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Graphene is one atom thick two dimensional material with unusual mechanical, electrical, thermal and optical properties. Graphene, on larger scale is produced through reduction of graphene oxide which in turn is synthesized by chemical oxidation of graphite. Generally large area graphene oxide paper can be easily fabricated by solution filtration process, spin casting method and Langmuir-Blodgett assembly. In present study graphene oxide was synthesized by modified Hummers method. Free standing graphene oxide paper (GOP) was developed by simple drying of graphene oxide suspended in water followed by reduction by thermal treatment to synthesize free standing conducting graphene paper (Thermally Reduced Graphene Paper, TRGP). Thermal reduction was carried out for 30, 60, 90 and 120min and samples referred as TRGP_30, TRGP_60, TRGP_90 and TRGP_120 respectively. XRD results show decrease in inter layer spacing (d002) from 0.87 nm to ∼0.35 nm after reduction of GO paper. This shows gradual removal of oxygen fu...

Organic catalyst has recently been identified as the potential substitution for expensive platinum electrocatalyst for fuel cell application. Numerous studies have shown that the nitrogen-containing carbon nanotubes (N-CNT) can be synthesized through spray pyrolysis or floating chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique using various type of organometallic as precursors. This paper presents the method of synthesis and the initial findings of the growth of N-CNT directly on carbon paper using a modified CVD technique. In this research, nickel (II) phthalocyanines (Ni-Pc) as precursor was dissolved in ethanol solvent, stirred and sonicated to become homogenized. The solution was poured into a bubbler and heated up to allow the mixture to vaporize. Subsequently, the solution vapor was flowed into the tubical reactor maintained at 900°C. Carbon paper sputtered with nickel nanoparticles was used as the substrate. The synthesized sample was examined through Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), At...

For the paper industry, stiffness properties are an important parameter for producing more efficiently a fibrous material like paper. Some stiffness properties of paper webs can be obtained in a non‐contact fashion using two lasers. The authors have developed an automated laboratory laser‐ultrasonics instrument for paper, described here. The results of non‐contact laser generation and detection of ultrasound are also presented. The paper grades investigated were heavy grades like linerboard, as well as copy paper.

The mechanical and electrical properties of a bulk material made of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) are, due to weak intermolecular interaction, several orders of magnitude lower than those of the individual molecules themselves. We studied the effect of gamma‐irradiation on SWNT paper in air and under vacuum. For samples irradiated in air, changes in Young modulus and electrical conductivity were observed with maximum value for a dose of 170 kGy. Under vacuum there was only a small effect of irradiation. Raman studies of irradiated samples showed defects formation. Same experiments done with graphite showed similar results. A likely explanation of the results is that cross‐links between nanotubes were induced by irradiation in air.

An important material property in the paper industry is the anisotropic stiffness distribution due to the fibrous microstructure of paper. Ultrasonic methods offer a means of determining the stiffness of sheets of paper from the anisotropic propagation characteristics of elastic Lamb waves along the machine direction (MD) and the cross direction (CD). Currently, piezoelectric ultrasonic methods are employed in the industry to measure the elastic polar diagram of paper through multiple contacting measurements made in all directions. This paper describes a new approach utilizing the INEEL Laser Ultrasonic Camera to provide a complete image of the elastic waves traveling in all directions in the plane of the paper sheet. This approach is based on optical dynamic holographic methods that record the out of plane ultrasonic motion over the entire paper surface simultaneously without scanning. The full-field imaging technique offers great potential for increasing the speed of the measurement and it ultimately pr...

On-line measurement of material properties is a goal of many manufactures for production improvement and quality control. In the paper industry, the elastic stiffness of the paper web needs to be accurately measured and controlled online. Currently, contact ultrasonic methods are employed to measure the elastic constants of paper offline. Piezoelectric transducers are placed in contact with the paper surface to generate and detect plate wave modes, known as Lamb wave modes, in the paper in both the machine and cross directions. Laser ultrasonics offers a new approach to making elastic wave measurements that does not require contacting the paper web. A pulsed laser generates ultrasound in the paper by delivering a high intensity short impulse to the paper through thermoelastic expansion. An optical interferometer is used to demodulate the small phase modulation that the elastic wave produces on a continuous probe laser beam. Difficulty in applying this approach to online measurements of rapidly moving pape...

