Periodic Variations Research Articles

Numerical simulation of molten pool flow behavior in ultrasonic vibration-assisted gas tungsten arc welding of low-alloy high-strength steel

The beneficial effects of ultrasonic vibration-assisted arc welding on the performance of welded joints have been experimentally confirmed. However, the mechanism of the influence of ultrasonic vibration on the temperature and flow fields of the welding pool is still not clear, which also limits further application prospects of this technology. The present study established a three-dimensional molten pool model for ultrasonic vibration-assisted gas tungsten arc (UV-GTA) welding of low-alloy high-strength steel, considering free deformation of the molten pool surface and different ultrasonic vibration amplitudes. The temperature field evolution and the molten pool flow behavior under various ultrasonic vibration amplitudes were systematically analyzed. Compared with GTA welding, the ultrasonic vibration in UV-GTA welding enhanced uniformity of the temperature distribution in molten pool. Moreover, the larger the ultrasonic amplitude in UV-GTA welding, the smaller the depth of the molten pool and the time required for the molten pool to reach a quasi-steady state, but the larger the maximum flow rate at the surface as well as at the center of the molten pool. At an ultrasonic vibration amplitude of 40 μm, the molten pool depth in UV-GTA welding decreased by 34.8% compared with GTA molten pool depth. The time for this UV-GTA molten pool to reach a quasi-steady state was just 0.57s, and the maximum velocity at its center increased by 88.1% over that of the GTA molten pool. Comparative analysis of the UV-GTA molten pool and the GTA molten pool revealed a shorter circulating flow field on the upper surface and periodic variations in the internal flow field motion. The simulation outcomes closely align with the experimental findings, confirming both the validity of the model and the accuracy of the pertinent conclusions. This research may lay a solid theoretical foundation for further systematic exploration of the wider application prospects of ultrasonic vibration-assisted arc welding.

Sloshing-induced evolution of self-cleaning performance and flow characteristics within a tank installed on an offshore aquaculture vessel

In this study, a six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) motion platform is utilized to simulate the transverse rolling motion of aquaculture tanks aboard deep-sea aquaculture vessels. It examines the effects of different inlet configurations (single and four-pipe inlet), rolling motions (amplitude Θ and period T), and inlet pipe jet angles α (the acute angle between the jet direction of the inlet pipe and the inclined wall to which it is connected) on the self-cleaning capabilities and flow field characteristics of the aquaculture tank. The findings indicate that the waste collection time in the tank is affected by the combined influences of rolling amplitude and period. In the single-pipe inlet configuration, waste collection time increases with the rolling period and initially increases, then decreases with the rolling amplitude. In the four-pipe inlet configuration, waste collection time increases with the rolling period and decreases with the rolling amplitude. Optimal waste collection performance is achieved at α = 45° in both configurations. Regarding flow field characteristics, variations in rolling period and amplitude significantly alter the flow field within the aquaculture tank. In both configurations, as the period decreases and the amplitude increases, the high-velocity regions and the central vortex area within the tank expand, and the average flow velocity of the water also rises. This corresponds to a reduction in waste collection time and an increase in the waste collection rate. In both configurations, the Flow field is most uniform at α = 45°, which corresponds to the highest waste collection capabilities among all jet angles. The results indicate that while decreasing the rolling period and increasing the amplitude can enhance the self-cleaning capabilities, they also lead to excessively rapid water flow velocities. In practical applications, it is important to select appropriate farming areas based on fish suitability and to choose the correct inlet jet angles for different numbers of inlets. The findings can provide theoretical support and a scientific basis for optimizing the flow characteristics and self-cleaning performance of aquaculture vessels under rolling motion and contribute positively to the advancement of deep-sea aquaculture technology.

Physiological, morphological and chemical changes in pea seeds under different storage conditions.

