In Phase I of this study, the purpose was to compare mechanical and physical wood properties from current wood supplies to those from previous studies (Newlin and Wilson 1917, Markwardt and Wilson 1935, wood handbook 2010). The results indicate that minor changes have occurred in the hardwood species values from the previous two studies with a few exceptions. Differences, where they occurred, could be explained by the growth locations of each sample. Differences between pine values occurred for MOE and MOR, an increase in MOE and a decrease in MOR. The objective of Phase II was to correlate the non-destructive and destructive testing methods. The non-destructive test by longitudinal vibration wave can be used to predict the static modulus of elasticity since it is strongly correlated with the destructive static bending test for all the three methods used (A-Grader, FFT and Smart-Thumper).

Master of Science / Department of Civil Engineering / Mustaque Hossain / Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) is a useful alternative to virgin aggregates in hot-mix asphalt (HMA) as it reduces cost, conserves energy, and enables reuse of existing asphalt pavement. However, use of higher percentage of RAP sometimes leads to drier mixes that are often susceptible to early cracking. In this study, cracking resistance of Superpave mixtures with varying asphalt and RAP contents were investigated. HMA specimens were prepared based on Superpave mix design criteria for 12.5-mm (1/2-inch) nominal maximum aggregate size (NMAS). Specimens were compacted using the Superpave gyratory compactor. Static and repeated semi-circular bending (SCB) tests and Texas overlay tests (OT) (TEX-248-F) were performed in order to evaluate cracking resistance of Superpave mixtures containing three different asphalt contents (5.2%, 4.9%, and 4.6%) and three RAP percentages (20%, 30%, and 40%) from two distinct sources. Results from both crack tests showed that, with decreased asphalt content, cracking propensity increases. In general, higher percentage of RAP decreases cracking resistance. Statistical analysis of the results indicated a strong positive correlation between the asphalt film thickness and the number of load cycles before failure. Comparison of mean test results suggested that the Texas overlay test could do better evaluation of cracking resistance than the R-SCB test. This study was limited to mixtures with two sources of RAP. Because of such limitations and conflicting results from these RAP sources, a general conclusion regarding the minimum binder and maximum RAP contents without compromising cracking resistance could not be made. However, separate conclusions were drawn depending upon the characteristics of the RAP source.

The development of energy storage devices has represented a significant technological challenge for the past few years. Electrochemical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs), also named as supercapacitors, are a likely competitor for alternative energy storage because of their low-cost, high power density, and high fast charge/discharge rate. The recent development of EDLCs requires them to be lightweight and flexible. There are many fabrication techniques used to manufacture flexible EDLCs, and these methods can include pre-treatment to ensure more efficient penetration of activated carbon (AC) patterns onto the substrate, or those that utilise masks for the definitions of patterns on substrates. However, these methods are inconvenient for building cost-effective devices. Therefore, it was necessary to find a suitable process to reduce the steps of manufacture and to be able to print multiple materials uniformly. This research work describes the first use of a 3D printing technology to produce flexible EDLCs for energy storage. In this research work, the four essential elements for the EDLCs substrate, current collector, activated electrode, and gel electrolyte were investigated. The AC powder was milled by ball milling to optimise the paste deposition and the electrochemical performance. A flexible composite EDLC was designed and manufactured by 3D printing. The electrochemical performance of the flexible composite EDLCs was then examined. Being highly flexible is one of the critical demands for the recent development of EDLCs. Therefore, highly flexible EDLCs were designed and manufactured by only one single extrusion process. The 3D highly flexible EDLC maintains significant electrochemical performance under a mechanical bending test. To meet the power and energy requirements, the EDLCs were connected and tested in series and parallel circuits. A supercapacitor based on printed AC material displays an area specific capacitance of 1.48 F/cm2 at the scan rate of 20 mV/s. The coulombic efficiency for the flexible EDLC was found to be 59.91%, and the cycling stability was achieved to be 56% after 500 cycles. These findings indicate that 3D printing technology may be increasingly used to develop more sophisticated flexible wearable electronic devices.

