Past nuclear weapon production activities have left a significant legacy of uranium (U) contamination in the vadose zone (VZ) of the Department of Energy (DOE) Hanford Site. This U is a source of groundwater (GW) contamination. There is a concern that elevated U concentration would slowly infiltrate through the VZ, reach the GW water table, and then end up in nearby rivers and lakes. Remediation of U-contaminated low moisture content soil is a challenging task considering the VZ depth, where contamination is found between 70 and 100 m below the ground surface, and the formation of highly soluble and stable CaUO2CO3 complexes is influenced by Hanford’s soil rich in carbonate. Injection of reactive gasses (e.g., NH3) is a promising technology to decrease U migration in through the VZ. The NH3 injection creates alkaline conditions that would alter the pore water chemistry (e.g., dissolving some aluminosilicates). Over time as the pH neutralizes, U(VI) could precipitate as uranyl mineral (e.g., Na-boltwoodite). Also, the dissolved U(VI) could be incorporated into the structure of some mineral phases or be coated by non-U minerals. These chemical reactions could control the U(VI) mobility to the GW. However, there is a lack of knowledge on how the VZ pore water constituents (e.g., Si, Al3+, HCO3-, and Ca2+) would affect U(VI) removal/precipitation in alkaline conditions. This study quantified the role of the major pore water constituents on the U(VI) removal and evaluated the uranyl minerals that could precipitate from a variety of SPW solutions. Results showed that the percentage of U(VI) removal was controlled by Si/Al ratios and Ca2+ concentration regardless of HCO3- concentration tested. XRD revealed the presence of uranyl minerals by analyzing precipitates formed from SPW solutions, but none of them were identified as uranyl silicates as expected from speciation modeling. The SEM images displayed dense amorphous regions high in silica content, where EDS elemental analysis unveiled higher U atomic percentage in some samples. U(VI) silicate and carbonate minerals were predicted by the speciation modeling.

L'objectif principal de cette thèse est consacré à l'étude de la dynamique et la rhéologie d'une suspension de particules denses qui se comportent comme des fluides complexes. La premier partie de cette thèse est consacrée à l'étude de la déformation, le comportement dynamique et la rhéologie d'une suspension de vésicule (un modèle simple pour les globules rouges) sous l'action d'un écoulement externe appliqué (cisaillement simple et Poiseuille confiné) dans la limite de faible nombre de Reynolds. L'étude basée sur des simulations numériques en utilisant la méthode des intégrales de frontière. Cette étude est inspirée par le comportement des globules rouges dans le système microvasculaire. Notre étude est ensuite consacrée aux effets du confinement et du nombre capillaire sur la forme, le comportement dynamique et la viscosité effective d'une suspension de vésicules. Nous avons montré que pour des membranes rigides (nombre capillaire petit), on peut observer en plus de la forme parachute et pantoufle, les formes suivantes : (i) forme d'oscillation centrée, (ii) forme d'oscillation décentrée et (iii) la forme cacahuète. Egalement, nous avons examiné l'influence du contraste de viscosité sur la dynamique et la rhéologie d'une vésicule. Nous avons montré qu'il existe une phase de "coexistence" entre la forme pantoufle et la forme parachute. Dans la deuxième partie de cette thèse, nous avons proposé un modèle analytique et une étude numérique pour étudier les propriétés dynamiques et rhéologiques d'une suspension de particules rigides sous écoulement de Poiseuille confiné. Le débit, la dissipation et la viscosité apparente sont étudiés en fonction de la structure des plaques dans le canal. Egalement, l'étude numérique d'une suspension de particules sphériques (formes des chaînes de particules) est en accord qualitatif avec le modèle analytique qui considère les longues plaques. Cette étude numérique est basée sur une méthode de la dynamique des particules du fluide, où les particules sont représentées par un champ scalaire ayant une viscosité élevée à l'intérieur. / The principal objective of this thesis is devoted to study the dynamics and rheology of a suspension of dense particles which behave as complex fluids. The first part of this thesis is dedicated to the study of the deformation, the dynamic behavior and rheology of a single neutrally buoyant suspended vesicle (a closed phospholipid membrane), as a response to external applied flows (simple shear and confined Poiseuille flows), is studied in the limit of small Reynolds. The study based on numerical simulations using the boundary integral method. This study is inspired by the behavior of red blood cells in the microvasculature. Our study is then dedicated on the effects of confinement and capillary number on the shape, the dynamic behavior and the effective viscosity of a vesicles suspension. We have shown that for rigid membranes (small capillary number) may be exist other shapes parachute and slipper, these shapes are : (i) Centered Snaking, (ii) Off-Centered Snaking and (iii) Peanut-shaped. Equally, we examined the influence of viscosity contrast on the dynamics and rheology of a vesicle. We have shown that there is a phase of "coexistence" between the slipper and parachute shape. The coexistence of shapes seems to be supported by experiments, though a systematic experimental study is lacking. In the second part of this thesis, we proposed an analytical model and a numerical study for study the dynamics and rheology properties of a rigid particles suspended in a confined Poiseuille flow. The flow rate, the dissipation and the apparent viscosity are studied as a function of the underlying structure. Equally, the numerical study is in good qualitative agreement with the analytical theory considering long plates. The numerical study is based on a fluid dynamic particle method where the particles are represented by a scalar field having high viscosity inside.

