Unified semi-analytical wall boundary conditions applied to 2-D incompressible SPH

International audienceThis work aims at improving the 2-D incompressible SPH model (ISPH) by adapting it to the unified semi-analytical wall boundary conditions proposed by Ferrand et al. [10]. The ISPH algorithm considered is as proposed by Lind et al. [25], based on the projection method with a divergence-free velocity field and using a stabilising procedure based on particle shifting. However, we consider an extension of this model to Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations based on the k- turbulent closure model, as done in [10]. The discrete SPH operators are modified by the new description of the wall boundary conditions. In particular, a boundary term appears in the Laplacian operator, which makes it possible to accurately impose a von Neumann pressure wall boundary condition that corresponds to impermeability. The shifting and free-surface detection algorithms have also been adapted to the new boundary conditions. Moreover, a new way to compute the wall renormalisation factor in the frame of the unified semi-analytical boundary conditions is proposed in order to decrease the computational time. We present several verifications to the present approach, including a lid-driven cavity, a water column collapsing on a wedge and a periodic schematic fish-pass. Our results are compared to Finite Volumes methods, using Volume of Fluids in the case of free-surface flows. We briefly investigate the convergence of the method and prove its ability to model complex free-surface and turbulent flows. The results are generally improved when compared to a weakly compressible SPH model with the same boundary conditions, especially in terms of pressure prediction

Coupling SPH with a 1-D Boussinesq-type wave model

International audienceThe high computational cost of SPH remains problematic in dealing with wave propagation, especially when the domains considered are large. In order to overcome this difficulty, we propose to couple 2-D SPH with a 1-D Finite Difference Boussinesq-type model. The latter deals with wave propagations for most of the spatial domain, whereas SPH computations focus on the shoreline or close to off-shore structures, where a complex description of the free-surface is required. The re-use of existing codes is achieved using a generic implementation based on Component Technology. The communication between software is ensured by the middleware Component Template Library (CTL). In order to deal with open domains, open-boundaries have to be implemented for SPH, with water height and velocity varying in space and time. These velocity and water height values are then driven by the Boussinesq-type model. As an illustration of the one way coupling, we present herein two simple examples of water waves, the first one with a flat bottom, the other one representing a schematic coastal protection

A time-step-robust algorithm to compute particle trajectories in 3-D unstructured meshes for Lagrangian stochastic methods

The purpose of this paper is to propose a time-step-robust cell-to-cell integration of particle trajectories in 3-D unstructured meshes in particle/mesh Lagrangian stochastic methods. The main idea is to dynamically update the mean fields used in the time integration by splitting, for each particle, the time step into sub-steps such that each of these sub-steps corresponds to particle cell residence times. This reduces the spatial discretization error. Given the stochastic nature of the models, a key aspect is to derive estimations of the residence times that do not anticipate the future of the Wiener process. To that effect, the new algorithm relies on a virtual particle, attached to each stochastic one, whose mean conditional behavior provides free-of-statistical-bias predictions of residence times. After consistency checks, this new algorithm is validated on two representative test cases: particle dispersion in a statistically uniform flow and particle dynamics in a non-uniform flow

The effects of mindfulness training on weight-loss and health-related behaviours in adults with overweight and obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The aim of this study was to conduct a comprehensive quantitative synthesis of the effects of mindfulness training interventions on weight-loss and health behaviours in adults with overweight and obesity using meta-analytic techniques. Studies included in the analysis (k =12) were randomised controlled trials investigating the effects of any form of mindfulness training on weight loss, impulsive eating, binge eating, or physical activity participation in adults with overweight and obesity. Random effects meta-analysis revealed that mindfulness training had no significant effect on weight loss, but an overall negative effect on impulsive eating (d =-1.13) and binge eating (d =-.90), and a positive effect on physical activity levels (d =.42). Meta-regression analysis showed that methodological features of included studies accounted for 100% of statistical heterogeneity of the effects of mindfulness training on weight loss (R 2 =1,00). Among methodological features, the only significant predictor of weight loss was follow-up distance from post-intervention (ß =1.18; p <.05), suggesting that the longer follow-up distances were associated with greater weight loss. Results suggest that mindfulness training has short-term benefits on health-related behaviours. Future studies should explore the effectiveness of mindfulness training on long-term post-intervention weight loss in adults with overweight and obesity

Aeroelastic implications of active winglet concept aimed to improve civil transport aircraft performances

