Curvilinear Research Articles

A genuinely three-dimensional Riemann solver based on self-similar variables in curvilinear coordinates

A genuinely three-dimensional Riemann solver named MuSIC-3DC (Multidimensional, Self-similar, strongly-Interacting, Consistent, Three-dimensional, Curvilinear coordinates) in curvilinear coordinates is proposed to simulate three-dimensional complex engineering problems. Following Balsara's idea, a three-dimensional Riemann problem at each grid vertex is studied. In order to accurately capture contact discontinuities, the linear variations are assumed in the strongly-interacting zone. Also, the self-similar variables are adopted to simplify the derivation according to the self-similar evolution of the Riemann problem, and the strongly-interacting state could be determined by combining the contributions of all the two-dimensional Riemann problems at the surfaces bounded the strongly-interacting state. Besides, the one-dimensional Riemann problem at the center of each cell interface is solved by the one-dimensional HLLE scheme. After these, the numerical flux at each cell interface is obtained by assembling the three-dimensional fluxes at the vertices and the one-dimensional flux at the center of the cell interface. Several numerical test cases are simulated to validate the proposed solver. The spherical blast wave and three-dimensional Riemann problems indicate that the MuSIC-3DC scheme is capable of capturing three-dimensional self-similar flow structures accurately and suppressing the mesh imprinting phenomenon effectively. The transonic case demonstrates the MuSIC-3DC scheme's high resolution in capturing shock waves. In the hypersonic cases, the MuSIC-3DC scheme is more accurate in predicting stagnation and reattachment heating loads. Moreover, the MuSIC-3DC scheme is capable of obtaining more physical surface heating distribution by considering the information traveling both normal and transverse to the cell interfaces.

A numerical inquiry of the MHD radiative thin film nanofluid flow and heat transfer augmentation for Ni and Ta nanoparticles of different shapes dispersed in C 12 H 26–C 15 H 32 over an unsteady, curved stretching surface

Thin films are a versatile technology used in various industries, including light-emitting diodes, magnetic recording media, electronic device manufacturing, and optical coating. They are crucial for studying quantum phenomena, superlattices, and multiferroic materials. Their small size allows for better thermal transport studies due to the combination of thin film flow and nanoparticles. Therefore, this study aims to investigate thin film flow and heat transfer with the effects of thermal radiations, magnetic field, and velocity slip in association with tantalum ( Ta ) and nickel ( Ni ) nanoparticles that emerged in kerosene oil ( C 12 H 26 − C 15 H 32 ) toward a curved stretching surface. A review of the pertinent literature indicates that no research has previously been done on the present problem of an unsteady thin film flow across a curved stretching surface. The problem under consideration is modeled by choosing the curvilinear coordinate system. The controlling nonlinear system of partial differential equations is transformed into the system of ordinary differential equations by using an appropriate similarity transformation and then solved numerically using the BVP 4 C technique in MATLAB . The impact of significant physical parameters on velocity, temperature, skin friction, and Nusselt numbers are depicted through graphs and radar charts. The investigation highlights the significant influence of magnetohydrodynamics ( MHD ) , thermal radiation, volumetric fraction, and velocity slip on the enhancement of nanofluid temperature. It is also noted that cylindrical-shaped Ta nanoparticles exhibited the maximum velocity, while blade-shaped Ni nanoparticles showed the lowest. Moreover, the maximum and minimum temperatures were observed for blade-shaped Ni nanoparticles and cylindrical Ta nanoparticles, respectively. Additionally, the maximum and minimum values of skin friction are found for cylindrical Ni nanoparticles and blade-shaped Ta nanoparticles, respectively. Similarly, the maximum and minimum Nusselt numbers are recorded for cylindrical Ta nanoparticles and blade-shaped Ni nanoparticles, respectively.

Two-scale asymptotic homogenization analysis of piezoelectric composite materials in generalized curvilinear coordinates

This paper presents a comprehensive study on applying the two-scale asymptotic homogenization method to derive the effective properties of piezoelectric composite materials characterized by generalized periodicity in curvilinear coordinates. The methodology involves formulating the homogenization problem in a general curvilinear framework suitable for materials with complex geometric configurations. By systematically deriving the homogenized equations and effective coefficients, the paper provides a robust theoretical foundation for understanding the macroscopic behavior of piezoelectric composites under various loading conditions. The model’s versatility is demonstrated through its application to specific curvilinear coordinate systems, including the helix coordinate system and cylindrical coordinates with wavy geometry. These examples highlight the potential of the proposed approach in analyzing and designing piezoelectric materials with intricate geometries. The state-of-the-art numerical homogenization methods have also validated the proposed homogenization method, ensuring its accuracy and robustness.

