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A novel procedure has emerged in recent years within oilfields - namely, the utilization of a hybrid fracturing method employing pre-CO2 injection along with sand-carry slick water. In this paper, based on the real logging data of shale oil reservoirs in the second member of Cangdong Sag, Huanghua Depression, combined with the GOHFER, a coupled 3-D hydraulic fracture propagation model is proposed. This research delves into an examination of how engineering factors exert their influence on the process of fracture propagation. The quantitative analysis is conducted encompassing critical fracture parameters such as half-length, height, and width, and self-defined fracture seepage area and fracture front fractal dimension. The research findings indicate that as injection displacement increases, the fracture shape undergoes a transformation from being "long, low, and wide" to becoming "short, high, and narrow". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The response characteristics of the mesostructure and macro-characteristics of the soil–rock mixture under repeated freeze–thaw action have an important influence on the safety and stability of the dump slope in low-temperature environments. In order to further understand the multi-scale response behavior of a soil–rock mixture under freeze–thaw cycles, this paper carried out indoor freeze–thaw cycles, uniaxial compression, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy tests on a soil–rock mixture taken from a graphite mine dump in Jixi City, Heilongjiang Province, China. Combined with the simulation calculation of discrete element numerical software (PFC2D 7.0), the effects of freeze–thaw cycling on electrochemical impedance spectrometry (EIS) mesoscopic parameters, uniaxial compressive strength, and crack propagation of soil–rock mixtures were analyzed. The intrinsic relationship between mesoparameters and macroscopic mechanical properties was established. The results showed that as the number of freeze–thaw cycles increases from 0 to 15, the mesopores inside the soil–rock mixture gradually increase, and the angular similarity of distribution characteristics increases by 5.25%. The uniaxial compressive strength and the peak secant modulus increase exponentially with the increase in the number of freeze–thaw cycles, the uniaxial compressive strength decreases by 47.62%, and the peak secant modulus decreases by 75.87%. The peak strain and pore compaction stage showed an exponential increase and an increasing trend, respectively, and the peak strain increased from 2.115% to 4.608%. The failure mode was basically similar in different cycles; the failure cracks extended from the corners to the middle and lower parts before the failure finally occurred. The types of failure cracks were mainly tensile cracks, followed by tensile shear cracks and the fewest compression shear cracks. The similarity and uniaxial compressive strength conformed to a good linear relationship with the number of freeze–thaw cycles, with the uniaxial compressive strength decreasing linearly with the increase in similarity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkali-activated materials are produced by chemically polymerizing the aluminosilicate materials using alkaline activators, which can effectively lower the greenhouse-gas emissions (approximately 73%) released by ordinary Portland cement (OPC). Silicomanganese slag is a large solid waste discharged from the ferroalloy industry in China that can pollute the environment and occupy resources. In this paper, the slag in alkali-activated material was replaced with silicomanganese slag to address the disposal of silicomangaese slag. The flowability, setting times, compressive and flexural strengths, micro-structure and freeze-thaw resistance of alkali-activated silicomanganese slag concrete (AASSC) with varied substitution ratios, volume fractions of steel fibers and alkali-activated modulus (MS) were exploited. As a results the compressive strengths at 56 days of AASSC with a 10% substitution ratio of silicomanganese slag reached over 80 MPa and over 132 MPa with the 3% steel fiber dosage. AASSC still reached 91 MPa and 45 MPa with 60% and 100% substitution ratios by cooperating 2% steel fibers, respectively. When the freeze-thaw cycle number reached 300, the compressive strengths of AASSC with the replacement ratios of 10%, 60% and 100% were 84%, 74% and 51% of their original values by cooperating 2% steel fibers, respectively; AASSC with the numerous substitutions of 60% and 100% were destroyed at 600 and 300 freeze-thaw cycles, respectively. AASSC with a 10% substitution ratio and 2% steel fiber content is suitable for excellent performance, and a 60% substitution ratio can also be applied to construction for the massive utilization of silicomanganese slag. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Temperature has a significant impact on the structural performance of the China Railway Track System (CRTS) II slab ballastless track-bridge and the structure is susceptible to fatigue damage under long-term loading. Therefore, it is crucial to conduct cyclic-loading test on the track-bridge structure to reveal the evolution of its mechanical properties under coupled temperature-load effect. In this study, a 1:4 scaled-down model of a ballastless track-bridge was produced and placed in a large-size environmental chamber for temperature-load coupled cyclic-loading tests. The results showed that after 1x10-6 cycles of loading, no cracks were observed on the surface of the track structure. The structural workability and load capacity of the track-bridge met the required service standards. During the temperature-load coupling test, the load-displacement curves of the structural system exhibited intervals, with a more significant increase in static-deflection values. The dynamic deflection of the structural system under the coupling action experienced a higher growth rate and more abrupt changes compared to single-load conditions. These observations indicated that the ambient temperature amplified the deflection of the structural system. The strain values in the track structure exhibited significant non-linearity, with temperature amplifying this effect. The dynamic-response test results revealed a negative correlation between the inherent frequency of the track structure and the ambient temperature, further emphasizing the influence of temperature on the stability of the track