Among the central constituents of the innate immune system are macrophages, which are known for phagocytosis or ‘eating’ foreign particles or pathogens. Macrophages express several cell-surface proteins including transmembrane and membrane-anchored receptors, which play a vital role in their response to pathogenic stimuli. The plasma membrane is a highly fluid and dynamic environment, which facilitates the diffusion of lipids and proteins within the plane of the membrane. This study aims to measure the lateral diffusion of two types of plasma membrane receptors on macrophages, toll-like receptor II (TLR2) and cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14), to answer three main research questions: 1) Which type of fluorescence-based microscopy techniques is best suited for measuring the lateral diffusion of TLR2 and CD14 on macrophage plasma membrane? 2) Does culturing macrophages on different surface topographies impact the diffusion of TLR2 in the plasma membrane and its pro-inflammatory response, along with morphological changes? 3) Does aging alter the lateral diffusion of TLR2 in the plasma membrane of macrophages? To date, a variety of fluorescence-based methods have been developed to study the dynamics of cell membrane constituents. These techniques are based on either ensemble or single particle measurements. We have used single particle tracking methods to track the mobility of fluorescently labeled membrane receptors on murine bone marrow-derived macrophages. Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRF) was used to visualize and capture the dynamics in live cells. Using a custom routine algorithm we detected, localized, and tracked the particles to calculate their diffusion coefficient, extracted from the mean-squared displacement as the most common measure of diffusion. We also measured the diffusion coefficient using an ensemble-based technique known as Raster Image Correlation Spectroscopy (RICS) with a confocal laser-scanning microscope. The use of confocal eliminates the out-of-focus signal and enables measurements that are confined to a narrow plane in the cell. Also, the ability of RICS to separate the slow and immobile fractions of particles makes it possible to detect heterogeneities in diffusion. To our knowledge, this is the first study that has utilized both SPT and RICS to directly compare receptors’ diffusion in different membrane sections. Moreover, this is the first study that has examined the diffusion of receptors on macrophages adhered to different surface topographies, and the first that has investigated the receptors’ diffusion in young and old macrophages. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / The immune system is highly dependent on a specialized subset of white blood cells known as macrophages that are capable of clearing damaged and dead cells as well as a wide range of invading micro-organisms. Specific receptor proteins present on the membrane of macrophages are involved in the recognition of particles and subsequent signaling to recruit other immune cells or to promote healing and wound repair. To date, a variety of fluorescence-based microscopy methods have been used to study the dynamics of cell membrane components. The mobility of several membrane receptors in macrophages has been studied using microscopy techniques, which have provided valuable insights into their function. However, there is still insufficient information about the behavior of two key receptors (TLR2 and CD14) that participate in signaling in response to bacterial products. This thesis aims to answer three major questions with regard to receptor mobility (i.e., diffusion) within macrophage membrane: 1) Which type of fluorescence-based microscopy technique is more suitable for measuring the mobility of TLR2 and CD14 receptors on macrophage membranes? 2) What is the impact of different surface topographies on TLR2 diffusion in adhered macrophages, as well as cell shape, and the ability of macrophages to internalize particles? 3) Does aging alter TLR2 mobility in the membrane of macrophages? The following chapters provide detailed answers to these questions. In brief, we have demonstrated that TLR2 and CD14 diffusion measurements in adhered macrophages highly depend on the membrane section chosen. In addition, our results show that micro- and nanostructured surface topographies alter the shape of adhered macrophages and yield higher bacteria internalization, while the diffusion of TLR2 is not changed. When comparing macrophages derived from young and old mice, we find similar diffusion rate of TLR2 in macrophages of the two age groups.

