Network topology and the theory of rubber elasticity

The earliest investigations on rubber elasticity, commencing in the 19th century, were necessarily limited to phenomenological interpretations. The realisation that polymers consist of very long molecular chains. commencing c. 1930, gave impetus to the molecular theory of rubber elasticity (1932-). according to which the high deformability of an elastomer, and the elastic force generated by deformation, stem from the configurations accessible to long molecular chains. Theories of rubber elasticity put forward from 1934-1946 relied on the assumption that the junctions of the rubber network undergo displacements that are affine in macroscopic strain. The theory of James and Guth (1947) dispensed with this premise, and demonstrated instead that the mean positions of the junctions of a ‘phantom’ network consisting of Gaussian chains devoid of material properties are affine in the strain. The vital significance of the distinction between the actual distribution of chain vectors in a network and their distribution if the junctions would be fixed at their mean positions went unnoticed for nearly 30 years. Experimental investigations, commencing with the incisive work of Gee in 1946. revealed large departures from the relationship of stress to strain predicted by the theories cited. This discrepancy prompted extensive studies, theoretical and experimental, during succeeding years. Inquiry into the fundamentals of polymer networks, formed for example by interlinking very long polymer molecules, exposed the need to take account of network imperfections, typically consisting of chains attached at only one end to a network junction. Various means were advocated to make corrections for these imperfections. The cycle rank ζ of the network has been shown (1976) to be the fundamental measure of its connectivity, regardless of the junction functionality and pattern of imperfections. Often overlooked is the copious interpenetration of the chains comprising typical elastomeric networks. Theories that attempt to represent such networks on a lattice are incompatible with this universal feature. Moreover, the dense interpenetration of chains may limit the ability of junctions in real networks to accommodate the fluctuations envisaged in the theory of phantom networks. It was suggested in 1975 that departures from the form predicted for the elastic equation of state are due to constraints on the fluctuations of junctions whose effect diminishes with deformation and with dilation. Formulation of a self-consistent theory based on this suggestion required recognition of the non-affine connection between the chain vector distribution function and the macroscopic strain in a real network, which may partake of characteristics of a phantom network in some degree. Implementation of the idea was achieved through postulation of domains of constraint affecting the equilibrium distribution of fluctuations of network junctions from their mean positions. This led in due course to a theory that accounts for the relationship of stress to strain virtually throughout the ranges of strain accessible to measurement. The theory establishes connections between structure and elastic properties. This is achieved with utmost frugality in arbitrary parameters.     

Software for dynamic reconfigurable order picking systems

This paper describes an approach, conceptual framework, and software architecture for dynamic reconfiguration of the order picking system. The research and development project was sponsored by the Material Handling Research Center (MHRC), a National Science Foundation sponsored Cooperative Industry/University Research Center. The storage configuration is assumed to be an in-the-aisle order picking system in which stockkeeping units (SKUs) can occupy variable capacity storage locations and stock-splitting is allowed among zones (clusters). The product mix may include multiple product families with different life cycles, correlated demand within families and commonality of demand across families.     

Application of boundary element method to 3-D problems of coupled thermoelasticity

This paper deals with a new boundary element method for analysis of the quasistatic problems in coupled thermoelasticity. Through some mathematical manipulation of the Navier equation in elasticity, the heat conduction equation is transformed into a simpler form, similar to the uncoupled-type equation with the modified thermal conductivity which shows the coupling effects. This procedure enables us to treat the coupled thermoelastic problems as an uncoupled one, A few examples are computed by the proposed BEM, and the results obtained are compared with the analytical ones available in the literature, whereby the accuracy and versatility of the proposed method are demonstrated.     

小波变换在求解重力测定反问题中的应用

针对重力测定反问题,提出将其离散为线性不适定问题,利用小波变换方法进行数值求解.该方法将小波变换和正则化方法相结合,选取小波函数作为一组基底,将原不适定问题转化为粗子空间上的适定问题,并给出选取粗子空间基的方法.通过数值模拟已有方法和小波变换方法求解结果的比较,表明了小波变换方法的可行性和有效性.     

视觉检测系统中亮度不均匀背景的一种去除方法

刀具形状视觉检测系统中，照明不均匀对测量结果影响很大。针对这种情况，提出了基于二维二阶多项式拟合并去除不均匀背景的方法。遵循最小均方程差原理，给出了二维二阶拟合的矩阵表达式。在编制的程序中，拟合点以人机交互形式由鼠标点击选出，程序自动记录所选点的图象人材与亮度值信息，然后拟合出背景曲面，并以二值图象形式给出去除背景后的目标图象。对一幅光照模型未知的网络图象进行了背景去除，实验结果良好。     

Ehrenfeucht-Fraïssé games in finite set theory

In this article, with Ehrenfeucht-Fraïssé games we prove that Δ₁≠Δ₀ on BFR, which implies Δ≠Δ₀ on BFR, and thus solve an open problem raised by Albert Atserias in his dissertation (Δ₀,Δ₁,Δ are fragments of first order logic and BFR is a class of finite sets which in essence is equivalent to a class of finite pure arithmetic structures with built-in BIT predicate).     

RAZUMIKHIN-TYPE THEOREMS OF NEUTRAL STOCHASTIC FUNCTIONAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

The stability of stochastic functional differential equation with Markovian switching was studied by several authors,but there was almost no work on the stability of the neutral stochastic functional differential equations with Markovian switching.The aim of this article is to close this gap.The authors establish Razumikhin-type theorem of the neutral stochastic functional differential equations with Markovian switching,and those without Markovian switching.     

Inference for Weibull distribution under generalized order statistics

Based on generalized order statistics from Weibull distribution the approach of Bayesian and non-Bayesian estimation are discussed. We present a simple and efficient simulational algorithm for generating a generalized order statistics sample from any continuous distribution. Specializations to Bayesian and non-Bayesian estimators, some lifetime parameters and confidence intervals of progressive II censoring and record values are obtained and compared with the existing results. Two examples are given to illustrate the proposed estimators and the simulation algorithm.