CONNECTION PERFORMANCE OF LENGTH-WISE FINGER-JOINTED EUCALYPTUS

Finger joint technique is used in eliminating wood defects which weaken the strength of sawn wood plank. However, issues related with the strength of the joints, are still not fully investigated under Sri Lankan condition. Finger joint is performed with constant geometry (19 mm Finger Length, 1 mm Tip width and 5 mm finger pitch) using Polyvinyl acetate (PVA, P-SWR) adhesive at normal exposure conditions. The strength properties of clear and finger jointed timber are evaluated by according to BS 373:1957 by Universal Testing Machine (UTM 100 PC). The present study was undertaken to assess the strength grade for finger jointed timber with BS 5268-2:2002 according to the grade stresses at allowable limit gives comparison study of finger jointed and un-jointed seven wood species. Seven commonly used timber species in Sri Lanka were studied. Modulus of Rupture (MOR), Modulus of Elasticity (MOE), Compression Parallel to Grain and Compression Perpendicular to Grain strength values were measured without finger joint (clear) and with finger joint specimens. Strength classes relevant to the grade stresses were not changed for finger jointed and clear specimens for Satin, Mahogany, Jack and Grandis. Both clear and finger jointed timber specimens obtained D40 for Satin and Teak, D30 for Jack, Mahogany and Grandis. While they were used as finger jointed timber, Teak shows properties similar to both D35 and D40. Kumbuk has been changed from D40 to D30 while use as finger jointed timber. Finger jointed Pine shows properties of C22, C24 and C27. Keywords: Finger joint; Grade stress, Universal testing machine

Off-cut wood is currently considered as waste thus is dumped by saw mills as they find no means of utilising them. Sawn timber material of furniture factories and short length of sawn timbers are also considered to be wastes in the timber industry. Finger jointing technique which interlock the end joints formed by machining a number of similar tapered symmetrical fingers are recognised in this regards as effective and sustainable means of utilisation of timber wastes. The present study was undertaken to assess the strength grade of finger jointed timber based on BS 5268-2:2002. Seven timber species which are commonly used in Sri Lanka were employed for the assessment with and without finger joints. Values of Modulus of Rupture (MOR), Modulus of Elasticity (MOE), Compression parallel to grain and Compression perpendicular to grain strength of the specimens were measured. Finger jointing was performed with constant geometry (finger length 19 mm, tip width 1 mm and finger pitch 4 mm) using polyvinyl acetate (PVA, P-SWR) adhesive at normal exposure conditions. The strength properties were evaluated by Universal Testing Machine (UTM) according to BS 373:1957. Strength classes relevant to the grade stresses were not significant for finger jointed and clear specimens of Satin, Mahogany, Jack and Grandis. Both clear and finger jointed timber specimens obtained D40 for Satin and Teak, D30 for Jack, Mahogany and Grandis. Teak shows properties similar to both D35 and D40 when used as finger jointed timber. Kumbuk was shown to change from D40 to D30 while using as finger jointed timber. Finger jointed Pine showed stress grade of C22, C24 and C27.

To investigate the impact of various heat treatments on the strength and toughness of TA15 aviation titanium alloys, five different heat treatment methods were employed in the temperature range of 810–995 °C. The microstructure of the alloy was examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), and its mechanical properties were analyzed through tensile, hardness, impact, and bending tests. The findings indicate that increasing the annealing temperature results in an increase in the phase boundary and secondary α phase, while the volume fraction of the primary α phase decreases, leading to a rise in hardness and a decrease in elongation. The tensile strength of heat-treated samples at 810 °C was notably improved, displaying high ductility at this annealing temperature. Heat treatment (810 °C/2 h/WQ) produced the highest tensile properties (ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation of 987 MPa, 886 MPa, and 17.78%, respectively). Higher heat treatment temperatures were found to enhance hardness but decrease the tensile properties, bending strength, and impact toughness. The triple heat treatment (810 °C/1 h/AC + 810 °C/1 h/AC + 810 °C/1 h/AC) resulted in the highest hardness of 601.3 MPa. These results demonstrate that various heat treatments have a substantial impact on the strength and toughness of forged TA15 titanium alloys.

