Maximum nanotube volume fraction and its effect on overall elastic properties of nanotube-reinforced composites

The potential capability of improving overall elastic modulus of nanotube-reinforced composites is a fundamental concern in nanotechnology applications. Based on geometric analysis and micromechanics estimation, this study reports that the ratio of surface-to-surface distance of adjacent carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to the CNT diameter plays a key role in improving the overall elastic modulus of the CNT-reinforced composites when the tubes are perfectly aligned, completely separated from other tubes, and ideally bonded with the composite matrix. With the decrease of this ratio, that is, decrease of the surface-to-surface distance of adjacent CNTs and/or increase CNT diameter, the improvement capability increases. However, theoretical and experimental results show that an increase of the CNT diameters degrades the elastic moduli of CNTs. This paper discusses the criterion of choosing CNTs with larger diameter and addresses the factors influencing the surface-to-surface distance of adjacent CNTs.     

Practical Considerations of Dissolved Oxygen Levels for Platelet Function under Hypoxia

Investigating human platelet function in low-oxygen environments is important in multiple settings, including hypobaric hypoxia (e.g., high altitude), sea level hypoxia-related disease, and thrombus stability. These studies often involve drawing blood from which platelets are isolated and analysed at atmospheric conditions or re-exposed to low oxygen levels in hypoxia chambers before testing. However, it remains unknown how the in vitro handling of the samples itself changes their dissolved oxygen concentration, which might affect platelet function and experimental results. Here, we prepared healthy donor platelet-rich plasma and washed platelet (WP) suspensions and exposed them to 2% oxygen. We found that the use of hypoxia pre-equilibrated tubes, higher platelet concentrations (>2 × 10⁸/mL versus 2 × 10⁷/mL), smaller volumes (600 µL versus 3 mL), and presence of plasma reduced the time for samples to reach 2% oxygen. Notably, oxygen levels decreased below 2% in most suspensions, but also in WP maintained at atmospheric 21% oxygen. Additionally, platelet spreading on fibrinogen was decreased when using hypoxic fibrinogen-coated culture plates regardless of the oxygen percentage (2% or 21%) in which platelet incubation took place. Thus, sample handling and experimental conditions should be carefully monitored in platelet-hypoxia studies as they might compromise results interpretation and comparison across studies.     

Feature based 3D garment design through 2D sketches

This paper presents a new approach for intuitively modeling a three-dimensional (3D) garment around a 3D human model by two-dimensional (2D) sketches input. Our approach is feature based—every human model has pre-defined features, and the constructed garments are related to the features on human models. Firstly, a feature template for creating a customized 3D garment is defined according to the features on a human model; secondly, the profiles of the 3D garment are specified through 2D sketches; finally, a smooth mesh surface interpolating the specified profiles is constructed by a modified variational subdivision scheme. The resulting mesh surface can be cut and flattened into 2D patterns to be manufactured. Our approach provides a 3D design tool to create garment patterns directly in the 3D space through 2D strokes, which is a characteristic not available in other computer aided garment design systems. The constructed garment patterns are related to the features on a human model, so the patterns can be regenerated automatically when creating the same style of garment for other human models. Our technique can greatly improve the efficiency and the quality of pattern making in the garment industry.     

Parameterization and parametric design of mannequins

This paper presents a novel feature based parameterization approach of human bodies from the unorganized cloud points and the parametric design method for generating new models based on the parameterization. The parameterization consists of two phases. First, the semantic feature extraction technique is applied to construct the feature wireframe of a human body from laser scanned 3D unorganized points. Secondly, the symmetric detail mesh surface of the human body is modeled. Gregory patches are utilized to generate G¹ continuous mesh surface interpolating the curves on feature wireframe. After that, a voxel-based algorithm adds details on the smooth G¹ continuous surface by the cloud points. Finally, the mesh surface is adjusted to become symmetric. Compared to other template fitting based approaches, the parameterization approach introduced in this paper is more efficient. The parametric design approach synthesizes parameterized sample models to a new human body according to user input sizing dimensions. It is based on a numerical optimization process. The strategy of choosing samples for synthesis is also introduced. Human bodies according to a wide range of dimensions can be generated by our approach. Different from the mathematical interpolation function based human body synthesis methods, the models generated in our method have the approximation errors minimized. All mannequins constructed by our approach have consistent feature patches, which benefits the design automation of customized clothes around human bodies a lot.     

