Comparative evaluation of different statistical tools for the prediction of uniaxial compressive strength of rocks

In this study, uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), unit weight (UW), Brazilian tensile strength (BTS), Schmidt hardness (SHH), Shore hardness (SSH), point load index (Is₅₀) and P-wave velocity (V_p) properties were determined. To predict the UCS, simple regression (SRA), multiple regression (MRA), artificial neural network (ANN), adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and genetic expression programming (GEP) have been utilized. The obtained UCS values were compared with the actual UCS values with the help of various graphs. Datasets were modeled using different methods and compared with each other. In the study where the performance indice PI_at was used to determine the best performing method, MRA method is the most successful method with a small difference. It is concluded that the mean PI_at equal to 2.46 for testing dataset suggests the superiority of the MRA, while these values are 2.44, 2.33, and 2.22 for GEP, ANFIS, and ANN techniques, respectively. The results pointed out that the MRA can be used for predicting UCS of rocks with higher capacity in comparison with others. According to the performance index assessment, the weakest model among the nine model is P7, while the most successful models are P2, P9, and P8, respectively.     

用各向异性介质构造的一维光子晶体的特性分析

本文根据单轴晶体的传输矩阵，研究了一种由各向异性介质周期排列构成的一维光子晶体，分析了在不同入射角度和折射率条件下，该周期结构的反射和偏振的光学特性。分析结果表明，各向异性介质在折射率比值较大或与高折射率同性介绍结合使用，可获得较宽的禁带，并可实现在可见光范围内的全偏振全角度反射。     

考虑水软化-化学风化作用的岩石单轴压缩试验离散元模拟

西南地区以岩石地形为主,较为潮湿。而岩石在工程长期运行中,会受到水和化学风化作用的影响,分别表现出软化、强度降低以及力学性能劣化的特性。因此研究岩石在水、化学风化作用影响下的力学性质极其重要。本文采用离散单元法(DEM)模拟水软化-化学风化因素作用下岩石的单轴压缩试验,得到应力应变曲线以及破坏后微观信息图,从宏微观角度分析岩石受水、化学风化作用下力学性质,破坏模式的变化。模拟结果表明:随着岩石饱和度的增加,岩石的峰值强度、弹性模量不断减小,破坏模式由压剪扭破坏为主逐渐转变为拉剪扭破坏为主;随着化学风化程度增大,岩石峰值强度也随之减小,脆性破坏特征越来越不明显,与室内试验结果相吻合。     

Structural development and mechanical properties on immiscible and miscible blends from isotactic polypropylene and ethylene-1-hexene copolymers under uniaxial drawing

Isotactic polypropylene and ethylene-1-hexene copolymers containing 32 and 57 mol% of 1-hexene copolymers blends (i-PP/EH32 and i-PP/EH57) were prepared by solution blending, precipitating followed by drying and hot pressing. The two blends were subject to investigation on structure and mechanical properties of these blends under uniaxial drawing. The i-PP/EH32 and i-PP/EH57 represented the immiscible and miscible blends, respectively. The tensile stresses and strains at breaking point of i-PP/EH57 were remarkably higher than those of i-PP/EH32 at room temperature. From wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) measurement, it was observed that the orientation of crystallites occurred early and then propagated gradually up to about drawing ratio 8 because chains of EH57 copolymer were incorporated into the amorphous regions between lamellae of i-PP. In the WAXD patterns of i-PP/EH57, the oriented spot reflections coexsisted with unoriented ring reflections up to draw ratio higher than in pure i-PP. On the other hand, the two-phase structure was observed from TEM and AFM in i-PP/EH32, and on the drawing, separation at the interface between two-phase was observed in i-PP/EH32 even at the low strain.     

Comparison of different flowability tests for powders for inhalation

A series of placebo powders for inhalation was characterized regarding bulk density and powder flowability using different techniques. The powders were of the ordered mixture type and were prepared by mixing a pharmaceutical carrier grade of lactose with different fractions of intermediate sized and fine (i.e., micronized) lactose. A modified Hausner Ratio was obtained by measurement of the poured and the compressed bulk densities. Other tests investigated were the angle of repose, the avalanching behaviour using the AeroFlow, and the yield strength using the Uniaxial tester. Furthermore, the relation between ordered mixture composition and flowability was examined.Of the methods investigated, the modified Hausner Ratio discriminates well between the investigated powders and seems to have the widest measuring range. It was also found that the poured and compressed bulk densities provide information about the packing of the particles in the powders. A good correlation was obtained between the modified Hausner Ratio and the angle of repose. The AeroFlow was suitable for powders with a low percentage of fine particles, but could not discriminate between the more cohesive powders. The Uniaxial tester, on the other hand, seems to be better suited for more cohesive powders.Regarding the powder composition, addition of micronized particles has a strong influence on the flowability of ordered mixtures, while intermediate sized particles have little impact on the powder flow.     

