Preparation and characterization of LiAlxCoyNi1-x-yO2 particles

Lithium-aluminum-cobalt-nickel oxide (LiAlxCoyNi1-x-yO2) particles, generally used as cathode of lithium battery, were prepared by chemical coprecipitation from an aqueous solution of LiOH, AI(NO3)3, Co(NO3)2 and Ni(NO3)2 with NH4OH. XRD, SEM and FTIR were used to examine the effect of nickel content on the product. FHR patterns showed that increase in nickel content decreased the absorption strength of the peak of spinel structure of the product, attributed to the occupation by nickel in the aluminum sites. Particle size and electrical properties of the lithium-aluminum-cobalt-nickel oxide (abbreviated as LACNO) particles were also determined.     

Effects of multi-dopants (Zn and Ho) in stabilizing spinel structure for cathode materials in lithium rechargeable batteries—Novel chelated sol–gel synthesis

Multi-doped spinels, namely LiMn₂O₄ and LiZn_xHo_yMn_2−x−yO₄ (x = 0.10–0.18; y = 0.02–0.10), for use as cathode materials for lithium-ion rechargeable batteries were synthesized via sol–gel method, using lauric acid as the chelating agent, to obtain micron-sized particles. The physical properties of the synthesized samples were investigated using differential thermal analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, and electrochemical methods. XRD showed that LiMn₂O₄ and LiZn_xHo_yMn_2−x−yO₄ have high degrees of crystallinity and good phase purities. The SEM images of LiMn₂O₄ showed an ice-cube morphology with particles of size 1 μm. Charge–discharge studies showed that undoped LiMn₂O₄ delivered the discharge capacity of 124 mA h/g with coulombic efficiency of 95% during the first cycle, whereas doped spinels delivered discharge capacities of 125, 120, and 127 mA h/g in the first cycle with coulombic efficiencies of 96%, 91%, and 91%, respectively.     

Degradation of nylon-6/clay nanocomposites in NO<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>

Nylon-6 is an important engineering polymer that, in its fully spherulitic (bulk) form, has many applications in gears, rollers, and other long life cycle components. In 1993, Toyota commercialized a nylon-6/clay nanocomposite out of which it produced the timing belt cover for the Camry. Although these hybrid nanocomposites show significant improvements in their mechanical response characteristics, including yield strength and heat distortion temperature, little is known about the degradation of these properties due to environmental pollutants like NO _x . Nylon-6 fibers are severely degraded by interaction with NO _x and other pollutants, showing a strong synergy between applied load and environmental degradation. While the nanocomposites show a significant reduction in permeability of gases and water due to the incorporation of lamellar clay, their susceptibility to nondiffusional mechano-chemical degradation is unknown. The fracture toughness of these nylon-6/clay nanocomposites increases, not as a function of clay content, but as a function of the volume of nylon-6 polymer chains influenced by the clay lamellae surfaces. Both the clay and the constrained volume offer the nanocomposites some protection from the deleterious effects of NO _x . The time-to-failure at a given stress intensity factor as a function of clay content and constrained volume is discussed along with fracture toughness of the materials.     

Compressive response and failure of braided textile composites: Part 1—experiments

Experimental results obtained by examining the planar biaxial compression/tension response of carbon 2D triaxial braided composites (2DTBC) are reported in this paper. These experiments were motivated by a need to examine the failure of 2DTBC in a state of stress that would be similar to what is experienced by the walls of a tubular member under compressive crush loads. Results obtained from a series of biaxial tests that were conducted with different proportional displacement loading ratio combinations of compression and tension are reported. In all cases, the dominant failure mechanism under such a stress state is the buckling of the bias and axial tows within the composite. Full field surface displacement data is acquired concurrently during all biaxial and some uniaxial tests using the technique of digital speckle photography. Digital images of the specimen surface that is illuminated with a He-Ne laser are acquired at discrete time intervals during the loading history using a high-resolution digital camera. These images are stored and analyzed to obtain the incremental inplane surface displacement field, Δu(x,y) and Δv(x,y). From these, the incremental inplane surface strains Δε_x, Δε_y and Δγ_xy are obtained by numerical differentiation. The present paper, which is the first in a two part series, is devoted to the biaxial experimental results pertaining to 2DTBC failure.     

Multiyear analyses of ground-level air contaminants over Paris metropolitan region using real-time observations and air mass backward trajectories

For the years 2008–2013, particles of diameter <10 and 2.5 μm (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5, respectively), NO_x, SO₂, and O₃ concentrations at urban, suburban, rural, and traffic sites in the Paris metropolitan area were analyzed. Strong spatial variability at traffic and rural sites and relatively uniform profiles at urban and suburban sites for PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and O₃ were observed. The O₃ weekend effect was induced by lower NO_x emissions during the weekend, and favored volatile organic compounds (VOCs)-limited atmospheric conditions. In conjunction with low ambient temperature, these conditions could also favor increased formation of secondary particulate nitrates in winter. Winter air pollution events were associated with multiple pollutants, whereas those observed in spring were caused by high PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 levels. Backward trajectory analyses showed the contribution of sources in Western and Central Europe on days with high PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and O₃, and a local/national component for NO_x and SO₂.     

