The effect of strain softening in the matrix material during void growth

Furthermore, the compressed flow driven by the piston is discussed. The consistent solution of gasdynamical equations including solar gravity is obtained for the unsteady and two-dimensional configuration, which is applied to the region between the piston and shock wave. This solution may satisfy the jump conditions of shock wave, which separates the region of compressed flow and quiet corona.

Interface cracking and particulate size effect in particle-reinforced metal-matrix composites

The mechanical behaviors of the ceramic particle-reinforced metal matrix composites are modeled based on the conventional theory of mechanism-based strain gradient plasticity presented by Huang et al. Two cases of interface features with and without the effects of interface cracking will be analyzed, respectively. Through comparing the result based on the interface cracking model with experimental result, the effectiveness of the present model can be evaluated. Simultaneously, the length parameters included in the strain gradient plasticity theory can be obtained.

A simple method to simulate shrinkage-induced cracking in cement-based composites by lattice-type modeling

A new numerical procedure is proposed to investigate cracking behaviors induced by mismatch between the matrix phase and aggregates due to matrix shrinkage in cement-based composites. This kind of failure processes is simplified in this investigation as a purely spontaneous mechanical problem, therefore, one main difficulty during simulating the phenomenon lies that no explicit external load serves as the drive to propel development of this physical process. As a result, it is different from classical mechanical problems and seems hard to be solved by using directly the classical finite element method (FEM), a typical kind of "load -> medium -> response" procedures. As a solution, the actual mismatch deformation field is decomposed into two virtual fields, both of which can be obtained by the classical FEM. Then the actual response is obtained by adding together the two virtual displacement fields based on the principle of superposition. Then, critical elements are detected successively by the event-by-event technique. The micro-structure of composites is implemented by employing the generalized beam (GB) lattice model. Numerical examples are given to show the effectiveness of the method, and detailed discussions are conducted on influences of material properties.

High-Strength Composite Fibers: Realizing True Potential of Carbon Nanotubes in Polymer Matrix through Continuous Reticulate Architecture and Molecular Level Couplings

Carbon nanotubes have unprecedented mechanical properties as defect-free nanoscale building blocks, but their potential has not been fully realized in composite materials due to weakness at the interfaces. Here we demonstrate that through load-transfer-favored three-dimensional architecture and molecular level couplings with polymer chains, true potential of CNTs can be realized in composites as Initially envisioned. Composite fibers with reticulate nanotube architectures show order of magnitude improvement in strength compared to randomly dispersed short CNT reinforced composites reported before. The molecular level couplings between nanotubes and polymer chains results in drastic differences in the properties of thermoset and thermoplastic composite fibers, which indicate that conventional macroscopic composite theory falls to explain the overall hybrid behavior at nanoscale.

Experimental Study Of Multi-Hole Cooling For Integrally-Woven, Ceramic Matrix Composite Walls For Gas Turbine Applications

In this paper, multi-hole cooling is studied for an oxide/oxide ceramic specimen with normal injection holes and for a SiC/SiC ceramic specimen with oblique injection holes. A special purpose heat transfer tunnel was designed and built, which can provide a wide range of Reynolds numbers (10(5)similar to 10(7)) and a large temperature ratio of the primary flow to the coolant (up to 2.5). Cooling effectiveness determined by the measured surface temperature for the two types of ceramic specimens is investigated. It is found that the multi-hole cooling system for both specimens has a high cooling efficiency and it is higher for the SiC/SiC specimen than for the oxide/oxide specimen. Effects on the cooling effectiveness of parameters including blowing ratio, Reynolds number and temperature ratio, are studied. In addition, profiles of the mean velocity and temperature above the cooling surface are measured to provide further understanding of the cooling process. Duplication of the key parameters for multi-hole cooling, for a representative combustor flow condition (without radiation effects), is achieved with parameter scaling and the results show the high efficiency of multi-hole cooling for the oblique hole, SiC/SiC specimen. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Synthesis Of Plastic Zr-Based Bulk Metallic Glass Matrix Composites By The Copper-Mould Suction Casting And The Bridgman Solidification

