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Paper-type gas diffusion layer (GDL) plays the role of structural support, mass transport, electron and heat transfer in the fuel cell. The deformation and fracture behavior of paper-type GDL directly determines its physical characteristics. In this paper, we obtained the distribution function of fiber length among intersections using statistical analysis. Based on the bending theory and fracture analysis, the deformation model and the maximum allowable pressure criterion of paper-type GDL are established. The deformation modulus is related to the modulus and the initial volume fraction of carbon fiber, with an ideal value of 1.4 MPa. The tensile fracture is the main form of fiber fracture. The maximum allowable pressure is related to the expected fracture probability, the strength and the initial volume fraction of carbon fiber. The residual strain increases and the deformation modulus decreases with load range, which means that the strength of the paper-type GDL is weakened when residual strain occurs. [Display omitted] • The fiber length between intersections obeys exponential distribution function. • The compression deformation model of paper-type GDL is established. • The maximum allowable pressure criterion for the paper-type GDL is obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal aging and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation are used as methods to prepare samples of kraft paper spanning its full lifecycle within a high-voltage transformer, from new to end of life. The mechanical break strain is correlated with the degree of polymerization (DP), representing a progressive deterioration of mechanical properties during aging. Subsequent exposure to oil flow mimicking both normal plant operation and reclamation activities shows that aged paper exposed to high rates of flow experiences noticeable surface roughening. Despite this, no measurable erosion occurs even after long-term temperature/flow cycling in used mineral oil containing a notable particulate content. This indicates that kraft paper is unlikely to be eroded by normal reclamation activities, even in a severely aged asset. This confirms the validity of using this approach to extend plant life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The power transformer is a vital element in power system assets. When failure occurs in transformers, it leads to more revenue loss for the electrical utilities. Power transformer failures may occur due to high stresses on the insulating systems (oil and paper). These stresses categorize as electrical, thermal, and mechanical stresses. The main contribution of the current work is to increase the contribution of essential test parameters, which contribute to determining the insulating transformer state. In this work, principal component analysis (PCA) is not used as a prediction or classification tool. Still, it preserves only the necessary information and marginalizes or reduces the role of parameters with fewer contributions. PCA is a statistical method to compress an extensive data set of variables to a smaller number of orthogonal factors unrelated to interpreting the correlation matrix. One hundred forty-seven data samples were collected from the Saudi Electricity Company and used in this study. The data include the dissolved gas analysis (DGA) test, the breakdown voltage (BDV), moisture content (MC), Acidity (AC), interfacial tension (IFT), oil color (OC), dissipation factor (DF) or tan □, furan content (2-FAL). Based on PCA, some test variables can be selected as indicators for the insulating paper state from more test variables groups, reducing the cost of all tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Conductor on Round Core (CORC) cable wound with a high-temperature superconductor is an important cable concept for high-current density applications. It is widely used in large power systems because of its advantages of good flexibility and high engineering current density. However, the complex design structure of CORC cable makes it very difficult to understand its electromagnetic properties (such as AC loss). In particular, the different winding directions of each layer in multi-layer cable have a great influence on its electromagnetic characteristics. In this paper, the H-method is used to solve the electromagnetism and mechanics equations. The influence of the winding direction of CORC cable on its electromagnetic field distribution characteristics, AC loss, and mechanical variation under the action of external magnetic field is investigated. The AC loss study of single-layer cable reveals that when the applied magnetic field is increased from 0.01 to 0.02 and 0.03 T, the AC loss peak of the cable increases by 107 and 103 orders of magnitude, respectively, indicating that the effect of low applied magnetic field on the AC loss of the cable is more significant. For multi-layer cables, cables with opposite winding directions have a greater depth of current density penetration than cables with the same winding direction. In addition, the mechanical variations of multi-layer cables with different winding orientations are explored. The results show that the Mises stress in the cable with the same winding direction is about 32% higher than that of the cable with the opposite winding direction, which indicates that the method of winding the cable in the opposite direction between adjacent layers of tape can avoid excessive mechanical stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Alessandrina Library was founded in 1667 by pope Alexander VII Chigi and is nowadays housed in the Campus of Sapienza University of Rome (Italy). Within its Ancient (mostly made of rag paper) and Modern (mostly made of contemporary paper) collections, it includes more than one million books produced from the XVI to the XXI century. In 2019, six thermo-hygrometers were deployed in its multi-storey repository to monitor temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH). Hourly T and RH data collected over 2 years allowed us to evaluate spatial and temporal thermo-hygrometric distributions and to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the climate-induced risks (mechanical, chemical, and biological deterioration mechanisms). Vertical temperature gradients associated with unstable conditions occurred in winter, resulting in upraising air flows up to the ceiling. The risky short-term RH fluctuations (EN 15757:2010) were determined to avoid mechanical stress in case of loans, relocation, and consultation. The Time Weighted Expected Lifetime (TWEL) index was used to evaluate the chemical risk for different paper-based collections as a function of their acidity and degree of polymerisation, also considering the typical response time of paper books to T and RH changes. The TWEL calculation estimated that the durability of acidic paper was around 300 years and highlighted that rag paper could be subject to cellulose hydrolysis only in summer and autumn, while contemporary paper was mostly at no risk. The risk of mould germination (Sedlbauer diagram) was possible on few days in Autumn, while the production of insect eggs (Brimblecombe empirical function) was favoured during approximately 42% of time over the year. In addition, illuminance and colorimetric measurements (performed on selected book covers) showed that light-sensitive objects could be exposed to the photodeterioration risk in the east-facing side of the repository. Although the investigation focussed on a specific case study, a similar approach could be effectively adapted to most library and archival repositories conserving paper-based collections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Journal of Materials Science awards the annual Robert W. Cahn Prize to recognize the best paper published in the journal each year. The winner of the 2023 Cahn Prize is a research paper titled "Molecular modelling of graphene nanoribbons on the effect of porosity and oxidation on the mechanical and thermal properties." The paper presents molecular simulation models of graphene nanoribbons and examines the impact of porosity and oxidation on their mechanical and thermal conductivity properties. The paper is well-written and provides valuable insights for researchers in this field. Two other papers were selected as runners-up for the prize. All the monthly finalists for the Cahn Prize can be downloaded for free on the journal's website. [Extracted from the article]

