Propagation of surface cracks on beam blank in the mould during continuous casting

ABSTRACT

We focus on crack propagation to investigate surface cracks in the mould during continuous casting, based on the crack initiation mechanism proposed in previous studies. The temperature and stress data of a solidified shell were extracted, and an extended finite element model based on the continuous damage theory of elastic–plastic materials was developed to simulate surface crack propagation. The results showed that, in the cracked area, stress concentration occurred at the crack tip, and the element split open and the crack propagated when the maximum principal stress in the stress concentration area reached the critical value. Prefabricated cracks in the fillet and web mainly developed into longitudinal cracks in the mould. The theoretical mechanism of this study was found to be the same as the crack propagation mechanism observed during the actual production of beam blanks. Thus, this study reveals the theoretical principle of crack initiation and propagation and can provide theoretical guidance for controlling surface cracks during beam blank continuous casting.     

2219铝合金搅拌摩擦焊和钨极保护焊焊接件残余应力的中子衍射研究

利用中子衍射法对2219铝合金搅拌摩擦焊（FSW）和钨极保护焊（TIG）焊接件开展了三维残余应力测量，并对残余应力分布规律进行了分析。结果表明：焊接件的纵向残余应力数值较大；FSW焊接件残余应力整体较TIG焊接件的小；FSW和TIG焊接件的残余拉应力最大值分别为101 MPa和174 MPa，FSW焊接件残余拉应力最大值较TIG焊接件的小；FSW残余拉应力最大值处于轴肩边缘，且前进侧峰值大于后退侧峰值；TIG焊接件残余拉应力最大值处于焊缝边缘。通过中子衍射实验获得的焊接件残余应力分布，将可用于焊接工艺的优化与焊接件的寿命预测。     

Self‐similarity analysis of vehicle driver's electrodermal activity

This paper characterizes stress levels via a self‐similarity analysis of the electrodermal activity (EDA) collected in a real‐world driving context. To characterize the EDA richness over scales, the fractional Brownian motion (FBM) process and its corresponding exponent H, estimated via a wavelet‐based approach, are used. Specifically, an automatic scale range selection is proposed in order to detect the linearity in a log scale diagram. The procedure is applied to the EDA signals, from the open database drivedb, originally captured on the foot and the hand of the drivers during a real‐world driving experiment, designed to evoke different levels of arousal and stress. The estimated Hurst exponent H offers a distinction in stress levels when driving in highway versus city, with a reference to restful state of minimal stress level. Specifically, the estimated H values tend to decrease when the driving environmental complexity increases. In addition, the estimated H values on the foot EDA signals allow a better characterization of the driving task than that of hand EDA. The self‐similarity analysis was applied to various physiological signals in literature but not to the EDA so far, a signal which was found to correlate most with human affect. The proposed analysis could be useful in real‐time monitoring of stress levels in urban driving spaces, among other applications.     

中厚板减薄过程残余应力的演变行为

 针对中厚板使用过程中的变形行为，研究了中厚板因减薄引起横向残余应力重新分布规律。基于剥层法理论建立了中厚板减薄过程中残余应力分布模型和挠曲变形模型，应用有限元分析法模拟了厚板减薄过程。对比分析了残余应力分布形式和中厚板挠曲变形程度的计算结果和有限元仿真模拟结果，验证了两种分析方法的可行性，并进一步分析了应力分布状态及厚板减薄方式对薄板减薄过程变形的影响。结果表明，两种分析结果都能反映中厚板减薄变形特征，但有限元仿真模拟方法能够随薄板减薄而改变中厚板约束状态，结果更为准确；中厚板内部原始残余应力分布状态及使用过程减薄方式对其减薄过程变形有重要影响，为中厚板的合理生产设计和使用提供理论依据。     

基于Kӧtter方程的盾构掘进面上被切削土体受力研究

为了计算不同土体性质与不同掘进参数下盾构刮刀与土体之间的作用力以及由此带来的切削扭矩,引入了修正后的Kӧtter方程作为补充方程,求解出开挖面上土体在被动切削至破坏时滑动面上的应力分布,建立了被切削土体受力模型,求解出刮刀刃面与土体之间的正压力p、摩擦力Q与侧向土体间抗剪阻力U,进而推导出刀盘切削扭矩T的计算公式。分析得到特定刀盘上刮刀的p,Q,U值随土体c,φ值增大而增大,通过适当提高刮刀刃面粗糙度来增大摩擦可使土体更易被切至破坏;p,Q,U值随刀盘转速ω增大而减小,p,Q随支护荷载p线性增大且p对于被切削土体受力的影响在砂性土中较大,最终给出特定刀盘掘进至部分种类土体中的切削扭矩值作为工程参考。     

