Composite Tiles Research Articles

Numerical model of curved composite tiles under low-velocity impact loading

In recent years, composite structures have seen widespread application across diverse industries, including automotive and aerospace, owing to their favourable strength-to-weight ratio. However, these structures, particularly high-pressure vessels, are susceptible to extreme loadings such as impact forces, resulting in visible and latent damage, ultimately leading to catastrophic failures. Hence, it is imperative to assess such damages diligently. Given the cost implications associated with experimental investigations, numerical methodologies emerge as a potent means for conducting relevant analyses. This paper will introduce a numerical model approach to conducting virtual tests to assess curved carbon fibre composite tiles subjected to low-velocity impact. The primary focus of this study is to consider the impact-induced delamination on composite tiles through a numerical model. The composite tiles are conducted to 90J impact loading. Specifically, the study evaluates filament winding structures’ interface properties (shear resistance) variability during manufacturing. Notably, the parameter of shear resistance significantly impacts the anticipation of intralaminar damage (delamination) after impact loading. Three-point bending tests were performed to calibrate the composite material’s shear interface properties, followed by low-velocity impact tests on the curved composite tiles. The findings indicate that the shear resistance values, which ranged from 14.25 MPa to 60 MPa, play a critical role in predicting delamination, with lower shear resistance leading to increased damage areas. The results underscore the importance of accurately calibrating interface properties to enhance the predictive accuracy of numerical models for curved composite structures under impact loading.

Innovative silica aerogel fiberglass walls and roofs: A path to lower carbon emissions and higher energy savings

ABSTRACT Buildings account for a significant portion of global energy use and consumption. Buildings have substantial energy consumption due to the use of heating, ventilation, and cooling systems. It is evident that the insulation materials used in the design of building envelopes can efficiently reduce the cost of air conditioning by reducing external heat gains and losses. Additionally, the use of environmentally friendly and cost-effective can be beneficial from an environmental standpoint. This paper aims to evaluate the potential for cost savings in the air conditioning of buildings incorporated with silica aerogel fiberglass insulation in hollow concrete bricks (wall) and hollow roof tile (roof). Silica aerogel fiberglass insulation is extensively used for heat insulation purposes, including building insulations, due to its superior thermal insulation and flame retardant properties. The thermo-physical properties of silica fiberglass insulation and building materials were determined experimentally as per ASTM D 5334 standards. Twenty distinct building design concepts are investigated in this study, each featuring insulation-integrated concrete blocks composed of silica aerogel fiberglass: (WEM1) insulation layer in the outer side, (WEM2) insulation layer in the center, (WEM3) insulation layer in the inner side, (WEM4) insulation layers in the outer-middle, (WEM5) insulation layers in the middle-inner, and (WEM6) insulation layers in the outer-inner sides. Additionally, two arrangements of insulation-stuffed roof tiles, REM1 above the RCC and REM2 below the RCC. In addition, novel building designs integrated with insulation were analyzed numerically, related to environmental conditions that refer to two different scenarios in India (hot dry and composite climates). Thermo-economic analysis of novel wall and roof designs with silica fiberglass insulation materials on air-conditioning costs, carbon dioxide emissions, and payback time are compared with conventional roof and wall patterns. The thermo-economic analysis was carried out based on the number of degree-hours of heating and cooling to determine the building’s annual energy usage. The building model arrangement (WEM6-REM1), which consists of an insulation composite wall (WEM6) and insulation roof tile (REM1), demonstrated the greatest annual air conditioning cost savings of 3.4 $/m2/year and 1.74 $/m2/year when compared to conventional building design for climatic conditions of Kurnool and Gauhati. The building model arrangement (WEM6-REM1) composed of silica fiberglass aerogel insulation exhibits the highest reduction in carbon emissions of 65 kg/kWh and 33 kg/kWh, when compared to conventional building design analyzed in both hot-arid; (Kurnool) and composite (Gauhati) climatic conditions. The placement of insulation in the roof alone (REM1) has the shortest payback duration of 2.15 years. The results of this study point to a viable approach to enhancing building design decision-making and narrowing the performance gap in sustainable and energy-efficient strategies.

