Dominant Mechanism Research Articles

Efficient adsorption of Cr (VI) onto hematite nanoparticles: ANN, ANFIS modelling, isotherm, kinetic, thermodynamic studies and mechanistic insights

Hematite nanoparticles (AF–Fe2O3NPs) were prepared through a simple method utilizing Acacia falcata leaf extract in this investigation. The nanoparticles were extensively characterized to understand their specific properties. FESEM images revealed agglomerated surface morphology, while EDS confirmed the existence of elemental components, including Fe, O, and C. The mesoporous nature of AF–Fe2O3NPs with a pore diameter of 3.77 nm was determined through BET studies. XRD analysis indicated the crystallinity, with lattice parameters characteristic of hematite nanoparticles (a = 0.504 nm and c = 1.381 nm). Superparamagnetic property of the AF–Fe2O3NPs was affirmed from the saturation magnetization (2.98 emu/g) without any hysteresis. Subsequently, AF–Fe2O3NPs were used as adsorbent for the removal of Cr (VI) from aqueous solution. The experimental data were subjected to machine learning (ML) models, specifically ANN and ANFIS, to predict Cr (VI) removal. Both ML models exhibited excellent predictive capabilities, with high R2 values (>0.99) and low error indices such as MSE, RMSE, and MAE. Furthermore, comprehensive kinetic, isotherm, and thermodynamic studies were conducted to gain insights into the behavior and sorption mechanisms of Cr (VI). The Hill model, a statistical physics model, demonstrated an outstanding fit compared to conventional isotherms. It revealed a saturation adsorption potential of 12.91 mg/g at pH 2, 1.5 g/L dose, and a temperature of 30 °C, corroborating physisorption as the dominant mechanism. XPS results confirmed Cr (VI) reduction to Cr (III) through the appearance of specific peaks at 577.18 and 587.08 eV. Thermodynamic investigations established the endothermicity and spontaneity of the adsorption. In summary, the hematite nanoparticles synthesized in this study exhibit promising potential to remove Cr (VI) from aqueous streams, making them a viable option for water treatment applications.

Rheology of hydrated plagioclase at lower crustal conditions: Cataclasis, creep and transformational plasticity

Plagioclase feldspar is one of the main rock-forming minerals of the lower continental crust. Assessing its rheology is therefore of particular importance for understanding the mechanical processes acting in convergence zones, where pressure and strain rate increases are often associated with metamorphic reactions and fluid fluxes. In this prospect, we performed axial shortening experiments on “as-is” (∼0.05 wt% H2O) and water-added (∼0.29 wt% H2O) natural plagioclase samples in a Griggs-type apparatus equipped with an acoustic emission monitoring system. Samples were deformed at ∼ 10−6 and ∼ 10−5 s−1, 700–800 °C, and 1.0 GPa in the plagioclase stability field. Experiments have also been performed at 1.5 GPa in order to study the rheological impact of the breakdown reaction Ca-rich plagioclase + water → zoisite + kyanite + quartz + Na-rich plagioclase. Mechanical data indicate that at the conditions studied, the rheology of plagioclase is strongly affected by water content. Microstructural observations confirm that under dry conditions, plagioclase aggregates deform by cataclastic flow. Under wet conditions, dislocation creep appears to be the dominant deformation mechanism, and plagioclase rheology is best described by the following equation, where strain rate, in s−1, is expressed as:ε·=Aσ3.0exp(−(168kJ/mol)/R/T), where σ is the stress in MPa, R is the gas constant, T is the temperature in K, and the pre-exponential term A=10−3.9MPa−3.0s−1. At 1.5 GPa, the reaction is faster under wet conditions but the rheology observed remains identical to that of wet plagioclase in its stability field. In the low water content experiments, plagioclase breakdown induces transient weakening due to fast zoisite nucleation and significant reaction volume change.