Computation of three-dimensional incompressible flows using high-order weighted essentially non-oscillatory finite-difference lattice Boltzmann method

In the present work, an accurate and robust solution methodology based on the high-order weighted essentially non-oscillatory (WENO) finite-difference lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) in the three-dimensional generalized curvilinear coordinates is presented and applied for simulating the three-dimensional incompressible flows over complicated configurations with curved boundaries. Here, the incompressible form of the lattice Boltzmann equation in three dimensions is considered and the discretization of the spatial derivative terms is performed with the fifth-order WENO finite-difference method and the temporal derivative term is discretized with the fourth-order Runge–Kutta scheme to ensure the accuracy and stability of the solution method for both the steady and unsteady problems. The three-dimensional lattice Boltzmann equation applied here is based on a nineteen discrete velocity model for transforming the microscopic properties to the macroscopic ones. To assess the accuracy and robustness of the present three-dimensional high-order finite-difference LBM solver, different incompressible flow benchmarks and practical test cases are studied that are the cavity flow, the Beltrami flow, the flow in the curved ducts of rectangular cross sections, and the flow over a sphere for different flow conditions. The decay of the homogeneous isotropic turbulence is also computed to examine the suitability of the present solution method to be applied as the direct numerical simulation of turbulent flows. It is demonstrated that the solution methodology presented based on the high-order WENO finite-difference LBM in the three-dimensional generalized curvilinear coordinate can be used for accurately and effectively computing the three-dimensional practical incompressible flow problems.

A joint optimization method for multi-UAV deployment and task scheduling in mobile edge computing with large-scale mobile users

In the realm of multi-UAV-assisted mobile edge computing (MEC), the joint optimization of UAV deployment and task scheduling has emerged as a potent approach for mitigating energy consumption while ensuring high-quality services for mobile users. Nevertheless, the intricate interdependence between UAV deployment and task scheduling presents formidable challenges when implementing this scheme. In response, we introduce a novel methodology called the Dual-Stage Hybrid Strategy with Genetic-Simulated Annealing and Knowledge Sharing (DSHSGSK). DSHSGSK employs an alternating optimization strategy known as HS-GSK, supplemented by an elimination operator, to simultaneously optimize UAV deployment and task scheduling. In pursuit of heightened efficiency in UAV deployment and a more effective task scheduling strategy, we propose an innovative location encoding scheme for UAVs. To harness the local search capabilities of the Harmony search (HS) algorithm and the global search capabilities of the Gaining Sharing Knowledge based Algorithm (GSK), we introduce a coordination parameter (CP) to modulate the frequency of alternation between these two optimization techniques. Experimental results validate the superiority of our proposed method over other state-of-the-art algorithms for jointly optimizing multi-UAV deployment and task scheduling. Notably, our approach excels in terms of energy consumption, underscoring its exceptional performance.

Development of a method for solving elliptic differential equations based on a nonlinear compact-polynomial scheme

A numerical method for solving elliptic differential equations (on unstructured computational grids) is described, which is based on a nonlinear compact-polynomial computational scheme. For this purpose, an approximate transition from the elliptic equation to the hyperbolic type of equations was carried out in the work. To find the solution of the hyperbolic version of the diffusion equation, a transition (in the vicinity of the computational cell Ωi) to a local curvilinear coordinate system was performed, a nonlinear compact-polynomial computational scheme was used (the "predictor" stage), and the control volume method was applied (the "corrector" stage). The results of initial testing (on problems of different physical nature) of the proposed numerical method are presented.

