Designing,calculation, and optimization of polymeric honeycomb pipes

The problem of optimization of the honeycomb wall structure of pipes subjected to static loads is investigated. As the basic engineering design parameter of the pipes, their ring rigidity is assumed. The corresponding optimization problem is formulated. Starting from the necessary ring rigidity of cylindrical pipes made of polymeric materials with honeycomb walls, their geometrical, physicomechanical, and technological parameters are determined. Based on the calculations, the optimum geometry (wall thickness, diameter, and the number of layers) of the pipes is found. Numerical results are presented and analyzed. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 44, No. 6, pp. 853–860, November–December, 2008.     

Variation of the structure and permeability of tensioned fiber layers during impregnation with a thermoplastic polymer melt

The influence of displacements of tensioned fibers on the impregnation of fibrous layers with a polymer melt and on the final composite structure is studied. Using computer simulation, it is shown that, during impregnation, the structure of tensioned fibrous layers changes considerably depending on the initial arrangement and tensioning of fibers. The consolidated regions formed under the melt front move inside the impregnated layer with the advancing melt front. Displacement of the tensioned fibers as well as the formation of “washouts” favors the impregnation of internal layers, but cause significant inhomogeneity of the polymer structure. The surface (on the side of the melt flow) regions are more saturated with the polymer than the internal ones. A difference in the melt percolation mechanisms at various impregnation regimes is revealed. The effective permeability coefficients of a tensioned fiber layer are not constant but depend on the conditions and regimes of impregnation. Submitted to the 11th Conference on the Mechanics of Composite Materials (Riga, June 11–15, 2000). Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 36, No. 2, pp. 259–270, March–April, 2000.     

Effect of viscosity of a thermoplastic prepreg and matrix upon winding of rings

The problem of compression of a unidirectional layer and shear of a polymer interlayer during winding of rings is considered. The equations determining the dependence of the layer thickness and stresses on the parameters entering into the power flow law for a prepreg and polymer matrix and on the basic parameters of the winding process—the initial tension of the prepreg, its placement rate, and the radius of a mandrel—are derived. The ring thickness measurements obtained at various temperatures and initial tension forces of plies confirm the adequacy of the model offered. It is found that the viscous properties of the prepreg and matrix upon winding affect the relative change in the layer thickness to a greater extent than the stresses in these layers. With increase in temperature and tension force upon winding, the effect of viscous deformations of the prepreg and matrix increases. A decrease in viscosity and an increase in the tension force of the tape lead to a higher strength of the ring in tension and interlaminar shear; however, the growing percolation of the polymer melt leads to a greater inhomogeneity of the structure of the composite in the ring and to a lower reinforcing effect of the factors mentioned. Presented at the 11th International Conference on Mechanics of Composite Materials (Riga, June 11–15, 2000). Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 36, No. 3, pp. 419–428, 2000.     

Determining <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-values for systems cointegration tests with a prior adjustment for deterministic terms

Following Doornik (J Econ Surv 12:573–593, 1998) I present a procedure to approximate the asymptotic distributions of systems cointegration tests with a prior adjustment for deterministic terms suggested by Lütkepohl (Econometrica 72:647–662, 2004), Saikkonen and Lütkepohl (Econometric Theory 16:373–406, 2000a, J Business Econ Stat 18:451–464, 2000b, Time Series Anal 21:435–456, 2000c) and Saikkonen and Luukkonen (J Econ 81:93–126, 1997). These tests rely upon different assumptions as to the inclusion of deterministic components such as a constant, a linear trend or a level shift. The asymptotic distributions, which are functions of Brownian motions, are approximated by Gamma distributions. Only estimates of the mean and variance of the asymptotic test distributions are needed to fit the Gamma distributions. Such estimates are obtained from response surfaces. The required coefficients to compute the asymptotic moments are presented in this paper. Via the fitted Gamma distributions one can, then, easily derive p-values or arbitrary percentiles.     

