Composite Construction Research Articles

Construction of attapulgite-based one-dimensional nanonetwork composites with corrosion resistance for high-efficiency microwave absorption

Construction of attapulgite-based one-dimensional nanonetwork composites with corrosion resistance for high-efficiency microwave absorption

MOF UiO-66 and its composites: design strategies and applications in drug and antibiotic removal.

Antibiotics and pharmaceuticals exert significant environmental risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health. Many effective remedies to this problem have been developed through research. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are potential constituents, for drug and antibiotic removal. This article explores the potential of MOFs like UiO-66 (University of Oslo-66) to remove pharmaceutical and antibiotic contaminants from water. Zr-based MOF UiO-66 is used in water treatment due to its well-known chemical, thermal, and mechanical stability. The review covers several modifications, including metal doping, organic-group functionalization, and composite construction, to increase the UiO-66 selectivity and adsorption capacity for various pollutants. Recent studies have shown that UiO-66 is an effective material for pharmaceutical pollutants such as ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, and sulfamethoxazole removal. Practical application, photostability, and large-scale synthesis remain challenges in water treatment methods. Moreover, recent studies indicate the recycling potential of UiO-66 that validates its capability to retain its efficiency over multiple cycles, indicating its cost-effectiveness and sustainability. Besides, the toxicity of UiO-66 and its derivatives, which occur during water treatment, has also been highlighted, addressing the health and environmental risks. Prospective research directions include designing flaws, producing stable analogs of UiO-66, and transforming powdered UiO-66 into other forms that might be utilized, including films and membranes. This review is crucial as no comprehensive literature is currently available that thoroughly discusses the design techniques and applications of UiO-66 and its composites for drug and antibiotic removal. Our study specifically concentrates on the latest developments, emphasizing particular alterations that improve performance in water treatment.

Effects of Folding Degree and Mass Fraction on the Static and Natural Frequency Characteristics of Functionally Graded Graphene Origami-Enabled Auxetic Metamaterials Annular Plates

This study addresses a critical gap in the literature by investigating the static and natural frequency characteristics of functionally graded (FG) auxetic metamaterial annular plates reinforced with graphene origami (GOri), a novel area previously unexplored in the context of composite constructions, particularly for circular plates. The governing equations are derived utilizing higher-order shear deformation theory along with Hamilton’s principle, and solved using the finite element approach. For the first time, a comprehensive parametric study including the folding degree and mass fraction, and distribution pattern of GOri, is investigated on the static and natural frequency properties of annular plates. It is found that the natural frequency generally increased with higher mass fractions and decreased with greater folding degrees, though the X and V patterns at a 3% mass fraction showed an atypical increase in frequency with higher folding degrees. The impact of distribution patterns varied with weight fraction: the X-pattern caused the highest deflection at 1% weight fraction but the lowest at 3%, while the O-pattern caused the least deflection overall.

From Concept to Application: The Implementation of Slurry Infiltrated Fiber Concrete in Steel Arched Truss Structures

The present work focuses on applying Slurry Infiltrated Fiber Concrete (SIFCON) in steel-arched truss construction systems to increase its structural performance and sustainability. SIFCON is a high-performance cement composite containing continuous discrete fibers and possesses attractive mechanical properties such as tensile strength, ductility, and energy absorption capacity. In this study, SIFCON is investigated experimentally as well as numerically with the help of ABAQUS software to determine the effectiveness of this mixture on the bearing capacity, durability, and crack resistance compared to normal concrete. Variations of thickness, fiber mass fractions, and bonding between steel-arched trusses and SIFCON laminates serve as the experimental configuration. The results presented in this study prove that the use of SIFCON laminated structures results in a substantial increase in load-bearing capacity and crack initiation time along with increased durability of the structure and its resistance to failure. These results propose SIFCON as an innovative material for composite construction systems and argue that current infrastructural problems offer a sustainable solution with this material.

