Pinning exponential synchronisation and passivity of coupled delayed reaction–diffusion neural networks with and without parametric uncertainties

In this paper, we focus on the pinning exponential synchronisation and passivity of coupled reaction–diffusion neural networks (CRDNNs) with and without parametric uncertainties, respectively. On the one hand, with the help of designed nonlinear pinning controllers and Lyapunov functional method, sufficient conditions are established to let the CRDNNs with hybrid coupling and mixed time-varying delays realise exponential synchronisation and passivity. On the other hand, considering that the external perturbations may lead the reaction–diffusion neural networks (RDNNs) parameters to containing uncertainties, the robust pinning exponential synchronisation and robust pinning passivity for coupled delayed RDNNs with parametric uncertainties are investigated by designing appropriate pinning control strategies. Finally, the effectiveness of the theoretical results are substantiated by the two given numerical examples.     

Effects of Zn and Y on hot-tearing susceptibility of Mg–xZn–2xY alloys

The effect of Zn and Y on hot-tearing susceptibility (HTS) of Mg–xZn–2xY (x?=?1, 1.67, 2.67) alloys is investigated. It is found that the microstructure of the alloys is mainly composed of α-Mg, long-period stacking-ordered (LPSO) phase and W-phase. Both theoretical and experimental results illustrated that HTS of the investigated alloys is in the following order: Mg–1Zn–2Y > Mg–1.67Zn–3.34Y > Mg–2.67Zn–5.34Y. For Mg–2.67Zn–5.34Y alloy, LPSO phase content reaches at the maximum and its grain size reaches at minimum of 16.4 µm, and the pinning effect of the LPSO phase on grain boundaries is considered to be an important reason for reducing HTS of the alloy.     

‘Beautiful’ unconventional synthesis and processing technologies of superconductors and some other materials

Abstract

Superconducting materials have contributed significantly to the development of modern materials science and engineering. Specific technological solutions for their synthesis and processing helped in understanding the principles and approaches to the design, fabrication and application of many other materials. In this review, we explore the bidirectional relationship between the general and particular synthesis concepts. The analysis is mostly based on our studies where some unconventional technologies were applied to different superconductors and some other materials. These technologies include spray-frozen freeze-drying, fast pyrolysis, field-assisted sintering (or spark plasma sintering), nanoblasting, processing in high magnetic fields, methods of control of supersaturation and migration during film growth, and mechanical treatments of composite wires. The analysis provides future research directions and some key elements to define the concept of ‘beautiful’ technology in materials science. It also reconfirms the key position and importance of superconductors in the development of new materials and unconventional synthesis approaches.     

环氧树脂固化工艺条件对YBCO超导带材临界电流的影响

为了研究固化条件对超导带材临界电流的影响,采用电测法实验测量了多种固化工艺条件下YBCO高温超导带材的临界电流。分析得到热处理温度140℃时,超导带临界电流出现明显退化,温度越高退化越明显;超导带临界电流随着固化时间的延长而降低,处理温度越高,随时间下降的幅度越大,并从超导体钉扎效应的角度对实验结果进行了初步的分析。     

某超超临界锅炉低NOX燃烧优化对高温腐蚀的影响

为了评估低NOX燃烧器升级后水冷壁高温腐蚀的可能性，对某超超临界锅炉炉内燃烧进行了数值模拟，并对SOFA上摆的燃烧优化工况做了水冷壁贴壁气氛测试。结果表明，主燃烧区的上部和COFA、SOFA之间的还原区发生高温腐蚀的可能性较大；SOFA上摆扩大了还原区，增加了高温腐蚀的可能性，还原区贴壁H2S平均浓度沿着炉膛高度的增加而升高，为180-400μl/L；SOFA摆角的偏差使得局部H2S浓度达到了800μl/L，进一步加剧了局部区域高温腐蚀的风险；强氧化⇌强还原交替变动，使得SOFA以上区域(43.3m-46.1m)的高温腐蚀风险较典型还原区更为严重。在锅炉实际运行中，应尽可能权衡降低NOX排放和控制高温腐蚀风险。     

