Equal Volumes of Sand and Gravel Concrete Mix Ratios in Cameroon and Its Effect on Concrete Compressive Strength

In recent years, the rationalization of concrete mix ratios which batches equal volumes of sand and gravel in building projects has been gaining grounds in the Cameroon construction industry. The main objective of this study is therefore to investigate if the concrete produced with rationalized mix ratio can be adopted as conventional mix ratio in terms of minimum required compression strength of concrete for buildings. Specifically this work compared the conventional mix ratio of 350 kg of cement: 400 liters of sand: 800 liters of gravel for a cubic meter and the rationalized batch of 350 kg of cement: 600 liters of sand: 600 liters of 5/15 gravel, 15/25 gravel and a combination of 5/15 + 15/25 gravel. Average compressive tests’results for both the conventional and the rationalized mix ratios were found to meet the minimum compressive strength of 65% at 7 days, 90% at 14 days and 99% at 28 days for gravel size combination 5/15 + 15/25. Single size gravel of 5/15 and 15/25 did not meet the minimum required compressive strength of 20 N/mm2 for the rationalized mix ratio at 28 days curing based on the minimum compressive strength required, this study arrives at the conclusion that the equal volumes of sand and gravel mix ratio of 350 kg/m3 of cement: 600 liters of sand: 600 liters of gravel mix ratio can be adopted as a conventional concrete mix ratio for gravel size 5/15 + 15/25.

Preparation and Optimization of Mix ratio for C50T Girder Manufactured Sand and Concrete

Considering actual construction conditions of Binchuan-Heqing Highway,this paper provides the C50 mix ratio conforming to engineering requirements by strictly controlling the quality of raw materials,optimizing the design of mix ratio scientifically,preparing superior C50 concrete 0 with manufactured sand,and optimizing the concrete mix ratio based on the adjustment of fly ash replacement,water-cement ratio,polycarboxylate-type water reducer mixing amount,sand ratio,etc.The result indicates that,the water-cement ratio has a great influence on the concrete strength,and if the ratio of coal ash is high in the binding material,the early compressive strength of the concrete will increase slowly.

Identification of Mixtures of Two Types of Body Fluids Using the Multiplex Methylation System and Random Forest Models

Objective Body fluid mixtures are complex biological samples that frequently occur in crime scenes,and can provide important clues for criminal case analysis.DNA methylation assay has been applied in the identification of human body fluids,and has exhibited excellent performance in predicting single-source body fluids.The present study aims to develop a methylation SNaPshot multiplex system for body fluid identification,and accurately predict the mixture samples.In addition,the value of DNA methylation in the prediction of body fluid mixtures was further explored.Methods In the present study,420 samples of body fluid mixtures and 250 samples of single body fluids were tested using an optimized multiplex methylation system.Each kind of body fluid sample presented the specific methylation profiles of the 10 markers.Results Significant differences in methylation levels were observed between the mixtures and single body fluids.For all kinds of mixtures,the Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed a significantly strong correlation between the methylation levels and component proportions(1:20,1:10,1:5,1:1,5:1,10:1 and 20:1).Two random forest classification models were trained for the prediction of mixture types and the prediction of the mixture proportion of 2 components,based on the methylation levels of 10 markers.For the mixture prediction,Model-1 presented outstanding prediction accuracy,which reached up to 99.3%in 427 training samples,and had a remarkable accuracy of 100%in 243 independent test samples.For the mixture proportion prediction,Model-2 demonstrated an excellent accuracy of 98.8%in 252 training samples,and 98.2%in 168 independent test samples.The total prediction accuracy reached 99.3%for body fluid mixtures and 98.6%for the mixture proportions.Conclusion These results indicate the excellent capability and powerful value of the multiplex methylation system in the identification of forensic body fluid mixtures.

