Mechanics of Materials Commons^™

Raman And Infrared Study Of Electrospun Plla/Pcl Nanofiber Blends For Use In Tissue Engineering, Jose Luis Enriquez Carrejo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Recently, the biomedical engineering field has developed at a very fast pace as improved techniques and materials become available to promote its growth. Consequently, the research in polymeric biomaterials has been highly stimulated by this trend. The goal of the current research is to demonstrate the usefulness of the Raman scattering, Raman mapping, and infrared absorption spectroscopies to tissue engineering, by spectroscopically characterizing blends of PLLA and PCL polymers, which were prepared by electrospinning with and without cell addition. The proposed use of these blends is as primary biomaterials in biodegradable scaffolds used in tissue engineering. Both Raman and infrared …

A Study Of Wo3 And W0.95ti0.05o3 Thin Films Using Comparative Spectroscopy, James Heyward Howard

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Tungsten oxide (WO3) is important and well-studied in materials science, particularly for sensor applications. In this research work, we consider the innovation of adding Ti to thin films of this material. Since the characteristics of any such material are strongly dependent on the conditions and methods used in its deposition, the main objective of this project is to provide a detailed spectroscopic characterization by Raman scattering, infrared absorption, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of WO3 and of W0.95Ti0.05O3. This characterization will be based on comparison of the morphology and composition of WO3-based thin films, grown by radio frequency magnetron reactive …

Two-Scale Microstructure Dynamics, Arkadi Berezovski, Mihhail Berezovski, Juri Engelbrecht

Publications

Wave propagation in materials with embedded two different microstructures is considered. Each microstructure is characterized by its own length scale. The dual internal variables approach is adopted yielding in a Mindlin-type model including both microstructures. Equations of motion for microstructures are coupled with the balance of linear momentum for the macromotion, but not coupled with each other. Corresponding dispersion curves are provided and scale separation is pointed out.

Waves In Microstructured Solids: A Unified Viewpoint Of Modelling, Arkadi Berezovski, Juri Engelbrecht, Mihhail Berezovski

Publications

The basic ideas for describing the dispersive wave motion in microstructured solids are discussed in the one-dimensional setting because then the differences between various microstructure models are clearly visible. An overview of models demonstrates a variety of approaches, but the consistent structure of the theory is best considered from the unified viewpoint of internal variables. It is shown that the unification of microstructure models can be achieved using the concept of dual internal variables.

On The Stability Of A Microstructure Model, Mihhail Berezovski, Arkadi Berezovski

Publications

The asymptotic stability of solutions of the Mindlin-type microstructure model for solids is analyzed in the paper. It is shown that short waves are asymptotically stable even in the case of a weakly non-convex free energy dependence on microdeformation.

Dispersive Wave Equations For Solids With Microstructure, A. Berezovski, Juri Engelbrecht, Mihhail Berezovski

Publications

The dispersive wave motion in solids with microstructure is considered in the one-dimensional setting in order to understand better the mechanism of dispersion. It is shown that the variety of dispersive wave propagation models derived by homogenization, continualisation, and generalization of continuum mechanics can be unified in the framework of dual internal variables theory.

Deformation Waves In Microstructured Materials: Theory And Numerics, Juri Engelbrecht, Arkadi Berezovski, Mihhail Berezovski

Publications

A linear model of the microstructured continuum based on Mindlin theory is adopted which can be represented in the framework of the internal variable theory. Fully coupled systems of equations for macro-motion and microstructure evolution are represented in the form of conservation laws. A modification of wave propagation algorithm is used for numerical calculations. Results of direct numerical simulations of wave propagation in periodic medium are compared with similar results for the continuous media with the modelled microstructure. It is shown that the proper choice of material constants should be made to match the results obtained by both approaches

Elements Of Study On Dynamic Materials, Marine Rousseau, Gerard A. Maugin, Mihhail Berezovski

Publications

As a preliminary study to more complex situations of interest in small-scale technology, this paper envisages the elementary propagation properties of elastic waves in one-spatial dimension when some of the properties (mass density, elasticity) may vary suddenly in space or in time, the second case being of course more original. Combination of the two may be of even greater interest. Toward this goal, a critical examination of what happens to solutions at the crossing of pure space-like and time-like material discontinuities is given together with simple solutions for smooth transitions and numerical simulations in the discontinuous case. The effects on …

An Ab-Initio Study Of The Elastic Properties Of Important Group Iv Diborides At High Temperatures, Manny Gonzales

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Presented is an ab-initio Molecular Dynamics (MD) study, employing the Density Functional Theory (DFT), of the lattice parameter, thermal expansion coefficients and elastic constants of ZrB₂, TiB₂ and HfB₂ as a function of temperature. The MD trajectories provide the equilibrium lattice parameters at finite temperatures, and the gradient of the energy from these equilibrium solutions is then used to calculate the components of the stiffness tensor. The results for ZrB₂ are shown to agree well with reported experimental results for the lattice parameters and elastic constants as a function of temperature.

