Bending Effects Research Articles

A Flexible Ammonia Gas Sensor Based on a Grafted Polyaniline Grown on a Polyethylene Terephthalate Film.

A novel NH3 gas sensor is introduced, employing polyaniline (PANI) with a unique structure called a graft film. The preparation method was simple: polydopamine (PD) was coated on a flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film and PANI graft chains were grown on its surface. This distinctive three-layer sensor showed a response value of 12 for 50 ppm NH3 in a dry atmosphere at 50 °C. This value surpasses those of previously reported sensors using structurally controlled PANI films. Additionally, it is on par with sensors that combine PANI with metal oxide semiconductors or carbon materials, the high sensitivity of which have been reported. To confirm our film's potential as a flexible sensor, the effect of bending on the its characteristics was investigated. This revealed that although bending decreased the response value, it had no effect on the response time or recovery. This indicated that the sensor film itself was not broken by bending and had sufficient mechanical strength.

Bismuth as a buffer layer for metal contact with silicon carbide studied by In situ photoelectron spectroscopy

Silicon carbide (SiC) is a promising third-generation semiconductor due to its wide bandgap. However, the high Schottky barrier and metal-induced gap states (MIGS) at the metal/SiC interface present significant challenges for device fabrication, leading to high contact resistance and poor current delivery. This study proposes the use of bismuth (Bi), with its semimetallic properties and gap-state saturation effect, as a contact buffer layer to address these issues. We conducted a systematic investigation of the chemical and electronic characteristics of the Pt/Bi/4H-SiC(0001) system, fabricated via molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), using in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS). Our findings reveal weak bonding between the Bi buffer layer and the 4H-SiC(0001) surface, resulting in a slight downward band bending effect and the formation of a substantial dipole across the Bi/4H-SiC(0001) interface. Moreover, UPS spectra indicate a reduction in the work function of Pt/Bi/4H-SiC(0001), suggesting the potential for achieving low contact resistance. Notably, the Pt/Bi/4H-SiC(0001) system remains stable when exposed to 1.6×109 Langmuir of oxygen at room temperature, while a bare Bi buffer layer undergoes partial oxidation. These results provide a comprehensive understanding of the Pt/Bi/4H-SiC(0001) interfaces and strategies for improving metal/SiC contacts.

R‐NG●‐Regulated Electron‐Phonon Coupling to Enhance Hot‐Hole Injection for Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells

AbstractExtracting hot‐carriers before they relax back to the band edge will reduce thermal dissipation above the bandgap, which is one of the primary sources of efficiency loss in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). It requires slow cooling of hot‐carriers together with the efficient extraction of hot‐carriers. Here, a novel interface engineering is demonstrated by embedding radical‐containing nanographene (r‐NG●) between perovskite and poly[bis(4‐phenyl)(2,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐amine] (PTOAA) to harvest this excess energy. This strategy accelerates the extraction rate of the hot‐hole (3 times that of control at 400 K) by augmenting the relaxation channel, which is related to the “quasi‐SOMO” energy state of r‐NG●. Nonadiabatic molecular dynamics calculation further revealed that radical character promotes the rotation of the cation in perovskite, which contributes to generating strong nonadiabatic couplings and multiple phonon modes. In addition, the band bending effect of buried perovskite and improved conductivity of PTOAA also facilitate exciton dissociation and hole collection efficiency (97.5%). Consequently, the resultant r‐NG● decorated PSCs delivered an impressive efficiency of 24.20%, along with better thermal and humidity stability. Moreover, it can maintain 93% of its initial efficiency after 300 hours of illumination.

