In-plane loading of a cracked elastic solid by a disc inclusion with a Mindlin-type constraint

The paper examines the problem related to the axisymmetric interaction between an external circular crack and a centrally placed penny-shaped rigid inclusion located in the plane of the crack. The interface between the inclusion and the elastic medium exhibits a Mindlin-type imperfect bi-lateral contact. Analytical results presented in the paper illustrate the manner in which the lateral translational stiffness of the inclusion and the stress intensity factor at the boundary of the external circular crack are influenced by the inclusion/crack radii ratio.     

Ionization potentials and geometrical structure of pure and oxygenated barium clusters

In this article, we present results obtained on structures of small bare and oxygenated barium clusters produced by the laser vaporization technique. Contrary to the very weak Ba—Ba binding (0.202 eV), the Ba—O binding is rather strong (5.8 eV). As a consequence, extremely small amounts of oxygen in the cluster source are sufficient to induce the nucleation of oxygenated barium clusters. Surprisingly, at least for substoechiometric systems, Ba_nO_m clusters exhibit the same icosahedral structure as bare clusters do. Mass spectra seem to indicate that replacing a barium atom with a strongly polar BaO molecule does not affect the geometrical structure of the cluster. This aspect is more easily understandable if we assume that the oxygen atom takes place inside the structure of the Ba_n cluster without significant distortions. Ab-initio calculations have been undertaken in order to give a satisfactory account of this hypothesis.     

Some characteristic features of layered ferroelectrics of the type A m−1Bi2MmO3m+3

The values of the Curie temperatures of bismuth-containing layered ferroelectrics and deformations of the pseudoperovskite cell, distinguished in the perovskite-like layer of these compounds, are discussed. It is shown that the perovskite-like layers play an important role in the appearance of the ferroelectric state. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 39, 135–136 (January 1997)     

Energetics of an adiabatically-loaded excited anharmonic oscillator

The dependence of the energy characteristics on an adiabatically slowly increasing external force is determined analytically for an anharmonic oscillator. The analytical results are confirmed by a numerical calculation. The nature of the force dependences of the energy characteristics are determined and discussed. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 39, 153–157 (January 1997)     

Existence regions of regimes with anomalously high rates of plasma generation in grid plasma switch elements

Results are presented from a systematic investigation of the conditions under which anomalously high rates of plasma generation are observed in the anode region of a low-voltage Knudsen arc in grid plasma switch elements. The phenomenon develops over a wide range of currents and switched voltages under conditions for which the plasma density in the cathode-grid region is noticeably higher than the density in the anode region. and its onset is characterized by a pronounced pressure threshold of ∼2×10⁻² Torr. The results are analyzed from the standpoint of the possible mechanisms for anomalous plasma generation — collisional nonresonance diffusion of electrons in velocity space, leading to enrichment of the distribution function in fast particles, and the collapse of Langmuir waves in the gap at the high energies of the beam produced when the wires of the grid are bridged by the quenching pulse and and the current is blocked. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 67, 15–21 (June 1997)