This thesis presents the results of a research program examining the effects of macro-synthetic fibers on the shear and flexural behaviour of high-strength concrete (HSC) beams subjected to static and blast loads. As part of the study, a series of seventeen fiber-reinforced HSC beams are built and tested under either quasi-static four-point bending or simulated blast loads using a shock-tube. The investigated test parameters include the effects of: macro-synthetic fibers, fiber hybridization, combined use of fibers and stirrups and longitudinal steel ratio and type. The results show that under slowly applied loads, the provision of synthetic fibers improves the shear capacity of the beams by allowing for the development of yield stresses in the longitudinal reinforcement, while the combined use of synthetic fibers and stirrups is found to improve flexural ductility and cracking behaviour. The results also show that the provision of synthetic fibers delays shear failure in beams tested under blast pressures, with improved control of blast-induced displacements and increased damage tolerance in beams designed with combined fibers and stirrups. The study also shows that the use of hybrid fibers was capable of effectively replacing transverse reinforcement under both loading types, allowing for ductile flexural failure. Moreover, the use of synthetic fibers was effective in better controlling crushing and spalling in beams designed with Grade 690 MPa high-strength reinforcement. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that synthetic fibers can possibly be used to relax the stringent detailing required by modern blast codes by increasing the transverse reinforcement hoop spacing without compromising performance. As part of the analytical study, the load-deflection responses (resistance functions) of the beams are predicted using sectional (moment-curvature) analysis, as well as more advanced 2D finite element modelling. Dynamic resistance functions developed using both approaches, and incorporating material strain-rate effects, are then used to conduct non-linear single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) analyses of the blast-tested beams. In general, the results show that both methods resulted in reasonably accurate predictions of the static and dynamic experimental results.

Structural steel is one of the main building materials used commercial. Its strength is its formality and high yield strength which allows less material overall. Steel is often divided into steel grades such as S275, S355, S420 and so forth. The purpose of this thesis is to look at the strength and weaknesses of the different steel grades and how the area gets effected by higher steel grades. This is done by looking at a real life project where only S355 is used and optimizing for S355, S420 and S460. This is done to shred some light on how much of an improvement the upgrade of steel grade may allow. For each steel grade an optimized cross section is created with the goal of having the lowest area possible. The difference in area for the optimized beams will act as the benchmarking for projected reductions. This optimization is done with the help of Python and follows Eurocode. When looking at the case study, the projected weight reduction is 4,2% for S420 and 7,2% for S460 compared to S355. This reduction is higher on some beams and lower on others. The main driving force for the higher reduced beams is the possibility to utilize more than one type of load condition, example both momentand shear force. Out of the 12 beams, beam 10 have the highest reduction between S355 and S420 which land around 10%. Between S355 and S460 Beam 12 comesin at a area reduction of 14%. As the higher steel grades have a higher equivalent CO2 emission the reduction of equivalent CO2 is lower than the area reduction. The projected reduction of equivalent CO2 for a switch from S355 to S420 is 3,3% and the reduction between S355 and S460 are 5,0%

Die vorliegende Arbeit zeigt Forschungsergebnisse zur Materialveränderung normaler und hochfester Betone unter Impulsbelastung gegenüber einer quasi-statischen Beanspruchung. Die Untersuchung wurde an speziellen eingeschnürten Prismen unter zentrischem Zug vorgenommen. Die Untersuchungen belaufen sich auf die generelle Festigkeitssteigerung und Modifikation der Spannungs-Dehnungs-Beziehung infolge veränderter Belastung. Neben den Betrachtungen des Materialverhaltens wurde auf die entstehenden Bruchflächen ein genaueres Augenmerk gerichtet, um Unterschiede des Materialverhaltens durch Änderungen beim Bruchvorgang zu erkennen. Zur Beurteilung der Bruchfläche werden die fraktale Analyse und ein Ortsfrequenzspektrum genutzt. / The present paper exhibits results of the latest research into the modification of the behaviour of normal and high-strength concrete on impact versus quasi-static loads. This examination has been carried out at tensile stress on special constricted specimens. The enquiries amount to the general strength increase and modification of the stress-strain-relationship due to a changing of load history. Further on, a special attention was turned to the crack surface to get differences of the material behaviour during the cracking process. The fractal analysis and a spatial frequency spectrum were used for the description of the surface.

