A semi-analytical approach for linear and non-linear analysis of unstiffened laminated composite cylinders and cones under axial,torsion and pressure loads

A semi-analytical model for the non-linear analysis of simply supported, unstiffened laminated composite cylinders and cones using the Ritz method and the Classical Laminated Plate Theory is proposed. A matrix notation is used to formulate the problem using Donnell׳s and Sanders׳ non-linear equations. The approximation functions proposed are capable to simulate the elephant׳s foot effect, a common phenomenon and a common failure mode for cylindrical and conical structures under axial compression. Axial, torsion and pressure loads can be applied individually or combined, and solutions for linear static, linear buckling and non-linear buckling analyses are presented and verified using a commercial finite element software. The presented non-linear buckling analyses used perturbation loads to create the initial geometric imperfections, showing the capability of the method for arbitrary imperfection patterns. The linear stiffness matrices are integrated analytically and for the conical structures an approximation is proposed to overcome the non-integrable expressions.     

In situ chemical reduction and functionalization of graphene oxide for electrically conductive phenol formaldehyde composites

We report an efficient one-step approach to reduce and functionalize graphene oxide (GO) during the in situ polymerization of phenol and formaldehyde. The hydrophilic and electrically insulating GO is converted to hydrophobic and electrically conductive graphene with phenol as the main reducing agent. Simultaneously, functionalization of GO is realized by the nucleophilic substitution reaction of the epoxide groups of GO with the hydroxyl groups of phenol in an alkali condition. Different from the insulating GO and phenol formaldehyde resin (PF) components, PF composites are electrically conductive due to the incidental reduction of GO during the in situ polymerization. The electrical conductivity of PF composite with 0.85 vol.% of GO is 0.20 S/m, nearly nine orders of magnitude higher than that of neat PF. Moreover, the efficient reduction and functionalization of GO endows the PF composites with high thermal stability and flexural properties. A striking increase in decomposition temperature is achieved with 2.3 vol.% of GO. The flexural strength and modulus of the PF composite with 1.7 vol.% GO are increased by 316.8% and 56.7%, respectively.     

Opacifier embedded and fiber reinforced alumina-based aerogel composites for ultra-high temperature thermal insulation

A novel method was developed to uniformly disperse sub-micron TiO₂ opacifier into fiber reinforcements using agar and silica as binders via freeze drying. TiO₂ opacifier/ fiber/ alumina-based aerogel ternary (TFA) composites with high strength and excellent high-temperature thermal insulation were successfully prepared by sol-gel route, impregnation process and supercritical fluid drying. The microstructure, mechanical and thermal insulation properties of TFA composites were investigated comprehensively. The results show that the mechanical property of TFA composites can be significantly enhanced by mullite fiber felt and the incorporation of SiO₂ binder. The effect of TiO₂ opacifier on the high-temperature thermal conductivity was studied by adjusting the content of TiO₂ from 0 to 15 wt%. The obtained TFA composites exhibit high Young's modulus of up to 3.58 MPa and low high-temperature thermal conductivities of 0.129 W/m·K at 800 °C and 0.168 W/m·K at 1000 °C, respectively. The mechanism of heat transfer in TFA composites at high-temperature was also analyzed.     

Effect of composition and heat treatment conditions on the tensile strength and creep resistance of SiC-based fibers

Polymer-derived SiC-based fibers with fine-diameter (∼10–15 μm) and high strength (∼3 GPa) were prepared with carbon-rich and near-stoichiometric compositions. Fiber tensile strengths were determined after heat treatments at temperatures up to 1950 °C in non-oxidizing atmospheres and up to 1250 °C in air. The creep resistance of fibers was assessed using bend stress relaxation measurements. Fibers showed excellent strength retention after heat treatments in non-oxidizing atmospheres at temperatures up to 1700 °C for the carbon-rich fibers and up to 1950 °C for the near-stoichiometric fibers. The near-stoichiometric fibers also showed considerably better strength retention after heat treatments in air. Creep resistance of the as-fabricated fibers was greatly improved by high-temperature heat treatments. Heat-treated near-stoichiometric fibers could be prepared with ∼3 GPa tensile strengths and bend stress relaxation creep behavior which was significantly better than that reported for the Hi-Nicalon™ Type S near-stoichiometric SiC fibers.     

Installation effects on an ultrasonic flow meter with implications for self diagnostics

A small ultrasonic flow meter for water was exposed to five different test configurations, a reference experiment, a single elbow, a double elbow out of plane, a reduction in pipe diameter and a pulsating flow experiment. All tests were performed in a flow calibration facility ranging over Reynolds number from 25 to 110 000. The experiments with the four installation effects were compared with a reference experiment. The error and the change in standard deviation compared to the reference experiment were calculated. The standard deviation serve as a measure of the noise level of the flow meter. The results show that all disturbances generated errors in the flow measurement. The maximum errors were mainly in the range of 2–4% of flow rate, but at very low flow rates the pulsating flow caused larger errors. In most of the flow range there were no or smaller errors. All installation effects also generated an increase in the noise level. The different pipe configurations increased the standard deviation up to more than 100%. The pulsating flow induced even higher enlargements in the noise level. The errors and the increase in the standard deviation are present in about the same flow ranges. The results demonstrate not only that the installation effects tested introduce errors in the flow measurements but also that these effects can be detected from the noise level in the data. The noise level was determined from the standard deviation. This could be interpreted as that the disturbances amplify the turbulence intensity. Thus the standard deviation can be used as a measure of the turbulence. The presence of a disturbance could be recognised by comparing the magnitude of the noise level in the present data with a reference level valid for the measured flow rate. A procedure like this could possibly be performed by the meter itself in operation.     