Forest Aboveground Biomass Estimation in Subtropical Mountain Areas Based on Improved Water Cloud Model and PolSAR Decomposition Using L-Band PolSAR Data

Forest aboveground biomass (AGB) retrieval using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) backscatter has received extensive attention. The water cloud model (WCM), because of its simplicity and physical significance, has been one of the most commonly used models for estimating forest AGB using SAR backscatter. Nevertheless, forest AGB estimation using the WCM is usually based on simplified assumptions and empirical fitting, leading to results that tend to overestimate or underestimate. Moreover, the physical connection between the model and the polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) is not established, which leads to the limitation of the inversion scale. In this paper, based on the fully polarimetric SAR data from the Advanced Land Observing Satellite-2 (ALOS-2) Phased Array-type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR-2), the relative contributions of the three major scattering mechanisms were first analyzed in a hilly area of southern China. On this basis, the traditional WCM was extended by considering the secondary scattering mechanism. Then, to establish the direct relationship between the vegetation scattering mechanism and forest AGB, a new relationship equation between the PolSAR decomposition model and the improved water cloud model (I-WCM) was constructed without the help of external data. Finally, a nonlinear iterative method was used to estimate the forest AGB. The results show that volume scattering is the dominant mechanism, accounting for more than 60%. Double-bounce scattering accounts for the smallest fraction, but still about 10%, which means that the contribution of the double-bounce scattering component is not negligible in forested areas because of the strong penetration capability of the long-wave SAR. The modified method provides a correlation coefficient R2 of 0.665 and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 21.902, which is an improvement of 36.42% compared to the traditional fitting method. Moreover, it enables the extraction of forest parameters at the pix scale using PolSAR data without the need for low-resolution external data and is thus helpful for high-resolution mapping of forest AGB.

Experimental investigation on mode I fracture characteristics of Longmaxi formation shale after cyclic thermal shock and high-temperature acid etching treatments

Fracture toughness is a key parameter for shale hydraulic fracturing design, which directly affects the fracture initiation pressure. In this paper, the influence of cyclic thermal shock and high-temperature acid etching on the Mode I fracture of Longmaxi Formation shale was investigated. The crack propagation was obtained by using acoustic emission (AE) and digital image correlation (DIC) techniques. Meanwhile, the fracture surface morphology and microstructure of the specimens were analyzed using white light interferometer and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The experimental results demonstrate that cyclic thermal shock severely degrades the nominal strength and fracture toughness of shale. The average fracture toughness is found to be only 0.67 MPa·m0.5, which accounts for a reduction of 25.9 %. AE analysis reveals that microfracture is the dominant mechanism, with the highest amplitude of AE source only 78 dB. The critical strain value of the fracture propagation zone (FPZ) is determined to be 1.35 ‰, and SEM images indicate that along-crystal fracture is the primary fracture mechanism. On the other hand, the shale specimen subjected to high-temperature acid-etching treatment exhibits an average fracture toughness of 0.86 MPa·m0.5, with the AE source amplitude reaching 86 dB. The critical strain value of the FPZ was measured to be 2.38 ‰. The fracture surface appears smooth and is mainly characterized by perforated-crystal rupture. The findings of this study not only enhance our understanding of shale mode I fracture toughness but also provide valuable insights for optimizing process parameters to reduce initiation pressure in deep shale formations.

Selective and efficient removal of ciprofloxacin from water by bimetallic MOF beads: Mechanism quantitative analysis and dynamic adsorption

