Spectrum analysis of seismic surface waves and its applications in seismic landmine detection

In geophysics, spectrum analysis of surface waves (SASW) refers to a noninvasive method for soil characterization. However, the term spectrum analysis can be used in a wider sense to mean a method for determining and identifying various modes of seismic surface waves and their properties such as velocity, polarization, etc. Surface waves travel along the free boundary of a medium and can be easily detected with a transducer placed on the free surface of the boundary. A new method based on vector processing of space-time data obtained from an array of triaxial sensors is proposed to produce high-resolution, multimodal spectra from surface waves. Then individual modes can be identified in the spectrum and reconstructed in the space-time domain; also, reflected waves can be separated easily from forward waves in the spectrum domain. This new SASW method can be used for detecting and locating landmines by analyzing the reflected waves for resonance. Processing examples are presented for numerically generated data, experimental data collected in a laboratory setting, and field data.     

The influence of surface geometry and topography on the fatigue cracking behaviour of laser hybrid welded eccentric fillet joints

Laser hybrid welding of an eccentric fillet joint causes a complex geometry for fatigue load by 4-point bending. The weld surface geometry and topography were measured and studied in order to understand the crack initiation mechanisms. The crack initiation location and the crack propagation path were studied and compared to Finite Element stress analysis, taking into account the surface macro- and micro-geometry. It can be explained why the root and the upper weld toe are uncritical for cracking. The cracks that initiate from the weld bead show higher fatigue strength than the samples failing at the lower weld toe, as can be explained by a critical radius for the toe below which surface ripples instead determine the main stress raiser location for cracking. The location of maximum surface stress is related to a combination of throat depth, toe radius and sharp surface ripples along which the cracks preferably propagate.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the reaction of propylene oxide with chlorine atoms and hydroxy radicals

The kinetics and mechanism of gas‐phase propylene oxide (PPO) reactions were studied in a 142‐L reaction chamber by long‐path Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy at atmospheric pressure and 298 K. Rate coefficients for the reaction of PPO with ozone (O₃), chlorine atoms (Cl), and hydroxyl radicals (OH) were measured using the relative rate technique. Product yields of acetic acid, acetic formic anhydride, formic acid, and carbon monoxide were determined for the following reactions: PPO with Cl both in the presence and absence of NO, PPO with OH and NO, methyl acetate with Cl both in the presence and absence of NO, and ethyl formate with Cl both in the presence and absence of NO. The measured rate coefficients for PPO with O₃, Cl, and OH are <3.5 × 10^?21 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, (3.0 ± 0.7) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, and (3.0 ± 1.0) × 10^?13 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, respectively. The carbon balance for the products measured ranged from 10% (for OH + PPO) to 100% (for Cl + methyl acetate in the absence of NO). The mechanistic and atmospheric implications of these measurements are discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 43: 507–521, 2011     

Density waves and the effect of wall roughness in granular Poiseuille flow: Simulationand linear stability

The formation of density waves and the effect of wall roughness on them are studied using molecular dynamics simulations of gravity-driven granular Poiseuille flow. Three basic types of structures are found in moderately dense flows: a plug, a sinuous wave and a slug; a new varicose wave mode has been identified in dense flows with channels of large widths at moderate dissipations; only clump-like structures appear in dilute flows. The simulation results are contrasted with the predictions of a linear stability analysis of the kinetic-theory continuum equations for granular Poiseuille flow. The theoretical predictions on the form of density waves are in qualitative agreement with simulations in denser flows, however, there are discrepancies between simulation and theory in dilute flows.     

Study of reduction processes over cerium oxide surfaces with atomic hydrogen using ultra accelerated quantum chemical molecular dynamics

Ceria plays an important role in catalysis, due to its ability to store and release oxygen depending on the condition present in the catalyst environment. To analyze the role of ceria in catalytic reactions, it is necessary to know the details of the interaction of ceria surface with environmentally sensitive molecules. This study was conducted using ultra accelerated quantum chemical molecular dynamics. Its purpose was to investigate the reduction process of the (1 1 1) and (1 1 0) surfaces of ceria with atomic hydrogen as well as water desorption mechanisms from the surfaces. This simulation demonstrated that when a high-energy colliding hydrogen atoms are adsorbed on the ceria, it pulls up an O atom from the ceria surfaces and results in the formation of a H₂O molecule. This is the first dynamics simulation related to such reduction processes based on quantum chemistry.     

Experimental investigation of the two-photon widths of the chi(c0) and the chi(c2) mesons

Using 12.7 fb(-1) of data collected with the CLEO detector at CESR, we observed two-photon production of the cc states chi(c0) and chi(c2) in their decay to pi(+)pi(-)pi(+)pi(-). We measured gamma(gammagamma)(chi(c))xB(chi(c)-->pi(+)pi(-)pi(+)pi(-)) to be 75+/-13(stat)+/-8(syst) eV for the chi(c0) and 6.4+/-1.8(stat)+/-0.8(syst) eV for the chi(c2), implying gamma(gammagamma)(chi(c0)) = 3.76+/-0.65(stat)+/-0.41(syst)+/-1.69(br) keV and gamma(gammagamma)(chi(c2)) = 0.53+/-0.15(stat)+/-0.06(syst)+/-0.22(br) keV. Also, cancellation of dominant experimental and theoretical uncertainties permits a precise comparison of gamma(gammagamma)(chi(c0))/gamma(gammagamma)(chi(c2)), evaluated to be 7.4+/-2.4(stat)+/-0.5(syst)+/-0.9(br), with QCD-based predictions.     

First observation of the sigma(*+)(c) baryon and a new measurement of the sigma(*+)(c) mass

Using data recorded with the CLEO II and CLEO II.V detector configurations at the Cornell Electron Storage Rings, we report the first observation and mass measurement of the Sigma(*+)(c) charmed baryon, and an updated measurement of the mass of the Sigma(+)(c) baryon. We find M(Sigma(*+)(c))-M(Lambda(+)(c)) = (231.0+/-1.1+/-2.0) MeV, and M(Sigma(+)(c))-M(Lambda(+)(c)) = (166.4+/-0.2+/-0.3) MeV, where the errors are statistical and systematic, respectively.     

Generation of vortices by a streamwise oscillating cylinder

The wake of a streamwise oscillating cylinder is presently investigated. The Reynolds number investigated is 300, based on the cylinder diameterd. The cylinder oscillates at an amplitude of 0.5d and a frequencyf _e/f_s=1.8, wheref _e is the cylinder oscillating frequency andf _s is the natural vortex shedding frequency of a stationary cylinder. Under these conditions the flow is essentially two dimensional. A two-dimensional direct numerical simulation (DNS) scheme has been developed to calculate the flow. The DNS results display a street of binary vortices, each containing two counter-rotating vortical structures, symmetrical about the centerline, which is in excellent agreement with measurements. The drag and lift on the cylinder have been examined. The time averaged drag and lift are 1.4 and 0, respectively, which are the same as those on a stationary cylinder at the sameRe. However, the fluctuating drag was high, about 2.68. It has been found that, being symmetrically formed about the centerline, the binary vortices induce an essentially zero fluctuating lift, which may have a profound implication in flow control and engineering.