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<p>Particle suspensions in viscoelastic fluids (e.g., polymeric fluids, liquid crystalline solutions, gels) are ubiquitous in industrial processes and in biology. In such fluids, particles often acquire lift forces that push them to preferential streamlines in the flow domain. This lift force depends greatly on the fluid’s rheology, and plays a vital role in many applications such as particle separations in microfluidic devices, particle rinsing on silicon wafers, and particle resuspension in enhanced oil recovery. Previous studies have provided understanding on how fluid rheology affects the motion of spherical particles in simple viscoelastic fluid flows such as shear flows. However, the combined effect of more complex flow profiles and particle shape is still under-explored. The main contribution of this thesis is to: (a) provide understanding on the migration and rotation dynamics of an arbitrary-shaped particle in complex flows of a viscoelastic fluid, and (b) develop guidelines for designing such suspensions for general applications.</p> <p><br></p> <p>In the first part of the thesis, we develop theories based on the second-order fluid (SOF) constitutive model to provide solutions for the polymeric force and torque on an arbitrary-shaped solid particle under a general quadratic flow field. When the first and second normal stress coefficients satisfy  <strong>Ψ</strong>₁  = −2 <strong>Ψ</strong> ₂ (corotational limit), the fluid viscoelasticity modifies only the fluid pressure and we provide exact solutions to the polymer force and torque on the particle. For a general SOF with  <strong>Ψ</strong> ₁ ≠  −2 <strong>Ψ</strong> ₂, fluid viscoelasticity modifies the shear stresses, and we provide a procedure for numerical solutions. General scaling laws are also identified to quantify the polymeric lift based on different particle shapes and orientation. We find that the particle migration speed is directly proportional to the length the particle spans in the shear gradient direction (L_sg), and that polymeric torques lead to unique orientation behavior under flow.</p> <p><br></p> <p>Secondly, we investigate the migration and rotational behavior of prolate and oblate spheroids in various viscoelastic, pressure-driven flows. In a 2-D slit flow, fluid viscoelasticity causes prolate particles to transition to a log-rolling motion where the particles orient perpendicular to the flow-flow gradient plane. This behavior leads to a slower overall migration speed (i.e., lift) of prolate particles towards the flow centerline compared to spherical particles of the same volume. In a circular tube flow, prolate particles align their long axis along the flow direction due to the extra polymer torque generated by the velocity curvature in all radial directions. Again, this effect causes prolate particles to migrate slower to the flow centerline than spheres of the same volume. For oblate particles, we quantify their long-time orientation and find that they migrate slower than spheres of the same volume, but exhibit larger migration speeds than prolate particles. Lastly, we examine the effect of normal stress ratio ? <strong>α</strong>  = <strong>Ψ</strong> ₂ /<strong>Ψ</strong>₁on the particle motion and find that this parameter only quantitatively impacts the particle migration velocity but has negligible effect on the rotational dynamics. We therefore can utilize the exact solution derived under the corotational limit (?<strong>α</strong> = −1/2) for a quick and reasonable prediction on the particle dynamics.</p> <p><br></p> <p>We next experimentally investigate the migration behavior of spheroidal particles in microfluidic systems and draw comparisons to our theoretical predictions. A dilute suspension of prolate/oblate microparticles in a density-matched 8% aqueous polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) solution is used as the model suspension system. Using brightfield microscopy, we qualitatively confirm our theoretical predictions for flow Deborah numbers 0 < De < 0.1 – i.e., that spherical particles show faster migration speed than prolate and oblate particles of the same volume in tube flows.</p> <p><br></p> <p>We finally design a holographic imaging method to capture the 3-D position and orientation of dynamic microparticles in microfluidic flow. We adopt in-line holography setup and propose a straightforward hologram reconstruction method to extract the 3-D position and orientation of a non-spherical particle. The method utilizes image moment to locate the particle and localize the detection region. We detect the particle position in the depth direction by quantifying the image sharpness at different depth position, and uses principal component analysis (PCA) to detect the orientation of the particle. For a semi-transparent particle that produces complex diffraction patterns, a mask based on the image moment information can be utilized during the image sharpness process to better resolve the particle position.</p> <p><br></p> <p>In the last part of this thesis, we conclude our work and discuss the future research perspectives. We also comment on the possible application of current work to various fields of research and industrial processes.</p> <p><br></p>

