractive nonlinearities of InAs/GaAs quantum dots under a dc electric field at photon energies above its band gap energy have been studied using the reflection Z-scan technique. The effect of the dc electric field on the nonlinear response of InAs/GaAs quantum dots showed similar linear and quadratic electro-optic effects as in the linear response regime at low fields. This implies that the electro-optic effect in the nonlinear regime is analogous to the response in the linear regime for semiconductor quantum dots. Our experimental results show the potential for voltage tunability in InAs quantum dot-based nonlinear electro-optic devices.