Damage in biocomposites: Stiffness evolution of aligned plant fibre composites during monotonic and cyclic fatigue loading

The non-linear stress–strain behaviour of plant fibre composites is well-known in the scientific community. Yet, the important consequences of this, in terms of the evolution of stiffness as a function of applied strain and cycles to failure, are not well-studied in literature. This is despite the fact that stiffness degradation is a well-accepted indicator of damage in a composite material, and is regularly used as a component failure criterion. This article systematically explores the evolution of stiffness of various aligned plant fibre composites, subjected to (i) monotonic loading, (ii) low-cycle, repeated progressive loading, and (iii) fatigue loading. The evolution in stiffness in plant fibre composites is found to be complex: structural changes in the elementary fibre cell wall and damage development in the composite have often competing effects on stress–strain behaviour. Indeed, the evolution in stiffness of plant fibre composites is found to be unlike that typically observed in traditional composites, and therefore needs to be taken into account in the design of structural components.     

Statistical modeling of mains zero crossing variation in powerline communication

In this paper, authors investigate statistical modeling of measured mains Zero Crossing (ZC) non idealities in narrowband powerline communication systems (PLC) using time series approach based on autoregressive moving average model (ARMA). For this purpose, Box Jenkins analysis steps are deployed for detected ZC impulsive variations. Estimated models exhibit a good fit based on R-square metric reaching 90%. This modeling approach is extended to three measurement environment: in home, in lab and rural locations. Obtained models are useful for NB-PLC channel emulator implementation.     

Singular perturbation methods in the synthesis of control policies for multi-stage production-inventory systems

In this paper, singular perturbation methods are used to synthesize control policies for a class of multi-stage production-inventory systems. It is shown that when the production-inventory sub-systems are connected in cascade, the control of each sub-system in isolation leads to undesirable transient behaviour. However, the control of the composite system is shown to yield improved transient behaviour. Furthermore, it is also shown that trade-off between rapid adjustments in production rate and large inventory-level deviation can be achieved by selecting an appropriate value for the feedback gain parameter.     

Load transfer of graphene/carbon nanotube/polyethylene hybrid nanocomposite by molecular dynamics simulation

Load transfer of the graphene/carbon nanotube (CNT)/polyethylene hybrid nanocomposite is studied here from molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Simulations of this composite material under uniaxial tension were conducted by varying CNT’s position and diameter in the polymer matrix. The obtained results show that: (1) The peak strength of stress and strain evolution in the polymer matrix is lower than the peak strength of the graphene/graphene and graphene/polymer interfaces. Hence, the damage zone is always located in the polymer matrix. (2) Agglomerated two-layer graphenes do not possess an increased value in the peak strength compared with single-layer graphene-reinforced polymer nanocomposite (PNC), while two separate layers of graphene show slightly higher peak strength. (3) The largest peak strength is observed before CNT moves to the center of the polymer matrix. The damage location moves from the upper to the lower part of CNT when the CNT is located at the centre of polymer matrix. (4) The influence of the CNT diameter on the peak strength is not obvious, while the damage location and shape in the polymer matrix changes with respect to varying CNT diameters. In addition, the damage zone always falls outside the interphase zone.     

Effects of laminate carbon/epoxy composite patches on the strength of double-strap adhesive joints: Experimental and numerical analysis

In this study, mechanical properties of double-strap joints with aluminum or composite patches of different orientation angles at their overlap area were investigated under tensile loading. For this purpose, AA2024-T3 aluminum was used as adherend, while patches were either AA2024-T3 aluminum or 16-ply laminate of carbon/epoxy composite with five different orientation angles ([0]₁₆, [90]₁₆, [0/90]₈, [45/−45]₈, [0/45/−45/90]₄). A two-part paste adhesive (DP 460) was used to bond adherend and patches. Six different types of joint samples were subjected to tensile loading. The effect of patch material on failure load and stress distribution was examined experimentally and numerically. As a result, it was concluded that the data obtained from 3-D finite element analysis were coherent with experimental results and additional to that fiber orientation angles of the patches markedly affected the failure load of joints, failure mode and stress distributions appeared in adhesive and composite.     

