In general, the basic concept of an intelligent material is defined as the multifunctional material that has a sensor, a processor and an actuator function in the material that allows it to maintain optimum conditions in response to environmental changes. Despite the fact that these materials have demonstrated varying degrees of success in shape and position control, active and passive control of vibration and acoustic transmission of materials subjected to dynamic loads, impact damage and creep resistance in structures and have been applied in industries from aerospace to biomechanics to civil engineering structures, very little literature is available on the subject. Thus, the objective of this dissertation is to add to the fundamental understanding of the behaviour of these special materials by investigating the possibility of a magnetostrictive SMA hybrid metalmatrix composite beam with piezoelectric actuator, to enhance the materials load attenuation and energy absorption characteristics under low velocity impact loading. The methodology employed in this investigation is driven by two primary factors. The first is the unique approach that the author puts forward to attempt to simplify the characterisation of damage in not just metal matrix composites, but in materials in general. The second factor is the lack of available literature on smart material energy absorption as well as a lack of precise theory for short fibre composites. The methodology includes an extensive literature review, the development of an analytical model, based on the new damage modulus approach, verification of the model using experimental results presented by Agag et. aI., adjustment of the model to include smart material effects and finally numerical simulation using the MATLAB® software to predict the effect of smart materials on the energy absorption capacity of the material under impact. The results show that the damage modulus (ED) is a material characteristic and can be derived from the stress strain diagram. Further, it takes into account degradation of the material through the plastic region, up to the point just before ultimate failure. Thus, ED lends itself to the simplification of many damage models in terms of a reducing sustainable load and energy absorption capacity. Only the energy consumed through material rupture remains to be characterised. The results also show that smart fibres diminish the capacity of the beam to sustain a load, but increase the displacement to failure. Thus, for a compatible substrate material, this increased displacement translates to a significant enhancement of energy absorption characteristics. The effect of prestrain on energy absorption is also considered and there appears to be a definite turning point where the dissertation thus achieves its objective in investigating the ability of smart materials to enhance the energy absorption characteristics of regular fibre reinforced metal-matrix composite materials subject to low velocity impact loading. Of equal importance to the achievement of this objective is the introduction in the dissertation of the unique damage modulus that goes to the foundation of material characterisation for mechanical engineering design and has profound implications in damage theory and future design methodologies. Significant learning has taken place in the execution of this PhD endeavour and this dissertation will no doubt contribute to other investigations in the field of smart materials. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal,Durban,2003.

Thesis (M. App. Sc.)--Carleton University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 99-114). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Metal matrix composites can produce mechanical and physical properties better than those of the monolithic metal. Titanium alloys are widely used matrix materials as they can offer outstanding specific strength, corrosion resistance and other advantages over its competitors, such as aluminium, magnesium and stainless steel. In past decades, titanium matrix composites served in broad areas, including aerospace, military, automobile and biomedical industries. In this project, a revised powder metallurgy method, which contains cold isostatic pressing and hot isostatic pressing, was adopted to refine the microstructure of monolithic titanium. It was also used to manufacture titanium matrix composites. TiH2 powder was selected as the starting material to form Ti matrix and the reinforcements were sub-micron and nano-metric TiB particles. Mechanical properties and microstructure of commercial titanium composites exhaust valves from Toyota Motor Corporation have been studied as the reference of properties of titanium composites manufactured in this project. It has been shown that tensile strength and hardness of exhaust valves increase about 30% than those of similar matrix titanium alloys. Examination on powder starting materials of this project was also carried out, especially the dehydrogenation process shown in the DSC result. Mechanical properties and microstructures of titanium matrix composites samples in this project, as related to the process parameter, have also been investigated. The density of these samples reached 96% of theoretical one but cracks were found through out the samples after sintering. Fast heating rates during the processing was suspected to have caused the crack formation, since the hydrogen release was too fast during dehydrogenation. Hardness testing of sintered samples was carried out and the value was comparable and even better than that of commercial exhaust valves and titanium composites in literature. Microstructure study shows that the size of reinforcements increased and the size of grains decreased as the increasing amount of TiB reinforcements. And this condition also resulted in the increasing amount of the acicular alpha structure.

No description available.

