Geopolymer concrete-filled pultruded composite beams – Concrete mix design and application

The limited research on the geopolymer concrete mix design for targeting a specific strength is identified an obstacle for their effective design and wide use. In this paper, a mix design procedure has been proposed for fly-ash based geopolymer concrete and its use as infill hybrid composite beam is investigated. Then, the structural performance of geopolymer concrete filled hybrid composite beam is investigated to determine their possible application in civil infrastructure. Firstly, a detailed procedure of mix design for fly-ash based geopolymer concrete is presented. Secondly, three hybrid beams filled with geopolymer concrete were prepared and tested in a four-point bending setup to evaluate their flexural modulus and modulus of rupture. Numerical and analytical evaluation of the behaviour of hybrid beam were performed and results showed a good agreement with the experimental investigation. Thirdly, the suitability of the beam for a composite railway sleeper is evaluated and compared with existing timber and composite sleepers. Finally, the beams’ performance in a ballast railway track is analysed using Strand7 finite element simulation software and the results showed that the new concept of using geopolymer concrete as infill to pultruded composite section satisfied the stiffness and strength requirements for a railway sleeper.     

Effect of in-app components,medium, and screen size of electronic textbooks on reading performance,behavior, and perception

Although many app-based textbooks are available for students, reading have not been thoroughly outlined. This study aimed to understand how changes from paper to electronic textbooks have affected the academic reading task, investigate student users’ perceptions of in-app components and screen sizes, and identify issues affecting in-app components and task requirements. A mixed factorial design experiment was employed. Results showed that there were no significant changes in comprehension and time spent reading between print text and the iPad. Yet, student highlighting, notetaking, and reading behavior and perception significantly changed based on condition. In addition, students struggled to use in-app components and found them frustrating especially when accounting for sentence splitting. The findings presented can assist in understanding the changes in student reading behavior, which can be used to improve interface design of future e-textbooks.     

超高效液相色谱串联质谱法测定烟草中的噁霉灵残留

为降低烟草中噁霉灵检测中的基质干扰，提高检测灵敏度和和稳定性，通过试验建立了以QuEChERS为样品前处理方法、液相色谱串联质谱仪为检测仪器的烟草中噁霉灵残留检测方法。样品加水浸润后，经丙酮提取、盐析试剂包除水、石墨化炭黑除杂后，采用Agilent ZORBAX 300SB-C8液相色谱柱（2.1 mm×100 mm，1.8 μm）分离，甲醇-水程序洗脱，ESI雾化，串联质谱MRM检测。结果发现，该方法在0.0025~0.0500 mg/L范围内线性良好，决定系数r²=0.9996，定量检测限1.06 μg/L，回收率在90.8%~92.0%之间，相对标准偏差为5.1%。运用该方法测定烟草中的噁霉灵，操作简单，检测精度高，满足CORESTA对烟草农残检测的要求。     

Systematic convergence of nonlinear stochastic estimators on the Special Orthogonal Group SO(3)

This paper introduces two novel nonlinear stochastic attitude estimators developed on the Special Orthogonal Group with the tracking error of the normalized Euclidean distance meeting predefined transient and steady‐state characteristics. The tracking error is confined to initially start within a predetermined large set such that the transient performance is guaranteed to obey dynamically reducing boundaries and decrease smoothly and asymptotically to the origin in probability from almost any initial condition. The proposed estimators produce accurate attitude estimates with remarkable convergence properties using measurements obtained from low‐cost inertial measurement units. The estimators proposed in continuous form are complemented by their discrete versions for the implementation purposes. The simulation results illustrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed estimators against uncertain measurements and large initialization error, whether in continuous or discrete form.     

采油树平板闸阀柔性密封圈结构优化设计

为了提高采油树平板闸阀密封圈的密封性能,在泛塞封的基础上,设计一种密封圈本体唇边开有锯齿状凸起的新型柔性密封结构;运用有限元分析方法模拟密封圈的工作状况,分析柔性密封结构特性参数对密封圈密封性能的影响,获得不同柔性密封圈结构参数下密封面间接触应力分布规律,并对新型密封结构进行优化。结果表明:密封面间最大接触应力随唇边锯齿数量、唇边夹角度数的增大而增大,随唇谷夹角度数的增大而减小;新型密封结构选择锯齿数量为3、唇边夹角为20°、唇谷夹角为30°的特性参数时,其最大接触应力比常规Y形密封圈提高了15倍;新型柔性密封结构的密封圈与阀杆、阀盖壁面间接触应力比常规Y形密封圈有显著提高,提高了密封圈的密封性能。     

Sustainable supply chain management in Indian organisations: an empirical investigation

The present work is an attempt to investigate the adoption of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices amongst manufacturing and process based organisations in India and its impact on organisational performance encompassing all three dimensions of sustainability. SSCM practices conceived in the present study include environmental management practices (EMP), socially inclusive practices for employees (SPE), socially inclusive practices for community (SPC), operations practices (OP) and supply chain integration (SCI) which were treated as exogenous variables. Organisational performance considered in this study includes five dimensions, namely environmental performance (EPR), employee-centred social performance (ESP), community-centred social performance (CSP), operations performance (OPR) and competitiveness, which were regarded as endogenous variables. The analysis was carried out with the help of structural equation modelling considering natural logarithm of manpower as a control variable. Few major findings are mentioned. EMP does not have any significant association with OPR, nor does it result in competitiveness. However, when jointly mediated through both EPR and OPR, EMP leads to competitiveness. SPC has significant negative association with competitiveness, when only direct relationship is considered. However, indirect relationship between SPC and competitiveness shows significant positive association when mediated through CSP. The resultant total effect between SPC and competitiveness turns out to be insignificant. Further, OPR fully mediates the relationship between OP and competitiveness. Managerial implications of the findings are discussed.     