The loss of germination, viability, and vigor of seeds under storage conditions are the main causes of the need to multiply the seed material for leguminous crops. For crop establishment, seeds obtained in propagation fields are usually used, and the coating comes from the basic seed. In the case of leguminous species, the seeds quickly lose their viability, and in accordance with international regulations, for legumes, the number of seeds increases only in the first year of propagation. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to assess the effects of variations in the storage period, temperature and humidity on the morphophysiological and chemical traits of two pea seed varieties (Gloriosa and Kelvedon Wonder). The pea seeds were harvested at the end of June 2017, 2018 and 2019 and stored for 32, 20 and 8months at T = 4°C and H = 8%; T = 4°C and H = 12%; T = 8°C and H = 8%; T = 8°C and H = 12%; and T = 22°C and H = 65%. The results of the morphological, chemical, and biochemical analyses showed that the highest germination rate; hypocotyl length; radicle length; lipid content; dietetic fiber content; caloric value; and Ca, Mg, K, Na, Fe and Zn contents were detected in the Gloriosa and KW seeds stored for 8months at 4°C and 8% humidity. Analysis of the experimental data by statistical methods revealed that increasing the storage time had an individual significant negative influence only on the germination rate of both pea varieties and on the hypocotyl length and radicle length of the KW variety, while humidity and temperature variation had individual significant influences on the lipid content. The significant effects of humidity and temperature on the germination rate, hypocotyl length and root length of KW plants were also determined. For the remaining morphophysiological and chemical traits of pea seeds, the individual and combined effects of the factors were not statistically significant. Furthermore, the comparison of means using the Tukey test showed that storage conditions related to temperature and humidity generally used by farmers (T = 22°C × H = 65%) did not significantly affect the majority of the nutritional properties of the pea seeds. However, maintaining pea seeds under these conditions for a longer period of time significantly affects seed germination and vigor.

EARLY FLOWERING 3 alleles affect the temperature responsiveness of the circadian clock in Chinese cabbage.

Temperature is an environmental cue that entrains the circadian clock, adapting it to local thermal and photoperiodic conditions that characterize different geographic regions. Circadian clock thermal adaptation in leafy vegetables such as Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis) is poorly understood but essential to sustain and increase vegetable production under changing climates. We investigated circadian rhythmicity in natural Chinese cabbage accessions grown at 14, 20, and 28 °C. The circadian period was significantly shorter at 20 °C than at either 14 or 28 °C, and the responses to increasing temperature and temperature compensation (Q10) were associated with population structure. Genome-wide association studies mapping identified variation responsible for temperature compensation as measured by Q10 value for temperature increase from 20 to 28 °C. Haplotype analysis indicated that B. rapa EARLY FLOWERING 3 H1 Allele (BrELF3H1) conferred a significantly higher Q10 value at 20 to 28 °C than BrELF3H2. Co-segregation analyses of an F2 population derived from a BrELF3H1 × BrELF3H2 cross revealed that variation among BrELF3 alleles determined variation in the circadian period of Chinese cabbage at 20 °C. However, their differential impact on circadian oscillation was attenuated at 28 °C. Transgenic complementation in Arabidopsis thaliana elf3-8 mutants validated the involvement of BrELF3 in the circadian clock response to thermal cues, with BrELF3H1 conferring a higher Q10 value than BrELF3 H2 at 20 to 28 °C. Thus, BrELF3 is critical to the circadian clock response to ambient temperature in Chinese cabbage. These findings have clear implications for breeding new varieties with enhanced resilience to extreme temperatures.

Orexin concentrations and diurnal variation in the cerebrospinal fluid of intensive care unit patients undergoing aortic surgery with spinal drainage.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of orexin show a cyclic diurnal variation in healthy subjects, which is diminished in patients with certain diseases. However, possible circadian variations in orexin levels in critically ill patients remain unknown. In this study, we evaluated the orexin concentrations in the CSF and their diurnal variation in patients undergoing thoracic aortic aneurysm repair with lumbar intrathecal catheterization for CSF drainage after non-neurosurgery. Eligible patients with a lumbar intrathecal catheter placed for CSF drainage following aortic surgery at a single-center ICU between September 2019 and February 2020 were included. Catheters were placed before anesthesia induction, and CSF was collected at the time of catheter placement, ICU admission, and daily at 6:00, 12:00, 18:00, and 24:00 until the catheter was removed or for up to 5 days after admission to the ICU. Three patients (Patients A, B, and C) who underwent thoracic aortic aneurysm repair were included. Patients B and C received sedatives or hypnotics during the orexin measurement period. The baseline orexin levels for Patients A, B, and C were 219.9, 312.3, and 403.8 pg/mL, while the mean orexin levels were 319.4 ± 82.6, 372.4 ± 56.0, and 306.3 ± 48.3 pg/mL, respectively. For all three patients, orexin levels showed diurnal variations, but no consistent periodic changes. CSF orexin concentrations for patients undergoing thoracic aortic aneurysm repair in the ICU were within the reported range compared to those of previously reported healthy subjects; however, consistent periodic diurnal variations were not observed.

