Embedded Test Research Articles

Investigation of Dynamic-Cyclic, Dynamic-Impact, and Timber-Construction-Relevant Characteristics of Wood–Textile Composites

Wood–Textile Composites (WTCs) are a new type of composite material based on willow wood strips and polypropylene that combines the properties of classic natural-fiber-reinforced polymers with an innovative textile wood design. While the basic quasi-static properties have already been investigated and described, there is a lack of knowledge about the behavior of the material under dynamic-cyclic and dynamic-impact loading as well as in relation to basic wood construction parameters. The present study is intended to contribute to the later use of the developed material, e.g., in architecture. For this purpose, fatigue tests, dart drop tests (impact and penetration), impact bending tests, and embedment tests were carried out. It was shown that embedding wood fabrics in a thermoplastic matrix leads to a significant increase in resistance to impact loads compared to the neat basic materials. It was also shown that the ratio of the failure stress in the fatigue test to the tensile strength of the WTC corresponds to that of other fiber-reinforced thermoplastics at around 70%. The embedment tests showed that WTC has good values compared to neat wood.

Experimental Investigation of Full Hole Embedment Behavior of Bamboo Scrimber with Dowel-Type Fasteners

A comprehensive understanding of the embedment behavior is of great importance in the design of contemporary bamboo constructions with connections utilizing dowel-type fasteners. The objective of this research was to assess the embedment behavior of bamboo scrimber using full-hole embedment tests. To investigate the effect of the loading angle and bolt diameter, a series of tests were performed using bolts of varying diameters (16 mm, 18 mm, and 20 mm) and loading angles (0° to 90°, with an increment of 15°). The experimental results demonstrated that the loading angle has a considerable influence on the embedment behavior. As the loading angle was increased, the failure mode underwent a change from a brittle failure mode, which was dominated by shear mechanisms, to a ductile failure mode, which was dominated by fiber crushing. The yield and ultimate embedment strengths showed an M-shaped response to changes in the loading angle, with the lowest values being 0°, 45°, and 90°. The bolt diameter was found to have no impact on the failure mode of the specimen. However, an increase in bolt diameter resulted in a reduction in the embedment strength when the specimen was loaded at 90°.

Exploring the relationship between embedment behaviour in cross-laminated timber and its layers: An experimental study

Cross-laminated timber (CLT) has become popular as a construction material and the design of CLT connections is typically based on empirical equations with an average embedment strength of the wood-based product. The experimental study presented herein aims at enhancing the understanding of the relationship between the CLT embedment behaviour and the single layers it is composed of. Non-linear embedment stress–displacement relationships were measured in 244 full-hole and half-hole embedment tests on structural timber boards as well as on CLT produced of parts of the same boards. Three different fasteners, namely a steel dowel with a diameter of 12 mm and the threaded part of screws with a nominal diameter of 6.5 mm and 10 mm, were studied. The design of the experiments allowed to validate a simple mechanical model with parallel springs for the CLT, which showed good agreement with experiments. In addition to a validation of the non-linear spring model, this unique experimental data-set is further exploited in a comparison with empirical equations and for the derivation of a non-linear embedment ratio, between parallel and perpendicular to the grain embedment stresses, over the displacement. Knowledge of the relationship between the non-linear embedment behaviour of the single layers and the CLT element can be further exploited in the engineering design and numerical modelling of CLT connections with dowel-type fasteners.

Encapsulation structure and in-situ embedding test and model study of a new type of road piezoelectric energy collector

In recent years, research on road piezoelectric energy harvesters (RPEH) has made great progress in the field of road vibration energy harvesting. However, the research on the packaging structure and embedding method of RPEH is not comprehensive. In this paper, a new type of transducer unit structure is developed, which can improve the electrical energy output compared with the drum piezoelectric transducer, and its waterproof performance of the transducer unit is tested under different water depth and duration. Then, a new RPEH package structure is made, and the output performance is compared with the three commonly used package structures in the current research, and the field construction of RPEH with different embedding methods is carried out on the actual road to evaluate the electrical energy output capacity of RPEH under different embedding methods, and the best construction method of RPEH is summarized through durability test. Finally, the three-dimensional simulation model of RPEH with different construction methods is established, and the stress and voltage are analyzed by finite element method to verify the best embedding method. The test results show that the piezoelectric output efficiency of the new transducer unit is increased by 38.9 %, and it still has good electrical energy output after 24 h immersion at a depth of 1.5 m, and its waterproof level reaches IPX8. Under larger excitation frequency and load, the indoor output of RPEH in the new package structure has better output performance in indoor test. The bolt-spring package is used to apply pre-pressure to RPEH, and the output efficiency of RPEH is improved. When the excitation conditions are 10 kN, 10 Hz, the output power is increased by 11.1 %, 127.3 % and 247.4 % compared with the other three package structures. The maximum power of RPEH is 3.41 W by placing concrete on the bottom surface of RPEH sponge washer and using asphalt as the pavement layer to ensure the durability of piezoelectric pavement. The finite element analysis illustrates the strain and voltage variation of piezoelectric pavement with different embedment modes, and the simulation results are consistent with the test results. The research results provide an important basis for the design of RPEH packaging structure and embedding method in road piezoelectric engineering.