In this paper we have shown enhanced supercapacitive property of electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ERGO) and manganese dioxide (MnO2) based heterostructure over single MnO2 thin film grown by electrochemical deposition on indium tin oxide (ITO). ERGO improves the electrical conduction leading to decrease of the internal resistance of the heterostructure.

This paper presents the preliminary transport measurements obtained using graphene quantum dots. Graphene quantum dots of 4.5 nm average diameter size prepared by electrochemical method are found to be of p-type nature under ambient condition. The p-type nature obtained is attributed to the physisorption of water molecules which acts a hole dopant.

This paper describes hundreds of pendulum tests examining the beamed energy conversion efficiency of different metal targets coated with multiple liquid enhancers. Preliminary testing used a local laser with photographic paper targets, with no liquid, water, canola oil, or methanol additives. Laboratory experimentation was completed at Wright‐Patterson AFB using a high‐powered laser, and ballistic pendulums of aluminum, titanium, or copper. Dry targets, and those coated with water, methanol and oil were repeatedly tested in laboratory conditions. Results were recorded on several high‐speed digital video cameras, and the conversion efficiency was calculated. Paper airplanes successfully launched using BEP were likewise recorded.

Manganese oxide (Mn3O4) nanoparticles are prepared in a facile one pot reaction using oleylamine as solvent reducing and surface functionalizing agent. A simple mixture of as synthesized Mn3O4 nanoparticles and reduced graphene oxide are tested as potential supercapacitor using cyclic voltammetry. The voltammograms are nearly perfect rectangular which indicates excellent capacitive nature of the nanoparticles-grapheme composite. A maximum specific capacitance of 170 Fg−1 is obtained in a potential range from-0.1 to 0.7 V which is higher than both reduced graphene oxide and Mn3O4 nanoparticles.

Graphene is synthesized by microwave irradiation (MWI) of graphene oxide (GO) and subsequent sonication. MWI of GO is carried in a household microwave oven without using any reducing agents. Sonication of microwave irradiated GO is carried out in distilled water using a probe type sonicator. This method does not evolve any unsafe by-product gases which is otherwise the case when reducing agents are used in the reduction of GO to graphene. Moreover, due to its intrinsic nature, the method is scalable and cost effective. The synthesized product has been characterized as graphene using micro Raman scattering, x-ray diffraction and electron diffraction. Diffraction results show that the synthesized graphene is highly oriented.

The primary aim of the investigation is to synthesize graphene oxide at room temperature and fabricate a flexible free standing graphene oxide thin film. Modified Hummers technique was employed for the synthesis of graphene oxide using graphite as the starting material. Graphene oxide is a layered material consisting of hydrophilic oxygenated functional groups on their basal planes and edges. Graphene-oxide thin film has been fabricated via solvent-evaporation technique. Functional, elemental and structural analysis of the samples was performed using several characterization techniques.

Graphene provides a perfect platform to explore the unique electronic properties in two-dimensions. However, most electronic applications are handicapped by the absence of a semiconducting gap in pristine graphene. To control the semiconducting properties of graphene, doping is regarded as one of the most feasible methods. Here we demonstrate that graphene can be effectively doped during chemical exfoliation of highly ordered pyrolitic graphite in organic solvents. Layered structure of graphene sheets was confirmed by confocal Raman spectroscopy and doping was probed by analyzing shift in Raman peak positions and transistor transfer (IDS-VGS) characteristics.

Reduced graphene oxides were synthesized by chemical reduction of graphite oxide using hydrazine hydrate as well as by high temperature-high vacuum thermal exfoliation at 900-1100°C. The samples were characterized using Raman spectroscopy. From the Raman spectra, it is inferred that hydrazine reduced and thermally exfoliated samples were found to consist of two and three to five layers. The change in the amount of sp2 rings present in GO with increase in exfoliation temperature is studied.

Graphene/CeO2 quantum dots (QDs) composite was investigated towards the liquid petroleum gas (LPG) at room temperature. Graphene was synthesized by electrochemical exfoliation of graphite. The composites of graphene/CeO2 QDs was prepared by mixing 20 wt.% of graphene in constant 1g of CeO2. The chemiresistor of 20 wt.% composite possesses optimum value of sensing response and excellent stability.

