Effect of the impulse of a meteorite on the dimensions of the impact crater

Formulas for the diameter and depth of an explosion crater are obtained which take into account the energy and impulse of the explosion products, rock strength, burial depth of the explosive charge, and gravity. Using the explosive-shock analogy, the obtained relations are extended to the case of meteorite (impactor) impact on the planet’s crust (target). It is shown that in the gravity cratering regime, the influence of the impulse of the impactor is significant and increases with increasing its size. In the strength cratering regime, the impulse has little effect on crater dimensions. It is established that crater dimensions are determined mainly by the kinetic energy of the impactor and, to a lesser degree, by its impulse.     

Thin-layer drying characteristics of sweet potato slices and mathematical modelling

The effect of blanching and drying temperature (50, 60 and 70°C) on drying kinetics and rehydration ratio of sweet potatoes was investigated. It was observed that both the drying temperature and blanching affected the drying time and rehydration ratio. The logarithmic model showed the best fit to experimental drying data. The values of effective moisture diffusivity and activation energy ranged from 9.32 × 10⁻¹¹ to 1.75 × 10⁻¹⁰ m²/s, and 22.7–23.2 kJ/mol, respectively.     

Sensitivity of Intrinsic Permeability to Electrokinetic Coupling in Shaly and Clayey Porous Media

Classical Darcy’s law assumes that the intrinsic permeability of porous media is only dependent on the micro-geometrical and structural properties of the inner geometry of the medium. There are, however, numerous experimental evidences that intrinsic permeability of shaly and clayey porous material is a function of the fluid phase used in the experiments. Several pore-scale processes have been proposed to explain the observed behavior. In this study, we conduct a detailed investigation of one such mechanism, namely the electrokinetic coupling. We have developed a numerical model to simulate this process at the pore-scale, incorporating a refined model of the electrical double layer. The model is used to conduct a detailed sensitivity analysis to elucidate the relative importance of several chemical–physical parameters on the intensity of the electrokinetic coupling. We found that permeability reduction due to this mechanism is likely to occur only if the effective pore-radius is smaller than 10⁻⁶ m. We also observed that electrokinetic coupling is strongly sensitive to electrophoretic mobility, which is normally reduced in clays compared to free-water conditions. Based on these findings, we set up a suite of stochastic pore-network simulations to quantify the extent of permeability reduction. We found that only if the effective pore-radius is ranging from 5 × 10⁻⁷ m to 5 × 10⁻⁸, electrokinetic coupling can be responsible for a 5–20% reduction of the intrinsic permeability, and, therefore, this mechanism has a minor impact on situations of practical environmental or mining interest.     

Production of nanomaterials by vaporizing ceramic targets irradiated by a moderate-power continuous-wave CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> laser

The efficiency of utilization of CO ₂ laser energy for vaporization of Al ₂ O ₃ ceramics is evaluated using a mathematical model for the interaction of laser radiation with materials. It is shown that the calculated efficiency of radiation-energy utilization is not higher than 15% at a radiation power density of 10⁵ W/cm ² on the target. On the experimental facility designed for the synthesis of nanopowders, a vaporization rate of 1 g/h was achieved for Al ₂ O ₃, which corresponds to a 3% efficiency of radiation-energy utilization. The dependence of the characteristic particle size of a zirconium oxide nanopowder on helium pressure in the range of 0.01–1.00 atm was studied. Results of experiments on vaporization of multicomponent materials (LaNiO ₃ and the Tsarev meteorite) are given. __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 48, No. 2, pp. 172–184, March–April, 2007.     

On the Development of a Mesoscale Friction Tester

MEMS and NEMS devices typically have a large surface area to volume ratio. As a result, a major concern in the development of such devices is friction. Contact radii in MEMS and NEMS devices are expected to range from 10⁻⁸<a<10⁻⁵ m. This regime, which generally lies between the limits of single asperity and macroscopic contact, has yet to be explored because the apparati used to characterize friction at these limits do not operate in the range of forces appropriate to these length scales. A Mesoscale Friction Tester (MFT) with smooth probe tip radii from 50 nm to 50 μm and capable of applying forces ranging from 10 nN to l mN over contact radii from 10 nm to 10 μm has been developed to address this need. With carefully planned experiments, this device has the potential to help answer unresolved questions regarding friction mechanisms in the mesoscale range.     