The Wafer Level Chip Scale Package (WLCSP) is gaining popularity for its performance and ability to meet the miniaturization requirements of portable consumer electronics, such as cell phones. For the industry of electronic package, the package life of electronic products is deemed as the essential consideration in the operation period. In practice, electronic products are usually damaged due to a harsh mechanical impact, such as drop and bending. The solder interconnections provide not only the electronic path between electric components and printing circuit board, but also the mechanical support of components on the printing circuit board, so that the reliability of solder interconnection becomes an essential consideration for a package. In the thesis several parameters, including redistribution layer (RDL) material and thickness, passivation material and thickness, under-bump metallization (UBM) structure factors are discussed. A variety of WLCSP structures are investigated for solder joint reliability performance. In addition to the fatigue lives of the test vehicle, locations and modes of fractured solder joints were observed. It was found that wafer level packaging structure under drop clearly related with the characteristic life. The weakest point of solder ball was intermetallic compound (IMC), and wafer level packaging structure was the crack into the second passivation layer and UBM interface of the corner. WLCSP under temperature cycling test was done and observed the fracture only occurred at the solder ball near the package.

No description available.

Combining the most recent technologies in concrete, Ultra-High-Performance Fibre-Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) arises as a promising material for the near future. UHPFRC have shown how flexible concrete can be to adapt to the ever-changing social and environmental demands. With its high flexibility composition and its mechanical properties, UHPFRC is full of both unexplored and unexploited possibilities. Engineers should take responsibility for this task. However, it is fair to acknowledge that this is not an easy task and it requires the development of reliable and widely accepted design standards provided by the scientific community. A major concern about durability, long-lasting structures and reduction of maintenance cost, as well as the development of new concrete technologies, improved knowledge of fibre effect and a huge growth in the fibre industry accompanied by fibre price reduction have led, among other factors, to the development of new types of concrete whose mechanical behaviour substantially differs from conventional fibre-reinforced concrete. This is why current characterisation methodologies and design standards must be reviewed and adjusted to these newer materials. However, design standard revision cannot disregard former milestones achieved thanks to decades of hard work. It must offer an integrated view in which new types of concrete comprise existing ones in a broader group, because at the end of the day and despite having newer and improved properties, new types of concrete are still concrete. That is how it should be understood and how it must be reflected in newer codes and standards. The work presented herein is focused on one of these recently developed materials that embraces major advanced technologies in concrete: Ultra-High-Performance Fibre-Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC). This work is specifically focused on those crucial requirements for the development and widespread use of it, such as constitutive tensile characterisation and classification. This work includes a deep revision of the uniaxial tensile behaviour of concrete and its development as fibre technology has evolved. In addition, traditional characterisation standard methods as well as those recently developed for its specific use on UHPFRC are reviewed and called into question. Throughout the document, the development of different methodologies to determine the uniaxial constitutive tensile behaviour of UHPFRC from bending tests are shown, together with a simplified characterisation proposal specially developed for being included in a standard. All developed methodologies presented herein are checked and validated. These methods are specifically designed for their application on experimental results obtained from a special type of four-point bending test, whose standardisation proposal for UHPFRC is also shown. Finally, a classification proposal is presented as a function of more relevant UHPFRC tensile parameters necessary for design that can be directly obtained from the standard characterisation test method suggested. Proposed classification encompasses the existing classification for conventional reinforced and fibre-reinforced concrete. In it, both plain concrete and fibre-reinforced concrete are presented as a particular case of a more general tensile constitutive response for concrete. Standard methodology and classification proposed are in accordance with the evolution of concrete and unify historic milestones achieved by the international research community. / El Hormigón de Muy Alto Rendimiento (HMAR) combina los últimos avances tecnológicos en hormigón y se erige como un material prometedor para el futuro. El HMAR ha demostrado su gran capacidad para adaptarse a las cada vez más exigentes demandas sociales y medioambientales. Con un gran abanico de posibilidades en su dosificación para conseguir las propiedades mecánicas deseadas, el HMAR es un material lleno de posibilidades aún sin explorar y sin explotar. Los ingenieros tienen la responsabilidad de esta tarea. Sin embargo, es justo reconocer que no se trata de una tarea fácil y que requiere de un desarrollo previo de códigos de diseño adecuados y ampliamente aceptados por parte de la comunidad científica. La aparición de nuevas tecnologías, el mayor conocimiento sobre la aportación de las fibras así como su industrialización y bajada de precios, las mayores preocupaciones sobre la durabilidad estructural, incremento de la vida útil o la reducción de los costes de mantenimiento, entre otros factores, han derivado en el desarrollo de nuevas tipologías de hormigones cuyo comportamiento mecánico difiere de manera sustancial de los tradicionales hormigones con fibras. Es por ello que tanto la readaptación de las metodologías