This work deals with the problem of pipeline plugging by gas hydrates during oil production. Gas hydrates are crystals resulting from water and gas molecules association under high pressure and low temperature conditions. Such thermodynamical conditions are generally encountered during oil production and transport, particularly in deep offshore fields or in cold areas. Due to an agglomeration process which is still debated, hydrate occurrence can lead to plug formation. This study aims at improving the understanding in this mechanism process, in the case of water-in-oil emulsions. Therefore, ice or hydrate particle agglomeration is compared. Ice or trichlorofluoromethane (CCl3F) hydrate particles dispersed in xylene with asphaltenes as surfactant is chosen as a model system. As CCl3F hydrates are stable under atmospheric pressure, it allows us to apply different techniques without being limited by high pressure conditions. The Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) technique is used. The very different relaxation rate for solids or liquids is used to monitor in situ the ratio between solid and total hydrogen or fluorine as a function of time with controlled shearing conditions. Thus, a kinetic study is realized, that enabled to know the amount of ice formed. The apparent viscosity of the system, during crystallization and plugging, is also followed with rheometry in order to characterize agglomeration. This experimental approach allows us to highlight that physico-chemistry of interface water/oil has an important role in agglomeration. It enables us to discuss different mechanisms of agglomeration of ice and hydrate particles in a hydrocarbon phase.

Le sang est un fluide complexe mis en écoulement par la pompe très peu puissante qu'est le cœur (environ 1 W), dans un réseau branché de plusieurs milliers de kilomètres de vaisseaux. Pour que cela soit réalisable, il se peut que les propriétés mécaniques du sang contribuent à l'entretien de l'écoulement. Malgré le nombre important d'études sur la rhéologie du sang, sa viscoélasticité n'a jamais été caractérisée en cisaillement simple. Le rôle physiologique du caillot est, lui, d'éviter un épanchement excessif de sang en présence d'une brèche vasculaire. Une de ses fonctions principales est donc de résister aux contraintes générées par l'écoulement sanguin, c'est-à-dire d'avoir une résistance mécanique appropriée. Que ce soit pour la caractérisation mécanique du sang ou du caillot, le principal verrou est l'absence de méthode de mesure adaptée à un matériau peu consistant, et dont les propriétés mécaniques sont en évolution rapide. Il est donc nécessaire de produire une méthode de mesure adéquate, couplée à un système de mesure assez sensible. Dans ce travail, nous présentons la méthode de rhéométrie que nous avons développée dans ce but, baptisée Optimal Fourier Rheometry (OFR). Cette technique a été validée avec succès sur différents matériaux modèles de plus en plus complexes : une huile newtonienne, une gomme viscoélastique (PDMS), une suspension de micelles vermiformes (CpCl Nasal) et enfin un alginate dentaire tout au long de sa gélification. Nous montrons ainsi que l'OFR est une technique de mesure fonctionnelle, fiable et optimale temporellement. Elle permet le suivi de grandeurs mécaniques dont le temps caractéristique de mutation est très inférieur à la minute. En raison de la sédimentation des globules rouges, le sang est un fluide évoluant dans le temps. Par conséquent l'OFR est bien adaptée pour la mesure de ses propriétés viscoélastiques. Pour nous affranchir de la variabilité très importante du sang de témoins, nous avons balayé de façon systématique la concentration en les composants sanguins les plus abondants sur des suspensions de globules rouges lavés. De façon a priori surprenante, nous montrons qu'en présence de fibrinogène, le sang présente une élasticité importante, du même ordre de grandeur, voire plus grande que sa viscosité. Cette élasticité augmente avec la concentration en fibrinogène et l'hématocrite et provient du réseau percolé de globules rouges agrégés de dimension fractale 2.08 qui existe dans la suspension lorsqu'elle est peu cisaillée. L'OFR a également été appliquée au suivi de la coagulation activée par voie intrinsèque et extrinsèque. Cela a permis de montrer que le procédé d'activation n'avait d'effet que sur la cinétique de la réaction, mais que cela ne changeait pas les étapes mécaniques observées. L'OFR permet grâce à sa résolution fréquentielle élevée et son temps de mesure minimal, d'affirmer que le processus de coagulation du sang n'est pas une transition sol-gel. / Blood is a complex fluid set into flow by the heart, which is a very low power pump (approximately 1 W), in a connected network consisting of several thousand kilometers of vessels. To do so, it seems reasonable that the mechanical properties of blood contribute to the maintenance of the flow. In spite of the important number of studies on blood rheology, the viscoelasticity of blood has never been characterized in simple shear. The physiological role of the blood clot is to avoid an excessive effusion of blood in the presence of a vascular breach. Thus, it has to resist to the stress induced by the blood flow. So, one of its essential functions is this mechanical resistance. Whether it is for the mechanical characterization of the blood or the clot, the main obstacle is the absence of viscoelasticity measurement techniques adapted to a low