Particle Currents in a Fluid—Dynamical Description of Two Trapped Fermion Species

We apply a recent generalization of the fluid-dynamical scheme of nuclear physics that includes the pair density and current of superfluids, to trace the particle transition currents of an unpolarized fermion system in a harmonic trap. These current fluctuations are driven by the equilibrium density and gap and by the oscillations in the particle densities. We analize the velocity portraits of either species for the lowest multipolar excitations employing different equations of state of the unperturbed fluids, in order to establish the role of the equilibrium gap.     

Goal-oriented <Emphasis Type=Italic>h</Emphasis>-adaptivity for the Helmholtz equation: error estimates,local indicators and refinement strategies

This paper introduces a new goal-oriented adaptive technique based on a simple and effective post-process of the finite element approximations. The goal-oriented character of the estimate is achieved by analyzing both the direct problem and an auxiliary problem, denoted as adjoint or dual problem, which is related to the quantity of interest. Thus, the error estimation technique proposed in this paper would fall into the category of recovery-type explicit residual a posteriori error estimates. The procedure is valid for general linear quantities of interest and it is also extended to non-linear ones. The numerical examples demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed approach and discuss: (1) different error representations, (2) assessment of the dispersion error, and (3) different remeshing criteria.     

Phase Transitions in Liquid Crystal Doped with Magnetic Particles of Different Shapes

In this study, observations of structural transitions in ferronematics based on the thermotropic nematic 4-trans-4′-n-hexyl-cyclohexyl-isothiocyanato-benzene (6CHBT) are described. Droplets of the nematic phase in the isotropic phase were observed in solutions of nematogenic 6CHBT dissolved in phenyl isocyanate and 6CHBT dissolved in phenyl isocyanate and doped with magnetic particles of different shapes (nanorods and chain-like particles). Magneto-dielectric measurements of structural transitions in these new systems enable to estimate of the type of anchoring of the nematic molecules on the magnetic particles surface.     

Influence of calcination parameters on the TiO2 photocatalytic properties

Nanocrystalline titanium dioxide (TiO₂) powders with different crystal phase composition were obtained by controlled hydrolysis and post-thermal treatments. The physicochemical properties of the powders were investigated by XRD, TEM/EDS, N₂ physic adsorption and DRS. The results obtained show that the particle size and crystalline structure are parameters strongly dependent on the calcination conditions, mainly temperature and heating rate. The influence of the TiO₂ phase composition on its photocatalytic activity, concerning the methylene blue photodegradation was studied. It was found that higher TiO₂ photocatalytic activity is related with the co-existence of the three TiO₂ polymorphs: anatase, brookite and rutile.     

Biocomposites from Musa textilis and polypropylene: Evaluation of flexural properties and impact strength

Abaca (Musa textilis)-reinforced polypropylene composites have been prepared and their flexural mechanical properties studied. Due to their characteristic properties, M. textilis has a great economic importance and its fibers are used for specialty papers. Due to its high price and despite possessing very distinctive mechanical properties, to date abaca fibers had not been tested in fiber-reinforced composites. Analysis of materials prepared showed that, in spite of reduced interface adhesion, flexural properties of the PP composites increased linearly with fiber content up to 50 wt.%. Addition of a maleated polypropylene coupling agent still enhanced the stress transfer from the matrix to the reinforcement fiber. As a result, composites with improved flexural properties were obtained. The mechanical properties of matrix and reinforcing fiber were evaluated and used for modelling both the flexural strength and modulus of its composites. In addition, the impact strength of materials was evaluated. Comparison with mechanical properties of composites reinforced with fiberglass points out the potentiality of abaca-reinforced polypropylene composites as suitable substitutes in applications with low impact strength demands.     

Effect of thermal residual stresses on matrix failure under transverse tension at micromechanical level: A numerical and experimental analysis

In the present work the influence at micromechanical scale of thermal residual stresses, originated in the cooling down associated to the curing process of fibrous composites, on inter-fibre failure under transverse tension is studied. In particular, the effect of the presence of thermal residual stresses on the appearance of the first debonds is discussed analytically, whereas later steps of the mechanism of damage, i.e. the growth of interface cracks and their kinking towards the matrix, are analysed by means of a single fibre model and making use of the Boundary Element Method (BEM). The results are evaluated applying Interfacial Fracture Mechanics concepts. The conclusions obtained predict, at least in the case of dilute fibre packing, a protective effect of thermal residual stresses against failure initiation, the morphology of the damage not being significantly affected in comparison with the case in which these stresses are not considered. Experimental tests are carried out, the results agreeing with the conclusions of the numerical analysis.