Monitoring three-dimensional packings in microgravity

We present results from experiments with granular packings in three dimensions in microgravity as realized on parabolic flights. Two different techniques are employed to monitor the inside of the packings during compaction: (1) X-ray radiography is used to measure in transmission the integrated fluctuations of particle positions. (2) Stress-birefringence in three dimensions is applied to visualize the stresses inside the packing. The particle motions below the transition into an arrested packing are found to produce a well agitated state. At the transition, the particles lose their energy quite rapidly and form a stress network. With both methods, non-arrested particles (rattlers) can be identified. In particular, it is found that rattlers inside the arrested packing can be excited to appreciable dynamics by the rest-accelerations (g-jitter) during a parabolic flight without destroying the packings. At low rates of compaction, a regime of slow granular cooling is identified. The slow cooling extends over several seconds, is described well by a linear law, and terminates in a rapid final collapse of dynamics before complete arrest of the packing.     

The Thermomagnetic Instability in Superconducting Films with Adjacent Metal Layer

Dendritic flux avalanches is a frequently encountered consequence of the thermomagnetic instability in type-II superconducting films. The avalanches, which are potentially harmful for superconductor-based devices, can be suppressed by an adjacent normal metal layer, even when the two layers are not in thermal contact. The suppression of the avalanches in this case is due to so-called magnetic braking, caused by eddy currents generated in the metal layer by propagating magnetic flux. We develop a theory of magnetic braking by analyzing coupled electrodynamics and heat flow in a superconductor-normal metal bilayer. The equations are solved by linearization and by numerical simulation of the avalanche dynamics. We find that in an uncoated superconductor, even a uniform thermomagnetic instability can develop into a dendritic flux avalanche. The mechanism is that a small non-uniformity caused by the electromagnetic non-locality induces a flux-flow hot spot at a random position. The hot spot quickly develops into a finger, which at high speeds penetrates into the superconductor, forming a branching structure. Magnetic braking slows the avalanches, and if the normal metal conductivity is sufficiently high, it can suppress the formation of the dendritic structure. During avalanches, the braking by the normal metal layer prevents the temperature from exceeding the transition temperature of the superconductor. Analytical criteria for the instability threshold are developed using the linear stability analysis. The criteria are found to match quantitatively the instability onsets obtained in simulations.     

Analysis of the evolution of granular stress-strain and voidage states based on DEM simulations

We review and discuss the results of our granular-dynamics simulations of the time evolution of the microstructure of compact granular beds as found in pouring, in hopper filling and discharge, and in a shear cell. These systems are mainly quasi-static. However, it is also common to encounter localized 'shear zones' with significant velocity/voidage fluctuations and high bulk-strain gradients. These narrow-banded zones are separated from near-static regions by sharp, discontinuous changes of bulk stress and voidage. Within these bands the granular assembly undergoes a transition from the quasi-static to the inertial state, where enduring particle contacts are increasingly replaced by collisional ones. We focus on the discrete particle origins of this inhomogeneous yield/flow behaviour. We show the usefulness of analysing the local evolution in terms of relative rotation of the grains which is observed to cause rapid local bulk dilation responsible for setting off avalanches near free-surface boundaries and protracted bulk-failure planes in confined static assemblies. We also present some evidence to suggest that allowing for effective continuous particle-particle interactions could approximate observed effects attributable to particle shape and surface roughness. Wavelet analyses have been applied successfully to generate the variations in periodicity and the relative sequence of evolution of the stress, strain-rate and voidage states in avalanching granular heaps and in the wall region of axially symmetric hopper flows.     

