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A novel, biodegradable substrate based, and cost-effective flexible electrochemical sensor was developed for the highly selective and sensitive detection of one of the major neurotransmitters, dopamine, which can be utilised as a disposable electrode for point-of-care diagnostic applications. The active material CuSnB decorated over cellulose paper exhibits good sensitivities of 3.92 μA μM−1 cm−2 with a limit of detection of 0.5 nM. Moreover, the flexible sensor demonstrated superior selectivity towards co-existing metabolites such as ascorbic acid, glucose, and uric acid, in addition to stability at various mechanical deformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the methods of recycling waste paper, reduce environment pollution, and develop a circular economy, the application of waste corrugated paper to the strengthening of polylactic acid (PLA) was studied. Plant fiber from waste corrugated paper (WCPF) was used to prepare WCPF/PLA composite via co-extrusion. The WCPF was extracted from the waste corrugated paper by beating in a Valli beating machine and grinding in a disc grinder. KH-550 coupling agent was used to modify the surface of WCPF to improve the interface adhesive strength between the WCPF and PLA matrix. The effects of the contents of WCPF and KH-550 coupling agent on the mechanical properties, microstructure, crystallization properties, and thermostability of the WCPF/PLA composite were studied. The results show that the WCPF can be well separated from each other. The WCPF can be uniformly dispersed in the PLA matrix through a co-extrusion process. WCPF can increase the mechanical strength and deformation resistance ability of WCPF/PLA composite, and KH-550 coupling agent can further improve that of the WCPF/PLA composite. This study is of obvious significance to the recycling of waste paper and the development of a circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper-type gas diffusion layer (GDL) plays the role of structural support, mass transport, electron and heat transfer in the fuel cell. The deformation and fracture behavior of paper-type GDL directly determines its physical characteristics. In this paper, we obtained the distribution function of fiber length among intersections using statistical analysis. Based on the bending theory and fracture analysis, the deformation model and the maximum allowable pressure criterion of paper-type GDL are established. The deformation modulus is related to the modulus and the initial volume fraction of carbon fiber, with an ideal value of 1.4 MPa. The tensile fracture is the main form of fiber fracture. The maximum allowable pressure is related to the expected fracture probability, the strength and the initial volume fraction of carbon fiber. The residual strain increases and the deformation modulus decreases with load range, which means that the strength of the paper-type GDL is weakened when residual strain occurs. [Display omitted] • The fiber length between intersections obeys exponential distribution function. • The compression deformation model of paper-type GDL is established. • The maximum allowable pressure criterion for the paper-type GDL is obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately modeling the material behavior of paper and paperboard is proven to be highly demanding. Most difficulties arise from the pronounced anisotropic nature of the material. Additionally, differences in the in‐plane and out‐of‐plane behavior as well as non‐isochoric plasticity, which affects the elastic behavior, further deepen the issue at hand. Therefore, an material model is proposed, capable of capturing the anisotropic elasto‐plastic behavior of paper and paperboard. The constitutive framework was derived in a thermodynamically consistent manner, valid for finite deformations, and accounting for the coupling of in‐plane and out‐of‐plane behavior. The influence of the orthotropic anisotropy on the elasto‐plastic material response was introduced through the concept of structural tensors. A slight generalization of the elastic part of the free energy was made in order to incorporate the densification effect. A well known yield criterion was modified in order to account for some inconsistencies. Non‐isotropic hardening was considered by defining a set of coupled internal variables. The model's capabilities were demonstrated by simulating the process of folding and creasing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible strain sensors are indispensable components providing repeatable electronic signals responding to mechanical deformations. Nevertheless, there is a stringent demand for flexible sensors to maintain normal performance in daily use and even in harsh conditions, such as high humidity and high temperature. Herein, inspired by scorpions, a highly sensitive flexible strain sensor based on ceramic fiber paper (CFP) with superhydrophobic and high‐temperature‐resistant properties is developed by a combination of mechanical cutting and spray coating method, which minimizes performance degradation commonly seen in polymer‐based and textile‐based sensors under harsh conditions. The prepared strain sensor exhibits high sensitivity (gauge factor ≈1254), low detection limit (0.078%), fast response time (108 ms), and notable stability (over 10 000 cycles). The ultra‐high sensitivity originates from the existence of the micro‐scale cracks. To further improve stability of the device in some harsh conditions, superhydrophobic and heat‐resisting coatings consisting of SiO2 aerogels and SiO2 nanoparticles are introduced onto the surface of CFP. Owing to the synergistic effect of the high‐temperature resistance of ceramics fibers and the coatings, the device operates normally at temperature up to 220 °C with a water contact angle of 159°, showing great promises for harsh conditions, especially in the industrial and aerospace fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Description: A multi-layer wrinkled structure of MWCNTs/polyimide aerogel-based paper was prepared using a simple method. This paper exhibits excellent responsiveness, thermal stability, and mechanical properties, and can detect the movement of mechanical devices through generated responsiveness. [Display omitted] • Multilayer wrinkled structure MWCNTs/polyimide aerogel-based paper (CPs) was prepared via a single freeze-drying-thermal extrusion-thermal imidization method. • CPs can stably generate electrical responses in high-temperature environments up to 300 °C. • CPs exhibit good tensile strength (CP-1: 117.1 MPa at 25 °C) and stability (1000 cycles). • The response generated by CPs can be utilized to monitor changes in the mechanical device. In recent years, as the electronics industry has driven the development of human civilization, flexible responsive materials have become highly favored in sensing applications. However, most flexible materials are not stable under high-temperature conditions, so only a few flexible responsive materials are suitable for high-temperature and high-strength applications. In this paper, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were added as conductive material into poly(amic acid) ammonium salt (PAAS) solutions to prepare MWCNTs/polyimide aerogel-based papers (CPs) by a simple method. The introduction of MWCNTs into the ordered multilayer folded structure of the CPs provided a conductive pathway and improved their thermal stability. When the multilayer folded structure was deformed, the MWCNTs between the layers contacted each other, increasing the number of electron transport channels and providing a larger contact area for the conductive network. When the deformation was removed, the MWCNTs in the interlayer contact zone rapidly separated, providing stable and excellent responsiveness at high temperatures (CP-2: ΔR/R 0 value of up to −0.45 at 300 °C) and favorable stability after 1000 cycles (CP-2: RV retention of 92.4 % at 25 °C and 80.5 % at 300 °C). Therefore, the prepared CPs have great application prospects in the fields of high-temperature mechanical device monitoring, sensing, and alarms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electromagnetic wave irradiation has obstructed the precise operation of the high-tech electronic equipment and threatened the health of the bodies during the 5G era. It is critical to develop electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials with remarkable shielding effectiveness along with lightweight and flexible properties, while the integrations of the heat management performances have been gradually indispensable, especially in wearable electronic device applications. Anchoring the Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene nanosheets on the surfaces of the recycled carbon fibers (RCF) and assembling heterostructure can be regarded as effective strategies, while simultaneously solving the conductivity reduction and the corresponding performance degradation bottlenecks of the thermal-recycling carbon fiber. The construction of the RCF-MXene paper performs remarkable EMI shielding performance of 45.7 dB, while the specific SE/t can be improved to 7723.85 dB cm2 g-1, along with impressive photothermal and electrothermal conversion abilities. After coating PDMS layers, the flexible RCF-MXene@PDMS film maintains stable EMI shielding performance when experiencing in-situ electrothermal conversion and after 10000-cycle mechanical deformation processes. Exhibiting multifunctionality by facile synthesis strategies, the RCF-MXene-based materials provide great potential as next-generation candidates in wearable electronic devices, together with promoting the advancement of the sustainable reuse of the carbon fibers resources. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we present a methodology to assess wrist pressure during the handwriting process. Using optical coherence tomography, it was possible to determine the deformation suffered by the paper during the handwriting process. A calibration of the deformation suffered by the paper as a function of the pressure exerted by the pen was performed, making it possible to determine several parameters of interest, such as the radius of the pen tip sphere R = 488 ± 2 ¡im, the Poisson coefficient v = 0.30 ± 0.02 and the effective Young's modulus of bond paper 75 g/m2. To this end, we developed a method for determining the Hooke modulus for a spring, with which we built a device for applying a known force to a ballpoint pen during the handwriting process. We also performed the study depending on the type of substrate, with five volunteers trying to copy the same signature on four different types of paper. Using the optical coherence tomography technique, we demonstrate that it is possible to differentiate the authorship of a signature also by the depth of deformation on the paper. The experimental procedure also made it possible to determine the Poisson's coefficient and determine the effective Young's Modulus of the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The moisture transport at the fuser nip of printers is postulated to be the main reason for paper curls. However, the fundamental mechanisms of paper curling remain unclear. Observing the moisture transport inside a sheet of paper through experiments is difficult because moisture transport rapidly occurs in a micro-scale thickness. Therefore, developing a theoretical model is crucial to understand the mechanisms of paper curling and to control the curls. In this study, we proposed a multiphysics model that includes the moisture and heat transport and mechanical deformation. The elasticity, plasticity, viscosity, and expansion caused by moisture were considered in the mechanical model to describe the complex material characteristics of paper. The curvature of curls was calculated using an effective two-spring model. The mechanisms of curling in printers and the direction of curls were understood through finite element simulations. The proposed model can qualitatively predict the paper curls observed in experiments. The temperature- and moisture-dependent material properties of paper will be studied in the future to improve the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal response in paper has been studied by thermography. It was observed that an inhomogeneous deformation pattern arose in the paper samples during tensile testing. In the plastic regime a pattern of warmer streaks could be observed in the samples. On the same samples digital image correlation (DIC) was used to study local strain fields. It was concluded that the heat patterns observed by thermography coincided with the deformation patterns observed by DIC. Because of its fibrous network structure, paper has an inhomogeneous micro-structure, which is called formation. It could be shown that the formation was the cause of the inhomogeneous deformations in paper. Finite element simulations was used to show how papers with different degrees of heterogeneity would deform. Creped papers, where the strain at break has been increased, were analysed. For these paper it was seen that an overlaid compaction of the paper was created during the creping process. During tensile testing this was recovered as the paper network structure was strained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a Zr–5W alloy was fabricated via casting. In order to obtain the mechanical properties of the material, quasi-static compression tests at room temperature and split Hopkinson pressure bar tests at various temperatures were carried out. The x-ray diffraction result showed that the main components of the alloy were αZr and W2Zr, where αZr is the matrix and W2Zr is the reinforcement. The metallographic characterization results showed that there were two main forms of W2Zr in the material, namely, large particle boundary and small diffuse submicrometer precipitates. The reinforcements of both distributions have the effect of increasing the strength of the material, but the small submicrometer W2Zr precipitates would cause microcrack nucleation during the late plastic deformation stage, resulting in damage softening. In order to make theoretical calculations of the mechanical properties of materials, the Johnson–Cook (JC) constitutive model and Zerilli–Armstrong (ZAM) constitutive model of the material were obtained. It was found that the JC constitutive model had poor consistency in describing material properties. Although the consistency of the ZAM constitutive model was higher than that of the JC constitutive model, it still had obvious shortcomings. Combined with the deformation mechanism of the alloy, a modified constitutive relation was established by adding damage softening terms based on the hexagonal close-packed metal constitutive model inferred by the kinetics of heat-activated dislocations. The relative error results of all working conditions show that the correlation consistency of the improved constitutive model in this paper is significantly better than that of JC constitutive and ZAM constitutive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dimensional stability issues may occur in paper sheets when subjected to moisture content variations. Paper is in fact mainly composed of hydrophilic wood fibres that experience significant dimensional changes upon humidity variations. The hygro-expansive deformations at the single fibre level and their effects on the meso-structural fibrous network govern the hygro-mechanical response of paper at the macroscopic, sheet scale. The present contribution aims at offering a relation between theoretical predictions and experimental measurements of the hygro-expansive behaviour of paper. Experimental observations of the hygroscopic and mechanical response at the sheet level have been performed, providing the anisotropic hygro-elastic properties of the material in the in-plane principal directions. To understand the multi-scale nature of the phenomenon, a periodic two dimensional meso-structural model of the fibrous network has been developed. The effective material response is extracted via homogenization. The influence of several meso-scale parameters (hygro-mechanical properties and geometry of fibres, inter-fibre bonds and of the network) on the overall behaviour of the material can be studied; in particular, the in-plane fibre orientation distribution along a preferential direction affects strongly the anisotropy of the macro-scale response. The proposed model has been adopted to represent the effective material response, focusing on the hygro-elastic response only and thus neglecting possible irreversible effects occurring at the different scales. A comparison of the experimental data with the results obtained from the model as a function of the fibre orientation distribution reveals a good accuracy of the prediction, thereby showing its applicability to estimate paper’s hygro-expansive response. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

