Numerical solution for curved crack problem in elastic half-plane using hypersingular integral equation

A hypersingular integral equation for the curved crack problems of an elastic half-plane is introduced. Formulation of the equation is based on the usage of a modified complex potential. The potential is generally expressed in the form of a Cauchy-type integral. The modified complex potential is composed of the principal part and the complementary part. The principal part of the complex potential is actually equivalent to the original complex potential for the curved crack in an infinite plate. The role of the complementary part is to eliminate the boundary traction along the boundary of the half-plane caused by the principal part. From the assumed boundary traction condition, a hypersingular integral equation is obtained for the curved crack problems of an elastic half-plane. The curve length coordinate method is used to obtain a final solution. Several numerical examples are presented that prove the efficiency of the suggested method.     

Dynamic compaction of copper powder: 2D numerical simulation and experimental results

Abstract

A method for plate-impact dynamic compaction of copper powder has been developped. The optimization of the experimental set-up (impedance adjustments, tensile wave traps, relative thickness of impactor and target,…) is presented.

2D axisymetrical numerical simulations have been performed with a Lagrangian finite element code. Geometrical characteristics of the experimental set-up as well as the dynamic response of the powder (Reaugh equation of state) and of the material of the set-up have been taken into account. These simulations show that, due to the difference in shock velocities in the container and in the powder, the powder is submitted to 2D loading waves. As a matter of fact the powder may be loaded by a non-planar shock wave propagating in the as-expected direction, as well as by a sweeping wave initiated at the bottom of the powder container, and propagating obliquely from the bottom-up. This second wave loads the bottom of the powder first. The influence of the impactor thickness as well as its material on the shock front shape and on the shock density-pressure history of the material has been studied. 1D simulations are shown not to evaluate properly the stress history and the energy deposition in the powder sample.

Metallographic observations as well as X-ray tomography experiments have been performed on consolidated samples. A very good agreement has been found between results of 2D numerical simulations and the observed final shape and density maps of the samples. The shape of deformed powder particles are also in agreement with the expected shock history.     

Effects of Microstructural Defects on Ion-Irradiated Type-316 Stainless Steel

Microstructure defects play a very important role in the swelling of irradiated stainless steel. This work is a parametric study of the effects of microstructural defects on the swelling of ion-irradiated steel. For simplicity, vacancy loop effects were neglected. Cold working was found to play a complicated role in the swelling behavior. On one hand, it increase the bias to interstitial absorption due to the increase in dislocation density. On the other hand, it decreases the total flux of point defects to voids by the decrease of the point defect concentrations. Grain size has also a strong effect on swelling. It was found that large gain sizes produces higher swelling and vise versa, i.e. the larger the surface of grain boundaries the less the irradiation-produced swelling. Similar effects were found for precipitates.     

Radiation exposure to operator and patients during cardiac electrophysiology study,radiofrequency catheter ablation and cardiac device implantation procedures

The purpose of this study was to measure the radiation exposure to operator and patient during cardiac electrophysiology study, radiofrequency catheter ablation and cardiac device implantation procedures and to calculate the allowable number of cases per year. We carried out 9 electrophysiology studies, 40 radiofrequency catheter ablation and 11 cardiac device implantation procedures. To measure occupational radiation dose and dose–area product (DAP), 13 photoluminescence glass dosimeters were placed at eyes (inside and outside lead glass), thyroids (inside and outside thyroid collar), chest (inside and outside lead apron), wrists, genital of the operator (inside lead apron), and 6 of photoluminescence glass dosimeters were placed at eyes, thyroids, chest and genital of the patient. Exposure time and DAP values were 11.7?±?11.8?min and 23.2?±?26.2?Gy?cm² for electrophysiology study; 36.5?±?42.1?min and 822.4?±?125.5?Gy?cm² for radiofrequency catheter ablation; 16.2?±?9.3?min and 27.8?±?16.5?Gy?cm² for cardiac device implantation procedure, prospectively. 4591 electrophysiology studies can be conducted within the occupational exposure limit for the eyes (150?mSv), and 658-electrophysiology studies with radiofrequency catheter ablation can be carried out within the occupational exposure limit for the hands (500?mSv). 1654 cardiac device implantation procedure can be conducted within the occupational exposure limit for the eyes (150?mSv). The amounts of the operator and patient's radiation exposure were comparatively small. So, electrophysiology study, radio frequency catheter ablation and cardiac device implantation procedures are safe when performed with modern equipment and optimized protective radiation protect equipment.     