viscosity material evolving rapidly in time. So, it is necessary to provide an adapted measurement method, coupled with a sensitive enough measurement. In this work, we present the new rheometry method we developed, named Optimal Fourier Rheometry (OFR) as it is optimal both in duration and signal to noise ratio This method was successfully validated on materials of increasing complexity: a Newtonian oil, a viscoelastic gum (PDMS), a suspension of wormlike micelles (CpCl Nasal) and a dental alginate during its gelation. Because of the sedimentation of red blood cells, the mechanical properties of blood are evolving in time. Consequently the use of the OFR is well suited for the measurement of its viscoelastic properties. A systematic scanning of the concentrations in the most abundant blood components added to washed blood allowed to highlight the most important parameters. Our results show that blood has a surprisingly large elasticity, which is of the same order of magnitude as the viscosity of the material. This elasticity increases with fibrinogen concentration and hematocrit. When these two parameters are in the physiological range, a percolated network of aggregated red blood cells exists in the suspension of fractal dimension 2.08. The, OFR was applied to the monitoring of blood clot formation. The activation by intrinsic and extrinsic pathway was used on whole blood. It showed that the process of activation affects only the kinetics of the reaction, but does not change the observed mechanical s. Due to its high frequency resolution and minimal measurement time, OFR shows that coagulation is not a gelation process.

The rheological behavior analysis of Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) is key to understand how the different preparation techniques affect the composite mechanical performance. However, the rheological assessment of reinforced materials becomes more complex since fibers usually cause flow disturbances not found in nonreinforced cementitious materials. Besides that, simple workability measurement techniques are not able to fully understand the composite behavior in the fresh state creating the need for more precise techniques to be employed. The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the ECC rheological behavior using different rheometer devices (Vane system and Ball measuring system) and investigate the influence of mixing processes on the fiber homogenization and rheological behavior. Additionally to this, a link between rheological behavior and mechanical performance was investigated. In the end, the ball measuring system revealed to be more efficient than the vane system when evaluating the composite rheological behavior. In addition, the mixing process influenced the rheological behavior of PVA-ECC especially regarding the moment which fibers are added. Fiber addition after mortar mixture improved fibers homogenization and reduced mixing energy by around 8%. Moreover, a correlation between rheological and mechanical properties showed that a 2-times variation in either yield stress or viscosity can lead to a variation of more than 50% in flexural strength without significantly affecting the composite compressive strength. It was also found that the lower the composite yield stress and viscosity the higher was its ultimate strain. To conclude, all those parameters contributed to understand the composite rheological behavior and globally optimize its performance. / Sem resumo

Depuis quelques années, le béton connait une période de mutation. Les tendances actuelles concernant la formulation des bétons à hautes performances et à faibles impacts environnementaux montrent que la fraction volumique solide est de plus en plus élevée. Cette augmentation de la fraction volumique solide est cependant difficilement compatible avec une fluidité importante. La thèse présentée ici a donc pour but de proposer des solutions permettant de contourner le problème de viscosité des ces nouveaux bétons. Nous nous attachons ainsi à identifier les mécanismes d'action de certains polymères à l'origine d'une diminution de la viscosité macroscopique de pâtes de ciment concentrées. Les polymères que nous étudions appartiennent à deux familles différentes : les super plastifiants et les agents entraîneurs d'air. Alors que le chapitre 1 a pour objectif d'expliquer le contexte actuel et de justifier l'intérêt des recherches menées durant cette thèse, le chapitre 2 présente les procédures expérimentales utilisées. Nous proposons des protocoles permettant de faire la distinction entre les effets des polymères étudiés sur la contrainte seuil et leurs effets sur l'autre paramètre du comportement :la viscosité. Dans le chapitre 3, nous mettons en évidence certains mécanismes d'action des polymères adsorbants de type super plastifiants. Nous observons que deux polymères peuvent avoir un effet différent sur la dissipation visqueuse d'une pâte de ciment pour une contrainte seuil donnée. Nous suggérons alors que les molécules de polymère adsorbé modifient l'état de floculation du système, et donc la façon dont le cisaillement se concentre entre les grains. Dans le même temps, les molécules de polymère non adsorbé modifient la viscosité du fluide interstitiel. La viscosité macroscopique résulte alors de la compétition entre ces deux mécanismes. Dans le chapitre 4, nous nous intéressons aux effets des agents entraîneurs d'air. Grâce à des mesures sur pâtes de ciment et mortiers, nous montrons que, suivant