Regionalized ensemble estimation of wave periods for assessing wave energy resources across Canada. Part II: Wave-period and wave-energy analyses

The cornerstone for harnessing and utilizing wave energy resources lies in the precise and thorough estimation and assessment of wave energy fluxes through advanced modeling of wave periods. This study implements the developed macroscale regionalized ensemble wave-period modeling (MREWPM) method to accomplish the initial integrated estimation and analysis of wave periods and wave energy fluxes across Canada, complemented by advanced estimations of wave heights and wind speeds. The results indicate that Canadian wave periods lengthen in shallow, low-backscatter, southern, remote, or eastern waters, and exhibit temporal variability in breezy, low-backscatter, southern, remote, or eastern regions. The trend of wave periods exhibited fluctuations, decreasing before and increasing after the trough (9.06 s in 2004) during cool seasons. Temporal variabilities and trends of wave periods were more fragmented and heterogeneous compared to averages. Canadian wave energy fluxes generally exhibit an increase southward with latitudes. The wave energy typically diminishes from offshore (deep waters) to nearshore areas (shallow waters), with this attenuation being more pronounced in winter months. There is a rough decrease from winter, autumn, and spring to summer months, mirroring the seasonal variations of wave periods. This seasonality tends to be more pronounced in highly energetic regions, such as the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. This study enhances reliability and feasibility of macroscale wave-period and wave-energy estimation and analyses, offering scientific support for wave energy development, wave climatology, and ocean engineering.

High performance SERS boosting by Fabry- Pérot cavities of silica-gold-silicon multilayers

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), an advanced technique for molecular spectroscopy, relies heavily on the preparation of SERS active materials that can significantly enhance the Raman scattering signals for highly sensitive detection of trace molecules. Traditionally, SERS measurements are performed on silicon or silica substrates, the SERS performance is determined by the structure of SERS materials. Here, we show that the SERS signal can be amplified and modulated using Fabry-Pérot (F-P) cavities made of silica-silicon (SiO2-Si) or silica-gold-silicon (SiO2-Au-Si) multilayers as substrates. Periodic SERS signal variations as SiO2 thickness increases are observed, exhibiting optimal enhancement with the SiO2 thickness of 250 nm due to the optical interference in the cavity. Although the signal enhancement by optical interference is weaker than that by plasmonic resonance, additional signal amplification is essential for highly sensitive SERS materials. Moreover, we applied this strategy to detect thiram in bean sprout extracts, demonstrating that the detection sensitivity is two orders of magnitude higher than that using Si substrates. The utilization of the pseudo-internal standard intensity calibration method facilitates the quantitative analysis of thiram concentrations. Our results provide a promising approach for further amplification of SERS signals with great potential for practical applications.

Farm to fork applications: how vibrational spectroscopy can be used along the whole value chain?

Vibrational spectroscopy is a nondestructive analysis technique that depends on the periodic variations in dipole moments and polarizabilities resulting from the molecular vibrations of molecules/atoms. These methods have important advantages over conventional analytical techniques, including (a) their simplicity in terms of implementation and operation, (b) their adaptability to on-line and on-farm applications, (c) making measurement in a few minutes, and (d) the absence of dangerous solvents throughout sample preparation or measurement. Food safety is a concept that requires the assurance that food is free from any physical, chemical, or biological hazards at all stages, from farm to fork. Continuous monitoring should be provided in order to guarantee the safety of the food. Regarding their advantages, vibrational spectroscopic methods, such as Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), near-infrared (NIR), and Raman spectroscopy, are considered reliable and rapid techniques to track food safety- and food authenticity-related issues throughout the food chain. Furthermore, coupling spectral data with chemometric approaches also enables the discrimination of samples with different kinds of food safety-related hazards. This review deals with the recent application of vibrational spectroscopic techniques to monitor various hazards related to various foods, including crops, fruits, vegetables, milk, dairy products, meat, seafood, and poultry, throughout harvesting, transportation, processing, distribution, and storage.

