Characterization of planar photonic crystals using surface coupling techniques at large wavelengths

We report a non-destructive characterization of planar two-dimensional （2D） photonic crystals （PhCs） made in silicon on insulator （SOI） wafers using ellipsometric or Fourier transformed infrared （FTIR） spectroscope. At large wavelengths, devices behave as homogeneous isotropic materials defined by an effective filling factor. The experimental results related to the PhC limited dimensions confirm this characterization.

A study on coupling technique and implementation of the wave-circulation coupled model

The coupler is fundamental for a coupled model to realize complex interactions among component models.This paper focuses on the coupling process of Wave-Circulation(W-C) coupled model which consists of MASNUM(key laboratory of marine science and numerical modeling wave model)and POM(Princeton Ocean Model).The current coupling module of this coupled model is based on the inefficient I/O file,which has already become a performance bottleneck especially when the coupled model utilizes a large number of processes.To improve the performance of the W-C model,a flexible coupling module based on the model coupling toolkit(MCT) is designed and implemented to replace the current I/O file coupling module in the coupled model.Empirical studies that we have carried out demonstrate that our online coupling module can dramatically improve the parallel performance of the coupled model.The online coupling module outperforms the I/O file coupling module.When processes increase to 96,the whole process of EXP-C takes only 695.8 seconds,which is only 58.8%of the execution time of EXP-F.Based on our experiments under 2D Parallel Decomposition(2DPD),we suggest setting parallel decomposition strategies automatically to component models in order to achieve high parallel efficiency.

Role of Kirkendall effect in diffusion processes in solids

In the 1940s, KIRKENDALL showed that diffusion in binary solid solutions cannot be described by only one diffusion coefficient. Rather, one has to consider the diffusivity of both species. His findings changed the treatment of diffusion data and the theory of diffusion itself. A diffusion-based framework was successfully employed to explain the behaviour of the Kirkendall plane. Nonetheless, the complexity of a multiphase diffusion zone and the morphological evolution during interdiffusion requires a physico-chemical approach. The interactions in binary and more complex systems are key issues from both the fundamental and technological points of view. This paper reviews the Kirkendall effect from the circumstances of its discovery to recent developments in its understanding, with broad applicability in materials science and engineering.

Can coordination variability identify performance factors and skill level in competitive sport? The case of race walking

Background:Marginal changes in the execution of competitive sports movements can represent a significant change for performance success.However,such differences may emerge only at certain execution intensities and are not easily detectable through conventional biomechanical techniques.This study aimed to investigate if and how competition standard and progression speed affect race walking kinematics from both a conventional and a coordination variability perspective.Methods:Fifteen experienced athletes divided into three groups(elite,international,and national) were studied while race walking on a treadmill at two different speeds(12.0 and 15.5 km/h).Basic gait parameters,the angular displacement of the pelvis and lower limbs,and the variability in continuous relative phase between six different joint couplings were analyzed.Results:Most of the spatio-temporal,kinematic,and coordination variability measures proved sensitive to the change in speed.Conversely,non-linear dynamics measures highlighted differences between athletes of different competition standard when conventional analytical tools were not able to discriminate between different skill levels.Continuous relative phase variability was higher for national level athletes than international and elite in two couplings(pelvis obliquity—hip flex/extension and pelvis rotation—ankle dorsi/plantarflexion) and gait phases(early stance for the first coupling,propulsive phase for the second) that are deemed fundamental for correct technique and performance.Conclusion:Measures of coordination variability showed to be a more sensitive tool for the fine detection of skill-dependent factors in competitive race walking,and showed good potential for being integrated in the assessment and monitoring of sports motor abilities.

Axisymmetric alternating direction explicit scheme for efficient coupled simulation of hydro-mechanical interaction in geotechnical engineering-Application to circular footing and deep tunnel in saturated ground

Explicit solution techniques have been widely used in geotechnical engineering for simulating the coupled hydro-mechanical(H-M) interaction of fluid flow and deformation induced by structures built above and under saturated ground, i.e. circular footing and deep tunnel. However, the technique is only conditionally stable and requires small time steps, portending its inefficiency for simulating large-scale H-M problems. To improve its efficiency, the unconditionally stable alternating direction explicit(ADE)scheme could be used to solve the flow problem. The standard ADE scheme, however, is only moderately accurate and is restricted to uniform grids and plane strain flow conditions. This paper aims to remove these drawbacks by developing a novel high-order ADE scheme capable of solving flow problems in nonuniform grids and under axisymmetric conditions. The new scheme is derived by performing a fourthorder finite difference(FD) approximation to the spatial derivatives of the axisymmetric fluid-diffusion equation in a non-uniform grid configuration. The implicit Crank-Nicolson technique is then applied to the resulting approximation, and the subsequent equation is split into two alternating direction sweeps,giving rise to a new axisymmetric ADE scheme. The pore pressure solutions from the new scheme are then sequentially coupled with an existing geomechanical simulator in the computer code fast Lagrangian analysis of continua(FLAC). This coupling procedure is called the sequentially-explicit coupling technique based on the fourth-order axisymmetric ADE scheme or SEA-4-AXI. Application of SEA-4-AXI for solving axisymmetric consolidation of a circular footing and of advancing tunnel in deep saturated ground shows that SEA-4-AXI reduces computer runtime up to 42%-50% that of FLAC’s basic scheme without numerical instability. In addition, it produces high numerical accuracy of the H-M solutions with average percentage difference of only 0.5%-1.8%.

Compound Ceramic Coatings Grown by Micro-plasma Oxidation on Ti-6Al-4V Alloy

Compound ceramics coatings on the Ti-6Al-4V alloy were prepared by the direct current micro-plasma oxidation （MPO） in NaAlO2 solution. The composition and morphology of the coatings were studied with the X-ray diffraction （XRD） and the scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, respectively. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer technique was used to analyze the solution features of Ti-6Al-4V alloy in the process of preparation. The results reveal that Al2TiO5 forms in the coatings at the initial stages of MPO reaction, and its content changes rapidly with the reaction continuing： after 20 min, the ceramics coatings are composed of α-Al2O3, 7-Al2O3 and Al2TiO5, but after 40 min, its main composition is of α-Al2O3. The content of Ti in the solution will increase when the MPO time extends, and as will Al in the anode area until, after 30 min, it reaches the maximum and keeps constant from then on. Both substrata of Ti and Al in the electrolyte join the MPO reaction at the initial stage, where the formation of Al2TiO5 happens; but as the MPO reaction prolongs, more and more Al in the electrolyte will take part in the reaction, leading to the appearance of a large amount ofAl2O3.

Viscosity Solutions of Monotonic Functional Parabolic PDE

In this paper,by the technique of coupled solutions,the notion of viscosity solution is ex- tended to quasi-monotonic fully nonlinear parabolic equations with delay,which involves many models arising from optimal control theory,economy and finance,biology etc.The comparison,existence and uniqueness are proved.And the results are applied to the retarded Bellman equations.