Composite Construction Tiles Manufactured from PET and Other Waste Plastics Reinforced with Polycarbonate and Study their Mechanical Properties

Composite Construction Tiles Manufactured from PET and Other Waste Plastics Reinforced with Polycarbonate and Study their Mechanical Properties

Development process of composite polymer tiles with an antimicrobial agent using plastic wastes as raw materials

Plastic is a delinquent substance that affects all ecosystems. Unfortunately, plastic is being utilized more frequently than it was previously used. The bad dispatch is that they are thrown away in the wild once they have been used. Their buildup does not degrade, and it is harmful to the environment. An appropriate procedure for recovering plastic wastes and converting them into standardized material to produce composite tiles with their application can be a viable solution to this dangerous situation. The paper aims to find an effective means of disposing of plastic waste by designing and developing plastic tiles with the insertion of antimicrobial properties. At first, plastic waste was collected, cleaned, and shredded accordingly. Then the waste plastic is melted in a pyrolysis plant, mixed with sand, and poured into the prefabricated mold. As a walkway tile, the mold size was chosen as 12-inch length, 10-inch width, and 0.8-inch height. It has been found that 70 % sand and 30 % plastic exhibit better mechanical properties. For the insertion of antimicrobial properties into the tiles, ginger powder is added to the mixture of the composite tiles. An antibacterial study was performed against gram-positive S. aureus bacteria to evaluate their antimicrobial property. The analysis shows that the composite tiles could kill 40.58% gram-positive S. aureus in six hours.

Recycling and reusing potential of disposable low-density polyethylene plastic waste for flexible paver tile construction for outdoor application

Plastic waste disposal has escalated into a serious global concern due to the non-biodegradable nature of plastics, which are composed of high-molecular-mass organic polymers along with other ingredients. Therefore, this study focuses on reusing and recycling LDPE plastic waste as a binding agent in paver tile production. This aligns with global sustainability goals by promoting resource efficiency and reducing waste generation. The investigation aims to address the environmental impact of plastic waste by finding sustainable solutions for its management. This includes exploring the feasibility and viability of using LDPE plastic waste in paver tile production as a means of recycling and reusing locally collected waste. The LDPE waste plastic collection, identification, milling, and melting at 170 °C. Subsequently, the sampled sand, sieved to a size of ≤0.75 mm, was blended with molten plastic in a specified proportion and then molded to create paving tiles using a hydraulic press machine. The researchers utilized response surface methodology (RSM) combined with Box-Benken designs (BBD) to optimize three key experimental parameters (plastic-to-sand ratio: 10 %, 25 %, 40 %; time: 2, 5, 8 min, pressure: 1, 3, 5 MPa) influencing mechanical properties of paver tiles, including water absorption (WA), flexural strength (FS), and compressive strength (CS). The result revealed that the optimal combination of 25 % waste plastic, 5 min, and 3 MPa of pressure resulted in a maximum flexural strength (FS) of 3.689 MPa and compressive strength (CS) of 4.141 MPa, with an average water absorption (WA) of 0.322 %. Therefore, the mechanical properties of the developed tiles met the desired standard. In conclusion, the mechanical qualities of the tiles were promising, indicating that reusing waste LDPE plastic to create paver tiles presents an appealing option for plastic waste disposal. The composite paver tiles exhibited promising attributes for outdoor applications, such as park pavement and outdoor public spaces, owing to their favorable mechanical properties and low water absorption.

Ablation behavior of gradient ceramic-polymer composites in wind tunnel environment

