Test Specimens Research Articles

Material Design and Performance Study of a Porous Sound-Absorbing Sound Barrier

A new type of porous sound-absorbing sound barrier was developed with quartz sand and self-developed polysiloxane resin. The forming process of the material was studied. The test specimens of the porous sound-absorbing sound barrier were prepared with different mesh numbers of quartz sand and different proportions of resin, and the void properties, compressive strength, durability, and acoustic performance were investigated. Based on the mix design results, it is suggested that 20-mesh quartz sand and a 10:1 mass ratio of quartz sand are used to prepare the porous sound-absorbing sound barrier. The durability study showed that the porous sound-absorbing sound-barrier material had good salt and alkali resistance, poor acid resistance, good water stability, and freeze–thaw stability. The laboratory acoustic test and practical engineering application results showed that the porous sound-absorbing sound barrier had excellent acoustic performance and good noise-reduction effects.

Behavior of corroded HSC beams repaired by sprayed UHTCC and textile: Experimental study and theoretical analysis

Behaviors of twelve high strength concrete (HSC) beams were studied, including one control specimen, five corroded but non-repaired beams, and six corroded beams repaired by sprayed ultra-high toughness cementitious composites (UHTCC) with or without textile reinforcement. Galvanostatic accelerated corrosion technique was adopted, and three targeted corrosion levels (5 %, 10 %, and 15 %) were selected for each tensile steel bar. Corrosion-induced results, such as voltage change, crack initiation, concrete spalling, corrosion crack length and width, and non-uniform corrosion of steel bars were studied and compared with the results observed in normal strength concrete (NSC) beams. Structural behaviors, including failure modes and load-displacement responses were investigated through four-point bending tests. Results revealed that compared to NSC beams, HSC beams sustained more severe damages under a comparable corrosion level. Spalling was observed at a relatively lower corrosion ratio of 4.43 % and the maximum non-uniform corrosion coefficient, which was defined as the ratio of the maximum corrosion ratio to the average corrosion ratio, was 4.28. Corrosion-induced bonding degradation can alter the failure mode of corroded specimens in bending tests from bending to debonding. For repaired beams, however, the bonding degradation effect was reduced and bending failure was observed for all specimens. The bearing capacity of the beams repaired with sprayed UHTCC cannot be restored with a 12.42 % corrosion ratio, while the beams repaired with sprayed UHTCC/textile can recover their capacity even at a 13.6 % corrosion ratio. Furthermore, an improved theoretical model based on the fiber section analysis and virtual work method was developed to predict structural bending responses. The comparison of the experimental and theoretical results indicated the average corrosion ratio-based method may overestimate the loading capacity, especially for the beams with severe corrosion.

Hybrid-self-centring damper for industrial structure: Development and experimental validation

The seismic resilience of industrial structures has become an increasingly important issue considering the significant role played by industrial structures in social operation and post-earthquake rescue. This study presented a hybrid-self-centring damper (HSCD) incorporating the variable friction device (VFD) and tapered strip device (TSD) for tunable hysteretic behaviour to improve the seismic resilience of industrial structures. The notion of the proposed HSCD was first illustrated, followed by an experimental study on eight test specimens to understand the behaviour of the proposed damper. The test results confirmed that the proposed HSCD exhibited the expected energy dissipation sequence with excellent self-centring ability. The energy dissipation sequence of the proposed HSCD can be achieved by successive inelasticity consisting of the VFD and TSD, and the hysteretic behaviour can be flexibly adjusted by modulating the essential parameters. Detailed finite element models validated by the experimental results were developed to take insights into the behaviour of the proposed damper. To facilitate the design in the seismic application of the proposed HSCD, the hysteretic model and nonlinear-spring-based simplified model verified by test results were developed to quantify the hysteretic behaviour of the proposed damper.

Investigating the impact of manufacturing conditions on crack growth rate in nitrile butadiene rubber for enhanced service life – Part 02: Crosslink density via multi-stage swelling analysis

The importance of the state of cure of elastomer components with regard to fatigue behavior and thus also durability was already discussed in more detail in Part 01 of the paper. It was shown that crosslinking time and temperature have an enormous influence on the crack growth behavior in nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR). In the course of this, a fourfold deceleration in crack growth was observed with a 20 K increase in manufacturing temperature. To confirm this trend, test specimens were produced at 180 °C. Crack growth was found to be 40 times slower, especially in high tearing energy ranges, compared to 150 °C. To analyze the observed behavior in more detail, cylindrical samples were taken from the plain strain test specimens (used for the crack growth measurements), and multi-stage swelling was performed with them. This allowed a detailed analysis of the degree of cure and the sulfur chain composition. It was found that the crosslink density decreases with increasing manufacturing temperature due to decomposition and the proportion of polysulfidic crosslinks decreases with increasing heating time due to desulfurization. Furthermore, a correlation between the results found by means of the rubber process analyzer (RPA) and the swelling results could be established looking at the maximum transmitted torque during the isothermal crosslinking phase.

