Piezoelectric diaphragm for vibration energy harvesting

This paper presents a technique of electric energy generation using a mechanically excited unimorph piezoelectric membrane transducer. The electrical characteristics of the piezoelectric power generator are investigated under dynamic conditions. The electromechanical model of the generator is presented and used to predict its electrical performances. The experiments was performed with a piezoelectric actuator (shaker) moving a macroscopic 25 mm diameter piezoelectric membrane. A power of 0.65 mW was generated at the resonance frequency (1.71 kHz) across a 5.6 kOmega optimal resistor and for a 80 N force. A special electronic circuit has been conceived in order to increase the power harvested by the piezoelectric transducer. This electrical converter applies the SSHI (synchronized switch harvesting on inductor) technique, and leads to remarkable results: under the same actuation conditions the generated power reaches 1.7 mW, which is sufficient to supply a large range of low consumption sensors.     

A TWO-STATE MODEL FOR NON-EXPONENTIAL RELAXATION IN CONDENSED MATTER

A two-state model is presented for polarization relaxation in condensed matter. The dynamics of relaxation is treated with quantum transition theory. The physical meaning of the so-called time-dependent transition rate is clarified. The new model not only gives the fractional exponential and power-law relaxation functions naturally, but also indicates that the universality of the relaxation law results from the scaling behavior of low-frequency effective spectrum.     

NMR study of water exchange across the hepatocyte membrane

An understanding of the cellular permeability for water is needed to evaluate MR images of complex tissues, such as liver, and to interpret the effects of contrast agents. To obtain data essential for such an understanding we measured water exchange across the isolated rodent hepatocyte membrane by proton NMR relaxation with dextranmagnetite as a relaxation agent. The results are treated as water exchange in a two-compartment system, and possible reasons for deviations from that behavior are analyzed. The mean residence time of intracellular water was approximately 40 ms at 37 degrees C. We found the lower limit for the diffusional permeability of the hepatocyte membrane to be 8 x 10(-3) cm s-1. These results, combined with consideration of hepatic anatomy indicate that the failure to observe effects on the T1 of liver from particulate contrast agents such as magnetite, Gd-starch, and liposome encapsulated Mn2+ is due to the localization of these agents in the Kupffer cells. Also, the nonexponential T1 decay observed in normal liver is unlikely to be due to slow exchange of water between compartments.     

Variational principle for derivation of macroscopic equations

It is pointed out that the Schwinger variational principle of scattering theory applies to the case of linear and nonlinear relaxation problems in quantum statistics. By means of this principle it is possible to derive closed sets of equations for expectation values. To illustrate this variational method and to clarify the connection to other standard approaches some simple examples are treated for which the equations of motion are already known.     

Theoretical approaches to the mechanical relaxation mechanisms in semicrystalline polymers

Two kinds of relaxation mechanisms in semicrystalline polymers, i.e., the primary relaxation mechanism attributed to the noncrystalline phase and the crystalline relaxation mechanism attributed to the crystalline phase, are explained, respectively, in terms of (1) a modified Bueche's model of a one-dimensional vibrating string taking higher-order potential effects into account and (2) Montroll's model of a plane lattice in the form of a vibrating membrane. The modified Bueche's theory of a one-dimensional vibrating string gives a slope in the wedge portion of the relaxation time spectrum of less than – 1/2, when one assumes that the force constants of higher-order potential effects of intra- and intermolecular interaction are negative. The plane lattice model of a membrane vibrating in a lateral as well as in a longitudinal fashion gives a box-type relaxation time spectra over almost the same relaxation time range.     

Dynamics of a large spin with strong dissipation

We study the generalization of the spin-boson model to spins greater than one-half in the strong-coupling regime. This model applies to dissipative large spins as well as to ensembles of identical two-state systems coupled to a common environment. Using a combination of polaron transformations and master equations, we find nonexponential spin relaxation towards one of two possible equilibrium states. For Ohmic dissipation the relaxation is approximately logarithmic in time.     

