Mechanical and Metallurgical Characterization of HSLA X70Welded Pipeline Steel Subjected to Successive Repairs

The aim of this work is to study the influence of successive weld repairs on the microstructure and the mechanical behavior of the heat-affected zone(HAZ) of an HSLA X70 steel. Detailed microstructural examination combined to grain size measurement showed that beyond the second weld repair, the microstructure of the HAZ undergoes significant change in the grain morphology and grain growth. The results of the X-ray diffraction analyzed using MAUD software indicated an increase in the crystallite size and a decrease in the dislocation density according to the number of weld repair operations. Consequently, a loss of mechanical properties, namely the yield strength and the toughness with the number of weld repairs, was recorded. Beyond the second weld repair operation, the properties of the welded joint do not fulfill the standards applied in piping industry.     

Roughness modeling in up-face milling

In this study, we aimed to optimize cutting parameters to minimize surface roughness in up-face milling. An experimental system method has been used to analyze the evolution of surface roughness in connection with cutting parameters, and to develop mathematical models for roughness and optimal cutting parameter calculation. Roughness results show that lower cutting speeds give poor surface quality. This is due to the formation of a built-up edge. On the other hand, higher cutting speeds result in more roughness due to vibrations. So, an optimal value of cutting speed must be used to minimize roughness. We found good correlation in experimental values of roughness .     

An investigation of surface roughness of burnished AISI 1042 steel

The aim of this study is to analyse the evolution of surface roughness finished by burnishing. Burnishing is done on a surface that was initially turned or turned and then ground.It has been noted that burnishing an AISI 1042 steel offers the best surface quality when using a small feed value. This finishing process improves roughness and introduces compressive residual stresses in the machined surface. So, it can replace grinding in the machining range of the piece.Also, an analytical model has been defined to determine the R_t factor in relation to the feed. Good correlations have been found between the experimental and analytical results.     

Lead removal from aqueous solutions by a Tunisian smectitic clay

The adsorption of Pb(2+) ions onto Tunisian smectite-rich clay in aqueous solution was studied in a batch system. Four samples of clay (AYD, AYDh, AYDs, AYDc) were used. The raw AYD clay was sampled in the Coniacian-Early Campanian of Jebel A?doudi in El Hamma area (South of Tunisia). AYDh and AYDs corresponds to AYD activated by 2.5 mol/l hydrochloric acid and 2.5 mol/l sulphuric acid, respectively. AYDc corresponds to AYD calcined at different temperatures (100, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 600 degrees C). The raw AYD clay was characterized by X-ray diffraction, chemical analysis, infrared spectroscopy and coupled DTA-TGA. Specific surface area of all the clay samples was determined from nitrogen adsorption isotherms. Preliminary adsorption tests showed that sulphuric acid and hydrochloric acid activation of raw AYD clay enhanced its adsorption capacity for Pb(2+) ions. However, the uptake of Pb(2+) by AYDs was very high compared to that by AYDh. This fact was attributed to the greater solubility of clay minerals in sulphuric acid compared to hydrochloric acid. Thermic activation of AYD clay reduced the Pb(2+) uptake as soon as calcination temperature reaches 200 degrees C. All these preliminary results were well correlated to the variation of the specific surface area of the clay samples. The ability of AYDs sample to remove Pb(2+) from aqueous solutions has been studied at different operating conditions: contact time, adsorbent amount, metal ion concentration and pH. Kinetic experiments showed that the sorption of lead ions on AYDs was very fast and the equilibrium was practically reached after only 20 min. The results revealed also that the adsorption of lead increases with an increase in the solution pH from 1 to 4.5 and then decreases, slightly between pH 4.5 and 6, and rapidly at pH 6.5 due to the precipitation of some Pb(2+) ions. The equilibrium data were analysed using Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacity (Q(0)) increased from 25 to 25.44 mg/g with increasing temperature from 25 to 40 degrees C. Comparative study between sulphuric acid activated clay (AYDs) and powder activated carbon (PAC) for the adsorption of lead was also conducted. The results showed that sulphuric acid activated clay is more efficient than PAC.     

