• Advances in Energy Research
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2013

In this work, we present the catalytic dehydrogenation of hydrazine borane $N_2H_4BH_3$ (HB) using supported nickel catalysts at $50^{\circ}C$. In the presence of monometallic nickel catalysts, the dehydrogenation of HB is a one-step reaction consisting of the hydrolysis of the $BH_3$ group only. The challenge is to activate nickel to make it reactive towards the $N_2H_4$ moiety of HB. A set of 52 catalysts were prepared by using 2 supports ($Al_2O_3$ and $TiO_2$), 5 nickel precursors and 3 preparation methods. For the first time, we show that the supported nickel catalysts are able to dehydrogenate the $NH_3$ moiety of HB. In our experimental conditions, the best results were obtained with 20 wt% Ni-$Al_2O_3$ and 20 wt% Ni-$TiO_2$, with ca. 190 mL $H_2+N_2$ generated over a total theoretical volume of 283 mL, suggesting $H_2$ selectivity of 37 and 32%, respectively. Both catalysts were then characterized by EDX, XPS, and XRD. Our achievement is the first step forward and opens new perspectives for developing catalysts for the total dehydrogenation of HB.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.95-118
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• 2017

The present study revealed comparison the pressure distribution on the surfaces of regular cross plan shaped building with angular cross plan shaped building which is being transformed from basic cross plan shaped building through the variation of internal angles between limbs by $15^{\circ}$ for various wind incidence angle from $0^{\circ}$ to $180^{\circ}$ at an interval of $30^{\circ}$. In order to maintain the area same the limbs sizes are slightly increased accordingly. Numerical analysis has been carried out to generate similar nature of flow condition as per IS: 875 (Part -III):1987 (a mean wind velocity of 10 m/s) by using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with help of ANSYS CFX ($k-{\varepsilon}$ model). The variation of mean pressure coefficients, pressure distribution over the surface, flow pattern and force coefficient are evaluated for each cases and represented graphically to understand extent of nonconformities due to such angular modifications in plan. Finally regular cross shaped building results are compared with wind tunnel results obtained from similar '+' shaped building study with similar flow condition. Reduction in along wind force coefficients for angular crossed shaped building, observed for various skew angles leads to develop lesser along wind force on building compared to regular crossed shaped building and square plan shaped building. Interference effect within the internal faces are observed in particular faces of building for both cases, considerably. Significant deviation is noticed in wind induced responses for angular cross building compared to regular cross shaped building for different direction wind flow.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.279-292
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• 2017

This study was aimed at ultrafiltration (UF) as a pretreatment before reverse osmosis (RO) within the scheme of hybrid reverse osmosis-multistage flush (RO-MSF) desalination. Seawater at elevated temperature (after MSF heat-exchangers) was used as a feed in this process. The pretreatment system was represented as a set of functionally-linked technological segments such as: UF filtration, backwashing, chemical- enhanced backwashing, cleaning, waste disposal, etc. The process represents the sequences of operating cycles. The cycle, in turn, consists of the following unit operations: filtration, backwashing and chemical-enhanced backwashing (CEB). Quantitative assessment was based on the following indicators: normalized permeability, transmembrane pressure, specific energy and water consumption, specific waste generation. UF pre-treatment is accompanied by the following waste streams: $W1=1.19{\times}10$ power of $-2m^3$ (disposed NaOCl with 0.0044% wt.)/$m^3$ (filtrate); $W2=5.95{\times}10$ power of $-3m^3$ (disposed $H_2SO_4$ with 0.052% wt.)/$m^3$(filtrate); $W3=7.26{\times}10$ power of $-2m^3$ (disposed sea water)/$m^3$ (filtrate). Specific energy consumption is $1.11{\times}10$ power of $-1kWh/m^3$ (filtrate). The indicators evaluated over the cycles with conventional (non-chemical) backwashing were compared with the cycles accompanied by CEB. A positive impact of CEB on performance indicators was demonstrated namely: normalized UF resistance remains unchanged within the regime accompanied by CEB, whereas the lack of CEB results in 30% of its growth. Those quantitative indicators can be incorporated into the target function for solving different optimization problems. They can be used in the software for optimisation of operating regimes or in the synthesis of optimal flow- diagram. The cycle characteristics, process parameters and water quality data are attached.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.245-251
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• 2017

