Le but de ce travail était la modélisation mécanique et thermique du laminage asymétrique. Celle-ci a été effectuée à l'aide de diverses méthodes. Deux approches, l'une analytique et l'autre semi-analytique, ont été utilisées pour la modélisation mécanique et deux autres, celles des différences finies et des éléments finis, pour la modélisation thermique. La première approche est celle des champs uniformes ; on a développé un modèle simple qui peut donner des ordres de grandeurs des différents paramètres du procédé. Une deuxième méthode plus complète mais plus complexe se base sur un champ de vitesse déduit d'une estimation parabolique de la forme des trajectoires. L’avantage de ce modèle est qu’il est capable de prévoir des grandeurs locales. Enfin la méthode des éléments finis a été aussi utilisée pour la modélisation mécanique. Dans un deuxième temps, l’aspect thermique du laminage asymétrique a été étudié. Pour la modélisation du procédé, nous avons alors adopté deux méthodes numériques, les différences finies et les éléments finis, du fait de la complexité de celui-ci. Le modèle thermique développé par différences finies a été ensuite intégré dans notre modèle mécanique (méthode des trajectoires). Celui-ci a donc pu être étendu pour pouvoir utiliser des lois d’écoulement qui dépendent de la température et donc pouvoir simuler le laminage asymétrique à chaud. Les prédictions du champ de température ont été confrontées aux résultats de calculs par éléments finis obtenus avec le code Abaqus. Finalement, une étude simple du développement de la texture cristallographique au cours du laminage a été réalisée. / The aim of this work was to propose a mechanical and thermal modelling of asymmetric rolling. This was achieved using various methods. Two approaches, the first one analytical and the second semi-analytical, were employed for mechanical modeling. Two others methods, the finite difference and finite element methods, were used for thermal modeling. The first analytical model is an upper bound method based on a uniform strain field; a simple model was developed that can give orders of magnitude of the various process parameters. The second model uses a more refined analytical velocity field based on the classical parabolic estimation of the material flow lines in rolling. The advantage of this model is its ability to provide local quantities. Finally, the finite element method was also used for mechanical modeling.The thermal aspects of asymmetric rolling were investigated in turn by two methods. For modeling the process, we adopted two numerical approaches, the finite difference and finite element methods, because of the complexity of the latter. The thermal model developed by finite differences was integrated into our mechanical model (flow line model). It was then extended to investigate asymmetrical hot rolling. The predictions of the temperature field were compared with results from finite element calculations obtained with the Abaqus code. Finally, a simple study of crystallographic texture development was achieved.

Surface energy plays a major role in many phenomena that are important in technological and industrial processes, for example in wetting, grain growth and sintering. In this thesis, such surface-energy driven processes are studied by means of the phase-field method. The phase-field method is often used to model mesoscale microstructural evolution in materials. It is a diffuse interface method, i.e., it considers the surface or phase boundary between two bulk phases to have a non-zero width with a gradual variation in physical properties such as energy density, composition and crystalline structure. Neck formation and coarsening are two important diffusion-controlled features in solid-state sintering and are studied using our multiphase phase-field method. Inclusion of Navier-Stokes equation with surface-tension forces and convective phase-field equations into the model, enables simulation of reactive wetting and liquid-phase sintering. Analysis of a spreading liquid on a surface is investigated and is shown to follow the dynamics of a known hydrodynamic theory. Analysis of important capillary phenomena with wetting and motion of two particles connected by a liquid bridge are studied in view of important parameters such as