Redistribution Of Material Research Articles

Wood trade regions of Russia: clustering approach development

Network analysis of the Russian timber industry was based on the information about timber transactions between Russian companies in 2020. The data were collected from the Unified State Automated Information System Accounting Timber and Transactions with It. The method of graph clustering was developed. The first step is clustering of the hole graph by Leiden algorithm. The second step is drawing of each Leiden created cluster in abstract space using Fruchterman–Reingold layout and extraction of clusters from layout using meanshift algorithm. Such approach helped us to divide many Leiden-created clusters into components. This algorithm has a problem of resolution limit. It tends to combine some medium and small clusters into large ones. Also, a special method was developed to limit the uncertainty of clustering – both Leiden algorithm and Fruchterman–Reingold layout are non-deterministic algorithms. Wood trade clusters vary in size and content. They are rather autonomous. The average share of intra-cluster trade is 89%. The modularity score of our partition is 0.863. Each cluster has been described using open sources from the Internet. The content of the clusters does not contradict the logic of the wood industry processes. The clusters create rather compact areas on the map – wood trade regions. Their borders often overlap with existing administrative boundaries. Five types of network structure of clusters were defined: vertical monocentric, vertical polycentric, horizontal, dendritic, simple. There are three factors of clustering in wood industry of Russia: production chains (4 types – pulp, plywood, lumber, chipboard chains), demand chains (redistribution of raw material between manufacturers within the cluster, accumulation of wood volumes for some enterprises outside the cluster, wood trade between traders within the cluster), common holder. We have shown that existing approaches to cluster detection based on location quotients often misrepresent economic networks.

Discretization of Thin-Walled Sections with Variable Wall Thickness

At the stage of designing thin-walled aircraft structures, to simplify calculations, their cross sections are idealized. To do this, the section with the skin and the longitudinal elements reinforcing it is replaced (when determining normal stresses) by a discrete one, consisting of concentrated areas at characteristic points. In this case, the equality of the moments of inertia of the initial and discrete sections is preserved. Such idealization is used in the calculation of thin-walled rods for normal and shear stresses (Wagner model). For sections consisting of a system of rectangular strips of constant thickness, discretization allows to set approximate values of normal and shear stresses and accurately find the locations of the singular points of the bending center (in an open contour) and the center of rigidity (in a closed one). The discrete model of a strip consists of three lumped areas: two at the edges and one in the center. The paper proposes to extend the discrete model to sections in which the skin thickness changes according to a linear law. In addition to the rectangular strip, it is possible to use elongated triangles and trapezoids, replaced by three and four concentrated areas, respectively. The possibility of using a discrete model for calculating some thin-walled sections of open and closed contours is considered. The section of an open contour is studied - the problem of transverse bending without torsion of a channel having flanges with a linearly variable thickness. Differences in the flows of tangential forces calculated from the exact and discrete models are shown. The coincidence of the results in determining the position of the bending center according to two models was established. When studying the application of a discrete model to a closed contour, its simplified option is proposed. The problem of transverse bending without torsion and finding the center of rigidity in a section with a contour line in the form of a trapezoid with front and rear walls of constant thickness and upper and lower skins and a similar section with a contour in the form of a rectangle was considered. Differences in the flows of tangential forces calculated by exact and discrete models are established. For a closed section in the form of a rectangle, the decrease in the moment of inertia for torsion due to the redistribution of material in the cross section was studied separately. It has been established that when finding the position of the center of rigidity, the discrepancy between the results of the exact and discrete models in sections with geometric parameters close to real ones was less than 1% for a rectangular contour, and 4% for a trapezoidal contour. The results indicate the possibility of extending the application of the discrete model of thin-walled cross section to the design calculations of thin-walled rods with variable skin thickness, representing practical structures.

Near pixel-level characterisation of microfibres in 3D-printed cementitious composites and migration mechanisms using a novel iterative method

Microfibre reinforcement is widely used for additively manufactured composites, however, it remains a challenging task to resolve the 3D distribution of microfibres in the matrix with low contrast and resolution for image analysis. To address this challenge, we propose a novel iterative destruction–filtering–repairing (DFR) image processing method, and take glass microfibre-embedded extrusion-moulded cementitious filaments (EMCFs) as an example for 3D structural analysis with X-ray computed tomography. Results show that the DFR method enables near pixel-level microfibre diagnosis with high accuracy beyond the ordinary image processing method. The glass microfibres are unevenly distributed in the EMCFs and their orientations are different between the filament body and the interfacial zone, uncovering the mechanisms of extrusion-affected material migration, collision, and redistribution. Our findings make a breakthrough in image analysis with limited resolution and contrast, providing a broad path towards better understanding the microstructure of 3D printed fibre-reinforcement composites.