An equivalent analysis of unsteady sand transport in a wind tunnel

This study investigates the effect of unsteady wind on sand transport in a wind tunnel using sinusoidally varying wind velocity to represent the unsteady wind. By comparing sand transport fluxes under steady and unsteady winds, we demonstrate that cumulative sand transport flux varies sinusoidally with the sinusoidally varying wind velocity. In addition to the time-averaged wind velocity, the sand transport rate is also affected by the amplitude and period of wind velocity variations. We then propose an ‘equivalent’ steady aeolian sand transport process as a substitute for the actual unsteady transport process. In terms of wind velocity amplitude and period variations, an equivalent wind friction velocity factor u*′ is defined to capture differences caused by wind velocity variations with the same time-averaged wind velocity and friction velocity. Finally, a unified equation for aeolian sand transport is derived, demonstrating applicability for both steady and unsteady flow conditions. The results of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of aeolian sand transport under unsteady flow.

A Possible Explanation of W-type Phenomena in V694 Peg

Three sets of complete multicolor light curves of V694 Peg observed in 2013, 2015, and 2019 were presented and analyzed. Our photometric solutions show that this system was an A-type shallow contact binary in 2013 and 2015 while it converted to a W-type one in 2019. A large cool spot on the component of this binary could explain the conversion, implying the W-type phenomena may be caused by the magnetic activity of the components. We have collected available data on this binary and calculated 505 times of light minimum, which spans 17 yr. The orbital period investigation based on these timings shows there is a long-term period increase at a rate of dP/dt = 4.3(±0.3)×10−9 day yr−1 superposed on a periodic variation with a period of 11.81(±0.06) yr. The cyclic orbital variation may be the result of magnetic activity cycles or the existence of a third body. Until now, only eight transformed systems, including V694 Peg, have been reported. Compared with other converting contact systems between A-type and W-type, V694 Peg is recorded as the shortest-period one. All of these converting systems are late-type (later than F7) contact binaries with the O’Connell effect and show cyclic period variation, which indicates that magnetic activity may be the reason for the conversion between the two types of contact binaries. For investigating the nature of A-type and W-type phenomena, the discovery of more converting contact binaries is essential.

A high precision 3-D tropospheric delay model over China using ERA5 data

The zenith tropospheric delay (ZTD) is an important error in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) navigation and positioning. The current most empirical tropospheric delay models are two-dimensional with low spatial and temporal resolution and cannot capture high-frequent accurate ZTD variations in small areas and short periods, particularly in Mainland China with diverse climate changes and large terrain differences. In this paper, a high precision three-dimensional (3-D) tropospheric delay grid model (ZTD_3D) over China with a horizontal resolution of 0.25° × 0.25° and a time resolution of 1 hour was established with the piecewise function describing the height change of ZTD from 2016-2019 fifth-generation European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) reanalysis data (ERA5). The performance of the proposed model is verified by using radiosonde data and ZTD products from the Crustal Movement Observation Network of China (CMONOC), as well as the global pressure and temperature models (GPT2, GPT3-1 and GPT3-5). Results show that the RMS of ZTD_3D model is 2.04 cm when compared to radiosonde observations, and the accuracy is 55.1 %, 54.7 % and 63.1 % higher than that of GPT3-1 model, GPT3-5 model and GPT2 model, respectively, while the RMS of ZTD_3D model is 3.66 cm when compared to GPS ZTD from CMONOC, and the accuracy is 1.6 % and 29.7 % higher than that of GPT3-5 mode and GPT2 model, respectively. The application of the ZTD_3D model in GNSS precise point positioning (PPP) has showed accuracy improvement in the vertical direction. The model proposed in this study can provide accurate ZTD information and a reliable tropospheric delay correction model for precise GNSS positioning.

