A quasi-secant continuous model for the analysis of long-span cable-stayed bridges

In this paper a non-linear continuous model for the statical analysis of long-span cable-stayed bridges with fan scheme and H-shaped towers is proposed. This model is based on a quasi-secant large-displacement formulation of the stays-deck interaction and involves an Euler-Bernoulli/De Saint Venant model for the girder. An approximate closed-form solution of the statical problem, in which flexural and torsional terms are coupled, is obtained by means of a perturbative technique and according to the prevailing “truss-like” structural behavior. Results for some study-cases are compared with those relevant to both classical models and numerical solutions, proving effectiveness and applicability of the proposed model.     

Theory of electrically controlled exhibition of circular Bragg phenomenon by an obliquely excited structurally chiral material - Part 1: Axial dc electric field

The boundary-value problem of the reflection and transmission of a plane wave due to a slab of an electro-optic structurally chiral material (SCM) is formulated in terms of a 4×4 matrix ordinary differential equation. The SCM slab can be locally endowed with one of 20 classes of point group symmetry, and is subjected to a dc voltage across its thickness (i.e., parallel to the axis of non-homogeneity of the SCM). The enhancement (and, in some cases, the production) of the circular Bragg phenomenon (CBP) by the application of the dc voltage has either switching or circular-polarization-rejection applications in optics. The twin possibilities of thinner filters and electrical manipulation of the CBP, depending on the local crystallographic class as well as the constitutive parameters of the SCM, emerge.     

Physical ageing and the Johari-Goldstein relaxation in molecular glasses

Based on some of our earlier dielectric relaxation studies during structural relaxation of molecular glasses, we describe certain features specific to the change in the Johari-Goldstein (JG) relaxation and examine their consequences for understanding of the molecular mechanism of the JG process. The parameter for the distribution of relaxation times increases slightly (loss curve becomes narrower) and the relaxation rate either remains constant or increases on ageing. In all cases, contribution to permittivity from the JG relaxation, Δε_JG decreases with time, with a rate constant k according to a relation, Δε_JG (t) = Δε_JG (t → ∞) − [Δε_JG (t = 0) − Δε_JG ( t → ∞)][1− exp[−(kt)]. This reduces to an equation of the type Δε_JG(t) = a + b exp(− kt) where a and b are constants of the glass as well are dependent on the thermal history of quenching of the glassy system. On decreasing the temperature, the relaxation rate for a rigid molecular glass follows the Arrhenius equation in a range that extends from liquid to glass, but deviates from it as a result of structural relaxation of the two alcohols, while the distribution of relaxation times decreases. The variation of Δε_JG with temperature shows an increase in slope on heating through T_g or else a deep and broad minimum before T_g is reached and the slope increases are remarkably similar to the changes observed for volume and thermodynamic properties on heating a glass. These findings need to be considered for a molecular mechanism in the potential energy view of JG relaxation, in analyzing the physical ageing of the α-relaxation process. It is argued that a recent suggestion for considering the JG relaxation within the picture of potential energy landscape may not be inconsistent with its molecular origin and dynamics in localized regions of structurally inhomogeneous glass. But there is still need to determine how the apparent dynamic heterogeneity evident from the broad distribution of the JG relaxation times can be reconciled with the dynamic heterogeneity used to explain less-broad spectra of the α − relaxation process.     

Laser wavelength effect on structural and optical properties of Cd34Se66 nanocrystalline thin film

Cadmium Selenide (Cd₃₄Se₆₆) thin films are deposited on a glass substrate using the thermal evaporation method at room temperature. The Cd₃₄Se₆₆ films are characterized using XRD. The crystallite size of the film is calculated from XRD data, which is found as 29.61 nm as-deposited. It is also found that crystallite size of Cd₃₄Se₆₆ changed after irradiation with N₂ and Nd:YAG laser. The changes in the optical properties of the films after irradiation with N₂ laser and Nd:YAG laser are also studied in the wavelength range of 300-700 nm and it is found that the optical band gap of the Cd₃₄Se₆₆ films changed after laser irradiation.     

Mg based bulk metallic glasses: Glass transition temperature and elastic properties versus toughness

In this work, optimal compositions for bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) formation in the ternary Mg-Cu-Nd and Mg-Ni-Nd systems are located at the Mg₅₇Cu₃₄Nd₉ and Mg₆₄Ni₂₁Nd₁₅, respectively, with the critical diameter of 4 mm for the rods fabricated by copper mold casting. As indicated by notch toughness testing, Mg₆₄Ni₂₁Nd₁₅ BMG (K_Q = 5.1 MPa√m) manifests higher toughness with respect to the Mg₅₇Cu₃₄Nd₉ (K_Q = 3.6 MPa√m), even though both BMGs have similar compressive fracture strength of 870-880 MPa. Such an improvement in toughness for Mg BMGs correlates with the reduction of shear modulus and the enhancement of thermal stability to resist to the structural relaxation at room temperature, which is indicated by the elevated glass transition temperature T_g. Under the Mode I loading condition, morphology in fracture surface of the Mg₆₄Ni₂₁Nd₁₅ BMG varies along the crack propagation path. Fractographic evolution of the fracture surface follows the Taylor's meniscus instability criterion. For the Mg-based BMGs, shear modulus scales with the glass transition temperature, and can be expressed as μ = 4.7 + 625T_g/V_m[1-4/9(T/T_g)^2/3]. Meanwhile, correlation between the calorimetric T_g and elastic properties at T_g can be rationalized with Egami's model.     

