Un grand défi actuel consiste à réaliser des capteurs innovants tirant partie des propriétés singulières de nanoparticules colloïdales synthétisées par voie chimique et assemblées de manière contrôlée sur des surfaces. L’objet de cette thèse est le développement de jauges de contrainte résistives à base de nanoparticules. Ces jauges de contrainte sont constituées de lignes parallèles, de quelques micromètres de large, denses, de nanoparticules colloïdales d’or synthétisées par voie chimique et assemblées sur des substrats souples par assemblage convectif contrôlé. Le principe de ces capteurs résistifs repose sur la conduction tunnel entre les nanoparticules qui varie de manière exponentielle lorsque que l’assemblée est déformée. Des mesures électro-mécaniques couplées à des observations en microscopie électronique à balayage et à force atomique ont permis d’identifier, de quantifier et de comprendre l’impact de la taille et de la nature des ligands des nanoparticules sur la sensibilité et les phénomènes de dérive de la résistance à vide des jauges de contrainte. Ces travaux, associés à des mesures de diffusion de rayons X aux petits angles ont permis de corréler les variations macroscopiques de résistance électrique des jauges de contrainte aux déplacements relatifs des nanoparticules. Finalement, ces jauges de contrainte ultra-sensibles et miniatures, mises en matrices, ont été exploitées pour réaliser des surfaces tactiles souples multi-points et sensibles à l’intensité de l’appui / One recent big challenge is to implement innovative sensors that take advantage of the unique properties of colloidal nanoparticles chemically synthesized and assembled on various surfaces. The goal of this work is the development of nanoparticle based resistive strain gauges. These strain gauges are constructed of few micrometers wide parallel wires of close packed colloidal gold nanoparticles, chemically synthesized, and assembled on flexible substrates by convective self assembly. The principle of these resistive sensors is based on the tunnel conduction between the adjacent nanoparticles which varies exponentially as the assembly is stretched. Electro-mechanical measurements coupled with scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy observations were used to identify, quantify and understand the impact of the nanoparticle size and the nature of the protecting ligands, on the gauge sensitivity and the drift of the resistance at rest of the nanoparticle based strain gauges. Coupled with small angle x-ray scattering measurements, these studies allowed us to correlate the macroscopic changes in electrical resistance of the strain gauges to the relative displacement of the nanoparticles at the nanoscale. Finally, a matrix of these miniature ultra-sensitive gauges was used to construct flexible touch screen panels capable of measuring the intensity of several touches simultaneously

Ce travail de thèse porte sur l'étude et la réalisation de micro-capteurs d'accélération à détection thermique. Ils sont basés sur la modification des échanges thermiques par convection naturelle dans un fluide chauffé localement lorsque le dispositif est soumis à une accélération.L'utilisation d'un fluide comme masse sismique est en rupture avec les concepts d'accéléromètres dits traditionnels. Cet avantage a pour conséquence directe leur tenue aux fortes accélérations.Un des objectifs de ce travail consiste à développer et à caractériser des accéléromètres à grande étendue de mesures (> 10 000 g). D'autre part, des études fondamentales menées en parallèle nous ont permis de mieux comprendre les phénomènes thermiques intervenant dans la cavité ainsi que d'en déduire l'effet des paramètres thermo-physiques du fluide, des conditions expérimentales et des dimensions géométriques du capteur sur la sensibilité et la bande passante.Par ailleurs, l'étude de nouveaux concepts de détection thermique basés sur l'utilisation de matériaux pyroélectriques a été entreprise pour aboutir à une amélioration de la sensibilité comme de la bande passante. Après la maîtrise des dépôts en couches minces, ce nouveau mode de détection a été mis en œuvre et le principe validé. / This PhD thesis deals with both study and fabrication of micro-accelerometers based on thermal convection. Under acceleration, convective heat transfer in a locally heated fluid is modified and induces a change in temperature profile. Using a fluid as seismic mass enhances better performances than traditional accelerometers in term of high shock reliability.One goal is to develop and characterize high-g accelerometers (> 10,000 g). Besides, analytical studies carried out in parallel have allowed us to improve our understanding of fluid thermal behaviour. Effects of thermo-physical parameters, experimental set-up and sensor size on both sensitivity and bandwidth were deduced.On the other hand, a new concept of thermal detection based on the use of pyroelectric material was undertaken to improve sensor sensitivity as well as bandwidth. First the thin-film sputtering process is developed. Then the pyroelectric thermal accelerometer principle is confirmed.

