Micro-mechanical behaviors of SMA composite materials under hygro-thermo-elastic strain fields

An analytical procedure to evaluate the behavior of shape memory alloy (SMA) composite under hygrothermal environment is presented. The SMA wires are considered as inclusions embedded in a homogeneous matrix medium of the composite. The inhomogeneity associated with the phase transformation and thermal strains in the SMA wire as well as the hygrothermal strain in the matrix is homogenized using Eshelby’s equivalent inclusion method. In the present work, a similar approach adopted for SMA composites by Marfia and Sacco [Marfia, S., Sacco, E., 2005. Micromechanics and homogenisation of SMA-wire-reinforced materials. J. Appl. Mech. 72 (2), 259–268.] is considered in order to validate the response of SMA composite subjected to thermo-elastic strain field. However, in the present approach, certain modifications and new derivations for the inelastic strain tensors is carried out. First, the constitutive laws for the SMA wire and matrix are expressed in terms of the average strain in the composite. The evolutionary equations used to characterize the pseudoelastic (PE) behavior of the SMA wire are redefined in terms of the eigen strains (phase transformation and thermal strains) occurring in the SMA wire, which are then expressed in terms of the average strain in the composite. Further, the SMA composite constitutive law under coupled hygro-thermo-elastic strain fields is proposed. The generic homogenized hygric and thermal inelastic composite tensors required for the proposed hygro-thermo-elastic constitutive law are derived. Finally, the SMA composite lamina is characterized using Eshelby’s equivalent inclusion method. Using the proposed modifications and derivations, the analytical results are validated for the case of thermo-elastic strain fields and the procedure is then extended to evaluate the SMA composite behavior under hygro-thermo-elastic strain fields. The results include the effect of thermo-elastic and hygro-thermo-elastic strains on the transformation stresses and the nature of hysteresis due to hygric and thermo-elastic strains.     

Structures of two ketals derived from a pentacyclic cage diketone

The structure of a compound derived from a symmetrical cage diketone in which one of the ketone C=O groups has been converted into a ketal is reported. An investigation into reasons for the selective functionalization resulted in the isolation of acis, cisoid, cis linear triquinane derivative in which both ketones are converted to ketals that share a transannular oxygen atom. Crystal data:2, monoclinic,P2₁/c,a=7.6298(9),b=7.673(3),c=22.125(3)Å,=97.59(1)°,V=1283.9(5)ų, andR=0.048 (1001 reflections);4, triclinic,P¯1,a=7.3864(9),b=9.6362(9),c=10.3889(9)Å,=75.749(6),=76.300(8), =83.100(8)°,V=694.8(4)ų, andR=0.088 (1284 reflections).     

Exogenous Application of Green Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) to Improve the Germination,Physiochemical, and Yield Parameters of Wheat Plants under Salinity Stress

Agriculture is the backbone of every developing country. Among various crops, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) belongs to the family Poaceae and is the most important staple food crop of various countries. Different biotic (viruses, bacteria and fungi) and abiotic stresses (water logging, drought and salinity) adversely affect the qualitative and quantitative attributes of wheat. Among these stresses, salinity stress is a very important limiting factor affecting the morphological, physiological, biochemical attributes and grain yield of wheat. This research work was carried out to evaluate the influence of phytosynthesized TiO₂ NPs on the germination, physiochemical, and yield attributes of wheat varieties in response to salinity. TiO₂ NPs were synthesized using TiO₂ salt and a Buddleja asiatica plant extract as a reducing and capping agent. Various concentrations of TiO₂ nanoparticles (20, 40, 60 and 80 mg/L) and salt solutions (NaCl) (100 and 150 mM) were used. A total of 20 mg/L and 40 mg/L improve germination attributes, osmotic and water potential, carotenoid, total phenolic, and flavonoid content, soluble sugar and proteins, proline and amino acid content, superoxide dismutase activity, and reduce malondialdhehyde (MDA) content at both levels of salinity. These two concentrations also improved the yield attributes of wheat varieties at both salinity levels. The best results were observed at 40 mg/L of TiO₂ NPs at both salinity levels. However, the highest concentrations (60 and 80 mg/L) of TiO₂ NPs showed negative effects on germination, physiochemical and yield characteristics and causes stress in both wheat varieties under control irrigation conditions and salinity stress. Therefore, in conclusion, the findings of this research are that the foliar application of TiO₂ NPs can help to improve tolerance against salinity stress in plants.     

