“Size effect” in the fatigue behavior of Friction Stir Welded plates

Comparative fatigue tests were carried out on Friction Stir Welded specimens of a 2195-T8 aluminum–lithium alloy that differed significantly in width. The width of the larger specimens was over thirteen times greater than that of the small specimens. Fatigue results showed a clear “size effect”, i.e. fatigue life of large specimens was about 40% of the corresponding value of small specimens. The Equivalent Initial Flaw Size methodology was adopted to correlate the two sets of results. Fatigue crack initiation life was disregarded with respect to crack propagation life, and fatigue life was evaluated only as propagation of a small pre-existing defect. Following this methodology, test results of small specimens were used to evaluate the initial equivalent flaw contained in each specimen. It was assumed that this data followed a normal distribution. The equivalent initial flaw in larger specimens was evaluated by simple geometrical considerations. A very good assessment of mean fatigue life and scatter in the fatigue results of large specimens was obtained by simulating the propagation of these defects. Calculations were carried out by taking also welding residual stresses into account, but the results demonstrated that this effect was not significant.     

Zinc doped Fe2O3 for boosting Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Fixation to ammonia under mild conditions

Artificial nitrogen fixation is emerging as a promising approach for synthesis of ammonia at mild conditions. Inspired by biological nitrogen fixation based on bacteria containing iron, zinc doped Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles are proposed as an efficient and earth abundant electrocatalyst for converting N₂ to NH₃. In neutral media, it achieves a maximum Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 10.4% and a large NH₃ yield rate of 15.1 μg h^?1 mg^?1_cat. at ?0.5 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode. This catalyst also exhibits excellent selectivity and stability. Theoretical calculations suggest the reaction follows the associative enzymatic mechanism and it has a barrier of as low as 0.68 eV.     

Moving the goal posts: a reply to Dawson and Piercey

Berkeley [Minds Machines 10 (2000) 1] described a methodology that showed the subsymbolic nature of an artificial neural network system that had been trained on a logic problem, originally described by Bechtel and Abrahamsen [Connectionism and the mind. Blackwells, Cambridge, MA, 1991]. It was also claimed in the conclusion of this paper that the evidence was suggestive that the network might, in fact, count as a symbolic system. Dawson and Piercey [Minds Machines 11 (2001) 197] took issue with this latter claim. They described some lesioning studies that they argued showed that Berkeley’s (2000) conclusions were premature. In this paper, these lesioning studies are replicated and it is shown that the effects that Dawson and Piercey rely upon for their argument are merely an artifact of a threshold function they chose to employ. When a threshold function much closer to that deployed in the original studies is used, the significant effects disappear.     

烟气轮机叶片寿命的影响因素和评估方法

合理准确预测烟气轮机叶片寿命,是催化裂化装置安全运行的必要保障。文章研究了影响烟气轮机叶片疲劳寿命的因素;评述了叶片疲劳寿命评估方法;选取并介绍了适合烟气轮机叶片寿命的评估方法;阐明了目前存在有关叶片寿命的关键问题。     

住宅设计的分析与研究

总结了住宅设计的发展,概括了住宅各个功能区的特点。通过设计的实例说明了各不同功能区的设计,成果可供进一步的研究参考。     

“锲而不舍 金石可镂”——上海秀派公司2．45GHz有源RFID标签技术的成功之路

上海秀派公司坚持自己的技术长项——2．45GHz有源RFID,充分发扬该种RFID的特长,记者采访该公司时了解到了开发方面的很多细节、成功案例和实施经验。我们不但非常推崇该公司的“锲而不舍”的意志,而且还意识到如果秀派公司的成功经验一旦辐射到中国的RFID行业中,一定会把这项在国外诞生的技术更好地植根于中国的土壤,使之更加适合中国的实用环境。     

Does life satisfaction moderate the effects of stressful life events on psychopathological behavior during adolescence?

Psychologists within a positive psychology framework have proposed the existence of a set of psychological strengths that buffer against the development of psychopathology. To date, most research efforts in positive psychology have focused on adults. This longitudinal study tested the prediction that adolescents' judgments of life satisfaction moderate the influence of stressful life events on the subsequent development of psychopathological behavior. Using a sample of 816 middle and high school students, the study demonstrated support for the moderational model for externalizing behavior outcomes, but not internalizing behavior problems. Specifically, adolescents with positive life satisfaction (vs. those who were dissatisfied with their lives) were less likely to develop later externalizing behaviors in the face of stressful life events. The study also revealed that adolescent life satisfaction reports show moderate stability across a one-year time frame and independently predict subsequent externalizing behavior even while controlling for prior levels of externalizing behavior... (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

基于可靠性评价的含缺陷核压力管道疲劳寿命预测方法

含缺陷压力管道经缺陷评定合乎使用后,其疲劳寿命的估计具有重要的工程意义。将整个含缺陷压力管道作为一个整体,分析了含缺陷压力管道的疲劳裂纹扩展特点,提出了相应的含缺陷压力管道疲劳寿命的计算过程,并在基于可靠性评价的基础上,给出了核压力管道的可接受失效概率,最终得到了含缺陷核压力管道疲劳寿命预测方法。     

可控式机械密封设计

从机械密封的工作原理和失效分析入手,将自动控制技术引入机械密封,以改进机械密封的性能,使机械密封装置能够主动适应操作条件和工作环境的变化,提高其工作的可靠性和使用寿命,适用于要求较高的流体机械的轴端密封。     

Prediction Model for BTA Deep-Hole Machining using Fuzzy Clustering Approach: Experimental Study

In this article, a subtractive clustering-based fuzzy identification method and a Sugeno-type fuzzy inference system are used for modeling in metal cutting. This approach is considered with its application on the experimental study of Boring and Trepanning Association (BTA) deep-hole drilling. The model for the surface roughness is identified by using the cutting speed and feed as input data and roughness as the output data. Using subtractive clustering in both input and output spaces performs the model-building process. Minimum error model is obtained through enumerative search of clustering parameters. The fuzzy model obtained is capable of predicting the surface roughness for a given set of inputs (speed and feed). Therefore, the operator can predict the quality of the surface for a given set of working parameters and will then be able to set the machining parameters to achieve a certain surface quality. The fuzzy model is verified experimentally by further experimentation using different sets of inputs. The tool life is also investigated using the same approach. The fuzzy inference system obtained is capable of predicting the tool life for a given set of cutting parameters. Therefore, the operator will be able to predict how many minutes the cutting tool is going to last and will set the time for the next tool change.