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The objective of this study was to evaluate and develop an understanding of durability of an adhesive bonded system, for application in a future high speed civil transport (HSCT) aircraft structure. The system under study was comprised of Ti-6Al-4V metal adherends and a thermosetting polyimide adhesive, designated as FM-5, supplied by Cytec Engineered Materials, Inc. An approach based on fracture mechanics was employed to assess Ti-6Al-4V/FM-5 bond durability. Initially, wedge tests were utilized to find a durable surface pretreatment for the titanium adherends. Based on an extensive screening study, chromic acid anodization (CAA) was chosen as the standard pretreament for this research project. Double cantilever beam specimens (DCB) were then made and aged at 150° C, 177° C, and 204° C in three different environments; ambient atmospheric air (14.7 psia), and reduced air pressures of 2 psi air (13.8 KPa) and 0.2 psi air (1.38 KPa). Joints were aged for up to 18 months (including several intermediate aging times) in the above environments. The strain energy release rate (G) of the adhesive joints was monitored as a function of exposure time in the different environments. A 40% drop in fracture toughness was noted over the 18 month period, with the greatest degradation observed in samples aged at 204° C in ambient atmospheric air pressure. The loss in adhesive bond performance with time was attibutable to a combination of physical and chemical aging phenomena in the FM-5 resin, and possible degradation of the metal-adhesive interface(s). Several mechanical and material tests, performed on the bonded joints and neat FM-5 resin specimens, confirmed the above statement. It was also noted that physical aging could be "erased" by thermal rejuvenation, partially restoring the toughness of the FM-5 adhesive material. The FM-5 adhesive material displayed good chemical resistance towards organic solvents and other aircraft fluids such as jet fuel and hydraulic fluid. The results from the FM-5 adhesive and its bonded joints were compared and contrasted with VT Ultem and REGULUS polyimide adhesives. The FM-5 adhesive showed the best performance among the three adhesive systems. The effect of mode-mixity on the fracture toughness of the Ti-6Al-4V/FM-5 adhesive bonded system was also evaluated. DCB tests in conjunction with end-notched flexure (ENF) and mixed-mode flexure (MMF) tests, were used to fracture the bonded joints under pure mode I, pure mode II, and a combination of mode I and II loadings. The results showed that the mode I fracture toughness was twice as large as the mode II toughness. This was a rather surprising find, in sharp contrast to what several researchers have observed in the past. Our current understanding is that the crack path selection during the failure process plays a significant role in explaining this anomalous behavior. Finally, failure envelopes were generated for the titanium/FM-5 bonded system, both prior to and following thermal aging. These envelopes could serve as useful tools for engineers designing with Ti-6Al-4V/FM-5 bonds. / Ph. D.

No / An extensive study of the fibre orientation structures developed in a transverse ribbed plate during injection moulding, and the use of these structures to investigate the effect of local fibre orientation state on crack initiation resistance, is reported. The fibre orientation results for the ribbed plate, measured using large area image analysis system developed at Leeds University, showed that after an initial settling down period, the central core region, where the fibres are aligned perpendicular to the flow direction, decreased in size monotonically, with an associated monotonic increase in the outer shell regions, where the fibres are aligned preferentially along the injection direction. Interestingly, the level of orientation in the two regions remained almost constant: only the proportions of the two regions were found to change with flow length. Across the plate, close to the gate, the central core region was found to have a lens-like shape, while at the other end of the plate the core was thinner and also consistent in thickness across the sample width. The transverse rib was found to cause little disturbance to the fibre orientation of the base plate. The different proportions of the shell and core regions at different locations over the ribbed plate provided an ideal case to test the proposition of Friedrich that the crack resistance of a short fibre reinforced material depends on the number of fibres that are perpendicular to the crack tip. The impact test results gathered in this way confirmed this hypothesis of Friedrich.