Numerical simulation of the wire‐pinning process in PET film casting: Steady‐state results

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) film casting involves melt flow through a slot die, across a small span, and onto a fast moving quench drum. In the “wire‐pinning” casting process, a thin electrified wire close to the line of contact with the drum creates a strong pinning force that delays air entrainment to higher line speeds. Nonuniform wetting of the die lips by the extruded melt is thought to be responsible for the formation of streaks, a defect in the machine direction. A finite element model of the film casting process with wire pinning was developed to assist in understanding what causes significant wetting of the lips and whether this can be avoided by electrostatic pinning. The solution of the governing equations provide the location of the static and dynamic contact lines, thus finding the wetting and pinning points in the process. The simulations investigate the sensitivity of the static wetting line locations on the die lands to the imposed values of static contact angle and die‐lip gap. It was found that while the contact angle has a small effect on the extent of die‐lip wetting within the parameter ranges examined, there is a considerable chance that the feed slot surfaces can be dewetted. This seems to be the greatest danger for causing streaks rather than excessive wetting of the die lands. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012     

The Effect of Gradual Fluorination on the Properties of FnZnPc Thin Films and FnZnPc/C60 Bilayer Photovoltaic Cells

Motivated by the possibility of modifying energy levels of a molecule without substantially changing its band gap, the impact of gradual fluorination on the optical and structural properties of zinc phthalocyanine (F_nZnPc) thin films and the electronic characteristics of F_nZnPc/C₆₀ (n = 0, 4, 8, 16) bilayer cells is investigated. UV–vis measurements reveal similar Q‐ and B‐band absorption of F_nZnPc thin films with n = 0, 4, 8, whereas for F₁₆ZnPc a different absorption pattern is detected. A correlation between structure and electronic transport is deduced. For F₄ZnPc/C₆₀ cells, the enhanced long range order supports fill factors of 55% and an increase of the short circuit current density by 18%, compared to ZnPc/C₆₀. As a parameter being sensitive to the organic/organic interface energetics, the open circuit voltage is analyzed. An enhancement of this quantity by 27% and 50% is detected for F₄ZnPc‐ and F₈ZnPc‐based devices, respectively, and is attributed to an increase of the quasi‐Fermi level splitting at the donor/acceptor interface. In contrast, for F₁₆ZnPc/C₆₀ a decrease of the open circuit voltage is observed. Complementary photoelectron spectroscopy, external quantum efficiency, and photoluminescence measurements reveal a different working principle, which is ascribed to the particular energy level alignment at the interface of the photoactive materials.     

Modeling Study of the Particle Pinning Effect on the Grain Boundary Movement

In this work,based on the classical grain boundary (GB) formula and the principle of work-energy conversion,a new physically-based model has been developed to predict the particle pinning force concerning the interaction between second phase particles (SPPs) and the moving GB.The effect of particles pinning on the GB movement is analyzed.The modeling results can be applied to quantitatively determine the critical numbers of SPPs required for complete pining the grain growth,such as the critical SPPs number of the unit GB area,the critical number for single grain stagnation,the critical volume fraction of particles at a given particle size.Theoretical predictions are in good agreement with the experimental results by Gladman.     

Effect of Solute Drag and Precipitate Pinning on Austenite Grain Growth in Ti-Nb Microalloyed Steels

A metallurgical model concerning the co-effect of the Nb solute drag and the complex carbonitride precipitates pinning is proposed to predict the recrystallization austenite grain growth of low carbon Nb-containing microalloyed steels.The analysis,both predicted and experimental,reveals the precipitate pinning plays a dominate role in suppressing the austenite grain growth with less Nb solute drag effect in high temperature region whereas the Nb solute drag predominates in relatively low temperature region.A factor p is suggested to assess the effectiveness of drag and pinning.The pinning and the drag are more effective in restraining grain growth as p>0 and p<0,respectively.A low carbon Nb microalloyed steel and a kind of Ti-modified low carbon Nb steel by Ti substituting for part of Nb are employed to validate the modeling results.The theoretical calculations show a good agreement with experimental results.