Expansion Of Zone Research Articles

Future shifts in climatic conditions promoting northward expansion of the Mediterranean climate in the circum-Mediterranean region.

In the upcoming decades, precipitation and temperature patterns are expected to shift in the Mediterranean basin due to global warming, potentially having an influence on the environment and the economy in the area. Using monthly precipitation and temperature data from 15 global climate models (GCMs) developed as part of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6), the Mediterranean Climate Envelop (MCE), as defined by Daget's (1977) criteria, is projected under two climate change scenarios: SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5, and for two future periods: 2050s and 2070s. According to the findings, the MCE is expected to expand by 3.51 and 4.93% in the 2050s under the SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, respectively, in comparison to the current state. This expansion is expected to reach 5.28 and 9.87% for SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5, respectively, in 2070s. For both situations and durations, MCE contraction would be minor, however, at less than 1%. More than 99% of the present MCE would stay stable proportionately. The northern Mediterranean region is mostly concerned by the MCE's expansion. The SSP2-4.5 scenario predicts that by the 2070s, expansion zones will occupy 674,183 km2, with 64% of the area located in Southern Europe and 36% in Western Asia. In SSP5-8.5 scenario, this area is expected to be significantly larger, estimated to be approximately 1,256,881 km2; 67% in Southern Europe and 33% in Western Asia.

Effect of Mo on the Phase Transformation, Microstructure, and Hardness of Q500qENH Weathering Steel of Bridge Construction during Continuous Cooling

This article investigates the precipitation behavior of Mo element in the continuous cooling phase transformation process of weathering steel of bridge construction and its influence on microstructure and hardness. The results demonstrate that the addition of Mo leads to the narrowing of the phase transformation interval of proeutectoid ferrite and pearlite, the expansion of the bainite transformation zone, a delayed bainite phase transformation process, and the refinement of bainite microstructure. Moreover, theoretical calculations of bainite phase transformation kinetics reveal that the average activation energy for bainite transformation in Mo‐free and Mo‐containing steels is 94.8 and 134.0 kJ mol−1, respectively. The new grains of Mo‐free steel mainly grow in a 2D mode, while Mo containing steel mainly grows in a 1D mode, which confirms the retarding effect of Mo on bainite grain growth. Additionally, Mo significantly increases the number density and refines the size of precipitated phases in weathering steel of bridge construction. Within the cooling rate range of 0.1–30 °C s−1, the hardness of weathering steel of bridge construction is enhanced by Mo, with the magnitude of hardness increment decreasing as the cooling rate increases. This behavior is primarily governed by the combined influence of phase transformation strengthening and precipitation strengthening.

Expanded subsurface ocean anoxia in the Atlantic during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum

The ocean has experienced substantial oxygen loss over recent decades, affecting marine ecosystems and fisheries. Investigating ocean deoxygenation during hyperthermal events, such as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), offers insights into its future dynamics. Here, sediment cores from the South Atlantic reveal a pronounced decline in foraminifera-bound δ15N, concurrent with an increase in marine barite δ34S and enhanced ocean productivity during the PETM. These findings suggest an expansion of oxygen-deficient zones (ODZs) from suboxia to anoxia in the thermocline, with ammonium and sulfide accumulation. Model simulations indicate “ammonium-type” ODZs were driven by Southern Ocean warming and elevated productivity. Intense fixed nitrogen loss at the upper boundary of these ODZs, along with increased oceanic phosphorus inventory, likely spurred a compensatory rise in N2 fixation. While the Pacific might experience different oxygenation conditions during the PETM, parts of the Atlantic thermocline became anoxic, highlighting potential spatial variabilities of ocean deoxygenation under global warming.

The Role of Fluvial Morphodynamic Hierarchy in Shaping Bedform Deposits

AbstractFluvial cross strata are fundamental sedimentary structures that record past flow and sediment transport conditions. Bedform preservation can be significantly influenced by the presence of larger‐scale topographic features that cause spatial gradients in flow. However, our understanding of the controls on cross strata preservation in the presence of a morphodynamic hierarchy is limited. Here, using high‐resolution bathymetry from a physical experiment, we quantify bedform evolution and cross strata preservation in a zone of flow expansion and deceleration. Results show that the size and celerity of superimposed bedforms decreases along the host‐bedform lee slope, leading to a systematic downstream increase in the sediment accumulation rate relative to bedform celerity. This increase in local bedform climb angle results in the preservation of a larger fraction of formative bedforms. Our results highlight the need to revise current paleohydraulic reconstruction models, and demonstrates that fluvial morphodynamic hierarchy is a fundamental determinant of sedimentary strata.