Enhancing the Photocatalytic Efficacy of g-C3N4 Through Irradiation Modification and Composite Construction with Ti3C2 for Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) holds considerable promise for advancing anticancer treatment, owing to its precision and minimally invasive nature. In this study, we successfully synthesized a series of titanium carbide (Ti3C2, TC)/graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4, CN) nanocomposite through a synergistic approach combining electron beam irradiation and 2D/2D composite formation. According to the results, 1TC/200-CN (1TC, which TC was 1, referred to the mass ratio; 200-CN, which CN was 200 kGy, referred to the irradiation metering) displayed a 94% degradation rate of methylene blue (10 mg/L) in 100 min. Furthermore, the proliferation rate of CAL-27 cells was suppressed to just 23.3% at a concentration of 320 μg/mL of 1TC/200-CN. Notably, the group treated with this concentration exhibited the largest residual scratch area, accompanied by a notable decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. These enhanced effects were attributed to the efficient transfer of electron-hole pairs facilitated by the TC/CN composite. Our findings not only contribute to the development of efficient and stable nanocomposites for PDT applications but also provide valuable insights into the utilization of nanomaterials in the biomedical field, thereby paving the way for potential breakthroughs in cancer treatment.

SHRP2 R21 Project Implementation: Two-Lift Concrete Paving on I-65, Nashville

Under Strategic Highway Research Program 2 (SHRP2) Project R21, detailed design and construction guidelines were developed for new composite pavement systems. These systems, consisting of either a hot-mix asphalt (HMA) or portland cement concrete (PCC) wearing course over a structural concrete layer (i.e., HMA/PCC or PCC/PCC), are promising technologies for providing sustainable roadways that can be constructed rapidly and rehabilitated (or renewed) with minimal disruption to the traveling public. New composite pavement systems have proven to provide long service life, excellent surface characteristics, exceptionally smooth ride quality, and high durability. As part of the SHRP2 Implementation Assistance Program, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) integrated a two-lift (wet-on-wet) concrete composite pavement into a full-depth shoulder adjacent to a mainline reconstruction project on I-65 in Nashville. TDOT’s interest in the two-lift concrete pavement was driven by a recent specification change requiring a higher quality surface aggregate, and the I-65 project offered the opportunity to evaluate the viability and costcompetitiveness of the two-lift system. This paper describes the construction of the TDOT two-lift composite pavement, including critical aspects of the batching, transport, placement, and post-construction aspects of two-lift composite pavement construction.

A Parametric Study on the Behavior of Arch Composite Beams Prestressed with External Tendons

Arch beams are widely used in bridge construction due to their ability to withstand much greater loads than horizontal beams. The utilization of composite construction has also increased due to its tendency to optimize the utilization of construction materials, leading to significant savings in steel costs. In this research, a detailed experiment work on a simply supported arch composite beam under a positive moment was presented; then, a numerical model was created using ABAQUS to simulate its nonlinear behavior. The beams were formed from a concrete slab attached to steel beams by means of perfobond shear connectors (PSCs). A good agreement between the model and experiment was obtained. A parametric study was developed to identify the influence of the initial prestressing, rise to span ratio, and beam length on the behavior of the arch composite beam. It was found that the presence of tendons enhances the serviceability behavior, increases the ultimate load by 40% compared to the control beam, and equilibrates the horizontal thrust of the arch, even in the absence of initial prestressing. In addition, the beam exhibits a clear tied arch behavior due to the large eccentricity as the rise-to-depth ratio increases. Furthermore, the prestress force was found to be more effective in the longer span and the incremental stress in tendons more remarkable.

Construction of flame-retardant and water-resistant polybutylene terephthalate composites by reactive extrusion

Construction of flame-retardant and water-resistant polybutylene terephthalate composites by reactive extrusion

Precision of Fungal Resistance Test Method for Cereal Husk-Reinforced Composite Construction Profiles Considering Mycelium Removal Techniques.

