Broadband wavelength-selective reflectance and selective polarization by a tip-bent vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube forest

The tunable optical properties of the bulk structure of carbon nanotubes (CNT) were recently revealed as a perfect black body material, optically reflective mirror and solar absorber. The present study demonstrates an enhanced optical reflectance of up to similar to 15% over a broad wavelength range in the near infrared region followed by a mechanical modification of the surface of a bulk CNT structure, which can be accounted for due to the grating-like surface abnormalities. In response to the specific arrangement of the so-formed bent tips of the CNT, a selective reflectance is achieved and results in reflecting only a dominant component of the polarized ight, which has not been realized so far. Modulation of this selective-optical reflectance can be achieved by ontrolling the degree of tip bending of the nanotubes, thus opening up avenues for the construction of novel dynamic light polarizers and absorbers.

High-Temperature Deformation Processing Map Approach for Obtaining the Desired Microstructure in a Multi-component (Ni-Ti-Cu-Fe) Alloy

An equiatomic NiTiCuFe multi-component alloy with simple body-centered cubic (bcc) and face-centered cubic solid-solution phases in the microstructure was processed by vacuum induction melting furnace under dynamic Ar atmosphere. High-temperature uniaxial compression experiments were conducted on it in the temperature range of 1073 K to 1303 K (800 degrees C to 1030 degrees C) and strain rate range of 10(-3) to 10(-1) s(-1). The data generated were analyzed with the aid of the dynamic materials model through which power dissipation efficiency and instability maps were generated so as to identify the governing deformation mechanisms that are operative in different temperature-strain rate regimes with the aid of complementary microstructural analysis of the deformed specimens. Results indicate that the stable domain for the high temperature deformation of the multi-component alloy occurs in the temperature range of 1173 K to 1303 K (900 degrees C to 1030 degrees C) and (epsilon) over dot range of 10(-3) to 10(-1.2) s(-1), and the deformation is unstable at T = 1073 K to 1153 K (800 degrees C to 880 degrees C) and (epsilon) over dot = 10(-3) to 10(-1.4) s(-1) as well as T = 1223 K to 1293 K (950 degrees C to 1020 degrees C) and (epsilon) over dot = 10(-1.4) to 10(-1) s(-1), with adiabatic shear banding, localized plastic flow, or cracking being the unstable mechanisms. A constitutive equation that describes the flow stress of NiTiCuFe multi-component alloy as a function of strain rate and deformation temperature was also determined. (C) The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society and ASM International 2015

COMPUTATIONAL MODELING OF A MULTI-LAYERED PIEZO-COMPOSITE BEAM MADE UP OF MFC

The Variational Asymptotic Method (VAM) is used for modeling a coupled non-linear electromechanical problem finding applications in aircrafts and Micro Aerial Vehicle (MAV) development. VAM coupled with geometrically exact kinematics forms a powerful tool for analyzing a complex nonlinear phenomena as shown previously by many in the literature 3 - 7] for various challenging problems like modeling of an initially twisted helicopter rotor blades, matrix crack propagation in a composite, modeling of hyper elastic plates and various multi-physics problems. The problem consists of design and analysis of a piezocomposite laminate applied with electrical voltage(s) which can induce direct and planar distributed shear stresses and strains in the structure. The deformations are large and conventional beam theories are inappropriate for the analysis. The behavior of an elastic body is completely understood by its energy. This energy must be integrated over the cross-sectional area to obtain the 1-D behavior as is typical in a beam analysis. VAM can be used efficiently to approximate 3-D strain energy as closely as possible. To perform this simplification, VAM makes use of thickness to width, width to length, width multiplied by initial twist and strain as small parameters embedded in the problem definition and provides a way to approach the exact solution asymptotically. In this work, above mentioned electromechanical problem is modeled using VAM which breaks down the 3-D elasticity problem into two parts, namely a 2-D non-linear cross-sectional analysis and a 1-D non-linear analysis, along the reference curve. The recovery relations obtained as a by-product in the cross-sectional analysis earlier are used to obtain 3-D stresses, displacements and velocity contours. The piezo-composite laminate which is chosen for an initial phase of computational modeling is made up of commercially available Macro Fiber Composites (MFCs) stacked together in an arbitrary lay-up and applied with electrical voltages for actuation. The expressions of sectional forces and moments as obtained from cross-sectional analysis in closed-form show the electro-mechanical coupling and relative contribution of electric field in individual layers of the piezo-composite laminate. The spatial and temporal constitutive law as obtained from the cross-sectional analysis are substituted into 1-D fully intrinsic, geometrically exact equilibrium equations of motion and 1-D intrinsic kinematical equations to solve for all 1-D generalized variables as function of time and an along the reference curve co-ordinate, x(1).