Onset mechanism of granular avalanches in inclining layers using a continuum model

What is the onset mechanism of macro scale avalanches? How do macro scale avalanches happen in the granular layers in an inclining box? The answers to these questions are the main part of our article aims. Using 3-dimensional simulation method we show the stresses, the stress ratios and the packing fractions in the processes where the onset of macro scale avalanches takes place. Based on our results the critical conditions of the onset of avalanches are presented. The onset mechanism of granular avalanches is elucidated. The onset of macro scale avalanches occurs in the small area, about 2% of the whole area, in the inclining granular layers. These are the conditions for the onset of macro scale avalanches that the shear and normal stresses and the packing fraction reach the maximum values at the same inclining angle. Then the stress ratio should be larger than the static frictional coefficient of materials. Aggregates of stick-slip like event are formed in the longitudinal direction. The number of aggregates decreases and the physical quantities in the aggregates rapidly increase with increasing inclining angle in the small area in which the onset of macro scale avalanche occurs.     

Micromechanical multiscale model for alkali activation of fly ash and metakaolin

The process of alkali activation of fly ash and metakaolin is examined in the view of micromechanics. Elasticity is predicted via semi-analytical homogenization methods, using a combination of intrinsic elastic properties obtained from nanoindentation, evolving volume fractions and percolation theory. A new quantitative model for volume fraction is formulated, distinguishing the evolution of unreacted aluminosilicate material, solid gel particles of N-A-S-H gel, and open porosity, which is partially filled with the activator. The stiffening of N-A-S-H gel is modeled by increasing the fraction of solid gel particles. Their packing density and intrinsic elasticity differ in N-A-S-H gels synthesized from both activated materials. Percolation theory helps to address the quasi-solid transition at early ages and explains a long setting time and the beneficial effect of thermal curing. The low ability of N-A-S-H gel to bind water chemically explains the high porosity of Ca-deficient activated materials. Micromechanical analysis matches well the elastic experimental data during the activation and elucidates important stages in the formation of the microstructure.     

Emergence of coherent structures and large-scale flows in motile suspensions

The emergence of coherent structures, large-scale flows and correlated dynamics in suspensions of motile particles such as swimming micro-organisms or artificial microswimmers is studied using direct particle simulations. A detailed model is proposed for a slender rod-like particle that propels itself in a viscous fluid by exerting a prescribed tangential stress on its surface, and a method is devised for the efficient calculation of hydrodynamic interactions in large-scale suspensions of such particles using slender-body theory and a smooth particle-mesh Ewald algorithm. Simulations are performed with periodic boundary conditions for various system sizes and suspension volume fractions, and demonstrate a transition to large-scale correlated motions in suspensions of rear-actuated swimmers, or Pushers, above a critical volume fraction or system size. This transition, which is not observed in suspensions of head-actuated swimmers, or Pullers, is seen most clearly in particle velocity and passive tracer statistics. These observations are consistent with predictions from our previous mean-field kinetic theory, one of which states that instabilities will arise in uniform isotropic suspensions of Pushers when the product of the linear system size with the suspension volume fraction exceeds a given threshold. We also find that the collective dynamics of Pushers result in giant number fluctuations, local alignment of swimmers and strongly mixing flows. Suspensions of Pullers, which evince no large-scale dynamics, nonetheless display interesting deviations from the random isotropic state.     

CFD-DEM numerical study on air impacted packing densification of equiaxed cylindrical particles

A CFD-DEM model was developed to reproduce the packing densification process of mono-sized equiaxed cylindrical particles under air impact. The effects of operating parameters on packing density were firstly studied. Then various microscopic properties of packing structures such as coordination number (CN), contact types, particle orientations, pore features were characterized and compared. And corresponding densification mechanisms were analysed based on particle motion behaviour, local structure evolution, and forces. Results indicate that the air impact can realize the packing densification of cylindrical particles under appropriate conditions. The pore size distribution in the packing of cylindrical particles shows a tail at larger pore sizes compared with that in the packing of equal spheres. Both the size and the sphericity of the pores decrease in the final dense packing; also, more surface-surface and less surface-edge contacts between two particles therein can be formed. More cylindrical particles tend to be in parallel or perpendicular contact with each other to form more stable local structures during air impact. Most particles at higher position move down (direction of gravity/air impact) with about one particle length during the densification process and most particles exhibit translational motion to realize the local rearrangement for pore filling through air impact induced inter-particle forces.     

