Assessment of fatigue response of thermally aged reduced activation ferritic-martensitic steel based on finite element analysis

Abstract

In the present investigation, effect of thermal ageing on low cycle fatigue (LCF) behaviour of Reduced Activation Ferritic Martensitic steel has been assessed by finite element analysis. The steel was thermally aged at 873 K for 3000 hour. Low cycle fatigue tests were carried out on both the as-received and thermally aged material at strain rate of 3×10^?3 s^?1 at 823 K, over strain amplitudes in the range of ± 0.25 to ± 0.8%. Continuous cyclic softening till final failure, except for initial few cycles especially at relatively lower strain amplitudes, was observed in both the material conditions. Thermal ageing resulted in marginally higher cyclic stress response accompanied by lower fatigue life. The differences in fatigue responses have been attributed to the coarsening of precipitates on thermal ageing. Finite element analysis has been carried out considering combined isotropic and kinematic hardening as material model to estimate the effect of thermal ageing on the response of material under LCF loading. Thermal ageing was found to decrease both the isotropic and kinematic hardening with appreciable effect on isotropic hardening. The predicted cyclic stress response and hysteresis loops were found to be in good agreement with the experimental data. The LCF life of the steel has been estimated based on the hysteresis energy approach.     

Measurement of binocular disparity in polarized based stereoscopic display by using digital camera

This work presents an image displacement measurement by using a box pattern and the edge spread function analysis in the polarized based stereoscopic displays. The measurement determines to identify three factors (i.e., box size, image displacement, and spatial frequency response (SFR)) from the box patterns. The polarized based stereoscopic displays might sacrifice pixels for producing 3D images, which might produce errors in the image displacement and then affect the depth perception indirectly. Based on the measurement, the errors can be quantified by using the three factors. Owing to the light leakage distorting the edge spread function to obtain an inferior SFR, exactly how light leakage affects the edge spread function can be resolved on the basis of the SFR results, especially at a frequency (1/display pixel) of 1.9 in the case of the horizontal displacement. Light leakage also induces the error of the box height in even and odd intervals of the vertical displacements more than 2 pixels and 0.5 pixels, respectively. The image displacement measurement provides a simple and comprehensive means of evaluating the optical characteristics, disparity, and sharpness of the stereoscopic displays, via the three factors.     

Rice PIN Auxin Efflux Carriers Modulate the Nitrogen Response in a Changing Nitrogen Growth Environment

Auxins play an essential role in regulating plant growth and adaptation to abiotic stresses, such as nutrient stress. Our current understanding of auxins is based almost entirely on the results of research on the eudicot Arabidopsis thaliana, however, the role of the rice PIN-FORMED (PIN) auxin efflux carriers in the regulation of the ammonium-dependent response remains elusive. Here, we analyzed the expression patterns in various organs/tissues and the ammonium-dependent response of rice PIN-family genes (OsPIN genes) via qRT–PCR, and attempted to elucidate the relationship between nitrogen (N) utilization and auxin transporters. To investigate auxin distribution under ammonium-dependent response after N deficiency in rice roots, we used DR5::VENUS reporter lines that retained a highly active synthetic auxin response. Subsequently, we confirmed that ammonium supplementation reduced the DR5::VENUS signal compared with that observed in the N-deficient condition. These results are consistent with the decreased expression patterns of almost all OsPIN genes in the presence of the ammonium-dependent response to N deficiency. Furthermore, the ospin1b mutant showed an insensitive phenotype in the ammonium-dependent response to N deficiency and disturbances in the regulation of several N-assimilation genes. These molecular and physiological findings suggest that auxin is involved in the ammonium assimilation process of rice, which is a model crop plant.     

Numerical and sensitivity analysis of MHD bioconvective slip flow of nanomaterial with binary chemical reaction and Newtonian heating

The impact of Stefan blowing on the MHD bioconvective slip flow of a nanofluid towards a sheet is explored using numerical and statistical tools. The governing partial differential equations are nondimensionalized and converted to similarity equations using apposite transformations. These transformed equations are solved using the Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg method with the shooting technique. Graphical visualizations are used to scrutinize the effect of the controlling parameters on the flow profiles, skin friction coefficient, local Nusselt, and Sherwood number. Moreover, the sensitivities of the reduced Sherwood and Nusselt number to the input variables of interest are explored by adopting the response surface methodology. The outcomes of the limiting cases are emphatically in corroboration with the outcomes from preceding research. It is found that the heat transfer rate has a positive sensitivity towards the haphazard motion of the nanoparticles and a negative sensitivity towards the thermomigration. The thermal field is enhanced by the Stefan blowing aspect. Moreover, the fluid velocity can be controlled by the applied magnetic field.     