In the present study, MnO2 nanotubes are synthesized by hydrothermal method and Pt/graphene by co reduction of hexachloroplatinic acid and graphite oxide. The formation of MnO2 nanotubes and Pt/graphene are confirmed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy. MnO2 nanotubes are mixed with Pt/graphene is applied as the ORR catalyst in proton exchange membrane fuel cell. The single cell measurement is carried out after fabricating the membrane electrode assembly and polarization curves are recorded at different temperatures and the results are discussed.

We report here a simple and efficient method for fabrication of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) thin films. Graphite oxide can be completely exfoliated to produce aqueous colloidal suspensions of graphene oxide (GO) sheets by simple ultra-sonication. Graphene oxide thin films were reduced towards graphene by exposure to hydrazine vapor, ammonia vapor and microwaves. The samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV-Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis).

Graphene oxide monolayer sheets were transferred on Si and SiO2/Si substrates by Langmuir-Blodgett technique and were exposed to ammonia plasma at room temperature. The monolayer character of both graphene oxide and plasma treated graphene oxide sheets were ascertained by atomic force microscopy. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy revealed that ammonia plasma treatment results in enhancement of graphitic carbon content along with the incorporation of nitrogen. The conductivity of graphene oxide monolayers, which was in the range of 10−6-10−7 S/cm, increased to 10−2-10−3 S/cm after the ammonia plasma treatment. These results indicate that the graphene oxide was simultaneously reduced and N-doped during ammonia plasma treatment, without affecting the morphological stability of sheets.

The large amount of graphene oxide was prepared by modified Hummers method, and which was then characterized by FT-Raman, FT-IR spectroscopy. Also the supercapacitor behavior of graphene oxide was studied ionic liquid. Here we observed that the graphene oxide shows best supercapacitor behavior in ionic liquid.

Here, we report electronic properties of graphene field-effect transistor in a magnetic field of 9.0 tesla. Raman spectroscopy on graphene sample prepared by anodic bonding method shows it to be of the highest quality. The observation of charge neutrality point at a positive gate voltage is due to hole doping in the sample from the immobile oxygen ions created during anodic bonding process. Hysteresis observed in the longitudinal resistance (between source and drain) while sweeping voltage at gate in a loop may be due to high viscosity of polythene oxide matrix for mobile Li ions. The longitudinal resistance as a function of gate voltage Vg shows that both kind of charge carriers (electron and hole) can be doped in graphene, which is further ascertained by the Hall measurements.

In our present work, we describe a simple method for uniform coating of Graphite oxide (GO) onto flexible polyurethane (PU) foams. These PU foams loaded with GO were made electrically conducting by converting insulating GO to conducting graphene by chemical reduction process without damaging the foam properties. These PU foams loaded with graphene were characterized by SEM and TGA. The morphology, thermal properties and pressure dependent electrical conductivity of these foams was studied. The electric current increased by five orders of magnitude due to applied pressure.

The need to explore the use of renewable energy resources, in any way possible, is now considered as inevitable. The focus of this project is to utilize solar energy for the production of hydrogen from water. Both sunlight and water are available in abundance. As sunlight is available during day time, the photohydrogen produced can be stored and converted to electricity, whenever needed. The production of photohydrogen requires not only sunlight, but photocatalyst as well. A series of Ni/TiO2 photocatalysts with different Ni loading (2, 5, and 10 wt%) were prepared via wet impregnation method followed by calcination at 300°C for a duration of 2 hours. Hydrogen production from water was conducted by using a 250 W/m2 halogen lamp for one hour. The best performing photocatalyst was 10 wt% Ni/TiO2 giving 3.4 mL of hydrogen from H2O compared to the lower activity of TiO2 which produced only 1.9 mL of hydrogen from H2O. These values were obtained by using steady state light intensity; where else the available s...

Graphene oxide sheets were transferred on Si and Ti substrates by Langmuir-Blodgett technique and were reduced by hydrazine vapor treatment followed by annealing in vacuum/inert atmosphere. A comparison of Raman spectra of reduced graphene oxide on Si and Ti shows that the reduction process is more effective in the later case and results in the formation of RGO with higher graphitic carbon content, exhibiting spectral features closer to those of graphene monolayers.