Uma família de esquemas upwind denominada FUS-RF (Family of Upwind Scheme via Rational Functions), que é derivada via funções racionais e dependentes de parâmetros, é proposta para o cálculo de soluções aproximadas de equações de conservação. A fim de ilustrar a capacidade dos novos esquemas, vários resultados computacionais para sistemas hiperbólicos de leis de conservação são apresentados. Esses testes mostram a inflluência dos parâmetros escolidos sobre a qualidade dos resultados numéricos. Fazendo o uso de alguns testes de padrões, comparação dos novos limitadores de fluxo correspondentes com o esquema bem estabelecido van Albada e esquema atual EPUS (Eight-degree Polynomial Upwind Scheme) é também realizada. Os testes numéricos realizados em transporte de escalares e problemas de dinâmica dos gases confirmam que alguns esquemas da família FUS-RF são não oscilatórios e fornecem resultados confiáveis quando perfis descontínuos são transportados. Um esquema particular dessa nova família de esquemas upwind é então selecionado e utilizado para resolver escoamentos complexos com superfícies livres móveis / A family of upwind schemes named as FUS-RF (Family of Upwind Scheme via Rational Functions), which is derived via rational functions and dependent of parameters, is proposed for computing approximated solutions of conservation equations. In order to illustrate the capability of the new schemes, several computational results for system of hyperbolic conservation laws are presented. These results clarify the influence of the chosen parameters on the quality of the numerical calculations. Using some standard test cases, comparison of the new corresponding limiters with the well established van Albada and the recently introduced EPUS (Eight-degree Polynomial Upwind Scheme) limiters is also done. Numerical tests on both scalar and gas dynamics problems confirm that some schemes of the FUS-RF family are non-oscillatory and yield sharp results when solving profiles with discontinuities. A particular upwind scheme of this new family is then slected and used for solving complex incompressible moving free surface flows

In this research, an elastic cylinder that utilized vortex-induced vibration (VIV) was applied to improve convective heat transfer rates by disrupting the thermal boundary layer. Rigid and elastic cylinders were placed across a fluid channel. Vortex shedding around the cylinder led to the periodic vibration of the cylinder. As a result, the flow-structure interaction (FSI) increased the disruption of the thermal boundary layer, and therefore, improved the mixing process at the boundary. This study aims to improve convective heat transfer rate by increasing the perturbation in the fluid flow. A three-dimensional numerical model was constructed to simulate the effects of different flow channel geometries, including a channel with a stationary rigid cylinder, a channel with a elastic cylinder, a channel with two elastic cylinders of the same diameter, and a channel with two elastic cylinders of different diameters. Through the numerical simulations, the channel maximum wall temperature was found to be reduced by approximately 10% with a stationary cylinder and by around 17% when introducing an elastic cylinder in the channel compared with the channel without the cylinder. Channels with two-cylinder conditions were also studied in the current research. The additional cylinder with the same diameter in the fluid channel only reduced the surface wall temperature by 3% compared to the channel without any cylinders because the volume of the second cylinder could occupy some space, and therefore, reduce the effect of the convective heat transfer. By reducing the diameter of the second cylinder by 25% increased the effect of the convection heat transfer and reduced the maximum wall temperature by around 15%. Compared to the channel with no cylinder, the introduction of cylinders into the channel flow was found to increase the average Nusselt number by 55% with the insertion of a stationary rigid cylinder, by 85% with the insertion of an elastic cylinder, by 58% with the insertion of two cylinders of the same diameter, and by approximately 70% with the insertion of two cylinders of different diameters (the second cylinder having the smaller diameter). Furthermore, it was also found that the maximum local Nusselt number could be enhanced by around 200%-400% at the entrance of the fluid channel by using the elastic cylinders compared to the channel without cylinders.

This thesis deals with an experimental determination of heat transfer coefficients from the surface of the thermal manikin. The main focus of the work lies on separating radiative and convective heat fluxes from the surface of the thermal manikin. Both nude and clothed, standing and seated postures were investigated respectively. The tests were conducted in a constant air temperature (cca 24°C) and a constant wind speed (cca 0,05 m.s-1) environment. The major part of the radiative heat flux was eliminated by a low emissivity coating applied to the surface of the nude thermal manikin, and in the case of clothed manikin by a low emissivity two-piece dress. Favorable results were achieved only in the case of the nude manikin measurements. The measurements were performed across 34 zones that logically represent parts of a human body. Experimental work confirms theoretical expectations in the means of a heat transfer. In addition, the results of this work were compared to results of a similar experimental work. The outcomes of this thesis provide essential information in order to create detailed computational models of a thermal environment. Such models require anatomically specific, separate values of convective and radiative heat transfer coefficients.

