Crack size and speed interaction characteristics at micro-, meso- and macro-scale

The motivation to examine physical events at even smaller size scale arises from the development of use-specific materials where information transfer from one micro- or macro-element to another could be pre-assigned. There is the growing belief that the cumulated macroscopic experiences could be related to those at the lower size scales. Otherwise, there serves little purpose to examine material behavior at the different scale levels. Size scale, however, is intimately associated with time, not to mention temperature. As the size and time scales are shifted, different physical events may be identified. Dislocations with the movements of atoms, shear and rotation of clusters of molecules with inhomogeneity of polycrystals; and yielding/fracture with bulk properties of continuum specimens. Piecemeal results at the different scale levels are vulnerable to the possibility that they may be incompatible. The attention should therefore be focused on a single formulation that has the characteristics of multiscaling in size and time. The fact that the task may be overwhelmingly difficult cannot be used as an excuse for ignoring the fundamental aspects of the problem.Local nonlinearity is smeared into a small zone ahead of the crack. A “restrain stress” is introduced to also account for cracking at the meso-scale.The major emphasis is placed on developing a model that could exhibit the evolution characteristics of change in cracking behavior due to size and speed. Material inhomogeneity is assumed to favor self-similar crack growth although this may not always be the case. For relatively high restrain stress, the possible nucleation of micro-, meso- and macro-crack can be distinguished near the crack tip region. This distinction quickly disappears after a small distance after which scaling is no longer possible. This character prevails for Mode I and II cracking at different speeds. Special efforts are made to confine discussions within the framework of assumed conditions. To be kept in mind are the words of Isaac Newton in the Fourth Regula Philosophandi:

“Men are often led into error by the love of simplicity which disposes us to reduce things to few principles, and to conceive a greater simplicity in nature than there really is … We may learn something of the way in which nature operates from fact and observation; but if we conclude that it operates in such a manner, only because to our understanding that operates to be the best and simplest manner, we shall always go wrong.”––Isaac Newton

Direct numerical simulation of turbulent heat transfer in annuli: Effect of heat flux ratio

Fully developed turbulent flow and heat transfer in a concentric annular duct is investigated for the first time by using a direct numerical simulation (DNS) with isoflux conditions imposed at both walls. The Reynolds number based on the half-width between inner and outer walls, δ=(r₂-r₁)/2, and the laminar maximum velocity is Re_δ=3500. A Prandtl number Pr=0.71 and a radius ratio r^*=0.1 were retained. The main objective of this work is to examine the effect of the heat flux density ratio, q^*=q₁/q₂, on different thermal statistics (mean temperature profiles, root mean square (rms) of temperature fluctuations, turbulent heat fluxes, heat transfer, etc.). To validate the present DNS calculations, predictions of the flow and thermal fields with q^*=1 are compared to results recently reported in the archival literature. A good agreement with available DNS data is shown. The effect of heat flux ratio q^* on turbulent thermal statistics in annular duct with arbitrarily prescribed heat flux is discussed then. This investigation highlights that heat flux ratio has a marked influence on the thermal field. When q^* varies from 0 to 0.01, the rms of temperature fluctuations and the turbulent heat fluxes are more intense near the outer wall while changes in q^* from 1 to 100, lead to opposite trends.     

Dislocation pile-up model of fatigue thresholds for 2024- and 7075-alike aluminium alloys

Two parameters, K_max^* and δK_th^*, are presented to describe fatigue threshold behaviour and damage under any load ratio without invoking crack closure. Modelled are two fatigue thresholds that are coherently related to fatigue limit δσ_FL; they predict the fundamental threshold curves for aluminium alloys. By using a continuous configuration of dislocations in pile-up, fatigue limit behaviour is simulated as pile-up of dislocations against grain boundaries. A fatigue limit is determined in terms of a critical condition at which a fictitious microcrack associated with the pile-up corresponds to the onset of propagation. These two fatigue thresholds are attainable as the local stresses at the crack front approaching the fatigue limit. Microstructure is incorporated in the model to account for the effect on threshold behaviour. As a result, two fatigue threshold criteria are required. Quantitative assessment of the two criteria requires only knowledge of the conventional material properties in conjunction with microstructure. The micromechanical modelling exhibits a strong dependence of fatigue thresholds upon local microstructure.     

