Nonlinear Dynamics of Spherical Shells Buckling under Step Pressure

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from The Royal Society via the DOI in this record.Dynamic buckling is addressed for complete elastic spherical shells subject to a rapidly applied step in external pressure. Insights from the perspective of nonlinear dynamics reveal essential mathematical features of the buckling phenomena. To capture the strong buckling imperfection-sensitivity, initial geometric imperfections in the form of an axisymmetric dimple at each pole are introduced. Dynamic buckling under the step pressure is related to the quasi-static buckling pressure. Both loadings produce catastrophic collapse of the shell for conditions in which the pressure is prescribed. Damping plays an important role in dynamic buckling because of the time-dependent nonlinear interaction among modes, particularly the interaction between the spherically symmetric 'breathing' mode and the buckling mode. In this paper we argue that the precise frequency dependence of the damping does not matter as most of the damping happens at a single frequency (the breathing frequency). In general, there is not a unique step pressure threshold separating responses associated with buckling from those that do not buckle. Instead there exists a cascade of buckling thresholds, dependent on the damping and level of imperfection, separating pressures for which buckling occurs from those for which it does not occur. For shells with small and moderately small imperfections the dynamic step buckling pressure can be substantially below the quasi-static buckling pressure

Buckling Thresholds for Pre-loaded Spherical Shells Subject to Localized Blasts

This is the author accepted manuscript. the final version is available from ASME via the DOI in this recordThis paper investigates the robustness against localized impacts of elastic spherical shells pre-loaded under uniform external pressure. We subjected a pre-loaded spherical shell that is clamped at its equator to axisymmetric blast-like impacts applied to its polar region. The resulting axisymmetric dynamic response is computed for increasing amplitudes of the blast. Both perfect shells and shells with axisymmetric geometric imperfections are analyzed. The impact energy threshold causing buckling is identified and compared with the energy barrier that exists between the buckled and un-buckled static equilibrium states of the energy landscape associated with the pre-loaded pressure. The extent to which the impact energy of the threshold blast exceeds the energy barrier depends on the details of its shape and width. Targeted blasts that approximately replicate the size and shape of the energy barrier buckling mode defined in the paper have an energy threshold that is only modestly larger than the energy barrier. An extensive study is carried out for more realistic Gaussian-shaped blasts revealing that the buckling threshold energy for these blasts is typically in the range of at least ten to forty percent above the energy barrier, depending on the pressure pre-load and the blast width. The energy discrepancy between the buckling threshold and energy barrier is due to elastic waves spreading outward from the impact and dissipation associated with the numerical integration scheme. Buckling is confined to the vicinity of the pole such that, if the shell is not shallow, the buckling thresholds are not strongly dependent on the location of the clamping boundary, as illustrated for a shell clamped half way between the pole and the equator.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC

Towards developing a test of global motion for use with Paralympic athletes

The Paralympic classification system for visual impairment only assesses static visual acuity and static visual field despite many Paralympic sports being dynamic in nature. As a first step towards determining whether motion perception tests should be used in Paralympic classification, we assessed whether motion coherence thresholds could be measured when visual acuity or visual fields were impaired at levels consistent with the current Paralympic classification criteria. Visual acuity and visual field impairments corresponding to Paralympic classification criteria were simulated in normally sighted individuals and motion coherence thresholds were measured. Mild-to-moderate visual acuity impairments had no effect on motion coherence thresholds. The most severe Paralympic class of acuity impairment (≥2.6 logMAR) significantly elevated thresholds. A trend towards superior motion coherence thresholds in the peripheral visual field compared to the central visual field was also present. Global motion perception appears to be measurable under simulated visual impairments that are consistent with the Paralympic classification. Poorer global motion perception was found for visual acuities >2.6 logMAR and visual fields <10° in diameter. Further research is needed to investigate the relationship between global motion perception and sports performance in athletes with real visual impairment

Oropharyngeal mucositis-specific quality-of-life measure in patients with cancer therapy.

published_or_final_versio

The phrase 'The Great War' in british discourse during world war one

The association of the term ‘The Great War’ with World War One, if it began 100 years ago, could be seen as telling, not only about attitudes at the time (and whether it meant ‘jolly big’ or ‘jolly good’), but about our retrospective attitudes to those who were involved. Through an examination of propaganda, periodicals, political statements and specific pre-war literature, an assumption that as a phrase it is indicative of jingoistic and bellicose hysteria generated by influential politicians for the gullible citizens of whichever participant nation, can be shown as a misleading simplification. Instead, with a concentration on Britain, a study of its use by statesmen such as Asquith and Lloyd George, the very particular circumstances under which it appeared in Punch magazine, and the overt zeal some advocates of war with Germany displayed from several years before 1914, is revealing of very different public standpoints among supporters of the war.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Probing shells against buckling: a non-destructive technique for laboratory testing

