• Computers and Concrete
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.279-295
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• 2016

A new innovative composite material is textile reinforced cementitious composite (TRCC). To achieve high flexural performance researchers suggest polymer modification of TRCC matrices. In this study, nine ready mix repair mortars commonly used in construction industry and the production of TRCC elements were examined. Mechanical properties such as compressive and flexural strength, drying shrinkage were studied. Being a significant durability concern, alkali silica reaction tests were performed according to related standards. Results showed that, some ready repair mortar mixes are potentially reactive due to the alkali silica reaction. Two of the ready mortar mixes labelled as non-shrinkage in their technical data sheets showed the highest shrinkage. In this experiment, researchers designed new matrices. These matrices were fine grained concretes modified with polymer additives; latexes and redispersible powders. Two latexes and six redispersible powder polymers were used in the study. Mechanical properties of fine grained concretes such as compressive and flexural strengths were determined. Results showed that some of the fine grained concretes cast with redispersible powders had higher flexural strength than ready mix repair mortars at 28 days. Matrix composition has to be designed for a suitable consistency for planned production processes of TRCC and mechanical properties for load-carrying capacity.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.133-148
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• 2019

This paper reports on the energy absorption characteristics of a lattice-web reinforced composite sandwich cylinder (LRCSC) which is composed of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) face sheets, GFRP lattice webs, polyurethane (PU) foam and ceramsite filler. Quasi-static compression experiments on the LRCSC manufactured by a vacuum assisted resin infusion process (VARIP) were performed to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed cylinders. Compared with the cylinders without lattice webs, a maximum increase in the ultimate elastic load of the lattice-web reinforced cylinders of approximately 928% can be obtained. Moreover, due to the use of ceramsite filler, the energy absorption was increased by 662%. Several numerical simulations using ANSYS/LS-DYNA were conducted to parametrically investigate the effects of the number of longitudinal lattice webs, the number of transverse lattice webs, and the thickness of the transverse lattice web and GFRP face sheet. The effectiveness and feasibility of the numerical model were verified by a series of experimental results. The numerical results demonstrated that a larger number of thicker transverse lattice webs can significantly enhance the ultimate elastic load and initial stiffness. Moreover, the ultimate elastic load and initial stiffness were hardly affected by the number of longitudinal lattice webs.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.87 no.6
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• pp.517-527
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• 2023

The severe deterioration of structures has led to extensive research on the development of structural repair techniques using composite materials. Consequently, previous researchers have devised various analytical methods to predict the interface performance of bonded repairs. However, these analytical solutions are highly complex mathematically and necessitate numerous calculations with a large number of iterations to obtain the output parameters. In this paper, an artificial neural network prediction models is used to calculate the interfacial stress distribution in RC beams strengthened with FRP sheet. The R2value for the training data is evaluated as 0.99, and for the testing data, it is 0.92. Closed-form solutions are derived for RC beams strengthened with composite sheets simply supported at both ends and verified through direct comparisons with existing results. A comparative study of peak interfacial shear and normal stresses with the literature gives the usefulness and effectiveness of ANN proposed. A parametrical study is carried out to show the effects of some design variables, e.g., thickness of adhesive layer and FRP sheet.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.705-713
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• 2017

A novel material, $Bi_2WO_6-GO-TiO_2$ composite, was successfully synthesized using a facile hydrothermal method. During the hydrothermal reaction, the loading of $Bi_2WO_6$ and $TiO_2$ nanoparticles onto graphene sheets was achieved. The obtained $Bi_2WO_{6-GO-TiO2}$ composite photo-catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis-DRS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The $Bi_2WO_6$ nanoparticle showed an irregular dark-square block nanoplate shape, while $TiO_2$ nanoparticles covered the surface of the graphene sheets with a quantum dot size. The degradation of rhodamine B (RhB), methylene blue trihydrate (MB), and reactive black B (RBB) dyes in an aqueous solution with different initial amount of catalysts was observed by UV spectrophotometry after measuring the decrease in the concentration. As a result, the $Bi_2WO_6-GO-TiO_2$ composite showed good decolorization activity with MB solution under visible light. The $Bi_2WO_6-GO-TiO_2$ composite is expected to become a new potential material for decolorization activity. Photocatalytic reactions with different photocatalysts were explained by the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model and a band theory.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.275-286
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• 2014

This paper reports the influence of number of layers and length of GFRP sheets wrapped onto RCC beams for strengthening. Twelve beams of size $700mm{\times}150mm{\times}150mm$ were cast and tested. Two beams without GFRP and ten beams wrapped in different lay-up patterns with one and two layers of GFRP sheets was subjected to three point loading test and ultrasonic pulse velocity test. Initial crack load, ultimate failure load and types of failure have been observed and noted. Experimental results indicate a significant increase in initial and ultimate load carrying capacity of GFRP wrapped beams compared to unwrapped beams. The failed control specimen was retrofitted using U wrap scheme and tested under three point loading.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.49-74
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• 2018