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In North America, cold-formed square and rectangular hollow sections (collectively referred to as RHS hereinafter) of commonly specified cross-sectional dimensions are produced using either the indirect-forming approach or the direct-forming approach. The indirect-forming approach, as the conventional approach of the two, consists of three steps: (i) roll-forming the coil material progressively into a circular hollow section; (ii) closing the section using electric resistance welding (ERW); and (iii) reshaping the circular section into the final square or rectangular shape. On the other hand, the direct-forming approach, as the new approach of the two, roll-forms the coil material directly into the final square or rectangular shape. RHS with similar cross-sectional dimensions but different production histories (i.e., different cold-forming approaches and post-production treatments) are expected to have significantly different material and residual stress properties. However, RHS design provisions in the existing North American steel design standards (AISC 360-16 and CSA S16-19) are in general developed based on research on indirect-formed RHS and currently do not differentiate RHS cold-formed by different approaches. Based on the research presented in Chapter 1 of this thesis, comparing to indirect-formed RHS, direct-formed RHS in general contain lower levels of residual stresses around cross sections, since the flat faces are not severely cold worked during production. This in turn affects member behaviours under compressive and flexural loadings. The test results presented in Chapters 2 and 4 show that direct-formed RHS have superior stub column and beam behaviours, comparing to their indirect-formed counterparts. In particular, the stub column and beam testing programs, covering a wide range of cross-section dimensions and two strength grades (nominal yield stresses of 350 and 690 MPa), show that the slenderness limits in the existing North American steel design standards are excessively conservative for direct-formed RHS, resulting in unnecessary penalty and member strength underestimation. As a result, the existing design formulae are not suitable for direct-formed RHS. In response to this, subsequent finite element (FE) parametric investigations are performed and presented in Chapters 3 and 5. Modified stub column and beam design recommendations for direct-formed regular- and high-strength RHS are proposed. The effects of post-cold-forming hot-dip galvanizing on material properties, residual stresses, stub column behaviours and beam behaviours of direct-formed regular- and high-strength RHS are also studied in Chapters 1-5 of this thesis. Similar to the application of the heat treatment per ASTM A1085 Supplement S1 or the Class H finish per CSA G40.20/G40.21, post-cold-forming galvanizing improves the stub column (Chapter 2) and beam (Chapter 4) behaviours of direct-formed RHS via effective reduction of residual stresses (Chapter 1). Based on subsequent FE parametric investigations, modified stub column and beam design recommendations catering to galvanized direct-formed RHS are proposed in Chapters 3 and 5. / Graduate

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The penchant towards development of high performance materials for light weighting engineering systems through various thermomechanical processing routes has been soaring vigorously. Friction stir processing (FSP) - a relatively new thermomechanical processing route had shown an excellent promise towards microstructural modification in many Al and Mg alloy systems. Nevertheless, the expansion of this process to high temperature materials like titanium alloys and steels is restricted by the limited availability of tool materials. Despite it challenges, the current thesis sets a tone for the usage of FSP to tailor the mechanical properties in titanium alloys and steels. FSP was carried out on three near beta titanium alloys, namely Ti6246, Ti185 and Tiβc with increasing β stability index, using various tool rotation rates and at a constant tool traverse speed. Microstructure and mechanical property relationship was studied using experimental techniques such as SEM, TEM, mini tensile testing and synchrotron x-ray diffraction. Two step aging on Ti6246 had resulted in an UTS of 2.2GPa and a specific strength around 500 MPa m3/mg, which is about 40% greater than any commercially available metallic material. Similarly, FSP on an ultra-high strength steel―Eglin steel had resulted in a strength greater than 2GPa with a ductility close to 10% at around 4mm from the top surface of stir zone (SZ). Experimental techniques such as microhardness, mini-tensile testing and SEM were used to correlate the microstructure and properties observed inside SZ and HAZ's of the processed region. A 3D temperature modeling was used to predict the peak temperature and cooling rates during FSP. The exceptional strength ductility combinations inside the SZ is believed to be because of mixed microstructure comprised of various volume fractions of phases such as martensite, bainite and retained austenite.

In this work, Slow Strain Rate Test (SSRT) testing, Light Optical Microscopy (LOM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were used to study the effect of microstructure, corrosive environments and cathodic polarisation on stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of two grades of high strength steels, Type A and Type B. Type A is manufactured by quench and tempered (Q&T) method. Type B, a normalize steel was used as reference. This study also supports electrochemical polarisation resistance method as an effective testing technique for measuring the uniform corrosion rate. SSRT samples were chosen from base metal, weld metal and Heat Affected Zone (HAZ). SSRT tests were performed at room temperature under Open Circuit Potential (OCP) and cathodic polarisation using 4 mA/cm2 in 1 wt% and 3.5 wt% NaCl solutions. From the obtained corrosion rate measurements performed in 1 wt% and 3.5 wt% NaCl solutions it was observed that increased chloride concentration and dissolved oxygen content enhanced the uniform corrosion for all tested materials. Moreover, the obtained results from SSRT tests demonstrate that both Q&T and normalized steels were not susceptible to SCC in certain strain rate (1×10-6 s-1) in 1 wt% and 3.5 wt% NaCl solutions under OCP condition. It was confirmed by a ductile fracture mode and high reduction in area. The weld metal of Type A with acicular ferrite (AF), pro-eutectoid (PF) and bainite microstructure showed higher susceptibility to hydrogen assisted stress corrosion cracking compared to base metal and HAZ. In addition, typical brittle intergranular cracking with small reduction in area was observed on the fracture surface of the Type A due to hydrogen charging.