Nanofluidos magnéticos formados por partículas de ferrite de manganês eletricamente carregadas foram estudados sob o ponto de vista estrutural, magnético e óptico. Características estruturais foram analisadas por meio da técnica de espalhamento de raios X a baixos ângulos (SAXS), que permitiu a determinação da distribuição de diâmetros de nanopartículas em solução. Assim, foi possível determinar o comportamento lognormal da distribuição de tamanhos nas amostras, bem como o diâmetro médio das soluções estudadas, Mn3, Mn4 e Mn6, como 2.8nm, 3.4nm e 6.2nm, respectivamente. Ademais, foi investigada a magnetização das diferentes soluções em função da temperatura sob o protocolo ZFC/FC, permitindo a determinação da distribuição de temperaturas de bloqueio, grandeza que depende do volume das partículas. Ao comparar as distribuições obtidas, foi constatado que aquela determinada por medidas magnéticas era mais estreita do que a por SAXS, indicando interações dipolares entre partículas. Essa hipótese foi corroborada por medidas de suscetibilidade ac, que resultaram em tempos de relaxação muito curtos, incompatíveis com modelos de partículas únicas, levando à conclusão da existência de um comprimento de correlação com N partículas interagindo no volume de correlação 3. Tais grupos de partículas não correspondem a aglomerados físicos, uma vez que alterações de densidade eletrônica não foram verificadas nas curvas de espalhamento de raios X, mas sim a clusters magnéticos, que respondem ao campo externo em conjunto. A análise dos resultados de magnetização ac e dc, simultaneamente, evidenciou ainda alterações na anisotropia das partículas, efeitos de superfície devido à redução de tamanho do cristal. O estudo de propriedades ópticas lineares permitiu a determinação do espectro de absorção em função da concentração de nanopartículas em solução. Desse modo, foi verificada a validade da lei de Beer-Lambert em uma região do espectro, para 300nm < < 600nm. O gap óptico foi determinado para as transições diretas e indiretas como EgapDir = 3.07 ± 0.15eV e EgapInd = 2.06 ± 0.11eV, respectivamente. Por fim, propriedades ópticas não lineares foram estudadas por meio da técnica de z-scan na escala de femto-segundo, a fim de estudar efeitos de origem eletrônica. Curvas foram obtidas e, por meio de ajustes de equações teóricas, foi possível a determinação dos parâmetros não lineares. Contudo, estudos adicionais evidenciaram que tais sinais não eram de origem eletrônica, mas sim térmica, como formação de lente térmica e termodifusão. Assim, os coeficientes não lineares dos ferrofluidos não puderam ser determinados com precisão, de maneira que apenas valores máximos desses coeficientes foram obtidos independentemente do tamanho das nanopartículas, sendo max = 3.9x10-2cm/GW o valor máximo para o coeficiente de absorção de dois fótons e |n2max| = 5.3x10-16cm2/W, para o índice de refração não linear. / Magnetic nanofluids formed by electrically charged manganese ferrite particles were studied under the structural, magnetic and optical point of view. Structural characteristics were analyzed by small angle X-rays scattering (SAXS) technique, which allowed determining the nanoparticles\' size distribution. Thus, it was possible to determine the lognormal behavior of the size distribution, as well as the particles\' mean diameter of the studied solutions, Mn3, Mn4 and Mn6, as 2.8nm, 3.4nm and 6.2nm, respectively. Also, the magnetization of the different solutions was investigated as a function of the temperature under the ZFC/FC protocol, allowing the determination of the blocking temperature distribution, quantity that depends on the nanoparticles\' volume. Comparing the distributions obtained it was noted that the obtained by magnetic measurements was narrower than the one obtained by SAXS, which indicates dipolar interactions between nanoparticles. This hypothesis was supported by ac susceptibility measurements, which resulted in very short relaxation times, incompatible with single particles models, leading to the conclusion of the existence of a correlation length with N interaction particles in the correlation volume 3. Those particles groups do not correspond to physical clusters, since electron density changes were not observed in X-rays scattering curves, but to magnetic clusters that responds collectively to the external field. The simultaneous analysis of ac and dc magnetization results showed changes in the anisotropy of the particles, surface effects due to reduction of crystal size. The study of linear optical properties allowed the determination of the absorption spectrum as a function of the nanoparticles\' concentration in solution. Thus, the validity of the Beer-Lambert law was verified for the wavelength range 300nm < < 600nm was determined for direct and