Thermo-mechanical loading of GFRP reinforced thin concrete panels

The experimental investigation is focused on the thermo-mechanical behaviour of thin concrete panels reinforced with GFRP rebars. The considered thin panels (thickness of 4 cm) were exposed to increasing temperature and bending loading. These concrete elements are typical for low bearing function concrete layers in façade claddings. The influence of two aspects was studied: the concrete cover and the external surface of rebars. The heating condition was such that the temperature of the internal GFRP rebars reached about the transition temperature of the resins. This allowed to verify the variation of the deformability and the load carrying capacity of the panels with post-heating bending tests. As main outcome, the imposed temperature did not generate evident degradation of the GFRP reinforcement and of its adhesion to the concrete, while a reduction of the initial global stiffness was measured.     

Short and long-term cracking behaviour of GFRP reinforced concrete beams

A total of ten simply supported beams reinforced with different amounts of GFRP and steel bars were subjected to two consecutive test phases in order to evaluate their short and long-term cracking behaviour. The beams were initially tested up to service load and subjected to two additional load cycles. Subsequently, the specimens were subjected to two different levels of sustained load for 250 days. The effect of cyclic load during short-term tests resulted in an increase in crack width up to 25% more than the initial value. The sustained load led to an increase in crack width up to 2.9 times larger than that measured under the corresponding short-term load. A similar cracking behaviour was observed when reinforcing solutions with similar stiffness (GFRP or steel bars) were used.Existing models to estimate crack spacing and crack width for FRP and steel reinforced concrete elements, including ACI 440.1R-06, Eurocode 2 and Model Code 2010 are discussed and their performance is assessed against the experimental results. Model Code 2010 was found to yield more accurate predictions of the cracking behaviour of the test specimens under both short-term and long-term loading.     

Terahertz spectroscopy to study the orientation of glass fibres in reinforced plastics

We employ terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz TDS), a novel, non-destructive testing method, to study the fibre orientation and fibre content in reinforced plastics. The birefringent properties of plastics filled with differing amounts of short glass fibres are measured at frequencies from 100 GHz up to 1 THz. To predict the permittivity of the experimentally examined composite materials, we use an effective medium theory first introduced by Polder and van Santen. On the basis of the measured data and this model, we deduce the additive content ξ, the preferential orientation of the fibres φ and the fraction of orientated fibres a. Our findings agree well with corresponding mold flow simulations performed with commercially available software.     

In-plane shear behavior of insulated precast concrete sandwich panels reinforced with corrugated GFRP shear connectors

Precast concrete sandwich panels often are used for the exterior cladding of residential and commercial buildings due to their thermal efficiency. Precast concrete sandwich panel systems consist of two precast reinforced concrete walls that are separated by a layer of insulation and joined by connectors that penetrate the insulation layer and are anchored to two precast concrete wythes. This paper presents push-out test results of concrete sandwich panels with and without corrugated shear connectors to investigate in-plane shear performance. The variables in this study are two types of insulation materials and the width, pitch, and embedment length of shear connectors. The test results indicate that the type of insulation material that is used in the system considerably affects the bond strength between the concrete walls and the insulation layer. A design equation adopted in ICC-ES is revised to determine the shear design capacity of precast concrete sandwich panels with various configurations of shear connectors.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of the nonlinear behavior of the CNT-reinforced calcium silicate hydrate (C–S–H) composite

Calcium–Silicate–Hydrate (C–S–H), which is the major constituent of the cement at the nanoscale, is responsible for the strength and fracture properties of concrete. This research is dedicated to the numerical study of enhanced mechanical properties of C–S–H reinforced by embedding carbon nanotube (CNT) in its molecular structure. Series of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations indicate that the tensile strength of CNT-reinforced C–S–H is substantially enhanced along the direction of CNT as compared to the pure C–S–H. The results of tensile loading reveal that CNT can efficiently bridge the two sides of cracked C–S–H. In addition, CNTs can severely intensify the “transversely isotropic” response of the CNT-reinforced C–S–H. Furthermore, the pull-out behavior of CNT reveals that the force-displacement response can be estimated by a bilinear model, which can later be used for simulation of cohesive crack propagation and multiscale simulation of crack bridging at macro scale specimen of CNT-reinforced cement.     

