This paper presents an evaluation of the Hypoplastic Clay constitutive model for finite element analysis of deep excavations and displacements induced by excavations in the influence zone. A detailed description and formulation of the Hypoplastic Clay soil model is included. A parametric case study of a deep excavation executed in Pliocene clays is presented. FE analysis was performed using several soil models (Mohr-Coulomb, Modified Mohr-Coulomb, Drucker-Prager, Modified Cam-Clay, Hypoplastic Clay) and the results were compared to in-situ displacements measurements taken during construction. Final conclusions concerning the suitability of the Hypoplastic Clay model for deep excavation modelling in terms of accurate determination of horizontal displacements of the excavation wall, the uplift of the bottom of excavation, and, most importantly,vertical displacements of the terrain in the vicinity of the excavation are presented.

Thermodynamic optimizations of the ternary Fe-B-Mo system and its binary sub-system B-Mo are presented. The Fe-B-Mo description is then extended to the quaternary Fe-B-Cr-Mo system by assessing the ternary B-Cr-Mo system. The thermodynamic descriptions of the other binaries (Fe-B, Fe-Cr, Fe-Mo, B-Cr, and Cr-Mo) and the other ternaries (Fe-B-Cr and Fe-Cr-Mo) are taken from earlier studies. In this study, the adjustable parameters of the B-Mo, Fe-B-Mo, and B-Cr-Mo systems were optimized using the experimental thermodynamic and the phase equilibrium data from the literature. The solution phases of the system (liquid, bcc and fcc) are described with the substitutional solution model, and most borides are treated as stoichiometric phases or semistoichiometric phases, using a simple two-sublattice model for the latter. The system’s intermetallic phases, Chi, Mu, R, and Sigma (not dissolving boron) as well as boride M3B2, based on a formulation of (Cr,Fe)(Cr,Fe,Mo)2(B)2, are described with a three-sublattice model. Reasonable agreement is obtained between the calculated and measured phase equilibria in all four systems: B-Mo; ­Fe-B-Mo; B-Cr-Mo; and Fe-B-Cr-Mo.

Thermodynamic descriptions of the ternary Fe-B-Cu system and its binary sub-system B-Cu aredeveloped in the context of a new Fe-B-X (X = Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Si, Ti, V, C) database. The thermodynamic parameters of the other binary sub-systems (Fe-B and Fe-Cu) are taken from earlier assessments. Experimental thermodynamic and phase equilibrium data available in the literature have been used for the optimization of the Fe-B-Cu and B-Cu systems’ thermodynamic parameters. The solution phases are described using a substitutional solution model and the compounds (two borides of the Fe-B system) are treated as stoichiometric phases. A good agreement was obtained between the calculated and the experimental thermodynamic and phase equilibrium data.

Thermodynamic descriptions of the ternary Fe-B-Si system and its binary sub-system, B-Si, are developed in the context of a new Fe-B-X (X = Cr, Ni, Mn, V, Si, Ti, C) database. The thermodynamic parameters of the other binary sub-systems, Fe-Si and Fe-B, are taken from earlier assessments. Experimental thermodynamic and phase equilibrium data available in the literature has been used for the optimization of the thermodynamic parameters of the Fe-B-Si and B-Si systems. The solution phases are described using substitutional solution model and the compounds (silicides and borides) are treated as stoichiometric phases. The calculated and experimental thermodynamic and phase equilibrium data were found to be in good agreement.

Thermodynamic optimizations of the ternary Fe-B-Ti system and its binary sub-system, B-Ti are presented. The thermodynamic descriptions of the other binaries, Fe-Ti and Fe-B, are taken from the earlier studies slightly modifying the Fe-Ti system assessment. The adjustable parameters of the Fe-B-Ti and B-Ti systems are optimized in this study using the experimental thermodynamic and the phase equilibrium data from the literature. The solution phases of the system are described using the substitutional solution model and the compounds (including borides) are treated as stoichiometric phases. The results show a good correlation between the calculated and measured thermodynamic and phase equilibrium data.

