Thesis (MScFor)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research focuses on the utilisation of de-inking sludge from a tissue mill to produce a wood-fibre inorganic composite called the Deviro panel. The study is based on the SA provisional patent 95/9594 by Ysbrandy and Gerischer' and the further research conducted by Crafford'. The patented Deviro panel contains up to 70% de-inking sludge. Cement and a cement extender serve to fortify the composite. The panel's fibre content of 25-30% is significantly greater than encountered in commercial fibre inorganic composites which contain 8-12% fibre by weight. The physico-mechanical characteristics of the Deviro panel compare favourably with resin bonded wood-fibre composites, but less favourably compared to conventional wood and wood-fibre inorganic composites. These properties are strongly dependent on panel density. For instance flexural strength being directly proportional while dimensional stability and hygroscopicity being inversely proportional to density. After confirming the results from the preceding work by Crafford, further improvements were investigated through chemical and curing enhancements. For instance, an autoclaving treatment during the curing period showed an increase in flexural strength. Addition of water glass could be associated with bulking of the panel, which resulted in increased flexural strength and a slight reduction of density. Panel density could be significantly reduced by the addition of Perlite, while inhibiting the concomitant reduction in strength. In addition a pilot production process was developed to produce 1m2 panels, which exhibited similar curing characteristics as the smaller panel units. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing handeloor die gebruik van ontinkingsslyk van 'n sneespapier meule om die Deviro paneel, 'n houtvesel anorganiese saamgestelde produk, te produseer. Die studie volg uit die SA voorlopige patent 95/9594 deur Ysbrandy en Gerischer en verdere narvorsing deur Crafford'. Die gepatenteerde Deviro paneel bevat tot 70% ontinkingsslyk. Sement en sement-byvoegmiddels dien om die saamgestelde produk te versterk. Die paneel bevat 25-30% vesel wat aansienlik meer is as ander kommersiële anorganiese saamgestelde produkte wat 'n vesel inhoud van 8-12% het. Die megamese eienskappe van die Deviro paneel is vergelykbaar met houtvesel saamgestelde produkte waar hars as kleefiniddel dien, maar vergelyk minder gunstig teenoor konvensionele hout en houtvesel anorganiese saamgestelde produkte. Die paneel se eienskappe is afhanklik van sy digtheid Buig sterkte is eweredig terwyl dimensionele stabiliteit en hygroskopisiteit omgekeerd eweredig aan die digtheid van die paneel is. Die voorafgaande werk van Crafford is eers gestaaf voordat veranderinge aan die chemiese samestelling en drogingsmetodes van die paneel nagevors is. Daar is byvoorbeeld bevind dat, deur die paneel te outoklaveer gedurende die set periode, dit lei tot 'n toename in buig sterkte. Die byvoeging van water glas kan swelling laat plaasvind wat 'n afname in buig sterkte en 'n afname in digtheid tot gevolg het. Digtheid kan ook aansienlik verlaag word deur die byvoeging van Perlite terwyl 'n dienooreenkomstige verlaging in buig sterkte tot 'n mate voorkom word. 'n Loods produksie proses is ook ontwikkel om 'n 1m2 paneel te vervaardig wat dieselfde eienskappe toon as die kleiner paneel.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-08-31Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:21:16Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 freitas_rlb_dr_ilha.pdf: 3147438 bytes, checksum: 01acb2a6a67b2e11009fd170fd595861 (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Um material compósito é constituído pela combinação de dois ou mais materiais, onde se procura sintetizar um novo material multifásico, e que abrigue as melhores características individuais de cada um de seus constituintes. Compósitos de polímeros (matriz) e ferroelétricos (inclusões) podem manifestar piezoeletricidade, ou seja, a produção de uma resposta elétrica devido a uma excitação mecânica, e vice-versa. Nesta tese o material polimérico usado para preparar os filmes ou lâminas de nanocompósitos é o PVDF, e, o material cerâmico é formado por nanopartículas de PZT. Ambos os materiais são dielétricos, porém, com características muito distintas (por exemplo, o PVDF tem aproximadamente 1/4 da densidade e 1/250 da constante dielétrica do PZT). O PZT é muito utilizado em transdutores, principalmente devido aos seus elevados coeficientes piezoelétricos, contudo, é quebradiço e sofre desgaste quando empregado na forma de filmes ou lâminas. Por outro lado, o PVDF é um polímero piezoelétrico que apresenta grande flexibilidade e excelentes resistências mecânica e química, porém, seus coeficientes piezoelétricos são apenas moderados. A fim de se aumentar a flexibilidade do PZT, mistura-se o pó