168 research outputs found
Lagrange equations coupled to a thermal equation: mechanics as consequence of thermodynamics
Following the analytic approach to thermodynamics developed by Stueckelberg,
we study the evolution equations of a closed thermodynamic system consisting of
point particles in a fluid. We obtain a system of coupled differential
equations describing the mechanical and the thermal evolution of the system.
The coupling between these evolution equations is due to the action of a
viscous friction term. Finally, we apply our coupled evolution equations to
study the thermodynamics of an isolated system consisting of identical point
particles interacting through a harmonic potential.Comment: 12 pages, 1 figur
Computer simulation of the microstructure and rheology of semi-solid alloys under shear
The rheological behavior of metallic alloys containing both solid and liquid
phases is investigated in the low solid fraction range (<50%). This behavior
depends on both the solid fraction and the shear rate. The concept of Effective
Volume Fraction (EVF) is used to decorrelate the influence of these two
parameters. At high shear rate the slurry behaves like a suspension of hard
spheres, whereas at lower shear rate, particles tend to aggregate in clusters,
entrapping liquid and thus, increasing the EVF and the viscosity. A lattice
model is introduced to simulate the aggregation / break-up processes within a
slurry under shear. When the steady state is reached, the entrapped liquid
fraction is calculated, leading to a viscosity estimation. Simulation results
for the viscosity and 3D cluster structure are in good agreement with
experimental results.Comment: 30 pages, 17 figures, to be published in Acta Mate
Relativistic thermodynamics of perfect fluids
The relativistic continuity equations for the extensive thermodynamic
quantities are derived based on the divergence theorem in Minkowski space
outlined by St\"uckelberg. This covariant approach leads to a relativistic
formulation of the first and second laws of thermodynamics. The internal energy
density and the pressure of a relativistic perfect fluid carry inertia, which
leads to a relativistic coupling between heat and work. The relativistic
continuity equation for the relativistic inertia is derived. The relativistic
corrections in the Euler equation and in the continuity equations for the
energy and momentum are identified. This relativistic theoretical framework
allows a rigorous derivation of the relativistic transformation laws for the
temperature, the pressure and the chemical potential based on the relativistic
transformation laws for the energy density, the entropy density, the mass
density and the number density.Comment: 62 page
Integrated modeling of friction stir welding of 6xxx series Al alloys: Process, microstructure and properties
International audienceCompared to most thermomechanical processing methods, friction stir welding (FSW) is a recent technique which has not yet reached full maturity. Nevertheless, owing to multiple intrinsic advantages, FSW has already replaced conventional welding methods in a variety of industrial applications especially for Al alloys. This provides the impetus for developing a methodology towards optimization, from process to performances, using the most advanced approach available in materials science and thermomechanics. The aim is to obtain a guidance both for process fine tuning and for alloy design. Integrated modeling constitutes a way to accelerate the insertion of the process, especially regarding difficult applications where for instance ductility, fracture toughness, fatigue and/or stress corrosion cracking are key issues. Hence, an integrated modeling framework devoted to the FSW of 6xxx series Al alloys has been established and applied to the 6005A and 6056 alloys. The suite of models involves an in-process temperature evolution model, a microstructure evolution model with an extension to heterogeneous precipitation, a microstructure based strength and strain hardening model, and a micro-mechanics based damage model. The presentation of each model is supplemented by the coverage of relevant recent literature. The "model chain" is assessed towards a wide range of experimental data. The final objective is to present routes for the optimization of the FSW process using both experiments and models. Now, this strategy goes well beyond the case of FSW, illustrating the potential of chain models to support a "material by design approach" from process to performances
Classical big-bounce cosmology: dynamical analysis of a homogeneous and irrotational Weyssenhoff fluid
A dynamical analysis of an effective homogeneous and irrotational Weyssenhoff
fluid in general relativity is performed using the 1+3 covariant approach that
enables the dynamics of the fluid to be determined without assuming any
particular form for the space-time metric. The spin contributions to the field
equations produce a bounce that averts an initial singularity, provided that
the spin density exceeds the rate of shear. At later times, when the spin
contribution can be neglected, a Weyssenhoff fluid reduces to a standard
cosmological fluid in general relativity. Numerical solutions for the time
evolution of the generalised scale factor in spatially-curved models are
presented, some of which exhibit eternal oscillatory behaviour without any
singularities. In spatially-flat models, analytical solutions for particular
values of the equation-of-state parameter are derived. Although the scale
factor of a Weyssenhoff fluid generically has a positive temporal curvature
near a bounce, it requires unreasonable fine tuning of the equation-of-state
parameter to produce a sufficiently extended period of inflation to fit the
current observational data.Comment: 34 pages, 18 figure
Traveling wave solutions in the Burridge-Knopoff model
The slider-block Burridge-Knopoff model with the Coulomb friction law is
studied as an excitable medium. It is shown that in the continuum limit the
system admits solutions in the form of the self-sustained shock waves traveling
with constant speed which depends only on the amount of the accumulated stress
in front of the wave. For a wide class of initial conditions the behavior of
the system is determined by these shock waves and the dynamics of the system
can be expressed in terms of their motion. The solutions in the form of the
periodic wave trains and sources of counter-propagating waves are analyzed. It
is argued that depending on the initial conditions the system will either tend
to synchronize or exhibit chaotic spatiotemporal behavior.Comment: 12 pages (ReVTeX), 7 figures (Postscript) to be published in Phys.
