First-Principles Calculations of Elastic Properties of LaNi5 Compound

The equilibrium lattice constants, temperature dependence of bulk modulus, the pressure dependence of the normalized volume V/V0, elastic constants Cij and bulk modulus of LaNi5 crystal are obtained using the firstprincipies piane-wave pseudopotential method in the GGA-PBE generalized gradient approximation as well as the quasi-harmonic Debye model. We analyse the relationship between bulk modulus and temperature up to 2000 K and obtain the relationship between bulk modulus B and pressure at diFFerent temperatures. It is found that the bulk modulus B increases monotonously with increasing pressure. Moreover, the pressure dependences of Debye temperatures and the pressure derivatives of lattice constants are also successfully obtained. The calculated results are in agreement with the experimental data and the other theoretical results.     

First-Principles Calculations of Elastic Properties of Cubic Ni2MnGa

Dependence of bulk modulus on both pressure and temperature, the elastic constants Cij and the pressure and temperature dependence of normalized volume V/Vo of cubic Ni2MnGa alloy are successfully obtained using the first-principles plane-wave pseudopotential （PW-PP） method as well as the quasi-harmonic Debye model. We analyse the relationship between bulk modulus and temperature up to 800 K and obtain the relationships between bulk modulus B and pressures at different temperatures. It is found that the bulk modulus B increases monotonically with increasing pressure. Moreover, the temperature dependences of the Debye temperature are also analysed. The calculated results are in agreement with the available experimental data and the previous theoreticM results.     

First-Principles Calculations of Elastic Properties of LaNi4.75Sn0.25 Alloys under Pressure

The equilibrium lattice constants, bulk modulus, shear modulus, elastic constants and Debye temperature of LaNi4.75 Sn0.25 under pressure are calculated using the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave （FP-LAPW） method as well as the quasi-harmonic Debye model. The results at zero pressure are in excellent agreement with the experimental data. The Sn atom is found to occupy the equivalent 3g site （0.5a, 0.75b, 0.5c） in the quadruple cell. The Debye temperature of LaNi4.75Sn0.25 is lower than that of LaNi5. The dependences of bulk modulus on finite temperature and on finite pressure are also investigated. The results show that the bulk modulus B increases monotonously as pressure increases.     

First-Principles Calculations for Elastic Properties of ZnS under Pressure

The pressure dependence of elastic properties of ZnS in zinc-blende （ZB） and wurtzite （WZ） structures are investigated by the generalized gradient approximation （GGA） within the plane-wave pseudopotential density functional theory （DFT）. Our results are in good agreement with the available experimental data and other theoretical results. From the high-pressure elastic constants obtained, we find that the ZB and WZ structures of ZnS are unstable when the applied pressures are larger than 15.8 GPa and 21.3 GPa, respectively. The sound velocities along different directions for the two structures are also obtained. It is shown that as pressure increases, the sound velocities of the shear wave decrease, and those of all the longitudinal waves increase. An analysis has been made to reveal the anisotropy and highly noneentral forces in ZnS.     

First-Principles Calculations of Elastic and Thermal Properties of Lanthanum Hexaboride

The plane-wave pseudopotentiai method using the generaiized gradient approximation within the framework of density functional theory is applied to anaylse the bulk modulus, thermal expansion coefficient and heat capacity of LaB6. The quasi-harmonic Debye model, using a set of total energy versus volume obtained with the plane-wave pseudopotential method, is applied to the study of the thermal properties and vibrationai effects. We analyse the bulk modulus of LaB6 up to 1500 K. The elastic properties calculations show that our system is mechanically stable. For the heat capacity and the thermal expansion, significant differences in properties are observed above 300K. The calculated zero pressure bulk modulus is in good agreement with the experimental data. Moreover, the Debye temperatures are determined from the non-equilibrium Gibbs functions and compared to available data.     

Electronic Structure and Elastic Properties of Ti3AlC from First-Principles Calculations

We perform a first-principles study on the electronic structure and elastic properties of TiaA1C with an antiperovskite structure. The absence of band gap at the Fermi level and the finite value of the density of states at the Fermi energy reveal the metallic behavior of this compound. The elastic constants of Ti3AlC are derived yielding c11 = 356 GPa, c12 = 55 GPa, c44 = 157 GPa. The bulk modulus B, shear modulus G and Young＇s modulus E are determined to be 156, 151 and 342 GPa, respectively. These properties are compared with those of Ti3AlC2 and Ti2AlC with a layered structure in the Ti-Al-C system and FeaAlC with the same antiperovskite structure.     

