The dual-rotor structure serves as the primary source of vibration in aero-engines. Understanding itsdynamical model and analyzing dynamic characteristics, such as critical speed and unbalanced response, arecrucial fo...The dual-rotor structure serves as the primary source of vibration in aero-engines. Understanding itsdynamical model and analyzing dynamic characteristics, such as critical speed and unbalanced response, arecrucial for rotor system dynamics. Previous work introduced a coaxial dual-rotor-support scheme for aeroengines,and a physical model featuring a high-speed flexible inner rotor with a substantial length-to-diameter ratiowas designed. Then a finite element (FE) dynamic model based on the Timoshenko beam elements and rigid bodykinematics of the dual-rotor system is modeled, with the Newmark method and Newton–Raphson method used forthe numerical calculation to study the dynamic characteristics of the system. Three different simulation models,including beam-based FE (1D) model, solid-based FE (3D) model, and transfer matrix model, were designed tostudy the characteristics of mode and the critical speed characteristic of the dual-rotor system. The unbalancedresponse of the dual-rotor system was analyzed to study the influence of mass unbalance on the rotor system. Theeffect of different disk unbalance phases and different speed ratios on the dynamic characteristics of the dual-rotorsystem was investigated in detail. The experimental result shows that the beam-based FE model is effective andsuitable for studying the dual-rotor system.展开更多
To understand the relationship between the process-microstructure-mechanical properties of the high-pressure die-casting(HPDC) AE44 magnesium alloy, 3D reconstruction and 2D characterization were carried out on the HP...To understand the relationship between the process-microstructure-mechanical properties of the high-pressure die-casting(HPDC) AE44 magnesium alloy, 3D reconstruction and 2D characterization were carried out on the HPDC castings produced with different process parameters(low slow-shot speed, fast slow-shot speed, solidification pressure). Microstructural characterization revealed that the formation of shrinkage pores are closely related to ESCs, which were mainly controlled by the low slow-shot speed in shot sleeve(ESCs growth time) and fast slow-shot speed into the die cavity(distribution of ESCs). In addition, solidification pressure can significantly reduce the shrinkage porosity in the center by improving the feeding capacity of liquid metal. Tensile fracture revealed that the tearing ridge is mainly evolved from the slip band of ESCs. The quantity and distribution of ESCs determine the fracture mode of castings. The relationship between mechanical properties of castings and the morphology of ESCs and porosity is also statistically discussed.展开更多
The mechanism of glutinous rice flour,a kind of natural admixture,on the hydration process,setting time,and microstructure of the Portland cement was investigated.The experimental results show that the glutinous rice ...The mechanism of glutinous rice flour,a kind of natural admixture,on the hydration process,setting time,and microstructure of the Portland cement was investigated.The experimental results show that the glutinous rice flour has an obvious setting retarding effect on cement pastes.The optimal dosage of the glutinous rice flour is 3wt%.In this case,the initial and final setting time of the paste are delayed by 140 and185 min,respectively.The flexural and compressive strengths of the hardened paste are increased by 0.35%and 0.07%after 56 d of curing.The glutinous rice flour hinders the mineral dissolution process and decreases the concentration of calcium ion at the initial stage of hydration due to the complexation effect,thereby hindering the nucleation and growth of CH and C-S-H phases and prolonging the hydration process.However,C-S-H phases combine with the glutinous rice flour to contribute the bonding effect together,which compacts the microstructure of hardened cement pastes at the later hydration stage of cement pastes.Thus,in-depth investigation on the utilization of glutinous rice flour as the admixture for the Portland cement is expected to be meaningful for the control of hydration exothermic rate and setting time.展开更多
Stormwater runoff samples from a road in China were collected and analyzed for pH,TSS(total suspended solid),TDS(total dissolved solid),COD(chemical oxygen demand),TP(total phosphorus),TN(total nitrogen),Pb,Al,Zn,Fe,C...Stormwater runoff samples from a road in China were collected and analyzed for pH,TSS(total suspended solid),TDS(total dissolved solid),COD(chemical oxygen demand),TP(total phosphorus),TN(total nitrogen),Pb,Al,Zn,Fe,Cd,and Mn.Results showed that the pollutant concentrations from road runoff were relatively high.TSS and COD concentrations exceeded the Class B effluent requirement of the Chinese Standards of Pollutant Discharge from municipal WWTPs(wastewater treatment plants).COD,TP,and TN concentrations exceeded Class V of the Chinese Environmental Quality Standard for Surface Water.TSS,Zn,Fe,and Al concentrations exceeded the USEPA(U.S.Environmental Protection Agency)benchmark values.All these indicated proper runoff treatment to avoid negative impacts on the environment is needed.Metal partitioning analysis was conducted and it showed that Pb,Al,Zn,Fe,and Mn exist mostly in particulate forms in the runoff.Thus,gravitational settlement and filtration can still be cost-effective methods for removing most of these metals.Runoff samples were treated through two bench-scale laboratory set-ups,composed of micron-scale pore pervious paver systems and subsoil.The average removal rates of TSS,TP,and TN were 95.2%,81.8%,64.1%,and 64.4%,respectively.The removal rates of Pb,Al,Zn,Fe,and Cd also reached 50%-99.2%.The tested sand-based pervious paver has micron-scale pores with good filtration potential.The system can effectively reduce stormwater runoff pollution,thereby reducing the potential for groundwater pollution.In addition,residues and sediments collected from the surfaces of the pervious pavers were also tested.The metallic constituents in the residues and sediments were correlated to these in the runoff.Pb and Cr were low in the residues,but Zn exceeded the Class A limit of the Chinese Control Standard of Pollutants in Sludge for Agricultural Applications.Thus,proper disposal of the solid wastes generated from the pavers is also to be further investigated.展开更多
The umbilical cable is a vital component of subsea production systems that provide power,chemical agents,control signals et al.,and its requirement for reliability is exceedingly high.However,as the umbilical cable is...The umbilical cable is a vital component of subsea production systems that provide power,chemical agents,control signals et al.,and its requirement for reliability is exceedingly high.However,as the umbilical cable is a composite structure comprising multiple functional units,the reliability analysis of such cables involves numerous parameters that can impact calculation efficiency.In this paper,the reliability analysis of a new kind of umbilical cable with carbon fiber rod under tension is analyzed.The global dynamic analytical model is first established to determine the maximum tension load,then the local analytical model of umbilical cable including each unit are constructed by finite element method(FEM).Based on the mechanical analytical model,the reliability of umbilical cable under tension load is studied using response surface method(RSM)and Monte Carlo method.During the calculation process,a new tangent plane sampling method to calculate the response surface function(RSF)is proposed in this paper,which could make sampling points faster come close to the RSF curve,and it is proved that the calculation efficiency increases about 33%comparing with traditional method.展开更多
