Development of a multidirectional simple shear testing device

A new simple shear testing device capable of applying multidirectional loading to soil specimens has been developed. The Texas A&M University multidirectional simple shear (TAMU-MDSS) device provides the ability to apply a large range of shear stresses and complex loading paths, such as figure-eight and circular patterns, to a cylindrical soil specimen confined by a wire-reinforced membrane. The load and torque experienced by the sample are directly measured by a multi-axis load cell installed above the specimen. Backpressure saturation of the specimen is made possible by the devicés ability to apply pressure in the chamber and backpressure to the water lines. Excess pore pressure is measured by a pressure transducer during the shearing phase of the testing. This paper describes the development of the TAMU-MDSS system and the capabilities of the device and presents test results on saturated clay soil specimens subjected to monotonic, unidirectional cyclic, and multidirectional loading. Copyright © 2013 by ASTM International.

Non-equilibirum condensation effects on the flow field and the performance of a low pressure steam turbine

The influence of non-equilibrium condensation on the flow field and performance of a three stage low pressure model steam turbine is examined using modern three dimensional CFD techniques. An equilibrium steam model and a non-equilibrium steam model, which accounts for both subcooling and condensation effects, are used, and have been verified by comparison with test data in an earlier publication [1]. The differences in the calculated flow field and turbine performance with these models show that the latent heat released during condensation influences both the thermodynamic and the aerodynamic performance of the turbine, leading to a change in inlet flow angles of about 5°. The calculated three dimensional flowfield is used to investigate the magnitude and distribution of the additional thermo-dynamic wetness loss arising from steam condensation under non-equilibrium flow conditions. Three simple methods are described to calculate this, and all show that this amounts to around 6.5% of the total losses at the design condition. At other load conditions the wetness losses change in magnitude and axial distribution in the turbine. © 2010 by ASME.

Effects of longer heavy vehicles on traffic congestion

Two-lane, "microscopic" (vehicle-by-vehicle) simulations of motorway traffic are developed using existing models and validated using measured data from the M25 motorway. An energy consumption model is also built in, which takes the logged trajectories of simulated vehicles as drive-cycles. The simulations are used to investigate the effects on motorway congestion and fuel consumption if "longer and/or heavier vehicles" (LHVs) were to be permitted in the UK. Baseline scenarios are simulated with traffic composed of cars, light goods vehicles and standard heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). A proportion of conventional articulated HGVs is then replaced by a smaller number of LHVs carrying the same total payload mass and volume. Four LHV configurations are investigated: an 18.75 m, 46 t longer semi-trailer (LST); 25.25 m, 50 t and 60 t B-doubles and a 34 m, 82 t A-double. Metrics for congestion, freight fleet energy consumption and car energy consumption are defined for comparing the scenarios. Finally, variation of take-up level and LHV engine power for the LST and A-double are investigated. It is concluded that: (a) LHVs should reduce congestion particularly in dense traffic, however, a low mean proportion of freight traffic on UK roads and low take-up levels will limit this effect to be almost negligible; (b) LHVs can significantly improve the energy efficiency of freight fleets, giving up to a 23% reduction in fleet energy consumption at high take-up levels; (c) the small reduction in congestion caused by LHVs could improve the fuel consumption of other road users by up to 3% in dense traffic, however in free-flowing traffic an opposite effect occurs due to higher vehicle speeds and aerodynamic losses; and (d) underpowered LHVs have potential to generate severe congestion, however current manufacturers' recommendations appear suitable. © 2013 IMechE.

Potential of a cyclone prototype spacer to improve in vitro dry powder delivery.

PURPOSE: Low inspiratory force in patients with lung disease is associated with poor deagglomeration and high throat deposition when using dry powder inhalers (DPIs). The potential of two reverse flow cyclone prototypes as spacers for commercial carrier-based DPIs was investigated. METHODS: Cyclohaler®, Accuhaler® and Easyhaler® were tested with and without the spacers between 30 and 60 Lmin−1. Deposition of particles in the next generation impactor and within the devices was determined by high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Reduced induction port deposition of the emitted particles from the cyclones was observed due to the high retention of the drug within the spacers (e.g. salbutamol sulphate (SS): 67.89 ± 6.51% at 30 Lmin−1 in Cheng 1). Fine particle fractions of aerosol as emitted from the cyclones were substantially higher than the DPIs alone. Moreover, the aerodynamic diameters of particles emitted from the cyclones were halved compared to the DPIs alone (e.g. SS from the Cyclohaler® at 4 kPa: 1.08 ± 0.05 μm vs. 3.00 ± 0.12 μm, with and without Cheng 2, respectively) and unaltered with increased flow rates. CONCLUSION: This work has shown the potential of employing a cyclone spacer for commercial carrier-based DPIs to improve inhaled drug delivery.