Response of mean turbulent energy dissipation rate and spectra to concentrated wall suction

The response of mean turbulent energy dissipation rate and spectra to concentrated suction applied through a porous wall strip has been quantified. Both suction and no suction data of the spectra collapsed reasonably well for Kolmogorov normalised wavenumber k ₁^* > 0.2. Similar results were also observed for second-order structure functions (not shown) for Kolmogorov normalised radius r* < 10. Although, the quality of collapsed is poorer for transverse component, the result highlights that Kolmogorov similarity hypothesis is reasonably well satisfied. However, the suction results shows a significant departure from the no suction case of the Kolmogorov normalised spectra and second-order structure functions for k ₁^* < 0.2 and r* > 20, respectively. The departure at the larger scales with collapse at the small scales suggests that suction induce a change in the small-scale motion. This is also reflected in the alteration of mean turbulent energy dissipation rate and Taylor microscale Reynolds number. This change is a result of the weakening of the large-scale structures. The effect is increased as the suction rate is increased.     

Effect of material nonhomogeneities on the HRR dominance

This work studies the asymptotic stress and displacement fields near the tip of a stationary crack in an elastic–plastic nonhomogeneous material with the emphasis on the effect of material nonhomogeneities on the dominance of the crack tip field. While the HRR singular field still prevails near the crack tip if the material properties are continuous and piecewise continuously differentiable, a simple asymptotic analysis shows that the size of the HRR dominance zone decreases with increasing magnitude of material property gradients. The HRR field dominates at points that satisfy |α⁻¹ ∂α/∂x_δ|1/r, |α⁻¹ ∂²α/(∂x_δ ∂x_γ)|1/r², |n⁻¹ ∂n/∂x_δ|1/[r|ln(r/A)|] and |n⁻¹ ∂²n/(∂x_δ ∂x_γ)|1/[r²|ln(r/A)|], in addition to other general requirements for asymptotic solutions, where α is a material property in the Ramberg–Osgood model, n is the strain hardening exponent, r is the distance from the crack tip, x_δ are Cartesian coordinates, and A is a length parameter. For linear hardening materials, the crack tip field dominates at points that satisfy |E_tan⁻¹ ∂E_tan/∂x_δ|1/r, |E_tan⁻¹ ∂²E_tan/(∂x_δ ∂x_γ)|1/r², |E⁻¹ ∂E/∂x_δ|1/r, and |E⁻¹ ∂²E/(∂x_δ ∂x_γ)|1/r², where E_tan is the tangent modulus and E is Young’s modulus.     

Analytical approximation for nonlinear adsorbing solute transport and first-order degradation

Under some constraints, solutes undergoing nonlinear adsorption migrate according to a traveling wave. Analytical traveling wave solutions were used to obtain an approximation for the solute front shape,c(z, t), for the situation of equilibrium nonlinear adsorption and first-order degradation. This approximation describes numerically obtained fronts and breakthrough curves well. It is shown to describe fronts more accurately than a solution based on linearized adsorption. The latter solution accounts neither for the relatively steep downstream solute front nor for the deceleration in time of the nonlinear front.Notation A parameter - c concentration [mol/m³] - c ₀ ^* depth-dependent local maximum concentration [mol/m³] - c; c ₀;c _i concentration difference, feed, and initial resident concentrations, respectively [mol/m³] - D pore scale diffusion/dispersion coefficient [m²/yr] - f adsorption isotherm - f derivative off toc - f second derivative off toc - G ^* parameter - K nonlinear adsorption coefficient [mol/m³)^1–n ] - l column length [m] - L _d dispersivity [m] - m parameter - n Freundlich sorption parameter - P function ofc ₀ ^* - _q change inq [mol/m³] - q adsorbed amount (volumetric basis) [mol/m³] - q derivative ofq toc - R nonlinear retardation factor - retardation factor for concentrationc - R _l linear retardation factor - R(z ^*) depth-dependent average retardation factor, for front at depthz ^* - s adsorbed amount (mass basis) [mol/kg] - t time [years] - u parameter - v flow velocity [m] - z ^* downstream front depth [m] - z depth [m] - transformed coordinate [m] - ^* reference point value of [m] - first-order decay parameter [y^–1] - dry bulk density [kg/m³] - volumetric water fraction - parameter     

