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Topological semimetals, possessing topologically non-trivial band structures, serve as excellent platforms for realizing topological superconductivity through hard point-contact experiments. In this study, we successfully induce superconductivity in the three-dimensional Dirac semimetal, cubic PtBi2, using ferromagnetic and paramagnetic tips in hard point contact experiments. The induced superconductivity is proven to be insensitive to ferromagnetism and exhibits unconventional features in the point-contact spectra. The highest superconducting transition temperature ( T c ) reaches approximately 5.1 K, and the T c values are proven to have a positive correlation with the coupling between the tip and the sample. Furthermore, we extend our point-contact experiments to trigonal PtBi2, a material possessing a type-I Weyl semimetal band structure and triply degenerate points proximate to the Fermi level. Utilizing both ferromagnetic Ni tips and paramagnetic Ag tips, we successfully enhance superconductivity with a T c of up to 3.0 K in this material. The findings from point-contact measurements reveal that the enhanced superconductivity is compatible with ferromagnetism and the magnetism of the tip can affect the symmetry of the enhanced superconducting state. Given that the lattice structure remains stable under pressure up to 51.2 GPa for cubic PtBi2 and 12.9 GPa for trigonal PtBi2, the emergent superconducting states observed in these two PtBi2 materials could inherit their topological nontrivial nature and be promising candidates for topological superconductor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Lubrication Engineering (0254-0150) is the property of Editorial Office of LUBRICATION ENGINEERING and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Topological semimetals, possessing topologically non-trivial band structures, serve as excellent platforms for realizing topological superconductivity through hard point-contact experiments. In this study, we successfully induce superconductivity in the three-dimensional Dirac semimetal, cubic PtBi2, using ferromagnetic and paramagnetic tips in hard point contact experiments. The induced superconductivity is proven to be insensitive to ferromagnetism and exhibits unconventional features in the point-contact spectra. The highest superconducting transition temperature ( T c $T_{\mathrm{c}}$ ) reaches approximately 5.1 K, and the T c $T_{\mathrm{c}}$ values are proven to have a positive correlation with the coupling between the tip and the sample. Furthermore, we extend our point-contact experiments to trigonal PtBi2, a material possessing a type-I Weyl semimetal band structure and triply degenerate points proximate to the Fermi level. Utilizing both ferromagnetic Ni tips and paramagnetic Ag tips, we successfully enhance superconductivity with a T c $T_{\mathrm{c}}$ of up to 3.0 K in this material. The findings from point-contact measurements reveal that the enhanced superconductivity is compatible with ferromagnetism and the magnetism of the tip can affect the symmetry of the enhanced superconducting state. Given that the lattice structure remains stable under pressure up to 51.2 GPa for cubic PtBi2 and 12.9 GPa for trigonal PtBi2, the emergent superconducting states observed in these two PtBi2 materials could inherit their topological nontrivial nature and be promising candidates for topological superconductor.

Copyright of DYNA - Ingeniería e Industria is the property of Publicaciones Dyna SL and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Lubrication Engineering (0254-0150) is the property of Editorial Office of LUBRICATION ENGINEERING and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Taking the point contact gear with circular-parabola configuration as the research object, based on the Adams dynamic analysis software, dynamic characteristics and the variable law of tooth surfaces are studied in this study. Firstly, according to space meshing theory, tooth surfaces equation of the point contact gear with circular-parabola configuration is derived, and three-dimensional solid models of gear pairs are established by the given design parameters. Secondly, the virtual prototype of point contact gears with circular-parabola configuration is established utilizing Adams software. Through simulation process, variation law of normal contact force, circumferential force, radial force and axial force of the gear are discussed. Change law of normal contact force under the same parameters and working conditions are analyzed between the point contact gear with circular-parabola configuration and general involute helical gears. Influences of meshing stiffness on normal contact force of the gear are also discussed. Research results show that the dynamic performance of point contact gears with circular-parabola configuration is better than that of general involute helical gears under the same parameters and working conditions. Meshing stiffness has a certain influence on the dynamic performance of tooth surfaces. For a reasonable variable range, the transmission process will be more stable with the increase of the meshing stiffness. The study can provide a basis for the design of point contact gears with circular-parabola configuration.