An improved analytical solution for solving the shield tunnel uplift problem

The problem of shield tunnel uplift is a common issue in tunnel construction. Due to the decrease in shear stiffness at the joints between the rings, uplift is typically observed as bending and dislocation deformation at these joints. Existing modeling methods typically rely on the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory, only considering the bending effect while disregarding shear deformation. Furthermore, the constraints on the shield tail are often neglected in existing models. In this study, an improved theoretical model of tunnel floating is proposed. The constraint effect of the shield machine shell on the tunnel structure is considered using the structural forms of two finite long beams and one semi-infinite long beam. Furthermore, the Timoshenko beam theory is adopted, providing a more accurate description of tunnel deformation, including both the bending effect and shear deformation, than existing models. Meanwhile, the buoyancy force and stratum resistance are calculated in a nonlinear manner. A reliable method for calculating the shear stiffness correction factor is proposed to better determination of the calculation parameters. The proposed theoretical model is validated through five cases using site-monitored data. Its applicability and effectiveness are demonstrated. Furthermore, the influences of soil type, buried depth, and buoyancy force on the three key indicators of tunnel floating (i.e. the maximum uplift magnitude, the ring position with the fastest uplift race, and the ring position with the maximum uplift magnitude) are analyzed. The results indicate that the proposed model can provide a better understanding of the floating characteristics of the tunnel structure during construction.

Comparison Between the Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Beams and RPC Beams Under Bending and Torsion Moments

Abstract Typically, the beams were subjected to bending and torsion moments especially at building edge. However, most of the studies focus on the flexural or torsional behavior of the beams independently, and few studies investigated these two combined effects. The research intends to explore the structural behavior of eight 1500mm x 200 mm x 150 mm rectangular beams that were tested under the combined effects of bending and torsional moments, with four main values of (T/M) ratio: pure bending, pure torsion, and two combined cases. The research investigates the effect of using reactive powder concrete (RPC) on beam behavior compared to normal concrete (NC). The outcome demonstrates that using RPC in beams instead of NC beams will significantly increases the cracking capacity by 136.4% in the case of pure bending and significantly increases the ultimate capacity by 118% in the case of combined moments with (T/M = 1). Also, using RPC leads to significant reduction in deflection and rotation values especially after beam cracking. RPC reduces compressive concrete strain and values of strains in longitudinal and transverse reinforcement especially in advanced loading stages.

Structural and electrical conductivity studies of Polyaniline - WO3 hybrid nanocomposites for gas sensing applications

Abstract Conducting polymer – metal oxide based hybrid nanocomposites are a fascinating class of materials for miniaturized and flexible gas sensor devices. They exhibit enhanced physiochemical properties such as sensitivity, selectivity towards various volatile and hazardous chemical and bioanalytes. Our study focuses on conducting polyaniline (PANI) and WO3 nanocomposites, where different weight percentages (wt.%) of WO3 nanoparticles are embedded within the conducting PANI matrix using an in-situ oxidation polymerization synthesis technique. The surface morphology analysis indicated that the WO3 nanoparticles with an average grain size of ~200 nm are homogeneously distributed within the PANI nanofibers. The Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) spectrum analysis showed that the absorption peaks at 1111,1291, 1385, 1474, and 1560 cm−1 are typical of the conducting PANI emeraldine phase. We attribute the additional broad peak ranging between 840 to 720 cm−1 in the spectrum to WO3 phase, wherein, the intensity of the peak increases with WO3 content in case of hybrid composites. Current-voltage (I-V) characteristics for all our samples showed linear behaviour up to 1.2 volts. Temperature-dependent DC electrical conductivity (σ) studies measured from room temperature to 120°C for pure PANI, and PANI-WO3 composites showed an enhanced electrical conductivity of values up to 0.12 S/cm for PANI as compared to WO3 with σ ~ 1.4 x 10−3 S/cm. Pure PANI exhibits semiconducting behavior with an increase in electrical conductivity with temperature due to the charge carrier delocalization within the dispersed PANI backbone. The addition of higher concentrations of WO3 in composites leads to a metallic-like behavior, characterized by a decrease in electrical conductivity with temperature. These observations are attributed to the field-assisted band bending effects at the interfaces of PANI and WO3. Our composites show desired electrical characteristics suitable for gas sensing applications.

