Speckle interferometry methods for displacement and strain measurements using photorefractive crystal

Photorefractive crystals offer several attractive features such as high resolution and in situ processing. As the images are erasable, these crystals are suitable for read–write applications and hence find potential use in speckle photography, image processing and holography. The barium titanate (BaTiO₃) crystal as recording medium has been extensively used as a novelty filter for real-time in-plane displacement measurements employing two-beam coupling configuration. This paper presents new optical configurations in speckle shear photography to measure in-plan displacement and the strain in real time using BaTiO₃ crystal as recording medium. Speckle photography studies are made using a simple two-beam coupling configuration. In speckle shear photography, a diffused object illuminated with two parallel narrow laser beams is imaged inside the crystal, and a pump beam is added at this plane. The speckle patterns due to each beam and the pump beam produce index gratings. When the object is deformed, the speckle patterns shift consequently. We now have four speckle fields: two generated from the interaction of pump beam with the index gratings and two pertaining to deformed states directly transmitted through the crystal. Thus, the fields from respective points on the object interfere after passage through the crystal and produce the Young's fringe patterns. Due to strain, the fringes in each pattern are of different width and orientation, resulting in the generation of a Moiré pattern. The strain is obtained from the width and orientation of the fringes in the Moiré pattern. The experiments are conducted on a specimen with a notch, which is subjected to tensile loading. The in-plane displacement is measured separately in another experiment. The above studies are carried out at Nd–Yag laser.     

Comparison of shear banding in BMGs due to thermal-softening and free volume creation

This paper reports a comparative study of shear banding in BMGs resulting from thermal softening and free volume creation. Firstly, the effects of thermal softening and free volume creation on shear instability are discussed. It is known that thermal softening governs thermal shear banding, hence it is essentially energy related. However, compound free volume creation is the key factor to the other instability, though void-induced softening seems to be the counterpart of thermal softening. So, the driving force for shear instability owing to free volume creation is very different from the thermally assisted one. In particular, long wave perturbations are always unstable owing to compound free volume creation. Therefore, the shear instability resulting from coupled compound free volume creation and thermal softening may start more like that due to free volume creation. Also, the compound free volume creation implies a specific and intrinsic characteristic growth time of shear instability. Finally, the mature shear band width is governed by the corresponding diffusions (thermal or void diffusion) within the band. As a rough guide, the dimensionless numbers: Thermal softening related number B, Deborah number (denoting the relation of instability growth rate owing to compound free volume and loading time) and Lewis number (denoting the competition of different diffusions) show us their relative importance of thermal softening and free volume creation in shear banding. All these results are of particular significance in understanding the mechanism of shear banding in bulk metallic glasses (BMGs). Supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences under the project “Multi-Scale Complex System” (Grant No. KJCX-SW-L08), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 10725211 and 10721202), and the Doctorial Start-up Fund of Hunan University of Science and Technology (Grant No. E50840)     

Elastic moduli of η‐Ta2N3, a tough self‐healing material,via laser ultrasonics

The elastic moduli of the dense polycrystalline oxygen‐bearing η‐Ta₂N₃, a novel hard and tough high‐pressure (HP) material, were measured using the laser ultrasonic technique. The bulk modulus was determined to be B₀ = 281(15) GPa which is only ～11% below that from HP compression measurements. Our value of the shear modulus G₀ = 123(2) GPa is below those ones predicted theoretically for model structures. The discrepancies in G₀ could be due to a substitution of an‐ ions and the formation of cation vacancies in η‐Ta₂N₃. Self‐healing behaviour of η‐Ta₂N₃ by mechanical polishing was observed and confirmed by two independent experimental methods. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

冰洲石-玻璃组合平行分束偏光镜的设计研究

为了既节省稀有昂贵的冰洲石晶体材料，又实现偏振光的大剪切差输出，采用冰洲石晶体与光学玻璃组合的方法，设计了一种新型平行分束偏光镜。该棱镜的前后半块分别为ZBaF₃玻璃和冰洲石晶体，由大折射率液态胶合剂溴代萘胶合而成。实验测试表明：该棱镜透射的2束平行光的消光比，o光可达10^－5；尽管受到光学玻璃的影响，e光的消光比仍优于10^－3；透射比均与纯冰洲石晶体材料的棱镜基本相当。理论分析表明：该棱镜自身结构带来的性能影响在一定情况下完全可以忽略，因此具有较好的应用前景。     

The Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Isotactic Polypropylene Injection-Molded Samples with the Presence of β-Nucleation Agent and Periodical Shear Field

The pressure vibration injection molding (PVIM) method was used to prepare β-nucleated isotactic polypropylene samples (PVIM β-iPP samples); a relatively low, periodical shear was imposed on the polymer melt in the mold at the filling and packing stages. The crystal structures and crystal orientation of the PVIM β-iPP samples were investigated by polarizing light microscopy (PLM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and synchrotron two-dimensional wide-angle X-ray diffraction (2D-WAXD). The PLM observations indicated that a cylindrite layer, rather than the transition layer, was found in PVIM β-iPP samples, which is different from the conventional injection-molded (CIM) samples. In addition, the thickness of the oriented layer of the PVIM samples was obviously greater than that of the CIM samples. The SEM observations demonstrated that a large amount of shish-kebab structures appeared in the shear layer of the PVIM β-iPP samples; at the same time, numerous β-spherulites were formed in the core layer. The 2D-WAXD data indicated that orientation homogeneity, to some degree, could be obtained by the periodical shear during PVIM. As a result, the above-mentioned morphology of the PVIM β-iPP samples leads to potentially useful prominent reinforcement and toughening of the material.     

Shear-induced ordering of lamellar and gyroid structures observed in a nonionic surfactant/water system

The shear-induced ordering of lamellar and gyroid structures of a nonionic surfactant C₁₆E₇/D₂O system in a Couette shear cell ( 0.001 < < 10 s^-1, : shear rate) has been investigated by using a small angle neutron scattering technique. In the lamellar phase, the steady shear flow having > 0.01 s^-1 suppresses undulation fluctuations of lamellae (Maxwell effect). This suppression of fluctuations brings two effects; 1) shear-induced lamellae ordering toward a parallel orientation and 2) obstruction of a lamellar↦gyroid transition. It is quite interesting to note that there is a characteristic shear rate range ( 0.01 < < 0.3 s^-1), where both effects take place. We have also investigated the shear effects on the gyroid phase. Below the characteristic shear rate range, the gyroid structure keeps three-dimensional network lattice, while above the characteristic shear rate range, the gyroid structure transforms to the parallel orientation lamellae (shear-induced gyroid-lamellar transition). Thus the shear flow having the characteristic shear rate plays very important roles in shear ordering phenomena. Received 26 June 2000 and Received in final form 12 January 2001     

Relation between interfacial shear strength and compressive strength of carbon fiber/epoxy resin composite strands

The mechanism with which the fiber-matrix interfacial strength exerts its influence on the compressive strength of fiber reinforced composites has been studied by measuring the axial compressive strength of carbon fiber/epoxy resin unidirectional composite strands having different levels of interfacial shear strength. The composite strands are used for experiments in order to investigate the compressive strength which is not affected by the delamination taking place at a weak interlayer of the laminated composites. The interfacial strength is varied by applying various degrees of liquid-phase surface treatment to the fibers. The efficiency of the compressive strength of the fibers utilized in the strength of the composite strands is estimated by measuring the compressive strength of the single carbon filaments with a micro-compression test. The compressive strength of the composite strands does not increase monotonically with increasing interfacial shear strength but showes lower values at higher interfacial shear strengths. With increasing interfacial shear strength, the suppression of the interfacial failure in the misaligned fiber region increases the compressive strength, while at higher interfacial shear strengths, the enhancement of the crack sensitivity decreases the compressive strength.     

Silica surface modification using different aliphatic chain length silane coupling agents and their effects on silica agglomerate size and processability

Silica surface was treated with various aliphatic chain length silane coupling agents and compounded in EPDM using an internal mixer, and their agglomerate sizes, viscosity, and extrudate swell were investigated. The treated silica compounds showed smaller agglomerate size, lower viscosity, and lower swell reduction compared to untreated silica compound after equivalent mixing times. Short chain silane treated silica compound exhibited smallest agglomerate size. Silane acted as dispersing agents and processing aids in silica/EPDM compounds.     

波前延拓剪切干涉的数学原理与数值模拟

从数值方法的角度分析了常规剪切干涉存在的缺陷,通过数学原理和数值分析方法提出波前延拓剪切干涉,并证明了它的可行性及其对常规剪切干涉缺陷的克服。最后用数值方法模拟了波前恢复过程。