Fully compressible simulation of low-speed premixed reacting flows

Low speed premixed combustion flows in industrial applications are generally simulated using the "incompressible" Navier-Stokes algorithms, which belong to the family of fractional step methods, or segregated methods. The approximations used for the combustion modelling in the framework of the segregated mathematical formulation, often represent important limitations for applying the combustion numerical simulation to a wider class of problems of engineering interest. Recent developments of preconditioning techniques allow to apply the same complete system of Navier-Stokes equations to a wide variety of fluid flow problems characterized by the whole range of Reynolds, Mach, Grashof, Prandtl and Damkoeler numbers. The present work describes the development of a fully "compressible" mathematical model for the simulation of low-speed turbulent premixed reactive flows. Issues on flow and fluid compressibility as well as on the two mathematical alternative formulations, are discussed. Also discussed are issues related to coupling the flamelet premixed combustion model (based on the solution of a transport equation for the progress variable) with one-equation turbulence models, instead of the classical two-equation K – ε model. In this work the model by Spalart & Allmaras is used. The several advantages brought about by the use of the fully compressible formulation are discussed based on the results obtained on a test case taken from literature

Application of finite element code Q3DFL0-81 to turbomachinery flow fields

Through-flow and blade-to-blade calculations were made in association with a number of experimental research activities at the Turbopropulsion Laboratory, Naval Postgraduate School. The Q3DFL0-81 code was operated on an IBM 370-3033 mainframe computer. The flow through a single stage axial research compressor was computed and compared with both probe survey and stage performance map measurments. Swirling flow produced by a vaned out-flow generator for a radial diffuser test facility was calculated for both large low-speed and small-scale high-speed versions of the device. Flow through a two-dimensional compressor cascade of "controlled-dif fusion" blade shapes was calculated and the results compared with experimental data, and with predictions obtained using the NASA code QSONIC.Prepared for: Naval Air Systems Command, Washington DChttp://archive.org/details/applicationoffin00schuN0001984WR 41099, N0001984WR 41134N

Registration of spatial image sequences for quantitative evaluation of free-form surfaces

This contribution describes an iterative registration method of spatial image sequences in view of accurate measurements and 3D reconstruction of free-form surfaces. Each image is represented by a set of 3D points characterizing the surface to be analyzed, gained with a technique based on the use of a structured light. The novelty of our registration method lies in interpolation of the imaged surfaces for the matching step and in the automated determination of the overlap region between two consecutive images of the sequence. The use of a statistical criterion enables to discard the matchings of bad quality. The actual displacement is computed using a least-squares technique based on unit quaternions and knowing a priori and approximately the displacement between two positions of the sensor. Processing the whole sequence enables to express the points of all images in a common reference frame. Results on both synthetic and real sequences assess efficiency and robustness of this registration procedure.Cette contribution décrit une méthode itérative de recalage de séquences spatiales d'images en vue d'une mesure 3D précise et d'une reconstruction de surfaces gauches quelconques. Chaque image est représentée par une collection de points 3D caractérisant la surface à analyser, obtenue par une technique de projection de lumière structurée. La nouveauté de notre méthode de recalage réside dans l'interpolation des surfaces imagées pour l'étape d'appariement et dans la détermination automatique de la zone de recouvrement entre deux images consécutives de la séquence. L'utilisation d'un critère statistique permet d'éliminer les appariements de mauvaise qualité. Le déplacement effectif est calculé par une technique de moindres carrés reposant sur les quaternions unitaires en connaissant a priori et approximativement le déplacement entre deux positions du système de prise de vues. Le traitement de la séquence complète permet d'exprimer les points de toutes les images dans un même référentiel. Des résultats expérimentaux sur des données synthétiques et réelles montrent que cette méthode de recalage est robuste et précise

Magnetic phases of the mixed-spin J1−J2J_1-J_2 Heisenberg model on a square lattice

We study the zero-temperature phase diagram and the low-energy excitations of a mixed-spin ($S_1>S_2$) $J_1-J_2$ Heisenberg model defined on a square lattice by using a spin-wave analysis, the coupled cluster method, and the Lanczos exact-diagonalization technique. As a function of the frustration parameter $J_2/J_1$ ($>0$), the phase diagram exhibits a quantized ferrimagnetic phase, a canted spin phase, and a mixed-spin collinear phase. The presented results point towards a strong disordering effect of the frustration and quantum spin fluctuations in the vicinity of the classical spin-flop transition. In the extreme quantum system $(S_1,S_2)=(1,{1/2})$, we find indications of a new quantum spin state in the region $0.46< J_2/J_1<0.5$Comment: 5 PRB pages, 7 figure

