Chemical potentials of oxygen for three-phase assemblages of CaSiO3(s) + Ca3Si2O7(s) + {CaO + SiO2 + FexO} melt and Ca3Si2O7(s) + Ca2SiO4(s) + {CaO + SiO2 + FexO} melt

By employing an electrochemical technique involving stabilized zirconia as solid electrolyte and Mo + MoO₂ mixture as reference electrode, the equilibrium oxygen partial pressures for three-phase assemblages of CaSiO₃(s) + Ca₃Si₂O₇(s) + {CaO + SiO₂ + Fe_xO} melt and Ca₃Si₂O₇(s) + Ca₂SiO₄(s) + {CaO + SiO₂ + Fe_xO} melt were determined as: - log {P_O2 (CS + C₃S₂ + L)/bar} = - 3.22 13000/(T/K) ± 0.05 - log {P_O2 (C₃S₂ + C₂S + L)/bar} = - 0.92 16400/ (T/K) ± 0.04. respectively, where CS, C₃S₂ and C₂S indicate CaSiO₃(s), Ca₃Si₂O₇(s). and Ca₂SiO₄(s), respectively.     

Suppression of photo-induced dilation in cyanide treated hydrogenated amorphous silicon films

Effects of cyanide (CN) treatment with hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) films have been investigated. The decrease of ΔV/V was observed in cyanide treated a-Si:H films and the successive thermal annealing at 200°C after CN treatment induced the further reduction of the ΔV/V. XPS spectra show the indirect evidence that the cyanide species is present within 10 nm from the hydrogenated amorphous silicon surface. The results of CN treatment with a-Si:H solar cells are demonstrated.     

Pulsed Electric Current Sintering of Silicon Nitride

Pulsed electric current sintering (PECS) has been used to densify α-Si₃N₄ powder doped with oxide additives of Y₂O₃ and Al₂O₃. A full density (>99%) was achieved with virtually no transformation to β-phase, resulting in a microstructure with fine equiaxed grains. With further holding at the sintering temperature, the α-to-β phase transformation took place, concurrent with an exaggerated grain growth of a limited number of elongated β-grains in a fine-grained matrix, leading to a distinct bimodal grain size distribution. The average grain size was found to obey a cubic growth law, indicating that the growth is diffusion-controlled. In contrast, the densification by hot pressing was accompanied by a significant degree of the phase transformation, and the subsequent grain growth gave a broad normal size distribution. The apparent activation energy for the phase transformation was as high as 1000 kJ/mol for PECS, almost twice the value for hot pressing (∼500 kJ/mol), thereby causing the retention of α-phase during the densification by PECS.     

Development of a stable localized visual inspection system for underwater structures

To avert potential crisis from Japan’s aging infrastructure and declining birth rate, the Japanese Government is planning to introduce robotic technology for the inspection of social infrastructure (such as pipes, dams, and bridges). Recording underwater positions is a difficult task for human divers who undertake conventional dam inspections. This study presents the Anchor Diver 5.2 system for efficient and effectual dam inspection. Anchor Diver 5.2 is based on an extended-tether-maneuvered remotely operated vehicle (ROV) equipped with cameras. The ROV is lowered into water by a hoist system from a boat and implements a visual survey of the concrete underwater structure. To improve the visibility of the ROV in murky and cloudy water, a novel concept named Water Loupe is proposed. In addition, a simple boat-fixing method is proposed to provide a stable base on the water surface, and the underwater position of the ROV, which cannot be accessed by global positioning systems, is recorded using a feasible localization method. Finally, the developed system was evaluated in field experiments conducted in the Amagase Dam, Japan, and its merits and problems are discussed.     

Numerical Cracking and Debonding Analysis of RC Beams Reinforced with FRP Sheet

Bonding a fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) sheet to the tension-side surface of reinforced concrete (RC) structures is often performed to upgrade the flexural capacity and stiffness. Except for upper concrete crushing, FRP sheet reinforcing RC structure may fail in sheet rupture, sheet peeloff failure due to opening of a critical diagonal crack, or concrete cover delamination failure from the sheet end. Accompanying the occurrence of these failure modes, reinforcing effects of the FRP sheet will be lost and load-carrying capacity of the RC structures will be decreased suddenly. This study is devoted to developing a numerical analysis method by using a three-dimensional elasto-plastic finite element method to simulate the load-carrying capacity of RC beams failed in the FRP sheet peeloff mode. Here, the discrete crack approach was employed to consider geometrical discontinuities such as opening of cracks, slipping of rebar, and debonding of the FRP sheet. Comparisons between analytical and experimental results confirm that the proposed numerical analysis method is appropriate for estimating the load-carrying capacity and failure behavior of RC beams flexurally reinforced with a FRP sheet.     

