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Master of Science / Department of Civil Engineering / Asadollah Esmaeily / Realistic strength assessment of reinforced concrete structural elements, especially columns in bridges and tall buildings is a critical need not only at design time, but also when an accurate evaluation of the strength is needed for decisions such as retrofit or replacement of an existing structure. Assessment of the flexural strength of a column under a specific axial load level is usually done by constructing the axial force-bending moment interaction response curve of the section. This assessment can be done using the code procedure. However, the code does not consider the confinement effect, and is based on the “stress block” assumption for a pre-assumed failure strain for concrete. It has been shown by various experimental and analytical studies that the performance of a reinforced concrete section is affected by different factors such loading history and material behavior. A realistic performance assessment should consider not only proper models for the monotonic and cyclic response of the material, but also analytical methods and procedures that can capture the effects of loading pattern and provide realistic predictions of the section capacity. Accuracy of the analytical methods in strength assessment of reinforced concrete sections was explored in a comparative study. These methods were compared and validated against the existing experimental data. The factors considered in these analytical procedures, included the effect of confinement, and the method employed in assessment of the axial-force-bending moment interaction response of a column section. The experimental data were collected from tests conducted on circular and rectangular columns under a constant axial load. It has been shown that the axial force-bending moment interaction curve, constructed based on the moment-curvature response of a section using a more detailed analytical method such as fiber-model, considering the confining effect of the lateral reinforcement, represents the most realistic and optimal response of a cross section.

With the development of modern industrial engineering technology, increasing demands of multifunctional materials drive the exploration of new applications of electrical conductive polymer nanocomposites (CPNCs). Toward applications of smart materials, sensing performance of CPNCs has gained immense attention in the last decade. Among them, strain sensors, based on piezoresistive behavior of CPNCs, are of high potential to carry out structural health monitoring (SHM) tasks. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) is highly thought to be potential for SHM applications in civil infrastructures like bridges and railway systems, mechanical systems, automobiles, windgenetors and airplanes, etc. because of its combination of flexibility, low weight, low thermal conductivity, high chemical corrosion resistance, and heat resistance, etc. This work aimed to achieve high piezoresistive sensitivity and wide measurable strain ranges in carbon nanotube based poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) nanocomposites. Four strategies were introduced to tune the sensitivity of the relative electrical resistance change (ΔR/R0) versus the applied tensile strain for such nanocomposites. Issues like the influence of dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on initial resistivity of PVDF nanocomposites and conductive network structure of MWCNTs, as well as piezoresistive properties of the nanocomposites, were addressed when using differently functionalized MWCNTs (strategy 1). In addition, the effects of crystalline phases of PVDF, mechanical ductility of its nanocomposites and interfacial interactions between PVDF and fillers on piezoresistive properties of PVDF nanocomposites were studied. Using hybrid fillers, to combine MWCNTs with conductive carbon black (strategy 2) or isolating organoclay (strategy 3), piezoresistive sensitivity and sensing strain ranges of PVDF nanocomposites could be tuned. Besides, both higher sensitivity and larger measurable strain ranges are achieved simultaneously in PVDF/MWCNT nanocomposites when using the ionic liquid (IL) BMIM+PF6- as interface linker/modifier (strategy 4). The detailed results and highlights are summarized as following: 1. The surface functionalization of MWCNTs influences their dispersion in the PVDF matrix, the PVDF-nanotube interactions and crystalline phases of PVDF, which finally results in different ΔR/R0 and the strain at the yield point (possibly the upper limit of sensing strain ranges). As a whole, regarding to the fabrication of strain sensors based on PVDF/MWCNT nanocomposite, in contrast to pristine CNTs, CNTs-COOH and CNTs-OH, CNT-NH2 filled PVDF nanocomposites possess not only high piezoresistive sensitivity but also wide measurable strain ranges. Gauge factor, i.e. GF, is ca.14 at 10% strain (strain at the yield point) for the nanocomposites containing 0.75% CNTs-NH2. 2. Using hybrid fillers of CNTs and CB to construct strain-susceptible network structure (conductive pathway consisting of string-like array of CNTs and CB particles) enhances the piezoresistive sensitivity of PVDF nanocomposites, which is tightly associated with the CNT content in hybrid fillers and mCNTs/mCB. The best piezoresistive effect is achieved in PVDF nanocomposites with fixed CNT content lower than the ΦC (0.53 wt. %) of PVDF/CNT nanocomposites. 3. ΔR/R0 and possible sensing strain ranges of PVDF nanocomposites were tailored by changing crystalline phases of PVDF and PVDF-MWCNT interactions. Besides, the increase of the strain at yield point in PVDF nanocomposites filled by CNTs-OH is more obvious than that in the nanocomposites containing the same amount of clay and CNTs. The nanocomposite consisting of 0.25% clay and 0.75% CNTs-OH have ca. 70% increase of the strain at the yield point (17%) and the GF at this strain is ca. 14, while GF for the nanocomposite filled by only 0.75% CNTs-OH is ca. 5 at 10% strain. 4. IL BMIM+PF6- served as interface linker for PVDF and MWCNTs, which significantly increased the values of ΔR/R0 and strain at the yield point of PVDF nanocomposites simultaneously. Besides, this increases with increasing IL content. With the aid of IL, the dispersion of nanotube and toughness of the nanocomposites are greatly improved, but the electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites is decreased with the incorporation of IL, which is related to the IL modified PVDF-MWCNT interface connection or bonding. GF reaches ca. 60 at 21% strain (the strain at the yield point) for PVDF nanocomposites filled by 10% IL premixed 2%CNTs-COOH.

