Topological Complexity of Frictional Interfaces: Friction Networks

Through research conducted in this study, a network approach to the correlation patterns of void spaces in rough fractures (crack type II) was developed. We characterized friction networks with several networks characteristics. The correlation among network properties with the fracture permeability is the result of friction networks. The revealed hubs in the complex aperture networks confirmed the importance of highly correlated groups to conduct the highlighted features of the dynamical aperture field. We found that there is a universal power law between the nodes' degree and motifs frequency (for triangles it reads T(k)\proptok{\beta} ({\beta} \approx2\pm0.3)). The investigation of localization effects on eigenvectors shows a remarkable difference in parallel and perpendicular aperture patches. Furthermore, we estimate the rate of stored energy in asperities so that we found that the rate of radiated energy is higher in parallel friction networks than it is in transverse directions. The final part of our research highlights 4 point sub-graph distribution and its correlation with fluid flow. For shear rupture, we observed a similar trend in sub-graph distribution, resulting from parallel and transversal aperture profiles (a superfamily phenomenon)

Network-Configurations of Dynamic Friction Patterns

The complex configurations of dynamic friction patterns-regarding real time contact areas- are transformed into appropriate networks. With this transformation of a system to network space, many properties can be inferred about the structure and dynamics of the system. Here, we analyze the dynamics of static friction, i.e. nucleation processes, with respect to "friction networks". We show that networks can successfully capture the crack-like shear ruptures and possible corresponding acoustic features. We found that the fraction of triangles remarkably scales with the detachment fronts. There is a universal power law between nodes' degree and motifs frequency (for triangles, it reads T(k)\proptok{\beta} ({\beta} \approx2\pm0.4)). We confirmed the obtained universality in aperture-based friction networks. Based on the achieved results, we extracted a possible friction law in terms of network parameters and compared it with the rate and state friction laws. In particular, the evolutions of loops are scaled with power law, indicating the aggregation of cycles around hub nodes. Also, the transition to slow rupture is scaled with the fast variation of local heterogeneity. Furthermore, the motif distributions and modularity space of networks -in terms of withinmodule degree and participation coefficient-show non-uniform general trends, indicating a universal aspect of energy flow in shear ruptures

Evolution of spin correlations in SrDy2O4 in an applied magnetic field

The development of short- and long-range magnetic order induced in a frustrated zig-zag ladder compound SrDy2O4 by an applied field is studied using neutron diffraction techniques. In zero field, SrDy2O4 lacks long-range magnetic order down to temperatures as low as 60 mK, and the observed powder neutron diffraction (PND) patterns are dominated by very broad diffuse scattering peaks. Single crystal neutron diffraction reveals that the zero-field magnetic structure consists of a collection of antiferromagnetic chains running along the c axis and that there is very little correlation between the chains in the ab plane. In an applied magnetic field, the broad diffuse scattering features in PND are gradually replaced by much sharper peaks, however, the pattern remains rather complex, reflecting the highly anisotropic nature of SrDy2O4. Single crystal neutron diffraction shows that a moderate field applied along the b axis induces an up-up-down magnetic order associated with a 1/3-magnetisation plateau, in which magnetic correlation length in the ab plane is significantly increased, but it nevertheless remains finite. The resolution limited k = 0 peaks associated with a ferromagnetic arrangement appear in powder and single crystal neutron diffraction patterns in fields of 2.5 T and above.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figure

Lattice dynamics of anharmonic solids from first principles

An accurate and easily extendable method to deal with lattice dynamics of solids is offered. It is based on first-principles molecular dynamics simulations and provides a consistent way to extract the best possible harmonic - or higher order - potential energy surface at finite temperatures. It is designed to work even for strongly anharmonic systems where the traditional quasiharmonic approximation fails. The accuracy and convergence of the method are controlled in a straightforward way. Excellent agreement of the calculated phonon dispersion relations at finite temperature with experimental results for bcc Li and bcc Zr is demonstrated

Natural control of the mosquito population via Odonata and Toxorhynchites

The main impact of mosquito pests is the transmission of many dangerous diseases and death. Hence, the reduction of their population by the use of a natural control method is a primary objective of this research. This mosquito reduction method utilises different species of predators (Odonata) and (Toxorhynchites) to substantially improve the environment. The frequency of capturing the pest mosquitoes by the predators is determined using a Pascal distribution, whilst insect mortality is modelled using a Weibull distribution. The results from the model show that by using insect predators, a significant reduction of the mosquito population is possible in less than eighty days

Fast vectorized algorithm for the Monte Carlo Simulation of the Random Field Ising Model

An algoritm for the simulation of the 3--dimensional random field Ising model with a binary distribution of the random fields is presented. It uses multi-spin coding and simulates 64 physically different systems simultaneously. On one processor of a Cray YMP it reaches a speed of 184 Million spin updates per second. For smaller field strength we present a version of the algorithm that can perform 242 Million spin updates per second on the same machine.Comment: 13 pp., HLRZ 53/9

Proportional-integral-plus (PIP) control of time delay systems

The paper shows that the digital proportional-integral-plus (PIP) controller formulated within the context of non-minimum state space (NMSS) control system design methodology is directly equivalent, under certain non-restrictive pole assignment conditions, to the equivalent digital Smith predictor (SP) control system for time delay systems. This allows SP controllers to be considered within the context of NMSS state variable feedback control, so that optimal design methods can be exploited to enhance the performance of the SP controller. Alternatively, since the PIP design strategy provides a more flexible approach, which subsumes the SP controller as one option, it provides a superior basis for general control system design. The paper also discusses the robustness and disturbance response characteristics of the two PIP control structures that emerge from the analysis and demonstrates the efficacy of the design methods through simulation examples and the design of a climate control system for a large horticultural glasshouse system