Structural Control Research Articles

Organic probes for three‐photon fluorescence imaging in NIR‐II window: Design, applications, and perspectives

AbstractThree‐photon fluorescence (3PF) imaging is an emerging technology for imaging deep‐tissue submicroscopic structures by nonlinearly redshifting the excitation wavelength to the second near‐infrared (NIR‐II) window; thus, this approach has great advantages, including deep penetration depth, good spatial resolution, low background, and a high signal‐to‐noise ratio. 3PF imaging has been demonstrated to be a powerful tool for noninvasively visualizing all kinds of deep tissues in recent years. Benefiting from excellent biosecurity and structural controllability, the development of organic 3PF probes is highly important for advancing 3PF imaging in vivo. However, there is no summary of the generalizability of the design and recent progress in organic 3PF probes. Herein, this review introduces the fundamental principle of 3PF imaging and highlights the advantages of 3PF bioimaging. The molecular design of these organic 3PF probes is also summarized based on relative optical indices. Furthermore, different 3PF imaging application scenarios are listed in detail. In the end, the main challenges, significance of probe exploitation, and prospective orientation of organic probes for precise 3PF imaging are proposed and discussed for promoting future applications and clinical translation.

Planar Chiral Charge‐Transfer Cyclophanes: Convenient Synthesis, Circularly Polarized Light‐Responsive Photothermal Conversion and Supramolecular Chiral Assembly

We report herein a series of macrocycles in which the densely π‐stacked charge‐transfer (CT) donor/acceptor with naphthalenediimides (NDIs) or perylene diimide (PDI) as acceptor moiety pairing various donor moieties are locked by covalent bond. The X‐ray crystallography of C8BDT‐NDI reveals a short intramolecular π‐stacking distance around 3.4 Å and the existence of intermolecular donor/acceptor π‐stacking (3.7 Å). The intramolecular CT is highly dependent on the electron‐donating ability of donor moiety and replacing carbazole (C8KZ) with benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b']dithiophene (C8BDT) or dihydroindolo[3,2‐b]indole (C8DN) redshift CT absorption into NIR region. Notably, both C8BDT‐NDI and C8DN‐NDI demonstrate excellent photothermal performance, which is a result of the active non‐radiative pathways. Interestingly, the different molecular symmetry between donor and acceptor moiety endows C8BDT‐NDI and C8DN‐NDI with intrinsic planar chirality. The enantiomeric C8BDT‐NDI shows chiral selectivity for incident light, i.e., when irradiated by left‐circularly polarized light, (R)‐C8BDT‐NDI is more sensitive and a higher maximum stable temperature is achieved. While, enantiomeric C8DN‐NDI pack with different orientations forming M‐ and P‐handedness helix, respectively, demonstrating molecular planar chirality being transferred and amplified through molecular assembly. These results provide insight into the intramolecular charge transfer in enforced D/A π‐stacks in which CT interactions and planar chirality would be engineered through structural control.

Main cable structure analysis and construction control of short span suspension bridge within three-tower

The Feng Chu suspension bridge in Xiangyang holds the distinction of having one of the shortest span lengths among global suspension bridges, measuring less than half the length of conventional designs. This paper focuses on the engineering background of the bridge and delves into the analysis of the main cable structure and construction control methods for short-span suspension bridges with three towers. The study examines the impact of elastic modulus deviation in the main cable and the dead-load error of the stiffening beam on key parameters such as the unstressed length of the main cable, pre-deflection of the cable saddle, and mid-span elevation of the empty cable. Additionally, the effects of temperature, span, and cable length on the sag of the empty cable during the erection process are analyzed. Findings reveal that the elastic modulus and dead-load error significantly influence the unstressed length of the main cable, pre-deflection of the saddle, and the shape of the empty cable. This study establishes a relationship between changes in cable length and mid-span sag, providing valuable theoretical guidance for aligning and adjusting the main cable strands. Furthermore, synchronized alignment adjustments for the two mid-span sections are proposed to prevent main cable strand sliding, which may occur due to significant differences in sag between the sections.

