[en] 3d-4f coordination complexes have received considerable attention due to their potential applications in single molecule magnets (SMMs) and magnetic refrigerants. These complexes possess a combination of 3d ions and 4f ions, both individually renowned for their excellent magnetic properties. The intriguing properties of SMMs make them highly promising for a wide range of applications, including molecular spintronics, high-density information storage materials, and quantum computing. A total of forty-five V-Ln complexes with nuclearities ranging from tetranuclear to tridecanuclear were synthesized, some of which have localized heterovalent states of vanadium ions. The main work is divided into the following three parts: Chapter 2 of this thesis provides a comprehensive description of the molecular structures and magnetic properties of two distinct types of V-Ln complexes synthesized using Schlenk techniques. Different combinations of ligands and solvents resulted in diverse V-Ln complexes. The magnetic behaviors of each complex are explored in detail. These butterfly-type V${}^{III}$${}_2$Dy${}_2$ complexes exhibit slow relaxation of magnetization usually under an applied direct-current (dc) field. The magnetic properties of the complexes are quantified fitting the relaxation times. For the V${}^{III}$${}_2$Dy${}_2$ 2.2 complex, the obtained parameters are τ${}_0$ = 1.518×10${}^{-<!--\; ???\; -->5}$ s, τ${}_{QTM}$ = 1.15×10${}^{-<!--\; ???\; -->3}$ s, and U${}_{eff}$ = 14(2) K. On the other hand the V${}^{III}$${}_5$Dy${}_8$ 2.9 and V${}^{III}$${}_3$V${}^{IV}$Dy${}_5$ 2.10 clusters demonstrate SMM characteristics without the need for an applied magnetic field. In the case of the V${}^{III}$${}_5$Dy${}_8$ 2.9 complex, the results of micro-SQUID experiments confirm the presence of SMM behavior below 0.3 K, as seen from the hysteresis. Furthermore, the fitting of the Arrhenius equation yields an energy barrier of 8 K and a relaxation time of 10${}^{-<!--\; ???\; -->13}$ s for the V${}^{III}$${}_5$Dy${}_8$ 2.9 complex. Compared with SMM complexes of other trivalent transition metal ions and lanthanide ions, this chapter confirms that V-Ln type complexes can also be candidates for SMMs, and also significantly expands the scope of research in the field of 3d-4f SMMs. Chapter 3 focuses on the crystal structures and magnetic properties of 14 V${}^{III}$${}_4$Ln${}_4$ complexes, all of which share the same square-in-square topology but differ in their ligands and lanthanide ions. The results of dc magnetic susceptibility experiments reveal that these V${}^{III}$${}_4$Ln${}_4$ complexes exhibit ferromagnetic properties. In contrast, the V${}^{III}$${}_4$Y${}_4$ complexes containing diamagnetic Y ions exhibit antiferromagnetism. Therefore, it can be concluded that there is a ferromagnetic interaction between the lanthanide and vanadium ions. Furthermore, this section discusses the magnetocaloric properties of two isostructural V${}^{III}$${}_4$Gd${}_4$ complexes with slight differences in the ligands. V${}^{III}$${}_4$Gd${}_4$ 3.3 has an entropy change of 16.08 J kg${}^{-<!--\; ???\; -->1}$ K${}^{-<!--\; ???\; -->1}$ at 3 K for H = 7 T, while V${}^{III}$${}_4$Gd${}_4$ 3.7 has an entropy change of 19.53 J kg${}^{-<!--\; ???\; -->1}$ K${}^{-<!--\; ???\; -->1}$ at 3 K for H = 7 T. Chapter 4 delves into the magnetostructural correlations of a series of ring-shaped V${}^{III}$-Ln complexes via dc susceptibility measurements. Additionally, this chapter examines the relationship between the metal-metal distances and the arrangement of vanadium and lanthanide ions in the ring. Furthermore, the effects of ligand changes on the dc magnetic susceptibility properties of these isostructural complexes are discussed. Notably, the alteration of the ligand does not significantly impact on the dc magnetic susceptibility properties. The findings contribute towards a better understanding of the magnetic behavior observed in these ring-shape V${}^{III}$-Ln complexes.

[en] The paper presents a methodology to evaluate earthquake-induced sloshing effects for seismic qualification of liquid storage tanks. The modal sloshing properties are derived based on an 'Equivalent Rectangular Tank' method. Response spectrum analysis is used to be calculated the sloshing response. The total tank base shear and overturning moment are obtained which can be used for seismic qualification analysis of tanks and tank supports/foundations. This general approach is applicable to general tanks such as vertical-cylindrical, horizontal-cylindrical, spherical, elliptical, and other irregular practical tanks

[en] In this paper, a unified methodology will be developed to evaluate impact effects of hard missiles on reinforced concrete and steel members including plates/walls and beams. The solution will be investigated based on two ultimate limit states: local perforation and structural collapse of flexible plates and beams

