Axial Splitting Research Articles

Effect of torque customization with composite resin bases on the shear bond strength and adhesive remnant patterns of lingual brackets : An in vitro evaluation.

This study evaluated the effect of torque customization of lingual brackets with resin-modified bases on their shear bond strength (SBS), adhesive remnant index (ARI), and bond failure patterns (BFP). The sample comprised 200 lingual lower incisor brackets (DTC® ORG, DTC Medical Apparatus, Hangzhou, China); 40brackets were tested as-received and 4groups with 40brackets each were customized for -10, -20, +10 and +20° torque respectively with light-cured composite resin (Transbond XT™, 3M Unitek, Monrovia, CA, USA) bases. All brackets were bonded to bovine mandibular incisors. Their SBS were estimated in auniversal testing machine (INSTRON®, Norwood, MA, USA) with agingivally directed force applied at the incisal bracket-adhesive interface with 1 mm/min crosshead speed. Their ARI and BFP were evaluated under 20× magnification. The SBS was 19.9 ± 7.6 MPa for noncustomized brackets, 20.1 ± 9.0 and 18.7 ± 8.2 MPa for brackets with 10 and 20° of negative torque, and 16.6 ± 5.68 and 19.45 ± 5.84 MPa for brackets with 10 and 20° of positive torque, respectively. The differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.097). Teeth with the -20° brackets exhibited higher median ARI scores than noncustomized brackets (1.5 vs 2, p = 0.018). Adhesive-cohesive bond failure with nearly axial split was more frequent in noncustomized brackets than customized ones, the reverse being true for adhesive-cohesive failure with nearly vertical split (p < 0.05). Truly cohesive bond failures were seen only in brackets with positive torque. Torque customization with aresin base is an acceptable strategy for metal orthodontic brackets as it does not affect their SBS. However, their BFP differed from noncustomized brackets, depending on the type of torque introduced.

Isolation and characterization of a triplet nitrene.

Nitrene radical compounds are short-lived intermediates in a variety of nitrogen-involved transformations. They feature either a singlet or a triplet ground state, depending on the electronic properties of the substituents. Triplet nitrenes are highly reactive and their isolation in the condensed phase under ambient conditions is challenging. Here we report the synthesis and isolation of a triplet arylnitrene supported by a bulky hydrindacene ligand. The arylnitrene is fully characterized by various spectroscopic and structural techniques including electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Its high stability is largely attributed to the steric hindrance and effective electron delocalization provided by the supporting ligand. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy in conjunction with highly correlated wavefunction-based ab initio calculations provides support for a triplet ground state nitrene with axial zero-field splitting D = 0.92 cm-1 and vanishing rhombicity E/D = 0.002.

Arctic temperature effects on the mechanical properties and failure modes of photopolymer resin for sandwich composite core' materials

The increased marine activity in the Arctic Circle presents significant challenges for naval structures operating in extreme conditions, such as temperatures as low as -60°C (Arctic temperature, AT). This study uniquely investigates the potential of Formlabs' “Durable resin” as a core material for sandwich composites. It focuses explicitly on its mechanical response under these extreme Arctic conditions, a largely unexplored area in current materials research. Durable resin's quasi-static tensile, flexural, and compressive behaviors were tested at both room temperature (RT) and AT. Finite element models were developed to explain observed failure mechanisms. At AT, the resin showed isotropic behavior with notable improvements, including a 318% increase in tensile modulus, 322% rise in ultimate tensile strength, 450% increase in flexural modulus, and 460% improvement in compressive modulus, though strain at failure decreased. Failure modes varied by temperature: tensile and flexural fractures consistently occurred at the midsection, while compressive samples at AT failed via axial splitting, compared to barreling at RT. This study's findings contribute to the foundational understanding needed to develop materials that endure extreme Arctic environments, underscoring the promise of Durable resin for Arctic exploration despite its reduced ductility under AT conditions.