Spin Hall effect on the kagome lattice with Rashba spin-orbit interaction

We study the spin Hall effect in the kagome lattice with Rashba spin-orbit coupling. The conserved spin Hall conductance sigma(s)(xy) (see text) and its two components, i.e., the conventional term sigma(s0)(xy) and the spin-torque-dipole term sigma(s tau)(xy), are numerically calculated, which show a series of plateaus as a function of the electron Fermi energy epsilon(F). A consistent two-band analysis, as well as a Berry-phase interpretation, is also given. We show that these plateaus are a consequence of various Fermi-surface topologies when tuning epsilon(F). In particular, we predict that compared to the case with the Fermi surface encircling the Gamma point in the Brillouin zone, the amplitude of the spin Hall conductance with the Fermi surface encircling the K points is twice enhanced, which makes it highly meaningful in the future to systematically carry out studies of the K-valley spintronics.

农田防护林带三维结构及其空气动力学特征

农田防护林是农林复合系统的一个重要组分，而农田防护林结构是防护林研究的核心，其三维结构的测度就成为防护林结构研究关键的内容。迄今，有关农田防护林二维结构的各类研究及报道较多，但对于三维结构的数学模型研究较少。表面积密度和体积密度的空间函数是表征防护林带三维空气动力学结构的两个重要指标。然而，我国对于防护林带三维结构模型中的树体表面积、体积以及二者在林带空间的分布函数一直没有科学地定义，无法准确反映林带的立体结构对空气动力学效应的影响，成为该研究领域的难点和前沿问题。本研究以主要造林树种—杨树，所营建的防护林带为研究对象，基于实测的杨树树体结构和林带结构配置模式，通过多个典型样带调查和不同径级的标准木树干解析实测数据分析，建立了杨树总表面积/总体积函数、树体不同组分（干、枝、叶）表面积/体积函数以及两者在林带空间上的分布函数等子模型，并求解得到了每个模型所需参数，从而得到适用于描述我国北方典型杨树农田防护林带的三维空气动力结构。同时利用经典物理学的原理，以常用的空气动力学方程为基础，结合林带表面积和体积的数量及空间分布，推导并改进了在防护林带三维结构下空气的运动方程和连续方程。新推导得到的模型不仅考虑了林带表面积同时考虑了林带的体积。并且通过不同林带类型的风洞模拟进行了模型的验证。研究结果发现，利用林带表面积和体积密度空间矩阵Gamma函数的形状参数和尺度参数的综合表达来作为林带防护效果（最小防护距离、最小防护距离的位置以及有效防护距离）的有效表征参数。本研究所得到的模型不但可较为准确地检验干、枝、叶等不同组分对大气边界层流场的影响，而且可揭示林带整体空气动力学特征，同时可表达与杨树林带结构相似的其他树种组成的林带的三维结构，客观地阐明林带的空气动力学机理，从而提高林带作用下的边界层流数值模拟的精度，为合理地调控防护林带结构、充分发挥其防护功能提供依据。

Size-Dependent Adhesion Strength of a Single Viscoelastic Fiber

Nano-fibrillar adhesives can adhere strongly to surfaces as a gecko does. The size of each fiber has significant effects on the adhesion enhancement, especially on rough surfaces. In the present study, we report the size effects on the normal and shear strength of adhesion for a single viscoelastic fiber. It is found that there exists a limited region of the critical sizes under which the interfacial normal or tangential tractions uniformly attain the theoretical adhesion strength. The region for a viscoelastic fiber under tension with similar material constants to a gecko's spatula is 135-255 nm and that under torque is 26.5-52 nm. This finding is significant for the development of artificial biomimetic attachment systems.

乘波飞行器低马赫数飞行状态下的气动性能研究

乘波飞行器在低马赫数飞行状态下的气动性能是近空间飞行器设计和研究人员关心的问题之一. 本文以M=3,设计飞行高度H=15 km为设计点,最大升阻比为优化目标,并通过满足一定的有效载荷容积,气动热防护和气动操纵的要求进行了工程化设计后得到的锥导乘波体为研究对象,借助数值模拟和风洞实验技术相结合的研究手段对乘波飞行器在跨声速和超声速飞行阶段的气动性能进行了探讨. 研究结果表明,乘波飞行器在该飞行阶段的气动性能与前缘所处的气动状态密切相关

大型近海水平轴风力机转轮的空气动力学性能优化判据

以近海风能工程为研究目标,对具有不同特性参数(设计风速、叶尖线速度和转轮实度)的大容量(1~10 MW)风力机转轮的气动性能与几何特性进行分析与研究.首先提出大型机组转轮气动性能优化判据:在其直径最小的前提下具有尽可能高的年可用风能特性因数以及与之相关的风能利用系数,因而可捕获最多风能,使年发电量最大.接着给出影响它的几个主要气动参数,如转轮设计风速、叶尖线速度以及转轮实度,并分析风力机在近海气象条件下运转时上述两个气动指标随这些参数变化的规律.提供的气动分析方法及结果可作为大型近海风力机转轮气动性能的评价基础.

