Influences of SiC infiltration and coating on compressive mechanical behaviours of 2D C/SiC composites up to 1600 °C at wide-ranging strain rates

The influences of the SiC infiltration and coating on the compressive mechanical behaviours of 2D C/SiC composites were determined up to 1600 °C at 0.001 and 1000/s strain rates in argon and air. In addition, the failure mechanisms responsible for the compressive mechanical behaviours were elucidated through in-situ observation and micro-analysis-based methods. The 2D C/SiC composite compressive strength was highly sensitive to temperature, loading rate, and oxidation, and was enhanced by the change in the thermal residual stress and decreased by oxidation. In argon, because of the extra infiltrated SiC matrix, SiC treated 2D C/SiC specimens exhibited higher compressive strengths and lower strain rate sensitivity factors than SiC untreated 2D C/SiC specimens. The SiC coating effectively improved the oxidation resistance of the 2D C/SiC composites in air, regardless of the temperature, strain rate, and oxidative damage-which depends on SiC coating, strain rate, and temperature.     

再生骨料透水混凝土体积法配比设计关键参数的优化选择

以再生骨料配制的透水生态混凝土为研究对象,用体积法进行配合比设计并调整不同的配比参数,研究保证再生骨料配制透水生态混凝土透水性和强度的最佳配比参数,并比较再生骨料与天然骨料配比设计中参数选择的异同。     

Fibre-reinforced cemented soils compressive and tensile strength assessment as a function of filament length

This study aims to develop a dosage methodology based on tensile and compressive strength for artificially cemented fibre reinforced soils considering filament length. The controlling parameters evaluated were the fibre length (l), the cement content (C), the porosity (η) and the porosity/cement ratio (η/C_iv). A number of unconfined compression and split tensile tests were carried out in the present work. The results show that fibre insertion in the cemented soil, for the whole range of cement content studied, and the increase of reinforcement length improve unconfined compressive and split tensile strengths. It was shown that the porosity/cement ratio, in which volumetric cementitious material content is adjusted by an exponent (0.28 for all the fibre-reinforced and non-reinforced cemented soil mixtures) to end in unique correlations for each mixture, is a good parameter in the evaluation of the unconfined compressive and split tensile strength of the fibre-reinforced and non-reinforced cemented soil studied. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) performed on the results of a factorial experiment considering the effect of adjusted cement content, fibre length and porosity showed that all of these factors are significant in affecting the measured changes in split tensile and unconfined compressive strength values. Finally, unique dosage relationships could be achieved linking the unconfined compressive strength (q_u) and the split tensile strength (q_t) of the sandy soil studied with porosity/cement ratio (η/C_iv) and fibre length (l).     

碳纳米管改性水泥石力学性能研究

随着非常规油气的勘探开发，超深井、复杂井、页岩气井等对固井质量的要求越来越高，现有水泥基材料性能已经不能满足要求，需要探索新型材料在水泥基材料中的应用以及对水泥石的性能改造。从碳纳米管自身的特点出发，制备稳定性较好的碳纳米管分散液，通过水泥石抗压强度、抗折强度测试、单轴三轴力学性能实验以及微观结构测试对碳纳米管的加量范围、分散效果进行了讨论，分析碳纳米管对水泥石力学性能的影响规律。实验结果表明，0.05%~0.1%碳纳米管加量能够提高水泥石的抗压、抗折性能，并且随着龄期的增长其增强效果更加明显；碳纳米管能够降低水泥石的弹性模量，同时增大塑性形变，使水泥石韧性增加；碳纳米管对微观结构的增强增韧机理表现为拨出、桥联、纳米诱导效应和网状填充效应，经过分散的碳纳米管与基体的相容性较好。      

Modified Harmony Search Algorithm and Neural Networks for Concrete Mix Proportion Design

This study proposes a new methodology with harmony search (HS) algorithm and neural networks (NNs) for concrete mix proportioning. The basic procedure for the methodology consists of four steps: (1) constructing a database of mix designs; (2) establishing appropriate models for strength and workability; (3) optimizing mix proportion using the modified HS algorithm; and (4) refining the mixture using NNs. The proposed methodology could be a useful decision-making tool for concrete mix design.     