Experimental behavior of piggy-backed anchors in cohesionless soils

As the offshore wind platform ventured into deep water, improving anchor efficiency has become the main focus of foundation design. Plate anchors are attractive options due to factors such as high anchor efficiency and low cost. Appropriately attaching two plate anchors improves the total capacity of the piggy-backed anchors configuration, and generally, this capacity is greater than twice the capacity of an individual anchor. This paper presents the centrifuge drag embedment tests of an individual drag embedment anchor (DEA) and the piggy-backed DEAs in cohesionless soil. The piggy-backed configuration with the spacing between the two anchors at three fluke lengths and an attachment point at the back of the fluke can improve the anchor total capacity. The main reason is that a deeper penetration of the back anchor and the steeper pitch of the front anchor facilitate both anchors to dive deeper.

Development and performance evaluation of a novel elastic bacterial nanocellulose/polyurethane small caliber artificial blood vessels

There is an increasing demand for small-diameter blood vessels. Currently, there is no clinically available small-diameter artificial vessel. Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) has vast potential for applications in artificial blood vessels due to its good biocompatibility. At the same time, medical polyurethane (PU) is a highly elastic polymer material widely used in artificial blood vessels. This study reports a composite small-diameter BNC/PU conduit using a non-solvent-induced phase separation method with the highly hydrophilic BNC tube as the skeleton and the hydrophobic polycarbonate PU as the filling material. The results revealed that the compliance and mechanical matching of BNC/PU tubes were higher than BNC tubes; the axial/radial mechanical strength, burst pressure, and suture strength were significantly improved; the blood compatibility and cell compatibility were also excellent. The molecular and subcutaneous embedding tests showed that the composite tubes had lighter inflammatory reactions. The results of the animal substitution experiments showed that the BNC/PU tubes kept blood flow unobstructed without tissue proliferation after implantation in rats for 9 months. Thus, the BNC/PU small-diameter vascular prosthesis had the potential for long-term patency and acted as an ideal material for small-diameter vessels.

Embedment strength and foundation modulus at an angle to the grain for fully threaded bolts

ABSTRACT As the main parameter, embedment strength is used to assess the load-carrying capacity of timber joints with dowel-type fasteners and foundation modulus is used to assess their stiffness. The embedment properties, i.e. embedment strength and foundation modulus, are system properties, which depend not only upon the material properties but also upon the load-to-grain angle and surface conditions of fasteners. The formulae for the embedment strengths of dowels and bolts in the design standards of timber structures are almost exclusively derived from the embedment tests on smooth dowels, with the surface conditions different from those of alternative fully threaded bolts in timber structures. Moreover, there are hardly any formulae for determining the foundation modulus. In this study, the embedment tests at different angles to the grain were carried out using the fully threaded bolts with different diameters in oversized holes as they would be used in practice. The load-to-grain angle had statistically significant effects on these embedment properties. The empirical formulae for the embedment strength and foundation modulus were derived. The embedment tests on fully threaded bolts and smooth dowels in tight-fitting holes were also performed to explore the effects of bolt hole sizes and surface conditions.

