Search results for " Nuclear Engineering"
showing 10 items of 225 documents
Polymer-Functionalised Nanograins of Mg-Doped Amorphous Calcium Carbonate via a Flow-Chemistry Approach
2019
Calcareous biominerals typically feature a hybrid nanogranular structure consisting of calcium carbonate nanograins coated with organic matrices. This nanogranular organisation has a beneficial effect on the functionality of these bioceramics. In this feasibility study, we successfully employed a flow-chemistry approach to precipitate Mg-doped amorphous calcium carbonate particles functionalized by negatively charged polyelectrolytes&mdash
Hybrid Modelling and Control of a Class of Power Converters With Triangular-Carrier PWM Inputs
2021
In this paper, a new control design procedure for a class of power converters based on hybrid dynamical systems theory is presented. The continuous-time dynamics, as voltage and current signals, and discretetime dynamics, as the on-off state of the switches, are captured with a hybrid model. This model avoids the use of averaged and approximated models and includes the PWM as well as the sample-and-hold mechanism, commonly used in the industry. Then, another simplified hybrid system, whose trajectories match with the original one, is selected to design the controller and to analyse stability properties. Finally, an estimation of the chattering in steady state of the voltage and current sign…
Human-Robot Cooperation for Surface Repair Combining Automatic and Manual Modes
2020
[EN] This article develops a human-robot cooperation to carry out treatments such as sanding, polishing, etc. on the surface of a known rigid object. For this purpose, a vision system is considered to get the object location to ensure not only the perpendicularity of the obot tool to the object surface but also a smooth approach of the tool to the surface. In order to add flexibility, the proposal includes the simultaneous combination of automatic and manual modes of operation. Thus, the human user can guide the robot tool to treat arbitrary areas (manual mode) and, when the operator releases the tool, the robot goes into the automatic mode to treat prior established areas. The method uses …
Failure Analysis of a Humeral Shaft Locking Compression Plate—Surface Investigation and Simulation by Finite Element Method
2019
A case study of a failed humeral shaft locking compression plate is presented, starting with a clinical case where failure occurred and an implant replacement was required. This study uses finite element method (FEM) in order to determine the failure modes for the clinical case. Four loading scenarios that simulate daily life activities were considered for determining the stress distribution in a humeral shaft locking compression plate (LCP). Referring to the simulation results, the failure analysis was performed on the explant. Using fracture surface investigation methods, stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), a mixed mode failure was determined. An initial fatigue failu…
Surface Reflectance: An Optical Method for Multiscale Curvature Characterization of Wear on Ceramic–Metal Composites
2020
Surface gradient characterization by light reflectance (SGCLR) is used for the first time for multiscale curvature calculations and discrimination of worn surfaces on six damaged ceramic&ndash
The Influence of Hyaluronic Acid Biofunctionalization of a Bovine Bone Substitute on Osteoblast Activity In Vitro
2021
Bovine bone substitute materials (BSMs) are used for oral bone regeneration. The objective was to analyze the influence of BSM biofunctionalization via hyaluronic acid (HA) on human osteoblasts (HOBs). BSMs with ± HA were incubated with HOBs including HOBs alone as a negative control. On days 3, 7 and 10, cell viability, migration and proliferation were analyzed by fluorescence staining, scratch wound assay and MTT assay. On days 3, 7 and 10, an increased cell viability was demonstrated for BSM+ compared with BSM− and the control (each p ≤ 0.05). The cell migration was enhanced for BSM+ compared with BSM− and the control after day 3 and day 7 (each p ≤ 0.05). At day 10, an accelerated wound…
Characterization and Evaluation of Hydrothermal Liquefaction Char from Alkali Lignin in Subcritical Temperatures.
2021
An evaluation of hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) char is investigated in this work. Morphological studies, N2 adsorption behavior, FTIR analysis, thermal behavior, and elemental composition are studied. The HTL char yield showed an increase with higher operating temperatures. It increased from 11.02% to 33% when the temperature increased from 573 K to 623 K. At lower temperatures, the residence time showed an impact on the yield, while close to the critical point, residence time became less impactful. Elemental analysis showed that both higher operating temperatures and longer residence times increased the nitrogen content of the chars from 0.32% to 0.51%. FTIR analysis suggested the char b…
Demand Response Service Certification and Customer Baseline Evaluation Using Blockchain Technology
2020
The use of Distributed Ledger Technologies such as Blockchain for certifying Demand Response services allows for the creation of a distributed system in which customers can communicate with the system operator to provide their flexibility, in a secure, transparent and traceable way. Blockchain technology also supports incentive mechanisms for users taking part in the service through the generation of utility tokens to recognize the user's contribution. This paper presents the experimental test of a novel methodology for Demand Response programs implementation by using the Blockchain technology. The latter is employed for defining a distributed Demand Response service and a new system for it…
Improving the Performance of Steel Machining Processes through Cutting by Vibration Control
2021
Machining processes through cutting are accompanied by dynamic phenomena that influence the quality of the processed surfaces. Thus, this research aimed to design, make, and use a tool with optimal functional geometry, which allowed a reduction of the dynamic phenomena that occur in the cutting process. In order to carry out the research, the process of cutting by front turning with transversal advance was taken into account. Additionally, semi-finished products with a diameter of Ø = 150 mm made of C45 steel were chosen for processing (1.0503). The manufacturing processes were performed with the help of two tools: a cutting tool, the classic construction version, and another that was the i…
Vacancy Defects in Ga2O3: First-Principles Calculations of Electronic Structure
2021
This research was funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Grant No. AP08856540) as well as by the Latvian research council via the Latvian National Research Program under the topic ?High-Energy Physics and Accelerator Technologies?, Agreement No: VPP-IZM-CERN-2020/1-0002 for A.I. Popov. In addition, J. Purans is grateful to the ERAF project 1.1.1.1/20/A/057 while A. Platonenko was supported by Latvian Research Council No. LZP-2018/1-0214. The authors thank A. Lushchik and M. Lushchik for many useful discussions. The research was (partly) performed in the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia ISSP UL. ISSP UL as…