Investigation on La3+ and Dy3+ co-doped ceria ceramics with an optimized average atomic number of dopants for electrolytes in IT-SOFCs

In the present study, we investigate the fundamental properties of CeO₂ by selecting La³⁺ (57), and Dy³⁺ (66) as dopants with optimized average atomic number of 61.5, which lies in between Pm³⁺ (62) and Sm³⁺ (62) in accordance with the criteria for optimum doping. A system of co-doped ceria ceramics Ce_1–x–yLa_xDy_yO_2-δ ((x, y) = (0.00, 0.00), (0.025, 0.025), (0.05, 0.05), (0.075, 0.075), (0.10, 0.10), (0.00, 0.20) and (0.20, 0.00)) as electrolytes for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells were successfully prepared by a well-known sol-gel auto-combustion route. In order to obtain dense samples, the prepared pellets were sintered in air at 1300 °C for 4 h using conventional furnace and relative densities of all the samples were found to be higher than 95%. Single phase cubic structure, microstructural density and elemental composition analysis of all the samples were studied by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive spectroscopy techniques, respectively. Raman spectroscopy analysis confirmed the formation of concentrated O^2-–vacancies in the co-doped ceria system. Impedance spectroscopy measurements revealed the high value of total ionic conductivity and low activation energy for the composition Ce_0.85La_0.075Dy_0.075O_2?δ i.e., 2.08 × 10^–2 S cm^–1 and 0.58 eV, respectively. Linear thermal expansion analyses of all the samples revealed the matched thermal expansion coefficients. Finally, these results recommend that the Ce_0.85La_0.075Dy_0.075O_2?δ sample can be useful as a solid electrolyte in IT-SOFC applications.     

公民水素养评价表征因素模型构建与分析

针对我国水资源紧缺、水生态损害、水环境污染等相关水问题,以提升全民爱水惜水节水护水的意识和能力为目标,从水素养概念出发,通过扎根理论质性研究方法对公民水素养评价的表征因素进行筛选和提炼,最终得出包含水知识、水态度、水行为为主范畴的10个表征因素并运用解释结构模型(ISM)深入剖析各因素之间的内在联系。在此基础上建立了3级多层次递阶结构模型,进一步精确描述系统各要素两两之间的直接关系。结果表明:公民水素养评价的表征因素自上而下形成了表象层、中间层和根源层等3个层级,可直观、清晰地反映表征因素之间的递阶、层级关系;水态度在各表征因素中具有调节作用以及各表征因素之间存在内在逻辑关系。研究成果为提高公民水素养水平提供一定的科学依据和政策参考。     

高职院校计算机理实一体化实训室建设的探索

The integration of computer theory and practice in higher vocational colleges is the necessary condition to realize the train- ing of professional talents and improve the comprehensive quality of skilled talents. It is also the problem that needs to be solved first in the teaching of computer major in higher vocational colleges. This paper firstly introduces the definition and connotation of the integration of computer theory and practice, discusses on its construction objectives and basic concepts, then analyzes the con- struction value of the integration of computer theory and practice, including the contents of employment, professional teaching, cur- riculum supporting and qualification examination, finally discusses on the construction scheme of the training room of the integra- tion of computer theory and practice, and gives the objective evaluation of the construction results, hoping to effectively improve the level of the integration of computer theory and practice, and achieve the sustainable development of teaching.     

An overview of economic theory and evidence of public-private partnerships in the procurement of (transport) infrastructure

Public-private partnerships (PPP) to construct infrastructure assets and to deliver the associated services emerged in their modern form in the UK in the 1990s. Although their quantitative significance has remained limited, a rich economic-theoretical PPP literature has emerged. In particular, the trade-off between allocative and productive efficiency has been extensively analysed in contract-theoretical literature. The empirical literature comparing PPP procurement with traditional public procurement is, however, scant. It may be futile to expect any simple empirical conclusions ever to emerge, and the thin evidence base means that public procurement decisions are strongly influenced by considerations other than economic efficiency.     

太赫兹可调谐滤波器设计

为了实现太赫兹信号的可调谐滤波，设计了一种基于柔性材料的太赫兹可调谐滤波器。通过扭曲特氟龙（Teflon）波导形成环型谐振器，实现了160～200 GHz频段的带阻滤波功能。改变谐振腔长可实现自由频谱范围（FSR）和滤波频点的调谐，实验测试了自由频谱范围在1.9 GHz和2.8 GHz间切换以及相应的滤波特性。研究表明，谐振腔长一定时，改变弯曲半径可实现滤波阻带抑制度的调节，柔性材料太赫兹环型谐振器可用于可调谐滤波，且具有较高的自由度。     

Machining accuracy improvement for a dual-spindle ultra-precision drum roll lathe based on geometric error analysis and calibration

