A probabilistic model for cleavage fracture with a length scale-influence of material parameters and constraint

A probabilistic model for the cumulative probability of failure by cleavage fracture with a material related length scale is developed in this study. The model aims at describing the random nature of fracture in ferritic steels in the brittle-to-ductile transition temperature region. The model derives from use of an exponential function to describe the distribution of microstructural entities eligible to take part in the fracture initiation process, where also a dependence on effective plastic strain is incorporated. A nonlocal stress measure, calculated as the average stress in a spherical volume, drives the contribution to failure probability of an infinitesimal material volume. The radius of the spherical volume enters as the material length in this model. This length has a significant influence on failure probability predictions in geometries exposed to strong stress gradients as found ahead of cracks. The material length is associated with a fracture toughness threshold value. In a fracture application three model parameters need to be estimated based on testing; a parameter directly related to the mean fracture toughness, a parameter that primarily is related to crack-tip constraint effects and the material length parameter. The model is explored in a parametric study showing model features in concord with typical features found in toughness distributions from fracture mechanics testing in the transition region.     

The furrows of Rhinolophidae revisited

Rhinolophidae, a family of echolocating bats, feature very baroque noseleaves that are assumed to shape their emission beam. Zhuang & Muller (Zhuang & Muller 2006 Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 218701 (doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.97.218701); Zhuang & Muller 2007 Phys. Rev. E Stat. Nonlin. Soft Matter Phys. 76(Pt. 1), 051902 (doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.76.051902)) have proposed, based on finite element simulations, that the furrows present in the noseleaves of these bats act as resonance cavities. Using Rhinolophus rouxi as a model species, they reported that a resonance phenomenon causes the main beam to be elongated at a particular narrow frequency range. Virtually filling the furrows reduced the extent of the main lobe. However, the results of Zhuang & Muller are difficult to reconcile with the ecological background of R. rouxi. In this report, we replicate the study of Zhuang & Muller, and extend it in important ways: (i) we take the filtering of the moving pinnae into account, (ii) we use a model of the echolocation task faced by Rhinolophidae to estimate the effect of any alterations to the emission beam on the echolocation performance of the bat, and (iii) we validate our simulations using a physical mock-up of the morphology of R. rouxi. In contrast to Zhuang & Muller, we find the furrows to focus the emitted energy across the whole range of frequencies contained in the calls of R. rouxi (both in simulations and in measurements). Depending on the frequency, the focusing effect of the furrows has different consequences for the estimated echolocation performance. We argue that the furrows act to focus the beam in order to reduce the influence of clutter echoes.     

Integrating social and cognitive aspects of belief dynamics: towards a unifying framework

Belief change and spread have been studied in many disciplines—from psychology, sociology, economics and philosophy, to biology, computer science and statistical physics—but we still do not have a firm grasp on why some beliefs change more easily and spread faster than others. To fully capture the complex social-cognitive system that gives rise to belief dynamics, we first review insights about structural components and processes of belief dynamics studied within different disciplines. We then outline a unifying quantitative framework that enables theoretical and empirical comparisons of different belief dynamic models. This framework uses a statistical physics formalism, grounded in cognitive and social theory, as well as empirical observations. We show how this framework can be used to integrate extant knowledge and develop a more comprehensive understanding of belief dynamics.     

Inverse problems involving the one-way wave equation: medium function reconstruction

Inverse problems are considered for the linear one-way one-dimensional wave equation or transport equation. In particular the wave speed reconstruction problem for a medium is discussed. Inverse problems for non-stationary, but also non-dispersive, media are examined; this means problems for which the slab medium parameters are both spatially and temporally varying are considered. Both theoretical and numerical results are given for the methods presented. Theoretical results obtained for this equation can be generalised to second order equations.     

Current oscillations during chronoamperometric and cyclic voltammetric measurements in alkaline Cu(II)-citrate solutions

It is demonstrated that current oscillations can be observed during chronoamperometric and cyclic voltammetric experiments in solutions containing 0.4 M CuSO₄ and 1.2 M citrate at pH 11 and 50 °C. The oscillations, which are shown to originate from local variations in the pH, result in the deposition of nanostructured Cu and Cu₂O materials. It is concluded that the current oscillations are analogous to the previously described potential oscillations obtained under controlled current conditions in alkaline Cu(II)-lactate, -tartrate and -citrate solutions. Rotating disk electrode results clearly show that the reduction of the Cu(II)-complexes is kinetically controlled and that the rate of the reduction increases with increasing pH and temperature. It is also shown that the presence of a cathodic peak on the anodic scan in the cyclic voltammograms can be used to identify the experimental conditions leading to the spontaneous current (or potential) oscillations. Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance results indicate that the cathodic peak stems from an increased rate of the reduction of the Cu(II)-citrate complexes due to a rapid increase in the local pH. This causes Cu₂O rather than Cu to be deposited which, however, results in a decrease in the local pH and a decreasing current. In situ ellipsometry data confirm that Cu₂O deposition replaces that of Cu in the potential region of the cathodic peak. The present findings should facilitate syntheses of nanolayered materials based on spontaneous potential or current oscillations.     

TALplanner: A temporal logic based forward chaining planner

We present TALplanner, a forward-chaining planner based on the use of domain-dependent search control knowledge represented as formulas in the Temporal Action Logic (TAL). TAL is a narrative based linear metric time logic used for reasoning about action and change in incompletely specified dynamic environments. TAL is used as the formal semantic basis for TALplanner, where a TAL goal narrative with control formulas is input to TALplanner which then generates a TAL narrative that entails the goal and control formulas. The sequential version of TALplanner is presented. The expressivity of plan operators is then extended to deal with an interesting class of resource types. An algorithm for generating concurrent plans, where operators have varying durations and internal state, is also presented. All versions of TALplanner have been implemented. The potential of these techniques is demonstrated by applying TALplanner to a number of standard planning benchmarks in the literature. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Numerical simulation of segmented penetrator impact

The performance of segmented and continuous penetrators impacting semi-infinite and spaced armor is studied using both the EPIC-2 and HULL hydrocodes. First the performance of a segmented rod is studied, striking semi-infinite armor, for various parameters such as striking velocity, segment spacing and number of segments. Then an actual penetrator configuration proposed by A. Charters is analyzed and the use of normalized penetration is discussed. Finally three-dimensional simulations are presented for segmented and continuous penetrators impacting oblique spaced armor varying such parameters as striking velocity, segment spacing, number of segments, and target thickness.