High-modulus solid electrolyte interphase layer with gradient composition enables long-cycle all-solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries

All-solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries(ASSLSBs) have become one of the most potential candidates for the next-generation high-energy systems due to their intrinsic safety and high theoretical energy density.However, PEO-based ASSLSBs face the dilemma of insufficient Coulombic efficiency and long-term stability caused by the coupling problems of dendrite growth of anode and polysulfide shuttle of cathode. In this work, 1,3,5-trioxane(TOX) is used as a functional additive to design a PEO-based composite solidstate electrolyte(denoted as TOX-CSE), which realizes the stable long-term cycle of an ASSLSB. The results show that TOX can in-situ decompose on the anode to form a composite solid electrolyte interphase(SEI) layer with rich-organic component. It yields a high average modulus of 5.0 GPa, greatly improving the mechanical stability of the SEI layer and thus inhibiting the growth of dendrites. Also,the robust SEI layer can act as a barrier to block the side reaction between polysulfides and lithium metal.As a result, a Li-Li symmetric cell assembled with a TOX-CSE exhibits prolonged cycling stability over 2000 h at 0.2 m A cm^(-2). The ASSLSB also shows a stable cycling performance of 500 cycles at 0.5 C.This work reveals the structure–activity relationship between the mechanical property of interface layer and the battery's cycling stability.

Numerical investigation of seismic performance of high modulus columns under earthquake loading

This paper presents the result of two-dimensional fi nite element modeling studies in order to investigate the seismic behavior of high modulus columns in liquefi able soil. Particular attention was paid to the shear stress reduction mechanism of the high modulus columns and the shear strain distribution between soil and columns during earthquake motion. Numerical analyses were performed using a nonlinear elasto-plastic model in Plaxis 2016. The reliability of the numerical simulations was verifi ed through the results of a centrifuge test model designed to investigate the contribution of high modulus columns in liquefaction mitigation. The capability of numerical simulations was assessed primarily through comparison of predicted acceleration-time histories, pore water pressures, and displacements with the measured counterparts. The results of the numerical analysis showed that the presence of the columns did not reduce seismic shear stresses in the soil when compared to the unimproved soil condition and pure shear behavior between soil and column did not develop as expected in the current design methodology.

Design and Preparation of High Elastic Modulus Self-compacting Concrete for Pre-stressed Mass Concrete Structures

Requirements of self-compacting concrete （SCC） applied in pre-stressed mass concrete structures include high fluidity, high elastic modulus, low adiabatic temperature rise and low drying shrinkage, which cannot be satisfied by ordinary SCC. In this study, in order to solve the problem, a few principles of SCC design were proposed and the effects of binder amount, fly ash （FA） substitution, aggregate content and gradation on the workability, temperature rise, drying shrinkage and elastic modulus of SCC were investigated. The results and analysis indicate that the primary factor influencing the fluidity was paste content, and the main methods improving the elastic modulusof SCC were a lower sand ratio and an optimized coarse aggregate gradation. Lower adiabatic temperature rise and drying shrinkage were beneficial for decreasing the cement content. Further, based on the optimization of mixture, a C50 grade SCC （with binder amount of only 480 kg/ m3, fly ash substitution of 40%, sand ratio of 51% and proper coarse aggregate gradation （Vs.~0 mm： V10-16 ram： V16.20 mm= 30%： 30%：40%）） with superior workability was successfully prepared. The temperature rise and drying shrinkage of the prepared SCC were significantly reduced, and the elastic modulus reached 37.6 GPa at 28 d.

Bending Modulus Measurement of Single High Performance Fiber

The bending modulus property of high performance fiber is an important property for both polymer science and engineering. The measurement of the bending performance is, however, difficult because of the thin size of the fiber. We have measured this property by the axial compression bending method where single fiber with suitable slenderness is compressed in the fiber axial direction to obtain the peak point of the force-displacement curve. Then the bending modulus and the flexural rigidity can be calculated by measuring the protruding length and diameter of fiber needles and the critical force, Pcr. The measured data show that the bending characteristics of all kinds of high performance fiber are dissimilar evidently.

