Maintaining the structural integrity of parallel natural gas pipelines during leakage-induced jet fires remains a critical engineering challenge.Existing methods often fail to account for the complex interactions amon...Maintaining the structural integrity of parallel natural gas pipelines during leakage-induced jet fires remains a critical engineering challenge.Existing methods often fail to account for the complex interactions among heat transfer,material behavior,and pipeline geometry,which can lead to overly simplified and potentially unsafe assessments.To address these limitations,this study develops a multiphysics approach that integrates small-orifice leakage theory with detailed thermo-fluid-structural simulations.The proposed framework contributes to a more accurate failure analysis through three main components:(1)coupled modeling that tracks transient heat flow and stress development as fire conditions evolve;(2)risk assessment incorporating spatial layout,material property changes with temperature,and operational limits;and(3)sensitivity analysis to identify key design factors that influence structural performance under high thermal loads.Simulation results demonstrate that thermal radiation from neighboring jet fires significantly accelerates material degradation,with inter-pipeline spacing emerging as a critical determinant of structural response.Notably,increasing the spacing between pipelines reduces thermal interaction and mechanical stress transfer.As a result,systems with optimized spacing exhibit markedly lower deformation than conventional configurations.These findings provide a foundation for re-evaluating pipeline layout strategies and strengthening safety protocols,particularly in high-risk environments where fire exposure can severely compromise structural reliability.The proposed approach offers actionable guidance for engineers and policymakers seeking to enhance the resilience of pipeline infrastructure under extreme thermal conditions.展开更多
A shaking table test was performed to investigate the different responses of piles with and without cement-soil reinforcement,considering both inertial and kinematic interactions.A comparison of the dynamic shear stre...A shaking table test was performed to investigate the different responses of piles with and without cement-soil reinforcement,considering both inertial and kinematic interactions.A comparison of the dynamic shear stress−strain hysteresis curves of soil profiles on the pile side with and without cement-soil reinforced piles indicates that cement-soil reinforced piles not only bear more tremendous shear stress but also have smaller strains under the action of cyclic shear stress.Furthermore,the cement-soil on the pile side not only shares part of the shear stress and modifies the bending moment distribution but also significantly enhances the resistance of the pile-side soil,reducing the lateral displacement of the superstructure.Cement-soil reinforcement reduced shear strains,inhibited sand liquefaction,and reduced superstructure displacements by 27%−47%(instantaneous)and 40%−65%(permanent).The proportion of horizontal load sharing between cement-soil reinforcement and saturated sand is considered,along with the change pattern of the subgrade reaction after sand liquefaction.An equivalent subgrade reaction calculation method is proposed,which accounts for the horizontal load-sharing ratios of soils with two different strengths.The test results indicate that the pile stress and displacement,estimated using the equivalent subgrade reaction,are in good agreement with the observed results.展开更多
In fatigue damage tolerance verification tests of aircraft structures,the simulation and loading of flight-byflight spectra require considerable time and resources.To improve the efficiency of load spectrum design and...In fatigue damage tolerance verification tests of aircraft structures,the simulation and loading of flight-byflight spectra require considerable time and resources.To improve the efficiency of load spectrum design and testing,an equivalent constant-amplitude spectrum design method for flight-by-flight spectra is proposed based on the equivalence of crack growth behavior.By combining the Paris crack growth model with the Walker stress ratio correction,the equivalent stress amplitude is directly calculated using structural parameters and load spectrum characteristics,enabling a rapid transformation from variable-amplitude spectra to constant-amplitude spectra.The original spectrum is discretized based on the load-exceedance curve,and the equivalence relationship between multilevel block spectra and constant-amplitude spectra is established.Taking a typical lower wing skin structure of a transport aircraft as an example,two equivalent spectra are designed and validated through fatigue crack growth tests on 2024-T351 center-hole plate specimens.The experimental results show that the fatigue life deviation between the equivalent spectra and the original flight-by-flight spectrum is within 10%,demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed method.Moreover,the equivalent spectrum constructed under the condition of invariant mean flight stress exhibits higher equivalence accuracy.The influence of spectral shape on the equivalent stress amplitude is further analyzed,revealing that the equivalent stress amplitude increases with the spectrum shape coefficient.The proposed method provides a useful reference for load spectrum design in aircraft structural damage tolerance verification tests.展开更多
Tajikistan,a mountainous country and a vital water tower for Central Asia,is becoming increasingly vulnerable to snow drought under climate change,threatening its snow-and glacier-fed streamflow.Yet,the impacts of sno...Tajikistan,a mountainous country and a vital water tower for Central Asia,is becoming increasingly vulnerable to snow drought under climate change,threatening its snow-and glacier-fed streamflow.Yet,the impacts of snow drought on the regional hydrology remain insufficiently understood.In this study,we integrated multisource data,including the Fifth Generation European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Atmospheric Reanalysis for Land Applications(ERA5-Land)data and hydrological station data,to systematically assess the snow drought patterns and their impacts on streamflow during 1950–2023.We identified snow drought events based on precipitation and snow fraction anomalies relative to climatological means and classified them into warm snow drought,dry snow drought,and warm&dry snow drought.The results revealed that snow drought was a recurrent phenomenon,occurring in 51.70%of the years during the study period,with warm&dry snow drought accounting for 21.90%of the total events.Both the frequency and severity exhibited pronounced spatial variability,largely governed by the elevation and snowfall fraction.Specifically,the frequency of warm snow drought was negatively correlated with the snowfall fraction,decreasing on average by 0.20 per unit increase in snowfall fraction,whereas the frequency of dry snow drought was positively correlated,increasing by 0.07 per unit increase.The streamflow analysis results demonstrated that snow drought typically reduced the warm-season discharge by 5.00%–18.00%in certain rivers,thereby exacerbating the water stress during the dry season.The results of this study advance our understanding by explicitly linking the types of snow drought to hydrological responses in Central Asia’s high mountains,providing a scientific basis for climate adaptation and sustainable water resource management in Tajikistan.展开更多
