Master of Science / Department of Civil Engineering / Dunja Peric / Piles have been used for many years in civil infrastructure as foundations for buildings, bridges, and retaining walls. Energy piles are thermo-active foundation systems that use geothermal energy for heating and cooling of buildings. Ground source heat is a very attractive, economical, efficient and sustainable alternative to current heating practices. Unlike the air temperature, the temperature below the Earth’s surface remains relatively constant throughout the year, somewhere between 10oC to 15oC below a depth of 6 m to 9 m (Kelly, 2011). This provides an opportunity for construction of thermo-active foundation systems with embedded geothermal loops. The main purpose of such thermo-active system is to transfer deep ground heat to a building through the fluid circulating within the geothermal loop. It is because these thermo-active foundation systems enable heat exchange between the deep ground and the building that is called the heat exchanger pile (HEP). The thermal energy supplied by a HEP can then supplement air-pump-based heating/cooling system. Although heat exchanger piles have been successfully implemented in Europe and Asia, their usage in U.S. remains uncommon. One reason for this might be currently limited understanding of the associated soil-structure interaction, thus unfavorably affecting the design procedures. To this end, a study was undertaken to investigate the predictive capabilities of computational models and to gain a better understanding of the load-transfer mechanisms of energy piles. Thus, coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical computational modeling of a single actual end bearing HEP was carried out for different loading scenarios including thermal and mechanical loads by using the finite element code ABAQUS/Standard 6.13-2. The results of the analyses of the heat exchanger pile with two different types of layered soil profile are presented: isotropic and anisotropic. The computational model was validated and verified successfully against field test results for all considered loading scenarios. Additional analyses were performed to gain a deeper insight into the effects of soil layering and on the behavior of energy piles. It was found that changes in the soil stiffness affected primarily the head displacement and vertical stresses and strains in the pile.

Large diameter piles are widely used as foundations to support buildings, bridges, and other structures. As a result, it is critical for the field to have an optimized approach for quality control and efficiency purposes to measure the suggested number of load tests and the required measured capacities driven piles. In this thesis, an analysis of a load test program designed for proposed bridge replacements at Kentucky Lake is performed. It includes a detailed site exploration study with in-situ and laboratory testing. The pile load test program included monitoring of a steel H-pile and steel open ended pipe pile during driving and static loading. The pile load test program included static and dynamic testing at both pile testing locations. Predictions of both pile capacities were estimated using commonly applied failure criterion, and a load transfer analysis was carried out on the dynamic and static test data for both piles. The dynamic tests were then compared to the measured data from the static test to examine the accuracy. This thesis concludes by constructing t-z and q-z curves and comparing the load transfer analyses of the static and dynamic tests.

This research has investigated the behaviour of joints and cracks under single and multiple cycles of load. This provides an increased understanding of concrete slab on grade performance, enabling more effective design and monitoring procedures. Examination of the geometry of cracks and joints within concrete slabs on grade has demonstrated that the commonly assumed parallel formation is erroneous. Measurements using embedded strain gauges, coring and surface profile levelling have uncovered that a high percentage of joints will contain larger crack widths at the surface than at the base, caused by differential shrinkage. The opening itself is relatively linear; however, the top 50mm of the slab is prone to a higher gradient of movement due to the increased drying effect towards the surface. A series of deflection tests using a Falling Weight Deflectometer and Prima dynamic plate enabled slab response under load to be evaluated. Four sites were examined in total and correlations found between: load transfer, load step, edge cantilever and crack geometry. This produced valuable information regarding the influence of load transfer and crack width on the overall slab behaviour. Foundation voiding and crack face free slip was also shown to influence deflection magnitude. A small-scale test facility was developed for the assessment of deterioration in various 'V' shaped and parallel crack widths under high cycle loading. The data demonstrated that joint/crack failure contains four distinct phases of deterioration, each of which is controlled by a different mechanism. 'V' shaped cracks produced a much greater load transfer than that of a parallel crack with the incorporation of A142 mesh and steel fibres reducing differential displacement. Load magnitude and aggregate size were also shown to have significant effects. The value of reinforcement was found to assist with serviceability requirements, keeping displacement within acceptable levels and preventing the onset of serious degradation A finite element model was developed to enable the load transfer mechanism results from the laboratory test to be used in the assessment of full slab response. Simulations of field testing produced a series of lower bounds in respect to deflections and the associated response calculations. Theoretical behaviour of a typical slab was assessed with subbase support, joint stiffness, slab thickness and the incorporation of a subbase, found to be highly influential in reducing slab deflections. The three main sections of work comprising site data collection, laboratory testing and Finite Element modelling have been used together to provide a much greater understanding of the influence of cracks and joints. This has included the deterioration of cracks over time and an examination of how this and other site-based factors affect overall slab behaviour.