MOFs play an important role in the adsorption of antibiotics, but the drawbacks of MOF powders limit their practical applications. Moreover, the dominant adsorption mechanism and the quantitative assessment of MOF powders are less studied. Herein, bimetallic ZIF particles were embedded in chitosan beads via an in-situ growth process (ZnCo-ZIF@CS beads), which could selectively remove ciprofloxacin (CIP) from a complex environment. The maximum adsorption capacity was 348.90 mg/g, superior to that of other advanced adsorbents. ZnCo-ZIF@CS performed efficiently in various actual water samples and showed excellent anti-interference and recycling abilities (only a decrease of 12.74 % after 9 cycles). CIP adsorption could still reach 85.30 % after continuous flow treatment for 600 min. Interestingly, ZnCo-ZIF@CS had a good protective effect on rice seedling growth and alleviated CIP stress in rice seedlings due to the low metal leaching at pH 4.0–11.0. Macroscopic experiments, XPS, 2D-FTIR-COS and DFT results revealed that hydrogen bonding (HB), complexation (CB), electrostatic attraction (EA) and π-π interactions were involved in CIP adsorption. Different interactions dominated CIP adsorption in different pH regions. At pH < 5.0, EA and CB were the main driving forces, accounting for 42–52 % and 27–57 % of the total adsorption; at 5.0 < pH < 9.0, the contribution of EA decreased to < 15 % while CB was still dominant, accounting for ∼ 50 % of the total adsorption, and other effects (HB and π-π) increased to approximately 29–39 %; at pH > 9.0, EA, CB, HB together with π-π caused 1–27 %, 9–31 % and 66–72 % of the total adsorption, respectively. The reaction sequence of functional groups in different CIP solutions and at various pH values was also probed by 2D-FTIR-COS. This study further provides clear evidence for developing robust MOF-based adsorbents and for the mechanism quantitative analysis of pollutant adsorption by MOFs.

Study on tool wear mechanism and chip morphology during turning of Inconel 713C by textured inserts

The present study aims to analyze the tool wear mechanism and chip morphology during dry (D) and graphene solid-lubricant (S), turning of Inconel 713C with a new novel textured (honeycomb (T2) and rectangular(T3)) and further compare with the textured dimple tool (T1). In addition, the performances were compared with the untextured tool (T0). The machining tests for all conditions were carried out at different levels of cutting speeds (75 m/min and 150 m/min), feed rate (0.1 mm/rev and 0.2 mm/rev), and a constant level of depth of cut (0.5 mm). Honeycomb-textured cutting tools performed better. Improvements of 33.3 % (T1D), 50 % (T3D), and 75 % (T2D) without graphene and 66.6 %(T1S), 75 % (T3S), and 100 %(T2S) with graphene are observed compared to T0. The primary mechanism for the better performance of T2S was the reduced tool chip contact length (8–50 %), chip width (30.4 %), friction coefficient (57.4 %), chip thickness (17.8 %), and higher shear angle (14.2 %) compared to dry textured and untextured tools at the end of tool life. Additionally, the T2S (solid lubricant-impregnated honeycomb) demonstrates a decrease in equivalent chip thickness (19.8 %) and an increase in shrinkage factor (17.2 %) at worn-out tool life conditions at high cutting speed and feed rate. Under the same conditions, T2S has 27.3 % lower cutting force and 36.2 % lower surface roughness of machined workpieces compared to the untextured tool at the end of tool life. The chip micrograph reveals the chips are shorter, and the chip radius is lower for T2S tools with smooth friction tracks and fine deformed lamella on the free surface of the chip. Under SEM, flank wear, adhesion materials, abrasion, micro-chipping coating peeling, and BUE were dominant wear mechanisms. However, T2S tools effectively reduce Ni elements' diffusion and suppress the built-up edge's adhesion by improving friction characteristics at the tool-chip interface region. Lastly, the outcomes of experimental results suggest that the honeycomb texture for dry machining of Inconel 713C.

