Investigation on the explosive welding mechanism of corrosion-resisting aluminum and stainless steel tubes through finite element simulation and experiments

To solve the difficulty in the explosive welding of corrosion-resistant aluminum and stainless steel tubes, three technologies were proposed after investigating the forming mechanism through experiments. Then, a 3D finite element model was established for systematic simulations in the parameter determination. The results show that the transition-layer approach, the coaxial initial assembly of tubes with the top-center-point the detonation, and the systematic study by numerical modeling are the key technologies to make the explosive welding of LF6 aluminum alloy and 1Cr18Ni9Ti stainless steel tubes feasible. Numerical simulation shows that radial contraction and slope collision through continuous local plastic deformation are necessary for the good bonding of tubes. Stand-off distances between tubes (D₁ and D₂) and explosives amount (R) have effect on the plastic deformation, moving velocity, and bonding of tubes. D₁ of 1 mm, D₂ of 2 mm, and R of 2/3 are suitable for the explosive welding of LF6-L2-1Cr18Ni9Ti three-layer tubes. The plastic strain and moving velocity of the flyer tubes increase with the increase of stand-off distance. More explosives (R>2/3) result in the asymmetrical distribution of plastic strain and non-bonding at the end of detonation on the tubes.     

Nuclear Power Plant Life Extension - How Aging Affects Performance of Containments Other Structures

This paper focuses on how aging can affect performance of safety-related structures in nuclear power plants (NPPs). Knowledge and assessment of impacts of aging on structures is essential to Plant Life Extension analysis, especially performance to severe loadings such as loss-of-coolant-accidents or major seismic events. Plant life extension issues are of keen interest in countries (like the United States) which have a large, aging fleet of NPPs. Seismic issues are of heightened interest to the worldwide nuclear community in the wake of the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami. This paper addresses the overlap and relationship of structure aging to severe loading performance, with particular emphasis on containment structures.     

Integrated development and industrial application of high sour natural gas purification technology

Aiming at acute characteristics of flammability, explosibility, causticity and leakiness of high sour nat- ural gas, giving full consideration to local natural conditions in Sichuan Province and starting with purification pro- cess, the paper analyzed process configurations, energy utilization and conservation, safety and environment pro- tection measures. The integrated technology and engineering scheme for high sour natural gas purification was es- tablished and successfully used in industrial application.     

Analysis of contact melting around a horizontal elliptical cylinder heat source

The process of AT-driven contact melting of the solid phase change material （PCM） around a horizontal elliptical cylinder heat source is analyzed. Aiming at the problem existed in the published literature, namely the thickness of boundary layer tends to be infinite at φ = 90°, and considering the difference of normal angle between the horizontal elliptical cylinder surface and the solid-liquid interface of PCM, a new mathematic model is proposed, and the fundamental equations for the melting process are derived with the film theory. The new pressure distribution inside the boundary layer, the variation law of normal angle of the solid-liquid interface, the thickness of the boundary layer and the relationship between the melting velocity and resultant force are obtained. The solutions of the fundamental equations under different elliptical compression coefficients are analyzed and discussed. It is found that the thickness of the boundary layer obtained by the new model is a finite value and accords with the experimental result at φ = 90°.     

A detailed Lower Triassic conodont biostratigraphy and its implications for the GSSP candidate of the Induan–Olenekian boundary in Chaohu, Anhui Province

Chaohu is located in a deep part of carbonate ramp on the Lower Yangtze Block, which belonged to the low-latitude eastern Tethyan archipelago during the Early Triassic. Fossils were very rich in the Lower Triassic of Chaohu. Bivalves, ammonoids, conodonts were very common throughout the Lower Triassic, while fish fossils were generally rich in some beds of the upper part. It is one of the most typical sections for the Early Triassic chronostratigraphy in the world. Although various fossils had been studied in the 1980s and 1990s, recent studies based upon new and more detailed collections from the Lower Triassic of Chaohu showed that the conodont zonation needs revision. We collected Lower Triassic conodont fossils from continuous sections of the West Pingdingshan, North Pingdingshan and South Majiashan, Chaohu, Anhui Province, and updated zonations were made for each section. Eight conodont zones have been distinguished. They are, in ascending order, Hindeodus typicalis zone, Neogondolella krystyni zone, Neospathodus kummeli zone, Neospathodus dieneri zone, Neospathodus waageni zone, Neospathodus pingdingshanensis zone, Neospathodus homeri zone, and Neospathodus anhuinensis zone. The first occurrence of Neospathodus waageni eowaageni of the N. w. eowaageni subzone （i.e. the base of the N. waageni zone） is suggested as the marker to define the Induan-Olenekian boundary.     

