Compilation of Constraint Programs with Noncyclic and Cyclic Dependencies to Procedural Parallel Programs

This paper reports on a compiler for translation of constraint specifications into procedural parallel programs. A constraint program in our system consists of a set of constraints and an input set containing a subset of the variables appearing in the constraints. The compiler described in this paper successfully compiles a substantially larger class of constraint specifications to efficient programs than did its predecessors. In particular the compiler has been extended to generate processor and memory efficient programs for cyclic constraints which can be resolved by computational relaxation methods. The paper first details the basic compilation process for noncyclic constraints. It then describes the additional steps in the compilation process which enable resolution of cyclic constraints to iterative computational processes and illustrates the process using derivation of a parallel program for solution of the Laplace equation as the example.     

Production of MgAl2O4 – Ti(C,N) composite ceramics by aluminothermic reduction in reducing atmosphere

Abstract

In the presence of N₂ and CO gases, MgAl₂O₄ – Ti(C,N) composite has been synthesised by aluminothermic reduction. The phase characterisation and microstructure of this novel composite were investigated by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). The results show that the nitridation reaction begins at 1100°C. With an increase of temperature, TiC starts to appear and forms Ti(C,N) solid solution with TiN; the grain size of Ti(C,N) grows with increasing temperature and the final product is MgAl₂O₄ – Ti(C,N).     

Structure evolution in annealed and hot deformed Al–V2 O5 composite

Abstract

Structural observations and hot deformation tests were carried out on mechanically alloyed Al-10 wt-%V₂ O₅ composite. Initial annealing experiments revealed a hardening of the material during the first stage of annealing. The material hardness increased from 114 HB for as extruded material to 167 HB after annealing at 873 K for 6 h. Differential scanning calorimetry tests conducted on as extruded material confirmed the development of an exothermic reaction during heating of the material within the temperature range 650–870 K. The amount of heat released was reduced with increasing annealing time at 873 K. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray analysis of annealed material revealed new intermetallic grains and very fine aluminium oxide particles, which resulted from the chemical reaction between the aluminium matrix and vanadium oxides. The development of voids in long aged specimens was found to be an undesirable effect of local specific volume reduction during the course of the chemical reaction that was not fully compensated by the local volume increase due to the growth of intermetallic particles. As a result, the material hardness was reduced in long time annealed specimens. The mechanical properties of as extruded and annealed specimens were investigated by means of hot compression testing within the temperature range 623–903 K. These tests revealed that the flow stress of as extruded material was reduced from 180 to 22 MPa when tested at 623 and 903 K, respectively. Annealed specimens exhibited higher flow stresses of 195 and 32 MPa at the same temperatures. The results indicate that the strength of the material can be effectively increased owing to a change of material structure as a result of the chemical reaction taking place during high temperature annealing.     

Direct observation of ternary solid state transformation in Bi–Cd–In alloy system

Abstract

Cast or solution treated specimens of a Bi–9·0Cd–26·7In (wt-%) alloy were observed to form a fine, three phase microstructure on aging at room temperature, replacing a single phase formed at a higher temperature. The three phases resulting from this solid state reaction were found to grow with a lamellar morphology into the high temperature phase, with a growth rate of 0·5–1·0 μm h^-1 at room temperature. The equilibrium temperature for the transformation was found to be ～25°C. Using a Hitachi S-4500 field emission SEM, the phase transformation was followed in progress at magnifications of 3000 and 10 000 times. It was noted that a volume change was associated with the transformation. It was concluded that the transformation is of the ternary eutectoid type.     

Magnesium matrix nanocomposites fabricated by ultrasonic assisted casting

Abstract

Magnesium matrix composites reinforced with nano-sized SiC particles (n-SiC_p/AZ91D) were fabricated by high intensity ultrasonic assisted casting. The microstructure of the nanocomposites was investigated by optical microscopy, scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electronic microscopy (HRTEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) methods. The results showed that the dispersion and distribution of n-SiC_p in magnesium alloy melts were significantly improved by ultrasonic processing. Compared to the unreinforced AZ91D matrix, mechanical properties of the nanocomposites including tensile and yield strengths were remarkably improved and the yield strength increased by 117% after gravity permanent mould casting.     

