Dynamic response of phenolic resin and its carbon-nanotube composites to shock wave loading

We investigate with nonreactive molecular dynamics simulations the dynamic response of phenolic resin and its carbon-nanotube (CNT) composites to shock wave compression. For phenolic resin, our simulations yield shock states in agreement with experiments on similar polymers except the “phase change” observed in experiments, indicating that such phase change is chemical in nature. The elastic–plastic transition is characterized by shear stress relaxation and atomic-level slip, and phenolic resin shows strong strain hardening. Shock loading of the CNT-resin composites is applied parallel or perpendicular to the CNT axis, and the composites demonstrate anisotropy in wave propagation, yield and CNT deformation. The CNTs induce stress concentrations in the composites and may increase the yield strength. Our simulations suggest that the bulk shock response of the composites depends on the volume fraction, length ratio, impact cross-section, and geometry of the CNT components; the short CNTs in current simulations have insignificant effect on the bulk response of resin polymer

Highest weight representations of the quantum algebra U_h(gl_\infty)

A class of highest weight irreducible representations of the quantum algebra U_h(gl_\infty) is constructed. Within each module a basis is introduced and the transformation relations of the basis under the action of the Chevalley generators are explicitly written.Comment: 7 pages, PlainTe

Long-term tillage, straw, and N rate effects on quantity and quality of organic C and N in a Black Chernozem soil

Non-Peer Reviewe

Deformation and spallation of shocked Cu bicrystals with Σ3 coherent and symmetric incoherent twin boundaries

We perform molecular dynamics simulations of Cu bicrystals with two important grain boundaries (GBs), Σ3 coherent twin boundaries (CTB), and symmetric incoherent twin boundaries (SITB) under planar shock wave loading. It is revealed that the shock response (deformation and spallation) of the Cu bicrystals strongly depends on the GB characteristics. At the shock compression stage, elastic shock wave can readily trigger GB plasticity at SITB but not at CTB. The SITB can induce considerable wave attenuation such as the elastic precursor decay via activating GB dislocations. For example, our simulations of a Cu multilayer structure with 53 SITBs (∼1.5-μm thick) demonstrate a ∼80% elastic shock decay. At the tension stage, spallation tends to occur at CTB but not at SITB due to the high mobility of SITB. The SITB region transforms into a threefold twin via a sequential partial dislocation slip mechanism, while CTB preserves its integrity before spallation. In addition, deformation twinning is a mechanism for inducing surface step during shock tension stage. The drastically different shock response of CTB and SITB could in principle be exploited for, or benefit, interface engineering and materials design

Towards In Situ Atomic Force Microscopy Imaging of Biofilm Growth on Stainless Steel

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been used to visualise the formation of bacterial biofilms on polished surfaces of 316 stainless steel. Imaging under ambient conditions revealed both the bacterial cells and the matrix of exopolymeric substances (EPS). These images exhibited good resolution with cell surface features as small as 30 nm distinguishable. In situ imaging was also carried out, and although the resolution was considerably reduced, images revealing the process of bacteria division have been obtained