[Display omitted] • Developing a superhydrophobic, kirigami, stretchable pencil-on-paper device platform. • Simultaneously detecting gas, temperature, electrophysiological signals, and providing treatments via thermal therapy and electrical stimulation. • The gas sensor exhibits a large response to NO 2 gas at elevated temperature from self-heating. • The integrated temperature sensor and electrodes accurately detect temperature and electrophysiological signals. • The thermal therapy and electrical stimulation deliver effective means to battle against inflammation/infection and treat chronic wounds. Wearable electronics with applications in healthcare, human–machine interfaces, and robotics often explore complex manufacturing procedures and are not disposable. Although the use of conductive pencil patterns on cellulose paper provides inexpensive, disposable sensors, they have limited stretchability and are easily affected by variations in the ambient environment. This work presents the combination of pencil-on-paper with the hydrophobic fumed SiO 2 (Hf-SiO 2) coating and stretchable kirigami structures from laser cutting to prepare a superhydrophobic, stretchable pencil-on-paper multifunctional sensing platform. The resulting sensor exhibits a large response to NO 2 gas at elevated temperature from self-heating, which is minimally affected by the variations in the ambient temperature and relative humidity, as well as mechanical deformations such as bending and stretching states. The integrated temperature sensor and electrodes with the sensing platform can accurately detect temperature and electrophysiological signals to alert for adverse thermal effects and cardiopulmonary diseases. The thermal therapy and electrical stimulation provided by the platform can also deliver effective means to battle against inflammation/infection and treat chronic wounds. The superhydrophobic pencil-on-paper multifunctional device platform provides a low-cost, disposable solution to disease diagnostic confirmation and early treatment for personal and population health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A number of problems associated with dimensional stability of paper products have to do with hygroexpansion in response to changes in humidity or moisture content. The main underlying mechanism of hygroexpansion in paper is the effect of the change of fiber cross-sections transferred through fiber bonds. In fact, the transverse expansion of fibers can be an order of magnitude greater than the longitudinal expansion. Addressing such problems using modeling on the microscale is associated with large computational costs since both the bonds and the fibers need to be resolved. We present a method for modeling the hygro or thermal expansion of interconnected fiber networks modeled with beam elements and connected through beam-to-beam contact. Being a line structure, beams can only support pointwise contact, which poses a challenge for modeling the force transfer induced by the deformation of the cross-sections at the contact point. The idea of implementing the stress transfer is to use a concurrent multiscale approach in which the bond level is resolved in detail using the configuration of the fibers and the computed strains are passed over to the beam elements. We verify and prove the applicability of this approach by comparing it with continuum models. We demonstrate the advantage of using this approach in terms of its tremendous saving in time. The use of beam models for modeling the hygro- or thermal expansion of fiber networks enables considering relevant sizes in the problems involving dimensional stability, in particular those associated with embedded inhomogeneities. We will show the applicability of the model by providing insights into published experimental observations on the hygroexpansion properties of paper products. Finally, we will demonstrate that the use of a 2D model to simulate the inter-fiber bonds in a network, not only leads to underestimation of out-of-plane deformations, but also to overestimation of the contribution of the transverse deformation of fibers to the in-plane dimensional change of the network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a three-dimensional anisotropic multi-surface model for the in-plane elastoplastic deformation of paper and paperboard is developed. The model is based on the concept of structural tensors. It employs three different yield functions and parameterised consistency conditions for three different loading scenarios. The evolution of the yield surface with plastic strain is described by multiple hardening variables. Furthermore, the evolution equations are integrated using the unconditionally stable backward Euler method. Also, the internal variables are updated using a particular form of the elastic predictor/plastic corrector algorithm. The constitutive model is calibrated from a set of simple uniaxial tension tests performed in various directions of the material and is validated against loading in other directions. Additionally, the predictive capability as well as the numerical performance of the constitutive model is accessed against an existing non-quadratic plasticity model. Finally, the applicability of the constitutive model is demonstrated by performing a tensile test on a paperboard with a hole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes a new method for evaluation of radial crush strength of paper cores. Based on the theory of multilayered composites, a mathematical model has been developed to calculate the value of destructive force during radial crushing of spirally shaped paper cores whose layers are made of different materials. To start calculations, it is necessary to have geometry parameters of the cores, Young's modulus and SCT of an individual component layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cement stabilization is a widely applied technique in improving the workability and geotechnical properties of soft clay. This paper investigated the influence of cement stabilization on the soil–water characteristic curve (SWCC) and the deformation behavior of unsaturated cement–stabilized soft clay. The combined effect of cementation and partial saturation on the hydromechanical behavior of cement-stabilized soils was discussed. The SWCC of stabilized soil was measured in the full suction range under drying and wetting paths using the pressure plate method, the filter paper method, and the vapor equilibrium technique. The deformation behaviors of cement-stabilized soft soil were investigated by conducting suction-controlled oedometer tests. Furthermore, scanning electron microscope micrographs and mercury intrusion porosimetry tests were performed to investigate the effects of cement content on the evolution of soil pore structures. The test results showed that the water retention capacity of the stabilized soft clay increased with increasing cement content. The SWCC showed a significant hysteretic behavior in the boundary effect zone and transition zone, whereas the hysteretic effect was unapparent in the residual zone. The increased cement content had a more significant hysteretic effect on the SWCC. The deformation resistance capacity increased as the cement content and matric suction increased. However, the effect of matric suction on deformation resistance capacity decreased as the cement content increased. With the increase in cement content, the macropores were converted to small interaggregate pores, the pore spaces were distributed more uniformly, and the particle surface became rougher, resulting in higher water retention capacity and significant hysteresis of the SWCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper utilizes a coupled chemomechanical model that integrates chemical reactions, diffusion, and mechanical deformation to describe the high-temperature interfacial reactions and stress evolution within an enamel coating/Ni-based super-alloy system. Through finite element simulation, we conduct a comprehensive analysis of multiple reactions and processes at the interface. Experimental characterization of the concentration distribution of various elements is employed to verify the accuracy of the proposed chemomechanical model. Additionally, the simulation reveals that the interface region experiences compressive circumferential stress, which can potentially lead to interfacial failure due to buckling. On the other hand, the enamel coating undergoes tensile circumferential stress, resulting in the formation of vertical surface cracks. These findings hold practical implications for the development of advanced coatings with enhanced durability and performance. Future research can further optimize coating design and enhance the reliability of high-temperature applications based on these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the mechanics of materials, the integral method is often used to calculate the bending deformation of the beam. It is relatively simple to use this method under a single load. However, in real life, the load conditions of most beams are complex and diverse, resulting in more segmentation of the bending equation, too many integral constants, complicated equations involved, cumbersome calculation process, and heavy calculation. In order to solve this problem, the concept of singular function is introduced in this paper. By using a bending equation to express the bending moment internal force of the whole beam, and there are only two integral constants after integration, which greatly simplifies the calculation process and reduces the calculation amount. This paper mainly introduces the properties of the singular function and how to use the singular function to express the bending equation of the beam, and solves the bending deformation of the beam with the boundary conditions, and discusses the application of the singular function in the calculation of the statically indeterminate beam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a