The thesis is divided in two parts. The first part deals with the areal distribution of short-term convective rainfalls with regard to the influence of altitude. Precipitation estimates based on combination of rain gauge and radar data are used for this purpose. Statistical tests proved that the areal distribution of hourly convective rainfalls does not depend on altitude. Besides data containing precipitation events only, all measured data were statistically analysed regardless of the fact whether precipitation occurred or not. In this case it was found out that the relationship between hourly rainfall totals and altitude depends on the considered threshold of rainfall totals. When all data were considered, i.e. a threshold value was set to zero, an increase of rainfall totals well correlated with altitude. The dependence slowly disappeared with an increasing threshold. The areal distribution of 6 hour rainfall totals proved higher values in the area of south Bohemia. The most frequent synoptic patterns were northwest cyclonic situations (NWC) and cyclone over the Central Europe (C). The second part of the thesis is focused on satellite data exploitation, as measured by meteorological satellite Meteosat Second Generation, for convective precipitation estimates. The Convective Rainfall Rate (CRR) algorithm,...

MODEL OF ERROR COVARIANCES FOR THE ASSIMILATION OF RADAR REFLECTIVITY INTO NWP MODEL Predicting events with a severe convection is not easy due to the small spatial scale and rapid development of this phenomenon. But being able to predict such events is important in view of the dangerous phenomena that accompany these events, such as flash floods, strong winds, hailstorms or atmospheric electricity. Improved forecast can be achieved by more precisely defined initial conditions that enter the model. These data must match the scale of the studied phenomenon. Therefore, radar data is used in this case. Although the NWP model should describe real processes due to the simplifications and approximations the model's behavior does not entirely correspond the reality. Therefore, if we want the model to generate precipitation, we must ensure that the values of the model variables and their relationship are such that the process is started. To find out these relationships, we want to use a covariant model. In this paper, we focused on the correlation analysis of the model variables in the regions of convection between radar reflection, its conversion to the intensity of precipitation and other model variables. The COSMO data with a horizontal resolution of 2.8 km were used, which were describing approximately...

Rotating-disk flow has been investigated not only as a simple model of cross flow instability to compare with swept-wing flow but also for industrial flow applications with rotating configurations. However the exact nature of laminar-turbulent transi- tion on the rotating-disk flow is still major problem and further research is required for it to be fully understood, in particular, the laminar-turbulent transition process with absolute instability. In addition the studies of the rotating-disk turbulent boundary- layer flow are inadequate to understand the physics of three-dimensional turbulent boundary-layer flow. In present thesis, a rotating-rotating disk boundary-layer flow has been inves- tigated experimentally using hot-wire anemometry. A glass disk with a flat surface has been prepared to archieve low disturbance rotating-disk environment. Azimuthal velocity measurements using a hot-wire probe have been taken for various conditions. To get a better insight into the laminar-turbulent transition region, a new way to describe the process is proposed using the probability density function (PDF) map of azimuthal fluctuation velocity. The effect of the edge of the disk on the laminar-turbulent transition process has been investigated. The disturbance growth of azimuthal fluctuation velocity as a function of Reynolds number has a similar trend irrespective of the various edge conditions. The behaviour of secondary instability and turbulent breakdown has been in- vestigated. It has been found that the kinked azimuthal velocity associated with secondary instability just before turbulent breakdown became less apparent at a cer- tain wall normal heights. Furthermore the turbulent breakdown of the stationary mode seems not to be triggered by its amplitude, however, depend on the appearance of the travelling secondary instability. Finally, the turbulent boundary layer on a rotating disk has been investigated. An azimuthal friction velocity has been directly measured from the azimuthal velocity profile in the viscous sub-layer. The turbulent statistics normalized by the inner and outer sclaes are presented. / QC 20120529

