1. Introduction It has been theoretically shown that backward waves can be supported not only by double-negative materials with simultaneous negative permittivity and permeability [1] but also by uniaxial anisotropic single-negative slabs with a negative component of permittivity or permeability tensor [2]. The uniaxial anisotropic single-negative materials are potentially advantageous in row l...

In this paper, a compression-to-tensile load converter device is developed to determine the anisotropic tensile strength of brittle material. A cubic sample with an internal pore was used as the test specimen, and a series of finite element analysis and DDM simulations were performed thereafter to analyse the effect of pore dimensions on the stress concentration, as well as to render a suitable...