Vortex shedding in cylinder flow of shear-thinning fluids: I. Identification and demarcation of flow regimes

An experimental study on the flow of non-Newtonian fluids around a cylinder was undertaken to identify and delimit the various shedding flow regimes as a function of adequate non-dimensional numbers. The measurements of vortex shedding frequency and formation length (l_f) were carried out by laser-Doppler anemometry in Newtonian fluids and in aqueous polymer solutions of CMC and tylose. These were shear thinning and elastic at weight concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 0.6%. The 10 and 20 mm diameter cylinders (D) used in the experiments had aspect ratios of 12 and 6 and blockage ratios of 5 and 10%, respectively. The Reynolds number (Re^*) was based on a characteristic shear rate of U_∞/(2D) and ranged from 50 to 9×10³ thus encompassing the laminar shedding, the transition and shear-layer transition regimes. Increasing fluid elasticity reduced the various critical Reynolds numbers (Re_etr^*, Re_lf^*, Re_bbp^*) and narrowed the extent of the transition regime. For the 0.6% tylose solution the transition regime was even suppressed. On the other end, pseudoplasticity was found to be indirectly responsible for the observed reduction in Re_otr^*: it increases the Strouhal number which in turn increases the vortex filaments, precursors of the transition regime. Elasticity was better quantified by the elasticity number Re′/We than by the Weissenberg number. This elasticity number involves the calculation of the viscosity at a high characteristic shear rate, typical of the boundary layer, rather than at the average value (U_∞/(2D)) used for the Reynolds number, Re^*.     

Micro/macro-crack growth due to creep–fatigue dependency on time–temperature material behavior

The implicit character of micro-structural degradation is determined by specifying the time history of crack growth caused by creep–fatigue interaction at high temperature. A dual scale micro/macro-equivalent crack growth model is used to illustrate the underlying principle of multiscaling which can be applied equally well to nano/micro. A series of dual scale models can be connected to formulate triple or quadruple scale models. Temperature and time-dependent thermo-mechanical material properties are developed to dictate the design time history of creep–fatigue cracking that can serve as the master curve for health monitoring.In contrast to the conventional procedure of problem/solution approach by specifying the time- and temperature-dependent material properties as a priori, the desired solution is then defined for a class of anticipated loadings. A scheme for matching the loading history with the damage evolution is then obtained. The results depend on the initial crack size and the extent of creep in proportion to fatigue damage. The path dependent nature of damage is demonstrated by showing the range of the pertinent parameters that control the final destruction of the material. A possible scenario of 20 yr of life span for the 38Cr2Mo2VA ultra-high strength steel is used to develop the evolution of the micro-structural degradation. Three micro/macro-parameters μ^*, d^* and σ^* are used to exhibit the time-dependent variation of the material, geometry and load effects. They are necessary to reflect the scale transitory behavior of creep–fatigue damage. Once the algorithm is developed, the material can be tailor made to match the behavior. That is a different life span of the same material would alter the time behavior of μ^*, d^* and σ^* and hence the micro-structural degradation history. The one-to-one correspondence of the material micro-structure degradation history with that of damage by cracking is the essence of path dependency. Numerical results and graphs are obtained to demonstrate how the inherently implicit material micro-structure parameters can be evaluated from the uniaxial bulk material properties at the macroscopic scale.The combined behavior of creep and fatigue can be exhibited by specifying the parameter ξ with reference to the initial defect size a₀. Large ξ (0.90 and 0.85) gives critical crack size a_cr = 11–14 mm (at t < 20 yr) for a₀ about 1.3 mm. For small ξ (0.05 and 0.15), there results critical a_cr = 6–7 mm (at t < 20 yr) for a₀ about 0.7–0.8 mm. The initial crack is estimated to increase its length by an order of magnitude before triggering global to the instability. This also applies ξ ≈ 0.5 where creep interacts severely with fatigue. Fine tuning of a_cr and a₀ can be made to meet the condition oft = 20 yr.Trade off among load, material and geometric parameters are quantified such that the optimum conditions can be determined for the desired life qualified by the initial–final defect sizes. The scenario assumed in this work is indicative of the capability of the methodology. The initial–final defect sizes can be varied by re-designing the time–temperature material specifications. To reiterate, the uniqueness of solution requires the end result to match with the initial conditions for a given problem. This basic requirement has been accomplished by the dual scale micro/macro-crack growth model for creep and fatigue.     