modified evaluation approach for the structural-capacity-reserve (SCR) based on the static stability behavior of single-layer spherical lattice shells to achieve more accurate assessment results of seismic damage endurance. The SCR index in this paper is calculated by integrating the redefined residual structural capacity (RSC) ratio based on post-earthquake static stability behavior within the range of damage degrees caused by strong earthquakes. Compared with the assessment work for seismic damage endurance in the existing literature, the proposed RSC ratio in this paper could take into account both ultimate load-bearing strength and residual deformation. Additionally, the specific quantitative indicator in the proposed assessment method should also be determined according to whether the residual nodal displacement of the lattice shell after an earthquake exceeds the limit value state specified by the design code. The numerical results in the case study indicate that the residual load-bearing strength of the lattice shell remains relatively constant under the same damage state induced by different earthquakes, with residual deformation significantly impacting the assessment of seismic damage endurance. Thereby, the required RSC can be controlled by reducing the residual nodal displacements of the lattice shell under strong earthquakes to achieve a well-balanced design scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although squeezing ground may undergo rapid convergences following tunnel excavation, its behaviour is often markedly time dependent due to creep or consolidation. The effects of creep and consolidation on shield tunnelling are comparatively evaluated in two companion papers, with the aim of demonstrating their qualitative similarities and distinctive features. The present, first paper investigates the basic time effects, placing focus on the time development of ground deformations and the complex interaction between ground, tunnel boring machine (TBM) and tunnel support during excavation and during construction standstills. The presented numerical simulations indicate several qualitative similarities between the two mechanisms of time dependency, in respect of the time development of ground deformations, the counter-intuitive behaviour of increasing shield loading with increasing rate of advance under certain conditions, as well as the thoroughly adverse effect of the additional time-dependent deformations taking place during construction standstills on the shield loading. However, they also underscore two prominent differences resulting from the fundamentally different nature of creep (a purely mechanical rheological process) and consolidation (a coupled hydromechanical process): first, the consistently more extensive plastic yielding in consolidating ground, which is partially associated with the seepage forces exerted by the pore water on the solid rock constituents. Second, the role of seepage forces as a potential destabilising agent, particularly for the tunnel face, which does not happen in the case of creep and may be critical for shield and cutterhead jamming. Building upon these investigations, the companion paper compares creep and consolidation with respect to the transferability of experiences about the required thrust force to tunnels of different diameter or to adjacent tunnels. Highlights: Analysis of similarities and differences between the effects of creep and consolidation on mechanised shield tunnelling through squeezing ground. Similar time development of rock deformations and shield loading during advance and during standstills in creep and consolidation. Similar counter-intuitive behaviour of increasing shield loading with increasing advance rate under certain conditions in creep and consolidation. More extensive ground plastification in consolidation than in creep, partially due to the effect of seepage forces on the solid rock constituents. Potential instability due to seepage forces may induce excessive convergences or face extrusion and render shield or cutterhead jamming critical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laminated paperboard and paper is widely used in packaging products. Its out-of-plane properties play a crucial role in converting paperboard to a carton through the creasing and folding process. The aim of this study is to describe the out-of-plane mechanical response with an elastic-plastic model based on the observed experimental behavior. The model was derived from a thermodynamic framework and was based on the multiplicative split of the deformation gradient in the context of hyperelasticity. A structural tensor-based approach was applied to model the elastic deformation, while a multi-surface based yield criterion was adopted to describe the plastic behavior. The model considers both material densification and internal friction effects, which were observed experimentally. According to the experimental behavior, a quadratic yield locus under pure shear loading was assumed in the model. Finally, the model was validated with a cylinder compression test and found to capture the highly anisotropic, elastic-plastic behavior accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical contact resistance (ECR) at the interface is of significant importance in many fields of science and engineering. Current methods for contact resistance estimation are based on the typical nearly incompressible rough surfaces, which is not suitable for porous material with large deformation in the compression process. The objective of this work is to build an analytical model for ECR between solid material and porous material, for example, which could be used to predict power loss between carbon fiber paper and bipolar plate in the fuel cell. First, mathematical description of solid roughness surface is built by classic Greenwood and Williamson model. Considering the porous structure, carbon fiber paper is modeled by multi-layer construction based on random line network model. Effect of large compression of carbon paper on contact behavior is furtherly given necessary attention in this study. Contact pressure and resistance are calculated based on statistical methods with consideration of multi-deformation states. Then, experiments are carried out to validate the numerical model. The results show good agreements with the numerical model. Finally, influences of carbon paper compression and main parameters are systematically discussed based on the numerical model. The model developed will enhance our understanding regarding the relation between contact pressure and contact resistance at the interface for solid material and fiber-structure material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the effects of water absorption on the geometry of a paper sheet is important for inkjet printing applications, since internal moisture content differences may cause unacceptable out-of-plane deformations. The present work focuses on moisture-induced deformations due to a moisture content that is uniform over the thickness of the sheet. Large enough in-plane differences will cause the sheet to buckle, leading to a wavy pattern at the edges of the sheet. Two approaches are utilized to study this for levels of moisture content up to and including the threshold for buckling. An analytical approach, based on geometrically nonlinear plate theory (von Kármán theory), and a numerical one, using commercially available finite element software, are presented. As a first reference problem an isotropic circular plate, wetted uniformly at its center, is solved both analytically and numerically for the in-plane stress distribution, the buckling threshold, and the resulting buckling mode. Secondly, the same is done for an orthotropic rectangular plate, wetted at its edges. Here, in the analytical approach a Rayleigh–Ritz analysis is employed to approximate the buckling threshold. The latter is also calculated by numerical means. The results show that the methods provide results consistent with each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Compared to traditional steel metering blades commonly used in paper coating operations, ‘soft-tip’ metering blades have received considerably less attention. The research presented herein concerns computationally detailing the characteristics of deformation and deflection in soft-tipped blades under the influence of coating colour flow. Multiphysics simulations were conducted to assess the interrelationships between deflection, deformation, blade length and material properties. Localised plastic deformation in the soft-tip material may be manipulated by adjusting the material properties and geometries of the tip material alongside variables such as; the free blade length, the speed and the properties of the incoming coating. Design of soft-tip materials with respect to these factors may make it easier to achieve a desired blade tip and hence, coating characteristic. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The mechanical response of three different structural core sandwich panels in out-of-plane compression and shear has been analyzed. Specific core shapes examined are arc-tangent, wavy trapezoidal and hemispherical. Unit cells consisting of representative elements of the core attached to face sheets were selected for analysis. Both face sheets and core were assumed made from paper. Finite element analysis employing large deformation and rotations and orthotropic elastic–plastic behavior was used. The results show that the arc-tangent and trapezoidal cores are prone to collapse by extensive bending and buckling, whereas the hemispherical core behaved more stably in compression and shear. Core sheets with a hemispherical shape were prepared from copy paper sheets in a specially designed forming machine. Sandwich test specimens were prepared from this core and tested in out-of-plane compression, and the load-displacement response was compared to predictions from finite element simulations. The experimental and finite element results were consistent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the deep drawing of cups from fiber-based materials, which is explored for some time now, is further developed through the use of micron-small vibrations in an ultrasonic frequency range within the deep-drawing tools. The design of such tools required preliminary investigations concerning the limitations of use and feasibility of this technology. These include tests for necessary clearances between punch and die, occurring pressure in this clearance, necessary punch forces and the heating of the material under the vibrational influence. According to these experiences a flexible test machine was developed enabling the examination of the deep drawing process with vibrating tools as well as its possibilities and limits. The dependence of punch force and cup quality from the ultrasonic parameters was determined and it was found that the required punch force can be reduced by up to 80% and a significant smoothing of the cup surface as well as an improved stiffness of the 3D-shapes is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel approach to enhance the energy absorption (EA) of honeycombs in the out-of-plane direction. Inspired by the Koch fractal, a fractal hexagonal honeycomb (FHH) is presented in this paper. In our study, we use Abaqus/Explicit to build a finite element model of the honeycomb, through which we conduct a series of studies on the performance of this honeycomb. Initially, we compare the mechanical properties and deformation modes of the FHH with those of a conventional hexagonal honeycomb. The results demonstrate notable improvements in crashworthiness metrics for the FHH, including a 52% increase in specific EA, a 45% enhancement in crushing load efficiency (CLE), and an 8% reduction in peak crushing force (PCF) compared to the conventional counterpart. Subsequently, this paper investigates the fractal arc honeycomb and evaluates the effect of the center angle on mechanical properties by varying its value. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of layered honeycomb and fractal honeycomb structures with different wall thicknesses are systematically examined. In the last section, we explore the theoretical analysis of the fractal-hexagonal honeycomb and find that the results of the theoretical analysis are in good agreement with those of the simulation, indicating that the experimental simulation results are reliable. Overall, the findings of this study offer valuable insights for the innovative design of hexagonal honeycomb structures, providing a reference for future advancements in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the process of horizontal well construction, the working environment in the well is very complicated. It is difficult to determine the actual deformation and force of the coiled tubing in the wellbore from the load change at the wellhead along. In addition, the coiled tubing wrapped around the reel and entering the wellbore through the injection head may cause an initial residual bending. In this paper, the mathematical model of the coiled tubing under axial load during buckling deformation is established, and the analytical solution with the time term is derived by reasonable simplification of the model. The effect of residual bending on the post-sinusoidal buckling of the coiled tubing in the horizontal well was investigated using the separation variable method. The effect of residual bending variations on the well wall contact forces is analyzed. The research shows that the initial parameter Г is the main factor influencing the post-sinusoidal buckling of the coiled tubing with residual bending. The larger the parameter value Г, the greater the effect of the residual bending on the post-sinusoidal buckling deformation of the coiled tubing, and the earlier the critical point of the mixed sinusoidal-helical buckling of the coiled tubing appears. The compression velocity of the coiled tubing has a significant effect on the well wall contact force. The faster the compression, the greater the contact force. By introducing the time term and the separation variable, this paper provides a new method and theoretical basis for further study of the process of entering sinusoidal-helical buckling of the coiled tubing with initial residual bending. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kirigami, as an ancient Japanese paper-cutting and origami art, has been widely used in the study of tensile properties of 2D nanomaterials. Diamane—a 2D nanodiamond film—has excellent electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties, while its ductility is poor, so this paper focuses on the enhancement of the tensile properties of Diamane by Kirigami. In this study, the tensile mechanical properties and deformation mechanisms of Diamane Kirigami were simulated and analyzed using molecular dynamics by varying three geometrical parameters, namely, the degree of overlap, the cutting rate, and the aspect ratio of the Kirigami cuts. The results show that the fracture strain (200–250%) of Diamane Kirigami can be 7–8 times higher than that of pristine Diamane (zigzag: 26.1%, armchair: 17.6%). For Diamane Kirigami in the armchair chiral configuration, more stable mechanical properties and ductility can be obtained in all parameters of the design. The I-shaped cutout shape and the stretching in the armchair direction can help Diamane Kirigami to significantly reduce the stress concentration at the ends of the cut and to increase the fracture strain. In conclusion, it is found in this paper that Diamane Kirigami possesses higher fracture strain compared to pristine Diamane, which will potentially expand their applications in engineering nanodevices and nanoelectronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: In this paper, the optimum coverage of 4.44% and the optimum adsorption sites were determined for the Be3N2 adsorption system of O atoms at different coverages based on density functional theory. The electronic and optical properties of the model were investigated by applying bending deformation to the model at these coverage and adsorption sites. Adsorption of O atoms disrupts the geometrical symmetry of Be3N2, resulting in orbital rehybridization and lowering its band gap. Bending deformation causes the band gap of the adsorbed O atom structure of Be3N2 to first increase and then decrease, resulting in the modulation of its band gap. With increasing bending deformation, the adsorbed system is redshifts, and the degree of redshift increases with increasing bending deformation. Methods: All calculations in this paper were performed using the first-principles-based CASTEP module of Materials Studio (MS). The generalized gradient approximation (GGA) plane-wave pseudopotential method and the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) Perdew et al. Phys Rev Lett 77:3865, 1996 generalized functional were used in the geometry optimization and calculation process to calculate the exchange–correlation potential between electrons. The effect of coverage on the electronic and optical properties of the Be3N2-adsorbed O atom system was investigated by adsorbing different numbers of O atoms on a monolayer of Be3N2. The Be3N2 protocell contains two N atoms and three Be atoms with a space community of P6/MMM (No.191). The original cell was expanded 3 times along the direction of the base vectors a and b in the Be3N2 plane to create a 3 × 3 × 1 monolayer Be3N2 supercell system. A vacuum layer of 15 Å is set in the direction of the crystal plane of the vertical monolayer Be3N2 supercell to eliminate interactions between adjacent layers. In the overall energy convergence test of the Be3N2 supercell, the plane wave truncation energy was set to 500 eV, and the energy difference between the calculations given in the literature Reyes-Serrato et al. J Phys Chem Solids 59:743-6, 1998 using 550 eV was less than 0.01 eV, verifying the reliability of the data at a truncation energy of 500 eV. The Monkhorst–Pack special k-point sampling method Monkhorst et al. Phys Rev B 13:5188, 1976 was used in the structural calculations, and the grid was set to 3 × 3 × 1. The geometric optimization parameters are set as follows: the self-consistent field iteration convergence criterion is 2.0 × 10−6 eV, and the iterative accuracy convergence value is not less than 1.0 × 10−5 eV/atom for the total force of each atom and less than 0.03 eV/Å for all atomic forces. In addition the high-symmetry k-point path is taken as Γ(0,0,0) → M(0,0.5,0) → K(− 1/3,2/3,0) → Γ(0,0,0) Chen et al, AIP Adv 8:105105, 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