A Mathematical Analysis and Simulation of the F-L Effect in Two-Layered Blood Flow through the Capillaries Remote from the Heart and Proximate to Human Tissue

In this paper, we have provided a mathematical analysis of an empirical result, namely, the Fahraeus–Lindqvist effect, a phenomenon that occurs in capillary tubes with a diameter lower than 0.3 mm. According to this effect, in capillary tubes under 0.3 mm in diameter, the apparent viscosity of blood decreases as the diameter of the tube decreases, making flow possible in these vessels. A two-phase blood flow mathematical model for human capillaries has been presented here. According to Haynes’ theory, blood is separated into two layers when it flows from the capillary. It is assumed that the first layer is plasma, and the second layer is the core layer. The plasma layer flows near the wall of the capillary, and the core layer flows along the axis of the capillary. Further, the core layer is assumed to be a mixture of two phases: one is the plasma, and the other is that of RBCs. For mathematical modeling purposes, a curvilinear coordinate system has been adopted, with physical quantities used in tensorial form. Derived equations are solved to find the effective viscosity, which depends upon the radius of the capillary; that is, it reduces viscosity to make blood flow possible. A comparative study was conducted with the experimental result of this effect, and it was observed that the proposed two-phase blood flow model is much closer to the experimental data than the single-phase blood flow model, and both have the same trends. After validation of the model with the experimental result, this model was applied to human capillaries (diameter lower than 10 μm) to show the F-L effect, and the impact of various physiological quantities that are relevant to the flow of blood into human capillaries are also discussed here. The impact of hematocrit on various parameters has been demonstrated explicitly.

High resolution optimized high-order schemes for discretization of non-linear straight and mixed second derivative terms

In this paper, we propose a new set of midpoint-based high-order discretization schemes for computing straight and mixed nonlinear second derivative terms that appear in the compressible Navier-Stokes equations. Firstly, we detail a set of conventional fourth and sixth-order baseline schemes that utilize central midpoint derivatives for the calculation of second derivatives terms. To enhance the spectral properties of the baseline schemes, an optimization procedure is proposed that adjusts the order and truncation error of the midpoint derivative approximation while still constraining the same overall stencil width and scheme order. A new filter penalty term is introduced into the midpoint derivative calculation to help achieve high wavenumber accuracy and high-frequency damping in the mixed derivative discretization. Fourier analysis performed on the both straight and mixed second derivative terms show high spectral efficiency and minimal numerical viscosity with no odd-even decoupling effect. Numerical validation of the resulting optimized schemes is performed through various benchmark test cases assessing their theoretical order of accuracy and solution resolution. The results highlight that the present optimized schemes efficiently utilize the inherent viscosity of the governing equations to achieve improved simulation stability - a feature attributed to their superior spectral resolution in the high wavenumber range. The method is also tested and applied to non-uniform structured meshes in curvilinear coordinates, employing a supersonic impinging jet test case.

VSCF/VCI theory based on the Podolsky Hamiltonian.

While the vibrational spectra of semi-rigid molecules can be computed on approaches relying on the Watson Hamiltonian, floppy molecules or molecular clusters are better described by Hamiltonians, which are capable of dealing with any curvilinear coordinates. It is the kinetic energy operator (KEO) of these Hamiltonians, which render the correlated calculations relying on them rather costly. Novel implementation of vibrational self-consistent field theory and vibrational configuration interaction theory on the basis of the Podolsky Hamiltonian are reported, in which the inverse of the metric tensor, i.e., the G matrix, is represented by an n-mode expansion expressed in terms of polynomials. An analysis of the importance of the individual terms of the KEO with respect to the truncation orders of the n-mode expansion is provided. Benchmark calculations have been performed for the cis-HOPO and methanimine, H2CNH, molecules and are compared to experimental data and to calculations based on the Watson Hamiltonian and the internal coordinate path Hamiltonian.

3D nonlocal solution with layerwise approach and DQM for multilayered functionally graded shallow nanoshells

A nonlocal layerwise 3D bending solution for multilayered functionally graded shallow nanoshells is presented. Eringen’s nonlocal elasticity theory is used for approaching the small length scale effect. Curvilinear orthogonal coordinate system is employed for writing the constitutive and equilibrium equations. The middle-plane of displacements are assumed as a Navier solution which are only valid for simply supported spherical, cylindrical panels and rectangular plates. The thickness domain is discretized by the well-known Chebyshev–Gauss–Lobatto, and its derivatives are calculated numerically by the Differential Quadrature method (DQM). Lagrange interpolation polynomials are utilized as the basis functions for DQM. The traction conditions at the top and the bottom of the shell panel and continuity conditions of the interlaminar adjacent layers for transverse stresses are considered, so this method presents layerwise capabilities. The results are compared with higher order theories proposed in the literature, and due to the 3D nature of the presented formulation, benchmark solutions are provided.