Zr-based bulk metallic glass matrix composites with the composition of Zr56.2Ti13.8Nb5.0Cu6.9Ni5.6Be12.(5) were synthesized by the copper-mould suction casting and the Bridgman solidification. The composite, containing a well-developed flowery beta-Zr dendritic phase, was obtained by the Bridgman solidification with the withdrawal velocity of 0.8 mm/s and the temperature gradient of 45 K/mm, and the ultimate strength of 2050 MPa and fracture plastic strain of 14.6% of the composite were achieved, which was mainly interpreted by the homogeneous dispersion of bcc beta-Zr phase in the glass matrix. Crown Copyright (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

MODIFIED DIRECT TWOS-COMPLEMENT PARALLEL ARRAY MULTIPLICATION ALGORITHM FOR COMPLEX MATRIX OPERATION

A direct twos-complement parallel array multiplication algorithm is introduced and modified for digital optical numerical computation. The modified version overcomes the problems encountered in the conventional optical twos-complement algorithm. In the array, all the summands are generated in parallel, and the relevant summands having the same weights are added simultaneously without carries, resulting in the product expressed in a mixed twos-complement system. In a two-stage array, complex multiplication is possible with using four real subarrays. Furthermore, with a three-stage array architecture, complex matrix operation is straightforwardly accomplished. In the experiment, parallel two-stage array complex multiplication with liquid-crystal panels is demonstrated.

MODIFIED ENGAGEMENT METHOD FOR MATRIX OPERATION

We describe a modified engagement method for matrix operation based on a two-dimensional crossed-ring interconnection network, Our method incorporates fewer steps than that reported by Bocker et al. [Appl. Opt. 22, 804 (1983)], and its performance is found to be the most efficient (minimum steps) in comparison with other systolic and/or engagement methods for matrix operation. Thus, it may be helpful for other optical and electronic implementations of matrix operations. One compact optoelectronic integrity approach for implementing the modified engagement method is briefly described. (C) 1995 Optical Society of America

Simple ABCD matrix method for evaluating optical coupling system of laser diode to single-mode fiber with a lensed-tip

In this paper, we present a simple technique to determine the coupling efficiency between a laser diode and a lensed-tip based on the ABCD transformation matrix method. We have compared our analysis technique to that of previous work and have found that the presented method is reliable in predicting the coupling efficiency of lensed-tip and has the advantage of simplicity of coupling efficiency calculation even by a pocket calculator. The results can be useful for designing coupling optics. (c) 2005 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Investigation on nonradiative decay of the (Er3+I13/2)-I-4 -> I-4(15/2) transition in different tellurite glass matrix

Three kinds of Er3+-doped tellurite glasses with different hydroxyl groups are prepared by the conventional melt-quenching method. Infrared spectra are measured to estimate the exact content of OH- groups in samples. The maximum phonon energy in glasses are obtained by measuring the Raman scattering spectra. The strength parameters Omega(t) (t = 2, 4, 6) for all the samples are calculated and compared. The nonradiative decay rate of the Er3+ I-4(13/2) -> I-4(15/2) transition are calculated for the glass samples with different phonon energy and OH- group contents. Finally, the effect of OH- groups on fluorescence decay rate of Er3+ is analysed, the constant KOH-Er Of TWN, TZPL and TZL glasses are calculated to be 9.2 x 10(-19) cm(4)s(-1), 5.9 x 10(-19) cm(4)s(-1), and 3.5 x 10(-19) cm(4)s(-1), respectively.

Matrix analysis of an anisotropic optical thin film

Based on Maxwell's equations, standard boundary conditions are imposed on resultant electric- and magnetic-field vectors at interfaces, and the propagating characteristics of extraordinary waves, such as the forward- and backward-propagating directions of wave vectors, rays and their corresponding refractive indices are determined in a uniaxially birefringent thin film. Furthermore, 2 x 2 characteristic matrices of a birefringent thin film are derived including multiple reflections for the extraordinary wave.

Analysis of characteristic matrix for a uniaxially birefringent thin film

As the principal section consistent with the principal plane, electromagnetic propagation in a uniaxially birefingent thin film can be described with a concise 2 x 2 characteristic matrix, in which the refractive indices of the forward and backward propagating extraordinary rays are different and dependent. In this letter, based on Huygen's construction, the refractive indices and effective optical admittances of the forward and backward propagating extraordinary rays are discussed further, and the 2 x 2 characteristic matrix is simplified. Furthermore, the input optical admittance, reflectance and transmittance of assembly is presented, just as an isotropic thin film. The result can be extended to the general case of multilayer uniaxially birefringent thin films with their optic axes in the incident plane. Copyright (c) EPLA, 2007.