Expansión urbana de Bahía Blanca: caracterización territorial del área periférica oeste de la ciudad

The city of Bahía Blanca is in full expansion and growth, which is why the need arises to carry out adequate planning and organized territorial ordering. In this way, prevent and/or mitigate consequences derived from the interaction of the land to be occupied and the civil works and land uses carried out there during its progress. Although there is data in the area on soil properties (surface and underground hydrology, granulometry, geomorphology, uses), an integrated study of them is necessary since their interrelationships define the behavior of the terrain. In this research, it is proposed to carry out the corresponding cartography using a GIS (Geographic Information System) based on the available data and new results obtained on land use and lithological, sedimentological and geomorphological characteristics of the studied terrain. This study is considered of interest for the area, which constitutes a possible expansion zone for the city. The software used allows results and data to be dumped in the form of layers and displayed simultaneously, carrying out an efficient study. In this way, providing the information to identify and characterize the suitability of the soil for engineering purposes, contributing to a responsible and sustainable urban expansion, avoiding geological risks. The combination of data through this methodology allows the analyzed parameters to be integrated, and in this way constitute a tool to predict the behavior of the terrain, establish guidelines for the management of urban expansion.

Numerical Simulation of Vanadium–Titanium Blast Furnace under Different Smelting Intensities

The blast furnace smelting of vanadium–titanium ore plays a crucial role in the efficient utilization of vanadium-titanium resources. In this research, a detailed numerical simulation study of the temperature, velocity, and concentration fields during the smelting process in a vanadium–titanium blast furnace was conducted. The actual production data from a 1750 m3 vanadium–titanium blast furnace was utilized, combined with softening and dripping parameters and material balance calculations, to develop a two-dimensional blast furnace model. This model was employed to analyze the effects of varying smelting intensities on the internal operating conditions of the furnace. The study found that as smelting intensity increased, significant changes occurred in the temperature fields and CO concentration fields within the furnace, thereby affecting the reduction efficiency of the burdens. Additionally, this research also shows that increasing the proportion of Baima pellets in the furnace will lead to the expansion of the soft melting zone and the upward movement of the soft melting zone. This investigation not only revealed the variations in the internal physical fields of the blast furnace under different operating conditions but also provided theoretical foundations and references for optimizing the design and operation of vanadium–titanium blast furnaces. By comparing the velocity field under different smelting intensities, it was found that the difference was small, which was mainly related to the expansion behavior of the pellets. These findings provide an important scientific basis for further improving the efficiency of blast furnace smelting and reducing costs.

Temperature distribution considering the film-wise condensation and its impact on multi-stage oil production during the co-injection of steam-CO2

The co-injection of steam and CO2 into oil sands reservoirs has proved to be one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly methods to produce bitumen. Nevertheless, the condensation mechanism of steam in the reservoir is film-wise condensation under the effect of CO2, which reduces the heat transfer efficiency of steam. To obtain accurate oil production during the co-injection of steam-CO2, it is critical to predict the temperature distribution considering the film-wise condensation and clear its impact on oil production. In this study, laboratory experiments with different injectors were conducted to clear the effect of film-wise condensation on temperature distribution in the formation. Then, a mathematical model considering film-wise condensation was established to predict the temperature distribution and oil production, compared with the measured experiment result and multi-stage oil production from field data. Finally, the effect of temperature distribution on multi-stage oil production was analyzed through different injection volumes. The results indicated that the impact of film-wise condensation inhibits the development of the steam zone(Ts) but explicitly expands the hot water zone(Ts ∼ Tr). Moreover, the different injection components affect film-wise condensation, and CO2 has a more pronounced effect, whereas steam has little impact on the hot water zone despite its significant effect on steam zone expansion by weakening the film-wise condensation. Furthermore, the oil production exhibits the multi-stage characteristic controlled by different heating zones(the steam zone and the hot water zone), such that the steam zone contributes to higher oil production in the rising stage, and a larger hot water zone induces a longer life of the rising stage and the stable stage.

