A node-based smoothed finite element method (NS-FEM) for upper bound solution to visco-elastoplastic analyses of solids using triangular and tetrahedral meshes

A node-based smoothed finite element method (NS-FEM) was recently proposed for the solid mechanics problems. In the NS-FEM, the system stiffness matrix is computed using the smoothed strains over the smoothing domains associated with nodes of element mesh. In this paper, the NS-FEM is further extended to more complicated visco-elastoplastic analyses of 2D and 3D solids using triangular and tetrahedral meshes, respectively. The material behavior includes perfect visco-elastoplasticity and visco-elastoplasticity with isotropic hardening and linear kinematic hardening. A dual formulation for the NS-FEM with displacements and stresses as the main variables is performed. The von-Mises yield function and the Prandtl–Reuss flow rule are used. In the numerical procedure, however, the stress variables are eliminated and the problem becomes only displacement-dependent. The numerical results show that the NS-FEM has higher computational cost than the FEM. However the NS-FEM is much more accurate than the FEM, and hence the NS-FEM is more efficient than the FEM. It is also observed from the numerical results that the NS-FEM possesses the upper bound property which is very meaningful for the visco-elastoplastic analyses which almost have not got the analytical solutions. This suggests that we can use two models, NS-FEM and FEM, to bound the solution, and can even estimate the global relative error of numerical solutions.     

Engineering the Exciton Dissociation in Quantum‐Confined 2D CsPbBr3 Nanosheet Films

Recent years have witnessed a rapid development of all‐inorganic halide perovskite in optoelectronic devices. Ultrathin 2D CsPbBr₃ nanosheets (NSs) with large lateral dimensions have demonstrated exceptional photophysical properties because of their analogous exciton electronic structure to quantum wells. Despite the incredible progress on device performance, the photophysics and carrier transportation parameters of quantum‐confined CsPbBr₃ NSs are lacking, and the fundamental understanding of the exciton dissociation mechanism is far less developed. Here, a ligands rearrangement mechanism is proposed to explain why annealed NS films have an increased charge transfer rate and a decreased exciton binding energy and lifetime, prompting tunneling as a dominant way of exciton dissociation to separate photogenerated excitons between neighboring NSs. This facile but efficient method provides a new insight to manipulate perovskite nanocrystals coupling. Moreover, ultrathin 2D CsPbBr₃ NS film is demonstrated to have a enhanced absorption cross section and high carrier mobility of 77.9 cm² V^?1 s^?1, contributing to its high responsivity of 0.53 A W^?1. The photodetector has a long‐term stability up to three months, which are responsible for reliable perovskite‐based device performance.     

Effect of nickel content of 9Cr-1MoVNb and 12Cr-1MoVW steels on the aging and irradiation response of impact properties

Irradiating nickel-containing alloys in a mixed-spectrum reactor can simulate both transmutation helium and displacement damage expected in a fusion reactor first wall. Impact properties of 9Cr-1MoVNb and 12Cr-1MoVW steels doped with nickel were determined in the as-heat-treated, thermally aged, and irradiated conditions to determine if nickeldoping affects the behavior. The irradiation was carried out in a fast-spectrum reactor which produces only an insignificant amount of helium during irradiation, thereby evaluating the effect of nickel alone. Only limited property changes resulted from thermal aging or irradiation to 12 dpa at 450 to 550°C. Irradiation of the 12Cr-1MoVW steel at 390°C produced severe degradation of impact properties. Nickel additions affected the unirradiated material properties, but subsequent radiationinduced changes were similar. The results indicate that nickel doping and subsequent irradiation in a mixed spectrum reactor is a viable method for simulating irradiation effects in a fusion reactor first wall.     

A sustainable printed circuit board derived hierarchically porous carbon/polyaniline composites for supercapacitors

The hierarchically porous carbon/polyaniline electrodes derived from the nonmetallic part of waste printed circuit board have been synthesized by a convenient carbonization and activation method. A detailed analysis of the morphology, structure, and electrochemical performances of as-prepared composites is presented. As expected, the balanced specific surface area and porous structure manifest their remarkable electrochemical performances. Apparently, the multiple synergistic effects are crucial to simultaneously achieving high capacity and significantly increased stability. As a result, the electrodes display exceptional rate capability, superior cyclic stability, and high specific capacitance (520.0 F/g at 1 A/g). Furthermore, the asymmetrical device possesses an improved energy density of 9.3 Wh/kg with a power density of 62.4 W/kg in H₂SO₄ electrolyte. Moreover, a potential mechanism contributing to the superior performance of hierarchically porous carbon/polyaniline composites has been studied in detail. Noteworthy, this study provides a feasible strategy for recycling waste printed circuit boards. Importantly, this approach will provide a path toward the rational synthesis and design of electrode materials for supercapacitors that take both high-performance and cost-effective into account.     

Influence of charge compensation on the photoluminescence and temperature sensing of zinc titanate composites

Eu³⁺ activated zinc titanate red-emitting phosphors have been synthesized by a solid state reaction, and Li⁺ is added as the charge compensator to tune the optical performances of the phosphors. The structure of samples synthesized at different temperature reveals temperature dependence. The crystallization of particles is improved with increasing calcination temperature. The surface morphology and element distribution of the samples are observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS). Various elements are evenly distributed in the matrix materials. The luminescence intensity of Eu³⁺ is effectively improved by co-doping Li⁺, and the luminescence intensity of the phosphor with Li⁺ content of 5 mol% and 7 mol% is twice than that of the phosphor without Li ⁺ when the annealing temperature is 600 °C. While the influence of Li ⁺ on the photoluminescence performance becomes weaker with the annealing temperature increasing. The highest relative sensitivity of 0.65%/K is obtained in the sample annealed at 1000 °C, which is not affected by the Li⁺ dopants.     

