• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.245-254
• /
• 2021

Wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) is being considered as a technology to replace the conventional manufacturing process of titanium alloys. However, coarse β grains, which can extend through several deposited materials, result in strong textures and anisotropy. As a solution, we study the plastic deformation effects of ultrasonic needle peening (UNP) on the microstructure. UNP treated materials deform plastically and the dislocation density increases. Fine α+α' grains with low aspect ratio are observed in the UNP treated specimens. UNP treated WAAM Ti-6Al-4V alloys have higher strength and lower elongation than those characteristics of WAAM Ti-6Al-4V alloys. Due to UNP treatment, the z-axis directional specimens exhibit a greater effect of reducing elongation than do the x-axis directional specimens. The UNP treatment produces fine grains in proportion to the number of times UNP is performed, thereby increasing strength. UNP processes produce a large number of dislocations in the WAAM Ti-6Al-4V alloys, with the most dislocations being formed at the surface.

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• v.10 no.6
• /
• pp.489-498
• /
• 2020

This paper investigates mechanical properties of roller compacted concrete (RCC) involving reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP). In this way, a set of 276 cylindrical RCC specimens were prepared with different RAP sizes (i.e., fine, coarse & total) at various ratios (i.e., 10%, 20%, and 40%). Results reveal that incorporation of RAP decreases unconfined compressive strength (UCS), modulus of elasticity (E), and indirect tensile (IDT) strength of RCC. For each RAP size, a regression model was used to maximize RAP content while satisfying the UCS lower limit (27.6 Mpa) mentioned by ACI as a minimum requirement for RCC used in pavement construction. Moreover, UCS of RAP incorporated mixes, dissimilar to that of control mixes, was found to be sensitive and insensitive to the testing temperature and curing time after 7 days, respectively. The results also demonstrate that the higher amounts of RAP, the more flexibility in RCC is. This issue was also proved by the results of modulus of elasticity test. In addition, the toughness index (TI) shows that increase in RAP content leads to up to 43% increase in energy absorbance capacity of RCC.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.76 no.5
• /
• pp.663-674
• /
• 2020

In this study, partially restrained beam-column moment joints in the weak-axis direction were examined using three large-scale specimens subject to cyclic loading in order to assess the seismic resistance of the joints of low-rise steel structures and to propose joint details based on the test results. The influence of different number of bolts on the moment joints was thoroughly investigated. It was found that the flexural capacity of the joints in the direction of weak axis was highly dependent on the number of high-tension bolts. In addition, even though the flexural connections subjected to cyclic loading was perfectly designed in accordance with current design codes, severe failure mode such as block shear failure could occur at beam flange. Therefore, to prevent excessive deformation at bolt holes under cyclic loading conditions, the holes in beam flange need to have larger bearing capacity than the required tensile force. In particular, if the thickness of the connecting plate is larger than that of the beam flange, the bearing capacity of the flange should be checked for structural safety.

• 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.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.165-173
• /
• 2022

The effect of basalt and polypropylene fibers on the flexural behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) beams is investigated in this paper. The compressive and tensile behaviors of the basalt concrete and polypropylene concrete cylinders are also investigated. Eight beams and 28 cylinders were made with different percentages of basalt and polypropylene fibers. The dosages of fiber were selected as 0.6%, 1.3%, and 2.5% of the total cement weight. Each type of fiber was mixed solely with the concrete mix. Basalt and polypropylene fibers are modern and cheap materials that can be used to improve the structural behavior of RC members. This research is designed to find the optimum percentage of basalt and polypropylene fibers for enhancing the flexural behavior of RC beams. Test results showed that the addition of basalt and polypropylene fibers in any dosage (0.6%, 1.3%, and 2.5%) can increase the flexural strength and displacement ductility index of the beams where the maximum enhancement was measured with 1.3% fibers. The maximum increments in the flexural strength and the displacement ductility index were 30.39% and 260% for the basalt fiber case, while the maximum improvement for the polypropylene fibers case was 55.5% and 230% compared to the control specimen. Finite element (FE) models were then developed in ABAQUS to predict the numerical behaviour of the tested beams. The FE models were able to predict the experimental behaviour with reasonable accuracy. This research confirms the efficiency of basalt and polypropylene fibers in enhancing the flexural behavior of RC beams, and it also suggests the optimum dosage of fibers.

