Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 429-435). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Reinforced concrete buildings may be vulnerable to progressive collapse due to a lack of continuous reinforcement. Progressive collapse is an extreme form of collapse that is disproportionate to the originating cause. Such collapses cause not only significant damage to buildings, but also greater loss of life and injuries. Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) may be used to retrofit existing reinforced concrete beams and provide the missing continuity needed to resist progressive collapse. This research focuses on retrofitting the beams in a reinforced concrete building to provide sufficient continuity to reach catenary action. The catenary action may allow the beam to carry vertical loads at large displacements if a supporting column were removed. The CFRP can provide continuity through the negative moment reinforcement or through the positive moment reinforcement. The research was broken into three major components. Anchorage tests form the design basis of the CFRP retrofit and ensure that the capacity of the retrofit can be accurately predicted. Continuity tests determine if the CFRP retrofit is capable of providing continuity and if the retrofit will allow the beam to reach catenary action and sustain a load representing resistance to progressive collapse. The analysis model forms a set of equations for catenary action so the results can be applied to reinforced concrete beams in general. Forty anchorage tests, eight continuity tests, and one analysis model were constructed and evaluated. The anchorage tests found that carbon fiber anchors enabled improved utilization of the tensile capacity of a CFRP sheet and improved the efficiency of material usage in CFRP retrofits. The continuity tests found that beams without continuous reinforcement can reach catenary action (depending on design details) and a CFRP retrofit, if designed correctly (placed in locations that do not cause rebar fracture before catenary), may be able to reduce vulnerability to progressive collapse. The analysis model was able to accurately predict the load-deflection behavior of a reinforced concrete beam in catenary action. The overall conclusion is that a CFRP retrofit can reduce vulnerability to progressive collapse in reinforced concrete buildings. / text

Σήμερα, τα σύνθετα υλικά χρησιμοποιούνται ευρέως στην καθημερινότητα μας. Με τον όρο σύνθετα εννοούμε τα υλικά τα οποία µακροσκοπικά αποτελούνται από δύο ή περισσότερα χημικά ευδιάκριτα συστατικά μέρη και εμφανίζουν µια συγκεκριμένη διαχωριστική επιφάνεια μεταξύ τους. Το ένα από τα συστατικά μέρη χαρακτηρίζεται ως συστατικό ενίσχυσης και προσδίδει στο σύνθετο βελτιωμένες μηχανικές ιδιότητες. Το δεύτερο συστατικό καλείται μήτρα, είναι συνήθως χαμηλής πυκνότητας και η συμμετοχή του στο σύνθετο εξασφαλίζει τη μέγιστη δυνατή εκμετάλλευση των ιδιοτήτων της ενίσχυσης. Για τις βέλτιστες ιδιότητες τους όμως πρέπει αρχικά να μελετηθούν οι μηχανικές ιδιότητες μήτρας και ενίσχυσης ξεχωριστά. Στην παρούσα εργασία επικεντρωνόμαστε κυρίως στα πολυμερικά σύνθετα υλικά με ενίσχυση από ίνες άνθρακα. Οι εξαιρετικά καλές μηχανικές ιδιότητες που εμφανίζουν οι ίνες άνθρακα τις καθιστούν ιδανικό ενισχυτικό μέσο για πολυμερικές μήτρες με σκοπό την παραγωγή σύνθετων πολυμερικών υλικών υψηλών ειδικών ιδιοτήτων. Οι ίνες αυτές αποτελούνται από άτομα άνθρακα των οποίων οι δεσμοί είναι περίπου παράλληλοι με τον άξονα της ίνας, γεγονός που προσδίδει στο ανθρακόνημα υψηλή δυσκαμψία, αντοχή σε θραύση και χαμηλό συντελεστή θερμικής διαστολής. Λόγω αυτών των ιδιοτήτων, σε συνδυασμό με το χαμηλό βάρος και την αντοχή σε χημική προσβολή, τα ανθρακονήματα χρησιμοποιούνται όλο και περισσότερο στην αεροναυπηγική, τον κατασκευαστικό τομέα και την αυτοκινητοβιομηχανία. Για την μελέτη των μηχανικών και φασματοσκοπικών ιδιοτήτων των ινών άνθρακα χρησιμοποιήθηκαν η συσκευή μηχανικών δοκιμών MTS, η ηλεκτρονική μικροσκοπία σάρωσης (Scanning Electron Microscope, SEM), o Μηχανικός Δυναμικός Αναλυτής (Dynamic Mechanical Analysis, DMA) και η φασματοσκοπία Raman. Η διπλωματική εργασία αποτελείται από δύο μέρη: Στο θεωρητικό μέρος, γίνεται μια βιβλιογραφική εισαγωγή στις ίνες άνθρακα, την παραγωγή και τις ιδιότητες τους. Επιπλέον, αναλύονται οι πειραματικές τεχνικές που προαναφέρθηκαν. Ως αναφορά το πειραματικό κομμάτι, παρουσιάζονται και συγκρίνονται τα αποτελέσματα των ανωτέρω τεχνικών χαρακτηρισμού. / In our days, composite materials are widely used in our life. Composites is meant materials witch macroscopically consist of two or more chemically distinct components have a specific interface between them. One of the components, characterized as enhancing component in the composite and imparts improved mechanical properties. The second component is called matrix, is usually low density and involvement in complex ensures maximum exploitation of the properties of the aid. So, composites optimal properties should initially be studied the mechanical properties of fiber and matrix separately. In this paper we focus mainly on polymeric composites reinforced by carbon fibers. Carbon fibers exhibit extremely good mechanical properties, which make it an ideal tool for reinforcing polymeric matrices to produce composite polymeric materials of high specific properties. These fibers are composed of carbon atoms that their bonds are approximately parallel to the axis of the fiber, which gives high strength, fracture toughness and low thermal expansion coefficient to carbon fibers. Due to these properties, combined with the low weight and resistance to chemical attack, carbon fibers are increasingly used in aeronautical, construction sector and automotive. To study the mechanical and spectroscopy properties of carbon fiber we used device mechanical testing MTS, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA) and Raman spectroscopy. The thesis consists of two parts: Theory part, which is a bibliographical introduction to carbon fiber production and properties. Furthermore, analyzing the experimental techniques mentioned above. Experimental part, where presented and compared the results of above characterization techniques.

