The work deals with issues of evaluation of the shear properties of timber structural materials, particularly CLT elements. The work contains an overview of extensive research so far presented scientific studies dealing with the characteristic shear properties of wood. In the practical part was carried out the experiment dealing with the failure mode of transverse lamellae of CLT elements that were exposed to shear stress. There were observed individual effects that this may affect the material properties. In the first part of the experiment were performed numerical models using FEM. In the second part, the test specimens were tested in three point bending. Here, attention was paid to the influence of macroscopic properties of wood on the distribution of stress cracks and shear strength, the tests were recorded using DIC system.

The doctoral thesis is aimed at preparation of glass fiber reinforced polymer composites with controlled interphase formed by plasma-polymerized tetravinylsilane and tetravinylsilane/oxygen thin films. The thin polymer films of specific physico-chemical properties and thickness were deposited to improve interfacial adhesion of glass fiber/polyester composites. The fiber surface modification was performed by using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition in low-temperature RF plasma operating in an various effective power range and different treatment time. Test results were examined in relation to the interlayer thickness and different treatment conditions. The prepared interlayers were analyzed to evaluate physico-chemical composition and properties (XPS, RBS, ERDA, FTIR and spectroscopic elipsometry). Selected mechanical properties were evaluated by AFM. Mechanical response of plasma interlayers was evaluated by short beam shear test and direct method of testing the interfacial shear strength using microindentation. The interphase shear failure was controlled by the shear strength at the interlayer/fiber interface as follows from experimental and model data.

La nature complexe de l'argile a amené les chercheurs à s’intéresser à ses comportements mécaniques et microstructure. L'objectif de cette recherche est d'étudier l'influence des chemins de contrainte triaxiaux sur le comportement mécanique et sur les mécanismes qui se produisent au niveau microstructural. L’étude est réalisée en considérant à un niveau de contrainte donné, le phénomène de dilatance est approché suivant des chemins de contraintes différents. Dans un deuxième temps, l’étude se porte sur l’influence de la succion sur le comportement. Pour les argiles remaniées saturées, le comportement dilatant à un niveau de contrainte donné, atteint par deux chemins de contrainte différents a été finement analysé. L’influence du niveau de contrainte a été également abordée dans le cadre de cette étude. L’analyse microstructurale a été analysée à différentes échelles au moyen de différentes méthodes. Au niveau macroscopique, les résultats ont montré que, pour un niveau de contrainte donné, le comportement volumétrique est fonction du chemin de contrainte. La dilatance est activée dans le cas d’argiles surconsolidées principalement lorsque le chargement est purement déviatorique. Au niveau microscopique, les résultats mettent en évidence cinq modes d’orientation des particules qui pourraient être activés sous chargement triaxial. Les résultats révèlent que l’apparition de la dilatance dans les argiles remaniées fortement surconsolidées peut être attribuée à l'arrangement tortueux des particules d'argile, l'ouverture des micropores ainsi que la formation et l’ouverture de fissures mésoscopiques. Pour les argiles remaniées non saturées, les études sont réalisés par les essais macroscopiques et mésoscopiques sur l'argile Kaolin K13 et un mélange kaolinite-montmorillonite. L’évolution des succions a été mesurée au moyen d’hygromètres placés dans les extrémités supérieure et inférieure d’échantillon. Les résultats démontrent que la contrainte déviatorique d’argile non saturée, lorsque la succion est forte, commence par augmenter jusqu'à un sommet puis diminue pour rejoindre une valeur résiduelle. La résistance au cisaillement d’argile non saturée augmente généralement avec la contrainte moyenne et la succion. Cependant, dans nos essais à succion très élevée le développement d’une fissuration lors du séchage a conduit à perdre l’homogénéité du matériau et à réduire la résistance au cisaillement de l’éprouvette / The complex nature of clay has aroused great interest of researchers in its mechanical behaviour and microstructure. The objective of this research is to examine the influence of triaxial stress paths on the mechanical behaviour of remoulded clay and the mechanisms that occur at the microstructural level. The dilatancy phenomenon is particularly investigated considering a given stress level reached by following different stress paths. In the second part, this research focuses on the influence of suctions on the mechanical behaviour. For the saturated remoulded clay, the dilative behaviour at a given stress level, reached by following two different stress paths was analysed in detail. The influence of stress levels was also examined in this research. The microstructural analysis was conducted at different scales by means of different methods. The macroscopic results of saturated clay show that, at a given stress level, the volumetric behaviour greatly depends on the stress path. In the case of overconsolidated clay, the dilatancy is activated especially when triaxial shearing is performed following the purely deviatoric stress path. At the microscopic level, the results highlight five modes of particle orientation that could be activated under triaxial loading. The results also reveal that the appearance of dilatancy phenomenon in highly overconsolidated remoulded clay may be attributed to the tortuous arrangement of clay particles, the opening of micropores, and the formation and opening of mesocracks. For the unsaturated remoulded clay, the studies were performed through many macroscopic and mesoscopic tests on Kaolin K13 clay and a kaolinite-montmorillonite mixture. The evolution of suctions was measured using hygrometers placed near the upper and lower ends of clay specimens. The results show that, at a high suction level, the deviatoric stress of unsaturated clay increases to a peak and then decreases down to a residual value. The shear strength of unsaturated clay generally increases with increasing mean stress and suction. However, in the high suction tests, the development of cracks during drying led to the inhomogeneity of the specimens and thus resulted in relatively small shear strengths