Off-cut wood is one of the wastes dumped by sawmills, and inadequate length of sawn timber materials fail to fully utilize the wood supply. Finger joint, a method that connects two small pieces of timber, is identified as a sound technique to minimize wastage. Different timber species should be bonded at the finger joint production process for making finger-jointed mixed boards. When mixing the different timber species, timber pieces should be matched based on the mechanical strength. This study was, therefore, conducted to find the strength properties of mixed finger-jointed timber species of wood, namely, Grandis (Eucalyptus grandis), Jack (Aartocarpus heterophyllus), Kumbuk (Terminalia arjuna) and Pine (Pinus caribaea), commonly used in Sri Lanka in the manufacture of furniture. The tests were carried out on timber samples with 19 mm finger lengths made of two sections bonded with an adhesive containing polyvinyl acetate (PVAc). The tensile strength and variation of the flexural strength of the finger length of the samples were studied. BS 373: 1957 was the standard used for the flexural tests. A Universal Testing Machine (UTM 100 PC) was used for the mechanical tests. Timber combination categories are not significantly different for the MOR tests. Pine-Pine vs. Pine-Grandis combination category is significantly different for Bending tests. According to overall results, timber combination categories are significantly different for the tensile tests except for Pine and Kumbuk combinations. The findings of this study will directly benefit the finger joint manufacturers in Sri Lanka.

In this study, mechanical properties such as tensile, flexural and impact strengths of hemp/phenol formaldehyde (PF), basalt/PF and hemp/basalt hybrid PF composites have been investigated as a function of fibre loading. Hemp fibre reinforced PF composites and basalt fibre reinforced composites were fabricated with varying fibre loading i.e. 20, 32, 40, 48, 56 and 63 vol%. The hybrid effect of hemp fibre and basalt fibre on the tensile, flexural and impact strengths was also investigated for various ratio of hemp/basalt fibre loading such as 1:0, 0.95:0.05, 0.82:0.18, 0.68:0.32, 0.52:0.48, 0.35:0.65, 0.18:0.82 and 0:1. Total fibre loading of the hybrid composites was 40 vol%. The results showed that the tensile strength and elongation at break increase with increasing fibre loading up to 40 vol% and decrease above this value for hemp fibre reinforced PF composite. Similar trend was observed for flexural strength and the maximum value was obtained for 48 vol% hemp fibre loading. Impact strength of hemp/PF composite showed a regular trend of increase with increasing fibre loading up to 63 vol%. Tensile strength, flexural strength and impact strength values of basalt/PF composites were found to be lower compared to hemp/PF composites. The tensile strength and elongation at break of basalt/PF composite increased by incorparation of basalt fibre up to 32 vol% and decreased beyond this value. Flexural strength of basalt/PF composite decreased linearly with fibre loading. However, the maximum impact strength was obtained for 48 vol% basalt fibre loading. For hemp/basalt hybrid PF composite, the tensile strength decreased with increasing basalt fibre loading. On the other hand, the flexural and impact strengths showed large scatter. The maximum flexural strength value was obtained for 0.52:0.48 hemp/basalt ratio. Corresponding value for impact strength was obtained for 0.68:0.32 hemp/basalt fibre ratio.

Finger joints (FJs) are longitudinal interlocking connections between timber boards commonly used in engineered wood products such as glued laminated timber beams. The mechanical properties of FJs, particularly tensile strength, are vital for the performance of such products; however, practical constraints often lead to testing FJs primarily in bending rather than tension. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the relationship between tensile and bending strengths. The present study investigates this relationship using paired FJs. It further evaluates the predictability of FJ tensile and bending properties based on the dynamic modulus of elasticity of the connected timber boards. Tensile and bending tests were conducted, and censored data resulting from failures outside the FJs were handled using a hierarchical Bayesian linear regression method. The study proposes models to estimate FJ tensile strength from bending strength and to predict tensile and bending properties based on the dynamic modulus of elasticity of the connected timber boards. Model predictions are compared with experimental outcomes, indicating the effective integration of censored data. Results further show that excluding censored data underestimates FJ tensile and bending strength. The proposed Bayesian modeling procedure offers a means to connect failure modes with data types and appropriately address censored data. Such models can help to enhance quality control/production efficiency and the structural reliability of engineered wood products.