Mechanical properties and JC constitutive modification of tungsten alloys under high strain rates and high/low temperatures

The original Johnson-Cook model's poor prediction of W90 alloy stress at high strain rate and high and low temperatures restricts research and utilization of this alloy. This study used a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) device to conduct dynamic compression tests on W90 alloy over a temperature range of [-90℃,700℃] and analyze its mechanical behavior. We examined the material's different plastic phase characteristics at high and low temperatures and conducted microstructure research on impact test specimens. Then, we analyzed the stress-strain data from SHPB experiments and quasi-static compression tests on the classical Johnson-Cook model. The original Johnson-Cook model was calibrated using the stress-strain data from SHPB and quasi-static compression tests, and the modified Johnson-Cook model was established and verified. The results show that: low temperature significantly strengthens the material's stress, while increasing temperature thermal softening reduces stress; increasing strain rate increases the strain generated by the workpiece, causing faster strain hardening and thermal softening effects, resulting in higher and more stable stress; low temperature makes thicker grain boundaries, increasing plastic stress, and increasing strain rate also increases plastic stress, as well as making the material's grain boundaries thicker. The increase of strain rate makes the grain more dense, which will also show up in the increase of stress on the macroscopic level; the modified Johnson-Cook model in this paper has high agreement with experimental data, with a mean value of MAPE of only 1.85 %,which is 90.20 % lower than the traditional model, and the average value of the RMSE is 85.56 % lower than the traditional model. The modified model significantly outperforms the traditional model in predicting stress and better describes stress changes in W90 at different temperatures.

Fracture properties of asphalt mixtures containing high content of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and eco-friendly PET additive at low temperature

Low-temperature cracking is one of the main types of distress that affects asphalt pavement performance over its service life. At the same time, the accumulation of plastics, especially polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and the potentially harmful effects of these plastics requires special attention in order to find ways to reduce them. Previous studies have paid less attention to the impact of PET on low-temperature cracking in asphalt mixtures and the simultaneous interaction between PET and reclaimed asphalt pavement materials (RAP) on fracture behavior of asphalt mixture. In this study, a value-added substance called PET Additive (PA), which is extracted from chemical processing of PET was blended with asphalt binder at different dosages (1–3 %) to use in the mixture of hot mix asphalt (HMA). Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) was also added to the HMA mixtures at rates of 25 and 50 % by aggregate mass and the resulting asphalt mixtures were tested to characterize the load carrying ability and cracking resistance indexes of the modified HMA mixtures. Circular shaped test specimens with different mixture types and different geometries were manufactured. Results showed that the asphalt mixture containing PA has better performance than the control mixture; among all mixture types, a mixture containing 2 % PA and 25 % RAP had the better fracture resistance at low temperatures. Finally, the results demonstrate that the fracture behavior in Edge Notch Disc Bend (ENDB) and Semi-Circular Bend (SCB) specimens had similar trends.

Utilization of High-Temperature miniaturized testing to Assist in life management for gas turbine Blades: An Overview

Safely operating gas turbine blades in aero-engines or industrial gas turbines under severe thermo-mechanical conditions always poses a continuous challenge. There is an urgent need for more reliable life prediction tools, necessitating earlier and more rigorous assessments of in-service damage. This paper introduces a systematic examination of high-temperature miniature specimen testing method within a practical life management framework. To improve current practices in assessing the condition of service-aged gas turbine blades, a proactive utilization of miniature specimen testing is recommended for early in-service assessment within the component lifecycle and integrated into a comprehensive life assessment/management framework. The paper outlines a structured approach to life management, combining miniature specimen sampling and creep and fatigue testing methods. This forms the basis for a novel, holistic life assessment methodology, which is proposed in this paper, incorporating the innovative use of high-temperature miniature specimen testing.

