Previous seminars - Page 3

Abstract: Mixed-dimensional partial differential equations (PDEs) are equations coupling unknown fields defined over domains of differing topological dimensions. Such mixed-dimensional PDEs naturally arise in a wide range of fields including geology, biomedicine, and fracture mechanics. We introduce an automated framework dedicated to mixed-dimensional problems as part of the FEniCS library. This talk gives an overview of the abstractions and algorithms involved. The introduced tools will be illustrated by concrete examples of applications in biomedicine (see below for more detailed context).

This talk is part of the Mechanics Lunch Seminar series. Bring-your-own-lunch and lots of questions.

Abstract: It is known that a sessile drop subject to a forced vibration will vibrate in different shapes depending on the frequency of the forcing, the drop’s liquid properties and the liquid/solid/gas system. So the question then becomes, what can these vibrating drops help us understand? Here we find that we can use the motion of these drops to understand the constitutive law relating the drop’s apparent dynamic contact angle to its contact line velocity. We find we are able to extract mobility parameters like those described by the Davis-Hocking model, and that mobility parameters extracted in this fashion can be used in simulations of drop-drop coalescence to accurately predict post-coalescence dynamics.

This talk is part of the Mechanics Lunch Seminar series. That means 20min talks plus discussion in an informal setting and bring-your-own-lunch.

Abstract: Efficient and parameter robust solvers for multiscale/multiphysics systems, where the coupling is enforced by the Lagrange multipliers, rely on operators in fractional Sobolev spaces defined over the interface. Arguably, this feature is not unexpected as there is explicit coupling/an interfacial variable in the system. However, in this talk we show that even for coupled problems free of Lagrange multipliers the fractional operators are a crucial component for constructing robust preconditioners. Stokes-Darcy/Biot systems will be discussed.

This talk is part of the Mechanics Lunch Seminar series. That means 20min talks plus discussion in an informal setting.

Zoom: To obtain the Zoom meeting details please contact Timo Koch (timokoch at math.uio.no).

Abstract: New estimates of heat loss from Earth's interior (the mantle) suggest that the Pacific side of the planet has been losing heat at a much higher rate compared to the African side. The difference in heat loss amounts to almost 50 degrees more cooling of the Pacific side over the past 400 million years.

This talk is part of the Mechanics Lunch Seminar series. That means 20min talks plus discussion in an informal setting.

Zoom: To obtain the Zoom meeting details please contact Timo Koch (timokoch at math.uio.no).

Abstract: Magmatic intrusions into the earth's crust lead to geological formations such as sills, laccholites and volcanoes. The conventional approach is to threat the intrusive fluid as Newtonian and viscous, while the host-rock is assumed to behave purely elastic. However, Magma is known to have non-Newtonian properties. In addition, field studies indicate that visco-elastic deformation of the host rock is an important effect in the propagating fracturing. We thus want to investigate the effect of introducing a yield-stress fluid in the intrusion process. We perform an experiment based on the elasto-hydro-dynamical approach, but where we change the injected fluid from a viscous (glycerol) to a yield-stress fluid (carbopol). We are interested in seeing how this potentially can change the dynamics of the intrusion compared with the viscous case. 

This talk is part of the Mechanics Lunch Seminar series. That means 20min talks plus discussion in an informal setting.

Zoom: To obtain the Zoom meeting details please contact Timo Koch (timokoch at math.uio.no).

Abstract: In computational mechanics, high fidelity simulations of a parameterized partial differential equation (PDE) are often computational expensive, which make them impractical for real-time predictions. Non-intrusive reduced order modelling aims to address this problem with a fast low rank approximation. This is usually done in two phases: the model is built in the offline phase and the prediction is done in the online phase. In the offline phase, data points, or so-called snapshots, are collected from simulations or measurements. The reduced basis space can then be obtained from the dataset using Proper Orthogonal Decomposition. In the online phase, the solution for a new set of parameters is obtained by first recovering the expansion coefficients for the reduced basis and then projecting them back into the uncompressed real-life space. The non-intrusive approach relies on a statistical mapping between the coefficients and the parameters. Various methods have been proposed to do so, this seminar will discuss radial basis function interpolations and dynamic mode decompositions.

This talk is part of the Mechanics Lunch Seminar series. That means 20min talks plus discussion in an informal setting.

