No Arabic abstract
We introduce two improvements in the numerical scheme to simulate collision and slow shearing of irregular particles. First, we propose an alternative approach based on simple relations to compute the frictional contact forces. The approach improves efficiency and accuracy of the Discrete Element Method (DEM) when modeling the dynamics of the granular packing. We determine the proper upper limit for the integration step in the standard numerical scheme using a wide range of material parameters. To this end, we study the kinetic energy decay in a stress controlled test between two particles. Second, we show that the usual way of defining the contact plane between two polygonal particles is, in general, not unique which leads to discontinuities in the direction of the contact plane while particles move. To solve this drawback, we introduce an accurate definition for the contact plane based on the shape of the overlap area between touching particles, which evolves continuously in time.
Skyrmions in chiral magnetic materials are topologically stable and energetically balanced spin configurations appearing under the presence of ferromagnetic interaction (FMI) and Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI). Much of the current interest has focused on the effects of magneto-elastic coupling on these interactions under mechanical stimuli, such as uniaxial stresses for future applications in spintronics devices. Recent studies suggest that skyrmion shape deformations in thin films are attributed to an anisotropy in the coefficient of DMI, such that $D_{x}! ot=!D_{y}$, which makes the ratio $lambda/D$ anistropic, where the coefficient of FMI $lambda$ is isotropic. It is also possible that $lambda_{x}! ot=!lambda_{y}$ while $D$ is isotropic for $lambda/D$ to be anisotropic. In this paper, we study this problem using a new modeling technique constructed based on Finsler geometry (FG). Two possible FG models are examined: In the first (second) model, the FG modeling prescription is applied to the FMI (DMI) Hamiltonian. We find that these two different FG models results are consistent with the reported experimental data for skyrmion deformation. We also study responses of helical spin orders under lattice deformations corresponding to uniaxial extension/compression and find a clear difference between these two models in the stripe phase, elucidating which interaction of FMI and DMI is deformed to be anisotropic by uniaxial stresses.
The kinematic flow pattern in slow deformation of a model dense granular medium is studied at high resolution using emph{in situ} imaging, coupled with particle tracking. The deformation configuration is indentation by a flat punch under macroscopic plane-strain conditions. Using a general analysis method, velocity gradients and deformation fields are obtained from the disordered grain arrangement, enabling flow characteristics to be quantified. The key observations are the formation of a stagnation zone, as in dilute granular flow past obstacles; occurrence of vortices in the flow immediately underneath the punch; and formation of distinct shear bands adjoining the stagnation zone. The transient and steady state stagnation zone geometry, as well as the strength of the vortices and strain rates in the shear bands, are obtained from the experimental data. All of these results are well-reproduced in exact-scale Non-Smooth Contact Dynamics (NSCD) simulations. Full 3D numerical particle positions from the simulations allow extraction of flow features that are extremely difficult to obtain from experiments. Three examples of these, namely material free surface evolution, deformation of a grain column below the punch and resolution of velocities inside the primary shear band, are highlighted. The variety of flow features observed in this model problem also illustrates the difficulty involved in formulating a complete micromechanical analytical description of the deformation.
Nanoparticles usually exhibit pronounced anisotropic properties, and a close insight into the atomic-scale deformation mechanisms is of great interest. In present study, atomic simulations are conducted to analyze the compression of bcc nanoparticles, and orientation-dependent features are addressed. It is revealed that surface morphology under indenter predominantly governs the initial elastic response. The loading curve follows the flat punch contact model in [110] compression, while it obeys the Hertzian contact model in [111] and [001] compressions. In plastic deformation regime, full dislocation gliding is dominated in [110] compression, while deformation twinning is prominent in [111] compression, and these two mechanisms coexist in [001] compression. Such deformation mechanisms are distinct from those in bulk crystals under nanoindentation and nanopillars under compression, and the major differences are also illuminated. Our results provide an atomic perspective on the mechanical behaviors of bcc nanoparticles and are helpful for the design of nanoparticle-based components and systems.
Electrostatic charging of insulating fine particles can be responsible for numerous phenomena ranging from lightning in volcanic plumes to dust explosions. However, even basic aspects of how fine particles become charged are still unclear. Studying particle charging is challenging because it usually involves the complexities associated with many particle collisions. To address these issues we introduce a method based on acoustic levitation, which makes it possible to initiate sequences of repeated collisions of a single sub-millimeter particle with a flat plate, and to precisely measure the particle charge in-situ after each collision. We show that collisional charge transfer between insulators is dependent on the hydrophobicity of the contacting surfaces. We use glass, which we modify by attaching nonpolar molecules to the particle, the plate, or both. We find that hydrophilic surfaces develop significant positive charges after contacting hydrophobic surfaces. Moreover, we demonstrate that charging between a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic surface is suppressed in an acidic environment and enhanced in a basic one. Application of an electric field during each collision is found to modify the charge transfer, again depending on surface hydrophobicity. We discuss these results within the context of contact charging due to ion transfer and show that they lend strong support to OH- ions as the charge carriers.
Mechanical behaviors of bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) including heterogeneous and homogeneous deformation are interpreted by phenomenological shear transformation zones (STZs) model. Currently, information about STZs, i.e. size and density, is only extracted by fitting model equation to the data obtained from macroscopic mechanical tests. This is inadequate since structural features of STZs theory cannot be assessed. Here, we develop anisotropic pair distribution function (PDF) method for directly characterizing mechanical response of deformation defects. Our results reveal the physical picture of deformation defects in BMGs and also provide direct experimental observation of a link between mechanical deformation and intrinsic properties of deformation defects in BMGs.