In the original publication [...].
In the original publication [...].
Collagen fibers of the Periodontal ligament (PDL) play a crucial role in determining its mechanical properties. Based on this premise, we investigated the effect of the volume fraction of human PDL collagen fibers on the hyperelastic mechanical behavior under transient loading. Samples were obtained from different root regions (neck, middle, and apex) of the PDL, prepared from fresh human anterior teeth. The collagen fibers volume fraction in various regions of the PDL was quantified by staining techniques combined with image processing software. The collagen fiber volume fractions were found to be 60.3% in the neck region, 63.1% in the middle region, and 52.0% in the apex region. A new hyperelastic constitutive model was constructed based on the volume fraction. A uniaxial tensile test was conducted on these samples, and the accuracy of the constitutive model was validated by fitting the test data. Also, relevant model parameters were derived. The results demonstrated that human PDL exhibited hyperelastic mechanical properties on the condition of transient loading. With an increase in the volume fraction of collagen fibers, the tensile resistance of the PDL was enhanced, demonstrating more significant hyperelastic mechanical properties. The hyperelastic constitutive model showed a good fit with the experimental results (R2 > 0.997), describing the hyperelastic mechanical properties of the human PDL effectively.
In order to gain insight into the changes of the organization and hardness of 500 MPa steel-grade low-temperature-resistant steel bars (HRB500DW) for liquefied nature gas (LNG) storage tanks during the continuous cooling phase transformation process, the effects of different rolling temperatures and cooling speeds on the organization of the phase change law, microstructure and hardness were studied. The results show that the critical phase transformation points AC1 and AC3 of the test steel were 702 and 880 °C, respectively. The organization of the test steel was polygonal ferrite and pearlite when the cooling rate was 1-2 °C/s. At a cooling speed of 5 °C/s, a small amount of bainite started to be produced in the region of a large deformation of rolling, and at 15 °C/s, some slate martensite started to be produced. At a cooling speed of 10 to 25 °C/s, the organization was mainly bainite. At a cooling rate of 40 °C/s, continuous pre-eutectic reticulated ferrite was formed at the austenite grain boundaries, reducing material properties. As the cooling speed increased, the hardness of the matrix organization of the test bars increased. The lower initial rolling temperature led to the expansion of the martensitic transformation zone. For rebar producers, the initial rolling temperature of 1050 °C was better than the initial rolling temperature of 1000 °C.
The rising prevalence of orthopedic conditions, driven by an aging population, has led to a growing demand for advanced implant materials. Traditional metals such as stainless steel and titanium alloys are biologically inert and often necessitate secondary surgical removal, imposing both economic and psychological burdens on patients. Biodegradable zinc-based alloys offer promising alternatives due to their moderate degradation rates, biocompatibility, and tissue-healing properties. However, existing studies on Zn-Fe alloys primarily focus on composition optimization, with limited investigation into how processing methods influence their performance. This study explores the effects of rotary forging on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Zn-0.5Fe alloys. By refining grain structure and promoting dynamic recrystallization, rotary forging achieves significant improvements in ductility (60% elongation, a 114% increase compared to the extruded state) while maintaining corrosion resistance. Electrochemical and immersion tests reveal that rotary forging produces a denser and more protective corrosion layer, thereby improving the degradation performance of the material in simulated body fluid. Cytotoxicity and fluorescence staining tests confirm excellent biocompatibility, validating the material's suitability for medical applications. These findings elucidate the mechanisms by which rotary forging enhances the properties of Zn-0.5Fe alloys, providing a novel approach to tailoring biodegradable implant materials for orthopedic applications.
The increasingly complex form of traditional anisotropic yield functions brings difficulties to parameter calibration and finite element application, and it is necessary to establish a unified paradigm model for engineering applications. In this study, four traditional models were used to calibrate the anisotropic behavior of a 2090-T3 aluminum alloy, and the corresponding yield surfaces in σxx,σyy,σxy and α,β,r spaces were studied. Then, α and β are selected as input variables, and r is regarded as an output variable to improve the prediction and generalization capabilities of the fully connected neural network (FCNN) model. The prediction results of the FCNN model are finally compared to the calibration results of the traditional model, and the reliability of the FCNN model to predict the anisotropy is verified. Then, the data sets with different stress states and loading directions are generated through crystal plasticity finite element simulation, and the yield surface is directly predicted by the FCNN model. The results show that the FCNN model can accurately reflect the anisotropic characteristics. The anisotropic yield function based on the FCNN model can cover the characteristics of all traditional models in one subroutine, which greatly reduces the difficulty of subroutine development. Moreover, the finite element subroutine based on the FCNN model can model anisotropic behaviors.
The fast-paced depletion of fossil fuels and environmental concerns have intensified interest in renewable energies, with dispatchable solar energy emerging as a key alternative. Concentrated solar power (CSP) technology, utilizing thermal energy storage (TES) systems with molten salts at 560 °C, offers significant potential for large-scale energy generation. However, these extreme conditions pose challenges related to material corrosion, which is critical for maintaining the efficiency and lifespan of CSP. This research modeled the corrosion process of 347H stainless steel in molten solar salt (60% NaNO3 + 40% KNO3) melted at 400 °C using a cellular automaton (CA) algorithm. The CA model simulated oxide growth under pilot-plant conditions in a lattice of 400 × 400 cells. SEM-EDS imaging compared the model with a mean squared error of 2%, corresponding to a corrosion layer of 4.25 µm after 168 h. The simulation applied von Neumann and Margolus neighborhoods for the ion movement and reaction rules, achieving a cell size of 0.125 µm and 10.08 s per iteration. This study demonstrates the CA model's effectiveness in replicating corrosion processes, offering a tool to optimize material performance in CSP systems. Additionally, continuing this investigation could contribute to the development of industrial applications, enabling the design of preventive strategies for large-scale operations.