From the first-principle study, it is shown that the introduction of strain in a monolayer graphene enhances its chemical reactivity and hence it becomes more reactive than the pristine one. The intermolecular interaction between graphene and molecular hydrogen increases with increase in strain in the graphene plane leading to adsorption of hydrogen with suitable binding energy. Since graphene sheets can be freely suspended without any substrate we can stretch the sheets by adjusting distance between the clamped edges of the holding frame. In this way stacks of stretched graphene sheets can be constructed and a good hydrogen storage system can be obtained.

Few layer graphene (FLG) had been successfully grown on polycrystalline Ni films or foils on a large scale using DC Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (DC PE‐CVD) as a result of the Raman spectra drawn out of the sample. The size of graphene films is dependent on the area of the Ni film as well as the DC PE‐CVD chamber size. Synthesis time has an effect on the quality of graphene produced. However, further analysis and experiments must be pursued to further identify the optimum settings and conditions of producing better quality graphene. Applied plasma voltage on the other hand, had an influence on the minimization of defects in the graphene grown. It has also presented a method of producing a free standing PMMA/graphene membrane on a FeCl3(aq) solution which could then be transferred to a desired substrate.

The micromechanically exfoliated monolayer graphene on SiO2, Al2O3, and HfO2 are investigated by Raman spectroscopy and AFM measurement. The pristine graphene seems to have stronger adhesion and higher carrier concentration when the dielectric constant of the underlying oxide is higher. It is found that high vacuum annealing significantly increases the interaction between graphene and the oxides and Raman G and 2D bands shift to higher wavelength. The high vacuum annealing for graphene on HfO2 increases carrier concentration of up to ∼10 times with a corresponding Fermi level shift of ∼0.65 eV although that of graphene on SiO2 induces a biaxial compressive stress as high as 4 GPa on graphene. As the three dielectrics evaluated in this work are the most commonly used gate dielectrics in field‐effect transistors, these findings will be useful in fabrication of graphene based field‐effect transistors.

Using the pulsed deposition technique, the growth of GaN on graphite substrate is possible. Because of the two‐dimensionality of graphite, the strain for the lattice mismatch due to the growth of GaN is absorbed by the topmost layer of graphite. We confirm that the electronic and the atomic structure for the interface of the grown GaN on graphite is almost similar to the interface of GaN on a single graphene layer using the density functional theory.

In this study, a membrane aeration/filtration combined bioreactor (CMBR) was constructed, and the effect of alternate cycle by CMBR on membrane fouling and oxygen utilization efficiency (OUE) was investigated. Results showed that under the condition, when the alternate cycle was 0.75∼3h, the ΔTMP (TMP value of the time when a filtration cycle was over) of CMBR maintained a basically constant value during the 6 days’ continuous operation, which implied the CMBR achieved a favorable effect of the membrane fouling relieving. Too short or too long cycle would lead to a gradual increase of ΔTMP. OUE of CMBR increased with the extension of the alternate cycle. Thus, it suggested that the optimal alternate cycle of CMBR should be 3h.

This research aim to analysis bioethanol purification process. Bioethanol from cassava has been produced in previous research and the ethanol from molasses was taken from Bekonang region. The production of bioethanol from cassava was carried out through several processes such as homogenization, adding of α‐amylase, β‐amylase and yeast (Saccharomyces c). Two types of laboratory scale distillator have been used, the first type is 50 cm length and 4 cm diameter. The second type distillator is 30 cm length and 9 cm diameter. Both types have been used to distill bioethanol The initial concentration after the fermentation process is 15% for bioethanol from cassava and 20–30% ethanol from molasses. The results of first type distillator are 90% of bioethanol at 50° C and yield 2.5%; 70% of bioethanol at 60° C and yield 11.2%. 32% of bioethanol at 70° C and yield 42%. Meanwhile the second distillator results are 84% of bioethanol at 50° C with yield 12%; 51% of bioethanol at 60° C with yield 35.5%; 20% of bioethanol at 70° C with yield 78.8%; 16% of bioethanol at 80° C with yield 81.6%. The ethanol from molasses has been distillated once times in Bekonang after the fermentation process, the yield was about 20%. In this research first type distillator and the initial concentration is 20% has been used. The results are 95% of bioethanol at 75° C with yield 8%; 94% of bioethanol at 85° C with yield 13% when vacuum pump was used. And 94% of bioethanol at 90° C with yield 3.7% and 94% of bioethanol at 96° C with yield 10.27% without vacuum pump. The bioethanol purification use second type distillator more effective than first type distillator.

