Environmental effects on the strength and impact damage resistance of alumina based oxide/oxide ceramic matrix composites

In this study the effects of high temperature and moisture on the impact damage resistance and mechanical strength of Nextel 610/alumina silicate ceramic matrix composites were experimentally evaluated. Composite laminates were exposed to either a 1050°C isothermal furnace-based environment for 30 consecutive days at 6 h a day, or 95% relative humidity environment for 13 consecutive days at 67°C. Low velocity impact, tensile and short beam strength tests were performed on both ambient and environmentally conditioned laminates and damage was characterized using a combination of non-destructive and destructive techniques. High temperature and humidity environmental exposure adversely affected the impact resistance of the composite laminates. For all the environments, planar internal damage area was greater than the back side dent area, which in turn was greater than the impactor side dent area. Evidence of environmental embrittlement through a stiffer tensile response was noted for the high temperature exposed laminates while the short beam strength tests showed greater propensity for interlaminar shear failure in the moisture exposed laminates. Destructive evaluations exposed larger, more pronounced delaminations in the environmentally conditioned laminates in comparison to the ambient ones. External damage metrics of the impactor side dent depth and area directly influenced the post-impact tensile strength of the laminates while no such trend between internal damage area and residual strength could be ascertained.     

Real-world single image super-resolution: A brief review

Single image super-resolution (SISR), which aims to reconstruct a high-resolution (HR) image from a low-resolution (LR) observation, has been an active research topic in the area of image processing in recent decades. Particularly, deep learning-based super-resolution (SR) approaches have drawn much attention and have greatly improved the reconstruction performance on synthetic data. However, recent studies show that simulation results on synthetic data usually overestimate the capacity to super-resolve real-world images. In this context, more and more researchers devote themselves to develop SR approaches for realistic images. This article aims to make a comprehensive review on real-world single image super-resolution (RSISR). More specifically, this review covers the critical publicly available datasets and assessment metrics for RSISR, and four major categories of RSISR methods, namely the degradation modeling-based RSISR, image pairs-based RSISR, domain translation-based RSISR, and self-learning-based RSISR. Comparisons are also made among representative RSISR methods on benchmark datasets, in terms of both reconstruction quality and computational efficiency. Besides, we discuss challenges and promising research topics on RSISR.     

Adding new floors to old timber-framed buildings: An assessment of demolished and preserved courtyard houses in the historic centre of Madrid

The constructive analysis of Madrid's old timber-framed collective courtyard buildings, whether demolished, preserved intact, or enlarged, has achieved the dating of relevant case studies. New parameters established in this study set a chronology based on front sector original projects: old (1737–1788), pre-modern (1788–1847) and modern (1847–1892). The on-site inspection and archival research point to ongoing misleading construction in the historic Southern area. Some modern corralas erected on top of pre-existing buildings confirm the initial hypothesis. First dimensioning rules for new façades and the stability required in old ones before adding new storeys, maintaining the original masonry or double-layered system, are discovered. Undated buildings suggest their possible origin a la malicia and a later transformation into transitional corralas. Finally, an analysis of the demolished courtyards narrows down the dating and points to new conjectures in some preserved by showing their uneven layout, old features, and structural discordances in each sector.     

Evaluation of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) of Chinese EIA in Myanmar: Myitsone Dam,the Lappadaung Copper Mine and the Sino-Myanmar oil and gas pipelines

The economic relationship between China and Myanmar is regarded as a win–win cooperation. However, Chinese investments, especially in extractive and natural resource sectors, are associated with a number of unwanted environmental consequences. Moreover, the environmental impact assessment (EIA) quality of Chinese enterprises has often been criticized. EIA identifies adverse impacts to the environment through evidence-based decision making. On this basis, this paper provides an evaluation of Chinese EIA performance within the natural resources sector through a structured review of 15 environmental impact statements (EISs). This research also evaluates the EISs of the three largest and most controversial projects, the Myitsone Hydropower Dam, Lappadaung Copper Mine and Sino-Myanmar oil and gas pipelines. The findings reveal several omissions, inadequacies and deficiencies in all the projects with a significant number of EISs falling short of satisfactory quality. Through the analysis, the paper summarizes the factors affecting the EIA performance and proposes feasible recommendations to improve EIA practices in Chinese development projects in Myanmar.     

A PV installation framework concerning electricity variable rates

This paper assesses building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) installation parameters based on the profit generated by a photovoltaic system. It takes into consideration a home building case study and it investigates its monthly energy demand based on a specific location and a typical occupancy. The capability of a photovoltaic (PV) system to generate more profit occurs when solar intensity is maximum while the electric energy price is at its highest rate. The paper traces a framework that encompasses different aspects such as energy demand, energy price, and solar intensity. This framework identifies profit alternatives according to different installation parameters. A tool that predicts a PV installation hourly electric energy production is developed. The profit generated is simulated for home buildings located in Beirut (Lebanon) and Xihua (China), both at 33.8° latitude north. The paper highlights a new approach for BIPV installations, taking into account weather conditions, energy demand, and electric energy utility rates.     

