An Eulerian Approach to the Analysis of Krause's Consensus Models

Abstract. In this paper we analyze a class of multi-agent consensus dynamical systems inspired by Krause’s original model. As in Krause’s, the basic assumption is the so-called bounded confidence: two agents can influence each other only when their state values are below a given distance threshold R. We study the system under an Eulerian point of view considering (possibly continuous) probability distributions of agents and we present original convergence results. The limit distribution is always necessarily a convex combination of delta functions at least R far apart from each other: in other terms these models are locally aggregating. The Eulerian perspective provides the natural framework for designing a numerical algorithm, by which we obtain several simulations in 1 and 2 dimensions

Manifestations of Drag Reduction by Polymer Additives in Decaying, Homogeneous, Isotropic Turbulence

The existence of drag reduction by polymer additives, well established for wall-bounded turbulent flows, is controversial in homogeneous, isotropic turbulence. To settle this controversy we carry out a high-resolution direct numerical simulation (DNS) of decaying, homogeneous, isotropic turbulence with polymer additives. Our study reveals clear manifestations of drag-reduction-type phenomena: On the addition of polymers to the turbulent fluid we obtain a reduction in the energy dissipation rate, a significant modification of the fluid energy spectrum especially in the deep-dissipation range, a suppression of small-scale intermittency, and a decrease in small-scale vorticity filaments.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Travelling-waves consistent with turbulence-driven secondary flow in a square duct

We present numerically determined travelling-wave solutions for pressure-driven flow through a straight duct with a square cross-section. This family of solutions represents typical coherent structures (a staggered array of counter-rotating streamwise vortices and an associated low-speed streak) on each wall. Their streamwise average flow in the cross-sectional plane corresponds to an eight vortex pattern much alike the secondary flow found in the turbulent regime

Turbulence characteristics of the B\"{o}dewadt layer in a large enclosed rotor-stator system

A three-dimensional (3D) direct numerical simulation is combined with a laboratory study to describe the turbulent flow in an enclosed annular rotor-stator cavity characterized by a large aspect ratio G=(b-a)/h=18.32 and a small radius ratio a/b=0.152, where a and b are the inner and outer radii of the rotating disk and h is the interdisk spacing. The rotation rate Omega under consideration is equivalent to the rotational Reynolds number Re=Omegab2/nu=9.5 x 104, where nu is the kinematic viscosity of the fluid. This corresponds to a value at which an experiment carried out at the laboratory has shown that the stator boundary layer is turbulent, whereas the rotor boundary layer is still laminar. Comparisons of the 3D computed solution with velocity measurements have given good agreement for the mean and turbulent fields. The results enhance evidence of weak turbulence at this Reynolds number, by comparing the turbulence properties with available data in the literature. An approximately self-similar boundary layer behavior is observed along the stator side. The reduction of the structural parameter a1 under the typical value 0.15 and the variation in the wall-normal direction of the different characteristic angles show that this boundary layer is three-dimensional. A quadrant analysis of conditionally averaged velocities is performed to identify the contributions of different events (ejections and sweeps) on the Reynolds shear stress producing vortical structures. The asymmetries observed in the conditionally averaged quadrant analysis are dominated by Reynolds stress-producing events in this B\"{o}dewadt layer. Moreover, case 1 vortices (with a positive wall induced velocity) are found to be the major source of generation of special strong events, in agreement with the conclusions of Lygren and Andersson.Comment: 16 page

A streamwise-constant model of turbulent pipe flow

A streamwise-constant model is presented to investigate the basic mechanisms responsible for the change in mean flow occuring during pipe flow transition. Using a single forced momentum balance equation, we show that the shape of the velocity profile is robust to changes in the forcing profile and that both linear non-normal and nonlinear effects are required to capture the change in mean flow associated with transition to turbulence. The particularly simple form of the model allows for the study of the momentum transfer directly by inspection of the equations. The distribution of the high- and low-speed streaks over the cross-section of the pipe produced by our model is remarkably similar to one observed in the velocity field near the trailing edge of the puff structures present in pipe flow transition. Under stochastic forcing, the model exhibits a quasi-periodic self-sustaining cycle characterized by the creation and subsequent decay of "streamwise-constant puffs", so-called due to the good agreement between the temporal evolution of their velocity field and the projection of the velocity field associated with three-dimensional puffs in a frame of reference moving at the bulk velocity. We establish that the flow dynamics are relatively insensitive to the regeneration mechanisms invoked to produce near-wall streamwise vortices and that using small, unstructured background disturbances to regenerate the streamwise vortices is sufficient to capture the formation of the high- and low-speed streaks and their segregation leading to the blunting of the velocity profile characteristic of turbulent pipe flow

La reforma agraria agroecológica como camino hacia la sostenibilidad: un estudio de caso en Brasil.