Compressive and flexural properties of novel polylactic acid/hydroxyapatite/yttria-stabilized zirconia hybrid nanocomposite scaffold

The mechanical property is a crucial factor in the design of bone tissue engineering scaffolds. In the current study, novel PLLA (Poly-L-lactic acid)–Hydroxyapatite (HA)–yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) nanocomposite scaffold with various compositions was prepared and characterized. The effect of HA and YSZ contents on the mechanical behavior of the resultant composites was investigated. TEM micrograph revealed that HA particles are needle-like in shape and nano in size. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrograph also showed that YSZ powder is in granule form and submicron size. SEM disclosed that all scaffolds had a highly interconnected porous structure and X-ray diffractometry revealed that there were some molecular interactions between PLA (Polylactic acid), HA, and YSZ in the composites. The results depicted that introducing YSZ to the nanocomposite leads to a significant increase in compressive strength, modulus, and densification strain. In addition, flexural strength and modulus showed an upward trend by adding YSZ particles to scaffolds. It should be noted that PLA–20%HA–20%YSZ indicates the highest strength and modulus in both compression and bending tests, though, it did not demonstrate the proper strain compared to other scaffolds. Thus, PLA–15%HA–15%YSZ has been reported as the best candidate due to appropriate strength and strain. Also, energy absorption in nanocomposites showed an upward trend by increasing the amount of YSZ particles. It was found that the strength of samples was declined after being soaked in simulated body fluid. However, scaffolds with HA underwent more decrease in strength compared to samples containing YSZ.     

Porous mullite ceramics with enhanced compressive strength from fly ash-based ceramic microspheres: Facile synthesis,structure, and performance

Porous mullite ceramics are widely used in heat insulation owing to their high temperature and corrosion resistant properties. Reducing the thermal conductivity by increasing porosity, while ensuring a high compressive strength, is vital for the synthesis of high-strength and lightweight porous mullite ceramics. In this study, ceramic microspheres are initially prepared from pre-treated high-alumina fly ash by spray drying, and then used to successfully prepare porous mullite ceramics with enhanced compressive strength via a simple direct stacking and sintering approach. The influence of sintering temperature and time on the microstructure and properties of porous mullite ceramics was evaluated, and the corresponding formation mechanism was elucidated. Results show that the porous mullite ceramics, calcined at 1550 °C for 3 h, possess a porosity of 47%, compressive strength of 31.4 MPa, and thermal conductivity of 0.775 W/(m?K) (at 25 °C), similar to mullite ceramics prepared from pure raw materials. The uniform pore size distribution and sintered neck between the microspheres contribute to the high compressive strength of mullite ceramics, while maintaining high porosity.     

Residue strength,water absorption and pore size distributions of recycled aggregate concrete after exposure to elevated temperatures

In this paper, the effects of high temperature exposure of recycled aggregate concretes in terms of residual strengths, capillary water absorption capacity and pore size distribution are discussed. Two mineral admixtures, fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast furnace (GGBS) were used in the experiment to partially replace ordinary Portland cement for concrete production. The water to cementitious materials ratio was maintained at 0.50 for all the concrete mixes. The replacement levels of natural aggregates by recycled aggregates were at 0%, 50% and 100%. The concretes were exposed separately to 300 °C, 500 °C and 800 °C, and the compressive and splitting tensile strength, capillary water coefficient, porosity and pore size distribution were determined before and after the exposure to the high temperatures. The results show that the concretes made with recycled aggregates suffered less deteriorations in mechanical and durability properties than the concrete made with natural aggregates after the high temperature exposures.     

Synthesis and characterization of geopolymers containing blends of unprocessed steel slag and metakaolin: The role of slag particle size

The present research deals with the production and characterization of geopolymers prepared by mixing metakaolin with a steel slag from the production of chromium-manganese steel, a commercial sodium silicate solution and a sodium hydroxide solution. Different specimens were prepared by mixing metakaolin with different proportions of steel slag (20, 40, 60, 80 wt%) characterized by different maximum particle size. Specimens containing just metakaolin and steel slag alone were also prepared for comparison. All specimens have been characterized regarding their compressive strength, specific surface area, water absorption and microstructure. It has been observed that the use of fine steel slag powders leads to increases the performances and that the specimens containing 40 wt% steel slag and 60 wt% metakaolin revealed the best overall behaviour.