Understanding the Piche evaporimeter as a simple integrating mass transfer meter

Results are presented of a comparison of measured and calculated evaporation rates of the Piche evaporimeter under indoor and outdoor (within a meteorological screen) conditions. In both cases, application of mass transfer formulae in use for horizontal (turbulent) flow to the evaporating blotting paper of the instrument yield very good results under pure forced convection conditions. For mixed convection regimes, comparisons using either pure free (combined heat and mass transfer) or pure forced convection equations give as expected too low calculated values. Reasons for such differences with measured values are reviewed. Our forced convection results confirm that main stream turbulence is only of influence on mass transfer to a zero incidence flow in combination with pressure gradient (bluff body) effects, which under our conditions appear to be absent around the Piche surfaces. The same results prove absence of any influence of the particular temperature distribution over the blotting paper on the mass transfer. The understanding and importance of these conclusions in relation to the use of the Piche evaporimeter as a simple integrating mass transfer meter under actual farming conditions are discussed. The importance to obtain such mass transfer data is explained in the introduction.Nomenclature A Numerical constant in free convection Sherwood number - Coefficient of thermal expansion (K^–1) - C _{(s, b)} Water vapour concentration average at the evaporating surface (s) and in the bulk air (b) (g m^–3) - D Coefficient of molecular diffusion of water vapour in air (m² s^–1) - d Characteristic dimension of the paper disc in the direction of flow (m) - E _{(c, m)} Evaporation rates of the Piche evaporimeter, calculated (c) and measured (m) (units in text) - e _{(s, b)} Partial water vapour pressure average at the evaporating surface (s) and in the bulk air (b) (mbar) - Gr Grashof number - g Acceleration of gravity (m s^–2) - m Number of measuring periods - n Numerical constant in free convection Sherwood number - Coefficient of kinematic viscosity of air (m² s^–1) - P Atmospheric pressure (mbar) - Re Reynolds number - _{(s, b)} Air density average at the evaporating surface (s) and of the bulk air (b) (g m^–3) - Sh Sherwood number - T _{(s, b)} Temperature average of the evaporating surface (s) and in the bulk air (b) (K) - T _{(vs, vb)} Virtual temperature average at the evaporating surface (s) and in the bulk air (b) (K) - U Wind speed (air movement) average of the bulk air (m s^–1)     

Instability of Buckley-Leverett flow in a heterogeneous medium

We study the simultaneous one-dimensional flow of water and oil in a heterogeneous medium modelled by the Buckley-Leverett equation. It is shown both by analytical solutions and by numerical experiments that this hyperbolic model is unstable in the following sense: Perturbations in physical parameters in a tiny region of the reservoir may lead to a totally different picture of the flow. This means that simulation results obtained by solving the hyperbolic Buckley-Leverett equation may be unreliable.Symbols and Notation f fractional flow function varying withs andx - value off outsideI - value off insideI - local approximation off around¯x - f ^–,f ⁺ values of - f _j ⁿ value off atS _j ⁿ andx _j - g acceleration due to gravity [ms^–2] - I interval containing a low permeable rock - k dimensionless absolute permeability - k ^* absolute permeability [m²] - k _c ^* characteristic absolute permeability [m²] - k _ro relative oil permeability - k _rw relative water permeability - L ^* characteristic length [m] - L ₁ the space of absolutely integrable functions - L the space of bounded functions - P _c dimensionless capillary pressure function - P _c ^* capillary pressure function [Pa] - P _c ^* characteristic pressure [Pa] - S similarity solution - S _j ⁿ numerical approximation tos(x_j, t_n) - S ₁, S₂,S ₃ constant values ofs - s water saturation - value ofs at - s ^L left state ofs (wrt. ) - s ^R right state ofs (wrt. ) - s s for a fixed value of in Section 3 - T value oft - t dimensionless time coordinate - t ^* time coordinate [s] - t _c ^* characteristic time [s] - t _n temporal grid point,t _n=n t - v ^* total filtration (Darcy) velocity [ms^–1] - W, , v dimensionless numbers defined by Equations (4), (5) and (6) - x dimensionless spatial coordinate [m] - x ^* spatial coordinate [m] - x _j spatial grid piont,x _j=j x - discontinuity curve in (x, t) space - right limiting value of¯x - left limiting value of¯x - angle between flow direction and horizontal direction - t temporal grid spacing - x spatial grid spacing - length ofI - parameter measuring the capillary effects - argument ofS - _o dimensionless dynamic oil viscosity - _w dimensionless dynamic water viscosity - _c ^* characteristic viscosity [kg m^–1s^–1] - _o ^* dynamic oil viscosity [kg m^–1s^–1] - _w ^* dynamic water viscosity [k gm^–1s^–1] - _o dimensionless density of oil - _w dimensionless density of water - _c ^* characteristic density [kgm^–3] - _o ^* density of oil [kgm^–3] - _w ^* density of water [kgm^–3] - porosity - dimensionless diffusion function varying withs andx - ^* dimensionless function varying with s andx ^* [kg^–1m³s] - _j ⁿ value of atS _j ⁿ andx _j This research has been supported by VISTA, a research cooperation between the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters and Den norske stats oljeselskap a.s. (Statoil).     

