Numerical simulation on an interaction of a vortex street with an elliptical leading edge using an unstructured grid

An algorithm for a time accurate incompressible Navier–Stokes solver on an unstructured grid is presented. The algorithm uses a second order, three‐point, backward difference formula for the physical time marching. For each time step, a divergence free flow field is obtained based on an artificial compressibility method. An implicit method with a local time step is used to accelerate the convergence for the pseudotime iteration. To validate the code, an unsteady laminar flow over a circular cylinder at a Reynolds number of 200 is calculated. The results are compared with available experimental and numerical data and good agreements are achieved. Using the developed unsteady code, an interaction of a Karman vortex street with an elliptical leading edge is simulated. The incident Karman vortex street is generated by a circular cylinder located upstream. A clustering to the path of the vortices is achieved easily due to flexibility of an unstructured grid. Details of the interaction mechanism are analysed by investigating evolutions of vortices. Characteristics of the interactions are compared for large‐ and small‐scale vortex streets. Different patterns of the interaction are observed for those two vortex streets and the observation is in agreement with experiment. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Study on Bifunctionality of Mo/HZSM-5 Catalysts for Methane Dehydro-Aromatization under Non-oxidative Condition

The optimum Mo/[H~+] ratio per unit cell of the active precursors in Mo/HZSM-5 catalysts for methane dehydro-aromatization, measured by 1H MAS NMR, was found to be about 1 when adjusting the acid sites by altering either the SiO2/Al2O3 ratios or the Mo loading. This implies that a concerted interaction between the Mo species and the Bronsted acid sites probably features the bifunctionality of the Mo/HZSM-5 catalyst. On the other hand, it was found that the driving force for Mo species to move into the HSZM-5 zeolite channels and the interaction between the Mo species and the Bronsted acid sites are closely and proportionably related with the amount of Bronsted acid sites per unit cell.     

Synthesis of Diethyl Oxalate by a Coupling-Regeneration Reaction of Carbon Monoxide

This article describes a process for the synthesis of diethyl oxalate by a coupling reaction of carbon monoxide, catalyzed by palladium in the presence of ethyl nitrite. The kinetics and mechanism of the coupling and regeneration reaction are also discussed. This paper presents the results of a scale-up test of the catalyst and the process based on an a priori computer simulation.     

Electrochemical characterization of negative electrodes consisting of surface-modified Zr0.9Ti0.1(Ni1.1Co0.1Mn0.5V0.2Cr0.1)x Laves-phase alloys

Laves-phase hydrogen storage alloy has a high potential for use as negative electrode material as alternative for the misch-metal-based material. In order to improve the energy density and the rate capability of negative electrode, chemical and mechanical modification of Lavesphase alloy with different stoichiometric ratios was carried out. Discharge capacity and high-rate dischargeabilty was evaluated by electrochemical methods and the characterization of Laves-phase alloy was made by X-ray diffraction, SEM observation and PCT measurement. The best result in discharge capacity could be obtained for stoichiometric Laves-phase alloy with a composition of Zr_0.9Ti_0.1Ni_1.1Co_0.1Mn_0.5V_0.2Cr_0.1 by boiling in 10 M KOH solution. On the other hand, the high-rate dischargeability was increased remarkably by introducing mechanical grinding before alkali treatment. The cause for improved performance was discussed on the basis of thermodynamic stability of metal hydride and changes in crystal structure and surface morphology influencing on diffusion coefficient and diffusion path length of hydrogen.     

Integral equation theory for two-dimensional polymer melts

The polymer reference interaction site model theory is investigated for two-dimensional polymer melts composed of freely-jointed hard disk chains and tangent-disk rods. Exact results for the intramolecular pair correlation functions are input into the theory, and predictions of the theory for the intermolecular pair correlation functions are tested via comparison with simulation. The theory is not as accurate for this system as it is for three-dimensional polymer melts, and the quantitative predictions are not good except at the highest area fractions. Possible reasons for the deficiency in the theory are discussed.     