Thermodynamic descriptions of the ternary Fe-B-V system and its binary sub-system B-V, are developed using experimental thermodynamic and phase equilibrium data from the literature. The thermodynamic parameters of the other binaries, Fe-V and Fe-B, are taken from earlier assessments slightly modifying the Fe-V description. The work is in the context of a new Fe-B-X (X = Cr, Ni, Mn, V, Si, Ti, C) database.

The solution phases are described using substitutional solution model. The borides are treated as stoichiometric or semi-stoichiometric phases and described with two-sublattice models.

Neodymium-Iron-Boron (Nd-Fe-B) magnets are considered to have the highest energy density, and their applications include electric motors, generators, hard disc drives, and MRI. It is well known that a fiber structure with a high aspect ratio and the large specific surface area has the potential to overcome the limitations, such as inhomogeneous structures and the difficulty in alignment of easy axis, associated with such magnets obtained by conventional methods. In this work, a suitable heat-treatment procedure based on single-step and multistep treatments to synthesize sound electrospun Nd-Fe-B-O nanofibers of Φ572 nm was investigated. The single-step heat-treated (directly heat-treated at 800°C for 2 h in air) samples disintegrated along with the residual organic compounds, whereas the multistep heat-treated (sequential three-step heat-treated including three steps;: dehydration (250°C for 30 min in an inert atmosphere), debinding (650°C for 30 min in air), and calcination (800°C for 1 h in air)) fibers maintained sound fibrous morphology without any organic impurities. They could maintain such fibrous morphologies during the dehydration and debinding steps because of the relatively low internal pressures of water vapor and polymer, respectively. In addition, the NdFeO3 alloying phase was dominant in the multistep heat-treated fibers due to the removal of barriers to mass transfer in the interparticles.

The reverse bending and straightening test is conducted on wires used for civil engineering applications to detect laminations which can pose a threat to the integrity of the wires. The FE simulations of the reverse bending and straightening of wires with laminations revealed that the reverse bending and straightening test is only effective in revealing or detecting near-surface laminations with lengths from 25 mm located up to 30% of the wire’s thickness and may not be an effective test to detect mid-thickness, near-mid-thickness, and short near-surface laminations with lengths below 15 mm. This is because wires with mid-thickness, near-mid-thickness and short near-surface laminations will pass through the reverse bending and straightening procedures without fracturing and therefore mid-thickness, near-mid-thickness and short near-surface laminations may go undetected. Consequently, other in-line non destructive testing methods might have to be used to detect mid-thickness, near-mid-thickness and short near-surface laminations in the wires.

The Fe-based alloy with manganese led to the appearance of new austenitic alloys, with the antiferromagnetic property pursued, resulting in compatibility with the magnetic field as that of magnetic resonance imaging. The corrosion resistance behavior of the biodegradable Fe-Mn-Si alloy was analyzed in a thermostatic chamber at 37±1°C for 24, 48 and 72 hours by immersing in Ringer solution. Also, the cast and laminated samples were subjected to electro-corrosion tests using a potentiostat equipment. Linear and cyclic potentiometry is presented for characterize the corrosion behavior of the experimental samples in electrolyte. Due to the interaction between the alloy and the liquid medium a change in the solution pH was observed. Structure analysis and chemical composition details of the surfaces were obtained using electron scanning microscopy (SEM) and X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS).

The paper presents the approach for optimization of preventive/technological measures increasing the safety of tailings pond dams. It is based on the combined use of monitoring results as well as advanced 3D finite element (FE) modeling. Under consideration was the eastern dam of Zelazny Most Tailings Storage Facility (TSF). As part of the work, four numerical models of the dam and the subsoil, differing in the spatial arrangement of the soil layers, were created. For this purpose, the kriging technique was used. The numerical models were calibrated against the measurements from the monitoring system. In particular the readings acquired from benchmarks, piezometers and inclinometers were used. The optimization of preventive measures was performed for the model that showed the best general fit to the monitoring data. The spatial distribution and installation time of relief wells were both optimized. It was shown that the optimized system of relief wells provides the required safety margin.

