• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.167-177
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• 2023

A probabilistic micromechanical framework is proposed to quantify numerically the self-healing capabilities of polymers containing microcapsules. A two-step self-healing process is designed in this study: A probabilistic micromechanical framework based on the ensemble volume-averaging method is derived for the polymers, and a hitting probability model combined with a crack nucleation model is then utilized for encountering microcapsules and microcracks. Using this framework, a series of parametric investigations are performed to examine the influence of various model parameters (e.g., the volume fraction of microcapsules, microcapsule radius, radius ratio of microcracks to microcapsules, microcrack aspect ratio, and scale parameter) on the self-healing capabilities of the polymers. The proposed framework is also implemented into a finite element code to solve the self-healing behavior of tapered double cantilever beam specimens.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.325-340
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• 2024

The growing demands for sustainable and high-performance construction materials necessitate a deep understanding of their physicochemical properties by that of these heterogeneities. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art hierarchical multiscale modeling approach aimed at predicting the intricate physicochemical characteristics of construction materials. Emphasizing the heterogeneity inherent in these materials, the review briefly introduces single-scale analyses, including the ab initio method, molecular dynamics, and micromechanics, through a scale-bridging technique. Herein, the limitations of these models are also overviewed by that of effectively scale-bridging methods of length or time scales. The hierarchical multiscale model demonstrates these physicochemical properties considering chemical reactions, material defects from nano to macro scale, microscopic properties, and their influence on macroscopic events. Thereby, hierarchical multiscale modeling can facilitate the efficient design and development of next-generation construction.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.303-311
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• 2024

This paper conducts a thorough economic evaluation of integrating nanoparticles into concrete structures within the construction industry, aiming to elevate the material properties of concrete. Employing the Halpin-Tsai micromechanics theory for deriving the effective material properties of the nanocomposite concrete structure, the research investigates the nuanced impact of nanoparticles on various mechanical properties, including the modulus of elasticity, compressive strength, and their indirect effects on the percentage of reinforcement. Implementing the Euler theory to formulate the governing equation based on Hamilton's principle, the study delves into the pricing dynamics of nanoparticles and their influence on the overall cost structure of concrete structures. Notably, the findings reveal that a measured increase in the volume percentage of nanoparticles, up to 1%, results in a remarkable 78% improvement in elastic modulus and a substantial 142% reduction in armature percentage. Remarkably, from an economic perspective, the incremental cost associated with the integration of nanoparticles is relatively modest (around $1 per ton of concrete), considering the substantial enhancements in mechanical properties achieved.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.18 no.1 s.91
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• pp.21-28
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• 2006

This paper presents both experimental and analytical studies for the development of an ECC(Engineered Cementitious Composites) using ground granulated blast furnace slag(slag). This material has been focused on achieving moderately high composite strength while maintaining high ductility, represented by strain-hardening behavior in uniaxial tension. In the material development, micromechanics was adopted to properly select optimized range of the composition based on steady-state cracking theory and experimental studies on matrix, and interfacial properties. A single fiber pullout test and a wedge splitting test were employed to measure the bond properties of the fiber in a matrix and the fracture toughness of mortar matrix. The addition of the slag resulted in slight increases in the frictional bond strength and the fracture toughness. Subsequent direct tensile tests demonstrate that the fiber reinforced mortar exhibited high ductile uniaxial tension behavior with a maximum strain capacity of 3.6%. Both ductility and tensile strength(~5.3 MPa) of the composite produced with slag were measured to be significantly higher than those of the composite without slag. The slag particles contribute to improving matrix strength and fiber dispersion, which is incorporated with enhanced workability attributed to the oxidized grain surface. This result suggests that, within the limited slag dosage employed in the present study, the contribution of slag particles to the workability overwhelms the side-effect of decreased potential of saturated multiple cracking.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.99-107
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• 2004

Anisotropic characteristics of deformation are important to understand the particular behavior in the pre-failure state of soils. Recent experiments show that cross-anisotropic moduli of granular soils can be expressed by functions of normal stresses in the corresponding directions, which is closely linked to micromechanical characteristics of particles. Granular soils are composed of a number of particles so that the force-displacement relationship at each contact point governs the macroscopic stress-strain relationship. Therefore, the micromechanical approach in which the deformation of granular soils is regarded as a mutual interaction between particle contacts is one of the best ways to investigate the anisotropic elastic deformation of soils. In this study, a numerical program based on the theory of micromechanics is developed. Generalized contact model for the irregular contact surface of soil particles is adopted to represent the force-displacement relationship in each contact point far the realistic prediction of anisotropic moduli. To evaluate the model parameters, a set of analytical solutions of anisotropic elastic moduli is derived in the isotropic stress condition. A detailed procedure to determine the model parameters is proposed with emphasis on the practical applicability of micromechanical program to analyze the elastic behavior of the granular soils.

