Analysis of arbitrarily shaped planar cracks in three-dimensional isotropic hygrothermoelastic media

In the present article, a planar crack of arbitrary shape embedded in three-dimensional isotropic hygrothermoelastic media is investigated. Based on the general solutions and Hankel transform technique, the fundamental solutions for unit-point and extended displacement discontinuities (EDD; including the displacement discontinuities, moisture concentration discontinuity, and the temperature discontinuity) are derived. The EDD boundary integral equations for an arbitrarily shaped, planar crack in the hygrothermoelastic medium are established in terms of the EDD. Utilizing the boundary integral equation method, the singularities of near-crack front fields are analyzed, and the stress, moisture flux, and heat flux intensity factors are all derived in terms of the EDD. As a special case, the analytical solution for a penny-shaped crack under uniform combined loadings is presented. The EDD boundary element method is proposed for numerical simulation. The numerical result for a penny-shaped crack subjected to uniform mechanical–moisture–thermal loading is compared with the analytical solution to verify the correctness of the proposed method. Two coplanar elliptical cracks subjected to combined loadings are simulated as an application, and the influences of applied loadings and the ellipticity ratio are discussed.     

Preparation of nanocrystalline nickel oxide from nickel hydroxide using spark plasma sintering and inverse Hall-Petch related densification

Nanocrystalline nickel oxide (NiO) was prepared from nickel hydroxide by Spark plasma sintering (SPS) and the mechanisms involved in the densification of NiO were studied. Reverse precipitated nickel hydroxide powders were SPS processed at 400, 600 and 700?°C with 70?MPa pressure. Pure NiO with 12?nm crystallite size formed after 400?°C sintering process. However NiO grains had grown to 18 and 38?nm after 600 and 700?°C sintering respectively. NiO pellets prepared using 600 and 700?°C SPS sintering schedules had relative densities of 83% and 94% respectively. Two displacement rate regimes were observed during densification of NiO in both 600 and 700?°C sintering processes. Decomposition of nickel hydroxide and particle sliding of NiO led to first displacement rate maximum while inverse Hall-Petch based plastic deformation facilitated densification during the constant second displacement rate regime. No densification occurred during sintering holding times indicating the limited role that diffusion played during densification.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of Nb4AlC3 MAX phase synthesized by reactive hot pressing

The present study aims at synthesizing the Nb₄AlC₃ MAX phase by reactive hot pressing using Nb:Al:NbC as starting materials. In order to identify the reaction path, interrupted tests at intermediate temperatures were performed as well as differential thermal analyses (DTA) of powders. Coupling between DTA and XRD data and SEM/EDS analyses of the samples allows a better understanding of the reaction mechanisms. Pure and fully dense Nb₄AlC₃ samples were obtained and characterized for the first time by EBSD and SEM to assess, using an original method, grain size and microstructure. For instance, in the present study, an average grain length of 5–7?µm was obtained.Standard mechanical characterizations showed interesting properties: K_Ic≈?6?MPa?m^1/2, E?≈?350?GPa and α?≈?7.10^?6 °C^?1. Oxidation performance of Nb₄AlC₃ was evaluated at 1100?°C under cyclic conditions. A breakaway regime was instantaneously established for this condition, thus demonstrating the impossibility of using such an unprotected material for structural applications at high temperature in air environment.     

Significant population structure in Australian Cryptolestes ferrugineus and interpreting the potential spread of phosphine resistance

An analysis of the population genetics of Cryptolestes ferrugineus, across all major regions in Australia where grain is grown and stored in bulk, provides an initial step in investigating the movement of these insects and implications for the spread of phosphine resistance. Microsatellite data revealed two levels of genetic structure. Across Australia, two clusters were detected, one in eastern Australia (Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania) and Western Australia (Cluster 1) and one in South Australia (Cluster 2). Intermediate between them, in eastern South Australia, are a couple of populations that are equally admixed for the two clusters. Populations in Western Australia and western SA belong to different clusters suggesting that the extensive and arid Nullarbor Plain restricts the natural dispersal of these beetles. Isolation-by-distance and the detection of clustering among local populations suggests there is considerable gene flow at a local scale in C. ferrugineus, and we infer this is by flight. Limited natural gene flow between eastern and western Australia might, in part, explain why extremely high resistance has not been detected in Western Australia.     

Enhanced properties of pure alumina ceramics by oscillatory pressure sintering

A novel oscillatory pressure sintering (OPS) process to consolidate high-quality pure alumina ceramics is reported. The microstructure of the ceramics prepared by OPS develops into a higher final density, a smaller and a narrower distribution of grain sizes compared with those prepared by conventional pressureless sintering (PS) and hot-pressing (HP) processes. Enhanced mechanical properties of alumina ceramics were investigated by OPS process. The bending strength, hardness and elastic modulus of the OPS specimen reached about 546 MPa, 19.1 GPa and 374 GPa, respectively, i.e values significantly higher than that of the specimens by PS and HP. XRD analysis indicates the strengthening of atomic bonds aided by oscillatory pressure. The results suggest OPS to be an effective technique for preparing high-quality pure alumina ceramics.     