In this work, we present a methodology to assess wrist pressure during the handwriting process. Using optical coherence tomography, it was possible to determine the deformation suffered by the paper during the handwriting process. A calibration of the deformation suffered by the paper as a function of the pressure exerted by the pen was performed, making it possible to determine several parameters of interest, such as the radius of the pen tip sphere R = 488 ± 2 ¡im, the Poisson coefficient v = 0.30 ± 0.02 and the effective Young's modulus of bond paper 75 g/m2. To this end, we developed a method for determining the Hooke modulus for a spring, with which we built a device for applying a known force to a ballpoint pen during the handwriting process. We also performed the study depending on the type of substrate, with five volunteers trying to copy the same signature on four different types of paper. Using the optical coherence tomography technique, we demonstrate that it is possible to differentiate the authorship of a signature also by the depth of deformation on the paper. The experimental procedure also made it possible to determine the Poisson's coefficient and determine the effective Young's Modulus of the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the mechanical properties of nano-silica modified insulating paper under the combined action of mechanical vibration and temperature conditions are studied. Unmodified and nano-silica modified cellulose insulating paper with 2 wt% and 4 wt% were prepared, respectively, and a series of mechanical-thermal synergy experiments were carried out. With the same mechanical stress and temperature, and with the same aging duration of 144 h (6d), the tensile strength of modified insulating paper with 4 wt% nano-silica, increased 0.99 kN/m and 0.55 kN/m, respectively, compared with those of the unmodified and the 2 wt% nano-silica modified insulating paper. The experiments indicate that the nano-silica modification can effectively improve the mechanical properties of insulating paper. In this work, the modified mechanism of nano-silica is analyzed from the interface effect of modified polymer and the quantum effect of the modified polymer interface two aspects. It is shown that the interface formed in the modified insulating paper can transfer the mechanical stress acted on the insulating paper and prevent the cracks formed in the aging process of the test sample from further expansion, while the quantum effect discretizes the electron energy level, which can restrict the motion of the molecular chain segment to some extent. The conclusion can be used for reference to improve the performance of insulating paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the folding process substrates are exposed to high-localized stresses, which in the case of coated papers and boards, can lead to decreased aesthetic features or complete loss of functionality. Production efficiency of the folding process could be improved by an automated, computer vision-based inspection system. For such a task, different existing computer-aided fold-crack evaluation approaches were analyzed. A detailed research was conducted to propose an image processing based fold cracking assessment via finding optimal sample preparation and digitization techniques and developing an algorithm for the digital image analysis and feature extraction. The analysis of the applicability of different sample preparation and digitization parameters, as well as the proposed digital image feature, was done by correlation evaluation, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and corresponding post hoc tests. The results indicated that the developed algorithm fulfils the set requirements and the proposed feature of digitized samples faithfully describes the analyzed fold-cracks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earthquakes nucleate when large amounts of elastic energy, stored in the earth's crust, are suddenly released due to abrupt sliding over a fault. Fluid injections can reactivate existing seismogenic faults and induce/trigger earthquakes by increasing fluid pressure. Here we develop an analogous experimental system of simultaneously loaded and wetted absorbent porous paper to quantify theoretically the process of wetting‐induced earthquakes. This strategy allows us to gradually release the stored energy by provoking low intensity tremors. We identify the key parameters that control the outcome of the applied injection strategy, which include the initial stress state, fault segmentation, and segment‐activation rate. Subsequent injections, initiated at high stress levels, can drive the system faster toward its instability point, nucleating a large earthquake. Starting at low stress levels, however, they can reduce the magnitude of the natural event by at least one unit. Plain Language Summary: Understanding natural and anthropogenic seismicity is a major scientific challenge. Here we present a novel analogue fault model using absorbent porous paper, which gives new insights on earthquake mitigation. When scaled to in‐situ conditions, the porous paper model represents a natural seismic rupture of magnitude Mw = 5.9. By progressively wetting it, we simulate fluid injections in the earth's crust and draw analogies to large‐scale industrial projects. In our experiments, each injection is accompanied by tremors, which progressively release energy and modify the energy budget of the system. Without precise knowledge of the fault properties, we risk driving the system faster toward an unexpected large seismic event. However, provided that the model's key parameters–fault segmentation, segment‐activation rate, and stress state–are well known or controlled, the natural rupture can be mitigated by at least one unit. We expect that these results will facilitate risk reduction in current fluid injection projects and inspire earthquake mitigation strategies for real tectonic faults. Key Points: From an energetic point of view, absorbent porous paper can be an ideal, low‐cost surrogate rock material for studying induced seismicitySegmentation of faults and sequential fluid injection in each segment can mitigate potential earthquakes by at least one order of magnitudeWe show that fault segmentation, segment‐activation rate and stress state predominantly control the result of applied injection strategies [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PN junctions play important roles in semiconductor devices. Flexoelectricity, an electromechanical coupling between strain gradient and electric polarization, has non-negligible contributions in nano-devices. The thermoflexoelectric effect is a phenomenon in which temperature gradients generate inhomogeneous strains and further induce flexoelectric polarizations. Therefore, temperature gradients can affect carrier transport in PN junctions through the thermoflexoelectric effect. In this paper, a one-dimensional model of the PN junction under a uniform temperature change is established. Exact solutions for the electromechanical fields in the PN junction are obtained for the first time. The effects of the temperature gradient, doping level, and flexoelectric coefficient on the electromechanical behaviors of the PN junction are numerically analyzed. The results indicate that carrier concentrations in the p and n regions are sensitive to temperature gradients because of the screening effect of the mobile charge on the flexoelectric polarization induced by the temperature gradient. Meanwhile, the flexoelectric field and the initial built-in electric field in the depletion region jointly determine the magnitude of the potential barrier, and thus, the temperature-gradient-induced flexoelectric field can tune the switching characteristics of the PN junction. This study provides a theoretical basis for the tuning of the electromechanical behavior of the PN junction by thermally induced flexoelectric fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Imidazole based AIE active molecular probe is synthesised. • The probe, weakly emissive in solution, exhibits excellent solid state emission. • In solid state, the probe exhibits reversible mechanochromism and acidochromism. • The mechanochromic property is employed to fabricate the rewritable papers. • Acidochromism is demonstrated on paper strips for use in real sample analysis. Stimuli modulated fluorescence properties of imidazole-based molecular probe (E)-2-(5,5-dimethyl-3-(4-(1,4,5-triphenyl-1H-imidazole-2-yl)styryl)cyclohex-2-en-1- ylidene)malononitrile (Ph-ISO) in the solid state is presented. Not only did the probe display aggregation induced emission (AIE) activity with intense solid-state fluorescence emission, but also exhibited several repetitive cycles of reversible mechanochromism as well as acidochromism. The solid-state emission is ascribed to the intermolecular interactions in the highly twisted conformation of Ph-ISO via multiple C–H---N and C–H---π interactions as confirmed by the single crystal X-ray analysis. The applied mechanical stress in the form of grinding results in the transformation of crystalline state to the amorphous state with a red shifted emission band attributed to attaining more planar conformation vs twisted conformation, with extended molecular conjugation. While