Synthesis of spherical Y2O3:Er emitting particles with variable radial composition by controlled double-jet precipitation of layered precursors

Spherical (Y_0.98Er_0.02)₂(OH)₅(NO₃)·xH₂O particles were synthesized by controlled double-jet precipitation, with a “core” of pure layered yttrium hydroxide nitrate, and a “shell” of co-precipitated yttrium-erbium layered hydroxide nitrates. With an increase in precipitation pH from 7 to 9.5, the size of layered “building units” decreases and the architecture of their assemblies changes from flower-like through network-like spherical to irregular agglomerates. From there, spherical particles gradually increase their diameter due to the continuous uniform growth of curved layered sheets on their surface. It was established that such growth behavior and network-like architecture of spherical particles was retained even when yttrium was replaced by erbium ions in the layered host lattice during the formation of an Er-enriched “shell”. Analysis of SEM, EDS, XPS, photoluminescence spectra and concentration quenching effects of heat-treated Y₂O₃:Er (2 at.%) particles indicate that the radial distribution of erbium in particles is most controllable in a narrow pH range of co-precipitation of layered precursors (pH 8). Вy widely varying the elemental composition of “building units” during co-precipitation, one can simultaneously finely control the composition of layered hydroxides in the radial direction of the spherical particles and grow multicomponent “multi-shell” powders with desired properties.     

Fabrication of nano-sized Ca(OH)2 with excellent adsorption ability for N2O4

Uniform nano-sized calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂) monocrystal powder was synthesized from calcium oxide in a surfactant solution via a digestion method by decreasing the surface tension of the reaction system to control the growth of crystalline Ca(OH)₂. The Ca(OH)₂ monocrystal powder samples were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The NO_x adsorption ability of the samples was evaluated, and the influence of various types and concentrations of surfactants on powder agglomeration and then the specific surface area in the precipitation process were studied. The specific surface area of the samples was found as high as 58 m²/g and 92 m²/g and the particle size, 300–400 nm and 200–300 nm in the presence of 10 wt% PEG600 and 0.086 mL/L SDS at a reaction time of 5 h, respectively. The product has an exceptionally strong adsorption ability for NO_x, which makes it a highly promising adsorbent for emission control and air purification.     

Synthesis of layered cathode materials Li[CoxNiyMn1−x−y]O2 from layered double hydroxide precursors

Cathode materials Li[Co_xNi_yMn_1?x?y]O₂ for lithium secondary batteries have been prepared by a new route using layered double hydroxides (LDHs) as a precursor. The resulting layered phase with the α-NaFeO₂ structure crystallizes in the rhombohedral system, with space group R-3m having an interlayer spacing close to 0.47 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to measure the oxidation states of Co, Ni and Mn. The effects of varying the Co/Ni/Mn ratio on both the structure and electrochemical properties of Li[Co_xNi_yMn_1?x?y]O₂ have been investigated by X-ray diffraction and electrochemical tests. The products demonstrated a rather stable cycling behavior, with a reversible capacity of 118 mAh/g for the layered material with Co/Ni/Mn = 1/1/1.     

SIMULATION OF NOx FORMATION IN TURBULENT SWIRLINGCOMBUSTION USING A USM TURBULENCE—CHEMISTRY MODEL

A unified second-order moment (USM) turbulence-chemistry model for simulating Nox formation in turbulent combustion is proposed. All of correlations, including the correlation of the reaction-rate coefficient fluctuation with the concentration fluctuation, are closed by the transport equations in the same form. This model discards the approximation of series expansion of the exponential function or the approximation of using the product of several 1-D PDF‘s instead of a joint PDF. It is much simpler than other refined models, such as the PDF transport equation model and the condi-tional moment closure model. The proposed model is used to simulate methane-air swirling turbulent combustion and Nox formation. The prediction results are in good agreement with the experimental results.     

An on-engine method for dynamic characterisation of NOx concentration sensors

An on-engine method for dynamic characterisation of automotive NO_x concentration sensors is presented. Steps in start of injection on a diesel engine are employed to achieve step-like NO_x concentration variations on exhaust flow. On the basis of the sensor response, delay and dynamic response can be easily identified; the paper shows a simple least squares procedure although other models and identification techniques could be used. Application data is presented for three NO_x sensors: a research-grade chemiluminescence exhaust gas analyser, and two different commercial ZrO₂-based sensors.     