Zoom: To obtain the Zoom meeting details please contact Timo Koch (timokoch at math.uio.no).

Abstract: Graphics processing units, or GPUs, offer significantly increased performance for some scientific computing workloads. But in the case of finite element simulations on unstructured meshes, the benefits of using GPUs are still the subject of an ongoing discussion for which there is no clear conclusion. We describe our work on improving the GPU acceleration of a finite element solver framework called FEniCS, where code is automatically generated for the user from a high-level description of their finite element problem. We use automated code generation to offload the assembly of linear systems to a GPU, while taking care that data transfers between CPU and GPU do not become a performance bottleneck. We provide examples to show that GPUs and automated code generation can be used to accelerate finite element solvers. Even though more work is needed to find efficient GPU-based linear solvers, our improvements to FEniCS can be used as a starting point for exploring the potential of GPU acceleration for finite element simulations.

This talk is part of the Mechanics Lunch Seminar series. That means 20min talks plus discussion in an informal setting.

Zoom: To obtain the Zoom meeting details please contact Timo Koch (timokoch at math.uio.no).

Abstract:Due to their large mass and small aspect ratio, icebergs pose a threat to boats and offshore structures. Small icebergs and bergy bits can cause harm to platform hulls and are more difficult to discover remotely. When there is a risk of collision between icebergs and platforms, it is necessary to deflect its drifting course to ensure safe human operations in polar offshore regions. In this talk, I will present iceberg towing experiments carried out on Svalbard in September 2020...

This talk is part of the Mechanics Lunch Seminar series. That means 20min talks plus discussion in an informal setting.

Zoom: To obtain the Zoom meeting details please contact Timo Koch (timokoch at math.uio.no).

Abstract: We report on the observation of gravity-capillary wave turbulence on the surface of a fluid in a high-gravity environment. By using a large-diameter centrifuge, the effective gravity acceleration is tuned up to 20 times Earth’s gravity. The transition frequency between the gravity and capillary regimes is thus increased up to one decade as predicted theoretically. A frequency power-law wave spectrum is observed in each regime and is found to be independent of the gravity level and of the wave steepness. While the timescale separation required by weak turbulence is well verified experimentally regardless of the gravity level, the nonlinear and dissipation timescales are found to be independent of the scale, as a result of the finite size effects of the system (large-scale container modes) that are not taken currently into account theoretically.

This talk is part of the Mechanics Lunch Seminar series. That means 20min talks plus discussion in an informal setting.

Zoom: To obtain the Zoom meeting details please contact Timo Koch (timokoch at math.uio.no).

Abstract: I will present a Biot-Stokes formulation created by Ricardo Ruiz-Baier. The formulations consists of a fluid-structure interaction model for flow of a Newtonian fluid, coupled with Biot consolidation equations through an interface, and incorporates total pressure as an unknown in the poroelastic region. I will also present a preconditioner for this system which is robust in all parameters and apply the model to a third circulation process to show the velocity fields in the brains subarachnoid space.

This talk is part of the Mechanics Lunch Seminar series. That means 20min talks plus discussion in an informal setting.

Zoom: To obtain the Zoom meeting details please contact Timo Koch (timokoch at math.uio.no).

Abstract: If a droplet smaller than the capillary length is placed on a substrate with a conical shape, it spreads by itself in the direction of growing fibre radius. We describe this capillary spreading dynamics by developing a lubrication flow approximation on a cone and by using the perturbation method of matched asymptotic expansions. The droplet velocity is found to increase with the cone angle but decrease with the cone radius. We show that a film is formed at the receding part of the droplet, much like the classical Landau–Levich–Derjaguin film. By using the approach of matching asymptotic profiles in the film region and the quasi-static droplet, we obtain the same film thickness as the results from the lubrication approach. Our results show that manipulating the droplet size, the cone angle and the slip length provides different schemes for guiding droplet motion and coating the substrate with a film.​

This talk is part of the Mechanics Lunch Seminar series. That means 20min talks plus discussion in an informal setting.

Zoom: To obtain the Zoom meeting details please contact Timo Koch (timokoch at math.uio.no).

