• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
• /
• v.48 no.11
• /
• pp.1003-1008
• /
• 2010

In this study, the effect of the reinforcement on the wear behaviour and mechanical properties of hypereutectic Al-Si alloys was investigated. The Gas atomized hypereutectic Al-20Si alloy powders were mixed with 1, 3, and 5 wt.% AlN and TiC ceramic particles and consolidated by hotpress. The Al-20Si powder has both finely dispersed primary Si phases and eutectic structures. The Al-20Si-AlN, TiC composites showed that the reinforcements were distributed along the boundary of the Al-20Si alloy. The UTS increased with increasing the AlN, TiC contents. At a lower load, with an increasing weight fraction of reinforcements, the wear rate decreased in both composites and the wear mechanism was adhesive wear. At a higher load, the shape of the debris changes the mechanism of the AlN composites to abrasive-adhesion wear and this resulted in an increase of the wear rate.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.159-180
• /
• 2003

In this paper spacing and width of flexural cracks in reinforced concrete beams are determined using two-dimensional finite element analysis. At early loading stages on the beam the primary crack spacing is based on the slip length, which is the development length required to resist the steel stress increment that occurs at a cracked section on the formation of the first flexural crack. A semi-empirical formula is presented in this paper for the determination of the slip length for a given beam. At higher load levels, the crack spacing is based on critical crack spacing, which is defined as the particular crack spacing that would produce a concrete tensile stress equal to the flexural strength of concrete. The resulting crack width is calculated as the relative difference in extensions of steel reinforcement and adjacent concrete evaluated at the cracked section. Finally a comparative study is undertaken, which indicates that the spacing and width of cracks calculated by this method agree well with values measured by other investigators.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.739-760
• /
• 2016

This paper reports on punching shear behavior of reinforced concrete panels, investigated experimentally and through finite element simulation. The aim of the study was to examine the punching shear of high strength concrete panels incorporating different types of aggregate and silica fume, in order to assess the validity of the existing code models with respect to the role of compressive and tensile strength of high strength concrete. The variables in concrete mix design include three types of coarse aggregates and three water-cementitious ratios, and ten-percent replacement of silica fume. The experimental results were compared with the results produced by empirical prediction equations of a number of widely used codes of practice. The prediction of the punching shear capacity of high strength concrete using the equations listed in this study, pointed to a potential unsafe design in some of them. This may be a reflection of the overestimation of the contribution of compressive strength and the negligence of the role of flexural reinforcement. The overall findings clearly indicated that the extrapolation of the relationships that were developed for normal strength concrete are not valid for high strength concrete within the scope of this study and that finite element simulation can provide a better alternative to empirical code Equations.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.669-679
• /
• 2018

In this paper the behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) beam-column connections under cyclic loading was analyzed. The specimens, manufactured in a reduced-scale were made of (a) recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) by replacing 30% of natural coarse aggregate (NCA) with recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) and (b) RAC incorporating Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber i.e., PET fiber-reinforced concrete (PFRC) at the joint region. PET fiber (aspect ratio=25) of 0.5% by weight of concrete used in the PFRC mix was obtained by hand cutting of post-consumer PET bottles. A reference specimen was also prepared using 100% of NCA and subjected to similar loading sequence. Comparing the results the structural behavior under cyclic loading of RAC specimens are quite similar to the reference specimens. Damage tolerance, load resisting capacity, stiffness degradation, ductility, and energy dissipation of the RAC specimens enhanced due to addition of PET fibers at the joint region. PFRC specimens also presented a lower damage indices and higher principal tensile stresses as compared to the RAC specimens. The results obtained gave experimental evidence on the feasibility of RAC for structural use. Using PET fibers as a discrete reinforcement is recommended for improving the seismic performance of RAC specimens.

• Journal of Institute of Convergence Technology
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.27-31
• /
• 2018

The age of electric vehicle is coming. One of the most important problems to be solved for popularization of electric vehicle is fuel economy. To increase fuel economy of electric vehicles, it is necessary to improve the performance of the battery or the car body should be lighter than now. To solve the problem of the car body, change the car body's material to carbon fiber reinforced composites can be an excellent answer. However, the part made from carbon fiber reinforced composites is vulnerable to accidents due to their high brittleness. In this study, ductile silica fume was added into the carbon fiber composites to enhance toughness. To examine this, various amounts and sizes of silica fume were considered and the toughness enhancement was examined by performing tensile tests.