CMIP6 models project a shrinking precipitation area

Reanalysis and satellite data indicate a decreasing precipitation area in recent decades, affecting local water resources and precipitation intensities. We have used CMIP6 simulations to test the hypothesis of a shrinking precipitation area in a warming climate. Our analyses reveal that SSP5-8.5 projections show a robust decrease in the precipitation area between 50 °S and 50 °N, and globally in 75% of the simulations. The new findings support the observed relationship, although to a lesser extent than earlier found in reanalysis and satellite data. We find a poleward shift of precipitation, increasing the daily precipitation area in the Arctic from 18% to 28%. At lower latitudes the precipitation area is reduced due to a decreasing occurrence of precipitation. These changes are related to the expansion of low relative humidity zones in the lower-to-mid troposphere, specifically at the poleward edges of the subtropics.

Impact of Habitat Quality Changes on Regional Thermal Environment: A Case Study in Anhui Province, China

Biodiversity degradation and loss represent critical global challenges, primarily driven by the urban heat island effect, which results from elevated surface temperatures. As urbanization and climate change continue to progress, these phenomena have a profound impact on both habitats and human residential environments. This study focuses on Anhui Province as a case study to systematically investigate the effects of changes in habitat quality (HQ) on the evolution of the regional thermal environment. The objective is to provide a scientific basis for addressing regional thermal environment issues and promoting biodiversity conservation. This paper employs the InVEST-HQ model to analyze HQ in Anhui Province from 2000 to 2020 and integrates surface temperature data to assess the response of HQ changes to variations in the regional thermal environment. The results show that: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the HQ index in Anhui Province exhibited a general decline, characterized by pronounced spatial heterogeneity, with lower values observed in the northern regions and higher values in the southwestern and southern areas. (2) Concurrently, the relative surface temperature in Anhui Province continued to rise, particularly in central urban areas such as Hefei, where the increase in impermeable surfaces has facilitated the expansion of high-temperature zones. (3) Different types of HQ had distinctly varying effects on regional thermal environments: habitats classified as poor HQ or worse HQ were associated with noticeable warming effects, while those categorized as good HQ or excellent HQ exhibited significant cooling effects. (4) The contribution index of varying HQ to relative surface temperature ranged from −0.2 to 0.3, indicating that poor HQ and worse HQ positively contributed to regional thermal environments, whereas good HQ and excellent HQ exerted a negative contribution. City-level analyses revealed that cities such as Suzhou, Chizhou, Wuhu, Anqing, Xuancheng, and Lu’an were associated with positive contributions to relative surface temperature, while cities including Bengbu, Fuyang, Chuzhou, Huaibei, Tongling, Ma’anshan, and Hefei demonstrated negative contributions. This study provides valuable insights for optimizing the spatial distribution of urban cold islands and promoting ecological sustainable development.

Acoustic emission analysis of seizure transition process between steel journals and aluminum alloy plain bearings

Seizure tests were conducted using a bearing tester to elucidate the mechanism of seizure occurring between aluminum alloy (Al-Sn-Si) plain bearings widely used in gasoline engines and steel journals. Differences in torque spikes that occurred before seizure and final seizure were determined by analyzing the sliding surfaces and cross sections and the acoustic emission signal. The results revealed that the occurrence of final seizure was affected by the melting out and depletion of tin in the bearing alloy, plastic deformation due to frictional heat, and expansion of the aluminum adhesion zone caused by these factors.

The Garden and Its Walls

This essay examines the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden in Vancouver through a sociocultural lens. Positioned in Chinatown within Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES), the garden is the first authentic Ming Dynasty-style scholar’s garden outside of China. Operating as both a public park managed by the Vancouver Park Board, as well as a paid garden managed by a nonprofit organization, the garden symbolizes an intersection of Canadian and Chinese cultures, offering a distinctive lens for analyzing cultural interplay. The concepts of the «contact zone» as well as assemblage theory are central to understanding the garden’s role in facilitating cross-cultural dialogues. Influenced by scholars like James Clifford and Mary Louise Pratt, the garden serves as a physical and conceptual space where cultures converge, fostering interpersonal dialogue among visitors of varied backgrounds. Philipp Schorch’s expansion of the contact zone to museum spaces offers a framework for analyzing the garden as representing Chinese culture in Vancouver as well as tying the garden to its locality. The analysis of the garden extends beyond its own confines and over its walls, exposing and exploring the complex relationship the garden has to its surrounding space, the DTES, and Chinatown.