The method of preparing carbon nanotube (CNT) by milling of graphite particles in water followed by high temperature annealing is proposed and the mechanism discussed. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) line broadening analysis reveal that cleavage of the graphite particles occurs preferentially along the out‐of‐plane π bonds. Carbon K‐edge near edge X‐ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) of the milled graphite shows an increased sp3 character of the C=C bonds, but no major bonds rupture in the graphene sheets. The annealing at 1400 °C for 4 h of the milled graphite in argon results in formation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes accompanied with a number of coiled and twisted stacks of graphene sheets. The increased structural disorder of the milled graphite and presence of iron contaminations facilitate the rolling up of the cleaved graphene sheets during annealing.

This paper shows Electrical characterization of Dye Sensitized Solar Cell using natural dye, extracted from the pomegranate as a photo sensitizer and ZnO nanoparticles as semiconductor. The constituents of fabricated dye sensitized solar cell were working electrode, dye, electrolyte and counter electrode. ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized and used as semiconductor in working electrode. Carbon soot was used as counter electrode. The resistance of ZnO film on ITO film was found out. There was an increase in the resistance of the film and film changes from conducting to semiconducting. Photovoltaic parameters of the fabricated cell like Short circuit current, open circuit voltage, Fill factor and Efficiency were found out. This paper shows that usage of natural dyes like pomegranate juice as sensitizer enables faster and simpler production of cheaper and environmental friendly solar cell.

We showed our work on modeling turbine blade crack detection in Sonic Infrared (IR) Imaging with a method of creating flat crack surface in finite element analysis (FEA) in last year's QNDE paper. This modeling has been carried out continuously as part of model-assisted study on crack detection in aircraft engine turbine blades. We have presented that Sonic IR Imaging NDE is a viable method to detect defects in various structures. It combines ultrasound excitation for frictional heating in defects and infrared imaging to sense this heating, and thus to identify the defects. It is a fast wide-area imaging technology. It only takes a second to image a large area of a target sample. When an aircraft is in flight, the turbine engine blades operate under high temperature and high cyclic stresses. Thus, fatigue cracks can form after many hours of operation. Sonic IR Imaging can be used to detect such cracks. However, we still need to better understand contributions of parameters/factors in the crack detection process with Sonic IR Imaging. FEA modeling can help us to reveal certain aspects through the data it produces where experimental work cannot achieve. Upon the model we presented last year, a two-step simulation process was designed to simulate the important aspects in our experiments. These include a newly designed model for the ultrasound transducer which delivers mechanical energy to the sample and the implementation of static force while engaging the transducer to the sample. In this paper, we present the ideas and the results from the new model.

Thermal Barrier Coatings (TBC) are used to reduce the working temperature of the high pressure turbine blade metal surface and hence permit engines to operate at higher temperatures/ efficiencies. A sensor TBC is an adaptation of existing TBCs to enhance their functionality, such that they become sensors and allow measurement of component temperatures. The sensing capability is introduced by embedding optically active materials into the TBC and by illuminating these coatings with excitation light phosphorescence can be observed. The phosphorescence carries temperature and structural information about the coating. This paper describes the first ever implementation of a sensor coating system on a full-scale jet engine. The system consists of three main components: industrially manufactured coatings, advanced remote detection optics with large stand-off distances and tailored control and readout software. The majority of coatings were based on yttrium stabilized zirconia doped with Dy and Eu, although other coatings were manufactured, too. Coatings were produced on a production line using atmospheric plasma spraying. An advanced optical system was designed, manufactured and operated permitting scanning of coated components using a wide acceptance angle. Successful measurements were taken from the nozzle guide vanes at the inlet to the turbine section and are reported in the paper.