Resumen: El modelo agroexportador actualmente en marcha en Brasil, basado en el agronegocio y los grandes monocultivos para la producción de commodities, tiene intrínsecas limitaciones en alcanzar de manera satisfactoria las múltiples dimensiones de la sostenibilidad planteadas por la agroecología y la soberanía alimentaria. En base a un estudio de caso (un asentamiento campesino agroecológico en la región cañera de Ribeirão Preto, estado de São Paulo), argumentamos que los procesos de transición hacia la sostenibilidad en zonas dominadas por estos grandes monocultivos agroindustriales pueden ser viables a partir de un nuevo modelo de reforma agraria de base agroecológica, que impulse procesos sociales de construcción de alternativas más sostenibles en el campo. Las evidencias obtenidas en la investigación nos permiten plantear que la reforma agraria, y las políticas agroecológicas asociadas, tienen un importante papel de recuperar la agrobiodiversidad y hacer emerger ?memorias campesinas? que de otra forma estarían condenadas al olvido, abriendo las posibilidades para un proceso de recampesinización en contraposición al modelo de desarrollo hegemónico en la región. Concluimos que la perspectiva agroecológica permite una resignificación de la reforma agraria, en la medida que no la restringe a una dimensión solamente económico-productivista, rescatando su naturaleza multidimensionaly rompiendo el histórico divorcio entre la ?cuestión agraria?y la ?cuestión ambiental? en Brasil

G\"{o}del-type universes in energy-momentum-squared gravity

In this paper, a modification of general relativity is considered. It consists of generalizing the Lagrangian of matter in a non-linear way, that is, replacing the curvature scalar $R$ by a function $f(R,T_{\mu\nu} T^{\mu\nu} )$, where $T_{\mu\nu}$ is the energy-momentum tensor. The main objective is to investigate the issue of causality in this gravitational model. To study the causality and/or its violation the G\"{o}del-type solutions are used. For such development, different matter contents are chosen. A critical radius, beyond which causality is violated, is calculated. It is shown that both causal and non-causal solutions are allowed.Comment: 15 pages, accepted for publication in EPJ

Flow pattern transition accompanied with sudden growth of flow resistance in two-dimensional curvilinear viscoelastic flows

We find three types of steady solutions and remarkable flow pattern transitions between them in a two-dimensional wavy-walled channel for low to moderate Reynolds (Re) and Weissenberg (Wi) numbers using direct numerical simulations with spectral element method. The solutions are called "convective", "transition", and "elastic" in ascending order of Wi. In the convective region in the Re-Wi parameter space, the convective effect and the pressure gradient balance on average. As Wi increases, the elastic effect becomes suddenly comparable and the first transition sets in. Through the transition, a separation vortex disappears and a jet flow induced close to the wall by the viscoelasticity moves into the bulk; The viscous drag significantly drops and the elastic wall friction rises sharply. This transition is caused by an elastic force in the streamwise direction due to the competition of the convective and elastic effects. In the transition region, the convective and elastic effects balance. When the elastic effect dominates the convective effect, the second transition occurs but it is relatively moderate. The second one seems to be governed by so-called Weissenberg effect. These transitions are not sensitive to driving forces. By the scaling analysis, it is shown that the stress component is proportional to the Reynolds number on the boundary of the first transition in the Re-Wi space. This scaling coincides well with the numerical result.Comment: 33pages, 23figures, submitted to Physical Review

Assentamentos rurais sustentáveis: o processo de construção participativa do conhecimento agroecológico e o monitoramento de unidades de referência no Assentamento Sepé Tiaraju-SP.

Relato das experiências de instalação e monitoramento do assentamento Sepé Tiaraju, primeira iniciativa no estado de São Paulo na modalidade projeto de desenvolvimento sustentável preconizada pela portaria nº 477/99 do INCRA. Trata-se de uma experiência inovadora na construção de um modelo alternativo de assentamento, tendo a Agroecologia como centro da matriz tecnológica e a cooperação como eixo da organização produtiva. Nesse sentido, um grupo de famílias assentadas, em conjunto com uma equipe da Embrapa Meio Ambiente e outras instituições parceiras, deu início em 2005, ao processo de construção coletiva do conhecimento agroecológico no assentamento. O eixo condutor dos trabalhos no Assentamento Sepé Tiaraju foi pautado a partir dos sistemas agroecológicos, com ênfase nos sistemas agroflorestais (SAFs).bitstream/item/85831/1/Doc-93.pd