Factors affecting pore structure and performance of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoro propylene) asymmetric porous membrane

Preparation of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoro propylene) (F2.6) flat-sheet asymmetric porous membrane has been studied for the first time. Factors affecting F2.6 membrane pore structure and permeate performance, such as macromolecule pore formers (polyethylene glycol-400, 1000, 1540, 2000 and 6000), the small molecule former (glycerol), swelling agent (trimethyl phosphate) in casting solution, precipitating bath component and temperature, exposure time and ambient humidity, were investigated in detail. Average pore radius and porosity were used to characterize F2.6 membrane structure, and respectively, determined by ultrafiltration and gravimetric method for the wet membrane. Morphology of the resultant membranes was observed by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). Final test on permeate performance of F2.6 porous membrane was carried out by a direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) setup. The experimental F2.6 membrane exhibits a higher distilled flux than PVDF membrane under the same operational situations. The determination of contact angle to distilled water also reveals higher hydrophobic nature than that of PVDF membrane.

承德公路隧道围岩分级与塌方机理分析

During tunnel constriction the classification of rock mass is widely used in tunnel design and construction. Moreover it offers the base information about tunnel investment and security. The quick classification of rock mass is very important for not delaying tunnel construction. Nowadays the tunnel engineers usually use initial survey files which are obtained by probe drilling to design a tunnel. It brings the problem that initial surrounding rock classification is usually much different from the real condition during the tunnel construction. Because initial surrounding rock lack credibility, it need us to make real time surrounding rock classification during the tunnel construction, and feed back the result to designers and constructors. Therefore, to find a quick wall rock classification method is very important not only for the time limit for a project but also for not delaying tunnel construction. Not all but many tunnels and underground constructions do suffer form collapse during the period of construction. Although accidental collapse in a large project in civil and geotechnical engineering sometimes appears to be a local event, if it occurred, it can bring about casualties, disrupted，production, construction delay, environmental damage, capital cost etc，therefore, it has been a difficult problem ,both in theory and in practice, establishing how to prevent underground structures form collapse and how to handle such an event in case in occurs. It is important to develop effective solutions and technical measures to prevent and control the collapse. According to the tunnel collapse occurred in Cheng De this paper analyze the main collapse mechanism leading to tunnel collapse and summon up the disposal method when collapse happened. It may be useful for tunnel construction in Cheng De in future. This paper is base on tunnel surrounding rock classification and tunnel support tasks during the tunnel construction in Cheng De area. It aims at solving 4 important problems in tunnel design and construction. 1) The relationship between rock rebound strength and rock single axle compression strength. First we go to the face wall and do rebound test on the tunnel face, then we chose some pieces of rock and do point loading test. Form the tests record we try to find the relationship between rock rebound strength and rock single axle compression strength. 2) The relationship between the value [BQ] and the value Q. First in order to obtain the information of rock character, rock strength, degree of weathering, the structure of rock mass, the joint condition, underground water condition and so on, we go to the tunnel face to do field investigation. And then we use two kinds of rock classification method to make surrounding rock classification. Base on the works above, finally we analyze the relationship between the value [BQ] and the value Q. 3) Sum up the mechanism leading to tunnel collapse and it disposal method in Cheng De area According to the tunnel collapse occurred in Cheng De this paper analyze the main reasons leading to the tunnel collapse and sum up the disposal method when collapse happened. 4) Obtain the properties of steel frame grid by numerical simulation. First we establish the 3D numeral model of steel frame grid by ADINA, and then find the mechanics properties by numerical simulation in ADINA. Second Based on the rock mass geological structure model, we established steel frame grid numeral model which is installed in the tunnel by FLAC3D and simulated the progress of tunnel construction. We hope that the support effect in tunnel can be evaluated from the numerical simulation.

