Changes in the thermomechanical behavior of epoxy glasses under the state of strain aging

Changes in thermomechanical behavior with structural relaxation taking place in epoxy glasses were studied. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements and thermostimulated strain recovery tests were performed for specimens deformed and then aged under fixed strain. In the course of heating, the specimens started to absorb thermal energy, whereas plastic strain was still stable. At higher temperatures, plastic strain started recovery, which was accompanied by exothermic behavior of the specimen. With an increase in the aging duration, the endothermic peak signified and moved to a higher temperature. These results indicated that the longer the aging duration was, the harder the plastic strain and strain energy were frozen in the glassy structure. This freeze‐strain phenomenon was observed for crosslinked epoxy glass, as well as polymeric glasses with linear molecular structures, aged under strain. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

The diversification of proto-cells driven by membrane permselectivity

We consider how permselectivity as a function of the membrane is related to the cell evolution with an abstract proto-cell model. We construct an autopoietic proto-cell model having primitive auto-catalytic reaction cycle inside. In this model, several primitive membrane substances are assumed to be produced from the reaction cycle and the membrane is assumed to have a permeability to specific chemical species. We show that the permselectivity of the membrane induces the diversification of the cell volume. We discuss how the diversification of the cells is related to the Darwinian evolution. This work was presented in part and awarded as Young Author Award at the 13th International Symposium on Artificial Life and Robotics, Oita, Japan, January 31–February 2, 2008     

Framework for Performance-Based Design of Building Structures

Abstract:   This article proposes a new framework for performance-based design (PBD) of building structures. This framework was proposed under the 3-year Japanese Government Comprehensive Research and Development Project on "Development of a New Engineering Framework for Building Structures" launched in the fiscal year of 1995. The primary objective of the project is to create a system in which the performance of buildings is clearly stated, and consumers, that is, occupants, are well informed of how their buildings will perform and how much it will cost to maintain their performance. The framework emphasizes the establishment of target performance, the performance evaluation, and the performance statement as the main three elements. It also stresses that an institutional framework and support systems need to be provided to enable PBD to be practiced efficiently. The implementation of the proposed framework is also expected to promote engineering innovation, progress in building engineering, and globalization. The new framework will also bring other benefits, such as improved design techniques, greater design flexibility, and international harmonization. It is also important for building structural performance to become one of the most important indexes for consumers to define a building's value. The Japanese building code was changed to the performance-based code, based in the clear and comprehensive manner proposed in this article. In the United States, "Vision 2000" ( SEAOC, 1995 ) was published, then many research activities were conducted simultaneously.     

Role of ComFA in controlling the DNA uptake rate during transformation of competent Bacillus subtilis

The roles of ComFA and ComEC in DNA uptake by competent Bacillus subtilis were analyzed by transformation with DNA in protoplast lysates (LP transformation). Deletion mutants of comFA and comEC and putative Walker A mutants (K152N, K152Q, K152E) of comFA were constructed by fusion polymerase chain reaction. Transformants of comEC mutant with purified DNA and DNA in protoplast lysate were not obtained, which shows a lack of transformation ability and backwards recombination of the mutant. Transformants of the comFA mutant were obtained by LP transformation (1.8 × 10(4) transformants/μg DNA). Low relative efficiency of transformation (RET) of comFA compared to wild type (4.3 × 10(-4)) showed an important role for comFA in DNA uptake. Walker A mutants showed 1.8-19 × 10(-4) RET, suggesting a dependence on ATPase activity for transformation. Co-transformation between short linkages was only detected in comFA mutants. The results demonstrated that ComFA controlled the DNA uptake rate. The interpretation was further supported by analyzing the plasmid used in LP transformation of the comFA mutant. The RET of comFA compared to the wild type was 2.7 × 10(-2), 60-fold higher than that with chromosomal DNA (4.3 × 10(-4)). Following addition of DNA into comFA culture, transformants were obtained after 15 min, with the number of transformants increasing over time. The kinetics strongly suggested that in comFA mutants, formation of another DNA uptake complex without ComFA would be a lengthy process.     

