Mechanism Elucidation of High-Pressure Generation in Cellular Metal at High-Velocity Impact

Cellular metals exhibit diverse properties, depending on their geometries and base materials. This study investigated the mechanism of high-pressure generation during the high-velocity impact of unidirectional cellular (UniPore) materials. Cubic UniPore copper samples were mounted on a projectile and subjected to impact loading using a powder gun to induce direct impact of samples. The specimens exhibited a unique phenomenon of high-pressure generation near the pores during compression. We elucidate the mechanism of the high-pressure phenomenon and discuss the pore geometries that contribute to the generation of high pressures.

Qualitative Rating System for Drainability of Roadway Base Materials

Poor drainage of roadway base/subbase materials can lead to increased pore water pressure, reduction of strength and stiffness, and freeze-thaw damage. Base course drainability is dependent on physical properties of the material that affect its water flow and retention behavior including particle size distribution, fines content, density or porosity, the geometric and boundary conditions of the pavement system, and site-specific environmental conditions. Objectives of this project are to quantitatively assess permeability and water retention characteristics of representative roadway base materials, to derive predictive equations for indirect estimation of material properties that control drainability, and to develop and recommend rating systems for assessing more general base materials. Laboratory tests were conducted on 16 samples of materials used in or considered for use in roadway applications to determine grain size distribution, hydraulic conductivity, and soil-water characteristic curves. Results are correlated to grain size characteristics including percent gravel, percent fines, grain size indices (e.g., D10, D30), and unit weight. Procedures are provided to qualitatively assess drainability as “excellent,”“marginal,” or “poor,” from grain size, thereby offering a rationale to reduce pavement life cycle costs, improve safety, realize material cost savings, and reduce environmental impacts.

Analysis of the Mixing of Filler and Base Materials in Arc-Welded Single-Bead Surface Welds Using an EDXS Method

This article deals with an analysis of mixing and determines the admixing rate of a base S355 steel plate in single-bead surface welds by measuring the chemical composition using a plane-scan energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) on metallographic cross-sections. The results show that obtaining a larger number of EDXS measurements does not necessarily lead to obtaining a more accurate admixing rate. Due to the ever-present segregations that are generally near the base material, the disadvantage of this method is the subjective influence of the SEM operator on the estimated admixing rate. To obtain relevant results, a sufficiently wide area of well-mixed melt, including segregations, must be analyzed. This study showed that by using a sufficiently large number of appropriately selected sites with a sufficiently large surface area, it is possible to estimate the admixing rate from the chemical composition with an accuracy of ≥96% for the geometrically determined admixing rate D = 30%. From several equations, the best result showed an equation which is the arithmetic mean of the two different arithmetic means and in which the artificial influencing factor of the segregations of the base material is taken into account. With this equation, the same value of admixing rate, D = 30%, was obtained using the comparative geometric method.

The Potential of Clitoria ternatea L. Extracts as an Alternative Indicator in Acid-Base Titration

Experiments are an important part of the chemistry curriculum. An indicator in the form of a synthesis indicator is commonly used in acid-base materials experiments. The usage of synthetic indicators can result in waste that is both environmentally harmful and costly. The butterfly pea flower is one of the plants that contains anthocyanins, which have the potential to be used as an alternative indication of natural acids and bases. The study aims to determine the acid and base material curriculum and competency indicators, as well as the potential of butterfly pea flower extract as a substitute for synthesis indicators and the practicality of butterfly pea flower extract as a chemical experimental design in SMA/MA. This study employs a descriptive qualitative research method that includes literature review, observation, experimentation, and interviewing. The results showed that the relationship between acid-base materials and experiments was the determination of natural materials as acid-base indicators, the pH of the solution, the identification of acid-base properties, and acid-base titration. The butterfly pea flower indicator was produced from maceration extraction using 96% ethanol as the solvent. The butterfly pea flower indicator gives pink color at pH 1-2, reddish purple at pH 3, light purple at pH 4-5, turquoise at pH 6, bluish green at pH 7, light blue at pH 8-9, green at pH 10, yellowish green at pH 11, greenish yellow at pH 12-13, and yellow at pH 14. The titration step showed that butterfly pea flower indicators could replace synthetic indicators, namely phenolphthalein and methyl orange. Based on the analysis, the butterfly pea flower indicator can be used as an alternative indicator in acid base titration and an alternative experimental design in schools.