Study on Dynamic Mechanical Properties and Failure Pattern of Thin-Layered Schist

This paper studies the effect of schistosity on the dynamic mechanical properties and failure pattern of thin-layered schist. Wudang Group schist with thin layers is selected as the research object, and the influence of the dynamic mechanical properties and failure pattern of schist under different angles and spacing is studied by combining an SHPB test and numerical simulation. The results indicate that under dynamic loading, the stress–strain curve demonstrates elastic compression, plastic deformation, and strain softening stages. Moreover, it is observed that the dynamic critical failure strength of schist exhibits typical “U”-type strength anisotropy. Specimens with a schistosity angle of 0° or 90° exhibit higher dynamic compressive strength under dynamic loading, with axial splitting and schistosity splitting as predominant failure modes. Conversely, when the schistosity angles are 30°, 45° or 60°, there is a noticeable decrease in compressive strength accompanied predominantly by shear failure along with local compressive shear failure. We additionally noted that as the spacing between schists decreases from 22 mm to 7 mm, there is a gradual reduction in dynamic compressive strength by approximately 20.3%.

Rock failure mechanisms based on rheological dynamics

This paper investigates the mechanisms of rock failure related to axial splitting and shear failure due to hoop stresses in cylindrical specimens. The hoop stresses are caused by normal viscous stress. The rheological dynamics theory (RDT) is used, with the mechanical parameters being determined by P- and S-wave velocities. The angle of internal friction is determined by the ratio of Young's modulus and the dynamic modulus, while dynamic viscosity defines cohesion and normal viscous stress. The effect of frequency on cohesion is considered. The initial stress state is defined by the minimum cohesion at the elastic limit when axial splitting can occur. However, as radial cracks grow, the stress state becomes oblique and moves towards the shear plane. The maximum and nonlinear cohesions are defined by the rock parameters under compressive strength when the radial crack depth reaches a critical value. The efficacy and precision of RDT are validated through the presentation of ultrasonic measurements on sandstone and rock specimens sourced from the literature. The results presented in dimensionless diagrams can be utilized in microcrack zones in the absence of lateral pressure in rock masses that have undergone disintegration due to excavation.

Failure behaviour of various rocks coated new thin spray-on liner with different curing time under uniaxial compression: Insights from AE and DIC

Thin spray-on liners (TSL) is increasingly popular in underground mine support operations. In this study, a new type of TSL material is proposed, and its macro-micro physical and mechanical properties are characterized. A systematic investigation on the deformability behaviour of six rocks (i.e., coal rock, soft red sandstone, marble, hard sandstone, granite, and limestone) covered TSL materials with different curing ages (i.e., 0-day, 3-day, 7-day, 14-day, 21-day, and 28-day) under uniaxial compression circumstance is performed using acoustic emission (AE) and digital image correlation (DIC) methods. The results show that TSL improves the peak strain of each rock sample, except hard sandstone. The impact of TSL on the peak compressive strength of coal rock, soft red sandstone, and marble is nearly negligible, while it diminishes the strength of hard sandstone, granite, and limestone. As the TSL ages, the peak strength and elastic modulus of limestone initially increase and then decrease, reaching the minimum at 14-day of age, with values 89.81 MPa and 23.13 GPa respectively. However, for other rock samples, the effect of TSL age is not significant. The AE signal produced inside the rock diminishes during the elastic-plastic stage, while the ratio of shear cracks increases upon failure of each rock specimen. The macroscopic failure modes of coal rock and limestone exhibit prominent axial splitting characteristics, whereas marble and hard sandstone undergo mixed failure processes involving shear, tension, and shear-tension. The test data highly correspond to the macroscopic fracture characteristics. The research findings can serve as guidance for TSL support in both soft and hard rock scenarios.

Experimental investigation of the compressive behavior of epoxy nanocomposites reinforced with straight and helical carbon nanotubes