A numerical method is proposed to evaluate the effect of non‐Gaussian roughness on point contact elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL). A mixed EHL model of point contact, considering non‐Gaussian roughness, is developed. The oil film pressure in the model was controlled by the Reynolds equation of average flow, and the contact pressure of asperity was obtained by the rough surface micro‐contact model. The influence of non‐Gaussian roughness parameters on contact pressure distribution, film thickness profile and the ratio of asperity pressure to contact load (asperity load ratio) are investigated based on the mixed EHL model. The results show that the asperity pressure increases as root mean square (RMS) roughness increases, skewness and kurtosis. The film thickness also increases with RMS roughness and skewness, but is not sensitive to kurtosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil–air lubrication has proven to be very effective for high-speed bearings because the oil supply in the form of droplets can be precisely controlled. This work uses optical interferometry to study the mechanism of lubricating film formation in rolling point contact with oil droplet lubrication. The effect of a double oil drop pair, where two oil droplets are positioned in mirror images about the central axis of the lubricated track, is examined. The process by which pairs of oil droplets approach and lubricate a bearing contact is analysed. This study also covers the effect of multiple oil droplets supplied in a tailored or a random dispersion pattern. Additionally, the effects of oil viscosity, entrainment velocity, and droplet distribution on starvation are also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of possible and obligatory (in the sense of Jellett) equilibria of a rigid body, which is in contact with one of its points with a rigid plane and is under the action of an arbitrary system of forces, is considered. Mass distributions in the body (i.e., the central inertia tensor and the position of the body's center of mass relative to the fulcrum) are assumed to be arbitrary. At the point of contact of the body with the support, a one-way connection is realized and a dry friction force acts, obeying the classical Coulomb–Euler law. Necessary and sufficient conditions for mandatory equilibrium are obtained. These conditions are expressed by simple analytical formulas. A comparison is made with the corresponding results obtained earlier for a similar problem. The problem of possible and obligatory equilibria of a heavy ellipsoid on a rigid inclined plane is considered. All possible equilibrium positions of the ellipsoid are found, as well as conditions on the angle of inclination of the plane under which such equilibria are possible and mandatory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple numerical approach to predict the efficacy of FRP hooping in historical masonry domes is presented. The dome is modelled with 8-noded elastic hexahedron elements connected by 1D trusses/springs on meridians and on parallels, where all the non-linearity takes place. The aim is to simulate the nonlinear behaviour of domes through every FE commercial software equipped only with non-linear 1D elements, namely point contacts and cutoff bars. The constitutive behaviour of the trusses is assumed to be either perfectly brittle or perfectly ductile. A possible orthotropic behaviour and the no-tension material case can be reproduced. External retrofitting is simulated using trusses with an elastic perfectly ductile behaviour, assuming a perfect bond between the substrate and the reinforcement and imposing an ultimate strength for the trusses, which takes into account the possible debonding/delamination from the substrate in a conventional way. The Italian code CNR DT200 and the existing specialized literature are used as references. The models are benchmarked on a masonry dome reinforced with three hooping FRP strips and experimentally tested at the University Architecture Institute of Venice IUAV, Italy. The procedure is validated through extensive comparisons with available experimental data and numerical results obtained in the literature with a variety of different models. Through the extensive comparisons that were made and discussed, the robustness and simplicity of the procedure are proven. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Lubrication Engineering (0254-0150) is the property of Editorial Office of LUBRICATION ENGINEERING and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We present an experimental setup for the study of thermoelectric effect in point contacts between different materials and in nanostructures. Point contacts of controlled size are formed with the use of an atomic force microscope (AFM), thermopower dependences against the temperature drop and against the contact spot size determined from the force applied to the probe. Computer simulations of heat transport in the system were performed to evaluate influence of atmospheric air and of a liquid layer covering solid surfaces in the atmospheric conditions onto temperature distributions. This influence was found to be insubstantial, which makes it possible to conduct experiments on the atmosphere and not in high vacuum.

