Constitutive model for gas hydrate-bearing soils considering different types of hydrate morphology and prediction of strength-band

The present study proposes a new elasto-plastic constitutive model that considers different types of hydrates in pore spaces. Many triaxial compression tests on both methane hydrate-bearing soils and carbon dioxide hydrate-bearing soils have been carried out over the last few decades. It has been revealed that methane hydrate-bearing soils and carbon dioxide hydrate-bearing soils have different strength and dilatancy properties even though they have the same hydrate contents. The reason for this might be due to the different types of hydrate morphology. In this study, therefore, the effect of the hydrate morphology on the mechanical response of gas-hydrate-bearing sediments is investigated through a model analysis by taking into account the different hardening rules corresponding to each type of hydrate morphology. In order to evaluate the capability of the proposed model, it is applied to the results of past triaxial compression tests on both methane hydrate-containing and carbon dioxide hydrate-containing sand specimens. The model is found to successfully reproduce the different stress–strain relations and dilatancy behaviors, by only giving consideration to the different morphology distributions and not changing the fitting parameters. The model is then used to predict a possible range in which the maximum deviator stress can move for various hydrate morphology ratios; the range is defined as the strength-band. The predicted curve of the maximum deviator stress obtained by the constitutive model matches the empirical equations obtained from past experiments. It supports the fact that the hydrate morphology ratio changes with the total hydrate saturation. These findings will contribute to a better understanding of the relation between the microscopic structures and macro-mechanical behaviors of gas-hydrate-bearing sediments.     

Quantification of Dendritic Spines Remodeling under Physiological Stimuli and in Pathological Conditions

Numerous brain diseases are associated with abnormalities in morphology and density of dendritic spines, small membranous protrusions whose structural geometry correlates with the strength of synaptic connections. Thus, the quantitative analysis of dendritic spines remodeling in microscopic images is one of the key elements towards understanding mechanisms of structural neuronal plasticity and bases of brain pathology. In the following article, we review experimental approaches designed to assess quantitative features of dendritic spines under physiological stimuli and in pathological conditions. We compare various methodological pipelines of biological models, sample preparation, data analysis, image acquisition, sample size, and statistical analysis. The methodology and results of relevant experiments are systematically summarized in a tabular form. In particular, we focus on quantitative data regarding the number of animals, cells, dendritic spines, types of studied parameters, size of observed changes, and their statistical significance.     

Simulation of thermal barrier coating spallation induced by the initiation/growth/coalescence of internal crack and interfacial crack based on a real image model

In the furnace cycle test, the growth of oxide film leads to the propagation and coalescence of multiple cracks near the interface, which should be responsible for the spallation of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). A TBC model with real interface morphology is created, and the near-interface large pore is retained. The purpose of this work is to clarify the mechanism of TBC spallation caused by successive initiation, propagation, and linkage of cracks near the interface during thermal cycle. The dynamic growth of thermally grown oxide (TGO) is carried out by applying a stress-free strain. The crack nucleation and arbitrary path propagation in YSZ and TGO are simulated by the extended finite element method (XFEM). The debonding along the YSZ/TGO/BC interface is evaluated using a surface-based cohesive behavior. The large-scale pore in YSZ near the interface can initiate a new crack. The ceramic crack can propagate to the YSZ/TGO interface, which will accelerate the interfacial damage and debonding. For the TGO/BC interface, the normal compressive stress and small shear stress at the valley hinder the further crack propagation. The growth of YSZ crack and the formation of through-TGO crack are the main causes of TBC delamination. The accelerated BC oxidation increases the lateral growth strain of TGO, which will promote crack propagation and coalescence. The optimization design proposed in this work can provide another option for developing TBC with high durability.     

