Approximate determination of the frequencies of ring stiffened cylindrical shells.

"AFSWP no. 874. Office of Naval Research. Contract no. Nonr 266 (08) Technical report no. 14. CU-14-55-ONR-266 (08)-CE."

Influence coefficients for toroidal shells. Uniform pressure acting on the concave surface.

"Subject no. 18550. Stress analysis."

Influence coefficients for toroidal shells. Uniform internal pressure acting on the convex surface.

"Subject no. 68-18550."

Damping of rectangular plate vibrations

"Materials Laboratory, Contract no. AF 33(616)-5426, Project no. 7360."

Effect of viscoelastic foundation on forced vibration of loaded rectangular plates

Mode of access: Internet.

Damping energy dissipation at support interfaces of square plates

"Materials Laboratory, Contract no. AF33(616)-5426, Project no. 7360."

On the buckling of circular cylindrical shells under external pressure,

"Project no. 9782. Contract AF 49(638)-430... CU-23-62-AF-430-CE."

Dynamic behavior of cylindrical shells under initial stress,

"Project no. 9782. Contract AF 49 (638)-430 ... CU-11-60-AF-430-CE."

Nonlinear theories for thin shells,

"Contract Nonr 1866(02)."

Full S matrix calculation via a single real-symmetric Lanczos recursion: The Lanczos artificial boundary inhomogeneity method

We present an efficient and robust method for the calculation of all S matrix elements (elastic, inelastic, and reactive) over an arbitrary energy range from a single real-symmetric Lanczos recursion. Our new method transforms the fundamental equations associated with Light's artificial boundary inhomogeneity approach [J. Chem. Phys. 102, 3262 (1995)] from the primary representation (original grid or basis representation of the Hamiltonian or its function) into a single tridiagonal Lanczos representation, thereby affording an iterative version of the original algorithm with greatly superior scaling properties. The method has important advantages over existing iterative quantum dynamical scattering methods: (a) the numerically intensive matrix propagation proceeds with real symmetric algebra, which is inherently more stable than its complex symmetric counterpart; (b) no complex absorbing potential or real damping operator is required, saving much of the exterior grid space which is commonly needed to support these operators and also removing the associated parameter dependence. Test calculations are presented for the collinear H+H-2 reaction, revealing excellent performance characteristics. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.

Effect of deposition conditions on mechanical properties of low-temperature PECVD silicon nitride films

The effect of deposition conditions on characteristic mechanical properties - elastic modulus and hardness - of low-temperature PECVD silicon nitrides is investigated using nanoindentation. lt is found that increase in substrate temperature, increase in plasma power and decrease in chamber gas pressure all result in increases in elastic modulus and hardness. Strong correlations between the mechanical properties and film density are demonstrated. The silicon nitride density in turn is shown to be related to the chemical composition of the films, particularly the silicon/nitrogen ratio. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

ANÁLISE COMPARATIVA DOS NÍVEIS DE ATRITO EM BRÁQUETES CONVENCIONAIS E AUTOLIGADOS

O atrito existente entre bráquetes e os fios ortodônticos é um fator importante a ser considerado quanto à eficiência do tratamento ortodôntico nas mecânicas de deslize. Em função disto, sempre se procurou maneiras de se diminuir os níveis de atrito durante a aplicação deste tipo de mecânica. Com o surgimento dos bráquetes autoligados, observou-se que uma das características principais destes dispositivos seria uma redução dos níveis de atrito entre os bráquetes e fios, e com isso poderia se obter um movimento de deslizamento eficiente com a aplicação de forças menores, quando comparado com o uso de bráquetes que tenham sistemas de amarração convencionais. O propósito deste trabalho foi comparar, por meio de ensaios laboratoriais, os níveis de atrito estático de um bráquete autoligado estético, de um bráquete autoligado metálico e dois tipos de bráquetes convencionais metálicos, com a utilização de fios ortodônticos de diferentes ligas, secção e diâmetros, para determinar quais bráquetes apresentam os menores coeficientes de atrito, em situações sem angulação, em angulações de primeira ordem e angulações de segunda ordem entre os diferentes fios e bráquetes. Os resultados demonstraram que os bráquetes autoligados apresentaram um atrito estático significativamente mais baixo nas situações onde não existiu angulação entre o fio e o bráquete e quando se utilizou fios de calibres menores e com material mais flexível, quando comparados com os bráquetes convencionais. O bráquete autoligado metálico apresentou maior atrito, semelhante aos bráquetes convencionais, com o uso dos fios de maior calibre, nas situações sem angulação. O bráquete autoligado metálico apresentou maior atrito estático que os bráquetes convencionais, nas situações de angulação, com o uso dos fios de maior calibre