Six poly(ether ketone ketone)/carbon composite panels were manufactured from powder coated towpreg. All six panels were initially processed using a hot press equipped with controlled cooling. Four of the panels were used to investigate the effect of cooling rate on crystallinity. A fifth panel was used to investigate the effect of annealing the composite after completion of the standard fabrication process. The sixth panel was used to investigate changes in toughness due to manufacturing towpreg with polymer that had been reclaimed from the towpreg fabrication system’s air cleaner. Cooling rates of 2°C/min, 4°C/min, 6°C/min, and 8°C/min resulted in composites with crystallinities of 33%, 27%, 24%, and 23%, respectively. The principal investigation of the effect of cooling rate on crystallinity and mode I and mode II strain energy release rates, G_Ic and G_IIc, respectively, showed that G_Ic and G_IIc values increase with increasing cooling rate. Comparison of the toughness values as a function of crystallinity showed that the dependence of toughness on crystallinity is approximately equivalent to the dependence of toughness on cooling rate. Comparison of the data from the annealed panel to that from the analogous principal panel showed that annealing increased the crystallinity and decreased the mode I strain energy release rate. There was no effect, however, on the mode II strain energy release rate. Comparison of the data from the panel made with reclaimed polymer to that from its analogous principal panel showed that the reclaimed polymer panel had equivalent crystallinity and G_Ic values. On the other hand, the G_IIc values in this panel were lower than in the analogous principal panel. / Master of Science

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a psycho-educational intervention program could support traumatised people to increase their mental toughness. Mental toughness is a well proven phenomenon in sports psychology as well as in leadership in the corporate world. I wanted to apply the use of mental toughness in trauma. Literature was consulted to understand the phenomena of mental toughness and trauma respectively. The corresponding aspects of mental toughness and trauma were selected for the literature review and many similarities between mental toughness and trauma were discovered. The corresponding aspects included action taking, the importance of the “self”, facing negativity and adversity, the importance of support systems, flexibility and adjustment, dealing with guilt and self-blame, the role of self-talk, people’s perceptions, goal-setting, commitment, helplessness / learned helplessness and dealing with stress. I used the corresponding aspects to compile a psycho-educational intervention programme to support traumatised persons to develop increased mental toughness that will support them to better deal with trauma. A valid and reliable psychometric instrument, the MTQ48 (Mental Toughness Questionnaire 48), has been successfully used to determine people’s mental toughness in sports psychology and in corporate management, but has never been tested before in supporting traumatised people. An action research design was employed, where both qualitative as well as quantitative methods were used. This is also known as a mixed research design. Eight traumatised people took part in the research which was presented weekly, as individual sessions, over eight weeks. Data collection methods included questionnaires, observation and individual therapy. The results of the study indicated that seven of the eight participants’ overall mental toughness increased after the intervention program, and four of the eight participants’ mental toughness components increased. As an additional benefit, all respondents indicated that they could better deal and cope with their trauma after the intervention program. The conclusion could be drawn that the psycho-educational intervention program was successful in supporting the traumatised participants to increase their mental toughness. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

The target of the ‘Green Overlays’ research was a cost effective, minimal disruption, sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to the wholesale demolition, removal and complete reconstruction of the existing structural concrete pavement. The important problem of flexural resistance for strengthening concrete pavements with structural overlays has been scrutinised. A new mix design method for steel fibre reinforced, roller compacted, polymer modified, bonded concrete overlay has been proposed. The mixes developed were characterized of high flexural strength and high bond strength with the old concrete substrate. ‘Placeability’ and ‘compactability’ of the mix were two dominant issues during laboratory investigation. An innovative approach for establishing the relationship between Stress and Crack Face Opening Displacement for steel fibre reinforced concrete beams under flexure was developed. In addition, a new and simple method for calculating the interfacial Strain Energy Release Rate of both, a two-dimensional specimen and a three-dimensional model of the overlay pavement system were developed. This method can be readily and easily used by practicing engineers. Finally, a new test specimen and its loading configuration for measuring interfacial fracture toughness for concrete overlay pavements were established. The interfacial fracture toughness of a composite concrete beam, consisted of steel fibre-reinforced roller compacted polymer modified concrete bonded on conventional concrete and undergoing flexure, was assessed. In summary, this thesis presents four key findings: A new mix design method for steel fibre-reinforced roller compacted polymer modified concrete bonded on conventional concrete. A new method for establishing the fibre bridging law by an inverse analysis approach. A new, simplified method for calculating strain energy release rate at the interface of a composite beam. A new, innovative technique for calculating strain energy release rate at the interface of an overlaid pavement. The thesis contains a plethora of graphs, data-tables, examples and formulae, suitable for future researchers.

