Direct tension and fracture resistance curves of ultra high performance marine composite materials

Fracture behavior is one of the most important,yet still little understood properties of ultra-high performance cementitious composites(UHPCC),a new marine structural engineering material. Research on the fracture and direct tension behavior of UHPCC was carried out.The constitution law of UHPCC was divided into three phases:pre-partial debonding,partial debonding,and pullout phases.A direct tension constitution law was constructed based on the proposed fiber reinforcing parameter as a function of fiber volume fraction,fiber diameter and length,and fiber bonding strength.With the definition of linear crack shape,the energy release rate of UHPCC was derived and the R-curve equation was calculated from this.Loading tests of UHPCC using a three-point bending beam with an initial notch were carried out.The predictions from the proposed R-curve were in good agreement with the test results, indicating that the proposed R-curve accurately describes the fracture resistance of UHPCC.Introduction of a fiber reinforcement parameter bridges the fracture property R-curve and micro-composites’ mechanics parameters together.This has laid the foundation for further research into fracture properties based on micro-mechanics.The proposed tension constitution law and R-curve can be references for future UHPCC fracture evaluation.

Low temperature J-resistance curve determination of asphalt concrete using wavelet-Radon transform

A single specimen test using the three point single edge notched beam configuration at low temperatures for obtaining hot mix asphalt （HMA） resistance curves is developed.Resistance curves are obtained for mixtures at six temperature levels of＋5,0,-5,-10,-15,and-20 ℃ and three binder contents of 4％,4.5％,and 5％.Crack extension increments during the test are measured by means of an image processing technique using Radon transform and feature extraction.All the specimens exhibit a rising R-curve,indicating ductility and toughening mechanisms in the ductile-quasi brittle fracture of the mixture.It is observed that the reduction of temperature results in a further tendency of the mixture for unstable crack growth and less subcritical crack length.It is also shown that using the binarization process,an automatic index can be developed that can represent the extent of brittleness and extent of the low temperature in which the cracking has occurred.

Analysis of the Correlation between the Level of Contact Degradation and the Dynamic Resistance Curve in Circuit Breakers

The DRM （dynamic contact resistance measurement） in high voltage circuit breakers is a manner of evaluating the internal ageing condition of the chamber. DRM is similar to static contact resistance measurement testing, but instead of measuring a single value when the breaker contacts are closed （static value）, the ohmic resistance is measured at various contact positions, from the beginning of the contact opening until a complete separation of the contacts. The relationship between the contact resistances of the new circuit breaker and the ageing circuit breaker in operation provides subsidy for the evaluation of both the main and arcing contact conditions. This research aims to analyze the correlation between the various levels of degradation of the contacts and the configuration of the DRM curve. This work considers curve samples from new acceleration tests. breaker chamber contacts and different levels of degradation by

FRACTURE MECHANISM IN Ti_3Al+Si+Nb ALLOYS

Ti_3Al+Si+Nb alloys containing Ti_5Si_3 have the potential in ductility improvements. In this paper, the fracture mechanism of this alloy is under investigation. Three kinds of alloys in the as rolled condition were prepared for determination of KIC values and calculation of J-resistance curves. The results show that the morphology of Ti_5Si_3 has a great influence on the KIC. values of the alloys and crack growth resistance. The fracture mechanism is controlled by Ti_5Si_3 particles.

Monotricat, Innovative Displacement Hull High Hydrodynamic Efficiency and Energy Recovery, Navigating at Speeds of Planing Hulls on Spray Self-produced

The need to have naval units ever faster pushed the ship design to design hull shapes with increasingly higher performance thanks to the use of lightweight materials such as aluminum, and more powerful engines, etc., but without substantially modifying the traditional forms of hull. The hull patented Monotricat high hydrodynamic efficiency and energy saving it represents an evolution of the traditional architectures of the hulls, as its shape is adapted to recover wave formation engendered from the bow and sprays associated with it so as to reduce the resistance to the benefit of the speed, and navigating in displacement at speeds of planing hulls with an efficiency of about 20%. The patented hull Monotricat represents the overcoming of distinction between displacement and planing hulls, because, unlike previous solutions, the hull conventionally called Monotricat is the first displacement hull that can navigate at both displacement and planning speeds, with a resistance curve almost straight, maintaining the characteristics of a displacement hull, since it combines the characteristics of displacement and planning hull. It presents an innovative architecture that could be defined as a hybrid between a monohull and catamaran, navigating on spray self-produced. The combination of these three types of naval hulls allows it to ensure： safety, comfort navigation, best seakeeping and maneuverability in restricted waters, stability, reduction of resistance to motion, cost management, regularity on the routes even in adverse weather-sea. These characteristics of the hull have been studied, tested and validated by leading research institutes and universities with more ameliorative results in each subsequent experimentation, reported in the present work, which demonstrated a greater hydrodynamic efficiency compared to conventional hulls of 20%.