A tail probability density distribution model of stress amplitude under band-limited stochastic vibration loadings

Resonance of engineering structures under stochastic vibration loadings is a primary cause of fatigue failure. Considering that cyclic loadings below the fatigue limit of the material contribute little to fatigue damage, the portion of the stress amplitude distribution that exceeds the fatigue limit is in focus in this paper, and a tail probability density distribution model of stress amplitude under band-limited stochastic vibration loadings is proposed. First, the response stress power spectral density functions under band-limited loadings are simulated by using the normal distribution and the Weibull distribution, respectively, and then the frequency domain signals are converted into time domain signals by adopting the inverse fast Fourier transform method. A two-parameter Weibull model of tail probability density distribution of stress amplitude is proposed, and the relationship between model parameters and power spectral moment parameters is given. Finally, the comparative analysis of the model accuracy and the vibration fatigue test of aluminum alloy notch specimen are carried out. It is demonstrated that the fatigue life predicted by the presented model is highly coincident with the results of tests and the time domain method.

Thermo-Mechanical Analysis of Masonry Brick Walls with Embedded Test Specimen Under Fire Exposure

AbstractThe present study is dealing with the heat transfer and deformation of masonry brick walls and an embedded fire safety steel door as well as their mechanical interaction when they were exposed to fire. A numerical approach based on the finite element method was applied to predict the temperatures and deformation. The heat transfer analysis of the wall considered the heat conduction and the radiative heat transfer within the voids of the brick. It was found that the thermal analysis predicted the temperature in the wall with high accuracy. The thermal analysis of the door was limited to the heat conduction and the water vapour transport within the door was neglected. However, the calculated temperatures were found to be reasonable and were further used for the structural analysis. When the door was placed in a central position in the wall, the predicted deformation of the wall was in close accordance to the measured data. The analysis of the door deformation showed that the pressure level and its time-dependency inside the steel door is a crucial factor for the simulation’s accuracy. When the door was placed in an asymmetric position, the wall deformation was increasing significantly. This phenomenon was also covered by the simulation, when the stiffness of the wall boundary condition was decreased. Although the numerical model was capable to calculate the deformation during the fire exposure, further research on the pressure inside the door and the mechanical conditions of the wall at the boundaries has to be done.

Influence of Dentin Sealing Technique on the Shear Bond Strength between Lithium Disilicate Ceramics and Try-In-Paste-Contaminated Dentin

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of try-in paste contamination on the bond strength of lithium disilicate glass–ceramic to dentin treated with immediate (IDS) or delayed (DDS) dentin sealing techniques. Occlusal halves of 33 molars were decapitated and divided into three groups (n = 10). Lithium disilicate discs (3 × 5 mm) were prepared. For Group A, the provisional crown was applied over dentin and was soaked in distilled water. Lithium disilicate discs were cemented following dentin conditioning with a three-step etch and rinse adhesive. In Group B (IDS), the three-step adhesive was applied to dentin. The dentin surfaces were conditioned only in the final cementation for Group C (DDS). The intaglio surfaces of test groups were contaminated with try-in paste. All specimens were thermally cycled 3000 times at 5–55 °C and were subjected to shear tests. An additional three specimens for each group were contaminated with try-in paste and subjected to the same surface cleaning as the test specimens were examined with SEM/EDS. The adhesive surfaces were also examined with SEM/EDS for try-in paste remnants. Group C showed a significant decrease in bond strength values compared to Group B and Group A (5.84 ±1.4 MPa, 11.45 ±2.4 MPa, and 10.29 ±2.5 MPa, respectively). No statistically significant difference was detected between Group B and Group A (p ≥ 0.05). The SEM-EDS analyses revealed obstructions of the dentinal tubules in the try-in-paste-contaminated specimens. Immediate dentin sealing application enhanced the bonding strength of lithium disilicate to the try-in-paste-contaminated dentin. Try-in paste contamination over dentin negatively influenced the bonding process.

Characterization of Thermal Expansion Coefficient of 3D Printing Polymeric Materials Using Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors.

This work aims at the determination of the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of parts manufactured through the Fused Deposition Modeling process, employing fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors. Pure thermoplastic and composite specimens were built using different commercially available filament materials, including acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polylactic acid, polyamide, polyether-block-amide (PEBA) and chopped carbon fiber-reinforced polyamide (CF-PA) composite. During the building process, the FBGs were embedded into the middle-plane of the test specimens, featuring 0° and 90° raster printing orientations. The samples were then subjected to thermal loading for measuring the thermally induced strains as a function of applied temperature and, consequently, the test samples' CTE and glass transition temperature (Tg) based on the recorded FBG wavelengths. Additionally, the integrated FBGs were used for the characterization of the residual strain magnitudes both at the end of the 3D printing process and at the end of each of the two consecutively applied thermal cycles. The results indicate that, among all tested materials, the CF-PA/0° specimens exhibited the lowest CTE value of 14 × 10-6/°C. The PEBA material was proven to have the most isotropic thermal response for both examined raster orientations, 0° and 90°, with CTE values of 117 × 10-6/°C and 108 × 10-6/°C, respectively, while similar residual strains were also calculated in both printing orientations. It is presented that the followed FBG-based methodology is proven to be an excellent alternative experimental technique for the CTE characterization of materials used in 3D printing.