Microstructural evolution and deformation behavior of an interstitial TRIP high-entropy alloy under dynamic loading

The mechanical properties and microstructural evolution under dynamic loading conditions are of paramount importance in the development and utilization of interstitial high-entropy alloys (iHEAs). This study focuses on the investigation of a currently trending material, C-doped TRIP-assisted HEA Fe49.5Mn30Co10Cr10C0.5 (at.%). By subjecting the alloy to uniaxial quasi-static and dynamic tensile loading, the study systematically elucidates mechanical property testing under different strain states, characterizes the microstructural evolution during deformation, analyzes deformation mechanisms, and delves into the essence of mechanical responses. Particularly, by employing digital image correlation (DIC) techniques, local severe deformation regions under high-speed deformation conditions are sampled to investigate microstructural changes under extreme deformation conditions. The results indicated that, in comparison to quasi-static tensile deformation, the dynamic tensile deformation of the HEA demonstrated a slight increase in yield strength, a decrease in ultimate tensile strength, and a trend toward an increase in total elongation. Specifically, at a strain rate of 103 s−1, the tensile strength was ∼825.5 MPa, and at a strain rate of 10 s−1, the elongation was ∼57.7 %. In quasi-static deformation, the TRIP and TWIP effects served as the primary deformation mechanisms. In dynamic deformation, the proportion of ε-martensite phase transformation was significantly reduced, with deformation twinning (DT) and dislocations becoming the dominant mechanisms, originating from the impact of adiabatic heating on the stacking fault energy (SFE). Furthermore, in the locally severe deformation region, multiple twinning systems were activated, coupled with a substantial accumulation of dislocations. A minor presence of dual-oriented martensite also contributed to this complex mechanism. Additionally, the carbides formed through C-doping exerted a significant hindrance on dislocation slip during high-speed deformation and under high-strain conditions. Simultaneously, they promoted the activation of multiple twinning systems, making an indispensable contribution to maintaining the strain hardening rate (SHR) of the HEA.

Investigation of the thermal exchange mechanism of PCM melting process in an LHTES with elliptic tube configurations inside a cylindrical shell

This study presents a comprehensive 2D numerical investigation into the heat transfer mechanisms and melting time estimation for a phase change material melting process in latent heat thermal energy storage systems. The energy storage system of interest employs an elliptic tube configuration within a cylindrical shell. This study primarily aims to decipher the impact of spatial arrangement and its geometrical intricacies on melting time and the associated heat transfer mechanisms. First, this study examines the transition in the dominant heat transfer mechanisms, from conduction to natural convection, throughout the progression of the melting process. The examination is facilitated using the enthalpy porosity method, which can articulate an additional momentum term by leveraging the porosity at the melting interface and the local liquid fraction. Conduction dominance characterizes the early stages of the melting process; however, a transition toward a complex interplay of natural convection and conduction is observed as the process evolves. When the distance between the heat source and the outer covering is changed from a measure of 0.95 to 0.7, the time it takes for phase change material to melt increases by 73.2%. Additionally, when the shape of a certain heat transfer fluid carrier cylinder and the space between them in angles (from 1/8 to 8 and from 30° to 150°) are adjusted, the melting time changes by 31.1% and 38.9% respectively. In addition to the numerical analysis, this study introduces an innovative predictive model based on artificial neural networks to forecast the melting time of the phase change material in the energy storage system. This predictive model is trained and validated using the data derived from the numerical study and shows good accuracy in predicting the melting time, which is a critical factor for the efficiency and performance of systems.

Deformation Behavior and Microstructural Evolution of Zr–Sn–Nb–Fe Alloy over a Wide Temperature Range Based on the Law of Mixture

Isothermal compression experiments are conducted on Zr–Sn–Nb–Fe alloy at temperature ranging from 873 to 1273 K and strain rates ranging from 0.01 to 1 s−1. The deformation behavior and microstructure evolution are analyzed. The results show that the influence of α phase on the flow stress is more significant than β phase, which shows a stronger phase sensitivity. At low strain rates in the α phase temperature region (873 K), the dominant softening mechanism is dynamic recovery, while at high strain rates, it is controlled by dynamic recrystallization. The dual‐phase temperature region (973–1173 K) undergoes the dynamic recrystallization of α and α→β phase transformation. The dynamic recrystallization of β occurs in the β phase temperature region (1213–1273 K). Finally, by considering the phase composition and phase sensitivity differences, a unified constitutive model of N36 zirconium alloy from 873 to 1273 K is established whose absolute relative error is 7% and R is 0.9906.