indirect transitions as EgapDir = 3.07 ± 0.15eV and EgapInd = 2.06 ± 0.11eV, respectively. Finally, nonlinear optical properties were studied by the z-scan technique in the femto-second time scale. Curves were obtained and, by means of theoretical equations adjustments to the data, it was possible to determine nonlinear parameters. However, additional studies have shown that such effects were not of electronic origin, but thermal, as thermal lens and thermodiffusion. Thus, the nonlinear coefficient of ferrofluids could not be determined accurately, only maximum values of these coefficients were obtained regardless of the size of the nanoparticles, as max = 3.9x10-2cm/GW the maximum value of the two photon absorption coefficient and |n2max| = 5.3x10-16cm2/W for the nonlinear refraction index.

Neste trabalho, construímos um arranjo óptico para realizar medidas de espalhamento de luz dinâmico (Dynamic Light Scattering - DLS). Após o processo de montagem, o experimento foi calibrado por meio de soluções padrão de nanoesferas de poliestireno dispersas em água deionizada. Após a calibração, investigamos sistemas mais complexos como cristais líquidos nemáticos uniaxias, bem como misturas ferronemáticas. A primeira etapa dos estudos teve como objetivo investigar o comportamento das difusividades dos modos hidrodinmicos splay e twist, em função da concentração iônica das misturas. As amostras preparadas se diferenciavam apenas pela quantidades de sal em suas composições. Observamos um aumento em Dsplay e diminuição de Dtwist com o aumento na concentração de sal. Esses efeitos são multifatoriais e podem estar relacionados à blindagem eletrostática intermicelar, favorecendo a aproximaao entre micelas vizinhas. O efeito de backflow também é um fenômeno relevante que minimiza os efeitos dissipativos e está associado as distorções de splay. Por fim, foram realizadas medidas de DLS em misturas ferronemáticas liotrópicas uniaxiais, com o objetivo de investigar o comportamento das difusividades dos modos hidrodinâmicos em função da concentração de nanopartículas magnéticas (ferrofluido FF). O alinhamento do diretor é bastante favorecido com a presença das nanopartículas, como previsto na literatura [32]. Além disso, em baixas concentrações (< 10^13 grãos/mL) as nanopartículas não interferem nos espectros de autocorrelação, sendo possível observar as flutuações orientacionais do diretor nemático. Dessa forma, a incorporação de grãos magnéticos auxiliou nas medidas de DLS, principalmente no que diz respeito à seleção dos modos hidrodinâmicos. Os resultados mostraram que, em fase NC , as difusividades Dsplay e Dbend diminuíram com o aumento da concentração de FF. Por outro lado, a difusividade Dtwist praticamente não foi afetada com a incorporação de FF. No entanto, na fase ND, foi possível observar quedas nos valores de Dsplay e Dtwist , comparando com a mistura sem FF (Nd3). / In the present dissertation we made a Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) experimental setup as well as their clalibration. We use standard aqueous solution with polystyrene nanospheres, with 20 nm and 200 nm of mean diameter, for system calibation. After this process we investigated more complex systems as uniaxial lyotropic liquid crystals mixtures and ferronematic samples. Firstly, we investigate the behaviour of hydrodynamic modes as a function of ionic concentration. The experiments showed that D splay increases and D twist decreases when ionic concentration increases. There are many factors around this behaviour, one of them is the electrostatic shielding forming between nearby micelles that may favours the approximation between tham. The backflow effect also is a relevante phenomenon that minimize the viscous dissipation process of splay distortion. This effect tends to increase with ionic concentration. We also investigated the hydrodynamic behaviour of uniaxial lyotropic mixtures doped with magnetic nanoparticles (ferrofluid - FF). They were characterized by DLS measure-ments to investigated the role of dopping concetration on splay, twist, and bend distortions. According to our results the nanoparticles favours the director alignment by magnetic field as we can found in the literature [32]. Thus, the DLS measurements had been favored by addition of magnetics grains, particularly with regard to the selection role of hydrodynamic modes. Moreover, we have seen that the director relaxation process is not abruptly affected with incorporation of nanoparticles, at low quantities (< 10^13 grain/mL). In NC phase, Dsplay and Dbend tends to decreases when the FF concetrations increases. However the behavior of Dtwist is not completly clear. In ND phase, the addition of nanoparticles further decreases Dsplay and Dtwist , comparing with the free nanoparticles sample (Nd3).