contact angles and volume ratios between the liquid and solid particles. The interaction between solute atoms and migrating grain boundaries affects the rate of recrystallization and grain growth. The phenomena is studied using a phase-field method with a concentration dependent double-well potential over the phase boundary. We will show that with a simple phase-field model it is possible to model the dynamics of grain-boundary segregation to a stationary boundary as well as solute drag on a moving boundary. Another important issue in phase-field modeling has been to develop an effective coupling of the phase-field and CALPHAD methods. Such coulping makes use of CALPHAD's thermodynamic information with Gibbs energy function in the phase-field method. With the appropriate thermodynamic and kinetic information from CALPHAD databases, the phase-field method can predict mictrostructural evolution in multicomponent multiphase alloys. A phase-field model coupled with a TQ-interface available from Thermo-Calc is developed to study spinodal decomposition in FeCr, FeCrNi and TiC-ZrC alloys. / QC 20100622

In this thesis, the boundary errors are defined for the NFM to explore the convergence rates, and the condition numbers are derived for simple cases to explore numerical stability. The optimal convergence (or exponential) rates are discovered numerically. This thesis is also devoted to seek better choice of locations for the field nodes of the FS expansions. It is found that the location of field nodes Q does not affect much on convergence rates, but do have influence on stability. Let £_ denote the distance of Q to ∂S. The larger £_ is chosen, the worse the instability of the NFM occurs. As a result, £_ = 0 (i.e., Q ∈ ∂S) is the best for stability. However, when £_ > 0, the errors are slightly smaller. Therefore, small £_ is a favorable choice for both high accuracy and good stability. This new discovery enhances the proper application of the NFM. However, even for the Dirichlet problem of Laplace¡¦s equation, when the logarithmic capacity (transfinite diameter) C_£F = 1, the solutions may not exist, or not unique if existing, to cause a singularity of the discrete algebraic equations. The problem with C_£F = 1 in the BEM is called the degenerate scale problems. The original explicit algebraic equations do not satisfy the conservative law, and may fall into the degenerate scale problem discussed in Chen et al. [15, 14, 16], Christiansen [35] and Tomlinson [42]. An analysis is explored in this thesis for the degenerate scale problem of the NFM. In this thesis, the new conservative schemes are derived, where an equation between two unknown variables must satisfy, so that one of them is removed from the unknowns, to yield the conservative schemes. The conservative schemes always bypasses the degenerate scale problem; but it causes a severe instability. To restore the good stability, the overdetermined system and truncated singular value decomposition (TSVD) are proposed. Moreover, the overdetermined system is more advantageous due to simpler algorithms and the slightly better performance in error and stability. More importantly, such numerical techniques can also be used, to deal with the degenerate scale problems of the original NFM in [15, 14, 16]. For the boundary integral equation (BIE) of the first kind, the trigonometric functions are used in Arnold [3], and error analysis is made for infinite smooth solutions, to derive the exponential convergence rates. In Cheng¡¦s Ph. Dissertation [18], for BIE of the first kind the source nodes are located outside of the solution domain, the linear combination of fundamental solutions are used, error analysis is made only for circular domains. So far it seems to exist no error analysis for the new NFM of Chen, which is one of the goal of this thesis. First, the solution of the NFM is equivalent to that of the Galerkin method involving the trapezoidal rule, and the renovated analysis can be found from the finite element theory. In this thesis, the error boundary are derived for the Dirichlet, the Neumann problems and its mixed types. For certain regularity of the solutions, the optimal convergence rates are derived under certain circumstances. Numerical experiments are carried out, to support the error made.

