2015 Vol. 22, No. 1

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Comprehensive evaluation of high-steep slope stability and optimal high-steep slope design by 3D physical modeling
Xing-ping Lai, Peng-fei Shan, Mei-feng Cai, Fen-hua Ren, and  Wen-hui Tan
2015, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-015-1036-8
Abstract:
High-steep slope stability and its optimal excavation design in Shuichang open pit iron mine were analyzed based on a large 3D physical simulation technique. An optimal excavation scheme with a relatively steeper slope angle was successfully implemented at the northwest wall between Nos. 4 and 5 exploration lines of Shuichang Iron Mine, taking into account the 3D scale effect. The physico-mechanical properties of rock materials were obtained by laboratory tests conducted on sample cores from exploration drilling directly from the iron mine. A porous rock-like composite material was formed for the model, and the mechanical parameters of the material were assessed experimentally; specifically, the effect of water on the sample was quantitatively determined. We adopted an experimental setup using stiff modular applied static loading to carry out a visual excavation of the slope at a random depth. The setup was equipped with acoustic emission (AE) sensors, and the experiments were monitored by crack optical acquirement, ground penetrating radar, and close-field photogrammetry to investigate the mechanisms of rock-mass destabilization in the high-steep slope. For the complex study area, the model results indicated a clear correlation between the model's destabilization resulting from slope excavation and the collected monitoring information. During the model simulation, the overall angle of the slope increased by 1-6 degrees in different sections. Dramatically, the modeled excavation scheme saved over 80 million tons of rock from extraction, generating enormous economic and ecological benefits.
Influence of hydrogen concentration on Fe2O3 particle reduction in fluidized beds under constant drag force
Lei Guo, Han Gao, Jin-tao Yu, Zong-liang Zhang, and  Zhan-cheng Guo
2015, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 12-20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-015-1037-7
Abstract:
The fixed-gas drag force from a model calculation method that stabilizes the agitation capabilities of different gas ratios was used to explore the influence of temperature and hydrogen concentration on fluidizing duration, metallization ratio, utilization rate of reduction gas, and sticking behavior. Different hydrogen concentrations from 5vol% to 100vol% at 1073 and 1273 K were used while the drag force with the flow of N2 and H2 (N2:2 L·min-1; H2:2 L·min-1) at 1073 K was chosen as the standard drag force. The metallization ratio, mean reduction rate, and utilization rate of reduction gas were observed to generally increase with increasing hydrogen concentration. Faster reduction rates and higher metallization ratios were obtained when the reduction temperature decreased from 1273 to 1073 K. A numerical relation among particle diameter, particle drag force, and fluidization state was plotted in a diagram by this model.
Extraction of vanadium from vanadium slag by high pressure oxidative acid leaching
Guo-quan Zhang, Ting-an Zhang, Guo-zhi Lü, Ying Zhang, Yan Liu, and  Zhuo-lin Liu
2015, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 21-26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-015-1038-6
Abstract:
To extract vanadium in an environment friendly manner, this study focuses on the process of leaching vanadium from vanadium slag by high pressure oxidative acid leaching. Characterizations of the raw slag, mineralogy transformation, and the form of leach residues were made by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The result shows that the vanadium slag is composed of major phases of fayalite, titanomagnetite, and spinel. During the high pressure oxidative acid leaching process, the fayalite and spinel phases are gradually decomposed by sulfuric acid, causing the release of vanadium and iron in the solution. Meanwhile, unreacted silicon and titanium are enriched in the leach residues. With the initial concentration of sulfuric acid at 250 g·L-1, a leaching temperature of 140℃, a leaching time of 50 min, a liquid-solid ratio of 10:1 mL·g-1, and oxygen pressure at 0.2 MPa, the leaching rate of vanadium reaches 97.69%.