Ceramic matrix composites are desirable for applications in extreme environments due to the excellent ablation resistance, but few ceramic materials can exhibit a matched load bearing capacity currently. The technological potential of functionally graded materials, such as improved ablation resistance and enhanced load-bearing capacity, has opened up the feasibility for designing highly efficient thermal protection materials. In this study, composite insulation tiles, with three-dimensional braided carbon fibers in a ceramic-polymer continuous gradient matrix, are designed and fabricated by using a temperature-controlled polymer-derived ceramic method. The ablation behavior of the specimens exposed to high-temperature high-speed wind tunnel environments has been investigated at a total enthalpy of 15.8 MJ/kg. Temperature response, morphology and composition characteristics are obtained, which allows detecting oxidation resistance and thermal stability of the gradient composites. The results showed that the formation the silicon oxide layer covering the ablated surface and the inner gradient layer composed of amorphous SiCN ceramics display a key role in resisting ablation and reducing heat conduction. Meanwhile, the underlying resin layer can display superior load-bearing capacity at environment temperatures lower than pyrolysis. The present study highlights high ablation behavior of continuous gradient ceramic-polymer composites, offering a possibility in developing thermal protection composites with good trade-off between thermal and mechanical properties.

Impact of multiple coating layers on finished floor slip resistance

Abstract: Slip, trip and fall (ST&F) events are a cause of significant mortality, hospitalisations and financial expense. Floor conditions are a factor in some portion of ST&F events and thus important to monitor. In commercial buildings, flooring surfaces are often coated with a removable floor finish to protect the floor and provide a consistent walking surface. The relationship between the number of coating layers of a floor finish and the slip resistance, i.e. coefficient of friction, is poorly reported in the literature. In this study, vinyl composite floor tiles were coated with four different floor finishes, varying from 2 to 10 coating layers. The static coefficient of friction (SCOF) was tested using the James Machine and ASTM D2047 to determine whether there was a change in the SCOF/slip resistance and thus the ST&F risk, associated with different numbers of coating layers of finish. The number of coating layers of floor finish did not negatively impact the SCOF/slip resistance of the tiles. This study suggests that maintaining an appropriate layer of floor finish, typically recommended by manufacturers to be four coating layers, provides a slip-resistant walking surface that is not negatively affected by additional coating layers of finish.

Design and development of a double-edged trenching machine for reusable wood composite material tiles

Design and development of a double-edged trenching machine for reusable wood composite material tiles

Composite Tiles Produced from Granite Dust and Tree Pruning Using a Sandwiched Method

Composite Tiles Produced from Granite Dust and Tree Pruning Using a Sandwiched Method

Experimental testing and structural analysis of composite tile – reinforced concrete domes

Conventional formworks for concrete curved shells either are expensive, complex and wasteful or have formal restrictions. Using tile vaults (also known as timbrel, Guastavino, thin-tile or Catalan vaults) as stay-in-place formwork for concrete shells could significantly reduce construction costs and material waste. Tile vaults only require formwork at the boundaries and provide a high formal flexibility.The combination of masonry and reinforced concrete creates a new type of composite structure that needs experimental validation and new structural analysis models to deal with the specific features of the system. This paper presents experimental research on the component materials, load tests on doubly-curved, full-scale prototypes and the definition of a reliable Finite Element structural model for the analysis of the proposed hybrid structure.The experimental research has involved the characterisation of the bricks, mortar, concrete and reinforcement composing the proposed system in order to provide the material properties to be considered in the structural analysis. The construction and testing of two composite sail domes in the laboratory have allowed the validation of the proposed FE model by comparing its predictions with the collapse mechanisms, damage, ultimate loads and load–displacement curves obtained experimentally.

Reconstructing the earliest known composite-tiled roofs from the Chinese Loess Plateau

The origins of composite tiles, one of the oldest forms of roofing, are still unclear. This study is based on a set of over 5000 clay tile fragments excavated from a single context in the Qiaocun site on the Chinese Loess Plateau, dated to ~ 2400–2200 BCE (Early Longshan Period). By combining morphological measurement statistics, 3D modeling, computer-based simulations, and reference to historical and archaeological records, we reconstruct the earliest known composite-tile roofing techniques and demonstrate that tile production was under a low-level standardization, with manual control forming a key agent during the roofing process. The quantitative study of the composite roof tiles from Qiaocun was then placed in its archaeological context and compared with other sites on the Loess Plateau. It was found that tile-roofed buildings were, by necessity, community projects. Such structures served as nodes in larger social communication networks; additionally, their appearance was linked to intensified social complexity in public affairs during the Longshan Period. The invention of clay tiles was associated with the inception of thick rammed-earth walls which had sufficient strength to serve as load-bearing structures for heavy tiled roofs. The roof tiles excavated from Qiaocun site indicate that the Loess Plateau was a key center for the origin and spread of composite tiles and related roofing and construction methods, suggesting a Longshan–Western Zhou tradition of roofing techniques in East Asia.

