Thermomechanical stability and inelastic energy dissipation as durability criteria for fuel cell gas diffusion media with pre-assembly effects

In this article, pre-assembly hot-press pressure and thermal expansion effects in gas-diffusion layers (GDLs) are addressed to explore the practicalities of the constitutive model reported in the companion article. A facile technique is proposed to include deformation history dependent residual strain effects. The model is implemented in the numerical environment and compared with widely followed conventional models such as isotropic and orthotropic material models. With the normal and accelerated thermal expansion effects no significant variation in stresses or strains is reported with the compressible GDL model in contrast to the conventional incompressible form of the GDL model. The present work identifies the critical differences with advanced and extended variants of the model along with conventional GDL material models in terms of planar stress/strain distribution and the membrane response. Finally, the model is simulated for micro-cyclic stress loads of varying amplitudes that imitate the real working conditions of fuel cell. The inelastic energy dissipation in GDLs is predicted using the proposed model, which is utilized further to distinguish the safe (elastic) and unsafe (inelastic shakedown) operating limits. The inelastic collapse of GDLs is shown to be a active function of high amplitude micro-cyclic load with high initial clamping load.     

Generation,validation and application of dynamic load profiles in flow measurement using cavitating Herschel–Venturi nozzles

Today, utility meters for water are tested for measurement behavior at stable operating conditions at specified flow rates as part of the approval process. The measurement error that occurs during start and stop or when changing between flow rates may not be taken into account. In addition, there are new technologies whose measuring behavior under real-world conditions is only known to a limited extend. To take these facts into account, a new method has been developed and tested to determine the measurement behavior of water meters under dynamic load profiles as they occur in the real application. For this purpose, a test rig for flow rate measurement was extended by a cavitation nozzle apparatus and the generation of dynamic load profiles was validated. For the cavitation nozzles used, possible factors influencing the flow rate, such as temperature and purity of the water as well as the upstream pressure were investigated. Using different types of domestic water meters, the applicability of the dynamic test procedure was demonstrated and the measurement behavior of the meters was characterised.     

Revisit the Pitot static tubes in the standards

A Pitot tube is a popular device used for the measurements of flow fields. To control the accuracy of the Pitot tube coefficient, the international standard organization (ISO), the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) issued guidelines that recommended the shape and working conditions of these devices. However, many Pitot tubes on the market do not follow these guidelines. In the present study, various types of Pitot tubes in the market were tested at the National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ) to determine the effects of the geometry and flow characteristics. The results revealed certain limitations in the existing ISO and JIS standards, specifically with regard to the recommended design parameters of the AMCA Pitot tube, the reference coefficient value for the JIS Pitot tube, and the redefinition and limitation of Reynolds numbers pertaining to Pitot tube working conditions.     

Effect of heat treatment and zircon addition on the properties of low-cement castables based on recycled alumina grog

In this investigation, low-cement castables were prepared using 70% alumina grog aggregates obtained from crushed alumina brick waste. The aggregates were thermally treated at 1550 °C for 3 h. Four types of low-cement castables were prepared with various types of aggregates (alumina grog with or without thermal treatment) and fillers (with or without zircon addition), and they were evaluated in terms of their physical, thermal, and chemical properties. Microstructural analysis via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed on the castables before and after slag attack. Compared to the other fabricated castables, the thermally treated alumina grog castables with zircon showed better physical properties, such as a higher bulk density, cold crushing strength, and modulus of rupture and a lower apparent porosity and water absorption. In addition, they had a higher positive linear thermal expansion, refractoriness under load, permanent linear change, and hot modulus of rupture. The results of the SEM with energy dispersive X-ray analysis of the prepared castables confirmed that the mullite and anorthite phases were predominant when zircon was not added and the zircon–mullite phase additionally appeared upon the incorporation of zircon. A quantitative elemental analysis via X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy was employed to determine the composition of the castables. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the alumina grog castables had a high mullite and low anorthite content, and the thermally treated alumina grog had a high anorthite, low mullite, and high zircon content. The improvement in the mechanical and thermo-mechanical properties of the castables with thermally treated alumina grog and added zircon can be attributed to the formation of the zircon–mullite phase with a low mullite phase content.     

