Domain reversal and current transport property in BiFeO3 films

The electrical properties and domain reversal in BiFeO₃ ferroelectric films were studied using sandwiched heterostructures and piezoresponse force microscopy. A robust polarization state was observed, combined with a switchable domain pattern and a remanent polarization of approximately 100 μC cm^?2. In addition, domain reversal was explored using scanning probe microscopy. The results show that dipoles could be reversed along the direction of the electric field under a negative tip bias, leading to carrier gathering near the domain walls. The enhanced conductivity near the domain walls was owing to the discontinuous polarization boundary conditions. In addition, typical diode-like current transport properties are sensitive to various temperature conditions, which is attributed to the Schottky barriers at the contact interface. These findings extend the current understanding of domain texture reversal in ferroelectric films and shed light on their potential applications for future ferroelectric random-access memory operations over a wide temperature range.     

压差式漏率测试仪的实验研究

将薄膜电容真空计的测量室接于被测密闭容器，静态真空室接于一个比较容器，即组成一台压差式漏率测试仪。首先使两容器压力平衡，真空计读数为零。当被测容器存在漏孔时，真空计薄膜两侧形成压差，真空计指示读数，继而计算出该容器的漏率。应用商品真空计在抽真空测试时，检测的最小可测漏率达10－4～10-5Pa·L／s；而在充压测试时，因受气体温度变化的影响，灵敏度会降低几个量级。该仪器有可能具备寻找漏孔位置和确定漏孔漏率的功能。     

船闸直立墙基坑开挖与锚固施工程序

三峡船闸深槽开挖与锚固工程量大，工期紧，施工强度高，施工难度大。因此，合理的施工程序有利于边坡稳定和施工，是快速和高质量施工的关键。分析了永久船闸直立墙基坑开挖与锚固施工程序的复杂性和进行研究的必要性。介绍了设计阶段研究船闸开挖与锚固的施工程序。对施工过程中研究施工程序时考虑的因素，研究的主要内容以及实际采用的施工程序作了简要的分析，归纳和总结。     

膜片式流量调节阀

介绍了用于油田开采工艺的膜片式流量调节阀的结构及其特点,分析了调节阀出口压力、进口压力对其流量的影响。受力分析和现场使用表明:该阀流量恒定精度(即恒流偏差)取决于膜片有效面积S与阀心下端有效面积S′之比,此值为12,其恒流比偏差为0·03,说明该阀的流量恒定精度高;该阀不易被杂质卡死,稀油中直径1mm的砂粒能顺利通过,而不影响阀的功能;膜片式流量调节阀是没有高加工精度要求的部件,普通车床即可生产,因此造价较低。     

含氨废水处理方法的探讨

对催化剂厂含氨废水的处理，提出了多种方法，着重分析了A/O生物法、膜分离法和汽提法，比较后确定采用汽提法处理该废水，建成投产达到预期效果。     

Effect of electricity tariff on the optimum insulation-thickness in building walls as determined by a dynamic heat-transfer model

