Dynamic Young's modulus and glass transition temperature of selected tropical wood species

Abstract

Dynamic Young's modulus (E _d) of selected tropical wood species, namely Dyera polyphylla, Endospermum diadenum, Cratoxylum arborecens, Alstonia pneumatophora, Macaranga gigantea and Commersonia bartramia, used for the study was measured using the free–free flexural vibration method. Young's modulus from three point bending (E _3pb) and compression parallel to grain (E _cp) was also studied. The results show that the relationship between E _d and E _3pb for all wood species is very significant with the mean value of E _d consistently larger than or sometime equal to E _3pb. Surprisingly, the relationship between E _d and E _cp is not significant except for Alstonia pneumatophora. The dynamic mechanical thermal properties were also investigated using the dynamic mechanical thermal analyser (DMTA). The results showed that the storage modulus of the wood species at –90°C is in the range of 1·48–4·09 GPa with a glass transition temperature ranging from 50 to 70°C.     

Steady Crawl Gait Generation Algorithm for Quadruped Robots

The capability of stable walking on irregular terrain is the primary advantage of legged robots over wheeled mobile robots. However, the traditional foothold selection-based gait generation algorithms are not suitable at some points for blind robots which cannot obtain the exact terrain information. A velocity-based gait generation algorithm with real-time adaptation rules which are necessary for steady walking is suggested. Particularly, we have developed a steady crawl gait with duty factor β = 0.75. The main feature of the suggested algorithm is that it is not based on foothold selection and it can be used for the walking of blind robots on more realistic irregular terrain. The adaptation rules are the translational velocity modification to satisfy the steady gait requirement and the swing period modification to avoid the kinematic limitation. The suggested gait generation algorithm has been implemented in a simple quadruped robot that has a total of eight actuated joints on the legs. Using PD controllers for each actuated joint for the trajectory following and the adaptation algorithm of gait parameters, the steady periodic crawl gait on irregular terrain has been demonstrated.     

Research on the Damage of Porosityand Permeabilitydue to Perforation on Sandstone in the Compaction Zone

A perforating hole is a channel through which the oil and gas in a reservoir pass into the production well bore. During the process of perforating due to explosion, the surrounding sandstone will be damaged to a certain extent, which will increase the well bore skin and lead to the decrease of production consequently. In this work a mechanical model of perforating damage is developed to describe the influences of perforating due to explosion on the porosity and permeability of the surrounding sandstone near the compaction zone. Based on this developed model, the important data related to the damage of sandstone, such as matrix effective stress, plastic deformation, volumetric strain, and so on, can be numerically simulated. Especially the behaviors of plasticity kinematic hardening at high strain rate due to impact loads, which are the important characteristics in the sandstone, is taken into account in this developed model. Both numerical and testing results show that the damage due to perforation in the sandstone can be accurately predicted by the developed model together with the porosity and permeability evolving model of perforation in a compaction zone. As a practical application, a methodology for the analysis of damage of porosity and permeability around a perforation tunnel is supposed based on the developed model and the core flow efficiency test of interparticle pore spaced sandstone target in China Shengli Oilfield and the computed tomography test.     

An idea to treat the dendritic morphology in mixed columnar–equiaxed solidification

Abstract

To treat mixed columnar–equiaxed solidification with dendritic morphology, five phase regions have been distinguished: extradendritic melt, interdendritic melt and solid dendrites in equiaxed grains, interdendritic melt and solid dendrites in columnar arrays of dendrites. These five phases are quantified by their volume fractions, and characterized by different volume-averaged solute concentrations. The equiaxed grains and columnar dendrites are confined by their envelopes, whose shapes are described by morphological parameters. The evolution of the envelopes is derived based on recent growth theories: the growth of primary columnar dendrite tips by the Kurz–Giovanola–Trivedi (KGT) model, the growth of secondary dendrite tips in radial direction of columnar trunk and the equiaxed dendrite tips by the Lipton–Glicksman–Kurz (LGK) model. The solidification of the interdendritic melt is governed by diffusion in the interdendritic melt region. Preliminary modelling results on a benchmark casting (Al–4·7wt-% Cu) show the potentials of the model.     

Effect of molybdate ions as corrosion inhibitors of iron in neutral aqueous solutions

Abstract

The effect of molybdate ions on the corrosion of Fe in neutral solutions was investigated by electrochemical measurements (dc polarisation and impedance spectroscopy) together with gravimetric determinations. Studies were conducted in solutions containing sodium hydrogen/sodium sulphate salts with molybdate concentrations ranging between 10^?4 and 10^?2M at pH 8 and 9. Mass loss measurements indicated that about 10^?3M of molybdate was necessary in order to inhibit completely the corrosion of Fe at room temperature. The potentiodynamic polarisation and electrochemical impedance studies gave indications about the mechanism of action of the MoO^2?₄ ion. They also showed that the inhibiting effect of the oxyanion is increased in the presence of dissolved oxygen. Spontaneous passivation of the corroding Fe electrode could happen only in the presence of dissolved oxygen at concentrations greater than 10^?4M. However, passivity was also obtained under potentiodynamic polarisation conditions in deaerated solutions. The effect of the oxygen was attributed to displacement of the corrosion potential into the region of selfpassivation of the steel. Finally, the results indicated that the corrosion inhibition of Fe in neutral solutions by molybdate ions was largely insensitive to pH over the range from 8 to 9.     