Shaking table study on the seismic dynamic behavior of high-speed railway subgrade with pile network composite-reinforced soil

Pile network composite structures are used in the construction of high-speed railway subgrades. There have been few studies on their seismic dynamic response, however, which has restricted the accurate evaluation of their seismic performance. In this study, a series of shaking table tests on a pile network composite-reinforced soil high-speed railway subgrade were conducted. Particle image velocimetry was used to analyze the slope motion and sensor data to evaluate the overall dynamic response characteristics of the subgrade. Findings indicate that seismic activity causes subsidence throughout the subgrade, with deformations occurring in three distinct phases depending on the input seismic amplitude from 0.1 to 0.4 g (slow increasing), 0.4–0.6 g (faster increasing), and 0.6–1.0 g (rapidly increasing). The inclusion of geogrids aids in dissipating seismic energy, thereby reducing the peak acceleration amplification along the elevation. The increased dynamic soil pressure of the subgrade is mitigated by the geogrid reinforcement, which improves local stability. Moreover, the geogrid strain escalated with greater seismic wave amplitudes, resulting in the progressive expansion of the unstable zone from the slope towards the center of the subgrade as the elevation increased.

THE NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS BETWEEN TOURIST EXPLOITATION AND DEGRADATION, CASE OF EL KALA NATIONAL PARK (ALGERIA)

Algeria is the largest country in Africa by area and is among the countries in the world that possess a rich natural and cultural heritage due to its size, diversity of regions, environments, cultures, and the civilizations that passed through it, including Phoenicians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Ottomans, and others. Our study area, the El Kala National Park, is one of the most important regions in Algeria with significant natural and cultural resources. It boasts an important coastal strip with numerous beautiful beaches and tourism expansion zones that could attract investors. Additionally, it contains various ecosystems, including lakes, dunes, forests, diverse flora and fauna and historical sites from different eras, most notably the El Kala Church. However, this heritage faces degradation due to irresponsible practices, such as the destruction of vegetation in summer 2022, despite existing protective laws. These challenges prompted our study, which partly examines Algeria's policies on tourism, environmental conservation, and heritage preservation. The research methodology employs a combined approach, starting with a historical analysis of the park's status since its UNESCO world heritage classification. We then address the natural ecosystems in the area, illustrated with images, and present a comprehensive study of tourism potentials. Finally, we conduct an in-depth analysis using the SWOT method to obtain a holistic view of the region's natural ecosystems and cultural heritage. Based on our findings, we offer conclusions and recommendations to promote tourism and drive regional development while preserving the ecosystems and natural and cultural heritage of El Kala National Park from degradation and damage.

Reconstructing CO2 uptake capacity and pH dynamics in the Middle Ordovician Taebaeksan Basin, Korea

This study presents the first continuous carbonate boron isotope (δ11Bcarb) record from Middle Ordovician carbonate rocks, focusing on the Taebaek section in Korea. The δ11Bcarb values analyzed from the Makgol, Jigunsan, and Duwibong formations range between 7.5 ‰ and 17.8 ‰, falling within the published Paleozoic range. Samples exhibit minimal diagenetic alteration, as evidenced by weak correlations between isotopic factors and elemental ratios (δ11Bcarb, δ13Ccarb, δ15Nbulk, B/Ca, Mn/Sr, and Na/Ca) as well as mineralogical observations used to select unaltered micrite portions. Using the δ11Bcarb data, we reconstruct pH levels (8.4 to 9.1) which suggest that this shallow shelf environment acted as a CO2 sink during the Middle Darriwilian, despite periods of acidification coinciding with sea level rise and expansion of anoxic zones. Weakening of the basin's CO2 uptake capacity via reduced CaCO3 precipitation and photosynthesis accompanied these oceanographic changes. Our findings provide new insights into the dynamics of CO2 accumulation and pH in Middle Ordovician shallow marine settings in relation to sea level fluctuations. This work lays the foundation for further research into ocean chemistry and carbon cycle perturbations during this important period in Earth's history.