单轴压缩下含预制孔洞板状花岗岩试样力学响应的试验和数值研究

 利用挪威Iddefjord花岗岩试样加工制备含双侧预制方形孔洞的板状试样,并在Instron液压伺服控制试验机上开展单轴压缩试验,监测试样的应力、应变、声发射信号特征及试样破坏过程。研究发现,随着轴向应力的增大,试样在平行于孔洞竖直方向的位置相继出现劈裂裂纹并逐渐贯通,孔洞周边岩体出现块体弹射、片帮等应变型岩爆特征。试验研究表明,含孔洞花岗岩试样在单轴压缩下总是从孔洞周边的劈裂破坏开始,试样的声发射曲线比完整岩样存在更多的跳跃突变点。在此基础上,利用FLAC3D对室内试验进行数值模拟,通过线弹性模型分析含孔洞岩石材料的应力分布特性,通过应变软化莫尔–库仑准则模拟岩样的破坏过程,监测各计算时步下单元拉伸和剪切破坏特性;发现单轴压缩下含孔洞岩样的塑形破坏单元以拉伸破坏为主,拉伸破坏单元沿孔洞竖向边界贯通形成劈裂破坏面,这和室内试验观测结果是一致的。研究结果在一定程度上揭示了深部硬岩洞室开挖后,在高地应力作用下总是产生平行于洞室开挖边界面的板裂、片帮破坏现象。     

Optimal fitting of strain-controlled flattenable mesh surfaces

In this paper, an eye-in-hand vision-based robotic bin-picking system is proposed. The system can identify the pose of a plumbing part from a pile and grip it correctly. A monocular eye-in-hand camera and a laser projector are employed to reconstruct the 3-D point cloud of plumbing parts stacked together. The projection direction of the laser line projector is controlled to change in order to scan the pile of objects while the camera is observing. 3-D points can then be determined by the a priori known geometry between the camera and the laser line projector. To estimate the pose of an object, the iterative closest point (ICP) is employed to match the point clouds of the object and the model. The transformation between the object and the model can thus be determined. A computed closer point (CCP) approach is proposed to estimate the pose of an object since the deviation from the object to the model is initially large in nature. The proposed CCP approach combining with the ICP algorithm can improve the success rate and accuracy of point cloud matching. The proposed system has been validated by experiments with potential applications in production lines.     

High Strength and Thermal Stability of Multilayered Cu/Al Composites Fabricated Through Accumulative Roll Bonding and Cryorolling

Multilayered Cu/Al composites with high strength and thermal stability were successfully fabricated by combining accumulative roll bonding (ARB) and cryorolling. The microstructure, tensile properties, and thermal stability of the multilayered Cu/Al composites subjected to cold rolling and cryorolling were analysed. Subsequent cryorolling can be used to modify interfacial flatness and local necking, induce the formation of high-density stacking faults in the Cu matrix, and enhance interfacial bonding strength, which improves the mechanical properties of ARB composites. The initial lamellar structure is gradually transformed into serious mixing with an increase in annealing temperature, accompanied by the formation of excessive Cu–Al intermetallic compounds (IMCs). Cryorolled samples exhibited higher thermal stability than cold-rolled samples. At low annealing temperature, high-density stacking faults induced by cryorolling facilitated the transition from low-angle grain boundaries to high-angle grain boundaries, which led to the formation of ultra-fine grains. For the samples annealed at high temperatures, cryorolling led to the effective inhibition of Cu–Al IMC formation and growth due to the genetic effect of less heat input.

Graphical Abstract

     

IFC implementation in lifecycle costing

Life Cycle Costing (LCC) is always a major concern in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. This paper presents the implementation of Building Information Modeling (BIM) technotogy in the development of a lifecycle cost-estimating tool. The IFC ( Industry Foundation Classes) model as an interoperable building information model has been adopted as the central data repository to deliver the integrated information of building designs from CAD design systems into the lifecycle-costing database. In this paper, the conceptions and relevant factors, which could affect the LCC estimation, bare been introdueed. The problems of current LCC applications have been identified as the lack of LCC data and the complexity of LCC exercises. The software application of IFC models and relevant auxiliary are depicted as a solution of the problem identified. The lifecycle eosting tool is a part of the nD Modeling tool and as such is based on its integrated interface prototype toolkit and is able to holisticallv present an IFC model into a 3D virtual reality view, a tree-view and a list of element properties. The functions and some technical points are also detailed in the paper. Through the research, it demonstrates the potential and possibility of implementing BIM methods and techniques, particularly IFCs to enhance the computer applications in the processes of building eonstruction and facility management.