la consistance du système étudié, l'entraînement d'air peut diminuer ou non la viscosité. Nous suggérons qu'un tel comportement trouve son origine dans la compétition entre la tension de surface qui tend à empêcher la déformation des bulles et la consistance du système en écoulement qui tend à les déforme / The concrete industry has been undergoing significant change in recent years. Current trends in mix design of high strength and environmentally friendly concretes show that solid volume fraction is progressively increasing. This increase in solid volume fraction is however not compatible with an adequate fluidity. The aim of the work presented here is thus to bring solutions to the high viscosity of these new concretes. We try to identify potential mechanisms of action of some polymers at the origin of a decrease in the macroscopic viscosity of concentrated cement pastes. We focus here on two types of polymers: super plasticizers and air entraining agents. In a first chapter, we explain the current economic, social and industrial situation and justify the need of the research work presented here. In a second chapter, we show the importance of the experimental procedure. We suggest protocols from which the effects of tested polymers on the viscosity parameter can be distinguished from the effects on yield stress. In a third chapter, we show some potential mechanisms of action of adsorbing polymers as super plasticizers. We observe that for the same effect on yield stress, viscous dissipation of cement pastes can be different for the two tested polymers. We suggest that adsorbed polymer molecules modify the flocculation state of the system and thus the way shear concentrates between cement grains. In the same time, non adsorbed polymer molecules modify the viscosity of the interstitial fluid. Therefore, the macroscopic viscosity results from the competition of the two above phenomena. In the fourth chapter, we are interested in the effects of air entraining agents. Thanks to experimental measurements on cement pastes and mortars, we show that according to the system consistency, air entrainment can increase or decrease viscosity. We suggest that such a behaviour finds its origin in the competition between surface tension, which tends to prevent air bubble deformation and the system consistency, which tends to deform the same air bubbles

[pt] Esta tese de doutorado se propõe a estudar a reologia de pastas de hidratos composta por água e tetrahidrofurano (C4H8O - THF) em diversas conjunturas. Os hidratos de gás natural são sólidos cristalinos, análogos ao gelo, formados pela agregação de água e de gás numa determinada estrutura organizada. Sua preocupação para a Indústria de petróleo e gás deve-se ao risco potencial relacionada a área de garantia de escoamento. Assim sendo, amplos investimentos são feitos com o propósito de prevenir e avaliar os ricos da formação de hidratos. Neste contexto, a reologia é um elemento chave, pois permite detectar a formação dos hidratos a partir de variações das propriedades reológicas, sendo as mais comuns: viscosidade, módulos viscoso e elástico. Entretanto, duas condições fundamentais para o sucesso desta abordagem são relativamente difíceis de se conseguir em laboratório, a combinação de alta pressão e baixa temperatura. Inicialmente serão estudadas pastas de hidratos formadas à pressão atmosférica, ainda a temperaturas acima de 0 graus Celsius. Em outro momento, serão estudados os efeitos da adição de álcool nas pastas de hidratos e, finalmente, serão analisadas as pastas formadas em pressões acima da pressão atmosférica. Foram realizados ensaios reológicos para diferentes composições de fluidos. Alcançam-se resultados transientes e de estado estacionário, mostrando que a reologia é fortemente afetada pela aglomeração e desagregação de cristais de hidratos que ocorrem simultaneamente à medida que os hidratos se formam e as condições de contorno que cercam os experimentos. / [en] This doctoral thesis proposes to study the rheology of water hydrate and tetrahydrofuran slurries (C4H8O - THF) at different conditions. Natural gas hydrates are crystalline solids, analogous to ice, formed by the aggregation of water and gas in a given organized structure. Their concern for the oil and gas industry is due to the potential risk related to the area of flow assurance. Thus, extensive investments are made for the purpose of preventing and evaluating the risk of hydrate formation. In this context, rheology is a significant element, since it allows to detect the formation of hydrates from variations in rheological properties, the most common being: viscosity, viscous and elastic modules. However, two fundamental conditions for the success of this approach are relatively difficult to achieve in the laboratory, the combination of high pressure and low temperature. Initially will be studied hydrate pastes formed at atmospheric pressure, still at temperatures above 0 Celsius degrees. In another moment, the effects of the addition of alcohol in the hydrate pastes will be studied and, finally, the pastes formed at pressures encountered above atmospheric pressure will be analyzed. Rheological tests were performed for different fluid compositions. Transient and steady-state results are reached, showing that rheology is strongly affected by the agglomeration and disaggregation of hydrate crystals occurring simultaneously as hydrates form and the boundary conditions surrounding the experiments.

