E-glass has been widely used as a reinforcing material for years, especially as a plastic reinforcer in the production of GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic). Failure of GRP materials under stress came in to the picture quite recently. Since then studies have been conducted in an attempt to understand the causes and the underlying behaviour. / Except for the last section of the research (analysis using a kinetic approach) where glass fibre was cut out to weigh approximately 1.0g, standard sized specimens were soaked in the required acid solutions of desired concentrations for varying temperatures and time frames. Wherever tensile strength retention was measured, LLOYD instrument was employed. Leaching of the cations were analysed using Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES and also know and ICP-AES). / The scope of this project can be divided in to four sections; first section involved investigating the effects of malonic acid. The study of malonic acid was narrowed to investigating the trend in strength retention. A rapid strength loss was observed initially followed by a much steady decline in the strength. However the continuation of the loss of strength was unmistakable throughout the time period of exposure. Furthermore, temperature can be observed as a facilitating factor in this degradation reaction. / Secondly the corrosive effect of glyoxylic acid on E-glass fibre was studied. This was explored at two different temperatures for two specific time frames using various concentrations of the acid of interest. The influence of this acid on the glass fibre was found out in terms of strength retention and loss of cations from the glass matrix. The mildness of this acid was accentuated by the fact that 70% or more of the strength was retained at all the conditions employed. A minima in strength retention was observed at 2M acid concentration similar to the trends observed in the past (Betz and Jones 2003 and Jones and Chandler 1986). Leaching of cations reflected this trend. The large strength retention could be related to the fewer amounts of Ca and K leached from the glass matrix (Kumosa and Qui, 1997). Similar to malonic acid, an unusually large amount of B was leached out that could be due to the favourable orientation of the anion with the trivalent ions during the complex formation. Yet again temperature was found to enhance the degradation process. / Next the extent of passivation (if any) showed by malonic acid was investigated using E-glass fibre pre-treated in 5M malonic acid and post treated in known corrosive acids hydrochloric acid and oxalic acid. Passivation of malonic acid was put to test through examination of strength retention of the fibres under these conditions. This segment was carried out as an extension of a finding (a behaviour synonymous to passivation) shown by malonic that surfaced the previous year by the present researcher. Increasing the pre-treatment time showed a great improvement in the retained strength for all the post-treatment acid mediums. Furthermore, while Jones and Betz (2004) featured 20-40% strength retention within a short time frame in 3M HCl, the immense amount of strength retention (60-70%) preceding pre-treatment should definitely be noted. Similarly strength retention of about 80% was observed when post-treated with the severely corrosive oxalic acid. Hence its is clear that passivation can be induced through prolonged pre-treatment in 5M malonic acid that could inhibit the attack of corrosive acid at least for a period of time. / The last fragment of the study focussed on understanding and working out the mechanism behind the reactions between the E-glass fibre and acid medium in terms of kinetics. The acids utilized were 1.5M malonic acid and 3M glyoxylic acid and the assessments were made through the analysis of the weight changes brought about by the acid medium at various temperatures and time frames. In addition leaching patterns of cations were evaluated as this could contribute in achieving the objective. Maximum weight loss reached 4% in glyoxylic acid while that for malonic acid exceeded 20%. The general trend was that the glass fibres lost weight in both acids for a period of time followed by an evident weight gain. Furthermore the weight loss results fit the first order rate law. While the leaching of cations reflects the weight loss for the shorter time frames, steady loss of ions was visible even for the longer time frames where the weight has increased. The weight gain could be explained in terms of binding of anions to certain cations on the glass surface, accounting for the hindrance in the loss of cations at the longer time frames as well. About 50% of weight loss was associated to Ca while 20% was to Al, leaving 6% to B where as the rest of the ions had shown almost insignificant contribution to the weight loss.