reversible mechanochromism makes the probe suitable for rewritable papers, the switchable acidochromism is useful for the on-site monitoring of pH differences in biological and environmental media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene paper (GP) has been prepared by flow-directed assembly of graphene nanosheets. The mechanical properties of as-prepared GPs were investigated by tensile, indentation, and bending tests. Heat treated GPs demonstrate superior hardness, ten times that of synthetic graphite, and two times that of carbon steel; besides, their yielding strength is significantly higher than that of carbon steel. GPs show extremely high modulus of elasticity during bending test; in the range of a few terapascal. The high strength and stiffness of GP is ascribed to the interlocking-tile microstructure of individual graphene nanosheets in the paper. These outstanding mechanical properties of GPs could lead to a wide range of engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article the author outlines his understanding of self-psychology as an independent psychoanalytic treatment paradigm created by the late Heinz Kohut and initially geared toward the psychoanalytic treatment of narcissistic disorders. Since then, self-psychology theory and practice have been enriched by new theoretical and clinical considerations and have been introduced into other forms of psychotherapy, counseling, and education, for example. One important conceptual contribution to developmental theory was Heinz Kohut's differentiation of separate narcissistic and "object love" related developmental tasks. Today, new paradigms as i.e. relational analysis stress the value of human relationships and of the value of mutual recognition. This warrants a revisiting of the clinical value of the self-psychological understanding of narcissism. According to the author it lies in the nature of unattended narcissistic needs that when unattended they take primacy over relational aspects and demand adequate attention in order to open up the space for mutuality, reciprocity et cetera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of voltage-induced deflections in electroactive paper (EAPap) have been carried out. On the experimental side, measurements of bias-dependent deflections and strain, water absorption as a function of time, and relative humidity were obtained for the cellulose EAPap actuator. In addition, model simulations have also been carried out to probe and quantify the role of the various internal mechanisms responsible for the deflection. Our simulation predictions yield good agreement with the measured deflection data for the EAPap. The modeling suggests that internal ion content and its migration, water absorption leading to a nonuniform permittivity, random variations in the transverse piezoelectric-coupling coefficient d31,i, and the modulus of elasticity all collectively contribute to the EAPap deflection electrophysics. It also appears that higher sensitivity, with a minimal bias dependence, could be achieved by deliberately adding ions during EAPap processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose paper is considered to be a promising substrate of energy materials for energy storage device due to its flexible, porous, renewable, degradable, and environmental-friendly feature. However, the large weight and low conductivity of cellulose fibers limit the specific capacitance and energy density of the paper electrodes. Converting cellulose fibers into conductive carbon fibers (CCF) by high temperature carbonization is an effective strategy for improving the electrochemical performance of paper electrodes. But the brittleness of carbonized paper limits its application in flexible supercapacitors. In addition, stable loading of energy materials on CCF is another challenge. Here, KNO 3 in-situ etching activation method is used to construct the embedded structure of transition-metal oxides (TMOs) on CCF. And the embedding degree of TMOs on CCF can be adjusted by controlling the amount of KNO 3. The embedded structure releases the mechanical stress from bending of CCF, endowing good flexibility for carbonized paper. In addition, embedded structure can anchor TMOs into CCF, and increase the porosity and specific surface area of CCF, promoting a rapid ion diffusion and electron transport for high capacitance contributions. The KNO 3 -etched Co 3 O 4 @CCF paper as an electrode exhibits a high volume specific capacitance of 72.3 F cm−3 at current density of 0.5 mA cm−2 (more than three times higher than that of Co 3 O 4 /CCF paper) and shows good rate capability (capacitance retention of 83.3% with 10 times current density) and long lifetime (charge-discharge stability of 94.8% after 10000 cycles). Even in bending state, the composite paper still maintains stable electrochemical performances, which can broaden potential application in flexible supercapacitors. [Display omitted] • A flexible carbonized paper was fabricated for supercapacitors electrode. • KNO 3 in-situ etching activation method was used to embed TMOs into CCF. • The embedded structure released the mechanical stress from bending of CCF. • The embedded structure increased the porosity of CCF for rapid ion diffusion. • The flexible carbonized paper exhibited excellent electrochemical performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new Stroh formalism for gradient electro-mechanics is derived for the first time, which is both mathematically concise and numerically powerful, applicable to generally coupled anisotropic material systems. Based on this new formalism, the complicated Lamb wave in flexoelectric and piezoelectric plates is investigated. The dispersion equation is obtained by solving the eigenvalue problem along with the unconditionally stable dual-variable and position method. From the obtained dispersion equation, the dispersion curves and mode shapes of the Lamb wave are calculated by the 1D form of the multidimensional moduli ratio convergence method. Two important and interesting features are observed from our analysis: One is the difference in the mode shape symmetry between the piezoelectric and flexoelectric cases, and the other is the size-dependent property of the flexoelectric effect as observed by nondimensionalization. These features are further illustrated by comparing the dispersion curves and wave-mode shapes among the three different material models (purely piezoelectric, purely flexoelectric, and flexoelectric and piezoelectric coupled). The newly derived Stroh formalism offers a robust, concise, and unified approach for dealing with strain gradient electro-mechanic materials with crystal systems of general anisotropy. The present work also explains the physical mechanism of symmetry breaking observed, as induced by flexoelectric coupling in piezoelectric materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a list of references related to the topic of variational mode decomposition (VMD) and its applications in various fields such as structural health monitoring, fault diagnosis, and time series analysis. The references include research papers and articles that discuss the theory, methodology, and practical applications of VMD. The document also includes a list of nomenclature used in the referenced papers. [Extracted from the article]

AbstractResearch in topology optimization with stress constraints has shown that defining the stress constraint locally yields better performance compared to global methods. However, an examination of the formulas for local stress constraints reveals a limitation - the constraint is only satisfied at points where it is explicitly defined, failing to guarantee satisfaction across the entire design domain. To address this shortcoming, this paper proposes utilizing an integral form of the stress constraint. The integral formulation theoretically ensures that the stress constraint is satisfied over whole design domain. The objective is to minimize the mass of plane stress structures using reaction-diffusion level set method while incorporating local stress constraints in this integral form. The methodology utilizes finite element approximations for geometry and displacements, defining local stress constraints through an integral formulation. A Lagrangian function combines objective and constraint functions, with sensitivity analysis performed during optimization based on level set function changes. Structural boundaries are updated using the Hamilton-Jacobi equation. The paper presents numerical examples with varying loads and support conditions to demonstrate the effectiveness of this integral stress constraint approach. Results illustrate the capability of the proposed method to generate optimal topologies while satisfying stress constraints across the entire design space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fenshui River Bridge is a steel–concrete