Vortex Shedding Dynamics in Long Aspect-Ratio Aerodynamics Bodies

The focus of the current dissertation is to study qualitatively the underlying physics of vortex-shedding and wake dynamics in long aspect-ratio aerodynamics in incompressible viscous flow through the use of the KLE method. We carried out a long series of numerical experiments in the cases of flow around the cylinder at low Reynolds numbers. The study of flow at low Reynolds numbers provides an insight in the fluid physics and also plays a critical role when applying to stalled turbine rotors. Many of the conclusions about the qualitative nature of the physical mechanisms characterizing vortex formation, shedding and further interaction analyzed here at low Re could be extended to other Re regimes and help to understand the separation of the boundary layers in airfoils and other aerodynamic surfaces. In the long run, it aims to provide a better understanding of the complex multi-physics problems involving fluid-structure-control interaction through improved mathematical computational models of the multi-physics process. Besides the scientific conclusions produced, the research work on streamlined and bluff-body condition will also serve as a valuable guide for the future design of blade aerodynamics and the placement of wind turbines and hydrakinetic turbines, increasing the efficiency in the use of expensive workforce, supplies, and infrastructure. After the introductory section describing the main fields of application of wind power and hydrokinetic turbines, we describe the main features and theoretical background of the numerical method used here. Then, we present the analysis of the numerical experimentation results for the oscillatory regime right before the onset of vortex shedding for circular cylinders. We verified the wake length of the closed near-wake behind the cylinder and analysed the decay of the wake at the wake formation region, and then studied the St-Re relationship at the Reynolds numbers before the wake sheds compared to the experimental data. We found a theoretical model that describes the time evolution of the amplitude of fluctuations in the vorticity field on the twin vortex wake, which accurately matches the numerical results in terms of the frequency of the oscillation and rate of decay. We also proposed a model based on an analog circuit that is able to interpret the concerning flow by reducing the number of degrees of freedom. It follows the idea of the non-linear oscillator and resembles the dynamics mechanism of the closed near-wake with a common configured sine wave oscillator. This low-dimensional circuital model may also help to understand the underlying physical mechanisms, related to vorticity transport, that give origin to those oscillations.

Análisis del concepto de liderazgo y sus aplicaciones en el contexto empresarial

El presente trabajo se realizó con el objetivo de tener una visión completa de las teorías del liderazgo, teniendo de este una concepción como proceso y poder examinar las diversas formas de aplicación en las organizaciones contemporáneas. El tema es enfocado desde la perspectiva organizacional, un mundo igualmente complejo, sin desconocer su importancia en otros ámbitos como la educación, la política o la dirección del estado. Su enfoque tiene que ver con el estudio académico del cual es la culminación y se enmarca dentro de la perspectiva constitucional de la Carta Política Colombiana que reconoce la importancia capital que tienen la actividad económica y la iniciativa privada en la constitución de empresas. Las diversas visiones del liderazgo han sido aplicadas de distintas maneras en las organizaciones contemporáneas y han generado diversos resultados. Hoy, no es posible pensar en una organización que no haya definido su forma de liderazgo y en consecuencia, confluyen en el campo empresarial multitud de teorías, sin que pueda afirmarse que una sola de ellas permita el manejo adecuado y el cumplimiento de los objetivos misionales. Por esta razón se ha llegado a concebir el liderazgo como una función compleja, en un mundo donde las organizaciones mismas se caracterizan no solo por la complejidad de sus acciones y de su conformación, sino también porque esta característica pertenece también al mundo de la globalización. Las organizaciones concebidas como máquinas que en sentido metafórico logran reconstituirse sus estructuras a medida que están en interacción con otras en el mundo globalizado. Adaptarse a las cambiantes circunstancias hace de las organizaciones conglomerados en permanente dinámica y evolución. En este ámbito puede decirse que el liderazgo es también complejo y que es el liderazgo transformacional el que más se acerca al sentido de la complejidad.

La importancia del proceso de desarme desmovilización y reinserción (DDR) para las mujeres soldado de sierra leona durante el post-conflicto

El presente estudio de caso tiene como objetivo analizar los procesos de Desarme, Desmovilización y Reintegración para las mujeres excombatientes en Sierra leona, desarrollados por los mecanismos internacionales, tales como la ONU y su misión en este país UNAMSIL, teniendo en cuenta que la Reintegración es el momento más importante para lograr el mantenimiento de la paz que se firmo en el Acuerdo de Lomé. Este trabajo muestra la importancia de una intervención apropiada de acuerdo a las necesidades de cada Estado y teniendo en cuenta las características del conflicto y sus minorías participativas.