Rapid Hormetic Responses of Photosystem II Photochemistry of Clary Sage to Cadmium Exposure

Five-day exposure of clary sage (Salvia sclarea L.) to 100 μM cadmium (Cd) in hydroponics was sufficient to increase Cd concentrations significantly in roots and aboveground parts and affect negatively whole plant levels of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), since Cd competes for Ca channels, while reduced Mg concentrations are associated with increased Cd tolerance. Total zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe) uptake increased but their translocation to the aboveground parts decreased. Despite the substantial levels of Cd in leaves, without any observed defects on chloroplast ultrastructure, an enhanced photosystem II (PSII) efficiency was observed, with a higher fraction of absorbed light energy to be directed to photochemistry (Φ_PSΙΙ). The concomitant increase in the photoprotective mechanism of non-photochemical quenching of photosynthesis (NPQ) resulted in an important decrease in the dissipated non-regulated energy (Φ_NO), modifying the homeostasis of reactive oxygen species (ROS), through a decreased singlet oxygen (¹O₂) formation. A basal ROS level was detected in control plant leaves for optimal growth, while a low increased level of ROS under 5 days Cd exposure seemed to be beneficial for triggering defense responses, and a high level of ROS out of the boundaries (8 days Cd exposure), was harmful to plants. Thus, when clary sage was exposed to Cd for a short period, tolerance mechanisms were triggered. However, exposure to a combination of Cd and high light or to Cd alone (8 days) resulted in an inhibition of PSII functionality, indicating Cd toxicity. Thus, the rapid activation of PSII functionality at short time exposure and the inhibition at longer duration suggests a hormetic response and describes these effects in terms of “adaptive response” and “toxicity”, respectively.     

Economic Evaluation of Power System Flexibility by Commercial Air Conditioner Control with Large Penetration of Photovoltaic Generation

High penetration of intermittent renewable energy such as photovoltaic (PV) and wind power could cause shortage of power system flexibility. Demand response is expected to help supply ancillary service instead of the conventional power plant. Commercial air conditioners are a promising responsive load for demand response because they account for a large proportion of power consumption in the power system. We calculate a system operation cost and hourly operation pattern of each power plant by using the optimal power generation model considering flexibility supply from controlling commercial air conditioner. We obtained the following results as an effect of commercial air conditioner control. (1) The power generation of oil fired power plants decreases at peak time and annual fuel cost of oil fired plant is reduced by approximately 30% at most in Kanto area. (2) The percentage of rated operation mode of LNG combined cycle plants increases. (3) Curtailed energy rate of PV decreases because a power storage amount by pumped hydropower generation increases. (4) Required battery capacity to reduce PV curtailed amount decreased by combining battery energy storage system in case of high penetration of PV.     

Optimal operation of cogeneration system coordinated by aggregator for providing the demand and supply regulation capacity

Recent growth of renewable energy generations with natural variability, such as photovoltaic generation and wind turbine generation, would make the demand and supply control in a whole power system more difficult, and therefore, alternatives for demand and supply regulation resources would be required. The authors focus on cogeneration system (CGS) as one of regulation resources. In order to procure adequate volume of regulation capability, an aggregator coordinates a number of CGSs efficiently and flexibly considering the wide variety of electricity/thermal demands of CGS owners. This paper proposes a novel optimal operation strategy of CGS coordinated by the aggregator considering the energy balance and operation cost of individual CGS owner. This paper also demonstrates the availability of CGSs for regulation capability by numerical case studies in which the actual consumption profile is employed.     

低速冲击下的界面响应和磨损行为*

为探究低速冲击下界面响应与磨损行为之间的联系，开展多周次的低速冲击磨损实验；通过分析冲击过程中的接触力峰值、接触时长、接触力冲量、动能耗散等，研究冲击速度对接触界面的力学响应的影响；通过对冲击磨痕的磨损轮廓和形貌、磨损体积的检测分析，以及对磨痕区域元素组分变化的测试，研究冲击速度对接触界面磨损损伤行为的影响。结果表明：冲击速度的增加会导致接触界面在更短的时间内受到更强烈的力学作用；能量吸收率对冲击速度的变化不敏感，但冲击速度的提高会导致单位能量造成的磨损损伤逐渐降低；冲击磨痕可分为以塑性变形和以剥层磨损为主要损伤形式的2种区域；磨损区内经历了严重的摩擦氧化，并随着冲击速度的增加发生冲击副材料转移。因此，冲击速度越高，接触界面间的摩擦越剧烈，形成的表面氧化层避免了冲击副与基底材料的直接接触，延缓了磨损损伤的进一步发展。     

宁夏红寺堡盆地隐伏古隆起成因机制及其对区域沙漠化的影响

目前对于青藏高原东北缘活动构造研究多集中于活动断裂带的活动性,而对夹持于其间的沉积盆地构造格架及活动性研究甚少。以夹持于烟筒山断裂与牛首山—罗山断裂之间的宁夏红寺堡盆地为研究对象,采用重力资料重处理解译、音频大地电磁测深(AMT)和地震勘探相结合,揭示红寺堡盆地隐伏构造特征,并进一步采用盆山一体化思路分析隐伏构造的成因机制及其对区域沙漠化的控制作用。结果表明:青藏高原在中新世末发生强烈的NE向推挤、扩展和隆升,红寺堡盆地由坳陷盆地转变为挠曲盆地; 在青藏高原NE向扩展的影响下,烟筒山断裂发生强烈的逆冲作用,古生代—中生代基底逆冲于古近系—新近系之上,受构造变形影响的最新地层为中新统彰恩堡组; 红寺堡盆地内的隐伏古隆起呈NW—SE向,与烟筒山构造带具有相同的构造动力学背景,受青藏高原NE向扩展影响形成于中新世末,并且至今仍具有活动性; 隐伏古隆起周缘断裂的活动破坏了地表稳定性、蓄水能力和地表植被,导致区域沙漠化呈现有规律的NW—SE向带状展布。该研究成果对于宁夏红寺堡盆地区域稳定性评价及沙漠化的综合治理具有现实指导意义。