Interspecific transfer of genetic information through polyploid bridges

Hybridization blurs species boundaries and leads to intertwined lineages resulting in reticulate evolution. Polyploidy, the outcome of whole genome duplication (WGD), has more recently been implicated in promoting and facilitating hybridization between polyploid species, potentially leading to adaptive introgression. However, because polyploid lineages are usually ephemeral states in the evolutionary history of life it is unclear whether WGD-potentiated hybridization has any appreciable effect on their diploid counterparts. Here, we develop a model of cytotype dynamics within mixed-ploidy populations to demonstrate that polyploidy can in fact serve as a bridge for gene flow between diploid lineages, where introgression is fully or partially hampered by the species barrier. Polyploid bridges emerge in the presence of triploid organisms, which despite critically low levels of fitness, can still allow the transfer of alleles between diploid states of independently evolving mixed-ploidy species. Notably, while marked genetic divergence prevents polyploid-mediated interspecific gene flow, we show that increased recombination rates can offset these evolutionary constraints, allowing a more efficient sorting of alleles at higher-ploidy levels before introgression into diploid gene pools. Additionally, we derive an analytical approximation for the rate of gene flow at the tetraploid level necessary to supersede introgression between diploids with nonzero introgression rates, which is especially relevant for plant species complexes, where interspecific gene flow is ubiquitous. Altogether, our results illustrate the potential impact of polyploid bridges on the (re)distribution of genetic material across ecological communities during evolution, representing a potential force behind reticulation.

Numerical analysis of rotating scans’ effect on surface roughness in laser-powder bed fusion

The rotating scanning strategy is a critical factor for top surface roughness in laser-powder bed fusion (L-PBF), yet the underlying mechanism remains elusive. This study introduces an integrated L-PBF model, encompassing powder packing and molten pool fluid dynamics analysis, to investigate how surface roughness accumulates across layers with non-rotating scans but is mitigated with rotating scans. To address computational complexity and prediction errors associated with multi-layer simulations, the model utilizes an experimentally built part as substrate and simulates single-layer depositions with varying scanning rotation angles. Additionally, an as-machined surface representing ideal flat substrate is included for comparative analysis. Results indicate that on as-built surfaces featuring alternating peak-valley patterns, both powder packing structure and fusion zone shape are location-dependent. To effectively characterize the packing structure on such non-flat surfaces, an effective packing density is proposed. Specifically, peak locations exhibit a thinner powder layer, a 14.5% increase in effective packing density, and a 7% decrease in penetration depth compared to valley locations. The circulation flow, driven by recoil pressure and Marangoni force, is responsible for the reduced surface roughness with rotating scans. Specifically, the circulation flow intersects with multiple peaks and valleys, effectively promoting material redistribution among these tracks and disrupting the peak-valley patterns. Conversely, the peak-valley patterns are preserved and may propagate to subsequent layers with non-rotating scans.

Yanovstan formation of Western Siberia: Lithology, structure, and correlation of deposits

Research subject. Yanovstan f ormation ( J3-K1jnv) of Kimmeridgian-Early Beriasian age. Aim. To identify structural features of the Yanovstan formation, to carry out a detailed correlation of its deposits, including the development of criteria for determining the boundaries of the suite. Materials and methods. The studies were carried out on the basis of borehole data, including core material from 5 boreholes and borehole logging data from 209 boreholes. The borehole logging complex comprised the following methods: gamma ray logging, neutron gamma ray logging, acoustic logging, caliper logging, as well as apparent resistivity and self-polarization logging. The borehole sections were correlated by tracing individual sections of the geological section, which are characterized by relatively stable geophysical parameters. Additionally, a sequence stratigraphic approach was used. Results. The boundaries between the Sigov and Yanovstan formations were identified based on the description of core material and its comparison with the borehole logging data. The Yanovstan formation was subdivided into three units proposed by the authors: lower (ЯНв), middle (ЯНб), and upper (ЯНa). A borehole correlation of the units of the formation was carried out, on the basis of which maps of the total thickness and net-to-gross ratio and the structural plan of each of the identified stratigraphic units were constructed. It was determined that the total thickness of the lower unit reaches 80 m and is characterized by maxima within the eastern part of the study area. The thickness of the upper unit reaches 240 m and is identified within the northeastern part of the area. This part is represented by a predominantly clay composition. The total thickness of the formation as a whole varies from 40 m in the west to 320 m in the northeast. The thicknesses of the middle unit are relatively consistent throughout the study area. The sandiness of the lower unit varies from 0 to 0.27 units; the upper ranges within 0–0.45 units. The middle unit is not characterized by the presence of sandstones. Conclusions. The theory about the supply of sedimentary material during the sedimentation of the suite from paleomounts within the eastern edge of the West Siberian Jurassic paleobasin was confirmed. An assumption was made that the increased thickness of the predominantly clayey suite within the northeastern part of the study area is associated with the redistribution and transfer of terrigenous material carried from the Siberian land by currents moving unidirectionally along the coast (counterclockwise). These currents thus seized the lightest (clayey) material and transported it to the northern part of the basin.