A functional nanometer-scale hybrid coating layer with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and/or nanoclays, as mechanical enhancement to ‘heal’ surface microcracks and environmental barrier layer is applied to alkaliresistant glass (ARG) fibres. The nanostructured and functionalised traditional glass fibres show both significantly improved mechanical properties and environmental corrosion resistance. Early warning material damage can be achieved by carbon nanotubes concentrated interphases in the composites. / Eine funktionale nanometerskalige Hybridbeschichtung mit multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) und/oder Nanoclay wurde als mechanische Verbesserung des „Ausheilens“ von Oberflächen-Mikrorissen und Barriereschicht gegenüber Umwelteinflüssen auf alkaliresistente Glasfasern (ARG) appliziert. Die nanostrukturierten und funktionalisierten traditionellen Glasfasern zeigen signifikant verbesserte mechanische Eigenschaften und Korrosionsbeständigkeit. Die Frühwarnung des Materialversagens kann durch Carbon Nanotubes, konzentriert in der Grenzschicht der Composites, erreicht werden.

The experimental investigations performed on the behaviour of reinforce concrete elements subjected to blast loading have revealed that the shear mechanisms and ductility play important roles in the overall response and failure mode of such structures. The main aim of this master thesis is to study the possibility of using finite element method as a tool for predicting the dynamic response of blast loaded reinforced concrete beams and evaluation of their shear strength. In this study, the commercial software, ABAQUS/Explicit has been used by implementing appropriate constitutive material models in order to consider the material nonlinearity, stiffness degradation and strain rate effects. The results of some blast loaded tested beams have been used for verification and calibration of the model. As a secondary objective, the calibrated model used to study the influence of some important factors on the shear strength of reinforced concrete beams and investigate their effects on the failure mode. The results used as a reference and compared with the calculations according to some design codes for blast resistance design. The results of the present research show that the implemented nonlinear finite element model successfully simulates the dynamic responses including displacement/reaction force time histories and induced damage patterns of blast tested beams with reasonable accuracy. The results of performed parametric study confirm that the ductility play important role in the failure behaviour of studied beams. The numerical simulations show that dynamic response of a soft element is more ductile than the stiffer one and the shear forces are thereby limited. Thus, although a soft element fails by large deformations in flexure, a stiff element may experience a brittle shear failure mode for the same load intensity. The comparison between the results of numerical analysis and design codes calculation show that the American approach in shear design of reinforced concrete elements subjected to blast loading is relatively conservative, similar to static design approach and do not consider the effect of ductility in the shear design procedure. On the contrary, the procedure that Swedish guideline implemented somehow considers the effect of ductility on the shear strength of reinforced concrete elements subjected to impulsive loads. Further research should involve the using the developed finite element model as a tool in order to theoretically study the dynamic response of blast loaded reinforced concrete elements and their failure modes. The results of numerical simulations can be used as a reference to derive simplified computational methods for practical design purposes.