Relaxation rates of 69Ga and 71Ga nuclei in aqueous solutions

Line widths in the ⁶Li, ⁷Li, ²³Na, ³⁹K, ⁸⁵Rb, ⁸⁷Rb and ¹³³Cs N.M.R. spectra of solutions of the alkali salts of biphenyl and fluorenone are reported as a function of solvent and temperature. From a numerical analysis of the room temperature data the contribution of the various relaxation mechanisms to the line widths are established. It is shown that the results are consistent with the observed solvent and temperature dependence of the line widths. Values of the electron spin correlation time are obtained and a value of 1·6 ± 0·4 Å is found for the ‘Van der Waals radius’ of the biphenyl anion. Line width expressions for the static and the dynamic ion pair model are presented. It is demonstrated that the static ion pair model applies to solutions of caesium biphenylide. Semi-empirical rules are presented concerning the importance of various relaxation mechanisms for the different alkali nuclei in the type of solution studied here.     

基于界面跟踪方法的汽蚀模型和算法的有效性验证

针对两相附着汽蚀流动机理,基于界面跟踪方法发展了新的汽蚀模型和算法。所发展的汽蚀模型和算法不仅考虑了液相／气相界面处的压力差,而且考虑了耦合Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes方程求解技术得到的流场压力梯度信息来迭代计算附着汽蚀形状。采用具有试验数据的半球形头部圆柱体汽蚀绕流作为算例来验证所提出的汽蚀模型和算法的有效性。采用不同的网格数和松弛因子数值验证了发展的汽蚀模型和算法的有效性。三种汽蚀数下的数值计算结果得到的压力系数分布与试验数据完全吻合。结果表明所提出的汽蚀模型和算法能够准确模拟出汽蚀发生点和汽蚀长度。     

3-d Model for strain ordering in steel: II Relaxational effects

The spring-defect model developed by us in the accompanying paper I to discuss ferroelasticity, exhibited in the BCT phase of α-iron (BCC metals), is used to analyse anelastic relaxation across the paraelastic to ferroelastic phase transition. The kinetics of the underlying Hamiltonian representing strain-strain interactions is treated within mean-field theory. The relaxation-response relation of the linear response theory is employed to derive explicit expressions for the anelastic strain, the frequency-dependent compliance and the internal friction in terms of the basic parameters of the spring-defect model.     

Can Millimeter Waves Generate Electroporation?

Analysis of the field distributions in a single biological cell under electromagnetic wave is given. With Debye approximation, the dielectric relaxation of each part of the cell, including the extracellular and cellular media, the cell membrane and the nuclear membrane, was taken into account. Making use of some typical parameters for a cell, the voltage across nuclear and cytoplasma membranes under electromagnetic waves are calculated up to millimeter wave frequency range. The calculated result indicates that it is unlikely to generate electroporation by present available millimeter wave sources.     

直接甲醇燃料电池两相非等温模型

本文建立了直接甲醇燃料电池的两相、非等温模型.采用多孔介质中的经典多相流动模型来计算电池内与电化学反应相耦合的传质、传热问题;模型中考虑了水的汽化凝结过程和甲醇窜流对电池性能的影响.计算结果表明电池内温度分布不均匀,温度最高点出现在阴极催化层;阳极甲醇浓度分布不均匀是造成阳极催化层内局部反应速率不均匀分布的主要原因,而阴极催化层局部反应速率主要依赖于阴极过电势的分布;大的流场板开口比条件下电池整体均匀性较好,性能得到提高.     

Model for incomplete reconnection in sawtooth crashes

A model for incomplete reconnection in sawtooth crashes is presented. The reconnection inflow during the crash phase of sawteeth self-consistently convects the high pressure core toward the reconnection site, raising the pressure gradient there. Reconnection shuts off if the diamagnetic drift speed at the reconnection site exceeds a threshold, which may explain incomplete reconnection. The relaxation of magnetic shear after reconnection stops may explain the destabilization of ideal interchange instabilities reported previously. Proof-of-principle two-fluid simulations confirm this basic picture. Predictions of the model compare favorably to data from the Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak. Applications to transport modeling of sawteeth are discussed. The results should apply across tokamaks, including ITER.     