• Composite Materials and Engineering
• /
• v.3 no.3
• /
• pp.221-239
• /
• 2021

This paper presents a multiscale modeling method for sheet molding compound (SMC) composites through a novel bundle packing reconstruction algorithm based on a micro-CT (Computed Tomography) image processing. Due to the complex flow pattern during the compression molding process, the SMC composites show a spatially varying orientation and overlapping of fiber bundles. Therefore, significant inhomogeneity and anisotropy are commonly observed and pose a tremendous challenge to predicting SMC composites' properties. For high-fidelity modeling of the SMC composites, the statistical distributions for the fiber orientation and local volume fraction are characterized from micro-CT images of real SMC composites. After that, a novel bundle packing reconstruction algorithm for a high-fidelity SMC model is proposed by considering the statistical distributions. A method for evaluating specimen level's strength and stiffness is also proposed from a set of high-fidelity SMC models. Finally, the proposed multiscale modeling methodology is experimentally validated through a tensile test.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.257-267
• /
• 2022

Two different types of rubber aggregates (40 mesh rubber powder and 1-4 mm rubber particles respectively) were devised to substitute fine aggregates at 10%, 15%, 20% and 30% by volume in self-compacting concrete to investigate their basic mechanical properties. The results show that with the increase of rubber content, the reduction of compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and static modulus of elasticity gradually increase, and energy dissipation performance gradually increase. The rubber addition significantly reduces brittleness and decelerates damaged process. Whilst, the effect of rubber particles is greater when they are finer. Considering the mechanical properties, the optimal rubber content is 10%. It is recommended that the rubber volume content in rubberized concrete (RC) should not be higher than 20%. In addition, a constitutive model under uniaxial compression was proposed basing on the strain equivalent principle of Lemaitre and the damage theory, which was in good agreement with the test curves.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.407-421
• /
• 2022

Prefabricated hybrid wind turbine towers (WTTs) are promising due to height increase. This study proposes the use of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) to develop a new type of WTT without the need to use reinforcement. It is demonstrated that the UHPC WTT structure without reinforcing bars could achieve performance similar to that of reinforced concrete WTTs. To simplify the design of WTT, a design approach for the calculation of stresses at the horizontal joints of a WTT is proposed. The stress distribution near the region of the horizontal joint of the WTT structure under normal operating conditions and different load actions is studied using the proposed approach, which is validated by the finite element method. A further parametric study shows that the degree of prestressing and the bending moment both significantly affect the principal stress. The shear-to-torsion ratio also shows a significant influence on the principal tensile stress.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.84 no.1
• /
• pp.101-111
• /
• 2022

It is widely known that axially loaded fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) confined concrete presents significant and enhanced mechanical properties with reference to the unconfined concrete. Therefore, to predict the mechanical behavior of FRP-confined concrete two quantities-peak strength and ultimate strain are required. Despite the significant advances, the determination of the ultimate strain of FRP-confined concrete is one of the most challenging problems to be resolved. This is often attributed to our persistence in desiring the conventional methods as the sole technique to examine this phenomenon and the complex nature of the ultimate strain of FRP-confined concrete. To bridge the research gap, this study adopted two machine learning (ML) techniques-artificial neural network (ANN) and Gaussian process regression (GPR)-to analyze observations obtained from 627 datasets of FRP-confined concrete circular and non-circular sections under axial loading test. Besides, the techniques are also used to predict the ultimate strain of FRP-confined concrete. Seven parameters namely width/diameter of the specimens, corner radius ratio, the strength of concrete, FRP elastic modulus, FRP thickness, FRP tensile rupture strain, and the axial strain of unconfined concrete-are the input parameters used to predict the ultimate strain of FRP-confined concrete. The results of the current study highlight the merit of using AI techniques in structural engineering applications given their extraordinary ability to comprehend multidimensional phenomena of FRP-confined concrete structures with ease, low computational cost, and high performance over the existing empirical models.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.11-19
• /
• 2022

This paper presents the effects of high temperature and water absorption on the mechanical behaviors of carbon-aramid fiber composites, specifically their strength, elastic modulus, and fracture. These composites are used in industrial structures because of their high specific strength and toughness. Carbon fiber composites are vulnerable to the impact force of external objects despite their excellent properties. Aramid fibers have high elongation and impact absorption capabilities. Accordingly, a hybrid composite with the complementary properties and capabilities of carbon and aramid fibers is fabricated. However, the exposure of aramid fiber to water or heat typically deteriorates its mechanical properties. In view of this, tensile and flexural tests were conducted on a twill woven carbon-aramid fiber hybrid composite to investigate the effects of high temperature and water absorption. Moreover, a multiscale analysis of the stress behavior of the composite's microstructure was implemented. The results show that the elastic modulus of composites subjected to high temperature and water absorption treatments decreased by approximately 22% and 34%, respectively, compared with that of the composite under normal conditions. The crack behavior of the composites was well identified under the specimen conditions.