Landscape history mirrored in colluvial profiles: A multi-proxy approach from a Luvisol region in Central Czechia

Colluvisols represent an important geoarchive widely used to reconstruct of a range of processes related to the evolution of soil cover. Interpretation of Holocene landscape evolution based on the study of Colluvisols is becoming more important in areas where other proxy data, particularly archaeological and paleoenvironmental records, are lacking. The present study provides a detailed insight into the characteristics and development of two deep Colluvisols located in the Luvisols pedogeographic region in Central Czechia. Based on a multi-proxy approach combining optically stimulated luminescence dating, anthracology, soil micromorphology, clay mineralogy and geochemical analyses, it identifies the main sedimentary periods and describes both the dynamics of upbuilding of Colluvisol profiles and post-depositional pedogenesis. The position in the slope system and the provenance of the material influence the energy of deposition. The upper part of the side valley is characterised by rapid sedimentation of poorly sorted material, whereas the end part of the valley is described by calm sedimentation followed by intensive depletion. The most pronounced post-depositional features were due to bioturbation and redox processes. Although the pedological features associated with the clay illuviation are mainly preserved in the form of redeposited fragments, the in-situ formation of argic horizons in the sedimentary layers has been documented at the base of one of the profiles. The peaks of sedimentation correspond to the Migration Period and the early mediaeval Slavic colonization, both rarely identified depositional eras in Central Europe. In contrast, the colluvial layers representing the High Middle Ages and the recent redistribution of material are less represented. The remoteness of the area, the later onset of human pressure on the landscape and the specific nature of the Luvisols in terms of erosion vulnerability have been identified as the main reasons for this sedimentation history.

Uncertainty‐oriented thermoelastic topology optimization with stress constraint

AbstractThe material redistribution abilities of traditional deterministic topology optimization are effective in addressing stress‐related design issues in thermal elastic structures. However, uncertainties are inevitable in real‐world. The structural strength of a design, achieved through deterministic topology optimization, is highly susceptible to these uncertainties, which may result in failure. This article introduces a novel method for topology optimization in stress‐constrained thermoelastic structures, taking into account the uncertainties associated with heat sources and loads. We employ the Kieisselmeier–Steinhauser function to aggregate the stress constraint when constructing the performance function. In order to improve optimization efficiency, the sequential optimization and reliability assessment method is used to decouple the double‐layer loop reliability‐based topology optimization. Initially, we derive the derivative of stress‐based performance functions with respect to heat source and load uncertainty variables, thereby facilitating the use of modified chaos control for assessing structural reliability and imposing constraints. The adjoint method and chain rule are utilized to obtain the derivative information of the performance function with respect to density variables, guiding the topology updates. We present five design examples to demonstrate the effectiveness of the presented method. Monte Carlo simulations for the optimized results are performed to show that the presented method can obtain a structure that meets reliability requirements.

Measuring Erosional and Depositional Patterns Across Comet 67P's Imhotep Region

AbstractComet 67P/Churyumov‐Gerasimenko displays a pronounced hemispherical dichotomy in surface morphology, where the southern hemisphere exhibits more erosional features than the northern hemisphere due to receiving much greater solar radiation. Consequently, it is generally assumed that particles are ejected from the southern hemisphere through sublimation and a significant fraction eventually descends as airfall, covering the northern terrains. To investigate this south‐to‐north material transfer during the comet's perihelion passage, we used photoclinometry to measure material redistribution within its most extensive smooth terrain deposit around the Imhotep region. However, our findings do not align with this expected trend. Instead, we show that local‐scale processes substantially impact the erosion and accumulation of material, with one area experiencing net erosion while another nearby region, just a few dozen meters away, sees sediment buildup. Our analysis underscores the complex interplay of processes shaping Comet 67P's surface and likely comets more generally.