A queuing approach for inventory planning with batch ordering in multi-echelon supply chains

This paper presents stylized models for conducting performance analysis of the manufacturing supply chain network (SCN) in a stochastic setting for batch ordering. We use queueing models to capture the behavior of SCN. The analysis is clubbed with an inventory optimization model, which can be used for designing inventory policies . In the first case, we model one manufacturer with one warehouse, which supplies to various retailers. We determine the optimal inventory level at the warehouse that minimizes total expected cost of carrying inventory, back order cost associated with serving orders in the backlog queue, and ordering cost. In the second model we impose service level constraint in terms of fill rate (probability an order is filled from stock at warehouse), assuming that customers do not balk from the system. We present several numerical examples to illustrate the model and to illustrate its various features. In the third case, we extend the model to a three-echelon inventory model which explicitly considers the logistics process.

Design of multi-frequency microstrip antennas using multiple rings

An electromagnetically coupled feed arrangement is proposed for simultaneously exciting multiple concentric ring antennas for multi-frequency operation. This has a multi-layer dielectric configuration in which a transmission line is embedded below the layer containing radiating rings. Energy coupled to these rings from the line beneath is optimised by suitably adjusting the location and dimensions of stubs on the line. It has been shown that the resonant frequencies of these rings do not change as several of these single-frequency antennas are combined to form a multi-resonant antenna. Furthermore, all radiators are forced to operate at their primary mode and some harmonics of the lower resonant frequency rings appearing within the frequency range are suppressed when combined. The experimental prototype antenna has three resonant frequencies at which it has good radiation characteristics.

Unsteady free convection flow in the stagnation-point region of a three-dimensional body

The unsteady free convection flow in the stagnation-point region of a heated three-dimensional body placed in an ambient fluid is studied under boundary layer approximations. We have considered the case where there is an initial steady state that is perturbed by a step-change in the wall temperature. The non-linear coupled partial differential equations governing the free convection flow are solved numerically using a finite difference scheme. The presented results show the temporal development of the momentum and thermal boundary layer characteristics.

Wave propagation in multi-walled carbon nanotube

In this paper, wave propagation in multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) are studied by modeling them as continuum multiple shell coupled through van der Waals force of interaction. The displacements, namely, axial, radial and circumferential displacements vary along the circumferential direction. The wave propagation are simulated using the wavelet based spectral finite element (WSFE) method. This technique involves Daubechies scaling function approximation in time and spectral element approach. The WSFE Method allows the study of wave properties in both time and frequency domains. This is in contrast to the conventional Fourier transform based analysis which are restricted to frequency domain analysis. Here, first, the wavenumbers and wave speeds of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are Studied to obtain the characteristics of the waves. These group speeds have been compared with those reported in literature. Next, the natural frequencies of a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) are studied for different values of the radius. The frequencies of the first five modes vary linearly with the radius of the SWNT. Finally, the time domain responses are simulated for SWNT and three-walled carbon nanotubes.

Concept of "Crossover Point" and its Application on Threshold Voltage Definition for Undoped-Body Transistors

As the conventional MOSFET's scaling is approaching the limit imposed by short channel effects, Double Gate (DG) MOS transistors are appearing as the most feasible candidate in terms of technology in sub-45nm technology nodes. As the short channel effect in DG transistor is controlled by the device geometry, undoped or lightly doped body is used to sustain the channel. There exits a disparity in threshold voltage calculation criteria of undoped-body symmetric double gate transistors which uses two definitions, one is potential based and the another is charge based definition. In this paper, a novel concept of "crossover point'' is introduced, which proves that the charge-based definition is more accurate than the potential based definition.The change in threshold voltage with body thickness variation for a fixed channel length is anomalous as predicted by potential based definition while it is monotonous for charge based definition.The threshold voltage is then extracted from drain currant versus gate voltage characteristics using linear extrapolation and "Third Derivative of Drain-Source Current'' method or simply "TD'' method. The trend of threshold voltage variation is found same in both the cases which support charge-based definition.

