The synthesis of high purity intermetallic FeAl nanoparticles using the flow-levitation (FL) method was reported. Iron and aluminium droplets were levitated stably at about 2 230 °C. The morphology, crystal structure and chemical composition of FeAl nanoparticles were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM, X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive spectrometry. The results show that the average particle size of these nanoparticles is about 34.5 nm. Measurements of the d-spacing from X-ray diffraction and electron diffraction studies confirm that the intermetallic nanoparticles have the same crystal structure (B2) as the bulk FeAl. A thin oxidation coating is formed around the particles when being exposed to air. Based on the XPS measurements, the surface coating of the FeAl nanoparticles is composed of Fe2O3 and FeAl2O4. Besides, hysteresis curve reveals that saturation magnetization (Ms) of FeAl is 1.66 A/m2, and the coercivity is about 1.214×103 A/m.
The electrochemical corrosion behavior of Ti(C,N)-based cermets with different Mo2C additions was investigated in freely aerated 10% H2SO4 and potentiodynamic polarization of all the materials was conducted from −0.5 to 1.5 V. There are two passive regions for all polarization curves. The first should be attributed to passive film formation due to Ti(C,N), while the second may be due to the presence of Ni. Corrosion current density increases with Mo2C content increasing, from 2.06×10−3 to 6.70×10−3 mA/cm2. It is indicated that the corrosion resistance of Ti(C,N)-based cermets decreases with the increase of Mo2C addition. A skeleton of Ti(C,N) gains is observed after dissolution of Ni. The inner rim of cermets, rich in Mo2C, is corroded along with Ni binder and is more serious with the increase of Mo2C content. The secondary carbide Mo2C can be oxidized and dissolved in sulphuric acid.
A new method named rotating extrusion was developed to mitigate residual distortion of thin-plate weldments. The basic principle and characteristic of rotating extrusion as well as an efficient rotating extrusion device were introduced. Systematic trials were conducted to investigate the influence of several technological parameters including the distance between the extrusion tool and welding torch, the pressure acting on weldment, the dimension of the extrusion tool and its rotational speed on distortion control effect. Experimental results show that, as for 2A12T4 aluminum alloy weldment with 2 mm in thickness, 150 mm in width and 350 mm in length, when appropriate technological parameters are adopted, rotating extrusion can reduce its buckling deflection to below 3% of the original value. Implementing rotating extrusion during welding with an extrusion tool more than 100 mm away from the welding torch may achieve better distortion mitigation effect.
Effect of tempering temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties of AISI 6150 steel was investigated. All samples were austenitized at 870 °C for 45 min followed by oil quenching, and then tempered at temperatures between 200 and 600 °C for 60 min. The results show that the microstructure of tempered sample at 200 °C mainly consists of tempered martensite. With increasing the tempered temperature, the martensite transforms to the ferrite and carbides. The ultimate tensile strength, the hardness and the retained austenite decrease with increasing tempered temperature, and 0.2% yield strength increases when the temperature increases from 200 to 300 °C and then decreases with increasing the temperature, but the elongation and impact energy increase with increasing the tempering temperature.
Based on hot metal pretreatment (HMPT)-basic oxygen furnace (BOF)-Rheinstahl Heraeus (RH)-compact strip production (CSP) process, parameters controlling on cold rolling deep drawing substrate SPHE were investigated during smelting and rolling process by composition design and technology control. The influence of parameters on chemical compositions, mechanical properties and microstructure was revealed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results show that, 1) main chemical components in SPHE are w(C)≤40×10−6, w(Si)≤ 0.01%, w(S)≤0.009%, w(N)≤20×10−6, w(O)≤ 25×10−6; 2) main mechanical properties of the SPHE are σs=274 MPa, σb=334 MPa, A=48.9%; 3) main performances of deep drawing quality (DDQ) grade steel produced by SPHE are as follows, transversely σs=167 MPa, σb=298 MPa, n=0.219, r=2.46; vertically σs=166 MPa, σb=298 MPa, n=0.226, r=2.39; in 45° direction σs=171 MPa, σb=308 MPa, n=0.214, r=2.26; 4) microstructure of DDQ is ferrite, average grain size is Grade 7.5, and inclusion size is 3–10 μm.