composite girder bridge with a main span of 90 m. Due to the topographical constraints, the steel box girder was constructed without the use of auxiliary piers, employing incremental launching techniques. This article focuses on the construction technology used for the steel box girder of the Fenshui River Bridge. Firstly, using the influence matrix method, the cable force is determined based on the maximum cantilever state of the structure, with the vertical deformation of the front end of the guide beam and the horizontal deformation of the top of the tower as the control objectives. The unstressed cable length is then calculated based on the mechanical relationship between cable deformation and cable force. A calculation method for adaptive cable force is proposed, which is based on the variation of the stress-free cable length within the adaptive structural system. Next, the finite element analysis method was employed to determine the optimal layout position for the tower. The results indicate that during the incremental launching construction of the steel box girder, the calculated cable forces using the method proposed in this paper are in close agreement with the measured cable forces. At the maximum cantilever state of the structure, the calculated and measured values of the cable force resulted in a percentage difference of 3.96%. The calculated values of deformation and stress in key sections showed a percentage difference of 6.4% for deformation and 6.6% for stress. To maximize the effectiveness of the tower and cable, the tower should be positioned above the bridge pier when the guide beam crosses the maximum span. The findings of this paper can serve as a reference for the construction of similar types of bridges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a metamodelling technique that employs gradient-enhanced Gaussian process regression (GPR) to emulate diverse internal energy densities based on the deformation gradient tensor F and electric displacement field D 0 . The approach integrates principal invariants as inputs for the surrogate internal energy density, enforcing physical constraints like material frame indifference and symmetry. This technique enables accurate interpolation of energy and its derivatives, including the first Piola-Kirchhoff stress tensor and material electric field. The method ensures stress and electric field-free conditions at the origin, which is challenging with regression-based methods like neural networks. The paper highlights that using invariants of the dual potential of internal energy density, i.e., the free energy density dependent on the material electric field E 0 , is inappropriate. The saddle point nature of the latter contrasts with the convexity of the internal energy density, creating challenges for GPR or Gradient Enhanced GPR models using invariants of F and E 0 (free energy-based GPR), compared to those involving F and D 0 (internal energy-based GPR). Numerical examples within a 3D Finite Element framework assess surrogate model accuracy across challenging scenarios, comparing displacement and stress fields with ground-truth analytical models. Cases include extreme twisting and electrically induced wrinkles, demonstrating practical applicability and robustness of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The paper's goal is to examine and illustrate the useful uses of submodeling in finite element modeling for topology optimization and stress analysis. The goal of the study is to demonstrate how submodeling – more especially, a 1D approach – can reliably and effectively produce ideal solutions for challenging structural issues. The paper aims to demonstrate the usefulness of submodeling in obtaining converged solutions for stress analysis and optimized geometry for improved fatigue life by studying a cantilever beam case and using beam formulations. In order to guarantee the precision and dependability of the optimization process, the developed approach will also be validated through experimental testing, such as 3-point bending tests and 3D printing. Using 3D finite element models, the 1D submodeling approach is further validated in the final step, showing a strong correlation with experimental data for deflection calculations. Design/methodology/approach: The authors conducted a literature review to understand the existing research on submodeling and its practical applications in finite element modeling. They selected a cantilever beam case as a test subject to demonstrate stress analysis and topology optimization through submodeling. They developed a 1D submodeling approach to streamline the optimization process and ensure result validity. The authors utilized beam formulations to optimize and validate the outcomes of the submodeling approach. They 3D-printed the optimized models and subjected them to a 3-point bending test to confirm the accuracy of the developed approach. They employed 3D finite element models for submodeling to validate the 1D approach, focusing on specific finite elements for deflection calculations and analyzed the results to demonstrate a strong correlation between the theoretical models and experimental data, showcasing the effectiveness of the submodeling methodology in achieving optimal solutions efficiently and accurately. Findings: The findings of the paper are as follows: 1. The use of submodeling, specifically a 1D submodeling approach, proved to be effective in achieving optimal solutions more efficiently and accurately in finite element modeling. 2. The study conducted on a cantilever beam case demonstrated successful stress analysis and topology optimization through submodeling, resulting in optimized geometry for enhanced fatigue life. 3. Beam formulations were utilized to optimize and validate the outcomes of the submodeling approach, leading to the successful 3D printing and testing of the optimized models through a 3-point bending test. 4. Experimental results confirmed the accuracy and validity of the developed submodeling approach in streamlining the optimization process. 5. The use of 3D finite element models for submodeling further validated the 1D approach, with specific finite elements showing a strong correlation with experimental data in deflection calculations. Overall, the findings highlight the effectiveness of submodeling techniques in achieving optimal solutions and validating results in finite element modeling, stress analysis and optimization processes. Originality/value: The originality and value of the paper lie in its innovative approach to utilizing submodeling techniques in finite element modeling for structural analysis and optimization. By focusing on the reduction of finite element models and the creation of smaller, more manageable models through submodeling, the paper offers designers a more efficient and accurate way to achieve optimal solutions for complex problems. The study's use of a cantilever beam case to demonstrate stress analysis and topology optimization showcases the practical applications of submodeling in real-world scenarios. The development of a 1D submodeling approach, along with the utilization of beam formulations and 3D printing for experimental validation, adds a novel dimension to the research. Furthermore, the paper's integration of 1D and 3D submodeling techniques for deflection calculations and validation highlights the thoroughness and rigor of the study. The strong correlation between the finite element models and experimental data underscores the reliability and accuracy of the developed approach. Overall, the originality and value of this paper lie in its comprehensive exploration of submodeling techniques, its practical applications in structural analysis and optimization and its successful validation through experimental testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to derive the motion equations for a small-scale flexoelectric-multilayer plate and move deep through its vibrational response to several determining variable variations. Flexoelectricity indicates the electrical polarization induction in response to the non-uniform strain gradient. As moving toward small scales, the importance and the role of this property comes more to the picture. The under-examination structure is fabricated of three layers; a mid-layer which is assumed to be composed of the porous exponential and power law-functionally graded materials, two flexoelectric face sheets, and the Vlasov foundation. The motion equations are derived mathematically based on the new EP of porous material, Hamilton's principle, and modified couple stress theory. Utilizing the new EP power law besides evaluating the influence of the variables, length scale parameter, materials composition, geometrical characteristics, porosity, foundation parameter, and boundary conditions (B.C.s) on the dimensionless natural frequency (DNF) of such a sandwich model is the novelty of this