Exotic species alter the streamside plant community by changing the resources available to the stream food web, causing cascading changes throughout the entire aquatic ecosystem. To better understand the impacts of exotic litter species on stream communities, investigations were made at global and local levels. A meta-analysis was performed to understand which environmental and litter quality factors impact native and exotic litter decay rates on the global scale. It was found that exotic species are likely to decay faster than native species at larger mesh sizes, and in warm temperature environments because high quality exotic leaves have a lower C:N ratio than native leaves. An urban litter decay experiment in Victoria, B.C. streams contrasting Alnus rubra, Salix sitchensis, Hedera sp., Rubus armeniacus and plastic trash found that trash decays more slowly than leaf litter, but leaf species all decay at the same rate, and stream invertebrates colonize all litter types equally. Significant differences in litter decay rates and invertebrate community alpha and Shannon diversities were also observed across the four different streams. The more that is learned about the impacts of exotic leaf litter, the better we are able to respond to keep streams as healthy and as biodiverse as possible. / Graduate / 2017-08-10 / 0329 / 0793 / kimkenn@uvic.ca

L’objectif de cette étude était d’obtenir une meilleure compréhension du concept de force mentale appliqué dans un contexte sportif. Pour se faire, des entrevues ont été réalisées avec dix athlètes québécois francophones de niveau universitaire. L’analyse des données s’est effectuée en suivant les principes de la version abrégée de la théorisation ancrée. Les résultats appuient globalement la littérature scientifique. En somme, la force mentale serait composée de caractéristiques de base interreliées, telles que la motivation internalisée, la confiance en soi, la maturité et la détermination. La force mentale serait sollicitée non seulement lorsque l’athlète fait face à des situations difficiles comme l’adversité, mais également lorsque le contexte dans lequel il évolue est exempt de complications (à l’entraînement ou lors de victoire). Les résultats des entrevues indiquent que face à ces deux types de situation, les athlètes forts mentalement possèderaient un mode réactionnel tridimensionnel (dimension cognitive, affective et comportementale) se caractérisant par la gestion et le contrôle de l’attention, l’interprétation optimiste des situations, le contrôle de l’activation et du langage corporel, la gestion des émotions et la résilience. Contrairement à la littérature, les résultats suggèrent que la force mentale ne serait pas nécessairement liée aux athlètes performants au plus haut niveau de leur sport, mais à la capacité des athlètes à donner de bonnes performances en fonction de leur potentiel individuel. Cette étude constitue le premier pas vers le développement d’un instrument de mesure permettant d’évaluer le niveau de force mentale chez les athlètes francophones. / The objective of the study was to obtain a clearer understanding of the concept of mental toughness as applied to a sport context. To do so, interviews were conducted with ten university-level Francophone Quebec athletes. The data analysis was conducted by following the principles of the abridged grounded theory. The results are in general agreement with the scientific literature as mental toughness was made up of interrelated basic characteristics such as internalized motivation, self-confidence, maturity and determination. Mental toughness was solicited when the athlete faced difficult situations such as adversity, but also when the context the athletes faced was free from complications (e.g. during training or victory). In the two classes of situations, adversity and freedom from adversity, mentally tough athletes exhibited a tridimensional reaction mode (cognitive, affective and behavioural dimensions) characterized by a management and control of attention, optimistic interpretation, activation control and body language control, consciousness, management of emotions and resilience. Contrary to the existing literature, the results suggest that mental toughness would not necessarily be linked to athletes performing at the top of their game; it would instead be connected to the capacity of athletes to produce good performances relative to their individual potential. This study can be viewed as a first step in the development of an instrument that would permit the evaluation of the level of mental toughness in Francophone athletes.