土石混合体细观结构力学及其边坡稳定性研究

Soil-rock mixture (S-RM) refers to one extremely uneven loose rock and soil materials system with certain stone content. Its formation has started since Quaternary and it is composed of block stone, fine grained soil and pore with certain project scale and high strength. S-RM has extensive distribution in nature, especially in southwest China where the geotectonic background is complicated, the fracture activity is developed and the geomorphological characteristics of high mountain and steep gorge area are protuberant. This kind of complicated geologic body has developed wider in these areas. S-RM has obvious difference with the general soil or rock (rock mass) in physical and mechanical properties because its two components-“soil” and “rock-block” has extreme differences in physical and mechanical properties. The proposition of S-RM and its deep research are needed in the modern engineering construction. It is also the necessity in the modern development of rock and soil mechanics. The dissertation starts from the meso-structural characteristics of soil-rock and takes a systematic research on its meso-structural mechanics, deformation and failure mechanism and the stability of S-RM slope. In summary, it achieves the following innovative results and conclusions. There are various views on the conception of S-RM and its classification system. Based on the large number of field tests, the dissertation makes the conception and classification of S-RM more systematic. It systematically proposed the conception of meso-structural mechanics of S-RM. Thus the dissertation has laid a foundation for its deep study. With the fast development of the computer technology and digital image processing theory, digital image processing technology has been successfully applied in many fields and provided reliable technology support for the quantitative description of the structural characteristics of S-RM. Based on the digital image processing technology, the dissertation systematically proposes and developed the quantitative analysis method and quantitative index for the meso-structure of S-RM. The results indicate that the meso-structure such as its internal soil-rock granularity composition, the soil-rock shape and the orientability has obvious self-organization in the macro statistical level. The dissertation makes a systematic research on the physical mechanical properties, deformation and failure mechanism of S-RM based on large field test. It proposes the field test for the underwater S-RM and deduces the 3D data analysis method of in-situ horizontal push-shear test. The result indicates that S-RM has significant phenomenon of shear dilatancy in the shearing process, and its dilatancy will be more obvious with the increased proportion of rock or the decreased confining pressure. The proportion of rock has great effect on the strength of S-RM and rock-block, especially the spatial position of particles with comparatively big size has great effect on the shape and spatial position of the sample shear zone. The dissertation makes some improvements in the single ring infiltration test equipment and its application on the permeability of S-RM. The results indicate that the increasing of rock-block would make it more difficult for the soil to fill in the vacuity between the rock-block and the proportion would increase which would result in the increased permeability coefficient. The dissertation builds the real meso-structural model of S-RM based on the digital image processing technology. By using geometric reconstruction technology, it transfers the structural mode represented by Binary image into CAD format, which makes it possible to introduce the present finite element analysis software to take research on numerical experimental investigation. It systematically realizes leaping research from the image，geometric mode, to meso-structural mechanics numerical experiment. By using this method, the dissertation takes large scale numerical direct-shear test on the section of S-RM. From the mesoscopic perspective, it reveals three extended modes about the shear failure plane of S-RM. Based on the real meso-structural model and by using the numerical simulation test, the character and mechanics of seepage failure of S-RM are studied. At the same time, it builds the real structural mode of the slope based on the analysis about the slope crosssection of S-RM. By using the strength reduction method, it takes the research on the stability of S-RM and gets great achievements. The three dimensional geometric reconstruction technology of rock block is proposed, which provides technical support for the reconstruction of the 3D meso-structural model of S-RM. For the first time, the dissertation builds the stochastic structure model of two-dimensional and three-dimensional polygons or polyhedron based on the stochastic simulation technique of monte carlo method. It breaks the traditional research which restricted to the random generation method of regular polygon and develops the relevant software system (R-SRM2D/3D) which has great effect on meso-structural mechanics of S-RM. Based on the R-SRM software system which randomly generates the meso-structural mode of S-RM according to the different meso-structural characteristics, the dissertation takes a series of research on numerical test of dual axis and real three-axis, systematically analyses the meso destroy system, the effects of meso-structural characteristics such as on the stone content, size composition and block directionality on the macro mechanical behavior and macro-permeability. Then it proposes the expression of the upper and lower limit for the macro-permeability coefficient of the inhomogeneous geomaterials, such as S-RM. By using the strength reduction FEM, the dissertation takes the research on the stability of the slope structural mode of the randomly formed S-RM. The results indicate that generally, the stability coefficient of S-RM slope increases with the increasing of stone content; on the condition of the same stone content, the stability coefficient of slope will be different with different size composition and the space position of large block at the internal slop has great effect on the stability. It suggests that meso-structural characteristics, especially the space position of large block should be considered when analyzing the stability of this kind of slope and strengthening design. Taking Xiazanri S-RM slope as an example, the dissertation proposes the fine modeling of complicated geologic body based on reverse engineering and the generation method of FLAC3D mode. It resolves the bottleneck problem about building the fine structural mode of three-dimensional geological body. By using FLAC3D, the dissertation takes research on the seepage field and the displacement field of Xiazanri S-RM slope in the process of reservoir water level rising and decreasing. By using strength reduction method, it analyses the three-dimension stability in the process of reservoir water level rising and decreasing. The results indicate that the slope stability firstly show downward trend in the process of reservoir water level rising and then rebound to increase; the sudden drawdown of reservoir water level has great effect on the slope stability and this effect will increase with the sudden drawdown amplitude rising. Based on the result of the rock block size analysis of S-RM, and using R-SRM2D the stochastic structure model of Xiazanri S-RM slope is built. By using strength reduction method, the stability of the stochastic structure model is analysis, the results shows that the stability factor increases significantly after considering the block.