Digital patternless freeze-casting technology is a new approach for obtaining frozen sand moulds using digital milling technology. The change law of tensile strength and air permeability of frozen sand moulds (100-mes...Digital patternless freeze-casting technology is a new approach for obtaining frozen sand moulds using digital milling technology. The change law of tensile strength and air permeability of frozen sand moulds (100-mesh and 200-mesh silica sand, and zircon sand moulds) under different freezing temperatures and water contents was studied. Results show that with the decrease of freezing temperature and the increase of water contents, the tensile strength and air permeability of the sand moulds are gradually improved. Meanwhile, computed tomography technology was used to characterize the shape and size of the water film between the sand particles mixed with 4wt.% water. The results show that in silica sand moulds, the form of water film is lumpy, and 200-mesh silica sand moulds have more water films and higher proportion of small-sized water films than 100-mesh silica sand moulds, while in zircon sand moulds, the form of water film is membranous. At the same freezing temperature and water content, the tensile strength of zircon sand mould is the highest, and 100-mesh silica sand mould is the lowest. A comparative solidification experiment of A356 aluminum alloy was carried out in frozen sand mould and resin sand mould. The results show that the primary α-Al phase appears in the form of equiaxed and eutectic silicon phase is needle-like in freezing sand mould casting, but the primary α-Al phase grows in the form of dendrites, and the eutectic silicon phase is coarse needle-like in the resin sand mould casting. The difference of microstructure is caused by the different cooling rate. The cooling rate of A356 aluminum alloy in frozen sand mould is higher than that in resin sand mould.展开更多
The current research of titanium alloy on friction welding process in the field of aero-engines mainly focuses on the linear friction welding.Compared to the linear friction welding,inertial friction welding of titani...The current research of titanium alloy on friction welding process in the field of aero-engines mainly focuses on the linear friction welding.Compared to the linear friction welding,inertial friction welding of titanium alloy still has important application position in the welding of aero-engine rotating assembly.However,up to now,few reports on inertial friction welding of titanium alloy are found.In this paper,the near-alpha TA19 titanium alloy welded joint was successfully obtained by inertial friction welding(IFW)process.The microstructures and mechanical properties were investigated systematically.Results showed that the refined grains within 15‒20μm and weak texture were found in the weld zone due to dynamic recrystallization caused by high temperature and plastic deformation.The weld zone consisted of acicularα′martensite phase,αp phase and metastableβphase.Most lath-shapedαs andβphase in base metal were transformed into acicular martensiteα′phase and metastableβphase in thermo-mechanically affected zone and heat affected zone.As a result,the microhardness of welded joint gradually decreased from the weld zone to the base metal.Tensile specimens in room temperature and high temperature of 480℃ were all fractured in base metal illustrating that the inertia friction welded TA19 titanium alloy joint owned higher tensile strength compared to the base metal.展开更多
Background:Attrition rate in new army recruits is higher than in incumbent troops.In the current study,we identified the risk factors for attrition due to injuries and physical fitness failure in recruit training.A va...Background:Attrition rate in new army recruits is higher than in incumbent troops.In the current study,we identified the risk factors for attrition due to injuries and physical fitness failure in recruit training.A variety of predictive models were attempted.Methods:This retrospective cohort included 19,769 Army soldiers of the Australian Defence Force receiving recruit training during a period from 2006 to 2011.Among them,7692 reserve soldiers received a 28-day training course,and the remaining 12,077 full-time soldiers received an 80-day training course.Retrieved data included anthropometric measures,course-specific variables,injury,and physical fitness failure.Multivariate regression was used to develop a variety of models to predict the rate of attrition due to injuries and physical fitness failure.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to compare the performance of the models.Results:In the overall analysis that included both the 28-day and 80-day courses,the incidence of injury of any type was 27.8%.The 80-day course had a higher rate of injury if calculated per course(34.3%vs.17.6%in the 28-day course),but lower number of injuries per person-year(1.56 vs.2.29).Fitness test failure rate was significantly higher in the 28-day course(30.0%vs.12.1%).The overall attrition rate was 5.2%and 5.0%in the 28-day and 80-day courses,respectively.Stress fracture was common in the 80-day course(n=44)and rare in the 28-day course(n=1).The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for the course-specific predictive models were relatively low(ranging from 0.51 to 0.69),consistent with"failed"to"poor"predictive accuracy.The course-combined models performed somewhat better than the course-specific models,with two models having AUC of 0.70 and 0.78,which are considered"fair"predictive accuracy.Conclusion:Attrition rate was similar between 28-day and 80-day courses.In comparison to the 80-day full course,the 28-day course had a lower rate of injury but a higher number of injuries per person-year and of fitness test failure.These findings suggest fitness level at the commencement of training is a critically important factor to consider when designing the course curriculum,particularly short courses.展开更多
Magnesium composites reinforced by N-deficient Ti_(2)AlN MAX phase were first fabricated by non-pressure infiltration of Mg into three-dimensional(3D)co-continuous porous Ti_(2)AlN_(x)(x=0.9,1.0)preforms.The relations...Magnesium composites reinforced by N-deficient Ti_(2)AlN MAX phase were first fabricated by non-pressure infiltration of Mg into three-dimensional(3D)co-continuous porous Ti_(2)AlN_(x)(x=0.9,1.0)preforms.The relationship between their mechanical properties and micro-structure is discussed with the assessment of 2D and 3D characterization.X-ray diffraction(XRD)and scanning electron microscopy detected no impurities.The 3D reconstruction shows that the uniformly distributed pores in Ti_(2)AlN_(x) preforms are interconnected,which act as infiltra-tion tunnels for the melt Mg.The compressive yield strength and microhardness of Ti_(2)AlN_(0.9)/Mg are 353 MPa and 1.12 GPa,respectively,which are 8.55%and 6.67%lower than those of Ti_(2)AlN/Mg,respectively.The typical delamination and kink band occurred in Ti_(2)AlN_(x) under compressive and Vickers hardness(V_(H))tests.Owing to the continuous skeleton structure and strong interfacial bonding strength,the crack ini-tiated in Ti_(2)AlN_(x) was blocked by the plastic Mg matrix.This suggests the possibility of regulating the mechanical performance of Ti_(2)AlN/Mg composites by controlling the N vacancy and the hierarchical structure of Ti_(2)AlN skeleton.展开更多
