Search results for "Fractal"
showing 10 items of 329 documents
Structural investigation of hybrid nanocomposites
2002
Ultra small (USANS) and small angle neutron scattering (SANS) techniques were employed to study an elastomer styrene–butadiene, where two kinds of silica fillers have been added in different amounts. Small silica-particle fillers are expected to modify morphological and mechanical properties when dispersed in the copolymer matrix. The USANS and SANS techniques can span a wide range of momentum transfer, investigating morphological properties of the filled elastomer over a number of decades in length scale. Surface and mass fractal behavior has been observed over different length scales.
Diagnostic Performance of Muscle Echo Intensity and Fractal Dimension for the Detection of Frailty Phenotype
2021
To determine the relationship between muscle echo intensity (EI) and fractal dimension (FD), and the diagnostic performance of both ultrasound parameters for the identification of frailty phenotype. A retrospective interpretation of ultrasound scans from a previous cohort (November 2014–February 2015) was performed. The sample included healthy participants <60 years old, and participants ≥60 divided into robust, pre-frail, and frail groups according to Fried frailty criteria. A region of interest of the rectus femoris from the ultrasound scan was segmented, and histogram function was applied to obtain EI. For fractal analysis, images were processed using two-dimensional box-counting techniq…
Fractal analyses reveal independent complexity and predictability of gait
2017
Locomotion is a natural task that has been assessed since decades and used as a proxy to highlight impairments of various origins. Most studies adopted classical linear analyses of spatio-temporal gait parameters. Here, we use more advanced, yet not less practical, non-linear techniques to analyse gait time series of healthy subjects. We aimed at finding more sensitive indexes related to spatio-temporal gait parameters than those previously used, with the hope to better identify abnormal locomotion. We analysed large-scale stride interval time series and mean step width in 34 participants while altering walking direction (forward vs. backward walking) and with or without galvanic vestibular…
Relative Peripheral Myopia Induced by Fractal Contact Lenses
2018
[EN] Purpose: To assess the peripheral refraction induced by Fractal Contact Lenses (FCLs) in myopic eyes by means of a two-dimensional Relative Peripheral Refractive Error (RPRE) map. Materials and Methods: This study involved 26 myopic subjects ranging from -0.50 D to -7.00 D. FCLs prototypes were custom-manufactured and characterized. Corneal topographies were taken in order to assess correlations between corneal asphericity and lens decentration. Two-dimensional RPREs were measured with an open-field autorefractor at 67 points, covering the central 60 x 30 degrees of the visual field. The bidimensional RPRE vector components: M, J(0) and J(45) of the difference between the values obtain…
Wavelet and fractal approach to surface roughness characterization after finish turning of different workpiece materials
2009
In this paper, the surface profiles generated in longitudinal turning operations were characterized using continuous wavelet transform (CWT) and normalized fractal dimension Dn. In the comparative analysis, some characteristic roughness profiles after the turning of different workpiece materials, such as C45 medium carbon steel, nodular cast iron and hardened (55 HRC) high-strength alloy steel were selected. For wavelet characterization, both Morlet and ‘Mexican hat’ analyzing wavelets, which allow the assessment of extrema and frequency distribution, were utilized. The results of the CWT as a function of profile and momentary wavelet length are presented. It is concluded that CWT can be us…
Fractal dimension of zeolite catalysts
2002
Atom—atom analyses of the geometric descriptors, topological indices and fractal dimension D are applied to active-site models of Br⊘nsted acid zeolites. The results are compared with those from the literature for rings and cavities. A method is tested similar to that used in previous works for crystal fragments. The results obtained are encouraging and the good quality of the analysis is clear from a comparison with cavity results. The active sites are modelled by sets of Al—OH—Si units. These bridges form 2–12 membered rings. Indices for the models are calculated. An analysis shows that the maximal Dsi contribution corresponds to the 6-ring, matching the maximal Dcavity. It is suggested t…
Nanoscale Domain Structure in Relaxor PLZT x/65/35 Ceramics
2006
We present the experimental study of the geometry of the nanoscale domain structure in classical lead zirconate-titanate relaxor ceramics (Pb1 − x La x )(Zr0.65Ti0.35)O3 (PLZT) with La concentration from 5 to 10%. The analysis of the switching current data measured in rectangular pulses indicates the existence of random three-dimensional maze-type domain structure. High-resolution domain visualization performed using Piezoresponse Force Microscopy (PFM) reveals nanoscale domain patterns. The domain structures existing in PLZT ceramics after zero-field-cooling represent the nanoscale quasi-regular maze (“finger-print”). Statistical and fractal analysis of PFM images was performed for quantit…
Direct observation of polar nanostructures in PLZT ceramics for electrooptic applications
2004
ABSTRACTTransparent Pb1-yLay(Zr1-xTix)1-y/4O3(PLZT, y=0.0975, x=0.35) ceramics prepared via hot pressing techniques were studied via piezoelectric force microscopy (PFM). Clear piezoelectric contrast is observed in a cubic relaxor phase indicating spatial distribution of polarization with an average cluster size of about 50 nm. The irregular polarization pattern is associated with the formation of a glassy state, where random electric and stress fields are responsible for the disruption of the long-range ferroelectric order. Local poling of the ceramics resulted in the formation of a stable micron-size domain that could be continuously switched under varying dc bias (local hysteresis loop).…
Evolution of grain-size distribution of pumice sands in 1-D compression
2016
Abstract Crushing is one of the micromechanisms that govern the mechanical behaviour of sands at medium-high stresses. It depends on mineralogy, form and strength of single particle, mean stress level, coordination number, time, etc.. It causes changes of grain-size distribution, porosity, number and type of grain contacts, fabric, structure of the material, etc.. Results of an experimental research on the crushing of pumice sands compressed under 1-D conditions to vertical effective stresses σ′v up to 100MPa are reported here. They show marked crushing already at σ′v of about 200kPa. The evolution of the grain-size distribution can be represented by ΔDi= h/(K(1+C exp(–hlgσ′v))) in which ΔD…
Fractal approach in petrology: Combining ultra small angle (USANS), and small angle neutron scattering (SANS)
2000
Ultra small angle neutron scattering instruments have recently covered the gap between the size resolution available with conventional intermediate angle neutron scattering and small angle neutron scattering instruments on one side and optical microscopy on the other side. Rocks showing fractal behavior in over two decades of momentum transfer and seven orders of magnitude of intensity are examined and fractal parameters are extracted from the combined USANS and SANS curves.