Many test methods used in the assessment of construction products are characterised by poor precision, which is reflected in the discrepancies of results obtained by different laboratories. The test procedure for fungal resistance of natural particle-reinforced composite construction profiles has not been fully specified, which may lead to such discrepancies and erroneous utility assessment. In this study, the precision of the method and the influence of the mycelium removal on the fungal resistance were assessed based on the flexural strength and modulus of elasticity test results obtained for millet- and oat husk-reinforced PVC composites exposed to Coniophora puteana. The study revealed low precision of the test method, the coefficient of variation, in which, based on the standard deviation of interlaboratory reproducibility for one of the tested composites, was even higher than 20%. Additionally, it was found that the method of mycelium removal can significantly (at the level of 16% difference between flexural strength results) affect the resistance test results. This indicates the need to modify the test method and clearly specify the recommended method of cleaning samples after exposure to fungi.

Photocatalytic NO Removal by Ternary Composites Bi12GeO20/BiOCl/W18O49 Using a Waste Reutilization Strategy

Heterojunction creation is demonstrated as an effective strategy to enhance the transfer and separation of charge carriers, which is beneficial for subsequent photocatalytic reactions. In this study, “sea urchin-like” W18O49 was in situ-grown on the surface of Bi12GeO20 through a hydrothermal process, and the released Cl− anions tended to produce BiOCl simultaneously. Systematical characterizations confirmed the construction of ternary composites Bi12GeO20/BiOCl/W18O49 (GBW), in which Type I and Z-scheme models were integrated to promote charge carrier migration and separation by combining the structural merits of both models. Under UV–visible light, the catalytic performance of the as-synthesized samples was tested in terms of NO oxidation removal. Compared to pure Bi12GeO20, the composite GBW5 showed the highest NO photocatalytic removal efficiency of 42%, which was nearly four times that of pure Bi12GeO20. These improvements were mainly due to enhanced light absorption, suitable morphological features, effective separation of charge carriers, and the boosted generation of reactive species in the GBW series. This study paves the way for the construction of Bi12GeO20-based ternary composites using a comprehensive utilization of waste method and the employment of the composites for the photocatalytic removal of low concentrations of NO at the ppb level.

Relating gauge gravity to string theory through obstruction

Abstract In this article we provide a more detailed account of the geometry and topology of the composite bundle formalism introduced by Tresguerres in Phys. Rev.
D 66 (2002) 064025~\cite{Tresguerres2002} to accommodate gravitation as a gauge theory. In the first half of the article we identify a global structure required by the composite construction which not only exposes how the ordinary frame and tangent bundle expected in general relativity arise but provides the link or connection between these ordinary bundles and the gauge bundles of the composite bundle construction. In the second half of the article we discuss implications of this method of constructing gravity as a fiber bundle for the global structure of spacetime. We find that the underlying manifold of the composite bundle construction is expected to admit, not only a spin structure but also a string structure. As a consequence of our work we are able to extend past work on global structures of physically reasonable spacetime manifolds. It has been shown that in four spacetime dimensions, that if an oriented, Lorentzian, four dimensional manifold is stably casual that it is parallizable, and hence admits a spin structure which allows for chiral spinors. We may now add to this that such a manifold also admits a string structure.

Regolith-Rich PEEK Composite Bricks: Steps Towards Space-Ready Lunar Construction Materials

This study introduces a novel composite construction material composed of lunar regolith combined with PEEK in dry powder form. The work demonstrates significant advantages over alternative methods, primarily by reducing production power consumption and simplifying the manufacturing process. Building on previous research that explored binder optimization through process simplification and targeting predefined shapes, this work delves deeper into a comparative analysis of high-performance thermoplastics. Among the various options, PEEK demonstrates the most favorable properties. The study investigates key processing parameters and evaluates the effects of vacuum processing and temperature testing on mechanical properties. The research also evaluates the effects of vacuum processing and temperature testing to assess the material’s performance under lunar conditions. Comparative analysis is performed with standard performance of various reinforced and unreinforced concretes and with standard requirements for construction bricks as per ASTM standards. This shows that the composite, with an organic binder content as low as 5 wt%, has great potential. Notably, the improvements achieved through vacuum curing ensure compliance with lunar environmental conditions and alignment with most Earth-based engineering standards. Samples compacted at 7.50 MPa with 10 wt% binder, and tested at room temperature, achieve a compression strength of 16.3 MPa, exceeding that of industrial floor bricks and matching that of building bricks used on Earth. Bending strength (7.4 MPa) aligns with steel fiber-reinforced and high-strength concretes. Vacuum curing further enhances these properties, with an observed increase of +66% in bending strength and +33% in compression strength.