Computer Simulation of High-speed Bending Deformation in Copper

According to one suggested model, bending of a single crystal introduces edge dislocations of the same sign. In the present study, this model is examined by computer simulation using molecular dynamics. When a notch is present on the tension surface, Heidenreich-Shockley partial dislocations are created near the tip of the notch. In the compression surface, partial dislocations are created due to wrinkling of the crystal plane. The results of simulation shows that dislocations are more easily created in a compressive bending region than in a tension bending region or simple tension region.     

Defect formation of Au thin films on SiO2/Si upon annealing

We have studied structural changes of Au film surfaces grown on Si with native oxide layers. Using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), we found that annealing above 200°C can cause formation of defects (or cracks), which is most likely driven by interdiffusion of Au and Si accompanying strong Au–Si interactions at the interface regime. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) study is also in line with defect formation upon annealing. Interaction of O₂ with rough Au surfaces is discussed in connection with catalytic activities of Au surfaces.     

Study of electrochemical performances of multi-doped spinel Li1.1Mn1.85Co0.075Ni0.075O4 at 4.3 and 5 V

Li_1.1Mn_2???2x Co _x Ni _x O₄ (x?=?0, 0.075) spinel powders were successfully synthesized using a liquid stirred tank reactor method. The electrochemical performances of the undoped and doped spinels at 4.3 and 5 V were investigated by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The capacity of Li_1.1Mn_2???2x Co _x Ni _x O₄ could be divided into two parts, with 4.3 V as the dividing line in the 3–5 V charge–discharge range. Low capacity and good cyclic performance were obtained when cycled in the 3–4.3 V range for the multi-doped Li_1.1Mn_2???2x Co _x Ni _x O₄ spinel. In comparison with multi-doped spinel at 4.3 V, the results of the cyclic performance worsened at 5 V because the structure underwent further shrinkage, the charge transfer resistance rose and the electrolyte decomposed.     

Adopting epidemic model to optimize medication and surgical intervention of excess weight

We combined an epidemic model with an objective function to minimize the weighted sum of people with excess weight and the cost of a medication and surgical intervention in the population. The epidemic model is consisted of ordinary differential equations to describe three subpopulation groups based on weight. We introduced an intervention using medication and surgery to deal with excess weight. An objective function is constructed taking into consideration the cost of the intervention as well as the weight distribution of the population. Using empirical data, we show that fixed participation rate reduces the size of obese population but increases the size for overweight. An optimal participation rate exists and decreases with respect to time. Both theoretical analysis and empirical example confirm the existence of an optimal participation rate, $u^{?}$. Under $u^{?}$, the weighted sum of overweight (S) and obese (O) population as well as the cost of the program is minimized. This article highlights the existence of an optimal participation rate that minimizes the number of people with excess weight and the cost of the intervention. The time-varying optimal participation rate could contribute to designing future public health interventions of excess weight.     

Nonlinear dynamic behaviors of a deploying-and-retreating wing with varying velocity

In this paper, the nonlinear dynamical behaviors of deploying-and-retreating wings in supersonic airflow are investigated. A cantilever laminated composite beam, which is axially moving at a known rate, is implemented to model the deploying-and-retreating wing. Associated with Reddy's third-order theory and von Karman type equations of large deformation, the nonlinear governing equations of motion of the deploying-and-retreating wing are derived based on the Hamilton's principle. The nonlinear partial differential equations of motion are transformed into a set of the ordinary differential equations using Galerkin's method. The nonlinear dynamical behaviors of the deployable-and-retreating wing are investigated in the cases of three different axially moving rates during deploying process and retreating process using the numerical simulations.     

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering effect of gold nanoparticle arrays: The influence of annealing temperature,excitation power and array thickness

Gold nanoparticle arrays are fabricated for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and the effect of the annealing temperature, the thickness of nanoparticle array and the exciting power on the SERS signals are investigated. The particle distribution and particle size are dense and uniform on the glass substrate when the 10 nm gold film was annealed at 250 °C and strong SERS signals for Rhodamine 6G were achieved via a 532 nm excitation with a 10 mW power. The SERS signal at 1650 cm⁻¹ is enhanced more than 10 times as compared to that of the gold film without annealing. The strong SERS behavior of gold nanoparticle arrays may broaden the SERS applications in biomedical and analytical chemistry.