Constraining Anthropogenic CH_4 Emissions in Nanjing and the Yangtze River Delta,China,Using Atmospheric CO_2 and CH_4 Mixing Ratios

Methane(CH_4) emissions estimated with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) inventory method at the city and regional scale are subject to large uncertainties. In this study, we determined the CH_4:CO_2emissions ratio for both Nanjing and the Yangtze River Delta(YRD), using the atmospheric CH_4 and CO_2concentrations measured at a suburban site in Nanjing in the winter. The atmospheric estimate of the CH_4:CO_2emissions ratio was in reasonable agreement with that calculated using the IPCC method for the YRD(within 20%), but was 200% greater for the municipality of Nanjing. The most likely reason for the discrepancy is that emissions from unmanaged landfills are omitted from the official statistics on garbage production.

Estimating the shareholder's terminal payoff based on insurer's solvency ratio in mixed fractional Brownian market

This paper studies the insurer's solvency ratio model in a class of mixed fractional Brownian motion(MFBM) market, where the prices of assets follow a Wick-It stochastic differential equation driven by the MFBM, by the method of the stochastic calculus of the MFBM and the pricing formula of European call option for the MFBM, the explicit formula for the expected present value of shareholders' terminal payoff is given. The model extends the existing results.

Effect of Pelleted Total Mixed Ration with Different Concentrate-roughage Ratios on Production Performance and Serum Biochemical Parameters of Fattening Hainan Black Goats

[Objective] This paper was to study effects of pelleted total mixed ration with different concentrate-roughage ratios on production performance and serum biochemical parameters of fattening Hainan black goats.[Method] Thirty-six fattening Hainan black goats with the same genetic background and similar initial weight of(14.08±0.13) kg were randomly assigned into three treatments. Goats were fed with Juncao + concentrate(control group), pelleted total mixed ration I(concentrate: roughage 50 ∶50, group Ⅰ) and Ⅱ(concentrate: roughage 45∶55, group Ⅱ), respectively. The test lasted 45 d.[Result] The final weight, daily gain and feed intake of rams in experimental group Ⅰ were significantly higher than those of control group and experimental group Ⅱ(P<0.05);the final weight and daily gain of rams in experimental group Ⅰ were also markedly higher than those of experimental group Ⅱ(P<0.05);the feed/gain of rams in experimental group Ⅰ was significantly lower than those in control group and experimental group Ⅱ(P<0.05). The feed gain cost of rams in experimental group Ⅰ was markedly lower than that in experimental group Ⅱ( P<0.05), but was significantly higher than that in experimental group Ⅰ(P<0.05);the gross profit of rams in experimental group Ⅰ was significantly higher than those in control group and experimental group Ⅱ(P<0.05). Compared with control group and experimental group Ⅱ, the serum total protein and glucose lev-els in experimental group Ⅱ increased significantly(P<0.05), but the urea nitrogen content reduced(P>0.05).[Conclusion] When the concentrateroughage ratio of pelleted total mixed ration was 50∶50, the fattening effect of Hainan black goat was better, and the serum total protein and glucose levels were evidently improved.

Experimental research on the mixed sand ratio and initial dry density of weathered sand improved expansive soil free load swelling rate

In this paper, through the indoor free load swelling rate test, expansive soil in a section of a first- class highway reconstruction project in Yichang City was studied. It emphatically analyzed the interrelations among free load swelling rate, non-load time, the proportion of mixed sand and initial dry density. Experimen- tal studies have shown that： Free load swelling deformation is mainly divided into three stages of rapid expan- sion, slow expansion and final stability; when the initial dry density is constant, free load swelling rate of the weathered sand modified soil will reduce rapidly before they slow down with the increase of sand proportion, and weathered sand modified soil free load swelling rate is not sensitive to the large amount of sand mixed; in the same mixed sand ratio, weathered sand modified soil free load swelling rate increases rapidly with the in- crease of initial dry density, there is a good linear correlation between them. To take appropriate control of the initial dry density during the expansive soil subgrade construction helps to reduce its swelling deformation and ensures the stability of the embankment.