Influence of the deposition parameters on the microstructure and opto-electrical properties of hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon films by HW-CVD

Hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) films were prepared at high deposition rates (> 13 Å/s) from pure silane without hydrogen dilution by hot wire deposition method by varying filament-to-substrate distance (d_s-f). In this study we have systematically and carefully investigated the effect of filament-to-substrate distance on structural, optical and electrical properties of the Si:H films. A variety of characterization techniques, including Raman spectroscopy, low angle X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), UV-Visible-NIR spectroscopy and electrical dark and photoconductivity measurement were used to characterize these films. Films deposited at d_s-f > 5 cm are amorphous while those deposited at d_s-f < 5 cm are biphasic; a crystalline phase and an amorphous phase with nano-sized crystallites embedded in it. Low angle X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the crystallites in the films have preferential orientation along (111) directions. Decrease in d_s-f, the crystallinity and crystalline size increases whereas hydrogen bonding shifts from mono-hydride (SiH) to di-hydride (SiH₂) and poly-hydride (SiH₂)_n complexes. The band gaps of nc-Si:H films (~ 1.9-2.0 eV) are high compared to the a-Si:H films, while hydrogen content remains < 10 at.%. We attribute the high band gap to the quantum size effect. A correlation between electrical and structural properties has been established. Finally, from the present study it has been concluded that the filament-to-substrate distance is a key process parameter to induce the crystallinity in the films by hot wire method. The ease of depositing films with variable crystallite size and its volume fraction, and tunable band gap is useful for fabrication of tandem/micro-morph solar cells.     

Universal critical-like scaling of dynamics in plastic crystals

Many theoretical models for the glassy dynamics have been proposed so far describing the changes in molecular dynamics along the extraordinary slowing down in the vitrification process of a disordered phase on cooling. Many of these theories share the concept of cooperative rearranging regions firstly proposed by Adam and Gibbs. Among them, the dynamical scaling model (DSM) is based on the random diffusion of free volume which creates random walking clusters formed by cooperatively rearranging entities.Within this framework a critical phenomenon relating a hidden phase transition at T_C (below T_g) implies the divergence of the relaxation time (τ) or viscosity (η) τ, η ∝ (T − T_C) ^− ? with a universal scaling exponent φ → 9. In this work we apply the DSM model to orientational glasses, obtained from the quenching of orientationally disordered phases (plastic crystals) via the application of the linearized derivative-based transformation of dielectric spectroscopy τ(T) data.     

High Resolution Laser Transient Spectroscopic Technology under Two-Stage Light Gas-Gun Loading Condition and Stability Study of Shocked BenzeneEI北大核心CSCD

The present paper reports the high resolution transient Raman laser testing technology under two-stage light gas-gun loading experiment, and its application to studying the Raman spectroscopy of shocked benzene. In the experiments, the frequency shift of C-C stretching vibration (992 cm(-1)) and C H stretching vibration peak (3 061 cm(-1)) in the low pressure section (less than 8 GPa) varies linearly with the pressure, and the results agree well with reported data in the literature. The structural changes in liquid benzene about 13 GPa were clarified firstly by the Raman spectral technique; the experimental results show that at a pressure of 9.7 GPa, the structural change of liquid benzene has taken place, not reported in the literature about 13 GPa. But the composition in the production is not clear. The measurement system provides an effective means to study the microstructure changes of transparent and translucent material under dynamic loading experiment.     

Cd(II) complexes based on a tricarboxylate: synthesis,structural characterization and properties

Reactions of cadmium(II) with 5-(4-carboxybenzylamino)isophthalic acid (H₃L) in the presence of 2-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole (pybim) and 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy) by hydrothermal method lead to two complexes, [Cd(HL)(pybim)]·H₂O (1) and [Cd₂(L)(HCOO)(bpy)₂(H₂O)]·H₂O (2). Complexes 1 and 2 have been characterized by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, Infrared spectra, and elemental and thermogravimetric analyses. 1 has a double-chain structure while 2 consists of uninodal 3-connected 2-D hcb networks with (6³) topology. Luminescence and sorption properties of 1 and 2 were also investigated.     

Basin of attraction of a cusp–fold singularity in 3D piecewise smooth vector fields

Generic one-parameter families of piecewise smooth vector fields on R³${\mathbb{R}}^3$ presenting the so-called cusp–fold singularity are studied. The bifurcation diagrams are exhibited and the asymptotic and structural stabilities are discussed.