Uniaxial tensile response of microfibre reinforced cement composites

Microfibre reinforced cement composites reinforced with high volume fractions of carbon, steel and polypropylene fibres were tested in uniaxial tension. Composites investigated included those with only one type of fibre (mono-fibre composites) and those with two or more types of fibres (hybrid-fibre composites) in the same mix. Considerable strengthening, toughening and stiffening of the host matrix due to microfibre reinforcement were observed. In the hybrid-fibre composites, different fibres appear to act as additive phases; i.e., they maintain their individual reinforcing capabilities. The composites were also impact tested in uniaxial tension using a newly designed instrumented impact machine. When compared with static test results, considerable sensitivity to stress rate was noted; composites were found to be stronger and tougher under impact and the improvements were more pronounced at higher fibre volume fractions. The potential of these composites for use in thin sheet products and other similar applications is recognized, and the need for continued research is stressed.     

铝－锂合金中δ’（Al＿3Li）沉淀相时效粗化行为及体积分数的测定

对经固溶处理的二种Ａｌ－Ｌｉ合金（１．９４ｗｔ．％Ｌｉ和２．７５ｗｔ．％Ｌｉ）的时效过程进行了研究。结果表明：δ’的生长速率遵从Ｏｓｔｗａｒｄ粗化动力学。１．９４ｗｔ．％Ｌｉ合金δ’产生于时效过程中，而２．７５ｗｔ．％Ｌｉ合金的δ’产生于时效的前期阶段。前者的表现体积分数明显大于根据相图估算的数伍，真实体积分数则与此值接近；后者的体积分数低于根据相图估算的数值，这可能归咎于δ’固相线的位置、统计学误差及Ｌｉ更易在时效过程中贫化。     

A neural network-based power system stabilizer using power flowcharacteristics

A neural network-based power system stabilizer (neuro-PSS) is designed for a generator connected to a multi-machine power system utilizing the nonlinear power flow dynamics. The use of power flow dynamics provides a PSS for a wide range of operation with reduced size neural networks. The neuro-PSS consists of two neural networks: neuro-identifier and neuro-controller. The low-frequency oscillation is modeled by the neuro-identifier using the power flow dynamics, then a generalized backpropagation-through-time (GBTT) algorithm is developed to train the neuro-controller. The simulation results show that the neuro-PSS designed in this paper performs well with good damping in a wide operation range compared with the conventional PSS     

New type of charged-particles detector based on point contacts formed in a GaAs-AlGaAs heterostructure by split-gates

We propose a new principle for a low temperature semiconductor detector of charged particles with possibly submicron lateral resolution based on point contacts formed in the 2-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) of a GaAs-Al_xGa_1-xAs heterostructure using split-gates. The detector operates up to liquid nitrogen temperatures. Impinging particles excite locally extra donors in the doping layer of the heterostructure. By measuring simultaneous increase in the conductances of 3 point contacts due to the impacts of charged particles the position of penetration is calculated using the Thomas-Fermi approximation for screening in 2DEG.     

Why should the steel industry do anything with their PCBtransformers?

EPA regulations force owners of PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl) equipment to carefully review regulatory compliance and develop PCB risk management programs. The EPA is currently planning new PCB regulations that may add additional PCB management requirements. The author briefly reviews the EPA regulations, highlighting the more commonly violated requirements. Several risk management techniques are presented and discussed. A method of quantifying PCB equipment owning cost is presented     

Design of optimum signals for the simultaneous estimation of timedelay and Doppler shift

The problem of joint estimation of time delay and Doppler shift is considered from the point of view of the Wigner distribution of the signal. A very efficient method of obtaining the optimum signal with minimum estimation error based on the convexity of the design region is developed. Practical applications, however, require the signal to satisfy other constraints which present complications in acquiring the optimum signal. A design approach based on the method of simulated annealing is suggested to solve for the optimum signal under constraints. The performance of the signals so obtained is evaluated and compared with that of signals obtained by synthesis     

Design, manufacture and evaluation of a scalable high-performanceneural system

The authors describe a scalable neural system, HyperNet, based on a probabilistic RAM-based architecture and using a custom VLSI IC. A system using five HyperNet VLSI ICs and capable of realising up to 10240 neurons has been designed, manufactured and demonstrated to have the potential to learn more than three orders of magnitude faster than simulations on current workstations     

Addressing substrate coupling in mixed-mode ICs: simulation andpower distribution synthesis

This paper describes new techniques for the simulation and power distribution synthesis of mixed analog/digital integrated circuits considering the parasitic coupling of noise through the common substrate. By spatially discretizing a simplified form of Maxwell's equations, a three-dimensional linear mesh model of the substrate is developed. For simulation, a macromodel of the fine substrate mesh is formulated and a modified version of SPICE3 is used to simulate the electrical circuit coupled with the macromodel. For synthesis, a coarse substrate mesh, and interconnect models are used to couple linear macromodels of circuit functional blocks. Asymptotic Waveform Evaluation (AWE) is used to evaluate the electrical behavior of the network at every iteration in the synthesis process. Macromodel simulations are significantly faster than device level simulations and compare accurately to measured results. Synthesis results demonstrate the critical need to constrain substrate noise and simultaneously optimize power bus geometry and pad assignment to meet performance targets