Measurements of NO_2 mixing ratios with topographic target light scattering-differential optical absorption spectroscopy system and comparisons to point monitoring technique

A topographic target light scattering-differential optical absorption spectroscopy(ToTaL-DOAS) system is developed for measuring average concentrations along a known optical path and studying surface-near distributions of atmospheric trace gases.The telescope of the ToTaL-DOAS system points to targets which are located at known distances from the measurement device and illuminated by sunlight.Average concentrations with high spatial resolution can be retrieved by receiving sunlight reflected from the targets.A filed measurement of NO2 concentration is performed with the ToTaL-DOAS system in Shijiazhuang in the autumn of 2011.The measurement data are compared with concentrations measured by the point monitoring technique at the same site.The results show that the ToTaL-DOAS system is sensitive to the variation of NO2 concentrations along the optical path.

O,H,and Sr isotope evidence for origin and mixing processes of the Gudui geothermal system,Himalayas,China

Tho Gudui geothermal field records the highest temperature at equivalent borehole depths among the lainland hydrothermal systems in China's Mainland.Located about 150 km southeast of Lhasa City,the capital of Tibet,the Gudui geothermal field belongs to the Sangri-Cuona rift belt,also known as the Sangri-Cuona geothermal belt,and is representative of the non-volcanic geothermal systems in the Himalayas.In this study,oxygen-18 and deuterium isotope compositions as well as 87Sr/86Sr ratios of water samples collected from the Gudui geothermal field were characterized to understand the origin and mixing processes of the geothermal fluids at Gudui.Hydrogen and oxygen isotope plots show both,deep and shallow reservoirs in the Gudui geothermal field.Deep geothermal fluids are the mixing product of magmatic and infiltrating snow-melt water.Calculations show that the magma fluid component of the deep geothermal fluids account for about 21.10%-24.04%;magma fluids lay also be a contributing source of lithium.The linear relationship of the 87Sr/86Sr isotopic ratio versus the 1/Sr plot indicates that shallow geothermal fluids form from the mixing of deep geothermal fluids with cold groundwater.Using a binary mixing model with deep geothermal fluid and cold groundwater as two end-members,the nixing ratios of the latter in most surface hot springs samples were calculated to be between 5% and 10%.Combined with basic geological characteristics,hydrogen and oxygen isotope characteristics,strontium concentration,87Sr/(86)Sr ratios,and the binary mixing model,we infer the 6 th-Class Reservoirs Evolution Conceptual Model(6-CRECM) for the Gudui geothermal system.This model represents an idealized summary of the characteristics of the Gudui geothermal field based on our comprehensive understanding of the origin and mixing processes of the geothermal fluid in Gudui.This study may aid in identifying the geothermal and geochemical origin of the Gudui high-temperature hydrothermal systems in remote Tibet of China,whose potential for geothermal development and utilization is enormous and untapped.

Study on co-cracking performance of different hydrocarbon mixture in a steam pyrolysis furnace

Co-cracking is a process where the mixtures of different hydrocarbon feedstocks are cracked in a steam pyrolysis furnace, and widely adopted in chemical industries. In this work, the simulations of the co-cracking of ethane and propane, and LPG and naphtha mixtures have been conducted, and the software packages of COILSIM1 D and Sim CO are used to account for the cracking process in a tube reactor. The effects of the mixing ratio, coil outlet temperature, and pressure on cracking performance have been discussed in detail. The co-cracking of ethane and propane mixture leads to a lower profitability than the cracking of single ethane or single propane. For naphtha, cracking with LPG leads to a higher profitability than single cracking of naphtha, and more LPG can produce a higher profitability.