Epidemiological trends and clinical relevance of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease in a referral hospital in Japan, 2017–2021

BackgroundEpidemiological trends and clinical relevance of NTM species in Japan following the adoption of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry remain unclear. MethodsWe analyzed the results of mycobacterial culture tests of respiratory specimens collected between January 2017 and December 2021. We assessed the clinical relevance of NTM species by analyzing the proportion of patients diagnosed with NTM pulmonary infection (NTM-PI). We illustrated the incidence and clinical relevance of each NTM species using a two-dimensional scatter plot. Medical chart review and radiological analysis were also performed for less common species. ResultsAmong 65,368 respiratory specimens tested for acid-fast bacilli, NTM were identified in 12,802 specimens from 3177 patients. The number of incident cases with NTM-PI has continued to increase. Notably, the number of incident cases with M. abscessus species (MABS) was continuously increasing and accounted for 10.6% of all incident cases with NTM-PI. The clinical relevance of the common NTM species, M. avium complex, MABS and M. kansasii, ranged from 57 to 72%. Seven other species exhibited a higher clinical relevance than these common NTM species, with M. shinjukuense (100%) having the highest clinical relevance. On the other hand, 11 species, including M. fortuitum (32.4%), M. xenopi (20.0%), and M. gordonae (22.9%), showed clinical relevance below 50%. ConclusionsThe present study clarified the incidence and clinical relevance of NTM species using a two-dimensional scatter plot, which could serve as a useful tool for clinical decision-making and future epidemiological research.

Study on Initial Corrosion Behavior of Arc-thermally Spray Zn, Zn–Al, and Al–Mg Coatings Exposed in Atmospheric Environment for One-Year

AbstractThis paper presents the results of a study comparing the initial corrosion characteristics of thermal spray coatings on Zn, Zn-Al, and Al–Mg thermal spray coatings after one year atmospheric exposure tests at two atmospheric environment sites. The thermal spray coatings were obtained by electroric arc spraying of various metals onto a carbon steel substrate. Atmospheric exposure tests were also conducted for outdoor accelerated exposure tests in which test specimens were applied with artificial seawater. The corrosion properties of these spray coatings were evaluated by surface analysis, film thickness measurements, cross-sectional analysis and anodic/cathodic polarization measurement. After one year of atmospheric exposure testing, white, granular corrosion products were observed on the surface of the Zn and Zn-Al thermal spray coatings, while no significant changes were observed in the Al–Mg thermal spray coating. Similar results were obtained for the surfaces of test specimens in atmospheric exposure tests with artificial seawater. The thickness of the thermal spray coating increased for the Zn thermal spray coating, while no significant change was observed for the other thermal spray coatings. Thus, differences in corrosion behavior were observed due to the composition of the thermal spray coatings. The initial corrosion behavior of the thermal spray coatings was also investigated based on the results of coating morphology and cross-sectional elemental distribution of the coatings.

Material characterization of Ti6Al4V alloy additively manufactured using selective laser melting technique

Selective laser melting (SLM) of titanium (Ti) alloys has been a focus of research in aerospace industries recently, due to ease of production, producing complex geometries and shorter production time as compared to conventional machining. Although some basic research on mechanical properties at room temperature is found in literature, the need for high-temperature applications, correlated with material characterization is inevitable. This work provides a benchmark for high-temperature mechanical and thermal properties of SLM manufactured Ti6Al4V alloy, formulated as a result of extensive experimentation in the form various mechanical and thermal tests. The Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) and Yield Strength (YS) of test specimens at 600 °C reduced to approximately 64% of those at room temperature (RT), whereas an increase in the percentage elongation from 9.6% to 15% at 600 °C, which is the usual trend in materials at elevated temperatures. Fracture toughness of 89.44 MPa m1/2 was calculated from 3-point bend test. Hardness value of 37 HRC was measured on the Rockwell-C scale. Thermal conductivity and coefficient of thermal expansion increased from 2.11 W/m. K at RT to 3.73 W/m. K at 300 °C and 8 μm\\m-⁰C at RT to 10 μm\\m-⁰C at 600 °C respectively. Specific heat capacity values increased from 760 J/kg ⁰C to 925 J/kg ⁰C up to 200 °C, but decreased at higher temperatures from 200 °C to 600 °C. To the author's knowledge, for the first time comprehensive mechanical testing characterized the behavior of the developed material for its application in structures subjected to elevated temperatures.

