Two-spin-majority cellular automaton as a model of 2D cluster and interface growth

A new probabilistic cellular automaton model is introduced to simulate cluster and interface growth in two dimensions. The dynamics of this model is an extension to higher dimensions of the compact directed percolation studied by Essam. Numerical results indicate that the two-dimensional cluster coarsening and growth can be described only approximately by the conventional cluster size scaling due to a crossover in the growth mode. The spreading of the initially flat interface follows a purely diffusional,t ^1/2, law.     

Experience Gained Using Second-Moment Closure Modeling for Transitional Flows Due to Boundary Layer Separation

This paper presents detailed information on the experience gained during the attempts to model a set of transitional flows due to boundary layer separation. These flows are developed on a flat plate with a semi-circular leading edge and they have been coded by the ERCOFTAC Special Interest Group on Transition, as T3L flows. Different freestream velocities and turbulence intensities configure these transitional flows and, by consequence, govern the transition mechanism, resulting in larger or smaller transitional regions. The modeling of the T3L flows has been performed by adopting a low-Reynolds number second-moment closure turbulence model. The results showed satisfactory agreement with the experimental measurements, although some difficulties regarding successful convergence have been faced. The final conclusion is that turbulence modeling can present quite accurate results for transitional flows without any additional use of ad-hoc modifications or additional equations based on various transition models and intermittency transport modeling.     

On estimating pressure build-up in severely accelerated,shocked flow

A new approach to the calculation of the high pressures characterizing the flow field in front of a piston undergoing severe acceleration over the short term is presented. In contrast with previous approaches where the computational domain is altered but which stop short of transforming velocities, here the problem is solved in an accelerating non-Euclidean co-ordinate system where the piston is stationary. The method is applied to a study of the problem of premature sabot separation. Through use of Harten's second-order-accurate TVD scheme, flow simulations are performed for both 1D and 3D axisymmetric geometries. The simple 1D model gives pressure profiles surprisingly close to those of the more physical 3D model.     

Physical properties and phase separation structure of Antheraea pernyi/Bombyx mori silk fibroin blend films

The physical structure and compatibility of solution-cast Antheraea pernyi/Bombyx mori silk fibroin blend films were stuided by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermomechanical (TMA) and thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis, dynamic viscoelastic measurement, infrared spectroscopy, and x-ray diffractometry. The DSC curves of the blend films showed independent endotherms at 280 and 358°C, corresponding to the thermal decomposition of B. mori and A. pernyi silk fibroins with random coil conformation. The intensity was roughly proportionate to the amount of each component in the blend. The thermal behavior corresponding to the conformational transitions induced by heating on A. pernyi and B. mori silk fibroins overlapped in the temperature range 190–230°C. Thermal expansion and contraction properties, as well as weight retention behavior of the blend films were intermediate between the pure components, as shown by the TMA and TGA curves. The onset temperature of the storage modulus curve decreased markedly, approaching that of B. mori silk fibroin film when the amount of this component in the blend increased. The loss modulus curve of the blend films showed two peaks at ca. 190 and 210°C, the former corresponding to B. mori, and the latter to A. pernyi silk fibroin. Infrared spectra of the blends exhibited absorption bands characteristic of the pure components overlapping in the spectral region 2000–400 cm^?1. The x-ray diffraction peaks at 23 and 21.5°, attributed to the crystalline spacings of A. pernyi and B. mori fibroins, respectively, overlapped in the diffraction curves of the blends, while the peak at 11.4°, of A. pernyi, increased as the content of this fibroin in the blend increased. The degree of crystallinity, calculated from the x-ray diffraction curves, diminished as the amount of B. mori silk fibroin decreased. A low degree of compatibility exists between the two fibroins when they are cast from aqueous solution in the experimental conditions adopted in this work. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

On interrelation between the internal pressure and the cohesion energy density

The question about the definition of the “internal pressure” concept is being discussed. It is shown that the previously found differential relation between the cohesion energy density and the internal pressure is one of the examples of an absolutely general interrelation between definitely connected differential functions. It is ascertained that the ratio (the internal pressure divided by the cohesion energy density) is a structuresensitive parameter inherent to the calorific (thermal) equation of a liquid state.     