In this study, the effects of adding niobium and vanadium to Fe-based oxide dispersion strengthened alloys are confirmed. The composition of alloys are Fe-20Cr-1Al-0.5Ti-0.5Y2O3 and Fe-20Cr-1Al-0.5Ti-0.3V-0.2Nb-0.5Y2O3. The alloy powders are manufactured by using a planetary mill, and these powders are molded by using a magnetic pulsed compaction. Thereafter, the powders are sintered in a tube furnace to obtain sintered specimens.

The added elements exist in the form of a solid solution in the Fe matrix and suppress the grain growth. These results are confirmed via X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analyses of the phase and microstructure of alloys. In addition, it was confirmed that the addition of elements, improved the hardness property of Fe-based oxide dispersion strengthened alloys.

In this study, the effects of heat-treatment conditions of Fe powder compacts on densification, microstructure, strength and magnetic properties were investigated. The prepared Fe powder was compressed in a mold of diameter 20 mm at a pressure of 800 MPa for 30 sec. This Fe powder compact was heat-treated under different atmospheres (air and 90% Ar + 10% H2 and heat-treatment temperatures (300 and 700℃). The Fe powder compacts heat-treated in an Ar+H2 mixed gas atmosphere showed a denser microstructure and higher density than the Fe powder compacts heat-treated in an air atmosphere. Oxygen content in the heat-treatment conditions played a significant role in the improvement of the densification and magnetic properties.

An economical alternative for the steel industry which uses a separate ferrosilicon and aluminum for the deoxidization of steel is a complex deoxidizer in the form of FeSiAl alloys. The effectiveness of complex deoxidizers is higher and they have a positive effect on quality improvement and also for mechanical properties of the finished steel. It is associated with a smaller number of non-metallic inclusions and a more favorable its distribution in the structure of steel. Noteworthy are the waste from the mining industry simultaneously contains SiO2 and Al2O3 oxides with a few of dopants in the form of CaO, MgO, FeO, TiO2 oxides. These wastes are present in large quantities and can be a cheap raw material for obtaining complex FeSiAl ferroalloys by an electrothermal method. “Poor” hard coal grades which so far did not apply as a reducing agent in the ferroalloy industry because of the high ash content can also be a raw material for the electrothermal FeSiAl process. The electrothermal FeSiAl melting process is similar to the ferrosilicon process in the submerged arc furnace. For this reason, a model based on Gibbs’ free enthalpy minimization algorithm was used to analyze the simultaneous reduction of SiO2 and Al2O3 oxides, which was originally elaborated for the ferrosilicon smelting process. This is a system of two closed reactors: the upper one with the lower temperature and the lower one with the higher temperature. Between the reaction system and the environment, and between the reactors inside the system, there is a cyclical mass transfer in moments when the state of equilibrium is reached in the reactors. Based on the model, the basic parameters of the electrothermal reduction process of SiO2 and Al2O3 oxides were determined and a comparative analysis was made towards the ferrosilicon process.

A series of nanocomposite graphene/CoFe2O4 and graphene/NiFe2O4 hybrid materials was synthesized via facile, one-pot solvothermal route. The materials were obtained using two pressure methods: synthesis in the autoclave and synthesis in the microwave solvothermal reactor. The use of a microwave reactor enabled to significantly shorten the synthesis time up to 15 min. All the syntheses were carried out in a solution of ethanol. The effect of processing conditions and composite composition on the physicochemical properties and electric conductivity was studied. The specific surface area, density, morphology, phase composition, thermal properties and electric conductivity of the obtained composites were investigated. The results of studies of composites obtained in an autoclave and in a microwave reactor were compared.