Investigation of asymmetry reduction for surface structuring and destructuring by laser remelting

Lasers are widely used for structuring metallic surfaces by ablating material. An alternative approach for laser structuring is surface structuring by laser remelting (WaveShape), which is based onthe continuous remelting of a thin surface layer using laser radiation while simultaneously modulating the laser power. The structures are generated by redistribution of the molten material. The structure height and the structure wavelength of periodic structures created using WaveShape can be precisely adjusted by the adaption of various process parameters. However, the structures produced are mostly asymmetrical. An asymmetric structure refers to a structure that is not symmetrical and is inclined in or against the scanning direction. In the context of this work, the asymmetry of the structures was significantly reduced through two different process adaptations. As a first adaption, a compensation term is added to the laser power modulation, which is calculated from the difference profile between a target profile and a structured profile. With this adaption, the shape deviation of an asymmetrical structure could be decreased by 66 %. Asymmetry can be reduced efficiently, although the difference profile required must be determined from a preliminary process step. As a second adaption, a modulation of the scanning speed is investigated with which shape deviation can be decreased by 40 %. Asymmetry is not as effectively prevented as when using the first adaption, but the adaption can be performed without the difference profile. Another aim was to investigate the destructuring, i.e. the removal and therefore smoothing, of asymmetric structures. Using the inverse laser power modulation for destructuring, the structure height of a symmetrical structure can be reduced by 91 % while the structure height of an asymmetric structure can be reduced by 68 %. To increase the efficiency of destructuring of an asymmetrical structure, iterative destructuring was investigated. With two iterations of destructuring, the structure height was reduced by 90 %. As a second approach for more efficient destructuring of asymmetric structures an adaption of the laser power modulation via a compensation term was investigated. The structure height could be reduced by 86 %. In summary, results show that asymmetry can be prevented when structuring with WaveShape and that asymmetric structures can be destructured efficiently.

Restructuring of Ag catalysts for methanol to formaldehyde conversion studied using in situ X-ray ptychography and electron microscopy

Dynamic restructuring of Ag catalysts was visualised in real time using in situ X-ray ptychography. Formation of pores and cavities was observed upon heating under various gas environments, allowing quantitative assessment of material redistribution.

Government transparency and corruption in a turbulent setting: The case of foreign aid to Ukraine

AbstractThis paper analyzes the role of accounting in disaster mitigation and the importance of transparency to avoid corruption. During the Ukrainian war, accounting has allowed the redistribution of war material, the quantification of economic aid, or the efficient management of humanitarian aid. This paper aims to set a research agenda on transparency and corruption in foreign aid to a fragile and conflict‐affected country. In order to analyze the situation of corruption in Ukraine during the war, first a review of the latest corrupt events is carried out and its position in the Corruption Perception Indicator is analyzed. Subsequently, we analyze the aid that Ukraine has received from other countries and institutions, and whether it is transparent. The possible dependence of the Corruption Perception Indicator on the transparency index of each country in the management of aid to Ukraine is studied. This article links corruption, transparency and accounting in the context of the Ukrainian war, highlighting the important role of auditing and financial controls, and presents proposals for future research.

The case for educational reparations: addressing racial injustices in sustainable development goal 4

This paper presents an examination of the education Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 4) through the lens of race. It argues, at this mid-way point of the SDGs, that race continues to be erased, acting as an absent presence, in global educational policy, practice and goals. To address this, the paper calls for a radical review of contemporary development discourse such that the SDGs, and in particular SDG 4, are framed in ways that acknowledge histories of colonial exploitation and epistemic violence. Acknowledging these histories and their reproduction in the Western-led development project, the paper advocates for reparative redress. It argues for the re-orientation of SDG 4 in the interests of racial justice in education by calling for the material redistribution of resources, challenging the hegemony of the Western episteme in curriculum and languages of instruction, holding international agencies and governments to account and reforming the governance of SDG 4 in ways that prioritise racial justice. The paper takes the position that while education has been detrimentally implicated in the Western colonial and development project, it has a key role to play in challenging racist systems as the global community looks towards the 2030 Agenda and beyond.