Submitted by Geandra Rodrigues (geandrar@gmail.com) on 2018-01-11T14:38:55Z No. of bitstreams: 1 danielmoutinhodesouza.pdf: 14087574 bytes, checksum: 14fbe9db31be8496c781a98af92ca3fd (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2018-01-23T13:42:47Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 danielmoutinhodesouza.pdf: 14087574 bytes, checksum: 14fbe9db31be8496c781a98af92ca3fd (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-01-23T13:42:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 danielmoutinhodesouza.pdf: 14087574 bytes, checksum: 14fbe9db31be8496c781a98af92ca3fd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-08-28 / A fibrilação ventricular é uma arritmia cardíaca listada como uma das principais causas de morte no mundo industrializado, por isso, a importância do estudo do comportamento elétrico cardíaco. O equipamento mais indicado para tentar reverter este quadro de arritmia é o desfibrilador, que submete o tórax do paciente a um campo elétrico de alta energia. Entretanto essa técnica pode causar efeitos graves como queimaduras e dor intensa. Técnicas menos agressivas vêm sendo estudadas e consideram, por exemplo, protocolos com múltiplos estímulos de baixa energia. Observou-se que, nessas estratégias alternativas, a rede vascular cardíaca pode ter papel importante com relação ao padrões espaço-temporais gerados pelos estímulos. Nesta mesma direção, este trabalho apresenta um estudo computacional sobre a influência da rede vascular durante estímulos por campo elétrico em tecidos cardíacos. O fenômeno é capturado por um sistema não-linear de equações diferenciais parciais. Para resolver este modelo numericamente os Métodos de Volumes Finitos (MVF) e de Phase-Field (MPF) foram combinados buscando assim a caracterização geométrica de vasos arteriais durante simulações de desfibrilação de tecido cardíaco. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que os métodos usados (MVF+MPF) são adequados para o estudo de protocolo para desfibrilação cardíaca. / The ventricular fibrillation is a cardiac arrhythmia listed as one of the leading causes of death within the industrialized world, hence the study of cardiac electrical behavior is an important research area. The most used equipment for the reversal of this condition is the defibrillator, which subjects the patient's chest to a high-energy electric field. However, it can have serious effects such as burns and severe pain. Less aggressive techniques have been studied and considered, for example, protocols with multiple low energy stimuli. It was observed that, in this alternative technique, the cardiac vascular network may play an important role in relation to the spatial-temporal patterns generated by the stimuli. This work presents a computational study about the influence of the vascular network during electrical field stimuli in cardiac tissues. The phenomenon is described by a nonlinear system of partial differential equations. To solve this model numerically the Finite Volume Method (FVM) and the Phase-Field Method (PFM) were combined, thus seeking a better geometric characterization of arterial vessels during simulations of cardiac tissue defibrillation. The results obtained in this work suggest that these methods (FVM + PFM) are suitable for the protocol study for cardiac defibrillation.

In this thesis, we present an experimental and numerical study of globularization during reheating of thixocast billet having non-dendritic microstructure. The process of reheating is an important step in the semisolid processing and is essential to control its microstructure and hence its mechanical properties. Material chosen for this study is Aluminum alloy, A356. The primary focus of this study is the heat treatment below eutectic temperature i.e. transformation in solid phase. It is found that during short duration heat treatment, globularization of primary α grains and spheroidization of eutectic Si flakes take place which improves the mechanical properties of semisolid cast products significantly. A prolonged heat treatment is found to degrade the properties of castings since it enhances the porosity and coarsening of Si. The study suggests that a precise heat treatment practice can be designed to improve the semisolid microstructure. A computational model based on Phase field approach has been proposed to study this phenomena. Predictions based on this model are qualitatively compared with corresponding experimental observations. Since eutectics form an important step in multiphase solidification, an attempt has been made to develop an enthalpy based explicit micro-scale model for eutectic solidification. In this preliminary study, growth of adjacent α and β phases in a two dimensional Eulerian framework has been simulated. The model is qualitatively validated with Jackson Hunt theory. Results show expected eutectic growth. This methodology promises significant saving in computational time compared to existing numerical models.

We examine the Rayleigh–Bénard convection as modelled by the Boussinesq equation. Our aim is at deriving bounds for the heat enhancement factor in the vertical direction, the Nusselt number, which reproduce physical scalings. In the first part of the dissertation, we examine the the simpler model when the acceleration of the fluid is neglected (Pr=∞) and prove the non-optimality of the temperature background field method by showing a lower bound for the Nusselt number associated to it. In the second part we consider the full model (Pr<∞) and we prove a new upper bound which improve the existing ones (for large Pr numbers) and catches a transition at Pr~Ra^(1/3).

