Influence of Filler Loading on Dielectric Properties of Epoxy-ZnO Nanocomposites

Experimental investigations into the dielectric properties of epoxy-ZnO nanocomposites at different filler loadings reveal few unique behaviors (at certain filler loadings) and also advantageous characteristics in contrast to the properties obtained for the corresponding microcomposites. Results demonstrate that in nanocomposites, it is possible to achieve lower values of permittivity and tan delta with respect to unfilled epoxy over a wide frequency range. Analysis of the results attributes this interesting observation to the interaction dynamics between the epoxy chains and the ZnO nanoparticles at the interfacial area. The dc volume resistivities and ac dielectric strengths of nanocomposites were also experimentally determined in the present study and the obtained characteristics are found to be different as compared to the results obtained for microcomposites. The volume fraction and nature of the interfaces in the bulk of the composites seem to influence this difference in the examined dielectric properties of the nanocomposites.

A large orthotropic plate with misfit pin under arbitrarily oriented biaxial loading

The problem of misfit (interference or clearance) pin in a large orthotropic plate was solved earlier by the authors for biaxial loading in the principal directions of orthotropy. Here, a more general case of arbitrarily oriented loading is considered. The most important aspect of the problem studied is the partial contact at the pin-hole interface. The solution is obtained by extending the use of ‘inverse technique’ which was successfully applied earlier by the authors to problems of pins in isotropic and orthotropic domains. The loss of symmetry because of the arbitrary orientation of loading makes the problem more complex. Additional parameters are then involved in the inversion of the problem for the solution. Numerical results are presented primarily for a smooth interference fit pin in a typical orthotropic plate.

Plastic response of orthotropic spherical shells under blast loading

The plastic response of a segment of a simply supported orthotropic spherical shell under a uniform blast loading applied on the convex surface of the shell is presented. The blast is assumed to impart a uniform velocity to the shell surface initially. The material of the shell is orthotropic obeying a modified Tresca yield hypersurface conditions and the associated flow rules. The deformation of the shell is determined during all phases of its motion by considering the motion of plastic hinges in different regimes of flow. Numerical results presented include the permanent deformed configuration of the shell and the total time of shell response for different degrees of orthotropy. Conclusions regarding the plastic behaviour of spherical shells with circumferential and meridional stiffening under uniform blast load are presented.

Feature selection and the concept of immediate neighborhood in the context of clustering techniques

The concept of feature selection in a nonparametric unsupervised learning environment is practically undeveloped because no true measure for the effectiveness of a feature exists in such an environment. The lack of a feature selection phase preceding the clustering process seriously affects the reliability of such learning. New concepts such as significant features, level of significance of features, and immediate neighborhood are introduced which result in meeting implicitly the need for feature slection in the context of clustering techniques.

Feature selection and the concept of immediate neighborhood in the context of clustering techniques

The concept of feature selection in a nonparametric unsupervised learning environment is practically undeveloped because no true measure for the effectiveness of a feature exists in such an environment. The lack of a feature selection phase preceding the clustering process seriously affects the reliability of such learning. New concepts such as significant features, level of significance of features, and immediate neighborhood are introduced which result in meeting implicitly the need for feature slection in the context of clustering techniques.

Stresses in a thick plate with a circular hole under axisymmetric loading

An exact theoretical solution is given for the stresses and displacements in an infinite plate of finite thickness having a circular hole and subjected to axisymmetric normal leading. The solution is given in the form of Fourier-Bessel series and integral. Numerical results are given for stresses in plates having different thickness to hole diameter ratios and loadings. The results are compared with the available approximate theoretical and experimental results.

