Studies on elastic coupling parameters of fracture modes in orthotropic materials

The characterisation of cracks is usually done using the well known three basic fracture modes, namely opening, shearing and tearing modes. In isotropic materials these modes are uncoupled and provide a convenient way to define the fracture parameters. It is well known that these fracture modes are coupled in anisotropic materials. In the case of orthotropic materials also, coupling exists between the fracture modes, unless the crack plane coincides with one of the axes of orthotropy. The strength of coupling depends upon the orientation of the axes of orthotropy with respect to the crack plane and so the energy release rate components associated with each of the modes vary with crack orientation. The variation, of these energy release rate components with the crack orientation with respect to orthotropic axes, is analyzed in this paper. Results indicate that in addition to the orthotropic planes there exists other planes with reference to which fracture modes are uncoupled.

Einstein Relation in n-Channel Inversion Layers of Nonlinear Optical, Optoelectronic and Related Materials: Simplified Theory, Relative Comparison and Suggestion for an Experimental Determination

In this paper, we study the Einstein relation for the diffusivity to mobility ratio (DMR) in n-channel inversion layers of non-linear optical materials on the basis of a newly formulated electron dispersion relation by considering their special properties within the frame work of k.p formalism. The results for the n-channel inversion layers of III-V, ternary and quaternary materials form a special case of our generalized analysis. The DMR for n-channel inversion layers of II-VI, IV-VI and stressed materials has been investigated by formulating the respective 2D electron dispersion laws. It has been found, taking n-channel inversion layers of CdGeAs2, Cd(3)AS(2), InAs, InSb, Hg1-xCdxTe, In1-xGaxAsyP1-y lattice matched to InP, CdS, PbTe, PbSnTe, Pb1-xSnxSe and stressed InSb as examples, that the DMR increases with the increasing surface electric field with different numerical values and the nature of the variations are totally band structure dependent. The well-known expression of the DMR for wide gap materials has been obtained as a special case under certain limiting conditions and this compatibility is an indirect test for our generalized formalism. Besides, an experimental method of determining the 2D DMR for n-channel inversion layers having arbitrary dispersion laws has been suggested.

Materials and technologies for energy conversion, saving and storage: A global network enabling capacity-building for sustainable energy in developing countries

Access to energy is a fundamental component of poverty abatement. People who live in homes without electricity are often dependent on dirty, time-consuming and disproportionately expensive solid fuel sources for heating and cooking. [1] In developing countries, the Human Development Index (HDI), which comprises measures of standard of living, longevity and educational attainment, increases rapidly with per capita electricity use. [2] For these reasons the United Nations has been making a concerted effort to promote global access to energy, first by naming 2012 the Year of Sustainable Energy for All, [3] and now by declaring 2014-2024 the Decade of Sustainable Energy for All. [4]

In search of inorganic nonlinear optical materials for second harmonic generation

In a search for inorganic oxide materials showing second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) susceptibility, we investigated several berates, silicates, and a phosphate containing trans-connected MO6, octahedral chains or MO5 square pyramids, where, M = d(0): Ti(IV), Nb(V), or Ta(V), Our investigations identified two new NLO structures: batisite, Na2Ba(TiO)(2)Si4O12, containing trans-connected TiO5 octahedral chains, and fresnoite, Ba2TiOSi2O7, containing square-pyramidal TiO5. Investigation of two other materials containing square-pyramidal TiO5 viz,, Cs2TiOP2O7 and Na4Ti2Si8O22. 4H(2)O, revealed that isolated TiO5, square pyramids alone do not cause a second harmonic generation (SHG) response; rather, the orientation of TiO5 units to produce -Ti-O-Ti-O- chains with alternating long and short Ti-O distances in the fresnoite structure is most likely the origin of a strong SHG response in fresnoite,

Studies in Nonlinear Optical Materials: Structure of 3-Menthyl 2-[Bis(dimethylarnino)methylene]-3-oxobutyrate Hemihydrate

C 19Ha4N203.~xH 2 O, Mr= 347.5, monoclinic, C2, a = 15.473 (3), b = 6.963 (2), c = 20.708 (4) ]1, //=108.2(2) ° , V=2119(2)A 3, Z=4, Ox= 1.089 Mg m -3, ,~(Cu Ktx) = 1.5418 ]1, p = 0.523 mm -~, F(000) = 760.0, T= 293 K, R = 0.068 for 1967 unique reflections. The C=C bond length is 1-447 (6)]1, significantly longer than in ethylene, 1.336 (2)]1. The crystal structure is stabilized by O-H...O hydrogen bonding. Explanation for the observed low second-harmonic-generation efficiency (0.5 times that of urea) is provided.

