Distribution of crack extension force,the Ĵ-integral,along a through-crack-front of a plate

The -integral is an extension of the J-integral proposed by Rice. It represents the crack-extension force; i.e., the energy release rate per unit of a crack-tip translation in three-dimensional elastic-plastic materials. The distribution of the -integral along the crack-front in a plate subjected to a monotonic loading is determined by a three-dimensional elastic-plastic finite element method.The three-dimensional calculation elucidates that the -integral takes its maximum value at the mid-thickness of the plate and takes a smaller value near the plate surfaces. It is shown that the -integral at the mid-thickness takes an intermediate value between those obtained by two-dimensional plane-strain and plane-stress computations; and that for a compact specimen it agrees with the J-integral value determined from the computed load versus the load-line-displacement curve using the Merkle-Corten formula.

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Résumé L'intégrale J est une extension de l'intégrale J proposée par Rice. Elle représente une force d'extension d'une fissure, à savoir le taux de relaxation de l'énergie par unité de translation de l'extrémité de la fissure dans des matériaux tridimensionnels élasto-plastiques. On détermine la distribution de l'intégrale J le long du front de fissuration dans une tôle soumise à charge croissante, à l'aide d'une méthode élastoplastique par éléments finis sur trois dimensions.Le calcul tridimensionnel permet d'établir que l'intégrale J revêt sa valeur maximale à mi-épaisseur de la tôle, et une valeur plus faible au voisinage des surfaces de la tôle.On montre que l'intégrale J à mi-épaisseur prend une valeur intermédiaire entre les valeurs ci-dessus, lorsqu'elle est déterminée par calculs à deux dimensions en état plan de déformation on en état plan de tension. On montre aussi que, dans le cas d'une éprouvette compacte, cette valeur est en accord avec la valeur de l'intégrale J établie à partir de la courbe calculée en fonction du déplacement sur la ligne de charge, à l'aide de la formule de Merkle-Corten.

     

Where, and how, does a nanowire break?

Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, we studied the structural transformation and breaking mechanism of a single crystalline copper nanowire under continuous strain. At a certain strain rate, an ensemble of relaxed initial states of the nanowire can preferentially go through one or more paths of deformation. In each deformation path, disordered atoms can be generated at the specific positions of the nanowire, where necking and breaking take place afterward. Such a breaking position is not predetermined; multiple initial states lead to a strain-rate-dependent, statistical distribution of breaking positions.     

Speed cameras,section control,and kangaroo jumps–a meta-analysis

A meta-analysis was conducted of the effects of speed cameras and section control (point-to-point speed cameras) on crashes. 63 effect estimates from 15 speed camera studies and five effect estimates from four section control studies were included in the analysis. Speed cameras were found to reduce total crash numbers by about 20%. The effect declines with increasing distance from the camera location. Fatal crashes were found to be reduced by 51%, this result may however be affected by regression to the mean (RTM). Section control was found to have a greater crash reducing effect than speed cameras (−30% for total crash numbers and −56% for KSI crashes). There is no indication that these results (except the one for the effect of speed cameras on fatal crashes) are affected by regression to the mean, publication bias or outlier bias. The results indicate that kangaroo driving (braking and accelerating) occurs, but no adverse effects on speed or crashes were found. Crash migration, i.e., an increase of crash numbers on other roads due to rerouting of traffic, may occur in some cases at speed cameras, but the results do not indicate that such effects are common. Both speed cameras and section control were found to achieve considerable speed reductions and the crash effects that were found in meta-analysis are of a similar size or greater than one might expect based on the effects on speed.     

Is diffusion,thermodiffusion, or advection a primary mechanism of indoor radon entry?

