Dynamic mechanical characterization of PMR polyimide/carbon fiber composites modified by fiber coating with silicones

Viscous and elastomeric silicones have been applied as interlayers to carbon fibers in order to develop a tougher, micro-crack resistant, thermally stable polyimide (PMR-15) composite. Carbon fiber is continuously coated with very high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polyvinyl-methylsiloxane (PVMS). Dynamic mechanical properties of the composites have been determined and compared with uncoated carbon fiber reinforced PMR-15 polyimide composites. The presence of the interlayer is shown by the appearance of a new relaxation peak. The peak temperature is found to be a good indication of the degree of the cure of the silicone elastomer. Comparison of the storage moduli of uncoated and coated carbon fiber composites at the service temperature range of the composites indicates that the presence of the silicone interlayer affects the shear moduli of the composites. Apparent activation energy of the α transition of the matrix in the modified composites varies with the amount of interlayer and composition in concert with the impact strength.     

Assessment of dynamic closure for premixed combustion large eddy simulation

Turbulent piloted Bunsen flames of stoichiometric methane–air mixtures are computed using the large eddy simulation (LES) paradigm involving an algebraic closure for the filtered reaction rate. This closure involves the filtered scalar dissipation rate of a reaction progress variable. The model for this dissipation rate involves a parameter β_c representing the flame front curvature effects induced by turbulence, chemical reactions, molecular dissipation, and their interactions at the sub-grid level, suggesting that this parameter may vary with filter width or be a scale-dependent. Thus, it would be ideal to evaluate this parameter dynamically by LES. A procedure for this evaluation is discussed and assessed using direct numerical simulation (DNS) data and LES calculations. The probability density functions of β_c obtained from the DNS and LES calculations are very similar when the turbulent Reynolds number is sufficiently large and when the filter width normalised by the laminar flame thermal thickness is larger than unity. Results obtained using a constant (static) value for this parameter are also used for comparative evaluation. Detailed discussion presented in this paper suggests that the dynamic procedure works well and physical insights and reasonings are provided to explain the observed behaviour.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of the interaction between a mixed dislocation and a stacking fault tetrahedron

A high number-density of nanometer-sized stacking fault tetrahedra are commonly found during irradiation of low stacking fault energy metals. The stacking fault tetrahedra act as obstacles to dislocation motion leading to increased yield strength and decreased ductility. Thus, an improved understanding of the interaction between gliding dislocations and stacking fault tetrahedra are critical to reliably predict the mechanical properties of irradiated materials. Many studies have investigated the interaction of a screw or edge dislocation with a stacking fault tetrahedron (SFT). However, atomistic studies of a mixed dislocation interaction with an SFT are not available, even though mixed dislocations are the most common. In this paper, molecular dynamics simulation results of the interaction between a mixed dislocation and an SFT in face-centered cubic copper are presented. The interaction results in shearing, partial absorption, destabilization or simple bypass of the SFT, depending on the interaction geometry. However, the SFT was not completely annihilated, absorbed or collapsed during a single interaction with a mixed dislocation. These observations, combined with simulation results of edge or screw dislocations, suggest that defect-free channel formation in irradiated copper is not likely by a single dislocation sweeping or destruction process, but rather by a complex mix of multiple shearing, partial absorption and defect cluster transportation that ultimately reduces the size of stacking fault tetrahedra within a localized region.     

Electric field assisted annealing effects on microstructure and ionic conductivity in ceria/YSZ oxide heterostructures

The effect of electric field assisted annealing on the microstructure, composition and ionic conductivity properties in CeO₂/YSZ oxide heterostructures have been investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. Amorphization–recrystallization steps were performed with and without external electric field of strength 10?MV/cm along three different orientations: in-plane (YZ), normal (X) and 45° resultant (XY) with respect to the oxide heterointerfaces. The microstructural and compositional differences at the interfaces and in the interior of the oxide heterolayers were evaluated and were found to show a clear correlation with the orientations of the applied field. In particular, the XY configuration displayed a compressive lattice strain of ～9% along with a reduced oxygen vacancy concentration when compared to the others. Ionic density profiles suggest pronounced segregation (～60% higher compared to the average value in the interior) of yttrium ions closer to the YSZ/CeO₂ interface for the XY configuration. Other configurations exhibit minimal to no such variations. These microstructural differences are found to affect the number of mobile charge carriers and the activation barriers associated with ionic migration through the oxide lattice and consequently, influence the ionic conductivity.     

