Exploring mathematical connections of pre-university students through tasks involving rates of change

This paper reports the results of a research exploring the mathematical connections of pre-university students while they solving tasks which involving rates of change. We assume mathematical connections as a cognitive process through which a person finds real relationships between two or more ideas, concepts, definitions, theorems, procedures, representations or meanings or with other disciplines or the real-world. Four tasks were proposed to the 33 pre-university students that participated in this research; the central concept of the first task is the slope, the last three tasks contain concepts like velocity, speed and acceleration. Task-based interviews were conducted to collect data and later analysed with thematic analysis. Results showed most of the students made mathematical connections of the procedural type, the mathematical connections of the common features type are made in smaller quantities and the mathematical connection of the generalization type is scarcely made. Furthermore, students considered slope as a concept disconnected from velocity, speed and acceleration.     

Multi-adjoint algebras versus non-commutative residuated structures

Adjoint triples and pairs are basic operators used in several domains, since they increase the flexibility in the framework in which they are considered. This paper introduces multi-adjoint algebras and several properties; also, we will show that an adjoint triple and its “dual” cannot be considered in the same framework.Moreover, a comparison among general algebraic structures used in different frameworks, which reduce the considered mathematical requirements, such as the implicative extended-order algebras, implicative structures, the residuated algebras given by sup-preserving aggregations and the conjunctive algebras given by semi-uninorms and u-norms, is presented. This comparison shows that multi-adjoint algebras generalize these structures in domains which require residuated implications, such as in formal concept analysis, fuzzy rough sets, fuzzy relation equations and fuzzy logic.     

Left and right centers in quasi-Poisson geometry of moduli spaces

We introduce left central and right central functions and left and right leaves in quasi-Poisson geometry, generalizing central (or Casimir) functions and symplectic leaves from Poisson geometry. They lead to a new type of (quasi-)Poisson reduction, which is both simpler and more general than known quasi-Hamiltonian reductions. We study these notions in detail for moduli spaces of flat connections on surfaces, where the quasi-Poisson structure is given by an intersection pairing on homology.     

On the Iwan models for lap-type bolted joints

The paper presents mathematical modeling of the non-linear constitutive relation for bolted joints in the framework of the Kragelsky-Demkin theory of rough contact. It is shown that this approach, which maintains the tribology-related features of bolted joint interfaces, leads to a singular Iwan distribution density. In particular, we show that the Iwan density is expressed in terms of the height distribution density of the surface asperities, whereas its singular exponent is determined by the shape exponent of the surface asperities. Following this, constitutive relations for lap joints and the corresponding backbone (force-deflection) curves are obtained. Finally, Masing's hypothesis is applied and Goodman's relation for energy dissipation is recovered in order to describe the effects of cyclic loading. The two cases of a rough surface in contact with a flat surface and of two contacting rough surfaces are treated separately.     

Quantum gauge fields and flat connections in 2-dimensional BF theory

The 2-dimensional BF theory is both a gauge theory and a topological Poisson σ-model corresponding to a linear Poisson bracket. In [3], Torossian discovered a connection which governs correlation functions of the BF theory with sources for the B-field. This connection is flat, and it is a close relative of the KZ connection in the WZW model. In this Letter, we show that flatness of the Torossian connection follows from (properly regularized) quantum equations of motion of the BF theory.     

Cost-effective modeling strategies for the analysis of spliced steel connections

The paper presents several cost-effective modeling strategies that can be used by structural engineers in practice to determine the stresses in the spliced members. The computational efficiency and the modeling effort required for the several modeling options are also discussed. The deformation mechanisms and load transfer for several types of connections are illustrated. Optimization techniques are also presented to economize the computer time for connections with large number of bolts. Results are presented to compare the accuracy of several modeling strategies commonly used in practice. It is shown that for eccentric connections, the flexural bending largely affect the maximum tensile and compressive stresses within the joint. The difference may reach up to 54%. Finally, Experimental comparisons are made with the numerical procedures for typical connection model.     

Mechanics of advancing pin-loaded contacts with friction

This paper considers finite friction contact problems involving an elastic pin and an infinite elastic plate with a circular hole. Using a suitable class of Green's functions, the singular integral equations governing a very general class of conforming contact problems are formulated. In particular, remote plate stresses, pin loads, moments and distributed loading of the pin by conservative body forces are considered. Numerical solutions are presented for different partial slip load cases. In monotonic loading, the dependence of the tractions on the coefficient of friction is strongest when the contact is highly conforming. For less conforming contacts, the tractions are insensitive to an increase in the value of the friction coefficient above a certain threshold. The contact size and peak pressure in monotonic loading are only weakly dependent on the pin load distribution, with center loads leading to slightly higher peak pressure and lower peak shear than distributed loads. In contrast to half-plane cylinder fretting contacts, fretting behavior is quite different depending on whether or not the pin is allowed to rotate freely. If pin rotation is disallowed, the fretting tractions resemble half-plane fretting tractions in the weakly conforming regime but the contact resists sliding in the strongly conforming regime. If pin rotation is allowed, the shear traction behavior resembles planar rolling contacts in that one slip zone is dominant and the peak shear occurs at its edge. In this case, the effects of material dissimilarity in the strongly conforming regime are only secondary and the contact never goes into sliding. Fretting tractions in the forward and reversed load states show shape asymmetry, which persists with continued load cycling. Finally, the governing integro-differential equation for full sliding is derived; in the limiting case of no friction, the same equation governs contacts with center loading and uniform body force loading, resulting in identical pressures when their resultants are equal.     

On Relativistic Generalization of Gravitational Force

In relativistic theories, the assumption of proper mass constancy generally holds. We study gravitational relativistic mechanics of point particle in the novel approach of proper mass varying under Minkowski force action. The motivation and objective of this work are twofold: first, to show how the gravitational force can be included in the Special Relativity Mechanics framework, and, second, to investigate possible consequences of the revision of conventional proper mass concept (in particular, to clarify a proper mass role in the divergence problem). It is shown that photon motion in the gravitational field can be treated in terms of massless refracting medium, what makes the gravity phenomenon compatible with SR Mechanics framework in the variable proper mass approach. Specifically, the problem of point particle in the spherical symmetric stationary gravitational field is studied in SR-based Mechanics, and equations of motion in the Lorentz covariant form are obtained in the relativistic Lagrangean problem formulation. The dependence of proper mass on potential field strength is derived from the Euler-Lagrange equations as well. One of new results is the elimination of conventional 1/r divergence, which is known to be not removable in Schwarzschild gravitomechanics. Predictions of particle and photon gravitational properties are in agreement with GR classical tests under weak-field conditions; however, deviations rise with potential field strength. The conclusion is made that the approach of field-dependent proper mass is perspective for development of SR gravitational mechanics and further studies of gravitational problems.