Reduction of aircraft environmental footprint has become over years a key objective for the industry. Particularly, for decades winglets have been proven to eficiently reduce drag and fuel consumption. However, the design of those wingtip extensions mainly relies on an aerodynamic shape optimisation for a given cruise condition resulting in suboptimal behaviour for the rest of the flight. Active winglet concept proposes to optimise the winglet cant angle along the flight to compensate the loss of eficiency inherent to fixed designs. The variation of winglet deflection impacts the lift distribution with repercussion on wing deformation that must be investigated. Besides, the presence of moving masses at the tip of the wing also has influence on dynamic response and particularly on flutter onset. This work proposes to evaluate those impacts through an aeroelastic analysis of both static and dynamic implications of active winglets combined with an aerodynamic performances optimisation. The XRF1, an Airbus provided industrial standard multi- disciplinary research test case representing a typical configuration for wide body long- range aircraft, is used as the baseline aircraft. Coupled CFD/CSM computations are performed to assess the evolution of wing shape with respect to winglets deflections and the consequences on mission performance optimisation. While a parametric flutter analysis is carried-out to highlight the dependence of critical flutter speed on winglet cant angle

Meta-model based optimization of a large diameter semi-radial conical hub engine cooling fan

Une chaine de conception numérique basée sur une méthode de sensibilité à l’ordre deux a été utilisée pour conduire une optimisation sur une turbomachine, selon un cahier des charges multi-objectifs et dans un environnement sous contraintes. Les premières étapes décrites ont démarrée à partir d’un premier dessin de roue obtenue par l’utilisation des théories classiques de dimensions et de corrélations empiriques, et ont consisté à mettre en place une chaine de simulation numérique utilisant des techniques de morphing de maillage. Ce procédé utilise la méthode des fonctions de base radiale (RBF) et permet la construction à moindre coût d’une base de données géométrique. Les variations sont issues des paramètres aérodynamiques et géométriques sélectionnés à l’issue de l’analyse de l’écoulement sur la géométrie initiale. A l’issue de ce travail, une seconde base de données aérodynamique est construite en calculant en fonction des paramètres les dérivées objectifs jusqu’à l’ordre 2, ce qui permet d’obtenir les dérivées premières, secondes et croisées. Le processus d’enchainement automatisé des simulations autorise la construction rapide de surfaces de réponse indiquant le niveau d’incertitude et la probabilité d’amélioration des objectifs en chaque point. Les bases de données sont ensuite exploitées par un optimiseur basé sur les algorithmes génétiques, et les fronts de Pareto obtenus sont analysés à l'aide d'une technique de Self Organisation Map (SOM). Cette méthode est appliquée au cas d'un ventilateur destiné au refroidissement des moteurs thermiques et pour lequel on cherche à obtenir un faible couple et un haut rendement statique. Le dessin ainsi obtenu est en rupture complète avec les concepts classique et la solution sélectionnée démontre un rendement plus élevé que pour les solutions classiques

Ir(III) complexes of diamine ligands for asymmetric ketone hydrogenation

The use of a combination of IrCl3 with a series of ligands derived from the C2-symmetric diamine diphenylethanediamine (DPEN) forms a catalyst capable of the asymmetric hydrogenation of ketones in up to 85% ee

Neuropilin-2 Expression Promotes TGF-β1-Mediated Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in Colorectal Cancer Cells

Neuropilins, initially characterized as neuronal receptors, act as co-receptors for cancer related growth factors and were recently involved in several signaling pathways leading to cytoskeletal organization, angiogenesis and cancer progression. Then, we sought to investigate the ability of neuropilin-2 to orchestrate epithelial-mesenchymal transition in colorectal cancer cells. Using specific siRNA to target neuropilin-2 expression, or gene transfer, we first observed that neuropilin-2 expression endows HT29 and Colo320 for xenograft formation. Moreover, neuropilin-2 conferred a fibroblastic-like shape to cancer cells, suggesting an involvement of neuropilin-2 in epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Indeed, the presence of neuropilin-2 in colorectal carcinoma cell lines was correlated with loss of epithelial markers such as cytokeratin-20 and E-cadherin and with acquisition of mesenchymal molecules such as vimentin. Furthermore, we showed by surface plasmon resonance experiments that neuropilin-2 is a receptor for transforming-growth factor-β1. The expression of neuropilin-2 on colon cancer cell lines was indeed shown to promote transforming-growth factor-β1 signaling, leading to a constitutive phosphorylation of the Smad2/3 complex. Treatment with specific TGFβ-type1 receptor kinase inhibitors restored E-cadherin levels and inhibited in part neuropilin-2-induced vimentin expression, suggesting that neuropilin-2 cooperates with TGFβ-type1 receptor to promote epithelial-mesenchymal transition in colorectal cancer cells. Our results suggest a direct role of NRP2 in epithelial-mesenchymal transition and highlight a cross-talk between neuropilin-2 and TGF-β1 signaling to promote cancer progression. These results suggest that neuropilin-2 fulfills all the criteria of a therapeutic target to disrupt multiple oncogenic functions in solid tumors