Esta tese apresenta um estudo sistemático da síntese e das propriedades físicas de amostras policristalinas de Nd IND. 1-X R IND. X NiO IND. 3; R = Sm, Eu, 0 < OU = X < OU = 1. Estes materiais apresentam uma transição de fase metal-isolante MI em temperaturas 200 < OU = T IND. MI < OU = 400 K. Amostras foram produzidas a partir do método de precursores sol-gel, sinterizadas a 1000 GRAUSC e sob pressões de O IND. 2 de até 80 bar. O estudo da influência da substituição de R POT. 3+ na matriz de NdNiO IND. 3 foi realizado a partir das caracterizações através de medidas de difração de raios-X DRX, difração de neutrons como função da temperatura DRN, transporte elétrico ro(T), transporte térmico capa(T), coeficiente Seebeck S(T), calorimetria diferencial e susceptibilidade magnética qui(T). Os resultados de DRX revelaram que as amostras são monofásicas e cristalizam-se na estrutura perivskita distorcida ortorrombicamente, grupo espacial Pbnm. As medidas de DRN realizadas nas amostras de Nd IND. 1-XEu IND. X NiO IND. 3 mostraram a evolução dos parâmetros de rede e do volume da cela unitária V como função da temperatura. Estas caracterizações revelaram que, em T DA ORDEM DE T IND. MI, ocorre uma expansão em V, assim como um aumento do ângulo de ligação Ni-O e uma diminuição do ângulo de \"superexchange\" teta. Medidas de ro(T) revelam a ocorrência da transição MI em um amplo intervalo de temperatura 200 < OU = T IND. MI 400 K. Através destas medidas verificou-se também a presença de histerese térmica ocorre decresce continuamente com o aumento de x, até anular-se em x > 0,5 e em x > 0,35 para R=Sm e Eu, respectivamente. Este resultado foi confirmado através das medidas de capa(T) e S(T). Além disso, verificou-se a importância da contribuição da rede na capa(T). As medidas de S(T) indicam que os portadores de carga são elétrons e que a densidade de ) estados no nível de Fermi N(E IND. F) foi estimada ser da ordem de 10 POT. 23 (eVcm POT. 3) POT. -1. Os valores de T IND. MI e a presença ou não de histerese térmica foram verificados através das medidas de DSC. Um estudo foi feito para verificar qual a maneira mais precisa de subtrair a contribuição dos íons terras-raras nas medidas de susceptibilidade magnética qui(T) dos compostos Nd IND. 1-X R IND. X NiO IND. 3. Após estas correções foi possível verificar o ordenamento magnético da sub-rede do Ni POT. 3+ na região de temperatura T IND. n DA ORDEM DE 200 K para as amostras com x < 0,4 e x < 0,25 para R=Sm e Eu, respectivamente. Ajustes lineares feitos em qui(T) acima de temperaturas T > 200 K revelaram valores de momentos magnéticos efetivos müeff variando de 1,7 a 1,8 mü IND. B o que está em concordância com o valor esperado de müeff DA ORDEM DE 1,76 mü IND. B do íon livre de Ni POT. 3+. Adicionalmente, uma separação precisa do termo independente da susceptibilidade magnética foi efetuada e a susceptibilidade de Pauli dos materiais foi encontrada. Foi possível então obter uma estimativa da densidade de estados no nível de Fermi N(E IND. F), que gerou valores similares aos obtidos via medidas do coeficiente Seebeck. Entretanto, o comportamento de qui(T) corrigido abaixo de T IND. n revelou características de um antiferromagnetismo não convencional devido a um aumento monotônico de qui(T) com o decréscimo da temperatura e a presença de irreversibilidade nas curvas resfriadas a campo magnético zero ZFC e do refinamento de estrutura estimou-se que a valência no Ni nas amostras de Nd IND. 1-X R IND. X NiO IND. 3 DA ORDEM DE 3. Estimativas grosseiras da largura de bando W do O 2ro e da energia de transferência de carga delta para a série de compostos Nd IND. 1-X R IND. X NiO IND. 3 revelaram valores compatíveis com aqueles ) encontrados na literatura. De maneira geral, as caracterizações das propriedades estruturais, de transporte e magnéticas sugerem que os compostos Nd IND. 1-X R IND. X NiO IND. 3 podem ser classificados como sistemas onde correlações eletrônicas e flutuações dessas correlações ocorrem. Foram discutidas algumas limitações acerca da