Theoretical Study of Compressibility and Thermoelasticity of LaNi5-xAlx （x= 0.3, 0.5 and 1.0）

The compressibility, the temperature dependence of bulk modulus, the pressure dependence of normalized volume V/V0, thermal expansion coefficient and Debye temperature of LaNi5-xAlx compounds are successfully obtained using the first-principles plane-wave pseudopotential （PW-PP） method, the EOSFIT6.0 software and the quasiharmonic Debye model. The rapid decrease of relative lattice constant a/a0 shows that the deformation is easier in directions normal to the c-axis than that along it. The relationships between bulk modulus B and pressure at different temperatures are also analysed. It is found that the bulk modulus B increases monotonically with increasing pressure. Moreover, the pressure dependences of thermal expansion and Debye temperature are also successfully obtained. The calculated results are in agreement with the experimental data.     

First-Principles Study on Magnetic Properties of V-Doped ZnO Nanotubes

Electronic and magnetic properties of V-doped ZnO nanotubes in which one of Zn^2＋ ions is substituted by V^2＋ ions are studied by the first-principles calculations of plane wave ultra-soft pseudo-potential technology based on the spin-density function theory. The computational results reveal that spontaneous magnetization in Vdoped （9,0） ZnO nanotubes can be induced without p-type or n-type doping treatment, and the ferromagnetism is isotropic and independent of the chirality and diameter of the nanotubes. It is found that V-doped ZnO nanotubes have large magnetic moments and are ferromagnetic half-metal materials. Moreover, the ferromagnetic coupling among V atoms is generated by O 2p electron spins and V 3d electron spins localized at the exchanging interactions between magnetic transitional metal （TM） impurities. The appearance of ferromagnetism in V-doped ZnO nanotubes gives some reference to fabrication of a transparent ferromagnet which may have a great impact on industrial applications in magneto-optical devices.     

Theoretical Study on Structural and Elastic Properties of ZnO Nanotubes

A theoretical investigation on the structural and elastic properties of ZnO nanotubes is carried out by using atomistic calculations based on an inter-atomic pair potential within the shell-model approach. The calculation results are presented for the bond length, bond angle, radius dilation, strain energy, Young modulus and Poisson ratio as a function of tube radius. For small tube radius these properties depend on the helicity of the tube, while for the tube radius larger than 6.0A, they are independent of the tube radius and helicity except for the strain energy which decreases with increasing tube radius.     

Elastic Properties of Rutile TiO2 at High Temperature

Dependence of elastic properties on temperature for rutile TiO2 is investigated by the Cambridge Serial Total Energy Package （CASTEP） program in the frame of density function theory （DFT） and the quasi-harmonic Debye model The six independent elastlc constants of rutile TiO2 at high temperature are theoretically obtained for the first time. It is found that with increasing temperature, the elastic constants will decrease monotonically. Moreover, we successfully obtain the polycrystalline moduli BH and GH, as well as the Debye temperature ⊙D.     

Elastic properties of tantalum carbide (TaC)

Elastic properties of TaC have been investigated experimentally and by model calculations. The elastic stiffness coefficients c₁₁=597(11) GPa and c₄₄=153(2) GPa were determined on a (100)-oriented disc-shaped monocrystal at room temperature using a plane-wave ultrasound method. The corresponding theoretical values (c₁₁=621(3), c₄₄=166.8(3) GPa) agree within 4 and 8%, respectively. Therefore, we are confident that the predicted value for c₁₂ is equally accurate, and this allows the prediction of the Bulk and Young's moduli and the Poisson ratio. Data published earlier are critically reviewed and predictions concerning the possibility to synthesize extremely incompressible carbides are made.     

Elastic and Thermodynamic Properties of CdSe from First-Principles Calculations

The lattice parameters, bulk modulus, phase transition pressure, and temperature dependencies of the elastic constants c_ij of CdSe are investigated by using the Cambridge Serial Total Energy Package (CASTEP) program in the frame of Density Functional Theory (DFT). It is found that the phase transitions from the ZB structure to the RS structure and from WZ structure to RS structure are 2.2 GPa and 2.8 GPa, respectively. Our results agree well with the available experimental data and other theoretical results. The aggregate elastic modulus (B, G, E, A), the Poisson's ratio (υ), the Grüneisen parameter (γ), the Debye temperature Θ_D on pressure and temperature are also successfully obtained.     

Elastic and Thermodynamic Properties of CdSe from First-Principles Calculations

The lattice parameters, bulk modulus, phase transition pressure, and temperature dependencies of the elastic constants cij of CdSe are investigated by using the Cambridge Serial Total Energy Package （CASTEP） program in the frame of Density Functional Theory （DFT）. It is found that the phase transitions from the ZB structure to the RS structure and from WZ structure to RS structure are 2.2 GPa and 2.8 GPa, respectively. Our results agree well with the available experimental data and other theoretical results. The aggregate elastic modulus （B, G, E, A ）, the Poisson＇s ratio （v）, the Griuneisen parameter （γ）, the Debye temperature θD on pressure and temperature are also successfully obtained.     