structure. Consequently, it is essential to enhance the monitoring of track structures in high-temperature climates to ensure their safe operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the actual exploitation process of coalbed methane (CBM), as the fluid in the wellbore continues to circulate, the surrounding rock of the CBM well will continuously exchange heat with the fluid in the wellbore, resulting in continuous changes in the temperature of the surrounding rock itself. Linfen, Shanxi is the main exploitation area for CBM in China. This paper aims further to improve the exploitation efficiency of CBM in this area and conducts experimental research on the change characteristics of coal-rock mechanical properties under varying temperature conditions. The experimental results show that under constant pressure conditions, the higher the temperature, the lower the stress value when the coal-rock breaks. In the process of reaching peak strength, the higher the temperature, the higher the proportion of coal-rock plastic deformation in its entire deformation stage. The compressive strength, elastic modulus, and main crack length of coal-rock will decrease with temperature. The Poisson's ratio and primary fracture angle will increase with the increase of experimental temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cement stabilized macadam semi-rigid base materials are widely used in road construction in China. However, a traditional static molding method and heavy compaction method cannot guide the design and engineering application of cement stabilized macadam mixture because it often appears that the compaction degree exceeds 100% in the practical engineering. In view of this, this paper carried out the research of an indoor vibration compaction method of cement stabilized macadam mixture, and compared the mechanical properties and void distribution characteristics of two kinds of compositions of mixtures under the vibration compaction method as well as static pressure molding and heavy compaction method and on-site sample after 7 days curing period, which was combined with the physical engineering project of Yu-Song Expressway in Jilin Province, China. The research results show that the maximum dry density of mixture under vibration compaction is larger and the best moisture content is smaller, which has a heavy incomparable advantage on the simulation of on-site compaction. And the compressive strength and splitting strength indexes of vibration compacted specimens are close to those of an on-site sample, which are all larger than static pressure specimen. Moreover, the void distribution characteristics of vibration compacted specimens is much closer to those of the on-site sample and more universal, while static pressure specimens lack in uniformity. In addition, different results caused by the two gradation are compared. All of the above research results can verify that the vibration compaction method has more reliability and accuracy to simulate the actual properties of base material. This study provides a reference for the application of vibration compaction method in road engineering design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrological and mechanical properties of granitic residual soils can be significantly altered by periodical wetting and drying (W-D) cycles. The soil structure degradation induced by W-D cycles can lead to soil mass failure and collapsing gully erosion in granitic hilly slopes in south China. However, limited attempts have been made at a comprehensive investigation of the effects of W-D cycles on the structure degradation of granitic residual soils, especially at the pedon scale. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the structural degradation of granite soils induced by W-D cycles and explore its potential influence on the development of collapsing gully erosion. The granitic soil properties, including hydraulic properties, shear strength, and disintegration characteristics, were performed after W-D cycles. The results indicated that the W-D cycles altered the soil pore structure, leading to variations in soil hydraulic properties. Specifically, with increasing alternate W-D cycles, the initial saturated water content and residual water content decreased, while the saturated hydraulic conductivity increased. Meanwhile, increasing W-D cycles contributed significantly to variations in cohesion and internal friction strength by decreasing the shear strength variables, especially the soil cohesion strength. Correspondingly, soil disintegration was increased during W-D cycles. Furthermore, most degradation of soil structure was recorded within the first two cycles of W-D. The obtained results indicate that the W-D cycles weaken soil structure, increase rainwater infiltration, decrease soil shear strength and disintegration resistance, and accelerate soil erosion. A vicious cycle of granitic slope failure induced by W-D cycles is eventually formed. This study provides useful information about the mechanism of soil mass failure and collapsing gully erosion in granitic hilly slopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the challenges of the industry increasingly demand the manufacture of complex shapes with great design flexibility without waste by 3D printing. Additive manufacturing, unlike traditional manufacturing techniques such as casting and machining, enables designers to rapid prototype while lowering operating costs and material waste during this process. In this way, understanding the current state of the literature related to additive manufacturing processes and the mechanical properties of 3D printed materials is of high importance to determine a research horizon in developing future works of this topic. In this paper, a bibliometric analysis, also named Scientometric science, was implemented. The tendencies and transcendental topics were determined using the Bibliometrix package for R and VOSviewer. Data were exported directly from the Scopus database with a search equation. The results showed that, of the 1271 documents analyzed, 2015 is a year where the research began its developing stage, with a growth rate of 20.8%. The USA resulted to be a leading country in publications followed by China and the UK. Likewise, it is observed that the author with the highest number of publications and h-index is C.B. Williams, followed by A.A. Zadpoor and J. Muller. Besides, the evolution in time of the keywords most used by researchers, and trends and