Hybridization of Differential Evolution and Adaptive-Network-Based Fuzzy Inference Systemin Estimation of Compression Coefficient of Plastic Clay Soil

One of the important geotechnical parameters required for designing of the civil engineering structure is the compressibility of the soil.In this study,the main purpose is to develop a novel hybrid Machine Learning(ML)model(ANFIS-DE),which used Differential Evolution(DE)algorithm to optimize the predictive capability of Adaptive-Network-based Fuzzy Inference System(ANFIS),for estimating soil Compression coefficient(Cc)from other geotechnical parameters namelyWater Content,Void Ratio,SpecificGravity,Liquid Limit,Plastic Limit,Clay content and Depth of Soil Samples.Validation of the predictive capability of the novel model was carried out using statistical indices:Root Mean Square Error(RMSE),Mean Absolute Error(MAE),and Correlation Coefficient(R).In addition,two popular ML models namely Reduced Error Pruning Trees(REPTree)and Decision Stump(Dstump)were used for comparison.Results showed that the performance of the novel model ANFIS-DE is the best(R=0.825,MAE=0.064 and RMSE=0.094)in comparison to other models such as REPTree(R=0.7802,MAE=0.068 and RMSE=0.0988)andDstump(R=0.7325,MAE=0.0785 and RMSE=0.1036).Therefore,the ANFIS-DE model can be used as a promising tool for the correct and quick estimation of the soil Cc,which can be employed in the design and construction of civil engineering structures.

Measurement Method of Compressibility and Thermal Expansion Coefficients for Density Standard Liquid at 2329 kg/m^3 based on Hydrostatic Suspension Principle

The accurate measurement on the compressibility and thermal expansion coefficients of density standard liquid at 2329kg/m3（DSL-2329） plays an important role in the quality control for silicon single crystal manufacturing. A new method is developed based on hydrostatic suspension principle in order to determine the two coefficients with high measurement accuracy. Two silicon single crystal samples with known density are immersed into a sealed vessel full of DSL-2329. The density of liquid is adjusted with varying liquid temperature and static pressure, so that the hydrostatic suspension of two silicon single crystal samples is achieved. The compression and thermal expansion coefficients are then calculated by using the data of temperature and static pressure at the suspension state. One silicon single crystal sample can be suspended at different state, as long as the liquid temperature and static pressure function linearly according to a certain mathematical relationship. A hydrostatic suspension experimental system is devised with the maximal temperature control error ±50 μK; Silicon single crystal samples can be suspended by adapting the pressure following the PID method. By using the method based on hydrostatic suspension principle, the two key coefficients can be measured at the same time, and measurement precision can be improved due to avoiding the influence of liquid surface tension. This method was further validated experimentally, where the mixture of 1, 2, 3-tribromopropane and 1,2-dibromoethane is used as DSL-2329. The compressibility and thermal expansion coefficients were measured, as 8.5′10–4 K–1 and 5.4′10–10 Pa–1, respectively.

Study and Comparison of Swelling and Compressibility Characteristics of Crumb Marl, Flaky Marl with Attapulgite and Sandy Clay from the Diamniadio Urban Pole at the Oedometer

In Senegal, the Diamniadio, Sebikhotane and Bargny sector contains clay soils that are problematic for construction. In order to have more information on the behavior of the clay soils of Diamniadio, free swelling tests followed by load-discharge cycles were carried out according to standard NF P 94-090-1. These tests were carried out using an Oedometric device on the three samples from the study site (sandy clays with calcareous concretion, marls with crumbs and laminated marls with attapulgite) to apprehend their swelling aspects in saturated conditions. For the free swelling test, a determination of the different swelling phases will be carried out followed by a comparison of the rate of evolution of the phases for the three samples from the site. In the same vein, the compressibility characteristics of the samples will also be provided from load-unload Oedometric tests. Thereafter, we proceed to a comparison of the void index at the initial state of the samples after two charge-discharge cycles and the influence of the cycles on the reorganization of the internal structure of the samples. These studies will provide more information on the swelling behavior of Diamniadio soils in the presence of water.

Hydraulic and mechanical properties of wax-coated sands

Wax-coated sands are a new category of synthetic soils, which are gradually becoming a reliable construction material. Because of their valuable drainage ability and mechanical properties, wax coated sandy soils are specifically applicable to pavement construction of horseracing tracks and sport fields. Although the mechanical and hydraulic properties of these synthetic soils are well-proven, there is still a lack of studies on how the soil samples behave differently when mixing with different wax fractions. Adding the wax affects permeability and compressibility of pure sand. Intensity of influences is a function of weight percentage of wax that has been added, and other physical and environmental factors. The effects of wax content on hydraulic properties(permeability), and mechanical properties(stress strain behavior, compressibility) of sandy soils based on a series of experimental efforts were investigated. Obtained experimental results infer that increasing the amount of wax up to 6% causes an about 50% increase in permeability, mainly because of the significant effect of wax in lowering the friction along with covering and filling the angular parts of particles' surfaces and forming rounded particles. In addition, wax-coated sands show a 20% to 60% decrease in confined compression modulus compared to non wax-coated sands.