Multiwalled carbon-nanotubes (MWCNT) and micro-structured carbon, such as biochar or activated carbon (AC), have been seen to significantly increase the growth indices of certain plant species such as maize (Zea mays L.). Seed imbibition is the stage where environmental factors that affect water transport across the seed coat barrier, make a large impact. This work explores the effect on water imbibition by maize seeds when the aqueous environment surrounding the seed is diluted by small concentrations (10 and 20 mg/l) of pristine MWCNT (p-MWCNT), carboxylate functionalized MWCNT (COO-MWCNT) and AC. The degree of sensitivity of the process to (i) large structural changes is seen by utilizing the nano (the MWCNT) and the micro (the AC) allotropic forms of carbon; (ii) to small changes in the purity and morphology of the p-MWCNT by utilizing 95% pure and 99% pure p-MWCNTs of slightly differing morphologies; and (iii) to MWCNT functionalization by using highly pure (97%) COO-MWCNT. Water imbibition was monitored over a 15 hour period by Near Infrared Thermography (NIRT) and also by seed weighing. Seed surface topography was seen by SEM imaging. Analysis of the NIRT images suggests rapid seed surface topological changes with the quantity of water imbibed. While further work is necessary to arrive at a conclusive answer, this work shows that the imbibition phase of the maize seed is sensitive to the presence of MWCNT even to small differences in the purity of the p-MWCNT and to small differences in the physicochemical properties of the medium caused by the hydrophilic COO-MWCNT.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.261-279
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• 2017

Spectroscopic investigation of Si quantum dots (Si-QDs) embedded in silicon nitride was performed over a broad stoichiometry range to optimize light emission. Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition was used to grow the $SiN_x$ films on Si (001) substrates. The film composition was controlled via the flow ratio of silane ($SiH_4$) and ammonia ($NH_3$) in the range of R = 0.45-1.0 allowed to vary the Si excess in the range of 21-62 at.%. The films were submitted to annealing at $1100^{\circ}C$ for 30 min in nitrogen to form the Si-QDs. The properties of as-deposited and annealed films were investigated using spectroscopic ellipsometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman scattering and photoluminescence (PL) methods. Si-QDs were detected in $SiN_x$ films demonstrating the increase of sizes with Si excess. The residual amorphous Si clusters were found to be present in the films grown with Si excess higher than 50 at.%. Multi-component PL spectra at 300 K in the range of 1.5-3.5 eV were detected and nonmonotonous varying total PL peak versus Si excess was revealed. To identify the different PL components, the temperature dependence of PL spectra was investigated in the range of 20-300 K. The analysis allowed concluding that the "blue-orange" emission is due to the radiative defects in a $SiN_x$ matrix, whereas the "red" and "infrared" PL bands are caused by the exciton recombination in crystalline Si-QDs and amorphous Si clusters. The nature of radiative and no radiative defects in $SiN_x$ films is discussed. The ways to control the dominant PL emission mechanisms are proposed.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.467-476
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• 2018

The seismic vulnerability of skewed bridges had been observed in many past earthquakes. Researchers have found that the in-plane rotation of the girders was one of the main reasons for the vulnerability of these types of bridges. To date, not many experimental works have been done on this topic, especially those including pounding between adjacent structures. In this study, shake table tests were performed on a bridge-abutment system consisting of a straight, $30^{\circ}$, and $45^{\circ}$ bridge with and without considering pounding. Skewed bridges with the same fundamental frequency and those having the same girder mass as the straight bridge were studied. Under the loadings considered, skewed bridges with the same frequency as the straight tend to have smaller responses than those with the same mass. The average maximum bending moment developed in the piers of the $30^{\circ}$ bridge with the same mass as that of the straight when pounding was not considered was 1.6 times larger than when the frequencies were the same. It was also found that the NZTA recommendations for the seat lengths of skewed bridges could severely underestimate the relative displacements of these types of bridges in the transverse direction, especially when pounding occurs. In the worst case, the average transverse displacement of the $45^{\circ}$ bridge was about 2.6 times the longitudinal displacement of the straight, which was greatly over the limit suggested by the NZTA of 1.25 times.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.689-705
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• 2017