Spectroscopic Study Of The Inhibition Of Calcium Oxalate Calculi By Larrea Tridentata, Luis Alonso Pinales

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The causes of urolithiasis include such influences as diet, metabolic disorders, and genetic factors which have been documented as sources that aggravate urinary calculi depositions and aggregations, and, implicitly, as causes of urolithiasis. This study endeavors to detail the scientific mechanisms involved in calcium oxalate calculi formation, and, more importantly, their inhibition under growth conditions imposed by the traditional medicinal approach using the herbal extract, Larrea tridentata. The calculi were synthesized without and with Larrea tridentata infusion by employing the single diffusion gel technique. A visible decrease in calcium oxalate crystal growth with increasing amounts of Larrea tridentata herbal infusion …

Temporal Scales For Transport Patterns In The Gulf Of Finland, Bert Viikmae, Tarmo Soomere, Mikk Viidebaum, Mihhail Berezovski

Publications

The basic time scales for current-induced net transport of surface water and associated time scales of reaching the nearshore in the Gulf of Finland, the Baltic Sea, are analysed based on Lagrangian trajectories of water particles reconstructed from three-dimensional velocity fields by the Rossby Centre circulation model for 1987–1991. The number of particles reaching the nearshore exhibits substantial temporal variability whereas the rate of leaving the gulf is almost steady. It is recommended to use an about 3 grid cells wide nearshore area as a substitute to the coastal zone and about 10–15 day long trajectories for calculations of the …

Waves In Materials With Microstructure: Numerical Simulation, Mihhail Berezovski, Arkadi Berezovski, Juri Engelbrecht

Publications

Results of numerical experiments are presented in order to compare direct numerical calculations of wave propagation in a laminate with prescribed properties and corresponding results obtained for an effective medium with the microstructure modelling. These numerical experiments allowed us to analyse the advantages and weaknesses of the microstructure model.

Waves In Inhomogeneous Solids, Arkadi Berezovski, Mihhail Berezovski, Juri Engelbrecht

Publications

The paper aims at presenting a numerical technique used in simulating the propagation of waves in inhomogeneous elastic solids. The basic governing equations are solved by means of a finite-volume scheme that is faithful, accurate, and conservative. Furthermore, this scheme is compatible with thermodynamics through the identification of the notions of numerical fluxes (a notion from numerics) and of excess quantities (a notion from irreversible thermodynamics). A selection of one-dimensional wave propagation problems is presented, the simulation of which exploits the designed numerical scheme. This selection of exemplary problems includes (i) waves in periodic media for weakly nonlinear waves with …

Experimental Study Of The Response Of Semiconductor Detectors For Edxrf Analysis., Sunil Kumar Valaparla

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This present work relates to the study and characterization of the response function of an energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometer. The problems of energy, efficiency and resolution calibration of the system operating in the energy (5-60 keV) range are discussed. We present the operation characteristics of the portable pyro-electric x-ray generator (COOL-X) and the application of the calibrated response spectrum in the elemental analysis using X-ray Fluorescence (XRF).

We study the response of the Si(Li)-Pin XR-100CR semiconductor detector to low energy photons. The photopeak efficiency was determined experimentally by using radioisotopes and compared against a theoretical efficiency curve. The efficiency for gamma …

Observed Superspin-Glass Behavior In Ni0.5zn0.5fe2o4 Nanoparticles, Antony Adair

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

In this investigation we seek to identify the magnetic behavior of Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanoparticles though AC-susceptibility and DC-magnetization measurements. Powder x-ray diffraction was performed to determine the purity and average diameter ( ~ 9nm) of the particles. Aditionally, structure was confirmed by comparison through the International Centre for Diffraction Data's Powder Diffraction File [52] (PDF # 08-0234).

Zero-field cooled and field cooled DC magnetization measurements (bifurcation and blocking temperature), as well as M(H) hysteresis (below and above the blocking temperature) lead us to initially suggest that the material may in fact be superparamagnetic. However, further investigation of the real AC susceptibility …

Computational Modeling Studies Of The Structures And Properties Of Organotin(Iv) And Stannyl-Thioether Systems With Comparisons To X-Ray Crystallography, Michelle R. Stem Joseph

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Controlling the toxic effects of organotin(IV) compounds involves engineering the structure of the molecules to optimize their properties. Molecular engineering, coupled with improved capabilities to generate reliable computational optimization models (COMs), will enable researchers to have greater success at harnessing the highly specific cytotoxicity of organotins. For example, as the thio_n ligand phenyl groups were replaced with Cl atoms, the S-Sn intramolecularity was strengthened, the bond distance decreased, and the stannyl tetrahedral structure was deformed from its triphenyl conformation. With each substitution, conformation deformations lowered the damaging bioactivity levels of thio_n. Bonding various ligands to organotin(IV) compounds …