A continuous model for investigation of physically nonlinear deformation of orthotropic sandwich plates

A phenomenological yield condition for quasi-brittle and plastic orthotropic materials with initial stresses is suggested. All components of the yield tensor are determined from experiments on uniaxial loading. The reliability estimates of the criterion suggested is discussed. For a plastic material without initial stresses, the given condition transforms into the Marin—Hu criterion. The defining equations of the deformation theory of plasticity with isotropic and “anisotropic” hardening, associated with the yield condition suggested, are obtained. These equations are used as the basis for a highly accurate nonclassical continuous model for nonlinear deformation of thick sandwich plates. The approximations with respect to the transverse coordinate take into account the flexural and nonflexural deformations in transverse shear and compression. The high-order approximations allow us to model the occurrence of layer delamination cracks by introducing thin nonrigid interlayers without violating the continuity concept of the theory. Submitted to the 11th International Conference on Mechanics of Composite Materials (Riga, June 11–15, 2000). Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 36, No. pp. 329–340, May–June, 2000.     

Families of Okamoto–Painlevé pairs and Painlevé equations

In [as reported by Saito et al. (J. Algebraic Geom. 11:311–362, 2002)], generalized Okamoto–Painlevé pairs are introduced as a generalization of Okamoto’s space of initial conditions of Painlevé equations (cf. [Okamoto (Jpn. J. Math. 5:1–79, 1979)]) and we established a way to derive differential equations from generalized rational Okamoto–Painlevé pairs through deformation theory of nonsingular pairs. In this article, we apply the method to concrete families of generalized rational Okamoto–Painlevé pairs with given affine coordinate systems and for all eight types of such Okamoto–Painlvé pairs we write down Painlevé equations in the coordinate systems explicitly. Moreover, except for a few cases, Hamitonians associated to these Painlevé equations are also given in all coordinate charts. Mathematics Subject Classification (2000) 34M55, 32G05, 14J26     

Refined common knowledge logics or logics of common information

 In terms of formal deductive systems and multi-dimensional Kripke frames we study logical operations know, informed, common knowledge and common information. Based on [6] we introduce formal axiomatic systems for common information logics and prove that these systems are sound and complete. Analyzing the common information operation we show that it can be understood as greatest open fixed points for knowledge formulas. Using obtained results we explore monotonicity, omniscience problem, and inward monotonocity, describe their connections and give dividing examples. Also we find algorithms recognizing these properties for some particular cases. Received: 21 October 2000 / Published online: 2 September 2002 Key words or phrases: Multi-agent systems – Non-standard logic – Knowledge representation – Common knowledge – Common information – Fixed points, Kripke models – Modal logic     

Creep of polymer concrete in the nonlinear region

Two polyester-based polymer concretes with various volume content of diabase as an extender and aggregate are tested in creep under compression at different stress levels. The phenomenological and structural approaches are both used to analyze the experimental data. Common features of changes in the instantaneous and creep compliances are clarified, and a phenomenological creep model which accounts for the changes in the instantaneous compliance and in the retardation spectrum depending on the stress level is developed. It is shown that the model can be used to describe the experimental results of stress relaxation and creep under repeated loading. Modeling of the composite structure and subsequent solution of the optimization problem confirm the possibility of the existence of an interphase layer more compliant than the binder. A direct correlation between the interphase volume content and the instantaneous compliance of the composite is revealed. It is found that the distinction in nonlinearity of the viscoelastic behavior of the two polymer concretes under investigation can be due to the difference in their porosity. Submitted to the 11th International Conference on Mechanics of Composite Materials (Riga, June 11–15, 2000.) Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 36, No. 2, pp. 147–164, 2000.     

The power of some forms of the induction axiom in the multiplicative arithmetic

In this paper, the sequential variants of the multiplicative arithmetic with the below-defined formsAIO,I ⁺, andI ⁻ of the induction axiom are investigated, and some relations between the classes of theorems in these systems are determined. In addition, the multiplicative systems with these induction axioms, for which the classes of derivable formulas are equivalent, are presented. Published in Lietuvos Matematikos Rinkinys, Vol. 40, No. 1, pp. 36–47, January–March, 2000.     

Graded Lie algebras, representation theory, integrable mappings, and integrable systems

A new class of integrable mappings and chains is introduced. The corresponding 1+2 integrable systems that are invariant under such integrable mappings are presented in an explicit form. Soliton-type solutions of these systems are constructed in terms of matrix elements of fundamental representations of semisimple A_n algebras for a given group element. The possibility of generalizing this construction to the multidimensional case is discussed. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Matematicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 122, No. 2, pp. 251–271, February, 2000.     

