With increasing emphasis and regulations on the environmental footprint in industries, the integration of reduced carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq) plastic materials is desirable. Fiber-reinforced plastic materials mechanical properties differ with varying fiber orientations. Similarly, the welding line phenomenon, commonly present in more complex injection molded parts, decreases the mechanical performance. This thesis aims to experimentally investigate tensile behavior on reduced CO2eq reinforced plastics in different fiber orientations and weld line configurations.  Ten materials with reduced CO2eq are investigated, the types of materials are as follows: PA6 (Polyamide6), PP (Polypropylene), and PA6/PP blend materials. Both short fiber-reinforced polymers (SFRP) and long fiber-reinforced polymers (LFRP) are investigated. The screening resulted in three selected materials for further investigation: one recycled PA6, one bio-based PA6/PP, and one alternative PP. The further investigation involves tensile testing in the five directions and three weld line configurations with non-standardized geometry specimens punched out from an injection molded plate with controlled fiber orientation. Two types of uniform fiber orientation plates are manufactured for the testing conditions, one with holes for weld line testing and one without for testing of orientation. The evaluated fiber orientations are 0° (fibers parallel to load direction), 22.5°, 45°, 67.5°, and 90° (fibers transverse to load direction). The weld line configuration consists of three consecutive holes with 96.5, 146.5, and 196.5 mm distances from the gating system. Three weld line test specimens are generated from each plate, they are denoted W1, W2, and W3 from their respective distance from the gating system, with W1 being closest to the gate. Optical microscopy of fiber orientation and failure modes for the test specimens are performed to investigate and validate the testing conditions.  Varying fiber orientation was found to greatly affect the stress-strain behavior in all four materials investigated. The tensile strength was reduced from longitudinal to transverse fiber orientation, with the most significant reduction near flow direction. High variations were present for the brittle materials supposedly from their weakness to stress concentrations. Strain tended to increase from the lowest at 0° to the maximum at 45°, from which it again decreased to a mid-value at 90° for all materials. The weld line strength reduced significantly for the brittle materials, whereas the ductile materials experienced a much smaller reduction. The three weld line cases failed at similar stresses, while having different stiffness.

Many pieces of fine art are made of wood that has been treated with coatings. Since wood is a very hygroscopic material, the moisture content strongly influences the deformation of wooden parts. Coatings often act as moisture barriers. Therefore, the moisture permeability of coatings must be considered for the evaluation of the structural behaviour. The mechanical properties are also relevant to evaluate the deformation of thin artwork like panel paintings as well as the damage of paintings and varnishes. Therefore, the mechanical properties and the permeability of selected coatings used for cultural wooden artwork are investigated and presented in the article at hand. In this study, coatings of three artworks are investigated: a Lusatian cupboard from the eighteenth century, an altarpiece by L. Cranach the Elder and a Russian icon from 1912. The coatings considered are white ground, colours, varnishes, glue and textile reinforced sizing. Mechanical tests are conducted to evaluate the stiffness and tensile strength of the Russian icon’s coating. Cup tests are made to identify the moisture permeability of the coatings. This test was conducted for single coatings as well as for coating systems consisting of different coatings to investigate both the moisture barrier of single coatings and the interaction of coatings. Exponential functions for the relative humidity-dependent permeability are fitted based on the experimental data. The results allow the quantification of permeability for all investigated coatings—from white ground with a high permeability to beeswax with a low permeability—and the magnitude of moisture dependency of the coating’s permeability. Furthermore, it is shown that the simple addition of the water vapour resistance of single coatings underrates the resistance of a total coating system. By the mechanical tests, the strength, ultimate strain and Young’s modulus are obtained. The permeability and the mechanical parameters are required as input for numerical simulations of the structural behaviour of coated wooden artwork. These results are a good step forward to assess the risk of damage of coated wooden artwork.