Simple Summary: Neurons are biological wires that send signals not only across the brain, but throughout the body. Like almost all cells in the human body, neurons adhere to their surroundings through receptors known as integrins. As the nervous system develops, integrins become essential for neuronal wires, known as axons, to adhere within their environment and pull themselves forward as they grow towards their target. Following injury to the nervous system, the damaged axons must regrow towards their target to restore communication. The integrin receptor therefore plays an important role in this process of regeneration. Integrins mediate their effects through an intricate scaffold of proteins inside the cell, which must be coordinated by a specific central protein, called focal adhesion kinase. This review discusses the signalling pathway of integrin receptors and focal adhesion kinase, specifically in neurons, and how this signalling pathway mediates neuronal growth. We also discuss how integrins and focal adhesion kinase could contribute to neuronal repair following nervous system injury. Integrin receptors are essential contributors to neurite outgrowth and axon elongation. Activated integrins engage components of the extracellular matrix, enabling the growth cone to form point contacts, which connect the extracellular substrate to dynamic intracellular protein complexes. These adhesion complexes facilitate efficient growth cone migration and neurite extension. Major signalling pathways mediated by the adhesion complex are instigated by focal adhesion kinase (FAK), whilst axonal guidance molecules present in vivo promote growth cone turning or retraction by local modulation of FAK activity. Activation of FAK is marked by phosphorylation following integrin engagement, and this activity is tightly regulated during neurite outgrowth. FAK inhibition slows neurite outgrowth by reducing point contact turnover; however, mutant FAK constructs with enhanced activity stimulate aberrant outgrowth. Importantly, FAK is a major structural component of maturing adhesion sites, which provide the platform for actin polymerisation to drive leading edge advance. In this review, we discuss the coordinated signalling of integrin receptors and FAK, as well as their role in regulating neurite outgrowth and axon elongation. We also discuss the importance of the integrin–FAK axis in vivo, as integrin expression and activation are key determinants of successful axon regeneration following injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a modeling methodology for the description of tribo-dynamic behavior of generic point contacts, considering surface defect/failure type of excitation. A twin-disk contact set-up is developed to experimentally determine the acceleration induced by lab-controlled groove surface feature present on one of the mating surfaces. The periodic passage of this artificial surface defect through lubricated contact zone leads to contact force fluctuation, and consequently normal direction dynamic relative displacement and relative velocity of the contact bodies. These dynamic responses impact the lubrication film thickness and flow, altering the tribological performance that governs the contact force. Implementing this interaction loop between dynamics and tribology, the computational simulations are shown to be able to yield fairly accurate predictions in comparison to the measured acceleration signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coverning equations of central bump under elastohydrodynamic lubrication point contacts were established and then numerically solved by using multi--level method as well as multilevel multi--integration method. The pressure and film thickness were compared between the smooth surface and bumped surface. The effects of the applied load and entrainment velocity on the pressure distribution and film shape were discussed. The gained conclusions are listed as follows. In the vicinity of the contact center on central bump, the pressure experiences a fluctuation composed of a rapid increase and then a sudden decrease and finally a rising. The minimum film thickness appears at the contact center and there exists a dimple before the contact center. The film curve as a whole increases with the increase of the entrainment velocity or the decrease of the applied load. The minimum film thickness increases with the increase of the entrainment velocity whereas it hardly depends on the applied load. As the applied load increases, the maximum pressure increases whereas the local pressure fluctuation of the contact center is tiny. The maximum pressure as well as the local pressure fluctuation of the contact center decreases with the increase of the entrainment velocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface topography plays an important role in mixed lubrication. However, the influence of the surface topography's morphological characteristics on lubrication performance is still not fully understood. In this article, we employ digital filtering and the Johnson transformation system, and we use a mixed plasto-elastohydrodynamic lubrication model to simulate the lubricated contact between rough spherical surfaces with different morphological characteristic parameters. The influence of skewness, kurtosis, and the wavelength factor, that is, the ratio between the autocorrelation lengths in the transversal and longitudinal directions, on contact pressure, film thickness, and von Mises (subsurface) stress, is examined with the mixed plasto-elastohydrodynamic lubrication model. The results confirm that plastic deformation leads to lower pressure distribution, distributed over a larger contact area than the pure elastohydrodynamic lubrication solution. Moreover, it is found that an increase in the kurtosis may improve the lubrication performance, while the opposite is true for the skewness and the wavelength factor. We believe that the insights obtained by means of the numerical simulations presented herein, would facilitate the design and manufacturing processes of the surfaces used for machine elements operating in the mixed plasto-elastohydrodynamic lubrication regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computer-aided analysis by the method of finite elements of the stress-strain working state of rollers having a pair point contact, a support-rotating device of truck cranes and other lifting-transport machines is performed. The regularities of the change of contact stresses with characteristic values at the ends of the rollers and along their length, which are important for practice, are obtained. The obtained results are presented graphically, which increases the possibilities of their practical use at the stages of design and operation of support-rotating devices of truck cranes with mutually perpendicular rollers.

