Geometrical Non-uniformities Research Articles

Systematic Investigation of the Optoelectronic Properties of GaAs Nanowire and Nanocone Solar Cells: Effect of Geometrical Nonuniformities, Angle of Incidence, and Structural and Electronic Parameters

Systematic Investigation of the Optoelectronic Properties of GaAs Nanowire and Nanocone Solar Cells: Effect of Geometrical Nonuniformities, Angle of Incidence, and Structural and Electronic Parameters

Effect of different geometrical non-uniformities on nonlinear vibration of porous functionally graded skew plates: A finite element study

This article presents the investigation of nonlinear vibration analysis of tapered porous functionally graded skew (TPFGS) plate considering the effects of geometrical non-uniformities to optimize the thickness in the structural design. The TPFGS plate is analyzed considering linearly, bi-linearly, and exponentially varying thicknesses. The plate's effective material properties are tailor-made using a modified power-law distribution in which gradation varies along the thickness direction of the TPFGS plate. Incorporating the non-linear finite element formulation to develop the kinematic equation's displacement model for the TPFGS plate is based on the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) in conjunction with von Karman's nonlinearity. The nonlinear governing equations are established by Hamilton's principle. The direct iterative method is adopted to solve the nonlinear mathematical relations to obtain the nonlinear frequencies. The influence of the porosity distributions and porosity parameter indices on the nonlinear frequency responses of the TPFGS plate for different skew angles and variable thicknesses are studied for various geometrical parameters. The influence of taper ratio, variable thickness, skewness, porosity distributions, gradation, and boundary conditions on the plate's nonlinear vibration is demonstrated. The nonlinear frequency analysis reveals that the geometrical non-uniformities and porosities significantly influence the porous functionally graded plates with varying thickness than the uniform thickness. Besides, exponentially and linearly variable thicknesses can be considered for the thickness optimizations of TPFGS plates in the structural design.

Nonlinear lay-up optimization of variable stiffness composite skew and taper cylindrical panels in free vibration

In the present study, the fundamental natural frequencies of curvilinear fiber composite skew and taper cylindrical panels are optimized applying genetic algorithm (GA). Later, the fundamental amplitude-dependent nonlinear frequency behavior of the optimized curved fiber layup configurations is studied and compared with the reference unidirectional fiber layup. The variable stiffness behavior is obtained by altering the fiber angles continuously according to the curvilinear fiber path function in the composite laminates. A nonlinear structural model is utilized based on the virtual work principle. Green’s nonlinear kinematic strain relations are used to account for the geometric nonlinearities and the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) is adopted to generalize the formulation for the case of moderately thick cylindrical panels including transverse shear deformations. The goal is to determine how the variable stiffness parameters affect the linear and nonlinear free vibration behavior of the skew and taper cylindrical panels. Consequently, one may find the optimum fiber path with improved structural characteristics for the cylindrical panel. Eight-layered composite skew and taper cylindrical panels at two different boundary condition sets are considered in this research. Generalized Differential Quadrature (GDQ) method of solution is employed to solve the nonlinear governing equations of motion. Numerical results demonstrate the degree of effectiveness for fiber angle paths, boundary conditions, and geometrical non-uniformities on the fundamental frequencies of the cylindrical panel. Eventually, optimum fiber angles of each layer in free vibration analysis are presented.

Nonlinear analysis of functionally graded skewed and tapered wing-like plates including porosities: A bifurcation study

In the present study, nonlinear panel flutter and bifurcation behavior of functionally graded ceramic/metal wing-like tapered and skewed plates are investigated. Porosities are distributed over the cross-section of the functionally graded structure. The flutter speed, limit cycle oscillations, and bifurcation diagrams of the functionally graded plate with two types of geometrical non-uniformities being skewness and taperness are explored. Nonlinear structural model is utilized based on the virtual work principle by including the von-Karman nonlinear kinematic strain assumption. The first order shear deformation theory is employed to consider the transverse shear effect in the structural model. First-order linear piston theory is used to model the aerodynamic loading while the generalized differential quadrature method is employed to solve the governing equations of motion. Time integration of the final ordinary equations of motion is carried out using the Newmark average acceleration method. Different volume fractions are investigated to enhance the flutter instability margins and post-flutter behavior of functionally graded plates. Results demonstrate that the volume fraction and porosity coefficients have significant effects on dynamic behavior and limit cycle oscillation amplitudes.