Role of ComEA in DNA uptake during transformation of competent Bacillus subtilis

The role of the competence protein ComEA in DNA uptake during transformation of competent Bacillus subtilis was analyzed by lysed-protoplast transformation (LP transformation). A comEA deletion mutant was constructed by a fusion polymerase chain reaction. Transformants of the mutant were obtained by LP transformation at a frequency of 1.1 × 10(2) transformants per μg DNA, representing a low relative efficiency of transformation [RET (mutant/wild type)] of 2.7 × 10(-6). This implied an important role of the protein during DNA uptake. When analyzing LP transformation of comEA with a plasmid (5.7 kb), a similar RET (mutant/wild type) of 5.6 × 10(-5) was obtained. Following addition of DNA into the comEA mutant culture, the number of transformants increased at a rate of 0.5 transformants/min, which was very low compared with the wild-type (6.9×10(4) transformants/min). However, even in the comEA mutant, DNA uptake began immediately after addition of DNA. Using co-transformation analysis of the comEA mutant, short linkages at distances of 2-156 kb could be detected, but not long linkages at distances of 671-1662 kb. Taken together, the results indicate that ComEA plays an important role in the transfer of transforming DNA into the DNA channel and in controlling the rate of DNA uptake.     

Integrity degradation of UO2 pellets subjected to thermal shock

Thermal shock behavior of UO₂ pellets has been investigated by means of out-of-pile experiments and a theoretical analysis which particularly emphasized the porosity effect on the thermal shock damage. In the experiments, specimens of porosity range 0.05–0.15 were thermal-shocked by heating and then quenching in a water bath at various quenching temperature differences (ΔT). Results showed that with increasing porosity, ΔT values cause a first damage (ΔT_c) and bring about destructive failure of the specimens increased, while the strength loss at ΔT_c was reduced. These findings suggested that the higher the porosity, the higher the pellet integrity during rise to power. Theoretical equations expressing the thermal shock damage were introduced. Good agreements were obtained between observed and predicted values.     

Study on the compensation of error by stick-slip for high-precision table

A simple approach of compensating friction error of high-precision tables is proposed in this paper. On the basis of accurate prediction of the magnitude of the friction error and the place where it occurs, a compensator is first constructed which consists of an online friction error prediction model and rectangular compensation curves regarded as compensation pulses. Then by carrying out optimal compensation experiments several times, the parameters describing the rectangular compensation curve at certain positions can be obtained. Finally, the optimal parameters of the rectangular compensation curve at any position can be determined by interpolation and approximation. It has been shown that, the method to compensate friction error proposed in this paper can be applied to effectively compensate the friction error for all circular motions of high-precision tables.     

Thermal Stress Fracture of Brittle Ceramics by Conductive Heat Transfer in a Liquid Metal Quenching Medium

Observed and calculated values of the critical quenching temperature difference for circular rod specimens of a soda-lime-silica glass and polycrystalline alumina quenched in a liquid Pb-Sn alloy indicate that thermal stress fracture was caused by conductive heat transfer, in support of the original theory of Hencke, Thomas, and Hasselman.     

Mineral reaction and morphology change during gasification of coal in CO2 at elevated temperatures

Studies of the gasification of char in CO₂ at elevated temperatures are necessary for the development of IGCC technology. Experiments at high heating rates and elevated temperatures revealed that the temperature dependence of gasification reactivity was very different for low compared with high temperature ranges. To elucidate these mechanisms, the reaction of mineral matter and the change in morphology during gasification of a char at elevated temperatures were examined by char characterisation. CO₂ gasification experiments showed a large difference in gasification rate for chars prepared at higher temperatures compared to those prepared at lower temperatures. Changes in char particle morphology and mineral matter during gasification are also quite different. At higher carbonisation temperatures, mineral reactions during pyrolysis, which occurs in addition to ash fusion, appear to be one of the factors accounting for these differences. Certainly, a change of mechanism is involved. Graphite enrichment may also contribute to the decrease in char reactivity.     

高速、高精度数控伺服工作台摩擦误差的研究

建立了一种考虑摩擦影响的PID控制下的高速、高精度进给伺服工作台的数学模型。伺服机构中的摩擦力是采用一种“两维混合摩擦模型”来描述的。该模型可以根据滑动速度、表面接触物体的油膜厚度等计算摩擦力。通过数值仿真与实际测量 ,在大范围的工况下 ,研究了圆运动过象限时出现凸起的误差现象。通过计算与试验结果的比较 ,证明了提出的考虑摩擦影响的数学模型能够精确地模拟PID控制下的高速、高精度进给伺服工作台的动力学过程 ,能够正确地预测进给运动过程中摩擦误差大小及特征。