This study is part of a VDOT sponsored project focusing on repair techniques for impact damaged prestressed bridge girders. The investigation included evaluation of the repair installation and flexural strength of four AASHTO Type III girders that were intentionally damaged and repaired. In addition, nonlinear finite element modeling was used to aid in the development of design protocols for each repair method. This report discusses two of the three repair techniques. Three Master of Science students report on the project results: Justin Liesen, Mark Jones, and Michael Gangi. Liesen and Jones (2015) had responsibility for the installation and testing of the repaired girders and Gangi (2015) performed the finite element modeling of the girders. Three repair methods were identified for experimental investigation: strand splice, bonded FRP, and FRCM. During this investigation the repair methods were evaluated by conducting six flexural tests on four AASHTO Type III girders. Flexural tests were conducted instead of shear tests because typical impact damage from overheight vehicles occurs around the mid-span and flexural strength dominated region of bridge girders. The cracking and failure moments for each test were evaluated and compared to predictions of the girder's behavior using AASHTO calculations, a moment-curvature diagram, and non-linear finite element modeling. / Master of Science

Yes / Geopolymer concrete is a promising candidate to replace conventional concrete as geopolymer concrete depends on alkali-activated binders instead of Portland cement. The elimination of cement from the mixture results in the reduction of the greenhouse gas release. From the literature, it is known that the micro-scale characteristics of the geopolymer concrete are similar to its counterparts. However, the structural performance of geopolymer elements should be investigated in detail. Therefore, in this study, the structural performance of reinforced geopolymer concrete beams is compared by conducting bending tests to determine the shear behavior of new generation geopolymer concrete produced from entirely construction and demolition wastes (CDW). In these tests, geopolymer concrete with recycled aggregates, geopolymer concrete with natural aggregates, conventional concrete with recycled aggregates, and conventional concrete with natural aggregates are used in order to study the possibility of reaching fully-recycled construction materials. Three different shear-span-to-depth ratios (a/d) are utilized to investigate the different modes of failure. Therefore, the structural performance of beams was, firstly, compared for mixtures without recycled aggregates to control the possible side effects of 100% recycled concrete construction. Load-deflection curves, moment-curvature curves, and crack patterns were utilized to conclude the performance of geopolymer concrete. Test results revealed that geopolymer concrete beams exhibited similar performance to the conventional concrete beams of the same grade. However, the inclusion of recycled aggregates caused a shift in the failure mechanism from shear-dominated to flexure-dominated, especially in specimens with larger a/d ratios. Finally, the capacity prediction performance of current codes, i.e., TS500 and ACI318, are also examined, and the calculations resulted that the current code equations have a percentage error of approximately 55% on average, although TS500 equations performed slightly better. / The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial assistance of the Scientific and Technical Research Council (TUBITAK) of Turkey and the British Council provided under projects: 218M102 and European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No: 869336, ICEBERG (Innovative Circular Economy Based solutions demonstrating the Efficient recovery of valuable material Resources from the Generation of representative End-of-Life building material).

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-08T17:19:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 1 - Introducao.pdf: 683948 bytes, checksum: 323bfbfe06d963d7bfbecaaf890583ab (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-05-14 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The aim of this work was the development of polyester matrix and taquara-lixa (Merostachys sp.) sticks or fibers composites and mechanical characterization by means of flexural tests for the composites and tension tests for taquara. First, it was determined the average mass distribution from a group of taquara sticks with 150 mm length, taquara medium moisture content and tension tests. Billets measuring 150 x 50 x 50 mm were prepared and were characterized by flexural tests. After the observation of the delamination effect in the composites, due to the poor interaction between matrix and fiber, a study of a chemical treatment of the sticks with sodium hydroxide was performed, for the partial removal of lignin and hemicellulose and to allow the stick s fibers to reorganize and reduce its hydrophilicity. Taquara specimens were made and suffered chemical treatment, varying the type of washing for each group, and flexural tests