AbstractThis paper is aimed at an experimental investigation of the effect of straight and helical carbon nanotubes on the compressive behavior of epoxy nanocomposites. The epoxy nanocomposites are fabricated with varying levels of SCNT and HCNT, each with two different fabrication techniques viz. high shear mixing and ultrasonication. In samples made using high shear mixing, the compressive strength is found to actually decrease, due to poor dispersion of the CNTs, resulting in voids and clumps, which can adversely affect the strength. Ultrasonic homogenization is found to better disperse the CNTs within the epoxy resin with nearly a 10‐fold decrease in the heterogeneity size. Compression tests conducted on the ultrasonically homogenized CNT‐epoxy nanocomposites indicate a modest increase in the compressive strength. The best increase of 5% is obtained with 1% SCNT. On the other hand, the HCNT samples show a higher post‐peak residual stress suggesting an improved mode II/III fracture toughness. The high shear mixed samples exhibit a bulging deformation with no clear evidence of shear localization. On the other hand, the ultrasonic homogenization (UH) samples bulge and eventually show a clear localized shear band, likely due to a smaller heterogeneity size. Some samples with relatively poor dispersion exhibit an axial splitting failure and a comparatively low compressive strength. In addition, it is demonstrated that using acetone as a solvent during dispersion can affect the curing kinetics, which results in a nanocomposite with a rubbery consistency with low stiffness and strength, but high deformability.Highlights Straight and helical CNTs impact the compressive behavior of epoxy nanocomposites High shear mixing reduces compressive strength due to poor CNT dispersion Ultrasonication improves CNT dispersion but modest rise in compressive strength HCNTs cause higher post‐peak residual stress suggesting higher toughness Using acetone affects curing, leading to rubbery, deformable nanocomposites.

Magnetic studies and Hirshfeld surface analysis of acetato bridged 2D Mn(II) coordination polymer with 4-aminobenzohydrazide ligand

A new acetato bridged 2D coordination polymer with general formula of [Mn(µ-4-ambh)(µ-OAc)(OAc)]n (1) was prepared by the reaction of Mn(OAc)2·4H2O with 4-aminobenzohydrazide (4-ambh) in equimolar ratio. The reaction was done in methanol under reflux condition and the single crystals of 1 were obtained by evaporation of the solvent. The structure of this compound was determined by X-ray analysis, and its spectroscopic properties and thermal stability were also studied. These studies indicated that in this compound, the manganese ions are connected by a mixture of acetate and 4-ambh bridges to form a 2D polymeric network at the bc crystallographic plane. The intermolecular and intramolecular interactions were investigated by Hirshfeld surface analysis. Magnetic studies revealed a dominant antiferromagnetic intermetallic coupling of J = −0.78 cm−1 magnitude. Magnetization measurements suggest a diamagnetic ground state and a small gap of 1.59 cm−1 with the first excited state; while the axial zero-field splitting parameter, D, was calculated at −0.21 cm−1.

High strain-rate behavior of polycrystalline and granular ice: An experimental and numerical study

We study the stress–strain response of two different types of ice, viz. polycrystalline ice and granular ice, between −1° – 0 °C over a strain-rate range of 100s−1 to 300s−1 employing the split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). Polycrystalline ice samples, prepared by freezing water in plastic moulds, exhibit a compressive strength ranging from 7 to 10 MPa within the considered strain-rate range. The strain at peak stress remains below 0.2%, indicating brittle behavior. The stress-strain curve of polycrystalline ice displays a prolonged tail, suggesting that the damaged ice specimen retains some strength. High-speed imaging during tests reveals the damage mechanism in ice is fragmentation and axial splitting. A user subroutine based on the Johnson–Holmquist II (JH-2) model is implemented in the commercial finite element (FE) software ABAQUS to predict ice's response at high strain-rates, which captures the softening present in the experimental stress–strain curve. Intact strength parameters and strain-rate sensitivity constants in the JH-2 model are determined from our experimental data and literature results, ensuring alignment with experimental peak stress. Fractured strength and damage evolution parameters are determined by matching post-peak responses from simulations to experiments. Temporal damage evolution from FE simulations aligns well with high-speed images from experiments, providing additional validation. Extending the study to granular ice, samples are prepared by crushing polycrystalline ice and refreezing it. The compressive strength of granular ice at a nominal strain-rate of 200±50s−1 is found to be 4±0.7 MPa. The granular ice, which is a mixture of polycrystalline ice and voids, is homogenized using rule-of-mixture to obtain the elastic properties. The FE simulation results utilizing the JH-2 parameters that we determine matches well with the experimental data, demonstrating that the JH-2 model is well suited to predict the high strain-rate behavior of both types of ice.