Experimental Investigation of Strain Rate Dependence of Nanocrystalline Pt Films

A new microscale uniaxial tension experimental method was developed to investigate the strain rate dependent mechanical behavior of freestanding metallic thin films for MEMS. The method allows for highly repeatable mechanical testing of thin films for over eight orders of magnitude of strain rate. Its repeatability stems from the direct and full-field displacement measurements obtained from optical images with at least 25 nm displacement resolution. The method is demonstrated with micron-scale, 400-nm thick, freestanding nanocrystalline Pt specimens, with 25 nm grain size. The experiments were conducted in situ under an optical microscope, equipped with a digital high-speed camera, in the nominal strain rate range 10⁻⁶–10¹ s⁻¹. Full field displacements were computed by digital image correlation using a random speckle pattern generated onto the freestanding specimens. The elastic modulus of Pt, E = 182 ± 8 GPa, derived from uniaxial stress vs. strain curves, was independent of strain rate, while its Poisson’s ratio was v = 0.41 ± 0.01. Although the nanocrystalline Pt films had the elastic properties of bulk Pt, their inelastic property values were much higher than bulk and were rate-sensitive over the range of loading rates. For example, the elastic limit increased by more than 110% with increasing strain rate, and was 2–5 times higher than bulk Pt reaching 1.37 GPa at 10¹ s⁻¹.     

Dynamical deformation of a flat liquid–liquid interface

The passage of solid spheres through a liquid–liquid interface was experimentally investigated using a high-speed video and PIV (particle image velocimetry) system. Experiments were conducted in a square Plexiglas column of 0.1 m. The Newtonian Emkarox (HV45 50 and 65% wt) aqueous solutions were employed for the dense phase, while different silicone oils of different viscosity ranging from 10 to 100 mPa s were used as light phase. Experimental results quantitatively reveal the effect of the sphere’s size, interfacial tension and viscosity of both phases on the retaining time and the height of the liquid entrained behind the sphere. These data were combined with our previous results concerning the passage of a rising bubble through a liquid–liquid interface in order to propose a general relationship for the interface breakthrough for the wide range of Mo ₁/Mo ₂ ∈ [2 × 10⁻⁵–5 × 10⁴] and Re ₁/Re ₂ ∈ [2 × 10⁻³–5 × 10²].     

Determination of the shear strength and modulus of water at low flow velocities

Damped inertial water flow in a cylindrical vessel is investigated. A return effect or "recoil" as the shear strain rate falks to a value of the order of 10⁻³s⁻¹ is observed. Over the range of low strain rates the water behaves like a medium with very low shear strength and a shear modulus of the order of 10⁻⁶ Pa. Ekaterinburg. Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 1, pp. 3–7, January–February, 1997.     

Revisiting the Drainage Relative Permeability Measurement by Centrifuge Method Using a Forward–backward Modeling Scheme

Measurement of drainage relative permeability by the centrifuge method was first introduced by Hagoort (SPE J. 29(3):139–150, 1980). It has been shown that capillary end effects can cause error in the measurement of relative permeability if a minimum rotational speed is not honoured. To determine the minimum rotational speed that makes the capillary end effect negligible, ω _min, we propose that the value of capillary-gravity number, N _cg, should be of the order of 10⁻² or smaller. This conclusion is based on the use a Forward–backward scheme consisting of a forward numerical simulator developed for centrifuge experiments and applying Hagoort’s method as a backward model. The article presents the use of this Forward–backward scheme as a powerful tool for error analysis such as determining the impact of capillary end effects. By using this loop, we first determine ω _min for specific core and fluid properties. Later, we generalize the ω _min calculations by using the definition of N _cg as a “rule of thumb” for designing relative permeability experiments by centrifuge method. We also demonstrate another use of this loop for controlling the quality of the experimental data.     

