Application of response surface methodology with a Box–Behnken design for struvite precipitation

Struvite crystals were precipitated by the reaction of magnesium chloride hexahydrate and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate using different concentrations of citric acid as the additive (100, 300, and 500 ppm). The structure, morphology, functional groups and particle size of the crystals were evaluated experimentally by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and particle size analysis. The experimental results demonstrated that citric acid exerted a significant influence on the struvite precipitation and the crystal morphology changed from rod-like to tubular shaped with a larger size and hollow bodies. The average particle size changed from 17.60 to 33.60 μm with increasing citric acid concentration. The results of FTIR suggested that the citric acid adsorbed on the crystal surface. Following the characterization of the crystals prepared using different concentrations of citric acid, the response surface methodology coupled with Box-Behnken design were applied as a statistical tool to determine the effects of the key parameters affecting the precipitation process (temperature, pH and additive concentration) on the responses (namely, particle size and specific cake resistance of struvite). Second-order polynomial equations for both responses were improved to correlate the parameters. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a significant quadratic regression model with high coefficients of the determination values. The optimum conditions for particle size were found to be 60 °C, pH 8 and 500 ppm additive concentration.     

The paint–bake response of three Al–Mg–Zn alloys

The aging behaviors of three Al–Mg–Zn alloys have been investigated under conditions similar to the paint–bake cycle currently used in automotive manufacturing. The three alloys contain Mg in atomic concentrations from one to two times those of Zn. Natural aging at 25 °C after solutionizing is found to produce a linear increase in hardness with logarithmic time for times of up to 1 year. Hardnesses in naturally and artificially aged conditions are found to increase with Mg content. Artificial aging at 175 °C for 30 min, which simulates the automotive paint–bake cycle, produces increases in hardness of 15–36% over the solution-treated conditions. Peak hardness from artificial aging at 175 °C is produced in all alloys after approximately 8 h. Natural aging for 10 days prior to artificial aging at 175 °C does not produce significant changes in hardness compared with artificial aging alone. Natural aging for 1 year after simulated paint–bake aging increases hardnesses by 41–78% over those after simulated paint–bake aging alone. The precipitation strengthening mechanism in these alloys is consistent with η′ formation. Increases in hardness and strength with increasing Mg content are consistent with increased solid–solution strengthening, which is retained even after artificial aging.     

Ageing response of a Al–Cu–Li 2198 alloy

The effects of different ageing treatments on microstructure evolution, properties and fracture are investigated in the present study. 2198 alloy exhibits strong ageing response during ageing. It is found that tensile properties, hardness and conductivity of 2198 alloy are very sensitive to ageing temperatures, which corresponds to different microstructures. In the naturally-aged condition (T3), only δ′ (Al₃Li) was detected. After artificial ageing (T8), large amounts of precipitates emerged and major precipitates that were detected turned to be δ′, θ′ (Al₂Cu) and T₁ (Al₂CuLi) phase. Exposure to higher temperature caused greater amounts of the precipitation. The constitution and morphology of precipitates varies with different ageing temperature; the major precipitates are δ′, θ′ when ageing below 160 °C, while above 160 °C, T₁ phase comes out in large numbers, becoming dominate strengthening phases gradually. Fracture transforms from a typical dimple type to a dimple-intergranular mixed type with the rise of ageing temperature.     

The Neumann series as a fundamental solution of the two-dimensional convection–diffusion equation with variable velocity

The fundamental solution of the two-dimensional convection–diffusion equation with variable coefficients and its adjoint equation are obtained in complex form in terms of the unknown density of two equivalent uniquely solvable Volterra integral equations of the second kind whose analytical solutions are given explicitly as convergent Neumann series. The Volterra integral equations are obtained by integrating the complex form of the original differential equations, without additional change of variables as proposed by previously authors. In the numerical examples, cases corresponding to non-self-adjoint operators are considered. As a validation, the proposed approach is used to derive the fundamental solution of the adjoint to the convection–diffusion equation with constant velocity. In this case, the series solution can be evaluated analytically. For more general velocity fields, the recursive terms of the series can be evaluated by symbolic computation or numerical integration.     

The state of the art development of AHP (1979–2017): a literature review with a social network analysis

Although many papers describe the evolution of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), most adopt a subjective approach. This paper examines the pattern of development of the AHP research field using social network analysis and scientometrics, and identifies its intellectual structure. The objectives are: (i) to trace the pattern of development of AHP research; (ii) to identify the patterns of collaboration among authors; (iii) to identify the most important papers underpinning the development of AHP; and (iv) to discover recent areas of interest. We analyse two types of networks: social networks, that is, co-authorship networks, and cognitive mapping or the network of disciplines affected by AHP. Our analyses are based on 8441 papers published between 1979 and 2017, retrieved from the ISI Web of Science database. To provide a longitudinal perspective on the pattern of evolution of AHP, we analyse these two types of networks during the three periods 1979–1990, 1991–2001 and 2002–2017. We provide some basic statistics on AHP journals and researchers, review the main topics and applications of integrated AHPs and provide direction for future research by highlighting some open questions.     