Comprehensive research on the correlation between microstructure and mechanical properties of polyacrylonitrile‐based precursor fibers prepared by wet‐spinning

AbstractPolyacrylonitrile (PAN)‐based precursor fibers with different mechanical properties prepared by wet‐spinning and its correlation with microstructure was researched, the primary structural factors that affecting its properties were analyzed. The tensile strength and modulus of precursor fibers increased from 4.63 cN/dtex to 9.16 cN/dtex and 99.09 cN/dtex to 168.92 cN/dtex, respectively, with the increase in crystallinity from 69.29% to 87.84% and orientation degree increased from 83.95% to 93.81%, high performance precursor fibers could be achieved by decrease in the crystallite size and interlayer spacing, these aggregation structure plays a decisive role to the mechanical properties of fibers. The integrality of aggregation structure and properties could reflected by boiling water shrinkage behavior and glass transition temperature from the side. The fracture morphology of fibers with different properties were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and three fracture characteristics were observed, PF1 and PF3 presented the radial extended fracture without microfibril pull out, radial cluster fracture with the pull out of microfibril for PF2, PF4–PF6, together with the axial splitting pattern in PF6, which was revealed by microfibrils/fibrils in longitudinal and transverse combined with solution etching. Precursor fibers with less voids, without serious skin‐core, continuous arrangement, tightly stacked, well‐developed and complete oriented microfibrils/fibrils, exhibited excellent mechanical properties. Possible fracture process was given from the perspective of aggregation structure and microfibrils/fibrils, which become dominant factors determining properties of precursor fibers. Improve the performance could be achieved by regulating surface structure and cross‐sectional shape. As one of the main structural factors that determining properties, by reducing diameter could minimize the numbers and sizes of defects.

Study on mechanical behavior of inclined cemented tailings composite backfill (CTCB) under uniaxial compression

The goaf volume in the vacancy method of hard rock mines is significantly larger than the filling capacity, forming layered and inclined planes during the large-scale filling process. This results in unclear mechanical impact mechanisms on the backfill. To investigate the effect of interface inclination angle on the mechanical behavior of backfill, a set of cemented tailings composite backfill (CTCB) samples with interface inclination angles of 15°, 30°, and 45° are prepared. Uniaxial compression tests and digital image correlation techniques are used to investigate the influence of various interface inclination angles on the strength, deformation behavior, and failure mode of the CTCB. The results show that: (1) The uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of the CTCB weakens with increasing interface inclination angle but consistently shows exponential growth with curing age (CA) regardless of the interface inclination angle. (2) The interface inclination angle controls the behavior and classification characteristics of the stress-strain curve of CTCB samples, and the increase of interface inclination angle weakens the elastic modulus. (3) The interface inclination angle significantly influences the failure mode and classification characteristics of the samples compared to CA and tailing-to-cement ratio (TCR), with shear slip failure induced by the former and axial splitting failure induced by the latter. The research provides a theoretical basis for understanding the mechanical behavior and stability control of inclined CTCB in underground mining.

Experimental study on the comparison of mechanical properties of different types of glutenite in the Ma'nan area

This study delves into the mechanical properties of various rock types found in glutenite reservoirs in the Ma'nan area of the Xinjiang oilfield. It bridges a knowledge gap by exploring the mechanical deformation and failure patterns among different glutenite types. Employing porosity-permeability tests, ultrasonic wave velocity measurements, and triaxial compression tests, this research scrutinizes physical parameters, mechanical properties, deformation, and failure modes of dolomitic sandstone, calcareous coarse sandstone, calcareous fine siltstone, and glutenite. Results highlight a porosity increase from dolomitic sandstone to glutenite, with calcareous coarse sandstone having the lowest permeability and glutenite the highest. Shear wave velocity is greater in dolomitic sandstone and calcareous coarse sandstone compared to calcareous fine siltstone, while longitudinal wave velocity is higher in dolomitic sandstone than in glutenite. Deformation behavior varies: dolomitic sandstone is primarily elastic, and calcareous sandstone and glutenite show elastoplastic characteristics. Dolomitic sandstone boasts the highest compressive strength, elastic modulus, and Poisson's ratio. Calcareous fine siltstone's compressive strength and elastic modulus fall below dolomitic sandstone, while the Poisson's ratio of calcareous coarse sandstone is three-quarters that of dolomitic sandstone. Main failure modes observed are shear failure in dolomitic sandstone, calcareous coarse sandstone, and glutenite, and axial splitting failure in calcareous fine siltstone. Microscopic analyses, including environmental scanning electron microscopy and mineral composition, shed light on the mechanical differences among the rocks. In sum, this research yields crucial insights into the mechanical traits of glutenite reservoir rocks, essential for optimizing hydraulic fracturing strategies in such reservoirs.

