An interview with Sam C. Saunders

Sam C. Saunders, the son of Elizabeth Cundiff and Winston E. Saunders, was born in Richland, OR, on February 24, 1931. The family moved to La Grande, OR, in 1944, where Sam completed high school and two years at Eastern Oregon College. He then received the BSc degree in Mathematics from the University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, in 1952, and he attended the University of Washington, Seattle, WA, receiving a PhD degree under Z. W. Birnbaum. After graduating, he accepted employment at the Boeing Company in its Mathematical Services Unit and, in 1972, a position as a Full Professor at Washington State University, Pullman, WA, from which he retired in 1996.     

基于L1正则化的随机梁式结构静力损伤识别方法

提出了一种结合摄动法和L1正则化方法的随机梁式结构静力损伤识别方法。考虑初始模型误差和测量误差的影响,建立了关于随机损伤指数的控制方程,并将摄动法和L1正则化方法相结合,对随机损伤指数的控制方程进行求解,进而从概率的角度对结构的损伤进行识别。损伤试验结果表明,和传统的最小二乘求解法相比,本文方法能够更为准确地识别多处局部损伤的位置及大小,对实际结构损伤检测具有较好的参考价值。     

MULTI-SCALE NUMERICAL MODEL FOR SIMULATING CONCRETE MATERIAL BASED ON FRACTAL THEORY

A new multi-scale numerical model is presented using the fractal theory and adopting FEM to simulate the failure of concrete.The relation between the fractal box dimension in large scale and the damage to concrete in small scale is deduced.And the evolutionary process of elastic modulus and strength in small scale is given.Consequently,the multi-scale numerical model is proposed to describe the constitutive relation of concrete between small scale and large scale.A two-dimensional static analysis of a concrete block is performed by using this model and the calculation result is discussed.The propagation of cracks of the concrete block is also studied.     

Neutron radiation damage in zirconium and its alloys

There has been much research and speculation recently on the nature of radiation induced defects in zirconium and its alloys, and in particular on the absence of voids at high fluences and temperatures in the range 0.3 to 0.5 T _m (T _m is the absolute melting temperature). Wolfenden and Farrell¹ have reviewed the evidence and suggest that α-Zr has so far resisted void formation during neutron irradiation because of: (a) the absence of a dislocation (loop or tangle) structure and/or (b) a low insoluble gas (e.g. helium) content.     

Observation of thermoluminescence induced by fission fragments

Abstract

Thermoluminescence induced in CaF₂ powder by fission fragments emanating from a uranium foil bombarded by fast neutrons has been measured as a function of neutron fluence. A linear relationship between the glow produced and the fast neutron fluence between 5 × 10¹⁰ and 6.5 × 10¹¹ n/cm² has been obtained, thus establishing the feasibility of the use of this method for fast-neutron dosimetry. A limitation of the method is that, if the fissile foil is not separated from the phosphor after irradiation, the TL produced by the α-disintegration of ²³⁸U may eventually mask the fission-induced TL.     

Building and analyzing the US airport network based on en-route location information

From a complex network perspective, this study sets out two aims around the US airport network (USAN) which is built from en-route location information of domestic flights in the US. First, we analyze the structural properties of the USAN with respect to its binary and weighted graphs, and second we explore the airport patterns, which have wide-ranging implications. Results from the two graphs indicate the following. (1) The USAN exhibits scale-free, small-world and disassortative mixing properties, which are consistent with the mainstream perspectives. Besides, we find (2) a remarkable power relationship between the structural measurements in the binary graph and the traffic measurements in the weighted counterpart, namely degree versus capacity and attraction versus volume. On the other hand, investigation of the airport patterns suggests (3) that all the airports can be classified into four categories based on multiple network metrics, which shows a complete typology of the airports. And it further indicates (4) that there is a subtle relationship between the airport traffic and the geographical constraints as well as the regional socioeconomic indicators.     