Revision of the current theory of indoor radon entry is given. It is shown that there is insufficient evidence to accept the pressure-driven mechanism as the dominant mechanism of radon infiltration in homes. The criticism of the US Environmental Protection Agency's policy is presented. The similitude theory of gas transfer in Knudsen's and transition zones is developed. Comparison of the theory with experimental data confirms the validity of the assumptions made. Application of the theory to air flow in clay is shown. This theory allows the average pore radius in the clay sample to be estimated. That radius was found to be of the order of the mean free path of air molecules at atmospheric pressure. It is shown that thermodiffusion gas flow in clay and concrete can greatly exceed the pressure-driven flow. The necessity of including thermodiffusion gas flow in a general model of radon indoor entry is substantiated.     

Comparison of a linear and a non-linear model for using sensory–motor,cognitive, personality,and demographic data to predict driving ability in healthy older adults

This study compared the ability of binary logistic regression (BLR) and non-linear causal resource analysis (NCRA) to utilize a range of cognitive, sensory–motor, personality and demographic measures to predict driving ability in a sample of cognitively healthy older drivers.Participants were sixty drivers aged 70 and above (mean = 76.7 years, 50% men) with no diagnosed neurological disorder. Test data was used to build classification models for a Pass or Fail score on an on-road driving assessment. The generalizability of the models was estimated using leave-one-out cross-validation.Sixteen participants (27%) received an on-road Fail score. Area under the ROC curve values were .76 for BLR and .88 for NCRA (no significant difference, z = 1.488, p = .137). The ROC curve was used to select three different cut-points for each model and to compare classification. At the cut-point corresponding to the maximum average of sensitivity and specificity, the BLR model had a sensitivity of 68.8% and specificity of 75.0% while NCRA had a sensitivity of 75.0% and specificity of 95.5%. However, leave-one-out cross-validation reduced sensitivity in both models and particularly reduced specificity for NCRA.Neither model is accurate enough to be relied on solely for determination of driving ability. The lowered accuracy of the models following leave-one-out cross-validation highlights the importance of investigating models beyond classification alone in order to determine a model's ability to generalize to new cases.     

Dyakonov–Tamm waves guided jointly by an ordinary,isotropic, homogeneous,dielectric material and a hyperbolic,dielectric, structurally chiral material

The planar interface of an ordinary, isotropic, homogeneous, dielectric material and a hyperbolic, dielectric, structurally chiral material can support the propagation of one or multiple Dyakonov–Tamm waves, at a specified frequency and along a specified direction in the interface plane. When multiple Dyakonov–Tamm waves can exist, they differ in phase speed, propagation length, degree of localization to the interface, and spatial profiles of the associated electromagnetic fields. Dependence on the relative permittivity scalar of the isotropic partnering material suggests exploitation for optical sensing of analytes in fluids.     

Ciliary propulsion, chaotic filtration and a ‘blinking’ stokeslet

The paper discusses the fundamental singularity of Stokes flow (the stokeslet) in the context of applications to locomotion and feeding currents in micro-organisms. The image system for a Stokeslet in a rigid plane boundary may be derived from Lorentz's mirror image technique [1] or by an appropriate limit of Oseen's solution for a sphere near a plane boundary [2]. An alternative derivation using Fourier transform methods [3] leads to an immediate physical interpretation of the image system in terms of a stokeslet and its multipole derivatives. The schematic illustration of a stokeslet and its image system in a plane boundary are exploited to explain the fluid dynamical principles of ciliary propulsion. For a point force oriented normal to the plane boundary, the resulting axisymmetric motion leads to a Stokes stream function representation which illustrates the toroidal eddy structure of the flow field. A similar eddy structure is also obtained for the two-dimensional system, although in this case, the toroidal structure is replaced by two eddies. This closed streamline model is developed to model chaotic filtration through the concept of a blinking stokeslet, a stokeslet alternating its vertical position according to a specific protocol. The resulting behaviour is illustrated via Poincaré sections, particle dispersion and length of particle path tracings. Sessile micro-organisms may exploit a similar process so they can filter as large a volume of liquid as possible in search of food and nutrients.     