Electroosmotic flow of a two-layer fluid in a slit channel with gradually varying wall shape and zeta potential

This study aims to investigate electroosmotic (EO) flow of a two-layer fluid through a slit microchannel where the wall shape as well as zeta potential may vary slowly and periodically with axial position. The two-layer EO flow is a model for the flow of two immiscible fluids: a non-conducting working fluid being dragged into motion by a conducting sheath fluid. Electric double layers may develop in the conducting fluid near the interface between the two fluids, and near a wall that is assumed to be non-uniform in both shape and zeta potential distribution. Because of these geometrical and electrical non-uniformities, pressure is internally induced. The two-fluid flow is therefore driven by electrokinetic and hydrodynamic forcings, while subjected to the combined effects of the axial variations of the wall shape and potential distribution. The present problem is formulated by invoking the lubrication approximation, for a nearly parallel flow of low Reynolds number, and the governing equations are solved as analytically as possible. The induced pressure gradient and the deformed shape of the interface, which are functions of axial position, as well as the flow rates of the two fluids, are determined by an iterative trial-and-error numerical scheme. Results are generated to show the effects due to various factors, including the applied pressure difference, interfacial potential, viscosity ratio, wall undulation, and phase shift between the wall shape and potential distribution. Some of the effects on flow in a non-uniform channel can be qualitatively different from that in a uniform channel.

Free vibration analysis of functionally graded beams with non-uniform cross-section using the differential transform method

Free vibrations of non-uniform cross-section and axially functionally graded Euler–Bernoulli beams with various boundary conditions were studied using the differential transform method. The method was applied to a variety of beam configurations that are either axially non-homogeneous or geometrically non-uniform along the beam length or both. The governing equation of an Euler–Bernoulli beam with variable coefficients was reduced to a set of simpler algebraic recurrent equations by means of the differential transformations. Then, transverse natural frequencies were determined by requiring the non-trivial solution of the eigenvalue problem stated for a transformed function of the transverse displacement with appropriately transformed its high derivatives and boundary conditions. To show the generality and effectiveness of this approach, natural frequencies of various beams with variable profiles of cross-section and functionally graded non-homogeneity were calculated and compared with analytical and numerical results available in the literature. The benefit of the differential transform method to solve eigenvalue problems for beams with arbitrary axial geometrical non-uniformities and axial material gradient profiles is clearly demonstrated.

Influence of geometrical non-uniformities of LaNi5 metal hydride bed on its structure and heat and mass transfer at hydrogen absorption

We perform cycling of a 500 g bed of La0.9Ce0.1Ni5 intermetallic compound in vertical and horizontal orientations with measurements of PCT isotherms, and further XRD and SEM investigation of bed structure. Significant decrease in equilibrium absorption pressure is observed in vertical orientation of the bed from 1.58 to 1.36 MPa at 333K, and from 2.68 to 2.51 MPa at 353K, accompanied by evident particle segregation by the bed height and densification at a bottom with formation of a robust agglomerate of small particles (< 10 μm) jointed with big particles of the size 100-200 μm, while particle size distribution in upper parts is more uniform with mean size about 10-20 μm. Fill density increases by 15% from the top to the bottom from 3.26 g/cm3 to 3.86 g/cm3 while structural properties of particles remain the same with X-ray density 8.31 g/cm3. Investigations of heat and mass transfer inside a vertical metal hydride reactor RSP-8 with 1 kg of La0.9Ce0.1Ni5 also show considerable non-uniformity of pressure inside the bed. If the reactor is charged from the top the hydrogen pressure at the bottom is lower on 0.2-0.3 MPa, which results in earlier occurrence of heat and mass transfer crisis.

