This thesis presents the results of an experimental investigation into the strength of brickwork under biaxial tension-compression. Since there is insufficient experimental evidence available on the strength of brickwork under biaxial stress to explain the behaviour of brick masonry walls under in-plane loads, experiments were carried out on one-sixth scale model brickwork panels under uniform stress conditions. An idealized failure surface is suggested based on experimental results, and the effect of shear bond strength and tensile bond strength on the results is discussed. An iterative plane stress finite element computer programme incorporating the above information is used to simulate the in-plane behaviour of brickwork. Brickwork is treated as an elastic, isotropic material with limited capacity when stressed in a state of biaxial tension-compression. The model reproduces the non-linear behaviour of masonry produced by progressive cracking. Shear wall tests have been used to test the validity of the analytical model. Sensitivity analysis of the elastic constants used in the model are performed to illustrate their influence on the calculated stresses. The influence of the stress distribution on shear wall behaviour, and the derivation of a failure criterion for local failure in masonry shear walls, are described. This criterion, in terms of the vertical stress and shear stress at a point, has been derived for particular values of horizontal stress from the three dimensional surface mentioned above. The effect of the shape of the specimen, testing technique, and boundary conditions on the shear strength of masonry panels is discussed.

The paper treats the question of feasibility of measuring intrinsic thin film stresses due to nanoindentation. A variety of different methods is proposed and analysed with respect to their applicability. As this accuracy-estimation results in boundary conditions for the measurements which can not be fulfilled yet, the whole topic is considered from a purely academic point of few. With the help of a special software package [25] the following methods are considered: 1. Taking the moment of beginning plastic flow within the substrate as indictor, 2. Taking the moment of beginning plastic flow within the film as indictor, 3. Applying mixed loads (normal and lateral forces), 4. Applying the concept of the effectively shaped indenter. While the methods 2 to 4 appear to be in principle feasible, method 1 can completely be ruled out as being of no practical use. The mentioned software package (FilmDoctor prototype) is part of the supplemental material of this study.

Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) was evaluated as a potential material for future bridge deck designs. Material characterization tests took place to identify potential challenges in mixing, placing, and curing UHPC. Biaxial testing was performed to evaluate behavior of UHPC in combined tension and compression stress states. A UHPC bridge deck was designed to perform similarly to a conventional concrete bridge deck, and a single unit bridge deck section was tested to evaluate the design methods used for untreated UHPC. Material tests identified challenges with placing UHPC. A specified compressive strength was determined for structural design using untreated UHPC, which was identified as a cost-effective alternative to steam treated UHPC. UHPC was tested in biaxial tension-compression stress states. A biaxial test method was developed for UHPC to directly apply tension and compression. The influence of both curing method and fiber orientation were evaluated. The failure envelope developed for untreated UHPC with random fiber orientation was suggested as a conservative estimate for future analysis of UHPC. Digital image correlation was also evaluated as a means to estimate surface strains of UHPC, and recommendations are provided to improve consistency in future tests using DIC methods. A preliminary bridge deck design was completed for untreated UHPC and using established material models. Prestressing steel was used as primary reinforcement in the transverse direction. Preliminary testing was used to evaluate three different placement scenarios, and results showed that fiber settling was a potential placement problem resulting in reduced tensile strength. The UHPC bridge deck was redesigned to incorporate preliminary test results, and two single unit bridge deck sections were tested to evaluate the incorporated design methods for both upside down and right-side up placement techniques. Test results showed that the applied design methods would be conservative for either placement method. / Ph. D.

The paper treats the question of feasibility of measuring intrinsic thin film stresses due to nanoindentation. A variety of different methods is proposed and analysed with respect to their applicability. As this accuracy-estimation results in boundary conditions for the measurements which can not be fulfilled yet, the whole topic is considered from a purely academic point of few. With the help of a special software package [25] the following methods are considered: 1. Taking the moment of beginning plastic flow within the substrate as indictor, 2. Taking the moment of beginning plastic flow within the film as indictor, 3. Applying mixed loads (normal and lateral forces), 4. Applying the concept of the effectively shaped indenter. While the methods 2 to 4 appear to be in principle feasible, method 1 can completely be ruled out as being of no practical use. The mentioned software package (FilmDoctor prototype) is part of the supplemental material of this study.

Zur Bemessung und Simulation von flächigen Textilbetonstrukturen werden Berechnungsmodelle benötigt, die das Materialverhalten unter biaxialer Beanspruchung abbilden können. Für eindimensionale Strukturen existieren einige Modelle, zu deren Weiterentwicklung eine Erweiterung zur Abbildung des biaxialen Materialverhaltens vorgeschlagen wird. In diesem Beitrag werden die notwendigen Erweiterungen und deren Umsetzbarkeit bei der Modellierung diskutiert und bewertet. / For design and simulation of plane textile reinforced concrete structures mechanical models representing the material behaviour under biaxial loading are necessary. For one-dimensional structures several models were presented in the past. For their further development an extension for biaxial material behaviour is usually proposed. In this paper the required extensions are discussed and their feasibility for modelling is assessed.

