Mechanical properties, deformation and fracture mechanisms of bimodal Cu under tensile test

Metals with a bimodal grain size distribution have been found to have both high strength and good ductility. However, the coordinated deformation mechanisms underneath the ultrafine-grains (UFGs) and coarse grains (CGs) still remain undiscovered yet. In present work, a bimodal Cu with 80% volume fraction of recrystallized micro-grains was prepared by the annealing of equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) processed ultrafine grained Cu at 473 K for 40 min. The bimodal Cu has an optimal strength-ductility combination (yield strength of 220 MPa and ductility of 34%), a larger shear fracture angle of 83∘ and a larger area reduction of 78% compared with the as-ECAPed UFG Cu (yield strength of 410 MPa, ductility of 16%, shear fracture angle of 70∘, area reduction of 69%). Grain refinement of recrystallized micro-grains and detwinning of annealing growth twins were observed in the fractured bimodal Cu tensile specimen. The underlying deformation mechanisms for grain refinement and detwinning were analyzed and discussed.

The energy absorption behavior of novel composite sandwich structures reinforced with trapezoidal latticed webs

This article proposed an innovative composite sandwich structure reinforced with trapezoidal latticed webs with angles of 45°, 60° and 75°. Four specimens were conducted according to quasi-static compression methods to investigate the compressive behavior of the novel composite structures. The experimental results indicated that the specimen with 45° trapezoidal latticed webs showed the most excellent energy absorption ability, which was about 2.5 times of the structures with vertical latticed webs. Compared to the traditional composite sandwich structure, the elastic displacement and ultimate load-bearing capacity of the specimen with 45° trapezoidal latticed webs were increased by 624.1 and 439.8%, respectively. Numerical analysis of the composite sandwich structures was carried out by using a nonlinear explicit finite element (FE) software ANSYS/LS-DYNA. The influence of the thickness of face sheets, lattice webs and foam density on the elastic ultimate load-bearing capacity, the elastic displacement and initial stiffness was analyzed. This innovative composite bumper device for bridge pier protection against ship collision was simulated to verify its performance. The results showed that the peak impact force of the composite anti-collision device with 45° trapezoidal latticed webs would be reduced by 17.3%, and the time duration will be prolonged by about 31.1%.

Nanoparticles in enhancing microwave imaging and microwave Hyperthermia effect for liver cancer treatment

Hyperthermia therapy is a promising therapy for liver cancer treatment that utilizes external electromagnetic waves to heat the tumor zone to preferentially kill or minimize cancer cells. Nevertheless, it’s a challenge to realize localized heating of the cancer tissue without harming the surrounding healthy tissue. This research proposes to utilize nanoparticles as microwave absorbers to enhance microwave imaging and achieve localized hyperthermia therapy. A realistic 3D abdomen model has been segmented using 3D Slicer segmentation software, and then the obtained segmented CAD model exported to Computer Simulation Technology (CST STUDIO) for applying the Finite Element Modeling (FEM). Next investigating both imaging and treatment capability. Finally, the specific absorption rate (SAR) and temperature distribution were computed without nanoparticles and with different types of nanoparticles such as gold (GNPs) and silver nanoparticles at frequency 915 MHz. By comparing the achived results, it was seen that Silver nanoparticles can make a great enhancement in raising the temperature. However, this result was unsatisfactory but, after adding gold nanoparticles the temperature exceed 42°C, at frequency 915 MHz which is achieving the hyperthermia treatment without harming the nearby healthy tissue, GNPs also can achieve a great enhancement in SAR result

Sandwich panel with in-plane honeycombs in different Poisson's ratio under low to medium impact loads

In this study, a series of in-plane hexagonal honeycombs with different Poisson's ratio induced by topological diversity are studied, considering re-entrant, semi-re-entrant and convex cells, respectively. The crushing strength of honeycomb in terms of Poisson's ratio is firstly presented. In the previous research, we have studied the compression performance of honeycomb with different negative Poisson's ratio. In this study, a comparative study on the local impact resistance of different sandwich panels is conducted by considering a spherical projectile with low to medium impact speed. Some critical criteria (i.e. local indentation profile, global deflection, impact force and energy absorption) are adopted to analyze the impact resistance. Finally, an influential mechanism of Poisson's ratio on the local impact resistance of sandwich panel is studied by considering the variation of core strength and post-impact collapse behavior.

A review on allotropes of carbon and natural filler-reinforced thermomechanical properties of upgraded epoxy hybrid composite

The scarcity of nonrenewable resource motivated inclination towards the environmental-friendly novel materials and development of waste natural filler-based hybrid composite is encouraged to fulfill the material demand. Epoxy resins-based composites are high-performing thermosetting polymers and have outstanding blending properties, good machinability, and low cost. Due to these advantages, thermoset plastic is largely used in a broad range of engineering applications; however, thermomechanical properties of neat epoxy are low. Thus, to enhance the thermomechanical properties of epoxy, it is interfaced materials such as graphite, graphene nanoplatelet, boron, carbon fiber, aluminium, silver, etc. Among various substances, graphene has been deliberated as an acceptable novel filler because of its exceptional properties. In addition to inorganic filler inclusion, natural filler/fiber like hemp, sisal, flax, bamboo, jute, etc. can be utilized in a higher percentage as biodegradable material. The present article assisted to improve thermomechanical properties of neat epoxy. This work identifies and addresses (i) processes used for graphene modification; (ii) treatment utilized for enhancing the binding properties of natural filler; (iii) various natural filler extraction process employed; (iv) neat epoxy modification; and (v) influence of different dimensions of fillers.