The concept of hybrid ships has gained significant attention in recent years,as they offer an effective means of enhancing energy utilization and reducing environmental pollution.However,the navigational environments ...The concept of hybrid ships has gained significant attention in recent years,as they offer an effective means of enhancing energy utilization and reducing environmental pollution.However,the navigational environments of ships are often subject to changes,which in turn affect their energy efficiency in a complex manner.It is therefore evident that enhancing the energy efficiency of hybrid ships is a worthwhile goal.In this study,we take a diesel-electric hybrid ship navigating in inland waterways as the research object,and propose a hierarchical optimization method for ship energy efficiency.The upper-layer control establishes a predictive model for propulsion motor speed and fuel consumption through multivariate time series predictions,and employs the model predictive control(MPC)method to optimize the propulsion motor speed.The lower-layer control utilizes an equivalent fuel consumption minimization method,which is based on improving the equivalence factor.This involves combining the variation of the supercapacitor’s state of charge(SOC)with the propulsion motor speed obtained from the MPC optimization in the upper-layer control.Furthermore,a proportional integral(PI)controller is used to adjust the equivalence factor,in order to adapt the equivalent fuel consumption minimization method to the working conditions.Our results demonstrate that the proposed hierarchical optimization method can reduce the energy efficiency operating indicator(EEOI)by approximately 11.54%and the fuel consumption by approximately 9.47%in comparison to the pre-optimization scenario.展开更多
Fluid flow through fractured rock masses is a key process controlling the safety and performance of deep geoengineering systems,shaped by the complex interactions of thermal,hydraulic,mechanical and chemical(THMC)fiel...Fluid flow through fractured rock masses is a key process controlling the safety and performance of deep geoengineering systems,shaped by the complex interactions of thermal,hydraulic,mechanical and chemical(THMC)fields.This paper presents a systematic review of this subject with special emphasis on the multi-physics governing it.First,we elucidate the interdependent mechanisms and governing equations,highlighting the nonlinear,path-dependent,and evolving nature of the relationship between stress and permeability.Next,mainstream modeling approaches,including equivalent continuum,discrete fracture network(DFN),and dual-porosity/dual-permeability methods,are critically evaluated,and a strategy for model selection based on project scale and geological context is proposed accordingly.Moreover,experimental insights from single-fracture and triaxial flow studies are synthesized,revealing how effective stress,shear displacement,and fracture roughness control permeability evolution.In particular,the practical significance of THMC coupling is demonstrated through case studies on nuclear waste disposal,Enhanced Geothermal Systems,and tunneling projects.The reviewfurther explores AI-and machine learning-driven innovations,particularly physics-informed neural networks and hybrid modeling,which address limitations in computational efficiency,data scarcity,and physical consistency.Finally,persistent challenges,including multi-scale coupling,parameter uncertainty,and complex fracture network representation are identified and critically discussed while paying attention to future developments.展开更多
High-temperature microwave absorbing materials(MAMs)and structures are increasingly appealing due to their critical role in stealth applications under harsh environments.However,the impedance mismatch caused by increa...High-temperature microwave absorbing materials(MAMs)and structures are increasingly appealing due to their critical role in stealth applications under harsh environments.However,the impedance mismatch caused by increased conduction loss often leads to a significant decline in electromagnetic wave absorp-tion(EMWA)performance at elevated temperatures,which severely restricts their practical application.In this study,we propose a novel approach for efficient electromagnetic wave absorption across a wide temperature range using reduced graphene oxide(RGO)/epoxy resin(EP)metacomposites that integrate both electromagnetic parameters and metamaterial design concepts.Due to the discrete distribution of the units,electromagnetic waves can more easily penetrate the interior of materials,thereby exhibiting stable microwave absorption(MA)performance and impedance-matching characteristics suitable across a wide temperature range.Consequently,exceptional MA properties can be achieved within the tem-perature range from 298 to 473 K.Furthermore,by carefully controlling the structural parameters in RGO metacomposites,both the resonant frequency and effective absorption bandwidth(EAB)can be optimized based on precise manipulation of equivalent electromagnetic parameters.This study not only provides an effective approach for the rational design of MA performance but also offers novel insights into achieving super metamaterials with outstanding performance across a wide temperature spectrum.展开更多
Rectangular explosive charges are usually used in military or civilian explosive transportation and storage.The effects of shape parameters and detonation positions on the peak overpressure and maximum impulse of blas...Rectangular explosive charges are usually used in military or civilian explosive transportation and storage.The effects of shape parameters and detonation positions on the peak overpressure and maximum impulse of blasts lack comprehensive investigation,which is significant for the design of blast-resistant structures.In this paper,the side-length ratio of the rectangle,orientation,and detonation position of the charge are chosen as controlling parameters to investigate their influence on blast loads in the scaled distances of the gauges ranging from 0.63 to 10.54 m/kg^(1/3) with well validated 3D numerical simulations.The results show that there is a large difference in the near-field spatial distribution of the blast load of the rectangular charge;if the blast load of the rectangular charge is simply evaluated with the spherical charge,the maximum peak overpressure(maximum impulse)will be underestimated by a factor of 7.46(4.84).This must be taken seriously by blast-resistant structure designers.With the increase in the scaled distance,when the critical scaled distance is greater than 6.32(7.38)m/kg^(1/3),the influence of the charge shape on the maximum peak overpressure(maximum impulse)of the spatial blast load can be ignored.In general,the impact of detonation of the charge at the end on the maximum peak overpressure is greater compared with central detonation,but for the impact of the maximum impulse,it is necessary to pay attention to the side-length ratio of the rectangular charge and the specific detonation position on the end face.Furthermore,the structural response of steel plates placed at different azimuths under the blast load of a rectangular charge is preliminarily analyzed,and the results show that the deformation and energy of the plates are consistent with the distribution of the blast load.These analysis results provide a reference for the explosion protection design in near-field air explosions.展开更多
As a kind of ionic artificial muscle material,Ionic Polymer-Metal Composites(IPMCs)have the advantages of a low drive current,light weight,and significant flexibility.IPMCs are widely used in the fields of biomedicine...As a kind of ionic artificial muscle material,Ionic Polymer-Metal Composites(IPMCs)have the advantages of a low drive current,light weight,and significant flexibility.IPMCs are widely used in the fields of biomedicine,soft robots,etc.However,the displacement and blocking force of the traditional sheet-type Nafion-IPMC need to be improved,and it has the limitation of unidirectional actuation.In this paper,a new type of short side chain Aquivion material is used as the polymer in the IPMC.The cylindrical IPMC is prepared by extrusion technology to improve its actuation performance and realize multi-degree-of-freedom motion.In comparison to the traditional Nafion-IPMC,the ion exchange capacity,specific capacitance,and conductivity of Aquivion-IPMC are improved by 28%,27%,and 32%,respectively,and the displacement and blocking force are improved by 57%and 25%,respectively.The cylindrical actuators can be deflected in eight directions.This indicates that Aquivion,as a polymer membrane for IPMC,holds significant application potential.By designing a cylindrical IPMC electrode distribution,the multi-degree-of-freedom deflection of IPMC can be realized.展开更多
