Search Results (103)

During operation, dynamic cables endure coupled thermo-mechanical loads (mechanical: tension/bending; thermal: power transmission) that degrade stiffness, amplifying extreme responses and impairing configuration optimization. To address this, this study pioneers a multi-objective optimization framework integrating stiffness characteristics from mechanical/thermo-mechanical analyses, with objectives to minimize dynamic extreme tension and curvature under constraints of global configuration variables and safety thresholds. The framework employs a Radial Basis Function (RBF) surrogate model coupled with NSGA-II algorithm, yielding validated Pareto solutions (≤6.15% max error vs. simulations). Results demonstrate universal reduction in extreme responses across optimized configurations, with the thermo-mechanically optimized solution achieving 20.24% fatigue life enhancement. This work establishes the first methodology quantifying thermo-mechanical coupling effects on offshore cable safety and fatigue performance. This configuration design scheme exhibits better safety during actual service conditions. Full article

Timber structural performance is significantly influenced by natural knots, which serve as critical indicators in ancient architectural heritage preservation and modern sustainable building design. However, existing studies lack a comprehensive quantitative analysis of how the randomness of timber knot parameters relates to load-bearing capacity degradation. This study introduces a multiscale evaluation framework that integrates physical testing, probabilistic modeling, and data-driven techniques. Firstly, static tests on full-scale timber beams with artificially introduced knots reveal the failure mechanisms and load capacity reduction associated with knots in the tension zone. Subsequently, a three-dimensional Monte Carlo simulation, modeling random distributions of knot position and size, demonstrates that the midspan region is most sensitive to knot effects, with load capacity loss being more pronounced on the tension side than on the compression side. Finally, a predictive model based on a fully connected neural network is developed; feature analysis indicates that the longitudinal position of knots exerts a stronger nonlinear influence on load capacity than radial depth or diameter. The results establish a mapping between knot characteristics, stress field distortion, and ultimate load capacity, providing a theoretical basis for safety evaluation of historic timber structures and the design of defect-tolerant timber beams in modern engineering. Full article

This study employs molecular dynamics simulations to investigate counterion effects (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺) on the interfacial aggregation of mixed short-chain fluorocarbon, Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFH_XA), and Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactants. Motivated by the need for greener surfactant alternatives and a fundamental understanding of molecular interactions governing their behavior, we demonstrate that counterion hydration radius critically modulates system organization. K⁺ ions induce superior monolayer condensation and interfacial performance compared to Li⁺ and Na⁺ counterparts, as evidenced by threefold analysis: (1) RMSD/MSD-confirmed equilibrium attainment ensures data reliability; (2) 1D/2D density profiles and surface tension measurements reveal K⁺-enhanced packing density (lower solvent-accessible surface area versus Na⁺ and Li⁺ systems); (3) Electrostatic potential analysis identifies synergistic complementarity between SDS’s hydrophobic stabilization via dodecyl chain interactions and PFH_XA’s charge uniformity, optimizing molecular-level charge screening. Radial distribution function analysis demonstrates K⁺’s stronger affinity for SDS head groups, with preferential sulfate coordination reducing surfactant-water hydration interactions. This behavior correlates with hydrogen-bond population reduction, attributed to SDS groups functioning as multidentate ligands—their tetrahedral oxygen arrangement facilitates cooperative hydrogen-bond networks, while counterion-specific charge screening competitively modulates bond formation. The resultant interfacial restructuring enables ordered molecular arrangements with lower system curvature than those observed in Li⁺ and Na⁺-containing systems. These findings elucidate counterion-mediated interfacial modulation mechanisms and establish K⁺ as an optimal candidate for enhancing PFH_XA/SDS mixture performance through hydration-radius screening. The work provides molecular-level guidelines for designing eco-friendly surfactant systems with tailored interfacial properties. Full article

