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The design of a space launcher requires some considerations about the unsteady loads and heat transfer occurring at the base of the structure. In particular, these phenomena are predominant during the early stage of the flight. This paper aims to evaluate the ability of the unstructured, high order finite-volume CFD solver FLUSEPA, developed by Airbus Safran Launchers, to accurately describe these phenomena.

This paper first performs a steady simulation on a base flow around a four-clustered rocket configuration. Results are compared with NASA experiments and Loci-CHEM simulations. Then, unsteady simulations of supersonic H2/air reacting mixing layer based on the experiment of Miller, Bowman and Mungal are performed. Three meshes with different cells number are used to study the impact of spatial resolution. Instantaneous and time-averaged concentrations are compared with the combined OH/acetone planar laser-induced fluorescence imaging from the experiment.

FLUSEPA satisfactorily predicts the base heat flux at the base of a four-clustered rocket configuration. NASA Loci-CHEM reactive simulations indicate that afterburning plays an important role and should not be neglected. The unsteady reactive computation of a supersonic mixing layer shows that FLUSEPA is also able to accurately predict flow structures and interactions. However, the complexity of the experiment and the lack of details concerning the facility prevents from obtaining satisfactory converged results.

This study is the first step on the development of a cost-effective method aiming at predicting unsteady loads and heat transfer on space launchers using an unsteady and reactive model for the CDF calculations. It uses original techniques such as conservative CHIMERA-like overset grids, local re-centering of fluxes and local adaptive time-stepping to reduce computational cost while being robust and accurate.

Cavitation in piston-ring lubrication is studied as part of the performance of piston-ring assemblies. Cavitation degrades performance in engineering applications and its effect is that it alters the oil film pressure, generated at the converging-diverging wedge of the interface. Studies tried to shed light to the phenomenon of cavitation and compare it with cavities that have been identified in bearings. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Lubricant formulations were used for parametric study of oil film thickness (OFT) and friction providing the OFT throughout the stroke and LIF for OFT point measurements. Lubricant formulation affects cavitation appearance and behaviour when fully developed.

Cavitation affects the ring load carrying capacity. Different forms of cavitation were identified and their shape and size (length and width) is dictated from reciprocating speed and viscosity of the lubricant. A clear picture is given from both techniques and friction results give quantifiable data in terms of the effect in wear and cavitation, depending on the lubricant properties.

Engine results are limited due to manufacturing difficulties of visualisation windows and oil starvation. Therefore, full stroke length sized windows were not an option and motoring tests were implemented due to materials limitations (adhesive and quartz windows). Lubricant manufacturer has to give data regarding the chemistry of the lubricants.

The contribution of cavitation in piston-ring lubrication OFT, friction measurements and lubricant parameters that try to shed light to the different forms of cavitation. A link between viscosity, cavitation, shear thinning properties, OFT and friction is given.

This study aims to compare cavitation shapes between the simulating test rig and the engines to strengthen the findings that were first observed in the simplified experiments. Different forms of cavitation were identified, and their shape and size (length and width) were dictated from reciprocating speed and viscosity of the lubricant. Cavitation degrades performance in engineering applications and its effect is that it alters the oil film pressure.

Lubricant formulations were used for parametric study as well as different operating testing parameters in a simulating test rig and single cylinder engines with visualisation windows. An algorithm was used for extracting cavitation data from imaging, and comparison was made.

Similar phenomena at the simulating test rig and the engine were investigated and compared. The effect of different operating conditions was assessed along with the variations produced from the parametric lubricant study.

Engine results are limited due to manufacturing difficulties of visualisation windows and oil starvation. Firing tests are another difficult challenge as the modified section pressure is under more pressure and the window view is affected by combustion process. Limited pictures can be captured before cleaning is required. A lubricant manufacturer has to provide data regarding the chemistry of the lubricants.

The effect of cavitation in piston ring lubrication along with variable operating and lubricant parameters is further studied with quantification of cavitation results through image processing. These forms of cavities are affected by lubricant properties and operating conditions. A link between viscosity, cavitation, shear thinning properties, oil film thickness (OFT) and friction is given.

Examines the use of laser‐induced fluorescence for the inspection of printed circuit boards. Discusses how it works, how it compares with other inspection options and what advantages it offers, particularly for the inspection of low‐contrast materials. Concludes that laser‐based automated optical inspection (AOI) has major potential advantages compared with white‐light AOI equipment.

The purpose of this paper is to employ the Generalized Integral Transform Technique in the analysis of conjugated heat transfer in micro-heat exchangers, by combining this hybrid numerical-analytical approach with a reformulation strategy into a single domain that envelopes all of the physical and geometric sub-regions in the original problem. The solution methodology advanced is carefully validated against experimental results from non-intrusive techniques, namely, infrared thermography measurements of the substrate external surface temperatures, and fluid temperature measurements obtained through micro Laser Induced Fluorescence.