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In-line rheological and process measurements are studied, during the primary injection phase, as a potential aid to closed loop process control for injection moulding. The feasibilities of attaining rheological and process measurements of sufficient accuracy and precision for use in process control are investigated. The influence of rheological and process measurements on product quality are investigated for semi-crystalline thermoplastic materials. A computer based process and machine parameter monitoring system is utilised to provide accurate and precise process data for analysis

A novel on-line capillary rheometer (OLR) was used to examine the shear and extensional characteristics of polyolefin melts during twin screw extrusion (TSE). Comparisons with off-line rheometry were made using a twin-bore capillary rheometer and a modular in-line slit die rheometer (ILR) provided in-line rheometry comparisons. Both capillary rheometers were controlled via PCs running dedicated software, and the extrusion line and ELR were fully instrumented allowing real-time process monitoring to be carried out by IBM compatible PCs via data acquisition hardware and software. The prototype OLR was developed by the re-design of several key features including an instrumented transfer section and capillary die block which facilitated the use of various die geometries. Shear and extensional on-line rheometry of three polyethylenes (linear and branched), and four molecular weight grades of polypropylene were examined, and a direct comparison with off-line capillary rheometry showed a good correlation. The effect of a high loading of filler on two of the polyethylenes was investigated. In-line shear stress and entry pressure measurements showed a reasonable correlation with on-line rheometry. A study of entry flows in the OLR using capillary dies approaching orifice showed non-linearities occurred at very low capillary length to diameter(L:D) ratios, and this was repeatable using off-line rheometry. Predicted zero length entry pressures (Po) were used to estimate apparent extensional viscosity using a number of standard models. Melt instability and capillary wall slip were also investigated using on-line rheometry. Melt pressure and temperature in the twin screw extruder and OLR were monitored at various process conditions to examine the ability of the OLR to condition melt during testing, and the effect of OLR testing on extrusion conditions. Pressure variation in the extruder, OLR and off-line rheometer were compared in order to quantify process noise. The effect of OLR testing on melt rheology and polymer molecular weight were examined using off-line rheometry and gel permeation chromatography(GPC).

As argamassas colantes são produtos constituídos por areia natural ou artificial, ligantes e aditivos químicos que cumprem uma função de adesivo para assentamento de revestimentos em pisos e paredes. Sob o ponto de vista reológico, a argamassa colante é um material multifásico formado por uma pasta que envolve agregados minerais. Atualmente, o único teste preconizado em norma a fresco é o ensaio de deslizamento, que apesar de ter baixo custo e relativa facilidade de execução em laboratório. As grandes desvantagens desse método são: imprecisão e a baixa repetibilidade, além de ser insuficiente para efetuar uma avaliação mais completa desses produtos no estado fresco. Assim, técnicas de caracterização reológica (Squeeze Flow, Pull Out Flow e reometria rotacional) foram especificadas e aplicadas, como alternativa tecnológica para avaliação de argamassas colantes. Porém, o potencial da configuração tradicional do ensaio de Squeeze Flow e a reometria rotacional foram pouco explorados neste tipo de argamassa. Neste estudo foi necessário empreender ajustes de configuração. O objetivo desta dissertação foi o de aplicar métodos de caracterização reológica em argamassas colantes de mercado (ACI e ACIII) de certo fabricante e ACI formulada em laboratório composta por areias com morfologias diferentes que permitissem identificar suas características relevantes no estado fresco, avaliar a influência dos parâmetros experimentais do método de Squeeze Flow (principalmente em relação à configuração e parâmetros), avaliar a adesividade das argamassas no estado fresco e aplicar o método de reometria rotacional para avaliação das energias de mistura e reológica. Os experimentos para avaliação das configurações e parâmetros do ensaio de Squeeze Flow e Pull Out Flow mostraram que tais métodos foram sensíveis para diferenciar as argamassas e refletiram o que, na prática, é percebido: ACIII (Argamassa Colante do Tipo III) tem maior consistência que ACI (Argamassa 7 Colante do Tipo I), além de mostrar que são sensíveis às diferentes taxas de deslocamento, teores de água e morfologia de agregados. Já a reometria rotacional mostrou-se sensível para identificar e diferenciar a cinética de mistura das argamassas colantes ACI e ACIII. Os resultados indicaram que o tempo de mistura de 150 segundos foi eficiente e