Peridynamic modeling of pitting corrosion damage

In this paper we introduce a peridynamic model for the evolution of damage from pitting corrosion capable of capturing subsurface damage. We model the anodic reaction in corrosion processes (in which electroplating is negligible) as an effective peridynamic diffusion process in the electrolyte/solid system coupled with a phase-change mechanism that allows for autonomous evolution of the moving interface. In order to simulate creation of subsurface damage, we introduce a corrosion damage model based on a stochastic relationship that connects the concentration in the metal to the damage of peridynamic mechanical-bonds that are superposed onto diffusion-bonds. We study convergence of this formulation for diffusion-dominated stage. The model leads to formation of a subsurface damage layer, seen in experiments. We validate results against experiments on pit growth rate and polarization data for pitting corrosion. We extend the 1D model to the 2D and 3D, and introduce a new damage-dependent corrosion model to account for broken mechanical bonds that enhance the corrosion rate. This coupled model can predict the pit shape and damage profile in materials with microstructural heterogeneities, such as defects, interfaces, inclusions, and grain boundaries.     

基于失效情景的应急设施选址问题

非常规突发事件巨大的破坏力以及发生时间、地点和规模的不确定性,使应急系统内设施有可能被破坏而失效,因此选址时必须考虑设施失效情景的发生.给出以最大限度覆盖用户需求为目标,基于失效设施数目具有不确定性情景的设施选址双层随机规划模型;通过计算模型上下界,给出减小规模的等价模型,降低了双层规划求解难度;最后实验验证了模型的合理性,并给出新增选址方案.     

Molecular dynamics simulations of displacement cascades in Fe-10%Cr systems

Molecular dynamics simulations of the displacement cascades in Fe-10%Cr systems are used to simulate the primary knocked-on atom events of the irradiation damage at temperatures 300,600,and 750 K with primary knockedon atom energies between 1 and 15 keV.The results indicate that the vacancies produced by the cascade are all in the central region of the displacement cascade.During the cascade,all recoil Fe and Cr atoms combine with each other to form Fe-Cr or Fe-Fe interstitial dumbbells as well as interstitial clusters.The number and the size of interstitial clusters increase with the energy of the primary knocked-on atom and the temperature.A few large clusters consist of a large number of Fe interstitials with a few Cr atoms,the rest are Fe-Cr clusters with small and medium sizes.The interstitial dumbbells of Fe-Fe and Fe-Cr are in the 111 and 110 series directions,respectively.     

DNA aggregation and cleavage in CGE induced by high electric field in aqueous solution accompanying electrokinetic sample injection

The phenomenon of peak area decrease due to high injection voltage (V_inj, e.g. 10–30 kV, 200–600 V/cm in the 50 cm capillary) was found in the analysis of very dilute DNA fragments (<0.2 mg/L) by using high‐sensitive electrokinetic supercharging‐CGE. The possibility of DNA cleavage in aqueous solution was suggested, in addition to the aggregation phenomenon that is already known. The analysis of intentionally voltage‐affected fragments (at 200 V/cm) also showed decreased peak areas depending on the time of the voltage being applied. Computer simulation suggested that a high electric field (a few kV/cm or more) could be generated partly between the electrode and the capillary end during electrokinetic injection (EKI) process. After thorough experimental verification, it was found that the factors affecting the damage during EKI were the magnitude of electric field, the distance between tips of electrode and capillary (D_e/c), sample concentration and traveling time during EKI in sample vials. Furthermore, these factors are correlating with each other. A low conductivity of diluted sample would cause a high electric field (over a few hundred volts per centimeter), while the longer D_e/c results in a longer traveling time during EKI, which may cause a larger degree of damage (aggregation and cleavage) on the DNA fragments. As an important practical implication of this study, when the dilute DNA fragments (sub mg/L) are to be analyzed by CGE using EKI, injection voltage should be kept as low as possible.