The application of rebar reinforced ultra-high-performance concrete (R-UHPC) has been increasingly adopted in engineering structures due to its exceptional mechanical performance and durability characteristics. Nevertheless, when subjected to combined saline and stray current conditions, R-UHPC remains vulnerable to severe corrosion degradation. This investigation examined the corrosion performance and tensile behavior evolution of R-UHPC containing 2.0 vol% copper-coated steel fiber content and HRB400 steel rebar with a reinforcement ratio of 3.1%. The accelerated corrosion process was induced through an impressed current method, followed by direct tensile tests at varying exposure periods. The findings revealed that the embedding of rebar in UHPC led to the formation of fiber-to-rebar (F-R) conductive pathways, generating radial cracks besides laminar cracks. The bonding between rebar and UHPC degraded as corrosion progressed, leading to the loss of characteristic multiple-cracking behavior of R-UHPC in tension. Meanwhile, R-UHPC load-bearing capacity, transitioning from gradual to accelerated deterioration phases with prolonged corrosion, aligns with steel fibers temporally. During the initial 4 days of corrosion, the specimens displayed surface-level corrosion features with negligible steel fiber loss, showing less than 4.0% reduction in ultimate bearing capacity. At 8 days of corrosion, the steel fiber decreased by 22.6%, accompanied by an 18.3% reduction in bearing capacity. By 16 days of corrosion, the steel fiber loss reached 41.5%, with a corresponding bearing capacity reduction of 29.1%. During the corrosion process, corrosion cracks and load-bearing degradation in R-UHPC could be indicated by the ultrasonic damage factor. Full article

As a by-product of phosphate fertilizer production, phosphogypsum (PG) poses pressing environmental challenges that demand urgent resolution. To address the research gap in dynamic impact behavior of PG-modified concrete (PGC), this study developed truss-reinforced PGC slabs (PG volumetric fractions: 0% and 2%) and evaluated their impact resistance through drop-weight tests from a 3.75 m height. A systematic parametric investigation was conducted to quantify the effects of slab thickness (100–120 mm), steel plate reinforcement at the tension zone, PG content, and impact cycles. Experimental results revealed that increasing slab thickness to 120 mm reduced mid-span displacement by 13%, while incorporating steel plate reinforcement provided an additional 5.3% reduction. Notably, PG addition effectively suppressed crack propagation, transitioning failure modes from radial fracture patterns to localized mid-span damage. Finite element modeling ABAQUS (2022) validated experimental observations, demonstrating strong agreement. While optimized PG dosage (2%) exhibited limited influence on impact resistance, it enhanced PG utilization efficiency by 18%. Combined with increased slab thickness (displacement reduction: 13%), this study establishes a design framework balancing environmental sustainability and structural reliability for impact-resistant PGC applications. Within the framework of truss-reinforced concrete slabs with constant PG dosage, this study established a numerical model for geometric parameter modulation of impactors. Through systematic adjustment of the drop hammer’s contact width (a) and vertical geometric height (h), a dimensionless control parameter—aspect ratio c = h/a (0.2 ≤ c ≤ 1.8)—was proposed. Nonlinear dynamic analysis revealed that the peak impact load demonstrates an inverse proportional functional decay relationship with increasing c, yielding an empirical predictive model. These parametrized regularities provide theoretical foundations for contact interface optimization in impact-resistant structural design. Full article

The S oilfield has adopted polymer flooding technology, specifically using partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM), to enhance oil recovery. During the production process, the S oilfield has generated a substantial amount of stable polymer flooding-produced liquid, in which oil droplets are difficult to effectively coalesce, presenting significant challenges in demulsification. This article focuses on the produced fluids from S Oilfield as the research subject, developing a molecular dynamics model for the stability analysis of production liquid, including the molecular dynamics model of an oil–pure water system, an oil–mineralized water system and an oil–polymer–mineralized water system, using the principle of molecular dynamics and combining it with the basic molecular model for analyzing the stability of polymer flooding-production liquid. Through the molecular dynamics simulation of the stability analysis of the extracted liquid, the changing rules of the molecular diffusion coefficient, radial distribution function (RDF), interfacial interaction energy, and interfacial tension under the action of ions as well as polymers in water were investigated. The simulation results demonstrate that the presence of all three inorganic salt ions (Na⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺) reduces the interfacial tension between oil and water and stabilizes the interface. Following the addition of polymer, the interfacial tension of the system decreases and the interfacial interaction energy increases significantly, indicating that the stability of the system is significantly enhanced by HPAM. Full article