锅巴中水分测量结果的不确定度评定

目的 对锅巴中水分测量结果进行不确定度评定。方法 依据GB 5009.3-2016《食品安全国家标准 食品中水分的测定》第一法直接干燥法对锅巴中的水分进行测定，建立数学模型，分析检验结果的影响因素。结果 通过分析3种不确定的影响因子，得出不确定度分别为：3.30×10-3、2.75×10-4、2.92×10-3。结论 通过对各不确定度分量进行计算和分析表明， 锅巴水分检验中重复性测量对不确定度影响最大，天平称量的影响最小。     

Effect of Indirect Transformation of Retained Austenite During Tempering on the Charpy Impact Toughness of a Low-Alloy Cr-Mo-V Steel

A modified tempering treatment has been designed in order to avoid the direct transformation of retained austenite (Ar) during tempering of a low-alloy Cr-Mo-V steel. Instead of the direct transformation of Ar into ferrite and M₂₃C₆ carbides during conventional tempering at 700 °C, transformation into aggregate of ferrite and cementite has been forced by a pre-tempering at 455 °C before conventional tempering. Experiments have been performed on specimens quenched with cooling rates 1.5, 3 and 12 °C/s, providing different types of Ar within the as-quenched microstructures. The results show that the tempering modification does not improve the Charpy impact toughness at the highest quenching rate of 12 °C/s, where the specimens cannot incur cleavage cracking induced from fine and discontinuous M₂₃C₆ carbides along lath interfaces. For the lowest quenching rate 1.5 °C/s, the Charpy impact toughness can be improved, and the failure is dominated by carbide aggregates, which originate from the decomposed products of blocky Ar. This is because the tempering modification effectively suppresses the formation of coarse M₂₃C₆ carbides at interfaces between the carbide aggregate and bainitic matrix, thereby resulting in a relatively homogeneous distribution of M₂₃C₆ carbides inside carbide aggregates. Therefore, the tempering modification is recommended for large-scale forgings, in which relatively high quenching rates are difficult to achieve.     

超细全尾砂充填体动态力学特性研究

充填体作为人工矿柱,为矿房回采创造了条件,但经常受到爆破等冲击荷载作用。充填体的动态力学特性直接关系到充填采矿法的安全高效实施。通过单轴压缩试验和分离式霍布金森压杆(Split Hobkinson Pressure Bar,SHPB)试验技术,进行了不同充填配比参数的超细全尾砂充填体压缩试验,得到其静载和动载下的应力-应变曲线和能量变化曲线,并分析了其破坏模式。研究表明:充填体质量浓度越高,灰砂比越大,峰值应力和峰值应变随之增大,呈现正相关性,其中灰砂比和质量浓度对应力的影响相对一致,但应变受质量浓度影响更大;当冲击荷载由0.3 MPa增大至0.6 MPa时,充填体的破坏形式由保持完整形态变为产生裂纹,直至被压碎,转变为完全失稳破坏状态;充填体能量吸收随着冲击荷载的增加而逐渐递增,但质量浓度和灰砂比增大时,充填体比能量和能量吸收率反而下降,其中灰砂比是影响充填体吸能效率的主要因素,质量浓度次之。     

Experimental research on dynamic response of PZT-5H under impact load

In order to improve the stability of PZT-based sensors, the mechanical, dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of PZT-5H under impact load were studied experimentally by using the separated Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) with an electrical output measurement device. At the same time, the experimental study on the material properties of PZT-5H before and after the impact was carried out. The effect of impact cracks on the output voltage of PZT-5H was also analyzed. The results show that the dynamic piezoelectric constants of PZT-5H under low stress impact (10–50 MPa) are different from those under quasi-static state, and the empirical relationship between them and the peak stress is obtained through experiments. The dielectric properties of PZT-5H did not change under low stress impact, but micro-cracks occurred in the material and dielectric loss increased at high frequencies. Under short circuit, the residual polarization intensity of PZT-5H decreases sharply due to impact load. While the impact load causes the secondary polarization and the increase of the residual polarization intensity of PZT under open circuit. When the stress is over 45 MPa, the PZT-5H breaks. The formation of cracks causes abnormal discharge voltage and gap discharge.     

Social licence: power imbalances and levels of consciousness – two case studies

ABSTRACT

Social licence to operate (SLO) is a term that is finding increasing acceptance in a number of industries. Like all new terms, its precise meaning and implications are still being investigated. Using data from previous studies, this paper offers an analysis of the SLO of two case studies with each study being viewed separately through the grid of a distinct theoretical framework. Case study 1 looks at the development of differential social licence negotiated in the Hamlet of Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, as a result of an impact and benefit agreement negotiated between Tahera Diamond Corp. and the Kitikmeot Inuit Organisation in 2004. The study demonstrates that general acceptance of resource development can be uneven and reflect an unequal distribution of decision-making power. In case study 2, stakeholders of a failed mineral development project were queried across time about the specifics of the proposed mine development and were queried about resource development across different levels of consciousness. Perhaps, SLO is variable across different levels of consciousness. The paper concludes with observations about the variable nature of SLO acceptance across populations and across levels of consciousness within individuals. Perhaps, the concept of SLO is, in fact, complex, difficult to define and measure and, at this point, of limited utility as a measure of resource development acceptance.