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.     

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。     

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.     

Dependence of domain wall structures on repetition n in[Pt（0.5 nm）/Co（0.4 nm）]n/NiO（1.1 nm）/[Co（0.4 nm）/Pt（0.5 nm）]n multilayers

The magnetic force microscopy and a sample vibrating magnetometer have been used to investigate the domain structure in two antiferromagnetically coupled Co/Pt multilayers.In the antiferromagnetic coupled[Pt(0.5 nm)/Co(0.4 nm)]_n/NiO(1.1 nm)/[Co(0.4 nm)/Pt(0.5 nm)]_n multilayers with perpendicular anisotropy,the antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling strength increases linearly with the repetition number n in Co/Pt multilayers.In demagnetized states,relatively shifted domain walls in the two Co/Pt multila...     

高压旋喷灌浆在锦屏二级电站进水口围堰防渗中的运用

锦屏二级水电站进水口纵向围堰防渗设计采用塑性砼防渗墙,施工中发现,防渗墙实际施工深度远远超过设计深度,这将意味着增加施工成本,延长施工工期．为解决这一问题,在施工中将部分深槽段修改为悬挂式塑性砼防渗墙,针对其未达到截渗的目的,在塑性砼防渗墙中预埋钢管,对其下部进行高压旋喷灌浆,形成高喷防渗墙,经检测防渗效果满足要求,达到了节约投资,缩短工期的目的．     

砖墙-钢筋砼剪力墙组合结构的抗震性能分析

砖墙-钢筋混凝土剪力墙组合结构是从砌体结构的基础上发展起来的一种新结构体系,该种结构在砼墙配置合理的情况下具有良好的抗震性能,在设防烈度为8度地区建造这种结构的房屋是可行的.     

建筑围护结构传热性能现场检测的误差分析

建筑外墙传热性能现场检测是建筑节能检验的重点与难点,目前的检测方法难以得出较为准确的结果。针对以上问题,提出了采用热箱加热流计的检测方法以及该方法的误差评价方法,并运用计算机模拟的手段分析了热箱尺寸、温度制度、墙体构造、墙体厚度对该方法检测结果误差的影响,指出影响误差的主要因素是热箱尺寸和墙体厚度。根据模拟试验结果进行了现场检测试验,证明热箱加热流计的检测结果有良好的精度。