16 research outputs found
Elastic instability in stratified core annular flow
We study experimentally the interfacial instability between a layer of dilute
polymer solution and water flowing in a thin capillary. The use of microfluidic
devices allows us to observe and quantify in great detail the features of the
flow. At low velocities, the flow takes the form of a straight jet, while at
high velocities, steady or advected wavy jets are produced. We demonstrate that
the transition between these flow regimes is purely elastic -- it is caused by
viscoelasticity of the polymer solution only. The linear stability analysis of
the flow in the short-wave approximation captures quantitatively the flow
diagram. Surprisingly, unstable flows are observed for strong velocities,
whereas convected flows are observed for low velocities. We demonstrate that
this instability can be used to measure rheological properties of dilute
polymer solutions that are difficult to assess otherwise.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Self-similar shear-thickening behavior in CTAB/NaSal surfactant solutions
The effect of salt concentration Cs on the critical shear rate required for
the onset of shear thickening and apparent relaxation time of the
shear-thickened phase, has been investigated systematically for dilute
CTAB/NaSal solutions. Experimental data suggest a self-similar behavior of the
critical shear rate and relaxation time as functions of Cs. Specifically, the
former ~ Cs^(-6) whereas the latter ~ Cs^(6) such that an effective Weissenberg
number for the onset of the shear thickened phase is only weakly dependent on
Cs. A procedure has been developed to collapse the apparent shear viscosity
versus shear rate data obtained for various values of Cs into a single master
curve. The effect of Cs on the elastic modulus and mesh size of the
shear-induced gel phase for different surfactant concentrations is discussed.
Experiments performed using different flow cells (Couette and cone-and-plate)
show that the critical shear rate, relaxation time and the maximum viscosity
attained are geometry-independent. The elastic modulus of the gel phase
inferred indirectly by employing simplified hydrodynamic instability analysis
of a sheared gel-fluid interface is in qualitative agreement with that
predicted for an entangled phase of living polymers. A qualitative mechanism
that combines the effect of Cs on average micelle length and Debye parameter
with shear-induced configurational changes of rod-like micelles is proposed to
rationalize the self-similarity of SIS formation.Comment: 27 pages, 17 figure
QuantCrit: education, policy, ‘Big Data’ and principles for a critical race theory of statistics
Quantitative research enjoys heightened esteem among policy-makers, media and the general public. Whereas qualitative research is frequently dismissed as subjective and impressionistic, statistics are often assumed to be objective and factual. We argue that these distinctions are wholly false; quantitative data is no less socially constructed than any other form of research material. The first part of the paper presents a conceptual critique of the field with empirical examples that expose and challenge hidden assumptions that frequently encode racist perspectives beneath the façade of supposed quantitative objectivity. The second part of the paper draws on the tenets of Critical Race Theory (CRT) to set out some principles to guide the future use and analysis of quantitative data. These ‘QuantCrit’ ideas concern (1) the centrality of racism as a complex and deeply-rooted aspect of society that is not readily amenable to quantification; (2) numbers are not neutral and should be interrogated for their role in promoting deficit analyses that serve White racial interests; (3) categories are neither ‘natural’ nor given and so the units and forms of analysis must be critically evaluated; (4) voice and insight are vital: data cannot ‘speak for itself’ and critical analyses should be informed by the experiential knowledge of marginalized groups; (5) statistical analyses have no inherent value but can play a role in struggles for social justice
Electrochemical Performance of Anthocleista djalonensis on Steel-Reinforcement Corrosion in Concrete Immersed in Saline/Marine Simulating-Environment
In this paper, electrochemical techniques were employed to study performance of different concentrations of Anthocleista djalonensis leaf-extract admixtures on the corrosion of steel-reinforcement in concrete immersed in 3.5 % NaCl, for simulating saline/marine environment. Analysed test-results showed that the corrosion rate correlated directly with admixture concentration and inversely with cube of the ratio of standard deviations of corrosion potential and corrosion current. The 0.4167 % A. djalonensis (per weight of cement) exhibited optimal inhibition efficiency, g = 97.43 ± 1.20 %, from analysed experimental data, or 94.80 ± 3.39 %, from predicted correlation model, on steel-reinforcement corrosion in the medium. The other admixture concentrations also exhibited high efficiencies at inhibiting steel-reinforcement corrosion in the chloride contaminated environment. Isotherm fittings of he experimental and predicted performance suggest that they both obeyed the Langmuir adsorption model. Evaluated parameters from the isotherm model indicated favourable adsorption and predominant chemisorption mechanism by this environmentally-friendly inhibitor of steel-reinforcement corrosion in the saline/marine simulating- environment. © 2014, The Indian Institute of Metals - IIM