A single theory for some quasi-static,supersonic, atomic,and tectonic scale applications of dislocations

We describe a model based on continuum mechanics that reduces the study of a significant class of problems of discrete dislocation dynamics to questions of the modern theory of continuum plasticity. As applications, we explore the questions of the existence of a Peierls stress in a continuum theory, dislocation annihilation, dislocation dissociation, finite-speed-of-propagation effects of elastic waves vis-a-vis dynamic dislocation fields, supersonic dislocation motion, and short-slip duration in rupture dynamics.     

Mathematical characterization and identification of remodeling,growth, aging and morphogenesis

A clear demarcation between various processes of material evolution is established and the implications of the symmetry type on our ability to distinguish between them are investigated. The general features of the various types of material evolution are emphasized by establishing a spatio-temporal analogy between material uniformity and processes of material evolution.     

A higher-order nonlocal elasticity and strain gradient theory and its applications in wave propagation

In recent years there have been many papers that considered the effects of material length scales in the study of mechanics of solids at micro- and/or nano-scales. There are a number of approaches and, among them, one set of papers deals with Eringen's differential nonlocal model and another deals with the strain gradient theories. The modified couple stress theory, which also accounts for a material length scale, is a form of a strain gradient theory. The large body of literature that has come into existence in the last several years has created significant confusion among researchers about the length scales that these various theories contain. The present paper has the objective of establishing the fact that the length scales present in nonlocal elasticity and strain gradient theory describe two entirely different physical characteristics of materials and structures at nanoscale. By using two principle kernel functions, the paper further presents a theory with application examples which relates the classical nonlocal elasticity and strain gradient theory and it results in a higher-order nonlocal strain gradient theory. In this theory, a higher-order nonlocal strain gradient elasticity system which considers higher-order stress gradients and strain gradient nonlocality is proposed. It is based on the nonlocal effects of the strain field and first gradient strain field. This theory intends to generalize the classical nonlocal elasticity theory by introducing a higher-order strain tensor with nonlocality into the stored energy function. The theory is distinctive because the classical nonlocal stress theory does not include nonlocality of higher-order stresses while the common strain gradient theory only considers local higher-order strain gradients without nonlocal effects in a global sense. By establishing the constitutive relation within the thermodynamic framework, the governing equations of equilibrium and all boundary conditions are derived via the variational approach. Two additional kinds of parameters, the higher-order nonlocal parameters and the nonlocal gradient length coefficients are introduced to account for the size-dependent characteristics of nonlocal gradient materials at nanoscale. To illustrate its application values, the theory is applied for wave propagation in a nonlocal strain gradient system and the new dispersion relations derived are presented through examples for wave propagating in Euler–Bernoulli and Timoshenko nanobeams. The numerical results based on the new nonlocal strain gradient theory reveal some new findings with respect to lattice dynamics and wave propagation experiment that could not be matched by both the classical nonlocal stress model and the contemporary strain gradient theory. Thus, this higher-order nonlocal strain gradient model provides an explanation to some observations in the classical and nonlocal stress theories as well as the strain gradient theory in these aspects.     

Response of moving load due to irregularity in slightly compressible,finitely deformed elastic media

The present paper has been framed to study the stresses produced on the rough surface of a slightly compressible, finitely deformed half space due to a normal moving load. The surface of the medium is irregular with parabolic type of irregularity. The perturbation method is applied to find the displacement field. The normal and shear stresses have been obtained in closed form and discussed numerically by means of figures. It has been observed that the shear stress developed at different depths below the surface depends on the irregularity depth, frictional coefficient and irregularity factor of the rough surface of the medium. Also, surface plots have been drawn to analyze the combined variation of non-dimensional stresses and irregularity factor against depth.     

Displacement of yield-stress fluids in a fracture

We consider a displacement of several yield-stress fluids in a Hele-Shaw cell. The topic is relevant to the development of a model for the flow of multiple phases inside a narrow fracture with application to hydraulically fracturing a hydrocarbon-bearing underground formation. Existing models for fracturing flows include only pure power-law models without yield stress, and the present work is aimed at filling this gap. The fluids are assumed to be immiscible and incompressible. We consider fluid advection in a plane channel in the presence of density gradients. Gravity is taken into account, so that there can be slumping and gravitational convection. We use the lubrication approximation so that governing equations are reduced to a 2D width-averaged system formed by the quasi-linear elliptic equation for pressure and transport equations for volume concentrations of fluids. The numerical solution is obtained using a finite-difference method. The pressure equation is solved using an iterative algorithm and the Multigrid method, while the transport equations are solved using a second-order TVD flux-limiting scheme with the superbee limiter. This numerical model is validated against three different sets of experiments: (i) gravitational slumping of fluids in a closed Hele-Shaw cell, (ii) viscous fingering of fluids with a high viscosity contrast due to the Saffman–Taylor (S–T) instability in a Hele-Shaw cell at microgravity conditions, (iii) displacement of Bingham fluids in a Hele-Shaw cell with the development of fingers due to the S–T instability. Good agreement is observed between simulations and laboratory data. The model is then used to investigate the joint effect of fingering and slumping. Numerical simulations show that the slumping rate of yield-stress fluid is significantly less pronounced than that of a Newtonian fluid with the same density and viscosity. If a low-viscosity Newtonian fluid is injected after a yield-stress one, the S–T instability at the interface leads to the development of fingers. As a result, fingers penetrating into a fluid with a finite yield stress locally decrease the pressure gradient and unyielded zones develop as a consequence.     