The methodology is applied in the hybrid numerical-analytical treatment of a multi-stream micro-heat exchanger application, involving a three-dimensional configuration with triangular cross-section micro-channels. Space variable coefficients and source terms with abrupt transitions among the various sub-regions interfaces are then defined and incorporated into this single domain representation for the governing convection-diffusion equations. The application here considered for analysis is a multi-stream micro-heat exchanger designed for waste heat recovery and built on a PMMA substrate to allow for flow visualization.

The methodology here advanced is carefully validated against experimental results from non-intrusive techniques, namely, infrared thermography measurements of the substrate external surface temperatures and fluid temperature measurements obtained through Laser Induced Fluorescence. A very good agreement among the proposed hybrid methodology predictions, a finite elements solution from the COMSOL code, and the experimental findings has been achieved. The proposed methodology has been demonstrated to be quite flexible, robust, and accurate.

The hybrid nature of the approach, providing analytical expressions in all but one independent variable, and requiring numerical treatment at most in one single independent variable, makes it particularly well suited for computationally intensive tasks such as in optimization, inverse problem analysis, and simulation under uncertainty.

This paper aims to develop a novel micro-ablation system to realise micrometric and well-defined hydrogel structures. To engineer a tissue it is necessary to evaluate several aspects, such as cell-cell and cell-substrate interactions, its micro-architecture and mechanical stimuli that act on it. For this reason, it is important to fabricate a substrate which presents a microtopology similar to natural tissue and has chemical and mechanical properties able to promote cell functions. In this paper, well-defined hydrogel structures embedding cells were microfabricated using a purposely developed technique, micro-laser ablation, based on a thulium laser. Its working parameters (laser power emission, stepper motor velocity) were optimised to produce shaded “serpentine” pattern on a hydrogel film.

In this study, initially, swelling/contraction tests on agarose and alginate hydrogel in different solutions of main components of cell culture medium were performed and were compared with the MECpH model. This comparison matched with good approximation experimental measurements. Once known how hydrogel changed its topology, microstructures with a well-defined topology were realised using a purposely developed micro-laser ablation system design. S5Y5 neuroblastoma cell lines were embedded in hydrogel matrix and the whole structure was ablated with a laser microfabrication system. The cells did not show damages due to mechanical stress present in the hydrogel matrix and to thermal increase induced by the laser beam.

The hydrogel structure is able to reproduce extracellular matrix. Initially, the hydrogel swelling/contraction in different solutions, containing the main components of the most common cell culture media, was analysed. This analysis is important to evaluate if cell culture environment could alter microtopology of realised structures. Then, the same topology was realised on hydrogel film embedding neuronal cells and the cells did not show damages due to mechanical stress present in the hydrogel matrix and to thermal increase induced by the laser beam. The interesting obtained results could be useful to realise well-defined microfabricated hydrogel structures embedding cells to guide tissue formation

The originality of this paper is the design and realisation of a 3D microfabrication system able to microfabricate hydrogel matrix embedding cells without inducing cell damage. The ease of use of this system and its potential modularity render this system a novel potential device for application in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine area.

The purpose of this paper is to study planar sensor geometries for the measurement of film thickness in a viscous oil–water flow. The study is relevant due to there are only a few measurement techniques for oil-water flow and these techniques involve oil with low viscosity (close to the water viscosity). Specifically, some techniques have been used in the studies of annular flow (gas–liquid and liquid–liquid flows), but applications in other flow patterns were not encountered.

Different sensor geometries were numerically simulated to compare their characteristics and choose the best to measure the water film thickness in the oil–water flow through an impedance-based technique. Finite element method was used for resolving the tridimensional electric field over each sensor. The compared characteristics were the penetration depth, the sensitivity, the minimum spatial resolution (high spatial resolution) and the quasi-linear curve.

The best geometry tested has a spatial resolution of 2 × 2 mm, a penetration depth of 700 µm and a quasi-linear response in the measuring range. This geometry was tested by means of conductance and capacitance static experiments. From these experiments, it could be determined that conductance and the capacitance systems are promising for measuring water film thickness in an oil–water flow.

Several measurement techniques such as micro-PIV, planar laser-induced fluorescence and planar conductive or capacitive sensors that are supposed to be adaptable to the liquid–liquid flow have been proposed recently. Micro-PIV and planar-induced fluorescence need transparent pipes and fluids. On the other hand, conductive or capacitive methods have been only applied to low viscosity fluids. In that context, this paper proposes to study a new technique for non-intrusive measurement of the liquid-liquid flow. The main goal is the validation of the new planar sensor as a reference tool for the development of instrumentation for oilfield application.

The goal of this review paper is to provide information on several commonly used thermography techniques in semiconductor and micro‐device industry and research today.