cerâmico, na forma de nanopartículas, com o PVDF, também pulverizado. Na tese, evidencia-se que o compósito constituído por esta combinação cerâmica-polímero proporciona uma nova classe de materiais funcionais com grande potencial de aplicação, por terem combinadas a resistência e rigidez das cerâmicas, e, a elasticidade, flexibilidade, baixa densidade e elevada resistência a ruptura mecânica dos polímeros. O novo material tem grande resistência a choques mecânicos, flexibilidade, maleabilidade, e, principalmente, coeficientes piezoelétricos relativamente elevados. Amostras do compósito... / A composite material is constituted by the combination of two or more materials, which synthesizes a new multiphase material, and has the best individual characteristics of each of its constituents. Polymer composites (matrix) and ferroelectric (inclusions) can express piezoelectricity, i.e. the production of an electrical response due to a mechanical excitation, and vice versa. In this thesis the polymeric material used to prepare the films or slides of nanocomposites is the PVDF, and, ceramic material is formed by PZT nanoparticles. Both materials are dielectrics, however, with very different characteristics (for example, the PVDF is approximately 1/4 density and 1/250 relative permittivity from PZT). The PZT is widely used in transducers, mainly due to their high piezoelectric coefficients, however, is brittle and suffers wear and tear when employed in the form of films or slides. On the other hand, the PVDF is a piezoelectric polymer that offers great flexibility and excellent mechanical and chemical resistances, however, its piezoelectric coefficients are only moderate. In order to increase the flexibility of PZT, ceramic powder is mix, in the form of nanoparticles, with PVDF, also sprayed. In theory, it becomes evident that composite consisting of this ceramic- polymer combination delivers a new class of functional materials with great potential for application, because they combine the strength and rigidity of ceramics, and elasticity, flexibility, low density and high resistance to mechanical disruption of polymers. The new material has great resistance to mechanical shock, flexibility, suppleness, and, primarily, relatively high piezoelectric coefficients. PZT/PVDF composite samples were fabricated and characterized aiming to applications such as: piezoelectric actuators, acoustic emission detectors, and energy... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:28:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T13:56:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:43:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T13:58:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 06531.pdf: 4466032 bytes, checksum: a6e28ab0187aa788035c1d0e3ed8764f (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP / FAPESP:96/08958-1

Orientador: Marcelo Ornaghi Orlandi / Banca: Vladimir Guilherme Haach / Banca: Mario Cilense / Abstract: Considering the wide applications range of composite for retrofitting civil engineering structures, it is found imporant to study the strain rate dependent behavior of both composite materials and some structural adhesive aspects epoxies. Mechanical properties of Sikacarbodur S512 and adhesives bonding materials show different behavior when analyzed at different strain rates. Moreover, it was found that Sikacarbodur S512 is not a ductile material since it cannot sustain inelastic deformation because an elastic range governs its mechanical behavior. Epoxies adhesive do not have a significant plastic range; a viscoelastic range governs their main mechanical behavior under tensile loads. Sikacabodur S512 analyses using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows that the fracture behavior is addressed by the interphase zone (contact zone between fber and resin) which is affected by tensile stress concentration and cracks propagations. SEM analyses before and after tensile tests of both Sikadur 30 and Sikadur 330show that they have a continuous phase and a granular phase. In both resins, covalent bonds are broken, however sikadur 30 shows the most critical behavior. Sikadur 330 has better mechanical behavior under uniaxial tensile text than sikadur 30, and this better behavior is realized when their tensile strain to break and adsorbed energy capacity are compared / Resumo: Considerando as amplas aplicações de materiais compósitos para melhorar estruturas de obras em engenharia, é importante estudar a dependência do comportamento do material em função da velocidade de deformação aplicada aos materiais compósitos e aos epóxis adesivos. Propriedades mecânicas do material Sikacarbodur S512 e materiais adesivos mostram comportamentos diferentes quando analisados utilizando diferentes razões de deformação. Os resultados obtidos mostram que o Sikacarbodur S512 não é um material dúctil devido à ausência de capacidade de