Static analysis of functionally graded doubly-curved shells and panels of revolution

The Generalized Differential Quadrature (GDQ) Method is applied to study four parameter functionally graded and laminated composite shells and panels of revolution. The mechanical model is based on the so-called First-order Shear Deformation Theory (FSDT), in particular on the Toorani-Lakis Theory. The solution is given in terms of generalized displacement components of points lying on the middle surface of the shell. The generalized strains and stress resultants are evaluated by applying the Differential Quadrature rule to the generalized displacements. The transverse shear and normal stress profiles through the thickness are reconstructed a posteriori by using local three-dimensional elasticity equilibrium equations. In order to verify the accuracy of the present method, GDQ results are compared with the ones obtained with semi-analytical formulations and with 3D finite element method. A parametric study is performed to illustrate the influence of the parameters on the mechanical behavior of functionally graded shell structures made of a mixture of ceramics and metal.     

A low-Reynolds-number actuator driven by instability: rotating or oscillating

Nonlinear Dynamics - Due to an electro-hydrodynamic instability, a dielectric spherical particle immersed in a dielectric viscous solvent can exhibit steady rotation spontaneously (Quincke...     

Spontaneous Imbibition Dynamics of Liquids in Partially-Wet Nanoporous Media: Experiment and Theory

Transport in Porous Media - Nanoscale spontaneous imbibition is a common process in nanoporous soil and unconventional reservoirs. Due to the complexity of these natural nanoporous media, the...     

Dual-Responsive Polydimethylsiloxane Networks

Exploiting the salient features of o-nitrobenzyl chemistry, this work aims at the preparation of polydimethylsiloxane networks that undergo well-defined bond cleavage in response to either UV light or different pH values as external trigger. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) oligomers with terminal anhydride groups are thermally crosslinked in the presence of a bi-functional epoxy monomer containing a photolabile o-nitrobenzyl ester (o-NBE) group. The susceptibility of the ester groups toward hydrolytic cleavage reactions is used for a pH-triggered network degradation. Sol–gel analysis confirms that the degradation time can be easily controlled by the base concentration over different time scales varying between hours and weeks. Along with classical ester hydrolysis, photoinduced degradation of the elastomeric networks is carried out by photoisomerization and cleavage of the o-NBE links upon exposure with UV light. Positive-tone patterns with a structure size of 100 μm are obtained by photolithographic techniques confirming the spatial control of solubility properties. However, by increasing the exposure dose, recrosslinking of the networks is observed due to side reactions of the primary photocleavage products. As the reformed crosslinks are less sensitive to ester hydrolysis, the side reactions are employed to inscribe negative-tone microstructures in the PDMS network. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 2319–2329     

Cosmic-ray neutron spectrometry by solid state detectors

Extensive data have been gathered since the early 1990s on the response of different detectors based on the registration of neutron-induced fission in bismuth, gold, tantalum by the spark replica counter and the thin film breakdown counter. These detectors make it possible to exploit the excellent characteristics of the fission reactions in bismuth, gold and tantalum for the measurements of high-energy neutrons.

Most of the investigations have been carried out at the quasi-monoenergetic neutron beam facility at The Svedberg Laboratory-TSL of the Uppsala University in cooperation with the Khlopin Radium Institute (KRI).

The responses of different fission detectors in the intermediate range of neutron energy (35–180 MeV) have been evaluated: a region where the predictive power of available nuclear reaction models and codes is not reliable yet. For neutron energy greater than 200 MeV, the fission-detector responses have been derived from the data of the proton fission cross-sections.

Finally, by using the ratio of the responses of these detectors, a simple and accurate way to evaluate the spectrum hardness can be obtained, thus providing a tool to obtain spectral information needed for neutron dosimetry without the need to know the entire spectrum.

The experimentally measured spectra obtained to-date have different shapes and they are also different from those calculated.

In this paper, a new approach will be reported to analyse the existing spectra by using response ratios of different detectors. Preliminary data have been already obtained for the high-energy neutron spectrum from the CERN concrete facility.     

Biaxial Load Effect on Crack Initiation for Orthotropic Materials

This paper is concerned with the study of the elastostatic fracture response of an orthotropic plate with an inclined crack and subjected at infinity to a biaxial uniform load. To this end an unconventional approach to the derivation of the complex variable expressions of the elastic fields is proposed. The above formulation has been used to solve the boundary value problem as superposition of Mode-I and Mode-II crack problems and it is shown that the near tip asymptotic expressions of stress and displacement fields are affected by non-singular terms originated by load biaxiality. The maximum circumferential tensile stress criterion is applied in order to investigate the effects of non-singular terms on the angle of crack extension.     

Protection of Vine Plants against Esca Disease by Breathable Electrospun Antifungal Nonwovens

The harmful Esca disease in vine plants caused by wood‐inhabiting fungi including Phaeomoniella chlamydospora (Pch) is spreading all across the world. This disease leads to poor vine crops and a slow decline or to a sudden dieback of the vine plants. The pruning wounds of vine plants are the main entry point for Pch. While model experiments with aerosol particles recommend electrospun nonwovens as a suitable barrier to block Pch, tests with living spores show clearly that only electrospun fibrous nonwovens do not prevent Pch invasion. However it is found, that with antifungal additives electrospun nonwovens could be applied successfully for blocking of Pch to infect the substrate. Thereby, a highly useful concept for the protection of vine plants against Esca disease is provided which could also serve as a concept for related plant diseases.

     

The communication complexity of addition

Suppose each of k≤n ^o(1) players holds an n-bit number x _i in its hand. The players wish to determine if ∑ _i≤k x _i =s. We give a public-coin protocol with error 1% and communication O(k logk). The communication bound is independent of n, and for k≥3 improves on the O(k logn) bound by Nisan (Bolyai Soc. Math. Studies; 1993).