Epoxy Polymer Concrete Research Articles

Damping studies on fibre-reinforced epoxy polymer concrete using Taguchi design of experiments

In the present study, the damping characteristics of glass fibre-reinforced epoxy polymer concrete is evaluated and compared with that of cast iron. Effect of resin content, fibre content, filler content and aggregate mix type on damping of polymer concrete has been studied using Taguchi design of experiments methodology. Fly ash is used as filler and the foundry sand with different size combinations is used as aggregate. Nine different polymer concrete mix proportions based on Taguchi L9 array were tested for damping ratio. The samples were prepared and tested through vibration analyser, which is used for modal analysis. It has been concluded that the fibre reinforced polymer concrete has damping ratios two to three times higher than the cast iron. The aggregate mix proportion is the most important factor affecting damping of fibre reinforced epoxy polymer concrete. Further, an optimised combination is obtained that gives maximum damping ratio.

폴리머 콘크리트 포장을 적용한 강바닥판의 피로응력에 관한 해석적 연구

본 연구에서는 초박층 교면포장으로 폴리설파이드 에폭시 폴리머 콘크리트 포장을 선정하여, 에폭시 아스팔트 포장, SFRC 포장과의 비교 분석을 통해 폴리머 콘크리트 포장이 강바닥판의 피로응력범위에 어떠한 영향을 미치는 지 분석하였다. 강바닥판의 피로응력범위를 산정하기 위해 Abaqus를 사용한 유한요소해석을 사용하여 비교평가하였으며, 용접부에 교축방향 및 교축직각방향의 다축응력이 발생하는 점을 감안하여 Signed Von-Mises 응력을 도입하여 피로 검토에 활용하였다. 강바닥판의 피로응력범위를 산정하기 위해 Abaqus를 사용한 유한요소해석을 사용하여 포장 재료 및 두께에 따라 비교평가하였으며, 용접부에 교축방향 및 교축직각방향의 다축응력이 발생하는 점을 감안하여 Signed Von-Mises 응력을 도입하여 피로 검토에 활용하였다. In this study, polysulfide epoxy polymer concrete was chosen as an ultra thin bridge deck overlay, and the effect of polymer concrete pavement on the fatigue stress range of the orthotropic steel deck was analyzed through the comparative analysis with epoxy asphalt pavement and SFRC pavement. Abaqus was used to estimate the fatigue stress range, and signed von-mises stress was used to estimate fatigue stress range according to pavement materials and thickness, considering there were multi axis stresses which have longitudinal and lateral direction on the welded parts of the steel deck.

Mechanical durability of an optimized polymer concrete under various thermal cyclic loadings – An experimental study

Investigating the tensile strength (σt) and mode I fracture toughness (KIc) of polymer concrete (PC) materials due to their quasi-brittle behavior is of great interest to engineers. In this paper, the mechanical durability of an optimized epoxy PC, focused on the two above properties, are experimentally investigated under three different freeze/thaw cycles. The diametrally compressed un-cracked Brazilian disc (BD) and the single edge notch bending (SENB) test configurations are used to measure the split tensile strength and fracture toughness, respectively. The thermal cycles; 25°C to −30°C (cycle-A), 25°C to 70°C (cycle-B) and −30°C to 70°C (cycle-C) applied for 7days to the test specimens; are chosen according to the climate of Iran in different seasons. Experimental results show the noticeable influence of thermal cycles, especially cycle-B, on both fracture toughness and tensile strength. Heat-to-cool thermal cycle-A and thawing thermal cycle-B indicate the most increase and reduction, respectively on both σt and KIc in comparison to ambient conditions. Also, it was shown that the fracture toughness and tensile strength of tested PC materials are reduced by increasing the mean temperature values of thermal cycles.

Mechanical Characterization of Epoxy Polymer Concrete Containing Fly Ash

Polymer concrete is a composite material made of aggregates and polymeric resin as a binder. The applications of polymer concrete is limited not only to the domain of civil engineering but it has got inroads in to structural applications in Machine tool structures. Till date no standard mix design procedures are available for polymer concrete systems. In this research, Polymer concrete samples were made using epoxy resin as a binder, fly ash as a filler and marble waste as aggregate. The various mix proportions were developed using concept of mixture design of experiments. Compressive and flexural strength was evaluated for each composition of polymer concrete thus obtained. The effect of variables such as epoxy resin, fly ash and aggregates were analyzed. An optimum mix composition has been developed using the regression equations. The coefficient of correlation (R-Square) between the experimental value and predicted value was found to be high near about one proving the fitness of the model.