A new approach which adopted the idea of coupling bionics to improve erosion resistance was presented, by taking the desert scorpion as the research object. The anti-erosion characteristic rules and mechanism of desert scorpion’s surface under the dynamics effect of gas/solid mixed media were researched, especially the comprehensive influence mechanism of surface morphology, microstructure, creature flexibility and many other factors was studied. Simulation by CFD software was applied to predict the relative erosion severity. Samples with the coupled bionic configurations and flexibility were produced. Experiment optimum design theory was employed to design experiment scheme. Silica sand of particle size of 105–830 μm was used as the erodent. The erosion tests were carried out to validate the simulation results obtained. It is shown that the predicted results are in agreement with those obtained from the experiment. And contrast tests were carried out at the best and worst test points of erosion resistance for four samples. Contrast tests show that the erosion resistance trend occurs in such order with the best erosion resistance as coupling sample, groove, smooth and flexibility, and smooth, and the increasing rate of erosion resistances in sequence of 12.08%, 8.87%, 6.03% in the best test point. But in the poorest point, the increasing rate of erosion resistance is in sequence of 15.64%, 9.53%, 6.59%. The morphologies of eroded surface were examined by the scanning electron microscope, and the possible wear mechanism was discussed.
By using nonequilibrium Green’s function method and first-principles calculations, the electronic transport properties of doped C60 molecular devices were investigated. It is revealed that the C60 molecular devices show the metal behavior due to the interaction between the C60 molecule and the metal electrode. The current-voltage curve displays a linear behavior at low bias, and the currents have the relation of M1>M3>M4>M2 when the bias voltage is lower than 0.6 V. Electronic transport properties are affected greatly by the doped atoms. Negative differential resistance is found in a certain bias range for C60 and C58BN molecular devices, but cannot be observed in C59B and C59N molecular devices. These unconventional effects can be used to design novel nanoelectronic devices.
A simple and sensitive high performance liquid chromatography-chemical vapour generation-atom fluorescent spectrometry (HPLC-CVG-AFS) method was developed and validated for simultaneous determination mercury species in Su-He-Xiang-Wan (SHXW) and in tissues of rats, respectively. The species of mercury were separated by a Venusil MP-C18 (5 μm, 150 mm×4.6 mm) column with the optimized mobile phase containing 5% (w/v) acetonitrile, 0.01 mol/L L-cysteine and 0.06 moL/L ammonium acetate. The tissues of rats were freeze-dried after giving the medicine for 10 d, and then added into the solution containing 10% (w/v) HCl, 1% (w/v) sulfocarbamide and 0.15% (w/v) KCl for increasing extraction rate. The resolutions of Hg2+, MeHg and EtHg were 1.5 and 2.9, respectively. The detection limits of Hg2+, MeHg and EtHg were 2.0, 1.0 and 0.9 ng/mL, respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of inter- and intra-day precisions ranged from 1.56% to 2.86%. The recovery rates of three different adding level were 87%–101% (n=6), and the RSDs were smaller than 8.2%. The results show that no MeHg and EtHg were detected in rat tissues. Only soluble mercury (Hg2+) was determined for the mercury species of SHXW in rat tissues.
Vehicle suspension design includes a number of compromises to provide good leveling of stability and ride comfort. Optimization of off-road vehicle suspension system is one of the most effective methods, which could considerably enhance the vehicle stability and controllability. In this work, a comprehensive optimization of an off-read vehicle suspension system model was carried out using software ADAMS. The geometric parameters of suspension system were optimized using genetic algorithm (GA) in a way that ride comfort, handling and stability of vehicle were improved. The results of optimized suspension system and variations of geometric parameters due to road roughness and different steering angles were presented in ADAMS and the results of optimized and conventional suspension systems during various driving maneuvers were compared. The simulation results indicate that the camber angle variations decrease by the optimized suspension system, resulting in improved handling and ride comfort characteristics.