Fabrication and characterization of Au dimer antennas on glass pillars with enhanced plasmonic response

AbstractWe report on the fabrication and dark-field spectroscopy characterization of Au dimer nanoantennas placed on top of SiO2 nanopillars. The reported process enables the fabrication of nanopillar dimers with gaps down to 15 nm and heights up to 1 μm. A clear dependence of the plasmonic resonance position on the dimer gap is observed for smaller pillar heights, showing the high uniformity and reproducibility of the process. It is shown how increasing the height of nanopillars significantly affects the recorded elastic scattering spectra from Au nanoantennas. The results are compared to finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) and finite-element method (FEM) simulations. Additionally, measured spectra are accompanied by dark-field microscopy images of the dimers, showing the pronounced change in color. Placing nanoantennas on nanopillars with a height comparable to the in-plane dimer dimensions results in an enhancement of the scattering response, which can be understood through reduced interaction of the near-fields with the substrate. When increasing the pillar height further, scattering by the pillars themselves manifests itself as a strong tail at lower wavelengths. Additionally, strong directional scattering is expected as a result of the interface between the nanoantennas and nanopillars, which is taken into account in simulations. For pillars of height close to the plasmonic resonance wavelength, the scattering spectra become more complex due to additional scattering peaks as a result of larger geometrical nonuniformities.

Quantifying the Impact of Nanoparticle Coatings and Nonuniformities on XPS Analysis: Gold/Silver Core-Shell Nanoparticles.

Spectral modeling of photoelectrons can serve as a valuable tool when combined with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. Herein, a new version of the NIST Simulation of Electron Spectra for Surface Analysis (SESSA 2.0) software, capable of directly simulating spherical multilayer NPs, was applied to model citrate stabilized Au/Ag-core/shell nanoparticles (NPs). The NPs were characterized using XPS and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) to determine the composition and morphology of the NPs. The Au/Ag-core/shell NPs were observed to be polydispersed in size, nonspherical, and contain off-centered Au-cores. Using the average NP dimensions determined from STEM analysis, SESSA spectral modeling indicated that washed Au/Ag-core-shell NPs were stabilized with a 0.8 nm layer of sodium citrate and a 0.05 nm (one wash) or 0.025 nm (two wash) layer of adventitious hydrocarbon, but did not fully account for the observed XPS signal from the Au-core. This was addressed by a series of simulations and normalizations to account for contributions of NP nonsphericity and off-centered Au-cores. Both of these nonuniformities reduce the effective Ag-shell thickness, which effect the Au-core photoelectron intensity. The off-centered cores had the greatest impact for the particles in this study. When the contributions from the geometrical nonuniformities are included in the simulations, the SESSA generated elemental compositions that matched the XPS elemental compositions. This work demonstrates how spectral modeling software such as SESSA, when combined with experimental XPS and STEM measurements, advances the ability to quantitatively assess overlayer thicknesses for multilayer core-shell NPs and deal with complex, nonideal geometrical properties.

Combustion modeling in large scale volumes using EUROPLEXUS code

Most of the numerical benchmarks on combustion in large scale volumes for hydrogen safety, which were performed up until today have demonstrated, that current numerical codes and physical models experience poor predictive capabilities at the industrial scale, both due to under-resolution and deficiencies in combustion modeling. This paper describes a validation of the EUROPLEXUS code against several large scale experimental data sets in order to improve its hydrogen combustion modeling capabilities in industrial settings (e.g. reactor buildings). The code is based on the Euler equations and employs an algorithm for the propagation of reactive interfaces, RDEM, which includes a combustion wave, as an integrable part of the Reactive Riemann problem, propagating with a fundamental flame speed (being a function of initial mixture properties as well as gas dynamics parameters). Validation of the first combustion model implemented in the code is based on obstacle-laden channels, interconnected reactor-type compartments, vented enclosures and covers all major premixed flame combustion regimes (slow, fast and detonation) with an aim to obtain conservative results. An improvement of this model is found in a direction of transient interaction of flame fronts with regions of elevated integral length scales presented in the velocity gradient field due to e.g. interactions with geometrical non-uniformities and pressure waves.