Os materiais cimentícios são materiais frágeis que apresentam resistências à tração e capacidades de deformação muito baixas. Uma das formas de contornar a fragilidade destes materiais é a utilização de fibras curtas, descontínuas e dispersas. Um exemplo destes materiais cimentícios são os produzidos com fibras de vidro, comumente denominados pela sigla GRC. Apesar dos diversos avanços apresentados na tecnologia do GRC, ele ainda apresenta uma degradação significativa das suas propriedades ao longo do seu envelhecimento. Além disso, por ser um material que começou a ser produzido em escala industrial há pouco tempo no Brasil, há uma carência de pesquisas que caracterizem os GRCs produzidos com materiais locais. Portanto, esta pesquisa veio com o objetivo geral de avaliar o GRC produzido com fibras de vidro álcali-resistente (tipo AR) e com os materiais disponíveis comercialmente na cidade de Porto Alegre com relação as suas propriedades mecânicas e durabilidade. Mais especificamente, estudou-se a influência do tamanho das fibras (35mm e 17,5mm), da adição de sílica ativa (5%) e metacaulim (5%, 10% e 15%), da relação agregado/cimento (1,00 e 1,10) e da idade (28, 42, 49 e 56 dias). As propriedades estudadas foram: limite de proporcionalidade (PEL), módulo de ruptura (MOR), índices de tenacidade (I5, I10 e I30), módulo de elasticidade na flexão (MEF), absorção de água (ABS), massa especifica (MES) e porosidade aparente (PAP). Além disso, utilizou-se um método acelerado de ataque em água a 50°C, em diversos períodos de ataque (14, 21 e 28 dias), para estudar o efeito do envelhecimento nas propriedades mecânicas do GRC. Os resultados mostraram que, enquanto algumas propriedades são majoritariamente dependentes da matriz, outras são fundamentalmente dependentes das propriedades do reforço. Apesar do aumento das fibras provocar melhorias na resistência última e na capacidade de absorção de energia do material, ele também gera pertubação naquelas propriedades que as características da matriz são mais relevantes devido ao fato das fibras dificultarem o adensamento do GRC. Com o uso de elevados teores de metacaulim, os compósitos produzidos com fibras curtas apresentaram MOR e índices de tenacidade elevados (também obtidos com fibras longas), mantendo o efeito benéfico do uso deste tamanho de fibras nas propriedades que dependem mais das matrizes. As propriedades majoritariamente dependentes das características das fibras (MOR, I5, I10 e I30) se mostraram muito sensíveis ao ataque. Ademais, o uso das adições pozolânicas não se mostrou capaz de reter tais propriedades para os tempos estudados. / The cementitious materials are fragile materials that show low tensile strengths and low capacity of deformation. One way of dealing with the fragility of these materials is the utilization of short, discontinuous and disperse fibres. One of these cementitious materials is the one usually called by the term GRC. Despite the advances of the GRC technology, this material shows high degradation of its properties throughout the life cycle. Besides that, the fact of being a material which has recently been produced in Brazil on a industrial scale, there is an enormous lack on researches about GRC produced with local materials. Therefore, this research was envisioned with the main objective of evaluating the GRC properties produced with alkali-resistent glass fibres (AR type) and with materials commercially available in Porto Alegre, analyzing its mechanical properties and durability. Specifically, it studied the influence of fibre length (35 mm and 17,5 mm), of silica fume (5%) and metakaolin addition (5%, 10% and 15%), of aggregate/cement relation (1,00 and 1,10) and of the age (28, 42, 49 and 56 days). The measured properties were: proportional limit (PEL), modulus of rupture (MOR), toughness indexes (I5, I10 and I30), modulus of elasticity in bending (MEF), water absorption (ABS), bulk density (MES) and apparent porosity (PAP). In addition, the mechanicals properties of GRC under the effect of ageing (stored in water at 50°C to accelerate the ageing) were investigated where the test were carried out after 14, 21 and 28 days of the accelerated ageing. The results showed that while some properties are mainly influenced by the matrix properties (PEL, MEF, ABS, MES and PAP), others are basically dependent on the fiber reinforcement properties (MOR, I5, I10 and I30). Despite the fact that GRC produced with greater fibre length showed increases at MOR and in energy absorption capacity, it lead to losses of those properties that are mainly influenced by the matrix because it is more difficult to consolidate this GRC. Furthermore, the addition of high contents of metakaolin in composites produced with short fibres leads to MOR and toughness indexes to the higher levels found (gotten with long fibres), keeping the benefic effect of using short fibres at the properties that are basically function of the matrix properties. The MOR, I5, I10 and I30 decreased when the GRC suffer accelerated ageing. The results also showed that the use of pozzolanic additions wasn't able to retain the mechanical properties of GRC throughout time