Lipid-shelled microbubbles (MBs) and echogenic liposomes (ELIPs) have been proposed as acoustofluidic theranostic agents after having been proven to be efficient in diagnostics as ultrasonic contrast agents. Their mechanical properties—such as shell stiffness, friction, and resonance frequency—are critical to their performance, stability, oscillatory dynamics, and response to sonication. A precise characterization of these properties is essential for optimizing their biomedical applications, however the current methods vary significantly in their sensitivity and accuracy. This review examines the experimental and theoretical methodologies used to quantify the mechanical properties of MBs and ELIPs, discusses how each approach estimates shell stiffness and friction, and outlines the strengths and limitations inherent to each technique. Additionally, the effects of parameters such as temperature and lipid composition on MB and ELIP mechanical behavior are examined. Four characterization methods are analyzed, including frequency-dependent attenuation, optical observation, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and laser scattering, their advantages and limitations are critically assessed. Additionally, the factors that influence the mechanical properties of the MBs and ELIPs, such as temperature and lipid composition, are examined. Frequency-dependent attenuation was shown to provide reliable shell elasticity estimates but is influenced by nonlinear oscillations, AFM confirms that microbubble stiffness is size-dependent with smaller bubbles exhibiting higher shell stiffness, and theoretical models such as modified Rayleigh–Plesset equations increasingly incorporate viscoelastic shell properties to improve prediction accuracy. However, many of these models still assume radial symmetry and neglect inter-bubble interactions, which can lead to inaccurate elasticity values when applied to dense suspensions. In such cases, using modified frameworks like the Sarkar model, which incorporates damping and surface tension explicitly, may provide more reliable estimates under nonlinear conditions. Additionally, lipid composition and temperature significantly affect shell mechanics, with higher temperatures generally reducing stiffness. On the other hand, inconsistencies in experimental protocols hinder direct comparison across studies, highlighting the need for standardized characterization methods and improved computational modeling. Full article

In the context of global urbanization and the concomitant tension between heritage conservation and urban development, there is an urgent need to explore effective strategies for addressing the challenges posed by fragmented conservation, static cognition, and homogeneous renewal in conservation practice. Utilizing the theoretical framework of urban historic landscape, this study integrates urban morphology, architectural typology, urban imagery, and catalyst theory to formulate a progressive study on the evolution of historic districts through the layers of “historic areas, spatial forms, material carriers, value characteristics”. The research path is a progressive one that analyses the regularity of historic districts. The present study focuses on Shenyang as the object of empirical research, employing a multifaceted research method that integrates multiple scenarios and sub-cases within a single case. This method utilizes a combination of the literature and field research to obtain diversified data. The study then undertakes a systematic analysis of the accumulation of Shenyang’s historic districts through the application of kernel density analysis and geometric graphical methods. The study found that the dimension of the historical area of the Shenyang historic district presents the layering law of “single-core dominant–dual-core juxtaposition–fusion collage–extension–multi-point radiation”, and that the spatial form is summarized as seven types of the layering law, such as radiation type, ring type, triangular type, and grid type. The spatial form is summarized into seven types of laminar laws, such as radial, ring, triangular, grid, etc. The material carriers exhibit the conventional law of anchoring point-like elements, employing line-like elements as the skeletal structure and surface-like elements as the matrix. The value laminations are diversified, centralized, and self-adaptive. The study proposes the concept of “layer accumulation law” to elucidate the carrier transformation mechanism of cultural genes, and it provides a methodological tool for addressing the dilemma of “layer accumulation fracture”. The findings of this study not only deepen the localized application of HUL theory but also provide an innovative path for the practice of heritage conservation in urban renewal. Full article

