Dense Monolayers of Monodisperse Opaque Spheres: Transmission and diffraction in the fraunhofer domain

The transmission and diffraction of radiation through dense monolayers of monodisperse opaque spheres were studied for the Fraunhofer domain. Theoretical considerations, numerical calculations and experiments on ultrasonic transmission and on laser light transmission and diffraction yielded corresponding results. Complementary studies included the cases of sterically non-interacting particles (by numerical simulation) and of small particle size parameters (by ultrasonic extinction). Transmission was found to be, in general, a non-linear function of the monolayer density. Secondary effects on the transmission can be attributed to the effect of the monolayer structure (characterized by the pair correlation function) on the angular distribution of diffracted intensity. The results were found to be in accordance with experimental results on extinction in three-dimensional systems.     

A concept of fuzzy transition probabilities

Starting from fuzzy real numbers with an arbitrary lattice of belief and following the extension principle, we develop concepts of fuzzy probabilities, transition probabilities and random variables and of their combinations, and show that these concepts are consistent. We derive some results on fuzzy real numbers, on the expectation of fuzzy random variables and on fuzzy stochastic processes. To sketch the range of applications of fuzzy stochastics, we give two examples that show how real-world problems may be modeled by means of fuzzy probabilities and that give small numerical examples. Moreover, we give a brief outlook for a possible expansion of our theory to fuzzy Markovian decision processes by means of a partial order on the set of all fuzzy real numbers.     

Wrinkle-free solutions in the theory of annular elastic membranes

Rotationally symmetric deformations of a flat annular elastic membrane under a gravitational force are studied, with prescribed radial stresses or horizontal displacements at the edges. The small-finitedeflection theory of Föppl-Hencky as well as a simplified version of Reissner's static first approximation theory of thin shells of revolution are applied which lead to consider a single, second-order, ordinary differential equation for the derivation of the principal stresses in the membrane. Using analytical methods, the range of those boundary data is determined for which the solutions of the differential equation are wrinkle free in the sense that both the radial and the circumferential stress components are nonnegative everywhere.