Theoretical evidence and chemical origin of the magnetism-dependent electrostructural coupling in La2NiMnO6

Using first-principles density-functional calculations, we determine and analyze the Born effective charges Z(*) that describe the coupling between electric field and atomic displacements for ferromagnetic double-perovskite compound, La2NiMnO6. We find that th Born effective charge matrix of Ni in La2NiMnO6, has an anomalously large antisymmetric component, whose magnitude reduces substantially upon change in the magnetic ordering between Ni and Mn, showing it to be a magnetism-dependent electrostructural coupling. We use a local picture of the electronic structure obtained with Wannier functions, along with its band-by-band decomposition to determine its electronic origin.

Studies in Nonlinear Optical Materials: Structure of Methyl 2-(4-Ethyl-5-methyl- 2-thioxo-2,3-dihydro-l,3-thiazol- 3-yl) propionate

CIoH15NO282, Mr=245"0, orthorhombic, P21212 ~, a = 6.639 (2), b = 8.205 (2), c = 22.528(6)A, V= I227.2(6)A 3, z=4, Dm= 1.315, Dx= 1.326gem -3, MoKa, 2=0.7107A, 12= 3.63 cm -1, F(000) = 520, T= 293 K, R = 0.037 for 1115 significant reflections. The second-harmonicgeneration (SHG) efficiency of this compound is only 1/10th of the urea standard. The observed low second-order nonlinear response may be attributed to the unfavourable packing of the molecules in the crystal lattice.

Unusual stress and grain size dependence for creep in nanocrystalline materials

Analyses of diffusion and dislocation creep in nanocrystals needs to take into account the generally utilized low temperatures, high stresses and very fine grain sizes. In nanocrystals, diffusion creep may be associated with a nonlinear stress dependence and dislocation creep may involve a grain size dependence.

Effects of particle size distribution in the response of model granular materials in multi-ring shear

Rail track undergoes complex loading patterns under moving traffic conditions compared to roads due to its continued and discontinued multi-layered structure, including rail, sleepers, ballast layer, sub-ballast layer, and subgrade. Particle size distributions (PSDs) of ballast, subballast, and subgrade layers can be critical in cyclic plastic deformation of rail track under moving traffic on frequent track degradation of rail tracks, especially at bridge transition zones. Conventional test approaches: static shear and cyclic single-point load tests are however unable to replicate actual loading patterns of moving train. Multi-ring shear apparatus; a new type of torsional simple shear apparatus, which can reproduce moving traffic conditions, was used in this study to investigate influence of particle size distribution of rail track layers on cyclic plastic deformation. Three particle size distributions, using glass beads were examined under different loading patterns: cyclic sin-gle-point load, and cyclic moving wheel load to evaluate cyclic plastic deformation of rail track under different loading methods. The results of these tests suggest that particle size distributions of rail track structural layers have significant impacts on cyclic plastic deformation under moving train load. Further, the limitations in con-ventional test methods used in laboratories to estimate the plastic deformation of rail track materials lead to underestimate the plastic deformation of rail tracks.

Steel–concrete–steel sandwich system in Arctic offshore structure: Materials, experiments, and design

The gravity based structure (GBS) with external Steel–Concrete–Steel (SCS) sandwich ice-resistant wall has been developed for the Arctic oil and gas drilling. This paper firstly reported the experimental studies on the mechanical properties of steel and concretes under Arctic low temperature. With the test data, design equations were developed to incorporate the influences of the low temperature on these mechanical properties. Two types of Arctic GBS structure with flower-conical SCS sandwich shell type and plate type of ice-resistant wall have been developed for the Arctic offshore structure. Besides the studies on the materials, two SCS sandwich prototype shells and plates were, respectively, prepared and tested under patch loading that simulated the localized ice-contact pressure. The structural behaviors of the SCS sandwich structure under patch loading were reported and discussions were made on the influences of different parameters on the structural behavior of the structure. Analytical models were developed to predict the punching shear resistances of the SCS sandwich structure through modifying the code provisions. The accuracies of the developed analytical models were checked through validations against 27 tests in the literature. Corresponding design procedures on resistances of SCS sandwich structure were recommended based on these discussions and validations.

