A convenient implementation of the overlap between arbitrary Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov vacua for projection

Overlap between Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov(HFB) vacua is very important in the beyond mean-field calculations. However, in the HFB transformation, the $U,V$ matrices are sometimes singular due to the exact emptiness ($v_i=0$) or full occupation ($u_i=0$) of some single-particle orbits. This singularity may cause some problem in evaluating the overlap between HFB vacua through Pfaffian. We found that this problem can be well avoided by setting those zero occupation numbers to some tiny values (e.g., $u_i,v_i=10^{-8}$). This treatment does not change the HFB vacuum state because $u_i^2,v_i^2=10^{-16}$ are numerically zero relative to 1. Therefore, for arbitrary HFB transformation, we say that the $U,V$ matrices can always be nonsingular. From this standpoint, we present a new convenient Pfaffian formula for the overlap between arbitrary HFB vacua, which is especially suitable for symmetry restoration. Testing calculations have been performed for this new formula. It turns out that our method is reliable and accurate in evaluating the overlap between arbitrary HFB vacua.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures. Published versio

Electronic band gaps and transport in aperiodic graphene superlattices of Thue-Morse sequence

We have studied the electronic properties in aperiodic graphene superlattices of Thue-Morse sequence. Although the structure is aperiodic, an unusual Dirac point (DP) does exist and its location is exactly at the position of the zero-averaged wave number (zero-$\bar{k})$. Furthermore, the zero-$\bar{k}$ gap associated with the DP is robust against the lattice constants and the incident angles, and multi-DPs can appear under the suitable conditions. A resultant controllability of electron transport in Thue-Morse sequence is predicted, which may facilitate the development of many graphene-based electronics.Comment: Accepted for publication in Applied Physics Letters; 4 pagese, 5 figure

Elastic fracture toughness for ductile metal pipes with circumferential surface cracks

Surface cracks have long been recognized as a major cause for potential failures of metal pipes. In fracture analysis, the widely used method is based on linear elastic fracture mechanics. However, for ductile metal pipes, it has been known that the existence of plasticity results in easing of stress concentration at the crack front. This will ultimately increase the total fracture toughness. Therefore, when using linear elastic fracture mechanics to predict fracture failure of ductile metal pipes, the plastic portion of fracture toughness should be excluded. Otherwise, the value of fracture toughness will be overestimated, resulting in an under-estimated probability of failure. This paper intends to derive a model of elastic fracture toughness for steel pipes with a circumferential crack. The derived elastic fracture toughness is a function of crack geometry and material properties of the cracked pipe. The significance of the derived model is that the well-established linear elastic fracture mechanics can be used for ductile materials in predicting the fracture failur

Transverse electric current induced by optically injected spin current in cross-shaped InGaAs/InAlAs system

We examine electric response of a linearly polarized light normally shed on a cross-shaped quasi 2-dimensional InGaAs/InAlAs system with structure inversion asymmetry. The photo-excited conduction electrons carry a pure spin current with in-plane spin polarization due to the Rashba spin-orbit interaction. We use Landauer-B\"{u}ttiker formalism to show that this spin current induces two inward or outward transverse charge currents, which are observable in experiments. This effect may serve as an experimental probe of certain types of spin current.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Numerical modelling of non-uniform corrosion induced concrete crack width

Corrosion of reinforced concrete is one of the major deterioration mechanisms which result in premature failure of the reinforced concrete structures. Crack width is often used as an effective criterion to assess the serviceability of concrete structures. However, research on prediction of corrosion-induced concrete crack width, especially by considering the corrosion as a non-uniform process, has still been scarce. This paper attempts to develop a finite element model to predict the crack width for corrosion-affected concrete structures under realistic non-uniform corrosion of the reinforcement. A non-uniform corrosion model was first formulated as a function of time. To simulate arbitrary cracking in concrete, cohesive elements are inserted in the sufficiently fine mesh which is achieved through a script written in Python. The surface crack width is obtained as a function of service time and verification against experimental results from literature is conducted. Accurate prediction of crack width can allow timely maintenance which prolongs the service life of the reinforced concrete structures

Meso-scale Fracture Modelling of Concrete Cover Induced by Non-uniform Corrosion of Reinforcing Bar

Corrosion-induced concrete cracking is a significant durability problem for reinforced concrete structures. In practice, critical corrosion degree to surface cracking and crack width evolution are of significance in regards to the assessment of serviceability of reinforced concrete structures. Literature review suggests that, although considerable research has been undertaken on corrosion-induced concrete cracking, little has been focused on non-uniform corrosion of reinforcing bar, especially by considering concrete as a three-phase materials. In this paper, a meso-scale fracture model, consisting of aggregates, cement paste/mortar and ITZ, is established. To simulate arbitrary cracking in concrete, cohesive elements are inserted in the fine meshes and the process is achieved through a script written in Python. It has been found that some microcracks occur before they are connected to form a dominating discrete crack approaching to the surface. The surface crack width is obtained as a function of corrosion degree and verification against experimental results from literature is conducted

A New Model for Corrosion-induced Concrete Cracking

Corrosion of reinforced concrete is one of the major deterioration mechanisms which result in premature failure of the reinforced concrete structures. Due to the actual diffusion of chloride ingress, the corrosion products distribution is seldom uniform along the reinforcing bar. Recently, some non-uniform corrosion models have been proposed to investigate the corrosion-induced cracking mechanism of concrete. In this paper, a new corrosion model based on von Mises distribution is formulated and validated against experimental data. The developed model is then compared with the existing non-uniform models and the advantages are discussed. To demonstrate the application of the developed corrosion model, a concrete cover structure, containing aggregates, cement paste/mortar and ITZ, is simulated to predict the cracking phenomena of the concrete cover under different non-uniform coefficients in the developed corrosion model. It has been found that the non-uniform corrosion model can be used to simulate the realistic corrosion rust progression around the reinforcing bar, with the best accuracy. Moreover, parametric studies are conducted to investigate the effects of the basic factors formulated in the corrosion model on the surface cracking of the reinforced concrete structures