Directional solidification technique is an important research instrument to study solidification of metals and alloys. In the paper the model

[6,7,8] of directional solidification in special Artemis-3 facility was presented. The current work aimed to propose the ease and efficient

way in calibrating the facility. The introduced M coefficient allowed effective calibration and implementation of defined thermal

conditions. The specimens of AlSi alloys with Fe-rich intermetallics and especially deleterious β-Al5FeSi were processed by controlled

solidification velocity, temperature gradient and cooling rate.

Solidification of AlSiFe alloys was studied using a directional solidification facility and the CALPHAD technique was applied to calculate

phase diagrams and to predict occurring phases. The specimens solidified by electromagnetic stirring showed segregation across, and the

measured chemical compositions were transferred into phase diagrams. The ternary phase diagrams presented different solidification paths

caused by segregation in each selected specimen. The property diagrams showed modification in the sequence and precipitation

temperature of the phases. It is proposed in the study to use thermodynamic calculations with Thermo-Calc which enables us to visualize

the mushy zone in directional solidification. 2D maps based on property diagrams show a mushy zone with a liquid channel in the

AlSi7Fe1.0 specimen center, where significant mass fraction (33%) of β-Al5FeSi phases may precipitate before α-Al dendrites form.

Otherwise liquid channel occurred almost empty of β in AlSi7Fe0.5 specimen and completely without β in AlSi9Fe0.2. The property

diagrams revealed also possible formation of α–Al8Fe2Si phases.

Thermodynamic description of the Fe-B-C system in its iron-rich corner is developed in the context of a new Fe-B-X (X = Cr, Ni, Mn, Si, Ti, V, C) database. The thermodynamic parameters of the binary sub-systems, Fe-B, Fe-C and B-C, are taken from earlier assessments modifying the B-C description. The parameters of the Fe-B-C system are optimized in this study using experimental thermodynamic and phase equilibrium data from the literature. Liquid, beta-rhombo-B and graphite phases are described using the substitutional solution model, while the ferrite (bcc), the austenite (fcc), the cementite (M3C) and the M23C6 phases are described with the sublattice model and the borides, Fe2B, FeB and B4C, are treated as stoichiometric phases. A good correlation was obtained between the calculated and the experimental thermodynamic and phase equilibrium data. The description is recommended to be used at the composition region of wt% C + wt% B < 15 and at temperatures below 2700oC.

The cast alloys crystallizing in Fe-C-V system are classified as white cast iron, because all the carbon is bound in vanadium carbides. High

vanadium cast iron has a very high abrasion resistance due to hard VC vanadium carbides. However, as opposed to ordinary white cast

iron, this material can be treated using conventional machining tools. This article contains the results of the group of Fe-C-V alloys of

various microstructure which are been tested metallographic, mechanical using an INSTRON machine and machinability with the method

of drilling. The study shows that controlling the proper chemical composition can influence on the type and shape of the crystallized

matrix and vanadium carbides. This makes it possible to obtain a high-vanadium cast iron with very high wear resistance while

maintaining a good workability.

Detailed studies on the effects of pulsed laser interference heating on surface characteristics and subsurface microstructure of amorphous Fe80Si11B9 alloy are reported. Laser interference heating, with relatively low pulsed laser energy (90 and 120 mJ), but with a variable number (from 50-500) of consecutive laser pulses permitted to get energy accumulation in heated areas. Such treatment allowed to form two- Dimensional micro-islands of laser-affected material periodically distributed in amorphous matrix. The crystallization process of amorphous FeSiB ribbons was studied by means of scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Detailed microstructural examination showed that the use of laser beam, resulted in development of nanostructure in the heated areas of the amorphous ribbon. The generation of nanocrystalline seed islands created by pulsed laser interference was observed. This key result may evidently give new knowledge concerning the differences in microstructure formed during the conventional and lased induced crystallization the amorphous alloys. Further experiments are needed to clarify the effect of pulsed laser interference crystallization on magnetic properties of these alloys.