Immiscible PHB/PBS and PHB/PBSA blends: morphology,phase composition and modelling of elastic modulus

This paper reports the thermal, morphological and mechanical properties of environmentally friendly poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB)/poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and PHB/poly[(butylene succinate)-co-(butylene adipate)] (PBSA) blends, prepared by melt mixing. The blends are known to be immiscible, as also confirmed by the thermodynamic analysis here presented. A detailed quantification of the crystalline and amorphous fractions was performed, in order to interpret the mechanical properties of the blends. As expected, the ductility increased with increasing PBS or PBSA amount, but in parallel the decrease in the elastic modulus appeared limited. Surprisingly, the elastic modulus was found properly described by the rule of mixtures in the whole composition range, thus attesting mechanical compatibility between the two blend components. This unusual behavior has been explained as due to co-continuous morphology, present in a wide composition range, but also at the same time as the result of shrinkage occurring during sequential crystallization of the two components, which can lead to physical adhesion between matrix and dispersed phase. For the first time, the elastic moduli of the crystalline and mobile amorphous fractions of PBS and PBSA and of the mobile amorphous fraction of PHB at ambient temperature have been estimated through a mechanical modelling approach. © 2021 The Authors. Polymer International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Industrial Chemistry.     

石墨烯纳米制冷剂核态池沸腾换热的实验研究

为分析单层石墨烯纳米片对核态池沸腾换热的影响机理，对基液为R141b、分散相为单层石墨烯纳米片的纳米制冷剂的核态池沸腾换热特征进行了测定，采用Hot Disk热物性分析仪和铂金板法分别测定了石墨烯纳米制冷剂的热导率和表面张力，采用接触角测量仪和扫描电子显微镜（SEM）观测了沸腾后加热表面的润湿性和形貌特征。实验中，单层石墨烯纳米片的质量百分含量（ω）为0.02%~0.50%，实验压力为一个标准大气压，热流密度为20~200 kW/m2。实验结果表明：单层石墨烯纳米片的加入，使制冷剂R141b的核态池沸腾换热得到强化；当ω=0.2%时，换热系数提高比例出现峰值，为57.7%。伴随ω的增加，石墨烯纳米制冷剂的热导率增大、表面张力减小，沸腾表面润湿性增强且微腔数先增后减，综合作用的结果导致存在一个最佳的单层石墨烯纳米片浓度（即ω=0.2%）使换热系数最高。     

Experimental Study on Inducement and Development of Flow Instabilities in a Centrifugal Compressor with Different Diffuser Types

A centrifugal compressor is a typical compressed air energy storage device. In order to ensure the safety of the compressed energy storage process in the compressor, the internal unsteady flow phenomena need to be closely monitored, especially some serious ones like stall and surge. It is necessary to explore the mechanism of flow instabilities under different conditions. A centrifugal air compressor was tested with a vaneless diffuser and a variable vaned diffuser with five different vane setting angles, respectively. Various diffuser types resulted in various modes of flow instabilities prior to surge. The vaneless region between the impeller and the diffuser was focused on. Multiple high-speed sensors were arranged along the circumferential direction. The pressure signals at all these positions were being measured and collected in real time as the compressor was slowly throttled into surge. This paper emphasizes on the influence of matching between the impeller and the diffuser on the flow instability. The experimental results showed that the diffuser vane setting angle affected the stall characteristics. Due to the asymmetry of the volute, the circumferential pressure distribution was always severely distorted prior to surge. A high-pressure region appeared near the volute tongue, and a low-pressure region was formed away from the volute tongue. In the case of the vaned diffuser with non-design installation angle and the vaneless diffuser, the rotating stall signal was originated in the low-pressure region and propagated circumferentially. However, in the case of the vaned diffuser with the design installation angle, the circumferential high-pressure region became the most sensitive region for the generation of stall, and another form of instability occurred there. Both the inducement and development of these flow instabilities have been studied. The dynamic experimental research on the compressor matching different types of diffusers could be a good case supplement.     

Characterisation of the microplasma spraying of biocompatible coating of titanium

This paper presents new results of studying the influence of parameters of microplasma spraying (MPS) of Ti wire on the structure and properties of Ti coatings. Based on the design of the experiment and the results of the SEM study, certain spraying modes were chosen to form the desired composition and structure of the Ti coating.  The dense sublayer (up to 300 µm thick) provides good adhesion to the substrate, and a porous top layer can accelerate the coated implant ingrowth with the bone.  This technology is developed for the manufacture of coated endoprosthesis implants.