Isothermal bulk modulus and its first pressure derivative of NaCl at high pressure and high temperature

The isothermal bulk modulus and its first pressure derivative of NaCl are investigated using the classical molecular dynamics method and the quasi-harmonic Debye model. To ensure faithful molecular dynamics simulations, two types of potentials, the shell-model （SM） potential and the two-body rigid-ion Born-Mayer-Huggins-FumiqTosi （BMHFT） potential, are fully tested. Compared with the SM potential based simulation, the molecular dynamics simulation with the BMHFT potential is very successful in reproducing accurately the measured bulk modulus of NaCl. Particular attention is paid to the prediction of the isothermal bulk modulus and its first pressure derivative using the reliable potential and to the comparison of the SM and the BMHFT potentials based molecular dynamics simulations with the quasi-harmonic Debye model. The properties of NaCl in the pressure range of 0-30 GPa at temperatures up to the melting temperature of 1050 K are investigated.

Determination and Temperature Dependence of Plateau Modulus for Polymerization of Propylene to Isotactic Polypropylene with Ultra-high Molecular Weight under Catalysis of Ziegler-Natta Catalyst

The viscoelastic behavior of isotactic polypropylene with ultra-high molecular weight(UHPPH) and broad molecular weight distribution(MWD), produced in the presence of Ziegler-Natta catalyst, was investigated by means of oscillatory rheometry at 180 and 200 ℃, whose loss modulus(G″) plots at 180 and 200 ℃ versus the natural logarithm of angular frequency(ω) present a pronounced maximum at 34.35 and 69.21 rad/s, respectively, and do not show a maximum peak at 0.01-100 rad/s for Ziegler-Natta catalyzing ethylene-propylene random copolymerization(PPR) with a conventional molecular weight and broad MWD. The fact indicates that the high molecular weight is responsible for a maximum peak of G″(ω) vs. lnω curves for UHPPH. This makes it possible to determine the plateau modulus(G 0_N) of UHPPH from a certain experimental temperature G″(ω) curve directly. For UHPPH, the G 0_N determined to be 4.28×10 5 and 3.62×10 5 Pa at 180 and 200 ℃, respectively, decreases with the increase of temperature and is independent of the molecular weight, which directly confirms reputation theoretical prediction that the G 0_N has no relation to the molecular weight.

Integrated Computational Materials Engineering for the Development and Design of High Modulus Al Alloys

Integrated computational materials engineering(ICME)is to integrate multi-scale computational simulations and key experimental methods such as macroscopic,mesoscopic,and microscopic into the whole process of Al alloys design and development,which enables the design and development of Al alloys to upgrade from traditional empirical to the integration of compositionprocess-structure-mechanical property,thus greatly accelerating its development speed and reducing its development cost.This study combines calculation of phase diagram(CALPHAD),Finite element calculations,first principle calculations,and microstructure characterization methods to predict and regulate the formation and structure of composite precipitates from the design of highmodulus Al alloy compositions and optimize the casting process parameters to inhibit the formation of micropore defects in the casting process,and the final tensile strength of Al alloys reaches420 MPa and Young's modulus reaches more than 88 GPa,which achieves the design goal of the high strength and modulus Al alloys,and establishes a new mode of the design and development of the strength/modulus Al alloys.

Relation between Modulus of Elasticity and Compressive Strength of Ultrahigh-Strength Mortar with Mixed Silicon Carbide as Fine Aggregate

Ultrahigh-strength mortar mixed surface-oxidized silicon carbide as a fine aggregate was prepared by means of press-casting followed by curing in an autoclave. The relation between modulus of elssticity up to 111 GPa and compressive strength up to 360 MPa of mortar mixed silicon carbide was discussed and it was revealed that the contributions of the aggregate hardness and of the interfacial strength between the aggregate and the cement paste on the elasticity of mortar were imporant.