Investigation of defect centres responsible for TL/OSL in MgAl2O4:Tb

Magnesium aluminate doped with Tb³⁺ (MgAl₂O₄:Tb³⁺) was prepared by combustion synthesis. Three thermoluminsence (TL) peaks at 120, 220 and 340 °C were observed. PL and TL emission spectrum shows that Tb³⁺ acts as the luminescent centre. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) was observed when stimulated by 470 nm blue light.Electron spin resonance (ESR) studies were carried out to identify the defect centres responsible for the TL and OSL processes in MgAl₂O₄:Tb³⁺. Two defect centres were identified in irradiated MgAl₂O₄:Tb³⁺ phosphor by ESR measurements which was carried out at room temperature and these were assigned to V and F⁺ centres. V centre (hole centre) is correlated to 120 and 220 °C TL peaks and F⁺ centre (electron centre), which acts as a recombination centre is correlated to 120, 220 and 340 °C.     

Indentation studies on 〈1 0 0〉, 〈0 0 1〉 and 〈1 0 1〉 face of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP) single crystals: A novel nonlinear optical material

In the present work, Vickers microhardness measurements were carried out on different faces i.e. (1 0 0), (0 0 1) and (1 0 1) of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP) single crystals grown by slow evaporation solution technique at room temperature in the load ranging from 0.2 to 2 N. The obtained results show that the load independent hardness values are 0.8, 0.7 and 0.66 GPa, respectively at different faces of ADP crystal. From the crack length measurements, the fracture toughness values (K_c) was estimated using Evans and Anstis model and the present studies suggest that Evans model is more relevant when compared to Anstis model. The load variation of some mechanical properties viz. brittle index number (B_i) and yield strength (σ_y) for ADP have also been calculated for the first time.     

Structural and magnetic studies on spark plasma sintered SmCo5/Fe bulk nanocomposite magnets

SmCo₅+x wt% Fe (x=0$x=0$, 5 and 10) nanocomposite powders were synthesized by mechanical milling and were consolidated into bulk shape by spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique. The evolution of structure and magnetic properties were systematically investigated in milled powders as well as in SPS samples. A maximum coercivity of 8.9 kOe was achieved in spark plasma sintered SmCo₅+5 wt% Fe sample. The exchange spring interaction between the hard and soft magnetic phases was evaluated using δM–H measurements and the analysis revealed that the SPS sample containing 5 wt% Fe had a stronger exchange coupling between the magnetic phases than that of the sample with10 wt% Fe.     

Cathode-sheath driven low-speed aerodynamic flow actuation using direct-current surface glow discharges

Flow actuation by a continuous/pulsed, direct-current (DC) surface glow discharge is explored. The discharge comprises an array of pin electrode pairs flush mounted on a dielectric actuator surface that lies adjacent to stagnant air. Strong electrostatic fields produced in the cathode sheath region of the discharge provides a motive force on the ions which in turn drag the background gas resulting in directed air flow from the anode to the cathode. The induced flow velocity is estimated by particle image velocimetry (PIV) at 10 Hz with TiO₂ seeding. For a pulsed DC discharge with peak power of 5 W per electrode pair, the induced flow velocity reaches peak values of about 1.7 m/s which is comparable to dielectric-barrier discharge (DBD) or corona discharge actuators. The actuation effect quantified by the magnitude of induced velocity increases as the pulse frequency increases from 0 to 1 kHz. The actuation effect decreases for further increase in frequency above 1 kHz. Decreased actuation effect at high frequency is accompanied by structural change in the discharge. At fixed frequency of 1 kHz, flow actuation effect is highest for a square wave pulse with a duty cycle of 50% indicating that pulsed DC discharges produces better actuation than continuous DC with a corresponding reduction in energy consumption.