The effect of 1,3:2,4-<Emphasis Type="Italic">bis</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-(<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-methylbenzylidene)-<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">d</Emphasis>-sorbitol (PDTS) on uniaxial elongational viscosity of polypropylene

We investigated the dynamic viscoelasticity and elongational viscosity of polypropylene (PP) containing 0.5 wt% of 1,3:2,4-bis-O-(p-methylbenzylidene)-d-sorbitol (PDTS). The PP/PDTS system exhibited a sol–gel transition (T _gel) at 193 °C. The critical exponent n was nearly equal to 2/3, in agreement with the value predicted by a percolation theory. This critical gel is due to a three-dimensional network structure of PDTS crystals. The elongational viscosity behavior of neat PP followed the linear viscosity growth function 3η ⁺ (t), where η ⁺ (t) is the shear stress growth function in the linear viscoelastic region. The elongational viscosity of the PP/PDTS system also followed the 3η ⁺ (t) above T _gel but did not follow the 3η ⁺ (t) and exhibited strong strain-softening behavior below T _gel. This strain softening can be attributed to breakage of the network structure of PDTS with a critical stress (σ _c) of about 10⁴ Pa.     

Free vibration of non-uniform column using DQM

Most of engineering problems are governed by a set of partial differential equations with proper boundary conditions. The present work is concerned with free vibration analysis of non-uniform column resting on elastic foundation and subjected to follower force. The used method of solution is the differential quadrature method (DQM). Formulation of the problem is introduced. The results obtained and compared with the exact solution and traditional numerical techniques such as finite element method. The parametric study is used to investigate the effect of column geometry on the natural frequencies, the mode shapes and the critical load.     

Decoupling and recoupling of detonation waves associated with sudden expansion

Detonation propagation behavior associated with sudden expansions has been investigated both experimentally and numerically. Different mechanisms, from sustained propagation to detonation failure and reinitiation including shock and flame front decoupling and recoupling have been observed with the schlieren technique. The shock-induced flame propagation has been modeled with two-step chemistry and structured two-dimensional CFD on arbitrary geometries. The results of the numerical simulations show good correspondence to the variety of phenomena observed in experiments. Thus the numerical simulation can be used to study detonation propagation in complex geometries. It provides a tool for the design of safety devices and aids experimental investigations. Received 4 August 1995 / Accepted 25 April 1996     

Multiple solutions of some boundary value problems with parameters

In this paper, we study the existence and multiplicity of nontrivial solutions for the following second-order Dirichlet nonlinear boundary value problem with odd order derivative: −u^″(t)+au^′(t)+bu(t)=f(t,u(t)) for all t∈[0,1] with u(0)=u(1)=0, where a,b∈R¹, f∈C¹([0,1]×R¹,R¹). By using the Morse theory, we impose certain conditions on f which are able to guarantee that the problem has at least one nontrivial solution, two nontrivial solutions and infinitely many solutions, separately.     

Graphs whose critical groups have larger rank

The critical group C(G) of a graph G is a refinement of the number of spanning trees of the graph and is closely connected with the Laplacian matrix. Let r(G) be the minimum number of generators (i.e., the rank) of the group C(G) and β(G) be the number of independent cycles of G. In this paper, some forbidden induced subgraphs are given for r(G) = n − 3 and all graphs with r(G) = β(G) = n − 3 are characterized.     

Multiple solutions for a nonlinear and non-homogeneous problem in Orlicz-Sobolev spaces

We study a non-homogeneous boundary value problem in a smooth bounded domain in R^N. We prove the existence of at least two non-negative and non-trivial weak solutions. Our approach relies on Orlicz-Sobolev spaces theory combined with adequate variational methods and a variant of Mountain Pass Lemma.     

Solitary waves for the Klein-Gordon-Maxwell system with critical exponent

In this paper we study the existence of solutions for nonlinear Klein-Gordon-Maxwell equations coupled with Maxwell’s equations when the nonlinearity exhibits critical growth. We improve some previous existence results in Azzollini et al. (2009) [5], Carrião et al. (2009) [4] and Cassani (2004) [3].     

When is a partial Latin square uniquely completable, but not its completable product?

Let P and Q be uniquely completable partial Latin squares. It is an open problem to determine necessary and sufficient conditions so that the completable product P⊗Q is also uniquely completable. So far, only a few specific examples of P have been given such that the completable product of P with itself (P⊗P) does not have a unique completion. In this paper, we find a whole class of such partial Latin squares.     

Domination dot-critical graphs with no critical vertices

A graph G is dot-critical if contracting any edge decreases the domination number. It is totally dot-critical if identifying any two vertices decreases the domination number. Burton and Sumner [Discrete Math. 306 (2006) 11-18] posed the problem: Is it true that for k?4, there exists a totally k-dot-critical graph with no critical vertices? In this paper, we show that this problem has a positive answer.     

Resonance problems for the p-Laplacian systems

Two existence theorems of the solutions are obtained for the p-Laplacian systems at resonance under a Landesman-Lazer-type condition by critical point theory.