Stochastic finite element analysis of shells

In the present paper the stochastic formulation of the triangular composite (TRIC) facet shell element is presented using the weighted integral and local average methods. The elastic modulus of the structure is considered to be a two-dimensional homogeneous stochastic field which is represented via the spectral representation method. As a result of the proposed derivation and the special features of the element, the stochastic stiffness matrix is calculated in terms of a minimum number of random variables of the stochastic field giving a cost-effective stochastic matrix. Under the assumption of a pre-specified power spectral density function of the stochastic field, it is possible to compute the response variability of the shell structure. Numerical tests are provided to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed methodologies.     

Performance and long-term durability of direct-methane flat-tube solid oxide fuel cells with symmetric double-sided cathodes

In this work, we investigated the performance and stability of a large flat-tube SOFC with symmetric double-sided cathodes (DSC), which was directly fueled with methane. The effect of steam/carbon (S/C) ratio, temperature, and current density on the performance, and long-term stability of the DSC as well as the catalytic behavior of the anode was investigated in details. The thick anode support and inner channels of the DSC formed an efficient microreactor for steam-reforming of methane, resulting in high conversion rate of methane and CO selectivity. In particular, when the S/C was 2, the conversion of CH₄ at 750 °C achieved 100% in the DSC and no carbon deposition was observed. Moreover, the voltage of DSC with was stable throughout 190 h under a discharge current density of 0.257 A cm⁻².     

Synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles of Alnico alloys

Nanoparticles of Alnico 4 (Fe–12% Al–28% Ni–5% Co) and Alnico 5 (Fe–8% Al–14% Ni–24% Co–3%–Cu) alloys with the mean particle diameter from 12 to 34 nm were successfully produced by hydrogen plasma metal reaction. The particle features, oxidization behavior and magnetic properties were studied. The nanoparticles have the same crystalline structure and lattice parameter as the master alloys, and a new phase or non-equilibrium phase has not been observed. With an increase in the mean particle, the oxidization temperature and the saturation magnetization are decreased, but the coercive force is enhanced.     

Highly transparent and color-adjustable Eu2+ doped SrO-SiO2-Al2O3 multilayered glass ceramic prepared by controlling crystallization from glass

Multilayered inorganic transparent materials have been widely used as laser materials, scintillators and phosphors due to their excellent combined properties or functions. However, owing to the limitation of the current preparation technology, only the ceramics with cubic crystal structure could be fabricated into multilayered transparent materials, which has greatly obstructed the diversity of multilayered transparent materials. Here we report a novel non-cubic multilayered transparent phosphor with a ceramic/glass/ceramic sandwich-like structure prepared by controlling crystallization from Eu₂O₃-SrO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ bulk glass. The ceramic thicknesses, total transmittances, emission colors and the fluorescence quantum yields of the samples can be adjusted continuously within a certain range. The multilayered transparent phosphor could be used as a potential candidate for the white LEDs with high color rendering index. It can be anticipated that the controlled crystallization from bulk glass method is a simple, fast, cost-effective and promising synthesis approach to prepare non-cubic transparent materials with ceramic/glass/ceramic structures.     

High Q×f values of Zn-Ni co-modified LiMg0.9Zn0.1-xNixPO4 microwave dielectric ceramics for 5G/6G LTCC modules

In this work, Zn-Ni co-modified LiMg_0.9Zn_0.1-xNi_xPO₄ (x = 0–0.1) microwave dielectric ceramics were fabricated using a solid state synthesis route. Rietveld refinement of the XRD data revealed that all ceramic samples have formed a single phase with olivine structure. SEM images showed that the samples have a dense microstructure, that agrees with the measured relative density of 97.73 %. Based on the complex chemical bond theory, Raman and infrared reflectance spectra, we postulate that ε_r is mainly affected by the ionic polarizability, lattice and bond energy, while P-O bond plays a decisive role in Q×f and τ_f value. Optimum properties of Q×f ~ 153,500 GHz, ε_r ~ 7.13 and τ_f ~ ?59 ppm/°C were achieved for the composition LiMg_0.9Zn_0.06Ni_0.04PO₄ sintered at 875 ℃ for 2 h. This set of properties makes these ceramics an excellent candidate for LTCC, wave-guide filters and antennas for 5 G/6 G communication applications.     

Ceramic shell moulds with zircon filler and colloidal silica binder for investment casting of shrouded low-pressure turbine blades

Zircon (ZrO₂·SiO₂) powder filler and colloidal silica binder were used to prepare the ceramic shell moulds for investment casting of shrouded low-pressure turbine blades (LPTB). Ceramic slurries were prepared by using two types of colloidal silica binders (polymer-free binder A and polymer-containing binder B). The samples prepared from binder B showed lesser self-load sag values than those developed from binder A. Ceramic shell moulds made from an optimized slurry composition (having binder A) yielded aeronautical grade casting of blades at 1500 °C with required dimensional accuracy and average surface roughness (Ra). The blades cast from shell moulds (having binder B) showed dimensional accuracy at 1500 °C as well as at 1525 °C. The Ra values of blades cast at 1500 °C and 1525 °C by using shell system with binder B were observed to be higher than those cast from shell system having binder A.     

Reactive wetting behavior and mechanism of AlN ceramic by CuNi-Xwt%Ti active filler metal

In order to propel the application of the developed CuNi-Xwt%Ti active filler metal in AlN brazing and get the universal reactive wetting mechanism between liquid metal and solid ceramic, the reactive wetting behavior and mechanism of AlN ceramic by CuNi-Xwt%Ti active filler metal were investigated. The results indicate that, with the increasing Ti content, surface tension for liquid CuNi-Xwt%Ti filler metal increases at low-temperature interval, but very similar at high-temperature interval, which influence the wetting behavior on AlN ceramic obviously. CuNi/AlN is the typical non-reactive wetting system, the wetting process including rapid wetting stage and stable stage. The wettability is depended on surface tension of the liquid CuNi filler metal completely. However, the wetting process of CuNi-8wt.%Ti/AlN and CuNi-16 wt%Ti/AlN reactive wetting system is composed by three stages, which are rapid wetting stage decided by surface tension, slow wetting stage caused by interfacial reaction and stable stage. For CuNi-8wt.%Ti/AlN and CuNi-16 wt%Ti/AlN reactive wetting system, although the surface tension of liquid filler metal is the only factor to influence the instant wetting angle θ₀ at rapid wetting stage, the reduced free energy caused by interfacial reaction at slow wetting stage plays the decisive role in influencing the final wettability.