高速列车气动噪声的计算研究

通过对高速列车气动噪声产生的关键部位进行简化抽象,对其产生的噪声进行了数值分析.该文着重讨论了两个主要的简化模型,即二维后台阶问题以及三维圆柱绕流问题.对后台阶问题进行数值模拟时采用了NLAS和 LES两种不同的方法,并同实验值进行了比较.对三维圆柱绕流问题则直接采用NLAS方法耦合FW-H声音传播方程进行了数值模拟.以此对高速列车气动噪声的机理进行了分析,并对适合于高速列车气动噪声计算的方法进行了选择

不同光照条件下作物蒸腾量计算的研究

作物蒸腾量的计算是水资源开发利用和农业生产运筹的关键参数之一 .本文以彭曼 -蒙特斯方程为基础 ,通过引入临界阻力 ,根据实测资料建立冠层阻力和空气动力学阻力比值与临界阻力和空气动力学阻力比值二者之间的函数关系 ,得到一个只需气象参数就能计算作物蒸腾量的简单方法 .文章对该方法进行了理论分析 ,并用实例给予验证 .结果表明 ,该方法在理论上和实践上都是可行的 ,是一个值得研究和发展的新方法 .作物蒸腾量的日变化表明 ,炎热夏季晴天中午遮光处理后作物蒸腾量的增大是可能的

Crosslinking of poly[(3-hydroxybutyrate)-co-(3-hydroxyvalerate)] using dicumyl peroxide as initiator

In order to modify poly [(3-hydroxybutyrate)-co-(3-hydroxyvalerate)] (PHBV), the crosslinking of this copolymer was carried out at 160degreesC using dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as the initiator. The torque of the PHBV melt showed an abrupt upturn when DCP was added. Appropriate values for the gel fraction and crosslink density were obtained when the DCP content was up to 1 wt% of the PHBV. According to the NMR spectroscopic data, the location of the free radical reaction was determined to be at the tertiary carbons in the PHBV chains. The melting point, crystallization temperature and crystallinity of PHBV decreased significantly with increasing DCP content. The effect of crosslinking on the melt viscosity of PHBV was confirmed as being positive. Moreover, the mechanical properties of PHBV were improved by curing with DCP. When 1 wt% DCP was used, the ultimate elongation of PHBV increased from 4 to 11 %. A preliminary biodegradation study confirmed the total biodegradability of crosslinked PHBV.

Electrically conductive, melt-processed ternary blends of polyaniline/dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid, ethylene/vinyl acetate, and low-density polyethylene

Although polyaniline (PANI) has high conductivity and relatively good environmental and thermal stability and is easily synthesized, the intractability of this intrinsically conducting polymer with a melting procedure prevents extensive applications. This work was designed to process PANI with a melting blend method with current thermoplastic polymers. PANI in an emeraldine base form was plasticized and doped with dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (DBSA) to prepare a conductive complex (PANI-DBSA). PANI-DBSA, low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and an ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) were blended in a twin-rotor mixer. The blending procedure was monitored, including the changes in the temperature, torque moment, and work. As expected, the conductivity of ternary PANI-DBSA/LDPE/EVA was higher by one order of magnitude than that of binary PANI-DBSA/LDPE, and this was attributed to the PANI-DBSA phase being preferentially located in the EVA phase. An investigation of the morphology of the polymer blends with high-resolution optical microscopy indicated that PANI-DBSA formed a conducting network at a high concentration of PANI-DBSA. The thermal and crystalline properties of the polymer blends were measured with differential scanning calorimetry. The mechanical properties were also measured.

Compatibilization of PP/EPDM blends by grafting acrylic acid to polypropylene and epoxidizing the diene in EPDM

In this article, ethylene-propylene-diene-rubber (EPDM) was epoxidized with an in situ formed performic acid to prepare epoxided EPDM (eEPDM). The eEPDM together with the introduction of PP-g-AA was used to compatibilize PP/EPDM blends in a Haake mixer. FTIR results showed that the EPDM had been epoxidized. The reaction between epoxy groups in the eEPDM and carboxylic acid groups in PP-g-AA had taken place, and PP-g-EPDM copolymers were formed in situ. Torque test results showed that the actual temperature and torque values for the compatibilized blends were higher than that of the uncompatibilized blends. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation showed that the dispersed phase domain size of compatibilized blends and the uncompatibilized blends were 0.5 and 1.5 mu m, respectively. The eEPDM together with the introduction of PP-g-AA could compatibilize PP/EPDM blends effectively. Notched Izod impact tests showed that the formation of PP-g-EPDM copolymer improved the impact strength and yielded a tougher PP blend.

Properties of compatibilized nylon 6/ABS polymer blends

Nylon 6/poly(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene)(ABS) blends were prepared in the molten state by a twin-screw extruder. Maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene (MAP) and solid epoxy resin (bisphenol type-A) were used as compatibilizers for these blends. The effects of compatibilizer addition to the blends were studied via tensile, torque, impact properties and morphology tests. The results showed that the additions of epoxy and MA copolymer to nylon 6/ABS blends enhanced the compatibility between nylon 6 and ABS, and this lead to improvement of mechanical properties of their blends and in a size decrease of the ABS domains.