Electrochemical DNA analysis with a supramolecular assembly of naphthalene diimide, ferrocene, and β-cyclodextrin

Naphthalene diimide 1 bearing ferrocene and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was prepared. Its half-wave potential at 420 mV shifted 40-50 mV upon addition of an excess of adamantylamine, suggesting that the ferrocene of 1 is included in the cavity of β-CD intramolecularly to form a pseudocyclic structure. This unique architecture is retained even where 1 is bound to calf thymus DNA to give rise to a catenane-like structure. Morphology of the DNA complex with 1 was further explored by atomic force microscopy to reveal that the DNA strand tends to bend as the amount of 1 on it increases. Presumably, intermolecular, yet intrastrand, inclusion of ferrocene into β-CD is responsible for this phenomenon. The resulting globular structure reverted partially by the addition of adamantylamine. At a low ratio of 1 to DNA, a novel reduction peak appeared at 320 mV in the differential pulse voltammograms of 1 at the expense of the 420 mV peak. The peak current of the former was proportional to the DNA concentration, thereby enabling quantitation of DNA in a signal-on way. Likewise, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product of 754 bp was analyzed successfully with a detection limit of 13 nM.     

Content uniformity acceptance limit for a validation batch—suppositories,transdermal systems,and inhalations

Background: The USP test for ‘Uniformity of Dosage Units’ specified by USP Chapter <905> is required of every drug product sold in the United States. Dosage-unit uniformity is determined either by weight variation or by assay of individual units. The USP acceptance criteria for content uniformity states that the relative standard deviation (RSD) of a sample of 30 units should not exceed 7.8%. Purpose: This article provides a methodology for deriving an upper acceptance limit on the RSD of dosage units from a validation batch of suppositories, transdermal systems, or inhalations such that future batches will have a 95% chance of passing the USP content uniformity RSD acceptance criterion (the RSD of 30 dosage units does not exceed 7.8%).     

Measuring Turbidity in a Near-Critical, Liquid–Liquid System: A Precise, Automated Experiment

A ground based (1g) experiment is in progress that measures the turbidity of the density-matched, binary fluid mixture methanol–cyclohexane extremely close to its liquid–liquid critical point. By covering the range of reduced temperatures t (T–T _c)/T _c from 10^–8 to 10^–2, the turbidity measurements should allow the Green–Fisher critical exponent to be determined. This paper reports measurements showing ±0.1 % precision of the transmitted and reference intensities, and ±4K temperature control near the critical temperature of 320 K. Preliminary turbidity data show a nonzero consistent with theoretical predictions. No experiment has precisely determined a value of the critical exponent , yet its value is significant to theorists in critical phenomena. Relatively simple critical phenomena, as in the liquid–liquid system studied here, serve as model systems for more complex behavior near a critical point.     

Forging property,processing map,and mesoscale microstructural evolution modeling of a Ti-17 alloy with a lamellar (α+β) starting microstructure

Abstract

This work identifies microstructural conversion mechanisms during hot deformation (at temperatures ranging from 750 °C to 1050 °C and strain rates ranging from 10^?3 s^?1 to 1 s^?1) of a Ti-5Al-2Sn-2Zr-4Mo-4Cr (Ti-17) alloy with a lamellar starting microstructure and establishes constitutive formulae for predicting the microstructural evolution using finite-element analysis. In the α phase, lamellae kinking is the dominant mode in the higher strain rate region and dynamic globularization frequently occurs at higher temperatures. In the β phase, continuous dynamic recrystallization is the dominant mode below the transition temperature, T_β (880~890 °C). Dynamic recovery tends to be more active at conditions of lower strain rates and higher temperatures. At temperatures above T_β, continuous dynamic recrystallization of the β phase frequently occurs, especially in the lower strain rate region. A set of constitutive equations modeling the microstructural evolution and processing map characteristic are established by optimizing the experimental data and were later implemented in the DEFORM-3D software package. There is a satisfactory agreement between the experimental and simulated results, indicating that the established series of constitutive models can be used to reliably predict the properties of a Ti-17 alloy after forging in the (α+β) region.     

