Resilience enhancement for distribution networks: Co-deployment of mobile energy storage systems and EV charging stations in strong wind events

Machine learning-assisted determination of critical solids loading in PBT-alumina composites with spherical and non-spherical powder morphologies

The effect of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) concentration in the electrolyte during micro-arc oxidation (MAO) of plastically deformed titanium of commercial purity (cp-Ti) on microstructure, adhesion and tribological performance of produced coatings was investigated within the present work. Although the effect of the Ag-NPs on the antibacterial properties and biocompatibility of MAO coatings has been barely investigated, the tribological behaviors such as sliding and fretting wear have been studied in detail. The application of phosphate-based electrolyte allowed to effectively incorporate the Ag-NPs into the MAO coating, particularly on their upper surface, without agglomeration, and in the areas close to the pores. Such a distribution of the Ag-NPs influences the scratch and wear resistance, delaying the cracking of the coating (by increasing L C1 critical load) and acting as a solid lubricant decreasing the coefficient of friction, respectively. A reduction in sliding wear rate was observed for the MAO coatings with added Ag-NPs, with a lowest value recorded for the material with 1 g/l of Ag-NPs suspended in the electrolyte (1.34·10 -6 mm 3 /N·m) as compared with the reference material without NPs (2.57·10 -6 mm 3 /N·m). A slight increase in wear rate was stated for 2 g/l (1.86·10 -6 mm 3 /N·m). The tribological response of the MAO coating with conductive Ag-NPs is governed by two competing phenomena: increasing amount of solid state lubricant (Ag-NPs) but increasingly more porous coating at the same time (due to more intense micro-arcing in the electrolyte of higher conductivity) deteriorating the wear resistance. • MAO coatings with Ag-NPs were deposited on cp-Ti substrates • Ag embed into MAO coating in original form on its upper surface and near porosity • Addition of Ag-NPs, acting as solid lubricants, reduced the friction coefficient • Wear rate reaches a minimum for the MAO coating with 1 g/l of Ag-NPs • Soft Ag-NPs on the upper surface helped to delay crack formation and propagation

An innovative UBRTME–ANN hybrid approach for failure characteristic prediction of circular tunnels in heterogeneous undrained clay

A damage-tolerant approach for fatigue in cold-formed profiles combining numerical modelling and machine learning

Streamlined custom manufacturing for optimized 3D printed prostheses through 3D pressure mapping.

Multi-layer optimization for microgrid control under adaptive droop for frequency and voltage regulation

N-1 and N-2 contingency analysis of the Sfax electrical zone of the Tunisian high voltage transmission network

Abstract The choice of metal dopant strongly influences the structural and tribomechanical performance of diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings. In this study, two graded Ti-based architectures—Ti-TiC-TiZrC-a:C and Ti-TiC-TiZrC-TiZrCN-a:C—were deposited on AISI M2 tool steel by closed-field unbalanced magnetron sputtering with pulsed-dc biasing to clarify the effects of Zr and nitrogen incorporation. SEM observations revealed dense-graded morphologies with thicknesses of approximately 2 μm and 3 μm, respectively. XRD confirmed the formation of TiC and TiZrC phases in both coatings, with additional TiZrCN reflections in the nitrogen-containing system. Both coatings significantly increased hardness relative to the substrate, reaching 1280 ± 25 and 1300 ± 28 HK0.01, respectively; however, statistical analysis ( p ≈ 0.27) indicated no significant difference between them. Tribological testing showed that the Ti-TiC-TiZrC-a:C coating exhibited superior balance, with lower friction (0.090), a lower wear rate ((1.21 ± 0.03) × 10 −5 mm 3 /N·m), and a higher critical load (47 N). Nitrogen incorporation altered the phase constitution and stress state but did not enhance overall tribological performance. The results show that interlayer architecture and stress control are more decisive than compositional complexity in optimizing graded Ti-based DLC coatings.

Impact of readily biodegradable chemical oxygen demand on partial nitritation granules under high-salinity continuous-flow conditions.

