The goal of this research was to create a microstructure graded glass-ceramic and investigate the resulting properties as a function of crystallization processing. The desired glass-ceramic was a lithium disilicate material that has a crystallization gradient across the sample, leading to functionally graded properties as a result of the microstructure gradient. Samples were prepared by melting and pouring glass at 1400°C, annealing at 400°C for 48 hours, and nucleating at 480°C for 2 hours. To ensure that crystallization would not occur homogeneously throughout the sample, a temperature gradient was imposed during crystallization. Samples were crystallized on a self-constructed resistance wire furnace that was open to air. Several crystallization processing parameters were tested, including high temperature for a short time and low temperature for a long time. Samples were ground and polished to 0.25 microns before characterization methods were performed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed the microstructure transition across the sample cross section, with crystals present on the crystalline side and only nuclei present on the glassy side. Raman spectroscopy showed a transformation of the characteristic spectra across the sample cross section, with defined, high-intensity peaks on the crystalline side and broad, low-intensity peaks on the glassy side. Microhardness showed a slight transition in hardness values across the sample cross section, however the variability was too great to draw any conclusions. The characterization methods showed that the desired material was created and the resulting properties were a function of the crystallization processing parameters. / Master of Science

Functionally graded materials (FGMs) are composites with continuous material property variations. The distinct interfaces between the reinforcement and the matrix in classical composites are potential damage initiation sites. The concept of FGM aims at avoiding the material mismatch at the interfaces. Functionally graded materials originated from the need for a material that has high-toughness at very high operating temperatures that occur in rocket nozzles and aeroplane engines. One of the early applications of graded materials can be thus found in thermal barrier coatings of gas turbine blades. Recent applications of FGMs include optoelectronics, ballistic impact resistance structures, wear resistant coatings and others. Although the manufacturing and applications of FGMs are well developed the basic mechanics of failure is not well understood, which is important in developing engineering design methodologies. Modern day design practice uses the concepts of fracture mechanics and the fracture properties of graded materials is not well understood. Most studies in the literature have assumed that the material response of the bulk functionally graded material to be elastic even though the constituents are nominally ductile. Some asymptotic analysis available in the literature have described the effect of ductility on the fracture parameters. However, these analysis are not complete in the sense that they have some undetermined constants. The present thesis aims at performing whole-field finite element (FE) simulations of a crack embedded in a ductile functionally graded material subjected to an anti-plane shear (mode-3) loading. A J2-deformation theory based power-law hardening nonlinear material response is assumed. The material property variation is assumed to be in the radial-direction (r-FGM), tangential to the crack (x-FGM), normal to the crack plane (y-FGM) and also at an arbitrary angle to the crack-plane (xy-FGM). Yet another power law described the material property variation. The competition between the indices of the hardening and material property variation is understood by performing a parametric analysis by varying both systematically. Our results indicate that the first most singular term of the asymptotic series remains unaffected. For some values of the material property variation index, the second asymptotic term is affected. The semi-closed form solutions available in the literature were unable to decipher the relative range of dominance of the first and second terms. From the present whole-field FEM analysis were able to extract this relative range of dominance. Our results indicate the range of dominance of the first term is least for FGMs when the material property variation is in the direction to the crack (x-FGM), and it is more for y-FGM.

No description available.

For a practice that has influenced the development of most of the musical techniques and compositional forms of Western music (Ferand, 1965, p.5), 'improvisation' is challenging to define. Recently, the graded music examinations offered by the two largest UK-based music examination boards, the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) and Trinity College London (TCL), have added options to assess improvisation within their instrumental curricula without clearly defining what they mean by 'improvisation' or how they assess it. This thesis argues that the lack of consistent definitions by the two leading examination boards results in a lack validity and meaning since it is unclear to examination stakeholders (music teachers, students, examiners and syllabus authors) exactly what is being assessed and how. This thesis investigates how 'improvisation' is defined, practiced, assessed and perceived within instrumental graded musical examinations. Evidence addressing the perspectives of the teaching-and-learning stakeholders is drawn from case-study observations and interviews of instrumental music lessons while candidates prepared for and completed an examination requiring improvisation. The perspectives of the examination board stakeholders are investigated through document analysis of the syllabuses, curricula and institutional websites of the examination boards in addition to interviews with examination board executives. The findings provide an initial investigation into an unexplored intersection of music education, improvisation and the business of graded examination boards. A clearer understanding emerges of the cultural and social practices of improvisation both inside and outside of the hegemony of graded examinations and the teaching-and- learning communities that support them. The findings of this thesis challenge the examination boards and bring more clarity to their assessment practices. and can help guide music teachers and students through the currently unclear landscape of improvisation in the ABRSM and TCL examinations.

