Mechanical endurance of polymer electrolyte membrane and PEM fuel cell durability

The life of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) is currently limited by the mechanical endurance of polymer electrolyte membranes and membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs). In this paper, the authors report recent experimental and modeling work toward understanding the mechanisms of delayed mechanical failures of polymer electrolyte membranes and MEAs under relevant PEMFC operating conditions. Mechanical breach of membranes/MEAs in the form of pinholes and tears has been frequently observed after long‐term or accelerated testing of PEMFC cells/stacks. Catastrophic failure of cell/stack due to rapid gas crossover shortly follows the mechanical breach. Ex situ mechanical characterizations were performed on MEAs after being subjected to the accelerated chemical aging and relative humidity (RH) cycling tests. The results showed significant reduction of MEA ductility manifested as drastically reduced strain‐to‐failure of the chemically aged and RH‐cycled MEAs. Postmortem analysis revealed the formation and growth of mechanical defects such as cracks and crazing in the membranes and MEAs. A finite element model was used to estimate stress/strain states of an edge‐constrained MEA under rapid RH variations. Damage metrics for accelerated testing and life prediction of PEMFCs are discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 2346–2357, 2006     

Preparation and characterization of rigid poly(vinyl chloride)/MMT nanocomposites. II. XRD,morphological and mechanical characteristics

A Haake torque rheometer equipped with an internal mixer is used to study the influence of the amount of sodium montmorillonite (Na⁺‐MMT) and organically modified MMT (O‐MMT) on X‐ray diffraction (XRD), morphology, and mechanical characteristics of rigid poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC)/Na⁺‐MMT and PVC/O‐MMT nanocomposites, respectively. Results of XRD and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicate that MMT is partially encapsulated and intercalated in the rigid PVC/Na⁺‐MMT nanocomposites. However, results of XRD and TEM show MMT is partially intercalated and exfoliated in the rigid PVC/O‐MMT nanocomposites. Tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation at break of the rigid PVC/MMT nanocomposites were improved simultaneously with adding 1–3 wt % Na⁺‐MMT or O‐MMT with respect to that of pristine PVC. However, the addition of Na⁺‐MMT or O‐MMT should be kept as not more than 3 wt % to optimize the mechanical properties and the processing stability of the rigid PVC/MMT nanocomposites. SEM micrographs of the fractured surfaces of the rigid PVC/Na⁺‐MMT and PVC/O‐MMT nanocomposites both before and after tensile tests were also illustrated and compared. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 2145–2154, 2006     

Meshless simulation of equilibrium swelling/deswelling of pH‐sensitive hydrogels

Hydrogels have been widely used in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and Bio‐MEMS devices. In this article, the equilibrium swelling/deswelling of the pH‐stimulus cylindrical hydrogel in the microchannel is studied and simulated by the meshless method. The multi‐field coupling model, called multi‐effect‐coupling pH‐stimulus (MECpH) model, is presented and used to describe the chemical field, electric field, and the mechanical field involved in the problem. The partial differential equations (PDEs) describing these three fields are either nonlinear or coupled together. This multi‐field coupling and high nonlinear characteristics produce difficulties for the conventional numerical methods (e.g., the finite element method or the finite difference method), so an alternative—meshless method is developed to discretize the PDEs, and the efficient iteration technique is adopted to solve the nonlinear problem. The computational results for the swelling/deswelling diameter of the hydrogel under the different pH values are firstly compared with experimental results, and they have a good agreement. The influences of other parameters on the mechanical properties of the hydrogel are also investigated in detail. It is shown that the multi‐field coupling model and the developed meshless method are efficient, stable, and accurate for simulation of the properties of the stimuli‐sensitive hydrogel. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 326–337, 2006     

Freedom from the interpolation property for tense calculi associated with Ershov spaces

We study into the question whether calculi associated with Ershov topological spaces possess Craig’s interpolation property. Supported by RFBR grant No. 06-01-00358, by INTAS grant No. 04-77-7080, and by the Council for Grants (under RF President) and State Aid of Fundamental Science Schools, project NSh-4787.2006.1. __________ Translated from Algebra i Logika, Vol. 46, No. 6, pp. 745–762, November–December, 2007.     

