A Study of Dam Break Wave of Thixotropic Fluid: Bentonite Surges down an Inclined plane

Thixotropic fluids are commonly used in the construction industry (e.g. liquid cements, liquid concrete, drilling fluids), industrial applications (e.g. muds, paints) and the food industry (e.g. liquid dairy products, ketchup). Related applications include some forms of mud flows and debris flows, pasty sewage sludges and some wastewater treatment residues. Thixotropy is the characteristic of a fluid to form a gelled structure over time when it is not subjected to shearing and to liquefy when agitated. A thixotropic fluid is a non-Newtonian fluid with a viscosity that is a function of both shear rate y and instantaneous state(s) of structure of the material. Such a fluid exhibits a reversible time-dependent decrease in apparent viscosity under shear rate and a gradual recovery when the shear stress is removed. This report describes a basic study of dam break wave with thixotropic fluid. A dam break wave is a sudden release of a mass of fluid in a channel. This type of flows has not been studied to date with thixotropic fluid, despite its practical applications : e.g., mudflow release, concrete tests including L-Box and J-Ring for self-consolidating concrete testing, paint applications. Theoretical considerations were developed based upon a kinematic wave approximation of the Saint-Venant equations for a thixotropic fluid down a prismatic sloping channel. The thixotropic fluid model of COUSSOT et al. (2002a) was used since it describes the instantaneous state of fluid structure by a single parameter. The analytical solution of the basic flow motion and rheology equations predict three basic flow regimes depending upon the fluid properties and flow conditions, including the initial degree of jamming of the fluid : (1) a short motion with relatively-rapid flow stoppage for relatively small mass of fluid, (2) a fast flow motion for a large mass of fluid, or (3) an intermediate motion initially rapid before final fluid stoppage for intermediate mass of fluid and intermediate initial rest period To. Physical experiments were performed with bentonite suspensions. Systematic experiments showed four types of flows. For small bentonite mass concentrations and short relaxation times To, the fluid flowed rapidly down the slope and spilled into the overflow container (Flow Type I). For intermediate concentrations and rest periods, the suspension flowed rapidly initially, decelerated relatively suddenly, continued to flow slowly for sometimes before complete stoppage (Flow Type II). For large mass concentrations and long rest periods, the mass of fluid stretched down the slope, until the head separated from the tail (Flow Type III). The last flow pattern (Type IV) corresponded to an absence of flow for large bentonite concentrations and long rest times. Quantitative informations were documented in terms of the final fluid thickness, wave front position, wave front curvature, side profile of the wave front during motion and after stoppage, as well as the flow motion immediately after gate opening. Some freesurface instabilities are also discussed and illustrated. It is believed that the present study is the first theoretical analysis combining successfully the basic principles of unsteady flow motion (i.e. Saint-Venant equations) with a thixotropic fluid model, which was validated with large-size systematic laboratory experiments. It is the belief of the writers that, for such complex systems this kind of approach, combining both rheology and fluid dynamics, is necessary to gain new insights of these complicated flow motions

An Experimental Study of Sudden Release of Bentonite Suspensions down an Inclined Chute

Bentonite suspensions, used in the construction industry, are non-Newtonian fluids with a thixotropic behaviour. Sudden releases of bentonite suspensions were systematically investigated down a sloping chute, to quantify the effects of bentonite concentrations and initial rest period on flow motion. Experiments observations highlighted four types of flows, that differ substantially from Newtonian fluid motion. Quantitative informations were documented in terms of the fluid thickness, wave front position and wave front curvature during motion and after stoppage. It is believed that the present study is the first systematic study of its kind in a large-size facility

Weld pool shape identification by using Bezier surfaces

International audienceThis paper deals with the heat transfer analysis in a welding process: A method is developed to determine the shape of the three-dimensional (3-D) phase change front and to estimate the temperature field within the solid part of the work piece. The problem is formulated and solved as an inverse phase-change problem by using an optimization method. The direct problem is solved in the torch frame and so formulated as an Eulerian approach. The interface between the weld pool and the solid region is parameterized by Bezier surfaces. The most important feature of the presented approach is that the liquid–solid interface as well as the temperature distribution within the solid region can be obtained from additional temperature data available in the solid region, without considering heat transfer and fluid flow in a molten zone. The estimate of these thermal characteristics then allows a thermomechanical calculation of the welded joint (calculation of the deformations and residual stresses). The validity of the numerical solution of the inverse problem is checked by comparing the results with the direct solution of the problem

Mesure de tomographie PIV au sein d'une cellule de cisaillement

International audienc

Homogénéisation et prise en compte des effets de bords : Application à la thermique.