de caracterización como las metodologías de diseño deben ser reformuladas. Y esto debe hacerse de manera no disruptiva, es decir, manteniendo la línea de los hitos alcanzados en los hormigones con fibras convencionales de manera que queden integrados en metodologías de caracterización y de diseño que los engloben, porque al fin y al cabo, y aunque con nuevas y mejores propiedades mecánicas, los nuevos hormigones siguen siendo hormigones. Así debe ser entendido y así debe quedar reflejado en las nuevas normativas. El presente trabajo se centra en uno de esos nuevos materiales desarrollados con el avance de las nuevas tecnologías como es el HMAR. En especial, este documento se centra en ese aspecto tan fundamental para el desarrollo de nuevos hormigones como es la caracterización mecánica y la tipificación. Este trabajo incluye una revisión del comportamiento mecánico uniaxial a tracción del hormigón y de su evolución con la aparición de las diferentes tecnologías. Además, se revisan y se ponen en cuestión los sistemas tradicionales de caracterización, así como los nuevos sistemas desarrollados en los últimos años para su empleo específico en el HMAR. A lo largo del documento se desarrollan diferentes metodologías para la obtención del comportamiento constitutivo a tracción del HMAR, así como la propuesta de una metdología simplificada de caracterización especialmente diseñada para ser incluida en una norma, todas ellas debidamente validadas. Estas metodologías son de aplicación específica a los resultados experimentales obtenidos mediante un ensayo a cuatro puntos sin entalla, cuya propuesta de estandarización para el HMAR ha sido también desarrollada. Finalmente, se presenta una propuesta de tipificación de acuerdo a los parámetros más relevantes del comportamiento a tracción del HMAR que son necesarios para el diseño y que pueden ser directamente obtenidos del ensayo de caracterización propuesto. Esta clasificación engloba a la clasificación existente para el hormigón armado convencional y los actuales hormigones con fibras, de manera que se presenta la actual definición de hormigón con fibras como un caso particular de estos nuevos hormigones, respetando al máximo la evolución de este material y aunando los logros conseguidos por la comunidad científica. / Dins de les combinacions de les tecnologies més recents en el formigó, el formigó de molt alt rendiment (UHPFRC) sorgeix com un material prometedor per al futur pròxim. L'UHPFRC ha demostrat poder ser un formigó flexible per adaptar-se a les sempre canviants demandes socials i mediambientals. Amb una gran flexibilitat en la seua composició i les seues propietats mecàniques, l`UHPFRC està ple de possibilitats de ser explorades i explotades. Els enginyers han de prendre la responsabilitat d'aquesta tasca. No obstant això, és just reconèixer que això no serà fàcil i requerirà el desenvolupament de normes de disseny fiables i àmpliament acceptades per la comunitat científica. Hi ha una gran preocupació al voltant de la durabilitat, la vida útil de les estructures i la reducció del cost de manteniment, juntament amb el desenvolupament de noves tecnologies de formigó, un millor coneixement de l'efecte de la fibra i un enorme creixement en la indústria de la fibra acompanyat per la reducció del preu de la fibra, han conduït, entre altres factors, al desenvolupament de nous tipus de formigons, el comportament mecànic dels quals es diferencia substancialment dels formigons reforçats amb fibres convencionals. És per això que les metodologies de caracterització actuals i les normes de disseny han de ser revisades i ajustades a aquests nous materials. No obstant això, la revisió del codis de disseny no pot prescindir de les antigues fites aconseguides gràcies a dècades de treball dur. S'ha d'oferir una visió integrada en la qual els nous tipus de formigons integren els ja existents en un grup més ampli, ja que, al cap i la fi i malgrat tenir propietats noves i millorades, els nous tipus de formigons són encara un tipus de formigó. Així es com s'hauria d'entendre i reflectir-se en els nous codis i normes. El treball presentat en aquest document es centra en un d'aquests materials que s'han desenvolupat recentment i que abasta les principals tecnologies avançades en el formigó: el Formigó de Molt Alt Rendiment Reforçat amb Fibres (UHPFRC). Aquest treball se centra específicament en els requisits fonamentals per al desenvolupament i l'ús generalitzat d'aquest, com ara la caracterització i classificació del comportament constitutiu a tracció. Aquest treball inclou una revisió profunda del comportament a tracció uniaxial del formigó i els seus canvis al temps que la tecnologia de les fibres ha evolucionat. A més, els mètodes tradicionals estàndard de caracterització, així com els recentment desenvolupats per al seu ús específic en l'UHPFRC són revisats i qüestionats. Al llarg del document, es mostra el desenvolupament de diferents metodologies per a determinar el comportament constitutiu a tracció uniaxial de l'UHPFRC, juntament amb una proposta de caracterització simplificada especialment desenvolupada per poder ser inclosa en normativa. Totes les metodologies desenvolupades presentades en aquest document han estat comprovades i validades. Aquests mètodes estan dissenyats específicament per a la seva aplicació en els resultats experimentals obtinguts a partir d'un tipus especial d'assaig de flexió a quatre punts, a més també s'inclou una proposta d'estandardització per a l'UHPFRC. Finalment, es presenta una proposta de classificació en funció dels paràmetres més rellevants del comportament a tracció de l'UHPFRC que són necessaris per al disseny i que es poden obtindre directament del mètode d'assaig estàndard suggerit per a la caracterització de l'UHPFRC. La classificació proposada té amb compte la classificació existent per al formigó armat convencional i el reforçat amb fibres. En ella, tant el formigó en massa com el formigó reforçat amb fibres es presenten com un cas particular d'una resposta constitutiva a tracció més general per al formigó. La metodologia estàndard i la classificació proposada estan d'acord amb l'evolució de formigó i unifica l / López Martínez, JÁ. (2017). CHARACTERISATION OF THE TENSILE BEHAVIOUR OF UHPFRC BY MEANS OF FOUR-POINT BENDING TESTS [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/79740 / TESIS

