Analysis of stresses in two-dimensional isostatic granular systems

We analyze a recently proposed continuous model for stress fields that develop in two-dimensional purely isostatic granular systems. We present a reformulation of the field equations, as a linear first-order hyperbolic system, and show that it is very convenient both for analysis and for numerical computations. Our analysis allows us to predict quantitatively the formation and directions of stress paths and, from these, trajectories and magnitudes of force chains, given the structure in terms of a particular fabric tensor. We further predict quantitatively changes of stresses along the paths, as well as leakage and branching of stress from the main paths into the cones that they make in terms of the fabric tensor. Numerical computations in both Cartesian and cylindrical coordinates verify the analytic results and illustrate the rich behavior discovered. All the phenomena predicted by our solutions have been observed experimentally, suggesting that stresses in isostatic systems can form a base model for a more developed stress theory in granular materials.     

Non-Newtonian deformation of Co-based metallic glass at low stresses

The results of precision measurements of creep in Co-based metallic glass are presented. It is shown that, in spite of generally accepted concepts, plastic flow at low stresses under intense structural relaxation conditions is of a non-Newtonian type. Consequences of this fact are considered.     

Localization phenomena in models of ion-conducting glass formers

The mass transport in soft-sphere mixtures of small and big particles as well as in the disordered Lorentz gas (LG) model is studied using molecular dynamics (MD) computer simulations. The soft-sphere mixture shows anomalous small-particle diffusion signifying a localization transition separate from the big-particle glass transition. Switching off small-particle excluded volume constraints slows down the small-particle dynamics, as indicated by incoherent intermediate scattering functions. A comparison of logarithmic time derivatives of the mean-squared displacements reveals qualitative similarities between the localization transition in the soft-sphere mixture and its counterpart in the LG. Nevertheless, qualitative differences emphasize the need for further research elucidating the connection between both models.     

Hysteretic transition between avalanches and continuous flow in rotated granular systems

Experiments in drums or cylinders partly filled with a granular system and rotated constantly about their horizontally aligned axis of symmetry show a hysteretic transition from discrete avalanches to continuous flow if the rotation rate is adiabatically changed. Herein, we show that this hysteresis can be explained by the impact of global Langevin-type fluctuations in a recently proposed minimal model for surface flow along granular piles. For too large magnitudes of the fluctuations corresponding to almost elastic grains, the hysteresis vanishes. This might explain why molecular dynamical simulations were not yet able to detect the hysteretic transition. (c) 1999 American Institute of Physics.     

局部塑性变形下铁基金属玻璃的致密化和非均匀性增强

本文研究了经局部塑性变形后, Fe₇₈Si₉B₁₃金属玻璃在原子尺度上的结构演变及其对合金显微硬度的影响.借助砂纸作为传力的媒介,充分放大了作用于带材表面上的等效压力,发生塑性变形后合金表面产生了大量的剪切带.基于倒空间和实空间的同步辐射X射线衍射分析,在塑性变形后,合金结构的致密度增大,过剩自由体积被排出,并由此揭示了Fe₇₈Si₉B₁₃金属玻璃在短程及中程尺度上原子协同重排行为.结合高分辨透射电子显微镜观察的结果, Fe₇₈Si₉B₁₃金属玻璃在发生塑性变形后,结构不均匀的程度将会加剧.此外,不同于单轴加载下金属玻璃的加工软化, Fe₇₈Si₉B₁₃金属玻璃在发生局部塑性变形后,维氏硬度增大,表现出局部的加工硬化行为.从自由体积的角度看,合金表面的大量剪切带可能是由于剪切带影响区域的重叠和交叉发生相互作用,并加速原子迁移,...     

Acoustic emission during heterogeneous and homogeneous plastic flow of a metallic glass

Measurements have been made of the acoustic emission that occurs during the plastic deformation of metallic glass subjected to various heat treatments. It is shown that for the same temperature and deformation rate it is possible to have either homogeneous flow with no acoustic emission or localized flow accompanied by intense discrete acoustic emission, depending on the preliminary annealing conditions. From an analysis of the experimental results, it is deduced that the nature of the plastic flow of metallic glasses is determined by the structural relaxation rate at the experimental temperature and the conditions of intense structural relaxation, that plastic flow is homogeneous viscoelastic, and, under the conditions of kinetically inhibited structural relaxation, that it is localized and occurs by a dislocation-like mechanism. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 39, 885–888 (May 1997)     

Democratic particle motion for metabasin transitions in simple glass formers

We use molecular dynamics computer simulations to investigate the local motion of the particles in a supercooled binary liquid. Using the concept of the distance matrix, we find that the alpha relaxation corresponds to a small number of crossings from one metabasin to a neighboring one. Each crossing is very rapid and involves the collective motion of O(40) particles that form a relatively compact cluster, whereas stringlike motions seem not to be relevant for these transitions. These compact clusters are thus potential candidates for the cooperatively rearranging regions proposed a long time ago by Adam and Gibbs.     

