• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.1049-1061
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• 2022

Neutron and gamma-ray shielding properties of Inconel 718 reinforced B₄C (0-25 wt%) were investigated using PSD software. Mean free path (MFP), linear and mass attenuation coefficients (LAC,MAC), tenth-value and half-value layers (TVL,HVL), effective atomic number (Z_eff), exposure buildup factors (EBF), and fast neutron removal cross-sections (FNRC) values were calculated for 0.015-15 MeV. It was found that MAC and LAC increased with the decrease in the content of B₄C compound by weight in Inconel 718. The EBFs were computed using G-P fitting method for 0.015-15 MeV up to the penetration depth of 40 mfp. HVL, TVL, and FNRC values were found to range between 0.018 cm and 3.6 cm, between 2.46 cm and 12.087 cm, and between 0.159 cm^-1 and 0.194 cm^-1, respectively. While Inconel 718 provides the maximum photon shielding property since it offered the highest values of MAC and Z_eff and the lowest value of HVL, Inconel 718 with B₄C(25 wt%) was observed to provide the best shielding material for neutron since it offered the highest FNRC value. The study is original in terms of several aspects; moreover, the results of the study may be used in nuclear technology, as well as other technologies including nano and space technologies.

• Composites Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2022

The activated carbon is a very good choice for using as supercapacitor electrode materials. Herein, the flower of Shorea robusta, a bio-waste material was successfully used to synthesize the activated carbons for application as supercapacitor electrode materials. The activated carbon was synthesized through chemical activation process followed by thermal treatment at 700℃ in presence of N₂ atmosphere using KOH, ZnCl₂ and H₃PO₄ as the activating agents. The physicochemical analyses demonstrate that the obtained activated carbons are graphitic in nature and the degree of disorder of the graphitic carbons is changed with the activating agents. The activated carbon obtained from Shorea robusta flower (ACSF-K) electrode shows the specific capacitance of ~610 F g^-1 at 2 A g^-1 current density, which is higher than ACSF-Z (560 F g^-1) and ACSF-H (470 F g^-1) electrode material under the identical current density. The synthesized graphitic carbons also demonstrated good rate capability and high electrochemical stability as supercapacitor electrode.

• Composites Research
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.345-349
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• 2021

The continued environmental pollution caused by fossil fuel consumption has prompted researchers around the world to develop environmentally friendly energy technologies. Electrochemical energy storage is the significant area of research in this development process, and the research significance of supercapacitors in this field is increasing. Herein, a simple electrodeposition synthetic route was explored to develop the MoP layered cathode material. The layered structure provided a highly ion-accessible surface for smooth and faster ion adsorption/desorption. After Fe was doped into MoP, the morphology of MoP changes and the electrochemical performance was significantly improved. Specific capacitance value of the binder-free FeMoP electrode was found to be 269 F g^-1 at 2 A g^-1 current density in 6 M aqueous KOH electrolyte. After adding Fe to MoP, an additional redox contribution was observed in the redox conversion from Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺ redox pair, and the charge transfer kinetics of MoP was effectively improved. This research can provide guidance for the development of supercapacitor electrode materials through simple electrodeposition technology.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.261-271
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• 2023

The present study follows three main goals. First, an analytical solution with high accuracy is developed to assess the effects of embedding pre-strained shape memory alloy (SMA) wires on the critical buckling temperatures of rectangular sandwich plates made of soft core and graphite fiber/epoxy (GF/EP) face sheets based on piecewise low-order shear deformation theory (PLSDT) using Brinson's model. As the second goal, this study compares the effects of SMAs on the thermal buckling of sandwich plates with those of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The glass transition temperature is considered as a limiting factor. For each material, the effective ranges of operating temperature and thickness ratio are determined for real situations. The results indicate that depending on the geometric parameters and thermal conditions, one of the SMAs and CNTs may outperform the other. The third purpose is to study the thermal buckling of sandwich plates with advanced hybrid SMA/CNT/GF/EP composite face sheets. It is shown that in some circumstances, the co-incorporation of SMAs and CNTs leads to an astonishing enhancement in the critical buckling temperatures of sandwich plates.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.541-555
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• 2023

The extensive use of polymeric matrix composites in the athletic sector may be attributed to its high strength-to-weight ratio, production economy, and a longer lifespan than conventional materials. This study explored the impact of carbon nanotubes on the properties of different composite field sports equipment components. The test specimens were fabricated using the compression molding technique. The insertion of carbon nanotubes increases mechanical properties related to the process parameters to account for an improvement in the stick sections' overall performance. The dynamic response of functionally graded reinforced nanocomposite wire structure is examined in this paper on the bases of high-order hyperbolic beam theory lined to the size-dependent nonclassical nonlocal theory under the external mechanical load due to the physical activities. Finally, the impact of different parameters on the stability of nanocomposite structures is discussed in detail.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.557-573
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• 2023