Micro-crack detection of nonlinear Lamb wave propagation in three-dimensional plates with mixed-frequency excitation

We propose a nonlinear ultrasonic technique by using the mixed-frequency signals excited Lamb waves to conduct micro-crack detection in thin plate structures.Simulation models of three-dimensional(3D)aluminum plates and composite laminates are established by ABAQUS software,where the aluminum plate contains buried crack and composite laminates comprises cohesive element whose thickness is zero to simulate delamination damage.The interactions between the S0 mode Lamb wave and the buried micro-cracks of various dimensions are simulated by using the finite element method.Fourier frequency spectrum analysis is applied to the received time domain signal and fundamental frequency amplitudes,and sum and difference frequencies are extracted and simulated.Simulation results indicate that nonlinear Lamb waves have different sensitivities to various crack sizes.There is a positive correlation among crack length,height,and sum and difference frequency amplitudes for an aluminum plate,with both amplitudes decreasing as crack thickness increased,i.e.,nonlinear effect weakens as the micro-crack becomes thicker.The amplitudes of sum and difference frequency are positively correlated with the length and width of the zero-thickness cohesive element in the composite laminates.Furthermore,amplitude ratio change is investigated and it can be used as an effective tool to detect inner defects in thin 3D plates.

Geochemical analysis of mixed oil in the Ordovician reservoir of the Halahatang Depression,Tarim Basin,China

In this study,12 crude oil samples were collected and analyzed from the Ordovician reservoir in the Halahatang Depression,Tarim Basin,China.Although the density of oil samples varies considerably,based on saturated hydrocarbon gas chromatographic(GC),saturated and aromatic hydrocarbon gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric(GC/MS) and stable carbon isotopic composition analyses,all the samples are interpreted to represent a single oil population with similar characteristics in a source bed or a source kitchen,organic facies and even in oil charge history.The co-existence of a full suite of n-alkanes and acyclic isoprenoids with UCM and 25-norhopanes in the crude oil samples indicates mixing of biodegraded oil with fresher non-biodegraded oil in the Ordovician reservoir.Moreover,according to the conversion diagram of double filling ratios for subsurface mixed crude oils,biodegraded/non-biodegraded oil ratios were determined as in the range from 58/42 to 4/96.Based on oil density and oil mix ratio,the oils can be divided into two groups:Group 1,with specific density>0.88(g/cm3) and oil mix ratio>1,occurring in the north of the Upper Ordovician Lianglitage and Sangtamu Formation pinchout lines,and Group 2,with specific density<0.88(g/cm3) and oil mix ratio<1,occurring in the south of the pinchout lines.Obviously,Group 2 oils with low densities and being dominated by non-biodegraded oils are better than Group 1 oils with respect to quality.It is suggested that more attention should be paid to the area in the south of the Upper Ordovician Lianglitage and Sangtamu Formation pinchout lines for further exploration.

Stochastic resonance in a time-delayed asymmetric bistable system with mixed periodic signal

This paper studies the phenomenon of stochastic resonance in an asymmetric bistable system with time-delayed feedback and mixed periodic signal by using the theory of signal-to-noise ratio in the adiabatic limit.A general approximate Fokker-Planck equation and the expression of the signal-to-noise ratio are derived through the small time delay approximation at both fundamental harmonics and mixed harmonics.The effects of the additive noise intensity Q,multiplicative noise intensity D,static asymmetry r and delay time τ on the signal-to-noise ratio are discussed.It is found that the higher mixed harmonics and the static asymmetry r can restrain stochastic resonance,and the delay time τ can enhance stochastic resonance.Moreover,the longer the delay time τ is,the larger the additive noise intensity Q and the multiplicative noise intensity D are,when the stochastic resonance appears.

Optimization Analysis of the Mixing Chamber and Diffuser of Ejector Based on Fano Flow Model

