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In this study, one-dimensional vision of carrier movement based on the band structure of trilayer graphene nanoribbon in the presence of a perpendicular electric field is employed. An analytical model of ABA-stacked trilayer graphene nanoribbon carrier statistics as a fundamental parameter of field effect transistor (FET) in corporation with a numerical solution is presented in the degenerate and non-degenerate limits. The simulated results based on the presented model indicate that the model can be approximated by degenerate and non-degenerate approximations in some numbers of normalised Fermi energy. Analytical model specifies that carrier concentration in degenerate limit is strongly independent of normalised Fermi energy; however, in the non-degenerate limit, it is a strong function of normalised Fermi energy. The proposed model is then compared with other types of graphene. As a result, the developed model can assist in comprehending experiments involving trilayer graphene nanoribbon FET-based devices. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Highlights: [•] Effect of d-wave superconductivity on conductance of strain graphene-based junction is studied. [•] We consider the large Fermi energy case due to calculate the incident angle of quasiparticles exactly. [•] Effect of Fermi energy mismatch leads to a reduction in conductance only in strain direction. [•] A comparison of obtained results with unstrained graphene-based junction is presented in detail. [•] In low mismatch energies, we observe that amplitude of oscillations is varied with barrier strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, a novel semi-analytical method is proposed for modeling of two-dimensional (2D) elastodynamic problems. In this regard, the domain boundary of the problem is discretized by specific non-isoparametric elements that are proposed for the first time in this paper. In these elements, special shape functions as well as higher-order Chebyshev mapping functions are implemented. For the shape functions, Kronecker Delta property is satisfied for displacement function and its derivatives, simultaneously. Moreover, the first derivatives of shape functions are assigned to zero at any given node. Finally, using a weak form of weighted residual method and implementing Clenshaw–Curtis numerical integration, coefficient matrices of the system of equations are converted into diagonal ones, which leads to a set of decoupled partial differential equations for solving the whole system. This means that the governing partial differential equation for each degree of freedom (DOF) becomes independent from other DOFs of the domain. Also, to assess the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method, four benchmark problems of 2D elastodynamics are solved using a few numbers of DOFs. The numerical results present excellent agreement with the analytical solutions and the results from other numerical methods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Length of saturation region (LVSR) as an important parameter in nanoscale devices, which controls the drain breakdown voltage is in our focus. This paper presents three models for surface potential, surface electric field and LVSR in double-gate Graphene nanoribbon transistors. The Poisson equation is used to derive surface potential, lateral electric field and LVSR. Using the proposed models, the effect of several parameters such as drain–source voltage, oxide thickness, doping concentration and channel length on the LVSR is studied. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper proposes a new algorithm for modeling the nonlinear seismic behavior of fractured concrete gravity dams considering dam–reservoir interaction effects. In this algorithm, the cracked concrete gravity dam is modeled by distinct element (DE) method, which has been widely used for the analysis of blocky media. Dynamic response of the reservoir is obtained using boundary element (BE) method. Formulation and various computational aspects of the proposed staggered hybrid approach are thoroughly discussed. To the authors'' knowledge, this is the first study of a hybrid DE–BE approach for seismic analysis of cracked gravity dam–reservoir systems. The validity of the algorithm is discussed by developing a two-dimensional computer code and comparing results obtained from the proposed hybrid DE–BE approach with those reported in the literature. For this purpose, a few problems of seismic excitations in frequency- and time-domains, are presented using the proposed approach. Present results agree well with the results from other numerical methods. Furthermore, the cracked Koyna Dam is analyzed, including dam–reservoir interaction effects with focus on the nonlinear behavior due to its top profile crack. Results of the present study are compared to available results in the literature in which the dam–reservoir interaction were simplified by added masses. It is shown that the nonlinear analysis that includes dam–reservoir interaction gives downstream sliding and rocking response patterns that are somehow different from that of the case when the dam–reservoir interaction is approximated employing added masses. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: System identification is an emerging field of structural engineering which plays a key role in structures of great importance such as concrete gravity dams. In this study, an artificial neural network (ANN) procedure is proposed for the identification of concrete gravity dams, in conjunction with a hybrid finite element–boundary element (FE–BE) analysis for the prediction of dynamic characteristics of an existing concrete gravity dam with an empty reservoir. First, a dam–reservoir interaction analysis is carried out by the hybrid FE–BE approach in the frequency domain. A two-dimensional (2D) FE model (FEM) is used for linear-elastic analysis of the gravity dam on a rigid foundation, while the unbounded reservoir with inviscid, compressible, and frictionless fluid is discretized by BEs. Various analyses are performed for different height to base width ratios of dams in terms of different wave reflection coefficient of the reservoir bottom. The use of ANNs is motivated by the approximate concepts inherent in system identification approaches, and the time-consuming repeated analyses required for dam–reservoir interacting systems. The conjugate gradient algorithm (CGA) and the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm (LMA) are implemented for training the ANNs, using available data generated from the results of coupled dam–reservoir system analyses. The trained ANNs are then employed to compute the dynamic amplification of dam crest displacement and natural frequencies of existing concrete gravity dams through forced vibration tests. The results obtained by solving the present inverse problem are compared with existing FEM solutions to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A common effective method to reduce the seismic response of liquid storage tanks is to isolate them at base using base-isolation systems. It has been observed that in many earthquakes, the foregoing systems significantly affect on the whole system response reduction. However, in exceptional cases of excitation by long-period shaking, the base-isolation systems could have adverse effects. Such earthquakes could cause tank damage due to excessive liquid sloshing. Therefore, the numerical seismic response of liquid storage tanks isolated by bilinear hysteretic bearing elements is investigated under long-period ground motions in this research. For this purpose, finite shell elements for the tank structure and boundary elements for the liquid region are employed. Subsequently, fluid–structure equations of