Optimization of the inspection intervals of a safety system in a nuclear power plant by Multi-Objective Differential Evolution (MODE)

In this paper, we consider the problem of the optimization of the inspection intervals of the High Pressure Injection System (HPIS) of a Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR). For its solution, we investigate the use of Differential Evolution (DE) and compare it to another popular Evolutionary Algorithm (EA), the Genetic Algorithm (GA). In the comparison, we look in particular at the computation time and at the characteristics of the Pareto frontier. The problem is first treated as a single-objective optimization (SO) and then as a multi-objective optimization (MO). For this latter, a Multi-Objective Differential Evolution (MODE) code has been purposely developed, in Matlab.     

The Optimal Scheduling of a Reversing Strip Mill: Studies Using Multipopulation Genetic Algorithms and Differential Evolution

This article addresses a problem of minimizing the hot rolling time of an ingot, from a given initial thickness to a prescribed final one, subject to a number of system constraints. The idea is to determine the minimum possible odd number of passes, so that the ingot leaves in the same direction as it entered, which would ensure the necessary degree of reduction without violating the prescribed upper limits of the available torque and roll force. A maximum rolling velocity was also prescribed and additional restrictions were imposed on the rates of acceleration and deceleration inside the mill. The problem was solved by using a number of variants of genetic algorithms, including a multipopulation island model and differential evolution, besides the simple genetic algorithms. The results are compared with some earlier work based on a discrete dynamic programming technique, and a model based on an improved formulation is also presented.     

借助Monte Carlo模拟制备组成均匀的聚丙烯腈/衣康酸

采用Monte Carlo方法模拟了丙烯腈（AN）与衣康酸（IA）共聚反应过程中任意转化率时的单体浓度、共聚组成和序列分布等参数,确定了单体IA分批投料的量,使其与丙烯腈单体组成比不变,以保证先后所生成的共聚物组成一致。比较了一次投料法和基于Monte Carlo模拟的分批投料法反应各阶段所得产物的组成和性能的差别。结...     

Evaluation of oriented poly(lactide) polymers vs. existing PET and oriented PS for fresh food service containers

Poly(lactide) (PLA) polymers have garnered increasing attention in the last few years as food packaging materials because they can be obtained from renewable resources; their production consumes quantities of carbon dioxide; they can be recycled and composted; and their physical and mechanical properties can be tailored through polymer architecture. As a consequence, PLA is becoming a growing alternative as a ‘green’ food packaging material. PLA's optical, physical and mechanical properties have been compared to those of polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), although studies comparing and showing the actual performance of PLA, PS and PET plastics containers are scarce. The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the role of PLA in package sustainability for the food service industry. Two of the commonly used materials to make containers to package fresh food, PET and oriented polystyrene (OPS), were compared with oriented PLA (OPLA) and OPLA with 40% recycled content from the industrial trimming process. The recycled OPLA provides an opportunity for full material utilization and lower costs. This study involved a number of tests to quantify the physical, mechanical, barrier and compatibility properties that would affect the selection criteria for containers to be used for food service applications. Based on the data collected, OPLA, OPLA + 40% regrind, OPS and PET performances were evaluated. Exposure of the four materials to vegetable oil and weak and strong acids show a minimal reduction in the performance of these polymers. At ambient temperature, PET has the highest impact resistance, followed by OPLA, OPS and OPLA + 40% regrind. In terms of barrier properties, PET shows the highest oxygen barrier, followed by OPLA, OPLA 40% recycled content, and OPS. Thus, OPLA and OPLA with 40% recycled content can be used for fresh food applications as well as OPS and PET, and in many situations it performs better than OPS and PET. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Design of XS2 (X = W or Mo)-Decorated VS2 Hybrid Nano-Architectures with Abundant Active Edge Sites for High-Rate Asymmetric Supercapacitors and Hydrogen Evolution Reactions

Two-dimensional layered transition metal dichalcogenides have emerged as promising materials for supercapacitors and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) applications. Herein, the molybdenum sulfide (MoS₂)@vanadium sulfide (VS₂) and tungsten sulfide (WS₂)@VS₂ hybrid nano-architectures prepared via a facile one-step hydrothermal approach is reported. Hierarchical hybrids lead to rich exposed active edge sites, tuned porous nanopetals-decorated morphologies, and high intrinsic activity owing to the strong interfacial interaction between the two materials. Fabricated supercapacitors using MoS₂@VS₂ and WS₂@VS₂ electrodes exhibit high specific capacitances of 513 and 615 F g⁻¹, respectively, at an applied current of 2.5 A g⁻¹ by the three-electrode configuration. The asymmetric device fabricated using WS₂@VS₂ electrode exhibits a high specific capacitance of 222 F g⁻¹ at an applied current of 2.5 A g⁻¹ with the specific energy of 52 Wh kg⁻¹ at a specific power of 1 kW kg⁻¹. For HER, the WS₂@VS₂ catalyst shows noble characteristics with an overpotential of 56 mV to yield 10 mA cm⁻², a Tafel slope of 39 mV dec⁻¹, and an exchange current density of 1.73 mA cm⁻². In addition, density functional theory calculations are used to evaluate the durable heterostructure formation and adsorption of hydrogen atom on the various accessible sites of MoS₂@VS₂ and WS₂@VS₂ heterostructures.     

ⅢA族元素镓(Ga)、铟(In)原子激光增强电离光谱的计算机模拟

本文从激光增强电离光谱(LEIS)的速率方程和LEI光谱加宽理论出发,用计算机模拟光谱方法给出了紫外区ⅢA族元素Ga的三条和In的二条LEI光谱线的轮廓,与实验得到的LEI光谱一致。     

异步累积叠轧技术制备超细晶铜材退火过程组织及取向研究

对铜材进行异步累积叠轧并退火处理,制备出了均匀稳定的超细晶铜材。采用背散射电子衍射位向成像显微分析(EBSD OIM)及透射电镜对变形铜材退火过程的组织及取向进行了观察和分析。结果表明:铜材经过六道次异步叠轧,包含许多缺陷和亚结构;在220℃×35～55min退火,可以获得200～500nm的超细晶;各种取向晶粒并存,择优取向不明显;延伸率得到提高。     

Using integrated hybrid (Al + CNT) reinforcement to simultaneously enhance strength and ductility of magnesium

Magnesium nano-composites containing hybrid aluminium-carbon nanotube (Al-CNT) reinforcement were synthesized through powder metallurgy route using microwave assisted rapid sintering technique followed by hot extrusion. Compared to monolithic Mg, microstructural characterization revealed reasonably uniform distribution of Al-CNT particles in the matrix and reduction in average matrix grain size in the case of hybrid nano-composites. Compared to monolithic Mg, the Mg/Al-CNT nano-composites exhibited higher elastic modulus, strength and failure strain up to 1.00 wt.% Al content. The CNT content was kept constant at 0.18 wt.%. Among the different nano-composite formulations, the Mg/1.00Al-0.18CNT nano-composite exhibited the best improvement in elastic modulus (E), tensile yield strength (0.2%YS), ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and failure strain (up to +3.6%, +38%, +36% and +42%, respectively) compared to pure Mg. The effect of hybrid Al-CNT reinforcement integration on the enhancement of mechanical properties of Mg is investigated in this paper.