research gaps in the study of additive manufacturing with the mechanical properties of the 3D printing materials are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cement manufacturing industry, a resource- and energy-intensive sector, took up more than 15% of total greenhouse gas emissions in China, thus finding a clean technology option for sustainable development is essential. CO 2 curing has emerged as a promising novel method for large-scale carbon sequestration and mechanical properties improvement of cement-based composites. Currently, a body of related works is mainly investigated in the laboratory, and understandings of the behaviors of CO 2 -cured cement-based composites are still less than complete, including, 1) the CO 2 storage potential has plenty of room for improvement due to the influence mechanism of variables factors remains unclear; 2) previous evaluations were mostly based on the subsets of individual result rather than an integrated dataset; 3) whether CO 2 curing is suitable for the manufacturing process of reinforced concrete. Therefore, this paper presents a comprehensive overview covering a wide range of parameters as well as fabrication, mechanical (compressive strength), and environmental (CO 2 uptake value) performances on the basis of a correct understanding of the differences between active and passive carbonation reactions. Notably, the influences of critical factors, including those less understood, e.g., types of curing setup (flow-able, enclosed, and others), components of binder, and aggregate/binder ratio, are also analyzed and the corresponding mechanisms discussed to achieve satisfied curing efficiency. Besides, corrosion-related challenges are also be pointed out to convince the widespread acceptance of this technology. Finally, based on this paper, limitations of existing research are identified and future scope on CO 2 curing regime is proposed. • 170 studies related to CO 2 /carbonation-cured cement-based composites are analyzed. • The differences between active/passive-carbonation together with reaction mechanisms are expounded. • Fabrication and influence factors on engineering and environmental properties are systematically reviewed. • CO 2 -cured cement-based composites exhibit excellent resistance to aggressive conditions. • The challenges and opportunities in the CO 2 curing method are innovatively discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer-modified concrete and fiber concrete are two excellent paving materials that improve the performance of some concrete, but the performance of single application material is still limited. In this paper, polymer-modified concrete with strong deformation and fiber concrete with obvious crack resistance and reinforcement effect were compounded by using the idea of composite material design so as to obtain a high-performance pavement material. The basic mechanical properties of high-content hybrid fiber–polymer-modified concrete, such as workability, compression, flexural resistance, and environmental durability (such as sulfate resistance) were studied by using the test regulations of cement concrete in China. The main results were as follows. (1) The hybrid fiber–polymer concrete displayed reliable working performance, high stiffness, and a modulus of elasticity as high as 35.93 GPa. (2) The hybrid fiber–polymer concrete had a compressive strength of 52.82 MPa, which was 31.2% higher than that of the plain C40 concrete (40.25 MPa); the strength of bending of the hybrid concrete was 11.51 MPa, 191.4% higher than that of the plain concrete (3.95 MPa). (3) The corrosion resistance value of the hybrid fiber–polymer concrete was 81.31%, indicating its adjustability to sulfate attack environments. (4) According to cross-sectional scanning electron microscope (SEM) images, the hybrid fiber–polymer concrete was seemingly more integrated with a dense layer of cementing substance on its surface along with fewer microholes and microcracks as when compared to the ordinary concrete. The research showed that hybrid fiber–polymer concrete had superior strength and environmental erosion resistance and was a pavement material with superior mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research presents a dual-pronged bibliometric and systematic review of the integration of phase change materials (PCM) in asphalt pavements to counteract the urban heat island (UHI) effect. The bibliometric approach discerns the evolution of PCM-inclusion asphalt research, highlighting a marked rise in the number of publications between 2019 and 2022. Notably, Chang'an University in China has emerged as a leading contributor. The systematic review addresses key questions like optimal PCM types for UHI effect mitigation, strategies for PCM leakage prevention in asphalt, and effects on mechanical properties. The findings identify polyethylene glycols (PEGs), especially PEG2000 and PEG4000, as prevailing PCM due to their wide phase-change temperature range and significant enthalpy during phase transitions. While including PCM can modify asphalt's mechanical attributes, such mixtures typically stay within performance norms. This review emphasises the potential of PCM in urban heat management and the need for further research to achieve optimal thermal and mechanical balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid hydrogen is the main fuel of large-scale low-temperature heavy-duty rockets, and has become the key direction of energy development in China in recent years. As an important application carrier in the large-scale storage and transportation of liquid hydrogen, liquid hydrogen cryogenic storage and transportation containers are the key equipment related to the national defense security of China's aerospace and energy fields. Due to the low temperature of liquid hydrogen (20 K), special requirements have been put forward for the selection of materials for storage and transportation containers including the adaptability of materials in a liquid hydrogen environment, hydrogen embrittlement characteristics, mechanical properties, and thermophysical properties of liquid hydrogen temperature, which can all affect the safe and reliable design of storage and transportation containers. Therefore, it is of great practical significance to systematically master the types and properties of cryogenic materials for the development of liquid hydrogen storage and transportation containers. With the wide application of liquid hydrogen in different occasions, the