Exosomes derived from osteoclasts under compression stress inhibit osteoblast differentiation

Orthodontic tooth movement is triggered by orthodontic force loading on the periodontal ligament and is achieved by alveolar bone remodeling, which is regulated by intimate crosstalk between osteoclastogenesis and osteoblast differentiation. Whether the communication between osteoclasts and osteoblasts is influenced by orthodontic compression stress requires further clarification. In this study, osteoclasts were differentiated for 10 days. On day 4 of differentiation, the number of pre-osteoclasts peaked, as determined by the increased expression of RANK and the number of multinucleated cells. After 24 h of compression stress loading, on day 4, the number of osteoclasts increased, and the optimal magnitude of stress to promote osteoclastogenesis was determined as 1 g/cm2. Moreover, the results of RNA-sequencing analysis showed that the miRNA expression profile changed markedly after compression loading and that many of the altered miRNAs were associated with cell communication functions. A series of indirect co-culture experiments showed an inhibitory effect of osteoclasts on osteoblast differentiation, especially after compression. Next, we added osteoclast-derived exosomes to hPDLSCs during osteoblast differentiation. Exosomes derived from osteoclasts under compression (cEXO) showed a greater inhibitory effect on osteoblast differentiation, compared to exosomes from osteoclasts without compression (EXO). Therefore, we analyzed differentially expressed miRNAs associated with bone development functions in exosomes: miR-223-5p and miR-181a-5p were downregulated, whereas miR-133a-3p, miR-203a-3p, miR-106a-5p, and miR-331-3p were upregulated; these altered expressions may explain the enhanced inhibitory effect of compression stress.     

Excision of Oxidatively Generated Guanine Lesions by Competitive DNA Repair Pathways

The base and nucleotide excision repair pathways (BER and NER, respectively) are two major mechanisms that remove DNA lesions formed by the reactions of genotoxic intermediates with cellular DNA. It is generally believed that small non-bulky oxidatively generated DNA base modifications are removed by BER pathways, whereas DNA helix-distorting bulky lesions derived from the attack of chemical carcinogens or UV irradiation are repaired by the NER machinery. However, existing and growing experimental evidence indicates that oxidatively generated DNA lesions can be repaired by competitive BER and NER pathways in human cell extracts and intact human cells. Here, we focus on the interplay and competition of BER and NER pathways in excising oxidatively generated guanine lesions site-specifically positioned in plasmid DNA templates constructed by a gapped-vector technology. These experiments demonstrate a significant enhancement of the NER yields in covalently closed circular DNA plasmids (relative to the same, but linearized form of the same plasmid) harboring certain oxidatively generated guanine lesions. The interplay between the BER and NER pathways that remove oxidatively generated guanine lesions are reviewed and discussed in terms of competitive binding of the BER proteins and the DNA damage-sensing NER factor XPC-RAD23B to these lesions.     

Rapid Hormetic Responses of Photosystem II Photochemistry of Clary Sage to Cadmium Exposure

Five-day exposure of clary sage (Salvia sclarea L.) to 100 μM cadmium (Cd) in hydroponics was sufficient to increase Cd concentrations significantly in roots and aboveground parts and affect negatively whole plant levels of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), since Cd competes for Ca channels, while reduced Mg concentrations are associated with increased Cd tolerance. Total zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe) uptake increased but their translocation to the aboveground parts decreased. Despite the substantial levels of Cd in leaves, without any observed defects on chloroplast ultrastructure, an enhanced photosystem II (PSII) efficiency was observed, with a higher fraction of absorbed light energy to be directed to photochemistry (Φ_PSΙΙ). The concomitant increase in the photoprotective mechanism of non-photochemical quenching of photosynthesis (NPQ) resulted in an important decrease in the dissipated non-regulated energy (Φ_NO), modifying the homeostasis of reactive oxygen species (ROS), through a decreased singlet oxygen (¹O₂) formation. A basal ROS level was detected in control plant leaves for optimal growth, while a low increased level of ROS under 5 days Cd exposure seemed to be beneficial for triggering defense responses, and a high level of ROS out of the boundaries (8 days Cd exposure), was harmful to plants. Thus, when clary sage was exposed to Cd for a short period, tolerance mechanisms were triggered. However, exposure to a combination of Cd and high light or to Cd alone (8 days) resulted in an inhibition of PSII functionality, indicating Cd toxicity. Thus, the rapid activation of PSII functionality at short time exposure and the inhibition at longer duration suggests a hormetic response and describes these effects in terms of “adaptive response” and “toxicity”, respectively.