The curious case of 2MASS J15594729+4403595, an ultra-fast M2 dwarf with possible Rieger cycles

Context. RACE-OC (Rotation and ACtivity Evolution in Open Clusters) is a project aimed at characterising the rotational and magnetic activity properties of the late-type members of open clusters, stellar associations, and moving groups of different ages. The evolution in time of rotation and activity at different masses sheds light on the evolution of the stellar internal structure, on magneto-hydrodynamic processes operating in the stellar interior, and on the coupling and decoupling mechanisms between the radiative core and the external convective envelope. As part of this project, in the present paper we present the results of an investigation of a likely member of the AB Doradus association, the M-type star 2MASS J15594729+4403595. Aims. In the present study, we aim to reveal the real nature of our target, which turned out to be a hierarchical triple system, to derive the stellar rotation period and surface differential rotation, and to characterise its photospheric magnetic activity. Methods. We have collected radial velocity and photometric time series, complemented with archive data, to determine the orbital parameters and the rotation period and we have used the spot modelling technique to explore what causes its photometric variability. Results. We found 2MASS J15594729+4403595 to be a hierarchical triple system consisting of a dwarf, SB1 M2, and a companion, M8. The M2 star has a rotation period of P = 0.37 d, making it the fastest among M-type members of AB Dor. The most relevant result is the detection of a periodic variation in the spotted area on opposite stellar hemispheres, which resembles a sort of Rossby wave or Rieger-like cycles on an extremely short timescale. Another interesting result is the occurrence of a highly significant photometric periodicity, P = 0.443 d, which may be related to the stellar rotation in terms of either a Rossby wave or surface differential rotation. Conclusions. 2MASS J15594729+4403595 may be the prototype of a new class of extremely fast rotating stars exibiting short Rieger-like cycles. We shall further explore what may drive these short-duration cycles and we shall also search for similar stars to allow for a statistical analysis.

Study on the Spatio-temporal Evolutionary Properties of Gas-liquid Two-phase Flow in Centrifugal Pump as Turbine (PAT)

With the increasing complexity of the industrial production process, the transmission medium of the hydraulic turbine is no longer satisfied, and the gas-liquid two-phase mixed medium has to be considered. The presence of gas in the transmission medium will alters the internal flow structure of the hydraulic turbine and affect its operational stability. Therefore, for the purpose of clarifying the influence of inlet gas content on the internal flow of PAT, the unsteady flow of the PAT is simulated in this paper using numerical simulation. Based on the numerical simulation results, the influence of inlet gas content on the internal flow characteristics, characteristics of pressure fluctuation in impeller and volute, and vortex evolution of flow field are analyzed. The accumulation of gas phase leads to the emergence of vortices, and regions with low pressure values appear at the vortex generation. The major factor of the periodic variation of pressure fluctuation between volute and cut-water is the dynamic and static interference of impeller. The increase of gas content causes more flow disorder in the cut-water region and the volute contraction section. Since the gas in the flow channel is predominantly on the suction side of blades, the flow field on the suction side is more complex than that on the pressure side, and the amplitude of pressure fluctuation increases appropriately. The vortex structure is mainly distributed on balance hole, inlet area of impeller and suction side of blade. As the blade rotates, there are new shedding and growth of vortices, and finally attached to the volute wall. Increasing gas content enhances the influence of blade rotation on the vortex evolution characteristics in the volute and impeller.

Research on the aero-hydro coupling characteristics of the floating twin-rotor wind turbine system

The concept of installing two wind turbines on a floating platform, known as a floating twin-rotor wind turbine system, has recently garnered significant interest. This configuration can harness greater wind energy resources, reduce installation and mooring costs by sharing mooring lines, and minimize losses due to wake effects between turbines through yaw control. However, previous research has not sufficiently addressed the dynamic performance analysis of such systems. This study focuses on a high-capacity floating twin-rotor wind turbine system and develops an aero-hydrodynamic coupled analysis method based on the free vortex wake method and potential flow theory, specifically tailored for the twin-rotor configuration. This method facilitates real-time iterative calculations of wind and wave loads acting on the system and suggests optimization strategies for its design. Our findings indicate that the design of high-capacity floating twin-rotor systems can significantly reduce costs. Furthermore, the twin-rotor floating system design enhances wake recovery and achieves optimal comprehensive performance when the rotor spacing ratio (S/D) is 1.2 for the IEA 15 MW turbine. The coupled interactions induce periodic variations in aerodynamic performance, with the amplitude of these variations increasing with turbulence intensity. This research lays a theoretical foundation for advancing the design, platform optimization, and coupled computational analyses of large-capacity, large-scale floating twin-rotor wind turbine systems.

