An experimental study on fracture mechanical behavior of rock-like materials containing two unparallel fissures under uniaxial compression

Strength and deformability characteristics of rock with pre-existing fissures are governed by cracking behavior. To further research the effects of pre-existing fissures on the mechanical properties and crack coalescence process, a series of uniaxial compression tests were carried out for rock-like material with two unparallel fissures.In the present study, cement, quartz sand, and water were used to fabricate a kind of brittle rock-like material cylindrical model specimen. The mechanical properties of rock-like material specimen used in this research were all in good agreement with the brittle rock materials. Two unparallel fissures（a horizontal fissure and an inclined fissure） were created by inserting steel during molding the model specimen.Then all the pre-fissured rock-like specimens were tested under uniaxial compression by a rock mechanics servocontrolled testing system. The peak strength and Young＇s modulus of pre-fissured specimen all first decreased and then increased when the fissure angle increased from 0？to 75？.In order to investigate the crack initiation, propagation and coalescence process, photographic monitoring was adopted to capture images during the entire deformation process.Moreover, acoustic emission（AE） monitoring technique was also used to obtain the AE evolution characteristic of prefissured specimen. The relationship between axial stress, AE events, and the crack coalescence process was set up： when a new crack was initiated or a crack coalescence occurred, thecorresponding axial stress dropped in the axial stress–time curve and a big AE event could be observed simultaneously.Finally, the mechanism of crack propagation under microscopic observation was discussed. These experimental results are expected to increase the understanding of the strength failure behavior and the cracking mechanism of rock containing unparallel fissures.

Changing trends and determinating factors of trade-embodied CO_2 emissions in China

Embodied carbon in trade has attracted the attention of researchers, developers, and industry leaders worldwide, as it has become a considerable source of trade conflict. Because China is the world's leading carbon-emitting country, it is important to study the change trends of embodied CO_2 in Chinese trade to identify key influencing factors. This paper investigates the trade embodied CO_2 in China, with special focus on the production process and materials of each industrial sector from 1990 to 2013. This study was conducted by using an input-output model, which analyzes the specific causes of periodic waves. Our findings suggest that the machine manufacturing sector produced the largest share of emissions, whereas the metal and non-metal sector has the highest emission intensity. Moreover, the total emission quantities in trade increased from 612 to 3331 million tons in 1990 to 2013, a period characterized by decentralized trends in emissions exported to trade partners. We also employed the log-mean Divisia index(LMDI) model to decompose the carbon emissions changes into export structure, export scale, energy structure, and energy intensity, and estimate the influence of these factors at a number of time points. We found that energy intensity curbs emissions increase, and that export scale expansion is the strongest driving force.

Electroless plating of copper layer on surfaces of urea-formaldehyde microcapsule particles containing paraffin for low infrared emissivity

A copper coating was deposited by electroless plating on the surfaces of urea-formaldehyde microcap- sules containing paraffin （UFP） particles. This composite microcapsule structure had low infrared OR） emissivity and maintained a constant temperature, and could be used in IR stealth applications. The eiectroless copper layer formation and its micro-appearance, and the effect of the copper layer on the IR emissivity and thermal properties of the composite microcapsules were investigated. The IR emissivity of the composite microcapsules at wavelengths of 1-14 μm gradually decreased with increasing copper mass on the surface. After formation of an integrated copper layer, the rate of IR emissivity decrease was lower. This is because the copper coating improves the surface conductivity of the UFP; a high conductivity results in high reflectivity, which leads to a decrease in IR emissivity. The lowest IR emissivity achieved was 0.68. The phase-change enthalpy of the composite microcapsules decreased with increasing amount of copper coated on the surface because of the high density of copper. When the mass increase of the UFP after electroless copper plating was about 300%, the composite microcapsules had low IR emissivity （about 0.8） and a high phase-change enthalpy （80J/g）.