Fracture mechanics plays an important role in understanding the performance of all types of materials including Functionally Graded Materials (FGMs). Recently, FGMs have attracted the attention of various scholars and engineers around the world since its specific material properties can smoothly vary along the geometries. In this thesis, the Finite Block Method (FBM), based on a 1D differential matrix derived from the Lagrangian Interpolation Method, has been presented for the evaluation of the mechanical properties of FGMs on both static and dynamic analysis. Additionally, the coefficient differential matrix can be determined by a normalized local domain, such as a square for 2D, a cubic for 3D. By introducing the mapping technique, a complex real domain can be divided into several blocks, and each block is possible to transform from Cartesian coordinate (xyz) to normalized coordinate (ξησ) with 8 seeds for two dimensions and 20 seeds for three dimensions. With the aid of coefficient differential matrix, the differential equation is possible to convert to a series of algebraic functions. The accuracy and convergence have been approved by comparison with other numerical methods or analytical results. Besides, the stress intensity factor and T-stresses are introduced to assess the fracture characteristics of FGMs. The Crack Opening displacement is applied for the calculation of the stress intensity factor with the FBM. In addition, a singular core is adopted to combine with the blocks for the simulation of T stresses. Numerical examples are introduced to verify the accuracy of the FBM, by comparing with Finite Element Methods or analytical results. Finally, the FBM is applied for wave propagation problems in two- and three-dimensional porous mediums considering their poroelasticities. To demonstrate the accuracy of the present method, a one-dimensional analytical solution has been derived for comparison.

<div>In this thesis, we study invariants of graded modules over polynomial rings. In particular, we find bounds on the Hilbert functions and graded Betti numbers of certain modules. This area of research has been widely studied, and we discuss several well-known theorems and conjectures related to these problems. Our main results extend some known theorems from the case of homogeneous ideals of polynomial rings R to that of graded R-modules. In Chapters 2 & 3, we discuss preliminary material needed for the following chapters. This includes monomial orders for modules, Hilbert functions, graded Betti numbers, and generic initial modules.</div><div> </div><div> In Chapter 4, we discuss x_n-stability of submodules M of free R-modules F, and use this stability to examine properties of lexsegment modules. Using these tools, we prove our first main result: a general hypersurface restriction theorem for modules. This theorem states that, when restricting to a general hypersurface of degree j, the Hilbert series of M is bounded above by that of M^{lex}+x_n^jF. In Chapter 5, we discuss Hilbert series of local cohomology modules. As a consequence of our general hypersurface restriction theorem, we give a bound on the Hilbert series of H^i_m(F/M). In particular, we show that the Hilbert series of local cohomology modules of a quotient of a free module does not decrease when the module is replaced by a quotient by the lexicographic module M^{lex}.</div><div> </div><div> The content of Chapter 6 is based on joint work with Gabriel Sosa. The main theorem is an extension of a result of Caviglia and Sbarra to polynomial rings with base field of any characteristic. Given a homogeneous ideal containing both a piecewise lex ideal and an ideal generated by powers of the variables, we find a lex ideal with the following property: the ideal in the polynomial ring generated by the piecewise lex ideal, the ideal of powers, and the lex ideal has the same Hilbert function and Betti numbers at least as large as those of the original ideal. This bound on the Betti numbers is sharp, and is a closer bound than what was previously known in this setting.</div>