The uterosacral ligaments (USLs) are important anatomical structures that support the uterus and apical vagina within the pelvis. As these structures are over-stretched, become weak, and exhibit laxity, pelvic floor disorders such as pelvic organ prolapse occur. Although several surgical procedures to treat pelvic floor disorders are directed toward the USLs, there is still a lot that is unknown about their function. These surgeries often result in poor outcomes, demonstrating the need for new surgical approaches and biomaterials. The first chapter of this dissertation presents a review of the current knowledge on the mechanical properties of the USLs. The anatomy, microstructure, and clinical significance of the USLs are first reviewed. Then, the results of published experimental studies on the {emph{in vivo}} and {emph{ex vivo}}, uniaxial and biaxial tensile tests are compiled. Based on the existing findings, research gaps are identified and future research directions are discussed. The second chapter proposes the use of planar biaxial testing, digital image correlation (DIC), and optical coherence tomography (OCT) to quantify the deformations of the USLs, both in-plane and out-of-plane. Using virgin swine as an animal model, the USLs were found to deform significantly less in their main direction (MD) of {emph{in vivo}} loading than in the direction perpendicular to it (PD) at increasing equibiaxial stresses. Under constant equibiaxial loading, the USLs deformed over time equally, at comparable rates in both the MD and PD. The thickness of the USLs decreased as the equibiaxial loading increased but, under constant equibiaxial loading, the thickness increased in some specimens and decreased in others. The third chapter presents new experimental methods for testing the {emph{ex vivo}} tensile properties of the uterosacral ligaments (USLs) in rats. USL specimens were carefully dissected to preserve their anatomical attachments, and they were loaded along their main {emph{in vivo}} loading direction (MD) using a custom-built uniaxial tensile testing device. This chapter reports the first mechanical data on the rat USLs in isolation from surrounding organs. It is also the first experimental study to provide measurements of the inhomogeneous deformations of the USLs during loading along their main textit{in vivo} loading direction, revealing that the USLs may behave as auxetic structures. The fourth and final chapter presents preliminary findings on novel imaging applications to characterize the evolving structure of the USLs before, during, and after tensile pulling along the ligaments' main textit{in vivo} axis of loading. Rat USLs were excised using the proposed novel dissection method and pulled uniaxially as was performed in the previous chapter. Before and after mechanical testing, second harmonic generation (SHG) was used to image collagen and muscle within the three anatomical regions of the USLs. During mechanical testing, OCT was used to collect out-of-plane images of the cervical/intermediate regions of the USL specimens, resulting in 3D volume scans of the regions. SHG images showed the USLs to have complex microstructures with significant wavy collagen bundles interwoven with muscle bundles. Preliminary observation of the microstructure during testing revealed interwoven sections of tissue with collagenous fibers that reoriented in all directions illustrating how the USLs may expand laterally during uniaxial loading, causing the auxetic properties documented in the previous chapter. Though more quantitative work remains to be done, the findings presented in this dissertation improve our understanding of how the USLs deform with increasing load, such as what occurs during pregnancy. Together, these studies serve as a springboard for future investigations on the supportive function of the USLs in animal models by offering guidelines on testing methods that capture their complex mechanical behavior. / Doctor of Philosophy / The uterosacral ligaments (USLs) are important anatomical structures that support the uterus and vagina and are often used to restore the support of pelvic organs during surgeries for pelvic organ prolapse. These surgeries often result in poor outcomes, demonstrating the need for new surgical approaches and graft materials. Due to their supportive role, the mechanical properties of the USLs are important for their physiological function, and they must be investigated to improve current treatment strategies for pelvic organ prolapse. To this end, we designed new equipment, dissection, and testing methods to characterize the mechanical behavior of the USLs using swine and rats as animal models. We provided the first three-dimensional characterization of time-dependent deformations of swine USLs as they were pulled along their two physiological loading directions using advanced imaging methods, including digital image correlation and optical coherence tomography. We isolated the USLs from rats with their anatomical attachments and mechanically tested them along their main physiological loading direction, reporting the first mechanical data on the rat USLs in isolation from surrounding organs. Finally, we used the advanced imaging techniques optical second harmonic generation microscopy and optical coherence tomography to determine how the microstructure (e.g., collagen and muscle) of the rat USLs evolves before, during, and after mechanical testing. These findings advance our understanding of the three-dimensional, nonlinear, heterogeneous, elastic, and viscoelastic deformations of the USLs. Our work may serve as a springboard for future investigations on the supportive function of the USLs by offering guidelines on testing methods that capture their complex mechanical behavior.

