Le vieillissement physique est un sujet très actif en physique statistique car il ouvre la perspective d’une généralisation de la physique statistique à l’équilibre à des cas faiblement hors équilibre. Dans ce contexte où d’importants travaux ont été réalisés sur les polymères et les verres de spin, des travaux théoriques ont montré l’intérêt que pouvait apporter l’étude de système subissant une transition de phase du second ordre, les ingrédients théoriques étant plus simples. Nous avons donc étudié dans le détail la transition de Fréedericksz dans un cristal liquide qui est décrite par une transition du second ordre afin d’utiliser ensuite ce système pour faire une étude expérimentale du vieillissement au point critique. Nous avons alors montré que les équations usuellement utilisées (développement de l’énergie libre à la Landau) pour décrire la dynamique de cette transition ont un domaine de validité extrêmement mince qui n’est pas accessible expérimentalement. Il faut donc tenir compte des termes non linéaires de l’énergie libre pour décrire la dynamique du système, même dans le cadre de la réponse linéaire. Nous avons montré dans ce cadre le très bon accord entre la simulation numérique sans paramètre ajustable et les résultats expérimentaux. Nous avons ensuite étudié le comportement des fluctuations au voisinage du seuil de la transition et montré que lorsque la normalisation tenait bien compte du fait que la mesure est celle d’une variable quadratique, alors les fluctuations étaient d’amplitude maximale au seuil de la transition de Fréedericksz, comme on l’attend d’une transition du second ordre. L’étude de ces fluctuations permet alors de mesurer précisément la valeur du champ critique, ce qui est une mesure totalement nouvelle. Nous avons ensuite réalisé une étude de la dynamique des fluctuations du système lors de la réponse à une marche du paramètre de contrôle de la transition de Fréedericksz, et en particulier lors de trempes au point critique. Nous avons alors retrouvé les résultats prédits sur les systèmes de verres de spin, et nous montrons le lien entre la violation du théorème de fluctuation dissipation et l’évolution de la variance. Enfin nous avons monté un dispositif permettant de faire l’étude spatio-temporelle du système, nous avons montré que les 2 dispositifs mis en œuvre étaient limités par leur sensibilité dépendant de la valeur moyenne du paramètre d’ordre et nous proposons donc un autre système de mesure que nous n’avons pas eu le temps d’implémenter. / Physical aging is an active subject in statistical physics as it could lead to the generalization of equilibrium statistical physics to weakly out of equilibrium systems. In this context, where polymers and spin glasses have already been extensively studied despite not still well understood, theoretical works have shown new interests in systems undergoing a second order phase transition, where model ingredients are based on simpler physical arguments. Therefore, we studied in details a second order phase transition in liquid crystals : the Fréedericksz transition, in order to monitor experimentally aging at its critical point. We showed that the equations usually proposed to describe the dynamics of the transition (Landau like development of the free energy) have a very limited domain of validity, not accessible experimentally. In fact, one has to take into account the non-linearities, even in the vicinity of the Fréedericksz threshold and in the linear response regime. In this framework, we found a very good agreement between numerical simulations (no adjustable parameters) and experimental results. Then, we studied the behavior of fluctuations in the vicinity of the transition threshold and showed that, when ones takes into account the quadratic dependence of the measured variable, the fluctuations have a maximal amplitude at the threshold, as expected in a second order phase transition. This experimental study of fluctuations provides a new method to precisely measure of the value of the Fréedericksz threshold. A detailed analysis of the system dynamic fluctuations during quenches, and in particular, critical quenches was also performed, and we found the same behavior as predicted on spin glasses. The relation between fluctuation-dissipation theorem violation and variance evolution during the quench could be established. In parallel, we designed an experimental set-up to study the spatio-temporal fluctuations and also used a classical one, which both have sensitivity limits due to the mean value of the order parameter. We therefore propose a third set-up which could not be implemented due to a lack of time, that should overcome these difficulties.