Generally, beam-column joints are taken into account as rigid in assessment of seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Experimental and numerical studies have proved that ignoring nonlinearities in the joint core might crucially affect seismic performance of RC structures. On the other hand, to improve seismic behaviour of such structures, several strengthening techniques of beam-column joints have been studied and adopted in practical applications. Among these strengthening techniques, the application of FRP materials has extensively increased, especially in case of exterior RC beam-column joints. In current paper, to simulate the inelastic response in the core of RC beam-column joints strengthened by FRP sheets, a practical joint model has been proposed so that the effect of FRP sheets on characteristics of an RC joint were considered in principal tensile stress-joint rotation relations. To determine these relations, a combination of experimental results and a mechanically-based model has been developed. To verify the proposed model, it was applied to experimental specimens available in the literature. Results revealed that the model could predict inelastic response of as-built and FRP strengthened joints with reasonable precision. The simple analytic procedure and the use of experimentally computed parameters would make the model sufficiently suitable for practical applications.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.54-61
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• 2016

The use of advanced composite materials in strengthening and repair of existing structures is increasing rapidly. This paper describes an effectiveness of a bonding of carbon fiber reinforced sheets to corroded steel members for the repair. Three types of surface treatment, what we call cleaning, of corroded plate are chosen as parameters. They are "without cleaning","removal of painting by brushing" and "complete removal of painting". From the experimental study, the following findings are obtained. 1) When the steel plate is subjected to tensile force, carbon fiber sheets adhered to the painted steel gives a higher strength against peeling compared to that of the plate without painting, 2) The grade of surface treatment, or cleaning of the corroded steel plate affects the strengthening effect.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.105-120
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• 2018

In this paper, the nonlinear free and forced vibration responses of sandwich nano-beams with three various functionally graded (FG) patterns of reinforced carbon nanotubes (CNTs) face-sheets are investigated. The sandwich nano-beam is resting on nonlinear Visco-elastic foundation and is subjected to thermal and electrical loads. The nonlinear governing equations of motion are derived for an Euler-Bernoulli beam based on Hamilton principle and von Karman nonlinear relation. To analyze nonlinear vibration, Galerkin's decomposition technique is employed to convert the governing partial differential equation (PDE) to a nonlinear ordinary differential equation (ODE). Furthermore, the Multiple Times Scale (MTS) method is employed to find approximate solution for the nonlinear time, frequency and forced responses of the sandwich nano-beam. Comparison between results of this paper and previous published paper shows that our numerical results are in good agreement with literature. In addition, the nonlinear frequency, force response and nonlinear damping time response is carefully studied. The influences of important parameters such as nonlocal parameter, volume fraction of the CNTs, different patterns of CNTs, length scale parameter, Visco-Pasternak foundation parameter, applied voltage, longitudinal magnetic field and temperature change are investigated on the various responses. One can conclude that frequency of FG-AV pattern is greater than other used patterns.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.67 no.6
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• pp.565-578
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• 2018

This research article reported the nonlinear finite solutions of the nonlinear flexural strength and stress behaviour of nano sandwich graded structural shell panel under the combined thermomechanical loading. The nanotube sandwich structural model is derived mathematically using the higher-order displacement polynomial including the full geometrical nonlinear strain-displacement equations via Green-Lagrange relations. The face sheets of the sandwich panel are assumed to be carbon nanotube-reinforced polymer composite with temperature dependent material properties. Additionally, the numerical model included different types of nanotube distribution patterns for the sandwich face sheets for the sake of variable strength. The required equilibrium equation of the graded carbon nanotube sandwich structural panel is derived by minimizing the total potential energy expression. The energy expression is further solved to obtain the deflection values (linear and nonlinear) via the direct iterative method in conjunction with finite element steps. A computer code is prepared (MATLAB environment) based on the current higher-order nonlinear model for the numerical analysis purpose. The stability of the numerical solution and the validity are verified by comparing the published deflection and stress values. Finally, the nonlinear model is utilized to explore the deflection and the stresses of the nanotube-reinforced (volume fraction and distribution patterns of carbon nanotube) sandwich structure (different core to face thickness ratios) for the variable type of structural parameter (thickness ratio, aspect ratio, geometrical configurations, constraints at the edges and curvature ratio) and unlike temperature loading.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.240-248
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• 2011

All-vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) has been studied actively as one of the most promising electrochemical energy storage systems for a wide range of applications such as electric vehicles, photovoltaic arrays, and excess power generated by electric power plants at night time. Among consisting elements of the VRFB, the ion exchange membrane and the electrode play important roles. In this study, carbon PVC coposite sheets for the VRFB have been developed and electrochemical characteristics investigated. Current collector for VRFB, carbon PVC composite sheets (CPCS), were prepared with G-1028 as a conducting particle, PVC as a polymer, Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) as a plasticizer and fumed Silica (FS) as a dispersion agent. CPCS has been shown to have the characteristics as an excellent current collector for VRFB and electrochemical properties of specific resistivity 0.31 ${\Omega}cm$, which were composed of G-1028 80 wt%, PVC 10 wt%, DBP 5 wt% and FS 5 wt%.