New progress in R&D of lower olefin synthesis

This paper gives a brief review of R&D researches for light olefin synthesis directly and indirectly from synthesis gas in the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP). The first pilot plant test was on methanol to olefin (MTO) reaction and was finished in 1993, which was based on ZSM-5-type catalyst and fixed bed reaction. In the meantime, a new indirect method designated as SDTO (syngas via dimethylether to olefin) was proposed. In this process, metal-acid bifunctional catalyst was applied for synthesis gas to dimethylether(DME) reaction, and modified SAPO-34 catalyst that was synthesized by a new low-cost method with optimal crystal size was used to convert DME to light olefin on a fluidized bed reactor. The pilot plant test on SDTO was performed and finished in 1995. Evaluation of the pilot plant data showed that 190-200 g of DME were yielded by single-pass for each standard cubic meter of synthesis gas. For the second reaction, 1.880 tons of DME or 2.615 tons of methanol produced 1 ton of light olefins, which constitutes of 0.533 ton of ethylene, 0.349 ton of propylene and 0.118 ton of butene. DICP also paid some attention on direct conversion of synthesis gas to light olefins. A semi-pilot plant test (catalyst 1.8 1) was finished in 1995 with a CO conversion > 70% and a C(2)(=)-C(4)(=) olefin selectivity 71-74% in 1000 h. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of 'sinking in' and 'piling up' on estimating the contact area under load in indentation

The phenomena of the 'piling up' and 'sinking-in' of surface profiles in conical indentation in elastic-plastic solids with work hardening are studied using dimensional and finite-element analysis. The degree of sinking in and piling up is shown to depend on the ratio of the initial yield strength Y to Young's modulus E and on the work-hardening exponent n. The widely used procedure proposed by Oliver and Pharr for estimating contact depth is then evaluated systematically. By comparing the contact depth obtained directly from finite-element calculations with that obtained from the initial unloading slope using the Oliver-Pharr procedure, the applicability of the procedure is discussed.

Friction and Wear Studies of Octadecyltrichlorosilane SAM on Silicon

A self-assembled monolayer of octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) was prepared on a single-crystal silicon wafer (111) and its tribological properties were examined with a one-way reciprocating tribometer. The worn surfaces and transfer film on the counterface were analyzed by means of scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results show that, due to the wear of the OTS monolayer and the formation of the transfer film on the counterpart ball, the friction coefficient gradually increases from 0.06 to 0.13 with increasing sliding cycles and then keeps stable at a normal load of 0.5N. The transfer film is characterized by deposition, accumulation, and spalling at extended test duration. Though low friction coefficients of the monolayer in sliding against steel or ceramic counterfaces are recorded, poor load-carrying capacity and antiwear ability are also shown. Moreover, the monolayer itself or the corresponding transfer film on the counterface fails to lubricate even at a normal load of 1.0 N. Thus, the self-assembled monolayer of octadecyltrichlorosilane can be a potential boundary lubricant only at very low loads.

