Encapsulation of organomodified montmorillonite with PMMA via in situ SR&;NI ATRP in miniemulsion

Encapsulation of organomodified montmorillonite within poly (methyl methacrylate) via in situ atom transfer radical polymerization with simultaneous reverse and normal initiation system (SR&NI ATRP) was successfully performed. Miniemulsion polymerization technique has been employed for its abundant advantages to encapsulate inorganic materials. Successful SR&NI ATRP was carried out using 4,4′-dinonyl-2,2′-bipyridine (dNbPy) as a hydrophobic ligand and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as an effective cationic surfactant at high temperatures. Homogeneous distribution of droplets and particles with sizes in the range of around 170 nm was evaluated by dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis. Final monomer conversion and molecular weight were determined by gravimetry and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) respectively. By increasing nanoclay content, conversion and molecular weight of nanocomposites decreased. Meanwhile, an increase in PDI values was also observed. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis results display organoclay layers disordered and delaminated in the polymer matrix. Thermal stability improvement of all the nanocomposites in comparison with the neat polymer was revealed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Homogeneous distribution of spherical particles with sizes in the range of 170 nm was demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. These results are complied with the DLS results. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image display a dispersion of partially exfoliated clay stacks in the matrix of PMNM 2.     

Properties of PMMA/Carbon nanotubes nanocomposites prepared by “grafting through” method

A number of batch polymerizations were performed to study the effect of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the properties of PMMA/MWCNTs nanocomposites. To improve the dispersion of nanotubes in PMMA matrix, MWCNTs were functionalized with methacrylate groups via a four‐step modification process and the modified nanoparticles were used to synthesize the nanocomposites. The prepared samples were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, gel permeation chromatography, UV–visible, and TEM techniques. According to the results, modified nanotubes improved thermal and mechanical properties better than the pristine MWCNTs. The main improvement in the mechanical and thermophysical properties was achieved for the nanocomposite containing 0.5 wt% of MWCNTs. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Fault‐driven stress testing of distributed real‐time software based on UML models

In a previous article, a stress testing methodology was reported to detect network traffic‐related Real‐Time (RT) faults in distributed RT systems based on the design UML model of a System Under Test (SUT). The stress methodology, referred to as Test LOcation‐driven Stress Testing (TLOST), aimed at increasing the chances of RT failures (violations in RT constraints) associated with a given stress test location (an network or a node under test). As demonstrated and experimented in this article, although TLOST is useful in stress testing different test locations (nodes and network, it does not guarantee to target (test) all RT constraints in an SUT. This is because the durations of message sequences bounded by some RT constraints might never be exercised (covered) by TLOST. A complementary stress test methodology is proposed in this article, which guarantees to target (cover) all RT constraints in an SUT and detect their potential RT faults (if any). Using a case study, this article shows that the new complementary methodology is capable of targeting the RT faults not detected by the previous test methodology. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A uniform approach for access control and business models with explicit rule realization

Access control is an important part of security in software, such as business applications, since it determines the access of users to objects and operations and the constraints of this access. Business and access control models are expressed using different representations. In addition, access control rules are not generally defined explicitly from access control models. Even though the business model and access control model are two separate modeling abstractions, they are inter-connected as access control is part of any business model. Therefore, the first goal is to add access control models to business models using the same fundamental building blocks. The second goal is to use these models and define general access control rules explicitly from these models so that the connection between models and their realizations are also present. This paper describes a new common representation for business models and classes of access control models based on the Resource–Event–Agent (REA) modeling approach to business models. In addition, the connection between models and their represented rules is clearly defined. We present a uniform approach to business and access control models. First, access control primitives are mapped onto REA-based access control patterns. Then, REA-based access control patterns are combined to define access control models. Based on these models, general access control rules are expressed in Extended Backus–Naur Form.     

Microstructure of cement paste subject to early carbonation curing

Microstructure of Ordinary Portland Cement paste subjected to early age carbonation curing was studied to examine the effect of early carbonation on performance of paste at different ages. The study was intended to understand the mechanism of concrete carbonation at early age through the microstructure development of its cement paste. Early carbonation was carried out after 18-hour initial controlled air curing. The microstructure characterized by XRD, TGA, ²⁹Si NMR and SEM was correlated to strength gain, CO₂ uptake and pH change. It was found that early carbonation could accelerate early strength while allowing subsequent hydration. The short term carbonation created a microstructure with more strength-contributing solids than conventional hydration. Calcium hydroxide was converted to calcium carbonates, and calcium–silicate–hydrate became intermingled with carbonates, generating an amorphous calcium–silicate–hydrocarbonate binding phase. Carbonation modified C–S–H retained its original gel structure. The re-hydration procedure applied after carbonation was essential in increasing late strength and durability.     