In the production of paper, the quality of the pulp is an important factor both for the productivity and for the final quality. Reliable real-time measurements of pulp quality are therefore needed. One way is to use acoustic or vibration sensors that give information-rich signals and place the sensors at suitable locations in a pulp production line. However, these sensors are not selective for the pulp properties of interest. Therefore, advanced signal processing and multivariate calibration are essential tools. The current work has been focused on the development of calibration routes for extraction of information from acoustic sensors and on signal processing algorithms for enhancing the information-selectivity for a specific pulp property or class of properties. Multivariate analysis methods like Principal Components Analysis (PCA), Partial Least Squares (PLS) and Orthogonal Signal Correction (OSC) have been used for visualization and calibration. Signal processing methods like Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), Fast Wavelet Transform (FWT) and Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) have been used in the development of novel signal processing algorithms for extraction of information from vibrationacoustic sensors. It is shown that use of OSC combined with PLS for prediction of Canadian Standard Freeness (CSF) using FFT-spectra produced from vibration data on a Thermo Mechanical Pulping (TMP) process gives lower prediction errors and a more parsimonious model than PLS alone. The combination of FFT and PLS was also used for monitoring of beating of kraft pulp and for screen monitoring. When using regular FFT-spectra on process acoustic data the obtained information tend to overlap. To circumvent this two new signal processing methods were developed: Wavelet Transform Multi Resolution Spectra (WT-MRS) and Continuous Wavelet Transform Fibre Length Extraction (CWT-FLE). Applying WT-MRS gave PLS-models that were more parsimonious with lower prediction error for CSF than using regular FFT-Spectra. For a Medium Consistency (MC) pulp stream WT-MRS gave predictions errors comparable to the reference methods for CSF and Brightness. The CWT-FLE method was validated against a commercial fibre length analyzer and good agreement was obtained. The CWT-FLE-curves could therefore be used instead of other fibre distribution curves for process control. Further, the CWT-FLE curves were used for PLS modelling of tensile strength and optical parameters with good results. In addition to the mentioned results a comprehensive overview of technologies used with acoustic sensors and related applications has been performed. / Vid framställning av pappersprodukter är kvaliteten på massan en viktig faktor för produktiviteten och kvalitén på slutresultatet. Det är därför viktigt att ha tillgång till tillförlitliga mätningar av massakvalitet i realtid. En möjlighet är att använda akustik- eller vibrationssensorer i lämpliga positioner vid enhetsoperationer i massaprocessen. Selektiviteten hos dessa mätningar är emellertid relativt låg i synnerhet om mätningarna är passiva. Därför krävs avancerad signalbehandling och multivariat kalibrering. Det nu presenterade arbetet har varit fokuserat på kalibreringsmetoder för extraktion av information ur akustiska mätningar samt på algoritmer för signalbehandling som kan ge förbättrad informationsselektivitet. Multivariata metoder som Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Partial Least Squares (PLS) and Orthogonal Signal Correction (OSC) har använts för visualisering och kalibrering. Signalbehandlingsmetoderna Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), Fast Wavelet Transform (FWT) och Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) har använts i utvecklingen av nydanande metoder för signalbehandling anpassade till att extrahera information ur signaler från vibrations/akustiska sensorer. En kombination av OSC och PLS applicerade på FFT-spektra från raffineringen i en Termo Mechnaical Pulping (TMP) process ger lägre prediktionsfel för Canadian Standard Freeness (CSF) än enbart PLS. Kombinationen av FFT och PLS har vidare använts för monitorering av malning av sulfatmassa och monitorering av silning. Ordinära FFT-spektra av t.ex. vibrationssignaler är delvis överlappande. För att komma runt detta har två signalbehandlingsmetoder utvecklats, Wavelet Transform Multi Resolution Spectra (WT-MRS) baserat på kombinationen av FWT och FFT samt Continuous Wavelet Transform Fibre Length Extraction (CWT-FLE) baserat på CWT. Tillämpning av WT-MRS gav enklare PLS-modeller med lägre prediktionsfel för CSF jämfört med att använda normala FFT-spektra. I en annan tillämpning på en massaström med relativt hög koncentration (Medium Consistency, MC) kunde prediktioner för CSF samt ljushet erhållas med prediktionsfel jämförbart med referensmetodernas fel. Metoden CWT-FLE validerades mot en kommersiell fiberlängdsmätare med god överensstämmelse. CWT-FLE-kurvorna skulle därför kunna användas i stället för andra fiberdistributionskurvor för processtyrning. Vidare användes CWT-FLE kurvor för PLS modellering av dragstyrka samt optiska egenskaper med goda resultat. Utöver de nämnda resultaten har en omfattande litteratursammanställning gjorts över området och relaterade applikationer. / QC 20100629

The study examined the properties of stalk and cob fibres from recombinant inbred corn lines and their parents, grown at two locations, in a polylactic acid (PLA) matrix. The objectives were to: determine fibre compositions; evaluate the effects of fibres on the functional properties of biocomposites and identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and gene markers for fibre performance in biocomposites. Significant Genotype*Location effects were observed. Composites had lower strength (impact, tensile, and flexural) but higher tensile/flexural modulus values than pure PLA. The latter were positively affected by cellulose and hemicellulose but negatively affected by free phenolic levels and 93 fibre QTLs and 62 composite markers were detected. This study identified fibre traits and markers for genes that may be important for the use of corn fibres in biocomposites. / Ontario BioCar Initiative Project funded by Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and Ontario Public Sector

The aim of this thesis was to develop assessments of existing supporting structure of a rectangular object and design of new options for rectangular and cylindrical object administrative center in the Jihomoravská plynárenská, a.s. in Brno. According to the task have been recalculated construction and design of new structures in accordance with applicable standards. New design of both buildings (rectangular and cylindrical) came from several studies.

An effective procedure and parameter window was developed for underwater friction stir welding (UWFSW) 304L stainless steel with a PCBN tool. UWFSW produced statistically significant: increases in yield strengths, decreases in percent elongation. The ultimate tensile strength was found to be significantly higher at certain parameters. Although sigma was identified in the UWFSWs, a significant reduction of sigma was found in UWFSWs compared to ambient FSWs. The degree of sensitization in UWFSWs was evaluated using double loop EPR testing and oxalic acid electro-etched metallography. Results were compared to base metal, ambient FSW, and arc welds. Upper and lower sensitization localization bands were identified in the UWFSWs. Although higher sensitization levels were present in UWFSWs compared to the arc weld, ambient FSW, and heat treated base metals, the UWFSWs were found less susceptible to corrosion than arc welds due to the subsurface location of the sensitization bands. A SCC analysis of UWFSWs relative to base metal and arc weldments was performed. U-bends were exposed to two 3.5% NaCl cyclic immersion experiments at 21 °C and 63 °C for 1000 hours each. A tertiary test was conducted in a 25% NaCl boiling solution. The UWFSW u-bends were no more susceptible to SCC than base metal in the cyclic immersion tests. In the boiling NaCl test, the SCC of the UWFSWs showed significant improvement over the SCC of arc welds. Arc u-bends cracked entirely within the weld bead and HAZ, while SCC in the UWFSWs showed no cracking localization.