Fatigue of commercial aluminium alloys

Fatigue crack propagation has been observed for a number of commercial aluminium alloys. Comparable data was obtained for a variety of crack and specimen geometries over a range of crack lengths for a given alloy. Where crack propagation only was of interest the initiation event has been excluded by pre-cracking the specimen using a fin of material adjacent to the crack face. By this method a controlled defect size is introduced in to the specimen. By modification of the D.C. potential drop method it has been shown possible to measure the growth of cracking from 0.12mm by this method. Crack growth from defects greater than 0.6mm have been shown to give conventional crack propagation deduced by principle of similitude. Fatigue fracture surface analysis has been conducted for cracking from both free surfaces and from blunt notches. A `quasi cleavage' feature has been identified and is shown to be prominent when the fatigue stress intensity range is below 10 MNm-3/2.

Atomic-level structure and deformation in metallic glasses

Metallic glasses (MGs) are a relatively new class of materials discovered in 1960 and lauded for its high strengths and superior elastic properties. Three major obstacles prevent their widespread use as engineering materials for nanotechnology and industry: 1) their lack of plasticity mechanisms for deformation beyond the elastic limit, 2) their disordered atomic structure, which prevents effective study of their structure-to-property relationships, and 3) their poor glass forming ability, which limits bulk metallic glasses to sizes on the order of centimeters. We focused on understanding the first two major challenges by observing the mechanical properties of nanoscale metallic glasses in order to gain insight into its atomic-level structure and deformation mechanisms. We found that anomalous stable plastic flow emerges in room-temperature MGs at the nanoscale in wires as little as ~100 nanometers wide regardless of fabrication route (ion-irradiated or not). To circumvent experimental challenges in characterizing the atomic-level structure, extensive molecular dynamics simulations were conducted using approximated (embedded atom method) potentials to probe the underlying processes that give rise to plasticity in nanowires. Simulated results showed that mechanisms of relaxation via the sample free surfaces contribute to tensile ductility in these nanowires. Continuing with characterizing nanoscale properties, we studied the fracture properties of nano-notched MGnanowires and the compressive response of MG nanolattices at cryogenic (~130 K) temperatures. We learned from these experiments that nanowires are sensitive to flaws when the (amorphous) microstructure does not contribute stress concentrations, and that nano-architected structures with MG nanoribbons are brittle at low temperatures except when elastic shell buckling mechanisms dominate at low ribbon thicknesses (~20 nm), which instead gives rise to fully recoverable nanostructures regardless of temperature. Finally, motivated by understanding structure-to-property relationships in MGs, we studied the disordered atomic structure using a combination of in-situ X-ray tomography and X-ray diffraction in a diamond anvil cell and molecular dynamics simulations. Synchrotron X-ray experiments showed the progression of the atomic-level structure (in momentum space) and macroscale volume under increasing hydrostatic pressures. Corresponding simulations provided information on the real space structure, and we found that the samples displayed fractal scaling (r^d ∝ V, d < 3) at short length scales (< ~8 Å), and exhibited a crossover to a homogeneous scaling (d = 3) at long length scales. We examined this underlying fractal structure of MGs with parallels to percolation clusters and discuss the implications of this structural analogy to MG properties and the glass transition phenomenon.

The origin of unknown source DNA from touched objects

The presence of DNA in a criminal investigation often requires scrutiny in relation to how it came to be where it was found. There is a paucity of data with respect to the extent to which one can assume that the last person handling an object, which has previously been touched by others, will contribute to the DNA profile generated from it. There are limited data in detailing the extent to which any foreign DNA is picked-up from a previously touched object and transferred to subsequently touched objects. This study focuses on DNA transfer and persistence on a knife handle after multiple handlings with the knife by different individuals soon after each other, as well as handprints left on flat DNA-free surfaces immediately after touching a knife handle with a known history of prior handling. The profiles of later handlers of a knife are more prominent than earlier handlers; however, the last handler is not always the major contributor to the profile. Proportional contributions to the profiles retrieved from knife handles vary depending on the individuals touching the knife handle. They can also vary when knife handles have been handled in the same manner by the same individuals in the same sequence on different occasions. Hands readily pickup DNA left on objects by others and transfer it to subsequently touched objects. The quantity of foreign DNA picked up by a hand and deposited on subsequently touched objects diminishes as more DNA-free objects are handled soon after each other. Caution is advised when considering how DNA from different individuals may have been transferred to the object from which it was collected.