On the resonance frequency of the irregular shaped visco-acoustic Helmholtz cavity problem

In this paper we develop a closed-form mathematical solution for the resonance frequency of the axisymmetric irregular shaped visco-acoustic Helmholtz cavity problem. The solution is based on a conformal mapping that transforms the governing visco-acoustic equations of motion for the irregular cavity geometry into a new domain described by a set of orthogonal curvilinear coordinates. These orthogonal curvilinear coordinates have an important characteristic relative to the transformation of the physical boundary: the mapped domain is constructed such that the locus of all points for the length-wise profile of the physical boundary coincides with a constant value for a (quasi radial) coordinate in the new mapped domain. In these orthogonal curvilinear coordinates we obtain an analytical solution for the visco-acoustic equations of motion and exactly satisfy the no-slip fluid boundary conditions over the irregular shaped cavity walls by matching the coefficients of an orthogonal Legendre polynomial series representation for the non-uniform velocity on the cavity walls. The mathematical solution is an approximation to the extent that the scale factors chosen for the mapping consist of strictly the mutual-coupling terms of the true scale factors. Thus we analyze some results to understand the correlation of the analytical solution frequency response spectra with numerical finite element analyses of the idealized boundary conditions with various irregular shaped cavity geometries. The results for fundamental resonance frequency were found to exhibit good correlation with the results of finite element analyses over a significant range of fluid properties with different irregular cavity geometries. As the primary motivation for the derivation stems from the lack of a rapid yet accurate alternative to computationally intensive MultiPhysics FEA in the formulation of acoustic trendlines for sensor development, the solution’s acoustic impedance was applied as dispersive loading in a simple lumped parameter model of a fluid identification sensor for comparison. The resulting acoustic trendlines of the reduced (5 DOF) model were found to exhibit good correlation with the results of the MultiPhysics FEA (>105 DOF). Thus the solution was found to enable a closed-form analytical method for rapid construction of parametric studies in the practical design of fluid analysis sensors based on complex resonant cavity geometries.

Energy-conserving finite difference scheme based on velocity interpolation applicable to unsteady flows using collocated grids

The collocation method uses the Rhie–Chow scheme to find the cell interface velocity by pressure-weighted interpolation. The accuracy of this interpolation method in unsteady flows has not been fully clarified. This study constructs a finite difference scheme for incompressible fluids using a collocated grid in a general curvilinear coordinate system. The velocity at the cell interface is determined by weighted interpolation based on the pressure difference to prevent pressure oscillations. The Poisson equation for the pressure correction value is solved with the cross-derivative term omitted to improve calculation efficiency. In addition, simultaneous relaxation of velocity and pressure is applied to improve convergence. Even without the cross-derivative term, calculations can be stably performed, and convergent solutions are obtained. In unsteady inviscid flow, the conservation of kinetic energy is excellent even in a non-orthogonal grid, and the calculation result has second-order accuracy to time. In viscous analysis at a high Reynolds number, the error decreases compared with that of the Rhie–Chow interpolation method. The present numerical scheme improves calculation accuracy in unsteady flows. The possibility of applying this computational method to high Reynolds number flows is demonstrated through several analyses.

Couple Stress-Based Flexoelectric Theory in Orthogonal Curvilinear Coordinates and its Application to an Infinitely Long Dielectric Cylinder

In this paper, the formulations of the couple stress based flexoelectric theory in orthogonal curvilinear coordinates are presented. By following the two rules of transforming tensor equations from Cartesian coordinates to curvilinear ones: replacing the partial differentiation symbol with the covariant differentiation symbol and ensuring that the identical indices are positioned diagonally, the governing equations, constitutive equations and boundary conditions in orthogonal curvilinear coordinates are obtained. Then the couple stress based flexoelectric theory is specified for cylindrical coordinates. The flexoelectric responses of an infinitely long dielectric cylinder under a uniform electric field are analyzed. Numerical results show that the radial displacement increases rapidly as the mechanical length scale parameter [Formula: see text] increases. When [Formula: see text] is larger than 5 [Formula: see text]m, the circumferential displacement decreases rapidly. [Formula: see text] has a large effect on the induced displacements but a small effect on the induced electric potential, while the electrical length scale parameter [Formula: see text] has a small effect on both the induced displacements and the induced electric potential.

