Through dimension analysis, an almost analytical model for the maximum diffusion induced stress(DIS)and critical temperature(or concentration) difference at which cracks begin to initiate in the diffusion process is developed. It interestingly predicts that the spacing of diffusioninduced cracks is constant, independent of the thickness of specimen and the temperature difference. These conclusions are validated by our thermal shock experiments on alumina plates. Furthermore, the proposed model can interpret observed hierarchical crack patterns for high temperature jump cases, and a three-stage relation between the residual strength and the temperature difference. The prediction for crack spacing can guide the biomimetic thermal-shockfailure proof design, in which the hard platelets smaller than the predicted diffusion induced by constant crack-spacing are embedded in a soft matrix, and, therefore, no fracture will happen. This may guide the design of the thermal protection system and the lithium ion battery. Finally we present the maximum normalized DISes for various geometry and boundary conditions by single-variable curves for the stressindependent diffusion process and two-variable contour plots for the stress-dependent diffusion process, which can provideengineers and materialists a simple and easy way to quickly evaluate the reliability of related materials and devices.
Generating electric energy from mechanical vibration using a piezoelectric circular membrane array is presented in this paper.The electrical characteristics of the functional array consisted of three plates with varies tip masses are examined under dynamic conditions.With an optimal load resistor of 11 k,an output power of 21.4 m W was generated from the array in parallel connection at 150 Hz under a pre-stress of 0.8 N and a vibration acceleration of9.8 m/s2.Moreover,the broadband energy harvesting using this array still can be realized with different tip masses.Three obvious output power peaks can be obtained in a frequency spectra of 110 Hz to 260 Hz.The results show that using a piezoelectric circular diaphragm array can increase significantly the output of energy compared with the use of a single plate.And by optimizing combination of tip masses with piezoelectric elements in array,the frequency range can be tuned to meet the broadband vibration.This array may possibly be exploited to design the energy harvesting for practical applications such as future high speed rail.