Design of Self–Checking Digital Devices with Boolean Signals Correction Using Weight-Based Bose–Lin Codes

This paper proposes a method for designing self-checking digital devices with Boolean signals correction and weight-based Bose–Lin codes. Unlike previous studies, the method involves Boolean signals correction (BSC) in the concurrent error-detection (CED) circuit for those functions describing the outputs of source devices that participate in the formation of data symbols of weight-based Bose–Lin codes. In such codes, as in the absolute majority of uniform separable codes, several data vectors correspond to the same check vector; therefore, it is possible to choose a method for determining BSC functions. We describe an algorithm for determining their values for each input combination, considering the testability of the checker and transformation elements in the CED circuit. The method involves the so-called “base” structure for monitoring multi-output devices by output groups. With this method, the designer of a self-checking device has high variability in choosing the design method and can regulate important indicators (structure redundancy, controllability, energy consumption, and others). Experiments with combinational benchmarks from MCNC Benchmarks were carried out. According to the experimental data, the method has high efficiency in terms of structure redundancy compared to the duplication method widespread in practice. The method can be effective when designing real devices with fault detection used in all areas of technology, including critical application systems in industry and transport.

A study on active structural acoustic control using force radiation modes

Active Structural Acoustic Control (ASAC) is an effective method for sound radiation control. To solve the coupling effect or inconvenience problems existed in the application of conventional methods, by utilizing the characteristic of intuitive representation of radiated sound power through force radiation modes, the control forces are designed to make the total excitation force vector orthogonal to each dominant force radiation mode. Therefore, an ASAC method by utilizing force radiation modes is proposed, and detailed theoretical research and numerical calculation analysis are carried out. The research results indicate that the control force requirement can be intuitively obtained through the force radiation modes, and decoupled control of radiated sound power corresponding to each force radiation mode is achieved by the proposed method. Thus, the control strategy and system construction can be greatly simplified, and structural acoustic radiation can be effectively controlled.

Optimizing acoustic black hole structures for vibration control in beams: a comprehensive analysis

Acoustic black holes (ABH) have caught the attention of researchers because of their potential to absorb sound and control vibrations. This study presents an analytical framework that determines reflection coefficients in ABH structures. It focuses on implementing an acoustic black hole with a power-law tapered profile on beams. Moreover, this research investigates how various geometric shapes affect Damping Loss Factor (DLF) coefficients. This helps identify optimal approaches to optimize ABH structures based on specific requirements. The finite element method and a topology optimization solver were used to optimize various parameters systematically. The aim is to reduce weight and response, thereby improving the efficiency of ABH designs, especially in low-frequency insulation applications. The results demonstrate that ABH exhibits excellent performance in suppressing vibrations.

High pressure-derived nonsymmetrical [Cu2O]2+ core for room-temperature methane hydroxylation.

Nonsymmetrical oxygen-bridged binuclear copper centers have been proposed and modeled as intermediates and transition states in several C─H oxidation pathways, leading to the postulation that structural dissymmetry enhances the reactivity of the bridging oxygen. However, experimentally characterizing the structure and reactivity of these transient species is remarkably challenging. Here, we report the high-pressure synthesis of a metastable nonsymmetrical dicopper-μ-oxo compound with exceptional reactivity toward the mono-oxygenation of aliphatic C─H bonds. The nonequivalent coordination environment of copper stabilizes localized mixed valency and greatly enhances the hydrogen atom abstraction activity of the bridging oxygen, enabling room-temperature hydroxylation of methane under pressure. These findings highlight the role of dissymmetry in the reactivity of binuclear copper centers and demonstrate precise control of molecular structures by mechanical means.