L’objet de ce travail est d’étudier l’influence de l’anisotropie structurale, induite lors de la mise en forme d’un Polylactide (PLA), sur les dynamiques moléculaires de la phase amorphe. Deux procédés de mise en oeuvre sont retenus : l’électrofilage et la cristallisation induite par flux. Le premier permet d’aboutir à un système non-cristallin, lorsque le deuxième permet d’aboutir à un système semi-cristallin. Pour chaque système, une étude microstructurale est préalablement réalisée pour mettre en avant l’anisotropie structurale induite lors de la mise en oeuvre. Pour ce faire différentes techniques d’analyses sont utilisées : microscopie optique, microscopie électronique, diffraction des rayons X, calorimétrie à balayage différentielle (DSC) et calorimétrie à balayage rapide (FSC). L’utilisation de la FSC s’avère précieuse. Du fait des vitesses extrêmement rapide (1000 K.s-1) et de la diminution importante de la masse (dizaine de nanogrammes), la transition vitreuse et la cinétique de vieillissement physique sont au préalable étudiées dans le cas d’un PLA amorphe. Il est montré que les vitesses de refroidissement atteignable en FSC permettent d’accélérer les cinétiques de vieillissement physique. Les dynamiques moléculaires sont ensuite étudiées à travers le concept de coopérativité et le phénomène de vieillissement physique. Il est montré que l’orientation préférentielle induite dans le système non-cristallin aboutit à la formation de mésophase qui augmente la coopérativité, autrement dit les interactions intermoléculaires. Dans le cas du système semi-cristallin, les dynamiques moléculaires sont influencées par le couplage amorphe/cristal et le confinement des cristaux, et non pas par l’anisotropie structurale induite avant cristallisation. / The aim of this work is to investigate the molecular dynamics of Polylactide (PLA) subjected to structural anisotropy during its processing. To do so, two experimental set-ups were used: electrospinning and flow induced crystallization. The first one leads to non-crystalline system, while the second one leads to semi-crystalline system. For each system, the microstructure is investigated to highlight the structural anisotropy induced during the processing. Different experimental techniques are used: optical microscopy, electronic microscopy, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and fast scanning calorimetry (FSC). FSC proves to be useful. Due to the high scanning rates (1000 K.s-1) and the decrease of the sample mass (few tens of nanogrammes), glass transition and physical aging kinetics are beforehand investigated in the case of a wholly amorphous PLA. It is shown that high cooling rates available by FSC allow to accelerate physical aging kinetics. Molecular dynamics are then investigated through concept of cooperativity and phenomenon of physical aging. It is shown that preferential orientation induced during electrospinning leads to the formation of mesophase, which increase cooperativity, namely the intermolecular interactions. With regard to semi-crystalline system, molecular dynamics are only affected by the coupling between amorphous/crystal and the confinement effect of the crystals, rather than the structural anisotropy induced before the crystallization step.

No description available.

