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We propose a simple taper angle control technique which can be easily achieved by using conventional thin-film deposition and wet etching processes. Based on the proposed technique, the taper angle can be controlled below 30° by varying the thickness of the shade layer which will support the top layer by means of the thin-film stiction phenomenon. By applying the proposed technique to the thin-film line resistor structure, we can confirm that variations of the resistance and the heat generation of the thin-film line formed cross the shade structured multiple thin-film line bumps can be suppressed below 6%, while those of the line resistor formed over multiple line bumps without the shade layer are increased by 54.5% and 246.6%, respectively.

Global warming may induce an increase of active layer thickness in the Arctic region. The freezing and thawing of the active layer can damage infrastructures such as roads, railways, and embedded pipe lines in cold regions. A few methods, however, have been proposed to characterize the active layer. The objective of this study is to evaluate the characteristics of the active layer by laboratory and field tests, especially using the instrumented dynamic cone penetrometer (IDCP). Geographical and geological characteristics of Ny-Alesund, Svalbard are introduced, and the geotechnical properties, microstructure observations, and thermal properties of the Ny-Alesund soils are investigated. In addition, subsurface temperatures monitored for a year are discussed. The IDCP, which is able to measure the energies transferred into the rod head and the cone tip, is applied to the evaluation of the strength variation and the thickness of the active layer in Ny-Alesund. During dynamic penetration tests, the IDCP can produce profiles of the corrected cone tip resistance as well as the dynamic cone penetration index (DCPI). The results show that the active layer thickness estimated from the DCPI and corrected cone tip resistance profiles is approximately 1700 mm. Furthermore, the bottom of the active layer significantly corresponds to that estimated by the maximum ground temperature profile with a soil thermal diffusivity of 5.5 · 10− 7 m2·s− 1. This study represents the characteristics of Ny-Alesund soils investigated with a variety of laboratory tests, and suggests that the IDCP may be effectively used for active layer characterization.

Cu additions to Al alloys decrease pitting susceptibility provided that the Cu is retained solid solution. In this study, a range of electrochemical, surface analytical and electron microscopy characterization experiments were carried out with Al–Cu solid solution alloys to understand the origins of this inhibiting effect. Potential-controlled electrochemical polarization experiments carried out in dilute chloride solutions show that stimulation of alloy dissolution without inducing passive film breakdown significantly ennobles a subsequently measured pitting potential. Similar effects are not observed with high-purity Al or Al–Zn solid solution samples. The ennobling effect is more difficult to detect in large area electrodes due to pit initiation triggered by defects and inclusions that are more regularly encountered in larger electrodes. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of Al–Cu solid solution samples reveals no Cu enrichment above detection limits. However, scanning transmission electron microscopy and spectral imaging of specially prepared Al–Cu needle-type samples shows that Cu is enriched at the alloy interface by a range of exposure regimens including those that induce pitting. These results suggest the possibility of local Cu enrichment at incipient pit sites by metastable pitting, which can contribute to an ennoblement of the critical pitting potential under certain circumstances.

Most of the experimental investigations conducted on unsaturated soil have been performed under a constant air pressure. Changes in air pressure during deformation are in some cases important in practice. For example, in order to explain the stability problems of embankments during earthquakes and seepage flow, and grounds containing gas associated with the dissociation of methane hydrates, it is necessary to consider the interaction between the soil and the pore fluids. In the present study, we carried out fully undrained tests as well as drained tests, namely, constant water and constant air shearing tests. We performed the fully undrained tests using an air-controlled valve to measure the pore air pressure. For the stress variables of the unsaturated soil, skeleton stress values were used to describe the experimental results. From triaxial compression tests on silty soil, we found that the initial suction, the confining pressure, and the strain rate of unsaturated soil strongly influence the stress-strain behavior of unsaturated silt.

Copper additions to aluminum decrease susceptibility to pit initiation provided that Cu is retained in solid solution. This can be observed as an increase in pitting potential with increasing Cu content in an alloy. To further understand this effect, metastable pitting of high purity Al, Al–0.2Cu and Al–2.0Cu exposed to 0.1 M NaCl solutions has been examined in detail. Results show that 0.2 wt.% Cu additions decrease the metastable pit initiation rate by more than an order of magnitude and slow the pit growth rate mainly by decreasing the peak pit current attained. In an Al–2.0 wt.% alloy, metastable pitting events were too rare for rigorous study. Repassivation of metastable pits occurs by a two-stage process in Al–0.2 wt.% Cu alloy. The repassivation rate during the first stage is identical to that of high purity Al and appears to be completely unaffected by Cu in the alloy or in the pit solution. In the second stage, repassivation is slow, but is not believed to affect ultimate pit stability. Overall, Cu additions decrease the probability of stable pit formation by decreasing metastable pit initiation and growth rates.