requirements for storage and transportation container materials are not the same. In this paper, the types and applications of cryogenic materials commonly used in liquid hydrogen storage and transportation containers are reviewed. The effects of low-temperature on the mechanical properties of different materials are introduced. The research progress of cryogenic materials and low-temperature performance data of materials is introduced. The shortcomings in the research and application of cryogenic materials for liquid hydrogen storage and transportation containers are summarized to provide guidance for the future development of container materials. Among them, stainless steel is the most widely used cryogenic material for liquid hydrogen storage and transportation vessel, but different grades of stainless steel also have different applications, which usually need to be comprehensively considered in combination with its low temperature performance, corrosion resistance, welding performance, and other aspects. However, with the increasing demand for space liquid hydrogen storage and transportation, the research on high specific strength cryogenic materials such as aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, or composite materials is also developing. Aluminum alloy liquid hydrogen storage and transportation containers are widely used in the space field, while composite materials have significant advantages in being lightweight. Hydrogen permeation is the key bottleneck of composite storage and transportation containers. At present, there are still many technical problems that have not been solved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disposal of waste coal gangue (WCG) is still a serious problem for areas that rely on the coal mine industry, especially in the northern part of China. This paper investigated the improving behavior and corresponding mechanism by waste coal gangue on the dispersivity, water stability and mechanical properties of dispersive soil. Dispersive soil samples with different contents of natural waste coal gangue, varying from 1% to 10%, were prepared and cured for 0, 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28 days. Dispersivity and water stability of soil samples were evaluated by pinhole test, cube sample crumb test and remoulded sphere sample crumb test. Electric conductivity and pH of soil samples were monitored during 28 days of curing. Unconfined compression test and splitting test were performed to determine the compressive and tensile strength of soil samples. Microstructural and mineral analysis methods such as SEM, EDS and XRD were conducted to determine the microstructural and mineral changes during curing time. Experiments show that waste coal gangue could restrain the dispersivity and enhance the water stability of dispersive soil, subsequently changing dispersive soil into nondispersive soil. Increases of 591% and 192% are observed when WCG content increases from 1% to 10% and curing time increases from 0 to 28 days for compressive and tensile strength, respectively. Increasing in waste coal gangue content and curing time would better promote the positive effect of waste coal gangue, on both the dispersivity modification and strength improvement of dispersive soil. Microstructural and mineral analyses show that newly generated products among soil particles increase the friction and cohesion between soil particles. Results indicate that reusing of waste coal gangue as an admixture in dispersive soil is a feasible way, which would solve the disposal of waste coal gangue and optimize the poor properties of dispersive soil at the same time. Enhancing water stability of dispersivity soil would ensure the safety and normal operation of soil structures. • Modification experiment of dispersive soil by waste coal gangue is studied. • Waste coal gangue is capable of changing dispersive soil into nondispersive soil. • Water stability of dispersive soil is enhanced by waste coal gangue. • Mechanical property of dispersive soil is improved by waste coal gangue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo belongs to the grass family and is an important non-timber forest product in tropic and sub-tropic countries. The global trade of bamboo products is worth billions of dollars and is mainly dominant with monopodial bamboo grown in sub-tropic countries such as China and Japan. Many researchers globally discuss that in addition to species and region, bamboo quality can differ based on its rhizome types because the physiology is different for both monopodial and sympodial bamboo. However, there is a massive competition within the yearly forest products due to the challenges posed by underground root system in agroforestry. This review studied the properties of bamboo with regards to their differences in terms of monopodial and sympodial types of rhizomes. It was found that most of the structural, chemical organic, and mechanical properties are higher in monopodial bamboo, but there is a greater fibre morphology and decay resistance in the sympodial bamboo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the variation of mechanical properties of steel under acid rain corrosion conditions in northern China, monotonic tensile tests were conducted on Q235 steel with a thickness of 3.0 mm and 4.5 mm using a method of artificially prepared simulated acid rain solution for indoor accelerated corrosion. The results show that the failure mode of corroded steel standard tensile coupon includes normal fault and oblique fault. The failure patterns of the test specimen show that the thickness of the steel and corrosion rate affected the corrosion resistance. Larger thicknesses and lower corrosion rates will delay the failure mode of corrosion on steel. The strength reduction factor (Ru), deformability reduction factor (Rd) and energy absorption reduction factor (Re) decrease linearly with the increasing corrosion rate from 0% to 30%. The results are interpreted also from the microstructural point of view. The number, size, and distribution of the pits are random when the steel is subjected to sulfate corrosion. The higher the corrosion rate, the clearer, denser, and more hemispherical the corrosion pits. The microstructure of steel tensile fracture can be divided into intergranular fracture and cleavage fracture. As the corrosion rate increases, the dimples at the tensile fracture gradually disappear and the cleavage surface gradually increases. An equivalent thickness