The objective of this study was to evaluate and develop an understanding of durability of an adhesive bonded system, for application in a future high speed civil transport (HSCT) aircraft structure. The system under study was comprised of Ti-6Al-4V metal adherends and a thermosetting polyimide adhesive, designated as FM-5, supplied by Cytec Engineered Materials, Inc. An approach based on fracture mechanics was employed to assess Ti-6Al-4V/FM-5 bond durability. Initially, wedge tests were utilized to find a durable surface pretreatment for the titanium adherends. Based on an extensive screening study, chromic acid anodization (CAA) was chosen as the standard pretreament for this research project. Double cantilever beam specimens (DCB) were then made and aged at 150° C, 177° C, and 204° C in three different environments; ambient atmospheric air (14.7 psia), and reduced air pressures of 2 psi air (13.8 KPa) and 0.2 psi air (1.38 KPa). Joints were aged for up to 18 months (including several intermediate aging times) in the above environments. The strain energy release rate (G) of the adhesive joints was monitored as a function of exposure time in the different environments. A 40% drop in fracture toughness was noted over the 18 month period, with the greatest degradation observed in samples aged at 204° C in ambient atmospheric air pressure. The loss in adhesive bond performance with time was attibutable to a combination of physical and chemical aging phenomena in the FM-5 resin, and possible degradation of the metal-adhesive interface(s). Several mechanical and material tests, performed on the bonded joints and neat FM-5 resin specimens, confirmed the above statement. It was also noted that physical aging could be "erased" by thermal rejuvenation, partially restoring the toughness of the FM-5 adhesive material. The FM-5 adhesive material displayed good chemical resistance towards organic solvents and other aircraft fluids such as jet fuel and hydraulic fluid. The results from the FM-5 adhesive and its bonded joints were compared and contrasted with VT Ultem and REGULUS polyimide adhesives. The FM-5 adhesive showed the best performance among the three adhesive systems. The effect of mode-mixity on the fracture toughness of the Ti-6Al-4V/FM-5 adhesive bonded system was also evaluated. DCB tests in conjunction with end-notched flexure (ENF) and mixed-mode flexure (MMF) tests, were used to fracture the bonded joints under pure mode I, pure mode II, and a combination of mode I and II loadings. The results showed that the mode I fracture toughness was twice as large as the mode II toughness. This was a rather surprising find, in sharp contrast to what several researchers have observed in the past. Our current understanding is that the crack path selection during the failure process plays a significant role in explaining this anomalous behavior. Finally, failure envelopes were generated for the titanium/FM-5 bonded system, both prior to and following thermal aging. These envelopes could serve as useful tools for engineers designing with Ti-6Al-4V/FM-5 bonds. / Ph. D.

Process-induced Long-term Deformation Behavior of Injection Molded Semicrystalline Thermoplastics Injection molding is a very complex process because the polymer experiences a complex thermorheological history during molding that influences the molecular orientation, residual stresses, frozen-in free volume and crystallinity inside the part. These generally govern the final part properties. Therefore it is highly desirable to anticipate the effect of process parameters on the resulting microstructure and mechanical properties of the finished part in the long run. In the case of a semicrystalline thermoplastic part, the problem in understanding the deformation behavior arises from its two-phase structure and a tendency exists to concentrate primarily on the effect of the crystalline phase on the deformation behavior, while the contribution of the amorphous phase is less investigated. In this work, the influence of the processing parameters on the deformation behavior of injection molded semicrystalline thermoplastic parts, viz., syndiotactic Polystyrene (sPS) and Polybutylene terepthalate (PBT), has been monitored through creep. The resulting internal structures due to processing have been determined and the deformation behavior has been analyzed. It has been observed that only the rate of cooling shows a remarkable effect on the long-term viscoelastic behavior of an injection molded semicrystalline thermoplastic part as it influences not only the crystalline, but also the free volume fraction, whereas the different states of frozen-in orientations and pressure-induced densification have only a negligible effect. Besides, physical aging also plays an important role in the deformation behavior of the injection moldings which was manifested with the decrease in the tendency to creep. Therefore, it was suggested that the cooling rate during injection molding and the aging time can significantly affect the long-term deformation behavior of the injection molded semicrystalline thermoplastics. The results also showed that when no significant effect is observed in terms of short-term mechanical properties by changing the processing conditions, but while considering the long-term behavior they show a significant effect.