Characterization and application of fine aggregate from Rio Branco do Sul – PR with quartz filler additions: innovations in concrete performance

Understanding the properties of a material is essential to ensure its efficient application and achieve good results. This study addresses the characterization and applicability of quartz sand from the Rio Branco do Sul region, Paraná (PR), Brazil, in civil construction, focusing on procedures such as ceramic block laying, plastering, and rendering. Additionally, quartz filler (quartz powder) was added as a pozzolanic additive in fractions of 10% and 20% relative to the weight of the cement, along with samples without additives, to compare the results. To evaluate performance, the test specimens were subjected to two curing processes: thermal curing, aimed at activating pozzolanic reactions between the quartz powder and the chemical components of the concrete; and wet curing, which, although it does not stimulate chemical reactions, preserves the physical effects of the addition, such as reducing the concrete’s porosity and increasing its compressive strength. The specimens were analyzed at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days of age.

Evaluation of the Performance of Fiber-Reinforced Mortars Based on Dredged Sludge

River-carried solids, especially during floods, lead to dam sedimentation. Dredging extends dam life, but excess unusable sediment storage threatens the environment. The aim of this work is to investigate the influence of the recovery of calcined mud from Chorfa dam on the physico-mechanical and chemical characteristics of mortars fiber bundles. The sludge is used as a partial substitute for cement by volume at rates of 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%. All test specimens had water / binder (W/B) ratio and steel fibers ratio. Testing programme included measuring the fluidity, ultrasonic pulse velocity test, dynamic modulus of elasticity, flexural and compressive strengths. Compared to the control mortar, the fluidity represented by the diameter of M0, M15 and M25 mixtures decreased by approximately 11%, 14% and 22%, respectively. The compressive strength of M15 increased by 17.4% at 28 days, compared with the control specimen. At 7 days, the ultrasonic speed of the M25 mixture decreases by 1.7% compared to that of M15. The dynamic modulus of elasticity of M20 and M25 increases by 13% and 12% as the age ranges from 2 to 28 days. At 28 days, the flexural strength of the M20 blends increased by approximately 64%.

Enhancing structural protection of reinforced concrete structures against high dynamic loads using post-installed UHPFRC/UHPFRSC

Recently there has been an observed change in security policy across the globe which implies that humanity must prepare for hybrid and asymmetric acts of war. This security situation will result in spontaneous attacks from non-military groups. The threats include ballistic attacks from commercially available weapons, detonation of explosives, and impact of vehicles. These attacks are focused on critical infrastructures. Reinforced concrete (RC) elements with ballistic and explosion protection are of huge relevance. This requires new concepts and innovative solutions for the protection of new buildings and/or for the strengthening of existing structures. In this paper a method for the increase of structural safety is shown using Ultra-High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) or sprayed UHPFRC, so called UHPFRSC, as a surface layer for reinforced concrete structures. The UHPFRC/UHPFRSC is applied in thin layers of 30 - 80 mm on the protection side. The interaction of the two different cementitious materials results in increased resistance to high dynamic loads. The traditional reinforced concrete on the impact side absorbs a major fraction of the energy of impact. On the back side (protection side), tensile forces are generated by the impact, which can excellently be handled by the UHPFRC/UHPFRSC. For proof of concept of the hybrid strengthening method, tests were carried out on UHPFRC - RC composite elements. In the test campaign, ballistic tests were performed using test specimens with dimensions of 500 × 500 mm. The layer thicknesses were 120 mm reinforced concrete and 40 mm UHPFRC. Additional steel rebars in the UHPFRC layer were applied for half of the specimens. The investigation demonstrated the effectiveness of the strengthening method, showing high resistance to high-dynamic loads. This behavior is attributed to the absorption and transfer of tensile stresses by the UHPFRC, that reduces penetration depth and damage, ensuring remaining load-bearing capacity after gunfire.