The bentonite-water mixture was selected as the substitute of seabed sediments according to the in-situ measurement data of sediments 15–20 cm deep in China’s ocean poly-metallic mining contract area and the soft seabed sediments could be simulated with certain proportion of the bentonite and water; besides, based on the theory on the interaction between the vehicle and ground and referenced to Bekker’s apparatus and related experimental methods, a scenario on the experimental system of the pressure-sinkage characteristics of interaction between the track of tracked vehicle and soft seabed sediments was designed. The pressure-sinkage experiments were performed with different dimensions of penetration plates. The “pressure-sinkage” model based on Bekker’s formula and correlation parameters were obtained to describe the corresponding characteristics of the seabed sediments and a smart calibration model on the pressure-sinkage characteristic of the track was established based on the function chain neural network, which could provide boundary loading conditions for simulation analysis of the tracked vehicle moving on the seabed.
With comprehensive considerations of the operational safety and collection efficiency for the tracked miner collecting the seafloor poly-metallic nodules, two new improved mining paths for the miner on the deep seafloor were proposed. Compared to the conventional mining path, the design principles and superiorities of the two new paths are that the miner turning with relative long radius should avoid large sinkage and high slip, so as to ensure its operational safety, while the space between its straight-line trajectories before and after the turning is optimum, which is designed as the total width of the miner, and collect nodules as more as possible, so as to ensure its collection efficiency. To realize the new mining paths, theoretical designs and quantitative calculations were carried out to determine the exact positions for the speed controls of the miner during its whole operation process. With the new dynamic model of the miner, and through regulations of the speeds of the left and right tracks of the miner on the exact motion positions according to the theoretical calculations, the two new improved mining paths for the miner on the seafloor were successfully simulated, thus the turning radius of the miner in the simulation is about 21.8 m, while the distance between the straight-line trajectories before and after the turning is about 5.2 m. The dynamic simulation results preliminarily prove the feasibility of these two new mining paths, and further can provide important theoretical guidance and useful technical reference for the practical tracked miner operation and control on the seafloor.
A fiber Bragg grating temperature sensor network was designed to implement the real-time health monitoring of the aluminum reduction cell. The heat transfer process was simulated using software ANSYS, and an on-line shell monitoring system was established based on optical sensing technology. According to aluminum reduction cell heat transfer theory, the 2D slice finite element model was developed. The relationship between shell temperature and cell status was discussed. Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) was chosen as the temperature sensor in light of its unique advantages. The accuracy of designed FBG temperature sensors exceeds 2 °C, and good repeatability was exhibited. An interrogation system with 104 sensors based on VPG (volume phase grating) filter was established. Through the long-term monitoring on running state, the status of the aluminum reduction cell, including security and fatigue life could be acquired and estimated exactly. The obtained results provide the foundation for the production status monitoring and fault diagnosis. Long-term test results show good stability and repeatability which are compatible with electrolysis process.
In order to accurately describe the dynamic characteristics of flight vehicles through aerodynamic modeling, an adaptive wavelet neural network (AWNN) aerodynamic modeling method is proposed, based on subset kernel principal components analysis (SKPCA) feature extraction. Firstly, by fuzzy C-means clustering, some samples are selected from the training sample set to constitute a sample subset. Then, the obtained samples subset is used to execute SKPCA for extracting basic features of the training samples. Finally, using the extracted basic features, the AWNN aerodynamic model is established. The experimental results show that, in 50 times repetitive modeling, the modeling ability of the method proposed is better than that of other six methods. It only needs about half the modeling time of KPCA-AWNN under a close prediction accuracy, and can easily determine the model parameters. This enables it to be effective and feasible to construct the aerodynamic modeling for flight vehicles.
The error of the conventional velocity numerical integration algorithm was evaluated through the Taylor series expansion. It is revealed that neglecting the second- and higher-order terms of attitude increments will lead to the velocity numerical integration error, which is proportional to the triple cross product of the angular rate and specific force. A selection criterion for the velocity numerical integration algorithm was established for strapdown inertial navigation system (SINS) in spinning missiles. The spin angular rate with large amplitude will cause the accuracy of the conventional velocity numerical integration algorithm in SINS to decrease dramatically when the ballistic missile is spinning fast. Therefore, with the second- and higher-order terms of attitude increments considered, based on the rotation vector and the velocity translation vector, the velocity numerical integration algorithm was optimized for SINS in spinning ballistic missiles. The superiority of the optimized algorithm over the conventional one was analytically derived and validated by the simulation. The optimized algorithm turns out to be a better choice for SINS in spinning ballistic missiles and other high-precision navigation systems and high-maneuver applications.