The motivation to study this non-classical CMOS device is necessary to face with the ITRS constraints. In the ITRS roadmap, the gate length of devices are being scaled down rapidly but this rapid scaling is not in pace with the relatively slow scaling of the gate equivalent oxide thickness which leads to a degradation in the performance of the transistor. One of the solutions to this problem is the use of non-classical devices, such as the Gate-All-Around (GAA) MOSFET. Owing to the flexibility of SOI technology, these novel devices can be adapted to this technology bringing along with it the benefit of SOI technology. One of the main advantage of building this GAA device on SOI technology is that it offers the possibility whereby the second gate is easily built into the back of the device. GAA devices are also interesting because they do not need to scale down the thickness of the gate oxide rapidly but still able to maintain a suitable thickness to avoid problems such as current leakage through the thin gate oxide by tunnelling. The objective of this research can be divided into three parts; the first is to study the feasibility of the various fabrication process for this GAA device, the second to analyse the electrical characteristics of these fabricated GAA devices from DC characteristics up to 110 GHz and the third one is the use of commercial numerical simulation softwares (IE3D, Silvaco) in order to describe the physics of these novel devices. In this study, these different structures shows advantages and disadvantages when used in either analog or RF applications. The graded-channel structure has shown that it is advantageous when used in high performance analog circuits. The advantages of this structure is further enhanced when it is combined with the double-gate structure, forming a double-gate graded channel SOI MOSFET. Optimizing in terms of doping level along the channel of the graded-channel is important to yield good electrical results. In order for these devices to be successful commercially, it is important that they are compatible with the fabrication technology and trends available today and in the near future. To confirm that these devices can be adapted into today's and tomorrow's technology, we have shown that these they are easily adaptable in the current technology. Multiple-gate devices are a new group of devices which have been identified by ITRS as potential devices to meet the demands in the future. In this study, we have shown that these multiple-gate devices do indeed show improved short-channel effects and improved analog and RF characteristics when compared to the single-gate devices in existence. One of the main contributors to these improvements is due to what is known as the “volume inversion”.

We report the creation of strained silicon on silicon (SSOS) substrate technology. The method uses a relaxed SiGe buffer as a template for inducing tensile strain in a Si layer, which is then bonded to another Si handle wafer. The original Si wafer and the relaxed SiGe buffer are subsequently removed, thereby transferring a strained-Si layer directly to Si substrate without intermediate SiGe or oxide layers. Complete removal of Ge from the structure was confirmed by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy as well as secondary ion mass spectrometry. A plan-view transmission electron microscopy study of the strained-Si/Si interface reveals that the lattice-mismatch between the layers is accommodated by an orthogonal array of edge dislocations. This misfit dislocation array, which forms upon bonding, is geometrically necessary and has an average spacing of approximately 40nm, in excellent agreement with established dislocation theory. To our knowledge, this is the first study of a chemically homogeneous, yet lattice-mismatched, interface. / Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA)

No description available.

Multijunction solar cells made from a combination of CQDs of differing sizes and thus bandgaps are a promising means by which to increase the energy harvested from the Sun’s broad spectrum. In this dissertation, we first report the systematic engineering of 1.6 eV PbS CQD solar cells, optimal as the front cell responsible for visible wavelength harvesting in tandem photovoltaics. We rationally optimize each of the device’s collecting electrodes—the heterointerface with electron accepting TiO2 and the deep-work-function hole-collecting MoO3 for ohmic contact—for maximum efficiency. Room-temperature processing enables flexible substrates, and permits tandem solar cells that integrate a small-bandgap back cell atop a low thermal-budget larger-bandgap front cell. We report an electrode strategy that enables a depleted heterojunction CQD PV device to be fabricated entirely at room temperature. We develop a two-layer donor-supply electrode (DSE) in which a highly doped, shallow work function layer supplies a high density of free electrons to an ultrathin TiO2 layer via charge-transfer doping. Using the DSE we build all-room-temperature-processed small-bandgap (1 eV) colloidal quantum dot solar cells suitable for use as the back junction in tandem solar cells. We further report in this work the first efficient CQD tandem solar cells. We use a graded recombination layer (GRL) to provide a progression of work functions from the hole-accepting electrode in the bottom cell to the electron-accepting electrode in the top cell. The recombination layers must allow the hole current from one cell to recombine, with high efficiency and low voltage loss, with the electron current from the next cell. We conclude our dissertation by presenting the generalized conditions for design of efficient graded recombination layer solar devices. We demonstrate a family of new GRL designs experimentally and highlight the benefits of the progression of dopings and work functions in the interlayers.