An experimental investigation of dynamic crack propagation in a brittle material reinforced with a ductile layer

The fracture behavior of a dynamically loaded edge crack in a brittle-ductile layered material, as a function of applied loading rate, was experimentally investigated. Layered specimens were prepared by sandwiching a thin layer of ductile aluminum between two thick layers of brittle Homalite-100. The layers were bonded using Loctite Depend 330 adhesive, and a naturally sharp edge crack was introduced in one of the Homalite-100 layers. These single-edge notched specimens were loaded in dynamic three-point bending using a modified Hopkinson bar. The fracture process was imaged in real time using dynamic photoelasticity in conjunction with digital high-speed photography, and the applied load and load-point displacement histories were determined from the strain signals recorded at two locations on the Hopkinson bar. The results of this study indicated two distinct mechanisms of dynamic failure, depending on the applied loading rate. At lower loading rates, the starter crack arrested on reaching the aluminum layer and then caused delamination along the aluminum–Homalite interface. On the contrary, as the loading rate was increased, interfacial delamination was followed by crack re-initiation in the Homalite layer opposite to the initial starter crack. It was determined that the times required for crack initiation, delamination and crack re-initiation decreased as the loading rate was increased. However, it was also observed that the applied load values associated with each event increased with increasing loading rate. These observations indicate that both the dynamic failure process and plausibly the failure mode transition are affected by the rate-dependent properties of Homalite, aluminum and the interfacial bond. Finally, based on the measured peak loads and the observed failure mechanisms it was concluded that the incorporation of a thin ductile reinforcement layer can increase both the overall fracture toughness and strength of a nominally brittle material.     

A novel approach to Bilevel nonlinear programming

Recently developed methods of monotonic optimization have been applied successfully for studying a wide class of nonconvex optimization problems, that includes, among others, generalized polynomial programming, generalized multiplicative and fractional programming, discrete programming, optimization over the efficient set, complementarity problems. In the present paper the monotonic approach is extended to the General Bilevel Programming GBP Problem. It is shown that (GBP) can be transformed into a monotonic optimization problem which can then be solved by “polyblock” approximation or, more efficiently, by a branch-reduce-and-bound method using monotonicity cuts. The method is particularly suitable for Bilevel Convex Programming and Bilevel Linear Programming.      

BOUNDED SOLUTIONS AND PERIODIC SOLUTIONS OF VISCOUS POLYTROPIC GAS EQUATIONS

ＢＯＵＮＤＥＤＳＯＬＵＴＩＯＮＳＡＮＤＰＥＲＩＯＤＩＣＳＯＬＵＴＩＯＮＳＯＦＶＩＳＣＯＵＳＰＯＬＹＴＲＯＰＩＣＧＡＳＥＱＵＡＴＩＯＮＳＬＵＯＴＡＯＡｂｓｔｒａｃｔＡｐｉｓｔｏｎｐｒｏｂｌｅｍｏｆｖｉｓｃｏｕｓｐｏｌｙｔｒｏｐｉｃｇａｓｅｑｕａｔｉｏ...     

SrTi_（1－x）Sn_xO_3的水热合成与结构研究

采用水热晶化法合成出ＳｒＴｉ_（１－ｘ）Ｓｎ_ｘＯ_３系列化合物，并对其结构进行了表征。结果表明，随着Ｓｎ含量的增加，产物的晶胞体积增大，红外吸收谱带发生劈裂，并向高波数方向移动；ＳｒＴｉ_（１－ｘ）Ｓｎ_ｘＯ_３化合物粒度较小，其中常含有少量有机物和吸附水，可以Ｔｉ（ＯＣ４Ｈ９）４为Ｔｉ源直接合成。     

Conditions for accurate split injection of samples with wide boiling point range

The effect of injection temperature, carrier gas flow rate, geometry of the glass insert, and column temperature program on the precision and accuracy of split injections was measured. Three types of injection techniques were compared: injection into a hot isothermal injector, isothermal injection with the injector at the solvent boiling point temperature, and programmed injection temperature. The last of these techniques produced the best accuracy and precision of analysis. Conditions for complete sample trapping at the beginning of programmed temperature analysis are described.     

The influence of evaporative dynamics on precision in split capillary GC

The kinetics of sample evaporation was studied for four common injection liners at various temperatures. The rates of solvent and sample evaporation were measured. The sample distribution at the split point was probed by inserting two capillary columns in one injector. Greater homogeneity at the split point corresponded to higher precision (better correlation between the sample and internal standard peak areas). Evidence of aerosol formation using inverted cup inlet liners was seen. Packed column precision was better than capillary precision in each case, i.e., using straight split liners, inverted cup liners, and cold on-column injection. Capillary precision is best when the sample and internal standard elute close together, and may be improved by using solvents that vaporize slowly.     

Propagation of a stress wave through a virtual functionally graded foam

Stress wave propagation through a Functionally Graded Foam Material (FGFM) is analysed in this paper using the finite element method. A finite element model of the Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) is developed to apply realistic boundary conditions to a uniform density foam and is validated against laboratory SHPB tests. Wave propagation through virtual FGFMs with various gradient functions is then considered. The amplitude of the stress wave is found to be shaped by the gradient functions, i.e., the stress can be amplified or diminished following propagation through the FGFMs. The plastic dissipation energy in the specimens is also shaped by the gradient functions. This property of FGFMs provides significant potential for such materials to be used for cushioning structures.