Triple-Band Single-Layer Rectenna for Outdoor RF Energy Harvesting Applications

A triple-band single-layer rectenna for outdoor RF energy applications is introduced in this paper. The proposed rectenna operates in the frequency bands of LoRa, GSM-1800, and UMTS-2100 networks. To obtain a triple-band operation, a modified E-shaped patch antenna is used. The receiving module (antenna) of the rectenna system is optimized in terms of its reflection coefficient to match the RF-to-DC rectifier. The final geometry of the proposed antenna is derived by the application of the Moth Search Algorithm and a commercial electromagnetic solver. The impedance matching network of the proposed system is obtained based on a three-step process, including the minimization of the reflection coefficient versus frequency, as well as the minimization of the reflection coefficient variations and the maximization of the DC output voltage versus RF input power. The proposed RF-to-DC rectifier is designed based on the Greinacher topology. The designed rectenna is fabricated on a single layer of FR-4 substrate. Measured results show that our proposed rectenna can harvest RF energy from outdoor (ambient and dedicated) sources with an efficiency of greater than 52%.

Simultaneous Partition Experiment of Divalent Metal Ions between Sphalerite and 1 mol/L (Ni, Mg, Co, Fe, Mn)Cl2 Aqueous Solution under Supercritical Conditions

A simultaneous partition experiment of divalent metal ions was performed between sphalerite and 1 mol/L (Ni, Mg, Co, Fe, Mn)Cl2 aqueous solution under supercritical hydrothermal conditions of 500–800 °C and 100 MPa. The bulk partition coefficient that was defined by KPB(ZnS) = (xMeS/xZnS)/(mMeaq/mZnaq) followed the order of Zn ≑ Co ≑ Ni > Fe > Mn > Mg at all temperatures. In the partition coefficient versus ionic radius (PC–IR) diagrams with the logarithmic value of the bulk partition coefficient (log KPB(ZnS)) on the vertical axis, and the ionic radius of the six-fold coordinated site on the horizontal axis, Ni shows a positive partition anomaly, and the other elements were almost on the PC–IR curve. Based on the PC–IR curve, the optimum ionic radius for sphalerite existed where the ionic radius was slightly larger than Zn (~0.76 Å). A Ni positive partition anomaly may result from its large electronegativity.

The Effect of Bionic 3D Printed Structure Morphology on Skin Friction

Dragonfly has remarkable flight efficiency, with unique wing structural properties such as the surface topological vein structures, corrugation, etc. The object of this paper is to identify how the polygonal patterns of the samples with bionic wing veins affected the skin friction. Four kinds of polygonal three-dimensional (3D) patterns were designed and fabricated by additive manufacturing technology, and the skin friction coefficients (Cf) of various models were measured by the wind channel experiments. The quantitative effects of models on Cf with different Reynolds numbers (Re) in laminar, transitional, and turbulent flow conditions were obtained. Results indicated that the law of whole change of the skin friction coefficient versus Re is the same for all patterns which can be expressed by an empirical formula Cf=kReα. The model with mixed square and pentagonal patterns always generates the highest skin friction in the different flow conditions, which was speculated to play an important role on the attenuation of the flow separation of the dragonfly wing.

Plasmon resonances of graphene-dielectric-metal structures calculated by the method of recurrence relations

Graphene supports surface plasmons in the therahertz range, and compared with noble-metal plasmons, they show an extreme level of field confinement and relatively long propagation distances, with the advantage of being highly tunable via electrostatic field. Nevertheless, its interaction with light is normally rather weak. To obtain a more powerful capability of excite plasmons, a combination of graphene and artificial structures (metamaterials) present a powerful tunability for enhancing light-matter interaction. These features make graphene metamaterials a promising candidate for plasmonics and surface plasmon resonance for biological sensors. In this work, we study the plasmon spectra in a finite number of graphene layers on a metallic-dielectric substrate surrounded by materials with different dielectric constants. It is shown that using standard electromagnetic boundary conditions and solving the recurrence relation (a suitable alternative to transfer matrix method) for the coefficients of the electric potential between graphene layers, an explicit effective dielectric function of the metamaterial can be obtained giving the plasmon dispersion relations. It is found that the metal-dielectric-layered graphene structure supports both, high-energy optical plasmons oscillations and out-of-phase low energy acoustic charge density excitations. Experimentally, the Kretschmann configuration can be used to excite the surface plasmon resonances. It is based on the observation of a sharp minimum in the reflection coefficient versus angle (or wavelength) curve.

Experimental and Mesoscopic Lattice Numerical Investigation of Increase of Chloride Diffusivity Coefficient during Uniaxial Loading Model

This paper presents experimental and simulation results of the change in the chloride diffusion coefficient of concrete C40 (f’c=40 MPa) during axial loading. Test Method for Electrical Indication was used to measure the chloride diffusivity of the concrete sample during the axial loading. A mesoscopic lattice model is proposed to describe the variation of chloride diffusion coefficient versus damage variable. In such a model, the domain of material is discretized randomly by using Voronoi tessellation for the transport element and Delaunay triangulation for a mechanical element. At the mesoscale, the concrete is constituted by three phases: aggregate, cement paste and ITZ, in which aggregate is assumed to be elastic while cement matrix and ITZ are represented by a damage model with softening. The experimental and numerical results show that in the first stage, without crack (s < 40%smax), the chloride diffusion coefficient remains almost constant, however in the crack initiation and propagation stage (s = 60-80%smax) chloride diffusion coefficient increases significantly. An empirical power model is also proposed to describe the increase of the chloride diffusion coefficient versus stress level and damage variable.

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.

New approach at x-ray investigation of microstructure of supersaturated films of CdxPb1-xS solid substitutional solutions

The films of supersaturated CdxPb1-xS solid substitutional solutions (0 < x < 0,25) with thickness 0.6–1.0 μm were synthesized by chemical bath deposition. The dependences of dislocation density, crystallite sizes and texture coefficient versus the cadmium content in the films were determined by analyzing X-ray diffraction spectra with the use of modified method of Williamson—Hall (MWH).