experimentar deformações inelásticas porque o domínio elástico domina seu comportamento mecânico. Os aditivos epóxis não têm domínio plástico considerável, e o intervalo visco elástico domina o seu comportamento mecânico sob forças de tração. As análises de microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) das amostras de Sikacarbodur S512 mostram que o comportamento de fratura acontece na zona de interface (zona de contato entre as fibras e a resina) que é afetada pela concentração de tensões e propagações de trincas. As análises de MEV antes e depois dos testes de tração das amostras de Sikadur 30 e Sikadur 330 mostram que ambos os materiais possuem uma fase contínua e uma fase granular. Nas duas resinas as ligações covalentes são quebradas durante os testes embora o Sikadur 30 tem o comportamento mais crítico. O Sikadur 330 tem melhor comportamento mecânico do que o sikadur 30 e esse melhor comportamento é mais bem entendido quando compara-s... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Mestre

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-02T11:16:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2014-04-22Bitstream added on 2014-12-02T11:20:57Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000795898.pdf: 3216663 bytes, checksum: 99c23450ffd374604bf330efa8a2dcc3 (MD5) / A crescente utilização de materiais compósitos nos projetos de engenharia tem trazido vários avanços, viabilizando e aperfeiçoando estruturas com características superiores que as encontradas nas ligas metálicas que são largamente utilizadas durante muitos anos e que atualmente estão sendo substituídas de forma parcial ou integral em aplicações onde se espera alto desempenho. A aplicação deste tipo de material tem sido significativa em vários segmentos de engenharia, como na área de transportes (aeronáutica, aeroespacial, naval, ferroviário, automobilística, etc.), construção civil, artigos esportivos, entre outras. Uma grande vantagem dos materiais compósitos é a possibilidade de compor, através da grande variedade de matrizes e reforços, um número ilimitado de combinações destes elementos, tornando cada combinação uma peça com características única, sendo capaz de atender necessidades específicas de cada projeto. Neste trabalho é proposto um método de detecção e localização de danos em compósitos que compõe a estrutura de uma fuselagem de avião, podendo ser utilizado independentemente da temperatura atuante no avião. O método é baseado nas ondas de Lamb e se caracteriza por ser um método não-destrutivo, NDE (do inglês Nondestructive Evaluation). Os testes experimentais foram realizados para diferentes condições de danos em uma faixa de temperatura que variou de -45°C a 105°C. Para a aplicação do sinal de atuação e para a aquisição dos sinais foram utilizados transdutores piezelétricos (PZT), que são indicados para este tipo aplicação por possuírem grande eficiência em altas frequências e por ser versátil, servindo tanto como atuador quanto sensor. Para auxiliar a detecção e localização automática dos danos na estrutura foi utilizada a técnica de Redes Neurais Artificiais que possuem ótima robustez e capacidade de generalização para isolar o efeito da temperatura na ... / The increasing use of composite materials has brought many beneficial advances for engineering design, improving structure features when comparing with traditional metallic alloys. Although these alloys has been used for centuries, in many applications composite materials are substituting them partially or completely. The use of this kind of materials has produced a great impact in several areas of engineering, as transportation (aeronautics, aerospace, naval, railroad, automobile, etc.), civil construction, sport equipments, etc. An important advantage of composite materials is the possibility of compose an unlimited number of combinations of this elements thought the wide variety of matrix and reinforcements. Each combination becomes a piece with unique characteristics, able to attend specific requirements in a project. In this study, a carbon fiber plate, material used as component of the fuselage in aircrafts, is used in the experimental tests for developing a damage identification and locating method that is able to be used during the flight. The method is based on Lamb waves and it is a non-destructive evaluation (NDE). The tests were done in different conditions for a temperature range from de -45oC to 105oC. The sensing and actuation were based on piezoelectric materials (PZT), which are a versatile smart material indicated to this work since it can be utilized either as actuator or as sensor and because is very efficient at high frequencies. The process automation is realized through the application of Artificial Neural Network, since this technique has optimum robustness and capability of generalization, which are important characteristics to achieve the objective