reduction model is proposed based on Faraday's law and the meso-damage theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Near the coast of China, a large amount of sediment is produced during construction work. In order to mitigate the environmental damage caused by sediment and enhance the performance of rubber-modified asphalt effectively, solidified silt material and waste rubber were prepared to modify asphalt, and its macroscopic properties, such as viscosity and chemical composition, were determined via a routine physical test, DSR, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Fluorescence Microscopy (FM). The results show that, with the increase in powder particles and the addition of a certain amount of hardened mud, the mixing and compaction temperature of modified asphalt can be significantly increased—still reaching the design standard. In addition, the high thermal stability and fatigue resistance of the modified asphalt were clearly better than those of the ordinary asphalt. From the FTIR analysis, rubber particles and hardened silt only exhibited mechanical agitation with the asphalt. Considering that excessive silt might result in the aggregation of matrix asphalt, the addition of an appropriate amount of hardened solidified silt material can eliminate the aggregation. Therefore, the performance of modified asphalt was optimum when solidified silt was added. Our research can provide an effective theoretical basis and reference values for the practical application of compound-modified asphalt. Therefore, 6%HCS(6:4)-CRMA have better performance. Compared to ordinary rubber-modified asphalt, the composite-modified asphalt binder has better physical properties and a more suitable construction temperature. The composite-modified asphalt uses discarded rubber and silt as raw materials, which can effectively protect the environment. Meanwhile, the modified asphalt has excellent rheological properties and fatigue resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In water-related projects, the application of steel sheet pile cofferdams is becoming more and more widespread, and the influence of tunnel construction on the mechanical properties of adjacent cofferdams is important. In this study, the object of research was the mechanical properties of large-span steel sheet pile cofferdams. The open-cut tunnel project was located in Suzhou Yinshan Lake, China. According to the actual construction steps of the tunnel foundation pit, assuming that the soil was a small strain hardening soil model, combined with on-site monitoring data, a three-dimensional elastoplastic finite difference model was established. The results show that during tunnel construction, the maximum settlement of the cofferdam appeared at 0.27~0.53 m on the side of the foundation pit; the maximum horizontal displacement of the steel sheet pile occurred at the pile bottom of foundation pit side, and the seepage gradually increased during construction, eventually resulting in water gushing at the bottom of the foundation pit. After the completion of tunnel construction, the settlement value of the cofferdam presented a pattern that first increased and then decreased from the side of the foundation pit to the side of the adjacent lakeside; the steel cofferdam tilted toward the side of the foundation pit, with a maximum inclination angle of 3.37°. It should be pointed out that as the construction progressed, the axial force of the tie rods in the steel cofferdam changed from a U-shaped distribution to a V-shaped distribution. This study could provide a reference for the impact of tunnel foundation pit construction on adjacent steel cofferdam and could also provide a reference for the safety research of open-cut tunnel construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abundant reserve of shale gas in Sichuan Basin has become a significant natural gas component in China. To achieve efficient development of shale gas, it is necessary to analyze the stress state, pore pressure, and reservoir mechanical properties such that an accurate geomechanical model can be established. In this paper, Six wells of Neijiang-Dazu and North Rongchang (NDNR) Block were thoroughly investigated to establish the geomechanical model for the study area. The well log analysis was performed to derive the in-situ stresses and pore pressure while the stress polygon was applied to constrain the value of the maximum horizontal principal stress. Image and caliper data, mini-frac test and laboratory rock mechanics test results were used to calibrate the geomechanical model. The model was further validated by comparing the model prediction against the actual wellbore failure observed in the field. It was found that it is associated with the strike-slip (SS) stress regime; the orientation of SHmax was inferred to be 106–130° N. The pore pressure appears to be approximately hydrostatic from the surface to 1000 m true vertical depth (TVD), but then becomes over-pressured from the Xujiahe formation. The geomechanical model can provide guidance for the subsequent drilling and completion in this area and be used to effectively avoid complex drilling events such as collapse, kick, and lost circulation (mud losses) along the entire well. Also, the in-situ stress and pore pressure database can be used to analyze wellbore stability issues as well as help design hydraulic fracturing operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the mechanical properties and energy evolution characteristics of the shallow fractured coal in the Western China mining area, a series of triaxial compression tests was carried out on fractured coal specimens. The stress–strain curve, mechanical properties and failure characteristics were analyzed. Then, the fractal characteristics and energy evolution law were investigated. Results show that with the increase of prefabricated crack number, the post-peak stage of the stress–strain curve changed from a linear drop to a stepped drop, indicating that the damage degree tends to moderate. Both the elastic modulus and peak strength decreased as the prefabricated crack number increased, whereas the peak strain did not exhibit a clear trend. The failure mode changed from overall tensile failure to tensile-shear mixed failure as the prefabricated crack number increased. With the increase of prefabricated crack number, the failure shape dimension increased linearly. The total energy and elastic energy decreased gradually with the increase of prefabricated