Un aspect fondamental du contrôle attentionnel réside dans la capacité du sujet à anticiper l’apparition d’un stimulus afin de rendre son traitement plus rapide et plus efficace. L'attention préparatoire (AP) est la capacité de moduler (rehausser) l’intensité de l’attention dirigée vers un stimulus sélectionné avant son apparition, en empêchant que le sujet soit distrait par une information non pertinente. Certaines études soutiennent que l’AP est latéralisée dans l’hémisphère droit (HD) alors que d’autres suggèrent que les deux hémisphères, l’hémisphère gauche (HG) et l’HD, sont impliqués dans la modulation de l’AP. L’objectif de cette thèse est d’analyser le rôle joué par chaque hémisphère cérébral dans la modulation de l’AP dirigée vers une localisation de l’espace. Nous avons développé une version latéralisée du test APT (pour Attentional Preparatory Test, proposé par LaBerge, Auclair & Siéroff, 2000), le LAPT (Lateralized Attentional Preparatory Test). L’APT permet de mesurer la capacité des sujets à moduler leur AP vers la localisation d’une cible lorsque la probabilité d'un distracteur varie selon plusieurs blocs d’essais. Dans l’APT, le temps de réponse augmentait lorsque la probabilité d’apparition d’un distracteur dans la phase préparatoire antérieure à la présentation de la cible augmentait, ce qui montre que l’AP est modulée par des évènements antérieurs au traitement de la cible. Nous avons créé le LAPT en utilisant la méthode de présentation en champ visuel divisé dans laquelle les stimuli peuvent apparaître dans le champ visuel gauche (CVG) ou dans le champ visuel droit (CVD). Les différences de performances entre champs visuels nous donnent des indications sur les stratégies de traitement des deux hémisphères (CVD/HG vs CVG/HD). Dans une série d’études, nous avons montré que la modulation de l’AP en fonction de la probabilité attendue d’un événement diffère dans chaque champ visuel/hémisphère en fonction de la configuration de la tâche. Dans le CVD/HG, l’AP est modulée par la probabilité des événements distracteurs, surtout quand cette probabilité est explicite. De plus, l’HG semble tenir un rôle crucial dans la modulation de l’AP quand la cible et le distracteur sont difficiles à discriminer. Dans le CVG/HD, l’AP est modulée par la probabilité temporelle des événements et dépendrait du délai le plus probable dans lequel la cible est attendue, mais seulement lorsque la discrimination entre la cible et le distracteur est plus facile. Enfin, nos résultats suggèrent que les différences entre le CVD/LH et le CVG/RH lors de cette modulation attentionnelle se mettent en place à un niveau perceptif du traitement de l’information car ils sont indépendants de la main utilisée pour répondre et donc des processus requis au niveau de la programmation motrice. L’ensemble de ces résultats suggère que chaque hémisphère utilise une stratégie différente pour moduler l’AP lorsqu’elle est dirigée vers une localisation de l’espace. / A crucial aspect of attentional control is the capacity of anticipating a stimulus appearance in order to improve the speed and effectiveness of its subsequent processing. Preparatory attention (PA) is the ability to modulate (enhance) the intensity of attention directed to a selected stimulus prior to its occurrence, preventing subjects from being distracted by interfering stimuli. Some studies propose that PA is lateralized to the right hemisphere (RH) while others suggest that both the left hemisphere (LH) and the RH participate in the modulation of PA. The aim of the present thesis was to examine the role of each brain hemisphere in the modulation of PA directed to a spatial location. We developed a lateralized version of the Attentional Preparatory Test, (APT, proposed par LaBerge, Auclair & Siéroff, 2000), named the Lateralized APT or LAPT. The APT measures the ability of subjects to modulate PA directed to a target location when the probability of a distractor occurrence varies across several blocks of trials. In the APT, the response times increased as the probability of a distractor appearing in the preparatory phase preceding the target presentation increased, showing that PA is modulated by the events occurring prior to the target appearance. We developed the LAPT using the divided visual field paradigm in which stimuli can occur in the left (LVF) or the right (RVF) visual fields. The visual field differences in subjects’ performance are assumed to reflect differences in the processing strategies of both hemispheres (RVF/LH vs LVF/RH). In a series of studies we showed that the modulation of PA by the expected probability of events was different in each visual field/hemisphere, depending on task configuration. In the RVF/LH, PA is modulated by the expected probability of distractor events, especially when this probability is explicit. In addition, the LH seems to play a crucial role in modulating PA when the target and the distractor are hard to discriminate. In the LVF/RH, PA is modulated by the temporal probability of events and may depend on the most probable delay in which the target is expected, but only when the discrimination between the target and the distractor is easy. Most importantly, our findings suggest that the differences between RVF/LH and LVF/RH in the modulation of PA take place at the perceptual level of processing because they are independent of the hand use in executing the response, thus also independent of the processes taking place at the motor programming level. Taken together our results, they suggest that each hemisphere uses a different strategy to modulate PA when directed to a spatial location.