Validation of a three-dimensional finite element constitutive modeling approach for a thermoplastic polyurethane calibrated with uniaxial tests

This paper presents the three-dimensional finite element constitutive modeling validation for a Thermoplastic Poly-Urethane (TPU) material. The material parameters are those given in a previous study obtained by calibrating the constitutive model with uniaxial material-level test results (1-D tensile and compression tests). Confined compression tests were performed to estimate the bulk modulus for more accurate material characterization. The parameters were validated by comparing the results of experimental tests on TPU components with those obtained by its equivalent finite element simulations. The TPU component tests comprised cyclic compression tests of (i) a TPU cylinder, (ii) a solid 100 mm diameter TPU ball, and (iii) a 100 mm diameter TPU ball with an 80 mm steel core. In all tests, the constitutive model parameters showed an excellent performance in representing the mechanical behavior of the material observed in the tests, including the nonlinear stiffness and hysteresis. Finally, a brief case study is presented to illustrate the applicability of the validated constitutive model parameters in modeling a novel TPU damper for structural control before its manufacturing and experimental testing. The validated constitutive modeling approach and available material parameters will allow the performance of reliable and early-stage finite element simulations to prototype the mechanical behavior of TPU components of different shapes and boundary conditions and thus gain relevant insight into the component level response before manufacturing and testing.

Integration of 2D and 3D electrical resistivity tomography and 2D gravity modeling to evaluate groundwater investigations in the Burka Uke catchment area, western Ethiopia

The increasing demand for water resources due to the expanding infrastructure and growing population of Uke town, West Ethiopia, necessitates a comprehensive understanding of groundwater potential within the Burka Uke catchment. The aims and objectives of this study are to identify a map of the aquifer by characterizing the subsurface earth, basement rock depth, resistivity and density of geological layers, their thicknesses, and structural features. The investigation integrates electrical resistivity tomography and gravity modeling to delineate potential groundwater zones and their structural controls. Electrical resistivity tomography profiles (1, 4, and 6) revealed low resistivity zones indicative of potential aquifers. The significant resistivity contrast (378 to 1412 Ω.m) suggests a high fracture density, potentially enhancing groundwater storage. The Bouguer gravity anomaly map, separated into regional and residual components, displayed values ranging from 51.79 to 41.59 mGal, highlighting density variations in the subsurface. As a result, analysis of the residual gravity anomaly map identifies north–south striking fault elements, indicating their influence on groundwater flow.The combined 2D and 3D ERT data also revealed a 2D gravity model of the aquifer from which the concentration extended throughout the study area. Data validation with previously drilled wells has confirmed the effectiveness of the geophysical methods used in identifying potential groundwater zones. This study provided critical information for the sustainable management of existing groundwater and demonstrated the effectiveness of integrating geophysical techniques to delineate and characterize aquifers in water-stressed areas.

Type-3 fuzzy neural networks for dynamic system control

This paper presents a Type-3 Fuzzy Neural Network (T3FNN) for dynamic system control. The structure of the T3FNN controller, which is based on the compositional rule of inference of interval type-3 fuzzy systems, is proposed. TSK-type fuzzy rules, employing three-dimensional membership functions (MFs) in the antecedent part and linear functions with coefficients represented as interval sets in the consequent part, are utilized to design T3FNN. Gaussian functions with uncertain centers are employed to describe the type-3 membership functions. By employing three-dimensional MFs, type-3 fuzzy logic rules can accurately model a high degree of uncertainty and effectively handle uncertain information. The design of the T3FNN was accomplished by integrating the type-3 fuzzy logic system (T3FLS) with neural networks. The learning of the T3FNN was conducted using the genetic algorithms and gradient descent algorithm. As a result, the type-3 rule base of the system was effectively developed. The learning algorithms are presented and the proposed T3FNN structure is employed for the development of dynamic system control. The simulations of the T3FNN system for the control of the nonlinear and time-varying dynamic systems were carried out. The results obtained from the simulations indicate the suitability of using the T3FNN in controlling dynamic systems.