Consideramos o modelo de Maier-Saupe com a discretização de Zwanzig para as possíveis orientações das moléculas de cristais líquidos nemáticos. Esse modelo reproduz a transição de fases nemático-isotrópica dos cristais líquidos termotrópicos em acordo com a teoria fenomenológica de Maier e Saupe. Introduzimos variáveis desordenadas de forma a fim de descrever uma eventual estrutura biaxial em uma mistura binária de moléculas uniaxiais oblatas e prolatas. Para uma desordem do tipo quenched, o diagrama de fases do modelo possui uma fase nemática biaxial estável. Para uma desordem do tipo annealed, a estrutura biaxial é termodinamicamente instável. Esses resultados são confirmados realizando um contato com a teoria de Landau-de Gennes. Para ganhar intimidade com os cálculos estatísticos estudamos também um modelo para uma mistura binária de magnetos de Ising na rede. Para ir além dos resultados de campo médio, formulamos o modelo de Maier-Saupe discretizado na rede de Bethe. A análise desse problema é realizada através das relações de recorrência para a função de partição. A transição nemático-isotrópica é localizada através de uma expressão para a energia livre obtida pelo engenhoso método de Gujrati. Considerando o problema das misturas binárias de moléculas nemáticas e utilizando o formalismo adequado à fluidez das partículas annealed, tanto uma análise de estabilidade linear das relações de recorrência quanto uma análise termodinâmica proibem a existência da fase nemática biaxial. / We consider the Maier-Saupe model with the Zwanzig restriction for the orientations of the liquid-crystalline molecules. This model describes the nematic-isotropic phase transition of the thermotropic liquid-crystals. In order to study an elusive biaxial structure on a binary mixture of rods and discs, we add new disordered shape variables. For a quenched distribution of shapes, the system displays a stable biaxial nematic phase. For a thermalized distribution of shapes, however, the biaxial structure is forbidden. These results are confirmed through a connection with the Landau-de Gennes theory. To gain confidence in the use of these techniques, we also studied a model for a binary mixture of Ising magnets on a lattice. In order to go beyond the mean-field calculations, we consider the discretized Maier- Saupe (-Zwanzig) model on a Bethe lattice. The analysis of the problem is performed by the iteration of some recurrence relations. The isotropic-nematic phase transition is determined through the free energy that comes from the Gujrati method. For the problem of a binary mixture of prolate and oblate molecules, using a formalism suitable for the fluidity of the nematic molecules, we show that both thermodynamic and dynamic analyses of stability preclude the existence of a nematic biaxial phase.