<p>Subcutaneous administration has become a common approach for drug delivery of biotherapeutics, such as monoclonal antibodies, which is achieved mainly by absorption through the lymphatic system. This dissertation focuses on the computational modeling of the fluid flow and solute transport in the skin tissue and the quantitative investigation of lymphatic uptake. First, the various mechanisms governing drug transport and lymphatic uptake of biotherapeutics through subcutaneous injection are investigated quantitatively through high-fidelity numerical simulations, including lymphatic drainage, blood perfusion, binding, and metabolism. The tissue is modeled as a homogeneous porous medium using both a single-layered domain and a multi-layered domain, which includes the epidermis, dermis, hypodermis (subcutaneous tissue), and muscle layers. A systematic parameter study is conducted to understand the roles of different properties of the tissue in terms of permeability, porosity, and vascular permeability. The role of binding and metabolism on drug absorption is studied by varying the binding parameters for different macromolecules after coupling the transport equation with a pharmacokinetic equation. The interstitial pressure plays an essential role in regulating the absorption of unbound drug proteins during the injection, while the binding and metabolism of drug molecules reduce the total free drugs. </p> <p>  </p> <p>The lymphatic vessel network is essential to achieve the functions of the lymphatic system. Thus, the drug transport and lymphatic uptake through a three-dimensional hybrid discrete-continuum vessel network in the skin tissue are investigated through high-fidelity numerical simulations. The explicit heterogeneous vessel network is embedded into the continuum model to investigate the role of explicit heterogeneous vessel network in drug transport and absorption. The solute transport across the vessel wall is investigated under various transport conditions. The diffusion of the drug solutes through the explicit vessel wall affects the drug absorption after the injection, while the convection under large interstitial pressure dominates the drug absorption during the injection. The effect of diffusion cannot be captured by the previously developed continuum model. Furthermore, the effects of injection volume and depth on the lymphatic uptake are investigated in a multi-layered domain. The injection volume significantly affects lymphatic uptake through the heterogeneous vessel network, while the injection depth has little influence. At last, the binding and metabolism of drug molecules are studied to bridge the simulation to the experimentally measured drug clearance. </p> <p><br></p> <p>Convective transport of drug solutes in biological tissues is regulated by the interstitial fluid pressure, which plays a crucial role in drug absorption into the lymphatic system through the subcutaneous (SC) injection.  An approximate continuum poroelasticity model is developed to simulate the pressure evolution in the soft porous tissue during an SC injection. This poroelastic model mimics the deformation of the tissue by introducing the time variation of the interstitial fluid pressure. The advantage of this method lies in its computational time efficiency and simplicity, and it can accurately model the relaxation of pressure. The interstitial fluid pressure obtained using the proposed model is validated against both the analytical and the numerical solution of the poroelastic tissue model. The decreasing elasticity elongates the relaxation time of pressure, and the sensitivity of pressure relaxation to elasticity decreases with the hydraulic permeability, while the increasing porosity and permeability due to deformation alleviate the high pressure. </p> <p><br></p> <p>At last, an improved Kedem-Katchalsky model is developed to study solute transport across the lymphatic vessel network, including convection and diffusion in the multi-layered poroelastic tissue with a hybrid discrete-continuum vessel network embedded inside. The effect of different drug solutes with different Stokes radii and different structures of the lymphatic vessel network, such as fractal trees and Voronoi structure, on the lymphatic uptake is investigated. The drug solute with a small size has a larger partition coefficient and diffusivity across the openings of the lymphatic vessel wall, which favors drug absorption. The Voronoi structure is found to be more efficient in lymphatic uptake. </p> <p><br></p> <p>The systematic and quantitative investigation of subcutaneous absorption based on high-fidelity numerical simulations can provide guidance on the optimization of drug delivery systems and is valuable for the translation of bioavailability from the pre-clinical species to humans. We provide a novel approach to studying the diffusion and convection of drug molecules into the lymphatic system by developing the hybrid discrete-continuum vessel network. The study of the solute transport across the discrete lymphatic vessel walls further improves our understanding of lymphatic uptake. The novel and time-efficient computational model for solute transport across the lymphatic vasculature connects the microscopic properties of the lymphatic vessel membrane to macroscopic drug absorption. The comprehensive hybrid vessel network model developed here can be further used to improve our understanding of the diseases caused by the disturbed lymphatic system, such as lymphedema, and provide insights into the treatment of diseases caused by the malfunction of lymphatics.</p>