Singular Perturbations, Transversality, and Sil'nikov Saddle-Focus Homoclinic Orbits

We consider the singularly perturbed system $\dot x$ =εf(x,y,ε,λ), $\dot y$ =g(x,y,ε,λ). We assume that for small (ε,λ), (0,0) is a hyperbolic equilibrium on the normally hyperbolic centre manifold y=0 and that y ₀(t) is a homoclinic solution of $\dot y$ =g(0,y,0,0). Under an additional condition, we show that there is a curve in the (ε,λ) parameter space on which the perturbed system has a homoclinic orbit also. We investigate the transversality properties of this orbit and use our results to give examples of 4 dimensional systems with Sil'nikov saddle-focus homoclinic orbits.     

Full-field displacement and strain rosettes by moiré interferometry

A cross-line phase-type specimen grating was interrogated by moiré interferometry techniques to produce full-field fringe patterns of three displacement components:U _x ,U _y , andU ₄₅. ForU ₄₅, sensitivity was 1/1700 mm/fringe (1/43,000 in./fr). Closely packed fringes with much information content were obtained. Fringe patterns of strain components? _x ,? _y and? ₄₅ were produced by mechanical shearing (or optical differentiation) of the displacement patterns; a shearing distance of only 0.6 mm (0.025 in.) was used. The rosette method yields complete strain information from these three components of normal strain—which were derived from three direct derivatives of displacement. Consequently, the need for cross-derivatives of displacement, which are highly sensitive to accidental rigid-body rotations, is circumvented.     

On nonlinear problems of mixed type: A qualitative theory using infinite-dimensional center manifolds

We consider the equation a(y)u_xx+div_y(b(y)_yu)+c(y)u=g(y, u) in the cylinder (–l,l)×, being elliptic where b(y)>0 and hyperbolic where b(y)<0. We construct self-adjoint realizations in L₂() of the operatorAu= (1/a) div_y(b_yu)+(c/a) in the case ofb changing sign. This leads to the abstract problem u_xx+Au=g(u), whereA has a spectrum extending to + as well as to –. For l= it is shown that all sufficiently small solutions lie on an infinite-dimensional center manifold and behave like those of a hyperbolic problem. Anx-independent cross-sectional integral E=E(u, u_x) is derived showing that all solutions on the center manifold remain bounded forx ±. For finitel, all small solutionsu are close to a solution on the center manifold such that u(x)-(x) Ce ^-(1-|x|) for allx, whereC and are independent ofu. Hence, the solutions are dominated by hyperbolic properties, except close to the terminal ends {±1}×, where boundary layers of elliptic type appear.     

Brachistochrone with limited reaction of constraint in an arbitrary force field

The paper considers brachistochronic motion of a particle along a curve y=y(x) in an arbitrary force field in the vertical plane of Cartesian coordinate system. The curve is treated as a bilateral or unilateral constraint that can be smooth or rough. The projection of the reaction force of the curve onto the normal to the curve is confined to the fixed limits. A control variable u is given as the second derivative of the function y(x) relative to the horizontal coordinate?x of the particle, i.e., u=d ² y/dx ². Applying Pontryagin??s maximum principle and singular optimal control theory, the problem is reduced to numerical solving of the corresponding two-point boundary value problem. The procedure based on the shooting method is used to solve the boundary value problem. Two examples with friction forces of the viscous friction and Coulomb friction type have been solved.     

Stress and finite-strain analysis of a circular ring under diametral compression

Using a moiré, large-strain analysis method, a complete solution is shown in this paper of the fields of strain and stress for a circular ring subjected to diametral compression between two flat platens. The isotheticsu andv, obtained using 1000-lines-per-inch gratings, were differentiated photographically by the shifting technique (moiré-of-moiré) to determine ?u/?x, ?v/?y, ?u/?y and ?v/?x. Using the exact finite strain-displacement relationship, the Eulerian strains ? _x ^E , ? _y ^E and γ _xy ^E were computed. From these, the principal Eulerian strains were obtained. These results were verified with the isochromatics obtained from a large-deformation photoelasticity analysis. The ring was made of a polyurethane rubber which exhibits a linear relationship between natural strain and a newly introduced concept of “natural stress”. The Eulerian strains were converted to natural strains, and from these natural stresses were computed using the newly developed concept. Results are presented graphically for the whole field of the ring.     