Experimental study on the flexural behavior of ferrocement slab panels with supplementary cementitious silica fume and fiber materials

Ferrocement is a composite construction material with slender sections or panels, a rich cementitious mortar, and steel wire mesh as its principal reinforcing agent. The mortar matrix is designed to achieve optimal strength, density, impermeability, and workability, minimizing void formation and preventing map cracking. A study evaluated the workability and flexural strength of mortars prepared using three types of fine aggregates: Badarpur sand, Yamuna River sand, and Kilned Brick Powder. The mortar classifications included conventional mortar compositions (MCS), mortars with flyash and Silica Fume (MFSS), and mortars with flyash, silica fume, and human hair (MFSHS). The results showed that mixes incorporating these materials significantly improved workability, with MFSS-2 (Portland cement, Yamuna sand, plus 10% FA and 6% SF) showing the highest increase (42.50%). The high-strength formulations with supplementary materials were superior in terms of stiffness and structural integrity, with MFSHS-1 (Portland cement, Badarpur sand, 10% FA, 6% SF, and 1% HH fiber) showing the least deflection for any given load. The addition of 1% human hair fibers in the mortar matrix improved flexural strength in panels, acting as micro-reinforcements, enhancing the tensile strength alongwith mortar ductility.

A review of electrospun metal oxide semiconductor-based photocatalysts.

In recent years, photocatalytic materials with a nanofiber-like morphology have garnered a surge of academic attention due to their distinctive properties, including an expansive specific surface area, a considerable high aspect ratio, a pronounced resistance to agglomeration, superior electron survivability, and robust surface activity. Consequently, the synthesis of photocatalytic nanofiber materials through various methodologies has drawn considerable attention. The electrospinning technique has been established as a prevalent method for fabricating nanofiber-structured materials, owing to its advantageous properties, including the ability for mass production and the assurance of high continuity. This review focuses on metal oxide semiconductor-based materials, which are crucial components of photocatalysts. We summarize several recent studies that explore morphology modulation, surface modification, element doping, and composite construction using uniaxial and coaxial electrospinning techniques. Finally, we present potential approaches for constructing high-activity photocatalytic systems through electrospinning technique.

Self-assembly driven regulation of 3d brush-/flower-like silk nanostructures with robust structural effects on composites construction

Natural designs provide abundant inspirations for constructing structure regulated, performance enhanced and function enriched materials. An impressive 3D brush-like silk nanostructure (SNB) was designed and regulated via template-guided self-assembly approach in our previous work. While fundamental issues on template-guided self-assembly process to construct SNBs and followed by regulating flower-like silk nanostructure (SNF) mineralization have not been studied in detail yet. Robust structural effects and additional functionalities on composites construction remain hazy. Herein, current works concentrate on issues related to assembly dynamics, structural features, characteristic parameters and assembly simulation during template-guided self-assembly process. Morphologies change, transmittance, pH value, zeta-potential, ThT-induced fluorescence emission and MD simulation are measured to monitor SNBs formation, proving it's a nucleus reliance and conformation transition process. Structural superiorities of SNBs and SNFs are proved by constructing composited materials (such as membranes, hydrogels or aerogels) with cellulose or chitin derivatives, and enhanced mechanical performance, excellent viscoelastic behavior or highly porous network can be found therewith. In addition, additional functionalities such as Ag nanoparticle reducing property and anti-bacteria application are evaluated as well. This work is expected to provide guidelines and inspirations for tailoring versatile structures in controlled manners and exploiting functional features to expand silk utilization scopes.