To solve dynamic optimization problem of chemical process (CPDOP), a hybrid differential evolution algorithm, which is integrated with Alopex and named as Alopex-DE, was proposed. In Alopex-DE, each original individual has its own symbiotic individual, which consists of control parameters. Differential evolution operator is applied for the original individuals to search the global optimization solution. Alopex algorithm is used to co-evolve the symbiotic individuals during the original individual evolution and enhance the fitness of the original individuals. Thus, control parameters are self-adaptively adjusted by Alopex to obtain the real-time optimum values for the original population. To illustrate the whole performance of Alopex-DE, several varietal DEs were applied to optimize 13 benchmark functions. The results show that the whole performance of Alopex-DE is the best. Further, Alopex-DE was applied to solve 4 typical CPDOPs, and the effect of the discrete time degree on the optimization solution was analyzed. The satisfactory result is obtained.
The Gaussian mixture model (GMM), k-nearest neighbor (k-NN), quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA), and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were compared to classify wrist motions using surface electromyogram (EMG). Effect of feature selection in EMG signal processing was also verified by comparing classification accuracy of each feature, and the enhancement of classification accuracy by normalization was confirmed. EMG signals were acquired from two electrodes placed on the forearm of twenty eight healthy subjects and used for recognition of wrist motion. Features were extracted from the obtained EMG signals in the time domain and were applied to classification methods. The difference absolute mean value (DAMV), difference absolute standard deviation value (DASDV), mean absolute value (MAV), root mean square (RMS) were used for composing 16 double features which were combined of two channels. In the classification methods, the highest accuracy of classification showed in the GMM. The most effective combination of classification method and double feature was (MAV, DAMV) of GMM and its classification accuracy was 96.85%. The results of normalization were better than those of non-normalization in GMM, k-NN, and LDA.
Different schemes, which performed channel, power and time allocation to enhance the network performance of overall end-to-end throughput for cooperative cognitive radio network, were investigated. Interference temperature limit of corresponding primary users was considered. Due to the constraints caused by multiple dual channels, the power allocation problem is non-convex and NP-hard. Based on geometric programming (GP), a novel and general algorithm, which turned the problem into a series of GP problems by logarithm approximation (LASGP), was proposed to efficiently solve it. Numerical results verify the efficiency and availability of the LASGP algorithm. Solutions of LASGP are provably convergent and globally optimal point can be observed as well as the channel allocation always outperforms power or timeslot allocation from simulations. Compared with schemes without any allocation, the scheme with joint channel, power and timeslot allocation significantly increases the overall end-to-end throughput by no less than 70% under same simulation conditions. This scheme can not only maximize the throughput by increasing total maximum power of relay node, but also outperform other resource allocation schemes when lower total maximum power of source and relay nodes is restricted. As the total maximum power of source node increases, the scheme with joint channel and timeslot allocation performs best in all schemes.
An adaptive technique adopting quantum genetic algorithm (QGA) for antenna impedance tuning is presented. Three examples are given with different types of antenna impedance. The frequency range of the dual standards is from 1.7 to 2.2 GHz. Simulation results show that the proposed tuning technique can achieve good accuracy of impedance matching and load power. The reflection coefficient and VSWR obtained are also very close to their ideal values. Comparison of the proposed QGA tuning method with conventional genetic algorithm based tuning method is also given, which shows that the QGA tuning algorithm is much faster. Moreover, the proposed method can be useful for software defined radio systems using a single antenna for multiple mobile and wireless bands.
Similarity measure design for discrete data group was proposed. Similarity measure design for continuous membership function was also carried out. Proposed similarity measures were designed based on fuzzy number and distance measure, and were proved. To calculate the degree of similarity of discrete data, relative degree between data and total distribution was obtained. Discrete data similarity measure was completed with combination of mentioned relative degrees. Power interconnected system with multi characteristics was considered to apply discrete similarity measure. Naturally, similarity measure was extended to multi-dimensional similarity measure case, and applied to bus clustering problem.
The new techniques were presented for preventing undesirable distance relay maloperation during voltage collapse and power swings in transmission grids. Initially, the work focused on the development of a fast detection of voltage collapse and a three-phase fault at transmission lines by using under impedance fault detector (UIFD) and support vector machine (SVM). Likewise, an intelligent approach was developed to discriminate a fault, stable swing and unstable swing, for correct distance relay operation by using the S-transform and the probabilistic neural network (PNN). To illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed techniques, simulations were carried out on the IEEE 39-bus test system using the PSS/E and MATLAB software.
