• Elastomers and Composites
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.173-179
• /
• 2000

Cure characteristics. tensile properties, and dynamic properties were investigated on the carbon black-filled natural rubber compounds, in which three typical vulcanization types conventional vulcanization(Conv), semi-efficient(Semi-EV), and efficient(EV) vulcanizations were used. The effects of vulcanization temperature on both the mechanical property and aging resistance of rubber compounds were also investigated. The Conv cure system showed a slightly slower rate of vulcanization than those of Semi-EV and EV ones. On the other hand, it showed a higher value in the maximum torque of cure curve. Higher tensile moduli were observed in Conv system than those in Semi-EV and EV ones, while lower elongation at break were obtained in Conv one. The tensile strength at break were found to be about the same for three cute systems. Hardness, modulus, and tensile strength decreased with increasing the vulcanization temperature, and the degree of changes in the properties was found to be smaller for EV and Semi-EV systems than that in Conv one. The EV system was found to be superior in thermal-aging resistance to Conv one.

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• v.6 no.6
• /
• pp.645-658
• /
• 2018

Despite being one of the most abundantly used construction materials because of its exceptional properties, concrete is susceptible to deterioration and damage due to various factors particularly corrosion, improper loading, poor workmanship and design discrepancies, and as a result concrete structures require retrofitting and strengthening. In recent times, Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites have substituted the conventional techniques of retrofitting and strengthening of damaged concrete. Most of the research studies related to concrete strengthening using FRP have been performed on undamaged test specimens. This contribution presents the results of an experimental study in which concrete specimens were damaged by mechanical loading and elevated temperature in laboratory prior to application of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) sheets for strengthening. The test specimens prepared using concrete of target compressive strength of 28 MPa at 28 days were subjected to compressive and splitting tensile testing up to failure and the intact pieces of the failed specimens were collected for the purpose of repair. In order to induce damage as a result of elevated temperature, the concrete cylinders were subjected to $400^{\circ}C$ and $800^{\circ}C$ temperature for two hours duration. Concrete cylinders damaged under compressive and split tensile loads were re-cast using concrete and rich cement-sand mortar, respectively and then strengthened using CFRP wrap. Concrete cylinders damaged due to elevated temperature were also strengthened using CFRP wrap. Re-cast and strengthened concrete cylinders were tested in compression and splitting tension. The obtained results revealed that re-casting of specimens damaged by mechanical loadings using concrete & mortar, and then strengthened by single layer CFRP wrap exhibited strength even higher than their original values. In case of specimens damaged by elevated temperature, the results indicated that concrete strength is significantly dropped and strengthening using CFRP wrap made it possible to not only recover the lost strength but also resulted in concrete strength greater than the original value.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.68-75
• /
• 2022

The breathable film refers to a high-functional film that allows gas and water vapor to pass through very fine and sophisticated pores but not liquid. In this research, the breathable film was prepared based on linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and CaCO₃ particles by extrude method. The LLDPE composite film containing CaCO₃ particles had excellent mechanical properties and functionalties. The drawing is a technologically simple and excellent method for improving the mechanical properties of composite films. In this work, the effects of draw ratio on morphology, crystallinity, pore size distribution, mechanical properties, and water vapor permeability of the films were examined. The results revealed that both surface morphology and breathability were affected by the influence of chain orientation and crystal growth with increasing the draw ratio. The mechanical properties were improved with increasing the draw ratio.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.101-107
• /
• 2021

Composite structures have components and joints. Theses connections or joints can be potentially weak points in the structure. The failure mode of the composite bolted joint is designed as a bearing failure mode for structural safety. The load-displacement relation exhibits bearing failure mode shows a nonlinear behavior after the initial failure and progressive failure behavior. In order to accurately predict the failure behavior of composite bolted joints, this study modified the shear damage variable calculation process in the existing progressive failure analysis model. The results of the bearing stress-bearing strain of the composite bolted joint were predicted using the modified progressive failure analysis model, and the modified model was verified through comparison with the previous progressive analysis model.

• Elastomers and Composites
• /
• v.56 no.4
• /
• pp.243-249
• /
• 2021

The demand for truck bus radial (TBR) tires with enhanced fuel efficiency and wear resistance have grown in recent years. In addition, as the issue of particulate matter and air pollution increases, efforts are being made to reduce the generation of particulate matter. In this study, we investigated the effect of varying the content of butadiene rubber (BR) on the properties of the rubber compounds and the amount of particulate matter in the TBR tire tread compound. Furthermore, we utilized carbon black in the NR/BR blend compounds owing to its excellent compatibility, and we used silica in the ENR-25/BR blend compounds because it can interact chemically with epoxide groups. The NR/BR blend compounds and the ENR-25/BR blend compounds were evaluated by varying their BR content between 20 phr and 30 phr. The results showed that the ENR-25/BR blend compounds had superior wear resistance than the NR/BR blend compounds. This was caused by the interaction between silica and ENR. In addition, it was confirmed that the increased wear resistance as the BR content increased. Furthermore, compared to the NR/BR blend compounds, ENR-25/BR blend compounds exhibited a lower tan 𝛿 value at 60℃ because silica was used as filler. This indicates a higher fuel efficiency. The measurement results for wear particulate matter showed that as increasing the BR content resulted in generation of less wear particulate matter. This was caused by the increased wear resistance. Moreover, the ENR-25/BR blend compounds with excellent filler-rubber interaction exhibited lower quantities of generated wear particulate matters as compared to the NR/BR blend compounds.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.18-31
• /
• 2001