<p>  </p> <p>Water scarcity is a global problem impacting a majority of the world population. A significant proportion of the global population is deprived of clean drinking water, an impact felt by the rural as well as urban population. Saltwater desalination provides an attractive option to produce clean water. Some technologies to generate potable water include reverse osmosis (RO), multi-stage flash distillation (MSF), vapor compression distillation and multi-effect distillation (MED). Distillation plants such as those in MED often have falling-film evaporators operating at low energy conversion efficiency and hence distillation is performed over multiple stages (or effects). Porous materials can be utilized as evaporators in such plants with the objective of leveraging their superior efficiency. This can potentially decrease the number of effects over which distillation occurs. However, evaporation of high-salinity salt solution eventually results in salt precipitation which can cause fouling and induce structural damages, especially if the precipitates appear within the porous medium. Crystallization-induced structural damages are also of significant concern to building materials and for their role in weathering of historical monuments. It is thus crucial to understand the mechanisms governing salt precipitation in a porous medium.</p> <p>Transport of solute in such a medium is either driven by flow of the solution (advection) or by concentration gradients (diffusion). The dynamics of solute transport is further complicated due to the involvement of a reaction term accounting for any salt precipitation. The relative strengths of these driving forces determine the solute transport behavior during an evaporation-driven process. The wide-scale applications of solute transport and its complicated nature warrant investigation, both experimental and theoretical, of the dependence of solute transport and the subsequent precipitation on the operating conditions and the properties of the porous medium.</p> <p>This dissertation first focuses on developing a novel modeling framework for evaluating the transient behavior of the solute mass fraction profile within the domain of a one-dimensional porous medium, and extending its capability to predict the formation of salt precipitate in the medium.  Experimental investigations are then performed to study the formation of precipitate on sintered porous copper wicks of different particle-size compositions, and developing a mechanistic understanding of the governing principles.</p> <p>A numerical modeling framework is developed to analyze evaporation-driven solute transport. Transient advection-diffusion equations govern the salt mass fraction profile of the solution inside the porous medium. These governing equations are solved to obtain the solute mass fraction profile within the porous medium as well as the effloresced salt crust. Further accounting for precipitation allows a study of the formation and growth of efflorescence and subflorescence. Crystallization experiments are performed by allowing a NaCl solution to evaporate from a porous medium of copper particles and the subflorescence trends predicted by the model are validated. The modeling framework offers a comprehensive tool for predicting the spatio-temporal solute mass fraction profiles and subsequent precipitation in a porous medium.</p> <p>The dependence of efflorescence pattern on the properties of a porous medium is also investigated. Efflorescence patterns are visually observed and characterized on sintered copper particle wicks with spatially unimodal and bimodal compositions of different particle sizes. Efflorescence is found to form earlier and spread readily over a wick made from smaller particles, owing to their lower porosity, while it is limited to certain areas of the surface for wicks composed of the larger particles. A scaling analysis explains the observed efflorescence patterns in the bimodal wicks caused by particle size-induced non-uniform porosity and permeability. The non-uniformity reduces the advective flux in a high-permeability region by diverting flow towards a low-permeability region. This reduction in advective flux manifests as an exclusion distance surrounding a crystallization site where efflorescence is not expected to occur. The dependence of this exclusion distance on the porosity and permeability of the porous medium and the operating conditions is investigated. A large exclusion distance associated with the regions with bigger particles in the bimodal wicks explains preferential efflorescence over the regions with smaller particles. This novel scaling analysis coupled with the introduction of the exclusion distance provides guidelines for designing heterogeneous porous media that can localize efflorescence.</p> <p>Additionally, droplet interactions with microstructured superhydrophobic surfaces as well as soft surfaces were investigated during the course of this dissertation, separate from the above investigations. These investigations involve the interplay of surface energies with electrical or elastic energies and are studied both experimentally and through theoretical models, and therefore are retained as additional chapters in the thesis as being of relevant interest.  Electrowetting experiments are performed on superhydrophobic surfaces with re-entrant structures to study their resilience to the Cassie-to-Wenzel transition. The deformation of soft surfaces caused by forces exerted by microscale droplets is studied and the resulting interaction between multiple droplets is explored. </p>

