On the Barzilai-Borwein basic scheme in FFT-based computational homogenization

Building upon the equivalence of the basic scheme in the work of Moulinec and Suquet with gradient descent methods, we investigate the effect of using the celebrated Barzilai-Borwein step size selection technique in this context. We provide an overview of recent convergence theory and present efficient implementations in the context of computational micromechanics, with and without globalization. In contrast to polarization schemes and fast gradient methods, no lower bound on the eigenvalues of the material tangent is necessary for the Barzilai-Borwein scheme. We demonstrate the power of the proposed method for linear elastic and inelastic large scale problems with finite and infinite material contrast.     

Stretchable Composite Acoustic Transducer for Wearable Monitoring of Vital Signs

A highly flexible, stretchable, and mechanically robust low‐cost soft composite consisting of silicone polymers and water (or hydrogels) is reported. When combined with conventional acoustic transducers, the materials reported enable high performance real‐time monitoring of heart and respiratory patterns over layers of clothing (or furry skin of animals) without the need for direct contact with the skin. The approach enables an entirely new method of fabrication that involves encapsulation of water and hydrogels with silicones and exploits the ability of sound waves to travel through the body. The system proposed outperforms commercial, metal‐based stethoscopes for the auscultation of the heart when worn over clothing and is less susceptible to motion artefacts. The system both with human and furry animal subjects (i.e., dogs), primarily focusing on monitoring the heart, is tested; however, initial results on monitoring breathing are also presented. This work is especially important because it is the first demonstration of a stretchable sensor that is suitable for use with furry animals and does not require shaving of the animal for data acquisition.     

Examining the Relationship Between Black Carbon and Soot in Flames and Engine Exhaust

This article investigates the black carbon (BC) content of soot formed in premixed and diffusion flames and emitted by light duty gasoline and diesel vehicles. BC is measured photoacoustically and compared with particulate mass collected by filter and calculated from particle size distributions. The BC fraction of soot from rich premixed ethylene flames increases with height above the burner, but can remain well below unity in modestly sooting flames. The BC fraction produced by a propane diffusion flame soot generator (combustion aerosol standard, CAST) falls as the fuel is diluted with nitrogen, the principal means used to adjust the desired particle size. Thermally treating the soot to remove possible condensed semivolatile species does little to change these trends. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images show that despite low BC content, these particles display the characteristic fractal-like agglomerate morphology of soot. Particle mass spectra reveal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and fullerene fragments associated with low BC soot, which disappear as the BC fraction approaches unity. The results suggest that low BC content reflects immature solid soot that has not carbonized. Particulate matter (PM) measurements from current technology diesel and gasoline vehicles exhibit a high, >80% BC fraction. This is attributed to effective soot carbonization during the expansion and exhaust strokes of the engine, and to the substantial reductions of condensable hydrocarbons by catalytic aftertreatment. These results are discussed with respect to using light absorption-based instruments to monitor engine exhaust PM and using flame-generated soot for PM instrument calibration.     

Reduction potential of urban PM2.5 mortality risk using modern ventilation systems in buildings

Urban PM2.5 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter smaller than 2.5 microm) is associated with excess mortality and other health effects. Stationary sources are regulated and considerable effort is being put into developing low-pollution vehicles and environment-friendly transportation systems. While waiting for technological breakthroughs in emission controls, the current work assesses the exposure reductions achievable by a complementary means: efficient filtration of supply air in buildings. For this purpose infiltration factors for buildings of different ages are quantified using Exposures of Adult Urban Populations in Europe Study (EXPOLIS) measurements of indoor and outdoor concentrations in a population-based probability sample of residential and occupational buildings in Helsinki, Finland. These are entered as inputs into an evaluated simulation model to compare exposures in the current scenario with an alternative scenario, where the distribution of ambient PM2.5 infiltration factors in all residential and occupational buildings are assumed to be similar to the subset of existing occupational buildings using supply air filters. In the alternative scenario exposures to ambient PM2.5 were reduced by 27%. Compared with source controls, a significant additional benefit is that infiltration affects particles from all outdoor sources. The large fraction of time spent indoors makes the reduction larger than what probably can be achieved by local transport policies or other emission controls in the near future. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: It has been suggested that indoor concentrations of ambient particles and the associated health risks can be reduced by using mechanical ventilation systems with supply air filtering in buildings. The current work quantifies the effects of these concentration reductions on population exposures using population-based data from Helsinki and an exposure model. The estimated exposure reductions suggest that correctly defined building codes may reduce annual premature mortality by hundreds in Finland and by tens of thousands in the developed world altogether.     

Tectonics and architectonic quality in recently published Finnish log architecture: Corresponding architects’ perceptions

Due to the global increase in wood construction, it is crucial for architects to understand wood. In Finland, log building, a special subset of industrially manufactured massive timber construction materials is experiencing a renaissance. Cultural aspects combined with newer technical developments make log a complex material from the viewpoint of architectonic expression. To inform practicing architects, the aim of this study is to explore how the tectonics of logs contribute to the architectonic quality of log architecture. Semi-structured interviews among architects of twelve recently published log buildings are conducted. The results describe how architectonic quality is perceived among participants, and features of logs related to tectonics that they consider to be of importance in terms of architectonic quality. These features include the statics of log construction and log's nature as a simultaneously insulating, load-bearing and visual material. Differences between industrial and hand-hewn logs, as well as other architectural aspects of using logs in contemporary architecture are discussed. Especially the “non-settling” log was perceived to have manifold implications for the architectonic possibilities of log architecture. The results are of practical importance to designing architects and the log industry. Theoretical implications include tangible information on architectonic quality and tectonics of log building.     

Lippmann-Schwinger solvers for the computational homogenization of materials with pores

We show that under suitable hypotheses on the nonporous material law and a geometric regularity condition on the pore space, Moulinec-Suquet's basic solution scheme converges linearly. We also discuss for which derived solvers a (super)linear convergence behavior may be obtained, and for which such results do not hold, in general. The key technical argument relies on a specific subspace on which the homogenization problem is nondegenerate, and which is preserved by iterations of the basic scheme. Our line of argument is based in the nondiscretized setting, and we draw conclusions on the convergence behavior for discretized solution schemes in FFT-based computational homogenization. Also, we see how the geometry of the pores' interface enters the convergence estimates. We provide computational experiments underlining our claims.     

Effective dielectric response of polymer composites with ceramic coated silver flakes

High permittivity polymer composites were prepared using Bisphenol A epoxy resin and low loss alumina (Al₂O₃) coated silver (Ag) flakes for embedded passives. The uniformity and thickness of the Al₂O₃ layer were studied using both scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM). SEM was also used to investigate the morphology of the composites and the particle distribution. The dielectric properties of the composites were measured as a function of frequency and temperature. The composites showed a high relative permittivity of 370 with a low loss tangent of 0.07 at 1 MHz and a temperature coefficient of permittivity ~160 ppm/K.