• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.833-849
• /
• 2016

Pre-stressing of existing structures using steel cables, FRP cables or FRP laminates has been successfully tried in the past. Retrofitting of beams using pre-stressed laminates does not utilize the full strength of the FRP due to de-bonding of the laminates before the fibre fracture. In the present study attempt has been made to overcome this problem by replacing the FRP laminates by the FRP sheets. In the present paper the effect of initial damage level and pre-stress level on strength, stiffness, cracking behaviour and failure mode of girders retrofitted using pre-stressed CFRP sheets has been studied. The results indicate that rehabilitation of initially damaged girders by bonding pre-stressed CFRP sheets improves the flexural behaviour of beams appreciably. However, it has been observed that with increase in pre-stressing force the load carrying capacity of the girders increases up to a particular level up to which the mode of failure is fibre fracture. Thereafter, the mode of failure shifts from fibre fracture to de-bonding and there is no appreciable increase in load carrying capacity with further increase in pre-stressing force.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.112-117
• /
• 2007

The application of membrane bioreactors for the depuration of wastewater coming from the washing of mineral oil storage tanks is described. Microfiltration hollow-fibre membranes were used in the submerged configuration. Filtration tests were carried out with a biomass concentration of about 15 g/L in order to assess the critical flux of the hollow fibre membrane used. Then particular care was taken in carrying out the performance runs in the sub-critical flux region. The reactor performance was very high, with removal efficiencies ranging between 93% and 97% also when the concentration of hydrocarbon was very high. Some kinetic parameters for the COD and the hydrocarbon removal were estimated.

• Carbon letters
• /
• v.4 no.3
• /
• pp.111-116
• /
• 2003

Carbon/carbon composites were developed using PAN based carbon fibres and phenolic resin as matrix in different volume fractions and heat treated to temperatures between $1000^{\circ}C$ to $2500^{\circ}C$. Although both the starting precursors are nongraphitizing hard carbons individually, their composites lead to very interesting properties e.g. x-ray diffractograms show the development of graphitic phase for composites having fibre volume fractions of 30~40%. Consequently the electrical resistivity of such composites reaches a value of $0.8\;m{\Omega}cm$, very close to highly graphitic material. However, it was found that by increasing the fibre volume fraction to 50~60%, the trend is reversed. Optical microscopy of the composites also reveals the development of strong columnar type microstructure at the fibre (matrix interface due to stress graphitization of the matrix. The study forcasts a unique possibility of producing high thermal conductivity carbon/carbon composites starting with carbon fibres in the chopped form only.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.23-32
• /
• 2007

The nature of genetic variation and diversity among the 65 multivoltine silkworm genotypes was evaluated for 16 post cocoon characters. The components of genetic variation revealed higher PCV (60.487%) and GCV (44.56%) for evenness (variation 1) followed by cohesion (PCV=55.38%, GCV=40.36%) and non-broken filament length (PCV=32.05%, GCV=31.28%). The higher heritability ($h^2$ in broad sense) was observed for boil-off loss (95.6%) followed by non-broken filament length (95.22%). The both genotypic and phenotypic correlation indicated significant positive correlation of filament length with non-broken filament length, silk recovery, raw silk, neatness, and low neatness; and negative correlation with denier, renditta and silk waste. The principal component analysis (PCA) revealed 75.381 % of total variance from the five principal components extracted. On the basis of Mahalonobis' $D^2$ values (Ward's minimum variance), the sixty-five multivoltine silkworm genotypes were classified in to 9 clusters with substantial inter and intra cluster distances. Number of genotypes included in different clusters varied from 3 to 17. The results indicated that the optimum distance obtained in cluster VII (15.059) along with higher cluster mean values especially for filament length, non broken filament length, renditta, silk recovery, silk waste, and raw silk emphasized the utilization of these genotypes in the conventional silkworm breeding programme for improvement of multivoltine silk fibre quality. The possibility of exploiting genetic variation in post cocoon traits for efficient breeding programme is discussed.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.29-48
• /
• 2015

The main purpose of this work is to compare different criteria for the seismic strengthening of RC framed buildings in order to find the optimal combinations of these retrofitting techniques. To this end, a numerical investigation is carried out with reference to the town hall of Spilinga (Italy), an RC framed structure with an L-shaped plan built at the beginning of the 1960s. Five structures are considered, derived from the first by incorporating: carbon fibre reinforced polymer (FRP)-wrapping of all columns; base-isolation, with high-damping-laminated-rubber bearings (HDLRBs); added damping, with hysteretic damped braces (HYDBs); FRP-wrapping of the first storey columns combined with base-isolation or added damping. A three-dimensional fibre model of the primary and retrofitted structures is considered; bilinear and trilinear laws idealize, respectively, the behaviour of the HYDB, providing that the buckling be prevented, and the FRP-wrapping, without resistance in compression, while the response of the HDLRB is simulated by using a viscoelastic linear model. The effectiveness of the retrofitting solutions is tested with nonlinear dynamic analyses based on biaxial accelerograms, whose response spectra match those in the Italian seismic code.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.659-677
• /
• 2013

