Influence of temperature cycling and pore fluid on tensile strength of chalk

Calcite has a highly anisotropic thermal expansion coefficient, and repeated heating and cooling cycles can potentially destabilize chalks by breaking cement bonds between neighboring particles. Based on tensile strength measurements, we investigated how temperature cycles induce weakening of chalk. Tensile strength tests were performed on chalk specimens sampled from Kansas (USA) and Mons (Belgium), each with differing amounts of contact cement. Samples of the two chalk types were tested in dry and water-saturated states, and then exposed to 0, 15, and 30 temperature cycles in order to find out under what circumstances thermally induced tensile strength reduction occurs. The testing results show that the dry samples were not influenced by temperature cycling in either of the chalk types. However, in the water-saturated state, tensile strength is increasingly reduced with progressive numbers of temperature cycles for both chalk samples, especially for the more cemented Kansas chalk. The Kansas chalk demonstrated higher initial tensile strength compared to the less cemented Mons chalk, but the strength of both chalks was reduced by the same relative proportion when undergoing thermal cycles in the water-saturated state.     

Torsional statics of two-dimensionally functionally graded microtubes

A size-dependent governing equation is derived to investigate the torsional static behaviors of two-dimensionally functionally graded microtubes based on the modified couple stress theory. The shear modulus is assumed to vary along the tube’s length direction according to an exponential distribute function, and varies along the tube’s radius direction according to a power-law function. A generalized differential quadrature method is developed to determine the rotational angle and shear stresses. Some illustrative examples are given to investigate the effects of applied torques, the length scale parameter and various material compositions on the torsional angle and shear stresses.     

Analysis of postbuckling of graded porous GPL-reinforced beams with geometrical imperfection

This research is concerned with the analysis of post-buckling of a nano-composite beam reinforced by graphene plateletes (GPLs) having geometrical imperfection. GPLs are uniformly and nonuniformly distributed thorough the thickness direction. Different porosity distributions are considered. The elastic properties of the nanocomposite are obtained by employing Halpin-Tsai micromechanics model. The postbuckling load-deflection relation is obtained by solving the governing equations having cubic nonlinearity applying Galerkin's method needless of any iteration process. New results show the importance of porosity coefficient, porosity distribution, GPL distribution, GPL weight fraction, geometrical imperfection, and foundation parameters on nonlinear buckling behavior of porous nanoscale beams. Specially, porosities and GPL reinforcement have a great impact on postbuckling configuration of both ideal and imperfect nanocomposite beams.     

Stochastic evaluation of leakages through holes in wrinkle networks of composite liners

This paper presents a study on stochastic evaluation of leakages through holes in wrinkle networks of composite liners. The statistical parameters of wrinkles are used as indexes to describe the spatial distributions of wrinkles in a wrinkle network and the wrinkle density is modeled as a random field in the proposed approach, which allows the construction of a database about how wrinkles may be distributed in different conditions and provides input parameters for leakage evaluation at the design stage when the site has not been constructed yet and the aerial image of the wrinkle network (AWN) is unavailable. Statistical analyses were performed on wrinkle geometric parameters and wrinkle density of wrinkles from three sites reported in the literature. The procedures of generating random wrinkle networks (RWNs) based on the statistical parameters of wrinkles are introduced. The proposed approach was applied to typical examples and showed sufficient accuracy when compared to the evaluated leakages based on the corresponding AWNs. Wrinkle density is recommended to be modeled as random field.     

2.5 GHz城市环境电磁态势的计算与补偿

复杂城市空间的电磁态势分布可以通过电磁场数值计算的方法进行预测。文章使用矩量法(MOM)结合一致性几何绕射理论(UTD)的方法对2.5 GHz频率下某小区环境中的电磁态势进行了仿真计算以及实际测量。场景中的树木结构在此频率下显示出比较强烈的波动性,对电磁仿真计算结果产生了不可忽略的影响,文中将其对仿真计算结果的影响进行了单独建模仿真,给出其产生影响的经验值,对仿真结果进行修正。修正结果与测量结果对比证明该经验值在该频率下可以有效补偿计算结果的缺失。     

A grounded theory examination of project managers' accountability

26 interviews were conducted with a snowball sample of project managers to explore how project managers were influenced by accountability arrangements and how they responded to accountability demands. Using a grounded theory approach to code the interview data, this study revealed that project managers develop new skills to respond to accountability demands. These effects are facilitated by the interaction of resource-based mechanisms and reflexivity that interact with the contextual factors of the project. The study broadens the understanding of accountability in project management and suggests a model for further empirical examination.     

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。     

基于博弈分析的流域水资源配置

针对传统规划方法难以体现水资源配置过程中多种复杂因素的问题,基于博弈理论建立宏观调控和市场经济相结合的水资源配置动态博弈模型,求解其子博弈精炼纳什均衡下各博弈参与人的策略,并运用改进量子遗传算法求解该博弈模型。对A河流域水资源配置结果表明,在保证流域公共生态用水2.0×10~8 m~3的基础上,各用水子区自发约束自身的取水量,达到均衡时,社会总收益为11.27亿元,相比自由取水模型,社会总收益增加了0.95亿元,增幅为9.2%。     

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.     

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.