Evolution Of Strength Research Articles

Energy release and disaster-causing mechanism of ore-pillar combination

Coal and other mineral resources are also commonly found in bauxite mining. The process of bauxite mining is usually affected by retained ore pillars in other strata, which leads to the formation of combinations composed of different strata. Once these combinations become unstable, they can cause serious disasters that threaten production safety. Aiming at the safe mining of co-associated resources in the overlying coal seams of bauxite mines, in this paper, the strength, fracture development, and energy evolution of the coal-rock-aluminum (C-R-A) combination under varying thickness proportions of coal, rock, and aluminum were studied by means of particle flow code (PFC) numerical simulation, SPSS statistical analysis, and other methods. The results indicate that the strength of the combination is significantly negatively correlated with the thickness of the soft coal seam and remarkably positively correlated with the thickness of the hard aluminum layer. Under the same stress conditions, fractures in the combination mainly occur in the coal seam. As the thickness proportion of the coal seam in the overall structure increases, the number of fractures there grows correspondingly. Under a larger thickness proportion of the rock stratum, the combination releases its elastic energy faster after instability, and the fractures develop more intensely. As the thickness proportion of the rock stratum decreases, the elastic energy index (WET) in the C-R-A combination rises, and the burst proneness strengthens. Areas where the thickness proportions of coal, rock, and aluminum lie in the ranges of 30%–60%, 10%–20%, and 30%–60% respectively are considered high-risk zones, and rock burst accidents are most likely to occur when the thickness ratio of coal, rock, and aluminum is 4: 1: 5. These research findings can provide guidance for the safe mining of similar coal and aluminum associated resources.

Experimental and Numerical Study on Nonlinear Shear Behavior and Constitutive Model of Deep Shale Laminae Planes

The direct shear tests showed that the degradation of unevenness and waviness of the laminae plane is the primary reason for the dynamic decrease in shear strength. A shear constitutive model was proposed which considers the scale effect and the asperity geometry of the unevenness and waviness of the laminar plane. The evolution of the shear strength and stiffness with a normal stress and scale effect during the shearing of shale laminae planes was explored. The results show that high normal stress aggravates the stiffness hardening of laminae planes and forms larger peak shear stress and peak shear displacement. At the lab scale, the increase in the unevenness wavelength has a hardening effect on the shear stiffness and strength. The small-scale unevenness contributes most to the shear strength of shale laminae planes at the lab scale. At the field scale, the increase in the waviness wavelength has a softening effect on the shear stiffness and strength.

Microstructure and property evolution of aluminium/potassium titanate whiskers composite during Rheo-casting

Potassium titanate whiskers (PTWs) have been proved effective in improving aluminium alloys’ mechanical performance whilst reducing their thermal expansivity, which are both crucial to the industrial applications. Here, we fabricate an Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy composite reinforced with 10.0 vol% PTW via rheological casting and characterize its microstructure, strength and thermal expansivity evolution at different process parameters. The distribution of PTW in alloy matrix was more homogeneous with growing treating time. After 40 s semi-solid slurring, the final average length of PTW was reduced to 4.1 μm. Meanwhile, the ultimate tensile strength of the composite gained ca. 27.0 % increase, and the thermal expansivity was significantly reduced. Our results demonstrate the feasibility to fabricate high-performance aluminium/PTW composite while reducing the PTW addition via semi-solid rheological processing. Our findings also help better understand the crushing and dispersing behavior of PTW in aluminium matrix during semi-solid solidification

Study on the strength influence mechanism and cracking mechanism of stone powder-cement floor grouting materials

Underground grouting is a concealed project, and it is difficult to test the strength of grouting stones in engineering practice. Aiming at the problems of high confined water pressure and strong water-richness of the roadway floor, a pressure filtration test device was developed, and a PFC2D uniaxial compression model was established to study the variation law of stone strength and crack evolution mechanism of grouting materials under different grouting pressures. The results show that with the increase of pressure filtration value, the amount of slurry dehydration increases, the pore water pressure dissipates, the pores between particles are tightly compressed, the contact force between particle skeletons increases, and the strength of stone body increases. Under the condition of the same cement powder ratio (mass ratio of cement to stone powder) or stone powder particle size, the strength of stone body of stone powder-cement grouting material increases with the increase of pressure filtration value. The stress-strain curves of the stone body with different pressure filtration values all experienced three stages: continuous elasticity, fracture expansion and strength failure. Before the peak, the number of cracks increases slowly; after reaching the peak, the micro-cracks extend rapidly and the number increases rapidly, resulting in the final tensile failure of the specimen. This study can provide a basis for the selection of grouting engineering material ratio and grouting pressure parameters.