Effects of plant density and the number of emitters on plant growth and nitrate concentration in spinach cultivated in substrate

The effects of plant density and the number of emitters per Styrofoam box on plant growth and nitrate (NO3-) concentration were evaluated in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L. cv. Tapir). Spinach seedlings were transplanted at 45 days after emergence into Styrofoam boxes filled with the substrate and were grown during winter in an unheated greenhouse with no supplemental lighting. The experiment was carried out with four treatments, including two plant densities (160 and 280 plants/m2) and two number of emitters per Styrofoam box (4 and 8 emitters). Each planting box was irrigated daily and fertigated with a complete nutrient solution. Shoot dry weight was not affected by plant density. However, yield increased with plant density and emitter number. Leaf-blade NO3- concentration was not affected by the interaction between plant density and number of emitters, but petioles NO3- concentration was greater in treatment with 160 plants/m2 and 8 emitters. Although leaf-blade NO3- concentration was not affected by plant density, it decreased with the number of emitters. On the other hand, petiole NO3- concentration was not affected by plant density or number of emitters. Leaf-blade NO3- concentration ranged from 3.2 to 4.1 mg/g fresh weight, occurring the highest value in the treatment with 280 plants/m2 and 4 emitters. Petiole NO3- concentration ranged from 3.5 to 5.3 mg/g fresh weight, values that were higher than allowed by EU regulation.

Numerical Analysis and Redesign of a High Speed Linear Cascade Wind Tunnel for Aircraft Gas Turbine Engines Testing

Linear cascade testing serves a fundamental role in the research, development, and design of turbomachines as it is a simple yet very effective way to compute the performance of a generic blade geometry. These kinds of experiments are usually carried out in specialized wind tunnel facilities. This thesis deals with the numerical characterization and subsequent partial redesign of the S-1/C Continuous High Speed Wind Tunnel of the Von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics. The current facility is powered by a 13-stage axial compressor that is not powerful enough to balance the energy loss experienced when testing low turning airfoils. In order to address this issue a performance assessment of the wind tunnel was performed under several flow regimes via numerical simulations. After that, a redesign proposal aimed at reducing the pressure loss was investigated. This consists of a linear cascade of turning blades to be placed downstream of the test section and designed specifically for the type of linear cascade being tested. An automatic design procedure was created taking as input parameters those measured at the outlet of the cascade. The parametrization method employed Bézier curves to produce an airfoil geometry that could be imported into a CAD software so that a cascade could be designed. The proposal was simulated via CFD analysis and proved to be effective in reducing pressure losses up to 41%. The same tool developed in this thesis could be adopted to design similar apparatuses and could also be optimized and specialized for the design of turbomachines components.

analisi delle prestazioni del cluster risc-v: monte cimone

Gli sforzi di ricerca relativi all'High Performance Computing, nel corso degli anni, hanno prodotto risultati importanti inerenti all'incremento delle prestazioni sia in termini di numero di operazioni effettuate per periodo temporale, sia introducendo o migliorando algoritmi paralleli presenti in letteratura. Tali traguardi hanno comportato cambiamenti alla struttura interna delle macchine; si è assistito infatti ad un'evoluzione delle architetture dei processori utilizzati e all'impiego di GPU come risorse di calcolo aggiuntive. La conseguenza di un continuo incremento di prestazioni è quella di dover far fronte ad un grosso dispendio energetico, in quanto le macchine impiegate nell'HPC sono ideate per effettuare un'intensa attività di calcolo in un periodo di tempo molto prolungato; l'energia necessaria per alimentare ciascun nodo e dissipare il calore generato comporta costi elevati. Tra le varie soluzioni proposte per limitare il consumo di energia, quella che ha riscosso maggior interesse, sia a livello di studio che di mercato, è stata l'integrazione di CPU di tipologia RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer), in quanto capaci di ottenere prestazioni soddisfacenti con un impiego energetico inferiore rispetto alle CPU CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computer). In questa tesi è presentata l'analisi delle prestazioni di Monte Cimone, un cluster composto da 8 nodi di calcolo basati su architettura RISC-V e distribuiti in 4 piattaforme (\emph{blade}) dual-board. Verranno eseguiti dei benchmark che ci permetteranno di valutare: le prestazioni dello scambio di dati a lunga e corta distanza; le prestazioni nella risoluzione di problemi che presentano un principio di località spaziale ridotto; le prestazioni nella risoluzione di problemi su grafi e, nello specifico, ricerca in ampiezza e cammini minimi da sorgente singola.

Cure Induced Residual Stresses on Thick Composite Components Manufactured by Additive Process

This study investigates the effect of an additive process in manufacturing of thick composites. Airstone 780 E epoxy resin and 785H Hardener system is used in the analysis since it is widely used wind turbine blade, namely thick components. As a fiber, fabric by SAERTEX (812 g/m2) with a 0-90 degrees layup direction is used. Temperature overshoot is a major issue during the manufacturing of thick composites. A high temperature overshoot leads to an increase in residual stresses. These residual stresses are causing warping, delamination, dimensional instability, and undesired distortion of composite structures. A coupled thermo-mechanical model capable of predicting cure induced residual stresses have been built using the commercial FE software Abaqus®. The possibility of building thick composite components by means of adding a finite number of sub-laminates has been investigated. The results have been compared against components manufactured following a standard route. The influence of pre-curing of the sub-laminates has also been addressed and results compared with standard practice. As a result of the study, it is found that introducing additive process can prevent temperature overshoot to occur and benefits the residual stresses generation during the curing process. However, the process time required increases by 50%, therefore increasing the manufacturing costs. An optimized cure cycle is required to minimize process time and cure induced defects simultaneously.