Mechanism of calcium mitigating membrane fouling in submerged membrane bioreactors

Two parallel membrane bioreactors （MBRs） were operated under different calcium dosages （168.5, 27 mg/L） to gain a better understanding of the mechanism of retarding membrane fouling by adding calcium. The results showed that the particle size of sludge flocs increased and the particle size distribution tended to be narrow at the optimum dosage （168.5 mg/L）. Calcium was effective in decreasing loosely bound extracellular polymeric substances （LB-EPS） in microbial flocs and soluble microbial products （SMP） in the supernatant at the dosage of 168.5 mg/L by strengthening the neutralization and bridging of EPS with flocs. Furthermore, the amount of CODs and CODc decreased in both the mixed liquor and the fouling cake layer on the membrane surface. In order to compare the filtration characteristics of cake layers from the MBRs with the two calcium dosages, the specific cake resistance and the compressibility coefficient were measured. The specific cake resistance from the MBR with optimum dosage （168.5 mg/L） was distinctly lower than that with low dosage （27 mg/L）. The compressibility coefficient of the cake layers under two dosages were respectively attained as 0.65, 0.91. Scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and three-dimensional confocal scanning laser microscope analysis （CLSM） images were utilized to observe the gel layer directly.

A Study on Enhancement of Filtration Process with Filter Aids Diatomaceous Earth and Wood Pulp Cellulose

In this paper, a study to enhance the filtration for solid/liquid materials difficult to be filtered, such as highly viscous, highly compactible or gel like materials, is presented. Filter aids diatomaceous earth and wood pulp cellulose are used to enhance the filtration by improving filter cake structure and properties in the filtration of a biological health product and a highly viscous chemical fiber polymer melt product. The property of solid/liquidsystems, filtration at different flow rates, specitic cake resistance, cake wetness, filtration rate, filtrate turbidity for filter aid selection and evaluation, and operation optimization are investigated. The results are successfully applied to industrial process, .and can be used as a reference for similar filtration applications.

Estimating pore volume compressibility by spheroidal pore modeling of digital rocks

The real pores in digital cores were simplified into three abstractive types,including prolate ellipsoids,oblate ellipsoids and spheroids.The three-dimensional spheroidal-pore model of digital core was established based on mesoscopic mechanical theory.The constitutive relationship of different types of pore microstructure deformation was studied with Eshelby equivalent medium theory,and the effects of pore microstructure on pore volume compressibility under elastic deformation conditions of single and multiple pores of a single type and mixed types of pores were investigated.The results showed that the pore volume compressibility coefficient of digital core is closely related with porosity,pore aspect ratio and volumetric proportions of different types of pores.(1)The compressibility coefficient of prolate ellipsoidal pore is positively correlated with the pore aspect ratio,while that of oblate ellipsoidal pore is negatively correlated with the pore aspect ratio.(2)At the same mean value of pore aspect ratio satisfying Gaussian distribution,the more concentrated the range of pore aspect ratio,the higher the compressibility coefficient of both prolate and oblate ellipsoidal pores will be,and the larger the deformation under the same stress condition.(3)The pore compressibility coefficient increases with porosity.(4)At a constant porosity value,the higher the proportion of oblate ellipsoidal and spherical pores in the rock,the more easier for the rock to deform,and the higher the compressibility coefficient of the rock is,while the higher the proportion of prolate ellipsoidal pores in the rock,the more difficult it is for rock to deform,and the lower the compressibility coefficient of the rock is.By calculating pore compressibility coefficient of ten classical digital rock samples,the presented analytical elliptical-pore model based on real pore structure of digital rocks can be applied to calculation of pore volume compressibility coefficient of digital rock sample.

Preparation of steel slag porous sound-absorbing material using coal powder as pore former

The aim of the study was to prepare a porous sound-absorbing material using steel slag and fly ash as the main raw material, with coal powder and sodium silicate used as a pore former and binder respectively. The influence of the experimental conditions such as the ratio of fly ash, sintering temperature, sintering time, and porosity regulation on the performance of the porous sound-absorbing material was investigated. The results showed that the specimens prepared by this method had high sound absorption performance and good mechanical properties, and the noise reduction coefficient and compressive strength could reach 0.50 and 6.5 MPa, respectively. The compressive strength increased when the dosage of fly ash and sintering temperature were raised. The noise reduction coefficient decreased with increasing ratio of fly ash and reducing pore former, and first increased and then decreased with the increase of sintering temperature and time. The optimum preparation conditions for the porous sound-absorbing material were a proportion of fly ash of 50%（wt.%）, percentage of coal powder of 30%（wt.%）, sintering temperature of 1130°C,and sintering time of 6.0 hr, which were determined by analyzing the properties of the sound-absorbing material.