Although cranioplasty is a long-established surgical procedure used to repair or reshape skull defects, it is not devoid of side effects arising from the formation of a scar tissue between dura, implant, and subcutaneous tissue. To minimize these complications, we developed a bioactive coating comprising poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) electrospun fibers loaded with a polyanhydride based on betulin disuccinate and a tricarboxylic derivative of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-DBB), suitable for the modification of the surface of titanium alloys. Although cell viability assays proved biocompatibility of fibers, PVA/PEG-DBB was found to decrease the adhesion of neuroblastoma cells by 84% and the adhesion of fibroblast cells by 11%, while increasing the confluency of osteosarcoma cells by 40%. To assess the potential of the PVA/PEG-DBB fibrous coating, it was deposited onto the surface of Ti-6Al-4V alloy discs via electrospinning. In vitro bioactivity of samples was assessed via immersion in a simulated body fluid for 21days, revealing facilitated formation of hydroxyapatite layer (Ca/P ratio of 1.74) in the presence of PVA/PEG-DBB (54.0±6.5% surface coverage, 11.7±1.3μm thickness), as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Adhesion strength of the coating to the substrate (between 1.7 and 2.7N) was quantified using scratch testing under progressive loading, with critical load values determined to evaluate interfacial bonding integrity. By integrating biocompatibility, modulated adhesiveness, and mechanical resilience, PVA/PEG-DBB coating presents a promising approach for enhancing cranioplasty outcomes and minimizing adhesion-related complications.

Titanium and its alloys are extensively employed in biomedical implant applications owing to their excellent biocompatibility and corrosion resistance; however, their inherently poor tribological performance severely limits long-term reliability under load-bearing conditions. In this work, a highly adherent Quench-produced Diamond (Q-Dia) coating was deposited on commercially pure titanium using a hybrid coaxial arc plasma deposition (CAPD) technique combined with in situ Ar + plasma etching to enhance interfacial bonding. The resulting coating exhibits a dense nanocomposite architecture comprising nanodiamond crystallites embedded within an amorphous carbon matrix, which promotes strong coating–substrate adhesion, as evidenced by a high critical load (Lc₂) of 20.13 N determined from scratch testing. Dry sliding tribological tests against an Al₂O₃ counter-body revealed a substantial reduction in friction and wear compared with uncoated titanium. While bare titanium showed high and unstable coefficients of friction (0.497–0.567) accompanied by severe wear damage, the Q-Dia-coated surface achieved a low and stable steady-state friction coefficient of approximately 0.127 with no wear observed. Furthermore, electrochemical measurements conducted in simulated body fluid demonstrated a positively shifted corrosion potential for the Q-Dia coating (0.025 V ) relative to bare titanium (−0.324 V), indicating improved electrochemical stability. These findings demonstrate that Q-Dia coatings effectively mitigate the tribological limitations of titanium without compromising corrosion resistance, highlighting their strong potential for load-bearing biomedical implant applications operating under dry or boundary-lubricated conditions. • Hybrid CAPD enables room-temperature deposition of highly adherent (~3 μm) Q-Dia coatings on titanium. • Scratch testing reveals strong coating–substrate adhesion, with a high critical load of Lc₂ = 20.13 N. • Q-Dia coatings markedly enhance the tribological performance of pure titanium under dry sliding against Al₂O₃. • Extremely low steady-state friction coefficients down to 0.127 are achieved. • Superior wear resistance arises from a stable, carbon-rich tribo-layer formed via localized sp 3 -to-sp 2 rehybridization.

This study evaluates the technical feasibility and reliability limits of a standalone rooftop solar power plant system for the Renewable Energy Laboratory at Universitas Malikussaleh, North Aceh. Utilizing the pvlib Python library and NASA POWER meteorological data from 2022 to 2024, a high-resolution time series simulation was conducted to model energy yield, battery dynamics, and Loss of Power Supply Probability (LPSP). The results reveal a significant seasonal reliability gap, while the system achieves optimal performance in dry months with LPSP 1%, it suffers critical power failures during the monsoon season, with LPSP peaking at 31.80% in December due to consecutive low irradiance days. Furthermore, the energy balance analysis highlights a system inefficiency where substantial energy curtailment occurs during high-irradiance periods despite severe deficits in wet months. Consequently, a pure off-grid configuration is deemed technically unfeasible for critical laboratory loads without unrealistic oversizing. The study concludes that transitioning to a PV-Hybrid topology with backup generation is essential to ensure operational continuity while complying with current non-export regulatory constraints.