Analysis on the Bonding Failure Mechanism of High Modulus Carbon Fiber Composites

In order to explore the bonding failure mechanism of high modulus carbon fiber composite materials,the tensile experiment and finite element numerical simulation for single-lap and bevel-lap joints of unidirectional laminates are carried out,and the stress distributions,the failure modes,and the damage contours are analyzed. The analysis shows that the main reason for the failure of the single-lap joint is that the stress concentration of the ply adjacent to the adhesive layer is serious owing to the modulus difference,and the stress cannot be effectively transmitted along the thickness direction of the laminate. When the tensile stress of the ply exceeds its ultimate strength in the loading process,the surface fiber will fail. Compared with the single-lap joint,the bevel-lap joint optimizes the stress transfer path along the thickness direction,allows each layer of the laminate to share the load,avoids the stress concentration of the surface layer,and improves the bearing capacity of the bevel-lap joint. The improved bearing capacity of the bevellap joint is twice as much as that of the single-lap joint. The research in this paper provides a new idea for the subsequent study of mechanical properties of adhesively bonded composite materials.

Comparative Study on Test Performance of Two Kinds of High Modulus Asphalt Concrete for the Steel Bridge Deck

Along with the popularization and application of the steel bridge in China,due to the high modulus of asphalt concrete with good waterproof,anti-fatigue,anti-aging and good performance,asphalt concrete with high modulus was widely used in steel bridge deck pavement,the test and comparative study of high modulus asphalt concrete were carried out based on two types of common high modulus asphalt concrete which include the casting type asphalt concrete and epoxy resin modified asphalt concrete,aims to further explore the performance features of the steel bridge deck with high modulus asphalt concrete,and provide help on the application of this asphalt concrete on the steel bridge deck.

Shear modulus and damping ratio of sand-granulated rubber mixtures

Recycled waste tires when mixed with soil can play an important role as lightweight materials in retaining walls and embankments, machine foundations and railroad track beds in seismic zones. Having high damping characteristic, rubbers can be used as either soil alternative or mixed with soil to reduce vibration when seismic loads are of great concern. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the dynamic properties of such mixtures prior to practical applications. To this reason, torsional resonant column and dynamic triaxial experiments were carried out and the effect of the important parameters like rubber content and ratio of mean grain size of rubber solids versus soil solids(D50,r/D50,s) on dynamic response of mixtures in a range of low to high shearing strain amplitude from about 4×10-4% to 2.7% were investigated. Considering engineering applications, specimens were prepared almost at the maximum dry density and optimum moisture content to model a mixture layer above the ground water table and in low precipitation region. The results show that tire inclusion significantly reduces the shear modulus and increases the damping ratio of the mixtures. Also decrease in D50,r/D50,s causes the mixture to exhibit more rubber-like behavior. Finally, normalized shear modulus versus shearing strain amplitude curve was proposed for engineering practice.

High-Porosity Foam-Based Iontronic Pressure Sensor with Superhigh Sensitivity of 9280 kPa^(-1)

Flexible pressure sensors with high sensitivity are desired in the fields of electronic skins,human-machine interfaces,and health monitoring.Employing ionic soft materials with microstructured architectures in the functional layer is an effective way that can enhance the amplitude of capacitance signal due to generated electron double layer and thus improve the sensitivity of capacitive-type pressure sensors.However,the requirement of specific apparatus and the complex fabrication process to build such microstructures lead to high cost and low productivity.Here,we report a simple strategy that uses open-cell polyurethane foams with high porosity as a continuous three-dimensional network skeleton to load with ionic liquid in a one-step soak process,serving as the ionic layer in iontronic pressure sensors.The high porosity(95.4%) of PU-IL composite foam shows a pretty low Young's modulus of 3.4 kPa and good compressibility.A superhigh maximum sensitivity of 9,280 kPa^(-1) in the pressure regime and a high pressure resolution of 0.125% are observed in this foam-based pressure sensor.The device also exhibits remarkable mechanical stability over 5,000 compression-release or bending-release cycles.Such high porosity of composite structure provides a simple,cost-effective and scalable way to fabricate super sensitive pressure sensor,which has prominent capability in applications of water wave detection,underwater vibration sensing,and mechanical fault monitoring.

