A recursive-faulting model of distributed damage in confined brittle materials

We develop a model of distributed damage in brittle materials deforming in triaxial compression based on the explicit construction of special microstructures obtained by recursive faulting. The model aims to predict the effective or macroscopic behavior of the material from its elastic and fracture properties; and to predict the microstructures underlying the microscopic behavior. The model accounts for the elasticity of the matrix, fault nucleation and the cohesive and frictional behavior of the faults. We analyze the resulting quasistatic boundary value problem and determine the relaxation of the potential energy, which describes the macroscopic material behavior averaged over all possible fine-scale structures. Finally, we present numerical calculations of the dynamic multi-axial compression experiments on sintered aluminum nitride of Chen and Ravichandran [1994. Dynamic compressive behavior of ceramics under lateral confinement. J. Phys. IV 4, 177-182; 1996a. Static and dynamic compressive behavior of aluminum nitride under moderate confinement. J. Am. Soc. Ceramics 79(3), 579-584; 1996b. An experimental technique for imposing dynamic multiaxial compression with mechanical confinement. Exp. Mech. 36(2), 155-158; 2000. Failure mode transition in ceramics under dynamic multiaxial compression. Int. J. Fracture 101, 141-159]. The model correctly predicts the general trends regarding the observed damage patterns; and the brittle-to-ductile transition resulting under increasing confinement.     

On the regulator problem for linear degenerate control systems

In this paper, we study the finite-time regulator problem for linear, autonomous, degenerate systems, i.e., systems described by the differential equation with det(K)=0. Two investigations of the regulator problem are presented, which depend on the quadratic cost associated with the differential equation.This work was performed under the auspices of the National Research Council of Italy, Gruppo Nazionale per l'Analisi Funzionale e le Sue Applicazioni, Rome, Italy.     

The Kalman-Yakubovich-Popov theorem for stabilizable hyperbolic boundary control systems

In this paper we present a version of the Kalman-Yakubovich-Popov theorem for a class of boundary control systems of hyperbolic type. Unstable, controllable systems are considered and stabilizability withunbounded feedbacks is permitted.Paper partially supported by the Italian MINISTERO DELLA RICERCA SCIENTIFICA E TECNOLOGICA within the program of GNAFA-CNR and by NATO CRG program SA.5-2-05 (CRG940161).     

Numerical computation of one-dimensional unsteady flow in channels

Summary A numerical technique used in gasdynamics is here applied to the solution of one-dimensional unsteady flows in channels in the spirit of the shallow water theory. Its most important feature is the explicit treatment of imbedded bores generated in the flow by coalescence of characteristics. Four numerical examples are presented to show possible applications of the method.

---

Sommario Si mostra qui l'applicazione al calcolo di correnti non stazionarie in canali, secondo la formulazione della “shallow water theory”, di metodologie numeriche già usate in gasdinamica. Il trattamento esplicito di risalti, formati per coalescenza di caratteristiche, costituisce il punto particolare del lavoro. Vengono quindi presentati quattro esempi di applicazione della metodologia numerica.

     

Transonic swirling flow in axisymmetric nozzles

Summary The transonic flow in axisymmetric choked nozzles is computed in the case of a radial distribution of tangential velocity. The flow configuration is obtained by means of a time-dependent technique. The swirling flow is achieved through a particular surface located at the inlet of the nozzle. The pressure distribution and the sonic line are presented for choked flows without or with swirling.

---

Sommario Viene calcolato il flusso transonico in ugelli assialsimmetrici in condizione critica, nel caso di distribuzione radiale di velocità tangenziale.La soluzione è ottenuta numericamente tramite una tecnica instazionaria. Il flusso vorticoso viene creato attraverso una opportuna superficie all'ingresso dell'ugello. Vengono presentati i campi di pressione e la posizione della linea sonica per flussi critici, con e senza vortice.

     

First-order kinetic approximation for a reactive gas mixture

A multicomponent reacting gas with an arbitrary number of chemical species and one reversible reaction is studied at a kinetic level in the frame of discrete velocity models of the Boltzmann equation, with the main objective of deriving the reactive Navier Stokes equations of the model, and characterizing the dissipative terms related to shear viscosity, thermal conductivity and thermal diffusion. The closure of the system formed by conservation and chemical rate equations is based on a first-order Chapman-Enskog method, to be applied in the strong reaction regime, and on a convenient representation of the density vector space in terms of the macroscopic variables. A mathematical procedure is proposed which leads to identification of the transport coefficients, and may be applied to a quite large variety of reactive gas flows. Moreover, it allows characterization of the functional form of the transport coefficients in dependence on the local gas concentrations, once the model is specified.Received: 4 October 2004, Accepted: 3 December 2004, Published online: 18 March 2005PACS: 51.10. + y, 51.20. + d, 47.70.Fw Correspondence to: A.J. Soares     

Stabilization of neutral functional differential equations

In this paper, we prove a necessary and sufficient condition for feedback stabilization of neutral functional differential equations.This paper follows the program of the Gruppo Nazionale per l'Analisi Funzionale e le Sue Applicazioni, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Rome, Italy.     

Fracture and Fragmentation of Silicon Dies

Different failure modes of silicon are observed. Experimental results are not able to explain these variations clearly and therefore numerical simulations have been performed. In order to reduce high computational costs a simplified method to introduce weakened areas on silicon chips is presented. (© 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)