aplicabilidade dos modelos vigentes para a explicação da transição metal-isolante nos niquelatos aqui estudados. / This work reports a systematic study on the synthesis and general physical properties of polycrystalline samples of Nd IND. 1-X R IND. X NiO IND. 3; R = Sm, Eu, 0 < OU = X < OU = 1. These compounds exhibit a metal-insulator MI phase transition in a broad range of temperature 200 < OU = T IND. MI < OU = 400 K. The samples were prepared through sol-gel precursors and sintered at extreme conditions: high temperatures 1000 GRAUSC and under oxygen pressures up to 80 bar. These samples were characterized by several techniques including X-ray powder diffraction XRD, neutron diffraction as a function of temperature NRD, electrical resistivity ro(T), thermal conductivity capa(T), Seebeck coefficient S(T), differential scanning calorimetry DSC, and magnetic susceptibility qui(T). The results of XRD revealed that all samples are single phase and crystallize in an orthorhombic structure, space group Pbnm. The NRD data, combined with the Rietveld analysis, indicated small changes in the lattice parameters a, b, and c and in the volume V of the unit cell T DA ORDEM DE T IND. MI. Such a small change in these parameters is accompained by either a little decrease of the superexchange angle teta and a small expansion of the Ni-O bond-length. The ro(T) data exhibit interesting features such as: (1) a metallic-like behavior of ro(T) at high temperatures; (2) a huge increase of the magnitude of ro(T) at T DA ORDEM DE T IND. MI; and (3) a thermal hysteresis occurring just below T DA ORDEM DE T IND. MI in a temperature interval as large as 100K. Such a thermal hysteresis is characteristic of a first order MI transition and was found to vanish with increasing substitution of x. This strongly suggests that increasing x modify the character of this transition to second order. Thermal properties were carried out and confirmed the change of this MI transition with increasing x. In addition, an analysis of the capa(T) data indicate that phonons are the major thermal carriers in these nickelates. Also, the Seebeck coefficient S(T) data revealed features of a conventional metal at higher temperatures with electrons as carriers. An accurate analysis of the S(T) data based on simple band structure arguments indicate a density of states at the Fermi level of 10 POT. 23 (eVcm POT. 3) POT. -1 and energy gaps in the insulating regime close to 20 meV. The character of the first order transition in lightly substituted samples at T DA ORDEM DE T IND. MI was also inferred from the DSC data. The S(T) data confirmed the occurrence of the metal-insulator transition and the already observed change from first to second order character with increasing x. The magnetic susceptibility ípsilon(T) data have been precisely corrected by a systematic subtraction of the R POT.3+-ion contribution of the measured qui(T). Linear adjusts of the corrected curves above 150K where found to fit the Curie-Weiss law with effective magnetic moment of mü IND. EFF ~ 1.76 mü IND. B, which is close to the free-ion value of mü IND. EFF ~ 1.76 mü IND. B (Ni POT. 3+). These results indicate that the Ni POT. 3+ array displays an antiferromagnetic ordering below a well-defined temperature T IND. N, which is close to T IND.MI for Nd IND. 1-X R IND. X NiO IND. 3 and lightly substituted samples. However, the evolution of the susceptibility of the Ni POT. 3+ array displays features which are fingerprints of unconventional antiferromagnetic state. These features, observed mostly below T IND. N, include a field independent irreversibility of qui(T) and a systematic increase of qui(T) with decreasing temperature, resembling that of a paramagnet. An analysis of the electronic contribution to ípsilon(T) resulted in a density of states at the Fermi level close to the one estimated from the S(T) data. These results are discussed within the context of recent experimental results and theories employed to explain the origin of the metal-insulator transition in these nickelates.