Dans les nouveaux protocoles thérapeutiques par voie inhalée, le dosage des particules actives reste un problème complexe qui dépend de trois principaux facteurs : leur taille, la dynamique des flux et les variations de calibre bronchique. La solution nécessite de disposer d'un modèle de distribution des gaz et aérosols administrés dans les poumons. Ventilation pulmonaire et effets du cycle respiratoire sur la dynamique des fluides deviennent deux enjeux clés de la pratique clinique.<br /><br />Dans ce contexte, le projet RNTS RMOD a pour objectif de développer un simulateur morpho-fonctionnel des voies respiratoires pour l'aide au diagnostic, au geste médico-chirurgical et à l'administration de médicaments par inhalation.<br /><br />Contribuant au projet RMOD, la recherche développée dans cette thèse propose une modélisation in-silico de la structure des voies aériennes supérieures (VAS) et proximales (VAP) à partir d'examens tomodensitométriques (TDM). L'investigation morphologique et la simulation fonctionnelle bénéficient alors de géométries 3D réelles, adaptées au patient et spécifiques des pathologies rencontrées.<br /><br />La modélisation développée fait coopérer des méthodes originales de segmentation, de construction de surface maillée et d'analyse morpho-fonctionnelle.<br /><br />La segmentation des VAP est obtenue par un schéma diffusif et agrégatif gouverné par un modèle markovien, dont l'initialisation repose sur l'opérateur de coût de connexion sous contrainte topographique. De cette segmentation, l'axe central de l'arbre bronchique est extrait de manière robuste et précise en combinant information de distance, propagation de fronts, et partition conditionnelle locale. Cet axe central est représenté sous forme d'une structure hiérarchique multivaluée synthétisant caractéristiques topologiques et géométriques de l'arbre bronchique. Une surface maillée est ensuite construite en appliquant une procédure de Marching Cubes adaptative, les paramètres des différents filtres mis en jeu étant automatiquement ajustés aux caractéristiques locales du réseau bronchique conditionnellement aux attributs de l'axe central.<br /><br />La segmentation des VAS repose sur une propagation markovienne exploitant les variations locales de densité. L'initialisation combine morphologie mathématique et information de contour afin de garantir la robustesse à la topologie. Une procédure de type triangulation de Delaunay restreinte à une surface fournit ensuite la représentation maillée des VAS. Il est établi que la topologie et la géométrie des structures complexes composant les VAS sont effectivement préservées.<br /><br />Pour permettre aux médecins de valider les modèles maillés ainsi construits, un environnement virtuel 3D convivial et interactif a été réalisé. En outre, la morphologie des voies aériennes exo- et endo-luminale est analysée de façon automatique à partir de simulations d'écoulement pour des géométries réelles.<br /><br />Enfin, une modélisation unifiée des VAP et VAS est obtenue pour la première fois. Elle démontre la pertinence des approches développées. Elle ouvre la voie à la construction de modèles in-silico complets de l'appareil respiratoire ainsi qu'aux études fonctionnelles prenant en compte les paramètres morphologiques susceptibles d'influer localement ou globalement sur la dynamique des écoulements.

Currently environmental concerns are driving internal combustion engine manufacturers to seek greater fuel efficiency, more refinement and lower emissions. Cyclic variation is a known obstacle to achieving the greatest potential against these goals and therefore an understanding of how to reduce these is sought. It is widely accepted that cyclic variation in in-cylinder flow motions is a key contributor to overall cyclic variation and therefore the characterisation of factors affecting these is an important step in the process of achieving a better understanding and ultimately control of cyclic variation. This thesis reports the development of a novel optical engine research facility in which high speed digital particle image velocimetry (HSDPIV) has been applied to the study of flow field behaviour within a direct injection spark ignition (DISI) engine. This study investigates the spatial and temporal development of flow structures over and within many engine cycles. Flow field PIV measurements have been captured with a high spatial resolution and temporal frequencies up to 5 kHz from a number of measurement locations at a large range of crank angles. The major contributions from this work have included the use of the novel measurement technique to investigate spatial and temporal flow field development in the intake runner, valve jet, in-cylinder tumble and swirl planes and the pent roof. The gathered data have been used to investigate cycle by cycle variations in both high and low frequency flow structures. Major findings of this work have included the observation of highly varying flow fields throughout the engine cycle. Frequency analysis of these flows has allowed the low frequency bulk motions and higher frequency turbulent components to be studied. The low frequency flow field components are shown to create varying flow field interactions within the cylinder that also affect the manner in which the flow develops over the course of the cycle. The intensity of the turbulence fluctuations, u , has been calculated based upon the high frequency components within the flow and variations within this are shown to correlate with pressure related combustion parameters.

