A comprehensive review on theoretical framework‐based electric vehicle consumer adoption research

Green vehicles, such as electric vehicles (EVs), are getting noteworthy popularity among consumers worldwide. The purpose of this paper is to establish EVs as a feasible long‐term solution for the future of technology in the vehicle industry, which can decrease the current dependency on fossil fuels and also decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As a part of long‐term benefits, the adoption of EVs gives environmentally friendly innovation to society. Despite positive environmental implications, the total number of EVs in usage is still inadequate. One of the major causes of this insubstantial adoption of EVs is largely dependent on the perceptions of consumers regarding EVs. However, this particular research study offers an inclusive outline on the existing hurdles for consumer adoption of EVs as well as a framework of the theoretical standpoints that were developed for the adoption behaviour, in addition to considering consumer intentions in the direction of EVs. In this particular study, the researcher found that the literature regarding EV adoption tried to address only the diffusion method of EVs. Whereas this study highlights consumer innovations, which provides a wide insight on consumer emotions to overlook the major aspect in consumer EVs' adoption research. The theme of this particular literature can be implemented in order to better understand the consumers' emotions and behaviour towards the adoption of EVs. The scholars further stated that there is a possible cause for more recent developments within the technological adoption part that can assist to be a standard for upcoming developments. For the last few years, knowledge regarding the problems surrounding the adoption and diffusion of EVs has gained less attention. This study expands this line of research by focusing on making a chance for developing the theoretical frameworks in terms of adding emotions in a psychological perspective where consumer behaviour and ethics are considered. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

工艺参数设置和厚度对电子束熔融加工Ti-6Al-4V合金微观结构的影响

研究了试件尺寸和工艺参数(电子束强度,扫描速度,焦点偏移量和扫描长度)对电子束熔融(EBM)加工Ti-6Al-4V合金微观结构的影响。结果表明,可以观察到EBM加工的Ti-6Al-4V合金的微观结构由原始β相的柱状晶粒组成。在柱状晶粒内部观察到典型的(α+β)结构,即魏氏体α片和在细小的α晶粒的界面上形成的杆状β相。还发现沿原始β柱状晶粒的晶界形成的α层晶界。随着试件厚度、电子束能量密度和扫描长度的增加,先前的β柱状晶粒的直径增大,并且生长的方向与加工方向一致。同时,柱状晶粒直径随着试件高度的增加而减小。随着试件厚度和电子束能量密度的增加,α片会变得更粗大。     

Combined continuum damage‐embedded discontinuity model for explicit dynamic fracture analyses of quasi‐brittle materials

In this paper, a novel constitutive model combining continuum damage with embedded discontinuity is developed for explicit dynamic analyses of quasi‐brittle failure phenomena. The model is capable of describing the rate‐dependent behavior in dynamics and the three phases in failure of quasi‐brittle materials. The first phase is always linear elastic, followed by the second phase corresponding to fracture‐process zone creation, represented with rate‐dependent continuum damage with isotropic hardening formulated by utilizing consistency approach. The third and final phase, involving nonlinear softening, is formulated by using an embedded displacement discontinuity model with constant displacement jumps both in normal and tangential directions. The proposed model is capable of describing the rate‐dependent ductile to brittle transition typical of cohesive materials (e.g., rocks and ice). The model is implemented in the finite element setting by using the CST elements. The displacement jump vector is solved for implicitly at the local (finite element) level along with a viscoplastic return mapping algorithm, whereas the global equations of motion are solved with explicit time‐stepping scheme. The model performance is illustrated by several numerical simulations, including both material point and structural tests. The final validation example concerns the dynamic Brazilian disc test on rock material under plane stress assumption. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Natural Palm Olein Polyol as a Replacement for Polyether Polyols in Viscoelastic Polyurethane Foam

The impact of replacing three polyether polyols with different levels of a single palm olein‐based natural oil polyol (NOP) was systematically correlated with the changes in foaming reactivity, cell structure, physico‐mechanical properties, and morphology of viscoelastic (VE) foams. The data show that replacing the polyether polyols with the NOP slightly increased the rate of the foaming reactivity. Increasing the NOP content resulted in increased cell size and cells remained fully open. Increased NOP content contributed to higher load bearing properties of VE foam, which can be attributed to higher functionality of NOP compared to polyether polyols. Addition of the NOP slightly increased the resilience of the foams, however, the hysteresis which is the measure of energy absorption remained mostly unaffected. Age properties, characterized by dry and humid compression sets, were mostly unaffected by the replacement of the polyether polyol with the NOP. The addition of NOP did not impact the morphology of the VE foam polymer matrix, which appears to retain a low degree of hard and soft segment domain separation. Overall, the results demonstrate a feasibility that the NOP can be used to partially replace the polyether polyols in VE polyurethane foams without significant impact on the functional performance.     