A novel phosphorus oxide quantum dots as an emissive nanomaterial for inorganic ions screening and bioimaging

In this work,a novel blue-green fluorescence phosphorous oxide quantum dots(PO QDs)was synthesized by solvothermal method in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone(NMP)solution without any protection treatment during synthesis.Upon excitation at 400 nm,PO QDs emitted blue-green fluorescence with quantum yield of 0.28.PO QDs exhibited the high inertness to air or moisture,the excellent water solubility,and stable emission intensity in a wide pH range and in high ionic strength solution.Interestingly,PO QDs could give the positive optical response to iron ions(Fe^(3+))and iodine ion(I^(-)).The photoluminescence(PL)of PO QDs could be directly quenched by Fe^(3+).While I^(-)quenched the PO QDs PL by means of Ag^(+)-mediated PO QDs system via the internal filtration effects(IFE)induced by the formation of AgI.Moreover,the biocompatibility and low toxicity of PO QDs verified in bean sprout and Hela cells indicated the promising application of PO QDs in medicine related fields.Furthermore,PO QDs could also be utilized in luminescent composite film for various application scenarios.

A hybrid strategy in selecting diverse combinations of innovative sustainable materials for asphalt pavements

This project integrates recent innovations of recycled materials used in designing and building sustainable pavements. An increasing environmental awareness and the demand for improving economic and construction efficiencies, through measures such as con- struction warrantees and goals to reduce air pollution under the Kyoto Protocol, have increased the efforts to implement sustainable materials in roadways. The objective of this research is to develop a systematic approach toward selecting optimum combinations of sustainable materials for the construction of asphalt pavements. The selected materials, warm mix asphalt （WMA）, recycled asphalt shingles {RAS）I and reclaimed asphalt pave- ment {RAP） were incorporated in this study. The results of this research are intended to serve as guidelines in the selection of the mixed sustainable materials for asphalt pave- ments. The approach developed from this project draws upon previous research efforts integrating graphical modeling with optimizing the amount of sustainable materials based on the performance. With regard to moisture susceptibility and rutting potential test re- suits, as well as the MIM analysis based on a 95% confidence interval, the rutting perfor- mance and moisture susceptibility of asphalt mixtures are not significantly different regardless of the percentages of RAS, RAP, or WMA. The optimum mixture choices could be made by the plant emission rankings with consideration of the optimal WMA types, per- centages of RAS/RAP, and WMA production temperatures. The WMA mixtures prepared with 75% RAP and Advera WMA have produced the lowest CO2 emissions among the investigated mixture types.

Smart phosphorescence from solid to water through progressive assembly strategy based on dual phosphorescent sources

Developing smart room-temperature phosphorescence(RTP)materials with facile and efficient strategies have attracted increasing attention.Herein,tunable RTP materials with two phosphorescent sources and stepwise enhanced phosphorescence in water are obtained through an in-situ self-assembly strategy based on the sensitization of phosphors by trimesic acid(TMA)through simple doping and the rigidification of phosphors by hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks(HOFs).As expected,doped TMA+phosphors simultaneously promote the RTP emission of phosphors and maintain TMA phosphorescence.In-situ assembled HOF(MATMA)@phosphors facilitate smart RTP emission in water due to the coexistence of phosphorescent HOF(MA-TMA)host and phosphors guest.Additionally,such RTP materials with good processability demonstrate the application potential in information security,benefitting from their varied afterglow lifetimes and easy luminous recognition in the darkness.This work will inspire the design of dual phosphorescent source RTP systems and provide new strategies for the development of smart RTP materials in water.

In-vehicle VOCs composition of unconditioned,newly produced cars

The in-vehicle volatile organic compounds （VOCs） concentrations gains the attention of both car producers and users. In the present study, an attempt was made to determine if analysis of air samples collected from an unconditioned car cabin can be used as a quality control measure. The VOCs composition of in-vehicle air was analyzed by means of active sampling on Carbograph 1TD and Tenax TA sorbents, followed by thermal desorption and simultaneous analysis on flame ionization and mass detector （TD-GC/FID-MS）. Nine newly produced cars of the same brand and model were chosen for this study. Within these, four of the vehicles were equipped with identical interior materials and five others differed in terms of upholstery and the presence of a sunroof; one car was convertible. The sampling event took place outside of the car assembly plant and the cars tested left the assembly line no later than 24 hr before the sampling took place. More than 250 compounds were present in the samples collected; the identification of more than 160 was confirmed by comparative mass spectra analysis and 80 were confirmed by both comparison with single/multiple compounds standards and mass spectra analysis. In general, aliphatic hydrocarbons represented more than 60% of the total VOCs （TVOC） determined. Depending on the vehicle, the concentration of aromatic hydrocarbons varied from 12% to 27% of total VOCs. The very short period between car production and sampling of the in-vehicle air permits the assumption that the entire TVOC originates from off-gassing of interior materials. The results of this study expand the knowledge of in-vehicle pollution by presenting information about car cabin air quality immediately after car production.