paper. It is revealed that the lateral ratio enhancement causes DNF and stiffness reduction in the model. Furthermore, among all considered B.C.s, simply support and clamped support refer to the lowest and the highest DNF, respectively. The content of the recent paper serves as a good source to provide a better understanding of the vibrational response of high stiffness-to-weight ratio structures to different variable variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under various stress paths, the deformation characteristics represented great differences. In this paper, a series of cyclic triaxial tests have been conducted with Fujian standard sand. By comparing the constant deviatoric (CDS) and constant axial stress paths (CAS), the influence mechanism of the cyclic amplitude of the deviatoric stress was discussed. The test results showed that the stress path significantly influenced the volumetric and shear strains. The increasing and decreasing trend in the volumetric strain (ɛv) was consistent with the spherical stress (lnp). Compared with the two stress paths, the slope of the ɛv−lnp curve during the loading and unloading stages was larger under the CAS path. In the CDS path, qc almost did not affect the cumulative volumetric strain, and in the CAS path, the effect was obvious. The shear strain curve was in accordance with the direction of the stress path. As the cyclic number increased, the shear strain gradually accumulated. The shear strain accumulation under the CAS path was larger. The shear strain largely depended on the relative position between the critical state line (CSL) and the stress state of the soil during cyclic loading and unloading. Practical Applications: In practical engineering, the soil will experience various stress paths. For example, in slope or earth–rock dam engineering, where the water level rises and falls repeatedly, the soil often goes through the stress path of constant deviational stress with the cyclic increase and decrease in the spherical stress. In foundation pit engineering, the soil often experiences the stress path of the constant axial stress (CAS) with cyclic loading and unloading of the lateral stress. The stress path greatly influences the deformation and strength of soil. Therefore, the previous two stress paths are compared in this paper to discuss the influence of the cyclic amplitude of deviatoric stress. Under three different consolidation states, the cyclic amplitude of the deviatoric stress significantly influenced the volumetric and shear strains. The shear strain largely depended on the relative position between the critical state line (CSL) and the stress state of the soil during cyclic loading and unloading. Therefore, in practical engineering, if the stress path in the experiment differs from the actual value, the influence of the stress path should be properly considered. The results should be modified according to the degree of influence of each stress condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capacitive and optical-based pressure sensors are considered for wide application in industries and R&D labs due to their superior performance. In general, these sensors use a diaphragm as a sensing element that needs to be designed accurately to achieve the desired level of accuracy for a higher operating range of the sensor. To design such a diaphragm, the conventional strain-based model cannot be used efficiently as the strain gradient starts dominating to introduce non-linear deformation with respect to the applied load when the diaphragm thickness reduces or the operating range increases beyond a certain value. Thus, there is a need to establish a comprehensive understanding and accurate modeling method to establish the underlying mechanism of the strain gradient. In view of this, a finite element analysis is carried out with moving-mesh to investigate the effect of the strain gradient phenomenon extensively in this paper. For the investigation, a few parameters are studied such as strain, strain gradient, bending rigidity, and deflection. It shows that the strain gradient spreads radially on the diaphragm and its zone of influence depends on the thickness as well as the applied pressure. This increases the bending rigidity significantly and the diaphragm deflection becomes non-linear as compared to the classical theory of bending. For validation of the present model, the bending rigidity and the deflection behavior are also compared with an earlier developed mathematical model as well as experimental results, and the same is discussed in this paper. The present work is useful for an accurate design and optimization of a diaphragm or a flexure for small size or/and higher operating range of pressure sensors and actuators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The growth of molds on paper containing cellulose is a frequent occurrence when the level of relative air humidity is high or when books become wet due to water leaks in libraries. The aim of this study is to differentiate the bioreceptivity of different types of book paper for different fungi. Laboratory tests were performed with strains of Aspergillus niger, Cladosporium sp., Chaetomium globosum and Trichoderma harzianum isolated from books. Four paper types were evaluated: couché, Pólen (offset), recycled and a reference paper containing only cellulose. The tests were carried out in chambers with relative air humidity of 95% and 100%. Mold growth was greatest in the tests at 100% relative humidity. Results of stereoscopic microscopy observation showed that Cladosporium sp. grew in 74% of these samples, A. niger in 75%, T. harzianum in 72% and C. globosum in 60%. In the chambers with 95% air humidity Cladosporium sp. grew in only 9% of the samples, A. niger in 1%, T. harzianum in 3% and C. globosum did not grow in any sample. The most bioreceptive paper was couché and the least receptive was recycled paper. The composition of the recycled paper, however, varies depending on the types of waste materials used to make it. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Plastic concrete is a kind of flexible concrete cutoff wall material, which is used to solve the problem of poor coordinated deformation ability between ordinary concrete cutoff wall and surrounding soil. It has the characteristics of small elastic modulus and large limit strain, which greatly improves the operation condition of cutoff wall. In order to save bentonite resources and recycle waste automobile tires, this paper crushed waste automobile tires into rubber particles and mixed them into plastic concrete, through the uniaxial compression test and triaxial compression test, obtained the corresponding stress–strain curve, rubberized plastic concrete strength and deformation properties are studied and the rubber particles and the relationship between dosage. The test results show that the compressive strength of rubberized plastic concrete decreases with the increase of rubber particles content, but the deformation capacity increases with the increase of rubber particles content. In this paper, the regression analysis of rubberized plastic concrete constitutive relation and failure criterion including the influence factor of rubber particles are helpful to promote the engineering application of rubberized plastic concrete and reduce the exploitation of natural resources and environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stochastic two-dimensional elastic–plastic network models are used to represent the inelastic deformation behavior of well-bonded paper. Linear kinematic hardening is employed with an initial non-zero back stress to represent anisotropic fiber yield. Network models are used to simulate simple monotonic tension and simple cyclic tension of paper materials. The performance of the models is compared to experimental results and found to perform reasonably well. The results suggest that interfiber bonding must be explicitly accounted for to adequately describe the material. Some discrepancy between the model and experimental cyclic tension results is believed to be due to time-dependent strain recovery in the material which is not represented in the network models. Experimental results are also presented which show that simple tension failure in these materials occurs along a line of localized deformation in a majority of the samples. This line is generally observed to form immediately prior to failure and is oriented at a well-defined angle with respect to the loading direction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In South Africa, a major initiative to encourage load shifting and reduce strain on the electricity grid prompted one paper mill to investigate the pumping processes at its water supply plant. In this detailed two-part case study, Graeme Harding takes us through the investigative process leading to the final solution, which has yielded a 25% energy