Various admixtures to mitigate the long-term strength retrogression of Portland cement cured under high pressure and high temperature conditions

In order to investigate the problem of long-term strength retrogression in oil well cement systems exposed to high pressure and high temperature(HPHT)curing conditions,various influencing factors,including cement sources,particle sizes of silica flour,and additions of silica fume,alumina,colloidal iron oxide and nano-graphene,were investigated.To simulate the environment of cementing geothermal wells and deep wells,cement slurries were directly cured at 50 MPa and 200?C.Mineral compositions(as determined by X-ray diffraction Rietveld refinement),water permeability,compressive strength and Young’s modulus were used to evaluate the qualities of the set cement.Short-term curing(2e30 d)test results indicated that the adoption of 6 m m ultrafine crystalline silica played the most important role in stabilizing the mechanical properties of oil well cement systems,while the addition of silica fume had a detrimental effect on strength stability.Long-term curing(2e180 d)test results indicated that nano-graphene could stabilize the Young’s modulus of oil well cement systems.However,none of the ad-mixtures studied here can completely prevent the strength retrogression phenomenon due to their inability to stop the conversion of amorphous to crystalline phases.

Compression behavior and phase transition of β-Si_3N_4 under high pressure

The compressibility and pressure-induced phase transition of β-Si3N4 were investigated by using an angle dispersive x-ray diffraction technique in a diamond anvil cell at room temperature. Rietveld refinements of the x-ray powder diffraction data verified that the hexagonal structure（with space group P63/m, Z = 2 formulas per unit cell） β-Si3N4 remained stable under high pressure up to 37 GPa. Upon increasing pressure, β-Si3 N4 transformed to δ-Si3N4 at about 41 GPa. The initial β-Si3N4 was recovered as the pressure was released to ambient pressure, implying that the observed pressureinduced phase transformation was reversible. The pressure–volume data of β-Si3N4 was fitted by the third-order Birch–Murnaghan equation of state, which yielded a bulk modulus K0= 273（2） GPa with its pressure derivative K0= 4（fixed）and K0= 278（2） GPa with K 0= 5. Furthermore, the compressibility of the unit cell axes（a and c-axes） for the β-Si3N4 demonstrated an anisotropic property with increasing pressure.

Experimental study on biaxial mechanical behavior of concrete suffered high temperature and constitutive model

Biaxial compression tests on plain concrete suffered high temperature ranging from 200 ℃ to 600 ℃ were carried out using the large-scale dynamic-static tri-axial concrete test system at the State Key Laboratory of Coastal and Offshore Engineering with designated stress ratios of 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1, respectively. The measured strength and strain were reported and the changes in both biaxial compressive failure envelopes and strains at peak stresses were analyzed. The regressive equation of initial elastic modulus in the biggest principal compressive stress direction was derived from test results. With the published results from previous biaxial tension-compression experiments, a three-parameter failure criterion has been proposed. A biaxial nonlinear elastic incremental constitutive model was developed for the compressive stress directions by using the equivalent uniaxial strain values deduced from test results. Analytical results obtained from the proposed biaxial constitutive model achieve good agreement with the experimental results.

Design of Eco-friendly Ultra-high Performance Concrete with Supplementary Cementitious Materials and Coarse Aggregate

Aiming to investigate the mix design of eco-friendly UHPC with supplementary cementitious materials and coarser aggregates, we comprehensively studied the workability, microstructure, porosity, compressive strength, flexural strength, and Young’s modulus of UHPC. Relationship between compressive strength and Young’s modulus was obtained eventually. It is found that the compressive strength, flexural strength, and Young’s modulus of UHPC increase by 19.01%, 10.81%, and 5.99%, respectively, when 40 wt% cement is replaced with supplementary cementitious materials. The relationship between compressive strength and Young’s modulus of UHPC is an exponential form.