Dislocation-density-based constitutive modelling of tensile flow and work-hardening behaviour of P92 steel

The flow and work-hardening behaviour of tempered martensitic P92 steel have been investigated using phenomenological constitutive model in the temperature range 300–873 K for the strain rates ranging from 3.16 × 10^?5 to 1.26 × 10^?3 s^?1. The analysis indicated that the hybrid model reduced to Estrin–Mecking (E–M) one-internal-variable model at intermediate and high temperatures. Further, the analysis also indicated that dislocation dense martensite lath/cell boundaries and precipitates together act as effective barriers to dislocation glide in P92 steel. The flow behaviour of the steel was adequately described by the E–M approach for the range of temperatures and strain rates examined. Three distinct temperature regimes have been obtained for the variations in work-hardening parameters with respect to temperature and strain rate. Signatures of dynamic strain ageing in terms of the anomalous variations in work-hardening parameters at intermediate temperatures and the dominance of dynamic recovery at high temperatures have been observed. The evaluation of activation energy suggested that deformation is controlled by the dominance of cross-slip of dislocations at room and intermediate temperatures, and climb of dislocations at high temperatures.     

Monitoring cooperative equilibria in a stochastic differential game

This paper deals with a class of equilibria which are based on the use of memory strategies in the context of continuous-time stochastic differential games. In order to get interpretable results, we will focus the study on a stochastic differential game model of the exploitation of one species of fish by two competing fisheries. We explore the possibility of defining a so-called cooperative equilibrium, which will implement a fishing agreement. In order to obtain that equilibrium, one defines a monitoring variable and an associated retaliation scheme. Depending on the value of the monitoring variable, which provides some evidence of a deviation from the agreement, the probability increases that the mode of a game will change from a cooperative to a punitive one. Both the monitoring variable and the parameters of this jump process are design elements of the cooperative equilibrium. A cooperative equilibrium designed in this way is a solution concept for a switching diffusion game. We solve that game using the sufficient conditions for a feedback equilibrium which are given by a set of coupled HJB equations. A numerical analysis, approximating the solution of the HJB equations through an associated Markov game, enables us to show that there exist cooperative equilibria which dominate the classical feedback Nash equilibrium of the original diffusion game model.This research was supported by FNRS-Switzerland, NSERC-Canada, FCAR-Quebec.     

A dynamic programming algorithm for dynamic lot size models with piecewise linear costs

We propose a new algorithm for dynamic lot size models (LSM) in which production and inventory cost functions are only assumed to be piecewise linear. In particular, there are no assumptions of convexity, concavity or monotonicity. Arbitrary capacities on both production and inventory may occur, and backlogging is allowed. Thus the algorithm addresses most variants of the LSM appearing in the literature. Computational experience shows it to be very effective on NP-hard versions of the problem. For example, 48 period capacitated problems with production costs defined by eight linear segments are solvable in less than 2.5 minutes of Vax 8600 cpu time.     

非均匀变截面梁动力响应的一般解

本文利用精确解析法[1]给出非均匀变截面梁在任意谐振荷载和边界条件下的动力响应的一般解.问题最后归结为求解一个非正定微分方程.对于这一问题用一般变分法求解失败,利用本文的方法,这个问题的一般解可以写成解析的形式.因此对优化特别方便.本文给出收敛性证明.文末给出的算例表明本文的方法可获得满意的结果.     

Self-Assembled Multistable Scattering Mode for Versatile Energy-Saving Smart Windows

Smart windows are crucial to dynamic control over light transmission to fulfill various demands in energy saving, privacy, and information display; however, most present technologies still perform a single function (often tint or haze adjustment) and require continuous electricity for operation. In this study, novel self-assembled ionic liquid crystals (ILCs) doped with negative cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) to offer electrically switchable and stable scattering-mode light modulators are presented. The novel smectic A phase based on the ILCs exhibits high solubility in the adopted nematics, enhancing the LC device's performance in several ways, including improved homogeneity, stable alignment quality, prolonged stability, and simplified fabrication. The LC device can potentially offer a dynamically rapid switching function between stable transparent (imperfect fingerprint textures) states and stable scattering (focal conic textures with small domains) states by using external stimuli and highly maintained multistable states for prolonged periods, even when the external stimuli are removed. The LC device also offers polarization-independent scattering and transparent-mode LC light modulators, low operating voltage, excellent contrast, and broad viewing angles. Its versatility and outstanding field-off stability make it ideal for various applications such as smart lighting, building climate control, energy-saving displays, and augmented reality (AR) glasses.