Adjoint-based mean-flow uncertainty and feedback-forcing analyses of a thermoacoustic model system

Clean combustion, particularly premixed hydrogen combustion aimed at reducing NOx emissions, is prone to thermoacoustic instabilities that can cause structural vibrations and equipment failures. This study focuses on a low-order model for a thermoacoustic prototype, a simple quasi-one-dimensional combustor comprising a plenum, premixing duct, and combustion chamber. Resonant modes of the combustor are identified by solving a nonlinear eigenvalue problem. Using an adjoint-based sensitivity analysis, the impact of uncertainties in base flow parameters on resonant frequencies and linear growth rates is assessed. The results obtained highlight the significant influence of variations in cold gas density within the plenum and premixing duct on the linear growth rates, potentially explaining discrepancies with literature data. Additionally, structural sensitivities in both the base and the perturbation flow are examined to evaluate the effects of a generic feedback mechanism on the eigenvalues. Structural sensitivities at the base-flow level are evaluated as a function of the flame position, identifying effective stabilizing mechanisms such as heat addition and mass flow rate reduction at duct intersections. The most stabilizing feedback mechanism is identified as mass fluctuations proportional to pressure perturbation at the end of the plenum, an effect achievable with Helmholtz resonators. Adjoint analyses permit uncertainty quantification of base-state parameters and gradient information for optimization strategies aimed at mitigating thermoacoustic instabilities through efficient and low-cost calculations

Optimal control of a thin-airfoil wake using a Riccati-less approach

L' abstract si trova nella sezione EUCASS MS-

Gas-graft coverage after DMEK: A clinically validated numeric study

Purpose: We investigate the influence of positioning, gas fill, and anterior chamber size on bubble configuration and graft coverage after Descemet\u2019s membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK). Methods: We use a mathematical model to study the bubble shape and graft coverage in eyes of varying anterior chamber depths (ACD). The governing equations are solved numericly using the open source software OpenFOAM. Numeric results are validated clinically so that clinical gas fill measures can be correlated with numeric results providing gas-graft coverage information otherwise clinically inaccessible. Results: In a phakic eye (ACD = 2.65 mm) with a gas fill of 35%, graft contact ranged from 35% to 38% depending on positioning and increased to 85% to 92% with a 70% fill. In contrast, positioning of a pseudophakic eye (ACD = 4.35) with a gas fill of 35% results in graft contact ranging from 8% to 52%, increasing to 63% to 94% with a 70% fill. The mathematical model demonstrates negligible differences between air and SF6 results and interestingly, a very thin central patch of aqueous humor within the gas bubble is found in some cases. Conclusions: Graft coverage in phakic eyes (ACD 64 3 mm) is dominated by the gas fill and less sensitive to patient positioning. In pseudophakic eyes with larger values of ACD, the graft coverage depends on gas fill and patient positioning with positioning even more important as ACD increases. Translational Relevance: Anterior chamber depth markedly influences the role of patient positioning in gas-filled eyes after DMEK due to the interplay between anterior chamber anatomy and gas bubble morphology

On the comparison between pre- and post-surgery nasal anatomies via computational fluid dynamics

Nasal breathing difficulties (NBD) are widespread and difficult to diagnose; the failure rate of their surgical corrections is high. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) enables diagnosis of NBD and surgery planning, by comparing a pre-operative (pre-op) situation with the outcome of virtual surgery (post-op). An equivalent comparison is involved when considering distinct anatomies in the search for the functionally normal nose. Currently, this comparison is carried out in more than one way, under the implicit assumption that results are unchanged, which reflects our limited understanding of the driver of the respiratory function. The study describes how to set up a meaningful comparison. A pre-op anatomy, derived via segmentation from a CT scan, is compared with a post-op anatomy obtained via virtual surgery. State-of-the-art numerical simulations for a steady inspiration carry out the comparison under three types of global constraints, derived from the field of turbulent flow control: a constant pressure drop (CPG) between external ambient and throat, a constant flow rate (CFR) through the airways and a constant power input (CPI) from the lungs can be enforced. A significant difference in the quantities of interest is observed depending on the type of comparison. Global quantities (flow rate, pressure drop, nasal resistance) as well as local ones are affected. The type of flow forcing affects the outcome of the comparison between pre-op and post-op anatomies. Among the three available options, we argue that CPG is the least adequate. Arguments favouring either CFR or CPI are presented