Detta examensarbete presenterar resultat från en laboratoriestudie på en lera från Enköping stabiliserad med kalk och cement. I laboratoriet har isotropiskt konsoliderade odränerade aktiva triaxialförsök utförts på provkroppar och jämförts med enaxliga tryckförsök som utförts på provkroppar från samma inblandningstillfälle. De två metoderna har visat sig ge likvärdiga värden på utvärderad odränerad skjuvhållfasthet. Elasticitetsmodulen har däremot visat sig vara mycket högre för triaxialförsöken än enaxliga tryckförsök. För triaxialförsöken har förhållandet mellan sekantmodulen och den odränerade skjuvhållfastheten legat mellan 112-333. För de enaxliga tryckförsöken ligger förhållandet mellan sekantmodulen och den odränerade skjuvhållfastheten inom intervallet 44-146. Inget mönster har dock kunnat urskiljas då förhållandet mellan de två olika försöken har varierat mellan 1,0-3,5. Ett lägre och högre back pressure användes under triaxialförsöken. Till skillnad från tidigare studier har dock båda dessa back pressures vattenmättat provkroppen. Resultaten visar på att back pressure inte påverkar testresultaten, förutsatt att provet blivit fullt vattenmättat. Utöver denna jämförelse har ytterligare passiva triaxialförsök utförts. De passiva triaxialförsöken har utförts som isotropiskt konsoliderade odränerade försök.. Däremot har två olika metoder använts under skjuvningsfasen. I första typen av försök har den axiella spänningen minskats medan den radiella spänningen har hållits konstant. I den andra typen av försök har i stället den radiella spänningen ökats samtidigt som den axiella spänningen har hållits konstant. Skjuvhållfastheter har jämförts med resultat från kalkpelarsondering i fält och visar på att skjuvhållfastheten genomgående varit högre i fält än i laboratoriet. Dessutom har skjuvhållfastheter och elasticitetsmoduler testats efter olika lagringstider genom enaxliga tryckförsök. / This master thesis presents results from a laboratory study on a clay from Enköping which was stabilized with lime and clay. Isotropic consolidated undrained compressive tests were performed on samples and compared to unconfined compressive testing. The two methods have shown no difference in the evaluation of undrained shear strength. However the modulus of elasticity was shown to be much higher for the triaxial tests. For the unconfined compressive tests the relation between the undrained shear strength and secant modulus was within the range of 44-146. The equivalent for the triaxial tests was in the interval of 112-333. However no pattern was extinguishable between the two tests as this relation has varied between 1,0 to 3,5. A lower and higher back pressure was used during the triaxial testing. However, both back pressures have succeeded in saturating the sample. Results show that the back pressure has little effect on the results, as long as the sample has been fully saturated. In addition to this extension tests were performed on samples as well. The tests performed were isotropic consolidated undrained. However two different shearing methods were used. The first test was strain rate dependant while the second test was stress rate dependant. In the first test the vertical stress decreased while the radial stresses were kept constant, while in the other test the radial stresses increased while the vertical stress were kept constant. The undrained shear strength was compared to lime/cement column penetration tests in field. Results showed that tests in field show a much higher undrained shear strength than laboratory testing.