• Composites Research
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.306-314
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• 2016

In this study, to improve the thermal stabilities of the epoxy composite specimens in addition to the enhanced mechanical properties, those were reinforced with carbon nanotubes and micrometer-sized silica particles. To disperse the filler in matrix relatively simple physical process, specimens were fabricated using shear mixing and sonication. Tensile strength, coefficients of thermal expansion and thermal conductivity of the specimens were measured with varied contents of the two fillers. The mechanical and thermal properties were also discussed, and the experimental results of thermal expansion related to the thermal stability of the specimens were compared with those from several micromechanics models. The hybrid composites specimens incorporating 0.6 wt％ of carbon nanotubes and 50 wt％ of silica particles showed better mechanical properties than the others with increase in tensile strength up to 11％, with respect to those of the baseline specimens. As the silica contents were increased the thermal expansion was reduced down to 36%, and the thermal stability was improved with the decreased thermal deformation. Thermal conductivity of the epoxy composite specimens incorporating 50 wt％ of silica particles was enhanced, which demonstrate improvement of 72%. The mechanical and thermal properties of the hybrid composites specimens incorporating the two fillers were improved simultaneously.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.1037-1046
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• 2016

In this study, to enhance the electrical insulation of composite specimens in addition to the improved mechanical properties, the epoxy composite were reinforced with carbon nanotubes and silica particles. Tensile strength, Young's modulus, dynamic mechanical behavior, and electrical resistivity of the specimens were measured with varied contents of the two fillers. The mechanical and electrical properties were discussed, and the experimental results related to the mechanical properties of the specimens were compared with those from several micromechanics models. The hybrid composites specimens with 0.6 wt％ of carbon nanotubes and 50 wt％ of silica particles showed improved mechanical properties, with increase in tensile strength and Young's modulus up to 11％ and 35％, respectively, with respect to those of the baseline specimen. The electrical conductivity of the composite specimens with carbon nanotubes filler also improved. Further, the electrical insulation of the hybrid composites specimens with the two fillers improved in addition to the improvement in mechanical properties.

• Composites Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.16-24
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• 2023

This paper presents a multi-scale progressive fatigue damage model incorporating the model for interfacial debonding between fibers and matrix. The micromechanics model for the progressive interface debonding was adopted, which defined the four different interface phases: (1) perfectly bonded fibers; (2) mild imperfect interface; (3) severe imperfect interface; and (4) completely debonded fibers. As the number of cycles increases, the progressive transition from the perfectly bonded state to the completely debonded fiber state occurs. Eshelby's tensor for each imperfect state is calculated by the linear spring model for a damaged interface, and effective elastic properties are obtained using the multi-phase homogenization method. The fatigue damage evolution formulas for fiber, matrix and interface were proposed to demonstrate the fatigue behavior of CFRP laminates under cyclic loading. The material parameters for the fiber/matrix fatigue damage were characterized using the chaotic firefly algorithm. The model was implemented into the UMAT subroutine of ABAQUS, and successfully validated with flat-bar UD laminate specimens ([0]₈,[90]₈, [30]₁₆) of AS4/3501-6 graphite/epoxy composite.

• Journal of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.45-65
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• 2002

A constitutive model on oorthotropic thermo-elasto-viscoplasticity for fiber-reinforced composite materials Is illustrated, and their thermomechanical responses are predicted with the fully-coupled finite element formulation. The unmixing-mixing scheme can be adopted with the multipartite matrix method as the constitutive model. Basic assumptions based upon the composite micromechanics are postulated, and the strain components of thermal expansion due to temperature change are included In the formulation. Also. more than two sets of mechanical variables, which represent the deformation states of multipartite matrix can be introduced arbitrarily. In particular, the unmixing-mixing scheme can be used with any well-known isotropic viscoplastic theory of the matrix material. The scheme unnecessitates the complex processes for developing an orthotropic viscoplastic theory. The governing equations based on fully-coupled thermomechanics are derived with constitutive arrangement by the unmixing-mixing concept. By considering some auxiliary conditions, the Initial-boundary value problem Is completely set up. As a tool of numerical analyses, the finite element method Is used with isoparametric Interpolation fer the displacement and the temperature fields. The equation of mutton and the energy conservation equation are spatially discretized, and then the time marching techniques such as the Newmark method and the Crank-Nicolson technique are applied. To solve the ultimate nonlinear simultaneous equations, a successive iteration algorithm is constructed with subincrementing technique. As a numerical study, a series of analyses are performed with the main focus on the thermomechanical coupling effect in composite materials. The progress of viscoplastic deformation, the stress-strain relation, and the temperature History are careful1y examined when composite laminates are subjected to repeated cyclic loading.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.913-930
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• 2016

It is common practice to use Reduced Web Beam Sections (RWBS) in steel moment resisting frames. Perforation of beam web in these members may cause stress and strain concentration around the opening area and facilitate ductile fracture under cyclic loading. This paper presents a numerical study on the cyclic fracture of these structural components. The considered connections are configured as T-shaped assemblies with beams of elongated circular perforations. The failure of specimens under Ultra Low Cycle Fatigue (ULCF) condition is simulated using Cyclic Void Growth Model (CVGM) which is a micromechanics based fracture model. In each model, CVGM fracture index is calculated based on the stress and strain time histories and then models with different opening configurations are compared based on the calculated fracture index. In addition to the global models, sub-models with refined mesh are used to evaluate fracture index around the beam to column weldment. Modeling techniques are validated using data from previous experiments. Results show that as the perforation size increases, opening corners experience greater fracture index. This is while as the opening size increases the maximum observed fracture index at the connection welds decreases. However, the initiation of fracture at connection welds occurs at lower drift angles compared to opening corners. Finally, a probabilistic framework is applied to CVGM in order to account for the uncertainties existing in the prediction of ductile fracture and results are discussed.