A multi-fiber approach for modeling corroded reinforced concrete structures

Taking into account the specific behavior of the steel/concrete interface is of primary importance to predict properly the structural response of RC structures. Several constitutive models have been proposed in the literature within the framework of nonlinear finite element method (2D and 3D). Such approaches usually lead to high computational costs due to the large number of degrees of freedom. In the present paper, a multifiber-based model including the steel/concrete interface behavior is proposed. Despite the fact that the kinematics of the multi-fiber approach is based on the theory of beams, this simplified strategy accounts for local phenomena such as the relative sliding between concrete and steel. Furthermore, this steel/concrete interface constitutive model can be extended to model the loss of bond properties due to corrosion. The numerical implementation aspects are described and local responses at the Gauss point level are exposed in the cases of monotonic loadings with and without corrosion. The efficiency and the reliability of the proposed approach are tested on structural case studies which highlight a good agreement between numerical and experimental results. This multifiber-based model provides a pertinent tool for the engineers concerns with the structural assessment of degraded reinforced concrete structures.     

Towards clustered carbonyl cations [M3(CO)14]2+ (M = Ru,Os): the need for innocent deelectronation

To access the hitherto almost unknown class of clustered transition metal carbonyl cations, the trimetal dodecacarbonyls M₃(CO)₁₂ (M = Ru, Os) were reacted with the oxidant Ag⁺[WCA]⁻, but yielded the silver complexes [Ag{M₃(CO)₁₂}₂]⁺[WCA]⁻ (WCA = [Al(OR^F)₄]⁻, [F{Al(OR^F)₃}₂]⁻; R^F = –OC(CF₃)₃). Addition of further diiodine I₂ to increase the redox potential led for M = Ru non-specifically to divalent mixed iodo-Ru^II-carbonyl cations. With [NO]⁺, even the N–O bond was cleaved and led to the butterfly carbonyl complex cation [Ru₄N(CO)₁₃]⁺ in low yield. Obviously, ionization of M₃(CO)₁₂ with retention of its pseudo-binary composition including only M and CO is difficult and the inorganic reagents did react non-innocently. Yet, the radical cation of the commercially available perhalogenated anthracene derivative 9,10-dichlorooctafluoroanthracene (anthracene^Hal) is a straightforward accessible innocent deelectronator with a half-wave potential E_1/2 of 1.42 V vs. Fc^0/+. It deelectronates M₃(CO)₁₂ under a CO atmosphere and leads to the structurally characterized cluster salts [M₃(CO)₁₄]²⁺([WCA]⁻)₂ including a linear M₃ chain. The structural characterization as well as vibrational and NMR spectroscopies indicate the presence of three electronically independent sets of carbonyl ligands, which almost mimic M(CO)₅, free CO and even [M(CO)₆]²⁺ in one and the same cation.

Trimeric M₃(CO)₁₂ (M = Ru, Os) reacts with typical inorganic oxidants to unwanted side products. Yet, the 9,10-dichlorooctafluoroanthracene radical cation deelectronates these under CO pressure to give the first homotrimetallic [M₃(CO)₁₄]²⁺ salts.     

Synthesis of some 4H,10H[1]benzoxepino[3,4-c]pyrazol-4-one derivatives

1H(or 2H)4H10H[1]Benzoxepino[3,4-c]pyrazol-4-ones were prepared from phenoxymethylpyrazolecarboxylic acids which in turn were synthesized from simple starting materials. Different pathways to allow the predominant formation of the N-1 or N-2 substituted derivatives are described. The isomeric 1 or 2-substituted structures were supported by ¹³C-nmr.     

Flow-injection analysis with the iron-induced perbromate-iodide reaction: spectrophotometric determination of iron

Total iron is determined by a flow-injection spectrophotometric technique. The production of I(-)(3) from the iron(II)- or iron(III)-induced perbromate-iodide reaction is monitored at 353 nm. Calibration graphs are linear from 10 to 100 ng/ml with correlations up to 0.9998 and can be extended up to 10 microg/ml by appropriate adjustment of conditions. The average sampling rate is 30 samples/hr. Detection limits and relative standard deviations compare well with those of other FIA methods.     

The role of tangential diffusion in evaluating the performance of flamelet models

For non-premixed combustion, the steady laminar flamelet model (SLFM) and flamelet/progress variable approach (FPVA) are two popular methods for tabulating flamelet manifolds. Even if the two methods are used to tabulate and parameterize the same flamelet database, their results sometimes differ in the subsequent simulation. In this work, a novel perspective is provided to assess the performance of the SLFM and FPVA. Both approaches are compared with respect to their capabilities to capture tangential diffusion (TD) of the thermochemical state variables along iso-surfaces of mixture fraction. The relevance of TD effects is identified using generalized flamelet equations and regimes by comparing flamelet solutions with and without TD terms to a FTC (full transport and chemistry) solution of a well-known non-premixed coflow flame. It is found that TD effects can play an important role in entire mixture fraction space, even in the classical flamelet regime. This suggests that the ability to characterize TD effects is an important performance indicator for tabulation strategies. Thereafter, an a priori analysis is conducted comparing the results from the FPVA and SLFM (using the same flamelet database) with the FTC results. The results show that the FPVA is able to more accurately describe the thermochemical state and the flame structure than the SLFM. For a more detailed assessment of the two tabulation strategies, the TD terms reconstructed from the FPVA and SLFM are compared to those from the FTC results. It is found that the FPVA can capture a significant portion of TD effects, while the SLFM can hardly characterize TD effects. This particular capability allows the FPVA to describe chemistry-transport interaction and flame structure more accurately than the SLFM.     

Atom-scale ptychographic electron diffractive imaging of boron nitride cones

Ptychographic coherent diffractive imaging (CDI) has been extensively applied using both x rays and electrons. The extension to atomic resolution has been elusive. This Letter demonstrates ptychographic electron diffractive imaging at atomic resolution, permitting identification of structure in a boron nitride helical cone at a resolution of order 1 ?, beyond that of comparative Z-contrast images. A scanning transmission electron microscope is used to create a diverging illumination in a defocused Fresnel CDI geometry, providing a robust strategy leading to a unique solution.