The results of experimental studies to determine the effect of alloying and heat treatment on the mechanical properties of the high-chromium cast iron are described. When alloying the melt with nickel, molybdenum and manganese, as well as during heat treatment by quenching, specific wear, tensile strength in bending of the obtained samples, their hardness and microhardness were studied. A comparative analysis of the influence of alloying elements and heat treatment methods has been performed. When alloying Ni, Mo, and Mn, cast specimens that have not undergone heat treatment have the highest specific wear. It was established that the hardened Ni alloyed samples have the greatest bending strength. It was found that cast samples that were not subjected to heat treatment have much lower hardness and microhardness. The approximate composition of chromium cast iron was determined for further studies to increase its wear resistance. The research results are used in the manufacturing process of parts for crushing and grinding equipment.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to analyze the titanium alloy under heat treated condition. Titanium alloy heat treatment, particularly Ti‐6Al‐4V alloy, has been an important field of study due to its wide variety of uses in the aerospace, automotive, and biomedical sectors. The mechanical characteristics of titanium alloys are heavily influenced by their microstructure. Cold‐rolled Ti‐alloys have strong bending and tensile strength due to extensive β‐phase precipitation on the α matrix. However, various heat treatment (HT) methods can affect the mechanical characteristics. The current study seeks to investigate the effects of various heat treatment procedures on the microstructural and mechanical changes of Ti‐6Al‐4V alloy, in order to achieve an optimal balance of strength, hardness, and ductility for a variety of real-world applications. Design/methodology/approach Three plates of Ti‐6Al‐4V alloy were heated above the β‐transus temperature for a certain period and then cooled via furnace, air, and sand. One extra plate was kept in ‘untreated’ condition and given name ‘as received’ plate. The three heat treated plates were evaluated and compared with ‘as received’ plate based on tensile strength, bending strength, hardness, and microstructural changes. Findings A considerable change in orientation of α and β was noted through optical microscopy upon heat treatment. The mechanical testing revealed that all the cooling methods adopted in the study have reduced the UTS and increased the YS of the plates. The ductility of the alloy was primarily enhanced by 'air cooling' and 'sand cooling' methods. Originality/value Notably, the hardness test findings indicated a significant drop in hardness for the ‘sand‐cooled’ sample. Furthermore, the ‘air cooled’ sample showed the maximum hardness due to the production of acicular α regions.

Engineered cementitious composites (ECC) are an ultra-ductile cement-based composite material reinforced with short randomly distributed fibers. It differs from fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) in that it has a distinct ductile behavior. The study aims to assign mechanical properties, such as tensile, flexural, and compressive strength using locally available fiber rather than polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber, which is not widely available in many countries, to ECC. PVA fiber is also very expensive. Instead of PVA, lightweight fibers, such as polypropylene, polyolefin, and glass fiber, as well as heavyweight fibers, such as steel fiber, were used. To assess the mechanical properties, the influences of curing, fiber volume fraction (2%, 4%, and 6%), fiber type, and fiber hybridization were adjusted in this study. The formation of multiple cracks along the specimen is the governing factor in ECC formation. The test results show that increasing the fiber volume fraction improves flexural and tensile strength. Water curing increased compressive, tensile, and flexural strength. Lightweight fiber hybridization has no effect on compressive strength, whereas heavyweight fiber hybridization improves compressive strength. For tensile and flexural strength, hybridization was associated with an improvement in all mechanical properties. The hybridization of lightweight fiber achieved ECC behavior at a lower volume fraction than the use of a single fiber volume. Relationships between tensile strength and flexural strength depending on the compressive strength of ECC were driven by demonstrating high performance.

TC31 is a new type of high-temperature titanium alloy, but few researchers have studied the combination of forming and heat treatment of a component using this material. The component with high ribs and thin webs was studied by numerical simulation and trail production. Based on the establishment of the finite element model, the forming process was analyzed by simulation software, and the maximum forming load of the component was 1920 kN. Ultimately, there were no folding defects of the component during the forming process. The material flow law was revealed by selecting the typical section of the component, and then the forming process was verified and the fully filled component was obtained. After that, the component was subjected to post-processing, and three heat treatment methods were designed to conduct heat treatment experiments on it (heat treatment: solution treatment and aging treatment). By analyzing the influence of three heat treatment methods on mechanical properties, the optimal heat treatment method was obtained, namely a solution treatment at 960 °C for 2.5 h and aging treatment at 610 °C for 7 h. The ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, elongation, and section shrinkage of the component through forging forming and heat treatment are higher than those of original material; meanwhile, it also indicates that the designed heat treatment has a better effect on the high-temperature mechanical properties of this titanium alloy at 650 °C than that at 450 °C. The research on the combination of the forming and heat treatment of this component provides a reference for the engineering application of high-temperature titanium alloys.