Impact of Acetylation on the Behaviour of Single-Dowel Timber Connections

This paper presents an experimental study where the mechanical behaviour of single-dowel timber connections made of acetylated Scots pine is compared with the behaviour of connections made from untreated Scots pine. The main aim was to evaluate the influence of the acetylation on the connection brittleness and also to compare the experimental results to the design provisions of the current European structural timber code, Eurocode 5 (EC5). The experiments included embedment tests and tests with connections loaded parallel and perpendicular to the grain, and, for the latter tests, applying different end and edge distances. The acetylated wood showed a 2% increase in density and a 31% increase in embedment strength compared to the untreated wood. For tests on connections loaded parallel to the grain, all specimens made from acetylated wood failed in a brittle manner, while the connections made from untreated wood and complying with minimum end distance of the EC5 design provisions failed due to embedment failure followed by splitting involving cracking along the grain. The connections made of acetylated wood showed a 13–15% higher capacity than the corresponding specimens made from untreated wood. Thus, to fully utilize the potential of the increased embedment strength parallel to the grain, it is concluded that reinforcement of the joint, e.g., by self-tapping screws or externally applied sheet reinforcement would be necessary if the minimum end distances of EC5 are applied. The current design provisions for loading perpendicular to the grain overestimated the capacities severely with predicted characteristic values being 20–50% higher than mean values from tests for the recommended minimum edge distances. Finally, it was found that the splitting capacity in loading perpendicular to the grain was 10–18% lower for the specimens made from acetylated wood compared to the untreated wood.

Embedding Test Questions in Educational Mobile Virtual Reality: A Study on Hospital Hygiene Procedures

Embedding Test Questions in Educational Mobile Virtual Reality: A Study on Hospital Hygiene Procedures

Experimental study on longitudinal embedding performance of bolted engineered bamboo connections

This paper summarizes the experimental results of longitudinal embedding tests of bolted engineered bamboo connections. Six groups of bolted engineered bamboo connection specimens were prepared and tested monotonically up to failure. Test variables were bolt diameter and type of engineered bamboo: laminated bamboo or bamboo scrimber. Connection stiffness and embedding strength of the specimens of bamboo scrimber were greater than those of the specimens of the laminated bamboo – reflecting the difference in material density. Embedding strength of the laminated bamboo was insensitive to bolt diameter whereas embedding strength of the bamboo scrimber decreased with an increase of the bolt diameter. It was shown that in order to accurately model bolt embedding into bamboo, a foundation model is required. Reduction factors for strength and modulus for such a model were calibrated using experimental results. A parametric study addressing friction and foundation model size is presented.

Enhanced corrosion resistance of Mg alloy embedded in Cl--containing Portland cement with the formation of CaCO3-coated Mg(Al)O passive film via one-step pulse electrodeposition

In this study, a novel CaCO3/Mg(Al)O coating system was successfully synthesized via one-step pulse electrodeposition. The thickness of inner passivation layer and outer CaCO3 layer was tailored by modulating the pulse voltage. Anticorrosion performance of the coated Mg alloy was assessed by both electrochemical methods and embedment tests. The coated Mg alloy demonstrated improved corrosion resistance, attributed to the synergistic impact of a compact outer CaCO3 layer and an Al-assisted inner passivation layer. Both layers' quality primarily governed the alloy's anticorrosion performance. Remarkably, embedment tests revealed a re-passivation phenomenon instead of corrosion, with its mechanism discussed comprehensively.

Enhancing Quality and Security of the PLL-TRNG

Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are used more and more frequently to implement cryptographic systems, which need random number generators (RNGs) to be embedded in the same device. The main challenge related to the implementation of a generator running inside FPGAs is that the physical source of randomness, such as jittered clock generator, is implemented in the configurable logic area, i.e. in the close vicinity of noisy running algorithms, which can have significant impact on generated numbers or even serve to attack the generator. A possible approach to prevent such influence is the use of Phase-Lock Loops (PLLs), which are separated from the re-configurable logic area inside the FPGA chip. In this paper, we propose a new architecture of the PLL-based TRNG including a method to avoid correlation in the output through control of timing in the sampling process, as well as new embedded tests based on the enhanced stochastic model. We also propose a workflow to help find the best parameters, such as output bitrate and entropy rate. We show that bitrates of around 400 kb/s or more can be achieved, while guaranteeing min-entropy rates per bit higher than 0.98 as required by the latest security standards.