Numerical investigation of gas-particle flow in the primary air pipe of a low NOx swirl burner – The DEM-CFD method

The gas-particle flow in the primary air pipe (PAP) of a low NO_x swirl burner was investigated using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) coupled with the discrete element method (DEM). The mathematical models were validated using the measured values obtained at the outlet of the primary pipe through a phase Doppler anemometer (PDA) system. Particles of different Stokes numbers in the primary air pipe (PAP) were investigated, and the effects of the structure of the primary air pipe and the particle–particle interaction on particle dispersion were analyzed. The results indicate that particles under the combined effects of the Venturi pipe and the spindle body are concentrated into a narrow band area and that the PAP structure can more efficiently concentrate particles with large Stokes numbers. The formed fuel rich/lean jet persists for a long distance out of the burner, thereby favoring of air-staged combustion and NO_x reduction. The particle collision frequency and its fluctuation range increase as the particle Stokes number increases. The collisions among particles result in an increase of the spanwise dispersion of particles. Experimental results indicate that the models that take particle–particle collision into consideration are more able to predict particle concentration.     

Study of the aerodynamic characteristics of cone-sphere models in a hypersonic flow

The aerodynamic characteristics of cone-sphere models are studied at Mach numbers M = 6, 8.4, and 12 to 13 over a wide Reynolds number range. Models of a braking device (sphere) were connected with a load (frustum of a cone) by means of shrouds. The dependences of the aerodynamic coefficients C _x and C _y on the angle of attack α were obtained for different relative dimensions of the load and the braking device, shroud lengths, and Mach and Reynolds numbers. The effect of the above-mentioned parameters on the aerodynamic characteristics of the models is analyzed. The C _x (Re_D) dependences of load-parachutemodels in a symmetric flow are determined over the wide Mach and Reynolds number ranges 6 ≤ M ≤ 13 and 3 · 10³ ≤ Re_D ≤ 3 · 10⁶.     

Thermal stresses in rectangular plates

Summary A method of determining the thermal stresses in a flat rectangular isotropic plate of constant thickness with arbitrary temperature distribution in the plane of the plate and with no variation in temperature through the thickness is presented. The thermal stress have been obtained in terms of Fourier series and integrals that satisfy the differential equation and the boundary conditions. Several examples have been presented to show the application of the method.Nomenclature x, y rectangular coordinates - _x, _y direct stresses - _xy shear stress - ø Airy's stress function - E Young's modulus of elasticity - coefficient of thermal expansion - T temperature - ² Laplace operator: - ⁴ biharmonic operator - 2a length of the plate - 2b width of the plate - a/b aspect ratio - a _mr, b_ms, c_nr, d_ns Fourier coefficients defined in equation (6) - _m=m/a m=1, 2, 3, ... _n=n/2a n=1, 3, 5, ... - _r=r/b r=1, 2, 3, ... _s=s/2b s=1, 3, 5, ... - A _m, B_m, C_n, D_n, E_r, F_r, G_s, H_s Fourier coefficients - K _rand L _s Fourier coefficients defined in equation (20) - direct stress at infinity - T ₁(x, y) temperature distribution symmetrical in x and y - T ₂(x, y) temperature distribution symmetrical in x and antisymmetrical in y - T ₃(x, y) temperature distribution antisymmetrical in x and symmetrical in y - T ₄(x, y) temperature distribution antisymmetrical in x and y     

Effect of an electric field on the nitrogen oxide emission and structure of a laminar propane diffusion flame

The effect of an electric field E on the structure and nitrogen oxide NO_x emission of an individual laminar propane diffusion flame is experimentally investigated. The current-voltage characteristics of the flame, its deformation, the fuel-air ratio and the NO_x emission are determined for positive and negative burner polarities. A reduction in NO_x emission (up to 30% with respect to the emission index) is demonstrated in the case of negative burner polarity. A cause-and-effect relationship between the processes in the flame is proposed: the presence in the flame of positively charged ions and soot particles; the motion of the ions in the E field and the onset of an induced electrohydrodynamic flow directed towards the negatively charged burner; the retention and increase in the concentration of soot particles in the lower region of the flame, which leads to an increase in soot particle radiation and hence to a decrease in the temperature of the flame front and a corresponding reduction in NO_x emission. The electrohydrodynamic aspects of the problem are subjected to a qualitative analysis.Moscow. Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 2, pp. 13–23, March–April, 1995.     

On an analogue of the Euler-Cauchy polygon method for the numerical solution of ux y = f(x,y, u,ux, uy)

This paper develops, with an eye on the numerical applications, an analogue of the classical Euler-Cauchy polygon method (which is used in the solution of the ordinary differential equation dy/dx=f(x, y), y(x ₀)=y ₀) for the solution of the following characteristic boundary value problem for a hyperbolic partial differential equation u _xy =f(x, y, u, u _x , y _y ), u(x, y ₀)=(x), u(x ₀, y)=(y), where (x ₀)=(y ₀). The method presented here, which may be roughly described as a process of bilinear interpolation, has the advantage over previously proposed methods that only the tabulated values of the given functions (x) and (y) are required for its numerical application. Particular attention is devoted to the proof that a certain sequence of approximating functions, constructed in a specified way, actually converges to a solution of the boundary value problem under consideration. Known existence theorems are thus proved by a process which can actually be employed in numerical computation.

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