Strain rate effects on fragment morphology of ceramic alumina: A synchrotron-based study

Dynamic (600–1000 s−1) and quasi-static (0.001–0.01 s−1) compression experiments are conducted on a high-purity alumina ceramic using a split Hopkinson pressure bar and a material test system, respectively. The postmortem fragments of ceramic samples at different strain rates are then characterized via synchrotron micro computed tomography (CT). The three-dimensional (3D) morphologies of fragments are quantified using the gyration tensor analysis after proper segmentation of CT images. The mean fragment size decreases in a power-law form while the mean shape indices (sphericity, elongation index and flatness index) increase in a logarithmic-linear form, with increasing strain rates. In addition, the fragment size and shape distributions are all found to follow the Weibull probability distribution. To reveal the underlying mechanisms of such strain rate effects, high-speed optical and X-ray imaging are implemented to capture the fracture process of ceramic samples under quasi-static and dynamic compression. Primary and secondary wing cracks (PWCs/SWCs) control the fracture and fragmentation of the ceramic under both loading conditions. Compared to quasi-static loading, a considerably larger number of SWCs are produced under dynamic loading, and pronounced branching and bridging occur among the PWCs, which prevent the PWCs from coalescing into axial splitting cracks. Consequently, crack networks composed of high-density wing cracks break the sample into finer and more isotropic fragments, consistent with CT characterizations. Scanning electron microscopy is utilized to analyze the micro damage modes of ceramic samples. Transgranular fracture dominates the grain-scale damage and contributes to the higher dynamic fracture resistance of the alumina under dynamic loading, as a result of more homogeneous nucleation and growth of micro cracks.

Dynamic response and deformation failure microscopic characteristics of cyclic impact-cemented tailing backfill.

Frequent blasting disruptions can lead to cumulative damage within the cemented tailing backfill (CTB), increasing the risks associated with mining operations and reducing the recovery rate of the pillar. To address this issue, the Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) was utilized to conduct cyclic impact tests on CTB containing various cement tailing ratios (CTR) at different curing ages. The tests analyzed the stress-strain curve law, dynamic compressive strength (DCS), dynamic strength increase factor (DIF), absorption energy, and deformation failure characteristics of CTB under different impact velocities. Additionally, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to investigate the internal pore structural properties of CTB. The research findings indicate that (1) Average strain rate exhibits a linear relationship with the DCS and impact velocity. A lower number of impacts occurred at higher impact velocities and shorter curing age. The number of impacts was drastically reduced when the impact velocity surpassed 3m/s. As the CTR increased, the number of impacts also increased. When the number of impacts increased, the elastic modulus, dynamic impact strength, and peak strain initially increased before ultimately decreasing. (2) Under the cyclic impact load, the shear failure and axial splitting failure were the main failure modes of CTB. Increasing the CTR may be a more effective strategy for reducing the degree of CTB fragmentation compared to prolonging the curing age. When the impact velocity is lower than 3m/s, CTB can withstand multiple impacts and maintain high levels of integrity. When the DIF of the first shock is below 1.5, the CTB demonstrates a capability to withstand more than four shocks. If the DIF exceeds 2, the CTB can only endure a single shock. (3) NMR and SEM observations revealed that CTB itself contains more pores. A dense network structure will grow inside CTB as the curing age and CTR are increased, reducing the porosity. The pore size observed in the samples also support that increasing CTR may be a more effective strategy. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the kinetic response of CTB in deep mines under frequent blasting disruption and offer a valuable reference point for future research in this area.