Process-induced Long-term Deformation Behavior of Injection Molded Semicrystalline Thermoplastics Injection molding is a very complex process because the polymer experiences a complex thermorheological history during molding that influences the molecular orientation, residual stresses, frozen-in free volume and crystallinity inside the part. These generally govern the final part properties. Therefore it is highly desirable to anticipate the effect of process parameters on the resulting microstructure and mechanical properties of the finished part in the long run. In the case of a semicrystalline thermoplastic part, the problem in understanding the deformation behavior arises from its two-phase structure and a tendency exists to concentrate primarily on the effect of the crystalline phase on the deformation behavior, while the contribution of the amorphous phase is less investigated. In this work, the influence of the processing parameters on the deformation behavior of injection molded semicrystalline thermoplastic parts, viz., syndiotactic Polystyrene (sPS) and Polybutylene terepthalate (PBT), has been monitored through creep. The resulting internal structures due to processing have been determined and the deformation behavior has been analyzed. It has been observed that only the rate of cooling shows a remarkable effect on the long-term viscoelastic behavior of an injection molded semicrystalline thermoplastic part as it influences not only the crystalline, but also the free volume fraction, whereas the different states of frozen-in orientations and pressure-induced densification have only a negligible effect. Besides, physical aging also plays an important role in the deformation behavior of the injection moldings which was manifested with the decrease in the tendency to creep. Therefore, it was suggested that the cooling rate during injection molding and the aging time can significantly affect the long-term deformation behavior of the injection molded semicrystalline thermoplastics. The results also showed that when no significant effect is observed in terms of short-term mechanical properties by changing the processing conditions, but while considering the long-term behavior they show a significant effect.

Age-related physical and cognitive changes hinder the ability of older adults to operate smartphones. While many user interface (UI) heuristics exist today, there is a need for an updated set designed specifically to assess the usability of mobile devices for an older audience. Smartphone evaluation heuristics for older adults based on age-related changes in vision, hearing, attention, memory and motor control were developed in this thesis by analyzing literature on age-related physical and cognitive changes impacting smartphone usability. Support for heuristics was found by gathering information on how older adults use cell phones through interviews and an online survey. It was demonstrated that strength of support for some heuristics increases with age. The evaluated heuristics provide usability practitioners and designers with a framework for evaluating the usability of smartphones for older adults.

L’originalité de ce travail repose sur une approche physique et physico-chimique des propriétés de mélanges de polylactides de chiralité différentes (poly L-lactique acide et poly D-lactique acide) et sur l’influence de cette chiralité sur les propriétés des phases amorphes de ces matériaux. Les matériaux sont des mélanges élaborés à partir de deux homopolymères (PLLA et PDLA) selon deux méthodes ; coulée en solution ou par extrusion. Nous avons étudié des matériaux totalement amorphes et cristallisés de façon isotrope afin de générer une phase amorphe plus ou moins confinée. Il est montré que le mélange pouvant donner naissance à une phase cristalline stéréocomplexe ne peut être obtenu que dans certaines conditions. Les résultats des analyses thermiques et de perméation ont montré que le mélange PLLA/PDLA améliore certaines propriétés du matériau, notamment des propriétés barrières à l’eau et aux gaz plus élevées par rapport aux homopolymères parents. Afin d’étudier la mobilité moléculaire des phases amorphes, du vieillissement physique et de la relaxation structural (relaxation α et β), le concept de Région de Réarrangement Coopératif (CRR) a été appliqué. Il a été montré que les phases amorphes des homopolymères et du mélange ont exactement les mêmes propriétés à la transition vitreuse et dans l’état vitreux lorsque les matériaux sont totalement amorphes. / The originality of this work is based on analysis of physical and physicochemical properties of polylactide mixtures of different chirality (poly L-lactic acid and poly D-lactic acid) and on the influence of the chirality on the amorphous phase’s properties. The materials mixtures are elaborated from two homopolymers (PLLA and PDLA) according to two methods; solution casting or extrusion. Totally amorphous and isotropically crystallized materials with more or less confined amorphous phase were studied. It is shown that a stereocomplex crystalline phase can be obtained only under certain experimental conditions. The results of the thermal and permeation analyzes showed that the PLLA / PDLA mixture improved certain properties of the material, namely higher barrier properties towards liquid water and gases were obtained compared to parent homopolymers. In order to study the molecular mobility of amorphous phases, physical aging and structural relaxation (α and β relaxation), the Cooperative Rearrangement Region (CRR) concept has been applied. It has been shown that the amorphous phases of the homopolymers and the mixture have exactly the same properties at the glass transition and in the vitreous state when the materials are totally amorphous.

