Lagrangian phase transitions in nonequilibrium thermodynamic systems

In previous papers we have introduced a natural nonequilibrium free energy by considering the functional describing the large fluctuations of stationary nonequilibrium states. While in equilibrium this functional is always convex, in nonequilibrium this is not necessarily the case. We show that in nonequilibrium a new type of singularities can appear that are interpreted as phase transitions. In particular, this phenomenon occurs for the one-dimensional boundary driven weakly asymmetric exclusion process when the drift due to the external field is opposite to the one due to the external reservoirs, and strong enough.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figure

Evaluation of the stress–strain curve of metallic materials by spherical indentation

AbstractA method for deducing the stress–strain uniaxial properties of metallic materials from instrumented spherical indentation is presented along with an experimental verification.An extensive finite element parametric analysis of the spherical indentation was performed in order to generate a database of load vs. depth of penetration curves for classes of materials selected in order to represent the metals commonly employed in structural applications. The stress–strain curves of the materials were represented with three parameters: the Young modulus for the elastic regime, the stress of proportionality limit and the strain-hardening coefficient for the elastic–plastic regime.The indentation curves simulated by the finite element analyses were fitted in order to obtain a continuous function which can produce accurate load vs. depth curves for any combination of the constitutive elastic–plastic parameters. On the basis of this continuous function, an optimization algorithm was then employed to deduce the material elastic–plastic parameters and the related stress–strain curve when the measured load vs. depth curve is available by an instrumented spherical indentation test.The proposed method was verified by comparing the predicted stress–strain curves with those directly measured for several metallic alloys having different mechanical properties.This result confirms the possibility to deduce the complete stress–strain curve of a metal alloy with good accuracy by a properly conducted instrumented spherical indentation test and a suitable interpretation technique of the measured quantities

Long range correlations and phase transition in non-equilibrium diffusive systems

We obtain explicit expressions for the long range correlations in the ABC model and in diffusive models conditioned to produce an atypical current of particles.In both cases, the two-point correlation functions allow to detect the occurrence of a phase transition as they become singular when the system approaches the transition

Comportamento a fatica di strutture meccaniche in piena scala: risultati sperimentali e previsioni

Il lavoro si propone di presentare le principali attività di ricerca svolte, negli ultimi anni, presso il Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica, Nucleare e della Produzione (DIMNP) dell’Università di Pisa, anche in collaborazione con l’Università di Trento, nel campo della resistenza a fatica delle strutture meccaniche, in particolare per quanto riguarda la conduzione di “test” su componenti in piena scala e la loro interpretazione. Viene quindi condotta un’illustrazione di alcune recenti campagne sperimentali (Es.: giunzioni filettate in acciaio, elementi di sospensione in alluminio, ingranaggi ad elevate prestazioni), alla quale segue una descrizione delle attività di caratterizzazione di base e di modellazione condotte al fine di costituire una adeguata base di conoscenze per la interpretazione. Infine, vengono analizzati i risultati ottenuti, evidenziando alcuni problemi aperti, sia sul piano concettuale che su quello applicativo

CysMap and CysJoin: Database and tools for protein disulphide localization

We have developed a computer program able to make user-customised databases derived from the public PIR non-redundant reference protein database. When the database of interest has been created, the user will generate the map of all the possible linear peptides containing one and two cysteines for each protein and combine them to calculate the mass of all the possible clusters of linear peptides linked by a disulphide bridge with a cysteine pair. It is also possible to create selected maps corresponding to peptides formed by the action of specific proteases. In this way, mass spectrometric data obtained from the hydrolysis of proteins of unknown sequence can be related to that contained in the database for quick disulphide assignment and protein identification. To confirm signal attribution, the program will also furnish the expected mass of cluster peptides after performing a cycle of Edman degradation. The utility of the program is discussed and examples of application are given. © 2005 Federation of European Biochemical Societies

Investigation of VO-salophen complexes electronic structure

Vanadyl N,N'-bis(salicylidene)-o-phenylenediamine (salophen) complexes have been extensively investigated by cyclic voltammetry, UV-visible spectroscopy and theoretical calculations in MeCN, THF (tetrahydrofuran) and DMF (N,N-dimethylformamide), in order to elucidate the overall factors that influence the electronic density of the metal and therefore the properties of these complexes in various applications. Different substituents were introduced into the salophen skeleton to change the vanadium electron density. Results obtained and here presented showed that the substituents influence the metal electronic character in a way that cannot be easily predicted by considering only the electronic effect. Similarly, the solvent polarity or coordination ability affects the metal complex properties in an unpredictable way. Therefore, experimental and theoretical data here collected are a powerful tool to a priori design salophen ligands to obtain vanadyl complexes having the specific electronic properties suitable for desired applications