Model test study on the effect of dynamic compaction under low water content

Dynamic compaction is a cost-effective foundation treatment technology, that is widely used in various types and conditions of foundations. However, due to the limitation of natural conditions (water content between 3% and 8%) in north-western China, it is difficult to meet the requirements of the optimal water content during dynamic compaction. To better treat a foundation with a low water content, a series of model tests were carried out by using homemade test equipment to study the influence of the ramming energy and η value on the efficiency of dynamic compaction under a low water content. The results showed that the improvement of the energy level could compensate for the poor effect of dynamic compaction caused by a low water content in arid regions. Compared with that at the optimal water content, the efficiency of dynamic compaction was 58.1% to 66.2% at a low water content and excited the optimal energy level. Increasing the η value was also beneficial to improving the effect of dynamic compaction. Hence, the optimal energy level combined with the appropriate η value is of great merit in treating the foundation of arid regions by using the dynamic compaction method, which provides new parameter suggestions and engineering guidance for dynamic compaction construction in arid areas.

A Nonlinear Inverse Design Problem for a Pipe Type Heat Exchanger Equipped with Internal Z-Shape Lateral Fins and Ribs

A non-linear three-dimensional inverse shape design problem was investigated for a pipe type heat exchanger to estimate the design variables of continuous lateral ribs on internal Z-shape lateral fins for maximum thermal performance factor η. The design variables were considered as the positions, heights, and number of ribs while the physical properties of air were considered as a polynomial function of temperature; this makes the problem non-linear. The direct problem was solved using software package CFD-ACE+, and the Levenberg–Marquardt method (LMM) was utilized as the optimization tool because it has been proven to be a powerful algorithm for solving inverse problems. Z-shape lateral fins were found to be the best thermal performance among Z-shape, S-shape, and V-shape lateral fins. The objective of this study was to include continuous lateral ribs to Z-shape lateral fins to further improve η. Firstly, the numerical solutions of direct problem were solved using both polynomial and constant air properties and then compared with the corrected solutions to verify the necessity for using polynomial air properties. Then, four design cases, A, B, C and D, based on various design variables were conducted numerically, and the resultant η values were computed and compared. The results revealed that considering continuous lateral ribs on the surface of Z-shape lateral fins can indeed improve η value at the design working condition Re = 5000. η values of designs A, B and C were approximately 13% higher than that for Z-shape lateral fins, however, when the rib numbers were increased, i.e., design D, the value of η became only 11.5 % higher. This implies that more ribs will not guarantee higher η value.

Outflows and extended [C ii] haloes in high-redshift galaxies

ABSTRACT Recent stacked ALMA observations have revealed that normal, star-forming galaxies at z ≈ 6 are surrounded by extended (≈10 kpc) [C ii]-emitting haloes, which are not predicted by the most advanced, zoom-in simulations. We present a model in which these haloes are the result of supernova-driven cooling outflows. Our model contains two free parameters, the outflow mass loading factor, η, and the parent galaxy dark matter halo circular velocity, vc. The outflow model successfully matches the observed [C ii] surface brightness profile if η = 3.20 ± 0.10 and $v_{\rm c} = 170 \pm 10 \, \rm km\, s^{-1}$, corresponding to a dynamical mass of ${\approx }10^{11}\, {\rm M}_{\odot }$. The predicted outflow rate and velocity range are $128 \pm 5\, {\rm M}_{\odot }\, {\rm yr}^{-1}$ and 300–500 $\, \rm km\, s^{-1}$, respectively. We conclude that (a) extended haloes can be produced by cooling outflows; (b) the large η value is marginally consistent with starburst-driven outflows, but it might indicate additional energy input from active galactic nuclei; and (c) the presence of [C ii] haloes requires an ionizing photon escape fraction from galaxies fesc ≪ 1. The model can be readily applied also to individual high-z galaxies, as those observed, e.g. by the ALMA ALPINE survey now becoming available.

Accounting for multiplicity in calculating eta Earth

ABSTRACT Using the updated exoplanet population parameters of our previous study, which includes the planetary radius updates from Gaia DR2 and an inferred multiplicity distribution, we provide a revised η⊕ calculation. This is achieved by sampling planets from our derived population model and determining which planets meet our criterion for habitability. To ensure robust results, we provide probabilities calculated over a range of upper radius limits. Our most optimistic criterion for habitability provides an η⊕ value of $0.34\pm 0.02 \frac{\rm planets}{\rm star}$. We also consider the effects of multiplicity and the number of habitable planets each system may contain. Our calculation indicates that $6.4\pm 0.5{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of GK dwarfs have more than one planet within their habitable zone. This optimistic habitability criterion also suggests that $0.036\pm 0.009{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of solar-like stars will harbour five or more habitable planets. These tightly packed highly habitable systems should be extremely rare, but still possible. Even with our most pessimistic criterion, we still expect that $1.8\pm 0.2{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of solar-like stars harbour more than one habitable planet.