Wetting of phospholipid membranes on hydrophilic surfaces - Concepts towards self-healing membranes

We report on the wetting behavior of phospholipid membranes on solid surfaces immersed in aqueous solution. Using fluorescence microscopy, the spreading velocity of fluid bilayers advancing from a lipid source is investigated. The kinetic spreading coefficient was measured as a function of temperature for pure DMPC membranes and as a function of charge density and cholesterol content for binary membranes. A theoretical model for the membrane flow is presented, which takes into account the liquid crystalline bilayer architecture of the lipid membrane. The spreading power results from the membrane-solid VdW interaction and is dissipated in hydrodynamic shear flow as well as by inter-monolayer friction within the bilayer. The frictional drag causes a dynamic tension gradient in the spreading membrane, which is manifested by a single exponential decay of the fluorescence intensity profile along the spreading direction. Obstacles are shown to act as pinning centers deforming the advancing line interface. However, no depinning was observed, since the centers are circumflown without abrupt relaxation. Received 6 November 1998     

Membrane gas diffusion measurements with MRI

Gas transport across polymeric membranes is fundamental to many filtering and separation technologies. To elucidate transport mechanisms, and understand the behaviors of membrane materials, accurate measurement of transport properties is required. We report a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methodology to measure membrane gas phase diffusion coefficients. The MRI challenges of low spin density and short gas phase relaxation times, especially for hydrogen gas, have been successfully overcome with a modified one-dimensional, single-point ramped imaging with T(1) enhancement, measurement. We have measured the diffusion coefficients of both hydrogen gas and sulfur-hexafluoride in a model polymeric membrane of potential interest as a gas separator in metal hydride batteries. The experimental apparatus is a modified one-dimensional diaphragm cell which permits measurement of the diffusion coefficient in experimental times of less than 1 min. The H(2) gas diffusion coefficient in the membrane was 0.54 +/- 0.01 mm(2)/s, while that of sulfur-hexafluoride was 0.14 +/- 0.01 mm(2)/s, at ambient conditions.     

Origin of the high-frequency contributions to the dielectric loss in supercooled liquids

Dielectric loss spectra of four different glass formers revealing either beta relaxation or excess wing are presented. We compare the effect of pressure and temperature on the mentioned processes. Our findings suggest that the excess wing and the beta relaxation cannot be treated on the same footing.     

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Effect of magnetic relaxation on flux jump in high temperature superconductors

The effect of magnetic relaxation on flux jump is studied in high temperature superconducting slab. The magnetothermal diffusion equations based on the Kim model are presented in this paper to estimate the effect of magnetic relaxation on flux jump inside the slab in the flux dynamics process. Numerical results obtained show that the flux-jump phenomenon could be suppressed by the magnetic relaxation and the dependence of the number of flux jumps on the relaxation time are obvious.     

Mapping strains at the nanoscale using electron back scatter diffraction

In this paper, we describe the use of electron back scatter diffraction (EBSD) to study strain variations in crystalline samples at the nanoscale. The analysis relies on cross correlation measurements of small shifts in the EBSD pattern measured at many points dispersed across the pattern. The method allows the full strain tensor, and lattice rotations to be obtained at a sensitivity of ～10^?4. The method is applied to study variations of strains and rotations near the surface of 200 nm thick epitaxial layers of Si_0.85Ge_0.15 grown on a Si substrate patterned with rectangular and square mesa. Linescans across rectangular mesas show that strain relaxation and accompanying lattice rotations are restricted to the edges of wide mesas but that the relaxation extends across the entirety of mesas narrower than ～6 μm. Two dimensional maps of the strain variation in a ～3 μm wide square mesa are also presented.     