Enhancing low-speed WEDM machining capabilities on Nitronic-50 with a constant frequency ultrasonic hybrid method

Nitronic-50 stainless steel is a high-strength and corrosion-resistant austenitic premium steel. It requires improved surface characteristics due to its wide use in various applications like fasteners, marine hardware, hydroelectric-power turbines, pressure vessels, etc. This work focuses on machining hard-to-machine Nitronic-50 steel is unconventionally machined using constant frequency ultrasonic-aided low-speed wire electrical discharge machining (USV-LS-WEDM) to enhance its machined surface integrity. This method achieves effective results when cutting high-strength materials with intricate shapes. Material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness (Ra) were measured by considering inputs such as servo voltage (SV), pulse off time ( Toff), pulse on time ( Ton) and current (I) with an ultrasonic-vibration range of 20,000 Hz. The appropriate selection and usage of LS-WEDM parameters is a challenging process and is done with parametric analysis. The MRR of Nitronic-50 was enhanced with an increase in Ton and I along with a reduction in Toff and SV. Surface roughness (Ra) decreased with a gradual reduction in Ton, I, and an increase in SV. The USV-WEDM was compared with a stand-alone WEDM indicating that the MRR for USV-WEDM was improved by 12% and the Ra was decreased by 9% due to effective distribution of spark discharges, which increased material erosion and redistribution of molten metal characteristics. Machining quality for hard-to-machine Nitronic-50 steel was certainly enhanced via hybrid ultrasonic vibration with the existing LS-WEDM.

Statistical and dynamic model of surface morphology evolution during polishing in additive manufacturing

Many industrial components, especially those realized through 3D printing undergo surface finishing processes, predominantly, in the form of mechanical polishing. The polishing processes for custom components remain manual and iterative. Determination of the polishing endpoints, i.e., when to stop the process to achieve a desired surface finish, remains a major obstacle to process automation and in the cost-effective custom/3D printing process chains. With the motivation to automate the polishing process of 3D printed materials to a desired level of surface smoothness, we propose a dynamic model of surface morphology evolution of 3D printed materials during a polishing process. The dynamic model can account for both material removal and redistribution during the polishing process. In addition, the model accounts for increased material flow due to heat generated during the polishing process. We also provide an initial random surface model that matches the initial surface statistics. We propose an optimization problem for model parameter estimation based on empirical data using KL-divergence and surface roughness as two metrics of the objective. We validate the proposed model using data from polishing of a 3D printed sample. The procedures developed makes the model applicable to other 3D printed materials and polishing processes. We obtain a network formation model as a representation of the surface evolution from the heights and radii of asperities. We use the network connectivity (Fiedler number) as a metric for surface smoothness that can be used to determine whether a desired level of smoothness is reached or not.

The work of repair: land, relation, and pedagogy

Geographers center space and place in our understanding of power, arguing that relationships to place matter, that space is a result of power relations, and that how we represent the world makes the world. But to what extent do we turn these methods of analysis to understanding our relations to the land beneath our feet? We consider the experience and limits of repair across four sites, approaching land and place-making as political and cultural practices that orient us toward action and building relations. In this plenary lecture, furthering land-as-pedagogy, work on Black place-making and the afterlives of slavery we propose that geographers take up more seriously and more materially, the work of repair. We are bound up in institutions that stole land from Indigenous peoples, benefitted from enslaved peoples, and built a world of knowledge that shored up the logics and tools of empire; moreover, we must grapple with the afterlives of these practices in their extractive relations to people and land both near and far. As geographers, we can and should be pushing for different kinds of partnerships with the Native nations whose land we are on, toward reparations in the form of material redistribution and restructured power structures, and toward better relations with all workers at our institutions as well. We have an uneven responsibility to devote not only words but also resources and labor to understanding what justice and repair might look like in our fieldsites, discipline, and in our home institutions. We discuss examples of this in our work and at our institutions, propose guiding questions, and invite geographers to reflect on how to do the material work of repair.

