A comparative study of dynamic,ductile fracture initiation in two specimen configurations

In this work a single edge notched plate (SEN(T)) subjected to a tensile stress pulse is analysed, using a 2D plane strain dynamic finite element procedure. The interaction of the notch with a pre-nucleated hole ahead of it is examined. The background material is modelled by the Gurson constitutive law and ductile failure by microvoid coalescence in the ligament connecting the notch and the hole is simulated. Both rate independent and rate dependent material behaviour is considered. The notch tip region is subjected to a range of loading rates j by varying the peak value and the rise time of the applied stress pulse. The results obtained from these simulations are compared with a three point bend (TPB) specimen subjected to impact loading analysed in an earlier work [3] The variation of J at fracture initiation, J(c), with average loading rate j is obtained from the finite element simulations. It is found that the functional relationship between J(c) and j is fairly independent of the specimen geometry and is only dependent on material behaviour.

Comparative studies of transient and steady state analysis for a typical 765kV/400kV EHV transmission system in Indian power system

This paper describes an approach for the analysis and design of 765kV/400kV EHV transmission system which is a typical expansion in Indian power grid system, based on the analysis of steady state and transient over voltages. The approach for transmission system design is iterative in nature. The first step involves exhaustive power flow analysis, based on constraints such as right of way, power to be transmitted, power transfer capabilities of lines, existing interconnecting transformer capabilities etc. Acceptable bus voltage profiles and satisfactory equipment loadings during all foreseeable operating conditions for normal and contingency operation are the guiding criteria. Critical operating strategies are also evolved in this initial design phase. With the steady state over voltages obtained, comprehensive dynamic and transient studies are to be carried out including switching over voltages studies. This paper presents steady state and switching transient studies for alternative two typical configurations of 765kV/400 kV systems and the results are compared. Transient studies are carried out to obtain the peak values of 765 kV transmission systems and are compared with the alternative configurations of existing 400 kV systems.

Comparative study of filter-bank mean-energy distance for automated segmentation of speech signals

This paper describes a method of automated segmentation of speech assuming the signal is continuously time varying rather than the traditional short time stationary model. It has been shown that this representation gives comparable if not marginally better results than the other techniques for automated segmentation. A formulation of the 'Bach' (music semitonal) frequency scale filter-bank is proposed. A comparative study has been made of the performances using Mel, Bark and Bach scale filter banks considering this model. The preliminary results show up to 80 % matches within 20 ms of the manually segmented data, without any information of the content of the text and without any language dependence. 'Bach' filters are seen to marginally outperform the other filters.

Activityscape Mapping: Consumer Activity Systems as Service Context

Activity systems are the cognitively linked groups of activities that consumers carry out as a part of their daily life. The aim of this paper is to investigate how consumers experience value through their activities, and how services fit into the context of activity systems. A new technique for illustrating consumers’ activity systems is introduced. The technique consists of identifying a consumer’s activities through an interview, then quantitatively measuring how the consumer evaluates the identified activities on three dimensions: Experienced benefits, sacrifices and frequency. This information is used to create a graphical representation of the consumer’s activity system, an “activityscape map”. Activity systems work as infrastructure for the individual consumer’s value experience. The paper contributes to value and service literature, where there currently are no clearly described standardized techniques for visually mapping out individual consumer activity. Existing approaches are service- or relationship focused, and are mostly used to identify activities, not to understand them. The activityscape representation provides an overview of consumers’ perceptions of their activity patterns and the position of one or several services in this pattern. Comparing different consumers’ activityscapes, it shows the differences between consumers' activity structures, and provides insight into how services are used to create value within them. The paper is conceptual; an empirical illustration is used to indicate the potential in further empirical studies. The technique can be used by businesses to understand contexts for service use, which may uncover potential for business reconfiguration and customer segmentation.

Comparative Study of Vocal Communication in Two Asian Leaf Monkeys, Presbytis johnii and Presbytis entellus

This paper presents comparative data on the vocal communication of two Asian leaf monkeys, the Nilgiri langur (Presbytis johnii) and South Indian common langur (Presbytis entellus), based on sound recordings and behavioural observations of free-ranging groups. Spectrographical analyses revealed a repertoire of 18 basic patterns for Nilgiri langurs, and 21 basic patterns for common langurs. The repertoires of the two langur species consist of both discretely structured vocal patterns, in which alterations of the physical parameters are restricted to intra-class variation, and those in which structural variations cause intergradation between different sections of the repertoire. Qualitative assessments of group scans indicate that in both species vocal behaviour is characterized by pronounced sex-differences in the use of the different elements of the vocal repertoire. Comparison of data available from different populations of P. entellus suggests population-specific modifications on both structural and behavioural levels. Moreover, characteristic elements of the vocal systems of the two Asian species demonstrate striking similarities to those described for the African black-and-white colobus.

Decagonal quasicrystals

Following the discovery of two dimensional quasicrystals in rapidly solidified Al-Mn alloys by us and L. Bendersky in 1985, a number of fascinating studies has been conducted to unravel the atomic configuration of quasicrystals with decagonal symmetry. A comprehensive mapping of the reciprocal space of decagonal quasicrystals is now available. The interpretation of the diffraction patterns brings out the comparative advantages of various indexing schemes. In addition, the nature of the variable periodicity can be addressed as a form of polytypism. The relation between decagonal quasicrystals and their crystalline homologues will be explored with emphasis on Al60Mn11Ni4 and 'Al3Mn'. It will also be shown that decagonal quasicrystals are closely related to icosahedral quasicrystals, icosahedral twins and vacancy ordered phases.