Experimental investigation on turbulence modification in a horizontal channel flow at relatively low mass loading

Particle-laden flows in a horizontal channel were investigated by means of a two-phase particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique. Experiments were performed at a Reynolds number of 6 826 and the flow is seeded with polythene beads of two sizes, 60 μm and 110 μm. One was slightly smaller than and the other was larger than the Kolmogorov length scale. The particle loadings were relatively low, with mass loading ratio ranging from 5×10⁻⁴ to 4×10⁻² and volume fractions from 6×10⁻⁷ to 4.8×10⁻⁵, respectively. The results show that the presence of particles can dramatically modify the turbulence even under the lowest mass loading ratio of 5×10⁻⁴. The mean flow is attenuated and decreased with increasing particle size and mass loading. The turbulence intensities are enhanced in all the cases concerned. With the increase of the mass loading, the intensities vary in a complicated manner in the case of small particles, indicating complicated particle-turbulence interactions; whereas they increase monotonously in the case of large particles. The particle velocities and concentrations are also given. The particles lag behind the fluid in the center region but lead in the wall region, and this trend is more prominent for the large particles. The streamwise particle fluctuations are larger than the gas fluctuations for both sizes of particles, however their varying trend with the mass loadings is not so clear. The wall-normal fluctuations increase with increasing mass loadings. They are smaller in the 60 μm particle case but larger in the 110 μm particle case than those of the gas phase. It seems that the small particles follow the fluid motion to certain extent while the larger particles are more likely dominated by their own inertia. Finally, remarkable non-uniform distributions of particle concentration are observed, especially for the large particles. The inertia of particles is proved to be very important for the turbulence modification and particles behaviors and thus should be considered in horizontal channels. The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (50276021), and Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University, Ministry of Education (NCET-04-0708) The English text was polished by Yunming Chen.     

Natural Convection in a Cavity Filled with Porous Layers on the Top and Bottom Walls

Natural convection in a partially filled porous square cavity is numerically investigated using SIMPLEC method. The Brinkman-Forchheimer extended model was used to govern the flow in the porous medium region. At the porous-fluid interface, the flow boundary condition imposed is a shear stress jump, which includes both the viscous and inertial effects, together with a continuity of normal stress. The thermal boundary condition is continuity of temperature and heat flux. The results are presented with flow configurations and isotherms, local and average Nusselt number along the cold wall for different Darcy numbers from 10⁻¹ to 10⁻⁶, porosity values from 0.2 to 0.8, Rayleigh numbers from 10³ to 10⁷, and the ratio of porous layer thickness to cavity height from 0 to 0.50. The flow pattern inside the cavity is affected with these parameters and hence the local and global heat transfer. A modified Darcy–Rayleigh number is proposed for the heat convection intensity in porous/fluid filled domains. When its value is less than unit, global heat transfer keeps unchanged. The interfacial stress jump coefficients β ₁ and β ₂ were varied from  −1 to +1, and their effects on the local and average Nusselt numbers, velocity and temperature profiles in the mid-width of the cavity are investigated.     

Molecular dynamics of the glass relaxation process of the soft phase in block copolymers: effect of molecular architecture

To determine the impact of molecular architecture on the molecular dynamics of the glass relaxation processes of soft blocks in different types of block copolymers, model block copolymers with a variation in both molecular architecture and chemical composition were studied. Four block copolymer models, namely, two styrene–butadiene–styrene (S-B-S) block copolymers and two styrene–styrene butadiene–styrene (S-SB-S) were chosen. In each pair of block copolymers, one is linear triblock and the other is star asymmetric. For the sake of comparison, two polybutadiene (PB) homopolymer samples, having similar chain lengths of the PB blocks present in the S-B-S block copolymers, have been investigated. Dynamic mechanical measurements have been carried out for the real and imaginary parts of the complex shear modulus (G′, G”) in the temperature and frequency ranges from −110 to 30 °C and from 10⁻² to 15.9 Hz, respectively. Complete master curves have been constructed for all samples investigated. Moreover, broadband dielectric spectroscopy has been carried out to cover wide temperature and frequency windows, −120 to 0 °C and 10⁻¹ to 10⁷ Hz, respectively. The results showed that the molecular dynamics of the glass relaxation process of the PB or statistical PSB soft phases in the block copolymers is dramatically changed when compared to the PB homopolymer. In addition, the molecular architecture is found to be an important factor in determining the molecular mobility of the soft blocks. The results are discussed in terms of the applied confinement of the counter PS hard phase, block lengths, domain thicknesses and the type of end-to-end junctions between the different polymeric blocks. Paper presented 3rd Annual European Rheology Conference (AERC 2006) April 27–29, 2006, Crete, Greece.     