<div>Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis student team Jaguar has been participating in the electric Formula SAE (FSAE) vehicle competitions in the past few years. There is an urgent need to develop a design tool for improving the performance of the vehicle. In this thesis, multibody dynamics (MBD) models have been developed which allow the student team to improve their vehicle design, while reducing the required time and actual testing costs. Although there were some studies about MBD analyses for vehicles in literature, a detailed modeling study of key parameters is still missing. Specifically, the effect of suspension system on the vehicle performance is not well studied. </div><div>The objective of the thesis is to develop an MBD based model to improve the FSAE vehicle’s performance. Based on the objective and knowledge gap, the following research tasks are proposed: (1) MBD modeling of current suspension systems; (2) Modification of suspension systems, and (3) Evaluation of performance of modified suspension systems. </div><div>The models for the front suspension system, rear suspension system, and full assembly are created, and a series of MBD analyses are conducted. The parameters of the vehicle by conducting virtual tests on the suspension model and overall vehicle model are studied. In this work, two main virtual tests are performed. First, parallel wheel travel test on suspension system, in which the individual suspension system is subject to equal force on both sides. The test helps understand the variation in stability parameters, such as camber angle, toe angle, motion ratio, and roll center location. Second, skid-pad test on full assembly of the vehicle. The test assists in understanding the vehicle’s behavior in constant radius cornering and the tire side slip angle variation, as it is one of the important parameters controlling alignment of the vehicle in this test.</div><div>Based on the vehicle’s dynamics knowledge obtained from the existing vehicle, a modified version of the FSAE vehicle is proposed, which can provide a better cornering performance with minimum upgrades and cost possible. Based on the results from the parallel wheel travel test and skid-pad test, the lateral load transfer method is used to control the vehicle slip, by making changes to the geometry of the vehicle and obtaining appropriate roll center height for both front and rear suspension system. The results show that the stiffness in front suspension system and rear suspension system are controlled by manipulating roll center height. This study has provided insightful understanding of the parameters and forces involved in suspension system and their variations in different events influencing vehicle stability. Moreover, the MBD approach developed in this work can be readily extended to other commercial vehicles and sports vehicles.</div><div><br></div>

Advanced aerospace materials require extensive testing and characterization to anticipate and ensure their integrity under hostile environments. Characterization methods utilizing synchrotron X-Ray diffraction and spectroscopy can decrease the time required to determine an emerging material's readiness for application through intrinsic information on the material response and failure mechanisms. In this study, thermal barrier coating samples applicable to turbine blades of jet engines were studied using Raman and Photoluminescence spectroscopy as well as Synchrotron X-ray diffraction while Kevlar based fiber composites applicable to ballistic resistant armor were studied using Raman spectroscopy to investigate the mechanical state and corresponding damage and failure mechanisms. Piezospectroscopic studies on the stress state of the thermally grown oxide (TGO) within the thermal barrier coatings, on a hollow cylindrical specimen, provided results that indicate variations within the TGO. Comparison of measured photo-luminescence spectra of the specimen before and after long duration thermal aging showcases the development of the system and the initiation of micro-damage. Raman spectroscopy performed on Kevlar ballistic composites with nano-scale additives, presented insight into the additives' role in load transfer and damage propagation through a comparison of the shift in optical spectra to that of the pristine fibers. The results presented herein utilize changes in the measured emission from these non-destructive testing techniques to link the phenomena with material response. Techniques to optimize imaging and spectral collection are addressed as well. The findings will advance the use of the techniques in the development of aerospace materials, providing a more complete understanding of land and aircraft turbine blade coatings, and fiber composite response to complex loading.

Concrete pavements are a suitable alternative for high-traffic volume roads, concentrated loads and roads exposed to severe weather conditions. In Sweden, among other reasons, the scarcity of concrete pavements is attributed to the need for more national knowledge and expertise in the field. The most recent concrete pavement was constructed seventeen years ago in Uppsala. Concrete pavements are renowned for their longevity and durability. Jointed plain concrete pavements (JPCP) are the most frequent type of concrete pavements. However, it is important to note that the joints in concrete pavements are critical components that can lead to various distresses, necessitating rehabilitation. Rehabilitating concrete pavements is particularly challenging in areas with heavy traffic and requires substitute routes because of the imperative to maintain traffic flow during construction. Developing effective detours might involve significant alterations to the existing routes or building temporary roads, which entails substantial cost investment and time consumption. A literature review has been conducted to study the available methods that can be used to repair concrete pavements. The strategy for selecting a repair technique is based on