Correlation between jerky flow and jerky dynamics in a nanoscratch on a metallic glass film

Chaos has been well understood in dynamic system, however, how the chaotic behavior occur in jerky flow in material, is still not clear, and is lack of specific chaotic attractor. Here the jerky evolution of lateral force and the stair-like fluctuation of lateral displacement are observed for Ni62 Nb38(at.%) metallic glass film during nanoscratch process. This jerky flow is investigated by using the largest Lyapunov exponent, Kolmogorov entropy and fractal dimension, and chaotic behavior of lateral force-time and normal displacement-lateral displacement sequences is verified. In addition to time series analysis, it is found that jerk equation can be used to describe the jerky flow of the metallic-glass film during nanoscratch. More importantly, unambiguous chaotic attractor is presented by jerky dynamics using "jerk"-singularities, namely the total change rate of lateral force relative to scratch time. These reveal an inner connection between jerky flow and jerky dynamics in nanoscratch of a metallic-glass film.     

非晶材料玻璃转变过程中记忆效应的热力学

低温下处于非平衡态的非晶材料升温到玻璃转变以上,要先后发生弛豫和回复最终达到平衡过冷液态,其中弛豫过程中释放的能量在回复过程中以等量的方式获取,表现出明显记忆行为.本文基于氧化物、金属与小分子等多种非晶形成体系,全面探讨了在围绕玻璃转变的一个冷却加热循环过程中的焓弛豫特征,建立了弛豫谱,发现弛豫焓在数值上与熔化焓密切相关.基于弛豫焓与非晶材料动力学Fragility之间的关联,展示了非晶体系在动力学极限(m=175)条件下的玻璃转变热力学基本特征,与热力学二级相变进行了对比.研究深化了对非晶弛豫与玻璃转变热力学的理解.     

Neutron scattering studies of solid-state polymorphism in dimethyl butanol glass formers

Inelastic incoherent neutron scattering (IINS) and neutron powder diffraction (NPD) studies have been performed for two dimethyl 1-butanols and two dimethyl 2-butanols with CH₃ side molecular groups. Low-temperature vibrational density of states confirmed solid-state polymorphism detected by calorimetric methods, i.e., existence of crystalline and ODIC phases for all isomers, orientationally disordered glass for 2,2-DM 1-B and 3,3-DM 2-B, and glass of isotropic phase for 3,3-DM 1-B. Difference in vibrational density of states between glass and the ordered crystal has shown the so-called Boson peak. Influence of the OH group position in the molecules on their vibrational dynamics up to 50 meV is discussed.     

From strong to fragile glass formers: secondary relaxation in polyalcohols

We have studied details of the molecular origin of slow secondary relaxation near T(g) in a series of neat polyalcohols by means of dielectric spectroscopy and (2)H NMR. From glycerol to threitol, xylitol, and sorbitol the appearance of the secondary relaxation changes gradually from a wing-type scenario to a pronounced beta peak. It is found that in sorbitol the dynamics of the whole molecule contributes equally to the beta process, while in glycerol the hydrogen bond forming OH groups remain rather rigid compared to the hydrogens bonded to the carbon skeleton.     

Ideal shear banding in metallic glass

As the most fundamental deformation mechanism in metallic glasses (MGs), the shear banding has attracted a lot of attention and interest over the years. However, the intrinsic properties of the shear band are affected and even substantially changed by the influence of non-rigid testing machine that cannot be completely removed in real compression tests. In particular, the duration of the shear banding event is prolonged due to the recovery of the stressed compliant frame of testing machine and therefore the temperature rise at the operating shear band is, more or less, underestimated in previous literatures. In this study, we propose a model for the ‘ideal’ shear banding in metallic glass. The compliance of the testing machine is eliminated, and the intrinsic shear banding process is extracted and investigated. Two important physical parameters, the sliding speed and the temperature of shear band, are calculated and analysed on the basis of the thermo-mechanical coupling. Strain-rate hardening is proposed to compensate thermal softening and stabilise the shear band. The maximum value of the sliding speed is found to be on the order of 10 m/s at least, and the critical temperature at which strain-rate hardening begins to take effect should reach as high as 0.9T_g (T_g is the glass transition temperature) for a stable shear banding event in metallic glass according to the early experimental data. This model can help to understand and control the shear banding and therefore the deformation in MGs.     

