Microvortex generators (MVGs) are a promising solution to control shock wave/turbulent boundary layer interactions (SBLIs), especially in supersonic inlets. In this study, we examine the effects of a microramp vortex generator on an SBLI generated by an oblique shock wave and a turbulent boundary layer using direct numerical simulations (DNSs). Two cases, with and without the presence of a microramp, are compared in terms of their mean and unsteady flow features at free-stream Mach number equal to 2 and friction Reynolds number at the inviscid shock impingement equal to 600. The long integration period allows us to assess how microramps affect the typical low-frequency unsteadiness observed in SBLIs, and the data generated may serve as a reference for simulations of lower fidelity or reduced order models. The analysis shows that the three-dimensional microramp wake alters the interaction region dramatically, inducing a significant spanwise modulation and topology change of the separation. For example, tornado-like structures redistribute the flow in both the spanwise and wall-normal directions inside the recirculation region. The increase in momentum close to the wall by the ramp vortices effectively delays the onset of the separation and, thus, the separation length, but at the same time leads to a significant increase in the intensity of the wall-pressure fluctuations. We then characterise the mutual interaction between the arch-like vortices around the ramp wake and the SBLI. The specific spanwise vorticity shows that these vortices follow the edge of the separation and their intensity, apart from mean compressibility effects, is not affected by the shocks. The shocks, instead, are deformed in shape by the periodic impingement of the vortices, although the spectral analysis did not reveal any significant trace of their shedding frequency in the separation region. These Kelvin–Helmholtz vortices, however, may be relevant in the closure of the separation bubble. Fourier analysis also shows a constant increase, in both value and magnitude, in the low-frequency peak all along the span, suggesting that the motion of the separation shock remains coherent while being disturbed by the arch-like vortices and oscillating at a higher frequency in absolute terms.

Microvortex generators are passive control devices smaller than the boundary layer thickness that energise the boundary layer to prevent flow separation with limited induced drag. In this work, we use direct numerical simulations (DNS) to investigate the effect of the Reynolds number in a supersonic turbulent boundary layer over a microramp vortex generator. Three friction Reynolds numbers are considered, up to $Re_\tau = 2000$, for fixed free stream Mach number $M_\infty =2$ and fixed relative height of the ramp with respect to the boundary layer thickness. The high-fidelity data set sheds light on the instantaneous and highly three-dimensional organisation of both the wake and the shock waves induced by the microramp. The full access to the flow field provided by DNS allows us to develop a qualitative model of the near wake, explaining the internal convolution of the Kelvin–Helmholtz vortices around the low-momentum region behind the ramp. The overall analysis shows that numerical results agree excellently with recent experimental measurements in similar operating conditions and confirms that microramps effectively induce a significantly fuller boundary layer even far downstream of the ramp. Moreover, results highlight significant Reynolds number effects, which in general do not scale with the ramp height. Increasing Reynolds number leads to enhanced coherence of the typical vortical structures in the field, faster and stronger development of the momentum deficit region, increased upwash between the primary vortices from the sides of the ramp – and thus increased lift-up of the wake – and faster transfer of momentum towards the wall.

The effect of gravity during the water entry of two-dimensional and axisymmetric bodies is investigated analytically and numerically. An extension to the Wagner model of water impact is proposed in order to take into account the effect of gravity. For this purpose, the free-surface condition is modified. The pressure is computed using the modified Logvinovich model of Korobkin (Eur. J. Appl. Maths, vol. 6, 2004, pp. 821–838). The model has been implemented and validated through comparisons with fully nonlinear potential flow simulations of different two-dimensional and axisymmetric water entry problems. Our investigation shows that it is equally important to account for gravity when computing the pressure distribution and to account for gravity when computing the size of the wetted surface in order to obtain accurate force results with the Wagner model. Simulations of wedges and cones with different values of deadrise angle ($\beta$) entering water at constant speed ($V$) demonstrate the accuracy of the semi-analytical model and show that the effect of gravity in such water impacts is governed by the effective Froude number defined as $Fr^*=V/(\sqrt {gh}\sqrt {\tan \beta })$, with $g$ the acceleration due to gravity and $h$ the penetration depth. The accuracy of the semi-analytical model for decelerated water entries is also demonstrated by investigating the water entry of a wedge and a cone with a $15^\circ$ deadrise angle with deceleration until full stop. The semi-analytical model is able to accurately predict the effect of gravity during both two-dimensional and axisymmetric water entry problems with deceleration.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene variants may potentially influence behaviour. In order to test this hypothesis, we investigated the relationship between BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and aggressive behaviour in a population of schizophrenic patients. Our results showed that increased number of BDNF Met alleles was associated with increased aggressive behaviour.