Filmwise Condensation of Steam on Pin Fin Arrays Fabricated by Selective Laser Melting

In this study, nine vertical flat plates of pin fin arrays were fabricated by selective laser melting to investigate the possible enhancements of external condensation. These specimens are cylindrical pin fins of the same fin diameter of 300 μm but are of different fin heights (l) and fin pitches (p) from 300 μm to 900 μm. Experiments were conducted in a condensation chamber with near quiescent vapor to simulate free-convection condensation. The aim is to investigate the effects of fin pitch and fin height on the condensation heat transfer performance of the surfaces. The results of this study show that the increase in fin height and the decrease in fin pitch lead to a systematic increase in the condensation heat flux (q''). At the same fin pitch, the increase in fin height from 600 μm to 900 μm resulted in a more significant increase in q'' as compared to the increase in fin height from 300 μm to 600 μm. On the other hand, at the same fin height, a larger increase in q'' is observed when the fin pitch is reduced from 900 μm to 600 μm as compared to the reduction in fin pitch from 600 μm to 300 μm. It can be deduced that increasing the fin height enables the fins to protrude out of the thick condensate film and increases the effective heat transfer area of the surfaces. However, when the fin density is large, it impedes the condensate drainage path and limits the enhancement in q''. The enhancement factor (η), which is the ratio of the average condensation heat flux of a pin fin surface to that of a plain surface, was computed for each specimen. The highest η value of 1.72 was achieved with the specimen of 900 μm fin height and 300 μm fin pitch. Finally, a relationship between η and the dimensionless fin pitch-to-height ratio (p/l) is proposed.

ZnS/SiO2 Passivation Layer for High-Performance of TiO2/CuInS2 Quantum Dot Sensitized Solar Cells

Suppressing the charge recombination at the interface of photoanode/electrolyte is the crucial way to improve the quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) performance. In this scenario, ZnS/SiO2 blocking layer was deposited on TiO2/CuInS2 QDs to inhibit the charge recombination at photoanode/electrolyte interface. As a result, the TiO2/CuInS2/ZnS/SiO2 based QDSSCs delivers a power conversion efficiency (η) value of 4.63%, which is much higher than the TiO2/CuInS2 (2.15%) and TiO2/CuInS2/ZnS (3.23%) based QDSSCs. Impedance spectroscopy and open circuit voltage decay analyses indicate that ZnS/SiO2 passivation layer on TiO2/CuInS2 suppress the charge recombination at the interface of photoanode/electrolyte and enhance the electron lifetime.

Action of Disinfectant Quaternary Ammonium Compounds against Staphylococcus aureus

ABSTRACT Mode-of-action studies concluded that alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride (ADBAC) (a blend of C12, C14 and C16 alkyl homologues) and didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) are both membrane-active agents, possessing subtly different modes of action reflecting early cell interactions against Staphylococcus aureus. ADBAC and DDAC exhibited similar MIC behaviors from 0.4 ppm to 1.8 ppm over an inoculum range of 1 × 105 to 1 × 109 CFU/ml at 35°C. For ADBAC and DDAC, an increased rapidity of killing against S. aureus (final concentration, 2 × 109 CFU/ml) was observed at 35°C compared to 25°C. Concentration exponents (η) for killing were <2.5 for both agents, and temperature influenced the η value. Examination of leakage and kill data suggested that a single leakage marker was not indicative of cell death. ADBAC and DDAC possessed Langmuir (L4) and high-affinity (H3/4) uptake isotherms, respectively. ADBAC molecules formed a single monolayer of coverage of cells at the end of primary uptake, and DDAC formed a double monolayer. Rapid cell leakage occurred at bactericidal concentrations, with total depletion of the intracellular potassium and 260-nm-absorbing pools released in this strict order. Autolysis was observed for ADBAC and DDAC at concentrations of 9 μg/ml (0.0278 mM and 0.0276 mM, respectively) and above, together with the depletion of approximately 30% of the internal potassium pool. Autolysis contributed to ADBAC and DDAC lethality, although high biocide concentrations may have inhibited autolytic enzyme activity.

Design Feasible Area on Water Cooled Thorium Breeder Reactor in Equilibrium States

Thorium as supplied fuel has good candidate for fuel material if it is converted into fissile material 233U which shows superior characteristics in the thermal region. The Shippingport reactor used 233U-Th fuel system, and the molten salt breeder reactor (MSBR) project showed that breeding is possible in a thermal spectrum. In the present study, feasibility of water cooled thorium breeder reactor is investigated. The key properties such as flux, η value, criticality and breeding performances are evaluated for different moderator to fuel ratios (MFR) and burn-ups. The results show the feasibility of breeding for different MFR and burn-ups. The required 233U enrichment is about 2%–9% as charge fuel. The lower MFR and the higher enrichment of 233U are preferable to improve the average burn-up; however the design feasible window is shrunk. This core shows the design feasible window especially in relation to MFR with negative void reactivity coefficient.

Novel Method for Preparation of Low Molecular Weight Natural Rubber Latex

Low molecular-weight natural rubber (LNR) and LNR latex was prepared by oxidative degradation of de-proteinized natural rubber (DPNR) latex in the presence of 1 phr of K2S2O8 and 15 phr of propanal, by shaking at 60 °C. The intrinsic viscosity [η] of DPNR with only K2S2O8 decreased from 7.2 to 5.5 after 2 h and then increased to 6.5 after 3 h. By the addition of propanal, DPNR showed a significant decrease in the [η] value of LNR with [η] of about 0.5 after 5 h of the reaction, while rubber from high-ammonia natural rubber (HANR) latex showed a slight decrease in [η]. The concentration of latex and the kind of surfactant used for stabilizing the latex had little effect on the degradation rate of DPNR latex. The LNR latex is stable as the latex form and the dried rubber coagulated from latex is transparent and colorless. The LNR was a telechelic polymer containing aldehyde and ketone groups at both terminals as determined by NMR and molecular weight analyses.