This paper identifies the influence variables affecting the resolution of thermometry resistance bridges. The theoretical limit to the resolution is determined by the spectral density of all noise sources, including the thermal noise from the resistors and amplifiers, quantization noise, and the equivalent noise bandwidth. Optimization of resolution is equivalent to minimization of measurement time, which has a Heisenberg-uncertainty-like relationship with equivalent noise bandwidth. Bridge design has a major influence on the compromises between the different noise sources, as well as influencing compromises with respect to measurement time. The paper explains the concept of an ideal averaging filter and illustrates the use of the Allan variance to evaluate the dependence of the resolution on measurement time.

In this paper the applications, detailed in previous papers, referred to ultrasonic transducers with the addition of axicon lenses are extended. Axicon lenses, both contact and immersion, for normal and angular incidence were manufactured, in order to study defectology in welds and other components. For immersion transducers, as had already been made for contact transducers, signal amplitude in function of the depth of the reflector and transverse acoustic pressure at the focus were measured. For this purpose a small metallic sphere submerged in different fluids was used. Several practical applications are shown where it is possible to exploit the advantages that these transducers offer: high resolution measurements for corrosion, laminations and thickness reduction. Discrimination between a weld root and a defect very close to it, etc. Measurements in anisotropic materials (composites) in order to achieve an SNR improvement.

Reflective metal foil is widely used to reduce radiative heat transfer within the roof space of buildings. Such foils are typically mass-produced by vapor-deposition of a thin metallic coating onto a variety of substrates, ranging from plastic-coated reinforced paper to "bubble-wrap". Although the emissivity of such surfaces is almost negligible in the thermal infrared, typically less than 0.03, an insufficiently thick metal coating, or organic contamination of the surface, can significantly increase this value. To ensure that the quality of the installed insulation is satisfactory, Australian building code AS/NZS 4201.5:1994 requires a practical agreed method for measurement of the emissivity, and the standard ASTM-E408 is implied. Unfortunately this standard is not a "primary method" and requires the use of specified expensive apparatus and calibrated reference materials. At NMIA we have developed a simple primary technique, based on an apparatus to thermally modulate the sample and record the apparent modulation in infra-red radiance with commercially available radiation thermometers. The method achieves an absolute accuracy in the emissivity of approximately 0.004 (k=2). This paper theoretically analyses the equivalence between the thermal emissivity measured in this manner, the effective thermal emissivity in application, and the apparent emissivity measured in accordance with ASTM-E408.

This paper presents a simple way to form non-diffracting narrow beams, also called bessel beams, with phased arrays. Normally non-diffracting beams are generated by using axiconi-cal lenses. The axiconical lens is simulated by phased array ultrasonic technique using a delay time distribution that is chosen according to the sound path in axiconical lenses. The phased array probe is a 2D matrix array with 121 elements. Each element is driven by another delay time. The delay times which are usually used for this probe to focus in different depth of the material are distributed spherical-ly over the area of the probe. To form a non-diffracting beam the distribution of the time delays is linearly increasing to the center of the probe. In the paper the results of the simulation are given. By varying the parameters in the simulation the best setting is chosen. With this an experiment is done and the expe-rimental results are compared to the simulation results. Considerations on the best probe to form non-diffracting beams with phased array are described.

A generalized non local-equilibrium, three-equation model was developed for the macroscopic description of two-phase flow heat and mass transfer in porous media subjected to phase change. Six pore-scale closure problems were proposed to determine all the effective transport coefficients for representative unit cells. An improved model is presented in this paper with the perspective of application to intense boiling phenomena. The objective of this paper is to present application of this model to the simulation of reflooding of severely damaged nuclear reactor cores. In case of accident at a nuclear power plant, water sources may not be available for a long period of time and the core heats up due to the residual power. Any attempt to inject water during core degradation can lead to quenching and further fragmentation of the core material. The fragmentation of fuel rods and melting of reactor core materials may result in the formation of a "debris bed". The typical particle size in a debris bed might reach few millimeters (characteristic length-scale: 1 to 5 mm), which corresponds to a high permeability porous medium. The proposed two-phase flow model is implemented in the ICARECATHARE code, developed by IRSN to study severe accident scenarios in pressurized water reactors. Currently, the French IRSN has set up two experimental facilities to study debris bed reflooding, PEARL and PRELUDE, with the objective to validate safety models. The PRELUDE program studies the complex two phase flow of water and steam in a porous medium (diameter 180 mm, height 200 mm), initially heated to a high temperature (400°C or 700°C). The series of PRELUDE experiments achieved in 2010 constitute a significant complement to the database of high temperature bottom reflood experimental data. They provide relevant data to understand the progression of the quench front and the intensity of heat transfer. Modeling accurately these experiments required improvements to the reflooding model, especially in terms of the existence of various saturation regimes. The improved two-phase flow model shows a good agreement with PRELUDE experimental results.