Monitoring hip adductor strength in professional women's football players over a season: A prospective study

ObjectivesTo describe the changes in hip adductor strength of professional women's football players over a season. DesignOne-season prospective study. SettingFacilities of a national first division club. ParticipantsProfessional women's football players. Main outcome measuresMaximum hip adductor isometric strength in the long-lever and short-lever positions at four timepoints: early preseason, early season, mid-season, and end-season. ResultsTwenty-two players completed the study. Hip adductor strength values in early preseason (134 ± 29 N in the long-lever position and 317 ± 68 N in the short-lever position) were significantly lower than in the early season (171 ± 29 N and 363 ± 54 N) and mid-season (163 ± 23 N and 369 ± 53 N). By the end of the season (150 ± 19 N and 345 ± 39 N), strength values had significantly declined from both early and mid-season levels. Visual inspection of individual athletes' strength evolution over time reveals heterogeneous responses, with some players showing trajectories opposite to the group at specific time points. ConclusionsHip adductor strength increased from the preseason to the start of the women's football national league, remained stable during the first half of the league, but slightly declined in the second half. The heterogeneous responses among athletes underscore the importance of individualized monitoring throughout the season.

Optimizing strength-ductility synergy of the solid-solution Ti50–ZrVNbCr MEAs via coordinately adjusting VEC and lattice constant

In this study, a series of Ti50–ZrVNbCr alloys were designed under with the constant atomic radius mismatch. It was suggested that valence electron concentration (VEC) and lattice constant, which evolve oppositely in the series of the Ti50–ZrVNbCr alloys, jointly influence the mechanical properties. Based on modeling, the evolution of ductility and yield strength of the designed alloys was predicted. Ductility was predicted to be superior in the VEC range from 4.22 to 4.25, with the lattice constant correspondently ranging from 3.340 Å to 3.334 Å. The optimization of strength-ductility synergy was discussed in terms of coordinately adjusting VEC and lattice constant. The experimental results were quite consistent with the prediction results, showing that the alloy with the VEC value of 4.25 and the lattice constant of 3.334 Å, which consisted of 50 at.%Ti, 28.1 at.%Zr, 9.4 at.%V, 9.4 at.%Nb, and 3.1 at.%Cr, possessed the best ductility and superior strength-ductility synergy.

Optimization of Proportions of Alkali-Activated Slag-Fly Ash-Based Cemented Tailings Backfill and Its Strength Characteristics and Microstructure under Combined Action of Dry-Wet and Freeze-Thaw Cycles.

To enhance the application of alkali-activated materials in mine filling, cemented tailings backfill was prepared using slag, fly ash, sodium silicate, and NaOH as primary constituents. The effects of the raw material type and dosage on the backfill were examined through a single-factor experiment. Additionally, response surface methodology (RSM) was utilized to optimize the mixing ratios of the backfill, with a focus on fluidity and compressive strength as key objectives. The evolution of backfill quality and compressive strength under the combined effects of dry-wet and freeze-thaw (DW-FT) cycles was analyzed. The hydration products, microstructure, and pore characteristics of the specimens were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and nitrogen adsorption tests (NATs) across varying cycles. The results demonstrate that the optimal backfill composition includes 47.8% fly ash, 6.10% alkali equivalent, and a 1.44 sodium silicate modulus. The macroscopic behavior of the backfill under DW-FT coupling followed this progression: pore initiation → pore expansion → crack formation → crack propagation → structural damage. After a minor initial increase, the backfill strength steadily decreased. Microscopic analysis revealed that the decline in internal cementation products and the deterioration of pore structure were the primary causes of this strength reduction. Thus, the DW-FT coupling can cause significant erosion of the backfill. The technical solutions presented in this paper offer a reference for solid waste utilization and provide valuable insights into the durability of backfill under DW-FT coupling.