Preparation of Waste PP/Fly Ash/Waste Stone Powder Composites and Evaluation of Their Mechanical Properties.

The research was carried out to analyze the combined and mechanical properties of polypropylene (PP)/fly ash (FA)/waste stone powder (WSP) composite materials. PP, FA and WSP were mixed and prepared into PP100 (pure PP), PP90 (90 wt% PP + 5 wt% FA + 5 wt% WSP), PP80 (80 wt% PP + 10 wt% FA + 10 wt% WSP), PP70 (70 wt% PP + 15 wt% FA + 15 wt% WSP), PP60 (60 wt% PP + 20 wt% FA + 20 wt% WSP) and PP50 (50 wt% PP + 25 wt% FA + 25 wt% WSP) composite materials using an injection molding machine. The research results indicate that all PP/FA/WSP composite materials can be prepared through the injection molding process and there are no cracks or fractures found on the surface of the composite materials. The research results of thermogravimetric analysis are consistent with expectations, indicating that the preparation method of the composite materials in this study is reliable. Although the addition of FA and WSP powder cannot increase the tensile strength, it is very helpful to improve the bending strength and notched impact energy. Especially for notched impact energy, the addition of FA and WSP results in an increase in the notched impact energy of all PP/FA/WSP composite materials by 14.58-22.22%. This study provides a new direction for the reuse of various waste resources. Moreover, based on the excellent bending strength and notched impact energy, the PP/FA/WSP composite materials have great application potential in the composite plastic industry, artificial stone, floor tiles and other industries in the future.

Impact behaviour of MWCNTs reinforced YSZ and Al2O3 ceramic-nanocomposites prepared via vacuum hot-pressing technique

Materials for structure-based aerospace applications are on high demand throughout the globe. Owing to its high strength to weight ratio and high stiffness, composites are potential candidates in aerospace, turbine and military applications. This paper concentrates on the impact behaviour of two nanoceramic composites - yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and aluminium oxide (Al2O3) reinforced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) prepared via vacuum hot-pressing at 1600 °C with a pressure of 30 MPa at varying MWCNTs contents (1, 3 & 5 wt.%). The composite tiles were examined for impact behaviour using gas gun at different velocities (50, 100 & 200 ms−1). The results indicated that composites with 1 wt% MWCNTs reinforced YSZ demonstrated lower penetration compared to other composites owing to its higher interfacial bonding between MWCNTs and YSZ. On the other hand, alumina reinforced MWCNTs showcased a higher depth of penetration due to weak van der Waals force of attraction between MWCNTs and alumina. The reinforcement of CNTs up to 3 wt.% worked as threshold for improvement in impact behaviour for ceramics whereas penetration values increase with increase of MWCNTs.

Potential of waste woven polypropylene fiber and textile mesh for production of gypsum-based composite

The huge production of woven polypropylene bags has led to an increase generation of plastic waste. The recycling of waste woven polypropylene bags and textiles in construction applications can be a viable option. Therefore, an attempt has been made to utilize the woven polypropylene fibers and textiles in the production of gypsum-based composite false ceiling tile for an economical and sustainable construction product. In the current research work, different water-to-powder ratios (0.6 %, 0.7 %, 0.8 %, 0.9 %) and fiber contents (0.25 %, 0.35 %, 0.45 %, 0.55 %) in the gypsum-based composite were prepared. Flexural plates with different thicknesses (18, 15, 12, and 9 mm) incorporating different recycling fibers and reinforced with different types of meshes were manufactured to produce sustainable gypsum-based plates. The physical properties, compressive and flexural strength properties of the fiber-reinforced gypsum-based composite were also evaluated. The textile and woven polypropylene fiber mesh reinforced gypsum false ceiling plates were compared with the control specimen. The results revealed that the density of gypsum-based composite decreased up to 26 % with the increase in the proportion of waste fiber contents. The compressive and flexural strength of gypsum-based composites exhibited a decrease with an increase in fiber contents and water-to-powder ratio. However, all the specimens satisfied the acceptable limit of 1 MPa and 2 MPa, respectively, according to BS EN 14246. The bending strength of all the plates incorporating different fiber content and thicknesses satisfied the minimum specified flexural strength criteria according to BS EN 14246. Moreover, the plates with different thicknesses and fiber contents also satisfied the minimum specified flexural criteria except for the plate with a thickness of 9 mm. However, all the plates with varying thicknesses and reinforced mesh have also satisfied the minimum load criteria specified by BS EN 14246. Thus, it can be envisioned that the woven polypropylene fibers and textiles can be effectively utilized to produce sustainable gypsum-based composite leading to reduce waste generation.

