Wind Gusts and Small Scale Intermittency in Atmospheric Flows

We introduce a model that interprets atmospheric increment statistics as a large scale mixture of subsets of isotropic statistics. When mixing is weak the same statistics as for isotropic turbulence is recovered while for strong mixing robust intermittency is obtained. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Flexible V7O16 Layers as the Common Structural Element of Vanadium Oxide Nanotubes and a New Crystalline Vanadate

The walls of vanadium oxide nanotubes (VO_x‐NTs) are built up by vanadate layers between which the structure‐directing template, either a primary amine or a diamine with long alkyl chain, is located. The feasibility of various exchange reactions under preservation of the tubular morphology indicates a high structural flexibility of the VO_x‐NTs. The structure of the vanadate layers appears to be the same in all tubular vanadates, as revealed by the similarity of the diffraction patterns. Plate‐like crystals of a new crystalline phase, structurally closely related to the nanotubes, have now been prepared with ethylene diamine, applying a route that is analogous to the VO_x‐NT synthesis. The single crystal X‐ray structure determination showed that this new phase has the composition (en)V₇O₁₆ and crystallizes with triclinic symmetry. The structure is composed of V₇O₁₆ layers between which ethylene diamine mo le cules are embedded. The V₇O₁₆ layers comprise two sheets of square VO₅ pyramids and VO₄ tetrahedra that connect these sheets. The available experimental data establish that this V₇O₁₆ layer also is the basic element of the VO_x‐NT wall structure. The simulated X‐ray powder diffraction pattern calculated with a corresponding structural mode for VO_x‐NTs agrees well with the observed one.     

Synthese und Struktur der Nitrido‐Komplexe [(n‐Bu)4N]2[{(L)Cl4Re≡N}2PtCl2] (L = THF und H2O) und [(n‐Bu)4N]2[(H2O)Cl4Re≡N‐PtCl(μ‐Cl)]2

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of the Nitrido Complexes [(n‐Bu)₄N]₂[{(L)Cl₄Re≡N}₂PtCl₂] (L = THF und H₂O) and [(n‐Bu)₄N]₂[(H₂O)Cl₄Re≡N‐PtCl(μ‐Cl)]₂ The threenuclear complex [(n‐Bu)₄N]₂[{(THF)Cl₄Re≡N}_2—PtCl₂] ( 1a ) is obtained by the reaction of [(n‐Bu)₄N][ReNCl₄] with [PtCl₂(C₆H₅CN)₂] in THF/CH₂Cl₂. It forms red crystals with the composition 1a · 2 CH₂Cl₂ crystallizing in the tetragonal space group I4₁/a with a = 3186.7(2); c = 1311.2(1) pm and Z = 8. If the reaction of the educts is carried out without THF, however under exposure to air the compound [(n‐Bu)₄N]₂[{(H₂O)Cl₄Re≡N}₂PtCl₂] ( 1b ) is obtained as red trigonal crystals with the space group R3 and a = 3628.3(3), c = 1231.4(1) pm and Z = 9. In the centrosymmetric complex anions [{(L)Cl₄Re≡N}₂PtCl₂]^2— a linear PtCl₂moiety is connected in a trans arrangement with two complex fragments [(L)Cl₄Re≡N]^— via asymmetric nitrido bridges Re≡dqN‐Pt. For Pt^II such results a square‐planar coordination PtCl₂N₂. The linear nitrido bridges are characterized by distances Re‐N = 169.5 pm and Pt‐N = 188.8 pm ( 1a ), respectively, Re‐N = 165.6 pm and Pt‐N = 194.1 pm ( 1b ). By the reaction of [(n‐Bu)₄N][ReNCl₄] with PtCl₄ in CH₂Cl₂ platinum is reduced forming the heterometallic Re^VI/Pt^II complex, [(n‐Bu)₄N]₂[(H₂O)Cl₄Re≡N‐PtCl(μ‐Cl)]₂ ( 2 ). It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with a = 2012.9(1); b = 1109.0(2); c = 2687.4(4) pm; β = 111.65(1)° and Z = 4. In the central unit ClPt(μ‐Cl)₂PtCl of the anionic complex [(H₂O)Cl₄Re≡N‐PtCl(μ‐Cl)]₂^2— with the symmetry C₂ the coordination of the Pt atoms is completed by two nitrido bridges Re≡N‐Pt to nitrido complex fragments [(H₂O)Cl₄Re≡N] ^— forming a square‐planar arrangement for the Pt atoms. The distances in the linear nitrido bridges are Re‐N = 165.9 pm and Pt‐N = 190.1 pm.     

Acid-Containing Tyrosine-Derived Polycarbonates: Wettability and Surface Reactivity

Tyrosine-derived polycarbonates having carboxylic acid pendant groups were characterized by water contact angle and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). A pronounce decrease of receding angle as well as contact angle hysteresis as a function of acid composition strongly indicated that the acid groups are more accessible at the water/polymer interface after hydration. pH dependent contact angle confirmed an existence of carboxylic acid groups in the surface region. The receding angle transition appearing in the pH range of 4-6 was a consequence of hydrophilicity change due to interconverting from carboxylic acid (-COOH) to carboxylate ion (-COO⁻). The surface compositions of imidazole-labeled polymers as analyzed by XPS were consistent with the bulk stoichiometry of the polymers. Reactivity of acid groups towards chemical reaction at the surface was also investigated. The acid groups at the surface of polymers were capable of adsorbing a significant amount of calcium ion from simulated body fluid and being activated by a reaction with N-hydroxysuccinimide.     

A numerical approach for the simulation of ductile fracture with embedded discontinuities

In the present study, a computational approach for the numerical simulation of ductile fracture within the framework of the finite element method is proposed. In the developed macroscopic formulation, the inelastic behavior in the bulk of the material is described by the finite elasto‐plastic material model proposed in [4]. The failure process is modeled by introducing discontinuities when a special local fracture criterion is satisfied. The discontinuities are incorporated via special triangular finite elements with embedded interfaces following the line of [2]. Finally, the numerical procedure is evaluated for a twodimensional representative test problem. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Macroscopic finite element analyses of discretematerials based on directly evaluated micro‐macro transitions

We consider a homogenized macro‐continuum with locally attached microstructure of granules and derive specific micromacro transitions by a consistent transfer of discrete micro‐variables to field variables on a continuous macrostructure. Displacements and rotational constraints are imposed on the granules on the defined boundary frame of the microstructure. The constraints for linear displacements and uniform tractions on the surface yield upper and lower bound characteristics for periodic boundary conditions with regard to the aggregate stiffness. Secondly, we perform two‐scale analyses where we link simulations on the macro‐ and the microscales. Therein, coupled boundary‐value problems are solved on both scales. The macroscopic homogeneous problem is solved by a finite element method where the material model is implemented using the directly evaluated micro‐macro transitions on the basis of the discrete microstructures. Finally, a model problem is investigated to clarify the proposed method. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)