The current artificial bone is unable to accurately replicate the inhomogeneity and anisotropy of human cancellous bone.To address this issue,we proposed a personalized approach based on clinical CT images to design m...The current artificial bone is unable to accurately replicate the inhomogeneity and anisotropy of human cancellous bone.To address this issue,we proposed a personalized approach based on clinical CT images to design mechanical equivalent porous structures for artificial femoral heads.Firstly,supported by Micro and clinical CT scans of 21 bone specimens,the anisotropic mechanical parameters of human cancellous bone in the femoral head were characterized using clinical CT values(Hounsfield unit).After that,the equivalent porous structure of cancellous bone was designed based on the gyroid surface,the influence of its degree of anisotropy and volume fraction on the macroscopic mechanical parameters was investigated by finite element analysis.Furthermore,a mapping relationship between CT values and the porous structure was established by jointly solving the mechanical parameters of the porous structure and human cancellous bone,allowing the design of personalized gradient porous structures based on clinical CT images.Finally,to verify the mechanical equivalence,implant press-in tests were conducted on 3D-printed artificial femoral heads and human femoral heads,the influence of the porous structure’s cell size in bone-implant interaction problems was also explored.Results showed that the minimum deviations of press-in stiffness(<15%)and peak load(<5%)both occurred when the cell size was 20%to 30%of the implant diameter.In conclusion,the designed porous structure can replicate the human cancellous bone-implant interaction at a high level,indicating its effectiveness in optimizing the mechanical performance of 3D-printed artificial femoral head.展开更多
A dimensionless load-displacement model based on the energy-density equivalence principle is proposed to obtain the stress-strain relationships of metallic materials under monotonic indentations with various diameters...A dimensionless load-displacement model based on the energy-density equivalence principle is proposed to obtain the stress-strain relationships of metallic materials under monotonic indentations with various diameters of spherical indenters.Finite element simulations are carried out to verify the constitutive relations from the new model,involving indentations made with various spherical indenters.For each indenter,some quasi-static spherical indentation tests are conducted on the materials with 40 preset constitutive relationships.The results indicate that the stress-strain curves predicted by the model align with the preset curves under 200 loading conditions.Moreover,the goodness-of-fit between the predicted stress-strain curves and the preset curves exceeds0.96 for all indenters and materials.In the end,the indentation tests are conducted by the spherical indenters with the diameters of 1.587 mm for fifteen metallic materials and1 mm for eight metallic materials.The results show that the stress-strain curves obtained by the spherical indentation based on the new model closely match those obtained from the uniaxial tensile tests.The relative errors for both the proof strength at 0.2%plastic extension and the tensile strength are below 5%.展开更多
The equivalent source(ES)method in the spherical coordinate system has been widely applied to processing,reduction,field modeling,and geophysical and geological interpretation of satellite magnetic anomaly data.Howeve...The equivalent source(ES)method in the spherical coordinate system has been widely applied to processing,reduction,field modeling,and geophysical and geological interpretation of satellite magnetic anomaly data.However,the inversion for the ES model suffers from nonuniqueness and instability,which remain unresolved.To mitigate these issues,we introduce both the minimum and flattest models into the model objective function as an alternative regularization approach in the spherical ES method.We first present the methods,then analyze the accuracy of forward calculation and test the proposed ES method in this study by using synthetic data.The experimental results from simulation data indicate that our proposed regularization effectively suppresses the Backus effect and mitigates inversion instability in the low-latitude region.Finally,we apply the proposed method to magnetic anomaly data from China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite-1(CSES-1)and Macao Science Satellite-1(MSS-1)magnetic measurements over Africa by constructing an ES model of the large-scale lithospheric magnetic field.Compared with existing global lithospheric magnetic field models,our ES model demonstrates good consistency at high altitudes and predicts more stable fields at low altitudes.Furthermore,we derive the reduction to the pole(RTP)magnetic anomaly fields and the apparent susceptibility contrast distribution based on the ES model.The latter correlates well with the regional tectonic framework in Africa and surroundings.展开更多
Metal micro-nano grating has received much attention due to its ability to provide high-efficiency light absorption.However,the current research scales of these metal gratings are focused on subwavelengths,and little ...Metal micro-nano grating has received much attention due to its ability to provide high-efficiency light absorption.However,the current research scales of these metal gratings are focused on subwavelengths,and little attention has been paid to the absorption properties of metal gratings at other scales.We investigate the absorption properties of metal gratings based on surface plasmon resonance(SPR)across the scales from superwavelength to subwavelength.Under grazing incidence,we observe continuous strong absorption phenomena from superwavelength to subwavelength Al triangle-groove gratings(TGGs).Perfect absorption is realized at the subwavelength scale,whereas the maximum absorption at all other scales exceeds 74%.The electric field distribution gives the mechanism of the strong absorption phenomenon attributed to SPR on the surface of Al TGGs at different scales.In particular,subwavelength Al TGGs have perfectly symmetric absorption properties for different blaze angles,and the symmetry is gradually broken as the grating period’s scale increases.Furthermore,taking Al gratings with varying groove shapes for example,we extend the equivalence rule of grating grooves to subwavelength from near-wavelength and explain the symmetric absorption properties in Al TGGs.We unify the research of metal grating absorbers outside the subwavelength scale to a certain extent,and these findings also open new perspectives for the design of metal gratings in the future.展开更多
All-solid-state lithium batteries(ASSLBs)are strongly considered as the next-generation energy storage devices for their high energy density and intrinsic safety.The solid-solid contact between lithium metal and solid...All-solid-state lithium batteries(ASSLBs)are strongly considered as the next-generation energy storage devices for their high energy density and intrinsic safety.The solid-solid contact between lithium metal and solid electrolyte plays a vital role in the performance of working ASSLBs,which is challenging to investigate quantitatively by experimental approach.This work proposed a quantitative model based on the finite element method for electrochemical impedance spectroscopy simulation of different solid-solid contact states in ASSLBs.With the assistance of an equivalent circuit model and distribution of relaxation times,it is discovered that as the number of voids and the sharpness of cracks increase,the contact resistance Rcgrows and ultimately dominates the battery impedance.Through accurate fitting,inverse proportional relations between contact resistance Rcand(1-porosity)as well as crack angle was disclosed.This contribution affords a fresh insight into clarifying solid-solid contact states in ASSLBs.展开更多