Nonuniformity Effect of Surface-Nanocrystalline Materials in Nanoindentation Test

In the present research, microstructures of the surface-nanocrystalline Al alloy material are observed and measured based on the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) technique, and the corresponding mechanical behaviors are investigated experimentally and theoretically. In the experimental research, the nanoindentation test method is used, and the load and microhardness curves are measured, which strongly depend on the grain size and grain size nonuniformity. Two kinds of the nanoindentation test methods are adopted: the randomly selected loading point method and the continuous stiffness method. In the theoretical modeling, based on the microstructure characteristics of the surface-nanocrystalline Al alloy material, a dislocation pile-up model considering the grain size effect and based on the Mott theory is presented and used. The hardness-indent depth curves are predicted and modeled.

Asymptotic analysis based on K-S constitutive law for a rubber wedge compressed by a line load at its tip

In the present paper, a rubber wedge compressed by a line load at its tip is asymptotically analyzed using a special constitutive law proposed by Knowles and Sternberg (K-S elastic law) [J. Elasticity 3 (1973) 67]. The method of dividing sectors proposed by Gao [Theoret. Appl. Fract, Mech. 14 (1990) 219] is used. Domain near the wedge tip can be divided into one expanding sector and two narrowing sectors. Asymptotic equations of the strain-stress field near the wedge tip are derived and solved numerically. The deformation pattern near a wedge tip is completely revealed. A special case. i.e. a half space compressed by a line load is solved while the wedge angle is pi.

Spatio-Temporal Scanning and Statistical Test of the Accelerating Moment Release (AMR) Model Using Australian Earthquake Data

The Accelerating Moment Release (AMR) preceding earthquakes with magnitude above 5 in Australia that occurred during the last 20 years was analyzed to test the Critical Point Hypothesis. Twelve earthquakes in the catalog were chosen based on a criterion for the number of nearby events. Results show that seven sequences with numerous events recorded leading up to the main earthquake exhibited accelerating moment release. Two occurred near in time and space to other earthquakes preceded by AM R. The remaining three sequences had very few events in the catalog so the lack of AMR detected in the analysis may be related to catalog incompleteness. Spatio-temporal scanning of AMR parameters shows that 80% of the areas in which AMR occurred experienced large events. In areas of similar background seismicity with no large events, 10 out of 12 cases exhibit no AMR, and two others are false alarms where AMR was observed but no large event followed. The relationship between AMR and Load-Unload Response Ratio (LURR) was studied. Both methods predict similar critical region sizes, however, the critical point time using AMR is slightly earlier than the time of the critical point LURR anomaly.

Numerical Analysis of the Effects of Free-Stream Thermo-Chemical State on the Test Model Flow Field in High-Enthalpy Tunnel

The effects of the free-stream thermo-chemical state on the test model flow field in the high-enthalpy tunnel are studied numerically. The properties of the free-stream, which is in thermo-chemical non-equilibrium, are determined by calculating the nozzle flow field. A free-stream with total enthalpy equal to the real one in the tunnel while in thermo-chemical equilibrium is constructed artificially to simulate the natural atmosphere condition. The flow fields over the test models (blunt cone and Apollo command capsule model) under both the non-equilibrium and the virtual equilibrium free-stream conditions are calculated. By comparing the properties including pressure, temperature, species concentration and radiation distributions of these two types of flow fields, the effects of the non-equilibrium state of the free-stream in the high-enthalpy shock tunnel are analyzed.