Corrosion leakage occurred in the 14th tube bundle in the first row of a residual oil hydrotreating air cooler after operating for two years.The failure location was 0.5 m from the outlet header box.In this paper,the ...Corrosion leakage occurred in the 14th tube bundle in the first row of a residual oil hydrotreating air cooler after operating for two years.The failure location was 0.5 m from the outlet header box.In this paper,the erosion corrosion of the air cooler tube bundle was investigated by experimental and numerical methods.Visual inspection,scanning electron microscopy(SEM),and X-ray diffraction(XRD)experiments were performed,and the failure morphology and material composition confirmed that the damage was caused by erosion corrosion.The shear stress transport k–ωturbulence model(SST-k–ω)was then used to investigate the flow and erosion corrosion characteristics,combined with mass transfer,corrosion rate,and ionization equilibrium models.The numerical simulation results revealed that the water phase volume fraction increased with flow and heat transfer in the fluid,which increased the mass flow rate and concentration of hydrogen sulfide.The mass transfer coefficient and corrosion rate were proposed as important parameters to characterize erosion corrosion.Moreover,the local concentration of wall shear stress was found to increase the risk of erosion corrosion.The predicted high-risk area was consistent with the actual failure area,which verified that this failure incident was attributable to erosion corrosion by the water phase.展开更多
The combined effects of cycling endurance and radiation on floating gate memory cell are investigated in detail,and the obtained results are listed below.(i)The programmed flash cells with a prior appropriate number o...The combined effects of cycling endurance and radiation on floating gate memory cell are investigated in detail,and the obtained results are listed below.(i)The programmed flash cells with a prior appropriate number of program and easing cycling stress exhibit much smaller threshold voltage shift than without those in response to radiation,which is ascribed mainly to the recombination of trapped electrons(introduced by cycling stress)and trapped holes(introduced by irradiation)in the oxide surrounding the floating gate.(ii)The radiation induced transconductance degradation in prior cycled flash cell is more severe than those without cycling stress in the programmed state or erased state.(iii)Radiation is more likely to set up the interface generation in programmed state than in erased state.This paper will be useful in understanding the issues involved in cycling endurance and radiation effects as well as in designing radiation hardened floating gate memory cells.展开更多
Supervised machine learning techniques have become well established in the study of spectroscopy data.However,the unsupervised learning technique of cluster analysis hasn’t reached the same level maturity in chemomet...Supervised machine learning techniques have become well established in the study of spectroscopy data.However,the unsupervised learning technique of cluster analysis hasn’t reached the same level maturity in chemometric analysis.This paper surveys recent studies which apply cluster analysis to NIR and IR spectroscopy data.In addition,we summarize the current practices in cluster analysis of spectroscopy and contrast these with cluster analysis literature from the machine learning and pattern recognition domain.This includes practices in data pre-processing,feature extraction,clustering distance metrics,clustering algorithms and validation techniques.Special consideration is given to the specific characteristics of IR and NIR spectroscopy data which typically includes high dimensionality and relatively low sample size.The findings highlighted a lack of quantitative analysis and evaluation in current practices for cluster analysis of IR and NIR spectroscopy data.With this in mind,we propose an analysis model or workflow with techniques specifically suited for cluster analysis of IR and NIR spectroscopy data along with a pragmatic application strategy.展开更多
The flexible extrusion forming process (FEFP) is a sand mold patternless manufacturing technology that enables digital near-net shaping of complex sand molds. But, it is difficult to achieve the gradient sand molds wi...The flexible extrusion forming process (FEFP) is a sand mold patternless manufacturing technology that enables digital near-net shaping of complex sand molds. But, it is difficult to achieve the gradient sand molds with high surface strength and strong interior permeability by FEFP. To solve this problem, an extra-squeeze forming method based on FEFP for gradient sand mold was developed. To further reveal the extra-squeeze forming mechanism, based on the Johnson-Kendall-Roberts (JKR) theory and “gluing” notions, the single and double-sided squeeze models of gradient sand molds were established using the EDEM software. The squeezing processes of sand molds with different cavity depths of 60, 100, 140, 180, and 220 mm were systemically studied under single and double-sided squeeze conditions. The variation in the void fraction of sand mold as also investigated at a variety of extra-squeeze distances of 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 mm, respectively. Simulation and test results show that a deeper cavity depth weakens the extrusion force transmission, which leads to a decrease in strength. The sand mold permeability and void fraction are identified to be positively correlated, while the tensile strength and void fraction appear to be negatively correlated. The void fraction of sand molds decreases with a longer extra-squeeze distance. A 6 mm extra-squeeze distance for the sand mold with 220 mm cavity depth results in a 26.8% increase in tensile strength with only a 5.7% reduction in the permeability. Hence, the extra- squeeze forming method can improve the quality of the sand mold by producing a gradient sand mold with high surface strength and strong interior permeability.展开更多
This paper studied corrosion of pure Mg and the Mg alloys EV31A,WE43B,ZE41A,coated with commercial corrosion inhibiting compounds(CICs)(LPS 3,LPS2,AMLGuard,Ardrox 3961)immersed in 3.5 wt%(0.6M)Na Cl solution saturated...This paper studied corrosion of pure Mg and the Mg alloys EV31A,WE43B,ZE41A,coated with commercial corrosion inhibiting compounds(CICs)(LPS 3,LPS2,AMLGuard,Ardrox 3961)immersed in 3.5 wt%(0.6M)Na Cl solution saturated with Mg(OH)_(2).All four CICs reduced corrosion rates.LPS 3 resulted in zero corrosion rates and 100%inhibition in most cases.LPS 2 and AMLGuard had comparable inhibition efficiencies,whilst Ardrox 3961 had the lowest inhibition efficiency.Reduction in corrosion rates was tentatively attributed to barrier films formed by chemical adsorption for LPS 3 and AMLGuard,and by physical adsorption for LPS2 and Ardrox 3961.展开更多