Technip is a world-class player in engineering, technologies and construction services for oil and gas, petrochemical and other industries. With a workforce of > 22,000 people worldwide, and annual revenues of almost 7 billion euros, TECHNIP ranks among the 5 major players in full-service engineering and construction services in the field of hydrocarbons and petrochemicals. Technip Norge is a specialist offshore / subsea construction company with offices in Oslo ( Stabekk ), Stavanger and Haugesund plus a pipeline fabrication yard in Orkanger. Using a fleet of specialist vessels the main areas of activity in Norway are projects for the engineering, procurement, supply and installation of rigid pipelines, flexible risers and subsea structures plus all necessary activities related to this, such as diving, ROV operations, offshore survey, trenching and rock-dumping. The presentation will give a general introduction to the company, our special areas of technical expertise and a brief summary of some of the challanges experienced on one of our recent projects.

Tim Crome is Engineering Manager in Technip Norge AS

Abstract: Physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) are a new and promising methodology to combine deep learning with partial differential equations (PDE). PINNs extend deep neural networks by regularizing their output to fulfill any given PDE, allowing to solve both forward and inverse PDE problems utilizing high-performance machine learning libraries such as Tensorflow and PyTorch. This talk will give a short introduction to PINNs and provide a detailed, tutorial-style code demonstration on their implementation in PyTorch.

This talk is part of the Mechanics Lunch Seminar series. That means 20min talks plus discussion in an informal setting.

Zoom: To obtain the Zoom meeting details please contact Timo Koch (timokoch at math.uio.no).

Abstract: Intraluminal vesicle (ILV) formation plays a crucial role in the attenuation of growth factor receptor signaling. The endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT-0 to -III/VPS4) mediates this process. The general dogma has been that upstream ESCRTs (0 to II) sequester receptors at the surface of endosomes and the downstream ESCRTs (III/VPS4) remodel the endosome membrane leading to the abscission and formation of receptor-containing ILVs. We now show that upstream ESCRTs not only sequester cargo, but in addition play a crucial role for the initiation of membrane shape remodeling in ILV budding. Through a combination of mathematical modeling and experimental measurements we show that upstream ESCRTs facilitate ILV budding by crowding with a high density in the membrane neck region.

This talk is part of the Mechanics Lunch Seminar series. That means 20min talks plus discussion in an informal setting.

Zoom: To obtain the Zoom meeting details please contact Timo Koch (timokoch at math.uio.no).

Abstract: Due to the fluid nature of biological membranes, proteins are able to diffuse along the membrane surface. Additionally, several processes of vesicle formation require protein recruitment.  We discuss, on one hand, the implications of fixed membrane shapes in protein diffusion, and on the other hand, the effects of protein diffusion and recruitment in membrane shape transformation. 

This talk is part of the Mechanics Lunch Seminar series. That means 20min talks plus discussion in an informal setting.

Zoom: To obtain the Zoom meeting details please contact Timo Koch (timokoch at math.uio.no).

Abstract: Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) is an emerging technique to measure the bio-mechanical properties of tissue in vivo. We present measurements of the shear modulus in healthy subjects, and in patients with brain cancer.

This talk is part of the Mechanics Lunch Seminar series. That means 20min talks plus discussion in an informal setting.

Zoom: To obtain the Zoom meeting details please contact Timo Koch (timokoch at math.uio.no).

Abstract: Upon burst, air bubbles release droplets that transfer biological and chemical materials from water bodies to the atmosphere. This mechanism is one of the main sources of cloud condensation nuclei and participates to airborne contamination when the bulk water contains pathogens. Predicting the size and composition of droplets emitted by bubbles requires a fundamental understanding of their dynamic at the surface, yet a consistent physical picture is lacking. Relying on experimental data from bubbles generated in various environments and using scaling analysis, I will show that surface tension gradients control the drainage of bubbles. I will also explain how local perturbations of surface tension can explain their seemingly stochastic burst mechanism. Consequences for application purposes will be mentioned throughout the presentation: I will notably take the examples of bubbles in saltwater and in water contaminated with bacteria.

This talk is part of the Mechanics Lunch Seminar series. That means 20min talks plus discussion in an informal setting.

Zoom: To obtain the Zoom meeting details please contact Timo Koch (timokoch at math.uio.no).