The scientific assessment of ecosystem ser-vice value(ESV)plays a critical role in regional ecologi-cal protection and management,rational land use planning,and the establishment of ecological security barriers.The ec...The scientific assessment of ecosystem ser-vice value(ESV)plays a critical role in regional ecologi-cal protection and management,rational land use planning,and the establishment of ecological security barriers.The ecosystem service value of the Northeast Forest Belt from 2005 to 2020 was assessed,focusing on spatial–temporal changes and the driving forces behind these dynamics.Using multi-source data,the equivalent factor method,and geo-graphic detectors,we analyzed natural and socio-economic factors affecting the region.which was crucial for effective ecological conservation and land-use planning.Enhanced the effectiveness of policy formulation and land use plan-ning.The results show that the ESV of the Northeast Forest Belt exhibits an overall increasing trend from 2005 to 2020,with forests and wetlands contributing the most.However,there are significant differences between forest belts.Driven by natural and socio-economic factors,the ESV of forest belts in Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces showed significant growth.In contrast,the ESV of Forest Belts in Liaoning and Inner Mongolia of China remains relatively stable,but the spatial differentiation within these regions is characterized by significant clustering of high-value and low-value areas.Furthermore,climate regulation and hydrological regulation services were identified as the most important ecological functions in the Northeast Forest Belt,contributing greatly to regional ecological stability and human well-being.The ESV in the Northeast Forest Belt is improved during the study period,but the stability of the ecosystem is still chal-lenged by the dual impacts of natural and socio-economic factors.To further optimize regional land use planning and ecological protection policies,it is recommended to prior-itize the conservation of high-ESV areas,enhance ecological restoration efforts for wetlands and forests,and reasonably control the spatial layout of urban expansion and agricul-tural development.Additionally,this study highlights the importance of tailored ecological compensation policies and strategic land-use planning to balance environmental protec-tion and economic growth.展开更多
The constant amplitude loading fatigue tests were carried out on the 6061/7075 aluminum alloy TIG fillet welded lap specimens in this study,and the weld seam cross-section hardness was measured.The experimental result...The constant amplitude loading fatigue tests were carried out on the 6061/7075 aluminum alloy TIG fillet welded lap specimens in this study,and the weld seam cross-section hardness was measured.The experimental results show that most specimens mainly failed at the 7075 side weld toes even though the base material tensile strength of 7075 is higher than that of 6061.The maximum stress-strain concentration in the two finite element models is located at the 7075 side weld toe,which is basically consistent with the actual fracture location.The weld zone on the 7075 side experiences severe material softening,with a large gradient.However,the Vickers hardness value on the 6061 side negligibly changes and fluctuates around 70 HV.No obvious defects are found on the fatigue fracture,but a large number of secondary cracks appear.Cracks germinate from the weld toe and propagate in the direction of the plate thickness.Weld reinforcement has a serious impact on fatigue life.Fatigue life will decrease exponentially as the weld reinforcement increases under low stress.It is found that the notch stress method can give a better fatigue life prediction for TIG weldments,and the errors of the predicted results are within the range of two factors,while the prediction accuracy decreases under low stress.The equivalent structural stress method can also be used for fatigue life prediction of TIG weldments,but the errors of prediction results are within the range of three factors,and the accuracy decreases under high stress.展开更多
To further understand the performance of the energy harvesters under the influence of the wind force and the random excitation,this paper investigates the stochastic response of the bio-inspired energy harvesters subj...To further understand the performance of the energy harvesters under the influence of the wind force and the random excitation,this paper investigates the stochastic response of the bio-inspired energy harvesters subjected to Gaussian white noise and galloping excitation,simulating the flapping pattern of a seagull and its interaction with wind force.The equivalent linearization method is utilized to convert the original nonlinear model into the Itôstochastic differential equation by minimizing the mean squared error.Then,the second-order steady-state moments about the displacement,velocity,and voltage are derived by combining the moment analysis theory.The theoretical results are simulated numerically to analyze the stochastic response performance under different noise intensities,wind speeds,stiffness coefficients,and electromechanical coupling coefficients,time domain analysis is also conducted to study the performance of the harvester with different parameters.The results reveal that the mean square displacement and voltage increase with increasing the noise intensity and wind speed,larger absolute values of stiffness coefficient correspond to smaller mean square displacement and voltage,and larger electromechanical coupling coefficients can enhance the mean square voltage.Finally,the influence of wind speed and electromechanical coupling coefficient on the stationary probability density function(SPDF)is investigated,revealing the existence of a bimodal distribution under varying environmental conditions.展开更多
The mechanical properties of secondary cells are crucial to the safety and reliability of battery packs,which can fail due to extrusion and vibration in a vehicle crash.To analyze the structural response of the second...The mechanical properties of secondary cells are crucial to the safety and reliability of battery packs,which can fail due to extrusion and vibration in a vehicle crash.To analyze the structural response of the secondary cell and its other dynamic behaviors,the experiment and some numerical simulations were carried out based on single reference impact testing.Then,an equivalent constitutive relationship of the secondary cell was proposed to reveal the dynamic properties and used to guide the safety estimation of the battery pack.As the input parameter to the finite element model,the equivalent constitutive relationship,including but not limited to the elastic modulus and stain-stress curve,determines the simulation precision of the battery packs.Compared to the experimental results of the natural frequency of the battery pack,the simulation error is below 2%when the elastic modulus of the secondary cell in the battery pack has been verified.展开更多
Evaluation of a Commercially Available Radiochromic Film for Use as a Complementary Dosimeter for Rapid In-field Low Photon Equivalent Radiation Dose (≤50 mSv) Monitoring Nicky Nivi1, Helen Moise1,2, Ana Pejovic'...Evaluation of a Commercially Available Radiochromic Film for Use as a Complementary Dosimeter for Rapid In-field Low Photon Equivalent Radiation Dose (≤50 mSv) Monitoring Nicky Nivi1, Helen Moise1,2, Ana Pejovic'-Milic'1(1. Department of Physics, Toronto Metropolitan University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5B 2K3;2. Autonomous and Radiological Technologies Section, Defense Research and Development Canada, PO Box 4000 Stn Main,Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 8K6).展开更多