A new census of dust and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at z = 0.7–2 with JWST MIRI

Aims. This paper utilises the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) to extend the observational studies of dust and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission to a new mass and star formation rate (SFR) parameter space beyond our local Universe. The combination of fully sampled spectral energy distributions (SEDs) with multiple mid-infrared (mid-IR) bands and the unprecedented sensitivity of MIRI allows us to investigate dust obscuration and PAH behaviour from z = 0.7 up to z = 2 in typical main-sequence galaxies. Our focus is on constraining the evolution of PAH strength and the dust-obscured luminosity fraction before and during cosmic noon, the epoch of peak star formation activity in the Universe. Methods. In this study, we utilise MIRI multi-band imaging data from the SMILES survey (5 to 25 μm), complemented with NIRCam photometry from the JADES survey (1 to 5 μm), available HST photometry (0.4 to 0.9 μm), and spectroscopic redshifts from the FRESCO and JADES surveys in GOODS-S for 443 star-forming (without dominant active galactic nucleus (AGN)) galaxies at z = 0.7 − 2.0. This redshift range was chosen to ensure that the MIRI data cover mid-IR dust emission. Our methodology involved employing ultraviolet (UV) to IR energy balance SED fitting to robustly constrain the fraction of dust mass in PAHs and dust-obscured luminosity. Additionally, we inferred dust sizes from MIRI 15 μm imaging data, enhancing our understanding of the physical characteristics of dust within these galaxies. Results. We find a strong correlation between the fraction of dust in PAHs (PAH fraction, qPAH) with stellar mass. Moreover, the sub-sample with robust qPAH measurements (N = 216) shows a similar behaviour between qPAH and gas-phase metallicity to that at z ∼ 0, suggesting a universal relation: qPAH is constant (∼3.4%) above a metallicity of Z ∼ 0.5 Z⊙ and decreases to < 1% at metallicities ≲0.3 Z⊙. This indicates that metallicity is a good indicator of the interstellar medium properties that affect the balance between the formation and destruction of PAHs. The lack of a redshift evolution from z ∼ 0 − 2 also implies that above Z ∼ 0.5 Z⊙ the PAH emission effectively traces obscured luminosity and the previous locally calibrated PAH-SFR calibrations remain applicable in this metallicity regime. We observe a strong correlation between the obscured UV luminosity fraction (ratio of obscured to total luminosity) and stellar mass. Above the stellar mass of M* > 5 × 109 M⊙, on average, more than half of the emitted luminosity is obscured, while there exists a non-negligible population of lower-mass galaxies with > 50% obscured fractions. At a fixed mass, the obscured fraction correlates with SFR surface density. This is a result of higher dust covering fractions in galaxies with more compact star-forming regions. Similarly, galaxies with high IRX (IR to UV luminosity) at a given mass or UV continuum slope (β) tend to have higher ΣSFR and shallower attenuation curves, owing to their higher effective dust optical depths and more compact star-forming regions.

Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of SrTiO3 ceramic joint brazed by SnO–ZnO–P2O5–SiO2 phosphate glass

The study uncovers the microstructure and mechanical properties of brazed joints between SrTiO3 ceramics and a phosphate glass with the composition 49SnO-19ZnO-32P2O5-3SiO2. The primary objective is to investigate the wettability of the phosphate glass on SrTiO3 ceramics and the evolution of joint strength over varying holding times. Key findings reveal that the phosphate glass exhibits favorable wettability on SrTiO3 ceramics. The formation of Zn2P2O7 and SnP2O7 phases in the joint microstructure and the amount of these two phases gradually increases with the holding time. The mechanical performance is highlighted by the achievement of a peak shear strength of 40.3 MPa after brazing at 560 °C for 10 min. Additionally, the hardness, elastic modulus, and plasticity of the Zn2P2O7 and SnP2O7 phases were found to be intermediate between those of the SrTiO3 matrix and the glass. The formation of these two phases significantly enhances the mechanical properties of the joint.

