Dynamic stability ratio of a colloidal dispersion

The stability ratio of a dispersed system containing colloidal particles having amphoteric surfaces is estimated theoretically. We consider the case where the degree of dissociation of the functional groups on particle surface as a response to the variation in the conditions of the surrounding liquid phase is a function of time. The dynamic nature of the distributions of ions in the electrical double layer near a particle is also taken into account. The result of numerical simulation reveals that the dynamic nature of the system under consideration has the effect of increasing its stability. Due to the fact that the diffusivity of protons in the aqueous solution is much larger than that of other ion species, the level of increase in the stability ratio is less than 40%. However, if the rates of surface reactions are slow, the dynamic stability ratio can exceeds ten times the corresponding equilibrium value. Also, the smaller the particle and/or the thicker the double layer, the more significant the dynamic behavior of the system under consideration.     

Amplitude modulation of a low-coherence source, applications to distance and dynamic displacement sensing

The possibilities of the radio-frequency amplitude modulation of a low-coherence source for distance and displacement measurements are discussed. This intensity-based method, used within a Michelson interferometer, is a novel alternative to perform dynamic deformation measurements. The theoretical background is presented, together with the experimental verification of the principle. Besides, the results of the first quasi-dynamic tests are shown and the perspectives of the technique discussed. This method is specially useful for the dynamic monitoring of civil structures, where large measurements bases are needed. Furthermore, the application of the amplitude modulation for distance measurements is demonstrated experimentally.     

Dynamic fracture analysis of adhesive bonded material under normal loading

Dynamic fracture behavior of a Griffith crack along the interface of an adhesive bonded material under normal loading is studied. The singular integral equations are obtained by employing integral transformation and introducing dislocation density functions. By adopting Gauss-Jacobi integration formula, the problem is reduced to the solution of algebraic equations, and by collocation dots method. their solutions can be obtained Based on the parametric discussions presented in the paper, the following conclusions can be drawn： （1） Mode I dynamic stress intensity factor （DSIF） increases with increasing initial crack length and decreasing visco-elastic layer thickness, revealing distinct size effect; （2） The influence of the visco-elastic adhesive relaxation time on the DSIF should not be ignored.     

Crystallization and Melting Behavior of Polypropylene in Presence of Hydrogenated Dicyclopentadiene

A study of miscibility, morphology, crystallization, and dynamic mechanical properties of polypropylene in the presence of a low-molecular-weight compound, hydrogenated dicyclopentadiene (DCPD), is described. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), optical microscopy (OM), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) were used for this purpose. The blends exhibit composition-dependent melting point depression and reduced degree of crystallinity. Isothermal crystallization measurements show that the crystallization takes place at a lower temperature with an increase in crystallization half time with respect to pristine PP. This indicates retardation in crystallization of PP in the blends. The observed changes in the melting and crystallization behaviors are ascribed to the miscibility of the two components. The interaction parameter estimated using the Flory–Huggins equation shows negative values, suggesting the presence of strong specific interaction between PP and DCPD.     

Enantioselective synthesis of cis-α-substituted cycloalkanols and trans-cycloalkyl amines thereof

The diastereo- and enantioselective syntheses of trans-cycloalkyl amines was accomplished through a three-step sequence consisting of: (1) asymmetric transfer hydrogenation through dynamic kinetic resolution of bicyclic and monocyclic α-substituted ketones using HCO₂H/Et₃N as the hydrogen source and TsDPEN-based Ru(II) catalysts, (2) nucleophilic hydroxyl to azide substitution of the resulting cis-cycloalkanols using diphenyl phosphoryl azide under modified Mitsunobu conditions, and (3) reduction of the trans-azide intermediates with LiAlH₄ of PPh₃/H₂O to the desired targets.     

A combined isotropic-kinematic hardening model for the simulation of warm forming and subsequent loading at room temperature

A coupled isotropic-kinematic hardening material model was developed based on phenomenological observations of performed two stage experiments on a medium carbon steel – SAE 1144, where the first deformation is performed at elevated temperatures and the second deformation at room temperature. Above all, deformations with orthogonal loading at various temperatures were investigated in order to determine the influence of the loading direction as well as of the temperature. Bergström’s theory of work hardening as well as the nonlinear kinematic hardening of an Armstrong–Frederick type were used as a basis for the model development. In the proposed model a relationship between material coefficients of the classical Bergström model and temperature was investigated. The aim of the new material model was to introduce the least possible amount of new parameters as well as to facilitate the mathematical determination of parameters during the fitting of the model with experimental data. The developed model was implemented in an in-house FE-Code in order to simulate the material behavior due to the dynamic strain aging and the hardening behavior after the dynamic strain aging process. Representative simulation results were compared with the experimental data in order to validate the efficiency and the application range of the model.     

Algorithmic aspects of mean–variance optimization in Markov decision processes

We consider finite horizon Markov decision processes under performance measures that involve both the mean and the variance of the cumulative reward. We show that either randomized or history-based policies can improve performance. We prove that the complexity of computing a policy that maximizes the mean reward under a variance constraint is NP-hard for some cases, and strongly NP-hard for others. We finally offer pseudopolynomial exact and approximation algorithms.     

Single rod efficient Nd:YAG and Nd:YALO lasers with average output powers of 46 and 47 W in diffraction limited beams with M<1.2 and 100 W with M<3.7

Using a new resonator concept guaranteeing fundamental mode operation, flashlamp pumped Nd lasers with average output powers of 46 and 47 W for the two materials were realized with beam qualities better than 1.2*DL. Due to the absence of thermally induced birefringence the efficiency of the Nd:YALO laser was up to 1.85% and thus 1.5 times higher than that of the realized Nd:YAG laser. The Nd:YALO laser output is linear polarized. Average output power of 100 W could be extracted from a Nd:YAG single rod oscillator with a beam quality of better than 3.7×DL.