Method for calculating horizontal drain induced non-linear and large strain degree of consolidation

Consolidating dredged clay slurries using a combination of vacuum pressure and prefabricated horizontal drains (PHDs) is widely used in practice. This is a large strain problem, but there is no existing large strain theory for PHD induced consolidation. A method with explicit equations has been proposed to consider both mechanical and geometrical non-linearities in analyzing PHD induced consolidation. The method considers stepwise variation of properties using imaginary time concept. An imaginary time is determined by the condition of continuity of degree of consolidation before and after changing the properties. Then the method was applied to analyze a large scale model test of vacuum consolidation with PHD. Two analyses were conducted. One considered both the mechanical and geometrical non-linearity (large strain), and another only considered mechanical non-linearity (small strain). The results of large strain analysis agree with the measured settlement curve and excess pore pressures well. While the small strain analysis under-estimated the rate of consolidation significantly. The results from this study indicate that for analyzing PHD induced consolidation of clay slurries considering the effect of large strain is important, and the proposed method can be a useful design tool.     

Consolidation considering increasing soil column radius for dredged slurries improved by vacuum preloading method

Soil column is often investigated in the improvement of dredged slurries. Different from the smear zone, the soil column forms gradually and has extremely low permeability. This study presents an analytical solution for soil consolidation considering the increasing radius of the soil column and time-dependent discharge capacity. Based on the solution, the influence of the radius' increase on the consolidation behavior is found significant when the soil column has low permeability and large final radius, and the increase of formation time can lead to the increase of consolidation speed and final consolidation degree.     

Long-term performance predictions in ground improvements with vacuum assisted Prefabricated Vertical Drains

Investigation into time dependent long-term performance of Prefabricated Vertical Drains (PVDs) combined with vacuum consolidation in thick deposits of clay has been extremely limited. Predicting both settlements and excess pore pressures in such cases has become increasingly challenging when time duration is long-term, e.g. several years. In discussing such matter, finding a suitable model to predict the long-term performance is inevitable. Elasto-plastic analysis models such as Cam-Clay cannot predict long-term time-dependent deformational behaviour in soft soils. In this technical note, a Biot type fully-coupled creep-based elastic viscoplastic (EVP) finite element (FE) numerical model has been extended for application in vacuum consolidation. The vacuum consolidation section of the embankment constructed in Ballina, New South Wales, Australia (hereafter referred as Ballina embankment), is analysed using the model through a unit cell analysis and the numerical predictions are compared with field performance monitoring data up to 1200 days (>3 years). The proposed analysis method for PVD combined with vacuum consolidation involving an EVP model is found to be capable of predicting both short-term and long-term deformational behaviours. Predictions are improved when an exponential function is used for the secondary compression index in the EVP model. Comparison has also been carried out at another location in the embankment where the foundation clay thickness was different to check the precision of the methodology and for better understanding of ground settlement behaviour. Details of the analysis methodology and its validation against field performance data are presented in this note.     

Fabrication and optical properties of transparent LaErZr2O7 ceramic with high excess contents of La and Er

In this study, transparent LaErZr₂O₇ ceramic with high excess La and Er contents (nominally La_1.28Er_1.28Zr₂O_7.84) was successfully prepared by vacuum sintering at 1850?°C for 6?h using nanosized powder. The XRD, SEM, EDX and TEM results reveal that the single pyrochlore phase in the powder sample transforms to the coexistence of La-rich pyrochlore phase and Er-rich defect fluorite phase after high temperature sintering. The high excess amounts of La and Er favor the formation of pyrochlore structure. Despite the coexistence of two phases, the sample with 1?mm thickness shows excellent in-line transmittance in the visible to mid-infrared region (as high as 81% at 1100?nm). The upconversion and infrared emission under 980?nm exciting were measured and discussed as well.     

Densification and anticorrosion performances of vacuum evaporated aluminium coatings on NdFeB magnets

Al coated NdFeB magnets obtained by vacuum evaporation technique were densified by high energy ball milling method.The surface morphology,metal composition and micro structure of the coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy,X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,respectively.The anticorrosive properties were investigated by potentiodynamic polarization curves and neutral salt spray test.The pores in the Al coatings of columnar crystals(Al) induced by the evaporation technique,were apparently filled in the following ball milling process,leading to the densification of Al coatings and the evident improvement of the anticorrosive performances.When treated with ball milling for 30 min,the sample achieves the best anticorrosive performances with the self-corrosion potential of-0.87 V,self-corrosion current density of 1.65 μA/cm~2 and the neutral salt spray(NSS) time of 144 h(red rust).The improvement of the anticorro sive performances of vacuum evaporated Al coating mainly lies in the densification effect of the coating,which depends on different loading conditions of ball milling process.     