In this thesis, micro computed tomography (μ−CT) scans of a bio-glass scaffold produced by the robocasting technique was used to create finite element method (FEM) models with the purpose of determining its mechanical strength. Prior to this, a Matlab script was used to create several simplified geometries of the scaffold in an effort to determine the importance of scaffold design parameters (such as the fiber compenetration between two adjacent printing planes) on the strength of the scaffold. Furthermore, to assess the influence of micro-structural defects such as voids and micro-cracks that are intrinsic to the robocasting manufacturing process, the total number of voids and their respective volume was calculated using the μ-CT scan imagery and fitted to a statistical distribution. The distribution of voids was then used to create several scaffold models in Matlab with either spherical or ellipsoidal voids present. In the final two models, one scaled-down and one scaled-up FEM based on μ-CT scans were investigated.To model the crack initiation, propagation and final failure, the phase-field method was used. The method was implemented by the use of a publicly available Fortran user subroutine and was edited to account for asymmetric tension/compression energy degradation. The resulting strength of the produced models have been presented as non-dimensional values. The finite element analysis (FEA) of the Matlab produced scaffolds showed that the fiber shifting between two adjacent layers, porosity, and voids of ellipsoidal shape that were perpendicular to the loading direction had the highest effect on the strength of the scaffold. The resulting normalized strength values obtained from the μ-CT models was partially validated through a comparison with the literature available.The different failure modes and overall architectural arrangement of cracks also showed promising results. / I den här uppsatsen så användes mikrotomografi (μ-CT) skanning av en bio-glas stödstruktur tillverkad av robocasting tekniken för att skapa finita element modeller med syftet att bestämma dess mekaniska styrka. Innan detta så användes ett Matlab-skript för att skapa flera förenklade geometrier av stödstrukturen i ett försök att fastställa betydelsen av viktiga designparametrar (som t.ex fiberpenetrering mellan två intilliggande plan) på stödstrukturens styrka. Vidare, för att bedöma påverkan av mikrostrukturella defekter som tomrum och mikrosprickor som är naturligt förekommande i robocasting-tillverkningsprocessen så uppmättes det totala antal hålrum och deras respektive volym med hjälp av μ-CT-skannade bilder. Denna data blev anpassad till en statistisk fördelning. Fördelningen av tomrum och mikcrosprickor användes sedan för att skapa flera modeller av stödstrukturerna i Matlab med antingen sfäriska eller ellipsoida hålrum närvarande. I de sista två modellerna undersöktes en en nedskalad och en uppskalad finita elementmodell baserad på μ-CT-skanning.För att modellera sprickinitiering, sprickpropagering och slutligen brott användes fasfältsmetoden. Fasfältsmetoden implementerades med hjälp av en för allmänheten tillgänglig Fortran användarrutin som redigerades för att ta hänsyn till en asymmetrisk energidegradering i drag-och tryck. Den resulterande styrkan hos alla modeller har presenterats som icke-dimensionella värden. Finita elementanalysen av Matlab modellerna visade att fiberskiftningen mellan två intilliggande plan, porositet och hålrum med ellipsoid form som var vinkelräta mot belastningsriktningen hade störst effekt på stödstrukturens styrka. De resulterande normaliserade styrkevärdena erhållna från μ-CTmodeller validerades delvis genom en jämförelse med tillgänglig litteratur. Dom olika felmoderna och övergripande strukturella fördelningen av sprickor visade också lovande resultat.

