On the limits of sums of fuzzy numbers

We study limits of sums of fuzzy numbers with different spreads and different shape functions, where addition is defined by the sup-t-norm. We show the existence of the limit of the series of fuzzy numbers and prove the uniform continuity of the limit. Finally we investigate a law of large numbers for sequences of fuzzy numbers.     

An anti-plane propagating crack in a functionally graded piezoelectric strip bonded to a homogeneous piezoelectric strip

Summary A finite crack propagating at constant speed in a functionally graded piezoelectric strip (FGPS) bonded to a homogeneous piezoelectric strip is considered. It is assumed that the electroelastic material properties of the FGPS vary exponentially across the thickness of the strip, and that the bimaterial strip is under combined anti-plane mechanical shear and in-plane electrical loads. The analysis is conducted for the electrically unified crack boundary condition, which includes both the traditional permeable and the impermeable ones. By using the Fourier transform, the problem is reduced to the solution of Fredholm integral equations of the second kind. Numerical results for the stress intensity factor and the crack sliding displacement are presented to show the influences of the crack propagation speed, electric loads, FGPS gradation, crack length, electromechanical coupling coefficient, properties of the bonded homogeneous piezoelectric strip and crack location.     

Anisotropic wet etching on birefringent calcite crystal

In this paper, a mechanism for wet etching on birefringent calcite crystal is discussed. By altering the etchant type, its concentration and the stirring speed, the etching mechanism can be confined within the surface reaction regime, resulting in anisotropic etching. Acetic acid can be used to form V shapes defined by the {101̄1} planes with an intersecting angle of 51 degree. V-groove and blazed grating, with a grating period as small as 2 μm, were successfully fabricated. Such gratings can be used as transmission and reflection devices in the visible and infrared ranges. In addition, a transmission polarization dependent device can also be made by covering the calcite with index matching material. PACS 42.70.-a; 42.79.Dj     

Kähler Surfaces of Positive Scalar Curvature

We construct Kähler metrics of positive scalar curvature on almost all blown-up ruled surfaces of arbitrary genus. The metrics have an explicit form on ruled surfaces blown up at most twice successively from a minimal model. Our surfaces are generic in the sense that they make up a dense set in the deformations of a given ruled surface.     

Blow-up of viscous heat-conducting compressible flows

We show the blow-up of strong solution of viscous heat-conducting flow when the initial density is compactly supported. This is an extension of Z. Xin's result [Z. Xin, Blow up of smooth solutions to the compressible Navier–Stokes equations with compact density, Comm. Pure Appl. Math. 51 (1998) 229–240] to the case of positive heat conduction coefficient but we do not need any information for the time decay of total pressure nor the lower bound of the entropy. We control the lower bound of second moment by total energy and obtain the exact relationship between the size of support of initial density and the existence time. We also provide a sufficient condition for the blow-up in case that the initial density is positive but has a decay at infinity.     

Sound field of a baffled sound source covered by an anisotropic rigid-porous material

A theoretical approach for the sound field of a piston sound source covered by a finite thickness layer of anisotropic rigid-porous material is presented. The formulation is an extension of the method worked out by Amedin et al. [Sound field of a baffled piston source covered by a porous medium layer. J Acoust Soc Am 1995;98(3):1757]. First, in the present study the sound field of a point source is described by cylindrical waves. Then, with the proper boundary conditions, the sound pressure radiated from a piston source covered by a layer of anisotropic porous material can be calculated. The effects of frequency and bulk density of material on the sound propagation in an anisotropic porous material are studied. Finally, the effect of anisotropy is discussed.