Ce travail concerne la modélisation multi-échelle de la conduction dans les matériaux composites à microstructure périodique. La méthode des développements asymptotiques est utilisée pour déterminer la conductivité homogénéisée et formuler les problèmes de couche limite pour corriger la solution au voisinage des bords, sur la base des travaux d'H. Dumontet en élasticité. Des exemples numériques avec la méthode des éléments finis seront présentés

Age-specific biological and molecular profiling distinguishes paediatric from adult acute myeloid leukaemias

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) affects children and adults of all ages. AML remains one of the major causes of death in children with cancer and for children with AML relapse is the most common cause of death. Here, by modelling AML in vivo we demonstrate that AML is discriminated by the age of the cell of origin. Young cells give rise to myeloid, lymphoid or mixed phenotype acute leukaemia, whereas adult cells give rise exclusively to AML, with a shorter latency. Unlike adult, young AML cells do not remodel the bone marrow stroma. Transcriptional analysis distinguishes young AML by the upregulation of immune pathways. Analysis of human paediatric AML samples recapitulates a paediatric immune cell interaction gene signature, highlighting two genes, RGS10 and FAM26F as prognostically significant. This work advances our understanding of paediatric AML biology, and provides murine models that offer the potential for developing paediatric specific therapeutic strategies

MRI investigation of granular interface rheology using a new cylinder shear apparatus

The rheology of granular materials near an interface is investigated through proton magnetic resonance imaging. A new cylinder shear apparatus has been inserted in the MRI device, which allows the control of the radial confining pressure exerted by the outer wall on the grains and the measurement of the torque on the inner shearing cylinder. A multi-layer velocimetry sequence has been developed for the simultaneous measurement of velocity profiles in different sample zones, while the measurement of the solid fraction profile is based on static imaging of the sample. This study describes the influence of the roughness of the shearing interface and of the transverse confining walls on the granular interface rheology

Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico: generalidades sobre su fisiopatología, clínica, abordaje diagnóstico y terapéutico

El Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico (LES) es uno de los prototipos de las enfermedades autoinmunes, compromete principalmente al sexo femenino, con una proporción 9:1 mujer-hombre. Se caracteriza por la formación de autoanticuerpos con la participación de la inmunidad adaptativa e innata, en interacción con los factores genéticos y medioambientales. Estos autoanticuerpos son parte central de la fisiopatología de la enfermedad, causando desde compromiso orgánico leve hasta compromiso multisistémico grave. El diagnóstico es clínico, orientado por una anamnesis detallada, un examen físico exhaustivo y los marcadores de autoinmunidad; eventualmente podría apoyarse en criterios clasificatorios de algunas sociedades científicas. La actual revisión pretende destacar las generalidades sobre la enfermedad, haciendo énfasis en su fisiopatología, presentación clínica, y su abordaje diagnóstico y terapéutico, sirviendo de apoyo para la formación médica integral en beneficio de los pacientes

Fresh concrete pumping arrest investigation for thixotropy by a CFD modelling apporach

Concrete pumping operations determine construction speed, finishing quality, durability and even structural integrity. When pumping operations cannot be continued, most problems occur due to complex time-dependent transformations. This causes significant industrial costs (e.g. material and delay). Since time-dependent aspects are currently not fully understood and cannot be predicted, a way to quantify time-dependent aspects is needed. Therefore, we make an attempt by numerical simulation by comparing thixotropic cases with different pumping arresting times. After an introduction to fresh concrete rheology and numerical modelling, ten representative thixotropy cases are analysed. Despite some unresolved numerical instabilities, the numerical framework allows to estimate pumping pressure peaks after resting time. The results evaluate a thixotropy model, which is generally applicable for less thixotropic SCC’s. It is clear that flow re-initiation after rest in concrete pumping is poorly understood. Numerical simulation could be one approach for further analysis and is potentially important for practice. Future work such as simulation of concrete mixers, pressure increase after pumping arrest, formwork pressure decay and leakage are therefore recommended

Los olvidados de la pandemia y el desafío en Salud Pública

Hemos leído con agrado el artículo “Atención en salud una necesidad manifiesta: en habitantes de calle con COVID-19”, tema importante en salud pública dada la gran cantidad de personas en condición de pobreza, desplazamiento o calle en Colombia, país en el cual, toda persona tiene derecho a un nivel de vida adecuado que le asegure, así como a su familia, la salud y el bienestar, en especial la alimentación, el vestido, la vivienda, la asistencia médica, los servicios sociales necesarios. Aunque está escrito, solemos ignorar a los menos privilegiados, generando desconocimiento de características sociodemográficas, que podrían permitirle al clínico, brindar un abordaje preventivo, previendo complicaciones comunes en la población indigente, basando decisiones como la priorización en urgencias de estas minorías en evidencia científica. Por esta razón queremos felicitarlos por el trabajo acucioso realizado, consideramos que con su elaboración invitan a la igualdad, resaltando la dignidad humana como premisa para reducir el estigma y la discriminación