• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.377-390
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• 2022

The stability of the roof rock-coal pillar-floor rock composite structure is of great significance to coal mine safety production. The cracks existing in the composite structure seriously affect the stability of the roof rock-coal pillar-floor rock composite structure. The numerical simulation tests of rock-coal-rock composite structures with different crack characteristics were carried out to reveal the composite structures' mechanical properties and failure mechanisms. The test results show that the rock-coal-rock composite structure's peak stress and elastic modulus are directly proportional to the crack angle and inversely proportional to the crack length. The smaller the crack angle, the more branch cracks produced near the main control crack in the rock-coal-rock composite structure, and the larger the angle between the main control crack and the crack. The smaller the crack length, the larger the width of the crack zone. The impact energy index of the rock-coal-rock composite structure decreases first and then increases with the increase of crack length and increases with the increase of crack angle. The functional relationships between the different crack characteristics, peak stress, and impact energy index are determined based on the sensitivity analysis. The determination of the functional relationship can fully grasp the influence of the crack angle and the crack length on the peak stress and impact energy index of the coal-rock composite structure. The research results can provide a theoretical basis and guidance for preventing the instability and failure of the coal pillar-roof composite structure.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• 제36권6호
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• pp.601-618
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• 2024

The joint probability distribution of uncertain geomechanical parameters of geotechnical strata is a crucial aspect in constructing the reliability functional function for roof structures. However, due to the limited number of on-site exploration and test data samples, it is challenging to conduct a scientifically reliable analysis of roof geotechnical strata. This study proposes a Copula method based on small sample exploration and test data to construct the intensity characteristics of roof geotechnical strata. Firstly, the theory of multidimensional copula is systematically introduced, especially the construction of four-dimensional Gaussian copula. Secondly, data from measurements of 176 groups of geomechanical parameters of roof geotechnical strata in 31 coal mines in China are collected. The goodness of fit and simulation error of the four-dimensional Gaussian Copula constructed using the Pearson method, Kendall method, and Spearman methods are analyzed. Finally, the fitting effects of positive and negative correlation coefficients under different copula functions are discussed respectively. The results demonstrate that the established multidimensional Gaussian Copula joint distribution model can scientifically represent the uncertainty of geomechanical parameters in roof geotechnical strata. It provides an important theoretical basis for the study of reliability functional functions for roof structures. Different construction methods for multidimensional Gaussian Copula yield varying simulation effects. The Kendall method exhibits the best fit in constructing correlations of geotechnical parameters. For the bivariate Copula fitting ability of uncertain parameters in roof geotechnical strata, when the correlation is strong, Gaussian Copula demonstrates the best fit, and other Copula functions also show remarkable fitting ability in the region of fixed correlation parameters. The research results can offer valuable reference for the stability analysis of roof geotechnical engineering.

• Advances in materials Research
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.15-36
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• 2013

Incorporation of polar functional moieties into polyethylene (PE) film has been achieved by graft copolymerization of polar monomers such as methacrylic acid (MAAc) and acrylamide (AAm) on to PE film, preirradiated with ${\gamma}$-rays from $^{60}Co$ source, using benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as initiator in aqueous medium. Percentage of grafting of MAAc and AAm was determined as a function of irradiation dose, monomer and initiator concentration, temperature, reaction time and amount of water. Maximum percentage of grafting of MAAc (1453%) and AAm (21.28%) was obtained at [MAAc] = $235.3{\times}10^{-2}$ mol/L, [AAm] = $23.4{\times}10^{-2}$ mol/L, [BPO] = $5.5{\times}10^{-2}$ mol/L and $16.5{\times}10^{-2}$ mol/L at $80^{\circ}C$, $90^{\circ}C$ in 180 min and 90 min respectively. The grafted PE films were characterized by FTIR, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) Scanning Electron Micrography (SEM) and X-ray diffraction methods. Some selective properties of grafted films such as swelling behavior, ion and metal uptake have been carried out. The biodegradation studies of the grafted PE films have also been investigated. The grafted films developed superior swelling behavior with maximum swelling (480%) in water as compared to pristine PE (13.55%), better thermal stability and ion and metal uptake studies showed promising results that can be effectively used for desalination of brackish water and separation of metals from the industrial effluents.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.1-22
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• 2013