文摘Maintaining the structural integrity of parallel natural gas pipelines during leakage-induced jet fires remains a critical engineering challenge.Existing methods often fail to account for the complex interactions among heat transfer,material behavior,and pipeline geometry,which can lead to overly simplified and potentially unsafe assessments.To address these limitations,this study develops a multiphysics approach that integrates small-orifice leakage theory with detailed thermo-fluid-structural simulations.The proposed framework contributes to a more accurate failure analysis through three main components:(1)coupled modeling that tracks transient heat flow and stress development as fire conditions evolve;(2)risk assessment incorporating spatial layout,material property changes with temperature,and operational limits;and(3)sensitivity analysis to identify key design factors that influence structural performance under high thermal loads.Simulation results demonstrate that thermal radiation from neighboring jet fires significantly accelerates material degradation,with inter-pipeline spacing emerging as a critical determinant of structural response.Notably,increasing the spacing between pipelines reduces thermal interaction and mechanical stress transfer.As a result,systems with optimized spacing exhibit markedly lower deformation than conventional configurations.These findings provide a foundation for re-evaluating pipeline layout strategies and strengthening safety protocols,particularly in high-risk environments where fire exposure can severely compromise structural reliability.The proposed approach offers actionable guidance for engineers and policymakers seeking to enhance the resilience of pipeline infrastructure under extreme thermal conditions.
基金Project(52078129)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject(MTF2023009)supported by the Open Project of Key Laboratory of Transport Industry of Comprehensive Transportation Theory(Nanjing Modern Multimodal Transportation Laboratory),ChinaProject(2242024K40037)supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,China。
文摘A shaking table test was performed to investigate the different responses of piles with and without cement-soil reinforcement,considering both inertial and kinematic interactions.A comparison of the dynamic shear stress−strain hysteresis curves of soil profiles on the pile side with and without cement-soil reinforced piles indicates that cement-soil reinforced piles not only bear more tremendous shear stress but also have smaller strains under the action of cyclic shear stress.Furthermore,the cement-soil on the pile side not only shares part of the shear stress and modifies the bending moment distribution but also significantly enhances the resistance of the pile-side soil,reducing the lateral displacement of the superstructure.Cement-soil reinforcement reduced shear strains,inhibited sand liquefaction,and reduced superstructure displacements by 27%−47%(instantaneous)and 40%−65%(permanent).The proportion of horizontal load sharing between cement-soil reinforcement and saturated sand is considered,along with the change pattern of the subgrade reaction after sand liquefaction.An equivalent subgrade reaction calculation method is proposed,which accounts for the horizontal load-sharing ratios of soils with two different strengths.The test results indicate that the pile stress and displacement,estimated using the equivalent subgrade reaction,are in good agreement with the observed results.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52075244).
文摘In fatigue damage tolerance verification tests of aircraft structures,the simulation and loading of flight-byflight spectra require considerable time and resources.To improve the efficiency of load spectrum design and testing,an equivalent constant-amplitude spectrum design method for flight-by-flight spectra is proposed based on the equivalence of crack growth behavior.By combining the Paris crack growth model with the Walker stress ratio correction,the equivalent stress amplitude is directly calculated using structural parameters and load spectrum characteristics,enabling a rapid transformation from variable-amplitude spectra to constant-amplitude spectra.The original spectrum is discretized based on the load-exceedance curve,and the equivalence relationship between multilevel block spectra and constant-amplitude spectra is established.Taking a typical lower wing skin structure of a transport aircraft as an example,two equivalent spectra are designed and validated through fatigue crack growth tests on 2024-T351 center-hole plate specimens.The experimental results show that the fatigue life deviation between the equivalent spectra and the original flight-by-flight spectrum is within 10%,demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed method.Moreover,the equivalent spectrum constructed under the condition of invariant mean flight stress exhibits higher equivalence accuracy.The influence of spectral shape on the equivalent stress amplitude is further analyzed,revealing that the equivalent stress amplitude increases with the spectrum shape coefficient.The proposed method provides a useful reference for load spectrum design in aircraft structural damage tolerance verification tests.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Project of China(2025YFE0103300)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(W2412135)+2 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region(2024D01A143,2025D01B165)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(GZC20250226)the S&T Innovation and Development Project of Information Institution of Ministry of Emergency Management,China(2024506).
文摘Tajikistan,a mountainous country and a vital water tower for Central Asia,is becoming increasingly vulnerable to snow drought under climate change,threatening its snow-and glacier-fed streamflow.Yet,the impacts of snow drought on the regional hydrology remain insufficiently understood.In this study,we integrated multisource data,including the Fifth Generation European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Atmospheric Reanalysis for Land Applications(ERA5-Land)data and hydrological station data,to systematically assess the snow drought patterns and their impacts on streamflow during 1950–2023.We identified snow drought events based on precipitation and snow fraction anomalies relative to climatological means and classified them into warm snow drought,dry snow drought,and warm&dry snow drought.The results revealed that snow drought was a recurrent phenomenon,occurring in 51.70%of the years during the study period,with warm&dry snow drought accounting for 21.90%of the total events.Both the frequency and severity exhibited pronounced spatial variability,largely governed by the elevation and snowfall fraction.Specifically,the frequency of warm snow drought was negatively correlated with the snowfall fraction,decreasing on average by 0.20 per unit increase in snowfall fraction,whereas the frequency of dry snow drought was positively correlated,increasing by 0.07 per unit increase.The streamflow analysis results demonstrated that snow drought typically reduced the warm-season discharge by 5.00%–18.00%in certain rivers,thereby exacerbating the water stress during the dry season.The results of this study advance our understanding by explicitly linking the types of snow drought to hydrological responses in Central Asia’s high mountains,providing a scientific basis for climate adaptation and sustainable water resource management in Tajikistan.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52571367)and the Commissions Project of China(No.CBG4N21).
