Effective-Field Theory on High Spin Systems with Biaxial Crystal Field

Based on the effective-field theory with self-spin correlations and the differential operator technique,physical properties of the spin-2 system with biaxial crystal field on the simple cubic, body-centered cubic, as well as faced-centered lattice have been studied. The influences of the external longitudinal magnetic field on the magnetization,internal energy, specific heat, and susceptibility have been discussed in detail. The phenomenon that the magnetization in the ground state shows quantum effects produced by the biaxial transverse crystal field has been found.     

Biaxial nematics: symmetries,order domains and field-induced phase transitions †

We studied the symmetry and spatial uniformity of the orientational order of the biaxial nematic phase in the light of recent experimental observations of phase biaxiality in thermotropic bent-core and calamitic-tetramer nematics. Evidence is presented supporting monoclinic symmetry, instead of the usually assumed orthorhombic symmetry. The use of deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance to differentiate between the possible symmetries is described. The spatial aspects of biaxial order are presented in the context of the cluster model, wherein macroscopic biaxiality can result from the field-induced alignment of biaxial and possibly polar domains. The implications of different symmetries on the alignment of biaxial nematics and on the measurements of biaxial order are discussed in conjunction with the microdomain structure of the biaxial phase.     

Optical switching and alignment of antiferroelectric liquid crystals containing an azo group

The optical properties of two kinds of photochromic antiferroelectric liquid crystal (AFLC) containing an azo group have been examined. Depending on the substituting group at the chiral centre, these AFLCs showed different photoinduced phase transitions by Ar⁺ laser light irradiation. This phase transition has led to a new form of optical switching controlled by a bias voltage. In addition, it was found that these AFLCs caused an azimuthal photoalignment effect regulated by linearly polarized Ar⁺ laser light irradiation. These phenomena were applied to image storage.     

Liquid crystal orientation in elliptic droplets in nematic emulsions

Elliptic droplets of nematic liquid crystal dispersed in a fluid organic monomer were obtained by phase separation from an isotropic mixture consisting of an organic monomer and a nematic liquid crystal contained in a poly(ethylene terephthalate) cell with inner surfaces treated with rubbed polyimide. The elliptic shape is a consequence of the constraint upon droplet growth along the direction perpendicular to the cell surfaces owing to the small thickness. Then, the resulting droplets will have a contact area with the inner surfaces of the cell treated with polyimide, which will impart a planar orientation on the liquid crystal in the droplet. By means of an optical microscope, using a simple pin hole of 5 μ m, we have selected single droplets for a series of samples having different contact areas. By polarized infrared spectroscopy we have also studied the liquid crystal orientation in selected areas of the droplets. We then report the dependence of the order parameter of the liquid crystal on different contact areas with the alignment surface of the cell. The good degree of planar alignment of the liquid crystal in the elliptic droplets allows the use of such a technique for realizing electro-optical films operating in the reverse mode. We report the electro-optical transmission of reverse mode films with different sizes of elliptic droplet.     

形状记忆合金椭圆孔口问题的有限单元法

基于Lagoudas形状记忆合金(SMA)三维本构模型,假设材料为各向同性,推导了SMA平面应力状态的增量型本构方程,继而编写了ABAQUS用户自定义材料(UMAT)子程序,研究了在双向拉伸情况下,外载荷、温度、椭圆孔口长短轴之比对超弹性SMA椭圆孔口板中应力诱发马氏体相变区的影响。数值结果表明:应力诱发马氏体相变首先发生在椭圆孔口长轴端点部位,在外加载荷作用下逐渐扩展到板内,并由内向外形成马氏体相区、相变混合区和奥氏体相区;SMA板内应力诱发马氏体完全相变区面积与施加外载荷成正相关,与温度成负相关;随着椭圆孔口长短轴之比增大,SMA板内应力诱发马氏体完全相变区面积呈现出先减小后增大的趋势;拉应力差值相同时,相较于拉应力沿椭圆孔口长轴方向较大的情况,当拉应力沿椭圆孔口短轴方向较大时,SMA板内完全相变区面积较大,椭圆孔口周边应力集中现象更明显。     

面内双轴应力作用下单层黑磷能带性质研究

通过第一性原理对平面内双轴应力作用下的单层黑磷能带结构进行了计算.双轴拉伸应力作用下单层黑磷始终保持直接带隙性质,双轴压缩应力作用下的单层黑磷则发生了直接带隙转变为间接带隙的现象,当双轴压缩应力增加到7%时单层黑磷带隙闭合.     

Towards the biaxial nematic phase through molecular design

In this article, the search for the elusive biaxial nematic phase (NB) in liquid crystals is considered. The structure of the phase is described along with theoretical and computational work which suggests how it might be realised. An overview of the work of the Exeter group in this area is then given showing the different approaches adopted and illustrating how one of these has led to a new type of amphiphilicity based on shape.     

Design equations for the assessment and FRP-strengthening of reinforced rectangular concrete columns under combined biaxial bending and axial loads

A simple procedure is proposed for the assessment of reinforced rectangular concrete columns under combined biaxial bending and axial loads and for the design of a correct amount of FRP-strengthening for underdesigned concrete sections. Approximate closed-form equations are developed based on the load contour method originally proposed by Bresler for reinforced concrete sections. The 3D failure surface is approximated along its contours, at a constant axial load, by means of equations given as the sum of the acting/resisting moment ratio in the directions of principal axes of the sections, raised to a power depending on the axial load, the steel reinforcement ratio, and the section shape. The method is extended to FRP-strengthened sections. Moreover, to make it possible to apply the load contour method in a more practical way, simple closed-form equations are developed for rectangular reinforced concrete sections with a two-way steel reinforcement and FRP strengthenings on each side. A comparison between the approach proposed and the fiber method (which is considered exact) shows that the simplified equations correctly represent the section interaction diagram. Russian translation published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 44, No. 3, pp. 443–462, May–June, 2008.     

Multicriteria Optimal Design of a Rectangular Composite Plate Subjected to Biaxial and Thermal Loading

Multicriteria optimization of the structure and geometry of a laminated anisotropic composite plate subjected to the thermal and biaxial action is considered. From known properties of the monolayer and the given values of variable structural parameters, the thermoelastic properties of the layered composite are determined. The criteria to be optimized—the transverse critical load and the longitudinal thermal stresses—depend on two variable design parameters of composite properties and temperature. In the space of the optimization criteria, the domain of allowable solutions and the Pareto-optimal subdomain are found. __________ Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 41, No. 5, pp. 683–690, September–October, 2005.     

Compromise optimization of a rectangular composite plate subjected to biaxial thermal loading and buckling under the action of shear

The compromise optimization of the structure and geometry of a laminated anisotropic composite plate subjected to biaxial thermal shear loading is considered. From the known properties of the monolayer and given values of a variable structural parameter, the thermoelastic properties of the layered composite are determined. The optimization criteria — the critical shear load and the longitudinal and transverse thermal stresses — depend on two variable design parameters of composite properties and temperature. In the space of optimization criteria, the domain of allowable solutions and the Pareto-optimal subregion are found. __________ Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 44, No. 4, pp. 471–478, July–August, 2008.