Magnetic nanoparticle based bioseparation in microfluidics is a multiphysics phenomenon that involves interplay of various parameters. The ability to understand the dynamics of these parameters is a prerequisite for designing and developing more efficient magnetic cell/bio-particle separation systems. Therefore, in this work proof-of-concept experiments are combined with advanced numerical simulation to design and optimize the capturing process of magnetic nanoparticles responsible for efficient microfluidic bioseparation. A low cost generic microfluidic platform was developed using a novel micromolding method that can be done without a clean room techniques and at much lower cost and time. Parametric analysis using both experiments and theoretical predictions were performed. It was found that flow rate and magnetic field strength greatly influence the transport of magnetic nanoparticles in the microchannel and control the capturing efficiency. The results from mathematical model agree very well with experiments. The model further demonstrated that a 12% increase in capturing efficiency can be achieved by introducing of iron-grooved bar in the microfluidic setup that resulted in increase in magnetic field gradient. The numerical simulations were helpful in testing and optimizing key design parameters. Overall, this work demonstrated that a simple low cost experimental proof-of-concept setup can be synchronized with advanced numerical simulation not only to enhance the functional performance of magneto-fluidic capturing systems but also to efficiently design and develop microfluidic bioseparation systems for biomedical applications.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제12권5호
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• pp.697-715
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• 2013

Numerous studies have been conducted to understand the shear behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) beams since it is a complex phenomenon. The diagonal cracking strength of a RC beam is critical since it is essential for determining the minimum amount of stirrups and the contribution of concrete to the shear strength of the beam. Most of the existing equations predicting the diagonal cracking strength of RC beams are based on experimental data. A powerful computational tool for analyzing experimental data is an artificial neural network (ANN). Its advantage over conventional methods for empirical modeling is that it does not require any functional form and it can be easily updated whenever additional data is available. An ANN model was developed for predicting the diagonal cracking strength of RC slender beams without stirrups. It is shown that the performance of the ANN model over the experimental data considered in this study is better than the performances of six design code equations and twelve equations proposed by various researchers. In addition, a parametric study was conducted to study the effects of various parameters on the diagonal cracking strength of RC slender beams without stirrups upon verifying the model.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.261-273
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• 2020

This paper presents an efficient method utilizing user-defined computer functional codes to determine the reliability of an embankment slope with spatially varying soil properties in real time. The soils' mechanical properties varied with the soil layers that had different degrees of compaction and moisture content levels. The Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS) for the degree of compaction and Kriging simulation of moisture content variation were adopted and programmed to predict their spatial distributions, respectively, that were subsequently used to characterize the spatial distribution of the soil shear strengths. The shear strength parameters were then integrated into the Geostudio command file to determine the safety factor of the embankment slope. An explicit metamodal for the performance function, using the Kriging method, was established and coded to efficiently compute the failure probability of slope with varying moisture contents. Sensitivity analysis showed that the proposed method significantly reduced the computational time compared to Monte Carlo simulation. About 300 times LHS Geostudio computations were needed to optimize precision and efficiency in determining the failure probability. The results also revealed that an embankment slope is prone to high failure risk if the degree of compaction is low and the moisture content is high.

• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
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• 제1권2호
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• pp.279-301
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• 2008

This paper develops a 3D homogenization based continuum damage mechanics (HCDM) model for fiber reinforced composites undergoing micromechanical damage under monotonic and cyclic loading. Micromechanical damage in a representative volume element (RVE) of the material occurs by fiber-matrix interfacial debonding, which is incorporated in the model through a hysteretic bilinear cohesive zone model. The proposed model expresses a damage evolution surface in the strain space in the principal damage coordinate system or PDCS. PDCS enables the model to account for the effect of non-proportional load history. The loading/unloading criterion during cyclic loading is based on the scalar product of the strain increment and the normal to the damage surface in strain space. The material constitutive law involves a fourth order orthotropic tensor with stiffness characterized as a macroscopic internal variable. Three dimensional damage in composites is accounted for through functional forms of the fourth order damage tensor in terms of components of macroscopic strain and elastic stiffness tensors. The HCDM model parameters are calibrated from homogenization of micromechanical solutions of the RVE for a few representative strain histories. The proposed model is validated by comparing results of the HCDM model with pure micromechanical analysis results followed by homogenization. Finally, the potential of HCDM model as a design tool is demonstrated through macro-micro analysis of monotonic and cyclic damage progression in composite structures.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제9권5호
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• pp.293-300
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• 2018

The removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from water using KOH-activated pine tree needle leaves biochar is considered a cost effective and efficient process. In this study, pine tree needle leaves were mixed with 0, 50, 100 and 200% (KOH weight/feedstock weight) of KOH, respectively. Then, the mixture was pyrolyzed at $500^{\circ}C$ for 6 hrs. The adsorption characteristics of 10 VOCs to the biochar were tested. The results indicated that the removal efficiency of the KOH activated biochar was highest in 100% KOH-biochar. The VOC removal efficiencies of 50% and 200% KOH activated biochar were similar and the 0% KOH activated biochar showed the lowest VOC removal. The FTIR results showed that increasing the amount of KOH seemed to enhance the formation of various functional groups, such as -OH, -C=C, -O. The adsorption strength of 10 VOCs to the KOH activated biochar seemed to be increasing by the increase of the solubility of VOCs. This may suggest that the adsorption is taking place in hydrophilic sites of the biochar surface. The KOH activated pine tree needle leaves biochar can be an effective sorbent for VOCs removal in water and 100% KOH mixing seemed to provide better sorption capacity.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제9권6호
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• pp.447-454
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• 2018

Although flotation techniques are often used for the removal of algal particles, the practicality of algae-harvesting technologies is limited owing to the complex and expensive facilities and equipment required for chemical coagulation. Here, we examined the feasibility of an approach to separating algal particles from water bodies without the need for chemical coagulants, depending on the condition of the algae, and to determine the optimal conditions. Using Anabaena sp., a cyanobacterium causes algal blooms in lakes, we stimulated auto-flocculation in algal particles without coagulants and conducted solid-liquid separation experiments of algal particles under various conditions. The six cultivation columns included in our analysis comprised four factors: Water temperature, light intensity, nutrients, and carbon source; auto-flocculation was induced under all treatments, with the exception of the treatment involving no limits to all factors, and algal particles were well-settled under all conditions for which auto-flocculation occurred. Meanwhile, flotation removal of auto-flocculated algal particles was attained only when nutrients were blocked after algae were grown in an optimal medium. However, no significant differences were detected between the functional groups of the extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) of floated and settled algal particles in the FT-IR peak, which can cause attachment by collision with micro-bubbles.

• Advances in nano research
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.33-45
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• 2020

Geometrically nonlinear buckling of functionally graded magneto-electro-elastic (FG-MEE) nanoshells with the use of classical shell theory and nonlocal strain gradient theory (NSGT) has been analyzed in present research. Mathematical formulation based on NSGT gives two scale coefficients for simultaneous description of structural stiffness reduction and increment. Functional gradation of material properties is described based on power-law formulation. The nanoshell is under a multi-physical field related to applied voltage, magnetic potential, and mechanical load. Exerting a strong electric voltage, magnetic potential or mechanical load may lead to buckling of nanoshell. Taking into account geometric nonlinearity effects after buckling, the behavior of nanoshell in post-buckling regime can be analyzed. Nonlinear governing equations are reduced to ordinary equations utilizing Galerkin's approach and post-buckling curves are obtained based on an analytical procedure. It will be shown that post-buckling curves are dependent on nonlocal/strain gradient parameters, electric voltage magnitude and sign, magnetic potential magnitude and sign and material gradation exponent.