Nonperiodic flutter of a buckled composite panel

The nonlinear vibrations of a composite panel subjected to uniform edge compression and a high-supersonic coplanar flow is analysed. Third-order piston theory aerodynamics is used and the effects of in-plane edge restraints, small initial geometric imperfections, transverse shear deformation, and transverse normal stress are considered in the structural model. Periodic solutions and their bifurcations are determined using a predictor-corrector type Shooting Technique, in conjunction with the Arclength Continuation Method for the static state. It is demonstrated that third-order aerodynamic nonlinearities are destabilizing, and hard flutter oscillations (both periodic and quasiperiodic) of the buckled panel are obtained. Furthermore, chaotic motions of an uncompressed panel, as well as a buckled-chaotic transition, and chaos via period-doubling are possible, and the associated Lyapunov exponents are computed. A coexistence of the buckled state with flutter motion may also occur. Results indicate that edge restraints parallel to the flow do not significantly affect the immediate post-critical response, and that a higher-order shear deformation theory is required for a moderately thick/flexible-in-transverse-shear composite panel.     

Vibration of higher-order-shearable pretwisted rotating composite blades

The free and forced vibration of a rotating, pretwisted blade modeled as a laminated composite, hollow (single celled), uniform box-beam is studied. The structural model includes transverse shear flexibility, restrained warping, and centrifugal and Coriolis effects. A key element of this model is its ability to satisfy the zero shear–traction requirement on the external bounding surfaces. The governing system possesses complicated and eigenvalue-dependent natural boundary conditions. Hence an extended Galerkin method using admissible functions is employed. Free-vibration results obtained for the present higher-order shearable model are compared with those of the existing first-order shearable and the non-shearable models. For the data considered, the present theory provides conservative predictions. This suggests that through-the-thickness variations of transverse shear strains are significant and should be considered when pursuing non-resonant designs. The effect of pretwist, while marginal for the lowest eigenfrequency, is substantial for the higher ones especially for lower rotation speeds and larger ply angles. A combination of softening and stiffening effects are also possible for the same eigenfrequency when pretwist is varied. Tailoring studies using the present model show an enhancement of eigenfrequency characteristics and also reveal the potential for passive mitigation of forced response.     

Effect of Sr substitution on structural,dielectric, magnetic and magnetoelectric properties of rapid liquid sintered BiFe0.8Ti0.2O3 ceramics

Structural, dielectric, magnetic and magnetoelectric properties of polycrystalline Sr doped BiFe_0.8Ti_0.2O₃ ceramics [Bi_1?xSr_x(Fe_0.8Ti_0.2)O₃; x = 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15)] were studied. All the samples were prepared by rapid liquid phase sintering method. Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction patterns of all samples confirmed that the samples crystallize in a rhombohedral structure and showed change in Fe–O–Fe bond angle and Fe–O bond length which in turn enhanced magnetization from 0.33 to 0.73 emu/g with the increase in Sr concentration from x = 0.05 to 0.15. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss were observed to increase with the increase in temperature from 30 to 500 °C. An anomalous peak has been observed in dielectric constant versus temperature plot around 300 °C for all the samples, which is close to the magnetic transition temperature of BiFeO₃. The composition-dependent magnetic properties with the expected Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ ratio fluctuations were correlated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Magnetic and electric hysteresis loops showed a systematic increase in magnetization and polarization as a result of Sr doping in BiFe_0.8Ti_0.2O₃ ceramics. The value of magnetocapacitance at 10 kHz was observed as 0.95, 1.23 and 1.73 for x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 respectively in Bi_1?xSr_xFe_0.80Ti_0.20O₃ ceramics.     

GFEM analysis of MHD nanofluid flow toward a power‐law stretching sheet in the presence of thermodiffusive effect along with regression investigation

In the current study, we use Galerkin finite‐element simulation to analyze the concept of triple diffusive flow with magnetic field effect toward a power law stretching sheet. The fluid comprises dissolved solutal particles and nanoparticles in the base fluid. The three important mechanisms that are responsible for rise in phenomenon of convective transportation are diffusophoresis, thermophoresis along with Brownian motion have been considered. Recently, the proposed nanoparticles' mass flux and heat flux boundary conditions have been imposed. Nanoparticle mass transportation, solutal mass transportation with heat transportation for prominent physical parameters, such as stretching parameter, magnetic influence parameter, thermophoresis parameter, and Brownian motion parameter are calculated. To further verify and understand the strength of the relationship between heat transportation rate and controlling parameters, the multiple regression process is used. The finite difference approach was adopted to numerically solve the nonlinear governing equations and the linked boundary conditions. In the present study, we used MATLAB software for finding the final outcomes and relating the concluding results for $?{{\theta }_{\delta }}^{\prime }\left(0\right)$ with extant outcomes in the literature as a limiting case in the absence of the magnetic intensity parameter and an excellent agreement was noted. It was observed that the magnetic field has a positive effect on heat and mass transfer. This study also helps in understanding and thus controlling the velocity of the flow along with solutal depositions, which has a significant engineering application in the process of extrusion. The findings of the present study help to control the rate of heat and mass transfer, aiding manufacturing companies in obtaining the desired quality of product.     