CPTU is one of the most sophisticated geotechnical investigation methods. However, there is a large amount of uncertainties related to this method. The uncertainties depend on different types of factors, for instance lack of accuracy in performance and equipment. The objective of this master thesis is to compare the CPTU-results from a number of commercial actors in Stockholm/Mälardalen in order to analyze these results with respect to the current standards and guidelines. The comparison was made in order to highlight the difference in results which may appear due to different equipment, performance of the operator and evaluation method. Based on this, an invite was sent to the commercial actors in Stockholm/Mälardalen, resulting in the participation of five different commercial actors in this investigation. Execution in the field was conducted over a six week period. During this time 26 CPTU were performed in total in a small area in Hagby, Stockholm, by these different actors. Once the data was collected from all of the actors, the results were evaluated with the aid of the computer softwares Conrad and Excel. The main conclusions from this study are: Not one of the performed CPTU in this master thesis fulfills the requirements for CPT class 1 according to the European standards. The quality of the education of operators should be improved and geotechnical engineers and the clients need to be more familiar with CPTU. The evaluated results from different commercial actors differ, and this can depend on the choice of equipment and performance of the operator during penetration, but it can also depend on systematic errors in the cone penetrometers / CPTU-sonderingar är en av de mest sofistikerade undersökningsmetoderna för geoteknisk analys och bedömning. Det finns emellertid en hög grad av osäkerhet i denna metod. Osäkerheten beror på olika typer av faktorer, bland annat brist på noggrannhet i handhavande och utrustning. Syftet med detta examensarbete är att jämföra CPTU-resultat från de kommersiella aktörerna i Stockholm/Mälardalen för att senare analysera dessa resultat i förhållande till gällande ramverk och riktlinjer. Jämförelsen gjordes med avsikt att lyfta fram skillnaderna i resultat som kan uppstå på grund av olika utrustning, handhavande och utvärderingsmetod. Baserat på detta skickades en inbjudan till de kommersiella aktörerna i Stockholm/Mälardalen, vilket ledde till att fem olika kommersiella aktörer deltog i undersökningen. Utförande i fält genomfördes under en period på sex veckor. Under denna tid utfördes totalt 26 sonderingar i ett avgränsat område i Hagby, Stockholm, av dessa olika aktörer. När all data samlats in från alla aktörer utvärderades resultaten med hjälp av mjukvarorna Conrad och Excel. De viktigaste slutsatserna i denna studie är: Ingen utav de utförda CPTU-sonderingarna uppfyller kraven för CPT klass 1 enligt den europeiska standarden. Kvaliteten på utbildning av fältgeotekniker bör förbättras och geotekniska ingenjörer och även beställare bör bli mer bekanta med CPT. De utvärderade resultaten från de olika aktörerna skiljer sig åt, och detta kan bero på valet av utrustning och fältgeoteknikerns prestation vid sondering men det kan också bero på systematiska fel i de använda sonderna.

Braunkohle ist aktuell immer noch ein wichtiger Rohstoff für die Energieversorgung in Deutschland. Ein großes Abbaugebiet befindet sich in Nordrhein-Westfalen. Im sogenannten rheinischen Braunkohlenrevier liegen mächtige Braunkohleflöze, welche seit einigen Jahrzehnten im Tagebaubetrieb abgebaut werden. Allerdings fallen auch große Mengen an Abraum (die Deckschichten über der Braunkohle) an, welche meist auf der, dem Abbauort, gegenüberliegenden Seite, wieder verkippt werden. Dort bilden die verkippten Massen eine Böschung, die im Fall des Tagebaus Hambach ein Böschungssystem mit über 400m Höhe erreicht hat. Diese sich ständig verändernden Böschungen müssen, wie alle hohen Böschungen, durch Fachpersonal auf ihre Standsicherheit überprüft werden. Für diese Standsicherheitsberechnungen bedarf es Kennwerte, u. a. die undrainierte Scherfestigkeit für die Nachweise der kurzfristigen Standsicherheit, für die vorliegenden verkippten Böden. Diese liegen nach der Verkippung meist heterogen vor und verändern durch eine fortschreitende Konsolidation ihren Zustand. Diese Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der Bestimmung des Kennwertes der undrainierten Scherfestigkeit in fein- und gemischtkörnigen Böden. Dazu werden zunächst die Klassifikations- und Zustandseigenschaften während der Verkippung der Böden für die in den Tagebauen Inden und Hambach verwendeten Materialklassen vorgestellt. Dabei wird auch auf die Besonderheiten der Böden im Tagebau, wie z.B. die Zustandsänderung während des Transportes oder die vorliegende Heterogenität, eingegangen. Es werden analytische und numerische Prognosemodelle zur Bestimmung der undrainierten Scherfestigkeit vorgestellt. Die Grundlage dieser Modelle bilden die Konsolidationstheorien, mit welchen sich die Zustandsvariablen, wie die Porenzahl oder die effektive Spannungen, berechnen lassen. Über verfügbare Stoffmodelle, wie z.B. das hypoplastische Modell nach Mašín können anhand der Zustandsvariablen die undrainierten Scherfestigkeiten abgeleitet werden. Mit den in dieser Arbeit verwendeten Modellen lassen sich undrainierte Scherfestigkeitskennwerte zu verschiedenen Zeitpunkten prognostizieren, mit denen wiederum z.B. Standsicherheitsberechnungen von Böschungen durchgeführt werden können. Die statistischen Auswertungen der Klassifikationseigenschaften und Zustände erlauben eine Beurteilung von im Tagebaubetrieb häufig verwendeten Kennwerten (z.B. Fließgrenze oder Wassergehalt) und deren Streubreiten innerhalb der Materialklassen. / Lignite was and still is an essential source for producing energy in Germany. One huge extraction site is located in North-Rhine-Westphalia (in between Mönchengladbach, Cologne and Aachen). The so called Rhenish lignite district contains very thick lignite deposits, which are mined in open pit mines since a few decades. There are huge overburdens (on top on the lignite) which are transported and dumped on the opposite to the excavation side. The dumped soil masses create slope systems, that can amount to 400m of height (in open pit mine Hambach). These large slopes undergo permanent changes and have to be assessed considering their safety and stability by specialists. Characteristic properties regarding shear strength of the heterogeneous fine- and mixed grained soils are required for such calculations. The main challenge is the description of the state of the soil, as it is permanently changing due to consolidation. One essential characteristic is the undrained shear strength. The main focus of this thesis is the determination of the undrained shear strength. Therefore, the soil properties are determined with classification tests and the state of the soils at the time of dumping is assessed. The results are categorised using the material classes of the open pit mines Inden and Hambach. The particularities of dumped soils in open pit mines are shown, for instance the change of state during transport or the heterogeneity. Moreover, analytical and numerical models are employed to predict the undrained shear strength. The basis of all these models are consolidation theories, which are applied to determine the state variables such as void ratio and effective stresses. The undrained shear strength can then be predicted by using constitutive models such as the hypoplastic model for clays according Mašín. Using the approach presented in this thesis the undrained shear strength can be predicted and employed for example for slope stability analyses. The statistic evaluation of the soil properties allows a review of the soil characteristics that are typically employed in open pit mining. Furthermore, the scattering of properties of the material classes in the open pit mines can be assessed.