This thesis presents a joint computational and experimental investigation into the heat transfer to unshrouded turbine blade tips suitable for use in high bypass ratio, large civil aviation turbofan engines. Both the heat transfer to the blade tip and the over-tip leakage flow over the blade tip are characterised, as each has a profound influence on overall engine efficiency. The study is divided into two sections; in the first, computational simulations of a very large scale, low speed linear cascade with a flat blade tip were conducted. These simulations were validated against experimental data collected by Palafox (2006). A thorough assessment of turbulence models and minimum meshing requirements was performed. The standard k-ω and standard k-ϵ turbulence models significantly overpredicted the turbulence levels within the tip gap. The other models were very similar in performance; the SST k-ω and realisable k-ϵ models were found to be the most suitable for the flow environment. The second section documents the development and testing of a novel hybrid blade tip design, the squealet tip, which seeks to combine the known benefits of winglet and double squealer tips. The development of the external geometry was performed primarily through engine-representative CFD simulations at a range of tip gaps from 0.45% to 1.34% blade chord. The squealet tip was found to have a similar aerodynamic sensitivity to tip clearance as a baseline double squealer tip, with a tip gap efficiency exchange rate of 2.03, although this was 18% greater than the alternative winglet tip. The squealet tip displayed higher predicted stage efficiency than the winglet tip over the majority of the range of tip clearances investigated, however. The overall heat load was reduced by 14% compared with the winglet tip but increased by 28% over the double squealer tip, primarily due to the change in wetted surface area. The predicted local heat transfer coefficients were similar across all geometries. A realistic internal cooling plenum and an array of blade tip cooling holes were subsequently added to the squealet tip geometry and the cooling configuration refined by the selective sealing of cooling holes. Film cooling performance was largely assessed by the predicted adiabatic wall temperature distributions. A viable cooling scheme which reduced the cooling air requirement by 38% was achieved, compared to the initial case which had all cooling holes open. This was associated with just a 7% increase in blade tip heat flux and no penalty in peak temperature on the blade tip. Film cooling air ejected from holes on the blade suction side was swept away from the blade tip region, making the squealet rim at the crown of the blade particularly challenging to cool. It was demonstrated that this region could be cooled effectively by ballistic cooling from holes located on the blade tip cavity floor, although this was expensive in terms of the mass flow rate of cooling air required. The computational results were reinforced with experimental data collected in a transonic linear cascade. Downstream aerodynamic loss measurements were taken for a linearised version of the squealet tip design without cooling at nominal tip gaps of 0.45%, 0.89% and 1.34% blade chord, which was compared to similar data taken by O’Dowd (2010) for flat and winglet tips. The squealet was seen to have a similar aerodynamic loss to the flat tip and a reduced loss compared with the winglet tip. Full surface heat transfer measurements were taken for the uncooled squealet tip, at tip gaps of 0.89% and 1.34% blade chord, and for two configurations of the cooled squealet tip, at a tip clearance of 0.89% blade chord. The qualitative similarity between the measured heat transfer distributions and the those predicted by the engine-representative CFD simulations was good. A CFD simulation of the uncooled linear cascade environment at the 1.34% blade chord tip clearance was performed using a single blade with translationally periodic boundary conditions. The predicted size of the over-tip leakage vortex was smaller than had been measured, resulting in a large underprediction in the magnitude of the downstream area-averaged aerodynamic loss. The magnitudes of the predicted blade tip Nusselt number distribution were similar to those produced by the engine-representative CFD simulations and lower than that measured experimentally. Differences in the shape of the Nusselt number distribution were observed in the vicinity of regions of separated and reattaching flow, but other salient features were replicated in the computational data. The squealet tip has been shown to be a promising, viable unshrouded blade tip design with an aerodynamic performance similar to the double squealer tip but is more amenable to film cooling. It is significantly lighter than a winglet tip and incurs a reduced thermal load. The squealet tip design can now be developed into a blade tip geometry for use in real engines to provide an alternative to shrouded turbine blades and current unshrouded blade tip designs. A commercial CFD solver, Fluent 6.3, was shown to capture blade tip heat transfer and over-tip leakage flow sufficiently well to be a useful design guide. However, the sensitivity of the flow structure (and hence, heat transfer) in the forward part of the blade tip cavity suggests that physical testing cannot be eliminated from the design process entirely.

