Effect of Silica Fume on the Rheological Properties of Cement Paste with Ultra-Low Water Binder Ratio

The effect of silica fume on the rheological properties of a cement–silica fume–high range water reducer–water mixture with ultra-low water binder ratio (CSHWM) was studied. The results indicate that the W/B ratio and silica fume content have different effects on the rheological parameters, including the yield stress, plastic viscosity, and hysteresis loop area. The shear-thickening influence of CSHWM decreased with the increased silica fume content. When the silica fume content increased from 0% to 35%, the mixture with W/B ratio of 0.19 and 0.23 changed from a dilatant fluid to a Newtonian fluid, and then to a pseudoplastic fluid. When the silica fume content was less than 15%, the yield stress was close to 0. With the increase of silica fume content, the yield stress increased rapidly. The plastic viscosity and hysteresis loop area decreased slightly with the addition of a small amount of silica fume, but increased significantly with the continuous increase of silica fume. Compared with the Bingham and modified Bingham models, the Herschel–Buckley model is more applicable for this CSHWM.

Tailoring Local Hysteresis in Small Clusters of Dipolar Interacting Magnetic Nanoparticles

Using first-principle calculations and kinetic Monte Carlo simulation, we study the local and averaged hysteresis in tiny clusters of [Formula: see text] magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) or [Formula: see text]-mers. We also analyze the variation of local dipolar field acting on the constituent nanoparticles as a function of the external magnetic field. The dipolar interaction is found to promote chain-like arrangement in such a cluster. Irrespective of cluster size, the local hysteresis response depends strongly on the corresponding dipolar field acting on a nanoparticle. In a small [Formula: see text]-mer, there is a wide variation in local hysteresis as a function of nanoparticle position. On the other hand, the local hysteresis is more uniform for larger [Formula: see text]-mer, except for MNPs at the boundary. In the case of superparamagnetic nanoparticle and weak dipolar interaction, the local hysteresis loop area [Formula: see text] is minimal and depends weakly on the [Formula: see text]-mer size. While for ferromagnetic counterpart, [Formula: see text] is considerably large even for weakly interacting MNPs. The value of [Formula: see text] is found to be directly proportional to the dipolar field acting on the nanoparticle. The dipolar interaction and [Formula: see text]-mer size also enhance the coercivity and remanence. There is always an increase in [Formula: see text] with cluster size and dipolar interaction strength. Similarly, the averaged hysteresis loop area [Formula: see text] also depends strongly on the [Formula: see text]-mer size, particle size and dipolar interaction strength. [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] always increase with [Formula: see text]-mer size and dipolar interaction strength. Interestingly, the value of [Formula: see text] saturates for [Formula: see text] and considerable dipolar interaction irrespective of particle size. We believe that this work would help understand the intricate role of dipolar interaction on hysteresis and the organizational structure of MNPs and their usage in drug delivery and hyperthermia applications.

Effect of Esterification Conditions on the Physicochemical Properties of Phosphorylated Potato Starch

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the temperature (15 or 45 °C) and the duration (15–120 min) of the modification process on the selected physicochemical, thermal, and rheological properties of phosphorylated potato starch. The modified starches contained 93.6–98.2 mg P/100 g (dry weight basis, d.w.b.). Phosphorylation caused color changes with a total color difference between the starches below 0.55, but these changes were less than those that were recognizable by the human eye. The thermal analysis showed two opposite processes appearing during the modification: the loosening of the structure (dominant among starches obtained at 15 °C) and the strengthening of the structure (dominant among starches obtained at 45 °C). The higher phosphorylation temperature reduced native starch recovery from 140% to 87–116% and increased the hysteresis loop area from −169 to 1040. All of the pastes made from the modified starches showed a weaker tendency for retrogradation (during 21 days of storage) than native starches. The results of the regression analysis conducted between the properties of the starch pastes obtained at 45 °C indicated that the modification time appeared to be a better indicator of the rate of modification progress than the phosphorus content. The PCA (principal component analysis) results made it possible to distinguish starch phosphates obtained at 15 °C from those obtained at 45 °C and those from natural starch.

Improving the texture and rheology of set and stirred kombucha fermented milk beverages by addition of transglutaminase

The possibilities of manufacturing fermented milk beverages by applying kombucha inoculum concentrated by evaporation and with addition of transglutaminase have been investigated. The main aims of this study were to investigate influence of concentrated kombucha inoculum and the addition of transglutaminase (TG) on textural, rheological and sensory properties of set and stirred fermented milk beverages. The results showed that the addition of transglutaminase had a great influence on textural characteristics and rheological properties of kombucha fermented milk beverages. Firmness and consistency of kombucha fermented milk products were significantly increased with the incorporation of TG compared to the control sample. Set samples with TG addition had approximately 90 % higher hysteresis loop area compared to stirred samples, while hysteresis loop area of stirred samples without TG was 60 % lower compared to set samples. The enzymatic treatment of milk with TG improved texture, rheology and sensorial characteristics of set and stirred fermented milk beverages obtained by concentrated kombucha inoculum.