The rapid growth of zinc-oxide (ZnO) nanostructures (NSs) on woven carbon fiber (WCF) is reported in this study employing a microwave-aided chemical bath deposition process. The effects of different process parameters such as molar concentration, microwave duration and microwave power on morphologies and growth rate of the ZnO on WCF were studied. Furthermore, an attempt has been taken to study influence of different type of growth solutions on ZnO morphologies and growth rates. The surface functionalization of WCF fabrics is achieved by successful growth of crystalline ZnO on fiber surface in a very short duration through one-step microwave synthesis. The morphological, structural and compositional studies of ZnO-modified WCF are evaluated using field-emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy respectively. Good amount of zinc and oxygen has been seen in the surface of WCF. The presence of the wurtzite phase of ZnO having crystallite size 30-40 nm calculated using the Debye Scherrer method enhances the surface characteristics of WCF fabrics. The UV-VIS spectroscopy is used to investigate optical properties of ZnO-modified WCF samples by absorbance, transmittance and reflectance spectra. The variation of different parameters such as dielectric constants, optical conductivity, refractive index and extinction coefficient are examined that revealed the enhancement of optical characteristics of carbon fiber for wide applications in optoelectronic devices, carbon fiber composites and photonics.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.367-384
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• 2023

Natural frequency behavior of graphene platelets reinforced composite (GPL-RC) joined truncated conical-cylindrical- conical shells resting on Winkler-type elastic foundation is presented in this paper for the first time. The rule of mixture and the modified Halpin-Tsai approach are applied to achieve the mechanical properties of the structure. Four different graphene platelets patterns are considered along the thickness of the structure such as GPLA, GPLO, GPLX, GPLUD. Finite element procedure according to Rayleigh-Ritz formulation has been used to solve 2D-axisymmetric elasticity equations. Application of 2D axisymmetric elasticity theory allows thickness stretching unlike simple shell theories, and this gives more accurate results, especially for thick shells. An efficient parametric investigation is also presented to show the effects of various geometric variables, three different boundary conditions, stiffness of elastic foundation, dispersion pattern and weight fraction of GPLs nanofillers on the natural frequencies of the joined shell. Results show that GPLO and BC3 provide the most rigidity that cause the most natural frequencies among different BCs and GPL patterns. Also, by increasing the weigh fraction of nanofillers, the natural frequencies will increase up to 200%.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.81-90
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• 2024

In the oil and gas industry, composite materials should exhibit high flexibility and strength for offshore structures. Therefore, weak points in the composites should be improved, such as brittleness, moisture penetration, and diffusion of detrimental ions into nanometric pores. This study aimed to increase the strength, flexibility, and plugging of nanopores using single-layer graphene oxide (SGO) nanosheets. Therefore, SGO is added to unsaturated polyester resin at concentrations of 0.015 and 0.15 % with Normal Methyl Pyrrolidone (NMP) as a solvent for the formation of Nanographene Oxide Reinforced Polymer (NGORP). The mechanical properties of the prepared samples were tested using tensile testing (ASTM-D 638). It has been shown that incorporating SGO, approximately 0.015%, into the base resin resulted in enhanced properties such as rupture resistance forces increased by 745.61 N, applied stress tolerances increased by 4.1 MPa, longitude increased to 1.58 mm, elongation increased by about 2.38%, and rupture energy increased by about 204.51 J. Despite the decrease in tensile force strength properties in the manufactured nanocomposite with 0.15% SGO, it has exclusive flexibility properties such as a high required energy level for rupture of 5,576 times and a formability of 40% more than the base sample. It would be best to use NGORP manufactured from 0.015% nanosheets with exclusive properties rather than base samples for constructing parts and equipment, such as rebars, composite sheets, and transmission pipes, on offshore platforms.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2015

Phase change materials based on ultra high molecular weight of polyethylene (UHMWPE) blended with paraffin wax (mp $65^{\circ}C$) were studied in this paper. In addition, this paper reviews recent studies on the preparation of shape stabilized phase change materials (SSPCM), such as SSPCM from UHMWPE and paraffin wax (mp $65^{\circ}C$), their basic properties and possible applications to latent heat storage. The preparation method was an absorption method. Also, SSPCM composites were prepared by using a hot press at $200^{\circ}C$ for 10 min. The analysis for the shape ability of SSPCM to improve heat efficiency was measured by FTIR, SEM, DSC, XRD, and ARES. UHMWPE composites with 30 wt% paraffin wax (mp $65^{\circ}C$) demonstrated less deterioration of physical property and effective thermal property compared with other conditions. As a result, these SSPCMs could be used for the heat storage and release materials for various products.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.173-181
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• 2018

Recently composite materials have dominated most engineering fields, owing to their better performance, increased durability and flexibility to be customized and designed for a specific required property. This has given them unprecedented superiority over conventional materials. With the help of the ever increasing computational capabilities of computers, researchers have been trying to develop accurate material models for the complex and integrated properties of these composites. This has led to advances in virtual testing of composite materials as a supplement or a possible replacement of laboratory experiments to predict the properties and responses of composite materials and structures. This paper presents a review on the complex multi-scale modelling framework of the virtual testing machines, which involve computational mechanics at various length-scales starting with nano-mechanics and ending in structure level computational mechanics, with a homogenization technique used to link the different length scales. In addition, the paper presents the features of some of the biggest integrated virtual testing machines developed for study of concrete, including a multiscale modeling scheme for the simulation of the constitutive properties of nanocomposites. Finally, the current challenges and future development potentials for virtual test machines are discussed.