Study on Hot Deformation Behavior and Dynamic Recrystallization Mechanism of Cu‐Ti‐Fe Alloy

Hot compression experiments with the deformation temperatures of 750–950 °C and the strain rates of 0.01–10 s−1 are carried out on a Gleeble‐3500 thermal‐mechanical simulator. The flow behavior and dynamic recrystallization (DRX) mechanism of the Cu‐Ti‐Fe alloy are systematically studied under different hot deformation conditions. According to the curves of flow stress and work hardening rate, the DRX critical condition of the alloy is obtained, and the critical stress value of DRX is small under high‐temperature and low‐strain rate. After fitting, the logarithmic values of the critical stress and critical strain have a linear relationship with lnZ, which indicates that the alloy is more prone to DRX at high temperatures and low‐strain rates. The Arrhenius constitutive model of the alloy is established, the linear correlation coefficient (R2) is 0.984. Combined with the microstructure of Cu‐Ti‐Fe alloy, the microstructure evolution characteristics and DRX mechanism are elucidated. The dominant mechanism of the alloy under the deformation temperature of 750–950 °C is the DRX mechanism. The low‐angle grain boundaries (LAGBs) transform into high‐angle grain boundaries (HAGBs) and continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX) grains form. Abundant dislocations gather near the HAGBs, causing grain boundaries to protrude. High‐temperature conditions make the dislocations disappear, forming discontinuous dynamic recrystallization (DDRX) grains.

Temperature and frequency dependent response of electrical conduction and dielectric relaxation mechanism in CuCr2O4 tetragonally distorted spinel chromite

Herein, the polycrystalline CuCr2O4 (CCO) electro-ceramic was prepared via the sol-gel self-combustion route. The X-ray powder diffraction analysis at room temperature revealed that the CCO chromite was synthesized in a single phase tetragonally distorted normal spinel structure with I41/amd space group. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) investigated the polycrystalline nature of the compound. The microstructural analysis by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) explored the surface morphology of micron-sized grains (Gs) distinguished by well-pronounced grain boundaries (GBs) available for electrical response of the material. The color mapping images of elements by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) divulged the homogeneous distribution of elements in the compound. The surface chemistry of the compound was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). This information helped in understanding the electronic states of the ions contributing to the electrical networks and mechanisms responsible for the charge transport within the CCO system. The dielectric relaxation and electrical transport properties were analyzed using complex impedance spectroscopy (CIS) over the experimental range of frequency and temperature from 40 Hz to 1 MHz and 243–493 K, respectively. The experimental complex impedance data were analyzed by RGQGRGBQGB equivalent circuit model which resolved the electro-active contributions of bulk and interface of the CCO spinel to its electrical dynamics. The dispersion in AC conductivity was explained by Jonscher's double power law which provided evidence of small polaron hopping (SPH) as a dominant transport mechanism governing electrical conduction in the compound. The temperature-dependent DC conductivity pattern exhibited an Arrhenius-like behavior that followed Mott and Davis's model of SPH. The analysis of complex electrical modulus M*(ω,T) professed the localized and de-localized movements of the charge carriers. The dielectric permittivity response of CCO followed Havriliak-Negami (HN) phenomenology that divulged the existence of non-Debye type dielectric relaxation processes. The interfacial polarization was observed to be accountable for the dispersion in dielectric loss spectra.

Switching from the top-NW backthrusting to top-SE post-orogenic deformation in the Aegean domain: Insights from the calcite microfabric and siliciclastic rocks of the Amorgos Unit (SE Cyclades, Greece).