Interfacial and microfailure properties of the modified steel, carbon and glass fibers/cement composites were investigated using electro-pullout test under tensile and compressive tests with acoustic emission (AE). The hand-sanded steel composite exhibited higher interfacial shear strength (IFSS) than the untreated and even neoalkoxy zirconate (Zr) treated steel fiber composites. This might be due to the enhanced mechanical interlocking, compared to possible hydrogen or covalent bonds. During curing process, the contact resistivity decreased rapidly at the initial stage and then showed a level-off. Comparing to the untreated case, the contact resistivity of either Zr-treated or hand-sanded steel fiber composites increased to the infinity at latter stage. The number of AE signals of hand-sanded steel fiber composite was much more than those of the untreated and Zr-treated cases due to many interlayer failure signals. AE waveforms for pullout and frictional signals of the hand-sanded composite are larger than those of the untreated case. For dual matrix composite (DMC), AE energy and waveform under compressive loading were much higher and larger than those under tensile loading, due to brittle but well-enduring ceramic nature against compressive stress. Vertical multicrack exhibits fur glass fiber composite under tensile test, whereas buckling failure appeared under compressive loading. Electro-micromechanical technique with AE can be used as an efficient nondestructive (NDT) method to evaluate the interfacial and microfailure mechanisms for conductive fibers/brittle and nontransparent cement composites.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.270-274
• /
• 2023

The stacking configuration of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites, achieved via the filament winding process, exhibits distinct variations compared to conventional FRP composite stacking arrangements. Consequently, it becomes challenging to ascertain the influence of mechanical properties based on the typical stacking structures. Thus, it becomes imperative to enhance the mechanical behavior and optimize the interleaved structures to improve overall performance. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the impact of incorporating amorphous halloysite nanotubes (A-HNTs) within different layers of five unique layer arrangements on the low-velocity impact properties of interleaved carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) structures. The low-velocity impact characteristics of the laminate were validated using a drop weight impact test, wherein the resulting impact damage modes and extent of damage were compared and evaluated under microscopic analysis. Each interleaved structure laminate according to whether nanoparticles are added was compared at impact energies of 10 J and 15 J. In the case of 10 J, the absorption energy showed a similar tendency in each structure. However, at 15 J, the absorption energy varies from structure to structure. Among them, a structure in which nanoparticles are not added exhibits the highest absorption energy. Additionally, various impact fracture modes were observed in each structure through optical microscopy.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.303-308
• /
• 2022

PIC (Piecewise Integrated Composite) is a new concept for designing a composite structure with mosaically assigning various types of stacking sequences in order to improve mechanical properties of laminated composites. Also, machine learning is a sub-category of artificial intelligence, that refers to the process by which computers develop the ability to continuously learn from and make predictions based on data, then make adjustments without further programming. In the present study, the tapered box beam type PIC robot arm for carrying and transferring wide and thin LCD display was designed based on the machine learning in order to increase structural stiffness. Essential training data were collected from the reference elements, which were intentionally designated elements among finite element models, during preliminary FE analysis. Additionally, triaxiality values for each finite element were obtained for judging the dominant external loading type, such as tensile, compressive or shear. Training and evaluating machine learning model were conducted using the training data and loading types of elements were predicted in case the level accuracy was fulfilled. Three types of stacking sequences, which were to be known as robust toward specific loading types, were mosaically assigned to the PIC robot arm. Henceforth, the bending type FE analysis was carried out and its result claimed that the PIC robot arm showed increased stiffness compared to conventional uni-stacking sequence type composite robot arm.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.34 no.6
• /
• pp.357-372
• /
• 2021

The energy harvesting device is known to be promising as an alternative to solve the resource shortage caused by the depletion of petroleum resources. In order to overcome the limitations (environmental pollution and low mechanical properties) of piezoelectric elements capable of converting mechanical motion into electrical energy, many studies have been conducted on a polymer matrix-based composite piezoelectric energy harvesting device. In this paper, the output performance and related applications of the reported piezoelectric composites are reviewed based on the applied materials and processes. As for the piezoelectric fillers, zinc oxide, which is advantageous in terms of eco-friendliness, biocompatibility, and flexibility, as well as ceramic fillers based on lead zirconate titanate and barium titanate, were reviewed. The polymer matrix was classified into piezoelectric polymers composed of polyvinylidene fluoride and copolymers, and flexible polymers based on epoxy and polydimethylsiloxane, to discuss piezoelectric synergy of composite materials and improvement of piezoelectric output by high external force application, respectively. In addition, the effect of improving the conductivity or the mechanical properties of composite material by the application of a metal or carbon-based secondary filler on the output performance of the piezoelectric harvesting device was explained in terms of the structure of the composite material. Composite material-based piezoelectric harvesting devices, which can be applied to small electronic devices, smart sensors, and medicine with improved performance, can provide potential insights as a power source for wireless electronic devices expected to be encountered in future daily life.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.48-54
• /
• 2011

The effect of moisture contents by salt water on the strength of composite single-lap bonded joints is investigated. The specimens were manufactured in an autoclave by secondary bonding and immersed in the 3.5% salt water of $71^{\circ}C$ for different durations to get various moisture contents; 0, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0%(saturation). A total of 80 joint specimens were tested for 5 different moisture contents and 2 temperature environments. Test results show that while the joint strengths after the saturation of moisture decrease compared to those of dry ones, the strengths of the pre-saturated joint up to 1.0% of moisture content increase in both room and elevated temperature conditions. It is also shown that the strengths of joints tested in elevated temperature are slightly higher than the strength in room temperature by 2-5% until the moisture content reaches 1 %. In contrast, the high temperature strength of the saturated joint is about 5% lower than the room temperature strength.