Article
Construction & Building Technology
Weipei Xue, Wei Xu, Wei Jing, Haopeng Li, Hanwen Zhang
Summary: The study revealed that the influence of early-age loading on concrete can be divided into different stages. As the loading increases, the concrete elastic modulus decreases while the Poisson's ratio initially increases and then decreases. When the loading is 10%, the number of macropores and cracks decreases, and the mechanical properties of concrete are not significantly affected; however, with a continuous increase in loading, the mesopores and cracks in concrete increase, leading to a deterioration in mechanical properties.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Chao Hu, Hua-Kang Zheng, Qi-Ling Zhang, Sheng-Mei Yang, Lei Hu
Summary: This paper proposed a multiscale simulation method for modeling granular materials, utilizing the finite-element method to simulate the boundary value problem and extracting the constitutive relation for the overall solution, simplifying complex constitutive hypotheses on the macroscopic scale. By numerically modeling a representative test and conducting a biaxial compression multiscale test of particles, the macro-mesoscopic mechanical properties were investigated, which may contribute to expanding our understanding of the mechanical behavior of granular materials.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEOMECHANICS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Umair Sultan, Alexander Goetz, Carola Schlumberger, Dominik Drobek, Gudrun Bleyer, Teresa Walter, Erik Loewer, Urs Alexander Peuker, Matthias Thommes, Erdmann Spiecker, Benjamin Apeleo Zubiri, Alexandra Inayat, Nicolas Vogel
Summary: A drying droplet with colloidal particles can form a porous supraparticle. The porosity of the spray-dried supraparticles is manipulated through three distinct strategies at different length scales. The resulting hierarchical supraparticles have fully tailored pore size distributions. Additionally, supra-supraparticles are fabricated using the supraparticles as building blocks, providing additional pores with micrometer dimensions. The interconnectivity of the pore networks within all the supraparticle types is examined. This research offers a versatile toolbox for designing porous materials with precisely tunable, hierarchical porosity, suitable for applications in catalysis, chromatography, or adsorption.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Weipei Xue, Xiaochen Mao, Wei Xu, Hanwen Zhang, Cong Gao
Summary: This study investigates the impact dynamic properties and pore structure characteristics of shaft lining concrete after exposure to various water pressure levels and durations. The results show that the impact strength increases when the damage effect induced by microcracks and micropores expansion under water pressure is less than the enhancement benefit under impact dynamic load, and vice versa.
CASE STUDIES IN CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Pingan Zhu, Rifei Chen, Chunmei Zhou, Michael Aizenberg, Joanna Aizenberg, Liqiu Wang
Summary: The study introduces a new type of soft actuators by leveraging concepts found in the dermis of sea cucumbers and the tendrils of climbing plants, as well as microfluidic fabrication. These microactuators demonstrate high property contrast ratios between hydrated and dehydrated states (20-850), with high energy density and actuation stress, and a weight-lifting ratio 2-3 orders of magnitude higher than recent hygroscopic actuators.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Jianbing Chen, Yudong Ren, Guangda Lu
Summary: This paper proposes a physical interpretation and quantitative modeling of the energetic degradation function via the embedded meso-scale mechanism of damage in the NMMD model. It is theoretically proved that the determined energetic degradation function is invariant against the meso-scale parameters and weakly related to the strain state. Numerical examples show that the proposed approach can capture crack propagation automatically and avoid mesh size sensitivity.
COMPUTER METHODS IN APPLIED MECHANICS AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
B. Alekya, V. S. N. Sitaramgupta V., B. S. Arjun, Hardik J. Pandya
Summary: This article discusses the fabrication and characterization of a small silicon diaphragm-based force sensor used for measuring tissue stiffness. The sensor has been validated for mechanical characterization of soft tissues and used to measure the stiffness of cartilage and smooth muscle tissues in different anatomical regions.
IEEE SENSORS JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Lu Chen, Yongfeng Yuan, Dong Zhang, Zicheng Lin, Jianjun Lin, Shebing Li, Shaoyi Guo
Summary: Hierarchical honeycomb carbon with abundant macropores, mesopores, and micropores was fabricated using SiO2 nanospheres and microspheres as templates, diverse boiling bubbles as the soft template, and polyvinyl pyrrolidone as the assembling agent and carbon source. The calcined hierarchical honeycomb carbon at 1000 degrees C exhibited a discharge capacity of 146 mAh/g at 1 A/g after 3000 cycles, an average discharge capacity of 206 mAh/g at 0.5 A/g, and 98 mAh/g at 5 A/g. The excellent performance of this carbon material, including high reversible capacity, stable cycling performance, and good rate capability, can be attributed to its hierarchical honeycomb porous structure with high defects, high porosity, and large surface area, making it a promising anode material for sodium-ion batteries.
