On nano-scale hydrodynamic lubrication models

Current magnetic head sliders and other micromechanisms involve gas lubrication flows with gap thicknesses in the nanometer range and stepped shapes fabricated by lithographic methods. In mechanical simulations, rarefaction effects are accounted for by models that propose Poiseuille flow factors which exhibit singularities as the pressure tends to zero or +∞. In this Note we show that these models are indeed mathematically well-posed, even in the case of discontinuous gap thickness functions. Our results cover popular models that were not previously analyzed in the literature, such as the Fukui–Kaneko model and the second-order model, among others. To cite this article: G. Buscaglia et al., C. R. Mecanique 333 (2005).     

Gripless nanotension test for determination of nano-scale properties

This paper proposes a novel material testing method, gripless nanotension technique (GNT), to assess the basic mechanical properties of nano-scale structures in top-down processes. The GNT exhibits prominent advantages over conventional methods, i.e., use of a nanoindenter as a reliable and simple testing device, high-quality nano-scale metallic specimen with negligible residual stress, and tensile testing possible in the through-thickness direction. Using the proposed method, nano-scale polycrystalline specimens obtained from a nickel film were tested. Through the experiment, well-defined values of material properties with extraordinary phenomenal findings, i.e., strikingly reduced elastic modulus, yield strength and tensile strength of much higher values could be reliably observed and determined at the nano-scale.     

Nonlocal coupled thermoelastic wave propagation band structures of nano-scale phononic crystal beams based on GN theory with energy dissipation: An analytical solution

This paper deals with the band structures of thermoelastic waves in nano-scale phononic crystal or metamaterial beams considering nano-size effects. The nonlocal coupled thermoelastic governing equations are derived using the Green–Naghdi theory of the generalized coupled thermoelasticity with energy dissipation and Eringen’s nonlocal theory. The derived governing equations are analytically solved and the field quantities including the temperature and the deflection are obtained in the closed forms. Using the proposed analytical solution, the transfer matrix between two unit-cells are obtained using the thermal and mechanical continuity conditions on the interfaces between the unit-cells and between the two sections of each unit-cell. The band structures of the phononic crystals are obtained using the Bloch–Floquet theorem. The detailed discussions are presented for the band structures of nonlocal thermoelastic waves in nano-scale aluminum/epoxy phononic crystal or metamaterial beams. Also, the effects of the small-scale parameter and the thickness of the epoxy layers on the band structures are studied and discussed by using the derived analytical solution.     

A directed continuum model of micro- and nano-scale thin films

As is well known, classical continuum theories cease to adequately model a material’s behavior as long-range loads or interactions begin to have a greater effect on the overall behavior of the material, i.e., as the material no longer conforms to the locality requirements of classical continuum theories. It is suggested that certain structures to be analyzed in this work, e.g., columnar thin films, are influenced by non-local phenomena. Directed continuum theories, which are often used to capture non-local behavior in the context of a continuum theory, will therefore be used. The analysis in this work begins by establishing the kinematics relationships for a discrete model based on the physical structure of a columnar thin film. The strain energy density of the system is calculated and used to formulate a directed continuum theory, in particular a micromorphic theory, involving deformations of the film substrate and deformations of the columnar structure. The resulting boundary value problem is solved analytically to obtain the deformation of the film in response to applied end displacements.     

In-situ tensile testing of nano-scale specimens in SEM and TEM

We present a new experimental method for the mechanical characterization of freestanding thin films with thickness on the order of nanometers to micrometers. The method allows, for the first time, in-situ SEM and TEM observation of materials response under uniaxial tension, with measurements of both stresses and strains under a wide variety of environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity. The materials that can be tested include metals, dielectrics, and multi-layer composites that can be deposited/grown on a silicon substrate. The method involves lithography and bulk micromachining techniques to pattern the specimen of desired geometry, release the specimen from the substrate, and co-fabricate a force sensor with the specimen. Co-fabrication provides perfect alignment and gripping. The tensile testing fits an existing TEM straining stage, and a SEM stage. We demonstrate the proposed methodology by fabricating a 200 nm thick, 23.5 μm wide, and 185 μm long freestanding sputter deposited aluminum specimen. The testing was done in-situ inside an environmental SEM chamber. The stress-strain diagram of the specimen shows a linear elastic regime up to the yield stress σ _y MPa, with an elastic modulusE=74.6 GPa.     

