1,474 research outputs found
A Discontinuous Model to Study Fracture of Brittle Materials
In this paper, the partition of the unity property of finite element shape functions is used to introduce displacement discontinuities into finite elements. The discontinuous character of the displacement field is captured with the Heaviside step function. Using the partition of unity concept, the governing equation of the continuum and the discontinuity are separated and are consequently described by different constitutive laws. Inside the discontinuity, a plasticity based constitutive law is used to describe the decrease of tractions in function of the crack opening while the continuum is assumed to remain elastic. The methodology will be described and validated with a comparison between numerical simulations and experimental results.This paper is dedicated to J. Sejnoha, TU Prague, with respect and admiration for his scientific achievement.
Decision-making in faƧade selection for multi-storey buildings
The conference paper can be viewed at: http://www.arcom.ac.uk/-docs/proceedings/ar2012-0357-0367_Garmston_Pan_de%20Wilde.pdfThe design and construction of multi-storey buildings faces a multitude of demands such as aesthetics, cost, energy efficiency, and occupier comfort; with faƧades on both new and re-used buildings playing a key role in helping to meet these demands. The process of faƧade selection is aided by a plethora of decision-making tools, yet faƧade decisions are often largely guided by cost and aesthetics. Poorly specified faƧades can potentially expose developers, owners and occupiers of multi-storey buildings to risks such as poor thermal comfort, glare, and increased operational costs. The aim of this paper is to explore the current state of faƧade decision-making, with the objectives of discovering who is making the decisions and when, and what problems are perceived and what potential solutions might exist. Literature pertaining to faƧades, multi-storey buildings and faƧade decision-making is reviewed. Experience of faƧade decision-making in todayās construction industry in the UK is collected via semi-structured interviews with construction professionals. The findings show architects as leading the initial faƧade decisions, with clients and planners making the final decisions. Very few decision-making tools were revealed as being used: namely whole life cost analysis, life cycle cost analysis and simulation. Further research is proposed to define the roles participating in faƧade decision-making for multi-storey buildings
Multi-storey building retrofit with a focus on the faƧade selection process: A UK commercial office case study
Fulltext in: http://www.arcom.ac.uk/-docs/proceedings/ar2013-0081-0090_Garmston_Fox_Pan_de%20Wilde.pdfPoorly-insulated existing buildings contribute significantly to the energy use of the built environment. In the UK, the existing building stock is replaced at a rate of less than 2% a year; thus, many of todayās buildings will still be in use in 2060. Retrofitting aged buildings can significantly reduce their energy use. This paper analyses the selection process and success factors in retrofit faƧade decision-making. Literature relating to building retrofit and faƧade selection is reviewed. A case study is conducted on a five-storey 1970s UK commercial office building, retrofitted in 2011. Data is collected via in-depth interviews with key project decision-makers, a documentary evidence review, and thermography of the completed retrofitted faƧade. The faƧade evolution is mapped according to seven identified project stages and the RIBA Plan of Work 2007. The retrofit satisfied the clientās aesthetic needs, while delivering an 85% reduction in the āwallā U-value and a āBā rated Energy Performance Certificate. Value engineering (VE) greatly influenced the faƧade selection, with less expensive alternatives replacing original elements of the faƧade design. The faƧadeās thermal success is linked to the VE focusing on faƧade elements covering only a small extent of the building. FaƧade success factors key to attracting tenants (lower running costs and aesthetics) may apply to commercial buildings in general. Thermography aided in assessing the retrofitted thermal envelope, but to act as a tool to aid retrofit faƧade selection, it should ideally involve a ābeforeā and āafterā survey
Electron and hole transmission through superconductor - normal metal interfaces
We have investigated the transmission of electrons and holes through
interfaces between superconducting aluminum (Tc = 1.2 K) and various normal
non-magnetic metals (copper, gold, palladium, platinum, and silver) using
Andreev-reflection spectroscopy at T = 0.1 K. We analyzed the point contacts
with the modified BTK theory that includes Dynes' lifetime as a fitting
parameter G in addition to superconducting energy gap 2D and normal reflection
described by Z. For contact areas from 1 nm^2 to 10000 nm^2 the BTK Z parameter
was 0.5, corresponding to transmission coefficients of about 80 %, independent
of the normal metal. The very small variation of Z indicates that the
interfaces have a negligible dielectric tunneling barrier. Fermi surface
mismatch does not account for the observed transmission coefficient.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Proceedings of the 19th
International Conference on Magnetism ICM2012 (Busan 2012
Nature of 45 degree vortex lattice reorientation in tetragonal superconductors
The transformation of the vortex lattice in a tetragonal superconductor which
consists of its 45 degree reorientation relative to the crystal axes is studied
