Dynamic tensile mechanical properties and failure mode of zirconium diboride-silicon carbide ceramic composites

Dynamic indirect tension experiments were performed on zirconium diboride-silicon carbide (ZrB₂−20%SiC) ceramic. Flattened Brazilian disc specimens of ZrB₂−20%SiC were prepared to conduct dynamic tensile tests using the modified Split Hopkinson pressure bar system. The tensile experiments were completed at the range of loading rates from 7.53 to 74.71 GP s⁻¹. The tensile experimental results revealed that the zirconium diboride-silicon carbide ceramic composite is rate-sensitive in terms of the tensile strength and failure mode. The dynamic tensile strength increases linearly with the loading rate and changes from 195 MPa at 7.53 GP s⁻¹ to 654 MPa at 74.71 GP s⁻¹. Moreover, the dynamic tensile strength decreases with the increase in critical fracture time, which conforms to Tuler and Butcher's fracture criterion. In dynamic experiments, a high-speed camera was used to examine the tensile failure process, and fragments were collected to analyze the dynamic tensile failure mechanism. The tensile fracture mode of ZrB₂−20%SiC obviously showed the sensitivity of the loading rate. The fragment size of ZrB₂−20%SiC ceramic decreased but the quantity of fragments increased as the loading rate increased.     

Electrochemical corrosion behavior of LDX 2101® duplex stainless steel in a fluoride-containing environment

The effect of fluoride on the electrochemical corrosion behavior of an LDX 2101® duplex stainless steel (DSS) was studied. Open-circuit potential (E_OC) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements were carried out in artificial saliva and with the addition of fluoride (1 wt% NaF). The electrochemical corrosion behavior of the AISI 316L austenitic stainless steel (SS) was also evaluated for comparison. Both open-circuit potential and EIS results indicate that DSS and austenitic SS undergo spontaneous passivation due to spontaneously formed oxide film passivating the metallic surface, in the simulated aggressive environments. However, LDX 2101® exhibits superior corrosion resistance as compared with AISI 316L, and this improvement is ascribed to the formation of a passive film which shows a higher protective effect than the one formed on AISI 316L.     

污泥生物炭中氮硫行为及环境效应研究进展

污泥生物炭中氮硫元素含量高，其氮硫行为和环境效应对全球气候变化的影响不容忽视。以往的研究中，研究者往往以富碳生物炭作为主要研究对象，关注碳对全球气候变化的行为和功效，而对氮硫元素的作用关注不够。本文从原始污泥基本性质到其热解过程，再到生物炭的老化，逐步对污泥生物炭整个生命周期内氮硫的行为及其环境效应研究进行综述，并对未来应注重开展的研究方向进行展望，为生物炭中氮硫元素固定、释放及与之关联的环境效应和温室气体排放控制研究提供理论基础。分析表明，污泥中氮元素含量普遍高于硫元素，且热解过程中氮比硫更容易转移至气相产物。氮硫元素随热解温度的增加，在三相产物中的分配都是炭中持续减少，油中先增后减，气中一直增加。高温（＞800℃）条件下，气相中的氮含量高于固相，而硫元素则仍然主要存在于固相中。污泥生物炭老化及其环境效应研究表明，污泥生物炭氮硫元素与土壤的相互作用及其温室效应问题在今后的研究中应引起重视。     

基于高斯混合隐马尔科夫模型与人工神经网络的紧急换道行为预测方法

为了有效降低因驾驶员紧急换道行为而诱发的交通事故，提高道路交通事故链阻断效率，提出一种基于高斯混合隐马尔科夫模型（GMM-HMM）和人工神经网络（ANN）的紧急换道行为预测方法。首先利用GMM-HMM对车辆行驶状态以及驾驶行为连续观察序列进行换道意图辨识，采用ANN预测下一时段的驾驶行为，再预测换道过程中的横向加速度变化率，从而判断紧急换道的危险程度。驾驶员在环仿真实验及实车实验结果表明，该方法预测避险成功率达92.83%，实验避险成功率达90.32%。该方法能有效地对紧急换道行为进行提前警告与干预。     