文摘The concept of hybrid ships has gained significant attention in recent years,as they offer an effective means of enhancing energy utilization and reducing environmental pollution.However,the navigational environments of ships are often subject to changes,which in turn affect their energy efficiency in a complex manner.It is therefore evident that enhancing the energy efficiency of hybrid ships is a worthwhile goal.In this study,we take a diesel-electric hybrid ship navigating in inland waterways as the research object,and propose a hierarchical optimization method for ship energy efficiency.The upper-layer control establishes a predictive model for propulsion motor speed and fuel consumption through multivariate time series predictions,and employs the model predictive control(MPC)method to optimize the propulsion motor speed.The lower-layer control utilizes an equivalent fuel consumption minimization method,which is based on improving the equivalence factor.This involves combining the variation of the supercapacitor’s state of charge(SOC)with the propulsion motor speed obtained from the MPC optimization in the upper-layer control.Furthermore,a proportional integral(PI)controller is used to adjust the equivalence factor,in order to adapt the equivalent fuel consumption minimization method to the working conditions.Our results demonstrate that the proposed hierarchical optimization method can reduce the energy efficiency operating indicator(EEOI)by approximately 11.54%and the fuel consumption by approximately 9.47%in comparison to the pre-optimization scenario.
文摘Fluid flow through fractured rock masses is a key process controlling the safety and performance of deep geoengineering systems,shaped by the complex interactions of thermal,hydraulic,mechanical and chemical(THMC)fields.This paper presents a systematic review of this subject with special emphasis on the multi-physics governing it.First,we elucidate the interdependent mechanisms and governing equations,highlighting the nonlinear,path-dependent,and evolving nature of the relationship between stress and permeability.Next,mainstream modeling approaches,including equivalent continuum,discrete fracture network(DFN),and dual-porosity/dual-permeability methods,are critically evaluated,and a strategy for model selection based on project scale and geological context is proposed accordingly.Moreover,experimental insights from single-fracture and triaxial flow studies are synthesized,revealing how effective stress,shear displacement,and fracture roughness control permeability evolution.In particular,the practical significance of THMC coupling is demonstrated through case studies on nuclear waste disposal,Enhanced Geothermal Systems,and tunneling projects.The reviewfurther explores AI-and machine learning-driven innovations,particularly physics-informed neural networks and hybrid modeling,which address limitations in computational efficiency,data scarcity,and physical consistency.Finally,persistent challenges,including multi-scale coupling,parameter uncertainty,and complex fracture network representation are identified and critically discussed while paying attention to future developments.
基金supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China(Nos.22305066 and 52372041).
文摘High-temperature microwave absorbing materials(MAMs)and structures are increasingly appealing due to their critical role in stealth applications under harsh environments.However,the impedance mismatch caused by increased conduction loss often leads to a significant decline in electromagnetic wave absorp-tion(EMWA)performance at elevated temperatures,which severely restricts their practical application.In this study,we propose a novel approach for efficient electromagnetic wave absorption across a wide temperature range using reduced graphene oxide(RGO)/epoxy resin(EP)metacomposites that integrate both electromagnetic parameters and metamaterial design concepts.Due to the discrete distribution of the units,electromagnetic waves can more easily penetrate the interior of materials,thereby exhibiting stable microwave absorption(MA)performance and impedance-matching characteristics suitable across a wide temperature range.Consequently,exceptional MA properties can be achieved within the tem-perature range from 298 to 473 K.Furthermore,by carefully controlling the structural parameters in RGO metacomposites,both the resonant frequency and effective absorption bandwidth(EAB)can be optimized based on precise manipulation of equivalent electromagnetic parameters.This study not only provides an effective approach for the rational design of MA performance but also offers novel insights into achieving super metamaterials with outstanding performance across a wide temperature spectrum.
基金supported by the National Science Foundation of China(Grant No.14102428)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant Nos.WK2090000019 and YD2480002002)the Open Research Fund of Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Green Building and Assembly Construction,Anhui Institute of Building Research&Design(Grant No.2021-JKYL-005).
文摘Rectangular explosive charges are usually used in military or civilian explosive transportation and storage.The effects of shape parameters and detonation positions on the peak overpressure and maximum impulse of blasts lack comprehensive investigation,which is significant for the design of blast-resistant structures.In this paper,the side-length ratio of the rectangle,orientation,and detonation position of the charge are chosen as controlling parameters to investigate their influence on blast loads in the scaled distances of the gauges ranging from 0.63 to 10.54 m/kg^(1/3) with well validated 3D numerical simulations.The results show that there is a large difference in the near-field spatial distribution of the blast load of the rectangular charge;if the blast load of the rectangular charge is simply evaluated with the spherical charge,the maximum peak overpressure(maximum impulse)will be underestimated by a factor of 7.46(4.84).This must be taken seriously by blast-resistant structure designers.With the increase in the scaled distance,when the critical scaled distance is greater than 6.32(7.38)m/kg^(1/3),the influence of the charge shape on the maximum peak overpressure(maximum impulse)of the spatial blast load can be ignored.In general,the impact of detonation of the charge at the end on the maximum peak overpressure is greater compared with central detonation,but for the impact of the maximum impulse,it is necessary to pay attention to the side-length ratio of the rectangular charge and the specific detonation position on the end face.Furthermore,the structural response of steel plates placed at different azimuths under the blast load of a rectangular charge is preliminarily analyzed,and the results show that the deformation and energy of the plates are consistent with the distribution of the blast load.These analysis results provide a reference for the explosion protection design in near-field air explosions.
基金financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.U1637101)The Research Fund of State Key Laboratory of Mechanics and Control for Aerospace Structures(1005-ZAG23011).