A numerical study of the effect of loading conditions on tubular hydroforming

In this work, the mechanics of tubular hydroforming under various types of loading conditions is investigated. The main objective is to contrast the effects of prescribing fluid pressure or volume flow rate, in conjunction with axial displacement, on the stress and strain histories experienced by the tube and the process of bulging. To this end, axisymmetric finite element simulations of free hydroforming (without external die contact) of aluminium alloy tubes are carried out. Hill’s normally anisotropic yield theory along with material properties determined in a previous experimental study [A. Kulkarni, P. Biswas, R. Narasimhan, A. Luo, T. Stoughton, R. Mishra, A.K. Sachdev, An experimental and numerical study of necking initiation in aluminium alloy tubes during hydroforming, Int. J. Mech. Sci. 46 (2004) 1727–1746] are employed in the computations. It is found that while prescribed fluid pressure leads to highly non-proportional strain paths, specified fluid volume flow rate may result in almost proportional ones for the predominant portion of loading. The peak pressure increases with axial compression for the former, while the reverse trend applies under the latter. The implication of these results on failure by localized necking of the tube wall is addressed in a subsequent investigation.

Single and multi-step phase transformation in CuZr nanowire under compressive/tensile loading

A novel stress induced martenistic phase transformation is reported in an initial B2-CuZr nanowire of cross-sectional dimensions in the range of 19.44 x 19.44-38.88 x 38.88 angstrom(2) and temperature in the range of 10-400 K under both tensile and compressive loading. Extensive Molecular Dynamic simulations are performed using an inter-atomic potential of type Finnis and Sinclair. The nanowire shows a phase transformation from an initial B2 phase to BCT (body-centered-tetragonal) phase with failure strain of similar to 40% in tension, whereas in compression, comparatively a small B2 -> BCT phase transformation is observed with failure strain of similar to 25%. Size and temperature dependent deformation mechanisms which control ultimately the B2 -> BCT phase transformation are found to be completely different for tensile and compressive loadings. Under tensile loading, small cross-sectional nanowire shows a single step phase transformation, i.e. B2 -> BCT via twinning along {100} plane, whereas nanowires with larger cross-sectional area show a two step phase transformation, i.e. B2 -> R phase -> BCT along with intermediate hardening. In the first step, nanowire shows phase transformation from B2 -> R phase via twinning along {100} plane, afterwards the nanowire deforms via twinning along {110} plane which cause further transformation from R phase -> BCT phase. Under compressive loading, the nanowire shows crushing along {100} plane after a single step phase transformation from B2 -> BCT. Proper tailoring of such size and temperature dependent phase transformation can be useful in designing nanowire for high strength applications with corrosion and fatigue resistance. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Interface stresses in a composite cylindrical shell under ring loading

The problem of a two-layer circular cylindrical shell subjected to radial ring loading has been solved theoretically. The solution is developed by uniting the elasticity solution through Love function approach for the inner thick shell with the Flügge shell theory for the thin outer shell. Numerical work has been done with a digital computer for different values of shell geometry parameters and material constants. The general behaviour of the composite shell has been studied in the light of these numerical results.

Ring loading of a long, thin, circular cylindrical shell enclosing a soft, solid core: A recalculation by the love function method of elasticity.

The problem is solved using the Love function and Flügge shell theory. Numerical work has been done with a computer for various values of shell geometry parameters and elastic constants.

Plastic response of orthotropic spherical shells under blast loading

The plastic response of a segment of a simply supported orthotropic spherical shell under a uniform blast loading applied on the convex surface of the shell is presented. The blast is assumed to impart a uniform velocity to the shell surface initially. The material of the shell is orthotropic obeying a modified Tresca yield hypersurface conditions and the associated flow rules. The deformation of the shell is determined during all phases of its motion by considering the motion of plastic hinges in different regimes of flow. Numerical results presented include the permanent deformed configuration of the shell and the total time of shell response for different degrees of orthotropy. Conclusions regarding the plastic behaviour of spherical shells with circumferential and meridional stiffening under uniform blast load are presented.