Encircled energy measurement for focusing lens based on scanning Hartmann test

The encircled energy of a focusing lens is one of the parameters directly affecting the target efficiency in high-power laser facilities. The direct measurement method of the encircled energy for the focusing lens based on the scanning Hartmann test is proposed in this paper. With the scanning Hartmann test setup, the information in the whole aperture of the focusing lens can be achieved. The encircled energy can be obtained by analyzing the spot diagram on the focal plane of the focusing lens. In experiments, the encircled energy of an aspheric focusing lens is measured using this method. The measurement result is in good agreement with that derived from measurement data by an interferometer and the difference is 7.7%. (C) 2006 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

The application of in vitro sperm competition test to evaluate the impact of ZP-derived peptides on fertilization capacity of cat sperm

The present study aimed to establish a sensitive in vitro assay to assess the binding capacity of cat spermatozoa. Cat oocytes and epididymal sperm cells were isolated from gonads and cultured for in vitro fertilization. Before fertilization, the sperm ce

Chronic effects of water-borne PFOS exposure on growth, survival and hepatotoxicity in zebrafish: A partial life-cycle test

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is widely distributed and persistent in the environment and wildlife. The main aim of this study was to investigate the impact of long-term exposure to low concentrations of PFOS in zebrafish. Zebrafish fry (F-0, 14d post-fertilization, dpf) were exposed via the water for 70d to 0 (control), 10, 50 and 250 mu g L-1 PFOS, followed by a further 30d to assess recovery in clean water. The effects on survival and growth parameters and liver histopathology were assessed. Although growth suppression (weight and length) was observed in fish treated with high concentrations PFOS during the exposure period, no mortality was observed throughout the 70d experiment. Embryos and larvae (F-1) derived from maternal exposure suffered malformation and mortality. Exposure to 50 and 250 mu g L-1 PFOS could inhibit the growth of the gonads (GSI) in the female zebrafish. Histopathological alterations, primary with lipid droplets accumulation, were most prominently seen in the liver of males and the changes were not reversible, even after the fish were allowed to recover for 30d in clean water. The triiodothyronine (T-3)) levels were not significantly changed in any of the exposure groups. Hepatic vitellogenin (VTG) gene expression was significantly up-regulated in both male and female zebrafish, but the sex ratio was not altered. The overall results suggested that lower concentrations of PFOS in maternal exposure could result in offspring deformation and mortality. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fracture Properties of LPCVD Silicon Nitride and Thermally Grown Silicon Oxide Thin Films From the Load-Deflection of Long Si3N4 and SiO2/Si3N4 Diaphragms

The bulge test is successfully extended to the determination of the fracture properties of silicon nitride and oxide thin films. This is achieved by using long diaphragms made of silicon nitride single layers and oxide/nitride bilayers, and applying comprehensive mechanical model that describes the mechanical response of the diaphragms under uniform differential pressure. The model is valid for thin films with arbitrary z-dependent plane-strain modulus and prestress, where z denotes the coordinate perpendicular to the diaphragm. It takes into account the bending rigidity and stretching stiffness of the layered materials and the compliance of the supporting edges. This enables the accurate computation of the load-deflection response and stress distribution throughout the composite diaphragm as a function of the load, in particular at the critical pressure leading to the fracture of the diaphragms. The method is applied to diaphragms made of single layers of 300-nm-thick silicon nitride deposited by low-pressure chemical vapor deposition and composite diaphragms of silicon nitride grown on top of thermal silicon oxide films produced by wet thermal oxidation at 950 degrees C and 1050 degrees C with target thicknesses of 500, 750, and 1000 mn. All films characterized have an amorphous structure. Plane-strain moduli E-ps and prestress levels sigma(0) of 304.8 +/- 12.2 GPa and 1132.3 +/- 34.4 MPa, respectively, are extracted for Si3N4, whereas E-ps = 49.1 +/- 7.4 GPa and sigma(0) = -258.6 +/- 23.1 MPa are obtained for SiO2 films. The fracture data are analyzed using the standardized form of the Weibull distribution. The Si3N4 films present relatively high values of maximum stress at fracture and Weibull moduli, i.e., sigma(max) = 7.89 +/- 0.23 GPa and m = 50.0 +/- 3.6, respectively, when compared to the thermal oxides (sigma(max) = 0.89 +/- 0.07 GPa and m = 12.1 +/- 0.5 for 507-nm-thick 950 degrees C layers). A marginal decrease of sigma(max) with thickness is observed for SiO2, with no significant differences between the films grown at 950 degrees C and 1050 degrees C. Weibull moduli of oxide thin films are found to lie between 4.5 +/- 1.2 and 19.8 +/- 4.2, depending on the oxidation temperature and film thickness.