Corn is an important economic and food crop, and the corn threshing process is an important link in the processing of corn, but the damage rate in the threshing process has always been a problem, causing difficulties in subsequent processing and storage. To address the high damage rate in corn ear threshing, a texture analyzer was used to measure the fracture force of Boyun 88 and Zhengdan 958 corn varieties in the triaxial direction, and a CT scanning imaging system was used to analyze the connection mode between the carpopodium and the corn cob. The connection between the carpopodium and corn cob, as well as the fracture process of the carpopodium, was simulated. Finally, high-speed photography was used to study the corn ear threshing process. The results indicated that the fracture force of the carpopodium under radial tension was significantly greater than that under axial and tangential shear. Additionally, the simulated fracture stress value of the carpopodium exceeded its actual fracture stress value. Under radial stress, the fracture force between the carpopodium and corn cob exhibited more uniformity on the contact surface. When a tangential load was applied, it was observed that the force chain shifted and dissipated along the axis during corn kernel extrusion. High-speed photography on a discrete test bench revealed that corn kernel dispersion, extrusion, and force transfer facilitated the movement and migration of surrounding kernels, with the force transfer process resembling a “trapezoid”. This study offers theoretical guidance for corn threshing with low damage and an analysis of the threshing process. Full article

This work provides a comprehensive review of experimental methods used to measure rheological properties of interfacial layers stabilized by surfactants, asphaltenes, and proteins that are relevant to systems with large interfacial areas, such as emulsions and foams. Among the shear methods presented, the deep channel viscometer, bicone rheometer, and double-wall ring rheometers are the most utilized. On the other hand, the main dilational rheology techniques discussed are surface waves, capillary pressure, oscillating Langmuir trough, oscillating pendant drop, and oscillating spinning drop. Recent developments—including machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) models, such as artificial neural networks (ANN) and convolutional neural networks (CNN)—to calculate interfacial tension from drop shape analysis in shorter times and with higher precision are critically analyzed. Additionally, configurations involving an Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) cantilever contacting bubble, a microtensiometer platform, rectangular and radial Langmuir troughs, and high-frequency oscillation drop setups are presented. The significance of Gibbs–Marangoni effects and interfacial rheological parameters on the (de)stabilization of emulsions is also discussed. Finally, a critical review of the recent literature on the measurement of interfacial rheology is presented. Full article

During the coiling process of a hot-rolled strip, with the increasing layers the temperature and stress distribution inside the coil constantly change and interact with each other. Due to the contact with the sleeve and the transition of the heat exchange state, it is inaccurate to consider the temperature of the whole coil as the coiling temperature set by the process requirement. Meanwhile, due to the periodic interlayer contact in the radial direction, the relation between stress and deformation is nonlinear. For the coiling process, it is difficult to consider the above factors using conventional methods. Therefore, an incremental model has been established to couple the temperature and stress of the coil. In order to obtain the mechanical properties of the strip and radial elastic modulus of the coil, tensile tests and laminated compression experiments are conducted at different temperatures. The effects of changes in strip thickness, coiling tension, and initial temperature of the sleeve on the stress and the temperature inside the coil are studied. Finally, by comparing the model results with measurements and analytical solutions, the effectiveness of the incremental coupled model is verified and the errors caused by the analytical method are analyzed. Full article

Pre-tensioned H-type prestressed concrete revetment piles are a newly developed product dedicated to the protection of river, lake, and sea bank embankments, and their cross-section is H-shaped. In this study, a field test of H-type pile soil’s squeezing effect is carried out based on the second phase project of the HujiaShen Line. Pore water pressure, soil displacement, and other parameters of the H-type pile-driving process are monitored in real time. The test results show the following: (1) The influence range of the excess pore water pressure caused by the soil squeezing effect in the horizontal direction is about 14–15D, and in the vertical direction, the pore water pressure within a depth range of about 7D below the pile bottom increases rapidly. Its dissipation rate is fast at first and then slows down, and it completely dissipates 20 days after piling. (2) The excess pore water pressure caused by the soil squeezing effect does not decrease linearly in the radial direction. The soil around the construction pile can be divided into four areas: A, B, C, and D. Among them, A and B belong to the plastic zone, and C and D belong to the elastic zone. (3) The horizontal displacement of the soil occurs within the depth range of 5D from the surface of the pile to the bottom of the pile at the piling location, and the radial influence range is about 8–12D. From a vertical perspective, the main horizontal displacement of the soil occurs in the long section of the pile driven into the soil, showing a “U”-shaped distribution. (4) The dividing point between the vertical displacement uplift and the settlement of the soil appears within the range of 2–3 m from the construction pile, that is, between 5 and 7D. Settlement occurs after the piling is completed, and the settlement rate is fast at first and then slows down. The final settlement of the soil is stable on the 20th day. This research and experiment provide a design reference for the engineering application of pre-tensioned H-type prestressed concrete bank protection piles. Full article