Observer-based decoupling control of air flow and pressure in fuel cell systems

This paper investigates the control of the air supply system for marine proton exchange membrane fuel cells. A mathematical model of the air supply system is established, and a sliding mode diagonal decoupling controller based on a state observer is proposed. The control effectiveness is validated through experiments and simulations. A decoupling control strategy for the air supply system of marine fuel cells is presented. First, the load input current of the fuel cell system is selected according to the load characteristics of the target vessel, ensuring that the load current meets the power level of the fuel cell system model. Second, the impact of the cathode pressure on the fuel cell system is analyzed. An observer-based measurement method is proposed to address the measurement issue of cathode pressure. On this basis, a decoupling control strategy combining a diagonal decoupling matrix and sliding mode variable structure control theory is proposed. Finally, the effectiveness of the decoupling controller is validated through Matlab/Simulink. The results show the proposed decoupling controller exhibits superior performance to existing controllers with environmental disturbances, continuous time-varying loads, and step loads. The maximum relative error is 2.95%, the average relative error is 0.022%, and the longest adjustment time is 0.5 s. These results indicate that the control performance of the proposed decoupling controller is superior to that of diagonal PI controllers and sliding mode controllers, thereby validating the superiority of the sliding mode decoupling controller. This article provides a useful method for the development and application of control technology for the air supply system of marine fuel cells.

Enhanced hydrogen generation from Glycerol: The Role of morphology and structural control in TiO2

In this work, we present the use of hydrothermal strategies to produce hierarchical TiO2 structures (nanoribbons/spherulites) with a rutile single crystalline phase. Using the hydrothermal synthesis, controlling the concentration of Cl- and Sn4+, a high-efficiency system with a rutile crystalline phase was obtained. Using glycerol as a hole-scavenger, promoting the photo(electro)reforming, the prepared photoanodes obtained photocurrent densities of 1.54 mA cm−2 (at 1.23 V vs. RHE) with 0.81 % of applied bias photon-to-current efficiency (ABPE) and photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation of 2.2 mL H2 cm-2h−1, under 1 Sun (AM 1.5G filter, 100 mW cm−2) and longtime stability.

Formation of hydrophobic membranes by surface spray assisted NIPS: Effects of solvent/non-solvent and spraying conditions

Membrane distillation has long been a potential desalination technology. Recently, spray-assisted non-solvent induced phase inversion (SANIPS) was proposed as a facile and effective method to prepare microporous hydrophobic membranes for membrane distillation. However, the membrane formation process is not fully disclosed. In this paper, SANIPS is employed to fabricate hydrophobic PVDF membranes. The influencing factors on membrane structure and performance are investigated. Membrane structure is greatly affected by the choice of solvent and non-solvent spray. The interactions between different non-solvent sprays (water and ethanol) and solvents (TEP, NMP and DMF) and the effects of operating conditions on membrane formation are explored. Thermodynamic and kinetic analyses of the membrane formation process suggest that the membrane formation process is dominated by the kinetic factors with water being the spray while thermodynamic factors play the major role with ethanol being the spray. A hydrophobic membrane with water contact angle of 135.93 ± 4.38° and LEP of 2.5 ± 0.4 bar was successfully prepared by using ethanol as the non-solvent spray, which demonstrates a stable desalination performance (initial flux of 19.88 ± 1.39 kg·m−2·h−1 and salt rejection higher than 99.97 %) in vacuum membrane distillation. This study may provide pertinent insights into the rational control of membrane structure and performance of hydrophobic PVDF membranes.

Using a multiphysics coupling-oriented flood modelling approach to assess urban flooding under various regulation scenarios combined with rainstorms and tidal effects