Construction of PDMS-crosslinked tread composites that feature high energy-saving and anti-thermal oxidative performances

Construction of PDMS-crosslinked tread composites that feature high energy-saving and anti-thermal oxidative performances

Reference composite features database construction method based on track segmentation for gravity matching aided navigation

Reference composite features database construction method based on track segmentation for gravity matching aided navigation

Multilevel carbon composite construction of NASICON type NaVPO4F/C/CNT cathode material for high stability sodium ion batteries

NaVPO4F (NVPF), characterized by a high voltage of 3.4 V, an impressive theoretical capacity of 143 mAh g-1, and a low vanadium content that minimizes toxicity, holds significant promise for...

Mechanical behaviour of 3D printed fiber-reinforced soft functional hydrogel composite: Opportunities for biomedical applications

Owing to the unique native properties of cellulose, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and excellent mechanical properties, it offers new strategies for designing environment-friendly, cost-effective, and high-mechanically robust hydrogel composites. Herein, we proposed the fabrication of 3D printed nature-inspired cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) reinforced anisotropic functional nanocomposite hydrogel structure.In this hypothetical study, we focuses on to develop nature-inspired 3D-printed Polyacrylamide PAM / Alginate (Alg) based single layered and multilayered laminate hydrogel composites reinforced with anisotropically oriented CNFs and performing finite element (FE) analysis study via implementing measured experimental material properties to explore the CNF reinforcement mechanism in the fiber-reinforced composite hydrogel. The FE modelling and simulation are based on an idealised anisotropic hyperelastic model used to analyse the anisotropic mechanical behaviour of the 3D printed hydrogel composite structure. The computational study of the nature-inspired printed helicoidally layup hydrogel composite construct exhibit enhanced mechanical properties, which offered appreciable stretchability, toughness and anisotropic mechanical behavior.It will assist the design of the more mechanically compliance composite hydrogel structure, making it suitable for load-bearing biomedical applications.

Scenography by Tadei Ryndzak: traditions and inspiration

. The work of Tadei Ryndzak – a Ukrainian scenographer, People's Artist of Ukraine, who has been working at the Lviv National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet named after Solomiya Krushelnytska for more than 55 years - has been studied. In the creative work of the artist, the influences of traditions and their synthesis with innovations were determined through the outlining of Lysikov methods in the creative manner of the scenographer. It has been proven that the pictorial reproduction of theatrical scenes by both artists is significantly different: the principles of using Ye. Lysyk's methods lie rather in views on life, in the sequence and subtleties during the work process, technological methods of creating a canvas, decorative construction, etc. It has been observed that each scenographic project of T. Ryndzak contains both traditional and innovative elements. It is substantiated that among the more traditional projects we can name the scenographies for the productions "Nabucco", "Zaporozhets za Danube", "Taras Bulba", "Carmina Burana", "La Traviata". The innovative projects of T. Ryndzak defined scenographic solutions for the productions "Bohdan Khmelnytskyi", "Carmen", "Masquerade Ball", "Mykyta's Fox". The author's innovation here consists in the integration of personal experiences into the theatrical setting ("Bohdan Khmelnytskyi"), the choice of an unusual element from the plot as the main pictorial object ("Carmen"), a modern vision and different from the traditional idea of a certain atmosphere where the scene takes place action ("Mykyta Fox", "Masquerade Ball", "Carmen"). A number of scenographies were noted, in which a synthesis of traditions and innovations took place: the artistic design of "The Return of the Butterfly" as a classic reproduction of the theater space for the audience, but with a noticeable accent in the center of the composition, which each audience perceives differently; "Ayida" – there is a sketch for the production, where the influence of Ye. Lysyk's work can be clearly traced, but the final result is still embodied in the clear creative manner of T. Ryndzak; "Yaroslav Mudryi", which depicts traditional Ukrainian architecture, but the perception of the composition reaches a special level of attention due to the principles of compositional construction used.