This study was to investigate the effect of biological compound premix on the performance and milk quality in dairy cows. Twenty Holstein cows, with the similar age, parity, lactating month, gestation period, milk qua...This study was to investigate the effect of biological compound premix on the performance and milk quality in dairy cows. Twenty Holstein cows, with the similar age, parity, lactating month, gestation period, milk quantity and body weight, were randomly divided into two groups. The cows in two groups were fed with either common compound premix as control or 5% biological compound premix as treatment group. Two treatments contained same basal diet but different composi- tions of premix. The feeding experiment lasting 74 days displayed that daily milk quantity in treatment group was significantly higher than control group (P 〈 0.05 ). The milk fat percentage was increased significantly in treatment group with the extended lactation time than control group (P 〈 0.05 ). The milk protein and solids percentage were raised, but no significant difference was found between the two treatments (P 〉0.05 ). The results indicated that 5% biological compound premix supplied in basal diet could facilitate to increase the milk performance and to ameliorate the milk quality of dairy cows.展开更多
Background: There is no consensus regarding the optimal treatment for cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) because treatment efficacy, safety, and the influence on subsequent pregnancy must be taken into consideration. Here ...Background: There is no consensus regarding the optimal treatment for cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) because treatment efficacy, safety, and the influence on subsequent pregnancy must be taken into consideration. Here we report our experience with 11 cases of CSP and review the literature regarding subsequent pregnancy. Methods: Records of 11 CSP cases that were treated at our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. CSP was treated by local methotrexate (MTX) injection or laparotomic or laparoscopic removal of the gestational mass and myometrial repair. Outcome of subsequent pregnancy after treatment was followed-up until delivery. Results: Local MTX injection was performed for six cases, laparotomic removal of the gestational mass and myometrial repair was performed for two, and laparoscopic removal of the gestational mass and myometrial repair was performed for three. The uterus was preserved in all cases. After CSP treatment, eight pregnancies occurred in five cases, resulting in six live births and two miscarriages. Conclusion: Advantages and disadvantages of various treatment methods for CSP continue to be elucidated. Serum hCG level, location of the gestational mass, thickness of the lower uterine segment at the time of diagnosis, and whether the patient wishes for fertility preservation should be considered when choosing a treatment plan.展开更多
Nonlinear coupling dynamics between a spring-mass system and a finite amplitude sloshing system with liquid in a cylindrical tank is investigated. Based on a group of nonlinear coupling equations of six degrees of fre...Nonlinear coupling dynamics between a spring-mass system and a finite amplitude sloshing system with liquid in a cylindrical tank is investigated. Based on a group of nonlinear coupling equations of six degrees of freedoms, analytical formulae of forces and moments of the liquid large amplitude sloshing were obtained. Nonlinearity of the forces and moments of the sloshing was induced by integrating on final configuration of liquid sloshing and the nonlinear terms in the liquid pressure formula. The symmetry between the formula of Ox and Oy direction proves that the derivation is correct. According to the coupled mechanism, the formulae are available in other liquid-solid coupled systems. Simulations and corresponding experimental results arecompared. It is shown that the forces and moments formulae by integrating on the final sloshing configuration are more reasonable. The omitted high-dimensional modal bases and high-order nonlinear terms and the complexity of sloshing damping are main sources of errors.展开更多
To improve the quality and efciency of Z-directional 3D preform forming,the Z-yarn frictional force distribution model of the preform and its wear mechanism were investigated.In this study,a tensile force measuring de...To improve the quality and efciency of Z-directional 3D preform forming,the Z-yarn frictional force distribution model of the preform and its wear mechanism were investigated.In this study,a tensile force measuring device was designed to measure the force required to replace the guide sleeve,which is equivalent to the Z-yarn frictional forces.The frictional force is proportional to the number of preform layers and is applied to the preform decreased from the corner,edge,sub-edge,and middle in order.A back propagation neural network model was established to predict the friction at diferent positions of the preform with diferent layers,and the error was within 1.9%.The wear of Z-yarn was studied at diferent frictional positions and after diferent times of successive implantation into the preform.The results showed that with an increase in the number of Z-yarn implantations and frictional forces,the amount of carbon fber bundle hairiness gradually increased,and the tensile fracture strength damage of the fber was increasingly afected by the frictional forces.In the corner position of the preform,when the number of implantations was 25,the fber fracture strength decreased non-linearly and substantially;in order to avoid fber fracturing in the implantation process,the Z-yarn needs to be replaced in time after 20–25 cycles of continuous implantation.This study solves the problem of difculty in measuring the force required for individual replacements owing to the excessive number of guide sleeves,puts forward the relationship between fber wear,preform position,and implantation times,solves the phenomenon of fracture in the preform during Z-direction fber implantation,and realizes the continuous implantation of fbers.展开更多
An ODS (oxide dispersion strengthened) steels are one of the most notable structural materials being developed for future high-temperature energy production technologies, and several studies have been devoted to the...An ODS (oxide dispersion strengthened) steels are one of the most notable structural materials being developed for future high-temperature energy production technologies, and several studies have been devoted to the development of ODS materials for such applications. However, only little paper focuses on corrosion behavior of F/M (ferritic martensictic) and ODS steels. The corrosion behavior of 11% Cr F/M steel and 15% Cr ODS steel were evaluated using electrochemical methods in borate buffer and 1 kmol m"3 HNO3 with or without NaCI and also in boiling 60% nitric acid. The corrosion resistance results clearly indicated the influences of steel alloys composition and chloride ions. The XPS (X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy) results of the pre-passivated surface revealed that the oxide formed were composed predominantly of Fe203 along with Cr203, and Y203 layers in ODS steel. The corrosion rate measured in boiling nitric acid for 48 h for both the steels shows high corrosion rate in boiling condition. The SEM (scanning electron microscopy) observation of the pit morphology after corrosion tests appears with shallow pit in both steel surfaces The corrosion degradation behavior in relation to the composition of the passive oxide film in different electrolytic solutions is discussed in this paper.展开更多