Microstructural development and electrical behavior during crystalization of iron-rich glass-ceramics obtained from mill scale

Mill scale is one of the most hazardous waste generated from the steelmaking industry. In 2014, around 16.4–32.8 million t of mill scale was generated all over the world. In this paper, we present recent results about the effect of the structure and microstructure of iron-rich glass-ceramics obtained from mill scale on their electrical behavior. Five iron-rich glass compositions were investigated. The crystalline phases of the crystallized (glass-ceramic) materials were identified by X-ray diffractometry, and phase content quantifications were performed by the Rietveld method. The crystallinity and porosity were also related to the electrical behavior of the glass-ceramics, which was determined by impedance spectroscopy, and the hardness, measured by the Vickers indentation method. Albite, andradite, anorthite, clinopyroxene, franklinite, nepheline, and spinel were shown to be the main crystalline phases present in the investigated compositions. The conductivity showed an increasing trend with the degree of crystallinity. This behavior was attributed to a decrease in porosity, an increase in the concentration of charge carriers in the glass phase (iron, Li⁺, and Na⁺), and an increase in the number of conduction paths through the glassy phase/crystalline phase interfaces. The relationship between hardness and crystallinity could not be verified due to the structural complexity of the glass-ceramics studied. However, a nearly linear relationship was found between the effect of porosity and hardness. The G2Z composition exhibited a hardness of 6.1 ± 0.5 GPa at 850 °C, which is a value in very good agreement with other iron-rich glass-ceramics studied.     

A robust adaptive weighted constant modulus algorithm for blind equalization of wireless communications systems under impulsive noise environment

A robust adaptive weighted constant modulus algorithm is proposed for blind equalization of wireless communication systems under impulsive noise environment. The influence of the impulsive noise is analyzed based on numerical analysis method. Then an adaptive weighted constant modulus algorithm is constructed to adaptively suppress impulsive noise. Theoretical analysis is provided to illustrate that the proposed algorithm has a robust equalization performance since the impulsive noise is adaptively suppressed. Moreover, the proposed algorithm has stable and quick convergence due to avoidance of large misadjuntment and adoption of large step size. Simulation results are presented to show the robust equalization performance and the fast convergence speed of the proposed algorithm under both impulsive noise and Gaussian noise environments.     

Modelling the viscoelastic stress relaxation of glass fibre reinforcements under constant compaction strain during composites manufacturing

Viscoelastic stress relaxation of glass fibre reinforcements is commonly encountered in the manufacture of glass fibre reinforced polymer composites. A better understanding of the phenomenon, coupled with an ability to predict this behaviour, will aid improved manufacturing process control and tooling design. Finished product quality may also be bettered by virtue of increased knowledge of stresses acting within the composite product. This paper presents a simple Maxwell element-based model to both simulate and help explain the viscoelastic stress relaxation of glass fibre reinforcements under compressive strain compaction of layers during composites manufacturing. The model was validated against experimental data for reinforcement materials of different architecture, and good-to-reasonable predictions of the stress relaxation response were obtained.     

Mechanical behavior and tensile/compressive strength asymmetry of ultrafine structured Ti–Nb–Ni–Co–Al alloys with bi-modal grain size distribution

Bulk ultrafine structured metallic materials with the bi-modal grain size distribution exhibit both high strength and good ductility. Here we show a new family of bi-modal Ti–Nb–Ni–Co–Al alloys. Their microstructure consists of an ultrafine structured eutectic matrix and relatively coarse β-Ti dendrites. Chemical modification of the parent Ti–Nb–Ni–Cu–Al system significantly affected type and volume fraction of matrix phases. In its turn, this influenced the deformation behavior. The unexpected “double yielding” behavior as well as tensile/compressive fracture strength asymmetry of the designed alloys are discussed in detail. For that, the microstructure alterations under compressive and tensile loading was in situ and ex situ analyzed by scanning electron microscopy.     

Microstructural,mechanical and tribological properties of Al–7Si–(0–5)Zn alloys

A series of Al–7Si–(0–5)Zn alloys were produced by permanent mould casting and their microstructure, mechanical and tribological properties were investigated in as-cast state. The microstructure of Al–7Si alloy consisted of α-Al dendrites surrounded by eutectic Al–Si mixture and a small amount of primary silicon particles. Addition of zinc into Al–7Si alloy resulted in the formation of α-solid solution and an increase in size and volume fraction of primary silicon particles. Moreover, these particles gathered inside interdendritic regions of the ternary Al–7Si–Zn alloys. The density, strength and hardness of Al–7Si–Zn alloys increased continuously with increasing zinc content, but their elongation to fracture and impact energy showed a reverse trend. It was also observed that zinc had no significant effect on the friction coefficient of the alloys, but their wear volume decreased with increasing zinc content up to 4%, above which the trend reversed. The wear surfaces of the alloys were characterized mainly by smearing layer with some degree of oxidation. In addition, delamination and fine scratches were observed on the worn surface. It was concluded that the addition of zinc up to 4% improves both mechanical and wear behaviour of Al–7Si alloy.