Quantitative Assessment of the Influence of Tensile Softening of Concrete in Beams under Bending by Numerical Simulations with XFEM and Cohesive Cracks

Results of the numerical simulations of the size effect phenomenon for concrete in comparison with experimental data are presented. In-plane geometrically similar notched and unnotched beams under three-point bending are analyzed. EXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM) with a cohesive softening law is used. Comprehensive parametric study with the respect to the tensile strength and the initial fracture energy is performed. Sensitivity of the results with respect to the material parameters and the specimen geometry is investigated. Three different softening laws are examined. First, a bilinear softening definition is utilized. Then, an exponential curve is taken. Finally, a rational Bezier curve is tested. An ambiguity in choosing material parameters and softening curve definitions is discussed. Numerical results are compared with experimental outcomes recently reported in the literature. Two error measures are defined and used to quantitatively assess calculated maximum forces (nominal strengths) in comparison with experimental values as a primary criterion. In addition, the force—displacement curves are also analyzed. It is shown that all softening curves produce results consistent with the experimental data. Moreover, with different softening laws assumed, different initial fracture energies should be taken to obtain proper results.

Determination of Vibroacoustic Parameters of Polyurethane Mats for Residential Building Purposes

This paper is aimed at investigating the use of polyurethane mats, usually used as ballast mats, for residential building purposes. Ballast mats have features that may improve the vibroacoustic comfort in residential rooms. Their strength is certainly an advantage, along with vibration and acoustic insulation. However, the problem that an engineer has to deal with, for example in modeling these types of mats, is a limited knowledge of the material’s vibroacoustic parameters. Knowledge of these may be useful for residential buildings. This paper presents measurements of the vibroacoustic parameters of polyurethane mats, together with a suitable methodology and some results and analysis. The two main material parameters responsible for vibroacoustic protection were measured: the dynamic stiffness, which is related to the acoustic properties of the material, and the critical damping coefficient, which is obviously responsible for damping. The measurement methodology is clearly described. A total of five polyurethane materials with different densities were tested. It was possible to identify a relationship between the material density and the vibroacoustic parameters, which could offer an indication of which material to use, depending on the stimulus affecting a human in a given location.

An ultrathin acoustic metasurface composed of an anisotropic three-component resonator

An ultrathin acoustic metasurface consisting of an anisotropic three-component resonator is proposed. The resonator can induce nondegenerate dipole resonances at the same resonant frequencies. A large phase delay can be obtained based on the resonance, which can be modulated by the direction of polarization. The anisotropic resonator can be regarded as an effective homogenous medium with an anisotropic mass density, and the phase change can also be attributed to the change of the effective material parameters. A good comparison between the results for the metasurface and its effective slab is obtained.

Postbuckling analysis of ultra-low rigidity serpentine structures

Serpentine structures are of growing interest due to its unique mechanical and physical properties for applications in stretchable electronics, mechanical sensing, biomedical devices. Mechanics-guided, deterministic three-dimensional (3D) assembly provide routes to form remarkable 3D structures, which in turn significantly improve its potential for applications. Therefore, an accurate postbuckling analysis is essential to the complex 3D serpentine structures with arbitrary geometry/material parameters. Here, simple, analytical expressions are obtained for the displacement and effective rigidity of serpentine structures during postbuckling. By tuning geometry parameters, the amplitude of assembled 3D serpentine structures can span a very broad range from zero to that of a straight ribbon. The analytical model can be used in design, fabrication, and application of versatile 3D serpentine structures to ensure their compatibility with the ultra-low rigidity biological tissues. A hierarchical 3D serpentine structure with ultra-low rigidity is presented to demonstrate the application of the analytical model.

Дважды отрицательные среды на основе антиферромагнитных полупроводников для терагерцевого диапазона частот

The paper presents the results of a theoretical study of the dispersion characteristics of electromagnetic waves (EMW) existing in a transversely magnetized antiferromagnetic (AFM) semiconductor with loss. An AFM semiconductor is an infinite bi-gyrotropic medium, the effective material parameters of which are twice negative in several frequency ranges. It was found that these frequency regions are in the terahertz range and there are four backward EMEs in them, two of which are TE waves, and the other two are TM waves.

The Manufacture and Performance of Low Temperature Superconductors

The application of Nb3Sn superconductor joints is an important part in the production of ITER, MRI and so on. This paper first introduced the application, like coil of MRI, and basic information including the micro crystal structure of Nb3Sn superconductor, which includes the theoretical critical temperature of 18.1K, even mostly, experiments take place under 4.2K, which is the boiling point of liquid helium. Second, it talked a little about the production of CICC joints in industry. Then, mainly introduced the testing device, material parameters and testing procedures of resistance testing of Nb3Sn joints. Concluded all the data from several tests and summarized it. At last, it displayed some of its mechanical property especially about its brittle property and discussed some details in manufacture. Finally conclude about them all.