Lightweighting demands have been achieved by third generation (3G) Advanced High Strength Steels (AHSSs) by a means of increased strength. The challenge faced in doing so, however, is in ensuring that ductility and crashworthiness is efficiently retained. Key methods in which automotive research has been invested to achieve this strength-ductility balance is by microalloying to promote grain refinement, the introduction of precipitates, and the effective use of plasticity enhancing mechanisms. Specifically, the ability to tailor the stability of retained austenite during deformation has been crucial in manipulating the strength-to-ductility ratio of 3G AHSSs using the Transformation Induced Plasticity (TRIP) effect. On the other hand, dual phase (DP) (i.e: non-TRIP-assisted steels) continue to be most significantly manufactured due to their robust thermomechanical processing but are also compromised by their poor damage tolerance. Hence, considerable reports are available regarding the damage tolerance of DP steels, but the ability for the volume expansion associated with the austenite-to-martensite transformation to suppress damage evolution and enhance a steel’s local formability has not yet been thoroughly investigated. Nonetheless, the damage processes that lead to fracture in 3G AHSSs are complex. A full understanding of the underlying phenomena requires a careful assessment of the strain partitioning amongst phases, how the microstructure evolves with strain and how damage, in the form of voids and micro-cracks, nucleates and grows. This can only be accomplished by applying a range of methodologies, including microscopic Digital Image Correlation (µDIC), X-ray Computed Microtomography (µXCT), Electron Backscattered Diffraction (EBSD) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD), all of which can be tracked as deformation proceeds. This PhD thesis uses a novel post µDIC data processing technique to prove that a reduction in strain gradient, linked to the evolution Geometrically Necessary Dislocations (GNDs), at dissimilar phase interfaces is attainable with vanadium-microalloying and with use of the TRIP effect. A local strain gradient post µDIC data processing technique was developed and first applied on 3G DP steels to show that the microcompatibility between ferrite and martensite directly at the interface is considerably improved with vanadium-microalloying. This in turn microscopically explains this DP steel’s increased local formability/damage tolerance with vanadium micro-additions. Moreover, when applying this novel µDIC technique on two other 3G experimental steels of interest, an ultrahigh strength Quench & Partition (Q&P) steel and a continuous galvanizing line (CGL)-compatible Medium-Mn (med-Mn) steel, an even slower evolution of microstrain gradients at dissimilar phase interfaces was observed. This indicates that, although vanadium-microalloying can improve the damage tolerance of a DP steel, its ability to achieve the ultrahigh strengths is a direct result of the severe inhibition of dislocation motion at dissimilar phase boundaries. Eventually, at high strains, these local strain gradients cannot be maintained and results in premature damage nucleation. By comparison, at such high strains, distinct evidence of damage nucleation was not apparent in the 3G TRIP-assisted steels which is the result of a slow strain gradient evolution delayed by the effective use of TRIP. This finding triggered a further investigation into isolating the impact the rate of TRIP exhaustion has on damage development. By intercritically annealing this prototype med-Mn steel (0.15C-5.8Mn-1.8Al-0.71Si) with a martensitic starting microstructure, within a narrow temperature interval (from 665 to 710°C), it was possible to make significant changes in the steel’s rate of TRIP exhaustion without making considerable changes to its physical microstructure. This steel exhibits the largest true strain at fracture (ɛf = 0.61), meets U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) mechanical targets (28,809 MPa%), and shows sustained monotonic work hardening when intercritically annealed at an intermediate IA temperature of 685°C for 120s. In addition, this IA condition showed optimal damage tolerance properties as an abundance of voids nucleated during its tensile deformation, but their growth was suppressed by prolonging TRIP over a large strain range. There is reason to believe that the heterogeneous distribution of austenite and Mn throughout this 685°C IA condition compared to the other two enabled its suppressed TRIP kinetics and in turn improved damage tolerance. The impact that changes in stress-state, from