Critical current of Nb, NbN, and TaN thin-film bridges with and without geometrical nonuniformities in a magnetic field

The dependence of the critical current ${I}_{\mathrm{C}}$ on magnetic field has been systematically studied in thin-film superconducting Nb, NbN, and TaN bridges with widths smaller than the Pearl length. We have shown that application of a magnetic field of a proper orientation to the bridges with bends results in a suppression of the current crowding effect. This leads to an increase up to about 30% of the critical current in such bridges with respect to ${I}_{\mathrm{C}}$ measured at zero magnetic fields. We have demonstrated a good qualitative and quantitative agreement between experimental results and theoretical predictions obtained in frame of the London and Ginzburg-Landau models for a dominating edge pinning mechanism of vortices. Also we observed oscillations of ${I}_{\mathrm{C}}$ at magnetic fields, which increase with a decrease of the width of superconducting stripe. These oscillations are qualitatively similar to the Fraunhofer-like dependence of a critical current on the magnetic field in wide Josephson junctions. In the frame of the Ginzburg-Landau model, a penetration and pining of vortex chain is considered as a mechanism responsible for this nonmonotonic behavior of the critical current.

Recovery of Lost Photons in Plasmon-Mediated Transmission Through Continuous Metal Film

The plasmon-mediated transmission across a subwavelength-undulated, nanometer-thick continuous metal film embedded in a polymer exhibits an, as yet, unexplained loss, reducing the resonant transmission to half its theoretical value, precluding practical applications of this interesting spatially resolved polarization- and wavelength-selective effect. Slow chemical dissolution of the surrounding polymer while measuring the transmission spectrum under floating conditions reveals near complete recovery of the missing photons. The excess losses originate in nanoclusters of overheated polymer spots at the metal interface giving rise to index and geometrical nonuniformities where the mediating plasmon modes have their field maximum.

Conjugate heat transfer characterization in cooling channels

Cooling technology of gas turbine blades, primarily ensured via internal forced convection, is aimed towards withdrawing thermal energy from the airfoil. To promote heat exchange, the walls of internal cooling passages are lined with repeated geometrical flow disturbance elements and surface non-uniformities. Raising the heat transfer at the expense of increased pressure loss; the goal is to obtain the highest possible cooling effectiveness at the lowest possible pressure drop penalty. The cooling channel heat transfer problem involves convection in the fluid domain and conduction in the solid. This coupled behavior is known as conjugate heat transfer. This experimental study models the effects of conduction coupling on convective heat transfer by applying iso-heat-flux boundary condition at the external side of a scaled serpentine passage. Investigations involve local temperature measurements performed by Infrared Thermography over flat and ribbed slab configurations. Nusselt number distributions along the wetted surface are obtained by means of heat flux distributions, computed from an energy balance within the metal domain. For the flat plate experiments, the effect of conjugate boundary condition on heat transfer is estimated to be in the order of 3%. In the ribbed channel case, the normalized Nusselt number distributions are compared with the basic flow features. Contrasting the findings with other conjugate and convective iso-heat-flux literature, a high degree of overall correlation is evident.

Dynamical modeling of transport in MOS structures containing silicon nanocrystals for memory applications

A compact model that can be used to reproduce both quasi-static and dynamic characteristics of basic MOS cells with embedded Si-nc is presented. The structure is modeled through a device-like complex matrix of tunnel junctions, resulting in a time-dependent non-linear system of differential equations that is numerically solved, including calculation of the capacitance matrix, analytical tunneling expressions (direct and Fowler–Nordheim) for electrons/holes, and derivation of the effective tunneling area. The threshold evolution is calculated by monitoring the charge at each Si-nc as a function of time. The model is successfully validated against experimental data, showing its applicability to predict program/erase characteristics of nanocrystal memories as well as threshold voltage bit-to-bit dispersion as a consequence of geometrical non-uniformities in the nanocrystal layer position and/or gate areal coverage.

LATTICE BOLTZMANN SIMULATIONS OF CONTACT LINE PINNING

Contact angle hysteresis is caused by contact line pinning by geometrical and/or chemical non-uniformities on a solid surface. For small contact angles, theories have been developed for the pinning of contact angles, and an analogy between geometrical and chemical defects has been established. This paper presents LBM results for the interaction of a contact line with a spatially periodic array of chemical defects. The results are for finite contact angles. Qualitative comparisons with existing theories for chemical defects and experimental results for geometrical defects are made for pinned contact lines.

