Augmentation of low frequency damping via hydrogen-doping in a hybrid shape memory alloy composite

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites hybridized with hydrogen-doped NiTi wires can be used to design structures requiring high stiffness and high damping in the low frequency range, such as helicopter blades. The current work investigates aging and hydrogen-doping for high damping without hydrogen embrittlement. We establish a hydrogenation treatment that (i) results in a response that is repeatable in the martensitic phase and after exposure to composite processing temperatures and (ii) increases the loss factor in NiTi wires by nearly 470%. By embedding H-doped wires exhibiting the highest damping into the interlayers of a [0/±45]s carbon/epoxy laminate at a volume fraction of 0.1, the hybrid NiTi-CFRP composite loss factor increases by 170%. The measured dynamic properties were found to be close to micromechanical predictions based on the properties of the NiTi and CFRP.

Problems of Hydrogen Doping in the Methane Fermentation Process and of Energetic Use of the Gas Mixture

This article discusses the technology for doping hydrogen into the fermenter to increase methane production and the amount of energy in the mixture. Hydrogen doping is anticipated to enable more carbon to be applied to produce methane. Hydrogen is proposed to be produced by using excess electricity from, for example, off-peak electricity hours at night. The possibilities of using a mixture of hydrogen and biogas for combustion in boilers and internal combustion engines have been determined. It has been proven that the volumetric addition of hydrogen reduces the heat of combustion of the mixture. Problems arising from hydrogen doping during the methane fermentation process have been identified.