RVB Contribution to Superconductivity in MgB2MgB_2

We view $MgB_2$ as electronically equivalent to (non-staggered) graphite ($B^-$ layer) that has undergone a zero gap semiconductor to a superconductor phase transition by a large c-axis (chemical) pressure due to $Mg^{++}$ layers. Further, like the \ppi bonded planar organic molecules, graphite is an old resonating valence bond (RVB) system. The RVB's are the `preexisting cooper pairs' in the `parental' zero gap semiconducting $B^-$ (graphite) sheets that manifests themselves as a superconducting ground state of the transformed metal. Some consequences are pointed out.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure, RevTex. Based on a talk given at the Institute Seminar Week, IMSc, Madras (12-16, Feb. 2001

The connection between superconducting phase correlations and spin excitations in YBa2_2Cu3_3O6.6_{6.6}: A magnetic field study

One of the most striking universal properties of the high-transition-temperature (high-$T_c$) superconductors is that they are all derived from the hole-doping of their insulating antiferromagnetic (AF) parent compounds. From the outset, the intimate relationship between magnetism and superconductivity in these copper-oxides has intrigued researchers. Evidence for this link comes from neutron scattering experiments that show the unambiguous presence of short-range AF correlations (excitations) in cuprate superconductors. Even so, the role of such excitations in the pairing mechanism and superconductivity is still a subject of controversy. For YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{6+x}$, where $x$ controls the hole-doping level, the most prominent feature in the magnetic excitations spectra is the ``resonance''. Here we show that for underdoped YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{6.6}$, where $x$ and $T_c$ are below the optimal values, modest magnetic fields suppress the resonance significantly, much more so for fields approximately perpendicular rather than parallel to the CuO$_2$ planes. Our results indicate that the resonance measures pairing and phase coherence, suggesting that magnetism plays an important role in the superconductivity of cuprates. The persistence of a field effect above $T_c$ favors mechanisms with preformed pairs in the normal state of underdoped cuprates.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, Nature (in press

Collision, explosion and collapse of homoclinic classes

Homoclinic classes of generic $C^1$-diffeomorphisms are maximal transitive sets and pairwise disjoint. We here present a model explaining how two different homoclinic classes may intersect, failing to be disjoint. For that we construct a one-parameter family of diffeomorphisms $(g_s)_{s\in [-1,1]}$ with hyperbolic points $P$ and $Q$ having nontrivial homoclinic classes, such that, for $s>0$, the classes of $P$ and $Q$ are disjoint, for $s<0$, they are equal, and, for $s=0$, their intersection is a saddle-node.Comment: This is the final version, accepted in 200

Pseudogap behavior of nuclear spin relaxation in high Tc superconductors in terms of phase separation

We analyze anew experiments on the NMR in cuprates and find an important information on their phase separation and its stripe character hidden in the dependence of $1/^{63}T_{1}$ on degree of doping. In a broad class of materials $1/^{63}T_{1}$ is the sum of two terms: the temperature independent one attributed to ``incommensurate'' stripes that occur at external doping, and an ``universal'' temperature dependent term ascribed to moving metallic and AF sub-phases. We argue that the frustrated first order phase transition in a broad temperature interval bears a dynamical character.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures; some comments and references added; accepted for publication in JETP Letter

Beta decay of r-process waiting-point nuclei in a self-consistent approach

Beta-decay rates for spherical neutron-rich r-process waiting-point nuclei are calculated within a fully self-consistent Quasiparticle Random-Phase Approximation, formulated in the Hartree-Fock-Bogolyubov canonical single-particle basis. The same Skyrme force is used everywhere in the calculation except in the proton-neutron particle-particle channel, where a finite-range force is consistently employed. In all but the heaviest nuclei, the resulting half-lives are usually shorter by factors of 2 to 5 than those of calculations that ignore the proton-neutron particle-particle interaction. The shorter half-lives alter predictions for the abundance distribution of r-process elements and for the time it takes to synthesize them.Comment: 14 pages RevTex, 10 eps figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Limits on different Majoron decay modes of 100^{100}Mo and 82^{82}Se for neutrinoless double beta decays in the NEMO-3 experiment

The NEMO-3 tracking detector is located in the Fr\'ejus Underground Laboratory. It was designed to study double beta decay in a number of different isotopes. Presented here are the experimental half-life limits on the double beta decay process for the isotopes $^{100}$Mo and $^{82}$Se for different Majoron emission modes and limits on the effective neutrino-Majoron coupling constants. In particular, new limits on "ordinary" Majoron (spectral index 1) decay of $^{100}$Mo ($T_{1/2} > 2.7\cdot10^{22}$ y) and $^{82}$Se ($T_{1/2} > 1.5\cdot10^{22}$ y) have been obtained. Corresponding bounds on the Majoron-neutrino coupling constant are $< (0.4-1.9) \cdot 10^{-4}$ and $< (0.66-1.7) \cdot 10^{-4}$.Comment: 23 pages includind 4 figures, to be published in Nuclear Physics