2,037 research outputs found
C1-continuous space-time discretization based on Hamilton's law of varying action
We develop a class of C1-continuous time integration methods that are
applicable to conservative problems in elastodynamics. These methods are based
on Hamilton's law of varying action. From the action of the continuous system
we derive a spatially and temporally weak form of the governing equilibrium
equations. This expression is first discretized in space, considering standard
finite elements. The resulting system is then discretized in time,
approximating the displacement by piecewise cubic Hermite shape functions.
Within the time domain we thus achieve C1-continuity for the displacement field
and C0-continuity for the velocity field. From the discrete virtual action we
finally construct a class of one-step schemes. These methods are examined both
analytically and numerically. Here, we study both linear and nonlinear systems
as well as inherently continuous and discrete structures. In the numerical
examples we focus on one-dimensional applications. The provided theory,
however, is general and valid also for problems in 2D or 3D. We show that the
most favorable candidate -- denoted as p2-scheme -- converges with order four.
Thus, especially if high accuracy of the numerical solution is required, this
scheme can be more efficient than methods of lower order. It further exhibits,
for linear simple problems, properties similar to variational integrators, such
as symplecticity. While it remains to be investigated whether symplecticity
holds for arbitrary systems, all our numerical results show an excellent
long-term energy behavior.Comment: slightly condensed the manuscript, added references, numerical
results unchange
Macromolecules
We present a method for patterning substrates with a regular mesh of stable radical groups. Resulting from advanced block copolymer synthesis and annealing techniques, stable radical groups on a polymer backbone phase separate from the second block and arrange in ordered block copolymer morphologies. These meshes align in large regular patterns upon sample preparation on macroscopically structured substrates. Patterned stable radical groups may find application in selective catalysis, energy storage, data storage, or optical gratings. In addition, gas permeable membranes with reactive sites or charge storage zones with regular spacings in redox batteries may be feasible by our approach
Criterion for purely elastic Taylor-Couette instability in the flows of shear-banding fluids
In the past twenty years, shear-banding flows have been probed by various
techniques, such as rheometry, velocimetry and flow birefringence. In micellar
solutions, many of the data collected exhibit unexplained spatio-temporal
fluctuations. Recently, it has been suggested that those fluctuations originate
from a purely elastic instability of the flow. In cylindrical Couette geometry,
the instability is reminiscent of the Taylor-like instability observed in
viscoelastic polymer solutions. In this letter, we describe how the criterion
for purely elastic Taylor-Couette instability should be adapted to
shear-banding flows. We derive three categories of shear-banding flows with
curved streamlines, depending on their stability.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure
Potential "ways of thinking" about the shear-banding phenomenon
Shear-banding is a curious but ubiquitous phenomenon occurring in soft
matter. The phenomenological similarities between the shear-banding transition
and phase transitions has pushed some researchers to adopt a 'thermodynamical'
approach, in opposition to the more classical 'mechanical' approach to fluid
flows. In this heuristic review, we describe why the apparent dichotomy between
those approaches has slowly faded away over the years. To support our
discussion, we give an overview of different interpretations of a single
equation, the diffusive Johnson-Segalman (dJS) equation, in the context of
shear-banding. We restrict ourselves to dJS, but we show that the equation can
be written in various equivalent forms usually associated with opposite
approaches. We first review briefly the origin of the dJS model and its initial
rheological interpretation in the context of shear-banding. Then we describe
the analogy between dJS and reaction-diffusion equations. In the case of
anisotropic diffusion, we show how the dJS governing equations for steady shear
flow are analogous to the equations of the dynamics of a particle in a quartic
potential. Going beyond the existing literature, we then draw on the Lagrangian
formalism to describe how the boundary conditions can have a key impact on the
banding state. Finally, we reinterpret the dJS equation again and we show that
a rigorous effective free energy can be constructed, in the spirit of early
thermodynamic interpretations or in terms of more recent approaches exploiting
the language of irreversible thermodynamics.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures, tutorial revie
Antibacterial action of an aqueous grape seed polyphenolic extract
The potential of a polyphenolic grape seed extract for use as a natural antibacterial agent was evaluated. Pure catechin (CS) and a previously LC-MS characterized grape seed phenolic extract (PE) were evaluated as antibacterial agents against Escherichia coli and Brevibacterium linens on solid and in liquid culture media. After 48 h incubation on solid medium, PE had a bactericidal effect on the gram positive B. linens and a reduction of the microbial growth for E. coli. The antibacterial agents tested were effective against E. coli for 13 h, after 7 h incubation, but ineffective against B.linens in liquid medium. CS and PE both had an antibacterial effect depending on incubation time.Key words: Catechin, polyphenolic extract, antibacterial activity, Brevibacterium linens, Escherichia coli B41
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