Article
Polymer Science
Percy Festus Alao, Laetitia Marrot, Michael David Burnard, Gregor Lavric, Mart Saarna, Jaan Kers
Summary: This study investigated the effects of different pretreatments of hemp fibers on both microscale and macroscale properties, with silane treatment found to improve composite performance. The research demonstrates the potential of hemp fibers for developing low-density bio-based composites.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yanling Liang, Runke Huo, Zhanping Song, Yanhu Mu, Guoyu Li
Summary: This study investigated the effects of different pH solutions on sandstone damage from macro-meso perspectives. The results showed that acid corrosion led to the formation of more pores and microcracks in the sandstone, loose mesostructure, and a decrease in mechanical properties. The proposed damage constitutive model for acid-corroded sandstone was verified and agreed well with experimental data.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
Vinh T. Le, Ha H. Bui, Giang D. Nguyen, Jayantha Kodikara, Didier Bodin, James Grenfell
Summary: This paper presents a constitutive model that considers the strain discontinuity across fracture planes and describes the fatigue behavior in cemented materials. The model effectively captures the significant influence of stress amplitudes on the fatigue lives of materials, making it an essential tool for predicting and mitigating fatigue-induced damage.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FATIGUE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zi-Lu Liu, Ye Li, Xin-Ming Chen, Hua-Zhe Jiao
Summary: The orientation, distribution, and contact point density of basalt fiber (BF) in concrete matrix significantly affect the mechanical properties of BF concrete; optimal mechanical properties are achieved when BF content is around 3 kg/m(3) and deteriorate with higher content; there is a strong correlation between BF morphological parameters and pore structure distribution, with increasing pore proportion leading to concrete performance degradation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yiming Wang, Jiangyu Wu, Dan Ma, Hai Pu, Qian Yin, Weiqiang Chen
Summary: The use of cement and fly ash (FA) in cemented tailings backfill (CTB) is a green mining process that reduces backfill mining costs and pollution. This study investigated the effects of FA content and curing time on the strength properties of CTB through mechanical tests and numerical modeling. The results reveal the influence mechanism of different FA contents on the strength property of CTB, providing important insights for improving the recycling of FA and waste residues.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Hidetoshi Somekawa, Norie Motohashi, Shuji Kuroda, Toshihiko Mandai
Summary: Wide and thin Mg foils with thicknesses between 35 & mu;m and 400 & mu;m without any edge cracks are successfully produced. The initial microstructure in the billet is effective and essential for the processing. The mechanical properties of the foils are influenced by the foil thickness, as shown by hardness and tensile tests.
MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING A-STRUCTURAL MATERIALS PROPERTIES MICROSTRUCTURE AND PROCESSING
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Qian Huang, Xiaohong Zhu, Guangqi Xiong, Chaoqiang Wang, Dongsheng Liu, Liang Zhao
Summary: The study found that regardless of curing conditions, recycled mortars with dry WCB had higher mechanical properties and lower water absorption, while the opposite was true for pre-soaked WCB mortars. Although the internal curing effect of WCB was more pronounced under air curing, overall performance was better under standard curing conditions. Incorporation of dry or pre-soaked WCB increased the porosity of recycled mortars, which could be used for producing cleaner building materials.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Pranjal Nautiyal, Victoria Wiedorn, Tony Thomas, Nicole Bacca, Alice White, Arvind Agarwal
Summary: High-resolution printing using two-photon polymerization has allowed for the fabrication of accordion-shaped honeycomb lattices with in-plane mechanical anisotropy. The deformation mechanisms and mechanical properties of the lattice in different orientations were investigated using scanning electron microscopy. The accordion-shaped cells exhibited prominent in-plane anisotropy due to their high aspect ratio.
ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Nicole Bacca, Cheng Zhang, Tanaji Paul, Abhijith Kunneparambil Sukumaran, Denny John, Sara Rengifo, Cheol Park, Sang-Hyon Chu, Matthew Mazurkivich, William Scott, Arvind Agarwal
Summary: This study reports the tribological behavior and radiation shielding performance of a boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) reinforced titanium metal matrix composite (MMC) for lunar exploration. The results show improved wear resistance and radiation attenuation of the BNNT-Ti MMC compared to pristine Ti samples.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS RESEARCH
(2022)