Dipole ordering in dilute solutions of ferroelectrics in antiferroelectric materials

The coefficients of thermal expansion reported by Worlton et al. [6] in the case of zircon are given in Table II along with the present data. Although Oql > or• in both cases, the anisotropy is more marked in the case of DyV04. From Table II, it is clear that the coefficient of volume expansion (,6) is almost the same for both compounds.

Pressure sensitive flow and constraint factor in amorphous materials below glass transition

The constraint factor, C (given by the hardness-yield strength ratio H/Y in the fully lastic regime of indentation), in metallic glasses, is greater than three, a reflection of the sensitivity of their plastic flow to pressure. Furthermore, C increases with increasing temperature. In this work, we examine if this is true in amorphous polymers as well, through experiments on amorphous poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Uniaxial compression as well as spherical indentation tests were conducted in the 248-348 K range to construct H/Y versus indentation strain plots at each temperature and obtain the C-values. Results show that C increases with temperature in PMMA as well. Good correlation between the loss factors, measured using a dynamic mechanical analyzer, and C, suggest that the enhanced sensitivity to pressure is possibly due to beta-relaxation. We offer possible mechanistic reasons for the observed trends in amorphous materials in terms of relaxation processes.

In vitro detection and primary cultivation of bacteria producing materials inhibitory to ruminal methanogens.

A novel method for screening bacterial isolates for their potential to inhibit the growth of ruminal methanogenic Archaea was developed using a modification of the soft agar overlay technique, formally used for the isolation of lytic bacteriophages. This method may be used in the specific, hydrogen-rich conditions required for the growth of ruminal methanogenic Archaea.

Thermoelectric Properties of Co4Sb12 Skutterudite Materials with Partial In Filling and Excess In Additions

The properties of Co4Sb12 with various In additions were studied. X-ray diffraction revealed the presence of the pure δ-phase of In0.16Co4Sb12, whereas impurity phases (γ-CoSb2 and InSb) appeared for x = 0.25, 0.40, 0.80, and 1.20. The homogeneity and morphology of the samples were observed by Seebeck microprobe and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. All the quenched ingots from which the studied samples were cut were inhomogeneous in the axial direction. The temperature dependence of the Seebeck coefficient (S), electrical conductivity (σ), and thermal conductivity (κ) was measured from room temperature up to 673 K. The Seebeck coefficient of all In-added Co4Sb12 materials was negative. When the filler concentration increases, the Seebeck coefficient decreases. The samples with In additions above the filling limit (x = 0.22) show an even lower Seebeck coefficient due to the formation of secondary phases: InSb and CoSb2. The temperature variation of the electrical conductivity is semiconductor-like. The thermal conductivity of all the samples decreases with temperature. The central region of the In0.4Co4Sb12 ingot shows the lowest thermal conductivity, probably due to the combined effect of (a) rattling due to maximum filling and (b) the presence of a small amount of fine-dispersed secondary phases at the grain boundaries. Thus, regardless of the non-single-phase morphology, a promising ZT (S 2 σT/κ) value of 0.96 at 673 K has been obtained with an In addition above the filling limit.

Phase separation versus spin glass behavior in La0.85Sr0.15CoO3

We present comprehensive studies of dc magnetization, ac susceptibility, and magnetotransport of two sets of La0.85Sr0.15CoO3 samples, one exhibits phase separation and the other exhibits spin glass behavior. Our study reveals that the phase separation in La0.85Sr0.15CoO3 is neither inherent nor ubiquitous; rather, it is a consequence of preparation condition. It is realized that the low temperature annealed sample exhibits phase separation while the high temperature annealed one shows the characteristic of spin glass behavior. This study shows that the most probable magnetic state of La0.85Sr0.15CoO3 is spin glass.