Dependence of thermooxidative aging parameters on composite properties

An analytical relationship between the thermooxidation rate constants and mechanical properties of composite materials under isothermal and dynamic conditions is obtained. With the example of epoxy-based composites, it is shown that the kinetic parameters of thermooxidation can be used to predict the internal stresses and breakdown voltage of coatings. The calculated drop in the impact toughness exceeds its experimental value by 30%, while the calculated relative breaking elongation is 1.5–2 times greater than the experimental one. A considerable decrease in these indices is observed at a loss of 0.1–1 wt.% of volatile products of thermooxidation. Submitted to the 11th International Conference on Mechanics of Composite Materials (Riga, June 11–15, 2000). Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 36, No. 2, pp. 237–248, January–February, 2000.     

Spatial braiding of cylindrical articles

The effective deformative characteristics of spatially reinforced composites made by spatial braiding along the generatrices of a one-sheet hyperboloid are analyzed. The geometrical relationships determining the structure of a unit cell of a braided composite are derived. The effective thermoelastic characteristics are calculated by the method of orientational averaging. The dependences of the bending and torsional stiffnesses of thick-walled cylindrical rods — made by the method suggested and by winding — on the braiding/winding angle are compared. The numerical estimations are given for rods made of carbon (CFRP) and aramid (AFRP) epoxy plastics. Submitted to the 11th International Conference on Mechanics of Composite Materials (Riga, June 11–15, 2000). Translated from Mekhanika Kompzitnykh Materialov, Vol. 36, No. 3, pp. 341–354, May–June, 2000.     

The modular robotic systems

A very important design goal of these robotic systems is the adaptability to the inner diameters of the pipes. In this paper, we proposed two wheeled–type in–pipe modular robotic systems. Thus, the studied modular robotic systems are characterized by an adaptable structure, based on linkages mechanisms. The prototypes were designed in order to inspect pipes with variable diameters within 140 and 200 mm. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

On contraction properties of Markov kernels

 We study Lipschitz contraction properties of general Markov kernels seen as operators on spaces of probability measures equipped with entropy-like ``distances'. Universal quantitative bounds on the associated ergodic constants are deduced from Dobrushin's ergodic coefficient. Strong contraction properties in Orlicz spaces for relative densities are proved under more restrictive mixing assumptions. We also describe contraction bounds in the entropy sense around arbitrary probability measures by introducing a suitable Dirichlet form and the corresponding modified logarithmic Sobolev constants. The interest in these bounds is illustrated on the example of inhomogeneous Gaussian chains. In particular, the existence of an invariant measure is not required in general. Received: 31 October 2000 / Revised version: 21 February 2003 / Published online: 12 May 2003 L. Miclo also thanks the hospitality and support of the Instituto de Matemática Pura e Aplicada, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, where part of this work was done. Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 60J05, 60J22, 37A30, 37A25, 39A11, 39A12, 46E39, 28A33, 47D07 Key words or phrases: Lipschitz contraction – Generalized relative entropy – Markov kernel – Dobrushin's ergodic coefficient – Orlicz norm – Dirichlet form – Spectral gap – Modified logarithmic Sobolev inequality – Inhomogeneous Gaussian chains – Loose of memory property     

Correlation between the strength of fiber-reinforced plastics and the adhesive strength of fiber—Matrix joints

The relationship between the strength (σc) of unidirectional fiber-reinforced plastics in different stressed states and the interfacial strength of their components is investigated. The shear adhesive strength (τ0) of fiber—matrix joints determined by the pull-out technique is used as a measure of the interfacial strength. To obtain the correlation curves betweenσc andτ0, the experimental results are used, where both the plastic and adhesive strength change under the influence of a single factor. In this case, such factors are the fiber surface treatment, nature and composition of polymer matrices, and test temperature. It is shown that the strength of the glass, carbon, and boron plastics increases practically linearly with increased interfacial strength. Such a behavior is observed in any loading conditions (tension, shear, bending, and compression). Sometimes, a small (10–20%) increase in the adhesive strength induces a significant (50–70%) growth in the material strength. Therefore, the interface is the “weak link” in these composites. The shape of theσc—τ0 curves for composites based on the high-strength and high-modulus aramid fibers and different thermoreactive matrices depends on the nature of the fiber and the type of stress state. In many cases, the composite strength does not depend on the interfacial strength. Then, the fiber itself is the “weak link” in these composites. Submitted to the 11th International Conference on Mechanics of Composite Materials (Riga, June 11–15, 2000). Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 36, No. 3, pp. 291–304, May–June, 2000.     