Investigations in the compaction and sintering of large ceramic parts

In this study, a large ceramic part was successfully compacted and sintered using uniaxial die compaction technique. The effects of die design, compaction pressure, lubrication, sintering procedure and part orientation in the oven on the P/M part quality were investigated and the preferred process conditions were discussed and concluded. The main quality issues encountered were cracking and distortion. A finite element model for the powder compaction process was also developed and validated. Based on the model, the relationship between the cracking location and the density distribution predicted from finite element analysis (FEA) was discussed.     

Selection of regression models for predicting strength and deformability properties of rocks using GA

Recently, many regression models have been presented for prediction of mechanical parameters of rocks regarding to rock index properties. Although statistical analysis is a common method for developing regression models, but still selection of suitable transformation of the independent variables in a regression model is difficult. In this paper, a genetic algorithm (GA) has been employed as a heuristic search method for selection of best transformation of the independent variables (some index properties of rocks) in regression models for prediction of uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and modulus of elasticity (E). Firstly, multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis was performed on a data set to establish predictive models. Then, two GA models were developed in which root mean squared error (RMSE) was defined as fitness function. Results have shown that GA models are more precise than MLR models and are able to explain the relation between the intrinsic strength/elasticity properties and index properties of rocks by simple formulation and accepted accuracy.     

An analytical solution for geotextile-wrapped soil based on insights from DEM analysis

This paper presents a novel analytical solution for geotextile-wrapped soil based on a comprehensive numerical analysis conducted using the discrete element method (DEM). By examining the soil–geotextile interface friction, principal stress distribution, and stress–strain relations of the constituent soil and geotextile in the DEM analysis, a complete picture of the mechanical characterization of geotextile-wrapped soil under uniaxial compression is first provided. With these new insights, key assumptions are verified and developed for the proposed analytical solution. In the DEM analysis, a near-failure state line that predicts stress ratios relative to the maximums at failure with respect to deviatoric strain is uniquely identified; dilation rates are found to be related to stress ratios via a single linear correlation regardless of the tensile stiffness of the geotextile. From these new findings, the assumptions on the stress-state evolution and the stress–dilatancy relation are developed accordingly, and the wrapped granular soil can therefore be modeled as a Mohr–Coulomb elastoplastic solid with evolving stress ratio and dilation rate. The development of the proposed analytical model also demonstrates an innovative approach to take advantage of multiscale insights for the analytical modeling of complex geomaterials. The analytical model is validated with the DEM simulation results of geotextile-wrapped soil under uniaxial compression, considering a wide range of geotextile tensile stiffnesses. To further examine the predictive capacity of the analytical model, the stress–strain response under triaxial compression conditions is solved analytically, taking both different confining pressures and geotextile tensile stiffnesses into account. Good agreement is obtained between the analytical and DEM solutions, which suggests that the key assumptions developed in the uniaxial compression conditions also remain valid for triaxial compression conditions.     

Compression Stability of Reversed Austenite in 9Ni Steel

The effect of compressive stress on the stability of reversed austenite in 9Ni steel was investigated by uniaxial and hydrostatic compression.It was found that the uniaxial compressive pressure promoted the γ→α transformation,while the hydrostatic pressure suppressed the γ→α transformation.The pressure dependent transformation behavior can be explained according to thermodynamic analysis.     

Analytical performance of 3?m and 3?m +1 armchair graphene nanoribbons under uniaxial strain

The electronic band structure and carrier density of strained armchair graphene nanoribbons (AGNRs) with widths of n =3 m and n =3 m +1 were examined using tight-binding approximation. The current-voltage (I-V) model of uniaxial strained n =3 m AGNRs incorporating quantum confinement effects is also presented in this paper. The derivation originates from energy dispersion throughout the entire Brillouin zone of uniaxial strained AGNRs based on a tight-binding approximation. Our results reveal the modification of the energy bandgap, carrier density, and drain current upon strain. Unlike the two-dimensional graphene, whose bandgap remains near to zero even when a large strain is applied, the bandgap and carrier density of AGNRs are shown to be sensitive to the magnitude of uniaxial strain. Discrepancies between the classical calculation and quantum calculation were also measured. It has been found that as much as 19% of the drive current loss is due to the quantum confinement. These analytical models which agree well with the experimental and numerical results provide physical insights into the characterizations of uniaxial strained AGNRs.