Evidence of localised charge build-up mechanisms in CVD diamond as observed using micro-X-ray beam analysis

Geometrical non-uniformities in the photoconduction properties of polycrystalline diamond detection devices are known and can be attributed to the spatial variation of the electric field distribution in the vicinity of grain boundaries. In this study, we provided further insights into these spatial variations of the sensitivity by using a monochromatic X-ray source in order to locally create carriers in diamond under a narrow spot size with a focal point size below 1μm in diameter. In this way, photo-sensitivity maps can be probed, and since the variation of the photon energies leads to modified penetration depths, the tool also enables the probing of the non-uniformity of the device throughout the volume of the device. Here we have also particularly focused on non-stable mechanisms that are known to affect the device performances, namely polarisation effects and charge build-up. This study therefore highlights several mechanisms that can be observed in diamond radiation detectors and that motivates their study: (i) limitations in sensitivity due to the saturation of the velocity of carriers, (ii) non-uniform photo-sensitivity, (iii) polarisation and (iv) charge build-up.

Geometrical non-uniformities in the sensitivity of polycrystalline diamond radiation detectors

Chemical vapour deposited (CVD) diamond is a remarkable material for the fabrication of photon and particle detectors. However, little is known about the perturbations induced by the polycrystalline nature of this material. For this purpose, we have used a micrometer size X-ray beam generated from a synchrotron light source to induce photocurrents in a CVD diamond-based detector. By comparing the measured currents in the device as the beam interaction position is moved on the sample with the topographical image of the surface observed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a significant non-uniformity has been observed that could be correlated with the grain structure.

Tensile instability in creep damaging solids

Tensile instability in creep damaging bars subject to geometrical and/or material non-uniformities is investigated for the constant load and constant stress tests provided the longwavelength approximation is maintained. The constitutive model employed in the study is valid for the moderate stress-elevated temperature regime which is dominated by completely creep constrained cavity growth. Two definitions of instability are used to study initial rates of imperfection growth and imperfection growth through failure. The first is concerned with the immediate response to a disturbance (stability in the small) while the second is related to a loss of correspondence between increments of perturbed and unperturbed field variables. A linearized stability analysis based on the first definition reveals that, like the pure viscous creep case, the deformation is unstable however, in contrast to viscous creep, the characteristic time for neck growth is much shorter. A nonlinear analysis based on the second definition associates the onset of instability with fracture occurring at a finite area but infinite local section strain. Histories of strain and area differences reveal the tendency for a highly localized neck to form, however this is countered by stability loss (fracture) at a finite area.

Heat-transfer and pressure drop experiments in air-cooled electronic-component arrays

An experimental investigation to determine the effect of geometrical nonuniformities on heat transfer and pressure drop of arrays of rectangular modules deployed along one wall of a parallel-plate channel is performed. The presence of a taller module in the array and its consequences on heat-transfer coefficients of other modules are investigated for various relative positions of the taller module, including both the entrance and the fully developed portions of the airflow. The heat-transfer coefficients at the tall module are also measured for different values of the Reynolds number and relative positions in the array. Among other findings, it is observed that the heat-transfer coefficients of the two modules siding the tall module display the highest enhancements.

Effects of the shape of a geometric defect and of interactions between defects on limit strains for biaxially stretched sheets

The effects of the shape of an initial geometric non-uniformity on limit strains for a biaxially-stretched sheet are first studied. An elliptic imperfection having various ratios of major to minor axis is considered. It is shown that the standard M-K imperfection gives lower bounds to forming limit diagrams. Then interactions between geometrical non-uniformities are studied by considering separately interactions for single rows of imperfections, as well as for periodically-spaced imperfections. The importance of interactions is pointed out and the results show that such interactions may not always be neglected in sheet metal formability analyses. The material of the sheet is assumed to be incompressible, elastic-plastic and rate-insensitive. Assuming that the behavior of the sheet can be described by generalized plane-stress assumptions, a large strain-plane-stress finite-element program is developed. Results are presented using finite-strain versions of J 2 flow theory and J 2 deformation theory of plasticity.