Dynamics of Functionally Graded Laminated (FGL) Media-Theoretical Tolerance Modelling

Dynamic problems of elastic non-periodically laminated solids are considered in this paper. It is assumed that these laminates have a functionally graded structure on the macrolevel along the x1-axis and non-periodic structure on the microlevel. However, along the other two directions, i.e., x2 and x3, their properties are constant. The effects of the size of a microstructure (the microstructure effect) on the behaviour of the composites can play a significant role. This effect can be described using the tolerance modelling method. This method allows us to derive model equations with slowly varying coefficients. Some of these terms can depend on the size of the microstructure. These governing equations of the tolerance model make it possible to determine formulas describing not only fundamental lower-order vibrations related to the macrostructure of these composite solids, but also higher-order vibrations related to the microstructure. Here, the application of the tolerance modelling procedure is shown to lead to equations of the tolerance model that can be used for non-periodically laminated solids. Then, these model equations are mainly used to analyse a simple example of vibrations for functionally graded composites with non-periodically laminated microstructure (FGL). Similar problems were investigated in the framework of the homogenised (macrostructural) model (Jędrysiak et al. 2006); the resulting equations neglect the microstructure effect.

Effect of Manganese Distribution on Sensor Properties of SnO2/MnOx Nanocomposites

Nanocomposites SnO₂/MnO_x with various manganese content (up to [Mn]/[Sn] = 10 mol. %) and different manganese distribution were prepared by wet chemical technique and characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and mapping, IR and Raman spectroscopy, total reflection X-ray fluorescence, mass-spectrometry with inductive-coupled plasma (ICP-MS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. A different distribution of manganese between the volume and the surface of the SnO₂ crystallites was revealed depending on the total Mn concentration. Furthermore, the identification of surface MnO₂ segregation was performed via Raman spectroscopy. There is a strong dependence of the sensor signal toward CO and, especially, NO) on the presence of MnO₂ surface segregation. However, manganese ions intruding the SnO₂ crystal structure were shown to not almost effect on sensor properties of the material.