Os materiais cimentícios são materiais frágeis que apresentam resistências à tração e capacidades de deformação muito baixas. Uma das formas de contornar a fragilidade destes materiais é a utilização de fibras curtas, descontínuas e dispersas. Um exemplo destes materiais cimentícios são os produzidos com fibras de vidro, comumente denominados pela sigla GRC. Apesar dos diversos avanços apresentados na tecnologia do GRC, ele ainda apresenta uma degradação significativa das suas propriedades ao longo do seu envelhecimento. Além disso, por ser um material que começou a ser produzido em escala industrial há pouco tempo no Brasil, há uma carência de pesquisas que caracterizem os GRCs produzidos com materiais locais. Portanto, esta pesquisa veio com o objetivo geral de avaliar o GRC produzido com fibras de vidro álcali-resistente (tipo AR) e com os materiais disponíveis comercialmente na cidade de Porto Alegre com relação as suas propriedades mecânicas e durabilidade. Mais especificamente, estudou-se a influência do tamanho das fibras (35mm e 17,5mm), da adição de sílica ativa (5%) e metacaulim (5%, 10% e 15%), da relação agregado/cimento (1,00 e 1,10) e da idade (28, 42, 49 e 56 dias). As propriedades estudadas foram: limite de proporcionalidade (PEL), módulo de ruptura (MOR), índices de tenacidade (I5, I10 e I30), módulo de elasticidade na flexão (MEF), absorção de água (ABS), massa especifica (MES) e porosidade aparente (PAP). Além disso, utilizou-se um método acelerado de ataque em água a 50°C, em diversos períodos de ataque (14, 21 e 28 dias), para estudar o efeito do envelhecimento nas propriedades mecânicas do GRC. Os resultados mostraram que, enquanto algumas propriedades são majoritariamente dependentes da matriz, outras são fundamentalmente dependentes das propriedades do reforço. Apesar do aumento das fibras provocar melhorias na resistência última e na capacidade de absorção de energia do material, ele também gera pertubação naquelas propriedades que as características da matriz são mais relevantes devido ao fato das fibras dificultarem o adensamento do GRC. Com o uso de elevados teores de metacaulim, os compósitos produzidos com fibras curtas apresentaram MOR e índices de tenacidade elevados (também obtidos com fibras longas), mantendo o efeito benéfico do uso deste tamanho de fibras nas propriedades que dependem mais das matrizes. As propriedades majoritariamente dependentes das características das fibras (MOR, I5, I10 e I30) se mostraram muito sensíveis ao ataque. Ademais, o uso das adições pozolânicas não se mostrou capaz de reter tais propriedades para os tempos estudados. / The cementitious materials are fragile materials that show low tensile strengths and low capacity of deformation. One way of dealing with the fragility of these materials is the utilization of short, discontinuous and disperse fibres. One of these cementitious materials is the one usually called by the term GRC. Despite the advances of the GRC technology, this material shows high degradation of its properties throughout the life cycle. Besides that, the fact of being a material which has recently been produced in Brazil on a industrial scale, there is an enormous lack on researches about GRC produced with local materials. Therefore, this research was envisioned with the main objective of evaluating the GRC properties produced with alkali-resistent glass fibres (AR type) and with materials commercially available in Porto Alegre, analyzing its mechanical properties and durability. Specifically, it studied the influence of fibre length (35 mm and 17,5 mm), of silica fume (5%) and metakaolin addition (5%, 10% and 15%), of aggregate/cement relation (1,00 and 1,10) and of the age (28, 42, 49 and 56 days). The measured properties were: proportional limit (PEL), modulus of rupture (MOR), toughness indexes (I5, I10 and I30), modulus of elasticity in bending (MEF), water absorption (ABS), bulk density (MES) and apparent porosity (PAP). In addition, the mechanicals properties of GRC under the effect of ageing (stored in water at 50°C to accelerate the ageing) were investigated where the test were carried out after 14, 21 and 28 days of the accelerated ageing. The results showed that while some properties are mainly influenced by the matrix properties (PEL, MEF, ABS, MES and