The microstructural and mechanical effects of various single-step (SS) and double-step (DS) quench and partition (Q&P) heat treatments applied to an AISI 420A low carbon martensitic stainless steel (MSS) has been studied. The goal with this work is to reach a total elongation (E pct) of 12 pct and an ultimate tensile strength (UTS) above 1200/1300 MPa, but ultimately to achieve a superior strength-ductility balance in comparison to its traditional Quench and Temper (Q&T) counterpart. This is being done by retaining austenite within the steel’s martensitic matrix at room temperature (RT) using novel SS and conventional DS Q&P heat treatments. Considerable work has been done to optimize DS Q&P heat treatments, but little has been done to understand the effects of removing a subsequent heating cycle through SS Q&P heat treatments has on MSSs. With that being said, partitioning is performed at the same quench interruption temperature for the SS Q&P heat treatments, and reheated to a higher temperature for the DS Q&P heat treatments. Experimental investigations were carried out on 1 mm thick, sheet samples to increase the number of potential applications for this steel and heat treatment. The microstructure of different SS and DS Q&P heat treatments was investigated through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) while mechanical property investigations were carried out using tensile and fracture toughness testing. DS Q&P heat treated samples quenched to 130 °C and partitioned for industrially relevant times of 10 and 30 minutes featured the highest values in terms of total elongation, tensile strength and fracture toughness. The SS Q&P heat treatments, on the other hand, were able to achieve improved mechanical properties to its Q&T counterpart. Overall, this work opens up the possibility of increased MSS usage for reliable, thin-walled component production with improved properties through Q&P heat treatment methods. The best results achieved in this study are a UTS of 1585 MPa, E pct of 22 pct, and a fracture toughness of 77 kJ/m2. Their lower total elongation of 9.6 pct is balanced by high tensile strength of 1812 MPa, ensuring higher toughness compared to traditional Q&T samples.

This testing report summarises the experimental investigations on finger-jointed timber speci- mens, glued with different types of adhesives, loaded in tension and exposed to standard ISO-fire. The tests were performed as part of the project entitled “Fire safety of bonded structural timber elements” in the frame of a CTI-project (Commission for Technology and Innovation). The extensive testing programme on finger-jointed timber specimens was performed in cooperation with industry partners at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich). The main aim of this research project is to clarify if the currently used design model for the fire re- sistance of bonded structural timber elements, such as glued-laminated timber, should consider the behaviour of adhesives at elevated temperatures. In this experimental study, different adhesives available on the market from adhesive man- ufacturer from Europe (such as Casco AG, Dynea AG, Jowat AG, Turmerleim AG, Purbond AG) were tested. Adhesives being used for structural applications as well as adhesives not certified according to current European testing standards for the use in structural applications were tested. The fire performance of 12 different adhesives - of type 1C PUR, MUF, PRF, EPI, PVAc, UF - were tested in a finger-jointed connection for cross-sections with a width of 80, 140 and 200 mm. In total, 49 fire tests were performed under ISO-fire exposure at the Swiss Federal Labora- tories for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA) in Duebendorf/ Switzerland. Two tests were conducted with specimens equipped with thermocouples to determine the temperature distribu- tion along the cross-section width. In the other tests, different parameters and their influence on the fire resistance were varied, such as the adhesive in the finger joint, the width of the specimen, the load level and the type of fire exposure on the testing lamella. The tests were performed in two test series in March and April, 2011 as well as in July and August, 2012. The second test series was extended by five additional tests with higher graded timber in August 2013. The main result from the first test series can be concluded as follows: The adhesives tested (2 x PUR, 1 x MUF) fulfil current approval criteria according to EN 301 (2013c) and EN 15425 (2008) for the use in load-bearing timber components in Europe. The adhesives fulfil at least the A7 test at 70 ° C according to EN 302-1 (2013a). Taking into account the failure pattern, no significant difference was observed between these adhesives. It could be shown that the higher loss of strength for some adhesives tested at elevated temperature does not necessarily lead to the same loss of strength in fire, since defects like knots may be dominant - depending on the strength class (grading). The main result from the second test series can be concluded as follows: No substantial difference was obtained for finger-jointed specimens glued with PRF and other structural ad- hesives. The PUR adhesive fulfilling the ASTM D7247 (2007) standard test at temperatures higher than 200 ◦ C did not reach a higher fire resistance than PUR adhesives which do not fulfil this standard. It was found that adhesives, which are used in structural timber members such as glued-laminated timber beams, need sufficient strength at lower temperatures than 200 ◦ C. iv This is especially explained by the steep temperature gradient typical for timber members such as glued-laminated timber. In addition to the fire tests, about 120 tensile tests on finger-jointed lamellas were performed at normal temperature. These lamellas were produced with the same types of adhesives as studied in the fire tests. The results of the whole investigation are summarised in this test report.