End-to-End Bent Perylene Bisimide Cyclophanes by Double Sulfur Extrusion.

Bending inherently planar π-cores consisting of only six-membered rings has traditionally been challenging because a powerful transformation is required to compensate for the significant strain energy associated with bending. Herein, we demonstrate that sulfur extrusion can achieve substantial molecular bending of a perylene structure to form a substructure of a Vögtle belt, a proposed yet hitherto elusive carbon nanotube fragment. Bent perylene bisimide (PBI) derivatives were synthesized through a double-sulfur-extrusion reaction from the corresponding sulfur-containing V-shaped precursors with an internal alkyl tether. The effect of bending the inherently planar PBI core, which is a recent topic of interest for the design of advanced organic electronic and optoelectronic materials, was investigated systematically. Increasing the curvature leads to a red shift in the absorption and emission spectra, while the fluorescence quantum yields remain high. This stands in contrast with the nonemissive features of previously reported nonplanar PBI derivatives based on conjugative tethers. Detailed photophysical measurements indicated that the increasing curvature with shorter alkyl tethers (i) slightly facilitates intersystem crossing and (ii) significantly suppresses the internal conversion in the excited state of the present bent PBI derivatives. The latter characteristics originate from the restricted dynamic motion associated with the charge-transfer (CT) character between the core chromophores and the N-aryl units.

Capacity of Reinforced/Prestressed Concrete Compression Members Strengthened/Repaired Using Ultra-High-Performance Concrete Encasement

Currently, 36% of bridges in the United States need major repair work or replacement and 7% of them are classified as structurally deficient. Most of these bridges can be repaired or strengthened to meet the current load demands and withstand the environmental impacts for the remaining service life. Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) has shown immense potential as a repair and strengthening material thanks to its exceptional characteristics such as high workability, excellent strength and durability, and remarkable energy absorption capacity. This paper presents an analytical approach to predict the capacity of reinforced or prestressed concrete compression members with UHPC encasement (jacket) under combined axial and bending effects. The approach is based on strain compatibility and uses idealized UHPC material models in tension and compression according to the new AASHTO Guide Specifications. The approach uses integration to develop accurate interaction diagrams for any section with complex geometry, which overcomes the approximations of the lamina approach. The paper also provides a comprehensive literature review on UHPC usage in repairing and strengthening concrete bridge columns and piers. A design example of a circular reinforced concrete column is presented to illustrate the proposed approach and to calculate the nominal and design capacities of the composite section. This example has shown that increasing the thickness of the UHPC jacket has a prominent effect on enhancing the axial capacity but only a slight effect on the flexural capacity of compression members.

Enhanced piezocatalytic and piezo-photocatalytic dye degradation via S-scheme mechanism with photodeposited nickel oxide nanoparticles on PbBiO2Br nanosheets

The fabrication of an S-scheme heterojunction demonstrates as an efficient strategy for achieving efficient charge separation and enhancing catalytic activity of piezocatalysts. In this study, a new S-scheme heterojunction was fabricated on the PbBiO2Br surface through the photo-deposition of NiO nanoparticles. It was then employed in the piezoelectric catalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB). The results demonstrate that the NiO/PbBiO2Br composite exhibits efficient performance in piezocatalytic RhB degradation. The optimal sample is the NiO/PbBiO2Br synthesized after 2 h of irradiation, achieving a RhB degradation rate of 3.11 h−1, which is 12.4 times higher than that of pure PbBiO2Br. Simultaneous exposure to visible light and ultrasound further increases in the RhB degradation rate, reaching 4.60 h−1, highlighting the synergistic effect of light and piezoelectricity in the NiO/PbBiO2Br composite. A comprehensive exploration of the charge migration mechanism at the NiO/PbBiO2Br heterojunction was undertaken through electrochemical analyses, theoretical calculations, and in-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. The outcomes reveal that p-type semiconductor NiO and n-type semiconductor PbBiO2Br possess matching band structures, establishing an S-scheme heterojunction structure at their interface. Under the combined effects of band bending, interface electric fields, and Coulomb attraction, electrons and holes migrate and accumulate on the conduction band of PbBiO2Br and valence band of NiO, respectively, thereby achieving effective spatial separation of charge carriers. The catalyst’s synergistic photo-piezoelectric catalysis effect can be ascribed to its role in promoting the generation and separation of charge carriers under both light irradiation and the piezoelectric field. The results of this investigation offer valuable insights into the development and production of catalytic materials that exhibit outstanding performance through the synergy of piezocatalysis and photocatalysis.