文摘As a kind of ionic artificial muscle material,Ionic Polymer-Metal Composites(IPMCs)have the advantages of a low drive current,light weight,and significant flexibility.IPMCs are widely used in the fields of biomedicine,soft robots,etc.However,the displacement and blocking force of the traditional sheet-type Nafion-IPMC need to be improved,and it has the limitation of unidirectional actuation.In this paper,a new type of short side chain Aquivion material is used as the polymer in the IPMC.The cylindrical IPMC is prepared by extrusion technology to improve its actuation performance and realize multi-degree-of-freedom motion.In comparison to the traditional Nafion-IPMC,the ion exchange capacity,specific capacitance,and conductivity of Aquivion-IPMC are improved by 28%,27%,and 32%,respectively,and the displacement and blocking force are improved by 57%and 25%,respectively.The cylindrical actuators can be deflected in eight directions.This indicates that Aquivion,as a polymer membrane for IPMC,holds significant application potential.By designing a cylindrical IPMC electrode distribution,the multi-degree-of-freedom deflection of IPMC can be realized.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2021YFC2501700).
文摘The current artificial bone is unable to accurately replicate the inhomogeneity and anisotropy of human cancellous bone.To address this issue,we proposed a personalized approach based on clinical CT images to design mechanical equivalent porous structures for artificial femoral heads.Firstly,supported by Micro and clinical CT scans of 21 bone specimens,the anisotropic mechanical parameters of human cancellous bone in the femoral head were characterized using clinical CT values(Hounsfield unit).After that,the equivalent porous structure of cancellous bone was designed based on the gyroid surface,the influence of its degree of anisotropy and volume fraction on the macroscopic mechanical parameters was investigated by finite element analysis.Furthermore,a mapping relationship between CT values and the porous structure was established by jointly solving the mechanical parameters of the porous structure and human cancellous bone,allowing the design of personalized gradient porous structures based on clinical CT images.Finally,to verify the mechanical equivalence,implant press-in tests were conducted on 3D-printed artificial femoral heads and human femoral heads,the influence of the porous structure’s cell size in bone-implant interaction problems was also explored.Results showed that the minimum deviations of press-in stiffness(<15%)and peak load(<5%)both occurred when the cell size was 20%to 30%of the implant diameter.In conclusion,the designed porous structure can replicate the human cancellous bone-implant interaction at a high level,indicating its effectiveness in optimizing the mechanical performance of 3D-printed artificial femoral head.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.11872320 and 12072294)。
文摘A dimensionless load-displacement model based on the energy-density equivalence principle is proposed to obtain the stress-strain relationships of metallic materials under monotonic indentations with various diameters of spherical indenters.Finite element simulations are carried out to verify the constitutive relations from the new model,involving indentations made with various spherical indenters.For each indenter,some quasi-static spherical indentation tests are conducted on the materials with 40 preset constitutive relationships.The results indicate that the stress-strain curves predicted by the model align with the preset curves under 200 loading conditions.Moreover,the goodness-of-fit between the predicted stress-strain curves and the preset curves exceeds0.96 for all indenters and materials.In the end,the indentation tests are conducted by the spherical indenters with the diameters of 1.587 mm for fifteen metallic materials and1 mm for eight metallic materials.The results show that the stress-strain curves obtained by the spherical indentation based on the new model closely match those obtained from the uniaxial tensile tests.The relative errors for both the proof strength at 0.2%plastic extension and the tensile strength are below 5%.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.42250103 and 42174090)the Opening Fund of Key Laboratory of Geological Survey and Evaluation of Ministry of Education(Grant No.GLAB2023ZR02)the MOST Special Fund from the State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources(Grant No.MSFGPMR2022-4).
文摘The equivalent source(ES)method in the spherical coordinate system has been widely applied to processing,reduction,field modeling,and geophysical and geological interpretation of satellite magnetic anomaly data.However,the inversion for the ES model suffers from nonuniqueness and instability,which remain unresolved.To mitigate these issues,we introduce both the minimum and flattest models into the model objective function as an alternative regularization approach in the spherical ES method.We first present the methods,then analyze the accuracy of forward calculation and test the proposed ES method in this study by using synthetic data.The experimental results from simulation data indicate that our proposed regularization effectively suppresses the Backus effect and mitigates inversion instability in the low-latitude region.Finally,we apply the proposed method to magnetic anomaly data from China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite-1(CSES-1)and Macao Science Satellite-1(MSS-1)magnetic measurements over Africa by constructing an ES model of the large-scale lithospheric magnetic field.Compared with existing global lithospheric magnetic field models,our ES model demonstrates good consistency at high altitudes and predicts more stable fields at low altitudes.Furthermore,we derive the reduction to the pole(RTP)magnetic anomaly fields and the apparent susceptibility contrast distribution based on the ES model.The latter correlates well with the regional tectonic framework in Africa and surroundings.
基金upported by the Guangdong Provincial Pearl River Talents Program(Grant No.2019ZT08Z779)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.U21A20509 and 62205124).
文摘Metal micro-nano grating has received much attention due to its ability to provide high-efficiency light absorption.However,the current research scales of these metal gratings are focused on subwavelengths,and little attention has been paid to the absorption properties of metal gratings at other scales.We investigate the absorption properties of metal gratings based on surface plasmon resonance(SPR)across the scales from superwavelength to subwavelength.Under grazing incidence,we observe continuous strong absorption phenomena from superwavelength to subwavelength Al triangle-groove gratings(TGGs).Perfect absorption is realized at the subwavelength scale,whereas the maximum absorption at all other scales exceeds 74%.The electric field distribution gives the mechanism of the strong absorption phenomenon attributed to SPR on the surface of Al TGGs at different scales.In particular,subwavelength Al TGGs have perfectly symmetric absorption properties for different blaze angles,and the symmetry is gradually broken as the grating period’s scale increases.Furthermore,taking Al gratings with varying groove shapes for example,we extend the equivalence rule of grating grooves to subwavelength from near-wavelength and explain the symmetric absorption properties in Al TGGs.We unify the research of metal grating absorbers outside the subwavelength scale to a certain extent,and these findings also open new perspectives for the design of metal gratings in the future.
基金supported by the Beijing Natural Science Foundation(Z200011,L233004)the National Key Research and Development Program(2021YFB2500300)+3 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52394170,52394171,22109011,22393900,and 22108151)the Tsinghua-Jiangyin Innovation Special Fund(TJISF)(2022JYTH0101)the S&T Program of Hebei(22344402D)the Tsinghua University Initiative Scientific Research Program.