Thermal ageing and lifetime prediction for organic matrix composites

Abstract

During their thermal ageing in air, organic matrix composites undergo a superficial oxidation leading to a 'spontaneous' cracking. The aim of this article is to present a new strategy of investigation intended to minimise empirism in the field of lifetime prediction. It is based on a kinetic model starting from a radical chain mechanism, initiated by hydroperoxide decomposition, and coupling the oxygen diffusion and consumption kinetics. The model gives access to the thickness distributions of all the chemical changes happening during the exposure. All its parameters have a physical sense and are checkable experimentally. In addition, they obey Arrhenius law, which is not the case for the usual global properties. Some significant results showing the model efficiency are reported. Then, it is shown how, in the near future, the model will be usable to predict changes in mechanical properties.     

多层介质单模光纤传输特性：一种简便有效的数值法

本文提供了多层介质光纤传输特性分析的快速有效的数值法,即对近似的标量边界条件建立矩阵型特征方程,为2×2矩阵运算,这样可节省大量的计算机内存加快运算速度。对弱导光纤计算结果的精度是能满足要求的可靠的。通过大量分析提出了保证低损耗小色散单模光纤优化设计的思路及方法。     

A chaotic image cryptosystem based on Toeplitz and Hankel matrices

Abstract

Because of properties in chaos system such as the sensitive dependence on initial conditions, system parameters, pseudorandom property and ergodicity, chaotic image encryption algorithm can suggest a new and efficient way of encryption scheme, which has been studied more and more in recent years. A novel chaotic image encryption algorithm based on Toeplitz matrix and Hankel matrix is proposed in this paper. We shuffle totally the positions of image pixels to confuse the relationship between the plain image and cipher image combined with Toeplitz matrix, Hankel matrix and logistic chaotic system. Another hyper-chaos system of Chen's chaotic system is taken to change the grey values of image pixels to enhance the security further. Experimental results in Sections 3 and 4 demonstrate that the key space is large enough and the key is sensitive to initial conditions to resist the brute force attack in the proposed algorithm. Additionally, the distribution of grey values in encrypted image has a random-like behaviour to resist statistical analysis.     

Use of Alcan's Al-B4C metal matrix composites as neutron absorber material in TN International's transportation and storage casks

Abstract

Major issues in the area of transportation and/or storage of radioactive materials are reliability and safety of engineering components. Among the functions to be undertaken, transportation and storage systems shall allow the criticality control of the transported matter, the control of its temperature, as well as the capacity to withstand the mechanical stresses due to normal, incidental and accidental conditions of use. In most cases, criticality control requires the use of an internal arrangement made of a neutron absorber material, which must also have high thermal conductivity properties to ensure the temperature control. When, as in many AREVA-TN International applications, the design takes credit of the neutron absorber material as a structural component, it must show high mechanical performance. Alcan's Al-B₄C metal matrix composites (Al-B₄C MMCs) meet all the above mentioned requirements, due to their special capability of capturing neutrons, their light weight, and their superior thermal conductivity and mechanical properties. The significant advantage of Alcan's technology is its flexibility with regards to a wide range of boron carbide contents and matrix alloys (from AA1XXX to AA6XXX). This enables the adjustment of the properties to the exact needs of the design. TN International presently uses extruded and/or rolled Al-B₄C MMC parts in several of its internal arrangements. The present paper gives an overview of the manufacture processes of Alcan's Al-B₄C MMCs, from the mixing of B₄C into liquid aluminium to the extrusion and rolling operations. It describes the methods and results for the qualification tests in terms of the neutron absorption, thermal, physical and mechanical properties of the material. Finally, details are given on the use of Alcan's MMCs as a neutron absorber with enough credit for structural material in TN International's TN24 designs.     

Tensile behaviour and ductility of 10 vol.-% Saffil short fibre reinforced aluminium

Abstract

The tensile behaviour of Saffil short fibre reinforced aluminium composites has been investigated in terms of Young's modulus, yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and strain to failure. A rationale is given for the unusually high strain to failure found in this material by applying a failure criterion based on damage accumulation, recently developed for particulate reinforced MMCs.