基于GRA-GRNN模型的露天金属矿爆破后矿岩界线位移分析

为了避免露天金属矿爆破后导致爆堆边缘矿石品位贫化损失,需要根据最低品位阈值重新计算矿岩边界,而影响矿岩边界发生改变因素众多,需要确定主要影响因素。因此,利用爆堆爆破前地形方向和爆堆地质数据,构建灰色关联-广义回归神经网络模型(GRA-GRNN)分析爆堆矿岩边界变化主要影响因素。首先对爆堆钻孔品位数据使用析取克里金法进行空间插值,并根据矿山工艺最低品位阈值提取爆破前的矿岩边界;其次,将爆破前后的数字DEM模型进行求差,求得爆破后的爆堆数字DEM模型,并构建爆破前后爆堆数字DEM模型空间分布椭圆,从而确定爆堆爆破后的水平形变方向;对影响爆堆爆破后形变的可能因素进行提取,并应用GRA-GRNN模型选取主要影响因素及对其强度进行分析,并将其结果与BP神经网络模型预测结果进行了对比。从实验结果可知,影响爆堆爆破后形变强度排前三的因素为:爆破前地形方向、爆孔排距和列距,强度分别为0.880、0.760和0.755,预测结果优于BP模型。     

Influence of SiC microstructure on its corrosion behavior in molten FLiNaK salt

The influence of the microstructure on the corrosion rate of three monolithic SiC samples in FLiNaK salt at 900 °C for 250 h was studied. The SiC samples, labeled as SiC-1, SiC-2, and SiC-3, had corrosion rates of 0.137, 0.020, and 0.043 mg/cm²h, respectively. Compared with grain size and the presence of special grain boundaries (i.e., Σ3), the content of high-angle grain boundaries (HAGBs) appeared to have the strongest influence on the corrosion rate of SiC in FLiNaK salt, since the corrosion rate increased six times as the concentration of high-angle grain boundaries increased from 19 to 32% for SiC-2 and SiC-1, respectively. These results stress the importance of controlling the content of HAGBs during the production process of SiC.     

Grain refinement in low SFE and particle-containing nickel aluminium bronze during severe plastic deformation at elevated temperatures

The influence of particle size and morphology on grain refinement in low stacking fault energy(SFE)alloys was studied by comparing the grain structures in single-and multi-phase Al-bronze(AB)alloys following equal channel angular pressing(ECAP)between 350 and 500℃.In particular,nickel aluminium bronze(NAB)was chosen as it contained both coarse and fine rounded particles,as well as a lamellar phase which evolved during ECAP.Grain refinement in the single-phase alloy was achieved through dynamic recrystallisation initiated at deformed twin boundaries.By contrast,different mechanisms were observed in the particle-containing NAB.Recrystallisation around the coarse κⅡ particles(～5 μm)was promoted through particle stimulated nucleation(PSN),whereas recrystallisation in the region of the fine κⅣ(～0.4μm)was delayed due to the activation of secondary slip.Grain refinement in areas of the lamellar κⅢ showed significant variation,depending on the lamellar orientation relative to the shear plane of ECAP.As the lamellae deformed,numerous high angle grain boundaries were generated between fragments and served as nucleation sites for recrystallisation,while PSN occurred around spheroidised lamellae.The spreading of the κⅢ particles by ECAP then enhanced the total area of recrystallised grains.     

Synthesis,characterization and charge transport properties of Pr–Ni Co-doped SrFe2O4 spinel for high frequency devices applications

Ferrites are materials of interest due to their broad applications in high technological devices and a lot of research has been focused to synthesize new ferrites. In this regard, an effort has been devoted to synthesize spinel Pr–Ni co-substituted strontium ferrites with a nominal formula of Sr_1-xPr_xFe_2-yNi_yO₄ (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1, 0.0 ≤ y ≤ 1.0). The cubic structure of pure and Pr–Ni co-substituted strontium ferrite samples calcinated at 1073 K for 3 h has been confirmed through X-ray diffraction (XRD). Average sizes of crystallites (18–25 nm) have been estimated from XRD analysis and nanometer particle sizes of synthesized ferrites have been further verified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM results have also shown that particles are mostly agglomerated and all the samples possess porosity. It has been observed that at 298 K, the values of resistivity (ρ) increase, while that of AC conductivity, dielectric loss, and dielectric constants decrease with increasing amounts of Pr³⁺ and Ni²⁺ ions. The values of dielectric parameters initially decrease with frequency and later become constant and can be explained on the basis of dielectric polarization. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies show that the charge transport phenomenon in ferrite materials is mainly controlled via grain boundaries. Overall, synthesized ferrite materials own enhanced resistivity values in the range of 1.38 × 10⁹–1.94 × 10⁹ Ω cm and minimum dielectric losses, which makes them suitable candidates for high frequency devices applications.     

Managing ethical requirements elicitation of complex socio-technical systems with critical systems thinking: A case of course-timetabling project

Complex socio-technical systems pose considerable challenges to requirements elicitation due to dynamic boundary conditions and conflicting perspectives. Traditional requirements engineering is criticized for its failure in providing a systemic view, overlooking ethical concerns and marginalized social perspectives. It is argued that educational institutions as a part of society need to ethically develop and manage their academic processes and consider such perspectives for emancipation. This critical qualitative research applies the emancipatory systemic methodology of critical systems thinking (CST) for the requirements elicitation of a complex and dynamic university course-timetables management problem. Firstly, the problem is ethically formulated to mitigate Type III errors. Secondly, multiple viewpoints are sought for boundary judgments using a CST-based ethical inquiry of boundary critique to reveal the normative content of the project design, explore imbalances amongst the socio-technical design components, and unveil the underlying ethical issues. The dynamic stakeholder network captures the system's emergence through stakeholder interconnectedness and boundary liquidity by sweeping-in relevant stakeholders through the continuum of various states of the project. This work enlightens requirements engineering by coupling systemic and socio-technical lenses for the elicitation of ethical requirements and the emancipation of marginalized perspectives in complex and dynamic information systems projects in general and timetabling problems, in particular.