High spatiotemporal resolution optical measurements of two-stage ignition and combustion in Engine Combustion Network Spray D flames

This study explores flame structures and combustion dynamics in high-pressure n-dodecane fuel sprays, focusing on the formation and consumption of formaldehyde (CH2O) during autoignition and the development of poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) as soot precursors. These processes are crucial for optimizing combustion efficiency and reducing emissions. However, traditional approaches, which rely on single-shot measurements or ensemble-averaged visualizations, often overlook critical early-stage processes during low-temperature ignition. To overcome these challenges, we employed an innovative high-speed planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) technique at 50 kHz using a pulse-burst Nd:YAG laser system with an excitation wavelength of 355 nm. This approach, applied for the first time to Engine Combustion Network (ECN) Spray D flames, provides unprecedented insights into the combustion processes at varying ambient temperatures and oxygen concentrations. Additionally, simultaneous high-speed schlieren imaging at 100 kHz was used to visualize spray penetration, first-stage ignition, and thermal expansion zones. Our findings reveal that, similar to Spray A flames, CH2O forms in cold, fuel-rich zones well upstream of the combustion zone. However, in Spray D flames, the schlieren signal softening observed in the jet's head does not lead to complete disappearance, and the CH2O signal is absent from the full head of the spray. During the second-stage ignition, CH2O consumption accelerates due to high-temperature reactions, leading to a significant reduction in its signal. Unlike the mushroom-shaped structure seen in Spray A flames, Spray D flames exhibit a quasi-steady PAH phase structure, with lean peripheral mixtures insufficient for soot precursor formation. Notably, reducing ambient oxygen concentration to 13 % while maintaining or increasing temperature prolongs the presence of CH2O, highlighting its influence on ignition dynamics and oxidation processes in dodecane spray flames. This study provides new insights into the combustion mechanisms of high-pressure sprays and offers valuable data for developing next-generation combustion technologies, including models, aimed at improving efficiency and reducing emissions.

Aberrant growth and expansion in Penium margaritaceum triggered by disruption of microtubules and the cell wall.

Penium margaritaceum, a unicellular zygnematophyte (Streptophyta), was employed to elucidate changes in cell expansion when cells were challenged with the fungal pectinolytic enzyme, pectate lyase, and/or the microtubule disrupting agent, amiprophos-methyl (APM). Microtubule disruption by APM results in significant swelling at expansion zones. These swollen zones provide an easy marker for the location of expansion zones, particularly in cells with altered cell wall pectin. Short term treatment with pectate lyase shows pectin degradation primarily at the isthmus expansion zone and two satellite bands, corresponding with the location of future expansion in daughter cells. When the homogalacturonan lattice of the cell wall is removed by treatment with pectate lyase during long treatments, cell division is maintained, but daughter cell products are considerably smaller. Treatment of cells with a mixture of both pectate lyase and APM results in a distinct phenotype, consisting of "dumbbell"-shaped cells, as APM-induced swelling occurs at the novel expansion centers exposed by pectate lyase treatment. These cells also possess other curious alterations including an extensive, chloroplast-free cytoplasmic zone at the center of the cell, a septum containing ß-glycan, arabinogalactan and homogalacturonan epitopes, unique stacks of ER, displaced Golgi bodies and an extensive network of vacuoles. These results provide insight into the importance of cell wall integrity in defining the location of cell growth and division in P. margaritaceum. Understanding these processes in a unicellular zygnematophyte may provide insights into steps involved in the evolution of land plants.

Potential effects of the Emeishan large igneous province on Capitanian marine anoxia in the Upper Yangtze region

The widespread Capitanian (late Guadalupian) marine anoxia/euxinia has long been regarded as a key driver of the end-Guadalupian (middle Permian) biotic crisis. However, the cause of this marine anoxia is debated, particularly regarding the influence of the Emeishan large igneous province (ELIP). To investigate the contribution of the ELIP to marine anoxia and the possible causal mechanisms, we undertook a conodont biostratigraphic and geochemical study of the middle Permian Maokou Formation in a platform-to-trough transect in the Upper Yangtze region, South China. Our results show that the depositional facies of the Maokou Formation changed from a carbonate ramp to an intra-platform trough within the Jinogondolella (J.) altudaensis zone in the northwestern Yangtze region, which can be attributed to the initial activity of the ELIP. Mantle-derived Sr inputs in the initial and main stages of the ELIP led to two decreases in 87Sr/86Sr during the Capitanian, in the J. shannoni–J. altudaensis and J. prexuanhanensis–J. xuanhanensis zones. The elevated 87Sr/86Sr values during the late Capitanian may have been due to enhanced continental weathering caused by rapid climate warming in response to subaerial eruptions of the ELIP. The deep-water anoxia–euxinia expanded during the middle Capitanian, as indicated by increased MoEF/UEF and V/(V + Ni) values, along with the disappearance of burrows and appearance of small pyrite framboids in the J. altudaensis zone in the Cheng 20 well. However, shallow-water anoxia occurred during the late Capitanian (i.e., J. prexuanhanensis–J. xuanhanensis zone), as evidenced by positive Ce anomalies and losses of aerobic benthic species in the Erya section. Importantly, marine anoxia and negative δ13Ccarb excursions occurred synchronously, but earlier in deep water than in shallow water, potentially indicating an expansion of the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ). The deep-water anoxia corresponded to a decrease in 87Sr/86Sr ratios and the appearance of an intra-platform trough in the J. altudaensis zone, whereas the shallow-water anoxia in the late Capitanian coincided with elevated 87Sr/86Sr ratios. This suggests that the initial activity of the ELIP promoted the development of the OMZ in deep waters during the middle Capitanian, while the subaerial eruptions of the ELIP drove climate warming that led to the expansion of the OMZ into shallow-water platforms during the late Capitanian.

