High On-Off Ratio Bilayer Graphene Complementary Field Effect Transistors

In this paper, we propose a novel S/D engineering for dual-gated Bilayer Graphene (BLG) Field Effect Transistor (FET) using doped semiconductors (with a bandgap) as source and drain to obtain unipolar complementary transistors. To simulate the device, a self-consistent Non-Equilibrium Green's Function (NEGF) solver has been developed and validated against published experimental data. Using the simulator, we predict an on-off ratio in excess of 10(4) and a subthreshold slope of similar to 110mV/decade with excellent scalability and current saturation, for a 20nm gate length unipolar BLG FET. However, the performance of the proposed device is found to be strongly dependent on the S/D series resistance effect. The obtained results show significant improvements over existing reports, marking an important step towards bilayer graphene logic devices.

Use of L matrix to obtain reliable ab initio force constants of polyatomic molecules: ethylene as a test system

Direct use of experimental eigenvalues of the vibrational secular equation on to the ab initio predicted eigenvector space is suggested as a means of obtaining a reliable set of intramolecular force constants. This method which we have termed RECOVES (recovery in the eigenvector space) is computationally simple and free from arbitrariness. The RECOVES force constants, by definition, reproduce the experimental vibrational frequencies of the parent molecule exactly. The ab initio calculations were carried out for ethylene as a test molecule and the force constants obtained by the present procedure also correctly predict the vibrational frequencies of the deuterated species. The RECOVES force constants for ethylene are compared with those obtained by using the SQM procedure.

Vertical uplift capacity of horizontal anchors

The method of characteristics coupled with a log-spiral failure surface was used to develop a theory for vertical uplift capacity of shallow horizontal strip anchors in a general c-phi soil. Uplift-capacity factors F(c), F(q) and F(gamma), for the effects of cohesion, surcharge, and density, respectively, have been established as functions of embedment ratio lambda and angle of friction phi. The extent of the failure surface at the ground has also been determined. Comparisons made with existing test results support the predictive capability of the theory, and comparisons with the analysis proposed by Meyerhof and Adams show the proposed analysis provides slightly more conservative predictions of pullout capacity.

Machine learning modelling for predicting soil liquefaction susceptibility

This study describes two machine learning techniques applied to predict liquefaction susceptibility of soil based on the standard penetration test (SPT) data from the 1999 Chi-Chi, Taiwan earthquake. The first machine learning technique which uses Artificial Neural Network (ANN) based on multi-layer perceptions (MLP) that are trained with Levenberg-Marquardt backpropagation algorithm. The second machine learning technique uses the Support Vector machine (SVM) that is firmly based on the theory of statistical learning theory, uses classification technique. ANN and SVM have been developed to predict liquefaction susceptibility using corrected SPT (N-1)(60)] and cyclic stress ratio (CSR). Further, an attempt has been made to simplify the models, requiring only the two parameters (N-1)(60) and peck ground acceleration (a(max)/g)], for the prediction of liquefaction susceptibility. The developed ANN and SVM models have also been applied to different case histories available globally. The paper also highlights the capability of the SVM over the ANN models.

Punching shear strength of flat slab corner column connections .2. Fibre-reinforced concrete connections

This paper gives the details of the studies undertaken to examine the strength and behaviour of fibre-reinforced concrete corner column connections in flat slabs. Tests have been conducted on 16 specimens with varying reinforcement ratio, moment/shear ratio (load eccentricity) and volume fraction of fibres. A quasi-empirical method has been proposed for computing the punching shear strength. The method has also been extended to fibre-reinforced concrete interior column connections, tests on which are available in the literature. The test results have been compared with the strength predicted by the proposed method for corner column as well as interior column connections and a satisfactory agreement noticed.

Synthetic aperture radar: A focus on current problems

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is a powerful tool for mapping and remote sensing. The theory and operation of SAR have seen a period of intense activity in recent years. This paper attempts to review some of the more advanced topics studied in connection with modern SAR systems based on digital processing. Following a brief review of the principles involved in the operation of SAR, attention is focussed on special topics such as advanced SAR modelling and focussing techniques, in particular clutterlock and autofocus, Doppler centroid (DC) estimation methods involving seismic migration technique, moving target imaging, bistatic radar imaging, effects of system nonlinearities, etc.