Time Response to Irradiations of Tin Superheated Superconducting Grain Dispersions

We report a study of the time response to particle irradiations of superheated superconducting granule dispersions. This work, which complements a previous study of the magnetic field response to energy depositions, has been performed at 70mK with dispersions having volume filling factors up to 8.3%. In order to observe irradiation induced transitions, the applied magnetic field was ramped up and stabilized at different pause field values. During pauses, the measured transition rates decay in time and are found not to be affected by magnetostatic inter-grains interactions. On this basis, we elaborate a model of time response for a set of isolated grains which assumes that normal state nucleation results from adiabatic and homogeneous heating of full granule volumes (calorimetric response). The analysis of experimental results allows the identification of two different types of time response which we correlate to the way the initial energy deposition nucleates the normal state. Most of the time, transitions result from calorimetric responses: as described by the proposed model, the proximity between the pause field and the transition field of a granule uniquely defines its probability of transition. Its value is shown to be determined by the spectroscopic characteristics of the radioactive source. Less often, nucleation of the normal state occurs before the heat is homogeneously distributed within the granule volume. In this case, the transition probability also depends on the interval separating the pause field and the superheating limit.     

Analysis of the laminar flow in a transition layer with variable permeability between a free-fluid and a porous medium

The transport problem in a three-layer channel consisting of a noticeable transition layer sandwiched by a free-fluid region and a homogeneous porous medium is investigated analytically. The heterogeneous transition layer is characterized by the continuous variation of porosity and permeability, which are specifically described by applying two sets of functions. The Brinkman model is employed in the transition layer, and the analytical velocity profile is obtained in terms of the Airy function. Consistency is found between the computation results and the PIV data measured by Goharzadeh et al. (Phys. Fluids 17:057102, 2005). After comparing the estimated permeability variations with the calculated variation, we find the former predicted permeability values are two orders of magnitude larger than the latter ones. The velocity discrepancy in the transition layer is ascribed to the effectiveness of the empirical permeability function: although the well-known Kozeny– Carman formula can precisely predict the permeability of the monodisperse spherical packing bed with constant porosity, it will overestimate the permeability in the transition layer. Then, the exact permeability variation is expressed by an exponential function, and a more general formula is needed to model the gradual change of permeability along the transition layer region.     

Fractal avalanche ruptures in biological membranes

Bilayer membranes envelope cells as well as organelles, and constitute the most ubiquitous biological material found in all branches of the phylogenetic tree. Cell membrane rupture is an important biological process, and substantial rupture rates are found in skeletal and cardiac muscle cells under a mechanical load. Rupture can also be induced by processes such as cell death, and active cell membrane repair mechanisms are essential to preserve cell integrity. Pore formation in cell membranes is also at the heart of many biomedical applications such as in drug, gene and short interfering RNA delivery. Membrane rupture dynamics has been studied in bilayer vesicles under tensile stress, which consistently produce circular pores. We observed very different rupture mechanics in bilayer membranes spreading on solid supports: in one instance fingering instabilities were seen resulting in floral-like pores and in another, the rupture proceeded in a series of rapid avalanches causing fractal membrane fragmentation. The intermittent character of rupture evolution and the broad distribution in avalanche sizes is consistent with crackling-noise dynamics. Such noisy dynamics appear in fracture of solid disordered materials, in dislocation avalanches in plastic deformations and domain wall magnetization avalanches. We also observed similar fractal rupture mechanics in spreading cell membranes.     