Anthraquinonedisulfonate electrochemistry: a comparison of glassy carbon, hydrogenated glassy carbon, highly oriented pyrolytic graphite, and diamond electrodes

The electrochemistry of anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (2,6-AQDS) at glassy carbon (GC), hydrogenated glassy carbon (HGC), the basal plane of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), and boron-doped diamond was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and chronocoulometry. Quantitative determination of the surface coverage and qualitative assessment of the physisorption strength of 2,6-AQDS adsorption on each of these electrodes were done. The diamond and HGC surfaces are nonpolar and relatively oxygen-free, with the surface carbon atoms terminated by hydrogen. The polar 2,6-AQDS does not adsorb on these surfaces, and the electrolysis proceeds by a diffusion-controlled reaction. Conversely, the GC and HOPG surfaces are polar, with the exposed defect sites terminated by carbon-oxygen functionalities. 2,6-AQDS strongly physisorbs on both of these surfaces at near monolayer or greater coverages, such that the electrolysis proceeds through a surface-confined state. Less than 40% of the initial surface coverage can be removed by rinsing and solution replacement, reflective of strong physisorption. The results show the important role of the surface carbon-oxygen functionalities in promoting strong dipole-dipole and ion-dipole interactions with polar and ionic molecules such as 2,6-AQDS. The results also support the theory that diamond electrodes may be less subject to fouling by polar adsorbates, as compared to GC, leading to improved response stability in electroanalytical measurements. The relationship between the 2,6-AQDS surface coverage, the double-layer capacitance, and the heterogeneous electron-transfer rate constant for Fe(CN)(6)(3)(-)(/4)(-) for these four carbon electrodes is presented.     

Stress–strain relationships of polycarbonate over a wide range of strain rate,including a shock wave regime

Stress–strain relationships of polycarbonate (PC) are determined over a very wide range of strain rates, including a shock wave regime. Plate impact tests, drop-weight tests, and quasi-static tests using universal and Instron testing machines are used for the high strain rate (10⁷ s⁻¹), medium strain rate (10² s⁻¹) and low strain rate (10⁻⁴ s⁻¹) tests, respectively. A newly modified unsteady wave sensing system (NM-UWSS) for plate impact tests is developed to determine the stress–strain relationships of PC. The system consists of a powder gun for plate impact tests, three embedded polyvenyliden fluoride (PVDF) gauges, and NM-UWSS. As originally proposed, UWSS is aimed at obtaining experimental inputs for the Lagrangian analysis used in determining the dynamic behavior of materials. We revise this standard system (UWSS) twice to gain a higher time resolution. In the past, the conventional charge mode (Q₂ method) was used. The first modified system (M-UWSS) has been used to study two classes of materials: (1) metallic materials and (2) polymeric materials, where the Q₁ method coupled with a transient differential equation for the equivalent circuit of the measurement circuit for the PVDF stress gauge was used. The latest method (Q_t method) for gaining the highest time resolution of shock wavefront structure by considering the effects of a piezofilm's thickness is proposed for PC at particle velocities of up to 1 km/s. Here we show from basic equations of piezoelectricity that the charge density q, i.e., the charge release per unit area, of the active electrode is proportional to the ratio of the thickness of the shocked region to the total thickness of the piezofilm. It is demonstrated that the rise time of shock charge density q in the piezofilm induced by such shock in the Q₂, Q₁ and Q_t methods, in this order, is becoming much shorter. The latest Q_t method has the highest accuracy among these three methods. Power law relations between stress and strain rate are observed again with PC under conditions of uniaxial strain over a very wide range of strain rates, i.e., 10⁻⁴–10⁷ s⁻¹ including a shock wave regime. For the PC, the effects of strain rate on the stress–strain relationships are estimated using empirical formula.     