The stoichiometric ratios and related regimes, which can promote anti-flooding of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) with in-plate adverse-flow flow-field (IPAF), were investigated. Two flow combinations, which are the simple and complex adverse-flow between plates (ABP) that can be realized by IPAF, were employed. Constant stoichiometric ratios examination indicates that the complex ABP could improve anti-flooding of PEMFC better in the medium (greater than 200 mA/cm2 and less than 1 000 mA/cm2) and high (greater than 1 000 mA/cm2) current densities than the simple ABP. More stoichiometric ratios were introduced to find the cathode critical stoichiometry. Under the condition of cathode critical stoichiometry, the maximal local relative humidity of both electrodes of complex ABP is equal to 100% and below while the anti-flooding of the cathode of simple ABP is not satisfactory in the medium and high current densities. Further study shows that the mechanism of fuel cell, which is the interdependence between the electrodes effect, can make significant contribution to anti-flooding.
The aniline degradation by persulfate activated with ferrous ion (Fe2+) was investigated in batch reactor at ambient temperature. The experimental factors in aqueous solutions including persulfate concentration, Fe2+ concentration, pH and ionic strength level were discussed. It is demonstrated that, aniline degradation rate increases with increasing persulfate concentration, but much more ferrous ion inhibits the aniline degradation. When the aniline concentration is 0.10 mmol/L, the maximum aniline degradation occurs at the S2O82− to Fe2+ molar ratio of 250/5 at pH 7.0. In the pH range of 5.0–8.5, increasing pH causes higher aniline degradation. What’s more, the increase of ionic strength in solution causes inhibiting in the reaction. Produced intermediates during the oxidation process were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technology. And degradation pathways of aniline were also tentatively proposed.
Rhamnolipid production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027 with waste frying oil as sole carbon source was studied using response surface method. Cultures were incubated in shaking flask with temperature, NO3− and Mg2+ concentrations as the variables. Meanwhile, fed-batch fermentation experiments were conducted. The results show that the three variables are closely related to rhamnolipid production. The optimal cultivation conditions are of 6.4 g/L NaNO3, 3.1 g/L MgSO4 at 32 °C, with the maximum rhamnolipid production of 6.6 g/L. The results of fed-batch fermentation experiments show that feeding the oil in two batches can enhance rhamnolipid production. The best time interval is 72 h with the maximum rhamnolipid production of 8.5 g/L. The data are potentially useful for mass production of rhamnolipid on oil waste with this bacterium.
The differences between the formation processes of lab backfill samples and field backfill were analysed. An improved sampling mold, containing an outer box shell and inner sampling mold, was put forward. The new and traditional test molds were applied to make subsequent-backfill samples of Yong-ping Copper Mine. The observation of mass fraction and theory analysis of settlement and distribution of tailing particles were carried out. The research results show that the magnitude of the strength of the backfill forming in new mold is lower than that of backfill forming in traditional mold, and the biggest gap amounts to 36%.
In the case of unknown weights, theories of multi-attributed decision making based on interval numbers and grey related analysis were used to optimize mining methods. As the representative of independence for the indicator, the smaller the correlation of indicators is, the greater the weight is. Hence, the weights of interval numbers of indicators were determined by using correlation coefficient. Relative closeness based on positive and negative ideal methods was calculated by introducing distance between interval numbers, which made decision making more rational and comprehensive. A new method of ranking interval numbers based on normal distribution was proposed for the optimization of mining methods, whose basic properties were discussed. Finally, the feasibility and effectiveness of this method were verified by theories and practice.
The effect of solution conditions on the depression of chlorite using CMC (carboxymethyl cellulose) as depressant was studied through flotation tests and adsorption measurements. Flotation and adsorption tests were first studied as a function of initial solution conditions. The results show that electrostatic repulsion between CMC molecules and chlorite surface hinders the approach of the CMC molecules to the chlorite surface and CMC adsorbs to a great extent at high ionic concentration (10−4) mol/L ions as opposed to 0 mol/L ions) or low pH (3 as opposed to 9). The enhanced adsorption density is attributed to the decreased electrostatic repulsion between CMC and mineral surface. The solution condition that yielded the lowest initial adsorbed amount (0 mol/L ions, pH 9) was used as a reference to investigate the response of the adsorbed CMC layer to a switch in solution conditions after adsorption. The two kinds of solution switches (reducing the solution pH or increasing ionic concentration) result in an increased depression effect of CMC on chlorite flotation, as a result of conformational change of CMC pre-adsorbed layer. The change in the flotation recovery of the CMC-coated chlorite following the solution switches is reversible.