a stress triaxiality of 0.33-0.89, has on microstrain partitioning, TRIP kinetics and damage evolution was tested on this med-Mn at its 685°C IA condition. With the machining of notches on tensile specimens, it was seen that a high stress triaxiality (0.74-0.89) accelerated the rate of TRIP, whereas the introduction of shear, through a misaligned notched specimen design, delayed TRIP kinetics. The change in mean stress imposed by the notches was deemed to have played an active role in TRIP exhaustion during the material’s tensile deformation. A unique electropolishing micro-speckle patterning technique was applied to show that the amount of strain that can be accommodated by the steel’s the polygonal ferrite-tempered martensitic regions are considerably impacted by external modifications in stress-state. While damages studies using different such notched tensile geometries revealed that once a critical void size is reached in this med-Mn steel, coalescence proceeds at an increasing, exponential rate up to fracture. It continues to remain a challenge to quantify the effects microstrain partitioning, TRIP kinetics and damage evolution separately, opening new avenues for future experimental and modeling investigations. / Thesis / Candidate in Philosophy / A lot of research up to now has been invested in the automotive industry to create steels that are lightweight, strong and show improved crashworthiness. The means by which this has been achieved is with the use of innovative processing routes to manufacture and implement Advanced High Strength Steels (AHSSs) in a vehicle’s body-in-white. Nonetheless, the constant global pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has eventually driven research to a third-generation class of ultrahigh strength, lightweight AHSSs. These steels retain the weight savings of their second-generation counterparts but are more cost-effective to manufacture and can be adapted to current industrial line capabilities. Considerable work has been done to enable the manufacturing of 3G steels, yet the steel characteristics which underpin fracture, thereby affecting the crashworthiness of these steels, continues to be weakly understood. As such, at a microscopic scale, this thesis uses three different promising 3G AHSSs candidates to evaluate the impact their unique steel characteristics has on the ability to resist damage evolution and fracture.

PR-2930 was developed by PPG Industries, Inc. to meet the challenging performance requirements of MIL-PRF-32662 Group-I-classified adhesives. PR-2930 is a high-strength, high-toughness, epoxy-based adhesive intended for automotive and aerospace applications. As PR-2930 functions as a structural adhesive, quantification of its mechanical properties and limit-states is a necessary task for designing joints bonded with the adhesive. The combination of both strength and ductility results in material non-linearities, making experimental characterization and numerical analyses more challenging. This work explores the quantification of fracture energy for PR-2930 bonded joints. Fracture can occur in one of three different modes, or in some combination. Many practical adhesive joints fail in the mixed-mode region involving both opening (mode I) and shearing (mode II) displacements. Mode I fracture was evaluated with double cantilever beam (DCB) tests, mode II fracture was characterized by end-notched flexure (ENF) tests, and varying degrees of mixed mode I/II fracture were assessed through single leg bend (SLB), single-lap joint (SLJ), and asymmetric DCB and SLB tests. Test specimens were fabricated by bonding Al 2024-T3 adherends, ranging from 1.6 mm to 25.4 mm thick, with a 0.25 mm thick PR-2930 adhesive layer. Digital image correlation (DIC) was used to experimentally measure local displacements and surface strains on the adherends. Standard data-reduction methods often used to determine fracture energies of bonded joint specimens were used to numerically analyze test results. These methods included the Corrected Beam Theory (CBT), the Compliance-Based Beam Method (CBBM), and the Paris and Paris J-Integral approach. Linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) conditions must be valid to correctly apply these methods, however plastic deformations were observed in some adherends. Drawbacks of these approaches and their validity for analyzing PR-2930 joints were discussed. To account for non-linearities, more advanced numerical analysis was performed using finite element analysis (FEA) with cohesive zone models (CZMs) to model the adhesive layer. CZM parameters such as fracture energies and traction separation law (TSL) shapes