Screening tests for assessing treatability of inorganic industrial wastes by stabilisation/solidification with cement

Stabilisation/solidification with cementitious or pozzolanic binders (S/S) is an option for reducing leachability of contaminants from residual, predominantly inorganic, industrial wastes and contaminated soils before disposal or reuse. Treatment by S/S is complicated by the fact that the presence of impurities, such as the contaminants and bulk matrix components present in industrial wastes, can have deleterious effects on cements. Therefore, careful laboratory development and testing of S/S formulations are required prior to full-scale application, to avoid technology failures, including problems with handling and contaminant retention. An understanding of cement chemistry and contaminant immobilisation mechanisms has been used to propose a series of test methods and performance thresholds for use in efficient evaluation of the treatability of industrial wastes by S/S, and optimising S/S formulations: measurement of stabilised/solidified product workability, bleeding and setting time (for flowable mixtures) or Proctor compaction (for compactable mixtures), together with unconfined compressive strength, leachability in a batch extraction with distilled water, and hydraulic conductivity.     

Use of tree pruning wastes for manufacturing of wood reinforced cement composites

Tree pruning wastes from six woody species, namely Acacia salicina, Conocarpus erectus, Ficus altissima, Leucaena glauca, Pithecellobium dulce and Tamarix aphylla, were used to manufacture high-quality wood reinforced cement composites (WRCCs). Hydrations experiments were conducted to screen the compatibility of the selected tree pruning wastes with cement. Additionally, various particle pretreatments and chemical additives were applied to enhance the compatibility of wood with cement. The best treatment for each species was selected and used to manufacture the WRCCs. The panels were produced under specific manufacturing variables and the mechanical properties and dimensional stability of the panels were determined. The results indicated that both board density and wood/cement (W/C) ratio had significant effects on the properties of WRCCs. With few exceptions, a W/C ratio of 1/2 and either 1200 kg m⁻³ or 1300 kg m⁻³ produced the optimal strength properties. The tree pruning wastes are suitable for use as raw materials in the manufacturing of WRCCs after pre-treatment of the wood particles with either cold or hot water and with addition 3% of CaCl₂, Al₂(SO₄)₃ or MgCl₂. Therefore, these wastes could be used as an alternative wood source for WRCCs.     

Breaking load and bending strength prediction in manufacture of fibre cement composites using artificial neural networks and a flocculation sensor

The optimisation of the flocculation process during fibre cement production is a new key issue for the fibre cement industry. Many companies face difficulties in optimising the flocculant dosage in real time, which leads to product strength losses. This paper shows the feasibility of using artificial neural networks (ANNs) to establish correlations between flocculation data, in-line measured in a Hatschek machine by a focused beam reflectance measurement (FBRM) sensor, and mechanical properties of final composites. The results show a clear relationship between the mechanical properties of fibre cement composites and the flocculation process and that these are determined in real time. Three ANNs have been created to predict breaking load for 48 h and 7 days and bending strength for 7 days, to obtain good correlations between the predicted and the real values.     

Failure and impact behavior of facade panels made of glass fiber reinforced cement(GRC)

GRC is a cementitious composite material made up of a cement mortar matrix and chopped glass fibers. Due to its outstanding mechanical properties, GRC has been widely used to produce cladding panels and some civil engineering elements. Impact failure of cladding panels made of GRC may occur during production if some tool falls onto the panel, due to stone or other objects impacting at low velocities or caused by debris projected after a blast. Impact failure of a front panel of a building may have not only an important economic value but also human lives may be at risk if broken pieces of the panel fall from the building to the pavement. Therefore, knowing GRC impact strength is necessary to prevent economic costs and putting human lives at risk.One-stage light gas gun is an impact test machine capable of testing different materials subjected to impact loads. An experimental program was carried out, testing GRC samples of five different formulations, commonly used in building industry. Steel spheres were shot at different velocities on square GRC samples. The residual velocity of the projectiles was obtained both using a high speed camera with multiframe exposure and measuring the projectile’s penetration depth in molding clay blocks. Tests were performed on young and artificially aged GRC samples to compare GRC’s behavior when subjected to high strain rates. Numerical simulations using a hydrocode were made to analyze which parameters are most important during an impact event.GRC impact strength was obtained from test results. Also, GRC’s embrittlement, caused by GRC aging, has no influence on GRC impact behavior due to the small size of the projectile. Also, glass fibers used in GRC production only maintain GRC panels’ integrity but have no influence on GRC’s impact strength. Numerical models have reproduced accurately impact tests.     