The temperature imaging or mapping techniques include thin coating methods such as liquid crystal thermography and fluorescence microthermography, contact mechanical methods such as scanning thermal microscopy, and optical techniques such as infrared microscopy and thermoreflectance. Their principles, characteristics and applications are discussed.

Thermal issues play an important part in optimizing the performance and reliability of high‐frequency and high‐packing density electronic circuits. To improve the performance and reliability of microelectronic devices and also to validate thermal models, accurate knowledge of local temperatures and thermal properties is required.

The paper provides readers, especially technical engineers in industry, a general knowledge of several commonly used thermography techniques in the semiconductor and micro‐device industries.

This study aims to fabricate and manipulate ensemble spin of negative nitrogen-vacancy (NV⁻) centres optimally for future solid atomic magnetometers/gyroscope. Parameters for sample preparation most related to magnetometers/gyroscope are, in particular, the concentration and homogeneity of the NV⁻ centres, the parameters’ microwave antenna of resonance frequency and the strength of the microwave on NV⁻ centres. Besides, the abundance of other impurities such as neutral NV centres (NV⁰) and substitutional nitrogen in the lattice also plays a critical role in magnetic sensing.

The authors succeeded in fabricating the assembly of NV centres in diamond and they determined its concentration of (2-3) × 10¹⁶ cm⁻³ with irradiation followed by annealing under a high temperature condition. They explored a novel magnetic resonance approach to detect the weak magnetic fields that takes advantage of the solid-state electron ensemble spin of NV⁻ centres in diamond. In particular, the authors set up a magnetic sensor on the basis of the assembly of NV centres. They succeeded in fabricating the assembly of NV centres in diamond and determined its concentration. They also clarified the magnetic field intensity measured at different positions along the antenna with different lengths, and they found the optimal position where the signal of the magnetic field reaches the maximum.

The authors mainly reported preparation, initialization, manipulation and measurement of the ensemble spin of the NV centres in diamond using optical excitation and microwave radiation methods with variation of the external magnetic field. They determined the optimal parameters of irradiation and annealing to generate the ensemble NV centres, and a concentration of NV⁻ centres as high as 10¹⁶ cm⁻³ in diamond was obtained. In addition, they found that sensitivity of the magnetometer using this method can reach as low as 5.22 µT/Hz currently.

This research can shed light on the development of an atomic magnetometer and a gyroscope on the basis of the ensemble spin of NV centres in diamond.

High concentration spin of NV⁻ in diamond is one of the advantages compared with that of the atomic vapor cells, because it can obtain a higher concentration. When increasing the spin concentration, the spin signal is easy to detect, and macro-atomic spin magnetometer become possible. This research is the first step for solid atomic magnetometers with high spin density and high sensitivity potentially with further optimization. It has a wide range of applications from fundamental physics tests, sensor applications and navigation to detection of NMR signals.

As has been pointed out, in this research, the authors mainly worked on fabricating NV⁻ centres with high concentration (10¹⁵-10¹⁶ cm⁻³) in diamond by using optimal irradiation and annealing processes, and they quantitatively defined the NV⁻ concentration, which is important for the design of higher concentration processes in the magnetometer and gyroscope. Until now, few groups can directly define the NV⁻ concentration. Besides, the authors optimized the microwave antenna parameters experimentally and explored the dependence between the splitting of the magnetic resonance and the magnetic fields, which dictated the minimum detectable magnetic field.

Identification and characterization of organic pigments and dyes used in works of art and cultural heritage material such as prints, drawings, manuscripts, paintings, and textiles can provide important information for dating, authentication, and conservation treatment of these objects and studying art history in general. Applications of surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for this purpose have recently attracted increasing attention of both academic scientists and museum researchers. This paper aims to review the latest development involving the emerging applications of SERS for the analysis of organic pigments and dyes used in works of art and cultural heritage material.

First, the importance of organic pigments and dyes in the studies of works of art and cultural heritage material and the challenges in their identification and characterization are briefly summarized. This is followed by a discussion on sampling considerations in the context of art and archaeology. Then the fundamental principle of SERS, SERS instrumentation and different types of SERS substrates are reviewed. Finally, selected examples of SERS applications to the identification of organic pigments and dyes, including the analysis of a couple of samples of artistic and archaeological interest, are presented and discussed.

The last few years have witnessed the emergence of SERS as a non‐destructive or micro‐destructive technique for the characterization of organic pigments and dyes found in artistic and archaeological objects. Spectroscopic and microscopic measurements using SERS have provided some novel information and answers to a wide variety of questions. However, SERS application to the field of art and archaeology is still in the fledging stage of development and requires closer collaboration between academic scientists and museum researchers. But the range of possible applications is broad. Future trends point to a strong need for the development of portable instruments for field applications.

By compiling this review, the authors hope to direct more attention toward SERS and bring together the expertise in the scientific, museum and art community to further explore the possibilities of SERS in rapid and direct identification of pigments and dyes under field conditions.