Effect of Stretch Bending on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of AZ31 Magnesium Alloy

Effect of Stretch Bending on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of AZ31 Magnesium Alloy

Analysis of nonlinear wave propagation within architected materials consisting of nonlinear Timoshenko beam structural elements

In the present work, a full nonlinear Timoshenko beam employing nonlinear shape functions is developed. The extended Hamilton principle is employed for deriving the differential equations of motion and the associated boundary conditions. The general form of the boundary conditions is then utilized to determine the static solution of the beam motion. Using this solution for the deformation and rotation of the beam, the nonlinear shape functions of the beam are identified, which leads to the linear and nonlinear mass and stiffness matrices of the Timoshenko beam element. The nonlinear dispersion diagram incorporating the non-linear corrections is obtained using the Linstedt–Poincaré perturbation method. An analysis of the effect of internal transverse shear and bending on the nonlinear dispersion characteristics of wave propagation in two-dimensional periodic network materials made of nonlinear Timoshenko beams is done. The formulated theory shows that the percentage of correction factor of the nonlinear kinematics versus the linear dynamical behavior is inversely proportional to the frequency amplitude. The shear and extension modes are shown to have the higher effect in the non-linear correction term in comparison to the flexural mode.

Tailoring whispering-gallery fields in optical black hole cavities

The ability to confine light has great significance in both fundamental science and practical applications. Optical black hole (OBH) cavities show intriguing zero radiation loss and strong field confinement. In this work, we systematically explore the whispering gallery mode (WGM) in a group of generalized OBH cavities, featuring bound states and strong field confinement. The field confinement in generalized OBH cavities is revealed to be enhanced with the increase of index-modulation factors, resulting from the increase of a potential barrier. Furthermore, we reveal the anomalous external resonant modes, exhibiting fascinating field enhancement in the low-index region far beyond the cavity boundary. These anomalous WGMs are attributed to the potential bending effect and above-barrier resonance. Our work may shed light on tailoring WGM fields in gradient-index cavities and find potential applications in light coupling and optical sensing.

Theoretical study of the ϒ2-graphyne p-n junction diode devices

Due to the tunable bandgap of ϒ2-graphyne, there is an expectation that this structure is a favorable candidate for p-n junction diode devices. The characteristic of the pure and hydrogenated ϒ2-graphyne nanoribbon structures is modeled and investigated from the electrostatic point of view. The charge distribution is approximated in one and two dimensions. The space charge region wide, electric field and the potential along with the current density are calculated for different donor and acceptor doping amounts. Our survey includes various simulated hydrogenated and Oxygenated molecular devices with different unit cell numbers, and their density of states, transmission spectrum, and current voltage diagrams were obtained using VNL Quantum wise ATK software. The results indicate the reduction of the depletion region and the creation of new energy levels in the band gap of the system. The interaction and bending effects of these new levels with the intrinsic levels are also observed.