文摘All-solid-state lithium batteries(ASSLBs)are strongly considered as the next-generation energy storage devices for their high energy density and intrinsic safety.The solid-solid contact between lithium metal and solid electrolyte plays a vital role in the performance of working ASSLBs,which is challenging to investigate quantitatively by experimental approach.This work proposed a quantitative model based on the finite element method for electrochemical impedance spectroscopy simulation of different solid-solid contact states in ASSLBs.With the assistance of an equivalent circuit model and distribution of relaxation times,it is discovered that as the number of voids and the sharpness of cracks increase,the contact resistance Rcgrows and ultimately dominates the battery impedance.Through accurate fitting,inverse proportional relations between contact resistance Rcand(1-porosity)as well as crack angle was disclosed.This contribution affords a fresh insight into clarifying solid-solid contact states in ASSLBs.
基金funded by the Central University D Project(HFW230600022)National Natural Science Foundation of China(71973021)+1 种基金National Natural Science Foundation Youth Funding Project(72003022)Heilongjiang Province University Think Tank Open Topic(ZKKF2022173).
文摘The scientific assessment of ecosystem ser-vice value(ESV)plays a critical role in regional ecologi-cal protection and management,rational land use planning,and the establishment of ecological security barriers.The ecosystem service value of the Northeast Forest Belt from 2005 to 2020 was assessed,focusing on spatial–temporal changes and the driving forces behind these dynamics.Using multi-source data,the equivalent factor method,and geo-graphic detectors,we analyzed natural and socio-economic factors affecting the region.which was crucial for effective ecological conservation and land-use planning.Enhanced the effectiveness of policy formulation and land use plan-ning.The results show that the ESV of the Northeast Forest Belt exhibits an overall increasing trend from 2005 to 2020,with forests and wetlands contributing the most.However,there are significant differences between forest belts.Driven by natural and socio-economic factors,the ESV of forest belts in Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces showed significant growth.In contrast,the ESV of Forest Belts in Liaoning and Inner Mongolia of China remains relatively stable,but the spatial differentiation within these regions is characterized by significant clustering of high-value and low-value areas.Furthermore,climate regulation and hydrological regulation services were identified as the most important ecological functions in the Northeast Forest Belt,contributing greatly to regional ecological stability and human well-being.The ESV in the Northeast Forest Belt is improved during the study period,but the stability of the ecosystem is still chal-lenged by the dual impacts of natural and socio-economic factors.To further optimize regional land use planning and ecological protection policies,it is recommended to prior-itize the conservation of high-ESV areas,enhance ecological restoration efforts for wetlands and forests,and reasonably control the spatial layout of urban expansion and agricul-tural development.Additionally,this study highlights the importance of tailored ecological compensation policies and strategic land-use planning to balance environmental protec-tion and economic growth.
基金Partially funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51065012)。
文摘The constant amplitude loading fatigue tests were carried out on the 6061/7075 aluminum alloy TIG fillet welded lap specimens in this study,and the weld seam cross-section hardness was measured.The experimental results show that most specimens mainly failed at the 7075 side weld toes even though the base material tensile strength of 7075 is higher than that of 6061.The maximum stress-strain concentration in the two finite element models is located at the 7075 side weld toe,which is basically consistent with the actual fracture location.The weld zone on the 7075 side experiences severe material softening,with a large gradient.However,the Vickers hardness value on the 6061 side negligibly changes and fluctuates around 70 HV.No obvious defects are found on the fatigue fracture,but a large number of secondary cracks appear.Cracks germinate from the weld toe and propagate in the direction of the plate thickness.Weld reinforcement has a serious impact on fatigue life.Fatigue life will decrease exponentially as the weld reinforcement increases under low stress.It is found that the notch stress method can give a better fatigue life prediction for TIG weldments,and the errors of the predicted results are within the range of two factors,while the prediction accuracy decreases under low stress.The equivalent structural stress method can also be used for fatigue life prediction of TIG weldments,but the errors of prediction results are within the range of three factors,and the accuracy decreases under high stress.
文摘To further understand the performance of the energy harvesters under the influence of the wind force and the random excitation,this paper investigates the stochastic response of the bio-inspired energy harvesters subjected to Gaussian white noise and galloping excitation,simulating the flapping pattern of a seagull and its interaction with wind force.The equivalent linearization method is utilized to convert the original nonlinear model into the Itôstochastic differential equation by minimizing the mean squared error.Then,the second-order steady-state moments about the displacement,velocity,and voltage are derived by combining the moment analysis theory.The theoretical results are simulated numerically to analyze the stochastic response performance under different noise intensities,wind speeds,stiffness coefficients,and electromechanical coupling coefficients,time domain analysis is also conducted to study the performance of the harvester with different parameters.The results reveal that the mean square displacement and voltage increase with increasing the noise intensity and wind speed,larger absolute values of stiffness coefficient correspond to smaller mean square displacement and voltage,and larger electromechanical coupling coefficients can enhance the mean square voltage.Finally,the influence of wind speed and electromechanical coupling coefficient on the stationary probability density function(SPDF)is investigated,revealing the existence of a bimodal distribution under varying environmental conditions.
基金supported by the 2019 Postdoctoral Research Project funded by Hefei Municipal Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security and the National key R&D Program of China(2017YFB0102101).
文摘The mechanical properties of secondary cells are crucial to the safety and reliability of battery packs,which can fail due to extrusion and vibration in a vehicle crash.To analyze the structural response of the secondary cell and its other dynamic behaviors,the experiment and some numerical simulations were carried out based on single reference impact testing.Then,an equivalent constitutive relationship of the secondary cell was proposed to reveal the dynamic properties and used to guide the safety estimation of the battery pack.As the input parameter to the finite element model,the equivalent constitutive relationship,including but not limited to the elastic modulus and stain-stress curve,determines the simulation precision of the battery packs.Compared to the experimental results of the natural frequency of the battery pack,the simulation error is below 2%when the elastic modulus of the secondary cell in the battery pack has been verified.
文摘Evaluation of a Commercially Available Radiochromic Film for Use as a Complementary Dosimeter for Rapid In-field Low Photon Equivalent Radiation Dose (≤50 mSv) Monitoring Nicky Nivi1, Helen Moise1,2, Ana Pejovic'-Milic'1(1. Department of Physics, Toronto Metropolitan University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5B 2K3;2. Autonomous and Radiological Technologies Section, Defense Research and Development Canada, PO Box 4000 Stn Main,Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 8K6).