Meshless local Petrov-Galerkin method for continuously nonhomogeneous linear viscoelastic solids

A meshless method based on the local Petrov-Galerkin approach is proposed for the solution of quasi-static and transient dynamic problems in two-dimensional (2-D) nonhomogeneous linear viscoelastic media. A unit step function is used as the test functions in the local weak form. It is leading to local boundary integral equations (LBIEs) involving only a domain-integral in the case of transient dynamic problems. The correspondence principle is applied to such nonhomogeneous linear viscoelastic solids where relaxation moduli are separable in space and time variables. Then, the LBIEs are formulated for the Laplace-transformed viscoelastic problem. The analyzed domain is covered by small subdomains with a simple geometry such as circles in 2-D problems. The moving least squares (MLS) method is used for approximation of physical quantities in LBIEs.     

PEO／V2O5纳米复合薄膜的变色特性研究

为改善V2O5薄膜的电致变色性能，采用溶胶-凝胶法将具有高离子电导率并具有水溶性的聚环氧乙烷（PEO）直接嵌入V2O5层间，制备了PEO／V2O5纳米复合薄膜。采用标准三电极法从0．5mol／L LiClO4的PC电解质溶液向PEO／V2O5纳米复合薄膜注入锂离子，测量了纳米复合薄膜在注入不同数量锂离子时的可见光透射光谱以及对应的颜色变化，并运用循环伏安法测试其电化学性能。实验结果表明，PEO／V2O5纳米复合薄膜的循环伏安图出现了2对氧化还原峰，并且具有稳定的循环可逆性。随着应用电压的不同，薄膜呈现黄色、绿色和蓝色的多色可逆变化。PEO／V2O5纳米复合薄膜的电化学稳定性和机械性能都优于V2O5干凝胶薄膜，可以作为电致变色材料得到应用。X射线光电子能谱（XPS）成分分析表明PEO／V2O5纳米复合薄膜的电致变色效应与V、O的化合价和化学环境密切相关。     

A sequential method of calibrating measurement instruments with a Kalman filter

A recurrent algorithm is derived for estimating the parameters of a calibration curve with allowance for the errors in reproducing the inputs. That algorithm is combined with a proposed rule for halting the calibration to reduce considerably the length of the calibration, which promises a real economic advantage. __________ Translated from Izmeritel’naya Tekhnika, No. 4, pp. 32–38, April, 2006.     

Clock Recovery at 160 Gb/s and Beyond, Using a Fiber-Based Optical Power Limiter

We propose a simple all-optical clock recovery technique for short data packets at 160 Gb/s, and beyond, which is based on the concept of using a Fabry-Peacuterot filter (FPF). The novel feature of the technique is the use of a highly nonlinear fiber followed by an optical bandpass filter, centered at the initial carrier wavelength, which acts as an ultrafast power limiter, removing drastically the amplitude modulation of the FPF's output and providing the clock signal     

Development of a Net Shape Manufacturing Method for Ventilated Brake Discs in Single Piece Design

Carbon fibre reinforced ceramic matrix composites (CMC), originally developed for lightweight heat shields of spacecraft, are used for high performance brake discs in sports cars from different manufacturers. In contrast to the CMC materials for space applications, based on woven fabrics and costly manufacturing methods, these low cost friction materials are produced by liquid silicon infiltration of porous Carbon/Carbon (C/C) preforms, based on short fibre reinforced CFRP green bodies manufactured via warm press technique. In this work, different manufacturing methods for ventilated CMC brake discs are compared to each other, and the development of a new technology for the manufacture of single piece C/C‐SiC brake discs in net shape technique is presented.     

Electromagnetic control of convective heat transfer during electron beam evaporation: model experiments

The present paper aims to demonstrate that melt-flow during electron beam evaporation can be effectively controlled by using external magnetic fields to considerably reduce the convective heat transfer. We discuss the various effects of a static magnetic field, a static field combined with an applied electrical current, and a rotating magnetic field. We perform model experiments using GaInSn in eutectic composition as a test liquid. The liquid metal is heated locally at its free surface by an electric resistance heater. The results of the measurements are compared to prediction of numerical simulations.     

Role of temperature and strain rate on the hydrogen-induced intergranular rupture in alloy 600

Tensile tests were conducted at various temperatures (77 to 550 K) and strain rates (10⁻⁵ to 10⁻¹ s⁻¹) in order to study the effects of hydrogen on the ductility loss and the intergranular fracture of hydrogen-charged (32 wt ppm) tensile specimens of alloy 600. The H-induced intergranular cracking was shown to require H segregation to grain boundaries (GBs) during plastic deformation. The concordance between the temperature/strain rate domains, where H-induced intergranular rupture of alloy 600 is observed and those of H transport by dislocations, is in favor of a major influence of this mechanism of H transport on the intergranular rupture of H-charged alloy 600 in the 180 to 500 K temperature range. The possible contribution of this mechanism to intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) of alloy 600 in the pressurized water reactor (PWR) environment is discussed.     

Mechanism of titanium sponge formation in the kroll reduction reactor

The Kroll process of magnesium reduction of titanium tetrachloride is used the world over the production of titanium metal in the form of sponge. Although the process has been in practice for the last five decades, there is no clear understanding of the reaction mechanism and sponge formation. The present study involved reduction experiments in a 2000 kg titanium sponge-capacity prototype reactor to develop a better understanding of TiCl₄ reduction of magnesium with respect to the process parameters. Experiments were also conducted in two smaller experimental reactors to study the temperature evolution during the process as a function of the TiCl₄ feed rate. Based on the results of all these experiments, a model has been proposed for the mechanism of sponge formation in the Kroll process.     

String-matching with OBDDs

Ordered binary decision diagrams (OBDDs) are a very popular graph representation for Boolean functions. They can be viewed as finite automata recognizing sets of strings of a fixed length, where the letters of the input strings are read at most once in a predefined ordering. The string matching problem with string w as pattern, consists of determining, given an input string, whether or not it contains w as substring. We show that for a fraction of orderings tending to 1 when n increases arbitrarily, the minimal size of an OBDD solving the string matching problem for strings of length n has a growth which is an exponential in n.     

Mapped infinite elements for three-dimensional multi-region boundary element analysis

A formulation for an infinite boundary element (BE) is presented, which allows the modelling of infinite surfaces. The concept is that the finite surface is mapped to an infinite surface using special mapping functions. Using such mapping functions together with linear and quadratic interpolation for the displacements and the tractions, respectively, the desired decay behaviour can be modelled. The implementation of the proposed infinite elements becomes straightforward, since the Cauchy principal value, as well as the free term, are evaluated for the finite and infinite BEs with exactly the same techniques. The element developed can be used in a multi-region BE analysis of piecewise homogeneous domains, or for domains with joints and faults. The accuracy of the element is tested on some benchmark problems. Finally, a practical application in tunnelling is shown. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.