低温加注阀关闭状态确认试验研究

为验证采用传感器监测加注阀入口容腔压力对加注阀关闭状态判断的可行性,建立了低温加注阀关闭状态确认试验系统。研究加注阀无泄漏和加注阀预制泄漏通道两种状态下通过孔板模拟加注连接器顶杆中心小孔排放后加注阀入口容腔压力变化及连接器脱落前后加注阀泄漏量的变化,开展了加注阀关闭状态确认方法原理性试验和数值仿真研究。研究结果表明:加注阀无泄漏和存在泄漏时从压力传感器能明显监测到压力变化,且连接器脱落前后泄漏量变化较大,数值仿真结果与试验结果吻合较好。     

单台G-M制冷机为冷源力学性能测试系统研究

以单台G-M制冷机为冷源,研究设计了一套可满足8—300 K温区内任意温度点稳定可控的材料力学测试系统,满足对材料的拉伸、压缩、弯曲等力学性能的测试要求。该系统利用少量氦气作为导冷介质,为系统内的夹具、样品等降温,降低至最低温度8 K用时14小时。选取8—300 K内多个温度点对系统进行控温测试,验证该系统在8—300 K内具有可连续稳定控温能力。利用电子万能试验机对该系统的性能进行测试,以77 K为低温的典型温度点对5a06铝合金进行拉伸测试,并与平台测试结果进行对比分析,证明该低温力学测试系统的测试结果具有较高的可信度。     

An observer-based approach for the projection onto a 2d-curve under movement

Standard path control laws of autonomous vehicles use the shortest distance between the vehicle’s position and the path as a control error. In order to determine this distance, the projection point onto the path needs to be determined continuously. This requires fast algorithms that feature high numerical reliability in the field of vehicle application.This paper presents two different observer-based approaches for the projection problem. The identity observer reconstructs all states of interest for path control. The second one, a reduced observer, only possesses the curve parameter as a state and calculates the other values by algebraic formulas. Both algorithms consider the continuous movement of the vehicle, the run of the curve, and work without any approximation of the curve. Furthermore, they are applicable for arbitrary parameterized smooth curves, guarantee the required numerical stability, have short calculating time, and show good statistical properties. The performance is shown in several simulations as well as under real conditions.     

Broadband,high-sensitivity self-powered ferroelectric LuMnO3-based photodetector with large photocurrent output

The broadband spectrum detection from ultraviolet to near-infrared is hankered in the photoelectric applications of imaging, sensing and communication. Here, a new self-powered photodetector based on ferroelectric LuMnO₃ thin film with a narrow bandgap of 1.46 eV exhibits high-sensitivity ultraviolet–visible–near infrared photodetection properties. The responsivity (R) and detectivity (D*) in sunlight are 0.4 A/W and 7.05 × 10¹¹ Jones, which are much higher than that of other ferroelectric photodetectors. Moreover, under the monochromatic light (900 nm), the R and D* can reach 0.39 A/W and 6.89 × 10¹¹ Jones. The outstanding photodetection performances owed to the large photocurrent output, where the short-circuit current density can reach 10.5 mA/cm² under 1 sun illumination. The synergistic effect of ferroelectric photovoltaic effect and interface barrier effect demonstrates that the multi-driving forces can achieve high dissociation efficiency for photon-generated carriers. The excellent photodetection performances open up new application of ferroelectric materials in broadband self-powered photodetectors.     

Investigations on the effects of friction stir welding parameters on intermetallic and defect formation in joining aluminum alloy to mild steel

Joints of Al 5186 to mild steel were performed by using friction stir welding (FSW) technique. The effects of various FSW parameters such as tool traverse speed, plunge depth, tilt angle and tool pin geometry on the formation of intermetallic compounds (IMCs), tunnel formation and tensile strength of joints were investigated. At low welding speeds due to the formation of thick IMCs (which was characterized as Al₆Fe and Al₅Fe₂) in the weld zone the tensile strength of joints was very poor. Even at low welding speeds the tunnel defect was formed. As the welding speed increased, the IMCs decreased and the joint exhibited higher tensile strength. The tunnel defect could not be avoided by using cylindrical 4 mm and 3 mm pin diameter. By using a standard threaded M3 tool pin the tunnel was avoided and a bell shape nugget formed. Therefore tensile strength of the joint increased to 90% of aluminum base alloy strength. At higher welding speed and lower tool plunge depth, the joint strength decreased due to lack of bonding between aluminum and steel. Based on the findings, a FSW window has been developed and presented.