Un modèle numérique d’un arc électrique diffus dans un disjoncteur à vide à champ magnétique axial (AMF) a été développé dans le but de mieux comprendre à terme la transition d’un mode de fonctionnement diffus de l’arc vers un mode plus concentré. Le comportement du plasma d’arc a été simulé depuis la sortie de la zone de mélange cathodique jusqu’à l’entrée de la gaine anodique. Le modèle bidimensionnel est basé sur un système d’équations hydrodynamiques à deux fluides non magnétisés (ions et électrons), incluant les équations de conservation d’énergie ionique et électronique. Il est démontré que les processus d’ionisation et de recombinaison et les effets visqueux sont négligeables. Les transferts radiatifs ne sont pas considérés en première approximation. Outre les forces dues au champ AMF, le modèle inclut les forces dues aux trois composantes du champ magnétique induit par l’arc. Deux régimes d’écoulement des ions, supersonique (aux faibles densités de courant) et subsonique (aux fortes densités de courant), sont considérés. Près de la cathode, les conditions aux limites sont spécifiées à partir de résultats de la littérature. A proximité de l’anode, elles sont basées sur une description simplifiée de la gaine anodique. Les résultats de simulation présentés mettent en évidence une constriction du courant et un comportement différent des ions aux faibles et aux fortes densités de courant, et renseignent sur l’influence de divers paramètres (intensité du courant, distance interélectrode). Ce travail présente également une étude expérimentale, basée sur des visualisations par vidéo rapide de l’arc et des mesures pyrométriques de la température de la surface de l’anode / A model of a diffuse arc in a vacuum circuit breaker with an axial magnetic field (AMF) has been developed with the ultimate aim to better understand the transition of the arc from a diffuse mode to a more confined mode. The interelectrode plasma is simulated from the exit of the mixing region on the cathode side to the entrance of the anode sheath. The two-dimensional model is based on the solution of a system of two-fluid (ions and electrons) hydrodynamic equations, including in particular the energy balance equations relative to both the ions and the electrons, which are treated as non-magnetized particles. It is demonstrated that ionisation and recombination processes, as well as viscous effects, can be neglected. Radiation losses are not taken into account in a first approximation. In addition to the forces due to the AMF, the model considers the forces created by the three components of the magnetic field induced by the arc current. The possibility of both supersonic (at low current density) and subsonic (at high current density) ionic flow regimes is considered. On the cathode side, the boundary conditions are specified using results from the literature. On the anode side, they are based on a simplified description of the anode sheath. The simulation results presented show a constriction of the current lines, emphasize the differences in the behaviour of the ions at low and high current densities, and provide some insight on the influence of various operating parameters (arc current, gap length). The present work comprises also an experimental study, based on high-speed camera visualisations of the arc and measurements of the temperature at the anode surface

Le comportement des roches-réservoirs souterraines est un sujet important pour de nombreuses applications liées à la production d’énergie (extraction d’hydrocarbures, séquestration de CO2, ...). L'une des principales questions posées est celle de l'effet des déformations sur les propriétés de transfert hydraulique de la roche, en particulier en conditions saturées. En effet, la déformation des géomatériaux est rarement homogène en raison de conditions aux limites complexes et de sa tendance intrinsèque à se localiser. Cette non-uniformité spatiale de la déformation produit un champ de perméabilité hétérogène. Cela remet en question la validité (a) des méthodes traditionnelles d'analyse macroscopique et (b) des mesures établies principalement loin des zones de déformation localisée. Ainsi, pour améliorer la caractérisation des géo-matériaux, il est crucial d’avoir des mesures locales de la perméabilité, et de connaître la relation entre la déformation et la perméabilité, qui gouverne leur comportement hydraulique.Cette thèse porte sur l’étude du couplage hydromécanique des roches par tomographie aux neutrons et aux rayons X, ainsi que sur le développement de nouvelles méthodes d'analyse. Même si le recours à l'imagerie par rayons X en géosciences devient de plus en plus