Structural analysis and optimization of a tethered swept wing for airborne wind energy generation

In this paper, we present an aero‐structural model of a tethered swept wing for airborne wind energy generation. The carbon composite wing has neither fuselage nor actuated aerodynamic control surfaces and is controlled entirely from the ground using three separate tethers. The computational model is efficient enough to be used for weight optimisation at the initial design stage. The main load‐bearing wing component is a nontypical “D”‐shaped wing‐box, which is represented as a slender carbon composite shell and further idealised as a stack of two‐dimensional cross section models arranged along an anisotropic one‐dimensional beam model. This reduced 2+1D finite element model is then combined with a nonlinear vortex step method that determines the aerodynamic load. A bridle model is utilised to calculate the individual forces as a function of the aerodynamic load in the bridle lines that connect the main tether to the wing. The entire computational model is used to explore the influence of the bride on the D‐box structure. Considering a reference D‐box design along with a reference aerodynamic load case, the structural response is analysed for typical bridle configurations. Subsequently, an optimisation of the internal geometry and laminate fibre orientations is carried out using the structural computation models, for a fixed aerodynamic and bridle configuration. Aiming at a minimal weight of the wing structure, we find that for the typical load case of the system, an overall weight savings of approximately 20% can be achieved compared with the initial reference design.     

蛋类礼盒包装结构的缓冲性能研究

目的研究蛋类礼盒包装结构的缓冲性能。方法以蛋类尺寸为基础,建立可发性聚乙烯(expandable polyethylene. EPE)缓冲单元结构和组合结构,进行静态仿真分析和实验验证,比较结构在形状、叠合层数、组合形式等参数变化时的载荷与位移。结果结构层数变化相同时,单元结构的极限载荷从143N增加到236 N,组合结构的极限载荷从224 N增加到476 N,均呈近线性增长。结论蛋类礼盒包装中,组合结构的承载能力优于单元结构,通过单元结构的组合,可满足不同蛋类的包装要求。     

钢管套筒灌浆连接轴向受拉性能模拟试验研究

为研究钢管套筒灌浆连接轴向受拉破坏过程及破坏机理，试验中设计了16组48个钢管套筒灌浆连接试件，试件采用钢板代替圆钢管，并进行静载试验。分析了灌浆料裂缝扩展过程、荷载-相对位移曲线，并对抗剪键高距比、灌浆料厚度、侧向力等因素对破坏过程及承载力的影响进行分析。结果表明：对于不设置抗剪键的套筒灌浆连接试件，斜裂缝随机产生，裂缝分布不均匀；对于设置抗剪键的套筒灌浆连接试件，裂缝首先出现在底部抗剪键位置处，与水平方向夹角约为30°，随后在中部和上部抗剪键位置处分别出现斜裂缝。由于每个抗剪键上荷载分担并不均匀，与抗剪键接触的灌浆料逐渐达到极限压应力，达到极限状态时，承载力全部由抗剪键间的机械咬合力承担，在连接承载力中，可忽略摩擦力和胶结力作用。随着抗剪键高距比h/s增大，各试件初始剪切刚度相差不大，承载力增大，但增幅逐渐减小，建议抗剪键高距比0.06g/s>0.3，同时需要满足灌浆料灌注的施工要求。     

结冰风洞校准标准研究

本文按结冰风洞制冷方式、试验对象、用途性质和试验段尺寸归纳总结了结冰风洞的类型,指出校准标准主要针对的结冰风洞类型;阐述结冰风洞空气动力流场校准可以依据的3个国内外标准;介绍SAE结冰风洞校准标准中云雾场校准的主要内容;分析研究相关标准的特点和存在的不足;提出未来我国制定结冰风洞校准标准的建议。     

Effect of strain rate on the dynamic compressive mechanical behaviors of rock material subjected to high temperatures

Strain rate is not only an important measure to characterize the deformation property, but also an important parameter to analyze the dynamic mechanical properties of rock materials. In this paper, by using the SHPB test system improved with high temperature device, the dynamic compressive tests of sandstone at seven temperatures in the range of room temperature to 1000 °C and five impact velocities in the range of 11.0–15.0 m/s were conducted. Investigations were carried out on the influences of strain rate on dynamic compressive mechanical behaviors of sandstone. The results of the study indicate that the enhancement effects of strain rates on dynamic compressive strength, peak strain, energy absorption ratio of sandstone under high temperatures still exist. However, the increase ratios of dynamic compressive strength, peak strain, and energy absorption ratio of rock under high temperature compared to room temperature have no obvious strain rate effects. The temperatures at which the strain rates affect dynamic compressive strength and peak strain most, are 800, and 1000 °C, respectively. The temperatures at which the strain rates affect dynamic compressive strength and peak strain weakest, are 1000 °C, and room temperature, respectively. At 200 and 800 °C, the strain rate effect on energy absorption ratio are most significant, while at 1000 °C, it is weakest. There are no obvious strain rate effects on elastic modulus and increase ratio of elastic modulus under high temperatures. According to test results, the relationship formula of strain rate with high temperature and impact load was derived by internalizing fitting parameters. Compared with the strain rate effect at room temperature condition, essential differences have occurred in the strain rate effect of rock material under the influence of high temperature.