Interior Medial Axis Transform computation of 3D objects bound by free-form surfaces

This paper presents an algorithm for generating the Interior Medial Axis Transform (iMAT) of 3D objects with free-form boundaries. The algorithm proposed uses the exact representation of the part and generates an approximate rational spline description of the iMAT. The algorithm generates the iMAT by a tracing technique that marches along the object's boundary. The level of approximation is controlled by the choice of the step size in the tracing procedure. Criteria based on distance and local curvature of boundary entities are used to identify the junction points and the search for these junction points is done in an efficient way. The algorithm works for multiply-connected objects as well. Results of the implementation are provided. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Planform structure of turbulent free convection on horizontal surfaces

The planform structure of turbulent free convection over a heated horizontal surface has been visualized and analyzed for different boundary conditions at the top and for different aspect ratios, for flux Rayleigh numbers ranging from 10 exp 8 - 10 exp 10. The different boundary conditions correspond to Rayleigh-Benard convection, open convection with evaporation at the top and with an imposed external flow on the heated boundary. Without the external flow the planform is one randomly oriented line plume. At large Ra, these line plumes seem to align along the diagonal, persumably due to a large-scale flow along as visualized in the side view. When the external flow is imposed, the line plumes clearly align in the direction of external flow. Flow visualization reveals that at these Ra, the shear tends to break the plumes which otherwise would reach the opposite boundary. (Author)

Flow visualization in turbulent free convection over horizontal smooth and grooved surfaces

The present paper discusses the flow visualization for turbulent free convection in a tank of water with the bottom surface being a smooth or a grooved surface and the top of the water surface exposed to ambient. The grooved surface is of parallel 90 degrees V-grooves with groove height of 10 mm and groove width of 20 mm. The experiment is carried out with aspect ratio (AR) of 2.9 and Rayleigh number (Ra) in the range, 1.3 x 10(7) - 4 x 10(7). Here AR is the aspect ratio (= width of fluid layer/height of fluid layer). Heat flux at the bottom surface is from electrical heating. From the pH-dye visualization, interesting flow structures are observed and these structures are analyzed with the help of plumes dynamics and temperature variations with time. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Eliminating False Matches for the Projective Registration of Free-Form Surfaces with Small Translational Motions

Liu, Yonghuai. Eliminating False Matches for the Projective Registration of Free-Form Surfaces with Small Translational Motions. IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man and Cybernetics, Part B: Cybernetics, vol. 35, no. 3, pp. 607-624, 2005.

Spatial Demultiplexing in the sub-millimeter wave band using multlayer free-standing frequency selective surfaces

In this paper, we show that a multilayer freestanding slot array can be designed to give an insertion loss which is significantly lower than the value obtainable from a conventional dielectric backed printed frequency selective surface (FSS). This increase in filter efficiency is highlighted by comparing the performance of two structures designed to provide frequency selective beamsplitting in the quasioptical feed train of a submillimeter wave space borne radiometer. A two layer substrateless FSS providing more than 20 dB of isolation between the bands 316.5â??325.5 GHz and 349.5â??358.5 GHz, gives an insertion loss of 0.6 dB when the filter is orientated at 45 incidence in the TM plane, whereas the loss exhibited by a conventional printed FSS is in excess of 2 dB. A similar frequency response can be obtained in the TE plane, but here a triple screen structure is required and the conductor loss is shown to be comparable to the absorption loss of a dielectric backed FSS. Experimental devices have been fabricated using a precision micromachining technique. Transmission measurements performed in the range 250â??360 GHz are in good agreement with the simulated spectral performance of the individual periodic screens and the two multilayer freestanding FSS structures.