Despite intensive research in surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), the influence mechanism of chemical effects on Raman signals remains elusive. Here, we investigate such chemical effects through tip‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) of a single planar ZnPc molecule with varying but controlled contact environments. TERS signals are found dramatically enhanced upon making a tip–molecule point contact. A combined physico‐chemical mechanism is proposed to explain such an enhancement via the generation of a ground‐state charge‐transfer induced vertical Raman polarizability that is further enhanced by the strong vertical plasmonic field in the nanocavity. In contrast, TERS signals from ZnPc chemisorbed flatly on substrates are found strongly quenched, which is rationalized by the Raman polarizability screening effect induced by interfacial dynamic charge transfer. Our results provide deep insights into the understanding of the chemical effects in TERS/SERS enhancement and quenching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Lubrication Engineering (0254-0150) is the property of Editorial Office of LUBRICATION ENGINEERING and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Oil–air lubrication has proven to be very effective for high-speed bearings because the oil supply in the form of droplets can be precisely controlled. This work uses optical interferometry to study the mechanism of lubricating film formation in rolling point contact with oil droplet lubrication. The effect of a double oil drop pair, where two oil droplets are positioned in mirror images about the central axis of the lubricated track, is examined. The process by which pairs of oil droplets approach and lubricate a bearing contact is analysed. This study also covers the effect of multiple oil droplets supplied in a tailored or a random dispersion pattern. Additionally, the effects of oil viscosity, entrainment velocity, and droplet distribution on starvation are also investigated.

The geometric characteristic of tooth surface is the key factor to its performance. In this paper, a geometric generation method of point contact gear pair was proposed. By given a tooth surface, a smooth contact trace was determined according to the transmission demand, and the conjugated contact trace can be obtained. A new tooth surface of mating gear was derived by sweeping along the conjugated contact trace. The calculation of sliding coefficient of this type of gear pair was studied. The internal gear pair was taken as an example by taking involute gear as known gear and gear with quadratic curve profile as the mating gear. The gear pair was manufactured and performance experiment was carried out. The results show that the gear pair maintains point contact during the whole meshing process, and the contact point moves along the contact trace. The variation range of the sliding coefficient mainly depends on the involute parameter values at the meshing-in and meshing-out point. The actual contact trace of gear pair is consistent with the theoretical contact trace, and the efficiency is stable in 97.3% ~ 98.4%.

Copyright of Lubrication Engineering (0254-0150) is the property of Editorial Office of LUBRICATION ENGINEERING and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Processing texture on contact surfaces can improve the friction performance of mechanical comments. In this research, micro-dimple textures with various parameter were processed on a steel ball's surface with a picosecond laser. Then, the EHL (elastohydrodynamic lubrication) oil film thickness was measured on an optical ball-on-disc tribometer subjected to pure sliding conditions. The effects of sliding velocity, load, dimple location and dimple depth on the film thickness were analyzed. The results showed that the dimple affected the pressure distribution in the contact area, which in turn changed the distribution of the local film thickness. An increase in the local film thickness occurred between the dimple and outlet of the contact region, while a decrease in the film thickness formed from the dimple to the entrance of the contact area and both sides of the dimple's edge. Velocity and applied loads affected the film thickness distribution as well. As the sliding velocity increased, the film thickness increasing region enlarged, while the film thickness-decreasing area shrank. The increase in load resulted in a negative effect on the increase in film thickness. This study will provide a reference for point-contact designs with low friction conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quest for material‐efficient Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells encourages the development of ultra‐thin absorbers. Their use reduces material consumption and energy usage during production by increasing the throughput. Thereby, both the bill of materials as well as the energy and capital costs are reduced. However, because thin absorbers are prone to increase back contact recombination, back surface passivation schemes are necessary to reach a similar or higher conversion efficiency than for absorbers with conventional thickness. Here, we investigate nanostructured hafnium oxide (HfO2) rear passivation layers for ultra‐thin CIGS solar cells. We fabricate regular arrays of point contacts with 200 nm diameter through HfO2 layers with thicknesses between 7 and 40 nm using electron beam lithography and reactive ion etching. The current–voltage curves of solar cells with a 500 nm thick CIGS absorber layer and the