Effects of Bending and Re-bending on Mechanical Properties of Locally-Manufactured Steel Rebars

Steel rebars experience deformation when subjected to bending and re-bending operations. Subsequently, their microstructures are impaired thus affecting the mechanical properties and leading to failure. This study establishes the effects of bending and re-bending the steel rebars on the mechanical properties. Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of bending and re-bending of the steel rebars. Testing was conducted on Ten virgin and Thirty specimens which were bent and re-bent at 45º, 90º, and 180º, and followed by tensile tests. Yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, elongation, and ultimate tensile strength to yield strength ratio (Rm/Re), were recorded. Results showed the yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, elongation, and Rm/Re of virgin steel rebars varied from 553.62 MPa to 618.49 MPa, 634.39 MPa to 745.68 MPa, 17.6 % to 21.67 %, and 1.14 to 1.19. The yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, elongation, and Rm / Re of bent and re-bent steel rebars at angles of 45º, 90º, and 180º varied from 603.67 MPa to 677.38 MPa, 692.82 MPa to 751.76 MPa, 6.88 % to 19 % and 1.09 to 1.21. It was established that bending and re-bending increase strength and reduce the ductility of the rebars proportionally.

Effect of band bending on the valley-resolved transport through zigzag silicene nanoribbons subject to edge electric fields

This work examines the effect of band bending on the valley polarization of electron transport through zigzag silicene nanoribbons (ZSiNRs) subject to perpendicular edge electric fields. When the edge electric fields are antisymmetric, the induced edge potential (UAE) determines the Fermi energy (EF) at which the valley polarization PKK’ changes sign. In the band-bending region, PKK’ shows plateaus with values of −1/3, −1/5, −1/7, etc. The band bending and the energy region with PKK’ < 0 grow as UAE increases. When UAE = 0.63t (t = 1.6 eV) and |EF| < 0.625t, PKK’ < 0. When the edge electric fields are symmetric, a conductance gap appears near EF = 0, two energy regions with PKK’ = 0 arise in the band-bending region, and the induced edge potential USE dictates the Fermi energy at which PKK’ changes from 0 to non-zero values. With increasing USE, the band bending increases, and the width of the conductance gap and energy regions with PKK’ = 0 widen, and plateaus with PKK’ = ±1, ±1/3, ±1/5, etc. vanish one by one. When USE = 0.8t and |EF| < 0.625t, the valley polarization of electron transport disappears completely. As UAE or USE increases to a certain degree, the band bending diminishes quickly, and the case of small UAE or USE gradually recovers. According to the above results, ZSiNRs under symmetric or antisymmetric perpendicular edge electric fields have potential applications in manufacturing versatile valleytronic devices.

Evidence of topological surface states with upward band bending in (Bi[formula omitted]Sb[formula omitted])[formula omitted]Te[formula omitted] topological insulator

Significant efforts have been put in the past to minimize the bulk conduction to probe the exotic surface states of topological insulators (TIs), nevertheless, the surface transport is usually hindered by the presence of bulk conduction. The identification and separation of the contribution of topological surface states (TSS) by electrical transport is important for understanding the unique properties of TIs and developing new electronic devices based on these materials. In this report we have studied Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) oscillations, magneto-resistance (MR) and hall resistivity under high magnetic field in (Bi0.45Sb0.60)2Te3 single crystal grown by modified Bridgman method. Our results show the existence of SdH oscillations which arise from TSS. The obtained Fermi wave vector and Fermi velocity of surface charge carriers show a good agreement with those found by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy experiments. Two band model fit to hall resistivity confirms the high mobility of surface bands and low mobility of bulk bands. Band bending effect is investigated which exhibits a depletion of carriers from near by bulk towards the surface states resulting in an upward band bending. A large non-saturating MR (∼347)% is observed as a result of multichannel quantum coherent transport mechanism.

Asymmetric Shape Control Ability and Mutual Influence of the S6-High Cold Rolling Mill

The control of the asymmetric shape of strips has always been an important and difficult part of the production of cold rolling strips. In this paper, the S6-High cold rolling mill is taken as the research object. A finite element model of this mill is constructed using ABAQUS 2022 software, and a multistage working condition simulation analysis is carried out. The independent effects of asymmetric Intermediate Roll Bending (IRB) and asymmetric Intermediate Roll Shifting (IRS) on the strip shape are investigated by constructing an asymmetric convexity evaluation index. The equivalent relationship between the asymmetric roll bending and the asymmetric roll shifting was determined by analysing the coupling effect of the benchmark bending and shifting rollers on their asymmetric shape control characteristics. The on-site application shows that optimizing the amount of preset asymmetric shape control can significantly improve the asymmetric situation of the shape, providing theoretical guidance for the asymmetric shape control of the S6-High cold rolling mill.