Magneto-optical trapping and background-free imaging for atoms near nanostructured surfaces

We demonstrate a combined magneto-optical trap and imaging system that is suitable for the investigation of cold atoms near surfaces. In particular, we are able to trap atoms close to optically scattering surfaces and to image them with an excellent signal-to-noise ratio. We also demonstrate a simple magneto-optical atom cloud launching method. We anticipate that this system will be useful for a range of experimental studies of novel atom-surface interactions and atom trap miniaturization.

Exploring the free energy surfaces of clusters using reconnaissance metadynamics

A new approach is proposed for exploring the low-energy structures of small to medium-sized aggregates of atoms and molecules. This approach uses the recently proposed reconnaissance metadynamics method [G. A. Tribello, M. Ceriotti, and M. Parrinello. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 107(41), 17509 (2010)] in tandem with collective variables that describe the average structure of the coordination sphere around the atoms/molecules. We demonstrate this method on both Lennard-Jones and water clusters and show how it is able to quickly find the global minimum in the potential energy surface, while exploring the finite temperature free energy surface. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3628676]

Validity and reproducibility of a laser fluorescence system for detecting the activity of white-spot lesions on free smooth surfaces in vivo

The aim of the study was to determine the reproducibility and validity of DIAGNOdent in detecting active and arrested caries lesions on free smooth surfaces. Volunteers were selected from state schools of Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. Overall, 220 lesions were clinically examined. Two specially trained ('calibrated') examiners performed both clinical and laser evaluations independently, and after a 1-week interval, the examinations were repeated, the intra-examiner agreement for the laser evaluation was substantial (kappa(ex1) = 0.79, kappa(ex2) = 0.71). There was almost perfect agreement between the two examiners for the clinical examination (kappa(ex1) = 0.95, kappa(ex2) = 0.85). The inter-examiner agreement showed substantial reproducibility (kappa = 0.77) for the laser examination and almost perfect agreement (kappa = 0.85) for the clinical evaluation. The validation criterion was the clinical examination of white spots, recorded as active or arrested. The sensitivity was 0.72 and the specificity was 0.73, which indicates that the DIAGNOdent was a good auxiliary method for detecting incipient caries lesions on free smooth surfaces. The utilization of both methods can improve the efficacy of caries diagnosis. Copyright (C) 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Cytocompatibility of HEMA-free resin-based luting cements according to application protocols on dentine surfaces

To evaluate the transdentinal cytotoxicity of resin-based luting cements (RBLCs), with no HEMA in their composition, to odontoblast-like cells. Human dentine discs 0.3 mm thick were adapted to artificial pulp chambers (APCs) and placed in wells of 24-well plates containing 1 mL of culture medium (DMEM). Two categories of HEMA-free RBLCs were evaluated: group 1, self-adhesive Rely X Unicem (RU; 3M ESPE), applied directly to the dentine substrate; and group 2, Rely X ARC (RARC; 3M ESPE), applied to dentine previously acid-etched and treated with a bonding agent. In group 3 (control), considered as representing 100% cell metabolic activity, no treatment was performed on dentine. The APC/disc sets were incubated for 24 h or 7 days at 37 °C and 5% CO2 . Then, the extracts (DMEM + dental materials components that diffused through dentine) were applied to cultured odontoblast-like MDPC-23 cells for 24 h. After that, the cell viability (MTT assay), cell morphology (SEM), total protein production (TP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were assessed. Data from MTT assay and TP production were analysed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests (α = 5%). Data from ALP activity were analysed by one-way anova and Tukey's test (α = 5%). In group 1, a slight reduction in cell viability (11.6% and 16.8% for 24-h and 7-day periods, respectively) and ALP activity (13.5% and 17.9% for 24-h and 7-day periods, respectively) was observed, with no significant difference from group 3 (control) (P > 0.05). In group 2, a significant reduction in cell viability, TP production and ALP activity compared with group 3 (control) occurred (P < 0.05), regardless of incubation time. Alteration in MDPC-23 cell morphology was observed only in group 2. HEMA-free Rely X ARC cement caused greater toxicity to odontoblast-like MDPC-23 cells than did Rely X Unicem cement when both resin-based luting materials were applied to dentine as recommended by the manufacturer.