Rev.
Wavelet transform selection method for biological signal treatment
This paper presents the development and evaluation of an algorithm for compressing fetal electrocardiographic signals, taken superïŹcially on the motherâs abdomen. This method for acquiring ECG signals produces a great volumen of information that makes it diïŹcult for the records to be stored and transmitted. The proposed algorithm aims for lossless compression of the signal by applying Wavelet Packet Transform to keep errors below the unit, with compression rates over 20:1 and with conserved energy in reconstruction as comparison parameter. For algorithm validation, the signal ïŹles provided by PhysioBank DataBase are used
Altered litter inputs modify carbon and nitrogen storage in soil organic matter in a lowland tropical forest
Soil organic matter (SOM) in tropical forests is an important store of carbon (C) and nutrients. Although SOM storage could be affected by global changes via altered plant productivity, we know relatively little about SOM stabilisation and turnover in tropical forests compared to temperate systems. Here, we investigated changes in soil C and N within particle size fractions representing particulate organic matter (POM) and mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) after 13 years of experimental litter removal (Lâ) and litter addition (L+) treatments in a lowland tropical forest. We hypothesized that reduced nitrogen (N) availability in Lâ plots would result in N-mining of MAOM, whereas long-term litter addition would increase POM, without altering the C:N ratio of SOM fractions. Overall, SOM-N declined more than SOM-C with litter removal, providing evidence of N-mining in the Lâ plots, which increased the soil C:N ratio. However, contrary to expectations, the C:N ratio increased most in the largest POM fraction, whereas the C:N ratio of MAOM remained unchanged. We did not observe the expected increases in POM with litter addition, which we attribute to rapid turnover of unprotected SOM. Measurements of ion exchange rates to assess changes in N availability and soil chemistry revealed that litter removal increased the mobility of ammonium-N and aluminium, whereas litter addition increased the mobility of nitrate-N and iron, which could indicate SOM priming in both treatments. Our study suggests that altered litter inputs affect multiple processes contributing to SOM storage and we propose potential mechanisms to inform future work
Design and optimization of index-guiding photonic crystal fiber gas sensor
Globalization is becoming an important issue for most businesses in the world. Since globalization changes business trends and shortens product life cycles, it requires companies to be more innovative in developing new ideas, products and processes. Clustering is one of ways to promote innovation by facilitating sharing information and ideas between firms, attracting buyers and suppliers, and providing opportunities for joint training. Many researches in developed countries found that the proximity between companies facilitated collaboration and provided a more conducive environment for R&D and knowledge sharing which can develop culture of entrepreneurship and innovation. Then, the success of clusters in developed countries has led many government and companies to establish new clusters.Since products from China have been dominated Indonesia's market share with lower price, it is very difficult for Indonesian Small and Medium Enterprises to compete with lower price also. Therefore, to face the competition, innovation is perhaps as an alternative strategy for Indonesian SMEs. In facts, more than 50% of small and medium enterprises in Indonesia are located in clusters and most of them are located in Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara. Even though they located in cluster but their innovations still very low and judging from technology perspective, most of them have low level of technologies and still remain in the underdeveloped stage. Therefore, in this research, the author tries to find (1). To what extend do cluster Indonesia promote innovation, (2). To find the reasons why clusters in Indonesia has not been working well in promoting innovation and (3). To investigate what aspects can be improved by Indonesian SMEs to boost their innovation
Rapid root assimilation of added phosphorus in a lowland tropical rainforest of French Guiana
This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordTree growth on weathered soils in lowland tropical forests is limited by low phosphorous (P) availability. However, nutrient manupulation experiments do not always increase the P content in these trees, which raises the question whether trees are taking up added P. In French Guianese lowland rainforest, we measured changes in nitrogen (N) and P availability before and up to two months after N and P fertilizer addition, in soils with intact root systems and in soils where roots and mycorrhizal fungi were excluded by root exclusion cylinders. When the root system was excluded, P addition increased P availability to a much greater extent and for a longer time than in soils with an intact root system. Soil N dynamics were unaffected by root presence/absence. These results indicate rapid P uptake, but not N uptake, by tree roots, suggesting a very effective P acquisition process in these lowland rainforests.European Research Counci
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