Climate change and rapid urbanisation have intensified urban flooding. Flood models constructed using hydrological and hydrodynamic approaches are crucial tools for simulating and regulating urban flooding processes. Urban flooding arises from the interplay of various physical processes in urban water systems, influenced by heterogeneous urban surfaces, underground structures, and intricate river networks influencing surface flow, which must be considered in flood models. For coastal cities with intricate drainage systems, the disasters of combined rainstorms and tidal flooding can be mitigated through river scheduling and real-time control of hydraulic structures. However, a lack of research on the effectiveness of flood regulations limits the application of flood models. This study proposes a flood modelling approach oriented towards the coupling of multiphysics processes, achieving a comprehensive simulation and regulation of the flood process. A surface flood control model was created by coupling hydrological and hydrodynamic processes using the Storm Water Management Model and the orthogonal storage cell model, enabled by data exchange synchronisation technology. Subsequently, the model’s accuracy was validated using observed rainstorm events, identifying drainage system overflows and land surface inundation. Finally, the developed model was applied to analyse the enhancing effect of tides on rainstorm-induced flooding and the impact of various control scenarios. This study offers theoretical direction for large-scale urban flood modelling and model development, offering significant references for revisiting urban planning and formulating flood prevention strategies under the joint impact of rainstorms and tides.

Effect of alloying elements on coexisting phases and microstructure of M174 heat-resistant aluminum alloy

Abstract This article mainly focuses on high-power density diesel engine piston alloys, with the main component system being M174 heat-resistant aluminum alloy. On this basis, the main heat-resistant alloying elements Cu, Ni, and Fe were optimized and designed. This article is based on Thermo-Calc thermodynamic software, and comprehensively calculates and analyzes the multi-component alloy equilibrium phase diagram and Scheil non-equilibrium solidification of Al-(4-6)Cu-(1.5-3)Ni-(0.7-1.1Fe)-12.5Si-0.85Mg (mt.%) heat-resistant aluminum alloy system. Through the orthogonal experimental method of alloy composition, the phase distribution and microstructure composition of different alloy compositions are obtained. Research has found that Fe-rich phases such as Al5FeSi and Al9FeNi, as well as Ni-rich phases such as A13CuNi, A17Cu4Ni, and Al3Ni, are the main heat-resistant phases of the alloy in the temperature range of 350°C-420°C, providing important support for the high-temperature mechanical properties and creep damage resistance of piston aluminum alloy. At the same time, this article further studies the solidification history and microstructure precipitation of alloys. Fe-rich heat-resistant phases such as Al5FeSi and Al9FeNi have a higher solidification sequence. As primary and secondary phases, it is easy to generate coarse solidified structures. The organizational content is sensitive to the alloy composition. A13CuNi and A17Cu4Ni mainly precipitate in a multi-component eutectic structure, with layered and petal-shaped morphologies. The research results of this article have important theoretical significance and application value for the optimization design of high-power density piston aluminum alloy composition and the coordinated control of multi-phase structure.

Analyses and control of interphase structures and adhesion properties of epoxy resin/epoxy resin for development of CFRP adhesion systems

In the adhesion of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP), the boundary regions were composed of only epoxy resins of CFRP matrix and adhesives, and their similar epoxy structures pose significant difficulty in studying the adhesion mechanism. Herein, we focused on structure and properties of laminates of epoxy resin substrates and adhesives with different curing conditions of substrates. We prepared laminates using deuterated epoxy adhesives or fluorinated epoxy adhesives, and their boundary regions were identified through confocal Raman scattering measurements. The regions were distributed into “penetration” and “interphase”. In particular, the penetration phase is a key of the adhesion properties. The penetration behaviors strongly depended on the crosslinking densities of the adherends, suggesting that the penetration regions would be directly impacted by the curing conditions of the substrates and molecular size of epoxy adhesive precursors. Our findings provide insights into novel designs of the reliable adhesion-based manufacturing systems of CFRP.

Structural Regulation of Au-Pt Bimetallic Aerogels for Catalyzing the Glucose Cascade Reaction.

Bimetallic nanostructures are promising candidates for the development of enzyme-mimics, yet the deciphering of the structural impact on their catalytic properties poses significant challenges. By leveraging the structural versatility of nanocrystal aerogels, this study reports a precise control of Au-Pt bimetallic structures in three representative structural configurations, including segregated, alloy, and core-shell structures. Benefiting from a synergistic effect, these bimetallic aerogels demonstrate improved peroxidase- and glucose oxidase-like catalytic performances compared to their monometallic counterparts, unleashing tremendous potential in catalyzing the glucose cascade reaction. Notably, the segregated Au-Pt aerogel shows optimal catalytic activity, which is 2.80 and 3.35 times higher than that of the alloy and core-shell variants, respectively. This enhanced activity is attributed to the high-density Au-Pt interface boundaries within the segregated structure, which foster greater substrate affinity and superior catalytic efficiency. This work not only sheds light on the structure-property relationship of bimetallic catalysts but also broadens the application scope of aerogels in biosensing and biological detections.