Investigation of mechanical,electrical, and thermal properties of a Zn–1.26 wt% Al alloy

Zn–1.26 wt% Al alloy was directionally solidified upward with a constant growth rate (V = 16.6 μm/s) in a wide range of temperature gradients (1.94–5.15 K/mm) and with a constant temperature gradient (G = 5.15 K/mm) in a wide range of growth rates (8.3–500 μm/s) with a Bridgman-type directional solidification furnace. The microhardness (HV) and tensile strength (σ) of alloy were measured from directionally solidified samples. The dependency of the microhardness, tensile strength for directionally solidified Zn–1.26 wt% Al alloy on the solidification parameters (G, V) and microstructure parameters (λ₁, λ₂) were investigated and the relationships between them were experimentally obtained using regression analysis. According to present results, the microhardness and tensile strength of directionally solidified Zn–1.26 wt% Al alloy increase with increasing solidification processing parameters and decrease with the microstructure parameters. Variations of electrical resistivity (ρ) with the temperature in the range of 300–650 K were also measured using a standard dc four-point probe technique for cast samples. The enthalpy of fusion and specific heat for same alloy was also determined by means of differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) from heating trace during the transformation from solid to liquid.     

Kinetics study of a palladium–nickel colloidal nanocatalyst synthesized by a wet-chemical method for reduction of nitrophenol,nitroaniline, and 4-nitrobenzo-15-crown compounds

A bimetallic, palladium–nickel (Pd–Ni) stable colloidal nanocatalyst was synthesized by a wet-chemical reduction technique using Aerosol OT (AOT) as the surfactant and hydrazine hydrate as a reducing agent. The particle size of a colloidal nanocatalyst was controlled by varying precursor concentration, reducing agent, and surfactant concentration. The particle size and morphology of the colloidal catalyst were investigated by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. TEM images show the actual particle size of Pd?Ni nanocatalysts to be in the range of 10?28 nm at 10 mM concentration of AOT and hydrazine hydrate. The activity of the colloidal catalyst (bimetallic) was evaluated for reduction of nitro aromatic compounds which includes 4-NP, 3-NP, 2-NP, 4-nitrobenzo-15-crown, and 4-NA. The rate constant of the Pd–Ni colloidal nanocatalyst indicates that the activity of bimetallic catalysts was higher than the monometallic catalyst for various nitro compounds. The rate constant of 4-nitrophenol was found to be ～61 × 10^?2 min^?1 at room temperature.     

Silicone adhesive,a better matrix for tolterodine patches—a research based on in vitro/in vivo studies

Objective: To design and optimize a drug-in-adhesive (DIA) type transdermal patch for tolterodine (TOL) based on acrylic and silicone matrixes.

Methods: Initial in vitro studies were conducted to optimize the formulations. Two types of adhesive matrixes, drug loading, and enhancers were evaluated on the TOL transport across rabbit skin. For in vivo studies, patches were administered to rabbit abdominal skin. Pharmacokinetic assessments were performed based on plasma level of TOL up to 28?h for acrylic patch and 52?h for silicone patch after topical application.

Results: The final formulation of acrylic adhesive type patch consisted of 10% TOL (w/w) and 5.8?×?10^?4 mol isopropyl myristate (IPM) and 2.9?×?10^?4 mol Span 80 in per unit gram (mol/g) of adhesive, while 2.5% TOL (w/w) and 2.9?×?10^?4 mol/g IPM for silicone adhesive type patch. Comparison of the pharmacokinetic parameters between two types of patches showed that the steady-state concentration of silicone type patch was 2-fold higher than that of acrylic type patch being 0.97?mg/L versus 0.49?mg/L, and the absolute bioavailability was 27.5% for silicone type patch and 6.3% for acrylic type patch, respectively. In addition, the prediction of in vivo drug level from the in vitro permeation data of silicone adhesive formulation was in good agreement with actual observed concentration data in rabbits.

Conclusion: These results indicate that the silicone type of TOL patch is an appropriate delivery system for the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB).     

用CSD方程计算了R290,R600,R600a戊烷的热力性质

本文用ＣＳＤ方程计算了Ｒ２９０，Ｒ６００，Ｒ６００ａ，戊烷的热力性质，这几种天然碳氢化合物的ＣＳＤ方程常数值可用于混合工质的汽液要平衡计算。