The accuracy of crash simulation is critical to evaluating the design of a vehicle, especially for energy-absorption capacity and crash mode. Hence, it is necessary to integrate the forming effect into crash model as a key input. In this study, the front rail, a typical thin-walled beam structure which was assembled in a passenger vehicle, was observed for its important role of absorbing kinetic energy in the vehicle frontal impact. Comparison between front rail crash simulation model (1) with no forming effect, (2) considering forming effect, and the result of sled impact test shows that the hardening effect from the forming history strengthens the component, and thus significantly influences the crash mode of the front rail.

We report the investigation of the photoresponse of the conductivity of a recently synthesized class of organic semiconductors based on functionalized pentacene. These materials form high quality single crystals that exhibit a thermally activated resistivity. Unlike pure pentacene, the functionalized derivatives are readily soluble in acetone, and can be evaporated or spincast as thin films for potential device applications. The electrical conductivity of the single crystal materials is noticeably sensitive to ambient light changes. The purpose, therefore, of the present study, is to determine the nature of the photoresponse in terms of carrier activation versus heating effects, and also to measure the dependence of the photoresponse on photon energy. We describe a method, involving the temperature dependent photoresponse, which allows an unambiguous identification of the signature of heating effects in materials with a thermally activated conductivity. We find strong evidence that the photoresponse in the materials investigated is predominantly a highly localized heating mechanism. Wavelength dependent studies of the photoresponse reveal resonant features and cutoffs that indicate the photon energy absorption is related to the electronic structure of the material.

In order to improve the performance of the anion exchange membrane (AEM) used in acid recovery from industrial wastewater, this study adopted a new strategy in which brominated poly (2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenyleneoxide) (BPPO) and polyepichlorohydrin (PECH) were used as the polymer backbone of the prepared membrane. The new anion exchange membrane with a net structure was formed by quaternizing BPPO/PECH with N,N,N,N-tetramethyl-1,6-hexanediamine (TMHD). The application performance and physicochemical property of the membrane were adjusted by changing the content of PECH. The experimental study found that the prepared anion exchange membrane had good mechanical performance, thermostability, acid resistance and an appropriate water absorption and expansion ratio. The acid dialysis coefficient (U_H⁺) of anion exchange membranes with different contents of PECH and BPPO was 0.0173–0.0262 m/h at 25 °C. The separation factors (S) of the anion exchange membranes were 24.6 to 27.0 at 25 °C. Compared with the commercial BPPO membrane (DF-120B), the prepared membrane had higher values of U_H⁺ and S in this paper. In conclusion, this work indicated that the prepared BPPO/PECH anion exchange membrane had the potential for acid recovery using the DD method.