Lattice Monte Carlo methods are used to investigate far from and out-of-equilibrium systems, including surface growth, spin systems and solid mixtures. Applications range from the determination of universal growth or aging behaviors to palpable systems, where coarsening of nanocomposites or self-organization of functional nanostructures are of interest. Such studies require observations of large systems over long times scales, to allow structures to grow over orders of magnitude, which necessitates massively parallel simulations. This work addresses the problem of parallel processing introducing correlations in Monte Carlo updates and proposes a virtually correlation-free domain decomposition scheme to solve it. The effect of correlations on scaling and dynamical properties of surface growth systems and related lattice gases is investigated further by comparing results obtained by correlation-free and intrinsically correlated but highly efficient simulations using a stochastic cellular automaton (SCA). Efficient massively parallel implementations on graphics processing units (GPUs) were developed, which enable large-scale simulations leading to unprecedented precision in the final results. The primary subject of study is the Kardar–Parisi–Zhang (KPZ) surface growth in (2 + 1) dimensions, which is simulated using a dimer lattice gas and the restricted solid-on-solid model (RSOS) model. Using extensive simulations, conjectures regard- ing growth, autocorrelation and autoresponse properties are tested and new precise numerical predictions for several universal parameters are made.:1. Introduction 1.1. Motivations and Goals 1.2. Overview 2. Methods and Models 2.1. Estimation of Scaling Exponents and Error Margins 2.2. From Continuum- to Atomistic Models 2.3. Models for Phase Ordering and Nanostructure Evolution 2.3.1. The Kinetic Metropolis Lattice Monte-Carlo Method 2.3.2. The Potts Model 2.4. The Kardar–Parisi–Zhang and Edwards–Wilkinson Universality Classes 2.4.0.1. Physical Aging 2.4.1. The Octahedron Model 2.4.2. The Restricted Solid on Solid Model 3. Parallel Implementation: Towards Large-Scale Simulations 3.1. Parallel Architectures and Programming Models 3.1.1. CPU 3.1.2. GPU 3.1.3. Heterogeneous Parallelism and MPI 3.1.4. Bit-Coding of Lattice Sites 3.2. Domain Decomposition for Stochastic Lattice Models 3.2.1. DD for Asynchronous Updates 3.2.1.1. Dead border (DB) 3.2.1.2. Double tiling (DT) 3.2.1.3. DT DD with random origin (DTr) 3.2.1.4. Implementation 3.2.2. Second DD Layer on GPUs 3.2.2.1. Single-Hit DT 3.2.2.2. Single-Hit dead border (DB) 3.2.2.3. DD Parameters for the Octahedron Model 3.2.3. Performance 3.3. Lattice Level DD: Stochastic Cellular Automaton 3.3.1. Local Approach for the Octahedron Model 3.3.2. Non-Local Approach for the Octahedron Model 3.3.2.1. Bit-Vectorized GPU Implementation 3.3.3. Performance of SCA Implementations 3.4. The Multi-Surface Coding Approach 3.4.0.1. Vectorization 3.4.0.2. Scalar Updates 3.4.0.3. Domain Decomposition 3.4.1. Implementation: SkyMC 3.4.1.1. 2d Restricted Solid on Solid Model 3.4.1.2. 