Contraction-free sequent calculi for geometric theories with an application to Barr's theorem

 Geometric theories are presented as contraction- and cut-free systems of sequent calculi with mathematical rules following a prescribed rule-scheme that extends the scheme given in Negri and von Plato (1998). Examples include cut-free calculi for Robinson arithmetic and real closed fields. As an immediate consequence of cut elimination, it is shown that if a geometric implication is classically derivable from a geometric theory then it is intuitionistically derivable. Received: 18 April 2001 / Published online: 10 October 2002 Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 03F05, 18C10, 18B15 Key words or phrases: Cut elimination – Geometric theories – Barr's theorem     

Finite element approximation of spatially extended predator–prey interactions with the Holling type II functional response

We study the numerical approximation of the solutions of a class of nonlinear reaction–diffusion systems modelling predator–prey interactions, where the local growth of prey is logistic and the predator displays the Holling type II functional response. The fully discrete scheme results from a finite element discretisation in space (with lumped mass) and a semi-implicit discretisation in time. We establish a priori estimates and error bounds for the semi discrete and fully discrete finite element approximations. Numerical results illustrating the theoretical results and spatiotemporal phenomena are presented in one and two space dimensions. The class of problems studied in this paper are real experimental systems where the parameters are associated with real kinetics, expressed in nondimensional form. The theoretical techniques were adapted from a previous study of an idealised reaction–diffusion system (Garvie and Blowey in Eur J Appl Math 16(5):621–646, 2005).     

Application of a genetic algorithm to optimal lay-up of shells made of composite laminates

The orientation of fiber direction in layers and the number of layers of composites play the major role in determining the strength and stiffness. Thus, the basic design problem is to determine the optimum stacking sequence of the composite laminate. Many methods are available at present for the design optimization of structural systems. However, these methods are based on mathematical programming techniques involving the gradient search and the direct search. These methods assume that the variables are continuous. In this paper, a different search and optimization algorithm, known as a Genetic Algorithm (GA), has been successfully applied to obtain the optimum fiber orientation of multilayered shells, which considers the angle of fiber orientation as a discrete variable. The principle of GA is applied to obtain optimum layers and the orientation of fibers of stiffened shells for both the symmetric and antisymmetric orientations of fibers for dynamic analysis. Shells composed of two to nine layers without stiffeners, with one stiffener, and with two stiffeners for a single as well as different materials are analyzed and the maximum frequency for each population is computed using the FEAST-C software. Submitted to the 11th International Conference on Mechanics of Composite Materials (Riga, June 11–15, 2000). Published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 36, No. 2, pp. 271–278, March–April, 2000.     

On identities of the Rogers-Ramanujan type

A generalized Bailey pair, which contains several special cases considered by Bailey (Proc. London Math. Soc. (2), 50, 421–435 (1949)), is derived and used to find a number of new Rogers-Ramanujan type identities. Consideration of associated q-difference equations points to a connection with a mild extension of Gordon’s combinatorial generalization of the Rogers-Ramanujan identities (Amer. J. Math., 83, 393–399 (1961)). This, in turn, allows the formulation of natural combinatorial interpretations of many of the identities in Slater’s list (Proc. London Math. Soc. (2) 54, 147–167 (1952)), as well as the new identities presented here. A list of 26 new double sum–product Rogers-Ramanujan type identities are included as an Appendix. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification Primary—11B65; Secondary—11P81, 05A19, 39A13     

Linguistic-based voting through centered OWA operators

Two linguistic-based voting systems have been introduced in recent years, namely: Majority Judgement (Balinski and Laraki in , 2007a) and Range Voting (Smith in , 2000). The keys for them are aggregation procedures based on the median and the arithmetic mean of the grades assessed to the alternatives, respectively. In this paper a comprehensive framework based on centered OWA operators (Yager in Soft Comput 11:631–639, 2007a) and the 2-tuple model (Herrera and Martínez in IEEE Trans Fuzzy Syst 8:746–752, 2000) is provided to enclose such distinct approaches. In addition, we show how to avoid some drawbacks of Majority Judgement and Range Voting by means of the use of suitable aggregation functions.