Structural and hydrogen storage characterization of nanocrystalline magnesium synthesized by ECAP and catalyzed by different nanotube additives

Ball-milled nanocrystalline Mg powders catalyzed by TiO2 powder, titanate nanotubes and carbon nanotubes were subjected to intense plastic deformation by equal-channel angular pressing. Microstructural characteristics of these nanocomposites have been investigated by X-ray diffraction. Microstructural parameters, such as the average crystallite size, the average dislocation density and the average dislocation distance have been determined by the modified Williamson–Hall analysis. Complementary hydrogen desorption and absorption experiments were carried out in a Sieverts’ type apparatus. It was found that the Mg-based composite catalyzed by titanate nanotubes exhibits the best overall H-storage performance, reaching 7.1 wt% capacity. The hydrogenation kinetic curves can be fitted by the contracting volume function for all the investigated materials. From the fitted parameters, it is confirmed that the titanate nanotube additive results in far the best kinetic behavior, including the highest hydride front velocity.

Effect of polythiophene thickness on hybrid sensor sensitivity

In recent years, hybrid structures have attracted wide consideration because they generate new very interesting properties. In this study, a hybrid gas sensor was developed using a simple fabrication process from the combination of porous silicon (PSi) and polythiophene (PTh). The study of the effect of electropolymerization rate and film thickness of PTh on the sensitivity and the stability of sensor was realized at room temperature. PSi was formed by electrochemical anodization, and it is an interesting material for sensing applications due to its high surface area. However, to avoid its degradation and to preserve its properties over the time, PSi surface was functionalized electrochemically with PTh subsequently to thermal oxidation. PTh as a conductive polymer is known for its high sensitivity and stability to environmental change. Several thicknesses of PTh have been electropolymerized onto the oxidized PSi surface to determine the best conditions for developing a sensitive and stable sensor. PTh thickness was controlled by the number of applied voltammogram cyclic. The characterizations of the different elaborated surfaces were carried out by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, contact angle, and secondary ion mass spectrometry. Finally, we studied the sensitivity, the response time, and the stability of PSi/PTh structures with different PTh thicknesses in the presence of CO2 gas and under cigarette smoke, by performing electrical characterizations, at room temperature.

Effect of laser-assisted ultrasonic vibration dressing parameters of a cubic boron nitride grinding wheel on grinding force, surface quality, and particle morphology

In this article, the laser-assisted ultrasonic vibration dressing technique was applied to the cubic boron nitride (CBN) grinding wheel to study the effect of various process parameters (namely, laser power, dressing depth, feed rate, and grinding wheel speed) on the grinding force, surface quality, and morphological evolution of CBN abrasive particles. The results showed that abrasive particles’ morphology mainly undergoes micro-crushing, local crushing, large-area crushing, macro-crushing, and other morphological changes. The dressing force can be effectively reduced by controlling the dressing process parameters. Besides, grinding tests are performed on the grinding wheel after dressing to reveal specimens’ surface quality. Excellent grinding characteristics and grinding quality of the grinding wheel were obtained by the proposed technique with the optimized process parameters.

Mechanical behaviour of precast prestressed reinforced concrete beam–column joints in elevated station platforms subjected to vertical cyclic loading

Precast-reinforced concrete (RC) structures in urban rail transit projects can provide many advantages over their cast-in-place counterparts. However, lessons learned from past earthquakes show that beam-column joints may be a critical point of these structures and can overestimate the mechanical performance under vertical seismic loadings if not properly understood. This paper presents unbonded and bonded prestressed precast RC beam-column joints for elevated station platforms. Prestressed steel strands are used to provide joints with self-centring capacity. The performance of the proposed joints under vertical cyclic loadings is experimentally investigated and compared to that of monolithic joints in this study. The obtained results demonstrate the good properties of the proposed precast joints in terms of bearing capacity, energy dissipation capacity and ductility control. A comparison with a conventional monolithic beam-column joint indicates the better performance against earthquakes of the proposed precast prestressed joints, and the precast joint with symmetric prestressed steel strands in the top and bottom of the beam exhibits better flexural stiffness and energy dissipation capacity.

Investigation on the relationship between CT numbers and marble failure under different confining pressures

Computed tomography (CT) scanning technology is helpful in investigating rock materials as it can demonstrate the micro structure of rock clearly. Conventional triaxial compression tests and the corresponding graded triaxial loading tests were carried out to investigate the complex failure mechanism of the marble at the Jinping Hydropower Station. After that CT-scanning tests were done on the loaded marble specimens. The test results show that (1) the CT numbers of the specimens have a certain statistical regularity, that is, the CT numbers of the specimens under different confining pressures satisfy the Weibull distribution, as the confining pressure increases, the mean values rise while variances decrease; (2) in the two groups of tests, the average CT numbers corresponding to the conventional triaxial tests are higher than those corresponding to the graded loading tests, but the CT number variances are lower than those of the graded loading tests; and (3) according to meso-damage mechanics, the damage variables of the rock specimens were established based on the definition of CT numbers. The calculation results show that the damage variables decrease with the increase in confining pressure, the damage variables of the rock specimens in the graded loading tests are higher than those in the conventional triaxial test, and the differences between the two loading tests have grown with the increase in confining pressure.