· This paper presents a multi-stage mechanical deformation mode with complex loading surfaces. · All multi-stage contact mechanical models involved in the actual loading deformation process are established. · APSD can describe and analyze the characteristics of fractal surfaces. The contact mechanical behavior of rough surfaces is related to the friction and wear of mechanical components, and also has an important impact on the dynamic performance and force transfer characteristics of assembly surfaces. This paper aims to solve the complex multi-stage mechanical deformation mode of the loading surface, and establishes all multi-stage contact mechanical models involved in the actual loading deformation process from the perspective of the actual deformation and critical deformation of the asperity. Firstly, based on the three-dimensional fractal contact theory, the force deformation relationship of a single asperity during the full deformation stage of loading is constructed. Then, six critical contact areas and four critical deformation quantities of a multi scale asperity are derived. Finally, the complex multi-stage deformation contact mechanical models of three-dimensional fractal surfaces under actual loading are established. The area power spectral density (APSD) function spectrum of rough surface under different fractal parameters, as well as the variation of contact load, contact stiffness, and contact area are analyzed numerically. Compared with several classical models, the rationality of the proposed model is verified. This study can be used as the basis for constructing the overall dynamic model of an assembly system [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluates an apparatus developed to measure uniaxial tensile and compressive creep for paper. Measurement of creep deformation; Difference from a traditional tensile creep tester; Advantages of the apparatus.

Superhydrophobic coatings on paper were achieved by means of incorporating micro-nano hierarchical topography, where the water droplet was repelled and rested in a spherical shape. A silica sol, which was prepared using tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) as precursor and trimethylethoxysilane (TMES) as co-precursor, was poured on the paper to form a superhydrophobic surface. The coating was fluorine-free, environmentally friend, and could be easily fabricated on different kinds of papers. Besides, the transmittance of prepared coating reached up to 92% in visible light range, and the words on treated paper showed a good visualization. Moreover, the treated paper showed superior mechanical durability against 100 times of deformation, remarkable stability towards both the acidic and basic solutions. The treated paper could withstand 70 cycles of water condensation test (from 60 °C, 90% relative humidity to 10 °C) without losing superhydrophobicity, suggesting a long-term protection for paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the creep and relaxation behaviors of Xuan paper during the stretching process were studied. The results indicated that Burgers model could describe the creep behavior of Xuan paper perfectly including elastic deformation, viscoelastic deformation and plastic deformation. For the total creep, elastic strain, viscoelastic strain and plastic strain accounted for 62-78, 17-25, and 4-13 %, respectively. At a certain temperature and humidity, elastic strain, viscoelastic strain and plastic strain increased with the increase in stress in the range of 0.2-0.8 σ, and the proportion of viscoelastic and plastic strain increased, but the proportion of elastic strain decreased. Further, the proportion of each strain tended to be stable at last. A five-element Maxwell model could describe the relaxation of Xuan paper effectively. There were few influences on the parameters of five-element Maxwell model by strain levels, so these parameters could be regarded as material constants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Carbon fiber reinforced paper-based friction (CFRPF) material is a new type wet friction material which has been used in automatic transmission. In this study, four kinds of CFRPF were prepared by paper-making process with cashew-modified phenolic resin. The resin contents ranged from 35wt.% to 50wt.%, and the effect of phenolic resin on properties of CFRPF was investigated. Porosity of the samples was measured by liquid permeation method. The degradation characteristics of the samples were analyzed using a thermal analyzer. The friction and wear properties were tested by a wet friction performance tester. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was also employed to study the wear mechanisms. Experimental results indicated that the reinforced fibers were dispersed uniformly in the phenolic matrix, containing some pores with different size. There were three stages in the thermal degradation of CFRPF, and the resin content had great effect on the degradation temperature at the second stage. Lots of tiny wear particles were found on the surface of the worn samples with lower resin content. Continuous friction film was formed on the worn surface with the increasing resin content, which efficiently enhanced wear resistance of the samples. Comprehensively, the samples with lower resin content (ranging from 35wt.% to 40wt.%) demonstrated better potential with high friction coefficient, excellent friction stability, good heat-resistance and reasonable strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant dimensional variations may occur in paper-based materials when subjected to changes in moisture content. Moisture induced deformations are governed by the swelling of individual fibres, which is transferred through inter-fibre bonds to the entire fibrous network. Complex interactions between mechanical and hygro-expansive properties take place in the bonding areas, affecting the overall material response. In most network models, the role of these inter-fibre bonds is not explicitly incorporated. This work presents a periodic meso-structural model for the discrete fibrous network, which considers the free-standing fibre segments and inter-fibre bonds. Despite its simplicity, the reference unit-cell enables the incorporation of relevant micro- and meso-structural features such as network structure, fibres and bond geometry and hygro-elastic properties. The proposed model is solved analytically through a proper homogenization strategy, allowing to recover the paper’s anisotropic hygro-mechanical response in terms of effective elastic constants and effective hygro-expansive coefficients, exploiting the coupling at the meso-structural level between hygroscopic and mechanical behavior. A comparison with experimental results obtained from the literature shows that the presented approach is quite accurate in predicting the overall paper response, thereby revealing the influence of several meso-scale parameters (e.g. fibre orientation, dimensions, mechanical strength). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wrinkling is a typical failure mode of sandwich structures with thin skins, where the bending deformation of face skins occurs simultaneously in conjunction with transverse stretching deformation of core layer. To analyze the three-dimensional (3D) deformation of wrinkling, a model is required to possess a capability describing completely different deformations at each ply. Therefore, by utilizing the Chebyshev polynomial at each layer of sandwich panels, this paper focuses on proposing a higher-order model to individually illustrate deformations of the skins and the core. By means of the proposed model, a refined triangular element has been constructed. By analyzing the stability of a sandwich plate without stiffeners, the finite-element formulation has been verified by comparing it to the quasi-3D elasticity solutions. In addition, it is anticipated that wrinkling failure can be effectively restrained by designing the stiffener layout. To this end, the influence of stiffener layouts on wrinkling behaviors of sandwich plates has been investigated in detail, and it is found that the capability of resisting the wrinkling deformation can be obviously improved by designing reasonable stiffener layouts. Moreover, the translation between buckling and wrinkling behaviors of sandwich panels with different stiffeners has been also explored, which can help to better understand wrinkling deformation mechanism. In summary, the proposed model can be used to design a reasonable arrangement of stiffeners to resist the wrinkling failure of sandwich panels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A steel brace is effective to retrofit old reinforcement concrete (RC) buildings by increasing the horizontal load capacity of structures. However, concrete cracks that easily occur in the surrounding RC members under tension initiate early strength degradation, so this research aimed to develop a new self-centering brace (SCB) with the compression-only capacity such that no tension force is developed in the brace or to the adjoining RC members. Original SCBs have been developed to reduce the residual deformation of structures with a symmetrically flag-shaped hysteretic response. By altering the force transfer mechanism in the original SCB, a compression-only self-centering brace (C-SCB) can be developed under a symmetrically reversed cyclic loading, providing an alternative for the RC building retrofit. This paper first introduces the mechanics and deformation mechanism of the proposed C-SCB. A test program is then conducted on the cyclic tests of a buckling-restrained energy dissipating bar (EDB) to evaluate the energy dissipation. A 3,695-mm-long C-SCB is composed of posttensioning high-strength steel tendons, steel compression members, and buckling-restrained EDBs for the energy dissipation. The C-SCB in tests showed a good compression-only self-centering capability up to an axial displacement of 31 mm, with a maximum axial force of 1,530 kN. No damage of the steel tendons, compression members, or EDBs was found after three phase tests. Finite element analysis further validated the compression-only hysteretic response and mechanics of the C-SCB in a symmetrically reversed cyclic loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn case of strong seismic-induced vibration, some metallic support and anchorage systems may exhibit elastoplastic deformation. To consider this elastoplastic deformation in the seismic design of equipment, standards such as CEN/TS 2004 recommend a very simplified behavior coefficient which is constant. Neither post-elastic characteristics such as the hardening coefficient, the ductility capacity, nor the dynamic content of the equipment are considered so far in this approach. In this paper, the influence of the elastoplastic deformation in supports on equipment responses is examined by means of a systematic numerical analysis. As highlights, the effect of elastoplastic supports strongly depends on the frequency of the equipment and the post-elastic characteristics. In certain cases, the effect of elastoplastic deformation in supports can be ‘unfavorable’ with respect to the assumption of elastic supports. This is the case for support-equipment systems of high frequency for which it is recommended to limit elastoplastic deformation. Conversely, for flexible support-equipment systems, it is beneficial to explore the ductility capacity of metallic supports. Finally, for engineering applications, behavior coefficients to consider the elastoplastic deformation in supports are proposed in the format of an abacus as a function of ductile capacity, hardening coefficients, and dimensionless frequencies of the equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent materials widely used in applications such as eyewear, solar cells, and optical devices, often suffer from environmental challenges including fogging, surface contamination, and mechanical deformation. However, a universal strategy that resolves all these issues in a single platform remains to be resolved. Herein, a monolithic micropillar structure based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomer is prepared followed by subsequent assembly of hydrogel micropatterns in between the micropillar array using inkjet printing to achieve flexible wet‐style superhydrophobic antifogging tapes that are applicable to various transparent materials and curvatures. The monolithic micropillar structure with low‐surface‐energy characteristics facilitates easy removal of surface contaminants by rinsing with water while granting mechanical durability. In addition, micropatterning of hydrogels via inkjet printing not only enables to maintain optical transparency in a fogging environment but also makes the fabrication procedure more scalable. Furthermore, the strong adhesion between the hydrogel and the elastomer is shown to provide enhanced stability under repeated stretching cycles and long‐term exposure to water while the presence of a loosely cross‐linked PDMS at the bottom of the tape made it applicable to a wide range of transparent substrates without using additional adhesives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various fascinating optical characteristics in organisms encourage scientists to develop biomimetic synthesis strategies and mimic their unique microstructure. Inspired by the Chameleon's skin with tunable color and superior flexibility, this work designs the evaporated‐induced self‐assembly technique to synthesize the chiral photonic crystal film. Ultrasonic‐intensified and additive‐assisted techniques synergistically optimize the film properties, on the aspects of optic and mechanic. The film shows considerable rigidity and superior flexibility, which can undergo multiple mechanical deformations. Without destroying the chiral nematic structure, the ultimate strain approaches 50%, which exceeds most cellulose‐derived film materials. It also integrates excellent optical performance. The film color can cover the total visible region by tuning the photonic bandgap and has angle‐dependent properties. It can make the response to humidity and solvents, and chromaticity variation reflects the degree of stimulation. Importantly, this structural‐dependent color change is reversible. Lastly, the photonic crystal materials with excellent mechanics and unique optics have been applied in the security. The anti‐counterfeiting material design contains photonic crystal ink, repeatable writing paper, information‐hiding film, and color‐changing labels, with the features of environmentally friendly, economical, non‐destructive, and convenient for authentication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Important connections in representation theory arise from resolving a finite-dimensional algebra by an endomorphism algebra of a generator-cogenerator with finite global dimension; for instance, Auslander's correspondence, classical Schur–Weyl duality and Soergel's Struktursatz. Here, the module category of the resolution and the module category of the algebra being resolved are linked via an exact functor known as the Schur functor. In this paper, we investigate how to measure the quality of the connection between module categories of (projective) Noetherian algebras, B, and module categories of endomorphism algebras of generator-relative cogenerators over B which are split quasi-hereditary Noetherian algebras. In particular, we are interested in finding, if it exists, the highest degree n so that the endomorphism algebra of a generator-cogenerator provides an n-faithful cover, in the sense of Rouquier, of B. The degree n is known as the Hemmer–Nakano dimension of the standard modules. We prove that, in general, the Hemmer–Nakano dimension of standard modules with respect to a Schur functor from a split highest weight category over a field to the module category of a finite-dimensional algebra B is bounded above by the number of non-isomorphic simple modules of B. We establish methods for reducing computations of Hemmer–Nakano dimensions in the integral setup to computations of Hemmer–Nakano dimensions over finite-dimensional algebras, and vice-versa. In addition, we extend the framework to study Hemmer–Nakano dimensions of arbitrary resolving subcategories. In this setup, we find that the relative dominant dimension over (projective) Noetherian algebras is an important tool in the computation of these degrees, extending the previous work of Fang and Koenig. In particular, this theory allows us to derive results for Schur algebras and the BGG category \mathcal {O} in the integral setup from the finite-dimensional case. More precisely, we use the relative dominant dimension of Schur algebras to completely determine the Hemmer–Nakano dimension of standard modules with respect to Schur functors between module categories of Schur algebras over regular Noetherian rings and module categories of group algebras of symmetric groups over regular Noetherian rings. We exhibit several structural properties of deformations of the blocks of the Bernstein-Gelfand-Gelfand category \mathcal {O} establishing an integral version of Soergel's Struktursatz. We show that deformations of the combinatorial Soergel's functor have better homological properties than the classical