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.This paper addresses testing of compressed structures, such as shells, that exhibit catastrophic buckling and notorious imperfection sensitivity. The central concept is the probing of a loaded structural specimen by a controlled lateral displacement to gain quantitative insight into its buckling behaviour and to measure the energy barrier against buckling. This can provide design information about a structure's stiffness and robustness against buckling in terms of energy and force landscapes. Developments in this area are relatively new but have proceeded rapidly with encouraging progress. Recent experimental tests on uniformly compressed spherical shells, and axially loaded cylinders, show excellent agreement with theoretical solutions. The probing technique could be a valuable experimental procedure for testing prototype structures, but before it can be used a range of potential problems must be examined and solved. The probing response is highly nonlinear and a variety of complications can occur. Here, we make a careful assessment of unexpected limit points and bifurcations, that could accompany probing, causing complications and possibly even collapse of a test specimen. First, a limit point in the probe displacement (associated with a cusp instability and fold) can result in dynamic buckling as probing progresses, as demonstrated in the buckling of a spherical shell under volume control. Second, various types of bifurcations which can occur on the probing path which result in the probing response becoming unstable are also discussed. To overcome these problems, we outline the extra controls over the entire structure that may be needed to stabilize the response

Microwave enhanced ion-cut silicon layer transfer

Microwave heating has been used to decrease the time required for exfoliation of thin single-crystalline silicon layers onto insulator substrates using ion-cut processing. Samples exfoliated in a 2.45 GHz, 1300 W cavity applicator microwave system saw a decrease in incubation times as compared to conventional anneal processes. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, cross sectional scanning electron microscopy, cross sectional transmission electron microscopy, and selective aperture electron diffraction were used to determine the transferred layer thickness and crystalline quality. The surface quality was determined by atomic force microscopy. Hall measurements were used to determine electrical properties as a function of radiation repair anneal times. Results of physical and electrical characterizations demonstrate that the end products of microwave enhanced ion-cut processing do not appreciably differ from those using more traditional means of exfoliation. © 2007 American Institute of Physics

Effect of substrate growth temperatures on H diffusion in hydrogenated Si/Si homoepitaxial structures grown by molecular beam epitaxy

We have investigated hydrogen diffusion in hydrogenated 〈100〉 Si/Si homoepitaxial structures, which were grown by molecular beam epitaxy at various temperatures. The substrate growth temperature can significantly affect the H diffusion behavior, with higher growth temperatures resulting in deeper H diffusion. For the Si/Si structure grown at the highest temperature of 800°C, H trapping occurs at the epitaxial Si/Si substrate interface, which results in the formation of (100) oriented microcracks at the interface. The mechanism of H trapping and the potential application of these findings for the development of a method of transferring ultrathin Si layers are discussed. © 2006 American Institute of Physics

Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors: A model for examining the effects of pathology versus seizures on cognitive dysfunction in epilepsy

Purpose Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors (DNTs) provide a unique model for studying the effects of seizures on cognitive development. Epilepsy and antiepileptic medications are prominent features in the lives and schooling of people who develop seizures in childhood. People with an adult onset share the same underlying brain pathology, but their childhood development is unaffected by seizures. Therefore, DNTs provide a model to examine the specific influence of seizures and their treatment on cognitive development, over and above the effects of the underlying pathology in epilepsy. Methods We examined the neuropsychological characteristics of 56 adults with DNT and medically intractable epilepsy (mean age 32.7 years). Twenty-two adults (39%) had an age of onset of epilepsy before the age of 12 years (childhood-onset group). Scores on tests of intelligence (Verbal IQ and Performance IQ), reading, working memory, verbal learning, verbal recall, visual learning, and expressive and receptive language ability were analyzed. Key Findings There were no significant localization effects (right vs. left vs. extratemporal) on any of the neuropsychological test scores. In the group as a whole, the neuropsychological test scores were significantly lower than healthy, age-matched controls on measures of Verbal IQ (p < 0.01), naming p < 0.01, verbal learning (p < 0.01), and working memory (p < 0.05). The childhood-onset group had significantly lower scores on the measures of Verbal IQ (p < 0.01), Performance IQ (p < 0.05), reading (p < 0.05), naming (p = 0.05), and verbal retention (p < 0.05) than those with an onset of seizures at the age of 12 or older. Significance The traditional pattern of lateralized memory deficits seen in people with hippocampal sclerosis may not be present in people with temporal lobe epilepsy associated with a DNT. The presence of seizures and their treatment in early childhood may adversely influence the development of these core cognitive abilities, resulting in patterns of cognitive deficits that remain apparent in adulthood.© 2013 International League Against Epilepsy

Developments in CLARA accelerator design and simulations

We present recent developments in the accelerator design of CLARA (Compact Linear Accelerator for Research and Applications), the proposed UK FEL test facility at Daresbury Laboratory. Updates on the electron beam simulations and code comparisons including wakefields are described. Simulations of the effects of geometric wakefields in the small-aperture FEL undulator are shown, as well as further simulations on potential FEL experiments using chirped beams. We also present the results of simulations on post-FEL diagnostics