Comparative study on repeated impact response of E-glass fiber reinforced polypropylene & epoxy matrix composites

In this study, E-glass fiber reinforced composites have been manufactured with two types of resin, polypropylene and epoxy (Thermoplastic and Thermoset) and they have been subjected to the low velocity single and repeated impacts and effect of resin type on the impact response of composites are investigated. Impact energies were chosen as 20 J, 50 J, 80 J and 110 J for single impact tests while 50 J was chosen for repeated impact tests. Comparisons between the results of 110 J single and 50 J repeated impacted specimens were performed. As a result of the study it is concluded that the resin type is a crucial parameter for the repeated impact response of the composites.     

Structural behaviour of fabric reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) strengthened concrete columns under eccentric loading

The structural behaviour of eccentrically loaded reinforced concrete columns with rectangular cross sections strengthened with a cement based composite materials wrapping system, is analysed in the paper, both experimentally and analytically.The main issues focussed in the paper were: i) the effectiveness of the cement based wrapping systems to improve the strength of the reinforced concrete columns, ii) the influence of the load eccentricity and the reinforcement ratio on the structural response of wrapped columns, iii) the prediction, by an analytical procedure, of the structural behaviour of wrapped columns.A total of 8 reinforced concrete columns with end corbels, wrapped with fabric meshes of PBO (short of Polypara-phenylene-benzo-bisthiazole) fibers embedded into a cement based matrix (PBO-FRCM system), were tested varying both the reinforcement ratio, ρ_f, and the eccentricity-to-section height ratio (e/h). The influence of mechanical and geometrical parameters on the structural response of wrapped columns was analysed in terms of failure modes, strength and ductility.To predict the structural response of wrapped columns, a non linear second-order analysis that takes into account the changes in geometry caused by lateral deformations is, also, developed. Theoretical results were compared with experimental ones to validate the effectiveness of the proposed procedure.     

Optimum mixing ratio of epoxy for glass fiber reinforced composites with high thermal stability

The optimum condition of glass fiber/epoxy composites was investigated according to mixing ratio of two epoxy matrices. Novolac type epoxy and isocyanate modified epoxy were used as composites matrix. Based on chemical composition of mixing matrix, optimum mixing ratio of epoxy resins was obtained through FT-IR instrument. In order to investigate thermal stability and interface of epoxy resin, glass transition temperature was observed by DSC instrument, and static contact angle was measured by reflecting microscope. Change of IR peak and T_g was conformed according to different epoxy mixing ratios. After fabrication of glass fiber/epoxy composites, tensile, compression, and flexural properties were tested by UTM by room and high temperature. The composites exhibited best mechanical properties when epoxy mixing ratio was 1:1.     

Structural health monitoring of glass fiber reinforced composites using embedded carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers

In the present work, carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers had been embedded to glass fiber reinforced polymers (GFRP) for the structural health monitoring of the composite material. The addition of the conductive CNT fiber to the non-conductive GFRP material aims to enhance its multi-function ability; the test specimen’s response to mechanical load and the insitu CNT fiber’s electrical resistance measurements were correlated for sensing and damage monitoring purposes. It is the first time this fiber is used in composite materials for sensing purposes; CNT fiber is easy to be embedded and does not downgrade the material’s mechanical properties. Various incremental loading–unloading steps had been applied to the manufactured specimens in tension as well as in three-point bending tests. The CNT fiber worked as a sensor in both, tensile and compression loadings. A direct correlation between the mechanical loading and the electrical resistance change had been established for the investigated specimens. For high stress (or strain) level loadings, residual resistance measurements of the CNT fiber were observed after unloading. Accumulating damage to the composite material had been calculated and was correlated to the electrical resistance readings. The established correlation between these parameters changed according to the material’s loading history.     