Disertační práce se zabývala vlivem adheze mezi vláknovým (FRC) a částicovým (PFC) kompozitem a složením obou komponent na mechanické vlastnosti a způsob porušování modelových bi-materiálových kompozitních těles při statickém namáhání. Zkoumán byl také vliv způsobu přípravy bi-materiálového kompozitního tělesa na pevnost adheze mezi jeho kompozitními komponentami. K hodnocení mechanických vlastností bi-materiálových PFC/FRC těles byl použit jak 3 tak 4-bodový ohybový test za pokojové teploty a relativní vlhkosti 70%. Modifikovaný vytrhávací test byl použit k měření smykové pevnosti adheze mezi vláknovým a částicovým kompozitem. Tyto výsledky byly korelovány s výsledky ze strukturní a fraktografické analýzy (TGA, SEM). Experimentální data byla poté analyzována pomocí existujících mikromechanických modelů a byl nalezen vztah mezi tuhostí modelových bi-materiálových těles, složením a geometrií uspořádání jejich komponent a pevností adheze mezi těmito komponentami. Na základě těchto výsledků byl navržen optimální způsob vrstvení a přípravy PFC/FRC bimateriálových těles. Navržené postupy byly použity k přípravě a pre-klinickým testům nosných konstrukcí zubních můstků.

Presented in this work are the results of twelve flexural tests conducted on small-scale coupons to establish the load-deflection behavior of UNS S32003 (ATI 2003®) hot-rolled duplex stainless steel flat plates. All specimens were tested as simply supported beams loaded at the midspan. Test specimens had nominal width and thickness of 1 in. and 0.25 in., respectively. Four different span lengths of 4 in., 6 in., 9 in., and 12 in. were investigated. Analysis of the results showed that the non-linear deflection behavior can be estimated reasonably well by adopting the conventional deflection equation pertaining to an assumed linear elastic material, but after replacing the modulus of elasticity with a secant modulus corresponding to the maximum tension strain resulting from the applied load.

