Alternating active-phase algorithm for multimaterial topology optimization problems: a 115-line MATLAB implementation

Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization - A new algorithm for the solution of multimaterial topology optimization problems is introduced in the present study. The presented method is based on...     

F-LEACH: a fuzzy-based data aggregation scheme for healthcare IoT systems

The Journal of Supercomputing - Internet of Things (IoT) is an emerging paradigm that consists of numerous connected and interrelated devices with embedded sensors, exchanging data with each other...     

Overaluminizing of a CoNiCrAlY Coating by Inward and Outward Diffusion Treatments

Overaluminizing is a commercially accepted treatment to enhance high temperature oxidation resistance of MCrAlY overlay coatings. In the current investigation, a low pressure plasma-sprayed CoNiCrAlY coating was aluminized by two different growth modes: outward growth and inward growth. The resultant microstructures were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis. The results showed that the final microstructure of both types of overaluminized coatings was similar and included Al-rich NiAl and Ni-rich NiAl zones from the top to the bottom. The details of the microstructures are discussed and compared with the results of simple aluminizing of the nickel-based substrate.     

Effect of plate-like glass fillers on the mechanical properties of dental nanocomposites

In this study, glass flakes were incorporated into the spherical nanosilica component of the dental composites and its effect on the mechanical properties of these composites was investigated. To achieve a good interfacial adhesion between matrix resin and fillers, the particles were surface treated with a silane coupling agent (γ-MPS). Composites with different plate-like and spherical nanoparticle contents were prepared and their mechanical properties, including flexural strength, flexural modulus and fracture toughness were measured. The morphology of the particles and fracture surface of the composites were studied by SEM. The distribution of the flakes in the composite was also monitored using EDXA. Statistical analysis of the data was performed with ANOVA and the Tukey’s post hoc test was at a significance level of 0.05. The results showed that the flexural modulus and fracture toughness of specimens were improved with increasing the glass flake content up to 15 vol % which then declined upon further increase due to the stacking of the flakes on each other. A good interfacial adhesion was observed between matrix resin and particles in the SEM micrographs. The results of this study suggest that incorporation of glass flakes into the dental composites containing spherical nanosilica particles may enhance their mechanical properties.     

Scaling the Aspect Ratio of Nanoscale Closely Packed Silicon Vias by MacEtch: Kinetics of Carrier Generation and Mass Transport

Metal‐assisted chemical etching (MacEtch) has shown tremendous success as an anisotropic wet etching method to produce ultrahigh aspect ratio semiconductor nanowire arrays, where a metal mesh pattern serves as the catalyst. However, producing vertical via arrays using MacEtch, which requires a pattern of discrete metal disks as the catalyst, has often been challenging because of the detouring of individual catalyst disks off the vertical path while descending, especially at submicron scales. Here, the realization of ordered, vertical, and high aspect ratio silicon via arrays by MacEtch is reported, with diameters scaled from 900 all the way down to sub‐100 nm. Systematic variation of the diameter and pitch of the metal catalyst pattern and the etching solution composition allows the extraction of a physical model that, for the first time, clearly reveals the roles of the two fundamental kinetic mechanisms in MacEtch, carrier generation and mass transport. Ordered submicron diameter silicon via arrays with record aspect ratio are produced, which can directly impact the through‐silicon‐via technology, high density storage, photonic crystal membrane, and other related applications.     

Characterization of titania thin films grown by dip-coating technique

A dip-coating technique was employed to prepare anatase phase of titania thin films. Fluorine doped tin oxide substrates were used to prepare titania thin films. The samples were annealed at 550 °C for 18 h. X-ray diffraction results revealed the amorphous and anatase phases of TiO₂ for as-synthesized and annealed samples, respectively. The crystallite size of anatase TiO₂ thin films was almost 25 nm for annealed samples. UV–visible confirmed the energy band gap 3.86 and 3.64 eV for as-prepared and calcinated titania thin films. The reduction in the energy band gap could be due to the change in crystallization and agglomeration of small grains after calcination. The morphology of the prepared films was investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy which demonstrated the agglomeration of spherical particles of TiO₂ with average particle size of about 30 nm. The molecular properties (chemical bonding) of the samples were investigated by means of Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. FTIR analysis exhibited the formation of titania, functional group OH, hydroxyl stretching vibrations of the C–OH groups, bending vibration mode of H–O–H, alkyl C–H stretch, stretching band of Ti–OH, CN asymmetric band stretching, and C=O saturated aldehyde.     

Optimal Water Allocation of Surface and Ground Water Resources Under Climate Change with WEAP and IWOA Modeling

Water Resources Management - The water evaluation and planning (WEAP) approach and the invasive weed optimization algorithm (IWOA) are herein employed to determine the optimal operating policies in...