Thermal insulation is one of the most effective energy-conservation measures in buildings. Despite the widespread use of insulation materials in recent years, little is known regarding their optimum thickness under dynamic thermal conditions. Insulated concrete blocks are among the units most commonly used in the construction of building walls in Saudi Arabia. Typically, the insulation layer thickness is fixed at a value in the range 2.5–7.5 cm, regardless of the climatic conditions, type and cost of insulation material, and other economic parameters. In the present study, a numerical model based on a finite-volume, time-dependent implicit procedure, which has been previously validated, is used to compute the yearly cooling and heating transmission loads under steady periodic conditions through a typical building wall, for different insulation thicknesses. The transmission loads, calculated by using the climatic conditions of Riyadh for a west-facing wall, are fed into an economic model in order to determine the optimum thickness of insulation (L_opt). The latter corresponds to the minimum total cost, which includes the cost of insulation material and its installation plus the present value of energy consumption cost over the lifetime of the building. The optimum insulation thickness depends on the electricity tariff as well as the cost of insulation material, lifetime of the building, inflation and discount rates, and coefficient of performance of the air-conditioning equipment. In the present study, the effect of electricity tariff on the computed optimum insulation thickness is investigated. Different average electricity tariffs are considered; namely, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 SR/kWh (designated as Cases 1–5, respectively; 1 US$ = 3.75 Saudi Riyals). Results using moulded polystyrene as an insulating material show that the values of L_opt are: 4.8, 7.2, 10.9, 13.7 and 16.0 cm for Cases 1–5. Under the conditions of optimal insulation thickness for each electricity tariff, Case 1 gives the lowest total cost of 17.4 SR/m², while Case 5 gives the highest total cost of 53.1 SR/m². Corresponding thermal performance characteristics in terms of yearly total and peak transmission loads, R-value, time lag and decrement factor are presented.     

Extended Hyperbolic Model for Sand-to-Concrete Interfaces

A relatively simple, four-parameter extended hyperbolic model for interfaces was developed for use in soil-structure interaction analyses. The model accommodates arbitrary stress path directions and includes three important elements: (1) development of a yield surface during interface shear; (2) a formulation for yield-inducing shear stiffness that is applicable to any stress path orientation; and (3) a formulation for unloading-reloading shear stiffness. The model was evaluated against the results of shear tests performed at the interface between three different types of sand and a concrete surface under a variety of stress paths. Comparisons between measured and calculated interface response indicate that the model provides accurate estimates of the response of sand-to-concrete interfaces.     

Limited reinforced space in segmental retaining walls

Current design of geosynthetic reinforced segmental retaining walls considers an a priori limitless length for reinforcement installation. Such length is typically 0.5–0.7 times the height of the wall. However, often there are constraints on such space; e.g., bedrock formation located at a small distance behind the facing. The objective of this note is to introduce a procedure for assessing the required long-term strength of the reinforcement while considering its limited length. Predictions by a conventional slope stability analysis were first checked against a continuum-mechanics based numerical analysis. Upon obtaining good agreement, a design chart was developed. The chart enables the determination of the reduction in the lateral earth pressure coefficient due to the constrained space. The revised earth pressure coefficient can be used with current analytical methods to account for the limited space. The results appear to be valid for conventional walls retaining a limited volume of soil. Comparison with limited experimental results for unreinforced backfill shows reasonably good agreement.     

MALTING AND BREWING SCIENCE: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES*,†

Molecular technologies have been developed for the transformation of barley. These technologies complement current methods of barley breeding. In addition, they offer the potential of altering specific components in barley that affect malting quality and of introducing foreign genes, controlling desirable traits, into barley. Application of genetic engineering to improving malt quality factors such as cell wall degradation, protein modification, starch hydrolysis and flavour stability, is discussed. Limitations to the use of this technology for improving malt-related functional properties of barley components such as cell walls and starch granules are also evaluated. Some possible constraints to the utilization of genetic engineering for malt quality improvements are identified.     

基于SOI的硅微谐振式压力传感器芯片制作

采用SOI硅片,基于MEMS技术,设计并加工了一种新型三明治结构的硅微谐振式压力传感器,根据传感器敏感单元的结构设计,制定了相应的制备工艺步骤,并且针对湿法深刻蚀过程中谐振子的刻蚀保护等问题,提出了一种基于氮化硅、氧化硅和氮化硅三层薄膜的保护工艺,实验表明,在采用三层薄膜保护工艺下进行湿法刻蚀10 h后,谐振子被完全释放,三层薄膜保护工艺对要求采用湿法刻蚀镂空释放可动结构具有较高的实用价值。最后对加工完成的谐振式压力传感器进行了初步的性能测试,结果表明,在标准大气压力下谐振子的固有频率为9.932 kHz,品质因数为34。