The long-term reclamation-induced ground subsidence in Macao, a coastal city of southern China was investigated. Persistent scatterer interferometry (PSI) technique was applied to retrieve the deformation rate in Macao during the period from April 2003 to August 2010 with a total of 41 scenes of descending ASAR data sets. The PSI-retrieved results show a relatively stable pattern in Macao Peninsula, Taipa Island and Coloane Island, with an average subsidence velocity of −3 mm/a. In contrast, relatively large subsidence rates are highlighted in Cotai area, a new reclamation land in 1990s, in which an average subsidence velocity is about −10 mm/a. A consistent relationship between the PSI results and the leveling measurements indicate that this PSI technique is an effective tool to monitor the reclamation-induced ground subsidence with a high accuracy and adequate spatial details. Accordingly, the valuable ground subsidence results generated by PSI can be used not only for early detection and remedial activities of potential settlement of building, but also for helping the local government to formulate regional sustainable development planning and decision-making in disaster prevention and mitigation.
Based on the slip-line field theory, a two-dimensional slip failure mechanism with mesh-like rigid block system was constructed to analyze the ultimate bearing capacity problems of rough foundation within the framework of the upper bound limit analysis theorem. In the velocity discontinuities in transition area, the velocity changes in radial and tangent directions are allowed. The objective functions of the stability problems of geotechnical structures are obtained by equating the work rate of external force to internal dissipation along the velocity discontinuities, and then the objective functions are transformed as an upper-bound mathematic optimization model. The upper bound solutions for the objective functions are obtained by use of the nonlinear sequential quadratic programming and interior point method. From the numerical results and comparative analysis, it can be seen that the method presented in this work gives better calculation results than existing upper bound methods and can be used to establish the more accurate plastic collapse load for the ultimate bearing capacity of rough foundation.
Routine reliability index method, first order second moment (FOSM), may not ensure convergence of iteration when the performance function is strongly nonlinear. A modified method was proposed to calculate reliability index based on maximum entropy (MaxEnt) principle. To achieve this goal, the complicated iteration of first order second moment (FOSM) method was replaced by the calculation of entropy density function. Local convergence of Newton iteration method utilized to calculate entropy density function was proved, which ensured the convergence of iteration when calculating reliability index. To promote calculation efficiency, Newton down-hill algorithm was incorporated into calculating entropy density function and Monte Carlo simulations (MCS) were performed to assess the efficiency of the presented method. Two numerical examples were presented to verify the validation of the presented method. Moreover, the execution and advantages of the presented method were explained. From Example 1, after seven times iteration, the proposed method is capable of calculating the reliability index when the performance function is strongly nonlinear and at the same time the proposed method can preserve the calculation accuracy; From Example 2, the reliability indices calculated using the proposed method, FOSM and MCS are 3.823 9, 3.813 0 and 3.827 6, respectively, and the according iteration times are 5, 36 and 106, which shows that the presented method can improve calculation accuracy without increasing computational cost for the performance function of which the reliability index can be calculated using first order second moment (FOSM) method.
A new type of pit supporting structure, which was tested and verified using the sensor monitoring technology, was presented. The new supporting structure is assembled by prefabricated steel structural units. The adjacent steel structural units are jointed with fasteners, and each steel structural unit has a certain radian and is welded by two steel tubes and one piece of steel disc. In order to test and verify the reliability of the new supporting structure, the field tests are designed. The main monitoring programs include the hoop stress of supporting structure, lateral earth pressure, and soil deformation. The monitoring data of the field tests show that the new supporting structure is convenient, reliable and safe.