A field model interpretation of crack initiation and growth behavior in ferroelectric ceramics: change of poling direction and boundary condition

Strain energy density expressions are obtained from a field model that can qualitatively exhibit how the electrical and mechanical disturbances would affect the crack growth behavior in ferroelectric ceramics. Simplification is achieved by considering only three material constants to account for elastic, piezoelectric and dielectric effects. Cross interaction of electric field (or displacement) with mechanical stress (or strain) is identified with the piezoelectric effect; it occurs only when the pole is aligned normal to the crack. Switching of the pole axis by 90° and 180° is examined for possible connection with domain switching. Opposing crack growth behavior can be obtained when the specification of mechanical stress σ^∞ and electric field E^∞ or (σ^∞,E^∞) is replaced by strain ε^∞ and electric displacement D^∞ or (ε^∞,D^∞). Mixed conditions (σ^∞,D^∞) and (ε^∞,E^∞) are also considered. In general, crack growth is found to be larger when compared to that without the application of electric disturbances. This includes both the electric field and displacement. For the eight possible boundary conditions, crack growth retardation is identified only with (E_y^∞,σ_y^∞) for negative E_y^∞ and (D_y^∞,ε_y^∞) for positive D_y^∞ while the mechanical conditions σ_y^∞ or ε_y^∞ are not changed. Suitable combinations of the elastic, piezoelectric and dielectric material constants could also be made to suppress crack growth.     

On the laminar forced convection with axial conduction in a circular tube with exponential wall heat flux

The values of the fully developed Nusselt number for laminar forced convection in a circular tube with axial conduction in the fluid and exponential wall heat flux are determined analytically. Moreover, the distinction between the concepts of bulk temperature and mixing-cup temperature, at low values of the Peclet number, is pointed out. Finally it is shown that, if the Nusselt number is defined with respect to the mixing-cup temperature, then the boundary condition of exponentially varying wall heat flux includes as particular cases the boundary conditions of uniform wall temperature and of convection with an external fluid.

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Über laminare Zwangskonvektion mit Längswärmeleitung in einem Kreisrohr mit exponentiell veränderlichem Wandwärmefluß

Zusammenfassung Es werden die Endwerte der Nusselt-Zahlen für vollausgebildete laminare Zwangskonvektion in einem Kreisrohr mit Längswärmeleitung und exponentiell veränderlichem Wandwärmefluß analytisch ermittelt. Besondere Betonung liegt auf dem Unterschied zwischen den Konzepten für die Mittel- und die Mischtemperatur bei niedrigen Peclet-Zahlen. Schließlich wird gezeigt, daß bei Definition der Nusselt-Zahl bezüglich der Mischtemperatur die Randbedingung exponentiell veränderlichen Randwärmeflusses die Spezialfälle konstanter Wandtemperatur und konvektiven Wärmeaustausches mit einem umgebenden Fluid einschließt.