This dissertation describes the implementation of the molecular electronic structure calculations with an implicit solvent model using coupled-cluster theory. The theory for and the implementation of the solvent reaction field method (SCRF) and the reference interaction site model (RISM) at the coupled-cluster singles and doubles (CCSD) are presented. In the SCRF model a solute molecule is placed in a spherical cavity, and the outer solvent is represented by a dielectric continuum, which is characterized by the dielectric constant of the solvent. The reaction field is introduced to the system by using the multipole moment expansion of the electronic structure of the solute molecule and the dielectric constant. The SCRF method has been used to calculate the conformational equilibrium and the rotational barriers of 1,2-dichloroethane in vacuum and in different solvents. The calculated results are compared with experimental values. In addition, the solvent effects on the energetics of the mechanism of nitration of benzene are reported using the implemented CCSD-SCRF model. The idea of RISM is to replace the reaction field in continuum models by a microscopic expression in terms of the site-site radial distribution functions between solute and solvent, which can be calculated from the RISM integral equations. The statistical solvent distribution around the solute is determined based on the electronic structure of the solute, while the electronic structure of solute is influenced by the surrounding solvent distribution. Therefore, the wave function and the RISM equations are solved self-consistently with CCSD. Pair correlation functions, partial atomic charges, and solvation free energies of water and N-methylacetamide are calculated in liquid water using proposed theory. Both the CC-SCRF and CC-RISM methods have been implemented in a developmental version of the Q-Chem 3.2 quantum chemistry package.

L’auto-assemblage de macromolécules amphiphiles dans des solutions aqueuses est un mécanisme important sous-jacent à de nombreux processus présents dans les organismes vivants. La formation spontanée de structures auto-organisées de phospholipides et de biomacromolécules se produit en raison d'un équilibre délicat entre les forces d'attraction et de répulsion. Ces forces comprennent l'attraction hydrophobe, la liaison hydrogène, les forces de coordination des métaux et la répulsion stérique ou électrostatique. En outre, l'auto-assemblage de molécules amphiphiles synthétiques est largement utilisé dans divers domaines technologiques. Un exemple frappant est celui des surfactants de faible poids moléculaire qui peuvent modifier de manière significative les propriétés des systèmes. Les autres domaines importants dans lesquels les tensioactifs et les macromolécules amphiphiles sont activement utilisés sont la cosmétologie et l'hygiène. Cependant, l'utilisation de structures auto-organisatrices de macromolécules amphiphiles nécessite une étude approfondie et soulève quelques questions pour les chercheurs concernant leur structure, leur comportement sous l'influence de facteurs externes et leur stabilité. L'objectif principal de la thèse était de développer une théorie de champ analytique auto-cohérente de l'auto-organisation dans des solutions de copolymères de déblocage non ioniques linéaires dendritiques et dendritiques doubles dans des solvants sélectifs. Cette théorie nous permet de prédire comment la dendronisation d'un ou des deux blocs affecte les propriétés structurelles et thermodynamiques d'assemblages auto-organisés formés par des copolymères. Il a été démontré que la dendronisation des corona bloc permet d’obtenir les micelles stables de taille relativement petite, mais avec de nombreux groupes terminaux. Cette dernière caractéristique est particulièrement intéressante dans le contexte de la liberation contrôlée, puisque les groupes terminaux exposés à l'environnement peuvent être facilement fonctionnalisés par des groupes de ligands pouvant être ciblés. Ces deux caractéristiques peuvent être obtenues simultanément car la dendronisation des corona bloc réduit le nombre d'agrégation à l'équilibre et les dimensions globales des micelles par rapport aux micelles formées par des molécules de copolymères diblocs linéaires homologues tout en conservant un grand nombre de groupes terminaux par micelle. La dendronisation du bloc insoluble peut être utilisée pour augmenter le nombre d'unités monomères terminales dans le core. Nous avons également démontré que la dendronisation des blocs solubles favorise la formation de micelles sphériques, alors que les gammes de stabilité thermodynamique des micelles cylindriques et des dendrimersomes sont déplacées vers un degré plus élevé de polymérisation des séquences insolubles. Au contraire, la dendronisation du bloc insoluble a l'effet