Predictive mechanical property and fracture behavior in high-carbon steel containing high-density carbides via artificial RVE modeling

The mechanical properties and fracture behavior of high-carbon steel are closely related to the microstructural characteristics. This work developed the artificial representative volume element (RVE) model to explore the effects of microstructural characteristics on mechanical properties and fracture behavior of high-carbon steel containing high-density carbides under uniaxial tension. A series of RVEs with different ferrite grain sizes, particle volume fractions, and particle sizes were generated based on the RSA algorithms. The mechanism-based plasticity model and the three uncoupled damage models were implemented into the RVE modeling. The model parameters were calibrated by the corresponding simulation between in-situ μ DIC and microstructure-based RVE simulation. The predicted mechanical properties and fracture strain from the RVE simulation were in good agreement with the experimental results. Simulated results from a series of RVEs quantified the effects of ferrite grain sizes, particle volume fractions, and particle sizes on strength, elongation, and damage evolution of high-carbon steel containing high-density carbides: strength increases with increasing particle volume fraction while elongation decreases, as well as excessively large or small grain and particle size were not favored to improve elongation. These results were attributed to the damage and internal stress partition.

Plastic deformation and strengthening mechanisms in CoNiCrFe high entropy alloys: The role of lattice site occupancy

The work herein presents the designing of two γʹ strengthened high entropy alloys guided by density function theory (DFT) and thermodynamics calculations with compositions Co34Ni34Cr12Al8Nb3Ti4Fe5 and Co31.5Ni31.5Cr12Al8Nb3Ti4Fe10 (referred as 5Fe and 10Fe). These alloys in the peak aged condition (900 °C for 20 h) exhibit similar precipitates sizes, shapes, volume fractions and γ/γʹ lattice misfit (∼ 0.56). Intriguingly, despite their microstructural similarities, these alloys show different trends in yield strength (YS) evolution over a temperature range. The 5Fe alloy shows a better combination of strength and ductility at room temperature (RT), with YS and elongation of 970 ± 25 MPa, ∼ 18 (%), respectively, in comparison to 850 ± 20 MPa, and ∼ 15(%) in the 10Fe alloy. The precipitate chemistry analyses carried out by 3D atom probe tomography suggest that Fe atoms occupy B-sites in the 5Fe alloy, while it occupies both A and B-sites in the 10Fe alloy. The site occupancy behaviour rendered a higher stacking fault energy (SFE) of the 5Fe alloy, making the γʹ shearing more difficult compared to the 10Fe alloy. The synchrotron X-ray measurements further confirm higher stacking fault (SF) probability in the γ matrix compared to γʹ precipitates in the 5Fe alloy. The role of deformation substructure evolution is also carefully discussed to explain the differences in the high temperature behavior. These results on the effects of alloying chemistry in high entropy alloys enable tuning the mechanical properties of alloys and widening the alloy spectrum with improved high-temperature properties.

Short-term interactions between Longmaxi shale and carbon dioxide-based fracturing fluids

