Meso- and Macro-Mechanical Analysis of the Frost-Heaving Effect of Void Water on Asphalt Pavement

In cold regions, many types of structural damages are caused by the frost heaving of asphalt pavements. Hence, it is important to quantitatively determine the frost-heaving effect of asphalt pavement using a mechanical method to control frost-heaving damage. In this study, first, the internal voids of the asphalt mixture were regarded as a single void, and the water phase transition generating the freezing water in the voids was simulated using a simplified hollow sphere model to create a uniform internal pressure. Second, the prediction equation of the equivalent linear expansion coefficient was proposed by taking the phase transition of water in the saturated asphalt mixture voids into account. A step function was used during the phase transition of water to determine the sudden change in the equivalent linear expansion coefficient, heat capacity, density, and thermal conductivity. Finally, the typical cooling conditions were simulated with the water phase transition and the nonwater phase transition. The experimental results showed that the proposed model could accurately simulate the effect of frost heaving. Higher stress and strain were generated on the surface and in the interior of the pavement, and the positions of maximum stress and strain occurred on the pavement surface under the frost-heaving conditions. The compressive strength of the asphalt mixture in a uniaxial compression test is about 4.5–6 MPa with a single freeze–thaw cycle. Furthermore, when frost heaving occurs on the asphalt pavement between 5.8 and 6.5 MPa, the numerical simulation method can be used to calculate the internal stress of the structure, which found that the compressive stress under the frost-heaving condition was the same magnitude as the compressive strength under the freeze–thaw testing condition.

The Effect of Different Additives on the Hydration and Gelation Properties of Composite Dental Gypsum

Dental mold gypsum materials require fine powder, appropriate liquidity, fast curing, and easy-to-perform clinical operations. They require low linear expansion coefficient and high strength, reflecting the master model and facilitating demolding. In this article, the suitable accelerators and reinforcing agents were selected as additives to modify dental gypsum. The main experimental methods used were to compare the trends of linear expansion coefficients of several commercially available dental gypsum products over 72 h and to observe the cross-sectional microstructure of cured bodies before and after dental gypsum modification using scanning electron microscopy. By adjusting the application of additives, the linear expansion coefficient of dental gypsum decreased from 0.26% to 0.06%, while the flexural strength increased from 6.7 MPa to 7.4 MPa at 2 h. Formulated samples showed good stability and gelation properties with linear expansion completed within 12 h. It is indicated that the performance of dental gypsum materials can be improved by adding additives and nanomaterials, which provided a good reference for clinical preparation of high-precision dental prosthesis.

THERMAL STIFFNESS – A KEY ACCURACY INDICATOR OF MACHINE TOOLS

Static and dynamic stiffness [N/m] determine the ability of solids to resist constant and variable loads. Both elastic characteristics of a machine tool effect their quality assessment. Thermal stiffness (comprising heat stiffness and temperature stiffness) [W/µm] is a key accuracy indicator of the machine tool's ability to resist temperature influences. The proposed method creates the thermo-physical structure of a machine tool, based on a set of homogeneous heat-active elements and quasi-thermostable links. Quasi-thermostable links retain constant properties when the thermal state of the heat-active elements changes within a given range, building and determining their spatial and temporal relative position. The structural formula is given: < S-thermal link > -<F-function of the thermal behavior of a heat-active element > - <S-thermal link>. When exposed to heat, heat-active elements change their temperature and thermoelastic properties change their temperature and thermoelastic properties with stress, strain, distortion. Thermal behavior F-functions characterize these changes over time. Thermal energy causes a heat exchange in the machine tool and leads to temperature differences, thermoelastic stresses and geometrical deformations. The material used in machine tools enables the thermal conduction, convection and radiation due to its dimensions, volume and surface area, thermal conductivity. Elasticity effects base on thermal linear expansion coefficient, modulus of elasticity, thermal energy storage due to its heat capacity. The analysis of the structural formula defines and describes generalized thermal stiffness indicators of a machine tool as a reaction to thermal effects when the heat sources are constantly active and when the heat source is absent, but only the ambient temperature changes. This paper presents relationships between the thermal stiffness and the thermo-physical property indicators of the machine tool. Examples of thermal stiffness are described for several machine tool types.