China started a Sponge City program to offset the adverse impacts of urban developments and to tackle many water-related problems.By emphasizing stormwater management practices with“natural solutions”,many positive ...China started a Sponge City program to offset the adverse impacts of urban developments and to tackle many water-related problems.By emphasizing stormwater management practices with“natural solutions”,many positive results have been achieved.The operation and maintenance(O&M)of Sponge City to support long-term success gained considerable focus.China is facing challenges many developed countries have encountered,as well as unique ones due to specific social,economic,and environmental conditions.This study identified and discussed Sponge City O&M challenges:(1)scheduling challenges,(2)technical challenges,(3)in short of local regulation/ordnance,(4)inadequate O&M assessment standard,(5)underprovided training,(6)PPP related concerns,(7)inter-agency coordination needs,(8)ownership and responsible party issues,(9)substandard documentation,and(10)funding and financial concerns.Selected cases and progress in pilot cities are introduced in the discussions.展开更多
文摘The dual-rotor structure serves as the primary source of vibration in aero-engines. Understanding itsdynamical model and analyzing dynamic characteristics, such as critical speed and unbalanced response, arecrucial for rotor system dynamics. Previous work introduced a coaxial dual-rotor-support scheme for aeroengines,and a physical model featuring a high-speed flexible inner rotor with a substantial length-to-diameter ratiowas designed. Then a finite element (FE) dynamic model based on the Timoshenko beam elements and rigid bodykinematics of the dual-rotor system is modeled, with the Newmark method and Newton–Raphson method used forthe numerical calculation to study the dynamic characteristics of the system. Three different simulation models,including beam-based FE (1D) model, solid-based FE (3D) model, and transfer matrix model, were designed tostudy the characteristics of mode and the critical speed characteristic of the dual-rotor system. The unbalancedresponse of the dual-rotor system was analyzed to study the influence of mass unbalance on the rotor system. Theeffect of different disk unbalance phases and different speed ratios on the dynamic characteristics of the dual-rotorsystem was investigated in detail. The experimental result shows that the beam-based FE model is effective andsuitable for studying the dual-rotor system.
基金financially supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (M22JBMC0060)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.52175284)the State Key Lab of Advanced Metals and Materials (No.2021-ZD08)。
文摘To understand the relationship between the process-microstructure-mechanical properties of the high-pressure die-casting(HPDC) AE44 magnesium alloy, 3D reconstruction and 2D characterization were carried out on the HPDC castings produced with different process parameters(low slow-shot speed, fast slow-shot speed, solidification pressure). Microstructural characterization revealed that the formation of shrinkage pores are closely related to ESCs, which were mainly controlled by the low slow-shot speed in shot sleeve(ESCs growth time) and fast slow-shot speed into the die cavity(distribution of ESCs). In addition, solidification pressure can significantly reduce the shrinkage porosity in the center by improving the feeding capacity of liquid metal. Tensile fracture revealed that the tearing ridge is mainly evolved from the slip band of ESCs. The quantity and distribution of ESCs determine the fracture mode of castings. The relationship between mechanical properties of castings and the morphology of ESCs and porosity is also statistically discussed.
基金Funded by the Open Fund of Key Laboratory for Advanced Technology in Environmental Protection of Jiangsu Province (JBGS008)the Research Lab Construction of Hainan University (ZY2019HN0904)the Opening Project of State Key Laboratory of Green Building Materials (2022GBM01)。
文摘The mechanism of glutinous rice flour,a kind of natural admixture,on the hydration process,setting time,and microstructure of the Portland cement was investigated.The experimental results show that the glutinous rice flour has an obvious setting retarding effect on cement pastes.The optimal dosage of the glutinous rice flour is 3wt%.In this case,the initial and final setting time of the paste are delayed by 140 and185 min,respectively.The flexural and compressive strengths of the hardened paste are increased by 0.35%and 0.07%after 56 d of curing.The glutinous rice flour hinders the mineral dissolution process and decreases the concentration of calcium ion at the initial stage of hydration due to the complexation effect,thereby hindering the nucleation and growth of CH and C-S-H phases and prolonging the hydration process.However,C-S-H phases combine with the glutinous rice flour to contribute the bonding effect together,which compacts the microstructure of hardened cement pastes at the later hydration stage of cement pastes.Thus,in-depth investigation on the utilization of glutinous rice flour as the admixture for the Portland cement is expected to be meaningful for the control of hydration exothermic rate and setting time.
基金supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China under grant 2022YFC3203804Jiangsu Province Key Research and Development Project BE2020633+1 种基金Jiangbei New Area Key Research and Development Project ZDYF20200129Ili Autonomous Prefecture Science and Technology Project YZ2022A005.
文摘Stormwater runoff samples from a road in China were collected and analyzed for pH,TSS(total suspended solid),TDS(total dissolved solid),COD(chemical oxygen demand),TP(total phosphorus),TN(total nitrogen),Pb,Al,Zn,Fe,Cd,and Mn.Results showed that the pollutant concentrations from road runoff were relatively high.TSS and COD concentrations exceeded the Class B effluent requirement of the Chinese Standards of Pollutant Discharge from municipal WWTPs(wastewater treatment plants).COD,TP,and TN concentrations exceeded Class V of the Chinese Environmental Quality Standard for Surface Water.TSS,Zn,Fe,and Al concentrations exceeded the USEPA(U.S.Environmental Protection Agency)benchmark values.All these indicated proper runoff treatment to avoid negative impacts on the environment is needed.Metal partitioning analysis was conducted and it showed that Pb,Al,Zn,Fe,and Mn exist mostly in particulate forms in the runoff.Thus,gravitational settlement and filtration can still be cost-effective methods for removing most of these metals.Runoff samples were treated through two bench-scale laboratory set-ups,composed of micron-scale pore pervious paver systems and subsoil.The average removal rates of TSS,TP,and TN were 95.2%,81.8%,64.1%,and 64.4%,respectively.The removal rates of Pb,Al,Zn,Fe,and Cd also reached 50%-99.2%.The tested sand-based pervious paver has micron-scale pores with good filtration potential.The system can effectively reduce stormwater runoff pollution,thereby reducing the potential for groundwater pollution.In addition,residues and sediments collected from the surfaces of the pervious pavers were also tested.The metallic constituents in the residues and sediments were correlated to these in the runoff.Pb and Cr were low in the residues,but Zn exceeded the Class A limit of the Chinese Control Standard of Pollutants in Sludge for Agricultural Applications.Thus,proper disposal of the solid wastes generated from the pavers is also to be further investigated.