Kinetic study of austenite formation during continuous heating of unalloyed ductile iron
Octavio Vázquez-Gómez, José Antonio Barrera-Godínez, and  Héctor Javier Vergara-Hernández
2015, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 27-31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-015-1039-5
Abstract:
The austenite formation kinetics in unalloyed cast ductile iron was studied on the basis of dilatometry measurements, and Avrami's equation was used to estimate the material's kinetic parameters. A continuous heating transformation diagram was constructed using heating rates in the range of 0.06 to 0.83℃·s-1. As the heating rate was augmented, the critical temperatures, Ac1 and Aα, as well as the intercritical range, which was evaluated as the difference between the critical temperatures, ΔT=Aα - Ac1, increased. At a low heating rate, the kinetics of austenite formation was slow as a consequence of the iron's silicon content. The effect of heating rate on k and n, the kinetic parameters of Avrami's equation, was also determined. Parameter n, which is associated with nucleation sites and growth geometry, decreased with an increase in heating rate. In addition, parameter k increased with the increase of heating rate, suggesting that the nucleation and growth rates are carbon- and silicon-diffusion controlled during austenite formation under continuous heating.
Effect of temper rolling on the bake-hardening behavior of low carbon steel
Chun-fu Kuang, Shen-gen Zhang, Jun Li, Jian Wang, and  Pei Li
2015, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 32-36. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-015-1040-z
Abstract:
In a typical process, low carbon steel was annealed at two different temperatures (660℃ and 750℃), and then was temper rolled to improve the mechanical properties. Pre-straining and baking treatments were subsequently carried out to measure the bake-hardening (BH) values. The influences of annealing temperature and temper rolling on the BH behavior of the steel were investigated. The results indicated that the microstructure evolution during temper rolling was related to carbon atoms and dislocations. After an apparent increase, the BH value of the steel significantly decreased when the temper rolling reduction was increased from 0% to 5%. This was attributed to the increase in solute carbon concentration and dislocation density. The maximum BH values of the steel annealed at 660℃ and 750℃ were 80 MPa and 89 MPa at the reductions of 3% and 4%, respectively. Moreover, increasing the annealing temperature from 660 to 750℃ resulted in an obvious increase in the BH value due to carbide dissolution.
Effect of tin addition on the microstructure and properties of ferritic stainless steel
Yang Li, Ji-peng Han, Zhou-hua Jiang, and  Pan He
2015, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 37-44. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-015-1041-y
Abstract:
This article reports the effects of Sn on the inclusions as well as the mechanical properties and hot workability of ferritic stainless steel. Precipitation phases and inclusions in Sn-bearing ferritic stainless steel were observed, and the relationship between the workability and the microstructure of the steel was established. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopic analysis of the steel reveals that an almost pure Sn phase forms and MnS-Sn compound inclusions appear in the steel with a higher Sn content. Little Sn segregation was observed in grain boundaries and in the areas around sulfide inclusions; however, the presence of Sn does not adversely affect the workability of the steel containing 0.4wt% Sn. When the Sn content is 0.1wt%-0.4wt%, Sn improves the tensile strength and the plastic strain ratio and also improves the plasticity with increasing temperature. A mechanism of improving the workability of ferritic stainless steel induced by Sn addition was discussed:the presence of Sn lowers the defect concentration in the ultra-pure ferritic lattice and the good distribution of tin in the lattice overcomes the problem of hot brittleness that occurs in low-carbon steel as a result of Sn segregation.
Damage mechanism at different transpassive potentials of solution-annealed 316 and 316l stainless steels
K. Morshed Behbahani, M. Pakshir, Z. Abbasi, and  P. Najafisayar
2015, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 45-51. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-015-1042-x
Abstract:
Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), anodic polarization and scanning electron microscopy techniques were used to investigate the damage mechanism in the transpassive potential region of AISI 316 and AISI 316L solution-annealed stainless steels (SS) with different degrees of sensitization. Depending on the DC potential applied during EIS tests, the AC responses in the transpassive region included three different regions:the first one associated with anodic dissolution of the passive layer, the second one contributed to the dissolution at the area near grain boundaries, and the last one attributed to pitting corrosion. In addition, the fitting results to experimental data showed that as the DC bias during the EIS test increases the charge transfer resistance (Rct) decreases. Moreover, the Rct values decreased as the sensitization temperature increases but the AISI 316L SS samples exhibited a higher resistance to intergranular corrosion than 316 SS samples.