On the time compression (test acceleration) of broadband random vibration tests

Many broadband random vibration tests are time compressed. This is done by increasing test intensity according to the Basquin model of cyclic fatigue. Conventionally, the test level is accelerated from the root mean acceleration and an assumed power constant (k = 2) is applied. Using conventional analysis the potential error in test severity can be very large if k is incorrect. The Miner–Palmgren hypothesis of accumulated fatigue is used to re‐assess the potential error in test severity accounting for the non‐stationarity found in road distribution. This shows a substantially reduced sensitivity to the value of k depending on the distribution of actual vibration intensities around the time‐compressed test intensity. Using an example of a leaf‐sprung vehicle, the conventional level of time compression is shown to have low sensitivity to errors in k, whereas for an example of an air‐ride vehicle a lower level of time compression is needed to reduce error sensitivity. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cellular thermoplastic fibre reinforced composite (CellFRC): A new class of lightweight material with high impact properties

In many high performance composite applications, specific properties could be more valuable than absolute ones and each reduction of density in composite structures could represent a fundamental goal. Cellular lightweight fibre reinforced composites (CellFRC) were prepared embedding gas bubbles of controlled size within a thermoplastic matrix reinforced with continuous fibres. A semicrystalline high performance polymer, poly(ethylene 2,6-naphthalate), and glass fibre fabrics were used for the preparation of both conventional and CellFRC structures. Pores were induced after the composite was first saturated with CO₂ and then foamed by using an “in situ” foaming/shaping technology based on compression moulding with adjustable mould cavities. The presence of micro- or submicro-sized cells in the new CellFRC reduced the apparent density of the structure and led to significant improvements of its impact properties. Both structural and functional performances were further improved through the use of a platelet-like nanofiller (expanded graphite) dispersed into the matrix.     

Numerical calibration of bond law for GFRP bars embedded in steel fibre-reinforced self-compacting concrete

An experimental program was carried out at the Laboratory of Structural Division of the Civil Engineering Department of the University of Minho (LEST-UM) to investigate the bond behaviour of glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars embedded in steel fibre reinforced self-compacting concrete (SFRSCC) for the development of an innovative structural system. Thirty-six pull-out-bending tests were executed to assess the influence of the bond length, concrete cover, bar diameter and surface treatment on the bond of GFRP bars embedded in SFRSCC. This paper reports the results of a numerical study aiming to identify an accurate GFRP–SFRSCC bond–slip law. Thus, the above mentioned pullout bending tests were simulated by using a nonlinear finite element (FE) constitutive model available in FEMIX, a FEM based computer program. The bond–slip relationship adopted for modelling the FE interface that simulates the interaction between bar and concrete is the key nonlinear aspect considered in the FE analyses, but the nonlinear behaviour of SFRSCC due to crack initiation and propagation was also simulated. The evaluation of the values of the relevant parameters defining such a bond–slip relationship was executed by fitting the force versus loaded end slip responses recorded in the experimental tests. Finally, correlations are proposed between the parameters identifying the bond–slip relationship and the relevant geometric and mechanical properties of the tested specimens.     

A qualification method for externally bonded Fibre Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) strengthening systems

Fibre Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) composites are now widely used for repair and retrofitting existing structures. Guidelines for product qualification are needed to characterize the strengthening systems before they are made available in the market and installed. The paper proposes a procedure that combines the results of direct tensile and shear bond tests to provide engineering design parameters for externally bonded FRCM reinforcements. Due to the possible occurrence of different failure modes, the procedure provides results on the base of the weakest mechanism that takes place. Thanks to its simplicity, the proposed method is suitable for standard product qualification and material assurance purposes. In order to investigate its feasibility, the qualification procedure is applied to different reinforcements comprising basalt, carbon, glass, and steel textiles, bonded with either cement or lime mortars to clay bricks and tuff units.     

