Modeling of hot isostatic pressing of metal powder with temperature–dependent cap plasticity model

In this paper, the coupled thermo–mechanical simulation of hot isostatic pressing (HIPing) is presented for metal powders during densification process. The densification of powder is assumed to occur due to plastic hardening of metal particles. The constitutive model developed is used to describe the nonlinear behavior of metal powder. The numerical modeling of hot powder compaction simulation is performed based on the large deformation formulation, powder plasticity behavior, and frictional contact algorithm. A Lagrangian finite element formulation is employed for the large powder deformations. A modified cap plasticity model considering temperature effects is used in numerical simulation of nonlinear powder behavior. The influence of powder-tool friction is simulated by the use of penalty approach in which a plasticity theory of friction is incorporated to model sliding resistance at the powder-tool interface. Finally, numerical examples are analyzed to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed thermo–mechanical simulation using the modified cap plasticity model in the hot isostatic forming process of powder compaction.     

RF beamforming for MIMO cognitive user

Using Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) architecture in cognitive radio (CR) secondary users improves the system performance in terms of interference cancellation and data rate enhancement but at the expense of adding complexity and cost. A solution to reduce this complexity is employing radio frequency (RF) beamforming networks at the transmitter/receiver front-ends. In this paper, we consider a MIMO secondary user equipped with such RF beamforming network. Moreover, we find the transmit/receive optimum RF beamforming network for a MIMO spatial multiplexing system. We evaluate the performance of the optimally designed RF beamforming technique over a Rician channel via computer simulations. The simulation results are assessed for different RF beamforming structures and the number of primary transmitters which cause interference on the secondary receiver.     

Effects of Different Boron Compounds on the Corrosion Resistance of Andalusite-Based Low-Cement Castables in Contact with Molten Al Alloy

Interfacial reactions between Al alloy and andalusite low-cement castables (LCCs) containing 5 wt pct B₂O₃, B₄C, and BN were analyzed at 1123 K and 1433 K (850 °C and 1160 °C) using the Alcoa cup test. The results showed that the addition of boron-containing materials led to the formation of aluminoborate (9Al₂O₃.2B₂O₃) and glassy phase containing boron in the prefiring temperature (1373 K [1100 °C]), which consequently improved the corrosion resistance of the refractories. The high heat of formation of the aluminoborate phase (which increased its stability to reactions with molten Al alloy) and the low solubility of boron in molten Al were the major factors that contributed to the improvement in the corrosion resistance of B-doped samples.     

Investigation of bubble diameter and flow regime between water and dilute aqueous ethanol solutions in an airlift reactor

In this study, the effect of ethanol addition into pure water and its concentration on bubble diameter, gas hold-up and flow regimes were investigated in an airlift reactor. Air and water with ethanol (concentration ranging from 0%–1%, v/v) were as dispersed and continuous phases, respectively. Superficial gas velocity was considered as an effective parameter. Bubble size distribution was measured by photography and picture analysis at various concentrations of ethanol and various velocities of gas. Alcohol concentration enhancement caused bubble diameter to decrease. Furthermore, the bubbles diameter in pure water was nearly 4 times higher than that of ethanol with concentration of 1% (v/v) and also was 3.4 times higher than that of ethanol with concentration of 0.25% (v/v) at the highest aeration gas velocity inlet. For ethanol solutions in lower superficial gas velocity, a homogenous flow regime was observed. This trend continued to inlet gas velocity of about 0.4 cm/s. The transition flow regime occurred after this datum although in pure water, a homogenous flow regime was observed up to a superficial gas velocity of 0.7 cm/s. The gas hold-up in dilute ethanol solutions were more than (around 2 times) that of pure water and increased with increasing concentration of ethanol in those solutions.     

Bulk Single Crystal‐Like Structural and Magnetic Characteristics of Epitaxial Spinel Ferrite Thin Films with Elimination of Antiphase Boundaries

Spinel ferrite NiFe₂O₄ thin films have been grown on three isostructural substrates, MgAl₂O₄, MgGa₂O₄, and CoGa₂O₄ using pulsed laser deposition. These substrates have lattice mismatches of 3.1%, 0.8%, and 0.2%, respectively, with NiFe₂O₄. As expected, the films grown on MgAl₂O₄ substrate show the presence of the antiphase boundary defects. However, no antiphase boundaries (APBs) are observed for films grown on near‐lattice‐matched substrates MgGa₂O₄ and CoGa₂O₄. This demonstrates that by using isostructural and lattice‐matched substrates, the formation of APBs can be avoided in NiFe₂O₄ thin films. Consequently, static and dynamic magnetic properties comparable with the bulk can be realized. Initial results indicate similar improvements in film quality and magnetic properties due to the elimination of APBs in other members of the spinel ferrite family, such as Fe₃O₄ and CoFe₂O₄, which have similar crystallographic structure and lattice constants as NiFe₂O₄.     