提升机启动操作中制动油泵软性停转的分析与排除

同一个多功能集控器件长期使用后，其不同故障程度对应有不同故障现象，为了加快现场技术管理人员对提升机疑难故障的有效排除进度，着重分析了制动油泵停转的控制通道，根据提升机启动操作中制动油泵停转后的排查处理结果，圈定了故障范围为变频控制器件。制动油泵在提升机启动操作中停转的不确定性，查找故障时整机电控系统处于非故障状态，接近更换变频主控板D6时启动提升机操作中制动油泵软性停转次数有所增多、启动中无发生制动油泵停转的全程提升未见异常，上述因素使制动油泵软性停转成为疑难杂症。故障现象恶化为每次操作至制动手把推向松闸位置制动油泵均停转，用梯形图确定D6故障是症结所在。对D6的自身故障精确定位功能且在变频控制柜人机界面RJ2显示故障信息认识不足，导致故障长时存在。此副井提升机有关人员应做到:对故障反映到位、深刻了解器件性能特征、透析有关动作过程后方可采取针对性措施、确定故障元件、最终排除故障。可恢复性的轻故障发生后必须采取相应措施，避免故障扩大导致停机延误提升。将变频就绪与故障的实时信息显示于司控台面，弥补了技改缺陷。     

加热工艺参数对12%Cr钢晶粒长大行为的影响

研究了不同加热工艺参数下(加热温度1050~1300 ℃,保温时间0.25~24 h)12%Cr超超临界转子钢的奥氏体晶粒长大行为,并通过光学显微镜(OM)观察晶粒尺寸的变化规律,建立晶粒长大数学模型。结果表明:随着加热温度增加,晶粒尺寸逐渐增加,加热温度低于1150 ℃时,晶粒尺寸增加明显,而温度高于1150 ℃后,晶粒尺寸逐渐趋于稳定;随着保温时间的增加,晶粒尺寸逐渐增加,保温时间增加到3 h后,晶粒尺寸增加趋势放缓。采用非线性回归方法和Arrhenius晶粒长大模型,建立了该钢的晶粒长大数学模型。     

Numerical analysis on combustion process and sodium transformation behavior in a 660 MW supercritical face-fired boiler purely burning high sodium content Zhundong coal

CHEMKIN software was used to optimize the reaction mechanism of sodium in flue gas to study the influence of targeted design for purely burning Zhundong (ZD) coal on boiler characteristics. Then, the optimized 32-step elemental reaction was combined with CFD software. An eddy-dissipation concept model considering detailed chemical reactions was used to simulate the transformation behavior of sodium-containing substances. The combustion characteristics of the 660 MW face-fired boiler under various loads were also simulated. The field distribution in the furnace and the migration path of sodium along the track of pulverized coal particles were obtained. The results show that the interference between each burner in the furnace is small at the BMCR load, and the phenomenon of “wind wrapping fire” is distinctly clear. The temperature at furnace outlet is approximately 970.98 °C. At a low load, the combustion in the furnace is stable, and the temperature at the furnace outlet reaches the design value. The sodium present in ZD coal is involved in the reaction after it is released in the form of Na and NaCl. Sodium is present in different forms in the main burner zone, mainly NaCl (67%), NaOH (12%), Na (9%), and Na₂SO₄ (7%). The forms of sodium at the furnace outlet are NaCl (50%), Na₂SO₄ (37%), Na₂Cl₂ (9%) and NaHSO₄ (4%). A small amount of Na₂SO₄ is formed by NaHSO₄ reaction in the main burner zone. It then reacts to form NaSO₄, wherein NaHSO₄ is formed by path 2. Na₂SO₄ is mainly generated in the burnout zone through path 1, and paths 2, 3, and 4 are hardly observed. The findings of this research can provide reference for the design of a purely fired ZD coal boiler and further studies on slagging observed on the heating surface.     