Scherk-Type Capillary Graphs

This paper concerns the regularity of a capillary graph (the meniscus profile of liquid in a cylindrical tube) over a corner domain of angle α. By giving an explicit construction of minimal surface solutions previously shown to exist (Indiana Univ. Math. J. 50 (2001), no. 1, 411–441) we clarify two outstanding questions. Solutions are constructed in the case α = π/2 for contact angle data (γ₁, γ₂) = (γ, π − γ) with 0 < γ < π. The solutions given with |γ − π/2| < π/4 are the first known solutions that are not C² up to the corner. This shows that the best known regularity (C^{1, ∈}) is the best possible in some cases. Specific dependence of the H?lder exponent on the contact angle for our examples is given. Solutions with γ = π/4 have continuous, but horizontal, normal vector at the corners in accordance with results of Tam (Pacific J. Math. 124 (1986), 469–482). It is shown that our examples are C^{0, β} up to and including the corner for any β < 1. Solutions with |γ − π/2| > π/4 have a jump discontinuity at the corner. This kind of behavior was suggested by numerical work of Concus and Finn (Microgravity sci. technol. VII/2 (1994), 152–155) and Mittelmann and Zhu (Microgravity sci. technol. IX/1 (1996), 22–27). Our explicit construction, however, allows us to investigate the solutions quantitatively. For example, the trace of these solutions, excluding the jump discontinuity, is C^2/3.     

The rheological characterisation of bread dough using capillary rheometry

An Australian hard wheat flour–water dough has been characterised using parallel plate and capillary rheometers over an extensive range of apparent shear rates (10^− 3–10³ s^− 1) relevant to process conditions. Torsional measurements showed that the shear viscosity of the dough increased with strain to a maximum value and then decreased, suggesting a breakdown of the dough structure. Both torsional and capillary experiments revealed the shear-thinning behaviour of the dough. The wall slip phenomenon in capillary rheometry was investigated and found to be diameter dependent and occurred at a critical shear stress of approximately 5–10 kPa. A two-regime power law behaviour was observed, with the power law index approximately 0.3 in the low shear rate range increasing to 0.67 in the high shear rate range. Pressure fluctuation was observed in the capillary data and increased with shear rate, in particular, at shear rates approaching 10⁴ s^− 1. The results demonstrate that capillary rheometry is a viable means of rheologically testing dough at high shear rates provided pressure fluctuation is carefully monitored and capillary rheometry corrections, including wall slip, are accounted for.     

Movement of the ground in Rayleigh waves produced by underground explosions

Analytic representations are obtained for the displacement and stress fields in the Rayleigh surface wave (R-wave) generated in an elastic half-space by an internal source that produces the same seismic P-wave as an underground explosion. Oscillograms, particle trajectories, and stresses in the half-space and on its surface are calculated. Relations for the energy flux in the R-wave are obtained. For rock salt, the fraction of the explosion energy transferred to the R-wave is estimated. It is established that this fraction can reach values of about 1% of the total explosion energy if the explosion is a contained one. As the charge depth is increased, the energy of the R-wave decreases in approximately inverse proportion to the depth. __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 47, No. 4, pp. 3–14, July–August, 2006.     

Transfer model and kinetic characteristics of $${\rm NH}_{4}^{+}$$ –K+ ion exchange on K-zeolite

Based on the mass transfer theory, a new mass transfer model of ion-exchange process on zeolite under liquid film diffusion control is established, and the kinetic curves and the mass transfer coefficients of –K⁺ ion-exchange under different conditions were systemically determined using the shallow-bed experimental method. The results showed that the –K⁺ ion-exchange rates and transfer coefficients are directly proportional to solution flow rate and temperature, and inversely proportional to solution viscosity and the size of zeolite granules. It also showed that the transfer coefficient is not influenced by the ion concentrations. For a large ranges of operational conditions including temperatures (10 − 75°C), flow rates (0.031 m s⁻¹ −0.26 m s⁻¹), liquid viscosities (1.002 × 10⁻³ N s m⁻² − 4.44 × 10⁻³ N s m⁻²), and zeolite granular sizes (0.2 − 1.45 mm), the average mass transfer coefficients calculated by the model agree with the experimental results very well.     