This paper introduces new specimens of Steel-Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer composite developed in accordance with standard test method and definition for mechanical testing of steel (ASTM-A370). The main purpose of this research is to study the behaviour of steel-CFRP composite specimen under uniaxial tension to use it in beams in lieu of traditional steel bar reinforcement. Eighteen specimens were prepared and divided into six groups, depending upon the number of the layers of CFRP. Uniaxial tensile tests were conducted to determine yield strength and ultimate strength of specimens. Test results showed that the stress-strain curve of the composite specimen was bilinear prior to the fracture of CFRP laminate. The tested composite specimens displayed a large difference in strength with remarkable ductility. The ultimate load for Steel-Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer composite specimens was found using the model proposed by Wu et al. (2010) and nonlinear FE analysis. The ultimate loads obtained from FE analysis are found to be in good agreement with experimental ones. However, ultimate loads obtained applying Wu model are significantly different from experimental/FE ones. This suggested modification of Wu model. Modified Wu's model which gives a better estimate for the ultimate load of Steel-Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (SCFRP) composite specimen is presented in this paper.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.291-298
• /
• 2012

While attempting to develop low salt, low fat and high fibre chicken nuggets, the effect of partial (40%) common salt substitution and incorporation of chickpea hull flour (CHF) at three different levels viz., 5, 7.5 and 10% (Treatments) in pre-standardized low fat chicken nuggets (Control) were observed. Common salt replacement with salt substitute blend led to a significant decrease in pH, emulsion stability, moisture, ash, hardness, cohesiveness, gumminess and chewiness values while incorporation of CHF in low salt, low fat products resulted in decreased emulsion stability, cooking yield, moisture, protein, ash, color values, however dietary fibre and textural properties were increased (p<0.01). Lipid profile revealed a decrease in total cholesterol and glycolipid contents with the incorporation of CHF (p<0.01). All the sensory attributes except appearance and flavor, remained unaffected with salt replacement, while addition of CHF resulted in lower sensory scores (p<0.01). Among low salt, low fat chicken nuggets with CHF, incorporation CHF at 5% level was found optimum having sensory ratings close to very good. Thus most acceptable low salt, low fat and high fibre chicken nuggets could be developed by a salt replacement blend and addition of 5% CHF.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
• /
• 2005.11a
• /
• pp.61-65
• /
• 2005

Existing test methods for thick-section specimens ( 4mm) have not provided precise compressive properties to date for the analysis and design of thick structure. A survey of the failure behaviour of such thick specimens revealed that the failure initiated at the top corner of the specimen and propagated down and across the width of the specimen as premature failure, not typically reported for thin compression specimens. In the current study, the premature failure was successfully avoided during compressive testing and the failure mode was quite similar regardless of increasing specimen thickness and specimen volume. Failure mode was similar regardless of increasing specimen thickness and specimen volume, i.e. brooming failure mode combined with longitudinal splitting, interlaminar cracking, fibre breakage and kinkband formation (fibre microbuckling). Nevertheless, average failure strengths of the specimens decreased with increasing specimen thicnkiness from 2mm to 8mm with the T800/924C system (36% strength reduction) and specimen volumes from scaling factor I to scaling factor 4 with the IM7/8552 system (46% strength reduction). It was revealed from the literature$^{11}$ that the thickness effect and scaling effect arc caused by manufacturing defects such as void content and fibre waviness.

• International Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.16-20
• /
• 2020

The recent trend is increasing towards the usage of polymer matrix composites since they have a wide variety of applications. They have applications in the field of aircraft and space industry, sporting goods, medical devices, marine and automotive applications and also in commercial usage. The most commonly used fibre-reinforced polymer matrix composite is Glass fibre reinforced epoxy (GFRE) composite which is used in aviation, sports and automotive industries. However, the strength of GFRE composites is not adequate for structural applications. Therefore, the current research focuses on increasing the strength of GFRE composites by reinforcing with micro Graphite (Gr) particulates. The Gr used is an ultra-fine powder with particle size 250 ㎛. Gr is known to have good wear resistance, thermal conductivity and can operate at high temperatures. Gr particulates are mixed with the epoxy matrix in various weight ratios. Hand-lay technique is used for fabricating the composites. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elongation, compressive strength and flexural strength are obtained experimentally to study the effect of change in Gr content (0-5 wt. %). The tests were done as per ASTM standards.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.474-478
• /
• 2001

Eighteen Murrah male buffalo calves were allotted into three groups of six each. The calves in group I (control) were fed with whole milk, skim milk, calf starter and green maize fodder. The calves in group II (high butyric acid) and group III (low butyric acid) were fed with the same diet as control along with 24 ml and 12 ml of butyric acid/calf/day for 120 days, respectively for 120 days. Dry matter intake was higher in group II and III as compared with group I. Digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, cellulose and hemicellulose was the highest in group II followed by group III and the control group. Body weight gain and conversion efficiency of dry matter, digestible crude protein and total digestible nutrients were better in group II. Cost of feed for per unit of live weight gain was the lowest in group II. It was concluded that dietary addition of butyric acid (24 ml/day) was economical and had positive effect on the performance of Murrah buffalo calves.