accessible, la détection directe des fluides a été très limitée en raison du faible contraste air/eau dans les géomatériaux. Contrairement aux rayons X, les neutrons sont très sensibles à l’hydrogène présent dans l'eau. La radiographie par neutrons permet donc d'obtenir des images où la détection du fluide est bien plus facile. De plus, les neutrons sont sensibles aux isotopes, ce qui veut dire que l’eau lourde et celle normale, qui ont des propriétés physico-chimiques proches, peuvent être distinguées avec une grande précision. Il faut noter que l’imagerie aux neutrons pour les roches est un domaine expérimental qui est essentiellement inexploré, ou limité à des études 2D d'échantillons secs, avec peu ou pas de contrôle sur les conditions aux limites.Dans le cadre de ce travail, nous avons conçu une nouvelle cellule triaxiale, avec un contrôle asservi, pour effectuer des expériences d'écoulement de fluides multiples dans un échantillon de roche saturé et chargé mécaniquement avec acquisition des données neutroniques en 4D. Une autre originalité du projet est l'utilisation d'installations d'imagerie neutroniques à haute performance (CONRAD-2 au Helmholtz Zentrum à Berlin et NeXT à l'Institut Laue-Langevin à Grenoble), profitant de la technologie de pointe et des lignes de faisceaux les plus puissantes du monde. Cela a permis d'acquérir des données à une fréquence optimale pour notre étude.Ce travail présente les résultats de plusieurs campagnes expérimentales couvrant une série de conditions initiales et de conditions aux limites relativement complexes. Pour quantifier le couplage hydromécanique local, nous avons appliqué un certain nombre de procédures de post-traitement standard et nous avons également développé un ensemble de méthodes de mesure, par exemple pour suivre le front d’eau et déterminer les cartes de vitesse 3D. Les résultats montrent que la vitesse du front d’eau entraîné par imbibition dans un échantillon sec est augmentée à l’intérieur d'une bande de cisaillement compactante, tandis que la vitesse d’écoulement entraîné par la pression est réduite dans les échantillons saturés, quelque soit la réponse volumétrique de la bande de cisaillement (compactante / dilatante). La nature des données 3D et des analyses s'est révélée essentielle dans la caractérisation du comportement mécanique complexe des échantillons et de la vitesse d'écoulement qui en résulte.Les résultats expérimentaux obtenus contribuent à la compréhension de l'écoulement dans les matériaux poreux sous chargement, garantissent la pertinence de l'analyse et permettent d’etablir une méthode expérimentale pour d'autres campagnes hydromécaniques in-situ. / The behaviour of subsurface-reservoir porous rocks is a central topic in resource engineering industry and has relevant applications for hydrocarbon and water production or CO2 sequestration. One of the key open issues is the effect of deformations on the hydraulic properties of the host rock, specifically in saturated environments. Deformation in geomaterials is rarely homogeneous because of the complex boundary conditions they undergo as well as for their intrinsic tendency to localise. This non uniformity of the deformation yields a non uniform permeability field, meaning that the traditional macroscopic analysis methods are outside their domain of validity. These methods are in fact based on measurements taken at the boundaries of a tested sample, under the assumption of internal homogeneity. At this stage, our understanding is in need of direct measurements of the local fluid permeability and its relationship with localiseddeformation.This doctoral dissertation focuses on the acquisition of such local data about the hydro mechanical properties of porous geomaterials in full-field, adopting neutron and x-ray tomography, as well as on the development of novel analysis methods. While x-ray imaging has been increasingly used in geo-sciences in the last few decades, the direct detection of fluid has been very limited because of the low air/water contrast within geomaterials. Unlike x-rays, neutrons are very sensitive to the hydrogen in the water because of their interaction with matter (neutrons interact with the atoms’ nuclei rather than with the external electron shell as x-rays do). This greater sensitivity to hydrogen provides a high contrast compared to the rock matrix, in neutron tomography images that facilitates the detection of hydrogen-rich fluids. Furthermore, neutrons are isotope-sensitive, meaning that water (H 2 0) and heavy water (D20), while chemically and hydraulically almost identical, can be easily distinguished in neutron imaging.The use of neutron