Rheology,fiber distribution and mechanical properties of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) whisker reinforced cement mortar

Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) whiskers are a new kind of microfiber used in cementitious composites and have proved to provide excellent effect on strengthening and toughening. In order to further improve the mechanical properties of CaCO₃ whisker-reinforced cementitious composites, rheological properties of fresh mixtures and the CaCO₃ whisker distribution in the hardened matrix were investigated. The yield stress and plastic viscosity increased with an increasing content of CaCO₃ whisker and a decreasing water-cement ratio. Also, the rheological properties were affected by the distribution of CaCO₃ whisker in the matrix. The largest increments in flexural and compressive strength were 27.59% and 12.60% for the mortars with CaCO₃ whisker contents of 2.0% and 1.5%, respectively. The properties responsible for the mechanical response were explained in terms of the effects of CaCO₃ whisker reinforcement, the distribution of CaCO₃ whiskers, and the porosity as well as pore size distribution.     

Characterization and modeling of process parameters on tensile strength of short and randomly oriented Borassus Flabellifer (Asian Palmyra) fiber reinforced composite

Natural fibers have been in a wide use since the evolution of the human race. Catching up the “Eco drive”, engineers were looking for eco-friendly alternatives for plastic fiber. In the due course many natural fibers have been tested and some were able to make their stand becoming economically viable. The present work proposes to prepare and test a Natural Fiber (Asian Palmyra) Reinforced Composite (NFRC). The study is planned in accordance to a 3-Level Factorial Design and determine the variation of Tensile Strength (TS), of short and randomly oriented Palmyra NFRC, under control parameters such as alkali treatment time, fiber length and fiber volume%. The present paper focuses to model the influence of process variables on TS through response surface methodology. The mathematical model which is developed to predict tensile strength is found statistically valid and sound within the range of the factors.     

High strain rate visco-damageable behavior of Advanced Sheet Molding Compound (A-SMC) under tension

Advanced Sheet Molding Compound (A-SMC) is a serious composite material candidate for structural automotive parts. It has a thermoset matrix and consists of high weight content of glass fibers (50% in mass) compared to standard SMC with less than 30% weight fiber content. During crash events, structural parts are heavily exposed to high rates of loading and straining. This work is concerned with the development of an advanced experimental approach devoted to the micro and macroscopic characterization of A-SMC mechanical behavior under high-speed tension. High speed tensile tests are achieved using servo-hydraulic test equipment in order to get required high strain rates up to 100 s⁻¹. Local deformation is measured through a contactless technique using a high speed camera. Numerical computations have led to an optimal design of the specimen geometry and the experimental damping systems have been optimized in terms of thickness and material properties. These simulations were achieved using ABAQUS explicit finite element code. The developed experimental methodology is applied for two types of A-SMC: Randomly Oriented (RO) and Highly Oriented (HO) plates. In the case of HO samples, two tensile directions were chosen: HO-0° (parallel to the Mold Flow Direction (MFD)) and HO-90° (perpendicular to the MFD). High speed tensile tests results show that A-SMC behavior is strongly strain-rate dependent although the Young's modulus remains constant with increasing strain rate. In the case of HO-0°, the stress damage threshold is shown an increase of 63%, when the strain rate varies from quasi-static (0.001 s⁻¹) to 100 s⁻¹. The experimental methodology was coupled to microscopic observations using SEM. Damage mechanisms investigation of HO and RO specimens showed a competition between two mechanisms: fiber-matrix interface debonding and pseudo-delamination between neighboring bundles of fibers. It is shown that pseudo-delamination cannot be neglected. In fact, this mechanism can greatly participate to energy absorption during crash. Moreover, the influence of fiber orientation and imposed velocity is studied. It is shown that high strain rate and oriented fiber in the tensile direction favor the pseudo-delamination.