Acoustic emission and electromagnetic radiation of rock under combined compression-shear loading

This paper reports the use of inclined sandstone specimen in the uniaxial compression tests to achieve the combined compression and shear loading (CCSL) state. A series of CCSL tests are performed on the inclined specimens with an inclination angle of 0°, 3°, 5°, and 7°. Acoustic emission (AE) and electromagnetic radiation (EMR) during the failure process are monitored. The results show that the additional shear stress component caused by the inclined shape configuration of tested specimens has significant effects on the failure mode and mechanical properties. The increase of inclination causes the failure mode to transit from the axial splitting to shear failure, and decreases the peak strength and elastic modulus of the inclined specimens. The specimen inclination lowers the damage prior to the peak stress, but stimulates the damage development after the peak stress. EMR has better correlation with stress drop than AE. The 65% of the peak strength is defined as the stress threshold of rock failure. The inclination angle lowers stress threshold of rock failure and accelerates failure initiation

Epoxy/Graphene Nanoplatelet (GNP) Nanocomposites: An Experimental Study on Tensile, Compressive, and Thermal Properties.

This paper presents an experimental investigation of nanocomposites composed of three ratios of epoxy/graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) by weight. The 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 wt.% specimens were carefully manufactured, and their mechanical and thermal conductivity properties were examined. The tensile strength and modulus of epoxy/GNPs were enhanced by the large surface area of graphene nanoplatelets, causing crack deflection that created new fracture fronts and friction because of the rough fracture surface. However, the compressive strength was gradually reduced as GNP loading percentages increased. This was probably due to severe plastic yielding on the epoxy, leading to catastrophic axial splitting caused by premature fractures. Furthermore, the highest thermal conductivity was 0.1283 W/m-K, representing a 20.92% improvement over neat epoxy (0.1061 W/m-K) when 0.3 wt.% GNPs were added to the epoxy. This was because of efficient heat propagation in the GNPs due to electron movement through percolative paths. The tensile failure mode in epoxy/GNP nanocomposites showed a few deflected and bifurcated rough cracks and brittle, dimple-like fractures. Contrarily, compressive failure mode in GNP-added epoxy showed plastic flexural buckling and brittle large-axial splitting. The epoxy/GNP nanocomposites were considered a damage-tolerant material.

Influence of chemical composition and discontinuities on energy transformation and rock mass behaviour: Insights into geological dynamic

AbstractIn this study, efforts were made to incorporate the influence of discontinuities and failure modes of rock into the classification of rock masses. The past tectonic activities may create microfractures in the rock body therefore the failure moods have been determined carefully under uniaxial compression. The results of the discontinuity analysis, conducted through kinematic study, highlighted the significant impact of wedge failure on the failure of the rock mass. In correlating the geological strength index with rock mass rating, it was observed that joint volume played a negative role, whereas compressive strength played a positive role. These correlations are particularly applicable for a certain rock type, as the compressive strength is inherently dependent on the type of rock. The analysis of failure modes under uniaxial compression reveals that the dissipation energy coefficient initially undergoes rapid increase before reaching its minimum value at the failure stage. The microstructures of the rock effect significantly the elastic and dissipation energy characteristics. Specifically, the axial splitting failure mode emerges as predominant. Given the area's past tectonic activity, these results emphasize the impact of microfractures within the rock body. Relating the failure criteria with the chemical composition of rock types reveals that rocks abundant in SiO2, such as gabbronorite, tend to exhibit brittle failure. Additionally, a dominance of Al2O3 over Fe2O3 suggests a predisposition towards brittle failure, while an increased ratio of CaO to MgO implies increased susceptibility to compression.