PAP), others are basically dependent on the fiber reinforcement properties (MOR, I5, I10 and I30). Despite the fact that GRC produced with greater fibre length showed increases at MOR and in energy absorption capacity, it lead to losses of those properties that are mainly influenced by the matrix because it is more difficult to consolidate this GRC. Furthermore, the addition of high contents of metakaolin in composites produced with short fibres leads to MOR and toughness indexes to the higher levels found (gotten with long fibres), keeping the benefic effect of using short fibres at the properties that are basically function of the matrix properties. The MOR, I5, I10 and I30 decreased when the GRC suffer accelerated ageing. The results also showed that the use of pozzolanic additions wasn't able to retain the mechanical properties of GRC throughout time

Os materiais cimentícios são materiais frágeis que apresentam resistências à tração e capacidades de deformação muito baixas. Uma das formas de contornar a fragilidade destes materiais é a utilização de fibras curtas, descontínuas e dispersas. Um exemplo destes materiais cimentícios são os produzidos com fibras de vidro, comumente denominados pela sigla GRC. Apesar dos diversos avanços apresentados na tecnologia do GRC, ele ainda apresenta uma degradação significativa das suas propriedades ao longo do seu envelhecimento. Além disso, por ser um material que começou a ser produzido em escala industrial há pouco tempo no Brasil, há uma carência de pesquisas que caracterizem os GRCs produzidos com materiais locais. Portanto, esta pesquisa veio com o objetivo geral de avaliar o GRC produzido com fibras de vidro álcali-resistente (tipo AR) e com os materiais disponíveis comercialmente na cidade de Porto Alegre com relação as suas propriedades mecânicas e durabilidade. Mais especificamente, estudou-se a influência do tamanho das fibras (35mm e 17,5mm), da adição de sílica ativa (5%) e metacaulim (5%, 10% e 15%), da relação agregado/cimento (1,00 e 1,10) e da idade (28, 42, 49 e 56 dias). As propriedades estudadas foram: limite de proporcionalidade (PEL), módulo de ruptura (MOR), índices de tenacidade (I5, I10 e I30), módulo de elasticidade na flexão (MEF), absorção de água (ABS), massa especifica (MES) e porosidade aparente (PAP). Além disso, utilizou-se um método acelerado de ataque em água a 50°C, em diversos períodos de ataque (14, 21 e 28 dias), para estudar o efeito do envelhecimento nas propriedades mecânicas do GRC. Os resultados mostraram que, enquanto algumas propriedades são majoritariamente dependentes da matriz, outras são fundamentalmente dependentes das propriedades do reforço. Apesar do aumento das fibras provocar melhorias na resistência última e na capacidade de absorção de energia do material, ele também gera pertubação naquelas propriedades que as características da matriz são mais relevantes devido ao fato das fibras dificultarem o adensamento do GRC. Com o uso de elevados teores de metacaulim, os compósitos produzidos com fibras curtas apresentaram MOR e índices de tenacidade elevados (também obtidos com fibras longas), mantendo o efeito benéfico do uso deste tamanho de fibras nas propriedades que dependem mais das matrizes. As propriedades majoritariamente dependentes das características das fibras (MOR, I5, I10 e I30) se mostraram muito sensíveis ao ataque. Ademais, o uso das adições pozolânicas não se mostrou capaz de reter tais propriedades para os tempos estudados. / The cementitious materials are fragile materials that show low tensile strengths and low capacity of deformation. One way of dealing with the fragility of these materials is the utilization of short, discontinuous and disperse fibres. One of these cementitious materials is the one usually called by the term GRC. Despite the advances of the GRC technology, this material shows high degradation of its properties throughout the life cycle. Besides that, the fact of being a material which has recently been produced in Brazil on a industrial scale, there is an enormous lack on researches about GRC produced with local materials. Therefore, this research was envisioned with the main objective of evaluating the GRC properties produced with alkali-resistent glass fibres (AR type) and with materials commercially available in Porto Alegre, analyzing its mechanical properties and durability. Specifically, it studied the influence of fibre length (35 mm and 17,5 mm), of silica fume (5%) and metakaolin addition (5%, 10% and 15%), of aggregate/cement relation (1,00 and 1,10) and of the age (28, 42, 49 and 56 days). The measured properties were: proportional limit (PEL), modulus of rupture (MOR), toughness indexes (I5, I10 and I30), modulus of elasticity in