An improved model to calculate the length of the mixing chamber of the ejector was proposed on the basis of the Fano flow model,and a method to optimize the structures of the mixing chamber and diffuser of the ejector was put forward.The accuracy of the model was verified by comparing the theoretical results calculated using the model to experimental data reported in literature.Variations in the length of the mixing chamber L_(m) and length of the diffuser L_(d) with respect to variations in the outlet temperature of the ejector T_(c),outlet pressure of the ejector p_(c),and the expansion ratio of the pressure of the primary flow to that of the secondary flow p_(g)/p_(e) were investigated.Moreover,variations in L_(m) and L_(d) with respect to variations in the ratio of the diameter of the throat of the motive nozzle to the diameter of the mixing chamber d_(g0)/d_(c3) and ratio of the outlet diameter of the diffuser to the diameter of themixing chamber d_(c)/d_(c3) were investigated.The distribution of flow fields in the ejector was simulated.Increasing L_(m) and d_(c3) reduced T_(c) and p_(c).Moreover,reducing p_(g)/p_(e) or d_(g0)/d_(c3) reduced T_(c) and p_(c).The length of the mixed section L_(m2),which was determined on the basis of the Fano flow model,increased as pg increased and decreased as d_(c3) increased.The mixing length L_(m1),which was considered the primary flow expansion,showed the opposite trend with that of L_(m2).Moreover,Ld increased as p_(g)/p_(e) and d_(c)/d_(c3) increased.When the value of d_(c) was 1.8 to 2.0 times as high as that of dc3,the semi-cone angle of the diffuser ranged between 6°and 12°.At a constant dc/dc3,decreasing T_(c) and pc increased Ld.

Effect of Hole Size on Flow Structure and Mixing Characteristic in a Multi-Hole Baffled Micro Combustor

Flow structure and mixing properties by the baffle shape are numerically studied for a baffled micro combustor. The baffle shape is changed by various fuel and hole sizes. The numerical simulations based on different geometric conditions are performed by using the Reynolds Stress Model. The fuel-air mixing is greatly affected by flow recirculations. The centrally located flow recirculation has an important role for the entire mixing performance. The results show that this feature depends on the baffle configurations, and the baffle with small air holes represents efficient characters.

Yield and Quality Response of Ryegrass, Egyptian Clover and Their Mixtures to Different Sources of Fertilizers

Two field experiments were conducted during two successive winter seasons of 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 to investigate the potentialities of mixing Egyptian clover with ryegrass under bio, organic and mineral fertilization treatments and their combination to increase forage yield and quality grown under sandy soil conditions. The experiment included the combination of five mixing ratios (Egyptian clover alone, ryegrass alone, 75% Egyptian clover: 25% ryegrass, 50% Egyptian clover: 50% ryegrass and 25% Egyptian clover: 75% ryegrass) and eight fertilizer sources, which include control, organic fertilization, bio fertilization, chemical fertilizer, organic + bio fertilizer, organic + chemical fertilizer, bio + chemical fertilizer and combination of organic and chemical and bio fertilizers. The obtained results indicate the superiority of 75% E. clover: 25% ryegrass mixture fertilizedby Bio + O + N in fresh and dry forage production. On the other hand, it reported the lowest dry weight of weeds g/m2. Chemical analysis of forage plants showed that the mixture of ?75% E. clover: 25% ryegrass surpassed that of other treatments yield for crude protein, ether extract and ash. The results also revealed that the highest record of DCP, crude fiber and TDNY was obtained by forage mixture of 75% E. clover: 25% ryegrass fertilized with Bio + O + N. Such higher yield of these characters hassecured a balanced ratio which is really needed for ruminants ration.

Multichannel Discharge Characteristics of Gas Switch Gap in SF_6-N_2 or SF_6-Ar Gas Mixtures Under Nanosecond Triggering Pulses

Experiments were carried out to ascertain multichannel discharge characteristics in a self-designed coaxial field-distortion gas switch filled with SF6-N2 or SF6-Ar gas mixtures of different mixing ratios.In these experiments,the pressure varied from 0.1 MPa to 0.2 MPa,the voltage pulse peak applied to the switch was in the range from 40 kV to 78 kV,and the pulse rise time was 11 ns.The static breakdown strength of the gas switch gap in the switch was also measured.The results show that in general the average number of discharge channels for SF6-Ar or SF6-N2 gas mixture which contains less SF6 is larger than that for gas mixture which contains more SF6,however,the average number of channels almost keeps constant as the gas mixing ratio varies when the pulse rise rate is high enough.The static breakdown strength of the gas switch gap decreases slightly as the content of argon or nitrogen increases.