Corrosion behavior of low alloy steels in a wet–dry acid humid environment

The corrosion behavior of corrosion resistant steel（CRS） in a simulated wet–dry acid humid environment was investigated and compared with carbon steel（CS） using corrosion loss, polarization curves, X-ray diffraction（XRD）, scanning electron microscopy（SEM）, electron probe micro-analysis（EPMA）, N2 adsorption, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy（XPS）. The results show that the corrosion kinetics of both steels were closely related to the composition and compactness of the rust, and the electrochemical properties of rusted steel. Small amounts of Cu, Cr, and Ni in CRS increased the amount of amorphous phases and decreased the content of γ-Fe OOH in the rust, resulting in higher compactness and electrochemical stability of the CRS rust. The elements Cu, Cr, and Ni were uniformly distributed in the CRS rust and formed CuFeO2, Cu2O, CrOOH, NiFe2O4, and Ni2O3, which enhanced the corrosion resistance of CRS in the wet–dry acid humid environment.

Bioinspired PcBN/hBN fibrous monolithic ceramic:High-temperature crack resistance responses and self-lubricating performances

The high strength and toughness of natural materials are mainly determined by a combination of mechanisms operating at different length scales,which can be used as a strategy to reduce the intrinsic brittleness of ceramics.Inspired by the architectures of bamboo,the polycrystalline cubic boron nitride/hexagonal boron nitride(PcBN/hBN)fibrous monolithic ceramics with a long fiber arrangement structure was constructed with PcBN fiber cells and hBN cell boundaries,and its crack resistance responses and tribological performances were investigated.The composite ceramic failed in a non-brittle manner with the rising resistance curve(R-curve)behavior,which was attributed to multiscale crack effects in the hierarchical architecture.The maximum crack growth toughness was extremely high(approximately 21 MPa×m^(1/2)),corresponding to a 270%increase over the crack initiation toughness.Excellent fracture resistance could be retained even above 1000℃.Moreover,the composite ceramic exhibited low and stable friction coefficients(approximately 0.33)when paired with a Si_(3)N_(4)pin at high temperature(1000℃),owing to the lubrication function of hBN cell boundaries with weak van der Waals forces and a small amount of liquid B_(2)O_(3)produced.As a result,a synergistic improvement of mechanical and tribological properties at high temperature(1000℃)was realized by combining bionic structure and tribological design.It provides important theoretical and technical support for expanding the application of self-lubricating composite ceramics in harsh environments.

Influences of Ca and Y Addition on the Microstructure and Corrosion Resistance of Vacuum Die-Cast AZ91 Alloy

The influences of Ca and Y additions on the microstructure and corrosion resistance of vacuum die-cast AZ91 alloys were investigated by optical microscope,electron scanning microscope,weight-loss test,and electrochemical corrosion experiment.The results indicate that the Ca or Ca and Y additions refined the microstructure and decreased the amount of Mg17Al12 phase on grain boundaries in the alloys.Meanwhile,the addition of Ca and Y led to the formation of network Al2 Ca phase and rod-like Al2 Y phase,improved the corrosion resistance of AZ91 magnesium alloy.Compared with AZ91 alloy,the corrosion rate of AZ91–1.5Ca–1.0Y alloy was decreased to 16.2%,and its corrosion current density was dropped by one order of magnitude after immersion in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution for 24 h.

Corrosion property of copperized layer on Zr formed by double glow plasma surface alloying technique

Zr and its alloys have excellent mechanical properties as new structural material,but in specific application environment,its corrosion resistance still needs to be further explored.In this work,double glow plasma surface alloying technique was used for copperizing on pure Zr surface.Besides,X-ray diffraction（XRD）,scanning electron microscope（SEM） and energy dispersion spectrum（EDS） were employed to characterize the samples.Furthermore,research was also conducted on the polarization curve of the samples in different solutions.Copperizing on surface can improve corrosion resistance of pure Zr in 3.5 % Na Cl and 0.5 moláL-1Na OH solutions.Especially in 0.5 moláL-1Na OH solution,the corrosion resistance can achieve significant improvement.However,copperizing has no influence on the improvement of corrosion resistance of pure Zr in 0.5 moláL-1H2SO4 solution.The results may provide new insight into way for improving the corrosion property of zirconium alloys.