Concept of Crossover point and its application on Threshold Voltage definition for Undoped-Body Transistors

As the conventional MOSFETs scaling is approaching the limit imposed by short channel effects, Double Gate (DG) MOS transistors are appearing as the most feasible andidate in terms of technology in sub-45nm technology nodes. As the short channel effect in DG transistor is controlled by the device geometry, undoped or lightly doped body, is used to sustain the channel. There exits a disparity in threshold voltage calculation criteria of undoped-body symmetric double gate transistors which uses two definitions, one is potential based and the another is charge based definition. In this paper, a novel concept of "crossover point" is introduced, which proves that the charge-based definition is more accurate than the potential based definition. The change in threshold voltage with body thickness variation for a fixed channel length is anomalous as predicted by, potential based definition while it is monotonous for change based definition. The threshold voltage is then extracted from drain currant versus gate voltage characteristics using linear extrapolation and "Third Derivative of Drain-Source Current" method or simply "TD" method. The trend of threshold voltage variation is found some in both the cases which support charge-based definition.

Antimycobacterial activities of novel fluoroquinolones

Fifty-one novel 1-(cyclopropyl/2,4-difluorophenyl/t-butyl)-1,4-dihydro-6-fluoro-7-(sub secondary amino)-4-oxoquinoline-3-carboxylic acids were synthesized and evaluated for their antimycobacterial in vitro and in vivo against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (MTB), multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and Mycobacterium smegmatis (MC 2) and also tested for the ability to inhibit the supercoiling activity of DNA gyrase from M. smegmatis. Among the synthesized compounds, 7-(3-(diethylcarbamoyl)piperidin-1-yl)-1-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-1,4-dihydro-4-oxoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid (7I) was found to be the most active compound in vitro with MIC of 0.09 mu M against MTB and MDR-TB respectively. In the in vivo animal model 7I decreased the mycobacterial load in lung and spleen tissues with 2.53- and 4.88-log10 protections respectively at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight. (C) 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Reliable stabilization using a multi-controller configuration

Given a plant P, we consider the problem of designing a pair of controllers C1 and C2 such that their sum stabilizes P, and in addition, each of them also stabilizes P should the other one fail. This is referred to as the reliable stabilization problem. It is shown that every strongly stabilizable plant can be reliably stabilized; moreover, one of the two controllers can be specified arbitrarily, subject only to the constraint that it should be stable. The stabilization technique is extended to reliable regulation.

Justifying threshold voltage definition for undoped body transistors through ``crossover point'' concept

Two different definitions, one is potential based and the other is charge based, are used in the literatures to define the threshold voltage of undoped body symmetric double gate transistors. This paper, by introducing a novel concept of crossover point, proves that the charge based definition is more accurate than the potential based definition. It is shown that for a given channel length the potential based definition predicts anomalous change in threshold voltage with body thickness variation while the charge based definition results in monotonous change. The threshold voltage is then extracted from drain current versus gate voltage characteristics using linear extrapolation, transconductance and match-point methods. In all the three cases it is found that trend of threshold voltage variation support the charge based definition.

Many-body effects in electrochemisorption : Part III. Beyond mean field and hartree-fock

Several channels provided by many-body couplings — both fermion-fermion and fermion-boson — for the evolution of the chemisorption system are discussed. This provides an opportunity of a systematic study of the effects of correlations reflected through the intricate pole structure of the absorbate Green functions. The results of Newns, Anda and others in the context of chemisorption are generalized.

A DC-link Capacitor Voltage Balancing with CMV Elimination using only the Switching State Redundancies for a Reduced Switch Count Multi-Level Inverter fed IM Drive

Common mode voltage (CMV) variations in PWM inverter-fed drives generate unwanted shaft and bearing current resulting in early motor failure. Multilevel inverters reduce this problem to some extent, with higher number of levels. But the complexity of the power circuit increases with an increase in the number of inverter voltage levels. In this paper a five-level inverter structure is proposed for open-end winding induction motor (IM) drives, by cascading only two conventional two-level and three-level inverters, with the elimination of the common mode voltage over the entire modulation range. The DC link power supply requirement is also optimized by means of DC link capacitor voltage balancing, with PWM control., using only inverter switching state redundancies. The proposed power circuit gives a simple power bits structure.

Pole placement in multi-input systems via elementary transformations

This paper is concerned with the development of an algorithm for pole placement in multi-input dynamic systems. The algorithm which uses a series of elementary transformations is believed to be simpler, computationally more efficient and numerically stable when compared with earlier methods. In this paper two methods have been presented.