Mechanical properties of a self-healing fibre reinforced epoxy composites

Inspired by biological systems in which damage triggers an autonomic healing response, a polymer composite material that can heal itself when cracked has been developed. In this work, compression and tensile properties of a self-healed fibre reinforced epoxy composites were investigated. Microencapsulated epoxy and mercaptan healing agents were incorporated into a glass fibre reinforced epoxy matrix to produce a polymer composite capable of self-healing. The self-repair microcapsules in the epoxy resin would break as a result of microcrack expansion in the matrix, and letting out the strong repair agent to recover the mechanical strength with a relative healing efficiency of up to 140% which is a ratio of healed property value to initial property value or healing efficiency up to 119% if using the healed strength with the damaged strength.     

Vertical cyclic loading response of geosynthetic-encased stone column in soft clay

Dynamic responses of the geosynthetic-encased stone column (GESC) supported embankment under traffic loads have become a hot topic. This study investigates the responses of GESC improved ground under vertical cyclic loading. A series of laboratory tests in a designed model test tank have been carried out with different loading parameters (varied loading amplitudes and frequencies), different column dimensions (varied encasement lengths and column diameters). In the tests, the soil-column stress distribution, accumulated settlement of loading plate, excess pore water pressure in the surrounding soil and lateral bulging of the stone column are monitored. Experimental results indicate that the vertical stress on the stone column increases with the increment of encasement length, and decreases with the increment of column diameter, loading amplitude and loading frequency. The increasing stress on the surrounding soil leads to a greater accumulated settlement of the loading plate and excess pore water pressure, while the increasing stress on the column leads to larger lateral bulging of the column. Excess pore water pressure dissipates effectively through vertical and horizontal drainage channels provided by the stone column and the sand bed. The geosynthetic encasement prevents the clay from obstructing the drainage channel by filtration and guarantees the drainage effect.     

Ultimate bearing capacity of strip footing resting on clay soil mixed with tire-derived aggregates

This study investigated the use of recycled tire-derived aggregate (TDA) mixed with kaolin as a method of increasing the ultimate bearing capacity ( UBC) of a strip footing. Thirteen 1g physical modeling tests were prepared in a rigid box of 0.6 m × 0.9 m in plan and 0.6 m in height. During sample preparation, 0%, 20%, 40%, or 60% (by weight) of powdery, shredded, small-sized granular (G 1–4 mm) or large-sized granular (G 5–8 mm) TDA was mixed with the kaolin. A strip footing was then placed on the stabilized kaolin and was caused to fail under stress-controlled conditions to determine the UBC. A rigorous 3D finite element analysis was developed in Optum G-3 to determine the UBC values based on the experimental test results. The experimental results showed that, except for the 20% powdery TDA, the TDA showed an increase in the UBC of the strip footing. When kaolin mixed with 20% G (5–8 mm), the UBC showed a threefold increase over that for the unreinforced case. The test with 20% G (1–4 mm) recorded the highest subgrade modulus. It was observed that the UBC calculated using finite element modeling overestimated the experimental UBC by an average of 9%.     

Strength and dilatancy behaviors of deep sands in Shanghai with a focus on grain size and shape effect

With rapid development of infrastructures like tunnels and open excavations in Shanghai, investigations on deeper soils have become critically important. Most of the existing laboratory works were focused on the clayey strata up to Layer 6 in Shanghai, i.e. at depth of up to 40 m. In this paper, Layers 7, 9, and 11, which were mostly formed of sandy soils at depth of up to 150 m, were experimentally investigated with respect to physico-mechanical behaviors. The stress–strain behaviors were analyzed by the consolidated drained/undrained (CD/CU) triaxial tests under monotonic loading. One-dimensional (1D) oedometer tests were performed to investigate the consolidation properties of the sandy soils. Specimens were prepared at three different relative densities for each layer. Also, the micro-images and particle size analyzers were used to analyze the shape and size of the sand grains. The influences of grain size, density, and angularity on the stress–strain behaviors and compressibility were also studied. Compared to the other layers, Layer 11 had the smallest mean grain size (D₅₀), highest compressibility, and lowest shear strength. In contrast, Layer 9 had the largest mean grain size, lowest compressibility, and highest shear strength. Layer 7 was of intermediate mean grain size, exhibiting more compressibility and less shear strength than that of Layer 9. Also, the critical state parameters and maximum dilatancy rate of different layers were discussed.     

Field Static Load Test on Kao-Ping-Hsi Cable-Stayed Bridge

Field load testing is an effective method for understanding the behavior and fundamental characteristics of a cable-stayed bridge. This paper presents the results of field static load tests on the Kao-Ping-Hsi cable-stayed bridge, the longest cable-stayed bridge in Taiwan, before it was open to traffic. A total of 40 loading cases, including the unit and distributed bending and torsion loading effects, were conducted to investigate the bridge behavior. The atmospheric temperature effect on the variations of the main girder deflections was also monitored. The results of static load testing include the main girder deflections, the flexural strains of the prestressed concrete girder, and the variations of the cable forces. A three-dimensional finite-element model was developed. The results show that the bridge under the planned load test conditions has linear superposition characteristics and the analytical model shows a very good agreement with the bridge responses. Further discussion of deflection and cable forces of the design specifications for a cable-stayed bridge is also presented.     

井下套管阀研究及室内试验

随着欠平衡钻井技术的深入研究和推广应用,全过程欠平衡钻井技术已成为研究热点。除了常规的欠平衡装备外,全过程欠平衡钻井还需配备井下套管阀,为此,研制了一种双液控井下套管阀。为检验该阀的使用可靠性,进行了全面的室内试验和测试,试验内容包括压力密封能力,高压、有流动情况下阀板关闭的动作准确性,模拟现场阀板下憋压时打开阀板的作业程序,检测在各种密封压力时阀的微泄漏量。试验结果表明,该阀达到设计要求,能够满足全过程欠平衡作业的工艺要求。     

柔性联轴节在减小转子系统扭转冲击运动中的作用

通过对大型振动磨机运动特性的研究分析,把其旋转系统简化为由两个柔性联轴节连接的三转子系统。建立了柔性连接的三转子系统在冲击转矩作用下的运动方程,对方程求解得到了柔性连接转子系统的扭转冲击响应。通过对冲击响应随柔性联轴节扭转刚度和阻尼变化规律的讨论分析,发现减小柔性联轴节的扭转刚度和增大柔性联轴节的阻尼,可以减小转子系统的扭转冲击响应。     

具有初始弯曲转子振动峰值的控制方法

本文从理论上研究了控制初始弯曲引起的转子振动幅值的一种新方法。通过在与转轴初始弯曲方向成较大夹角的方向添加不平衡质量的方法 ,使转子新的不平衡方向与初始弯曲方向夹角接近 180° ,则可以减小转子在临界转速附近的振幅。无论新的不平衡参数大于或小于初始弯曲参数 ,只要新的不平衡参数不至于太大 ,则临界转速附近的振幅响应肯定会得到改善。特别是当新的不平衡参数近似等于初始弯曲参数时 ,无论转速高低 ,振幅都会大幅下降。当重力参数、外阻尼系数和内阻尼系数改变后仍有同样结论。本文援引文献 [2 ]中的实例对这种方法进行了验证 ,并给出了解决类似故障的步骤。本文的方法可用于处理生产实际中转轴初弯引起的振动问题