Elastic Interaction between a String of Cells and an Individual Cell

The elastic interaction between a string of cells and an individual cell on an elastic substrate is investigated numerically using the force-dipole model. This interaction is found to be of short range, and the cut-off distance is about 1.4 times of the length of the cell. The energy-minimization distance is about half the cellular length. The specific relationship between the cellular reorientation and the cellular position are obtained quantitatively. A critical distance is found, and the cellular orientation has an abrupt change at this transition point.     

Local flattening of the Fermi surface and quantum oscillations in the magnetoacoustic response of a metal

In the present work, we theoretically analyze the effect of the Fermi surface local geometry on quantum oscillations in the velocity of an acoustic wave travelling in metal across a strong magnetic field. We show that local flattenings of the Fermi surface could cause significant amplification of quantum oscillations. This occurs due to enhancement of commensurability oscillations modulating the quantum oscillations in the electron density of states on the Fermi surface. The amplification in the quantum oscillations could be revealed at fitting directions of the magnetic field.     

Elastic Green's function of icosahedral quasicrystals

The elastic theory of quasicrystals considers, in addition to the “normal” displacement field, three “phason” degrees of freedom. We present an approximative solution for the elastic Green's function of icosahedral quasicrystals, assuming that the coupling between the phonons and phasons is small. Received: 18 December 1997 / Accepted: 6 March 1998     

Theoretical Study of Elastic Properties of Tungsten Disilicide

The plane-wave pseudopotential method using the generalized gradient approximation within the framework of density functional theory is applied to analyse the lattice parameters, elastic constants, bulk moduli, shear moduli and Young's moduli of WSi₂. The quasi-harmonic Debye model, using a set of total energy versus cell volume obtained with the plane-wave pseudopotential method, is applied to the study of the elastic properties and vibrational effects. The athermal elastic constants of WSi₂ are calculated as a function of pressure up to 35GPa. The relationship between bulk modulus and temperature up to 1200K is also obtained. Moreover, the Debye temperature is determined from the non-equilibrium Gibbs function. The calculated results are in good agreement with the experimental data.     

Elastic modulus-density relationship for amorphous boron suboxide thin films

Boron suboxide thin films have been deposited on Si(100) substrates by reactive RF magnetron sputtering of a sintered B target in an Ar/O₂ atmosphere. Elastic recoil detection analysis was applied to determine the film composition and density. Film structure was studied by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The elastic modulus, measured by nanoindentation, was found to decrease as the film density decreased. The relationship was affected by tuning the negative substrate bias potential and the substrate temperature during film growth. A decrease in film density, by a factor of 1.55, caused an elastic modulus reduction by a factor of 4.5, most likely due to formation of nano-pores containing Ar. It appears evident that the large scattering in the published data on elastic properties of films with identical chemical composition can readily be understood by density variations. These results are important for understanding the elastic properties of boron suboxide, but may also be qualitatively relevant for other B-based material systems. Received: 22 February 2002 / Accepted: 11 April 2002 / Published online: 10 September 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +46-13/288-918, E-mail: denmu@ifm.liu.se     

Indentation Load Effect on Young＇s Modulus and Hardness of Porous Sialon Ceramic by Depth Sensing Indentation Tests

Depth sensing indentation （DSI） tests at the range of 200-1800mN are performed on porous sialon ceramic to determine the indentation load on Young＇s modulus and hardness values. The Young modulus and hardness （Dynamic and Martens） values are deduced by analysing the unloading segments of the DSI test load-displacement curves using the Oliver-Pharr method. It is found that Young＇s modulus ET, the dynamic hardness HD and the Martens hardness HM exhibit significant indentation load dependences. The values of Young＇s modulus and hardness decrease with the increasing indentation load, as a result of indentation load effect. The experimental hf /hm ratios lower than the critical value 0.7, with hm being the maximum penetration depth during loading and hf the final unloading depth, indicate that our sample shows the work hardening behaviour.     

First-Principles Study of Tetragonal BaTiO3 Subjected to Uniaxial Tensile Stress along the c Axis

Tetragonal BaTiO₃ under uniaxial tensile stress along the c axis is investigated from first principles. The structural parameters and polarization show a little abrupt change near a critical stress σ_c of 4.57GPa, which is related to the uniaxial tensile stress induced change of elastic constants. We also find that the ferroelectric lattice distortion increases with the increasing stress. Moreover, it is found that uniaxial tensile stress can enhance the piezoelectric strain coefficients, which reach their maximum values at the stress σ_c.