The aim of this paper is to study the mechanical capacity improvement in a cold formed steel cross section with thickness of 1 mm regards to a cross section made by means of hot-rolled steel with thickness of 4 mm, respectively. Likewise, the differences are studied in the manufacturing processes used in both profiles, and the particularities of cold formed steel cross section. This paper analyzes temperature, stress and deformations using Element Method DEFORM software. This research has been focused in the study of accumulation points of stress to verify the behavior of the sheet of cold formed steel during the folded process. Stress of the steel cross section has been analyzed during the folded process, showing instant step of simulation. Conclusions show how these points of stress concentration could be an influence during the manufacturing process.

Shipbuilding processes involve highly dangerous manual welding operations. Welding of ship hulls presents a hazardous environment for workers. This paper describes a new robotic system, developed by the SHIPWELD consortium, that moves autonomously on the hull and automatically executes the required welding processes. Specific focus is placed on the trajectory control of such a system and forms the basis for the discussion in this paper. It includes a description of the robotic hardware design as well as some methodology used to establish the torch trajectory control.

The analysis of energy flow is a useful method for understanding a system. This paper focuses on the instantaneous measurement of physical conditions and analysis of energy flow in the Stirling-type pulse tube refrigerator. For measuring physical conditions of the working fluid such as the mass flow rate, the temperature, and the pressure, several cryogenic sensors are installed in the Stirling-type pulse tube refrigerator optimally designed in the operating condition of 60 Hz and 2.5 MPa. The physical conditions of the working fluid in the Stirling-type pulse tube refrigerator are carefully measured as varying the operating frequency and the charging pressure. From the measured results, the enthalpy, the PV work, and the loss are quantified in each location of the PTR and the conversion of energy flows is experimentally confirmed. The results of this paper can be used for understanding the optimal operating condition and modifying correlations of various losses in the Stirling-type pulse tube refrigerato...

The microstructural hot-spot formation mechanism of non-shock HMX-based explosive ignition is still unknown. If recent optical observations made on post-mortem samples have clarified the main mechanisms of deformation at the microstructural scale, the train of each event is hardly tractable. In order to obtain realtime observation at the microscale, the punch test proposed during the 90's by the LANL team has been revisited. A reverse-edge-on impact (REOI) experiment is described in this paper. This new set-up allows (1) a constant speed of the projectile, (2) the use of various target designs, (3) macroscopic observations of the deformation and the ignition and (3) real-time optical observations at the microscale. Some results are detailed in this paper to show the interests of the REOI test configuration.

This paper discusses the use of pulse echo based ultrasonic testing for the inspection of adhesive bonds between very thick composite plates (thickness greater than 30 mm). Large wind turbine blades use very thick composite plates for its main structural members, and the inspection of adhesive bond-line is very vital. A wide gamut of samples was created by changing the thickness of plate and the adhesive. The influence of experimental parameters such as frequency on measurement is studied in this paper. Two different frequencies are chosen, and the measurement error bars are determined experimentally. T-Ray measurements were used to verify and correct results, and conclusions are made based on the combined results.

The present paper describes the quantitative validation of a finite element (FE) model of the ultrasound beam generated by an air coupled non-contact ultrasound transducer. The model boundary conditions are given by vibration velocities measured by laser vibrometry on the probe membrane. The proposed validation method is based on the comparison between the simulated 3D pressure field and the pressure data measured with interferometric laser tomography technique. The model details and the experimental techniques are described in paper. The analysis of results shows the effectiveness of the proposed approach and the possibility to quantitatively assess and predict the generated acoustic pressure field, with maximum discrepancies in the order of 20% due to uncertainty effects. This step is important for determining in complex problems the real applicability of air-coupled probes and for the simulation of the whole inspection procedure, also when the component is designed, so as to virtually verify its inspectability.