초박층 교면포장용 폴리머 콘크리트의 물리적 특성

본 연구는 국내에서 개발 중인 초박층 교면포장용 폴리설파이드 에폭시 폴리머 콘크리트의 물리적 특성을 파악하고 국내로의 적용 가능성을 향상시키기 위해 수행되었다. 바인더와 폴리머 콘크리트의 배합실험을 통해 폴리머 콘크리트의 최적 배합비율을 결정하고, 결정된 배합비율로 생산된 폴리머 콘크리트에 대하여 압축, 휨, 부착 강도 시험을 수행하여 강도특성을 파악하였으며 동결 융해 저항성 시험을 통해 폴리머 콘크리트의 내구성을 평가하였다. 강도 시험 결과, 우수한 강도 성능과 휨 추종성을 나타내었고 미국콘크리트학회에서 제시하는 모든 강도 기준을 충족하였다. 또한 다양한 온도에서의 강도 시험에서도 기존의 재료에 비하여 개선된 성능을 나타내었다. 동결 융해 시험 및 동결 융해 과정을 거친 시편의 강도 시험 결과, 폴리머 콘크리트의 내구성에는 전혀 문제가 없는 것으로 판단된다. 따라서 본 연구에서 새롭게 개발된 폴리머 콘크리트는 초박층 교면포장으로 사용하기에 적절한 특성을 가지고 있을 뿐만 아니라, 온도 민감성도 개선되어 기존의 초박층 교면포장 재료에 비해 폭 넓은 적용성을 갖춘 것으로 판단된다. This research was performed to identify physical properties of polysulfide epoxy polymer concrete for ultra-thin bridge deck pavement, and improve domestic applicability. With the optimum mix ratio determined from mixing experiments of polymer concretes, compressive, flexural, and bond strength were tested to identify its strength properties along with the freezing-thawing resistance test to evaluate its durability in harsh environments. As a result, the tested polymer concretes showed excellent performance in strength and deflection characteristic and all tested strength satisfied the criteria of American Concrete Institute. Moreover, it had better performance under variable temperatures comparing to other existing pavement materials. By the results of freezing-thawing resistance test and strength measurement for specimens underwent the freezing-thawing process, it can be judged that there is no such problem to the concrete's durability. In conclusion, the newly developed polymer concrete in this research has appropriate properties for use in ultra-thin pavement on bridge deck, and moreover it has superior applicability in comparison with former materials due to its improved temperature sensitivity.

Adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system in modelling damping performance of epoxy polymer concrete

In this study the damping property of the epoxy polymer concrete is analysed in relation to its composition, i.e., percentage of epoxy and percentage of filler. Foundry sand having a mean particle size in 300 to 450 µm range is used as aggregate in polymer concrete. Twelve different compositions of polymer concrete are evaluated in this study considering the amount of epoxy resin and filler as variables. The testing of prepared samples is performed using dynamic mechanical analyser (DMA) technique. Damping of the prepared specimens has been evaluated at 10, 30 and 50 Hz. It is observed that resin percentage is most important factor affecting damping of epoxy polymer concrete. Adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) has been successfully used for modelling of damping behaviour of the epoxy polymer concrete. For all cases studied, an optimum selection of the training set for reliable modelling and elimination of the experimental cost was found to be between 80% and 70% of the available experimental data.

Effect of Agro-Waste Ash on Mechanical Properties of Epoxy Polymer Concrete

This paper focuses on addition of fillers in epoxy resin and aggregate for polymer concrete (PC) preparation. For the preparation of PC, two kinds of fillers, i.e. rice husk ash and broom stem ash were used. According to experimental results, addition of fillers had a positive impact on the physical and mechanical properties of the PC. In the PC sample with rice husk ash, with the filler/aggregate ratio of 0.075 and 18.4% polymer, maximum compressive strength of 86.41 Mpa was obtained; while the compressive strength of the polymer concrete without filler was 71.2 Mpa. The PC sample with broom stem ash, with the filler/aggregate ratio of 0.12 and 23% polymer showed the maximum flexural strength.

Investigation of mechanical properties of thin epoxy polymer overlay materials upon orthotropic steel bridge decks

The paper is focused on development of response and fatigue models of thin epoxy polymer overlay materials. Test data indicated that epoxy binder-steel bonding exhibited a strong temperature dependency. Fatigue models on epoxy binder-steel bonding and epoxy polymer concrete were developed using the power-law equation. Response models of epoxy binder and its concrete were properly established by using the Prony series. The developed response models could be served for finite element simulations on epoxy polymer concrete overlay upon orthotropic steel bridge decks. When the material stress or strain in the overlay is computed, life prediction becomes available by using the fatigue models.