Modelling of the mechanical response of Zr–Nb and Ti–Nb alloys in a wide temperature range

International Journal of Mechanics and Materials in Design - This article presents the results of modeling the mechanical behavior of Zr–Nb and Ti–Nb alloys in a range of strain rates...     

The poroelastic role of water in cell walls of the hierarchical composite ��softwood��

Wood is an anisotropic, hierarchically organized material, and the question how the hierarchical organization governs the anisotropy of its mechanical properties (such as stiffness and strength) has kept researchers busy for decades. While the honeycomb structure of softwood or the chemical composition of the cell wall has been fairly well established, the mechanical role of the cell wall water is less understood. The question arises how its capability to carry compressive loads (but not tensile loads) and its pressurization state affect mechanical deformations of the hierarchical composite ??wood??. By extending the framework of poro-micromechanics to more than two material phases, we here provide corresponding answers from a novel hierarchical set of matrix-inclusion problems with eigenstresses: (i) Biot tensors, expressing how much of the cell wall water-induced pore pressure is transferred to the boundary of an overall deformation-free representative volume element (RVE), and (ii) Biot moduli, expressing the porosity changes invoked by a pore pressure within such an RVE, are reported as functions of the material??s composition, in particular of its water content and its lumen space. At the level of softwood, where we transform a periodic homogenization scheme into an equivalent matrix-inclusion problem, all Biot tensor components are found to increase with decreasing lumen volume fraction. A further research finding concerns the strong anisotropy of the Biot tensor with respect to the water content: Transverse components increase with increasing water content, while the relationship ??longitudinal Biot tensor component versus volume fraction of water within the wood cell wall?? exhibits a maximum, representing a trade-off between pore pressure increase (increasing the longitudinal Biot tensor component, dominantly at low water content) and softening of the cell wall (reducing this component, dominantly at high water contents). Soft cell wall matrices reinforced with very stiff cellulose fibers may even result in negative longitudinal Biot tensor components. The aforementioned maximum effect is also noted for the Biot modulus.     

Evolution of microstructure and mechanical properties of a duplex Mg–Li alloy under extrusion with an increasing ratio

Mg–5Li–2Zn dual phase alloy was prepared and extruded with ratios of 10, 25 and 79. Microstructures were acquired, and Vickers hardness was examined as well as tensile and compressive properties. The results showed that the alloy possessed a low fraction of β-Li phase besides α-Mg phase. The increase of the extrusion ratio decreased the widths of both phases and also the grain size of α-Mg phase, while increased the homogeneity of the extruded alloys. The strengths were almost the same after the alloy was extruded with ratios of 10 and 25, and the alloy extruded with the ratio of 79 presented a higher strength and a lower ductility. Serrated flow appeared during the tension of the alloy extruded with the ratio of 10. In both tensile and compressive strain–stress curves, yield plateaus were more and more invisible with the increase of the extrusion ratio. It seemed that the deforming behavior of the duplex Mg–5Li–2Zn alloy is still of the pattern of hexagonal Mg alloy with little effect of β-Li phase because of its low fraction.     

The role of oxidation in time-dependent response of ceramic–matrix composites

In this work, a model is constructed to account for the effect of oxidation of the fiber, fiber interface coating and surrounding matrix on the stress distribution and strain accumulation in ceramic–matrix composites. The model includes the role of the fabric architecture, the effect of porosity and the distribution of cracks in its formulation and utilizes oxidation rate constants and phenomenological models for the progress of oxidation as reported in literature.Dwell fatigue experiments were carried out for silicon carbide/silicon carbide nitride (SiC/SiNC) and Melt infiltrated silicon carbide/silicon carbide (MI SiC/SiC) composites to evaluate their time-dependent strain accumulation. Strain accumulation due to oxidation calculated by the model was compared to time-dependent strain obtained from experiment and showed that the rate of strain accumulation due to oxidation was low before the fibers were exposed to the environment but drastically increased after that. Such high rate of strain accumulation can be one of the main causes for failure of the composite.Model results showed that strain accumulation in both composites due to oxidation was dependent on the stress level with the SiC/SiNC accumulating more strain at similar stress levels. This can be explained by the higher modulus of the MI SiC/SiC that limits deformation, reducing crack density and accordingly decreasing the chance of oxygen to infiltrate the specimen and oxidize the fibers. Strain accumulation due to oxidation was also dependent on the fabric architecture and stress distribution within the unit cell. Additionally, comparing the effect of the value of the linear and parabolic oxidation rate constants reported by different researchers showed that not only is their absolute value important, but also their ratio to one another.     