Christophe Henry

Post doc at Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur, Laboratoire Lagrange

Stereolithography - A Powerful Tool to Create almost Everything

Stereolithography or "SLA" printing is a powerful and widely used 3D printing technology for creating prototypes, models, and fully functional parts for production. This additive manufacturing process works by focusing an ultraviolet (UV) laser onto a vat of liquid resin. Layer by layer formation of a polymeric network allows printing parts that are almost impossible to create with other processes.At Formlabs, a startup that originated out of the MIT Media lab in 2011, we work on all aspects of SLA printing; we develop and manufacture 3D printers, resins, and software. In this talk, I will give a detailed overview of the printer technology, the chemistry of the materials, and how to use SLA for lots of exciting applications.

 

Enrico Fermi and the birth of modern nonlinear physics

In the early fifties in Los Alamos E. Fermi in collaboration with J. Pasta and S. Ulam investigated a one dimensional chain of equal masses connected by a weakly nonlinear spring. The key question was related to the understanding of the phenomenon of conduction in solids; in particular they wanted to estimate the time needed to reach a statistical equilibrium state characterized by the equipartition of energy among the Fourier modes. They approached the problem numerically using the MANIAC I computer; however, the system did not thermailize and  they observed a recurrence to the initial state (this is known as the FPU-recurrence). This unexpected result has led to the development of the modern nonlinear physics (discovery of solitons and integrability). In this seminar, I will give an historical overview of the subject and present the different approaches that have been proposed in the last 60 years for explaining this paradox. Very recent results on the estimation of the time scale and on  the explanation of the mechanism of equipartition will also be discussed.

Microfluidics of sugar transport in plants

Plants can rightly be called masters of microengineering. Their survival and successful reproduction depends on their ability to overcome a series of physical challenges during growth and when transporting matter over great distances. In this talk, we focus on the microfluidic network responsible for energy distribution (the phloem). We combine experiments on living plants and biomimetic microfluidic devices to elucidate the basic physical principles that govern sugar transport in plants. We derive a scaling relation between the characteristic sizes of the plant organs, which optimizes the rate of sugar transport. Comparison with experimental data suggests that the pipe network is operating at or near the theoretical optimum. We further consider the coupling between photosynthesis and long-distance transport. While sap with high sugar concentration has the greatest transport potential, viscosity impedes flow, a phenomena analogous to congestion in traffic flows. The optimal sugar concentration for transport in plants is 25%, sweeter than Coke (10%) but much less viscous than maple syrup (65%). Although plants have generally evolved towards the theoretical optimum, a number of unusually sweet plants exist. This group consists primarily of crop plants such as corn (40%) and potato (50%), sugar junkies of the natural world.

Emerging instabilities and bifurcations from deformable fluid interfaces in the inertialess regime 

In this talk, I will present two studies regarding the dynamics of droplets in the creeping flow, focusing on the arising instability and bifurcation phenomena. The first work investigates a buoyancy-driven droplet translating in a quiescent environment and the second a particle-encapsulating droplet in shear flow. There-dimensional simulations based on versatile boundary integral methods were employed to explore the intriguing instability and bifurcation phenomena in the inertialess flow. In the first work, a non-modal stability analysis was performed to predict the critical condition of instability; and in the second, a dynamic system approach was adopted to model and characterize the interacting bifurcations.

Andreas Carlson og Jean Rabault

Nature has invented ingenious aerodynamic design solutions, some of which are critical for plants as wind dispersal of seeds and fruits is coupled to their flight performance. This formulates into an optimization problem for plants: large seed wings can lead to increased lift and more efficient dispersion, but are costly for the tree to build and can more easily be trapped in the canopy. Double winged seeds/fruits separate from their tree when a specific level of dessication is reached, and autorotate as they descend to the ground. This leads to the question: how is the wing curvature of seeds/fruits linked to their flight performance? To answer this, we develop a theoretical model that suggests the existence of an optimal wing curvature that yields maximal lift. To further understand the interplay between the flow and the wing geometry, we perform a synthetic seed adaptation by deploying 3D printing of double winged fruits that we use in flight experiments, where we span the phase space of aerial dynamics by changing the of wing curvature and seed/fruit weight. Experiments confirm that there is a sweet-spot in curvature to maximise the flight time consisted with geometrical measurements from a wide range of seeds in Nature. Our results highlights the importance of not curving too much or too little for helicopter fruits to have an optimal flight performance.