A series of well-designed full-scale destructive load tests were conducted on six bored piles to investigate the influence of loose debris at the pile tip on end resistance. The results show that soft debris below the pile tip will weaken the mobilization of end resistance. The ultimate tip resistance of post-grouted pile is 2.05 times that of the pile without post-grouting and the ultimate tip resistance in the second load cycle is 2.31 times that of pile in the first load cycle. The relationship between unit end resistance and displacement follows a linear model and a bilinear mode in the first load cycle and the second load cycle, respectively, whereas the unit end resistance-displacement response of post-grouted bored pile can be simulated using a bilinear mode. The critical end resistance ranges between 2 000 kN and 3 000 kN and the critical displacement ranges between 2.5 mm and 4.5 mm in the bilinear mode. As for piles rested on moderately-weathered peliticsiltstone, the socketed length has no effect on the end resistance because of the existence of loose debris.
The simplified analysis method based on the static equilibrium is generally adopted for raft design. The secondary stress of superstructure due to the differential settlement of the foundation is neglected, which leads to larger support moments and longitudinal bending of raft compared with real values. The spring constitutive relation of composite foundation is obtained by the flat plate loading tests in Karst region. The interaction between the spring and the raft is equivalent to the interaction between the composite foundation and the raft. The model for superstructure-raft-composite foundation interaction analysis is thus established and the raft is designed. This method not only considers the nonlinear properties of composite foundation but also analyzes the influence of superstructure on bending moment and deformation of raft. Compared with the inverted floor method, the calculated values of moment become more reasonable and uneven settlements are considered. This can be references to the design of raft foundation in similar regions.
Regarding excavation-damaged zone (EDZ) around underground opening as non-homogeneous rockmass with spatial deterioration effect on stuffiness and strength, a parametric model of EDZ using radius-displacement-dependent deformation modulus (RDDM) was proposed. Considering the nonlinearity characteristic of deformation and locality otherness of surrounding rock, deterioration parameter field of deformation modulus of rockmass around opening was quantitatively calculated through a given function. Applicability for multi-cavern condition and parameter sensibility of the model was analyzed by numerical experiments using synthetic data. Furthermore, the model was applied to identify EDZ of underground caverns of Pubugou hydropower station by calculating deterioration parameter field. Based on the parametric analysis of spatial effect and geological investigation, it is recognized that large radial deformation of deep fractured rock at the spandrel position and insufficient supporting bolts mainly result in great deformation pressure to act on the shotcrete and cause partial crack and spalling. It is shown that deterioration parameter field along the longitudinal axis of main powerhouse is evidently non-homogeneous in space and distributes exponentially along the radius from the opening. The model provides a simple and convenient way to identify the EDZ in the working state for rapid construction feedback analysis and support optimization of underground cavern from quantitative point of view and also aids in interpreting monitoring displacements and estimating support requirements.
The mechanical properties of outwash deposits which are taken as unconsolidated geo-materials with the characteristics of non-uniformity, heterogeneity and multiphase have attracted much attention in engineering. According to the results of laboratory direct shear test on the remolded samples, the soil particle parameters of numerical model based on in-situ particle size cumulative curves and 3D granular discrete element method were determined. Then, numerical experiments on different lithology, stone content and gradation composition were conducted. The results show that it is not a flat surface but a shear band that yields in the sample. The curve of particle velocity vs distance from the designed shear surface of test model that is taken as a datum plane in the vertical section of sample shows in “S” shape. The shear disturbance area is about twice the maximum diameter of stone blocks. The greater the stiffness of stone is, the rougher the shear surface is. The shear strength of outwash deposits is largely controlled by lithology and stone content, and the bite force between stone blocks is the root reason of larger friction angle. It is also shown that strain hardening and low shear dilatancy occur under high confining pressure as well as possibility of shear shrinkage. But it is easy to behave shear dilatation and strain softening under low confining pressure. The relationship between particle frictional coefficient and stone content presents an approximately quadratic parabola increase. The strain energy first increases and then drops with the increase of frictional energy. The cohesion increases with soil stiffness increasing but decreases with stone stiffness increasing. Numerical results are consistent with the laboratory test results of remolded samples, which indicate that this method can be a beneficial supplement to determine the parameters of engineering deposit bodies.