基金Financial support for this research was provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.52222111)。
文摘The umbilical cable is a vital component of subsea production systems that provide power,chemical agents,control signals et al.,and its requirement for reliability is exceedingly high.However,as the umbilical cable is a composite structure comprising multiple functional units,the reliability analysis of such cables involves numerous parameters that can impact calculation efficiency.In this paper,the reliability analysis of a new kind of umbilical cable with carbon fiber rod under tension is analyzed.The global dynamic analytical model is first established to determine the maximum tension load,then the local analytical model of umbilical cable including each unit are constructed by finite element method(FEM).Based on the mechanical analytical model,the reliability of umbilical cable under tension load is studied using response surface method(RSM)and Monte Carlo method.During the calculation process,a new tangent plane sampling method to calculate the response surface function(RSF)is proposed in this paper,which could make sampling points faster come close to the RSF curve,and it is proved that the calculation efficiency increases about 33%comparing with traditional method.
基金This work was financially supported by the National Science Found for Distinguished Young Scholars(No.51525503).
文摘Digital patternless freeze-casting technology is a new approach for obtaining frozen sand moulds using digital milling technology. The change law of tensile strength and air permeability of frozen sand moulds (100-mesh and 200-mesh silica sand, and zircon sand moulds) under different freezing temperatures and water contents was studied. Results show that with the decrease of freezing temperature and the increase of water contents, the tensile strength and air permeability of the sand moulds are gradually improved. Meanwhile, computed tomography technology was used to characterize the shape and size of the water film between the sand particles mixed with 4wt.% water. The results show that in silica sand moulds, the form of water film is lumpy, and 200-mesh silica sand moulds have more water films and higher proportion of small-sized water films than 100-mesh silica sand moulds, while in zircon sand moulds, the form of water film is membranous. At the same freezing temperature and water content, the tensile strength of zircon sand mould is the highest, and 100-mesh silica sand mould is the lowest. A comparative solidification experiment of A356 aluminum alloy was carried out in frozen sand mould and resin sand mould. The results show that the primary α-Al phase appears in the form of equiaxed and eutectic silicon phase is needle-like in freezing sand mould casting, but the primary α-Al phase grows in the form of dendrites, and the eutectic silicon phase is coarse needle-like in the resin sand mould casting. The difference of microstructure is caused by the different cooling rate. The cooling rate of A356 aluminum alloy in frozen sand mould is higher than that in resin sand mould.
基金Supported by Natural Science Foundation to Basic Research in Key Areas of Heilongjiang Province of China(Grant No.TD2020E002).
文摘The current research of titanium alloy on friction welding process in the field of aero-engines mainly focuses on the linear friction welding.Compared to the linear friction welding,inertial friction welding of titanium alloy still has important application position in the welding of aero-engine rotating assembly.However,up to now,few reports on inertial friction welding of titanium alloy are found.In this paper,the near-alpha TA19 titanium alloy welded joint was successfully obtained by inertial friction welding(IFW)process.The microstructures and mechanical properties were investigated systematically.Results showed that the refined grains within 15‒20μm and weak texture were found in the weld zone due to dynamic recrystallization caused by high temperature and plastic deformation.The weld zone consisted of acicularα′martensite phase,αp phase and metastableβphase.Most lath-shapedαs andβphase in base metal were transformed into acicular martensiteα′phase and metastableβphase in thermo-mechanically affected zone and heat affected zone.As a result,the microhardness of welded joint gradually decreased from the weld zone to the base metal.Tensile specimens in room temperature and high temperature of 480℃ were all fractured in base metal illustrating that the inertia friction welded TA19 titanium alloy joint owned higher tensile strength compared to the base metal.
文摘Background:Attrition rate in new army recruits is higher than in incumbent troops.In the current study,we identified the risk factors for attrition due to injuries and physical fitness failure in recruit training.A variety of predictive models were attempted.Methods:This retrospective cohort included 19,769 Army soldiers of the Australian Defence Force receiving recruit training during a period from 2006 to 2011.Among them,7692 reserve soldiers received a 28-day training course,and the remaining 12,077 full-time soldiers received an 80-day training course.Retrieved data included anthropometric measures,course-specific variables,injury,and physical fitness failure.Multivariate regression was used to develop a variety of models to predict the rate of attrition due to injuries and physical fitness failure.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to compare the performance of the models.Results:In the overall analysis that included both the 28-day and 80-day courses,the incidence of injury of any type was 27.8%.The 80-day course had a higher rate of injury if calculated per course(34.3%vs.17.6%in the 28-day course),but lower number of injuries per person-year(1.56 vs.2.29).Fitness test failure rate was significantly higher in the 28-day course(30.0%vs.12.1%).The overall attrition rate was 5.2%and 5.0%in the 28-day and 80-day courses,respectively.Stress fracture was common in the 80-day course(n=44)and rare in the 28-day course(n=1).The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for the course-specific predictive models were relatively low(ranging from 0.51 to 0.69),consistent with"failed"to"poor"predictive accuracy.The course-combined models performed somewhat better than the course-specific models,with two models having AUC of 0.70 and 0.78,which are considered"fair"predictive accuracy.Conclusion:Attrition rate was similar between 28-day and 80-day courses.In comparison to the 80-day full course,the 28-day course had a lower rate of injury but a higher number of injuries per person-year and of fitness test failure.These findings suggest fitness level at the commencement of training is a critically important factor to consider when designing the course curriculum,particularly short courses.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52175284)the State Key Lab of Advanced Metals and Materials(No.2021-ZD08)the Beijing Government Funds for the Cons tructive Project of Central Universities(No.353139535)。
文摘Magnesium composites reinforced by N-deficient Ti_(2)AlN MAX phase were first fabricated by non-pressure infiltration of Mg into three-dimensional(3D)co-continuous porous Ti_(2)AlN_(x)(x=0.9,1.0)preforms.The relationship between their mechanical properties and micro-structure is discussed with the assessment of 2D and 3D characterization.X-ray diffraction(XRD)and scanning electron microscopy detected no impurities.The 3D reconstruction shows that the uniformly distributed pores in Ti_(2)AlN_(x) preforms are interconnected,which act as infiltra-tion tunnels for the melt Mg.The compressive yield strength and microhardness of Ti_(2)AlN_(0.9)/Mg are 353 MPa and 1.12 GPa,respectively,which are 8.55%and 6.67%lower than those of Ti_(2)AlN/Mg,respectively.The typical delamination and kink band occurred in Ti_(2)AlN_(x) under compressive and Vickers hardness(V_(H))tests.Owing to the continuous skeleton structure and strong interfacial bonding strength,the crack ini-tiated in Ti_(2)AlN_(x) was blocked by the plastic Mg matrix.This suggests the possibility of regulating the mechanical performance of Ti_(2)AlN/Mg composites by controlling the N vacancy and the hierarchical structure of Ti_(2)AlN skeleton.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.51876194,U1909216,and 52176048)the Fundamental Research Funds of Zhejiang Sci-Tech University(Grant No.2021Q020).
