Discrete element modelling of large soil deformations under heavy vehicles

This paper addresses the challenges of creating realistic models of soil for simulations of heavy vehicles on weak terrain. We modelled dense soils using the discrete element method with variable parameters for surface friction, normal cohesion, and rolling resistance. To find out what type of soils can be represented, we measured the internal friction and bulk cohesion of over 100 different virtual samples. To test the model, we simulated rut formation from a heavy vehicle with different loads and soil strengths. We conclude that the relevant space of dense frictional and frictional-cohesive soils can be represented and that the model is applicable for simulation of large deformations induced by heavy vehicles on weak terrain.     

Compact ellipse shaped patch with ground slotted broadband monopole patch antenna for head imaging applications

This paper represents an ellipse-shaped patch with a ground slotted broadband patch antenna for microwave head imaging systems. The proposed antenna constructs with a simple ellipse shaped square patch and modified slotted plane. The proposed design is very simple to fabricate and is enclosed in a microwave imaging system. The slotted patch, and the partial ground plane improves the antenna's efficiency, operating frequency range, and gain. The size of the proposed antenna is 70 × 60 × 1.5 mm³ with the electrical dimension being 0.277λ × 0.238λ × 0.006λ at a lower frequency of 1.19 GHz and connected to a 50Ω microstrip feeding line. This antenna is printed onto a low-cost FR-4 substrate whose relative permittivity is 4.4, and whose thickness is 1.5 mm. CST and HFSS software have been used for simulation and thereafter successful completion of the measurements and the fabrication. The comprehensive simulation exhibits that this design provides a bandwidth of 2.37 GHz (1.19 – 3.56 GHz) and 100% of the fractional bandwidths (% BW) with the reflection coefficient of <-10 dB. This antenna on FR-4 can produce an average gain of around 3.63 dBi with 5.95 dBi peak gain at whole operation frequencies. The prototype has a peak radiation efficiency of approximately 97% across the active frequency spectrum with 93% of average. The antenna does have an improved fidelity-factor (> 90 %) with a shorter group-delay. Several design modifications have been performed to get perfect, effective, and suitable results for microwave imaging applications. A 3D-realist Hugo head model is fitted with a single antenna and a 9-antenna array component to verify the performance of both the single antenna, and the configured array antenna. The antenna penetrates the brain human tissues satisfactorily. Across the operational range, the specific absorption rate (SAR) attains a limit of <1 W/kg. The analysis of both numeric and experimental evidence clearly indicates that the suggested antenna is ideal for microwave head-imaging implementations.     

Pyridine solvated dioxouranium complex with salen ligand: Synthesis,characterization and luminescence properties

A new derivative of dioxouranium(VI) salen complex, [UO2(L)(pyridine)], where [L = N,N′-Bis(2-hydroxybenzylidene)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine] is synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis (C, H, N), FT-IR, ESI-MS spectrometry, UV/Vis, fluorescence, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric (TG) study. Furthermore, the single crystal X-ray diffraction measurements of the complex were carried out at 100 and 273 K. The crystal structure measurements revealed that the complex has distorted pentagonal bipyramidal geometry with uranium atom located at the centre and bonded to two phenoxy oxygen and two azomethine nitrogen in tetradenate fashion and one nitrogen from pyridine making it seven coordinated. In addition, the photoluminescence property of the complex was also recorded.     

Morphology engineering and etching of graphene domain by low-pressure chemical vapor deposition

Controlled growth of single-crystal high-quality ‘track-and-field ground’ shaped graphene domains and the morphological evolution from hexagonal to hexagram graphene domain even square and circular graphene domain has been achieved by low-pressure CVD on solid copper substrate, thereby demonstrating that the shape of the graphene grains can potentially be precisely tuned by optimizing growth parameters. The etching reaction of graphene has also been studied, and results show that a low flow rate of hydrogen (99.999%) is favorable to form hexagonal structure for the etching reaction of graphene due to the exist of oxygen or oxidizing impurities in hydrogen gas commonly used. Controlled growth and etching reaction of graphene determine the final shape of graphene domains and all these efforts contribute to the study of size and morphology and the growth mechanism of graphene domains.     

Modeling the drying of ultrasound and glucose pretreated sweet potatoes: The impact on phytochemical and functional groups

The influence of ultrasonic frequency (20 kHz) and glucose pretreatments either alone or in combination on the drying of sweet potato slices (3 mm) using a hot-air dryer at 60 °C was tested to study the kinetics modeling, phytochemicals, antioxidant activities, and functional and textural changes of the final dried product. The results indicated that total phenolic content and total flavonoid content were significantly higher in glucose-pretreated samples while antioxidant activities were higher in ultrasound- and glucose-pretreated samples. For vitamin C, much degradation occurred in the glucose-pretreated samples when compared with the other pretreated samples apart from the control. Enzymatic browning made a minor contribution to the ultrasound/glucose-pretreated samples, while no significant differences were noted in the glucose-pretreated samples. A modified Henderson and Pabis (MHP) model, followed by the two-term and Hii models, fitted best among the 15 selected mathematical models. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed the presence of glucose, phenols, and flavonols in all samples. Microstructural analysis confirmed the hardness (N) in the final glucose-pretreated samples due to glucose layers and less cell damage.     

Nanoscale detection of faint machinery vibration using the NV center in diamond

We propose a novel method for detection of the faint machinery vibration at the nanometer resolution based on the spin magnetic resonant effect. A suspension magnet acts as a vibration sensor to transfer the vibration signals as the magnetic field fluctuation to excite the spin magnetic resonance. Due to the high sensitivity of the magnetic field of the nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond, the theoretical detection limit of mechanical vibration is as high as 5.7 nm, and the actual measurement resolution reached 12.8 nm, and proved the potential for further improvement to ∼pm resolution. The feasibility of this method is verified by dynamic tests. This method provides a novel approach for the detection of micro-mechanical vibrations.     

Galloping instability and control of a rigid pendulum in a flowing soap film

A pendulum suspended in a fast flowing soap film may show sustained oscillations. The conditions necessary for self-excited motion to occur are outlined: a flow velocity above a threshold value along with geometrical constraints. The role of vortex shedding is discussed, and the observed instability is shown to be well-described by the galloping instability. Experimental results are supported by numerical simulations. Furthermore, we observe that the instability may be suppressed by attaching a long enough filament to the rear of the pendulum.