The influence of hard‐segments on two‐phase structure and shape memory properties of PCL‐based segmented polyurethanes

Poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐based segmented polyurethanes (PCLUs) were prepared from poly(ε‐caprolactone) diol, diisocyanates (DI), and 1,4‐butanediol. The DIs used were 4,4′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), 2,4‐toluenediisocyanate (TDI), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). Differential scanning calorimetry, small‐angle X‐ray scattering, and dynamic mechanical analysis were employed to characterize the two‐phase structures of all PCLUs. It was found that HDI‐ and MDI‐based PCLUs had higher degree of microphase separation than did IPDI‐ and TDI‐based PCLUs, which was primarily due to the crystallization of HDI‐ and MDI‐based hard‐segments. As a result, the HDI‐based PCLU exhibited the highest recovery force up to 6 MPa and slowest stress relaxation with increasing temperature. Besides, it was found that the partial damage in hard‐segment domains during the sample deformation was responsible for the incomplete shape‐recovery of PCLUs after the first deformation, but the damage did not develop during the subsequent deformation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 557–570, 2007     

The fabrication and characterization of poly(lactic acid) scaffolds for tissue engineering by improved solid–liquid phase separation

In this article a new technique was developed to fabricate scaffolds with a unique microstructure by solid–liquid separation in combination with particulate-leaching. Firstly, the effects of polymer concentration, quenching temperature on the porous morphology and the mechanical property of obtained scaffolds during solid–liquid separation have been investigated. Then, salt granules as porogen were introduced into the solid–liquid phase separation to produce the unique pore structure of the scaffold. The pore diameter of the scaffold could be controlled with the particulate size and the wall of pores possessed special microstructure, which enhanced the pore interconnectivity. The cell culture results confirmed that a good interconnectivity of the scaffold prepared by the improved solid–liquid separation was useful for nutrition transportation and cell proliferation. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Isobar separation at FRS-ESR – a development towards pure isomeric stored beams

One important goal of the ILIMA project at FAIR is the study of masses and decay properties of relativistic isomeric beams stored and cooled in the planned storage-ring complex. A new scheme is described, where a storage-cooler ring is used for high-resolution mass separation. Experimental results on the separation of the isobaric pair ¹⁴⁰Pr-¹⁴⁰Ce are presented. P. Beller, deceased.     

Isomer effects on transport properties of polyesters based on bisphenol-A

Pure gas sorption and transport properties of polyesters based on bisphenol-A and both pure isophthalic and pure terephthalic acid chloride were obtained for He, N₂, O₂, CH₄, and CO₂ at 35°C. The polymers were synthesized in our laboratory and amorphous films were prepared with a specialized solvent casting procedure. The polymer containing m-phenylene groups shows higher permselectivity for most of the gas pairs. The ideal selectivity of O₂/N₂ was increased by 33% when p-phenylene units were replaced by m-phenylene ones. On the other hand, the polyester containing only p-phenylene groups, shows higher permeability to all the gases studied. The polymer based on pure terephthalic acid chloride has a 75% higher oxygen permeability and a 1.1-fold higher carbon dioxide permeability than the isophthalic acid derivative. The polyester containing meta-phenylene units has lower T_g, higher permselectivity, lower permeability, lower fractional free volume (FFV), and lower d-spacing. The values of FFV, and lower d-spacing. The values of FFV and d-spacing were only slightly different between the two isomers. Moreover, for the sub-T_gγ transition the maximum in tan δ occured at essentially the same temperature (?55°C). The polymer with a higher concentration of p-phenylene units shows somewhat larger area under the γ-peak, indicating slightly more sub-T_g motion. The Distribution of FFV is considered to be the determining factor for the differences in transport properties observed. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Immiscibility,upper critical solution temperature,and miscibility in blends of poly(vinyl ether)s with polyacrylics: Effects of pendant groups

Various phase behavior of blends of poly(vinyl ether)s with homologous acrylic polymers (polymethacrylates or polyacrylates) were examined using differential scanning calorimetry, optical microscopy (OM), and Fourier‐transformed infrared spectroscopy. Effects of varying the pendant groups of either of constituent polymers on the phase behavior of the blends were analyzed. A series of interestingly different phase behavior in the blends has been revealed in that as the pendant group in the acrylic polymer series gets longer, polymethacrylate/poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME) blends exhibit immiscibility, upper critical solution temperature (UCST), and miscibility, respectively. This study found that the true phase behavior of poly(propyl methacrylate)/PVME [and poly(isopropyl methacrylate)/PVME)] blend systems, though immiscible at ambient, actually displayed a rare UCST upon heating to higher temperatures. Similarly, as the methyl pendant group in PVE is lengthened to ethyl (i.e., PVME replaced by PVEE), phase behavior of its blends with series of polymethacrylates or polyacrylates changes correspondingly. Analyses and quantitative comparisons on four series of blends of PVE/acrylic polymer were performed to thoroughly understand the effects of pendant groups in either polyethers (PVE's) or acrylic polymers on the phase behavior of the blends of these two constituents. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 1521–1534, 2007