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Friction Stir-Welded Dissimilar Joints of ZK60 and Mg-4.6Al-1.2Sn-0.7Zn Alloys

In order to clarify the microstructural evolution and the mechanical property of dissimilar friction stir-welded joints of ZK60 and Mg-4.6Al-1.2Sn-0.7Zn magnesium alloys, two types of arrangement with ZK60 at advancing side (AS) or retreating side (RS) were adopted. The macrostructure and the microstructure of the dissimilar welded joints were discussed, and the microhardness and the transverse tensile properties of the joints were measured. There are three stirring sub-zones with different compositions and two clear interfaces within the joints. Due to the effect of both the original grain size of base materials and the growth of recrystallized grains, in the stir zone (SZ), the grain size of ZK60 increased slightly, while the grain size of Mg-4.6Al-1.2Sn-0.7Zn decreased significantly. The dissolution of precipitates was gradually significant from RS to AS within the SZ due to the gradual increase in strain and heat. The grain refinement led to an increase in hardness, while the dissolution of precipitates resulted in a decrease in hardness. The performance of the joints obtained with ZK60 placed on the RS is slightly better than that of that on the AS. The tensile fracture of both joints occurred at the interface between SZ and the thermos-mechanical affected zone at the AS, and showed a quasi-dissociative fracture.

Prediction of the Shear Tension Strength of Resistance Spot Welded Thin Steel Sheets from High- to Ultrahigh Strength Range

The tensile strength of newly developed ultra-high strength steel grades is now above 1800 MPa, and even new steel grades are currently in development. One typical welding process to join thin steels sheets is resistance spot welding (RSW). Some standardized and not standardized formulas predict the minimal shear tension strength (STS) of RSWed joints, but those formulas are less and less accurate with the higher base materials strength. Therefore, in our current research, we investigated a significant amount of STS data of the professional literature and our own experiments and recommended a new formula to predict the STS of RSWed high strength steel joints. The proposed correlation gives a better prediction than the other formulas, not only in the ultra-high strength steel range but also in the lower steel strength domain.

Denture base adaptation, retention, and mechanical properties of BioHPP versus nano-alumina-modified polyamide resins

Background. Continuous development of denture base materials has led to the introduction of innovative alternatives to polymethyl methacrylate. The present study aimed to evaluate the mechanical properties, adaptation, and retention of alumina nanoparticles (Al2 O3 NPs) modified polyamide resin versus BioHPP (high-performance polymer) denture base materials. Methods. Four groups of specimens, one control (group I) (unmodified polyamide) and two groups (groups II and III) (2.5 and 5 wt% Al2 O3 NP-modified polyamide, respectively) versus BioHPP specimen group (group IV), were tested for surface microhardness and flexural strength. Complete dentures fabricated from 5 wt% Al2 O3 NP-modified polyamide resin and BioHPP were used to evaluate denture base adaptation and retention. Results. The higher concentration in the alumina NP-modified polyamide group (5 wt%) demonstrated significantly higher flexural strength values and insignificantly higher hardness values than the lower concentration (2.5 wt%). There was a significant increase in the BioHPP group in both flexural strength and surface hardness compared to all polyamide groups. A statistically insignificant difference was observed between the two denture base materials regarding mean misfit values of the calculated total tissue surface area and four of the total seven evaluated areas. Satisfactory and comparable retention values were observed for both denture base materials. Conclusion. BioHPP and Al2 O3 NP-modified polyamide resin could be used as a promising alternative denture base material with good adaptation, retention, and mechanical properties.

Gradation Effects on Strength and Deformation Properties of High-Quality Crushed Rock Base Materials

The importance of specifying proper aggregate grading for achieving satisfactory performance in pavement applications has long been recognized. To improve the specifications for superior performance, there is a need to understand how differences in aggregate gradations within the acceptable limits may affect unbound aggregate base behavior. The effects of gradation on strength, modulus, and deformation characteristics of high-quality crushed rock base materials are described here. Two crushed rock types commonly used in constructing heavy-duty granular base layers in the State of Victoria, Australia, with three different gradations each were used in this study. The gradations used represent the lower, medium, and upper gradation limits for heavy-duty base materials specified by the State of Victoria’s road agency (VicRoads). Modified compaction tests were conducted first to determine the moisture-density relationship of all mixes. Further, California bearing ratio (CBR), unconfined compressive strength (UCS), and repeated load triaxial (RLT) tests were then performed to study the effects of different gradations on strength, resilient modulus (MR), and deformation resistance. Further, permanent deformation and MR results were modeled using two popular models for each to explain the effect of gradation on the mixtures’ characteristics. The results indicate that the gradation that provides the best characteristics varies depending on the type of material used. For the materials tested here, coarse and medium gradations provide the best mixture characteristics in relation to CBR, MR, and permanent deformation. Fine gradation mixtures of these materials have lower values of these measures but are still considered acceptable considering relevant specification for the intended application.