WEAR OF DRY FRICTION PAIRS CONSISTING OF HIGH-CARBON CHROME-VANADIUM STEELS AND HARD ALLOYS

Journal of Applied Mechanics and Technical Physics - The wear resistance of DI37-VI and EK80-VI steel is studied using a friction testing device. A sample made of high-carbon chromium-vanadium...     

Study of the Confinement/Deconfinement Phase Transition in Rotating Lattice SU(3) Gluodynamics

JETP Letters - The effect of rotation on the confinement/deconfinement phase transition in SU(3) gluodynamics has been studied in lattice simulation in the rotating reference frame, where rotation...     

Super-Strong Hydrogel Composites Reinforced with PBO Nanofibers for Cartilage Replacement

Cartilage replacement materials exhibiting a set of demanding properties such as high water content, high mechanical stiffness, low friction, and excellent biocompatibility are quite difficult to achieve. Here, poly(p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) (PBO) nanofibers are combined with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to form a super-strong structure with a performance that surpasses the vast majority of previously existing hydrogels. PVA–PBO composites with water contents in the 59–76% range exhibit tensile and compressive moduli reaching 20.3 and 4.5 MPa, respectively, and a coefficient of friction below 0.08. Further, they are biocompatible and support the viability of chondrocytes for 1 week, with significant improvements in cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation compared to PVA. The new composites can be safely sterilized by steam heat or gamma radiation without compromising their integrity and overall performance. In addition, they show potential to be used as local delivery platforms for anti-inflammatory drugs. These attractive features make PVA–PBO composites highly competitive engineered materials with remarkable potential for use in the design of load-bearing tissues. Complementary work has also revealed that these composites will be interesting alternatives in other industrial fields where high thermal and mechanical resistance are essential requirements, or which can take advantage of the pH responsiveness functionality.     

Improved lower bounds for the online bin stretching problem

We use game theory techniques to automatically compute improved lower bounds on the competitive ratio for the bin stretching problem. Using these techniques, we improve the best lower bound for this problem to 19/14. We explain the technique and show that it can be generalized to compute lower bounds for any online or semi-online packing or scheduling problem.     

Measurement of the Dynamic Characteristics of Soft Soils Using the Kolsky Method

A modified Kolsky method for dynamic tests of soft soils in an elastic holder is analyzed. It is shown the axial and radial stresses in the sample are uniform. The rational geometry of the holder is determined. Friction is found to have an effect on the dynamic strain diagram obtained. It is suggested that this effect can be reduced by lubricating the inner surface of the holder.     

Effective Charge in LiNbO3 Films Fabricated by Radio-Frequency Magnetron Sputtering Method

Physics of the Solid State - Amorphous Li–Nb–O films were deposited onto Si substrates by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering method. The fabricated heterostructures demonstrated the...     

Broadband Acousto-Optic Modulation of Optical Radiation

Acoustical Physics - Abstract—For broadband modulation of the intensity of optical radiation, the tandem arrangement two acousto-optic (AO) Bragg cells are proposed in which acoustic waves...     

Electromagnetic Launcher with Massive Light-Plasma Initiator

Technical Physics - The results of experiments with an initiator of lithium and graphite, whose mass was 10% of the mass of the projectile, are presented. Similar initiators produce plasma with a...