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In this paper, the vibration and buckling behavior of a functionally graded piezoelectric porous cylindrical microshell under thermo-electro-mechanical loads are explored on the basis of modified couple stress theory and higher-order shear deformation theory. First, the model of a functionally graded piezoelectric porous cylindrical microshell composed of piezoelectric materials with gradient change in the thickness direction was described. Second, the governing equations of the microshell were derived by Hamilton's principle and Maxwell equation. Third, the modal frequency and buckling equations of the microshell with simply supported ends were obtained on the basis of harmonic trigonometric functions. Finally, the effects of parameters on the modal frequency and buckling behavior were carried out by case studies. The results show that the modal frequency of the microshell can be adjusted by changing the porosity volume fraction, power index, applied voltage, axial load and geometric dimensions. It is also found that the vibration of the microshell is suppressed by positive voltage and axial compression but is strengthened by negative voltage and axial tension, and the material length scale parameter increases stiffness. In addition, the effects of applied voltage and axial load on the buckling behavior are larger than those of temperature. Results can be used to guide the design and application of piezoelectric devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mathematical model of thermal decomposition together with the flammability limit is proposed to describe the pyrolysis and spontaneous ignition of wood slab subjected to the radiation from a truncated-cone heater. The prominent physical and chemical phenomena were considered in the model, involving heat transfer in a solid, heat consumed by thermal decomposition reactions, the evaporation of moisture, re-radiation from pore surfaces inside a solid and so on. The numerical solution allows the prediction of in-depth temperature profiles, evolution of volatiles, variation of thermal conductivity, apparent mass loss (solid conversion) and ignition time. The different densities for wood species and effect of moisture content and grain orientation on thermal conductivity are also considered in the model, producing a good prediction of surface temperatures. This gives birth to the reasonable prediction on ignition time of wood by employing fixed surface temperature (400 °C) as ignition criterion. However, the analysis of constituent fractions for the species associated with the multi-components kinetic scheme should be included in the mathematical model to give a more precise prediction on the apparent mass loss of solid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pyrolysis and ignition of wood is of great importance to understand the initial stage of combustion, helping control the occurrence and spread of unwanted building and forestry fires. The development of a thermal-balanced model is introduced for examining the analytical relationship between the ignition time and external heat flux. The critical heat flux, one of the important fire-retardant characteristics of combustible solid, is determined from a correlation study between the ignition time and external heat flux. One of the thermal-balanced integral models, considering the effect of surface heat losses, average absorptivity and moisture content, is employed to give the prediction of surface temperature rise, ignition time and ignition temperature of the Aspen. The results show that the model readily and satisfactorily predicts ignition temperature and ignition time of wood with different moisture contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]