bending (MEF), water absorption (ABS), bulk density (MES) and apparent porosity (PAP). In addition, the mechanicals properties of GRC under the effect of ageing (stored in water at 50°C to accelerate the ageing) were investigated where the test were carried out after 14, 21 and 28 days of the accelerated ageing. The results showed that while some properties are mainly influenced by the matrix properties (PEL, MEF, ABS, MES and PAP), others are basically dependent on the fiber reinforcement properties (MOR, I5, I10 and I30). Despite the fact that GRC produced with greater fibre length showed increases at MOR and in energy absorption capacity, it lead to losses of those properties that are mainly influenced by the matrix because it is more difficult to consolidate this GRC. Furthermore, the addition of high contents of metakaolin in composites produced with short fibres leads to MOR and toughness indexes to the higher levels found (gotten with long fibres), keeping the benefic effect of using short fibres at the properties that are basically function of the matrix properties. The MOR, I5, I10 and I30 decreased when the GRC suffer accelerated ageing. The results also showed that the use of pozzolanic additions wasn't able to retain the mechanical properties of GRC throughout time

In a context where timber is gaining popularity as a building material and glass-fibre reinforced composites (GFRC) are becoming more accessible in a wide variety of formats, it is considered appropriate to reconsider the combination of these two materials. Additionally, given the increasing use of laminated timber elements where stiffness and strength are better controlled, attention is drawn back to the connection between elements. For these reasons, it is considered of interest to study reinforcing possibilities for connections within timber structures. This work consists in a parametric study of a single-dowelled connection between a timber part and a slotted-in steel plate, reinforced wirh GFRC plates glued into the timber slot at both sides of the steel plate. The study was carried out through simulations in ABAAUS Finite Element Analysis software considering the effect of specimen's geometry and the fibre distribution within the GFRC. Results show the increase of stiffness for the different configurations and give an insight of what can be expected from such type of reinforcements.

I samband med EU-direktivs mål att reducera energikonsumtionen med 20 % fram till år 2020 har kraven i Boverkets byggregler skärpts för energianvändningen i Sverige. Dessa krav håller den totala energiförbrukningen i sektorn bostäder och service på jämn nivå trots att det sker en ständig ökning av antalet bostäder.   Syftet med detta arbete är att undersöka om det finns möjlighet till att minimera energiförluster i infästningen mellan inspända balkonger och bjälklaget. Detta utfördes för att ge samtliga aktörer inom byggbranschen en uppfattning om hur stor inverkan en optimering av de oftast försummade detaljerna i ett projekt har.   Glasfiberförstärkta polymerplaster (GFRP) isolerar ca 120 gånger bättre än konstruktionsstål och klarar samtidigt av att ta upp dragkrafter i en betongkonstruktion om de formas som armeringsstänger. Från ett urval har flera GFRP produkter granskats där ComBAR har valts att studeras och kontrolleras som en ersättningsprodukt för stålarmering i balkonginfästningar. ComBAR uppfyller samtliga konstruktionskrav för att fungera som armering i betong och har egenskaper som är att föredra framför stål vilket även gör den användbar i flera andra konstruktionsdelar i en byggnad eller anläggning.   Utförandet av beräkningar och analyser är indelat i tre delar som är analys av byggstatik för att bestämma den erforderlig armering i balkonginfästningen, simulering av energiflöde mellan balkongen och bjälklaget samt ekonomisk kalkyl för att uppskatta avkastningstiden. I den ekonomiska kalkylen knyts resultaten ihop från analysen av byggstatik och beräkning av energiflödet för att sedan kunna avgöra om en investering är lönsam.   Ur resultaten från analysen av byggstatik som består av handberäkningar och simuleringar i beräkningsprogrammen Concrete Beam och FEM-Design kan vi dra slutsatsen att det behövs en armeringsstång mindre av ComBAR än stål för att bära upp balkongen i studien. Ur statisk synpunkt är det lämpligt att använda glasfiberbaserade armeringsstänger i balkonginfästningen. Energiflödesberäkningarna har utförts i programmet Comsol för att erhålla ett noggrant resultat på energiflödet igenom infästningen. Återbetalningstiden på över 100 år för det pris som ComBAR ligger på i dagsläget anses inte vara rimligt och det behövs en halvering av priset innan det kan komma på tal att användas.