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Nomenclature A _n dimensionless coefficients employed in the Appendix - Bi Biot numberBi=h _e r ₀/ - c _n dimensionless coefficients defined in Eq. (17) - c _p specific heat at constant pressure of the fluid within the tube, [J kg^–1 K^–1] - f solution of Eq. (15) - h ₁,h ₂ specific enthalpies employed in Eqs. (2) and (4), [J kg^–1] - h _e convection coefficient with a fluid outside the tube, [W m^–2 K^–1] - rate of mass flow, [kg s^–1] - Nu bulk Nusselt number,2r ₀ q _w /[(T _w –T _b )] - Nu _H fully developed value of the bulk Nusselt number for the boundary condition of uniform wall heat flux - Nu _T fully developed value of the bulk Nusselt number for the boundary condition of uniform wall temperature - Nu ^* mixing Nusselt number,2r ₀ q _w /[(T _w –T _m )] - Nu _C ^* fully developed value of the mixing Nusselt number for the boundary condition of convection with an external fluid - Nu _H ^* fully developed value of the mixing Nusselt number for the boundary condition of uniform wall heat flux - Nu _T ^* fully developed value of the mixing Nusselt number for the boundary condition of uniform wall temperature - Pe Peclet number, 2r ₀/ - q ₀ wall heat flux atx=0, [W m^–2] - q _w wall heat flux, [W m^–2] - r radial coordinate, [m] - r ₀ radius of the tube, [m] - s dimensionless radius,s=r/r ₀ - T temperature, [K] - T ₀ temperature constant employed in Eq. (14), [K] - T reference temperature of the fluid external to the tube, [K] - T _b bulk temperature, [K] - T _m mixing or mixing-cup temperature, [K] - T _w wall temperature, [K] - u velocity component in the axial direction, [m s^–1] - mean value ofu, [m s^–1] - x axial coordinate, [m] Greek symbols thermal diffusivity of the fluid within the tube, [m² s^–1] - exponent in wall heat flux variation, [m^–1] - dimensionless parameter - dimensionless temperature =(T _w –T)/(T _w –T _b ) - ^* dimensionless temperature ^*=(T _w –T)/(T _w –T _m ) - thermal conductivity of the fluid within the tube, [W m^–1 K^–1] - density of the fluid within the tube, [kg m^–3]     

Symmetry and secondary bifurcation of elastic structures

We consider non-linear bifurcation problems for elastic structures modeled by the operator equation F[w;α]=0 where F:X×R^k→Y,X,Y are Banach spaces and XY. We focus attention on problems whose bifurcation equations are of the form

f_i(α₁,α₂;λ,μ)=(a_iμ+b_iλ)α_i+p_iα_i³+q_iα_i∑_j=1,j≠i^kα_j+1²+α_ih_i(λ,μ;α₁,α₂,…α_k) i=1,2,…k

which emanates from bifurcation problems for which the linearization of F is Fredholm operators of index 0. Under the assumption of F being odd we prove an important theorem of existence of secondary bifurcation. Under this same assumption we prove a symmetry condition for the reduced equations and consequently we got an existence result for secondary bifurcation. We also include a stability analysis of the bifurcating solutions.     

The behavior of cracked cross-ply composite laminates under shear loading

An interlaminar-shear-stress analysis developed earlier by Tsai et al. (1990, Micro-cracking-Induced Damage in Composites) for a [φ_m/θ_n], bi-directional composite laminate is used to solve the case of a cross-ply [0_m/90_n]_x laminate with the 90° layer only or both layers cracked under pure shear loading. Strains, forces and laminate shear modulus reduction due to matrix cracking were obtained. Experimental results for shear modulus as a function of crack densities were obtained by a simple shear test and they agree very well with the theoretical prediction.     

Crack repair using an elastic filler

The effect of repairing a crack in an elastic body using an elastic filler is examined in terms of the stress intensity levels generated at the crack tip. The effect of the filler is to change the stress field singularity from order 1/r^1/2 to 1/r^(1-λ) where r is the distance from the crack tip, and λ is the solution to a simple transcendental equation. The singularity power (1-λ) varies from (the unfilled crack limit) to 1 (the fully repaired crack), depending primarily on the scaled shear modulus ratio γ_r defined by G₂/G₁=γ_rε, where 2πε is the (small) crack angle, and the indices (1, 2) refer to base and filler material properties, respectively. The fully repaired limit is effectively reached for γ_r≈10, so that fillers with surprisingly small shear modulus ratios can be effectively used to repair cracks. This fits in with observations in the mining industry, where materials with G₂/G₁ of the order of 10^-3 have been found to be effective for stabilizing the walls of tunnels. The results are also relevant for the repair of cracks in thin elastic sheets.     