Structured antibody surfaces for bio-recognition and a label-free detection of bacteria

Antibody microarrays are of great research interest because of their potential application as biosensors for high-throughput protein and pathogen screening technologies. In this active area, there is still a need for novel structures and assemblies providing insight in binding interactions such as spherical and annulus-shaped protein structures, e.g. for the utilization of curved surfaces for the enhanced protein-protein interactions and detection of antigens. Therefore, the goal of the presented work was to establish a new technique for the label-free detection of bio-molecules and bacteria on topographically structured surfaces, suitable for antibody binding.rnIn the first part of the presented thesis, the fabrication of monolayers of inverse opals with 10 μm diameter and the immobilization of antibodies on their interior surface is described. For this purpose, several established methods for the linking of antibodies to glass, including Schiff bases, EDC/S-NHS chemistry and the biotin-streptavidin affinity system, were tested. The employed methods included immunofluorescence and image analysis by phase contrast microscopy. It could be shown that these methods were not successful in terms of antibody immobilization and adjacent bacteria binding. Hence, a method based on the application of an active-ester-silane was introduced. It showed promising results but also the need for further analysis. Especially the search for alternative antibodies addressing other antigens on the exterior of bacteria will be sought-after in the future.rnAs a consequence of the ability to control antibody-functionalized surfaces, a new technique employing colloidal templating to yield large scale (~cm2) 2D arrays of antibodies against E. coli K12, eGFP and human integrin αvβ3 on a versatile useful glass surface is presented. The antibodies were swept to reside around the templating microspheres during solution drying, and physisorbed on the glass. After removing the microspheres, the formation of annuli-shaped antibody structures was observed. The preserved antibody structure and functionality is shown by binding the specific antigens and secondary antibodies. The improved detection of specific bacteria from a crude solution compared to conventional “flat” antibody surfaces and the setting up of an integrin-binding platform for targeted recognition and surface interactions of eukaryotic cells is demonstrated. The structures were investigated by atomic force, confocal and fluorescence microscopy. Operational parameters like drying time, temperature, humidity and surfactants were optimized to obtain a stable antibody structure.

Adsorption interaction of carrier-free thallium species with gold and quartz surfaces

The adsorption interactions of thallium and its compounds with gold and quartz surfaces were investigated. Carrier-free amounts of thallium were produced in nuclear fusion reactions of alpha particles with thick gold targets. The method chosen for the studies was gas thermochromatography and varying the redox potential of the carrier gases. It was observed that thallium is extremely sensitive to trace amounts of oxygen and water, and can even be oxidized by the hydroxyl groups located on the quartz surface. The experiments on a quartz surface with O2, He, H2 gas in addition with water revealed the formation and deposition of only one thallium species – TlOH. The adsorption enthalpy was determined to be Δ HSiO2ads(TlOH) = −134 ± 5 kJ mol−1. A series of experiments using gold as stationary surface and different carrier gases resulted in the detection of two thallium species – metallic Tl (H2 as carrier gas) and TlOH (O2, O2+H2O and H2+H2O as pure carrier gas or carrier gas mixture) with Δ HAuads(Tl) = −270 ± 10 kJ mol− and Δ HAuads(TlOH) = −146 ± 3 kJ mol−1. These data demonstrate a weak interaction of TlOH with both quartz and gold surfaces. The data represent important information for the design of future experiments with the heavier homologue of Tl in group 13 of the periodic table – element 113 (E113).