Fault on-off versus strain rate and earthquakes energy

We propose that the brittle-ductile transition （BDT） controls the seismic cycle. In particular, the movements detected by space geodesy record the steady state deformation in the ductile lower crust, whereas the stick-slip behavior of the brittle upper crust is constrained by its larger friction. GPS data allow analyzing the strain rate along active plate boundaries. In all tectonic settings, we propose that earthquakes primarily occur along active fault segments characterized by relative minima of strain rate, segments which are locked or slowly creeping. We discuss regional examples where large earthquakes happened in areas of relative low strain rate. Regardless the tectonic style, the interseismic stress and strain pattern inverts during the coseismic stage. Where a dilated band formed during the interseismic stage, this will be shortened at the coseismic stage, and vice-versa what was previously shortened, it will be dilated. The interseismic energy accumulation and the coseismic expenditure rather depend on the tectonic setting （extensional, contractional, or strike-slip）. The gravitational potential energy dominates along normal faults, whereas the elastic energy prevails for thrust earthquakes and performs work against the gravity force. The energy budget in strike-slip tectonic setting is also primarily due elastic energy. Therefore, precursors may be different as a function of the tectonic setting. In this model, with a given displacement, the magnitude of an earthquake results from the coseismic slip of the deformed volume above the BDT rather than only on the fault length, and it also depends on the fault kinematics.

Flow, thermal criticality and transition of a reactive third-grade fluid in a pipe with Reynolds' model viscosity

Neglecting the consumption of the material, a steady incompressible flow of an exothermic reacting third-grade fluid with viscous heating in a circular cylindrical pipe is numerically studied for both cases of constant viscosity and Reynolds＇ viscosity model. The coupled ordinary differential equations governing the flow in cylindrical coordinates, are transformed into dimensionless forms using appropriate transformations, and then solved numerically. Solutions using Maple are presented in tabular form and given in terms of dimensionless central fluid velocity and temperature, skin friction and heat transfer rate for three parametric values in the Reynolds＇ case. The numerical results for the velocity and temperature fields are also presented through graphs. Bifurcations are discussed using shooting method. Comparisons are also made between the present results and those of previous work, and thus verify the validity of the provided numerical solutions. Important properties of thermal criticality are provided for variable viscosity parameter and reaction order. Further numerical results are presented in the form of tables and graphs for transition of physical parameters, while varying certain flow and fluid material parameters. Also, the flow behaviour of the reactive fluid of third-grade is compared with those of the Newtonian reactive fluid.

Strong optical nonlinearities of self-assembled polymorphic microstructures of phenylethynyl functionalized fluorenones

Highly efficient nonlinear optical（NLO） materials with well-defined architectures in the wavelength and subwavelength length scales are of particular importance for next generation of integrated photonic circuits. Fluorenone analogues have been demonstrated to be promising candidates as building blocks for assembly of organic NLO materials thanks to their synergistic supramolecular interactions and brilliant optical properties. Here we have studied the polymorphs of a phenylethynyl functionalized fluorenone derivative, and their controlled self-assembly for microstructures with different morphologies. These polymorphic microcrystals exhibit very distinctive NLO properties, highly related to their supramolecular and electronic structures.