Uncertain dynamic response of a deterministic elastic–plastic beam

The counterintuitive phenomenon of elastic–plastic beam dynamics was demonstrated by Symonds and Yu (ASME J Appl Mech 1985;52:517). An analytical model has been developed to explain this phenomenon from a deterministic viewpoint. However, experimental evidence in (Int J Impact Eng 1991;11(3):341; Int J Impact Eng 1991;11(4):445) showed that the response of this deterministic system is uncertain, which is studied qualitatively in the present paper based on parametric sensitive characteristics of the deterministic system and parametric uncertainty of the studied system. FEM and Monte Carlo method are applied to study this phenomenon.     

Evaluation and verification of the virgin–recycled mixing ratio of polypropylene plastic

This study has analyzed the properties of blended polypropylene (PP) specimens and employed statistical analysis to develop a method for determining the virgin–recycled mixing ratio of a specimen. Morphological observations and analyses of thermal and mechanical properties were conducted to examine specimen properties. The results were incorporated into regression analysis to create relationship equations. The results revealed that the melt temperature ranged between 167 and 169 °C, melt index (MI) ranged between 7.59 and 18.36 g/10 min, viscosity decreased when the amount of recycled PP and the rotation speed increased, the maximum decomposition temperature decreased with an increase in recycled PP content and increased with the heating rate, activation energy (E_a) ranged between 39.91 and 12.07 kcal/mol, Young’s modulus ranged between 1121.1 and 1910.2 MPa, and impact strength ranged between 37.94and 49.41 J/m (no significant trends). Scanning electron microscopy showed unbroken fibrils distributed on the fracture surface of Specimens 1–3. Additionally, the tensile strain of these specimens was comparatively high. The fracture surfaces of the specimens showed favorable compatibility after undergoing impact tests. The results of regression analysis indicated that the mixing ratio achieved significant correlations with E_a, MI, and Young’s modulus. Thus, regression and multiple regression analysis were performed to create relationship equations.     

On the influence of preloading in the nonlinear viscoelastic–viscoplastic response of carbon–epoxy composites

On an ongoing research for the nonlinear viscoelastic response of composites and polymers, a study of the influence of preloading applied to composite laminates subjected to creep–recovery loading is performed. In cases where high stress levels are applied, this response becomes highly nonlinear and has to be taken into account when designing composite parts. A major problem encountered in the experimental investigation of the nonlinear viscoelastic behaviour is the mode of the initial applied loading and its effect in the overall viscoelastic response of the test sample. The damage that occurs due to the instantaneous application of the load leads to an additional viscoelastic/viscoplastic strain component. In order to investigate this effect as well as to compare different preloading modes, as far as viscoelastic/viscoplastic response is concerned, a test program was initiated and the experimental data were investigated in the current study. A preloading mode is applied in each specimen prior to the creep–recovery testing at different applied stress levels. Useful results concerning the effect of preloading in the time dependent response of the material are concluded. Variation of the values of viscoplastic strain in respect to the preloading mode is also of great concern.     

Stabilization of the generation spectrum of a pulsed solid-state Nd–YAG laser with a multiloop cavity

Technical Physics Letters - We propose a method of stabilizing the frequency and narrowing the generation bandwidth of a pulsed solid-state Nd–YAG laser with dynamic self-adaptive multiloop...     

The Pinski–Narin influence weight and the Ramanujacharyulu power-weakness ratio indicators revisited

Scientometrics - A graph theoretic approach from social network analysis allows size-dependent and size-independent bibliometric indicators to be identified from what is called the citation matrix....     

Modeling the response of polymer–ionic liquid electromechanical actuators

A model is derived for the electromechanical response of a porous membrane swollen with an ionic liquid and sandwiched between two nanoscale-thin electrodes under DC current. Bending of the membrane is induced by pressure in pores arising due to diffusion of ions through a network of nanochannels. Transport of ions is governed by the applied electric field and redox reactions at the surfaces of electrodes. Constitutive equations for the mechanical response of a porous medium and diffusion of ions are derived by means of the free energy imbalance inequality under an arbitrary deformation with finite strains. Under the assumption regarding small strains, but finite changes in concentrations of ions and the electrostatic potential, an explicit expression is developed for the curvature of the membrane. A steady-state solution to the Poisson–Nernst–Planck equations is obtained by means of the method of matched asymptotic expansions. Results of numerical analysis demonstrate the ability of the constitutive equations to describe observations. In particular, the model provides an explanation for bending to the anode and to the cathode and predicts qualitatively the effects of applied voltage, concentration of ionic liquid, and thickness of a membrane on its curvature.