This study investigates the mechanical differences between old and newly produced slatted floors through a four-point bending test. To understand to what extent the actual environment has affected the slatted floors, the carbonation depth and corrosion will be examined. The tests showed no mechanical differences between slatted floors which had been in service for a certain amount of years and newly produces ones. Corrosion could be observed on some of the samples but it was not because of the carbonation process. When comparing the calculations of reinforced and pre-stressed concrete slatted floors, the result showed that the pre-stressed floor could carry up to double the load of what the reinforced slatted floor could. The conclusion of this study is, that the pre-stressed slatted floors will certainly hold for at least thirty years and will most likely hold for many years to come.

O presente estudo visa comparar biomecanicamente, por meio do ensaio de flexão em quatro pontos, a resistência de segmentos de rádios de cães autoclavados e desvitalizados em nitrogênio líquido. Foram utilizados 20 cadáveres de cães de mais de dois anos de idade e massa corporal superior a 20 kg, portanto 40 rádios, que foram divididos em quatro grupos: grupo autoclave (GA), grupo controle autoclave (GCA), grupo nitrogênio (GN) e grupo controle nitrogênio (GCN). Os corpos de prova dos grupos GCA e GCN pertenciam ao lado contralateral dos grupos GA e GN, respectivamente. Os ossos foram autoclavados a 121ºC, por 20 min a 2 atm. A desvitalização em nitrogênio foi realizada por meio da imersão em nitrogênio líquido, por 20 min, seguida de descongelamento à temperatura ambiente, sendo finalizada por imersão em solução de NaCL a 0,9%, por mais 15 min. A avaliação da resistência biomecânica foi realizada pelo ensaio de flexão em quatro pontos. Foi utilizado o programa de computador PMI para calcular o momento de inércia após o ensaio biomecânico destrutivo. Foram comparadas as variáveis força máxima, rigidez, altura máxima à secção transversa do corpo de prova, deslocamento do baricentro em relação ao eixo x, flecha, tensão-tração, tensão compressão e tensão máxima. Não foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre os grupos GN e GCN. Foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre os grupos GA e GCA somente na comparação da variável força máxima. A análise das variáveis tensão-tração, tensão-compressão e tensão máxima evidenciou diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre os grupos GA e GN, sendo os valores maiores para o grupo GA. Também foi realizada comparação entre os deltas (GN menos GCN e GA menos GCA) em que não foram observadas diferenças estatísticas. / The present study aim to, biomechanically compare through the four points bending test, the strenght of autoclaved and devitalized in liquid nitrogen radius segments. 20 corpses of dogs (>2 years of age and >20 kg of weight) were used. 40 radius were collected and divided into 4 groups, Autoclave Group (GA), Control Autoclave Group (GCA), Nitrogen Group (NG) and Control Nitrogen Group (GCN). Bone segments from groups GCA and GCN were contralateral to GA and NG. The segments were autoclaved at 121ºC and 2 atm for 20 minutes. Nitrogen devitalization of the bone segments was obtained by 20 minutes immersion, followed by thawing at room temperature and 15 minutes immersion in 0,9% NaCL solution. The biomechanical strenght evaluation was performed in the four points bending test; afterwards, PMI computer program calculated the moment of inertia after the destructive biomechanical assay. Variables compared were maximum strength, stiffness, maximum high trough the transverse section of the bone segment, centers of mass dislocation in relation to x axe, arrow, stress-tension, stress-compression and maximum stress. No statistically significant differences between the GN and GCN groups were found. Statistically significant differences were found between groups GA and GCA only in the comparison of the maximum force variable. The analysis of variable stress-tension, stress-compression and maximum stress showed statistically significant differences between the GA and GN groups, with higher values for the GA group. Comparison of the deltas (GN least GCN and GA least GCA) that no statistical differences were observed was also performed.