were determined from experimental data and published literature. Results from CZMs were compared to experimental load, displacement, and strain data. Recommended TSLs for mode I and mode II fracture were formed in this work as well as a mixed-mode relationship using a Benzeggagh-Kenane damage evolution law. More ideal analytical methods were suggested to simplify analysis of joints using the same or similar material compositions. / M.S. / Structural adhesives are used to safely transmit loads in our furniture, automobiles, aircraft, and buildings. PR-2930 is a newly developed epoxy that exhibits top-of-the-line strength and ductility. To safely design joints utilizing PR-2930, the bonding material and its limit states must be defined. The most pertinent mechanical limit state for adhesively bonded joints is its resistance to fracture, also known as fracture toughness. Fracture often occurs due to a combination of opening (mode I) or shearing (mode II) displacements. In this work, standard and novel advanced fracture characterization techniques are employed and subsequently compared. Adhesive joints using a 0.25 mm layer thickness are bonded to Al 2024-T3 adherends varying from 1.6 mm to 25.4 mm of thickness and tested in quasistatic conditions. Mathematical models of mode I, mode II, and combined mode I/II stress displacement responses (AKA a traction-separation laws) of PR-2930 are developed and compared with experimental data. Future experimental and numerical methods for fracture analysis of structural adhesives are discussed.

Environmental fluctuations in operating fuel cells impose significant biaxial stresses in the constrained proton exchange membranes (PEM). The PEM's ability to withstand cyclic environment-induced stresses plays an important role in membrane integrity and consequently, fuel cell durability. In this thesis, pressure loaded blister tests are used to study the mechanical durability of Gore-Select® series 57 over a range of times, temperatures, and loading histories. Ramped pressure tests are used with a linear viscoelastic analog to Hencky's classical solution for a pressurized circular membrane to estimate biaxial burst strength values. Biaxial strength master curves are constructed using traditional time-temperature superposition principle techniques and the associated temperature shift factors show good agreement when compared with shifts obtained from other modes of testing on the material. Investigating a more rigorous blister stress analysis becomes nontrivial due to the substantial deflections and thinning of the membrane. To further improve the analysis, the digital image correlation (DIC) technique is used to measure full-field displacements under ramped and constant pressure loading. The measured displacements are then used to validate the constitutive model and methods of the finite element analysis (FEA). With confidence in the FEA, stress histories of constant pressure tests are used to develop linear damage accumulation and residual strength based lifetime prediction models. Robust models, validated by successfully predicting fatigue failures, suggest the ability to predict failures under any given stress history whether mechanically or environmentally induced - a critical step in the effort to predict fuel cell failures caused by membrane mechanical failure. / Master of Science

While machine perfusion of explanted kidneys is theoretically superior to standard cold storage, it may damage potential transplants unless machine-associated swelling is controlled. This thesis presents the effects of perfusate tonicity on renal swelling during hypothermic machine perfusion. Phosphate buffered solution (PBS) and PBS supplemented with 5% w/v mannitol were used as isotonic (289 mOsm/kg) and hypertonic (568 mOsm/kg) perfusates, respectively. Porcine kidney pairs were procured then flushed and machine perfused; the right and left kidneys were assigned opposite perfusates. An experimental methodology was developed to image porcine kidneys undergoing hypothermic machine perfusion (5 deg C) for 15 minutes followed by 120 minutes without perfusion to quantify surface displacement (renal swelling) with digital image correlation (DIC). Surface displacement and size (thickness) were compared between the right and left kidneys of each pair. In addition, discharged renal fluids (i.e., filtrate and venous outflow) and biopsies were collected. On average, kidneys perfused with the mannitol solution were smaller in size than the kidneys perfused with PBS (p < 0.05) at the start and end of each experiment; however, there was no significant difference between the renal sizes at the end of the 