A Study Of The Interaction Of Thioindigo Dye, With Several Inorganic Host Materials, Alejandra Ramirez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Maya Blue has been the focus of numerous studies and is believed to be a mixture of palygorskite clay and indigo dye.^1,2 Several derivatives of this pigment have been developed with intriguing properties. For instance, the dye thioindigo reacts with the palygorskite clay to exhibit a broad range of colors from red to blue under UV-Vis excitation. Based on FT-Raman and computer simulation, previous work performed in our group could relate indigo and thioindigo interaction to the aluminum sites in the framework. super>3,4

The work performed with other inorganic host materials such as, layer structures and zeolites have …

An Experimental Technique For The Evaluation Of Strain Dependent Material Properties Of Hard Coatings, Shad A. Reed, Anthony N. Palazotto, William P. Baker

Faculty Publications

A novel vibration experiment consisting of a free-free boundary condition, an electromagnetic excitation source, a vacuum chamber, and a laser vibrometer based surface measurement system has been developed that permits high levels of excitation on highly damped specimens with a minimal amount of unwanted systematic error. While some of the aspects of this experiment are not unique, when combined with a processing technique that accounts for the nonlinearities present in the system, this experiment permits, accurate measurement of strain dependent stiffness and damping properties of hard coatings at high strain levels. This procedure has been demonstrated using a titanium beam …

Numerical Simulation Of Waves And Fronts In Inhomogeneous Solids, A. Berezovski, M. Berezovski, J. Engelbrecht, G. A. Maugin

Publications

Dynamic response of inhomogeneous materials exhibits new effects, which often do not exist in homogeneous media. It is quite natural that most of studies of wave and front propagation in inhomogeneous materials are associated with numerical simulations. To develop a numerical algorithm and to perform the numerical simulations of moving fronts we need to formulate a kinetic law of progress relating the driving force and the velocity of the discontinuity. The velocity of discontinuity is determined by means of the non-equilibrium jump relations at the front. The obtained numerical method generalizes the wave-propagation algorithm to the case of moving discontinuities …

Numerical Simulation Of Nonlinear Elastic Wave Propagation In Piecewise Homogeneous Media, Arkadi Berezovski, Mihhail Berezovski, Juri Engelbrecht

Publications

Systematic experimental work [S. Zhuang, G. Ravichandran, D. Grady, J. Mech. Phys. Solids 51 (2003) 245–265] on laminated composites subjected to high velocity impact loading exhibits the dispersed wave field and the oscillatory behavior of waves with respect to a mean value. Such a behavior is absent in homogeneous solids. An approximate solution to the plate impact in layered heterogeneous solids has been developed in [X. Chen, N. Chandra, A.M. Rajendran, Int. J. Solids Struct. 41 (2004) 4635–4659]. The influence of the particle velocity on many process characteristics was demonstrated. Based on earlier results [A. Berezovski, J. Engelbrecht, G.A. Maugin, …

Long-Term Mechanical Behavior Of Yucca Mountain Tuffs, And Its Variability, Jaak J.K. Daemen, George Danko, Jaime Gonzalez, Amy J. Smiecinski, Raymond E. Keeler

Publications (YM)

We propose to continue the investigation of the long term strength of Yucca Mountain tuffs, with particular emphasis on tuffs from and near the emplacement horizon. We propose to also continue and expand the investigation of the spatial variability of rock strength and stiffness. An intrinsic component of this planned rock testing is the testing of rock joints. Although the emphasis is on tests aimed at determining long term strength, as part of the testing measurements of stiffness also are collected, and will be collected, reported, and analyzed.

Evolution Of The Band Structure Of Β-In2 S3−3x O3x Buffer Layer With Its Oxygen Content, N. Barreau, S. Marsillac, J. C. Bernède, L. Assmann

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

The evolution of the band structure of β-In2 S3−3x O3x (BISO) thin films grown by physical vapor deposition, with composition x, is investigated using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It is shown that the energy difference between the valence-band level and the Fermi level remains nearly constant as the optical band gap of the films increases. As a consequence, the difference between the conduction band level and the Fermi level increases as much as the optical band gap of the films. The calculation of the electronic affinity [ ] of the BISO thin films shows that it decreases linearly from 4.65 …

Studies Of Bistable Fluid Devices For Particle Flow Control, Gerald H. Hogland

Dissertations and Theses

This study was directed toward the development of a bistable wall attachment Flip-Flop device which was capable of directionally controlling particle flow. The particles were transported by a fluid stream which under the influence of wall attachment. The dominant criteria in the development of the device was the achievement of the highest recovery of particles at the active output, without destroying the wall attachment of the fluid stream The experiment was conducted in several distinct stages; each of which was concerned with at least one aspect of wa1l attachment or particle flow. Results derived from one test were used to …