压痕塑性变形诱导非晶合金的晶化

利用透射电镜研究了Zr₆₅Al_7.5Ni₁₀Cu_12.5Ag₅非晶合金的Vickers压痕内微观结构的变化. 结果发现，压痕塑性变形诱导非晶合金发生了晶化，在压头棱角下面的区域内有尺寸大于1 μm的晶体析出. 选区电子衍射分析表明，该析出相是稳定的CuZr₂或NiZr₂四方晶体，而没有析出该非晶合金在加热过程中的初生相二十面体准晶相,说明非晶合金的机械稳定性与热稳定性是有区别的. 打压痕过程中的温度升高是可以忽略的，本工作进一步证实了塑性变形诱导非晶合金晶化的主要动力是粘性流动而非局部热效应. 关键词： 非晶合金 塑性变形 粘性流动 局部热效应     

Muon-hydrogen correlation in nickel-titanium metallic glass

Measurements of muon spin rotation in a transverse magnetic field in the Ni₃₅Ti₆₅ metallic glass saturated with hydrogen are reported. The experiment was carried out on the μSR facility at ISIS/RAL. Chilton, UK. The decay of the muon precession has a gaussian form below 150 K. Above this temperature motional narrowing occurs, the linewidth falling to the background value at about 300 K. The linewidth is almost entirely determined by the dipolar interaction between the muon and proton spins and the line narrowing is due to the correlated motion of the muon-hydrogen system. The activation energies and jump rates deduced from these measurements and from nuclear magnetic dipolar relaxation are compared.     

Coarsening in granular systems

We review a few representative examples of granular experiments or models where phase separation, accompanied by domain coarsening, is a relevant phenomenon. We first elucidate the intrinsic non-equilibrium, or athermal, nature of granular media. Thereafter, dilute systems, the so-called “granular gases”, are discussed: idealized kinetic models, such as the gas of inelastic hard spheres in the cooling regime, are the optimal playground to study the slow growth of correlated structures, e.g., shear patterns, vortices, and clusters. In fluidized experiments, liquid–gas or solid–gas separations have been observed. In the case of monolayers of particles, phase coexistence and coarsening appear in several different setups, with mechanical or electrostatic energy input. Phenomenological models describe, even quantitatively, several experimental measures, both for the coarsening dynamics and for the dynamic transition between different granular phases. The origin of the underlying bistability is in general related to negative compressibility from granular hydrodynamics computations, even if the understanding of the mechanism is far from complete. A relevant problem, with important industrial applications, is related to the demixing or segregation of mixtures, for instance in rotating tumblers or on horizontally vibrated plates. Finally, the problem of compaction of highly dense granular materials, which is relevant in many practical situations, is usually described in terms of coarsening dynamics: there, bubbles of misaligned grains evaporate, allowing the coalescence of optimally arranged islands and a progressive reduction of the total occupied volume.     

Gel-forming patchy colloids and network glass formers: thermodynamic and dynamic analogies

This article discusses recent attempts to provide a deeper understanding of the thermoreversible “gel” state of colloidal matter and to unravel the analogies between gels at the colloidal level and gels at the molecular level, commonly known as network-forming strong liquids. The connection between gel-forming patchy colloids and strong liquids is provided by the limited valence of the inter-particle interactions, i.e. by the presence of a limit in the number of bonded nearest neighbors.     

Correlation between flow characteristics and interfacial friction behaviour of a Zr-based metallic glass during micro-extrusion

The interfacial friction behaviour of Zr₃₅Ti₃₀Be_26.75Cu_8.25 metallic glass during micro-extrusion was investigated at various strain rates and temperatures in the supercooled liquid region. A friction mechanism map that distributes adhesion regime, furrow regime and mechanical engagement regime was constructed. These regimes respectively correspond to Newtonian flow, non-Newtonian flow and inhomogeneous flow by comparing with the typical deformation map. The correlation between flow characteristics and interfacial friction behaviour is well analysed by combining the viscosity theory with the finite-element simulations.     

Influence of chain length on the alpha-beta bifurcation in oligomeric glass formers

A series of oligo(propylene glycol) dimethyl ethers has been investigated using dielectric spectroscopy in order to relate features of the glass transition dynamics to the number of monomer units N in the chain. The results show that (i) when scaled with the glass transition temperature, the beta relaxations systematically become faster for larger N whereas the alpha relaxations display nearly identical temperature evolutions, i.e., the alpha-beta bifurcation shifts towards shorter times for larger N, (ii) the bifurcation scenario displays a crossover in behavior at N approximately 10 monomer units, signaling the transition from oligomeric to polymeric behavior, and (iii) the beta relaxation has a cooperative nature.     

Three-dimensional shear in granular flow

The evolution of granular shear flow is investigated as a function of height in a split-bottom Couette cell. Using particle tracking, magnetic-resonance imaging, and large-scale simulations, we find a transition in the nature of the shear as a characteristic height H* is exceeded. Below H* there is a central stationary core; above H* we observe the onset of additional axial shear associated with torsional failure. Radial and axial shear profiles are qualitatively different: the radial extent is wide and increases with height, while the axial width remains narrow and fixed.