岩体结构非平衡演化的有效应力原理及长期稳定性分析

开挖卸荷后的天然岩体往往处于非平衡演化状态, 将直接影响岩体工程结构的正常运行、长期稳定和安全. 时效变形和损伤演化是岩体结构非平衡演化的核心. 在赖斯(Rice) 内变量热力学理论框架下, 提出了岩体结构非平衡演化的有效应力原理, 指出有效应力是总应力中能有效驱动结构演化的部分. 将内变量率形式的非弹性应变率方程和能量耗散率函数表示为有效应力形式, 并提出非弹性余能概念. 给定具体的余能密度函数和内变量演化方程, 得到了考虑损伤的内变量黏塑性应变率方程. 通过相似材料加卸载蠕变试验结果进行参数辨识, 并分别计算了内变量率形式和有效应力形式的黏塑性应变率、能量耗散率和非弹性余能, 并对其进行比较分析. 结果表明:在过渡蠕变和稳态蠕变阶段两种形式的方程计算的黏塑性应变率几乎相等, 但在加速蠕变阶段两者相差较大;非弹性余能和能量耗散率全域积分分别从驱动结构非平衡演化的内在潜力和实际效果的角度表征了结构的非平衡演化状态和演化趋势, 能量耗散率积分更合适用于评价岩体工程结构的长期稳定性. 最后以深埋地下洞室作为工程算例, 并对其长期稳定性进行分析.      

径向非均匀介质中圆形夹杂的动应力分析

基于复变函数理论,研究了径向非均匀弹性介质中均匀圆夹杂对弹性波的散射问题. 介质的非均匀性体现在介质密度沿着径向按幂函数形式变化且剪切模量是常数. 利用坐标变换法将变系数的非均匀波动方程转为标准亥姆霍兹(Helmholtz) 方程. 在复坐标系下求得非均匀基体和均匀夹杂同时存在的位移和应力表达式. 通过具体算例分析了圆夹杂周边的动应力集中系数(DSCF). 结果表明:基体与夹杂的波数比和剪切模量比,基体的参考波数和非均匀参数对动应力集中有较大的影响.      

A Simple HPLC/DAD Method Validation for the Quantification of Malondialdehyde in Rodent’s Brain

In the present study, a HPLC/DAD method was set up to allow for the determination and quantification of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the brain of rodents (rats). Chromatographic separation was achieved on Supelcosil LC-18 (3 μm) SUPELCO Column 3.3 cm × 4.6 mm and Supelco Column Saver 0.5 μm filter by using a mobile phase acetonitrile (A) and phosphate buffer (20 mM, pH = 6) (B). Isocratic elution was 14% for (A) and 86% for (B). The injection volume (loop mode) was 100 μL with an analysis time of 1.5 min. Flow rate was set at 1 mL/min. The eluted compound was detected at 532 nm by a DAD detector by keeping the column oven at room temperature. The results indicated that the method has good linearity in the range of 0.2–20 μg/g. Both intra- and inter-day precision, expressed as RSD, were ≤15% and the accuracies ranged between ±15%. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ), stability, and robustness were evaluated and satisfied the validation criteria. The method was successfully applied in a study of chronic toxicology following different treatment regimens with haloperidol and metformin.     

The Role of Taurine in Mitochondria Health: More Than Just an Antioxidant

Taurine is a naturally occurring sulfur-containing amino acid that is found abundantly in excitatory tissues, such as the heart, brain, retina and skeletal muscles. Taurine was first isolated in the 1800s, but not much was known about this molecule until the 1990s. In 1985, taurine was first approved as the treatment among heart failure patients in Japan. Accumulating studies have shown that taurine supplementation also protects against pathologies associated with mitochondrial defects, such as aging, mitochondrial diseases, metabolic syndrome, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and neurological disorders. In this review, we will provide a general overview on the mitochondria biology and the consequence of mitochondrial defects in pathologies. Then, we will discuss the antioxidant action of taurine, particularly in relation to the maintenance of mitochondria function. We will also describe several reported studies on the current use of taurine supplementation in several mitochondria-associated pathologies in humans.     

The influence of processing gas on the mechanical properties of sputtered B-C-N-H films

This work describes the microstructure and mechanical properties of B-C-N-H films synthesized by medium frequency magnetron sputtering from a boron target in a N₂ + CH₄ + Ar gas mixture. The increase in the CH₄ flow rate increases the carbonaceous compound species, causes the increase of the C atomic concentration and promotes the formation of sp³-hybridized carbon. The change of hardness with the CH₄ flow rate had a relationship with the residual stress. The coefficient of friction was reduced approximately from 0.8 to 0.18, and wear resistance was considerably improved by increasing the flow of CH₄ gas component from 0 to 40 sccm. The change of films’ hardness was discussed and attributed primarily to the internal defects and bonding characteristics, while the superior tribological properties of the films could be assigned to the formation of sp³-hybridized carbon and the C-H bonding.