Fibre reinforcement polymers (FRP) are non-corrodible materials used instead of conventional steel and have been approved to be an effective way to overcome corrosion problems. FRP, in most cases, can have a higher tensile strength, but a lower tensile modulus of elasticity compared to that of conventional steel bars. This study aimed to examine flat slab specimens reinforced with glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) and steel bar materials for punching shear behaviour. Six full-scale two-way slab specimens were constructed and tested under concentric load up to failure. One of the main objectives is to study the effect of reinforcement spacing with the same reinforcement ratio on the punching shear strength. In addition, two other parameters were considered, namely, slab depth, and compressive strength of concrete. The punching shear provisions of two code of practises CSA S806 (Canadian Standards 2012) and JSCE (JSCE et al. 1997) reasonably predicted the load capacity of GFRP reinforced concrete flat slab, whereas, ACI 440 (ACI Committee 440 2015) showed very conservative load capacity prediction. On the other hand, a dynamic explicit solver in nonlinear finite element (FE) modelling is used to analyse a connection of column to concrete flat slabs reinforced with GFRP bars in terms of ultimate punching load. All FE modelling was performed in 3D with the appropriate adoption of element size and mesh. The numerical and experimental results were compared in order to evaluate the developed FE, aiming to predict the behaviour of punching shear in the concrete flat slab. In addition, a parametric study was created to explore the behaviour of GFRP reinforced concrete flat slab with three parameters, namely, concrete strength, shear load perimeter to effective depth ratio, and, flexural reinforcement ratio. It was concluded that the developed models could accurately capture the behaviour of GFRP reinforced concrete flat slabs subjected to a concentrated load. Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) is used in this research to predict punching shear strength, and the results were shown to match more closely with the experimental results. A parametric study was performed to investigate the effects of five parameters on punching shear capacity of GFRP reinforced concrete flat slab. The parametric investigation revealed that the effective depth has the most substantial impact on the load carrying capacity of the punching shear followed by reinforcement ratio, column perimeter, the compressive strength of the concrete, and, the elastic modulus of the reinforcement.

This thesis focuses on designing thermoplastic composites with high mechanical properties and a low processing temperature. Thermoplastic composites, which are used in this work, are composed of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) matrices and plain woven E-glass fabrics (GFs). TPUs were synthesised with large quantities of hard segments (HS), including 70% and 90%wt HS. The GF-TPU composites manufactured in this study have a melting point of around 175oC. As such, 180oC represents the processing temperature, which was used to produce GF-TPU composites. The influences of HS content and annealing treatment at 80oC on the thermal, dynamic mechanical and mechanical properties of TPU samples and GF-TPU composites with 25% fibre volume fraction (Vf) have been investigated. The highest crystallinity, storage modulus, Tg, yield strength, tensile strength and tensile modulus of all the TPU samples are seen in the TPU/90 samples annealed for 4 days. The TPU/90 samples display higher tensile properties than the TPU/70 and polypropylene (PP) samples, while the PP samples show the greatest elongation at break point. Furthermore, the tensile properties of the TPU/70 and TPU/90 samples are much higher than those of commercial TPUs. As such, annealed GF-TPU/90 composites with 25% Vf present the greatest dynamic mechanical, flexural, and tensile properties. GF-TPU/90 composites with 25% Vf show higher flexural strength than GF-PP composites or GF-polyamide 6 (PA6) composites with the same Vf. The effects of fibre surface treatments on the mechanical properties of GF and GF-TPU/70 composites with 25% Vf have also been studied in this investigation. GF treated with burn-off treatment is found to exhibit the lowest tensile properties. The interfacial adhesion between GF treated by NaOH for 0.5hrs and a TPU/70 matrix is greater than between GF treated by acetone for 5hrs and a TPU/70 matrix. Silanised GF presents greater tensile properties than desized GF. Thus, enhanced interfacial adhesion and tensile, flexural, ILSS and GIC properties are observed in the silanised GF-TPU/70 composites than in the desized GF-TPU/70 composites. GF-TPU/70 