A transversely isotropic composite with a penny-shaped crack

Summary We consider the problem of determining the stress intensity factor and the crack energy in a transversely isotropic composite medium, containing a penny-shaped crack. We assume that the crack surface is perpendicular to the bond face and the crack is opened by constant internal pressure. By use of integral transform, we reduce the problem to solving a Fredholm integral equation of the second kind. Numerical results are given for the combination of some practical materials such as magnesium and cadmium. The effect of transverse isotropy upon the stress intensity factor, the crack energy and the deformation on the crack surface is discussed.

---

Ein transversal, isotropes, komposites Medium mit einem münzenförmigen Riß

Zusammenfassung Das Problem der Bestimmung des Spannungsintensitätsfaktors und der Rißenergie, in einem transversalen, isotropen, kompositen Medium mit einem münzenförmigen Riß, wird betrachtet. Es wird vorausgesetzt, daß die Rißoberfläche normal zur Verbundfläche liegt, und der Riß sich durch konstanten inneren Druck öffnet. Durch Anwendung einer Integraltransformation, wird das Problem auf die Lösung einer Fredholmschen Integralgleichung zweiter Art reduziert. Numerische Ergebnisse werden für die Kombination einiger Materialien, wie Magnesium und Cadmium angegeben. Der Einfluß der transversalen Isotropie auf den Spannungskonzentrationsfaktor, die Rißenergie und die Deformation an der Rißoberfläche werden diskutiert.

---

---

With 3 Figures

---

This work is supported by the Board of Scientific and Industrial Research, Orissa (India).     

Energy-efficient hybrid beamforming for millimeter-wave-based massive multiple-input multiple-output system

The advanced wireless communication system requires abridged energy consumption, enhanced data rate, and good signal coverage. The massive MIMO technology for 5G systems has been developed to accommodate several users simultaneously with superior throughput. The claim for high data rate wireless communication services is expanding quickly as time goes. Thus, the key difficulty is that as the number of users grows, the number of phase shifters grows as well, causing the system to consume more power; as a result, the system's energy efficiency decreases. Hybrid beamforming has recently emerged as an attractive technique for millimeter-wave (mmWave) communication systems. The analog beamformer in the RF domain and digital beamformer in the baseband are coupled through a minimal number of RF chains in hybrid beamforming architecture. Hybrid beamforming utilizes fewer RF (radio frequency) chains than the total number of antennas to have a lower energy consumption design. The hybrid beamforming for a mmWave-based massive MIMO system through different phase shifter selection mechanisms is proposed to achieve the highest energy efficiency for mmWave communications systems. The fully connected with phase shifter selection, sub-connected with phase shifter selection (SPSS), and fully connected and sub-connected with phase shifter selection with halved and doubled switches are considered for this research. The simulation results show the SPSS with halved switch outperforms on energy efficiency.     

Corrosion inhibition by Justicia gendarussa plant extract in hydrochloric acid solution

Corrosion inhibition effect of Justicia gendarussa extract (JGPE) on mild steel in 1 M HCl medium has been investigated by weight loss and electrochemical techniques. Inhibition efficiency of 93% was achieved with 150 ppm JGPE at 25 °C. The polarization studies showed that JGPE acts as mixed-type inhibitor. The Nyquist plots showed that on increasing JGPE concentration, increases charge transfer resistance and decreases double layer capacitance. JGPE obeys the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. AFM and ESCA confirmed the adsorption of JGPE on mild steel surface. Finally, JGPE inhibition efficiency was discussed in terms of adsorption and protective film formation.     

Correction to: Technology adoption to reduce the harvesting losses and wastes in agriculture

Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy - A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-021-02114-y     

Technology adoption to reduce the harvesting losses and wastes in agriculture

Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy - In general, the harvesting of paddy is carried out through manual or mechanical approach of cutting the crop, and then collecting and bundling them....     

