No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Nacre is a hierarchical material found within the tough shells of red abalone. Despite being composed of calcium carbonate, nacre exhibits remarkable mechanical properties resulting from the nanoscale brick-and-mortar structure made from aragonite polygons. The objective of this research is to elucidate the toughening mechanisms associated with the interfacial resistance of red abalone. This was achieved by studying the mechanical behavior of dry nacre under pure shear and tension, and characterizing the associated fracture mechanisms using optical and scanning electron microscopes. Mathematical modeling was applied to further quantify the contribution of protein chains, nano-asperities and shear pillars to interfacial strengths. Preliminary conceptual models were proposed to elucidate the toughening mechanisms of polymorphic aragonite structures in red abalone. The findings can extend our understanding of the mechanical behavior of natural materials and promote the research and development of high performance bioinspired materials.

In my artwork, I incorporate narratives, which help me explore relationships and how they exist within the context of the formal imagery on the page. The idea of storytelling highly influences the way I approach and produce art. To hint at a story will entice the viewer to make connections and create a platform on which to further inspect the image. The lines in my work attempt to mimic the way stories and information can loop and intertwine to negate the personal, surround the personal or maybe just provide something that the viewer would have to weave his way through in order to create that relationship between the disparate layers. Through my work, I seek to divert the viewer's expression of an instinctual response, from one that would be expected to one that plays with the idea of the spectator transforming from onlooker to interpreter.

This thesis aims to contribute to the understanding of transitional flows in the blade boundary layers of axial compressors. Two experiments are described, the first examining in detail the transitional boundary layer on a simulated controlled-diffusion blade and the second surveying the mid-height flowfield in an embedded stage of a low-speed axial compressor. The velocity distribution on the simulated blade is identical to the Velocity distribution on the suction surface of the blades in the axial compressor. At 2 Reynolds numbers and 3 levels of freestream turbulence, a single hot wire was used to conduct a boundary layer survey on a simulated controlled-diffusion blade. Integral parameters of the boundary layers are explored to dene the length and nature of transition. At low Reynolds number there is a separated or near separated region at the leading edge which does not lead to turbulence. Transition covers a length of approximately 20% of the blade chord, starting between 20% and 30% chord. The position of transition is strongly influenced by the level of freestream turbulence. Most of the transition process occurs within the decelerating flow region which exists from 20% of the chord. At high Reynolds number, a leading edge separation bubble leads to transition within 2% of the blade chord. Abu-Ghannam & Shaws correlation for the start and length of transition was found to predict the start of transition well for attached flows, but could not be relied upon for separated flows. It is apparent that the correlation was not designed for the very strong Velocity gradients in the leading edge region, and probably not for separated flow. _ Three flow conditions in the axial compressor were used: design speed, peak efficiency, low Reynolds number at peak efficiency (the machine was slowed to one-quarter speed) and design speed near the stall. Using hot wires at mid-height, axial and circumferential velocity and turbulence information was obtained. Wakes and structure within wakes are visible in the turbulence and Reynolds stress distributions. The wakes of more than one upstream blade row are visible; the region where two wakes intersect gives some information about interaction between a stator blade Wake and a rotor blade boundary layer. Some information is available about the length scale 'distribution inside and outside wakes. Secondary flow in the axial-circumferential plane shows motion within wakes and a vortex in the near-stall flowfield, shed preferentially at one point in the blade-passing cycle.

During take-off, the aerodynamic performance of a transonic engine intake is dominated by the flow-field over the nacelle lower lip, around which the flow might accelerate to supersonic speeds. A shock wave might appear and impinge on the incoming boundary layer. Flow separation may result from this interaction, leading to severe flow distortion. In order to maximise fuel efficiency by reducing aerodynamic drag, slimmer nacelle designs are currently being pursued by manufacturers. Understanding the impact of design choices on the development of shock-wave boundary layer interactions (SBLI) is crucial, as these phenomena have a severe effect on the stability of the flow inside the nacelle. The available literature is rather scarce and unable to assess the nature and severity of SBLIs, which remain to be addressed in the context of nacelles at incidence. To address this shortcoming, a novel experimental rig has been designed exclusively to assess the detrimental effects resulting from shock-induced separation for a number of intake lip shapes and inflow conditions. For the reference intake shape, the flow field around the lower lip during on-design take-off conditions was found to be relatively benign, with minimal shock-induced separation. As incidence is increased by 2◦, from the reference incidence of 23◦, this separation gets noticeably larger and unsteadiness develops. The downstream boundary layer is more distorted and reflects the losses across the interaction. This is exacerbated at even higher incidence. Increasing the mass flow rate over the lip up to 15% of the initial value had only minor effects on performance. The parametric investigation revealed a significant effect of lip shape on the position and severity of the SBLI. In particular, a slimmer nacelle performed poorly, favouring shock development very close to the lip nose and promoting large scale separation as the incidence increases. From correlation studies based on the parametric investigation, it appears that the extent of shock-induced separation is the main factor affecting the aerodynamic performance. Somewhat surprisingly, this was found to be independent of shock strength but potentially related to the severity of the diffusion downstream of the shock. Alongside delaying flow reattachment, this diffusion is also likely to have a direct detrimental effect on the boundary layer development close to the engine fan.