Stochastic Structural Model of Rock and Soil Aggregates by Continuum-Based Discrete Element Method

This paper first presents a stochastic structural model to describe the random geometrical features of rock and soil aggregates. The stochastic structural model uses mixture ratio, rock size and rock shape to construct the microstructures of aggregates,and introduces two types of structural elements (block element and jointed element) and three types of material elements (rock element, soil element, and weaker jointed element)for this microstructure. Then, continuum-based discrete element method is used to study the deformation and failure mechanism of rock and soil aggregate through a series of loading tests. It is found that the stress-strain curve of rock and soil aggregates is nonlinear, and the failure is usually initialized from weaker jointed elements. Finally, some factors such as mixture ratio, rock size and rock shape are studied in detail. The numerical results are in good agreement with in situ test. Therefore, current model is effective for simulating the mechanical behaviors of rock and soil aggregates.

Growth of highly-quality single-wall carbon nanotubes without amorphous carbon formation

A simple way to deposit single-wall carbon nanotubes by CVD without the co-deposition of unwanted a-C was demonstrated. It was found that the catalytic deposition of SWCNTs occurs at a substantial rate compared to the self-pyrolysis of the hydrocarbon gas used.

Advantages of top-gate, high-k dielectric carbon nanotube field-effect transistors

The subthreshold slope, transconductance, threshold voltage, and hysteresis of a carbon nanotube field-effect transistor (CNT FET) were examined as its configuration was changed from bottom-gate exposed channel, bottom-gate covered channel to top-gate FET. An individual single wall CNT was grown by chemical vapor deposition and its gate configuration was changed while determining its transistor characteristics to ensure that the measurements were not a function of different chirality or diameter CNTs. The bottom-gate exposed CNT FET utilized 900 nm SiO2 as the gate insulator. This CNT FET was then covered with TiO2 to form the bottom-gate covered channel CNT FET. Finally, the top-gate CNT FET was fabricated and the device utilized TiO 2 (K ∼ 80, equivalent oxide thickness=0.25 nm) as the gate insulator. Of the three configurations investigated, the top-gate device exhibited best subthreshold slope (67-70 mV/dec), highest transconductance (1.3 μS), and negligible hysteresis in terms of threshold voltage shift. © 2006 American Institute of Physics.

Carbon nanotube Schottky diode and directionally dependent field-effect transistor using asymmetrical contacts

We demonstrate the fabrication and operation of a carbon nanotube (CNT) based Schottky diode by using a Pd contact (high-work-function metal) and an Al contact (low-work-function metal) at the two ends of a single-wall CNT. We show that it is possible to tune the rectification current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of the CNT through the use of a back gate. In contrast to standard back gate field-effect transistors (FET) using same-metal source drain contacts, the asymmetrically contacted CNT operates as a directionally dependent CNT FET when gated. While measuring at source-drain reverse bias, the device displays semiconducting characteristics whereas at forward bias, the device is nonsemiconducting. © 2005 American Institute of Physics.

Self-aligned, gated arrays of individual nanotube and nanowire emitters

We demonstrate the production of integrated-gate nanocathodes which have a single carbon nanotube or silicon nanowire/whisker per gate aperture. The fabrication is based on a technologically scalable, self-alignment process in which a single lithographic step is used to define the gate, insulator, and emitter. The nanotube-based gated nanocathode array has a low turn-on voltage of 25 V and a peak current of 5 μA at 46 V, with a gate current of 10 nA (i.e., 99% transparency). These low operating voltage cathodes are potentially useful as electron sources for field emission displays or miniaturizing electron-based instrumentation.

Characterization of the Fracture Work for Ductile Film Undergoing the Micro-Scratch

The interface adhesion strength (or interface toughness) of a thin film/substrate system is often assessed by the micro-scratch test. For a brittle film material, the interface adhesion strength is easily obtained through measuring the scratch driving forces. However, to measure the interface adhesion strength (or interface toughness) for a metal thin film material (the ductile material) by the microscratch test is very difficult, because intense plastic deformation is involved and the problem is a three-dimensional elastic-plastic one. In the present research, using a double-cohesive zone model, the failure characteristics of the thin film/substrate system can be described and further simulated. For a steady-state scratching process, a three-dimensional elastic-plastic finite element method based on the double cohesive zone model is developed and adopted, and the steady-state fracture work of the total system is calculated. The parameter relations between the horizontal driving forces (or energy release rate of the scratching process) and the separation strength of thin film/substrate interface, and the material shear strength, as well as the material parameters are developed. Furthermore, a scratch experiment for the Al/Si film/substrate system is carried out and the failure mechanisms are explored. Finally, the prediction results are applied to a scratch experiment for the Pt/NiO material system given in the literature.

