Thermal characterization of bio-based phase changing materials in decorative wood-based panels for thermal energy storage

Decorative wood panels containing pouches of bio-based phase changing materials(PCMs) were prepared. Three different PCM mixtures were used: a blend of capric and lauric acids as well as two commercial products, Puretemp?20 and Puretemp?23(Puretemp). The panels consist of engraved Medium Density Fiberboard(MDF) filled with a plastic pouch filled with PCM. High density fiberboard(HDF) was used on top of the panels to enclose the PCM pouches. PCM mixtures were first tested by differential scanning calorimetry(DSC). Phase change temperature and total heat storage of the panels were measured for both fusion and solidification with a Dynamic Heat-Flow Meter Apparatus(DHFMA). DSC and DHFMA results were compared, allowing a better understanding of results gathered from these two techniques. DSC calibration has been revealed important when assessing PCMs. The panels present a phase change temperature and a latent heat storage suitable for buildings applications. The panel made with Puretemp?23 presented the highest energy, with 57.1 J g^(-1). Thermal cycling was conducted on the panels to investigate thermal reliability, which revealed small modifications of thermal properties for two products. For all cases, latent heat was found stable. Hygro-mechanical behavior of the panels was also evaluated as these where designed to be esthetic decorative panels. This study exposes the potential of a new type of wood-based panels loaded with PCM for thermal energy storage and brings overall knowledge about PCM products thermal characterization.

Vibration reduction of floating elastic plates in surface waves

Based on dynamical theories of water waves and dynamics of Mindlin thick plates, the investigation of the wave-induced responses and the vibration reduction of an elastic floating plate are presented using the Wiener-Hopf technique. Without regard to the case of elastic connector, the calculated results obtained by the present method are in good agreement with those from the literature and the experiment. It can be shown that the present method is valid. Relations between the spring stiffness to be used to connect the sea bottom and the floating plate and the parameters of wave-induced responses of floating plates are investigated using the present method. Therefore, these results can be used as theoretical bases for the design stage of super floating platform systems.

WAY TO DETERMINE STIFFNESS FUNCTION OF STRUCTURE

For calculating the stiffness function of a structure, the differential equation of the vibration of the structure was divided into the differential equation on the original stiffness function that was known, and Fredholm integral equation of the first kind on the undetermined stiffness function that was unknown. And the stable solutions of the integral equation, when the smooth factor was equal to zero, was solved by the extrapolation with p smooth factors. So the stiffness function of the structure is obtained. Applied examples show that the method is feasible and effective.

Space-confined and substrate-directed synthesis of transition-metal dichalcogenide nanostructures with tunable dimensionality

Atomically thin transition-metal dichalcogenide(TMDC) nanostructures are predicted to exhibit novel physical properties that make them attractive candidates for the fabrication of electronic and optoelectronic devices. However, TMDCs tend to grow in the form of two-dimensional nanoplates(NPs) rather than one-dimensional nanoribbons(NRs) due to their native layered structure. Herein, we have developed a space-confined and substrate-directed chemical vapor deposition strategy for the controllable synthesis of WS2, WSe2, MoSe2, MoS2, WS2(1-x)Se2x NPs and NRs. TMDC NRs with lengths ranging from several micrometers to 100 μm have been obtained and the widths of TMDC NRs can be effectively tuned.Moreover, we found that TMDC NRs show different growth behaviors on van der Waals(vdW) and nonvd W substrates. The micro-nano structures, optical and electronic properties of synthesized TMDC NRs have been systematically investigated. This approach provides a general strategy for controllable synthesis of TMDC NRs, which makes these materials easily accessible as functional building blocks for novel optoelectronic devices.