nanostructured passivation layer show improved performance concerning Voc and Jsc compared to non‐passivated reference devices. Furthermore, external quantum efficiency and optical reflection confirm an effective passivation behavior, with an average efficiency increase of up to 1.2% for the cells with the 40 nm thick HfO2 layer. In addition, simulation work shows that even 40 nm thick HfO2 passivation layers have only a minimal effect on the optical properties of ultra‐thin CIGS solar cells, and hence, the photocurrent increase verified experimentally stems from electrical improvements caused by the HfO2 layer passivation effect. We also investigate the impact of ultra‐thin (0.3, 0.6, 1.3, and 2.5 nm) non‐patterned HfO2 passivation layers on the same type of solar cells. However, these results showed no improvement in solar cell performance, despite an increase in the current density with layer thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrin receptors are essential contributors to neurite outgrowth and axon elongation. Activated integrins engage components of the extracellular matrix, enabling the growth cone to form point contacts, which connect the extracellular substrate to dynamic intracellular protein complexes. These adhesion complexes facilitate efficient growth cone migration and neurite extension. Major signalling pathways mediated by the adhesion complex are instigated by focal adhesion kinase (FAK), whilst axonal guidance molecules present in vivo promote growth cone turning or retraction by local modulation of FAK activity. Activation of FAK is marked by phosphorylation following integrin engagement, and this activity is tightly regulated during neurite outgrowth. FAK inhibition slows neurite outgrowth by reducing point contact turnover; however, mutant FAK constructs with enhanced activity stimulate aberrant outgrowth. Importantly, FAK is a major structural component of maturing adhesion sites, which provide the platform for actin polymerisation to drive leading edge advance. In this review, we discuss the coordinated signalling of integrin receptors and FAK, as well as their role in regulating neurite outgrowth and axon elongation. We also discuss the importance of the integrin–FAK axis in vivo, as integrin expression and activation are key determinants of successful axon regeneration following injury.

Ultrathin CIGSe solar cells on TCOs (transparent conductive oxides) have many promising potential applications due to their transparency. However, their performance is strongly constrained due to the back contact, often referred to acting as a Schottky junction. In this work, we show that the current limitation due to a back Schottky junction can be responsible for the apparent photocurrent loss and suppression of the forward current, which deteriorates cell performance and leads to the S‐shaped J‐V characteristics, respectively. However, due to the non‐negligible photocurrent in the back Schottky diode and the current amplification effect of a transistor, cells with a reduced absorber thickness overall exhibit a relieved current suppression, resulting in a light J‐V curve closer to the one with an Ohmic back contact. Notably, a higher back interface recombination velocity is capable of increasing the forward current of the Schottky diode by recombination, which mitigates the limitation of current flow through the back Schottky junction and thus improves the cell performance. The results show strong implications that introducing high density defects at the back interface is favorable for CIGSe solar cells on TCOs, rather than employing point‐contact structures for interface passivation. This suggests a different path to improve ultrathin CIGSe solar cells on TCOs compared to the devices on Mo with an Ohmic back contact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to theoretically investigate the effects of design parameters on the static equivalent stress of radial rolling bearings, such as the point contact case for ball bearings and line contact case for roller bearings. The contact pressure, contact area and von Misses stress of bearings are calculated based on geometrical parameters, material parameters and loading parameters by using the developed MATLAB program. To achieve this aim, both the maximum contact pressure pmax and Von Mises effective stress σVM are simulated with respect to design parameters such as varying ball and roller element diameters and varying ball and roller element elasticity modulus. For the point contact case and line contact case, it was concluded that increasing the diameter of ball and roller elements results in reducing the maximum contact pressure pmax Furthermore, increasing the elasticity modulus of the ball and roller elements results in increasing the maximum contact pressure σVM. Furthermore, increasing the elasticity modulus of the ball and roller element results in increasing the maximum contact pressure pmax and Von Mises effective stress σVM because of the decrease of contact area A. The determination of the diameter of the ball and roller elements and the selection of material are crucial and play an effective role during the design process. Therefore, bearing designers and manufacturers should make the bearing geometrical dimensions as large as possible and bearing material as elastic as possible. Furthermore, the stress-based static failure theory can also be used instead of the standard static load carrying capacity calculation. Moreover, Von Mises stress theory is also compatible with the finite element method.