2d and 3d Potts Model 3.4.1.3. Sequential CPU Reference 3.4.2. SkyMC Benchmarks 3.5. Measurements 3.5.0.1. Measurement Intervals 3.5.0.2. Measuring using Heterogeneous Resources 4. Monte-Carlo Investigation of the Kardar–Parisi–Zhang Universality Class 4.1. Evolution of Surface Roughness 4.1.1. Comparison of Parallel Implementations of the Octahedron Model 4.1.1.1. The Growth Regime 4.1.1.2. Distribution of Interface Heights in the Growth Regime 4.1.1.3. KPZ Ansatz for the Growth Regime 4.1.1.4. The Steady State 4.1.2. Investigations using RSOS 4.1.2.1. The Growth Regime 4.1.2.2. The Steady State 4.1.2.3. Consistency of Fine-Size Scaling with Respect to DD 4.1.3. Results for Growth Phase and Steady State 4.2. Autocorrelation Functions 4.2.1. Comparison of DD Methods for RS Dynamics 4.2.1.1. Device-Layer DD 4.2.1.2. Block-Layer DD 4.2.2. Autocorrelation Properties under RS Dynamics 4.2.3. Autocorrelation Properties under SCA Dynamics 4.2.3.1. Autocorrelation of Heights 4.2.3.2. Autocorrelation of Slopes 4.2.4. Autocorrelation in the SCA Steady State 4.2.5. Autocorrelation in the EW Case under SCA 4.2.5.1. Autocorrelation of Heights 4.2.5.2. Autocorrelations of Slopes 4.3. Autoresponse Functions 4.3.1. Autoresponse Properties 4.3.1.1. Autoresponse of Heights 4.3.1.2. Autoresponse of Slopes 4.3.1.3. Self-Averaging 4.4. Summary 5. Further Topics 5.1. Investigations of the Potts Model 5.1.1. Testing Results from the Parallel Implementations 5.1.2. Domain Growth in Disordered Potts Models 5.2. Local Scale Invariance in KPZ Surface Growth 6. Conclusions and Outlook Acknowledgements A. Coding Details A.1. Bit-Coding A.2. Packing and Unpacking Signed Integers A.3. Random Number Generation / Gitter-Monte-Carlo-Methoden werden zur Untersuchung von Systemen wie Oberflächenwachstum, Spinsystemen oder gemischten Feststoffen verwendet, welche fern eines Gleichgewichtes bleiben oder zu einem streben. Die Anwendungen reichen von der Bestimmung universellen Wachstums- und Alterungsverhaltens hin zu konkreten Systemen, in denen die Reifung von Nanokompositmaterialien oder die Selbstorganisation von funktionalen Nanostrukturen von Interesse sind. In solchen Studien müssen große Systemen über lange Zeiträume betrachtet werden, um Strukturwachstum über mehrere Größenordnungen zu erlauben. Dies erfordert massivparallele Simulationen. Diese Arbeit adressiert das Problem, dass parallele Verarbeitung Korrelationen in Monte-Carlo-Updates verursachen und entwickelt eine praktisch korrelationsfreie Domänenzerlegungsmethode, um es zu lösen. Der Einfluss von Korrelationen auf Skalierungs- und dynamische Eigenschaften von Oberflächenwachtums- sowie verwandten Gittergassystemen wird weitergehend durch den Vergleich von Ergebnissen aus korrelationsfreien und intrinsisch korrelierten Simulationen mit einem stochastischen zellulären Automaten untersucht. Effiziente massiv parallele Implementationen auf Grafikkarten wurden entwickelt, welche großskalige Simulationen und damit präzedenzlos genaue Ergebnisse ermöglichen. Das primäre Studienobjekt ist das (2 + 1)-dimensionale Kardar–Parisi–Zhang- Oberflächenwachstum, welches durch ein Dimer-Gittergas und das Kim-Kosterlitz-Modell simuliert wird. Durch massive Simulationen werden Thesen über Wachstums-, Autokorrelations- und Antworteigenschaften getestet und neue, präzise numerische Vorhersagen zu einigen