Cost and time calculation in rough NC turning

The aim of this work is to present the calculation procedure for the optimum cutting conditions (cutting speed and used feed) in high speed turning through an NC rough turning cycle with complex profile. The considered optimization criteria are minimum production time and cost. A simple method for determining the variable machined length, the average workpiece diameter and the optimum number of passes is mentioned. Developed models of cutting time and cost were validated based on experimetal tests. Different models have been programmed in a Visual–Basic interface, allowing the operator to find rapidly optimum values of cutting parameters and an estimation of cutting operation cost.     

Theoretical study of hydrogen absorption and desorption in Ti1-xZrx Mn1.4 using statistical physics treatment: Microscopic investigation and thermodynamic potential interpretation

Experimental absorption and desorption isotherms of hydrogen in Ti_1-xZr_x Mn_1.4 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4) alloys at T = 293 K have been fitted using some theoretical model expressions treated by statistical physics through the grand canonical ensemble. The monolayer model with two types of sites is used to fit and interpret the experimental data. The physicochemical parameters governing the absorption-desorption processes and included into the model expressions could be numerically deduced from the relevant experimental isotherms. Six parameters of the model are fitted, namely the numbers of hydrogen atoms per site n₁ and n₂, the receptor site densities N_1m and N_2m, and the energetic parameters P₁ and P₂. The evolution of these parameters as function of composition x is plotted and explained in correlation with absorption-desorption processes. Finally, the thermo-dynamic potential functions which govern the sorption mechanisms such as internal energy E_int, free enthalpy of Gibbs G_a and entropy S_a were derived from statistical physics calculations based on the model adopted.     

Highly selective colorimetric detection and preconcentration of Bi(III) ions by dithizone complexes anchored onto mesoporous TiO2

We successfully developed a single-step detection and removal unit for Bi(III) ions based on dithizone (DZ) anchored on mesoporous TiO₂ with rapid colorometric response and high selectivity for the first time. [(DZ)₃-Bi] complex is easily separated and collected by mesoporous TiO₂ as adsorbent and preconcentrator without any color change of the produced complex onto the surface of mesoporous TiO₂ (TiO₂-[(DZ)₃-Bi]) at different Bi(III) concentrations. This is because highly potent mesoporous TiO₂ architecture provides proficient channeling or movement of Bi(III) ions for efficient binding of metal ion, and the simultaneous excellent adsorbing nature of mesoporous TiO₂ provides an extra plane for the removal of metal ions.     

Effect of thermal ratcheting on the mechanical properties of Teflon and fiber based gasket materials

This paper discusses the effect of thermal ratcheting on the material properties of expand polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), virgin polytetrafluoroethylene (vPTFE), and compressed nonasbestos fiber (CNA) gasket materials. Comparison between the creep strain at constant temperature and when subjected to thermal ratcheting show a 7.7 and 28% increase in the creep strain of ePTFE and vPTFE, respectively. In addition, thermal ratcheting produces a substantial reduction of creep modulus of these materials. The CNA material does not exhibit significant change in creep strain or in creep modulus with thermal ratcheting. However, all three gasket materials show a momentous raise in the creep strain when the material temperature is reduced. On declining the gasket temperature from 212 to 100 °F at the end of 20th thermal cycle, the materials—ePTFE, vPTFE, and CNA exhibit 27, 48, and 15% increase in creep strain value, respectively. The percentage of thickness reduction raises with the increase of cyclic temperature and with increase of creep pre-exposure time, except for CNA where only a small variation is observed. The coefficient of thermal expansion of both PTFE materials shows a significant change due to cyclic temperature and initial creep exposure. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47265.     

Temporal Causal Abduction

The paper is devoted to presentation of the idea of Temporal Causal Networks (TCN). Temporal Causal Networks constitute a tool for representing and dealing with causal dependencies propagation over time. A temporal causal network is a causal network incorporating explicit representation of time during which its symptoms/nodes are valid, not valid, or unknown. The atemporal causal structure is basically an AND/OR/NOT causal graph, i.e. a causal graph incorporating basic logical connectives for the representation of different types of causal dependencies. The presented approach uses a specific time constraints propagation algorithm to determine possible system behavior in time. The main application includes simulation, monitoring and elements of diagnostic reasoning for dynamic systems with explicit time representation.