Originalmente introduzidas por T. Vicksek et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 75, 1226 (1995)], partÂ&#305;culas auto-propelidas (PAP) possuem uma velocidade intrÂ&#305;nseca constante que sofre variaÂcËoes em sua direÂcËao como resultados de perturbaÂcËoes externas (outras partÂ&#305;culas ou meio) e sËao usadas para modelar sistemas que apresentam efeitos de aglomeraÂcËao. O conceito de PAP Âe aplicado para descrever e entender efeitos dinËamicos de aglomeraÂcËao em sistemas naturais, tais como microorganismos vivos (bactÂerias, vÂ&#305;rus, etc) e colËonias de indivÂ&#305;duos de que se movem em bandos (peixes, ovelhas, abelhas, etc) ou, produzidos artificialmente, como sistemas coloidais especialmente preparadas em laboratÂorio. O estudo de PAP tem sua relevËancia em diversas Âareas do conhecimento, tais como engenharia de materiais, medicina e ciËencias da natureza (fÂ&#305;sica, quÂ&#305;mica e biologia). Na maioria dos casos, o movimento coletivo tem um comportamento bastante diferenciado dos movimentos individuais dos componentes de um dado sistema. Assim, o movimento de um certo indivÂ&#305;duo Âe influenciado pela presenÂca dos outros constituintes do sistema, alterando o seu comportamento geral, como consequËencia da interaÂcËao direta entre eles. Desta forma, vemos a importËancia da investigaÂcËao e entendimento do comportamento coletivo das PAP. Nesta dissertaÂcËao, estudamos um sistema bidimensional binÂario de PAP na presenÂca de obstÂaculos rÂ&#305;gidos com geometria anisotrÂopica (semi-cÂ&#305;rculos) distribuÂ&#305;dos na forma de uma rede quadrada. AlÂem das interaÂcËoes partÂ&#305;cula-partÂ&#305;cula e partÂ&#305;cula-obstÂaculo, o movimento individual de cada PAP sofre influËencia de um ruÂ&#305;do branco. O objetivo Âe caracterizar o transporte de PAP atravÂes do substrato bidimensional na ausËencia de uma forÂca externa propulsora. Apresentamos um estudo sistemÂatico do movimento coletivo das PAP em funÂcËao das velocidades das partÂ&#305;culas, da intensidade do ruÂ&#305;do que define o movimento estocÂastico das PAP, do tamanho dos obstÂaculos, da densidade de PAP e da separaÂcËao entre os obstÂaculos. Devido a anisotropia dos obstÂaculos, surge um movimento coletivo espontËaneo e ordenado na direÂcËao normal `a superfÂ&#305;cie plana dos obstÂaculos, caracterizado por uma velocidade mÂedia nËao-nula para cada tipo de PAP na ausËencia de forÂca externa e que Âe influenciado pelos parËametros do sistema / Originally introduced by T. Vicksek et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 75, 1226 (1995)], Self Propelled Particles (SPP) have an intrinsic constant speed which suffer variations ins its direction as results of external perturbations (another particles or system) and are used to model systems that shows agglomeration effects. The concept of SPP is applied to describe and understand dynamic effects of agglomeration in natural systems, such as living micro-organisms (bacteria, virus, etc.) and colonies of individuals which move in flocks (fishes, sheep, bees) or, artificially produced, as colloidal systems especially prepared in laboratory. The study of SPP has its relevance in several areas of knowledge, such as material engineering, medicine and sciences of nature (physics, chemistry and biology). In most of cases, the collective motion has an well-differentiated behaviour of the individual motion of the components of a given system. So, the movement of a certain individual is affected by the presence of the other elements of the system, changing its general behaviour, as direct consequences of the direct interaction between them. In this way, we see the importance of investigation and understanding of collective motion of the SPP. Especially in this dissertation, we study a binary two-dimensional system of SPP subject to the presence of rigid obstacles with anisotropic geometry (semi-circles) distributed neatly in form of a square web. Beyond the particle-particle and particleobstacle interaction, the individual movement of each SPP suffers influence of an white noise. The objective is characterize the transport of SPP trough the two-dimensional substratum in absence of an propeller external force. We present and systematic study of collective motion of SPP in function of the speed of the particles, of the noise intensity which defines the stochastic movement of SPP, of the size of the obstacles, of the SPP density e the separation between the obstacles. Due the anisotropy of the obstacles, arise an spontaneous and ordered collective motion in normal direction of the plane surface of the obstacles, characterized by an non-null mean speed for each type of SPP in absence of an external force which in affected by the system parameters.