Comparative analysis on performance of vertical drain improved clay deposit under vacuum or surcharge loading

This paper presents two well-instrumented large-scale field tests of PVD-improved soft soil with vacuum and surcharge preloading, respectively. The two large-scale field tests were conducted adjacent to each other with the same preload. A comparative analysis was performed to investigate the performance of subsoil (i.e., the ground settlement, the layered settlement, the lateral displacement of subsoil and pore water pressure) under vacuum preloading and equivalent surcharge preloading. Some design methods were verified based on the field data. Cone Penetration Tests (CPT) and Vane Shear Tests (VST) were conducted to assess the improvement effects on subsoil after preloading. The results showed that as compared with surcharge preloading, vacuum preloading mitigated the differential settlement of the ground. The vacuum pressure transmitted into the soil with a minor loss through the PVD length. From a practical point of view, the improvement effects by vacuum preloading and surcharge preloading were similar in terms of influence depth and soil strength based on the in-situ tests.     

稻草纤维-马铃薯淀粉复合材料热压制备工艺研究

以稻草纤维和马铃薯淀粉为主要原料,采用热压成型法制备稻草纤维复合材料,研究不同处理方法,纤维尺寸、淀粉基体与稻草纤维比例、热压温度和甘油含量对其力学性能和吸水率的影响。运用正交试验法对试验进行参数优化。结果表明:与仅经单一偶联剂处理的试样相比,NaOH复合处理试样的性能得到显著改善。纤维尺寸为60目,淀粉基体与稻草纤维比例(质量比)为1:1.5,甘油含量为40%,热压温度为150 ℃时,试样拉伸强度最大为1.93 MPa;淀粉基体与稻草纤维比例为1:2,纤维尺寸为60目,甘油含量为40%,热压温度为160 ℃时,试样弯曲强度最大为2.91 MPa;纤维尺寸为40目,淀粉基体与稻草纤维比例为1:2,热压温度为150 ℃,甘油含量为30%时,试样耐水性最好为112%。     

增进核电焊材用钢508 Ⅲ洁净度的工艺实践

核电焊材用钢508 Ⅲ（/%:0.09~0.12C,0.30~0.40Si,1.45~1.65Mn,≤0.008P,≤0.008S,0.45~0.60Mo,0.60~0.75Ni）的生产工艺流程为20t EAF-LF-VD-4t铸锭-锻造150 mm×150 mm坯-轧制Φ5.5mm盘条。采用精选炉料,以及高碱度渣、高FeO含量,钢水温度1550~1570℃等措施控制,电弧炉终点[P]≤0.002%,并选用低磷合金,使钢中磷含量≤0.006%;LF采用硅钙合金沉淀脱氧,SiC粉扩散脱氧、CaO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂渣系,碱度5.0~5.5,VD真空度≤67Pa,Ar流量30~50 L/min,保护浇铸等措施后,3炉钢的分析结果表明,钢中气体含量为1.3×10^-6~1.5×10^-6[H],10×10^-6~14×10^-6[O]和44×10^-6~58×10^-6[N],满足核电焊材用钢508Ⅲ洁净度的要求。     

Characterization of nickel manganite NTC thermistor films prepared by aerosol deposition at room temperature

NiMn₂O_4+δ thermistor thick films have been successfully deposited by the so-called Aerosol Deposition Method (ADM) at room temperature on alumina substrates, Si-wafers, as well as on special planar four-wire interdigital electrode structures for high-precision electrical characterization. The NTCR films are homogeneous, completely dense and scratch resistant. Both as-deposited and tempered, the NTCR films exhibit a cubic spinel structure. Between 25 °C and 90 °C, the NTCR film resistance behaves as it is typical for variable range hopping (VRH) with parabolic density of states. As a result of moderate film tempering, the thermistor constant B and the specific resistance at 25 °C (ρ₂₅) decrease from 4250 K to 4020 K and 65 Ω·m to 40 Ω·m respectively, and are close to bulk values. In combination with the excellent reproducibility of the ρ₂₅ and B values, AD processing of films appears to be a promising alternative for classical ceramic bulk processes.     

高Cr镍基合金脱氮反应热力学与动力学研究

Cr作为抗热腐蚀性元素铬在高温合金中广泛添加，因其可增大氮元素溶解度，故高铬合金的冶金脱氮难度较大。合金氮含量升高可引发氮化物析出进而影响材料组织质量与力学性能，因此，非常必要澄清高Cr合金的脱氮行为与规律。本文以高Cr镍基合金为实验对象，对其在真空感应熔炼脱氮过程的热力学与动力学进行研究。结果表明，氮在高Cr镍基合金中的热力学平衡溶解度较高且主要受真空压力控制，为实现[N]≤10 ppm的纯净度指标，合金冶炼真空压力不可高于0.1Pa。脱氮反应初期氮含量迅速下降，但反应中后期需较长时间才可接近氮平衡溶解度，提高精炼温度有助于缩短脱氮平衡反应时间。动力学分析表明高Cr镍基合金脱氮符合二级反应规律，受界面化学反应过程控制，1500℃、1550℃和1600℃条件下的脱氮表观速率常数分别为0.0184m?s-1、0.0233 m?s-1和0.0397 m?s-1，表观活化能为211.4 kJ?mol-1。