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This paper studies the vibration behaviours of laminated plates with consideration of the influences of surface and interface energies. Geometric nonlinearity is taken into account in this model to obtain the results of large amplitude vibrations. Approximate closed-form solutions for simply supported plates, clamped plates and clamped circular plates are provided. Numerical results show that the surface/interface effect can affect the dynamic behaviours of laminated plates at nanometer scale. This is especially for nonlinear (large-amplitude) vibration. In addition, the ratio of the thickness to length of the plate, the external load and number of layers also affect the surface/interface effects for large amplitude vibration. This study is helpful for designing and examining the non-linear dynamic behaviour of laminated nanoplates and nanoscale devices.

The use of Pipe Belt Conveyor (PBC) has gained more and more popularity in bulk solids handling. Compared to the traditional trough conveyors, PBC can allow tighter curves and steeper gradients of conveyor routes and thus better suits the applications in difficult terrains. It has many unique mechanical characteristics which are not well understood yet. This paper proposes a coupled finite element model (FEM) and discrete element method (DEM) model to investigate the mechanics of a PBC system, with particular reference to the distribution of contact force in the pipe section. This FEM/DEM model considers comprehensively the formation of pipe from a flat belt and the microscopic structure of discrete particles under gravity, and thus can well describe the states of both conveyor belt and bulk solids. The predictions of the contact forces are shown to agree well with the previous experimental data under different conditions. Using this approach, the distribution of contact forces under different load conditions, i.e. zero gravity (ZG), empty pipe (VF 0%), volume fill of 40% (VF 40%) and 80% (VF 80%) are obtained and their dependencies on the rotation angle of pipe are investigated.

In this work, we develop a facile electro-deposition method to assemble Co ultrathin shell on the Co 3 O 4 nanowires forming Co 3 O 4 @Co core/branch arrays (CBAs). Co nanoshell of 5–10 nm is homogeneously connected with each other and forms a conductive “armor” on the Co 3 O 4 nanowires. Attractive advantages including high electronic conductivity and large porosity are combined in the designed core/branch architecture. Compared with the unmodified Co 3 O 4 nanowires, the Co 3 O 4 @Co CBAs have been demonstrated with higher capacity and better cycling stability. A specific capacity of 649 mAh g −1 is obtained for the Co 3 O 4 @Co electrode at 3 A g −1 , much higher than that (431 mAh g −1 ) of the Co 3 O 4 nanowires counterpart. In addition, after 300 cycles at 0.25 A g −1 , the Co 3 O 4 @Co electrode delivers a stable capacity of 863 mAh g −1 , better than the pristine Co 3 O 4 counterpart (686 mAh g −1 ) owing to better conductive networks and more stable electrode structure.

Using an improved multilayered plate model, the influence of surface and interface energies on the bending behaviour of laminated nanoplates is incorporated into the Kirchhoff plate theory. Governing equations taking into account the geometrical nonlinearity are obtained to study the influences of surface/interface energies. Based on the Navier and Ritz methods, closed-form solutions for both simply supported and clamped nanoplates are obtained. Numerical results for single- and multilayered nanoplates indicate that the interface effect can noticeably change the elastic behaviour of laminated plates on the nanometer scale. In addition, the flakiness ratio, external load, and number of layers also affect the surface/interface effects at large deformations. This study will be useful for the design and examination of nanoplates and nanoscale devices, especially multilayered plates at large deformations.