48,438 research outputs found
Dynamic mechanical response of polymer networks
The dynamic-mechanical response of flexible polymer networks is studied in
the framework of tube model, in the limit of small affine deformations, using
the approach based on Rayleighian dissipation function. The dynamic complex
modulus G* is calculated from the analysis of a network strand relaxation to
the new equilibrium conformation around the distorted primitive path. Chain
equilibration is achieved via a sliding motion of polymer segments along the
tube, eliminating the inhomogeneity of the polymer density caused by the
deformation. The characteristic relaxation time of this motion separates
the low-frequency limit of the complex modulus from the high-frequency one,
where the main role is played by chain entanglements, analogous to the rubber
plateau in melts. The dependence of storage and loss moduli, G' and G'', on
crosslink and entanglement densities gives an interpolation between polymer
melts and crosslinked networks. We discuss the experimental implications of the
rather short relaxation time and the slow square-root variation of the moduli
and the loss factor tan at higher frequencies.Comment: Journal of Chemical Physics (Oct-2000); Lates, 4 EPS figures include
Statistical Mechanics of Vibration-Induced Compaction of Powders
We propose a theory which describes the density relaxation of loosely packed,
cohesionless granular material under mechanical tapping. Using the compactivity
concept we develope a formalism of statistical mechanics which allows us to
calculate the density of a powder as a function of time and compactivity. A
simple fluctuation-dissipation relation which relates compactivity to the
amplitude and frequency of a tapping is proposed. Experimental data of
E.R.Nowak et al. [{\it Powder Technology} 94, 79 (1997) ] show how density of
initially deposited in a fluffy state powder evolves under carefully controlled
tapping towards a random close packing (RCP) density. Ramping the vibration
amplitude repeatedly up and back down again reveals the existence of reversible
and irreversible branches in the response. In the framework of our approach the
reversible branch (along which the RCP density is obtained) corresponds to the
steady state solution of the Fokker-Planck equation whereas the irreversible
one is represented by a superposition of "excited states" eigenfunctions. These
two regimes of response are analyzed theoretically and a qualitative
explanation of the hysteresis curve is offered.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures, Latex. Revised tex
Finite-Volume Scaling of the Quenched Chiral Condensate
In the large-volume limit with the
mass-dependent chiral condensate is predicted to satisfy exact finite-volume
scaling laws that fall into three major universality classes. We test these
analytical predictions with staggered fermions and overlap fermions in gauge
field sectors of fixed topological charge .Comment: Talk at Lattice99(topology), 3 page
Force correlations and arches formation in granular assemblies
In the context of a simple microscopic schematic scalar model we study the
effects of spatial correlations in force transmission in granular assemblies.
We show that the parameters of the normalized weights distribution function,
, strongly depend on the spatial extensions,
, of such correlations. We show, then, the connections between
measurable macroscopic quantities and microscopic mechanisms enhancing
correlations. In particular we evaluate how the exponential cut-off,
, and the small forces power law exponent, , depend
on the correlation length, . If correlations go to infinity, weights are
power law distributed.Comment: 6 page
Plant cell walls: impact on nutrient bioaccessibility and digestibility
Cell walls are important structural components of plants, affecting both the bioaccessibility and subsequent digestibility of the nutrients that plant-based foods contain. These supramolecular structures are composed of complex heterogeneous networks primarily consisting of cellulose, and hemicellulosic and pectic polysaccharides. The composition and organization of these different polysaccharides vary depending on the type of plant tissue, imparting them with specific physicochemical properties. These properties dictate how the cell walls behave in the human gastrointestinal tract, and how amenable they are to digestion, thereby modulating nutrient release from the plant tissue. This short narrative review presents an overview of our current knowledge on cell walls and how they impact nutrient bioaccessibility and digestibility. Some of the most relevant methods currently used to characterize the food matrix and the cell walls are also described
The impact of Chinese import penetration on the South African manufacturing sector
This article uses a Chenery-type decomposition and econometric estimation to evaluate the impact of Chinese trade on production and employment in South African manufacturing from 1992 to 2010. The results suggest that increased import penetration from China caused South African manufacturing output to be 5 per cent lower in 2010 than it otherwise would have been. The estimated reduction of total employment in manufacturing as a result of trade with China is larger – in 2010 about 8 per cent – because the declines in output were concentrated on labour-intensive industries and because the increase in imports raised labour productivity within industries
Domain Wall Fermions with Exact Chiral Symmetry
We show how the standard domain wall action can be simply modified to allow
arbitrarily exact chiral symmetry at finite fifth dimensional extent. We note
that the method can be used for both quenched and dynamical calculations. We
test the method using smooth and thermalized gauge field configurations. We
also make comparisons of the performance (cost) of the domain wall operator for
spectroscopy compared to other methods such as the overlap-Dirac operator and
find both methods are comparable in cost.Comment: revtex, 37 pages, 11 color postscript figure
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