Dans ces travaux , nous avons deux principaux objectifs physique et numérique. Le problème physique consiste à trouver la solution de Rayleigh-Bénard pour des fluides newtoniens et non-newtoniens. Dans la présente étude, une présentation générale des résultats de la convection de Rayleigh-Bénard (RBC) est donnée dans le cas des fluides newtoniens et non-newtoniens tels que des fluides rhéofluidifiants modélisés par la loi puissance et des fluides viscoplastiques (fluides de Bingham, Herschel-Bulkley et Casson), en régime permanent et transitoire. Dans le cas des fluides viscoplastiques, les modèles macroscopiques ne prenant pas bien en compte la réalité physique de la contrainte seuil ont fait l'objet d'une modélisation. Un modèle mesoscopique proposé par Hébraud et Lequeux a été utilisé. Le problème numérique consiste à développer la méthode de résolution PGD (Proper Generalized Decomposition) pour résoudre les modèles non linéaires couplés transitoires, dans le cas du problème de Rayleigh-Bénard. Cette méthode est également utilisée pour résoudre le problème RBC paramétrique en y ajoutant quelques variables physiques comme coordonnées supplémentaires. Par ailleurs, dans le cas des fluides non-newtoniens, nous avons utilisé la PGD pour résoudre les équations mesoscopiques et macroscopiques couplées. / In this research work we are looking for two main physical and numerical purposes. The physical problem is to find the solution of Rayleigh Bénard convection for several conditions dependent on fluid thermo-physical properties such as temperature, viscosity and initial and boundary conditions. Continuing previous research works in this study we have provided the results of Rayleigh Bénard convection for Newtonian, Power-law and viscoplastic fluids (Bingham, Herschel-Bulkley and Casson) and for steady state and transient conditions. We also solve this problem for Nano and soft glassy materials. In some cases the results are interesting not only as a part of the Rayleigh Bénard convection analysis but also on a larger scale as a part of the heat transfer and mechanical fluid analysis such as viscoplastic and soft glassy material studies. Numerically, it was interesting to develop Proper Generalized Decomposition (PGD) method for solving transient coupled non-linear models, in particular the one related to the Rayleigh–Bénard flow. This model also was used to solve RBC problem parametrically by adding some physical properties as extra coordinates. For soft glassy material we used PGD to connect micro and macro equations together.

Les mousses liquides sont utilisées dans de nombreux domaines de la vie quotidienne. Leur excellente capacité à dissiper de l'énergie en fait également des matériaux très utilisés dans le domaine militaire pour atténuer les ondes de souffle émises lors d'une explosion. Dans cette thèse, nous avons conçu un dispositif expérimental original nous permettant de visualiser la déformation d'une mousse liquide lors de l'impact d'une onde de souffle en sortie d'un tube à choc. Nous mesurons la surpression en plusieurs points de la mousse, sur une gamme de 5 à 50 kPa. Nous mettons en évidence une atténuation de pression qui augmente avec la taille des bulles puis sature, tous les autres paramètres, notamment la fraction liquide, étant maintenus constants. Ces résultats sont interprétés avec un modèle de dissipation thermique à l'échelle de la bulle suggérant l'existence d'un maximum d'atténuation pour une taille de bulles donnée. Nous caractérisons ensuite la vitesse de propagation de l'onde au sein de la mousse. Aux petites amplitudes, la vitesse suit le modèle de Wood, basé sur une propagation linéaire dans un milieu continu effectif. Aux plus hautes amplitudes, nous mettons en évidence l'apparition d'un régime non linéaire, avec une vitesse de propagation plus importante et une atténuation plus faible, ces deux phénomènes étant retrouvés à la fois théoriquement et numériquement. Près de la source, la mousse est détruite par le choc. Nous terminons notre étude avec des résultats plus qualitatifs sur la quantité de mousse détruite et la vitesse de propagation du front de rupture, visualisées pour la première fois dans une mousse tridimensionnelle. / Liquid foams are used in various domains in our everyday life. Their excellent ability to dissipate energy makes foams widely used in the military domain to mitigate blast waves produced after an explosion. In this Thesis, we have designed an original experimental setup allowing us to image the deformation of a liquid foam after the impact of a blast wave exiting a shock tube. We also measure the overpressure in the foam, within a range of 5 to 50\,kPa. We evidence a pressure attenuation, increasing and then saturating at increasing bubble size, while all the other parameters of the foam, especially liquid fraction, are kept constant. Those results are interpreted with a thermal dissipation model at the bubble scale, suggesting the existence of a maximum dissipation for a given bubble size. We then characterise the wave velocity in the foam. At small amplitudes, the velocity follows Wood's model, based on linear propagation in an effective continuous medium. At greater amplitudes, we show the apparition of a non-linear regime, with a higher propagation velocity and a lower attenuation, those two features being captured theoretically and numerically. Close to the source, the foam is destroyed by the shock. We close our study with more qualitative results on the quantity of destroyed foam and the propagation velocity of the rupture front, which have been evidenced for the first time in a three-dimensional foam.