文摘Corrosion leakage occurred in the 14th tube bundle in the first row of a residual oil hydrotreating air cooler after operating for two years.The failure location was 0.5 m from the outlet header box.In this paper,the erosion corrosion of the air cooler tube bundle was investigated by experimental and numerical methods.Visual inspection,scanning electron microscopy(SEM),and X-ray diffraction(XRD)experiments were performed,and the failure morphology and material composition confirmed that the damage was caused by erosion corrosion.The shear stress transport k–ωturbulence model(SST-k–ω)was then used to investigate the flow and erosion corrosion characteristics,combined with mass transfer,corrosion rate,and ionization equilibrium models.The numerical simulation results revealed that the water phase volume fraction increased with flow and heat transfer in the fluid,which increased the mass flow rate and concentration of hydrogen sulfide.The mass transfer coefficient and corrosion rate were proposed as important parameters to characterize erosion corrosion.Moreover,the local concentration of wall shear stress was found to increase the risk of erosion corrosion.The predicted high-risk area was consistent with the actual failure area,which verified that this failure incident was attributable to erosion corrosion by the water phase.
基金Project supported financially by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.62174150)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province,China(Grant No.BK20211040)。
文摘The combined effects of cycling endurance and radiation on floating gate memory cell are investigated in detail,and the obtained results are listed below.(i)The programmed flash cells with a prior appropriate number of program and easing cycling stress exhibit much smaller threshold voltage shift than without those in response to radiation,which is ascribed mainly to the recombination of trapped electrons(introduced by cycling stress)and trapped holes(introduced by irradiation)in the oxide surrounding the floating gate.(ii)The radiation induced transconductance degradation in prior cycled flash cell is more severe than those without cycling stress in the programmed state or erased state.(iii)Radiation is more likely to set up the interface generation in programmed state than in erased state.This paper will be useful in understanding the issues involved in cycling endurance and radiation effects as well as in designing radiation hardened floating gate memory cells.
基金This research is supported by the Commonwealth of Australia as represented by the Defence Science and Technology Group of the Department of Defence,and by an Australian Government Research Training Program(RTP)Scholarship。
文摘Supervised machine learning techniques have become well established in the study of spectroscopy data.However,the unsupervised learning technique of cluster analysis hasn’t reached the same level maturity in chemometric analysis.This paper surveys recent studies which apply cluster analysis to NIR and IR spectroscopy data.In addition,we summarize the current practices in cluster analysis of spectroscopy and contrast these with cluster analysis literature from the machine learning and pattern recognition domain.This includes practices in data pre-processing,feature extraction,clustering distance metrics,clustering algorithms and validation techniques.Special consideration is given to the specific characteristics of IR and NIR spectroscopy data which typically includes high dimensionality and relatively low sample size.The findings highlighted a lack of quantitative analysis and evaluation in current practices for cluster analysis of IR and NIR spectroscopy data.With this in mind,we propose an analysis model or workflow with techniques specifically suited for cluster analysis of IR and NIR spectroscopy data along with a pragmatic application strategy.
基金This work was financially supported by the National Innovation Center Fund of Lightweight Material Forming Technology and Equipment(No.111902Q-D)the State Key Laboratory Fund of Advanced Forming Technology and Equipment(No.SKL2020008)the National Key Research and Development Program(No.2020YFF0217703).
文摘The flexible extrusion forming process (FEFP) is a sand mold patternless manufacturing technology that enables digital near-net shaping of complex sand molds. But, it is difficult to achieve the gradient sand molds with high surface strength and strong interior permeability by FEFP. To solve this problem, an extra-squeeze forming method based on FEFP for gradient sand mold was developed. To further reveal the extra-squeeze forming mechanism, based on the Johnson-Kendall-Roberts (JKR) theory and “gluing” notions, the single and double-sided squeeze models of gradient sand molds were established using the EDEM software. The squeezing processes of sand molds with different cavity depths of 60, 100, 140, 180, and 220 mm were systemically studied under single and double-sided squeeze conditions. The variation in the void fraction of sand mold as also investigated at a variety of extra-squeeze distances of 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 mm, respectively. Simulation and test results show that a deeper cavity depth weakens the extrusion force transmission, which leads to a decrease in strength. The sand mold permeability and void fraction are identified to be positively correlated, while the tensile strength and void fraction appear to be negatively correlated. The void fraction of sand molds decreases with a longer extra-squeeze distance. A 6 mm extra-squeeze distance for the sand mold with 220 mm cavity depth results in a 26.8% increase in tensile strength with only a 5.7% reduction in the permeability. Hence, the extra- squeeze forming method can improve the quality of the sand mold by producing a gradient sand mold with high surface strength and strong interior permeability.
基金supported and funded by the Defence Materials Technology Centre
文摘This paper studied corrosion of pure Mg and the Mg alloys EV31A,WE43B,ZE41A,coated with commercial corrosion inhibiting compounds(CICs)(LPS 3,LPS2,AMLGuard,Ardrox 3961)immersed in 3.5 wt%(0.6M)Na Cl solution saturated with Mg(OH)_(2).All four CICs reduced corrosion rates.LPS 3 resulted in zero corrosion rates and 100%inhibition in most cases.LPS 2 and AMLGuard had comparable inhibition efficiencies,whilst Ardrox 3961 had the lowest inhibition efficiency.Reduction in corrosion rates was tentatively attributed to barrier films formed by chemical adsorption for LPS 3 and AMLGuard,and by physical adsorption for LPS2 and Ardrox 3961.