Detailed microstructural analysis was conducted in the imbricated Amorgos stratigraphy to decipher the complex deformation history of the calcitic mylonitic zones related to different tectonic events. Four major thrust zones were developed during syn-metamorphic tectonic burial by top-NW general shear deformation. Dynamic recrystallization is the dominant deformation mechanism, evolving from the SGR to the BLG field, characterizing a downward increase in strain from the highest Potamos to the lower Paradesia thrusts under low-T conditions. Mesoscopic kinematics within these thrusts reveal top-NW shearing. However, in microscale, both top-NW and top-SE kinematics are observed. In most cases, this top-SE reversal resulted from strain partitioning due to a strong pure shear component. However, the Mouros and Richti shear zones present dominant top-SE kinematics in all scales. Additionally, overprinting relationships within the metaflysch of the Mouros shear zone suggest that the top-SE kinematics of this zone post-dates the former top-NW ones. Therefore, we suggest that a switch from the top-NW general shear deformation during the syn-orogenic compressional phase to a late top-SE extensional deformation occurred in the early Miocene, resulting in the exhumation of the Amorgos Unit below 200 °C, via the Santorini Detachment System.

Interplay of Drop Shedding Mechanisms on High Wettability Contrast Biphilic Stripe-Patterned Surfaces.

To improve the rate of DWC, numerous studies have adjusted the distribution of drops through biphilic surface patterning and wettability gradients to control the nucleation and drop shedding rates on the condensing surface, yet the connection between drop shedding mechanisms and surface wettability patterning remains unclear. Moreover, wettability patterning places geometric bounds on the governing forces (i.e., gravity, capillary, and inertia), which drive the droplet shedding mechanisms. Thus, the subsequent influence of droplet distribution along the DWC regions on the shedding mechanisms may not be known a priori. In this study, the area fraction, ADWC, of the DWC and also the DWC region width, LN, were varied between 10 and 50% and 0.5-1.5 mm, respectively, to probe the dominant droplet shedding mechanisms on a high wettability contrast surface (i.e., the contact angle on the DWC was 159 ± 3.4° and the hysteresis 9 ± 3.6°, whereas the FWC was nearly perfectly wetting). Humid air was introduced inside a custom-built chamber with the upright steady-state condensation imaged by both real-time and high-speed imaging techniques. We found that the droplet shedding mechanisms changed with increasing LN where the sliding drop radii are reduced with LN while the jumping drop radii remained unchanged with LN. The maximum drop size for shedding also decreased by 13%, which we attribute to the secondary droplet inertia, which helps gravity overcome the capillary retention force. Lastly, although many studies have probed DWC enhancements via surface wettability patterning, an optimal combination of ADWC and LN provided in this study significantly aids in the improvement of future DWC-based condensers and water collector applications.

Formation of two-dimensional laser-induced periodic surface structures on titanium by GHz burst mode femtosecond laser pulses

GHz burst mode femtosecond (fs) laser pulses, which consist of a series of pulse trains with ultra-fast intervals of several hundred picoseconds, have offered distinct features for material processing compared to conventional irradiation of laser pulses (single-pulse mode). We apply GHz burst mode processing to fabricate laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) on the material surfaces. In our previous work for silicon (Si), we have found that GHz burst mode can create unique two-dimensional (2D) LIPSS composed of both parallel and perpendicular to the laser polarization direction. We proposed that the formation of 2D-LIPSS is attributed to the synergetic contributions of electromagnetic and hydrodynamic mechanisms. To further investigate more detailed formation mechanisms and explore practical applications, we employ titanium (Ti), whose properties are significantly different from Si. We demonstrate that GHz burst mode fs laser pulses (central wavelength: 1,030 nm, intra-pulse width: 230 fs, intra-pulse repetition rate (an intra-pulse interval): 4.88 GHz (205 ps) and burst pulse repetition rate: 10 kHz) can also fabricate 2D-LIPSS on Ti surfaces. We attribute the dominant formation mechanism of 2D-LIPSS to the generation of hot spots with highly enhanced electric fields due to transient change of material properties during GHz burst pulse irradiation. Based on this speculation, properly tailoring the shapes of the burst pulse with an optimum intra-pulse number enables the creation of well-defined 2D-LIPSS. Furthermore, essentially homogeneous 2D-LIPSS can be formed in a large area by laser scanning of a focused fs laser beam with a stage scanning speed of 5 mm/s.