saving since implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In spite of the flexoelectric effect being a universal phenomenon in the ferroelectric perovskites, the current understanding of flexoelectric aging in ferroelectrics is, actually, rather incomplete. In this paper, we have fabricated a series of Mn-doped BaTiO3 perovskite ceramics (BaTi1–xMnxO3, x = 0.1% and 1%, BTMO) to systematically investigate the corresponding flexoelectric aging behavior by controlling the concentration of Mn. We found that the variation of Mn dopant significantly effects the Curie temperature, dielectric constant, flexoelectric aging, and flexoelectric coefficient of the BTMO ceramics. Especially for the BTMO (0.1%) ceramics, obvious ferroelectric aging and flexoelectric aging phenomenon are observed at room temperature. The main reason for aging of BTMO ceramics is that the doping of Mn introduces oxygen vacancies, which tend to be stable under the action of strain gradient and electric field. Therefore, the results presented in this paper verify that the flexoelectric aging in Mn-doped BTO ceramics is closely related to ferroelectric fatigue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep rock are often in a true triaxial stress state. Studying the impacts of varying unloading speeds on their strain energy (SE) density is highly significant for predicting rock stability. Through true triaxial unloading principal stress experiments and true triaxial stress equilibrium unloading experiments on sandstone, this paper proposes a method to compute the SE density in a true triaxial compressive unloading principal stress test. This method aims to analyze the SE variation in rocks under the action of true triaxial unloading principal stresses. Acoustic emission is used to verify the correctness of the SE density calculation method in this paper. This study found that: (1) Unloading in one principal stress direction causes the SE density to rise in the other principal stress directions. This rise in SE, depending on its reversibility, can be categorized into elastic and dissipated SE. (2)When unloading principal stresses, the released elastic SE density in the unloading direction is influence by the stress path and rate. (3) The higher the unloading speed will leads to greater increases in the input SE density, elastic SE density, and dissipative SE density in the other principal stress directions. (4) The dissipated SE generated under true triaxial compression by unloading the principal stress is positively correlated with the damage to the rock; with an increase in unloading rate, there is a corresponding increase in the formation of cracks after unloading. (5) Utilizing the stress balance unloading test, we propose a calculation method for SE density in true triaxial unloading principal stress tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to compare and evaluate the influence of package designs and characteristics on the mechanical reliability of electronic assemblies when subjected to harmonic vibrations. Design/methodology/approach: Using finite element analysis (FEA), the effect of package design-related parameters, including the interconnect array configuration, i.e. full vs perimeter, and package size, on solder mechanical stresses are fully addressed. Findings: The results of FEA simulations revealed that the number of solder rows or columns available in the array, could significantly affect solder stresses. In addition, smaller packages result in lower solder stresses and differing distributions. Originality/value: In literature, there are no papers that discuss the effect of solder array layout on electronic packages vibration reliability. In addition, general rules for designing electronic assemblies subjected to harmonic vibration loadings are proposed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tunnel excavation induces the stress redistribution of the surrounding rock. Structural cracks may develop in the secondary lining due to this stress redistribution and bias pressure, consequently affecting the overall construction safety of the tunnel. This paper aims to achieve real-time monitoring of the excavation stability of the lining structure by integrating two monitoring technologies: structural deformation monitoring and fiber grating strain monitoring. Additionally, it proposes a method to simultaneously measure the thermal strain and applied stress–strain of the structure. By analyzing the displacement and deformation of the lining structure, its stability can be preliminarily evaluated in the short term. To achieve long-term real-time monitoring and a more accurate assessment of the tunnel structure's stability, the paper introduces fiber Bragg grating (FBG) strain sensor monitoring technology. First, based on the geological stratigraphy information obtained from the exploration, a simulation model of the tunnel under different section bias angles is established. The displacement and stress concentration areas of the lining structure are then analyzed to optimize the sensor deployment array and provide a theoretical basis for the sensor arrangement. FBG strain sensors are installed on the surface of the structure to measure thermal strain and loading stress–strain, whereas FBG temperature sensors measure local temperature. The findings indicate that following tunnel excavation, the maximum daily strain differences at K107+043 and K107+240 were 126.87 µ ε and 209.38 µ ε , respectively. After a period of rock disturbance, the average daily strain differences due to applied stress–strain were 16.8 µ ε and 12.65 µ ε , respectively. The thermal strain was close to the daily strain difference. Therefore, after the rock disturbance subsided, the strain fluctuations in the lining structure were mainly caused by local temperature changes, and the surrounding rock tended to stabilize. This offers a viable method for evaluating structural stability post-tunnel excavation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twinning is an important deformation mechanism for magnesium alloys, which has a significant impact on the texture evolution and mechanical properties. Pre-twinning deformation has been considered as an effective method for texture regulation. For each twinning mode, there are six crystallographically equivalent variants. Properly identifying the activated twin and understanding its variant selection criteria are essential for the development of high-performance magnesium alloys. As summarized in this paper, the observed twin variant by the commonly employed electron backscatter diffraction technique can be identified by several approaches, including misorientation analysis, trace analysis and matrix method. Schmid factor analysis was commonly performed to explain the selection of twin variants. To broaden the application scope under complex stress state, a generalized Schmid factor was derived by introducing a stress tensor. The efficiency of Schmid criteria to assess twin variant selection was confirmed to be influenced by the type of the applied stress. To consider the local effect on twin activation, in particular twin-twin transfer and slip-induced twinning, displacement gradient tensor calculation and geometrical compatibility factor analysis have been employed. It was demonstrated that local strain accommodation played a critical role in selecting the variants of cross-boundary twins in magnesium alloys. Assisted with crystal plasticity finite element modeling, the resolved shear stress on twinning and a composite Schmid factor combining the global Schmid factor and geometrical compatibility factor were obtained to better explain the activated twin variants in magnesium alloys. All the above-mentioned Schmid law based criteria and some energy based criteria as well are summarized in this paper. Their applications in evaluating twin variant selection in magnesium alloys are critically reviewed and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carbon/glass hybrid rod exhibits high tensile strength, light weight, and strong corrosion resistance. However, the bottleneck of interlayer splitting exists in the interlayer hybrid rod, severely impeding safe operation. To solve the problem of rod splitting, this paper proposed a new scheme of an intralayer carbon/glass hybrid rod. Based on the material constitutive model, a full‐scale simulation model was developed. The stress distribution and deformation of the hybrid rod were analyzed and the progressive damage mechanism of the hybrid rod was explained. The results indicated that, for the intralayer carbon/glass hybrid rod, (a) the ultimate experimental tensile load witnessed a significant increase, rising by 14.0% from 452.4 to 515.7 kN compared to the interlayer hybrid rod; (b) the numerical model predicted the tensile load of 525.9 kN, with an error of 1.9% compared to the test result, meeting engineering accuracy