6,569 research outputs found
Structural relaxation in a system of dumbbell molecules
The interaction-site-density-fluctuation correlators, the dipole-relaxation
functions, and the mean-squared displacements of a system of symmetric
dumbbells of fused hard spheres are calculated for two representative
elongations of the molecules within the mode-coupling theory for the evolution
of glassy dynamics. For large elongations, universal relaxation laws for states
near the glass transition are valid for parameters and time intervals similar
to the ones found for the hard-sphere system. Rotation-translation coupling
leads to an enlarged crossover interval for the mean-squared displacement of
the constituent atoms between the end of the von Schweidler regime and the
beginning of the diffusion process. For small elongations, the superposition
principle for the reorientational -process is violated for parameters
and time intervals of interest for data analysis, and there is a strong
breaking of the coupling of the -relaxation scale for the diffusion
process with that for representative density fluctuations and for dipole
reorientations.Comment: 15 pages, 14 figures, Phys. Rev. E in pres
A mode-coupling theory for the glassy dynamics of a diatomic probe molecule immersed in a simple liquid
Generalizing the mode-coupling theory for ideal liquid-glass transitions,
equations of motion are derived for the correlation functions describing the
glassy dynamics of a diatomic probe molecule immersed in a simple glass-forming
system. The molecule is described in the interaction-site representation and
the equations are solved for a dumbbell molecule consisting of two fused hard
spheres in a hard-sphere system. The results for the molecule's arrested
position in the glass state and the reorientational correlators for
angular-momentum index and near the glass transition are
compared with those obtained previously within a theory based on a
tensor-density description of the molecule in order to demonstrate that the two
approaches yield equivalent results. For strongly hindered reorientational
motion, the dipole-relaxation spectra for the -process can be mapped on
the dielectric-loss spectra of glycerol if a rescaling is performed according
to a suggestion by Dixon et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 65}, 1108 (1990)]. It is
demonstrated that the glassy dynamics is independent of the molecule's inertia
parameters.Comment: 19 pages, 10 figures, Phys. Rev. E, in prin
Multiscale Technicolor and the Zbb-bar Vertex
We estimate the correction to the Zbb-bar vertex arising from the exchanges
of the sideways extended technicolor (ETC) boson and the flavor-diagonal ETC
boson in the multiscale walking technicolor model. The obtained result is too
large to explain the present data. However, if we introduce a new self-
interaction for the top quark to induce the top quark condensate serving as the
origin of the large top quark mass, the corrected R_b=Gamma_b/Gamma_h can be
consistent with the recent LEP data. The corresponding correction to
R_c=Gamma_c/Gamma_h is shown to be negligibly small.Comment: 9-page LaTex fil
Characterization of carbon nanotubes synthesized from hydrocarbon-rich flame
The present study focuses on the characterization of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) synthesized from flame under an atmospheric condition. A laminar flame burner was utilized to establish a rich premixed propane/air flame at the equivalence ratio Φ = 1.8-2.2. The flame was impinged on a stainless steel wire mesh coated with nickel (Ni) catalyst to grow CNTs. Distribution and yield of the CNTs on the substrate were quantified. Carbon nanotubes formed on the substrate were harvested and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The FESEM micrograph showed that the CNTs produced were in disarray. The synthesized CNTs were an average of 50-60 nm in diameter while the length of the tubes was in the order of microns. TGA analysis showed that 75% of CNTs were present in the sample and the oxidation temperature was 510°C
The mean-squared displacement of a molecule moving in a glassy system
The mean-squared displacement (MSD) of a hard sphere and of a dumbbell
molecule consisting of two fused hard spheres immersed in a dense hard-sphere
system is calculated within the mode-coupling theory for ideal liquid-glass
transitions. It is proven that the velocity correlator, which is the second
time derivative of the MSD, is the negative of a completely monotone function
for times within the structural-relaxation regime. The MSD is found to exhibit
a large time interval for structural relaxation prior to the onset of the
-process which cannot be described by the asymptotic formulas for the
mode-coupling-theory-bifurcation dynamics. The -process for molecules
with a large elongation is shown to exhibit an anomalously wide cross-over
interval between the end of the von-Schweidler decay and the beginning of
normal diffusion. The diffusivity of the molecule is predicted to vary
non-monotonically as function of its elongation.Comment: 18 pages, 12 figures, Phys. Rev. E, in prin
Causes of delays in the construction phase of Chinese building projects
Purpose: Delays during construction are one of the common scenarios in the construction industry. The purpose of this paper is to identify the primary causes of delays in the construction phase of building construction projects in China. Design/methodology/approach: Questionnaire survey approach was adopted across the four typical cities in China, namely, Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing and Shenzhen. In total, 115 sets of valid responded questionnaires were collected and analyzed. Findings: The results show that the causes of variations, delays in progress payments, exceptionally low bids and subcontractors’ poor performance and communication issues were the most important causes of delays in China. Originality/value: This research is the first questionnaire survey on the causes of delays in the construction phase of building construction projects in China. The comparative analysis shows two unique causes of delays in the Chinese construction industry, such as “difficulty in claiming indemnity” and “unreasonable upfront capital demanded by client.” It also reveals different ranked causes of delays as per distinguished political and economic situations in China. The research findings can be referred by construction projects in other countries that are funded or partnered with China
Pyrolysing horse manure via microwave-induced heating for bioenergy recovery
Transforming waste to energy is essential in view of the need to search for greener and more sustainable energy sources. Such transformation of energy is also aligned with the aim of reducing excessive waste generation whilst creating potential biofuel pathways for power generation. In the present study, animal waste in the form of horse manure is being used as feedstock to undergo microwave-induced pyrolysis via a fixed-bed pyrolysis rig. The relationship of the pyrolysis parameters such as pyrolysis temperature of 350 and 550 °C, carrier gas flow rate of 0.5 and 1.5 L/min and ratio of horse manure to activated carbon blend of 1:2 and 1:1, with the yield of pyrolysed products is studied. The derived pyrolysis products in the form of solid, liquid and gaseous are characterised and quantified. Result shows that the highest yield of solid, liquid and gaseous products obtained are 78.8 wt%, 24.7 wt% and 34.2 wt%. Solid yield is observed to decrease with increasing pyrolysis temperature while gaseous yield shows a reverse trend. Higher carrier gas flow rate is observed to lower the generation of gaseous and liquid yield while increasing the solid yield. Higher amount of activated carbon within the feedstock is seen to lower the solid yield but increase the gaseous and liquid yields. The liquid yield is found to contain 55.78 wt% of phenolic compounds while gaseous product consists of up to 55 vol% of syngas. The control of the operating conditions in pyrolysis rig enables the production of pyrolysis end products in different phases, generating useful bioenergy and biofertilizer products in the context of circular economy
- …