Optimizing material selection: A study of erosion-corrosion performance in homogeneous and carbide-containing materials

Erosion-corrosion is a major factor contributing to material loss and reduced useful life of hydro-transport equipment. The combined effect of erosion and corrosion is responsible for high degradation rates. In oil sand mining, materials from different classes are used for various applications depending on the severity of degradation. In this research, we assessed the erosion-corrosion characteristics of four uniform materials (pipeline and abrasion-resistant steels) as well as five materials containing varying types and quantities of carbide (chrome white iron and WC-based overlay). The materials underwent erosion-corrosion testing within a slurry container (comprising 3.5 wt% NaCl + 35 wt% natural silica sand) at a temperature of 45 °C. Under the test conditions, it was found that matrix wear influences the extent of carbide degradation for all carbide-containing materials. To provide good erosion-corrosion resistance, the surrounding matrix that supports the carbide must have sufficient wear and corrosion resistance. This study also identifies the dominant wear mechanisms for both uniform and carbide-containing materials.

Exploring the dependence of creep behavior on the grain size of a peak-aged Mg-10.5Y alloy

In this work, the effects of grain size on the compressive creep behavior of a peak-aged Mg-10.5 wt%Y alloy were studied. Compressive creep tests were conducted at 523 K using three group samples, each having an average grain size of d = 25 µm, d = 50 µm and d = 90 µm along the rolling direction. An inverse Hall-Petch relationship for mechanical strength could be used to evaluate the dependence of creep behavior on the grain size, and the creep resistance was continuously deteriorated with decreasing grain size. The dominant creep mechanisms were pyramidal <c+a> slip, cross-slip and prismatic slip in the d = 25 µm sample whilst pyramidal <c+a> slip, cross-slip and basal slip controlled the creep process in both the d = 50 µm and d = 90 µm samples. In addition, precipitate-free zones (PFZs) decorated randomly the grain boundaries during creep. Both the PFZs width and PFZs amounts were increased as the average grain size decreased, and the softening effects from the frequent activated prismatic slip and profuse PFZs induced the worst creep resistance in the d = 25 µm sample. Thus, the creep resistance of the fine-grained samples was always unsatisfactory even though grain boundary sliding was absent at creep duration. It hopes that this work can enrich the understanding of creep theories and offer important reference to the microstructure design of heat-resistant Mg-RE alloys.

Impacts of landscape heterogeneity on bottom-up effects affecting biological control

Conservation biological control of crop pests by natural enemies relies on management strategies to favour their trophic interactions. In agricultural landscapes, natural enemies acting across habitat boundaries may feed on non-pest prey, resulting in apparent competition between non-pest prey and pests. Such communities, including pests, non-pest prey, and natural enemies have been shown to be affected by landscape heterogeneity depending on the dispersal capacity of the interacting organisms. Nonetheless, a mechanistic understanding of how natural enemies’ dispersal capacity interacts with landscape heterogeneity affecting conservation biological control is, however, lacking. Here, we contribute to such mechanistic understanding through modelling. We simulated the consequences of differences in landscape heterogeneity defined by the contrast of plant resource distribution in a semi-natural habitat compared to a crop and variation in natural enemy dispersal capacity on biological control of a pest. Our model showed that variation in plant resource distribution resulted in bottom-up effects that led to shifts in the dominant mechanism underlying biological control. At high landscape heterogeneity when resources differ strongly between crop and the semi-natural habitat, non-pest prey benefitted from the plant resources available, promoting apparent-competition-mediated biocontrol for high-dispersing natural enemies. At low landscape heterogeneity, pests benefitted mostly from plant resources available, promoting direct plant-pest-enemy mediated biocontrol. Interestingly, intermediate levels of landscape heterogeneity resulted in the lowest levels of biocontrol. Our results highlight the importance of potential bottom-up effects that the matching between plant resources available in a habitat and the resource preference of herbivores can induce on conservation biological control.