Stress-free temperature in a mixed-adhesive joint

Adhesive joints used in supersonic aircraft fuselage need to withstand low (?55°C), as well as high (200°C) temperatures. However, there are no adhesives suitable for the whole temperature range. A solution would be a joint with a combination of a low-temperature adhesive and a high-temperature adhesive, called a mixed-adhesive joint. In a bonded joint, the thermal stresses are generated essentially by the different thermal expansion properties of the adhesive and the adherends and, to a lesser extent, by the shrinkage of the adhesive produced by curing. The case of a mixed-adhesive joint is more complicated because there are two adhesives with different glass transition temperatures (T _g). To determine the stress-free temperature in a mixed adhesive joint, sandwich specimens of aluminium–adhesive–CFRP (carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic) were fabricated and the thermal strains were measured with strain gauges. In a mixed adhesive joint, two stress-free temperatures were found: the stress-free temperature of the high temperature adhesive, which is its cure temperature, and the stress-free temperature of the low temperature adhesive, which is its T _g.     

Stroke Survivors' Gait Adaptations to a Powered Ankle–Foot Orthosis

Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability in the US, and for many it causes loss of gait function. The purpose of this research is to examine stroke survivors' gait adaptations to training on the powered ankle–foot orthosis (PAFO). Of particular interest is the stroke survivors' ability to learn how to store and release energy properly while using the device. The PAFO utilizes robotic tendon technology and supports motion with a single degree of freedom — ankle rotation in the sagittal plane. This actuator comprises a motor and series spring. The user interacts with the output side of the spring while the robot controls the input side of the spring such that typical able-body ankle moments would be generated, assuming able-body ankle kinematics are seen at the output side of the spring. Three individuals post-stroke participated in a 3-week training protocol. Outcome measures (temporal, kinematic and kinetic) were derived from robot sensors and recorded for every step. These data are used to evaluate each stroke survivor's adaptations to robotic gait assistance. The robot was worn only on the paretic ankle. For validation of the kinematic results, motion capture data were collected on the third subject. All subjects showed increased cadence, ankle range of motion and power generation capabilities. Additionally, all subjects were able to achieve a larger power output than power input from the robot. Motion capture data collected from Subject 3 validated the robot sensor kinematic data on the affected side, but also demonstrated an unexpected gait adaptation on the unaffected ankle. Sensors on the gait-assisting robot provide large volumes of valuable information on how gait parameters change over time. We have developed key gait evaluation metrics based on the available robot sensor information that may be useful to future researchers. All subjects adapted their gait to the robotic assistance and many of their key metrics moved closer to typical able-body values. This suggests that each subject learned to utilize the assistive moments generated by the robot, despite having no predefined ankle trajectory input from the robot. The security of being harnessed on the treadmill led to more dramatic and favorable results.     

Gait Pattern Adaptation for an Active Lower-Limb Orthosis Based on Neural Networks

This work deals with neural network (NN)-based gait pattern adaptation algorithms for an active lower-limb orthosis. Stable trajectories with different walking speeds are generated during an optimization process considering the zero-moment point (ZMP) criterion and the inverse dynamic of the orthosis–patient model. Additionally, a set of NNs is used to decrease the time-consuming analytical computation of the model and ZMP. The first NN approximates the inverse dynamics including the ZMP computation, while the second NN works in the optimization procedure, giving an adapted desired trajectory according to orthosis–patient interaction. This trajectory adaptation is added directly to the trajectory generator, also reproduced by a set of NNs. With this strategy, it is possible to adapt the trajectory during the walking cycle in an on-line procedure, instead of changing the trajectory parameter after each step. The dynamic model of the actual exoskeleton, with interaction forces included, is used to generate simulation results. Also, an experimental test is performed with an active ankle–foot orthosis, where the dynamic variables of this joint are replaced in the simulator by actual values provided by the device. It is shown that the final adapted trajectory follows the patient intention of increasing the walking speed, so changing the gait pattern.     

Experimental investigation into radiative heat transfer characteristics for mould fluxes containing transition oxides

Abstract

Infrared transmittance of glassy and crystalline mould fluxes was measured using a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer at room temperature. Radiation heat transfer from the steel shell to the mould was calculated by a model. The results indicate that transition metal oxides MnO, FeO and TiO₂ have a marked negative effect on infrared transmittance and radiation heat flux of glassy samples. With MnO, FeO and TiO₂ added, the reductions of radiation heat flux in glassy samples are 19–25%, 34–36%, 6–29% respectively. X-ray diffraction results indicated that the crystalline phase in transition oxides free samples was mainly Ca₄Si₂O₇F₂. After transition oxides MnO, FeO and TiO₂ added, Mn₂SiO₄, Fe₂SiO₄, CaTiO₃, Ca₂SiO₄ and other minor phases were also precipitated in mould fluxes. On account of strong refraction and scattering, the negative effect on radiation heat flux in crystalline samples was much larger than that in the glassy ones.     

Orientation relationship transition of nanometre sized interphase precipitated TiC carbides in Ti bearing steel

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to investigate the crystallography and morphology of TiC particles in a titanium containing high strength low alloy (HSLA) steel that form during isothermal transformation at a temperature in the (α + γ) phase field. The orientation relationships (ORs) were identified from selected area diffraction patterns (SADPs) and from moire fringes in high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) lattice images. It was found that in the initial stages of the isothermal transformation, fine plate-like TiC particles develop and that these exhibit the Baker–Nutting (BN) OR with respect to the ferrite matrix. In the later stages of the transformation, however, coarser plate-like carbides are observed, and these adopt approximately the Nishiyama–Wassermann (NW) OR with respect to the ferrite matrix. The evidence indicates that OR transition is brought about simply by aging for a longer time at the transformation temperature, and also manifests a rotation of the precipitate during coarsening.