Half a billion simulations: evolutionary algorithms and distributed computing for calibrating the SimpopLocal geographical model

Multi-agent geographical models integrate very large numbers of spatial interactions. In order to validate those models large amount of computing is necessary for their simulation and calibration. Here a new data processing chain including an automated calibration procedure is experimented on a computational grid using evolutionary algorithms. This is applied for the first time to a geographical model designed to simulate the evolution of an early urban settlement system. The method enables us to reduce the computing time and provides robust results. Using this method, we identify several parameter settings that minimise three objective functions that quantify how closely the model results match a reference pattern. As the values of each parameter in different settings are very close, this estimation considerably reduces the initial possible domain of variation of the parameters. The model is thus a useful tool for further multiple applications on empirical historical situations

Spatio-temporal dynamics of wormlike micelles under shear

Velocity profiles in a wormlike micelle solution (CTAB in D2O) are recorded using ultrasound every 2 s after a step-like shear rate into the shear-banding regime. The stress relaxation occurs over more than six hours and corresponds to the very slow nucleation and growth of the high-shear band. Moreover, oscillations of the interface position with a period of about 50 s are observed during the growth process. Strong wall slip, metastable states and transient nucleation of three-band flows are also reported and discussed in light of previous experiments and theoretical models.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Phys.Rev.Let

Exploration of combustion instability triggering using Large Eddy Simulation of a multiple injector Liquid Rocket Engine

This article explores the possibility of analyzing combustion instabilities in liq- uid rocket engines by making use of Large Eddy Simulations (LES). Calculations are carried out for a complete small-scale rocket engine, including the injection manifold thrust chamber and nozzle outlet. The engine comprises 42 coaxial injectors feeding the combustion chamber with gaseous hydrogen and liquid oxy- gen and it operates at supercritical pressures with a maximum thermal power of 80 MW. The objective of the study is to predict the occurrence of transverse high-frequency combustion instabilities by comparing two operating points fea- turing different levels of acoustic activity. The LES compares favorably with the experiment for the stable load point and exhibits a nonlinearly unstable trans- verse mode for the experimentally unstable operating condition. A detailed analysis of the instability retrieves the experimental data in terms of spectral features. It is also found that modifications of the flame structures and of the global combustion region configuration have similarities with those observed in recent model scale experiments. It is shown that the overall acoustic activity mainly results from the combination of one transverse and one radial mode of the chamber, which are also strongly coupled with the oxidizer injectors

Study of flame response to transverse acoustic modes from the LES of a 42-injector rocket engine

The Large-Eddy Simulation of a reduced-scale rocket engine operated by DLR has been conducted. This configuration features 42 coaxial injectors fed with liquid oxygen and gaseous hydrogen. For a given set of injection conditions the combustor exhibits strong transverse thermo-acoustic oscillations that are retrieved by the numerical simulation. The spatial structure of the two main modes observed in the LES is investigated through 3D Fourier analysis during the limit cycle. They are respectively associated with the first transverse and first radial resonant acoustic modes of the combustion chamber. The contributions of each individual flame to the unsteady heat release rate and the Rayleigh index are reconstructed for each mode. These contributions are in both cases low in the vicinity of velocity anti-nodes and high near pressure anti-nodes. Moreover it is noticed that these pressure fluctuations lead to large velocity oscillations in the hydrogen stream. From these observations, a driving mechanism for the flame response is proposed and values for the gain and phase of the associated flame transfer function are evaluated from the LES

In situ synchrotron radiation monitoring of phase transitions during microwave heating of Al-Cu-Fe alloys

The effect of rapid microwave heating has so far been evaluated mainly by comparing the state of materials before and after microwave exposure. Yet, further progress critically depends on the ability to follow the evolution of materials during ultrafast heating in real time. We describe the first in situ time-resolved monitoring of solid-state phase transitions during microwave heating of metallic powders using wide-angle synchrotron radiation diffraction. Single-phase Al-Cu-Fe quasicrystal powders were obtained by microwave heating of nanocrystalline alloy precursors at 650 °C in <20

Velocity profiles in shear-banding wormlike micelles

Using Dynamic Light Scattering in heterodyne mode, we measure velocity profiles in a much studied system of wormlike micelles (CPCl/NaSal) known to exhibit both shear-banding and stress plateau behavior. Our data provide evidence for the simplest shear-banding scenario, according to which the effective viscosity drop in the system is due to the nucleation and growth of a highly sheared band in the gap, whose thickness linearly increases with the imposed shear rate. We discuss various details of the velocity profiles in all the regions of the flow curve and emphasize on the complex, non-Newtonian nature of the flow in the highly sheared band.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

Optimization and uncertainty quantification of gradient index metasurfaces

The design of intrinsically flat two-dimensional optical components, i.e., metasurfaces, generally requires an extensive parameter search to target the appropriate scattering properties of their constituting building blocks. Such design methodologies neglect important near-field interaction effects, playing an essential role in limiting the device performance. Optimization of transmission, phase-addressing and broadband performances of metasurfaces require new numerical tools. Additionally, uncertainties and systematic fabrication errors should be analysed. These estimations, of critical importance in the case of large production of metaoptics components, are useful to further project their deployment in industrial applications. Here, we report on a computational methodology to optimize metasurface designs. We complement this computational methodology by quantifying the impact of fabrication uncertainties on the experimentally characterized components. This analysis provides general perspectives on the overall metaoptics performances, giving an idea of the expected average behavior of a large number of devices

Shear-banding in a lyotropic lamellar phase, Part 2: Temporal fluctuations

We analyze the temporal fluctuations of the flow field associated to a shear-induced transition in a lyotropic lamellar phase: the layering transition of the onion texture. In the first part of this work [Salmon et al., submitted to Phys. Rev. E], we have evidenced banded flows at the onset of this shear-induced transition which are well accounted for by the classical picture of shear-banding. In the present paper, we focus on the temporal fluctuations of the flow field recorded in the coexistence domain. These striking dynamics are very slow (100--1000s) and cannot be due to external mechanical noise. Using velocimetry coupled to structural measurements, we show that these fluctuations are due to a motion of the interface separating the two differently sheared bands. Such a motion seems to be governed by the fluctuations of $\sigma^\star$, the local stress at the interface between the two bands. Our results thus provide more evidence for the relevance of the classical mechanical approach of shear-banding even if the mechanism leading to the fluctuations of $\sigma^\star$ remains unclear