On the use of elliptic PDEs for the parameterisation of planar multipatch domains

AbstractThis paper presents a parameterisation framework based on (inverted) elliptic PDEs for addressing the planar parameterisation problem of finding a valid description of the domain’s interior given no more than a spline-based description of its boundary contours. The framework is geared towards isogeometric analysis (IGA) applications wherein the physical domain is comprised of more than four sides, hence requiring more than one patch. We adopt the concept of harmonic maps and propose several PDE-based problem formulations capable of finding a valid map between a convex parametric multipatch domain and the piecewise-smooth physical domain with an equal number of sides. In line with the isoparametric paradigm of IGA, we treat the parameterisation problem using techniques that are characteristic for the analysis step. As such, this study proposes several IGA-based numerical algorithms for the problem’s governing equations that can be effortlessly integrated into a well-developed IGA software suite. We augment the framework with mechanisms that enable controlling the parametric properties of the outcome. Parametric control is accomplished by, among other techniques, the introduction of a curvilinear coordinate system in the convex parametric domain, for which more general elliptic PDEs are adopted. Depending on the application, parametric control allows for building desired features into the computed map, such as homogeneous cell sizes or boundary layers.

Geometric Investigation of Three Thin Shells with Ruled Middle Surfaces with the Same Main Frame

It is proved and illustrated that by taking the main frame of the surface, consisting of three plane curves placed in three coordinate planes, three different algebraic surfaces with the same rigid frame can be designed. For the first time, one three of new ruled surfaces in a family of five threes of ruled surfaces, formed on the basis of some shapes of hulls of river and see ships, which, in turn, are projected in the form of algebraic surfaces with a main frame of three superellipses or of three other plane curves, is under consideration in detail with a standpoint of differential geometry. The geometrical properties of the ruled surfaces taken as the middle surfaces of thin shells for industrial and civil engineering are presented. Analytical formulas for determination of force resultants with using the approximate momentless theory of shells of zero Gaussian curvature given by non-orthogonal conjugate curvilinear coordinates are offered for the first time. The results derived using these formulae will help to correct the results obtained by numerical methods.

Free vibration analysis of laminated anisotropic doubly-curved shell structures reinforced with three-phase polymer/CNT/fiber material

The present work investigates the vibrational response of laminated anisotropic doubly-curved shell structures reinforced with Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) short fibers. The fundamental equations are derived from a curvilinear reference system of principal coordinates, employing the Equivalent Single Layer (ESL) methodology. Furthermore, a general variation in laminate thickness is considered. The unknown field variable is described using higher order theories through the unified formulation, taking into account a general interpolation of the unknown variables with Lagrange polynomials across the physical domain. The Hamiltonian Principle is adopted for the derivation of the dynamic equilibrium equations, which arediscretized numerically by using the Generalized Differential Quadrature (GDQ) method. In addition, an efficient isogeometric NURBS-based mapping is adopted for the distortion of the physical domain. The boundary conditions of the differential problem are modelled through a general distribution of linear elastic springs along the lateral surfaces of the three-dimensional doubly-curved solid. The theory is then applied to study the vibrational modes of structures with different curvatures and lamination schemes, taking into account a general distribution of CNTs along the thickness direction. The homogenized properties of CNTs layers are obtained from the Mori-Tanaka procedure, which accounts for the agglomeration effects of the dispersed nanofibers within the matrix. Unlike previous studies focusing on doubly-curved shells reinforced with composite materials and CNTs, the present formulation enables to derive the vibration characteristics of structures made of generally anisotropic materials with general orientations. Furthermore, the calibration of the parameters for the linear elastic springs’ distribution leads to general external constraints within a single element, thus reducing the computational cost of the problem.