Determination of dynamic yield strengths with embedded manganin gages in plate-impact and long-rod experiments

The dynamic yield strengths of three steels were determined at strain rates of about 10³ s⁻¹ and 10⁶ s⁻¹. The measurements at 10³ s⁻¹ were obtained by a new technique based on measurements of large amplitude elastic waves in long bars struck by rigid flyer plates. Embedded manganin gages were used to measure stress, and the gage records were long enough to observe subsequent reverberations between the bar free end and the plastically deformed impact end. The measurements at 10⁶ s⁻¹ were made with a slightly modified version of a conventional flyer-plate impact configuration. The data are combined with static results to show the behavior of these steels at strain rates of 10⁻³ s⁻¹ to 10⁶ s⁻¹.     

Physical relations for problems of impact loading and unsteady deformation of composite structures

A problem of determining elastic and viscous characteristics of composite materials, necessary and sufficient for choosing physical relations in solving problems of impact loading with low impact velocities (up to 200 m/sec) and unsteady deformation in the range of strain rates within 10 ² sec⁻¹ for multilayer beams, plates, and shells, is considered. __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 50, No. 1, pp. 187–196, January–February, 2009.     

Comparison of experimental data with results of some drying models for regularly shaped products

This paper presents an experimental and theoretical investigation of drying of moist slab, cylinder and spherical products to study dimensionless moisture content distributions and their comparisons. Experimental study includes the measurement of the moisture content distributions of slab and cylindrical carrot, slab and cylindrical pumpkin and spherical blueberry during drying at various temperatures (e.g., 30, 40, 50 and 60°C) at specific constant velocity (U = 1 m/s) and the relative humidity φ = 30%. In theoretical analysis, two moisture transfer models are used to determine drying process parameters (e.g., drying coefficient and lag factor) and moisture transfer parameters (e.g., moisture diffusivity and moisture transfer coefficient), and to calculate the dimensionless moisture content distributions. The calculated results are then compared with the experimental moisture data. A considerably high agreement is obtained between the calculations and experimental measurements for the cases considered. The effective diffusivity values were evaluated between 0.741 × 10⁻⁵ and 5.981 × 10⁻⁵ m²/h for slab products, 0.818 × 10⁻⁵ and 6.287 × 10⁻⁵ m²/h for cylindrical products and 1.213 × 10⁻⁷ and 7.589 × 10⁻⁷ m²/h spherical products using the Model-I and 0.316 × 10⁻⁵–5.072 × 10⁻⁵ m²/h for slab products, 0.580 × 10⁻⁵–9.587 × 10⁻⁵ m²/h for cylindrical products and 1.408 × 10⁻⁷–13.913 × 10⁻⁷ m²/h spherical products using the Model-II.     

Irradiation-Induced Solute Clustering in a Low Nickel FeMnNi Ferritic Alloy

Understanding the radiation embrittlement of reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steels is required to be able to operate safely a nuclear power plant or to extend its lifetime. The mechanical properties degradation is partly due to the clustering of solute under irradiation. To gain knowledge about the clustering process, a Fe−1.1 Mn−0.7 Ni (at.%) alloy was irradiated in a test reactor at two fluxes of 0.15 and 9 ×10¹⁷ n _E > 1MeV .m^− 2.s^− 1 and at increasing doses from 0.18 to 1.3 ×10²⁴ n _E > 1MeV .m^− 2 at 300°C. Atom probe tomography (APT) experiments revealed that the irradiation promotes the formation in the α iron matrix of Mn/Mn and/or Ni/Ni pair correlations at low dose and Mn–Ni enriched clusters at high dose. These clusters dissolve partially after a thermal treatment at 400°C. Based on a comparison with thermodynamic calculations, we show that the solute clustering under irradiation can just result from an induced mechanism.