STRONG LAW OF LARGE NUMBERS AND ASYMPTOTIC EQUIPARTITION PROPERTY FOR NONSYMMETRIC MARKOV CHAIN FIELDS ON CAYLEY TREES

Some strong laws of large numbers for the frequcncies of occurrence of states and ordered couples of states for nonsymmetric Markov chain fields(NSMC)on Cayley trees are studied.In the proof,a new technique for the study of strong liinit theorems of Markov chains is extended to the case of Markov chain fields.The asymptotic equiparti- tion properties with almost everywhere(a.e.)convergence for NSMC on Cayley trees are obtained.     

Discrete-time GI/Geo/1 queue with multiple working vacations

Consider the discrete time GI/Geo/1 queue with working vacations under EAS and LAS schemes. The server takes the original work at the lower rate rather than completely stopping during the vacation period. Using the matrix-geometric solution method, we obtain the steady-state distribution of the number of customers in the system and present the stochastic decomposition property of the queue length. Furthermore, we find and verify the closed property of conditional probability for negative binomial distributions. Using such property, we obtain the specific expression for the steady-state distribution of the waiting time and explain its two conditional stochastic decomposition structures. Finally, two special models are presented.      

一维问题的一种积分形式的流量重构算法

1引言我们考虑如下一维二阶椭圆边界值问题(-(β(x)p′)(x))′=f(x),x∈(a,b) p(a)=p(b)=0(1))其中β=β(x)是一恒正函数,且β∈H~1(a,b),f∈L~2(a,b)．事实上,在此条件下,我们可保证p∈H~2(a,b)(见[1],[2])．(1)之弱形式为：求p∈H_0~1(a,b)使得a(p,q)=(f,q),(?)q∈H_0~1(a,b),(2)其中a(p,q)=(?)_a~bβp′q′dx,(f,g)=(?)_a~bfqdx．给定(a,b)的一个分割α=x_0＜x_1＜…＜x_(n-1)＜x_n=b,令h=(?)(x_i-x_(i-1)),(?)_i表示通常相应于节点x_i的形状函数,即(?)_i是连续的分段线性函数且满足(?)_i(x_k)=δ_(ik),这里δ_(ik)=(?)i,k=0,1,…,n．又记V_h~0=span{(?)_1,(?)_2,…,(?)_(n-1)),取V_h~0作为p的逼近空间,则求解(1)的标准有限元格式为：求ph∈V_h~0使得     

CONFLICT AND COOPERATION IN UTILIZING A COMMON PROPERTY RESOURCE

Noncooperative games are used to demonstrate that, while free riding is always an option, the “tragedy of the commons” is not inevitable. When the decision to cooperate or free ride is considered in a dynamic setting, there is no intermediate case where some cooperate and others free ride. The game is only stabilized in either full cooperation or full defection. The important factor in obtaining a cooperative outcome is the critical number of players that decide to cooperate. The concept of commitment is used to demonstrate the necessary and sufficient conditions for full cooperation. Although the analysis is based on a shared water resource, it can be extended to other natural resources with common costs and private benefits, especially in the cases where there are no international authorities or treaties that internalize the externalities involved in privatizing the resource.     

双参数变形玻色湮没算符高次幂的本征态及其量子统计性质

本文构造了双参数变形玻色湮没算符高次幂a^'k(k≥3)的k个正交归一木征态的数学结构,发现它们能构成一个完备的Hilbert空间,并且讨论了它们的量子统计性质.     

双甲基丙烯酰氧苯基丙烷与苯乙烯共聚物的光学性能

标题共聚物的耐冲击性与丙烯酸酯均聚物相比有明显改善,但随着双烯单体含量的降低,共聚物的耐热性和表面硬度有所下降。丙烯酸酯含量为70%的共聚物的吸收紫外光能力最强(<370nm全吸收),含量为5%～10%的共聚物耐吸水性、耐酸耐碱性及耐冲击性最好。