Smelling our appetite? The influence of food odors on congruent appetite,food preferences and intake

We are surrounded by sensory food cues, such as odors, that may trigger (un)conscious decisions and even lead to (over)eating, it is therefore crucial to better understand the effect of food odors on behavioral responses. Food odor exposure has been shown to enhance appetite for food products with similar properties: sensory-specific appetite. This suggests that based on previous encounters with foods, we have learned to detect the nutritional content of foods, through our sense of smell. We investigated the influence of aware exposure of macronutrient-related odors on various measures of eating behavior, in a cross-over intervention study. Thirty two normal-weight healthy and unrestrained Dutch females took part in five test sessions. On each test session, they were exposed to one of five conditions (active smelling of clearly noticeable odors representing food high in carbohydrates, protein, and fat, low in calories, and a no-odor condition for 3-min) and assessed on specific appetite, food preferences and intake. Odor exposure increased congruent appetite after protein-related odor exposure. Similarly, protein-related odor exposure influenced the liking for protein foods and the preference ranking for savory products. However, food intake was not affected by smelling congruent food odors. Together this indicates that exposure to (aware) food odors may mostly influence appetite, but does not impact subsequent food intake. Moreover, appetite seems to be triggered by taste qualities rather than macronutrient information of the food, as signaled by olfactory cues. Future studies should investigate the role of awareness in more detail, to fully understand how odors might be used to steer people towards healthier food choices.     

Effect of temperature on the performance of laterally constrained dielectric elastomer actuators with failure modes

This article analytically investigates the temperature influence on the performance of laterally constrained dielectric elastomer actuators. The effects of both temperature and stretches on the permittivity are taken into consideration. The governing equations of state are established by modeling the actuator as a thermodynamic system of three degrees of freedom. Various failure modes, including electromechanical instability, electric breakdown, loss of tension, and tensile rupture are considered to restrict the operation state and to determine the region of allowable state. Numerical calculations are performed to depict the variations of some important physical quantities with generalized coordinates and to gain insight on the influence of temperature on the critical curves of failures. It is shown that the temperature has obvious effects on the operation state and the allowable region. The present results can be used for designing and optimizing an actuator, and the present approach can be extended to other kinds of dielectric elastomer actuators with complex geometries.     

A miniature triaxial apparatus for investigating the micromechanics of granular soils with in situ X-ray micro-tomography scanning

The development of a miniature triaxial apparatus is presented. In conjunction with an X-ray micro-tomography (termed as X-ray μCT hereafter) facility and advanced image processing techniques, this apparatus can be used for in situ investigation of the micro-scale mechanical behavior of granular soils under shear. The apparatus allows for triaxial testing of a miniature dry sample with a size of \mathrm{8}\hspace{0.17em}\mathrm{mm}\times \mathrm{16}\hspace{0.17em}\mathrm{mm} (diameter \times height). In situ triaxial testing of a 0.4–0.8 mm Leighton Buzzard sand (LBS) under a constant confining pressure of 500 kPa is presented. The evolutions of local porosities (i.e., the porosities of regions associated with individual particles), particle kinematics (i.e., particle translation and particle rotation) of the sample during the shear are quantitatively studied using image processing and analysis techniques. Meanwhile, a novel method is presented to quantify the volumetric strain distribution of the sample based on the results of local porosities and particle tracking. It is found that the sample, with nearly homogenous initial local porosities, starts to exhibit obvious inhomogeneity of local porosities and localization of particle kinematics and volumetric strain around the peak of deviatoric stress. In the post-peak shear stage, large local porosities and volumetric dilation mainly occur in a localized band. The developed triaxial apparatus, in its combined use of X-ray μCT imaging techniques, is a powerful tool to investigate the micro-scale mechanical behavior of granular soils.