Application of nonlocal strain–stress gradient theory and GDQEM for thermo-vibration responses of a laminated composite nanoshell

In this article, thermal buckling and frequency analysis of a size-dependent laminated composite cylindrical nanoshell in thermal environment using nonlocal strain–stress gradient theory are presented. The thermodynamic equations of the laminated cylindrical nanoshell are based on first-order shear deformation theory, and generalized differential quadrature element method is implemented to solve these equations and obtain natural frequency and critical temperature of the presented model. The results show that by considering C–F boundary conditions and every even layers’ number, in lower value of length scale parameter, by increasing the length scale parameter, the frequency of the structure decreases but in higher value of length scale parameter this matter is inverse. Finally, influences of temperature difference, ply angle, length scale and nonlocal parameters on the critical temperature and frequency of the laminated composite nanostructure are investigated.

     

Unpacking the black-box of students' visual attention in Mathematics and English classrooms: Empirical evidence using mini-video recording gadgets

With the technological improvements of innovative portable recording gadgets, augmented researchers' interest in exploring students' visual attention in their natural and normal occurring classrooms. The purpose of this study was to gauge students' visual attention in their Mathematics and English classrooms. This article reports on a study conducted in three schools in Santiago, Chile, where a sample of 113 randomly selected students wore a mini-video camera mounted on eyeglass in their Mathematics and English lessons. Using Google images, we automatically and objectively examined 723,600 frames from the recordings where the classroom teacher appeared in the students' visual field. The results show that students' visual attention varies depending on four factors: (a) gender of the student, (b) age of the students, whether students are low/high attainers and (d) whether students are in English or Mathematics lessons. Surprisingly, students significantly paid more visual attention in their Mathematics than in English lessons. High attainers were more visually engaged than their low attainers counterparts. Students appeared to be visually engaged differently at different stages in their education. Furthermore, girls were more visually engaged than boys. The results of this study can have enormous practical implications for teachers and teacher education, in order to be better visually engaged with students during teaching.     

Sliding controller for damping inter-area power oscillations

In this paper, a sliding control algorithm design is considered for damping the inter-area power transmission oscillations. The control algorithm is intended for the static Var compensators (SVC) to supply reactive power to the power transmission system, in order to stabilize the system in the event of faults. The controller is capable of achieving full utilization of the SVC and is insensitive to parameter variations and modeling errors. The simulation results show the effectiveness of the sliding controller in damping the inter-area power oscillations, and in enhancing the stability as well as loadability of the transmission systems.     

Effect of dryer fabric structure on the performance of contact paper drying

Existing measurement techniques have prevented extensive investigations of the effect of dryer fabric structure on contact drying of paper. Using a novel optical measurement method, the moisture content (MC) of paper can be accurately quantified at high spatial and temporal resolution while it is sandwiched between the heater surface and the dryer fabric. To study the paper drying process, an experimental setup is designed to simulate realistic conditions of a typical paper dryer while providing optical access for the measurement system. Ten commercially available fabrics manufactured by weaving synthetic filaments are used in the investigations. The 3D structure of the fabrics is characterized using optical coherence tomography (OCT). The fabrics are used in the experiments to investigate the effects of the filament structure and paper/fabric contact on the drying process. It is shown the fabric structure affects the drying rate and the drying time. Fabrics that have a relatively large drying rate at high paper MC may have a relatively small drying rate at low levels of MC. The contact area and 3D arrangement of the filaments have the greatest impact on the drying process. Adjacent filaments result in larger blocked regions of the paper surface, which reduces the drying rate. The spatial distribution of moisture as a function of time reveals that frequent rewetted spots appear during the drying. These rewetting spots are caused by reabsorption of water condensed on the fabric filaments.     

A new approach to solve SLAM challenges by relative map filter

In this paper we propose a new approach to solve some challenges in the simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) problem based on the relative map filter (RMF). This method assumes that the relative distances between the landmarks of relative map are estimated fully independently. This considerably reduces the computational complexity to average number of landmarks observed in each scan. To solve the ambiguity that may happen in finding the absolute locations of robot and landmarks, we have proposed two separate methods, the lowest position error (LPE) and minimum variance position estimator (MVPE). Another challenge in RMF is data association problem where we also propose an algorithm which works by using motion sensors without engaging in their cumulative error. To apply these methods, we switch successively between the absolute and relative positions of landmarks. Having a sufficient number of landmarks in the environment, our algorithm estimates the positions of robot and landmarks without using motion sensors and kinematics of robot. Motion sensors are only used for data association. The empirical studies on the proposed RMF-SLAM algorithm with the LPE or MVPE methods show a better accuracy in localization of robot and landmarks in comparison with the absolute map filter SLAM.     