Performance of LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 prepared from spent lithium-ion batteries by a carbonate co-precipitation method

Spherical LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O₂ cathode particles were resynthesized by a carbonate co-precipitation method using spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) as a raw material. The physical characteristics of the Ni_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3CO₃ precursor, the (Ni_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3)₃O₄ intermediate, and the regenerated LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O₂ cathode material were investigated by laser particle-size analysis, scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), thermogravimetry–differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The electrochemical performance of the regenerated LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O₂ was studied by continuous charge–discharge cycling and cyclic voltammetry. The results indicate that the regenerated Ni_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3CO₃ precursor comprises uniform spherical particles with a narrow particle-size distribution. The regenerated LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O₂ comprises spherical particles similar to those of the Ni_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3CO₃ precursor, but with a narrower particle-size distribution. Moreover, it has a well-ordered layered structure and a low degree of cation mixing. The regenerated LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O₂ shows an initial discharge capacity of 163.5 mA h g^?1 at 0.1 C, between 2.7 and 4.3 V; the discharge capacity at 1 C is 135.1 mA h g^?1, and the capacity retention ratio is 94.1% after 50 cycles. Even at the high rate of 5 C, LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O₂ delivers the high capacity of 112.6 mA h g^?1. These results demonstrate that the electrochemical performance of the regenerated LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O₂ is comparable to that of a cathode synthesized from fresh materials by carbonate co-precipitation.     

水文序列相依变异识别的RIC定阶准则——以自回归模型为例

水文过程相依性是水文变异的主要表现形式之一,应用自回归模型对其进行拟合时合理确定模型阶数是一个难点问题。本文在分析AIC和BIC准则的基础上,提出了一种以原序列与其相依成分的相关系数作为拟合度指标,同时借用信息熵形式的函数式,作为模型不确定性度量指标的自回归模型定阶准则(简称RIC准则)。以AR(1)、AR(2)、AR(3)和AR(4)模型为例进行统计试验,将不同序列长度下该准则的定阶准确率与其他定阶准则进行比较,试验结果表明,RIC准则对于上述模型均具有较好的适应性,且定阶准确率远高于AIC准则,其中对于前三阶模型RIC准则优于BIC准则,但四阶模型略低于BIC准则。RIC准则的优势是可以同时满足模型定阶、相依程度分级与模型检验的需求,将其应用于实测水文序列分析,结果显示,该准则能较准确地识别自回归模型的阶数,且符合提出的"相依有变异而残差无变异的最小阶数"的检验标准。     

An experimental study of forced convective heat transfer for fully developed Al 2 O 3 –water nanofluid in an annulus tube

Nanofluids have been known as practical materials to ameliorate heat transfer within diverse industrial systems. The current work presents an empirical study on forced convection effects of Al₂O₃–water nanofluid within an annulus tube. A laminar flow regime has been considered to perform the experiment in high Reynolds number range using several concentrations of nanofluid. Also, the boundary conditions include a constant uniform heat flux applied on the outer shell and an adiabatic condition to the inner tube. Nanofluid particle is visualized with transmission electron microscopy to figure out the nanofluid particles. Additionally, the pressure drop is obtained by measuring the inlet and outlet pressure with respect to the ambient condition. The experimental results showed that adding nanoparticles to the base fluid will increase the heat transfer coefficient (HTC) and average Nusselt number. In addition, by increasing viscosity effects at maximum Reynolds number of 1140 and increasing nanofluid concentration from 1% to 4% (maximum performance at 4%), HTC increases by 18%.     

Enhanced transduction coefficient in piezoelectric PZT ceramics by mixing powders calcined at different temperatures

Large transduction coefficient ($d_{33}\times g_{33}$) is difficult to obtain in piezoelectric ceramics because these two parameters show opposite trends with compositional modifications. Herein, the Pb(Zr_0.53Ti_0.47)O₃ ceramic powders were calcinated under different temperatures (A:830 °C, B:860 °C, and C:890 °C), and then mixed together according to different weight ratios (1A:1B:1C, 1A:2B:1C, 1A:2B:3C and 3A:2B:1C) for ceramics preparation. Both d₃₃ and g₃₃ are improved successfully, and the transduction coefficient with the weight ratio of 1A:2B:3C reaches up to 17,500 × 10⁻¹⁵ m²/N, which is 60 % higher than that with the powders calcinated under 830 °C, and at least twice those of commercial PZT-4, PZT-5A and PZT-8 ceramics. The improved transduction coefficient is owing to the enhanced piezoelectric constant and spontaneous polarization resulted from the increased grain size, relative density and the fraction of tetragonal phase. These results indicate that this is a simple but effective way to tailor the transduction coefficient in piezoelectric ceramics.