Comprehensive Comparison of Different Integrated Thermal Protection Systems with Ablative Materials for Load-Bearing Components of Reusable Launch Vehicles

Economic viability of small launch vehicles, i.e., microlaunchers, is impaired by several factors, one of which is a higher dry to wet mass ratio as compared to conventional size launchers. Although reusability may reduce launch cost, it can drive dry and/or wet mass to unfeasibly high levels. In particular, for load-bearing components that are exposed to convective heating during the aerothermodynamic phase of the re-entry, the mass increase due to the presence of a thermal protection system (TPS) must be considered. Examples of such components are aerodynamic drag devices (ADDs), which are extended during the re-entry. These should withstand high mechanical loading, be thermally protected to avoid failure, and be reusable. Ablative materials can offer lightweight thermal protection, but they represent an add-on mass for the structure and they are rarely reusable. Similarly, TPS based on ceramic matrix composite (CMC) tiles represent an additional mass. To tackle this issue, so-called integrated thermal protection systems (ITPS) composed of CMC sandwich structures were introduced in the literature. The aim is to obtain a load-bearing structure that is at the same time the thermally protective layer. However, a comprehensive description of the real lightweight potential of such solutions compared to ablative materials with the corresponding sub-structures is, to the authors’ knowledge, not yet presented. Thus, based on the design of an ADD, this work aims to holistically describe such load bearing components and to compare different TPS solutions. Both thermal and preliminary mechanical designs are discussed. Additionally, a novel concept is proposed, which is based on the use of phase change materials (PCMs) embedded within a metallic sandwich structure with an additively manufactured lattice core. Such a solution can be beneficial due to the combination of both the high specific stiffness of lattice structures and the high mass-specific thermal energy storage potential of PCMs. The study is conducted with reference to the first stage of the microlauncher analysed within the European Horizon-2020 project named Recovery and Return To Base (RRTB).

Eco-friendly tiles: fabrication and testing of composite tile made from industrial gypsum wastes

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to utilize two types of gypsum mold wastes from two different factories as novel and economical reinforcing fillers for composites that may be useful for building materials and floors. Two types of gypsum mold wastes from two different factories as raw materials were incorporated into linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) aiming to get rid of that waste in one hand and obtaining useful economical composites suitable for building materials and floors.Design/methodology/approachComposites were prepared from two types of gypsum mold wastes substituted with different ratios from raw gypsum and LLDPE throughout the melt blending technique. The physico-mechanical and electrical investigations in addition to the morphology of the composites were included.FindingsThe mechanical results illustrate that substituting commercial gypsum with gypsum mold waste positively affects tensile strength, flexural strength and hardness shore D for the LLDPE composites. The tensile strength increased from 5 MPa for LLDPE filled with commercial gypsum as blank samples to 11.2 and 13.2 MPa for LLDPE filled with D and S waste. Also, electrical properties which include both permittivity ɛ′ and dielectric loss ɛ″ increased with increasing the waste content in the LLDPE matrix. In addition to the electrical conductivity values, σ lies in the order of insulation materials. Consequently, it is possible to produce materials with a gypsum matrix by adding industrial waste, improving the behavior of the traditional gypsum and enabling those composites to be applied in various construction applications as eco-friendly tiles.Originality/valueThis study aims to prepare eco-friendly composites based on LLDPE and waste gypsum mold to preserve resources for the coming generations, other than lowering the environmental footprint and saving the costs of getting rid of it.