Presence of Potential G-Quadruplex RNA-Forming Motifs at the 5′-UTR of PP2Acα mRNA Repress Translation

RNA G-quadruplex (G4)-forming motifs present at the 5′-UTR of the protein phosphatase (PP2Ac) gene are the regulatory targets of the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), which is weakly expressed in Fragile X patients. Herein, we report that the existence of such G4-forming sequence represses the translation of the PP2Acα gene. This study opens therapeutic avenues to design small molecule ligands that mimic the function of the FMRP.     

Synthesis,Optimal Fabrication,and Physico-Mechanical Property Evaluation of PCL-b-PLLA Diblock Copolymer-Based Nanoscale Roughness Textured Electrospun Mats

Poly(ɛ-caprolactone)-block-poly(L-lactide) (PCL-b-PLLA) diblock copolymer and its electrospun mats (EMs) are characterized for their microstructural, thermal, and physico-mechanical properties. The EMs of synthesized copolymer exhibiting the optimal level of average fiber diameter (Co-FD) and diameter variation (Co-SD) are obtained following Taguchi's design of experiments (DOE). Electrospinning process parameters such as solution concentration, DMF content in CF/DMF solvent mixture, and applied voltage are varied at three different levels (L₉). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated DMF content to be the major influencing factor on FD and SD of EMs with ∼95% confidence. Regression model indicated ∼88% accuracy in predicting the FD of the copolymer-based EMs. The physico-mechanical properties of the optimized EMs are evaluated vis-à-vis the influence of FD and SD on the mechanical properties. Atomic force microscopy revealed solvent evaporation induced radial inconsistencies, desirable in terms of nanoscale surface roughness, which is higher for Co-SD (∼600 nm) than in Co-FD (∼400 nm). The swelling and weight loss showed marked improvement in PCL-b-PLLA based EMs reiterating the possibility of their enhanced compatibility as biomedical materials.     

BFCNet: a CNN for diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in breast from cytology images

Pattern Analysis and Applications - Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is a quick and minimally invasive technique used to diagnose breast cancer, specifically ductal carcinoma. The incidence...     

Molecular‐Weight‐Controlled Brittle‐to‐Semiductile‐to‐Ductile Transition in S‐(S/B)‐S Triblock Copolymers

Toughness enhancement of S‐(S/B)‐S triblock copolymers via a molecular‐weight‐controlled pathway is demonstrated. The post‐yield crack toughness behavior of the triblock copolymers uniquely reveal a brittle‐to‐semiductile‐to‐ductile transition with increasing while keeping the basic molecular architecture fixed. TEM and SAXS investigations indicated three distinct morphologies as a function of χ_effN as a consequence of the increase in : (i) a homogeneous structure without phase‐separation, (ii) a weakly segregated structure, and (iii) a lamellar structure. The increase in crack toughness is also reaffirmed from kinetic and strain field analysis studies concerning dynamics of crack growth in block copolymers with high PS content.

     

Structural and mechanical properties of needle‐punched nonwoven reinforced composites in erosive environment

Polypropylene‐based needle‐punched nonwoven reinforced epoxy composites have been fabricated and were evaluated for their thermomechanical response and dry erosion performance. The erosive wear investigations were carried out using silica sand particles as erodent with varying impact velocity, angles of impingement, fiber content, and stand‐off‐distance as the operating variables. Design of experiments (DoE) approach‐based Taguchi analysis was carried out to establish the interdependence of operating parameters and erosion rate. Impingement angle and impact velocity have been found to be the most significant determinants of erosive wear performance of such nonwoven reinforced composites. The composites were also observed to be appreciably resistant to impact content and indentations in addition to exhibiting the absence of any storage‐modulus decay till 60°C accompanied with a nominal increase in the primary transition temperature as revealed from loss‐tangent peaks. The composite with 30 wt % and 40 wt % of nonwoven materials have shown the highest and lowest erosion rates, respectively. The morphology of eroded surfaces was examined by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and their possible erosion mechanisms are discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012