Water is one of the most significant causes of lubrication failure. There is little research on the direct observation of the impact of water on lubrication properties. In this study, the influence of water on oil replenishment under different elastohydrodynamic (EHD) lubricating conditions is evaluated using optical interferometry and infrared microscopy, and a dimensionless criterion when water influences the film thickness is proposed. Evidence shows that the scour displacing effect and emulsification of water/oil are the main reasons for the reduction in film thickness. Once a water droplet enters an oil reservoir around the critical contact zone, it hardly moves away. This aggravates starvation, reduces the center film thickness of the contact, and leads to lubrication failure of the mechanical components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Lubrication Engineering (0254-0150) is the property of Editorial Office of LUBRICATION ENGINEERING and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Of all modern nanosensors using the principle of measuring variations in electric conductance, point-contact sensors stand out in having a number of original sensor properties not manifested by their analogues. The nontrivial nature of point-contact sensors is based on the unique properties of Yanson point contacts used as the sensing elements. The quantum properties of Yanson point contacts enable the solution of some of the problems that could not be solved using conventional sensors measuring conductance. In the present paper, we demonstrate this by showing the potential of quantum point-contact sensors to selectively detect components of a gas mixture in real time. To demonstrate the high efficiency of the proposed approach, we analyze the human breath, which is the most complex of the currently known natural gas mixtures with extremely low concentrations of its components. Point-contact sensors allow us to obtain a spectroscopic profile of the mixture. This profile contains information about the complete set of energy interactions occurring in the point contact/breath system when the breath constituents adsorb to and desorb from the surface of the point-contact conduction channel. With this information we can unambiguously characterize the analyzed system, since knowing the energy parameters is key to successfully identifying and modeling the physicochemical properties of various quantum objects. Using the point-contact spectroscopic profile of a complex gas mixture it is possible to get a functional dependence of the concentration of particular breath components on the amplitude of the sensor output signal. To demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach, we analyze the point-contact profiles from the breath of several patients and compare them with the concentrations of serotonin and cortisol in the body of each patient. The obtained results demonstrate that the proposed methodology allows one to get an effective calibration function for a non-invasive analysis of the level of serotonin and cortisol in the human body using the point-contact breath test. The present study indicates some necessary prerequisites for the design of fast detection methods using differential sensor analysis in real time, which can be implemented in various areas of science and technology, among which medicine is one of the most important.

The real-time thermal–mechanical–frictional coupling characteristics of bearings are critical to the accuracy, reliability, and life of entire machines. To obtain the real-time dynamic characteristics of ball bearings, a novel model to calculate point contact dynamic friction in mixed lubrication was firstly presented in this work. The model of time-varying thermal contact resistance under fit between the ring and the ball, between the ring and the housing, and between the ring and the shaft was established using the fractal theory and the heat transfer theory. Furthermore, an inverse thermal network method with time-varying thermal contact resistance was presented. Using these models, the real-time thermal–mechanical–frictional coupling characteristics of ball bearings were obtained. The effectiveness of the presented models was verified by experiment and comparison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of the possible and necessary (in the sense of Jellett) equilibrium of a solid body that is in contact at one of its points with a rough plane and is under the action of an arbitrary system of forces is considered. The mass distributions in the body (i.e., the central tensor of inertia and the position of the body center of mass relative to the supporting point) are assumed to be arbitrary. At the point of contact of the body with the support (unilateral constraint), a dry friction force acts obeying the classical Coulomb–Euler law. The necessary and sufficient conditions for obligatory equilibrium are obtained. These conditions are expressed by simple analytical formulas. A comparison is made with the corresponding results for the planar case obtained previously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under steady-state pure rolling conditions with low speed, the thickener fiber agglomerations can be maintained for a long time, generating a beneficial thicker film thickness. However, in industrial applications, motions with sliding or transient effects are very common for gears, rolling-element bearings or even chain drives, evaluation of the grease performance under such conditions is vital for determining the lubrication mechanism and designing new greases. In this project, optical interferometry experiments were carried out on a ball-disk test rig to study the disintegration time of the grease thickener agglomerations with the increase of the slide-to-roll ratio under steady-state and reciprocation motions. Under steady-state conditions, the thickener fiber agglomeration can exist for a while and the time becomes shorter with the increase of the slide-to-roll ratio above the critical speed. Below the critical speed, the thickener fiber can exist in the contact in the form of a quite thick film for a very long time under pure rolling conditions but that time is decreased with the increase of the slide-to-roll ratio. The introduction of the transient effect can further reduce the existence time of the thickener. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We observe anomalous visible to near-infrared electromagnetic emission from electrically driven atomic-size point contacts. We show that the number of photons released strongly depends on the quantized conductance steps of the contact. Counterintuitively, the light intensity features an exponential decay dependence with the injected electrical power. We propose an analytical model for the light emission considering an out-of-equilibrium electron distribution. We treat photon emission as a Bremsstrahlung process resulting from hot electrons colliding with the metal boundary, and find qualitative accord with the experimental data.