The shale is a dense quarried rock material containing abundant shale oil/gas. Extracting shale gas usually requires fracturing the rock formation to speed up gas desorption and migration. Supercritical carbon dioxide fracturing, as an environmentally friendly and waterless fracturing technique of reservoir stimulation, gains increasing recognition in commercial exploitation of shale oil and gas. However, there is insufficient understanding on the interaction between carbon dioxide-based fracturing fluids and shale, as well as its influence on the mechanical parameters of shale, which are pivotal for determining injection parameters and forming the fracture network. This study focuses on the injection of carbon dioxide-based fracturing fluids to enhance shale gas extraction and carbon dioxide sequestration. Simulation tests of injection were conducted to investigate the influence of different fracturing fluids (deionized water, gaseous/supercritical carbon dioxide, gaseous/supercritical carbon dioxide mixed with brine) injected into shale reservoirs on the microstructure and mechanical properties of shale after short-term physicochemical interaction. This article adopts research methods such as uniaxial compression and uniaxial tensile mechanical experiments based on acoustic emission monitoring and various physical characterizations such as scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, etc. Results show that following treatment with different carbon dioxide-based fluids, the uniaxial tensile/compressive strength, elastic modulus, fractal dimension of pore structure, and the brittleness index of shale exhibit varying degrees of decrease compared to those of dry untreated shale samples. After interacting with different carbon dioxide-based fracturing fluids, the mechanical parameters and brittleness index of shale decrease more significantly than that of the others as the addition of brine. This study shows that the water in carbon dioxide-based fracturing fluids is a controlling factor affecting the elastic modulus of shale. Additionally, the ductility of the shale increases and the acoustic emission emitting lag due to the coupling effects of brine and carbon dioxide. The change law of the elemental and mineral composition of the shale is consistent with the mechanical strength; and the change of element content and mineral composition is the most significant. Compared to gaseous carbon dioxide, the supercritical carbon dioxide has a greater impact on mineral composition of the shale. The change of mechanical strength and microstructure evolution mechanism caused by the short-term interactions between the shale and fracturing fluids provide theoretical references and implications for the determination of injection parameters and permeability transformation of the Longmaxi shale reservoirs.

Uncovering the mechanism controlling strength and microstructural evolution of belite-rich cement-based materials at different temperatures

The effect of temperature on the properties of belite-rich cement-based (BRC) materials is different from that on Portland cement (PC). This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms controlling strength and microstructural evolution at different temperatures, especially C-S-H characteristics, of BRC materials. Phase assemblage, pore structure, and microscopic morphology of BRC paste, as well as phase composition and structure, chemically bound water, and bulk density of C-S-H were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), 1H and 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The strength of BRC mortar increased with temperature is because of the higher hydration degree of β-C2S, lower porosity (except for 60 °C), and increased main chain length (MCL) of C-S-H. Hydration degrees of 28-d β-C2S and C3S increased by 202.5% and 16.3%, respectively, while MCL increased by 39.4% from 5 to 60 °C. The higher temperature sensitivity of β-C2S is due to its activation energy being 12.4% greater than that of C3S in BRC paste. Additionally, gel porosity decreased with temperature due to decreased bound water content and increased 16.7% bulk density of C-S-H from 5 to 60 °C. Finally, the CaO/SiO2 was inversely proportional to MCL and bulk density, but positively to H2O/SiO2. The findings deepen the mechanistic understandings of the hydration kinetics and microstructural evolution for temperature-affected BRC material.

Multiscale model for concrete cured under geothermal environment: Theoretical analysis and experimental validation

Concrete poured as linings of geothermal tunnel would deviate normal curing condition. A multiscale model based on continuum micromechanics, accounting for temperature-dependent factors, is established from the cement paste level to the concrete level. This model predicts the physical properties and compressive strength of concrete and is validated against measured strength, which incorporates the impact of high-temperature curing on the hydration degree, density of C-S-H, and chemical shrinkage of cement. Evolutions of the average hydration degree and compressive strength of concrete were experimentally investigated to this end, and then simulated with multiscale approach. The specimens were subjected to curing temperature 20°C, 40°C, 60°C, and 80°C for first 7 days while maintaining constant relative humidity of 100 %, and then water curing at 20°C for the rest days till tests. The high-temperature curing accelerates the hydration process, but the variance in hydration degree between standard temperature (20°C) and high-temperature conditions diminishes with prolonged water curing. An enhancement in compressive strength is also observed in the early stages of high-temperature curing, succeeded by a decline compared with standard curing after the 50th curing day. Quantitative analysis reveals that volume fractions of hydrates and porosity subjected to high-temperature curing show a substantial increase in the first 7 curing days, and the denser layer of hydration products formed on cement slows down the hydration in later curing ages. The complex evolution of strength in concrete undergoing high-temperature curing is influenced by temporal consideration (the hydration degree) and spatial considerations (the density of C-S-H and the chemical shrinkage of cement). The surge in hydration significantly contributes to strength promotion in early stages. However, the pivotal factor leading to strength deterioration is the increase of porosity when the difference in the hydration degree is less than 0.065.