crack number, whereas the dissipation energy increased gradually. The results can provide a better understanding of the failure mechanism of fractured coal and its application for control design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanical properties of gas-containing coal and rock mass play important roles in controlling the occurrence and development of coal and gas outbursts. The gradual increase in mining depth will change the failure mechanism of gas-containing coal and rock mass. In order to further study the failure mechanism of gas-containing coal and rock mass, samples were taken from the gas-containing coal seam in the Wuhushan Coal Mine of the Wuhai Mining area of China. The mechanical parameters of coal samples during the failure process under different gas pressure conditions were measured and analyzed with the SAW-2000 rock mechanics testing machine, the gas-containing coal uniaxial compression device and inflation system. Meanwhile, the failure process and mechanical parameters of coal samples under different gas pressure were simulated by RFPA2D gas plate numerical simulation software. The results show that with increasing gas pressure in the coal there is decrease in Compressive strength, Elastic modulus, Strain, Peak strength and Bearing capacity and increase in Poisson's ratio. When the failure state appears in the coal, the cracks are longer and wider, more random cracks are genareted, and the damage degree of the coal is greater. The numerical analysis' results are in good agreement with experimental results. The research results are applicable to the gas bearing coal with the same or similar gas geological conditions. The tests can be carried out repeatedly and reasonable results can be obtained according to the physical and mechanical parameters of the actual coal seam and the occurrence of gas. On this basis, physical experiments and numerical simulations of triaxial compression can also be carried out to further study the mechanical characteristics of deformation and the failure of gas-containing coal under gas pressure and provide technical support for revealing the mechanism of coal and gas outbursts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reverse engineering is conducted based on the analysis of an already existing product. The results of such an analysis can be used to improve the functioning of the product or develop new organizational, economic, information technology, and other solutions that increase the efficiency of the entire business system, in particular 3D printed products. Therefore, the main aim of this research is to focus on evaluation of the load-bearing capacity of already existing 3D printed metals in order to see their suitability for the intended application and to obtain their relevant mechanical properties. To this end, 3D printed metallic bars with almost square cross-sections were acquired from an external company in China without any known processing parameters, apart from the assumption that specimens No. 1–3 are printed horizontally, and specimens No. 4–7 are printed vertically. Various experiments were conducted to study microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties of 3D printed metals. It was observed that specimens No. 1–6, were almost similar in hardness, while specimen No. 7 was reduced by about 4.5% due to the uneven surface. The average value of hardness for the specimens was found to be approximately 450 HV, whereas the load-extension graphs assessed prior point towards the conclusion that the specimens' fractured in a brittle status, is due to the lack of plastic deformation. For different specimens of the 3D printed materials, the main defects were identified, namely, lack of fusion and porosity are directly responsible for the cracks and layer delamination, prevalent in SLM printed metals. An extensive presence of cracks and layer delamination prove that the printing of these metallic bars was completed in a quick and inaccurate manner, which led to higher percentages of lack of fusion due to either low laser power, high scan speed, or the wrong scan strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Fracture data available for one of the rock masses (limestone) in the dam site of Yujian River Reservoir were used to build and validate a stochastic 3-D fracture network model, and to perform a REV and equivalent continuum study in 3-D. A number of relations are developed in the paper between the rock mass mechanical parameters and fracture tensor components in 3-D. Based on the mechanical parameter values obtained in every 45° direction in 3-D, the principal parameter values, principal directions and tensors are developed for rock mass mechanical parameters to represent the REV block size properties. An incrementally linear elastic, orthotropic constitutive model is suggested to represent the equivalent continuum pre-failure mechanical behavior of the jointed rock mass by incorporating the effect of joint geometry network by the fracture tensor components. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• The EBW test of different weld penetration and scale FW with W/Cu sheets was realized. • When the weld penetration is small, the surface focus welding is the best. Otherwise, the lower focus welding is the best. • Reduced scale FW welding with weld width less than 4 mm and good surface forming is realized. Water- cooled ceramic breeder (WCCB) blanket is one of the candidate blanket for China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor (CFETR) independently developed by China Institute of plasma physics. The first wall (FW) is a component of WCCB, which directly faces the plasma. FW contains flow channels and has complex shape structure, therefore, it is difficult to complete the full-scale manufacturing by one kind of welding process. Hence, in the development process, the components of FW are first connected by hot isostatic pressing (HIP), and then connected by electron beam welding (EBW), so as to form the full-scaled FW connection. In this paper, the EBW process of FW was studied. The results showed that when the electron beam current was 50 mA and the focus was on the surface, the welded joint with 20 mm penetration and good shape can be formed. After the one time welding and the twice welding (overlapping first welding) of the weld, the tensile test fracture occurred in the base metal. The impact energy of the one time welding was 13 MPa, 18 MPa, and 21 MPa, respectively, and the impact energy