Ce travail de thèse est consacré à l'étude des instabilités de Saffman-Taylor de fluides complexes modèles. Ces derniers sont des solutions de Xanthane dont le caractère rhéofluidifiant augmente avec la concentration en polymère. Dans un premier temps, nous avons étudié les propriétés rhéologiques de ces fluides modèles puis nous avons caractérisé leurs propriétés d'écoulement dans une cellule de Hele-Shaw de forte épaisseur. Dans un deuxième temps, nous avons mesuré par PIV (Particles Image Velocimetry) la distribution du champ de vitesse autour des doigts de Saffman-Taylor pour l'ensemble des fluides étudiés. Afin de valider les expériences de PIV, nous avons caractérisé les vitesses de sédimentation des traceurs, par la technique complémentaire de vélocimétrie par Speckle ultrasonore (Ultrasonic Speckle Velocimetry). Nous avons montré expérimentalement que le champ de vitesse pour tous les fluides est irrotationnel et que la forme du doigt peut être modélisé par un écoulement potentiel autour d'un solide de Rankine. Les expériences ont établi que le rayon de courbure à l'extrémité des doigts est l'unique paramètre qui dépend des propriétés rhéologiques des solutions de Xanthane. De plus, ce paramètre conditionne toute l'hydrodynamique autour des doigts de Saffman-Taylor. / This thesis is devoted to the study of Saffman-Taylor instabilities of complex fluids models. These are solutions of xanthan whose shear thinning behavior increases with polymer concentration.Initially, we studied the rheological properties of model fluids and then we characterized the properties of flow in a Hele-Shaw thick. In a second step, we measured by PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry) distribution of the velocity field around the fingers of Saffman-Taylor for all fluids studied. To validate the PIV experiments, we characterized the sedimentation rates of tracers, by the complementary technique of ultrasonic speckle velocimetry (Ultrasonic Speckle Velocimetry).We have shown experimentally that the velocity field for all fluids is irrotational and that the shape of the finger can be modeled by a potential flow around a Rankine solid. Experiments have shown that the radius of curvature at the top of the fingers is the only parameter which depends on the rheological properties of xanthan solutions.In addition, this parameter influences the whole hydrodynamic around Saffman-Taylor fingers.

Solutions of self-assembled wormlike micelles are used with ever increasing frequency in a multitude of consumer products ranging from cosmetic to industrial applications. Owing to the wide range of applications, flows of interest are often complex in nature; exhibiting both extensional and shear regions that can make modeling and prediction both challenging and valuable. Adding to the complexity, the micellar dynamics are continually changing, resulting in a number of interesting phenomena, such as shear banding and extensional flow instabilities. Presented in this thesis are the results of an investigation into the flow fields generated by both a controllable and idealized porous media, effected as a periodic array of cylinders as well as a single circular cylinder. In order to fully characterize the kinematics, two rheologically documented test fluids were used. The first test channel geometry consists of six equally spaced cylinders, arranged perpendicular to the flow, while the second consists of a single circular cylinder. By systematically varying the Deborah number, the flow kinematics, stability and pressure drop were measured. A combination of particle image velocimetry in conjunction with flush mount pressure transducers were used to characterize the flow, while flow induced birefringence measurements were used to determine micelle deformation and alignment. In the periodic geometry, the pressure drop was found to decrease initially due to the shear thinning of the test fluid, and then exhibit a dramatic upturn as other elastic effects begin to dominate in one of the test fluids. In the case of the single cylinder, no such upturn was observed. Presented is evidence of the onset of an elastic instability in one of the test fluids above a critical Deborah number, manifest in fluctuating transient pressure drop measurements and asymmetric streamlines. This instability was observed in both test geometries. It is argued that this instability can be attributed to the measurable differences in the extensional rheology of the two fluids.