Enhancing effect of β-cyclodextrin on carbonation properties of steel slag

In order to improve the carbonation properties of steel slag, the carbonation reaction process of steel slag and the formation of carbonation products were regulated by the interaction between multiple hydroxyl groups within β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) molecule and calcium ions leached from steel slag. Through a meticulous experimental design, varying contents of β-CD, from 0.0 % to 5.0 %, were mixed with steel slag to investigate their impact on carbonation kinetics, mechanical strength, and microstructural evolution. The results indicate that β-CD significantly accelerates the carbonation process of steel slag, with a particular boost to the carbonation of β-dicalcium silicate (β-C2S), a key mineral contributing to the carbonation activity. At an optimal β-CD concentration of 2.5 %, the compressive strength of the treated slag reached a peak of 138.5 MPa, marking a 13.4 % improvement over the control sample. Similarly, the CO2 uptake was optimized at 17.9 %, increasing by 21.8 %. Mechanism analysis reveals that β-CD not only facilitates carbonation but also refines the resulting carbonation products, leading to a denser microstructure and enhanced mechanical properties. However, at a β-CD content of 5.0 %, the carbonation process was hindered by excessive viscosity. These pivotal findings propose an innovative strategy to augment the efficiency of carbonation and the inherent material properties of steel slag, thereby fostering a more sustainable approach to the utilization of industrial byproducts.

A coupled model for precipitation strengthening in Mg-Zn alloys

A recently developed precipitation model is coupled to an original mechanical model to predict the strength evolution in Mg-Zn alloys during aging. The proposed models consider the strengthening effects of rod and plate-shaped precipitates on the most important deformation mechanisms in Mg alloys: basal slip, prismatic slip, and twinning. It is found that shearing of rod precipitates dominates the strengthening on basal slip at early aging stages, while the bypass mechanism dominates medium and over-aging stages. On prismatic planes, the bypass of rod precipitates dominates across all aging stages. The influence of different precipitate arrangements and aspect ratios on modelling results is also discussed. The strengthening from plate-shaped precipitates is found to be very poor for the studied slip modes. While for twinning, the strength evolution is nicely represented by bypassing of rod-shaped precipitates. The evolutions of tensile and compressive yield strength during aging are well predicted by considering the hardening on prismatic and twinning planes, respectively.

Microstructure evolution and mechanical property of B4C/Ti65 composites via laser directed energy deposition

Application of laser additive manufacture technique to fabricate the discontinuous reinforced high-temperature titanium matrix composites found its great potential in the complex components of aerospace industry. This work prepared the B4C/Ti65 composites by laser directed energy deposition (LDED) with special attention paid to the relationship between microstructure and mechanical property of composites. The microstructure of B4C/Ti65 composites under different laser power and B4C content were investigated, based on which the tensile strength and ductility evolution and the underlying strengthening mechanism of the B4C/Ti65 composites were discussed. The submicron TiBw were randomly distributed in the composites with additions of 0.1 wt% and 0.2 wt% B4C. The TiBw and TiCp in the composites with addition of 0.3 wt% B4C exhibited a uniform distribution rather than distributed along the prior β grain boundaries at high laser power. There existed the network structure of TiBw and TiCp in the 0.5 wt% B4C/Ti65 composites. TiCp always adhered to TiBw, and both TiBw and TiCp acted as the nucleation sites for equiaxed α grain, which is responsible for the finer α colonies that benefit to strength with higher B4C content. The tensile tests showed that the 0.3 wt% B4C/Ti65 composite shows a good combination of ultimate tensile strength (1201 MPa) and elongation (5.54 %). The grain refinement strengthening played the dominant role in the strength increment of the B4C/Ti65 composites. In addition, the formation of clustered submicron-TiBw and network structure of TiBw and TiCp in the 0.5 wt% B4C/Ti65 composites greatly upgraded the yield strength.