We perform a theoretical investigation of the electron-surface optical phonon (SOP) interaction in Van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs) formed by monolayer graphene (1LG) and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), using eigenenergies obtained from the tight-binding Hamiltonian for electrons. Our analysis reveals that the SOP interaction strength strongly depends on the specific TMDC material. TMDC layers generate localized SOP modes near the 1LG/TMDC interface, serving as effective scattering centers for graphene carriers through long-range Fröhlich coupling. This interaction leads to resonant coupling of electronic sub-levels with SOP, resulting in Rabi splitting of the electronon energy levels. We further explore the influence of different TMDCs, such as WS2, WSe2, MoS2, and MoSe2, on transport properties such as SOP-limited mobility, resistivity, conductivity, and scattering rates across various temperatures and charge carrier densities. Our analysis confirms that at elevated temperatures and low carrier densities, surface optical phonon scattering becomes a dominant factor in determining resistivity. Additionally, we investigate the Auger recombination process at the 1LG/TMDC interface, showing that both Auger and SOP scattering rates increase significantly at room temperature and higher, ultimately converging to constant values as the temperature rises. In contrast, their impact is minimal at lower temperatures. These results highlight the potential of 1LG/TMDC-based vdWHs for controlling key processes, such as SOP interactions and Auger recombination, paving the way for high-performance nanoelectronic and optoelectronic devices.
Using cold isostatic pressing and atmospheric pressure sintering, Ti-18Al-28Nb-xSn alloys were synthesized by incorporating 0.5 at.%, 1 at.%, 2 at.%, and 4 at.% Sn powder into Ti, Al, and Nb powders. This study investigated the effects of Sn concentration on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti2AlNb-based alloys, with a particular focus on the underlying strengthening mechanisms. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis identified α2, O, and B2 as the primary phases in the alloy and demonstrated that Sn addition significantly influenced the proportions of these phases, thus impacting the overall mechanical performance of Ti2AlNb-based alloys. The optimal combination of elasticity, strength, and plasticity was achieved at a Sn concentration of 1 at.%; at this time, the elastic modulus of the alloy was 26.8 GPa, with a compressive strength of up to 1352 MPa and a fracture strain of 42.8%. However, further increases in Sn content beyond this level led to reductions in both strength and plasticity. At Sn concentrations above 2 at.%, increased porosity and the formation of micropores were observed, facilitating microcrack aggregation and fracture, which ultimately compromised the alloy's mechanical integrity. By exploring the intrinsic strengthening mechanisms, this study tries to understand the influence of Sn on the strengthening effects and to optimize the content range of Sn addition to ensure the best strengthening effect and good density are shown in high-Nb-content TiAl alloy, providing a reference for future research in this field.
As one of the lightest metallic structural materials, magnesium (Mg) alloys possess numerous distinctive properties and are utilized across a broad spectrum of applications. However, the poor corrosion resistance of Mg alloys limits their application. Micro-arc oxidation (MAO) is an effective surface treatment method that enhances the corrosion resistance of Mg alloys. Nevertheless, the intrinsic porous structure of MAO coatings hinders significant improvement in corrosion resistance. Research indicates that the pre- and post-treatment processes associated with MAO markedly enhance the densification of the oxide coatings, thereby improving their overall performance. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review and analysis of the effects of various pre- and post-treatment processes, highlighting key advancements and research gaps in improving MAO coatings on Mg alloys. An in-depth analysis of the crucial role of pre-treatment in optimizing interfacial bonding and post-treatment in enhancing coating density is conducted using electrochemical testing and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Finally, the future development of pre- and post-treatment processes are discussed.
A composite hydrogen storage vessel (CHSV) is one key component of the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, which always suffers random vibration during transportation, resulting in fatigue failure and a reduction in service life. In this paper, firstly, the free and constrained modes of CHSV are experimentally studied and numerically simulated. Subsequently, the random vibration simulation of CHSV is carried out to predict the stress distribution, while Steinberg's method and Dirlik's method are used to predict the fatigue life of CHSV based on the results of stress distribution. In the end, the optimization of ply parameters of the composite winding layer was conducted to improve the stress distribution and fatigue life of CHSV. The results show that the vibration pattern and frequency of the free and constrained modes of CHSV obtained from the experiment tests and the numerical predictions show a good agreement. The maximum difference in the value of the vibration frequency of the free and constrained modes of CHSV from the FEA and experiment tests are, respectively, 8.9% and 8.0%, verifying the accuracy of the finite element model of CHSV. There is no obvious difference between the fatigue life of the winding layer and the inner liner calculated by Steinberg's method and Dirlik's method, indicating the accuracy of FEA of fatigue life in the software Fe-safe. Without the optimization, the maximum stresses of the winding layer and the inner liner are found to be near the head section by 469.4 MPa and 173.0 MPa, respectively, and the numbers of life cycles of the winding layer and the inner liner obtained based on the Dirlik's method are around 1.66 × 106 and 3.06 × 106, respectively. Through the optimization of ply parameters of the composite winding layer, the maximum stresses of the winding layer and the inner liner are reduced by 66% and 85%, respectively, while the numbers of life cycles of the winding layer and the inner liner both are increased to 1 × 107 (high cycle fatigue life standard). The results of the study provide theoretical guidance for the design and optimization of CHSV under random vibration.