The thermal behaviour and mechanism of formation of different texture types of intergrown As-Sb alloys have been studied by DTA and annealing experiments performed on natural samples. The constant composition of the As-rich component and of the stibarsen in the intergrowths, and the large compositional range of the homogeneous solid solution obtained after heating in the DTA cycle, have been established using the linear relationship between cell volume and composition. The high-temperature features detected in the DTA studies of the natural samples confirm previously published phase relations for the synthetic As-Sb system. The low-temperature features can be correlated with the homogenization reaction which leads to the formation of a complete solid solution. Study of TTT plots based on the annealing experiments clearly shows that a diffusion mechanism is involved in the homogenization reaction. This has been further substantiated by fitting the experimental data to kinetic equations for diffusion-controlled processes. The kinetic parameters evaluated from the ending time for the 520, 480, and 420 °C annealing experiments, using both the Arrhenius and the transition state theory formalisms, suggests a rather rigid activated complex for the rate-determining step of the process.

The structure of zero-pressure-gradient compressible turbulent boundary layers is analysed using the tools of optimal transient growth theory. The approach relies on the extension to compressible flows of the theoretical framework originally developed by Reynolds & Hussain (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 52, 1972, pp. 263–288) for incompressible flows. The model is based on a density-weighted triple decomposition of the instantaneous field into the contributions of the mean flow, the organized (coherent) motions and the disorganized background turbulent fluctuations. The mean field and the eddy viscosity characterizing the incoherent fluctuations are here obtained from a direct numerical simulation database. Most temporally amplified modes (optimal modes) are found to be consistent with scaling laws of turbulent boundary layers for both inner and outer layers, as well as in the logarithmic region, where they exhibit a self-similar spreading. Four free-stream Mach numbers are considered: $\mathit{Ma}_{\infty }=0.2$, 2, 3 and 4. Weak effects of compressibility on the characteristics length and the orientation angles are observed for both the inner- and the outer-layer modes. Furthermore, taking into account the effects of mean density variations, a universal behaviour is suggested for the optimal modes that populate the log layer, regardless of the Mach number. The relevance of the optimal modes in describing the near-wall layer dynamics and the eddies that populate the outer region is discussed.

PEM fuel cell performance and lifetime strongly depend on the polymer membrane and MEA hydration. As the internal moisture is very sensitive to the operating conditions (temperature, stoichiometry, load current, water management…), keeping the optimal working point is complex and requires real-time monitoring. This article focuses on PEM fuel cell stack health diagnosis and more precisely on stack fault detection monitoring. This paper intends to define new, simple and effective methods to get relevant information on usual faults or malfunctions occurring in the fuel cell stack. For this purpose, the authors present a fault detection method using simple and non-intrusive on-line technique based on the space signature of the cell voltages. The authors have the objective to minimize the number of embedded sensors and instrumentation in order to get a precise, reliable and economic solution in a mass market application. A very low number of sensors are indeed needed for this monitoring and the associated algorithm can be implemented on-line. This technique is validated on a 20-cell PEMFC stack. It demonstrates that the developed method is particularly efficient in flooding case. As a matter of fact, it uses directly the stack as a sensor which enables to get a quick feedback on its state of health.

This paper briefly describes the principle of operation and science goals of the AMANDA high energy neutrino telescope located at the South Pole, Antarctica. Results from an earlier phase of the telescope, called AMANDA-BIO, demonstrate both reliable operation and the broad astrophysical reach of this device, which includes searches for a variety of sources of ultrahigh energy neutrinos: generic point sources, Gamma-Ray Bursts and diffuse sources. The predicted sensitivity and angular resolution of the telescope were confirmed by studies of atmospheric muon and neutrino backgrounds. We also report on the status of the analysis from AMANDA-II, a larger version with far greater capabilities. At this stage of analysis, details of the ice properties and other systematic uncertainties of the AMANDA-II telescope are under study, but we have made progress toward critical science objectives. In particular, we present the first preliminary flux limits from AMANDA-II on the search for continuous emission from astrophysical point sources, and report on the search for correlated neutrino emission from Gamma Ray Bursts detected by BATSE before decommissioning in May 2000. During the next two years, we expect to exploit the full potential of AMANDA-II with the installation of a new data acquisition system that records full waveforms from the in-ice optical sensors.

We present a first-principles calculation of the valence-band offset at the (001) interface between ZnSe and III-V lattice-matched alloys based on Al, Ca, In, P elements, namely Al0.5In0. 5P and Ga0.1n0.5P. Among the different possible interface geometries we have focused on the P-terminated alloy in contact with the Zn-terminated ZnSe crystal. The results of this study show the existence of a very low band offset at the abrupt interface, both for the ideal geometry and for the relaxed atomic positions. The investigation of the electronic interface band structure reveals the presence of a low-lying half-filled interface band related to the Zn-P bond.