Bayesian optimisation of hexagonal honeycomb metamaterial

Periodic mechanical metamaterials, such as hexagonal honeycombs, have traditionally been designed with uniform cell walls to simplify manufacturing and modelling. However, recent research has suggested that varying strut thickness within the lattice could improve its mechanical properties. To fully explore this design space, we developed a computational framework that leverages Bayesian optimisation to identify configurations with increased uniaxial effective elastic stiffness and plastic or buckling strength. The best topologies found, representative of relative densities with distinct failure modes, were additively manufactured and tested, resulting in a 54% increase in stiffness without compromising the buckling strength for slender architectures, and a 63% increase in elastic modulus and a 88% increase in plastic strength for higher volume fractions. Our results demonstrate the potential of Bayesian optimisation and solid material redistribution to enhance the performance of mechanical metamaterials.

Towards a practicable GMNIA procedure in the footsteps of the Direct Design Method

AbstractEurocode 3 permits to utilize nonlinear finite element analysis (NFEA) in design process by carrying out Geometrically and Materially Nonlinear Analysis with Imperfections (GMNIA). Design by GMNIA can consider material plasticity and redistribution of forces in a system level such that it can result in an economical design regarding the material consumption. Unfortunately, GMNIA is scarcely adopted among structural engineers, most likely due to the complexity of the method. The determination of the safety factor for GMNIA requires numerical or experimental test results which may not be available for the designed structural system. Recently, a more holistic approach, Direct Design Method (DDM), has been introduced. In DDM, structural systems are prequalified by determining the system safety factor in advance based on system level reliability studies, thus simplifying the design process for a structural engineer. This study develops a Eurocode‐compliant DDM, i.e. practicable GMNIA, for Warren roof trusses. The paper presents the prequalification process based on three trusses made of cold‐formed hollow sections of the steel grade S700. Additionally, modelling techniques are presented for cold‐formed hollow sections such that an accurate nominal NFEA model is achieved.

Augmenting electrochemical performance of nickel-rich NMC for lithium-ion batteries by combining material synthesis modification and redistribution of transition metal ion concentration

Modification of synthesis approach and material surface are well known to be elegant straightforward routes to augment the electrochemical performance of cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. In this study, we combined the co-precipitation method modification and surface modification of material by redistributing the transitions metal ions content to synthesis nickel-rich NMC (Li1.0Ni0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2, NMC811 M). The pristine NMC811, and NMC811 M both exhibit high energy storage capacity with initial discharge specific capacity up to approximately 220 mAh g−1 at a current density of 10 mA g−1. The achieved results also indicate that, the NMC811 M with transition metal ion content redistribution is of better capacity retention than the pristine NMC811, it maintains approximately 73% of its original capacity after 100 cycles corresponding to a specific capacity of 153 mAh g−1. This work provides a simple but effective approach dedicated to significantly enhancing the electrochemical performance of nickel-rich NMC, and thus paves a way towards high performance battery electrodes.

Bentonite homogenization with technological voids upon hydration

During the construction of the nuclear waste geological repository, the inevitable creation of technological gaps will lead to the redistribution of bentonite material along the wetting path upon water intake, thus impacting its localized hydraulic and mechanical properties. It is therefore of the utmost importance to be able to understand and predict the dry density inhomogeneous distribution throughout the buffer zone. This work proposes a microscopic dynamic force balance framework, incorporating the influence of van der Waals force, diffuse double layer force, and boundary friction force, to explore the underlying mechanism of the bentonite homogenization process upon hydration. The microscopic assumption postulates that bentonite materials are an assembly of numerous parallel thin sheets with other dimensions substantially exceeding the thickness, establishing an association between the aforementioned force and the material’s volume fraction. Particular attention is directed toward exploring the mechanism of boundary friction's effects on the inhomogeneous distribution of dry density with hydration time. The application of the framework to examine the impact of engineered voids with 10% and 20% of the total volume yields a satisfactory reproduction in terms of the spatial and temporal evolution of dry density, validating the robust prediction capacity of the established model. The investigation indicates that compacted blocks in proximity to technological voids experience a rapid reduction in dry density upon hydration, leading to the homogenization process characterized by elevated values in the initial void-affected region and diminished values in the innermost area. Whereas full homogenization is yet to be achieved within the observation period of up to 2160 h, and the greater the variability of the dry density within the specimens containing larger initial voids. Further analysis reveals that as the hydration process advances, the friction force within the portion featuring the initial void exhibits a gradual increase, while emergence gradually decreases in the inner swelling zone. Notably, the high friction factor at the bentonite and steel interface allows for the maintenance of large stress gradients and the associated density gradients.