了解表面等子體和外部環境之間的相互作用對表面等子體應用的開發非常重要。我們的研究集中在表面等子體與遠場的耦合，以及表面等子體模之間的耦合。 / 首先，我們研究由表面等子體模式耦合所產生的射衰變的變化。我們以角分辨反射光譜測同孔大小的納米孔陣上的簡併表面等子體模的衰減。對於每個孔的大小，我們觀察到在發生共振耦合的光譜區，衰減速有很大的改變，顯示出暗模和模的形成。耦合模很好地解釋衰變的變化。推導出的耦合常隨著孔直徑的增加而增加。我們也對耦合模一些有趣的特性及衰減變化的微觀起源進探討。 / 第二，我們以偏振分辨反射光譜從二維屬陣射散射。我們發現，反射光譜遵循的法模型可以由耦合模和瓊斯矩陣演算推導出。通過用正交方向的偏光器和分析器，反射光譜上的谷翻轉成峰，從以能夠測定出射散射效。我們發現，射散射效與波長和孔直徑的依賴關係和單孔的瑞散射相符合。 / 最後，我們開發一個新的方法，以偏振分辨光譜在實驗中測射衰變。這方法的有效性通過時域有限差分計算得到證明。我們還將此方法應用在實驗據上作為示範。 / Understanding the interaction between surface plasmon and outer environment is crucial in development of plasmonic applications. Our study is focused on the coupling between surface plasmons and far field, and also the coupling between surface plasmon modes. / First, we studied the change in radiative decay rate due to coupling of degenerate surface plasmon modes. We measured the decay rates of two degenerate surface plasmon modes in Au nanohole arrays with different hole sizes by angle-resolved reflectivity spectroscopy. For each hole size, at the spectral region where resonant coupling occurs, we observed a large modification in decay rates, leading to the formation of dark and bright modes. The change in decay rates is well explained by coupled-mode theory. The deduced coupling constant is found to increase with increasing hole diameter. Interesting properties of the coupled modes and microscopic origin of the change in decay rate is also discussed. / Second, we measured the radiative scattering from two-dimensional metallic arrays by using polarization-resolved reflectivity spectroscopy. We found that the reflectivity spectra follow the Fano-like model which can be derived from coupled-mode theory and Jones matrix calculus. By orthogonally orienting the incident polarizer and the detection analyzer, reflectivity dips flip into peaks and the radiative scattering efficiency can be determined accordingly. The dependence of total radiative scattering efficiency on wavelength and hole diameter is found to agree well with Rayleigh scattering by single hole. / Finally, we developed a new method to measure radiative decay rates experimentally by polarization-resolved reflectivity spectroscopy. The validity of this method is proved by finite-difference time-domain simulation. We also applied this method on experimental data as a demonstration. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Lo, Hau Yung = 表面等離子體在金屬納米孔陣列的輻射衰減及耦合 / 羅孝勇. / "December 2012." / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-92). / Abstracts also in Chinese. / Lo, Hau Yung = Biao mian deng li zi ti zai jin shu na mi kong zhen lie de fu she shuai jian ji ou he / Luo Xiaoyong. / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 2 --- Basic Theory and Techniques --- p.3 / Chapter 2.1 --- Macroscopic Maxwell Equations and Boundary Conditions --- p.3 / Chapter 2.2 --- Symmetries and Band Structure --- p.4 / Chapter 2.3 --- Coupled-mode Theory --- p.10 / Chapter 2.4 --- Finite-difference Time-domain Simulation --- p.12 / Chapter 2.5 --- Preparation of Metallic Nano-hole Arrays --- p.14 / Chapter 3 --- Fundamentals of Surface Plasmons on Metallic Nanohole Array --- p.18 / Chapter 3.1 --- Confinement and Propagation Nature of SPs --- p.18 / Chapter 3.2 --- Skin Depth and Propagation Length --- p.19 / Chapter 3.3 --- Dispersion Relation and Phase-matching Conditions --- p.21 / Chapter 3.4 --- Measurement of Band Structure: Angle-resolved Reflectivity Mapping --- p.23 / Chapter 3.5 --- Red Shift of Band Structure --- p.26 / Chapter 3.6 --- Comparison of Two Presentations of Band Structure: "ω against k" versus "λ against θ" --- p.28 / Chapter 3.7 --- Resonance Peak Shape: FanoModel and Wood's Anomalus --- p.30 / Chapter 3.8 --- Resonance Peak Shape: "Fano-like" Model --- p.34 / Chapter 3.9 --- Appendix A: Derivation of Eq(3.1) --- p.36 / Chapter 4 --- Decay Rates Modification though Coupling of Degenerate Surface Plasmon modes --- p.40 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.40 / Chapter 4.2 --- Measurements of Degenerate Surface Plasmon Modes --- p.42 / Chapter 4.3 --- Decay rates of Coupled Modes --- p.45 / Chapter 4.4 --- Hole Diameter Dependence of Coupling Constants --- p.47 / Chapter 4.5 --- Understanding the S-polarized Surface Plasmon Modes --- p.50 / Chapter 4.6 --- TE-like Surface Plasmon Modes --- p.53 / Chapter 4.7 --- Microscopic Origin of the Modification in Decay Rate --- p.54 / Chapter 4.8 --- Summary --- p.60 / Chapter 5 --- Direct Measurement of Radiative Scattering of Surface Plasmon Resonance from Metallic Arrays by Polarization-resolved Reflectivity Spectroscopy --- p.61 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.61 / Chapter 5.2 --- Theory of Direct Measurement of Radiative Scattering --- p.62 / Chapter 5.3 --- Comparison with Experiment --- p.65 / Chapter 5.4 --- Comparison with Rayleigh Scattering Model --- p.71 / Chapter 5.5 --- Summary --- p.74 / Chapter 6 --- A Method of Obtaining Radiative Decay Rates From Experiment --- p.76 / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.76 / Chapter 6.2 --- Method --- p.77 / Chapter 6.3 --- Prove of Validity --- p.78 / Chapter 6.4 --- Experimental Demonstration --- p.82 / Chapter 6.5 --- Summary --- p.85 / Chapter 7 --- Conclusion --- p.86 / Chapter 8 --- Bibliography --- p.88 / Chapter 9 --- Curriculum Vitae --- p.93

Thesis. 1977. Ph.D.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND SCIENCE. / Vita. / Includes bibliographical references. / Ph.D.

Chau, Chun Pong. / "August 2010." / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-71). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Motivation --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Objectives --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3 --- Contribution --- p.4 / Chapter 1.4 --- Thesis Organization --- p.5 / Chapter 2 --- Background and Review --- p.6 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.6 / Chapter 2.2 --- Logic Cell Style and Mask Programmability --- p.6 / Chapter 2.3 --- CAD Tools Compatibility --- p.8 / Chapter 2.4 --- Summary --- p.9 / Chapter 3 --- Architectural Design --- p.11 / Chapter 3.1 --- Overview --- p.11 / Chapter 3.2 --- Programmable Layers --- p.12 / Chapter 3.3 --- Combinational Logics --- p.12 / Chapter 3.4 --- Sequential Logics --- p.19 / Chapter 3.5 --- Inter-cell Connections --- p.21 / Chapter 3.6 --- Hard Macros --- p.22 / Chapter 3.7 --- Summary --- p.22 / Chapter 4 --- Design Flow --- p.23 / Chapter 4.1 --- Overview --- p.23 / Chapter 4.2 --- Library Creation --- p.24 / Chapter 4.3 --- Synthesis --- p.30 / Chapter 4.4 --- Placement and Routing --- p.30 / Chapter 4.5 --- Static Timing Analysis --- p.34 / Chapter 4.6 --- Summary --- p.35 / Chapter 5 --- Experimental Results --- p.36 / Chapter 5.1 --- Benchmark Circuits Description --- p.36 / Chapter 5.2 --- Experiment Settings --- p.37 / Chapter 5.3 --- Ratio of Dedicated Elements --- p.42 / Chapter 5.4 --- Delay and Area Comparison --- p.49 / Chapter 5.5 --- Distributed Memories --- p.53 / Chapter 5.6 --- Summary --- p.54 / Chapter 6 --- Prototypes and Applications --- p.55 / Chapter 6.1 --- Overview --- p.55 / Chapter 6.2 --- First Prototype --- p.55 / Chapter 6.3 --- Second Prototype --- p.63 / Chapter 7 --- Conclusion --- p.65 / Chapter 7.1 --- Future Work --- p.66 / Chapter 7.2 --- Concluding Remark --- p.67

Ho, Yuk Ting. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgement --- p.i / Abstract --- p.vi / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Composite Materials --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- General Properties of Composite Materials --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Fabrication of Composite Materials --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Liquid State Sintering --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Casting --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Other Fabrication Techniques --- p.7 / Chapter 1.4 --- Phase