Millisecond-order response measurement for fast oxygen gas sensors

A novel method for the evaluation of fast response of oxygen gas sensors in terms of milliseconds is developed. Using the method of modulating oxygen partial pressure by changing the total pressure inside the test chamber, the millisecond-order measurement was succeeded. For the 100 Hz sign-wave operation, the measurement system generated the pressure changes from 180 to 220 kPa, corresponding to the change of oxygen partial pressure from 36 to 44 kPa. Using both jump-method and pressure modulation method, the response of the resistive oxygen sensors of cerium oxide thick films were evaluated at 1173 K and the kinetic mechanism of gas sensing was discussed. Their response times of t₉₀ obtained by square-wave change were measured to be 37 and 22 ms for high-to-low oxygen partial pressure and vice versa transition, respectively. The log–log plot of resistance of sensor and the frequency, pressure modulation spectra, was also evaluated at the same time and the kinetics of oxygen sensing was suggested to be diffusion-limited.     

Effect of microstructures on dielectric breakdown strength of sintered reaction-bonded silicon nitride ceramics

Silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) was prepared from silicon by a sintered reaction-bonded silicon nitride method using yttria and magnesia as sintering additives. Post-sintering (PS) of nitrided compacts was carried out at 1850°C under a nitrogen pressure of 1 MPa. Effect of PS time on microstructure and dielectric breakdown strength (DBS) of the prepared Si₃N₄ ceramics was evaluated. The DBS was measured using specimens with four different thicknesses (0.30, 0.20, 0.10, and 0.05 mm) in order to examine the thickness dependence. The porosity of the sintered Si₃N₄ decreased by prolonging the PS time, and the full density could be achieved at the PS time of over 6 h. After full densification, rod-like β-Si₃N₄ grains grew up, and their maximum grain size increased from 45.1 to 154.7 μm by prolonging the PS time from 6 to 48 h. The DBS of the thick Si₃N₄ substrates (0.30 mm) showed little variation from 35.4 to 47.0 kV/mm, regardless of the PS time. On the other hand, that of the thin ones (0.05 mm) dramatically decreased from 99.5 to 9.8 kV/mm with increased the PS time from 6 to 48 h. Because the DBS sharply decreased at the thin substrate sintered for longer time in which some large-elongated grains might span the substrate thickness-wise throughout, it was inferred that the interface between β-Si₃N₄ grains and grain boundary phase/intergranular glassy films might be a path of the dielectric breakdown.     

Impact response of RC rock-shed girder with sand cushion under falling load

In order to establish a proper finite element model of prototype RC girder with sand element for impact response analysis, dynamic response analysis of RC girders with sand cushion subjected to impact force due to weight falling from the height of H = 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 m was performed to improve the state of the art of protective design for real scale rock-sheds by using LS-DYNA code. An applicability of proposed model was discussed comparing with experimental results (e.g. impact force, reaction force and displacement waves). From this study, dynamic characteristics of impact response can be better simulated by using the proposed model. As a result, when the sand cushion was set up, the impact force, reaction force, mid-span displacement waves, distribution of reaction force-displacement loops, and crack patterns obtained from the numerical analysis are in good agreement with those from the experimental results.     

Fracture Resistance Behavior of High‐Thermal‐Conductivity Silicon Nitride Ceramics

Silicon nitride ceramics were prepared from a high‐purity silicon powder doped with 2 mol% Y₂O₃ and 5 mol% MgO as sintering additives via a route of sintering of reaction‐bonded silicon nitride (SRBSN). The materials sintered at 1900°C for 3, 6, 12, and 24 h had thermal conductivities of 109, 125, 146, and 154 W/m/K, and four‐point bending strengths of 786, 676, 608, and 505 MPa, respectively. The fracture toughness values, determined by the single‐edge‐precracked‐beam (SEPB) method, were 8.4, 8.6, 9.7, and 10.7 MPa m^1/2 for the materials sintered for 3, 6, 12, and 24 h, respectively, which were similar to the results measured by the chevron‐notched‐beam (CNB) test method. The materials sintered for longer times (12 and 24 h) showed stronger R‐curve behaviors over longer range of crack extension, in comparison with the materials sintered for shorter times (3 and 6 h).     

Impact resistant behaviour of RC slab strengthened with FRP sheet

To investigate the impact resistance of RC slabs strengthened with Fibre Reinforced Plastic (FRP) sheet to the back of the slab, falling-weight impact tests were conducted. Two loading types were applied: iterative loading and single loading. The impact load was applied to the centre of the RC slab with a free falling 300 kg steel striker with a diameter of 60 mm. A total of 12 RC slabs that were 1,650 (L) × 1,650 (W) × 150 (h) mm were used for these experiments. In this study, the strengthening method and material properties of the FRP sheet and the number of FRP sheet layers were varied. The results obtained from this study are as follows: (1) the impact resistance of the RC slabs can be improved by attaching a strengthened FRP sheet to the back surfaces; (2) the load bearing mechanism of RC slabs depends on the loading type and strengthening volume of the FRP sheet; and (3) the dynamic amplification factor is about two, which is independent of the load bearing mechanism of the RC slab and the strengthening volume and tensile rigidity of the FRP sheet.