Embrittlement observed in Cr–Mo turbine bolts after service

The present paper describes a study aimed at investigating the extent of service related embrittlement suffered by a series of Cr–Mo steel turbine bolts after over 200,000 h at 450°C. A small section of material was removed from a non-critical location of all the 51 bolts. From this section, the chemical composition, average hardness and average prior austenite grain size were measured. The toughness of the bolts was measured by Charpy impact testing and/or Auger electron spectroscopy. From the various parameters investigated, it was established that grain size and phosphorus level were the only factors which consistently identified whether a bolt was embrittled or non-embrittled. Indeed it was established that bolt embrittlement could be predicted using the simple product of microstructure grain size d (μm's) and bulk phosphorus content. Finally, it was observed that bolt embrittlement could be predicted using the simple product of microstructure grain size and bulk phosphorus level and that such a trend indicated the importance of grain boundary area available for service induced phosphorus segregation.     

A continuum model for size-dependent deformation of elastic films of nano-scale thickness

Ultra-thin elastic films of nano-scale thickness with an arbitrary geometry and edge boundary conditions are analyzed. An analytical model is proposed to study the size-dependent mechanical response of the film based on continuum surface elasticity. By using the transfer-matrix method along with an asymptotic expansion technique of small parameter, closed-form solutions for the mechanical field in the film is presented in terms of the displacements on the mid-plane. The asymptotic expansion terminates after a few terms and exact solutions are obtained. The mid-plane displacements are governed by three two-dimensional equations, and the associated edge boundary conditions can be prescribed on average. Solving the two-dimensional boundary value problem yields the three-dimensional response of the film. The solution is exact throughout the interior of the film with the exception of a thin boundary layer having an order of thickness as the film in accordance with the Saint-Venant’s principle.     

Turbulence measurements in pipe flow using a nano-scale thermal anemometry probe

A new nano-scale thermal anemometry probe (NSTAP) has been developed using a novel procedure based on deep reactive ion etching. The performance of the new probe is shown to be superior to that of the previous design by Bailey (J Fluid Mech 663:160–179, 2010). It is then used to measure the streamwise velocity component of fully developed turbulent pipe flow, and the results are compared with data obtained using conventional hot-wire probes. The NSTAP agrees well with the hot-wire at low Reynolds numbers, but it is shown that it has better spatial resolution and frequency response. The data demonstrate that significant spatial filtering effects can be seen in the hot-wire data for probes as small as 7 viscous units in length.     

Stress concentration around a nano-scale spherical cavity in elastic media: effect of surface stress

Influence of surface effect on stress concentration around a spherical cavity in a linearly isotropic elastic medium is studied on the basis of continuum surface elasticity. Following Goodier's work, a close form solution of the elastic field created by biaxial uniform load is presented. The stress concentration factors under different load combinations are obtained. It is concluded that consideration of surface effect leads to dependence of stress concentration factors on cavity size. Besides, numerical result indicates that stress concentration factors around the cavity are mainly affected by residual surface tension. The result is significant in the understanding of relevant mechanical phenomena in solids with nano-sized cavities.     

Size effects on the mixed modes and defect modes for a nano-scale phononic crystal slab

The size-dependent band structure of an Si phononic crystal(PnC) slab with an air hole is studied by utilizing the non-classic wave equations of the nonlocal strain gradient theory(NSGT). The three-dimensional(3D) non-classic wave equations for the anisotropic material are derived according to the differential form of the NSGT. Based on the the general form of partial differential equation modules in COMSOL, a method is proposed to solve the non-classic wave equations. The bands of the in-plane ...     