颗粒碰撞阻尼的时效性研究

颗粒碰撞阻尼是一种被动式振动控制器,其中颗粒材料在冲击过程中的尺度和形貌变化必然对其减振性能产生重要影响。文中初次探讨了带有中值粒度为35微米的锌颗粒的颗粒碰撞阻尼器在96小时内对正弦激励悬臂梁的阻尼减振的时效性。研究证明,主系统的响应在所考察的时间历程内出现了三次微幅上升,它是锌颗粒材料在冲击作用下结构和能态变化的结果。首先,随着冲击的进程,颗粒的冷焊效应阻碍了冲击器的运动速度,降低了冲击器的动量交换功能。第二,颗粒应变能和层错能的下降降低了系统的不可逆能耗。第三,颗粒的细化使其本身缺陷减少,进一步细化的难度增加,也使得系统内的不可逆能耗不断减小。这是主系统的响应随着振动历程出现了两次阶跃性微幅上升的主要原因。     

In situ evolution of trivalent chromium process passive film on Al in a corrosive aqueous environment

In situ neutron reflectivity (NR) is used to observe the structure and evolution of a Trivalent Chromium Process (TCP) passive film on Al in a NaCl-D(2)O solution. Using a split liquid reflectivity cell we mimicked the corrosion process on the anodic sites in alloy AA 2024-T3 in a pitting scenario. The split cell separates the anodic and cathodic reactions, allowing NR observation of the corroding anodic surface under potential control. We observed the evolution of the TCP film on the Al anode and compared the degradation of the Al with and without TCP protection. When held at 100 mV above the open-circuit potential (OCP), unprotected aluminum dissolves at a rate of 120 ?/h. By contrast, TCP-coated Al is stable up to the pitting potential (200 mV above OCP). In the passive state D(2)O molecules penetrate the bulk TCP film by partially replacing the hydrate water. In spite of exchange of hydration water, the TCP film is stable and the underlying aluminum is fully protected. The passive character of the TCP film is due to a dense layer at the metal-TCP interface and/or to suppression of ion transport in the bulk film. As the pitting potential is approached the film swells and NaCl-D(2)O solution penetrates the TCP film. At this point, 50 vol % of the TCP film is occupied by bulk NaCl-D(2)O solution. Failure occurs by aluminum dissolution under the swollen TCP film as the imbibed solution contacts the Al metal. Further increase in potential leads to complete stripping of the TCP film.     

三维约束下的形状记忆合金相变动力学模拟

依据马氏体含量－温度－应力关系,建立了三维约束下形状记忆合金颗粒相变动力学模型。利用这一模型,根据假设的复合材料中的形状记忆合金颗粒所受的应力状态,可对其相变DSC曲线进行数值模拟,为记忆合金所处的实际应力状态分析提供参考依据。     

Magnetotransport at the LTO-LTT Structural Transition in La<Subscript>1.48</Subscript>Nd<Subscript>0.4</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.12</Subscript>CuO<Subscript>4</Subscript>

Magnetoresistance (MR) was measured in a La_1.48Nd_0.4Sr_0.12CuO₄ single crystal in perpendicular magnetic fields H up to 9 T in the region of the structural transition from the low-temperature orthorhombic (LTO) to low-temperature tetragonal (LTT) phase. The hysteretic MR exhibits discrete jumps or avalanches only when the transition is approached from the LTT phase, and only during the first field sweep. The properties of the hysteresis are found to be independent of the field driving rate. The results are consistent with the presence of magnetostructural domains coupled with the charge degrees of freedom.     

The Structure of Magnetic Avalanches: Experiment and Model for Avalanche Vortex Matter Penetration

We have monitored peculiarities of the dynamics of catastrophic avalanches of the magnetic flux in LTSC and HTSC samples. The observed oscillation mode in the mixed state of superconducting Nb-Ti samples as a result of catastrophic avalanches was discussed in terms of a theoretical model which takes into account the inertial properties of the vortex matter.     