• Elastomers and Composites
• /
• v.54 no.1
• /
• pp.22-29
• /
• 2019

Chitosan-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) -bamboo charcoal/silica (CS-PVA-BC/SI) hybrid fillers with compatibilized styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) composites were fabricated by the interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) method. The structure and composition of the composite samples were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The viscoelastic behaviors of the rubber composites and their vulcanizates were explored using a rubber processing analyzer (RPA) in the rheometer, strain sweep and temperature sweep modes. The storage and loss moduli of SBR increased significantly with the incorporation of different hybrid fillers, which was attributed to the formation of an interphase between the hybrid fillers and rubber matrix, and the effective dispersion of the hybrid fillers. The mechanical properties (hardness, tensile strength, oxygen transmission rate, and swelling rate) of the composite samples were characterized in detail. From the results of the mechanical test, it was found that BC-CS-PVA0SBR had the best mechanical properties. Therefore, the BC-CS-PVA hybrid filler provided the best reinforcement effects for the SBR latex in this research.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2019

In this research, an efficient mixed mode I/II fracture criterion is developed for fracture investigation of orthotropic materials wherein crack is placed along the fibers. This criterion is developed based on extension of well-known Maximum Tensile Stress (MTS) criterion in conjunction with a novel material model titled as Equivalent Reinforced Isotropic Model (ERIM). In this model, orthotropic material is replaced with an isotropic matrix reinforced with fibers. A comparison between available experimental observations and theoretical estimation implies on capability of developed criterion for predicting both crack propagation direction and fracture instance, wherein the achieved fracture limit curves are also compatible with fracture mechanism of orthotic materials. It is also shown that unlike isotropic materials, fracture toughness of orthotic materials in mode $I(K)_{IC}{\mid})$ cannot be introduced as the maximum load bearing capacity and thus new fracture mechanics property, named here as maximum orthotropic fracture toughness in mode $I(K_{IC}{\mid}^{ortho}_{max})$ is defined. Optimum angle between crack and fiber direction for maximum load bearing in orthotropic materials is also defined.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.419-433
• /
• 2021

In composite structures, shear connectors are crucial components to resist the relative slip between the steel and concrete, and thereby to achieve the composite actions. In the service stage, composite structures are usually in elastic state, so the elastic stiffness of the shear connection is a quite important parameter in the structural analysis of composite structures. Nevertheless, the existing studies mainly focus on the load-slip relationship rather than the tangent stiffness at the initial elastic stage. Furthermore, when composite beams subjected to torque or local load, shear connections are affected by both tensile force and shear force. However, the stiffness of shear connections under combined effects appears not to have been discussed hitherto. This paper investigates the initial elastic stiffness of stud connections under combined effects of biaxial forces. The initial expression and the relevant parameters are obtained by establishing a simplified analytical model of the stud connection. Afterwards, parametric finite element analysis is performed to investigate the effects of the relevant factors, including the stud length, stud diameter, elastic modulus of concrete, elastic modulus of steel and volume ratio of reinforcement. The feasibility of the proposed modelling has been proved by comparing with sufficient experimental tests. Based on the analytical analysis and the extensive numerical simulations, design equations for predicting the initial elastic stiffness of stud connections are proposed. The comparison between the equations and the data of finite element models demonstrates that the equations are accurate enough to serve for engineering communities.

• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Structure & Construction
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.21-28
• /
• 2019

This study investigates the applicability of composite polyurea to contain fiber reinforcement like fiber glass, steel fiber and carbon nanotube. Polyurea as elastomer is an excellent water-proofing material with many mechanical characteristics such as high tensile strength, ductility, high rate of expansion and contraction, and so on. The reinforcing fibers can be utilized for improving the load-carrying capacity of concrete structures. The polyurea plays a role to improve the ductility and toughness. Composite polyurea takes the mechanical advantages of the fibers and the polyurea. The test variables include the type of reinforcing fiber, its spraying thickness, and its weight ratio contained in the composite polyurea. It is observed that the load-carrying capacity, and the ductility and toughness are improved with the increase in the spraying thickness and the weight ratio contained in the composite polyurea. It is expected that the composite polyurea can be widely utilized in enhancing the structural and seismic performance.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.339-344
• /
• 2021

Composite materials offer distinct and unique properties that are not naturally inherited in the individual materials that make them. One of the most attractive composites to manufacture is the aluminum alloy matrix composite, because it usually combines easiness of availability, light weight, strength, and other favorable properties. In the current work, Powder Metallurgy Method (PMM) is used to prepare Al2024 matrix composites reinforced with different mixing ratios of yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃) particles. The tests performed on the composites include physical, mechanical, and tribological, as well as microstructure analysis via optical microscope. The results show that the experimental density slightly decreases while the porosity increases when the reinforcement ratio increases within the selected range of 0 ~ 20 wt%. Besides this, the yield strength, tensile strength, and Vickers hardness increase up to a 10 wt% Y₂O₃ ratio, after which they decline. Moreover, the wear results show that the composite follows the same paradigm for strength and hardness. It is concluded that this composite is ideal for application when higher strength is required from aluminum composites, as well as lighter weight up to certain values of Y₂O₃ ratio.