Dry reforming of methane over nano-Mo2C/Al2O3 catalyst: Effect of carburization conditions on excess carbon deposition

In this study, temperature-programmed carburization (TPC) has been used to prepare Mo₂C/Al₂O₃ catalyst for carbon dioxide reforming of methane. Also, the effect of carburization conditions has been examined on excess carbon formation over the prepared catalysts. Minimum excess carbon of 0.51 wt% was obtained in a flow of 12.5 vol% CH₄/H₂ gas mixture, final carburization temperature of 750°C, and Mo loading of 12.5 wt%. This catalyst exhibited better initial activity due to lower excess carbon and higher carbide dispersion compared with other examined catalysts. However, the results of time on stream performance in the dry reforming of methane (DRM) revealed an increase in durability with an increase in Mo loading.     

Pleasant music as a countermeasure against visually induced motion sickness

Visually induced motion sickness (VIMS) is a well-known side-effect in virtual environments or simulators. However, effective behavioral countermeasures against VIMS are still sparse. In this study, we tested whether music can reduce the severity of VIMS. Ninety-three volunteers were immersed in an approximately 14-minute-long video taken during a bicycle ride. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four experimental groups, either including relaxing music, neutral music, stressful music, or no music. Sickness scores were collected using the Fast Motion Sickness Scale and the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire. Results showed an overall trend for relaxing music to reduce the severity of VIMS. When factoring in the subjective pleasantness of the music, a significant reduction of VIMS occurred only when the presented music was perceived as pleasant, regardless of the music type. In addition, we found a gender effect with women reporting more sickness than men. We assume that the presentation of pleasant music can be an effective, low-cost, and easy-to-administer method to reduce VIMS.     

The effect of light regimen, floor space, and energy and protein levels during the growing period on body weight and early egg size

Experiments were conducted to determine the possibility of reducing the daily requirement of laying hens for Ca, available P (AP), and protein by providing the hens with adequate levels of these nutrients only during those hours of the day that the physiological need for these nutrients for formation of various components of the eggs are increasing. The results of the Ca experiment indicated that the daily Ca requirement cannot be reduced by providing the hens with adequate levels of Ca during the afternoon (1500 to 2100 h) and inadequate Ca level during the morning (0500 to 1500 h). Providing the hens with most of the daily Ca need during the afternoon did not have a beneficial effect on shell quality as compared to the control group that received a diet with 3.5% Ca during the morning and the afternoon. On the other hand, inadequate Ca intake during the afternoon adversely affected shell quality as compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The AP experiment indicated that egg production performance and shell quality can be maintained satisfactorily as long as the daily intake of AP is adequate, regardless of whether most of the AP is consumed during the morning or the afternoon. Egg production and shell quality of hens fed a diet with 0.4% AP during the morning and 0.1% AP during the afternoon or 0.1% AP during the morning and 0.4% AP during the afternoon were not different than the control group that received a diet with 0.25% AP during the morning and the afternoon. The results of two protein experiments failed to indicate that egg production performance of laying hens can be maintained satisfactorily by providing them with an adequate level of protein (16%) only during the morning and inadequate level of protein (10%) during the afternoon or, conversely, compared to the control group that received a diet with 16% protein both during the morning and afternoon (P < 0.05). The supply of adequate protein with sufficient amino acids, during the morning and the afternoon, was required for satisfactory maintaining egg production performance. Under the conditions selected for the conduct of this study, the results of the current experiments, combined with those of a previous report, failed to support the hypothesis that satisfactory performance may be maintained by providing the hens with adequate levels of protein, AP, and Ca only during those hours of the day when the physiological need for these nutrients for formation of various components of the egg are increasing.     

Tuning the Structural and Optoelectronic Properties of Cs2AgBiBr6 Double-Perovskite Single Crystals through Alkali-Metal Substitution

Lead-free double perovskites have great potential as stable and nontoxic optoelectronic materials. Recently, Cs₂AgBiBr₆ has emerged as a promising material, with suboptimal photon-to-charge carrier conversion efficiency, yet well suited for high-energy photon-detection applications. Here, the optoelectronic and structural properties of pure Cs₂AgBiBr₆ and alkali-metal-substituted (Cs_1−xY_x)₂AgBiBr₆ (Y: Rb⁺, K⁺, Na⁺; x = 0.02) single crystals are investigated. Strikingly, alkali-substitution entails a tunability to the material system in its response to X-rays and structural properties that is most strongly revealed in Rb-substituted compounds whose X-ray sensitivity outperforms other double-perovskite-based devices reported. While the fundamental nature and magnitude of the bandgap remains unchanged, the alkali-substituted materials exhibit a threefold boost in their fundamental carrier recombination lifetime at room temperature. Moreover, an enhanced electron–acoustic phonon scattering is found compared to Cs₂AgBiBr₆. The study thus paves the way for employing cation substitution to tune the properties of double perovskites toward a new material platform for optoelectronics.