Integral equation theory of random copolymer melts: self-consistent treatment of intramolecular and intermolecular correlations

A self-consistent integral equation theory is presented for the conformational properties and spinodal lines of random copolymer melts. The theory combines field-theoretic methods with the polymer reference interaction site model (PRISM) theory. The many-chain problem is replaced by a single chain where the sites interact via a bare plus a self-consistently determined medium-induced potential, and the conformational properties are obtained using a variational method. The theoretical prediction for the spinodal line is qualitatively similar to that of non-self-consistent PRISM theory. The theory predicts macroscopic phase separation for all values of the monomer correlation strength, lambda. The inverse spinodal temperature is a nonmonotonic function of lambda with a maximum at lambda(max). For large values of lambda( approximately 1), the values of spinodal temperatures are almost identical to those of non-self-consistent PRISM theory. For low values of lambda, however, the theory predicts higher values for spinodal temperatures than non-self-consistent PRISM theory. The theory predicts significant changes in the mean-square end-to-end distance as the temperature is decreased.     

The fate of the hydroxyalkoxy radical in the OH‐initiated oxidation of isoprene

Rate constants for several intermediate steps in the OH‐initiated oxidation of isoprene were determined using laser‐photolysis/laser‐induced fluorescence of OH radicals at total pressures between 3 and 4 Torr at 295 K. The rate constant for decomposition of the hydroxyalkoxy radical was determined to be (3.0 ± 0.5) × 10⁴ s^?1 in this pressure range, which is in fair agreement with previous work. The presence of a prompt alkoxy decomposition pathway was also investigated and found to contribute less than 10% to the total hydroxyalkoxy radical decomposition. The rate constant for the reaction of the hydroxyperoxy radical with NO was determined to be (2.5 ± 0.5) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, which is moderately higher than previously reported. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 34: 255–261, 2002     

Segmented block copolyesters using click chemistry

Copper(I) catalyzed azide‐alkyne 1,3‐Huisgen cycloaddition reaction afforded the synthesis of triazole‐containing polyesters and segmented block copolyesters at moderate temperatures. Triazole‐containing homopolyesters exhibited significantly increased (～40 °C) glass transition temperatures (T_g) relative to high temperature, melt synthesis of polyesters with analogous structures. Quantitative synthesis of azido‐terminated poly(propylene glycol) (PPG) allowed for the preparation of segmented polyesters, which exhibited increased solubility and mechanical ductility relative to triazole‐containing homopolyesters. Differential scanning calorimetry demonstrated a soft segment (SS) T_g near ?60 °C for the segmented polyesters, consistent with microphase separation. Tensile testing revealed Young's moduli ranging from 7 to 133 MPa as a function of hard segment (HS) content, and stress at break values approached 10 MPa for 50 wt % HS segmented click polyesters. Dynamic mechanical analysis demonstrated an increased rubbery plateau modulus with increased HS content, and the T_g's of both the SS and HS did not vary with composition, confirming microphase separation. Atomic force microscopy also indicated microphase separated and semicrystalline morphologies for the segmented click polyesters. This is the first report detailing the preparation of segmented copolyesters using click chemistry for the formation of ductile membranes with excellent thermomechanical response. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

h-Vectors of matroids and logarithmic concavity

Let M be a matroid on E, representable over a field of characteristic zero. We show that h-vectors of the following simplicial complexes are log-concave:

1.

The matroid complex of independent subsets of E.     

The Role of Methoxy Group in the Nazarov Cyclization of 1,5-bis-(2-Methoxyphenyl)-1,4-Pentadien-3-one in the Gas Phase and Condensed Phase

ESI-protonated 1,5-bis-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1,4-pentadien-3-one (1) undergoes a gas-phase Nazarov cyclization and dissociates via expulsions of ketene and anisole. The dissociations of the [M + D]⁺ ions are accompanied by limited HD scrambling that supports the proposed cyclization. Solution cyclization of 1 was effected to yield the cyclic ketone, 2,3-bis-(2-methoxyphenyl)-cyclopent-2-ene-1-one, (2) on a time scale that is significantly shorter than the time for cyclization of dibenzalacetone. The dissociation characteristics of the ESI-generated [M + H]⁺ ion of the synthetic cyclic ketone closely resemble those of 1, suggesting that gas-phase and solution cyclization products are the same. Additional mechanistic studies by density functional theory (DFT) methods of the gas-phase reaction reveals that the initial cyclization is followed by two sequential 1,2-aryl migrations that account for the observed structure of the cyclic product in the gas phase and solution. Furthermore, the DFT calculations show that the methoxy group serves as a catalyst for the proton migrations necessary for both cyclization and fragmentation after aryl migration. An isomer formed by moving the 2-methoxy to the 4-position requires relatively higher collision energy for the elimination of anisole, as is consistent with DFT calculations. Replacement of the 2-methoxy group with an OH shows that the cyclization followed by aryl migration and elimination of phenol occurs from the [M + H]⁺ ion at low energy similar to that for 1.