Manufacturing errors of cable length, external node coordinates and tension force by the passive tension method are inevitable, which will inevitably affect the prestressing of cable bearing-grid structures, while existing studies lack the error analysis of error influences in this area. This paper proposes a method for analyzing random errors in constructing annular cable bearing-grid structures. An error control index and a normal distribution-based random error model, considering the impact of cable and ring beam length errors on cable force, were established afterwards. Taking the roof of the Qatar Education City Stadium as an example, the influence of the length errors of the radial cable, ring cable, and outer pressure ring beam on the structural cable force and stress level was analyzed, and the coupling error effect analysis was carried out. The results show that ring cable force and radial cable force are less affected by the length error of each other’s cables, while they are more affected by the length error of the outer ring beam. Stress levels exhibit greater sensitivity to outer ring beam errors compared to cable length errors. As the error limits of outer ring beam increase, radial and ring cable error ratios and outer ring beam stress errors also rise. Full article

Yunnan Dendrocalamus sinicus Chia et J. L. Sun (YDS) is a giant bamboo species with a diameter at breast height of up to nearly 40 cm. It is endemic to Yunnan, China, and only a very small portion of it is directly used as load-bearing beams and columns in the dwellings of ethnic minorities, such as in Dai architecture. Due to the structural characteristics of its hollow and thin walls, systematic physical and mechanical property testing of this species faces significant challenges in terms of methods and means. This issue has become one of the main barriers to the realization of its large-scale industrial use. Therefore, this paper systematically tests and studies YDS’s three kinds of strength (tension, compression, and shear), modulus of elasticity, and six Poisson’s ratios with the help of digital image correlation (DIC) technology and self-created material testing methods. The (1) tensile, compressive, and shear strengths and moduli in longitudinal, radial, and chordal directions; (2) tensile strengths and moduli of bamboo green, flesh, and yellow layers in the thickness direction of the bamboo wall; and (3) six Poisson’s ratios under tensile and compressive stresses were obtained for YDS. It was also found that the tensile strength (378.8 MPa) of the green layer of YDS exceeded the yield strength (355 MPa) of 45# steel, making it a potential high-strength engineering material or fiber-reinforced material. Full article

As a full tension structural system, the spoke-type single-layer cable net structure has a light graceful shape and superior mechanical properties. During construction, the structure will gradually be tensioned from the flexible unstressed state to the formed state with stiffness, and the structural configuration changes greatly, making construction difficult. This study focused on the spoke-type single-layer cable net structure of the Linyi Olympic Sports Center Stadium. The structural finite element model was established in ANSYS, and the construction scheme was selected and simulated using the nonlinear dynamic finite element method (NDFEM). Most of the existing structural automatic measuring systems are suitable for measuring points with gentle deformation. However, there is the lack of a stable and reliable automatic configuration monitoring system for the construction of single-layer cable net structures. Based on the Lecia TS16 robotic total station (RTS), the configuration automatic monitoring system (CAMS) was developed to obtain the coordinate data of key nodes on the ring cable and compression ring during the construction process. The original finite element model of clamps was refined to obtain the corresponding data in ANSYS. The results indicate that the selected construction scheme has a rational mechanical response according to the finite element simulation. The radial cable force when anchoring the traction cables is smaller than or equal to that in the formed state, which proves that the construction method of anchoring in batches is safe. The results of the ANSYS simulation is basically consistent with those obtained by CAMS, proving that the simulation method is credible. CAMS has good stability and measurement accuracy and can achieve the automatic monitoring of large structural deformation. The research findings provide valuable guidance for practical construction and other similar projects. Full article