Molecular investigations into vaginal immunization with HIV gp41 antigenic construct H4A in a quick release solid dosage form

A robust vaginal immune response is considered essential for an effective prophylactic vaccine that prevents transmission of HIV and other sexually acquired diseases. Considerable attention has recently focused on the potential of vaginally administered vaccines as a means to induce such local immunity. However, the potential for vaccination at this site remains in doubt as the vaginal mucosa is generally considered to have low immune inductive potential. In the current study, we explored for the first time the use of a quick release, freeze-dried, solid dosage system for practical vaginal administration of a protein antigen. These solid dosage forms overcome the common problem associated with leakage and poor retention of vaginally administered antigen solutions. Mice were immunized vaginally with H4A, an HIV gp41 envelope based recombinant protein, using quick release, freeze-dried solid rods, and the immune responses compared to a control group immunized via subcutaneous H4A injection. Vaginally immunized mice failed to elicit robust immune responses. Our detailed investigations, involving cytokine analysis, the stability of H4A in mouse cervicovaginal lavage, and elucidation of the state of H4A protein in the immediate-release dosage form, revealed that antigen instability in vaginal fluid, the state of the antigen in the dosage form, and the cytokine profile induced are all likely to have contributed to the observed lack of immunogenicity. These are important factors affecting vaginal immunization and provide a rational basis for explaining the typically poor and variable elicitation of immunity at this site, despite the presence of immune responsive cells within the vaginal mucosae. In future mucosal vaccine studies, a more explicit focus on antigen stability in the dosage form and the immune potential of available antigen-responsive cells is recommended.

The vibrational spectra of rectangular plates

The wire drive pulse-echo system has been extensively used to excite and measure modes of vibration of thin rectangular plates. The frequency spectra of different modes have been investigated as a function of the material elastic moduli and the plate geometry. Most of the work was carried out on isotropic materials. For square plates a wide selection of materials were used. These were made isotropic in their in-plane dimensions where the displacements are taking place. The range of rnaterials enabled the dependence on Poisson's ratio to be investigated. A method of determining the value of Poisson's ratio resulted from this investigation. Certain modes are controlled principally by the shear modulus. Of these the fundamental has two nodal lines across the plate surface. One of them, which has nodes at the corners, (the Lame mode) is uniquely a pure shear mode where the diagonal is a full wave length. One controlled by the Young's modulus has been found. The precise harmonic relationship of the Lame mode series in square and rectangular plates was established. Use of the Rayleigh-Lamb equation has extended the theoretical support. The low order modes were followed over a wide range of sides ratios. Two fundamental types of modes have been recognised; These are the longitudinal modes where the frequency is controlled by the length of the plate only and the 2~f product has an asymptotic value approaching the rod velocity. The other type is the in-plane flexural modes (in effect a flexurally vibrating bar where the -2/w is the geometrical parameter). Where possible the experimental work was related to theory. Other modes controlled by the width dimension of the plate were followed. Anisotropic materials having rolled sheet elastic symmetry were investigated in terms of the appropriate theory. The work has been extended to examine materials from welds in steel plates.

Structural optimization

The non-linear programming algorithms for the minimum weight design of structural frames are presented in this thesis. The first, which is applied to rigidly jointed and pin jointed plane frames subject to deflexion constraints, consists of a search in a feasible design space. Successive trial designs are developed so that the feasibility and the optimality of the designs are improved simultaneously. It is found that this method is restricted lo the design of structures with few unknown variables. The second non-linear programming algorithm is presented .in a general form. This consists of two types of search, one improving feasibility and the other optimality. The method speeds up the 'feasible direction' approach by obtaining a constant weight direction vector that is influenced by dominating constraints. For pin jointed plane and space frames this method is used to obtain a 'minimum weight' design which satisfies restrictions on stresses and deflexions. The matrix force method enables the design requirements to be expressed in a general form and the design problem is automatically formulated within the computer. Examples are given to explain the method and the design criteria are extended to include member buckling. Fundamental theorems are proposed and proved to confirm that structures are inter-related. These theorems are applicable to linear elastic structures and facilitate the prediction of the behaviour of one structure from the results of analysing another, more general, or related structure. It becomes possible to evaluate the significance of each member in the behaviour of a structure and the problem of minimum weight design is extended to include shape. A method is proposed to design structures of optimum shape with stress and deflexion limitations. Finally a detailed investigation is carried out into the design of structures to study the factors that influence their shape.