用于HRR雷达在非高斯杂波中进行起伏目标检测的基于Hough变换的两种算法之比较

在HRR雷达中,当目标尺寸大于雷达波长和雷达距离分辨单元时,在连续扫描过程中从目标不同散射中心返回的目标回波会产生不同的方向图,使传统杂波抑制方法无效。提出采用Hough变换来解决这个问题。Hough变换是一种在图像中识别曲线的著名变换。比较了两种基于Hough变换的雷达检测算法,一是将数据空间中的点映射到ρ-θ空间中的曲线的传统模式,另一种模式采用斜率-截距参数空间Hough变换。斜率-截距模式的效率通过仿真进行验证。与传统模式相比,Hough变换的斜率-截距模式的性能更好。针对非起伏目标及四种Swerling类目标,研究了在瑞利分布、Weibull分布、对数正态分布和K分布杂波下,Hough变换检测器的斜率-截距模式对HRR雷达信号的检测性能。还研究了目标速度和脉冲数的影响。通过Monte-Carlo仿真对Hough变换检测器的目标检测性能进行了分析。     

Application of the Monte Carlo simulation method to the investigation of peculiar free‐radical copolymerization reactions: Systems with both reactivity ratios greater than unity (rA > 1 and rB > 1)

With a Monte Carlo simulationmethod, copolymer properties have been thoroughly studied, and the influence of the reactivity ratios and feed composition has been taken into consideration. Instantaneous alterations of the copolymer composition and copolymer heterogeneity, which is also called a randomness parameter, have been examined with data obtained from the simulation at each stage of the copolymerization reaction. The results prove the azeotropic behavior of copolymerization reactions in which both reactivity ratios are greater than unity, although some special reactivity ratio combinations ignore the azeotropic behavior. The copolymer composition reaches an azeotrope point at the end of the copolymerization reaction when the copolymerization is an azeotropic reaction. In addition, the randomness parameter takes its maximum value at the azeotrope point when reactivity ratio r_A is equal to reactivity ratio r_B. Finally, increasing the reactivity ratios causes no change in the trend of copolymer composition/feed composition curves when r_A is equal to r_B. However, the curves produced with larger r_A and r_B values show more fluctuations. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007     

Experimental study on instability of bases on natural and lime/cement-stabilized clayey soils

In many sub-tropical and tropical arid regions of the world, marly soils (marls) and lime or cement stabilization of marl soils are used as a convenient and expedient means of developing foundation base courses and inexpensive wearing courses for transport purposes. The failure of many of these natural and stabilized marls to perform their function has been reported. Mechanical factors, commonly used to explain the causes of the foundation failures, are unsatisfactory and have not been accepted. This study uses physicochemical (reaction) factors to explain the general basic causes of the deterioration of support capability for these types of soils. The presence of palygorskite and sepiolite in marl soil provides it with some very unique features in its natural state, particularly when it is stabilized with lime or cement. The formation of an expansive mineral, ettringite, as a transformation product of palygorskite increases the swelling potential of the stabilized soil. A set of physico-chemical and mechanical experiments, which include slake durability, specific surface area measurement (SSA), California bearing ratio (CBR), atterberg limits testing, and X-ray diffraction (XRD), were performed. In addition, the impact of curing on the stabilized soil behaviour was investigated. The results show that the immersion of the natural marl reduces the dry CBR value to at least one-fourth the dry value. Furthermore, the XRD results indicate that with increasing time and availability of dissolved aluminum and sulfate, ettringite forms in stabilized soil and then the rate of ettringite growth increases. Based on the findings of these experiments, the various interactions, reactions and factors contributing to the stability and instability of marl soils, and lime/cement stabilized marls are discussed. It is concluded that the general traditional soil stabilization evaluation methods are not capable of accounting for the failures that occur in stabilized marl. It is shown that soil mineralogy and pore fluid analysis, in conjunction with X-ray diffraction testing, can be combined to provide a set of practical ways to monitor the possibilities of these failures.     

On braced trapezoidal corrugated steel shear panels: An experimental and numerical study

In this study, a new system consisting of a combination of braces and steel infill panels called the braced corrugated steel shear panel (BCSSP) is presented. To obtain the hysteretic behavior of the proposed system, the quasi-static cyclic performances of two experimental specimens were first evaluated. The finite element modeling method was then verified based on the obtained experimental results. Additional numerical evaluations were carried out to investigate the effects of different parameters on the system. Subsequently, a relationship was established to estimate the buckling shear strength of the system without considering residual stresses. The results obtained from the parametric study indicate that the corrugated steel shear panel (CSSP) with the specifications of a = 30 mm, t = 2 mm, and θ = 90° had the highest energy dissipation capacity and ultimate strength while the CSSP with the specifications of a = 30 mm, t = 2 mm, and θ = 30° had the highest initial stiffness. It can thus be concluded that the latter CSSP has the best structural performance and that increasing the number of corrugations, corrugation angle, and plate thickness and decreasing the sub-panel width generally enhance the performance of CSSPs in terms of the stability of their hysteretic behaviors.