Search results for "FORCES"

A generalized model of elastic foundation based on long-range interactions: Integral and fractional model

2009

The common models of elastic foundations are provided by supposing that they are composed by elastic columns with some interactions between them, such as contact forces that yield a differential equation involving gradients of the displacement field. In this paper, a new model of elastic foundation is proposed introducing into the constitutive equation of the foundation body forces depending on the relative vertical displacements and on a distance-decaying function ruling the amount of interactions. Different choices of the distance-decaying function correspond to different kind of interactions and foundation behavior. The use of an exponential distance-decaying function yields an integro-d…

The mechanically-based approach to 3D non-local linear elasticity theory: Long-range central interactions

2010

Abstract This paper presents the generalization to a three-dimensional (3D) case of a mechanically-based approach to non-local elasticity theory, recently proposed by the authors in a one-dimensional (1D) case. The proposed model assumes that the equilibrium of a volume element is attained by contact forces between adjacent elements and by long-range forces exerted by non-adjacent elements. Specifically, the long-range forces are modelled as central body forces depending on the relative displacement between the centroids of the volume elements, measured along the line connecting the centroids. Further, the long-range forces are assumed to be proportional to a proper, material-dependent, dis…

Dynamical Casimir-Polder forces between an atom and a conducting wall

2008

Role of hydrophobic forces in bilayer adhesion and fusion.

1992

With the aim of gaining more insight into the forces and molecular mechanisms associated with bilayer adhesion and fusion, the surface forces apparatus (SFA) was used for measuring the forces and deformations of interacting supported lipid bilayers. Concerning adhesion, we find that the adhesion between two bilayers can be progressively increased by up to two orders of magnitude if they are stressed to expose more hydrophobic groups. Concerning fusion, we find that the most important force leading to direct fusion is the hydrophobic attraction acting between the (exposed) hydrophobic interiors of bilayers; however, the occurrence of fusion is not simply related to the strength of the attrac…

Role of calcium in the adhesion and fusion of bilayers.

1993

The interaction forces and fusion mechanisms of mixed zwitterionic-anionic phospholipid bilayers were measured with the surface forces apparatus. The bilayers were 3:1 mixtures of either dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine and dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol (DMPC/DMPG) or dilauroylphosphatidylcholine and dilauroylphosphatidylglycerol (DLPC/DLPG), and experiments were carried out in NaCl solutions with and without CaCl2. In NaCl solutions, the forces between either mixed bilayer system were consistent with the DLVO (Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek) theory of repulsive electrostatic and attractive van der Waals forces, and fusion did not occur. At high pH (> 6) and in high (20 mM) NaCl concentra…

Adhesion and adhesion hysteresis of mica surfaces covered with bola-amphipiles in dry and humid air

1998

Abstract Bola-amphiphiles with spherical hydrophilic chinuclidinium head groups form laterally ordered monolayers on mica by adsorption from solution. To measure the surface adhesion, JKR-type compression/decompression cycles have been performed with the surface forces apparatus (SFA). In an inert atmosphere, the adhesion energy on increasing the contact area is much lower than predicted by wetting experiments. Furthermore, the pronounced adhesion hysteresis varies from sample to sample in a wide range, indicating a defect-rich surface. On increase of the relative humidity (rh), the reproducibility improves and the values for the adhesion energy measured on compression and decompression con…

EXPLANATORY FACTORS OF MARKET POWER IN THE BANKING SYSTEM

2007

The aim of the study is to analyse the explanatory factors of market power in the banking system. Using as laboratory the Spanish banking system in the period 1986–2002, results show an increase of market power from the mid-1990s. Of the set of variables that the model posits as explaining market power, those with the greatest explanatory power are size, efficiency and specialization; concentration is not significant. This last result shows the limitations of the approaches, studies and decision-making rules of economic policy that uses market concentration as a proxy for the degree of competition.

Causality, non-locality and three-body Casimir–Polder energy between three ground-state atoms

2006

The problem of relativistic causality in the time-dependent three-body Casimir–Polder interaction energy between three atoms, initially in their bare ground-state, is discussed. It is shown that the non-locality of the spatial correlations of the electromagnetic field emitted by the atoms during their dynamical self-dressing may become manifest in the dynamical three-body Casimir–Polder interaction energy between the three atoms.

Effects of a uniform acceleration on atom–field interactions

2014

We review some quantum electrodynamical effects related to the uniform acceleration of atoms in vacuum. After discussing the energy level shifts of a uniformly accelerated atom in vacuum, we investigate the atom-wall Casimir-Polder force for accelerated atoms, and the van der Waals/Casimir-Polder interaction between two accelerated atoms. The possibility of detecting the Unruh effect through these phenomena is also discussed in detail.

Long-range cohesive interactions of non-local continuum faced by fractional calculus

2008

Abstract A non-local continuum model including long-range forces between non-adjacent volume elements has been studied in this paper. The proposed continuum model has been obtained as limit case of two fully equivalent mechanical models: (i) A volume element model including contact forces between adjacent volumes as well as long-range interactions, distance decaying, between non-adjacent elements. (ii) A discrete point-spring model with local springs between adjacent points and non-local springs with distance-decaying stiffness connecting non-adjacent points. Under the assumption of fractional distance-decaying interactions between non-adjacent elements a fractional differential equation in…