Asymmetry in structural and thermo-mechanical behavior of intermetallic NiAl nanowire under tensile/compressive loading: A molecular dynamics study

The asymmetric stress strain behavior under tension/compression in an initial < 100 > B-2-NiAl nanowire is investigated considering two different surface configurations i.e., < 100 >/(0 1 0) (0 0 1) and < 100 >/(0 1 1) (0 - 1 1). This behavior is attributed to two different deformation mechanisms namely a slip dominated deformation under compression and a known twinning dominated deformation under tension. It is also shown that B2 -> BCT (body-centered-tetragonal) phase transformation under tensile loading is independent of the surface configurations for an initial < 100 > oriented NiAl nanowire. Under tensile loading, the nanowire undergoes a stress-induced martensiticphase transformation from an initial B2 phase to BCT phase via twinning along {110} plane with failure strain of similar to 0.30. On the other hand, a compressive loading causes failure of these nanowires via brittle fracture after compressive yielding, with a maximum failure strain of similar to-0.12. Such brittle fracture under compressive loading occurs via slip along {110} plane without any phase transformations. Softening/hardening behavior is also reported for the first time in these nanowires under tensile/compressive loadings, which cause asymmetry in their yield strength behavior in the stress strain space. Result shows that a sharp increase in energy with increasing strain under compressive loading causes hardening of the nanowire, and hence, gives improved yield strength as compared to tensile loading. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Analysis of Long Cantilever Cylindrical Shell Subjected to Wind Loading

Bending analysis of closed cylindrical shells subjected to asymmetric load and having different support conditions is of interest in the design of chimneys, water towers, oil storage tanks, etc. A simple method of analyzing a long cantilever cylindrical shell, subjected to asymmetric load, is presented in the paper, using Schorer’s shell theory and orthogonal functions. The application of the solution has been illustrated with an example of a cantilever shell subjected to wind loads. The results obtained for this problem have been compared with the previously available results to illustrate the accuracy of the results obtained here. The solution presented can also be extended to a cylindrical shell with other support conditions, as well as to the study of free vibration of a cylindrical shell. The present solution will be very useful for designers who need to obtain numerical results for specific problems with minimum computational effort.

Prediction of Specimen Strain from Extensometer Deflection Measurements in a Direct Stress Fatigue Test Specimen under Static Tensile Loading

The displacement between the ridges situated outside the filleted test section of an axially loaded unnotched specimen is computed from the axial load and shape of the specimen and compared with extensometer deflection data obtained from experiments. The effect of prestrain on the extensometer deflection versus specimen strain curve has been studied experimentally and analytically. An analytical study shows that an increase in the slope of the stress-strain curve in the inelastic region increases the slope of the corresponding computed extensometer deflection versus specimen strain curve. A mathematical model has been developed which uses a modified length ¯ℓef in place of the actual length of the uniform diameter test section of the specimen. This model predicts the extensometer deflection within 5% of the corresponding experimental value. This method has been successfully used by the authors to evolve an iterative procedure for predicting the cyclic specimen strain in axial fatigue tests on unnotched specimens.

Immediate hypersensitivity to Parthenium hysterophorus. II. Clinical studies on the prevalence of parthenium rhinitis

The airborne pollen of the South American weed, Parthenium hysterophorus (American feverfew), accidentally introduced into India was found to be responsible for severe allergic rhinitis. A random clinical survey conducted on 2035 residents of Bangalore city with the aid of questionnaires and skin tests revealed that 7.1% of the study population was suffering from allergic rhinitis due to exposure to Parthenium pollen. Skin-prick tests performed on 1294 clinic patients suffering from nasobronchial allergy during the past 4 years have also shown that 42.5% were sensitive to Parthenium pollen. IgE and IgG antibodies specific for Parthenium pollen allergens were demonstrable in the sera of Parthenium-sensitive rhinitis patients. The specificity of these antibodies to Parthenium allergens was established by ELISA. A 7- to 11-fold higher stimulation was observed when lymphocytes from two Parthenium-sensitive rhinitis patients were treated in vitro with Parthenium pollen extract. To our knowledge, nowhere in the world has such a high incidence of allergic rhinitis due to a single pollen ever been reported.