Estimation of proppant embedment from laboratory instrumented indentation tests on Montney formation in Western Canada

Instrumented indentation tests have been gradually adopted to rapidly characterize mechanical behaviours of tight formation rocks, which provides valuable data for estimating proppant embedment in hydraulic fractures. This paper presents a laboratory study on Montney formation samples from depths between 2068 and 2337 m using both instrumented indentation tests and proppant embedment tests, which is the first of this kind to have both tests conducted on the same formation rock and depths for facilitating direct comparison. Fifty-six indentation tests show that Young's modulus and hardness of Montney formation are strongly related to the elastic indentation and the total indentation, respectively. Indentation tests can over-estimate the local Young's modulus when there are large fluctuations in the unloading indentation depth vs. force curves. Hardness, commonly assumed to be constant, is found to change with the indentation depth and can be related to the impression area on the rock surfaces with a power function. The proppant embedment test results show that the reduction in the proppant-propped fracture aperture with closure stresses is analogue to the indentation force vs. depth curves. Some proppant embedment tests have abnormal results due to either the puncture of sample membrane sleeves or uneven proppant placement between fractures, which highlights the challenges of conducting proppant embedment tests. To utilize the results from efficient indentation tests for estimating fracture aperture changes with compressive stresses, a mathematical model considering proppant deformation and proppant embedment was proposed for fractures propped with monolayer proppants. The mathematical model gives an excellent prediction of fracture apertures under various stresses that match the laboratory proppant embedment measurements. The usefulness of the indentation tests and the mathematical model is further demonstrated by determining the model parameters for Montney formation rock treated with two fracturing fluids, which offers an alternative approach to expensive proppant embedment tests.

STUDY ON EXPERIMENTS AND ESTIMATION OF YIELD CAPACITY OF CLT TWO-SIDED SHEAR JOINTS WITH SHEAR PLATES AND DRIFT PINS

The purpose of this study is to estimate the structural properties and yield capacity of CLT two-sided shear joints with shear plates and drift pins. In order to estimate yield capacity of joints, CLT embedding test and a tensile test of joints were conducted to confirm the adaptability of the proposed equation for yield load based on the yield theory. Specimens consisted of two CLTs, two shear plates, and drift pins. Parameters of the experiment were presence of shear plates and position of joints. Test results were compared with the calculated values.

Embedment behavior of dowel-type fasteners in birch plywood: Influence of load-to-face grain angle, test set-up, fastener diameter, and acetylation

Birch plywood has superior mechanical properties compared with plywood made from most softwood species, which makes it suitable for structural application. Plywood is also more environmentally friendly, cost-efficient, and less prefabrication demanding than steel plates. For a proper design of birch plywood as joint plates in timber-timber connections, the embedment behavior of mechanical connectors into plywood needs to be properly investigated. In this study, the authors performed embedment tests of dowel connectors into birch plywood specimens under five different angles from parallel to perpendicular to the face grain with a step size of 22.5°. Dowel connectors with three different diameters were utilized to study the influence of dowel diameter on embedment strength and stiffness. Besides, test series using self-drilling screws and acetylated birch plywood specimens were conducted to study the effect of both fastener type and acetylation. Moreover, full-hole and half-hole test results were compared. The embedment strengths were calculated analytically according to different term definitions. The test results were then compared with the analytical results based on formulas reported in the literature, e.g., Eurocode 5 and other design standards.

Investigation of mechanical properties and elucidation of factors affecting wood-based structural panels under embedment stress with a circular dowel i: analysis of the influence of various conditions on the embedment properties

Embedment properties are vital to timber structural designs, and many types of wood-based structural panels have been developed for diverse uses. Comprehensive and systematic studies regarding the embedment properties of wood-based structural panels are limited. In this study, a jig that allows the observation of fracture processes is developed, and a monotonic tensile embedment test is conducted on plywood, oriented strandboard (both strong and weak axes), particleboard, medium density fiberboard, and hardboard. The parameters used in the test are the dowel diameter, pilot hole size, and end and edge distances. The effects of these parameters on the embedment properties (i.e., the failure mode, ductility, maximum stress, and yield stress) are discussed comprehensively. The failure mode is determined by the edge distance. At a sufficient edge distance, ductile failure occurs, and the load is maintained until the remaining end distance reaches a certain value. The maximum stress and yield stress are analyzed quantitatively via standardized multiple regression analysis. The results suggest the following: (i) The ratio of the in-plane strength to the internal bond strength is related to the failure behavior; (ii) the dowel diameter, fiber direction, and load levels affect the stress spread pattern of the embedment pressure.

