Laser-induced fluorescence of seeded nitric oxide as a flame thermometer

Received: 10 June 1997/Revised version: 25 November 1997     

Fracture energy of automotive clearcoats—I. Experimental methods and mechanics

The fracture energy of five automotive clearcoats was measured using fracture mechanics methods originally developed for measuring the fracture energy of brittle inorganic thin films. The fracture energy of the clearcoats ranged from 12 J m⁻² to 140 J m⁻². A discrepancy between the actual fracture energy and the ‘apparent’ fracture energy was observed and attributed to differences in the tensile stress-strain behavior of the materials, in particular the yield strength. Correcting for differences in their tensile stress-strain behavior, the apparent fracture energy of the films ranged from 13 J m⁻² to 330 J m⁻². Contrary to expectations, the fracture energy of the clearcoats did not decrease with increasing cross-link density. This was ascribed to differences in chemical architecture and additives in these commercial materials. Measuring the toughness in this manner shows promise for evaluating the long-term cracking resistance of automotive clearcoats.     

A two-echelon inventory model with lost sales

This paper considers a single-item, two-echelon, continuous-review inventory model. A number of retailers have their stock replenished from a central warehouse. The warehouse in turn replenishes stock from an external supplier. The demand processes on the retailers are independent Poisson. Demand not met at a retailer is lost. The order quantity from each retailer on the warehouse and from the warehouse on the supplier takes the same fixed value Q, an exogenous variable determined by packaging and handling constraints. Retailer i follows a (Q, R_i) control policy. The warehouse operates an (SQ, (S − 1)Q) policy, with non-negative integer S. If the warehouse is in stock then the lead time for retailer i is the fixed transportation time L_i from the warehouse to that retailer. Otherwise retailer orders are met, after a delay, on a first-come first-served basis. The lead time on a warehouse order is fixed. Two further assumptions are made: that each retailer may only have one order outstanding at any time and that the transportation time from the warehouse to a retailer is not less than the warehouse lead time. The performance measures of interest are the average total stock in the system and the fraction of demand met in the retailers. Procedures for determining these performance measures and optimising the behaviour of the system are developed.     

Few-valence-particle excitations around doubly magic 132Sn

Prompt γ-ray cascades in neutron-rich nuclei around doubly-magic ¹³²Sn have been studied using a ²⁴⁸Cm fission source. Yrast states located in the N = 82 isotones ¹³⁴Te and ¹³⁵I are interpreted as valence proton and neutron particle-hole core excitations with the help of shell model calculations employing empirical nucleon-nucleon interactions from both ¹³²Sn and ²⁰⁸Pb regions.     

Amidrazones. 14. The formation of 1,1-disubstituted hydrazines from the base-promoted hydrolysis of 1,l-disubstituted-3-amino-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazolium halides: Mechanistic considerations

Three mechanistic pathways are considered for the hydroxide-promoted conversion of 1,1-disubstituted-3-amino-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazolium halides 1 to 1,1-disubstituted hydrazines, ammonia and sodium 3-hydroxypropanoate. Evidence presented in this paper supports a hydrolysis mechanism c that is initiated by hydroxide ion addition to the 3-position of 1 to form a tetrahedral intermediate 7 .     

A synthesis of crambescidin 359

A potentially biomimetic synthesis of the guanidine-containing marine natural product crambescidin 359 via a double Michael addition of guanidine to a suitably functionalised bis-enone is reported.     

Multinucleon phenomena and proton spectra characterizing antiproton annihilation at rest in nuclei

Spectra of protons with momenta greater than 500 MeV/c following antiproton annihilation at rest in carbon and uranium nuclei have been measured. They are compared to recent results from other experiments and to predictions of an intranuclear cascade model. Evidence is presented for a substantialB>0 component in the annihilation process, and an estimate of the magnitude of that component is made.