Configuration and characters of novel Li2TiO3 tritium breeder cubic units with tuned channel structure via lithography-based 3D printing

Li₂TiO₃ is regarded as a vital tritium breeder candidate due to its favorable properties in Helium-Cooled Pebble Bed. However, the point contact stress breakage for traditional pebble structure can cause the blocking of tritium recovery system, and seriously reduce the safety and tritium self-sufficiency ability of fusion reactor. For addressing above problems, in this paper, complex-shaped Li₂TiO₃ cubic units were manufactured firstly via lithography-based 3D printing. According to the principle of tritium transport, the cubic unit structures with ordered channels were built and evaluated by finite element analysis. The photocuring parameters were optimized to improve printing accuracy by establishing an overgrowth model. After optimizing the sintering schedule, the Li₂TiO₃ cubic units with excellent relative density (92.3%TD) and packing factor (80.99%) were yielded, and it also had an outstanding compressive strength (84.4 MPa). The results of thermal cycling test shown that the Li₂TiO₃ cubic units possessed a prominent thermal cyclic durability.     

Physicochemical and biological properties of composite bone cement based on octacalcium phosphate and tricalcium silicate

Biocompatible tricalcium silicate (C₃S) bone cement is widely used as dental and bone repair material; however, its long setting time, poor injectability and low initial mechanical properties limit clinical applications. In order to improve C₃S silicate bone cement and its derivatives to play a more important role in tooth restoration, bone defect repair, implant coating and tissue engineering scaffolds, a novel C₃S and octacalcium phosphate (OCP) composite bone cement (OCP/C₃S) was prepared and evaluated for setting time, injectability, anti-flocculation, pH, microstructure, bioactivity and cytotoxicity. The setting time of the OCP/C₃S composite bone cement was controlled within the clinically operable time range (8.3–13.7 min); the cement exhibited good compressive strength, injectability (93.54%), and anti-collapse performance. The 20% OCP/C₃S composite bone cement had a compressive strength of 28.94 MPa, 93% stronger than pure C₃S (14.98 MPa). An in vitro immersion test showed that the composite bone cement had excellent hydroxyapatite forming ability, proper degradation rate, and a low pH value. Cellular experiments confirmed the low cytotoxicity of the composite bone cement and its great capacity for cell proliferation. These results indicate that 20% OCP/C₃S composite bone cement is a promising biomaterial.     

Influence of doping on magnetic and electromagnetic properties of spinel ferrites

In this study, spinel Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ doped with transition metal ions as well as rare-earth ions Ni_0.4Zn_0.4M′_0.2Fe₂O₄ (M′ = Cu, Dy, Gd and Lu) and M″_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ (M″ = Ni, Mn and Co) are developed using the sol-gel auto-combustion route, and the role of substitution on electromagnetic properties is investigated. The powder X-ray diffraction accompanied by Rietveld refinement signifies a single-phase spinel ferrite that belongs to Fd-3m space group for all the compositions. Rietveld refinement confirms that doped Cu²⁺, Dy³⁺, Gd³⁺ and Lu³⁺ ions are at random distribution between spinel tetrahedral and spinel octahedral sites against their preferential occupancy. The saturation magnetisation (M_S) of Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ (M_S = 50.5 emu/g) increased with partial doping showing M_S = 60.08 emu/g for transition-metal doped Ni_0.4Zn_0.4Cu_0.2Fe₂O₄ and M_S = 109.7 emu/g for rare-earth doped Ni_0.4Zn_0.4Dy_0.2Fe₂O₄, which was the highest among all the doped compositions. Doping enhances the dielectric permittivity of Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ from 4.2 to 6.5 for Ni_0.4Zn_0.4Cu_0.2Fe₂O₄ and 7.7 for Ni_0.4Zn_0.4Dy_0.2Fe₂O₄. Further, the reflection coefficient (R_L) of all the doped compositions of Ni_0.4Zn_0.4M′_0.2Fe₂O₄ (M′ = Cu, Dy, Gd and Lu) was less than −8 dB (85% absorption) throughout the frequency band of 8–12 GHz with an optimum material thickness of 3.5 mm. Transition metal ion doped Ni_0.4Zn_0.4Cu_0.2Fe₂O₄ resulted in further improvement of its absorption characteristics of the incident EM waves with reflection coefficient (R_L) less than −10 dB (between 84.15% and 90%) between 10 and 12 GHz at a material thickness of 3.5 mm in the X-band frequency range.     

Comparative Study on Microstructures of Zincalume Steel (G550) Welded Joint Between Metal Inert Gas and Laser Beam Welding

Zincalume steel (G550) is commonly used in various construction fields because of its high corrosion resistance and good mechanical properties. In recent years, a number of steel companies have massively produced zincalume steel (G550) with large volumes of waste. For the reduction of massive industrial wastes, the zincalume steel (G550) was welded in the lap joint configuration using different welding parameters in the metal inert gas (MIG) welding and laser beam welding (LBW) process in this study. The MIG welding and LBW are more welcomed welding methods due to their high efficiency and low cost. However, they are different as the LBW offers welding speed three to five times faster than MIG welding, while LBW’s heat transfer to workpieces is much less than MIG welding, which can avoid some distortions. The microstructure of zincalume steel (G550) was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the microstructure characterizations of welded specimens were analyzed. The experiment found the columnar dendrites extended under the heat flow direction during the MIG welding and LBW process. Thus, the columnar grains were formed in between the equiaxed zone and fusion zone (FZ) at high heat input and slow cooling rate. Moreover, the grain size of FZ was comparatively smaller than heat affected zone (HAZ) and base metal (BM).