A detailed Lower Triassic conodont biostratigraphy and its implications for the GSSP candidate of the Induan–Olenekian boundary in Chaohu, Anhui Province

Chaohu is located in a deep part of carbonate ramp on the Lower Yangtze Block, which belonged to the low-latitude eastern Tethyan archipelago during the Early Triassic. Fossils were very rich in the Lower Triassic of Chaohu. Bivalves, ammonoids, conodonts were very common throughout the Lower Triassic, while fish fossils were generally rich in some beds of the upper part. It is one of the most typical sections for the Early Triassic chronostratigraphy in the world. Although various fossils had been studied in the 1980s and 1990s, recent studies based upon new and more detailed collections from the Lower Triassic of Chaohu showed that the conodont zonation needs revision. We collected Lower Triassic conodont fossils from continuous sections of the West Pingdingshan, North Pingdingshan and South Majiashan, Chaohu, Anhui Province, and updated zonations were made for each section. Eight conodont zones have been distinguished. They are, in ascending order, Hindeodus typicalis zone, Neogondolella krystyni zone, Neospathodus kummeli zone, Neospathodus dieneri zone, Neospathodus waageni zone, Neospathodus pingdingshanensis zone, Neospathodus homeri zone, and Neospathodus anhuinensis zone. The ?rst occurrence of Neospathodus waageni eowaageni of the N. w. eowaageni subzone (i.e. the base of the N. waageni zone) is suggested as the marker to de?ne the Induan–Olenekian boundary.     

Recent progress in studies on the nano-sized particle layer in rock shear planes

Since the 1990s, an ultramicro-particle texture in nano- or micron-sized scale has been continually found in shear planes of various rocks, and recently further progress was obtained by studying the generic mechanisms on both physics and mechanics. In this article, the characteristics of the nano-sized particle layer in rock shear planes (including the widespread distribution, layering texture, non-linear genetic mechanism, and multiple functions) on an ultra micro-scale were briefly introduced and more information was proposed by analyzing examples from home and broad.We found that there is a paragenetic relationship between the development of shear frictional-viscous and the formation of nano-sized particles and that in the shear movement, partitioning, segregating, and layering in rocks are initiated by the sliding motion of the nano-sized particle layer. Moreover, the plastic rheology of rocks is essentially the movement of ultra micro-sized particle (nano-size and micro-size), and the nano-sized particle layer in rock shear planes are characterized by some particular physical and chemical effects.     

Anatase TiO2 single crystals with a large percentage of reactive facets

Owing to their scientific and technological importance, inorganic single crystals with highly reactive surfaces have long been studied. Unfortunately, surfaces with high reactivity usually diminish rapidly during the crystal growth process as a result of the minimization of surface energy. A typical example is titanium dioxide (TiO2), which has promising energy and environmental applications. Most available anatase TiO(2) crystals are dominated by the thermodynamically stable {101} facets (more than 94 per cent, according to the Wulff construction), rather than the much more reactive {001} facets. Here we demonstrate that for fluorine-terminated surfaces this relative stability is reversed: {001} is energetically preferable to {101}. We explored this effect systematically for a range of non-metallic adsorbate atoms by first-principle quantum chemical calculations. On the basis of theoretical predictions, we have synthesized uniform anatase TiO(2) single crystals with a high percentage (47 per cent) of {001} facets using hydrofluoric acid as a morphology controlling agent. Moreover, the fluorated surface of anatase single crystals can easily be cleaned using heat treatment to render a fluorine-free surface without altering the crystal structure and morphology.     

An Fgf/Gremlin inhibitory feedback loop triggers termination of limb bud outgrowth

During organ formation and regeneration a proper balance between promoting and restricting growth is critical to achieve stereotypical size. Limb bud outgrowth is driven by signals in a positive feedback loop involving fibroblast growth factor (Fgf) genes, sonic hedgehog (Shh) and Gremlin1 (Grem1). Precise termination of these signals is essential to restrict limb bud size. The current model predicts a sequence of signal termination consistent with that in chick limb buds. Our finding that the sequence in mouse limb buds is different led us to explore alternative mechanisms. Here we show, by analysing compound mouse mutants defective in genes comprising the positive loop, genetic evidence that FGF signalling can repress Grem1 expression, revealing a novel Fgf/Grem1 inhibitory loop. This repression occurs both in mouse and chick limb buds, and is dependent on high FGF activity. These data support a mechanism where the positive Fgf/Shh loop drives outgrowth and an increase in FGF signalling, which triggers the Fgf/Grem1 inhibitory loop. The inhibitory loop then operates to terminate outgrowth signals in the order observed in either mouse or chick limb buds. Our study unveils the concept of a self-promoting and self-terminating circuit that may be used to attain proper tissue size in a broad spectrum of developmental and regenerative settings.     

Bacterial carbon processing by generalist species in the coastal ocean

The assimilation and mineralization of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by marine bacterioplankton is a major process in the ocean carbon cycle. However, little information exists on the specific metabolic functions of participating bacteria and on whether individual taxa specialize on particular components of the marine DOC pool. Here we use experimental metagenomics to show that coastal communities are populated by taxa capable of metabolizing a wide variety of organic carbon compounds. Genomic DNA captured from bacterial community subsets metabolizing a single model component of the DOC pool (either dimethylsulphoniopropionate or vanillate) showed substantial overlap in gene composition as well as a diversity of carbon-processing capabilities beyond the selected phenotypes. Our direct measure of niche breadth for bacterial functional assemblages indicates that, in accordance with ecological theory, heterogeneity in the composition and supply of organic carbon to coastal oceans may favour generalist bacteria. In the important interplay between microbial community structure and biogeochemical cycling, coastal heterotrophic communities may be controlled less by transient changes in the carbon reservoir that they process and more by factors such as trophic interactions and physical conditions.