Axisymmetric resonant disturbances in a homogeneous wave guide

The initial boundary-value linear stability problem for small localised axisymmetric disturbances in a homogeneous elastic wave guide, with the free upper surface and the lower surface being rigidly attached to a half-space, is formally solved by applying the Laplace transform in time and the Hankel transforms of zero and first orders in space. An asymptotic evaluation of the solution, expressed as a sum of inverse Laplace-Hankel integrals, is carried out by using the approach of the mathematical formalism of absolute and convective instabilities. It is shown that the dispersion-relation function of the problem D₀ (κ, ω), where the Hankel parameter κ is substituted by a wave number (and the Fourier parameter) κ, coincides with the dispersion-relation function D₀ (k, ω) for two-dimensional (2-D) disturbances in a homogeneous wave guide, where ω is the frequency (and the Laplace parameter) in both cases. An analysis for localised 2-D disturbances in a homogeneous wave guide is then applied. We obtain asymptotic expressions for wave packets, triggered by axisymmetric perturbations localised in space and finite in time, as well as for responses to axisymmetric sources localised in space, with the time dependence satisfying e^−iω₀t + O(e^−εt) for t → ∞, where Im ω₀ = 0, ε > 0, and t denotes time, i.e. for signalling with frequency ω₀. We demonstrate that, for certain combinations of physical parameters, axisymmetric wave packets with an algebraic temporal decay and axisymmetric signalling with an algebraic temporal growth, as √t, i.e., axisymmetric temporal resonances, are present in a neutrally stable homogeneous wave guide. The set of physically relevant wave guides having axisymmetric resonances is shown to be fairly wide. Furthermore, since an axisymmetric part of any source is L²-orthogonal to its non-axisymmetric part, a 3-D signalling with a non-vanishing axisymmetric component at an axisymmetric resonant frequency will generally grow algebraically in time. These results support our hypothesis concerning a possible resonant triggering mechanism of certain earthquakes, see Brevdo, 1998, J. Elasticity, 49, 201–237.     

Some plane adiabatic ideal gas flows containing shocks

We obtain the solution describing adiabatic flows of an ideal gas characterized by the two parameters a and b such that [a]=L ^m+1 T ^–1, [b]=ML ^–2–2m where m is arbitrary (m > 0).h This solution permits the construction of flows containing shocks.Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Mekhaniki i Tekhnicheskoi Fiziki, Vol. 10, No. 3, pp. 71–73, May–June, 1969.     

Pore structures and transport properties of sandstone

To quantitatively analyze the macroscopic properties of the flow in porous media by means of the continuum approach, detailed information (velocity and pressure fields) on the microscopic scale is necessary. In this paper, the numerical solution for incompressible, Newtonian flow in a diverging-converging representative unit cell (RUC) is presented. A new solution procedure for the problem is introduced. A review of the accuracy of the computational method is given.Nomenclature A _ff ^* area of entrance and exit of RUC - A _fs ^* interfacial area between the fluid and solid phases - d throat diameter of RUC (m) - D pore diameter of RUC (m) - i, j unit vector for RUC - L ^* wave length of a unit cell - L _p pore length of RUC (m) - L _t throat length of RUC (m) - n unit outwardly directed vector for the fluid phase - p ^* fluid pressure - ^* cross-sectional mean pressure - _en ^* entrance cross-sectional mean pressure - Re _d Reynolds number - x ^*, r^* cylindrical coordinates - u ^*, v^* velocity - u _cl ^* centerline velocity - _d mean velocity at the throat of RUC (m/s) - _D mean velocity at the large segment of RUC (m/s) Greek viscosity coefficient (Ns/m²) - _p excess momentum loss factor defined in (4.1) - fluid density (kg/m³) - ^* stream function - ^* vorticity - dimensionless circulation defined in (2.7) Symbols - the mean value - * dimensionless quantities