Strength weakening and its micromechanism in water–rock interaction,a short review in laboratory tests

Water–rock interaction(WRI)is a topic of interest in geology and geotechnical engineering.Many geological hazards and engineering safety problems are severe under the WRI.This study focuses on the water weakening of rock strength and its infuencing factors(water content,immersion time,and wetting–drying cycles).The strength of the rock mass decreases to varying degrees with water content,immersion time,and wetting–drying cycles depending on the rock mass type and mineral composition.The corresponding acoustic emission count and intensity and infrared radiation intensity also weaken accordingly.WRI enhances the plasticity of rock mass and reduces its brittleness.Various microscopic methods for studying the pore characterization and weakening mechanism of the WRI were compared and analyzed.Various methods should be adopted to study the pore evolution of WRI comprehensively.Microscopic methods are used to study the weakening mechanism of WRI.In future work,the mechanical parameters of rocks weakened under long-term water immersion(over years)should be considered,and more attention should be paid to how the laboratory scale is applied to the engineering scale.

Microstructure of Hardened Steel at High Temperature and High Strain Rate

In high-speed machining,hardened steel materials are subjected to high temperatures and high strain rates.Under these conditions,the composition and microstructure of the material may change,and phenomena,such as thermal softening,emerge.These effects are difficult to detect by only observing the chip morphology.Here,using a microscopic detection method,the dynamic mechanical behavior and microstructure of SDK11 hardened steel(62HRC)is investigated at high temperature and high strain-rate,and the relationship between strain hardening,thermal softening,and strain-rate strengthening is determined.The metallographic phases of specimens treated using a split-Hopkinson pressure bar,and″chips″generated during high-speed machining at high temperature and high strain rate state are compared.The results indicate that the phase composition at low temperature and low strain rate differs from that at high temperature and high strain rate.It is further concluded that shear slip occurs at high temperature and high strain rate,and the shear behavior is more pronounced at higher strain rates.

Wetting of Au and Ag particles on monocrystalline graphite substrates

The wetting behavior of Au and Ag particles on a monocrystalline graphite substrate was investigated using the microscopic sessile drop method under a purified Ar atmosphere at 1300 K. The measured contact angles of the liquid Au and Ag on monocrystalline graphite substrates of （0001） face were 129° and 124°, respectively. It is believed that the interaction at the interface is dominated by the physical bonding （van der Waal＇s interaction）.

Efcient autofocus method for sequential automatic capturing of high-magnification microscopic images

This letter presents an autofocus （AF） method to position a high-magnification microscope lens that automatically captures hundreds of images from a single moving slide. These images are taken by a mobile clinic unit in a rural location, and are later automatically processed and revised by a remote specialist. This process requires high focus precision to enable image processing techniques to achieve proper results. Low focusing times are also required for the system to be operative. We propose a novel method that combines two focus measures with an adapted searching scheme to cope with both constraints.

Nondestructive testing and assessment of consolidation effects of earthen sites

Earthen sites are widely distributed throughout China, and most of them belong to archaeological sites with significant values, which not only directly witness the origin, formation and development of Chinese civilization, but also possess important values for conservation and exhibition. Many researches and practices on their conservation and consolidation have been carried out; however, the consolidation effect is mainly judged by visual observation and expert evaluation. Scientific assessment of conservation and consolidation effects is a challenging issue. Many instruments in other fields cannot be directly applied to the conservation of cultural relics due to their peculiarity. In order to assess the effects of field conservation experiments, this paper tries to understand the consolidation effects at Liangzhu site using nondestructive or micro-damage methods, including thermo-physical parameters testing, infrared thermal imaging, high-density microelectrode resistivity testing, portable microscope observation, and hydrophilic and hydrophobic testing, and thereby explores the practicable methods for evaluating the properties of consolidation materials for earthen sites treatment.