Heat-assisted friction stir incremental sheet forming of thermoplastics

Incremental sheet forming (ISF) has been attracting increasing interests for customised manufacture of thermoplastics, but the application in high-performance and hard-to-form thermoplastics is still a challenge. This paper develops a new heat-assisted friction stir incremental sheet forming (HAFS-ISF) process to form polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA, acrylic). Flexible heating tapes and tool rotational friction heat the thermoplastic sheet on both bottom and top surfaces, which maintain the sheet material at high temperature and reduce the through-thickness temperature gradient. Results are given for the effect of key parameters on forming temperature, force, accuracy and thickness distribution. Spindle speed has the most significant effect on all the studied aspects, followed by the pre-heating temperature, while feed rate and step size have less effect. With lower spindle speed of 100 rpm, the through-thickness temperature gradient is improved. Compared with PEEK parts, more uniform forming temperature and smaller forming force can be observed for PMMA parts. But the material brittleness causes worse formability, and the severer twist and stretching effect affect the forming accuracy of PMMA parts. Forming accuracy, fracture and twist are discussed by developing analytical models. The model for forming accuracy considers the initial bending effect and springback. The fracture is discussed by modelling the stress triaxiality and equivalent strain distribution under contact. While the model for twist considers effect of the applied torque on shear strain energy and continuous accumulation of twist along the tool path. By comparing analytical models and testing observations, the effectiveness of the models is confirmed to understand the underlaying mechanisms and to address a few challenges.

Highly Conductive PEDOT:PSS: Ag Nanowire-Based Nanofibers for Transparent Flexible Electronics.

Highly conductive, transparent, and easily available materials are needed in a wide range of devices, such as sensors, solar cells, and touch screens, as alternatives to expensive and unsustainable materials such as indium tin oxide. Herein, electrospinning was employed to develop fibers of PEDOT:PSS/silver nanowire (AgNW) composites on various substrates, including poly(caprolactone) (PCL), cotton fabric, and Kapton. The influence of AgNWs, as well as the applied voltage of electrospinning on the conductivity of fibers, was thoroughly investigated. The developed fibers showed a sheet resistance of 7 Ω/sq, a conductivity of 354 S/cm, and a transmittance value of 77%, providing excellent optoelectrical properties. Further, the effect of bending on the fibers' electrical properties was analyzed. The sheet resistance of fibers on the PCL substrate increased slightly from 7 to 8 Ω/sq, after 1000 bending cycles. Subsequently, as a proof of concept, the nanofibers were evaluated as electrode material in a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG)-based energy harvester, and they were observed to enhance the performance of the TENG device (78.83 V and 7 μA output voltage and current, respectively), as compared to the same device using copper electrodes. These experiments highlight the untapped potential of conductive electrospun fibers for flexible and transparent electronics.

COMSOL-based fatigue simulation of crankshaft

The crankshaft is the most valuable and precise single component of the automobile engine, and the force of the crankshaft is extremely complex. It works under the combined action of periodic changes of gas pressure, reciprocating inertia force, and torque, and bears huge bending and torsional alternating loads. It is of great significance to study the effects of bending, torsional, and compound loads on the strength and fatigue life of crankshaft. In this paper, a crankshaft simulation model is established according to the fatigue reliability theory, the fatigue reliability of the crankshaft is determined, the fatigue life is analyzed, the stress-strain simulation of the crankshaft is carried out by COMSOL, and the fatigue load spectrum and damage cloud map of the crankshaft are obtained. The results show that the structural parameter that has the greatest influence on the stress and deformation of the transition rounded radius. The position corresponds to the place of the crank pin where maximum stress occurs.