Mechanical and physical properties of epoxy polymer concrete after exposure to temperatures up to 250 °C

This research deals with polymer concrete, PC, based on epoxy resin hardened with a modified polyamines. The used aggregates are sand graded from 0 to 4 mm (S0/4) and gravel graded from 4 to 10 mm (G4/10). Four formulations were fabricated differing by the polymer content which ranged from 6% to 16%. The evolution of the elastic moduli obtained through ultrasonic wave’s propagation method, the thermal conductivity, the porosity and the mechanical strengths in flexure and compression show that the optimum polymer content that guarantees obtaining a polymer concrete with the highest mechanical performances and the lowest cost is about 13%. The optimum polymer concrete is then exposed to temperature less than 250 °C for 3 h and the obtained results were compared to those of an ordinary cement concrete. When exposed to temperatures higher than 150 °C, the epoxy polymer concrete shows a significant loss of strengths mainly due to the thermo-oxidative degradation of the epoxy polymer and to the debonding between aggregates and the binder. These degradations are accompanied by a gas release. Cement based concrete has lower mechanical properties compared to polymer concrete. Results show that when exposed to temperatures less than 250 °C the epoxy polymer concrete is still more efficient than cement based concrete.

THE FUTURE OF THE USE OF EPOXY RESINS IN THE ROAD SECTOR

Traffic on the road is increasing constantly and uncontrollably, that makes necessary to build roads from fundamentally new materials. An alternative to modern asphalt- and cement concretes is epoxy polymer concrete surpassing them in performance figures and durability. However, high cost of organic binder limits its wide application in the road sector, and it leads to the necessity of studying of plastics and petroleum industries waste. The possibility of obtaining of epoxy polymer concrete is based on bicomponent epoxy primer waste of the enterprise Novatek-Polymer and sludges of Syzran and Kuibyshev refineries oil. The developed compositions are recommended for foundations and airfields pavements and roads of Ist, IInd technical categories for all road-climatic zones.

Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Decks for Movable Bridges

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bridge decks are ideal for re-decking movable bridges. They can match the weight of existing steel grid decking to minimize bridge balance adjustment. They are bicycle- and motorcycle-friendly and quieter than steel grids. They protect the structure from precipitation and are corrosion resistant. In 2002, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) installed FRP decks on two movable bridges near Astoria. Cementitious grout pads supported the deck on the steel stringers, and the deck was secured to the stringers by welded steel studs in cementitious grout pockets. The wearing surface was to have asphalt concrete, but was changed to epoxy polymer concrete after the asphalt slid off a bascule leaf during a prolonged test lift. The grout details had failed on one of these bridges, resulting in deck replacement, and both bridges had experienced distress in the wearing surface. The attachment details and wearing surfaces used on these bridges did not accommodate the higher deflections associated with FRP decks, and were regarded as unacceptable. In 2005, the ODOT installed a FRP deck on a movable bridge in Florence. Neoprene sheets supported the deck on the steel stringers, and the deck was secured to the stringers with large structural blind fasteners installed from below. The wearing surface was urethane polymer concrete, placed by the broom and seed method. This installation showed none of the distress experienced on the two bridges at Astoria. The strong but flexible attachment details and wearing surface used on this bridge accommodate deflections well and were recommended for future installations.

Fracture and flexural characterization of natural fiber-reinforced polymer concrete

Mechanical characterization of epoxy polymer concrete reinforced with natural fibers is investigated in this work to analyze the possibility of substitution by synthetic fibers. These natural fibers studied are coconut, sugar cane bagasse, and banana fibers. All of these fibers come from their specific products after they have been used, i.e. as recycle. As the natural fibers are agriculture waste, manufacturing natural product is, therefore, an economic and interesting option. The main idea is to use the fibers like they come from nature without any kind of preparation. The comparison between epoxy polymer concrete reinforced with natural fibers, unreinforced and reinforced with synthetic fibers is made. A brief description of how the natural fibers are obtained and manufacturing process of polymer concrete is also made.