Air content, spacing factor and specific surface of fresh concrete and hardened concrete with different air contents, slumps and mineral admixtures (fly ash, slag, fly ash + slag, fly ash + slag + silica fume composite) were studied by the air-void analyzer (AVA) method and the microscopical method. The correlations between the test results obtained from different methods were analyzed. The results show that, there is a close correlation of air content and spacing factor between the fresh concrete and the hardened concrete, but the specific surface correlation is weak. The air content of concrete measured by the AVA method is smaller than that of the pressure method and the microscopical method, because AVA device captures only the air voids with the size smaller than 3 mm. Spacing factor of the fresh concrete measured by the AVA method is greater than that of the hardened concrete measured by the microscopical method, while the specific surface is smaller. When the criterion of 4%–7% air content measured by the pressure method and microscopical method is acceptable for concrete freezing-thawing (F-T) durability in cold weather, the air content measured by the AVA method should be 2.4%–4.6%. For the concrete F-T durability, when the criterion of the spacing factor measured by the microscopical method is 300 μm, the spacing factor measured by the AVA method should be 360 μm.
The low field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), as a nondestructive and noninvasive technique, was employed to investigate the water distribution and content in cement paste with different water-to-cement ratio (w/c ratio) during early and later hydration stages. From the water distribution spectrum deduced from relaxation time distribution in paste, it is suggested that the water fills in the capillary pores at initial period, and then diffuses to the mesopores and gel pores in hydration products with the hydration proceeding. The decrease of peak area in water distribution spectrum reflects the transformation from physically bound water to chemically bound water. In addition, based on the connection between relaxation time and pore size, the relative content changes of water in various states and constrained in different types of pores were also measured. The results demonstrate that it is influenced by the formation of pore system and the original water-to-cement ratio in the paste. Consequently, the relative content of capillary water is dropped to less than 2% in the paste with low w/c ratio of 0.3 when being hydrated for 1 d, while the contents are still 16% and 36% in the pastes with w/c ratios of 0.4 and 0.5, respectively.
Micro computed tomography (Micro-CT) was applied to obtain three-dimensional images of the microstructure of cement paste (water-to-cement mass ratio of 0.5) at different ages. By using the Amira software, component phases of the cement paste such as pores, hydration products, and unhydrated clinker particles were segmented from each other based on their 3D image grey levels; their relative contents were also calculated with the software, and the data are 61.2%, 0% and 38.8% at the beginning of hydration and 11.8%, 78.5% and 9.7% at 28 d age, respectively. The hydration degree of cement paste at different ages was compared with the experimental data acquired by loss on ignition (LOI) tests. The results show that the calculated and measured data reasonably agree with each other, which indicates that micro-CT is a useful and reliable approach to characterize the micro structure evolution of hydrating cement paste.
In order to analyze the influence rule of experimental parameters on the energy-absorption characteristics and effectively forecast energy-absorption characteristic of thin-walled structure, the forecast model of GA-BP hybrid algorithm was presented by unifing respective applicability of back-propagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN) and genetic algorithm (GA). The detailed process was as follows. Firstly, the GA trained the best weights and thresholds as the initial values of BP-ANN to initialize the neural network. Then, the BP-ANN after initialization was trained until the errors converged to the required precision. Finally, the network model, which met the requirements after being examined by the test samples, was applied to energy-absorption forecast of thin-walled cylindrical structure impacting. After example analysis, the GA-BP network model was trained until getting the desired network error only by 46 steps, while the single BP-ANN model achieved the same network error by 992 steps, which obviously shows that the GA-BP hybrid algorithm has faster convergence rate. The average relative forecast error (ARE) of the SEA predictive results obtained by GA-BP hybrid algorithm is 1.543%, while the ARE of the SEA predictive results obtained by BP-ANN is 2.950%, which clearly indicates that the forecast precision of the GA-BP hybrid algorithm is higher than that of the BP-ANN.
In order to investigate enhancements to cell transmission model (CTM) as a tool for traffic signal timing in oversaturated conditions, randomly distributed saturation flow rates and arrival rates were used instead of constant values to simulate traffic flow movement, estimate the average delay of the network and search for an optimal traffic signal timing plan. A case study was given to demonstrate that the proposed methodology can capture unique phenomena in oversaturated conditions such as forward wave, spillback and lane entrance blockage. The results show that CTM underestimates travel time by 25% when compared to Simtraffic, while the enhanced CTM underestimates by only 3%. A second case study shows that a dynamic signal timing plan is superior to a fixed signal timing plan in the term of average delay.