Relationship between Structure and Zero-Field Splitting of Octahedral Nickel(II) Complexes with a Low-Symmetric Tetradentate Ligand

Octahedral nickel(II) complexes are among the simplest systems that exhibit zero-field splitting by having two unpaired electrons. For the purpose of clarifying the relationship between structure and zero-field splitting in a low-symmetric system, distorted octahedral nickel(II) complexes were prepared with a tetradentate ligand, 2-[bis(2-methoxyethyl)aminomethyl]-4-nitrophenolate(1−) [(onp)−]. The complex [Ni(onp)(dmso)(H2O)][BPh4]·2dmso (1) (dmso = dimethyl sulfoxide) was characterized as a bulk sample by IR, elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, electronic spectra, and magnetic properties. The powder electronic spectral data were analyzed based on the angular overlap model to conclude that the spectra were typical of D4-symmetric octahedral coordination geometry with a weak axial ligand field. Simultaneous analysis of the temperature-dependent susceptibility and field-dependent magnetization data yielded the positive axial zero-field splitting parameter D (H = guβSuHu + D[Sz2 − S(S + 1)/3]), which was consistent with the weak axial ligand field. Single-crystal X-ray analysis revealed the crystal structures of [Ni(onp)(dmso)(H2O)][BPh4]·dmso (2) and [Ni(onp)(dmf)2][BPh4] (3) (dmf = N,N-dimethylformamide). The density functional theory (DFT) computations based on the crystal structures indicated the D4-symmetric octahedral coordination geometries with weak axial ligand fields. This study also showed the importance of considering g-anisotropy in magnetic analysis, even if g-anisotropy is small.

Investigation on failure mechanism and time-delay fracturing behavior of hard-rock tunnel under extremely high geostress state

To investigate the failure mechanism and time-delay fracturing behavior of hard-rock tunnel under extremely high geostress state, a series of conventional triaxial compression tests and time-delay loading–unloading mechanical tests on rocks were conducted. Combining testing results and on-site data of deep-buried tunnels, the generation mechanism and failure process of time-delay rockbursts were analyzed. The results indicate that with the increase of confining pressure, the failure mode of hard-rock exhibits a transition from axial splitting type and shear-slip type to special squeezing-expansion type. The progressive damage of rocks under extremely high stress state mainly manifests as aging lateral and volumetric expansion. Under time-delay compression tests, the long-term strength of hard-rock is lower than the threshold stress of σeb. In extremely high stress state, the fracture and dissipated energy evolution of rocks has significant time-dependent characteristics. Under extremely high stress conditions, rocks can store a large amount of releasable energy internally and gradually generate numerous cracks without the need for external work, ultimately leading to sudden unstable failure. Affected by the superposition of time-delay pressure and loading–unloading effects, the hard-rock also exhibits the same time-dependent fracturing behavior as soft-rock under high stress state, but its deformation mechanism is dominated by lateral expansion and crack volumetric dilatancy. When the stress level is far from reaching the ultimate strength required for rockmass failure, it is sufficient to cause the propagation of internal microcracks. Under the action of time-delay loads, the spalling and peeling failure of surrounding rock is significantly reduced, but the scale of unstable blocks is larger. Based on the failure process and microseismic monitoring date of rockburst in hard-rock tunnels, the entire evolution process of time-delay rockbursts can be divided into the following six stages: before excavation, rockmss excavation, aging cracking, squeezing-expansion, instability and spalling, time-delay rockburst. Time-delay rockburst has an obvious acoustic emission calm period before its occurrence, making its incubation process has strong suddenness and randomness.

Effect of strain rate on the in-plane orthotropic constitutive response and failure behaviour of a unidirectional non-crimp fabric composite

A comprehensive experimental campaign was performed to characterize the strain rate-dependent orthotropic constitutive response and failure behavior of a unidirectional non-crimp fabric (UD-NCF) carbon fiber/snap-cure epoxy composite. Shear and transverse compression strengths increased by 60% and 50%, respectively, over the range of strain rates considered, which is consistent with previously reported trends for unidirectional tape composites (UDTCs). The transverse tension strength increased by 18% with increasing strain rate, which is different from UDTCs. Owing to the distinct microstructure of UD-NCF composites, local damage mechanisms such as pullout of transverse supporting glass fibers and stitching were observed and are deemed to contribute to the rate dependency of transverse tension strength. The longitudinal compression strength increased by 35% with increasing strain rate. Observation of failed specimens revealed widespread inter-tow axial splitting and localized tow kinking, distinct from UDTCs. This important finding will aid in the development of failure criteria for UD-NCF composites.