one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The creep and nonlinear damage behavior of rocks are two main factors that can cause large deformations and instability in tunnels. In this paper, uniaxial compression creep and triaxial compression tests were conducted to analyze the time-dependent and damage-induced strain-softening response of sandstone obtained from a water-conveyance tunnel in China. Using the test results, a new constitutive model was developed by coupling damage mechanics, Maxwell and Kelvin viscoelastic models, and the Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion. The model is formulated to describe both the full creep process (including the three stages of transient, steady, and accelerated creep) and the damaged-induced strain-softening behavior of the sandstone. The proposed model was validated against experimental data and was adopted to investigate the long-term safety of the segmental liner of the water-conveyance tunnel. The results showed that the differences between the rock peak and residual strength or between the initial and residual stiffness of sandstone increased as the confining pressure increased. In addition, the ratio between the crack damage stress and the peak strength increased initially with the increase in confining pressure and then decreased with a further increase in confining pressure. The ratio between creep deformation and total deformation increased with the increase in applied stress, and the specimen exhibited significant creep behavior at the final loading stage. Furthermore, the steady creep rate increased, and the viscosity coefficient decreased with the increase in loading stress. Good agreement was found between the values of failure strengths and shapes of stress–stain curves between the numerical simulation and experimental results under the uniaxial unconfined compressive creep test or triaxial compressive test. The axial load and bending moment of the tunnel segmental liner increased with the increase in the yield strength of concrete. The plot of axial force along the entire segmental liner ring varied greatly with time, while the plot of bending moment was less affected by time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the western boundary of the Sichuan-Yunnan block (SYB), the Red River fault (RRF) is a major fault that controls deep crustal movement and deformation in the southeast margin of the Tibetan Plateau and regulates middle-lower crustal flow. Geophysical data suggest that the RRF is segmented and exhibits distinct variations in seismicity, velocity structure and crustal deformation from north to south. Seismic anisotropy reveals a complex pattern of lateral spatial and vertical stratified distributions. (1) From the perspective of crustal stratification, in the upper crust, the fast wave polarization in the north segment of the RRF is complex and possibly influenced by the Sanjiang lateral collision zone and adjacent faults with varying strikes. The fast wave polarization in the middle segment is in the NW-SE direction, indicating a localized area of closed down or locked up with consistent deformation. And in the south segment, it presents a disordered pattern, signifying complex deep tectonics and stress conditions at the wedged intersection zone. In the middle-lower crust in the north and south segments of the RRF, the azimuthal anisotropy is strong and consistent with the spatial strike of the weak zone characterized by low-velocity and high-conductivity. This suggests a connection between the anisotropy and the material migration. (2) In the whole crustal scale, the fast wave directions in two sides of the RRF are consistent with the NW-SE tectonic strike. It indicates that the RRF, as a large fault potentially cutting through the whole crust, strongly controls the surrounding media. (3) In the lithospheric scale, the fast wave polarizations are oriented nearly E-W and independent of the fault strike, consistent with the low P- and S-wave velocity structures and positive radial anisotropy in the upper mantle. The fast wave directions could be related to lithospheric olivine deformation and asthenospheric flow. This paper suggests a decoupling of deformation between the crust and the lithospheric mantle in the south of approximately 26°20′N near the RRF, which can potentially be attributed to the subduction and rollback of the Indian plate. Based on various geophysical observations and inversions, we can determine the detailed anisotropic structure in the crust and the upper mantle around the RRF. Denser geophysical arrays and more accurate records can be used to explore the intricate anisotropy in segmentation and stratification around the RRF, enhancing the understanding of its tectonic significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-centering braces are an attractive new type of brace able to reduce structural residual deformations after earthquakes, with no requirement of major modifications to structural joints. One primary challenge in widespread implementations of self-centering braces is their high demands of prestressing forces, in order to counteract the anti-recentering resistance induced by their energy-dissipation system. This paper introduces a novel self-centering (SC) brace, denoted as a viscoelastic low-prestressing self-centering (VE-LPSC) brace, that needs only a low level of prestressing force to achieve self-centering. The proposed brace incorporates a novel frequency-independent viscoelastic damper (VED) as its energy-dissipation system. The new VED behaves similarly to displacement-based dampers that provide stable stiffness and damping across various frequencies. Meanwhile, as loading ends, the VED does not generate residual anti-recentering forces, unlike conventional velocity-based dampers. Performance tests on the VEDs were first conducted using three specimens to examine the material's deformation capacity, frequency-independent characteristic, fatigue-resistance capacity, and recovery capacity. Then, six full-scale brace prototype specimens were manufactured and tested, considering three levels of prestressing forces (15, 50, and 100 kN). Test results revealed that the brace achieved complete self-centering and consistent stiffness and strength under various frequencies, even with a prestressing force of 15 kN. With conventional steel strand and Belleville springs as its prestressed elements, the new brace was able to elongate 2.27% (corresponding to a story drift of 4.54%) while maintaining its recentering capacity. The VE-LPSC brace may experience some strength degradation after loading lower to 90%, but its capacity can recover to 98% of the original strength after 2 weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial muscles actuated by negative pressure offer significant benefits over those driven by positive pressure, such as high contraction ratios and improved safety, making them a promising option for various applications. This paper studies the contraction force characteristic of a bellows-like artificial muscle actuated by negative pressure. Initially, the structure, fabrication, and working principle of the artificial muscle were introduced. Subsequently, based on the force balance method, the contraction force was decomposed as the forces acted by the difference value of the inner and the outer pressures on the end plate, and the tension force derived from the adjacent contraction unit. To reduce complexity, the contraction process was divided into three phases according to the distinct contact conditions of the contraction units: uncontacted, locally contacted, and fully contacted with crests. The deformations of the contraction units in each phase were analyzed, and the corresponding contraction forces were derived. An experiment platform was constructed to test the force by changing the dimension parameters and pressure, obtaining the output force data during isobaric contraction. Finally, a comparison of the experimental and calculated results substantiated the aptness of the theorem model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes an application of a machine learning approach for parameter optimization. The method is demonstrated for the elasto-viscoplastic model with both isotropic and kinematic hardening. It is shown that the proposed method based on long short-term memory networks allowed a reasonable agreement of stress–strain curves to be obtained for cyclic deformation in a low-cycle fatigue regime. The main advantage of the proposed approach over traditional optimization schemes lies in the possibility of obtaining parameters for a new material without the necessity of conducting any further optimizations. As the power and robustness of the developed method was demonstrated for very challenging problems (cyclic deformation, crystal plasticity, self-consistent model and isotropic and kinematic hardening), it is directly applicable to other experiments and models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]