Longitudinal varying elastic foundation effects on vibration behavior of axially graded nanobeams via nonlocal strain gradient elasticity theory

In this research, vibration characteristics of axially functionally graded nanobeams resting on variable elastic foundation are investigated based on nonlocal strain gradient theory. This nonclassical nanobeam model contains a length scale parameter to explore the influence of strain gradients and also a nonlocal parameter to study the long-range interactions between the particles. The present model can degenerate into the classical models if the material length scale parameter and the nonlocal stress field parameter are both taken to be zero. Elastic foundation consists of two layers: a Winkler layer with variable stiffness and a Pasternak layer with constant stiffness. Linear, parabolic and sinusoidal variations of Winkler foundation in longitudinal direction are considered. Material properties are graded axially via a power-law distribution scheme. Hamilton's principle is employed to derive the governing equations that are solved applying a Galerkin-based solution for different boundary edges. Comparison study is also performed to verify the present formulation with those of previous papers. Results are presented to investigate the influences of the nonlocal and length scale parameters, various material compositions, elastic foundation parameters, type of foundation and various boundary conditions on the vibration frequencies of AFG nanobeams in detail.     

A new nonlocal elasticity theory with graded nonlocality for thermo-mechanical vibration of FG nanobeams via a nonlocal third-order shear deformation theory

In the present research, free vibration study of functionally graded (FG) nanobeams with graded nonlocality in thermal environments is performed according to the third-order shear deformation beam theory. The present nanobeam is subjected to uniform and nonlinear temperature distributions. Thermo-elastic coefficients and nonlocal parameter of the FG nanobeam are graded in the thickness direction according to power-law form. The scale coefficient is taken into consideration implementing nonlocal elasticity of Eringen. The governing equations are derived through Hamilton's principle and are solved analytically. The frequency response is compared with those of nonlocal Euler–Bernoulli and Timoshenko beam models, and it is revealed that the proposed modeling can accurately predict the vibration frequencies of the FG nanobeams. The obtained results are presented for the thermo-mechanical vibrations of the FG nanobeams to investigate the effects of material graduation, nonlocal parameter, mode number, slenderness ratio, and thermal loading in detail. The present study is associated to aerospace, mechanical, and nuclear engineering structures that are under thermal loads.     

Influence of initial shear stress on the vibration behavior of single-layered graphene sheets embedded in an elastic medium based on Reddy's higher-order shear deformation plate theory

In this article, the small-scale effect on the vibration behavior of orthotropic single-layered graphene sheets is studied based on the nonlocal Reddy's plate theory embedded in elastic medium considering initial shear stress. Elastic theory of the graphene sheets is reformulated using the nonlocal differential constitutive relations of Eringen. To simulate the interaction between the graphene sheet and surrounding elastic medium we used both Winkler-type and Pasternak-type foundation models. The effects of initial shear stress and surrounding elastic medium and boundary conditions on the vibration analysis of orthotropic single-layered graphene sheets are studied considering five different boundary conditions. Numerical approach of the obtained equation is derived by differential quadrature method. Effects of shear stress, nonlocal parameter, size of the graphene sheets, stiffness of surrounding elastic medium, and boundary conditions on vibration frequency rate are investigated. The results reveal that as the stiffness of the surrounding elastic medium increases, the nonlocal effect decreases. Further, the nonlocal effect increases as the size of the graphene sheet is decreased. It is also found that the frequency ratios decrease with an increase in vibration modes.     

Highly‐Cyclable Room‐Temperature Phosphorene Polymer Electrolyte Composites for Li Metal Batteries

Despite significant interest toward solid‐state electrolytes owing to their superior safety in comparison to liquid‐based electrolytes, sluggish ion diffusion and high interfacial resistance limit their application in durable and high‐power density batteries. Here, a novel quasi‐solid Li⁺ ion conductive nanocomposite polymer electrolyte containing black phosphorous (BP) nanosheets is reported. The developed electrolyte is successfully cycled against Li metal (over 550 h cycling) at 1 mA cm^?2 at room temperature. The cycling overpotential is dropped by 75% in comparison to BP‐free polymer composite electrolyte indicating lower interfacial resistance at the electrode/electrolyte interfaces. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the coordination number of Li⁺ ions around (trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (TFSI^?) pairs and ethylene‐oxide chains decreases at the Li metal/electrolyte interface, which facilitates the Li⁺ transport through the polymer host. Density functional theory calculations confirm that the adsorption of the LiTFSI molecules at the BP surface leads to the weakening of N and Li atomic bonding and enhances the dissociation of Li⁺ ions. This work offers a new potential mechanism to tune the bulk and interfacial ionic conductivity of solid‐state electrolytes that may lead to a new generation of lithium polymer batteries with high ionic conduction kinetics and stable long‐life cycling.