Oxide ancillary ligand-based europium β-diketonate complexes and their enhanced luminosity

Ternary materials of europium complex with2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedione(tmhd) ligand and aqua ligand as ancillary ligands have been prepared and characterized for various optoelectronic characteristics.Reactions of hydrated complex [Eu(tmhd)_(3)(H_(2)O)_(2)] proceeded with triphenylphosphine oxide(TPPO) and pyridine-N-oxide(PNO) ancillary ligands were studied to develop novel complexes. The prepared complexes show good thermal stability. A comparative investigation of preparedmaterials[Eu(tmhd)_(3)(H_(2)O)_(2)],[Eu(tmhd)_(3)(TPPO)_(2)] and [Eu(tmhd)_(3)(PNO)_(2)] was conducted for their luminescent behaviors in order to obtain the role of ancillary ligand in the enhancement of illumination amount generated from europium(Eu^(3+)) ion. Color coordinates of prepared ternary complexes such as[Eu(tmhd)_(3)(H_(2)O)_(2)]with(x = 0.54,y = 0.32),[Eu(tmhd)_(3)(TPPO)_(2)] with(x = 0.56, y = 0.32) and[Eu(tmhd)_(3)(PNO)_(2)] with(x = 0.57, y = 0.33) indicated that these materials exhibited bright red emission in visible region spectrum. The complexes show a proficient energy transport pathway from the ligands to the innermost Eu^(3+)by means of an ancillary ligand-sensitized luminescence process. Interaction between the metal and ligand results in a distinguished effect on quantum efficiency(η) as well as on Judd–Ofelt intensity factor(Ω_(2)) of the prepared materials.

Damping of Ni–Mn–Ga epoxy resin composites

By combining the advantages of effcient damping and high mechanical properties,Ni-Mn-Ga particle composites have a very good prospect for applications in damping structure design.In this paper,a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy Ni-Mn-Ga composite is prepared.Ni-Mn-Ga particle/bisphenol-A epoxy composite cantilever beam vibration tests under a magnetic feld and without the magnetic feld are conducted to analyze the structural damping ratios n.Meanwhile,the damping characteristics of the Ni-Mn-Ga composite are studied through the axial loading-unloading method and the acoustic emission signals method.The damping coeffcient of the composite for different Ni-Mn-Ga volume fractions is obtained.The interface properties of the composite are discussed by micro examination and axial loading.The relationships between the damping of the composite and that of the component materials are discussed.The specifc damping capacity（SDC）and acoustic emission counts diagram of different specimens with different Ni-Mn-Ga volume fractions are analyzed.

Piezochromic luminescence and aggregation induced emission of 9,10-bis[2-(2-alkoxynaphthalen-1-yl)vinyl]anthracene derivatives

Four derivatives of 9,10-bis[2-（2-alkoxynaphthalen-1-yl）vinyl]anthracene（BNAs） were designed,successfully synthesized and characterized by spectrofluorometer, powder wide-angle X-ray diffraction（PXRD） and differential scanning calorimetry experiments（DSC）, etc. It was found that these compounds exhibited aggregation-induced emission phenomenon. Moreover, these target compounds displayed reversible color change from yellow to orange upon pressing and annealing process. Interestingly, all of BNAs obviously presented red-shifted piezofluorochromic（PFC） properties and behaved mainly length dependence of alkoxy group, in which, BNA displayed the largest PFC spectral shift（DlPFC= 26 nm）. The PXRD profiles demonstrated the transformation from crystalline to amorphous state upon grinding, and the mechanism of PFC behaviors was proposed. Thus, changing the length of alkoxyl chain could be an alternative way to tune their PFC behaviors.