This research explores aspects of architectural phenomenology as evidenced in the ‘quirk’, described here as a peculiarity or idiosyncrasy of a building’s personality. Using digital technology, this study frames and contextualises a body of sculpture, performance and installation in glass that interprets personal ideas of home through social, cultural and emotional connections. The research is focused on exposing the quirk to anthropomorphise the site, expressing its familiar and intimate nature. Previous research in creative glass has used digital design and manufacturing technology in studies that contribute primarily to the practical advancement of CAD/CAM processes. This new research applies such techniques, but is instead focused on their capacity to record, translate and realise ideas in relation to the quirk of the architecture. This approach translates quirks through data capture to visualise aspects of architectural phenomenology, which is defined in this context as the embodied, personal and sensory experience of space. A methodology which adapts architectural practice has been applied to provide a creative, flexible framework of site selection, discovery of the quirk and its translation, realisation and analysis. The four bodies of work described in this PhD include a monumental architectonic sculpture, a series of ‘window’ panels created using photographic imagery, a kinetic subterranean installation and a time-based performance of the experience of sleeping on glass. The contribution to knowledge can be claimed through a model of practice that utilises phenomenology through the translation of the architectural quirk to create a unique and diverse body of artwork; and the development of original working methods for waterjet cutting and kiln-forming to produce architectonic sculpture and imagery in glass. This PhD offers an example of the application of architectural phenomenology for those wishing to use architecture as inspiration for artwork.

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The dependence of fracture strength upon the time of loading is commonly termed static fatigue or delayed failure. This has been attributed to the growth of subcritical flaws under stress. Hence the study of subcritical crack growth is important in predicting the life expectancy of a material when it is subjected to a stress. Subcritical crack growth of glass and glass-ceramics, at room temperature and in two different environments (toluene and water) was studied. Glass containing 17.8 wt% Li₂O - 82.2 wt% SiO₂ and crystallized glasses (glass-ceramics) were chosen. The double torsion technique was used to determine crack velocity at various stress intensity factors. It was shown that the slopes of the velocity-stress intensity factor diagrams for glass and glass-ceramics (having different volume fractions of crystalline phase) tested in water, remained constant. However, these plots shifted to the higher stress-intensity region, as the degree of crystallinity in the glass increased. The crack velocity-stress intensity factor plots of glass and glass-ceramics tested in toluene have shown a similar behaviour but the slope of these plots increased as the degree of crystallinity in the glass increased. A modification of the stress- corrosion model of Hillig and Charles²³ is proposed. Crack velocity data of glass and glass-ceramics tested in water agreed well with the proposed model. Crack velocity data of glass and glass-ceramics tested in toluene are discussed.in terms of the "lattice trapping theory". An equation is presented to predict.the life expectancy under stress of these materials from crack growth data. The transverse rupture test was used to determine the fracture strength of glass and glass-ceramics. These results have shown that the fracture strength of glass-ceramics is increased mainly due to the increase in the fracture surface energy. The critical stress intensity factor of glass-ceramics increases as the degree of crystallinity increases. The fracture surface. energy of these materials was calculated from the knowledge of the critical, stress intensity factor and it was shown that the fracture surface energy of glass-ceramics containing up to 0.5 volume fraction of. crystalline phase is related to the inter-particle spacing. This observation is further substantiated by fracto-graphic examination. The kinetics of crystallization of lithium disilicate from 17.8wt% Li₂0 - 82.2 wt % Si0₂ glass was studied by crystallizing this glass at 530°C for various lengths of time. It was shown that the crystallization of lithium disilicate is a diffusion controlled reaction. It was found that the diffusivity for this process is much lower than the diffusion coefficient of lithium ion. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Materials Engineering, Department of / Graduate

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of sintering cycle and curing technique on the translucency, refractive index and flexural strength of novel polymer-infiltrated ceramics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Alumina and spinel matrix specimens were fabricated by slip casting (15mm diameter × 2mm thickness). Alumina and spinel specimens were divided into 7 and 6 groups respectively (n=10/group). Alumina groups AHP1, AH1and AM1 were sintered at 1150°C, groups AHP2, AH2 and AM2 at 1200°C and group AFD was fully sintered at 1550°C. Spinel groups SHP1, SH1 and SM1 were sintered at 1500°C and groups SHP2, SH2, SM2 at 1600°C. Density was calculated for each specimen. Groups AM1, AM2, AFD, SM1 and SM2 were the control groups and received no further treatment. Other groups were silanated and dried overnight at 90°C. Then, UDMA-TEGDMA (50-50 mole) resin was prepared and infiltrated into the ceramic specimens under vacuum. Groups AHP1, AHP2, SHP1 and SHP2 were cured by heat at 90°C under pressure of 138 MPa. Groups AH1, AH2, SH1 and SH2 were cured by heat at 90°C. Specimens were polished (1.5mm thickness) and density measured. The total transmission was evaluated with a spectrophotometer (X-rite Ci7600). Refractive index was measured (Presidium Refractive Index Meter II). Biaxial flexural strength was obtained (Instron 5566A) with a crosshead speed of 0.5mm/min. The microstructure was examined using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM-VP, Hitachi SU6600). Statistical analyses were performed using Excel 2016 (Microsoft Office) and JMP 13 (SAS). RESULTS: Polymer-infiltrated alumina and spinel showed significantly lower refractive index (p< .0001), higher translucency (p< .0001) and higher flexural strength (p< .0001) than their corresponding ceramic matrix groups. Sintering temperature of the ceramic matrix had a significant influence on the flexural strength of polymer-infiltrated ceramics. The application of pressure during polymerization significantly improved the translucency but did not influence significantly the flexural strength of polymer-infiltrated ceramics. Groups AHP2 and AH2 showed high strength (comparable to fully sintered alumina). Polymer-infiltrated spinel showed better translucency but lower strength than alumina groups. CONCLUSION: Sintering temperature and curing technique had a significant influence on optical and mechanical properties of polymer-infiltrated ceramics. / 2020-10-24

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Thesis: Sc. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Metallurgy, Division of Ceramics, 1945 / Vita. / Bibliography: leaves 91-156. / Sc. D. / Sc. D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Metallurgy, Division of Ceramics

The Mississippian period in the American Bottom experienced a rapid influx of people during a period of culture change after AD 1050. During this time, people moved into the area, political, religious, and economic ways of life became drastically different from those who inhabited the region only a generation before. An estimated 30 percent of the population came from areas outside of the American Bottom. From 2008-2012, a large archaeological project at the East St. Louis Precinct of the American Bottom resulted in the uncovering of many ceramic vessels, however only three percent of these were identified as nonlocal during analysis. The purpose of this study is to determine if these nonlocal pots are made with clays similar to the local samples from the site in order to better understand the process of migration and importance of exotic goods in the region. This project uses X-ray fluorescence to analyze the elemental makeup of the ceramics to test if they were produced locally, with similar clays to local samples, or if they were likely imported into the area from their sources. The results concluded that most of the nonlocal samples tested were geochemically similar to the locally produced vessels. There are several vessels that appear geochemically different from the local samples.

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