motion are coupled with governing equation of base-isolation system, to represent the whole system behavior. The governing equations of motion of the whole system are solved by an iterative and step-by-step algorithm to evaluate the response of the whole system to the horizontal component of three ground motions. The variations of seismic shear forces, liquid sloshing heights, and tank wall radial displacements are plotted under various system parameters such as the tank geometry aspect ratio (height to radius), and the flexibility of the isolation system, to critically examine the effects of various system parameters on the effectiveness of the base-isolation systems against long-period ground motions. From these analyses, it may be concluded that with the installation of this type of base-isolation system in liquid tanks, the dynamic response of tanks during seismic ground motions can be considerably reduced. Moreover, in the special case of long-period ground motions, the seismic response of base-isolated tanks may be controlled by the isolation system only at particular conditions of slender and broad tanks. For the case of medium tanks, remarkable attentions would be required to be devoted to the design of base-isolation systems expected to experience long-period ground motions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The finite element method is a computationally intensive method. Effective use of the method requires setting up the computational framework in an appropriate manner, which typically requires expertise. The computational cost of generating the mesh may be much lower, comparable, or in some cases higher than the cost associated with the numeric solver of the partial differential equations, depending on the application and the specific numeric scheme at hand. The aim of this paper is to present a mesh generation approach using the application of self-organizing artificial neural networks through adaptive finite element computations. The problem domain is initially constructed using the self-organizing neural networks. This domain is used as the background mesh which forms the input for finite element analysis and from which adaptive parameters are calculated through adaptivity analysis. Subsequently, self-organizing neural network is used again to adjust the location of randomly selected mesh nodes as is the coordinates of all nodes within a certain neighborhood of the chosen node. The adjustment is a movement of the selected nodes toward a specific input point on the mesh. Thus, based on the results obtained from the adaptivity analysis, the movement of nodal points adjusts the element sizes in a way that the concentration of elements will occur in the regions of high stresses. The methods and experiments developed here are for two-dimensional triangular elements but seem naturally extendible to quadrilateral elements. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The effects of base-isolation on the seismic response of cylindrical vertical flexible liquid storage tanks subjected to horizontal seismic ground motion are presented in this paper. The whole system consists of two main parts: the base-isolation component, and the fluid–structure interaction subsystem. Dynamic analysis of liquid storage tank is achieved through the use of finite shell elements for the structure and internal boundary elements for the liquid region. The boundary element equations are employed to obtain an equivalent liquid mass matrix which is then coupled with the shell structure mass matrix, resulting in the coupled equations of motion. Finally, the coupled equations of motion are connected with the base-isolation system to observe the whole system behavior. A bilinear hysteretic element is used to illustrate the base-isolation system. The analysis is performed in the time domain in which, hydrodynamic interaction is taken into account. It is shown that the seismic response of the isolated tank could be significantly reduced compared with the fixed-foundation tanks. Parametric studies are carried out to study the effects of different system parameters on the effectiveness of the base-isolation system. These parameters are the tank geometry aspect ratio (height to radius), the flexibility of the isolation system, the liquid surface displacement variations, and the tank wall flexibility. It is observed that the seismic isolation is more effective in slender tanks in comparison with broad tanks. Furthermore, it is shown that the isolation efficiency is partially more significant in rigid tanks. It is also noticeable that flexible isolators considerably reduce the seismic response in comparison with stiff isolators. Despite the foregoing advantages, liquid surface displacement increases due to seismic isolation, especially in slender tanks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• A numerical solution using the XFEM and time integration by α-method are coupled to study the 2D dynamic fracture of dam-foundation-reservoir problem. • The proposed method can improve the computation efficiency and avoid numerical instability. • Obtained results show by increasing the value of α in time integration, the shock waves after crack growth are decreased. • The effect of dynamic term is small and only increases at crack propagation times, but cracking profile with dynamic term oscillates around the static path. Extended finite element method (XFEM) and time integration by α-method are coupled in the direct integration scheme to study the 2D dynamic fracture of concrete gravity dam-foundation-reservoir interaction. The advantages of XFEM for the strong displacement discontinuity description of a crack and α-method for the time integration in dynamic analysis to dissipate the shockwaves after crack growth are combined together. The proposed method can improve the computation efficiency and can avoid numerical instability to judge the crack propagation orientation of XFEM. Obtained results show by increasing the value of α in time integration, the shock waves after crack growth are decreased and the stability of numerical solution is increased. In addition the accuracy of the dynamic fracture simulation using the proposed method is investigated in comparison with other reported in the literature. To apply the interaction in finite element model, zero thickness six-nodal contact elements are used in which the dam, foundation and reservoir are formulated with Lagrangian approach. Also, to predict dynamic fracture behavior of a cracked dam, dynamic stress intensity factors (DSIFs) are used. The interaction integral (conservation integral) originally proposed to evaluate SIFs to incorporate dynamic effects is utilized to evaluate DSIFs. Effective parameters in problem-solving such as the contribution of each distinct term in the interaction integral, crack tip element, length of crack growth, integration radius, location of initial crack, angle of initial crack, internal damping ratio of the dam, and fracture energy based on proposed method are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A semi-analytical model for impact ionization coefficient of graphene nanoribbon (GNR) is presented. The model is derived by calculating probability of electrons reaching ionization threshold energy E t and the distance travelled by electron gaining E t . In addition, ionization threshold energy is semi-analytically modelled for GNR. During modelling, we justify our assumptions using analytical modelling and comparison with simulation. Furthermore, it is shown that conventional silicon models are not valid for calculation of ionization coefficient of GNR. Finally, the profile of ionization is presented using the proposed models and the results are compared with that of silicon. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]