The Off-Axis Embedment Performance of Bamboo Panels Used for Glubam Structures

The off-axis embedment behaviors of unidirectional and multidirectional laminated engineered bamboo panels used for glued-laminated bamboo (glubam) structures under dowel-type bolts with three different diameters, 12, 14, and 16 mm, were experimentally studied in this research. The half-hole loading method given by current standards was adopted to perform the embedment tests. Seven different off-axis loading directions from 0° to 90° related to the main bamboo fiber direction at an interval of 15° in the panel plane were considered. The different failure patterns, stress-displacement curves, and the corresponding full-field surface strain measured through the digital image correlation (DIC) method are reported. The loading angles significantly influenced the embedment performance of unidirectional bamboo panel specimens, and the strength values decreased with the increasing off-axis loading angles. A difference of 35% in the strength values between 0° and 90° loading specimens was observed. However, quasi-isotropic embedment properties were noticed for the multidirectional laminated engineered bamboo panels. The capacity functions were provided to predict the mean off-axis embedment strength and characteristic strength values by inputting the characteristic density values into the functions. Compared with the characteristic strength values estimated through the statistical method, with a 95% probability of exceedance and 75% significant level, the conventional capacity-function method underestimated the off-axis embedment strength values, and thus may leading to an overconservative design. The statistical characteristic embedment strength values are suggested to be used to calibrate the safety factor of capacity equations given by wood standards. Results from this research can be used to predict the ultimate strength of glubam joints under complex loading conditions and obtain reliable design values for engineering applications.

Embedment strength of dowel-type fasteners for the case of cross-laminated timber plane side insertion

The strength property of dowel-type connections in cross-laminated timber (CLT) is dependent on the embedment strength of the adopted dowels. In this study, eight groups with 164 CLT cubic specimens were tested based on the half-hole embedment test configuration to address the effects of the potential factors on the embedment strength. In the embedment tests, the axial direction of the smooth dowels was perpendicular to the plane face of the CLT cubic specimens (i.e., in the case of CLT plane side insertion). The considered influencing factors included the loading angle θ, the ratio between the thickness of the transverse layers to the thickness of CLT (RTrLay), and the gap between the longitudinal laminas within the embedment area. The experimental results were further utilized to verify the current empirical equations that could predict the embedment strength. Results show that the embedment strength of the dowels in the case of CLT plane side insertion is enhanced by 19.96–68.40 % when changing the θ from 90 degree to 0 degree. When the gap between the longitudinal laminas exists in the embedment area, the distinction between the embedment strength measured through the θ of 0 degree and that measured through the θ of 90 degree can be weakened. When the θ is 90 degree, the gap existing in the embedment area has almost no effect on the CLT embedment strength. In contrast, when the adopted θ is switched to 0 degree, the gap existing in the embedment area can weaken the CLT embedment strength by up to 37.11 %. When no gap exists in the embedment area, the embedment strength declines with an increase of the RTrLay; whereas when a gap between the longitudinal laminas exists in the embedment area, a growing trend of the embedment strength is illustrated with the increasing RTrLay.

Elastoplastic Analysis of Timber Connections with Dowel-Type Fasteners at Ambient and High Temperatures

Three-dimensional elastoplastic finite element (FE) analysis models considering a damage zone and cleavage were developed, including plastic behavior of embedment tests parallel and perpendicular to the grain at ambient and high temperatures, in order to study the embedment behavior of timber. In a numerical analysis of compression tests to define material properties of timber, the post-yield behavior of the X-axis in the axial direction was larger than the test values when the post-yield slope of the test result were set to the plastic modulus. The reason was that the stress on the Y-axis and Z-axis increased after the yield point; thus, the equivalent yield stress decreased. In the numerical analysis of the embedment tests, the effect of the damage zone must be considered in the analytical models because the initial stiffness of the numerical results in compression parallel to the grain was considerably higher than that of the test results when the damage zone was not considered. In the numerical analysis of the embedment tests in compression perpendicular to the grain, the two models reproduced the stiffness and behavior after the yield point of the test results. The model that considered cleaving showed the stress distribution after cleavage.

The six-degree-of-freedom behavior of drag embedment anchor installed in clay

ABSTRACT This study investigated five parameters relevant to the kinematic behaviours of drag embedment anchors (DEAs), including the fluke-shank angle, the initial depth, the line thickness, the installation angle and the loading rate. A six-degree-of-freedom magnetometer system with a magnetic sensor was applied to simultaneously record the movement and orientation of the model anchor. Five groups of drag embedment tests were performed in clay with a linearly increasing shear strength profile. The anchor trajectories, pitch angles and installation load in each group were systematically compared and sufficiently analysed. This study contributes a further understanding of the kinematic behaviours of the DEA during embedment and provides a possible optimising guide in the future design of the DEA.