Piezoelectric composite materials, consisting of a ferroelectric ceramic in an electrically-inactive polymer matrix, have been shown to greatly outperform single phase materials for certain applications. A new assembly technique, which electrically controls the spatial distribution of the ceramic within the polymer, promises to enhance the sensitivity of 0-3 type piezoelectric composites. The materials so-produced have a quasi 1-3 structure and it is intended that they will exhibit some of the advantages of 1- 3 piezoelectric composites, whilst retaining the simplicity of 0-3 manufacturing. The electric field structuring technique exploits the electrokinetic phenomenon of dielectrophoresis, which is responsible for the electrorheological effect. When a suspension of ceramic particles in an insulating fluid is exposed to a moderate AC electric field, the particles polarize and as a result they exhibit a mutually attractive force. Under suitable conditions the particles assemble into 'pearl-chains', 'fibrils' or columns, oriented parallel to the applied field. If the fluid is a resin pre-polymer, this can then be cured and the newly formed structures frozen into place to form a composite material with anisotropic properties. The key process parameters are explored and the implications of employing this method to produce technologically useful materials are discussed. It is demonstrated, for the first time, that dielectrophoresis can be used to induce anisotropic dielectric and piezoelectric properties in 55%vol. fraction ceramic/polymer composites. A model composite system of pure lead titanate in an epoxy resin is considered in basic detail. A method of producing a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) powder with a narrow particle size distribution, by flux growth, has been shown to be effective. New concepts in multiphase composites are introduced, whereby chains are formed within the confines of a second immiscible fluid or where particles of two different materials are mixed in a suspension, each material having its own 'polarization signature'.

During propped construction the steel-concrete composite action resists dead as well as imposed loads. Conversely, the steel section alone resists the floor self-weight in unpropped beams. The major difference between propped and unpropped composite beams lies in the ductility requirements rather than in the strength requirements. Relatively few studies have been carried out to assess the rotation requirements for unpropped semi-continuous composite beams. The outstanding critical factor in the case of unpropped construction is the dead load stress that must be carried by the steel beam alone prior to hardening of the concrete. This research overcomes the difficulties involved in modelling the composite and noncomposite stages by using a numerical integration technique developed from the basic principles of structural mechanics. The method incorporates the fully non-linear material properties and requires very little assumption. The technique was initially validated using the experimental results from plain steel beam bending tests. The subsequent comparison between the model predictions and the results from the large-scale frame test carried out for this research purpose, showed that the method is capable of predicting non-elastic load vs. end rotation behaviour within a high degree of accuracy. Thus the model can be used with confidence in order to predict the connection rotation requirements for a wider range of loading configurations than is practically possible from experimental testing alone. A parametric study is carried out using the numerical integration technique developed for the semi-continuous composite beam on a total of 2160 different beam configurations, utilising different steel grades and loading conditions. In this study the influence of dead load stress on the connection rotation requirement has been thoroughly evaluated along with several other factors including span to depth ratio, location within the building frame, ratio between the support (connection) moment capacity and span (beam) moment capacity, loading type, steel grade and percentage of the beam strength utilised during design. The connection rotation capacity requirements resulting from this study are assessed to establish the scope for extending the use of composite connections to unpropped beams. The large-scale experiment that has been carried out provided an opportunity to investigate the behaviour of a modified form of composite connection detail for use at perimeter columns (single-sided composite connections) with improved rebar anchorage. Additionally, another extensive parametric study is carried out using the numerical integration technique developed for the steel beam to establish the influence of strainhardening on elastic-plastic frame instability design.

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