universellen Parametern getroffen.:1. Introduction 1.1. Motivations and Goals 1.2. Overview 2. Methods and Models 2.1. Estimation of Scaling Exponents and Error Margins 2.2. From Continuum- to Atomistic Models 2.3. Models for Phase Ordering and Nanostructure Evolution 2.3.1. The Kinetic Metropolis Lattice Monte-Carlo Method 2.3.2. The Potts Model 2.4. The Kardar–Parisi–Zhang and Edwards–Wilkinson Universality Classes 2.4.0.1. Physical Aging 2.4.1. The Octahedron Model 2.4.2. The Restricted Solid on Solid Model 3. Parallel Implementation: Towards Large-Scale Simulations 3.1. Parallel Architectures and Programming Models 3.1.1. CPU 3.1.2. GPU 3.1.3. Heterogeneous Parallelism and MPI 3.1.4. Bit-Coding of Lattice Sites 3.2. Domain Decomposition for Stochastic Lattice Models 3.2.1. DD for Asynchronous Updates 3.2.1.1. Dead border (DB) 3.2.1.2. Double tiling (DT) 3.2.1.3. DT DD with random origin (DTr) 3.2.1.4. Implementation 3.2.2. Second DD Layer on GPUs 3.2.2.1. Single-Hit DT 3.2.2.2. Single-Hit dead border (DB) 3.2.2.3. DD Parameters for the Octahedron Model 3.2.3. Performance 3.3. Lattice Level DD: Stochastic Cellular Automaton 3.3.1. Local Approach for the Octahedron Model 3.3.2. Non-Local Approach for the Octahedron Model 3.3.2.1. Bit-Vectorized GPU Implementation 3.3.3. Performance of SCA Implementations 3.4. The Multi-Surface Coding Approach 3.4.0.1. Vectorization 3.4.0.2. Scalar Updates 3.4.0.3. Domain Decomposition 3.4.1. Implementation: SkyMC 3.4.1.1. 2d Restricted Solid on Solid Model 3.4.1.2. 2d and 3d Potts Model 3.4.1.3. Sequential CPU Reference 3.4.2. SkyMC Benchmarks 3.5. Measurements 3.5.0.1. Measurement Intervals 3.5.0.2. Measuring using Heterogeneous Resources 4. Monte-Carlo Investigation of the Kardar–Parisi–Zhang Universality Class 4.1. Evolution of Surface Roughness 4.1.1. Comparison of Parallel Implementations of the Octahedron Model 4.1.1.1. The Growth Regime 4.1.1.2. Distribution of Interface Heights in the Growth Regime 4.1.1.3. KPZ Ansatz for the Growth Regime 4.1.1.4. The Steady State 4.1.2. Investigations using RSOS 4.1.2.1. The Growth Regime 4.1.2.2. The Steady State 4.1.2.3. Consistency of Fine-Size Scaling with Respect to DD 4.1.3. Results for Growth Phase and Steady State 4.2. Autocorrelation Functions 4.2.1. Comparison of DD Methods for RS Dynamics 4.2.1.1. Device-Layer DD 4.2.1.2. Block-Layer DD 4.2.2. Autocorrelation Properties under RS Dynamics 4.2.3. Autocorrelation Properties under SCA Dynamics 4.2.3.1. Autocorrelation of Heights 4.2.3.2. Autocorrelation of Slopes 4.2.4. Autocorrelation in the SCA Steady State 4.2.5. Autocorrelation in the EW Case under SCA 4.2.5.1. Autocorrelation of Heights 4.2.5.2. Autocorrelations of Slopes 4.3. Autoresponse Functions 4.3.1. Autoresponse Properties 4.3.1.1. Autoresponse of Heights 4.3.1.2. Autoresponse of Slopes 4.3.1.3. Self-Averaging 4.4. Summary 5. Further Topics 5.1. Investigations of the Potts Model 5.1.1. Testing Results from the Parallel Implementations 5.1.2. Domain Growth in Disordered Potts Models 5.2. Local Scale Invariance in KPZ Surface Growth 6. Conclusions and Outlook Acknowledgements A. Coding Details A.1. Bit-Coding A.2. Packing and Unpacking Signed Integers A.3. Random Number Generation