“When things aren't going well at home and at work, it is hard”: What can companies do about domestic violence?

Domestic violence has considerable professional repercussions. Abusive partners isolate victims, damage their self-confidence, belittle them, instill doubt, and create an atmosphere of uncertainty and fear. Such mechanisms of domination, control, and isolation could have consequences for the professional lives of the victims, including absenteeism, decreased performance, and errors. These professional consequences can further isolate the victims because organizational actors, often unaware of or not understanding the domestic violence the victims are experiencing, can hold them accountable for poor work outcomes. This paper reports on action research conducted at EDF, a large French electricity company, and sheds light on the role of the employer in supporting victims of domestic violence, particularly by proposing a set of social and human resources practices that could help the victims escape from abusive situations. However, while it is important for organizations to undertake initiatives in addressing the cases of domestic violence, such involvement remains voluntary and depends on the goodwill of employing organizations. That is what some labor unions wish to change by advocating new professional rights for victims of domestic violence at national levels.

Study on dynamic deformation-damage-ignition mechanism of GAP/RDX/TEGDN propellant

ABSTRACT Investigations on high-energy and low-vulnerability propellants can provide a better understanding for improving the operational effectiveness and survivability of strategic and tactical missiles. In the present study, the dynamic compressive mechanical properties and damage-ignition response mechanism of the GAP/RDX/TEGDN (GRT) propellant under high strain rates have been studied using a split Hopkinson pressure bar apparatus and a high-performance high-speed camera. The experimental results suggested that the mechanical properties of the GRT propellant, in terms of yield stress, initial compressive modulus, and ultimate stress, were greatly affected by the loaded strain rate. The true stress-strain curves exhibited an initial linear elasticity region followed by yielding a subsequent strain hardening and strain softening region stage. It has been found that the yield stress and ultimate stress increased with the strain rates. Moreover, at higher strain rates, the impulse increases significantly, leading to earlier and more intense ignition. The critical strain rate and the critical impulse of the GRT propellant are 5000 s−1 and 13.28 N · s, respectively. A judgment basis for GRT propellant ignition is established. Finally, according to the high-speed images and the posttest SEM images, it has been concluded that the dominant ignition mechanism of GRT propellant is flow at the macroscopic level and internal frictional heating at the mesoscopic level.

Effect of mixed-mode loading on surface crack propagation in steels

To understand the effect of mixed-mode loading on surface crack propagation in structural alloy steels, fatigue crack growth tests were performed on surface crack tension (SCT) specimens with initial semi-elliptical surface cracks. SCT specimens with cracks normal to the load axis were used for the mode I tests. Experiments with mixed-mode loading were conducted on SCT specimens with inclined surface cracks. A specific feature of the surface crack propagation, in the segmentation of the crack front, the occurrence of «factory roof» patterns, and deviations in the crack front from a planar shape were established under mixed-mode loading. A reverse engineering technique was applied in a numerical study to reproduce a complex fracture surface under mixed-mode loading. The equivalent stress intensity factor (SIF) formulation was used to interpret the fatigue-crack growth rate. A significant reduction in the fatigue crack growth rate was established for mixed-mode loading compared with pure mode I conditions. Several fracture mechanisms were identified along the surface crack front under mixed-mode loading. The areas corresponding to changes in the dominant fracture mechanism were identified using detailed fractography of the fracture surfaces.