This study presents a numerical analysis for point contact Elasto-hydrodynamic lubrication EHL. The oils used are (0W-30 and 10W-40) as lubricants. The pressure and film-thickness profiles for point contact EHL are evaluated. The aims of this study are to estimate the effect of oil’s temperature on friction force, coefficient of friction and load carrying capacity. By using FORTRAN program, the Forward-iterative method is used, to solve two dimensional (2D) EHL problem. The viscosity is updating in the solution by using Roeland’s model. After the convergence of pressure is done, the friction force, friction power losses, and friction coefficient are calculated. The temperature used ranges from (-20 to 120 oC). The results showed the film-thickness decreases with the increasing of temperature. Though the maximum pressure is not affected, only the pressure distribution and profile are changed, inlet pressure decreases and the pressure profile tends towards a hertzian (dry contact) one. The friction force and the coefficient of friction decrease with the increasing of temperature.

Processing texture on contact surfaces can improve the friction performance of mechanical comments. In this research, micro-dimple textures with various parameter were processed on a steel ball’s surface with a picosecond laser. Then, the EHL (elastohydrodynamic lubrication) oil film thickness was measured on an optical ball-on-disc tribometer subjected to pure sliding conditions. The effects of sliding velocity, load, dimple location and dimple depth on the film thickness were analyzed. The results showed that the dimple affected the pressure distribution in the contact area, which in turn changed the distribution of the local film thickness. An increase in the local film thickness occurred between the dimple and outlet of the contact region, while a decrease in the film thickness formed from the dimple to the entrance of the contact area and both sides of the dimple’s edge. Velocity and applied loads affected the film thickness distribution as well. As the sliding velocity increased, the film thickness increasing region enlarged, while the film thickness-decreasing area shrank. The increase in load resulted in a negative effect on the increase in film thickness. This study will provide a reference for point-contact designs with low friction conditions.

Featured Application: According to the design requirements of the focusing mechanism of the space remote sensing camera, the curve-face gear compound transmission, a new type of gear pair with variable transmission ratio was used for the focusing mechanism. And Chongqing Graduate Student Research Innovation Project (CYB19011) applied by the first author is "Design and Research of the Precision Focusing Mechanism of Space Remote Sensing Camera". The curve-face gear pair is a new type of gear pair with variable transmission ratio for spatial finite helical motion. In this paper, mathematical models of a new developed curve-face gear were simplified and obtained directly by the standard shaper. The subsequent studies on the curve-face gear compound transmission characteristics were further analyzed by the combinations of the principle of space gearing and screw theory. Firstly, the conjugate tooth surface geometry as well the point contact traces of curve-face gears were derived. Secondly, the geometric relationships between gear pair and the corresponding meshing characteristics were evaluated by several basic geometric elements, including instantaneous screw, axodes, striction curve, and conjugate pitch surface. Based on that analysis, it was found that the tooth contact normal was reciprocal to the instantaneous twist, which demonstrated that the conjugate motion with the desired transmission ratio could be realized in current curve-face gear compound transmission. Moreover, the time-varying slip characteristics of the curve-face gear pair were also revealed, that is, rolling and sliding action coexist at all contact on the tooth surfaces. In brief, this work provided the theoretical basis for following researches on machining curve-face gear with standard shaper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]