suficiente para homogeneizar e estabilizar as argamassas testadas, e que a argamassa do tipo ACI apresenta maior dificuldade de mistura e resulta em uma suspensão com maior viscosidade e tensão de escoamento do que a argamassa ACIII. Por fim, a aplicação dos métodos de caracterização reológica em argamassas ACI compostas por areias com morfologias diferentes, indicou que o método de Squeeze Flow mostrou ser sensível para diferentes teores de água, em argamassas compostas por areia artificial. As curvas de carga de compressão da argamassa ACI com areia artificial mostraram serem superiores às formuladas argamassas com areia natural, indicando que, com a mesma proporção de insumos e teor de água (volume), as argamassas não possuem perfis reológicos similares. / Adhesive mortars are products constituted of natural or artificial sand, binder (cement) and chemical additives which serve as an adhesive for laying floor and wall tiles. From the rheological point of view, the adhesive mortar is a multiphase material consisting of a paste that coats mineral aggregates. Currently, the only test done is the slip test, which has low cost and has a relatively easy execution. The disadvantage of this method is not to have a good repeatability and is not sufficient to evaluate products in fresh state. Thus, techniques of rheologic characterization (flow squeeze, pull out flow and rotational rheometry) were applied as technologic alternatives for evaluation of adhesive mortars. However, the potential of the traditional configuration of the Squeeze Flow test and rotational rheometry were not explored in this type of product due to the requirement of configuration settings. The purpose of this dissertation is to apply advanced methods for rheological characterization of adhesive mortars in order to identify important characteristics of fresh-state application; evaluation of the influence of the squeeze-flow experimental method (mainly due to configuration and parameters); applied rheometry techniques to evaluate the mixing energy; and to evaluate the adhesiveness of fresh mortars. The evaluation of the configuration and parameters of the Squeeze Flow and Pull Out Flow showed that the methods were sensible enough to differentiate mortars in the same way that is perceived in practice: ACIII has greater consistency than ACI, also shows that are sensitive to different rates of displacement, water content and morphology of aggregates. The mixing and rotational rheometry showed that the method is sensitive to identify and differentiate the kinetics of mixing for ACI and ACIII mortars. The results indicate that the mixing time of 150 seconds was effective to homogenize and disperse the mortars. The mixing and flow torque values are higher for ACI than for ACIII, indicating that ACI is more difficult to be mixed and has a higher viscosity and yield stress than ACIII.

Background Haemodilution and hypothermia induce coagulopathy separately, but their combined effect on coagulation has not been widely studied. Fibrinogen concentrate can correct dilutional coagulopathy and has an additional effect when combined with factor XIII concentrate. However, their effect on dilutional coagulopathy concomitant with hypothermia has not been studied previously. Free oscillation rheometry – FOR (Reorox®) – is a novel viscoelastic haemostatic assay that has not been studied in this context before. Methods Blood from 10 healthy volunteers was diluted by 33% with hydroxyethyl starch or Ringer’s acetate solutions. Effects of fibrinogen added in vitro with and without factor XIII were studied at 33°C and 37°C. Coagulation velocity (coagulation time) and clot strength (elasticity) were assessed with FOR. Coagulation was initiated in vitro with thromboplastin alone, or thromboplastin plus a platelet inhibitor. Results Hydroxyethyl starch increased the coagulation time and decreased clot strength significantly more than Ringer’s acetate solution, both in the presence and absence of a platelet inhibitor. There was a significant interaction between haemodilution with hydroxyethyl starch and hypothermia, resulting in increased coagulation time. After addition of fibrinogen, coagulation time shortened and elasticity increased, with the exception of fibrinogen-dependent clot strength (i.e., elasticity in the presence of a platelet inhibitor) after hydroxyethyl starch haemodilution. Factor XIII had an additional effect with fibrinogen on fibrinogen-dependent clot strength in blood diluted with Ringer’s acetate solution. Hypothermia did not influence any of the coagulation factor effects. Conclusions Both haemodilution and mild hypothermia impaired coagulation. Coagulopathy was more pronounced after haemodilution with hydroxyethyl starch than with Ringer’s acetate. Addition of fibrinogen with factor XIII was unable to reverse hydroxyethyl starch induced clot instability, but improved coagulation in blood diluted with Ringer’s acetate solution. Fibrinogen improved coagulation irrespective of hypothermia. / <p>Funding Agencies|Region Skane (Sweden)||CSL Beehring||</p>