Size dependent,non-uniform elastic field inside a nano-scale spherical inclusion due to interface stress

The primary objective of the present paper is to analyze the influence of interface stress on the elastic field within a nano-scale inclusion. Special attention is focused on the case of non-hydrostatic eigenstrain. From the viewpoint of practicality, it is assumed that the inclusion is spherically shaped and embedded into an infinite solid, within which an axisymmetric eigenstrain is prescribed. Following Goodier’s work, the elastic fields inside and outside the inclusion are obtained analytically. It is found that the presence of interface stress leads to conclusion that the elastic field in the inclusion is not only dependent on inclusion size but also on non-uniformity. The result is in strong contrast to Eshelby’s solution based on classical elasticity, and it is helpful in the understanding of relevant physical phenomena in nano-structured solids.     

Interaction of turbulent coherent structures and small scale structures

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谈构件

<正>结构是把固体构件组织在一起承力的系统.最常见的构件分为3类:(1)绳、柱、杆、梁这种沿一个方向伸长其他两个维度很小的条状构件;(2)板、壳是两个维度比较大一个维度很小,即比较薄能够覆盖一定面积的构件;(3)块体构件,即构件的3个维度大小相差不远的构件.这是从结构分析的角度来考虑的,对不同类构件的力学分析形成了不同的结构力学学科.由于第1     

Objective structures

An objective atomic structure is a collection of atoms represented by mass points or ions for which every atom sees precisely the same atomic environment, up to rotation (or, more generally, orthogonal transformations) and translation. An objective molecular structure is a collection of molecules in which corresponding atoms in each molecule see precisely the same environment up to orthogonal transformation and translation. Many of the most actively studied structures in science satisfy these conditions, including an arbitrary ordered periodic crystal lattice, the tails and also the capsids of certain viruses, carbon nanotubes, many of the common proteins and C₆₀. A single crystal rod that has been bent and twisted into helical form also satisfies the conditions in a certain sense. The quantum mechanical significance of objective structures is described and some general methods for generating such structures are developed. Using these methods, some unexpected objective structures are revealed. Methods for simplified atomic level calculations of the energy, equilibrium and dynamics of these structures are given.     

Influence of size effect and elastic boundary condition on the pull-in instability of nano-scale cantilever beams immersed in liquid electrolytes

In this study, the static pull-in instability of nanocantilever beams immersed in a liquid electrolyte is theoretically investigated. In modeling the nanocantilever beam, the effects of van der Waals forces, elastic boundary condition and size dependency are considered. The modified couple stress theory, containing material length scale parameter, is used to interpret the size effect which appears in micro/nanoscale structures. The modified Adomian decomposition (MAD) method is used to gain an approximate analytical expression for the critical pull-in parameters which are essential for the design of micro/nanoactuators. The results show that the beam can deflect upward or downward, based on the values of the non-dimensional parameters. It is found that the size effect greatly influences the beam deflection and is more noticeable for small thicknesses. Neglecting size effect overestimates the deflection of the nanobeam. The findings reveal that the increase of ion concentration increases the pull-in voltage but decreases the pull-in deflection. Furthermore, an increase in ion concentration increases the influence of size-dependent effect on pull-in voltage.     

Deployment of tensegrity structures

In this paper we present a strategy for tensegrity structures deployment. The main idea is to use a certain set of equilibria to which the undeployed and deployed configurations belong. In the state space this set is represented by an equilibrium manifold. The deployment is conducted such that the deployment trajectory is close to this equilibrium manifold.     

Optimization of tensegrity structures

This paper concerns the design of tensegrity structures with optimal mass-to-stiffness ratio. Starting from an initial layout that defines the largest set of allowed element connections, the procedure seeks the topology, geometry and prestress of the structure that yields optimal designs for different loading scenarios. The design constraints include strength constraints for all elements of the structure, buckling constraints for bars, and shape constraints. The problem formulation accommodates different symmetry constraints for structure parameters and shape. The static response of the structure is computed by using the nonlinear large displacement model. The problem is cast in the form of a nonlinear program. Examples show layouts of 2D and 3D asymmetric and symmetric structures. The influence of the material parameters on the optimal shape of the structure is investigated.