Interior solution of azimuthally symmetric case of Laplace equation in orthogonal similar oblate spheroidal coordinates

Curvilinear coordinate systems distinct from the rectangular Cartesian coordinate system are particularly valuable in the field calculations as they facilitate the expression of boundary conditions of differential equations in a reasonably simple way when the coordinate surfaces fit the physical boundaries of the problem. The recently finalized orthogonal similar oblate spheroidal (SOS) coordinate system can be particularly useful for a physical processes description inside or in the vicinity of the bodies or particles with the geometry of an oblate spheroid. The solution of the azimuthally symmetric case of the Laplace equation was found for the interior space in the orthogonal SOS coordinates. In the frame of the derivation of the harmonic functions, the Laplace equation was separated by a special separation procedure. A generalized Legendre equation was introduced as the equation for the angular part of the separated Laplace equation. The harmonic functions were determined as relations involving generalized Legendre functions of the first and of the second kind. Several lower-degree functions are reported. Recursion formula facilitating determination of the higher-degree harmonic functions was found. The general solution of the azimuthally symmetric Laplace equation for the interior space in the SOS coordinates is reported.

LBM modeling of three-dimensional mixed convection in CZ crystal growth on curvilinear coordinates system

A three-dimensional (3D) thermal lattice Boltzmann model of crystal growth is presented to study the magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD) mixed convection in the melt of Czochralski silicon single crystal growth in this paper. In order to solve the problem of lattice Boltzmann method’s difficulty in solving the flow of 3D cylindrical cavity, the 3D physical model of crystal growth is transformed from the Cartesian coordinate system to the Curvilinear coordinate system. And the irregular grids in the Cartesian coordinate system are transformed into regular grids in the Curvilinear coordinate system to facilitate the establishment of the Lattice Boltzmann model. Under the above operations, two coupled distribution functions are established to solve the governing equations. Two D3Q19 models are adopted to solve the melt velocity and temperature. And the 3D lattice Boltzmann modeling of crystal growth with cylinder boundary is realized by interpolation in Curvilinear coordinate system. The comparison with the experiment and other references proves that the proposed model and boundary treatment scheme is correct and it proposes a new way for studying the 3D crystal growth or other similar 3D cylindrical cavity simulations. Furthermore, the unstable melt flow for two cases are also simulated in this paper and the critical Reynolds number are also obtained. Results show that the introduction of the transverse magnetic field enhances the stability of the crystal growth system and increases the adjustable range of crystal rotation parameter. The obtained conclusion has an important reference for adjusting the process parameters during the CZ crystal growth.

Peristaltic transport of diethylene glycol-based magnesium aluminate nanofluid under the effects of viscous dissipation and Hall current

ABSTRACT The fundamental importance of peristaltic phenomena in numerous biological systems, including dialysis, heart-lung machines, urine transportation, invertebrate locomotion, and the passage of gallbladder bile into the intestines, persuaded scientists to investigate the different aspects of it over the past few years. In addition, peristaltic pumping is an important consideration in industrial processes including, roller pumps used for the transport of sanitary materials, finger pumps, cell separation, and endoscopes. Keeping such inspirational applications in mind, the present investigation is dedicated to exploring the peristaltic transport of a Cross-magneto nanofluid through a curved geometry in the presence of heat transfer. The inspection of the heat transfer is conducted by utilizing variable viscosity and ohmic heating aspects. This study also retains the characteristics of viscous dissipation, heat generation/absorption, and thermal conductivity of nanofluids. Modeling of the 2D, incompressible Cross nanofluid with peristaltic movement is carried out using a curvilinear coordinate system. The basic equations of the problem are mPodeled in the light of physical laws and then simplified by adopting the lubrication theory. The solutions of the resulting nonlinear system are computed numerically. The outcomes of the related flow parameters on the nanofluid’s temperature, pressure gradient, velocity distribution, heat transfer, streamlines pattern, and stresses at the wall are discussed through graphs. The graphical results depict that the rates of heat transfer are augmented by increasing the curvature parameter, Hartmann number, and nanoparticles’ volume fraction while decreasing the Hall parameter and temperature-dependent viscosity parameter. Moreover, the nanofluid’s temperature increases by improving the values of the heat generation parameter, whereas it decreases for the Hall parameter. Furthermore, a reduction in the axial velocity occurs near the center of the channel, when Hartmann number attains higher values.

A note on the Hill–Ogden generalised strains

This brief contribution provides an overview of the Hill–Ogden generalised strain tensors, and some considerations on their representation in generalised (curvilinear) coordinates, in a fully covariant formalism that is adaptable to a more general theory on Riemannian manifolds. These strains may be naturally defined with covariant components or naturally defined with contravariant components. Each of these two macro-families is best suited to a specific geometrical context.