基金Supported by Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Achievement Transformation Project(PXM2012014207000018)Beijing Nova Program(2009B18)
文摘This study was to investigate the effect of biological compound premix on the performance and milk quality in dairy cows. Twenty Holstein cows, with the similar age, parity, lactating month, gestation period, milk quantity and body weight, were randomly divided into two groups. The cows in two groups were fed with either common compound premix as control or 5% biological compound premix as treatment group. Two treatments contained same basal diet but different composi- tions of premix. The feeding experiment lasting 74 days displayed that daily milk quantity in treatment group was significantly higher than control group (P 〈 0.05 ). The milk fat percentage was increased significantly in treatment group with the extended lactation time than control group (P 〈 0.05 ). The milk protein and solids percentage were raised, but no significant difference was found between the two treatments (P 〉0.05 ). The results indicated that 5% biological compound premix supplied in basal diet could facilitate to increase the milk performance and to ameliorate the milk quality of dairy cows.
文摘Background: There is no consensus regarding the optimal treatment for cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) because treatment efficacy, safety, and the influence on subsequent pregnancy must be taken into consideration. Here we report our experience with 11 cases of CSP and review the literature regarding subsequent pregnancy. Methods: Records of 11 CSP cases that were treated at our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. CSP was treated by local methotrexate (MTX) injection or laparotomic or laparoscopic removal of the gestational mass and myometrial repair. Outcome of subsequent pregnancy after treatment was followed-up until delivery. Results: Local MTX injection was performed for six cases, laparotomic removal of the gestational mass and myometrial repair was performed for two, and laparoscopic removal of the gestational mass and myometrial repair was performed for three. The uterus was preserved in all cases. After CSP treatment, eight pregnancies occurred in five cases, resulting in six live births and two miscarriages. Conclusion: Advantages and disadvantages of various treatment methods for CSP continue to be elucidated. Serum hCG level, location of the gestational mass, thickness of the lower uterine segment at the time of diagnosis, and whether the patient wishes for fertility preservation should be considered when choosing a treatment plan.
文摘Nonlinear coupling dynamics between a spring-mass system and a finite amplitude sloshing system with liquid in a cylindrical tank is investigated. Based on a group of nonlinear coupling equations of six degrees of freedoms, analytical formulae of forces and moments of the liquid large amplitude sloshing were obtained. Nonlinearity of the forces and moments of the sloshing was induced by integrating on final configuration of liquid sloshing and the nonlinear terms in the liquid pressure formula. The symmetry between the formula of Ox and Oy direction proves that the derivation is correct. According to the coupled mechanism, the formulae are available in other liquid-solid coupled systems. Simulations and corresponding experimental results arecompared. It is shown that the forces and moments formulae by integrating on the final sloshing configuration are more reasonable. The omitted high-dimensional modal bases and high-order nonlinear terms and the complexity of sloshing damping are main sources of errors.
基金Supported by the National Defense Basic Scientifc Research Program of China(Grant No.2017-JCJQ-ZD-035)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.51790173).
文摘To improve the quality and efciency of Z-directional 3D preform forming,the Z-yarn frictional force distribution model of the preform and its wear mechanism were investigated.In this study,a tensile force measuring device was designed to measure the force required to replace the guide sleeve,which is equivalent to the Z-yarn frictional forces.The frictional force is proportional to the number of preform layers and is applied to the preform decreased from the corner,edge,sub-edge,and middle in order.A back propagation neural network model was established to predict the friction at diferent positions of the preform with diferent layers,and the error was within 1.9%.The wear of Z-yarn was studied at diferent frictional positions and after diferent times of successive implantation into the preform.The results showed that with an increase in the number of Z-yarn implantations and frictional forces,the amount of carbon fber bundle hairiness gradually increased,and the tensile fracture strength damage of the fber was increasingly afected by the frictional forces.In the corner position of the preform,when the number of implantations was 25,the fber fracture strength decreased non-linearly and substantially;in order to avoid fber fracturing in the implantation process,the Z-yarn needs to be replaced in time after 20–25 cycles of continuous implantation.This study solves the problem of difculty in measuring the force required for individual replacements owing to the excessive number of guide sleeves,puts forward the relationship between fber wear,preform position,and implantation times,solves the phenomenon of fracture in the preform during Z-direction fber implantation,and realizes the continuous implantation of fbers.
文摘An ODS (oxide dispersion strengthened) steels are one of the most notable structural materials being developed for future high-temperature energy production technologies, and several studies have been devoted to the development of ODS materials for such applications. However, only little paper focuses on corrosion behavior of F/M (ferritic martensictic) and ODS steels. The corrosion behavior of 11% Cr F/M steel and 15% Cr ODS steel were evaluated using electrochemical methods in borate buffer and 1 kmol m"3 HNO3 with or without NaCI and also in boiling 60% nitric acid. The corrosion resistance results clearly indicated the influences of steel alloys composition and chloride ions. The XPS (X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy) results of the pre-passivated surface revealed that the oxide formed were composed predominantly of Fe203 along with Cr203, and Y203 layers in ODS steel. The corrosion rate measured in boiling nitric acid for 48 h for both the steels shows high corrosion rate in boiling condition. The SEM (scanning electron microscopy) observation of the pit morphology after corrosion tests appears with shallow pit in both steel surfaces The corrosion degradation behavior in relation to the composition of the passive oxide film in different electrolytic solutions is discussed in this paper.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China under Grant 2016YFC0701001.
文摘China started a Sponge City program to offset the adverse impacts of urban developments and to tackle many water-related problems.By emphasizing stormwater management practices with“natural solutions”,many positive results have been achieved.The operation and maintenance(O&M)of Sponge City to support long-term success gained considerable focus.China is facing challenges many developed countries have encountered,as well as unique ones due to specific social,economic,and environmental conditions.This study identified and discussed Sponge City O&M challenges:(1)scheduling challenges,(2)technical challenges,(3)in short of local regulation/ordnance,(4)inadequate O&M assessment standard,(5)underprovided training,(6)PPP related concerns,(7)inter-agency coordination needs,(8)ownership and responsible party issues,(9)substandard documentation,and(10)funding and financial concerns.Selected cases and progress in pilot cities are introduced in the discussions.