Temperature memory effect and its stability revealed via differential scanning calorimetry in ethylene‐vinyl acetate within glass transition range

In this article, we reveal the temperature memory effect (TME) in a commercial thermoplastic polymer, namely ethylene‐vinyl acetate (EVA), within its glass transition range via a series of differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) tests. In addition, we investigate the influence of heating holding time and also compare the observed TME in current study with that of shape memory alloys (SMAs). It is concluded that the TME via DSC (without any macroscopic shape change) is achievable within the glass transition range of a polymer. Conversely, although the observed TME shares the many similar features as those in SMAs, due to the nature of micro‐Brownian motion in the glass transition of polymers, the resulted TME is strongly affected by the heating holding time. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 1731–1737     

Wave body interaction in 2D using smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) with variable particle mass

Wave interaction with bodies is an important practical application for smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) which in principle applies to steep and breaking waves without special treatment. However, few detailed tests have been undertaken even with small amplitude waves. In order to reduce computer time a variable particle mass distribution is tested here with fine resolution near the body and coarse resolution further away, while maintaining a uniform kernel size. We consider two well‐defined test cases, in two dimensions, of waves generated by a heaving semi‐immersed cylinder and progressive waves interacting with a fixed cylinder. But first, still water with hydrostatic pressure is tested. The open‐source code SPHysics ( http://www.sphysics.org )^{§Update made here after initial online publication.} is used with a Riemann solver in an Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian formulation. For the heaving cylinder, SPH results for far field wave amplitude and cylinder force show good agreement with the data of Yu and Ursell (J. Fluid Mech. 1961; 11 :529–551). For wave loading on a half‐submerged cylinder the agreement with the experimental data of Dixon et al. (J. Waterway Port Coastal Ocean Div. 1979; 105 :421–438) for the root mean square force is within 2%. For more submerged cases, the results show some discrepancy, but this was also found with other modelling approaches. The sensitivity of results to the value of the slope limiter used in the MUSCL‐based Riemann solver is demonstrated. The variable mass distribution leads to a computer run speedup of nearly 200% in these cases. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On asymptotic elastodynamic homogenization approaches for periodic media

A fairly large family of asymptotic elastodynamic homogenization methods is shown to be derivable from Willis exact elastodynamic homogenization theory for periodic media under appropriate approximation assumptions about, for example, frequencies, wavelengths and phase contrast. In light of this result, two long-wavelength and low-frequency asymptotic elastodynamic approaches are carefully analyzed and compared in connection with higher-order strain-gradient media. In particular, these approaches are proved to be unable to capture, at least in the one-dimensional setting, the optical branches of the dispersion curve. As an example, a two-phase string is thoroughly studied so as to illustrate the main results of the present work.     

Accelerated wear testing of polyurethane hydraulic seal

The wear characteristics of a polyurethane (PU) hydraulic seal were investigated using a hydraulic seal tester and a pin-on-plate reciprocating tribo-tester, and the results were compared to field data with the aim of developing an accelerated wear test method for hydraulic seals. Tests using a hydraulic seal tester and a pin-on-plate reciprocating tribo-tester were found to reproduce abrasive wear of PU from the field. However, a significant compression set was observed from the test using the hydraulic seal tester. Motivated by the occurrence of abrasive wear from the field, the discolored lubricant and the lubricant with alumina particles were further used for testing using the pin-on-plate reciprocating tribo-tester. The height decrease data of the sealing surface showed that the wear was accelerated by factors of 2.1–3.4 using these degraded lubricants. The outcomes of this work are expected to aid in the design of reliable accelerated life testing for hydraulic seals.     

Determination of the swelling behavior of superabsorbent polymers by a tracer-assisted on-line spectroscopic measurement

This work reports on a method for the accurate determination of kinetic swelling behavior and properties of superabsorbent polymers by a tracer-assisted on-line spectroscopic measurement. Based on monitoring the spectral absorption of a tracer compound (blue dextran 2000) at 610 nm in a superabsorbent polymer containing solution, the swelling (water absorption) of the polymer during the process can be followed, from which the parameters in a kinetic equation can be obtained. The results showed that the data obtained by the present method has a good measurement precision and accuracy, in which the relative differences were less than 4.0% when comparing the data measured by a reference method (i.e., the tea bag method). Since the present method can perform an on-line measurement, it is much superior to the current tea bag method and therefore is very suitable to be used in the process related study for the swelling behavior of superabsorbent polymers in many applications.     

Numerical methods for theoretical analysis of foil bearing dynamics

The bearing under consideration is a self-acting, gas bearing with a flexibly supported foil. In order to conduct the theoretical analysis, three systems were identified: a rotor, a gas film and a flexible structure. Each of these elements has been mathematically analysed and analytical equations have been formulated. It was found, that the gas flow in the bearing can be described by the Reynolds equation, whereas a spring-damper model was selected for the structural analysis. The Reynolds equation is a differential equation the exact solution to which is unknown. The work describes the finite difference method in detail, where the partial derivatives in the Reynolds equation are replaced by a system of algebraic equations. In order to solve the resulting system, the Alternating Direction Implicit method (ADI) was used. Based on that and on the analysis of interactions between the three systems the equations have been computed. The accuracy of methods has been verified by means of series of numerical tests. Chosen results are described in this paper.     

Comparison of two-dimensional integration methods for shape reconstruction from gradient data

As a requisite and key step in some gradient-based measurement techniques, the reconstruction of the shape, more generally the scalar potential, from the measured gradient data has been studied for many years. In this work, three types of two-dimensional integration methods are compared under various conditions. The merits and drawbacks of each integration method are consequently revealed to provide suggestions in selection of a proper integration method for a particular application.