15 minute perfusion interval (p > 0.05). Thus, hypertonic and isotonic perfusates yielded different renal swelling outcomes (i.e., physical size and surface displacement), which suggests that perfusate tonicity influences renal swelling. These experiments are the first time ex vivo renal surface displacement measurements have been collected during machine perfusion. / Master of Science / There is a chronic shortage of transplantable organs in the United States. As more marginal donor organs are being used to increase the number of transplantable organs, there has been a renewed interest in machine perfusion for organ preservation. While machine perfusion of explanted kidneys is theoretically superior to standard cold storage, it may damage potential transplants unless machine-associated swelling is controlled. This thesis presents the effects of perfusate tonicity on renal swelling during hypothermic machine perfusion. Isotonic and hypertonic solutions were used as perfusates. Porcine kidney pairs were procured then flushed and machine perfused; the right and left kidneys were assigned opposite perfusates. An experimental methodology was developed to image porcine kidneys undergoing hypothermic machine perfusion (5 °C) for 15 minutes followed by 120 minutes without perfusion to quantify surface displacement (renal swelling) with digital image correlation (DIC). DIC is a non-contact technique for measuring shape and displacement in three-dimensions. The results from these experiments show that hypertonic and isotonic fluids yielded different renal swelling outcomes (i.e., physical size and surface displacement), which suggests that tonicity influences renal swelling. This indicates that perfusate tonicity is an important factor for improving renal preservation with machine perfusion, which may increase the number of organs available for transplantation.

Thermomechanically bonded spunbond nonwoven fabrics contain discrete bonds that are formed by melted and fused fibers. Through equi-biaxial tensile testing and simultaneous image capture, the mechanical response of individual bonds was studied through loading in the preferential fiber direction, the machine direction, and in the direction that is perpendicular, the cross direction, of the fabric web. Independent biaxial force and displacement data were collected and analyzed, and the maximum force and stiffness of the bonds in the machine and cross directions were found to be statistically different. After scaling the maximum force and stiffness by a relative basis weight parameter, a fiber orientation parameter, and the width of the bond itself, the peak force and stiffness in the machine and cross directions were found to no longer be statistically different. This indicates that basis weight, fiber orientation, and bond size dictate the biaxial mechanical behavior of the bonds. Furthermore, significant fiber debonding was observed in all the bonds tested, effectively suggesting bond disintegration into the individual component fibers during testing. Digital image correlation, using the captured images, was utilized to calculate local and average Eulerian strains of the bond during the initial stages of the test. The strain experienced by the bonds in the machine direction was always positive and increasing as the biaxial load increased. The strain in the cross direction, however, experienced increasing and decreasing strain. Local strain maps revealed the highly inhomogeneous strain response of the bonds under biaxial loading. / Master of Science / For numerous industrial and consumer applications, such as the medical, automotive, packaging, and consumer goods, nonwoven fabrics are often thermomechanically bonded at discrete bond locations in patterns appropriate for the intended use. To produce the nonwoven, fibers are extruded onto a belt and the mat of fibers is passed through a calendar roll to form the thermomechanical bonds. As the fibers move on the belt, there is a preferential fiber direction parallel to the belt. Mechanical biaxial tensile tests were performed on nonwoven sheets in order to gain insight into the response parallel and perpendicular to the preferential fiber direction. Force and displacement data were collected and the maximum force and stiffness response parallel to the preferential fiber direction were found to be significantly higher than perpendicular to the preferential fiber direction. Strain measurements were also performed to examine the local strain of the bonds. Knowledge of the biaxial tensile behavior of bonds in nonwovens allows manufacturers to make informed decisions about the ultimate final application of the nonwoven.

