Implementation of a mechanics-based system for estimating the strength of timber

The most accurate way of determining the strength of lumber requires destructive testing. An intelligent mechanics-based lumber-grading system was developed to provide a better estimation of the strength of a board nondestructively. This system processed X-ray-extracted geometric features (of 1080 boards that eventually underwent destructive strength testing) by using finite element methods to generate associated stress fields. The stress fields were then fed to a feature-extracting-processor, which produced 26 strength predicting features. The best strength predicting features were determined from the coefficient of determination (correlation r/sup 2/) between the features and actual strengths of the boards. The coefficients of determination of each feature (or combination of features), with the actual strength of the board, were calculated and compared. A coefficient of determination of 0.4158 was achieved by using a longitudinal (along the local grain angle) maximum stress concentration (MSC) feature to predict the estimated strength of lumber.     

Scalable Functionalization of Optical Fibers Using Atomically Thin Semiconductors

Atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenides are highly promising for integrated optoelectronic and photonic systems due to their exciton-driven linear and nonlinear interactions with light. Integrating them into optical fibers yields novel opportunities in optical communication, remote sensing, and all-fiber optoelectronics. However, the scalable and reproducible deposition of high-quality monolayers on optical fibers is a challenge. Here, the chemical vapor deposition of monolayer MoS₂ and WS₂ crystals on the core of microstructured exposed-core optical fibers and their interaction with the fibers’ guided modes are reported. Two distinct application possibilities of 2D-functionalized waveguides to exemplify their potential are demonstrated. First, the excitonic 2D material photoluminescence is simultaneously excited and collected with the fiber modes, opening a novel route to remote sensing. Then it is shown that third-harmonic generation is modified by the highly localized nonlinear polarization of the monolayers, yielding a new avenue to tailor nonlinear optical processes in fibers. It is anticipated that the results may lead to significant advances in optical-fiber-based technologies.     

Floodplain Inundation Analysis Combined with Contingent Valuation: Implications for Sustainable Flood Risk Management

This study presents the results of open-ended contingent valuation method (CVM) to estimate the residents’ maximum willingness to pay (WTP) for flood insurance and structural flood control measures in the Neka River Basin in Northern Iran. Flood inundation analysis and floodplain risk mapping were conducted by applying the HEC-RAS model combined with GIS analysis. A calibrated 100-year flood risk inundation map was considered as a basis for this research. This paper demonstrates applicability of CVM combined with flood inundation analysis to understand public participation for flood risk management, and their perception of flooding, considering associated socioeconomic and environmental factors. The results have shown that stated WTPs significantly varies with household income, distance people live from the river and the land use type of properties. Findings of this study suggest that the majority of respondents view flood hazard as the most important natural disaster. Furthermore, WTPs are significantly higher for those who have high level of flood risk perception. Three policy options for flood risk management are discussed, which include flood zoning and land use regulation, flood insurance program, and structural measure of levee construction. The advantages and disadvantages of each option are explored. It was concluded that a combination of possible mitigation options should be considered in order to achieve sustainable flood risk management in the Neka River Floodplain.     

Bridging two-liquid theory with molecular simulations for electrolytes: An investigation of aqueous NaCl solution

We reexamine the theoretical framework of electrolyte nonrandom two-liquid model and formulate the binary interaction parameters as functions of species diameter ( σ ), effective interaction strength ( ɛ ), the domain radius around the center species ( R ), and the nonrandomness factor ( α ). We show that these quantities can be directly obtained from molecular simulations using aqueous NaCl as the model system. The binary interaction parameters determined from the simulations are consistent with those obtained from regression of experimental data. Our work provides a molecular interpretation of the classical thermodynamic model and shows a way to predict from molecular simulations the binary interaction parameters for use in process industries. © 2019 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 65: 1315–1324, 2019     

System of linear ordinary differential and differential-algebraic equations and pseudo-spectral method

In this paper, first we introduce, briefly, pseudo-spectral method to solve linear Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs), and then extend it to solve a system of linear ODEs and then Differential-Algebraic Equations (DAEs). Furthermore, because of appropriate choice of Chebyshev–Gauss–Raudo points we will show that this method can be used to solve a DAE whenever some coefficient functions in constraint are not analytic by providing some numerical examples.