Pleated filters are widely employed in industrial and domestic applications owing to their high dust-holding capacity and compact structure. However, the formation of dust dendrites can lead to blockage of the pleat channels, thereby causing a rapid increase in pressure drop. This study systematically investigates the filtration performance of pleated filters with different pleat ratios and the factors influencing channel blockage through experimental research and theoretical analysis. The results demonstrate that when the dust deposition is substantial, the formation of a large number of dust dendrites can result in interpleat channel blockage and a sudden increase in filter core pressure drop. The critical areal dust loading for channel blockage is identified, and it is revealed that the formation of dust dendrites is influenced by the pleat ratio of the filter, dust particle size, and filtration face velocity. Specifically, higher pleat ratios, smaller dust particle sizes, and filtration face velocities are found to be more conducive to the formation of dust dendrites. Further mechanistic analysis illustrates that dust dendrite formation arises from the dynamic interplay between the combined interparticle forces (van der Waals forces, electrostatic forces, and liquid bridge bonding forces) and the aerodynamic force imposed by the airflow. A strong aerodynamic force causes dendrite fragmentation, while a weak aerodynamic force enables sustained dendrite growth. These results provide valuable technical support for the design and optimization of pleated filter elements in practical engineering.

Abstract Subsurface penetration by compliant actuators is limited by the competing requirements of force generation and elastic stability. This work investigates the mechanics of granular penetration using thermally actuated liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) structures, focusing on buckling-limited force output and structural design. Reversible shape programming enabled by liquid crystal alignment and Poisson-effect-induced transverse strain produces controlled axial extension and torsional deformation under thermal actuation. Experiments and numerical simulations show that single-pillar LCE actuators are limited by global buckling. To overcome this limitation, multi-pillar architectures are introduced to increase effective bending stiffness while preserving soft actuation. Specifically, a tri-pillar configuration increases the buckling-limited force capacity by more than an order of magnitude compared to a single pillar. Finite element simulations and buckling analyses quantify the dependence of critical load on elastic modulus, pillar geometry, and pillar number, identifying the governing instability modes under laterally constrained conditions. Sequential penetration cycles are enabled through the integration of shape memory polymer supports that mechanically reset actuator geometry, achieving cumulative penetration depths of up to 24 mm. Measurements of granular resistance further demonstrate that imposed tip rotation substantially reduces external loading and delays buckling. Integration of a flexible temperature sensor into the actuator tip shows the feasibility of in situ subsurface measurement during penetration. These results provide mechanics-based design guidelines for compliant actuators operating under compressive loading in granular environments, including the ocean floor.

Extreme weather events have raised the frequency of power outages, posing critical challenges to the sustainability and resilience of modern power systems. In such cases, distributed energy resources (DERs) can effectively support the re-establishment of sustainable power supply for critical loads within the distribution network and reduce power outage losses. In this paper, a sustainable fault recovery framework based on an intentional islanding scheme is proposed to partition the distribution system in order to optimize the priority restoration of critical loads, while taking the operational constraints of the system into consideration. In addition, a blockchain-based P2P insurance mechanism is applied to mitigate the outage losses of the network’s users with a higher degree of security and transparency. By linking technical restoration decisions with financial risk-sharing mechanisms, the proposed framework improves economic sustainability and social equity among network users. For this purpose, a multi-layer, multi-objective optimization algorithm is proposed for optimal partitioning of the distribution network, management of DERs, and demand side management of flexible loads in order to minimize the outage losses and the insurance premium, while maintaining satisfactory performance of the network. To validate the feasibility of the proposed algorithm, the 45-node distribution network of Alexandria, Egypt is used. The results show that a reduction in peak load, outage losses, and operational costs are achieved, with an overall saving of 17.34%, in addition to a premium reduction of 41.3%. These results highlight the effectiveness of the proposed framework in enhancing the environmental, economic, and operational sustainability of distribution systems under outage conditions.