La formation des systèmes convectifs est un processus complexe qui s'étend de l'échelle synoptique, avec la mise en place de circulations favorisant la convection, à la micro-échelle, avec les processus de formation et de croissance des hydrométéores. C'est aux échelles les plus fines que se concentre cette thèse dont l'objectif est d'étudier l'apport d'une microphysique complexe sur l'occurrence et la morphologie d'évènements fortement précipitants. La microphysique évaluée est celle du schéma LIMA, de type bulk à deux moments, capable de prendre en compte l'évolution d'une population d'aérosols multimodale et le traitement pronostique de son interaction avec les nuages et les précipitations. Dans un premier temps, l'apport de la microphysique de LIMA est évalué en comparaison à la microphysique bulk à un moment du schéma ICE3, moins sophistiqué et actuellement opérationnel à Météo-France dans le modèle AROME. Afin de mesurer l'apport de ce nouveau schéma sur la simulation de cas fortement précipitants tels que ceux qui touchent régulièrement le sud-est de la France à l'automne, deux cas d'étude de la campagne HyMeX ont été simulés avec Meso-NH et comparés aux nombreuses observations disponibles. Si l'évaluation des cumuls de précipitations montre un impact modéré de l'un ou l'autre des schémas microphysiques, l'écart est plus marqué en terme de composition et de structure des systèmes convectifs : la microphysique à 2 moments développe une structure verticale plus réaliste et introduit plus de variabilité sur les champs microphysiques. L'évaluation a aussi identifié des biais dans le schéma, notamment une surestimation des diamètres de gouttes de pluie. Des pistes d'amélioration de la microphysique de LIMA ont alors été proposées et évaluées sur les mêmes cas. Des tests de sensibilité à l'initialisation de la population d'aérosols ont ensuite été menés. Il s'avère que les aérosols n'affectent pas uniquement les hydrométéores primaires (gouttelettes d'eau nuageuse et cristaux de glace) mais aussi les autres hydrométéores, engendrant des impacts sur le développement des systèmes convectifs simulés, en termes de composition nuageuse et de précipitations. Les simulations avec une population d'aérosols réaliste initialisée à partir des analyses CAMS ont montré un impact modéré sur les cumuls de précipitations mais une amélioration plus significative de l'évolution temporelle du système (intensification, dissipation) et de la composition nuageuse, réduisant le diamètre des gouttes de pluie sur les cas d'étude. / The triggering and growth of Convective systems is a complex process that extends from the synoptic scale, with the establishment of atmospheric circulations promoting convection, to the microscale, with the formation and growth processes of hydrometeors. This PhD focuses on these finest scales and investigates the contribution of complex cloud-microphysics to the occurrence and morphology of heavy precipitation events. The two-moment microphysical scheme LIMA evaluated in this study takes into account the evolution of a multimodal aerosol population and the prognostic treatment of its interaction with liquid and ice clouds and precipitation. First, the contribution of LIMA is evaluated in comparison to the ICE3 one-moment bulk microphysical scheme, which is less sophisticated and currently operational in the AROME model at Météo-France. In order to measure the performance of this new scheme, two case studies of the HyMeX campaign were simulated with the Meso-NH model and compared to a wide variety of available measurements. The assessment of cumulative precipitation shows a moderate impact of each of these microphysical schemes, but the difference is more pronounced in terms of convective systems composition and structure: the two moment microphysics develops a more realistic vertical structure and introduces more microphysical variability. The evaluation also identified biases in the scheme (such as an overestimation of rain drop diameters). Some improvements to the implementation of LIMA were proposed and evaluated on the same cases. Then, the scheme is used to perform a sensitivity test to the aerosol population on the same case studies. Tests on the concentration of idealized populations have shown that aerosols do not only affect primary production of cloud droplets and ice crystals but also precipitating hydrometeors, causing impacts on the development of simulated convective systems in terms of cloud composition and generated precipitation. Simulations based on a realistic aerosol population initialized from CAMS analyses also showed a moderate impact on cumulative precipitation, but a more significant improvement on the temporal evolution of the system (intensification, dissipation) and cloud composition, leading to a reduction of rain drop diameters in the studied cases.

The use of numerical weather prediction (NWP) has brought significant improvements to severe weather outbreak forecasting; however, determination of the primary mode of severe weather (in particular tornadic and nontornadic outbreaks) continues to be a challenge. Uncertainty in model runs contributes to forecasting difficulty; therefore it is beneficial to a forecaster to understand the sources and magnitude of uncertainty in a severe weather forecast. This research examines the impact of data assimilation, microphysics parameterizations, and planetary boundary layer (PBL) physics parameterizations on severe weather forecast accuracy and model variability, both at a mesoscale and synoptic-scale level. NWP model simulations of twenty United States tornadic and twenty nontornadic outbreaks are generated. In the first research phase, each case is modeled with three different modes of data assimilation and a control. In the second phase, each event is modeled with 15 combinations of physics parameterizations: five microphysics and three PBL, all of which were designed to perform well in convective weather situations. A learning machine technique known as a support vector machine (SVM) is used to predict outbreak mode for each run for both the data assimilated model simulations and the different parameterization simulations. Parameters determined to be significant for outbreak discrimination are extracted from the model simulations and input to the SVM, which issues a diagnosis of outbreak type (tornadic or nontornadic) for each model run. In the third phase, standard synoptic parameters are extracted from the model simulations and a k-means cluster analysis is performed on tornadic and nontornadic outbreak data sets to generate synoptically distinct clusters representing atmospheric conditions found in each type of outbreak. Variations among the synoptic features in each cluster are examined across the varied physics parameterization and data assimilation runs. Phase I found that conventional and HIRS-4 radiance assimilation performs best of all examined assimilation variations by lowering false alarm ratios relative to other runs. Phase II found that the selection of PBL physics produces greater spread in the SVM classification ability. Phase III found that data assimilation generates greater model changes in the strength of synoptic-scale features than either microphysics or PBL physics parameterization.