STRIKE Heat Flux Reconstruction by Using Neural Networks: Application to the Experimental Results

To characterize the SPIDER negative ion beam in terms of beam uniformity and divergence during short pulse operations, an instrumented calorimeter named short-time retractable instrumented kalorimeter experiment (STRIKE) has been designed and operated. STRIKE is made of 16 1D carbon fiber-carbon composite (CFC) tiles, intercepting the whole beam and observed on the rear side by two infrared (IR) cameras. To know the energy flux profile hitting the front surface and then the beam parameters, it is necessary to solve an inverse non-linear problem, mathematically ill-posed, upon knowing the non-linear characteristics of the tiles and the 2-D temperature pattern measured on the rear side of the tiles themselves. Most of the conventional methods used to solve this inverse problem are unbearably time-consuming; when fully operative STRIKE receives 1280 beamlets, each one characterized by at least five features, a ready-to-go tool to determine the beam condition is highly recommended. In this work, the inverse problem in stationary conditions is faced by using a neural network (NN) model, pursuing different training approaches. The NN is trained by associating features extracted from the 2-D temperature profile, obtained by a fitting process to the heat flux profile parameters. The proposed method is then applied to experimental STRIKE data from the beam campaigns.

Demonstration of Photocatalytic Degradation of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Landfill Leachate Using 3D Printed TiO2 Composite Tiles

Demonstration of Photocatalytic Degradation of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Landfill Leachate Using 3D Printed TiO2 Composite Tiles

Electromechanical study of graphene reinforced lead-free functionally graded tile for vibration energy harvesting

This study focuses on the electromechanical analysis of functionally graded graphene reinforced piezoelectric composite (FG-GRPC) structures in order to identify circuit metrics such as voltage and power. The graphene platelets (GPLs) scatter evenly and parallelly in each graphene platelets reinforced piezoelectric composite (GRPC) tile. The effective modulus of elasticity for the GRPC tile is calculated by the Halpin-Tsai (HT) parallel model. The rule of the mixture (ROM) is employed to estimate the effective mass density, poisson’s ratio, and piezoelectric properties of GRPC structure. A simple power law distribution is responsible for the spatial disparity in composition over the thickness to generate FG-GRPC structural tiles. The first-order shear deformation theory and Hamilton’s principle are used to derive the governing finite element equations for the FG-GRPC plates. The impact of external resistance, frequency, volume fraction, piezoelectric characteristics, and geometry of the tile on the circuit metrics of FG-GRPC structures are thoroughly examined. Our results reveal that the circuit metrics of FG-GRPC plates are significantly enhanced due to consideration of material grading exponent and a small quantity of GPLs. This article will provide the necessary physical insights for modeling the electromechanical coupling in multipurpose piezoelectric materials, devices, and large-scale systems, allowing them to be used in industrial applications such as pressure sensors, miniature ultrasonic motors, fuel injectors, active controllers, and robotic systems.

Production and Characterization of Sand-Plastic Composite Floor Tiles

The amount of plastic waste generated in developing nations like Nigeria is increasing day by day, which is nonbiodegradable and causes environmental pollution. Among the plastics used, low-density polyethylene is abundant. These plastics can be removed from the environment and recycled into useful products. In this study, low-density polyethylene plastic waste was utilized in the manufacture of floor tiles to curb its generation. The tiles were produced by mixing fine sand with molten plastic waste in different proportions. The physical and mechanical properties of the floor tiles such as water absorption, density, tensile and compressive tests, modulus of elasticity as well as impact strength and friction tests were investigated. The water absorption ranged from 0.02 - 0.38 %(m/m), while the density varied between 998.5 and 1289 kg/m3. The tensile strength and modulus of elasticity fell within the range of 0.050 to 0.232 MPa and 0.924 to 2.806 MPa, respectively. This result proved the applicability of recycled plastic waste in the formulation of floor tiles.