inverse et conduit à un élargissement des gammes de stabilité des polymeres et des micelles cylindriques.Nous avons étudié les effets de l'extensibilité finie dans les brosses polyélectrolytes à chaîne linéaire et à dendron contenant des groupes ioniques. Nous avons développé la théorie analytique des brosses polyélectrolytiques dans l'approximation de Poisson-Boltzmann qui explique explicitement l'extensibilité finie des chaînes de polyélectrolytes formant des brosses. Il a été montré que pour la même série de paramètres de la brosse, la théorie basée sur l’élasticité non linéaire des polyions prédit une épaisseur de la brosse plus faible et une plus grande amplitude du saut de la densité du polymère au bord du pinceau. Les connaissances obtenues fourniront une base rationnelle pour la conception moléculaire de nouveaux copolymères à blocs complexes sur le plan architectural, y compris ceux destinés à des applications médicales. / An important mechanism underlying many processes occurring in living organisms is self-assembly of amphiphilic (macro)molecules in aqueous solutions. Spontaneous formation of self-organized structures of phospholipids and biomacromolecules occurs because of a delicate balance between attraction and repulsion forces. Such forces include hydrophobic attraction, hydrogen bonding, metal coordination forces and steric or electrostatic repulsion.In addition, self-assembly of synthetic amphiphilic molecules is widely used in various technical fields. A striking example are low molecular weight surfactants (small amphiphilic molecules) that can significantly change the properties of systems. Other important areas in which surfactants and amphiphilic macromolecules are actively used are cosmetology and hygiene. However, the use of self-organizing structures of amphiphilic macromolecules requires detailed study and raises a few questions for researchers regarding their structure, behavior under the influence of external factors and their stability.The main goal of the present work was development of the theory of self-assembly of diblock copolymers where one or both of blocks (soluble or/and insoluble) exhibit dendritic branching and established relations between degree of branching of the block(s) and structural properties (size, shape, aggregation number) of the self-assembled aggregates.The major focus of the thesis was on developing an analytical self-consistent field theory of self-organization in solutions of non-ionic linear-dendritic and double-dendritic deblock copolymers in selective solvents. This theory enables us to predict how dendronization of one or both blocks affects structural and thermodynamic properties of self-organized assemblies formed by copolymers. It was demonstrated that dendronisation of the corona blocks allows obtaining the stable micelles of relatively small size, but with many terminal groups.The latter feature is most attractive in the context of controlled delivery, since the exposed to the environment terminal groups can be readily functionalized by targetable ligand groups. Both these features can simultaneously be achieved because dendronization of the corona blocks reduces the equilibrium aggregation number and overall dimensions of micelles compared to micelles formed by homologous linear-linear diblock copolymer molecules while keeping large number of terminal groups per micelle. Dendronization of the insoluble block may be used for increasing of the number of terminal monomer units in the core. Such terminal groups can be further functionalized to be able to interact with active drugs, thereby increasing the loading capacity of the micelle.We have also demonstrated that dendronization of the soluble blocks favors formation of spherical micelles, whereas the ranges of thermodynamic stability of cylindrical wormlike micelles and dendrimersomes are shifted to larger degree of polymerisation of the insoluble blocks. On the contrary, dendronization of the insoluble block has the opposite effect and leads to widening of the stability ranges of polymersomes and cylindrical micelles.We investigated effects of finite extensibility (non-linear elasticity) in linear chain and dendron polyelectrolyte brushes containing ionic groups. We developed the analytical theory of polyelectrolyte brushes within the Poisson-Boltzmann approximation which explicitly accounts for finite extensibility of the brush-forming polyelectrolyte chains. It was shown that for the same set of the brush parameters the theory based on non-linear elasticity of the polyions predicts smaller thickness of the brush and larger magnitude of the jump in polymer density at the edge of the brush.The obtained knowledge will provide a rational background for molecular design of novel architecturally complex block copolymers, including those for medical applications.