Microstructure and magnetostrictive performance of NbC-doped <100> oriented Fe-Ga alloys
Chao Yuan, Ji-heng Li, Wen-lan Zhang, Xiao-qian Bao, and  Xue-xu Gao
2015, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 52-58. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-015-1043-9
Abstract:
The <100> oriented Fe83Ga17 alloy rods with various NbC contents less than 1at% were prepared by the directional solidification method at a growth rate of 720 mm·h-1. Low NbC-content was found to affect the oriented grain growth and slightly improve the <100> orientation. Flat grain boundaries in the alloys with low NbC contents less than 0.2at% became greatly curved at higher NbC contents, and a large amount of Nb-rich precipitates were observed in the alloys with high NbC contents. Small amounts of NbC, less than 0.2at%, resulted in an increase in magnetostrictive strain due to the improvement of the <100> orientation, and a high magnetostrictive strain value of 335×10-6 under a pre-stress of 15 MPa was obtained in the 0.1at% NbC-doped alloys. The magnetostrictive performance obviously decreased with the NbC addition higher than 0.5at%, and the strain sensitivity under no pre-stress was lower than that in the binary Fe-Ga alloy.
Microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties of Al-2024 alloy processed via a rheocasting route
Behnam Rahimi, Hamed Khosravi, and  Mohsen Haddad-Sabzevar
2015, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 59-67. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-015-1044-8
Abstract:
This article reports the effects of stirring speed and T6 heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-2024 alloy synthesized by a rheocasting process. There was a decrease in grain size of α-Al particles corresponding to an increase in stirring speed. By increasing the stirring speed, however, the globularity of matrix particles first increased and then declined. It was also found that the hardness, compressive strength, and compressive strain increased with the increase of stirring speed. Microstructural studies revealed the presence of nonsoluble Al15(CuFeMn)3Si2 phase in the vicinity of CuAl2 in the rheocast samples. The required time for the solution treatment stage was also influenced by stirring speed; the solution treatment time decreased with the increase in stirring speed. Furthermore, the rheocast samples required a longer homogenization period compared to conventionally wrought alloys. Improvements in hardness and compressive properties were observed after T6 heat treatment.
Deep-cryogenic-treatment-induced phase transformation in the Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy
Chun-mei Li, Nan-pu Cheng, Zhi-qian Chen, Ning Guo, and  Su-min Zeng
2015, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 68-77. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-015-1045-7
Abstract:
An aluminum alloy (Al-Zn-Mg-Cu) subjected to deep cryogenic treatment (DCT) was systematically investigated. The results show that a DCT-induced phase transformation varies the microstructures and affects the mechanical properties of the Al alloy. Both Guinier-Preston (GP) zones and a metastable η' phase were observed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The phenomenon of the second precipitation of the GP zones in samples subjected to DCT after being aged was observed. The viability of this phase transformation was also demonstrated by first-principles calculations.
Influence of sintering temperature on the thermoelectric properties of Ba8Ga16Si30 clathrate treated by spark plasma sintering
Li-hua Liu, Feng Li, Ning Chen, Hong-mei Qiu, Guo-hui Cao, and  Yang Li
2015, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 78-85. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-015-1046-6
Abstract:
A series of Ba8Ga16Si30 clathrate samples were prepared by arc melting, ball milling, acid washing, and spark plasma sintering (SPS). X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the lattice of the Ba8Ga16Si30 samples expanded as the SPS temperature was increased from 400 to 750℃. Lattice contraction recurred when the SPS temperature was further increased in the range of 750-1000℃. This phenomenon can be explained by the variation of Ga content in the lattice. The thermoelectric figure of the merit ZT value of clathrates increased with the increase in SPS temperature and reached a maximum when the sample was subjected to SPS at 800℃. A further increase in SPS temperature did not contribute to the improvement of ZT. The variation of the lattice parameter a vs. SPS temperature T was similar to the variation observed in the ZT-T curve.