composites based on GFs treated by NaOH for 0.5hrs then sized with 0.15%wt. aminosilane display the greatest interfacial adhesion, flexural properties, ILSS and GIC, damage tolerance and impact-damage resistance. Conversely, the lowest interfacial adhesion, GIC, damage tolerance and impact-damage resistance are seen in the GF-PP composites based on 25% Vf as-received GF. There is a significant increase in the tensile and flexural properties of GF-TPU/90 composites with increasing the Vf from 25% to 50%. Moreover, the flexural strength of GF-TPU/90 composites with 50% Vf is not only higher than that of GF-EP composites or GF-vinyl ester composites with normalised 50% Vf, but is also much higher than that of GF-PP composites with 50% Vf. Despite this result, GF-TPU/90 composites with 50% Vf show the lowest fracture toughness, impact-damage resistance and damage tolerance, which are improved by adding 25% and 50%wt. of TPU/70 to the TPU/90 matrix. GF-TPU/90 composites based on a modified matrix have higher GIC, GIIC, impact-damage resistance and damage tolerance than GF-TPU/90 composites based on an unmodified matrix. The GIC, GIIC, impact-damage resistance and damage tolerance of GF-TPU/90 composites based on a modified matrix increase with increasing the percentage of TPU/70. Hence, the highest GIC, GIIC, impact-damage resistance and damage tolerance are seen in the GF-TPU/90 composites based on a modified matrix with 50%wt. of TPU/70.

End-gated and centre gated mouldings have been assessed with varying thickness and sprue geometries for the centre gate. Alternative image analysis techniques are used to measure the orientation and length of injection moulded short and long fibres composite components. The fibre orientation distribution (FOD) measurements for both geometries have been taken along the flow path. In shear flow the FOD changes along the flow path, however the FOD remains relatively constant during expansion flow. The core width and FOD at the skin within a long glass fibre (LGF) specimen is different in comparison to a short glass fibre (SGF) specimen. Fibre length measurements have been taken from the extrudate, sprue and 2 positions within the centre gate cavity. The size of the sprue has little influence on fibre breakage if the moulding is more than 1 mm thick The SGF FOD prediction models within Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Insight 2014 (ASMI) have been validated against measured SGF data. At present, by default, the models over-predict the < cos2θ > for most geometries. When the coefficients are tailored for each model, drastic improvements are seen in the FOD prediction. The recently developed SGF RSC model accurately predicts the FOD in shear, in a thin geometry, whereas the Folgar-Tucker model predicts the FOD accurately in expansion flow. The measured LGF fibre length distribution (FLD) and FOD have been validated against the LGF prediction models. The LGF models are currently under predicting the breakage and over-predicting < cos2θ >. The breakage prediction improves if measured FLD of the extrudate is input into the model.

End-gated and centre gated mouldings have been assessed with varying thickness and sprue geometries for the centre gate. Alternative image analysis techniques are used to measure the orientation and length of injection moulded short and long fibres composite components. The fibre orientation distribution (FOD) measurements for both geometries have been taken along the flow path. In shear flow the FOD changes along the flow path, however the FOD remains relatively constant during expansion flow. The core width and FOD at the skin within a long glass fibre (LGF) specimen is different in comparison to a short glass fibre (SGF) specimen. Fibre length measurements have been taken from the extrudate, sprue and 2 positions within the centre gate cavity. The size of the sprue has little influence on fibre breakage if the moulding is more than 1 mm thick The SGF FOD prediction models within Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Insight 2014 (ASMI) have been validated against measured SGF data. At present, by default, the models over-predict the <cos2θ> for most geometries. When the coefficients are tailored for each model, drastic improvements are seen in the FOD prediction. The recently developed SGF RSC model accurately predicts the FOD in shear, in a thin geometry, whereas the Folgar-Tucker model predicts the FOD accurately in expansion flow. The measured LGF fibre length distribution (FLD) and FOD have been validated against the LGF prediction models. The LGF models are currently under predicting the breakage and over-predicting <cos2θ>. The breakage prediction improves if measured FLD of the extrudate is input into the model. / Autodesk Ltd.