imaging to investigate the hydromechanical properties of rocks is a substantially under-explored experimental area, mostly limited to 2D studies of dry, intact or pre-deformed samples, with little control of the boundary conditions. In thiswork we developed a new servocontrolled triaxial cell to perform multi-fluid flow experiments in saturated porous media, while performing in-situ loading and acquiring 4-dimensional neutron data.Another peculiarity of the project is the use of high-performance neutron imaging facilities (CONRAD-2, in Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin, and NeXT-Grenoble, in Institut Laue-Langevin), taking advantage of the world’s highest flux and cutting edge technology to acquire data at an optimal frequency for the study of this processes. The results of multiple experimental campaigns covering a series of initial and boundary conditions of increasing complexity are presented in this work.To quantify the local hydro-mechanical coupling, we applied a number of standard postprocessing procedures (reconstruction, denoising, Digital Volume Correlation) but also developed an array of bespoke methods, for example to track the water front andcalculate the 3D speed maps.The experimental campaigns performed show that the speed of the water front driven by imbibition in a dry sample is increased within a compactant shear band, while the pressure driven flow speed is decreased in saturated samples, regardless of the volumetric response of the shear band (compactant/dilatant). The 3D nature of the data and analyses has revealed essential in the characterization of the complex mechanical behaviour of the samples and the resultant flow speed.The experimental results obtained contribute to the understanding of flow in porous materials, ensure the suitability of the analysis and set an experimental method for further in-situ hydromechanical campaigns.

Este trabalho propõe o estudo do projeto de dispositivos baseados em microcanais de fluido, tais como difusores, misturadores, válvulas, e trocadores de calor, através da aplicação do Método de Otimização Topológica (MOT). O MOT é um método computacional que permite obter um projeto otimizado de um sistema, através da distribuição de uma quantidade limitada de material num dado domínio de projeto. Neste caso, o MOT é aplicado a um domínio fluido, e permite obter a topologia otimizada (formato ótimo) dos microcanais, segundo uma determinada característica, seja esta, a minimização da perda de carga, ou a maximização da velocidade num dado ponto, ou ainda a maximização da troca de calor, no caso de trocadores de calor. Os canais utilizados nestas aplicações operam com baixo número de Reynolds, sendo um caso típico da aplicação das equações de escoamento de Stokes. A implementação do MOT é realizada sob a forma de rotinas computacionais, permitindo um projeto sistematizado dos canais. No processo de otimização, utiliza-se o Método dos Elementos Finitos (MEF) como método de análise dos fenômenos físicos envolvidos, e a Programação Linear Seqüencial (PLS) como algoritmo de otimização. Ao final, propõe-se um estudo multi-físico, aliando-se características otimizadas tanto do ponto de vista da eficiência do escoamento, quanto do ponto de vista da dissipação térmica no canal, combinando-os através de uma função multi-objetivo. Exemplos de projeto bidimensionais de dispositivos de fluido são apresentados para ilustrar o método. / This work proposes studying the design of micro channel devices, such as fluid diffusers, mixers, valves, and heat exchangers, through the application of the Topology Optimization Method (TOM). The TOM is a computational method that allows the distribution of a limited amount of material, inside a given design domain, in order to obtain an optimized system design. Herein, the TOM is applied to a fluidic domain, allowing the design of an optimized microchannel topology (optimal configuration), according to a given objective function, such as head loss minimization, maximum velocity in a given direction, or the heat transfer maximization, in a heat exchanger example. Especially this kind of channel devices, operates at low Reynolds number, thus, it can be modeled through Stokes flow equations. The optimization procedure applies the Finite Element Method (FEM) to perform the physical analysis, and Sequential Linear Programming (SLP) as the optimization algorithm. At the end, a multi-physics analysis is proposed, through a multi-objective cost function, that combines both flow and heat dissipation efficiency optimization. Two-dimensional designs of fluidic devices are presented as examples to illustrate the method.