Hierarchical Self-Assembly of Water-Soluble Fullerene Derivatives into Supramolecular Hydrogels.

Controlling the self-assembly of nanoparticle building blocks into macroscale soft matter structures is an open question and of fundamental importance to fields as diverse as nanomedicine and next-generation energy storage. Within the vast library of nanoparticles, the fullerenes-a family of quasi-spherical carbon allotropes-are not explored beyond the most common, C60. Herein, a facile one-pot method is demonstrated for functionalizing fullerenes of different sizes (C60, C70, C84, and C90-92), yielding derivatives that self-assemble in aqueous solution into supramolecular hydrogels with distinct hierarchical structures. It is shown that the mechanical properties of these resultant structures vary drastically depending on the starting material. This work opens new avenues in the search for control of macroscale soft matter structures through tuning of nanoscale building blocks.

A time-varying non-probabilistic reliability analysis method using surrogate model for the reinforcement effectiveness of damaged concrete gravity dam

Evaluation of the effectiveness of reinforcement measures for the diseased concrete gravity dam is a critical issue in the field of hydraulic structural health control. The traditional probabilistic reliability analysis method is constrained by factors such as the randomness of the uncertain parameters, the high nonlinearity of the performance function, etc., when it is applied to the evaluation of the effectiveness evolution of reinforcement measures for the diseased concrete gravity dam. Therefore, a time-varying non-probabilistic reliability (NR) analysis method is proposed in the research. To characterize the uncertainty of the parameters, we adopt the form of interval numbers to present parameters and construct the interval parameter-based reliability analysis framework. Specifically, combining interval mathematics and non-probabilistic reliability theory, the NR calculation model for the gravity dam is proposed. In addition, considering of the aging of the structure, the time-varying NR (TV-NR) calculation model utilized to evaluate the long-term reinforcement effectiveness is established. To tackle the issue of expensive computation existed in the TV-NR model, response surface method (RSM) is coupled in the TV-NR calculation model to replace the original high nonlinearity performance function. Ultimately, the proposed method is verified in engineering examples that it can detect the most possible initial locations and failure processes of the gravity dam varying with time and can efficiently and accurately evaluate the reinforcement effectiveness of the gravity dams. The results indicate that the use of reinforcement measures can provide an improvement for the safety service of gravity dams.

Dual responsive polymersomes as versatile, intelligent labeling system in biosensing

The ability to manipulate artificial nanosystems is still one of the current challenges in devel-oping multifunctional nanomaterials. Those based on the photochromic effect are particularly interesting because of structural and functional control by the transient activation/inactivation with high spatiotemporal resolution. To mimic the photocontrol of natural nanosystems, we developed the first photochromic polymersomes from the novel poly(ethylene-alt-maleic an-hydride)-random-aminoazobenzene copolymer (PEMA-r-AAB) and its derivatives. Ultraviolet (UV)-triggered azobenzene (AZO) moieties’ medium-dependent isomerization from non-polar trans- to polar cis-AZO controls polymersome’s bilayer selective permeability. As a result, small hydrophilic molecules loaded inside polymersomes can be released according to the release profiles, while those outside the polymersome bilayer can eventually penetrate it. Remarkably, as a new look, cargo photorelease from the nanopolymersomes was studied in real-time by cyclic voltammetry (CV). Finally, as a proof-of-concept, horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-loaded polymersomes were assembled as an intelligent labeling system of an optical biosensor of interleukin-6 (IL-6). This synthesis route can be exploited with other photo-switching AZO derivatives, paving the way toward new AZO compound-based nanocarrier systems.