The effects of pressure on the isothermal fluid behavior of bituminous coals

An investigation into the effects of pressure (helium gas) on the isothermal fluid behavior includes: (1) the effect of pressure on the rate of melting and coking as evidenced by the rate constants k(melt) and k(coke); (2) the effect of pressure on the energies of activation of melting and coking; (3) the effects of pressure on the characteristic times; (4) the effects of pressure on the maximum isothermal fluidity. Results from the effects of pressure on k(melt) revealed that it was generally the high total sulfur, low nitrogen, low reactives/mineral matter ratio, medium rank coals which show the greatest increase in k(melt), whereas the highest rank coals show the least decrease in k(coke). The energies of activation of melting and coking were not significantly affected by pressure. The investigation also reveals increases or decreases in the respective times of softening, maximum fluidity, resolidification and total time of fluid behavior under isothermal pressurized conditions. There appears the possibility that these shifts may be rank dependent. Additionally, the lower rank coals show the largest relative increase in their fluidities when subjected to pressure. Empirical relationships were derived in order to quantitatively predict the maximum isothermal fluidity for most (fluid) coals at a given pressure.     

Systematic characterization of Cl2 reactive ion etchingfor improved ohmics in AlGaN/GaN HEMTs

Pre-metal-deposition reactive ion etching (RIE) was performed on an Al_0.3Ga_0.7N/AlN/GaN heterostructure in order to improve the metal-to-semiconductor contact resistance. An optimum AlGaN thickness for minimizing contact resistance was determined. An initial decrease in contact resistance with etching time was explained in terms of removal of an oxide surface layer and/or by an increase in tunnelling current with the decrease of the AlGaN thickness. The presence of a dissimilar surface layer was confirmed by an initial nonuniform etch depth rate. An increase in contact resistance for deeper etches was experienced. The increase was related to depletion of the two-dimensional (2-D) electron gas (2-DEG) under the ohmics. Etch depths were measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The contact resistance decreased from about 0.45 Ωmm for unetched ohmics to a minimum of 0.27 Ωmm for 70 Å etched ohmics. The initial thickness of the AlGaN layer was 250 Å. The decrease in contact resistance, without excessive complications on device processing, supports RIE etching as a viable solution to improve ohmic contact resistance in AlGaN/GaN HEMTs     

Finite-element grid improvement by minimization of stiffness matrix trace

A new and simple method of finite-element grid improvement is presented. The objective is to improve the accuracy of the analysis. The procedure is based on a minimization of the trace of the stiffness matrix. For a broad class of problems this minimization is seen to be equivalent to minimizing the potential energy. The method is illustrated with the classical tapered bar problem examined earlier by Prager and Masur. Identical results are obtained.     

Measurement of the delayed-neutron yields in the fission of233U,236U,237Np,240Pu,and241Pu by neutrons from the spectrum of a fast reactor

Translated from Atomnaya Énergiya, Vol. 66, No. 2, pp. 100–103, February, 1989.     

Mixed mode fatigue crack growth predictions

This work is aimed at developing a predictive capability for the quantitative assessment of crack growth under fatigue loadings. The crack growth rate relation, $\text{Δa}\text{ΔN}$, may involve all three stress intensity factors k₁-k₃ such that the direction of crack growth may not be known in advance and must be predicted from a preassumed criterion. In principle, both the stress amplitude and the mean stress level should be included in the original expression for $\text{Δa}\text{ΔN}$.The strain energy density factor range, ΔS, is found to be a convenient parameter for predicting fatigue crack growth and can be applied expediently to examine the combined influence of crack geometry, complex loadings and material properties. Assumed is the accumulation of energy, $\text{ΔW}\text{ΔV}$, stored in an element ahead of the crack which triggers subcritical crack growth upon reaching a number of loading cycle, say ΔN. The proposed $\text{δa}\text{ΔN}$ relationship includes both the stress amplitude and mean stress effects.     

High-voltage bridge for measuring spontaneous polarization,dielectric constants,and conductivity of ferroelectric crystals

Translated from Izmeritel'naya Tekhnika, No. 9, pp. 34–35, September, 1989.     

Phase transformations in highly disperse powders during their rapid heating and cooling

Phase transformations in particles of ultrafine powders of graphite, hexagonal boron nitride, and quartz during rapid heating and cooling by passage through a laser beam were investigated. A continuous infrared laser with a wavelength of 10.6 μm was used as a heat source through which the powders were recycled several times. Methods of concentrating the product phases are described. Particles of diamond, carbides, cubic boron nitride, koesite and stishovite were obtained in the mixed products.     

Primary hydration of poly(acrylic acid) sodium salts

Summary The equilibrium water contents of linear poly(acrylic acid) sodium salts with different degrees of neutralisation were found to be dependent on temperature and relative humidity. An octahedral model for the primary hydration of poly(acrylic acid) sodium salts (HIRAOKA and YOKOYAMA 1980) was critically evaluated in the light of these findings and an anomaly in the water uptake versus neutralisation curve at approximately 33% neutralisation was explained by the counterion condensation theory. (MANNING 1979).