Micromechanical modeling of granular materials: effect of confining pressure on mechanical behavior

This paper reports the effect of confining pressure on the mechanical behavior of granular materials from micromechanical considerations starting from the grain scale level, based on the results of numerically simulated tests on disc assemblages using discrete element modeling (DEM). The two macro parameters which are influenced by the increase in confining pressure are stiffness (increases) and volume change (decreases). The lateral strain coefficient (Poisson's ratio) at the beginning of the test is more or less constant. The angle of internal friction slightly decreases with increase in confining pressure. The numerical results of disc assemblages indicate very clearly a non-linear Mohr-Coulomb failure envelope with increase in confining pressure. The increase in average coordination number and accompanying decrease of fabric anisotropy reduce the shear strength at higher confining pressures. Micromechanical explanations of the macroscopic behavior are presented in terms of the force and fabric anisotropy coefficients. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. AII rights reserved.

Simplified seepage consolidation test for soft sediments

The consistency of very soft sediments prevents the conventional oedometer test from being applied to study their compressibility and permeability characteristics. The hydraulic consolidation test in existence requires sophisticated instrumentation and testing procedures. The present paper proposes a seepage-force-induced consolidation testing procedure for studying the compressibility and permeability behavior of soft sediments at low effective stress levels. The good agreement that has been observed between the results obtained from the proposed method and the conventional oedometer test at overlapping effective stress levels indicates that the proposed method can be used to study the compressibility and permeability characteristics of soft sediments at low effective stress levels satisfactorily.

An apparatus for evaluating adhesion between soils and solid surfaces

An apparatus in the direct shear mode has been developed to conduct soil-soil and soil-solid material interface tests in the undrained condition. Evaluation of the apparatus showed that all the requirements for simulating the undrained condition of shear are satisfied. The interface test results show that the adhesion factor a increases with the surface roughness of the solid material. In the case of the normally consolidated state, alpha is practically independent of the undrained shear strength of the clay for a given surface. For the overconsolidated state, alpha depends on the undrained shear strength and the overconsolidation ratio for smooth surfaces but for rough surfaces; alpha is independent of both undrained shear strength and overconsolidation ratio.

California bearing ratio behavior of cement-stabilized fly ash-soil mixes

Thermal power stations using pulverized coal as fuel generate large quantities of fly ash as a byproduct, which has created environmental and disposal problems. Using fly ash for gainful applications will solve these problems. Among the various possible uses for fly ash, the most massive and effective utilization is in geotechnical engineering applications like backfill material, construction of embankments, as a subbase material, etc. A proper understanding of fly ash-soil mixes is likely to provide viable solutions for its large-scale utilization. Earlier studies initiated in the laboratory have resulted in a good understanding of the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) behavior of fly ash-soil mixes. Subsequently, in order to increase the CBR value, cement has been tried as an additive to fly ash-soil mixes. This paper reports the results.

Studies on compressive failure features in syntactic foam material

Syntactic foam made by mechanical mixing of glass hollow spheres in epoxy resin matrix is characterized for compressive properties in the present study. Volume fraction of hollow spheres in the syntactic foam under investigation is kept at 67.8%. Effect of specimen aspect ratio on failure behavior and stress-strain curve of the material is highlighted. Considerable differences are noted in the macroscopic fracture features of the specimen and the stress-strain curve with the variation in specimen aspect ratio, although compressive yield strength values were within a narrow range. Post compression test scanning electron microscopic observations coupled with the macroscopic observations taken during the test helped in explaining the deviation in specimen behavior and in gathering support for the proposed arguments.

Integer Sequence window based Reconfigurable FIR filters

Conventional hardware implementation techniques for FIR filters require the computation of filter coefficients in software and have them stored in memory. This approach is static in the sense that any further fine tuning of the filter requires computation of new coefficients in software. In this paper, we propose an alternate technique for implementing FIR filters in hardware. We store a considerably large number of impulse response coefficients of the ideal filter (having box type frequency response) in memory. We then do the windowing process, on these coefficients, in hardware using integer sequences as window functions. The integer sequences are also generated in hardware. This approach offers the flexibility in fine tuning the filter, like varying the transition bandwidth around a particular cutoff frequency.