Transformation --- p.8 / Chapter 1.5 --- Nucleation and Growth --- p.10 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Homogeneous nucleation --- p.10 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Heterogeneous nucleation --- p.10 / Chapter 1.5.3 --- Growth --- p.11 / Chapter 1.6 --- Phase Separation by Spinodal Decomposition --- p.11 / Chapter 1.6.1 --- The Initiation of Spinodal Decomposition --- p.12 / Chapter 1.6.2 --- Dynamics of Spinodal Decomposition --- p.12 / Chapter 1.6.3 --- Difference between Coherent Spinodal and Nucleation and Growth --- p.17 / Chapter 1.7 --- Methods in Obtaining Large Under-cooling --- p.19 / References --- p.20 / Figures --- p.23 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Experiment --- p.29 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.29 / Chapter 2.2 --- Preparation of Fused Silica Tubes --- p.29 / Chapter 2.3 --- Sample Preparation --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Alloying --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Fluxing --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Under-cooling --- p.31 / Chapter 2.4 --- Microstructure Analysis --- p.32 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Sample Surface Analysis --- p.32 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) --- p.32 / Chapter 2.5 --- Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) --- p.32 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Specimen Requirement --- p.33 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- "Cutting, Grinding, Polishing and Pouching" --- p.33 / Chapter 2.5.3 --- Dimpling --- p.34 / Chapter 2.5.4 --- Ion Milling --- p.34 / Chapter 2.5.5 --- Microstructure Characterization by TEM --- p.35 / Chapter 2.6 --- Mechanical Properties --- p.37 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Hardness Testing --- p.37 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Compression Testing --- p.37 / Chapter 2.7 --- Characterizations of Untreated Samples --- p.38 / References --- p.39 / Figures --- p.40 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Formation and Properties of Co-Si-B Metal Matrix Composites --- p.44 / Abstract --- p.44 / Introduction --- p.45 / Experimental --- p.46 / Results --- p.47 / Chapter A. --- Microstructures --- p.48 / Eutectic Co75Si15B10 --- p.48 / Network Co75Si15B10 --- p.48 / Chapter B. --- Mechanical Behavior --- p.50 / Eutectic Co75Si15B10 --- p.50 / Network CO75Si15B10 --- p.51 / Discussions --- p.53 / Conclusion --- p.53 / Acknowledgement --- p.54 / References --- p.55 / Figures --- p.56 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- On the Network Morphology of Co75Si15B10 Alloys --- p.68 / Abstract --- p.68 / Introduction --- p.69 / Experimental --- p.69 / Results --- p.69 / Discussions --- p.74 / Acknowledgement --- p.77 / References --- p.78 / Figures --- p.79 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Conclusion --- p.100

Chung, Kam Chuen = 鐵基/鐵三鋁基/鋁基金屬基複合材料的合成和表徵 / 鍾錦銓. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references. / Text in English; abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chung, Kam Chuen = Tie ji/tie san lü ji/lü ji jin shu ji fu he cai liao de he cheng he biao zheng / Zhong Jinquan. / Abstract --- p.i / 摘要 --- p.iii / Acknowledgement --- p.v / Table of contents --- p.vi / List of tables --- p.x / List of figures --- p.xi / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1-1 / Chapter 1.1. --- Metal matrix composites (MMCs) --- p.1-1 / Chapter 1.1.1. --- Introduction --- p.1-1 / Chapter 1.1.2. --- Matrix materials --- p.1-1 / Chapter 1.1.3. --- Reinforcements --- p.1-2 / Chapter 1.1.4. --- Fabrication techniques --- p.1-3 / Chapter 1.1.5. --- Applications --- p.1-7 / Chapter 1.2. --- MMCs in this work --- p.1-9 / Chapter 1.2.1. --- Metal matrices --- p.1-9 / Chapter 1.2.2. --- Reinforcements --- p.1-11 / Chapter 1.3. --- Previous works --- p.1-13 / Chapter 1.4. --- Objectives and current works --- p.1-15 / Chapter 1.5. --- Thesis layout --- p.1-16 / References --- p.1-18 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Methodology and Instrumentation --- p.2-1 / Chapter 2.1. --- Powder metallurgy (PM) --- p.2-1 / Chapter 2.1.1. --- Mixing --- p.2-1 / Chapter 2.1.2. --- Compacting --- p.2-1 / Chapter 2.1.3. --- Sintering --- p.2-2 / Chapter 2.2. --- Sample preparation --- p.2-3 / Chapter 2.2.1. --- Mixing and compacting --- p.2-3 / Chapter 2.2.2. --- Tube furnace sintering --- p.2-3 / Chapter 2.2.3. --- Arc melting --- p.2-4 / Chapter 2.3. --- Sample characterization --- p.2-4 / Chapter 2.3.1. --- DTA and DSC --- p.2-5 / Chapter 2.3.2. --- XRD --- p.2-6 / Chapter 2.3.3. --- SEM --- p.2-6 / Chapter 2.3.4. --- TEM --- p.2-6 / Chapter 2.3.5. --- Microhardness test --- p.2-7 / Chapter 2.3.6. --- VSM --- p.2-7 / References --- p.2-9 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Synthesis of magnetic hercynite in Fe-based MMC --- p.3-1 / Chapter 3.1. --- Introduction --- p.3-1 / Chapter 3.2. --- Experiments --- p.3-2 / Chapter 3.3. --- Results and discussion --- p.3-2 / Chapter 3.3.1. --- DTA and XRD results --- p.3-2 / Chapter 3.2.2. --- SEM and EDS results --- p.3-3 / Chapter 3.3.3. --- Reaction mechanisms --- p.3-5 / Chapter 3.3.4. --- Thermodynamic model for the reactions --- p.3-8 / Chapter 3.3.5. --- Saturation magnetization --- p.3-9 / Chapter 3.3.6. --- Microhardness --- p.3-11 / Chapter 3.4. --- Conclusions --- p.3-11 / References --- p.3-13 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Synthesis of reinforced Fe3Al-based MMC --- p.4-1 / Chapter 4.1. --- Introduction --- p.4-1 / Chapter 4.2. --- Experiments --- p.4-2 / Chapter 4.3. --- Results and discussion --- p.4-4 / Chapter 4.3.1. --- AI2O3-reinforced samples --- p.4-4 / Chapter 4.3.2. --- MgO-reinforced samples --- p.4-8 / Chapter 4.3.3. --- MgAl204-reinforced samples --- p.4-11 / Chapter 4.3.4. --- Microhardness and densities --- p.4-14 / Chapter 4.4. --- Conclusions --- p.4-16 / References --- p.4-18 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Formation of Al-Fe intermetallics in Al-based MMC…… --- p.5-1 / Chapter 5.1. --- Introduction --- p.5-1 / Chapter 5.2. --- Experiments --- p.5-2 / Chapter 5.3. --- Results and discussion --- p.5-3 / Chapter 5.3.1. --- DTA and XRD results --- p.5-3 / Chapter 5.2.2. --- "SEM, TEM and EDS results" --- p.5-4 / Chapter 5.3.3. --- Reaction mechanisms --- p.5-9 / Chapter 5.3.4. --- Phase transformation in solidification --- p.5-11 / Chapter 5.3.5. --- Microhardness --- p.5-13 / Chapter 5.4. --- Conclusions --- p.5-14 / References --- p.5-15 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Conclusions and future work --- p.6-1 / Chapter 6.1. --- Conclusions --- p.6-1 / Chapter 6.2. --- Future work --- p.6-3

M.S. / Materials Science and Engineering / The goal of this thesis is to determine the corrosion behavior of a new class of advanced materials, namely: titanium carbide reinforced iron composites containing chromium (Fe-Cr-TiC) and chromium and manganese (Fe-Cr-Mn-TiC). TiC has excellent physical properties, such as high melting point, low density, high Vickers hardness value, high electrical resistivity and low thermal expansion. Due to their great wear resistance characteristics and toughness, these materials show potential applications in pulp and paper industries, mining and mineral processing industries, metallurgical industries, cement industries, and electric industries. Some components made of these materials may work under a combined action of corrosion and wear. This study is aimed at determining the corrosion behavior using electrochemical methods such as potentiodynamic and potentiostatic. Two different electrolytes were used in this research: 1N (0.5 M) sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and 1N (0.5 M) sodium sulfate (Na2SO4). The experiments were performed on the following materials; Fe-TiC, Fe-Cr-TiC, Fe-Cr-Mn- TiC and their matrix materials.