-- / One of the most important parameters that affect the mechanical response of composites is the quality of the interfacial bond between the matrix and the reinforcing material. Therefore, the aim of the present work is to investigate the effect of fatigue loading on the integrity of the interfacial bond in fibre-reinforced plastics in microscopic level using the laser Raman spectroscopy technique.

The objective of this work is to electrospin poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) based nanofibers with controlled diameter and to stabilize and carbonize them for developing meso-porous carbon for application as electrochemical capacitor electrodes. A sacrificial polymer, poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) (SAN) has been used to control porosity. Carbon nanotubes (CNT) have been used to increase electrode conductivity and hence power density. The study has been divided into two parts. In part I, electrospinning behavior of PAN and PAN/CNT has been studied. The diameter of electrospun PAN fibers was monitored as a function of polymer molecular weight, solution concentration, solution flow rate, distance between the spinneret and the target, and the applied voltage. Bead free PAN fibers of 60 nm diameter have been electrospun. Various electrospun fibers have been characterized by wide angle X-ray diffraction and by Raman spectroscopy. Electrospinning process has been observed by high speed photography. In part II, the electrospun PAN, PAN/SAN, and PAN/SAN/CNT fiber mats were stabilized, carbonized, and processed into electrochemical capacitor electrodes. The performance of the electrochemical capacitors was tested by the constant current charge/discharge and cyclic voltammetry in 6 molar potassium hydroxide aqueous solution. The surface area and pore size distribution of the electrodes were measured using N2 adsorption and desorption. The effect of surface area and pore size distribution on the capacitance performance has been studied. The capacitance performance of various carbonized electrospun fibers mats have been compared to those of the PAN/SAN/CNT film, carbon nanotube bucky paper, and activated carbon pellet. The capacitance of PAN/SAN/CNT fiber mat over 200 F/g (at a current density of 1 A/g) and the power density approaching 1 kW/kg have been observed. Addition of 1 wt% carbon nanotubes in PAN/SAN, improves the power density by a factor of four. For comparison, the capacitance of single wall carbon nanotube bucky paper at a current density of 1 A/g is about 50 F/g.

The goal of this academic project was to study the effects of different variables on the damage progression around a central hole in carbon fiber composite coupon specimens. The tracked variables included the type of layup, stress ratio, stress levels, and damage mechanisms observed in each specimen. In-situ x-ray of the individual laminates recorded the extent of damage, mostly longitudinal splitting, as a function of the cycle count. The following lay-ups were included in the experiment: [45/90/-45/02/45/02/-45/0]s, [±5/65/(±5)2/-65/±5]s, and [±5/65/(±5)2/-65/5/65]s. More specifically, the objective of this study was to determine the stress levels at which detectable damage started to develop. The researchers chose to apply 50,000 cycles at each stress level and once damage was detected, the stress level was typically raised by 34.5 MPa (5 KSI), and then cycled another 50,000 cycles until damage exceeding 1.27 cm (0.50") in length was observed. Once the damage exceeded 1.27 cm (0.50"), cycling was continued to 1,000,000 cycles. Upon completion of the fatigue cycling, each specimen's residual strength was determined. The damage length versus stress level was plotted as a way to compare damage onset stresses and growth as a function of lay-up and stress ratio.

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, August, 2006. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2009. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-82). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.) -- Mississippi State University. Department of Mechanical Engineering. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.