Most strength grading machines on the European market use an averagemodulus of elasticity (MOE), estimated on a relatively large distance along awood member, as the indicating property (IP) to bending strength. Theaccuracy of such grading machines in terms of coefficient of determination israther low at R2 ≈ 0.5. This research is motivated by a desire to increase theaccuracy of the strength grading in the industry today. The aim of the presentstudy is to contribute knowledge of local variation in bending stiffness/MOEwith high resolution and thus locate weak sections due to stiffness reducingfeatures (the most important is knots) for structural timber.The present study introduces three methods that involve structural dynamics,classical beam theory and optical measurement to assess local wood stiffness.Specifically: The dynamic method, in which a wood member is treated as an ordinaryphysical structure and the local stiffness is studied by exploring itsdynamic properties. In Method II, a bending MOE profile is established based on local fibre angle information. The local fibre orientation is detected through highresolution laser scanning based on the tracheid effect.  For Method III, a bending MOE profile is established using surfacestrain information under four-point bending. A high resolution strainfield is obtained using the digital image correlation (DIC) technique. From the present study, the two latter methods are more favourable inevaluating the local stiffness within a piece of structural timber. Moreover, thestudy reveals that the established bending MOE profiles using the two lattermethods, i.e. based on information of the local fibre angle and surface strain,agree reasonably well. However, for some patterns of knot clusters, the localbending MOE, calculated on the basis of fibre angles, is significantly higherthan the local bending MOE estimated on the basis of surface strain. / De flesta av de utrustningar för hållfasthetssortering som utnyttjas på deneuropeiska marknaden använder ett medelvärde på elasticitetsmodulen(MOE), beräknat på en relativt stor längd av en sågad planka, som indikativparameter (IP). Sådan hållfasthetssortering ger en noggrannhet i termer avförklaringsgrad på R2 ≈ 0.5, vilket är ganska lågt. Arbetet i denna studiemotiveras av en önskan att öka noggrannheten i hållfasthetssorteringen. Syftetmed denna studie är att bidra med kunskap om lokala variationer iböjstyvhet/MOE med hög upplösning och att lokalisera veka snitt (där kvistarär den viktigaste försvagande faktorn) för konstruktionsvirke.Den aktuella studien introducerar tre metoder som omfattar strukturdynamik,klassisk balkteori och optisk mätning vid bedömningen av lokal styvhet imaterialet. Specifikt:  Metod I, där den lokala böjstyvheten studerades genom de dynamiskaegenskaperna såsom egenfrekvens och modform.  Metod II, där en MOE profil beräknas på basis av information om lokalafibervinklar på ett virkesstyckes ytor. Den lokala fiberorienteringen mätsmed högupplöst laserskanning baserad på den så kallade trakeideffekten.  Metod III, där en MOE-profil fastställdes med hjälp avtöjningsinformation för en hel flatsida av en planka belastad med konstantböjmoment. Det högupplösta töjningsfältet erhölls med hjälp av teknikför Digital Image Correlation (DIC). Studien visar att de två sistnämnda metoderna är mycket lämpade för attutvärdera den lokala styvheten i ett virkesstycke. Dessutom visar studien att deMOE-profiler som togs fram med hjälp av de två sistnämnda metoderna,vilka baseras på information om lokala fibervinklar och töjningsfältet på ytan,stämde överens för större delen av virkesstycket. För visa kvistgrupper kan dock den lokala böjstyvheten högre med metoden baserad på fibervinklar.