An increased environmental awareness, legal demands and the large part of total costs attributable to fuel cost are all incentives for the automotive industry to reduce fuel consumption. The optimal driveline to enable this reduction depends on the operational conditions and the available infrastructure. Moreover, special care is needed when developing the driveline isolators, since the demands on noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) are the same regardless of driveline. To this end, computer aided calculations can be used in order to evaluate a large number of configurations. However, these calculations are only, at best, as good as the material models employed. In the foreseeable future, rubber with reinforcing fillers will be used in vibration isolators in order to obtain the desired properties of these components. However, the stiffness and damping of rubber with reinforcing fillers are highly non-linear functions, and the available material models in commercial software and in the literature are often insufficient. Therefore, a finite strain viscoplastic material model is derived in the time domain and implemented as a user defined material model in Abaqus Explicit. The model captures the strain amplitude and frequency dependency of the storage and loss modulus for a carbon black filled natural rubber. The model is accurate over a wide range of shear strain amplitudes and frequencies, 0.2-50 % and 0.5-20 Hz, respectively, using only 5 material parameters. In addition, the model correctly captures the response from bimodal excitations. The implementation in Abaqus Explicit enables component characteristics to be evaluated early in the development phase, with material parameters derived from simple test specimens. The improved accuracy of simulations of these components can aid engineers develop more optimized solutions faster than with conventional methods. / En ökad miljömedvetenhet, juridiska krav och den stora delen av de totala kostnaderna som kan hänföras till bränslekostnader är alla incitament för fordonsindustrin att minska bränsleförbrukningen. Den optimala drivlinan för att möjliggöra denna minskning beror på driftförhållanden och den tillgängliga infrastrukturen. Dessutom ställs höga krav på utvecklingen av drivlineisolatorer, eftersom kraven på buller och vibrationer (NVH) är desamma oavsett drivlina. För detta ändamål kan datorstödda beräkningar användas för att utvärdera ett stort antal konfigurationer. Dessa beräkningar är, i bästa fall, endast så bra som de använda materialmodellerna. Inom en överskådlig framtid kommer gummi med förstärkande fyllmedel användas i vibrationsisolatorer för att erhålla de önskade egenskaperna hos dessa komponenter. Men styvheten och dämpningen i gummi med förstärkande fyllmedel är kraftigt icke-linjära funktioner, och de tillgängliga materialmodellerna i kommersiella programvaror och i litteraturen är ofta otillräckliga. Därför är en viskoplastisk materialmodell för finita deformationer framtagen i tidsdomänen och implementeras som ett användardefinierat material i Abaqus Explicit. Modellen fångar töjningsamplitud- och frekvensberoendet av lagrings- och förlustmodulen för ett kimröksfyllt naturgummi. Den är korrekt över ett brett intervall av skjuvtöjningsamplituder och frekvenser, 0.2-50% respektive 0.5-20 Hz, och kräver endast 5 materialparametrar. Dessutom fångar modeller responsen från bimodala excitationer. Implementeringen i Abaqus Explicit gör att komponentegenskaper kan utvärderas tidigt i utvecklingsfasen, med materialparametrar som härrör från enkla provkroppar. Den förbättrade noggrannheten i simuleringar av dessa komponenter kan hjälpa ingenjörer att utveckla mer optimerade lösningar snabbare än med konventionella metoder. / <p>QC 20160406</p>

