The behavior of capillary suspensions at diverse length scales: From single capillary bridges to bulk

Liquid-liquid-solid systems are becoming increasingly common in everyday life with many possible applications. Here, we focus on a special case of such liquid-liquid-solid systems, namely, capillary suspensions. These capillary suspensions originate from particles that form a network based on capillary forces and are typically composed of solids in a bulk liquid with an added secondary liquid. The structure of particle networks based on capillary bridges possesses unique properties compared with networks formed via other attractive interactions where these differences are inherently related to the properties of the capillary bridges, such as bridge breaking and coalescence between adjacent bridges. Thus, to tailor the mechanical properties of capillary suspensions to specific requirements, it is important to understand the influences on different length scales ranging from the dynamics of the bridges with varying external stimuli to the often heterogeneous network structure.     

Information percolation and cutoff for the random‐cluster model

We consider the random‐cluster model (RCM) on with parameters p∈(0,1) and q ≥ 1. This is a generalization of the standard bond percolation (with edges open independently with probability p) which is biased by a factor q raised to the number of connected components. We study the well‐known Fortuin‐Kasteleyn (FK)‐dynamics on this model where the update at an edge depends on the global geometry of the system unlike the Glauber heat‐bath dynamics for spin systems, and prove that for all small enough p (depending on the dimension) and any q>1, the FK‐dynamics exhibits the cutoff phenomenon at with a window size , where λ_∞ is the large n limit of the spectral gap of the process. Our proof extends the information percolation framework of Lubetzky and Sly to the RCM and also relies on the arguments of Blanca and Sinclair who proved a sharp mixing time bound for the planar version. A key aspect of our proof is the analysis of the effect of a sequence of dependent (across time) Bernoulli percolations extracted from the graphical construction of the dynamics, on how information propagates.     

Free radical oxidation reaction for selectively solvatochromic sensors with dynamic sensing ability

A novel BODIPY (boradiazaindacene) dye denoted as BODIPY-DT containing terpyridine unit has been designed and characterized. The dye is found to be selective and visual solvatochromic sensor toward DMF among test organic solvents. The sensing process displays time-controllable, dynamic signal outputs in the emission colors including red, purple, yellow and even white emission colors. It is presented that selective free radical oxidation reaction happens during the recognition process.     

Price coordination in distribution channels: A dynamic perspective

In this study, we investigate two important questions related to dynamic pricing in distribution channels: (i) Are coordinated pricing decisions efficient in a context where prices have carry-over effects on demand? (ii) Should firms practice a skimming or a penetration strategy if they choose to coordinate or to decentralize their activities? To answer these questions, we consider a differential game that takes place in a bilateral monopoly where the past retail prices paid by consumers contribute to the building of a reference price. The latter is used by consumers as a benchmark to evaluate the value of the product, and by firms to decide whether to adopt a skimming or a penetration strategy.     

Effect of Bamboo Flour (BF) Content on the Dynamic Rheological Characteristics of BF-filled High-density Polyethylene (HDPE)

The effects of bamboo flour (BF) content on the dynamic rheological properties of BF-filled HDPE composites were investigated. Our findings showed that the addition of BF caused an enhancement of the non-Newtonianism of wood-plastic composites (WPCs) melt as well as the appearance of some new relaxation processes. In addition, the viscosity and modulus of the BF-filled HDPE composites showed a remarkable increase at 170?°C and 190?°C when the BF content exceeded 30%, which could be associated with the solid-like property of the WPCs at high BF loading, we propose. The present study we suggest will be useful to the formula design as well as the optimization of processing parameters for WPCs in general.     

Flume testing of passively adaptive composite tidal turbine blades under combined wave and current loading

The tidal energy industry is progressing rapidly, but there are still barriers to overcome to realise the commercial potential of this sector. Large magnitude and highly variable loads caused by waves acting on the turbine are of particular concern. Composite blades with in-built bend-twist elastic response may reduce these peak loads, by passively feathering with increasing thrust. This could decrease capital costs by lowering the design loads, and improve robustness through the mitigation of pitch mechanisms. In this study, the previous research is extended to examine the performance of bend-twist blades in combined wave–current flow, which will frequently be encountered in the field. A scaled 3 bladed turbine was tested in the flume at IFREMER with bend-twist composite blades and equivalent rigid blades, sequentially under current and co-directional wave–current cases. In agreement with previous research, when the turbine was operating in current alone at higher tip speed ratios the bend-twist blades reduced the mean thrust and power compared to the rigid blades. Under the specific wave–current condition tested the average loads were similar on both blade sets. Nevertheless, the bend-twist blades substantially reduced the magnitudes of the average thrust and torque fluctuations per wave cycle, by up to 10% and 14% respectively.     

一种考虑界面相物性影响的界面单元法

界面是由复杂的界面相简化而成的,界面破坏实际是界面相材料的破坏。数值计算为了方便,如经典模型和内聚力模型等,都把很薄的界面相作无厚度化处理。导致只能考虑界面的面力,而无法考虑界面相内的应力(平行于界面方向的应力)。使界面失效准则先天性地排除了界面相内部应力的影响,从界面相材料失效机理的角度来看这是不够严谨的。本文将界面相材料等效为一种弹性连续体,由界面本构关系推导得到了一种新的界面单元。该单元具有界面参数易确定、对界面相物性可以进行等效描述等优点。通过商用有限元软件ABAQUS和用户子程序UEL实现了数值分析,并与直接物理模型的数值模拟结果进行对比,证明了本方法的简便及准确性。通过对不同界面相厚度结构的进一步分析,探讨了本文方法的可行范围。