This article focuses on the study of the influence of remelting and subsequent natural and artificial ageing on the structure of recycled AlSi9Cu3 alloy with increased iron content. The assessed changes in eutectic silicon and iron-based intermetallic phases were carried out using optical and scanning electron microscopy. The degradation of the eutectic silicon morphology due to remelting occurred only at the highest numbers of remelting. The effect of remelting the investigated alloy, which is accompanied by a gradual increase in wt. % Fe, began to manifest significantly through a change in the length of the ferric phases after the fourth remelting. As expected, the artificial ageing process has proven to be more effective than natural ageing. It has led to a change in the eutectic silicon morphology and has been beneficial in reducing the lengths of adverse ferric phases. The use of alloys with higher numbers of remelting, or with greater “contamination”, for the manufacture of shape-challenging castings is possible when using a suitable method of eliminating the negative factors of the remelting process. The results of our investigation show a suitable method of the above elimination the application of heat treatment T5 – via artificial ageing.

The objective of the present research is to develop the novel multi-compaction technology to produce hybrid structure in powder metallurgy (P/M) components using dissimilar Fe-based alloys. Two distinct powder alloys with different compositions were are used in this study: Fe-Cr-Mo-C pre-alloyed powder for high strength and Fe-Cu-C mixed powder for enhanced machinability and lower material cost. Initially, Fe-Cu-C was pre-compacted using a bar-shaped die with lower compaction pressure. The green compact of Fe-Cu-C alloy was inserted into a die residing a half of the die, and another half of the die was filled with the Fe-Cr-Mo-C powder. Then they subsequently underwent re-compaction with higher pressure. The final compact was sintered at 1120°C for 60 min. In order to determine the mechanical behavior, transverse rupture strength (TRS) and Vickers hardness of sintered materials were measured and correlated with density variations. The microstructure was characterized using optical microscope and scanning electron microscope to investigate the interfacial characteristics between dissimilar P/M alloys.

Paper describes the results of Fe80Si11B9 amorphous ribbon investigation after pulsed laser interference heating and conventional annealing. As a result of interference heating periodically placed laser heated microareas were obtained. Structure characterisation by scanning and transmission electron microscopy showed in case of laser heated samples presence of crystalline nanostructure in amorphous matrix. Microscopy observations showed significant difference in material structure after laser heating – nanograin structure, and material after annealing – dendritic structure. Magnetic force microscopy investigation showed expanded magnetic structure in laser heated microareas, while amorphous matrix did not give magnetic signal. Change of magnetic properties was examined by magnetic hysteresis loop measurement, which showed that the laser heating did not have a significant influence on soft magnetic properties.

The paper presents the results and provides an analyse of the geometric structure of Fe-Al protective coatings, gas-treated under specified GDS conditions. The analysis of the surface topography was conducted on the basis of the results obtained from the SEM data. Topographic images were converted to three-dimensional maps, scaling the registered amplitude coordinates of specific gray levels to the relative range of 0÷1. This allowed us to assess the degree of surface development by determining the fractal dimension. At the same time, the generated three-dimensional spectra of the autocorrelation function enabled the researchers to determine the autocorrelation length (Sal) and the degree of anisotropy (Str) of the surfaces, in accordance with ISO 25178. Furthermore, the reconstructed three-dimensional images of the topography allowed us to evaluate the functional properties o the studied surfaces based on the Abbott-Firestone curve (A-F), also known as the bearing area curve. The ordinate describing the height of the profile was replaced by the percentage of surface amplitude in this method, so in effect the shares of the height of the three-dimensional topographic map profiles of various load-bearing properties were determined. In this way, both the relative height of peaks, core and recesses as well as their percentages were subsequently established.