Research on the splitting tensile dynamic mechanics performance of post-high-temperature high-performance concrete

High-performance concrete (HPC) structures were affected by secondary hazards after a fire, research on its dynamic mechanics performance is vital for assessing post-disaster structural safety. Therefore, the mechanism which governs impact of coupling among high temperature, cooling mode and strain rate on the splitting tensile mechanics performance of HPC was delved; impact factors including five temperatures, two cooling modes and four strain rates were designed; digital image technology (DIC) and hydraulic servo instrument were adopted to investigate the splitting tensile mechanics performance of HPC with Brazilian disc. Failure mechanical parameters of HPC under varying operational conditions and full-field deformation parameters of the whole loading process were obtained. As indicated by research result, the splitting tensile strength of test specimens cooled naturally from 200 °C to 600 °C was higher than that of specimens cooled rapidly, while the splitting tensile strength under natural cooling from 800 ℃ decreased by 6 % compared with rapid cooling. At the same temperature, splitting tensile strength of HPC was gradually increased with the increase of strain rate, and Dynamic Increase Factor (DIF) was significantly increased, showing relatively high rate sensitivity. With increasing temperature, the increase in DIF for HPC declined somewhat. As revealed by the result of DIC analysis, at high temperature, damage was relatively mild at the development stage and entered the stage of abrupt change of strain field in a short time. With increasing strain rate, the overall damage duration of test specimen was significantly shortened, and cooling mode exerted no significant impact on the development of splitting tensile damage in HPC. The criterion for splitting tensile dynamic strength of post-high-temperature HPC was put forward on the basis of J criterion. Meanwhile, an analysis by backscattered electron (BSE) on microstructure of HPC revealed mechanism which governs the impact of high temperature and cooling mode on the splitting tensile dynamic mechanics performance of HPC. The research result serves as a theoretical basis for calculating and assessing the post-fire structural dynamic response of HPC.

Investigation of pull-out and mechanical performance of fibre reinforced concrete with recycled carbon fibres

This paper presents the pull-out bonding behaviour and mechanical performance of recycled carbon fibre (rCF) reinforced concrete based on the recent investigation of fibre reinforced concrete (FRC) with rCF recovered from pyrolysis. Single fibre pull-out tests have been carried out to identify the apparent interfacial shear strength of different types of rCF and virgin carbon fibre (vCF) to identify the fibre matrix connection. Furthermore, a series of tests have been carried out to identify the workability, compressive strength and tensile strength of FRC. Besides rCF, also vCF and steel fibre were used for fabrication of FRC test specimens. rCF have shown the same adhesion behaviour and strength like vCF. Furthermore, the use of unsized or acrylate-based sized rCF creates an adhesion between fibre and matrix material. During the pull-out tests, the failure does not occur as an adhesive crack between fibre and cement matrix, but as a cohesive crack in the cement matrix. The mechanical performance of FRC with rCF was compared with mortar and FRC with vCF and steel fibres. The results of compressive test conducted for FRC with vCF and rCF indicated that the influence of vCF and rCF on the compressive strength of FRC was insignificant. On the other hand, the results of tensile test conducted for FRC with vCF and rCF indicated that the tensile strength of FRC with rCF was at least 14.9% greater than that of FRC with vCF.

Quantification of delamination resistance data of FRP composites and its limits

Quantitative delamination resistance data of fibre-reinforced polymer-matrix (FRP) composites for quasi-static or cyclic fatigue loads are determined under different loading modes and load rates, respectively. Such data find use, e.g., in FRP materials’ development, materials’ selection, assessment of durability, or structural design. Round robins during test development yielded repeatability and reproducibility (coefficients of variation) of roughly 10 to 25%. This scatter has several different sources. Intrinsic material variability amounts to a few percent at best, at least for advanced manufacturing processes. This intrinsic scatter is essential for material comparisons and structural design. Measurement resolution specified in standardised test procedures yields a maximum of 4–5% variability. Most of the remaining scatter comes from other, extrinsic sources. Test operator actions, e.g., choice of test set-up, manual data acquisition or data analysis can yield extrinsic scatter. Damage mechanisms during delamination initiation and propagation act on the micro- and meso-scale, typically a few micrometer to a few hundred micrometer in size, with corresponding time-scales estimated to between a few tens of nanoseconds and a few microseconds. Defect size-scales are hence several orders of magnitudes lower than test specimen and structural scales, respectively. Predictive capability of models using such test data for structures are, therefore, limited. Major issues are up-scaling from straight beam-like specimens to larger shell-like structures, possibly with complex shape and varying thickness as well as from unidirectional fibre orientation to multidirectional lay-ups.