Stochastic model of muon diffusion in the presence of traps: Nonsecular effects on spin depolarization

A stochastic model is presented for calculating the depolarization of the positive muon when the latter undergoes jump diffusion in a solid in the presence of trapping impurities. The theory, restricted to low concentration of traps, is applicable to relaxation studies in both transverse and zero magnetic fields. In the transverse geometry, the dipolar interaction between the μ⁺ and the surrounding nuclear spins can be treated classically, and the analysis is simpler. The results obtained are shown to be identical to those derived before in a ‘two-state’ model, widely used recently in interpreting various experimental studies on trap-limited diffusion of light interstitials (μ⁺,H, etc.) in solids. The zero field technique is more versatile but is also more complicated to analyze as it involves nonsecular terms in the dipolar interaction. Assuming that the local dipolar fields are isotropic with their magnitudes distributed in a Gaussian manner, tractable results can be obtained for the Laplace transform of the zero field relaxation function. The latter needs to be inverted in order to facilitate comparison with experimental data, which are normally recorded in the time space. A scheme to handle this numerical problem is described and results are presented using realistic parameters.     

Proton and deutron NMR study of PTFE ionomer membranes

Proton and deutron NMR have been conducted to investigate the ionic motion in perfluorinated ionomer membranes from Dow Chemical (XUS) and DuPont (Nafion^R). Two proton relaxation peaks were found in the XUS specimen absorbed with H₂O. The major (narrow) peak presented a spin-lattice relaxation time (T₁) of 107 ms while the minor (broader) one gave much longer T₁. While the former was attributed to the water molecules involved in restricted motion, the latter was expected to be associated with the protons located in the vicinity of the sulfonate groups. Similar to the previous results from the others, only a single peak was detected in Nafion^R in ¹H spectra, indicating that the protons in the different environments were engaging rapid exchange within NMR time scale. In contrast to the inverse proportion dependence of the linewidth on the water sorption in Nafion^R, the major line of the XUS membrane exhibited insensitive linewidth dependence on the variation of H₂O concentration. The difference was attributed to the existence of narrow breaths of the pores in XUS sample, such that free water contribution to the enhancement of proton mobility was limited. The ²H spectra of Nafion^R were found to possess a doublet, due to nuclear quadrupolar interaction. Dow (XUS) membrane treated in at 100% relative humidity (RH) D₂O presented a single peak with the linewidth insensitive to the amount of heavy water absorbed. An additional rise emerged on the “shoulder” of this single peak when treated at 33% RH. It is concluded that XUS membrane does not provide strong hydrogen bonding to eliminate the rapid motion average over the nuclear quadrupole interaction.     

Metachronal propulsion of non-Newtonian viscoelastic mucus in an axisymmetric tube with ciliated walls

Cilia-induced flow of viscoelastic mucus through an idealized two-dimensional model of the human trachea is presented.The cilia motion is simulated by a metachronal wave pattern which enables the mobilization of highly viscous mucus even at nonzero Reynolds numbers.The viscoelastic mucus is analyzed with the upper convected Maxwell viscoelastic formulation which features a relaxation time and accurately captures normal stress generation in shear flows.The governing equations are transformed from fixed to wave(laboratory)frame with appropriate variables and resulting differential equations are perturbed about wave number.The trachea is treated as an axisymmetric ciliated tube.Radial and axial distributions in axial velocity are calculated via the regular perturbation method and pressure rise is computed with numerical integration using symbolic software MATHEMATICA^‘TM’.The influence of selected parameters which is cilia length,and Maxwell viscoelastic material parameter i.e.relaxation time for prescribed values of wave number are visualized graphically.Pressure rise is observed to increase considerably with elevation in both cilia length and relaxation time whereas the axial velocity is markedly decelerated.The simulations provide some insight into viscous-dominated cilia propulsion of rheological mucus and also serve as a benchmark for more advanced modeling.