The context of this thesis is a research project focused on the investigation of a renewable biopolymer-poly(lactic acid) (PLA) as a potential replacement of petroleum-based polymers in advanced nanocomposites reinforced with Microfibrillated cellulose (MFC). MFC is extracted from wood, which is a renewable, sustainable, carbon neutral and recyclable material. This advanced MFC-PLA bio- based composite material is expected to allow for the substitution of petroleum-based plastics in various markets and applications. The specific objectives of the thesis are: 1) to describe the morphological characterization of MFC used for prototype MFC-PLA composites, and 2) to determine the mechanical properties of the prototype MFC-PLA nanocomposites formulation generated in form of thin transparent films. In order to meet this objective it was necessary to: 2.1) develop a methodology for optical strain measurement in transparent thin films; and 2.2) develop an effective methodology for obtaining multiple mechanical properties from small number of specimens of prototype materials subjected to tensile tests. Two types of MFC, one obtained by courtesy of University of Maine and the other purchased from Innventia AB company, were investigated under a field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The micrographs obtained from FESEM showed that both types of MFC were of complex hierarchical structures, which did not allow qualitative characterization of the morphological features in terms of particulate composites nor cellular solids. Since prototype formulations of MFC-PLA composites were generated in small amounts (typically one Petri dish) in a form of thin transparent films, there was a need for quick and efficient assessment of their key mechanical properties that would provide feedback and guide further prototyping work. An optical measurement method based on digital image correlation (DIC) principle was developed to measure the deformation and strains of the tensile film samples. In our study, the accuracy and precision of the measurement of deformation were ±1.5 µm and 0.4 µm respectively. The corresponding accuracy and precision in terms of strains were ±30 µstrain and 75 µstrain respectively. This method can be successfully used to determine the critical mechanical properties, such as elastic modulus, toughness and Poisson's ratio, of transparent thin films by a single tensile test, all of which require precise strain measurement. In addition, this optical measurement method makes it possible to significantly simplify the testing for measuring essential work of fracture (EWF), an important material property of thin transparent films. In traditional method, measurement of EWF requires large amount of notched specimens. However, our study showed that only a small amount of notched specimens were needed to measure the EWF of a material. This method could not be successfully used to determine EWF from un-notched tensile specimens. / Graduation date: 2012 / Folder labeled "UMaine MFC aerogel" contains SEM micrographs of MFC from University of Maine (referred as type A MFC in the thesis). Two pieces of leaf-like flakes at different locations were cut by Focused Ion Beam (FIB) in order to observe the internal structure of the flakes. Folder "FIB_01 ": a series of SEM micrographs of FIB-cut flake at different magnification levels. Folder "FIB_02 ": another series of SEM micrographs of FIB-cut flake at various magnification levels. Folder labeled "Swedish MFC aerogel" contains SEM micrographs of MFC from Innventia AB company, Sweden (referred as type B MFC in the thesis). There is a series of SEM micrographs of type B MFC aerogel at various magnification levels in this folder.

Much of North America’s reinforced concrete infrastructure is reaching the end of its service life and careful inspection and assessment is required to ensure the appropriate capacity is maintained in these structures. The research conducted herein seeks to further the development of two new sensor technologies: fibre optic strain sensors and digital image correlation, which have the potential to provide comprehensive performance data for structures to a level of accuracy previously not possible. The research involves determining the accuracy of these sensor systems to monitor both strain and crack widths in reinforced concrete compared to conventional techniques, such as electrical resistance strain gauges. Preliminary work was also undertaken on correcting the sensor results for temperature. It was determined that temperature variations in the range of +21 °C to 20 °C, result in significant strain errors for both sensor systems. Once the results obtained from the sensors systems are corrected for temperature, crack widths are monitored in four small-scale reinforced concrete tension specimens, and strain and crack width behaviour is monitored in four full-scale beams under four point bending. One of the major problems faced when using the digital image correlation technique is out of plane movement which results in significant error. Techniques to lower this error are addressed. In addition, obtaining a more robust understanding of the effects of temperature on crack widths, stiffness, strength and short term creep behaviour of reinforced concrete elements is explored to improve structural monitoring and numerical models used for analysis. Four full-scale beams, two at room temperature and two at 20 °C, were loaded to failure under four point bending. A comparison of the room temperature and low temperature test results show that the cracks tend to close up at lower temperatures in members that are free to expand and contract. This behaviour results in a potential increase in shear capacity for beams at lower temperatures. The low temperature beams also saw a minor increase in strength, but saw no noticeable increase in stiffness. Lastly, short term creep behaviour was reduced in the low temperature beams once the formation of ice occurred. / Thesis (Master, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2012-10-31 11:08:32.631