Influence of the Melt Treatment Method on the Properties of Cast Iron

The article is devoted to studying the effect of liquid melt treatment with a substance having high affinity with hydrogen – lead-base silumin. Taking into account that gases (hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen) are present everywhere, including alloys, a series of experiments was carried out on treating melt of blast furnace iron with substances having great affinity with hydrogen. It is established: when treating melt with lead-base silumin in the low-temperature test interval, there is a slight increase in the linear expansion coefficient (LEC) at 100°C, compared with the initial one, to 8.210-6, deg-1. In the temperature range of 100-150°C LEC decreases to a minimum value of 7.210-6, deg-1. In the average temperature range of 150-300°C, a sharp, anomalous increase is noticeable, compared with the initial one up to 15.5210-6, deg-1. When studying the microstructure of cast iron after processing the melt with lead silumin, the formation of ledeburite structure is stated. Samples treated with lead-base silumin were subjected to cementation by feeding water steam at 900°C for 1-5 hours. It should be noted that, in the temperature range of 50-150°C, the values of the linear expansion coefficient lie almost in a straight line in the entire field of study. The coefficient varies from 10.810-6, deg-1 at 50°C to 13.710-6, deg-1 at 450°C. Preliminary heat treatment of cast iron in the carburizer made by the Bondyuzhsky plant with water steam smoothes anomalies of LEC and increases its initial values, and grinds perlite and cementite as well. Subsequent quenching in water with a temperature of 1000°C significantly changes the linear expansion coefficient of cast iron. Hardening of samples after cementation sharply reduces the linear expansion coefficient in the test range of 150-200°C, and in the temperature range of 350-450°C negative values of LEC are observed. Thus, it can be concluded, that treating the melt with lead-base silumin, cementation in the medium of the carburizer made by the Bondyuzhsky plant and subsequent hardening leads to sharp changes of the linear expansion coefficient up to negative values. The identified properties suggest the possibility of using cast iron where it is necessary to constancy of LEC and there are no requirements for the weight of the product.

Successful application of optical bench in Taiji-1 laser interferometer

As an important part of laser interferometry system, optical bench is one of the core technologies for the detection of spaceborne gravitational waves. As the first step of the space Taiji program, Taiji-1 provides the measurement accuracy of laser interferometry system better than 100 pm/Hz[Formula: see text](@10 mHz–1 Hz). Taiji-1 is required to be able to track the motion of test mass in inertial sensor. According to the requirements, four interfering optical paths were designed. By adopting an integrated satellite design and selecting the optical and mechanical materials with low linear expansion coefficient, the high stability of optical path was achieved. By using the DOE method, the alignment errors (position/attitude) of four optical paths were all reduced to below 50 [Formula: see text]m/100 [Formula: see text]rad. In the performance test, the accuracy of laser interferometry system was better than 100 pm/Hz[Formula: see text](@10 mHz–1 Hz), and the modulation signal of inertial sensor was successfully detected. The results show that all technical indexes of optical bench have met or exceeded the design requirements.

SIZE DEPENDENCES OF LINEAR EXPANSION AND VOLUME ELASTICITY OF MONO- AND BIMETALLIC NANOCLUSTERS

Проведена серия молекулярно-динамических экспериментов по охлаждению разупорядоченных металлических наночастиц Au, Cu, Al,Ti и биметаллических наносплавов Au - Cu и Ti - Al с использованием потенциала сильной связи. Получены размерные зависимости коэффициента линейного расширения и модуля упругости для моно- и биметаллических частиц. В первом приближении размерная зависимость коэффициента линейного расширения обратно пропорциональна соответствующей зависимости для температуры плавления наночастицы, что коррелирует с аналитической моделью. Молекулярно-динамические результаты предсказывают более умеренный относительный рост коэффициента линейного расширения, по сравнению с аналитической моделью. Установлено, что модуль упругости увеличивается с уменьшением размера наночастиц. A series of molecular dynamics experiments on cooling disordered Au,Cu, Al,Ti metal nanoparticles and Au - Cu, Ti - Al bimetallic nanoalloys using the tight-binding potential have been performed. The size dependences of the temperature coefficient of linear expansion and the elasticity modulus for mono- and bimetallic particles are obtained. In the first approximation, the size dependence of the linear expansion coefficient is inversely proportional to the corresponding dependence for the melting temperature of a nanoparticle, which correlates with an analytical model. Molecular dynamics results predict a more moderate relative increase in the linear expansion coefficient compared to the analytical model. It was found that the modulus of elasticity increases with decreasing the nanoparticle size.