Variation Of Flexural Strength Of Cement Mortar Attacked By Sulfate Ions

Under the environment of seawater, durability of concrete materials is one of the chief factors considered in the design of structures. The decrease of durability of structures is induced by the evolution of micro-damage due to the erosion of chlorine and sulfate ions, which is characterized by the reduction of modulus, strength, and toughness of the material. In this paper, the variation of the flexural strength of cement mortar under sulfate erosion is investigated. The results obtained in present work indicate that the erosion time, concentration of sulfate solution, and water-to-cement ratio will significantly affect the flexural strength. Crown Copyright (c) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Efecto de la pulpa de café como abono sobre la incidencia de enfermedades foliares de café en vivero

La mancha de hierro (MH) causada por el hongo cercospora coffeicola (BERK & COOK) es la principal enfermedad de café que provoca de foliación y afecta el desarrollo de la planta en el vivero. Existe una estrecha relación entre el estado nutricional de la planta y la intensidad de la enfermedad de mancha de hierro. La pulpa de café es un subproducto del beneficio del grano, abundante y rico en macro- y micro elemento esenciales. En la zona de san ramón región Vl se estableció en un experimento durante los meses de marzo agosto1988 donde se sembraron plantas cotiledóneas de café en bolsa de polietileno usando como sustrato suelo sin fertilizante, suelo con fertilizante (completo 15-15-15 10g/bolsa de 2.3 kg) y suelo mezclado con pulpa descompuesta en dos porciones (60 pulpa.40 suelo 80pulpa:250 de suelo vol/vol) sin uso de fungicida. Las plantas que se desarrollaron en el sustrato de pulpa más suelo en la proporción (60:40) presentaron menor índice de infección de mancha de hierro y mayor vigor que los demás tratamiento. Además se observó que las plantas desarrollada en el sustrato suelo con fertilizante presentaron mayor índice de infección de esta enfermedad. En las planta sembrada en pulpas más suelo (60:40 y 80:20) la tasa de desarrollo y el valor final de índice de infección de mancha de hierro fueron menor que las plantas sembradas en suelo más fertilizante. Los resultado indica factibilidad en el uso de pulpa como abono y controlador de mancha de hierro en el vivero de café.

Study on the ions' behavior in an electron cyclotron resonance plasma

The energy, velocity, angle distribution of ions in magnetoactive electron cyclotron resonance plasma have been studied with a two-dimension hybrid mode. The dependence of these distribution functions versus position and pressure are discussed. Our simulation results are in good agreement with many experimental measurements. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.

Spectrophone measurements in sulfur-hexafluoride

The optoacoustic signal generated by pulsed 10.6 c infrared radiation incident upon a test cell filled with gaseous SF6 has been analyzed in detail. The effects ofm icroscopic energy transfer from the absorbing vibrational degrees of freedom, spontaneous emission, thermal conduction, and acoustic wave propagation are included. This complete treatment explains the experimental observations including a negative pressure response following irradiation at low gas pressure.

橄榄石LiFePO_4第一性原理计算研究进展

锂离子电池是一种新型能源,与现有的可充电电池（铅酸电池、镉镍电池和金属氢化物镍电池）相比,在比能量上占有明显优势,目前比能量可高达170～180Wh/kg,是Cd-Ni电池的4倍，MH-Ni电池的2倍。锂离子电池的高T作电压（3．6V）使其相当于3节镉镍电池或金属氢化物镍电池的串连，有利于电池的小型化、轻量化。同时，又具有自放电率低（一般月自放电率小于6％）、长循环寿命的优点.，而且对环境友善，没有污染，是一种绿色能源。自从锂离子电池1991年成功进入世界市场，凭借以上优越性能，在手提电话，摄像机，笔记本电脑和各种便携设备方面的应用越来越广泛。随着新能源的不断开发和利用，对电解液和电极材料的要求也越来越高，特别是对环境的关注和对能源短缺的思考使得人们对锂离子电池进行了新的改进。开发新型电池正极材料是锂离子电池研究的一项重要内容，目前的研究处在实验阶段。由于候选材料的多样性，导致实验上消耗大量的人力、物力和财力，于是从理论上寻求一种计算方法对实验结果进行解释，对相关的材料进行稳定性和电化学性能预测，从而找出一些普遍性规律，已引起研究人员的广泛关注。Ceder于1998年在Nature杂志上发表了《使用第一性原理计算来指导锂离子电池正极材料合成》的研究论文，文中计算出LiAIO_2的嵌入电压高达5．4 V，但纯的LiAIO_2 是电子绝缘体，所以考虑用A1部分替代LiCoO_2 中的Co元素，可以调节电压值，还有利于提高质量比容量。从那时起，理论计算预测锂离子电池正极材料的性能越来越重要。

Variation of flexural strength of cement mortar attacked by sulfate ions

Under the environment of seawater, durability of concrete materials is one of the chief factors considered in the design of structures. The decrease of durability of structures is induced by the evolution of micro-damage due to the erosion of chlorine and sulfate ions, which is characterized by the reduction of modulus, strength, and toughness of the material. In this paper, the variation of the flexural strength of cement mortar under sulfate erosion is investigated. The results obtained in present work indicate that the erosion time, concentration of sulfate solution, and water-to-cement ratio will significantly affect the flexural strength. Crown Copyright (c) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.