On the comparison between pre- and post-surgery nasal anatomies via computational fluid dynamics

Nasal breathing difficulties (NBD) are widespread and difficult to diagnose; the failure rate of their surgical corrections is high. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) enables diagnosis of NBD and surgery planning, by comparing a pre-operative (pre-op) situation with the outcome of virtual surgery (post-op). An equivalent comparison is involved when considering distinct anatomies in the search for the functionally normal nose. Currently, this comparison is carried out in more than one way, under the implicit assumption that results are unchanged, which reflects our limited understanding of the driver of the respiratory function. The study describes how to set up a meaningful comparison. A pre-op anatomy, derived via segmentation from a CT scan, is compared with a post-op anatomy obtained via virtual surgery. State-of-the-art numerical simulations for a steady inspiration carry out the comparison under three types of global constraints, derived from the field of turbulent flow control: a constant pressure drop (CPG) between external ambient and throat, a constant flow rate (CFR) through the airways and a constant power input (CPI) from the lungs can be enforced. A significant difference in the quantities of interest is observed depending on the type of comparison. Global quantities (flow rate, pressure drop and nasal resistance) as well as local ones are affected. The type of flow forcing affects the outcome of the comparison between pre-op and post-op anatomies. Among the three available options, we argue that CPG is the least adequate. Arguments favouring either CFR or CPI are presented

Aerospike: Mission Simulation and Optimal Design Using Openfoam and Dakota

Hypersonic flight presents several difficulties linked to the important viscous dissipation of kinetic energy on the surface of a vehicle which causes the need for relevant Thermal Protection Systems, reduces communication efficiency due to air ionization and creates an important pressure load due to the stagnation point on the fuselage. Those effects are enlarged by the presence of a shock wave with its strength growing in the case of a blunt body-shaped vehicle. The aim of this work is to study the effectiveness of the static device called "Aerospike" to reduce the effects induced by the hypersonic flight of a blunt body, in particular with respect to the average surface temperature, the pressure load and drag coefficient. After having studied a base case, an optimization process to define an optimal shape both for the aerospike and the aerodisk are presented

Stability of low-pressure turbine boundary layers under variable Reynolds number and pressure gradient

The free-stream turbulence induced transition occurring under typical low-pressure turbine flow conditions is investigated by comparing linear stability theory with wind tunnel measurements acquired over a flat plate subjected to high turbulence intensity. The analysis was carried out, accounting for three different Reynolds numbers and four different adverse pressure gradients. First, a non-similarity-based boundary layer (BL) solver was used to compute base flows and validated against pressure taps and particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements. Successively, the optimal disturbances and their spatial transient growth were calculated by coupling classical linear stability theory and a direct-adjoint optimization procedure on all flow conditions considered. Linear stability results were compared with experimental particle image velocimetry measurements on both wall-normal and wall-parallel planes. Finally, the sensitivity of the disturbance spatial transient growth to the spanwise wavenumber of perturbations, the receptivity position, and the location where disturbance energy is maximized were investigated via the built numerical model. Overall, the optimal perturbations computed by linear stability theory show good agreement with the streaky structures surveyed in experiments. Interestingly, the energy growth of disturbances was found to be maximum for all the flow conditions examined, when perturbations entered the boundary layer close to the position where minimum pressure occurs

A Mathematical Model of Corneal Metabolism in the Presence of an Iris-Fixated Phakic Intraocular Lens

Purpose: Corneal endothelial cell loss is one of the possible complications associated with phakic iris-fixated intraocular lens (PIOL) implantation. We postulate that this might be connected to the alteration of corneal metabolism secondary to the lens implantation. Methods: A mathematical model of transport and consumption/production of metabolic species in the cornea is proposed, coupled with a model of aqueous flow and transport of metabolic species in the anterior chamber. Results: Results are presented both for open and closed eyelids. We showed that, in the presence of a PIOL, glucose availability at the corneal endothelium decreases significantly during sleeping. Conclusions: Implantation of a PIOL significantly affects nutrient transport processes to the corneal endothelium especially during sleep. It must still be verified whether this finding has a clinical relevance