The present study deals with the Pressure-settlement behavior of square and rectangular skirted footing resting on sand and subjected to a vertical load through a laboratory experimental study. A series of load tests were conducted in the model test tank to evaluate the improvement in pressure-settlement behavior and bearing capacity of square and rectangular model footings with and without structural skirt. The footing of width 5 cm and 6 cm and length/width ratio of 1 and 2 was used. The relative density of sand was maintained at 30%, 50%, 70%, and 87% respectively. The depth of skirt was varied from 0.25 B to 1.0 B. All the tests were carried out using a strain controlled loading frame of 50 kN capacity. The strain rate for all test was kept 0.24 mm/min. The results of present study reveal that, the use of structural skirt improves the bearing capacity of footing significantly. The improvement in bearing capacity was observed almost linearly proportional to the depth of skirt. The improvement in bearing capacity of skirted footings over footing without skirt was observed in the range of 33.3% to 68.5%, 68.9% to 127% and 146.7% to 262% for a skirt depth of 0.25 B, 0.50 B and 1.0 B respectively. The skirted footings were found more effective for sand at relative density of 30% and 50% than at relative density of 70% and 87%. The bearing capacity was found to increase linearly with footing width for footings with and without skirts. This observation was found to be consistent for footings with different skirt depths and for relative density of sand i.e., 30%, 50%, 70%, and 87%. The obtained results from the study for footing with and without skirts were comparable with available solutions from literature.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.421-428
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• 2018

In deep mining, the lateral deformation of strip coal pillar appears to be a new characteristic. In order to study the lateral deformation of coal-mass, a monitoring method and monitoring instrument were designed to investigate the lateral deformation of strip coal pillar in Tangkou Coalmine with the mining depth of over 1000 m. Because of without influence of repeated mining, the bedding sandstone roof is easy to break and the angle between maximum horizontal stress and the roadway is small, the maximum lateral deformation is only about 287 mm lower than the other pillars in the same coalmine. In deep mining, the energy accumulation and release cause a discontinuous damage in the heterogeneous coal-mass, and the lateral deformation of coal pillar shows discontinuity, step and mutation characters. These coal-masses not only show a higher plasticity but also the high brittleness at the same time, and its burst tendency is more obvious. According to the monitoring results and theoretical calculations, the yield zone of the coal pillar width is determined as 15.6 m. The monitoring results presented through this study are of great significance to the stability analysis and design of coal pillar.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.341-358
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• 2018

This present study investigates Love-type wave propagation in composite structure consists of a loosely bonded functionally graded piezoelectric material (FGPM) stratum lying over a functionally graded initially-stressed fibre-reinforced material (FGIFM) substrate. The closed-form expressions of the dispersion relation have been obtained analytically for both the cases of electrically open and electrically short conditions. Some special cases of the problem have also been studied and the obtained results are found in well-agreement with the classical Love wave equation. The emphatic influence of wave number, bonding parameter associated with bonding of stratum with substrate of the composite structure, piezoelectric coefficient as well as dielectric constant of the piezoelectric stratum, horizontal initial stresses, and functional gradedness of the composite structure on the phase velocity of Love-type wave has been reported and illustrated through numerical computation along with graphical demonstration in both the cases of electrically open and electrically short condition for the reinforced and reinforced-free composite structure. Comparative study has been carried out to analyze the distinct cases associated with functional gradedness of the composite structure and also various cases which reveals the influence of piezoelectricity, reinforcement and horizontal initial stress acting in the composite structure, and bonding of the stratum and substrate of the composite structure in context of the present problem which serves as one of the major highlights of the study.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.68 no.3
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• pp.335-344
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• 2018

The execution of an experiment is a complex affair. It includes the preparation of test specimens, the measurement process itself and also the evaluation of the experiment as such. Financial requirements can differ significantly. In contrast, the cost of numerical simulations can be negligible, but what is the credibility of a simulated experiment? Discussions frequently arise concerning the methodology used in simulations, and particularly over the geometric model used. Simplification, rounding or the complete omission of details are frequent reasons for differences that occur between simulation results and the results of executed experiments. However, the creation of a very complex geometry, perhaps all the way down to the resolution of the very structure of the material, can be complicated. The subject of the article is therefore a means of creating the material structure of concrete contained in a test specimen. Because a complex approach is taken right from the very start of the numerical simulation, maximum agreement with experimental results can be achieved. With regard to the automation of the process described, countless material structures can be generated and randomly produced samples simulated in this way. Subsequently, a certain degree of randomness can be observed in the results obtained, e.g., the shape of the failure - just as is the case with experiments. The first part of the article presents a description of a complex approach to the creation of a geometry representing real concrete test specimens. The second part presents a practical application in which the numerical simulation of the compressive testing of concrete is executed using the generated geometry.