Effect of stoichiometry and Cu-substitution on the phase structure and hydrogen storage properties of Ml-Mg-Ni-based alloys
Yuan Li, Yang Tao, and  Quan Huo
2015, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 86-93. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-015-1047-5
Abstract:
To improve the electrochemical properties of rare-earth-Mg-Ni-based hydrogen storage alloys, the effects of stoichiometry and Cu-substitution on the phase structure and thermodynamic properties of the alloys were studied. Nonsubstituted Ml0.80Mg0.20(Ni2.90Co0.50-Mn0.30Al0.30)x (x=0.68, 0.70, 0.72, 0.74, 0.76) alloys and Cu-substituted Ml0.80Mg0.20(Ni2.90Co0.50-y Cuy Mn0.30Al0.30)0.70 (y=0, 0.10, 0.30, 0.50) alloys were prepared by induction melting. Phase structure analysis shows that the nonsubstituted alloys consist of a LaNi5 phase, a LaNi3 phase, and a minor La2Ni7 phase; in addition, in the case of Cu-substitution, the Nd2Ni7 phase appears and the LaNi3 phase vanishes. Thermodynamic tests show that the enthalpy change in the dehydriding process decreases, indicating that hydride stability decreases with increasing stoichiometry and increasing Cu content. The maximum discharge capacity, kinetic properties, and cycling stability of the alloy electrodes all increase and then decrease with increasing stoichiometry or increasing Cu content. Furthermore, Cu substitution for Co ameliorates the discharge capacity, kinetics, and cycling stability of the alloy electrodes.
Microstructural characterization of Cu/Al composites and effect of cooling rate at the Cu/Al interfacial region
Yan-qiu Han, Li-hua Ben, Jin-jin Yao, and  Chun-jing Wu
2015, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 94-101. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-015-1048-4
Abstract:
Cu/Al composites are of vital importance in industrial applications because of their numerous advantages. The influence of bonding temperature and cooling rate on the microstructure and morphology of Cu/Al composites was investigated in this paper. The interfacial morphology and constituent phases at the Cu/Al interface were analyzed by optical microscopy and field-emission scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The results indicate that effective Cu-Al bonding requires a higher bonding temperature to facilitate interdiffusion between the two metals. The microstructural characteristics are associated with various bonding temperatures, which impact the driving force of interdiffusion. It is observed that cooling rate exerts a significant influence on the morphology and amount of the intermetallic compounds at the interfacial region. Meanwhile, microhardness measurements show that hardness varies with the bonding temperature and rate of cooling.
Effects of the flow rate of hydrogen on the growth of graphene
Yong-gui Shi, Yue Hao, Dong Wang, Jin-cheng Zhang, Peng Zhang, Xue-fang Shi, Dang Han, Zheng Chai, and  Jing-dong Yan
2015, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 102-110. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-015-1049-3
Abstract:
Graphene samples with different morphologies were fabricated on the inside of copper enclosures by low pressure chemical vapor deposition and tuning the flow rate of hydrogen. It is found that the flow rate of hydrogen greatly influences the growth of graphene. Thermodynamic analysis indicates that a higher flow rate of hydrogen is favorable to the formation of good quality graphene with regular morphology. However, the mass-transfer process of methane dominates the growth driving force. At very low pressure, mass-transfer proceeds by Knudsen diffusion, and the mass-transfer flux of methane decreases as the flow rate of hydrogen increases, leading to a decrease in the growth driving force. At a higher pressure, mass-transfer proceeds by Fick's diffusion, and the mass-transfer flux of methane is dominated by the gas velocity, whose variation determines the growth driving force variation of graphene.