New estimates for the Laplacian,the div–curl,and related Hodge systems

We establish new estimates for the Laplacian, the div–curl system, and more general Hodge systems in arbitrary dimension, with an application to minimizers of the Ginzburg–Landau energy. To cite this article: J. Bourgain, H. Brezis, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 338 (2004).     

Fracture strength of class II slot cavities restored with polymerizable restorative materials

This study compared the fracture strength of Class II slot cavities restored with polymerizable restorative materials. Sixty, caries-free, posterior teeth were divided into five groups of 12 teeth. The Class II slot cavities were prepared. The teeth were restored with two packable composites (Filtek P60, Surefil), a microhybrid composite (Filtek Z250)and two ormocer (Definite, Admira). The restorations were then subjected to fracture resistance tests. The marginal ridges of the restorations were loaded at an angle of 13.5° to the long axis of the tooth in an Universal Testing Machine until failure. Analysis of mean forces indicated that, Filtek P60, Surefil and Filtek Z250 exhibited better performance than Definite and Admira. The tested resin composites differed in their mechanical properties. This study suggested that fracture behavior were highly influenced by the filler system. Overall, Filtek P60, Surefil, Filtek Z250, demonstrated good fracture resistance. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Finding Robust Solutions Using Local Search

This paper investigates how a local search metaheuristic for continuous optimisation can be adapted so that it finds broad peaks, corresponding to robust solutions. This is relevant in problems in which uncertain or noisy data is present. When using a genetic or evolutionary algorithm, it is standard practice to perturb solutions once before evaluating them, using noise from a given distribution. This approach however, is not valid when using population-less techniques like local search and other heuristics that use local search. For those algorithms to find robust solutions, each solution needs to be perturbed and evaluated several times, and these evaluations need to be combined into a measure of robustness. In this paper, we examine how many of these evaluations are needed to reliably find a robust solution. We also examine the effect of the parameters of the noise distribution. Using a simple tabu search procedure, the proposed approach is tested on several functions found in the literature. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

An anisotropic fibre-network model for mechano-sorptive creep in paper

In this paper a simplified network model for mechano-sorptive creep is presented, which is a further development of an earlier paper [Strömbro, J., Gudmundson, P., 2008. Mechano-sorptive creep under compressive loading – a micromechanical model. International Journal of Solids and Structures 45 (9), 2420–2450.]. It is assumed that the anisotropic hygroexpansion of the fibres leads to large stresses at the fibre bonds when the moisture content changes. The resulting stress state will accelerate creep if the fibre material obeys a constitutive law that is non-linear. Fibre kinks are included in order to capture experimental observations of larger mechano-sorptive effects in compression than in tension. Moisture dependent material parameters and anisotropy in the fibre distribution have been introduced. Theoretical predictions based on the model are compared to experimental results for an anisotropic paper both under tensile and compressive loading at varying moisture content and it is found that the important features in the experiments are captured by the model. Different kinds of drying conditions have also been examined.     

Whirling frequencies and amplitudes due to deviations of generator shape

Earlier measurements in large synchronous generators indicate the existence of backward whirling motion, and also relatively large deviations of shape in both the rotor and the stator. These non-symmetric geometries produce an attraction force between the rotor and the stator, called unbalanced magnetic pull (UMP). The target of this paper is to analyse the whirling frequencies and amplitude of the response for large synchronous generators with a high number of poles, due to deviations of shape in the rotor and stator. A mathematical model is developed to describe the shapes of the rotor and stator, and the corresponding UMP is obtained by using the law of energy conservation. The UMP is analysed due to different deviations of shape. The result gives the average angular frequency and the magnitude of the UMP for certain deviations of shape. From this result, the whirling frequency and the amplitude of the corresponding response can be approximated. Simulations of the response of a Jeffcott rotor model show good agreement with the theoretical results of the UMP for some generator geometries. The conclusion is that different whirling frequencies, both backward and forward whirling, can occur in these machines due to deviations in shape of the generator. Therefore, the shape of the generator can excite resonance vibrations on several other frequencies than the rotation frequency. During maintenance of hydropower generators the shapes of the rotor and stator are frequently measured. The results from this paper can be used to evaluate such measurements and to explain the existence of complicated whirling motion.     

Pulsed laser deposition of atomically flat La1-xSrxMnO3 thin films using a novel target geometry

A new ablation target geometry is presented that was used to produce thin films of La_1-xSr_xMnO₃ grown heteroepitaxially on SrTiO₃ by pulsed reactive crossed-beam laser ablation. The films were grown in order to perform angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, which demands that the surface be atomically flat. In situ and ex situ analysis shows that this condition was met, even after depositing to a thickness of over 100 nm. PACS 61.10.-i; 61.18.Bn; 68.47.Gh; 71.27.+a; 81.15.Fg     

Study of ferroelectric switching by domain-wall induced light scattering

Measurements of 90°-scattering of weak laser light are used to investigate pulsed domain switching in ferroelectrics. The studies were performed on strontium-barium niobate (SBN) single crystals. A good agreement of the switching parameters estimated from the optical measurements with those obtained by means of conventional electrical methods proves the validity of the optical method for switching studies. Due to the limited scattering volume in all three spatial dimensions, the method facilitates local probing of the switching within the crystal bulk. In particular, local specialities of the domain density can be detected. Furthermore, the excellent time resolution inherent in optical probing techniques allows for a comprehensive study of the dynamics.