Advanced Materials Research Vol. 742

Abstract: Resilient modulus (M_R) is a laboratory determined parameter of pavement subgrade soil which is an important design input for the Mechanistic Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG). There are two accepted laboratory testing protocols for determining M_R, namely AASHTO T307 and NCHRP 1-28A. AASHTO method is more popular because of its simplicity in positioning the load and deformation transducers. This study is undertaken to examine the available test protocols for New Mexico subgrade soil by varying the location of deformation transducers and effects of sample size. AASHTO A-6 subgrade soils have been collected from the state of New Mexico, USA. Specimens of 2.8 inch and 4 inch diameters are reconstituted using modified proctor compaction.Resilient modulus values aredetermined using external and internal deformation techniques. Comparative analyses are performed and amount of extraneous large deformation (lower M_R) measured by the AASHTO recommended external deformation transducers is measured.In addition, appropriate internal deformation measurement methods are recommended to obtain most consistent M_R values. 2.8 inch and 4 inch diameter sample generate almost similar M_R values.

Abstract: Along with the transformation of Chinas economic development and industrial structure, the concept of low carbon development becomes more and more important in Chinas constructions in cities. Block, as the basic unit of city structure, is the important source of travel demands. Through the researches on the scale and functions of the block, the construction of inhibiting mobility low carbon block aims to find a basic layout mode to reduce motorized traffic frequency inside and outside the block. With the impeccable construction of slow traffic system, complete infrastructure facilities and a relative job-housing balance, the residents essential needs can be met within the block by non-motorized traffic. In this way, not only can the motorized transportation needs be reduced, but also the energy can be saved to lessen carbon dioxide emissions, which benefits the construction of low carbon city greatly.

Abstract: This paper centers on the changes in the interior configuration of typical social housing in Beijing in the past 63 years. This history is divided into three distinct stages, and comparisons are made between social housing in Beijing and its models for each stage. The models for the three stages were chronologically, the Soviet Union, Hong Kong, and western countries. The rationale for this study is to find the historical origins of the broad contemporary changes in the interior configuration of Beijings social housing. The theoretical framework is based on the three stages of social housing in Beijing; each stage has a unique political, economic, cultural, and urban background, which influences the social housing greatly. The goals and objectives are to make a clear historical line of the social housing, and the intended readers are professional designers and individuals who are interested in social housing history. The study will be in the form of a literature review and a series of case studies, and its scope will be within typical social housing.

Abstract: With the rapid development of Chinas modernization construction, the planning of the citys colour landscape plays an important role in keeping urban view feature, enriching urban cultural connotation and enhancing urban quality. This paper is based on the visual, the colour and urban environment creative view. It is necessary to design urban colour plan within detailed plan because of the complexity of the colour itself. Its also essential to develop the method for urban colour landscape is an important part of city aesthetics to promote the level of urban construction. To sum up, this paper takes Wuhan city colour as an example. The building colour of Wuhan city is divided into central zone, transition zone, diffusion zone, characteristic area, form area, i.e. five regional colour partitions. It establishes the main tone of the urban design and builds 50 city building colour control area. The paper broaches control rules for the citys colour design and administration advice for the citys colour design. This study provides a systematic colour planning method which can be put into practice.

Abstract: Green buildings have caught increasing attention in the global context. For green office building (GOB), the design should satisfy both the natural and working environmental considerations. Noticing that while a wide range of eco-technologies have been applied in existing GOBs, comparatively less than enough attentions have been put on the art performance of such buildings, this paper introduces and discusses how transparency, as an important visual language in modern architecture, can be used as a tool to bridge and emphasize the inseparable connection between art and technology in the architectural design area. The purpose of this paper is not only to explore and discuss new concepts regarding design of GOBs, but also to provide references for sustainable design in a larger perspective.

Abstract: In this paper, we fabricated the CdS nanocrystals film on indium-tin oxide (ITO) glass substrates through one-step solvothermal treatment of cadmium nanocrystals layer and sulfur powder in the presence of absolute ethanol. And then we spin-coated a poly (3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) layer in the CdS film, and finally evaporated an Au electrode through a shadow mask. The resulting products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscope (AFM). A photovoltaic performance measurement of the fabricated device (ITO/CdS:P3HT/Au) shows a short circuit current density (J_sc) of 0.82 mA cm², and a power conversion efficiency (η) of 0.03% under an illumination of 100 mW/cm².

Abstract: AZ31B magnesium alloys were treated by plasmaelectrolytic oxidation (PEO) technique using an environmental friendly electrolyte solution under single-polar pulse power mode to improve the coating performance. The effect of applied voltage on the coating qualities was studied. The coating surface and the cross-section morphology were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the corrosion resistance was tested by potentiodynamic polarization.The coating surface is porous, and the pore size in the coating layer grew with applied voltage increased. The potentiodynamic polarization tests showed that PEO coatings exhibit significantly improved corrosion resistance as compared with uncoated magnesium substrate AZ31B, decreasing the corrosion current density by three orders of magnitude. The anti-corrosion performance of the PEO coating was improved with the operation voltage increasing from 240 V to 280 V, and at voltage higher than 280 V, there is no further improvement on the coating electrochemical property. The optimal operation voltage was 280 V, which exhibits the most high corrosion resistance.

Abstract: The CR/OMMT nanocomposites were prepared by mechanical blending, and the microstructure and properties of nanocomposites were studied. The half-exfoliated organoclay nanocomposites with uniform dispersion were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the cure characteristic, physics mechanical and anti-aging properties of CR/OMMT nanocomposites due to the percent of OMMT were discussed. The results showed that the tear strength and the tensile strength of the nanocomposites with 5 phr OMMT were improved by 49% and 53.3%, respectively. The anti-aging properties of nanocomposites were improved greatly. OMMT could participate in the vulcanization reaction, reduced the cure time (T₉₀) of nanocomposites, and raised the production efficiency.

Abstract: LiFePO₄ is considered an environmentally friendly, popular cathode material for lithium ion batteries because of its low raw materials cost, non-toxicity, and excellent thermal stability. The antimony (Sb)-doped LiFePO₄/C materials are successfully synthesized by a high-temperature solid-state method in this work. The effects of Sb concentration and synthesized temperature are reported. The sample doped with 1.0 mol.% Sb and synthesized at 873 K delivered the best discharge capacity of 154 mAh g^-1 at a 0.2 C-rate. Furthermore, the LiFe_0.99Sb_0.01PO₄/C materials synthesized at 973 K can sustain a 28 C-rate between 4.6 and 2.0 V, and this rate capability is equivalent to charge or discharge in 129 seconds. The doped cathode materials are also characterized by a XRD technique for structure analysis.

Abstract: Ag/PPy composites were prepared in β-naphthalene sulfonic acid (β-NSA) or sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) aqueous solutions with AgNO3 as oxidant. β-NSA or SDS acted as dopant and soft template in the process of preparing polypyrrole (PPy) by in situ oxidizing polymerization method. SEM, TEM, FTIR, XRD and Four-Point Probes Resistivity Measurement System were tested respectively and results indicated that the obtained Ag/PPy composites displayed different morphology,structure and conducting characteristic.