The effects of atmospheric exposure on the fracture properties of polymer concrete

In this experiment the effect of atmospheric exposure of epoxy and fiber-reinforced epoxy polymer concrete was investigated to evaluate its fracture properties, such as stress intensity factor, K Ic , and fracture energy, G f . The deterioration and structural performance of polymer concrete were investigated in a real situation of exposure during a year period and compared the same formulation in laboratory conditions. The relationship between year period, exposure time and load-bearing capacity of deteriorated polymer concrete is studied and fracture mechanics of the specimens are discussed. From the tests results and discussion it is clear that the material studied, polymer concrete, suffers a high deterioration when subjected to aggressive environments.

Effect of marine exposure on fracture properties of epoxy concretes

This paper deals with the evaluation of the fracture properties of epoxy polymer concrete under marine exposure. Plain and fiber reinforced epoxy concretes are considered. The stress intensity factor K Ic and the energy of fracture G f are measured for two different exposure periods, Spring–Summer and Autumn–Winter. We study the influence of the period of the year and the exposure time on the fracture properties of epoxy concrete. The results show that the Spring–Summer exposure period brings strong deterioration in such fracture properties.

Assessment of fracture properties of epoxy polymer concrete reinforced with short carbon and glass fibers

Polymer concrete is a composite material formed by polymerizing a monomer and aggregate mixture. The polymerized monomer acts as the aggregates binder. In this research work, the polymer is epoxy resin and the aggregate is a silica sand as used in the foundry industry. Initiators and promoters are added to the resin prior to its mixing with the inorganic aggregates to initiate the curing reaction. Fracture behavior of chopped carbon and glass fibers reinforced epoxy polymer concrete was investigated in this study using the two parameter model, according to RILEM recommendations. This is a direct method to calculate two size independent fracture parameters, i.e., the critical stress intensity factor, K IC, and the crack tip opening displacement (CTOD). Beams with central notch, under three point bending using attached clip gauge to measure the CTOD were tested. The chopped carbon and glass fibers used were 6 mm long. The glass fibers were also pre-treated with Silane to improve the adhesion between fibers and resin and fracture properties. In general, addition of fibers increases flexural strength and fracture properties. The fracture toughness of carbon fiber reinforced polymer concrete can increase up to 29% while glass fiber polymer concrete can increase up to 13% when comparing with epoxy non reinforced polymer concrete. The object of this research work is to evaluate the influence of fibers in the mechanical and fracture properties of polymer concrete.

A contribution to the study of the fracture energy of polymer concrete and fibre reinforced polymer concrete

The effect of specimen notch depth on fracture energy of epoxy polymer concrete and fiber reinforced epoxy polymer concrete was studied under three-point bend tests. Studies were conducted with polymer concrete reinforced with short glass and carbon fibers. Two different notch depths were considered, with 10 and 20 mm length. Six specimens were loaded under quasi-static conditions in order to obtain the fracture energy of polymer concrete, G f, as suggested by RILEM recommendations.

A NDT assessment of fracture mechanics properties of fiber reinforced polymer concrete

An acoustic emission (AE) methodology has been used to measure the fracture toughness and associated energy using three point bending tests, according to the Two Parameter Model (TPM). The aim of this article is to identify how acoustic emission can measure the damage of polymer concrete and compare the fracture mechanics characteristics with concrete specimens. Polyester and epoxy resins were considered and glass fibers were used as reinforcement for the epoxy polymer concrete.

Chemical Resistance of Epoxy and Polyester Polymer Concrete to Acids and Salts

The aim of this work is to analyse the chemical resistance of epoxy and polyester concretes when exposed to acids and salts. The chemical resistance is evaluated through the variation of bending strength and variation of mass, after exposure in acid and salted solutions, for various periods of time. Aqueous solutions of sulphuric acid and sodium chloride were chosen as test solutions. The increasing use of polymer concrete structures near seawater and residual waters is the main motivation for this research work.

Glass Fiber Profiles as Reinforcing Material in Highly Filled Epoxy Polymer Concrete

Abstract Polymer concrete is used for machine parts such as machine beds, electronic insulating parts, and components for building and construction. The material exhibits satisfactory elasticity modulus and compression strength, but insufficient tensile and flexural strength. The improvement of tensile strength in highly filled, stiff composite materials is difficult. One possibility is the reinforcement by loosely layed-in or prestressed high-performance composite rods (HPR). The results of this examination show that an improvement of all material properties can be expected. The glass fiber rods used in this work are waste material of the cable industry. Therefore a possibility for material recycling of duroplastic composite material is examined.

Performance of Epoxy and Polyester Polymer Concrete

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