of the twice welding was 19 MPa, 20 MPa, and 51 MPa, respectively. The microstructure of the joint was composed of δ-ferrite and lath martensite. When the weld penetration was increased to 50 mm, the lower the focus is, the smaller the porosity at the bottom of the weld is. Similarly, when the lower focus was used, the porosity at the bottom of the weld disappeared basically; The EBW test on the scaled FW with W/Cu sheets showed that when the we took the test pieces with the W-Cu sheet spacing is 4 mm, the welded joint with good surface shape and no internal defects can be formed without scanning deflection electron beam welding, and ultrasonic testing showed that EBW does not affect on the HIP interface. This provides a favorable basis for the future test of equal ratio FW test piece and the welding of actual FW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 52 tensile coupons of high-performance bolt material are tested. • Effects of test strain-rate on the elevated temperatures are clarified. • Elevated-temperature behaviour of the steel is elucidated at microstructure level. • Prediction equations are proposed for elevated-temperature performance. • Constitutive model of full-range stress-strain relation is developed. Mechanical properties of steel at elevated temperatures are critical to the fire-resistant analysis and the fire safety design of steel structures. Thus, one solution for improving the fire resistance is use of high-performance (HP) steel, such as fire-resistant (FR) steel. However, practical use of the FR steel in steel structures implies requirements of sufficient fire resistance for the high-strength (HS) bolts as well, so that the loading capacities of bolted connections commonly used in steel structures can be guaranteed in case of fire. In this paper, material properties of grade 10.9 HP bolts recently developed in China, possessing both fire resistance and corrosion resistance, are tested at various elevated temperatures. Their stress-strain curves, modulus of elasticity, yield strength, ultimate tensile strength (UTS), and elongation percentage after fracture are obtained. These results are compared with that of conventional HS bolts and with reduction factors given in national standards. Constitutive models and prediction equations of the HP bolts at elevated temperatures are proposed. Besides, the relationship between degradation in macro mechanical properties and change in microstructure is clarified. The research outcomes may provide essential bases for the fire response analysis of steel structures applying the FR steel and the HP bolts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane structures deteriorate with time. This results in reduction of their resistance, and consequently, of their reliability. Material aging is one of the main causes of structure deterioration. This paper investigates statistical characteristics of naturally aged polyvinylidene fluoride PVDF-coated fabrics' mechanical properties and calculates reliability indexes on the basis of Central Point Method and Rackwitz-Fiessler Method. Five groups of experimental fabrics were taken from different existing engineering structures or indoor warehouse in China, which have been naturally aged for more than 10 years. First, series of tearing tests, uniaxial and biaxial tensile tests were carried out to study the mechanical properties. Then, the uncertainties of material properties, material's dimension, computational model and load effects were discussed and the reliability indexes were studied by two methods according to the ultimate limit state. Finally, reliability indexes of aged PVDF-coated fabrics were compared with that of unaged coated fabrics. Results show that the impact of natural ageing on the properties of PVDF-coated fabric can not be ignored in reliability analysis and membrane structures design. These data offer a further understanding of aged PVDF-coated fabrics' mechanical properties and provide references for the durability analysis of tensioned membrane structures. • Five groups of naturally aged PVDF-coated fabris were taken from engineering structures or indoor warehouse in China. • Series of tests were carried out to study their mechanical properties. • Uncertainties of material properties, material's dimension, computational model and load effects were studied. • Reliability indexes were calculated by two methods. • Reliability indexes of aged coated fabrics were compared with those of unaged fabrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the mechanical properties of the China Railway Track System type II (CRTS-II) ballastless slab track structure, a 1/4-scale specimen of a CRTS-II slab ballastless track-32-m standard prefabricated simply supported box girder bridge with three spans and two high-speed railway lines was developed. The mechanical properties of the structure under the action of daily natural temperatures were studied under the natural environmental conditions. The structural strain and relative interlayer displacements were analyzed. The results show that the temperature of the CRTS-II ballastless track-bridge structural system changes periodically every 24 h. The strain of the structural layers of the track system first increases and then decreases sinusoidally, and the internal strain of the track system lags along the vertical depth direction. The relative displacement between the layers of the ballastless track bridge structure system increases with the increase in temperature. The extreme value of the vertical relative displacement appears between the track bed and the bridge at section 1/4 in the span, so it should be paid attention to by the maintenance personnel. Due to the constraint of the shear slots, the structural strain and relative displacement at the fixed end near the shear slots are smaller than those at the sliding end. The mid-span deflection is the largest, and the overall deflection during the cooling phase is more significant than that during the heating phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mudstones of Bayanhua Formation are characterized by high porosity, large content of swelling clay minerals, and weak cementation due to its late diagenesis in Wujianfang Basin, eastern Inner Mongolia, China. Mechanical properties heavily deteriorate during water absorption or dehydration, resulting in underground engineering instability. To study water absorption/dehydration and mechanical response for weakly cemented mudstones, two sets of