Removal of heavy metals using different polymer matrixes as support for bacterial immobilisation

Great attention is focused on the microbial treatment of metal contaminated environments. Three bacterial strains, 1C2, 1ZP4 and EC30, belonging to genera Cupriavidus, Sphingobacterium and Alcaligenes, respectively, showing high tolerance to Zn and Cd, up to concentrations of 1000ppm, were isolated from a contaminated area in Northern Portugal. Their contribution to Zn and Cd removal from aqueous streams using immobilised alginate, pectate and a synthetic cross-linked polymer was assessed. In most cases, matrices with immobilised bacteria showed better metal removal than the non-inoculated material alone. For the immobilisation with all the polymers, 1C2 was the strain that increased the removal of Zn the most, whereas EC30 was the most promising for Cd removal, especially when combined with the synthetic polymer with up to a ca. 11-fold increase in metal removal when compared to the polymer alone. Removal of individual metals from binary mixtures showed that there was differential immobilisation. There was greater removal of Cd than Zn (removals up to 40% higher than those showed for Zn). The results show that metal contaminated environments constitute a reservoir of microorganisms resistant/tolerant to heavy metals that have the capacity to be exploited in bioremediation strategies. Capsule immobilisation of bacteria in the naturally occurring alginate and pectate and in a synthetic cross-linked polymer increased the Zn and Cd removal abilities from single and binary contaminated waters; the applications with the synthetic polymer were the most promising for Cd and Zn removal in single and binary mixtures.     

In vitro biocompatibility and antimicrobial activity of wet chemically prepared Ca10−xAgx(PO4)6(OH)2 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) hydroxyapatites

Herein, we report the effect of silver ions on the physical, antimicrobial and cytocompatibility properties of wet chemically synthesized silver doped Ca_10?xAg_x(PO₄)₆(OH)₂ (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) hydroxyapatites (HAp). Silver ions containing HAp exhibit the comparable density, hardness and enhanced antimicrobial properties, in comparison to parent HAp. The optical absorption measurements confirm the presence of silver ions in the doped compositions, which are responsible for as increased antimicrobial property of doped HAp materials for x > 0.3. The cytotoxicity behavior of the doped HAp was evaluated using mouse fibroblast (L929) cell line. The important result has been that doped HAp (x > 0.3) exhibit statistically (significant) lower cell viability in comparison to undoped HAp. However, no difference in cellular functionality on doped HAp surfaces, in terms of cell adhesion and proliferation could be qualitatively observed in reference to undoped HAp. In order to explain the observed antimicrobial and cell viability properties, the in vitro release of Ag⁺ ions has been quantified using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and solubility was measured by weight loss in acetate buffer solution.     

Application of differential transform method to unsteady free convective heat transfer of a couple stress fluid over a stretching sheet

In the present article, the transient rheological boundary layer flow over a stretching sheet with heat transfer is investigated, a topic of relevance to non‐Newtonian thermal materials processing. Stokes couple stress model is deployed to simulate non‐Newtonian characteristics. Similarity transformations are utilized to convert the governing partial differential equations into nonlinear ordinary differential equations with appropriate wall and free stream boundary conditions. The nondimensional boundary value problem emerging is shown to be controlled by a number of key thermophysical and rheological parameters, namely the rheological couple stress parameter (), unsteadiness parameter (), Prandtl number (Pr), buoyancy parameter . The semi‐analytical differential transform method (DTM) is used to solve the reduced nonlinear coupled ordinary differential boundary value problem. A numerical solution is also obtained via the MATLAB built‐in solver “bvp4c” to validate the results. Further validation with published results from the literature is included. Fluid velocity is enhanced with increasing couple stress parameter, whereas it is decreased with unsteadiness parameter. Temperature is elevated with couple stress parameter, whereas it is initially reduced with unsteadiness parameter. The flow is accelerated with increasing positive buoyancy parameter (for heating of the fluid), whereas it is decelerated with increasing negative buoyancy parameter (cooling of the fluid). Temperature and thermal boundary layer thickness are boosted with increasing positive values of buoyancy parameter. Increasing Prandtl number decelerates the flow, reduces temperatures, increases momentum boundary layer thickness, and decreases thermal boundary layer thickness. Excellent accuracy is achieved with the DTM approach.     

Fumonisin-producing strains of Fusarium: a review of their ecophysiology

This review focuses on the fumonisin-producing Fusarium species and the ecophysiology of these species. The effects of environmental biotic and abiotic factors on germination, growth, and fumonisin B1 production by Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium proliferatum have been investigated under laboratory, field, and storage conditions. An understanding of the factors involved in production of fumonisins is the first step in preventing accumulation of these toxins.     

EFFECT OF MONOVALENT AND DIVALENT IONS UPON THE GERMINATION OF BACILLUS SPORES IN THE PRESENCE OF NISIN

SUMMARY— The effect of a monovalant ion like Na and divalent ions like Cu, Fe, Mn, Mg and Ca on the germination of spores of Bacillus stearothermophilus, B. cereus and B. megatherium both in the presence and absence of nisin was investigated. In the absence of nisin, Cu, Fe and Mn ions were more inhibitory than Ca and Na ions for the germination of all three kinds of spores. At 1M, Mg increased germination of different spores 3–9%. In the presencences nisin, both Ca and Mg increased the germination of B. stearothermophilus by 10.8 and 14.2%, of B. cereus by 30.4 and 19.9%, and B. megatherium by 6.6 and 30.9%, respectively. The rest of the ions increased inhibition of germination by nisin. The increase in germination by Ca and Mg was correlated with the release of DPA and is discussed.