Snowpack properties associated with fracture initiation and propagation resulting in skier-triggered dry snow slab avalanches

This study investigates snowpack properties associated with skier-triggered dry slab avalanches, with a particular view on snowpack conditions favoring fracture propagation. This was done by analyzing a data set of over 500 snow profiles observed next to skier-triggered slabs (including remotely triggered slab avalanches and whumpfs) and on skier-tested slopes that did not release a slab avalanche. The relation of the snowpack variables with fracture initiation and fracture propagation, both of which are required for skier-triggering, was investigated. Specific snowpack characteristics, including hardness difference and difference in crystal size across the failure layer, associated with skier-triggered dry slab avalanches were identified and the frequency of skier-triggering was determined. In order to assess snowpack variables favouring fracture propagation, variables from failure layers associated with skier-triggered slabs that were not remotely triggered and relatively small were contrasted with snowpack variables from failure layers of remotely triggered slab avalanches, whumpfs and relatively large slab avalanches. The properties of the slab overlying the weak layer, as well as the layer above the weak layer, were found to affect fracture propagation. Stiffer slabs were associated with large avalanches as well as whumpfs and remotely triggered avalanches. Furthermore, a correlation analysis of snowpack variables with the size and width of the investigated slab avalanches further accentuated the importance of these slab properties with regards to fracture propagation.     

Small-angle X-ray scattering study on the structure and crystallization of amorphous Fe-P-C alloy

The change in structure of an amorphous Fe-P-C alloy during ageing was examined using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurement and transmission electron microscopy. The SAXS intensity was related to two different types of scattering regions depending on ageing time and temperature. The major scattering was from the crystalline particles, which had two-phase lamella structures. The average thickness of the lamellae remained constant at about 5 nm during ageing. The interlamella distance was three to five times the lamellar thickness in the regular packing region. Another minor scattering was interpreted as being caused by the local ordering of atomic configuration in the amorphous state. The average size of the scattering region was 1.8 to 2.4 nm and quite similar to the critical range proposed by Giessen and Wagner, beyond which the shortrange order disappears.     

Features of local inelasticity distribution in D16T aluminum alloy under static tensile conditions

We have assessed the characteristic of local inelasticity distribution, which controls the evolution of microstructural processes in a loaded surface layer of D16T structural aluminum alloy specimen in view of the strain-hardening stages and deformation mechanism changeover. The deformation stages for static tensile conditions are correlated with the characteristic of local inelasticity distribution, in order to determine the relationship between the deformation mechanism changeover and local inelasticity kinetics for the transition point from strain-hardening to strain-softening of the alloy under study. Translated from Problemy Prochnosti, No. 4, pp. 141–148, July–August, 2009.     

From liquid to solid bonding in cohesive granular media

We study the transition of a granular packing from liquid to solid bonding in the course of drying. The particles are initially wetted by a liquid brine and the cohesion of the packing is ensured by capillary forces, but the crystallization of the solute transforms the liquid bonds into partially cemented bonds. This transition is evidenced experimentally by measuring the compressive strength of the samples at regular intervals of times. Our experimental data reveal three regimes: (1) Up to a critical degree of saturation, no solid bonds are formed and the cohesion remains practically constant; (2) The onset of cementation occurs at the surface and a front spreads towards the center of the sample with a nonlinear increase of the cohesion; (3) All bonds are partially cemented when the cementation front reaches the center of the sample, but the cohesion increases rapidly due to the strengthening of cemented bonds. We introduce a model based on a parametric cohesion law at the bonds and a bond crystallization parameter. This model predicts correctly the phase transition and the relation between microscopic and macroscopic cohesion.     

The role of rolling friction in granular packing

In order to study the effects of the rolling friction of the particles on granular packing, we present a detailed analysis of circular disk assemblies with the rolling friction under macroscopic one-dimensional compression. The rolling friction of the particles produces a resisting moment to the rolling at each contact. A series of 2-D DEM simulations are performed with various values for the rolling friction parameter. We focus on several macroscopic and microstructural properties of granular media and analyze them as a functions of the rolling friction. From these results, we show that the rolling resistance, which results from the rolling friction of the particles, contributes to the inhibition of the rearrangement of the particles and increases the magnitude of the fabric anisotropy under packing. In addition, from both microscopic and macroscopic points of view, we describe that the stress state in a granular packing can vary considerably depending on the rolling resistance.