Silicon Seed Priming Combined with Foliar Spray of Sulfur Regulates Photosynthetic and Antioxidant Systems to Confer Drought Tolerance in Maize (Zea mays L.)

Silicon - The present study evaluated the effect of silicon (Si) seed priming and sulfur (S) foliar spray on drought tolerance of two contrasting maize hybrids viz. drought tolerant Hi-Corn 11 and...     

Rational design on photoelectrodes and devices to boost photoelectrochemical performance of solar-driven water splitting: a mini review

As an eco-friendly, efficient, and low-cost technique, photoelectrochemical water splitting has attracted growing interest in the production of clean and sustainable hydrogen by the conversion of abundant solar energy. In the photoelectrochemical system, the photoelectrode plays a vital role in absorbing the energy of sunlight to trigger the water splitting process and the overall efficiency depends largely on the integration and design of photoelectrochemical devices. In recent years, the optimization of photoelectrodes and photoelectrochemical devices to achieve highly efficient hydrogen production has been extensively investigated. In this paper, a concise review of recent advances in the modification of nanostructured photoelectrodes and the design of photoelectrochemical devices is presented. Meanwhile, the general principles of structural and morphological factors in altering the photoelectrochemical performance of photoelectrodes are discussed. Furthermore, the performance indicators and first principles to describe the behaviors of charge carriers are analyzed, which will be of profound guiding significance to increasing the overall efficiency of the photoelectrochemical water splitting system. Finally, current challenges and prospects for an in-depth understanding of reaction mechanisms using advanced characterization technologies and potential strategies for developing novel photoelectrodes and advanced photoelectrochemical water splitting devices are demonstrated.     

Vapor-liquid equilibrium of ethanol/ethyl acetate mixture in ultrasonic intensified environment

A vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) study was conducted on ethanol/ethylacetate mixture as a preliminary step towards developing an ultrasonic-assisted distillation process for separating azeotropic mixtures. The influence of ultrasonic intensity and frequency on the vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) of the mixture was examined using a combination of four ultrasonic intensities in range of 100–400W/cm² and three frequencies ranging from 25–68 kHz. The sonication was found to have significant impacts on the VLE of the system as it alters both the relative volatility and azeotrope point, with preference to lower frequency operation. A maximum relative volatility of 2.32 was obtained at an intensity of 300 W/cm2 and a frequency of 25 kHz coupled with complete elimination of ethanol-ethyl acetate azeotrope. Results from this work were also congruent with some experimental and theoretical works presented in the literature. These findings set a good beginning towards the development of an ultrasonic assisted distillation that is currently in progress.     

Conversion of waste polystyrene through catalytic degradation into valuable products

Waste expanded polystyrene (EPS) represents a source of valuable chemical products like styrene and other aromatics. The catalytic degradation was carried out in a batch reactor with a mixture of polystyrene (PS) and catalyst at 450 °C for 30 min in case of Mg and at 400 °C for 2 h both for MgO and MgCO₃ catalysts. At optimum degradation conditions, EPS was degraded into 82.20±3.80 wt%, 91.60±0.20 wt% and 81.80±0.53 wt% liquid with Mg, MgO and MgCO₃ catalysts, respectively. The liquid products obtained were separated into different fractions by fractional distillation. The liquid fractions obtained with three catalysts were compared, and characterized using GC-MS. Maximum conversion of EPS into styrene monomer (66.6 wt%) was achieved with Mg catalyst, and an increase in selectivity of compounds was also observed. The major fraction at 145 °C showed the properties of styrene monomer. The results showed that among the catalysts used, Mg was found to be the most effective catalyst for selective conversion into styrene monomer as value added product.     

Numerical investigation for the suitable choice of bubble diameter correlation for EMMS/bubbling drag model

Mesoscale bubbles exist inherently in bubbling fluidized beds and hence should be considered in the constitutive modeling of the drag force. The energy minimization multiscale bubbling(EMMS/bubbling) drag model takes the effects of mesoscale structures(i.e., bubbles) into the modeling of drag coefficient and thus improves the coarse-grid simulation of bubbling and turbulent fluidized beds. However, its dependence on the bubble diameter correlation has not been thoroughly investigated. The hydrod...