requirements; (c) the elastic deformation stage saw a 146.7% increase from 280.2 to 691.3 MPa in the maximum axial stress of the carbon‐fiber layer, and a 120% increase from 89.8 to 198.0 MPa in the maximum radial stress of the glass fiber layer as the tensile displacement increased from 0.16 to 0.32 mm. In conclusion, the intralayer carbon/glass hybrid rod proposed in this paper can significantly improve the tensile strength compared to the interlayer hybrid rod, which can accelerate the application of carbon/glass hybrid rods in oil and gas fields. Highlights: According to the problem of interlayer splitting in the interlayer carbon/glass hybrid rods, a novel scheme of an intralayer carbon/glass hybrid rod was proposed.Based on the material constitutive model, a full‐scale simulation model of an intralayer carbon/glass hybrid rod was developed to analyze the stress distribution and deformation response under tensile load.The dynamic progressive damage analysis method for intralayer carbon/glass hybrid rods was proposed to reveal the damage evolution mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we have studied the behaviour of two symmetric mode-III collinear cracks in a functionally graded material (FGM). The fundamental goal of this paper is to provide insight on the interaction of two cracks in FGMs with the strain gradient effect. To assess the influence of gradient elasticity, we have considered two key parameters ℓ and ℓ ′ , which describe the size scale effect caused by the underlying microstructure and are related to volumetric and surface strain energy, respectively. The crack boundary value problem have been solved by the approach involving Fourier transforms and the innovative hyper-singular integro-differential equation method, where the integral equation contains the two terms in integrals for the both cracks. A system of equations has been constructed by employing the Chebyshev polynomial expansion and then by choosing the suitable collocation points the system of equation have been solved. Our investigation involves the determination of stress intensity factors at both crack tips. These factors are vital for understanding the material's fracture behavior and structural integrity. Furthermore, we explore the variations in the displacement profile when the distance between the cracks is reduced to close proximity. This particular scenario is of significant interest as it provides insights into how the interaction between the cracks impacts the overall structural response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seismic faults are known to exhibit a high level of spatial and temporal complexity, and the causes and consequences of this complexity have been the topic of numerous research works in the past decade. In this paper, we investigate the origins and the structure of this complexity by considering a numerical model of laboratory earthquake experiment, where we introduce a fault with homogeneous mechanical properties but allow it to evolve spontaneously to its natural level of complexity. This is achieved by coupling the elastic deformability of the off‐fault medium (and therefore allowing for heterogeneous stress fields to develop) and the discrete degradation and gouge formation at the fault plane (and therefore allowing for structural heterogeneity to develop). Numerical results show the development of persistent stress, damage, and gouge thickness heterogeneities, with a much larger variability in space than in time. Strong positive correlations are found between these quantities, which suggest a positive feedback between local normal stress and damage rate, only mildly mitigated by the mobility of the granular gouge in the interface. For a wide range of confining stresses, after a sufficient number of seismic cycles, the fault reaches a state of established disorder with a constant roughness, a certain amount of periodicity at the millimetric scale, and a power law decay of the Power Spectral Density at smaller spatial scales. The typical height‐to‐wavelength ratio of geometrical asperities and the correlations between stress and damage profiles are in good agreement with previous field or lab estimates. Plain Language Summary: Earthquakes occur on faults in the Earth curst, and these faults are known to be highly complex, both from a geometrical and structural point of view. This complexity is now introduced artificially in many numerical and theoretical models of faults in order to derive meaningful knowledge related to earthquake mechanics. There is little knowledge, however, about the way this complexity develops. In this paper, we employ a numerical model to observe the spontaneous development of this complexity, in order to understand its origin, its structure, and its evolution. Key Points: A coupled discrete‐continuum model of laboratory earthquakes allows the spontaneous development of fault complexity along seismic cyclesFault heterogeneity is persistent in space and time, with a strong positive correlation between normal stress, damage, and gouge thicknessStress fields exhibit a millimetric periodicity and a self‐affinity at smaller scales, in quantitative agreement with previous estimates [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the flexural behavior of a concrete sandwich panel under concentrated boundary conditions, based on Kirachhoff's elastic thin plate theory in this paper, the geometric deformation, physical conditions, and equilibrium relationship of a sandwich panel are deduced by constructing the layered analysis model of the sandwich panel, the basic differential equation of the flexural deformation of the concrete sandwich thin plate is obtained, and the mathematical expression of the internal force and displacement under the boundary condition of concentrated support is given. Combined with an engineering example, the proposed calculation method is verified. The results show that, in the arrangement of reliable connectors for concrete sandwich panels, the concrete wythes bear the load while the contribution of the core layer to the bending capacity of the structure can be ignored. When subjected to a laterally distributed load, the sandwich panel mainly experiences out-of-plane bending deformation, and the bending normal stress in the concrete panel layer shows a linear non-uniform distribution along the thickness direction of the panel. The bending deformation performance and bearing efficiency of a concrete sandwich slab with the change in concentrated support position have significant effects, and the load transfer efficiency can be improved by optimizing the arrangement of supports. Except for small local areas near the supports, the bending stress distribution and deformation behavior of the concrete sandwich panel can be accurately analyzed by the calculation method established in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to propose an experimental procedure for determining the characteristic length of a strain gradient model. The identification problem is studied through a virtual pull-out test of a rigid bar along the symmetry axis of a cylindrical strain gradient elastic domain. To allow an accurate parameter identification based on measured data, we investigate the effect of the characteristic length on the mechanical fields for this problem. We see a significant sensitivity of the inflection point of the displacement profile evaluated on the cross section of the cylinder, with respect to the characteristic length. By adjusting the characteristic length of the strain gradient such that the theoretical models match best with experimental measurements of the surface displacement fields, the characteristic length of the strain gradient can be estimated. In order to allow for more efficient analysis and an almost real-time parameter identification, the initial three-dimensional (3D) problem is reduced to a one-dimensional (1D) problem by exploiting the cylindrical symmetry of the problem. As will be shown, an accurate 1D finite element method (FEM) strain gradient solution can be obtained for this simplified problem. Since the cylindrical symmetry is only true in an infinitely long cylinder, specific boundary conditions are constructed on a cylinder of finite length, which is then used for the comparison of the 1D and 3D problems. Results show, however, that the structural response at the inflection point is insensitive to whether the specific boundary conditions are considered or not, which is why the 1D model can be used for parameter identification. Since the proposed approach is methodological, it can be applied to any material. As a prototype problem in this paper, we consider the case of a bar embedded in Portland cement concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the area of large deformation of soft rocks across the fault in Dongmachang China to investigate support methods for fractured surrounding