[en] The objective of this work is to assess the structural behavior of the restraint system and high energy pipe in the course of a pipe whipping event caused by a high energy pipe break. By doing so, the capability and performance of the restraint structures to arrest pipe whipping can be evaluated. This analysis is concerned with potential failures of the restraint structures as well as the pipe under the pipe whipping impact and the performance of the restraint structure and steam pipe under a postulated MSLB event. The Main purpose of the work is to gain better understanding how a postulated high energy pipe break event may interact and affect the existing concerned restraints. Another purpose of this analysis work is to show how can a structure-pipe interaction system under the dynamic and impact loads be simulated in order to understand potential failure modes which have to considered in the restraint design

[en] Highlights: • Ag_3PO_4 photocatalysts were synthesized via one-step and two-step ion-exchange reaction. • Photocatalytic properties of Ag_3PO_4 photocatalysts was investigated, the result indicated the Ag_3PO_4 (2) was higher than that of Ag_3PO_4 (1) under the same experimental condition. • Ag_3PO_4 (2) particles were larger than Ag_3PO_4 (1) particles and many polygonal-shaped surfaces could be clearly observed in the Ag_3PO_4 (2) particles. - Abstract: Ag_3PO_4 photocatalysts were prepared via two and one-step through a facile ion-exchange route. The photocatalysts were then characterized through powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was evaluated on the basis of the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB) under solar irradiation. The MO degradation rate of the Photocatalyst synthesized by the two-step ion-exchange route was 89.18% in 60 min. This value was four times that of the Photocatalyst synthesized by the one-step approach.The MB degradation rate was 97% in 40 min. After six cycling runs were completed, the MO degradation rate was 73%

[en] Derivative constant-energy synchronous luminescence spectrometry (DCESLS) was evaluated using four-component mixtures of fluorene, carbazole, anthracene and perylene. The results show the effectiveness of DCESLS for the identification and determination of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. (author). 27 refs.; 3 figs.; 2 tabs

[en] The paper makes an elastic analysis of an elastic film containing a rigid line inclusion. Surface effects are taken into account, since the film is extraordinarily thin. The inclusion is assumed to penetrate the film along the film’s thickness. When remote loading is applied, the associated problem of an infinite isotropic homogeneous film with a rigid inclusion is solved by superposition. For elastic fields disturbed by the inclusion, the Fourier integral transform is applied to derive the problem to a singular integral equation with Cauchy kernel of the first kind. Full elastic field in the whole plane is obtained for uniform tension and shear loadings. Furthermore, exact analytic expressions for the elastic field induced by a semi-infinite rigid line inclusion are directly determined. Stress singularity coefficients are evaluated and displayed graphically. Results show that stress singularity coefficients depend on all material properties including bulk and surface properties. When neglecting surface stress and surface elasticity, the obtained stress singularity coefficients reduce to the well-known classical counterparts.

[en] The surface modification of nanostructured crystalline ZnS by near-infrared femtosecond laser pulses was investigated. A large area nano-grating array was formed on a ZnS surface, with the period and orientation of the nano-gratings depending on the laser wavelength and polarisation direction of the electric field of the light wave, respectively. The nanostructured ZnS surface exhibited the same crystal structure as the polycrystalline ZnS substrate. The photoluminescence (PL) characteristics of ZnS samples were observed to be different before and after laser irradiation when an excitation wavelength above the band-gap energy of ZnS was used. Two additional luminescence peaks were observed to appear in PL spectrum of nanostructured ZnS relative to that of crystalline ZnS. Then, for an excitation wavelength below the band-gap energy, the PL peaks were almost coincident for the two aforementioned ZnS samples; however, the fluorescence lifetime of the nanostructured ZnS sample (2.33 ns) was notably shorter than that of the ZnS crystal sample (10.87 ns).

[en] A mode-III crack embedded in a homogeneous isotropic elastic layer of nanoscale finite thickness is studied in this article. The classical elasticity incorporating surface elasticity is employed to reduce a nonclassical mixed boundary value problem, where the layer interior obeys the traditional constitutive relation and the surfaces of the layer and the crack are dominated by the surface constitutive relation. Using the Fourier transform, we convert the problem to a hypersingular integro-differential equation for the out-of-plane displacement on the crack faces. By expanding the out-of-plane displacement as series of Chebyshev polynomials, the Galerkin method is invoked to reduce the singular integro-differential equation with Cauchy kernel to a set of algebraic linear equations for the unknown coefficients. An approximate solution is determined, and the influences of surface elasticity on the elastic field and stress intensity factor are examined and displayed graphically. It is shown that surface elasticity decreases the bulk stress and its intensity factor near the crack tips for positive surface shear modulus and gives rise to an opposite trend for a negative surface shear modulus.

[en] This article studies a class of fin problems with two nonlinear terms arising from thermal conductivity and convection heat transfer coefficient. A one-dimensional convective straight fin is analysed for exponentially temperature-dependent thermal conductivity and exponentially temperature-dependent heat transfer coefficient. The exact fin temperature excess, heat transfer rate and fin efficiency are obtained and presented graphically. The obtained results show the strong influences of exponent indexes of thermal conductivity and convection transfer coefficient as well as thermogeometric fin parameter on the fin efficiency and heat flow. (author)