Pressure-induced superconductor-insulator transition in the spinel compound CuRh2S4

We performed resistivity measurements in CuRh2S4 under quasihydrostatic pressure of up to 8.0 GPa, and found a pressure-induced superconductor-insulator transition. Initially, with increasing pressure, the superconducting transition temperature T(c) increases from 4.7 K at ambient pressure to 6.4 K at 4.0 GPa, but decreases at higher pressures. With further compression, superconductivity in CuRh2S4 disappears abruptly at a critical pressure P(SI) between 5.0 and 5.6 GPa, when it becomes an insulator.     

Reactivity of amorphous aluminas prepared by the thermal decomposition of aluminum chloride and nitrate

The physicochemical properties and reactivity of amorphous aluminas, Al₂O₃(C1) and Al₂O₃(N), which were prepared by the thermal decomposition of AlCl₃ · 6 H₂O and Al(NO₃)₃ · 9 H₂O at 600°C for 2–300 h, were investigated by means of TG, DTA, X-ray diffraction, SEM and IR. The reactivity of Al₂O₃(Cl) for ZnAl₂O₄ formation was, in general, higher than that of Al₂O₃(N) and was influenced by the content of residual chlorine in Al₂O₃(Cl). The rate of ZnAl₂O₄ formation followed the Avrami—Erofeev equation in the ZnOAl₂O₃(Cl) system and the Jander equation ZnOAl₂O₃(N) system, respectively.     

On the dispersion managed soliton

We review various methods used to study the dispersion managed soliton for nonlinear return-to-zero pulse propagation in optical fibers. A numerical averaging method, the guiding center soliton, the variational method both with a simple and with an extended ansatz, as well as the multiscale theory are discussed and numerically compared, allowing us to show their domains of applicability. Their relative merits and demerits are then exposed. (c) 2000 American Institute of Physics.     

Melt rheology of long-chain-branched polypropylenes

Rheological properties of long-chain-branched isotactic polypropylene (PP) via copolymerization with a very small amount of nonconjugated α,ω-diene monomer using metallocene catalyst system in both linear and nonlinear regions were investigated, comparing with conventional linear and long-chain-branched PP modified at postreactor. Although comonomer incorporation was equal to 0.05 mol% or less, it caused high molecular weight, broad molecular weight distribution, and long-chain branching. A detailed study on the effect of diene incorporation on the polymer properties was conducted, comparing with modified PP in postreactor. Polymer chain microstructures were characterized by gel permeation chromatography with multiangle laser light scattering (MALLS), differential scanning calorimetry, and rheological means: dynamic viscoelasticity, step-strain, uniaxial elongational flow measurements, and large amplitude oscillatory shear. The PP, which incorporated a small amount of diene monomer, showed significantly improved viscoelastic behaviors. The diene-propylene copolymer containing long-chain branches showed extremely long relaxation mode under shear and outstanding viscosity increase under elongational flow, so-called strain hardening. The difference in microstructure of diene-propylene copolymer with modified PP with long-chain branches is investigated by MALLS and rheological characterizations.     

Approximate vibration analysis of laminated curved panel using higher-order shear deformation theory

An approximate analysis for free vibration of a laminated curved panel (shell) with four edges simply supported (SS2), is presented in this paper. The transverse shear deformation is considered by using a higher-order shear deformation theory. For solving the highly coupled partial differential governing equations and associated boundary conditions, a set of solution functions in the form of double trigonometric Fourier series, which are required to satisfy the geometry part of the considered boundary conditions, is assumed in advance. By applying the Galerkin procedure both to the governing equations and to the natural boundary conditions not satisfied by the assumed solution functions, an approximate solution, capable of providing a reliable prediction for the global response of the panel, is obtained. Numerical results of antisymmetric angle-ply as well as symmetric cross-ply and angle-ply laminated curved panels are presented and discussed.     

Handling and stability performance of four-track steering vehicles

The advantages of using a four-track steering (4TS) vehicle are less slippage and sinkage of the tracks in turning, compared with conventional skid-steering tracked vehicles. This paper describes the steerability and the mobility of the 4TS vehicle for on- and off-road conditions. Mathematical models have also been developed to predict the effects of various types of differential torque transfer on the handling behavior of a vehicle. A turning vehicle motion was simulated and compared with the experimental data. The results demonstrate that the proposed mathematical model could accurately assess the steering performance of a 4TS vehicle.