<p>If designed and constructed properly, post-tensioned construction can provide improved durability and offers the ability to construct longer span bridges and curved girders. Furthermore, this method of construction has become economically competitive with traditional, pretensioned concrete and steel plate girder bridges. A critical issue, however, has been corrosion of the steel strand. While grouting has been the primary corrosion protection method for the strand, experience has shown that grouting presents its own problems and limitations that compromised the durability and service-life of bridges. As a result, unbonded post-tensioning has gained interest as it eliminates issues with grouting and allows for inspection as well as future strand replacement. The behavior and strength of structures constructed with unbonded post-tensioning, however, is not well understood, especially shear strength. Therefore, the objective of this research investigation is to evaluate the structural performance of prestressed girders containing unbonded tendons with a primary focus on shear strength. The scope of this phase of the research was to develop the means and methods to construct and test girder specimens with multiple design criteria and allow evaluation of multiple test variables. The research developed the materials and procedures to enable the large scale testing program to be developed. Finally, the procedures developed were verified through the construction of the initial set of test specimens and testing of the first shear specimen.</p>

Cette thèse traite de l’effet des grilles en fibre de verre, utilisées pour renforcer les structures routières, sur la liaison entre deux couches d’enrobés bitumineux, la durée de vie en fatigue et le module de rigidité des ´éprouvettes cylindriques renforcées, ainsi que sur les déflexions mesurées sur une section de route renforcée in situ. Des essais de cisaillement (LEUTNER) ainsi que de module et de fatigue (ITT) ont été conduit sur des éprouvettes renforcées et non renforcées en utilisant différentes grilles, différentes émulsion ainsi que différentes quantités d’émulsion. Pour ces essais, une surface de test a été construite in-situ, de laquelle les ´éprouvettes ont ´été extraites. Une section de route in-situ a ´également été construite, renforcée avec 3 différentes grilles et avec deux sections de références. Les déflexions de la chaussée ont été déterminées avant et après les travaux. Une modélisation de la structure a été faites basée sur les résultats des mesures de déflexion. / This PhD-study evaluates the impact of glass fibre grids, used to reinforced asphalt structures, on the bonding between two asphalt layers, the fatigue life and the stiffness modulus of reinforced cylindrical specimens as well as on the deflections measured on a reinforced in-situ road section. Shear tests (LEUTNER) as well as modulus-tests and fatigue-tests (ITT) were conducted on reinforced and unreinforced specimens, using different grids, different emulsions and different emulsion quantities. For this tests, an outdoor test-surface was constructed, from which the specimens were extracted. A in-situ road test section was also constructed, reinforced with 3 different grids and having two reference sections. The deflections of the road were determined before and after the construction works. A modelisation of the structure, based on the deflection measurements, was made.