Cr–N coatings are promising for severe-service applications owing to their high corrosion and wear resistance, yet their performance is governed by phase constitution and multilayer architecture. In this study, a monolithic Cr coating and three Cr-based multilayer coatings, Cr/Cr(N), Cr/Cr2N, and Cr/CrN, were synthesized by a hybrid DCMS/HiPIMS process and systematically compared with respect to structure, mechanical properties, and oxidation behavior at 900 °C. XRD and TEM showed that Cr/Cr(N) was primarily characterized by a bcc Cr-type structure, while the N-containing layers exhibited slightly expanded lattice spacings relative to pure Cr; no Cr2N precipitates were detected within the resolution of the analyses. Among the multilayers, Cr/Cr(N) provided the most favorable combination of hardness, adhesion, and indentation damage tolerance, reaching 885 HV and a critical scratch load of 80 N while maintaining damage tolerance comparable to monolithic Cr. By contrast, Cr/Cr2N and Cr/CrN displayed more pronounced brittle damage and lower interfacial reliability. Upon oxidation at 900 °C, Cr and Cr/Cr(N) formed relatively compact Cr2O3 scales, whereas Cr/Cr2N, and particularly Cr/CrN, experienced stronger oxidation-induced phase decomposition, blistering, and local delamination. These findings identify Cr(N) solid-solution sublayers as an effective alternative to brittle ceramic nitride layers.

ABSTRACT This study evaluates the effectiveness of adhesively bonded glass fiber‐reinforced polymer (GFRP) patches in repairing cracked aluminum specimens under Mode I (opening), Mode II (in‐plane shear), and mixed‐mode I/II loading conditions. Performance was assessed using critical load and absorbed energy measured from load–displacement responses. The focus is on the influence of fiber orientation—unidirectional (UD) 0°, UD 90°, and woven—on fracture behavior and load‐bearing capacity. Composite patches were bonded to aluminum plates using Araldite 2011 adhesive, and tests were performed using an Arcan fixture. Results show that fiber orientation plays a critical role in repair performance. Under Mode I loading, the GFRP‐UD‐0° patch achieved the highest critical load, while the woven patch demonstrated superior absorbed energy. In Mode II, the woven patch increased critical fracture load by approximately 350% compared to the unrepaired specimen. For mixed‐mode loading, the UD‐0° configuration provided the highest critical fracture load and absorbed energy. Overall, considering performance across all loading modes, the woven patch delivered the most balanced improvement in both load capacity and energy absorption. Finite element analysis confirmed that fiber orientation strongly influences stress intensity factors. Under Mode I loading, the UD‐0° patch exhibited the highest critical stress intensity factor, followed by the woven patch. In contrast, woven patches yielded the highest stress intensity factors under mixed‐mode and Mode II loading. Scanning electron microscope analysis revealed mixed adhesive–cohesive failure, with woven patches enhancing load transfer and energy dissipation. All patched specimens outperformed the unrepaired samples, confirming the effectiveness of patch repairs.

When a fault occurs in a shipboard integrated power system, traditional reconfiguration strategies only adopt simple switching operations to change the system topology so as to isolate the faulty area. However, such strategies have limitations. For instance, under some specific operating conditions, the propulsion load is not allowed to lose power completely, and certain critical loads cannot tolerate power interruption. Considering that the propulsion load is a high-power load compared with other loads in the shipboard integrated power system, the navigation speed can be reduced according to the relationship between speed and power in the reconfiguration strategy to ensure the power supply of other loads. In addition, traditional optimization methods also suffer from drawbacks, such as being prone to local optima or failing to solve the fault reconfiguration problem of the shipboard integrated power system in real time. Therefore, this paper uses the DQN method to simulate and verify the proposed objective function under cruise operating conditions. The results demonstrate the effectiveness and real-time performance of the proposed method.

Abstract This study presents a numerical investigation of the failure load of curved composite beams subjected to four-point flexural loading. Two key parameters were separately considered: (1) the stacking sequence and (2) the curvature radius of the composite beams. Delamination, identified as the predominant damage mode in curved composite laminates, was modeled in Abaqus® using the cohesive zone model (CZM). Additionally, failure loads and load–displacement curves were generated for comparative analysis. Beams with a higher number of unidirectional layers demonstrated greater critical bending loads. Specifically, the [0] 20 sample exhibited the highest predicted failure load of 590.3 N, compared to 484.0 N for the [0/90] 5S sample and 455.8 N for the [45/0/− 45/90/0] 2S sample. Furthermore, the failure load increased significantly with larger curvature radii, ranging from 3.0 mm to 12.0 mm with 3.0 mm increments. The predicted failure loads were 394.8 N, 555.8 N, 782.4 N, and 1010.8 N for radii of 3.0 mm, 6.0 mm, 9.0 mm, and 12.0 mm, respectively. The simulation results showed good agreement with previous experimental data. Overall, the findings confirm that the CZM approach is effective for analyzing the out-of-plane strength of curved composite beams.