Voltage delay during constant-current or constant-resistance discharge of Mg-MnO2 dry cells: A comparative study

A theoretical approach has been developed to relate the voltage delay transients of the Mg-MnO2 dry cell observed during discharge by two commonly employed modes, viz., (1) at constant current, and (2) across a constant resistance. The approach has been verified by comparison of experimentally obtained transients with those generated from theory. The method may be used to predict the delay parameters of the Mg-MnO2 dry cell under the two modes of discharge and can, in principle, be extended to lithium batteries.

Comparative study on damage identification from lso-Eigen-Value-Change contours and smeared damage model

The paper proposes two methodologies for damage identification from measured natural frequencies of a contiguously damaged reinforced concrete beam, idealised with distributed damage model. The first method identifies damage from Iso-Eigen-Value-Change contours, plotted between pairs of different frequencies. The performance of the method is checked for a wide variation of damage positions and extents. The method is also extended to a discrete structure in the form of a five-storied shear building and the simplicity of the method is demonstrated. The second method is through smeared damage model, where the damage is assumed constant for different segments of the beam and the lengths and centres of these segments are the known inputs. First-order perturbation method is used to derive the relevant expressions. Both these methods are based on distributed damage models and have been checked with experimental program on simply supported reinforced concrete beams, subjected to different stages of symmetric and un-symmetric damages. The results of the experiments are encouraging and show that both the methods can be adopted together in a damage identification scenario.

A comparative study of superconducting LaBa2Cu3O7−δ and La3−xBa3+xCu6O14+δ

Based on X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy it is shown that oxides of the general formula La Ba2Cu3O7−δ become tetragonal when δ deviates slightly from 0. This tetragonal structure is similar to that of La3−xBa3+xCu6O14+δ, with a cubic perovskite subcell and triple periodicity. Electron micrographs of these tetragonal oxides show 90° microdomains. Orthorhombic LaBa2Cu3O7−δ with high Tc (not, vert, similar77 K) is found only when δ reverse similar, equals 0; this sample is subject to formation of twins. Fluorine substitution seems to favor superconductivity.

A comparative study of the magnetic and electrical properties of perovskite oxides and the corresponding two-dimensional oxides of K2NiF4

Electrical and magnetic properties of several oxide systems of K2NiF4 structure have been compared to those of the corresponding perovskites. Members of the La1−xSr1+xCoO4 system are all semiconductors with a high activation energy for conduction unlike La1−xSrxCoO3 (x ≥ 0.3) which is metallic; the latter oxides are ferromagnetic. La0.5Sr1.5CoO4 shows a magnetization of 0.5 μB at 0 K (compared to 1.5 μB of La0.5Sr0.5CoO3), but the high-temperature susceptibilities of the two systems are comparable. In SrO · (La0.5Sr0.5MnO3)n, both magnetization and electrical conductivity increase with the increase in n approaching the value of the perovskite La0.5Sr0.5MnO3. LaSrMn0.5Ni0.5(Co0.5)O4 shows no evidence of long-range ferromagnetic ordering unlike the perovskite LaMn0.5Ni0.5(Co0.5)O3; high-temperature susceptibility behavior of these two insulating systems is, however, similar. LaSr1−xBaxNiO4 exhibits high electrical resistivity with the resistivity increasing proportionately with the magnetic susceptibility (note that LaNiO3 is a Pauli-paramagnetic metal). High-temperature susceptibility of LaSrNiO4 and LaNiO3 are comparable. Susceptibility measurements show no evidence for long-range ordering in LaSrFe1−xNixO4 unlike in LaFe1−xNixO3 (x ≤ 0.35) and the electrical resistivity of the former is considerably higher. Electrical resistivity of Sr2RuO4 is more than an order of magnitude higher than that of SrRuO3. Some generalizations of the properties of two- and three-dimensional oxide systems have emerged from these experimental observations.

Activityscape Mapping: Consumer Activity Systems as Service Context

Activity systems are the cognitively linked groups of activities that consumers carry out as a part of their daily life. The aim of this paper is to investigate how consumers experience value through their activities, and how services fit into the context of activity systems. A new technique for illustrating consumers’ activity systems is introduced. The technique consists of identifying a consumer’s activities through an interview, then quantitatively measuring how the consumer evaluates the identified activities on three dimensions: Experienced benefits, sacrifices and frequency. This information is used to create a graphical representation of the consumer’s activity system, an “activityscape map”. Activity systems work as infrastructure for the individual consumer’s value experience. The paper contributes to value and service literature, where there currently are no clearly described standardized techniques for visually mapping out individual consumer activity. Existing approaches are service- or relationship focused, and are mostly used to identify activities, not to understand them. The activityscape representation provides an overview of consumers’ perceptions of their activity patterns and the position of one or several services in this pattern. Comparing different consumers’ activityscapes, it shows the differences between consumers' activity structures, and provides insight into how services are used to create value within them. The paper is conceptual; an empirical illustration is used to indicate the potential in further empirical studies. The technique can be used by businesses to understand contexts for service use, which may uncover potential for business reconfiguration and customer segmentation.