The shoulder joint is a multi-axis synovial ball and socket joint, by having a loose connection it provides a wide degree of freedom; however this means the joint lacks robustness and is prone to damage most commonly from shoulder dislocations. A rotator cuff tear causes major problems in allowing the arm to be lifted beyond a 90˚ abduction position. It is common that this insufficiency aggravates arthritis problems that may have occurred due the rotator cuff tear problem. The study focuses on investigating, describing and quantifying the implant geometric properties to evaluate the joint contact characteristics and use the outcome in redesign the implant. The investigation presents results of finite element analysis on a heavy loading condition on a Verso (reverse) shoulder implant which is validated using experimental data on the same prosthesis. The results are validated within a 5% error margin. A Verso implant is modelled using MIMICS (materialise) and imported into ABAQUS (Simulia, Providence, USA) to analyse the distribution of stress, strain and displacement across the Humerus and Scapula. Details of interaction, boundary conditions, loads and material properties are all obtained from research and applied to the model to portray realistic behaviour. The resulting stress, strain and displacement from this simulation are indicated to show the magnitude and distribution across the entire bone region. This validates the benefits of a Verso implant compared to conventional and long stemmed reverse shoulder implants, as well as provide a basis from which improved designs can be built upon and allow further accurate methods to be developed in analysing shoulder implants effectively.

OBJECTIVE:Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) hypertrophy and proliferation occur in response to strain-induced local and systemic inflammatory cytokines and growth factors which may contribute to hypertension, atherosclerosis, and restenosis. We hypothesize VSMC strain, modeling normotensive arterial pressure waveforms in vitro, results in attenuated proliferative and increased hypertrophic responses 48 hrs post-strain.METHODS:Using Flexcell Bioflex Systems we determined the morphological, hyperplastic and hypertrophic responses of non-strained and biomechanically strained cultured rat A7R5 VSMC. We measured secretion of nitric oxide, key cytokine/growth factors and intracellular mediators involved in VSMC proliferation via fluorescence spectroscopy and protein microarrays. We also investigated the potential roles of VEGF on VSMC strain-induced proliferation.RESULTS:Protein microarrays revealed significant increases in VEGF secretion in response to 18 hours mechanical strain, a result that ELISA data corroborated. Apoptosis-inducing nitric oxide (NO) levels also increased 43% 48 hrs post-strain. Non-strained cells incubated with exogenous VEGF did not reproduce the antimitogenic effect. However, anti-VEGF reversed the antimitogenic effect of mechanical strain. Antibody microarrays of strained VSMC lysates revealed MEK1, MEK2, phospo-MEK1T385, T291, T298, phospho-Erk1/2T202+Y204/T185+T187, and PKC isoforms expression were universally increased, suggesting a proliferative/inflammatory signaling state. Conversely, VSMC strain decreased expression levels of Cdk1, Cdk2, Cdk4, and Cdk6 by 25-50% suggesting a partially inhibited proliferative signaling cascade.CONCLUSIONS:Subjecting VSMC to cyclic biomechanical strain in vitro promotes cell hypertrophy while attenuating cellular proliferation. We also report an upregulation of MEK and ERK activation suggestive of a proliferative phenotype. Hhowever, the proliferative response appears to be aborogated by enhanced antimitogenic cytokine VEGF, NO secretion and downregulation of Cdk expression. Although exogenous VEGF alone is not sufficient to promote the quiescent VSMC phenotype, we provide evidence suggesting that strain is a necessary component to induce VSMC response to the antimitogenic effects of VEGF. Taken together these data indicate that VEGF plays a critical role in mechanical strain-induced VSMC proliferation and vessel wall remodeling. Whether VEGF and/or NO inhibit signaling distal to Erk 1/2 is currently under investigation.

This work presents an effective methodology for measuring the depth-resolved 3D full-field deformation of semitransparent, light scattering soft tissues such as vertebrate eye cornea. This was obtained by performing digital volume correlation on optical coherence tomography volume reconstructions of silicone rubber phantoms and porcine cornea samples. Both the strip tensile tests and the posterior inflation tests have been studied. Prior to these tests, noise effect and strain induced speckle decorrelation were first studied using experimental and simulation methods. The interpolation bias in the strain results has also been analyzed. Two effective approaches have been introduced to reduce the interpolation bias. To extract material constitutive parameters from the 3D full-field deformation measurements, the virtual fields method has been extended into 3D. Both manually defined virtual fields and the optimized piecewise virtual fields have been developed and compared with each other. Efforts have also been made in developing a method to correct the refraction induced distortions in the optical coherence tomography reconstructions. Tilt tests of different silicone rubber phantoms have been implemented to evaluate the performance of the refraction correction method in correcting the distorted reconstructions.