were performed to verify its mechanical properties. In another experiment, the average mass of a stick with 280 mm length was determined and the composites were made in a mold with 280 x 60 x 50 mm dimensions. To check the effect of the chosen treatment and the compression force during the confection of the composites, it was produced composites with dried taquara sticks and without compression, chemically treated sticks and without compression, dried sticks and with compression, chemically treated sticks and with compression and chemically treated taquara pieces that have its fibers separated by a rolling machine, and with compression. Specimens were extracted from the composites and flexural tests were performed to determine the maximum flexural stress, 1st rupture flexural stress, maximum displacement, 1st rupture displacement and flexural modulus. It was observed that both chemical treatment and the compression force had influence on composites mechanical properties, raising its flexural stress and elasticity modulus and reducing its displacement during flexural tests. / Este trabalho teve por objetivo o desenvolvimento de compósitos de matriz de resina poliéster e gravetos ou fibras de taquara-lixa (Merostachys sp.) e a caracterização mecânica por ensaios de flexão dos compósitos e por ensaios de tração da taquara. Inicialmente, foi realizada a determinação da massa média de um lote de gravetos de taquara de 150 mm de comprimento, o seu teor de umidade médio e a realização de ensaios de tração da taquara. Os compósitos confeccionados foram feitos em um molde de 150 x 50 x 50 mm e caracterizados por ensaios de flexão. Após a observação do efeito de delaminação nos compósitos, devido a fraca interação entre a matriz e a taquara, foi realizado um estudo de tratamento químico dos gravetos com hidróxido de sódio, para realizar a remoção parcial da lignina e hemicelulose e permitir que as fibras do graveto se reorganizassem e reduzissem a sua hidrofilicidade. Corpos de prova de taquara foram confeccionados e sofreram tratamento químico, variando o tipo de enxágüe em cada lote, e os mesmos foram ensaiados na máquina de flexão para verificar as suas propriedades mecânicas. Em outro experimento, foi determinada a massa média de um lote de gravetos de taquara de 280 mm de comprimento e os compósitos foram produzidos em um molde de dimensões de 280 x 60 x 50 mm. Para verificar o efeito do tratamento escolhido e da força de compressão durante a confecção dos compósitos, foram produzidos compósitos com gravetos in natura e sem compressão, gravetos tratados e sem compressão, gravetos in natura e sem compressão, gravetos tratados e com compressão, e pedaços de taquara tratados quimicamente e que tiveram as fibras separadas com o auxílio de uma calandra e com compressão. Os corpos de prova foram extraídos dos compósitos e foram realizados ensaios de flexão para a determinação da tensão máxima de flexão, tensão de flexão na 1ª delaminação, o deslocamento máximo e o deslocamento sofrido no momento da 1ª delaminação e o módulo de elasticidade em flexão. Foi observado que tanto o tratamento químico quanto a força de compressão exerceram influência nas propriedades mecânicas dos compósitos, aumentando sua tensão de flexão e seu módulo de elasticidade e reduzindo o deslocamento durante o ensaio de flexão.

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Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-08T17:19:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Elton G dos Reis.pdf: 2166812 bytes, checksum: 384c9af44058a93b40c48b5b2bf1e226 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-12-04 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The aim of this study was to characterize the mechanical properties of the fiber and taquaralixa (Merostachys sp.) composites with polyester and epoxy matrixes by means of tensile, pull out and flexural tests. Initially, the stalks of taquara went through a drying process to determine the moisture content. Afterwards, the taquara sticks were chemically treated with a solution of sodium hydroxide 10% w/w and hydrogen peroxide 10% v/v, causing softening of the sticks that later were crushed with a rolling machine, in order to partially remove lignin and separate the fibers. To determine the tensile strength of the fiber, tensile tests were performed. And fiber was tested by means of pull out test for determining the shear stress and critical length in the polyester and epoxy matrixes. An optic microscope and an application software were used to determine the cross-sectional area and the perimeter of the fiber. Composites with long fibers and matrixes of polyester and epoxy were prepared through the compression molding process. The fiber concentrations used in the polyester matrix were: 40, 60, 70 and 75% w/w; and for the epoxy matrix 40, 60 and 75% w/w of fiber were used. Composites with random and short fibers were produced with epoxy matrix. Fibers with 13 mm in length were used at the concentrations of 50 and 60% w/w; fibers with 25 mm in length at concentrations of 50 and 60% w/w and fibers with 60 mm in length at a concentration of 50% w/w. Flexural tests were performed