GENETIC DIVERSITY AND DIGITAL DOCUMENTATION OF KAZAKHSTAN'S FLORA

Kazakhstan, with its expansive and diverse climate zones, boasts a rich and varied flora, featuring around 6,000 vascular species, including approximately 10% that are endemic. Effective management and study of this diverse flora requires continuous monitoring and inventory using advanced botanical, molecular genetic and bioinformatics techniques. This research focuses on exploring the genetic diversity within Kazakhstan's flora and establishing a comprehensive information database. Under Program 0237/PTF (2015-2017), efforts began to assess the genetic diversity of endemic, rare, endangered, and economically significant plant species of Kazakhstan. As part of grant АР05131621, an open-access web resource was developed, offering botanical and genetic data on Kazakhstan's flora. This database includes detailed botanical information on around 500 species. Ongoing research into the genetic diversity of different genera such as Juniperus, Tulipa, Allium, Iris, Salsola, and etc. promises to provide valuable insights into their population structure, phylogenetic relationships, and conservation strategies. Notably, this research has also initiated the first comparative analysis of plastid genomes in Kazakhstan. This research has been funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan (AP23490860, AP23483825, AP14870612, АР14869593, AP09259027, 0237/PTF-14, and АР05131621).

Numerical simulation of thermal-flow-magnetic coupling dynamics during P-type monocrystalline silicon removal in electrical discharge machining

To investigate the mechanisms underlying material removal and crater formation on semiconductor silicon in electrical discharge machining (EDM), this study presents a comprehensive thermal-flow-magnetic coupling simulation model, taking into account the synergistic effects of temperature, fluid dynamics and electromagnetic fields. Utilizing the model, the removal dynamics of P-type monocrystalline silicon within a monopulse discharge interval were meticulously simulated. Subsequently, the crater formation mechanism, as well as variations in the temperature and velocity fields, were thoroughly examined. The simulation model’s validity is experimentally confirmed. Findings indicate that an augmentation in pulse duration and thermal energy input precipitates a progressive expansion of the heat-affected zone in silicon. Concurrently, the temperature field’s expanse and the melting-vaporization frontier extend accordingly. The material undergoes instantaneous vaporization upon exposure to the high-temperature heat source. The volumetric expansion of the vapor is substantial, engendering a thermal explosive force that has a significant impact on the molten material. Ejection of material is attributed to the interplay between thermal explosive forces and electromagnetic influences. Experimental observations show that the morphology and dimensions of the simulated crater closely match those of the experimental crater, affirming the model’s capability to elucidate the crater formation mechanism in EDM processes.

Effect of Si additions on microstructure and properties of TiZrHfNbSix high-entropy alloys as potential biomaterials

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) have emerged as promising biomaterials owing to their favorable mechanical properties and resistance to corrosion. This investigation focuses on the impact of incorporating Si on the microstructure and properties of TiZrHfNbSix HEAs. The inclusion of Si leads to the formation of complex compositional silicides, showing multiple structures as the Si content varies. At low Si content, the BCC-silicide eutectic structure blocks the expansion of the shear zone during the deformation process, accounting for the increase in strength. The TiZrHfNbSi0.25 alloy presents a balanced combination of yield strength (∼1129 MPa) and plasticity (∼17 %). Additionally, TiZrHfNbSi0.5 exhibited optimal corrosion resistance in Hank's balanced salt solution (Icorr = 1.713 × 10−7 A cm−2, Ecorr = −0.327 V, 310 K) owing to the reduction in the number of protocells brought about by Si. The remarkable properties of TiZrHfNbSix HEAs renders it a highly promising option for application of silicide reinforcement in biomedical materials.