Advantages of using composite alloys for internal combustion engine pistons

Combustion engine pistons are subject to variable mechanical and thermal loads, and to variable deformations. The article presents the possibilities of using novel composite alloys for the construction of pistons for combustion engines. The novel alloys make it possible to meet high demands, especially for highly load designs, which practically cannot be met by conventional alloys used so far. These high requirements relate to the weight of the pistons, high temperature strength, alloy crystalline structure, abrasive wear resistance, dimensional stability. The requirements for pistons have an impact on the durability of the engine's operation, the level of noise emissions; exhaust gas blow-by into the crankcase, the level of emitted toxic exhaust components, mainly hydrocarbons. The research covered metallography (chemical composition, microstructure), material strength, abrasive wear, and thermal expansion. Investigations of the alloy crystallization process during casting were carried out using the Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) method. The castings were used for metallographic tests. The strength of the samples was tested at room temperature (20° C) and elevated temperature (up to 350° C) on a testing machine equipped with a special climatic chamber. In particular, the article presents Thermal Derivative Analysis curves and representative microstructures of conventional AlSi12 alloy and the novel composite alloy; dependence of the tensile strength versus temperature for the samples of the novel alloy with various nickel content 2% and 4 %; comparison of the tensile strength for conventional alloy and the novel alloy at ambient and 250° C temperature; comparison of abrasive wear of samples, made of novel aluminium alloy and different cast iron; course of the linear expansion coefficient versus temperature for the conventional AlSi12 alloy with incorrect heat treatment; course of the linear expansion coefficient versus temperature for one of tested silumin alloy which expansion coefficient during sample cooling is smaller than during sample heating; course of the linear expansion coefficient versus temperature for the novel composite silumin alloy, after correct heat treatment. The great benefits of using this novel alloy and the introduction of novel alloying elements (in-Situ) have been confirmed in engine research.

Specific Heat and Thermal Expansion Coefficient of Hybrid Epoxy Composites

Thermal behavior of hybrid epoxy composites reinforced with different types of plain weave fabrics and ply orientation at various angles was investigated in this research. It was analyzed their thermal linear expansion coefficient and specific heat measured with Thermomechanical Analyzer (TMA) and Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) respectively. Also, in this paper was studied the influence of carbon black - aramid powder and carbon black - barium ferrite mixtures added into epoxy matrix between certain plies of the hybrid composites. The experimental results showed that the addition of filler mixtures led to a significant decreasing of thermal expansion coefficient and specific heat of the hybrid epoxy composite with carbon outer plies. It was recorded a good structural stability in case of hybrid carbon-glass composite in the temperature range of 40-60�C.

The Collapse of Titanium C-Column due to Thermal Compression

The analysis of structures under higher temperature is important for predicting the ultimate strength of a structure. Therefore, many experimental tests on samples should be undertaken to observe their behaviour and to determine ultimate load. The present work includes the study on a thin-walled C-column made of titanium compressed in an elevated temperature. The phenomenon of buckling and the post-buckling state of columns were investigated during heating or compressing in higher temperature. The tests of compression were conducted for several temperature increments by assuming the same preload to determine the load-carrying capacity. The deformations of columns until total damage were measured by using the non-contact Digital Image Correlation Aramis® System (DICAS). The numerical calculations based on the finite element method (FEM) were performed to validate the empirical results. The full characteristics of one-directional tension tests were taken into account in order for them to be constant or dependent on the temperature change. Numerical computations were conducted by employing Green–Lagrange equations for large deflections and strains. Based on our own experiment, the thermal property of titanium as a linear expansion coefficient was stable up to 300 °C in contrast to its mechanical properties. The paper shows the influence of varying material properties as a function of temperature on the behaviour and load-carrying capacity of columns. These aspects cause thin-walled columns made of titanium to endure, in elevated temperatures, significantly smaller maximum loads. Moreover, the critical buckling loads for several types of stiff supports were compared to the maximum loads of columns. The results obtained indicate that the temperature rise in columns by 175 K with regard to ambient temperature brings about the decrease of the maximum load by a half.