Influence of shrinkage-reducing admixture on drying shrinkage and mechanical properties of high-performance concrete

High-performance concrete （HPC） has specific performance advantages over conventional concrete in strength and durability. HPC mixtures are usually produced with water/binder mass ratios （mW/mB） in the range of 0.2-0.4, so volume changes of concrete as a result of drying, chemical reactions, and temperature change cannot be avoided. For these reasons, shrinkage and cracking are frequent phenomena. It is necessary to add some types of admixture for reduction of shrinkage and cracking of HPC. This study used a shrinkage-reducing admixture （SRA） for that purpose. Concrete was prepared with two different mW/mB （0.22 and 0.40） and four different mass fractions of SRA to binder （w（SRA） = 0%, 1%, 2%, and 4%）. The mineral admixtures used for concrete mixes were： 25% fly ash （FA） and 25% slag by mass of binder for the mixture with mW/mB = 0.40, and 15% silica fume （SF） and 25% FA for the mixture with mW/mB = 0.22. Tests were conducted on 24 prismatic specimens, and shrinkage strains were measured through 120 days of drying. Compressive strength, splitting strength, and static modulus of elasticity were also determined. The results show that the SRA effectively reduces some mechanical properties of HPC. The reductions in compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and elastic modulus of the concrete were 7%-24%, 9%-19%, and 5%-12%, respectively, after 90 days, compared to concrete mixtures without SRA. SRA can also help reduce drying shrinkage of concrete. The shrinkage strains of HPC with SRA were only as high as 41% of the average free shrinkage of concrete without SRA after 120 days of drying.

Properties of High Volume Fly Ash Concrete Compensated by Metakaolin or Silica Fume

The compressive strength and dynamic modulus of high volume fly ash concrete with incorporation of either metakaolin or silica fume were investigated. The water to cementitious materials ratio was kept at 0.4 for all mixtures. The use of high volume fly ash in concrete greatly reduces the strength and dynamic modulus during the first 28 days. The decreased properties during the short term of high volume fly ash concrete is effectively compensated by the incorporation of metakaolin or silica fume. The DTA results confirmed that metakaolin or silica fume increase the amount of the hydration products. An empirical relationship between dynamic modulus and compressive strength of concrete has been obtained. This relation provides a nondestructive evaluation for estimating the strength of concrete by use of the dynamic modulus.

Exploring the compression behavior of HP-BiNbO_4 under high pressure

In the present work, a third form, the so-called HP-BiNbO4 synthesized at high pressure and high temperature is investigated with the in-situ angle-dispersive x-ray diffraction（ADXRD） measurements under high pressure. We explore the compression behavior and phase stability of HP-BiNbO4. The structure of HP-BiNbO4 is first determined. The x-ray diffraction data reveal that the structure HP-BiNbO4 is stable under pressures up to 24.1 GPa. The ADXRD data yield a bulk modulus Ko = 185（7） GPa with a pressure derivative Ko＇= 2.9（0.8）. Furthermore, the data are compared with those of other ABO4 compounds. The results show that the bulk modulus of HP-BiNbO4（about 185 GPa） is slightly higher than that of tetragonal BiVO4 and significantly greater than those of the tungstates and molybdates.

Freezing and Thawing Durability of Ultra High Strength Concrete

Resistance to freezing and thawing of two UHSC （ultra high strength concrete） mixtures was evaluated in accordance with ASTM C 666 Procedure A. The two mixtures （plain and fiber reinforced） were developed using materials local to southern New Mexico, USA. Three different curing regimens were investigated for the mixture with fibers and one curing regimen was studied for the mixture without fibers. All curing regimens included 24 h of ambient curing followed by four days of wet curing at 50 ℃, and then two days dry curing at 200 ℃. At an age of seven days, one batch of fiber reinforced specimens was air cured at ambient conditions for the following six days and then placed in a water bath at 4.4 ℃ for 24 h prior to initiating freezing and thawing cycles. The second batch was air cured from day seven to day 12, and then wet cured for one day at 23 ℃ prior to being placed in the 4.4 ℃ water bath. The final batch was wet cured at 23 ℃ from the seventh day to an age of 13 days and then placed in the 4.4 ℃ water bath. The mixture with no fibers was air cured from the seventh day to an age of 12 days and then wet cured for one day at 23 ℃ prior to being placed in the 4.4 ℃ water bath. Higher moisture levels during curing produced greater initial dynamic elastic modulus values and durability factors at the end of the freezing and thawing tests, with the greatest durability factor being 87.5. Steel fibers were observed to improve both compressive strength and durability factor for UHSC.