weathering routes, namely, higher relative humidity (RHs) and lower RHs, are performed by using a self-developed weathering instrument, which can achieve environmental control and real-time weight measurement. The water migration is logged by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Finally, uniaxial compression tests are carried out on weathered samples to study their mechanical properties. The results show that dehydration occurs even under the 70% RH condition, due to their higher initial water content of more than 10%, and the dehydration content is exponential over time under the 60% RH condition. Variations of T2 spectrum reflect the water migration when the surrounding humidity changes. The maximum peak of the transverse relaxation time (T2) moves left during dehydration and shifts to the right when adsorbing water. The uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) does not increase with the decreasing RH at any time, which is distinct from elasticity modulus (E). There is a critical RH at 50%, indicating that damages accumulate when the RH is lower than 50%. Tensile fracture occurs for the most types of weathered samples, and shear failure only occurs under the drying condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annual production output of poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fiber has been over 15 million tons in China due to its good mechanical properties and processability, but the shortage of hydrophilic group of PET has imposed many limitations to further extend its application. The PET fabrics were grafted with polyacrylic acid in inverse microemulsion after low pressure plasma treatment, and the microstructure and properties of the grafted fabrics were investigated with infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM), hydrophilic and mechanical tests. The grafting yield was increased with the grafting time. The grafting polymer was in the granular form with its particle size ranging from a few micrometers to a dozen of micrometers, normally smaller than the fiber diameter. The moisture regain and water uptake increased while the air permeability of the grafted fabrics decreased with the increase of grafting yield. The bending rigidity and tensile properties show slightly complicated behaviors with grafting yield. The inverse emulsion grafting technique can be used to control the grafting polymer architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, the sustainable applications for utilizing antimony tailing coarse aggregate (ATCA) in concrete is investigated. Comprehensive verifications were performed by a series of experiments on the characteristic of ATCA and the toxicity risks of concrete. Firstly, a real case study of utilization of ATCA as a complete substitute for natural coarse aggregate (NCA) in high strength concrete was conducted. Then, chemical composition of ATCA was tested. It is demonstrated that the essential mineral is SiO2 and the lithology of ATCA is quartzite. The mechanical properties, coarse quality of ATCA, and NCA were studied and compared. The compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and compressive elastic modulus of ATWR are 221.51 MPa, 5.93 MPa, and 3.33 × 104 MPa, which are 1.31, 2.22, 1.40 times of that of NR, respectively. All of the quality control indices of ATCA meet the requirements of the current industry standards of China. Finally, the toxicity risks of ATCA concrete were investigated. It is illustrated that the leaching of main heavy metals including Sb, As, Hg, Pb, Cd, and Zn in the ATCA concrete under different pH conditions are below the regulatory limits. The utilization of antimony tailing has significant environmental and economic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of low thermal conductivity and high strength building materials is an emerging strategy to solve the heavy energy consumption of buildings. This study develops sustainable alkali activated materials (AAMs) for structural members from waste expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to simultaneously meet the thermal insulation and mechanical requirements of building energy conservation. It was found that the thermal conductivity of AAMs with 80 vol.% EPS and 0.04 wt.% rGO (E8–G4) decreased by 74% compared to the AAMs without EPS and rGO (E0). The 28-day compressive and flexural strengths of E8–G4 increased by 29.8% and 26.5% with the addition of 80 vol.% EPS and 0.04 wt.% rGO, compared to the sample with 80 vol.% EPS without rGO (E8). In terms of compressive strength, thermal conductivity, and cost, the efficiency index of E8–G4 was higher than those of other materials. A building model made from AAMs was designed using building information modeling (BIM) tools to simulate energy consumption, and 31.78% of total energy consumption (including heating and cooling) was saved in the building operation period in Harbin City, China. Hence, AAMs made of waste EPS beads and rGO can realize the structural and functional integrated application in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the urban shantytown renovation project in Hongguang Town, Helan County, Ningxia, in Northwest China, the influence of fly ash and silica fume admixture on the mechanical properties of Self-compacting Concrete (SCC) was tested and analyzed in this work. The experimental tests including compressive strength, splitting strength, triaxial strength and an ultrasonic nondestructive test. Furthermore, the Back Propagation (BP) neural network algorithms were established. The results show that there is an obvious difference between the development law of compressive strength of SCC and that of ordinary concrete. The splitting pressure ratio of SCC is 1/10 to 1/8, while that of ordinary concrete is 1/13 to 1/10. Moreover, the peak strain, peak stress and initial stiffness of SCC increase with the increase of the confining pressure when compressed from three directions. In addition, the ultrasonic amplitude of SCC can reflect the changing laws of its compressive strength. As a conclusion, the addition of fly ash and silica fume increases the splitting pressure ratio of SCC. More importantly, the compressive strength formula for SCC with silica fume and a low content of fly ash is proposed, and the model equation between the amplitude and compressive strength is given. This study provides a reference for the mixture ratio of fly ash and silica fume in the application of SCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]