The impact of hydroclimate-driven periodic runoff on hydropower production and management

This study evaluates the impact of hydroclimate-driven periodic runoff on hydropower operations and production, with a focus on how the forecasted biennial periodicity of runoff time series could affect the efficiency of hydropower generation. Hydrologic stochastic processes are utilized to forecast long-term runoff, and seven hydroclimate scenarios are developed to be input into a production management model, allowing for an analysis of how periodic hydroclimate variations influence hydropower management and output. The results reveal that the biennial alternation between wet and dry years is a key factor affecting hydropower operations in the Dalälven River Basin. Notable differences between wet- and dry-year scenarios were observed in terms of power efficiency, production output, and forecasting accuracy. Operating hydropower systems based on dry-year runoff forecasts in wet years results in a 1.63% decrease in production efficiency and a reduction of 9,104 MWh in power generation. Conversely, applying wet-year forecasts in dry years slightly boosts production efficiency by 0.31% and increases power generation by 7,832 MWh. Scenarios that adhere to biennial periodicity offer the highest forecasting accuracy, particularly when applying dry-year forecasts in dry years in winter and spring, which produce the most precise predictions. In contrast, using dry-year forecasts in wet years results in the lowest forecasting accuracy.

Flow field analysis of self-sustained flutter of a wide-slotted bridge deck

This study delves into the flutter mechanism of a 5,000 m bridge with a wide-slotted deck, finding that the motion is self-sustained and not violently destructive. The system damping ratio is not fixed, and only one stable orbit exists. High-resolution PIV experiments at an experimental wind speed of 10.5 m/s measured the static and dynamic flow fields on the windward and leeward decks. The static results showed leading-edge separation on the windward deck within the reference range, while separation on the leeward deck was difficult to observe. Dynamic testing identified instantaneous vortices around the windward/leeward deck at each phase, with no signs of vortices in the wind speed vectors at all phases after phase-averaging, indicating that the vortex drift hypothesis is not valid. The analysis of the streamline pattern revealed periodic variations in leading-edge separation size and reattachment length on the windward deck during the vibration process, while the leeward deck showed consistently inconspicuous changes. Further examination uncovered a peculiar behavior in the horizontal wind speed profile on the leeward deck during the vibration process, attributed to dynamic changes in the height difference between the windward and leeward decks during flutter. The study suggests that the unusual wind speed profile on the leeward deck is caused by the dynamic changes in height difference between the windward and leeward decks during the flutter process, resulting in additional wind loading. These findings shed light on the complex dynamics of bridge flutter and have implications for the design and maintenance of long-span bridges.

Numerical simulation of flow around a transversely oscillating square cylinder at Re=22000

The study utilized OpenFOAM software, combined with the k-ω shear stress transport (SST) turbulence model and Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) dynamic mesh method, to investigate the influence of the oscillation amplitude on the flow dynamics around a square cylinder at Re = 2.2 × 104. It was found that various oscillation amplitudes affect the non-Gaussian characteristics of fluctuating pressure differently along the cylinder's surface: diminishing at the leading edge while intensifying at the trailing-edge corner. Concurrently, secondary recirculation bubbles near the cylinder's leading and trailing edges gradually diminish and eventually disappear with increasing oscillation amplitudes. Analysis of the amplitude spectrum of transverse velocity indicates the exclusive presence of odd-order harmonics along the central axis, while both odd and even-order harmonics are observed on either side of the central axis. Additionally, heightened oscillation amplitudes result in increased energy transfer from the cylinder to the fluid, with the energy density function predominantly exhibiting negative values and periodic variations occurring at twice the frequency of cylinder displacement or lift coefficient. As the oscillation amplitude increases, the vortex in the wake region transitions from a single-row to a double-row configuration. The research results provide important theoretical guidance for deepening the understanding of the flow characteristics around the oscillating square cylinder.