Effect of Loading and Heating History on Deformation of LaCoO3

The aim of this work was to study cyclic stress–strain deformation behavior of LaCoO3 as a function of loading and heating history. The ferroelastic hysteretic deformation of LaCoO3 at different stresses and temperatures was characterized using effective Young’s modulus, hysteresis loop area and creep strain shift parameters. The deformation behavior of LaCoO3 was not significantly affected by the previous loading and heating history when tested at constant temperature. The high temperature strength and Young’s modulus of LaCoO3 were higher compared to at room temperature. A creep strain shift parameter was introduced to characterize creep strain in LaCoO3 for the first time.

Dynamic stall control over a rotor airfoil based on AC DBD plasma actuation

At present, the control capability of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma actuation covers the flow velocity range of helicopter’s retreating blades, so it is necessary to extend it to the dynamic stall control of rotor airfoils. A DBD plasma actuator was adopted to control the dynamic stall of an oscillating CRA309 airfoil in this paper. The effectiveness of alternating current (AC) DBD plasma actuation on reducing the area of lift hysteresis loop of the oscillating airfoil was verified through pressure measurements at a Reynolds number of 5.2 × 105. The influence of actuation parameters on the airfoil’s lift and moment coefficients was studied. Both steady and unsteady actuation could effectively reduce the hysteresis loop area of the lift coefficients. The flow control effect of dynamic stall was strongly dependent on the history of angle of attack. Compared with the steady actuation, unsteady actuation had more obvious advantages in dynamic stall control, with reducing the area of lift hysteresis loop by more than 30%. The effects of plasma actuation on the airfoil’s flow field at both upward and downward stages were discussed at last.

Stochastic resonance in deformable potential with time-delayed feedback

This paper reports the stochastic resonance (SR) phenomenon with memory effects for a Brownian particle in a potential whose shape is subjected to deformation. We model the deformation in the system by the Remoissenet–Peyrard potential and the memory effects by the time-delayed feedback. The question of the possible influence of time-delayed feedback on the occurrence of SR is then of our interest. We examine numerically the effect of feedback strength as well as time delay on SR phenomenon in terms of hysteresis loop area. It is found that time-delayed feedback has a significant effect on SR and can induce double resonances in the system. We show that the properties of SR are varying, depending on interdependence between feedback strength, time delay and shape parameter. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Vibrational and stochastic resonance in driven nonlinear systems (part 1)’.

Research on Flocculation of Cement Particles in Water

Nowadays, workability is absolutely necessary for piping concrete, which is influenced by characteristics of structure of fresh cement paste. In this paper, the movement of particles in electric field and flocculent units at different W/C were observed, and rheologic characteristics of fresh cement paste at different W/C and the pastes with naphthalene sulphonate (NS) and poly carboxylate (PC) superplasticizers were investigated using rotational viscometer (NXS-11A). It is found that at initial hydration age cement particles carry different electric quantity and electrical property; increment of W/C induces flocculent units more separated, less hysteresis loop area and lower crush point; application of superplasticizers brings much less loop area and indistinct crush point. It is concluded that 1) fresh cement paste is filled with flocculation units of different strength; 2) different units are connected with one another loosely; 3) tunnels for bleeding form in the weakest connecting area. Water can disperse flocculent units to some extent, especially for superplasticizers. However, the latter can’t separate flocculation of cement particles completely.

Dynamic Stall Control Over a Rotor Airfoil Based on AC DBD Plasma Actuation

At present, the control capability of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma actuation covers the flow velocity range of helicopter’s retreating blades, so it is necessary to extend it to the dynamic stall control of rotor airfoils. A DBD plasma actuator was adopted to control the dynamic stall of an oscillating CRA309 airfoil in this paper. The effectiveness of alternating current (AC) DBD plasma actuation on reducing the area of lift hysteresis loop of the oscillating airfoil was verified through pressure measurements at a Reynolds number of 5.2×105. The influence of actuation parameters on the airfoil’s lift and moment coefficients was studied. Both steady and unsteady actuation could effectively reduce the hysteresis loop area of the lift coefficients. The flow control effect of dynamic stall was strongly dependent on the history of angle of attack. Compared with the steady actuation, unsteady actuation had more obvious advantages in dynamic stall control, with reducing the area of lift hysteresis loop by more than 30%. The effects of plasma actuation on the airfoil’s flow field at both upward and downward stages were discussed at last.