This paper performs a comprehensive analysis and calibration on the geometric error of the ultra-precision drum roll lathe with dual-spindle symmetrical structure and cross slider layout. Firstly, the volumetric error model which contains all geometric errors of the dual-spindle ultra-precision drum roll lathe (DSUPDRL) is developed based on the combination of the homogenous transfer matrix (HTM) and multi-body system (MBS) theory. Secondly, sensitivity analysis for the volumetric error model is conducted to identify the sensitive geometric error components of the DSUPDRL using an improved Sobol method based on the quasi-Monte Carlo algorithm. The result of sensitivity analysis laid the foundation for the subsequent geometric error calibration. Then, some sensitive error components along the X and Z directions are calibrated using a laser interferometer and a pair of inductance displacement probes. Besides the volumetric error model, the concentricity error caused by dual-spindle symmetrical structure is proposed and calibrated by the on-machine measurement using a classic reversal method. Finally, a large-scale roller mold with a diameter of 250 mm and a length of 600 mm is machined using the DSUPDRL after calibration. The experimental result shows that 1.4 μm/600 mm generatrix accuracy is obtained, which validate the effectiveness of the geometric error analysis and calibration.     

Propagation and termination of an internal crack in continuously cast austenitic stainless steel analyzed by ∑ values and the Schmid factor

The formation mechanism of an internal crack was clarified from the viewpoint of the crystallography and thermal expansion. An inverse pole figure map obtained by EBSD pattern showed that the crack propagated along the grain boundaries having high ∑ values within the columnar zone. After the crack initiation, these positions were considered to undergo cracking followed by propagation toward the equiaxed side. Near the termination position, the grains ahead of crack propagation had a Schmid factor higher than 0.45 consuming elastic strain energy. Thermal expansion measurements showed that the grain with (0 0 1) orientation had the largest expansion while that with (0 1 1) the smallest. The grain boundaries neighboring the combination of (0 0 1) and (0 1 1) grains had the largest thermal stress. Therefore, thermal stress contributed to the initiation of cracking. It was thus proposed to enlarge the equiaxed zone to prevent cracking by discontinuing the crack propagation.     

Influence of particle contact models on soil response of poorly graded sand during cavity expansion in discrete element simulation

The discrete element method (DEM) has been extensively adopted to investigate many complex geotechnical related problems due to its capability to incorporate the discontinuous nature of granular materials. In particular, when simulating large deformations or distortion of soil (e.g. cavity expansion), DEM can be very effective as other numerical solutions may experience convergence problems. Cavity expansion theory has widespread applications in geotechnical engineering, particularly to the problems concerning in situ testing, pile installation and so forth. In addition, the behaviour of geomaterials in a macro-level is utterly determined by microscopic properties, highlighting the importance of contact models. Despite the fact that there are numerous contact models proposed to mimic the realistic behaviour of granular materials, there are lack of studies on the effects of these contact models on the soil response. Hence, in this study, a series of three-dimensional numerical simulations with different contact constitutive models was conducted to simulate the response of sandy soils during cylindrical cavity expansion. In this numerical investigation, three contact models, i.e. linear contact model, rolling resistance contact model, and Hertz contact model, are considered. It should be noted that the former two models are linear based models, providing linearly elastic and frictional plasticity behaviours, whereas the latter one consists of nonlinear formulation based on an approximation of the theory of Mindlin and Deresiewicz. To examine the effects of these contact models, several cylindrical cavities were created and expanded gradually from an initial radius of 0.055 m to a final radius of 0.1 m. The numerical predictions confirm that the calibrated contact models produced similar results regarding the variations of cavity pressure, radial stress, deviatoric stress, volumetric strain, as well as the soil radial displacement. However, the linear contact model may result in inaccurate predictions when highly angular soil particles are involved. In addition, considering the excessive soil displacement induced by the pile installation (i.e. cavity expansion), a minimum distance of 11a (a is the cavity radius) is recommend for practicing engineers to avoid the potential damages to the existing piles and adjacent structures.     

Supply chain network design under the risk of uncertain disruptions

Facility disruptions in the supply chain often lead to catastrophic consequences, although they occur rarely. The low frequency and non-repeatability of disruptive events also make it impossible to estimate the disruption probability accurately. Therefore, we construct an uncertain programming model to design the three-echelon supply chain network with the disruption risk, in which disruptions are considered as uncertain events. Under the constraint of satisfying customer demands, the model optimises the selection of retailers with uncertain disruptions and the assignment of customers and retailers, in order to minimise the expected total cost of network design. In addition, we simplify the proposed model by analysing its properties and further linearise the simplified model. A Lagrangian relaxation algorithm for the linearised model and a genetic algorithm for the simplified model are developed to solve medium-scale problems and large-scale problems, respectively. Finally, we illustrate the effectiveness of proposed models and algorithms through several numerical examples.