Effect of chemical etching time on the fatigue behavior of Ti‐6Al‐4V produced by laser powder bed fusion

AbstractThis study focuses on the evolution of the fatigue strength of Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L‐PBF) produced Ti‐6Al‐4V as a function of the chemical etching finishing process. The aim is to identify the critical fatigue crack initiation mechanisms and the transitions between them in terms of the evolution of the surface micro‐geometry. This is done using three different geometries and six different surface states. The evolution of the crack initiation mechanisms is then used to explain the evolutions of the fatigue strength and the fatigue scatter. Chemical etching affects the fatigue life via a polishing effect, which directly influences both the finite and the high cycle fatigue domains. It is shown that chemical etching makes it possible to obtain fatigue strengths that are almost similar to those of the machined surface. However, it is also observed that etching cannot fully counteract the effects of large surface cavities caused by surface connected porosities.

Influence of vacuum and high-temperature on the evolution of mechanical strength and microstructure of alkali-activated lunar regolith simulant

Alkali-activated lunar regolith (AALR) has become one of the most promising lunar building materials, offering the potential to support the construction of large-scale lunar structures. This paper presents a comprehensive experimental investigation on the fresh properties, physical properties, mechanical performance and microstructural characteristics of alkali-activated lunar regolith simulant (AALRS) considering the effects of lunar environments (high-temperature, vacuum and coupled high-temperature and vacuum), alkaline activators (sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate) and curing age. The results show that AALRS under high-temperature environment exhibits higher strength while the strength development is limited. However, AALRS under vacuum environment exhibits lower strength but the strength increases as the curing time increases. In terms of pore structure, the volume fractions of macro voids for SH-V and SS-V account for up to 50.94 % and 63.64 %, respectively, which are 12.22 % and 7.95 % higher than those of SH-H and SS-H. Regarding the impact of coupled high-temperature and vacuum environment, the compressive strength of SH-HV-7 is reduced by 47.8 % compared to that of SH-H-7, while the compressive strength of SS-HV-7 exhibits a 57.2 % increase over that of SS-H-7. The sodium hydroxide-activated (SH-activated) system and sodium silicate-activated (SS-activated) system demonstrate fundamentally intrinsic differences in terms of reaction products, structure build-up and pore structure. The positive optimization mechanism and reverse degradation effect of vacuum environment on the performance of AALRS paste were revealed. Finally, the evolution of structural characteristics of AALRS paste under different environments was elucidated.

Comparison with the effect of the cyclic liquid nitrogen jet and liquid nitrogen immersion cooling on the deterioration of mechanical properties of high temperature rocks

In order to study the effect of liquid nitrogen jet cooling on the deterioration of mechanical properties of high temperature rocks, the cyclic liquid nitrogen jet (LNJ) cooling and liquid nitrogen immersion (LNI) cooling were carried out on 200 °C and 400 °C granite. The variations of ultrasonic velocity, tensile strength, acoustic emission and energy evolution were analyzed. The results showed that with the increase of rock temperature and cooling cycles, the deterioration of mechanical properties of high temperature rock was enhanced by cyclic LNJ and LNI cooling. Differently, the deterioration effect of LNI cooling on mechanical properties was weakened with the increase of cycles. On the contrary, the deterioration effect caused by LNJ cooling was significantly enhanced with the increase of cycles. For example, when the LNI cooling cycles exceeded 5 times for 200 °C sample and 3 times for 400 °C sample, the tensile strength and absorbed energy at failure decreased limitedly with the growth of cooling cycles. However, the deterioration degree of rock mechanical properties at 400 °C showed a linear decline trend with the increase of LNJ cooling cycles. The temperature and the number of cycles had significant effects on mechanical properties, with temperature having the greatest influence. The difference between LNJ and LNI cooling became more pronounced with increasing cycles. LNJ cooling, by creating localized high thermal stresses and non-uniform heat transfer, led to continuous deterioration of mechanical properties with each cycle. In contrast, LNI cooling's effect saturated after initial cycles. The multi-cycle LNJ cooling method could improve the fracture degree of high temperature rock under low load level, so as to improve the efficiency of high temperature hard rock formation drilling.