The use of industrial waste red mud in polymer composites promotes environmental sustainability by mitigating the environmental impacts associated with landfill disposal. Previous research by the authors on red mud sisal fiber composites resulted in increased strength; it is expected that the strength can be increased further through fiber treatment. As a result, the current study sought to examine the effects of chemical‐treated sisal fiber reinforcement on the mechanical properties of red mud composites. Alkaline treatment and silane treatment were both used as chemical treatment methods. Red mud was added in three different weight percentages, and composites were built using the compression molding method and tested for hardness, tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength. The findings indicate that the strength of the composite increases with the incorporation of treated fibers, silane‐treated 30% red mud composites showed a maximum hardness of around 92 shore D. The tensile strength of the composites containing 20% red mud and treated with silane was the highest, reaching ca. 63 MPa. This significant increase in strength was attributed to the formation of strong interfacial bonding between the red mud, fiber, and matrix. Furthermore, the silane‐treated 20 wt% red mud composites have the highest flexural strength (ca. 244 MPa) and impact strength (ca. 26 J/m). However, increasing the red mud content above 20 wt% resulted in decreased tensile, flexural, and impact strength due to poor bond development, and red mud agglomeration. The findings of this study are beneficial for the design and development of composites based on red mud, as well as for promoting sustainable waste management practices.Highlights Red mud composites achieve superior mechanical strength. Chemical treatment enhances sisal fiber reinforcement. Sustainable waste management promoted through composite utilization. Strong interfacial bonding improves composite performance.

Background: Different soldering techniques have a variety of applications in dentistry. One of the most important uses of soldering is to join multiple-unit fixed partial dentures together. In this Study, two base metal alloys (Supercast and Minalux) were soldered and their tensile, compressive and flexural strengths were measured and compared to each other. Materials and methods: In this in-vitro study, an aluminum pattern was made by a milling machine according to ASTM (American Society for Testing Material). Eighteen acrylic resin Patterns were duplicated by flasking using putty indices according to the original aluminum pattern. Acrylic resin patterns were divided into two groups of nine and each group was cast with two different alloys named Supercast and Minalux. All eighteen metal rods were separated by 0.008-inch disc and soldered with Vera-solder by means of gas-oxygen torch. Three patterns of each alloy were selected for each of the compression, tensile and flexural tests. Tensile strength was measured by Instron a universal machine and flexural and compression strengths were measured by Dartec machine. Statistical analysis was done by Mann - Whitney test. Results: The mean tensile, flexural and compressive strengths for supercast alloy was 347.6, 44.01 and 1014.8MPa respectively and the mean for tensile, flexural and compressive strengths for Minalux alloy was 350.03, 51.70 and 938.17 MPa respectively. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences between the two alloys in all the three mentioned tests. (p>0.05) Conclusion: Tensile, flexural and compressive strengths of the two soldered alloys, Minalux and supercast, showed no significant differences. Minalux is an alloy manufactured in Iran with the advantage of not including Beryllium, a cariogenic element, as one of the ingredients of the alloy; therefore, it is suggested that Minalux be used instead of supercast in soldering procedures in fixed prosthodontics.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of resistance upset butt welded 304 austenitic stainless steel joints