rocks Negative Poisson's Ratio (NPR) anchor cable support. The research employs field monitoring, 3D physical model experiments, and numerical simulations. The results show that: (1) the maximum settlement displacement of the Dongmachang Tunnel section with original support can reach about 476 mm and has an upward trend, the limit of initial branch intrusion is 41.2 cm, and the width of invert joint is 5–50 mm; (2) the dynamic impact experiment of NPR anchor cable shows that the NPR anchor can withstand several impacts, the maximum cumulative impact deformation within the range of constant resistance is 500–1,000 mm, and the impact resistance is strong; and (3) NPR anchor cable can effectively control the large deformation disaster of surrounding rock in the fault fracture zone of Dongmachang Tunnel, basically ensuring that the deformation of the surrounding rock is below 300 mm, and the control effect is good. These findings suggest that NPR anchor cables are effective for controlling large deformations in tunnels constructed through soft rock across faults and provide a scientific basis for implementing new support systems for other similar tunnels. At present, the international support of deep-buried underground engineering still takes the new Austrian method as the mainstream, but the core idea of the new Austrian method is passive support, which often cannot effectively support the deep-buried soft rock with high stress and large deformation. This paper takes the anchor cable with high preload (350 kN) as the core and the excavation compensation method proposed by Academician He Manchao as the starting point, and innovatively supports the deep-buried soft rock large deformation tunnel, which provides a new idea for the support of other deep-buried underground projects. Although this paper studies the support effect of negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) cable compensation mechanics from the perspectives of laboratory test, physical model experiment, and numerical simulation, because the tunnel has not yet been started, it has not been studied from the perspective of field application. The support effect of NPR anchor cables on surrounding rock in the fracture zone needs further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of the study of stress relaxation fields, deformation, and temperature of the system of nanostructured multilayer coatings. In the work, a nonlinear relationship between strain and stress was used to take into account nonlinear effects in the mechanism of nanostructure formation. The paper assumes that a friction surface is provided by the self-organization of shear components: both stress and strain on the one hand, and temperature on the other. The studied objects are described in the adiabatic approximation, taking into account the fact of the evolution of stresses and strains. With the help of phase portraits of the system, the dependence of the deformation processes on the stresses arising in the system without coating and with coating is shown. It is shown that the rate of change of deformation depends on the characteristics of the mechanical impact on the coating and on the amount of stress and deformation. A conclusion is drawn regarding the transition process in the presence of two regions (Hooke and plastic deformation) in the corresponding phase portrait of the strain–stress field of the system. The results of the work can be used to determine the effective parameters of a coating in the analysis of experimental time dependences of stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents an analysis of the low-cycle fatigue (LCF) properties of C45, X20Cr13, and 34CrNiMo6 steels subjected to various heat treatment processes. Strain-controlled LCF tests were carried out with a total cyclic strain amplitude equal to 0.5, 1 and 1.5%. Fatigue life, cyclic stress-strain behavior and hardness were analyzed. Qualitative and quantitative relationships between material LCF properties resulting from the heat treatment processes, were related to the indentation force P*, which was derived experimentally by applying an instrumented indentation procedure with the use of the Vickers indenter. The proposed parameter P* and its changes ΔP* seem to be promising for the identification of the structural stress parameter σ* that is necessary for deriving values of the fatigue strength coefficients σf' corresponding to different tempering temperatures. The common feature of all steels analyzed in this paper is that the elastic parts of the strain-life characteristics remain parallel after being subjected to different tempering temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underground reservoirs in coal mines, consisting of goafs (By goaf, we mean the space that remains underground after the extraction of valuable minerals), are commonly utilized for mine water storage and drainage, with their primary load-bearing structures being the "roof–coal pillar" systems. Consequently, this structure must endure the repeated immersion behavior resulting from fluctuations in the mine water level, resulting in the risk of geological disasters. This paper analyzes the variation in mechanical properties of sandstone–coal composite samples after repeated immersion cycles through axial loading tests. The results indicate that the water content of the sample exhibits a notable and rapid increase with each successive immersion cycle. This corresponds to a decrease in the stress threshold and modulus parameters of the samples. Moreover, the acoustic emission signals serve as indicators of the softening characteristics of the samples. With the increase in immersion cycles, there is an augmentation in both the frequency and extent of shear cracks. The non-linear failure characteristics of the samples become more pronounced. Consequently, water significantly weakens the cementing material between rock grains. Both sandstone and coal display a decrease in deformation resistance capabilities at a macroscopic level. The constitutive model of the composite sample was improved based on the degradation characteristics of mechanical strength and strain energy parameters, which offers enhanced accuracy in analyzing the degradation process caused by water immersion. This paper offers a crucial theoretical foundation for comprehending the deterioration evolution characteristics of the "roof–coal pillar" bearing structure affected by repeated immersion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: We reformulate the original model of Hatchell and Bourne and Røste, Stovas and Landrø that couples fractional velocity change to subsurface strain via a fundamental constant R. The new model combines elastic compressibility of a dual‐porosity system for a sand–shale mixture with horizontal planes of inter‐granular weakness. The majority of observed R‐factor magnitudes from post‐stack 4D seismic data in both the reservoir and overburden can thus be explained. R is predicted to depend strongly on lithology and also initial strain state. The model is also extended to predict the observed angle‐dependence of time‐lapse time‐shifts from pre‐stack data. An expression for the gradient of time‐shift with incidence angle is obtained in terms of the background VP/VS, and also the ratio of tangential to normal compliances BT/BN representing loss or creation of inter‐granular coupling. If accurately estimated from data, this compliance ratio can be used as an additional parameter to assess the post‐production state of the overburden. It is concluded that whilst R remains the over‐arching parameter controlling the magnitude of time‐shifts measured from 4D seismic data, BT/BN is a subtler parameter that may also prove of future value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Dynamic mechanical analysis combined with relative humidity (DMA-RH) was used to examine the viscoelastic properties of standard Kraft and extensible Clupak paper in dry and humid atmosphere. Knowledge regarding these viscoelastic properties combined with the natural hygroscopicity of paper is fundamental for the prediction of paper behaviour under stress conditions. Results from DMA-RH under dynamic (frequency/strain experiments) and static measurement modes (creep/recovery experiments) indicated that the change of paper structure during the Clupak process is significant. Marked changes in elongation and stiffness as well as relaxation ability of Clupak paper were found. DMA-RH allows the combining multiple conditions (frequency, temperature, time, load, and humidity) during a single measurement and it can thus simulate similar conditions to those in paper processing and product-use. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

There is no correct form of the term HT ht in the literature. In Physics it is not allowed to add quantities with different units and the term HT ht is wrong. [Extracted from the article]