Influence of Hydrostatic Pressure and Humidity on Superplastic Ductility of Two β-Spodumene Glass-Ceramics

The extent of superplastic deformation in two lithium aluminosilicate glass-ceramics was found to be limited either by intergranular cavitation or by the initiation and growth of surface cracks. Tensile tests were performed under a superimposed hydrostatic pressure to distinguish between the two failure mechanisms. Two materials, one with a high flow stress and the other with a low flow stress, were studied. Cavitation was substantially suppressed by hydrostatic pressure in both materials. The strain-to-fracture, however, was enhanced only in the material with the lower flow stress. (In at least one instance the tensile ductility became almost infinite.) In the material with the higher flow stress, failure was caused by the initiation and propagation of cracks from the surface. The crack-propagation mode of failure was found to be sensitive to humidity, raising the possibility of stress-corrosion cracking at high temperatures in glass-ceramic materials.     

SIMULATION OF FILLING AND EMPTYING IN A HEXAGONAL-SHAPE SOLAR GRAIN SILO

ABSTRACT

A new silo design for grain-storage is examined using a numerical procedure to model its 3D granular flows during the filling and emptying processes. The authors in Hemández-Cordero, et al. Korea-Australia Rheol. J. 12(1)269-281(2000)] have previously presented the design of the new silo and its observed flow behavior. Its main characteristic is the almost complete elimination of excessive dynamics stresses. Since the required computational resources to model the transient phenomena in these experiments are enormous, here, we present basic numerical results related to packing and dynamics of grains considering this complex design. Especial emphasis is given to simulate in great detail collisions of spherical grains with the walls, between themselves, as well as the complex geometry of the new silo, such as filling and unloading openings, inclined walls, etc. The interactions include compressive normal forces between grains as well as tangential forces involved in sliding and rolling between two kernels. Virtual contact mechanics valid in the vicinity of the symmetry plane of the silo are also prescribed, permitting predictions closer to experimentally observed behavior. In spite of the complexity of interactions, steady flow patterns results obtained with reasonable computational times are presented.     

Efficient strategy for checkpointing in a transaction oriented database and its performance evaluation

A new efficient checkpointing strategy for a transaction oriented database system that operates in a stable on-line environment is proposed. Detailed experimental results are reported to evaluate the performance of the proposed scheme in terms of different system parameters.     

A new semi-empirical sea spectrum for estimating the scattering coefficient

A large data base comprising SEASAT A satellite scatterometer measurements and quasi-concurrent high quality sea wind data, as represented by Britt and Schroeder (1984) in the form of a multivariate regression, has been used to tune the overall magnitude of the assumed sea spectrum by inverting the two scale scattering theory. Scattering coefficient values computed for the derived spectrum have been compared with those computed for the spectrum suggested by earlier authors, and an improvement is found in the surface wind-scattering coefficient relationship as verified by comparison with the independent AAFE RADSCAT data set.     

Kinetics of Precipitation of α-Al2O3 in Polycrystalline Supersaturated MgO - 2Al2O3 Spinel Solid Solution

Supersaturated polycrystals of solid-solution spinel were heat-treated below the solvus temperature. Precipitation of α-alumina was examined by X-ray diffraction, microprobe, and scanning transmission electron microscopy. Precipitation kinetics followed classical time-temperature-transformation behavior: the precipitation rate was growth controlled at large undercoolings and nucleation controlled at low undercoolings. Scanning transmission electron microscopy and microprobe analysis revealed that the growth of precipitates was limited by interface reaction. Nucleation occurred throughout the polycrystal and was probably promoted by the grain boundaries. Precipitation was accompanied by the growth of pores at interfaces, presumably to accommodate the change in volume required by the phase transformation. Our observations in polycrystals contrast sharply with single-crystal work, where it has been reported that nucleation occurs at the free surface and that the formation of α-alumina is preceded by metastable phases.     

INVITED REVIEW STABILITY OF COLLOIDAL DISPERSIONS

The stability of colloidal dispersions has traditionally attracted considerable attention in the chemical literature because of its origins in the physical chemistry of electrostatic and steric interactions between surfaces immersed in liquids. Moreover, progress in the physics and chemistry of stability phenomena has a direct impact on chemical engineering research, since stability of dispersions plays an important role in the rheology and transport properties of charged particles in liquids, separation processes (such as membrane filtration and solid/liquid separation), deposition and particulale fouling phenomena and numerous other processing operations. This paper presents a discussion of physical and chemical factors that affect colloidal stability and, in addition, presents an overview of the status of current research needs in this area. In addition to electrostatic and steric effects, some recent studies on the role of bulk motion of the supporting liquid on stability are also discussed. The emphasis throughout is on the stability of dilute dispersions, in which simultaneous interactions between more than two particles are negligible. Some major research needs in the above areas are also identified.     

Composition and temperature dependence of the direct band gap of GaAs1−xNx (0≤x≤0.0232) using contactless electroreflectance

The composition and temperature dependence (20K<T<380K) of the direct gap, E₀, of a series of GaAs_1−xN_x/GaAs (0≤x≤0.0232) samples has been measured using contactless electroreflectance. Our results for the composition dependence of E₀ are different in relation to a recent experiment [W.G. Bi and C.W Tu, Appl. Phys. Lett. 70, 1608 (1997)]. In contrast to previously reported results, we find that the temperature dependence of the direct gap is in fact dependent on N composition and that the parameters which describe the temperature dependence of the band gap lie between those of GaAs and GaN.     

Asymmetric Polarization Behavior of Sodium β"-Alumina Electrolyte

The roles of electrolyte composition and surface treatments in the phenomenon of asymmetric polarization in sodium β"-alumina ceramics are investigated. The results indicate that Asymmetric polarization is only displayed by electrolyte compositions containing 80 vol%β"-alumina phase and that a chemical treatment utilizing phosphoric acid, or a water treatment, is effective in circumventing the asymmetric polarization via removal of the asymmetric-polarization-causing resistive surface film. The surface film is soda rich, 20 to 40 nm thick, and there is a considerable concentration gradient from the surface into the bulk of an as-sintered sodium β"-alumina electrolyte.