for the composites and it was possible to determine the flexural stress, Young s Modulus, strain and density for each specimen. From the results of the long fibers composites and using the values of tensile and strain within the linear region, the Young s modulus of the fiber was estimated through interpolation of the rule of mixtures lower limit and Halpin-Tsai equations. For the results of composites with random and short fibers together with the results of composites with long fibers and epoxy matrix, the rule of mixtures lower limit equation was interpolated in order to obtain an estimate of the Young s modulus or tensile strength in function of the volumetric fraction and fiber length. With the results of tensile strength, Young s modulus and density, it was possible to perform a comparison among the mechanical properties of wood Angicovermelho (Anadenanthera peregrina), Peróba-rosa (Aspidosperma polyneuron), Piquiá (Caryocar villosum) and Eucalipto (Eucalyptus Grandis and Citriodora). Composites with long fibers and composites with 60 mm in lenght of fibers presented superior properties in comparison to these woods. / Este trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar as propriedades mecânicas da fibra e os compósitos de fibra de taquara-lixa (Merostachys sp.) com matriz poliéster e epóxi por meio de ensaios de tração, pull out e flexão de três pontos. Inicialmente, os colmos da taquara passaram por um processo de secagem para a determinação do teor de umidade. Em seguida, os gravetos da taquara foram tratados quimicamente com solução de hidróxido de sódio a 10% m/m e peróxido de hidrogênio a 10% v/v que provocou o amolecimento dos gravetos que na sequência foram esmagados com auxílio de uma calandra, com o objetivo de retirar parcialmente a lignina e separar as fibras. Os ensaios de tração da fibra foram realizados para a determinação da tensão de ruptura. E ensaios de pull out da fibra foram realizados para a determinação da tensão cisalhante de ruptura e comprimento crítico nas matrizes poliéster e epóxi. Para a determinação da área transversal e perímetro da fibra foi utilizado um microscópio óptico e um aplicativo de tratamento de imagem. Compósitos com fibras longas e matrizes de poliéster e epóxi foram confeccionados por meio do processo de moldagem por compressão. As concentrações de fibras utilizadas para a matriz poliéster foram 40, 60, 70 e 75% m/m e para a matriz epóxi foram 40, 60 e 75% m/m. Compósitos com fibras curtas e aleatórias também foram produzidos com matriz epóxi. Foram utilizadas fibras com 13 mm de comprimento nas concentrações de 50 e 60% m/m de fibra, 25 mm de comprimento nas concentrações de 50 e 60% m/m e 60 mm de comprimento na concentração de 50% m/m. Ensaios de flexão de 3 pontos foram realizados para os compósitos, e determinou-se a tensão de flexão, o módulo de elasticidade, a deformação e a massa específica para cada corpo de prova. A partir dos resultados obtidos dos compósitos com fibras longas e utilizando-se os valores de tensão e deformação dentro do regime linear, foi possível estimar o módulo de elasticidade da fibra por meio da interpolação das equações da regra das misturas limite inferior e equação de Halpin-Tsai. Para os resultados dos compósitos com fibras curtas e aleatórias juntamente com os resultados dos compósitos com fibras longas e matriz epóxi foi interpolada a equação da regra das misturas limite inferior com o objetivo de obter uma estimativa do módulo de elasticidade ou da tensão de flexão em função da fração volumétrica, e comprimento da fibra. Com os resultados de tensão de flexão, módulo de elasticidade e massa específica foi possível realizar uma comparação em relação as propriedades mecânicas das madeiras Angico-vermelho (Anadenanthera peregrina), Peróba-rosa (Aspidosperma Polyneuron), Piquiá (Caryocar villosum) e Eucalipto (Eucaliptus Citriodora e Grandis). Os compósitos com fibras longas e fibras curtas de 60 mm apresentaram propriedades superiores em comparação com estas madeiras.

Hybrid composites play a key role in sustainable development. For many years, carbon fibres in an epoxy matrix have been an attractive option for many structural applications because of their higher specific mechanical properties mostly. However, recycling and sustainability are some of the composite shortcomings; and in that context, natural fibres have gained popularity.  The present study aimed to design and manufacture short carbon/flax hybrid composites. Two different arrangements were chosen: random and layers configuration. Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) was used to fabricate these hybrid composites. Mechanical tests and optical microscopy technique were conducted to understand the effect of the interaction of these two different reinforcements. Mechanical tests showed a remarkable difference between the hybrid configurations under flexural loadings. Furthermore, outstanding property values were observed in the hybrid configurations compared to single fibre composites. The resultant materials have seemed an attractive combination of fibres with a remarkable balance between mechanical performance and eco-friendliness.