In this study, the pressure distribution and flow coefficient of a globe valve are investigated with a series of experiments conducted in a flow test loop. The experiments are performed on a three-inch model test valve from an eight-inch ANSI (American National Standards Institute) B16.11—Class 2500# prototype globe valve with various pump speeds and full range of valve openings. Both inherent and installed flow characteristics are measured, and the results show that the flow coefficient depends not only on the valve geometry and valve opening but also on the Reynolds number. When the Reynolds number exceeds a certain value, the flow coefficients are stable. In addition, the pressures at different positions in the upstream and the downstream of the valve are measured and compared with recommendation per ANSI/ISA-75.01 standard. The results show that, in single-phase flow, the discrepancies in pressure between different measurement locations within close range of 10 nominal diameter from the valve are inconsiderable.
This study investigates the use of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers and fabric to enhance the flexural performance of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC). A total of 45 specimens were tested to examine the effects of fiber type, fabric material, adhesive, and various combined strengthening techniques. The main findings are that incorporating UHMWPE fiber into the ultra-high-strength mortar (HSM) matrix provides superior performance compared to steel fiber, particularly in enhancing crack resistance and energy absorption. UHMWPE fiber-reinforced UHPC achieved a flexural toughness of 307 KJ/m3, over three times higher than that of steel fiber-reinforced UHPC (98 KJ/m3). The use of UHMWPE fabrics was more effective in improving the ductility and toughness of the composites than the use of glass fabrics. The bonding effect of using epoxy resin with UHMWPE fabric is better than using magnesium phosphate cement (MPC). Increasing the number of fabric layers improved the flexural properties of externally bonded fabric but had no impact on internal reinforcement techniques. The best strengthening method in this study was a combination of incorporating UHMWPE fiber internally and externally bonded fabric on a concrete surface, yielding the highest toughness of 580 KJ/m3.
16 May 2024 in International Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Engineering
This paper highlights the importance of considering hydraulic backfill consolidation and wet arching when determining the stresses in underground mine stopes and acting on the barricade. The wet arching is introduced here as an arching effect during consolidation. Most studies consider hydraulic backfill consolidation as an instantaneous process and ignore its effects on stress within the stope and acting on the barricade. Mainly the reasons would be the granular behaviour and higher permeability of mine tailings used for hydraulic backfills. Yet, recent laboratory experiments and tests carried out under this study show that the consolidation is slow enough to significantly affect the hydraulic backfill stresses. According to the literature, hydraulic backfills have a considerable amount of fine particles which can slow down the consolidation process as evident in the tests. The paper discusses available stress variation between dry and wet fills while demonstrating its significance and requirements for further studies in consolidation and wet arching. Another important factor ignored in the literature is the hydraulic backfill property variations which were evident in tests carried out in this study. The results suggest segregation occurs within the fill which follows property variations over depth and considerably influences stresses. These effects must be considered when determining the stresses within the fill and developing a hydraulic backfill stress model.