Zur Bemessung und Simulation von flächigen Textilbetonstrukturen werden Berechnungsmodelle benötigt, die das Materialverhalten unter biaxialer Beanspruchung abbilden können. Für eindimensionale Strukturen existieren einige Modelle, zu deren Weiterentwicklung eine Erweiterung zur Abbildung des biaxialen Materialverhaltens vorgeschlagen wird. In diesem Beitrag werden die notwendigen Erweiterungen und deren Umsetzbarkeit bei der Modellierung diskutiert und bewertet. / For design and simulation of plane textile reinforced concrete structures mechanical models representing the material behaviour under biaxial loading are necessary. For one-dimensional structures several models were presented in the past. For their further development an extension for biaxial material behaviour is usually proposed. In this paper the required extensions are discussed and their feasibility for modelling is assessed.

Ceramics are very important materials with many unique properties used in numerous industrial applications. Ceramics could be very hard and very strong in comparison to metals; however, they are very brittle, thus they are prone to instantaneous and catastrophic failure. Therefore, their reliability is compromised and it is very important to have advanced techniques that allow evaluating their mechanical behavior in many unusual stress states. One of such testing methods is biaxial strength method, that allows to measure properties not only unidirectional, but also in a biaxial way. The research work for this thesis will be built on design and development of ring-on-ring test jigs that will measure a biaxial strength of thin ceramic disks.

Les travaux de recherche discutés dans ce manuscrit concernent la conception des générateurs de puissance électrique pour l'aéronautique. L’augmentation de la puissance massique de ces équipements passe par une augmentation des vitesses de rotation, donc une augmentation des contraintes. Un premier point est de s'assurer de la bonne tenue mécanique des matériaux. Un deuxième point est de pouvoir prendre en compte les modifications du comportement magnétique (et donc in fine du couple) lorsqu'ils sont soumis à un état de contraintes multiaxial. L’étude présentée vise en particulier à illustrer l’influence d'états de contraintes biaxiaux sur le comportement magnétique des matériaux constitutifs du rotor. Le défi repose sur la mise en place de méthodes de caractérisation du comportement magnéto-mécanique dissipatif uniaxial et multiaxial des nuances développées par Aperam et utilisées par Thales Avionics pour leurs applications aéronautiques (en FeCo-2V et Fe-3%Si à grains non orientés). Des essais non conventionnels seront effectués sur des échantillons en forme de croix de manière à s'approcher des contraintes réellement subies par le rotor. Les essais sont effectués sur la machine d'essai triaxiale Astrée du LMT-Cachan. L'état de contraintes est estimé par corrélation d'images et par diffraction des rayons X. Des mesures magnétiques anhystérétiques et de pertes d'énergie sous contraintes sont reportées. D'autre part, un modèle multi-échelle multiaxial, décrivant le comportement d’un VER à partir de l'équilibre énergétique à l'échelle microscopique sera présenté. L’approche est fondée sur la comparaison des énergies libres de chaque domaine. Une comparaison probabiliste est faite pour déterminer les variables internes que sont les fractions volumiques des domaines. Différentes stratégies envisageables pour modéliser la dissipation statique seront discutées. Puis nous présentons l’approche magnéto-élastique que nous avons retenue visant à une meilleure considération de l’effet de la contrainte sur le comportement des matériaux ferromagnétiques. / The research presented in this thesis is motivated by the design of rotors for high speed rotating machines. The increased power density of these devices requires a higher rotation speed, leading to higher levels of centrifugal forces and stress in the rotor. A first point is to ensure good mechanical strength of the materials. A second point is to take into account changes in the magnetic behavior (and ultimately torque) when they are subjected to a multiaxial stress state. The present study aims at exploring the influence of biaxial stress states on the magnetic behavior of the materials of the rotor. The challenge lies in the development of methods for the characterization of the magneto-mechanical dissipative uniaxial and multiaxial behavior of metal sheets developed by Aperam Alloy and used by Thales Avionics for their aeronautical applications (in FeCo-2V and non-oriented Fe-3%Si). Non conventional experiments are performed on cross-shaped samples in order to apply biaxial stress representative of the loadings experienced by rotors of rotating machines. These experiments are performed on a multiaxial testing machine, Astrée. Stress level is estimated thanks to digital image correlation and X-ray diffraction Both anhysteretic and dissipative magnetic responses to magneto-mechanical loadings have been recorded. On the other hand, a multi-scale multiaxial model describing the behavior of a RVE from the energy balance at the microscopic scale is presented. The approach is based on a comparison of the free energy of each domain. A probabilistic comparison is made to determine the volume fraction of domains used as internal variables. Different strategies for modeling the static dissipation are discussed. Then we present the chosen magneto-elastic approach, improving the description of the effect of stress on ferromagnetic materials behavior.