Ionic conductivities and high resolution microscopic evaluation of grain and grain boundaries of cerium-based codoped solid electrolytes

Doped CeGdO and codoped CeGdOSmO compositions were synthesized, giving rise to nanoparticulate powders. Ionic conductivities at bulk and grain boundaries of the sintered samples were determined, exhibiting increased conductivity in the samaria-codoped samples. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed a significant reduction in the grain size of samaria-codoped electrolytes. This reduced grain size of the codoped samples caused a reduction in Schottky barrier height, increasing oxygen vacancy concentration in the space-charge layer of the grain boundary and culminating in greater ionic conductivity in the boundary region. For the gadolinium doped samples, high resolution transmission electron microscopy images at grains showed the presence of large cluster of defects (nanodomains), hindering the movement of charge carriers and reducing ionic conductivity. However, the samaria-codoped system displayed better homogeneity at atomic level, resulting in reduced oxygen vacancy ordering and, consequently, smaller nanodomains and higher bulk (grain) conductivity. The reduced grain sizes and smaller nanodomains caused by codoping favor the ionic conductivity of ceria-based ceramics, doped with gadolinia and codoped with samaria.     

The Simulation of Impact Loads on Beam-type Structures using a Pseudo-dynamic Procedure

Abstract:  This study proposes an alternate method for the analysis of beams with solid cross-section or built as a framed structure and subjected to transverse impact loads from an external striker. The procedure used in the analysis is a combination of two essential tools using pseudo-dynamic techniques. The method reported here involves only one degree of freedom for the structure modelling and assumes an elastic contact between an external striker and the beam structure, which in reality does not happen. As only one degree of freedom is considered in the analysis, some important limitations are inherent to the method proposed here. Essentially, there is the difficulty of modelling the displacement field associated with the transient structure behaviour accurately, as a consequence of fast-rate impact loads. Another difficulty faced by the method refers to a local structure behaviour associated with contact loads. The present method can deal with large displacements in transversely loaded beams associated to a collapse mechanism having a simple geometry and defined with precision from a single parameter. This ensures reasonable accuracy in the evaluation of the strain energy absorbing capacity of transversely impacted beam structures using a single degree of freedom model in a pseudo-dynamic procedure.     

Surveillance test policy optimization through genetic algorithms using non-periodic intervention frequencies and considering seasonal constraints

In order to maximize systems average availability during a given period of time, it has recently been developed a non-periodic surveillance test optimization methodology based on genetic algorithms (GA). The fact of allowing non-periodic tests turns the solution space much more flexible and schedules can be better adjusted, providing gains in the overall system average availability, when compared to those obtained by an optimized periodic test scheme. This approach, however, turns the optimization problem more complex. Hence, the use of a powerful optimization technique, such as GA, is required.Considering that some particular features of certain systems can turn it advisable to introduce other specific constraints in the optimization problem, this work investigates the application of seasonal constraints for the set of the Emergency Diesel Generation of a typical four-loop pressurized water reactor in order to planning and optimizing its surveillance test policy. In this analysis, the growth of the blackout accident probability during summer, due to electrical power demand increases, was considered. Here, the used model penalizes surveillance test interventions when the blackout probability is higher.Results demonstrate the ability of the method in adapting the surveillance test policy to seasonal constraints. The knowledge acquired by the GA during the searching process has lead to test schedules that drastically minimize test interventions at periods of high blackout probability. It is compensated by more frequent redistributed tests through the periods of low blackout probability in order to improve on the overall average availability at the system level.     

Ageing effect on microstructural and mechanical properties of mullite-ZrO2-TiO2 composites

The microstructural and mechanical properties of mullite-zirconia composites with TiO₂ (0.25 and 1.0 mol) additions have been studied, after ageing the samples over a wide temperature range (1000 to 1500° C) for long periods of time (100 to 200 h). In the sample with 0.25 mol TiO₂ addition, changes in mullite composition and in the solid state compatibility at temperatures below 1450° C were detected. In the sample containing 1 mol TiO₂, decomposition of Al₂TiO₅ occurs atT1200° C. Both compositions exhibit no increment in zirconia average grain size during ageing and, concomitantly, there is no strength degradation until higher temperatures (>1400° C) are reached, which become more drastic when Al₂Ti₅ is present.     

Multicomponent toughened ceramic materials obtained by reaction sintering

Very dense zirconia-toughened ceramics with a mullite matrix based on the quaternary system ZrO₂-Al₂O₃-SiO₂-MgO in the temperature range as low as 1450 to 1500° C have been obtained by reaction sintering of zircon/alumina/magnesia mixtures. The shrinkage, advance of reaction, microstructure, densification mechanism and mechanical properties are reported. The results are explained in terms of transitory and permanent liquids that appear at 1425° C and ~ 1450° C respectively.     

Composites based on eucalyptus tar pitch/castor oil polyurethane and short sisal fibers

Polymeric materials are being developed with renewable resources to promote industrial progress with environmentally friendly technologies. For this reason, polyurethane samples were prepared with 4,4′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate (NCO/OH = 1), eucalyptus tar pitch (biopitch), castor oil as a polyol, and dibutyltin dilaurate as a catalyst. These materials were reinforced with different contents of short sisal fibers (0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0%) and were prepared by resin‐transfer molding. The composites were characterized by IR absorption spectroscopy, thermal analysis (thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry), impact resistance, scanning electron microscopy, and water absorption resistance. These materials showed hydrophobic characteristics, despite the addition of sisal fibers. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 3797–3802, 2003     

Off-line optimization and control for real time integration of a three-phase hydrogenation catalytic reactor

In order to develop and test the integration procedure, in this paper a real time process integration involving the optimization and control of the process is presented, in this case, with the two-layer approach. The used optimization algorithms were Levenberg–Marquardt and SQP that solve a non-linear least square problem subject to bounds on the variables. The two-layer approach is a hierarchical control structure where an optimization layer calculates the set points and manipulated variables to the advanced controller, which is based on the dynamic matrix control with constraints (QDMC). The non-isothermal dynamic model of the three-phase slurry catalytic reactor with appropriate solution procedure was utilized in this work (Vasco de Toledo, E. C., Santana, P. L., Maciel, M. R. W., & Maciel Filho, R. (2001). Dynamic modeling of a three-phase catalytic slurry reactor. Chemical Engineering Science, 56, 6055–6061). The model consists on mass and heat balance equations for the catalyst particles as well as for the bulk phases of gas and liquid. The model was used to describe the dynamic behavior of hydrogenation reaction of o-cresol to obtain 2-methil-cyclohexanol, in the presence of a catalyst Ni/SiO₂.