using the nonlocal London model. It is shown that the reorientation occurs as
two successive second order (continuous) phase transitions. The transition
magnetic fields are calculated for a range of parameters relevant for
borocarbide superconductors in which the reorientation has been observed
Wavenumber-explicit continuity and coercivity estimates in acoustic scattering by planar screens
We study the classical first-kind boundary integral equation reformulations
of time-harmonic acoustic scattering by planar sound-soft (Dirichlet) and
sound-hard (Neumann) screens. We prove continuity and coercivity of the
relevant boundary integral operators (the acoustic single-layer and
hypersingular operators respectively) in appropriate fractional Sobolev spaces,
with wavenumber-explicit bounds on the continuity and coercivity constants. Our
analysis is based on spectral representations for the boundary integral
operators, and builds on results of Ha-Duong (Jpn J Ind Appl Math 7:489--513
(1990) and Integr Equat Oper Th 15:427--453 (1992)).Comment: v2 has minor corrections compared to v1. arXiv admin note:
substantial text overlap with arXiv:1401.280
Effect of transport-induced charge inhomogeneity on point-contact Andreev reflection spectra at ferromagnet-superconductor interfaces
We investigate the transport properties of a ferromagnet-superconductor
interface within the framework of a modified three-dimensional
Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk formalism. In particular, we propose that charge
inhomogeneity forms via two unique transport mechanisms, namely, evanescent
Andreev reflection and evanescent quasiparticle transmission. Furthermore, we
take into account the influence of charge inhomogeneity on the interfacial
barrier potential and calculate the conductance as a function of bias voltage.
Point-contact Andreev reflection (PCAR) spectra often show dip structures,
large zero-bias conductance enhancement, and additional zero-bias conductance
peak. Our results indicate that transport-induced charge inhomogeneity could be
a source of all these anomalous characteristics of the PCAR spectra.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure
Features of Time-independent Wigner Functions
The Wigner phase-space distribution function provides the basis for Moyal's
deformation quantization alternative to the more conventional Hilbert space and
path integral quantizations. General features of time-independent Wigner
functions are explored here, including the functional ("star") eigenvalue
equations they satisfy; their projective orthogonality spectral properties;
their Darboux ("supersymmetric") isospectral potential recursions; and their
canonical transformations. These features are illustrated explicitly through
simple solvable potentials: the harmonic oscillator, the linear potential, the
Poeschl-Teller potential, and the Liouville potential.Comment: 18 pages, plain LaTex, References supplemente
Optimal echocardiographic assessment of myocardial dysfunction for arrhythmic risk stratification in phospholamban mutation carriers
AIMS: Phospholamban (PLN) p.Arg14del mutation carriers are at risk of developing malignant ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) and/or heart failure. Currently, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) plays an important role in risk assessment for VA in these individuals. We aimed to study the incremental prognostic value of left ventricular mechanical dispersion (LVMD) by echocardiographic deformation imaging for prediction of sustained VA in PLN p.Arg14del mutation carriers. METHODS AND RESULTS: We included 243 PLN p.Arg14del mutation carriers, which were classified into three groups according to the '45/45' rule: (i) normal left ventricular (LV) function, defined as preserved LVEF ā„45% with normal LVMD ā¤45 ms (n = 139), (ii) mechanical LV dysfunction, defined as preserved LVEF ā„45% with abnormal LVMD >45 ms (n = 63), and (iii) overt LV dysfunction, defined as reduced LVEF <45% (n = 41). During a median follow-up of 3.3 (interquartile range 1.8-6.0) years, sustained VA occurred in 35 individuals. The negative predictive value of having normal LV function at baseline was 99% [95% confidence interval (CI): 92-100%] for developing sustained VA. The positive predictive value of mechanical LV dysfunction was 20% (95% CI: 15-27%). Mechanical LV dysfunction was an independent predictor of sustained VA in multivariable analysis [hazard ratio adjusted for VA history: 20.48 (95% CI: 2.57-162.84)]. CONCLUSION: LVMD has incremental prognostic value on top of LVEF in PLN p.Arg14del mutation carriers, particularly in those with preserved LVEF. The '45/45' rule is a practical approach to echocardiographic risk stratification in this challenging group of patients. This approach may also have added value in other diseases where LVEF deterioration is a relative late marker of myocardial dysfunction
Heat Transport and the Nature of the Order Parameter in Superconducting
Recent thermal conductivity data on the heavy fermion superconductor
have been interpreted as offering support for an model of the order
parameter as opposed to an model. In this paper, we analyze this issue
from a theoretical standpoint including the detailed effects of Fermi surface
and gap anisotropy. Our conclusion is that although current data put strong
constraints on the gap anisotropy, they cannot definitively distinguish between
these two models. Measurements on samples of varying quality could be decisive
in this regard, however.Comment: 8 pages, revtex, 15 uunencoded postscript figure
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