Theoretical predictions of CO2, H2 and H2O adsorption mechanisms on M2C-MXene: Selectivity and potential application insights

M2C-MXenes, owing to their abundant adsorption sites, exhibit significant potential in CO2 capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) and hydrogen energy applications, contributing to hydrogen utilization and global carbon reduction, and thus solving intractable energy and environmental problems. However, the extensive variety of M2C compounds poses challenges to the systematic evaluation of their applications in these fields. The exploration of the adsorption properties of M2Cs is a key fundamental aspect of these studies, and therefore, this study employs calculations across 456 adsorption systems to elucidate the adsorption mechanisms of 19 M2C compounds for small molecules (CO2, H2 and H2O). The results indicate that these M2C materials possess structural stability and metallic characteristics, with periodic variations in the d-band center aligning with trends in CO2 adsorption energy. Notably, molecular orientation impacts adsorption energy more significantly than adsorption sites, particularly for CO2, while M2C compounds primarily exhibit physical adsorption towards H2. Specifically, Sc2C preferentially adsorbs CO2 in atmospheric conditions, and shows chemical adsorption towards H2O, but exhibits negligible adsorption for H2; conversely, Cr2C demonstrates higher adsorption potential for H2. Both materials exhibit favorable thermodynamic stability, suggesting Sc2C is suitable for CCUS applications, while Cr2C holds promising prospects for hydrogen storage.

Hysteresis in seasonal land-atmospheric interactions over India and its characteristics across croplands and forests

Abstract Satellite-derived Vegetation Optical Depth and Soil Moisture (SM) data reveal the critical role of the soil-vegetation continuum in storing rainwater during the Indian Summer Monsoon and supporting evapotranspiration (ET) during the dry non-monsoon season. During the non-monsoon drier period, the climatologically estimated spatial mean of ET exceeds precipitation input, a phenomenon known as the Soil-Vegetation Capacitor (SVC) effect, which is pivotal in maintaining ecosystem productivity. Notably, our analysis reveals significant variations in the capacitor period between croplands and forests, with croplands exhibiting a ~77 days longer due to dual crop seasons influenced by regional precipitation. The well-recognized hysteresis curves, observed in magnetization and soil-water characteristic curves (SWCC), highlight phenomena where a system's state is influenced by its historical inputs or states and are integral to our findings. We report a previously undocumented seasonal hysteresis in the relationship between the evaporative fraction (EVF) and SM for Indian croplands and forests. We further found that the croplands SM-EVF relation exhibits a reversal in hysteresis in the case of root-zone SM. The surface SM-EVF hysteresis is not present in forests with large root depths and reduced soil evaporation due to high canopy shading, and yet it is present for the root-zone SM. With its reversal for croplands, the newly found hysteresis must be addressed in redefining the critical SM threshold to demarcate the energy and water-limiting regimes. It should be incorporated in the land surface modeling parameterization. Additionally, we observed hysteresis in the soil moisture-gross primary productivity (SM-GPP) relationship across both land covers and soil profiles (surface and root-zone), underscoring the need to investigate such processes to consider their dynamics in future ecological and hydrological models.

Investigation of periodic heat transfer on the transient thermal characteristics of fully wet moving semi-spherical porous fin composed of functionally graded material

This study investigates the thermal behaviour of a fully wet, moving semi-spherical porous fin made of linear Functionally Graded Material (FGM). This investigation examines the fin response to convective-radiative heat transfer under periodic variations in base temperature across three different FGM scenarios: Homogeneous material (HM), Functionally Graded Material I (FGM I) and Functionally Graded Material II (FGM II). The resultant nonlinear partial differential equation is accurately solved using the Finite Difference Method (FDM) and outcomes are benchmarked against existing literature. This research pioneers an investigation into the effects of periodic heat transfer on the detailed thermal profiles of FGM fin, an area not been explored in existing literature. It significantly enhances understanding of the influence of oscillatory base temperatures on thermal management within FGMs, uncovering pivotal insights into the interaction between material grading, amplitude of temperature oscillation and their collective effects on thermal efficiency. Additionally, this research assesses the influence of variables such as the amplitude of input temperature, frequency of oscillation, thermal conductivity grading parameter and others on temperature distribution along the fin length and over dimensionless time. Notably, periodic heat transfer induces a dynamically wavy thermal profile in the fin over time, attributable to oscillating base temperatures. Moreover, the analysis demonstrates that FGM II fin exhibit the most significant temperature distribution, followed by FGM I and HM. The fin heat transfer rate is profoundly influenced by the amplitude of input temperature and the thermal conductivity grading parameter. These insights are pivotal for optimizing fin designs in critical applications, including electronics cooling, HVAC systems, automotive engine cooling and solar energy collection, substantially improving upon traditional designs.