Modern jet-engine turbine blades are cast from single crystals of nickel-based superalloys because of the excellent mechanical properties that these materials exhibit at high temperatures. However, the anisotropic behavior of single crystals causes difficulties when using ultrasound to inspect these components for defects that could potentially initiate in-service. This paper describes the development of a 2D ultrasonic array system for the in situ inspection of these components. The problems associated with the inspection of anisotropic single crystal materials such as the directional dependence of the ultrasonic velocity, beam directivities in anisotropic media and the variation in the crystallographic orientation, are all addressed in this paper. In addition, constraints regarding access to the inspection location within the engine are discussed. Finally, the defect detection sensitivity and sizing capability of the developed system is evaluated.

Electromagnetic flow meters based on the principles of Faraday's laws of induction have been used successfully in many industries. In order to achieve velocity profile measurements in single phase and multiphase flows with non-uniform velocity profiles, a novel Imaging Electromagnetic Flow meter (IEF) has been developed which is described in this paper. The novel electromagnetic flow meter uses a microcontroller as the processing core to achieve the function of driving the uniform magnetic field, acquiring voltage signals with electronic system, matrix inversion calculation and result display. The work undertaken in the paper demonstrates that an imaging electromagnetic flow meter for liquid velocity profile measurement is an instrument that is highly suited for control via a microcontroller.

Electro-hydraulic servomechanisms (EHSM) are important components of flight control systems and their role is to control the movement of the flying control surfaces in response to the movement of the cockpit controls. As flight-control systems, the EHSMs have a fast dynamic response, a high power to inertia ratio and high control accuracy. The paper is devoted to the study of the sensitivity for an electro-hydraulic servomechanism used for an aircraft aileron action. The mathematical model of the EHSM used in this paper includes a large number of parameters whose actual values may vary within some ranges of uncertainty. It consists in a nonlinear ordinary differential equation system composed by the mass and energy conservation equations, the actuator movement equations and the controller equation. In this work the focus is on the sensitivities of the eigenvalues of the linearized homogeneous system, which are the partial derivatives of the eigenvalues of the state-space system with respect the parameters...

The vortex rope in a hydro turbine draft cone is one the main and strong sources of pulsations in non-optimal modes of hydro turbine operation. The subject of this paper consists in development of a numerical procedure to study the absolute/convective hydrodynamic instability of the swirl flow downstream the Francis turbine runner by means of parallel computing. As an alternative to classical methods as finite volume and finite element methods, the present paper proposes a new approach of the analysis of the swirling flow based on the method of orthogonal decomposition. This method has the benefit of reducing the computational time compared to other techniques. The important point of this paper is that highlights the validation of the numerical results computed by means of the proposed technique with corresponding published results. Moreover, the algorithm provided the growth rate curve as function of mode number both in absolute and convective analysis, some presumptions on the streamwise development of the instability in the vortex thus being made.

Dynamic Gas Bearing Turbines - although applied for helium refrigerators and liquefiers for decades - experienced limitations for hydrogen applications due to restrictions in axial bearing capacity. With a new design concept for gas bearing turbines developed in 2004, axial bearing capacity was significantly improved enabling the transfer of this technology to hydrogen liquefiers. Prior to roll-out of the technology to industrial plants, the turbine bearing technology passed numerous tests in R&D test benches and subsequently proved industrial scale demonstration at Linde Gas' hydrogen liquefier in Leuna, Germany. Since its installation, this turbine has gathered more than 16,000 successful operating hours and has outperformed its oil bearing brother in terms of performance, maintainability as well as reliability. The present paper is based on Linde Kryotechnik AG's paper published in the proceedings of the CEC 2009 concerning the application of Dynamic Gas Bearing Turbines in hydrogen applications. In contrast to the former paper, this publication focuses on the steps towards final market launch and more specifically on the financial benefits of this turbine technology, both in terms of capital investment as well as operating expenses.