Neste trabalho foi medida a tenacidade à fratura de quatro ligas fundidas com composição química base do aço AISI M2 – uma de composição química convencional (liga I), e as demais modificadas por adições de nitrogênio (liga II), cério (liga III) e antimônio (liga IV) – submetidas a tratamentos térmicos visando a decomposição do carboneto M2C, a esferoidização e engrossamento dos carbonetos produto M6C e MC, em altas temperaturas e por diversos tempos. A metodologia empregada nesta avaliação da tenacidade à fratura foi a dos corpos de prova curtos com entalhe chevron segundo ASTM E 1304-97, de forma a superar a necessidade do pré-trincamento por fadiga, procedimento de difícil controle e custoso em materiais como os aços rápidos temperados e revenidos. Verificou-se que a metodologia utilizada para obtenção e ensaio de corpos de prova chevron foi de fácil execução (comparada à metodologia convencional) permitindo grande número de experimentos. Para verificar a consistência dos resultados, em algumas condições, também se utilizou a metodologia convencional segundo a ASTM E 399-90, cujo pré-trincamento foi feito utilizando os procedimentos propostos por Harris e Dunegan. Os resultados obtidos para os aços fundidos foram correlacionados com os obtidos para outros aços rápidos convencionais (VM2, M2 Thyssen) e um aço rápido sinterizado (SINTER 23). A microestrutura foi caracterizada utilizando-se técnicas de ataques metalográficos diferenciais, metalografia quantitativa manual e computadorizada e microscopia eletrônica de varredura. A avaliação microestrutural indica que não ocorreu precipitação eutética do carboneto M6C, em nenhuma das ligas fundidas. O carboneto M2C apresenta morfologia tanto irregular (plaquetas – tipo 1) quanto regular-complexa (lamelas – tipo 2). As ligas I, III e IV, apresentaram a predominância da morfologia tipo 1 enquanto que a liga II modificada pelo nitrogênio, apresentou apenas a morfologia tipo 2. O carboneto MC apresentou-se com morfologia regular-complexa. Medidas do espaçamento interdendrítico indicam que não houve influência significativa dos elementos modificadores sobre este parâmetro. Ensaios de resistência à flexão, indicam pouca influência dos elementos modificadores, mas forte influência dos tratamentos térmicos sobre o limite de resistência à ruptura transversal do aço fundido. Em todas as ligas, a resistência à flexão cresceu com o tempo de tratamento a 1200°C, bem como com a temperatura de decomposição em tratamentos por 2 horas. Análise das fraturas por microscopia eletrônica de varredura indicou que o crescimento das trincas se deu na região interdendrítica. O aço convencional apresentou resistência à ruptura transversal muito superior à dos aços fundidos. Os ensaios de tenacidade à fratura apresentaram resultados compatíveis com a literatura para os aços AISI M2 convencional e SINTER 23. Os resultados obtidos para o aço fundido, indicam queda nos valores de tenacidade à fratura nos materiais tratados a 1050°C com o avanço do tempo de tratamento; pouca variação dos valores com o tempo nas amostras tratadas a 1150°C; e aumento significativo da tenacidade à fratura com o tempo de tratamento a 1200°C. Os valores de tenacidade obtidos para os aços rápidos fundidos foram mais elevados que os obtidos para os materiais trabalhados e para o material sinterizado. / Fracture Toughness of four cast alloys with chemical composition based on the High-Speed Steel AISI M2 were measured. One of the alloys (alloy I) had the conventional AISI M2 composition, while the other three were modified by the addition of N (alloy II), Ce (alloy III) and Sb (alloy IV). The cast alloys were heat-treated in order to promote the decomposition of the M2C carbide as well as spheroidize and coarsen the product M6C e MC carbides. The method chosen for measuring fracture toughness was based on the use of short rod and bar chevron notched samples, according to ASTM E1304 – 97, in order to evade the need for fatigue pre-cracking, notoriously difficult for High Speed Steels quenched and tempered. The chevron-notch method proved straightforward and allowed for successful testing a great number of specimens. Conventional compact sample fracture toughness, according to ASTM E 399-90, with pre-cracking obtained using Harris-Dunegan drop-weight procedure, was used to validate the results. The results for cast alloys were compared with conventionally produced High Speed Steels (VM2, M2 Thyssen) and with a powder metallurgy High Speed Steel (SINTER 23). Microstructural characterization was performed using selective etching of polished surfaces, manual and automated quantitative metallography and SEM. Microstructural evaluation of as-cast alloys showed that there was no eutectic precipitation of M6C carbides. The M2C carbides show an irregular eutectic morphology (Type 1- plates) as well as a regular-complex eutectic morphology. Measurements of interdendritic spacing did not detect any effect of the modification. The bending test rupture strengths did not vary with the addition of modifying elements, but increased with the time and temperature of decomposition, spheroidization and coarsening of carbides. Rupture strengths increased with the heat-treatment time at 1200°C as well as with increasing temperatures for 2 h heat-treatments. SEM examination of the fracture surfaces showed that crack preferential growth path was interdendritical. Conventional High Speed Steels tested in bending presented better results for the rupture strength than cast steels. Fracture toughness results for M2 conventional steels and for the SINTER 23 steel were similar to the results from the literature. Fracture toughness results obtained for cast steels diminished with increasing decomposition time at 1050°C, did not change much with increasing decomposition time at 1150°C, increased markedly withy increasing decomposition times at 1200°C. The fracture toughness results for the as-cast steels were higher than the results obtained for the wrought steels and for the powder metallurgy steel.