rehabilitating the concrete pavement within a short work window, deterring traffic congestion and ensuring the long service life of the pavements. The study showed that the precast concrete technology based on the precast slab is a promising technology that effectively shortens the lane closure for repairing damaged pavements and produces durable pavements, thereby extending the service life of pavements. However, the construction or rehabilitation cost of concrete pavement using precast slabs is 1.6 to 4 times higher than that of conventional cast-in-place concrete. Therefore, rehabilitation using precast slabs is inappropriate for low-traffic roads and temporary routes. Joints are crucial for the rehabilitation of concrete pavements with precast slabs. The structural performance of concrete pavement is, however, greatly affected by the joints, as the presence of joints creates a discontinuity between adjacent slabs and thus diminishes the load transfer to the abutting slab. To maintain the structural integrity of the pavement system, dowel bars are used at the transverse joints. A numerical study has been conducted to evaluate the influence of various dowel-related parameters on the interaction between adjacent concrete slabs. The study revealed that the dowel bar’s position, mislocation and diameter had an obvious effect on joint efficiency, while the bond between the concrete slab and the dowel bar slightly affected the load transfer efficiency. It was also investigated that the dowel bar’s intended performance, i.e., load transfer efficiency, was reduced as the joint gap between adjacent slabs increased. / Betongbeläggningar är ett lämpligt alternativ för högtrafikerade vägar, koncentrerad belastning och vägar utsatta för svåra väderförhållanden. I Sverige är betongvägar sällsynta vilket bl.a. beror på brist på kunskap och kompetens. Den senaste betongvägen byggdes för sjutton år sedan i Uppsala.Betongbeläggningar är kända för sin långa livslängd och hållbarhet. Den vanligaste typen av betongvägar är fogade, oarmerade betongbeläggningar. Ändå är det viktigt att notera att fogarna i betongbeläggningar är kritiska komponenters om kan leda till olika olägenheter, vilket kräver rehabilitering. Att rehabilitera betongbeläggningar är särskilt utmanande i områden med intensiv trafik som kräver ersättningsvägar på grund av nödvändigheten att upprätthålla trafikflödet under reparationsarbetena. Att ta fram en effektiv omledning av trafiken kan innebära antingen väsentliga förändringar och förlängningar av befintliga rutter eller byggande av tillfälliga vägar, vilket medför betydande kostnadsinvesteringar och tidsåtgång. En litteraturöversikt har genomförts för att studera de tillgängliga metoderna som kan användas för att reparera betongbeläggningar. Strategin för valet av reparationsmetod bygger på att rehabilitera betongbeläggningen inom ett kort arbetsfönster, förhindra trafikstockningar och säkerställa lång livslängd för beläggningen. Studien visade att förtillverkade betongplattor är en lovande metod som effektivt förkortar avstängningen av körfält för att reparera skadad beläggning och producerar hållbara betongbeläggningar med lång livslängd. Rehabiliterings kostnaden för betongbeläggning med prefabricerade plattor är emellertid 1,6 till 4 gånger högre än den för konventionell platsgjuten betong. Därför är rehabilitering med förtillverkade betongplattor olämplig för vägar med låg trafik och temporära rutter. Fogar är vidare nödvändiga vid reparation med förtillverkade betongplattor.Betongbeläggningens strukturella prestanda påverkas dock kraftigt av fogar, eftersom förekomsten av fogar skapar en diskontinuitet mellan intilliggande plattor och därmed minskat lastöverföringen till den angränsande plattan. För att upprätthålla den strukturella integriteten hos beläggningssystemet används dymlingar i de tvärgående fogar. En numerisk studie har genomförts med olika parametrar för att utvärdera dymlingens inverkan på fogens effektivitet. Studien visade att dymlingens position, felplacering och diameter har en tydlig inverkan på fogens effektivitet, medan vidhäftningen mellan dymling och betongplatta enbart verkar ha en marginell inverkan på fogens effektivitet. Studien visade också att dymlingens prestanda, dvs. lastöverföringsförmågan, minskade då fogöppningen eller glappet mellan två närliggande plattor ökade. / <p>QC 240207</p>

Strengthening potential of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in a phenolic resin composite was evaluated by characterization of purified and phenyl sulfonated SWCNTs, investigation of the load transfer capability of the purified SWCNTs, and characterization of the composites. Purified and phenyl sulfonated SWCNTs, as well as their composites, were examined by Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and ultra violet-visible spectrometry. Fabrication of the SWCNT/phenolic resin composite was performed by first dispersing the SWCNTs in ethylene glycol and then homogenizing the mixture with phenolic resin. The ethylene glycol was then evaporated from the mixture and the SWCNT/phenolic resin composite was cured at 200°C for 1 hour. The dispersion of SWCNTs in the phenolic resin was reduced with higher SWCNT concentrations. Load was transferred from the phenolic resin to the purified SWCNTs. This demonstrated the potential to strengthen phenolic resin composite with SWCNT reinforcement. The load transfer efficiency in total tension (0.8%) decreased with an increase in SWCNT concentration, while in total compression (-0.8%), the load transfer efficiency remained constant. At very low strain (± 0.2%), the load transfer efficiency remained constant regardless of SWCNT concentration in both tension and compression. Characterization of the phenyl sulfonated SWCNTs indicated that calcium was introduced as a contaminant that interfered with functionalization of the SWCNTs. The use of contaminated phenyl sulfonated SWCNTs resulted in macroscopic inhomogeneity within the composite.

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