The physical properties of a periodic distribution of absorbent resonators is used in this work to design a tunable wideband bandstop acoustic filter. Analytical and numerical simulations as well as experimental validations show that the control of the resonances and the absorption of the scatterers along with their periodic arrangement in air introduces high technological possibilities to control noise. Sound manipulation is perhaps the most obvious application of the structures presented in this work. We apply this methodology to develop a device as an alternative to the conventional acoustic barriers with several properties from the acoustical point of view but also with additional aesthetic and constructive characteristics.
Studies of model microswimmers have significantly contributed to the understanding of the principles of self-propulsion we have today. However, only a small number of microswimmer types have been amenable to analytic modeling, and further development of such approaches is necessary to identify the key features of these active systems. Here we present a general perturbative calculation scheme for swimmers composed of beads interacting by harmonic potentials, driven by an arbitrary force protocol. The hydrodynamic interactions are treated using the Oseen and Rotne-Pragner approximations. We validate our approach by using 3 bead assemblies and comparing the results with the numerically obtained full-solutions of the governing equations of motion, as well as with the existing analytic models for a linear and a triangular swimmer geometries. While recovering the relation between the force and swimming velocity, our detailed analysis and the controlled level of approximation allow us to find qualitative differences already in the far field flow of the devices. Consequently, we are able to identify a behavior of the swimmer that is richer than predicted in previous models. Given its generality, the framework can be applied to any swimmer geometry, driving protocol and beads interactions, as well as in many swimmers problems.
I construct a complete asymptotic expansion of solutions to the problem of linear stability of three-dimensional steady space-periodic magnetohydrodynamic states to perturbations involving large periods. Eddy diffusivity tensor is derived for parity-invariant steady states. I present numerical evidences that if perturbations of the flow are permitted, then the effect of negative eddy diffusivity emerges at much larger magnetic molecular diffusivities than in the kinematic dynamo problem (where no perturbations of the flow are assumed).
Many textbooks dealing with surface tension favor the thermodynamic approach (minimization of some thermodynamic potential such as free energy) over the mechanical approach (balance of forces) to describe capillary phenomena, stating that the latter is flawed and misleading. Yet, mechanical approach is more intuitive for students than free energy minimization, and does not require any knowledge of thermodynamics. In this paper we show that capillary phenomena can be unmistakably described using the mechanical approach, as long as the system on which the forces act is properly defined. After reminding the microscopic origin of a tangential tensile force at the interface, we derive the Young-Dupr{e} equation, emphasizing that this relation should be interpreted as an interface condition at the contact line, rather than a force balance equation. This correct interpretation avoids misidentification of capillary forces acting on a given system. Moreover, we show that a reliable method to correctly identify the acting forces is to define a control volume that does not embed any contact line on its surface. Finally, as an illustration of this method, we apply the mechanical approach in a variety of ways on a classic example: the derivation of the equilibrium height of capillary rise (Jurins law).
In self-gravitating stars, two dimensional or geophysical flows and in plasmas, long range interactions imply a lack of additivity for the energy; as a consequence, the usual thermodynamic limit is not appropriate. However, by contrast with many claims, the equilibrium statistical mechanics of such systems is a well understood subject. In this proceeding, we explain briefly the classical approach to equilibrium and non equilibrium statistical mechanics for these systems, starting from first principles. We emphasize recent and new results, mainly a classification of equilibrium phase transitions, new unobserved equilibrium phase transition, and out of equilibrium phase transitions. We briefly discuss what we consider as challenges in this field.
The interaction between swimming microorganisms or artificial self-propelled colloids and passive (tracer) particles in a fluid leads to enhanced diffusion of the tracers. This enhancement has attracted strong interest, as it could lead to new strategies to tackle the difficult problem of mixing on a microfluidic scale. Most of the theoretical work on this topic has focused on hydrodynamic interactions between the tracers and swimmers in a bulk fluid. However, in simulations, periodic boundary conditions (PBCs) are often imposed on the sample and the fluid. Here, we theoretically analyze the effect of PBCs on the hydrodynamic interactions between tracer particles and microswimmers. We formulate an Ewald sum for the leading-order stresslet singularity produced by a swimmer to probe the effect of PBCs on tracer trajectories. We find that introducing periodicity into the system has a surprisingly significant effect, even for relatively small swimmer-tracer separations. We also find that the bulk limit is only reached for very large system sizes, which are challenging to simulate with most hydrodynamic solvers.