The work presented in this thesis investigates novel transducer implementations that take advantage of directional sensing and generation of acoustic waves. These transducers are conceived by exploiting a Fourier-based design methodology. The proposed devices find application in the broad field of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM), which is a very active research area devoted to the assessment of the structural integrity of critical components in aerospace, civil and mechanical systems. Among SHM schemes, Guided Waves (GWs) testing has emerged as a prominent option for inspection of plate-like structures using permanently attached piezoelectric transducers. GWs-based methods rely on the generation and sensing of elastic waves to evaluate structural integrity. They offer an effective method to estimate location, severity and type of damage. It is widely acknowledged among the GWs-SHM community that effective monitoring of structural health is facilitated by sensors and actuators designed with ad hoc engineered capabilities. The objective of this research is to design innovative piezoelectric transducers by specifying their electrode patterns in the Fourier domain. Taking advantage of the Fourier framework, transducer design procedures are outlined and tailored to relevant SHM applications, such as (i) directional actuation and sensing of GWs, (ii) simultaneous sensing of multiple strain components with a single device, and (iii) estimation of the location of impact sites on structural components. The proposed devices enable significant reductions in cost, hardware, and power requirements for advanced SHM schemes when compared to current technologies.

The need for efficient, lightweight armour solutions has never been so great as it is today. Increasing numbers of personnel, both military and civilian are being placed in an expanding variety of life-threatening situations, and we must recognise the responsibility to maximise their combat survivability. One way to help protect these people is to provide them with some form of armour. Advanced polymeric materials are finding an increasing range of industrial and defence applications. These materials have the potential to improve the performance of current armour systems, whilst also reducing their cost and weight. Polymers may be reinforced with the addition of nanofillers such as carbon nanotubes or graphene, to produce nanocomposites, an exciting emerging polymer technology. Nanomaterials have been shown to exhibit extraordinary strength, far higher than that of traditional armour materials. Nanocomposites have the possibility of being remarkable materials, with high strength and light weight. The work detailed in this report is an investigation into the mechanical properties of nanocomposites along with some novel blended polymer composites. Two compressive testing techniques have been used to carry out this investigation. The intermediate strain-rate Optical Drop-Weight, and the high strain-rate Split-Hopkinson Pressure Bar. The latter required some significant modifications in order to optimise it for use with low-density polymers. Ultimately, nanocomposites were found to behave virtually indistinguishably from the monolithic polymer matrices. Yield strengths and energy absorption characteristics remained inside the ordinary experimental scatter. Blended composites, in which a long chain length polymer is combined with a chemically similar polymer with a shorter chain length, proved to be more interesting. Yield strengths of these novel materials were increased over that of either constituent material, although energy absorption remained low.

To manage China’s growing demands of electricity, more and larger dams could be a part of the solution. It is important to evaluate and perform safety analysis for existing dams, in order to improve our understanding and knowledge about future dams. In this master thesis, a safety research of Longtan Dam on the Hongshui River in China was analysed. The main objectives in this research were to construct a 3D model and determine the critical points of large stress, strain and yield area in the dam for different cases.The factor of safety for sliding when primary loads were acting on the dam was calculated to be 0.50 for the non-overflow section of the dam and 0.48 for the overflow section. A safety factor against overturning was also calculated for the non-overflow and overflow section to 2.24 and 1.96 respectively. The results showed that the dam was safe from both sliding and overturning. The numerical results for distribution of stress, strain and yield area were simulated in 3D models by using ANSYS, a finite element program. Several cases for non-overflow and overflow sections of Longtan Dam were analysed for different heights and load combinations. For the first three cases where only self-weight was applied on the dam, high impacts of stress and strain were located at the dam heel, toe and at the largest maintenance tunnel of the dam. Appearance of plastic strain was also found around these areas. However, when primary loads were applied to the dam sections, the values of stress and strain became larger, especially in the toe area. In the last case when the dam was subjected to seismic activity, the distribution of stress and strain along the z-direction (along the dam) showed an uneven distribution, hence showing the importance of simulation in 3D.